Ok, you all have a nice and long chapter after that short first one. I
would, however, like to take the time to make the following statement:
Harry and Hermione are NOT going out. Meant to edit that out but it was
about three in the morning when that was posted. The next chapter might
also have some editing problems, but I don't think it is anything major.
Have fun! Oh, and a big thanks to all the reviewers! Love you all!
Looking forward to more reviews on this chapter! Enjoy!
----- Chapter II
Ginny spun around quickly to see Draco Malfoy.
"Well," she spat icily, her cheeks reddening slightly, "it's not much like they pay any attention to me anyhow."
Ron looked up from his eggs. "Oy, Malfoy! What d' ya think yo'r doin' ove' here? Your 'able is ove' thar'' he said through a mouthful of bacon and egg pieces. Draco said nothing but smirked slightly.
"See you in the trophy room then," Draco said, bowing in mock respect then turning on his heel and leaving the hall.
"What were you doing talking to Malfoy?" asked Ron, who had swallowed his breakfast. Ginny rolled her eyes and exited the Great Hall.
She muttered to herself as she walked. "Stupid git Ron, know-it-all Hermione, Stuck-Up prat Harry. No one has time for me! No one cares about me!" Ginny walked amelessly, wallowing in her self-pitty. She found herself in the library and thought a good book might take her mind off things. The Gryffindor picked a random book off a shelf and sat down near a window. She flipped the pages and sighed. She just couldn't concentrate. She gave up and stared out the window, hoping something interesting would hit her. Unfortunately, a crumpled ball of parchment hit her first.
Ginny turned in the direction the parchment came from. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together, Hermione bending over a book as usual. Harry smiled when he caught her attention and motioned for her to come over. She smiled a quick, false smile then trudged over to the table.
"Why'd you through parchment at me?" Ginny asked, sitting down at their table.
"Well, its not like you answered to your name," Harry said mockingly, showing a grin as if he was looking down at a niece he was fond of. Stupid, pompous Harry, Ginny thought darkly, though was able to give a hollow, false laugh.
"Yes..." Hermione mused, her head still bent over a book. "You seemed deep in thought. I told Harry not to call you over, you seemed preoccupied, but he said he had something to ask you." She flipped a page and Ginny gnashed her teeth behind closed lips and added to her thoughts. And know-it-all Hermione. 'I seemed preoccupied' who does she think she is?
Ginny shrugged and looked at Harry, still beaming stupidly, and said "Well what is it Harry, I've got loads of homework to do and I must get started." A lie, of course. Ginny's homework had been finished last night in the library. But every minute away from these two ignorant prats was precious. Harry's sappy smile suddenly slid off his face and he scratched the back of his head. "Well, its erm.. rather difficult to say..." He began. "Well spit it out!"
Ginny watched Harry's eternal struggle silently, smiling slightly. He looked to Hermione for advice, she only waved her hand slightly as if to say 'go on'. "Well,' he began again, "You know the Christmas thing?"
'Yes," Ginny replied calmly.
"Well, not the actual feast, but, the thing after it? The ball thing?'
'Yes, Harry."
"Would you like to, well, go with me to it?" He finished, staring at the ground. Ginny thought about it for a moment. A few years ago she would have jumped for joy at this, but now, she wasn't so sure. She smiled lightly.
"Of course, Harry,' she said. It wasn't like she was going to get any other date for it. 'I'd love to stay but I need to get going. Detention this afternoon." she left the smiling Harry and Hermione for the common room. she might as well drop off her books before she went to the trophy room. Might even take a quick bath, she thought as she said the password and walked through the portrait hole. She needed something to relieve some stress.
After dropping her books off on her bed, Ginny went off to the girls' bathroom. She turned the faucettes on as hot as they could go, then slipped in. The hot water burned her skin for a few seconds, then the pain ebbed and the water began soothing her tense muscles as the steam cleared her mind. Sighing, she slid under the surface for a second, then came up again. Even for such a short time, the scalding water helped immensely. After fifteen minutes, Ginny got out of the tub and dried herself off before getting dressed in one of her older school uniforms. It would make no sense to wear one of the newer ones then go clean. It didn't make any sense that she took a bath before cleaning the trophy room either, but at least she felt better. Sighing heavily, she donned her tattered hogwarts cloak then walked out of the bathroom and into the common room, her wet hair dripping slightly onto her cloak.
