"It's Sunday, thank god for that," Ginny muttered tiredly. Hermione,
who dug her head into a large, enormous book, looked up. "It's not good.
You get to learn more stuff if we only had classes today."
"Honestly," Ron said, breathlessly, as he and Harry came, looking tired from Quidditch practice. "How much can that brain of yours hold more information?"
Harry glanced at Ron and chuckled a bit. Hermione shot a lifeless glare at Ron, who stopped at once when he caught her. Ginny cleared the throat and said, "I want to know why you guys have practice since 4 o' clock this morning?"
"I don't know," Ron said, scratching his head. "I wanted to train the whole team, that's all." Harry didn't say anything. Ginny looked from Ron to Harry, confused. Ginny glanced at Harry and observed him well. He did change a lot over the summer, from being cheerful to an emotionless human being. Ginny wondered what happened, but she knew that whenever Cho talked to him, he keeps on smiling.
"Guess what!" Ron said, angrily, as though he just thought of something that popped out of his mind. Hermione yawned and said, "What?"
"Draco Malfoy is the Quidditch captain of Slytherin," Ron said, his ears slightly going red. Hermione dropped her book in surprise and complained, "Thank heavens for that, now I dunno what page I was on."
Ginny blinked twice. "That git?"
"Yep." Ron answered. "And gee, he is now the most richest kid!"
"So?"
"So, he can pay just like that to the Ministry of Magic and kick us out of this school!" Ron said. "Both Harry and him can be compared by their riches!"
"I am not rich," said Harry, impatiently. Ron blushed and said, "Okay, but your famous and all. No money can beat that."
"I don't want to talk about financial stuff or my scar," said Harry at once. Ron suddenly shut his mouth closed. Hermione shook her head and said, "Is there anything wrong, Harry?"
"No."
"You changed a lot," Hermione said, innocently. Harry didn't answer. Ginny gulped and saw the tension building up. "Umm-why don't we let him cool off for a while? He's tired from practice, I think."
"No-he's just-" Ron started, but Hermione and Ginny gave him a warning look. "Oh-yeah-right. We'll just see you in the Great Hall, eh?"
Harry sighed. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione suddenly walked off, without another word.
Ginny went to library, and parted from Ron and Hermione. Ginny headed to the aisle where all the general feelings of a person are. She finally found one, entitled Emotions. Ginny excitedly pulled the huge enormous book, and then appeared Draco Malfoy's face. Ginny shrieked, and put her hands over her mouth at once.
"Malfoy!"
"Well, well," said Draco, who smirked. "Getting stuff about emotions? Stupid thing to do, honestly." Ginny blushed, but said, "You don't have an idea of what I am going to do."
"What!" Draco chuckled. "You are going to find out what is happening to Potter today, or you are going to find out if he has feelings for you! Don't ever dream about it!!! It's not going to happen, and I'm telling you that!"
"I do not have feelings for him anymore!" Ginny said, hotly. She ran away, but then she was blocked by the large figure of Draco, who appeared just in time from nowhere. "You can't run away from me, redhead."
Ginny scowled at him and said, "And why?"
"I rule," Draco said, patiently. "No one can go away from my orders."
"Yeah right," said Ginny, laughing. "I can."
"Dare."
Ginny suddenly punched him hard on his right cheek and ran away. Crabbe and Goyle came around and saw it, and started laughing at Malfoy, who felt his cheek, which was burning in pain. Crabbe laughed hard and said, "Good one, Draco! A girl can actually hit you!!"
"Shut up, idiot," said Malfoy, glaring at the direction where Ginny went. "I swear I am going to let her pay for what she did. And damn, that hurt."
Ginny never got to borrow that book, since she just left it on a table and ran away before Malfoy can even catch her. She turned to a corner, and stopped, gasping for breath. She couldn't believe what she just did. And to make things worse, she just thought of what Ron had said earlier. Malfoy can just pay the Ministry, and kick me out of this school, Ginny thought. She shivered at the thought and shook her head mentally.
She then decided to go to the top most balcony. She never ever went here yet, since she was very afraid of heights. But they say you have good luck charms here, and Ginny wondered if she will ever had. She walked up a spiral staircase, and opened a door, revealing a hallway, which led her to the balcony.
