It had been a foolish idea, Ginny thought, as she looked up at Harry. His face was slack with shock. It was obvious that her confession had caught him completely off guard. And as the seconds eked by into minutes it was increasingly clear that Harry didn't return her sentiments.
Ginny was tempted, ever so tempted, to blame the most mortifying moment of her life on Hermione Granger. It was her friend's advice that led her here after all, not that Hermione knew who'd caught her eye when she sought out the elder girl's advice.
"How did you get Ron to notice you?" I inquired of my brother's girlfriend.
"Hmm?" The sound came from Hermione as she lifted her head from a book. Blinking she looked at me. "What was that?"
"Never mind," I muttered, but at Hermione's scolding look I asked again, "How did you get Ron to notice you?"
Hermione looked at me carefully. She knew full well how Ron felt about me dating, well anyone, namely he didn't like it one bit. He always made such a fuss; he'd always been the most protective of my brothers. Finally, Hermione answered carefully, "I suppose by being there."
"That's not an answer," I remarked, my tone laced with sarcasm.
She had the decency to blush. "I don't know what to say. Truly," Hermione insisted. Her brow furled, a sure sign that she was thinking on something carefully. "As far as I knew I was just Hermione to him … some asexual buddy, with brains," she added.
"Well that changed, obviously," I pointed out.
"I know," she said with a goofy smile. "The thing of it is, I'm not sure when it changed for Ron. He told me that he'd been wanting to ask me out long before he ever did, but when I asked how long, well he turned all red and started stumbling over his words. So I took pity on him by kissing him and we never addressed the issue again."
"So when did it change for you?"
"It didn't," she replied. I looked at her skeptically and she blushed. "Well it didn't," she said obviously embarrassed. "I sort of always fancied Ron … I just figured, since he was the way he was with me, that he didn't feel the same."
"But you dated other people … Viktor. I remember Ron being so upset about that," I reminded her.
Hermione grinned, "Well that's when I suspected that he might like me, but I admit that I tortured him so with it, since he refused to say so."
"Well what if the guy you liked didn't react like Ron did?" I asked, seeking her opinion. "Would you have ever," I paused and then very quietly to ensure secrecy continued, "told him?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "Well I … I suppose so," she answered. "I mean it's the logical thing to do," she nodded, obviously comfortable with that reasoning, "particularly if you want to know for certain one way or another. If you don't ask the answer is always no."
After two days of rolling around Hermione's advice in her head, Ginny had finally worked up the courage to speak with Harry. Hearing no would hurt, she decided, but having no answer at all would have been worse. But to be completely honest with herself she hadn't expected the answer to be no.
Though she did her best to hold them back, Ginny could feel the tears stinging her eyes. Crying in front of Harry just wouldn't do. "Never mind Harry," she gulped.
"Ginny …" Harry finally spoke but the tiny redhead turned on her heels and hurried down the hallway. He watched helplessly as she disappeared around the corner. Harry wasn't even certain what he would have said to her if she had stayed.
"Well I like you Harry," Ginny informed him, her eyes bright with a smile on her face.
Well of course she liked him, he thought shaking his head as he tried to wrap his mind around what had just taken place. But when Ginny, little Ginny Weasley, had made it clear just how she liked him, by kissing him ever so lightly – well every last thought flew from his mind.
"She kissed me," Harry said touching his lips. Only the empty hallway heard him. He winced thinking about how he just stood there dumbfound, even as the smile faded from her face and hurt flooded her eyes. "I'm such a prat," he muttered.
Harry started to follow her but after a few steps realized that it was probably too late for that. "I blew it." Of course, he wasn't exactly sure that he wanted that kind of relationship with Ginny. She was Ginny after all – not that there was anything wrong with that. Ginny was … brave for one, he finally managed to think. And smart, not to mention funny, loyal, and was a great person to just be around.
He now that she had planted herself into his mind Harry had to admit that her soft red hair and bright blue eyes were appealing. Very appealing.
It was also clear that he hurt her. And that was the last thing in the world he ever wanted to do. Ginny, well she was family, not that he ever thought of her in a brotherly fashion. Now that was telling, he realized. He started to go after her again when he felt another flash of pain.
"I really am a prat," Harry muttered turning in the opposite direction that Ginny went. He couldn't talk to her now. Too much was happening with Voldemort that he didn't know about, not to mention the fact that he wasn't exactly sure what he felt for Ginny. He couldn't talk to her about it until he was, he decided.
