With a Girl Like You

Chapter 1 – Prologue: An Eventful Day in Diagon Alley

Author's Introductory Note

I really hope you enjoy reading this fic. I would love any and all comments, suggestions, critical remarks, etc, so PLEASE read and review! I have never finished a really long fanfic, and I hope this will be my first (but *not* my last), so your reviews are much appreciated and will serve as a gauge so I know if I should continue.

The songs I use are pretty random (don't appear till near the end), but I love them all. No, of course I didn't write them! I will put proper credit when I come to them.

So, please READ & REVIEW and let me know what you think!!!!!

"Will you look at that?" a boy exclaimed excitedly, pointing at something in a window. A group of strangely garbed children pressed close to the glass.

"WHOA! What is that?" another asked, jumping up and down, trying to see over the shoulders of his friends.

A family consisting of four redheads, a messy-haired boy, and a bushy-headed girl walked past the display. Two heads turned to goggle at the mesmerizing item, joining the crowd at the window.

Ron and Harry stared at the new broom model as if it were a priceless jewel. One could hardly call it a broom; it certainly didn't look like a broom. It took them a long while and a slap from Hermione to come to their senses.

"Gee, Hermione! What was that for?" Ron yelped angrily, rubbing his cheek. The rubbing only made it redder.

Hermione glared at him. "You just don't realize how stupid you look, drooling over an old broom!" She said it as if she were saving him from making a fool out of himself.

Obviously, Ron didn't feel the same way. The argument raged on. Harry tuned them out, as he did for half the summer. The Weasleys had once again saved him from a miserable summer with the Dursleys by asking him to spend August at The Burrow. He happily obliged, as did Hermione Granger, Ron and Harry's other best friend.

Harry sighed, eyeing the sleek, shiny new broom cautiously. He certainly did not want to be slapped, but he doubted he would be. Something had gotten between Ron and Hermione, and he couldn't quite pinpoint the reason. If he had his guess, it had to be something strange. They argued like two old hens every chance they got.

He felt a tap on his arm, and he turned from the display case. It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister. She played one of the three Chaser positions on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Harry, I keep forgetting to ask you. When will the tryouts for the vacant Chaser and Beater positions be held?" Ginny asked, for the first time catching sight of the new broom and staring as well. "Wow," she breathed, her blue eyes as wide as saucers.

Harry thought for a moment. His eyes drifted and rested on…well, Ginny Weasley. She had really grown up over the summer. Taller, more filled out, and with the same vibrant shock of red hair and bright blue eyes, she got more stares than her protective older brother could handle. Harry shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts and answered her question.

"Probably a few weeks into the school year." As captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Harry had to arrange more than just game plays and strategies.

There was a lapse in their conversation, but Ron and Hermione's bickering made it impossible to notice the silence.

"That's some broom," Ginny finally said, almost wistfully. The model was very modern and different from any other. Made of some strange, translucent material, the sleek object seemed more like a narrow, futuristic snow-shovel than a Quidditch broom. The model came in five different solid colors, clear or frosted, and could be bewitched to change colors in a few different patterns. Harry heard a few Hogwarts students jabbering excitedly about how its speed more than doubled that of last year's new Firebolt 3000. The broom was supposedly much more comfortable to ride, and its lightweight construction gave it the handling edge all Quidditch players dreamed for.

Harry was lost in his thoughts when he noticed that Ginny was tugging his arm once again.

"Hermione and everyone left for Madame Malkins. We should probably follow them."

Harry nodded, but not before he caught sight of someone walking out of Quality Quidditch with a longish-shaped parcel in his hands. Actually, he couldn't tell if the person was a male or female, but he could tell that the person was a Hogwarts student.

Facing the other direction, the person didn't see Harry, and walked right into him.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry!" a distressed voice cried out.

Harry looked at the girl closely, helping her regain her balance. He had never seen her before. "That's alright. Are you a Hogwarts student?"

"Yes, I'm new this year." The girl smiled. She was very pretty, with long, dark hair and large, hazel eyes. "My name is Acacia Elcombe." She stuck out her free hand.

Harry shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Acacia. I'm Harry Potter, and this is my friend, Ginny Weasley." Ginny stepped forward and shook hands with Acacia as well.

"Are you planning to try out for the Quidditch team?"

