Okay, hi again! *gets food and trash thrown at her* I'm so sorry you guys
for not writing for so long, I've had a major writer's block and I did not
plan my story at all, so I had no idea where the plot was going. But now
I'm all set for the next chappie. It's great to be back and enjoy!
Chapter 8
Ginny ran into her room, unable to control the tears rolling down her cheeks and down her neck, stopping at her halter and making it a soggy mess. She flopped onto her bed, vowing never to leave it again. After a few minutes of silent sobbing into her pillow, there was a soft knock on the door, presumably Harry.
"Gin? Gin? I'm so sorry Gin. She seduced me, I swear! There was nothing I could do, I-I don't know what to say but I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me." After a minute or so, Ginny was sure that he was gone and sat up on the bed to ponder what had just happened.
Let's see... she thought. After dinner, Malfoy came up to me, and the next thing I know, I wake up in his bed! Sounds pretty suspicious. Maybe Harry was just framed! But even if he was, Ginny was still completely disgusted with him. Anyone who could be tricked into making out with someone on their bed was a complete numbskull, and therefore Harry did not deserve Ginny. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that being with Harry was a mistake. Thinking of not being with Harry didn't really make her cry; it was the idea that he would cheat on her that made her cry.
I only thought I liked Harry because I had a crush on him for so long that I didn't know the difference between a friendship and a relationship! Ginny thought this was wonderful, and decided to go tell Harry the good news. After all, he must not have liked her too much, as he had just been making out with Cho a few minutes earlier.
"Harry? It's me, Gi-" Harry swung the door open before she could finish.
"Hi."
"Hi. Um, look. I just realized that I don't really like you that way, I only did for about my first four years of school. I guess I was just confused and I wanted to like you that way, but I really didn't. I'm sorry, though I guess I shouldn't be the one apologizing about all this, and I want to just be friends from now on."
"Sounds good."
"Besides, you and Cho look pretty good together," She said, giving him a comical nudge in the ribs.
"You think so?"
"Of course! The angel and the slut! It would be perfect for a Halloween party!"
"And who are you calling a slut?" Harry said.
"Why, you! Who else would be a slut? Cho?" Ginny gave a hearty mock laugh, and left the room, Harry still in it, laughing.
Ginny sat on her bed with much higher spirits than she had the last time she had come in. She got into her pajamas and slipped into bed, in a much better state than she had been in a while, and for once happy she was single.
%*%*%*%*%*%*%* %
Draco paced in his room, unable to sleep. He looked over at his magical clock: 1:34. He wondered if the plan had worked and desperately hoped that it had. He couldn't wait to see Potter's face in the morning, let alone Ginny's. But he also had to ponder why he was so bent on Ginny's misery just to get a date with her. He knew deep down that he had it bad for the young Weasley, but he didn't have the heart to admit it to himself. He was so good at lying to himself, why should he stop now? He seemed satisfied enough with that answer, and smirked to himself, getting back into his bed. He fell asleep imagining the sullen look on Potter's face in the morning.
@!@!@!@!@!@!
Breakfast. Ginny knew she had to go, but a small voice in her head pleaded her not to. Basically the whole Gryffindor tower knew what had happened the night before, and by the time everyone was at breakfast, the whole school would know. Her mother had always said to face her fears bravely, but Ginny did not feel so brave right now. All she felt was embarrassed and ashamed. She got on her robes slowly, put her hair back in a messy ponytail, and went downstairs with a shudder.
The hall was extremely boisterous that morning, and even the teachers had wondered what was going on. Bernie Miller, a Ravenclaw, was set on the rumor that Harry and Cho were engaged. Some of the Slytherins were taking bets. The teachers stared around disapprovingly but kept their ears open for any information on the night before. Snape was trying to convince Dumbledore that Harry should be expelled.
"Honestly, Albus, the boy has been breaking rules ever since he came here! He has clearly crossed the line this time-"
"I seriously hope you have not been listening to the rumors that have been going around, Severus, for we would not want our Harry falsely accused, now would we?" His mouth was in a slight frown, but his eyes were smiling. Snape knew he could do no more, and sulked for the rest of the morning.
Finally, a small redhead entered the room, followed by Harry. Cho was already sitting at the Ravenclaw table and gave an innocent smile. Harry walked in as if he did not notice almost the whole school staring at him, but Ginny, not being very used to her popularity, turned bright red and walked faster. She sat down and poured herself some orange juice, very aware of the eyes boring into her from all sides. Harry sat down casually and grabbed a piece of toast.
