Chapter
2 – The Holidays
Harry,
Ron, and Hermione jogged down the hall together. "Harry, hurry, we're gonna
miss the coach!" Hermione panted. Harry lugged his suitcase along behind him
and called back, "I know, Hermione! Just slow down a bit!" At last, they
reached the coach that would take them to the Hogwarts Express, and just in
time too, for Professor McGonagall pushed them hurriedly into a compartment.
"Jesus, you two!" Harry groaned. "Does it take THAT long to pack? I waited for
an HOUR for you guys." "Sorry, Harry." Ron mumbled. "Yeah…sorry, but girls have
a lot more things to pack than boys do, Harry." Hermione added. She sighed.
"Anyone for a game of Exploding Snap?"
A
while later, they were on the Hogwarts Express, and Ron and Hermione were slouched
over on top of each other, asleep. Ron had fallen asleep first, leaning on the
wall. Then Hermione had fallen asleep and unconsciously drooped sideways onto
Ron. Harry sighed. It was so boring without anyone to talk to. Suddenly the
compartment door slid open. Harry tensed up, not wanting Ron and Hermione to be
unprotected from Malfoy's hexes. But it was only Ginny. She walked in shyly,
smiling at Harry, then turned her gaze to the comical heap that was her brother
and Hermione. Grinning, she said, "I wonder if they like each other?" Harry
grinned back. "I don't think so, I guess it was just someone for Hermione to
use as a pillow." Both of them started laughing. And after a while, they were
sitting next to each other, chatting about school and the holidays. "Harry,
you'll be over at our house in a week, right?" Ginny asked anxiously. "I don't
like the sound of those Dursleys…" Harry laughed. "Oh Ginny, they can't do
anything too bad to me, they're too afraid that your dad and mom will show up
and hex Dudley the way Hagrid did when I first met him." Ginny raised an
eyebrow. "Something you haven't told me before but can tell me now?" She
teased. "Oh yeah," Harry replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
'He's so cute.' Ginny thought. 'I wish he did like me though.' "So what
happened?" Ginny asked innocently, expecting something really funny. "Hagrid
came in, and you know that big pink umbrella he has? I think the two halves of
his wand are in there. Anyway, I don't remember really well, but Dudley did
something that really got on Hagrid's nerves, so Hagrid hexed him and tried to
turn him into a pig. Needless to say, the spell failed, but the result was even
funnier." Ginny giggled. "What was the result?" She asked. "Oh…Dudley ended up
having a pig's tail sticking out of his ass and had to be brought to a hospital
in London to have it removed." At this point, both Harry and Ginny were
laughing so hard they almost started crying. "Imagine that!" Harry gasped in
between chuckles. Ginny glanced at Harry.
*He's so CUTE when he laughs like that* She thought dreamily. *I wish he would
like me, but I guess fate has it's own path. * "Ginny?" A voice from far away
interrupted her daydreams. "Ginnnyyy…are you okay?" Harry's slightly worried
face became clear. Ginny snapped back to reality. "I'm fine Harry, sorry, I
just zoned out a bit." She replied, staring into those beautiful bright green
eyes she loved so much. *If only I had the courage to tell him. * She thought
sadly. Harry looked relieved and smiled. *That smile! * Ginny was lost in her
own dreams now. Harry sighed. He knew that Ginny was in love with him. When
he'd first met her, he wasn't sure if he could feel anything for her except as
his best friend's sister. But now, even though he didn't admit it to anyone, he
had feelings for her. Not as just Ron's sister anymore. No, he believed he was
in love with her back. Of course, he had and still did like Cho Chang, but the
way he felt when he was around her was nothing compared to what he felt around
little Ginny. Strange. He'd always thought of her as little Ginny, but now, he
realized, she was so much more. Harry smiled unconsciously. He drifted off into
a semiconscious state, dreaming what life would be like married to Ginny.
