Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story.
"Christmas is coming up soon. And as a treat to students in fourth year and up, we are having a Christmas ball. A ball to honor Christmas," Dumbledore smiled at his own attempt at a joke. "Younger years may come, of course only if asked on a date by a higher year. I think it best that you prepare for this event and bring out your dress robes. That will be all."
As Dumbledore sat down, the hall erupted into whispers and small talks about dress, and robes and who to ask out and who's going to ask them out. Ginny had a problem with the last one. Who was she going to go with? She had an idea who she'd want to go with, but of course he would never ask her out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry.
"Who are you going with, Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going with Lavender," Ron announced.
"That's a surprise," Ginny said dryly then turned to Hermione. "I don't know. You?"
Hermione smiled. "Well.I also don't know. I'll probably just go alone."
"Hermione! It's a ball. And on balls you're supposed to have dates," Ron said.
"Says who?" Ginny replied. "Besides, if no one asks me, I'm going alone as well. Besides, not everyone has someone special like you, Ron."
Ron smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. But still, you can't go alone. I'm sure someone would ask both of you."
"Yeah. It's impossible that no one would," Harry added.
"Well, thanks, guys! I really appreciate that," Hermione said with a smile. "It's too bad Viktor's busy this December."
"Why? Were you hoping you'd take him?" Harry asked.
"You can't, Herm. It's a school ball," Ron said.
"I know," Hermione said.
"Won't he get mad if you're going to go with someone else?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, no. Viktor's very understanding," Hermione said with a smile.
"Yeah. Vicky the virtuous," Ron said with a snigger. Harry laughed. Even Ginny was giggling.
"Oh, Ron, I wish you wouldn't make fun of him," Hermione said, pouting. "Just kidding, Herm," Ron said.
The ball was nearing and Ginny still hasn't got a date. Hermione had decided to go alone. It would be much better, she said. That way I could dance with anyone. Ginny had seriously decided to do the same. But then Harry also still didn't have a date and she was still hoping that, maybe, he'd ask her.
"What if he asks you, Ginny? Will you say yes?" Megan asked excitedly.
"Well.of course I'd say yes, if he asks me," Ginny said.
"Oh I'm sure he will," Megan said.
"What if he asks you, Megan, will you say yes?" Ginny asked carefully.
Megan looked at her. "You're kidding, right? He won't ask me. He'll ask you."
"I'm saying what if. Will you?"
"Of course not, Gin. I know you like him so much, you almost love him. I won't go with him. I'd rather go alone," Megan said. "Thanks, Megan!"
A few days before the ball. "Who're you going with, Megan?" Ginny asked.
Megan became uncomfortable and looked down. "I'll tell you next time, Gin. I really have to go." With this Megan left quickly. Whenever Ginny would ask her, she would be uncomfortable all over again and wouldn't answer her question.
"What about Colin?" Hermione suggested. Ginny snorted through her drink, spilling some on the table.
"That's really disturbing, Gin," Ron said. Ginny turned red when she saw Harry looking at her and muttered, "Sorry."
"What's wrong with Colin?" Hermione repeated.
"Well--," Ginny began.
"Would you look at that bloke? Can't stop stuttering and saying, hey Harry all the time. I swear something is seriously wrong with that dude. Don't go with him, Gin," Ron said.
"Would you mind not answering questions that are meant for someone else? Besides, if he makes you that upset, Ron, maybe I should go with him," Ginny said with a teasing grin. Ron opened his mouth in shock but recovered quickly. "It's your loss." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I'm just kidding. I don't want to go with him because I went with him last year and well.it wasn't pretty."
"Okay. Colin's out," Hermione said. "What about Neville?"
"Now, there's--," Ron began but Ginny glared at him and he shut up.
"Well, I went with Neville during the Yule ball and he kept on stepping on my toes. I couldn't walk properly for days," Ginny said.
Ron erupted laughing at this and said, "Gin, you have the magnet for guys with mental defects."
"Ron!" Hermione and Harry scolded.
Ginny, however didn't find this funny. "What's that supposed to mean? Does that mean that I'm not pretty or good enough for guys like you? Are you the example or normalcy? Well, I'm sorry, Ron, if I don't meet your standards. I'm sorry if I let you down." And with this, Ginny stood up and walked out of the hall.
