Wow! Another Update! Another short chapter, though. I have state testing this week and that means no homework. If I though I was going to write this much, though, I would have just combined the last two chaapters instead of having tow short one. Oh well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Though I wish I owned Draco...
"Ginny are you okay? You didn't sound very convincing last night." Hermione said.
"Fine, 'Mione. I was just tired was all."
"Are you sure? Seamus…?"
"Is a nice guy, and if he wants to date Hannah, then I say congratulations Hannah."
"Really?"
"I hardly even know Seamus."
"You don't have to know someone to like that. Merlin, if Victor and I didn't prove that, I don't know what will."
Ginny sighed. "It's just nice to feel wanted, you know?"
"Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
"Huh?"
"Robert Frost, muggle poet. The point is I know what you mean." She too sighed and Ginny was pretty sure that she wasn't the only redhead on her mind.
"Hey, I'm going down to breakfast, you want to come?"
She blushed slightly. "I don't think so."
"You can't avoid him forever."
"But I can try."
Ginny set her jaw in a forced smile. She held her head up high as she made her way into the great hall.
Lavender had already asked Professor Snape for salamander's blood, which everyone knew was used in Anti-pregnancy potions. Snape had flushed and sputtered but had, in the end, given it to her without any questions. Lavender, not in need of the particular ingredient (much to Ginny's relief), had opted to simply throw the blood away. Ginny, never one to let a good opportunity by, had instead sent it to Pansy Parkinson with a baby's pacifier and a note that simply said "Good luck and Congratulations". Lavender and Parvati had nearly collapsed in a fit of giggles. Hermione, however, still slightly sore about her own dare, had simply cringed in disapproval.
And Parvati had accomplished her task too. She had snuck into the Hufflepuff team's locker room and put itching powder into all of their quidditch uniforms. Ginny had noted with some amusement that a certain Kevin Whitby seemed to be scratching a good deal more than any of his teammates.
Two down and two to go. Ginny certainly had no intention of being last.
"Ginny?"
"Yes?"
"Look, Gin, I think we need to talk."
"Seamus, I'm kind of in the middle of something right now, okay. Can we talk later?"
"But, this is really important."
"But I-"
"Please?"
"Fine."
"Could we maybe do this somewhere else?"
"Come on, Seamus, I'm busy."
"Fine, fine. Look, I can't keep leading you on. I met Hannah at Hogsmeade when you didn't show up and we had lunch together."
"So?"
"And well, then I kind of asked her to go to the next Hogsmeade with me. Look, I'm really, really sorry, Ginny. I feel terrible. I-"
"Seamus, I know. Lavender and Parvati told me. I understand, and you don't have to feel guilty. You've been nothing but a gentleman to me."
"And you're…okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm not trying to brush you off or anything, I just really have to go. No hard feelings?" She said, offering him her hand.
He smiled as he left and Ginny couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of annoyance as she watched Hannah Abbott, pigtails bouncing, join arms with him.
Pushing away her irritation she continued walking past the Gryffindor (smiling at Ron and Harry, winking at her dorm mates) straight to the Slytherin table. Pansy (who Ginny was pretty sure suspected her of the whole pacifier thing) glared, along with her group of Slytherin girls.
"What are you doing here, Weasley?" She scoffed. She grabbed Draco's arm and tugged gallingly. "Draco, make her leave."
She ignored her and instead looked at Blaise, who was seated on Malfoy's other side.
"Blaise, be a doll and move over, will you? I need to sit next to the Ferret."
He obliged, looking amused. "Another dare?"
She nodded sadly. "Why do I do it, Blaise? It always turns out badly."
"What was it this time?"
"I have to sit next to him for breakfast." She said, jerking a thumb in Malfoy's direction. "Not a very impressive dare really, but the consequences if I refused were dire." He raised an eyebrow. "They were going to say that Harry and I have been having a passionate love affair all summer."
"Isn't that just what you always wanted, Weasel?"
"No, not when I'm just now convincing people the exact opposite. Besides, who gave you permission to eavesdrop?"
"That's what you get for talking about me like I'm not here. Besides, am I really that unappealing?"
"Yes."
"Liar, you know you want me."
"Draco, I think you're confused. Pansy's on the other side of you."
Pansy crinkled her little pug nose.
Draco smirked. "I could get up and leave right now, and then you wouldn't be able to complete your dare."
"Yes." She smiled sweetly. "But then you will have to deal with me tomorrow and the next day and the next day until one day I wear you down."
"Look at you two. Can't you ever get along?" Blaise asked, stifling a grin.
