noticed
Neville & Ginny
Ginny Weasley trudged glumly down the stairs and headed in the direction of the Great Hall. It was a Hogsmeade weekend and there was a buzz of excitement in the air as students rushed to the queue happy to be free of essays and lectures for at least one afternoon. As Ginny neared the front doors of the school she heard her name being called, she looked up and was greeted by the smiling faces of her two best friends, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood. The two girls beckoned for Ginny to come over and join them. Ginny heaved a sigh as she changed her course of direction and weaved her way through the crowd where Hermione and Luna stood, they were no doubt waiting for Harry and Ron to show up.
Hermione and Harry had been going out for most of the term after Harry decided to confess his true feelings for the brown eyed beauty by kissing her one evening in the library in front of half the seventh years, they'd been inseparable ever since. Their relationship had created quite a bit of talk as most people apparently thought that it was impossible that one of the school's star Quidditch players and resident hero could possibly be madly in love with the rather bookish albeit beautiful Head Girl. In fact the only thing that had quelled the persistent discussion of the likelihood of the Harry Hermione pairing had been the equally surprising coupling of Luna Lovegood and Ron Weasley. If Harry and Hermione as a couple had shocked Hogwarts they were utterly floored by Ginny's brother and other good friend. Apparently the two had stumbled across each other one afternoon in the Room of Requirement and somehow, no one knew the exact details, ended up snogging each other senseless. The fact that the female population of Hogwarts was still reeling from this latest scandalous turn of events was evidenced by the conversation Ginny heard of a passing group of Hufflepuffs.
"I still can't believe that Loony Lovegood landed Ron Weasley"
Pouted a curvy blue-eyed blond.
"I know what you mean…first Harry Potter falls for that Hermione Granger and then Weasley and Lovegood, honestly who's it going to be next"
The tall thin brunette's words came out in a rush as she nodded in the direction of Luna and Hermione who had been joined by their respective boyfriends and were being greeted with kisses
The red head of the set shook her head in agreement and chimed in.
"Makes you wonder what we're doing wrong"
The three girls turned their heads and headed towards the front doors, while the fourth girl of the group, a round faced girl with mousy brown hair, hung back to watch a moment and whispered.
"Kind of gives some of us hope though"
She heaved a breathless sigh before scurrying off to catch up with her friends.
Ginny shook her head and watched after the foursome for a few seconds before turning her attention to her brother and three friends. Ron was the first to speak.
"Gin what are you doing lugging around your school bag, its Saturday"
At Ron's words three pairs of eyes zeroed in on the bag Ginny had hoisted over her shoulder. Luna immediately spoke.
"You are coming with us to Hogsmeade aren't you"
Ginny shook her head thoroughly disgusted with herself, how was she supposed to tell her friends and her brother that she wouldn't be joining them for the day because she was going to be stuck in the bleeding library doing remedial Herbology! BLOODY HELL…Ginny silently cursed herself; it was her own fault that she had to do remedial Herbology; she wasn't particularly good at it to begin with and since she and Dean had broken up she'd paid even less attention to her studies causing her to get some rather poor marks in the last few weeks. Ginny looked into each of the four faces regarding her and replied.
"I'm sorry…I know I promised I'd go with you all today but something's…ummm…come up"
As the words left her mouth Ginny heard a familiar chuckle, she turned around in time to see Dean Thomas her ex-boyfriend holding hands with his current girlfriend Pavrati Patil. Ginny watched as Dean and Pavrati headed out the doors with their friends Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown and Pavrati's twin Padma and her boyfriend Terry Boot. Luna surveyed the scene before turning to ask Ginny.
"This isn't about you breaking up with Dean is it"
Ginny looked up at Luna and hastily replied.
"No this has nothing to do with Dean"
"Then why aren't you coming with us"
Harry asked.
"As I told you there's something else that I have to do"
Ron glared at his younger sister and asked.
"What is it then"
Ginny sighed realizing that she wasn't going to get away from them without explaining what was going on.