"Ron, I can't believe you said that," Harry said.
"What? It was a joke," Ron said.
"But it didn't sound like it. You might've hurt her feelings," Hermione said.
"Do you know how important your approval is to her? You're her big brother. You should be looking out for her," Harry said.
"Yeah, Ron, she--," Hermione began.
"Okay, Okay! I get it," Ron said. "I'll talk to her."
Ron went up in the common room and found Ginny sitting on the couch by the fire. "Hey," Ron said. "Mind if I join you?" Ginny shook her head. Ron sat beside her and took a deep breath. "Look, Gin, I'm--," Ron began but Ginny interrupted him.
"You don't have to say sorry. I was just being too sensitive," Ginny said.
"No. It was wrong of me to say that," Ron said. "I'm sorry. I think you're very beautiful, Ginny."
Ginny looked at her brother at this. "You mean it?"
"With my whole heart," Ron said. "Come here." Ron put his arms around her shoulders and Ginny rested her head on her brother's chest. "You really think I'm beautiful, Ron? I think I'm really plain," Ginny said.
"Ginny, you're very beautiful. You can date anyone you like. Dean, Seamus.even Harry," Ron added with an inward smile.
"What does Harry have to do with this?" Ginny asked, feeling her heart beat faster.
"Well.you know what I mean."
"No I don't. What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"I know that you like him, Gin," Ron said.
Ginny looked at him. "You do? How?"
"Since you first saw him, I think," Ron said and chuckled at the look of horror on her face. "You used to always talk about him. But then, you don't anymore. What happened?" Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. It's hopelessness, I guess."
"Hopelessness? Ginny, just tell Harry how you feel," Ron said.
Ginny looked horrified at this. "Ron, are you joking? Harry would never talk to me again. Besides, I don't want to be the one to tell him. I want him to be the one and if he doesn't because he doesn't feel that way about me, I would be able to handle it better."
"But, Ginny." Ron said.
"Ron, don't tell him. Don't tell him a single thing," Ginny said insistently.
Ron sighed. "Okay. But I really think it would be better if you told him."
"Thanks for your advice. But I think this is for the best."
It was the night of the ball. Ginny got dressed and proceeded to the common room to wait for Hermione. She decided to go stag. The person she wanted to go with didn't ask her so she thought that this was for the best.
"Hi Ginny! You look amazing!" Hermione said, complimenting her scarlet robes that accentuated her figure.
"Thanks! So do you," Ginny said. They didn't wait for Ron or Harry anymore, since they both had dates and went to the great hall. Their breaths were taken away because the great hall simply looked breathtaking. *I'll leave the scene to your imagination. *
Ginny and Hermione got a table near the dance floor so they could watch the other students dance. Shortly after, Ron arrived with Lavender and sat on the table with them.
"Isn't this just wonderful?" Lavender said.
"Yeah," Ginny replied. "The place is amazing."
"I wonder where Harry is," Hermione said.
"He said he'll follow," Ron said.
"I wonder where Megan is, too. I'm dying to know who her date is," Ginny said.
Hermione craned her neck to see the door and saw Megan walk in, wearing robes of shocking pink. "There she is," Hermione said then crinkled her forehead. "With Harry."
Ginny stared at Hermione. "What do you mean she's with Harry?" She looked at the entrance and saw Megan.her arm linked to Harry's. Ginny couldn't believe what she's seeing. Megan with Harry? But she said. Megan didn't want to tell Ginny who her date was because it was Harry. Tears began to cloud her eyesight.
"Ginny, are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine," she replied, casually wiping the corner of her eyes and not taking her gaze off the painful sight. Hermione gazed at her friend. She knew she wasn't fine. Just one look in her eyes was all Hermione needed to see to understand. She was in pain, in pain because Harry asked Megan as his date and not her, in pain because she was in love with Harry. Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed. Ron looked at her sister as she watched the man of his dreams walk towards them with a different lady with him. Lavender didn't fail to spot Ginny's hurting. Hermione reached out and squeezed Ginny's hand. It was all she could do to comfort her as Harry went over with Megan. "Hi girls!" Harry said.
