Disclaimer: I own none of the characters but I do own the plot. Note
references to Pippy Longstocking, 'Who's Line is it Anyways?' and the
Clinton administration.
I had barely sat down again when the door opened and there he was, out of breath but grinning like he had just been told Christmas was coming twice this year.
"That," he said, "Was bloody brilliant."
"I know. Did you run all the way down here?"
"Yeah, but who cares. Let me see your schedule." He held out his hand.
I gave it to him. "So are we going to keep annoying him like this? Because it would work so much better if we planned it out."
"Oh yeah. I haven't had this much fun since Umbridge let me take points from you all last year. But why do you want to get revenge on him?"
I frowned, remembering the terror that was Delores Umbridge. "It isn't just to get back at him, it's my brother and Hermione too. They all have ignored me and I won't have it. What better way can you think of to upset them than hanging out with their worst enemy?"
"I'm their worst enemy? I think they should be watching out for Voldemort a bit more than me, he's the one trying to kill them," he replied, smirking.
I waved off his comment with my hand. "You know what I mean. Are you done with my schedule?"
"Yeah, here." He handed it back to me. "Ok, so you're taking advanced ancient runes."
"Yes I am."
"Congrats. Anyways, I have a free period then, so I could talk to, um, who teaches that?"
"Flitwick."
"Ok so I'll talk to him, and I'll transfer into your class. Of course, I'll need a tutor, cause I'm so far behind-"
"And I could just be ever so helpful and volunteer-"
"Right in front of Harry. He'll be so jealous he'll transfer into the class just to keep an eye on us-"
"And when we pick partners to do translations you can be mine!! Oh this is going to be so fun!!"
Draco looked excited. "We have partners? Nice!"
I put my fingers to my temples as if I was reading someone's thoughts. "I know- hold on, I'm thinking... Harry will need a tutor too. I could tutor you both at the same time, but teach you more, so that it will seem to him that you know more and he's really stupid."
"Oh that's good, I like it, but we need to do more than just that. We could eat lunch together."
"Or just go missing at lunch and get food from the kitchens."
"We can yell greetings to each other across the halls. Really loudly. With annoying nicknames."
I raised an eyebrow. "Nicknames? Um, how bout no."
"Sorry, I got carried away. Ixnay on the nicknames. And Virginia, don't you think that essay is long enough? Shouldn't you go turn it in? As in now, when Harry has Charms?" he said slowly, enunciating 'turn it in' and 'now'.
"Oh my, this essay certainly is long. I think I'll go turn it in early, and perhaps get some extra credit points." I said in monotone. I stood up stiffly, shoved everything haphazardly into my bag, and left the room, not blinking. Draco's laughter followed me out of the library.
I knocked on the Charm's classroom door, shifting my weight as I thought out what to say. To my chagrin, Harry was the one to open the door. I forgot he sat closest. A minor matter. "Um, hi Ginny-" he began, when I pushed past him.
"Professor Flitwick, I am so sorry to bother you during class time, but I couldn't wait any longer to ask you, was it Audrius or Flambrey who made the Wingardium Leviosa spell?"
"No problem, no problem at all Miss Weasley. It was indeed Flambrey."
"Oh, thank goodness, all right then. I think I'm ready to hand in my essay." I was handing it to him when there was another knock on the door. It opened by itself, and Draco sauntered in, looking innocent.
"Good afternoon Professor Flitwick, terribly sorry about interrupting, but I was wondering if I could transfer into your Advanced Study of Ancient Runes class. I find them fascinating, and I would love to learn more about their origins and how to translate them," he said smoothly as he walked to the front of the class.
"Yes Mr. Malfoy, I do believe we could do that, but you are rather far behind, and would need a tutor... Miss Weasley, you are in the top scores of the class, would you mind tutoring Mr. Malfoy until he catches up?"
"Oh no professor, not at all. It would be a great way to review for my Owls."
Hermione, who was sitting in the front row, gave me a curious look, and frowned at Draco. She wasn't stupid, and sooner or later she would figure out the setup.
"Excellent. If there isn't anything else I can do for you, I need to get back to my class."
