Disclaimer: Apart from the story, I think that the disclaimer is the most
fun thing to write. (Most fun? Great English that is.) Fortunately I don't
own Harry Potter, I'm sure there would be a lot of angry people if I was
trusted with Harry Potter's future. It would be" Hogwarts: School of
Romance!" If I was in charge lol. Plus I don't have as vivid imagination as
J.K. Rowling. =D.
Chapter 3: Being Prepared
"So what are we going to do tomorrow?" Harry asked me as he sat next to me on the couch in the Gryffindor common room.
"There's a Hogsmeade trip if you want to go. Apart from that there isn't really anything else to do unless we spend the day out on the grounds. It's supposed to be lovely weather."
I vote we stay here, everyone else will go to Hogsmeade, and we'll have the whole place to ourselves. Want to ask Ron and Hermione if they want to make a day of it with us?" he asked.
"Well not to bust you're bubble, but I kind of want to go to Hogsmeade, there are some things I need to get so why don't we go to Hogsmeade then when we are done there, come back here and enjoy the weather outside? Have a break from studying? How's that sound?" I asked. I'm one for compromising.
"Sounds great. I'm going to bed, see you in the morning Gin." Harry said standing up and brushing my hair back and kissing me on the forehead.
Good night Harry." I said smiling at him. Once he left I sat staring into the fire. I smiled thinking about the kiss on the forehead he had given me. It was one of the few gestures we had decided would make people stop and see that we were "going out" we weren't going to tell anyone straight out. We thought that they could start a rumour which they quickly would and we could just confirm it when asked. The only people that we decided to clue in were Ron and Hermione.
When we told them, neither of them were too impressed. Ron voiced his opinions to Harry and Hermione voiced hers to me and afterwards, Harry told me what Ron had said to him. I would have told him what Hermione said but it was kind of personal.
She took me aside and spoke to me gently.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Gin?" she asked, putting a hand on my arm.
"Sure! I think that it's going to be fun." I said, trying not to show just how unsure I really was.
"Ginny, you could get hurt from this. You used to like Harry a lot remember? Is that why you are doing this? Because you like him again?" she asked a worried look on he face.
"No! Hermione of course I don't. I'm doing this as much for me as I'm doing it for Harry. I want to stop my admirer from admiring me!" I said then realising what I had said I laughed. Fortunately Hermione followed my drift.
"Well. If you're sure." She said and walked back over to the boys.
"Oh I'm not sure but I'm going to do this anyway." I said to myself then plastered a smile on my face and followed her.
Harry told me that Ron had been blunt as it was possible to be. He had warned Harry not to hurt me or he would have to answer to him. Harry said that he had almost laughed, given the situation but knew that he couldn't, he didn't want to anger Ron.
It was a little unnerving to see how bothered Ron and Hermione were, but at least they knew the truth and we could talk to them about it.
***
"Let's go visit Fred and George first, then we can do whatever you want." I said to Harry as I pulled him down the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. He laughed at my childish antics and slung his arm around my shoulders as he had taken do doing lately.
"Sure thing Ginny. I need some supplies anyway." I beamed up at him then called over my shoulder to Ron and Hermione.
"Hurry up you two!"
They were walking slowly along behind us looking amused. Can't imagine why though.
***
I slipped into a booth in the Three Broomsticks along with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry let go of my hand as he had been holding it when we were out in public. It felt weird not to have his hand in mine. Not a good weird either.
Ron went up to Madam Rosmerta and ordered us all Butterbeer. I gulped mine down in one go. When I looked up over the rim of it I saw the three of them staring at me.
"What? I was thirsty." I said grinning sheepishly.
Harry looked over to me and spoke.
" I guess it's safe to say that the Weasley's like their food."
"Hey!" I said indignantly "You.ah well you're right." I said laughing along with the others.
"Oh yes. I forgot. Ron and I thought that you might like to know that there is going to be a Christmas Ball." Hermione said, smiling at the two of us.
"Really? Perfect. I loved the Yule Ball in my third year. I hope it is as good as that one." I said excitedly.
I hadn't noticed the uncomfortable looks on Ron and Hermione's faces until Harry nudged me lightly in the side.
"Oh right. Well I'm sure that you guys will have a wonderful time, no matter who you go with."
"Yes, I'm sure we will." Hermione said stiffly.
"Ok well I have to do this. Hermione, at the risk of getting my head bitten off, will you go to the Ball with me this year? Ron asked.
"I.um.can I think about it first?" she said turning a slight shade of red. Obviously this wasn't what Rom was expecting so he didn't answer her straight away.