"Hi Ron!"
"Harry," Hermione said, forcing a smile. "Why didn't you tell us that Megan was your date?"
"Megan said it would be better if everyone found out at the ball. Like a surprise," Harry said, sitting across Hermione and Ginny. Ginny smirked. I wonder why. Megan looked down and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked Megan. "I'll get you something to drink." He stood up and left. Ginny sighed and tried to stop the tears from falling. They were so close but Ginny didn't want to cry. Not tonight. Not in front of everyone.
"Ginny," Megan began. "I'm--."
Ginny forced a smile and it came out strained. "I'm happy for you, Megan."
"Ginny." Megan began again.
"Really," Ginny said pointedly and Megan decided to just keep quiet. Soon the dance started and everyone went out to the dance floor to sway with the music. Everyone was having so much fun. Even Ginny. A couple of guys had asked her to dance. Hermione didn't stay in her seat too long also. But there was a time when Ginny felt tired already and just wanted to sit. It just so happened that Megan and Harry and Hermione chose to sit at the same time.
Harry and Megan were flirting with each other and Ginny couldn't take it anymore.
"Guys. Harry, Megan, could you flirt somewhere else?" Ginny said pointedly. "I mean, I think it's a bit unkindly to those of us who don't have dates."
"Oh. Um, sorry, Ginny," Harry said. "Sorry, Hermione. We didn't mean to--."
"It's okay," Hermione said and glanced warily at Ginny. She was never like this. Ginny was always happy and optimistic, not rude and curt and not sad.
Ron and Lavender arrived and sat down, a bit pink from dancing. "Hey guys! What's up?" Ron said, looking around then rested his eyes on Ginny. She looked really downhearted. And he felt bad. He suddenly felt a bit of anger towards Harry. Harry had always thought Ginny was pretty. Harry had told him so himself. Ron casually gave Harry the idea to ask Ginny out. But Harry just laughed at him.
"Guys--," Harry began but Ginny suddenly stood up, interrupting him.
"Where're you going?" Hermione asked. "I'm.I.just out," Ginny stammered, her voice breaking. She went out of the great hall. She just felt the need to get out of there. If she didn't she might burst down and cry for she couldn't hold her tears anymore. Seeing Megan with Harry was just too painful. She ran and ran as far away as possible from the castle. She just wanted to get out of there and just be isolated. She ran until she reached the lake. She collapsed on the grass and shed her painful tears. The tears that she cast off all the time because of her love for Harry. The love that she knew would never be reciprocated. Why did she have to feel this way? Why did she have to fall in love with someone whom she knew would never feel that way about her? Is this the way it's supposed to be? She always thought that love was wonderful, grand and magical. But now that she has fallen in love, she saw that it was different. If love was supposed to be all those things, why did it hurt so much?
"Ginny!" Ginny didn't look up. She recognized Hermione's voice. "Ginny! You shouldn't be here this late. You might get sick," Hermione said. Ginny only continued to sob. "Oh, Ginny, please stop crying," she said soothingly, wrapping her arms around her.
"I don't understand, Hermione," Ginny said. "How can loving hurt so much?" Hermione didn't answer. Instead, she wrapped her arms tighter around her, patted her head and soothed her through the night.
"What time did you guys get back last night?" Ron asked worriedly, running a hand through his hair as he paced across the common room.
"It was about 1:30 in the morning, Ron," Hermione said quietly. "She didn't want to come back to the castle."
"I should've come with you," Ron said, feeling upset. He sat down on the couch, where Hermione was.
"It's okay," Hermione sat, touching his shoulder. "She's fine, Ron."
"She's not fine!" Ron said angrily. "I could kill Harry for this."
"That won't be reasonable. She doesn't want Harry to know how she feels about him. And killing Harry won't help, anyway," Hermione said.
"But he's hurting her," Ron said. "I can't stand her like this." He took a deep breath.
"He doesn't know that he's hurting her. So we can't blame him."
"Yes, we can, Hermione," Ron said. "What do you mean?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"I know he has some sort of feelings for Ginny. He just doesn't want to admit it. But I can see the way he looks at her. It's different," Ron said.
