~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One night, Harry was laying in his bed, listening to the snores of the
others in the room as he stared up at the curtains thinking
about the conundrum known as Ginny Weasley.
Three weeks ago, you barely knew she existed other than as the sister of Ron. What the hell happened? I don't know, wish I did. She's driving me nuts!
How observant of you! I would have never guessed, especially since you practically follow her around like some love-sick puppy! I know! But, oh, she just does these crazy things to me…like when she winked at me at the first practice…
Stop thinking about that! That was two weeks ago! It was one bloody wink! It was just a wink! You've winked at her before and I bet she didn't get all misty eyed and weak kneed over it—she doesn't even notice you other than the fact that you're the Seeker on the team and her brother's best mate. She used to! She used to constantly blush around me, Ron said it was because she had a crush on me.
And she's obviously gotten over it, quite admirably. Wise of her to do so as well, since you hardly gave her the time of day before all this nonsense started! But I'm going to fix that, I told you. I've already made some progress haven't I?
You can't possibly mean that scene in the Great Hall where you practically pulled her on your lap, can you? Oh, yes, brilliant job, that was. All you got were a few laughs, and then Ron and Hermione both wanting your skin flayed from your body. Great job, Casanova. It wasn't as bad as all that. I certainly enjoyed having her in my lap, and if you weren't so bloody furious over the whole situation, you'd admit that as well.
Very well. I'll admit it. She did feel good. And when she laughs, her beautiful eyes just glow….oh bloody hell, you've got me doing it! See? She's perfect for us, we've just gotta convince her of it.
And how can we do that with you mucking it up every five minutes, eh? Women like men who play hard to get and all that rot. You're supposed to keep them on their toes, see? Not wear your heart on your sleeve like some badge, dogging at the heels all around the place. Quit following her and make her chase you for a change! I don't 'dog her heels' as you so quaintly put it. I merely walk her to and from Quidditch practice—
And to classes when you can, and to the common room before breakfast
and after dinner, and to Hogsmead on
weekends—you'd aren't fooling anyone! Well, she certainly
doesn't complain. She seems to enjoy my company, doesn't
she?
What's she going to tell you? 'Go away Harry Potter and quit
following me around'? She's too sweet to ever do
something like that. She is sweet, but she could just
as easily give me the cold shoulder or something…I'd take the hint and
leave her alone.
You lie! Oh, alright. So maybe I wouldn't. But she does smile at me a lot. I don't see her doing that with other guys.
She smiles at everyone you prat! Ginny happens to be one of the few people who just seem to always smile at something. It's one of the things I like best about her! But this has got to stop! Mmm. She does have a beautiful smile, that just lights up her eyes and makes those gold flecks she has in the center of them sparkle.
And furthermore, she's completely throwing you off your game!
What was that stunt all about earlier today with the
Snitch flying up your nose almost and you just staring down at her?
Please explain how that happened, I'd love to hear it. It
didn't fly up my nose, I caught it didn't I? I was just watching
her fly for a moment and got distracted a bit. She's such an amazing
flyer with her hair blowing behind her and…and…
And…you were imagining what it would feel like to have that hair spread out over your pillow! Don't pretend it isn't so, I heard you! Well, what if I was? It's perfectly normal thing to imagine, isn't it?
Why don't you go back to chasing after that Hufflepuff sixth year?
What was her name again? Michelle… It was
Rachelle…something or other. And she's with someone else now,
a Prefect from Ravenclaw, I think.
Ginny'll be gone too with the way you keep floundering about—if she hasn't slipped through your fingers already, that is! I'm not going to let her 'slip through my fingers' am I? I've got this planned out too well!
Oh, right. So far she's sat on your lap and winked at you. Great planning, Romeo. No wonder you suck at chess. Maybe you're right. Maybe she just isn't interested in me. Who can blame her, right? I mean, I may be the great, good Harry Potter and all that, but so far my score has been zero when it comes to women and love. Even Parvati Patil hasn't given me a second glance after that disastrous Yule Ball and she's made out with every boy in Gryffindor. Including the Creevy brothers.
Well, there's no sense in being hard on yourself. Just play it cool for a while. Act aloof. Like that Muggle James Bond that Uncle Vernon idolizes and such. Be debonair and confidant. Girls go for that stuff. What's made you the world's authority on women?
Nothing really. Just learning from your mistakes, you stupid git. Hmmf. I don't think I'm going to be speaking to you anymore if all you're going to do is be nasty.
Harry rolled over and smashed his fist into his pillow, causing feathers
to burst out the seams and up into the air. Ron gave a
huge snort at the sound and then continued his regular breathing.
"I am not talking to myself," he groaned aloud. Dean's loud
snore answered him. It was a long night.
************************
"Good morning, Ron, Harry," Hermione greeted him as he came down the
stairs with Ron. He was so tired, having not slept a
wink last night. Harry watched Hermione give Ron a kiss.
Wish Ginny'd give me a morning kiss. This isn't acting aloof. Harry mumbled a "'morning" as he tried to stifle a yawn.
"Ginny should be down in a few minutes," Hermione told Harry pointedly.
"Whatever," he said stretching, trying to sound aloof. Good
boy. Why should you care if she comes down or not? You
don't care if she doesn't come down until New Year's.
"Morning all," Ginny said sleepily, coming up behind Harry. Don't
turn around, don't turn around. God, she smells so
good. Stop breathing then.
"I'm starving," she continued, yawning as she came around Harry.
Oh, no. She isn't wearing her hair up in that clip-thingy,
please tell me she isn't. Minor setback, that's all.