Ginny tied her hair back in a ponytail with an old ribbon. She checked her watch and was surprised; she had been in the bath longer than she had thought. It was almost time for lunch now. She sat in a chair close to the fire, and stared at the flames licking the logs. She was going to the Christmas Ball with Harry Potter. Tons of girls would kill for this chance, but Ginny felt almost annoyed with herself for even saying yes. She didn't like Harry, and she didn't want him to think she did. She'd much rather go wiht someone exciting and new. someone like Draco? a voice inside her said. Ginny jumped and looked around wildly, paranoid as if someone magically heard her thoughts. 'Where'd that come from?' She thought. 'Draco is the slimiest git ever to walk the planet!' But he is hot...
Ginny shook her head violently. Where did that come from? she asked herself. She placed a hand on her forehead to make sure she wasn't running a fever. No, normal. I am going to the ball with Harry, she told herself fervently, And I am going to enjoy it. And not think about that Malfoy... She rose, slightly scared of her thoughts, and started walking towards the Great Hall, dreading the detention as she should. She smiled slightly, then almost slapped herself for doing so.
Ginny walked slowly to the Great Hall and sat, again, but Harry and her oblivious older brother. "Ron, tahts disgusting." GInny wrinkled her nose as she watched her brother eat. "Wol thaaawry!" He replied, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. Hermione was sitting infront of Ginny and picked at her food daintily. "So what've you been up to?" Ginny said, trying to start o conversation.
"Well," Hermione said slowly, "I've been studying for a test in Ancient Runes but i stumbled across a most interesting word meaning 'foot' but the word is spelled differently when it means 'pertaining to the foot' and I decided to do a little research of my own. I discovered that.." Ginny stopped listening. Ron was eating like there was no tomorrow, Hermione was talking everybody's ear off but no one was listening, and Harry was ignoring Ginny and talking to Seamus. Ginny fumed as she watched Harry talking to other people. Did he already forget that she was his date to the ball? She should dump him, just to spite him. And then I would look like an idiot at the ball by myself, she reminded herself. But... if someone (she was careful not to name any names) were to ask me, I would definitely dump Harry. Ginny rose from the table and made to leave.
"Gin, what's wrong? You hardly touched your food?" Ron's eyes knitted in concern. Ginny looked back.
"I'm fine Ron, just not hungry. GO ahead and finish my plate, no one's stopping you from being a complete pig." Ginny turned and walked out before her brother could protest.
Ginny walked briskly onto the castle grounds. It was refreshing being able to walk out on the soft grass and be covered by the endless blue skies. A cold wind blew at her face. She could tell as well as any that winter was on it's way. She stared at the icy gray of the lake and sat down on the ground at its edge. Some other students had done the same, talking and laughing while watching the center of the lake for one of the Squid's giant tentacles to rise slightly out of the water then drop under the rippling surface of the water.
Watching teh gentle ripples glide on the lake was so calming, Ginny forgot about her detention, her brother, and even her troubles about being ignored. Until... "Oy! Gin! Whats with you?!"
Ginny swore silently and turned to face a very angry Ron stomping towards her.
"Yes?" Ginny asked coolly.
"What'd you say that to me for? You embarrassed me in front of everyone! You need to keep that attitude in check, or else I'll write mum!" '
The horror...' Ginny thought as she listened to Ron rant.
"And another thing, you hardly said a word to Harry! For goodness sake, he's your date to the Christmas Ball! Would it kill you to be nice for once?"
He turned to walk away, but Ginny had something to say, too.
"First of all, you can't tell me to keep my attitude in check. You're not mum and I don't give a d*** if you tell her! Secondly, maybe I didn't talk to Harry because Harry didn't talk to me! Believe it or not Ron but the wall responds to me better than you or Harry or Hermione! The only time you talk to me is to butt into my business! So just lay off!!"
Ginny walked towards the castle, but turned to shout something back.
"And tell Harry I don't want to take him to the ball! And tell him I don't wanna talk to him or Hermione or you ever again! Its not like you listen!"
