Chapter VI: Sweeping the Quidditch Field
Harry Potter didn't eat breakfast the morning of the year's first Quidditch match. He claimed that he wasn't hungry, but Ginny found that hard to believe. He looked just nervous to her. The Thunder Hawk hadn't calmed down, but Harry had no other broom. Ginny was worried. If that broom threw Harry from the height he usually flies at during a Quidditch match, he could really get hurt. It reminded Ginny of the time Harry broke his arm his second year because the bludger had been hexed. Then there was his first year when someone was jinxing his broom.
"Harry, good luck in the game," Cho said as Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry passed her while walking through the corridor.
"Thanks," Harry said, stopping in his tracks and smiling at her.
"Oh, no," Ginny grumbled.
"Hey, Cho," Hermione greeted.
"I doubt you really need luck, though," Cho said. "You're such a brilliant Seeker."
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely," Cho assured.
Hermione set her arm on Ron's shoulder and leaned on him. Ginny felt like nobody knew she was there. She was just an observer. Even though the Cho and Harry situation wanted to take her full attention, she found herself looking at Hermione and Ron. Hermione whispered something in Ron's ear and he laughed silently. Ginny started to wonder what the heck was going on there.
"I'd better get down to the field," Harry told Cho regretfully. "Alicia in going to show us a new game plan."
"I'll be watching you out there," Cho promised.
Harry smiled.
Hermione and Ron shoved him to he'd move on.
The crowds gathered around the Quidditch field was bustling. Ginny and Amilia sat amongst the crowd, wearing red rosettes. Ginny stared down at the field, hoping to see Harry emerge an moment.
"They seem cozy," Amilia said to Ginny over the noise of the crowd.
Ginny looked where Amilia was looking. Hermione and Ron were sitting together. They seemed awfully close.
"What's up with that?" Amilia asked.
Ginny shrugged, "I saw something about a half hour ago. Hermione was leaning on Ron."
"Are they going out?" Amilia queried.
"I haven't the foggiest," Ginny admitted. "Sure seems like it, doesn't it?"
The Slytherin team walked out onto the field. Ginny noted that Malfoy looked quite smug, not that he normally didn't. Lee Jordan announced them one at a time. When Malfoy's name came up, he smirked most repulsively.
"The Gryffindor team," Lee Jordan presented over the microphone. "Alicia Spinnet, Dean Thomas, Susan Bones, Natalie McDonald, Dennis Creevey, Josh Rienhardt, and Harry Potter."
The Gryffindors came out to a much louder applause then met the Slytherin team. Ginny stood up when she clapped.
The commotion of the spectators made it difficult to hear the whistle that sent the players into the air. Harry flew high and looked down over the field, as he did during most of his games. Ginny kept her eyes on him. The broom didn't seem to be stirring away from Harry's control at all. Ginny wondered if the broom always started out obedient or if this was out of the ordinary and the broom was behaving itself.
"Josh Rienhardt has the Quaffle," Lee Jordan informed. "He's going and going. Just dodged a Bludger sent by Vincent Crabbe. Atta-boy, Josh! Just get that ball passed that stupid git..I mean, uh, Rienhardt is heading toward the goal posts. Graham Bletchley will have to move fast to stop that Quaffle. And it's in. Gryffindor scores!"
Harry hovered above the field for the longest time, just scanning around for the Snitch. Apparently seeing something, Harry dove down, barely missing a Slytherin Chaser. Harry clutched on to his broom tightly, holding himself close to it. Suddenly, the broom turned. It was now heading for the stands. Ginny had seen erratic behavior in a snitch, but she had a feeling that the broom had taken control. Malfoy was trying to keep up with him. Then Malfoy broke off. Ginny guessed that he saw the snitch and realized that Harry was not on it.
"Dean Thomas sends a bludger at Adrian Pucey. Ohh! That's going to have a wicked sting tomorrow. Nice aim, Dean!"
Harry's broom shot up again.
"They're going to loose," Ginny whispered.
"What makes you say that?" Amilia asked.
