It's always hard to concentrate when the boy who you've fancied the pants off of happens to be mere feet away from you. And, yes, I happened to have been in that very situation... How nice.

I'd resigned myself to the fate of 'never-being-more-than-friends' when it came to that green-eyed pillock but, even still, I got sweaty palms and blushed like mad whenever he was in the general vicinity. I'm quite a sad excuse for a person, aren't I?

So, yes, there I was, ickle Ginny Weasley, sitting in the Hogwarts library, attempting to concentrate on my Charms homework. But it was basically a lost cause as the afore-mentioned boy meandered his way to the same table that I was sitting at.

"Hey, Ginny," he said in a depressing voice. Well, I would probably be the same way if I was entered into competing in a highly dangerous and obscure tournament against my will.

I looked up to see Harry Potter (The-Boy-Who-Lived, The-Boy-Who-Saved-Me-From-Imminent-Death, and now, Tri-Wizard competitor. Yeah, that Harry Potter) looking at me, his green eyes tired behind his round glasses.

"Oh, um..." And cue the blushing! "Hiya, Harry."

Curse my stupid Weasley genes. I never get a break, do I?

But Harry - always so sweet! - politely ignored the fact that I was slowly turning into an over-ripe tomato. "Can I join you?"

I nodded, and then ducked my head, hoping to hide the blush. "Sure thing, Harry," I said - quite pathetically, in my opinion.

I had come a long way, I think. Or at least that's what Hermione tells me. I mean, in my first year, I didn't even speak in front of Harry until I woke up in the Chamber. And second year, I managed to get to the "Hullo Harry," stage. But just look at me! Thirteen and able to have a full conversation with minimal blushing! I'm amazing (that was said with sarcasm, if you didn't notice).

Harry proceeded to dump his books onto the table and get a roll of parchment and a quill ready for use. We worked in silence for a few minutes - well, he did, and I pretended to, anyway - until Harry cleared his throat. "So, erm... How're things?"

I bit back a squeak of surprise that he was actually engaging me in a conversation. "Oh! Um, okay, I guess... But, how about you? I mean, you're the one who's being thrust into this horrible competition - which, by the way, I think is so bloody unfair. And those badges! I swear, one more comment, and I'm going to punch Malfoy in his bullocks, the stupid ferret... H-how's your, um... Egg?" I blushed brighter than ever, my rambling speech coming to a pitiful end, complete with stuttering.

Why must I be such an idiot?

Harry stared at me, probably surprised. I mean, I had only ever spoken in short, clipped, one-word sentences around him. Those had to have been the longest - and completely ridiculous - sentences I had ever uttered in his presence.

Dear Merlin,
Must you be so cruel? Do think you could succeed in making this anymore awkward?
Your favorite victim,
Ginny Weasley

Just as I was preparing myself to make a run for it, as Harry had been silent and unblinking for much too long to be considered normal (even given our situation), he burst into loud laughter. People stared and I looked on in complete horror.

Dearest Ginny,
No problem! And, I am definitely not cruel... I just like to laugh at your misfortune. Shall I continue?
Sincerely,
Merlin

Harry was still laughing, shaking in complete mirth. A part of me felt good that I had made him laugh, but another part (the more intelligent part, obviously) just about died of embarrassment.

Dear Merlin,
I hate you. And, as for an answer to your question - NO!
Loving You In A Similar Manner To Which Ron Loves Spiders,
Ginny Weasley

Harry finally stopped laughing and gave me a strange look. "I think that was the first time you've actually spoken to me!" He chuckled and then punched me lightly on the shoulder.

HE.

TOUCHED.

ME.

Cue hysterical screaming.

"Y'know, Ron told me once that you never shut up. I think I just had my first dose of the real Ginny."

My face felt very hot, but I managed to get a smile on my face. "Uh... He-he-he..." I giggled nervously. "Um, yeah..."

We settled into a silence once again but, surprisingly, it wasn't awkward at all. Well, okay, maybe just a bit.

I looked down at my Charms essay and picked my quill back up. "Oh, bloody hell..." I muttered. I pretended to scribble a few words, but then Harry decided to speak again.

"Um, Ginny," he started awkwardly. I kept my eyes on my parchment.

... Pronunciation is the key to...

"Yes?"

...Performing a charm correctly...

"About the Yule Ball..."

I sucked in a sharp breath and looked up, dropping my quill. "Huh?" I said blankly, my eyes wide and unblinking.

