Feel

Ginny stared down the table at Harry. She wondered why Harry was here and why her heart was beating so fast. Ginny watched as Draco shook Harry's hand and talked for him few minutes. Ginny kept her eyes on her food and shoveled it into her mouth as fast as she could. She felt a presence next to her and a rush of woodsy smelling cologne wafted her way. She looked up to see Draco standing next to her smiling.

"What are you smiling at?" she grumbled.

Draco laughed. "I'm smiling at you. I saw you begin to choke down your dinner as fast as you could. Don't tell me. You're hoping to run out of here as soon as possible so you can escape without facing Potter."

"No. I just realized I'm very hungry." Ginny looked up at Draco. She watched as he leaned over and wiped some mashed potato from the corner of her mouth.

He sat down next to her again. "I'm sure Potter has forgotten all about your little schoolgirl crush on him. Go over and say hello."

Ginny eyed Draco warily. "Not right now, okay? Later, I'll do it. I'm just not ready yet."

Draco nodded and began to eat his dinner again. A little later, Dumbledore began tapping the side of his pumpkin juice goblet to get the students' attention. Draco and Ginny stopped their gossip about their old school chums and listened to what he had to say.

"Students and my esteemed colleagues. It gives me great pleasure to introduce three new members of the Hogwarts staff." Ginny could feel the students' eyes boring into the three young faces. She put on her best smile and looked around at the crowd. "The first is Draco Malfoy. Mister Malfoy will be teaching our beginning potions classes. He was a former student here and I am proud to have him back." Draco stood up and wrapped his Slytherin quidditch scarf around his neck. The great hall burst into applause as the Slytherin house realized one of their own had come back to teach. Ginny clapped Draco on the back proudly. Draco smiled at her as he sat down in his seat again. "Next, I would like to introduce Miss Ginny Weasley. She is here to take over as our librarian. No doubt many of you will find her to be a valuable resource. I am also proud to have another Hogwart alumni here." Ginny stood up and smiled at all the students.

"I'm very proud to be here," she announced and summoned someone's Gryffindor scarf from across the Great Hall. She waved it in the air and heard a burst of cheers erupt from across the hall.

"Settle down." Dumbledore looked across the hall and gave the students a stern look. "I have one more teacher to introduce." A chorus of cheers erupted as the students took a look at the final teacher to be announced. "Finally, I am proud to introduce Mr. Harry Potter as out new quidditch teacher. As many of you know, Madame Hooch has gone on to coach the Chudley Cannons. Harry has graciously agreed to coach the quidditch teams and teach the beginning flying classes." Under Ginny and Draco's watchful eyes, Harry stood and smiled at the crowd. "At last," he said. "I've come home."

The entire Great Hall burst into cheers and applause. Ginny felt tears come to her eyes and looked over at Draco. Draco, on the other hand, was pretending to wipe tears from his eyes. "Do you have a hankie?" he asked Ginny in a mock falsetto voice. "This is simply too much for me to bear." Ginny began to laugh at his comment and playfully swiped at him.

"Show some respect!" she reprimanded him.

At long last the Great Hall quieted down the students began to eat again. Most quickly filed out, anxious to catch up with their friends and chat. Ginny realized she had several boxes of books to reshelf that had been in storage. Taking a last sip from her goblet, Ginny pushed away from her seat and stood up.

"Draco, I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast. It's been nice eating with you. I'm glad you're here. I've missed the twins' sense of humor. I hope we'll get to be good friends."

Draco looked up at her, amazed. Ginny leaned down and hugged him. "I mean it. You've turned out to be a nice guy."

Draco looked up at her and smiled. "Thanks, Ginny. You don't know how much that means to me." Ginny saw real tears in his eyes. She playfully handed him her handkerchief and left the table. "Come and visit me soon!" she called over her shoulder, as she stepped off the raised teachers' platform. Ginny reminded herself to keep her eyes and thoughts off Harry as she began the long walk out of the Great Hall.

Suddenly, Ginny became aware of a presence behind her, struggling to catch up to her quick strides. Ginny paused and turned around. She knew he'd be there. Just as she thought, there was Harry standing behind her and smile on his face.

"Ginny, weren't you even going to say hello to me?" he asked, looking at Ginny curiously.

Ginny looked at Harry and wondered if he was really glad to see her. She had often wondered if Harry talked to her because she was Ron's sister or if he genuinely liked her company. Ginny had to remind herself that she shouldn't care about that. She should just enjoy Harry's company; after all he was going to be coaching quidditch.

"Harry, I'm sorry. You know Draco; he always wants your full attention. Anyway, I thought you'd be swarmed by teenage boys who want quidditch tips and teenage girls who have a crush on you." Ginny smiled at Harry and began walking again. Harry picked up the pace and began to walk with her.

"Nah, Ginny. I always have time for an old friend." Harry smiled winningly at her. Ginny turned to look into his eyes and smiled back at him.

"It'll be nice to have an old friend here. I won't feel so lonely." Ginny was about to say more when a student called across the hall to her.

"Professor Weasley, I need your help. There's a book I have been dying to read since last year." The young girl came running across the hall and stood between Harry and Ginny. Ginny grinned at Harry and said, "Sorry. Gotta go. My librarian's expertise is needed."

Harry laughed and quickly hugged her. "Alright, I'll let you go for now. But tomorrow, we're going to talk throughout breakfast. I don't care what Draco does." Ginny nodded and walked out of the Great Hall with the student. As Ginny walked away, Harry was conscious of a feeling in his heart. It had fluttered when he had seen Ginny stand up when she was introduced. Dumbledore hadn't mentioned that she would be working here too. He hadn't seen Ginny in a couple of years. Every time he had visited the Burrow to visit Ron, she had been away at university. He expected Ginny to be her usual timid self. A self-confidant, pretty young woman, had replaced that timid girl. A woman Harry wanted to get to know better.