Disclaimer: This is really pointless...I don't know why I do this.

A/n: Did I also mention that Luna is in Ginny's year? Ya, well she is now...

Chapter 15...

After Christmas, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had come back to Hogwarts and things had gone back to normal. Life went on, classes started up, as well as quidditch practice. The usual sentiment on school was, "I hate this stuff."

Ginny was frustrated. She had just gotten out of Arithmancy classand they had been given a 10 pages of work due in two days time. Best of all, she had no idea how to do any of it! 'This frickin' sucks. I already have Transfiguration and Charms. Next thing you know, I'll have a Potions' essay too!' While muttering angrily to herself, she wasn't watching where she was going and she ran into a rather tall person.

Ginny was about to fall when a pair of strong hands grabbed her before it was too late. She looked up into the arms of her savior and saw none other than her ex Michael Corner. He hadn't changed a bit. Still as handsome as ever, but he couldn't beat Harry.

'How...awkward.' "Sorry, Michael, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Thanks for not letting the floor win that battle." Gin kind of laughed at that and Michael joined in.

"No problem, Gin. Glad to be of assistance when I can." He flashed her a smile and grabbed the things she had dropped. He handed them to her and it seemed like he made his hand brush over hers. 'What the heck is he doing?' "Are you having trouble with Arithmancy? Because if you are, I could help you. I have most of it down, but two heads are better than one I always say."

Ginny seemed to ponder over his proposal. 'Harry might blow up over this. H'm...Although we've neverbeen in this situationbefore. But Harry knows I love him so he won't mind. Besides, I don't want to bother Herm with my problems.' Afterpredicting all the possible ramifications,she looked up brightly at Michael.

"Sure, I have no idea what the heck I'm doing. I would appreciate your help." He seemed to get a gleam in his eyes at her words, but she thought nothing of it. Since they had broken up, they had been civil to each other. They hadn't gone out of their way to avoid each other but neither had they caused each other trouble. Ginny was rather glad how their relationship ended. Previous ones hadn't been so...easy.

"Great. How about after our last class of the day, we meet up in the library. You have quidditch practice don't you?" She nodded yes. "Well, we can talk for awhile . I won't let you miss practice. We can talk about another time to get together later tonight, ok?"

"Sounds like a plan." A bell went off to signal the start of class. "Oh, shit! I'm late for potions and Snape's going to kick my ass! I gotta run! See you later Michael." With that, she dashed off, running towards the Gryffindor common room to get her Potions' books. Ginny stopped in front of the entrance to the common room, panting heavily. Regaining her breath, she loped through the door heading towards the stairs.

"Hey Gin! What are you doing?" This question came from Ron. Him, Hermione, and Harry were studying for their Potions test they had next hour. This was their study hall. Gin glanced in their direction, gave a quick, "I'm late for class and have to get my books," and ran up the stairs. The three looked at each other and went back to their work. Two minutes later, she sprinted down the stairs and out the door. Unnoticed to Ginny, Harry was watching her with a concerned look. 'Why is she late for class?'

(Potions Room)

Ginny was debating whether to sneak into the class silently, hoping Snape wouldn't notice her or just barge right in. She was twenty minutes late already. 'Hell, I'll probably get a detention anyways. Screw it.' Ginny opened the door and shut it, walking to her seat. Without looking away from the board where he was writing directions, Snape commented on Ginny's tardiness.

"So glad you decided to grace us with your presence, Miss Weasley." The class tittered with amusement. He let them laugh and then glared at everyone which shut them up. "Any good excuses as to why you are late?" Snape glanced at her, waiting for an answer. Ginny would have argued with him over his rudeness but figured it wouldn't help her situation so she just nodded her head no. "Thirty points from Gryffindor and...detention. See me after class Weasley." Ginny was about to argue that last one he said but shut her mouth. 'Ah, piss. I'm never going to get my Arithmacy done.'

