Chapter 11: Back to School
~~~~
The next morning Ginny woke up, finding Hermione's bed empty. She rolled over on her back, and stared at the ceiling. She stretched the length of the bed, and smiled to herself. No dreams! Maybe she was free of them for good? It was the second night in a row that she hadn't dreamed, and she was refreshed considerably from the two whole nights of blissfully free dreaming.
She swung her pale legs over the side of her bed, and stood up, stretching on her tiptoes, before making her way to her robe that was hanging on the peg behind her closet. She swung the terry cloth material over her shoulder, and groggily made her way into the hallway. The normal craziness that she was used to on the mornings they went back to Hogwarts was surprisingly absent, so she quickly made her way to the bathroom door in case they were on their way. Knocking loudly against the running water, she waited for a reply.
"In a minute!" a female voice shouted. The water was turned off, and a scurrying could be heard from the other side of the door. Ginny recognized the voice as Hermione's.
The door opened a moment later, admitting a cloud of perfume smelling steam into the hallway.
"All yours," said Hermione brightly. "Got it before the mad rush!"
"Thanks," mumbled Ginny trying to shake off her sleepiness. Hermione grinned at her once more, clutching her towel around her, and moved passed, disappearing in Ginny's room with a soft click as the door closed behind her.
Ginny slowly undressed, and ran her hands through her tangled hair. Her eyes were slightly crossed from sleep as she climbed into the shower. She put it on the highest notch, letting it warm up, and run down her skin, turning it flushed pink. This was her method of waking up every morning. She scrubbed the overnight grime off her body, slowly feeling more awake, as she ran the sweet smelling shampoo through her bright red locks. She rinsed quickly, and turned off the head. She wrung her hair out; a gentle stream of water flowed consistently from her soaking hair to her toes. The bathroom was thick with steam when she finally stepped out, wrapping her white fluffy robe tightly around her slender body. She bent over to gather her pajamas. Her knees cracked slightly as she stood up, and swung the door open. She stepped back startled at seeing Harry standing on the other side, his hand poised over it, ready to knock.
"Oh hello Harry. Late getting up this morning?" she asked, holding her pajamas in her right hand, and her robe closed with her left.
Harry's mouth opened but no sound came out. Finally, he seemed to have found his voice, "yea."
She tilted her head at him with a wide grin. "You're so cute sometimes."
Where did that come from? She thought. I must be feeling extra bold today.
Harry smiled the kind that made her knees weak, and her heart rate quicken.
"Did you have any nightmares last night?" he asked, messing up his hair in that adorable way that he had.
Ginny smiled happily. "Nope, maybe I'm out of the dark!"
"Let's hope so." Harry smiled at her. Ginny grinned back, and turned to walk away.
"Gin, I want to know every time you have a nightmare," he shot quickly, before she reached her bedroom.
Ginny swung around, this time frowning at Harry.
"Harry, why are you making me check in with you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Harry blushed to the roots of his hair. "I'm just.worried."
Ginny smiled, and walked back up to Harry. She reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek, a gesture she was so used to doing with her many brothers. "Well, thanks," she whispered, before turning and walking into her bedroom, and shutting the door using her foot.
"Whoa Gin? What's up?" Hermione asked promptly, looking up from the large textbook that was propped open on her knees. Her damp hair was limp around her shoulders, and her brown eyes were staring at her questioningly.
What had she just done? Ginny thought.
Ginny looked up into her friend's eyes. She walked over to her hamper, throwing her pajamas in, then walking over to her wardrobe, and opened it. She chose a simple green shirt, and denim trousers, with a black robe to wear over them.
"Gin?" Hermione tried again, placing a marker in her book.
Ginny turned to her, clothes in hand. "What, huh?" she stammered.
"What happened? You're all red."
Ginny looked at her puzzled, as she placed her clothes on her bed, and pulled on her undergarments, under the towel. "What do you mean what happened? Nothing," she said, pulling on her trousers, and shirt.
"Ok--but you're blushing like mad."
"Nothing happened," she said shrugging and trying her best to look innocent.
