Hope you like it! Happy reading, everyone.
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The very next day, when the students were lining up for their Hogsmeade visit, Draco went straight to the Gryffindor Common Room. He didn't know how to get inside – maybe he'll get lucky that Longbottom will pass by and he would bully him into opening the portrait – what matters is that he gets there in time to speak with her.
After last night, when he had the little encounter with Pansy, he was itching to go to the Gryffindor tower and explain.
Things have messed up. A lot.
And he was going to fix it even if it was the last thing he'll do.
He ran towards the hall, bumping into people and stepping into their feet. He heard a few angry grunts and grumble but he ignored it. He turned to the left and halted into a stop.
Harry and Ginny were there, hand in hand.
---
Ginny tried to smile happily as she was walking towards the Great Hall with Harry. That morning, she had planned not to go to Hogsmeade. She told Harry this but Harry firmly insisted that she go. Eventually, she decided to come along.
Harry had also accompanied her in going to the Great Hall. After a minute or so of walking in an uncomfortable silence, his hand founds it way on hers. He held on it tightly, bringing warmth on her skin.
He was talking continuously about how they would enjoy the Hogsmeade trip together and alone. She tried to sound, look and even feel excited but failed.
But then, suddenly, Harry had stopped walking and froze. Ginny looked at Harry, confused. Harry was staring at something or someone in front of them with a look of great displeasure and discontentment in his eyes.
She followed his eyes and her mouth fell open.
Draco?
She felt her heart burst with bewilderment… and delight. She suddenly realized this and quickly shrugged the feeling off. She forced herself to stare at his blank eyes.
A minute passed. There was no other movement besides their chest falling up and down. Time had suddenly stopped.
Ginny regained composure and straightened up herself. She tugged on Harry's hand. "Come on, Harry. We're gonna be late."
Harry seemed surprised yet exultant that she chose him instead of Malfoy. They began to walk past Draco when he suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Let go of her Malfoy!" Harry snarled, stepping towards him. Draco ignored her, so did Ginny.
They kept staring at each other's eyes, trying to figure out what to feel and why. Ginny blinked.
"Let go."
Draco didn't. Instead, he tightened his grip on her arm.
"Let go of me, you bastard," she whispered angrily, glaring at him.
"It was all a mistake, Ginny."
Ginny's heart dropped. What was a mistake?
"Like I didn't know. You don't have to tell me," she said coldly.
Draco shook his head. "No. I mean, what I did last night. I didn't know—"
Ginny couldn't believe her ears. "Now you're telling me all this shit?" she yanked her arm out of his grasp ferociously. "I was stupid, Malfoy, that I ever did listen to you. What the hell was I thinking? All I want is for you to get out of my way, get out of my life. Forever."
With that, she grabbed Harry's arm and walked away.
---
Draco remained there, frozen. He didn't know what to feel or what to do at this point.
It was too late. He couldn't do a single thing about it now.
Move on, you idiot.
Move on. Forget about it.
His feet, together with his whole body, seemed to have lost its numbness. He began to walk the other way.
Never look back again.
As much as he hated it, he would do it. For the sake of himself and hers.
---
The week slowly passed by, and finally, it was Saturday again.
For Harry, it was the happiest and shortest week of his life with Ginny Weasley.
But for Ginny, it was the gloomiest and longest week of his entire life. With or without Harry Potter.
Harry had been always at her side, except of course during classes and nights. She didn't mind much but sometimes, she wasn't in the mood to be with someone. But she couldn't find a way to say it to him, seeing the sparkle in his green eyes.
Yes, it was the gloomiest week of her entire life.
She was unappreciative that someone still loves and cares for her. She showed no gratitude that Harry was there, beside her in times of her despair.
It was sick. She didn't want to be like…
She gulped. Like him.
---
It was the best feeling in the whole world for Harry to be beside her always. He would smile down at her and she would smile back. But not with her eyes.
He noticed it. The sadness in her eyes that she's trying to hide. But he was not stupid enough not to notice it. Any normal people wouldn't become aware of it. But not him. He would look deep in her eyes and see it. But he kept his mouth shut. She was with him now; he wouldn't want to spoil things up.
They were on their way on Hogsmeade, strolling slowly on the wet road. There was a long, rather awkward silence. Harry kept looking sideways at her. But Ginny looked straight ahead, her face blank. Harry sighed.
