Chapter 5 Talking With Old Friends
Ginny waited for Collin in their common room and they headed down to lunch together. He asked her what she had done for the day and she told him that she had taken his advice and just had fun but refused to tell him anything more than that. He badgered her the whole way to the Great Hall. When they got there he smirked at her. "Fine. Just try and keep your secrets. I dare you."
Ginny laughed at him and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay. I will." She started walking to their normal seats and laughed when Collin let out a frustrated growl.
Collin spent most of lunch telling Ginny how cool his DADA class had been and trying to get her to tell him about her day in return. She refused to budge on the subject and by the end of lunch he had given up.
Harry watched as Ginny laughed with Collin and felt the jealousy rising for the second time that day. He had no right to be jealous he knew that, but he just couldn't seem to help it. He still had a strong protective instinct when it concerned Gin. He didn't know what to do. He had tried to convince himself that he was right about his decision and that they were better just as friends but he couldn't seem to make himself believe it. He had thought about her all day, wondering what she was doing. It was a good thing that he hadn't a clue or he might have challenged Malfoy to a duel in front of the entire school.
Harry was not the only person watching Ginny Weasley. Draco had not been able to take his eyes off of the stunning red head since she had entered the hall with Creevey. He didn't think that the weekend could come fast enough. She was entrancing. It was near impossible for him to even answer the questions that Neville had asked him throughout the meal. His stomach was in knots and he felt as though absolutely nothing could go wrong.
Gin glanced up at the table and smiled at Harry when she caught his eye. Harry smiled back before turning and continuing his argument with Ron about Quidditch.
Draco watched Gin smile at someone sitting at the staff's table. He followed her train of sight and saw Harry smiling back at her. All of a sudden his happy little bubble imploded. Potter! Why did he always have to want the same things that Potter did? She couldn't possibly have any feelings for him though or she wouldn't have agreed to go on a date with him on Saturday. He knew that Ginny was not the type of girl to string a guy along if she liked someone else. If she wanted something she went after it until she made it hers. He knew that. So why was he so mad that she had smiled at Harry sodding Potter? He couldn't find the answer to that question, but he promised himself that he would.
When lunch had ended Ginny waited at the Gryffindor table for Harry to leave. She got up as he was walking down the aisle and smiled at him. "Hey, Harry."
"Hey, Gin. What's up?"
Ginny shook her head. "Nothing really. I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me." At Harry's bewildered look she elaborated. "The music. I love it. Thanks."
Harry grinned and nodded. "You're welcome. Shouldn't you be getting to class though?" He looked around o make sure that everyone else was gone.
Ginny shook her head. "Nope. I don't have classes on Monday. Since I know that you don't have any classes left to teach I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me." She was fidgeting with her hands and staring at her feet.
Harry had always loved it when she got shy around him suddenly. She always looked cute to him when she blushed. "Yeah. I'd like that." He held out his hand and she placed her's in it, amazed at how well they fit together. He lifted their joined hands. "So... What did you have in mind?"
In the end they agreed to go explore the old Shrieking Shack and see if it was still standing at all. As they walked through the house Harry told her of everything that had happened there. About how it used to be a safe haven for Lupin, and how his dad, and Sirius had gone there in their animal forms to keep Lupin company. She had never known that and all of a sudden the old, broken down building had more meaning to her. She had always wished that she could have met Lily and James. She just knew that they would have been proud of Harry. She watched his face as he took her through the rooms one by one. It must hurt him terrible to have never known them. Everyone who had ever loved him had been taken from him. First his parents, then Sirius, and Dumbledore. She hoped that he knew that she was still there and always would be, should he need her.
When they reached the top floor he told her of the first time that he met Sirius. He even told her about how he and Hermione had been the one's to rescue him from the dementor's kiss. He had never told anyone that before and it felt awfully good to get it off of his chest finally. She stopped and stared at him. "It must've been so hard for you. You thought that he had betrayed your parents and then you find out that he didn't. You catch the man responsible and you're offered a new and loving home and then at the last second it's all ripped away from you. I'm so sorry. I wish I had been there to share the pain with you." Ginny squeezed the hand that she still held tightly in her's.
Harry lifted her hand and kissed it. "Thank you, but it was something that I needed to face on my own. If I hadn't then I wouldn't have known whether or not I was strong enough. I needed to know that I was strong enough. Do you understand?" When she nodded at him he smiled. "Of course you do. You've always understood me. Even when no one else did. Other than that... I wish you could have been there too. I needed someone to lean on afterwards and you're the only person who actually understood it all."
Ginny smiled at him. "I still do. I'll always understand... I think. You and I have a connection that we've built over the years and that is what makes our friendship so strong. We have a bond that no one can break. I'll always get it and I'll always be here if you need someone to lean on when it's all said and done. I'm not going anywhere."
Harry smiled down at her gratefully. He squeezed her hand. "Where to now?" He asked excitedly.
"Let's go visit Dobby." She looked up at him and his eyes got round.
