My Romance

I look at her and have to smile
As we go driving for a while
Looking nowhere in the open window of my car
And as we go the traffic lights
Watch them glimmer in her eyes
In the darkness of the evening

Harry stared after Ginny. He could not shake the feeling that something important had just happened. Finally he just shrugged and walked around, trying to ignore the weight that had just settled in his stomach.

Settling down in one of the secluded trees between the giant pines, Harry surveyed the happy dancers. Many couples were circling on the dance floor, completely enamored with each other. Harry wondered if he and Ginny had looked like that when they had their little tryst there.

Ginny again! Harry rubbed the back of his neck. What was going on with her? Or with him? Heck with it, the both of them! He could not deny something was going on between them...or could he? Why did he kiss her? Exasperated, Harry could feel the beginnings of a migraine.

Why couldn't he understand girls? Why couldn't he figure any of this out? Did Ginny like him? No, she couldn't, Harry thought viciously. Girls only fancied him because he was the Boy Who Lived. Girls only fancied him because he was the star Gryffindor Seeker. No girl could look past that and like him for who he was: just a boy. Hero worship was not something he looked for in a girl.

With a groan, Harry buried his face in his hands.

"Having a good time, Mr. Potter?" Peeking through his hands, Harry saw Professor Dumbledore standing in front of him, wearing a cheerful red and green robe, with a red Santa Clause hat on his head. Harry couldn't see it, but he was almost certain that he was also wearing elf shoes and flashing socks.

"Hello, Professor," Harry said wearily. "I'm having a wonderful time, thanks." He winced as he caught the sardonic note to his voice.

The headmaster's eyes twinkled merrily. "I'm sure you are, Mr. Potter." He looked around, a broad smile on his lips. "It's a wonderful ball. Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy have certainly outdone themselves."

Harry sighed. "Yes, they have." And look where it's gotten me, he thought bitterly.

"Take a walk with me, Mr. Potter. Perhaps we can talk." Albus Dumbledore stepped back. He knew something was happening between the young Ms. Weasley and Harry, and intended to do his part. He only smiled more when Harry got up, his face showing signs of mutiny. "Would you like some butterbeer?" He motioned to a house elf, who promptly brought over two mugs.

"Thanks," Harry muttered as he sipped the butterbeer. It did nothing to quell the coldness in his belly.

Dumbledore nodded to some of the teachers who were chaperoning. Then he turned to Harry. "I saw you and young Ginny Weasley on the dance floor. Where is she?"

"I don't know," Harry said sullenly. And a bit guiltily. He was pretty sure he hadn't missed the look of hurt on her face.

"Hmmm," was Dumbledore's comment. Looking at Harry's face, he took a chance. "Maybe things aren't what they seem, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked up. "What?"

Grinning now, the headmaster began to edge away. "Things aren't always as they seem with certain people. Think about that, Harry." Then he disappeared in the crowd.

With a grunt, Harry stomped away. He needed something for his headache, and fast, before he went insane.

And I've got all that I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

Ginny pushed her way through the crowd, angrily wiping her tears away. Damn that Harry Potter for stirring up those feelings inside her, then squashing them with one sentence. But then again, she supposed, it was also partly her fault for allowing him to get that close.

When Ginny finally was out of the dance floor, her first instinct was to run. Then she noticed the restroom sign. Maybe she could just go there to gather her thoughts for a bit before she went up to her room. Ginny knew she couldn't stay at the ball. What if she bumped into Harry? With a shudder, Ginny stepped into the loo.

Hermione whirled around at the counter. "Oh! It's just you Ginny...what's wrong?" she asked. Ginny noticed that Hermione's lips were a bit swollen and her hair was messy and half-hanging out of her bun. There was no need to guess where she'd been.

"Nothing," Ginny said sharply. She couldn't bear to spill her feelings of unrequited love and hate for Harry Potter to his best friend who was obviously in love and loved back by a boy. "I'll just go."