"But.why won't he ask her out?" Hermione asked.
"Because he's an ass."
"Ronald Weasley! Even if Harry hurt your sister, which may I remind you is still unintentional, you have no right to call him an ass. He is still your best friend and you will respect him," Hermione scolded.
"I just don't like to see Ginny getting hurt, Hermione," Ron said, burying his face in his hands.
Hermione sighed. "I know. I don't want to see her hurting, too."
"So what do we do about it?"
"Ginny! Ginny!" Ginny began to walk faster. She didn't want to be in a confrontation that involved the ball. It has been almost two weeks and she hasn't heard a single thing. She didn't care whether they pitied her or what. It was better not talking about it. Talking about it would only bring back pain and hurt and crying. And she didn't want to cry anymore. She was getting tired of shedding tears that were for nothing.
"Ginny!" The person calling her finally caught up and grabbed her arm, willing her to stop. Ginny stopped walking and faced that person.
"What do you want, Megan?" Ginny asked with displeasure in her voice.
"Ginny, why won't you talk to me?" Megan asked.
"You, of all people, should know the answer to your question," Ginny said. "I have to go."
"Ginny, I'm sorry. He--," Megan said but Ginny interrupted her.
"Don't bother explaining, Megan," Ginny said then turned around and left quickly, trying to stop the tears from falling.
This is why I hate talking about things, Ginny thought. She was by the lake again, crying. She knew it was pointless to cry and she did say that she wouldn't cry again. But the tears just keep on coming. It wouldn't stop. And she had to let them out. The lake had become her place of refuge. She felt that by sitting there she could be calm and just think things out or cry and the lake won't judge her. She wished she could be as still and peaceful as the lake. You could splash it around and ruffle it, but still it wouldn't erupt into a wave of fury like the sea or the ocean. It stayed like that all the time.
That night in the common room, people started asking Ginny questions about what happened to her the night of the ball. Everyone said that she was having fun the one minute and then crying the next. How could they know? Did they see her crying? But only Hermione was with her? Oh who am I kidding? News like this doesn't keep quiet forever. She just shrugged off the questions and comments and proceeded to the stairs that lead to her dormitories, when someone called out her name.
"Ginny!" Everyone became quiet and still as he called out to her again.
"Ginny! Ginny, wait!"
It was Harry of course.
Ginny slowly turned around and faced the one person she had been trying to avoid for two weeks. The person who made her feel that loving wasn't worth it. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak.
"Ginny," he began, "I.Are you mad at me?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. Is he stupid or what?
"Okay. Wrong question," Harry said. "Why are you mad at me?"
Ginny's eyes narrowed into slits. He's more stupid than she thought. Doesn't he know?
"Ginny? Why are--?" Harry repeated.
"Oh, don't you know?" Ginny interrupted, her voice louder than she intended it to be.
"Well, I.no," Harry said quietly.
"Let me explain it to you, Harry Potter," Ginny said. She knew that the tone of her voice was unreasonable but she went on anyway. She kept the pain to herself far too long. She was going to lash it out at him, whether he liked it or not. "Do you know that in the four years that I've known you all I wanted is for you to NOTICE ME? Yeah, I know it's pathetic but I still do it. I still hope that maybe someday the famous Harry Potter would notice me. But, oh no, you wouldn't would you? Not when I'm just this girl whom you vaguely know as your best friend's little sister. Well, you know what? I'm TIRED of being your best friend's little sister. You're the densest guy I've known! Ever!"
Ginny was breathing really hard. It was as if she had been running. She looked around and saw people staring at her, some in awe and others in shock. She noticed Hermione and Ron sitting side by side at one of the couches. Their faces reflect amazement and astonishment. She bet that they never thought she could burst like that. She never thought she could, too. Finally, her eyes rested on Harry again. His mouth was slightly open, his face pale with a look of alarm. Ginny decided that she said all she needed to say and would allow herself to leave the room. That will show them. That will show him. Ginny Weasley is not just your average nice little girl. She slowly turned around opened the door to her dormitories. She was just about to close the door when she realized that some of the students were clapping. Clapping for her. Cheering for her.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story.