"Harry can't control his broom," Ginny said, a saddened expression on her face.
Amilia gazed at Harry's chaotic movements. He was now circling a goal post. Natalie McDonald, the Gryffindor Keeper, was beside herself with confusion. With all her stupefaction, she didn't even attempt to stop a Slytherin Chaser from getting the Quaffle through one of the goal posts.
"Rotten luck, Natalie," Lee Jordan commented. "Ten points for Slyth-Blimey! What does Harry think he's doing?"
Harry's broom was now sweeping the field, literally. Ginny put her hands in front of her face. She couldn't watch anyone. It was far too embarrassing. She couldn't even imagine what Harry was feeling at this moment.
"Professor, wha-" Lee Jordan began to Professor McGonagal.
Harry ascended high above the field. He sat for a moment and then plummeted. On his way down, Harry hit right into Jamie Montague, a Slytherin Chaser. Both fell to the ground in a tangle. Alicia immediately called for a time out. Madam Hooch blew a whistle and all the brooms landed. Montague was so upset he started throwing punches. Dean Thomas pulled Montague off Harry. Harry kept swearing it wasn't his fault.
Lee Jordan, along with all the spectators, was silently gawking down at Harry, who had just kicked his broomstick. Gryffindor didn't have another Seeker so Harry had to go back out. He asked Madam Hooch for another broom. Unfortunately, they were all old shooting stars. He took one anyway.
The two teams mounted their brooms and, with Madam Hooch's whistle, kicked off. Harry flew above the field. Ginny felt much more relaxed now that he wasn't on that death trap.
"Now they might have a chance," Amilia voiced
"Alright," Lee Jordan began, "we're up from our time out. Jeremy Higgs has the Quaffle. Susan Bones shot a bludger at him and it misses."
Malfoy seemed to have lost the snitch during the time out because he was just floating a couple meters above the field. Harry suddenly sprinted off toward the Slytherin gaol posts. Malfoy, either seeing Harry or the snitch, did the same. Unfortunately, since Harry was on a shooting star, Malfoy's Firebolt Mark Two flashed passed him. Within seconds Malfoy was a least three meters in front of Harry.
"Gryffindor is ahead, fifty to thirty," Lee Jordan said. "Dennis Creevey has the Quaffle. He's on his way. Trouble. Adrian Pucey is trying to steal the Quaffle from Creevey. Fly Dennis, fly! Ohh! Pucey is put out of commission by Beater Susan Bones. And Dennis makes the shot. I can't believe it! Graham Bletchley blocks it."
The race between Malfoy and Harry was a futile one. Harry couldn't maneuver well enough to get the snitch and Malfoy was apparently unsure where the snitch was. Everytime Harry moved after the snitch, Malfoy turned to remain in front of Harry at all times.
Ginny saw Harry speed up and reach out to Malfoy's right shoulder. What on Earth was he doing? Ginny wondered if Harry intended to pull Malfoy off his broom. Harry grabbed something just beside Malfoy's shoulder and stopped in mid air. He had it. The snitch was beating it's wings in his hand. Madam Hooch blew the whistle.
"Gryffindor wins!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Two-hundred and sixty to seventy!"
The brooms landed. The crowd cheered. Ginny let out a long-held breath.
*****************
Ginny left Advanced Divination and began to walk down the corridor. She felt refreshed. Harry had won the Quidditch match. He started on a demented broom and then moved to an ancient one, but he still rose triumphant. Ginny was proud of him.
"I always thought you were handsome," Ginny heard a familiar voice say.
She turned down a hall to see Amilia flirting with Justin Finch-Fletchy. Gaping is shock, Ginny just stood there. Justin looked her way.
"I'd better be off," He told Amilia.
Nervously, he walked passed Ginny.
"Now look what you did," Amilia snapped. "You went and frightened him off. I bet he was about to ask me to that dance, too."
"He's not too bad, alright?" Amilia told her. "Besides, I'll just die if no one asks me to that dance. I have to go."
Ginny chuckled.
"I suppose you already have a date," Amilia assumed.
