Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Except for Elizabeth.

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Chapter 1: Ginny's Dream

She stared thoughtfully into the warm crackling fire in front of her as she drifted away into a deep slumber. When she opened her eyes she wasn't in the Gryffindor Common Room anymore. She was now in a cold, dark hall or some sort of passageway. A chill ran down her back. "Ginny." she heard someone whisper her name. She recognized the voice, but who was it? She turned around quickly, expecting to see someone standing there. There was nothing but a dim light off in the distance. She decided to follow it curious as to where it would lead. Walking cautiously toward the light she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly glanced over her shoulder. Scared, she walked faster. The footsteps were getting closer. She broke out into a run. The wind blew her bright red hair around. Franticly, she tried to move it out of her way. Not being able to see where she was going she tripped. The light was not too far away now. She tried to get up, but it was too late. The person following her had caught up. She was scared but forced herself to look wanting to know who it was. She turned and startled as to whom she saw, woke up screaming. Breathing rapidly she glanced around the room. She was back in Gryffindor Tower. Hermione's little sister, Elizabeth, was sitting next to her with Hermione on her other side, startled at her scream. Harry and Ron were sitting at a table near by looking at her. Fred and George came running down the stairs from the boys' dormitory.

"What happened? Who screamed?" Fred asked.

"Ginny did." Ron replied his eyes still fixed on her.

"What's wrong, Gin?" George asked with deep concern in his voice.

"Nothing George, I'm fine. I had a bad dream is all. If it's alright I'm going down to the Great Hall before it gets crowded." She got up quietly and stepped out of the portrait hole.

"You feeling a bit under the weather, dear?" The Fat Lady in the painting asked Ginny as she was leaving.

"Just a little." Ginny answered.

"If you need to talk you'll find me here."

"Thanks."

"Poor dear," she heard the Fat Lady murmur as she rounded a corner.

There were a few people in the Great Hall already. Ginny took a seat at the Gryffindor table across from the fireplace. She stared up at the simulated late afternoon sky thinking about the dream she had earlier. Hermione and Elizabeth entered and sat across from her. For several minutes nobody said a word, then Ginny broke the silence. She looked down from the sky to Hermione. "Has there ever been someone you fancied but didn't think it would work out?"

"Yeah," Hermione responded glancing down at the table. "Why is there someone you fancy that you're not telling me about?" she said looking back at Ginny with a grin on her face.

"No," she lied glancing over at the other tables, "I was just wondering."

Deciding to change the subject, Elizabeth jumped in, "Are either of you going to go to the ball tomorrow evening?"

"Yes, I'm going. I had a lot of fun last year at the Yule Ball, with a few exceptions. What about you two?" said Hermione.

"I'm not going," Ginny said sadly.

"Why not?" Elizabeth asked. "Didn't you have fun last year?"

"Yeah," she hesitated. She glanced up and down the Gryffindor table. "I had fun but I don't have anyone to go with this year. I don't really want to go with Neville again. My feet were sore for three days after the dance." Hermione and Elizabeth both looked at each other and laughed.

"I'm guessing that Neville isn't that great of a dancer." Elizabeth said still giggling.

"You could say that," Ginny replied smiling weakly.

"Oh come on Ginny cheer up. I don't have anyone to go with either. You can come with Liz or me to the ball. It'll be loads of fun."

"Actually, Hermione," Elizabeth said blushing "I'm going with Colin. He asked me right after breakfast this morning."

"Colin? Colin Creevey asked you to the dance?" Hermione asked looking shocked. Ginny couldn't help but let out a little laugh. Neither had seemed to notice.

"What's wrong with Colin?"

"Nothing, he's just obsessed with Harry and won't leave us alone. He's quite annoying."

"Well, I think he's nice and I like him," and with that Elizabeth got up and left.

"She can be really temperamental at times," Hermione said watching her sister exit the hall. Moments later they were joined by Harry and Ron. "How about you two, are you going to the ball?"

"Yeah, but we're not bothering on asking anyone this year. It was too much of a hassle last year," Ron responded obviously remembering the embarrassment of being turned down by Fleur.

Hermione's face lit up. "How about all four of us go together, as a group?" Harry and Ron agreed. "Ginny?" she said looking at her.

Ginny glanced over at Harry then at the other tables again. Her gaze seemed to stop at one particular table. The Slytherin table. She looked unsure but finally replied, "Okay." With that the discussion ended and everyone finished their dinner in peace.
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