"Huh? Oh right. Sure."
"Thank you." Hermione said stiffly. Apparently she hadn't expected that at all and was very embarrassed.
I decided to change the subject a little.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go shopping!" I said grabbing Hermione's wrist and pulling her with me.
"But the Ball isn't for another month Ginny!"
"Hermione, has living with Lavender and Parvati taught you nothing?" I asked with a serious expression on my face.
She looked at me confused and I rolled my eyes.
"Any excuse is a good excuse to shop! That's rule number 1! The golden rule Hermione, you have put them to shame." I said wiping an imaginary tear from the corner of my eye. Hermione laughed at me and pushed me to the exit of the pub. We told Harry and Ron that we would catch up with them later.
"Thank you so much!" Hermione said as we were out of the Pub. "I don't think that I could have answered your brother then if I had wanted too!" she said. Letting out a breath.
"No problem. I was shocked myself. I honestly didn't expect him to burden you with that, right in front of Harry and me too."
"I know." She said quietly.
"So.are you going to say yes?" I asked anxiously looking at Hermione. A smile crept across her face.
"I don't know," she said, the smile disappearing "I think that I will. I really want too, but I have this urge to hold off on him for as long as I can. Just to make him suffer. I know that must sound incredibly awful." "Awful? It sounds bloody brilliant! Like Ron hasn't caused you worry before! Give him some of his own medicine! I promise I won't mention anything to either of the boys." I said putting my hand over my heart.
"Thanks Ginny. I appreciate it." I linked arms with Hermione and we walked off down the street towards Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions.
***
"Hey 'Mione, come look at this!" I hollered from the front of the store. Hermione was at the back of the room somewhere. She had mentioned something about going back there a few minutes earlier. She was by my side in a matter of seconds.
"Found something?" she asked absently.
"Yeah, what do you think?" I asked holding out a set of pale pink robes, in Hermione's size.
"Oh wonderful. Ginny, you have a real knack for this sort of thing." She said, taking the robes from my hands and holding them up against her.
"What can I say? I have style!" I said, clicking my fingers and twirling around. Hermione laughed at me and went back to the change rooms to try on my find. I looked around the shop absently looking for something for me.
I was thinking about all the major details for the Ball when I came across a pair of pale green dress robes. I reached out to touch the fabric and gasped as I felt how incredibly soft it was. I had to have these robes, no matter how much they cost. I flipped over the price tag on it and saw that they were fourteen galleons. I dropped the tag in dismay.
At that moment Hermione came out of the change room smiling brightly. When she saw my face however, she stopped smiling abruptly.
"Ginny? What ever is the matter?" she asked looking at me, her brow furrowed.
"Nothing! Nothing at all. Look at these, aren't they pretty?" I asked, trying to change the subject, slightly.
"Oh they would look wonderful on you! Try them on." She said, pulling them down.
"I.um I can't. I don't have enough money for them." I said, mumbling the last part of my sentence. I was looking at the ground.
"How short are you?" she asked, rummaging through her purse.
"Oh you know, just fourteen galleons." I said blushing.
"I have enough for both here. Isn't that lucky?"
"You are not paying for them Hermione! I'm not a charity case!" I said fuming.
"Of course you aren't Ginny. Just don't expect a Christmas present from me this year or next year for that matter." She said smiling at me.
"All right. Just. I have eight galleons here, let me pay that much and you can make up the difference." I said getting out my own purse.
"I thought you said you didn't have any money?" she said looking at me.
"I forgot about this, it's birthday money." I said, feeling relieved that I could pay some of the money for my robes.
"Oh all right then." Hermione payed for our robes and handed mine to me and we headed back outside into the chilly air. I tightened my scarf around my neck and we walked back towards Hogwarts. We figured that Harry and Ron would be in Quality Quidditch Supplies for some time.
***
.+*^*+.
A/N: Ohhh! I've got stuff to say this time! Thank you very mush to those precious people who reviewed the last two chapters. These are just a few comments people made that I felt that I wanted to respond too.
ChibiSana Hey! Thanks for your review. Hurry up and get Harry not so stupid? Sorry but he's going to be stupid for a while.boys.
grace() Hey Grace, you'll just have to be patient! Mind you I'm loving this suspense!
Starkissed I'm surprised that you think the characters are close to the ones in the book. I was thinking how much they aren't.lol.
this guy Well it's obvious is it? I hope YOU keep reading. I really do. Just expect the unexpected. I wouldn't want to state the obvious to you would I? Do you get it? Lol. I'm not being mean I'm just commenting.You comment by far was my favourite.