"Would you pass the marmalade please, Gin?" He said calmly, knowing that everyone in the room had heard him. Abruptly and immediately the whole room was chattering away again as if nothing had ever happened. Ginny gave a sigh of relief and glanced at Harry, who was smiling at her. She was glad he was there, to perform, in a way. He was always in the spotlight, watched, admired. He was powerful in his own, silent, way. He knew his audience and how to please him, and knew what to do in every situation involving rumors. For wasn't he involved in every rumor that circulated in the hallways? Ginny sometimes felt sorry for him, but if anyone could take the fame, Harry could. He always used to say to her, sometimes life is like a big play or something, Gin. Sometimes things don't work out, but you have to perform anyway. You always have to perform. Ginny had always watched him like and admiring fan, and learned how much power he actually had in manipulating others, the whole school even. She wished she had that ability.
Ginny stuck her fork into her sausage and took a bite. Harry... things would never be the same, yet somehow she liked it like that. She felt like now that Harry was out of the way, she was ready for something else. Or someone else?
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Draco smirked as he walked into the hall. In just seconds Pansy would come up to him with a juicy rumor about Ginny and Harry... 5...4...3...
"Draco! Draco! Listen to this!"
Hmm... a little early on that, but oh well. This will be interesting either way...
"Rumor has it that Harry and Cho slept together! This is even better than I thought! I can't wait to tell Crabbe!" She ran off to the Slytherin table. Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table, then Ravenclaw. Potter nor Ginny were there, but Cho was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, filing her nails, not noticing the looks she was getting from just about every male at the table. She looked up, saw Draco, gave him a dazzling smile, then went back to her filing.
Draco got into his seat just as Ginny entered, closely followed by Potter. Potter seemed completely at ease, while Ginny looked like a tomato. She sat down as quickly as she could. The room was silent. Even the teachers seemed to want to know what would happen (Snape was scoffing indignantly). Harry sat down and grabbed a piece of toast. The Gryffindor table fidgeted apprehensively.
"Can you pass the marmalade please, Gin?" He said. Draco could see the twinkle dancing in his green eyes. He groaned loudly just as the chatter began again, and knocked an orange juice pitcher onto the floor.
"Something wrong, Draco?" Breathed Millicent.
"My hand-slipped," Draco muttered in a rage as he had never felt. He fingered his knife that he had been cutting his pancakes with minutes before, a dark expression on his face.
Chapter 8
Ginny ran into her room, unable to control the tears rolling down her cheeks and down her neck, stopping at her halter and making it a soggy mess. She flopped onto her bed, vowing never to leave it again. After a few minutes of silent sobbing into her pillow, there was a soft knock on the door, presumably Harry.
"Gin? Gin? I'm so sorry Gin. She seduced me, I swear! There was nothing I could do, I-I don't know what to say but I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me." After a minute or so, Ginny was sure that he was gone and sat up on the bed to ponder what had just happened.
Let's see... she thought. After dinner, Malfoy came up to me, and the next thing I know, I wake up in his bed! Sounds pretty suspicious. Maybe Harry was just framed! But even if he was, Ginny was still completely disgusted with him. Anyone who could be tricked into making out with someone on their bed was a complete numbskull, and therefore Harry did not deserve Ginny. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that being with Harry was a mistake. Thinking of not being with Harry didn't really make her cry; it was the idea that he would cheat on her that made her cry.
I only thought I liked Harry because I had a crush on him for so long that I didn't know the difference between a friendship and a relationship! Ginny thought this was wonderful, and decided to go tell Harry the good news. After all, he must not have liked her too much, as he had just been making out with Cho a few minutes earlier.
"Harry? It's me, Gi-" Harry swung the door open before she could finish.
"Hi."
"Hi. Um, look. I just realized that I don't really like you that way, I only did for about my first four years of school. I guess I was just confused and I wanted to like you that way, but I really didn't. I'm sorry, though I guess I shouldn't be the one apologizing about all this, and I want to just be friends from now on."
"Sounds good."
"Besides, you and Cho look pretty good together," She said, giving him a comical nudge in the ribs.
"You think so?"
"Of course! The angel and the slut! It would be perfect for a Halloween party!"
"And who are you calling a slut?" Harry said.
"Why, you! Who else would be a slut? Cho?" Ginny gave a hearty mock laugh, and left the room, Harry still in it, laughing.
Ginny sat on her bed with much higher spirits than she had the last time she had come in. She got into her pajamas and slipped into bed, in a much better state than she had been in a while, and for once happy she was single.
