A/N: I know. I know. It has been far too long since my last update. For those of you still lingering in there until the end; I am sorry. I also want to convey my gratitude. I've been struggling with my writing for some time now. Knowing there are people out there who enjoy reading what I write helped me so much, so keep the reviews coming. We're almost to the end.
As Ginny slipped into the common room that night, she found it filled with the usual activity. She was sure she wasn't the only one noticing Hermione and Ron sitting huddled together in the corner of the room. She found a smile forming on her lips at this sight and slipping away as she spotted Emily sitting on her own by the window.
Taking a deep breath, Ginny crossed to her friend and sat beside her. They were equally silent for a moment as they each attempted to think of something to say. It had been so long since they had spoken that neither was sure how to break the ice.
Finally, Ginny murmured a simple, "Hey."
With a surprised chuckle, Emily replied, "Hey." They smiled at one another in silence for a moment before Emily hesitantly added, "You've been kind of busy recently. It's nice to see you."
"Yeah, about that," Ginny said, taking her most trusted friend's hands into her own. "I'm really, really sorry. I've been so caught up in myself and my own problems that I haven't been there for you at all. I realized that I don't even know what's going on in my best friend's life, and I hate it. I'm really sorry."
"Dummy," Emily responded, causing Ginny to laugh. "I knew all this already."
"I know," Ginny said looked down in shame. "I still felt like I needed to say it, though."
"Well, I guess it is good to hear," Emily replied as she made a face at Ginny. "It's good to hear anything from you at all. So what's been happening?"
"Well," Ginny began, drawing out the word for added suspense. Emily simply raised her eyebrows expectantly and Ginny continued, "I'm going on a date with Draco Malfoy tomorrow."
"What?" Emily hissed, barely managing to keep her voice from shouting the question.
"Yeah," Ginny said, no longer looking at Emily. "Right after what I'm sure will be my last date with Harry."
"Since when are you dating Harry again?" Emily inquired, scooting closer to Ginny. Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
"I'm not," Ginny explained patiently. "I'm just giving him one last date before I break things off completely. Sort of as a favor, I guess."
"How is it a favor?" Emily asked, and Ginny was shocked by the sharpness in her tone. When Ginny continued to simply stare back at Emily in bemusement she added, "It just sounds to be like your leading him on. You know you're going to shut him down in the end, already. So why are you even pretending to give him a chance."
"Well…I'm not…it's just…he asked," Ginny managed to explain in a very small, timid voice. "He just came out of nowhere and begged me for one more chance, so I said yes. Then Draco came out of nowhere and practically told me we'd be going on a date. I didn't plan it this way, that's just how it happened."
Ginny paused to take a breath, and suddenly a thought occurred to her. She frowned and said, "Why do I have to defend this to you? It's not like I'm doing anything wrong here. Neither of them has asked me to be with them. I'm single. I have a right to go on dates with whoever I want for whatever reason I choose."
"I just think," Emily spat as she rose, "that you would have the decency to actually make a choice between the two. They've obviously both stated an interest in you if they're asking you on a date."
"I have made a choice," Ginny stated firmly. "I chose Draco. I'm going on a date with him, because I want to know if he wants to choose me in return."
"Then maybe you should just tell Harry that," Emily snapped in retort, "and stop leading him on with false chances. That is, if you really are happy choosing Draco."
Then Emily stormed off leaving Ginny behind feeling frustrated and confused. She couldn't understand why Emily was getting so worked up over this. It wasn't as if any of it really involved Emily.
She just doesn't understand the relationship I have with Harry, Ginny decided. He's my friend whether we're together or not, and this is the best way I know to keep him as my friend. I just need this time alone with him to explain everything.
Ginny gazed up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Emily had retreated there, probably so she could pretend to be asleep when Ginny went to bed.
She'll understand once I work this all out, Ginny thought with determination. I'll just have to make her understand if it comes to that.
Ginny glanced across the room to where Harry sat with Ron and Hermione. They were all chatting together happily, making Ginny's spirits rise. It was good to see Harry looking so happy again. Her spirits dampened slightly at the thought that she would soon be taking some of the happiness from him soon.
