So You Do Like Her

    Chapter Two

    Ginny was curled up in her favorite squashy armchair in front of the fireplace, in the Gryffindor common room. She looked relaxed, and the fire made her face glow. She was so content, especially now that her homework for the week was done. Ginny then got up to put her Transfiguration essay away when, Hermione clambered, and I'm not using this term lightly, in through the portrait hole.

    “Hermione?” Ginny spoke with concern. It was not in Hermione’s nature to be all clumsy and rushed. Hermione looked over with a grin. Ginny knew something was up. **What is with her?**

    “Ginny!” Hermione cried out as she tripped over an ottoman. Hermione clutched the shoulder she fell on and winced.

    “Hello, Hermione,” Ginny said slowly, doing a quick healing charm on Hermione's shoulder. Ginny was curious to what was going on with Hermione. “What’s up with you? Are you feeling alright?"

    “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Hermione said mischievously. Ginny was not up to mind games.

    “Yes, I would li-” Ginny started irritably, but Hermione cut her off, apparently, Hermione wasn't up to mind games either.

    “Do you still like Harry?” Hermione asked eagerly. Hermione was grinning ear to ear. She wasn’t sure why she was so happy for Ginny. She just was. She liked playing matchmaker.

    “Well,” Ginny began again. **I don't know. Do I? Of course I do, but I also want to get over him. I'm tired of chasing after him. I want things just to fall into--** Ginny's thoughts were cut off, once again, by Hermione.

    “Well, he likes you!” Hermione blurted out with enthusiasm. Ginny’s irritation quickly turned into ecstasy.

    “Really? How do you know?” Ginny questioned with a bright smile. She wanted all the information. No matter how happy she was, she didn't want to get let down. She had to know.

    “I heard him talking to Ron about it. He was saying, if you asked him out, he would go out with you.” Hermione was talking very fast.

    “I don’t want to have to ask him out,” Ginny whined.

    “Well, you’re going to. This has gone on long enough. You’ve practically been going out already. It can’t hurt anything. You like him; he likes you. Ask him out. End of story.” Hermione crossed her arms, signifying the end of the story. She was fed up with them beating around the bush.

    “Fine,” Ginny gave in. “I want to mess with Ron, though, for not telling me.”

    The portrait swung open. Harry and Ron were laughing about something or other. Harry stopped laughing to greet Ginny. “Hello, Ginny. How are you?” He said cooly.

    “I’m fine.” Ginny wasn’t sure what was going on here. Ginny turned to Ron. “You know something. It’s something I should know.” Ginny was looking deep into his eyes.

    “Wh-why would you think that?” Ron stammered. He wasn’t the best at keeping secrets. He could keep them just fine, but everyone would know that he knew something.

    “I can see it in your eyes. So, what is it?” Ginny looked deeper into his eyes. “Ooh! It’s something big! Tell me, Ron!” **Oh, he is so easy to mess with!**

    “Erm...I...uh...need to go to bed. NO, I need to go to the hospital wing. I’m not feeling too great,” Ron said as he began to turn red. Then, he began to sweat as if he had been in the hot sun all day.

    “I’ll take you,” Hermione said, eying Ginny. “Harry, why don’t you stay here with Ginny. Maybe you can figure out what the BIG SECRET is,” Hermione suggested , almost laughing. Hermione hauled Ron, who was hyperventilating, off to Madame Pomfrey.

    **She knows! How can she? She’s Hermione, dimwit. Oh, yeah. Oh great, I’m arguing with myself. Stop, and talk to Ginny.**

    While Harry was arguing with himself in his mind, he was just staring at Ginny.         “Harry?” Ginny waved her hand across his line of vision. “Harry!”

    “What?” Harry snapped back into reality. **I love the way she tilts her head when she’s confused. Stop it!**

    “You were staring at me.” Ginny informed him. **He was staring at me! Yay! His green eyes are so beautiful. Snap out of it, Ginny. Stop thinking and talk!**

    “Oh, I was thinking.” Harry replied, averting his eyes. About you. If I can think these things, why can’t I say them to her? Idiot! Prat!

