Moonlight was beginning to shadow the sky as another day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry begun to draw to a close. An excited chatter filled the Great Hall as pupils discussed the upcoming Christmas holidays and the festivities they were to attend. Hands lingered over delicious plates stacked with plenty of food for every pupil who sat eagerly, laughing with their friends and discussing everything from quidditch to the potions essay they still had to hand in to the greasy haired potions professor who sat watchfully, his eyes piercing the students from his pale face that was cloaked with long black hair.
Every so often, sideways glances were darted towards three students, a pale faced ginger haired boy who sat next to a slightly smaller boy with piercing emerald eyes and a peculiar lightning-bolt shaped scar etched on his forehead and, facing them both, a slightly tanned girl with chocolate brown eyes and wavy brown hair which curled and tumbled to her shoulders, looking as though it had been tamed from bursting into bushy, unruly curls. The three muttered under their breath, but despite an obvious interest being slapped across their faces, none of their fellow Gryffindor's interrupted the conversation or attempted to eavesdrop.
"Yes but Harry, you must remember!" The girl hissed at the smaller of the boys. "Snape is only trying to get at you because he knows full well you're going to retaliate. The more you let it bother you, the more detentions you get, the more house points we loose, there's nothing beneficial coming out of this. Look at it logically!"
"Logically? You think this is to do with Logic Hermione!" The boy snapped back. "He's getting at me, he's doing this on purpose. I'm not putting up with another unfinished potion because of these so called accidents. No matter how much I hate the damn subject, I need it if I'm going to be an auror. Don't deny it."
The girl huffed, clearly flustered by the fact that the Harry did indeed have a point. Her gaze swept to the boy who had been nodding occasionally, but altogether seemed more intent on waffling down several sausages and plenty of mash. "Well! What's your imput on this Ron!"
Clearly shocked and panicky to be involved in the discussion he fumbled with his tongue for a moment, fathoming out what to say. "I..er..it's up to Harry, isn't it?" He mumbled.
Tutting and rolling her eyes, the girl got up and let out a sigh before sweeping from Great Hall and through the giant wooden doors.
"Where's she off to?" A dreamy voice floated into the air, as a girl with fresh eyes and dirty blonde hair, studying Harry and Ron rather curiously, almost as if fascinated, sat down in the seat that was moments before occupied by Hermione.
"To the library." The two boys said at the exact same time.
The girl nodded and smiled at Ron who hesitated for a moment before awkwardly returning it. Harry glanced between the two and could sense Ron's awkwardness, he often felt unsure of what to say to the odd girl so Harry decided to try and start conversation.
He opened his mouth but as he was about to form words saw a pale faced girl enter the Great Hall in the corner of his eye. Promptly closing his mouth he turned to face the girl. Her red-ish hair cascaded past her shoulders, almost to her hips, framing her face perfectly. Her eyes were a soft hazel brown colour, deep but bright and colourful. She scanned the Gryffindor table. She's in Gryffindor? Harry thought.. His thoughts were interrupted when a pair of hazel brown eyes met his emerald green ones. Ginny!
His mind swarmed with thoughts, Ginny when he first saw her as he was about to board the Hogwarts express, Ginny in the chamber of secrets, Ginny being comforted by Hermione, Ginny at the Yule Ball with Neville, Ginny in Dumbledore's army..
"Hey, Harry." Harry's thoughts were interrupted. Harry looked up at the girl who stared down at him expectantly. The same girl he had thought of as nothing but Ron's little sister. But it was also the same girl he had just done a double take at. The same girl who had just struck him with her beauty.
Harry glanced to his side, Ron was sitting numbly with his eyes fixed on Luna as she droned on about nargles.
"Er, Hi Ginny." Harry muttered, looking up at her.
His insides flipped. Wait. That's.. It's Ron's sister! Harry pushed a hand through his hair and gestured for Ginny to take a seat. Whilst she sat in between Ron and Harry her hand brushed Harry's. Fireworks exploded and rippled along Harry's skin and he quickly pulled his hand back, earning a sideways glance from Ginny for his sudden movement however other than that she simply smiled whilst Harry melted inside.
"So, Ginny.. What've you been up to?" Harry said, attempting conversation rather numbly.
"Harry, you saw me an hour ago at quidditch practise.." She frowned. "You're acting like you haven't seen me since the Department of Mysteries!"
"Right. Sorry.." He muttered.
Just as Harry was about to open his mouth to try and strike up conversation again Harry heard a voice behind them call Ginny's name and Ginny spin around happily.
"Dean!" Ginny exclaimed, leaping from the bench and wrapping him up in a trademark Weasley hug.
Harry, who was usually fine with Dean and didn't really have any opinion on his and Ginny's relationship, felt like a hard rock had plummeted to the bottom of his stomach and was lodged there. She's your best mate's little sister Harry repeated in his head as many times as he could. By the time he looked up from his shoes where he seemed to have found interest in Ginny's eyes, Dean was grabbing her hand and encouraging her towards the Great Hall's doors.
"Um, Bye Harry.." Ginny called.
` "Right. Bye" Harry muttered under his breath so quietly that Ginny had no hope of hearing him.
"What do you think Harry?" Luna's dreamy voice floated into Harry's thoughts and brought him back from the Chamber Of Secrets where Ginny lay unconscious to the Great Hall which seemed more distant than the memory from 3years ago.
"Sorry Luna, I've got to go. Ron, I'll.. see you when you get back to the common room" Muttered Harry.
Harry swept through the halls, ignoring shouts from his fellow students and jeers from the few slytherin students he passed. Grumpily providing the password to the Fat Lady Harry trudged up to the common room and attempted his many essays that had been building slowly up, but his mind was focused elsewhere, a pit of jealousy formed for Dean Thomas still lodged in his stomach and he had wrote no more than his name on the first piece of parchment by the time Ron arrived back to the Gryffindor common room later that evening.
AN: I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter, reviews would be greatly appreciated as this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction. I'm aware that my writing isn't up to the standard of many on here, however I hope that with practise I will be able to achieve their standards.