Okay everyone†Ah another glorious week filled with geometry (gah!) and stupid honors English in which we are asked questions that I could have answered at the age of four. Grrrrr†I hate being underestimated. Well here's chapter 13

Lain

Getting ready

Ginny had slipped into a peaceful sleep and felt very rested when Hermione cane running into her dorm shouting about how they would be late for breakfast on the first day. Due to the fact that this year, September 1st fell on a Friday, they had no classes today. Ginny was finally pulled out of bed and managed to change and make her way down to the Great Hall with Hermione.

Ginny plopped down on to the bench with Hermione and taking no notice of Harry, who was sitting across from her, began to eat a crumpet.

"Harry goodness!" Hermione exclaimed. "You look as tired as after we took exams last year."

Harry grumbled an incoherent reply and finished eating his cereal. As soon as the post owls started to stream into the hall Harry jumped up and ran out of the room as if her was being chased by Lord Voldemort himself.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Ron asked taking Harry's seat. Hermione and Ginny shrugged.

"Oh!" Ginny cried as a white snowy owl landed in front of her. "Hedwig you just missed Harry." Ginny told the owl but she didn't move. Hermione reached out and untied the letter from her leg.

"It's for you Ginny." She told her.

Ginny held out a shaking hand and took the letter. On the envelope it said.

"Gin please read away from prying eyes." In a messy scrawl she recognized as Harry's.

When she glanced up she say Ron and Hermione look away quickly as if to conceal the fact that they were very curious. Ginny stood up and left the great hall. She was so lost in thought that she ran head long into Professor Snape on her way to her dorm. He gave her a look of disgust and then took away ten house points. Ginny groaned and continued walking. She finally reached her dorm and went straight for her bed. She climbed in and pulled the hangings shut. She settled in and took out the letter and began to read

Dear Gin,

Wow I've really messed up this time haven't I? I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for being such a good for nothing pain in the arse that last few weeks. I guess that after the kiss I started having doubts as to whether that had been the right thing to do. I started to think about whether you wanted me to kiss you†I mean you were yelling at me then all the sudden I just kissed you. But then I realized that you had kissed back. I don't know what I was thinking. I've just been so confused. An honestly Gin, I don't regret that kiss at all. In fact it was probably the best thing to happen to me all summer. It was like for a moment nothing mattered. Not Voldemort, Not Death Eaters, Not Dumbledore, no one and nothing/ I was so happy. I just wish I knew if you felt the same. Now I hope you don't think this sounds too forward†but I want you to meet me in the room of requirement at 6:30 tonight so I can try to make it up to you. Now please excuse anything that you might have taken offense to because it's taken my 3 weeks to work up the courage to write this and it's now 4am. I will send something to your dorm for you to wear if you choose to come. Please let me make things right

With all my love,

Harry

Ginny was shocked when she finished reading the letter. She would of course meet him at 6:30 but her thoughts were interrupted when Hermione burst into her room panting.

"Ginny!!! Oh what does it say?" she asked excitedly. Ginny handed her the letter numbly still letting the words sink in. Hermione took only moments to read it but then gave off a very un-Hermione squeal and jumped onto Ginny's bed.

"Well" Hermione asked.

"Well what?"

"Are you going to go?"

"Duh of course I'm going. Now mind telling me why you're so hyper?"

"Oh Professor Dumbledore just announced that since the ball is next weekend he's moving the Hogsmead weekend to this weekend!"

Ginny yelped and jumped off the bed to go. Hermione and Ginny made their way down to the gates and into the Village.

Hermione was giddy with excitement.
"Oh Ginny where should we go first?"

"Um how about the muggle dress shop. It's new this year."

"Okay."

And Hermione sprinted off in the direction of the shop

They entered through a large oak door and were greeted with smells of lavender and vanilla.

"Oh my gosh isn't this one gorgeous?" Hermione gushed as she pulled a blue gown off the rack. Ginny chuckled at Hermione's very Un-Hermione behavior. Ginny strolled up and down the rows until she found an exquisite dress. It was emerald green, strapless, and had a fitted corset type top while the skirt flared out. Ginny knew that she was going to get that dress the moment she saw it. She picked it up and made her way toward Hermione.

