Name: Golden Trio Back in Session

Setting: Ginny's POV

Date: October 1998

Book I/Chapter: 6

Notes: Here's where Black & Pink get interesting. Hope you guys like it & thank you for all the latest reviews, so keep it going! =) Plus, here's a question for you guys. Do you think Astoria is putting an act on everyone around her? If you like to answer it, then mention your answer in your review. Heart you fans! =)

It was just like the old times. The memories I once had with the trio seem all like a blur, like it was from another lifetime. But it was. It was another lifetime ago. I happened to be the luckiest person in the world to be friends with the most popular Slytherins, who disliked Weasley's, and also hated Gryffindors. Man, I should never take advantage of this, ever.

I remember when I first started talking to Draco and the rest of them. I disliked Hermione at the time. Harry and I were in an awkward stage because I didn't fully accept our break-up. And Ron was just Ron. He hated Draco the first day he meet Draco. It was such a drag to explain to Ron that nothing was going on, and that I simply had a detention from him. I was clearly wrong.

I was back at the Head Quarters with the trio and Draco. They haven't exactly greeted Draco properly, but I knew he wasn't going to greet them either. So, I ignored it for now.

"So, what's the latest news back at home?" I asked eagerly. I only wrote to Ron or Hermione a couple times, but it was just the basics.

"Mom's good, still cleaning obsessively." Ron commented. I smiled. "Dad is working late as usual."

"Get to the juicy part." I said impatiently. I knew they were hiding something. It was a gift I recently picked up.

Hermione was the one that answered my question. She didn't seem at all hesitate like the other two. "Ron proposed to me." She held out her left hand and showed off her diamond ring. Ron smiled widely. Draco snickered in his hand.

"Is that the new thing or something?" I snapped. I didn't mean to come off rudely, but still.

First, it was my brother Bill getting married to Fleur, which was two years ago. But I swear, ever since then, everyone I knew was getting married. Who's next, Blaise and Pansy?

"I thought you would be thrilled." Ron said. This didn't affect him when I didn't respond the correct way. If that was me, then I would defiantly be offended.

"Don't take it personal, Weasley. She's just upset because she hasn't gotten a proposal." Draco continued to snicker. Not about me, but for Ron.

"Oh, well that's okay. You're too young anyways." He shrugged it off. I rolled my eyes. I turned to Harry.

"So, what brings you here to Hogwarts? It couldn't be just to see me, is it?" I raised my eyebrow at him. It was joke I was playing, but Harry laughed and shifted in his seat uncomfortably as though my joke was actually true.

"Uh, not exactly," He paused to think. "I'm searching for something I lost here at the castle." He responded awkwardly.

Draco also took notice at Harry's comfort zone. "That's a typical response." He sarcastically said.

"What are you doing here then, Malfoy?" Harry snapped.

"I'm an assistant coach, Potter." He rolled his eyes. "At least I have a real reason for being here."

"Anyways," I leaned in closer to the trio and started talking uncontrollably with them. Draco groaned from his chair.

I did felt bad that I was putting my focus on the three people he hated, but they were my friends. I couldn't exactly shut them down just for him. It's not like he would stop loving Astoria just so he can love me all for himself. So he had to suffer like I'm suffering from him. He knew this very well and had to stay put.

That morning I was in the kitchen making myself something to eat. Draco went off with Blaise to Hogsmeade. Ron and Hermione were still sleeping. And Harry. Well, he was in the shower.

I got this strong vibe from Harry, and I don't know if that's a good thing. He has changed since the time I seen him. His tidy black hair was growing out tremendously. His emerald eyes were still perfect as ever. His smile was still adorable as I remembered it. Whenever I'm around him I felt shy.

I was eating my toast as those thoughts ran through my head. I could be attracted to Harry again. That was a defiant possibility, but nothing more. It's okay to be attracted to your ex-boyfriend while having a boyfriend, right? It was like saying I was attracted to a famous guy while I was dating a guy. My slight crush is harmless.

As I was running through these thoughts and telling myself I wasn't into Harry in that way, Luna walked in. I instantly felt guilty by thinking Harry was attractive when I knew my best friend also had a thing for him.