Hermione grabbed her arm. "No, don't leave, Ginny. Something happened."

"Damn right something happened," Ginny said rudely. "And I don't want to talk about it!" She tried to wrench her arm out of Hermione's grip, but she only squeezed tighter.

"Ginny," she said softly. "What happened?"

Ginny couldn't take it anymore. She could've handled more shouting, but the gentle tone undid her. Her tears spilled over. "H-H-H-Harry," she hiccupped.

Hermione dragged her over to the couch. "What did Harry do?" Her eyes narrowed. "If he ever so much as laid a hand on you I'll-"

"No," Ginny sobbed. "Nothing like that. He just...he just...he kissed me!"

Hermione's eyes lit up. "He did? That boy finally came to his senses? Oh how..." her voice trailed off. "Then why are you crying?"

Ginny blew her nose into the tissue Hermione handed her. "Because afterwards he said he was sorry, he shouldn't have done that. But he'd been watching me for a while with this look on his face..."

"What a git," Hermione muttered. She ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No!" Ginny yelled. "Don't talk to him. Just...leave me alone. Leave him alone. I shouldn't have told you." She got up, began to pace. "I mean, you have your own things to worry about. And you have Draco..." More tears welled in her throat. "All I wanted was something like what the two of you have."

"Aw love!" Hermione got up from the couch and hugged Ginny. "It's all right. You will have something like that someday, and with some guy who deserves to have it with you. It is most definitely not Harry at the moment, though," she mumbled darkly.

A laugh bubbled out of Ginny's throat. "But I want it to be Harry," she said softly. "I don't know what it is, but I've always had this feeling..." she shook her head. "Never mind," she continued flatly. "I'm going to go up to my room, Hermione. I don't feel like going back to the ball."

"But Ginny," Hermione protested.

Ginny held up a hand. "No, it's all right, Hermione. I'm glad for what you're trying to do, but it won't work. Me and Harry have nothing." With that, she turned and left.

We stop to get something to drink
My mind pounds and I can't think
Scared to death to say I love her
Then a moon peeks from the clouds
Hear my heart that beats so loud
Try to tell her simply

Hermione watched Ginny leave. Her brain was churning from all the information that she'd been given. With a groan of frustration, Hermione stood up and returned to the mirror. She carefully reapplied her makeup and put her hair back in its bun. She blushed, remembering how Draco had pulled her into the broom closet for a quick snog.

But her mind quickly returned to the prerogative. Harry and Ginny were meant to be together. Ginny knew it, but wouldn't do anything about it. Harry, being a boy, was most likely clueless. With a decisive nod, Hermione turned and strode out of the bathroom. She needed to talk to Ron, Draco, and Irene. Something had to be done.

The Great Hall was bustling with activity. The music was exuberant, and the people on the dance floor were certainly having a good time. Hermione made sure to stop and talk to the people who were sitting in the tables by the trees, to ask them how they were enjoying the ball, keeping an eye out for Draco and Ron and Irene while she was at it. Hermione was perfectly sure that Draco was doing his rounds on the other side of the room, though.

She spotted Harry right away. He was with Dumbledore, who was obviously saying something confusing to him; Harry had that look on his face that he often got when something was not registering in his brain. Despite herself, Hermione felt a bit sorry for him. She watched as Dumbledore walked away grinning broadly and Harry, stalking out of the room with a hand rubbing the bridge of his nose, an obvious sign of an oncoming headache.

An arm wrapped itself around her waist. "Enjoying yourself?" Draco's voice was warm and full of humor as he spun her around.

Hermione laughed, then looked in the direction Harry had fled. "I could be better."

Draco followed her gaze, but saw nothing. "What?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "We have to find Ron and Irene first, then I'll tell you."

"What about us?" Hermione turned around. She didn't realize that Ron and Irene were sitting at the table behind her, sharing a plate of cookies and looking very cozy together.

