A/n Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. I know it's been said before, but you guys keep me going. Lol, I know everyone is in agony over the thought of Ginny kissing Phillip. I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the restJ
Harry awoke the next morning and trudged down to the breakfast table with Ron and Hermione. He caught sight of Ginny entering with Phillip by her side just a few minutes later. He was wearing a silly smirk on his face and Harry wondered for a second if he didn't already kiss her. He was reassured when they walked up to him, Phillip's face starting to harden. He could see a speck of nervousness in Ginny's eyes and knew right then and there she hadn't kissed Phillip yet; but she was planning to. Harry continued to watch as Ginny sat next to Hermione and Phillip sat right across.
'…Harry are you listening?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Go ahead." Harry turned back to the conversation he was having with Ron. They were supposed to be working on Quidditch tactics together, but Harry was getting too easily distracted. The fact that he could be that distracted from Quidditch was almost as equally alarming to Harry as the fact that Philip now had his arm around Ginny at the lunch table, and she didn't seem to like it. She slightly squirmed out of his grasp and quietly reprimanded him about making her uncomfortable around her friends. After this, Phillip went back to glaring at Harry. Harry, getting fed up with Phillip decided to beat him at his own game and dramatically rolled his eyes at him.
"Harry, are you planning on going into a daze next week during our Quidditch match with the Slytherins? Because if you are, Malfoy might beat you and then I'd have to hear his yapping remarks for the rest of the year. 'Course, you could beat Malfoy with both hands tied behind your back…"
"Don't worry; I'll be fine. I'm just tired, that's all." 'Yeah, tired of putting up with Phillip,' he thought.
As they left for their first class, Harry caught Phillip sending him one last hateful glance. Then and there Harry decided he would do all in his power to make sure Ginny would not kiss Phillip that day. Phillip didn't deserve her.
Later that night, Harry was delighted to see that Phillip had yet to make his move. It was getting late, and the common room was slowly skimming down. Ginny and Phillip were sitting on the couch by the fire, seemingly oblivious to most of the people around them. Ginny did turn around and smile at Harry at the other side of the room a couple times, but otherwise, they seemed too deep within conversation to notice anyone else.
As it got later, only Harry, Ginny, Phillip, Ron, and Hermione were still in the common room. Harry came to the conclusion that Ginny and Phillip were waiting for the common room to clear out before they kissed. He figured Hermione was staying up to give him some advice as soon as Ron went to bed, and Ron was staying up because he was determined not to go to bed before Hermione; after discovering her asleep in the library a few nights ago, he wanted to make sure she didn't stay up all night studying for the NEWTs. That left Harry, who was not going to bed until he personally saw both Ginny and Phillip go to their respected rooms, and then he was going to go down and check later that night to make sure they were not planning any secrete late-night meetings.
Hermione and Ron both looked like they were dragging. Hermione finally convinced Ron to go to bed by giving him all her schoolbooks and promising on her great-grandmother's grave she would not take a late-night excursion to the library. As Ron headed off to bed, he glanced over at Phillip and Ginny. Phillip seemed to be getting very tired as well, and he had a very discouraged look on his face.
"You only have ten minutes Harry." Harry looked back at Hermione.
"What do you mean?"
"Before they kiss." She continued after getting a wary look from Harry. "Ginny's sixteenth birthday begins at exactly 1:07 a.m. She told me a long time ago it has always been her dream to receive her first kiss the minute she turns sixteen. It is almost one o'clock. I just thought I'd tell you."
"So, she's not waiting for the room to clear out?"
"Well, she figured by this time everyone would be cleared out. I don't think she's going to wait." Hermione started up the stairs, but stopped and turned once more. "Are you going to stop her?"
"I don't know what I'm going to do. What should I do?"
"Do what comes naturally Harry."
"Thanks Hermione," he whispered as she ascended up the stairs. He then looked at his watch. He had five minutes to either stop them, or leave them alone and he still wasn't sure which one he'd rather do, and how he would accomplish either. So, he just kept his eye on them. Watching their every move. A couple times when Ginny glanced back at him he hurriedly went to untying and tying his shoes, and finding sudden interests in the smooth armrests on his wooden chair. Phillip didn't glance back at him once; Harry doubted Phillip even knew he was still in the room.
Time rolled on. He had three minutes left…then two…then one. Thirty seconds rolled by, and he still didn't know what to do. Ten more seconds… Harry noticed his transfiguration book lying on the table right beside them…seven…if he tried to 'Accio' the book, it would probably fly right between their faces…three…he did have a transfiguration report to do by next Tuesday…two…maybe they should get started…one.