"If you must know I've gotten some rather inadequate marks in Herbology and Professor Sprout has been kind enough to allow me to do make up assignments. I have to hand in a four foot essay on the properties of Fungiticulus Mugrot Root on Monday"
Ginny dropped her head sheepishly. Hermione walked over and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"I am not exactly sure of all the properties but a quick trip to the library will rectify that, I'll just pop up to the common room and get my things and we will have this essay done in no time"
Luna nodded her head in agreement.
"Smashing idea Hermione I'll come too, there's some Mugrot Root growing down in the greenhouses, Professor Sprout assures me that its main property is not tickling but the one my dad brought back from Budapest definitely tickles"
Ginny smiled fondly at her two friends willingness to come to her aid, but she shook her head firmly and replied.
"Absolutely not, I won't let you give up your afternoons because of me"
Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ginny quickly silenced her with an exceptionally stern glare reminiscent of the kind Molly Weasley was known for bestowing upon people.
"I'll not hear another word about the matter, the four of you will go to Hogsmeade and have a fabulous time, I expect not to see you back here before dinner when you'll tell me all about it"
Having said that Ginny ushered all four of them out the door and down the front steps of the castle. Realizing that they ran the risk of being hexed otherwise the quartet waved goodbye and headed towards Hogsmeade while Ginny proceeded to the greenhouses deciding to have a look at the Fungiticulus Mugrot Root that was growing there.
Ginny opened the door to greenhouse number three and walked in. There were rows and rows of various plants sitting on tables stationed about the room. Ginny hung her bag in one of the cubbies set up by the door and began searching through the rows for the particular plant she needed. She searched for quite some time looking for the offending plant but to no avail, frustrated she kicked a pair of pruning shears. The shears spun across the floor and disappeared around a corner. Ginny was about to leave when she heard someone cry out in pain.
"Ouch"
Ginny hurried in the direction of the voice and found the shears lying on the floor beside Neville Longbottom who was hopping around rather comically on one foot. Ginny rushed over to Neville and began apologizing.
"I'm so sorry Neville…I didn't know anyone else was in here…are you all right"
Neville hopped over to the nearest bench and took a seat a grimace of pain marring his face. Still holding his foot he looked up at Ginny and spoke.
"I'm okay, nothing seems to be permanently damaged"
Ginny pulled out her wand and pointed it at Neville's foot and murmured a quick healing spell. She then took a seat beside him on the bench and queried.
"How's that"
Neville waggled his toes inside his shoe and replied with a smile.
"Much better thanks, where'd you learn that"
Ginny smiled.
"When you've got six older brothers knowing a few minor healing spells comes in pretty handy"
Neville nodded his understanding and Ginny asked.
"What brings you to the greenhouses on a Hogsmeade Saturday"
Neville shrugged his shoulders.
"Just didn't feel like going, decided to come here and get some work done instead"
Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of work"
Neville replied.
"Oh I like to help out sometimes is all…with the planting and stuff…what are you doing here"
Ginny made a face and replied.
"I've got this essay due on Monday about Fungiticulus Mugrot Root, I came down here to get a look at it but I couldn't find it…that's what I was doing when I kicked the pruning shears and ran into you"
Neville nodded.
"Oh…"
Neville stared at Ginny for a second before continuing.
"I can show you where the Mugrot root is if you like"
Ginny replied.
"Thanks I'd really appreciate that"
Neville took Ginny by the hand and guided her over to a table of plants stationed by the windows.