%*%*%*%*%*%*%* %
Draco paced in his room, unable to sleep. He looked over at his magical clock: 1:34. He wondered if the plan had worked and desperately hoped that it had. He couldn't wait to see Potter's face in the morning, let alone Ginny's. But he also had to ponder why he was so bent on Ginny's misery just to get a date with her. He knew deep down that he had it bad for the young Weasley, but he didn't have the heart to admit it to himself. He was so good at lying to himself, why should he stop now? He seemed satisfied enough with that answer, and smirked to himself, getting back into his bed. He fell asleep imagining the sullen look on Potter's face in the morning.
@!@!@!@!@!@!
Breakfast. Ginny knew she had to go, but a small voice in her head pleaded her not to. Basically the whole Gryffindor tower knew what had happened the night before, and by the time everyone was at breakfast, the whole school would know. Her mother had always said to face her fears bravely, but Ginny did not feel so brave right now. All she felt was embarrassed and ashamed. She got on her robes slowly, put her hair back in a messy ponytail, and went downstairs with a shudder.
The hall was extremely boisterous that morning, and even the teachers had wondered what was going on. Bernie Miller, a Ravenclaw, was set on the rumor that Harry and Cho were engaged. Some of the Slytherins were taking bets. The teachers stared around disapprovingly but kept their ears open for any information on the night before. Snape was trying to convince Dumbledore that Harry should be expelled.
"Honestly, Albus, the boy has been breaking rules ever since he came here! He has clearly crossed the line this time-"
"I seriously hope you have not been listening to the rumors that have been going around, Severus, for we would not want our Harry falsely accused, now would we?" His mouth was in a slight frown, but his eyes were smiling. Snape knew he could do no more, and sulked for the rest of the morning.
Finally, a small redhead entered the room, followed by Harry. Cho was already sitting at the Ravenclaw table and gave an innocent smile. Harry walked in as if he did not notice almost the whole school staring at him, but Ginny, not being very used to her popularity, turned bright red and walked faster. She sat down and poured herself some orange juice, very aware of the eyes boring into her from all sides. Harry sat down casually and grabbed a piece of toast.
"Would you pass the marmalade please, Gin?" He said calmly, knowing that everyone in the room had heard him. Abruptly and immediately the whole room was chattering away again as if nothing had ever happened. Ginny gave a sigh of relief and glanced at Harry, who was smiling at her. She was glad he was there, to perform, in a way. He was always in the spotlight, watched, admired. He was powerful in his own, silent, way. He knew his audience and how to please him, and knew what to do in every situation involving rumors. For wasn't he involved in every rumor that circulated in the hallways? Ginny sometimes felt sorry for him, but if anyone could take the fame, Harry could. He always used to say to her, sometimes life is like a big play or something, Gin. Sometimes things don't work out, but you have to perform anyway. You always have to perform. Ginny had always watched him like and admiring fan, and learned how much power he actually had in manipulating others, the whole school even. She wished she had that ability.
Ginny stuck her fork into her sausage and took a bite. Harry... things would never be the same, yet somehow she liked it like that. She felt like now that Harry was out of the way, she was ready for something else. Or someone else?
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Draco smirked as he walked into the hall. In just seconds Pansy would come up to him with a juicy rumor about Ginny and Harry... 5...4...3...
"Draco! Draco! Listen to this!"
Hmm... a little early on that, but oh well. This will be interesting either way...
"Rumor has it that Harry and Cho slept together! This is even better than I thought! I can't wait to tell Crabbe!" She ran off to the Slytherin table. Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table, then Ravenclaw. Potter nor Ginny were there, but Cho was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, filing her nails, not noticing the looks she was getting from just about every male at the table. She looked up, saw Draco, gave him a dazzling smile, then went back to her filing.
Draco got into his seat just as Ginny entered, closely followed by Potter. Potter seemed completely at ease, while Ginny looked like a tomato. She sat down as quickly as she could. The room was silent. Even the teachers seemed to want to know what would happen (Snape was scoffing indignantly). Harry sat down and grabbed a piece of toast. The Gryffindor table fidgeted apprehensively.
"Can you pass the marmalade please, Gin?" He said. Draco could see the twinkle dancing in his green eyes. He groaned loudly just as the chatter began again, and knocked an orange juice pitcher onto the floor.
"Something wrong, Draco?" Breathed Millicent.
"My hand-slipped," Draco muttered in a rage as he had never felt. He fingered his knife that he had been cutting his pancakes with minutes before, a dark expression on his face.