There sure is a lot of speculating on Ginny's admirer.I am such a great writer lol. Rolls eyes at self. Yeah right. Anyway, hope you are all enjoying this. I sure am.
~Nesserz.
Chapter 3: Being Prepared
"So what are we going to do tomorrow?" Harry asked me as he sat next to me on the couch in the Gryffindor common room.
"There's a Hogsmeade trip if you want to go. Apart from that there isn't really anything else to do unless we spend the day out on the grounds. It's supposed to be lovely weather."
I vote we stay here, everyone else will go to Hogsmeade, and we'll have the whole place to ourselves. Want to ask Ron and Hermione if they want to make a day of it with us?" he asked.
"Well not to bust you're bubble, but I kind of want to go to Hogsmeade, there are some things I need to get so why don't we go to Hogsmeade then when we are done there, come back here and enjoy the weather outside? Have a break from studying? How's that sound?" I asked. I'm one for compromising.
"Sounds great. I'm going to bed, see you in the morning Gin." Harry said standing up and brushing my hair back and kissing me on the forehead.
Good night Harry." I said smiling at him. Once he left I sat staring into the fire. I smiled thinking about the kiss on the forehead he had given me. It was one of the few gestures we had decided would make people stop and see that we were "going out" we weren't going to tell anyone straight out. We thought that they could start a rumour which they quickly would and we could just confirm it when asked. The only people that we decided to clue in were Ron and Hermione.
When we told them, neither of them were too impressed. Ron voiced his opinions to Harry and Hermione voiced hers to me and afterwards, Harry told me what Ron had said to him. I would have told him what Hermione said but it was kind of personal.
She took me aside and spoke to me gently.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Gin?" she asked, putting a hand on my arm.
"Sure! I think that it's going to be fun." I said, trying not to show just how unsure I really was.
"Ginny, you could get hurt from this. You used to like Harry a lot remember? Is that why you are doing this? Because you like him again?" she asked a worried look on he face.
"No! Hermione of course I don't. I'm doing this as much for me as I'm doing it for Harry. I want to stop my admirer from admiring me!" I said then realising what I had said I laughed. Fortunately Hermione followed my drift.
"Well. If you're sure." She said and walked back over to the boys.
"Oh I'm not sure but I'm going to do this anyway." I said to myself then plastered a smile on my face and followed her.
Harry told me that Ron had been blunt as it was possible to be. He had warned Harry not to hurt me or he would have to answer to him. Harry said that he had almost laughed, given the situation but knew that he couldn't, he didn't want to anger Ron.
It was a little unnerving to see how bothered Ron and Hermione were, but at least they knew the truth and we could talk to them about it.
***
"Let's go visit Fred and George first, then we can do whatever you want." I said to Harry as I pulled him down the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. He laughed at my childish antics and slung his arm around my shoulders as he had taken do doing lately.
"Sure thing Ginny. I need some supplies anyway." I beamed up at him then called over my shoulder to Ron and Hermione.
"Hurry up you two!"
They were walking slowly along behind us looking amused. Can't imagine why though.
***
I slipped into a booth in the Three Broomsticks along with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry let go of my hand as he had been holding it when we were out in public. It felt weird not to have his hand in mine. Not a good weird either.
Ron went up to Madam Rosmerta and ordered us all Butterbeer. I gulped mine down in one go. When I looked up over the rim of it I saw the three of them staring at me.
"What? I was thirsty." I said grinning sheepishly.
Harry looked over to me and spoke.
" I guess it's safe to say that the Weasley's like their food."
"Hey!" I said indignantly "You.ah well you're right." I said laughing along with the others.
"Oh yes. I forgot. Ron and I thought that you might like to know that there is going to be a Christmas Ball." Hermione said, smiling at the two of us.
"Really? Perfect. I loved the Yule Ball in my third year. I hope it is as good as that one." I said excitedly.
I hadn't noticed the uncomfortable looks on Ron and Hermione's faces until Harry nudged me lightly in the side.
"Oh right. Well I'm sure that you guys will have a wonderful time, no matter who you go with."
"Yes, I'm sure we will." Hermione said stiffly.
"Ok well I have to do this. Hermione, at the risk of getting my head bitten off, will you go to the Ball with me this year? Ron asked.
"I.um.can I think about it first?" she said turning a slight shade of red. Obviously this wasn't what Rom was expecting so he didn't answer her straight away.
"Huh? Oh right. Sure."
"Thank you." Hermione said stiffly. Apparently she hadn't expected that at all and was very embarrassed.