Hermione had about 12 different dresses in her arms and seemed to be struggling under the combined weight. Ginny and Hermione made their way toward the dressing rooms.

Ginny had been right. As she slipped into the dress it hugged her curves in all the right places. Hermione had been a different story. She had tried on almost every dress in the store before deciding on a lovely blue gown. (Think Cinderella) After near 4 hours Ginny and Hermione left the shop laden with gowns, shoes and accessories. Ginny was still in a daze after what had happened when she went to pay.

Flash back:

Ginny and Hermione went up to the register to pay for their things. Hermione paid with out any trouble but when Ginny went to pay the smiling witch spoke.

"Oh no dear it's already been taken care of"

Ginny just looked at her.

"Are you sure?" she questioned.

"Yes. There is a young man out there determined to win your heart back." The sales lady said with a wink.

Ginny hadn't made the connection between this mystery man but Hermione had.

"Ginny Honestly. You really are related to Ron. Harry must have arranged to pay for everything." Hermione told Ginny as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world.

Harry and Ron

"She'll love it Harry!"

"No she won't"

"Yes she will.

"No she won't."

"Yes!"

"Ron for the last time I'm not going to try to cover your sister up like a nun. That dress looks like it was from the 1800's." Harry yelled as Ron tried to get him to buy a dress that would cover Ginny from head to toe.

With many grumbles Ron finally agreed. Harry marched up and down the isles looking for a simple yet elegant dress. Finally he found it. It was a simple, spaghetti strapped, black dress. Harry then went over and picked out a pair of strappy black sandals. Harry was entirely satisfied with how the day was going. He had spoken with Dobby and Dobby had assured him that everything was on schedule. Harry and Ron finally headed back up to the castle for dinner.

Ginny and Hermione

Ginny honestly Harry won't care what you look like. I'm sure he picked out something very nice for you to wear." Hermione told Ginny on the way back up to the tower after dinner. They climbed through the portrait hole and went up to Ginny's dorm room. On her bed there was a bouquet of daisy's and a cream box tied with a red bow.

"Ohhhhhh!!!!" Hermione squealed as Lavender and Parvati entered the room.

"What's going- Oh Ginny who's that from?" Lavender asked excitedly.

"Harry you twit!" Parvati said making the connection.

"Oh"

"So what is it?" Hermione asked anxiously. Ginny walked over to the box and found a note. It read:

Hey Gin,

I hope you're not too mad about me buying you dress

Anyway this is for you to wear tonight and believe you

Me if it had been up to Ron you would have been dressed

Like a nun But thankfully I came to the rescue

Love,

Harry

"Awwwww" chorused the three girls. They had been reading the note over Ginny's shoulders. Ginny put the note down and untied the ribbon on the box. She lifted the lid and found a beautiful black dress.

"Oh God Ginny that's from Wizard Republic. It must have cost Harry a fortune." Parvati told Ginny in an awe struck voice.

"Look there's shoes there too" Hermione added.

An hour later Ginny had been poked, curled, pinched, dressed, and everything else until she was finished. Ginny had to admit the dress was stunning. She went down to the common room followed by shouts of

"Good luck!" and what not, to find Ron sitting by the fire. He looked up and then jumped off the couch.

"My word Ginny you look†well†way too grown up."

"Thank you Ron." Ginny said smiling warmly at him.

"You're supposed to take the invisibility cloak and go to the room or requirement and walk past the door thinking Ginny's surprise."

"Okay" Ginny said taking the cloak from Ron. Ron kissed her on the cheek and then she left.

Ginny crept through the halls until she reached the Room. She paced back and forth in front of the bare stretch of wall all the while thinking "Ginny's surprise."

Finally a door appeared. She went over to the door and opened it to find

A/N I know I know a long chapter with a huge cliffy. Goodness what has gotten into me! Now please be good readers and review since you know how much it motivates me. Last week I got a bunch of wonderful reviews and it made me want to write this chapter a little longer than the others†Now ta ta for now,

XoXoXoXoXo,

3 Lain