The Halls of Hogwarts

By: Shallan

Disclaimer: It's not mine, it's J.K. Rowling's.

Chapter One: The Announcement

Ginny Weasley rushed through the halls of Hogwarts to the Great Hall. She was late because she had overslept. Why didn't Gwen wake me?

Her thoughts were interrupted as she turned a corner and was knocked to the floor with a thud and a flurry of red hair, her books, parchment and quills scattering about her.

"Ginny?"

She looked up into Harry Potter's concerned green eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked reaching out to help her up. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay." She took Harry's hand and cast aside the thought of getting to the Great Hall for a piece of toast and getting to her classes on time.

Shoving long red locks of hair away from her face, Ginny hurriedly began gathering her books.

Harry also bent down and picked up her things. She took them from him and stuffed them back in her bag. I really need to get a bigger one, she thought absently.

Ginny looked back up at Harry and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for helping me."

"It's the least I could do, considering I'm the one who caused you to drop everything."

"Thanks again, anyway." She glanced at her watch and her eyes widened in horror. "I have to go!" And she dashed off leaving Harry behind looking after her in bemusement.

~

"So why didn't you wake me this morning?"

Gwen flushed and lowered her eyes sheepishly. "I got up early this morning, before anyone else… how was I to know you would oversleep?"

Ginny gave her a considering look.

Then Gwen brightened. "Guess what was announced at breakfast?" She looked at her expectantly.

"Mmm… Snape resigned?" She arched a brow.

Gwen rolled her eyes. "No! There's going to be a dance!" She beamed.

Ginny groaned.

Gwen frowned. "What's the matter?"

"The dance! What if Colin Creevey or Neville Longbottom asks me?"

"Well, they're both very nice…"

"Yes, they're very nice, but neither of them can dance."

"Ginny! There's more to someone than how well they can dance!"

She shot Gwen an exasperated look. "I know that! But I just don't like to have my feet trounced on."

Gwen leaned back. "Oh. Well, I can't help you there."

Ginny sighed. I hope someone will ask me before they do… Wait, her eyes gleamed. Why do I have to wait for someone to ask me?

~

Every time Neville or Colin approached her, Ginny ducked into an empty room or down another hall. She felt a bit guilty, but she knew how her feet would feel if she went to the dance with one of them.

"You can't run away forever, you know."

Ginny turned around to find Hermione behind her. She smiled weakly. "Hi."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

She sighed. "I know, but I keep thinking of the Yule Ball I went to with Neville."

Hermione smiled at her. "Someone else may ask you. You never know. Or don't wait, ask someone yourself."

"I had thought of that."

"There's your answer then."

Ginny couldn't help but wonder if Ron would ever come to his senses and ask Hermione to the dance.

"Who are you going with?" she asked curiously.

"No one yet," she said casually, though she glanced down the hall.

Ginny followed her gaze and saw Ron and Harry standing together talking. Ah ha! She thought triumphantly.

She tilted her head and said innocently, "Couldn't Viktor come?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to inconvenience him."

Ginny saw right through her. Hermione wanted Ron to ask her. Oblivious prat.

She talked with Hermione a little longer, then made her way towards Gryffindor Tower.

As she walked down another deserted hall she saw Harry a few paces in front of her.

An idea ran through her head. She immediately discarded it. Ridiculous. She had taken a few steps when she reconsidered. Perhaps not so ridiculous…

She quickly caught up to Harry. "Hey Harry."

"Hi Ginny." He smiled at her.

"I was wondering, would you like to go to the dance with me?"

Harry blinked and stared at her a moment, surprise evident in his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, making it even messier than usual. He looked slightly flustered.

"Er, sure."

Ginny grinned at him."Great! Bye!" She turned and walked away, once again leaving Harry staring after her in bemusement.

A/N: I had been planning on having Harry ask Ginny to the dance. In fact, I had it all typed up then I remembered an episode of Boy Meets World where there was a Sadie Hawkins dance. Topanga said she wouldn't go because the dance implied that any other time a girl couldn't ask a boy… So I thought, why couldn't Ginny ask Harry, rather than waiting around for someone to ask her?