"No," Ginny began, "but I don't want one."
"You must be mad," Amilia exclaimed. "You don't want to go."
"No, I don't," Ginny said confidently.
"I bet you would," Amilia teased as Ginny walked off down the corridor. "I bet you would if Harry Potter asked you to go."
Ginny blushed, "I would not."
"You would, you would!" Amilia chanted. "If Harry Potter came up to you right now and-"
"Did someone say my name?"
Amilia and Ginny spun around and looked at Harry. He brushed his black hair out of his face, revealing his shinny scar. Amilia grabbed tightly onto Ginny's arm.
"Hey, Harry," Ginny greeted.
"H-hi," Amilia sputtered.
"Amilia Reinhardt, isn't it?" Harry asked.
"Yup, that's me," Amilia giggled.
"Your brother is a Chaser on our team, right?"
"Yes," Amilia confirmed.
"He's pretty good," Harry complimented.
Amilia nodded.
"Enjoy the match, you two?"
"Definitely!" Amilia shouted.
"You were brilliant," Ginny blurted.
"Thank you," Harry said, blushing slightly. "I wouldn't exactly say I was brilliant. I was a git during the whole first half."
"That was the broom," Ginny voiced.
"Uh-huh," Amilia sighed.
Harry gazed over the girls' heads.
"Oh, I've got to go," Harry told them. "I'll see you."
Amilia flattened against the wall to let Harry through the corridor. Ginny and Amilia watched him walk up to Cho Chang. Ginny immediately turned to Amilia.
"What was with you?" Ginny asked.
"Why, I don't know what you mean," Amilia assured her.
"You acted like that was the first time you talked to Harry Potter," Ginny accused.
"It was," Amilia admitted.
"How could you have never talked to him before?" Ginny queried. "You have been going to school with him for four years. It's not just that. You're in the same house."
"Well, first year," Amilia began, "I was kinda scared about that whole Chamber of Secrets thing."
Ginny cringed.
"I mean, people kept saying he was the heir of Slytherin," Amilia explained. "Second year Sirius Black had me freaked all out. I didn't want to get to close to Harry with all that danger around him. Third year the Tri-Wizard Tournament took up all his time. And last year, that whole Order of Phoenix thing was all he could do. I really haven't had the opportunity to talk to him. He's always busy."
"I never realized how strange Hogwarts has been since Harry started school here," Ginny said.
"You-Know-Who has it in for him," Amilia told her. "I wonder why he wants Harry so badly. I mean, why did You-Know-Who kill his parents anyway?"
All Ginny could do was shrug.
*****************
The green-grey slush in Ginny's pot began to boil over as she added the root of asphodel. It dripped to the floor overwhelmingly. Ginny looked through Magical Drafts and Potions to see what she did wrong. No one else's potions were overflowing. It seemed that she might have added too much fluxweed.
"Miss Weasley," Professor Snape sneered, "what on Earth is wrong with your potion?"
"I'm not quite sure," Ginny whispered, not wanting to look at Snapes delighted expression. "This does not look like a shrinking potion," Professor Snape informed. "Besides that, it's all over the floor."
Ginny looked down at the sluge under her feet.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Ginny said, trembling.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Professor Snape snarled.
"No!" Ginny shouted. "Please, I'll clean it up. I'll-"
"Five more for arguing with me," Snape shot at her.
Ginny shut her mouth. She wasn't arguing. She was pleading. There was quite a difference. She couldn't say anyhting, though. That would just give him reason to take more points from Gryffindor.
Ginny left that class frustrated.
"Diffindo," She heard someone behind her mutter.
Suddenly, Ginny's books, quills, and partchment spread across the corridor. She threw her torn back on the floor, glaring back at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were busting out laughing. Ginny got down on all fours and tried to gather her books.
"What a mess."
Ginny glanced up at Harry. He crouched down and helped her gather her things. Once evrything of Ginny's was piled in her arms, Harry picked up her bookbag and pointed his wand at it.
"Satchelius Reparo," Harry casted.
The rip in the bag magically mended itself. Ginny packed her things into it.
