˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ unexpected - h.p.

Chapter 19 - Ginny Weasley

    I was happily exhausted after my months spent at Draco's manor. I was ready for the school term to start back, though I wasn't ready for the exams in June. Draco and I had done little studying over the Christmas break, spending more time on his manor's roof or Flooing different places when we got bored.

Platform 9 ¾ was swarmed with idiots and it took Draco and I a long time to reach the closest train entrance. Graham, Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent were already in a carriage and greeted us with big smiles.

Blaise came in a few moments later, Pansy at his side. Both of them were bright red and grinning. Millicent raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The carriage became awfully crowded when Theo and Lola entered, arms linked like an old married couple.

Miles visited our carriage after the trolley came and a big discussion about Quidditch was started, which was the most entertainment we got for the entirety of the journey.

★

Three hours later the train stopped, pulling smoothly into the station. The corridor felt narrower with my owl cage in my hand, carry-on bag in my other. The cold night hair made the hair on my arms stick up when we began walking along the platform towards the castle. Draco was boasting about our holiday adventures to the group as we walked, glancing at me every two minutes with a proud grin spread across his face.

The feast was as big and brilliant as usual; overflowing plates of food covering the table, full jugs of juice and butterbeer dotted around, trifles of dessert and platters of food. The feasts were always over the top, no matter how many students Slytherin had - I was sure it would be impossible to ever clear the plates properly.

I was stuffed full after a full hour eating and talking in the warmth of the Great Hall, which felt especially cosy with the festive decorations still hanging on the walls.

★

"Harry!"

"Lola!"

I laughed happily and jogged over to him, dropping my broom on the grass. He was smiling as the wind attacked us both, making our hair ruffle. His cheeks and nose had gone red due to the cold and he looked oddly attractive, a feeling which I'd never felt for him before. I shook it away and forced myself to begin our usual small talk.

"How was your break?" I asked, pulling my hair into a ponytail.

"Good actually, yeah," Harry replied, seeming pleased I'd started the conversation properly. "Yours?"

"Fun," I answered, returning him a smile. "Turns out-"

"Harry!"

Ginny Weasley's voice cut over mine and I realised she was running towards us, her red hair in its position high on her head was swinging wildly with each step she took. She was in her Quidditch jumper, identical to the one Harry was in. Harry turned and gave her a big smile.

"I knew you'd come down," Harry told her fondly as she leant over, puffing from her long run across the pitch.

I suddenly felt very awkward and out of place as I watched the two Gryffindors converse. Ginny turned to me and raised a curious eyebrow. If I was her, I would've done the same thing. I was sure Ron had told Ginny about my many encounters with him - all of which had involved Draco.

"I was just talking with Lola, last time I saw her was-" Harry began explaining but Ginny looked unnerved.

"On the train from school yeah, yeah," she interrupted sharply. "Come on, we have a practice game to attend to."