We both shook our heads, and walked out, Draco holding the door open for me before leaving.
We walked along in silence for a while, and then he suddenly swore. "What?" I asked.
"I just added another course I need to study for Newts, just to get at Potter."
"Oh, poor baby. Deal with it, this will be worth it. Besides, with my tutelage, you won't need to study for it."
I put my hands on my hips and looked up at him. He was taller than I was. Harry was too. He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it, and just looked back at me. We probably stood there for about thirty seconds just staring at each other, and might have stood there longer if my heart hadn't done this thing. It felt like it was flipping over, and then my stomach was tying itself in knots. The same feeling I had gotten when I thought I was in love with Harry. I tried to say something, but my mouth was dry. I wet my lips with a paper-like tongue, and mumbled something like, "I need to go do work" before running off to the Gryffindor common room, and locking myself in the bathroom.
God knows how long I sat there before someone came. That someone was Hermione. "Ginny?" I grimaced at the name. "Are you in there? Are you ok? Will you open the door please?"
I reached over and undid the lock. She came in, and sat on the counter, looking at me sitting in the bathtub. She had gotten really pretty as she had entered her last years at Hogwarts. Her once uncontrollable hair now curled past her shoulders, and she had achieved a frame most women would be jealous of. In all, she was one of the most desirable girls in Hogwarts, having both beauty and brains. I admit that I too was a bit jealous, because long before she had achieved her good looks she still had captured the attention of many, something I was still trying to do. When she entered a room, it seemed to light up, and many people stopped what they were doing to watch her. When I walked into a room, people barely even noticed, unless they were Harry. Of course, Harry liked Hermione too, but everyone knew that she had it in for my brother. So I was the fall back. That made me mad, but not at her. It wasn't her fault. I would be glad to have her as a sister, if Ron ever gets up the nerve to ask her when they graduate. And I'm babbling again. Back to the story.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine, just a bit woozy," I said, my voice wavering.
"So you lock the door and sit in the bathtub?" she questioned, eyebrows raised.
"What do you feel when you look at my brother?" I said quickly, hoping to god that she wouldn't say what she said.
She blushed, and said, "What would make you ask a thing like that? But I suppose you have a right to know. I feel happy, like when we sit next to each other at lunch, that's where I belong. Or sometimes when I watch him play quidditch, and he looks over at me and smiles, my heart feels like it's turning over and my stomach seems to twist and turn. Is there someone who makes you feel like this Ginny?"
I ignored her questions and asked more urgently, "And do you love him?"
She flushed an even deeper red, but answered, "I think yes, I probably do. I could see myself being with him for the rest of my life, and it makes me happy." She smiled a tiny, secretive smile. "I hope this helps you. Remember, sort out your feelings before you act on them, and think before you say something you might regret." She got off the counter and gave me a small hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she stood and looked down at me, and at last smoothed my hair like my mother did when I was little, and said, "I'll see you at dinner, okay?"
I nodded and mumbled, "Thanks Mione." She gave my shoulder a squeeze before closing the door behind her. She would be good for my brother. She would be a good mom too. If only she had been there a year or so sooner, I might not have had to do what needed to be done, and that was break Harry's heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I wasn't hungry for dinner, so I stayed in my room and mentally prepared myself to go back to classes the next day. If I had gone to dinner, I would have gotten the owl instructing me to visit professor Flitwick. Instead, it came to my room, which scared the living daylights out of me, as I had focused all my attention on just staying awake reading the boring potions book, and wasn't expecting something to be tapping at the window. I opened the window, allowing the large barn owl into my room. I took the message from it's leg, and unrolled it. It read:
Miss Weasley
If you would please come to my office after dinner, I would be much obliged. I have your essay back for you (excellent job by the way, 10 points to Gryffindor!) and I also have a proposition.
