Chapter 5
New Couple and New Feelings
"Good morning, Hermione!"
"Gin?" Hermione said, trying to figure out who was pulling her arm.
"Yup. It's me all right! I've got a surprise for you. You're going to have the most perfect day of your life!" Ginny said, still pulling Hermione out of her bed.
"And since when did you start predicting one's day?" asked Hermione, sitting up on her bed.
"I just started today. And when I predict I make sure my prediction does come true." Hermione heard Ginny say. "You must wear something splendid today because this day is special. You go to the bathroom now. I'll pick your clothes." Ginny said while she opened the closet door.
"Ginny, I don't need to wear something splendid today. This isn't any special day. It's just an ordinary day." Hermione complained, standing on her bed.
"But this is a special day." Ginny urged, looking at Hermione's clothes in the closet.
"This isn't. In fact, I'm not even going outside today!" Hermione argued.
"Now, now, now. This is a special day. Today is a special day." Ginny impelled even more. "Besides, who told you that you're not going outside?! You are going outside. We're having a picnic this morning!"
"We're going to what?!" said Hermione, looking shocked.
"I said we're going to have a picnic this morning. So you better be off to the bathroom now." Ginny said, pulling Hermione towards the door. "You go there and I'll see what to dress you."
"Okay, I'll go. But promise me Ron's not there," said Hermione.
"I don't think he'll come. He's having colds and headache last night." Ginny lied.
"Okay." Ginny heard Hermione answer. "You wait for me here."
Ginny nodded and Hermione was gone. Ginny turned back to the closet and began searching again.
After a few more seconds, Ginny finished searching and found the perfect outfit for Hermione.
"Ginny, I'm finished." Hermione said as she entered their room.
"Now, you're going to wear these!" Ginny said, raising the clothes she had found earlier. A white blouse with long sleeves and a round neck collar, a crimson pleated skirt, white stockings and a pair of red doll shoes.
"That's too fancy!" Hermione said, looking at the skirt and stockings.
"That's the point! You'll look ravishing in these clothes." Ginny explained.
"But we're just having a picnic!" Hermione replied stubbornly.
"I know, but I want you to remember this day." Ginny said.
"Why do I have to remem—"
"No more time. You dress now." Ginny said, handing the blouse and skirt to Hermione.
Hermione shrugged and started dressing. ("Don't forget to tuck in your blouse!" Ginny reminded)
"Hermione, you're simply stunning!" Ginny gasped when she saw her friend dressed. "Now all we have to do is to add the finishing touches."
Ginny looked inside Hermione's trunk and found a very elegant-looking accessory to fit in with her outfit.
"Here," said Ginny. "You wear this."
"But that's—"
"The most magnificent necklace I've ever seen." Ginny intruded, smiling.
Hermione sighed and sat down in front of the dressing table. Ginny followed her and attached the necklace on Hermione's neck.
"There!" Ginny said after she finished placing the necklace.
"It's beautiful." Hermione said, touching the pendant with her hand. It was a silver-chained necklace with a deep red ruby pendant shaped like a teardrop.
"We'll fix your hair now," said Ginny.
"We can't use magic to straighten my hair," Hermione reminded Ginny.
"I know. We'll just have to use my magical hands." Ginny told Hermione.
Ginny decided to style Hermione's hair in a braid. She braided Hermione's hair from top to bottom. After, she placed a small red ribbon to fasten it and sprayed some magical hair gel on Hermione's hair to help it stay put.
"Let's go!" Ginny said.
"Okay." Hermione replied.
"The picnic's ready, dear. It's already set." Mrs. Weasley said when the two appeared in the kitchen. "My, my. You look great, Hermione." She added, smiling warmly when she saw Hermione.
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione replied, blushing slightly.
"We better go now, Mum. The picnic's waiting for us." Ginny said to her mother and winked.
Hermione and Ginny were already nearing on the riverbank.
