Disclaimer: I own only one character! All the rest belong to J.K.Rowling and Warner Bros.
Time of Your Life: Chapter 3
By Lil_Blu_Firefly
Ginny Weasley made her way slowly down the corridor. She was heading for the front lawn, because she knew that Oliver would be there somewhere teaching a lesson, although she hadn't really figured out what she was going to say to him yet. She had managed to avoid him easily enough the day before on the pretext that she was going to visit Hermione in the hospital wing, but she really wanted to know what he was thinking right know. Unconsciously Ginny began to wrap a lock of freshly washed hair around her finger, as she took in a breath and forced the front entrance door open.
It didn't take long to find Oliver, he was kneeling down on a patch of grass forcing a bludger back into its box as Ginny walked up to him. Realising someone was standing behind him he turned round.
"Hey Ginny," he said smiling, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. His face looked wary, as if he was expecting something to jump out at him.
"Hi, I just came to see you…" Ginny broke off, losing her nerve. She paused, having second thoughts.
"I wanted to apologise for not making Quidditch yesterday…Hermione cracked her arm – I had to go and see her," she finished quickly. Oliver looked at her blankly.
"Is she ok?" he asked distractedly.
"…Yeah, I think so, apparently James got there just in time," Ginny said, forcing herself to sound casual, however she noticed Oliver wince slightly. He sat still for a few moments, before looking up at her, his tone sounding business like.
"Look, I'm sorry about the other night, I know you were upset, I should have stopped you…" Ginny opened her mouth to cut in, but Oliver continued.
"It was really stupid of me to be frank, I mean, you're one of my 'pupils'" He said, trying to sound light-hearted about it; as if the idea was ridiculous, but she heard his voice crack slightly. Oliver busied himself, by attempting to tie the bludger in place. Ginny stood watching awkwardly, trying to hide her disappointment. She couldn't bring herself to reply. Wrapping her cloak around her, she turned and left.
* * *
"Fred! What do you think you're doing!" Hermione said in a hushed whisper. She watched as a small green spark began to fizz under their table in the library, getting larger and larger until it shot into the air and exploded with a large 'pop'. George laughed uncontrollably and didn't stop, even when the librarian walked briskly round the bookcase to see what was going on.
"What was that?" she demanded, in a well practised stage whisper.
"I'm sorry, my can burst open. I forgot it was in my bag," Fred lied smoothly, smiling sweetly at the librarian.
"No food or drink is to be consumed within the library," she replied tersely, pointing a finger at the door. At this, Fred took a step forwards.
"I'm sorry, but as you see it was an accident; we weren't actually drinking anything, or intending to," he added thoughtfully.
"So, you really have no reason to send us out," George finished. Hermione tried to hide a grin as the librarian began to turn red, her face contorting slowly. Fred smiled at her, knowing he'd won.
"Then if you insist on staying, please keep the noise down, people are trying to work," she said tightly.
Fred paused a second, before adding abruptly;
"Actually, we were going to leave now anyway." He grabbed his bag off the table and waved to Hermione, leaving the librarian to stare after them, dumbfounded.
Hermione smiled to herself, looking back over her work. Although she never showed approval of anything Fred or George did, they always made her laugh. She finished writing another side of parchment, before sitting back to rest. She had been leaning unconsciously on her other arm as she wrote, and it had slowly begun to ache again from the break.
She swung it out to relax the muscles, only to find herself hitting someone in the leg.
"I'm sorry," she started apologetically, turning round on her chair. James stood behind her, shrugging.
"I shouldn't have been in the way," he said simply. Hermione turned back to her work quickly.
"I wanted to see about your arm," he offered tentatively.
"It's fine," She replied, but decided not to be rude and added, "thanks." James walked round and took a seat opposite her.
"Look, I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now…" he started slowly. "I can't believe even Draco would sink that low," he added. Hermione raised her eyebrows at the irony of the comment, but she was grateful for what he'd done. She could only imagine what Draco might have done, if no one had been there to intervene. Hermione looked across his shoulder guardedly to see if anyone she recognised had entered the library.
"Look, do you mind if we go somewhere else," Hermione asked blankly. James nodded and walked out of the library slowly, both hands stuffed in his pockets. Hermione glanced round apprehensively and scooped her books up into her bag, before slowly following him out.
James didn't stop walking until he'd reached a concealed spot beneath a willow tree, overhanging the lake. He waited until Hermione caught up to him, without looking back. She sat a metre away on the grass not saying anything.
"I'm sorry for bothering you," James began slowly. "I was really worried about what Draco did. He was way out of line." James turned his head to watch for Hermione's reaction. She sat silently.
