Chapter 20 - The Girl

                                        

                                              
The Girl
                              
Harry woke up in a pleasant mood. Since he started Occulmency, he had been getting a full night's sleep and felt much more rested in the morning. He looked over at Ron, who looked very groggy. Harry suspected that Ron did not have a lot of sleep. 
                              
As they climbed out of bed, Dean and Seamus were talking about the ball. Seamus said he was taking Lavender out again. Dean said he asked Ginny, but she turned him down. Dean shot a look of concern over in Ron's direction, but Ron was not paying attention. He seemed tense and did not say anything. Then Seamus asked Neville if he was going out with anyone.
                              
"Yeah, I'm going to the ball with Luna," he said, and Dean and Seamus snickered. "Hey! We've been getting along well together since the DA. At least, I have someone to go with, Dean."
                              
"I didn't finish! I asked out Parvati, and she said yes," he said, still laughing.
                              
"Didn't you go with her at the Yule ball, Harry?" Seamus asked.
                              
"Yeah, but it didn't go that well," Harry said, thoroughly desiring to get out of the conversation, so he turned to Ron, who finally finished getting ready. "You ready?" 
                              
Ron just nodded. 
                              
"See you guys, later," Harry said, walking out.
                              
Neville, Dean and Seamus said goodbye and continued their conversation about the ball. Ron did not say anything on the way down to the common room. Hermione was there, waiting impatiently, for them to come down. 
                              
"What took you guys so long? We better hurry downstairs, if we want to eat before class," she said, sounding annoyed. Harry and Ron just followed her out the portrait hole. 
                              
"What were you guys doing? Why did you sleep so late?" she demanded to know.
                              
"Well, you should be happy I'm getting more sleep," Harry said, smiling.
                              
"Oh, I'm sorry Harry. It is good you are sleeping longer, but too much sleep is not good for you either. So, have you had any dreams?" she asked.
                              
Harry had a flash of his dream about Ginny, smiled and quickly said no. Perhaps too quickly, because Hermione looked at him with a raised eyebrow, but then turned around to look at Ron, who was trudging behind them, down the stairs. 
                              
"Ron, what's the matter?" Hermione asked, completely stopping in the middle of the staircase. 
                              
"Oh, Ron's not feeling well," Harry said, trying to cover for Ron's current inability to speak. 
                              
"Oh! Are you alright, Ron? Maybe you should go to the hospital wing?" Hermione said, overly concerned for Ron's well-being. Harry started to regret if saying Ron was sick, but Ron managed to find his voice. 
                              
"No, I'm feeling better. Let's go get some food," Ron said, timidly.
                              
"You sure?" she asked, still worried about him.
                              
"Yeah," Ron said, gulping slightly and looking nervously into her eyes. 
                              
Harry was not sure if he should leave or not, until Ron started moving down the stairs. They went silently down into the Great Hall and took up their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Ron sat on the opposite side of the table. Harry was going back and forth on how to act around them. He was not sure it would be a good idea to try to force conversation, and he did not know if Ron wanted to be alone with Hermione. He watched Ron slowly eat his food and noticed Hermione looking up at Ron occasionally, too. Harry thought they were being somewhat stupid. 
                              
Why couldn't they just admit they like each other? Harry thought, but then someone walked through the Great Hall doors.
                              
Harry looked up and saw Ginny walk into the Hall. She was coming down on the opposite side of the table with some of her follow fifth years. Harry stared, unknowingly, at her, as if she was the only one in the room. His stomach clenched up and started doing somersaults. He watched her walk by and she saw him, smiled and looked down quickly, blushing. Then, she hurried over to her seat, glanced back quickly, and then joined her friends in their conversation.