Maybe This Time

CHAPTER FOUR: IN HER SHOES

Harry was walking towards the Great Hall when he heard someone call his name.

`Harry! Harry!´ called Ginny. He froze and then slowly turned around to face her.

`Hello,´ he said, looking at her. She was wearing Ron´s huge jumper and loose pants and he thought that she looked so beautiful and lovely.

`How are you doing?´

`Fine, thanks,´ he replied, swallowing hard. His lips were so dry and he felt so thirsty. `And you?´

`I´m great,´ said Ginny and then playfully punched him on his arm. `Now,´ she said, jumping onto Harry´s back, `I want you to give me a ride to the Great Hall!´

`OK,´ squeaked Harry. She smells so good...I didn´t know that she looked this good in the morning. A few seconds later, two more people joined them.

`Great Merlin! Ginny!´ said Ron, shaking his head. `Get off Harry´s back!´

`What?´ said Ginny, making Harry stop and face Ron and Hermione. `You want to carry me to the Great Hall?´

`No, but...´

`It´s OK with you, right?´ asked Ginny, leaning closer to get a better view of Harry while Harry´s face flushed. Ron frowned a little. Harry was acting strange... very strange.

`Ah, er, yeah. Of course it is, Ginny.´

`See?´ said Ginny, `Now, of we go Harry!´

`OK,´ said Harry. =========================

During breakfast, Harry was awfully quiet and this caught Ron´s attention. He also kept on stealing glances at Ginny, who was sitting beside Ron and Hermione. The look that he was giving her was different from the looks that he has given her before.

`Harry,´ said Seamus, `are you listening to me?´

`Huh, yeah, of course. What where you saying again?´

`Word of advice, mate,´ said Seamus, leaning closer. `Don´t be too obvious...´ Harry just sighed. They suddenly saw an owl flying towards them and it dropped a letter to Harry. Harry frowned and then looked at the letter. It has the seal of the Puddlemere United Reserve Team.

`Who´s it from, Harry?´ asked Ron.

`Dunno,´ he replied. He opened the letter reluctantly.

Dear Mr. Harry Potter,

We would like to recruit you, after your graduation from Hogwarts, as our new Seeker starting from next year. Training will begin right after June of this year to prepare for the big match against Chudley Cannons. Mr. Oliver Wood has told us a lot about you. I have also seen you in a couple of your games since your 5^th year. Please reply to this letter whether you accept this invitation or not.

Thank you and we really hope to hear from you soon.

From,

Puddlemere United Reserve Team

`What is it?´ asked Hermione, looking at the very stunned Harry. `What is it about?´

`Puddlemere United wants me,´ said Harry, grinning from ear to ear. `They bloody want me!´

`That´s good, Harry!´ yelled Ron. `That´s really good!´

`Ron, first game is against Chudley Cannons...´ said Harry, looking at him.

`Who cares?´ exclaimed Ron, `My favourite team is Puddlemere United now! My best friend is in that team! Good for you! Go Puddlemere United!´

`Oh my gosh, Harry,´ said Ginny, `Good for you!´ But some Hufflepuff Boy leaned down to her ear and whispered something, which made her giggle. This made Harry´s smile fade and scowl at the boy. Ron just looked curiously. ====================

JANUARY

`Bye,´ said Harry, almost tumbling down because he was hurrying up. His bag was hanging on his neck. Hermione, Ron, Draco and Seamus just looked at each other.

`What is he up to?´ asked Hermione. Ron just looked at Draco who turned away and then shrugged.

`I don´t know,´ said Ron, still looking at the too-busy-with-his-robe Draco. He turned to Hermione. `You are going to be late to your Quidditch Class.´ Hermione grumbled and then began packing her things.

Everyday, since the resume of classes, Harry would always be seen at the hallway leading to the Charms classroom---Ginny´s Charms classroom, sitting on one of the hidden chairs that have the best view of all the people who pass there. He has Quidditch class at this time, but since he is in his house´ Quidditch Team, he is exempted from the class, together with Ron and Draco.

He was there to glance at Ginny Weasley, hoping that she´d look at him one day. Stupid, but he can always dream, right? He was confused. He didn´t know what´s happening to him, but he didn´t mind. Looking at her, even just her shadow, made him feel different... it made him feel so good---really good.

