Flames Of Destiny : Conflicting Emotions // HJP [2]

Chapter Ten : Detention

Sunday drifted by quietly in the common room, with most Gryffindors outside soaking up what might be one of the last warm days of the year. As the room slowly emptied and filled again, (Y/n), Hermione, and Ginny stayed tucked by the fireside, knitting and chatting, laughter mingling with the soft crackling of the fire. Everything felt easy until Ginny, leaned forward with a question.

"So... Cho Chang said hello to Harry the other day," Ginny remarked casually, giving (Y/n) a pointed look. "And what did you do about it?"

(Y/n) nearly dropped a stitch. 

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying not to look too interested.

"Oh, you know what I mean," Ginny said with a knowing grin, leaning in closer. "I know you like him."

(Y/n) flushed, her eyes darting over to where Harry and Ron were buried in their books. "I—no, I don't!" she whispered, a little too quickly. "And keep it down! What if he hears?"

"So what?" Ginny raised her eyebrows. Her smirk wasn't going anywhere.

"Ginny, I swear..." (Y/n) muttered, a mix of panic and annoyance bubbling up. Why did she have to be so obvious?

Ginny pressed on, undeterred. "But really, what did you do? She barely knew Harry before the Tournament, and suddenly, she's all interested? I mean, her boyfriend..." Ginny crossed her arms, her voice lowering, "It hasn't even been a year since Diggory. And she's chatting up Harry, like he wasn't right there when..." She trailed off with a frown. "Who does that?"

(Y/n) blinked, surprised at how worked up Ginny sounded. Did she, herself, have any right to feel that way? She wasn't dating Harry, she barely even understood her own feelings, and it would be even more obvious if she tried to avoid him now... But Ginny's stare was so piercing, she could hardly think straight.

"Earth to (Y/n)?" Ginny said, snapping her fingers.

"Oh! Right... um... sorry," (Y/n) stammered, blinking herself back into the moment. "What were we talking about?"

"What did you do?" Ginny asked again, eyes gleaming with expectation.

"What could I do?" (Y/n) mumbled, keeping her hands busy with her knitting. "It's not like Harry's my boyfriend or anything... and besides, he seemed interested in her too. Who am I to get in the way?"

Ginny huffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Honestly, I can't believe we're sisters. Both getting our heads turned by the same lad—and not one of us actually doing anything about it!" She leaned back, throwing up her hands. "Though I'm past all that—I've got Michael now. You're the only one still..."

(Y/n) forced a smile, her heart twisting uncomfortably. Ginny's words left her feeling more exposed than she'd like to admit.

"Well, will you tell him, then?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're prettier than me, you know—you've got a fair shot."

(Y/n) scoffed, eyes widening. "That's not true!"

"Oh, it is," Ginny replied matter-of-factly, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Hermione, who'd been silent until now, finally spoke up with a cautious tone. "I'm not saying you shouldn't, (Y/n), but... it might not be the best idea." She hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. "If he doesn't feel the same way, it could make things a bit awkward. For both of you. And that might... affect things between us."

(Y/n) nodded, understanding, though it didn't make things any less complicated. "I know," she murmured, her voice dropping. "I don't want to ruin anything..."