Neville didn’t understand girls. He had tried to ask several to the Yule Ball already, with no success.
Hermione said she already had a date, but thanked him for asking.
Hannah had thought about it, which Neville learned meant consulting her friends, all through Herbology. At the end of class, she politely turned him down, amist giggles from her friends. Neville didn’t understand what was so funny, and blushed red.
Luna had stared at him blankly for a few moments, then said something about wood-nymphs that lived in the Great Hall. Neville assumed that she meant no, and wondered if there really were nymphs in the school. He’d have to ask Hermione, she’d know.
Lavender had seemed in a good mood, but when Neville asked her if she had a date for the ball, she went into a long-winded rant about boys who were too cowardly to ask, even when the girl was clearly interested! It soon became obvious that she was talking about Seamus, and Neville backed down as discreetly as he could.
Neville retreated to the greenhouse. He felt that when it came to girls, he was missing something terribly important. They were so much more complicated than his plants. Each of his plants had specific, consistent needs. There were no mood swings, no bouts of indecision, and no competition. He wished he could find a girl like that.
Ginny came in shortly after Neville did to work on an assignment. She smiled at him in greeting.
Ginny was clearly different from the rest of the girls. She had a confidence that bordered on arrogance, and was never afraid to stand up for herself. She wasn’t dreamy or giggly, or particularly girly. Neville supposed that was all a direct result of growing up with six brothers.
Well, it couldn’t hurt to ask her, right?
“Hey Ginny?”
“Yeah, Neville?”
“Do you… uh… togototheballwithme?”
Ginny blinked a few times. “The ball?”
Neville nodded, and he was afraid he was blushing again.
“Well, I was hoping… but it doesn’t matter.” She appeared to be thinking about something, but then she smiled at him. “Sure.”
Neville smiled back brightly. “Great.”
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