As Ginny and Phillip's faces closed in on each other, Harry found a growing need inside of him to start on his transfiguration homework. As the book flew threw the air, Ginny and Phillip found themselves with a plastic book wedged between their faces. Phillip retracted as the feeling of cold plastic reached his lips.
"Aack!" He came to his senses quickly, and directed a stare right at Harry as the book landed safely in Harry's clutches. "YOU…"
"Oh, I'm so sorry," he said genuinely. "I didn't mean to interrupt you two, I needed to get my book over on the table, so I accio'd it here so I wouldn't be in your way."
"You did it on purpose, and I know it! What is your problem," Phillip shouted." Ginny stood up directly behind Phillip with her face etched in a mixture of anger and confusion.
"I didn't know…"
"Yeah you did. That's why you did it in the first…"
"Will you two stop it," Ginny shrieked. "Phillip, I'm sorry, but the mood is ruined. I need to speak to Harry right now, so I'll meet you tomorrow for breakfast."
"But, we are going to straighten this out once and for all…"
"Phillip, the only thing that needs straightened out is between Harry and I. Now, go to bed, and I'll see you tomorrow." Phillip took one last chance to retaliate, but she wasn't hearing anything of it. She kept her back on Harry as she waited for him to disappear into his room. Once he was out of sight, she turned to face Harry. Harry was expecting a 'thank you' for saving her from something she was forced to do. This however, was not the case. Her face was distorted in anger, and Harry realized at once that he probably had not done the right thing.
"Just what did you think you were doing?"
"I told you," he replied innocently. "I needed to get my book."
"Hermione told you, didn't she?"
"Told me what?"
"Don't play innocent. Hermione told you about tonight, and you decided to try and stop me."
"Well…"
"Is this suppose to be some sort of 'big brother' thing Harry? Ron wasn't here to protect me, so you figured it was your duty? Because, Harry, I have enough older brothers, and I do not need another one."
"I, er, I wasn't…"
"I don't need anyone to protect me anyway! Why can't anyone get that through their heads? Did you know how long I planned this Harry?"
"I, well…" Harry couldn't seem to get a word in edgewise.
"It has been my dream for my first kiss to be on the minute I turned sixteen. I'm sure Hermione has told you that too? Guess what Harry? You succeeded in ruining it. I'll never be able to live that moment over again for the rest of my life, and you ruined it!"
"But, Phillip…"
"I planned this for a long time Harry! Phillip may not seem like the perfect guy, but I like him. Besides, I gave up on the perfect guy…now all I want is to be happy, and Phillip makes me happy."
"But, you could find someone to make you a lot happier than Phillip ever could."
"Oh yeah, tell me one person that could make me happier."
Harry went through lists of several guys in his head, but none of them seemed good enough for Ginny. She started to smirk, happy with the realization that Harry couldn't answer. Harry knew he had to find an answer; if he didn't Ginny would be with Phillip. She would probably wind up marrying Phillip and having tree kids, a dog, and a big house with a white picket fence, all the while knowing that there was more out there, that if only she had found the right guy…no, the perfect guy, she would be happy. Harry couldn't let her do that to herself, so he answered the only way he could.
"Me."
"Huh?"
"Well, I…I, er." The words weren't coming out right. He could only think of one more thing to do, so he pulled her face close to his and lightly kissed her. It almost felt unreal, like he was watching everything unravel from outside his body. As he watched her eyes go wide, he realized she was perfect; from her soft red hair to her tiny polished toes. But, it wasn't her looks that he admired so much; it was her personality. She always knew how to make him smile, and she never made him feel uncomfortable. He never understood how much he really liked Ginny until that kiss.
"Harry, what are you doing," she shrieked after he pulled away.
"Well, you er…you wanted to be kissed on your sixteenth birthday by the perfect guy," he said, unable to wipe the smirk from his face.
"You will do anything to make sure I brake up with Phillip, won't you? Harry, I don't know what kind of sick joke you're playing, but quit it. And since when were you so conceded? Do you really think you're perfect?"
"No, but for you I am."
"Harry…I, I can't even think right now. I have to be away…from you. See you tomorrow, maybe."
Harry stood there and watched her walk away. He knew he was going to regret this in the morning, especially when he sees Ginny and Phillip at breakfast. Though he knew he was in tight water, he still couldn't get over the joy of knowing he got to be Ginny's first kiss, and that was something she would never forget.
A/n All that worrying for nothingJ Well, it seems like I'm getting close to the end here. In the next chapter: Harry comes into terms with his feelings, Harry and Phillip will have an all out war, and Ginny will end up with a tough decision.