I Think I Love You

Ginny stood looking in the mirror. She couldn't believe she was in her sixth year now. She was trying to decide what to wear for her date tonight. It was Saturday and she would be going on a date to Hogsmeade with Dean Thomas. She had been going out with Dean now and had finally gotten over her huge obsession with Harry Potter. She knew he would never love her that way. Ron was already going out with Hermione and Harry said his life was just too "busy" for a girlfriend nowadays though he had someone in mind. She began going out with Dean at the end of her fourth year, which was his fifth. She had already showered and was in her bathrobe and her hair was still dripping wet. There was a knock at the dormitory door.

"Who is it?" asked Ginny.

"It's me, Neville," answered the voice on the other side of the door.

Ginny rushed over and opened the door to see Neville's flustered face.

"Oh. Hi, Neville," said Ginny.

"H- he- hey, Ginny. I bought you some chrysanthemums. I know they're your favorite," said Neville.

"Oh, thanks, Neville. That's sweet of you," said Ginny while taking them from Neville.

"So, are you going somewhere Ginny?" Neville asked a little anxiously.

"Well, I'm going out on a date with Dean so I have to get ready. I'll talk to you later, okay?" replied Ginny.

"Uh, ok then. That's fine. Talk to you later, then," said Neville, turning to leave.

~Neville's POV~

He starts walking to the girls' dorms with the flowers in his hand. "I can do it," thought Neville. He had bought the flowers from a shop in Hogsmeade. He knew they were Ginny's favorite. He thought maybe he could finally tell her how he felt about her.

He knocked.

"Who is it?" a voice he recognized as Ginny's asked from the other side of the door.

"It's me, Neville."

He looked up as Ginny opened the door in her bathrobe.

"Oh. Hi, Neville," said Ginny.

Suddenly all words failed him. He looked back at her with her beautiful, silky, fiery red hair that was dripping wet and in her bathrobe with her golden brown skin slightly wet. Oh, how he loved her, but he had to say something.

"H- he- hey Ginny. I bought you some chrysanthemums. I know they're your favorite," he finally mattered to stutter out.

"Oh, thanks, Neville. That's sweet of you," said Ginny while taking them from him.

"So... are you going somewhere, Ginny?" he asked curiously, as she did look as if she were readying to go out.

"Well, I'm going out on a date with Dean so I have to get ready. I'll talk to you later, okay? Thanks again for those flowers," replied Ginny.

"Uh, ok then. That's fine. No problem. Talk to you later, then," said Neville turning to leave.

'Dean? How will I compete with him? He doesn't even deserve her!' thought Neville.

~Ginny's POV~

She closed the door after Neville and went back to getting ready. 'Neville is kind of cute these days and actually has some muscles,' she thought to herself. 'Did I just say that?' Just then her three best friends, Mary-Sue Thomas, Elizabeth Smart, and Jasmine Smith came in the dorm. Mary-Sue was a brown-haired girl with blue eyes and a tall, thin figure and she was really rich. She was Dean's cousin. She only settled for the best but had a good heart. Elizabeth Smart had long blonde hair with blue streaks and was sort of wild. She was known to have a lot of boyfriends and many piercings on her body. She also had a tattoo with the Gryffindor lion on her back. She had even managed to seduce Snape once and work her way out of a test. She was a big gossip, almost like Lavender and Parvati, and that's why they got along so well. Jasmine Smith was a brunette with hair that was always curly but smooth, and was kind of short but was thin and pretty. She had curves in all the right places and she was actually a really good person that was into schoolwork but enjoyed having fun, too, and perfect with make-up and cosmetics. All her friends were good-looking, but not the same and had different personalities. That's what Ginny loved about them. They also were very protective.

"Hey, guys. What are you up to?" asked Ginny.

"Nothing," said all three at once, looking a little flustered.

"The question is what are you up to? Getting ready for that date with Dean?" asked Elizabeth.

"Yeah. And I have no idea what to wear," said Ginny.

"I'm sure I can help you there. I have something just for you," said Mary-Sue as she began to rummage through her own trunk. Then she pulled out a long, metallic blue silk dress with a v-neck and a long split at the side.

"Oh, are you sure, Mary-Sue? It's kind of exposed, you know. But it's really beautiful and I'm sure you probably want it for yourself," said Ginny.

"Sure. I have a whole bunch of those in different colors and designs. Oh, yeah, and wait!" Mary-Sue exclaimed while pulling out a sort of silk shawl. "This goes with it in case it gets chilly," said Mary-Sue while handing it to Ginny.

"Thanks so much. I'm sure Dean will love it," said Ginny while beginning to slip into the dress.

"Ohh. I know just how to do your hair," said Elizabeth. She took out a diamond-encrusted clip from her straight blonde and blue hair and her wand and began to wave it every which way and wove the clip into it. Then she closed her eyes and muttered something, which sounded like "Dryusus", and Ginny's hair became dry and silky. It had a single piece down with the rest twisted up into an elegant knot in the beautiful clip with pearls and diamonds. "Ok. Done," said Elizabeth, holding a mirror up to Ginny.

