A/N: Yes, yes, I know it has been ages since I have posted, and I am SO sorry about that, but as usual, my life is unbelievably hectic. Unfortunately, this also means that this is the shortest, most pathetic chapter I have yet written, but bear with me, I promise the next one will be better…especially if you review!!

Chapter 6:

Hogsmeade Trouble

Sweet Merlin, I can't go on like this.

He haunts me, that silver-haired, silver-eyed Slytherin git. I can't go anywhere without straining to catch sight of him. Our little encounter (and my subsequent detention) has not served to make me feel less for him. Nooo, instead I am forced to endure butterflies the size of hippogriffs flapping around my stomach every time someone so much as mentions his name.

It is disgusting, that is what it is; feeling this way over a Malfoy of all people. I stopped trying to convince myself that I don't feel anything for him after our last little encounter. The way his hands felt on my upper arms…damn, there go the butterflies again. Of course, it can't be intellectual or emotional attraction. I mean, what is there to like about Dra – Malfoy in either departments? It has to be lust, pure and simple.

And lust is just a perception, right? So, by rights, if I think about it hard enough, there is no reason that I cannot overcome these feelings. Physical attraction is such a bitch. Why did it have to come and ruin my perfectly normal Malfoy-hating world? 

Luna and I are walking to DADA when someone grabs my wrist. For a moment, my heart leaps and my mind spins off on some far-fetched fantasy were it is Malfoy who takes my hand and is about to draw me into some empty classroom…

No! Must not think about lust! Must not think of anything even remotely in that direction. So, I turn around, to find not Malfoy, but his worst enemy standing behind me, fidgeting like a child.

"Harry?" I motion to Luna to go on without me, and step into an empty classroom with Harry.

"What's up?" I drop my book bag on one of the desks and perch on the edge, slightly worried about his nervousness.

"Ron asked Hermione to go to Hogmeade with him."

I nearly fall off my somewhat precarious perch. "What? Ron? My brother?"

Harry nods, and then seems to perk up. "But she said no. Apparently, there is some big project that she has to do, so she's not going."

Call me stupid, but I cannot quite see where this is going. Why on earth would Harry tell me this? I get the nasty feeling that I am going to be dragged into something that I do not want any part of.

"Sounds like a typical Hermione thing to do." She was probably throwing herself into her work to forget about her problem with Victor, but I do not think it will be very wise to say that out loud right now.

As annoying as their infatuation with Hermione is, I cannot see how telling them about their rival is going to help calm their ardor. 

Harry looks slightly put off. "I was actually hoping that it was because she doesn't like him in that way…you know, that maybe there is someone she likes better."

Right, I see where this is going; Harry wants me to tell him that Hermione is in love with him, and not Ron. Ha, does he have a surprise coming.

"There is that too, Harry. I mean, Ron and Hermione have been friends for so long, I think that she has probably forgotten that Ron is a guy." I shrug and hop off the table. "It's part of being an adolescent."

A bright smile breaks out on Harry's face. I feel sorry for having to squash it. I know the question that has to follow.

"So she does like me best, doesn't she?" The hope in his eyes is pitiful to see.

"I don't think she has a favorite when it comes to you guys, Harry." I hate doing this, but I would rather be honest with him now than watch his heart be broken at a later stage.

His face falls but there remains a certain resolute glint in his eyes. "I am sure she likes me, Gin, I really am."

I shake my head and pull my bag over my shoulder. "Don't hold your breath." I mutter, but he does not hear me.

"Uhm, Ginny, there is one more thing."

I suppress a sigh. Usually it is great to have Harry as a friend, but not when he is forcing me to be late for DADA.

"What else can I do for you Harry?" I swear, if it has anything to do with Hermione, I will scream.

"I need you to help me pick out a Christmas present for Hermione during the Hogsmeade trip." He gives me a sheepish little smile, and for a moment, I feel my heart melt ever so slightly. Not with love in that way, but rather in the type of love that I have for Ron or the twins.

"Sure Harry. Whatever, but I have to run to class now." I give him a slight smile and head for the door, pretending that I do not hear his thank you. I have no idea why I have so little energy these days. Perhaps the mild obsession I have about Malfoy is draining me, or perhaps it is just because I am kept up so late doing assignments for my damn teachers. I hope that it is the latter.

Ugh! Can I not have even one conversation with myself without the entire thing turning into yet another Malfoy moment? I really must get to Madame Pomfrey…this is getting serious.