Here's the next Chapter! I hope you like it. Please note this is my first fanfic so any reviews to help me improve are very welcome! Thank you to Madame Apathy and haleydelacour101 for their very helpful reviews!
"Have you seen Hermione, lately?" Harry asked Ron as he and Harry sat in their dormitory late one cloudy, Thursday night.
"No, she's not really in the common room much at night and she said she was slipping behind homework in a passing comment yesterday," Harry replied puzzled.
"You don't know where she goes to though, do you?"
"Not a clue," Harry said.
It wasn't that it didn't worry Harry that she was missing but it did strike him as odd. Anyway, Hermione was a bright girl, she was probably in the library most of her missing hours, but even then, the library was closed right now. She was probably in her own dormitory fast asleep.
He and Ron sat silently for several minutes until-
"Dunno who to ask to the ball," moaned Ron. "Who're you gonna ask?"
"Dunno," Harry lied.
Harry didn't like lying to his best friend but he knew that if he told Ron, Ron would freak out, to say the least.
"There's always Lavender or Luna or Parvati or…Pansy or someone." Ron urged.
"Pansy!" Harry laughed. "No chance! She's a slytherin! Gryffindors don't date slytherins!"
"What would you do if I went to the ball with Pansy?" Ron laughed.
"Kill you!" Harry replied imitating avada kedavra fiercely with his wand. "What would you do if I went with Ginny?"
"Torture you to death," Ron looked serious.
"Anyway I need to write a letter. See you in a bit"
Harry got up to leave taking his quill and paper with him.
"You're not going to ask Ginny, are you?"
"You're not going to ask Pansy, are you?"
And with that Harry left for the empty common room, cloak swishing behind him.
Dear Padfoot,
The annual ball is approaching, as you probably know. Did you and my Dad ever go? Anyway, I was just writing to let you know all is fine here, although I feel more alone then ever before at Hogwarts. I am sure you will understand given your current circumstances, but I must say, I'd rather be here than where you are. We have a new DADA teacher here, Prof. Umbridge, a ministry official. Hope all is well and going well around yours. I'm sure you know what I mean! I can't wait to see you all. Best Wishes, Your Godson
Harry looked at the letter. Surely no-one could know what he meant? He wished there was more he could write but given that mail was at risk of being intercepted, sadly, he could not.
All of a sudden, Harry heard a "Pssst," coming from the fireplace.
"Sirius! I was just writing to you!" Harry explained kneeling down on the hearth rug in front of his Godfather.
"How are things?"
"They could be better," Harry explained, telling Sirius all about Professor Umbridge.
"Ah, well, it's just a quick one. Dumbledore is letting me sit in his office to talk to you tomorrow-there's something I need to tell you, Harry," Sirius told the boy with great regret written all over his ash-covered face. "I'll see you then, ok, it was just a warning. Bye for now!"
Harry looked at the flames where Sirius had just disappeared shocked. His Godfather had never left so urgently. What was he talking about tomorrow? Why did he leave so suddenly?
His thoughts, however, were soon interrupted by a shadow on the stairs. A girl soon emerged, crying.
"Ginny?" Harry uttered spotting the bright red, Weasley hair.
The girl gasped and pulled her hair back from her face. It was Ginny.
"Are you crying?" Harry asked.
Ginny simply turned and made for the staircase again. "Sorry, didn't realize you were there…" She sobbed.
"Wait!" Harry called.
Ginny swept around looking at him impatiently. "What?"
"Are you…ok?"
"I'm fine, leave me alone!" She cried making for the stairs once more.
"No, I can't leave you alone," Harry walked towards her. "I can't watch my best friend's sister cry like this and walk off forgetting all about it. I mean, you look a mess. Something has obviously really upset you! And I can't watch someone I lo-," Harry broke off realizing what he had just said.
"Oh, I didn't mean to-,"
Ginny wiped her tear-stained face with her hand and smiled, stepping towards him so that they were only inches away from each other. "It's ok," she laughed.
Harry sighed. "Will you go to the annual ball with me? I mean McGonnagal said a fifth year could take a younger student if they must and well…"
"I'd love to."
"Don't tell Ron just yet though-he'll torture me to death!" Harry suppressed a laugh.
Just that moment, another shadow came stumbling down the stairs.
"I must go," Ginny whispered looking alarmed.
"But-you didn't tell me why you were-,"
"Not now!" Ginny muttered jogging away.
"Don't forget!" Harry called after her.
Just as the figure came into sight, Ginny disappeared around the curve in the staircase. wearing the biggest grin in the world.
"I heard voices," mumbled Ron sleepily.