It was cool, and to her surprise, it was peaceful. She looked around and suddenly landed on a tall thin figure. Harry? He was sitting on a corner, looking hopelessly in the sky. Ginny felt excitement rush inside her and skipped towards him.
"Harry!" Ginny said at once. Harry lowered his head, looking from the sky to Ginny. "I didn't see you coming," he said. Ginny shook her head and said, "You were looking up at the sky."
Harry nodded. Ginny sat in front of him and asked, "You come here often?"
"This is my favorite thing to do for past time. Looking at the sky makes me calm," answered Harry. Ginny looked at him in confusion and asked, "You do see things in there?"
"No," Harry said. "I just look at it while the world spins around."
Ginny looked at him, still puzzled. Harry shook his head and said, "No one can really understand me if I say that. Even Ron. But if you concentrate on it well, you'll see it at night."
"You mean you never see the thing you are seeing in day?" asked Ginny. Harry nodded. Ginny thought for a moment and asked, "Can I guess what is it?"
"Take your time," said Harry. 'What can be something that can be seen at night?'. "Stars," Ginny answered him. Harry shook his head.
"Moon?"
"No."
Ginny thought hard. "I give up," she said after a few minutes. "I won't guess it."
"You actually won't. It won't actually appear every night. But when you feel it will come, that's the time when you will see it." Harry told her. Ginny sat there, not actually getting what Harry was trying to say. "It's getting late," he then said. "I think I should meet up Ron and Hermione."
He stood up, and walked away, leaving Ginny with many puzzles.
Ginny woke up the next day, and saw a piece of parchment beneath her desk. It was a letter. She rubbed her eyes and read:
Weasley,
Get ready. Surprises will be there. -Draco
Her eyes popped in surprise. There was a skull, with the sign of Malfoy. This type of letter can lead a person into very serious trouble. That meant that all Slytherins will come after you, punishing you, until you beg in front of Malfoy, crying. Ginny felt a spasm of fear rushing into her. But she won't let herself beg in front of Malfoy.
She went straight inside the bathroom and looked at herself. She was the same oval-shaped girl with an astonishing red hair. She, well, actually changed a lot over the summer. She was no longer the shy, scared Weasley, but she was now the strong, loyal one. "I am not going to be scared in front of that fool," she muttered.
She suddenly walked out and changed into her robes and proceeded into her Transfiguration class. She settled herself in her seat. So far, Ginny thought, nothing happened to her. She sighed with relief. Then, she remembered she was going to have Transfiguration with Slytherins. She gulped and glanced around, nervously.
"Good morning class," McGonagall said, as she hurriedly went inside the classroom. "Now, we are going to learn how can we transfigure a book into an animal! Now, just copy the rules of how to do it properly. Kindly seat, and copy what's written on the board." McGonagall started writing on the board, her back in front of the students. Just then, a huge crumpled paper came flying, hitting McGonagall on the back of her head. She turned sharply and said, "Who did that?!"
The Slytherins pointed at Ginny, who shook her head at once. "It wasn't me, professor!" None of the Gryffindors helped her, since they were very afraid of McGonagall, who was strict and harsh.
"Lie!" McGonagall said at once. "How come everybody says it was you?" She pointed at the Slytherins.
Ginny glanced at her fellow Gryffindors, who didn't help at all. "20 points for Gryffindor!" McGonagall started writing again when a quill came pelting to the back of her neck. Ginny closed her eyes.
"WEASLEY!" McGonagall roared at once. "If you don't like to learn, it's better to just get out of here!! 50 points from Gryffindor. GO OUT!! OUT!! You will serve detention this night! 9:00 PM SHARP! I'M TRULY ASHAMED OF YOU!"
Ginny stood up, hanging her head down, when a Slytherin shot his leg in front of Ginny, who didn't see it, and tripped. Her parchment, inkbottle, and quill came flying in the air, and landed with a huge thud. Her inkbottle crashed with a loud clatter, spreading ink around the classroom and some on McGonagall's desk.
McGonagall jumped in surprise and turned. "WEASLEY!"
