Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

As snow fell around Hogwarts, Ginny found herself spending a lot more time with Hermione. She had been very upset since Ron and Lavender got together and spent so much time with her eyes red that Ginny made sure she always had a box of tissues handy. Though Hermione, who absolutely refused to admit she loved Ron, insisted it was because her great-grandmother died.

"It's got nothing to do with Ron," said Hermione one day as she sat at a table in the common room with Ginny. "He's at perfect liberty to kiss whoever he wishes. No, I was just really close to my great-aunt."

"You mean your great-grandmother," said Ginny.

"Yes, that's the one," said Hermione, blushing.

"Well, I've got to go," said Ginny. She hoisted her bag onto her shoulders and walked out of the common room. She had to at least start the plan before Christmas.

As she was walking down the hall, a group of girls were whispering and giggling. As Ginny neared them, she heard what they were saying.

"He's coming. Quick, get under the mistletoe," said Romilda Vane, pushing herself under the mistletoe with the group.

"Ahem," said Ginny, "d'you mind moving, you're blocking the corridor."

The group of girls turned around and stared at Ginny. A brown-haired girl whispered something to her blonde-haired friend, who giggled and stared at Ginny with a smirk on her face.

"But Harry's coming," said Romilda breathlessly.

"And your point?" asked Ginny.

"You'd know, considering you used to like him," said the blonde-haired girl.

"Ha, yeah Georgia. Sure I used to. And you used to like Gary McLaverty," said Ginny.

"Hey, he's gone!" said the brown-haired girl.

"Well, Tina, and all the rest of you, I suggest you get a life instead of waiting for Harry under some mistletoe. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go," said Ginny.

She pushed passed the girls and walked down the marble staircase and out of the Entrance Hall. The snow swirled around her as she pulled her scarf around her mouth. She walked over to "The Tree" and took out her wand.

"The Tree" was the tree that couples wrote their initials on to declare their feelings for each other. But it was only for the most loving. Dean and Ginny hadn't even written their initials on the tree. So Rose would get a huge surprise when her initials were there, paired up with Gary's.

"Carvem Protem," muttered Ginny. Then she waved her wand around, an inch away from "The Tree", in the shape of the letters "GM+RC" with a heart around it.

"Ginny, what are you doing?" said a voice and Ginny turned around. Dean had made his way through the snow.

"I could ask you the same thing," said Ginny, storing her wand and taking her scarf away from her mouth.

"I came to see you. Well, anyway, did you write our initials on "The Tree"?" asked Dean eagerly.

"Erm, no," said Ginny.

"Then what are you doing near it?" asked Dean, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"I, er," said Ginny. She didn't think it was a good idea to tell Dean he had written Rose and Gary's initials together on the tree. He might think it unethical or something.

"You know what," said Ginny calmly, "I get the feeling that you don't trust me."

"Well, if you weren't writing our initials, you were either checking The Tree for your initials paired up with someone else's, or writing your initials with someone else," said Dean.

"Don't try and act as though you know how a girl's mind works," said Ginny. She stormed passed him and into the Entrance Hall.

When she got to the common room, she slumped down on an armchair next to Rose and Leila.

"What happened?" asked Rose.

"I had a row with Dean," said Ginny.

"You still going to Slughorn's Christmas Party with him?" asked Leila.

"Never asked, never will," said Ginny.

"Maybe you should give him a chance, I mean, c'mon," said Rose.

"But, I'm not sure if I like him," said Ginny.

"Take him to the party," said Leila, "and sort things out."

"Yeah okay," said Ginny. "Better check on 'Mione."

She walked over to Hermione.

"I've decided who I'm taking to Slughorn's party," she announced.

"Who?" asked Ginny.

"Cormac McLaggen," said Hermione.

"Okay, Hermione, this has gone too far. Why don't you just tell Ron that you love him?" asked Ginny.

"Wha-don't be silly," said Hermione.

"Look, everyone knows it, so don't take Cormac to try and get Ron jealous," said Ginny. "I can't believe you'd do such a thing." She stormed away. Couldn't Hermione use her brain to get Ron?

The next day, as Ginny, Rose and Leila were walking to lunch, Peeves came zooming down the corridor, screaming, "Potty loves Loony!"

"What?" asked Ginny.

"Oh yes," said Peeves. "He asked her to Sluggy's Christmas Party."

When they sat down at the Gryffindor table, it was all they could here.

"Harry's going to the party with Luna!"

"Are they going out then?"

"Harry's going to the party with Luna!"

"She's so lucky!"

"Harry's going to the party with Luna!"

"You mean that weird girl who wears Butterbeer corks?"

"Harry's going to the party with Luna!"

"For crying out loud we already know he's going with Luna!" Ginny found herself yelling.

"Jealous, are we?" asked Georgia.

"Urgh!" Ginny stormed out of the Great Hall. On the marble staircase, she walked into Dean.

