Chapter III: The Defiant Broom
Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron made their way to Flourish and Blotts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing next to the check-out counter waiting for them. As Harry looked about the shop for The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, Mrs. Weasley eyed the broom that he had clutched in his hand.
"Bought the new broom, did you?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Harry nodded, smiling weakly.
Ginny watched Harry as he passed the shelf that contained the book he was looking for. His mind was obviously on something else. She suspected that he was thinking about Cho. It didn't make much sense, though. He seemed sad, almost contritional. Why would he feel that way while thinking of someone that he was apparently crazy for?
"Where is that book?" Harry muttered.
Ginny took The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 from the shelf and handed it to him. Harry sighed, taking the book from her.
"You look distraught," Ginny pointed out.
"I'm fine," Harry told her, leaning against a bookshelf.
A smile spread across his face. Ginny could tell that it was a fraudulent smile. It seemed he didn't want her to worry about it. Ginny gave him the same exact smile and turned away.
Once they had gotten their books, they headed for The Leaky Cauldron. Hermione parted from them at the fireplace. She strolled to the exit, on her way to the muggle part of London. Ron waved for longer then anyone else.
With a pinch of floo powder, the Weasleys and Harry were on their way to the Burrow.
"C'mon, Harry," Ron urged. "Let's try out your Thunder Hawk 300 on the back lawn."
"Alright," Harry agreed.
The boys ran out to the back lawn through the kitchen. Ginny sat herself in the livingroom and watched the wizard's duel in the painting over the fireplace. Ginny suddenly wondered what they were fighting for. Were they fighting for land, for honor, or for love? What a wonderful thing it would be to be fighting for love. Ginny leaned her head back and thought of the wizard's duel.
Harry stood on one side of a field. His black hair waving in the breeze as he gazed across the field at another guy. The other guy had his blond hair slicked back. It was Malfoy. Ginny was on the sideline staring at the two, filled with concern.
"Harry, you don't have to do this," Ginny shouted.
"He insulted your honor and so he must pay," Harry grumbled.
Malfoy laughed maliciously.
"Listen to your girlfriend, Potter," Malfoy advised, teasingly.
Harry stood steadfastly, raising his wand and pointing it at Malfoy.
"Relashio!" Harry exclaimed.
Sparks flew from the end of his wand and struck Malfoy in his gut. He cringed, holding his belly. A fire erupted in his eyes.
"Furnuncalus," Malfoy said with all the voice he could muster after the blow.
Harry smartly ducked as the spell passed over his head.
"Locomotormortis," Harry shot back.
Malfoy's legs were locked together and he couldn't move them.
"Potter, I'll get you!" he yelled.
Harry stood up with a firmness in his features and determination in his eyes.
"Bring it on," Harry whispered.
"Impediment!" Malfoy casted, almost falling to the ground from the force of the blast.
Harry turned to his side and said, "Finite Incantation," stopping Malfoy's spell in it's tracks.
"Alright, Potter," Malfoy said, turning to Ginny. He raised his wand and yelled, "Waddiwasi!"
In the instant before the wand casted the spell, Ginny pulled out her wand. While Harry ran toward her, Ginny shouted, "Expelliarmus." Malfoy's wand flipped into the air, deflecting the blast toward the sky. Harry froze and gaped at Ginny.
"It seems that your girl doesn't need you," Malfoy scorned.
"That's why she my girl," Harry said, walking up to Ginny.
Harry casted "Stupify" on Malfoy. He slipped his arm around Ginny and looked into her soft brown eyes. Ginny ran her fingers through Harry's thick black hair.
A sudden crash shocked Ginny back into reality. She jumped from her chair and ran out to the back yard. Harry was setting on the ground next to the shed. The shed had a basketball- sized hole in the door next to where Harry sat.
"That was a ruddy bad crash, Harry," Ron informed, running over to the shed. "Ya'll right?"
"I'm just great, Ron," Harry said, peering at Ron through cracked glasses. "That broom just tested my apparating skills, but I'm just fine."