Ginny
awoke with a jerk. She looked around, confused, then her mind woke up and she
remembered she was on the Hogwarts Express. She surveyed the room. Ron and
Hermione were STILL asleep (*The sleepy heads! * Ginny thought, grinning) and
now, Harry was too. A tuft of his jet black hair fell over his face, making him
more adorable than ever. "Harry!" Ginny whispered. He didn't wake up. She moved
right next to him, and, with the assumption it wouldn't matter what she said
because he was asleep, she started to tell him how she felt. "Harry, I know you
probably can't hear me, which is why I'm gonna tell you this. I've been in love with you ever since I
first met you, when you were in your first year. I know you really like Cho
Chang, and I don't mind, cause I know you probably will never like me, but I
just want you to know that I'm in love with you." She stopped, hesitated, then
leaned down and kissed his cheek. A second later, Harry opened his eyes, sat
up, and said, "You really mean that?" Ginny blushed, embarrassed, and muttered
a low "yeah" back at him. Right then, Harry knew it was time to tell her how he
felt. "Ginny…I haven't told anyone this yet, not even Ron, but I'm in love with
you too. It started when I rescued you from the Chamber of Secrets, but I
didn't tell anyone." Ginny's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? Or is this just a
joke or something?" Harry blushed lightly. "I mean it. I mean…I guess it's
sorta hard to believe, ya know, since everyone who knows who I like believes
it's Cho, and I'm gonna let them keep on thinking that. Even Ron doesn't know
I'm in love with you." Ginny just stared, her mouth hanging open, disbelief
written all over her face. "Okay, I know by the expression on your face that
you're not taking this too well, but please, Ginny, you have to believe me!"
Harry pleaded. He sighed, gathered up his courage, and finally opened his mouth
to ask her what he'd wanted to say since his second year. "Ginny…" He started,
but Ginny interrupted, reading his mind. "Yeah." She said, before he even got
the sentence out. "Yeah, I'll go out with you. It's what I've always wanted.
Even if I think I'm dreaming." Harry leaned over hesitantly, then kissed her
cheek. "You're not," Harry whispered. "You're not."
***
*One
hour later…*
Ginny
was asleep, her head resting on Harry's chest. He was lightly stroking her
hair, lost in his own thoughts. Without warning, Malfoy's voice pierced the
silence from outside the compartment. "Crabbe, Goyle, it's Potty and the
Weasel. C'mon, let's see what they're up to." Harry sat up abruptly, waking
Ginny. "Wha?" she muttered. "Malfoy." Harry replied, his eyes narrowed. Ginny
leaned over and poked Hermione and Ron awake. "Careful guys, Malfoy's outside,
get ready to hex them." She hissed. All four of them lifted their wands and
aimed at the door, right when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle stepped in. "Oh look!"
Malfoy drawled. "It's Potter and Weasley." He glanced at Hermione. "And
Granger." He added, smirking cruelly at her. But under the smirk he put on,
Draco melted slightly. *Dammit!* he swore at himself. *Why the hell do I always
melt like this when I'm around Granger? I won't
let myself love her, I won't!* But
even as he thought this, the smirk frozen on his face, he knew, under all of
his resentment at the mere idea, that he loved her, and nothing he did or
thought was going to change that. *Shit!* he thought. But before his mind could
wander any further, Ron's low, angry voice broke in. "Get outta here, Malfoy,
unless you want to be hexed. I'll give you 5 seconds. 5…" Malfoy jerked
involuntarily, then narrowed his eyes and backed up a step. But his mind was
still on Hermione. He glanced at her, and his face softened for a split second
before hardening again. Hermione caught the glance and her breath caught in her
throat. *Is it possible?* she wondered to herself. *No, it can't be. After all,
he's Malfoy.* her mind answered back. *It doesn't matter who he is, he's the
hottest guy in school and I love him.* she felt her heart say. Hermione shook
her head and said, "Guys, leave him alone. He's not worth it." She
said coolly. Harry and Ron stared at her, the counting forgotten, and Ginny
just flashed her a look of disbelief and sudden realization and understanding.
Malfoy looked at her too, and for a millisecond, his face showed gratitude,
then returned to his usual evil expression. Hermione saw it and felt shocked
with disbelief mixed in. Malfoy and gratitude just did not mix. Even still, she felt hope. Maybe Malfoy was changing. It
wasn't impossible. Nothing was. She looked at Malfoy expectantly, and his head
dipped ever so slightly. Then he growled a "Let's go" at Crabbe and
Goyle, and they turned at left. Harry sighed and sat back down. Ron turned to
her, puzzled, and inquired, "Are you okay?"
"Yea,
why?" Hermione answered. "Because you just defended Malfoy!" Ron
snapped. He stopped, surprised at his sudden outburst. "I was not!" Hermione lied. "I
just…I dunno." Ron gave her another quizzical look, then promptly went
back to sleep. A few minutes later, Harry was asleep too. Ginny snapped her
fingers in front of Harry and Ron's eyes. No reaction. They were asleep for
sure. Finally Ginny said, "Hermione, you're in love with Malfoy, aren't
you?" Hermione tensed up, not expecting her to be so blunt.