"Is he here?" She smiled brightly. I nodded my head.

"He's in the shower." I told her.

"So, has he mentioned me at all?" She sat at the counter with me and took a drink out of my orange juice.

"Uh, Luna there's something you need to know about," I stopped dead when I saw Harry coming out of the bathroom and had a huge smile on his face.

I glared at Luna. She had no clue what I was about to say about him. She was too forced smiling at him.

"Hey, Luna, it's nice to see you." He said politely.

He looked so buff and fit from his tight blue shirt. He wore a pair of grey jeans. He totally looked great. I hated myself for thinking like that.

"What brings you here to Hogwarts?" Luna asked him. She turned her head slightly and winked at me. I shyly smiled.

"I lost a possession of mine at the school so I'll be here for a couple of day trying to find it." He said simply. I already knew the story because he had told it yesterday.

I thought back to it. Draco kept laughing at whatever Harry was saying. I wasn't sure if he was being rude, or he just thought Harry's words were funny. Either way, I glared at Draco darkly.

"Ginny," I shook out of my thoughts and glared at Harry. He was smiling. "Are you okay?" He asked me.

"She's always in her thoughts." Luna said. "Ever since Astoria and Draco are getting engaged,"

"Luna!" I looked at her with wide eyes. No know outside of the Royal Slytherins knew about the engagement about Astoria and Draco. We all wanted to keep it a secret before Christmas when Draco actually makes the announcement. But now, the secret was revealed because of Luna.

"Wait, what?" Harry looked alarmed by this. He glared at me. "Ginny, what's going on? I thought you and Malfoy were together?"

I heisted before answering. "We are."

"So why is he engaged to Daphne's little sister?" Harry's voice was no longer curious. He was beginning to get angry.

I shot Luna a dark glare before answering him. "Okay, if I tell you, then you have to promise you won't tell Ron and Hermione. Can you promise not to tell them?" Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to or not. He looked at Luna than to me, and then back at Luna.

"Fine," He looked at me. "I promise I won't tell the others." I trusted his words.

"About two months ago Astoria's parents made arrangements with Draco's parents to get permission if their daughter can marry their son. His parents agreed. So, Draco's forced to marry her, but he's finding a way out of it because he loves me. He's going to announce the engagement at the Christmas ball. Soon after, he's going to break it off."

"And Ginny and Draco will live their happy ending the way it's supposed to be." Luna finished off.

She smiled at me when she noticed I was starting to tense up. That didn't help me at all. It was the way Harry was looking at me that caused me to tense up. I knew he was angry, but I didn't know how much angry he was. He was silent for a long time that Astoria's loud entrance attracted his attention.

"Was I interrupting something?" She sounded like she was curious. I rolled my eyes at her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her rudely. I was in no mood of arguing with her. I had better things to do than beat her at her own game.

"I want us to hang out again." Her bright blue eyes landed on Luna. "When I mean by "us" I mean you and me." She took her eyes away from Luna and looked at me.

What was she doing? Did she honestly think I wanted her around me? I didn't even want to be her friend after the way she backstabbed me. I started laughing.

"Astoria, you can't expect me to be friends with you again after stabbing me in the back. You want to take Draco away from me, don't you?" I asked her directly. She looked taken back from the question.

"The whole arrange marriage has got in my head. You were a true friend to me, and I appreciate that. I really do. Come on. We'll have a day of it just like the old times." In her eyes showed sadness. I wasn't sure if I wanted to believe her.

I also couldn't figure her out. It couldn't figure out if she was messing with my mind to convince she really wanted to be friends again. She's in Slytherin for Heaven sake! They were all cunning.

"Do you seriously believe this?" Luna looked angry and shook, but most of all, she looked hurt.

"I don't know." I said truthfully. My answer could've been either to Astoria or Luna. I continued talking to them at the same time. "It's hard to say. I don't know if I believe it or not."

"You'll find out what's right, Ginny." It was Harry. "You always do the right thing." He put his hand gently on my hand. I blushed for two reasons: one because Astoria was there and two because of Luna. Harry smiled when he saw my cheeks turn pink. This made me blush even harder.