Neville and Ginny spent the entire afternoon in greenhouse number three. Neville was very knowledgeable about plants and he was a virtual fount of information on Fungiticulus Mugrot Root, Ginny took a seat on a bench near the table where he was working at repotting Tentacled Snapdragons and wrote as he worked. Whenever she got stuck or confused about something Neville was able to sort her out. Ginny looked over the roll of parchment that contained her essay; five feet complete with illustrations not bad. Ginny smiled to herself quite pleased with her accomplishment. She looked up at Neville intending to thank him for all his help but the sight before her made her breath catch in her throat. It was necessarily warm in the greenhouse; Neville had removed his robe, as had Ginny much earlier in the day but Neville had at some point removed the jumper he'd been wearing, he was standing there in a noticeably snug t-shirt that was covering a particularly admirable set of muscles that Ginny hadn't known he possessed. Ginny continued her perusal of the young wizard before her; he was really quite attractive. The round-faced, clumsy, stammering Neville she'd first met at Hogwarts was not the person who was standing before her, his once plump face was now all manly planes, his clumsy body toned and confident he didn't even stammer when he talked anymore. Neville looked down and saw Ginny staring at him, she was wearing a rather odd expression as if she was checking him out, Neville shook his head to clear it of his ridiculous ruminations, honestly a girl like Ginny would not be checking him out. Not wanting to embarrass himself Neville quickly averted his gaze before loudly clearing his throat. At the sound Ginny snapped out of her reverie and gave Neville her attention as he spoke.
"How's your essay coming"
"It's all done, thanks for everything you were a big help"
Ginny stood up and for some unfathomable reason she reached up and kissed Neville on the cheek. Their eyes met briefly before Ginny mumbled a hasty thank you and began to gather her things. Neville watched her in complete shock; Ginny Weasley had just kissed him. The look in her eyes made him wonder had she wanted to do more than just kiss his cheek. Without thinking what he was doing Neville reached out and grabbed her hands and pulling her to him kissed her full on the mouth. It only took a second for Ginny to return Neville's kiss enthuastically. When the need to breathe became too strong their mouths broke apart. Ginny looked up at Neville who spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry…I…I just…I've wanted to do that for a very long time but you were with Dean and…"
Neville's voice trailed off as a blushing Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and replied.
"Well I'm not with Dean anymore"
Having said that she pulled Neville into another searing kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room raining kisses down Hermione's neck, who was perched on his lap.
"Have either of you seen Ginny"
Harry looked up to see Ron standing by his chair a faintly concerned scowl on his face. Harry mumbled no and resumed nuzzling Hermione's neck. Ron made a disgusted face before plowing on.
"Oh cut it out would you…no one wants to see that"
Harry grunted and looked up at his best friend and replied.
"Did I interrupt you and Luna snogging all over Hogsmeade"
Ron opened his mouth to reply but shook his head and went back to his reason for disturbing them in the first place.
"Its just that its nearly curfew and I can't find Ginny, she wasn't at dinner and she's not in her room, no one's seen her since this morning. I was hoping you two'd help me find her"
Harry stood up and deposited Hermione on her feet in one fluid motion, he then turned to Ron and said.
"Come on then let's go find her"
Just as the trio turned to leave the portrait hole swung open and Ginny climbed through holding hands with Neville. A hush drifted over the room as all the Gryffindors present watched the pair cross the room and stop at the foot of the stairs. Neville handed Ginny her schoolbag, which he'd been carrying, she smiled up at him and whispered.
"Thank you"
Neville grinned and replied.
"See you tomorrow then"
Ginny nodded and standing on her tiptoes brushed her lips against Neville's. Neville slipped his arms around her waist and drew her into a rather passionate kiss. They parted slowly and after another gentle kiss said good night and disappeared up their respective staircases to their rooms. Hermione suppressed a giggle as Ron turned scarlet from his neck to his hairline. His mouth flew open as he pointed to the spot his sister and dorm mate had just occupied.
"Did you see…Ginny and Neville…they were…Neville Longbottom just kissed my sister"
Harry patted Ron on the back and replied.
"Actually mate…I think it was the other way around"
Ron flopped down on the couch and shook his head muttering incoherently to himself about sisters and kissing. Harry's hand closed around Hermione's and he drew her back to their seat by the fire. Hermione stared at him slightly perplexed.
"Don't you think we should talk to him"
Hermione gestured towards Ron, Harry looked over at the couch and shook his head.
"Ron will be fine, and I presently could care less who Ginny is snogging, what concerns me at the moment is snogging you"
Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and crushed her lips to his.
-->