Down with Love

"Wake up, Ginny!" called Hermione, ripping open her velvet curtains.

Ginny groaned and rolled over. Hermione sighed, exasperated, and pulled the covers down to find Ginny curled up in the fetal position. "You know what this week is!" Hermione smiled.

"I do."

"So, wake up!"

"I won't!"

"Ginny..."

Ginny bolted upright and her eyes met Hermione's. Hermione could see the sadness filling Ginny's eyes. "Look, Terry and I just broke up last week. I am not ready for this, nor do I really care that it's the week of Valentine's Day. Now, may I please go back to bed and get on with my miserable life?"

The Terry she was referring to was Terry Boot, a seventh year Ravenclaw. Hermione observed Ginny. She looked sickly. Her skin was unnaturally pale; you could only just make out her freckles on her tear-stained cheeks. Her large chocolate eyes were puffy and pink. Her short red hair was messily put in a ponytail. She was wearing a tank top with Strawberry Shortcake on it (she was a sucker for Muggle cartoons) and black flannel pajama bottoms with strawberries splashed all over them. Although, even in the state she was in, she was beautiful.

She had changed a lot since she had met Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets. Though that was four years ago, she was now sixteen and...matured, to say the very least. Many people were beginning to notice that there was more to her then being Ron's baby sister, but she wanted romance, love.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked, curiously, leaning forward, brushing a strand of red hair out of her face.

Hermione looked at Ginny. "I'm sorry, but as your brother's girlfriend I must get you up. Besides, we have lessons today and you have double potions first thing."

Ginny fell back on her bed. "This day is getting better by the moment."

"Don't worry. I'll get Lavender in here to do your make-up and you will have Terry crawling back in a millisecond."

Ginny smiled, softly. "Thanks, but you don't need to."

There was a gentle knock on the door and Hermione shook her head as she stood. "Who is it?"

"Harry and Ron," came Harry's voice. "Is everyone decent?"

Hermione glanced at Ginny who gave a slight nod.

"All right!" she called.

Ron opened the door and entered first. Harry followed and quickly closed the door. Ron gave Hermione a ginger peck on the cheek. Harry collapsed on Ginny's bed next to her. "Are you all right?"

Ginny sighed. She and Harry had become really good friends after his fourth year. They wrote each other back and forth all summer, and Harry (who had recently moved with Sirius seeing as his name was cleared) had included her to come around when he invited Ron and Hermione.

Truth be spoken, Harry found comfort in talking to Ginny. Pressure was coming from all directions seeing as Voldemort had returned to power. Everyone was waiting for his attack on society although he had been quiet for a while. Not to mention the endless taunting from Malfoy was just that: endless.

He was mostly jealous because Harry was going to join Puddlemere United while studying to become an Auror when he graduated this spring. Also, since Hermione and Ron decided to "test their limits" Harry had kind of been feeling like a third wheel. Ginny was just the person he needed. Very interesting and extremely bright, though not always flaunting it the way Hermione sometimes did, Ginny was an excellent conversationalist. She was well rounded. From Quidditch to girl stuff, she knew all about it.

She glanced at Harry. "I'll be okay."

Harry nodded, understandingly.

Ginny stood and stretched. "I'm taking a shower. I'll see you."

"Bye, Ginny," they chorused in unison.

She grabbed her robes and slipped out of her dormitory. She walked down the stairs, waving to a few people, and slid out of the common room. She had been made a prefect and her family was extremely proud to say the very least.

Hermione was Head Girl and Harry Head Boy, not that that surprised anyone. What did surprise everyone was that Harry started concentrating more on his grades than defeating Voldemort again. Ginny knew he was trying to make his parents proud, though she missed his adventurous side.

She had made her way to the prefect's bathroom and was relieved that the door was unlocked. She turned on the water and bubbles and waited for it to fill up as she took in the scent of vanilla. She slid in and sighed.

She had immediately put her crush on Harry on hold when Terry had struck up a conversation with her. She couldn't lie, though. She was extremely happy when Harry came barging into the Common Room late one night to find Ginny sitting in the front of the dying fire, a sugar quill in her mouth, checking her Astronomy homework. He collapsed next to her and broke down. He confessed everything to her, from his fears to his madness over Cho. She had held him in her arms whispering comforting words to him. They had fallen asleep in the common room that night just like that.