Ginny grinned despite herself, and stood in front of her mirror. Her freckles were light, but the more she stayed in the sun, the more noticeable they became. She fingered her damp hair a moment, suddenly frowning.
"Hermione, can I use your Muggle hair drier thing?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Well, we can't use magic over the holidays."
"Gin, you live in the Burrow, magic will go undetected."
"Well, your drier might have a different affect." she drifted off, spritzing some perfume on her pulse points.
She caught Hermione roll her eyes in the mirror, but didn't comment.
"Sure Gin, hold on." Hermione closed the book, setting it aside on her bed, and got up from her position.
She walked to her trunk, and disappeared in the depths. She emerged a moment later carrying what looked like a large Muggle gun.
Ginny gulped. "Is that a-a-drier?"
Hermione grinned, "yes, do you have a circuit, Gin?"
"A what?"
"An electrical circuit?"
"Um-er-you mean one of those things with the rectangular holes in it that dad gets all excited over?"
Hermione giggled, "yea."
"Hmm." Ginny opened the top drawer of her dresser and rummaged through it.
"Uh.Gin-it wouldn't be in there."
"It wouldn't? But isn't this it?"
She pulled out just the cover for a circuit.
Hermione laughed, "no. Why don't you just dry it?" She placed the drier back into her trunk, and watched Ginny frown in the mirror.
"I s'pose."
Hermione nodded, and plopped back down on the bed, and picked up her book.
Ginny rose her wand to her head, and muttered the drying incantation. Her hair instantly dried falling full and straight down her back. It lifted her face somehow, making her look more refreshed, and happier, if that was possible. She put on a touch of make up, and pushed away from her dresser, turning to Hermione.
"Ready?"
Hermione placed her marker back on the page, and snapped the book shut, setting it aside again. She stood up, nodding. "Yea, let's go down." She crossed the room in one swift movement, and pulled the bedroom door open. "Coming?"
~~~~
They met with a sleepy, tousle haired Ron half way down the stairs. Ginny pushed passed them, and jumped them down the stairs two at a time, knowing not to interrupt them.
She slid into her usual seat. "Morning Mum."
"Oh Ginny, dear! Thank Goodness you're eating!" Her mother scampered over, plopping two spoonfuls of scrambled eggs onto her plate. "Your favorite."
"Thanks Mum, but I don't think I can eat that much in one sitting," she said, eyeing the eggs with apprehension.
"Nonsense, you need your strength, dear."
"Ok," she sighed, not wanting to argue with her mother when she was in Mother Hen mode. She ducked her head over her plate, and stuffed a mouth full of eggs into her mouth.
She looked up to regard her Mother after moment, swallowing the eggs. "Mum, where are Dad, Percy, and the twins?"
Ron and Hermione had just entered the room smiling and holding hands. She smiled warmly at them, only causing Ron to turned red, and drop Hermione's hand like he'd been scolded. Hermione frowned, but then shrugged in Ginny's direction.
Ginny just smiled, and shook her head in amusement. When will Ron learn that he likes her?
"Fred and George left early to go open the shop, and your father and Percy send their regards, they had to leave early for work this morning."
Ginny opened her mouth to form an 'O' shape, before bending over her plate again. Ron plopped down, rather inharmoniously across from her, and began to dig through his breakfast. Hermione took the seat next to him, tutting in disapproval at his table manners.
There was a movement next to her, and she looked up to see startlingly green eyes smiling down at her.
"Hey, Gin," Harry said, pulling out his chair, and sitting down. He piled pancakes onto his plate, and smothered them in syrup. Ginny inhaled the smell of his soap and sighed. His hair was still damp from his shower, and was sticking up in dark glistening spikes.
"Hello, Harry."
"So, where'd you go yesterday?" he asked trying to sound nonchalant.
Ron grinned in her direction. "Off to snog Colin did you?"
Harry frowned at Ron's choice of words.
Ron suddenly grimaced. Ginny had the impression that Hermione had intentionally kicked his leg. Ginny grinned, and reached over to take a piece of toast from the center of the table. Ron's face turned red, and he looked over at Hermione.