"No." They answered simultaneously.
Ginny spent the rest of breakfast chatting with Blaise and stubbornly ignoring Malfoy.
"As much fun as this was, I think it's time for me to leave." She turned to Crabbe and Goyle.
"One more little thing I have to do. Gregory, Vincent, do you mind?"
Looking completely dumbfounded, both shook their heads. She leaned over and gently kissed each on the cheek. "Thank you."
As she walked away to her first class she could have swore she heard she heard Malfoy laughing.
"Hey Ginny, can you do me a favor? Can you store this? There's no space in our room."
Ron extended a huge shopping bag.
"What is all this?"
"Harry and my Christmas shopping."
"Um…for who?"
"For everyone Ginny." Harry said. "Gee, I never knew you had so many cousins. Plus everyone from the Order. Look what I got for Snuffles." Smiling wickedly, he held up a bag of bacon flavored doggy treats.
She laughed. "I can't believe I didn't start shopping already! I have so much left to do. Maybe Hermione will go with me sometime."
"Are you kidding? It's October; she been done with her Christmas shopping for at least a month."
"Oh, be nice Ron." She scolded.
"Speaking of Hermione, has anyone seen her?"
Ron looked thoughtful. "I haven't seen her since yesterday. She's probably messing around with a stupid time-turner again."
Ginny winked. "Don't worry, Ron, I think you'll see her soon enough."
Something odd was happening in the Common room. Lavender and Parvati were sitting in the corner, giggly hysterically and continually glancing in Harry, Ron's direction. At the top of the girls' dormitory stairs stood Hermione. Upon seeing her entry, Hermione gave Ginny a pleading look. For a minute, she didn't understand and then, realizing the time, she understood.
It was quickly approaching seven, the deadline for the dares, and Hermione had yet to complete hers. With a deep breath, Hermione descended the stairs.
"Good luck." Ginny murmured as she passed.
"Thanks," She answered without stopping, "I'll need it."
"Hi, Ron." She said, shyly.
He barely glanced up. "Oh, Hi, 'Mione. Where were-whoa Hermione. What did you do to yourself?"
She looked hurt. "You don't like it?"
"No, it's-it's great."
Ginny didn't know how Hermione had gotten through the day without being noticed by Ron, but by the obvious surprise on his face it was clear this was the first time he had seen her.
And he was right; she did look great. As she had requested, Lavender and Parvati hadn't done anything too drastic. They had shown her a hair-straightening charm that only had to be applied once a week and her brown tresses now hung in place without the slightest bit of frizz. They had also added lighter highlights-not quite blond- that in Ginny's opinion looked marvelous. Her face had a very minimal amount of makeup, hardly noticeably, that accented her naturally attractive features. It was hard to when her nose was in a book, but standing there in lovely blue robes (that someone else had picked out for her, no doubt) Hermione, Ginny decided, was very pretty.
Hermione beamed. Then, without preamble, she leaned forward pulling Ron up off the couch, wrapped her arms firmly around his waist and kissed him. It was over before Ron had ended figured out what had happened.
Hermione's face was flushed bright pink as she tried to explain. "See, it was a dare and then I…" Not being able to find the words, she turned, still very pink, to flee.
Ron however, caught her hand.
"I-"
She couldn't have finished if she had wanted to, because before she could explain, Ron's lips were on hers. For a moment, Hermione's body went rigid before she pulled herself closer and allowed him to deepen the kiss.
The cat-calls and cheering was what finally stopped them. The entire Gryffindor house was in an uproar. Parvati and Lavender were simply glowing and Ginny was unable to hide her smile.
Dean clapped Ron on the back. "Thanks, man."
"For what?"
"Lee and I had a bet going. I told him you two would be together by Christmas, but he didn't think you'd hook up until after graduation." Dean smiled. "Now if you excuse me, I have two galleons to collect."
The establishment of Gryffindor's newest and longest awaited couple seemed to merit a party. Friends of Hermione and Ron's were happy to see them finally getting over their own stupidity. Others simply stayed for the butterbeer. The merriment lasted until nearly midnight. Professor McGonagall had entered around ten to break it up, but after Ginny discreetly informed her of the reason for the ruckus, she had quietly slipped away and let the party continue.
While Ginny joined in the fun, she couldn't help but be slightly distracted. She was getting an idea and it wasn't one she liked.
I'm sorry there hasn't been much Draco in the past few chapters, but I promise he'll be in the next chapter. Hehehehe...I know something you don't know...hehehehe...
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