"Hermione, I want to tell you something but please say you won't be angry," said Ginny, trying to figure out how to tell the truth to Hermione.
"Mhm." Hermione said, still walking fast. She was already excited about the picnic and Ginny could see that.
Ginny sighed and started to talk. "I want to tell you that R—"
"Ron?!" Hermione gasped, suddenly stopping.
"What? How did you know?" Ginny asked.
"There!" Hermione said in horror, pointing to Harry and Ron, who were now seated on the blanket under the weeping willow. "I thought you promised me Ron wouldn't come!!" Hermione hissed silently to Ginny. She didn't want the boys to hear them.
"I didn't promise. I said 'I think he'll not come'." Ginny explained.
"Then I won't go there anymore." Hermione said.
"You'll come with me." Ginny said, pulling Hermione by the wrist.
"Ginny! I don't want to come! Ron's THERE!" Hermione shouted loudly, trying to pull away from Ginny's tight grasp.
Harry and Ron looked around and saw them immediately.
Harry waved at them and called out, "Hermione! Ginny! Come and join us!"
Ginny looked at Hermione. "They've seen us already. We have to go there." She said, releasing Hermione.
"I'll come but I'm not obliged to talk to Ron." Hermione said.
"Okay, you're not." Ginny said.
Hermione felt satisfied with Ginny's answer and started walking again towards the riverbank.
"But you're obliged to listen to him." Ginny murmured quietly to herself.
The four of them ate their breakfast silently. Ginny and Harry were just the ones talking time to time.
"Gin, can you help me clean these apples by the river. It's very delicious to eat these after breakfast." Harry said.
Ginny nodded and stood up instantly. Hermione was also about to stand up but Harry stopped her.
"I think Ginny and I can do these on our own, thank you," said Harry smiling at her. "We'll be back."
And Ginny and Harry started walking away from them.
"So far, so good." Ginny said, washing the apples by the river.
"Yeah," Harry agreed, looking back at the Ron and Hermione.
"Now, we have finished our task. It's Ron's turn." Ginny said, placing the apples back on the bowl.
"Don't worry, Ron will do fine." Harry said in assurance.
After a few more minutes, Harry and Ginny just watched the other two while they hid themselves behind a tree.
Harry and Ginny would hear Hermione raise her voice but suddenly it would become calmer. They kept on hearing Ron's apology. How sorry he was that he had hurt her and how he loved her all this time. Hermione looked really touched by the way Ron had apologized. She knew Ron was being sincere to her. And at last, they saw Ron and Hermione entwined into a very sensational hug followed by their very first kiss.
At last it's finished, Ginny thought, smiling contentedly.
Harry and Ginny returned to the two and cheered them.
"At last, you two have finally made up!" Harry exclaimed, giving his two best friends a tap on the back.
Hermione's cheeks turned slightly pink while Ron's whole face burned red.
"Hermione, I forgot to tell you but you look really fantastic!" said Ron to his first ever girlfriend.
"Thanks," Hermione said, flushing again. "It's Ginny's fault. She told me to wear these and she even fixed my hair." She explained as she held Ginny's hand.
"Wow!" Harry said. "You'll make a perfect beauty agent someday, Gin." He commented.
Ginny smiled at Harry. She tried hard not to blush but she failed. Her cheeks couldn't help but turn furious pink. Ginny was so happy whenever Harry would compliment her. She kept on hoping it would go better someday…
"You know, this wouldn't have happened if Harry and Ginny hadn't helped me." Ron said, placing his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I want to thank both of you."
"The credit belongs to Ginny. I only helped her," said Harry, smiling at Ginny.
"You mean, this was all your plan?" Hermione asked in surprise.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other worriedly. Ginny looked at Hermione and held her hand. "I'm sorry if you didn't know about this." She began. "Harry and I talked last evening and we were very bothered by your quarrel. So we thought of fixing it and I got the idea of a picnic from you. Remember?" Ginny explained further.
"Oh, that." Hermione said, remembering their talk last evening.
