Disclaimer: I do not own Harry & co, sadly. You'll have to see JK Rowling for that!
Author's note: I admit, that last chapter was complete and utter crap! I'll try and not write the chapters after midnight! (yes I did so… regret it very much too!). So, here we go. On to the next. And I can't believe 'the next' is chapter 10! It's probably the longest I've been writing on a story without getting bored! Go me!
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Why didn't she see it? Harry was frustrated. He had been dropping hints to Ginny, but she had walked past them all. Giving her those smiles, which he hoped didn't look too stupid, had obviously not helped. But Harry was out of ideas. He really couldn't do anything too open; he knew Ron would have a fit if he knew Harry was attracted to his baby sister. Harry wasn't stupid; Ron had practically killed every guy who looked after Ginny in corridors or in the common room. Harry knew Ginny was sick of it, but there was really nothing anyone could do. Ron had made up his mind; Ginny was going to live her life as a nun.
Harry tried really hard to concentrate on the essay about the importance of doing the precise movement and casting the precise spell (knowing when to release it) for McGonagall, but he found it was virtually impossible. He had Ginny across the library table.
"Why must you love the girls that you can't have?" a dry voice in Harry's mind asked. Harry shook his head, wanting to get rid of the voice. He had heard it several times this week. And the week before that. Ever since their performance in the Great Hall. It kept calling him, kept asking why he was in love with someone he could never have.
The Slytherin's had made a big deal out of it. Dropping smirking comments about falling for a Weasley. Harry knew they didn't know of his crush on Ginny and knew he shouldn't take any of their comments seriously. They didn't know he had actually fallen for a Weasley. Ron seemed oblivious to the fact, thank god. He lived on in his little world that Harry, the Boy Who Lived and school hero, couldn't possibly be in love with his poor, freckled, hotheaded baby sister.
Once again, Harry's emerald eyes wandered to Ginny. To her hair that seemed to attract every ray of light that made her hair glow like fire, to her pale skin that Harry longed to touch, to her slim figure that Harry knew had started to get those female curves. And once again he shook his head.
"You're not doing well?" Ginny asked as she noticed Harry. He shook his head.
"No", he answered. "My mind seems to be wandering", he said truthfully. He hoped she wouldn't ask more questions.
"What could possibly be more important than school?" Hermione asked Harry. He made a tortured face. Ginny giggled at him and he winked. Hermione went back to her own essay that was several feet longer than McGonagall had requested without a word.
Obviously Ron seemed to struggle with the same problem as Harry because he suddenly broke the silence that had yet again fallen over the four of them by slamming his Transfigurations book shut. The other three looked startled up. Hermione sighed annoyed, but Harry and Ginny was pleased by the interruption.
"What about a game of Exploding Snap?" Ginny asked hopefully. She felt like winning something today. To her disappointment Harry shook his head, but Ron made a 'sure-why-not'-look and they pushed their books aside. When Hermione cleared her throat they all looked at her.
"You're not forgetting something?" she asked, looking at Ron. He shrugged. "We're in the library in case you hadn't noticed. You can't play Exploding Snap here!" she hissed and went back to her essay, scribbling down something. Ginny immediately stood up, taking her books. Ron sighed and didn't get up.
"I should get this essay done", he said, getting a slightly pleased look from Hermione. "But you two go ahead", he continued and tried really hard to put on a face that said that he really was sorry. Truth be told he couldn't wait until he and Hermione could be alone. Again.
"Come on, Harry", Ginny said, giving her brother a knowing look. Ron blushed slightly, quickly bowing his head over the parchment. Ginny grinned at Harry and the butterflies came back. He followed Ginny's example and grabbed his books. The two of them left Hermione and Ron without a word.
The two of them walked in silence back to the Gryffindor tower. Harry's heart raced as their hands accidentally brushed against each other, their shoulders gently slamming together and when a gust of wind made her hair fly and brush against Harry's cheek. Ginny didn't seem to notice, though, she just kept on walking. Her behavior only made Harry blush and feel embarrassed, but he just couldn't take one step aside so they didn't touch each other, he didn't have the strength nor the will to do that.
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Authors note: Oh my god. Thank you so much Katrin (weasley75), maria and Dragonstorm316 for all of your warming comments. They go straight to the heart!
Now I want to find more warming comments like that to this chapter! *laughs and nods* From all of you!
