A/N: I know this kind of thing has been done a lot but I wanted to practice my writing and take a shot at it. Please tell me what you think of it.

Chapter 1: Ian Kythe

I had it rehearsed. It was simple. But I don't think I can just walk in there and lie to them. I was going to say the classic line of 'All the other compartments were full.' Which is a lie. There were plenty of empty compartments. I just didn't want to sit by myself, and I kind of wanted to sit next to Harry. Well, here it goes.

"Can I sit with you guys? All the other compartments are full." I said as the compartment door slid fully open. It was just Hermione, Ron, and Harry sitting in there. Hermione and Ron on one side with Harry sitting on the other.

"Sure Love." Oh how much I hated that name. He thought it was funny. So did Ron.

Flashback:

"I absolutely hate it!" I said as I came in to the living room of the Burrow where Ron and Harry were sprawled out on both couches.

"Hate what?" Asked Ron looking up from his book. Yes, I said 'book'. Ronald Weasley was actually reading a book. Something to do with, "Hermione said I need to 'expand' my vocabulary. Whatever in the hell that means."

I stared directly at him, glaring, like I could take on the world. He immediately looked scared, fearing for his life. No one escapes a Weasley temper. Harry also noticing the mood of the room took cover behind the couch.

"Every time Dean owls me he calls me 'love' I asked him kindly if he would stop, and he said he wouldn't!" I had become so close to Ron that he was slowly inching off the couch, but I didn't care.

Harry coming out behind the couch said "Well I'm sorry-", took a breath," love." Harry and Ron immediately started laughing which caused me to stomp very dramatically out of the room. Dramatically just for the effect, and ever since then Harry has called me love.

: End Flashback

I took a seat, and for most of the train ride we talked little amongst ourselves. I was rather uncomfortable.

I just wish the train would go faster. I wish I could go sit by myself at the end of the table where no one would notice me, and there would be no awkward silence. Yet I loved sitting next to Harry. Harry The-Boy-Who-I've-Loved-Since-I-Knew-His-Name. The Harry that would never think of me that way. Yep, that Harry. The one Harry I wanted so much, yet I knew I could never have. Sometimes, I wish life was fair, and that everything would go my way. Sometimes, I wish I could just have Harry.

Sure I had gone out with other boys, but after a little while I realized they weren't Harry.

The trolley came around, and Harry bought a whole bunch of stuff.

"You want something love?" See I told you. I think he purposely tried to use it in every sentence, but I guess it was kind of sweet.

I said I would take a chocolate frog, and he handed me one. His hand barely brushing against mine made me blush. I tried to hold it back, but sometimes you can't with Harry. I looked up at him, but he had turned back facing Ron, and was laughing at him while Hermione scolded him for stuffing his mouth. I smiled, and opened my chocolate frog. I grabbed the frog before it could escape, and peered at the card inside. It was of course Dumbledore. I remember him saying back in my 4th year something like:You can take everything away from me. Just leave me on the chocolate frog cards: I don't remember the exact words. It didn't really matter anymore though.

I looked at him questioning like he would tell me exactly what he had said, but he just winked at me, and disappeared. I bit the chocolate frog's head off.

Before I knew it, we were at Hogwarts, and I quickly ran off the train with my trunk and hopped into a carriage. I peered around and noticed a boy sitting in the corner with headphones attached to a Cd player.

"Um do you mind?" I asked as he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes.

"Nope not at all. Make yourself at home."

I said thank you as I took a seat across from him. Before I knew it I was studying him. He was pretty cute. Brown hair, no bangs, high cheek-bones, and a beautiful smile. He was wearing jeans with a dark blue shirt, a little too small for him. Just like how Harry wears his. Then I started watching the way he skipped songs he didn't want to listen to.

"How is that working on Hogwarts ground? Isn't that a muggle Cd player?" I asked my eyebrows furrowing together.

"Nope I transfigured it."

"Oh," I said blushing, feeling really stupid, "What songs do you have on there?" I felt the carriage tug a little signaling we were now currently moving.

"It's a mix," he said glancing up, "it has Story of the Year, Simple Plan, Sum 41, and a couple others, mostly though all the bands are from the U.S."

"So they're all muggle bands?"

"Of course, I hate wizard music," he looked at me, "Err no offense or anything..."

"Trust me, none taken. I went in to a muggle music shop once, and bought a Sugarcult Cd for this Cd player I got for Christmas from my Dad."

"That's cool...I have a couple of their songs on here," he paused, "you want to listen to it?"

I looked down at my feet. "If you wouldn't mind..."