"I hope you're not mad, Hermione." Harry said, a bit worried.
"Why should I? You made this for us. For Ron and I to be happy." Hermione said, standing up. "I love you both!" She said, giving Harry and Ginny each a hug.
"Hey! That's unfair! Why are you hugging them and not me?!" Ron grumbled but he was smiling.
"Don't worry, Ron." Hermione replied, also smiling. "You're going to get my hugs more frequently from now on." She said.
Ron looked satisfied and started to peel himself an apple.
Harry and Ginny just shrugged at each other and smiled.
The four stayed there for a couple of hours more playing, eating apples and talking to each other. The sun was already high on the sky when the four started to pack up and decided to head home already. Ron carried the picnic basket while Hermione walked beside him happily.
Ginny and Harry stayed behind, watching the couple.
"They're happy now," said Ginny, looking at Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah." Harry said in approval.
Ginny smiled and showed Harry the sketchpad she was carrying with her.
"I finished my drawing already." Ginny said.
"Like your other drawings—it's superb!" Harry said, smiling. He looked at the drawing and smiled. It was the four of them on the riverbank a while ago. The enormous weeping willow on their back and flowerbeds that surrounded them were also included in the drawing. Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess while Hermione made a crown of flowers. Ginny was also there but she was a little away from the others. Her hair dancing freely through the wind as she held her sketchpad and drew them. Harry stared at Ginny's figure on the drawing longer than any other figures in the picture. Ginny's red wavy hair that kept on moving whenever the air struck it. Her twinkling brown eyes that matched her hair perfectly and her smile that was the sweetest Harry had ever seen.
What am I thinking! Harry scolded himself. He shook his head rapidly and handed the sketchpad to Ginny. Harry shrugged the thought out of his head. He looked in front of him and saw the Burrow's door.
The four children, Mrs. Weasley and the twins ate their lunch happily. Hermione and Ginny helped Mrs. Weasley with the dishes (they also told her about what had happened on their picnic) while the twins went outside with their usual grin when they were up to something.
"Mum, Harry and I will go upstairs." Ron said. "We're going to recheck our homeworks."
"Okay, dear." Mrs. Weasley said.
The two had gone and Mrs. Weasley chuckled. "You've made Ron very happy today, Hermione. I hope the two of you will last till the end." Mrs. Weasley said while she dried her hands with a piece of cloth on the sink.
Hermione just smiled softly at Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum, can we go up now?" Ginny asked to her mother. "I like to change my clothes. It's a little wet." She said, showing her wet clothes.
"You can go now, dear. Anyway, we've finished cleaning." Her mum replied.
The two scampered all the way up the stairs to their room. Hermione waited for Ginny in their room while Ginny changed in the bathroom.
"I've got a brilliant idea!" Hermione announced when she saw Ginny enter the room.
"What?" Ginny said as she combed her wet hair. "I'm sorry I took so long. I took a shower too." She said.
"That's okay." Hermione affirmed Ginny. "Why don't we go outside and let's check each other's homeworks there. We can have a nice time talking and at the same time we get to enjoy the bench in front of the Burrow. We can even invite Ron and Harry to join us!" Hermione suggested.
"That would be great! Let's go!" Ginny said to Hermione. She opened her own trunk and gathered her books and homeworks and walked quickly for the door.
"Ginny! Wait for me!" Hermione yelled, closing the door behind her.
"Ron, do you think this phrase is correct?" Harry said, reading his homework in History of Magic. "It doesn't have sense to me." He added.
"I'm having troubles with this essay on Transfiguration." Ron mumbled. "Professor McGonagall might not like this one."
Both looked at each other and sighed.
"I think we need Hermione's help." Harry said, closing his Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 book.
"Ron? Harry? Can we come in?" A feminine voice from behind their door said.
"Wish granted, Harry!" Ron smiled, jumping out of bed. He opened the door for Hermione and Ginny.
"Hi, guys!" Hermione greeted, placing her books on Ron's bed.