"Christmas is coming up soon. And as a treat to students in fourth year and up, we are having a Christmas ball. A ball to honor Christmas," Dumbledore smiled at his own attempt at a joke. "Younger years may come, of course only if asked on a date by a higher year. I think it best that you prepare for this event and bring out your dress robes. That will be all."
As Dumbledore sat down, the hall erupted into whispers and small talks about dress, and robes and who to ask out and who's going to ask them out. Ginny had a problem with the last one. Who was she going to go with? She had an idea who she'd want to go with, but of course he would never ask her out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry.
"Who are you going with, Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going with Lavender," Ron announced.
"That's a surprise," Ginny said dryly then turned to Hermione. "I don't know. You?"
Hermione smiled. "Well.I also don't know. I'll probably just go alone."
"Hermione! It's a ball. And on balls you're supposed to have dates," Ron said.
"Says who?" Ginny replied. "Besides, if no one asks me, I'm going alone as well. Besides, not everyone has someone special like you, Ron."
Ron smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. But still, you can't go alone. I'm sure someone would ask both of you."
"Yeah. It's impossible that no one would," Harry added.
"Well, thanks, guys! I really appreciate that," Hermione said with a smile. "It's too bad Viktor's busy this December."
"Why? Were you hoping you'd take him?" Harry asked.
"You can't, Herm. It's a school ball," Ron said.
"I know," Hermione said.
"Won't he get mad if you're going to go with someone else?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, no. Viktor's very understanding," Hermione said with a smile.
"Yeah. Vicky the virtuous," Ron said with a snigger. Harry laughed. Even Ginny was giggling.
"Oh, Ron, I wish you wouldn't make fun of him," Hermione said, pouting. "Just kidding, Herm," Ron said.
The ball was nearing and Ginny still hasn't got a date. Hermione had decided to go alone. It would be much better, she said. That way I could dance with anyone. Ginny had seriously decided to do the same. But then Harry also still didn't have a date and she was still hoping that, maybe, he'd ask her.
"What if he asks you, Ginny? Will you say yes?" Megan asked excitedly.
"Well.of course I'd say yes, if he asks me," Ginny said.
"Oh I'm sure he will," Megan said.
"What if he asks you, Megan, will you say yes?" Ginny asked carefully.
Megan looked at her. "You're kidding, right? He won't ask me. He'll ask you."
"I'm saying what if. Will you?"
"Of course not, Gin. I know you like him so much, you almost love him. I won't go with him. I'd rather go alone," Megan said. "Thanks, Megan!"
A few days before the ball. "Who're you going with, Megan?" Ginny asked.
Megan became uncomfortable and looked down. "I'll tell you next time, Gin. I really have to go." With this Megan left quickly. Whenever Ginny would ask her, she would be uncomfortable all over again and wouldn't answer her question.
"What about Colin?" Hermione suggested. Ginny snorted through her drink, spilling some on the table.
"That's really disturbing, Gin," Ron said. Ginny turned red when she saw Harry looking at her and muttered, "Sorry."
"What's wrong with Colin?" Hermione repeated.
"Well--," Ginny began.
"Would you look at that bloke? Can't stop stuttering and saying, hey Harry all the time. I swear something is seriously wrong with that dude. Don't go with him, Gin," Ron said.
"Would you mind not answering questions that are meant for someone else? Besides, if he makes you that upset, Ron, maybe I should go with him," Ginny said with a teasing grin. Ron opened his mouth in shock but recovered quickly. "It's your loss." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I'm just kidding. I don't want to go with him because I went with him last year and well.it wasn't pretty."
"Okay. Colin's out," Hermione said. "What about Neville?"
"Now, there's--," Ron began but Ginny glared at him and he shut up.
"Well, I went with Neville during the Yule ball and he kept on stepping on my toes. I couldn't walk properly for days," Ginny said.
Ron erupted laughing at this and said, "Gin, you have the magnet for guys with mental defects."
"Ron!" Hermione and Harry scolded.
Ginny, however didn't find this funny. "What's that supposed to mean? Does that mean that I'm not pretty or good enough for guys like you? Are you the example or normalcy? Well, I'm sorry, Ron, if I don't meet your standards. I'm sorry if I let you down." And with this, Ginny stood up and walked out of the hall.
