Part 2

Later, with Harry, in detention with Umbridge.

Harry stared out the window, ignoring the all-too-familiar feeling of blood trickling down his hand. Ginny was out on the quidditch pitch, repeatedly tossing the quaffle across the field, and flying after it to toss it the other way. Back and forth, back and forth. She looked lost in thought, barely paying attention to the ball, but never missing. She's an incredible flyer. Thought Harry. Why haven't I noticed that she's such a good flyer? "Something the matter, Mr. Potter?" Umbridge's annoying high pitched voice pushed Harry's thought down. "Nothing, Professor." Harry didn't have the energy for any snide remarks with Umbridge. He was still thinking about earlier. Wasting your love life... Stupid Potter... The words kept circling his brain. He glanced at Umbridge, to make sure she wasn't looking, and then outside again, but Ginny was gone.

At dinner, with Ginny.

Ginny sat in the great hall, in between Fred and George, across from her sat Lee Jordan. They were all trying to figure out what was wrong but Ginny kept telling them to stay out of it. Lee playfully punched her in the shoulder. "C'mon, Gin. Just tell us why you're in such a bad mood!!" Ginny shook her head. She forced herself not to look at Harry, so she busied herself by playing with the food on her plate. "How about two on two quidditch, after dinner?" Said Fred."Yeah!" George agreed. "That always cheers you up!" The three boys stared at her hopefully. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hermione farther down the table, casting her sympathetic glances, and... No. Impossible. Was Harry staring at her? "You know what, guys." Ginny started, pushing her plate away from her. "I think I'm just gonna go to bed." She caught Lee, Fred, and George's faces all drop but she didn't look back at them. She allowed herself one glance at where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting, and Harry's eyes were following her out of the great hall. She quickly left. Why was Harry staring at her? Was it possible that Harry heard what Ginny had said to Hermione in the bathroom? Ginny didn't allow the thought to grow any bigger in her mind. Too embarrassing. Still staring at the floor she bumped into someone walking by. "Oh, Dean! I'm so sorry!" Dean smiled. "It's fine Ginny." He turned around to keep walking but Ginny grabbed his arm. He looked at her hand grabbing him, and then at her. "I've actually thought about it, and I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you." Dean's face lit up. "Really?" Ginny nodded at him. Dean smiled once more and turned back around, and into the great hall. Ginny sighed and raked her fingers through her hair, closed her eyes for a moment, and continued to the common room.

Later, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny are all sat in the common room.

Harry was looking at Ginny. She was sitting in the windowsill, rain pattering outside, finishing homework. She didn't look up once. Harry had also been looking at her in the great hall, at dinner, hoping she would look at him and reassure him that nothing was wrong between them, but she never looked. Hermione and Ron's conversation about Umbridge's lesson today was background noise. Harry was barely paying attention. "Harry?" Ron asked. "Harry??" He looked back at Ron and Hermione. Ron was looking at him questioningly, while Hermione looked towards where he had just been staring. There was only one other person in the common room. Ginny. Hermione yawned. "You know what Ron, I really think we should get going." Ron looked at Hermione, confused. "'Mione, it's 8:30..." Hermione gave Ron a, "you-really-shouldn't-question-me-right-now" kind of look. "We have Hogsmeade tommorow, Ron." Ron, still confused, mumbled "alright" and he and Hermione left to their dormitories. "Ginny." Harry said, still looking at her. She pulled her eyes away from her essay, and looked around, only just realizing she was alone with Harry. "Ginny I really need to talk to-" Harry started. But at the same time, Ginny got up and said: "I really better get to bed Harry." She picked up her things and left. Harry blinked at the spot she was just sitting, and slumped in his chair. At this point, it seemed unlikely that Ginny would ever speak to him again.