This could not be happening... There's no way... That this would ever happen...

I think I was hyperventilating...

"Do... Do you happen to - Um, erm..." Harry was clearly uncomfortable.

I tried not to get too worked up. "Harry, just say it..." I prompted, looking at him with my eyebrows raised.

I'm such a great actress.

"Okay... Um, d-do you know if Cho C-Chang has a date for the ball?"

My heart stopped beating, I swear. And then it dropped to the floor in a pathetic heap.

"Cho Chang?" I asked, feeling very stupid. Of course he wasn't going to ask me! Why would he? I'm just Ron's little sister - no one special!

Harry nodded, looking very anxious. "Have you heard anything? I mean, girls talk about things like this, right? Gossiping and all that..." He blushed and shrugged his shoulders, clearly embarrassed, but still looked very hopeful - and, damn it, cute.

"Um..." I said. Very eloquent, if I do say so myself... "I don't know, Harry. I'm sorry, but I really have no idea." It was the truth. I hadn't heard anything about bloody Cho Chang.

Harry looked disappointed. "Oh... That's... That's..." He sighed and rubbed his face. "Okay." He slumped back in his chair and pouted, something which I felt was very irritating and (sort of) endearing.

"Oh, in the name of Merlin's saggy Y-fronts, Harry!" I yelled, my face turning red, this time in anger. "If you want to ask her," I continued, standing up and gathering my things together. "THEN JUST BLOODY DO IT!"

I then stormed out of the library, trying to stop the angry tears from forming in my eyes, leaving Harry staring after me, gaping like a (very attractive) fish.

I'm sure that it would have been a spectacular dramatic exit - if I hadn't tripped and sprawled out on the floor about five paces away from the door.

My Sweet And Dreadfully Naive Ginny,
You should know by now not to ever doubt me. I always get the last say in these types of things!
Yours Truly,
Merlin

P.S. I'm very sorry to inform you that I do not own a pair of saggy Y-fronts, dear child... The things children come up with these days!

I hid in my room for about a week. Hermione said that I really should just go and apologize. My answer to that was, "I BLOODY WELL DON'T THINK SO!"

I didn't really do anything wrong. I mean, yeah, I got angry and yelled, but hey, I'm a Weasley. What else is new?

And besides, Harry had just taken my heart, threw it on the nasty, library floor and stomped on it.

Repeatedly.

I was at perfect liberty to do whatever I'd like. And if that meant brood over Harry Potter, then I was going to effing brood over Harry Potter, and I told as much to Hermione.

"But, Ginny," she said. "Don't you think you should... I don't know... Get over him? I mean, you can't let your feelings for Harry rule your life. You have to live without those feelings clouding your path." I bet she read a book on it.

"No." I said, rolling my eyes. "Stop trying to tell me what to do. You're clouding my path."

Hermione huffed. "You don't have to get all sassy with me, Ginny. I'm just trying to help." I groaned and flopped over in my stomach, playing with the hangings on my bed. "Viktor Krum asked me to the ball."

I sat straight up and gaped at her, much like a goldfish, I am told. "Why the bloody hell would he do that?!" I screeched.

Hermione frowned at me, a blush covering her cheeks. "Well, why not? I mean... Yes, he's older than me and—and I know I'm not all that pretty, but I..." I gave her a look that clearly said 'shut up—NOW.'

"Shut your trap, 'Mione." I said, rolling my eyes. "Of course you're pretty! Damn gorgeous! I didn't mean it like that... Sorry. It just surprised me is all."

"Oh, alright!" Hermione said, a small smile on her lips. "He asked me in the library."

"Ah," I said, smirking. "Your natural habitat — of course!"

Hermione swatted at me, laughing. "Shut it, you! He... Viktor is always in there... And, well..."

"So are you." I finished for her. "It makes perfect sense, really. And, I bet you never fawn over him like all the other bints out there. It's appealing."

Like you do with Harry…

Shut up, brain! I don't fawn over Harry!

Hermione nodded absently. "Yeah..."

I could tell her mind had taken her elsewhere, so I fell back against my bed again. At least one if us gets her fairy-tale ending. If you could call Krum a prince…

If only Harry would get his act together and realize that I'm not just 'the youngest Weasley.'

Hermione took one look at me, waved a hand in front of my face, shrugged when I ignored her, and then quietly exited the room, leaving me dwindling in the Land of If Only.

