Good Gravy, I'm sorry it's been so long! Forgive me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I only own the plot and Starla.

Previously on Summer Confessions: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny decided to wander around town, today. Before they were able to get ready, however, the doorbell rang.

Hermione went and answered it, and was surprised to see Starla. Her face was tearstained and she was clutching a tissue. "Hermione!' She wailed, "Dean just broke up with me!" she threw herself at Hermione, and hugged her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ginny went into the foyer and saw Starla crying. She had a feeling it was all an act…a "clever" ruse to get Harry to comfort her in her time of need.

Ginny's a sharp girl, because that's exactly what this tart named Starla was doing. Oh, the vindictiveness of the female species.

Chapter 9: A Horrible Occurrence

Hermione was mighty uncomfortable. She didn't even like this girl, and here she was, hugging her like they were bosom buddies. Couldn't Starla take a hint?

"Oh no. I'm sorry, Starla," Hermione said, trying to be as compassionate as possible. Finally, Starla let go and collapsed on a couch in the family room. Hermione and Ginny followed, still trying to be nice.

"I mean he just up and, like, broke up with me! It was, like, totally unexpected. We had been having such a good time, and, like, POOF, there he goes!" Starla gestured exuberantly with her hands, tears still running down her face. This girl's a good actress. Let's hope she starts to lose some of her fervor soon. She's driving me crazy with her overly large hand movements. Ginny thought.

"That's terrible. What a jerk," Hermione said with a dull note in her voice.

"I know! He's, like, a total ass. I hate him. I sent him dead flowers."

Just then, Harry and Ron entered the room. Harry quickly said, "what's wrong, Starla?" Whoa. He sounds concerned? Doesn't he know what she is?! Ginny thought again.

"Oh! Oh, nothing," She said, quickly and obviously wiping her eyes. "My boyfriend –" Her lower lip started to tremble in preparation of fake tears – "sort of, like, broke up with me." She started bawling again. Hermione patted her arm. Ron sat next to Hermione and observed.

"That's awful! Do you want to hang out with us today, help you feel better?" Harry asked. Ginny's head whipped around to face him immediately. She was staring at Harry incredulously, her expression plainly saying 'Are you insane?!' Harry just looked at Ginny pointedly, his expression plainly saying 'She's having a hard time so we should be nice.'

"That's really, like, nice of you, Harry. I'd love to," Starla said. Ginny could see the small, triumphant gleam in her eyes. It was clear this was exactly what she wanted. Harry, you fool! Can't you see what she's doing? Ginny was slightly furious. She was mad about her sunburn, she was mad that Harry was falling into Starla's trap, and she had the worst cramps ever. It was not going to be a good day.

"OK, great! Ginny and I," Hermione looked meaningfully at Ginny, "need to go put clothes on, and then we'll figure out what we should do today."

Ginny mumbled something incoherent, and the two girls walked quickly to Hermione's bedroom. "That slag! Can't you see what she's doing?" Ginny burst forth once the door was closed.

"I know, Gin, it's OK, though. Harry's crazy about you, he won't go after Starla. He loves you."

Ginny took a few deep calming breaths and then said, "You're right. I guess I shouldn't get too upset."

The two girls quickly got dressed. Ginny put on a pair of jeans and a white tank top. Hermione put on a pair of jeans and a green tee shirt. They both quickly did a little make-up and went into the family room again.

Ginny was still a little worried when the pair of them entered the family room. The three of them were watching the television. An ad for sunscreen came on and Ginny smiled wryly. Figures an ad for that would come on…I'm still clearly sunburned.

The five of them decided to go out to lunch, as it was already 12:30. They went to a place by the shopping mall, where they would go to a movie.

A waitress by the name of Lisa took their order. Hermione ordered grilled chicken with pasta salad, Ginny ordered a burger, and Ron also ordered a burger, Harry ordered a chicken sandwich and Starla ordered a garden salad.

Starla was gabbing on and on about a new diet she heard about, consisting of a Cayenne pepper shake only, and how and why Marilyn Monroe was absolutely stunning. Ginny was only half listening. She was staring at her burger, feeling like the fattest person in the room. Even though it was quite the contrary, and she was very slim, she still felt like a moose. Hermione had gotten something excessively healthy, and Starla had had three bites of her lettuce and then pronounced that she was painfully full. She looked up at Starla and considered her features.

She wasn't all that bad-looking, actually. She had high cheekbones and a prominent nose and big eyes. She ruined her features with the extra "beauty enhancements" she used. Her eyes had a thick ring of eyeliner around them and a lot of mascara that made them look small and grimy. Her lips had too much red lipstick on them. Her hair was brittle from all of the abuse of the dying (even though she still had bad roots). Her teeth were over-whitened and had a dull, grey tinge to them. She would have been pretty had she left herself alone.

And then, Ginny realized something that made her feel inadequate. Starla would be pretty without help. Ginny always wore make-up. Ginny always had her hair styled impeccably. She always had the best clothes she could afford. Was Ginny pretty without help? She didn't feel like it. She felt plain without any make-up on. Was she, Starla, better than Ginny?

No, of course not. She quickly pushed that thought from her mind, but still didn't eat any more of her burger, despite her hunger.

They all finished their lunch and got back into Hermione's car. They drove to the movie theartre and agreed on a movie. They were going to see Practical Magic. Even though the guys protested and said the movie was a "chick flick," they bought tickets for it anyway.

They all sat in the darkened theatre, Ginny next to Harry on one side, and Starla on his other. Ginny was on the end. In the middle of the movie, Ginny got up to go to the ladies' room. She looked in the mirror after doing her business, and scrutinized her face. It's not like she had a lot of make-up on. Just some mascara and eyebrow bone highlighter. Not much at all. Her hair was down and free flowing today…She wasn't too made-up, in her opinion, but what did she know? She didn't follow the styles. Was it in-style to wear too much eye make-up? Is that what all the trendy girls were doing?

Walking out of the bathroom, Ginny contemplated the summer. It was barely the middle of July, and she had an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could tell something bad was going to happen; the feeling hung in the air, like a bad smell, waiting for someone to name it out loud.

She walked back into the theatre and started her journey towards her seat. She did not like what she found there. Starla was practically on top of Harry, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. Ginny just stood there, in the aisle, complete and total shock washing over her. Harry suddenly pushed Starla off him, and looked up at Ginny. She noticed lipstick smudged on his mouth. This sight jerked her into emotion.

"You bastard!"

A.N. Well, that was chapter 9! I think this was my first official cliff hanger. Does it qualify, do you think? Don't you feel bad for Ginny? Aren't those feelings she was having sad? I thought they were. Tell me what you think!

I hope you liked the chapter as much as I liked writing it!