Was It Something I Said?
Chapter 10 --Ginny sat on her bed, staring at an object sitting in front of her happily. It was the recently repaired camera she'd bought in Hogsmeade. She'd read through her Charms textbook and had found the perfect spell to put it back together. It had taken her a good hour but it was worth it. The look on Colin's face would be priceless. Maybe she should even take a photo? A souvenir for him. Ginny smiled and picking up her wand she wrapped it neatly and tied a blue bow onto the top.
Hopping off her bed she left her dormitory and proceeded up the stairs to the Fifth years' dorms. On the way she passed Harry and Ron who glared at her and kept walking. Harry nodded to her slightly though he frowned as he did so. Ginny didn't have the time to decipher why; she needed to talk to Colin.
She stopped in the doorway to the Fifth years, and taking a deep breath she knocked lightly on the door. A second's silence then a 'Yeah?' She supposed this was the permission to enter. Screwing up her eyes she entered, she'd learnt to do this as a young girl because she could never be sure if she was going to walk in on her semi clad brothers and it wasn't something she liked doing, even if they were family. Walking in on a Gryffindor whom she'd never spoken with could be disastrous.
She stood just inside the room and someone laughed softly and told her it was safe. She opened her eyes barely and scanned the room. Colin's roommate Nathaniel was sitting on his bed reading a Quidditch Magazine.
"Here to see Colin I suppose?" he asked as he jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. Ginny walked passed him and soon saw Colin.
He was sitting at his school desk, poring over a piece of parchment.
"Hey." Ginny said softly as she placed the present behind her back. Colin jumped slightly and he looked surprised as he caught sight of Ginny.
"What are you doing in here? How did you get in here?" he asked her standing up.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, frowning at him.
"Boys can't get up to the Girl's dorms but you can get in here." He said simply.
"Oh. Well I don't know. You'd have to ask Hermione that." She said shrugging.
"Right." He said, standing and looking at her suspiciously. "So…uh. I've got a lot of work to do Ginny…is there something I can help you with?" he asked raking a hand through his hair and Ginny had the fleeting feeling of how handsome Colin was. Trying to avoid him seeing her blush, she ducked her head and pulled the present out from behind her back. Colin looked at it dumbly for a second then said 'For me?'
Handsome but not necessarily too bright.Ginny mused, smiling. She nodded and he took it hesitantly from her hands and unwrapped it slowly. The suspense was killing Ginny; she was hopping from foot to foot, deciding whether she should run or stay. It all depended on his reaction.
Colin lifted the new camera from it's wrapping, his jaw dropping so far it almost looked comical. "I-I…can't…Ginny how? I can't accept this! It's too much…" he said though he didn't look like he wanted to let it go.
Ginny's smiled faltered. "But you have too. It's for you, I bought it for you." She said, hoping he wouldn't force it back on her.
He did.
Colin pushed the camera back to Ginny, shaking his head. "Ginny…why?" he asked her cocking his head to the side.
"Why…what?" she asked and he frowned deeper.
"Why'd you spend your money on me?" he asked as he turned the camera over in his hands.
"Because…I needed to sweeten the deal a little didn't I?" she asked with an apologetic smile. "I had to…to get my friend back and I couldn't think of a better way that replacing what I…broke," she asked gesturing to the camera in his hand.
"Well...thanks…you just acted so strange, I didn't know what to think. And of course you broke my bloody camera! I wasn't going to forgive you straight away," he said laughing.
"But you forgive me now don't you?" Ginny asked, sticking out her bottom lip in a sweet little pout. Colin frowned then laughed.
"Of course I do, I couldn't stand watching you walk around the Castle by yourself for much longer!" he said as he turned the camera over in his hands.
He looked at Ginny again and asked her if the Camera really was for him and smiling she nodded and told him that it really was his to keep and to use. After realising that she wasn't lying and that he finally had a camera of his own again, Colin lifted the camera and looked through the lens. Every few seconds he'd mutter 'Wow!' or 'Cool'. Ginny soon wandered over and sat down on his bed and watched him happily. He followed a minute later and holding his camera in one hand, he wrapped the other around Ginny's shoulder and pulled her to him.
"Thank's so much. I've missed talking to you Gin. Spending time with Dennis is nothing compared to being able to talk to you. I'm glad you didn't decide to forget me with your new personality and everything." he said laughing. Ginny smiled but didn't dare ask what he meant when he said her 'new personality' in fear of saying the wrong thing once again.
Colin then lifted Ginny to her feet and pulled her into a bear hug. Ginny squealed and laughed as Colin began telling her about all these opportune photo moments he'd missed in the last few weeks. She apologised over and over and Colin said thank you each time, enjoying hearing her admit that she'd done wrong.