-hp-gw-hp-gw-hp-

I was sitting in the common room, reading a stupid romance novel that I had stolen from one of my roommates. I wasn't into it.

I chucked it across the room and hit a little first year in the back of the head. He (I think his name was Greg, or something like that) whimpered and tried to make a run for it, but he rammed into a studious-looking fifth year, who had an arm full of books. Tina (the fifth year) swore loudly and dropped her heavy volumes, which tumbled onto a table, knocking over some random sixth year's ink-well, dousing everyone within a three-foot radius in rainbow-colored ink.

"WHAT THE - ?!" The sixth ear screeched. "MY ESSAY! IT TOOK ME FIVE BLOODY HOURS TO WRITE THAT!" Then, everyone involved (save for me) started yelling and throwing insults around.

I winced at the domino effect and started to inch my way out of the common room before anyone could point out that it was my fault. Eight to one doesn't seem like it would have a good outcome. I was almost to the portrait hole when I heard it.

"GINNY!" someone yelled. I froze, gritting my teeth and fingering my wand. Well, I wasn't about to give in that easily. If I was to go down, I was going down fighting. "GINNY, WAIT UP!" The voice yelled again.

I heaved a sigh and spun around, my wand inches from the perpetrator's face. "Neville?" I asked, relieved, lowering my wand. "Oh, thank Merlin it's you. I thought it was one of those barmy people over there set on revenge… Er, you're not one of them are you?" I had just noticed that Neville was covered, from head to toe - literally - in shiny rainbow ink. I raised my wand again. I could take Neville any day of the week!

"Uh, no…" Neville said, shifting awkwardly. "I, um, just wanted to talk to you…"

"Oh, okay then. What's up?" I asked casually. I wonder how long it'll take for all that ink to come off…

"Oh, uh… Well, you see… I, um… I asked H-Hermione to the ball." Neville choked out.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Oh… She's going with someone else, isn't she? She told me that K - um, that they asked her just yesterday."

"Yeah, I know," Neville said, miserably. "She's just told me." He pointed to where she was sitting, and I glanced over to see Hermione (devoid of any ink, thankfully) glance up at me and smile encouragingly.

"Oh…?" I couldn't see where Neville had been attempting to take his ramblings, so I clapped him on the shoulder and said bracingly, "Well, sorry about that then, Nev. I'm sure you'll find someone to go with you by the time of the dance." I smiled in a friendly way and made to step towards to portrait hole. I could see Tina eyeing me from across the room - and it was quite scary, actually.

"Wait!" Neville said, hurriedly. "Um, well, I was… Just wondering if, maybe…" he trailed off uncertainly and mumbled something unintelligible.

"I'm sorry," I said, my brow wrinkling. "What was that?"

"Wouldyaliballwidme?" Neville said in a rush. He stood there in front of me, as still as a statue (I think he was holding his breath…) and very wide-eyed. I'm sure that underneath all that multi-colored gunk he was blushing, but unfortunately I couldn't tell.

"Um…" I still had little to no idea what Neville was talking about. I glanced around me, hoping to find an escape route, when my eyes landed on Hermione once more.

"Go on," she mouthed. "Say yes!" And, that was the final piece to the gigantic puzzle.

"OH! Are you asking me to the ball, Neville?" I asked, kindly. Neville nodded, looking very relieved that he didn't have to repeat himself. "Well," I said haltingly, my thoughts straying to Harry before I could help it.

NO! I scolded myself. He wants to ask Cho Chang, not you! And, besides, you want to be friends, remember? FRIENDS! JUST SAY YES, YOU IDIOT! You won't get to go otherwise and Neville is nice enough when he can actually formulate sentences…

"Alright, then." I finally said. "I'd love to go with you." He beamed and let out a humongous sigh of relief.

"Okay, so - er, yeah. That's… just, um... yeah," he fumbled, his grin never faltering. "See you later, Ginny!" And with that he sprinted out of the Common Room, leaving me smiling amusedly.

That smile vanished as soon as it had come, as I spied Tina, Greg, and many other rainbow people advancing towards me with menacing glares and sadistic smiles. With a strangled war cry, I launched myself out of the portrait hole, after Neville. "SAVE ME, HERMIONE!"

But, alas! my last glance of the Common Room before the portrait slammed closed was of Hermione, rolling her eyes as she turned back to the book in her hands.