"I mean, you can talk about it if you want…" Hermione took a breath inwards.
"Sorry, I just feel really bad about this. I mean, Ginny's not been having a good time recently and I'm not really sure if I even ought to be talking to you like this…" she confessed.
"It's not that I'm not grateful for what you did for me, or anything," she added hurriedly. He kicked a stone with the toe of his shoe.
"Is she really that upset?" he asked quietly. Hermione turned to him, frowning.
"James, she was almost pregnant," she said disbelievingly, her voice raising. "Did you really think she'd get over that quickly?"
His foot went still. He turned towards Hermione suddenly.
"Oh God," he said putting his hand on his head, "I had no idea!" Hermione looked at him, irritated. How could he not know? Didn't he realise that everyone had been ignoring him? George had even punched him in the face. She looked across at James. His brown hair was ruffled, reflecting parts of the setting sun. He didn't look as if he was capable of hurting Ginny so badly, but then looks can be deceiving.
She sat guardedly, ready for him to bluff his way out. Deny knowing at all. But Hermione realised that he was completely absorbed in thought, unaware that she was staring at him reprovingly. He ran a hand agitatedly through his hair. He honestly didn't know, she thought, surprised.
"Well I guess you got yourself into a mess there then," she said, regaining her composure.
"I guess I should go and apologise or something," he began.
"I don't think you'd be very welcome," Hermione cut in apologetically,
"Well not unless you really want a replay of earlier."
James shrugged. Hermione noticed that he didn't seem to feel sorry for himself at all. It was if he felt he deserved it, or something.
"Anyway, I guess you didn't come here for a lecture or anything, so…what do you want to talk about?"
They sat under the same tree for almost two hours talking. Hermione felt at ease talking to James, but occasionally he seemed to her, insecure and defensive. She learnt that he liked to sail. His uncle had a small boat that he took on the river in the holidays. He didn't get on well with his father or his older brother, and he liked to draw outside and kept a sketchbook of his work.
"Can I see your drawings some time?" Hermione asked. James shrugged, toeing the ground with his foot, he looked back up at her, the green from his eyes reflecting the brown from the tree behind her.
"Sure, if you want. They're not very good though. I don't have the proper colours." Hermione smiled and stretched her arms out. Her sleeves pulled back making her watch visible.
"Oh no, I didn't realise we'd been out here so long," she said frantically, standing up with her bag. James stood up too.
"Can I see you again?" she asked, "See your drawings?" He nodded, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around then." He said slowly. He watched as Hermione grabbed her back and left, hurriedly across the lawn towards school.
* * *
"Hermione!" Hermione spun round to face Ginny. "Hey, where are you hurrying to? I was looking for you!"
"Oh, sorry Ginny, I got caught up studying in the library, I didn't realise the time," she said quickly, realising that just lied without flinching. She almost always made a point of telling people the truth.
"Never mind, I just wanted to ask if the plans were still on for Hogsmead this weekend?" Hermione shook her head, trying to gain her thoughts.
"Oh, right, yes they are…Did you have a change of heart?" she added.
"Well I guess you could say that," Ginny replied making a face. "I've decided to reinvent myself!" she said boldly. "From now on, all guys are worth nothing. They're all the same. They mess you around and then tell you it's all off." She said unemotionally. Hermione looked up at Ginny, smiling slightly at her sudden brazenness, but wondering about the plural. As far as she was aware, Ginny had only really dated James. Hermione tried not to show how guilty she felt.
"That's great Ginny! I think Angelina's going. I'm sure she wouldn't have a problem clothes shopping," Hermione grinned. Angelina was always clothes shopping, she thought to herself. Ginny's face fell slightly.
"Oh, I thought you were going?" she said.
"Um, yeah I was, but I had potions today. We have an eight side essay to write for Monday," Hermione replied apologetically. She really had wanted to go, but there was less than a year left until her exams and she didn't want to throw all her hard work away. Ginny seemed to understand, because she was smiling now.
"Oh ok, never mind, I'll bring you back some stuff yeah," Ginny added, walking off down the corridor. Hermione watched her, glad that Ginny was happier now.
* * *
Ginny was reading in the common room, when Seamus leant over and stuck his head in the way of her magazine.
"Hey Gins, any good," he said nodding downwards at the magazine. She looked up at him sighing.
"No, boring," she answered, letting him sit down on the sofa.
"Hermione said you're going to Hogsmead tomorrow. Good for you,"
"Uh huh, I'd just be bored if all you guys are going." She sighed, chewing her finger, trying to think of something else to say.
"You do realise one thing though," he said.
"Huh?" She looked up at him quizzically.
"Well you're free and single now." Ginny pulled a face.
