A/N: I'm in a pretty foul mood at the moment. A bunch of my friends and I
were supposed to go see the HP movie tonight and, of course, everything got
screwed up and everyone ended up getting tickets except me and my sis. Ugh.
So my friends are all watching the movie right now while I sit here
brooding. Oh well. Anyway, enough of that garbage, on to the garbage at
hand! Here's chapter two, and thank you to the four (I'm hurt people)
readers that bothered to review. I appreciate the compliments and the
suggestions. I hope the paragraph break up is better this time around.
Anyhoo, I don't own diddly squat except my silly plot. I'd really
appreciate it if more people would review; I really want feedback on this.
The more reviews, the faster chapter three appears! I wouldn't recommend
leaving me flames (especially given the mood I'm in at the moment), but if
you choose to do so, you have been warned.
When Harry finally reached the Great Hall, deep in his own thoughts, the first thing he saw as he scanned the room for a pair of red and bushy brown heads was Ginny. She was sitting by herself, strumming her acoustic guitar while poring over her notebook (a Muggle object she'd kept from her job in the village), occasionally jotting something down. Memories of his summer stay flooded back to him as he watched her. She had the sweetest way of leaning her chin upon the guitar and closing her eyes as she listened to the notes her slender hand played. A warm surge of sweetness filled Harry's heart, while his mind was filled with confusion by the sensation. He was still contemplating this occurrence with his eyes locked on Ginny when an all too familiar voice drawled behind him. "Pretty cute for a weasel isn't she?" Harry turned to face Draco Malfoy, whose pointed nose was in the air as usual. "Now now, don't sell yourself short. You made a pretty cute ferret yourself Malfoy." answered Harry. Malfoy's lip curled a bit and his gaze fell again upon Ginny, who was still concentrating hard on her guitar. Eyes locked on her, Draco continued "Perhaps she's hoping someone will drop a few knuts in her guitar case." he said with a hint of a laugh in his voice. "I suppose her family's so desperate for money she'd do just about anything, wouldn't you say Potter?" Harry recognized the undertone of his comment and reached immediately for his wand, the overwhelming fury he felt surprising him. As if he'd been expecting this, Malfoy's hand was upon his wand in the same instant. "Don't deny that you'd like a piece of that Potter. I've seen the way you look at her." As an afterthought, Malfoy added with a twisted smile "Bet you'd love to be singing that Muggle song, pop goes the weasel." he said licentiously and continued "That is unless of course, someone's gotten to her first. She must not be paid very well for her services if all she could afford was that Muggle instrument."
Harry saw red. He lifted his wand and was about to yell the most horrible curse he could think of when his hand was caught by a stronger one. "I do hope you were practicing for conducting a symphony Potter." came an all too familiar voice. Harry's shoulders heaved as he turned to face Minerva McGonagall. Her severe bun pulled at the corners of her eyes behind her square spectacles, making her expression appear even more threatening than it would normally, if that were possible. Harry didn't say anything. "I'll take that as a yes Potter. As for you Malfoy, five points from Slytherin for provoking him. I shall inform your head of house." Without so much as a glance at Draco's outraged expression which Harry drunk in with delight, she turned on her heel and headed for the staff table. Now more than ever Harry suspected she had eyes in the back of her head. Harry's gaze met Draco's fiercely. "If I ever hear you say another word about Ginny, and I mean anything, I'll take you down Malfoy, and there won't be any teachers around to protect you." said Harry in a menacing tone. Draco glanced from side to side, as if searching for Crabbe and Goyle, but found himself alone. He sniffed disdainfully and growled "Anytime Potter." With that, he turned and walked away, nose in the air.
Harry watched until Malfoy had left the Hall, now flanked by Crabbe and Goyle who made sure to glare menacingly (Harry laughed at the thought of them trying to pronounce the word) before they left. Harry then turned again toward the Gryffindor table, finding his gaze magnetized toward Ginny once more. He had barely begun to feel that warm surge that invaded his heart when he heard a familiar voice call out "Oy! Harry! Over here you great prat!" Harry turned and grinned at Ron, who was standing on his seat and waving his long arms in an absurd fashion. Hermione was looking up at him and shaking her head as if she were a shamed mother. Harry returned the wave briefly and walked toward them. Ron hopped off his chair and sat down next to Hermione, greeting her sour expression with a stuck out tongue. "Oh, that'll convince me of your maturity." she grumbled sarcastically, turning back to her meal. "So, what took you so long Harry?" asked Ron in a suggestive tone, ignoring the way Hermione rolled her eyes. "Nothing much, just talking with Cho." he said nonchalantly as he turned his attention to the food now appearing before him. He was glad that Ron and Hermione had apparently taken no notice of his clash with Malfoy; he didn't feel like discussing it. "A talk with Cho nothing?" asked Ron in an exaggeratedly skeptical manner. "Call Madam Pomfrey quick, Harry must be dying! Calling a talk with the love of his life, the most perfect, the most beautiful.ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing his side after the blow Hermione had issued it with her elbow.