Someone had cleared their throat, and it brought my attention back to reality. When my eyes meet with Draco's blue-grey eyes, I gasped in horror. He didn't look pleased. Harry slowly pulled his hand off my mine and instantly I felt the eclectic shock go away.

"What's going on here?" Draco was only speaking to Harry. "Potter, what did you just do to my girlfriend?" I knew Draco was holding his anger in, but it was obvious to everyone that he wanted to attack Harry right in the kitchen.

"Ginny and I are going shopping." Astoria said loudly. Draco looked at her in surprise. "Yeah, we were just leaving." She took my arm and pulled me out of the Head Quarters.

"Why did you do that for?" I asked angrily. I took my arm back from her grip.

"I was saving your butt that's what I was doing." She explained. She opened the door that led us out into the corridor. I slammed the portrait door shut.

"I don't need your saving." I said. She carelessly looked at me.

"Please save your hate toward me another day. I'm willing to put aside our differences and go shopping with you. Why don't you do the same?" She asked in a bored tone.

I faked laughed. "Because I don't want too that's why." I explained truthfully. She rolled her eyes.

"Draco was right. You are stubborn." She turned her back on me and started walking down the corridor. I stared at her in disbelief.

Draco talked about me with her? What else has he said about me? I wasn't sure if I should feel hurt or angry. I just had to know more.

"What else has he said about me, Astoria?' I asked her. She stopped walking and looked at me for a moment before speaking. She was probably deciding if she should tell me or not.

"He does love you, Ginny. It's obvious when he's with me. He talks about you all time." She started walking again, but she slowed her pace. "But you also have to know that he fell for me too. I didn't make him. He did it all his own. I really do love him. It tears my heart when he chooses you at the end of the night." I heard her snuffle. I looked at her and saw she was trying to hold onto her tears.

Astoria was different from most Slytherin girls. She wasn't afraid of expressing her feelings. She didn't care if she cried in front of a Gryffindor because in honest truth, I used to be her best friend.

"What about Derek? Whatever happened to him?" I asked her. I wasn't trying to be mean about it. I was curious if she ever thought about Derek the way she would think about Draco.

By the sound of his name, she broke into tears. I stopped her in the empty corridor and gently placed her against the wall. I'm not a mean person. I'm actually a nice, kind-hearted person that loves nature. But if someone pisses me off, then they see the other side of me. This is what happened with Astoria. She got me pissed off and hated her for that, but as I watched her cry. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for her.

When she stopped crying, she looked aware that she was crying. "I haven't cried like that since Derek and I broke up." She explained.

"You want to talk—" She cut me off by explaining what happened between them.

"One night during summer, I received a letter from him. He and I were friends at first, so when I got the fourth letter from him, he had asked me to be his girlfriend. I was thrilled and couldn't wait to respond back, but then Daphne distracted me and told me my parents wanted to speak with me. They explained to me they made an arrange marriage for me, and it was someone I knew. All they wanted for me was to be happy like how Daphne was, and I too wanted to be happy. So, they told me I had the choice to go on with the arrangement, but I told them I'll think about it." She paused. She tried as hard as she could to hold onto her tears that were desperately trying to escape. It was heartbreaking to watch her fight with her tears. I waited patiently for her to continue.

"The next day, I realized I haven't written Derek back, so when I went to retrieve his letter, it was gone. I ran to Daphne's bedroom and demanded for her to open up, but she had already left. So, I went downstairs and found my parents with Derek's letter. When they saw me, they started yelling at me. They told me his family was poor and that I shouldn't socialize with people like him. I started crying and begged them to understand, but they wouldn't listen. They said they were forcing me into this marriage after what I have done, and that was then I found out it was Draco they have chosen."

She turned to glare at me. Her sad eyes made my heart break. "I was also forced into this. My parents hate Derek and Draco's parents hate me. There's no win with us. Then one day we fell for each other, but he is truly, deeply, insanely in love with you, Ginny." She wiped her tears and started walking again.

I wasn't sure how to respond to this. No one ever mentioned Astoria's side of the story. Not even Daphne. Then I curiously wondered why she was telling me all this all of a sudden.

"Why did you tell me?" I asked her.

"You're my only friend." She said quietly.

