Blame: Ginny and Dean's first date!!!
Ginny wasn't afraid of being there. It was just that the place held…memories. The first time she'd been there was with Michael… Ginny shook her head, her red hair flying about her. No need to bring that up. Michael was just a stupid git anyway, who couldn't stand to lose to his girlfriend's team.
Still, even though Ginny was not afraid, she knew that many, many others would be..
"Ginny, what are you doing here?" The voice startled her out of her reverie. Looking around, she saw Dean Thomas sitting on one of the dustcloth-covered couches.
"Oh, it's you, Dean! You startled me."
Dean smiled at her. "It's okay. I was just surprised to see you here. Not many people know about it."
For some reason Ginny felt herself beginning to blush. "Oh, I just come here to think sometimes." By this time both of them were sitting on the couch. Ginny glanced sideways at Dean. "What about you?"
Dean showed her the sketchbook in his lap. "I come here to doodle in peace." Ginny had a look of slight amazement on her face.
"Can I see?" she asked, indicating Dean's sketchbook. He nodded and handed it to her. Ginny was amazed. She'd never known that Dean was an artist, even an amateur one. His "doodles" were a combination of still-lifes, scenery, and cartoon characters.
"Wow, these are really good,: Ginny said as she flipped past several drawings of Hogwarts students in the halls. Their postures and expressions were incredibly realistic, if a bit cartoonish.
Dean flushed, though it could hardly be seen against his dark skin. "Thanks. I really don't think they're that good-"
"But they are!" Ginny interrupted vehemently.
Dean was taken aback. "If you say so." Ginny grabbed his hands in her.
"Dean, your drawings are wonderful. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself." She leaned up, for he was taller than she, and pressed her lips to his.
Ginny jumped back an instant later, realising what she'd done. "Oh, gods, I'm sorry Dean. I just-" Dean's finger resting gently on her lips stopped her confused, embarrassed babble.
"You don't have to apologize, Ginny. I like you."
Ginny's hear raced, and she struggled to calm it. "I like you too, Dean." Her face, she could feel, was flaming red.
Dean's voice was hesitant but his eyes hopeful in the half light of the room. "Would you like to start dating?"
Ginny smiled at him. "I think I'd like that…but you can't tell Ron!" Both of them laughed, knowing of her brother's over-protectiveness.
"Does that make this our first date then?" Dean asked. That caused the pair to burst into fresh giggles as they sat comfortably close on a cloth-covered couch in a forgotten room at Hogwarts Castle.
~Owari