"No not at all." He handed me the Cd player. I put the headphones on and was immediately filled with the music I loved. One song filled my mind. I let the lyrics and beat steady myself.

I tried to be perfect,

But nothing was worth it,

I don't believe it makes me real,

I'd thought it be easy,

But no one believes me,

I meant all the things that I said.

If you believe it's in my soul,

I'd say all the words that I know,

Just to see if it would show,

That I'm trying to let you know,

That I'm better off on my own.

This place is so empty,

My thoughts are so tempting,

I don't know how it got so bad,

Sometimes it's so crazy,

That nothing can save me,

But it's the only thing that I have...

"Hello? Earth to whatever-your-name-is?" I saw a hand wave in front of my face. I quickly stood up and took the headphones off. "We're here."

I handed the Cd player to him. "Oh I'm sorry. I was zoned out. I loved the song. My name is Ginny Weasly by the way. Yours?"

"Ian," he quickly glanced at me, "I like your name."

"Thanks, I like yours too."

"Well I've got to go. I'm supposed to be meeting some McDonald or something."

"McGonagall."

"Yeah, whatever. Toodles!" Ian said running off.

"Toodles?" I muttered to myself. "What..."

: The Great Hall:

I didn't see Ian anywhere until I got to the Great Hall. I had been scanning the tables, finally realizing that I had never seen him before. Then the Sorting Ceremony began, and I cheered for the little kids that got in Gryffindor and 'booed the little kids who were stuck in Slytherin. Then at the end, instead of picking up the hat and the feast beginning, McGonagall announced that there was a transfer student from America, and would be in my year, 6th. That's when I saw Ian. He walked up there and sat on the Sorting Hat's stool, and McGonagall put the hat on his head.

"May I introduce to you students, Ian Kythe." McGonagall said, stepping away from the stool.

There was a moments silence before the Sorting Hat yelled, "Gryffindor!" I immediately sprang up and screamed along with many other girls who were screaming and shouting out cat calls.

He walked toward the table and looked around. He was invited to come sit with many people, but declined with a shake of his head. He then continued walking, and finally reached the end of the table. Where I had sat down back in my seat. He looked straight at me.

"Is this seat taken?" I saw many glares coming from other girls, but I looked around me. All the seats were open.

"I guess not." At that moment the food appeared, and he sat down with a look of amazement on his face.

"Shit! You guys get this much every day?"

"Yeah... The house-elves make it all for us." I looked at him like he was strange, but he didn't seem to notice.

"In my old school we got like nothing, but here-" He was interrupted by what I should of seen coming-Madeleine Richards.

The prettiest girl in the whole school. I knew this was too good to last.

"Excuse me for interrupting bu-" She started off in that really preppy voice of hers. You know the kind that makes you want to strangle somebody. Ian turned and looked at her.

"You're not excused." He said in a really dry voice. I really wanted to laugh right then, but I held it in.

"Uh. That's like so totally mean. Anyways I was wondering if you like had a girlfriend? Cause you know me and you would be like so totally perfect for each other!" She smiled way too much. Reminded me of a muggle horror movie.

"No I don't, and I think we woul- ." Ian's voice was still sounding very bored like he had been through this a whole bunch of times.

"Would what?" She said getting excited. I was rolling my eyes and she noticed, so she glared at me. I glared back.

"Be like so not totally perfect for each other!" He made his voice really high and weird sounding. The people that heard him started laughing. I was laughing so hard I almost fell off the bench.

Then Madeleine-Maddy-'s smile was whipped off her face, and was replaced by a frown. She glared at him and everyone who was laughing, and said quietly so only Ian and I could hear her. "You have no idea who you are messing with. If you know what's best for you, you should stay away from the Weasel over there." She nodded her head at me while saying this.

"Why?" Oh how innocent he looked. Just like a little puppy who didn't know his little 'present' was a bad thing.

"Because some people are better left alone, all by themselves."

"You mean like you."

"Uh no. Just remember what I said. My offer is still standing for whenever you realize that I'm what's right for you."

"You must not understand. You want me to spell it out for you? I d-o-n-t l-i-k-e y-o-u."

"Without me you're just a loser. But that's what you want right?" She didn't let him answer but stalked off.

I had finally stopped laughing. There were a couple of people clapping for him. But he pretended not to notice, and for a couple of moments we talked about little things. I really liked this guy as a friend. He seemed to feel the same about me I think. We had the same interests. He even liked Quidditch! I told him I was a Chaser and that there was an opening for another Chaser this year. Ian said he'd think about it.

It was the longest amount of time that I hadn't thought of Harry.