Acacia grinned. Only she knew how jittery and nervous she felt. Meeting new people was not her strong point, and she hoped she was making a good impression. Imagine! Meeting Harry Potter, of all people!

"My uncle just bought me this new broom for my sixteenth birthday," Acacia said, indicating the long package. "It would be a shame if I didn't try out! I'm very nervous, though, because I heard that Hogwarts students are really great Quidditch players. I just hope I don't make a fool out of myself!"

Ginny smiled sympathetically. "Don't worry, I felt the same way when I first tried out. Then again, that wasn't the most pleasant experience, but never mind about me. What position to do you play?"

Harry laughed silently. Ginny liked to string several comments and end with a question. She had really opened up, and was much more confident about herself. They were becoming closer friends. The little girl crush Ginny had had on Harry for so long either dissolved or became less apparent, to Harry's relief. (a/n: or so he thought…but no! this is not a H/G fic)

"I don't think I play any position better than another, but I put more effort in the positions I prefer, so…" Acacia paused, blushing as she tried to collect her thoughts into a comprehensive statement. "…either Keeper or Chaser. If I guessed correctly, both of you are on the team?"

"Yep. I play Seeker for Gryffindor, and Ginny plays Chaser. Hopefully you'll be put in Gryffindor, because we have a Chaser position open, and none of the other teams do," Harry said. An odd feeling suddenly washed over him, but he tried to forget about it. Then he realized that his face was growing hot and he quickly looked down.

"We'd better be going, Harry, my mum is going to be worried," Ginny remarked, noting (with a little less than amusement) the blush creeping up his cheeks.

"See you at Hogwarts," Harry murmured, turning away. Ginny waited a bit and waved at Acacia when she looked back.

Ginny wasn't pleased when she turned around, face to face with Draco Malfoy and his two sidekicks. Harry had an unreadable expression plastered over his face, but he didn't look too pleased, either.

"Ooo, look, if it isn't little Potty come to play with his baby Weasel. Where's big, protective brother Weasel now, and his scum Mudblood girlfriend?" Malfoy drawled, lazily twirling his wand in his hand.

Ginny's hands were clenched, but she didn't do or say anything. She glared at Malfoy, and he sneered.

"Face it. Your fool of a family chose to relate with those foul Mudbloods. See where it got you. Your family can hardly afford to—"

SLAM.

Malfoy never got further. Both Harry and Ginny had gone for him at the same moment; Harry with a hard right and Ginny with a perfectly aimed kick. Crabbe and Goyle started for them, but Malfoy pushed them back and pointed his wand at Ginny.

"Stupid fool. You never learn, do you?" Malfoy jeered. "Some wizarding families are better than others. But I wouldn't expect someone who associates with Mudbloods to understand the truth. Time to face it, baby Weasel!"

Malfoy muttered something and a spark emitted from the end of his wand. Harry dashed in front of Ginny, tripping as he went, and threw a blocking spell towards Malfoy. The jeers continued, and Ginny finally had enough.

After a series of swears Harry never knew she could say, Malfoy found himself rolling on the ground, a furious redhead pounding her fist into his face.

"VIRGINIA WEASLEY! STOP THAT THIS INSTANT!" Molly Weasley screamed, rushing to the scene. Ron was hot on her heels, bellowing something Harry couldn't understand.
Ginny stood up and brushed herself off, looking down meekly.

"What on earth possessed you?" Mrs. Weasley cried, pointedly ignoring Malfoy (she blamed him completely, plus more for Ginny). She gripped her daughter's shoulders, hard. That didn't stop Ron from going after Malfoy, though.

"Ron! Stop! He's leaving, anyway," Harry yelled, pulling his friend back to his family.

"I…I don't know, mum! He was insulting Hermione and you and…" Ginny tried not to cry, but it was hard not to. She didn't want Harry to see her cry. Mrs. Weasley began to look less irate.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley sighed. "It's long past time to go home. Are you alright, Harry, dear? Malfoy didn't do anything to you, did he?"

Ron seemed a bit calmer, now that Malfoy was out of sight, so Harry released his grip. "No, ma'am, I'm fine," Harry answered, removing his bent glasses and wiping them off. "Just two more days till Hogwarts," Harry thought to himself. He wondered what the year had in store for him.

A/N: Okay okay, so it really isn't a prologue—it's more like a real chapter—but what can I say? Anyway, tell me what you think! No, as I said before, this is NOT a Harry/Ginny fic. Please R&R!!!