"Thanks, harry," She said.
"No, problem," Harry told her, smiling.
They began to walk down the hall toward Gryffindor tower.
"Guess what," Harry challenged.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Ron asked Hermione to the dance," Harry explained.
"No way!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yes, he did," Harry laughed.
"Who would have thought it?" Ginny voiced.
Harry shrugged.
"Have you asked Cho to the Halloween dance yet?" Ginny asked.
"I haven't exactly gotten around to it," Harry muttered.
Ginny glanced at Harry. His smile had faded. He had the same look on his face that he did at Flourish and Blotts. He was full of remorse and discomfort.
"Ginny, can I talk to you a moment?" Harry requested.
"I thought we were talking," Ginny voiced.
Harry smiled, amused, and then turned somber again.
"You know that dance?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded. Harry scanned the corridor.
"Well," Harry said, taking a deep breath, "I was wondering something."
Ginny had a wierd suspicion. It seemed to her that Harry was about to ask her to the dance. Looking at Harry intently, Ginny felt this shiver go through her.
"Do you think you would-" Harry began.
"Harry!" crooned Cho from down the hall alittle.
Harry gazed over at her.
"What are you doing?" Cho asked sweetly.
"I was just.." Harry glanced at Ginny and then back at Cho, "nothing."
"Nothing, am I?" Ginny grumbled.
"Well, I-" Harry began.
"C'mon Harry, I want to show you something," Cho told him, taking his hand.
Cho shoved Ginny's shoulder as she passed her, dragging Harry. In the second that Ginny was turned toward Cho from that shove and Cho was looking back maliciously, Ginny saw something. Cho was wearing the most unusual necklace. It was a smoothed, rounded piece of wood with an "X" carved into it. Ginny furled her brow in puzzlement.
Ginny watched Cho and Harry walk down the corridor. Suddenly Cho turned to Harry, and screamed excitedly, "Of course I'll go to the dance with you!"
Cho therw her arms around Harry, giving Ginny a flaunting look. Ginny clenched her teeth. Cho and Harry went into History of Magic. Suddenly, Ginny realized something. Quickly, she pulled her rune dictionary out of her bookbag. She flipped through it until she saw the "X" symbol. Under that sign, it said:
"GEBO- The Gift of Harmonic Relationships
When we acknowledge our destiny, then we have harmony. Any relationship can work out as long as we know how to maneuver through contentious situations. This is a powerful rune for the rune spell caster, for the one who understands this force can have great power of influence. We need to meditate on the magic of working with knowing our destiny and surrendering to it to allow us to set us up for good things to come."
This reminded her of something. She couldn't think of what it was until she reached Gryffindor tower. She glanced around the room. When she saw Amilia going up the stairs to the girls' dormitories, it hit her. Immediately, she ran up after Amilia.
"Amilia!" Ginny breathed, catching up to her in thier room. "Cho is wearing the symbol of Gebo."
"What?"
"She's wearing Gebo," Ginny explained. "It's the symbol of harmonious relationships."
"So?" Amilia asked. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I think it has some connection to that man that put that spell on your mum," Ginny told her.
"Why are you so obsessed with this?" Amilia asked. "Does this have anything to do with Harry Potter?"
"Harry Potter?" Ginny repeated. "Well, yes."
"I knew it," Amilia exclaimed.
"Who was that man?" Ginny asked with urgency.
"Who? Harry Potter?"
"The man with your mum!" Ginny yelled.
"You seem crazed, Ginny," Amilia commented, looking concerned. "Maybe you should get some sleep. You're getting way too obsessed about some guy."
Ginny took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. This is just really important to me. Will you please find out the name of that man?"
"Sure, Gin," She whispered. "I will if you get some sleep. You look exhausted. Have you even had sleep since school began."
"Not much," Ginny admitted.
"I'll send an owl to mum and when I get back, you better be in bed," Amilia insisted.
"Alright," Ginny gave in.
Amilia smiled and left the room. Ginny changed into her nightgown and lay down in her bed. She closed her eyes. It was no use. She kept thinking about that necklace.
