Down with Love

Harry walked down to breakfast, yawning. He was realized he was early when he walked into the Great Hall. All he saw was vibrant red hair at the end of the Gryffindor table with charts, parchment, sugar quills, and bottles of ink surrounding her.

Harry smiled as he walked down and plopped down across from her. She jumped, obviously startled. "Harry!"

"That's my name."

She smiled and yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Good morning."

Harry smiled. "You're up early."

"Of course!"

"Haven't you learned anything from Hermione's breakdown?"

Hermione had overworked herself into exhaustion last year and had a panic attack from the stress before she collapsed in the middle of Care of Magical Creatures.

Ginny sighed. "I'll be okay, Harry."

Harry studied Ginny. "Hermione said the same."

Ginny looked into Harry's vibrant green eyes. "Trust me."

Harry looked down at the table. "All right. What are you working on?"

"Extra credit for Potions."

"Ooh. Hey, have you been thinking about that Puddlemere United thing?"

Ginny stared at Harry blankly and then it suddenly hit her. "Oh! I thought I told you I'd join."

"So, you'll be part of Puddlemere United with me?" Harry asked, excited.

Ginny nodded and Harry grinned as Ron and Hermione sleepily walked in. Harry groaned and Ginny muttered, "A Galleon says he asks us what we're doing together."

"I don't know, he is rather tired..."

Ron walked into the end of the table and yelped loudly.

"I'll take you on that bet!" Harry laughed.

Ginny giggled as Ron sat down. She cleared her throat. "Hello, dear brother."

Ron muttered something undecipherable and looked at Harry and Ginny. "Why are you two the only ones here this early?"

Harry groaned and Ginny laughed. "I win!"

Harry dug into his pocket, searching for money. "Can I give it to you in sickles?"

Ginny nodded and glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were looking at them confused. Ginny explained, "Harry and I had a bet going to see if Ron would mention anything about us."

Hermione chuckled. "And Harry thought he wouldn't? You are so dense sometimes, my dear friend."

Ginny snorted. "Sometimes?"

"He-ey!" Harry said, acting hurt.

Ginny grinned and realized Ron put his head in his plate of toast and was sleeping. "Um, Hermione?"

"Hmm?" she asked, picking up a chocolate chip pancake.

"Your boyfriend fell into the dark abyss of his toast."

"What?" she asked.

Harry spotted Ron and erupted with laughter. Hermione glanced at him and groaned. She nudged him lightly and he barely acknowledged it. She bent down near his ear and shouted, "RON!"

He still only shifted slightly and muttered, "Five more minutes, mum."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, exasperated. "A little help here, Harry?"

"All right, scoot over."

Hermione stood and Harry bent near Ron's ear and shouted, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, SON? YOU'RE GOING TO GET KICKED OFF THE CHUDLEY CANNONS IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL!"

Ron jumped and fell off of the seat. "I'M UP, SIR! I'M UP!"

Everyone who was in the Great Hall erupted with laughter and Ron turned as red as his hair. "Thanks, you guys."

Ginny glanced at Harry. "I don't think I'm the one you have to worry about."

Harry chuckled. "Obviously."

Dumbledore rose and McGonagall lightly tapped a glass. The room became quiet and all eyes were on Dumbledore, who had a small smile on his face. "Good morning."

They all murmured tired "Good mornings" and Dumbledore smiled. "Seems a little early for most, but I have an announcement. We have spent many months planning and it was your Head Girl, Hermione Granger's idea to do this. As you know, Friday is Valentine's Day."

Everyone began muttering slightly. Dumbledore continued, "We shall have a Valentine's Day dance, per se, to celebrate the holiday on Friday night."

Many of the students began cheering, drowning out the few that were booing.

Ginny glared at Hermione. "So, that's what you've been up to?"

Hermione turned slightly pink. "I'm sorry, Ginny, I just had to!"

Harry sighed. "Sure, Hermione, you just had to."

"So, what are your morning classes?" Hermione asked Ginny, changing the subject.

"Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and some other stuff." Ginny sighed.

"Tired?" Hermione asked.

"Not nearly as much as my dearest brother." Ginny chuckled.

Ron stuck out his tongue. "I was out late."

"With Hermione..." Harry murmured.

Ginny got a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oooh! What were you two doing?"

Ron glared at Harry, who was finding this hilarious and stood. "I need to get ready for class."

Ginny sniggered as he walked away and Hermione whimpered. Harry looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"I really wish you guys wouldn't torment him. He's under a lot of stress!" She took one last bite of her toast and ran from the Great Hall in search of Ron.

"I wonder what's wrong with those two," Ginny said.

"Finals are coming up soon..." Harry said, thoughtfully.

"That covers Hermione, but Ron's never cared about exams before."

