Ginevra, What Were You Thinking?

Chapter Four: Propositions and Decisions

It had been only three days since their Hogsmeade trip, but Ginny felt as if she had been avoiding Harry for weeks. Ginny set her alarm for an ungodly hour as usual, so she could avoid meeting up with Harry in the common room or running into him in the Great Hall at breakfast time. When her alarm sounded, Ginny jumped out of bed and dressed as quickly as possible.

Ginny, you're going to have to stop doing this to me--I've got to have my beauty rest, and you've got to have enough sleep so you can study for OWLs.

Don't be so vain. Besides, it's not even near time to start studying for OWLs.

Yeah, well, that's what your brother said, and look at what he got on his OWLs.

You know perfectly well that he only got one Troll, and that was in Divination, so it doesn't count anyway.

So? Hermione started studying early, and she got Outstanding on most of hers. You can't expect to get no sleep, do no studying, and score that well.

Whatever. I'm sick of arguing about it--consciences can be real drags. If it makes you happy, I'll ask Hermione to recommend a study schedule for me.

I'll pretend not to be offended, but yes, that'll make me happy.

Immersed in her thoughts as she was, Ginny didn't even notice the all-too-familiar face staring at her from a chair by the fireplace in the common room.

"You're a hard woman to catch up with these days, Gin."

Ohmigod! Harry!

Ginny panicked mentally, but she put on her best indifferent face and slowly turned to look Harry squarely in the eyes. "Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning, Ginny," Harry returned the greeting. "I've been trying to speak with you these last few days, but you've either been in a class, already finished and gone at breakfast time, surrounded by other fifth years, or busy being a prefect. I figured this was the only way I'd get to talk to you without a bunch of others listening in."

What can he possibly want to talk to me about?

Oh, c'mon, Gin, you know very well that he'll want to talk about Hogsmeade.

"Okay, what'd you need, Harry?" Ginny asked, dreading his answer.

"Well, you know I've been appointed Quidditch captain this year, now that Umbridge's ban has been lifted. I know you wanted to try out for chaser, so I wanted to tell you that tryouts are Friday night at six on the Quidditch pitch."

"Okay, Harry, I'll be there, but only if you promise that you won't go all Angelina and Oliver on us," said Ginny, relieved that that was all.

"I'll try not to, but I heard that the captaincy was cursed to turn you into one of their duplicates." Both teens laughed at this joke before Harry continued. "Also--and this was why I wanted to speak to you privately; I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up--some of the guys were talking about restarting the DA. Since you're one of the founding members and after what happened at the Ministry last year, I sort of wanted you, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Hermione to help me out. I figure the group will be much larger this year, now that everyone knows that Voldemort's back and kicking. That is, I'd like your help if you want to, of course."

Yes, yes, I want to help! Ginny, you have to!

No! I'll have to be around him at Quidditch practice and at DA meetings, not to mention all the planning and stuff that goes with it. Plus, didn't you want to concentrate more on the OWLs?

C'mon, Gin, you know you wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun. Please, please, please, with a cherry on top?

Oh, all right. You're right, I guess.

Yeah!

"I'm glad you're restarting the club, Harry, and I think I'd like to help--but I'm not so sure that I did that much at the ministry."

"C'mon, Gin. That Bat-Bogey Hex last year saved our skins, plus I'm glad that you guys talked me into letting you all come along. I couldn't have done it without you," Harry said with a smirk.

"Letting us come along? Harry, you know perfectly well that you wouldn't have been able to stop us if you'd tried," Ginny returned with her own cheeky grin.

"You're right, Gin, but that's all old business. What's say we go get some breakfast?"

"Okay, I'm up early enough, anyway," Ginny agreed.

"I'd noticed," replied Harry dryly.

*~~~~~*

Harry and Ginny walked down to breakfast together and sat down to bacon and biscuits. Conversation consisted mainly of Quidditch stratagem and speculating over whom they could get to play, as the current beaters weren't very good, and Ginny was the only one they knew of who would be trying out as chaser.

After a breakfast without so much as a word about the Hogsmeade Drama, as Ginny had deemed the spectacle she'd made of things, Harry headed to a NEWT level Transfiguration class, and Ginny left for her favorite class with Professor Flitwick--Double Charms.

*~~~~~*

That night in her dorm room, Ginny decided it was high time that she assess the situation between herself and Harry--or at least her feelings concerning him. After all, Ginny's vow to "think of it tomorrow" had never been fulfilled, and she was going to be seeing a lot of Harry in the near future.

He seemed okay to me this morning.

Yeah, you're right, but he didn't mention the Hogsmeade Drama.

Maybe he's waiting for you to bring it up.

Maybe. Perhaps he's trying to figure it all out like me.

Well, you still need to think about it so that you're ready if and when he says anything.

Okay, Okay. I guess I've liked Harry since the day I laid eyes on him.

Yeah, and at least now you can talk to him or be in the same room with him without turning fabulous shades of red.

I guess I never really liked Michael or Dean. I mean, they were great guys--

Yeah, you mean they snog well--

Stop that! I guess I always liked Harry, and I just wanted to suppress those feelings because he's always been unobtainable.

Gee, you sound like a shrink, Gin. You should seriously consider being a healer on the crazy ward.

Whatever. I can't do it anymore. I can't date guys just to date. I need to let what's going to happen happen. I'll date guys who I really like, not just for Harry-filler. I'm swearing off all guys.

What about Harry?

All guys but Harry, then.

Yeah, you need to concentrate on your OWLs anyway.

Well, I'll be able to focus on Harry, anyway. He's not really close to me, and, like you thought, I'm just Ron's ickle sister to him. Maybe I'll spend some time with Harry.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Do you think I made the right decisions?

I sure hope so.