The Day Our Paths Crossed (And The Things That Came Of It)

Chapter Seven: Some Things Are Waiting For Us (If Only We Would Look)

After "The Incident," as it came to be called, both Harry and Ginny threw themselves back into school life with renewed excitement. Ginny had gaps in her memory from the past month, but found that her practical wand work improved tenfold. Harry was jealous of her newfound skill until he remembered that she had been possessed by his parent's killer, after which he simply tried as hard as he could to catch back up with her help. Ginny's new skill sent them both straight back to the top of charms class, to the complete dismay of poor Gala Ruggenspore.

Harry quickly realized just how much he had missed spellcraft. Without Ginny to push him, he had spent more time worrying about her than her studies. Working ahead in The Standard Book of Charms, Year One again made it easier to forget the events of October.

In their spare time, Harry and Ginny had begun to explore Hogwarts. They had discovered wonderful things, too. On each floor, there was a dilapidated old broom closet that actually led to a spiraling staircase lit by jars of bluebell flames that rose from the dungeons to the seventh floor. Ginny had been gleeful when she had seen the spell, and Ceruleum Inflamari quickly became one of her favorite spells when she found it towards the back of their charms book. Another amazing quirk had come when Harry had accidentally bumped into a painting of a desert buffet on the second floor. To their amazement, it had swung open to reveal a chocolate cake. Harry had hesitantly taken a bite and immediately decided he had never eaten better cake in his entire life. To his and Ginny's absolute joy, the missing slice had automatically replenished, and they looked at each other in glee when they realized they had found a never-ending supply of cake.

The best discovery, though, was the room that would become their own – the Hearth Room.

No classes were held the fourth floor. It had been magically expanded to the point where there was a warren of rooms – clubrooms, study rooms, disused elective space, and was larger than most people at Hogwarts had ever cared to discover. Ginny, of course, had nearly died from delight and immediately insisted they explore it all. All of the used room were clustered near the main staircase on the west side of the castle, so they struck east. It wasn't until they were walking through a dusty corridor on the north-east side that a tapestry caught their eye.

A beautiful young woman sat at the edge of a fire, tending to the boiling pot held over the flames. She waved her hand and the flames turned a beautiful purple, making Ginny gasp. The woman looked up and her mouth made an 'o' when she saw the duo. "Students?" she asked.

Harry nodded as Ginny enthusiastically blurted out, "Yeah! I'm Ginny and he's Harry, what's your name?"

The woman laughed and rose from her fire, taking up the full height of the tapestry. "Such enthusiasm! My name is Hestia, children. It has been a century since I have been approached by children like you… What was his name…? Oh, yes, Albus! I remember him well. Tell me, is he still the transfiguration professor?"

Harry looked at Hestia with wide eyes. How old was the portrait? He knew Ginny said portraits could visit any other portraits of themselves, so maybe this was the only tapestry of her in the school? "He's the headmaster now," he said, a little timid before the woman's tall countenance.

Hestia smiled kindly to him, and he returned with a smaller smile of his own. "We were exploring the fourth floor," Ginny exclaimed. "Nobody ever comes to this side, so we figured there's got to be tons of secrets!" She launched into a long-winded explanation of the cake painting, and Harry and Hestia both watched her fondly.

When Ginny finished speaking, Hestia winked at the two first years. "I do know one secret," she said mischievously. She knelt at the corner of the tapestry and pulled at a rope, and Ginny gasped as she pulled the tapestry back, revealing a wooden door behind. Hestia nodded. "Go ahead," she said, gesturing at the door.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, then stepped inside with wide grins.

The room was a cozy circled crowned by the fireplace on the far wall. Soft red light glowed against the walls, and some of the squishiest couches Harry had ever seen were around the fireplace. One side of the wall was covered with old books, a painting of a starry ancient night on the Mediterranean stretching from the door to the chimney. On the other side of the room, there was open space instead of fluffy carpet with all kinds of dueling practice material scattered around.

"Welcome to my hearth," Hestia said, entering into a portrait above the fire with open arms. "Now that you know where this is, it is yours to use for as long as you are at Hogwarts. Practice your spells, study – even sleep or eat if you should need it. This space is for the two of you."