She smiled, softly as she sank lower into the water. She had no idea why she had just remembered that. She was jolted from her thoughts by the sudden, loud banging on the door.

"Weasley! I know that's you! Hurry up!" came Colin Creevy's voice.

"Colin! You're not a prefect!"

"So?"

Ginny sighed, not hiding her frustration. "Are you following me again?"

"Why would I do that?"

Ginny had pulled on her clothes and muttered a drying spell for her hair. She whipped open the door, brushing her hair. "Because you have been for the past two years!"

Colin pushed passed her. "It's your entire fault anyway!"

Ginny rolled her eyes. Colin had been acting like that since their fourth year. He had grown sick of his photography and of Harry. He began writing lovesick poetry and practically stalking Ginny, though he denied it whenever she was around.

She walked to the Great Hall alone. When she walked in, she was ready to scream. There were hearts everywhere. Pink confetti fell from the ceiling, but there must've been an enchantment since it was dissolving before it reached the tables. There was pink fabric draped all across the hall. The worst part, however, was the little cupids floating around, plucking arrows at people. It was a revolting memory of when Lockhart was teaching.

Hermione stood proudly surveying the hall. "Perfect!"

Harry was slumped next to her. Harry had really grown up; the realization was sudden to Ginny. She leaned against the back wall, observing him. He was extremely tall; six-foot-one to be exact as opposed to Ginny who was only five-foot-four. He had stunning, green eyes that shined like radiant emeralds. His messy, raven-colored hair was still all over the place, but Ginny found it charming. It had kind of become his trademark. He still had the round glasses, but he had grown into them. He was slightly muscular, seeing as he was captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was thin, but not to thin.

Absolutely perfect, Ginny thought. She jerked her mind back to that last sentence.

"'Absolutely perfect?' What the hell are you thinking, Weasley?" she whispered to herself.

"Ginny!" a voice called, interrupting her mental argument. She looked up to see Harry walking towards her. She smiled lightly. "Hullo, Harry."

He bent down to give her a friendly embrace. "I am so sorry," he whispered in her ear. "But you know Hermione. Once she gets an idea and Dumbledore gives his okay she won't stop until it takes your breath away."

"It'll take your breath away all right," Ginny muttered.

Harry grinned. "I didn't hear that."

"Hear what?" Ginny smiled.

"Exactly, my friend, exactly. So, how's DADA treating you?" Harry asked, a smile on his face, as they sat down across from each other at the Gryffindor table.

Ginny shook her head and smiled. "You know Fred. So naturally, everyone loves him. They think he's the funniest thing in the world."

"Are you saying he's not?"

"Not at all. I believe he's extremely funny, but rather...protective."

"Aw, but you're his baby sister." Harry laughed.

"I know, but I want to be seen as an individual, not just Fred, George, Percy, Ron, Bill, and Charlie's younger sister. I know it's mostly because they've gone on to do great things. Fred works here until the joke shop really gets into the swing of things, though, that's been a huge hit at Hogsmeade. Percy's most likely to become the next Minister of Magic, Bill and Charlie, enough said there, and Ron, dating the Head Girl, winning the House Cup last year for Gryffindor, and the best Keeper in Hogwarts history, aside from Oliver of course."

Harry smiled. He knew Ginny had been a tad smitten with Oliver Wood when he was at Hogwarts. "You'll be better then them, Gin."

"Really? How do you figure?"

"Simple. You're special." Then he hurriedly added, "What, with being the only girl and all."

Before Ginny could reply, Terry walked in, surrounded by a group of Hufflepuff girls. He was bragging, something he'd become good at lately. Following them was Neville and Susan Bones, who were hand in hand.

"All right?" Harry asked, watching Ginny's eyes follow Terry.

Ginny nodded. "All right."

"Good."

"Hey, Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you boycott a holiday?"

"What?"

"If I wanted to, could I boycott Valentine's Day?"

"You could. I seriously doubt you could get everyone behind you. Your own brothers are so deep in love, what with Ron and Hermione and Fred and Angelina Johnson."

"They wouldn't support my decision then?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Would you?"

Harry looked up from his toast. "What?"

Ginny's brown eyes met Harry's green ones. "Would you support me, Harry?"

Harry paused a moment. "Yes, Ginny, I would."