"You're a bit bloody, Harry," Ron told him.
Harry looked at his throbbing elbow and touched his stinging forehead. Both were bleeding. Ginny walked slowly over to them. Harry looked up at her.
"Ron, see if you can catch my Thunder Hawk, will you?" Harry asked.
"Sure," Ron agreed, walking around to the other side of the shed.
"Do you need a bandage?" Ginny asked.
"I'd prefer a mending spell," Harry said, smiling.
"I don't think I know one," Ginny admitted, feeling inadequate. "I can ask Mum to use a mending spell. She'll have your scrapes mended in no time."
"That's alright," Harry told her. "A bandage will do."
"I'll get one," Ginny said.
"Wait!" Harry called as she turned to walk away. "Could you give me a hand first?"
Ginny went up to him and held out her hand. Harry clutched her hand and tried to lift himself up. He made a sore face, so Ginny planted her feet and pulled him up with both hands.
"I don't think that broom agrees with me," Harry began as they walked toward the house. "It seems to want to go a different way then I do."
"That isn't common for a broom, is it?" Ginny asked.
"Well, there are brooms that don't fit right well like a shoe," Harry explained. "I just need to break it in."
Ginny nodded.
"I sure hope this doesn't leave a scar," Harry said, indicating the scrape on his forehead. "I mean, I have enough scars up there already."
Ginny snickered.
Once in the house, Ginny got a bandage out of Mr. Weasley's desk drawer.
"We don't use them often," Ginny told Harry as she gently stuck the bandage on his forehead. "That one is going to need more then a bandage," indicating his elbow. "You might need something to make sure it doesn't get an infection."
"Got any antiseptic?" Harry asked.
"Ana-what?" Ginny queried.
"Nevermind," Harry said.
"If Mum uses an ameliorate charm, it might protect against infection," Ginny told him. "I'll get Mum. I'm sure she's in the kitchen."
Ginny combed some red strands of hair behind her ear with her fingernails as she left the room. In the threshold, Ginny glanced back at Harry and saw that he was still looking at her.
******************
Ginny lay in her bed that night and thought. Harry was asleep just one level above her and so she stared at the ceiling. She wondered if he was dreaming or if he might be awake. If he was dreaming, what was he dreaming about? Cho, most likely, she told herself. He had been dreaming about her all Summer. It was probable that he dreamed of her now. Ginny rolled over on to her stomach, peering out her window. There were so many stars in the sky.
"Looks like Jupiter is in the second house," she muttered to herself, remembering what she learned in Divination the year before. "It seems like I'm in for some surprises. What surprises await me at Hogwarts?"
With that Ginny began to wonder. As she walked to her Potions class, Harry ran up to her. He asked her if her books are too heavy and if he could carry them.
"Well, they are a little straining," Ginny admitted, handing him her bookbag.
"So what are you doing after classes today?" Harry asked.
"What do you have in mind?" Ginny retorted.
"We can use my inviability cloak and sneak to the lake," Harry suggested. "The way the moonlight bounces off the water is really amazing."
Ginny glanced at Harry.
"You mean break the rules?" She said, sounding shocked. She smiled suddenly. "It sounds exciting."
That night they would wait in the Gryffindor common room until everyone had gone to bed. Once Lavender Brown was out of sight, Harry glanced at Ginny. Ginny smiled back. Pulling the cloak out of his robes, Harry walked over to the portrait hole. Ginny followed.
"Stay close," Harry whispered, wrapping the cloak around the both of them.
Ginny looped her arm in his and they set off through the portrait hole. In a flash, they were at the front enterence to the school. Harry gripped the handle and pulled the large door open.
The moonlight laid a silvery glow onto the grounds. The Quidditch field hoops stuck out over a distant hill. The Dark Forest creaked and moved as if the trees were all living things. Ginny clutched Harry's arm tightly. She cast her eyes toward the lake. It looked black as ink and just as shinny. A pale sphere reflected on the ebony waters.
Harry slipped the cloak off of them and lay it on a log near the lake. Ginny sat on the lake shore and glance out at the gleaming waves. She felt warmth as Harry sat beside her.
