Title: Year of Discovery

Chapter: (21) Love Is In The Air

Author: Laen

Editor: Fallohe Leng

Summary: When given a chance to leave the Wizarding world once and for all, Harry takes it. But what happens when he ends up bumping into one of his closest friends from Hogwarts at his new school? Will he ever escape magic? Or Voldemort?

Disclaimer: Not mine; I'm merely a fifteen year old kid who loves to write crazy fanfics like this one. Don't sue, since I'm not a brilliant genius like J.K. Rowling.

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When the letters came swooping in during breakfast at the Great Hall, Ginny wasn't expecting a letter from anyone. But when Hedwig came flying down and dropping a letter in her pile of pancakes, she was more then delighted to see her.

"Ah... there's syrup all over it!" Ginny groaned as she waved her wand and removed the sticky liquid from the envelope.

"Is it from Hermione?" Ron asked curiously as Ginny opened the letter and skimmed through it.

At first, there was a worried expression on her face, but then, the worried expression turned grim, and at last, a smirk appeared onto Ginny's face.

"What? What did she write? Come on Ginny! Tell me!" Ron said as he tried to grab the letter out of Ginny's hands.

"Uhuh! No way! Hermione said I couldn't tell you!" Ginny said as Ron glared at her.

"Accio letter!" Ron yelled as the letter Hermione had sent to Ginny flew into his hands.

"Ron!" Ginny groaned as she tried to get the letter back.

"Attack at Scotland High... blablabla... guy who saved her from drowning... war with Voldemort?" Ron exploded in shock.

Silence fell upon the Great Hall as every head turned towards Ron, who continued to read, and Ginny, who tried to get the letter back.

"Ron! Give it back!"

"Nick and Harry related? Tri-Wizard Cup? What the bloody hell? Don't mention it to me? What did she mean by that?" Ron asked as Ginny grabbed the letter back.

"You stupid prat!" Ginny hissed as she smacked him across the head.

"Mr Weasley, Miss Weasley, do you two care to explain to us what's so important in that letter?" Snape asked as the two Weasley kids turned towards their Potions master.

"No." Ginny said immediately.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your racket, Mr and Miss Weasley, and I suggest getting back to your breakfast—"

"Not so fast Minerva. I think everyone here deserves to know what's in that letter." Snape spoke up.

"Now Severus, I think that's a bit private—" Professor McGonagall tried to state, but it was too late, Snape had already summoned the letter from Ginny, and was reading it out loud.

"Ginny, sorry I didn't write to you earlier, but there was an attack at Scotland High on Halloween night, and I've gotten a lot more homework then usual so I've been really busy. Has Dumbledore mentioned anything about Harry yet?" Snape looked over at Dumbledore for a mere second before continuing.

"Speaking of Harry, remember Nick? The guy who saved me from drowning? He knows Harry apparently. He says they spent the summer training. I think Harry's getting ready for the war with... You-Know-Who." Snape paused for a moment and looked up at Ginny, who was glaring at him.

"Severus, I think that is enough." Albus spoke up, but Snape wouldn't hear of it.

"I haven't seen Harry since my birthday, but I swear, Nick and Harry must be related or something! Think you can search the library and check if there were any students that attended with the last names Cliffmore?" A look of shock appeared onto Snape's face.

"Cliffmore?" he repeated as he turned to Albus Dumbledore, who looked rather angry now.

"Severus, I suggest that you return that letter to Miss Weasley before—"

"Dissovio!" Ginny yelled as the letter in Professor Snape's hands caught on fire.

Snape dropped the letter immediately, and everyone in the hall watched as it turned into ashes.

"Damn you Snape." Ginny hissed as she got up from her seat, and turned to leave.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor and a week's worth of detention Weasley." Snape said as Ginny ignored him.

"Twenty points to Gryffindor for keeping the rest of Miss Granger's letter private and unknown to the rest of the school Miss Weasley, and you can spend the week's worth of detention with me." Professor McGonagall said as she turned to glare at Snape, who could only look back in shock.

It seemed as though the rest of the school was in shock too, for Professor McGonagall never favoured her own house. There was a moment of silence before whispering and muttering began, and everyone returned to their breakfast asking questions and more.

Neville Longbottom got up from his seat at the table, and left the Great Hall in search of Ginny. Ron was about to leave his seat too, when Luna stopped him.

"Let them be." Luna said as a look of confusion appeared onto his face, then realization sank in.

"If he hurts her, he'll have to deal with me." Ron muttered as Luna smiled at his reactions.

Meanwhile, Neville had found Ginny out in the Quidditch field, crying her head off.

"Ginny? You alright?" Neville asked as he approached her slowly.

"Hermione's going to kill me!" Ginny whispered as more tears slid down her face.

"I should've destroyed that letter the moment I was finished reading it, instead of letting Snape and Ron read it!"

More tears formed in her eyes, and more streamed down her face as Neville sat down beside her in the benches.

"It's alright... I'm sure she'd understand." Neville stated as Ginny shook her head.

"She probably hates me."

"Come on Ginny, she doesn't even know that Snape read the letter out loud. You can write her back, and explain the situation, I'm sure she'd understand." Neville said as he placed his hand onto Ginny's shoulder in hopes of comforting her.

"Look, there's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up this week, how about you and I go there together? You look like you could have some fun. The O.W.L.'s are one of the worst years. Especially Potions..." Neville muttered as a grim expression came onto his face.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Ginny asked as she wiped the tears out of her eyes.

Neville's face turned red as he began to mumbled.

"Well... um... if you don't want to, I'd understand why, I mean... I..."

"Neville, I'd love to." Ginny cut in as Neville sighed in relief.

"Really?" Neville looked like Christmas had come early.

Ginny nodded.

"Maybe we can buy some new robes while we're there too... Dumbledore said there was going to be a Christmas ball..." Ginny muttered as a smile appeared onto Neville's face.

"That'd be great!"

There was a moment of silence while the two Gryffindors just sat there smiling.

"Thanks for cheering me up Neville. We should probably go in and finish eating breakfast before Ron eats it all. Thanks." Ginny said as she gave him a peck on his cheek, causing his face to turn red.

"See ya inside." Ginny smiled as she got up, and walked away, leaving a blushing Neville Longbottom behind sitting there as if he was petrified.

A/N: I just love matchmaking.... lol!