Harry looked moodily across the grounds, his eyes occasionally following a flake of snow as it drifted aimlessly towards the ground. After seeing that conversation with Snape at Slughorn's party, he was more certain than ever that Malfoy was up to something, but he had no idea what to do about it. How could he keep track of Malfoy if Ron and Hermione still refused to listen to him? Without their help, he felt stuck and alone.
"Do you want help me prank Ron?" Harry jumped, jarred out of his thoughts. Somehow, Ginny had successfully snuck right up behind him without him noticing. Ginny's eyes were sparkling; she was clearly very excited at the idea.
Harry repressed a smile. "I can't do that! He's my best mate! Why do you want to prank him, anyway?"
"Oh, you know… Those comments about Dean are beginning to annoy me."
Ginny must have misinterpreted a momentary flash of jealousy as some form of agreement with Ron, given the way she seemed to frown at him, and Harry felt irrationally compelled to help after all, to make up for it. He forced himself to smile at her. "Go on then. What do you want me to do?"
Ginny handed him a note, still appearing slightly anxious. He reached out and took it. "What do you think?"
Harry examined it, then raised his eyebrows. "Is this meant to be Lavender's writing?"
She smirked in response. "Fred and George's Quick Forge quills. They aren't perfect, but they'll do for this. Just make Ron think Lavender has slipped it to him, and I'll set something up to drop a bucket of water with him."
Harry laughed. "That'll make him think twice about his public snogging." He paused, brow furrowed. "Or make him double down on them."
"Yes. It'll be fun though," Ginny replied airily. "So… are you taking it or not?" Noting a pinch of impatience, Harry took the note and left.
He paused at the door. "When?"
"The prank is set up for tonight."
Harry rushed down the stairs quickly. He had no time to lose.