"Professor-this boy was the one who-" Ginny started at once. McGonagall stopped her with a hand and shrieked, "OUT NOW!! A HUNDRED POINTS FROM GRYIFFINDOR!! THAT SHOULD TEACH YOU!!!!!!!"
Ginny picked up her things in a hurry. The Slytherins roared with laughter, which made Ginny's eyes swell up with tears. She ran away, not letting anyone of them see that she was crying.
That was one of Draco's nasty punishments for her then. Ginny sighed, and sat helplessly on a corner of a corridor. A bunch of Slytherins came by and one of them said, "It's that git who hit Malfoy!! Get her!!"
Ginny screamed in shock. She stood up, and ran fast. The Slytherins then threw her papers, banana peels, and other dirty stuff, including ink. Ginny suddenly slipped on wet floor, and fell. The Slytherins continued on hitting her with unusual stuff when Ron's, and Hermione's voice filled the hall. But the whole Slytherin group wouldn't stop. Harry came around, and stepped in front of the Slytherins. The Slytherins backed away and ran as fast as he could.
It was rumored that Harry had used great magic, which can kill anyone in a minute, to Voldemort. And this 'great magic' did kill Voldemort when he was in his 6th year. No one dared to come near him, since everybody was afraid that he might perform the 'magic', especially the Slytherins. It wasn't actually true, but that was what the Slytherins thought.
Malfoy's voice filled the hall, then. "Potter? You saved that redhead from trouble?!"
"Shut your hole, Malfoy!" Ron shouted. Hermione pulled him from trouble. Draco ignored Ron and asked Harry, "You actually saved her? I thought you hated her!?"
Ginny gasped and looked at Harry, who continued glaring at Malfoy. "Enough of this pathetic punishment, Malfoy!" Hermione shouted. Draco turned and told Hermione, "Get your brains out of here."
"You sent Ginny a warning letter?" asked Ron in surprise. Draco chuckled and nodded, "Yes. She deserves it well."
"What did she do to you?" asked Harry. Ginny gulped, and wished nobody knew. Draco cleared his throat and said, "She punched me."
"Just for that? And you punished her?!" Ron shouted. Draco scowled at Ron and said, "That hurt. And not to mention, she humiliated me in front of the whole library."
Nobody said anything. Draco seized Ginny's arms. "I'll teach her. Get away, you three!" But then, Harry seized Ginny's other arm and said, "Let go of her."
"You're defending her? Have you got your feelings in love with her?" Draco said, sneering. Ginny shrieked in pain and gasped, "You both are hurting me! Let go!!!"
"If that is what you want," Draco said, smirking. He threw Ginny hard on the floor. Harry's grip then went away. Ginny fell hard, and was soon unconscious.
"You think she is all right?"
"Yes."
Ginny heard misty voices. She opened her eyes slowly. She saw the blurry faces of Hermione and Ron. She blinked and muttered, "Ron?"
"I'm here," Ron said, his voice now slightly cheerful from the one she just heard. Hermione smiled and said, "Thank god, you are all right."
"Where is Harry?" asked Ginny at once, remembering the incident that happened ago. Ron shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Balcony. Ginny jumped out of the bed, and ran to the balcony. Ron shouted something, but she didn't come back.
It was night already. She looked around, but showed no sign of Harry.
"Are you looking for me?" asked a voice. Ginny shrieked in surprise. "Harry?"
"Yes," Harry said, as he opened the lights for the balcony. "You still should be in the hospital wing." Ginny shook her head and said, "I don't want to."
Harry didn't argue. Ginny looked at him and said, "I just wanted to say thank you."
"For what?"
"The action you did a while ago."
"I only defended you since it was the only right thing to do," Harry told her. Ginny shivered. "Thanks, anyway. But why are you here?"
"It's time," said Harry. Ginny looked at him in confusion again. "You won't understand," Harry told her as he saw her puzzled look. Ginny looked up at him and said, "I better have to go down now. Ron is finding me. Bye, and thank you."
Harry nodded and said, "'Bye."
"Hey, gang!!" Ron shouted to Hermione, Ginny, and Harry. He looked very happy. Ron stopped for a minute to breath. "What is it?" asked Harry. Ron laughed and said, "You will not believe in what I am going to say, Harry."
