Ginny woke up in a good mood.  It could have been that her hair actually dried right and didn't have a weird lump where she would tuck her hair behind her ear.  Her mom always said it was better to not tuck her hair back while it was wet, but what else was she going to do with it when it got in her way?  She didn't have the time or patience for that.

She grabbed her book bag and walked out of the dorm and into the halls.  It was second nature to ignore any strange looks others would pass her, due to her many times when she was with Fred and George and their crazy shenanigans.  But then she realized that Fred and George weren't with her.

What were they looking at?  Did she have the face of a dead person on the back of her head?  Of course that wasn't too outlandish as it sounded, but she was pretty sure it wasn't that.  She turned to the girl, giving her a side eye.  "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know," the girl admitted.  "One rumor said it was mutual.  The other says it was forced.  Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, yes, but what rumor are you talking about?"

"Apparently someone caught you and a Slytherin boy having... Uh... Having it out..."

"What?"

"I wasn't going to believe it if it wasn't confirmed.  I hate rumors, but I didn't know how to exactly ask that question without sounding nosey.  I'm sorry."

"You're fine, but I've never done that with any guy, let alone a Slytherin that I don't even know.  You don't happen to know who's been saying this?"

She shrugged.  "I learned from Stallion.  I don't know where she heard it."

"Well, what about the guy?  Do you know who they're accusing?"

"I don't know for sure... it started with a V..."

Ginny's eyes grew wide.  "Varian."

"Yeah!" The girl snapped her fingers, but then she paused.  "So you do know him?"

"We're friends and strictly that.  Someone is pushing it way too far." Ginny clenched her fists tightly.

"I'm sorry.  I'll spread the word that it's false.  I hate it when stuff like this gets thrown around, especially when it's a load of bogus."

"Thanks. I'm going to run and find some people before this rumor gets someone hurt.   Merlin knows what Ron or even Percy would do if they heard this.  Well, I'm sure Percy would ask.  Ron will probably go on a killing spree," she muttered to herself as she rubbed her forehead.  Where was Hermione?  Or Luna?  She was going to need their wisdom and help for sure.

She began to walk briskly towards the library when she heard the commotion of a group of students crowding around in a circle.  Immediately, she understood it was a fight.  Her brisk walk instantly turned into a run as she tried to see what was going on.  The redhead tried to squeeze through, but couldn't get through. So she tapped the shoulder of a tall Hufflepuff guy.

He looked down at her.  "You need something, little lady?"

"What's going on?  I can't see."

"It's a brawl.  Some kid is beating that Malfoy to a pulp."

"What in the bloody-" Ginny couldn't even finish her sentence.  What was going on?  It was just one thing after the other. What was everyone doing standing around?  Why weren't they stopping the fight?  True, Malfoy was more than a bully for many, but certainly someone had the decency to stop it at some point.

"Think you can let me through?" She asked hopefully.

He finger gunned her.  "You got it." He turned to the nearest Hogwart student.  "Excuse me, but do you mind stepping aside a bit?"

"What is the meaning of this?"

All the students paused and looked over to the owner of the voice.  It was none other than Dolores Umbridge.  They began to step out of her way as she walked through the crowd.  She stopped when she saw both Draco and Varian on the ground, their hair and clothes in complete disarray.

Shock momentarily crossed the woman's face, seeing her two star students in such a situation.  Draco merely flopped on the ground, his back on the ground as he stared at the ceiling, muttering oaths under his breath.  Varian passed him the sharpest glare Ginny had ever seen. What had happened?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Varian adjusted the goggles on his head as he speed walked through the halls.  He was running just a little later than he usually did.  He kept getting strange looks, so he concluded that something about his features must have been off.  It wasn't his robe from what he could see, so maybe it was his hair or goggles.  But when he reached up and adjusted everything, it all felt normal and fine to begin with.