Ginny smiled. She had never had a reason to love Potions...until now. Severus Snape still taught them, but she still couldn't have been happier. He made it clear that he would not see anything having to do with Valentine's Day while they were in the dungeon.

"Now, I understand that some of you may love this week, but I'm warning you now, I'm not putting up with any of this romantic nonsense. I see anything of the sort; I will give you detention. I don't even believe this is a real holiday coming up and since it's only Monday and Valentine's Day isn't until Friday I'll be extremely angry if you celebrate it now. It's just a regular day that Muggle card companies made up and we thought it'd be a nice change if we started to celebrate it as well."

"It's a holiday created to make those of us without a boyfriend or girlfriend feel horrible! Like it's a necessity to have one!" complained Julianna Bulstrode, Millicent's younger sister.

Snape nodded. "So, do we have an understanding?"

Those who didn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend didn't hide their thankfulness as they loudly said, "Yes."

Everyone who did, however, nodded reluctantly.

"Good. Now, on with today's lesson. I have put you into groups of two and you will make a Polyjuice Potion."

He went on explaining how complex it would be and how it may be one of the last potions they made.

Ginny knew how to make it, courtesy of Harry and crew, so she sat dazing off into space thinking about how to begin boycotting Valentine's Day. Starting after lunch she could start wearing dark make-up and dark clothes when she wasn't wearing her uniform.

"Weasley! Pay attention!" barked Snape.

Ginny jerked her eyes onto her Professor. "Sorry, sir."

"Five points from Gryffindor for not paying attention. Now, I suppose you didn't hear your partner, then?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, sir."

"Mr. Creevy."

Ginny held back the need to groan as Colin plopped down next to her. Snape finished calling off names and said, "Get to work."

Ginny sighed. "All right, Colin. Let's go."

"Go where to do what?"

Ginny murmured, "You are so lucky we're in Snape's class and that I'm a prefect."

"Why what would you do?"

"I would smack you so hard right now."

Colin smirked. "So, Ginny. Do tell me what is with your obsession with Muggle singers? Not very talented ones at that either."

Ginny glanced at him as she opened a jar of knotgrass. "What are you talking about?"

"And your admiration for that Muggle actress Reese Witherspoon."

"You are a Muggle-born, Colin! Stop referring to everyone like that!"

"You even cut your hair like hers after you saw Sweet Home Alabama, which you have, but only can watch when you visit Hermione, since she has the necessary devices to watch it."

Ginny glared at him. "How do you know that?"

Colin shrugged. "I did some research."

"Why?"

Colin shrugged again. "Can't tell you that, Ginny."

They were silent for the rest of the class. There were about five minutes left when Ginny sighed. "Why are you stalking me?"

"I'm not!"

Ginny hesitated for a few moments.

"You are dismissed," Snape said.

They all gathered their things and Colin whispered, "I did some research because I'm in love with you, Ginny Weasley."

She stopped abruptly and stared at him, her mouth hanging open. He nodded slightly and picked up his stuff. "See you, Ginny."

He was gone. Ginny finished getting her things together and left for Transfiguration. She ran into Harry and grabbed his arm. His face broke into a smile. "Ginny! Hi! What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to you during lunch."

Harry nodded and continued walking to History of Magic.

Ginny made her way to Transfiguration, which was her best class. She was pleased to see that they were finally turning their tables into cats. Ginny had been looking forward to this since Professor McGonagall turned her own desk into a pig at the beginning of their first year. She had easily changed her desk into a cat and back. She was busy changing them back and forth when Dumbledore came in.

"Can I borrow whatever students are done Professor? Mr. Ollivander is here to observe something with everyone's wands."

"Mr. Creevy, Ms. Weasley, and Ms. Bulstrode. You may go."

The three of them looked at each other and followed Dumbledore into his office. Mr. Ollivander was sitting in the chair next to Dumbledore's desk.

"What's going on, Professor?" Ginny asked.

Dumbledore smiled. "Not to worry, Ms. Weasley. We're just going through our sixth and seventh years' wands to make sure they are operating correctly."

As he was explaining, Harry and Hermione slipped in.

"All right, Ms. Weasley, you first," said Mr. Ollivander, holding out his hand.

She handed him her wand and he had a small smile as he observed her wand. "Curious, I'm surprised I didn't pick up on this."

Ginny leaned forward. "Pick up on what, sir?"