"Ron, I can't believe you said that," Harry said.
"What? It was a joke," Ron said.
"But it didn't sound like it. You might've hurt her feelings," Hermione said.
"Do you know how important your approval is to her? You're her big brother. You should be looking out for her," Harry said.
"Yeah, Ron, she--," Hermione began.
"Okay, Okay! I get it," Ron said. "I'll talk to her."
Ron went up in the common room and found Ginny sitting on the couch by the fire. "Hey," Ron said. "Mind if I join you?" Ginny shook her head. Ron sat beside her and took a deep breath. "Look, Gin, I'm--," Ron began but Ginny interrupted him.
"You don't have to say sorry. I was just being too sensitive," Ginny said.
"No. It was wrong of me to say that," Ron said. "I'm sorry. I think you're very beautiful, Ginny."
Ginny looked at her brother at this. "You mean it?"
"With my whole heart," Ron said. "Come here." Ron put his arms around her shoulders and Ginny rested her head on her brother's chest. "You really think I'm beautiful, Ron? I think I'm really plain," Ginny said.
"Ginny, you're very beautiful. You can date anyone you like. Dean, Seamus.even Harry," Ron added with an inward smile.
"What does Harry have to do with this?" Ginny asked, feeling her heart beat faster.
"Well.you know what I mean."
"No I don't. What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"I know that you like him, Gin," Ron said.
Ginny looked at him. "You do? How?"
"Since you first saw him, I think," Ron said and chuckled at the look of horror on her face. "You used to always talk about him. But then, you don't anymore. What happened?" Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. It's hopelessness, I guess."
"Hopelessness? Ginny, just tell Harry how you feel," Ron said.
Ginny looked horrified at this. "Ron, are you joking? Harry would never talk to me again. Besides, I don't want to be the one to tell him. I want him to be the one and if he doesn't because he doesn't feel that way about me, I would be able to handle it better."
"But, Ginny." Ron said.
"Ron, don't tell him. Don't tell him a single thing," Ginny said insistently.
Ron sighed. "Okay. But I really think it would be better if you told him."
"Thanks for your advice. But I think this is for the best."
It was the night of the ball. Ginny got dressed and proceeded to the common room to wait for Hermione. She decided to go stag. The person she wanted to go with didn't ask her so she thought that this was for the best.
"Hi Ginny! You look amazing!" Hermione said, complimenting her scarlet robes that accentuated her figure.
"Thanks! So do you," Ginny said. They didn't wait for Ron or Harry anymore, since they both had dates and went to the great hall. Their breaths were taken away because the great hall simply looked breathtaking. *I'll leave the scene to your imagination. *
Ginny and Hermione got a table near the dance floor so they could watch the other students dance. Shortly after, Ron arrived with Lavender and sat on the table with them.
"Isn't this just wonderful?" Lavender said.
"Yeah," Ginny replied. "The place is amazing."
"I wonder where Harry is," Hermione said.
"He said he'll follow," Ron said.
"I wonder where Megan is, too. I'm dying to know who her date is," Ginny said.
Hermione craned her neck to see the door and saw Megan walk in, wearing robes of shocking pink. "There she is," Hermione said then crinkled her forehead. "With Harry."
Ginny stared at Hermione. "What do you mean she's with Harry?" She looked at the entrance and saw Megan.her arm linked to Harry's. Ginny couldn't believe what she's seeing. Megan with Harry? But she said. Megan didn't want to tell Ginny who her date was because it was Harry. Tears began to cloud her eyesight.
"Ginny, are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"I'm fine," she replied, casually wiping the corner of her eyes and not taking her gaze off the painful sight. Hermione gazed at her friend. She knew she wasn't fine. Just one look in her eyes was all Hermione needed to see to understand. She was in pain, in pain because Harry asked Megan as his date and not her, in pain because she was in love with Harry. Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed. Ron looked at her sister as she watched the man of his dreams walk towards them with a different lady with him. Lavender didn't fail to spot Ginny's hurting. Hermione reached out and squeezed Ginny's hand. It was all she could do to comfort her as Harry went over with Megan. "Hi girls!" Harry said.