When he started to walk past Theo, he lifted a hand to wave.  Though, that's all they ever really said to each other was a hello in passing.  Even if they both hung out with Draco together.  But this time, Theo only cast him a glare, his shoulder bumping right into Varian's.  The sixth year dropped his book as a result.

"Wha-hey-" Varian turned as Theo kept walking.

Theo didn't stop, only muttering a stream of insults.  Varian stood in shock, staring after the older boy as he turned a corner.  He looked around the hall to find that a lot of the Gryffindor and Slytherins were staring at him.  The Hufflepuffs kept glancing as if they were trying not to.  What was going on?

Sighing, he got down on the floor and started to pick up his books and papers off the ground.  He froze when someone bent down and handed him one of his books.  Looking up, he made eye contact with a familiar green.  "Rapunzel?"

The girl tilted her head.  "We've met?" She began to help him pick up his papers.

"No, but everyone knows your name," he replied as he accepted the books she handed him.  "And my father's your parents' gardener."

"Wait, really?"

Varian shrugged as he stood up.  "Do I look ok?"

"You look great! Why?" Rapunzel tilted her head.

"I don't know.  I just keep getting these weird looks.  Have they always done that?"

"I don't know.  People can be so weird sometimes...  I don't think I caught your name." She stuck her hand out to offer a handshake.

He accepted it. "Varian."

"Oh! So you're the guy Ginny accidentally flew her broom into."

"You know Ginny?  And she talks about me?" Varian felt his cheeks grow a little pink.

"Yeah.  Her Cassandra hangs out sometimes and I hang out with Cass so Ginny and I became friends a while back."

"Hey!  You!"

The two stopped, turning towards the voice.  Ronald Weasley was marching towards them.  Rapunzel waved.  "Oh, hey, Ron!"

The red head ignored her, immediately grabbing Varian by the color of his robe.  The latter dropped his books and papers a second time out of pure shock.  Rapunzel didn't have any time to react before the boy shoved Varian into a wall, holding him there.

"What did you do to my sister?" Ron shouted, enraged even.

"I'm sorry, what?" Varian was barely able to stutter out a question.

"You forced yourself upon her!" He accused.

"I... What?" The boy hesitated, trying to process the words.  "Are you accusing me of forcing relations with Ginny?"

"Don't act dumb.  The whole bloody school is talking about it!"

Varian grabbed Ron's hand, pushing himself off the pillar.  "You're an admirable brother, standing up for your sister like this.  But I would never.  I would never intentionally harm Ginny."

The youngest Weasley boy squinted his eyes.  "That's exactly what a Slytherin would say," he growled suspiciously.

"Ron, I think maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt... " Rapunzel tried to step between them.  "Did you ask Ginny?"

Ron paused.  "No."

"Where did you hear this anyways?" Varian asked, brushing himself off.

"Lavender Brown.  Half the school is talking about it."

"Half of the school?" Varian cried.  "Where's Ginny?"

"None of your business.  I'm not letting you near her, Slytherin pet!" He tapped his finger aggressively on Varian's chest.

The boy merely grabbed the red head's arm tightly, keeping it away from him. a dark look crossed his face, taking both Ron and Rapunzel off guard. "Listen, I've had a rough morning already.  Frankly, it's too early for any of this bloody chaos, but here we are.  If the rumor says I forced myself upon her, don't you think that she might be having a bad morning as well?  Perhaps you should have found her first to make sure she was alright?" He pushed past the two, not even bothering to grab his things.

Rapunzel and Ron looked at each other before the former picked up Varian's things.  Ron turned and left, deciding that (as much as he hated to admit it) Varian had a point that the first part of protecting his sister should have made sure she was fine first.  There was no telling what was going on for her.

Varian stormed through the halls until he found the person he was looking for. The queen of rumors.  The girl had the most information and knew how to play it, but she also knew how to find it.  So if there was anyone that could give him answers, it would be her. "Pansy!"

The girl whirled around.  She gave her sly smirk.  "Varian."

"I need your help."

