Please review. I thought Charlie would be an interesting idea. Love you all. Ok and now on to the chapter. Review!

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Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form, own anything in J.K Rowling's magnificent world. Enjoy.

Chapter 5

I would've shouted loud and broken through

I would've given it all to belong to you

But there were different plans, different rules

You said "where I'm from there is a lock and key

If you'd be so kind as to follow me

I will show you the way to the rest of my sins"

Cos you've got a secret don't ya babe?

Yeah you, you got a secret don't ya babe?

And I should know

Yeah I should know – "Secret" / Missy Higgins

~/~

[Ginny's POV]

Although Hermione had not defended her when my mother threw insult after insult to me, I couldn't completely blame her. But even that thought did not make me walk back into the room I had just left. Hermione had used me, had taken my heart and caressed and loved it and then squished it under her shoes. She had left it outside to wither and die. I walk back to Gryffindor tower angry that I have let me emotions get the better of me. But I am also proud of myself for being able to leave. I take the staircase back to the seventh floor and let me mind wander. I remember that Charlie had come to my room two days after my confession to my mother.

~/~

"I wish, I had better advice then what I'm about to tell you." I'm confused and unaware of what he's talking about.

He looked away from me towards the window, in deep thought. His hand brushed against his red locks and then he sighed. "Ginny, I'm like you." he said firmly and deliberately. I raised my eyebrows.

"You're like…me…" I repeated slowly. He stared into my brown eyes and nodded.

"Ok…" I sat up a little more pulling a blanket around my shoulders. I'm not sure I know wh-"

"Yes you do," he interrupted. "I'm gay as well. I love men."

I opened my mouth in shock and then quickly closed it "I…I…"

"Why didn't you tell me!" I demanded.

He stood up and walked to the window, his back to me. "Because I was smart." he murmured. "Because I knew you'd probably let it slip to Ron, who would most definitely tell mum and I knew how she felt about homosexuality. I was smart." he concluded.

He turned around to find me.

"Ginny, you need to go downstairs and lie to her." he said, tears in his eyes. "Lie with all your heart that you were confused, going through a phase, teen curiosity. Lie that you don't love Hermione, lie that you never did, lie that you don't even know what love is, lie-…"

"Wait!" I yelled, "What?" I stood up in rage, the blanket falling off me."Lie! Give in? No no! I won't!" Charlie grabbed my shoulders.

"If you want to be a part of this family, your only family! Then you must! Trust me this is for the better…"

~/~

I sit up in a pile of sweaty sheets. For once I wish that had been a dream but instead it had been a conversation I would never forget. I did tell my mother what Charlie had asked for, and my mother took her back in, sending Hermione away making the excuse that Hermione's parents had written her, missing their daughter. I can clearly remember asking why Hermione had gone and not said goodbye and my mother avoiding eye contact and telling her Hermione didn't want to wake up her up as she left early in the morning.

I rub my eyes and checking my clock on the bedside table near me. 4AM bloody hell, I don't know if I'll be able to get up in the morning. But then again I've already missed a ton of class why should it matter. I glance around too awake to go back to sleep. My eyes fall on my journal that Cho Chang had give back to me earlier yesterday after Quidditch Practice.

~/~

She had mentioned that she found in the train while making a double check for students but all I was noticing was her beautiful cheekbones, and the lips that she guessed were saying words but Ginny only noticed the shape and smoothness they had. When Cho continued talking, she pushed a strand of silky black hair that had a habit of falling into her face. I gulped, a tingling sensation running down my body. Cho stopped talking after several moments when I didn't respond to her seemingly question.

I blinked rapidly and then coughed. "Right ok, thanks." Not knowing a bloody thing she was talking about.

Cho smiled and I melted again.

"So, your Charlie's sister right?" Cho asked rummaging in her coat pocket. I nodded and began walking back to castle, Cho followed lighting a cigarette. "You don't mind do you? Cho quickly asked making a gesture to put out the cigarette. I shook my head. Cho took a drag and they continued to walk.

"He's in Romania at the moment." I said after a minute.

"Oh?"
"Yup, studying dragons" Ginny finished shrugging her broom over her shoulder. The side entrance door was coming into their view and Ginny's mood dropped, she wanted more time with Cho.

"Dragons…" Cho was saying blowing out smoke examining how the smoke formed in the wind. "That's exciting, but dangerous isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Do you miss him?"