Harry Potter didn't eat breakfast the morning of the year's first Quidditch match. He claimed that he wasn't hungry, but Ginny found that hard to believe. He looked just nervous to her. The Thunder Hawk hadn't calmed down, but Harry had no other broom. Ginny was worried. If that broom threw Harry from the height he usually flies at during a Quidditch match, he could really get hurt. It reminded Ginny of the time Harry broke his arm his second year because the bludger had been hexed. Then there was his first year when someone was jinxing his broom.
"Harry, good luck in the game," Cho said as Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry passed her while walking through the corridor.
"Thanks," Harry said, stopping in his tracks and smiling at her.
"Oh, no," Ginny grumbled.
"Hey, Cho," Hermione greeted.
"I doubt you really need luck, though," Cho said. "You're such a brilliant Seeker."
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely," Cho assured.
Hermione set her arm on Ron's shoulder and leaned on him. Ginny felt like nobody knew she was there. She was just an observer. Even though the Cho and Harry situation wanted to take her full attention, she found herself looking at Hermione and Ron. Hermione whispered something in Ron's ear and he laughed silently. Ginny started to wonder what the heck was going on there.
"I'd better get down to the field," Harry told Cho regretfully. "Alicia in going to show us a new game plan."
"I'll be watching you out there," Cho promised.
Harry smiled.
Hermione and Ron shoved him to he'd move on.
The crowds gathered around the Quidditch field was bustling. Ginny and Amilia sat amongst the crowd, wearing red rosettes. Ginny stared down at the field, hoping to see Harry emerge an moment.
"They seem cozy," Amilia said to Ginny over the noise of the crowd.
Ginny looked where Amilia was looking. Hermione and Ron were sitting together. They seemed awfully close.
"What's up with that?" Amilia asked.
Ginny shrugged, "I saw something about a half hour ago. Hermione was leaning on Ron."
"Are they going out?" Amilia queried.
"I haven't the foggiest," Ginny admitted. "Sure seems like it, doesn't it?"
The Slytherin team walked out onto the field. Ginny noted that Malfoy looked quite smug, not that he normally didn't. Lee Jordan announced them one at a time. When Malfoy's name came up, he smirked most repulsively.
"The Gryffindor team," Lee Jordan presented over the microphone. "Alicia Spinnet, Dean Thomas, Susan Bones, Natalie McDonald, Dennis Creevey, Josh Rienhardt, and Harry Potter."
The Gryffindors came out to a much louder applause then met the Slytherin team. Ginny stood up when she clapped.
The commotion of the spectators made it difficult to hear the whistle that sent the players into the air. Harry flew high and looked down over the field, as he did during most of his games. Ginny kept her eyes on him. The broom didn't seem to be stirring away from Harry's control at all. Ginny wondered if the broom always started out obedient or if this was out of the ordinary and the broom was behaving itself.
"Josh Rienhardt has the Quaffle," Lee Jordan informed. "He's going and going. Just dodged a Bludger sent by Vincent Crabbe. Atta-boy, Josh! Just get that ball passed that stupid git..I mean, uh, Rienhardt is heading toward the goal posts. Graham Bletchley will have to move fast to stop that Quaffle. And it's in. Gryffindor scores!"
Harry hovered above the field for the longest time, just scanning around for the Snitch. Apparently seeing something, Harry dove down, barely missing a Slytherin Chaser. Harry clutched on to his broom tightly, holding himself close to it. Suddenly, the broom turned. It was now heading for the stands. Ginny had seen erratic behavior in a snitch, but she had a feeling that the broom had taken control. Malfoy was trying to keep up with him. Then Malfoy broke off. Ginny guessed that he saw the snitch and realized that Harry was not on it.
"Dean Thomas sends a bludger at Adrian Pucey. Ohh! That's going to have a wicked sting tomorrow. Nice aim, Dean!"
Harry's broom shot up again.
"They're going to loose," Ginny whispered.
"What makes you say that?" Amilia asked.
"Harry can't control his broom," Ginny said, a saddened expression on her face.
