Feel

Ginny woke up the next morning smiling. Harry had actually kissed her! Ginny smiled and stretched in her bed. Today was a Saturday, which meant that she could go into Hogsmeade. Hermione had owled her and told her to go to Madame Malkin's shop and get herself measured for her bridesmaid robes. Ginny ran her fingers over her mouth and smiled again. Suddenly she had a thought. 'What if Harry really meant what he said last night? What if he didn't like feeling this way about her?' Ginny sat down back on her bed and frowned. Ginny decided to wait and see if Harry sought her out today. She had told him that if he didn't like the way he felt he needed to do something about it. It would be hard to avoid him today, but she needed to do it.

Ginny stood up from the bed again and walked to her bathroom. Ginny walked into the room and quickly undressed. She poked her head back into her room and checked her bedside clock. The hands on the clock pointed to eight a.m. Ginny knew Harry slept in on Saturdays until at least ten. She should have plenty of time to get cleaned up and out to Hogsmeade before Harry woke up. Ginny shut the door again and started running the water for her bath.

Half an hour later, Ginny emerged from her bath. She was clean, but cold. Ginny's teeth chattered as she quickly chose an outfit and began to put it on. After her clothes were on, Ginny sprayed some of her favorite perfume. Then she walked back into the bathroom and said a spell to dry and style her hair. Finally, Ginny put some light makeup on her face and pulled on her boots. Ginny checked the clock by her bed one final time. Nine o'clock. Ginny smiled and quickly wrote a note to post by her bedroom. Each professor had a small corkboard to post notes on when they were out of their rooms. Ginny grabbed a quill, inked it and scratched on the parchment:

Gone to Hogsmeade. Back later.

Ginny

Ginny stood back and observed her work. Grabbing her purse, Ginny went to the fire in the staffroom. She tossed a handful of Floo powder into the fire and yelled, "Madame Malkin's". In a flash of green fire, Ginny disappeared from the staffroom and reappeared in Madame Malkin's. Ginny stepped out of the firegrating and felt in her leather backpack for the cell phone Hermione had given her. Hermione had told her that she kept it on at all times so her parents could call her. Hermione had showed her how to use it and Ginny liked calling Hermione. Ginny quickly dialed Hermione's number.

"Hello?"

"Hermione, it's Ginny. I'm here in Madame Malkin's. When are you getting here?" Ginny pressed the phone to her ear and looked around while she waited for Hermione's answer.

"Oh, Gin. I'll be there in a few minutes. Ron will be there too. We're going to meet Harry in the Three Broomsticks for lunch, okay?" Hermione paused. "I can't believe you two are working together! It's like fate is working to get you two together."

Ginny snorted. "Harry is being an ass. But I'll talk to you about when I see you. We'll have a girl talk."

Hermione laughed and told Ginny goodbye. Ginny ended the call and placed the phone back in her backpack. Ginny smiled as Madame Malkin approached and told her what she needed. Madame Malkin sighed and told Ginny that this would take awhile.

Two hours later and Hermione had already arrived. Ginny had explained the whole situation to Hermione.

"So, he kissed you?" Hermione asked while she watched Ginny be fitted for the bridesmaid gown.

"Yes. He said he didn't like the way this made him feel." Ginny winced as one of the pins poked into her sensitive skin.

"Didn't like the way what made him feel?" Hermione frowned. "Madame Malkin, this green is too pale for her. Can you make it an emerald green?" The jade colored fabric immediately went from being a light green color to a dark emerald green.

"He didn't say. I can guess that he meant the jealousy of Draco." Ginny stepped off the platform and twirled in front of the mirror. "This is beautiful, Hermione! Do you like it?"

"I love it. It's a gorgeous dress. You could wear it to other formal occasions too." Hermione smiled at Ginny in the mirror. "You see? You're beautiful. If only Harry would notice it."

Ginny frowned at Hermione. Madame Malkin quickly wrote down the details and had Ginny stand back up on the platform so she could unpin the dress. Ginny could see out the window to the shop. Ginny craned her neck to see out and noticed Harry. Not just Harry alone. He was walking with Cho Chang. Ginny squealed and turned to Hermione.

"C'mere! I want you to see this!" Ginny gestured wildly for Hermione to come to the window. Pins poked painfully into her sides, but Ginny didn't notice.

"What?" Hermione reluctantly got up from her seat and walked to the window. "What is it that I'm looking for?"

"There by the Three Broomsticks. Harry and Cho." Ginny felt like crying and punching someone.

"Oh my goodness! What is she doing with him?" Hermione stood up on Ginny's platform to get a better view. "Look at him! He's smiling at her and everything."

Ginny turned away from the window. She waited patiently for Madame Malkin to removed the rest of the pins. Ginny didn't feel like talking anymore. As Ginny walked off the platform and back to the fitting rooms, Ginny turned to Hermione.

"Listen, I'm not really in the mood to eat. I'll owl you later, okay?" Ginny walked back to the fitting room and pulled her clothes back on.

Hermione followed her. "Ginny," she said speaking to the door. "Gin, you have no idea why he's with her. Don't get upset for nothing. Come and eat with us. Ron wants to see you."

Ginny felt tears stinging her eyes. "No thanks Hermione. I really want to get back to Hogwarts." Ginny pulled open the door and faced Hermione. "Give Ron my apology, alright? Don't tell him what we talked about, okay?" Ginny looked pleadingly into Hermione's eyes.

"Of course. I won't tell a soul." Ginny nodded and walked out of the shop. Stepping out onto the busy Hogsmeade street, Ginny took a deep breath of fresh air. She knew she could have Flooed back to Hogwarts, but Ginny wanted to walk back and clear her mind. Looking down at the ground, Ginny ran into a person.

"Ginny! I came here hoping to see you! Wow!" Ginny looked up to see Colin Creevey smiling at her.

Ginny forced herself to smile back. "Hi Colin. How are you?"

"Great, now that I'm talking to you. I hear you're the new librarian at Hogwarts." Colin had finally grown into his looks, Ginny noticed. His odd features had settled themselves into an unusually handsome man. Colin and Ginny had dated briefly in their last year and Colin was always trying to get her to go back out with him. Ginny knew she liked Colin like a brother and nothing more. Getting Colin to believe that was another story.

"Yes, I am. In fact I'm on my way back there right now." Ginny made a move to get past Colin, not in the mood for chitchat.

"Ginny, I know you're there with Harry." Colin forced Ginny to look at him. "Is he treating you well?"

Ginny felt tears well up in her eyes again and she leaned her face into Colin's chest. Colin had always been a good friend to her and had always listened to her Harry problems. "I take it he's done something to upset you."

"In a way. It's hard to summarize." Ginny looked up into Colin's blue eyes.

"Let me buy you some lunch and you can explain it? We're still friends, Ginny. No matter what I'm here to listen to you." Colin wrapped an arm around Ginny and began walking her to the Three Broomsticks. "No more crying." Colin said a spell to stop Ginny's eyes from being red and swollen. He waited for Ginny to nod and they walked together to the eatery.