Nervous Habits

As they walked into the Three Broomsticks, the noise became much louder then it had sounded outside. But to Harry, it really had nothing on the noise the students made in the corridors between classes. His arm was around Ginny's waist, and she smiled up at him as she sat down in front of him, on one of the circular tables.


"I'll pay," Harry said, his stomach fluttering with nerves, and Ginny immediately began to protest.


"Harry, you don't have to do that-"



Harry didn't let her finish. "No, I don't have to. But I want to, Ginny. I'll go order. What do you want?"


Ginny thought for a moment. "I'll just have a butterbeer."


Harry nodded and walked over to the counter and placed his order. So far, things seemed to be going well for his first date with Ginny. It had none of the awkwardness that his dates with Cho Chang had, and Ginny had wrinkled her nose and made a rude comment as they had walked by Madam Puttifoots' revolting teashop, which had made Harry heart warm.


Still, he didn't want things to go wrong. He nervously attempted to flatten his hair, which he knew wouldn't do a thing, but it was a habit when he was nervous. Madam Rosmerta placed the two tankards of iced butterbeer in front of Harry, and he paid, and went balk over to their table, where Ginny sat, looking beautiful. She smiled warmly when she saw him.


"Thanks," she said, wrapping her hands around the tankard.


"No problem," he said, restraining himself from trying to flatten his hair again.


"So how are your OWL's going?" he asked, and Ginny's face darkened.


"They're alright, I suppose. I have to study late into the night a lot, and Hermione's had to help me more then a few times. I'm really having trouble with potions, mostly because of Slughorn. Although, he's better then Snape, Snape's hated me since my fourth year when I 'accidentally' tipped my boiling potion over him. I reckon he'd fail me if he still taught potion. But I don't regret it a single bit."


Harry laughed, and some of his nervousness eased. "It'll get easier. And Snape hates me more than anyone, he always has. I thought he would give me a Troll grade, but I got Exceeds Expectations. I reckon Dumbledore convinced him. But with Slughorn, well, he's a fair marker. But I don't like him much either."

Ginny looked happier. "Really? Wow, that's a huge weight off of my shoulders! Anyways, why does Snape hate you so much?"


Harry sighed. "I reckon it's cause I look like my dad. Snape hated him, because he was everything Snape wanted to be. Popular. Handsome. Athletic."


"Too bad he still hasn't achieved any of those things," Ginny said cheekily, and Harry laughed. Now, he was totally at ease with the girl.


Ginny then proceeded to debat with Harry wether or not the Harpies would win the last Quidditch match of the season. By the time they walked out of the Three Broomsticks, Harry felt like he could fly. And as Ginny challenged him to a small game of Quidditch, he really could.