"So much," I said a sad note in her voice, which Cho picked up on as she dropped the subject.

They were at the door. Cho smiled glancing at her wristwatch. "Charms has always been my favorite class, did you know that?" she said in a singsong voice.

I raised my eyebrows "Really? Me too." I responded trying not to show the inner battle waging on. Bullocks! Defense of the Dark Arts is! Shut up! Agree with the pretty girl.

Cho's eyes brightened "Brilliant! Maybe I could help you with your lessons, you know show you a few tips," Cho laughed. Ginny smiled. Play it cool. I thought. Don't freak out you'll scare her off.

"A few tricks? I'm already pro though! Didn't you know? Ministry's been owling me for days asking if they can hire me." Cho quirked her head and then noticing it was joke, giggled.

"You're silly" she said batting her eye lashes probably not on purpose but I took note and clenched my hands into fists.

"Well anyways, if you ever decide you need help, just drop by the table." I assumed the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall.

"And don't hesitate to ask."

I nodded. Play it cool I repeat in my head. Play. It. Cool.

"Yeah, I might do that."

Cho smiled the most beautiful smile and then went in for a hug which confused me but I recovered and squeezed her maybe a little too hard although Cho didn't seem to notice.

"See you around." she giggled. I nodded again, the voices in my head telling her not to say anything for fear of sounding like an idiot. I quickly waved as Cho dropped her cigarette stepping on it and entered the door.

My heart rate was soaring through the roof, Cho's scent still in my nose and her face still in my mind.

"Oh dear Merlin…" I mumbled under my breath as I mounted my broom and took off into the sky in an attempt to relax.

~/~

I look up from the cover of my journal grinning at the thought of Cho. Perhaps she would drop by today I ponder as I slip back under the covers closing my eyes.

All too soon my 8:30 alarm goes off and I grudgingly open my eyes taking in the sound of my peers scrambling, screaming about a lost hairbrush and that breakfast was almost over. I groan hating when I miss breakfast but my bed is soft and warm and comfy, and – "OPEN UP, GINNY DAMMIT TALK TO ME! OPEN UP!" a loud knocking could be heard over the bustle of the girls.

They all stop and turn to look at me. Rachel Waddow, a fifth year disheveled red-haired who wore too much makeup pushes me out of the bed to the door.

"Deal with it." she growls, "He's been sitting out all night."

"All night? Really?"I ask fuzzily.

"Yes." she growls as she opens the door, "Hey Dean," she snaps. "Yeah, she's in, see you later" as she walks past him out of the dormitory.

Dean practically falls into the room; he had been levitating himself to avoid the nasty slide-like staircase that turned into a trap once any boy tried to enter. As he picks himself up ignoring all the shouts from the girls telling him to get out, I drag him into a corner with a couple tables and bookcases partially concealing them.

"Rachel says you've been sleeping outside there for the night…" I start.

"The night?" he asked, "Nah I've been there for about an hour."

"Oh really?" Rachel always lies about everything. Last week she lied about Hermione liking Fred, the week before that she said she saw McGonagall checking out Dumbledore. I make a mental note not to believe anything she says.

"Hey! Focus here!" Dean snaps.

I turn to look at him, "Why are you here Dean?"He makes an exasperated face and lets out a huff.

"I feel like we don't talk anymore! You avoid me in the hallways and at meals. I mean come on Ginny, you're my girlfriend! I understand you might be going through some things but let me in! Tell me, I care for you."

I sigh.

"Dean…" I say, his face hopeful. "Dean," I say slowly taking his hand, "I think we should break-…"

"Don't say it" he says sounding panicky all the sudden and he pulls his hand out of mine.

"Don't say it! Ginny why…!" I raise my eyebrows, and lean away slightly from him.

"What did I do? Tell me!" he yells a hand on his head.

I stand up feeling guilty that I've fallen out of like for him. That his kisses are rough and unenjoyable. That he's a sloppy drunk. That he bores me and seems more like an annoying sibling then a boyfriend. "It's not you it's me…" I start slowly.

"Oh don't give me that, spare me please" he stands up shaking his head, hand covering his mouth. Spare you? Fine Dean I will spare you.

