Chapter Eight-The Jealousy Game

During the course of the week, Ron finally relented on his promise to guard Ginny, much to his dismay and Ginny's glee. Hermione's influence over him became apparent, and after a couple of days the two were seen walking hand and hand through the halls of Hogwarts.

"So Potter, how does it feel to be a third wheel," Pansy said to Harry in the courtyard after class. Harry walked past the group of Slytherin girls and ignored the comments from them. He saw that Hermione and Ron were sitting together underneath an old oak tree. Harry took one step forward then decided not to go over to his friends. Instead he made his way over to the corner where Daveigh and her friends sat deep in conversation.

"Ok, so this is the plan. First we'll try our luck at Gladrags Wizardwear. If we see nothing there, there's a new store that opened up which sells old muggle clothing. I think it's called a thrift store?" Ashley said to her friends. She had a large piece of parchment out and was making notes on it. Daveigh looked amused at her friends.

"Ashley, I still can't believe you are plotting out our entire day at Hogsmeade!" Daveigh chirped. She giggled at the look of concentration on her friends face.

Dava turned around to look at the other students who were outside in the cool fall day. She saw Harry approaching and stood up to intercept him.

"Hi Harry. You know, you really don't want to come over here. It's all girl talk," she warned.

"Girl talk?" Harry said and cringed, "just what I don't want to hear."

Daveigh looked over at the couple perched underneath the tree, 'Poor Harry,' she thought. "Do you want to take a walk with me?"

Harry nodded and the two made their way towards the lake. They both walked in silence for a while admiring the foliage around them.

"You know, fall is one of my favorite seasons," she said trying to make conversation. Harry kept his face ahead and said nothing.

"Is there anything wrong?" she asked.

Harry turned to look at her then finally said, "Do you know how Luna's mom died? She told me that her mom died in an experiment gone wrong. She was an extraordinary witch and just like that, she died. I don't understand death. Dumbledore said once that death is the next great adventure but I disagree. Nearly Headless Nick drifts by day in and day out but what has he accomplished since his death? He can't join the headless hunt! Why is he still here? Sirius had so much to live for. Just once, I am able to love someone who was like a father to me and just like that he was taken away!"

Daveigh glanced over at Harry's face. His eyes gleamed with tears about to fall.

"Harry," Daveigh said putting one hand on his shoulder, "I may not know how it feels to lose someone close to you, but I can honestly say that he is in a better place."

Harry nodded and looked towards the lake. "Sorry for going on like that. Sometimes I just think about him, it comes out of the blue and I can't stop it."

"I'm sorry. Harry, I sympathize with everything that's happened to you. Death is just another part of life. All of us will have an end and it is pre-determined. We can't be afraid of it, just live day to day without regret. Do you think your godfather regretted his life? I don't think so. It may not have turned out the way he wanted, but when he died, he was free! Not withering away in Azkaban, his sanity fading away, but free. And you should celebrate his memory. It's all right to take time to think about him."

Harry looked with surprise at the petite girl. He had never spoken more than two sentences to her at a time, but to see her speak with vigilance lifted his mood.

"You know, I really needed that," he grinned, "sometimes I need a kick in the ass and this time Hermione or Ron wasn't around to do it. It's weird, them being together you know..."

"Yeah, it was awkward when Ginny dated Michael Corner last year. But you grin and bear it, be happy for them. This was six years in the making. Its too bad Hermione had to take matters into her own hands though. I am still impressed with Luna coming over to Ron and asking him out," Daveigh told him.

"Luna……she's not all that bad. I mean half of the stuff she says makes no sense but she's not bad. Remember when she defended me about Voldemort."

Daveigh shivered at the sound of you-know-who's name and nodded.

"Do you think I should ask her to the masque?" he finally said.

Daveigh looked at Harry with a shocked expression. "Seriously Harry….you know what I think. I think she would love it. It would also totally blow everyone's minds."

Harry kicked at a pebble on the ground. "Ok, then that's settled, I'll ask Luna when we go to Hogsmeade together. I wonder what type of costume she'll wear."

"I hope it's not her Ravenclaw eagle head or the Gryffindor lion one for that matter. I think if McGonagall saw her with that on, she'd have a fit. Harry, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah….."

"When you've had dreams about you-know-who, did it ever feel like he knew you were there?"

Harry looked at the girl with a bewildered look. "What made you ask me that?"

"I mean I just wanted to know…..sorry if I am prying, you're the only person I could think of to ask."

"Are you asking for Ginny?"

Daveigh looked at Harry with surprise. "What makes you say that?" she said nervously.