"It's radiant, Harry," Ginny whispered, gazing back at Harry.
"Yes, it is radiant," Harry agreed, looking deep into Ginny's eyes.
The starlight touched Harry's dark hair in such a way that it made him alluring.
"Ginny, you've always been in my heart," Harry told her.
Ginny felt a shiver go down her spine as Harry's hand touched her hair. He leaned close to her, brushing his lips against hers.
Sunlight beamed down on Ginny's face, forcing her to wake up. Ginny pulled herself into a sitting position and glared at the light that invaded her room.
"Ruddy sun!" She shouted, throwing her pillow at her window.
Picking up her diary, Ginny headed out to the back lawn. She sat down on her bench and looked at the sunrise. When it was once for admiration, not it was for destain.
"I had the most glorious dream," Ginny wrote. "Harry and I were-"
"Ginny?"
Ginny jumped, throwing her diary and quill into the air. Quickly, she glance behind her. Harry was standing in the doorway to the kitchen and looking amused at her.
"What are you doing up this early!" Ginny practically shouted, breathing hard.
"I..I couldn't sleep," Harry explained.
"All the way until now?" Ginny asked.
"Well, no," Harry began, walking over to the bench. "I slept last night. Around four this morning, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."
"What are you doing out here?" Ginny interrogated.
Harry put one hand on the back of the bench and looked down at her, saying, "I thought I heard something."
Ginny looked away from his uncomfortable gaze.
"Are you always up this early?" Harry asked.
"Sometimes," Ginny said simply.
"May I sit down?" Harry requested.
Ginny briefly glanced at him and then nodded.
Harry sat down next to her. Ginny instinctively scooted away.
"You dropped your book," Harry informed, leaning down to pick the diary up.
"Don't bother," Ginny blurted. "It's just nothing. I'll get it later."
Harry eyed her, perplexed, and left the diary on the ground.
"Looking forward to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded.
"Me too," Harry said. "My favorite class is Care of Magical Creatures."
"I'm not taking that," Ginny stated. "I like Divination."
Harry raised his eyebrows, not saying a word.
"What else are you taking?" Harry asked.
"The Study of Ancient Runes," Ginny told him.
"Really?" Harry exclaimed. "What is that anyway?"
"Runes?" Ginny began. "They are symbols. They stand for ideas, animals, and trees. Also, they have their own times and names. If you carve these symbols on stones in the right way then you can use them for spells and divination."
"There's Divination again," Harry muttered.
"Don't you believe in it?" Ginny asked.
"If Professor Trelawney spent your entire third year predicting your death," Harry snapped, "then you wouldn't believe in it either."
Ginny dropped her eyes to the ground.
"You were talking about runes," Harry informed her, reverting the subject back.
"I don't think there is anything else," Ginny said quietly.
"There must be," Harry told her. "They couldn't have a class just on that."
"Well, last year," Ginny began, "we made our own rune stones, initiated them, and got to know them. That takes quite a while. The year before, we focused on the meanings of the signs. This year he'll teach us spells and ceremonies using the stones."
"Oh," Harry nodded. "That's cool."
Ginny glanced at Harry. He was staring off at the distant mountains. He looked so pensive and brilliant. Ginny smiled. Harry looked over at her.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," Ginny blurted, looking away quickly.
Through the corner of her eye, Ginny could see Harry looking at her. She tried to think of a logical reason why he would be looking at her. He might just be perplexed at her staring at him. Maybe he was spacing out. It could possibly be that her hair was all messed up because she hadn't combed it. Ginny began to get really self conscious. Casually, she patted her hair, combing her fingers through it.
"Hey, Harry," Ron called behind them.
Ginny and Harry turned around and looked at him.
"Well," He smiled, just coming into the backyard, "isn't this cozy?"
Ginny blushed.
"I was wondering where you were, Harry," Ron told him.
"Sorry, Ron," Harry apologized. "I couldn't sleep and I got bored."
Ginny scanned Harry's face. His full attention was on Ron. She realized that she had become invisible again.