She glared at him and then gestured slightly with her eyes toward Harry, or so he thought. "Hi everyone." Harry heard a gentle voice say from behind him. He turned and found himself face to face with Ginny. She smiled down at him, her cheeks growing pink. He could feel the heat flooding his own as he grinned back. "I was just wondering if you'd come and listen to me practice for a minute Hermione, if you're not too busy." she said, tearing her gaze away from Harry, who, no matter how he tried, couldn't bring himself to do the same. Harry secretly felt a bit hurt, Ginny wouldn't let him listen to her sing and was now offering to let Hermione do so, and in front of him no less. "And tear myself away from the astounding wit that these two have to offer?" she tossed out sarcastically, eyeing Ron in particular. "Sure. I was just about to head out myself." she said, coolly ignoring the fierce grumbling that came from Ron. She gathered her books and with great care not to look at Ron she waved and strode off with Ginny.
The two girls had just left the Great Hall when Dumbledore stood from his seat at the staff table. "Students, faculty and everyone in between, I just wanted to say a few words. And they are oodle koogle sneegle. Thank you." he said, sitting back down. There was a murmur of confusion and laughter throughout the Hall as Dumbledore began once more to dig into his pudding. "Oh yes," he called out through a mouthful of his dessert, standing up once more, "there was one other thing. A quick reminder about tonight's showing of our talented group of Magical Minstrels and Sorceresses of Song which will take place here in the Hall at 7:00 this evening. Many of your fellow wizards and witches will be displaying their various musical talents for the first time here at Hogwarts, so I suggest highly that you come and lend your support. Thank you." he finished, taking his seat again. As Ron returned to his eating, Harry returned to his thoughts. Ginny and her guitar. "Ron, is your sister doing that music thing tonight?" he asked, trying to mask the excitement in his voice. Ron looked up, chewing a biscuit thoughtfully. "Mrrbbyy." he said. "Sorry didn't catch that." said Harry, his tone amused. Ron swallowed and said "Maybe that's what she was going on about last night. Being scared about being in front of loads of people and singing and all that." With that, he stuffed the last three quarters of his biscuit into his mouth and chewed happily. Harry, however, was pondering the thought of Ginny up on a stage, singing in that gentle voice. He'd finally have his chance to hear her sing! He shook his head. What's with me? he thought bewilderedly. He shrugged his shoulders as if in answer to himself. Must've been something I ate. he thought amusedly as he watched Ron stuff another biscuit in his mouth.
A/N: So there you are. If you've gotten this far, please go that tiny bit further and review. I would really appreciate it, and I could do with some cheering up after the night's events. ( Chapter three will be up soon (the more reviews, the sooner it appears)!
When Harry finally reached the Great Hall, deep in his own thoughts, the first thing he saw as he scanned the room for a pair of red and bushy brown heads was Ginny. She was sitting by herself, strumming her acoustic guitar while poring over her notebook (a Muggle object she'd kept from her job in the village), occasionally jotting something down. Memories of his summer stay flooded back to him as he watched her. She had the sweetest way of leaning her chin upon the guitar and closing her eyes as she listened to the notes her slender hand played. A warm surge of sweetness filled Harry's heart, while his mind was filled with confusion by the sensation. He was still contemplating this occurrence with his eyes locked on Ginny when an all too familiar voice drawled behind him. "Pretty cute for a weasel isn't she?" Harry turned to face Draco Malfoy, whose pointed nose was in the air as usual. "Now now, don't sell yourself short. You made a pretty cute ferret yourself Malfoy." answered Harry. Malfoy's lip curled a bit and his gaze fell again upon Ginny, who was still concentrating hard on her guitar. Eyes locked on her, Draco continued "Perhaps she's hoping someone will drop a few knuts in her guitar case." he said with a hint of a laugh in his voice. "I suppose her family's so desperate for money she'd do just about anything, wouldn't you say Potter?" Harry recognized the undertone of his comment and reached immediately for his wand, the overwhelming fury he felt surprising him. As if he'd been expecting this, Malfoy's hand was upon his wand in the same instant. "Don't deny that you'd like a piece of that Potter. I've seen the way you look at her." As an afterthought, Malfoy added with a twisted smile "Bet you'd love to be singing that Muggle song, pop goes the weasel." he said licentiously and continued "That is unless of course, someone's gotten to her first. She must not be paid very well for her services if all she could afford was that Muggle instrument."