"Come on Daveigh, I haven't seen Ginny this nervous about something since the time Tom Riddle possessed her. The other night in the common room I tried to get her attention and she didn't answer me right away. Actually, she looked like she was in a sort of trance. And when I did finally get her attention, she winced at the hand she's had bandaged for the past month. If she really hurt her hand in Herbology, it should be healed by now. Madame Pomfrey is known far and wide for her healing remedies. I should know I've been in there far enough times." Harry grinned.

'Should I say something to him about Ginny's dreams?' she thought.

She knew that Ginny's dreams about the key came to her every night now. They even began to invade her conscious thoughts during the day. One day in class, Ginny stopped in the middle of mixing a potion to stare into thin air. It took Daveigh five minutes to bring her out of it before Snape wandered over to their work station to glance at their progress. The key imprint in her palm remained defined as if she held it tight in her hand always. Ginny kept it bandaged and resorted to wearing gloves to hide it, and if anyone asked she told them her hands were cold.

Daveigh sighed and finally turned to Harry. "If I tell you what's going on, will you promise not to tell Ginny I told you, and don't mention this to Ron and Hermione for that matter?"

Hogsmeade weekend finally approached to the excitement of everyone. The whole week was spent talking about what purchases could be made and who would wear what costume to the ball. Ginny walked quickly to the entrance of Hogwarts castle to meet Dean.

After Ron relented, Ginny shrieked with joy at her new found freedom. Now she could freely walk about the castle and not have to worry about him being overprotective. She wondered at how she and Dean would be able to carry out their plan. Ginny thought back to the day in the Owlery with him.

flashback

"You know Gin; I think I have an idea…" Dean said. Ginny's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Hmmm...You like Malfoy…I really think we could have a lot of fun with him."

"How do you mean?"

"I think maybe we should carry on this farce with us being together."

"I see what you mean," Ginny finally said the puzzle fitting into place, "make him jealous... But Dean, how far should we take it? Just in Hogsmeade or do you mean at the masque too?" Ginny paced around contemplating the situation.

"The way I see it, perhaps we could have a lover's spat at the masque. You know a public one where people will see us break up. Those who won't see it will hear about it within minutes anyway. Then you'll be free to see Malfoy, and I can work my magic with Naomi."

"Sounds good to me. I just hope neither of them has a date that night."

"I didn't think of that... if all goes well in our corner, we won't have to worry about a thing."

"Dean, you know I think Naomi might have a crush on you," Ginny told him seeing the way his eyes lit up when she said her name.

Dean cleared his throat after this information. "Well let's just hope your brother doesn't notice you with Malfoy. The last thing we want is for a fight to erupt between the dragon and the lion." Ginny laughed at his analogy.

"Dean, Halloween will be a night we'll both never forget."

End flashback

"All right there Gin," Harry said nodding to the redhead.

"Yeah Harry, just fine," she answered. Over the past few days she noticed that Harry started to pay closer attention to her. He continuously asked after her health and how she'd been sleeping. Ginny shook her head. 'I guess he got hit with too many bludgers during practice,' she thought and chuckled to herself.

"Hey, you ready Gin," Daveigh said walking up. She looked over to Harry and gave him a nod. Harry grinned then turned his attention back to Luna.

"Seems Harry is happier since that day in the Great Hall. I'm happy that he's over Cho," Ginny said.

"You know, I talked to him the other day in the courtyard, and he's gonna ask Luna to the masque," Daveigh shared.

Ginny's jaw dropped and then she began to laugh. "That is so classic! I can't wait to see the look on everyone's face when they walk into the Great Hall together. Who ever imagined Harry and Luna……" she trailed off.

"Well I'm glad to see at any rate that people are happy. Now you Ginny, what is going on with you and Dean really! I am dying to find out! I mean I know you're still infatuated with Malfoy. But now you're dangling Dean with a string. That's kind of wrong….." Daveigh scolded.

"Dava, trust me. You will know everything at the masque, oh hi Dean, there you are!"

Dean waved approaching the two girls. Daveigh groaned and walked over to where Naomi, Lucy, and Ashley congregated.

"What's wrong with her," he said pointing at Daveigh.

"Nothing, I think she feels she could spend her time better studying instead of shopping in Hogsmeade," she lied, "Ready to go?"

"Oh yeah, this is gonna be great." The two linked arms and walked out of Hogwarts gates into the village of Hogmeade following the other students.

Draco and Geoff walked out of the Three Broomsticks, stomachs full after the amount of food they had eaten.

"Oh that was some good grub," Geoff said patting his stomach, "What do you want to do next? Scare some first years at the shrieking shack?"

