I haven't updated in such a long time! You all have the right to be mad at me. I need some sort of automatic slapping device I can use on myself!
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Harry was walking to Gryffindor house the next day when Ginny ran up to him, panting.
Hey, are you all right? he asked, concerned, as she bent over and tried to catch her breath.
I'm fine, she gasped, straightening up. But Malfoy--isn't. I gave him--the chocolate bar. He's--walking around--with hair that keeps changing from pink--to green and then purple. Well, at least that's all I've seen it as. He's also--chasing me, which is why I came up here.
A loud bellow from Malfoy startled both of them, and they looked down to the end of the hallway. They started laughing at the sight of his hair slowly changing from blue to purple polka-dotted. This is NOT funny! He began charging towards them, pulling his wand out from under his robes. Harry and Ginny sprinted down the hallway, and dashed around a corner just as Malfoy flung a hex at them. They ducked into an empty classroom, pulling the door shut, and listened to his footsteps fade away.
Ginny looked at Harry, and they burst out laughing.
Harry said eventually, wiping tears from his eyes. How long does it take to wear off?
About a week, Ginny said mischievously. Give or take a few hours.
I wouldn't have thought that you'd do something like that, Harry scolded teasingly. Ginny shrugged. They left the room and headed for Gryffindor tower.
I guess I was sick of him telling me that he loved me, Ginny said eventually. They walked into the deserted common room. It gets annoying after awhile, when someone keeps telling you that.
If the someone's me? Harry said quietly. He turned to face her, his green eyes staring into her brown ones. If I'm the one telling you that I love you?
Ginny said, an impish smile curving her lips. I could listen to those three words forever.
I love you, Harry said, before their lips met in a long, sweet kiss.
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October and November flew by in a blur, almost as if they had been shortened. The first weekend in December, Harry awoke to a tapping on the window. He stepped out of bed groggily, and stumbled over to the window. He let Hedwig in, along with a flurry of snowflakes, and peered out the window to see the grounds covered in an icy white layer of snow. Hedwig hooted from his pillow, and he shut the window and toppled back into bed. Reaching out a hand for the letter, he unfolded the parchment to find a note from Ginny.
I hope you don't mind that I borrowed Hedwig, and I hope she didn't wake you up too early. I just wanted to say meet me at the edge of the lake when you get this, because I need to talk to you. Ginny.
Harry stepped out of his pajamas and into his robes, and after performing a Warming Spell so he wouldn't freeze, he headed down to the lake. He went to the private clump of trees, knowing that she would be there, and found her with her back against a tree and her eyes closed.
he asked nervously, wondering if something had happened to her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him.
Oh, hi, she said slowly. Her eyelids fluttered shut again, and fear shot through Harry.
Ginny, are you all right? he asked, sitting down next to her.
she said absently. Oh, sure. I'm fine. Perfectly fine. There was a note of coldness in her voice.
Is something wrong? he tried again. What do you need to talk to me about?
When did I say I needed to talk to you?
In the note you sent with Hedwig, Harry said slowly, wondering if one of them was going crazy. Her eyes opened again, and she stared at him.
she said just as slowly. But I think you're the one that needs to do the talking.
he asked, confused. About what?
You know about what, she accused. Don't lie to me, Harry.
Ginny, what's the matter? Harry practically shouted. I have no idea what you're talking about!
she said again. I'll humor you. Would you like to know who I was talking to last night?
Sure, who? Harry said, wondering where this was leading to.
Draco Malfoy came to find me.
What did he do to you? Harry demanded angrily. If he touched you, I'll . . .
Ginny laughed, a cold, humorless laugh. He just wanted to talk, she told him bitterly. About you.
Me? What about me?
And Hermione.
Okay, then, what about me and Hermione? Harry wondered. She gave him a hard look.
You're a very good actor, she told him. You know very well what he was telling me.
I do?
Of course you do. How long have you been seeing her, Harry?
He just stared at her as the implication of her words sunk in. Are you kidding? he asked incredulously. Me and Hermione? She's going out with Ron! And I'm going out with you! You don't believe him, do you?
She just looked at him.
he said pleadingly. I'm in love with you! Not Hermione!
He saw you in the library yesterday, she said, seeming not to hear his words. 'In a solitary corner' were his exact words. He saw you kissing, she spat out the words. How am I not supposed to believe him? You've been spending so much time with her lately, and you were in the library, together, she emphasized the word, when he said he saw you there. How am I not supposed to believe him? She turned away, but not before he saw a tear glimmering in her eye.
Harry said gently. I am not going out with Hermione. I'm working on a Transfiguration project with her. I'm in love with you. He touched her arm, but she drew away from him. You believe him? he breathed angrily. She nodded stiffly. he shouted standing up. If you want to believe an evil, confused man over the one who loves you, that's your fault, not mine. I'll always love you, he said softly. Even if you don't believe me. He turned abruptly and walked away, clenching his fists hard to force out the pain in his heart.
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Ginny felt as if her heart was breaking. She hadn't wanted to believe Malfoy, but he'd been so earnest and sincere.
I don't want to hurt you, but you need to know this. Those were Draco's exact words, and they weren't the words of someone who'd lie to her. And she had noticed Harry spending a lot of time with Hermione lately, and the day that Malfoy had come to her, they had been there for an especially long time. A Transfiguration project? She wondered if that was true. She wouldn't think that Harry would lie to her. But Draco had seemed so sincere, she couldn't help but believe him.
I can't deal with this on my own, she said out loud. But who can I believe? She couldn't talk to Hermione, because she was who Harry was cheating with. Ron was obviously not willing to talk about her and Harry, and she couldn't imagine that any of her other friends would be able to help her sort this out. She hugged her knees to her chest, and sighed. As if on cue, she heard footsteps crunching through the snow, and Draco Malfoy himself stepped into the clearing.
he said, grinning at her. Can I sit down? She nodded silently, and looked out at the lake, the edges of which were beginning to ice over. They sat for a moment in silence, which he soon broke.
Are you mad at me?
Ginny asked in surprise. She turned to look at his face, which was full of concern, something that she had never seen there before.
For telling you about Harry and Hermione, he said gently. She stiffened, and slowly shook her head. There was another pause.
No, I'm glad you told me, she said eventually. If you hadn't, I'd have felt like even more of an idiot when I finally noticed. He nodded wisely.
Do you want to talk about it? he asked. She shrugged. Well, if you ever do, he continued, standing up. Just find me. Receiving no response, he began to walk away, but her voice stopped him.
Why are you being so nice to me? He turned to look into her eyes, which were full of confusion and another emotion that he couldn't read.
I already told you, he smiled. Because I love you. Leaving her to ponder that, he started towards the castle.
She was more confused than before. How could he love her? He didn't even know anything about her. But does Harry know much about you? a tiny voice inside her asked. Are you sure that you still love him? She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to do. She stood up slowly and began walking towards the castle, following in Draco's footprints.
