Chapter 2 : Disappointment

Cho Chang. Cho Chang was the figure behind Ginny. Cho Chang was the one who she'd heard speak.... And it was Cho Chang who Harry had been looking at. Not Ginny, but Cho.

"Hey all!" Cho said as she flipped her long, black hair over her left shoulder. Ginny bowed her head in embarrassment and silently slunk into her seat next to Ron.

"Hi, Cho." Harry replied, still staring at her like she was the sexiest woman alive.

Ginny wanted to die. 'How stupid I was to think that Harry Potter actually liked me. I'm such an idiot' she thought.

"Do you mind if I join you guys? All of the other compartments are full." Cho continued, her eyes completely glued to Harry's.

"Sure!" Harry squeaked. Hermione and Ron laughed simultaneously. Harry cleared his throat and said "Sure" again.

For the next few hours, Ginny simply sat slouched in the corner, trying not to listen to the conversations of the compartment. Ron and Hermione were discussing their summer homework (more like Hermione was talking and Ron just sat there nodding his head like a fool...) Meanwhile, Harry was being forced to listen to Cho's detailed story about her trip to Diagon Alley to buy some foot ointment for her dad. Harry looked as if he was loving every minute of it.

Ginny was too busy staring at Harry, that she didn't even notice Hermione's sudden silence.

"Gin?" Hermione asked. "Are you ok? You look upset."

Ginny snapped her attention back to her friend and gave her a kinda 'what – do – you – think – is – wrong?' type of look. Hermione nodded knowingly. Ginny had confessed her feelings for Harry to her best friend the previous year.

"Ron? Would you be a doll and switch me places so that I can talk to Ginny privately, please?"

Ron shot out of his seat in an obvious effort to please Hermione.

"Hey." She said as she sat down right next to Ginny. "Are you doing ok?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm just dandy!" Ginny replied sarcastically.

"Oh Gin! I'm so sorry! I thought you knew how Harry felt about Cho!"

"I do! I just... I dunno. I guess I just hoped..." Ginny sighed.

"It's ok Gin. I know how you feel." Hermione grabbed her up in a big, bear hug.

"Thanks, Hermione. I'll be ok."

Harry was having the best train ride ever. He had spent the last 3 hours discussing serious issues with none other than Cho Chang. Ok, well, mostly Cho had just been talking about her summer vacation the whole time... But none the less, he was sitting next to HER...

"Oh, shoot!" Cho randomly said. "I completely forgot! I have to go find Rob! He has Broona. He's my cat. He's a pure bred Persian gray. Daddy got him for me for my last birthday. Rob's muggle dad is a pet fixer... A vemt or something? Anyway. I gotta go. See you once we get to Hogwarts!" And with a tiny little wave of her right hand, Cho disappeared into the corridor.

Harry just sat there. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Cho had just spontaneously got up to leave. He was still hung on the fact that his last 3 hours had been spent in her presence.

"Have a nice chat?" Ron asked.

Harry look baffled to see Ron sitting right next to him.

"Hey Ron! When did you get here? How was your summer? Hey! Where's Ginny? And what happened to Hermione?" Harry rambled.

Ron simply chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"She's that great, huh? Hi Harry. Yeah, Ginny and I got on right before the train left... about THREE hours ago. Hermione and her and over there talking about something..."

Harry looked across from him and saw Ginny and Hermione, heads together, giggling.

"Hey, Gin! How are you? Have a good summer?"

Ginny looked up and her expression quickly changed from a wide grin to a sheepish and meek smile.

"H – Harry. Hi... I – It was ok..." (she giggled) "Did you have a nice visit just then?"

Harry nodded politely and proceeded to look out the window. He didn't notice the disappointment that had become apparent on Ginny's face.