A/n Again, thanks for the reviews. I've been really busy, so this is my hurried attempt not to keep you waiting too long. I don't know when the next part will be up.
Part 5
Harry spent the rest of the day trying to plea temporary insanity after the commotion he caused at the breakfast table. Luckily, Ron and Hermione didn't bug him too much after he told them he had a terrible headache, and he grabbed Ginny and Phillip's hands trying to escape from the growing blur around him. They exchanged a worried glace, but didn't press on it when Harry assured them he was fine.
He noticed later that night, after coming back from quidditch practice, Ginny shot him a strange look too. He tried his hardest to ignore it and work on his Potions paper, but as time went on that become a more impossible task to do. He watched her from across the room, peering into his book whenever her glance shot his way. She looked almost worried.
As the rest of the Gryffindors slowly drifted off to their dorm rooms, Harry stood up and began to head up the stairs. He was stopped halfway up by Ginny.
"Harry," she called up. "I need to talk to you."
"Now? I'm going to bed."
"Honestly Harry, I know you better than that! You are not going to sleep; all you're going to do is lay wide awake on your bed, and you know it."
"Well, I err…could use some time to lie awake."
"Yes, you could. Only, I know you'll eventually come back down into the common room later, hoping everyone else is asleep."
"Well then why can't you talk to me then?" Harry was sure all Ginny wanted to do was ask him a bunch of questions he didn't have the answers to.
"Maybe I will."
"Well, maybe I'll just wait until you go to sleep before I come down."
"Don't count on it. Whatever time you come down, I'll be down here waiting." Harry could see she wasn't going to give up to soon.
"Ginny," Harry heard Phillip call from across the room. He walked up toward where Harry and Ginny were standing, and shot Harry a funny type of glare. If Harry didn't know any better, he'd think Phillip was jealous. 'That's funny. Why would Phillip be jealous of me,' he thought.
"I'm going to bed Ginny," Phillip said, kissing her on the cheek. However, Phillip didn't leave.
"Well, Harry. I guess I'll talk to you later," Ginny smirked. Harry didn't answer her; instead he turned around and headed for his room.
"Harry." He didn't get far before he heard someone say is name. When Harry turned back around, Ginny was already on the couch by the fire, pulling books out from her bags. Then, he looked at whoever was calling his name. He was surprised to find Phillip still there. "I know what you're trying to do."
"Pardon?" Phillip was looking quite menacing.
"You're just jealous because Ginny isn't flaunting over you anymore. Well, get over it because she's with me now."
"Err…yeah, I'm going to go to bed now," Harry said, trying to get away from the angry Phillip. Harry could hear Phillip still calling after him as he opened the door to his dorm. "Just stay away from her Harry."
Ginny was right. It was three hours after his confrontation with Phillip, and Harry was still lying in bed awake. His thoughts were drawn to Ginny and Phillip. 'Why does Ginny want to talk to me; what's her problem? What's Phillip's problem. What's my problem? Why did I have to put on that display in front of the whole school? I think I'm loosing it…'
He couldn't take it anymore, so he slowly made his way down the stairs. He was sure Ginny would've forgotten about him by now, and went up to her own bedroom. As he slowly crept down, he was shocked to see Ginny, still on the couch, fast asleep.
He gathered together some cracker-pickle sandwiches, debating whether he should wake her or not. She looked so peaceful lying there. He watched as the hair in her face slightly rose and fell with every breath she took. He got a silly urge to push it away from her face. As he lifted his hand, she suddenly sat up. Her eyelashes fluttered as she got used to the dim lights.
"Sorry Harry, I must've drifted off." He held out a plate of sandwiches to her.
"Thought you might want a snack."
"Thanks," she said, taking one. "Didn't think I'd wait for you, did you," she asked, giving him a smug smile.
"Actually…no. I should've known better. You can be a determined little…"
"Little? I believe I'm only one year younger than you."
"And a month."
"Yeah, that extra month makes a big difference," she said sarcastically. "Are you going to talk to me now or what?"
"Um…I thought we were talking."
"Harry, don't be smug. You know very well what I mean. What is going on with you? Ron and Hermione told me you got a headache this morning. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well…I…err…"
"Instead, you made up some phony excuse that you had to get out of there. Harry, you can tell me these things."
'"Oh Ginny, I lied to Ron and Hermione. I didn't have a headache at all. That was just an excuse because not even I know what happened this morning." Yeah, that ought to go well,' he thought. "I'm…sorry," he blurted out.
"You don't need to apologize. I just want you to know that I'm here if you need me. I know Ron and Hermione are your best friends, but that doesn't mean I can't be your friend too. Please Harry, won't you let me be your friend?" Harry caught a sad little glint in her eyes that made him want to hug her. He fought his urge, only to have her end up hugging him.
"Err, Ginny," he said awkwardly, when she let go of him. "You are my friend."
"I know. But, sometimes you don't act like it. I'm tired of not getting let in on all your secrets."
"Next time I have a secret, you'll be the first to know," he promised.
"Really? Promise? I mean, no matter what the secret is. I want to know."
"I promise. You should get to bed now," he said, catching her in a big yawn.
"I will. Before I do, can I ask you one more question?"
"Make it quick," he smiled, getting rather sleepy himself now that he got through what he was dreading all day.
"What do you think of Phillip?"
"He's…err…nice."
"He is, isn't he? Oh Harry, Phillip is such a good guy. I really think I like him. It's important to me that my friends like him too."
"It doesn't matter what I think of him. It's what you feel that counts," he said. "Now, you better get to bed."
"I will. Good-night Harry."
"Good night."
A/n I have three weeks left until Summer breakJ I can't promise that the next part will be up before then, in fact, it probably won't be. Don't get discouraged though, I am NOT through with this story yet. I'll get the next part up as soon as I possibly can.
JThanksJ