His hand reached for her cold one. He felt her jump slightly in surprise. Her body remained tensed for the rest of the way.
It was obvious; she wasn't relaxed or comfortable when she was with him. And it hurt him. A lot.
But then again, at least she was with him. Happy or not. He doesn't care.
Yeah, right.
---
The next day...
---
"Hello, Potter."
The silky voice of Pansy Parkinson was the first thing that greeting Harry the next morning on his way to the Great Hall.
Harry stopped in his tracks. "What do you need, Parkinson?"
Pansy walked beside him. "Did it work?"
He nodded briefly.
"So…?" Pansy asked. "Tell me!"
Harry sighed frustatingly. "Long story, Pansy. I don't have time to tell you."
Pansy shot him a heated look. "You have all the time, Potter. Besides, I have every right to hear because the last time I checked, this is my plan."
"Yeah, yeah. Fine." Harry rolled his eyes. "Malfoy tried to explain. Ginny didn't listen. Left him there. Now we're going out. End. There, happy now?"
"Sheesh, Potter. You don't have to be so touchy," Pansy retorted. "Then it's all good. Right?"
Harry frowned. "No."
"Huh?"
"She's sad, Pansy. She might be with me but she's not happy. It's bothering me."
"That's all? C'mon, don't mind it. It will pass." Pansy waved her hand dismissively.
"But it didn't," Harry pointed out.
"Look, Potter, this is what you wanted all along, isn't it? Stop worrying about it if you don't want to mess things up," Pansy said, then walked off the other way.
This is what you wanted all along… isn't it?The part where Ginny is with him, yes.
But the part where Ginny is miserable, no.
Definitely not.
---
Late at that night, Harry went in the portrait hole yawning. He was at the library, researching for Potions.
When he stepped in, he was surprised when someone was sitting at the armchair near the fireplace. He blinked. He couldn't exactly make out who it was because of the darkness.
He walked closer. "Who's there?"
The person spoke up. "It's me, Harry."
Harry's face scrunched up in confusion and surprise. "'Mione?"
He took a few more strides when he could finally see Hermione, seating there, her arms folded.
"What in the world are you doing in here this late?" he asked her.
"Waiting for you, Harry. Where have you been?"
"I was studying, 'Mione."
"Oh, really?" she said coolly.
"Yes."
There wasn't any reply.
"I'll be going upstairs now," Harry said impassively.
"No. I wanna talk to you."
"I don't have time to talk about that again, 'Mione!" Harry snapped angrily.
"You know it's wrong, Harry," Hermione said, standing up.
"No, it isn't. It's what I want. Ginny is happier with me than she is with Malfoy," Harry said firmly.
"Is she?" Hermione questioned, looking deeply at his eyes.
"Yes she is!" Harry bellowed.
"Don't tell me you didn't notice the sadness in her eyes?"
Harry pressed his lips. "I did," he said quietly.
"You know that this is all a lie, Harry. How could you?"
"Shut up, 'Mione. Stay out of this. Ginny is mine now. She hates Malfoy more than ever!"
"How?" Hermione asked softly.
Harry plopped down the couch. "As you already know, with Pansy's help. Ginny thought Malfoy and Parvati were having an affair. That was far from the plan but it worked anyway," Harry said, brushing some strands that were falling on his forehead.
"Plan? What plan?" Hermoine urged him to continue.
Harry decided to tell her everything. To let all of it out of his chest.
"That day when Ginny was sick, Pansy dragged Malfoy on a pub where her friends were there, as planned. She told me she has a friend who has this great resemblance with Ginny. I didn't remember what her name is."
"Then?"
"Then, that girl kissed Malfoy. It was a set up, of course. Coincidentally, Parvati was working at the same pub that they were in. Malfoy thought Ginny already knew about the kiss so he avoided Ginny. Ginny, on the other hand, got the wrong idea of why he was avoiding her and thought he just used or played with her. So there," Harry explained, leaning back at the couch.
"Oh…" Hermione said slowly.
Then her eyes widened, staring at something behind him in horror.
He quickly turned around and froze.
Ginny came out of the shadows. The look on her face told them she heard every single word.
---
End of Chapter 13.
Gosh, guys. 2 more chapters to go and this story will end. The plot thickens, I'm telling you. Hehehe. I hope this long enough? The next chapter will be post soon. Very soon if you review. smiles slyly
Remember to review.
Love you guys,
Kryzll