"All right but if he tries to 'save me' again then I place the blame squarely on your shoulders. Understood?"
When she nodded he laughed. He couldn't help it. They stood there laughing together for a few minutes before they got hold of themselves and headed back towards the castle to see their old friend. They ended up having tea in the kitchens with Dobby because he insisted on it.
After Dobby finally let them leave they headed up to her dormitories. They sat in her art room and chatted about everything that they had done over the summer. She showed him some of her newer paintings and asked if she could do another one of him. "I don't know Gin. I mean... Would I have to sit still for twelve hours again or could we do it over like a week?"
Ginny chuckled remembering the way that he groaned about the crick in his neck for days afterwards. "Well, since you're a Professor now and I have classes, it would have to be spread out over time." When he gave a thankful sigh of relief she laughed even harder. "How about we get together every Monday after lunch and work on it for a couple of hours?" She suggested with a plea in her voice.
"Oh all right. I hate it when you use that voice and those big puppy dog eyes against me." He poked her in the ribs making her laugh and after that was settled they sat there listening to muggle music and reminiscing about their past. When dinner came around they were both giggling as they headed down. They agreed to meet the following Monday and start on the painting.
Ginny walked into the Great Hall with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. She couldn't believe that she and Harry had spent most of the day together. Her stomach felt like there was an elephant moving around inside of it. What happened to good old fashioned butterfly flutters? She had elephants.
That night she told Collin all about what had happened. He smiled at her and told her that he was happy for her. When she asked him what to do he told her to just act the same way that she always did around him. He said that she was charming enough on her own and that eventually Harry would see the error of his ways and would want her back. That was when she decided to confide in him.
"Well, actually, there may be another prospect." She told him rather hesitantly.
Collin quickly straightened and leaned towards her. "Is it someone I know?"
"Well... actually yeah." Ginny said to her lap, refusing to look into Collin's eyes.
"Well??" Collin's eyes shone with anticipation.
"Itsproffessormalfoy." She said as quickly as possible.
"I'm sorry? I thought you said that it was Professor Malfoy."
Ginny looked up at him unsure. She bit her bottom lip and simply nodded.
Collin jumped up. "What are you thinking, Ginevra?! I mean this is Malfoy we're talking about! The prat who always made fun of you before and was just cruel to any non-purebloods or non-Slytherins! Think here, Gin! Do you have any idea what you are doing?!"
Ginny cringed away from him. Collin saw this and took a deep breath. "Look, Ginny. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blown up on you like that. You've never made a bad decision guy wise before." He ran his hand through his hair nervously. "If you tell me that you think he might have changed and that he might be worth it than I'll believe you." Ginny looked up at him. "I still don't like him though." Collin amended quickly. "But... If you tell me he's all right I'll give him a chance. Okay?" Ginny nodded.
"I really think that he's changed, Collin. I spent the morning with him and I haven't laughed like that in a long time. For the first time since everything went wrong I was really happy." Tears filled her eyes. Collin pulled her into him.
"All right, sweetie. If you say that he made you happy, then I'm happy."
Ginny told him everything that had happened that morning. When she finished Collin was staring at her stunned. "Wow! He did that?"
Ginny looked at him expectantly.
"I can't believe that he comforted you. Usually he would have criticised or laughed, but he held you while you cried. And he actually told you that he had feelings for you and asked you out? And it wasn't about looks?"
"HEY!" Ginny smacked him on the arm. "What are you saying? That the only reason that anyone would ask me out is because of my looks?"
Collin looked at her in shock. "No. Of course not, sweetheart. It's just that I actually believe him."
"Why?" Ginny asked suspiciously.
"Gin, honey, I've seen what you look like when you cry. You are not an elegant crier."
Ginny laughed and smacked him again.
"So when are you two going on your date?" Collin asked with a grin.
"This Saturday. We're going to Hogsmeade together. Why?"
Collin grinned. "It's just an idea, but since I am your best friend and all..." At Ginny's look he quickly added, "I don't want to chaperon or anything, but how about you and Malfoy meet me and Pamela for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron?"
Ginny smiled at him. "I think that's a great idea. It's a date. Thanks Collin." She hugged him and got up and headed to bed. She thought that today was the best day that she had had at Hogwarts yet. Ginny fell asleep with a smile on her face that night.
A/N: See? I promised to update today and I have. ;) I will try to update again by next weekend but it may take a little while for me to get back into the groove of things since it's been so long. I have a little bit of writer's block but am hoping that it will not last.
Dracoginnylover24-- Thanks for the review. I'm happy that you liked it and that you have stuck with me for so long. As always thank you for the luck. I can always use it, especially now with the writer's block. I will update again soon so keep an eye out. Thanks again.
Writerofdarkness6-- winces in shame I said I was sorry. I hope that you can forgive me since this was well within the time frame that you gave me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will enjoy this chapter as much.
Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me. As always constructive criticism is welcome as long as it is constructive. I'd like to hear what you all think. Thanks... Bria/gemini69