"Hi Ron!"
"Harry," Hermione said, forcing a smile. "Why didn't you tell us that Megan was your date?"
"Megan said it would be better if everyone found out at the ball. Like a surprise," Harry said, sitting across Hermione and Ginny. Ginny smirked. I wonder why. Megan looked down and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked Megan. "I'll get you something to drink." He stood up and left. Ginny sighed and tried to stop the tears from falling. They were so close but Ginny didn't want to cry. Not tonight. Not in front of everyone.
"Ginny," Megan began. "I'm--."
Ginny forced a smile and it came out strained. "I'm happy for you, Megan."
"Ginny." Megan began again.
"Really," Ginny said pointedly and Megan decided to just keep quiet. Soon the dance started and everyone went out to the dance floor to sway with the music. Everyone was having so much fun. Even Ginny. A couple of guys had asked her to dance. Hermione didn't stay in her seat too long also. But there was a time when Ginny felt tired already and just wanted to sit. It just so happened that Megan and Harry and Hermione chose to sit at the same time.
Harry and Megan were flirting with each other and Ginny couldn't take it anymore.
"Guys. Harry, Megan, could you flirt somewhere else?" Ginny said pointedly. "I mean, I think it's a bit unkindly to those of us who don't have dates."
"Oh. Um, sorry, Ginny," Harry said. "Sorry, Hermione. We didn't mean to--."
"It's okay," Hermione said and glanced warily at Ginny. She was never like this. Ginny was always happy and optimistic, not rude and curt and not sad.
Ron and Lavender arrived and sat down, a bit pink from dancing. "Hey guys! What's up?" Ron said, looking around then rested his eyes on Ginny. She looked really downhearted. And he felt bad. He suddenly felt a bit of anger towards Harry. Harry had always thought Ginny was pretty. Harry had told him so himself. Ron casually gave Harry the idea to ask Ginny out. But Harry just laughed at him.
"Guys--," Harry began but Ginny suddenly stood up, interrupting him.
"Where're you going?" Hermione asked. "I'm.I.just out," Ginny stammered, her voice breaking. She went out of the great hall. She just felt the need to get out of there. If she didn't she might burst down and cry for she couldn't hold her tears anymore. Seeing Megan with Harry was just too painful. She ran and ran as far away as possible from the castle. She just wanted to get out of there and just be isolated. She ran until she reached the lake. She collapsed on the grass and shed her painful tears. The tears that she cast off all the time because of her love for Harry. The love that she knew would never be reciprocated. Why did she have to feel this way? Why did she have to fall in love with someone whom she knew would never feel that way about her? Is this the way it's supposed to be? She always thought that love was wonderful, grand and magical. But now that she has fallen in love, she saw that it was different. If love was supposed to be all those things, why did it hurt so much?
"Ginny!" Ginny didn't look up. She recognized Hermione's voice. "Ginny! You shouldn't be here this late. You might get sick," Hermione said. Ginny only continued to sob. "Oh, Ginny, please stop crying," she said soothingly, wrapping her arms around her.
"I don't understand, Hermione," Ginny said. "How can loving hurt so much?" Hermione didn't answer. Instead, she wrapped her arms tighter around her, patted her head and soothed her through the night.
"What time did you guys get back last night?" Ron asked worriedly, running a hand through his hair as he paced across the common room.
"It was about 1:30 in the morning, Ron," Hermione said quietly. "She didn't want to come back to the castle."
"I should've come with you," Ron said, feeling upset. He sat down on the couch, where Hermione was.
"It's okay," Hermione sat, touching his shoulder. "She's fine, Ron."
"She's not fine!" Ron said angrily. "I could kill Harry for this."
"That won't be reasonable. She doesn't want Harry to know how she feels about him. And killing Harry won't help, anyway," Hermione said.
"But he's hurting her," Ron said. "I can't stand her like this." He took a deep breath.
"He doesn't know that he's hurting her. So we can't blame him."
"Yes, we can, Hermione," Ron said. "What do you mean?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"I know he has some sort of feelings for Ginny. He just doesn't want to admit it. But I can see the way he looks at her. It's different," Ron said.
