Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Ginny enjoyed Quidditch practice, though managed not to look at Harry too much. Dean seemed troubled that Ginny was gone one evening every week, but Ginny thought she'd address that during their date.
On the first Hogsmeade weekend, in mid-October, Ginny dressed extra carefully. She looked at herself in the mirror in the corner of the dormitory, trying to figure out how best to do her hair.
"Just leave it out," said a voice behind Ginny as she fiddled with her hair. Ginny turned to see Leila staring at her groggily from her bed.
"But it's just so plain and-"
"Your hair's beautiful. Trust me, Dean'll thank you for it," said Leila and she went back to sleep. Ginny sighed, looked at herself in the mirror and did her hair in a ponytail. It was, after all, her hair and not Leila's.
She walked downstairs just in time to see Dean disappear through the portrait hole. She ran out and was about to turn towards the Great Hall when a voice from the other direction called, "Ginny!"
Ginny turned around to see Professor Dumbledore.
"Good Morning sir," said Ginny, slightly nervous.
"I wonder, could you give this to Harry?" said Dumbledore.
"Okay, sir," said Ginny, taking the scroll he held out.
She pocketed the scroll and walked down to the Great Hall to find Dean at the far end of the table. She went and joined him. After breakfast, they went out into the Entrance Hall.
"Oh, wait here," said Ginny to Dean. She walked back into the Great Hall and took out the scroll Dumbledore had given her.
"Hey Harry," she said when she finally reached him. "I'm supposed to give you this."
"Thanks, Ginny," said Harry. He muttered something to Ron and Hermione, and then said, "Want to join us in Hogsmeade, Ginny."
"I'm going with Dean – might see you there," she replied, waving as she went back to Dean.
Ginny and Dean walked through the oak front doors after being searched by Filch with a Secrecy Sensor. There was a strong breeze and they walked bent double against the wind.
"Let's go to Madam Pudifoot's," suggested Dean when they finally reached Hogsmeade.
"Yeah, okay," said Ginny. They walked into the coffee shop and sat down at one of the circular tables.
"What can I get you m'dears?" said the very stout, black haired Madam Pudifoot.
"One milkshake, two straws," said Dean. "Ginny, what flavour?"
"Strawberry thanks," said Ginny. Madam Pudifoot walked away to prepare their milkshake.
"So what's been going on with you," said Dean, leaning back in his chair.
"Oh, well, I'm trying to set up Rose with this guy. I just need some time. She's really depressed. I mean, I've got you, and Leila's got Colin and she's absolutely gorgeous but no one will date her."
"So how's Quidditch?" asked Dean, trying and failing to act as though this was a throw-away question.
"Good," said Ginny. Dean looked uncomfortable and Ginny was about to comfort him when Madam Pudifoot arrived.
"There you go, one strawberry milkshake, two straws," she said, taking their drink off the tray and putting it on the table.
"Thanks," said Ginny and Dean. They leaned forwards over the table and took a sip out of the milkshake.
"So how's N.E.W.T?" said Ginny.
"We have to do non-verbal spells now," said Dean.
"So is that why you always look like you've taken U-NO-POO when you're doing your homework," said Ginny. Dean laughed.
"Suppose so," said Dean.
Dean took Ginny's hands on the table.
"So what's it like with Rose?" said Dean.
"It's all she thinks about. I swear it's really bad for her. And I'm getting behind on my homework thinking about the plan. And because of you," said Ginny.
"Sorry, but I can't help it," said Dean. They leaned over the sugar bowl and kissed. Afterwards, they sipped the rest of their milkshake.
"Do you want to go to Honeydukes?" said Ginny.
"Yeah alright," said Dean. They got up and went to the counter.
"I'll get it," said Dean. He payed Madam Pudifoot and he and Ginny walked out of the coffee shop just in time to see three figures walking out of Honeydukes – Harry, Hermione and Ron. Apparently they didn't see her, which was good because Ron would have totally flipped at the sight of Dean.
They walked into Honeydukes and shared some Muggle fairy floss. Afterwards, Dean was about to kiss Ginny when he backed away and pulled her hair-tie out.
"Why didn't you want to let your hair out for our date? You always have your hair out. Were you holding back on me?" asked Dean, pouting falsely.
Ginny giggled and smiled at Dean. He kissed her and then they decided to go up to the castle.
When they arrived at the common room, they found that there were many people there, including Harry, Hermione and Ron, who were sitting by the fire, talking. Hermione walked over to Ginny and pulled her aside.
"As I was saying in the holidays, so you're not just using Dean to get to Harry?" she asked.
"No, I think I actually love him," said Ginny, and she was quite angry at Hermione. She wanted to finish her date properly.
"Okay then. What's been going on with you?" said Hermione.
"Well, erm, Rose is seriously worried about how Leila and I have a boyfriend and she doesn't, so I was thinking of setting her up by-"
"Ginny," called Dean, "did you hear about Katie Bell?"
"What happened?" asked Ginny.
"She was under the Imperius Curse. She was taking a package up to the castle and then it ripped and she touched the necklace inside it and got cursed," said Hermione.
"Is she okay?" asked Ginny, scared.
"She's in the hospital wing. She only touched a little bit of the necklace, luckily. But I don't know how much Madam Pomfrey can do; we're talking about seriously dark magic," said Hermione.
"Who Imperiused her?" asked Dean.
"Well, no one knows for sure. We have our theories, well Harry does-"
"But if no one knows," said Dean, hastily interjecting Hermione for some reason, "then isn't it likely to happen again?"
"Well, yes," said Hermione, looking at Dean with a surveying look through slightly squinted eyes.
"That's terrible," said Ginny.
She sat down in a nearby armchair. Was the situation really that bad? Maybe Ginny really didn't know what it was like last time Voldemort was at large. She sighed. Was anyone safe anymore?
Dear Diary,
As I write this I'm lying down next to Dean. Hey, don't get you're ideas. We're on the common room floor, stomach down, talking, alright? But the big news of the day is that Katie Bell, Gryffindor Chaser, you know her, well you don't, but anyway, got cursed today at Hogsmeade. I know!
Anyways, Dean just asked what I'm writing, and I said, "If you think I'm going to tell you what I'm writing you've got another thing coming." And, guess what that other thing was?
I'll give you a hint: Ron would have given me a right scolding if he was here,
Ginny