"So how 'bout we study outside on the bench. It's a pretty day today." Ginny invited.
"Sure," Ron answered instantly as he gathered his stuffs.
Hermione also gathered her books on Ron's bed and they were off.
Ginny preferred to sit on the grass rather than the bench. So, Hermione and Ron sat on the bench while Harry also sat on the grass with Ginny.
"Ron, this isn't quite right. You can read my homework on Transfiguration," said Hermione, searching for her homework on a pile of parchments she had brought.
"Ginny, what are you doing?" Harry asked, looking at Ginny's parchment.
"I'm rewriting my Divination homework." She answered, not looking at Harry.
"You did a good report on Potions, Harry." Hermione said after she had finished reading Harry's work. "You too, Ron." She added to her boyfriend.
Ginny smiled and enjoyed the afternoon breeze. She finished her homework quickly and got her sketchpad again. She decided to draw some more sketches before the afternoon ended.
Ginny looked at the couple sitting on the bench and grinned. I'll draw them, She thought.
Ron and Hermione were a perfect couple to draw. Ron was looking happy as he played with Hermione's hair. Hermione, on the other hand, was reading a book on her lap but a smile was painted in her face. She was enjoying herself too.
"Finished!" Ginny said in delight. She stood up and sat beside Hermione on the bench. She showed the sketch to them and said, "I drew you two. You look very sweet!" Ginny giggled.
Ron instantly turned red whenever they teased him. But he smiled when he saw the drawing. It was Hermione and him sitting on the bench together.
Hermione gave Ginny a hug for such a wonderful picture.
"You can keep it, Hermione!" Ginny said, gasping for air but smiling.
Hermione saw Harry and immediately handed the drawing to him. "You want to see it?" She said.
Harry got the sketch and looked at it. Ginny stood up and sat beside Harry—very near Harry.
"You like it?" Ginny asked, smiling at Harry.
Harry felt his breath caught inside him for a moment. Ginny smiled at him, her warm brown eyes gleaming in a special way. Harry felt his hands get numb and his heart stopped beating.
"Harry?" Ginny repeated, leaning her face closer to Harry's face, looking at his very eyes.
Harry leaned back, feeling his cheeks burn. Then his heart began to beat faster and faster that it seemed like it wanted to explode. Harry couldn't take his eyes off Ginny's face. Ginny, on the other hand, just stared at him, smiling as she waited for Harry's answer.
Harry forced his eyes to look at the drawing. "I-I like it." He managed to say after some time.
"Good!" Ginny said, smiling. Then, she noticed that she had been leaning her face too much. "I'm sorry." Ginny whispered, leaning backwards. She sat a little farther from Harry and looked at him again. She felt herself blushing furiously and looked down.
Harry felt awkward to Ginny that instance. He also looked down and looked at the drawing again. The drawing had somehow changed. It wasn't Ron and Hermione on the bench anymore but Ginny and him already! Harry closed his eyes and shook his head rapidly. He slowly opened his eyes and looked again. The drawing was back to normal—it was Ron and Hermione again.
What's happening to me?! I must have dozed off because of the sun, Harry thought. Harry returned the drawing back to Hermione and looked down again. He reached for his book, Unfogging the Future.
Harry began flipping the page to take his mind off Ginny. He read how to read one's palm for their fortune, how to know your destiny just by looking at the stars and even came through a silly topic: how to know if your teachers are rotten just by simply looking at their hair.
Harry smiled as he read that page.
Harry continued his reading not aware that Hermione was observing him keenly like a hawk. Hermione knew those looks Harry gave Ginny. She was very familiar with those looks but she didn't want Ginny and Ron to know what she had just seen in Harry's eyes—especially not Ron, Ginny's brother. She just smiled to herself and continued to read her book.
After reading, Harry closed his book and decided to review his own homework on Divination. Harry was already rummaging his own stack of parchments for his homework when Ginny called his name.