"What?"
"For your information Ronniekins," Ginny started. Ron frowned at the nickname but didn't say anything. "Colin and I went to get ice-cream. Then, he was nice enough to join me to get our school supplies."
Ron just smiled at his sister, probably trying to keep quiet so Hermione wouldn't have reason to kick him again. It infuriated her to see the smug expression on his face, like he knew something that she didn't.
"Eat up dears, you have limited time," Mrs. Weasley said, bustling in from the kitchen with a frying pan. She plopped some eggs on Ron, Harry, and Hermione's plates.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Harry and Hermione smiled up at her, while Ron chugged down his pumpkin juice.
~~~~
Ginny pushed the extremely heavy cart through Kings Cross, and checked the Muggle watch her father had given her for her fifteenth birthday again.
"Mum, we've got to move it! The train leaves in ten minutes!" she whined. There was no way she was going to miss the train.
"Hush Ginny dear, we'll make it," her mother assured her for the fifth time that morning.
The platform came into view behind a crowd of finely dressed Muggles. She sighed heavily in relief. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, caught up, and wheeled their carts next to hers. She slowed down to walk with them.
"Now wait Ginny! You don't want to be seen!" her mother warned.
Ginny glanced at her watch again, there were 10 minutes left. "Mum! I'm going!" She pushed her cart through, disappearing into the wall.
A minute past when Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared next to her, all pushing their carts.
"Nice Virginia." Ron grinned at his little sister, as she shrugged.
"I won't miss the train, Ronald."
The scarlet steam train gleamed in front of them, issuing a large cloud of smoke, and a loud screeching whistle.
Ginny wheeled her cart along with Ron, Hermione, and Harry over to an empty storage compartment under the steaming train. She shoved her belongings in after Ron's with Harry's help, and followed them over to where Mrs. Weasley was standing.
"I'll see you at the end of the term, good luck, and Hermione, Ron, make sure they stay out of trouble," Mrs. Weasley said gesturing to Ginny and Harry. Ginny rolled her eyes as her mother smiled at all of them, pulling them into a motherly hug.
She pulled Ginny into a hug. "Be good, and if anything's bothering you, feel free to owl."
Ginny nodded against her mother's shoulder. She felt her mother pat her back, and plant a kiss on her head. "And I reckon you can talk to Ron, Hermione, or Harry if something's bothering you. Don't let it get to the point where you want to leave, ok?"
Ginny felt tears prickle her eyes. "I won't Mum," she sniffled.
"I love you, Ginny."
Ginny leaned back, and kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you too, mum, and I'm really sorry."
Mrs. Weasley waved it away, and nudged Ginny toward now slowly moving train. "Goodbye! Owl often!"
Ginny waved one final time before running to catch the train. Harry waited for her by the open door. He gripped her hand, and heaved her up onto the train. Ron and Hermione stood behind him. She turned in the doorway, and waved to her mother who disappeared as they entered the dark tunnel.
Harry released her hand, and slammed the door shut, and turned to find a compartment. Harry pushed through crowds of second and first years, trying to make his way toward the back of the train, where the older kids normally sat. A door to their right opened, and an unwelcome voice stepped out and into his path.
He stopped abruptly, causing Ginny to run right into him, her face smashed between his shoulder blades. She felt him sigh heavily.
"Well, if it isn't Potty, mudblood, and the weasels."
She stepped around, to stand next to Harry. She noticed him glaring at Malfoy, hatred pouring from his usually warm eyes. Ginny felt his arm move slightly, and looked down to witness his hand move to the pocket of his robes, gently fingering the wood of his wand.
Malfoy smirked at Ginny, "I don't believe it, is that a Weasel? Who would have thought? If you weren't a mudblood lover, I might consider you," he said looking her up and down.
"Stuff it Malfoy," she Ginny through grit teeth, feeling her cheeks flame up.
Ron stepped between Ginny and Malfoy and glared at him. "If you wanna say something, say it to me. Leave my sister out of it."