"I'm not interested in guys anymore," Ginny said seriously.
"Hey, I'm a guy!" Ginny shrugged.
"Yeah, but I didn't intend on ever dating you," she joked. Seamus pretended to look hurt, but cracked up and grinned.
"Oh well…" he began. Ginny was good friends with Seamus, but he was more like her brother.
"Well, there was kinda, this one guy…" Ginny began, unsure.
"Uh huh, tell me," Seamus prompted.
"I guess he thinks I'm too young or something," she mumbled. Seamus looked at her thoughtfully.
"Hey Gins, you have nothing to feel insecure about, you're really pretty," Seamus said grinning.
"Isn't she Fred," he said louder as Ginny's brother walked through the common room door.
"What?" he asked distractedly.
"Your sister – she's really pretty,"
"Um, yeah sure Seamus, whatever," he answered without looking up. Seamus ignored him and turned back to Ginny.
"Look, he obviously isn't worth it, ok…Are you taking anyone to the Yule ball yet?" he asked.
"No," she said distractedly, before adding hopefully, "why, aren't you taking Parvati this year?"
"Actually, I am," he admitted, "But hey, you could go with Neville," he tried to finish helpfully. Ginny pulled a face.
"Thanks all the same, but I think I'd rather not go." She replied dropping the magazine on the floor.
* * *
"Ginny, its almost nine," Lavender called, trying to shake her. Ginny sat up sleepily, pulling the blanket off her bed.
"It's Saturday Lav - no school."
"Not today – Hogsmead," she prompted, walking across to the mirror, to put her blusher on. A look of recognition flashed across Ginny's face.
"Oh God, I completely forgot," she said, grabbing her clothes from the end of her bed.
When she'd finished getting changed, she shoved a mascara wand and ran down the corridor to meet the others. Fred, George, Angelina, Harry, Ron, Parvati and Lavender were waiting for her by the tunnel entrance already. She walked up to them mumbling her apologies.
"Sorry, guys,"
"No matter, Filbuster's doesn't open 'til ten," Fred said cheerily, tucking a bag of sweets into his back pocket. Although Ginny seriously doubted they actually were.
Ginny followed Angelina to Fortescue's Ice-cream parlour, once they were in Hogsmead. She explained over a chocolate Sundae that she wanted to buy a new dress for the Yule ball, however missed out the part about wanting to impress Oliver. As Hermione had said, Angelina was only too happy to go shopping.
"Sure Ginny, I know just the place, they have the cutest stuff and its really cheap," she said excitedly. Ginny nodded doubtfully and let Angelina drag her down the road, before she'd even finished her sundae.
"Oooh, this one is soo pretty," Angelina squealed. Ginny looked at it uncertainly.
"I think I'm going to have to try it on myself," she said, hanging it over her arm. Ginny glanced at the clock, wondering if it had been a bad idea to come.
"Oh, wait a minute, this one's nice," she mumbled, taking a red dress off the rails.
Once Ginny had tried the dress on, she knew that she'd have to buy it. It was slim with a long slit up the leg, with thin spaghetti straps that crossed over behind her neck, leaving the top of her back almost bare. Besides, it wasn't too expensive either.
Angelina had already finished buying her dress, and was waiting outside. She walked with Ginny along the road.
"So, are you going with anyone special?" Angelina prompted, eagerly. Ginny shrugged.
"No, I'm not even sure who I'm taking yet,"
"There must be someone, I mean, you don't go out and buy a new dress if you intend on going by yourself!" Angelina said puzzled. Ginny smiled. She knew that Angelina was always trying to impress guys.
"So, what about you?" she asked, feigning interest.
"Oh, I'm going with Fred," she said. Ginny raised her eyebrows.
"My brother!" she said grinning. "Oh well, I guess he has another week to actually learn to dance!" Angelina elbowed her.
"I think you should ask Neville Longbottom," Angelina said, smiling.
"Yeah, well Seamus already suggested that," she answered.
"How about Harry?"
"Taken,"
"Professor Snape?"
"Yeah right!" she said sarcastically
"Crabbe?" Ginny raised her eyebrows.
"Actually, I think I might know who," Ginny said frowning thoughtfully.
"Are you going to enlighten me?" Angelina prompted.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea, but…" She walked off quickly, leaving Angelina standing there.
"Ginny, I'm paying for us both to get a haircut remember!" She called out, running after her.
* * *
AN: ok, I got the third chapter up – The plot's gonna get a few more twists in it yet! I just had to write the first chapters to get the story rolling – thanks for reading anyway, and please review!!! Oh, yeah, I totally forgot that Harry's Dad was called James too – there is no relationship between them (as far as I am aware!)