"Harry," Harry heard Ginny call. "Your parchment. I saw it roll away when the wind blew so I caught it. Your homework's well written. I think you don't need to bother and review it." She said, handing the parchment to Harry.
"Thanks, Gin—"
"Ginny!!" A voice from somewhere near them called.
"Fred!" Ginny squealed, instantly springing up and advancing to her brother.
"Hello, Ginny." Fred said, smiling at his little sister.
"So what are you up to this time?" Ginny said suspiciously to her twin brothers.
Fred and George looked at each other and grinned.
"We have a surprise for you." George said happily.
"I hope it doesn't include tricks this time." Ginny said, still suspicious of her brothers' surprise.
"This is a serious surprise." George replied.
"So where is it?" Ginny asked.
"On the weeping willow!" Fred replied.
"My weeping willow?" Ginny said uncertainly.
"Yup! Come on! We'll show you!" George said and the twins began running towards the riverbank.
Ginny looked back at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "You want to come?" She asked them.
"You go ahead, I need to finish this book I'm reading. Besides, no one will guard the parchments and books." Hermione said and returned her gaze on her book again.
Ron, who wanted to stay near Hermione, also decided to stay.
"You go with her, Harry. Fred and George might try to pull a prank on her. She needs someone to guard her," said Ron, looking at his sister.
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Ron. I can guard myself, don't worry!" Ginny muttered, her hands on her waist. "But at least I can have some company. Going, Harry?" Ginny said, looking at Harry.
"Sure." Harry replied at once.
Ginny and Harry were already far from the Burrow when Ginny started to hop her way to the riverbank. She enjoyed hopping and humming a tune to herself.
"I've observed that you're very happy today," Harry said, walking slowly while Ginny hopped merrily in front of him.
"Yeah, I'm very happy 'cause everything's so perfect today!" Ginny explained and continued her humming.
"You know, this was the happiest vacation I ever had!" Harry told Ginny, smiling at her.
"I thought so. Ron always told me you never get along much with your Muggle family." Ginny said.
"They never understood me." Harry said, looking at the clouds above him.
"If you have any problem, we're here. You just need to talk to us. Don't try solving problems on your own," said Ginny, smiling at Harry.
"You sound like Hermione and Ron," Harry said, smiling back.
"Because we're your best friends." Ginny said and she ran quickly towards her favorite weeping willow.
Harry shrugged and watched Ginny run—just like a free butterfly moving around the wide flowerbeds. He followed Ginny and began running too.
When Harry arrived, he saw Ginny sitting on a swing. Its strings were tied on one of the branches of the weeping willow.
"Harry! Look what Fred and George gave me. It's their surprise for me." Ginny said to Harry as she went up to the air and down. "They made another one for Hermione." She said, pointing to the other one beside hers.
Harry smiled as she watched Ginny on the swing.
"Mum might be looking for us already," George said, looking at his watch. "Let's go, Fred." He told his twin brother as he started to head for the Burrow.
"Harry, can you look over Ginny for us. We're going back to the Burrow," Fred said, following his twin.
"Bye, Fred! Bye, George! Thank you for the surprise! I loved it!" Ginny yelled to the two Weasleys running back to the Burrow.
Ginny continued her swinging, each swing higher than before.
Harry sat down on the grass and silently watched Ginny on the swing. She looks lovely on her yellow flower-printed dress, Harry thought, picking a pink cosmos from the flowerbed he was sitting on.
"Harry, why don't you join me here?" Ginny said, slowing down.
"Okay," Harry replied. Harry sat on the swing but didn't swing right away. Ginny stopped swinging and looked at Harry's face curiously.
"What are you thinking?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing." Harry answered. "Here," he said, holding the pinkish flower he had picked earlier in front of Ginny.
Ginny simply looked at the flower and looked back at Harry. "For me?" She said, her heart racing faster.
"A thank you gift." Harry replied.
"Thanks," Ginny said blushing, "but for what?" She asked but she accepted the flower whole-heartedly. She looked at the flower and she felt her cheeks blush even more.
