1Chapter 5

Later that afternoon, Harry was attempting to help Ginny learn how to play Wizard's Chess. He would get frustrated easily when she would move her pawn to the wrong spot and complain that moving the pawn should be the easiest to remember. And of course, Ginny felt bad because she was trying her hardest to understand.

"I'm just surprised Ron didn't think and teach you sooner," Harry stated. Ginny giggled and nodded.

"I'm doing my best," she replied.

"Well, here, I'll tell you what. In order to relieve the stress, would you care to come with me to Hogsmeade for a while?" Harry asked. Ginny was shocked.

Is he- is he asking me out? She thought.

"You mean like a date?" she asked to clarify.

"I'd consider it more of an... 'outing,'" he replied.

"Oh, okay."

"Come on, I'll apparate us," he offered, standing up and taking her hand in his.

"All right, let's go."

First off, they went to Zonko's Joke Shop. Harry bought Ginny a flower that squirts water at people when they smell it or hold it close to their face. So of course, when Harry handed it to her and she blushed as she raised it up to smell it, icy water shot out onto her nose and cheeks. She laughed as Harry wiped a drop of water falling down her cheek, making Ginny shiver. She rubbed the rest off with her sleeve and playfully slugged Harry.

"That wasn't funny," she said.

"Then why are you laughing?" Harry teased. All Ginny could do was continue laughing.

"I'll get you back for that, you just wait."

They arrived at the Three Broomsticks about fifteen minutes later. They just sat and chatted while sipping some butterbeer, recalling old memories.

"Oh and remember that time when Ron got his dress robes for the Yule Ball and thought they were for me?" Ginny asked.

"Who could forget? You should've seen the look on Professor McGonagall's face before the dance. She tried to help and fix the ruffles, but I don't think that will ever be possible," Harry replied.

"Good times," Ginny said. Harry nodded in agreement.

"And when we won the Quidditch match to win the Cup in my sixth year? Remember that party?" Harry asked.

"How am I supposed to remember? I was too busy snogging you," she replied.

Harry laughed, "Oh, right."

An awkward silence now followed.

"Subject change?" Ginny suggested.

"Yeah."

"Oh blimey. Remember when you told me about the time Myrtle found you naked in the prefect's bathroom with the golden egg?"

Harry groaned, "She wouldn't bloody leave me alone "

Ginny laughed. "How did you get out without her- you know- seeing it all?"

"That was the worst part. I had to jump out as quickly as I could, grab my bathrobe, jump back in, and find a way to get it on without her seeing. In the meantime, I was also dodging her as she floated around me, giggling and giggling. If she weren't a ghost, I would've punched her."

"How dare you even consider hitting a lady?" Ginny teased.

"I can't believe I just told you all that. I didn't tell anyone else about it."

"Well I'm glad I can be here for your embarrassing moments."

They paid for their drinks and left for Honeyduke's Sweet Shop. Harry bought Ginny a giant rainbow sucker that would take her all week to finish. They then began their journey back to the Burrow, one licking a huge sucker, the other munching on Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

Once they reached Hogsmeade Station, Harry apparated them back to the Burrow. Harry turned to Ginny when they appeared at the front door and burst out laughing. During the apparation, Ginny's sucker had become stuck to her cheek. She blushed bright red while trying and getting it off. Once it finally gave way, she frantically tried to rub off the rest of the sticky substance covering her right cheek.

Ginny wasn't pleased that Harry was still mocking her, so as he began to step through the doorway, she held out her foot in front of him. And sure enough, he tripped and fell right through the now open door, because right at that moment, a flustered Hermione Granger was stomping out. He landed right onto her shoulders as she tried to grab him before his head hit the counter next to the door. She promptly stood him up properly and continued huffing all the way out into the yard.

"Hermione! Hermione please wait!"

Ron came rushing out after her, making a quick gesture to Harry and Ginny to let them know they needed to go inside.

"Blimey, Gin, what was that for?" Harry asked, clutching his shoulder that hit the doorway on his way into Hermione's arms.

"Never mind that, I want to see what's going on," she replied, racing to the window above the sink, trying to get a good view of the couple outside.

Ginny couldn't make out the exact words, but from what she could tell, Hermione was yelling at Ron for never understanding her and taking the time to let her speak. Ron came back with something about how she always was over-reacting to what he would say, which really made Hermione get upset. She slapped Ron hard across the cheek and apparated to her house.

Ginny turned to Harry in shock. He had heard the sound of flesh slapping flesh and knew what happened right away.

Ron appeared in the doorway a few seconds later. His face was pale, except, of course, for the slight red mark forming on his left cheek.

"You all right, mate?" Harry asked, concerned; but no reply came from Ron. He gloomily walked towards the stairs, acting as if he were almost in some sort of trance. Harry and Ginny followed him to the staircase and watched as he slowly ascended the steps up to his room.

Ginny groaned. "I'll go talk to him," she offered. She started her way up after him, but came to a sudden halt, turning back around and faced Harry.

"Oh, and I told you I'd get you back," she added with a smirk. She then turned and dashed up the steps. It took Harry a moment to process what she meant, but when he did, a smile formed on his face. He waltzed over to the couch and plopped down, closing his eyes gently. Her laugh was still ringing in his ears. He loved the way her eyes would twinkle when she laughed or was just happy in general. He loved the way she'd twirl her hair around her finger when she was bored. He loved the way she-

Wait, what in the world was he thinking? Why was he thinking about her so much all the time now?

Now, I know everyone else is aware of the exact reason why. But our dear Harry has no clue that he is in fact falling in love with Ginny Weasley.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Ginny knocked twice on Ron's shut door. The sign at the top of the door bearing his name rattled because of it's loose hinges.

"Ron?" she called.

"Go away," came a muffled reply.

"Ron, it's Ginny. Can I please come in?" she twisted the handle and opened the door slightly, peeking though. Ron was lying face down into his pillow. Ginny sighed and walked over to Ron's bed. She sat down on the edge and stared at the fiery red hair on the back of his head.

"Ron, everything's gonna' be okay. She'll come back-"

"How would you know?" he snapped, turning his head from his pillow to glare at her. "What if this time I pushed her too far. What if this time she-" his voice choked a little, "left for good?" He flung his face back into the pillow and lay motionless all over again.

"Oh for goodness sakes, Ron, pull yourself together. I had to suck it up for over a year when Harry broke up with me-"

"But Gin!" Ron interrupted, flopping onto his side so he could talk to her. "I've loved Hermione ever since I was fourteen! That was when I knew for sure at least, all the other years I had a huge crush on her. And now I finally have her, well, had her, but I blew it. Why do I always mess up?" he asked.

"Don't make me answer that," Ginny joked. Ron sneered.

"It was a rhetorical question anyway," he added.

"Ron, girls are strange when it comes to love. We'll get ourselves in deep, pouring our hearts out, then end up getting hurt in the end. I'm sure Hermione just doesn't want that happening to her."

"But I don't want to do that to her, Gin. I would never want to hurt her. And if I have-" he groaned and hit himself on the face.

"Just give her some time. If she's the Hermione I know, she'll come straight back. She loves you too much," Ginny replied. At this, a grin was finally forced out of Ron.

"Either way, I'm going to her house tomorrow to apologize. And I'll bring her flowers, and chocolate, and-"

"Woah, Ron, don't overdo it," she laughed. Ron chuckled too.

"Thanks, Gin. I think I'm better now."

"Good," she replied, standing and heading for the door. She was halfway out when she said, "and make sure the flowers aren't yellow."

She shut the door, leaving a confused Ron lying on his bed.