Wow. This is probably the quickest update I've done for awhile. Basically, I'm down to one more final and nothing to study. Yay!

The idiocy of his words struck Harry like a bludger to the head before they were even out of his mouth. A sudden urge to ask out someone he didn't even know? What kind of morons declared such things? The past two weeks had been the ultimate madness, but to do that. . .

"You have a sudden urge to ask her out?" Hermione's voice filled the room as it slid into the one tiny niche when everyone else stopped talking.

How convenient that all would hear. Harry considered blasting a hole in the floor and jumping into it.

"Harry, for goodness' sake," she said more softly, setting her book down on the floor and reaching out to feel his forehead. "Are you feeling all right?"

"That's a stupid question," he muttered, shaking her hand away. There was more he could add there, so much more. Of course he wasn't feeling all right. He hadn't felt "all right" since Ron died. All the bloody articles filling the newspapers about his supposedly heroic defeat of Voldemort, the wide-spread peace. . . who cared? His best friend was dead and wasn't coming back. Harry was surviving, they all were. But that didn't make it "all right" and it didn't lessen the load of a thousand complaints he could be so ready to give. But Hermione had heard them all, he reminded himself. She had heard them all more times than anyone should and no doubt she had her own and hardly even needed to be bothered with something as trivial as a girl he felt he had to date. So he bit his tongue and managed an apologetic smile.

"I didn't mean it that way, Harry." Her hand hovered in the air as in consideration of throwing itself back at his forehead, but then she let it drop to her lap. "But," a half-forced giggle broke from her throat. "You just race in her calling my name so I can point you in the direction of a girl."

It sounded even stupider when someone else said it. If Ron were there he'd think it funny. And. . . it kind of was. His smile deepened. "Yeah, I'm pretty well aware I did that. But. . . " Why did he have this desire. "Can you tell me who she is?"

"Fifth year Slytherin. One of the nice ones, so you're good there." She sighed and picked up her book, fanning the pages for her spot. "She's pretty cute, not that I swing that way. Curly red hair, big blue eyes. But I don't think you care about her appearance if you have your heart so set on her already." She found her spot and spent a moment scanning the page, her lips moving silently with the words.

"I don't have my heart set on her; I just have this feeling—"

She sighed and slammed the book shut. "Harry, I'm trying not to laugh. But would you care to explain what feeling is possessing you to chase after a fifth year Slytherin?"

"Explain?" he echoed. He wasn't even sure himself. But for over a week now the name Charity Broadbent had been running through his mind each morning. "I don't know. I just. . .wake up thinking about that name. And then I have an urge to ask to her out."

"A dream girl?" This time she did laugh. "Well, it's better than kissing me. But you don't even know her!"

"I would get to know her."

A group of fourth-year girls passed, chattering wildly while Harry and Hermione stared at one another.

"Harry," Hermione said, more serious. "I think that you might be a little on the mad side here. Are you sure that you're just not going through some weird phase of grieving?"

He winced. "You had to bring that up." Whatever joke they had laughed over earlier vanished.

"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry," she said quickly. She turned in a rather girlish maneuver to hide herself as her hand brushed past her eye. "But. . . I think you are."

He hadn't mean to upset her, but it seemed too late for that. Shaking his head he plopped down in a chair across from her, sinking into the well-used cushions. "I don't know, Hermione. I didn't think of it that way, really. This is going to sound really strange, but. . . for some reason this all reminds me of Ron."

Her now-dry eyes widened. "Charity Broadbent reminds you of Ron?"

"No!" Without even thinking he laughed, long and loud. "I mean, yes, but not that way."

Hermione stared at him as if he were mad. But then she began to smile. "I think I understand you."

At least she wasn't freaking out on him. "Maybe I am going crazy."

"Well. . ." Still amused, she fingered her book. "If it'll get this weird craving out of you, I'll introduce you to Charity. But what about Ginny?"

Ginny? They had barely spoken since. . .the incident. "What about her?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but then shook her head. "Never mind. I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Just. . . oh, it's nothing." She scooped her book underneath her arm and stood up. "Come on. She's usually in the library around this time."

Harry considered pursuing the Ginny topic, but Hermione was already to the portrait hole. But now it was stuck in his mind. Ginny was just. . . Ginny. He didn't really know. He had thought they had been such good friends, but now she wouldn't even look at him. That was the main excuse everyone else seemed to take. But she was Ron's little sister. Harry could barely look at her.

But he wasn't supposed to be thinking about Ginny. If he waited long enough that odd thought of "Charity Broadbent" would flash again through his head. He had to make it go away somehow.

"Okay," he called to Hermione, darting after her.

"Who is Charity Broadbent?" Percy asked.

"You just heard, moron," Dream said, slipping closer to the spot where Hermione and Harry had just sat and twirling methodically around the chairs. "She's a fifth year Slytherin, and Harry Potter is about to ask her out on a romantic date."

"Sorry," Cornelia murmured. Almost subconsciously she pulled her hood tighter around her head.