"Oh thank goodness." Hermione quickly sat down. "We all need to talk." Frowning, Draco sat down next to her. Ron raised an eyebrow and Irene leaned forward, intrigued.

"What happened?" Irene asked, munching on a cookie.

Hermione hesitated. "Harry and Ginny snogged."

"What?" Ron roared. Irene clamped her hand over his mouth before he could say any more. Draco snorted.

"So? It's about time." He ignored Ron's furious look. "Ginny has been pining after Potter since before her first year."

Irene glared at the sputtering Ron. "If I remove my hand, you'd better remain quiet." When he nodded, she put her hand down. "Is it a bad thing, Hermione?"

"It is when he told her afterwards it was all a mistake and he shouldn't have done it," Hermione said grimly.

"He broke her heart?" Ron leaped up. "Why I ought to-" Irene grabbed his robe and pulled him down.

"Believe me, I'm sure Harry already feels terrible enough without adding you to the mix," Irene hissed.

"Potter really messed this up." Draco sat back. "What's going to happen?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't know. I just don't know."

That I've got all the I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

The next three days were bleak. Harry and Ginny did everything in their power to avoid each other. They would sit on opposite ends of the table, forcing their friends to choose where to site. If they spotted each other in the hallways, they would both turn heel and go in the opposite direction. They often tried not to be in the same rooms, but in the occasion that they were, they would stay on opposing ends of the room.

Ron was often seen giving Harry the evil eye, but after seeing how miserable Harry was, he relented. Hermione, Ron, Irene, and Draco often had to divide their time between the two. By the afternoon of the third day, tempers were on a short leash.

"I can't take this anymore!" Ron said, plopping down on one of the chairs in the deserted classroom. "If I'm not trying to cheer up Ginny, I'm trying to cheer up Harry. I swear I'm going to go batty!"

"Me too," Hermione said. "I just...this is too much." She rubbed her forehead. Draco wrapped a comforting arm around her.

"Well then, we have to do something," Irene said. She closed the door of the classroom and settled down next to Ron, taking his hand.

"Like what?" Ron and Hermione snapped.

"We have to get them to talk to each other," Irene shrugged. "Maybe if they just talk it out, they will stop having a go at each other and we won't have to go through this anymore."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "And how are we supposed to get them to talk to each other if they've been avoiding each other like the plague for the past two and a half days?"

Irene ran a hand through Ron's hair. "Perhaps...a letter."

Hermione's head popped up. "A letter?" She brightened. "Yes! We can write a letter to both of them, supposedly from the other. It'll say to meet the other in..."

"The courtyard," Irene supplied. "Tomorrow after classes."

"That's it!" Hermione bounced around happily. "And if they try to leave, we'll block the way." She and Irene grinned at each other. Draco and Ron exchanged a look that said plainly, Girls.

"Blimey," Ron muttered.

With much excitement, Hermione and Irene got to writing the notes. Hermione wrote Ginny's note for Harry, and Ron wrote Harry's note for Ginny. Irene and Draco dictated what should be in the letters.

Soon there were twin letters resting on two beds, one in the 6^th-year Gryffindor girl's dormitory, the other in the 7^th-year Gryffindor boy's dormitory.

Dear Harry

Something happened during the Ball a few days ago. I'm not entirely sure what happened, so I would like to discuss it with you. Please meet me at the courtyard tomorrow after classes. It is very important.

Ginny

Dear Ginny,

I am sorry for what happened at the Ball. Actually, I'm not sure what I am. I would like to talk with you, if that is possible. Meet with me tomorrow in the courtyard after classes. It is very important.

Harry

Oh and I've got all the I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

Harry read the note, scrunched it up and threw it in the trash. Then he stood up, retrieved the note, smoothed it out, and reread it.

So Ginny wanted to talk to him. He ran a hand through his hair. That was probably the logical thing to do. They had been avoiding each other since the ball. People were bound to notice sooner or later. Harry fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.

