Down with Love

"Wake up, Ginny!" called Hermione, banging on Ginny's door.

Ginny groaned, rolled over, and yelped as she hit the floor. Hermione pushed her way into the room. "Honestly, Ginny! You're such a wild sleeper. Did you even realize you hit the floor?"

Ginny made an undecipherable sound and yawned. "So, what do I owe to this lovely morning wake-up call?"

"Because it's Valentine's Day!" Hermione responded in a sing-song voice.

Ginny tried to look uninterested. "So?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "The rumor mill's been stirring up some trouble."

Ginny sat on her bed. "What did Lavender say?"

"Well, she heard you talking with a guy she doesn't know last night and apparently you have a date."

"Yeah, I do."

"Who?"

"I'm not saying a word."

"Ginny!"

"Hermione."

Hermione sighed. "You are so infuriating, but supposedly, Harry has one, too."

Ginny looked up. "Who?"

Hermione shrugged. "You two are some of the hundred or so people who won't tell."

Ginny paused and sighed. "I'll meet you at breakfast. I need to take a shower."

Hermione nodded. "All right."

***

"Who is it, Potter?" shouted Ron, plopping down next to Harry.

Harry looked up. "Huh?"

Ron sighed. "Don't act stupid. Who are you going with tonight?"

Harry quickly ran his fingers through his hair and licked his lips. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

"Why? Why does it matter so much, Ron?"

"Because I don't want my sister to be heartbroken."

"But it's okay for her to break mine? Just let it go."

Hermione gave Ron a warning glare and he shut up as Ginny walked over. She pulled up a few napkins and picked up a few pieces of toast.

"Um...hi, Ginny," Ron said.

She smiled. "Hi, Ron. I'm eating outside. See you around."

She put down the cup she was drinking out of, turned, and strode out of the Great Hall clutching her toast.

"Okay...now, you follow her, Potter."

Harry chuckled. "All right."

"Oh, come on, Harry, you know you want to!" Ron whined.

"What?" Harry seemed perplexed.

"Ron, Harry said he's going to go," Hermione said.

"Ooh. I wasn't listening." Ron grinned sheepishly.

Harry laughed as he stood, took a few pieces of toast, and made his way outside.

He smiles to himself as he watched her tiny figure sit by the lake, eating her toast, and writing something.

He plopped down next to her. She looked out at him and she smiled. "Hullo, Harry."

"Good morning, beautiful. I brought out some jam."

Ginny felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "Someone's in a good mood."

Harry smiled. "I am. Did you get what I left?"

Ginny chuckled. When she went back to her room to get some things, she found two boxes of chocolate. One was ridiculously extravagant with ribbons and bows and a dozen blood red roses, signed anonymous, although she knew it was from Colin.

The other, however, was tiny, filled only with her favorites (chocolate turtles, chocolate covered cherries, and caramel filled cubes) with one sparkly, red ribbon with a small bag of chocolate covered strawberries attached along with a single long-stemmed dark pink rose. The card had read: Gin~ You're beautiful inside and out. Deeply anticipating tonight. Love, Harry

Ginny studied him. "Yeah. It was so beautiful and so thoughtful. Thank you."

Harry looked away. What was it about Ginny that made him unable to look her in the eye? "I'm glad you liked."

Ginny tilted his head so that he had to look at her. "I did."

Harry smiled and leaned forward. Ginny sucked in her breath as their lips brushed lightly at first before they both leaned in more.

Everything always felt so right when Ginny was with Harry. Perhaps this was all a sign that they really were supposed to be with each other, and it wasn't just Ginny or Harry's mistaken daydream.

They pulled apart and he rested his forehead against hers and she smiled. Harry opened his mouth, but Ginny shushed him. "Don't apologize, Harry."

"What?"

She giggled. "I know you and I knew you were going to, don't deny it. But," she stood. "I must be getting to class."

Harry fell back. "Can't we skip?"

Ginny smiled. "As much as I'd love that, I can't."

Harry stood. "But you have Double Potions. You don't actually want to go...do you?"

"Harry, I never want to go, but I really have to."

Harry hugged her. "Fine."

Ginny hugged him in return. "I'll see you at lunch."

Harry lightly kissed her on the lips, then again on her cheek. "Bye."

She grinned, blushing furiously, before stumbling off back to the castle.

Harry chuckled and began walking to Care of Magical Creatures.

***

Ginny stumbled into the crowded classroom mere seconds before Snape. She plopped down next to Colin, breathless and smiled. "Just made it."

But he didn't even look at her. He just opened his textbook and stared ahead, patiently waiting for Snape to begin the lesson.

Colin had made a terrible mistake. To think, he actually thought that Ginny may have loved him in return. He figured yesterday was just a little awkward. He had walked out to join her when she left at breakfast to talk things over with her and he saw her and Harry sitting there, but when Harry had kissed her and that's when he saw the difference in Ginny. She wasn't tense like she had been yesterday, on the contrary, she was kissing him back, and her entire reaction was completely different. It was so obvious that she really didn't like him. It was like a smack in the face. And now, he wanted nothing more to do with her.

Ginny sighed. Colin was moodier then your average girl. She'd be lying if she were to say that she wasn't pleased that he wouldn't speak to her. She needed time to think and it was much easier without Colin continuously annoying her.

She tried to focus on her work for Potions, but she kept tracing Harry's initials and her own initials and drawing a little heart around them. She smiled fondly. After all, she was the happiest that she had been in ages.

***

"You did what?" Hermione and Ron shouted in unison.