She left Ron standing out on the lawn, mouth agape. She was so furious with the three of them that she wasn't paying attention when she ran in to someone, knocking her down.
"Sorry," she spat.
"Not a problem," a familiar voice.
----- Chapter II
Ginny spun around quickly to see Draco Malfoy.
"Well," she spat icily, her cheeks reddening slightly, "it's not much like they pay any attention to me anyhow."
Ron looked up from his eggs. "Oy, Malfoy! What d' ya think yo'r doin' ove' here? Your 'able is ove' thar'' he said through a mouthful of bacon and egg pieces. Draco said nothing but smirked slightly.
"See you in the trophy room then," Draco said, bowing in mock respect then turning on his heel and leaving the hall.
"What were you doing talking to Malfoy?" asked Ron, who had swallowed his breakfast. Ginny rolled her eyes and exited the Great Hall.
She muttered to herself as she walked. "Stupid git Ron, know-it-all Hermione, Stuck-Up prat Harry. No one has time for me! No one cares about me!" Ginny walked amelessly, wallowing in her self-pitty. She found herself in the library and thought a good book might take her mind off things. The Gryffindor picked a random book off a shelf and sat down near a window. She flipped the pages and sighed. She just couldn't concentrate. She gave up and stared out the window, hoping something interesting would hit her. Unfortunately, a crumpled ball of parchment hit her first.
Ginny turned in the direction the parchment came from. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together, Hermione bending over a book as usual. Harry smiled when he caught her attention and motioned for her to come over. She smiled a quick, false smile then trudged over to the table.
"Why'd you through parchment at me?" Ginny asked, sitting down at their table.
"Well, its not like you answered to your name," Harry said mockingly, showing a grin as if he was looking down at a niece he was fond of. Stupid, pompous Harry, Ginny thought darkly, though was able to give a hollow, false laugh.
"Yes..." Hermione mused, her head still bent over a book. "You seemed deep in thought. I told Harry not to call you over, you seemed preoccupied, but he said he had something to ask you." She flipped a page and Ginny gnashed her teeth behind closed lips and added to her thoughts. And know-it-all Hermione. 'I seemed preoccupied' who does she think she is?
Ginny shrugged and looked at Harry, still beaming stupidly, and said "Well what is it Harry, I've got loads of homework to do and I must get started." A lie, of course. Ginny's homework had been finished last night in the library. But every minute away from these two ignorant prats was precious. Harry's sappy smile suddenly slid off his face and he scratched the back of his head. "Well, its erm.. rather difficult to say..." He began. "Well spit it out!"
Ginny watched Harry's eternal struggle silently, smiling slightly. He looked to Hermione for advice, she only waved her hand slightly as if to say 'go on'. "Well,' he began again, "You know the Christmas thing?"
'Yes," Ginny replied calmly.
"Well, not the actual feast, but, the thing after it? The ball thing?'
'Yes, Harry."
"Would you like to, well, go with me to it?" He finished, staring at the ground. Ginny thought about it for a moment. A few years ago she would have jumped for joy at this, but now, she wasn't so sure. She smiled lightly.
"Of course, Harry,' she said. It wasn't like she was going to get any other date for it. 'I'd love to stay but I need to get going. Detention this afternoon." she left the smiling Harry and Hermione for the common room. she might as well drop off her books before she went to the trophy room. Might even take a quick bath, she thought as she said the password and walked through the portrait hole. She needed something to relieve some stress.
After dropping her books off on her bed, Ginny went off to the girls' bathroom. She turned the faucettes on as hot as they could go, then slipped in. The hot water burned her skin for a few seconds, then the pain ebbed and the water began soothing her tense muscles as the steam cleared her mind. Sighing, she slid under the surface for a second, then came up again. Even for such a short time, the scalding water helped immensely. After fifteen minutes, Ginny got out of the tub and dried herself off before getting dressed in one of her older school uniforms. It would make no sense to wear one of the newer ones then go clean. It didn't make any sense that she took a bath before cleaning the trophy room either, but at least she felt better. Sighing heavily, she donned her tattered hogwarts cloak then walked out of the bathroom and into the common room, her wet hair dripping slightly onto her cloak.