Harry and Ginny stared at her in amazement. "Really?"

"Really."

The duo took one look at each other, then made a dash for the couches. Exploring the rest of the castle could wait. For now, there was an epic pillow fight that needed to happen.

Satisfied, Hestia settled back into her frame and started tending to her hearth again, only this time with a broad smile on her face. Nothing warmed up a room like over-enthusiastic children, and she was looking forwards to an interesting seven years.

The pebble game had evolved from trying to knock each other's pebble out of the air. Now, Ginny and Harry furiously chased after a used snitch Fred and George had given them to practice. The golden ball fluttered around their heads tauntingly, and Ginny and Harry were jostling each other for the best view as their stones zoomed after it.

"Can't we play another game?" Cleo asked, pulling her robes tighter around her to keep out the late fall chill. "It's so cold!"

Harry looked at her for a moment, and Ginny took the opportunity to knock his stone out of the air with a well-placed Incendio. "Ginny!" he protested as she tagged the confused Snitch grabbed it with her spare hand. "That's no fair!"

Ginny just stuck her tongue out at him and waggled the snitch. "Better luck next time!"

Clapping came from behind them. Harry turned to see Professor Flitwick walking towards them, a broad smile across his face. "Bravo, you two!" he called, making his way towards them. "Miss Weasley, your control has remarkably improved. Clearly you both have been practicing."

Harry ducked his head bashfully, and Ginny held hers high. "Thank you, Professor Flitwick."

Flitwick nodded happily. "In fact, I've been meaning to discuss something with the two of you, and I suppose you could join as well, Miss Moorshade. Do you know what dueling is?"

Ginny and Harry looked at each other – it was Cleo who answered the question. "Of course! Are you going to teach us, professor, because I'm sure they'll be great at it."

"That would be wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Um… I don't actually know what dueling is?" said Harry, uncomfortable fumbling with his wand.

"Wizard fight, Harry," Ginny said, bouncing on her heels. "You did it whe- ah, I mean, you've probably done it before?"

She and Harry looked at each other guiltily at her slip. Neither of them missed the narrow glance Cleo gave them.

If Flitwick caught onto the slip, he didn't show it. "Well, I mean to ask because in December I'll be starting a dueling club-" Ginny's eyes lit up. "-for the first time in years, and you two have shown more enthusiasm for my class than any teacher could reasonably expect." Filius seemed overjoyed by that fact, proudly looking from Ginny to Harry. "The club will be limited to second years and above, but if you two are interested, I'd be more than happy to make accommodations."

Ginny was practically overflowing with excitement. "Interested? Of course we're interested! Right, Harry?"

"Yeah, sounds fun," Harry agreed.

Cleo rolled her eyes at the duo, shaking her head. "I suppose if my fine Gryffindor friends will be there, I should go as well."

Flitwick winked at them. "Well, then, I'll let you know when our first date will be. I suggest you three learn the stinging jinx, the knockback jinx, and the full-body bind curse before then; I'm sure you'll find it useful. Now, back to your game! Don't let me drag you back inside on such a marvelous day!" Waving a hand, Flitwick started the long walk back to the castle.

Harry grinned at Ginny and Cleo. "Dueling club?"

Ginny gave him an even bigger grin back. "We're going to win, right Harry?

He nodded, his thoughts drifting to Ginny's unconscious form in dark tunnel under the school. "Absolutely." And then I'll be able to take down anyone who tries to hurt my friends!

Cleo just shook her head. "Gryffindors..."

"Race to Hagrid's house!" Ginny yelled, pointing triumphantly at the hut across the grounds.

With thoughts of spells and duels racing through their minds, the trio dashed across the grounds, reveling in the late fall sun.

[A/N] And now, back to your regularly scheduled fluff~ Harry and Ginny find Cozy Room (tm) and Flitwick's always looking for great ways to challenge his best students! Next time – Duels!

Thank you to swanglade37, TheWateringWizard, scrappy8, triggbc, GinnyPotter6891, JD4320, smallwjl, and Gin110881 for reviewing! Leave me some cozy reviews please :)

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