After Snape chewed her out, he went back to writing directions on the board without explaining anything to the latest addition to the class. Ginny asked Luna what they were supposed to be doing and she said that they had to brew that potion on the board before class was over. Otherwise you failed that assignment. To add to the potion, they also had to write not one, but two essays over the differences between adding Horned Root or Sparrow Root to the potion. 'Well, I'm glad Snape is so accommodating today. I never would have gotten through they day without his kindness!' She rolled her eyes and got to working on her potion.

Working fervently, Ginny was one ingredient away from finishing when Snape announced class would be over in five minutes. That being said, she did double time. She quickly added the last ingredient, followed the instructions, and bottled up her potion. Putting her name on it, she took it up to Professor Snape's desk and put it down. She sighed with relief that she had gotten it done with moments to spare. Ginny returned to her desk and copied down the questions for her TWO essays she had to do. The bell rang as she wrote the last sentence down. Everyone was heading out the door while she gathered her supplies up. Snape wasn't in the room to remind her about seeing him after class so she again, walked out the door, not paying attention to where she was going. This time, she ran into none other than Draco Malfoy.

Her stuff flew everywhere. She tumbled ungracefully to the floor as well. Some of Malfoy's books fell as well, making him curse up a storm. He looked down at who had walked into him and sneered.

"Watch where you're going Weasley. I don't have time to bother with you."

"Well, maybe if you'd minimize your ego I wouldn't have to worry about running into you. There's no possible way to avoid you!"

Their verbal battle would have gone on, but Snape glided out of the classroom.

"Causing trouble again, Miss Weasley?"

"Actually I-" Ginny started to explain but was cut off.

"Don't bother wasting your breath. Come into my classroom. In your haste to leave my class, you didn't come talk to me." Snape then turned, assuming Ginny would follow him back in the room. 'Bloody hell. This is not my day!' She quickly gathered up her things, Malfoy doing the same. He walked past her and shoved her a bit. Ginny glared at him and finished collecting her things. She noticed that her assignment for Potions was totally covered in ink with no chance for survival.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were laughing down the hallway coming towards her when she stepped into the room. Unfortunately, everything that had been written on the board for the sixth years was gone. 'Shit.' She walked up to Snape's desk, ignoring the looks from the few Seventh years that had come to class.

"You better not be late to another one of my classes again, Weasley. The consequences will be far greater next time. Don't be late for your detention tonight in here. It'll be at 7 pm sharp." Professor Snape sneered at her and bid her leave.

Ginny walked down the aisle heading for the door. Her three friends had sat down in the back in their usual spots. She rushed by them and on the way out, Harry stuck his hand out, squeezing hers and then letting go. She gave him an apologetic look but walked out of the room. She didn't want to explain anymore. The three were a little worried about her behavior but that was quickly dissolved as class was started up. They had a test to do and many were spazzing out, afraid they would fail.

After going to her dorm to gather her books and her nerves, Ginny left for the Library to study with Michael. He was sitting towards the back with his books out and already studying. Ginny sat down beside him and got out her Arithmacy book and together they worked on it. Classes got out at 3 each day with qudditch practice promptly at 4 pm. Around 3:55 pm, Ginny looked up at the clock and got up cursing about her luck. She told Michael she'd meet up with him again after she got out of her detention with Snape.

As she turned to leave, Michael grabbed her hand. Ginny turned around, giving him a confused look.

"Ginny...I don't know how to say this but-" he trailed off, looking innocent with a slight blush on his cheeks, "I miss you. And I was just wondering if maybe we could hang out sometime, maybe go to Hogsmeade." While holding her hand he slowly moved his thumb back and forth over it. She snatched her hand away and tried to be nice but firm while answering him.

"Oh, Michael. You know I can't do that. Harry and I are going out. We can be friends still but that's it." His eyes flared at that but he soon cleared his eyes of any emotion. Ginny made notice of it and put it on her back burners to analyze later.

"I see. Ok, I was just wondering then. Sure, let's be friends then. Maybe we could do something later, as friends." She nodded her head and then left in a hurry to get to quidditch practice. 'Harry's going to kill me! I've been late all day and he probably won't be any nicer about this considering we have a big game later this week.'

Thereupon, Ginny went to get her quidditch gear and head on to practice.

--a/n: Hey! Review!