AN. Wops, the link didn't show up in the end of the last chapter, so here it is again^^" .

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Chapter 4

It was the end of November and Ginny Weasley was standing in front of a huge mirror, trying on some of her new cloths. A week had passed since her and Malfoy's visit to Hogsmeade and for the sixth time that week, she was trying to decide which cloths to wear. Before, she had had troubles choosing her garment because lack of clothing; now she was having the opposite problem!

Life was ironic sometimes.

Finally deciding on a dark purple top and a pair of knee-long trousers, she moved on to putting on some make-up. This week's coaching had consisted of Malfoy teaching her how to dress correctly as well as putting on make-up. Once again, her coach had stunned her with his hidden skills, yet at the same time made her thoughtful. Why in the world did Malfoy know how to put on make-up?

Of course, the blonde was multi-talented, but there was a limit to how much he could and should know!

Despite having these questions swirling around in her head the whole week, she decided that it was better not to ask. Some things are better left unsaid.

Finishing with a bit of rouge on her cheeks, the Gryffindor looked at her reflection in the mirror and nodded approvingly. She was ready to eat breakfast.

As she walked down the stairs, she met up with Hermione and Ron, whom also seemed to be heading for the Great Hall.

"Good morning Ginny", Hermione said and took a look at her. "Are you wearing new cloths again?"

Out of all the people Ginny knew, Hermione was the only one that had taken notice of her new cloths during the whole week.

"Yes, I am", she replied hastily and avoided Hermione's eyes.

Ron turned his head towards her. "You got new cloths?" He asked and looked at her in surprise. "How'd you afford that?"

"Em.. Fred and George gave me some money for my birthday and I saved it all for something special."

"They gave you money for your birthday?!" Ron gaped at her. "The only thing I got was a bag filled with puking pastilles!"

Ron continued to voice his discontent about this injustice as they made their way down the stairs and Ginny was certain that her explanation would stop any further questions about her new wardrobe.

That was until she glanced at Hermione.

The frizzy-haired girl was eyeing her suspiciously and appeared to be trying to put something together in her mind. Something that would put Ginny in a rather unpleasant situation.

What was it with Hermione and always letting her brain do all the work? Couldn't she for once STOP thinking?

Trying to divert the elder girl's thoughts, Ginny spoke. "Where's Harry?"

The question made Hermione uncomfortable, and she gave Ginny a sad look. "Well, he's…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Ron cut the brunette off. "He's off trying to work up the courage to ask Cho to the Yule Bal", Ron said and ruined Ginny's day. "It's only three weeks left you know!"

Hermione gave Ginny yet another sad look; the elder girl had found out about Ginny's feelings for the Boy Who Lived some years ago and realized what an effect Ron's information would have on her.

Ginny stopped in her tracks. "I just remembered I forgot something", she murmured and before the other two could say anything, she turned around and rushed up the stairs.

Before closing the door behind her, she heard a cry of agony, coming from her brother and Hermione who was "sincerely sorry" for accidentally kicking him in the shin.

Closing the door behind her, Ginny fell down to the floor and sat there. All the confidence and self-esteem she had built up these last few weeks has vanished and been replaced with despair.

What good did it do to have these coaching lessons if Harry kept on pursuing Cho? If all he could see was that Asian beauty, how would Ginny have a chance to ever capture his heart?

She shouldn't let this put her down, she had after all yet to confess her feelings to the Boy Who Lived. In addition, since she had done nothing in order to make the boy interested in her, there was no way he would have lost his interest in Cho.

But still…

For what seemed to be ages, but really was only a half and hour, Ginny remained on the floor and was devoured by her sorrow. Then, after deciding that mourning wouldn't get her anywhere, she pulled herself together. After all, she still had a way to go before she had become a man-eater and when that time finally came, who knew what Harry might think of her then?

Heading for the Great Hall, she let this one thought comfort her.

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The breakfast was well needed and helped to improve Ginny's mood. It was amazing what a few slices of bread, a cup of pumpkin juice and a bowl of cereals could do to make you feel better!

However, no matter how delicious the breakfast may have been, nothing could save Ginny from the hurt she would feel from the shocking news she was soon to be told.

Rushing through the Hall, Harry headed towards the Gryffindor table and called the names of his two best friends.

Stopping in front of Ron and Hermione, the black-haired boy took a couple of deep breaths in order to regain his breath before speaking.

"Cho said she might go to the bal with me!" The grin on the boy's face was wide. "Can you believe it?"

All air escaped from Ginny's lungs.

No, please not this.

"That's great mate!" Ron said and returned Harry's smile.

No, it was horrible.

Hermione was more hesitant to what Harry had said. "She might go with you to the bal?" She asked, with a pensive look on her face. "So she is not certain that she wants to accompany you?"

