Ginny lay listlessly in her bed. She could feel the dampness of her robes soaking into her blanket, but she didn't care about anything at the moment.
Oh, Harry, she breathed. I'm so, so sorry. She fell silent as the rest of the girls from her dormitory came in from dinner, laughing loudly. Then she remembered what Hermione had asked her to do.
Hey, guys, she said, sitting up and attempting to smile. You would not believe what Hermione Granger told me.
Bethany asked immediately.
Harry Potter, Ginny said slowly, trying to sound the way they did when exchanging gossip. Is looking for someone to go to the ball with. And. . . she paused. Hermione told me that he wants to go with a sixth-year girl.
Oh. . .my. . .gosh! Lizzy squealed, bouncing up and down on her bed. I would die if he asked me!
Harry Potter? Kelly asked, unbelievably. Are you sure? As Ginny nodded, the look on Kelly's face changed to joy. Bethany's and Auria's reactions were similar.
Hey, Ginny, Kelly said a few minutes later. How'd you get so lucky as for Colin Creevey to ask you? I am seriously in love with Colin! Can I have him for a couple of dances?
Ginny smiled weakly. We can trade. Kelly let out a giggle, and Ginny flopped over onto her side. Lucky? she thought. Harry is probably going to ask HER to the ball! I would die if that happened. Kelly's so much prettier than me, why am I thinking that Harry would ever want to go with me? She sighed miserably and, wet clothes and all, drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next week passed in a miserable stupor for Ginny. She only vaguely noticed when she got a six out of ten on a pop quiz in Potions, something that she would have normally beat herself up about. Her favorite place of solitude became a small clump of trees at the edge of the lake. She would lie there, hidden from sight of the world, and just think about Harry. One afternoon after classes, she was lying there, half asleep, when the bushes rustled. She sat up quickly, and was greeted by the sight of Harry himself staring at her.
Oh, sorry, he said quickly, turning red. I didn't know you were here. I'll leave if you want. . .
You don't have to, she interrupted quickly. He nodded, and sat down next to her, gazing out at the water. Ginny nearly died, being so close to him. She could feel the heat from his body, and it was welcome in the chill of the afternoon. Feelings, emotions, everything she had been thinking about for the past few weeks, exploded inside of her. She needed to say something.
I've been coming here a lot lately, she said finally. The quiet, you know. I needed someplace to think.
If I'd found this place earlier, we probably would have been bumping into each other, Harry smiled. I like the quiet here, too. The stillness. It's calming, almost.
That's exactly how I feel! she said, surprised that he thought like her. There was another silence.
Um, Ginny, Harry began uncomfortably. Are you. . .glad you're going to the ball with Colin?
Ginny smiled. Not at all. I only said yes because I didn't want to hurt his feelings. Besides, he only asked me because he was too scared to ask Kelly Whittels. . .oops, you're taking her. I shouldn't have said that, should I? She didn't see the dawning excitement in Harry's eyes.
he said cautiously. What if I told you that I don't really like Kelly like that? Plus, she likes Colin, doesn't she?
How'd you know that?
I have my sources, Harry grinned. Everything was falling into place. Colin and Kelly would gravitate towards each other, and he would be left alone with Ginny. . .but Ron would be there. He'd have to ask Ginny to dance with him. Then he could tell her. Excuse me, would you, Ginny? he asked abruptly. He didn't want to accidentally tell her too soon. This way, everything would be perfect.
Oh. . .sure, she said. He got to his feet and practically ran towards the castle, missing the sadness in her voice.
Does he hate me? Ginny wondered. Does he hate me so much that he can't stand to be near me? She lay down again, curling up into a ball as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She faintly heard stumbling footsteps heading her way, and furiously swiped at her cheeks. She sat up, staring out at the lake, and attempting to compose herself, when Draco Malfoy crashed through the bushes of her hideaway.
she gasped. He didn't look like himself. His usual sneer wasn't plastered on his face, and his hair was messy instead of slicked back. His eyes looked red, as if he had been crying.
he said, attempting to smirk. It's the little Weasley.
Oh, shut up, Malfoy, Ginny spat. I would think that someone who's been crying could at least learn to be civil. His pale face whitened, and the sneer fell away.
he said a few minutes later. Okay, I'm sorry, Ginny.
I didn't think that you even knew my name, she sneered, looking away.
You could learn to be civil, too, he said, surprising her. I came here to be alone.
That's what I've been trying to be, Ginny retorted.
he said, seeming to have difficulty breathing. Can I talk to you? Surprised, she turned to face him. He seemed earnest.
About what? she asked curiously.
he burst out. I'm having an awful year, Ginny. All anyone here knows about me is that I have a horrible personality and I probably have the same evil streak as my father did. But he's dead now. He barely recognized me when he was alive. All I was to him was someone who would follow in his footsteps, and become the Dark Lord's new favorite helper. I didn't want any of that, Ginny! I'm not evil, and I never could be. No one ever took the time to get to know me, to find that out. All those years of living with him have given me this shell I present, this sneering, evil person who could worship Voldemort. I'm different than that, Ginny, I really am. Even now people are afraid of me, and they won't even give me the time of day. And then spreading rumors about me kissing Harry, he spat. That's disgusting. D'you have any idea how that made me feel? Like I wasn't even a person, just something to be made fun of! It's awful living my life, Ginny! I can't take it much longer!
Ginny sat in silence. Oh, Draco, she said, reaching out a sympathetic hand to touch his arm. They both froze at her use of his first name. She slowly withdrew her hand, and gulped a couple of times. Why are you telling me all this?
he said, his voice a whisper. I'm in love with you, Ginny. I have been ever since you came here, on your first day at Hogwarts. You sat on the stool with the Sorting Hat, and you looked so fragile and delicate, like you'd be broken if anyone tried to touch you. You're beautiful, Ginny, has anyone ever told you that? he breathed.
Ginny found herself shaking her head in disbelief. she whispered. This couldn't be happening. No. No!
No what? he asked gently.
No, this isn't possible, you can't be in love with me! You! No, Harry-- She froze as she realized that she had just uttered her deepest secret to Draco Malfoy, of all people.
he said contemptuously. So, Potter's stolen another thing away from me, has he? But does he love you back? The frankness behind his words made Ginny gasp for breath. Harry had to love her, he just had to.
If you find out that he doesn't love you, Draco murmured. I'll be waiting. As if in a dream, she saw his hand come towards her and touch her cheek gently. Oh, Ginny, he breathed, and he drew her face down to his. She felt his lips gently touch hers.
she cried against his lips, and shoved him away. She ran up to the castle, to her room, away from everyone. She huddled up on her bed, hardly believing that this was her life she was living. Such misery couldn't really be hers. . .could it?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is getting very angsty, isn't it? Should I change the genre? Because the angst isn't going to last much longer. Oops, shouldn't give too much away! Review please!! (oh yeah, all the sixth-year girls besides Ginny are mine)