Thank you,
Professor Flitwick
Well put me in striped stockings and call me Pippy, Harry sure didn't wait very long to sign up for Advanced Charms. And 10 more house points, go go Gryffindor! Now don't get me wrong, I have the house spirit and all, but the animalistic ferocity in which the houses compete with each other just annoys me. I mean really, it's just fake points, it's not like they matter! It's like Clinton denying he had sexual affairs with the Lewinsky woman, we all know he did! Ahem. Sorry, got a little off track there. Anyways, I figured I had a good ten minutes before people started leaving the hall, and as I was starting to feel a bit hungry, so I stopped by the kitchens and got a muffin. And then, skipping down the hall to the Professor's room, happy that my evil Plan was working marvelously, I had a thought. What if something goes horribly wrong, like, I get so wrapped up in my feelings for Draco that Harry gives up, or worse, he doesn't give up? I would have to talk to Draco about this.
But then here I was, at Flitwick's room, and as I entered, there he was, standing incredibly short next to Harry. He greeted me in his incredibly high-pitched voice, (I swear the man is a dwarf or something) and Harry mumbled something to me as well.
"Miss Weasley, thank you for coming, but as I said, I have a proposition for you. I know that you are already tutoring Mr. Malfoy, which reminds me to arrange for a room for you to study in in the library. But Mr. Potter here was hoping to transfer into the class as well, which is delightful that so many people are becoming interested in the art of translating runes. But he would also need a tutor, and I was hoping that it wouldn't be much trouble for you to tutor them both. Of course, since this will be taking time out of your own schedule, I am prepared to offer you 100 points to Gryffindor for your efforts."
I frowned, as this wasn't very much of an incentive. "Professor," I began. My tone made the smile drop from Harry's face. The offer of 100 points immediately made him happy, as it would put Gryffindor far ahead of Slytherin, and assure us the house cup. "Professor. As enticing as that is, I try not to limit myself to houses and petty competitions; I'll have to decline. However, if I could get extra credit points that would be something better for me."
"Of course, that will be arranged. 5 extra credit points for each essay, does that sound fair?"
"Marvelous," I replied, smiling sweetly. I could sense Harry glaring at me, as he knew as well as I did that I could get very patriotic and wear all red and gold if in the mood, and that I was just as happy as everyone else when I got house points. So yeah, he knew I was doing it to piss him off. He was just going to get them in quidditch anyways, so I don't see what the big deal was. I guess cause he knew I was doing it to piss him off. Oh well.
It was at that moment that I had my first second thought on the whole thing. I mean, Harry was a nice person, and surely he didn't mean to overlook me, he had been busy fighting the ultimate evil, and he did save my life once... because that's the kind of person he is. He'll put his own life on the line to save someone dear to him. or dear to one of his friends. So, since I was Ron's sister, of course he would protect me with his life. It wasn't that he had considered me more than a friend. I was his friend's kid sister. I had been just a scrawny, pale kid with red hair and too many freckles, and many too many siblings.
But now. Now I was pretty, and classy, and sophisticated, and I had a body most girls would kill for. I was everything I wasn't back then. Good things happen to those who wait. And hadn't I waited for 4 years, praying each night to please make me better god, please either help me win him over or help me forget him, cause I can't take this torture anymore. And Harry had not waited. He hadn't even given me a chance, a second thought before latching onto Cho Chang. No, I deserved this more than anything.
I set my shoulders, preparing myself for the harangue I would get after we both left. And now the Professor was saying goodbye, what had he said after I had agreed? Oops.
I walked out of the room, half rushing, half stalling, not quite sure whether I wanted another go at Harry's ego or if I should just leave him to brood. But he decided that for me by forcefully grabbing my shoulders and pushing me into an unoccupied hallway. He pushed me back against the wall, looking very formidable at his 5'11 stance.
"And what the fuck was that?" he yelled, his tone scaring me a little. He was furious. "Ginny, I have no idea what you're trying to do, but if this is from something I did to you, even though I have no idea what it is, I am so sorry, but get over it! Do you know how angry Ron would be if he knew you were fooling around with Malfoy? And what about your dad? He would be absolutely torn apart, you know how he feels about their family. So if this is just to get back at me for some stupid thing that I don't even realize I did, it's gonna end up affecting a whole lot more people than just me," he finished. His eyes glowed with a mixture of anger and something else I didn't recognize until much later. His jaw was set, his grip on me firm. He wasn't letting me go without an explanation.