"You still didn't tell me about Derek. What happened after he found out?" I was having a hard time catching up with her. We had just reached outside when she finally spoke.

"He never found out." She turned to glare at me. I raised my eyebrow. "I never told him. It was difficult facing him when I saw him the first day of school. Since then I never had the courage to tell him."

"You have to tell him." I told her.

"Why? It's better than what's left unsaid." She shrugged her shoulders like it was nothing. Wasn't she just crying about Derek moments ago?

"He has the right to know. If I were in your situation, I would've told Draco. It would've been hard, but I still do it anyway."

Astoria stopped walking again and turned to look at me. She titled her head to the side and stared at me interestedly.

"You would've told Draco, your true love that you were forced to marry another guy?" She asked.

"Yeah. It's better than ignoring him. That way he would've known the choice why I was ignoring him. Then again, I am dating him." I didn't mean to smile and rub it in her face. She looked hurt by it though and for some reason I didn't apologize.

"Doesn't sound like you? I think you would've waited until he found out. Because you are obviously great at hiding things from him and have him find out on his own." She shrugged her shoulders again and giggled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I defended myself. "When have I ever hide something from Draco and let him find out on his own?" I asked her angrily.

"Back in the beginning of the school year, you told him Colin was gay, but in fact he wasn't. You were ashamed of telling Draco that Colin was hitting on you, and you let him find out on his own."

"Actually, I told him before he found out." I snapped. She ignored me.

"Just now with you and Potter. You are defiantly in trouble with that one." She giggled again.

"There's nothing going on between me and Harry." I hid the squeak by coughing quietly. I wasn't sure if she caught onto that.

"You sure about that," Her smile was the smile of a Slytherin thinking cleverly. I tried to show no weak spots.

"I'm positive. Harry and I are strictly friends. It will remain like that forever. So, wipe off that smile." I snapped at her. She laughed.

"No one stops loving their first love." Astoria continued to laugh.

"Astoria," There was a new voice that entered to our conversation. I poked my head out to look behind her to find out who the mystery voice belonged too.

I gasped the same time she did when it was Derek, who was standing behind her. The atmosphere was oddly quiet for quite awhile. Astoria's blue eyes were wide and her jaw hanging open. She was clearly frozen and couldn't find any words to say. Not even a "Hello."

Derek stood there looking at her in confidence. I smiled at him. He was finally going to confront his feelings for her. It was perfect timing too. She really needed the comfort from her longtime crush.

"I wanted to talk to you." He said.

"About what," She was still in shock.

"Last summer. What happened? You never replied back to my letter. I was starting to think you didn't like me."

"I, I," She stumbled over her words for awhile. I did her a favor by pushing her roughly to the side. She glared at me darkly and then looked back at him. "I was about too, but something came up. I, I," She paused to look at me. Derek also looked at me. I thought I was getting the hint to leave, but Astoria's eyes showed fear. I knew why she was afraid.

"Tell him. It's okay." I encouraged her

"Tell me what?" Derek asked. He looked back at Astoria with confusion. She took a deep breath and looked back at him.

"Over the summer, my parents made an arrange marriage for me. They are forcing me to marry Draco Malfoy." She tore her eyes away from him, too ashamed to look at him in the eyes.

Derek looked at me to her in disbelief. "And do you want to?"

"At first I didn't. Now, I don't know. I may like him more than a friend, but I love—"

"It doesn't matter!" Derek shouted angrily. "I told you I'll wait for you, but instead you were going behind my back and fell for someone else."

I totally didn't see this coming, nor did I see this side of the situation, either did Astoria. She looked so hurt that she didn't know what to do with herself. She lost balance and started leaning back like she was about to faint. I caught her just before she hit the ground with her head.

"Thanks for proving to me you love me, Astoria. You had a funny way of showing it." He stormed off toward the valley of cottages.

"But—" She began.

"Astoria, are you okay?" I was struggling to keep her steady.

"No." That was the last thing she said before she blacked out.

Setting: Head Quarters Living Room Date: October 1998

I was sitting on the couch later that night. Astoria was still past out on my bed from earlier. I still didn't understand why she blacked out? Hermione's options didn't help much because all it did was confused me more. I took a deep sigh before placing my head on one of the throw pillows. I was exhausted of thinking about Astoria, Derek, and Draco. It was too much to handle in one day.