Ginny tied her hair back in a ponytail with an old ribbon. She checked her watch and was surprised; she had been in the bath longer than she had thought. It was almost time for lunch now. She sat in a chair close to the fire, and stared at the flames licking the logs. She was going to the Christmas Ball with Harry Potter. Tons of girls would kill for this chance, but Ginny felt almost annoyed with herself for even saying yes. She didn't like Harry, and she didn't want him to think she did. She'd much rather go wiht someone exciting and new. someone like Draco? a voice inside her said. Ginny jumped and looked around wildly, paranoid as if someone magically heard her thoughts. 'Where'd that come from?' She thought. 'Draco is the slimiest git ever to walk the planet!' But he is hot...
Ginny shook her head violently. Where did that come from? she asked herself. She placed a hand on her forehead to make sure she wasn't running a fever. No, normal. I am going to the ball with Harry, she told herself fervently, And I am going to enjoy it. And not think about that Malfoy... She rose, slightly scared of her thoughts, and started walking towards the Great Hall, dreading the detention as she should. She smiled slightly, then almost slapped herself for doing so.
Ginny walked slowly to the Great Hall and sat, again, but Harry and her oblivious older brother. "Ron, tahts disgusting." GInny wrinkled her nose as she watched her brother eat. "Wol thaaawry!" He replied, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. Hermione was sitting infront of Ginny and picked at her food daintily. "So what've you been up to?" Ginny said, trying to start o conversation.
"Well," Hermione said slowly, "I've been studying for a test in Ancient Runes but i stumbled across a most interesting word meaning 'foot' but the word is spelled differently when it means 'pertaining to the foot' and I decided to do a little research of my own. I discovered that.." Ginny stopped listening. Ron was eating like there was no tomorrow, Hermione was talking everybody's ear off but no one was listening, and Harry was ignoring Ginny and talking to Seamus. Ginny fumed as she watched Harry talking to other people. Did he already forget that she was his date to the ball? She should dump him, just to spite him. And then I would look like an idiot at the ball by myself, she reminded herself. But... if someone (she was careful not to name any names) were to ask me, I would definitely dump Harry. Ginny rose from the table and made to leave.
"Gin, what's wrong? You hardly touched your food?" Ron's eyes knitted in concern. Ginny looked back.
"I'm fine Ron, just not hungry. GO ahead and finish my plate, no one's stopping you from being a complete pig." Ginny turned and walked out before her brother could protest.
Ginny walked briskly onto the castle grounds. It was refreshing being able to walk out on the soft grass and be covered by the endless blue skies. A cold wind blew at her face. She could tell as well as any that winter was on it's way. She stared at the icy gray of the lake and sat down on the ground at its edge. Some other students had done the same, talking and laughing while watching the center of the lake for one of the Squid's giant tentacles to rise slightly out of the water then drop under the rippling surface of the water.
Watching teh gentle ripples glide on the lake was so calming, Ginny forgot about her detention, her brother, and even her troubles about being ignored. Until... "Oy! Gin! Whats with you?!"
Ginny swore silently and turned to face a very angry Ron stomping towards her.
"Yes?" Ginny asked coolly.
"What'd you say that to me for? You embarrassed me in front of everyone! You need to keep that attitude in check, or else I'll write mum!" '
The horror...' Ginny thought as she listened to Ron rant.
"And another thing, you hardly said a word to Harry! For goodness sake, he's your date to the Christmas Ball! Would it kill you to be nice for once?"
He turned to walk away, but Ginny had something to say, too.
"First of all, you can't tell me to keep my attitude in check. You're not mum and I don't give a d*** if you tell her! Secondly, maybe I didn't talk to Harry because Harry didn't talk to me! Believe it or not Ron but the wall responds to me better than you or Harry or Hermione! The only time you talk to me is to butt into my business! So just lay off!!"
Ginny walked towards the castle, but turned to shout something back.
"And tell Harry I don't want to take him to the ball! And tell him I don't wanna talk to him or Hermione or you ever again! Its not like you listen!"
She left Ron standing out on the lawn, mouth agape. She was so furious with the three of them that she wasn't paying attention when she ran in to someone, knocking her down.
"Sorry," she spat.
"Not a problem," a familiar voice.