Cornelia was apologizing? Ron stared at the portrait hole as Harry disappeared through it, his mind tumbling. Percy was right. Who the bloody heck was Charity Broadbent, and why was Harry asking her out? He finally managed to tear his eyes away and lash them onto Cornelia and Jillie. Girls were insane. Every single one of them. "What did you do?"

Jillie sniffed. "Well, I never said I was good at remembering names. Remember, Ron? I called you Ron Weasel a couple times when we first met." She laughed. "I think I should take that back up. Ron Weasel. And Percy Weasel."

"I don't even want to hear it," Percy said. He gave a small laugh, nodding at the vacant portrait hole. "Well, at least the murderer won't be dating Ginny."

Whatever Percy's obsession with calling Harry a murderer was, Ron couldn't understand. "Just. . . stop that. He's not a murderer."

Percy shrugged, clearly not caring. "You died when he was there. If that doesn't make him a murderer, it at least makes him somewhat responsible."

"Harry—" Ron's voice broke off. He gawked at his brother, unable to believe what he had just heard. It wasn't Harry's fault. Not at all. "You can't be serious."

"I am serious."

Dream shot back up from the chairs, sneer stretched across her face. "Oh, a fight, will it be?" Her hand brushed Ron's arm. "I'll be cheering for you, of course, Ron. You can beat him."

"A fight!" Jillie squealed and flipped backwards into the curving ceiling. "Oh, you two haven't had a proper fight in such a long time. And the last one was ended much too short for my taste.

"Oh, dear. No more fighting." But Cornelia seemed almost as eager as Jillie.

"Fighting?" Shaking his head, Percy slid back from the group. "We're not fighting, as you can see. We're talking about Harry Potter and this Charity Broadbent girl."

Charity Broadbent. Amazing how something so odd could slip from one's mind. If only Ron could figure out who she was! But no matter what, Harry would be better off snogging her than Hermione—no. What was he thinking? "But you said you were going to set up Harry with Ginny."

"That's what I tried to tell you, Ron." Dream's hand slipped past his arm again. Ron jerked away. Somewhere in the back of his mind he could hear his mum lecturing on being polite to girls. "Cornelia and Jillie tried to get your sister, but. . . they messed up. Like Jillie said, they forgot her name."

"I'm the one who forgot." Jillie seemed almost proud of the mistake. "Cornelia. . . that wasn't her job."

Ron noticed Percy twitch as Cornelia shot him a tiny smile.

"My job was to get her to react," she said. "I'm a Ravenclaw, so I was just going to take Jillie's word on the girl."

"But. . . couldn't you have figured it out by the last name? Or something?" Girls weren't only crazy, they were idiots. Silly idiots, every last one of them.

"Ron, why does this bother you so much?" Percy asked.

"Because he's concerned about his best friend," Dream snapped.

Percy seemed ready to reply to her, but only hardened his face and turned to Ron. "You're not exerting some urge of protection over Ginny, are you?"

"I—" He frowned. It was a good question. Why did he care so much about who Harry dated? Even if it was a Slytherin? It wasn't any of his business. Especially now that he was dead. But Ginny. They had said they were going to play Cupid with Harry and Ginny. Not some Charity from Slytherin. Ginny. His little sister. And he hadn't fully supported that, had he? Just minutes earlier he had panicked that they were actually together; now he was disappointed? It was all a whirl of too much to consider. Yes, Harry probably was the only one he would be somewhat comfortable with to have dating Ginny. And even Harry had his flaws. But Ron hadn't demanded the girls leave that idea. "I just don't like it when people change ideas on me."

"And I don't like murderers dating my little sister," Percy muttered.

"I didn't think you cared about her." The words were out before Ron even thought them.

Cornelia gave a small cry.

Percy stared back at him as if he had been struck. "I care," he managed to say. "How dare you say that to me. Especially after everything I told you."

Jillie coughed. "Told him what?"

Jillie didn't need to hear all of that. Swearing under his breath, Ron ripped his eyes away from his brother to stare at the floor. What Percy had said. He had forgotten. Then again, he had scarcely thought much about Percy's story; there hadn't been any time. Percy had helped the Order of the Phoenix. And he had been so against it. The contrast was almost too much. And if Percy was ready to help them, why wouldn't he care about Ginny and the rest of the family? Because he didn't. Because he had left. It was the perfect opportunity for some nasty reply, but for some reason he couldn't think of one.

"But they would be cute together," Jillie mused. "Harry and Ginny."

The slumber party Cupid game again. There really was too much in the room to think about. Ron sighed. "How can you think that when you don't even know who she is?"

"Charity Broadbent is cute. And she does have red hair."

"But—"

She laughed. "If you want Harry Potter dating your sister, perhaps you would be so kind as to point her out for us. Weasel."

"This is so pointless." Percy rolled his eyes.

Now it was Cornelia's turn for surprise.

"Or perhaps," Jillie continued, slowing her voice to enunciate each word. "You could help us even more by doing something. Perhaps you could get your sister to date Harry."

But Ginny wasn't speaking to Harry, Ron thought. "And how would we do that?"

