"Who are you hiding from?"
Ginny hit the top of her head against the stone elbow of Farbetus the Sneaky and cursed. Luna pulled her back to her feet helpfully, looking up at the statue with vague interest. Farbetus was in a crouched position and shielding his visage with a granite cloak.
"Who am I not hiding from? Ouch!" she gingerly pressed her fingers to the spot that hurt, wincing.
Luna contemplated it sagely and nodded her head in agreement.
"Aris was looking for you in the library."
Ginny sighed and slumped back against Farbetus, staring up at the ceiling of the hallway praying for patience.
"Did you tell him I am unavailable? Because I really really am-"
"No. He didn't ask for you. I just said Aris is looking for you. He seemed a bit agitated that you weren't there. I was watching him. He left just a minute ago," she explained airily.
"I know. I saw him passing so I ducked over here," Ginny lamented and pressed the tips of her fingers against her closed eyelids.
"What happened, Ginny?" Luna asked with concern. Ginny shook her head and her face flushed in embarrassment.
"I… I think he tried to ask me out. Last night, after the DA meeting. You and Neville had already gone and he just appeared out of nowhere. He was sneaking around to get a copy of your father's tabloid. We nearly ran into Alecto and Filch at one point and then we had to hide from Snape. But anyway, long story short, we got to talking and he basically admitted that he has some weird crush on me and I… got freaked out and left."
"I don't think it's weird that he likes you," Luna finally said after Ginny gave her a beseeching look. Ginny groaned.
"Well you are very pretty. Lots of boys like you," she elaborated.
"Ugh, that isn't even the point… I like Harry, Luna. Harry. And why on earth, at this point in time with everything going on, would I consider dating?" she spat the last word out in disgust.
"Maybe you should talk to him. He doesn't understand you. His head is always buzzing with Wrackspurts when you are around. His aura is grey," she added at the look of exasperation on Ginny's face, as if that would explain everything.
"Fantastic. His aura is grey. How about that?" she felt the words coming out and immediately felt guilty for her bout of sarcasm. Luna didn't seem fazed, though.
"He isn't good, but he isn't bad either. He's caught in that in-between place. Aris doesn't know how serious certain things are to people like us. Who would with family like his?" Luna asked and patted Ginny consolingly on the arm.
"But I like Harry-"
"You can still be Aris' friend, can't you? After all, you are my friend even though most people make fun of me," Luna said and smiled brightly.
If Ginny's ears could droop like a scolded puppy, she knew it would have happened right then and there considering how Luna was making her feel.
"But he's a Mal-"
"He's reading Daddy's magazine. He's obviously intelligent."
Ginny gave up.