"For fixing my scattered parchments and books and also Ron's."
"You knew? How did you know?"
"I heard you knock and saw you enter."
"Why didn't you answer me when I called?"
"I was too sleepy, I guess." Harry smiled. "First, I thought it was only a dream but when I woke up the next day and saw my stuff, I knew it was real." Harry said. He started to swing slowly.
Ginny stood up and placed the cosmos on her pocket. She rushed to the flowerbed nearby and started searching for something there. Harry watched her curiously and when she found what she was looking for, she returned to Harry with a wide smile on her lips. She handed Harry a four-leafed clover.
"For you," said Ginny. "A thank you gift for being my best friend and for always going with me." She said, grinning at Harry. "I saw that clover last time, when Hermione and I were picking some flowers. My mum said it brings good luck," She added.
Harry took the clover from Ginny and kept it in his pocket. "Thank you." He said in a low voice.
Ginny and Harry continued to talk for some time about any subject that popped in their heads. They talked about their favorites and their hobbies. Ginny told Harry that she loved to read books about adventures and love besides her fondness in drawing. She even had a collection of books she already read in her room.
"I'm into reading Muggle novels right now—novels about girls, their dreams and their love. Dad gave me a book that's titled The Princess Diaries. Since then, I've started reading them. I've just finished reading Web of Dreams yesterday. I only got that two but Hermione told me about a few of the other books I wouldn't want to miss like The Girl from Nowhere and Little Women! I wish I could look in Hogwarts' library about those books. Hermione told me that Madam Pince might have some of those copies stacked on the Muggle Books Division." Ginny told Harry, smiling.
They also talked about their teachers in Hogwarts and they both agreed on two things—Snape was their least favorite teacher and Trelawney was the weirdest.
Harry and Ginny enjoyed their talk very much that they hadn't noticed that time was passing quickly. The two only stopped talking when they noticed the sudden darkness enfolding the whole place.
"I haven't noticed it's already night," Harry said, stopping his swing and immediately jumping off. "Let's go, Gin. They might start a search party if we don't come home soon," he said.
Ginny smiled and also stood up. "Okay, let's go then." She said wearily.
"Want a race all the way home?" Harry asked, seeing Ginny's eyes slowly closing. "Or maybe you want me to carry you all the way home. You look like your going to fall asleep any minute." Harry teased.
"I think I can walk on my own. But I think I'll enjoy a race even more," Ginny said, her eyes starting to glint in excitement. "I'm warning you, I'm not a bad runner." She added, grinning at Harry.
"On the count of three then," Harry said coolly.
"Sure," Ginny said, preparing to run.
"One…" Harry started.
"Two…" Ginny continued.
"Three!" Both said and the race began.
Ginny and Harry ran to the grass fields carelessly. Ginny ran like a tiger after its prey. She kept on giggling whenever she saw that she was leading on their race. But Harry was determined to win. He ran faster and faster like a train that can never be stopped. He was already tying with Ginny and the Burrow was already in sight.
I'm going to win, Harry thought to himself.
"Okay, Harry you win. Can we stop the race now?" Ginny said, slowing down and sitting down on the grass.
Harry also slowed down and sat down beside her. "We're almost at the finish line!" Harry complained but he too was glad the race was over. He was very tired of running.
"Let's just walk starting here," Ginny said, gasping for air. "I can't run anymore."
Harry grinned when he looked at Ginny's worn out face. "Okay," he replied. "You look tired already."
"Now look who's talking!" Ginny muttered, standing up and placing her hands on her waist. She looked at Harry with her accusing eyes as if telling 'You too look tired!'
The two reached the Burrow laughing and teasing each other—just in time for dinner.
"At last, you finally knew that it was already time to go home!" Mrs. Weasley said in relief.
"Mum, we just went to the swings Fred and George gave me." Ginny reasoned.
