A/N: SO, a long time, and no word from me.. and no updates. I was busy. You have no idea how much homework we get.. its unbelievable. thankgoodness i've learned to manage my time so i don't have as much as i used to. but, alas, life is so unfair. But, I did finally manage to get a post, and a halfway decent one at that!
Thanks so much for reviewing! I got 12(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) reviews for the one chapter! I was SO excited. You guys have NO idea how happy and psyched i was!!!! Responses to reviewers at the bottom. grin have fun reading!

slytherinphoenix7

Chapter 2- Hogsmeade

The warm days of September and October turned frosty and cold as November came around. No one did homework outside anymore, and most students didn't go outside unless they could help it. Snow had not come yet, but the skies were gray and the sun almost never shone through. Before November could give way to December, there was one more Hogsmeade visit. The announcement had been pinned on the Gryffindor Common room notice board for several weeks. The novelty of Hogsmeade had worn off for most of the older students, and I wasn't even going to go, when Colin approached me while I was translating Arithmancy homework.

He threw himself into a chair next to me and stretched. I looked at him with one eyebrow raised, expectantly.

"Hi, Ginny," he said, grinning.

"Hello," I replied. "Transfiguration or Potions?"

He frowned. "Sorry?"

"Which subject do you need help with?" I asked again.

His mouth dropped open. "Ginny! Not fair!" he said, feigning offense. "I don't always need help with homework! Why do you always assume I need help? I've already finished my work in Potions and Transfiguration."

"I'm shocked."

"Ginny!" he said indignantly. "Maybe I shouldn't ask you to go with me to Hogsmeade after all," he folded his arms.

A smile played at the corners of my mouth. "That's all right with me, I'll go with Harry, then, he asked me too, you know," I said, bending over my Arithmancy homework, so I wouldn't be tempted to laugh. Of course, Harry had not asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him. I was just teasing Colin.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. Will you please go to Hogsmeade with me?" There was a note of pleading in his voice.

Instantly I felt sorry that I had teased him.

"Of course I'll go with you," I amended. "I was only messing around with you."

"Did Harry really ask you?" Colin asked.

I looked up. He was staring at me, apprehension etched in every line on his face.

"No, Colin, Harry didn't ask me," I smiled at him.

"Oh good! But, it's late, and I'm tired out. I'm going to bed. I don't know about you, but I would definitely suggest it. G'night!"

Colin stood up and walked up to the boy's dormitory, and I turned back to my Arithmancy.

After I finished my Arithmancy translation, I got out a spare piece of parchment. It had been forever since I had written to Fred and George. Now that I had a spare minute, I decided to write the letter. So much had happened since I had seen them in August. Also, I wanted to know how they were, especially Katie. It had been a year since Katie and George had gotten married, and I had only seen them three times since.

Dear Fred and George,

How are you? How's Katie? She probably misses Quidditch, because she obviously can't play in that flat you and George have above your joke shop. George and Katie should buy a house, you can stay above the shop, and eventually when you get married, you can live there. That way your and George's families won't interfere with each other. Everything's going well here, I haven't flunked anything so far; but with Hermione and Mia on my case, it's hard not to do well. However, if I want to be a healer, I have to get top grades. Ron is studying harder, and he hasn't been consistently failing. Quidditch is going ok, too. Ron's game is so different; you wouldn't know it was the same person who let in those seventeen goals back in his fifth year. He hardly misses now, and Gryffindor has a good chance of the Quidditch cup, something we haven't achieved since you were beaters in fifth year. Remember we didn't have it the year after cause of the tri-wizard tournament, and then Umbridge the year after. Last year we just didn't do well. But this year I think it's pretty much in the bag. Harry is the best seeker in the school, he's incredibly better than Malfoy or the Hufflepuff bloke. Let alone that Ravenclaw ditz I forget her name. Gryffindor has a good team, but it's not nearly as it was back when we had the dementors what was that? My second year? Now we have Harry as seeker, Ron as keeper, Caitlin, Seamus, and me as chasers, and a second year beater named Mark Evans- he's an absolute natural. You might think he's young, but after all Harry was younger when he joined the Gryffindor team. Then the other beater, Euan Abercrombie.. Neither one is as good as you two were, but they'll do. You two are like living legacies now. When they talk about good Quidditch players, you are always brought up. If you really wanted a legacy, they should go back to James Potter. Everyone says he was the best Quidditch player Gryffindor ever had. However, no one is old enough to know much about James.
Anyway, this past September, Colin Creevey asked me out. Of course, I said yes. Ron, however, was not to happy about it. He yelled at me, but he eventually cooled down. Harry and Hermione helped him see my side. Harry's girlfriend dumped him, but he'll easily find a replacement. Ron and Hermione are still going together; they are such a cute couple. Tomorrow I'm going to Hogsmeade with Colin, and its really late, so I'm going to post this and go to bed.