I yawned widely and was going to close my eyes when I heard someone trying opening the door. I waited silently and listened for any sign of who the person could be.

"Ginny, are you up?" My heart started pounding very loudly for some reason. Harry leaned over the back of the couch to look at me. I smiled shyly.

"Hi, Harry." I whispered.

"Are you sleeping down here?" He asked me in his normal voice. I nodded my head. "Why?" He asked.

"Astoria is still passed out." I told him.

"Oh. Where's Malfoy?"

"At Cedric's house." I shrugged my shoulders as I knew he was going to ask why.

"Good because I need to tell you something." His voice went serious. He sat where my feet were. I sat up straight and listened to what he was going to say to me.

"What's the matter, Harry?" I whispered quietly.

"Why are you whispering?" He also whispered back to go along with me.

I pointed to my bedroom door. "I don't want to wake her up." I said. He nodded his head slightly.

Harry hesitated before speaking. We locked eyes. I felt the atmosphere starting to intense and wasn't sure that if it was the way he was staring that made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

"I lied to you before. I told I couldn't be with you because I didn't want Voldemort finding you. I shouldn't have told you I was looking for a lost possession, but it was you. You were my lost possession. I shouldn't have broken up with you, Ginny. It was the biggest mistake I made and shouldn't have done it. I still love you." As he spoke those words I couldn't help but feel—upset.

What gave him the right to tell me he still loves me? The day we broke up I spent my whole summer cooped in my room because I was mad, sad, and heartbroken to see him face to face. It didn't matter because he was always around.

"What?" I shouted loudly. I didn't care if I have woken up Astoria, or the whole world for that matter. This was more important than her, or anyone else. "You can't come to me after two years and tell me you still love me! It's not fair to me, or to Draco. What are you doing to me, Harry?" I tiredly laid my head on the couch. If only he said this two years ago.

"I know you love someone else, but I just thought you should know the real reason why I was here. I lied to you plenty enough. I don't want to lie to you ever again."

"Harry," I looked at him sadly. He slowly looked back at me.

He had truly hurt me. He hurt me enough that I couldn't find myself ever liking him in that way. Yes, I may still think he's attractive, but that was all. I finally understood that.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I don't know if that would have made a difference, but you really hurt me the day you said you couldn't be with me. You really had broken my heart." I sadly put my head down. I tried to hold in the tears, but it was too late. They were already spilling.

I made a promise to myself that I would never think back to that day because every time I thought back to it, I would always feel the sharp pain in my heart. It was hard for me to breathe. I would cry my heart out from it.

This was the first time since two years that I have cried like that. Harry ran to my side and took my hand. I wanted to pull away, but decided against it.

"I'm truly sorry, Ginny. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it ended up being the worst decision I made." I pulled my hand out of his viciously. I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to go back to the worst day of my life.

He ignored my vicious gesture and pulled me in his arms. He gently glided his hand down my back as though he was trying to calm me. I could have melted in his arms and breathed in his scent. I could have fallen for him instantly again. But, the only thing that ran through my head was, "Where was Draco? I wanted him to comfort me." Harry gently put his hands on my shoulders and made me look at him.

"I know you love Malfoy, and I'm not going to stand in the way of that. But, I'm letting you know if he hurts you in any way, then I will ruin him like I've done to Voldemort. No one should feel that heartbroken, not even you." His voice was hard and scarily enough it was cold.

He grabbed my chin and pulled me forward. I was too shaken up to realize what he was doing. When my lips made contact with his, I melted. He had never kissed me so tenderly. It was almost like Draco's, but it was different, way different. He continued to kiss me softly, but then he started roughing it up a bit. He took his hand that was on my chin and started playing with my hair. Before it got any further than this, I had to stop him. I released the kiss and sadly looked at him.

"I can't, Harry. There are so many reasons why we can't be together. Everything has changed after the last two years. I love Draco now. Luna likes you now. I can't go behind her any further, like I've done already. Please, understand that." He didn't say anything, but he nodded his head to respond.