Ginevra, What Were You Thinking?

Even though Ginny was half-dreading and half excited about her trip to Hogsmeade with Harry, Saturday rolled around much sooner than Ginny expected. Her alarm went off promptly at 8:02 a.m.; she wanted to give herself plenty of time to get dressed.

What should I wear?

It doesn't matter; he won't be focused on you anyway.

It does so matter! He's at least going to see me.

Well, since you're so obsessed with it, you need to wear something comfortable but not too drabby. You want to be kind of dressy but not overly so. Don't show too much skin, but show enough to keep him interested.

I thought he wasn't going to concentrate on me.

Well, I thought you wanted to get his attention.

Okay, okay. How about some regular clothes, and I'll leave my hair down with that slightly windblown look you're so fond of.

After arguing with herself for well over an hour, Ginny finally got herself dressed and headed for the common room. Although it was only 9:58 when she arrived at the fireplace, Harry was waiting for her.

Say something, Ginny.

What?

Tell him he looks nice.

No, he looks the same as always.

Tell him anyway.

"You look nice this morning, Harry," she said, despite her better judgment.

"Er--thanks. I thought I looked the same as always, though. You look nice, too, Gin," replied Harry, not really seeing how she looked.

He said I looked nice!

Yeah, dumb-wad, that's because you said it first.

Oh.

"Well," fumbled Harry, "I guess we better be off."

Harry and Ginny made their ways down to the Hogwarts gate, where Mr. Filch, the caretaker, was checking everyone against his list of students who were allowed to go into Hogsmeade.

When the pair reached the Hogsmeade boundaries, Harry broached the subject of Cho's gift. "Did you have any idea of where we should start first?"

What's he talking about?

Cho's gift, of course.

Cho's gift--I hadn't even thought about it!

I know. I guess you'd better make something up quickly, though, because Harry's starting to get a funny look on his face.

"Um," Ginny began smartly, "I imagine we should start in one of the shops. What's Cho's favorite color, anyway?"

"Er--blue, I guess. I don't know," Harry said a little hurriedly. It was almost as if he wanted to get away. "Why don't we--"

Harry didn't get to finish his suggestion because, at that precise moment, none other than Cho Chang herself walked up to where Harry and Ginny were standing.

Oh, no. Why'd she have to come along and ruin everything?

Ginny's thoughts, however, were truncated at this point because Cho began to speak, her temper rising all the while.

"Harry Potter! I should have known you'd be off gallivanting with this one when I was waiting for you in the Great Hall. Last time, you left me in Hogsmeade to go flirt with your Hermione Granger, and now you're here with this Weasley girl. Why did I ever break up with Roger Davies for the likes of you? He said you'd just go off and dump me for some other little girl, but I didn't believe him. And now look at me--I'm out Roger Davies, and I don't even have you, Harry Potter. That's enough! I'm through," Cho concluded spectacularly, tears stinging the corners of her eyes.

Flirt? Hermione? Weasley girl? Little?

Enough. Enough!

"Enough!" Ginny exclaimed without realizing it.

Harry's look changed rapidly from one of dumfoundedness to mild curiosity at Ginny's outburst, while Cho's look of anger only became more furious.

Ginny, unable to contain her anger at anyone who would insult her precious Harry, lit into Cho like wildfire. "How dare you speak of Harry like that? He didn't go off to flirt with Hermione that day, and, as much as I'd like to say it was true, he didn't go off and dump you for me. For your information, Harry asked me to come with him today to help pick out something for your birthday--but you don't deserve it. All you ever do is accuse Harry of things that aren't even near the truth. You don't deserve Harry. Now, why don't you go off with your precious Roger Davies, who also accuses Harry of things he doesn't do? You and Roger Davies deserve each other! Both of you are know-nothing twits!"

Cho looked appalled at Ginny's outburst, and Harry seemed practically petrified. At another glare from Ginny, Cho ran off, tears now streaming from her eyes.

What the bloody hell was that?

I don't know.

Why'd you go off like that?

I don't know.

What the bloody hell were you thinking, Ginevra Weasley?!

"I don't know!" And with that, Ginny ran back towards the castle, tears also glistening on her cheeks.

Harry, still slightly amazed at all that had just transpired, had no clue as to which girl he should run after first. Knowing that Cho would be inconsolable and not really wanting to hear her sob about Roger Davies and Cedric Diggory, Harry opted for the fifth-year running full tilt towards the castle, who had, ironically enough, just revealed something rather interesting.