Chapter 2 A shocking surprise
"You're going to get it Malfoy!" Ginny huffed as she dashed off down the corridor to confront him. She stared straight ahead, her mind so fixed on Draco she didn't see the door open two inches from her face. It smacked into her, sending her flying onto the cold stone floor.
"OUCH!" she roared rubbing her sore face. Ginny looked up, her chocolate eyes swirling with anger only to meet the half composed, half annoyed Ron. He extended a hand to her, and pulled his little sister up in one swoop.
"Sorry Gin, about the mess with Draco, and the door," he chortled looking at her ever reddening face. Her dagger eyes shot up to him.
"Why are you laughing?" she barked placing her hands firmly on her hips.
"You just look so... how shall I say this, red?" he pointed out. Ginny looked down at her outfit. A Gray skirt, red blouse, black robes. She looked down at her wrist to see her red scrunchie gripping it, and then she tugged on her red hair.
"Okay, so I'm red. Do you have a problem with it?" Ginny grumbled. Ron stopped laughing and looked at her quizzically.
"What's eating you Gin? I swear, if Malfoy did anything to you I'll kill him!" he exclaimed, face hardening. He glanced around himself for Draco, but Draco was nowhere in sight.
"Nothing. It's not like you would care anyway. You'd be too busy doing something with Harry and Hermoine!" Ginny huffed turning her cold back to him. Ron placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.
"Is that what you think? You think I'd place Harry and Hermione above you?'' he asked in his most soothing voice.
"Yes, that's exactly what I think... no it's what I KNOW!" Ginny snapped turning around and throwing his hand off her shoulder. "You never spend time with me. Everything's all about them. Here I can quote some of our conversations for you: 'Hey Ron, want to go to Hogsmead with me?' 'Sorry Gin, I already promised Harry and Hermione I would go with them!' Oh and there's more Ron, care for me to elaborate?" she practically screamed switching voices for her quotes.
"What about when I wanted to play exploding snap with you... you had to go out with Harry for one thing or another. Or what about when I needed you to help me with my homework? You told me no because you were, gasp, busy! You never spend time with me. Whatever happened to 'family comes first' Ron?" Ginny sighed, eyes filling with tears, a single tear streaking down her face. Ron extended his hand and brushed it away, unsure of what he was to do.
"Well, are you going to hug me, or just let me stand here crying?" she asked, a small smile creeping across her lips, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Ron grinned down at her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry Ginny. Honestly I am. I never meant to make you feel so alone," Ron cooed, rubbing his sister's back. She pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"S'okay Ron, and yes it was Draco who put me in my foul mood," she sighed letting her eyes roam the corridor even though it was hopeless looking for him now.
"I knew it! I'll get him back for you, I swear I will! No one treats my baby sister like that!" he roared, attempting to run off aimlessly into the halls. Ginny forcefully wrapped her hands around his wrist to stop him.
"Oh no you won't Ronald Weasley! This is my battle and I'll be the one to fight it!" she warned.
"B-b-b-b-ut!"
"But nothing! I'm old enough to handle my own problems now. Sheesh Ron, you'd think you would treat me my age instead of four wouldn't you?" Ginny replied raising her eyebrow high into her forehead just as Draco had. A shiver jolted up Ron's spine. She looks just like Draco when she does that! He thought.
"You're looking at me like I've got ten heads or something again! What is it this time?" she asked unsure whether or not she wanted his answer. He waved his arm muttering that it was nothing. She looked at him skeptically.
"Okay, okay. I won't harm a single hair on Draco's head, for you at least!" Ron burst out unable to handle the tension that was building between them. Ginny gave him a warm smile.
"Thanks Ron, you don't know what it means to me that you've finally seen that I've grown up,'' she smiled linking her arm in his.
"May I walk you to class Mr. Weasley?" she asked between giggles.
"It would be your honor!" he joked. She playfully punched him in the arm.
"I need to go get my things for class anyway, will you join me?" she asked seriously. He nodded his head and bounded up the Main Hall's steps. She had to rush to keep up with him.
"I saw Draco run out of the Great Hall right after you. Did he say anything to you?" Ron asked, trying to make polite conversation. Ginny squirmed, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Er- well, he... uh, he just asked me if I was... er if I was happy being a Muggle-lover and then left," Ginny finally spat out. She looked curiously over at Ron, wondering if he bought her awful lie. He was staring straight ahead of him.
"Stupid git can't even come up with anything new, can he?" Ron finally replied, looking down at Ginny. She offered a weak smile.
"Nope!" she chimed. Ron looked as if he was contemplating something.
"Oh no you don't Ron! You promised me you wouldn't do anything to him!"
"Awe, come on Gin! Just let me curse his nose off or something!" Ron said, an eager yet psychotic look taking over his face. A huge grin spread crept from ear to ear as he clenched his fists happy at the thought. Ginny stopped walking.
"First of all NO, and second of all, who gave you the sugar?" she asked.
"Puh-wease!" Ron asked, putting on a puppy dog face, ignoring the second part of her question. Ginny huffed.
"Lets just put it this way, if you say a word to Draco about me, I tell Hermione how you sat at home pining over her all summer!" he jumped back with surprise.
"I do no such thing!" he pouted.
"Oh yes you do! Don't think I don't know what you do in your room, you know I can find all the crumpled up love notes in the trash if I like..." Ginny pointed out. Ron glared at her. Ginny glared back.
"Oh fine!" Ron said throwing his hands up. Ginny smiled.
"Hoghair," Ginny mumbled to the fat lady who admitted them into the Gryffindor common room. She raced up to her dormitory, grabbed her books, and ran back down to meet Ron.
Ginny stopped abruptly when she saw two figures cuddling in front of the fireplace. Ginny couldn't quite make out who they were since the couch's back was facing towards her, so she stealthily peeked around the corner of the staircase to see bushy brown hair and straight, yet messy, black hair. Ginny gasped, dropping her books on the floor.
Startled from the clash, she heard them both jump up. Ginny picked up her books, and rounded the corner of the staircase slowly. She saw Hermione's eyes pleading her for forgiveness. Ginny turned her gaze away from Hermione and placed them on Harry. She took in his messy tuff of black hair, and his brilliant green eyes shyly peaking out from behind her glasses.
"It's not what it looks like," Harry began twisting his foot on the carpet.
"For Merlin's sake, you don't need to be apologizing to me." Ginny choked, fighting back tears. Hermione heaved a sigh as Ron came bounding down the stairs. They all turned their heads to Ron. Harry jerked his head back to Ginny, his eyes pleading her not to tell him.
Ginny felt her heart drop and she flinched with the realization that Harry would never and has never liked her. He only sees me as his best friend's little sister... how could I have missed it all these years? What could have possibly have made me think that Harry Potter would like me, Ginny Weasley? She thought, eyes glazing over with tears.
Not able to take it anymore Ginny turned on her heel and ran out of the common room, leaving her brother's and his companion's eyes lingering on her. Tears streamed down her cheeks in rivers as she ran, her once fiery hair streaming out behind her. The twinkle had disappeared from her eyes. She ducked into the bathroom, running to a stall.