"And what in the world did the two of you do to take you the whole afternoon before going home?! Swinging? You didn't even notice the time!" Ron grumbled.
"Exactly!" Ginny said. "We didn't notice the time because we were swinging and talking and enjoying ourselves very much." She answered.
"And what's with the wet clothes?" Ron said, looking at Harry and his sister from head to foot.
"We had a race all the way home," said Harry.
"That's all that we would ask." Fred said when he appeared in the kitchen.
"Interview's over!" George announced with delight.
All of them looked at the twins annoyingly except for Harry and Ginny but they too were looking at them only their looks were different—theirs were grateful.
"What's the matter with you guys?" Fred asked with his innocent voice. "Come on, Mum. I'm hungry. Can we eat our dinner already?" Fred said, taking a seat.
Before the dinner began, Ginny sat beside George and whispered, "Thanks."
George just shrugged and began eating his pasta.
Later on the dinner, Mr. Weasley and Percy arrived and ate with them. The topic they were discussing before dinner was not spoken anymore and was never brought up again.
After their dinner, Ginny and Hermione were left with Mrs. Weasley to clean the dishes. Harry and Ron went upstairs quickly to change their clothes and sleep.
"Aren't you going to sleep yet, Harry?" Ron asked, preparing his bed for sleep.
"You go ahead, I'll just have some thinking," said Harry, opening the window in their room.
"Harry,"
"Huh?"
"Do you like my sister?" Ron asked, looking at Harry with accusing eyes.
"No." Harry said sharply.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," said Harry. "Why are you asking me?"
"Nothing." Ron said. "Just having a hunch."
"What if I said yes?" Harry said curiously.
"I'll bite your head off." Ron said, his eyes told Harry he wasn't joking. "I don't want my sister to get hurt, Harry, and you know that." He said.
"But I'm not hurting your sister." Harry reasoned. "We're just best friends."
"But you will hurt her if you'll love her."
"I can't understand you, Ron." That was the truth; Harry didn't understand a word Ron had said.
"You're famous, Harry; a lot of girls will want you. And my sister is just—well, a common girl—and I think a famous guy like you won't choose an ordinary girl like my sister. She's very important to us, Harry," said Ron.
"She's also important to me, Ron," said Harry, smiling.
"I know," Ron smiled back, "but—"
"Ron," said Harry, "I think it's not because I'm famous, am I right?"
Ron didn't answer; he looked down on the floor.
"It's because of Voldemort." Harry didn't say it as a question; it was a statement. "If I come too close to Ginny, Voldemort might try and kill her. Don't worry Ron, I will die before he can even touch Ginny's hair. I promise that I won't hurt Ginny in any way."
"Thanks, Harry." Ron said. "But you don't like my sister, do you?"
"She's just a sister to me," said Harry. After saying that he felt a sudden guilt inside him. Did he say something wrong—a lie? He didn't know anymore.
"Good," Harry heard Ron say. Ron already went to bed afterwards, sleeping and forgetting their talk.
Harry looked outside and began to wonder. The whole Burrow was almost silent except for the soft clattering of plates on the kitchen.
The girls are still washing the dishes, Harry thought as he looked to the moon outside his window. The shape was utmost perfect—a half-crescent moon. Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and Ginny are still awake, he thought. He went searching on his pockets and found the clover Ginny gave him.
"My good luck," he told himself. He took his pocket watch out and opened it. He placed the clover inside it and looked at it again. I don't know what's happening to me whenever I look at Ginny. And when she talks or when she just smiles at me… Harry began wondering about that peculiar feeling he felt. "I always feel something I can't understand nor describe…" He told himself, looking at the clover on his pocket watch. "That feeling was the same feeling I got whenever Cho's around, but this time—it's weirder. Maybe I'm just adjusting with her or something. I can't actually love her or even have a crush on her—can I? Harry was having trouble with his thoughts already. Thoughts kept popping out and got all crammed up in his head. He remembered everything Ron had told him. Ginny was important to Ron, to every Weasley—to Harry.
