Ginevra, What Were You Thinking?

Chapter 1: A Disappointing Proposal

Ginny glanced up from her History of Magic essay at the sound of his voice. Upon seeing his untidy hair and slightly askew spectacles, Ginny's heart did its familiar flip-flop in her chest.

Oh, Merlin! There he is again, looking absolutely gorgeous, as usual.

Smile, Ginny! He's looking your way.

No! Don't smile! What if I have something in my teeth?

Well, you should at least grin. Do something!

Wait! He's looking the other way. Thank Merlin--moment passed, and I didn't embarrass myself irrevocably.

Go back to your homework, Ginny Weasley, and don't stare!

Ginny didn't see Harry as he approached his favorite chair by the common room fireplace.

"Excuse me, Ginny, but you're in my seat," he interrupted her thoughts.

Ohmigod! Why did he have to come over here?

You dimwit, you weren't paying any attention.

He said my name! It sure sounds pretty coming from those full, red, beautiful lips. I wish he would kiss me.

Kiss you?! He barely even knows you. You're just Ron's ickle sister.

"Um, Gin?" Harry tried again.

He's talking to you, Ginevra; answer!!

"Sorry, what did you say, Harry?"

"I said, 'you're in my seat.'"

Get up! Get up, you dung-head!

No--I can't get up. He'll think I'm too eager to oblige him, and that will only make him think I have a crush on him and that he could just push me around anytime he wants.

But you do have a crush on him, and you know you would do anything he asked.

I don't want him to know that, though!

Well, at least answer the poor thing.

"Um, I'm sorry. I was just doing my History of Magic homework. I guess I could move if you really want, but there are plenty of other chairs by the fire."

Ding-dong! You're an idiot, Ginny Weasley! That sounded so dumb.

"Er--actually, Ginny, you're not in my seat. I just wanted to ask you a question."

He wants to talk to you! Harry Potter wants to talk to you!

He wants to talk to me! How does my hair look?

Answer him! Tell him it's okay!

"Okay, shoot."

That was smooth, Ginny.

"Well, the first Hogsmeade weekend is on Saturday, and I was wondering . . ." Harry began.

Hogsmeade?! Harry James Potter, the most gorgeous guy on this whole planet and the nicest boy in the whole world, not to mention the love of your life, is asking you to Hogsmeade!!

"Go ahead, Harry," prompted Ginny.

"Well, the next Hogsmeade trip is on Saturday, and I wanted to know if you would help me pick out something for Cho."

Cho? He wants to talk about Cho? Cruel, cruel world.

Answer him, Ginny.

No! I'm not going to answer that insensitive prat. He knows perfectly well that I am madly in love with him, and he wants to talk about Cho?!

Answer him, Ginny!

"Er--Cho?"

Oh, now that was intelligent.

"Yeah, her birthday is next Tuesday, and I want to get something she'll like. I figured I'd ask a girl for help. I would have asked Hermione, but if she came along, so would Ron, and they would bicker the entire time."

Wait a minute. Didn't Cho and Harry break up a while ago?

"I thought you and Cho--er--weren't together anymore," answered Ginny tentatively.

"Yeah, well, she came and apologized for that time in Madam Puddifoot's and that time she cried about Cedric in the DA room, so I figured I might as well get her a birthday present."

This is so not even fair. Harry, you are supposed to love me, not Cho! Oh, well. I guess I could go with him to Hogsmeade.

No you bloody well can't! He'll talk about Cho the whole time!

But I'll get to spend the entire day with him!

Oh, all right, if you insist.

"Um, okay, Harry. I guess I could go with you into Hogsmeade."

"Gee, thanks, Gin. I just have no idea what to get girls for their birthdays."

"Well, what time do you want to meet?" asked Ginny, trying to steer the conversation away from Cho and her birthday present.

"Um, I guess I'll meet you here in the common room at about--say, 10:00 on Saturday."

"Okay, Harry! I'll see you then."

That is so disappointing. Why can't he just ask Cho what she wants? Or why not ask Cho what to get for me?

Well, you should have thought of that before agreeing to pick something out for her. Ginevra, what were you thinking?