It's not your fault she wears her hair like that sometimes. Or looks
so damn sweet in the morning that it makes you want to… You're not
helping! Oh, sorry. It's really unfair though, how she
couldn't have a couple of missing teeth or something to that effect.
Anything to not make her look so damn beautiful all the time.
Yes, yes, I know. She's perfect, a Goddess among mere mortals.
This isn't helping at all!
The small group descended the stairs, Ginny and Hermione talking about
homework and the days classes while Ron
occasionally uttered a word or two in between. He wasn't a morning
person himself. Harry, meanwhile, kept up the aloof act.
It must have been working because Ginny noticed how unusually quiet
he was, and commented on it.
"What's wrong Harry?" she asked, concern filling her brown eyes.
I love you. YOU DID NOT JUST THINK THAT! no,
no, I didn't. "Uh…I'm just really sleepy. Didn't get much
sleep
last night." Oh, God, stop the blushing. You're ruining
everything!
She placed a hand on his cheek, "You look like you have a fever, you're
face is flushed." She's touching me. What d'you
think of that, eh? Aloof my ass! Hmmf.
"Are you sure you're not sick?"
Harry stared at her blankly. She just asked me something, didn't
she? What was it? I'm not too sure. God, her hands
cannot feel that soft. "Um, no?" Good save, that
was. Yeah.
She bit her lip. "Well, if you're sure," she frowned and led him
into breakfast. I love it when she bites her lips like that.
Ok,
so change of plans. She's too dangerous. We completely avoid
her for the rest of the day and hope that tomorrow she comes down with
a bag over her head or something. Wouldn't work. I'd
just end up staring at her-- Don't you dare say it!
Behave yourself this instant!
**************************
Harry had managed to avoid her for the rest of the day, saying he was
either too busy or going to take a quick nap when he'd
run into her. He'd even got out of dinner by complaining
that he had just way too much work to do and he'd nip something
from the kitchens later on if he felt like it.
This is just too hard. I can't do this anymore. Did you see
the look on her face when I told her I was too busy to eat?
She looked almost crushed. Yes, I saw. You'll
be fine, the day's almost over and you've got this Potions essay to
complete. Everything will be better tomorrow.
"Harry?" Harry heard his name being called through the fog in
his head. "Harry, are you ok?" Harry rose up from where his
head had fallen over on his parchment. He must have gone to sleep.
Oh, that's just bloody peachy! You've got parchment stuck to your face, you ass. God, please let me die. Right now.
"I brought you something to eat, I knew you must be hungry."
"Hmm? Oh, thanks, Ginny," he said as she placed a sandwich and a goblet
of pumpkin juice in front of him. He quickly bit into
the cucumber sandwich, as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.
She looked like she wanted to laugh, but couldn't for
some reason. "What is it?" he asked.
She bit her lip. Don't do that again, please.
"You, uh….have a bit of ink on your face. The parchment must not
have
completely dried." I want to die! Right now.
This instant.
He furiously wiped at the spot on his cheek, wanting desperately for
the good Lord to take pity on his soul and put him out of
this misery. Maybe the shadows would hide how violently red he
was.
"Here, let me." Ginny took the unused napkin and gently wiped away the
remnants of ink, leaning in closer so she could reach
him.
Did I tell you I love the way she smells? Yes, you mentioned
that already. Oh, please tell me she is not running her
fingers through my hair! Please tell me that. I
am not capable of any coherent thought right now. Try back later.
The moan he almost let out got trapped in his throat when her fingers
ran through his hair, gently combing the black locks down
to stick up in their normal position. "There," she smiled, blushing
slightly as he gazed at her. "You were starting to look like
Hagrid there for a second." Look at that, will you! She's
blushing!
Her brow furrowed as she frowned again, watching him intently.
"Harry, you've been so distant…aloof today. What's
bothering you?"
Ah HA! Did you hear that? I was ALOOF! ALOOF! It
worked! It bloody well worked! Take that Ginny Weasley!
Score one for us! What do we do, what do we do?
It worked, but what do we do now?
Uh, well, I…uh…I don't know, really. What do you mean,
'you don't know'? This was your idea! This was your plan.
Act aloof. Well, we're aloof! What's next?
Well, I didn't actually think this would work, you see. Never got to map out the second part. If we get out of this alive, I'm going to kill you. At least answer her, damn it!
"Nothing. I've just been tired. I really didn't sleep at all last night," he swallowed.
"Are you that worried that I'm going to lose the Cup for you, eh?" she teased, a mischievous twinkle appearing in her eyes.
"Of course not! No one's got a chance against us! Especially since
we're up against Slytherin, and they don't have a prayer
with Malfoy as Seeker and Flint gone."
"Don't remind me. I've had to listen to jibes coming from the
Slytherins all day today. Malfoy achieved new levels of
nastiness."
"I'll kill him," Harry said venomously. "He's dead already."
If he so much as breathes on her wrong, he'll be burping up
slugs for a century. I'll go get the wand.
She smiled softly. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I've got enough
big brother to look out for me, don't need you to jump in as well."
She rose, her hand placed on his shoulder. "I need to get some
sleep as well and let you get back to work. I think I'll go take
a long, hot bath. 'Night, Harry."
"Good night, Ginny." Harry plopped his head back down onto the
table with a resounding thud. I really didn't need to
picture her in a bath right now, I really didn't. Yes,
well. Looks like we'll not sleep much tonight either. Why don't
we plan our strategy for tomorrow? Since my idea was so ruddy brilliant!
Oh, shut up you twit.