Harry Potter was uneasy.
Usually, this would be quite a normal feeling for Harry, one of the effects of having a megalomaniacal mass murderer after him, but Harry's unease did not involvement Voldemort's vexatious vexation with his person.
In fact when Harry was flying, as he was now, his worries left him for the moment.
But Harry was troubled by a far more terrifying threat than mere Death Eaters…
He was conducting the Gryffindor Quidditch Training session. Katie, despite her hospitalisation, was a good as she'd ever been. Coote and Peakes were taking their opportunities brilliantly, and Ron was in top form. Demelza was performing as well as anyone else, but it was Ginny who impressed Harry the most.
Harry had been worried that her form might have dipped due to her breakup with Dean Thomas, but contrary to his fears, Ginny was the life and soul of the team, and he'd never seen her play better. This irked Harry slightly, as Ginny's flawless performance distracted him all too often, mesmerising him until Coote or Peakes rudely interrupted his Ginny-filled reverie with a sharply struck bludger.
And since Ginny was doing so well, he should be concentrating on the players who needed his support and guidance. No one really did, but Ginny needed it least of all.
And Ron had shown his exemplary knack of observation at the most difficult time. Harry had thought he'd seen Ron shrewdly gaze at him and Ginny, so Harry had to be careful when and for how often he looked at Ginny.
Ginny herself, however, seemed to be oblivious to the internal torment Harry was experiencing, frequently flying by to offer Harry a high-five when a play went well. Harry found himself desperately trying to act natural any time Ginny was anywhere near him.
Harry managed to see out the session without any incidents, and thought his troubles were at least temporally over when he'd showered and changed.
He did not expect Ron to ambush him just outside the door.
"Ron!" Harry nearly jumped in surprise. "What's up?"
Ron's expression was serious. "Harry, I need to talk to you. You got a minute?"
"Sure… Is anything the matter?"
Ron glanced at Harry. "I'll explain when we get there."
"Get where…Ron…"
Ron was on the move. Harry followed him.
He knows. Harry thought, panicking. He knows, and he's going to murder me. He's taking me somewhere to kill me and leave my body as a lesson to all. 'Harry James Potter, you have thought impure thoughts about my sister, and you must now pay the price.'
Ron was looking strangely at Harry's expression of horror. Harry lightened his expression, trying to convey to Ron that he was easy and unconcerned with the situation as he had done nothing amiss.
It soon became clear to Harry what Ron intended to be the method of his doom.
The Whomping Willow loomed in front of them. Harry half-expected Ron to say something about poetic justice, when Ron levitated a twig and struck the Willow's trigger, freezing the branches and leading Harry into the tunnel.
Eventually they made it to the Shrieking Shack. Ron was silent on the way.
Ron paused to let Harry past him, and Harry walked into a dusty room with damaged furniture and found himself surrounded and outnumbered by the entirety of the Brothers Weasley.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Harry." Ron began.
"However, recent events dictated the necessity of such an intervention." George continued
"A matter of gravest import has reached our ears." Fred added.
"One that requires the swiftest response." Percy informed him.
"And it concerns a person very dear to us." Charlie led on.
"Harry, it's about Ginny." Bill finished.