Harry looked at him, confused. Ginny was very anxious. "CHO CHANG IS HERE!!" Ron told Harry at once.
Ginny's heart sank. Harry's face lit up and for the first time in months, he smiled widely. "Where is she?" he asked at once.
"Waiting for you outside!" Ron said, excitedly. "C'mon!" He pulled Harry out of the common room and went out of sight. Hermione looked at Ginny, who was pale and hopeless. Hermione sighed and said, "Gin, you don't have feelings for Harry, do you?"
Ginny looked up at her, her eyes full of mist. "Why do you ask?" she asked. Hermione shrugged and said, "I just noticed."
"A little," Ginny answered. Hermione faced Ginny and said, "Do you know why Harry likes Cho so much?" Ginny scowled and said, "She's pretty."
"No," Hermione told her. She placed her book on a table and continued, "Cho was the only one who made him feel better. Did you notice that Harry was so cheerful when Cho was still here in Hogwarts?"
Ginny nodded. Hermione grinned and said, "He went to Cho just to talk about his problems, and man, he said that Cho gave the best advice."
"I can never be compare with Cho," said Ginny, digging her face into her hands. "She's pretty, smart, and rich. I'm ugly, stupid, and poor."
"Don't say that. Just be what you are right now, and someday Harry will notice you," Hermione told her. Ginny shook her head and said, "No. Ron told me that Harry will only like Cho forever. He has his eyes only to her."
She stood up and walked up inside her dormitory. She buried her face into her pillow and cried silently.
Ginny saw Cho the next day. Cho was a great friend, and was very kind to her too. Ginny liked her a lot, and admired her. She was so pretty, from her fair face until to the tip of her toes. Her raven black hair shone silkily, and her blue crystal eyes shone with happiness. Cho spotted her and said, "Ginny, dear!! How are you?"
"I'm very fine," Ginny said, smiling. "You?"
"Great!" Cho exclaimed. "You still the same pretty Ginny!"
Ginny was surprised Cho actually called her pretty. Ginny laughed in embarrassment. Harry was beside her, his cheeks red. Ginny smiled and said, "I think I'll leave you here. I just need to go somewhere."
Ginny waved and went. She went straight to the balcony, bringing a huge cloak with her. She stayed up there the whole day. Due to bad luck, Draco suddenly appeared. "You come here?" he asked at once. Ginny glared at him and spat, "You don't care."
"Good," Draco told her. "I have good news for you. And bad news. Good news is that you have my respect already for your strong personality. And bad news, I will continue punishing you. Good day."
He turned and went away. Ginny rolled her eyes and muttered, "Stupid idiot. Came finding me everywhere just to say that. But hey, I got his respect. What a rip off, that isn't true."
She then looked up at the sky, hoping to see something. But nothing came out for the next hours. She finally gave up and went away, going straight to her dormitory and slept.
A few months past, but the punishment wasn't over. From spitting to kicking, it went on and on. But Ginny never cried. And to her and everybody's surprise, there was a whole month holiday for every one of them. Ginny screamed in joy and suddenly an owl came to her and dropped her a letter on her lap. Same went for Ron. There was a huge bag of something for both of them.
Ginny ripped the parcel and read:
Ginny!
Your father had just won another contest for 4,000 galleons! And I heard that the Ministry gave you a whole month holiday. I am giving you 500 galleons, and you and your friends can go anywhere for vacation. But you need to have your brother with you! Just send me a letter where you are going to go!! You can't come home since your father and I will also be on vacation in Edinburgh!
Love, Mum
Ginny and Ron screamed happily. Harry looked at both of them and asked, "What is it?"
"Mum permitted us to go anywhere for vacation!" Ron shouted, his cheeks red from excitement. "And guess what? Dad won 4,000 galleons!! YES!!!"
Hermione clapped her hands happily, as Harry cheered. "I have another idea," said Hermione, smiling. "What about if the five of us-including Cho, come to Egypt or somewhere?"
"Egypt is amazing! Let's get Cho and tell her!!" Ron said, as he and Harry ran off in search. Even though Ginny was jealous of Cho, she had a feeling that this was going to be the best vacation ever.
