Chapter 2 The Feast
Ginny and Collin settled in at the Gryffindor table. Ginny looked around the Great Hall. So much was different yet so much was the same. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face when she looked at the staff table. Hermione was sitting dead center looking very proper and perfect for the job. Ron sat on her right with Harry next to him. The two of them were chatting away about only God knew what. On Hermione's left was Neville and next to him was none other than Draco Malfoy. Ginny was stunned that the two were talking as though they were old friends. Hermione would jump into either of the conversations if the mood struck. Sure enough not two minutes later she looked to be yelling at Ron and Harry for something that they had said. Other than those few the teachers were the same. Hagrid was sitting next to Harry and he looked like he was trying not to laugh while he watched Hermione scold the boys. Trelawney was sitting at the end of the table looking rather annoyed as 'the centaur', as she called him, talked to her. Even Filch was still there. He was standing in the back, with Mrs. Norris sitting at his feet, looking rather stern.
Ginny turned when Collin said something to her and she joined the conversation with her friends. She had missed them all terribly and it turned out to be the same for them. She even got to meet Pamela part way through the feast when she came over to talk to Collin for a bit. Ginny smiled as she watched them. They seemed to be good together. She couldn't have been happier for Collin.
Harry watched Ginny from the staff table. He wished that he could take back what he had said to her at the beginning of the summer, but as he watched her with Collin he realized that he was probably too late now anyways. She seemed happy and that was all that he wanted. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he confessed that he still loved her and it just caused her pain. She deserved a normal life and he just couldn't give her that, so he would just watch her from far away. If this was all that he could have then he would make do with it. Just as he thought this she looked directly at him and smiled. He smiled back. She was so beautiful and innocent. He knew that he was doing the right thing even though it was tearing him apart. She returned to her conversation and he tuned in to what Ron and Hermione were talking about. When he realized that it was wedding plans he started a conversation with Hagrid.
Harry was not the only one watching the beautiful Ginny Weasley though. Draco hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her since she had walked into the Great Hall. Thankfully she hadn't caught him staring yet. He watched her throw her head back and laugh at something that Creevey had said and suddenly he wished that he was the one who was making her laugh like that. He had an urge to go down there and break Creevey's face when he ran his hand through Ginny's hair. He knew that they were just friends and that Creevey had a girlfriend, but he couldn't help the jealousy that was curling inside of him. This was just ridiculous! He had to stop thinking about Ginny Weasley before he did something stupid. He turned to Neville and jumped into the conversation that he and Hermione were now having. Unfortunately their conversation was about Gin. They were reminiscing about the Yule Ball and how Neville had gone with Ginny. Neville was asking Hermione if Ginny was still single and if she thought that he had a chance.
"Well," Hermione started. "She is single." At this Draco's ears perked up. "After what happened between her and Harry last year she hasn't wanted to see anyone. She told me over the summer that she just wanted to take a year off. No boys whatsoever. Those were her words. I think that she may change her mind, but honestly I think that she and Harry are still in love with each other and that they're both just too stubborn to admit it. I mean, you could have a chance Neville, but right now I think she just needs a friend. Someone who will listen to her and comfort her. Sorry, Nev." Hermione looked at Gin with a sigh before turning back to Harry and Ron, who were in the middle of a heated debate, obvious by the fact that Ron was about to spit his treacle tart everywhere.
So, Ginny was single. Draco had to wonder if anyone stood a chance against Potter in her heart. Hermione had said that she didn't want a relationship. Well, if she just wanted a friend right now, then he would just have to be the friend that she needed. Maybe if they became good enough friends she would see him in a different light and she would forget all about Potter.
Little did Draco know that he was going to have some competition. Almost every guy in the Great Hall had their sights set on Ginny Weasley as soon as she walked in and took her seat. If he really wanted her he was going to have to fight with more than her memories of Harry Potter.