"I'm just not interested in you anymore; you always try to help me through easy things like the damn portrait hole! You drink too much! You brag too much! I mean for Merlin's sake it's like you want to date yourself and not me."

He sits there in silence, for a couple moments. And I close my mouth, I can't tell is this situation is going good or bad.

He finally stops nodding feverishly and opens his mouth. "You know what!"

I look up.

"This relationship is over!" his arms gesturing finality."I'm breaking up with you! Stupid cow!" He grumbles out of the room not bothering to levitate himself down the slide. The other girls look at me raising eyebrows, toothbrushes still in their mouth.

"Git." I shrug.

And then I climb back into bed, roll over and close my eyes. I want to dream of silky black hair and a pair of striking brown eyes I could lose myself in.

~/~

I wake up several hours later, groaning. I had missed all my morning classes again. I turn on my side to look at the clock, watching the hands tick almost as though to mock me. Tick...Tick...Tick. I sigh and roll back onto my back looking up at the ceiling in deep thought. I suppose a part of me will always love Hermione because she was my first relation where I felt truly intense feelings but I also truly think I'm over her. Cho, on the other hand. I whistle to myself, my toes getting a tingling feeling just thinking about her. Cho Chang is the girl I want to get to know. She's intriguing. Intriguing and straight a mocking voice not unlike Hermione's says in my head. But when do I ever give up on a challenge? And plus Hermione had been straight before she and I hooked up. Maybe I just have that charm to turn the girls. Shut up says what I suppose is my Superego. You're too cocky for your own good, and if you keep thinking like that you're going to end up alone. Hey now, let's all calm down, I'll be fine my ego says. I look up from the bed realizing I'm hearing voices in my head. I shake my body out; Cho really has my mind going.

I hop off my bed and walk sleepily into the bathroom noticing my dorm is completely empty. Throwing water on my face after brushing my teeth and hair, I leave feeling slightly more awake. I walk out of the portrait on route to the Great Hall and as soon as I enter I see Hermione, Ron and Harry in deep conversation at Gryffindor table probably about You-know-Who or some other topic of angst. I groan why can't they just be normal teenagers and then I remember Harry was destined to be this way since birth. I walk closer and catch a bit of their conversation.

"He only followed different instructions to ours," said Ron.

I am wrong; they had been arguing about an object in Harry's hand, a book. I freeze midway and my mind is full of images of Riddle and the Chamber. Ron sighed, "Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no. I get one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two – but."

"Hang on," I say. I'm furious that Harry would stoop that low. Didn't he know what kind of dark magic that book probably contained? "Did I hear right? You've been taking orders from something someone wrote in a book, Harry?"

"It's nothing," Harry replied. I snort.

"It's not like, you know, Riddle's diary. It's just an old textbook someone's scribbled on" he states in a considerablely lower tone. I look at him with my eyebrows raised, "But you're doing what it says?"

"I just tried a few of the tips written in the margins, honestly, Ginny, there's nothing funny-"

Hermione shifts on the bench. "Ginny's got a point," Hermione says. I smile briefly in thanks and then turn my head back to Harry "See." I say. "Get rid of that book, ASAP." He looks at me for a second and then at the book. I examine how he caresses the book and I realize it's too late for him to give it up. I can also feel Hermione's eyes on me even after I've looked away from her and I begin to feel awkward. "Get rid of that book." I repeat and then promptly continue down the table to further the distance between me and Hermione.

I sit down next to Bianca and Malcolm who have been here longer then me as I notice all the half-eaten food stacked up on Malcolm's plate. "You're late." Bianca states. "And where were you during Transfiguration?" I grab a sandwich and play with it in my hands slowly trying to figure out a good excuse as to why I bailed, when out of the corner of my eye I see a gorgeous seventh year flanked by two other people. Roger Davis and a blonde Hufflepuff I recognize as Amanda Scott. Cho Chang has entered the Great Hall and the air leaves my system.

I am staring a little too long because Bianca snaps her fingers in front of my face. "Hello? Hello! Where were you this morning?"I look back at her confused for a moment as to where I am and then remember. "I was asleep." I say rather anti-climatically. Bianca rolls her eyes again muttering what seems to be the word "again" and Malcolm turns to look at me, "Ginny you can't keep missing classes we need to get good O.W.L.S this year if you want..." he keeps talking but I put down the sandwich I've taken out and zone out, Cho is walking straight in my direction. She tucks a beautiful piece hair behind her ear and looks right at me. It feels like time has stopped. In a second I noticed the clothes she was wearing and the titles of the books she was carrying. Then I blink and Cho looks away. Another second passes and Cho is closer now on her way to sit down. I follow her with my eyes in awe of her figure, her hands, face, skin, hair, I can go on.