"Honestly," Ron said, breathlessly, as he and Harry came, looking tired from Quidditch practice. "How much can that brain of yours hold more information?"
Harry glanced at Ron and chuckled a bit. Hermione shot a lifeless glare at Ron, who stopped at once when he caught her. Ginny cleared the throat and said, "I want to know why you guys have practice since 4 o' clock this morning?"
"I don't know," Ron said, scratching his head. "I wanted to train the whole team, that's all." Harry didn't say anything. Ginny looked from Ron to Harry, confused. Ginny glanced at Harry and observed him well. He did change a lot over the summer, from being cheerful to an emotionless human being. Ginny wondered what happened, but she knew that whenever Cho talked to him, he keeps on smiling.
"Guess what!" Ron said, angrily, as though he just thought of something that popped out of his mind. Hermione yawned and said, "What?"
"Draco Malfoy is the Quidditch captain of Slytherin," Ron said, his ears slightly going red. Hermione dropped her book in surprise and complained, "Thank heavens for that, now I dunno what page I was on."
Ginny blinked twice. "That git?"
"Yep." Ron answered. "And gee, he is now the most richest kid!"
"So?"
"So, he can pay just like that to the Ministry of Magic and kick us out of this school!" Ron said. "Both Harry and him can be compared by their riches!"
"I am not rich," said Harry, impatiently. Ron blushed and said, "Okay, but your famous and all. No money can beat that."
"I don't want to talk about financial stuff or my scar," said Harry at once. Ron suddenly shut his mouth closed. Hermione shook her head and said, "Is there anything wrong, Harry?"
"No."
"You changed a lot," Hermione said, innocently. Harry didn't answer. Ginny gulped and saw the tension building up. "Umm-why don't we let him cool off for a while? He's tired from practice, I think."
"No-he's just-" Ron started, but Hermione and Ginny gave him a warning look. "Oh-yeah-right. We'll just see you in the Great Hall, eh?"
Harry sighed. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione suddenly walked off, without another word.
Ginny went to library, and parted from Ron and Hermione. Ginny headed to the aisle where all the general feelings of a person are. She finally found one, entitled Emotions. Ginny excitedly pulled the huge enormous book, and then appeared Draco Malfoy's face. Ginny shrieked, and put her hands over her mouth at once.
"Malfoy!"
"Well, well," said Draco, who smirked. "Getting stuff about emotions? Stupid thing to do, honestly." Ginny blushed, but said, "You don't have an idea of what I am going to do."
"What!" Draco chuckled. "You are going to find out what is happening to Potter today, or you are going to find out if he has feelings for you! Don't ever dream about it!!! It's not going to happen, and I'm telling you that!"
"I do not have feelings for him anymore!" Ginny said, hotly. She ran away, but then she was blocked by the large figure of Draco, who appeared just in time from nowhere. "You can't run away from me, redhead."
Ginny scowled at him and said, "And why?"
"I rule," Draco said, patiently. "No one can go away from my orders."
"Yeah right," said Ginny, laughing. "I can."
"Dare."
Ginny suddenly punched him hard on his right cheek and ran away. Crabbe and Goyle came around and saw it, and started laughing at Malfoy, who felt his cheek, which was burning in pain. Crabbe laughed hard and said, "Good one, Draco! A girl can actually hit you!!"
"Shut up, idiot," said Malfoy, glaring at the direction where Ginny went. "I swear I am going to let her pay for what she did. And damn, that hurt."
Ginny never got to borrow that book, since she just left it on a table and ran away before Malfoy can even catch her. She turned to a corner, and stopped, gasping for breath. She couldn't believe what she just did. And to make things worse, she just thought of what Ron had said earlier. Malfoy can just pay the Ministry, and kick me out of this school, Ginny thought. She shivered at the thought and shook her head mentally.
She then decided to go to the top most balcony. She never ever went here yet, since she was very afraid of heights. But they say you have good luck charms here, and Ginny wondered if she will ever had. She walked up a spiral staircase, and opened a door, revealing a hallway, which led her to the balcony.