Before I knew it the dishes were slowly disappearing, and Dumbledore stood up.

"I think this year you students would like to know that Hogwarts is hosting a 'beginning of the year' ball. It will be in three weeks, and you must dress formally. There will be a Hogsmeade trip next weekend and then another one the week after, so you can get everything you need." Dumbledore then smiled and sat back down. There were many cheers, claps, and groans. Many of the girls were already flirting with guys or talking about who they hoped would ask them.

I looked at Harry. He was talking to Lavender. Great.

Ian groaned.

"Upset that you have to ask a girl are you?" I asked standing up.

"No, upset that I will be asked a million times to go with someone." He said, also standing up and following me out the doors and through the hallways. I was already hoping that Harry would be asking me. It would be the perfect fairytale romance.

"Someone's a little full of themselves."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Okay. Whatever. Believe what you want to believe. It's not my fault though that my handsomeness makes all the girls weak at the knees." He walked ahead of me.

"You don't make me weak at the knees! Hey wait up!" I ran to catch up.

"What?"

"Isn't there anyone who you would want to go with?" I asked finally catching up. I was a little curious, yet the thought of Harry wouldn't escape my mind. 'I wonder if he has thought about asking anyone yet...'

"Well you see, there is this one girl..." He began. He looked a little unsure of himself. We reached the portrait.

"Password?" The Fat Lady said. Ian jumped and I laughed. I climbed through the hole that had appeared once the portrait opened. Ian climbed through after me.

"The freaking portraits talk!"

I giggled, very cheesy, I know. "Yep every single one."

He opened his mouth in amazement.

"So which girl is this that you would be interested in?" I walked all the way over to the other side of the Common Room, and took a seat on the couch. He walked over and jumped on top of it, and then slid down in to a half sitting half falling off the couch kind of position. I don't see how it was very comfy.

"Well you see, I k-" And for the second time that day he was interrupted. He seemed pretty annoyed, and glanced over to see who it was. It was Ron, Hermione, and Harry walking over to them.

"Hey Love!" Called Harry, the culprit of the interruption. Ian shot a glare at him.

"Aren't you going to introduce us to your little friend here sis?" Asked Ron glancing at Ian.

"Sure," I said dryly," Ron-Ian, Ian-Ron," Ron and Ian shook hands, and then I pointed at Harry, "Harry-Ian, Ian-Harry," they did the same thing, then I turned toward Hermione, "Hermione-Ian, Ian-Hermione."

"Pleasure to meet you." Said Hermione.

"Trust me, the pleasures all mine." He smirked at her, which caused her to blush and giggle. Ron though didn't think it very cute or funny, but instead glared at Ian, who in seeing this, smiled at Ron like he didn't see that Ron had the biggest crush in the world on her. I think it may even be bigger than the crush I have on Harry, but I have never been able to find out.

After a little while of interrogating Ian they went up to their dormitories. Harry and Ron glanced at Ian unsurely every now and then, which made my heart pound. Harry might be jealous of Ian! No maybe not, or wait what was that I just saw flicker in his eyes...Jealousy? But I didn't think of Ian in that kind of way. He was more of a friend. Harry on the other hand was what I wanted.

"You know your brother Ron has a humungo crush on Hermione right?"

"Yeah, you could tell couldn't you?"

"Definitely."

I kicked my shoes off, and swung my legs over onto the couch, and put my feet on Ian's lap.

"Eww get those things off of me." He pretended to hold his nose and began making gagging noises.

"Never!" I laughed.

"Why not?"

"Because you are a comfy foot stool."

"Glad to be of service for you madam."

"Why thank you kind sir!" He laughed this time. I'm guessing because of my immaturity. Of course on the other hand he wasn't that mature either.

"Here I'll move for you." I took my feat off of him, and turned my body around and laid my head on his lap. I stared up at him. "Better?"

"Why of course. In stead of seeing this beautiful lady's feet I get the pleasure of looking at her pretty face. I guess now instead of a comfy foot stool, I'm a comfortable pillow."

"That would appear to be the case." For some reason I had this odd feeling we were flirting with each other. I think when Ron was here he noticed it too.

I smiled up at Ian. He was looking down at me. I could smell his scent. I couldn't figure out what it was, but it didn't matter. It was a very good smell.

"So..."

"Sooo?" I said imitating him.

"Is there anyone you want to ask or be asked by to the dance thingy?" He looked down at me.

"We're back on this subject? I was hoping you would have forgotten!"

He laughed yet again, "Nope I remember."

"Crap." I looked around me and up both staircases.