"You could always just go visible and talk to him," Cornelia suggested thoughtfully.

"Visible? There's no way I'm doing that. Jillie didn't go visible when she told Harry to date this Charity girl." He stared at Jillie. "Did you?"

"Of course not. The poor boy has enough death on his mind without ghosts actually throwing themselves at him."

There was a pause.

"Then what did you do?" Percy asked, giving into some curiosity.

"I thought you didn't care," Dream hissed.

Jillie shrugged. "I didn't go visible, but. . . he could still hear me. I just slip into his dormitory at night and whisper "Ask out Charity Broadbent" over and over again."

All three girls laughed.

"It's quite fun," she finished.

There was another pause as both Ron and Percy stared at her.

"You went into the boys' dormitories in the middle of the night?" Percy looked fit to faint.

"And that's all there was to it?" Ron asked. "That's. . . easy. If you could get the right girl, of course."

"It is easy," Jillie agreed. "So it wouldn't be too much trouble at all if you two Weasels did it."

"But ghosts can't go into the girls' dormitories." He still too well remembered the shocks of his last attempt. "And why can't you do it?"

"Because you should be a little more involved in your sister's love life."

Percy snorted in disgust. "This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

Jillie smirked and glanced at Cornelia, who shook her head.

"Percy," Cornelia began gently. "We can just as easily set Ginny up with any number of freaks by this little process."

"But she's upset. You can't do that to her when she's upset. And. . ." He sniffed, putting forth his most resolute expression that would survive under a twinge of panic. "We have things to do. We really need to find this ghost council representative or whoever. And this letter to the Grey Lady. And we still have no way into her dorm."

"She might want to visit your parents," Dream said. "You could get her then."

Ginny dating freaks. A million copies of creeps like that Michael Corner kid. . . Ron felt his own panic increase. "You can't set her up like that. And you don't even know who she is.
"We could eventually find out."

How he hated girls. "Oh, fine."

"Ron!" Percy shouted.

Jillie giggled. "It's done, then. Now you just have to find a way to talk to her in her sleep."

"I heard her say she might go home soon for a weekend before the holidays," Cornelia said. "If Professor Dumbledore lets her."

"But you girls don't know who she is," Percy said slowly. Then his mouth fell open. "Oh, no."

Ron was thinking the same thing. They had been tricked.

SHOUT OUTS

xXNaziHaloXx: You are a fantastic writer! You have so much spice in your style!
v-babe24: But I like suspense. =(

Tru Lys: Very good guess about Binnichan! It's actually incorrect, but. . . you're so on the right track! And yes, it's sad Ron can't have Hermione. cries

Tap Dancing Widow: Actually, Cedric has no idea what is in there for the Grey Lady. He just knew he was supposed to get it to her.

Tabitha78: Your patience is so appreciated! I'm going to try and set up a better schedule.

starsmiles: Actually, the Grey Lady is part of their problem. You'll see.

Pline: Yes. There really isn't any point to yell at each other anymore. They have to be somewhat nice to survive.

pIPPENpIRATE: Yeah, well, I like your story. Simpsons rule!

Phillipa of the Phoenix: Yes, that was Heaven. If there is ice cream, it is heaven. (just a general rule, at least in my view) Actually, it's not a letter in the envelope—the boys just think it is.

Neoma: Thanks so much! Well, I hope you do like Harry and Hermione's eventual reactions!

Midnight Dove: Glad you like Dream! I'm proud of her!

meenyrocks: These are teenage female ghosts playing with people's hearts! How isn't it serious?! But it is kind of anticlimactic, isn't it?

LJ Fan: I hate to tell you this, because your intentions were so good, but. . . Percy and Ron can't eat cookies. They're dead.

liseli: But cliffies are my friends!

Lady Meriadoc: AP? shudders

Lady Kazaana: If I could bloody find you on campus I'd give you a popsicle! Try and call me again!

Krenya-Alenak: You're forgiven. =) The girls are going for many things with their little project.

Kellalor: They've been... naughty girls.

hydraspit: You'll soon see more about that envelope.

Hydrangea777: Thanks so much! It's such a hard story to write so it's nice people can get somewhat involved.

HotDog-Jo: They can make that mistake because they're manipulative girls.

HiddenFlame42: Lol about your old teacher! I actually stole the name from my neighbors! Just randomly. Well, Charity won't be too important, but she's a lead-in to more Ginny stuff. And as for finals in August... my university offers three semesters a year. One is during summer.

Hafae a.k.a. Hufflepuffer242: Thanks! Now I have to go get McDonalds.

duj: Don't you dare remind me of studies! screams Thanks for the good luck, though.

Dr. Huff-Puff: Well, as you can see in this chapter, they know perfectly well who Ginny is. They just like to play with guys' minds. Oh, and you're the 350th reviewer!

Crystal Lightning: Well, Ron reacted. Do think he should freak out anymore about the mistake?

Birdy: It is odd, isn't it?

Annie: I'm thinking it might be best if the Snitch is never again found.

always krissy: You really like my style? Thanks!

ajaliebe: Thank-you for your constant encouragement.