They spent hours together roaming the Castle, testing out Colin's camera. Colin had trouble controlling his laughter when Ginny captured a picture of Goyle with his finger up his nose and Crabbe trying to pull it out as it. Together they made a pact to pull it out on the Slytherins' Graduation day, though, Ginny mused they weren't likely to graduate at all. Still, it would make for a good Graduation story.
Around dusk that night, Colin and Ginny headed out to the Quidditch Pitch because Colin had the brilliant idea of taking some photos of Ginny as she flew around the pitch. He'd said it would be much needed practice for her and a good opportunity for him to get some great shots. When he'd suggested this to Ginny she had swatted him one on the arm, asking why he'd said 'much needed' practice. He'd grinned and, before running away from her across the pitch, told her that he'd been to her last Quidditch match. Ginny simply climbed onto her broom and tore after him, swooping down on him occasionally, smacking him gently around the head. He swatted at her hand and she laughed as he tripped and fell onto his stomach. She flew down and hovered before him on her broom, watching him closely.
"You're a great friend Colin." She said suddenly, surprising both Colin and herself.
"Thanks I think." He said scratching his head. "What makes me so great?" He asked her cheekily and Ginny sighed, completely serious.
"I'm not sure. I just think, because you forgave me instead of holding it against me…for too long anyway." Ginny said frowning and Colin knew that she was thinking of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, don't worry about them ok. They'll come around eventually and if they don't, I'm sorry to say, they're not worth it."
"Ron's my brother Colin. I have to live with him. I can't deal with this for much longer. I said to myself that I didn't care, that it was their loss but…I miss them. Especially Hermione, she's always been there to talk too, even if she didn't always have the time to really listen." Ginny said, realising how pathetic she probably sounded to Colin, making excuses for the trio.
"And Harry?" He asked her with a smirk.
"What about Harry?" Ginny asked him, propping her chin up in her hand.
"How did things between the two of you used to be before…well you know. Before you insulted Hermione?"
"I didn't—"
"Alright!" Colin said holding up his hands in surrender before Ginny could get worked up. "So…how were they?"
"Ok I suppose. Nothing to write home about." Ginny said smiling; thinking what her mother would do if she were to write home about Harry. "He never payed me much attention."
"He does now though doesn't he?"
"Sort of. Though I don't know why. I must have done something right." Ginny said thoughtfully and Colin raised an eyebrow at her.
"Done something right? Harry can't stop looking at you!" he said laughing at her.
"Oh stop. He can too. You're being ridiculous." Ginny said though she was smiling slightly. After a pause she squeaked. "Really?" and Colin laughed again.
"Really. I think you've got him hooked Ginny, now all you have to do is go in for the kill."
"'The Kill'?" Ginny asked, giving Colin a sceptical look and he shrugged.
"You won't have to do much, he's smitten."
"Oh he is not." Ginny said smacking Colin on the arm. He made a face at her and she smiled.
"I've seen a lot more than you have over the last few weeks." He said wisely and Ginny snorted.
"What, you don't think these work?" she asked indicating to her eyes and widening them to prove her point.
"Sometimes, no I don't."
"You'd best explain yourself now Creevey." Ginny said narrowing her eyes at Colin who shrugged.
"All I'm saying is that Harry has definitely taken an interest in you lately."
"So? It doesn't matter, I don't intend on dwelling on it and neither should you!" she said pointing an accusing finger at her recently refound friend.
"I—See you later Ginny." Colin said suddenly, jumping up and heading away from the pitch.
"Colin! Where are you--? Oh." Ginny said as she watched the lone figure walk away and spotted another sitting atop the bleachers.
Ginny stayed where she was, not sure if she should move towards the figure or stay where she was. The person made up her mind for her however and she was soon joined by them.
"Hey." They said softly, looking up at her and despite not wanting to know, Ginny heard confusion evident in their voice.
"Hello," she said back, nodding her head slightly, looking down at Harry, his Gryffindor scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. Upon seeing this, Ginny realised how cold she suddenly was. Running and flying with Colin had made her hot and bothered but now they'd stopped, she was cold again.
Harry noticed this and started to pull his scarf away from his neck. Ginny merely shook her head and conjured up her own and guided it around her neck with her wand. Harry smiled slightly and re adjusted his own. The two were silent for a few moments until Ginny flew down to the ground and stood opposite Harry.
"So…" he said, his hands shoved deep into his pockets casually. Ginny could tell that something was on his mind but he wasn't likely to share it unless provoked.
"Galleon for your thoughts Harry?" Ginny asked timidly, for she knew she probably shouldn't pry into Harry's private life but he seemed to her as though he wanted to be asked.
"What? I oh…um. About what you…did the last time we spoke…" he said trailing off and looking significantly.
