It was past 5 o'clock when Ginny said the password to the Fat Fady to get into the Gryffindor Common Room, she thought of Dean and Pam. She honestly hoped Pam would be happy and that Dean wouldn't abuse her like he did Ginny.

"Ginny, come over and play a game of chess!"

Ginny was shaken out of her thoughts by a beautiful voice and one that she knew all too well.

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. He wanted her to play a game with him. She knew that it shouldn't be a big thing. Still, she was even more attracted to him (if that was possible) than she was before, probably because Dean wasn't holding her back now, physically and mentally.

Sitting next to Hermione, who was studying, his hair was more ruffled than usual, glasses askew, his robe frayed at the ends, but she thought it made him cute.

"Hey, Gin."

"Hey 'Mione. What subject?"

"Random study. Anything I need to polish up."

"Right."

Ginny sat down in front of the tiny marble statues. The Knight piece still had a chip in it from when Dean had got so angry that she had won and knocked it onto the floor.

Ginny stiffened as Harry reached out a hand to her. He chuckled a little as he pulled her shirt up her arm a little. It must've slid down in the portrait hole.

Ginny glanced up at Harry, but blushed and looked away when he locked eyes with her.

"Hey Harry, can you please tell what the king does and what the queen does? I keep getting confused. I was trying to figure it out last night when I was writing a letter."

As Harry ran the words over in his mind, a look of recognition came over his face.

"Hey Ginny, would you mind coming outside with me for a sec?" Harry said, cautiously, but sort of happy, maybe?

"Sure Harry," Ginny said, snatching a glance at Hermione who smiled knowingly. Hermione was the only one Ginny had told about the note. Hermione wouldn't have mentioned it to Harry. Would she? No, she wouldn't.

Once outside the portrait hole, Harry stared at Ginny. Ginny felt small underneath his gaze, though it kindly meant.

Harry began to speak. "Ginny, did you put this letter underneath my pillow? Answer honestly."

Ginny breathed in shakily. She wanted this moment for years.

"No."

She had surprised herself with those words. Looking at Harry, his face was crestfallen, and his shoulders slightly slumped. Ginny noticed him put something in his pocket, but the note was still in his other hand.

What had she done? She had wanted this, but when the time came, she had chickened out. The thought alone made her cringe.

Ginny looked up as Harry breathed in powerfully. "Oh. Well, want to play a game of one-on-one Quidditch before it gets dark? We could talk about tactics for the next game?" Though he said it bravely, he looked like he was ready to storm off into his dorm.

"Sure" Ginny mumbled, not even sure he could hear. She was so ashamed of herself for not revealing the truth. It looked as if he liked her too, but Ginny had pushed him away. Could she have been more idiotic?

It looked like Harry had heard her, as he started walking down to the Quidditch pitch. Ginny followed close behind, never looking more unsettled than this.

"To Harry,

"I don't know how to start, because I'm afraid it might be the end of our friendship. It could be the fulfilment of my dreams, which is for you to love me as I love you. I told myself in Herbology; I might as well take the risk because I've been keeping this horrible and marvellous feeling inside all this time and only told one person.

"I have loved you from the time I first met you. I hardly understand what I feel for you, and don't know how these long, sleepless nights, thinking only of you can go anywhere else but a friendship if I don't admit to it. I've never felt like this before about anyone. I don't know how to pour out my feelings for you now. Every time I look at you, the words get caught in my throat. I have figured it's best to write in ink and on paper.

"I love you."

"Gryffindor girl."