"Oh, my god. I love it. Thanks Elizabeth," said Ginny with a rush of gratitude towards Elizabeth.

"No problem, Ginny," said Elizabeth.

"Ohh. And let me do your make-up, please?" asked Jasmine eagerly.

"Uh. Ok. Fine, just this once," replied Ginny.

Jasmine began to thinly apply some black eyeliner to Ginny's eyelids. Then she began to put on a beautiful midnight blue shadow to go with her dress and sparkling blue eyes. Next she put some mascara onto Ginny's already long eyelashes to make them stand out a little more. Last, she put on a beautiful, sparkling strawberry lip-gloss, which was very glossy and radiant.

"Ok, do you like?" asked Jasmine, holding the mirror up to Ginny.

"Oh my god. I love it!" said Ginny. As much as she hated to admit it, she loved it. She always told them she would never bother with make-up.

"I'm such a genius," said Jasmine.

"You are so lucky to be going out with Dean. He is so cute," said Elizabeth.

"Thanks. I know," said Ginny.

"Now. Last but not least, Ginny. You must take my stiletto black high heels. Bring them back safely please. I know you're going to have fun with my cousin tonight. He really likes you," Mary-Sue said while handing Ginny the nice shiny high heels.

"Thanks so much. I'm almost done," she said while putting on her beautiful, white gold hoop earrings.

"What's there left to do?" asked Elizabeth.

"Oh, I just have to put these flowers in some water. Neville gave them to me just before you came. I don't want them to go bad. He's so cute and sweet," replied Ginny.

"Oh, yeah. Neville did get cute and actually get some muscles this year, but who cares about him? He's nothing compared to Dean. Now let's go before you are late. We don't want to keep Dean waiting. He is waiting for you down waiting for you in the common room," said Elizabeth quickly.

"Uh, but... Ok then. Put them in water for me then. Thank you guys so much," said Ginny. She was pretty sure her friends were keeping something from her because of their quick response of them being up to "nothing" earlier.

"No problem. Now go have some fun snogging with Dean," said Elizabeth trying to distract Ginny while secretly throwing Neville's flowers in the garbage behind her back.

"We will not be snogging!" exclaimed Ginny, trying to sound violated but doing a bad job as she was blushing at the same time.

"Yeah, right. And I'm Voldemort's twin sister," said Mary-Sue.

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if you were," said Elizabeth, giggling.

Mary-Sue glared at her. "Anyway, have fun, Ginny...My family may have money but they are nowhere near into the dark arts," said Mary-Sue glaring at Elizabeth.

Ginny believed this. Mary-Sue was another Percy but a rich one and wasn't too perfect in school. She wanted everything perfect. Elizabeth and Jasmine had gotten her out of her perfect stage a little but she still cared about appearance. She loved shopping. She was very nice and had been the one to get Ginny and Dean together. Dean wasn't as rich although he was her cousin. Dean had obviously done a lot of working out over the summer because he came back a stud.

"Ok, bye guys and thanks again," said Ginny while grabbing her blue Luis Vaton bag and walking out the door. She had been begging her parents for that purse and had finally gotten it. She was proud but a little guilty with herself because she knew her parents didn't have that much money though her dad had gotten a promotion. She started down the steps and when she got down she saw Dean sitting with his hair slicked back with a single rose. He stood up when he saw her approaching.

"Ginny, you look really beautiful," said Dean, handing the rose to her.

"Thank you," said Ginny, taking the rose and blushing more furiously than ever.

"Shall we?" he asked, extending his arm.

"Yes, we shall," said Ginny, encircling it with hers and walking out with him.

~Neville's POV~

He went down to the common room to sit by the fire when he saw Ginny and Dean leaving. His jaw dropped. Ginny looked more stunning then ever. 'Why does she have to be going with Dean?' Neville thought for the thousandth time. Neville had toned up a bit and was looking much better and a lot of girls would try to ask him out, which was unusual for him, but he wanted Ginny and no one else. He used to think that he loved Hermione but knew that it was only for lust and the fact that she was nice to him, and he knew she was in love with Ron. They had gotten together at the beginning of the year and it was now November.

Neville would have to prove that Dean was the snake that he was and that he only wanted Ginny for one thing, but how could he? She would probably never believe him so even though Neville didn't want to see her hurt he kept his mouth shut. He went back upstairs to mope. 'Ginny probably won't ever want me,' he thought.

~Ginny's POV~

They arrived at The Three Broomsticks. They decided they would go for some butterbeer and then maybe go for a walk or to Honeyduke's.

They sat down at a table and Madam Rosmerta rushed over to them.

"Yes, Miss Weasley? Mr. Thomas? What would you like?" she asked.

"I'll have some firewhiskey, please," said Dean.

"Are you sure? It's quite strong," said Madam Rosmerta.

"I'm positive," replied Dean.