Love,

Ginny

I clambered out of the portrait hole and ran down the halls to the Owlry. I was panting slightly when I finally stepped into the Owlry. I grabbed the nearest owl and tied the letter firmly to its leg. Facing outwards was the scribbled address on the envelope: 419 Diagon Alley, London. I watched as the owl flew out the window and was enveloped by darkness.

The next morning at breakfast, the same owl came back a message and a package from Fred and George. I untied it and gave the owl a few of Mia's cornflakes. Then it flew back to the Owlry. Setting the package on my lap, I opened the crisp white envelope and read the message inside.

Dear Ginny,

We're all doing fine, and it was great to hear from you. The package enclosed is a whole bunch of trick sweets from our joke shop. Have fun carrying on for us! George is flying around, but Katie wasn't feeling well this morning. Mum was visiting, and when she saw her, she knew immediately. Katie's pregnant! George was so shocked he fell out of his chair. I mean, they've been married for a year, but I guess he wasn't expecting it. Of course, they're happy and all that, but your suggestion of buying their own house is probably going to be thought about.
So you're going out with Colin Creevey. Nice kid, I guess. Mom was thrilled you finally got a boyfriend, but she was sort of put out at your choice. I think she prefers black hair to dirty blond if you catch my drift. I suppose it's your decision, I'm just going to ask you not to start a long-term relationship; Ginny Creevey doesn't have a ring to it. You're right - Ron was being 'overprotective.' I suppose he thinks because you're a girl, that you can't look after yourself, and you need his help. George and I know you better than that! The last thing you need is help from him. Besides, he has Hermione to worry about. She's a nice girl, cute, but way too into rules. By the way, Angelina stopped by yesterday and asked about you and Ron. She's engaged to some ministry official in Egypt.
OH! I have news for you! Tonks was visiting the other day with Remus and she said that they have recruited more members, so we have enough to replace those that we lost in this past July's skirmish, plus others. Several have discovered information about You-Know-Who's plans, but in case this letter is intercepted I can't explain or give details.

George, Katie, and Mum send their love.

Fred

I finished reading the letter and stuffed it in my robes before anyone could get a good look at it.

"Hey, Ginny!" Colin greeted me, and slid onto the bench next to me.

"Hi, Colin," I said, grinning.

"Still up to Hogsmeade, Ginny?" he asked. His blond hair looked like it hadn't been brushed that morning.

"Yes. Do you know when we leave?" I took a bite of my toast.

"Filch is going to take us to the gates you know, with the third years and all that security, since You-Know-Who is back. I think he wants everyone to group in the entrance hall around ten."

"I really don't know why Filch takes us to the gates," I said impatiently. "He's a squib after all, and not much protection. In fact – not that I'm complaining or anything – but I don't know why we're even allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Now that You-Know-Who is back, it's not very safe. He is after Harry, after all."

"Maybe Dumbledore knows that You-Know-Who is afraid of him, so he knows that You-Know-Who won't attack the students. Anyway, Dumbledore is the only wizard that You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. And with good reason, I might add," Colin stated thoughtfully.

I nodded, staring into my hot chocolate.