"Well, this is his last year at Hogwarts. Everything actually matters this year. Ron really is under a lot of pressure."

Ginny paused for a moment. "Wow, you're right." She yawned. "I don't want to go to class."

"But then, what was the point of waking up before the house elves just to do your homework?"

"Yeah, you're right."

"However, if you really wanted to..."

"Harold James Potter! I swear if you say that we should skip school to go to Hogsmeade, I will attack you!"

Harry closed his mouth. A cheesy smile spread across his face as he snapped his fingers. "Damn."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, I know you a little too well."

"Well, are you sure not during Divination."

"What are you talking about? I have to go to Divination."

Harry shuddered. "Why?"

"I could stand a nice nap." Ginny smiled.

Harry grinned. "I trained you well, young Ginny."

Ginny giggled. "Come on, we better get to class."

Harry groaned. "Already?"

"Yep. Why? What do you have first?"

Harry shuddered again. "Double Potions."

Ginny laughed and Harry glared at her. "At least I don't have it on Valentine's Day morning."

Ginny stopped laughing abruptly and groaned. "Shut up!"

Harry chuckled and pulled her up. "Come on! You have Transfiguration first. You don't have Potions until after lunch."

Ginny paused. "I suppose."

"Exactly."

They left the Great Hall and stopped in the Entrance Hall.

"See you at lunch, then," Harry said.

Ginny nodded. "Have fun with Snape!"

Harry glared at her as he headed towards the dungeon. Ginny giggled and walked up the stairs to Transfiguration. She was emerging from the Gryffindor common room when she ran into Colin. Colin eyed her. "You run into me a lot."

"I could say the same for you."

Colin grinned as they began walking to Transfiguration. "So, how are you today?"

Ginny yawned. "Tired, but good."

"Did you stay up late again?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, actually. Just up early."

Colin sighed. "You are missing the point I was trying to make."

Ginny smiled. "What point were you trying to make, Colin?"

A small blush rose to his cheeks. "Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself, Ginny. Please?"

Ginny patted his arm. "No worries, Colin. I'll be fine."

Colin gazed at her as they walked into Transfiguration. He could never understand her. She was such a big mystery to him.

Transfiguration was extremely long, considering that all they did was take notes the entire period. Colin noticed that Ginny was hunched over, her eyes barely leaving her parchment, as she scribbled down every word that Professor McGonagall told them.

He loved the way her short red hair had the habit of falling into her face and how she carelessly brushed it out of the way without ever pausing her quill. That's when it came very clear to him what he had to do.

I will kiss Ginny Weasley on or before Valentine's Day. Colin silently vowed. Oh, the nights he spent wishing that he were with Ginny, that he had the opportunity to simply kiss her whenever he wanted. He finally decided he was going to let go and do it and not have anyone get in his way in the process of doing so.

"Mr. Creevy, are you paying attention?" barked Professor McGonagall.

Colin snapped out of his fantasy and looked up. "Huh?"

The class erupted with giggles, even Ginny. When Colin saw that Ginny was laughing, he turned a deep crimson and muttered, "Sorry, Professor."

Ginny smiled sympathetically at Colin and touched his hand lightly, as if to say, "It's okay" as Professor McGonagall continued her lesson.

Colin started slightly under this gentle movement. It made him crazy how something so subtle could make his heart pick up the pace.

He smiled in return and busied himself with taking notes, every now and then stealing glances at Ginny.

***

"He said what to my sister?" Ron exploded. They were in Care of Magical Creatures and Hermione told Ron about Colin telling Ginny he loved her.

Harry looked curiously at the pair and sighed. Hermione gave Ron a stern look. "You heard me."

"But, she's my sister!" Ron protested, looking disgusted.

"Correction. She is a young girl, evolving into a woman, who happens to be your sister. Besides, Colin is her age. It fits your description perfectly. If it's not someone you completely trust, at least let it be someone in her year. Let her grow up, Ron."

"But, she's only a baby!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "She's one year younger than us. If she's a baby, then we're only mere toddlers."

Hermione gave Harry a look of pure gratitude and he nodded as Ron racked his brain for a comeback. When he couldn't find one, he faltered. "Yeah, I suppose you guys are right. I'll give her some space, unless she starts dating a Slytherin. I will...emancipate myself and never be associated with her again if she marries a Slytherin, Malfoy or one of his cronies in particular."

Hermione snorted. "So, you'd rather her marry You-Know-Who spawn as opposed to Malfoy spawn? That makes perfect sense."

Harry sniggered and Ron was now getting extremely hot and bothered. He opened his mouth to argue just as Hagrid said, "Class dismissed!"

The yard full of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws emptied as they began walking to the Great Hall for lunch.