"Yes," she admitted, "I am in love with Malfoy. Ginny, please
don't tell this to Ron or Harry, they would freak out for sure." Ginny put
her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "It's okay, I won't. I know how you feel.
Like he'd never like you, right?" Hermione smiled at the accurate
description. "Well," Ginny continued, "I saw that glance of
gratitude he gave you and I personally think that he is getting better and you
should have hope. If you hope long enough, then you'll end up together."
Hermione turned to look at her, suddenly realizing what had happened while she
was asleep. "The way you and Harry are finally together?" She asked
mischievously. Ginny grinned. "Does it show all over my face?" she
asked. "No," Hermione replied, "But to me it is. I knew from the
way you two looked at each other." Ginny blushed. "Harry is the only
person I ever dream about." She confessed. "So?" Hermione shot
back. "Draco is the only person I ever dream about." Harry stirred
and Ron shifted. Hermione glanced at them worriedly. "Did they hear
that?" she asked. Ginny went to Harry and stroked his hair. Harry didn't
move. She went over to Ron and poked his forehead. Ron didn't move either.
"No, they didn't." She reassured Hermione. She cocked her head.
"Wanna play something?" Hermione nodded.
***
*Several
days later*
Harry
woke up to a pecking noise on his bedroom window. He looked around, confused
for a moment. Then it all came back. He was at the Dursleys', he was going out
with Ginny, and Hedwig was pecking on his window and if he didn't open it soon
Uncle Vernon was going to lock him in the room again. He let Hedwig in and
stroked her feathers affectionately. Then he looked at the letters Hedwig
dropped in his lap. One from Ron, one from Hermione, one from Sirius, and one
from Ginny (he noted this with pleasure). He opened Ginny's half page letter
first.
Dear
Harry, (the letter read)
I
miss you so much. The letter from Ron will let you know when you're coming
over, no matter what your aunt and uncle say. I can't wait to see you. (*I
can't wait to see you either* Harry reflected) When you come over, we're gonna
practice Quidditch. Bill and Charlie are here again, but Percy's really busy
with the ministry. Anyway, since you're coming soon, I'll tell you everything
when you get here. By the way…I'm not sure you know, and I assure you she found
out entirely by herself, but Hermione knows we're going out. Ron still doesn't
know. Do you wanna keep this relationship a secret or do you not care? I'll
leave it up to you. It doesn't matter for me, as long as I have you. Well,
gotta go, Bill and Ron are coming to take a peek at what I'm writing. See you
soon.
Love,
Ginny
Harry
grinned to himself. *Love you too* he thought. He put aside Ginny's letter and
picked up Ron's.
Harry,
Tell
the Dursleys we're coming at 8 in the morning tomorrow. It's short notice, but
if he frowns, tell him you're gonna write to Sirius, I'll bet he'll freak out
and let you go. Hehe. Oh, Mom said to tell you that if you want, starve
yourself for a while and have breakfast with us (we'll have more food =p).
Anyway, gonna go now and see what Ginny's up to. Writing a letter to someone,
maybe a boyfriend, I dunno who it is. (*Whoa* Harry thought *You have NO idea how close you are to the
truth…now all you're missing is my name*) See you tomorrow Harry!
Ron
Harry's
grin got a bit wider. He opened Sirius' letter.
Harry,
How
are you? I'm assuming you'll be at Arthur Weasley's but not so soon. I'm still
in hiding, and at the cave I was before. Not going to mention it, you know the
one. I'll be here for a while. It's a pretty comfortable place. Buckbeak says
hi to all of you. Have a good summer Harry.
Sirius
He
glanced at his clock. 5:45 in the morning. He'd be getting up in a quarter of
an hour. Harry picked up Hermione's letter, the only one remaining.
Dear
Harry,
Ron
told me Fred and George are picking you up tomorrow at 8. Just telling you, you
guys are picking me up at 9. I think we're using either a new magic car Mr.
Weasley got or else we're flying really really high on our brooms so no one can
possibly see. You never know. I just know they're gonna be hovering somehow
outside your and my window. Don't tell the Dursleys that, I know they'll try to
punish you. See you tomorrow.
Love,
Hermione
*Tomorrow
at 8. I can't wait.* Then he laughed out loud. There was a loud knocking on the
door. Harry glanced at the clock again. 6:00. "What are you laughing at in
there, boy? Get out here, eat your breakfast quick and go away." Uncle
Vernon's voice boomed through the door. Harry reluctantly got up. He sighed.