Amilia gazed at Harry's chaotic movements. He was now circling a goal post. Natalie McDonald, the Gryffindor Keeper, was beside herself with confusion. With all her stupefaction, she didn't even attempt to stop a Slytherin Chaser from getting the Quaffle through one of the goal posts.
"Rotten luck, Natalie," Lee Jordan commented. "Ten points for Slyth-Blimey! What does Harry think he's doing?"
Harry's broom was now sweeping the field, literally. Ginny put her hands in front of her face. She couldn't watch anyone. It was far too embarrassing. She couldn't even imagine what Harry was feeling at this moment.
"Professor, wha-" Lee Jordan began to Professor McGonagal.
Harry ascended high above the field. He sat for a moment and then plummeted. On his way down, Harry hit right into Jamie Montague, a Slytherin Chaser. Both fell to the ground in a tangle. Alicia immediately called for a time out. Madam Hooch blew a whistle and all the brooms landed. Montague was so upset he started throwing punches. Dean Thomas pulled Montague off Harry. Harry kept swearing it wasn't his fault.
Lee Jordan, along with all the spectators, was silently gawking down at Harry, who had just kicked his broomstick. Gryffindor didn't have another Seeker so Harry had to go back out. He asked Madam Hooch for another broom. Unfortunately, they were all old shooting stars. He took one anyway.
The two teams mounted their brooms and, with Madam Hooch's whistle, kicked off. Harry flew above the field. Ginny felt much more relaxed now that he wasn't on that death trap.
"Now they might have a chance," Amilia voiced
"Alright," Lee Jordan began, "we're up from our time out. Jeremy Higgs has the Quaffle. Susan Bones shot a bludger at him and it misses."
Malfoy seemed to have lost the snitch during the time out because he was just floating a couple meters above the field. Harry suddenly sprinted off toward the Slytherin gaol posts. Malfoy, either seeing Harry or the snitch, did the same. Unfortunately, since Harry was on a shooting star, Malfoy's Firebolt Mark Two flashed passed him. Within seconds Malfoy was a least three meters in front of Harry.
"Gryffindor is ahead, fifty to thirty," Lee Jordan said. "Dennis Creevey has the Quaffle. He's on his way. Trouble. Adrian Pucey is trying to steal the Quaffle from Creevey. Fly Dennis, fly! Ohh! Pucey is put out of commission by Beater Susan Bones. And Dennis makes the shot. I can't believe it! Graham Bletchley blocks it."
The race between Malfoy and Harry was a futile one. Harry couldn't maneuver well enough to get the snitch and Malfoy was apparently unsure where the snitch was. Everytime Harry moved after the snitch, Malfoy turned to remain in front of Harry at all times.
Ginny saw Harry speed up and reach out to Malfoy's right shoulder. What on Earth was he doing? Ginny wondered if Harry intended to pull Malfoy off his broom. Harry grabbed something just beside Malfoy's shoulder and stopped in mid air. He had it. The snitch was beating it's wings in his hand. Madam Hooch blew the whistle.
"Gryffindor wins!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Two-hundred and sixty to seventy!"
The brooms landed. The crowd cheered. Ginny let out a long-held breath.
*****************
Ginny left Advanced Divination and began to walk down the corridor. She felt refreshed. Harry had won the Quidditch match. He started on a demented broom and then moved to an ancient one, but he still rose triumphant. Ginny was proud of him.
"I always thought you were handsome," Ginny heard a familiar voice say.
She turned down a hall to see Amilia flirting with Justin Finch-Fletchy. Gaping is shock, Ginny just stood there. Justin looked her way.
"I'd better be off," He told Amilia.
Nervously, he walked passed Ginny.
"Now look what you did," Amilia snapped. "You went and frightened him off. I bet he was about to ask me to that dance, too."
"He's not too bad, alright?" Amilia told her. "Besides, I'll just die if no one asks me to that dance. I have to go."
Ginny chuckled.
"I suppose you already have a date," Amilia assumed.
"No," Ginny began, "but I don't want one."