Ginny coloured. Though not from embarrassment but from not knowing what he was talking about. It was obvious by the look on Harry's face that he thought she should know as he raised an eyebrow at her. Ginny stood stock-still, pondering what her choices were. Run or stay?
"Yes…" she answered uncertainly and Harry looked at her and she could tell by the disbelieving look he now harboured that he didn't believe her answer for an instant.
"Ginny, if you don't want to talk about it—"
"No! I mean yes! I do want to talk about it." Ginny said, stalling for time and wracking her brain to tell her what on earth Harry was referring to.
"Well…why'd you…you know." He said colouring slightly and averting his eyes.
Ginny looked at him, slightly amused that whatever she had done made Harry Potter blush.
"I don't know?" she offered with her head cocked to the side, angling for any indication of what was making him colour so. He merely stared back at her and raised an eyebrow.
"The kiss." Harry muttered, not looking at her.
Ginny almost fell off her broomstick. Kiss? What kiss?
"K-Kiss?" she stuttered out without meaning too. Just whom had she kissed! Surely not…"Harry? Who did I kiss?" she asked quietly, afraid of the answer. Kindly do yourself a favour Ginny and keep your mouth shut! She reprimanded herself silently as she watched Harry face her again.
"You don't remember?" He asked her, sounding hurt.
"What? Of-of course I remember!" she said laughing, as though it were absurd that she wouldn't whilst she tugged at her scarf, which was becoming quite warm around her neck.
"Well I just wanted to know why…I mean first you kiss Malfoy for whatever reason, I still don't know, you never told me. Then you go and-" He said, before being cut off by Ginny.
"I kissed Malfoy? Surely Harry you're joking? Why would I kiss that little weasel?" Ginny asked, her eyes widening feeling suddenly awful for speaking aloud her thoughts of Draco Malfoy.
"I don't know why! I already told you that. I thought you for one would know seeing as you did it!" he said and with a worried look on her face, Ginny thought he looked near hysterical.
"I couldn't have kissed him. I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot broomstick let alone engage in such…actions as that." Ginny said, screwing up her face delicately.
"But you did! Why are you pretending that you didn't? I don't get it." Harry said bluntly. Ginny was inclined to answer with 'neither do I." But she thought that it wouldn't be appropriate.
Ginny could see that Harry was getting so upset and she didn't know why. All that she knew was that she wanted him to calm down, to calm him down herself if she possibly could but by no means did she have the right to comfort Harry. He wasn't a close friend; she couldn't comfort him like she did Hermione when she was upset which wasn't often unless Ron was involved.
"I wouldn't kiss someone I didn't care about for heaven's sake!" Ginny said, feeling rather rude that she was speaking to Harry that way but he wouldn't listen as once again she was being accused of something she hadn't done. What is with these people? She thought as she frowned at him.
"Is that so? I thought a kiss was just a kiss?" he asked airily and Ginny frowned even more.
"Sure, if it's with someone you couldn't care less about, but if it's with someone you really care for it's magical." She said, looking to the sky where the stars had become to peek out from. Ginny was one that believed in fate and the whole 'fairy tale endings' that Muggles so often talked about. Looking back down at Harry she felt rather stupid for mentioning the 'magical' thing. She cleared her throat and listened as he spoke again.
"Someone special huh?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave or so as he stared her in the face.
"Yes…someone special." She said mentally kicking herself now for mentioning it. He'd always be able to hold that over her now if ever she happened to find a snogging buddy somewhere in the castle.
"Harry where is this going?" Ginny asked, exasperated as her fingers were beginning to stop functioning they were so cold and she was getting rather annoyed with the conversation that seemed to going round and round in not-so-even circles.
"Where is this--?" he began but soon gave up and ended up staring up to the sky himself. He was just as annoyed with Ginny as she was with him. Why wouldn't she give him a straight answer? Telling him that she didn't care for him would have hurt less than her pretending nothing at all had happened. He'd much rather she did that but yet she insisted on playing stupid games.
"Do you fancy Malfoy?" he asked, deciding that he'd ask just one more time to see if he got a different answer though not really expecting one, however he certainly got it.
"No I bloody don't! How many times do I have to tell you? I like you Harry for Merlin's sake…oh my goodness." Ginny said, having realised what she'd just said. "I've got…things…have…bye!" she said before throwing her broom over her shoulder and running as fast as her legs would carry her towards the castle.
As she made it and entered the castle it hit her. She'd just made things with Harry ten times worse. He wasn't meant to know she liked him that would complicate things even further. Not even realising it, Ginny reached up and brushed away a tear but as she did, several more fell down her face. Giving up, she sank down to the floor, dropping her broom beside her in her haste and she noticed the soft clatter of wood against tile as it rolled away across the floor.