Harry chuckled. They were on their way to History of Magic, and Harry had just told them about what had happened earlier that morning. He hadn't stopped smiling since. "You heard me."

"Harry this is great, don't get me wrong, but what about your date?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "I dunno yet..."

Ron patted Harry's back, ignoring their part of the conversation. "Great job, mate! You break her heart, I'll kill you."

Harry chuckled again. "Don't worry."

Just then, Harry and Ginny bumped into each other. They both turned a deep shade of crimson and began stuttering. Hermione and Ron exchanged looks and began snickering.

Finally, Ginny recalled how to speak. "I've got to get to class. I'll see you at lunch."

Harry nodded and she smiled before leaving.

Hermione chuckled. "You're putty in her hands, Potter."

He groaned as they entered the classroom. "I know, I know. Hush."

***

Lunch was extremely quiet. Only Ron and Hermione were speaking. Harry and Ginny wouldn't look at each other, let alone directly talk to one another.

Ron and Hermione were trying desperately to keep a steady conversation going, but it would quickly die and leave them with an awkward sensation that they could feel in the pit of their stomachs.

Not that the rest of the day was any better. Everyone was deeply anticipating the dance that no one could stay focused. Despite the fact that the day got cut short and dinner was earlier, they were still bored out of their minds.

Ginny dropped her stuff off and made her way to dinner. She was about to walk into the Great Hall when Colin grabbed her arm. She turned around and sighed. "Yes, Colin?"

"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny...how in the hell could you do that to me?"

That sentence grabbed the passerby's attention and they all stopped dead and began to form a circle around Ginny and Colin.

Ginny stood frozen. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean that you lied to me!"

"What do you man I lied to you?"

"You never loved me! I never meant anything to you!"

The crowd began muttering and Ginny rolled her eyes. "For the last time, Colin! I told you from day one that I was not interested in you, but you kept pushing it."

"But you didn't have to kiss Harry Potter."

Ginny's cheeks turned violently red and the crowd murmured louder. Ginny narrowed her eyes and pointed to Colin. "Were you spying on me?"

"What difference does it make?"

"You invaded my personal space, Colin! Yeah, spying on the girl you like is the perfect way to get her to like you."

"So, Ginny, I kissed you, but you pushed me away, and the next day you go and kiss the famous Harry Potter and obviously enjoy it. That's it, isn't it? I'm not famous enough for you, am I? Ginny Weasley, the gold-digging whore."

SMACK! Ginny slapped Colin so hard across the face that he staggered back and his head had turned with a jerk due to the force. A small, red handprint was forming on his left cheek. Before he had a chance to respond, she used the same hand to backhand him, jerking his head in the opposite direction.

You could see the tears of rage in Ginny's eyes and the crowd grew rowdier. She gulped and glared at him. "SHUT UP, COLIN! There are plenty of things Harry has that you don't, and I can look past his fame...remember how you were our first year? How obsessed you were? The only reason why you backed off was because Malfoy started that rumor about your sexuality, and I felt terrible at first, but now that I see what an ass you're growing up to be, I think it was his best work, and I never compliment a Malfoy."

"I told you it would grow on you, Weasley!" Malfoy shouted from the crowd.

Ginny ignored this and began circling Colin. "Anyway, back to those qualities that Harry posses, he's kind, he treats me like a lady and not some object, he took the time to get to know me, he doesn't have stalker-esque qualities that freak me out, he's smart, he gets good marks, he's brave, because even if you weren't petrified, you still probably wouldn't have went into the Chamber of Secrets to save me, the girl you supposedly love. And, on the superficial note, he's much, much more attractive than you are, because whoever told you that you were attractive to begin with was either your mother or a complete moron because you look like a scrawny, little mouse. Also, Harry has a brain filled with common sense, if I told him to leave me the hell alone and that we'd only be friends, he'd deal with it because, unlike you, he knows I'm fully capable of embarrassing him in front of most of the school! Lastly, Colin, if you ever and I mean ever call me a whore again, I WILL CHOP OFF YOUR PENIS AND FEED IT TO A TROLL!" She took a deep calming breath. "Clear?"

He gulped and nodded. "Crystal."

One last thing..." she put her hands on his shoulders and kneed him in the groin.

He let out a high-pitched scream and fell back before curling up into a little ball. The crowd laughed and Malfoy shouted, "Good going, Weasley!"

Ginny was so annoyed that she turned on him. "Oh, for the love of...shut up, Malfoy!"

Malfoy snickered. "I dunno who you're talking to..."

Ginny started walking towards him. "I'm talking to you! C'mon Malfoy! Got it in you to hit a girl?"

Malfoy moved forward. "Why, you little..."

Ron stepped out from the crowd and grabbed Ginny around the waist. "All righty, Ginny! Time to go!"

"No, Ron! I wanna see if he'll hit a girl!" Ginny yelled, struggling to free herself.

Ron didn't let go, but picked her up, put her over his shoulder, and took her into the Great Hall. He sat her down next to Harry and pointed to Harry. "If she tries to get up, hold her down."

Harry and Hermione exchanged looks, and asked, in unison, "Why?"

Ron sat next to Hermione. "She slapped Colin, kicked him in the groin, and told him off in front of most everyone. Then, she was about to kill Malfoy."

Hermione and Harry had their jaws dropped and they looked at Ginny in awe before clapping and cheering.

"Why didn't you let her at him, Ron?" Hermione asked.

Ron shook his head. "I couldn't."

Harry patted her back. "Good job, Ginny."

Ginny chuckled. "Stop, you guys. I was just getting annoyed."

They laughed as the food appeared on the plates. It was going to be a good night.