"You got this wand this year as congratulations for becoming a prefect, correct?"

Ginny nodded slowly as Dumbledore walked over. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Doesn't this look familiar?"

"Bless my soul. It looks just like--"

"Indeed."

"What?" Ginny asked, loudly.

"Mahogany, pliable, somewhat powerful, ten inches..." Mr. Ollivander started.

Harry's mouth dropped. "Can I see?"

Mr. Ollivander seemed startled. "Mr. Potter, you remember?"

"Yes, I remember!"

"Remember what?" cried Julianna, Colin, and Ginny.

Dumbledore placed his hand on Ginny's shoulder. He began to say something, but Mr. Ollivander cut her off. "Don't tell her here, Albus. Only you should be in the room, and possibly Mr. Potter. However Ms. Weasley, what's your best subject?"

Mr. Ollivander seemed to have a new admiration in his voice when he was speaking to her.

"Erm, Transfiguration."

Harry's eyes got slightly wider. "Bloody hell!" he whispered in awe.

Dumbledore nodded. "Makes sense. Mr. Creevy, do me a favor and tell Professor McGonagall that Ms. Weasley won't be coming back to class and bring her stuff up."

Colin nodded and began down the stairs. Mr. Ollivander muttered a spell and water sprayed out of Ginny's wand and into a plant Dumbledore had in the corner.

"That needed watering." Dumbledore laughed.

Mr. Ollivander nodded. "Ms. Bulstrode, you next."

Ginny took her wand and sat down in a plush armchair, brushing a strand of her short red hair out of her face and Colin came back up carrying a large set of books.

"Hmm. Willow and phoenix feather, thirteen inches, swishy. Excellent wand. Reminds me of my own I must say," Mr. Ollivander was saying.

Julianna beamed as Mr. Ollivander had long roses shoot out of the end.

"You may go back to class, Ms. Bulstrode."

He did the same to Colin and so on throughout the entire morning. Then, finally, Mr. Ollivander, Dumbledore, Harry, and Ginny sat down to discuss Ginny's wand.

"All right. Now what's the big deal about my wand?"

"It's the exact same wand as my dad's!" Harry said.

"What?"

"Not an exact match, Harry. James's was eleven inches correct?" Dumbledore said.

Mr. Ollivander nodded. "You are a very lucky girl, Ginny. James did amazing things. One of the most powerful wands I've ever seen. So odd, how that happened..."

Ginny's jaw dropped. Harry grabbed her hand, excitedly. She couldn't help notice that her shock was being beat out by her happiness that Harry was holding her hand.

"Well, I must get back to my shop..." Mr. Ollivander said.

"You two may eat lunch up here, since you missed some of it, but I myself must get down there," Dumbledore explained. He conjured up various sandwiches and iced tea.

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said.

Dumbledore nodded and left.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked, picking up a tunafish sandwich.

"Have you talked to Colin lately?"

"Creevy?"

"How many Colins do you know?"

"Point taken. However, no I haven't. Why do you ask?"

Ginny shook her head. "He told me something during Potions."

Ginny went into the story, from how he mentioned her haircut to the last few moments of class. "So then he said, "Because I love you Ginny Weasley," and then left!"

Harry's eyes widened. "He said he loves you?"

Ginny nodded.

"Wow, loved on the holiday you cannot stand. The irony is overpowering."

Ginny giggled. There was some other emotion in Harry's eyes that she couldn't make out. She wasn't sure why it annoyed her so much that she couldn't. She put on her dark make-up and Harry nodded approvingly when she showed him the finished result.

"Chances are Ron and Fred are freaking out."

"Well, we're both missing, so they know you're in good hands," Harry said.

Ginny laughed. "I mean, they're freaking out because we're both missing."

"Ooh. I'm dense."

"I know. I love you anyway Harry."

He stuck out his tongue and she smiled. Harry looked up at the giant grandfather clock in Dumbledore's office. "We should get to our afternoon classes. How many do you have?"

"Only two. History of Magic and DADA."

Harry grinned. "I only have Charms left."

"Lucky."

"I know."

"Stuck up, aren't we, Potter?"

"Don't make me bring back horrendous memories, Weasley."

"What memories?"

"Which Valentine should I start with? 'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad' or 'Hey be my sexy Valentine and I'll give you a sweet treat'?"