He'll be fine, Ginny reminded herself. He had Ron and Hermione. Besides, there are tons of girls out there who would be willing to help him forget about me. Emily is wrong about me being unable to decide. I know I have to let Harry go. That's what's best for him.
That's what's best for me, Ginny asserted mentally. Then she rose and headed up the stairs to bed. She was so tired. She was tired from caring so much about what everyone else felt. She could barely handle everything she was feeling.
For some reason, this made her think of Blaise. She hadn't seen or spoken to him in several days and she was finding, much to her surprise, that she almost missed him.
As a friend of course, Ginny reminded herself as she climbed into bed. He's been a great friend to me, that's why.
Or maybe it's something more, the traitor of a thought snuck out from the back of her mind. Ginny pushed the thought away firmly. If she wanted to figure out her feelings, she would have to stop letting herself confuse them.
I'm going after Draco, Ginny thought to herself as she closed her eyes and cuddled into the warmth of her sheets. I'm only after Draco.
In spite of these last thoughts before drifting off to sleep, Ginny found herself dreaming all night of dancing the tango, but not with Draco. It was Blaise she danced with, and at the end he kissed her passionately in front of all the Slytherins. Then he pulled away to spin her around before everyone including Draco, Harry, and Emily. Even Hermione and Ron were there. The most surprising thing about the dream however, was the fact that everyone was applauding at the end. They were cheering for Blaise and Ginny.
17
Blaise held to the promise he made Draco. He thought very seriously and deeply about asking Ginny to Hogsmeade and decided it would be best if he didn't. She was confused as it was; Blaise could tell. There was no need to add to her stress.
Besides, thought Blaise, it's not as if she's even interested in me.
He knew that, in the end, it would be easier for him if he simply forgot his feelings for Ginny. This was, of course, easier said than done. It seemed that every time he managed to seal up his feeling for Ginny she'd show up and talk to him, or just be near him, and all of those feelings came rushing back.
Blaise had managed to avoid her in the past few days since deciding to forget about her. The thing was, this didn't seem to help him much either. He thought about Ginny almost constantly. They were thoughts accompanied by harsh pangs in his chest.
Thankfully, Draco had given Blaise space since confronting him about Ginny. When they spoke, they carefully avoided topics that could lead to her. Blaise knew Draco was trying to be kind, but he also felt that maybe Draco didn't want to discuss Ginny with him.
I can't blame him, Blaise thought as he lay in bed. He was facing Draco's bed where his blond friend was fast asleep, looking forward to his date with Ginny the next day at Hogsmeade.
As Blaise rolled over, turning away from Draco, he thought, I don't really want to talk to him about Ginny, either. I doubt he really wants to hear what I think anyway. I don't want to know what he thinks. I can't take it. Not yet.
Blaise sighed heavily and tried to stop the stem of thoughts flowing through his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, though, he saw Ginny. He tried thinking of anything else, but all his thoughts seemed to lead back to her.
Maybe I should have asked her, Blaise thought mournfully. It's too late now, though.
He turned onto his back and stared at the canopy of his four poster bed. He told himself that all he had to do was get through the next day. If he could just do that, he knew he'd be fine. Once Ginny and Draco were officially together, it would be easier for Blaise to forget about her. He would have no other choice.
Blaise closed his eyes and saw Ginny in his minds eye once more. He sighed and forced her image to shrink away into the distance until she had disappeared from his mind's sight. She was still present there, of course, but it wasn't as stark as seeing her.
Blaise forced his mind to relax, letting his thoughts disperse in all directions. Soon, his thoughts of Ginny were mixed up in memories of the day and his past. Then he was fast asleep and dreaming. He held Ginny close in his dreams and finally told her everything he felt. He smiled in his sleep as she confessed that she had always felt the same.
A/N: Man. When I started this chapter a couple of months ago I thought for sure it would be the last one. Now I realize there are still some loose ends to tie up with this story. Yeesh. I promise to update again soon. My New Years Resolution has helped tune me back into writing, so I'm going to promise the next chapter by Valentines Day at the latest.
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