"Harry, I'm not trying to do anything, and you have no right to tell me who I can hang out with, and also-" I began, my voice just as furious as his.
"Bull. Shit," he gritted out between clenched teeth. He gave me a little shake, and pushed me back against the wall rather hard. "Ginny, you know why I wasn't attracted to you before? Because even though you grew up outside, even though now you are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen, you still act like a selfish, spoiled little girl. Not everything is about you. And not everything is about me. You and me are so insignificant to the rest of the world that our lives make no difference. There is a war going on Ginny. A war. People are dying. Ever since I got here I have fought against the man who started that war, fought for my life. And even though yes, you almost died along with me down in the Chamber, I have seen people killed in front of my eyes. Sirius, the one person who really, truly cared for me was killed because I was foolish enough to fall into one of Voldemort's traps. Outside of here, people are dying every single day because of him, and whatever stupid little plan you have to get revenge on me for not paying enough attention to you is gonna have to wait, cause in the end, it's probably gonna be me giving the final curse, and I definitely don't need you and Malfoy at my back trying to trip me up and distract me," he finished, a little out of breath.
Whoa. That sort of brought things into perspective.
"Harry," I whispered, tears forming in the corners of my eyes, "You're hurting me."
He immediately let go, looking shocked at the realization that he had been gripping my arms with an iron hold. He backed up a few steps, and then came back forward, his expression worried. "Ginny, I'm so sorry, really, I didn't know what I was doing. Oh god, did I really hurt you? Here, let me see your arms-" he said.
I flattened myself against the wall even more, if that was possible. "No!" I gasped. "Get away from me! Just- don't touch me!"
But he did anyways, and I let him, a soft caress to my cheek that sent shivers up my spine, and made my stomach twist the same way it did with Draco. I relaxed a bit, and he took a tiny step closer.
"Ginny," he whispered, his voice low, making my knees go weak. "I'm really, really sorry. About everything. I didn't mean it, I swear."
"No," I said, whispering also. "You're right. I'm acting like a spoiled child demanding candy and throwing a fit when I don't get it. I'm horrible."
"No..." he said, tracing my jaw line. How did he get that close? "you're just different. I'm so used to Hermione, and how she's always so right and justified in everything she does. You aren't like that, and I respect that, I guess, it's just different. You're something else, you know that?"
"Thank you," I replied, my voice barely audible.
"Ginny, I'd very much like to kiss you right now," he murmured, his lips incredibly close to mine. That sneaky devil.
"Me too," I mumbled back, and with that, he lowered his lips onto mine.
It was like nothing I had ever felt before. Like my heart jumped out of my chest and exploded in a display of filibuster fireworks, or every single magical thing I had ever done was suddenly dwarfed by this giant, otherworldly thing. I mean, I had been kissed before, but this was the kiss to end all kisses. It was slow, and tentative, but passionate, and told me exactly how he felt, and it tasted so good. Like candy canes on Christmas Eve, or that first piece of chocolate after lent. It was beautiful, and marvelous, and stunning, and awe- inspiring, and just plain wonderful.
And now I was, if possible, even more confused. I broke contact with Harry, sliding against the wall away from him, and dashing up the stairs back into the bathroom. And this time, I wasn't going to be bothered. I turned the shower on full blast and sat under it, letting the water beat against my back, and soak my brand new clothes, but hey, who cares, I can always fix them, I'm magic. But isn't it funny, that even when you have magic, which seems to be the answer to the problems of the world, you still can't figure out simple things like how you feel about a guy, or what you want to do with your life. And I wondered, is it this hard for muggles too? Do they go crazy and run out in the rain or sit in showers with all their clothes on and get soaked? Or do they have an easier solution? I wish I knew a muggle, so that I could ask them. But for now, I just needed to sit, with a mind full of spells, and nothing to do with them.
Isn't it funny that she feels exactly how I feel? And how interesting that I also like to dance in the rain. Perhaps this story will develop as my life develops, or maybe it will branch off in a different direction. Sorry for Harry yelling, and the tons of convo, but it is necessary. Also, don't you love writing in first person? It's so fun!! Anyways, my 2 (say WHAT?!?) reviewers know who they are, and I thank them, although I wish I could get more reviews. But you can't have everything I guess. All right, till next time!!