    “Oh, okay.” Ginny thought she was getting nowhere with this so, she moseyed back to her chair in front of the fireplace. **"Will you go out with me?" Not hard! You’re thinking it! Why can’t you say it? You’re a Gryffindor for Pete’s sake. Just ask him. He likes you. You know it! Do it!** “Harry,” Ginny started slowly.

    “Yes?” Harry replied with eagerness in his voice.

    “Willyougooutwithme?” Ginny asked much more quickly than she started.

    “Yes!” Harry replied as soon as she finished. “I was gonna ask you out. Ron said I had to.”

    “Hermione said I had to.” Ginny said, laughing.

    “Well, this has turned out well,” said a voice from behind them. Hermione and Ron had returned. Ron looked much better. He had relaxed.

    “Did you do it?” Ron and Hermione asked simultaneously.

    “She did!” Harry answered, pointing at his new girlfriend. Hermione looked proud. Ron looked shocked.

    "It's about time," Ron said.

    “She did what? And about time for what?” Seamus had just come into the common room.

    “Ginny asked Harry out!” Hermione answered. She was so happy for them.

    "It's about time," Seamus said.

    “Hermione!” Harry called, giving her a ‘I can't believe you just did that’ look.

    “What?” she replied, confused.

    “Now everyone is gonna come up to us and comment. I don’t like that much attention.” Harry would have been fine if Professor McGonagall hadn’t have turned up at that moment.

    “Comment on what, Mr. Potter?” McGonagall asked.

    “Ginny and Harry going out,” Ron blurted. McGonagall smiled.

    "It's a about time, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, smiling slightly,

    “Ginny and Harry are going out?” said an incredulous Parvati from the stairs to the gilrs' dormitory. Harry sat down next to Ginny and put his face in his hands. Ginny smiled at this. “It’s about time,” Parvati said.     

    “Why does everyone keep saying that?” Harry wondered irritably out loud.

    “Why do you think?” Hermione answered.

    “I’m oblivious, aren’t I?” Harry asked rhetorically.

    “Yep,” Hermione replied shortly. She smiled brightly. She then turned to McGonagall. “Why are you here, professor?”

    “I came to inform you of the Valentine Dance,” McGonagall stated. “It will be on February the 14. That is all. I assume you will be going with Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter.” She smiled and winked and then headed for the portrait hole. Ginny and Harry blushed.

    Ron gasped. **I have to find a date...again. This time I will get Hermione. There's no Victor Krum to stop me now!**Ron thought.

    “Are you going with Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter?” Dean, who had recently come down from his dormitory, asked in a mocking tone, poking Harry. Harry was very embarrassed, now. He hated being the center of attention. Ginny just stood by, watching all this happen. She was highly amused. She wasn’t going to answer for him, though.

    “YES! I am going with Miss Weasley, Mr. Thomas. Now, would you all please leave me alone?” Harry was exhausted. This was too much for him. Ginny smiled radiantly at Harry.

    “Sure,” said Seamus. "Show's over folks! Go to your respective dorms. Ginny, I'll talk to you later. See you Harry." Everyone obeyed Seamus's orders. Ginny and Harry were now alone.

    “Nice going, Mr. Potter,” Ginny said. Oh my gosh! I am going out with Harry Potter. You’re just realizing this now? You’ve been going out with him for ten minutes. I know, but this is the only time the author could write me in. TALK! “What’s that look for?” Ginny was receiving a strange grin she had never seen before.

    “I’m just so happy.” He continued to give her the look. I must the luckiest guy in the world.

    “And why is that?” Ginny asked smiling at him.

    “Cause I’m with you, now,” Harry replied. Ginny just smiled sweetly at him. I must be the luckiest girl in the world.