The day was going nicely for Ginny Weasley, mid-summer, but not too hot. Ginny was relaxing high in a tree, nestled between two large branches reading one of her books, shaded by the foliage.

A short distance away, a far more exuberent display of enjoyment was on show.

"Come ooooooooooon Hermione!" Ron yelled, wheeling around on Harry's Firebolt. "You've got to try this!"

Harry, feet planted on the ground, grinned and nodded. Hermione looked unsure, but Fred and George arrived.

"Go on then, Granger. We'll catch you." the twins casually reassured her.

Whether Hermione was reassured or just intended to prove that their assistance would not be required, she mounted the broom and prepared to take off.

"Is that a spec of..." Hermione asked, leaning forward slightly. The broom moved, Hermione lost her balance and fell forward, and the broom shot off.

"HERMIONE!" Ron and Harry screamed. "PULL UP!"

Hermione yanked up with all her might, avoiding a direct crash into the large tree trunk, before shooting up through the branches and up into the sky.

Fred and George were off in a flash, but there was no way they could keep up with the out-of-control-Firebolt.

And for Ginny, the relaxing peace of the day came to a rather abrupt end.

"Erm, Hermione, I don't mean to alarm you, but I could use a little help." Ginny said, hanging off one of the Firebolt's footrests by her fingertips.

Hermione, wound tightly around the vertically ascending broomstick, screamed and reached out for Ginny, but in doing so sent it into a wild spin.

Ginny, however, was not to be shaken loose so easily.

"Hermione, keep calm and hold steady."

"Calm?" Hermione shrieked. "We'll be in the vacuum of space in seconds! There's no one around for 100 kilometres who can help us!" Hermione looked as though she was on the verge of a panic attack.

"Hermione," Ginny began assertively. "I can fly."

"You...you can?" Hermione asked, but calmed and the broom steadied slightly.

Ginny flipped herself up and sat behind Hermione, steering the broom around and beginning to gently descend.

"How...but...how..." Hermione tried to ask when she had composed herself, as Ginny's demeanour showed she was about as excited as one would be if one was on a sunday drive through the countryside. "How can you..."

"I've been sneaking into the broomshed and nicking my brother's brooms since I was six." Ginny admitted.

Hermione was momentarily speechless. "You...What...They...They don't know?"

"Not as far as I know." Ginny sounded far too proud.

Hermione could see the top of the Burrow through the clouds.

"Here, take over." Ginny said.

Hermione protested, but Ginny overrode her. "It's easy, just do what I was doing."

"You don't want them to know?" Hermione asked. "Alright then."

Hermione gently guided the broom to the ground.

"Hermione!" Ron called out. "You did it!"

Hermione was about to open her mouth to honestly refute Ron's exclamation, but Ginny leapt off the broom and began hugging the ground.

"Oh sweet Terra Firma, promise you'll never leave me again."

Harry raised a single eyebrow at Fred and George as if to ask if this was normal behaviour. The twins just shrugged, completely bemused.

"How did Ginny get on there anyway?" Harry asked, as Hermione handed him his Firebolt.

"I...erm...accidentally knocked her out of the tree."

"You brought her back safe and sound though." Ron said. "Always knew you were a fast learner."

"Thanks," Hermione smiled. "But I don't think it's quite my style."