"Remember—she's Ron's little sister. Ron's little sister. You can't do that. She's just your best friend. Just your best friend." Harry kept on murmuring to himself. He always reminded himself about that thought and he needed to keep that thought in his head or else—he'd get Ron mad. He remembered what Ron told him if he'd like Ginny—Ron would bite his head off. He knew Ron was always protective over his little sister and if Ron knew about it—he'd get killed before Voldemort could even kill him. He couldn't fall in love with his best friend's little sister—also his best friend. That was the rule or was it just a rule Harry made himself to keep Ginny away from him? He was getting very flustered with all the thoughts in his head. "Ron's right," Harry told himself, looking at Ron. "I mustn't risk Ginny's life, she's not just any girl; I can't afford to hurt her. Better choose another girl or die rather than get Ginny killed—I won't let Ginny die—never." Harry closed the window and went straight to his bed. He remembered the promise he made to Ron: HE WOULDN'T HURT GINNY. Together with that promise he made another one—a promise to himself; I will always protect Ginny and guard her happiness. He thought determinedly. He closed his eyes and slept peacefully that night—the thoughts he had were all buried and carried to full oblivion. Two things were left in his mind: One, Ginny was his best friend and she was very important to him; two, his promise to Ron and his promise to himself.
"Aren't you finished with your diary entry yet?" Hermione asked grumpily at Ginny, who was sitting on her chair, her head buried on her desk with a quill on her hand and a candle lying on her desk.
"You've been asking me that question ten times already. I've counted them," Ginny muttered, still not lifting her head. "I told you I'm almost finish." She said stubbornly.
"But that's the answer I always get from you fifteen minutes ago," Hermione complained even more, looking at her watch.
"Okay, I'm done!" Ginny finally declared. "What's with the hurry?! Got something to tell me?" She asked Hermione, sitting on her bed and facing her. "Don't tell me Hogwarts made you a prefect!" Ginny joked.
"It's not that," Hermione said, "but I was disappointed when I wasn't made a prefect. I thought I could be a good prefect." She said in distress.
"That's all right, Hermione," Ginny assured her friend. "If you were to be a prefect you'll have to make a good student example to everyone, meaning you can't be involved with trouble. And trouble is the twin brother of your two best friends, Harry and Ron. Especially now that Ron's your boyfriend, you can't keep on taking points off Slytherin just to save Ron—because he's always in trouble with Slytherin—you'll probably lose your relationship because of that." She told Hermione, smiling warmly. "Besides, you'll just spend your whole school year being a boring student who can't even do a prank even just for once. Look at Percy, he's never done any prank when he was a prefect instead he was the one being bantered by our number one pranksters, Fred and George. He always corrects people and tells people not to do that and this." She added, trying to make her friend feel better.
Hermione smiled. "I think you're right." She said cheerfully.
Ginny smiled back and began searching her pockets. She took out the pink cosmos Harry gave her that afternoon and showed it to Hermione.
"Pretty flower," Hermione said, looking at the flower Ginny was holding.
"Harry gave it to me," Ginny said, flushing.
"He's courting you already?!" Hermione asked in jolt.
"No," Ginny said in a denying tone, blushing more. "He just gave it to me as a thank you gift." She explained, also looking at the flower.
"I think he already likes you," Hermione teased her friend.
"What makes you think he does?" Ginny asked defiantly.
"By the way he looks at you." Hermione simply said, smiling confidently. "I know those looks very well…"
"You're just exaggerating it, Hermione." Ginny said, taking her diary and opening it. She placed the flower inside and locked it with her key. "Harry will never see me more than his best friend." She said, trying to say it with ease but the words came out bitterly, leaving a pain inside her heart.
"We'll just wait and see then," Hermione told Ginny, smiling.
"We'll just wait and see…" Ginny sighed and went to her bed to sleep.
A/N: So far, so good. Thanks for all the wonderful feedbacks, keep them coming! Review please! ^-^ Bye.