Roger says something close in her ear and Cho chuckles again, the laugh lighting up all the features on her face, especially her eyes. I look away in case Cho realized she had been staring and I feel like she has so I grab my bag and I'm just about to leave when I hear a singsong voice.

"Hi."

I look up unmoving; the black-haired beauty is two feet away from me on opposite side of the table with a smile on her face. On her way to her table, Cho Chang has stopped at mine? Is she really talking to me? Bianca has narrowed her eyes at Cho. I know why, Bianca is jealous of Cho's good looks, and also I suspect because she is Head Girl. Malcolm says nothing and continues to eat. I take a breath.

"He-Hey Cho."

Merlin, I love the way her name sounded on my lips it was like poetry. I could say it forever and never get bored. I examine her face, she looks confused.

"Are you ok? You look really pale almost like you're about to be sick." she said caringly. I relax at what she has said. She hasn't guessed I am pale because I am nervous around her. I smile up at her, "Must have been something I ate." I immediately regret this sentence because both Cho and I look down at my empty plate. I blush and continue quickly in attempt to cover up my mistake.

"-This morning!" I almost yell. Malcolm looks up at me with a puzzled frown. Bianca it seems has given up trying to understand me "Not right now because, you can see, there's nothing…and- so yes this morning! I must have eaten something, rotten, yes." Cho laughs at my frantic voice and walks around the table, sitting on the opposite side of me where Malcolm isn't. As soon as Cho sits down I try to keep my eyes on her face and not anything lower. Not on her chest or those perfect legs under her skirt.

Cho leans in and whispers in my ear. "You don't have to be nervous around me," she murmurs, her hot breath making my head spin. I flush again and ball my hands into small fists my face only inches away from hers. I can see every eyelash every freckle. I can see her brown eyes and her lips which are moving but I can't hear the words coming out of them. All I can think about is closing that space between them regardless that we are surrounded by all my friends and Professors. I had never wanted to kiss anyone so much in my entire life. Cho moves a centimeter closer and then a voice rings out in my head. She's straight! I pull back, and Cho seems to not have noticed the inner battle in my head. I blink and try to clean my mind and listen to the words coming out of her perfect lips.

"–I know that I'm Head Girl…" Cho is saying, "But there's no need to feel so nervous we're sort of friends now right?"

I am relieved that Cho had mistaken my infatuation of her for nervousness of her badge. "Don't worry that badge isn't that shiny. I try to keep myself together more next time." I say this good-naturedly and watch her expression. She smiles "Good." We sit there in comfortable seconds of silence before I look down at my watch and realize I have to go.

"Listen Herbology is about to start so I need to dash." I say standing up. Cho nods, also standing up and I notice however older she is to me I'm taller than her. As I turn to leave I feel a tug on my sleeve. I turn and realize she is holding on.

"Do you want to hang out sometime?" she asks suddenly. "I feel like there's some air to clear with Harry and all." I am shocked but I take the chance immediately and nod. I could use this time to get to know her, even if to her it was a friendly meeting of friends to discuss Harry. "That sounds great, how about this Saturday at one?" I ask.

"Sounds good, see you there." I turn to leave and then look down to realize Cho has still not let go of my sleeve. Her hand is pulling at the fabric lightly. I feel my heart strain; it feels like she's pulling on my heart lightly. I don't want her to let go. Who knows when she'll ever pull on my robes again? Who knows when I'll ever get this close to her?

"Sorry I get attached easy I guess," she says avoiding my eyes. I don't have time to reply because she hastily walks back to her House table. I watch her leave and wonder about her last words to me. She sits down next to Roger and he immediately starts talking to her looking over in my direction. His face is not angry but he also doesn't seem to be happy. I am still standing when I hear my friends ask me what she wanted. I glance at them not sure myself. "It's nearly time for Herbology guys, I gotta go." They attempt to protest but I've already turned and started to walk.

Silently I am wishing a hand would stop me again. But it doesn't and I continue out of the Great Hall.

~/~