It was cool, and to her surprise, it was peaceful. She looked around and suddenly landed on a tall thin figure. Harry? He was sitting on a corner, looking hopelessly in the sky. Ginny felt excitement rush inside her and skipped towards him.
"Harry!" Ginny said at once. Harry lowered his head, looking from the sky to Ginny. "I didn't see you coming," he said. Ginny shook her head and said, "You were looking up at the sky."
Harry nodded. Ginny sat in front of him and asked, "You come here often?"
"This is my favorite thing to do for past time. Looking at the sky makes me calm," answered Harry. Ginny looked at him in confusion and asked, "You do see things in there?"
"No," Harry said. "I just look at it while the world spins around."
Ginny looked at him, still puzzled. Harry shook his head and said, "No one can really understand me if I say that. Even Ron. But if you concentrate on it well, you'll see it at night."
"You mean you never see the thing you are seeing in day?" asked Ginny. Harry nodded. Ginny thought for a moment and asked, "Can I guess what is it?"
"Take your time," said Harry. 'What can be something that can be seen at night?'. "Stars," Ginny answered him. Harry shook his head.
"Moon?"
"No."
Ginny thought hard. "I give up," she said after a few minutes. "I won't guess it."
"You actually won't. It won't actually appear every night. But when you feel it will come, that's the time when you will see it." Harry told her. Ginny sat there, not actually getting what Harry was trying to say. "It's getting late," he then said. "I think I should meet up Ron and Hermione."
He stood up, and walked away, leaving Ginny with many puzzles.
Ginny woke up the next day, and saw a piece of parchment beneath her desk. It was a letter. She rubbed her eyes and read:
Weasley,
Get ready. Surprises will be there. -Draco
Her eyes popped in surprise. There was a skull, with the sign of Malfoy. This type of letter can lead a person into very serious trouble. That meant that all Slytherins will come after you, punishing you, until you beg in front of Malfoy, crying. Ginny felt a spasm of fear rushing into her. But she won't let herself beg in front of Malfoy.
She went straight inside the bathroom and looked at herself. She was the same oval-shaped girl with an astonishing red hair. She, well, actually changed a lot over the summer. She was no longer the shy, scared Weasley, but she was now the strong, loyal one. "I am not going to be scared in front of that fool," she muttered.
She suddenly walked out and changed into her robes and proceeded into her Transfiguration class. She settled herself in her seat. So far, Ginny thought, nothing happened to her. She sighed with relief. Then, she remembered she was going to have Transfiguration with Slytherins. She gulped and glanced around, nervously.
"Good morning class," McGonagall said, as she hurriedly went inside the classroom. "Now, we are going to learn how can we transfigure a book into an animal! Now, just copy the rules of how to do it properly. Kindly seat, and copy what's written on the board." McGonagall started writing on the board, her back in front of the students. Just then, a huge crumpled paper came flying, hitting McGonagall on the back of her head. She turned sharply and said, "Who did that?!"
The Slytherins pointed at Ginny, who shook her head at once. "It wasn't me, professor!" None of the Gryffindors helped her, since they were very afraid of McGonagall, who was strict and harsh.
"Lie!" McGonagall said at once. "How come everybody says it was you?" She pointed at the Slytherins.
Ginny glanced at her fellow Gryffindors, who didn't help at all. "20 points for Gryffindor!" McGonagall started writing again when a quill came pelting to the back of her neck. Ginny closed her eyes.
"WEASLEY!" McGonagall roared at once. "If you don't like to learn, it's better to just get out of here!! 50 points from Gryffindor. GO OUT!! OUT!! You will serve detention this night! 9:00 PM SHARP! I'M TRULY ASHAMED OF YOU!"
Ginny stood up, hanging her head down, when a Slytherin shot his leg in front of Ginny, who didn't see it, and tripped. Her parchment, inkbottle, and quill came flying in the air, and landed with a huge thud. Her inkbottle crashed with a loud clatter, spreading ink around the classroom and some on McGonagall's desk.
McGonagall jumped in surprise and turned. "WEASLEY!"