I had barely sat down again when the door opened and there he was, out of breath but grinning like he had just been told Christmas was coming twice this year.
"That," he said, "Was bloody brilliant."
"I know. Did you run all the way down here?"
"Yeah, but who cares. Let me see your schedule." He held out his hand.
I gave it to him. "So are we going to keep annoying him like this? Because it would work so much better if we planned it out."
"Oh yeah. I haven't had this much fun since Umbridge let me take points from you all last year. But why do you want to get revenge on him?"
I frowned, remembering the terror that was Delores Umbridge. "It isn't just to get back at him, it's my brother and Hermione too. They all have ignored me and I won't have it. What better way can you think of to upset them than hanging out with their worst enemy?"
"I'm their worst enemy? I think they should be watching out for Voldemort a bit more than me, he's the one trying to kill them," he replied, smirking.
I waved off his comment with my hand. "You know what I mean. Are you done with my schedule?"
"Yeah, here." He handed it back to me. "Ok, so you're taking advanced ancient runes."
"Yes I am."
"Congrats. Anyways, I have a free period then, so I could talk to, um, who teaches that?"
"Flitwick."
"Ok so I'll talk to him, and I'll transfer into your class. Of course, I'll need a tutor, cause I'm so far behind-"
"And I could just be ever so helpful and volunteer-"
"Right in front of Harry. He'll be so jealous he'll transfer into the class just to keep an eye on us-"
"And when we pick partners to do translations you can be mine!! Oh this is going to be so fun!!"
Draco looked excited. "We have partners? Nice!"
I put my fingers to my temples as if I was reading someone's thoughts. "I know- hold on, I'm thinking... Harry will need a tutor too. I could tutor you both at the same time, but teach you more, so that it will seem to him that you know more and he's really stupid."
"Oh that's good, I like it, but we need to do more than just that. We could eat lunch together."
"Or just go missing at lunch and get food from the kitchens."
"We can yell greetings to each other across the halls. Really loudly. With annoying nicknames."
I raised an eyebrow. "Nicknames? Um, how bout no."
"Sorry, I got carried away. Ixnay on the nicknames. And Virginia, don't you think that essay is long enough? Shouldn't you go turn it in? As in now, when Harry has Charms?" he said slowly, enunciating 'turn it in' and 'now'.
"Oh my, this essay certainly is long. I think I'll go turn it in early, and perhaps get some extra credit points." I said in monotone. I stood up stiffly, shoved everything haphazardly into my bag, and left the room, not blinking. Draco's laughter followed me out of the library.
I knocked on the Charm's classroom door, shifting my weight as I thought out what to say. To my chagrin, Harry was the one to open the door. I forgot he sat closest. A minor matter. "Um, hi Ginny-" he began, when I pushed past him.
"Professor Flitwick, I am so sorry to bother you during class time, but I couldn't wait any longer to ask you, was it Audrius or Flambrey who made the Wingardium Leviosa spell?"
"No problem, no problem at all Miss Weasley. It was indeed Flambrey."
"Oh, thank goodness, all right then. I think I'm ready to hand in my essay." I was handing it to him when there was another knock on the door. It opened by itself, and Draco sauntered in, looking innocent.
"Good afternoon Professor Flitwick, terribly sorry about interrupting, but I was wondering if I could transfer into your Advanced Study of Ancient Runes class. I find them fascinating, and I would love to learn more about their origins and how to translate them," he said smoothly as he walked to the front of the class.
"Yes Mr. Malfoy, I do believe we could do that, but you are rather far behind, and would need a tutor... Miss Weasley, you are in the top scores of the class, would you mind tutoring Mr. Malfoy until he catches up?"
"Oh no professor, not at all. It would be a great way to review for my Owls."
Hermione, who was sitting in the front row, gave me a curious look, and frowned at Draco. She wasn't stupid, and sooner or later she would figure out the setup.
"Excellent. If there isn't anything else I can do for you, I need to get back to my class."
We both shook our heads, and walked out, Draco holding the door open for me before leaving.