"Mum's making breakfast," Ron told him. "What do you say we play some Quidditch 'till she's done?"
"Alright, Ron," Harry agreed.
Ron ran into the house and got the Thunder Hawk. Harry took the old Weasley family Commit from the shed. Ginny didn't like this idea. Harry could get hurt again. Of course, Harry said that he just needed to break in the broom. Maybe, the broom would be more obedient today. Ron and Harry kicked off from the ground. Harry rode his Thunder Hawk. The Thunder Hawk seemed to be getting on alright. When Harry leaned, it went the way he instructed. Ron threw an apple toward Harry. Turning toward it, Harry went to catch the apple. Suddenly, instead of following the apple, the Thunder Hawk plummeted. Harry found himself hurtling toward the ground. Ginny put her hands over her eyes as Harry hit the ground and tumbled away from the feral broom.
"That was a lot better," Harry mumbled from where he was lying.
Ron landed and ran over to Harry.
"Any scrapes this time?" Ron asked.
"I can't tell," Harry said. "I can't feel a thing."
"It broken open your forehead again," Ron informed.
"Same place?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded.
"Man, this broom has it in for me," Harry suspected, pulling himself off the ground.
"Breakfast is ready," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen.
"All right, Mum," Ron yelled back. "Be there once Harry's off the grass."
Harry laughed a bit and fell back onto his back.
"Can't I just stay here?" Harry asked.
"You heard Mum," Ron began. "Food!"
Harry sighed and then lifted himself on to his feet.
"I suppose we should have mended your head, Harry," Ginny told him. "The bandage didn't work too well."
"It's alright, Gin," Harry said, his arm resting on Ron's shoulder. "Scrapes heal on their own in the muggle world."
Harry and Ron walked passed Ginny, into the house. Ginny went to follow them, but then she remembered. She pulled out her wand.
"Accio diary," She whispered.
The diary flew from the ground and straight into her hand. Ginny put the diary away on her robes.
"I wouldn't want anyone getting their hands on this."
Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron made their way to Flourish and Blotts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing next to the check-out counter waiting for them. As Harry looked about the shop for The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, Mrs. Weasley eyed the broom that he had clutched in his hand.
"Bought the new broom, did you?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Harry nodded, smiling weakly.
Ginny watched Harry as he passed the shelf that contained the book he was looking for. His mind was obviously on something else. She suspected that he was thinking about Cho. It didn't make much sense, though. He seemed sad, almost contritional. Why would he feel that way while thinking of someone that he was apparently crazy for?
"Where is that book?" Harry muttered.
Ginny took The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 from the shelf and handed it to him. Harry sighed, taking the book from her.
"You look distraught," Ginny pointed out.
"I'm fine," Harry told her, leaning against a bookshelf.
A smile spread across his face. Ginny could tell that it was a fraudulent smile. It seemed he didn't want her to worry about it. Ginny gave him the same exact smile and turned away.
Once they had gotten their books, they headed for The Leaky Cauldron. Hermione parted from them at the fireplace. She strolled to the exit, on her way to the muggle part of London. Ron waved for longer then anyone else.
With a pinch of floo powder, the Weasleys and Harry were on their way to the Burrow.
"C'mon, Harry," Ron urged. "Let's try out your Thunder Hawk 300 on the back lawn."
"Alright," Harry agreed.
The boys ran out to the back lawn through the kitchen. Ginny sat herself in the livingroom and watched the wizard's duel in the painting over the fireplace. Ginny suddenly wondered what they were fighting for. Were they fighting for land, for honor, or for love? What a wonderful thing it would be to be fighting for love. Ginny leaned her head back and thought of the wizard's duel.
Harry stood on one side of a field. His black hair waving in the breeze as he gazed across the field at another guy. The other guy had his blond hair slicked back. It was Malfoy. Ginny was on the sideline staring at the two, filled with concern.
"Harry, you don't have to do this," Ginny shouted.
"He insulted your honor and so he must pay," Harry grumbled.