Harry would always be in his same spot, waiting and praying that she hasn´t passed there yet. His heart seems to be beating so fast. She always seems to be in his mind. He has no idea on what´s happening to him. He didn´t know why he needed to see or hear her all the time all of a sudden. He doesn´t seem to want to blink his eyes every times she´s there because he is scared that she might disappear without him knowing. He´s going insane. Everything seems to be stopping every time she passes by. He just couldn´t let one day pass by without seeing her go to her Charms Class, laughing and talking with her friends. She just looked so beautiful... so perfect.

`Uh,´ said Ginny, leaning down to pick up her books that fell. She looked up to her friends and then said, `Just go ahead and tell Professor that I´ll be a little late...´ Her friends insisted for a moment but left after a few seconds of debate.

`Damn,´ said Harry, leaning on the wall, sighing and staring at the clueless Ginny. `Isn´t she lovely...´

`What are you doing here?´ asked Ron, softly, grinning like a maniac. I knew it! It´s a girl! `And, who is lovely?´ Harry froze upon hearing his best friend´s voice. He opened his mouth to explain but nothing seems to come out. Ron frowned and then looked at the direction where he was staring a while ago. His jaw dropped. `WHAT?!!´

`Ron,´ hissed Harry, blushing like mad and covering his mouth with his hand, `she might---´

`Ron,´ said Ginny, looking around, `Ron?´ Harry bit his lip and then let go of Ron.

`Yeah,´ he squeaked, stepping out of the dark.

`What are you doing here?´

`Nothing,´ replied Ron, still confused. `Just looking for Harry...´

`Did you find him?´

`Yeah,´ said Harry, stepping out of the dark and blushing. Ginny frowned. What would they possibly be doing in the dark? Thinking of what Ginny must have been thinking, Ron and Harry jumped apart immediately.

`Ginny!´ yelled Ron, once again. Ginny giggled, and then shook her head.

`Well, good thing that I know the two of you quite well... If I didn´t know you two, I´d think that... Anyway, is something wrong?´ she asked, stepping closer but Harry stepped back. `What are you doing here? Ha! You were waiting for a girl!´ She grinned at Harry, while he blushed.

`He sure was,´ murmured Ron, `Aren´t you late for class yet?´

`So, who is she?´ she teased, poking his waist, but Harry took her hand and then just smiled awkwardly.

`Well, apparently,´ said Ron, `you know her very well.´

`Is she one of my friends?´ asked Ginny. `Let me guess, Marissa? Kate? Sa---´

`Go to your class now Ginny,´ said Ron, firmly, `Go, now.´

`Fine,´ said Ginny, looking disappointed, `Bye.´ She walked away.

`We have to talk,´ said Ron, looking at Harry, who looked down. They went outside and then sat near the lake.

`Ron,´ said Harry, `I was---´

`Is that why you are acting so strange and quiet around her?´

`It´s not like I wanted this to happen... It just happened. I don´t even know what´s happening to me. I´m so confused,´ he mumbled. Ron just stared at him. `It´s torture...´

`I already suspected it,´ said Ron, smiling a little. `I saw you, the other night. I saw you looking at her while she was sleeping on the table. You even smelled her hair... and that smile that you had on your face was different.´ Harry just shrugged and then looked away. `I just wasn´t sure yet. I needed more proof. I knew that you were acting strange because of a girl but I didn´t know that it was over my baby sister...´

`I didn´t want this to happen. But since it did, I wish it happened earlier...´

`I know.´

`It sucks.´

`It does. Your timing is bad, Harry.´

`No need to remind me,´ said Harry, sighing. `Can we keep this to ourselves?´

`You mean not tell, Hermione?´

`Um, er, yeah...´

`Alright,´ said Ron, patting his back. `You are a good man, Harry. If---´

`Don´t say it,´ said Harry, smiling a little. `I´m the greatest prat who ever lived. She was right there and... and... I was stupid.´ Ron

just gave him a smile that showed he pitied him.

`Aren´t you going to tell her at all?´

`No.´

`You´ll be fine, mate,´ said Ron, thinking of something nice to say to him, `Things happen for a reason.´=================