We walked along in silence for a while, and then he suddenly swore. "What?" I asked.
"I just added another course I need to study for Newts, just to get at Potter."
"Oh, poor baby. Deal with it, this will be worth it. Besides, with my tutelage, you won't need to study for it."
I put my hands on my hips and looked up at him. He was taller than I was. Harry was too. He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it, and just looked back at me. We probably stood there for about thirty seconds just staring at each other, and might have stood there longer if my heart hadn't done this thing. It felt like it was flipping over, and then my stomach was tying itself in knots. The same feeling I had gotten when I thought I was in love with Harry. I tried to say something, but my mouth was dry. I wet my lips with a paper-like tongue, and mumbled something like, "I need to go do work" before running off to the Gryffindor common room, and locking myself in the bathroom.
God knows how long I sat there before someone came. That someone was Hermione. "Ginny?" I grimaced at the name. "Are you in there? Are you ok? Will you open the door please?"
I reached over and undid the lock. She came in, and sat on the counter, looking at me sitting in the bathtub. She had gotten really pretty as she had entered her last years at Hogwarts. Her once uncontrollable hair now curled past her shoulders, and she had achieved a frame most women would be jealous of. In all, she was one of the most desirable girls in Hogwarts, having both beauty and brains. I admit that I too was a bit jealous, because long before she had achieved her good looks she still had captured the attention of many, something I was still trying to do. When she entered a room, it seemed to light up, and many people stopped what they were doing to watch her. When I walked into a room, people barely even noticed, unless they were Harry. Of course, Harry liked Hermione too, but everyone knew that she had it in for my brother. So I was the fall back. That made me mad, but not at her. It wasn't her fault. I would be glad to have her as a sister, if Ron ever gets up the nerve to ask her when they graduate. And I'm babbling again. Back to the story.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine, just a bit woozy," I said, my voice wavering.
"So you lock the door and sit in the bathtub?" she questioned, eyebrows raised.
"What do you feel when you look at my brother?" I said quickly, hoping to god that she wouldn't say what she said.
She blushed, and said, "What would make you ask a thing like that? But I suppose you have a right to know. I feel happy, like when we sit next to each other at lunch, that's where I belong. Or sometimes when I watch him play quidditch, and he looks over at me and smiles, my heart feels like it's turning over and my stomach seems to twist and turn. Is there someone who makes you feel like this Ginny?"
I ignored her questions and asked more urgently, "And do you love him?"
She flushed an even deeper red, but answered, "I think yes, I probably do. I could see myself being with him for the rest of my life, and it makes me happy." She smiled a tiny, secretive smile. "I hope this helps you. Remember, sort out your feelings before you act on them, and think before you say something you might regret." She got off the counter and gave me a small hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she stood and looked down at me, and at last smoothed my hair like my mother did when I was little, and said, "I'll see you at dinner, okay?"
I nodded and mumbled, "Thanks Mione." She gave my shoulder a squeeze before closing the door behind her. She would be good for my brother. She would be a good mom too. If only she had been there a year or so sooner, I might not have had to do what needed to be done, and that was break Harry's heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I wasn't hungry for dinner, so I stayed in my room and mentally prepared myself to go back to classes the next day. If I had gone to dinner, I would have gotten the owl instructing me to visit professor Flitwick. Instead, it came to my room, which scared the living daylights out of me, as I had focused all my attention on just staying awake reading the boring potions book, and wasn't expecting something to be tapping at the window. I opened the window, allowing the large barn owl into my room. I took the message from it's leg, and unrolled it. It read:
Miss Weasley
If you would please come to my office after dinner, I would be much obliged. I have your essay back for you (excellent job by the way, 10 points to Gryffindor!) and I also have a proposition.
Thank you,
Professor Flitwick
Well put me in striped stockings and call me Pippy, Harry sure didn't wait very long to sign up for Advanced Charms. And 10 more house points, go go Gryffindor! Now don't get me wrong, I have the house spirit and all, but the animalistic ferocity in which the houses compete with each other just annoys me. I mean really, it's just fake points, it's not like they matter! It's like Clinton denying he had sexual affairs with the Lewinsky woman, we all know he did! Ahem. Sorry, got a little off track there. Anyways, I figured I had a good ten minutes before people started leaving the hall, and as I was starting to feel a bit hungry, so I stopped by the kitchens and got a muffin. And then, skipping down the hall to the Professor's room, happy that my evil Plan was working marvelously, I had a thought. What if something goes horribly wrong, like, I get so wrapped up in my feelings for Draco that Harry gives up, or worse, he doesn't give up? I would have to talk to Draco about this.