"Uh. I'll just have a can of butterbeer, thanks," said Ginny.

"Are you sure, Ginny? Try some firewhiskey with me," said Dean.

"No, thanks. That's okay, Dean. I'd rather have butterbeer," said Ginny.

"Aww, come on, Ginny. One won't hurt," said Dean.

"I said 'no thanks,' Dean," said Ginny growing a little angry and feeling pressured.

"Ok. No pressure, Ginny. I just want you to have fun," said Dean, though he looked furious and pissed off and Ginny knew it.

The drinks arrived and they drank and talked a while about school. Dean was bragging the whole time about how girls had asked him out but he said Ginny was the only one he wanted, and Ginny was posing like she was flattered. Dean was also glaring daggers at the boys who were ogling Ginny. After awhile they headed over to Honeydukes.

"I think I'll go get a box of chocolate covered strawberries for Neville," said Ginny.

"For what?" asked Dean.

"Oh, just because he bought me some flowers today and I wanted to thank him with this. They always stay fresh and cold," she said, holding up a golden box of chocolate-covered strawberries.

"Ok. What was he doing buying you flowers?" asked Dean.

"He was just being nice. He knows chrysanthemums are my favorite. I see someone's jealous. Don't worry, him buying me flowers won't make him take your place," Ginny said with a mischievous smile.

"What does that twit have for me to be jealous of him for? I can't believe I used to actually be friends with him. I think it was only because of Seamus being friends with him. He thinks just because he toned up a bit that he's popular but he isn't," he said, looking disgusted.

"I can't believe you said that. You know Neville would never act like that and I thought he was your friend. Take it back," said Ginny, a little taken aback, watching him with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Uh. Aw, come on, Gin. Uh, I was just kidding. I thought you would know that," said Dean, though he clearly was working overtime and he was saying it untruthfully. If only Ginny knew that.

"It's getting kind of late, Dean. We should be getting back," said Ginny, looking up at Dean who stood a few inches taller than her.

"Uh. Right. Ok, then. Let's go," said Dean while slipping his hand around Ginny's waist almost casually.

Ginny was a little surprised but kept walking. Soon they had reached the school and were walking up.

"Let's go sit by the lake for a while on one of those benches. Just for a little while?" asked Dean.

"Ok. Fine. For a little while, then," said Ginny, still holding a Honeyduke's bag with Neville's chocolate.

They sat down on one of the benches and began to talk.

"I can't believe I'll be taking my N.E.W.T.s next year," said Ginny.

"Yeah, me either," said Dean while leaning over towards Ginny and before she knew it he was kissing her. At first she thought it was sweet but he began to push her further onto the bench and was pushing his tongue deeper into her mouth. He had just begun to pull down a strap off her dress when she stopped him.

"Dean... What are you doing? First of all, we are outside. What if we get caught? Second, aren't we a little too young for this? Didn't we agree we could wait?" Ginny exclaimed obviously flustered and a little upset.

"Uh. I'm sorry Ginny. I couldn't resist. You looked so tempting tonight. I'm sorry if you felt pressured. You trust me, don't you?" he said with a sort of menace and cold in his voice and eyes, which Ginny didn't catch.

"Sorry, Dean. I overreacted, I guess. Sorry. I guess I'm just a little tired. I think I'm going to bed. You ready to come to the common room?" asked Ginny.

"Yes... let's go," said Dean.

Ginny and Dean arrived at the Common Room, which was deserted. Everyone had gone to bed.

"Well, good night, Dean. See you tomorrow," said Ginny.

"Good night, Ginny. You look beautiful again," said Dean as he leaned forward to kiss her.

Ginny again felt pushed and just awkward with no sort of spark but she smiled and didn't portray her feelings. They parted and she began to walk to the girls' dorms. When she got there everyone was asleep which she was grateful for; she didn't want Elizabeth, Mary-Sue and Jasmine to be up squeezing her about every detail of the date.

Ginny put Neville's chocolate in her trunk, undressed, put on her nightgown, brushed her teeth, and plopped down into bed. But for some reason she couldn't sleep. Thoughts of the last person she would ever have thought of having thoughts about were running through her head. She kept thinking of Neville and how cute he had gotten in the last year and how he smiled and how big of a spark she felt when kissing him... She remembered when she kissed him after the Yule Ball in her third year, which was his 4^th. It was nothing like kissing Dean. Dean's kisses felt pushy, forced and awkward and Neville's felt soft, compassionate and tender... Ginny was very confused. Why was she thinking of Neville right now? She knew what her friends would say if they knew what she was thinking right now. They'd probably laugh at her and scold her, asking her why she was thinking about Neville when she had Dean, supposedly one of the most charming, cutest boys in the school - besides, of course, Harry and a few other boys. She didn't know why she was thinking of Neville herself and so she just figured she was delirious.

She soon felt her eyelids getting heavy and herself slowly drifting off to sleep with thoughts of Neville swimming around her mind like a whirlpool...