"But.why won't he ask her out?" Hermione asked.
"Because he's an ass."
"Ronald Weasley! Even if Harry hurt your sister, which may I remind you is still unintentional, you have no right to call him an ass. He is still your best friend and you will respect him," Hermione scolded.
"I just don't like to see Ginny getting hurt, Hermione," Ron said, burying his face in his hands.
Hermione sighed. "I know. I don't want to see her hurting, too."
"So what do we do about it?"
"Ginny! Ginny!" Ginny began to walk faster. She didn't want to be in a confrontation that involved the ball. It has been almost two weeks and she hasn't heard a single thing. She didn't care whether they pitied her or what. It was better not talking about it. Talking about it would only bring back pain and hurt and crying. And she didn't want to cry anymore. She was getting tired of shedding tears that were for nothing.
"Ginny!" The person calling her finally caught up and grabbed her arm, willing her to stop. Ginny stopped walking and faced that person.
"What do you want, Megan?" Ginny asked with displeasure in her voice.
"Ginny, why won't you talk to me?" Megan asked.
"You, of all people, should know the answer to your question," Ginny said. "I have to go."
"Ginny, I'm sorry. He--," Megan said but Ginny interrupted her.
"Don't bother explaining, Megan," Ginny said then turned around and left quickly, trying to stop the tears from falling.
This is why I hate talking about things, Ginny thought. She was by the lake again, crying. She knew it was pointless to cry and she did say that she wouldn't cry again. But the tears just keep on coming. It wouldn't stop. And she had to let them out. The lake had become her place of refuge. She felt that by sitting there she could be calm and just think things out or cry and the lake won't judge her. She wished she could be as still and peaceful as the lake. You could splash it around and ruffle it, but still it wouldn't erupt into a wave of fury like the sea or the ocean. It stayed like that all the time.
That night in the common room, people started asking Ginny questions about what happened to her the night of the ball. Everyone said that she was having fun the one minute and then crying the next. How could they know? Did they see her crying? But only Hermione was with her? Oh who am I kidding? News like this doesn't keep quiet forever. She just shrugged off the questions and comments and proceeded to the stairs that lead to her dormitories, when someone called out her name.
"Ginny!" Everyone became quiet and still as he called out to her again.
"Ginny! Ginny, wait!"
It was Harry of course.
Ginny slowly turned around and faced the one person she had been trying to avoid for two weeks. The person who made her feel that loving wasn't worth it. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak.
"Ginny," he began, "I.Are you mad at me?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. Is he stupid or what?
"Okay. Wrong question," Harry said. "Why are you mad at me?"
Ginny's eyes narrowed into slits. He's more stupid than she thought. Doesn't he know?
"Ginny? Why are--?" Harry repeated.
"Oh, don't you know?" Ginny interrupted, her voice louder than she intended it to be.
"Well, I.no," Harry said quietly.
"Let me explain it to you, Harry Potter," Ginny said. She knew that the tone of her voice was unreasonable but she went on anyway. She kept the pain to herself far too long. She was going to lash it out at him, whether he liked it or not. "Do you know that in the four years that I've known you all I wanted is for you to NOTICE ME? Yeah, I know it's pathetic but I still do it. I still hope that maybe someday the famous Harry Potter would notice me. But, oh no, you wouldn't would you? Not when I'm just this girl whom you vaguely know as your best friend's little sister. Well, you know what? I'm TIRED of being your best friend's little sister. You're the densest guy I've known! Ever!"
Ginny was breathing really hard. It was as if she had been running. She looked around and saw people staring at her, some in awe and others in shock. She noticed Hermione and Ron sitting side by side at one of the couches. Their faces reflect amazement and astonishment. She bet that they never thought she could burst like that. She never thought she could, too. Finally, her eyes rested on Harry again. His mouth was slightly open, his face pale with a look of alarm. Ginny decided that she said all she needed to say and would allow herself to leave the room. That will show them. That will show him. Ginny Weasley is not just your average nice little girl. She slowly turned around opened the door to her dormitories. She was just about to close the door when she realized that some of the students were clapping. Clapping for her. Cheering for her.