I decided to change the subject a little.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go shopping!" I said grabbing Hermione's wrist and pulling her with me.
"But the Ball isn't for another month Ginny!"
"Hermione, has living with Lavender and Parvati taught you nothing?" I asked with a serious expression on my face.
She looked at me confused and I rolled my eyes.
"Any excuse is a good excuse to shop! That's rule number 1! The golden rule Hermione, you have put them to shame." I said wiping an imaginary tear from the corner of my eye. Hermione laughed at me and pushed me to the exit of the pub. We told Harry and Ron that we would catch up with them later.
"Thank you so much!" Hermione said as we were out of the Pub. "I don't think that I could have answered your brother then if I had wanted too!" she said. Letting out a breath.
"No problem. I was shocked myself. I honestly didn't expect him to burden you with that, right in front of Harry and me too."
"I know." She said quietly.
"So.are you going to say yes?" I asked anxiously looking at Hermione. A smile crept across her face.
"I don't know," she said, the smile disappearing "I think that I will. I really want too, but I have this urge to hold off on him for as long as I can. Just to make him suffer. I know that must sound incredibly awful." "Awful? It sounds bloody brilliant! Like Ron hasn't caused you worry before! Give him some of his own medicine! I promise I won't mention anything to either of the boys." I said putting my hand over my heart.
"Thanks Ginny. I appreciate it." I linked arms with Hermione and we walked off down the street towards Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions.
***
"Hey 'Mione, come look at this!" I hollered from the front of the store. Hermione was at the back of the room somewhere. She had mentioned something about going back there a few minutes earlier. She was by my side in a matter of seconds.
"Found something?" she asked absently.
"Yeah, what do you think?" I asked holding out a set of pale pink robes, in Hermione's size.
"Oh wonderful. Ginny, you have a real knack for this sort of thing." She said, taking the robes from my hands and holding them up against her.
"What can I say? I have style!" I said, clicking my fingers and twirling around. Hermione laughed at me and went back to the change rooms to try on my find. I looked around the shop absently looking for something for me.
I was thinking about all the major details for the Ball when I came across a pair of pale green dress robes. I reached out to touch the fabric and gasped as I felt how incredibly soft it was. I had to have these robes, no matter how much they cost. I flipped over the price tag on it and saw that they were fourteen galleons. I dropped the tag in dismay.
At that moment Hermione came out of the change room smiling brightly. When she saw my face however, she stopped smiling abruptly.
"Ginny? What ever is the matter?" she asked looking at me, her brow furrowed.
"Nothing! Nothing at all. Look at these, aren't they pretty?" I asked, trying to change the subject, slightly.
"Oh they would look wonderful on you! Try them on." She said, pulling them down.
"I.um I can't. I don't have enough money for them." I said, mumbling the last part of my sentence. I was looking at the ground.
"How short are you?" she asked, rummaging through her purse.
"Oh you know, just fourteen galleons." I said blushing.
"I have enough for both here. Isn't that lucky?"
"You are not paying for them Hermione! I'm not a charity case!" I said fuming.
"Of course you aren't Ginny. Just don't expect a Christmas present from me this year or next year for that matter." She said smiling at me.
"All right. Just. I have eight galleons here, let me pay that much and you can make up the difference." I said getting out my own purse.
"I thought you said you didn't have any money?" she said looking at me.
"I forgot about this, it's birthday money." I said, feeling relieved that I could pay some of the money for my robes.
"Oh all right then." Hermione payed for our robes and handed mine to me and we headed back outside into the chilly air. I tightened my scarf around my neck and we walked back towards Hogwarts. We figured that Harry and Ron would be in Quality Quidditch Supplies for some time.
***
.+*^*+.
A/N: Ohhh! I've got stuff to say this time! Thank you very mush to those precious people who reviewed the last two chapters. These are just a few comments people made that I felt that I wanted to respond too.
ChibiSana Hey! Thanks for your review. Hurry up and get Harry not so stupid? Sorry but he's going to be stupid for a while.boys.
grace() Hey Grace, you'll just have to be patient! Mind you I'm loving this suspense!
Starkissed I'm surprised that you think the characters are close to the ones in the book. I was thinking how much they aren't.lol.
this guy Well it's obvious is it? I hope YOU keep reading. I really do. Just expect the unexpected. I wouldn't want to state the obvious to you would I? Do you get it? Lol. I'm not being mean I'm just commenting.You comment by far was my favourite.
There sure is a lot of speculating on Ginny's admirer.I am such a great writer lol. Rolls eyes at self. Yeah right. Anyway, hope you are all enjoying this. I sure am.
~Nesserz.