A/N This chapter is set in GoF, and there will be more than one chapter for this book and the rest of them. I may go back and add in a couple in the beginning. Thanks!
"So, er, I was, erm, wondering er... Ginny will you go to the ball with me?" The nervous voice said.
Ginny kept her eyes on the common room floor, not daring to glance up; she did not want to find out the identity of her suitor. But when she saw a pair of chubby hands fidgeting, the sliver of hope she had was replaced by an overwhelming sense of disappointment. At long last, she lifted her head and stared the Gryffindor boy square in the face.
"Yes, Neville. I'd be delighted," Ginny replied. She smiled when she saw the somber look on his face relax into an expression of baffled relief.
"You... you will?" He had not yet regained his composure. But when he saw that she was not teasing- as so many had done before- a grin crept onto his face. "Thanks, Ginny!"
Neville turned and walk-tripped up the stairs to his dormitory.
Ginny leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.
Wow, how could I have let myself hope so wildly? I should know by now that he'll never come around to fancying me. After all, he's Harry Potter.
She plastered on a wide grin as George came walking toward her.
"Hey sis, what's got you so smiley?" Her older brother asked.
"Nothing," Ginny replied.
"Does it have to do with the fact that one Neville Longbottom just asked you to the ball?" he asked.
At this, George's twin joined the conversation. "Well now, young Harry is going to be very distraught," Fred said. "But don't jump out of your knickers in glee," he added when he caught sight of Ginny's dejected expression.
"What are you two on about?" She countered with an eye-roll.
"Our ickle Ronniekins and his dear friend Harry don't have dates," George said. "So, The Boy Who Doesn't Have a Girlfriend could have done with a lady for the occasion."
"But it's too late now, isn't it?" Fred finished with a wink.
Ginny fixed George with a whack on the ear, and Fred with a pinch on the arm. The twins hurried off, groaning and nursing their new injuries.
So, he hasn't even asked anyone. Maybe Neville would understand if-
She cut off the thought with an internal head shake.
Merlin's beard, stop getting your hopes up like that! It's not going to happen.
But Ginny couldn't help staring as Harry sauntered up to his dormitory, not even sparing a glance for the group of googly-eyed sixth years vying for his attention.