"Look, I'm really sorry," said Ginny, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Would you like to come to Sluggy's party with me?"

"Yeah, okay," said Dean. They kissed and went their separate ways.

On the evening of the party, as Ginny was walking beside the Gryffindor table, she overheard some of Ron and Harry's conversation.

"You could've taken anyone!" said Ron in disbelief. "Anyone! And you choose Loony Lovegood?"

"Don't call her that, Ron," snapped Ginny. "I'm really glad you're taking her, Harry, she's so excited."

And she was. Luna had been especially happy and dreamy since Harry asked her to the party.

Harry's so sweet. He could have taken anyone but he takes Luna. That's why I like him so much, thought Ginny

At eight, Ginny and Dean started making their way up to Slughorn's office. When they were in the Entrance Hall, Ginny saw Hermione and shot her a glare. She still hadn't forgiven her for taking Cormac.

"So, um, d'you know who's coming to the party?" asked Dean nervously.

"Oh, Hermione, and Cormac, and Ha-" started Ginny.

"No, as in famous people," said Dean.

"Oh, erm, there's supposedly a vampire, and all these boring other people," said Ginny, though she thought Harry to be pretty famous.

"Erm, you know what, let's ditch the party," said Dean.

"Know a better place to go?" Ginny asked.

"Anywhere and everywhere," said Dean.

"You're right. Besides, I can't stand seeing Hermione and Cormac together," said Ginny.

"Wait, maybe we should go," said Dean.

"Wait, what?" said Ginny.

"Well, we could show them what a real couple looks like, and maybe she'll get a move on with Ron," said Dean.

Ginny looked up at Dean. In truth, she didn't consider them a real couple, because if Harry loved her she'd leave Dean. But Hermione didn't know that. All Hermione knew was that she was dating Cormac to get Ron jealous.

"Yeah, alright," said Ginny.

When they arrived at Slughorn's party, they found that his office appeared to be bigger than all the others they had seen. They headed straight for the drinks table, sidestepping a wizard in emerald green robes along the way. Ginny had to do a double-take.

It couldn't be Harry, could it? Somehow he looked different, even more handsome. Maybe it was the absence of the mud he usually had on himself after a hard Quidditch practise, or the way that his robes brought out the colour of his eyes. Ginny wondered whether these were his Yule Ball robes. She had been too busy avoiding Neville's feet and kissing Michael to notice what Harry had been wearing.

Ginny stared at Harry and didn't realise that Dean was no longer leading her and smashed straight into the wall. A shriek of laughter erupted and Ginny turned around to see Hermione laughing cruelly at her. She turned to Dean, who also had a smirk on his face.

"Oh, thanks," said Ginny angrily.

"Well, you seemed a bit distracted by someone," said Dean scathingly.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. She grabbed a cup of Butterbeer and splashed it down his front, then stalked off. How dare he accuse her of liking Harry! Sure, it was the truth, but if he wanted to stay with her…

"You're back early," said Rose when Ginny settled herself down in front of the common room fire.

"Oh, yeah, Dean and I kinda had a fight," said Ginny, taking off her uncomfortable shoes.

"What about this time?" asked Leila with a sigh.

"Harry, 'cause he noticed me staring at him," said Ginny, letting out her flaming red hair.

"So, are you broken up?" asked Rose.

"Dunno, I'll hang on a little longer if he wants me to. I've had some good times with him, but I don't see us going out for too long afterwards," said Ginny.

"You could have dated a lot more guys if you were like Georgia and Tina. I expected nothing less of you," said Leila.

"Well, we can't all turn into sluts now can we," said Ginny.

"Yeah, we'll save that job for Georgia and Tina and all that," said Rose with dislike. Leila giggled.

"Hey," said Colin, sitting down next to Leila. "'sup with you, Ginny?"

"Oh, just a row with Dean," said Ginny.

"Oh, yeah, every other guy hates him 'cause he's with you," said Colin.

"Every other guy?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah, just about. Apart from some Slytherins. And me," he added to Leila.

"I have to go and pack," said Ginny, jumping up at once.

"But you already have," said Rose.

"I forgot some stuff," said Ginny. "See you guys later."

Dear Diary,

R.O.S.E.N.G.A.R.Y is going well. Phase 1 is complete. I'll have to wait till after the holidays for the next part.

And right now I hate Dean with every fibre of my body. He knows, I think, that I still like Harry. Caught me staring at him as he glided (he seemed to glide, he looked so good!) passed us at Sluggy's. He can get really annoying sometimes. Dean, I mean.

Well, I didn't completely lie to Leila, I have to pack you – harder than you think because I've got so much stuff in my trunk, and I need to figure out how to lock it magically, Flitwick taught us.

Why can't I put a magical barrier around you like usual? Why don't they work in confined spaces? Must ask Flitwick after Christmas.

G.M.W