It was nighttime now, and he could hear the snores of Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville. But, Harry could not sleep. He hadn't been sleeping since the night of the ball. Thoughts of guilt and anger and something that he couldn't place a finger on prevented him from sleeping.

With a moan, Harry slipped off the bed, opened his trunk, and put on his father's Invisibility Cloak, and walked out of the room. Maybe a walk would clear his head, and he could decide whether or not he wanted to meet Ginny tomorrow, and if he should, what he would say.

Harry wandered through the dark hallways of Hogwarts. The shadows were long and deep, the silence deafening. But when Harry passed the Great Hall, he started with surprise.

It seemed that the ghosts of Hogwarts were having their own midnight ball. Harry stepped close to the door to have a peek. The ghosts floated around, ethereal in the moonlight. Many of them were dancing. Harry smiled when he saw Nearly Headless Nick swaying in midair with the Grey Lady. The Fat Friar was drifting from group to group, chatting and merry-making. The Bloody Baron sat silently in one corner, which probably explained why Peeves was nowhere to be seen.

As Harry leaned in closer, he could hear the strains of music which floated in from nowhere. He had to clap his hands over his mouth before his laugh could echo all throughout the hall. The ghosts were listening to, of all things, a Muggle singer. Mrs. Figg, who lived down the street from the Dursleys, was very fond of this singer, Stephen Speaks.

With an amused shake of his head, Harry left the Great Hall. This was something for the ghosts to enjoy. He continued down the darkened hallways, not really going to anyplace special.

His thoughts were centered on Ginny. Harry sighed. Even with all the time that had gone by since the ball, he still hadn't come to any kind of conclusion as to his feelings for her. He knew he was fond of her. Ginny was a wonderful person to be around. She had a dry sense of humor that was very amusing, she was a good listener, and she was sweet.

She was a good kisser. Harry stopped, rolled his eyes. But he had a funny feeling in his stomach. The same funny feeling in his stomach that he got every time he recalled Ginny. Especially when he allowed himself to remember their kiss. What had happened to make him kiss her? For the past few days, Harry had been telling himself it was only part of the atmosphere.

But somehow, that just didn't seem right. Harry had kissed her...but for some reason that was completely beyond him at the moment. Harry sighed, then stopped and surveyed his surroundings. To his surprise, he realized that he was standing at the corner of the Transfiguration corridor, where this whole thing had begun. Harry stared at the very spot where he had heard Ginny bellowing at Ron and Hermione, where he had asked Ginny to the ball.

"My mind pounds and I can't think, scared to death to say I love her," Harry sang softly. He started. He hadn't even realized he was singing. It was the same song he'd heard in the Great Hall.

Harry stared at the spot for many more minutes. Then, with set features, he turned and quickly went back the Gryffindor dormitories.

Oh and I know this love grow
Oh I've got all the I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

Ginny read the note, feeling a knot of trepidation growing in her stomach. After she finished reading it, she folded it carefully and placed it under her pillow. Then she lay down and stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling round and round in her mind.

Should she go? Or shouldn't she? Ginny thought with a panic. Oh, she would go. Ginny knew she had to go to talk to Harry. But what would she say? What would he say? What would be the outcome of this talk? Would they continue to avoid each other? Would they still remain friends? Or...Ginny dared to hope, would they become something more than friends?

Immediately Ginny gave herself a mental slap to the brain. You thought like that once and look where you ended up, she scolded herself. Ginny knew she couldn't leave herself open like that and risk being hurt again. But...would it hurt to tell Harry how she felt? Could Ginny use every ounce of courage she possessed and tell Harry that she had harbored a crush...no, more than a crush, love for him since she was ten years old? Maybe.

Ginny sighed, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day dawned gray and gloomy. Hermione took this as a bad sign, and began to have misgivings about whether or not their actions had been right.