But then here I was, at Flitwick's room, and as I entered, there he was, standing incredibly short next to Harry. He greeted me in his incredibly high-pitched voice, (I swear the man is a dwarf or something) and Harry mumbled something to me as well.
"Miss Weasley, thank you for coming, but as I said, I have a proposition for you. I know that you are already tutoring Mr. Malfoy, which reminds me to arrange for a room for you to study in in the library. But Mr. Potter here was hoping to transfer into the class as well, which is delightful that so many people are becoming interested in the art of translating runes. But he would also need a tutor, and I was hoping that it wouldn't be much trouble for you to tutor them both. Of course, since this will be taking time out of your own schedule, I am prepared to offer you 100 points to Gryffindor for your efforts."
I frowned, as this wasn't very much of an incentive. "Professor," I began. My tone made the smile drop from Harry's face. The offer of 100 points immediately made him happy, as it would put Gryffindor far ahead of Slytherin, and assure us the house cup. "Professor. As enticing as that is, I try not to limit myself to houses and petty competitions; I'll have to decline. However, if I could get extra credit points that would be something better for me."
"Of course, that will be arranged. 5 extra credit points for each essay, does that sound fair?"
"Marvelous," I replied, smiling sweetly. I could sense Harry glaring at me, as he knew as well as I did that I could get very patriotic and wear all red and gold if in the mood, and that I was just as happy as everyone else when I got house points. So yeah, he knew I was doing it to piss him off. He was just going to get them in quidditch anyways, so I don't see what the big deal was. I guess cause he knew I was doing it to piss him off. Oh well.
It was at that moment that I had my first second thought on the whole thing. I mean, Harry was a nice person, and surely he didn't mean to overlook me, he had been busy fighting the ultimate evil, and he did save my life once... because that's the kind of person he is. He'll put his own life on the line to save someone dear to him. or dear to one of his friends. So, since I was Ron's sister, of course he would protect me with his life. It wasn't that he had considered me more than a friend. I was his friend's kid sister. I had been just a scrawny, pale kid with red hair and too many freckles, and many too many siblings.
But now. Now I was pretty, and classy, and sophisticated, and I had a body most girls would kill for. I was everything I wasn't back then. Good things happen to those who wait. And hadn't I waited for 4 years, praying each night to please make me better god, please either help me win him over or help me forget him, cause I can't take this torture anymore. And Harry had not waited. He hadn't even given me a chance, a second thought before latching onto Cho Chang. No, I deserved this more than anything.
I set my shoulders, preparing myself for the harangue I would get after we both left. And now the Professor was saying goodbye, what had he said after I had agreed? Oops.
I walked out of the room, half rushing, half stalling, not quite sure whether I wanted another go at Harry's ego or if I should just leave him to brood. But he decided that for me by forcefully grabbing my shoulders and pushing me into an unoccupied hallway. He pushed me back against the wall, looking very formidable at his 5'11 stance.
"And what the fuck was that?" he yelled, his tone scaring me a little. He was furious. "Ginny, I have no idea what you're trying to do, but if this is from something I did to you, even though I have no idea what it is, I am so sorry, but get over it! Do you know how angry Ron would be if he knew you were fooling around with Malfoy? And what about your dad? He would be absolutely torn apart, you know how he feels about their family. So if this is just to get back at me for some stupid thing that I don't even realize I did, it's gonna end up affecting a whole lot more people than just me," he finished. His eyes glowed with a mixture of anger and something else I didn't recognize until much later. His jaw was set, his grip on me firm. He wasn't letting me go without an explanation.
"Harry, I'm not trying to do anything, and you have no right to tell me who I can hang out with, and also-" I began, my voice just as furious as his.
