"Harry!" cried Ginny, placing a hand over her racing heart. How dare he sneak up on me like that! "You scared me," she panted.
"I'm sorry, Gin. I didn't mean to." he said in a sincerely apologetic voice.
"Th-that's alright, Harry," replied Ginny, lowering her hand.
Harry gave her a contrite smile before she turned back around as he took an empty seat next to Ron. They soon fell deep into conversation about Quidditch.
Ginny didn't eat much that morning. She slowly nibbled on a biscuit and took small sips of her pumpkin juice. Ron and Harry departed shortly after, mentioning something about practising a bit, leaving Hermione and Ginny to their meal.
"So Ginny," Hermione began, "Are you excited about our first trip into Hogsmeade this afternoon?"
Ginny had completely forgotten.
"Oh, uh, can't wait," said Ginny sounding a lot more bleak than she had expected. Hermione hadn't noticed. She merely smiled and babbled on and on about what she planned to do in Hogsmeade later on.
As Ginny made her way towards the Entrance Hall that afternoon, she spotted her friends Georgina, Melanie, Barbara and Nolie grouped together at the end of the queue, waiting to be signed out by Filch, the school's caretaker. Ginny walked up to them slowly, looking around for any signs of Ron, Harry or Hermione.
"Hey Gin!" greeted Georgina as she approached. Ginny gave her and the others a brief smile.
"Um, Ginny, you don't look so good. Are you ok?" asked Barbara.
"I'm fine," Ginny answered softly. She smiled again and hoped it looked genuine this time.
Barbara started to say something, but was then interrupted as Filch appeared beside them, grumbling that they say state their names. He soon passed by, crossing them off his list when somewhere behind her, Ginny overheard Filch saying, "Name?" then the reply that made her stomach turn, "Draco Malfoy." Georgina must have heard it too, for a look of disgust spread across her face and she began to usher her friends ahead muttering, "Ugh. Malfoy."
They reached the end of the long drive, and turned towards the village of Hogsmeade, chatting merrily about what they planned to do, what they planned to buy, who they planned to meet, while Ginny remained silent, transfixed on staring at her feet as she walked.
"So what about you, Gin?" asked Melanie.
"Oh, what?" asked Ginny, looking up.
"I asked 'what are you doing today?'"
"Oh, uh…Three Broomsticks…Ron, Hermione…Harry," Ginny mumbled, looking back down at her feet as she answered. Her friends continued to talk, but Ginny made no attempt as to make out anything they were saying; their voices seemed so distant.
As Ginny was walking down the main street of Hogsmeade, she heard her name being called. Her head jerked up as she scanned the crowd avidly for the source of the noise. She then spotted her brother Ron along with Harry and Hermione standing just outside of the Three Broomsticks. She said goodbye to her friends and made her way over to them, catching Draco's eye as she passed.