"He's sitting on the other side of her," Ron muttered to Harry through gritted teeth.

"Honestly, Ron! Harry's sitting next to her as well!" Hermione was beginning to get extremely shirty with Ron.

"Yes, but Harry isn't in love with my sister!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged looks as Ron picked another biscuit. Little did Ron know that Harry was sitting next to her and actually envied Colin for once because he was sitting there laughing and talking with Ginny.

Harry abruptly rose from the table, getting strange looks from Hermione and even Ginny. Ron had gotten into a conversation about Quidditch with Seamus Finnigan.

"Where are you going, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"I'm going to take a walk. I need to get out of here."

Hermione got the hint and nodded and Ginny said, "Are you okay? Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"

He shook his head. "My heart just aches a little, it's happened before. Some fresh air and I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Ginny looked skeptical, but nodded. "All right, I'm trusting you here, Harry."

As he left, he noticed Ginny looking up at the table where the teachers sat, glancing at Cho Chang. Cho was there observing because she wanted to become a teacher next year. She was pawning over a photo album, looking extremely glum. She still hadn't gotten over Cedric, most believed she never would.

Harry himself couldn't help but smile at the fact that Ginny thought that he was still caught up on Cho. He walked outside. Completely forgetting that he had no cloak he shivered, but quickly adapted. He stood before the lake and just gazed at it. The sparkling snow falling all around him, dropping like glitter on the icy sheet covering the lake entranced him.

He was so busy watching the lake that he was completely oblivious to the fact that Ginny had come out, bundled up in her cloak, leaning to one side, looking at the back of his head.

She let out a small, faint sigh and watched him. She didn't have a clue what she was doing. She wanted to like Colin because he was sweet and acknowledge her existence. Not that Harry didn't acknowledge her, he did, just not the way that she wanted him to. She shook her head. She was thinking crazy again. She needed to remember to turn off her brain when she was around him.

She cleared her throat and he jumped twenty feet in the air. Ginny burst into a fit of giggles as Harry turned around, glaring at her. Though, Ginny couldn't help but notice that his expression had considerably softened when he turned around to face her.

He smiled. "What are you doing out here?"

Ginny blanked. She really couldn't remember why she came out there. Then she remembered. "Oh, um, I got sent here to tell you that it's about time to start our afternoon classes."

"Obviously by Hermione," Harry joked.

Ginny laughed. "Obviously."

Harry stepped closer to her. "You're shivering."

She nodded. "I'm cold."

Harry paused for a moment before gingerly putting his arm around her and guiding her up to the castle. "You have to be more careful."

"What about you? At least I have a--"

Harry cut her off. "Cloak, I know. The cold doesn't really affect me so much--"

"Anymore?" Ginny finished as they came to a halt in front of the double doors.

Harry gazed at her, as though mesmerized. It had never occurred to him how well this sixteen-year-old girl knew him. He nodded slowly gazing into her brown eyes. "Precisely."

Ginny smiled looking into Harry's beautiful green eyes. Beautiful? Oy, I really need to get a life... Ginny thought to herself.

Before either of them knew what they were doing, they were leaning in for a kiss. They're faces were so close that they could feel each other's breath when Professor Snape came stalking into the Entrance Hall. "Potter! Weasley! Get to class! Especially you Weasley, you might be late again if your not careful."

Ginny backed slowly away from Harry, a sympathetic smile on her face. "See you at dinner."

Harry smiled. "All right."

Harry watched as Ginny wandered down into the dungeons, realizing that she still had her cloak on. She must have Care of Magical Creatures next Harry thought to himself.

He sighed and said, extremely loud, "Damn it!"

Then he lowered his voice and (as he began walking to Charms) said quietly to himself, "I missed the chance today. She was so close and yet so far away. I swear that I'll ask Ginny to be mine either on or before Valentine's Day, and maybe, just maybe change her mind about the holiday."

***

Ginny collapsed next to Colin, out of breath. Colin grinned as Snape came barging in.

"Just made it," he murmured.

Ginny smiled. "Always do."

Snape informed them that while their Polyjuice Potions were simmering they would be talking notes. Everyone groaned, but Ginny smiled. It gave her time to question a few things.

She began writing notes and thinking about what would've happened if Snape hadn't been there to stop them.

She glanced at Colin and sighed. She liked Colin, honest she did. She could prove that she didn't like Harry. She'd prove it tomorrow because she needed that time to know whether or not she was doing the right thing.

***

"What's going on, Harry?" Hermione asked in a low whisper. Ron was working with Neville Longbottom in Charms. Harry explained what had happened to Hermione and her eyes grew wide.

"Oh, Harry," she cooed. "That's adorable."

Harry rolled his eyes. "But honestly. What do you think?"