"Bull. Shit," he gritted out between clenched teeth. He gave me a little shake, and pushed me back against the wall rather hard. "Ginny, you know why I wasn't attracted to you before? Because even though you grew up outside, even though now you are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen, you still act like a selfish, spoiled little girl. Not everything is about you. And not everything is about me. You and me are so insignificant to the rest of the world that our lives make no difference. There is a war going on Ginny. A war. People are dying. Ever since I got here I have fought against the man who started that war, fought for my life. And even though yes, you almost died along with me down in the Chamber, I have seen people killed in front of my eyes. Sirius, the one person who really, truly cared for me was killed because I was foolish enough to fall into one of Voldemort's traps. Outside of here, people are dying every single day because of him, and whatever stupid little plan you have to get revenge on me for not paying enough attention to you is gonna have to wait, cause in the end, it's probably gonna be me giving the final curse, and I definitely don't need you and Malfoy at my back trying to trip me up and distract me," he finished, a little out of breath.
Whoa. That sort of brought things into perspective.
"Harry," I whispered, tears forming in the corners of my eyes, "You're hurting me."
He immediately let go, looking shocked at the realization that he had been gripping my arms with an iron hold. He backed up a few steps, and then came back forward, his expression worried. "Ginny, I'm so sorry, really, I didn't know what I was doing. Oh god, did I really hurt you? Here, let me see your arms-" he said.
I flattened myself against the wall even more, if that was possible. "No!" I gasped. "Get away from me! Just- don't touch me!"
But he did anyways, and I let him, a soft caress to my cheek that sent shivers up my spine, and made my stomach twist the same way it did with Draco. I relaxed a bit, and he took a tiny step closer.
"Ginny," he whispered, his voice low, making my knees go weak. "I'm really, really sorry. About everything. I didn't mean it, I swear."
"No," I said, whispering also. "You're right. I'm acting like a spoiled child demanding candy and throwing a fit when I don't get it. I'm horrible."
"No..." he said, tracing my jaw line. How did he get that close? "you're just different. I'm so used to Hermione, and how she's always so right and justified in everything she does. You aren't like that, and I respect that, I guess, it's just different. You're something else, you know that?"
"Thank you," I replied, my voice barely audible.
"Ginny, I'd very much like to kiss you right now," he murmured, his lips incredibly close to mine. That sneaky devil.
"Me too," I mumbled back, and with that, he lowered his lips onto mine.
It was like nothing I had ever felt before. Like my heart jumped out of my chest and exploded in a display of filibuster fireworks, or every single magical thing I had ever done was suddenly dwarfed by this giant, otherworldly thing. I mean, I had been kissed before, but this was the kiss to end all kisses. It was slow, and tentative, but passionate, and told me exactly how he felt, and it tasted so good. Like candy canes on Christmas Eve, or that first piece of chocolate after lent. It was beautiful, and marvelous, and stunning, and awe- inspiring, and just plain wonderful.
And now I was, if possible, even more confused. I broke contact with Harry, sliding against the wall away from him, and dashing up the stairs back into the bathroom. And this time, I wasn't going to be bothered. I turned the shower on full blast and sat under it, letting the water beat against my back, and soak my brand new clothes, but hey, who cares, I can always fix them, I'm magic. But isn't it funny, that even when you have magic, which seems to be the answer to the problems of the world, you still can't figure out simple things like how you feel about a guy, or what you want to do with your life. And I wondered, is it this hard for muggles too? Do they go crazy and run out in the rain or sit in showers with all their clothes on and get soaked? Or do they have an easier solution? I wish I knew a muggle, so that I could ask them. But for now, I just needed to sit, with a mind full of spells, and nothing to do with them.
Isn't it funny that she feels exactly how I feel? And how interesting that I also like to dance in the rain. Perhaps this story will develop as my life develops, or maybe it will branch off in a different direction. Sorry for Harry yelling, and the tons of convo, but it is necessary. Also, don't you love writing in first person? It's so fun!! Anyways, my 2 (say WHAT?!?) reviewers know who they are, and I thank them, although I wish I could get more reviews. But you can't have everything I guess. All right, till next time!!