"You must be mad," Amilia exclaimed. "You don't want to go."
"No, I don't," Ginny said confidently.
"I bet you would," Amilia teased as Ginny walked off down the corridor. "I bet you would if Harry Potter asked you to go."
Ginny blushed, "I would not."
"You would, you would!" Amilia chanted. "If Harry Potter came up to you right now and-"
"Did someone say my name?"
Amilia and Ginny spun around and looked at Harry. He brushed his black hair out of his face, revealing his shinny scar. Amilia grabbed tightly onto Ginny's arm.
"Hey, Harry," Ginny greeted.
"H-hi," Amilia sputtered.
"Amilia Reinhardt, isn't it?" Harry asked.
"Yup, that's me," Amilia giggled.
"Your brother is a Chaser on our team, right?"
"Yes," Amilia confirmed.
"He's pretty good," Harry complimented.
Amilia nodded.
"Enjoy the match, you two?"
"Definitely!" Amilia shouted.
"You were brilliant," Ginny blurted.
"Thank you," Harry said, blushing slightly. "I wouldn't exactly say I was brilliant. I was a git during the whole first half."
"That was the broom," Ginny voiced.
"Uh-huh," Amilia sighed.
Harry gazed over the girls' heads.
"Oh, I've got to go," Harry told them. "I'll see you."
Amilia flattened against the wall to let Harry through the corridor. Ginny and Amilia watched him walk up to Cho Chang. Ginny immediately turned to Amilia.
"What was with you?" Ginny asked.
"Why, I don't know what you mean," Amilia assured her.
"You acted like that was the first time you talked to Harry Potter," Ginny accused.
"It was," Amilia admitted.
"How could you have never talked to him before?" Ginny queried. "You have been going to school with him for four years. It's not just that. You're in the same house."
"Well, first year," Amilia began, "I was kinda scared about that whole Chamber of Secrets thing."
Ginny cringed.
"I mean, people kept saying he was the heir of Slytherin," Amilia explained. "Second year Sirius Black had me freaked all out. I didn't want to get to close to Harry with all that danger around him. Third year the Tri-Wizard Tournament took up all his time. And last year, that whole Order of Phoenix thing was all he could do. I really haven't had the opportunity to talk to him. He's always busy."
"I never realized how strange Hogwarts has been since Harry started school here," Ginny said.
"You-Know-Who has it in for him," Amilia told her. "I wonder why he wants Harry so badly. I mean, why did You-Know-Who kill his parents anyway?"
All Ginny could do was shrug.
*****************
The green-grey slush in Ginny's pot began to boil over as she added the root of asphodel. It dripped to the floor overwhelmingly. Ginny looked through Magical Drafts and Potions to see what she did wrong. No one else's potions were overflowing. It seemed that she might have added too much fluxweed.
"Miss Weasley," Professor Snape sneered, "what on Earth is wrong with your potion?"
"I'm not quite sure," Ginny whispered, not wanting to look at Snapes delighted expression. "This does not look like a shrinking potion," Professor Snape informed. "Besides that, it's all over the floor."
Ginny looked down at the sluge under her feet.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Ginny said, trembling.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Professor Snape snarled.
"No!" Ginny shouted. "Please, I'll clean it up. I'll-"
"Five more for arguing with me," Snape shot at her.
Ginny shut her mouth. She wasn't arguing. She was pleading. There was quite a difference. She couldn't say anyhting, though. That would just give him reason to take more points from Gryffindor.
Ginny left that class frustrated.
"Diffindo," She heard someone behind her mutter.
Suddenly, Ginny's books, quills, and partchment spread across the corridor. She threw her torn back on the floor, glaring back at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were busting out laughing. Ginny got down on all fours and tried to gather her books.
"What a mess."
Ginny glanced up at Harry. He crouched down and helped her gather her things. Once evrything of Ginny's was piled in her arms, Harry picked up her bookbag and pointed his wand at it.
"Satchelius Reparo," Harry casted.
The rip in the bag magically mended itself. Ginny packed her things into it.
"Thanks, harry," She said.
