Someone passes by at the very end of the previous chapter.

GINNY XVII

"Susan and I are together."

She stopped in her tracks as suddenly as Ron spit his juice everywhere under the effect of surprise. Her stop was so abrupt that she almost tumbled. Ginny stood there, frozen, as Ron recovered from the shock she didn't recover from yet.

"What?" her brother said, almost strangling himself.

Ginny was in the row between tables behind Hermione, but she was at such an angle that her back was also turned on Harry and Ron. She stood there, unmoving. She wasn't sure whether it was because she was unwilling or unable to move.

"I told you, Ron," Hermione's voice. Then she laughed. "Harry! How long has it been going between the two of you? Why didn't you tell us anything?"

"Because we began dating today," Harry said on an unnerved tone. "I went to the library to find her yesterday, and I invited her to come with me today. That's why I didn't want to go with you."

"Wait, that's a joke, isn't?" Ron asked. A certain silence followed.

"No, Ron. I'm very serious. That's no joke," Harry answered.

Whatever part of Ginny foolishly hoped she misheard or that her brother might be right was very disappointed in this moment.

"You are dating Susan Bones?" Ron asked, unbelieving.

"Yes," Harry confirmed.

Ginny found the means to resume walking at this moment. Her body was very stiff as she walked forward. She was still trying to somehow assimilate what she just heard. She sat down at a random place, but relatively isolated, perhaps unconsciously wishing be alone. Her mind was partially numb. She mechanically filled her plate and her glass of water. As she began to eat, the news began to sink in.

Recent weeks had been hectic for Ginny when it came to Harry. Hearing about him had not brought lots of joy to her. First, there had been the time he told her flat out that he invited Cho Chang to the ball. Ginny didn't feel good afterwards, to say the least. Maybe it had more to do with the fact she didn't like the Seeker of Ravenclaw very much. To be honest, she wasn't impressed that Harry chose to invite her of all people. But this was only the first time that she would react viscerally to news concerning Harry.

There had been the Yule Ball after that. The Yule Ball where she watched Harry walk into the Great Hall with the three other champions and their partners at their arm. This one had not been that difficult. Ginny didn't recognize the girl Harry came with first. She thought she saw her before, but she couldn't remember her name. It was only during the feast that Neville told her who she was after Ginny asked him. Susan Bones. It was the same name she just heard. But at the time, she wasn't bothered that much by the news. From what she gathered, or at least deduced with what she heard, the girl was only a friend of Harry and Hermione. She thought it was simply like for herself and Neville. Though this still caused a minor pang to her. During the feast, Neville said that this girl was very kind, a friend of Hermione, and that he wouldn't have minded to go with her to the ball. At this comment, Ginny wasn't hurt by Neville's words in the sense some could expect. She had gone to the ball with Neville as a friend. They both knew that, and both had no problem with it. So she didn't care that much that he said he would not have minded going with another girl. What affected her was that Ginny and the girl who sat next to Harry at the top table could have switched places without anyone being worse off. Still, Ginny didn't mind that much.

More difficult had been the revelations from Lavender Brown. Ginny and Neville had sat down with other Gryffindors, most of them in fourth year. There were Ron's friends from the same dormitory, including Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, and several girls from their year as well, including Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, who was accompanied by her twin sister, Padma, from Ravenclaw. The feast had been going well enough, but then the twin sisters had mentioned the girl who came with Harry. It was then that Lavender blurted out that Harry had no trouble going from one girl to another. Ginny was confused at first, but then she thought that Lavender was talking about how he found another girl right after Cho Chang refused to come with him, like Ron mostly said when Harry told him about his new partner. However, her assumption proved to be false as Parvati spoke to her best friend.

"I don't mind, Lavender. Harry is free to see the girls he wants."

"Well, you should mind. He's the one who dumped you."

At this, Ginny's heart had made a bump. And as people at the table were either stunned by Lavender's words or asking her what she was talking about, under the uncomfortable expression of Parvati, the twin sister of that girl and her best friend began to explain how Harry and Parvati dated during last summer. This caused Ginny's mood to drop for a moment, but she recovered after a few minutes, seeing how the two girls had gone to lead a coordinated attack against Harry, with certain things they were saying about him, especially those coming from Lavender, totally surreal. Furthermore, it seemed this relationship, whatever it was, had been over for quite a long time. A few days later, when she would ask questions to Hermione about it, she would feel quite relieved by learning that Harry himself regretted this relationship and considered it had been a mistake from the very beginning. Although Hermione didn't miss the opportunity to remind Ginny that she shouldn't put all her attention on Harry. Which Ginny didn't, anyway.

Ginny managed to spend quite an agreeable ball. The first dance proved to be a little painful though. She didn't blame Neville too much. She knew he tried his best and didn't do it on purpose, and he apologized profusely after the dance was over. Still, a part of herself, very close to her feet, were less willing to forgive him. She had to admit that she wished she was dancing with Harry at this moment, for she saw him making his dancing partner turn in the air while she danced with Neville.

It was mostly the last time Ginny thought about Harry that night though. She left the dancing floor after her first dance, but before she could realize it, Dean Thomas had invited her to dance. They made a few together. And later, it was another boy from Ravenclaw, Michael Corner, who invited her to dance. They talked a lot while they danced. He showed her how to better position her feet, and when she mistakenly walked on his feet, he only laughed, and she joined him in his laughter.