~*~
"Draco please," Cho asked her voice soft. He had cornered her in the empty classroom and refused to let her leave. At first she'd been annoyed, majorly so. Draco Malfoy was an arrogant, self-centered snob. He was also a Slytherin, which was telling enough.
When she tried to force her way past him he grabbed hold and hadn't let go. His grip wasn't painful but firm. Though she hated to admit it being so close to him was thrilling. Her breath at caught at his touch and the cocky bastard grinned at her. Then honey words poured forth from his mouth. Cho could barely think beyond his luscious lips to grasp their full meaning.
Beautiful. Intelligent. Captivating. The words seduced her. Cho desperately wanted to believe in them – to believe that she was all of those things.
Her dark eyes had grown wide and her breathing had become jagged. Draco couldn't help the grin that touched his lips. He had her completely in his thrall now. He knew had to be careful though, everyone knew his reputation and if he wanted to succeed he'd have to move slowly.
Lifting his hand to her hair, he stoked the silky tress. He felt her shudder in anticipation. Draco knew to ask, "Let me kiss you?"
"I …" Cho paused, for the life of her she couldn't remember a single reason to say no. She nodded ever so slightly and felt Draco pulling her in closer to him. His muscular frame was against hers and his lips were close enough to feel their warmth.
"DRACO!" Pansy hollered, her voice echoed off the walls of the room breaking the spell. "What do you think you're doing?" she seethed yanking him away from Cho. Temper flaring she turned on Cho. "Why you little …" her words turned into a scream when Draco lifted her up from behind.
"Enough," he ordered.
Shaking Cho felt reality sink back in. It felt like a slap to the face. She glared at Draco who was busy trying to prevent Pansy from kicking him. "I hate you," she declared with such passion that it caught Draco off guard allowing Pansy to kick him in the shin.
"She's not the only one," Pansy huffed. "We're done for good," she promised and turned to stalk out of the room as Cho had done.
Grabbing her wrist Draco turned her back around. "Now you don't mean that Pansy," he said, his voice cajoling. Pansy pushed at him but it did little good.
"Let me go Draco," she hissed.
Having failed in his attempt Draco wasn't about to lose a willing bed partner. With one hand holding her arms Draco used his free hand to stroke her cheek. He knew exactly how to turn the situation around. His blue eyes flooded with relief. "I knew Crabbe was wrong."
"Wrong?" Pansy questioned twisting. "Draco what are you talking about?"
"He said he saw you with a Hufflepuff …"
"A what!" Pansy shrieked. "As if I'd even talk to a Huffle-" Draco's lips stopped her words. His quick and agile tongue darted into her mouth. His skillful lips had her softening and falling into the kiss.
~*~
The tears were freely falling when Ginny ran into the Gryffindor Common Room. She wanted nothing more than to run up to her room, throw herself on her bed and cry her heart out. She didn't get her wish.
"Whoa," the words whooshed out of Neville's mouth as Ginny's body collided with his. Hearing her sniffles he looked down at her as she tried to brush past him. "Ginny? Ginny what's wrong?"
"Not—nothing," she said through her tears. The room around her was a blur.
"Here," Neville said taking her hand and leading her to a chair. "Don't worry, no one else is here." Searching his robes for a moment he pulled out a handkerchief. "Here," he said offering it to her.
"Than—thank you Neville," Ginny said wiping her eyes.
Neville pulled up the closest chair and settled down next to her. "No then," he said patting her shoulder. "What's wrong? And don't say nothing," he warned. "We both know that's not true."
Ginny nodded weakly. "I know … I just can't tell you."
Neville frowned. "Ginny we're friends, house mates, family then you know. House is family at Hogwarts, so tell me," he implored. "I want to help you." That earned him a smile. It was only a faint one but it was enough for Neville.
"I just made a fool of myself," Ginny confided. "I told a boy that I like him. Harry," she said his name without meaning too, but Ginny trusted Neville completely. She knew he wouldn't tell. "He didn't feel the same way."
Neville felt his heart sink. Ginny liked Harry. And Harry, well he wasn't fool, he'd come around. Knowing that she needed a friend, Neville took her hand reassuringly, "It will all work out. You'll see," he told her.
"Oh Neville," Ginny sighed. "You really are the best friend a person could have."
And that Neville realized was his problem. He would always be just a friend.