Disclaimer: I merely played with J.K.R.'s characters.

A/N: Sorry this too so long, guys! I was having tons of writer's block during the first half of this. Please read and review and let me know what you like and don't like, what you want or don't want.

Ginny sat there, her mouth hanging open. Was this some kind of cruel joke that the school was planning against her? Purposely planning a ball to see how miserable Ginny Weasley could possibly get? Making sure Harry Potter would be there dancing with a stunning girl, breaking her heart and nauseating her stomach?

"Oh, isn't it wonderful? A Yule Ball – and we are finally of age! Last time, I sat in the dormitory and listened to the Weird Sisters play in the Great Hall, longingly. Now, we really are going to get to be there and listen to them for real! You went to the ball last year and you need to tell me about it! You know… the food, dancing, dresses, socializing. I need to know all about it! And then what to wear? Oh I have really pretty pink dress robes or maybe I should wear my blue ones? You have to help me pick them out later! Oh, and then there are all the accessories. Well, no matter! There is a Hogsmeade trip next weekend and they must have known it all along and planned it that way! How clever! And then there are dates. Maybe I will just go alone, but a date would be nice. Nobody would ask me though. I'm not like you who will have all the guys in the school lining up to ask you. I am sooo jealous! You could choose any boy you want to go with! So who will you choose?" Sarah leaned in, beaming, to hear Ginny's response.

But Ginny couldn't have any guy she wanted. Not Harry Potter.

"Oh, I don't know. I might not even go with anyone." Ginny replied as lightly as she could with a tense laugh. Though she loved Sarah's babbling, she would have given anything in the world to make her stop now. But it wasn't that easy.

"You may not go with anyone?" repeated Sarah in disbelief. "You, Ginny Weasley, who has gotten asked out a bazillion times just because you smiled at them? You even dated Harry Potter! What happened between you two anyway? You just owled me one summer afternoon, after I asked about him, and ranted on about how he was an insufferable git." Ginny winced visibly and shushed at Sarah. But the damage was done. Every person at the Gryffindor table was staring right at her.

Ginny lowered her head and dared not look at any of the dumbstruck faces staring at her. Why hadn't she just told Sarah in the first place instead of running away from all her problems? But now that she was already running, she couldn't stop now.

Without a word, Ginny had bolted from the table, but not before she heard Harry mutter her name, incredulously. Tears lingered dangerously in the corners of her eyes as she ran out of the Great Hall.

Ginny sat idly in the library with her back to a bookshelf, subconsciously staring at the book. It had been four days since the ball was announced and four days since she had made a fool of herself in front of the entire table. It wasn't that Harry wasn't an insufferable git, because he was. There was no denying it. He even had the nerve to attempt to speak to her. She had seen him consistently following her, or attempting to catch her eye, staring right at her. Oh, those eyes of his! She had just barely caught herself from staring at him in the common room last night. Though unable to admit it to herself, she desperately missed him.

"Hey! How's the essay going?" Sarah asked as she sat down next to her.

But Ginny didn't even need to reply as Sarah correctly guessed, half exasperated.

"You haven't even started it. Still thinking about Harry? You know I'm really sorry I said that. I didn't realize everyone was listening…" Sarah was once again apologizing. They had already gone over this as Ginny thought she owed Sarah an explanation. She told her all about how they had broken up and about the conversation over the summer (with the exception of her crying). Ginny just wished Sarah would stop apologizing! It was her fault that she didn't tell Sarah in the first place and it's now too late to change anything.

"Sarah! For the millionth time, it's okay!" Ginny forced a smile.

"Yes, well. I have gossip about the ball. Maybe it will even cheer you up!"

Oh boy. Last time Sarah had tried to cheer her up she got her a box of singing tissues that sang 'get well' tunes. It just made Ginny's nose get red from using every single tissue, attempting to make them die.

"So I was in the common room, just doing that essay Professor Trelawney assigned us. You know the one about Jupiter's fifth moon revolving slower this year and how that would affect our auras? Anyway, I was just sitting by the window attempting to think of reasons, when Hermione and Ron burst through the portrait hole, bickering as always." After looking at Ginny's face, she paused for a quick breath and a rolling of the eyes, and then continued. "I know, I know. They always argue. But this time it was special. I wasn't trying to pay attention at all, but those two are so loud! They were discussing the ball."

Ginny's ears perked up at this and she looked at Sarah curiously. Encouraged, she started bubbling even faster.

"Yes. So Hermione was screaming because Lavender asked Ron who he was thinking of asking to the ball. Ron apparently replied that he didn't know. So stupid. Anyway, so they came up to the common room screaming and I, miraculously, tuned them out for a while. Suddenly it became quiet, and I heard Hermione almost whisper something about not being a girl. Which was totally odd and Hermione quickly stormed out, sobbing, and hasn't been back."

"And how would this cheer me up?" Ginny had already stood up and was heading towards the door.

"Well, it wouldn't really cheer you up per say, but you have been locked in this room forever and have only stepped out of it a few times. It's about time you had some proper news."

