Promise

Promise

A pitch of sweet high laughter came from the other side of the room, breaking the library's solemn silence. Harry glanced up, only to find her. He shifted in his seat, starting to perspire slightly.

"Hi Ginny," he greeted her warmly.

"Hey Harry! I'm sorry I'm late, my last class got out only five minutes ago." She smiled. That distinguished Weasley smile. All of them had it. However it was staggering on a female face.

He didn't know why he agreed to tutor her. He wasn't much of a scholar himself. He barely passed some of his classes. He shook off his feeling of nervousness. She sat down breezily, pulling her books out of her bag.

"So, what are we up to today?" she asked.

"Um...er...well," he started. He knew his face was every shade of red imaginable. He composed himself

"Well, we could start with Arithmancy.....if you'd like." he added rather quickly.

"Great! McGonagall has been weighing us down a lot lately. So much homework..." she mumbled.

Harry was now in his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and was admired by many of his peers. He was often the topic of every girl's conversation with her friends. He didn't care though. He had meaningless flings with people here or there. He dated around like any normal guy, and was captain of his House Quidditch team.

Ginny flipped her gorgeous red locks over her right shoulder. He loved when she did that. Her sweet perfume flooded his senses and made him dizzy. Hell, she made him dizzy. He yearned for the years when Ginny was only a young girl, following him and Ron around like a lost puppy dog. He smiled to himself remembering whenever he glanced at her she turned red and hid her face in a book, or a friend's shoulder. But those days were gone.

Lost.

Ginny had matured into a graceful beauty of sixteen. She had many friends and Harry wasn't surprised how many guys gaped at her when she walked by. It made him feel jealous though. He was sure he was the only one who memorized the curves of her body, the laugh lines in her face, the way her eyes crinkled up when she smiled. Why couldn't he have her?

The hour came to an end, and Ginny stood up packing her books, ready to leave. "Well Harry, thanks for everything! You've been a great help. I'll see you at dinner?" She said as if asking a question.

"No problem, and yeah, I'll see you."

He stared after longingly and snapped out of his daze as a malicious, drawling voice said behind him

" Having trouble standing up, eh Potter? A bit preoccupied with what's going on in your pants, I should guess."

Harry whirled around to meet the gaze of Draco Malfoy.

"Fuck you, Malfoy," he retorted, gathering his books into his bag. He wasn't in the mood to fight, and sure as hell wasn't going to take any of Draco's crude remarks.

"God knows you need it more than I do," he sniggered.

Losing complete control, Harry lunged at him. His glasses knocked off his face, Harry took a swing at Malfoy's head, only to be repaid with a swift kick in the groin. By now, people had started gathering around them. They released each other... Malfoy wiping blood of his mouth and Harry struggling to stand.

"Boys...BOYS!" said a stern voice. Professor McGonagall rushed in, her robes billowing out behind her. "What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?! Ten points from both your houses! I trust you know the proper behavior in this school, and I shall NOT tell you again!" With a click of her heels, she walked out mumbling something about catching a break...