Hope, a slight hope, building up inside of her…

"No, that's not it. She might not be here during the Christmas, since her parents wanted to spend it with her. But she will try to do whatever she can to make them change their mind, she really wants to go with me!" Harry's smile widened.

… only to be crushed by a few words.

Having endured as much as she possible could, the red-head drank the last of her juice, before leaving two cheerful boys and a concerned girl behind.

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For the second time that day, Ginny was consumed by sorrow. Self-pity was not something she often practised, but today she could think of no other way to handle her hurt.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID boy for making her feel this way. And silly little girl for getting hurt by this! Had she not already convinced herself that Harry was still out of her reach as long as she acted the way she currently did? So why did it hurt her so much? Why did it feel like her heart was about to break?

Maybe it was because of Cho's new-found interest in the boy. Before, the Asian had always over-looked him, making Ginny believe that she had a chance to gain Harry's affection, but now? Now the feeling appeared to be mutual and what could she do? She knew deep down that if the two of them got together, she would never be able to try to steal the boy away from Cho. After all, Harry had had a tough time and deserved to be happy, so if that happiness was with Cho, how could Ginny deny him that?

But still, stupid boy for making her feel this way! Perhaps it would all be better if she gave up on him and moved on with her life?

Or should she proceed with the coaching, and cling to that last shred of hope?

Lost in thoughts, the day went on and Ginny kept on hiding in her haven: an abandoned classroom not that different from the one she usually had her coaching in.

The afternoon came and passed and Ginny realized that it might be a good idea to return to the common room soon, so that she would not be caught after the curfew. However, every time she had decided on heading back, she remembered why she was there and became discouraged once again.

It was not until the door opened, that Ginny was able to move, if only it was to stand up and see who it was in the doorway.

Entering the room, Luna wore a distant look on her face and a ridiculous-looking hat on top of her head while holding a strange piece of metal in her hand that was glowing with a faint green light.

Suffering from a lack of words, mainly because the bright orange hat with stuffed pixies here and there had captured all her attention, Ginny simply gaped at Luna with amazement. It seemed that the Ravenclaw would never cease to surprise her.

"Oh Ginny, are you also looking for Clerpocks?" Luna said when she noticed the other girl and put down the metal piece and went over to the red-head.

"Em… Not really", she replied.

"Oh, okay", Luna said before taking a seat next to her.

After a few minutes of silence, the blonde spoke. "It is Harry isn't it?"

Shocked by this sudden question, Ginny couldn't do anything else than nod.

Luna looked up in the roof and seemed to look at something Ginny couldn't see. "Is it that he asked Cho to the Yule Bal? She was talking about it in the common room earlier."

The Gryffindor remained quiet and looked at the same spot as Luna. It appeared that there was a crack in the roof.

"You know, Clerpocks can only be found in dark corners", the Ravenclaw said after another couple of minute of silence. "They can't stand the sun nor open spaces."

It was oddly comforting to hear about the Clerpocks, whom seemed to be unknown by the rest of the world with the exception of Luna's father, and it took Ginny's mind of everything else. It might have been what the Ravenclaw had had in her mind, maybe not. It was Luna Lovegood after all and how her mind worked was a mystery yet to be solved.

Whatever the case was, Ginny slowly felt better and was soon able to ask various questions about these strange creatures. She even managed to try to look for the Clerpocks together with Luna.

After an hour or so of searching, Ginny glanced towards the window and noticed that it was rather dark. If she didn't return to the common room soon, she might be caught by Filch after curfew and that was not really something she felt like doing today.

Deciding that the search would have to end for the day, she and Luna made their way towards the door and left the classroom. They walked side by side, talking a bit, before they parted on the second floor and headed to respective common rooms.

Silently walking down the corridor, Ginny felt peckish. Of course, it was not to be unexpected, since she had not eaten anything since breakfast, many hours ago.

So, as she had passed through the portrait hole, she summoned a house elf and asked for a sandwich or such to be brought to her as quickly as possible. The house elf bowed and eagerly replied that he would get right to it, before disappearing with a puff.

Not wanting to head to the dormitory quite yet, she sat down in the almost empty common room in an armchair near the fire, awaiting her food.

It soon arrived and she happily munched on the chicken sandwich and hot cup of tea the elf had brought her.

As she sat there, finishing her meal, someone came from behind and placed a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she found Hermione standing there with a worried face. Was that to be the new expression Hermione was to make every time she saw Ginny?

"Are you alright? I didn't see you during dinner", Hermione said as she sat down in a sofa opposite of Ginny.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I got caught up with looking after Clerpocks", the red-head replied and smiled.

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Another AN! =O

What? No Draco in this one? Unfortunately not, but I promise he will be in the next one =P Oh and sorry if this chapter might not be that joyful, but it simply ended up that way ^.^" Hopefully the next one will be better ^_^"