Thank God he wasn't going to be here for long.
At
breakfast, everyone ignored him, as usual. Uncle Vernon read the newspaper,
Aunt Petunia split her time between making breakfast and spying on the
neighbors. Dudley watched TV. Finally, when breakfast was over, Harry
approached Uncle Vernon. "I've got an invitation to my friend from…my
friend's house. He wants to come tomorrow morning at 8." Harry informed
his uncle. Uncle Vernon stared at him like he was something the cat dragged in.
After a while, Harry broke the silence and said, "Alright, I'll just go
write to Sirius and tell him I'll be here all summer." Uncle Vernon's eyes
widened. "This…this Sirius is your godfather, yes?" he asked loudly.
Harry nodded, trying not to laugh at the horrified expression on Uncle Vernon's
face. "Well, then, you write and tell this…this friend of yours you can
go." Harry nodded curtly and went to his room, hiding his laughter until
he got there. He turned over Ron's letter, and scrawled a messy sentence: I can
come, I scared the hell outta Uncle Vernon when I told him I would write to
Sirius. –Harry
***
*The
next day*
Harry
jerked awake, put his glasses on, and looked at the clock hopefully. *Yes! It's
7:00, only one more hour.* he thought joyfully. He started by packing his
cauldron and school things, and the hour passed quickly. Soon he was done. Just
as he sat down to take a break, he glanced out the window and spotted a big
black thing about a mile off and it was coming closer every second. Harry
grinned to himself. *The Weasleys must have gotten a new car and Mr. Weasley
enchanted it again.* He went over to the door and looked out. He could hear the
Dursleys downstairs talking. Probably about him again. They were always
muttering nasty things about him. Anyway, it wouldn't matter, he'd leave
without telling them. Who cared? He sure didn't. Finally, the black car was
hovering outside his window. TO his surprise, it wasn't Mr. Weasley driving,
but Fred. George was right next to him, with Ron in the back. Harry noted there
were two spaces next to Ron in the back. *For Hermione.* He assumed. "Hey
you guys! What's up?" He called, but not too loud or else the Dursleys
would hear. "Nothing but being forced to be the chauffeur." Fred
replied. Then he grinned. "Just joking, man, it was our idea." "And guess what we have for ickle
Duddykins!" George added in his babytalk voice. He pulled something out of
his pockets. "Canary Creams! And don't tell Mom, okay? We're supposed to have
stopped the idea of a joke shop. But I don't think we will now, right,
Fred?" Fred nodded, giving Harry a secret grateful glance for the thousand
galleons he'd given them instead of keeping after the Triwizard Tournament that
he'd won. Hedwig watched the candies with her beady eyes. Then she rustled her
feathers and nipped Harry's fingertips affectionately. "No, Hedwig, the
candies are bad for you." He stroked her neck. "Alright Harry, do us
a favor and think of something to get…can you use your invisibility cloak and
get down there? It would be a shame not to give Dudley his 'present'."
George smirked wickedly. " Harry nodded, flipped open his suitcase, and
handed it over to George, who just stared blankly at him. "Go on,"
Harry prodded him. "You've been bothering me about letting you try once,
here's your chance. The cupboard door's locked, by the way. Here, lock my book
in there." Harry gave him one of his many books. George nodded, slipped on
the cloak, and disappeared. "Careful of the stairs, some of them creak!"
Harry hissed, hoping George would hear. Several minutes later, a stair near the
top creaked slightly. "Damn!" George muttered. Then he appeared again
and handed the cloak to Harry. "It was so cool, man, thanks!" Harry
smiled. "Thanks. Now come down with me to get the book. Drop the candies
on the table, Dudley won't think we left it there, he has so much candy
anyway." Then together they disappeared down the stairs. After a while,
Harry and George were back, satisfied smiles plastered all over their faces. Seconds
later, they heard very heavy footsteps cautiously nearing the candy. Suddenly,
"YAAAHHHHHH!!!!!", and Aunt Petunia's terrified voice. Fred, Ron,
Harry and George all burst into quiet chuckles. Then they packed up Harry's
things, got into the flying car, and drove off to Hermione's.
(A/N:
Hope ya like this guys, I'm working on the continuation, so you won't have to
wait long. And sorry for the delay, I don't have the Internet on my laptop at
my summer home.)