Just then Hermione stood up and the conversations ground to a halt. "To our new students welcome. To our older students welcome back. As most of you know there have been some changes at Hogwarts since last year. I am Headmistress Granger and I will be taking over for Professor Mcgonagall this year. I would like to introduce you all to your new Professors in case you do not already know them. Professor Malfoy will be your new Potions Master. I expect you all to treat him with the same respect that you would any of your other teachers." Draco stood and nodded to the crowded hall. "Professor Longbottom." Neville stood. "Will be teaching you all the art of Herbology." Neville grinned before taking his seat next to Draco again. "Coach Weasley will be in charge of Quidditch this year. I'm sure that you will all enjoy his methods of teaching." Ron stood up and waved before sitting again. "And lastly, Professor Potter will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Respect him. He will teach you many things that you may find useful in the future." Harry smiled and bowed. He quickly reclaimed his seat. Hermione continued. "I am happy to inform you all that the new Head Boy is Collin Creevey and Head Girl is Ginny Weasley. I hope that you will all give them your respect and attention when they ask it of you. They are here to help you should you need it." Thunderous applause filled the hall at this announcement. Collin nudged Gin in the ribs as she ducked her head down and blushed. Hermione raised her hands for silence in the hall. "Also Mr. Filch would like me to remind you all that any product made by the Weasley twins is forbidden and if you are caught with anything made by them it will be confiscated and you will serve a detention with him. Your schedules will be handed out at breakfast tomorrow. For now we all need our rest so if you will please follow your house prefects I will bid you goodnight." She sat and smiled as she watched all of the prefects stand and lead their houses back to the dormitories. She wished that she was still in that crowd pushing back to their house dormitories. Things seemed so much easier back then, but at least the worst was over. Now they just had to rebuild.
A/N: OK everyone. Here is the second chapter. I do hope that you all enjoyed it. Not much happened here, but I would still like to hear from you all. If you liked it... tell me. If you didn't... tell me why. Remember, as always, I accept constructive criticism but I can't stand flames. If you have suggestions, or something that you would like to happen in the story then feel free to let me know. I'll take everything into consideration. I can't promise that your ideas will be used since my characters have a mind of their own, but I will try to use as many as I can. Basically, I just wanna hear from you and find out what the feedback is. After all if I don't know what you think I can't get any better. Til next time... Bria
Katie-- I am glad that you are enjoying this so far.
evil.leprechaun.7-- I'm glad that you like it. However, I will warn you that there will be some depressing parts... Not many though. The war did just end and, logically, not everyone could survive and there is no possible way that there wouldn't be some repercussions. Mostly the story will be a fun one though. Please don't quit reading. I honestly think that you will enjoy the way the story is going to go.
harrypotterchickever-- Thanks for the review. I love stories like that too. It was the only thing that I could think of to keep all of them in the story and let it work out right. I mean I couldn't exactly have Draco and Harry coming up to visit Hogwarts all the time now could I? lol. NEWayz... Hope you stick with me.
cuitek-- Thanks for the compliment. As you can see Professor Potter is in this chapter but he won't have a big part for a few more chapters. I promise you'll see more of him though.
Dracoginnylover24-- Thanks for leaving a review and for the luck. I can always use some good luck. lol
Londontownee-- I'm really glad that you liked it. Just to clear something up... I don't have all of the story written but I do have about seven or eight chapters done. I lost track of this story for a while but I found it on one of my older drives and decided that it was definitely time to post it on here. ---- I never really just jump into a story. I always like to give at least a little background in the first couple of chapters so that everyone can follow it. If you haven't read any of my other stories I'd love for you to read them and tell me what you think. NEWayz... Glad you like this and I promise to try and update quickly.
Jennicula-- I'm glad that you are enjoying it so far. I already have a few more chapters written on this and I promise not to stop writing it. Ginny/Draco is one of my favorite ships as well. Hope to hear from you again soon.
Gella-- Thanks for the review and I promise to keep writing and updating as often as possible.