Ginny had spent a very good Yule Ball overall. Once, she saw Harry drinking a Butterbeer with the girl he invited, and she didn't feel a thing. That being said, to her, they seemed like two friends taking a glass together. She danced with maybe half a dozen boys during this Christmas, and she loved it. The one she danced the most with was Michael. He was very kind, and she laughed a lot with him that night.

Today, however, Ginny was facing something quite different. She wasn't facing the news that Harry had invited another girl to the ball. She wasn't facing the news that he already had a girlfriend in the past and broke up with her after a short time. She wasn't facing him dancing with a friend of his.

She was facing the fact that Harry currently had a girlfriend.

Ever since last summer, trying to follow Hermione's advice, Ginny worked to appear more relaxed, and also to be more relaxed, in Harry's presence, trying to see him more like a normal person. She managed to find funny some of the big mistakes he made, like for those of her brothers. She was able to speak in his presence. In certain circumstances, it was still some challenge to talk to him, but she could manage it, and she could also easily discuss with other people while he was around. However, this news was entirely different.

Ginny thought she remembered that the girl with who Harry went to the ball was in Hufflepuff. She looked over her shoulder and scrutinized their table. It was hard to distinguish all the students sitting there though. Some were hiding the others, and those at the extremities of the table were harder to see clearly.

Ginny was about to give up when she noticed her. She hadn't been sure first, because the girl's hair wasn't combed the same way it was at the Yule Ball. What drew her attention was the long plait of red hair she saw while the girl discussed with a friend on her side, temporarily turning her back towards Ginny. When she took a normal sitting position facing her plate, Ginny got a better view of her. No doubt, it was this girl.

Ginny observed her as she ate. It was hard to distinguish that many details from that far, but Ginny didn't miss the color of her hair. It was red, like hers. It wasn't the same red. It was less fiery than her own, but not as dark as those of Mrs Lily. She had to be somewhere between the two, with a certain brownish shade. Despite this, a part of Ginny couldn't help but wonder what this girl had that Ginny didn't.

Ginny returned her attention to her dinner, inhaling and exhaling deeply. She tried to ignore what she felt and to go on, which she partially succeeded. Still, it was a hard blow. She hoped that she would feel better tomorrow.

She just finished dessert when Hermione came to sit next to her

"Hi, Ginny."

"Hi, Hermione."

"Hmm… I wanted to tell you something. It's about Harry." Ginny dropped her spoon. "Look, I just wanted to tell you before you learn it from another…"

"I know. Susan Bones," Ginny said on a very even tone, which could have given someone else the impression she was bored.

Hermione looked surprised. "Oh… You already…"

"I was walking by when Harry said it," she explained on the same tone.

"Oh. Then, you know. Well… I'm sorry. I just thought it might be better if I told you before you heard it from Ron or Fred or George or anyone else."

"It doesn't change much, though. One way or another, I would have heard about it."

"Yes," Hermione acknowledged. "If you want to talk about it…"

"I'm fine, Hermione. Really. But I would rather be alone right now."

"Okay. Just… I'm here if you want to talk."

Ginny nodded to show she understood. Hermione remained sitting next to her for a little while, then she stood up and headed towards the exit of the Great Hall. Ginny remained alone for some time. Then she sighed. There was no point in staying here. She stood up and headed to leave the Great Hall as well.

She almost reached the doors when someone called her.

"Hey, Ginny." She turned to look at a boy with long black hair.

"Oh. Hi, Michael." She smiled at him. She was glad to see him right now.

"I didn't see you at Hogsmeade, today."

"No. I'm sorry. I took more time at Zonko, and before I could realize it, I was already late. I'm sorry."

It wasn't really true. Ginny had spent a lot of time with Michael during the ball, getting to like him a lot. A few days ago, he came to see her and asked if she was interested that they could meet somewhere during the Hogsmeade weekend. Ginny had agreed, and they had set an hour and a place to meet. But today, Ginny couldn't muster the courage to go and meet him. She let the opportunity pass. She regretted it now, more than ever.

"I'm sorry, Michael. It's my fault."

"Hey, that's fine. It can happen. If you want, we can try again for the next weekend at Hogsmeade," he offered.

She nodded. She liked the idea. She hoped that she would be courageous enough to go and meet him this time.

"Fine," he said. "I'll see you later."

He walked away, back to the Ravenclaw table. Ginny headed back to the Gryffindor Tower, her steps lighter than when she walked to her place to dine. In the common room, people were playing chess or Exploding Snap, or simply chatting between Them. the four boys in fourth year, except Harry who looked to be absent, were playing cards. One blew to the face of Seamus, and she couldn't retain herself from laughing at it. When Ginny went to bed, she felt good. There was still a lingering feeling in the back of her mind that plagued her, but it was bearable, and she could think about other things most of the time. During the night, she did dream of Harry, but it didn't bring her to tears. She remembered the dream fondly in the morning when she woke up, although with some bitterness. Still, she felt ready to face the day without any problem.

I kind of wrote this chapter to again show that Ginny is slowly maturing and moving on. I hope I succeeded in giving that impression.

Please review.

Next chapter: Severus