"Maybe this is a sign," she babbled during lunch. Neither Harry nor Ginny had showed up to eat. "Maybe we shouldn't have meddled, and they should have been left alone."

Ron cut his ham and slanted a look at her. "I thought you weren't one to believe in something like signs, Hermione. I thought that was why you dropped Divination."

Hermione glared at him. "Shut up, Ron."

Irene laughed and patted Hermione's shoulder. "It's all right, Hermione. Stop fretting. I'm sure it will be all right." But she looked a little worried as she sipped her goblet of pumpkin juice.

"How bad can it be, Hermione. Draco said through a mouthful of chicken. "At least we're getting them to talk to each other"

Hermione gnawed on her lip. "But what if either one of them decided not to go to the courtyard after classes? What will happen then? Oh, they'll be so heartbroken..."

"Enough!" Ron said, slamming down his fork. "Hermione, if you don't stop, I'm going to drag you by your hair to the nearest closet and lock you in so that I don't have to listen to your rattle."

Hermione's mouth opened and closed. She was completely shocked.

Draco snorted, and tapped her chin with his fingers. "Darling, you resemble a fish when you do that. It isn't attractive."

Hermione clamped her mouth shut and glared at Draco.

Harry was in the library during the afternoon. He couldn't meet with his friends at the moment. His classes for the day were over with (as he had told Professor Binns he wanted to read on Lionel the Lionheart). All he needed to concentrate on right now was what he was going to say to Ginny. He had rehearsed the lines through his head all day.

Harry strolled through the aisles of books, idly reading the titles. His eyes were half-closed, so anyone stumbling upon him would think he was likely in a trance. But behind the sleepy doe-eyed look Harry's mind was churning with thoughts.

Passing one of the windows, Harry looked down. With surprise, he saw Ginny working her way to the courtyard. He checked the clock, took a deep breath. It was now or never.

With a determined mindset, Harry strode out of the library.

And I've got all that I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

Ginny stood in the courtyard, nervously brushing her hair back from her face, smoothing her robes, or wondering whether she brushed her teeth or not. Then there was no time to wonder at all, when she saw Harry stepping into the courtyard.

It's now or never, Ginny thought. She walked forward to meet him. "Hello Harry," she said quietly.

"Ginny," Harry replied. His face was impassive as he stared down at her.

"Well, " Ginny began unsteadily. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Harry frowned. "I thought you wanted to talk to me." Startled brown eyes flew up to meet wary green ones.

"But...you posted a note," Ginny said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the "letter". Harry's eyes narrowed and he produced the "letter" from Ginny. Ginny took it, and read it. "Blimey, " she muttered. "Those crazy gits have been interfering!"

"Bloody hell, look!" Ron whispered, looking through the Omniocular. "They've discovered the letters!"

"Let me see!" Irene stole the Omniocular from Ron. "Whoops," she breathed. "They look a bit ticked."

Hermione slumped down on the window seat. "I knew we shouldn't have done this!" she wailed. "I knew it would all go wrong!"

Draco poked her. "Quiet. I'm trying to make the sound-enhancing spell. Besides, neither is leaving the courtyard." He motioned downwards, indicating the two figures still standing in the courtyard.

Harry's eyes hardened. "Interfering is right," he muttered. Then he turned and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Ginny's panicked voice stopped him in his tracks. "Why are you leaving?"

Harry turned to look over his shoulder. "Well, there is nothing to discuss, now is there? We obviously didn't want to talk about...what happened." He couldn't tell her now, not like this. He started forward again.

Ginny scowled. No way was she going to let him go, not before she had her say. "Oh no you don't!" She ran after him and grabbed his arm. "You are going to stay here, and listen to me, Harry. As long as you're here, we do have something to parley."

"Oh, do we now?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Don't look at me like that!" Ginny said. "Of course we do! What I want to know is why you've been...playing with me during the days leading up to the Ball...and during the Ball. You strung me along; made me think you had actual feelings for me, and then you kissed me right on the dance floor and told me it was a mistake! Where do you get off, making a person feel all those things?"