"Okay! The first one was before I knew you and the second one was on a bet!"

"You never told me what the sweet treat would be." Harry laughed.

Ginny glared at him. "I'm warning you, Potter. One more word..."

Harry laughed and began trotting down the stairs. He turned around when he was about to vanish from her sight, blew her a kiss, and said, "Goodbye, my fair-skinned girl! Farewell!"

"Curse you, Potter!" Ginny yelled, running down the stairs. By the time she got there, though, he was gone.



Ginny sat at dinner yawning. She had nearly fallen asleep in Professor Binns class, and unluckily she had Fred for class before that so she didn't get to laugh before dinner.

"Tired?" Ron asked, as he spooned potatoes on his plate.

"Just a bit," Ginny said, sarcastically.

Hermione smiled. "Glad to see you're not all caught up in the past."

She nodded in Terry's direction. Terry was watching Ginny; obviously wishing he was around someone who would want to hear him brag, someone to use to make Ginny angry. She turned her back to him and nodded. "Your little Ginny's finally grown up."

"I was afraid of that," Ron muttered.

Just then Harry came in and plopped down next to Ginny.

"Where have you been Harry?" asked Seamus Finnigan.

"Library," he said, picking up some chicken.

"What for?" Ginny asked.

"I was looking for Famous Fire Eaters for History of Magic, but I couldn't find it."

"I see..." Seamus started. "I'm not going to get used to the Harry Potter that actually studies."

Ginny leaned back from her plate.

"Come on, Ginny, you know you want some lemon meringue pie." Seamus smiled.

Ginny grinned and allowed Seamus to drop a slice on her plate. "You are going to be the end of me, Seamus."

"I know."

She finished the slice and stood. "I have an essay I have to do."

"In what?" Hermione asked.

"Muggle Studies," Ginny muttered.

She walked to the common room. She jogged up the stairs to get her book. She was in mid-essay when everyone began to filter back in the common room for bed.

She must've fallen asleep because she felt someone nudging her. She looked up in Harry's green eyes and yawned. "What are you doing here?"

"I was talking to Dumbledore. Hermione's still in there, though."

Ginny sat up and shoved her hair out of her face. She shuffled her papers and yawned. "What time is it?"

"A little after midnight. Come on, Ginny, go to bed."

"I have to finish this though."

"Ginny, no. You need your sleep."

Ginny leaned back in her chair and yawned again. "But I need to..."

Harry shook his head. "Don't make me treat you like you're a little girl."

"Look at this, Harry! I'm not even half done with my Arithmancy homework."

"Just remember. You made me do this, Ginny." Harry sighed. He bent down and lifted her up out of the chair.

"Ahh! Harry, what are you doing?" Ginny and Hermione (who had just walked in) asked.

"Putting Ginny to bed."

Hermione nodded. "Come on."

Ginny had wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and had her head against his chest, sleeping again. Harry couldn't help but smile as Hermione led Harry to Ginny's room.

"Here we are," Hermione muttered, pulling open Ginny's scarlet curtains.

Harry placed Ginny on her bed and unlocked her arms from around his neck. He brushed her hair out of her face and lightly kissed her forehead. "I meant what I said when I left Dumbledore's office. I hope you will be mine," he whispered, so low that Hermione didn't hear it.

He stood and started to leave when Hermione stopped him. "When are you going to tell her?"

"Tell who what?"

"Harry, I know you, stop playing stupid. You have been in love with her for the past two years. You need to tell her."

"Colin told her he loved her."

Ginny stirred and Hermione ushered him out of the room. She lightly closed the door and leaned against it. "What?"

Harry nodded. "Ginny told me that Colin told her that he loved her."

"Goodness...what about Seamus?"

"He knows. He loves Ginny like she's his little sister, mostly because she helps him with Quidditch whenever I'm busy. Besides, he's with Mandy Brocklehurst and it was Ginny who introduced them while she was with Terry."

"When are you telling Ron?"

"Honestly. I'm afraid to tell Ron." Harry laughed.

Hermione smiled. "You have to tell him sometime."

Harry sighed deeply. "I know, I think I'm going to bed."

Hermione hugged him. "It'll be all right Harry. Goodnight."

"G'night 'Mione. Thanks for not telling Ron."

Hermione nodded as Harry trotted down the steps. "Anytime Harry. Anytime."