Malfoy laughed maliciously.
"Listen to your girlfriend, Potter," Malfoy advised, teasingly.
Harry stood steadfastly, raising his wand and pointing it at Malfoy.
"Relashio!" Harry exclaimed.
Sparks flew from the end of his wand and struck Malfoy in his gut. He cringed, holding his belly. A fire erupted in his eyes.
"Furnuncalus," Malfoy said with all the voice he could muster after the blow.
Harry smartly ducked as the spell passed over his head.
"Locomotormortis," Harry shot back.
Malfoy's legs were locked together and he couldn't move them.
"Potter, I'll get you!" he yelled.
Harry stood up with a firmness in his features and determination in his eyes.
"Bring it on," Harry whispered.
"Impediment!" Malfoy casted, almost falling to the ground from the force of the blast.
Harry turned to his side and said, "Finite Incantation," stopping Malfoy's spell in it's tracks.
"Alright, Potter," Malfoy said, turning to Ginny. He raised his wand and yelled, "Waddiwasi!"
In the instant before the wand casted the spell, Ginny pulled out her wand. While Harry ran toward her, Ginny shouted, "Expelliarmus." Malfoy's wand flipped into the air, deflecting the blast toward the sky. Harry froze and gaped at Ginny.
"It seems that your girl doesn't need you," Malfoy scorned.
"That's why she my girl," Harry said, walking up to Ginny.
Harry casted "Stupify" on Malfoy. He slipped his arm around Ginny and looked into her soft brown eyes. Ginny ran her fingers through Harry's thick black hair.
A sudden crash shocked Ginny back into reality. She jumped from her chair and ran out to the back yard. Harry was setting on the ground next to the shed. The shed had a basketball- sized hole in the door next to where Harry sat.
"That was a ruddy bad crash, Harry," Ron informed, running over to the shed. "Ya'll right?"
"I'm just great, Ron," Harry said, peering at Ron through cracked glasses. "That broom just tested my apparating skills, but I'm just fine."
"You're a bit bloody, Harry," Ron told him.
Harry looked at his throbbing elbow and touched his stinging forehead. Both were bleeding. Ginny walked slowly over to them. Harry looked up at her.
"Ron, see if you can catch my Thunder Hawk, will you?" Harry asked.
"Sure," Ron agreed, walking around to the other side of the shed.
"Do you need a bandage?" Ginny asked.
"I'd prefer a mending spell," Harry said, smiling.
"I don't think I know one," Ginny admitted, feeling inadequate. "I can ask Mum to use a mending spell. She'll have your scrapes mended in no time."
"That's alright," Harry told her. "A bandage will do."
"I'll get one," Ginny said.
"Wait!" Harry called as she turned to walk away. "Could you give me a hand first?"
Ginny went up to him and held out her hand. Harry clutched her hand and tried to lift himself up. He made a sore face, so Ginny planted her feet and pulled him up with both hands.
"I don't think that broom agrees with me," Harry began as they walked toward the house. "It seems to want to go a different way then I do."
"That isn't common for a broom, is it?" Ginny asked.
"Well, there are brooms that don't fit right well like a shoe," Harry explained. "I just need to break it in."
Ginny nodded.
"I sure hope this doesn't leave a scar," Harry said, indicating the scrape on his forehead. "I mean, I have enough scars up there already."
Ginny snickered.
Once in the house, Ginny got a bandage out of Mr. Weasley's desk drawer.
"We don't use them often," Ginny told Harry as she gently stuck the bandage on his forehead. "That one is going to need more then a bandage," indicating his elbow. "You might need something to make sure it doesn't get an infection."
"Got any antiseptic?" Harry asked.
"Ana-what?" Ginny queried.
"Nevermind," Harry said.
"If Mum uses an ameliorate charm, it might protect against infection," Ginny told him. "I'll get Mum. I'm sure she's in the kitchen."
Ginny combed some red strands of hair behind her ear with her fingernails as she left the room. In the threshold, Ginny glanced back at Harry and saw that he was still looking at her.