She let her head fall back against the cool wall and let it cool her warm cheeks, despite the fact that she had been out in the cold for over an hour with Colin and Harry. As she sat there and thought that things couldn't go much more wrong, someone picked up her broom and walked away.
"Hey!" she called out but the only sound that issued was a soft squeak, which made her start crying all over again.
"What is the meaning of this? Do you realise you are out after curfew? I suspect that you would. I believe that will be five points from…Gryffindor…wait, Ginny?" the harsh voice that had been lecturing her about being out after curfew softened decidedly as it discovered the girl on the floor, crying as though her life were over.
"Ginny! What are you doing out here? It's freezing, you're freezing. Come with me."
Ginny looked up into the kind face of Hermione and began crying all over again.
"Oh come now Ginny, I'm sure it's not that bad?" Hermione half asked said as she picked her up off the floor and hugged her close to her.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I truly am. I shouldn't have said those things to you, can you forgive me, I—"
"Stop. If anyone should be forgiving anyone it's you forgiving me." Hermione said as she cast a Heating Charm over Ginny. "Walk with me whilst I do my rounds?" she asked hopefully and Ginny nodded slightly.
They walked in silence as Ginny marvelled at how warm she'd become in the matter of seconds in which Hermione had cast the Charm.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked gently though Ginny could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't sure if she should really ask. In reply Ginny merely shook her head.
"Not right now. Maybe later?" she asked looking at Hermione with a slight smile.
"Of course." Hermione said, clasping her hands behind her back. "Ginny, I really am sorry. I know I was awful to avoid you just because Ron told me to, looking back on it now, I see how easily I was persuaded and that shouldn't happen. Ron is my friend but so are you; therefore I should treat you equally. It shouldn't be his decision who I converse with and who I don't. Forgive me?" she asked, giving Ginny an incredibly serious look.
"How can I not when you look at me like that?" Ginny asked, daring to wrap an arm around her friend's waist. Hermione reciprocated the gesture and the two walked down the corridors together. "You do realise I would have forgiven you had you said 'Hey Ginny, you're a pathetic little whinger who should just shut up and be my friend again." Ginny said, laughing at her own stupidity.
"Ginny! You take that back, you are not a 'pathetic little whinger.' How could you even think to say that about yourself?" Hermione asked, her previously clasped hands now in front of her crossed somewhat aggressively.
"I don't know but it's nice to hear you defend me from myself." Ginny said laughing and clinging to Hermione even more.
Ginny finally had her best friend back; she wasn't about to let her go again in a hurry.
"Well I think that about does it for tonight. Let's go back to the common room shall we?" Hermione said and together they headed back to Gryffindor tower.
Ginny gave the password to the Fat Lady and she and Hermione entered, laughing over the things they'd missed since they'd been talking. They entered to find Harry and Ron involved in a game of Chess by the fire. Ginny let go of Hermione and as had become routine, headed towards the Girls' dormitories.
"Oh no you don't. I think it's time you and Ron had a little talk." Hermione said, steering Ginny right over to the two boys.
"But I can't talk to Ron, not now, Harry's there!" Ginny said urgently, tugging against Hermione and Ginny soon discovered that even though Hermione was a small person, she certainly possessed a great deal of strength.
"What do you want?" Ron asked gruffly as he looked up to greet Hermione and saw Ginny.
"I thought you had a cold?" Hermione said to Ron, narrowing her eyes. "You said you weren't up to doing Prefect duties. You're not sick! You made me go out there on my own, Ron. Thanks so much." She said flopping down next to him and pulling off her scarf.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Must have been an…hour bug thing…right Harry?" Ron asked looking at Harry for support but Harry was too busy avoiding Ginny's gaze to answer him. "Never mind." Ron said frowning at his best friend.
"Talk to Ginny Ron. Things need to be said." Hermione said bossily and Ron stared at her for a moment and when he looked about to respond positively, he stuck out his chin defiantly.
"No." He said not looking at Hermione but at Ginny. Ginny gave off an unexpected sob and took flight but not before a quick look at Harry.
"Ron!" Hermione said as she stood to go after Ginny. "You can be so insensitive sometimes. I don't know how I put up with you!" she said, shaking her head and running after her friend.
Ron merely shrugged. "Girls, can't live with them, can't live without them, who'd do the cooking?" he said as he moved a pawn forward.
Harry uttered a soft 'Yeah' as he watched Hermione's hair flick around the corner and he to returned to the game though he, unlike Ron, was wishing that he didn't have to live without Ginny of all women but that was how it looked to become.
A/N: Here's another one guys. I hope it was enjoyed. Let me know either way. )
Nesserz.