Draco glanced around at the couples walking through Hogsmeade. "Is it just me or is every living male and female at this God forsaken school paired off?"

"Ever since Dumbleding announced the masque, all I've heard is one loser after another asking each other out," Geoff said scoffing at the sight of two third years kissing outside of the post office, "pathetic isn't it." He said walking over to the couple.

"Why don't you two get a room?"

The couple looked over with disgust to see who interrupted their interlude. They saw who approached and scrambled together out of the way.

"Stupid idiots, they see a Slytherin and they automatically think that I'm a deatheater." Geoff said, "Hey Malfoy….yoo hoo…" He took his hands and moved them over his eyes, trying to get his attention. He looked in the direction of Malfoy's stare.

Ginny stood outside of Honeyduke's with Dean. The two were sharing what looked like the most enourmous cottony looking blob on the planet. Ginny giggled whenever Dean leaned in closer to say something in her ear, and it carried to Malfoy's ears. Geoff watched Malfoy's fists squeeze together.

Ginny suddenly leaned in to kiss Dean on the lips, and Dean drew her closer against him. Malfoy grew sick of the display and stormed off towards Hogwarts castle. Geoff followed him and grabbed his shoulders.

"Draco, come on. You can have any girl you want! Face it man, she's got someone else although she could have done so much better than that idiot. What you need is a good dose of fire whisky, and maybe a nice warm body to fill your bed. Who'll it be, Pansy…..well I'm sure she'll be happy to oblige you. Or maybe a Ravenclaw; you know I could put in a good word for you…….how about Lisa Turpin…..she's a great lay, that is if you like leftovers…." Geoff chuckled.

"Right now, I just want to be alone." With that Draco continued on his way leaving Geoff to ponder about his friend's well-being.

Geoff turned back around and headed back to the village. He spied several girls giggling over a life-size poster of Oliver Wood which was outside of the entrance to Gladrags Wizardwear. "That hack on a poster," he said to himself, "Puddlemere United is the worst team on the planet."

Geoff made his way over to the poster. The giggling girls saw him coming toward them and whispered together. He gave them a smoldering look which made several of the girls sigh and glanced at the poster.

"Oliver Wood, keeper for Puddlemere United models the latest fashions for the Quidditch player at heart."

'Worst idea yet,' he thought. Geoff stood next to the entrance and observed the crowds of students that walked past.

'No sign of Weasley and Thomas,' he thought, 'probably went to find a corner to snog somewhere.' Suddenly his ears and eyes drew him someplace else.

Coming out of Gladrags, the mysterious raven head beauty exited with a few girls he'd seen on occasion at the Gryffindor table. Geoff immediately stopped his perusal of others to stare at her.

"Lucy, you were absolutely right! Gladrags has nothing that even resembles a costume for the masque in there," Daveigh admitted to her friend. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. She turned around and saw the pale hair, blue-eyed Slytherin standing next to the cutout of Oliver Wood.

"Isn't that Luna's cousin?" Ashley asked, "he sure is cute." The other girls giggled and pulled Daveigh with them to find the thrift store that sold muggle clothes.

Daveigh couldn't shake the eerie feeling his eyes had on her. 'Luna and his cousin have that affect on people,' she thought thinking about the way his eyes flashed from blue to silver within minutes. During those couple of minutes, she also took note of the way he leered at her.

'It was as if he were undressing me with his eyes,' she said and shivered. As she walked with her friends, she didn't have to turn around to know that he still watched her.

"That was interesting," Ginny said pulling away from Dean, "sorry I did that, he was looking straight at me." She took another handful of the confection and stuffed it into her mouth, "what did you call this again?"

"Cotton candy, a great muggle treat," Dean smiled, "I used to love eating this all the time when I went to the amusement park."

"A what?...never mind. You'd think I'd know more about muggle history the way my dad goes on and on about them all the time. I guess you can never know everything," she said.

"Well, he's gone…..you know Ginny, he looked pretty pissed," Dean pointed out, "are you sure about this? We can stop at any time."

"Dean, to tell you the truth I was having second thoughts right after we talked. But now, I think that Malfoy is just getting a taste of his own medicine. He can't always get what he wants. This just proves to him that not every female at Hogwarts he comes near is going to just bow at his feet."

"I agree. We can't do anything more though with him gone? What do you say to a victory drink at the Three Broomsticks, on me? We'll toast to a successful phase one of our plan…"

"Great idea. But will I be able to do some actual shopping," Ginny whined, "my mum was able to send me a couple of galleons to get a costume for the masque. I am itching to spend it."

"Girls! We can never get you to turn away from the glory of spending money," Dean groaned and pulled Ginny to the pub.