"Now hold on just a second!" Harry objected. "You shouldn't be one to talk, for making a body feel as if they're getting mixed signals!"

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, mixed signals?"

Harry glared at her. "You had a girlish crush on me for a few years. Then you tell me you don't. But you think I don't notice the sneaking little looks you've been giving me? Then, the day they announce the Ball, I hear you arguing with Ron and Hermione about some mystery boy. Then my name comes up. I ask you to the dance, and you're all starry-eyed. If you ask me, it sounds like hero worship!"

And I've got all that I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me

All the blood drained from Ginny's face. Then she slapped Harry across the face with all her might. "How...dare you!" she gasped. "How dare you mistake my feelings for you in that way!" To her mortification, Ginny felt more tears welling up in her eyes.

Harry gingerly touched the bright red handprint across his face. The expression on his face was stone cold as he regarded Ginny. But something flickered in his eyes as he saw the unshed tears in her eyes. "What feelings?" He asked gruffly.

"Yes, that's what I'd like to know," Ginny growled, running a hand across her eyes. Then she stamped her foot. "Damn it, Harry! I've had feelings for you for the longest time! And yes, in the beginning it was awe over what you are-who wouldn't be?" Harry snorted. "No don't you dare interrupt," Ginny said savagely. "Let me finish.

"To make it short, yes, I did sort of hero worship you for a bit. But I was a girl then! All girls have stars in their eyes. Then I got to know you. I got to know the person behind The Boy Who Lived and the star Quidditch player. My feelings changed. And they scared me." Ginny pushed her hair back from her face and refused to look at Harry. "So I told you that I didn't like you anymore, you didn't have to fear anything from me. But I just sort of realized...that I love you. And if you think it is hero worship I'll-I'll smack you silly!"

"I think you've already done that," Harry said wryly, motioning towards the handprint that was slowly starting to fade. Ginny couldn't see the light that had slowly come back into his eyes.

Ginny blushed. "Well, you deserved it," she muttered.

Harry looked at her thoughtfully. "You know, Ginny Weasley," he began, walking up to her. "I have been thinking about you lately. Just little thoughts and feelings that were passing by once in a while. I wasn't quite sure what they were. After the Ball, I was even more confused. Then, the night I got your "letter", I decided to take a little walk. I guess you can say I had an epiphany." Harry took Ginny's small, cold hands in his. "I think I love you, Ginny."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Are you serious, Harry? So soon? How could that happen so fast?" She stared up into his eyes, not sure if he was kidding or not.

"Now there's the thing." Harry grinned. "I'm not so sure it happened that fast. It was a gradual thing, Ginny. All good things come with time." He slid a knuckle beneath her chin, tilting it up. "Don't you think so?"

Ginny tried to keep her wits about her as his breath whispered over her face. "I...I suppose so." Her hands slid up his arms to twine about his neck.

"Kiss me, Ginny." Harry murmured. "Show me you love me."

Ginny reached up onto her tiptoes, and brought her lips to his. It was slow, hesitant, and full of feeling. As the kiss deepened, Ginny was aware of her toes curling with the sheer pleasure of it. As Harry's arms tightened around her waist, Ginny broke away and trailed little butterfly kisses all over his face. "I love you Harry Potter."

"I love you too, Ginny Weasley." With a laugh, Harry whirled Ginny around. He put her down carefully, ran a hand through her hair. "So, should we kill the gang, or thank them?"

Ginny giggled. "Kill first, thank later." She kissed Harry again. "After all, we wouldn't have had our talk here without them interfering in the first place."

"You're quite right." Harry smiled, took her hand in his. "Let's go find them."

Up in the tower, handshakes went all around, and the four friends silently departed.

And I've got all that I need
Right here in the passenger seat