******************
Ginny lay in her bed that night and thought. Harry was asleep just one level above her and so she stared at the ceiling. She wondered if he was dreaming or if he might be awake. If he was dreaming, what was he dreaming about? Cho, most likely, she told herself. He had been dreaming about her all Summer. It was probable that he dreamed of her now. Ginny rolled over on to her stomach, peering out her window. There were so many stars in the sky.
"Looks like Jupiter is in the second house," she muttered to herself, remembering what she learned in Divination the year before. "It seems like I'm in for some surprises. What surprises await me at Hogwarts?"
With that Ginny began to wonder. As she walked to her Potions class, Harry ran up to her. He asked her if her books are too heavy and if he could carry them.
"Well, they are a little straining," Ginny admitted, handing him her bookbag.
"So what are you doing after classes today?" Harry asked.
"What do you have in mind?" Ginny retorted.
"We can use my inviability cloak and sneak to the lake," Harry suggested. "The way the moonlight bounces off the water is really amazing."
Ginny glanced at Harry.
"You mean break the rules?" She said, sounding shocked. She smiled suddenly. "It sounds exciting."
That night they would wait in the Gryffindor common room until everyone had gone to bed. Once Lavender Brown was out of sight, Harry glanced at Ginny. Ginny smiled back. Pulling the cloak out of his robes, Harry walked over to the portrait hole. Ginny followed.
"Stay close," Harry whispered, wrapping the cloak around the both of them.
Ginny looped her arm in his and they set off through the portrait hole. In a flash, they were at the front enterence to the school. Harry gripped the handle and pulled the large door open.
The moonlight laid a silvery glow onto the grounds. The Quidditch field hoops stuck out over a distant hill. The Dark Forest creaked and moved as if the trees were all living things. Ginny clutched Harry's arm tightly. She cast her eyes toward the lake. It looked black as ink and just as shinny. A pale sphere reflected on the ebony waters.
Harry slipped the cloak off of them and lay it on a log near the lake. Ginny sat on the lake shore and glance out at the gleaming waves. She felt warmth as Harry sat beside her.
"It's radiant, Harry," Ginny whispered, gazing back at Harry.
"Yes, it is radiant," Harry agreed, looking deep into Ginny's eyes.
The starlight touched Harry's dark hair in such a way that it made him alluring.
"Ginny, you've always been in my heart," Harry told her.
Ginny felt a shiver go down her spine as Harry's hand touched her hair. He leaned close to her, brushing his lips against hers.
Sunlight beamed down on Ginny's face, forcing her to wake up. Ginny pulled herself into a sitting position and glared at the light that invaded her room.
"Ruddy sun!" She shouted, throwing her pillow at her window.
Picking up her diary, Ginny headed out to the back lawn. She sat down on her bench and looked at the sunrise. When it was once for admiration, not it was for destain.
"I had the most glorious dream," Ginny wrote. "Harry and I were-"
"Ginny?"
Ginny jumped, throwing her diary and quill into the air. Quickly, she glance behind her. Harry was standing in the doorway to the kitchen and looking amused at her.
"What are you doing up this early!" Ginny practically shouted, breathing hard.
"I..I couldn't sleep," Harry explained.
"All the way until now?" Ginny asked.
"Well, no," Harry began, walking over to the bench. "I slept last night. Around four this morning, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."
"What are you doing out here?" Ginny interrogated.
Harry put one hand on the back of the bench and looked down at her, saying, "I thought I heard something."
Ginny looked away from his uncomfortable gaze.
"Are you always up this early?" Harry asked.
"Sometimes," Ginny said simply.
"May I sit down?" Harry requested.
Ginny briefly glanced at him and then nodded.
Harry sat down next to her. Ginny instinctively scooted away.
"You dropped your book," Harry informed, leaning down to pick the diary up.
"Don't bother," Ginny blurted. "It's just nothing. I'll get it later."
Harry eyed her, perplexed, and left the diary on the ground.
"Looking forward to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded.
"Me too," Harry said. "My favorite class is Care of Magical Creatures."
