Not Your Ordinary Love Story

by LondonWitch

A/N: Hmm, let's think for a second, shall we? If I was J.K. Rowling, would I really be sitting here in my little purple room owning nothing but a computer and $20? No, I don't own any of these awesome places, peoples, or things. I do own the plot and the magical candies that Fred and George make later, however.

Chapter Five: Yet Another Plan

Early Monday, September 23rd

"How many plans are in effect, right now, at Hogwarts?" asked Ginny, rubbing her eyes to rid them of tiredness. She was scrunched up in a ball on top of one of the Common Room couches; it was almost one in the morning.

Harry shrugged, yawned, and answered, "Probably 'bout six or seven, but I'm only aware of two. Maybe three," he added, racking his brain, "One for Ron and Hermione – we're both in on that – one that we're making right now, and maybe one for Neville. I have a hunch that he likes Loony," he paused, "I mean Luna. Man, I'm tired."

"So why are we up this late? Why can't this plan start tomorrow morning?" Ginny checked her watch as she said this, "Correction – it is morning. It's 12:59 am and I have Potions first thing tomorrow...today."

What was left of the amber fire crackled and hissed as Harry looked around for anyone who might overhear them. "Because – we have to fool everyone. For two weeks. And, by the way, Ginny, I know why Hermione dared me to do this. You're having problems with Draco again, aren't you?"

Ginny blushed and said sheepishly, "Yes. No. Fine...yes. He's been staring at my butt again. And I think it would be in our best interest to lay down the basis of our 'relationship.'"

"Like what?" Harry questioned, stretching his arms high above his head, "Like how often we hold hands or something dumb and romantic like that?"

Ginny shook her head strongly, thinking at the same time that she would just never understand boys. They really needed to come with a handbook or a flashing neon sign that told you why boys thought the way they did. Ginny would gladly buy five or six.

"No, when we first started going out, how long we've liked each other, et cetera, et cetera," she explained with a sigh, "For example, at breakfast you can come up to me and say something like: 'Hi, sweetie' and then I say..."

Harry cut her off, appalled. "Sweetie? Where did you get the crazy idea that I'm going to call anybody Sweetie? It sounds like the name of a Muggle candy – better yet, what we should call that candy for Ron and Hermione." After the Truth or Dare game, and the plan that Dean and the two girls had come up with, everyone had been filled in on everything. Well, Dean and Parvati and Lavender didn't know about the Harry/ Ginny dare, at least.

"No, Harry," Ginny said empathetically, "You have to convince everyone you're in love with me. And vice versa. So we have to be all mushy and stuff – not that I mind getting roses once in a while," she hinted with a small smile.

"Fine. Roses it is," Harry said, thinking this was part of her plan, "I'll show up with roses – red or yellow? – and sound all mushy. I'll even throw in a 'sweetheart' or 'pumpkin pie' somewhere along the way. Happy? Now, can we go to bed?"

Ginny grinned. Now he was getting it! All they'd need is for Ron to give Hermione roses – then everyone would be set for the next two weeks. "Yellow. Professor Sprout has got some, I think, but make sure you get the non-magical kind, not the ones that bite your nose off. And yes, I'm thrilled you've finally gotten the point, Harry James Potter. Finally. Goodnight."

And with that, the red-headed girl got up and started to walk off towards the girl's dorms. But something in her gut stopped her. She whirled around to find Harry standing almost exactly behind her, staring at her.

"Don't do that, Harry! What's the matter now?" Ginny was the one who was anxious to get to bed, now. It really was crucial to be alert for the 'early-bird special' of Potions, especially when Snape had mentioned that every potion brewed was to be on the O.W.Ls.

"Um – if we're...er...going out...does that. Does that. Does that – erm, does that mean I have to kiss you?" Harry asked, going as red as you can get for a Potter, since the Weasleys were the ones with the really deep blushes.

Ginny raised her eyebrows and silently cursed her luck. She'd forgotten this was coming. "Er – Harry? Can we...erm...can we cross that bridge when we come to it?"

Harry looked away for a moment, staring at nothing. When Ginny cleared her throat, he seemed to focus again. "Oh, yes, sure. Goodnight, then." Ginny smiled at him slightly and continued up to her dormitory. Harry was left standing there, feeling somewhat disappointed and put out.

Why can't I get over this? It's a silly dare – nothing more. I think, he added to himself heavily. And he too went to bed, following suit.

At breakfast, later on the morning of Monday, September 23rd...

"Why must we go through this every morning, Ronald? Some of us do not need to see your food while it is half-way chewed up, much less be spit on by it," Hermione said, disgusted, adjusting her Daily Prophet so that it shielded her from Ron's spray of porridge and toast.

"It's Ron, thank you very much, and maybe you shouldn't look at my mouth while I'm chewing if it bothers you!" Ron shoveled a few bites of pancake into his mouth now, accidentally dropping his fork in the process. Hermione sighed very loudly as so Ron would notice.

"What was that for? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Despicable table manners, that's what!"

Ginny looked over at the bickering pair and frowned. When were they ever going to stop arguing and start admitting some feelings? It would be about time – this had been going on for too many years. Even the new first years had grown tired of it, and school hadn't been in session for four weeks yet.

As some more owls flew in overhead, Ginny checked her watch, with Ron and Hermione still going at it in the background. Breakfast was almost over and Harry still hadn't arrived with the roses. "Ron?" she asked, pulling him out of the quarrel for a moment, "Have you seen Harry this morning?"

"No, why?"

"No particular reason – other than he's my boyfriend, now," Ginny said flashing her older brother a grin. Ron cringed, not wanting to witness any fake lovey-dovey stuff on his sister's part. Or his.

Just then, Harry came bursting into the hall carrying a large bouquet of yellow stemmed roses. Ginny jumped up and pretended to be surprised. "Oh, Harry! How sweet! Thank you so very, very much!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly for everyone to see, laughing into his shoulder.

Harry gave her a small smile as he said, "Well, I couldn't resist, pumpkin pie. They were just so beautiful – like you," he added, making at least twenty girls in the hall go, "Aw!"

They sat down at the table and finished their breakfast. This is going to be a very interesting two weeks, thought Harry as Ginny said something with 'Honey bun' in it quite a few times.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, even if the number is sparse. If you like this story, try reading my Lily/James story called A Frying Pan Can Mend It All. I guarantee you'll laugh. And as for the roses in this chapter – well, any roses are good roses, if I do say so myself. Oh, and review and tell me what part made you laugh the most.