Allstar

Ginny stared out the window and wished she wasn't dating Harry Potter. She immediately suppressed the thought and tried to ignore the little voice in the back of her mind that was detailing all of Harry's faults as a boyfriend.

He's never there. He's always with Ron and Hermione. He never meets you when he says he will; he's always late if he even comes at all. He ignores you. He--

Ginny abruptly turned from the window and looked up and down the hallway. It was deserted, as she'd known it would be. Suddenly, she heard footsteps echoing from around the corner. Her smile faltered as Draco Malfoy strode into sight. He drew to a stop as he caught sight of her, smiling slightly.

"What have we here?" he drawled. She stared at him, expressionless. "Waiting for our boyfriend, are we, Weasley? Pity he never shows up."

"Sod off, Malfoy." This was the last thing she needed today.

"Tsk, tsk. No need for rudeness." He smirked at her and Ginny fought the urge to slap him.

"There bloody well is when you're around," she muttered.

"What was that? Eh, never mind, here comes your loverboy. Wonder what excuse he"ll come up with this time?" With that, he sauntered off.

"Harry!" She ran towards him to be caught in a hug and kiss.

"Hey, Ginny," he smiled at her, a beautiful smile that always made Ginny forgive him. She hated it. "Sorry I'm late, we got all caught up..."

"In what, Harry?"

"Ginny..." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Ginny, but you know I can't tell you."

"Yeah," she sighed. "I know."

"Well, anyway," he grinned. "All ready for Hogsmeade?"

"I've been ready for hours, Harry."

"Er...right. Well, let's go then." Ginny smiled at Harry, determined to have a good time. No matter what idiots like Malfoy said.

Ron had to wonder just what his sister thought she was doing, dating Harry Potter. Sure, she'd once had a huge crush on him, but wasn't that all it was? Ron had thought she was over it, especially since she'd briefly dated Neville Longbottom back in her fifth year. Come to think of it, what was Harry doing dating Ginny? He'd never shown any interest in her until that past summer. Ron didn't understand, but as Hermione frequently pointed out, he didn't understand women at all. Still...Ron caught the scent of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Ginny would be fine, he was sure.

Ginny chewed her way through a tough bit of her beef and pretended to listen to Harry, who was talking animatedly about Quidditch strategy. Ginny had never been very interested in sports, considering herself to be more of an artist than an athlete. Harry wanted her to join the Quidditch team - he seemed to think she would make a good chaser - and Ginny had had to tell him no several times. He had been quite disappointed with her. Ginny shook herself and started to listen to the conversation.

"No, Dean, there's no such thing as pass interference in Quidditch," Seamus was explaining patiently. "Unless you mean blatching, 'flying with an intent to collide'[1]," he quoted from a dog-eared copy of Quidditch Through the Ages.

"What if you just make like you're going to hit them and veer off at the last minute?" Ron interrupted.

Seamus consulted his book. "Hmm...let's see..."

Ginny tuned out again. Honestly, she couldn't see what was so captivating about the game, although she did enjoy watching the school matches. It was much more interesting when you knew the players, and even more so when you were dating one. There were many advantages to dating Harry, she mused, not the least of which was the spiteful glances she received from Lavender Brown. Ginny had never liked Lavender. And then there was Harry himself. He was the bravest, kindest, most loyal boy in his year. Probably in the whole school. She had always admired him and the more she got to know him, the more she found to admire. And yet...Face it, Ginny, that's nothing to base a relationship on and you know it. She supposed that he gave so much of himself to the wizarding world that there wasn't enough left for personal relationships. But what about Ron and Hermione? the little voice persisted. And Hagrid, and Sirius...Harry manages to keep up relationships with them. Why not you?

"All right, Gin?" Startled, she looked up into Harry's concerned gaze.

"Hmm?"

"You were frowning and playing around with your food...I just wondered what was up."

"Oh," she flushed. "I was just...uh...thinking."

"No, really?" Harry teased, smiling. "And here I thought you were tapdancing. What were you thinking about?" The crush of voices in the dining hall seemed to swell around Ginny. She shut her eyes then stood abruptly.

"I...I have to go." She ran out of the room without looking back.

Ginny had wandered into a part of the castle that she wasn't familiar with. She didn't really care where she was going; the act of walking had calmed her down somewhat, allowing her to think candidly about her relationship with Harry. It just...isn't working. We don't have enough common interests, and he won't even make an effort. He takes me for granted. She scuffed her shoes on the cold floor. It's true; he does. He assumes that I'll always be there waiting for him. That my whole life revolves around him. She tossed her hair angrily. Well it doesn't! I'm not going to sit around while he goes off with Ron and Hermione doing God-knows-what because he doesn't see fit to tell me!

"Well, well. If it isn't the littlest weasel.: It was Draco Malfoy. Again.

"You're one to talk, ferret boy," she spat. Malfoy only arched an eyebrow.

"Temper," he chided. She glared and he stepped back a pace, holding out his hands. "Hey, don't blame me for your difficulties with Potter. His commitment issues are none of my doing."

"Then why don't you mind your own business!?" He cocked his head to the side.

"It's fun to make you mad. Anyway, you're too pretty to be wasted on the likes of our Golden Boy."