Hermione paused for a moment. "I think she likes you, but you must've hurt her somehow, so she's backed off a little and is confused, because she wants to let herself go, but can't at the same time. If you really prove to her that you like her, chances are she'll drop all of that fear."

Harry paused before explaining to her the plan he established on his way to class.

Hermione smiled. "Harry, you are so adorable when you're in love."

"I can tell you that if you say 'adorable' one more time, I'll get Moody on you."

Hermione laughed. "Whatever, Harry, whatever."

***

Hermione entered the Great Hall and smiled at the sight she saw. Harry and Ginny were hunched over a sheet of parchment and cardboard, their quills out, laughing. Hermione also noticed, as she approached them, that Ron was no where in sight. Once she got into earshot, she could hear their laughter more clearly. Ginny said, "You cheated, Potter!"

Harry laughed. "No, I didn't!"

Ginny smiled. "Yes, you did! You took an extra ten points when you moved that piece!"

Hermione rested her weight to one side and crossed her arms. She could not get over how perfect they were for one another. She had never seen those two happier then when they were together. Not even before, when Harry had been adventurous, had he had that pure look of happiness.

"What are you two doing?" Hermione asked, an amused smile spreading across her face.

They both jumped slightly at the sound of her voice. They turned to face her and Ginny sighed. "Don't sneak up on us like that!"

Hermione smiled. "Sorry. But, what are you doing?"

Harry grinned. "It's a game Ginny and I invented to help us win Quidditch matches."

"It's actually a lot of fun. Talk about surprising, eh?" Ginny smiled.

Harry stuck out his tongue and Ginny grinned sheepishly. Hermione shook her head. "You two are just too cute!"

A deep blush crept to both of their cheeks and they both looked at each other. They shook their heads slowly, as if they didn't want to say no, but felt that they had to. Hermione smiled and sat down across from them. "Yeah. Okay you guys."

Just then Ron came in and plopped down next to Hermione, looking livid.

"What's wrong, dearest brother?" Ginny asked, shoving half of the pieces into her pockets.

Ron ignored the sarcasm. "Snape!"

Just then, dinner appeared on the plates and Hermione instantly grabbed a piece of bread. "Why? What did he do?"

"I was walking here and humming to myself, minding my own business and I just barely brushed him and he gave me detention!"

Harry swallowed the chunk of steak he was eating and said, "Wow, that's horrible."

"I know!" Ron groaned. "At least it's on Saturday and not Friday, speaking of which, Hermione?"

She looked at him. "Yeah?"

"Go to the Valentine's Day thing with me?"

Hermione smiled. "Was there any doubt?"

He lightly kissed her on the cheek and she blushed slightly. Harry and Ginny exchanged looks and rolled their eyes. Hermione laughed. "Stop that you guys!"

"Stop what?" Ginny asked innocently.

"Yeah. You will understand when you're in love," Ron added.

Harry cleared his throat and Ginny looked down and said quietly, "What makes you think that?"

Ron smiled, looking between Harry and Ginny. "Trust me. You will."

Ginny and Harry exchanged glances slightly before they both busied themselves with their dinner.

***

After dinner, Ginny found herself wandering up to the Astronomy Tower. She sat gazing at the clear sky. She sighed.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" asked a voice from behind her. She turned around quickly and saw her brother standing in the doorframe.

She turned back around. "I don't know what you mean?"

Ron sat on the floor next to her. "Yes you do. I saw the look on your face at dinner."

He studied her and Ginny refused to look him in the eye. He nudged her slightly. "C'mon. You can tell me anything. I swear to you I won't say anything."

Ginny sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"Are you crying?" Ron asked.

"I am in love, Ron," Ginny said quietly.

"What?"

"I know you heard me, Ron."

"I-I did, but with who?"

Ginny suddenly became fascinated by her shoes and Ron studied her again. "Ginny?"

She sniffed and looked at him. "Harry."

Ron's eyes got wide. "Harry Potter? My best male friend?"

Ginny nodded. Ron put his arm around her as she cried in his shoulder. "It's okay, Ginny. Honest."

"No, it's not. And then there is Colin who just came out and told me that he loved me!"

"Oh, so you're confused?"

She nodded slightly. He pulled away from her and held her so she had to look in his eyes. "As cheesy as this sounds, follow your heart. I personally hope that you're happy with your decision."

She wiped her eyes. "You're right."

"Of course I am! I'm your big brother."

She chortled. "You are so conceited."

Ron smiled. "C'mon. Let's get you to bed."

Ginny nodded and stood up. They walked to the common room and Ginny hugged him tightly before going up to her room. "Thanks, Ron. I love you."

Ron smiled. "Anything for family. Love you, too."

Ginny walked up to her dormitory and changed. She slid into bed and fell into a comfortable sleep.