Harry saw red. He lifted his wand and was about to yell the most horrible curse he could think of when his hand was caught by a stronger one. "I do hope you were practicing for conducting a symphony Potter." came an all too familiar voice. Harry's shoulders heaved as he turned to face Minerva McGonagall. Her severe bun pulled at the corners of her eyes behind her square spectacles, making her expression appear even more threatening than it would normally, if that were possible. Harry didn't say anything. "I'll take that as a yes Potter. As for you Malfoy, five points from Slytherin for provoking him. I shall inform your head of house." Without so much as a glance at Draco's outraged expression which Harry drunk in with delight, she turned on her heel and headed for the staff table. Now more than ever Harry suspected she had eyes in the back of her head. Harry's gaze met Draco's fiercely. "If I ever hear you say another word about Ginny, and I mean anything, I'll take you down Malfoy, and there won't be any teachers around to protect you." said Harry in a menacing tone. Draco glanced from side to side, as if searching for Crabbe and Goyle, but found himself alone. He sniffed disdainfully and growled "Anytime Potter." With that, he turned and walked away, nose in the air.
Harry watched until Malfoy had left the Hall, now flanked by Crabbe and Goyle who made sure to glare menacingly (Harry laughed at the thought of them trying to pronounce the word) before they left. Harry then turned again toward the Gryffindor table, finding his gaze magnetized toward Ginny once more. He had barely begun to feel that warm surge that invaded his heart when he heard a familiar voice call out "Oy! Harry! Over here you great prat!" Harry turned and grinned at Ron, who was standing on his seat and waving his long arms in an absurd fashion. Hermione was looking up at him and shaking her head as if she were a shamed mother. Harry returned the wave briefly and walked toward them. Ron hopped off his chair and sat down next to Hermione, greeting her sour expression with a stuck out tongue. "Oh, that'll convince me of your maturity." she grumbled sarcastically, turning back to her meal. "So, what took you so long Harry?" asked Ron in a suggestive tone, ignoring the way Hermione rolled her eyes. "Nothing much, just talking with Cho." he said nonchalantly as he turned his attention to the food now appearing before him. He was glad that Ron and Hermione had apparently taken no notice of his clash with Malfoy; he didn't feel like discussing it. "A talk with Cho nothing?" asked Ron in an exaggeratedly skeptical manner. "Call Madam Pomfrey quick, Harry must be dying! Calling a talk with the love of his life, the most perfect, the most beautiful.ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing his side after the blow Hermione had issued it with her elbow.
She glared at him and then gestured slightly with her eyes toward Harry, or so he thought. "Hi everyone." Harry heard a gentle voice say from behind him. He turned and found himself face to face with Ginny. She smiled down at him, her cheeks growing pink. He could feel the heat flooding his own as he grinned back. "I was just wondering if you'd come and listen to me practice for a minute Hermione, if you're not too busy." she said, tearing her gaze away from Harry, who, no matter how he tried, couldn't bring himself to do the same. Harry secretly felt a bit hurt, Ginny wouldn't let him listen to her sing and was now offering to let Hermione do so, and in front of him no less. "And tear myself away from the astounding wit that these two have to offer?" she tossed out sarcastically, eyeing Ron in particular. "Sure. I was just about to head out myself." she said, coolly ignoring the fierce grumbling that came from Ron. She gathered her books and with great care not to look at Ron she waved and strode off with Ginny.
The two girls had just left the Great Hall when Dumbledore stood from his seat at the staff table. "Students, faculty and everyone in between, I just wanted to say a few words. And they are oodle koogle sneegle. Thank you." he said, sitting back down. There was a murmur of confusion and laughter throughout the Hall as Dumbledore began once more to dig into his pudding. "Oh yes," he called out through a mouthful of his dessert, standing up once more, "there was one other thing. A quick reminder about tonight's showing of our talented group of Magical Minstrels and Sorceresses of Song which will take place here in the Hall at 7:00 this evening. Many of your fellow wizards and witches will be displaying their various musical talents for the first time here at Hogwarts, so I suggest highly that you come and lend your support. Thank you." he finished, taking his seat again. As Ron returned to his eating, Harry returned to his thoughts. Ginny and her guitar. "Ron, is your sister doing that music thing tonight?" he asked, trying to mask the excitement in his voice. Ron looked up, chewing a biscuit thoughtfully. "Mrrbbyy." he said. "Sorry didn't catch that." said Harry, his tone amused. Ron swallowed and said "Maybe that's what she was going on about last night. Being scared about being in front of loads of people and singing and all that." With that, he stuffed the last three quarters of his biscuit into his mouth and chewed happily. Harry, however, was pondering the thought of Ginny up on a stage, singing in that gentle voice. He'd finally have his chance to hear her sing! He shook his head. What's with me? he thought bewilderedly. He shrugged his shoulders as if in answer to himself. Must've been something I ate. he thought amusedly as he watched Ron stuff another biscuit in his mouth.
A/N: So there you are. If you've gotten this far, please go that tiny bit further and review. I would really appreciate it, and I could do with some cheering up after the night's events. ( Chapter three will be up soon (the more reviews, the sooner it appears)!