"I'm not taking that," Ginny stated. "I like Divination."
Harry raised his eyebrows, not saying a word.
"What else are you taking?" Harry asked.
"The Study of Ancient Runes," Ginny told him.
"Really?" Harry exclaimed. "What is that anyway?"
"Runes?" Ginny began. "They are symbols. They stand for ideas, animals, and trees. Also, they have their own times and names. If you carve these symbols on stones in the right way then you can use them for spells and divination."
"There's Divination again," Harry muttered.
"Don't you believe in it?" Ginny asked.
"If Professor Trelawney spent your entire third year predicting your death," Harry snapped, "then you wouldn't believe in it either."
Ginny dropped her eyes to the ground.
"You were talking about runes," Harry informed her, reverting the subject back.
"I don't think there is anything else," Ginny said quietly.
"There must be," Harry told her. "They couldn't have a class just on that."
"Well, last year," Ginny began, "we made our own rune stones, initiated them, and got to know them. That takes quite a while. The year before, we focused on the meanings of the signs. This year he'll teach us spells and ceremonies using the stones."
"Oh," Harry nodded. "That's cool."
Ginny glanced at Harry. He was staring off at the distant mountains. He looked so pensive and brilliant. Ginny smiled. Harry looked over at her.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," Ginny blurted, looking away quickly.
Through the corner of her eye, Ginny could see Harry looking at her. She tried to think of a logical reason why he would be looking at her. He might just be perplexed at her staring at him. Maybe he was spacing out. It could possibly be that her hair was all messed up because she hadn't combed it. Ginny began to get really self conscious. Casually, she patted her hair, combing her fingers through it.
"Hey, Harry," Ron called behind them.
Ginny and Harry turned around and looked at him.
"Well," He smiled, just coming into the backyard, "isn't this cozy?"
Ginny blushed.
"I was wondering where you were, Harry," Ron told him.
"Sorry, Ron," Harry apologized. "I couldn't sleep and I got bored."
Ginny scanned Harry's face. His full attention was on Ron. She realized that she had become invisible again.
"Mum's making breakfast," Ron told him. "What do you say we play some Quidditch 'till she's done?"
"Alright, Ron," Harry agreed.
Ron ran into the house and got the Thunder Hawk. Harry took the old Weasley family Commit from the shed. Ginny didn't like this idea. Harry could get hurt again. Of course, Harry said that he just needed to break in the broom. Maybe, the broom would be more obedient today. Ron and Harry kicked off from the ground. Harry rode his Thunder Hawk. The Thunder Hawk seemed to be getting on alright. When Harry leaned, it went the way he instructed. Ron threw an apple toward Harry. Turning toward it, Harry went to catch the apple. Suddenly, instead of following the apple, the Thunder Hawk plummeted. Harry found himself hurtling toward the ground. Ginny put her hands over her eyes as Harry hit the ground and tumbled away from the feral broom.
"That was a lot better," Harry mumbled from where he was lying.
Ron landed and ran over to Harry.
"Any scrapes this time?" Ron asked.
"I can't tell," Harry said. "I can't feel a thing."
"It broken open your forehead again," Ron informed.
"Same place?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded.
"Man, this broom has it in for me," Harry suspected, pulling himself off the ground.
"Breakfast is ready," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen.
"All right, Mum," Ron yelled back. "Be there once Harry's off the grass."
Harry laughed a bit and fell back onto his back.
"Can't I just stay here?" Harry asked.
"You heard Mum," Ron began. "Food!"
Harry sighed and then lifted himself on to his feet.
"I suppose we should have mended your head, Harry," Ginny told him. "The bandage didn't work too well."
"It's alright, Gin," Harry said, his arm resting on Ron's shoulder. "Scrapes heal on their own in the muggle world."
Harry and Ron walked passed Ginny, into the house. Ginny went to follow them, but then she remembered. She pulled out her wand.
"Accio diary," She whispered.
The diary flew from the ground and straight into her hand. Ginny put the diary away on her robes.
"I wouldn't want anyone getting their hands on this."