Here you go people., told you there wasn't long to wait! Special thanks to Kii and this is dedicated to Kelzery, who's my most impatient reader!
*
"Your homework is to pick a song to use in the auditions for the Christmas concert on November the 5th. All students must apply for either the play or the choir, and may apply for both understood? Good off you go!" shouted Madam Chantuer over the eager babble of the class.
The floor fell out of my stomach. I couldn't believe it, firstly why did we need a Christmas concert at all? Secondly why did we have to audition for either? Thirdly...I can't think of a thirdly, but those two are bad enough.
"Er Professor, do we have to audition?" I asked timidly when most of the class had left.
"Yes of Course Virginia" the Professor told me, looking blankly at me as if wondering why I wasn't overjoyed.
Apart from the fact that she had just called me by my full name, I had big reason to not be happy with what she was saying.
"But, professor, the thing is, I'm not very good and singing in front of people" I said meekly.
"Nonsense Virginia, you have a beautiful voice, it's a beautiful talent. It would be a crime not to share it. I will be expecting you to be auditioning for the lead solo" she said kindly, but her tone made it final. I had to audition.
I nodded mutely and trudged out of the classroom, for the first time not noticing the emptiness of the corridors through the thoughts echoing around my head. There's actually a good reason I didn't feel lonely in the corridors, and that was because I wasn't.
"Hey Ginny, in here" came a sweet voice from a classroom from the side. I peered through the door curiously, and to my horror saw my three roommates. Looking particularly menacing tonight.
"Er, Hi guys" I said slowly as they cornered me in the room, standing around me like some kind of jury.
"We were just wondering if you were going to be auditioning for the solo part?" said Sara, the tallest one sweetly.
"Er..." was all I managed to stammer, before another started up.
"Yeah because Sara's going to be entering" said another silkily, as if this was some kind of threat.
"Don't think your going to be able to beat her" hissed another.
"Yeah, if it was a contest between you and me, we all know who would come out on top" said Sara, followed by high pitched laughter from them all.
I looked around the three, swallowing nervously. I should have stood up to them, I should have challenged her, I should have told her I was auditioning, I should have told her I could win. I should have, but I didn't.
"Well you don't need to worry, I'm not entering" I said, quiet as a mouse.
"I didn't think you would. See everyone, she knows when she's beaten. It's just another one of your failings Weasley" I bit my lips, and pleaded with my eyes not to water like that.
I knew I was a failure, I didn't need them to tell me, I couldn't even stand up to them.
"Yeah she's not good enough for the competition, just likes she not good enough for-" started one giggling voice, before the door was pushed open.
"-Harry?" I asked incredulously, watching him stride into the room angrily.
Just typical, Harry had to be there to see that, now he's know how weak I was, not even able to stand up to a couple of schoolgirls, ready to admit defeat rather than fight. I felt him stand next to me, and I looked anywhere but his eyes, knowing what I'd see there.
"Ginny are you ok?" he asked steadily.
"I'm fine" I whispered.
"We were just talking to Ginny about the Christmas concert" said Sara sweetly, smiling at Harry seductively.
"I heard" he said dryly.
I tried to shake the awful thoughts from my head and I looked across to Harry, who was glaring at the girls with fury written on ever line of his face. The look was instantly replaced when he turned to me and held out his hand, smiling encouragingly at me. I took it and watched Harry give one last glare at the girls before he pulled me towards the door, where he paused.
"And by the way, if I ever hear hat you've said anything to Ginny that I don't like, you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'bullying' got it?"
He pulled me out into the cold, dark corridor and we walked along in silence. I suddenly became very nervous again, realising that I was strolling down the corridor holding hands with Harry Potter, who'd just saved me from certain death, again. I gulped nervously, trying to stop my hands shaking pathetically.
"Thank you" I said, blushing furiously.
"I should have done that a long time ago" He said simply, "So what's all this about a Christmas concert?"
"Oh" I said, laughing quietly to myself at the thought, "My Magical Arts class, Dumbledore's decided to put on a big show with a play and music and all that"
"Sounds cool" he said as we walked towards the library.
"Definitely not though," I said frowning, "My teacher wants me to audition to do a solo"
He watched me talk and waited for a few moments before he burst out laughing, I shot him a smirk and slapped him upside the head.
"Ouch! What was that for?" he asked in mock irritation.
"That," I said, trying to sound menacing, "Is for laughing at me"
"Oohhhh, I'm sorry," he said laughing even harder, "I didn't know you were so violent!"
"I'm a redhead, were notorious it" I said simply, shooting him another evil grin.
"And that's your excuse?"
"Of course"
Our laughter echoed against the stone walls as we approached the library, and I sighed happily, he always managed to make me feel better, even when I was feeling my worst. However, all mushy thoughts were pushed out of my head when I saw us walking towards the library where I could see a redhead currently bent over a book.
"Harry, do you know your still holding my hand?"
"Yeah"
"Are you going to let go?" I asked, giggling slightly.
"Nope" he said innocently.
"Well I really think you should" I said as he turned towards me looking slightly hurt.
"And why's that?"