"Well?"

I leaned up and whispered in his ear. "You promise not to tell anyone?"

He leaned near me, his breath tickling my ear. I giggled. I was getting tired of giggling, but he was the kind of person that makes you giggle. Take Hermione for example. She doesn't giggle, but she did didn't she? Guess who made her. Nope, not Ron. Ian. Ron knows she doesn't giggle too. I guess that's why he was so ticked off at Ian.

He looked at me questioningly.

"It tickles."

"What tickles?"

"Your breath."

"What do you mean? Like this?" He leaned in further and breathed real softly on my ear. I giggled. It was kind of seductive. I felt like kissing him right then, but then Harry's picture came to mind and I leaned back a little. "But yeah, I promise."

"What?" I looked at him and he just stared back. Then it clicked. "Oh yeah sorry. Well you see...I've kind of had this crush on...umm Harry for a really long time." I glanced around the room, and then back at him. His smile was gone, and then in a second it was back like a flash of lightning.

"Well that would explain a lot." Ian said sighing.

I felt confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well for starters you each looked at each other a lot." I was about to argue with him about it, but he brought up his finger and stuck it over my lips, silencing me from speaking further, and making me blush slightly. "Then there is the fact that whenever he came in the room you perked up, and then when he left you slouched back down." His finger remained on my lips. "He was also glaring at me when I sat down next to you at the table, so I just assumed...well yeah who wouldn't? And for the last one there is also the fact, that when your headmaster announced the dance, you glanced at him, and at the time you turned your head back, he looked at you."

I took his finger off my lips. "Don't ever do that to me again."

"What? You mean place my fingers so delicately on your crimson lips?" He said sounding very professional. Kind of like that muggle Shakespeare guy.

"You make it sound like a good thing."

"Oh come on we both know you liked it. It's not a bad thing to just admit it." See sometimes he is a little too full of himself.

"I did not like it!"

"Then how come you blushed?"

"I was blushing at what you said!"

"Well then if you disliked it so much why didn't you take my finger off before I was done talking?"

"I...uh... well you see..." I was confused. If I liked Ian as a friend then why had I liked it so much? Maybe it was because I had always wanted Harry to do that kind of stuff to me, maybe it was because my feelings for Ian started growing a little less platonic. Either way I was stuck looking like an idiot.

"See you did." He stated matter of fact like. He was smiling real big at me now, I guess happy that he had won our little war. "So... do you want me to ask him to the dance for you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Didn't you hear what Hermione said?"

"Ummm...," he grinned sheepishly, "Uh...maybe."

I smiled. "She said it was a masquerade." (sp?)

"You're going to have to drop me a line here. I'm not good with big words. It's a what?" He looked at me weird like he had no idea what was going through my mind at that moment. Which was weird because otherwise he seemed to know what I was like.

"It's a masquerade." I still got weird looks from him. I sighed. "Masquerades are like dances or parties where everyone dresses up in masks and stuff trying to hide their disguise. That's why I'm not asking Harry. I'm not going with anyone."

An understanding expression crossed his face. "Ohhh that would make since. Well I'm not going with anyone either."

"You don't want anyone to know what you are going to look like either?"

"No I'm not going at all."

"Why is that?"

"Social outings aren't my thing."

"Oh well it probably won't be fun anyways."

We sat in silence. I would look around the room, and then look back at Ian who I would sometimes catch staring at me. It was a weird feeling. I was going to try and signal to him that I really liked Harry.

"Friends?" I asked hoping he would realize that is all I wanted to be.

He looked down at me, and shook his head.

"What do you mean?" It was one of those questions you were supposed to agree to, so I was rather confused. Ian got a mischevious grin on his face, and I immediately had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I mean I don't want to be friends..."

Okay well that one left me in a state of shock. So I was a little unaware when he added the last part.

"…Because friends don't do this." Then I understood. He leaned down, and kissed me. I'm not talking about the 'I'm kissing you for the first time' kind of kiss. I'm taking about the full out French kissing thing here. Not only was I in love with Harry, but I had just met Ian today!

Once my senses were back, I pulled away from him, and jumped up. 'I'm not going to run away, and then wonder later what this is all about…Not going to run away…'

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what that was." He was still surprised that I had pulled away from him, and he sat there staring at me.

"Ian Kythe! You better tell me what that was for or I'll…I'll…" I had nothing I could do to him, and he seemed to notice this. He stood up, and took a step toward me.

"Or you'll what?" He smiled.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. He took this moment to clamp his mouth on mine, and kiss me again, very passionately. But this time, I didn't pull away.