It was as if we were in a trance. Thinking, and enjoying each other's company, not needing to say anything. Then Colin snapped out of it.

"So, Ginny, where do you want to go?"

"Hmm?" I asked, unsure what he was talking about.

"In Hogsmeade. Where do you want to go? Madam Puddifoot's," he made a face, "Three Broomsticks, or The Hog's Head?"

"I assume by your face that Madam Puddifoot's is out," I grinned.

"No, no, no! No. If you want to go there, then we can!" Colin said, quickly.

"No, it's ok. I don't like Madam Puddifoot's either," I laughed and his relieved expression.

"Oh good!" he said. "I don't care for it at ALL!"

"The Hog's Head is dangerous, dirty, and full of creepy creatures," I said, shivering. "And it smells like goats," I added as an afterthought.

"Then it's the Three Broomsticks?"

"Yes, I'd say that's the best choice."

Colin agreed, "The only thing is that we would run into a lot of students, so we couldn't have some time to ourselves."

"I suppose," I said. "But we don't have to confine ourselves to the Three Broomsticks. We can go to Zonkos! Not that I need any trick sweets or anything: I just got a whole bag of them from Fred and George. We could visit the sweet shop. Whatever it's called? I've forgotten."

"Honeydukes. Yeah, sure. Then we can just walk around Hogsmeade, or something."

"That'd be nice. What time is now, by the way?"

"Nine-thirty... why?"

"Because if we leave at ten, I only have half an hour! And I'm not ready to go!"

I wiped my mouth and gathered my things to take upstairs.

"What? You look fine to me," Colin said, puzzled.

"Never mind! I'll meet you in the entry hall... and I won't be late! Bye!"

I dashed out of the Great Hall.

"I didn't think you would get here on time," Colin whispered as we headed outside. I had just arrived a moment before.

"I just barely had enough time," I replied, pulling my coat tightly around me.

We got inside the Three Broomsticks, and while I found an open table, Colin went to get our drinks. I squeezed through groups of students, and residents of Hogsmeade. I found an open table in the back of the pub, and I claimed it before anyone else could sit down. I stared out the window for a few minutes, waiting for Colin to find me. After what seemed like ten minutes, he finally came, and set the drinks on the table.

I reached for my butterbeer and I vigorously took a drink. It was so hot it burned my mouth and scalded my throat going down. I coughed a few times before my mouth cooled off.

Colin, meanwhile, was laughing at me. I glared at him, but then started giggling myself. We sat there and drank our butterbeer, chatting uninterrupted for almost half an hour until we were disturbed.

"Look who's here!"

I looked up. Pansy and Draco were standing at our table, smirking.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I asked spitefully.

"Pansy and I can't seem to find a table, so we assumed you would not be long in inviting us to share your booth," he said, smirking again.

"Ginny and I were just leaving," Colin said quickly. I knew he just wanted to avoid a fight. He stood up and practically dragged me out of the booth, and the bar. We walked a ways towards the end of town, and sat on a bench. There was almost no one out here. It was quiet, and the landscape was barren.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," he apologized to me. "But I didn't want to get into a fight with him. And I knew you would argue, and he could get you into trouble in more than one way. I didn't want that to happen to you!"

"That's sweet of you, Colin, but sometimes I need to stand up for myself. Malfoy can't always boss me around. I'm not going to bow to him every time he tries to make me! But it was thoughtful of you, anyway," I said, turning to face him.

"Ginny... I really like you, you know. I don't want him to hurt you," Colin said, searching my face.

"You really like me?" I asked, taken.

"Yeah. Ginny, I've liked you since first year! I just didn't realize it! But now..." his voice trailed off.

Before I knew what was happening, Colin was bending his face close to mine, leaning towards me. Did I really want to do this?

snicker snicker cliffhanger!!! Well????????? did u like it? are u mad at me for developing colin/ginny? DOn't worry... its not going to last much longer! Please review!!!!!!!!!!!! It only takes a sec! "use it, abuse it" the purple button calls!
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