"Of course.  But first, let's relish the fact that this is the most you've said to me in the same minute."

"Pansy." Varian looked at her in annoyance.

"Serious is it?" She chuckled.

"Someone spread a false rumor about me forcing relations on Ginny Weasley."

"Oh?  I heard from Caine that the Weasley girl paid to have a night," Pansy teased.  "And that she's, dare I say it, a slut."

"What?" Varian almost vomited, but managed to swallow it back down.  "Pansy, I need to know who spread this rumor?"

"Well, I may have caused the spread," she admitted.

"What?" He gaped at her in shock.

"Hey, don't look at me like that.  After all, I only repeated what I've heard.  When rumors spread, they change as different people pick it up and twist it."

Varian's voice shook with rage.  "Who told you any of this?"

"Oh." She turned, holding her book bag closer to her chest, pressing her lips tightly to repress the smirk playing on her face.  As she began to walk, Varian followed after her.  "Well, I only repeat things when I know the information is trustworthy.  After all, it did come from the one person who seems to really know you."

"What are you talking about?"

She shrugged.  "Oh, I just figured that Draco would know about what he was talking about, but I guess not."

Varian froze in his spot.  "Draco... Draco started this?"

"So it seems," she replied.  When Pansy turned to see the boy's reaction, she was surprised to find him already storming off.  Her smirk fell, concern crossing her face as she hoped Draco would be able to lose his friend in such a cruel way.  Even if Draco had expressed his willingness, it still felt terrible to set up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco was walking in the hall, rubbing his tired eyes with the palm of his right hand.  He had to use a couple spells in an attempt to take the dark circles under his eyes away.  Frankly, they did enough to fade it, but not completely take it away.  But at least he felt like he appeared that he actually had some type of sleep instead of the lack of it.

"Malfoy!"

The platinum blond whirled around in surprise.  The voice was Varian's, but it was full of malice and anger.  He couldn't remember the boy ever calling him by his last name before either.

Varian was briskly walking towards him, clenched fists. His shoulders squared in a manner that was foreign to the boy. His eyes flared with such anger, hatred even that Draco had to take a step back.  Before he had time to truly react, Varian's fist was thrown in Draco's face, punching him square in the left eye.  The latter stumbled back, his book bag flying out of his hand as he grabbed his newly injured eye.

The students around them gasped in absolute horror or shock.  Draco didn't even notice them as he gasped.  "What the bloody-"

"You know full well, prat!  Why would you tell Pansy that I..." He grabbed the boy by the front of his shirt.

Draco only looked at him with his uninjured eye for a moment in utter confusion.  Then it clicked.  The conversation he had with Pansy came flooding back.  What rumor had she spread?

He shook his head slightly, shoving Varian away.  "Come on.  You had it coming." Hopefully that was an answer that would fit.  Pansy did warn him he'd be losing Varian, and maybe that moment was that very one.  After all, the sooner he cut ties, the easier it would be to sever the Dark Lord's interest in Varian.

The boy's eyes widened and the pain entered.  Draco felt like he was being stabbed, realizing his comment might have fit too well.

"What have I ever done to you?" His voice shook, choking up even.  "What have I ever done to you to have this coming for me?  And how could you just so casually bring Ginny into this lie and not give a dime?  What have I done to you?" His voice rose with every word.

Draco wasn't sure he would be able to keep the act.  What rumor had Pansy spread?  He was going to kill her.  He never should have trusted her. Whatever she said went way too far.

Not able to take it anymore, Draco merely turned on his heels and began to walk away.  "I have a headache."

Apparently, that was a bad choice.  To be honest, Draco should have known better, but he still didn't expect to be completely tackled by the boy, being dragged to the ground with an onslaught of punches and attacks.

Draco cried in surprise.  "You're gonna kill me!"

"Don't flatter yourself!" Varian growled, pinning him down.  "I'm not going to kill you.  I'm going to make you suffer!"

The Slytherin Prince could only gape in utter shock.  What had they done?