Harry Potter belongs to the amazing JK Rowling

Ginny Weasley was always uncomfortably aware of Malfoy. At first she was simply convinced that it was because he was the enemy of the boy she loved. After all, who wouldn't notice someone who constantly turned up everywhere, always with a fresh and clever insult?

And then, after the incident with the Chamber of Secrets, she was almost sure that he returned her glances only because she had been possessed by the dark lord, with his father to blame. He was gloating, it was as simple as that.

And in her second year, well, everyone had a reason to be looking around. Threats of Sirius Black made everyone suspicious, so it was only natural that he stare at her a bit. At least, that was what she told herself.

But in her third year, things started to get a bit more serious. He would turn up in all sorts of places she went, even when Harry was nowhere to be found. He would stare at her, and no matter how hard she tried to hold his stare she would always look away first. He would brush up against her in the hallways, even when there was plenty of room.

She worked hard to convince herself that she was imagining it. The only reason he paid any attention to her was because she hung around the golden trio so much. But soon she caught herself holding his gaze for longer and longer, hoping that when she turned a corner he would be there, feeling slightly dizzy long after their encounters in the halls.

When the Yule Ball announced, she had wished desperately that Harry would ask her. But a small part of her, a part she tried very hard to squash, also hoped that a certain Slytherin would ask. She was so busy watching him as she walked to Transfiguration that she ran straight into Hermione.

"I'm sorry!" she said quickly.

"Oh no, it's fine," Hermione replied distractedly, resettling her books in her arms. "But what has you so distracted anyway?"

Ginny blushed a light shade of pink. "Oh, you know, just the Yule Ball and everything…" she trailed off, hoping Hermione wouldn't ask her for any more details.

"It's going to be so much fun!" Hermione beamed. "Can you believe Viktor Krum actually asked me?" Hermione had told Ginny about it the day before, and both girls had spent at least an hour squealing and giggling.

"Ron's going to explode," Ginny grinned. "His favorite Quidditch player…you…I look forward to watching."

Hermione grimaced at the thought. "At least one of us will enjoy that. By the way, has anyone asked you yet?"

Ginny sighed. "No, and it doesn't look like it'll happen. Maybe I can just sneak in."

"Well who do you want to go with?" Hermione pressed.

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I mean, ignoring the impossibility of it, it would be amazing if Harry asked me. But that'll never happen." Ginny couldn't help but glance back behind her. Malfoy was still there, talking to Pansy Parkinson. Ginny felt a sudden surge of dislike for Parkinson.

Hermione opened her mouth to ask another question, but was interrupted by Neville. "Er, hey Hermione. Could I, er, ask you something?"

Hermione nodded while Ginny waited expectantly. Neville stood there sweating for a second before the words came pouring out of his mouth. "Doyouwannagototheballwithme?"

"What?" asked Hermione.

Neville was turning bright red, and he seemed to be sweating even more than before. "Will you, er, go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Hermione let out a small gasp. "Oh, Neville. I'm really sorry, but I'm already going with someone else."

Neville nodded, looking down at his shoes. "That's okay. Thanks."

Hermione gave a curt nod and hurried off, leaving Ginny and Neville alone. Neville glanced up at Ginny, then back to his shoes, then up at her again.

"Are you going with anyone, Ginny?" he asked.

Ginny felt her stomach drop. "No," she muttered.

"Er, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Ginny bit her lip. Neville was alright, but he was hardly the date she imagined. And she didn't fancy being anyone's second choice. A shrill laugh pulled her from her thoughts, and she glanced behind her again. Pansy Parkinson was leaning against Malfoy, one hand on his chest and the other gripping his arm. He was grinning down at her, obviously pleased. Ginny quickly turned around, trying to ignore the sense of despair that was building up.

"I would love to go with you, Neville," she said resolutely. "I can't wait." She hurried off before Neville could respond, pushing away any feelings of disappointment.

That night in the common room she didn't have any time to regret her choice. Ron had thoroughly embarrassed himself by asking Fleur Delacour to go with him to the Yule Ball, and she spent most of her evening trying to cheer him up. And then Harry revealed that he too had been denied, by no other than Cho Chang. She had been feeling quite sorry for both boys until they started joking about Neville asking Hermione.

Hermione's arrival had stopped them from laughing even more at her date. "Why aren't you at dinner?" she asked as she joined them.

"Because-" Harry and Ron had started laughing again. "Oh shut up laughing, you two – because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" That shut the boys up quick enough.

"Thanks a lot, Ginny," Ron grumbled, but Ginny just grinned at him. He deserved it.

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" Hermione asked. "Eloise Midgen starting to looking quite pretty now, is she? Well I'm sure you'll find someone who'll have you."

Ginny snorted, she doubted anyone would be able to put up with her brother for an entire evening. But Ron was ignoring her, staring at Hermione as if seeing her for the first time.

"Hermione, Neville's right – you are a girl…"

"Oh well spotted," Hermione snapped.

"Well – you can come with one of us!"

"No I can't."

Hermione and Ron quickly started bickering, and Ginny zoned out. She couldn't help but think about Malfoy. Was he going with Pansy Parkinson? Why did she even care? He was just Harry's enemy, noting more. He was an awful, despicable git who just happened to have great hair.

Ginny froze. Where did that thought come from? She didn't even like blonde hair. She liked black hair that was always in perfect disarray, and bright green eyes. Malfoy was the exact opposite.

Hermione's shout drew Ginny from her thoughts. "I've already told you!" she said very angrily. "I'm going with someone else!" She stormed away to the girls' dormitory, with Ron and Harry looking after her.

"She's lying," Ron said flatly.

"She's not," said Ginny quietly.

"Who is it then?" Ron demanded.

Ginny gritted her teeth. "I'm not telling you, it's her business."

"Right," said Ron, "this is getting stupid. Ginny you can go with Harry, and I'll just-"

"I can't," Ginny interrupted miserably, turning almost as red as she had been when Neville asked her to the ball. "I'm going with – with Neville. He asked me when Hermione said no, and I thought…well…I'm not going to be able to go otherwise, I'm not in fourth year." Ginny turned her head to avoid Ron's appalled look. "I think I'll go and have dinner."

Ginny stood up and hurried away, nearly crying with frustration. She could have gone with Harry! Harry Potter! If only Malfoy hadn't distracted her and made her say yes to Neville. It was all Malfoy's fault.