It was a blustery, cold December morning, and cloaked up, Harry, Ron and Hermione were returning from visiting Hagrid, their footprints visible in the thick coating of snow.

As it was, they came upon Ginny, whistling cheerfully as she tended to a cauldron.

"Hello Ginny. Whatchu doin?" Ron asked.

"Well brother of mine, I am doing many things, but it comes down to one thing: KABOOOM!"

Ron grinned and slapped Ginny's back. "Well then sis, carry on."

Hermione frowned at the Weasleys. "I'm not sure if it is even proper to be using a cauldron out here."

Harry thought that was a bit rich coming from Hermione, as they were currently brewing a dangerous and illegal potion at that very moment.

"Yeah, actually Hermione, I got permission from Professor Lockhart."

Ron's grin turned sour. "Don't tell me you begged for his autograph too…"

"Actually, it was after Defence against the Dark Arts – or Offense against Legitimate Teaching, as I like to call it."

Harry managed to stifle a laugh into his hand because Hermione was swelling up in indignant outrage.

"I was outside the classroom, deep in inner reflection, holding a piece of parchment, when suddenly it was taken from me and desecrated in the Professor's lilac hand. I then realised that I had a free pass to do…many things in the school, so who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?"

Ginny held out the parchment with Lockhart's signature. Hermione tried to snatch it from her grasp. "That's irresponsible."

"Now there's no need to get like that, Hermione." Ginny said, dancing out of the way. "I'm sure Lockhart would give his favourite student a thousand autographs if you just cleared your throat at him."

Harry and Ron burst out laughing, but Hermione silenced them with a dangerous glare.

"I know this is hard for you, Hermione – what, with your bounteous brain," Ginny picked up a loose handful of snow and rubbed against the back of Hermione's neck, causing her to shriek and spin around, "but lighten up."

Hermione smiled, scooped up some snow, and lobbed it at Ginny. Soon all four of them were pelting each other with snowballs in a free-for-all – which was only stopped when Fred and George arrived, laden with a large crate.

"Our part of the bargain, sis."

"My part has already been completed. Did you have any trouble?"

"Ah, but Gin-gins, we are trouble." The twins grinned at her, then waved at Harry, Ron and Hermione, and departed.

Ginny turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Best stand back guys, this could get hairy."

Harry, ever the concerned citizen, asked. "What about you?"

Ginny smiled enigmatically.

Crouched behind a snowbank, the three watched as Ginny put the finishing touches on her experiment. Then she proceeded to make her way over to her three friends, and flicked her wand.

It took a few seconds, in a spectacular explosion, the cauldron and all its contents soared into the air, whilst fireworks exploded in a shower of colourful sparks. When the dust had settled, the four went over to inspect the result.

"Whoa." Ron began. "You're the coolest sister ever!"

"I'm your only sister." Ginny replied, but smiled anyway.

"Point proven." Ron finished triumphantly.

Pieces of Fillibuster's fireworks littered the snow in twisted, black remains. Harry considered Ginny's 'KABOOM!' experiment a complete success – but she didn't seem to feel that way – she sunk to her knees and shook her head sadly, before addressing none of them and saying: "You may have foiled me this time, but that's only going to make me more determined."

Hermione spotted a book, strangely unburnt in the ashes, and picked it up. Ginny's eyes widened. "Hermione, please, give that to me."

"You put it in there?" Hermione asked. "Why?"

"Because it is an evil, evil book."

Hermione opened the book. It was blank. "Ginny's there's nothing written in here."

"Hermione, please, give me the evil, murderous book."

Hermione blinked. "If there's anything I pride myself on, it is my knowledge of books. Books aren't evil. They may convey evil messages, but in that case, it is the writers who may be evil."

"You don't understand, Hermione. That book is evil. "

Hermione shook her head. Some people just can't understand.

Ginny suddenly lunged at Hermione, but Hermione managed to stop Ginny by waving her wand and muttering something. Hermione then ran for the castle.

Ginny was frozen in place, and Harry worked on releasing. "Finite Incantatem."

"I'm sorry about Hermione. I think you frightened her." Ron explained. Ginny nodded, and instead of going after Hermione, ran to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, pulled a pine sapling over and catapulted herself into the distance.

"Oookay." Said Ron, watching his sister sail over his head and over the rise of the horizon. "I think she's finally lost it."