Feel

"I just want to feel real love fill the home that I live in. 'Cause I got too much life runnin' through my veins, goin' to waste."

Ginny Weasley entered the library with the curious student in tow. The student, a girl with dark hair and eyes, walked behind Ginny slowly. It was as if she wanted to absorb everything she saw. Ginny went to the circulation desk and waited for the girl to finish looking at the library. Finally the girl spoke.

"Sorry, miss, I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation with Professor Potter. There's just a book in here I'm desperate to read." The girl walked forward to Ginny and held out her hand. "My name's Maria Villa. I'm glad you're here."

Ginny shook the girl's hand and smiled at her. 'Well, it's nice to meet you Maria. What book is it that you're looking for? Perhaps we can find it in all this mess." Ginny gestured hopelessly to the piles of books and posters that were scattered on the library tables.

"I want 'Wuthering Heights'. It's a muggle book. Do you think you might have it?" The girl chewed on her lip, as if waiting for bad news.

"You're just in luck Maria. Our headmaster let me buy lots of new books and I bought several muggle ones. Have you read that book before?" Ginny walked over to a stack of labeled boxes and began digging through the ones labeled 'Muggle Studies'. "I read it at university. I loved it." Ginny continued digging through the boxes, trying to find the one she was looking for.

"I started it. You see, I had this muggle boyfriend last year and he was telling me about it. Then when I came home for summer he and I took turns reading it aloud to each other. But we broke up before the book was finished. I liked it so much, I want to finish it on my own." Maria looked up triumphantly, holding the book in her hand.

Ginny took the book from Maria and carefully wrote down Maria's full name and a due date for two weeks later. "You'll love it. Believe me, the ending is the best part." Maria grabbed the book from Ginny and thanked her before running out of the library. Ginny sighed to herself and began unpacking the books on her own. She paused to flick her wand at a small muggle radio her father had given her. Mr. Weasley had charmed it to play without batteries and receive both the WWN and muggle radio stations. Ginny tuned the radio to a muggle pop station and continued to unpack books.

"Looks like we're busy like a little bee in here," came Draco's drawling voice. Draco walked into the library, looking around. "You've really changed it. What does Dumbledore think?"

Ginny continued to unpack the books while she answered Draco. "He likes it. He says I have added a homey quality that Madame Pince didn't permit. I wanted the students to be more comfortable here, you know? Some place where they could go and study, read books for pleasure, meet with friends. That's what the library was like a Toadstool University."

Draco gestured to the overstuffed armchairs that now littered the room. "You'll have kids falling asleep in here."

"I know. But that's a chance I'll just have to take." Ginny shifted a stack of books into her right hands and piled them onto the checkout desk. "Draco, not that I don't enjoy your enthralling presence, but why are you here?"

Draco laughed. "Saw you talking with Potter. I couldn't resist finding out what you said. After you left he stared after you, like he was in a dream. You made quite an impression." Draco picked up a stack of books and helped Ginny place them on the circulation desk.

"Oh, that. Well, he simply asked me why I didn't come over and say hello. Then we agreed to eat breakfast tomorrow to catch up on old times." Ginny tried to say this without sounding too excited or like she cared about it much.

Draco knew better. "Whoo-hoo! Potter finally gets up the nerve to ask you out. Will you put little red hearts on your desk calendar? 'Dear Diary- today Harry asked me to eat with him. At last, my love has noticed me.'" Draco looked up the ceiling with a false look of sincerity. A book flew across the room and smacked him in the face. "Now, now. There's no need to be rude," he admonished Ginny.

Ginny was bent over laughing at Draco. "You're so annoying! However did you manage to get through school without being slapped more often?"

"My good looks and overflowing charm." Draco tossed the book back at her. "So, really, what's up with Potter? What do you think he wants?"

"To catch up with me. I haven't seen him two years. You know, we are friends." Ginny placed the now empty boxes by the door for Filch to take. "Honestly Draco, what do you think he wants?"

"To get into your knickers. I'm a bloke. I recognize our tactics. First he'll charm you, then the next thing you know he'll be shagging you senseless. Not that you'd mind. I did the same thing with Parvati. She has the most amazing pair of knickers. They're lavender with these little fuzzy bits right. . ."

"Ugh! Draco, enough! I DO NOT want to know about you and Parvati's sex life. Anyway, what makes you think I'd let him shag me senseless?" Ginny asked indignantly as she pulled back on her cloak.

"You've had a crush on him for ages. He's a nice guy, other than being thicker than a brick wall. Anyway, I just think you should give him a chance. Let him charm you. There might be more to him than you know." Draco helped Ginny pull on the cloak that he had been struggling with.

"Draco Malfoy, telling me to give Harry Potter a chance? There's something to mark in my diary. 'Dear Diary, I think Draco has gone mad. Please advise." Ginny grabbed her keys off the checkout desk and walked with Draco to the door.

"I'll have you know I've been to St. Mungo's several times and they always let me back out." Draco pulled a face and Ginny laughed at him. "Everyone needs someone to love, Ginny. Even Harry. Why not you? You're pretty and smart and you have incredible taste in friends."

"You're a mad man Draco," Ginny said as she extinguished the candles in the room. "But a remarkably smart one. I'll think about what you said though." Ginny threaded her arm through Draco's and let him lead her to the teacher's rooms.

Harry watched as Draco and Ginny walked from the library arm in arm. A pain of jealousy stabbed in his heart. He knew Draco was engaged to Parvati, and happily so, but he still felt jealous of the closeness Draco already had with Ginny. He should be the one escorting Ginny to her room, not Draco. Harry shook his head angrily at himself. Ginny was a friend. He shouldn't be feeling this jealous over a friend. He decided not think about his feelings and go for a nice trip on his broomstick.