"Well, its just I think Ron might rip you limb from limb if he saw you" I said, pointing across the room to Ron.
He dropped my hand, as it was a hot coal and I couldn't help but laugh out loud at his guilty expression, he looked like he'd just been caught in Snape's store cupboard or something.
"Smooth Potter, very smooth" I muttered under my breath, which caused him to burst out laughing again.
"What's up with you two?" asked Ron suspiciously as he glanced between Harry and me.
"Nothing" I laughed as I sat down next to Ron.
Harry gave Ron and wary look and walked over towards the bookshelves and I couldn't help but grin to myself. But the grin was instantly replaced when I thought about the impending auditions. Its bad enough having to sing in front of a class of 30, what's it going to be like in front of a school of 1000 plus teachers?
"What's wrong Gin?" asked Ron, frowning at the look at my face.
"I've got to audition for a solo part in a Christmas Concert this year" I told him quickly, grimacing again.
"Oh I see, you've got to?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, it's compulsory, and my teacher want's me to, and I er, have a bet on with my friend, you know Sara from my dorm, don't know how I walked into that one" I lied, pretending to look amused, although the fear was probably still visible in my eyes.
"What are you going to do?" asked Ron, seeing through my mask.
"I don't know, I suppose I have to audition, but I'm terrified!" I moaned, putting my face in my hands.
"Don't worry, we'll think of something" said Ron patting me on my back assuredly.
I gave Ron a grateful smile, wondering why he had suddenly become so sensitive to my feelings before I saw Harry and Hermione walking over. Hermione was grinning broadly like she had some huge secret, much like she had for the past few days. Harry however, was walking deep in thought, which was causing him to screw up his face in intense concentration. I watched him approach and stand next to the table noticing something like pain in his eyes and silently wondered what they had been talking about before Ron spoke up.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" he asked, noticing Harry had been standing still for a few minutes.
I looked across to Harry and noticed him look around in shock to find himself standing where he was, completely oblivious to what had been happening around him.
"Er, I'm doing my homework" he blurted out.
He must have been seriously thinking I thought to myself as I burst out laughing along with Hermione and I watched as Harry floundered around, looking for some clue as to what was going on.
"Well that's brill Harry, really, congratulations" said Ron smiling to himself.
"Sorry I didn't quite catch what you said the first time" he said sheepishly, still standing awkwardly by the table.
"I just asked you if you were going to be standing there all day" said Ron cracking a grin, "Honestly Harry, you've been in a really weird mood this week"
Harry gave a false laugh and I choked on my own, looking to him anxiously. Why had Ron become so perceptive all of a sudden? I found it amusing that Harry had been in a weird mood all week though, very interesting...
Just then I saw Harry disappear beneath the table and I jumped up to see what was happening. Harry was lying in a tangle of robes on the floor, about half a metre from his chair, face flaming with embarrassment. It was more than I could do to stop laughing and soon both Hermione and me had our arms draped around each other, shrieking with laughter, with tears pouring down our faces, hardly able to stand up. It was just the look on his face, priceless. Harry glared mutinously at us, waiting patiently for us to stop laughing while Madam Pince came hurrying over, wearing a huge scowl.
"Right out! The library is a place for study not laughter!" she shrieked, nearly pushing us all out of the door.
I couldn't walk in a straight line for laughing and it was getting painful, and I tried to stop so I could breathe normally before Harry walked smack bang into the portrait. That was too much for me and I couldn't help but burst out laughing again, ignoring the evil glares Harry was shooting us all.
*
Dear Diary,
I actually feel quite guilty for laughing at Harry like that. When I was younger, in the days of my crush when I would stick my elbows in butter dishes and draw hearts all over my books, he never burst out laughing at me, but then again I never walked into walls.
It's actually quite cute really, and I still laugh to myself now when I picture his face...priceless like I said! But apart from trying to walk through walls, nothing interesting has happened since then, in fact everything seems to have gone downhill. Snape is being ruthless with his detentions, and I've already had one for breathing loudly in class, the Magical Arts teacher is still insisting I try or the solo part, and I'm still having nightmares.
Mom has been in touch with me, insisting I take the role, Fred and George has, even Ron and Hermione. They've been bugging me ever since they found out and in the end I told them I would do it, just to get them off my back. So now I've promised basically everyone that I would, except Harry, who thankfully hasn't been pushing like everyone else.
The only thing that seems to be going ok at the, moment is dorm life. The girls have been either too frightened or too impressed to annoy me since Harry 'spoke' to them. I think they must be a little knocked by seeing us holding hands, that sight makes me giggle as well.
Everything's still ok with Harry, but I still haven't managed to tell him about the dreams/nightmares, what if he laughs, what if he gets angry?
Oh, there's a knock at the door, I better go, no one can see you,
Love Ginny.
I hastily signed off from my diary, and shoved it under my pillows before walking over to the door. I pulled it open to see Harry standing there, or rather pressed up against the wall.
"Harry?" I said blankly, "What are you doing?"
"Just checking out the scene, you know, James Bond style" he said before poking his head through the doorway.