"Professor-this boy was the one who-" Ginny started at once. McGonagall stopped her with a hand and shrieked, "OUT NOW!! A HUNDRED POINTS FROM GRYIFFINDOR!! THAT SHOULD TEACH YOU!!!!!!!"
Ginny picked up her things in a hurry. The Slytherins roared with laughter, which made Ginny's eyes swell up with tears. She ran away, not letting anyone of them see that she was crying.
That was one of Draco's nasty punishments for her then. Ginny sighed, and sat helplessly on a corner of a corridor. A bunch of Slytherins came by and one of them said, "It's that git who hit Malfoy!! Get her!!"
Ginny screamed in shock. She stood up, and ran fast. The Slytherins then threw her papers, banana peels, and other dirty stuff, including ink. Ginny suddenly slipped on wet floor, and fell. The Slytherins continued on hitting her with unusual stuff when Ron's, and Hermione's voice filled the hall. But the whole Slytherin group wouldn't stop. Harry came around, and stepped in front of the Slytherins. The Slytherins backed away and ran as fast as he could.
It was rumored that Harry had used great magic, which can kill anyone in a minute, to Voldemort. And this 'great magic' did kill Voldemort when he was in his 6th year. No one dared to come near him, since everybody was afraid that he might perform the 'magic', especially the Slytherins. It wasn't actually true, but that was what the Slytherins thought.
Malfoy's voice filled the hall, then. "Potter? You saved that redhead from trouble?!"
"Shut your hole, Malfoy!" Ron shouted. Hermione pulled him from trouble. Draco ignored Ron and asked Harry, "You actually saved her? I thought you hated her!?"
Ginny gasped and looked at Harry, who continued glaring at Malfoy. "Enough of this pathetic punishment, Malfoy!" Hermione shouted. Draco turned and told Hermione, "Get your brains out of here."
"You sent Ginny a warning letter?" asked Ron in surprise. Draco chuckled and nodded, "Yes. She deserves it well."
"What did she do to you?" asked Harry. Ginny gulped, and wished nobody knew. Draco cleared his throat and said, "She punched me."
"Just for that? And you punished her?!" Ron shouted. Draco scowled at Ron and said, "That hurt. And not to mention, she humiliated me in front of the whole library."
Nobody said anything. Draco seized Ginny's arms. "I'll teach her. Get away, you three!" But then, Harry seized Ginny's other arm and said, "Let go of her."
"You're defending her? Have you got your feelings in love with her?" Draco said, sneering. Ginny shrieked in pain and gasped, "You both are hurting me! Let go!!!"
"If that is what you want," Draco said, smirking. He threw Ginny hard on the floor. Harry's grip then went away. Ginny fell hard, and was soon unconscious.
"You think she is all right?"
"Yes."
Ginny heard misty voices. She opened her eyes slowly. She saw the blurry faces of Hermione and Ron. She blinked and muttered, "Ron?"
"I'm here," Ron said, his voice now slightly cheerful from the one she just heard. Hermione smiled and said, "Thank god, you are all right."
"Where is Harry?" asked Ginny at once, remembering the incident that happened ago. Ron shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Balcony. Ginny jumped out of the bed, and ran to the balcony. Ron shouted something, but she didn't come back.
It was night already. She looked around, but showed no sign of Harry.
"Are you looking for me?" asked a voice. Ginny shrieked in surprise. "Harry?"
"Yes," Harry said, as he opened the lights for the balcony. "You still should be in the hospital wing." Ginny shook her head and said, "I don't want to."
Harry didn't argue. Ginny looked at him and said, "I just wanted to say thank you."
"For what?"
"The action you did a while ago."
"I only defended you since it was the only right thing to do," Harry told her. Ginny shivered. "Thanks, anyway. But why are you here?"
"It's time," said Harry. Ginny looked at him in confusion again. "You won't understand," Harry told her as he saw her puzzled look. Ginny looked up at him and said, "I better have to go down now. Ron is finding me. Bye, and thank you."
Harry nodded and said, "'Bye."
"Hey, gang!!" Ron shouted to Hermione, Ginny, and Harry. He looked very happy. Ron stopped for a minute to breath. "What is it?" asked Harry. Ron laughed and said, "You will not believe in what I am going to say, Harry."