Ginny shook her head and wondered, at times like these, what went through Sarah's head. How would gossip about one of her closest friends and how she was in tears cheer her up? Though she really loved how she didn't have to share her life with Sarah like she did with Hermione, it frustrated her at times like these that they didn't think alike. Poor Hermione!

"I'm going to find Hermione. Now."

Forgetting everything that had happened, Ginny ran out of the library to comfort her friend. After catching her breath, Ginny opened the door of the girls' dormitory to see Hermione lying on her bed, tears running down her cheeks.

"What did my git of a brother do now?" Ginny asked, sitting on the foot of her bed.

"Oh, Ginny! It's all hopeless. Ron will never like me that way. To him I'm just a bushy-haired, S.P.E.W. freak, homework planner giver who-"

"Whoa, Hermione!" Ginny interrupted her. "You and I both know that Ron doesn't think of you like that so don't you dare start again! We've been over this already!"

"I know, I know. But Ginny…" Hermione paused and wiped a tear from her eye. "I don't know any more. Not after what happened a few minutes ago."

Ginny knew perfectly well what had just happened, but Hermione needed to say it herself.

"What happened?" Ginny asked, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze.

"We were sitting in the Great Hall today at lunch, and Lavender asked Ron who he was going to the ball with. She batted her overly-long eyelashes at him and leaned in close. The dirty lit-" But Hermione broke off and took a deep breath. "Anyway, Ron blushed furiously and muttered something incoherent. Ron then said…"

Hermione paused to clear her throat and attempted to speak in a masculine voice. Ginny was forced to clap a hand to her mouth in order to avoid the cascade of giggles inside of her that were threatening to emerge.

"Oh, umm… I don't know, really." Hermione imitated, contorting her face.

But it was too late. A small suppressed squeal came from Ginny before laughter erupted. It was the first time she had laughed in days. Hermione glared.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Hermione. But that voice!" Ginny barely managed to get the sentence out properly.

Now it was Hermione's turn to suppress a giggle or two.

"Go on, go on. What happened next?"

"Okay, so he just got up from the table and started walking as quickly as possible through the door just like you-"

But it was too late. Uncomfortable silence followed her words. Ginny knew perfectly well what she was going to say.

"Ginny, what umm… happened? Hermione finished.

"Not now." Ginny shook her head vehemently. "Go on. So Ron was walking out of the Great Hall…"

"Yes, yes. He was leaving rather quickly. Lavender muttered something to Parvati, but I didn't listen. I stood up and ran after him. I finally caught up with him in the common room. I don't know what I meant to do but, oh Ginny, it was terrible! I ran up to him and demanded an answer to Lavender's question. He looked at me for a few moments which seemed like eternity and just stated very calmly that he was going with Lavender."

Hermione paused as Ginny's eyes widened. She had not heard this part. Her brother was going with Lavender Brown? Not only will Hermione be miserable, but they will all have to endure another bout of Won-Won and Lav-Lav?

"I know. And then, I don't' know what came over me! I just stood there, wanting to scream at him or kick him or… something! But all I said was, 'So, you haven't realized I'm a girl yet, huh?' and he froze. I didn't even mean to say that! It just… came out! So I bolted up here and you found me. That's it." Hermione paused for a moment, but she wasn't finished. "Oh, how could I have been so stupid?" Hermione buried her face in her hands as Ginny sat there, stunned.

How could my brother be so stupid? He actually is asking Lavender to the ball to make Hermione jealous? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! It was common knowledge throughout the school that Lavender disgusted Ron.

"Hermione, guys are idiots." Ginny paused, realizing she was talking about Harry. She wondered if Hermione noticed this, and thought she might so she added, "Especially the Weasley brothers. Ron is probably the worst. He'll come to his senses…eventually". Ginny muttered the last word to herself, wondering if Ron would ever get it.

"How'd you do it?" Hermione suddenly looked at Ginny through her tear stained eyes.

"Do what?"

"Watch Harry with Cho."

Ginny froze. She definitely did not want to talk about Harry right now. She was still working out for herself what her status with him was and her feelings for him. The concept of sharing her internal conflicts with Hermione didn't thrill her at the moment. Especially anything with Harry. But then again, this wasn't as bad as the summer question that she had been dreading. She was positive Hermione would ask her about what happened or to say she was sorry. Both were not what she wanted. So Ginny gave her the truth – well, sort of.

"He didn't even notice me and I wasn't really close to him. He had to date eventually."

Hermione opened her mouth, but shut it again.

So maybe she didn't answer the question. So what, right? That was all true. What she didn't tell Hermione, though, was that she had attempted to show her maturity and get over Harry, by dating others.

"Listen, Ginny…" Hermione started, tentatively. Ginny shut her eyes. She had been expecting her to say something about Harry and this summer. She was just surprised it hadn't come sooner.

"Would it be…err… okay if you didn't tell anyone about this fight Ron and I had?"

Ginny opened her eyes, surprised, and smiled. Hermione wouldn't confront her yet. Too relieved and happy that she was talking to Hermione again, Ginny decided not to mention the fact that by tomorrow the entire school would know what happened. It wasn't just that everyone in Gryffindor eavesdrops, but the two aren't exactly quiet.

"Of course." Ginny smiled and gave Hermione a hug, feeling better then she had all year.