"No, problem," Harry told her, smiling.
They began to walk down the hall toward Gryffindor tower.
"Guess what," Harry challenged.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Ron asked Hermione to the dance," Harry explained.
"No way!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yes, he did," Harry laughed.
"Who would have thought it?" Ginny voiced.
Harry shrugged.
"Have you asked Cho to the Halloween dance yet?" Ginny asked.
"I haven't exactly gotten around to it," Harry muttered.
Ginny glanced at Harry. His smile had faded. He had the same look on his face that he did at Flourish and Blotts. He was full of remorse and discomfort.
"Ginny, can I talk to you a moment?" Harry requested.
"I thought we were talking," Ginny voiced.
Harry smiled, amused, and then turned somber again.
"You know that dance?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded. Harry scanned the corridor.
"Well," Harry said, taking a deep breath, "I was wondering something."
Ginny had a wierd suspicion. It seemed to her that Harry was about to ask her to the dance. Looking at Harry intently, Ginny felt this shiver go through her.
"Do you think you would-" Harry began.
"Harry!" crooned Cho from down the hall alittle.
Harry gazed over at her.
"What are you doing?" Cho asked sweetly.
"I was just.." Harry glanced at Ginny and then back at Cho, "nothing."
"Nothing, am I?" Ginny grumbled.
"Well, I-" Harry began.
"C'mon Harry, I want to show you something," Cho told him, taking his hand.
Cho shoved Ginny's shoulder as she passed her, dragging Harry. In the second that Ginny was turned toward Cho from that shove and Cho was looking back maliciously, Ginny saw something. Cho was wearing the most unusual necklace. It was a smoothed, rounded piece of wood with an "X" carved into it. Ginny furled her brow in puzzlement.
Ginny watched Cho and Harry walk down the corridor. Suddenly Cho turned to Harry, and screamed excitedly, "Of course I'll go to the dance with you!"
Cho therw her arms around Harry, giving Ginny a flaunting look. Ginny clenched her teeth. Cho and Harry went into History of Magic. Suddenly, Ginny realized something. Quickly, she pulled her rune dictionary out of her bookbag. She flipped through it until she saw the "X" symbol. Under that sign, it said:
"GEBO- The Gift of Harmonic Relationships
When we acknowledge our destiny, then we have harmony. Any relationship can work out as long as we know how to maneuver through contentious situations. This is a powerful rune for the rune spell caster, for the one who understands this force can have great power of influence. We need to meditate on the magic of working with knowing our destiny and surrendering to it to allow us to set us up for good things to come."
This reminded her of something. She couldn't think of what it was until she reached Gryffindor tower. She glanced around the room. When she saw Amilia going up the stairs to the girls' dormitories, it hit her. Immediately, she ran up after Amilia.
"Amilia!" Ginny breathed, catching up to her in thier room. "Cho is wearing the symbol of Gebo."
"What?"
"She's wearing Gebo," Ginny explained. "It's the symbol of harmonious relationships."
"So?" Amilia asked. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I think it has some connection to that man that put that spell on your mum," Ginny told her.
"Why are you so obsessed with this?" Amilia asked. "Does this have anything to do with Harry Potter?"
"Harry Potter?" Ginny repeated. "Well, yes."
"I knew it," Amilia exclaimed.
"Who was that man?" Ginny asked with urgency.
"Who? Harry Potter?"
"The man with your mum!" Ginny yelled.
"You seem crazed, Ginny," Amilia commented, looking concerned. "Maybe you should get some sleep. You're getting way too obsessed about some guy."
Ginny took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. This is just really important to me. Will you please find out the name of that man?"
"Sure, Gin," She whispered. "I will if you get some sleep. You look exhausted. Have you even had sleep since school began."
"Not much," Ginny admitted.
"I'll send an owl to mum and when I get back, you better be in bed," Amilia insisted.
"Alright," Ginny gave in.
Amilia smiled and left the room. Ginny changed into her nightgown and lay down in her bed. She closed her eyes. It was no use. She kept thinking about that necklace.