I laughed to myself as he kept to walls and darted over to my bed, as if someone was following him.
"Er, what's James Bond?" I asked in confusion.
"No what, who" he said, smiling happily as he bounced on my bed, "He's a spy, in the movies, oh don't worry"
I nodded mutely and went and climbed back onto my bed, refusing to be excited by the fact I was sitting up here all alone with Harry. Not excited in the least I told myself grinning.
"I thought I'd come and see you, everyone else is off doing something and I'm bored" he moaned flopping over the edge of my bed.
"I'm not really doing anything" I told him, flicking through the mass of parchments littering my bed.
"Oh well, now you've got me to watch you doing nothing" he said happily, leaning against the oak post to my bed carefully.
He closed his eyes peacefully and I amused myself for a few moments just watching him breathe. Honestly, in I hadn't been in love with him already, I would fall in it all over again. Just watching him made me feel better, made the task I was going to have to do soon a little easier. I looked down at the parchments again, trying to pick the perfect one, but it was too hard.
"Oh I don't know what to do" I groaned after a few minutes of silence.
"What's a matter?" he asked, looking at me through tired eyes.
"I need to find a song to do, for the audition" I said grimacing, "But all my old favourites don't really seem that appropriate"
He reached out a grabbed a sheaf of parchments, flicking through them, trying to look studious and I couldn't help but laugh to myself.
"How do you know all these muggle songs?" he asked eventually, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Dad" I said simply, as he gave a small understanding laugh, "He bought me a muggle radio once, charmed it to work without electricity and everything"
"Sounds like him. I've never really listened to much music" he said awkwardly, and I wondered back to his family, they didn't really seem like the type to let him play music in his room from what Ron said about them.
"I would sit for hours just listening to all the new songs, and the lyrics – they're so beautiful and meaningful" I said wistfully, imagining sitting in my room, listing to the music for hours while I painted.
"You should get a radio for in here" he said thoughtfully, looking around my little den created by the curtains.
"You never listen to Hermione do you?" I asked smiling.
"Not if I can help it" he answered immediately, sounding suspiciously like Ron.
"I mean, muggle things don't work at Hogwarts, too much magic around" I laughed.
"Oh yeah" he said sheepishly, before he pulled out a piece of parchment, his face lighting up in a smile.
He studied the parchment for a few moments and I pretended not to look interested. I picked up another piece of parchment before throwing back down in disgust, definitely not that one.
"How about this one?" he asked, handing me the parchment he had been so interested in. I looked over the title of the parchment and my face split into a huge grin, Harry would just happen to pick out my favourite song. I ran my fingers lovingly across the well-worn parchment, taking in its sorry state of ripped edges and untidy scrawl.
"You like that song don't you?"
"It's my very favourite. It's the first muggle song I ever heard – it was on when I turned on my radio. I love it because it reminds me of y...things" I finished awkwardly, blushing furiously.
I bit my lip, and silently cursed myself, and Harry smiled and looked down to his hands, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. How could I nearly let it slip? That was so embarrassing, just like being back in first year again I thought shuddering. Harry seemed to be having equally as sad thoughts as I caught him frowning sadly at something I couldn't see, and I was about to ask him what was up, when I settled against it, maybe I didn't want to know what he was thinking.
"I think I will do this one" I said slowly, folding the parchment in half and pushing it inside my robes, out of sight, out of mind. I looked across to Harry who seemed to be doing more serious thinking before suddenly he blurted something out that made my world stop for a moment.
"Ginny, do you want to go to the Halloween Ball with me?" I gaped at him for a few moments and felt my face turning red. My inside where curling up with excitement and I watched him give a hopeful smile and a casual shrug of his shoulders.
"If you want to" I mouthed a few attempts at answer before taking a steady breath and starting again.
"I'd love to!" I said, scrambling across the bed to give him a hug. He patted my back awkwardly and I could tell he wasn't really used to having hugs. I lost myself in thoughts of a childhood without hugs before an excited grin spread across my features. I sat down next to him clapping my hands, grinning like some kind of madman.
"Sorry" I laughed by way of an apology, "I'm just a little excited"
"I can tell" he said dryly.
I smiled contentedly and leaned against his shoulder, listing to his heart beating while we talked about usual things like the Christmas concert, Ron and Hermione's chances together and even Quidditch. My eyes drooped sleepily, and I tired to for them awake, not daring to go to sleep. I couldn't help laughing out loud when Harry told me how he planned to tell Ron he was going to the ball with me, including his exciting getaway involving his Firebolt and I entertained myself by thinking up new and more dangerous escape plans. The laughter died down and soon I found my eyes drooping again, listening to his rhythmic breathing was sending me to sleep, as much as I didn't want to I felt myself slipping.
"Come on Gin, you better get to bed" he said as he climbed of the bed.
He stumbled out of the room, shooting me a grin before disappearing. A few seconds later, one of the girls of my room burst in, to see me smoothing off my bedspread.
"Was Harry Potter up here, alone with you?" she asked, torn between awe and disbelief.
"Maybe" I said mysteriously, before pulling the curtains around me, laughing to myself.
TBC people…T.B.C