Harry looked at him, confused. Ginny was very anxious. "CHO CHANG IS HERE!!" Ron told Harry at once.
Ginny's heart sank. Harry's face lit up and for the first time in months, he smiled widely. "Where is she?" he asked at once.
"Waiting for you outside!" Ron said, excitedly. "C'mon!" He pulled Harry out of the common room and went out of sight. Hermione looked at Ginny, who was pale and hopeless. Hermione sighed and said, "Gin, you don't have feelings for Harry, do you?"
Ginny looked up at her, her eyes full of mist. "Why do you ask?" she asked. Hermione shrugged and said, "I just noticed."
"A little," Ginny answered. Hermione faced Ginny and said, "Do you know why Harry likes Cho so much?" Ginny scowled and said, "She's pretty."
"No," Hermione told her. She placed her book on a table and continued, "Cho was the only one who made him feel better. Did you notice that Harry was so cheerful when Cho was still here in Hogwarts?"
Ginny nodded. Hermione grinned and said, "He went to Cho just to talk about his problems, and man, he said that Cho gave the best advice."
"I can never be compare with Cho," said Ginny, digging her face into her hands. "She's pretty, smart, and rich. I'm ugly, stupid, and poor."
"Don't say that. Just be what you are right now, and someday Harry will notice you," Hermione told her. Ginny shook her head and said, "No. Ron told me that Harry will only like Cho forever. He has his eyes only to her."
She stood up and walked up inside her dormitory. She buried her face into her pillow and cried silently.
Ginny saw Cho the next day. Cho was a great friend, and was very kind to her too. Ginny liked her a lot, and admired her. She was so pretty, from her fair face until to the tip of her toes. Her raven black hair shone silkily, and her blue crystal eyes shone with happiness. Cho spotted her and said, "Ginny, dear!! How are you?"
"I'm very fine," Ginny said, smiling. "You?"
"Great!" Cho exclaimed. "You still the same pretty Ginny!"
Ginny was surprised Cho actually called her pretty. Ginny laughed in embarrassment. Harry was beside her, his cheeks red. Ginny smiled and said, "I think I'll leave you here. I just need to go somewhere."
Ginny waved and went. She went straight to the balcony, bringing a huge cloak with her. She stayed up there the whole day. Due to bad luck, Draco suddenly appeared. "You come here?" he asked at once. Ginny glared at him and spat, "You don't care."
"Good," Draco told her. "I have good news for you. And bad news. Good news is that you have my respect already for your strong personality. And bad news, I will continue punishing you. Good day."
He turned and went away. Ginny rolled her eyes and muttered, "Stupid idiot. Came finding me everywhere just to say that. But hey, I got his respect. What a rip off, that isn't true."
She then looked up at the sky, hoping to see something. But nothing came out for the next hours. She finally gave up and went away, going straight to her dormitory and slept.
A few months past, but the punishment wasn't over. From spitting to kicking, it went on and on. But Ginny never cried. And to her and everybody's surprise, there was a whole month holiday for every one of them. Ginny screamed in joy and suddenly an owl came to her and dropped her a letter on her lap. Same went for Ron. There was a huge bag of something for both of them.
Ginny ripped the parcel and read:
Ginny!
Your father had just won another contest for 4,000 galleons! And I heard that the Ministry gave you a whole month holiday. I am giving you 500 galleons, and you and your friends can go anywhere for vacation. But you need to have your brother with you! Just send me a letter where you are going to go!! You can't come home since your father and I will also be on vacation in Edinburgh!
Love, Mum
Ginny and Ron screamed happily. Harry looked at both of them and asked, "What is it?"
"Mum permitted us to go anywhere for vacation!" Ron shouted, his cheeks red from excitement. "And guess what? Dad won 4,000 galleons!! YES!!!"
Hermione clapped her hands happily, as Harry cheered. "I have another idea," said Hermione, smiling. "What about if the five of us-including Cho, come to Egypt or somewhere?"
"Egypt is amazing! Let's get Cho and tell her!!" Ron said, as he and Harry ran off in search. Even though Ginny was jealous of Cho, she had a feeling that this was going to be the best vacation ever.