"I don't wanna say anything to her. She's only good for one thing," Malfoy smirked.
Ginny's face flamed up, heat rising from her neck, and seeping slowly up her face in anger and embarrassment.
She saw Harry turn a beet red, and began to pull out his wand, with shaking fingers. Ginny reached to put an arm on his, but he only stepped right next to Ron, pushing Ginny behind him to stand beside Hermione, blocking her from Malfoy's penetrating gaze. He held his wand to Malfoy's throat, who gulped instinctively.
"Harry--" she tried, standing on her tiptoes trying to look over Harry's shoulder. "Ron--"
"Say one more thing. Go ahead--say something, Crabbe and Goyle aren't here to protect you, and you know Ron and I can kick your ass with no problem. So say something, give us some more motivation to break every bone in your miserable body," growled Harry. The scowl on his face alone made him seem suddenly dangerous. He took a step closer to the pale boy, but Ginny placed a restraining hand on his lower back.
Ron watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"Harry, let me handle this." Hermione pushed in between the two much taller boys. She pushed Harry's wand down.
"Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin. Now leave before I make it 20," said Hermione, seriously.
With that he sneered evilly at Hermione, trying to show them that she didn't intimidate him, but he however turned, and strutted down the hall, disappearing around a corner.
Harry pocketed his wand, and pushed an ebony lock out of his eyes.
"Thanks," Ginny mumbled.
"Don't mention it," said Harry, turning to address her.
Ron continued looked at him oddly.
"Right, this way," Harry said, turning back down the corridor.
~~~~
Harry could feel Ron's eyes boring into the back of his head, as he, Hermione, and Ginny followed silently behind him down the long, less cramped hallway.
Harry found an empty compartment, and walked in plopping himself down on the cushioned seat by the window. He stretched his legs long wise, and sighed in relief. "I am tired of that prat, he better not come near me this year. I may just do something drastic, and I really don't feel like having a bunch of detentions this year. But I will, oh, it'd be worth it!" he exclaimed. Ron and Hermione took the opposite bench while Ginny stood in the doorway for a minute, chewing on her lip. Harry lifted his feet, and gestured for her to sit down.
"Oi Gin! Come sit with me!" a voice called from down the corridor.
Harry looked at Ginny, her lips twitched into a smile. His stomach beginning to wiggle, and the lump that had formed in his throat dropped roughly into his stomach. Something told him that he didn't want Ginny sitting with Colin, or anyone, but himself. 'What's wrong with me?'
~~~~
Ginny turned her head, and looked down the hall toward the voice, and smiled. She then turned her head in Harry's direction, and her smile faltered at his intense look. Why is he looking at me like that? It's somewhat frightening.
"Is it ok if I go sit with Colin?" she asked quietly, looking specifically at Harry, terrified of the look his was giving her.
"Yea, do whatever you want," Ron said leaning back against the bench opposite Harry, and propping his feet up on the cushion across from him that Harry had intended for Ginny. "I'm not your father."
"Thank Goodness." She smiled one last time, before taking one last look at Harry. Her smile disappeared. Was that hurt in his eyes? She shook her head, clearing the absurd thought.
She gave him and Hermione a small wave, before turning out of their compartment toward Colin's. She tried to ignore Harry's green-eyed gaze boring into her back.
~~~~
Harry frowned. The lump that had formally dropped into his stomach was growing in size, as he watched her leave.
"Harry?"
Harry looked up to see Ron sitting looking at him from the opposite seat. Hermione had already started to read her book.
"You wanna play some exploding snap?"
Harry thought about it. It will keep me busy. "Sure."
And the game of exploding snap began.
~~~~
When Ginny slid Colin's compartment door open, Colin greeted her.
"Hey, Gin."
"Hello, Colin!" She sat down on the left, near the window, and looked at Colin who was staring at her, opposite where she was sitting. "What?" she asked, absentmindedly fixing her hair.
"Did you have any dreams?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Jeez, Colin! I get enough of this from Harry. I don't need it from you too."
"Harry knows then?"
"Yea, he beat it out of me," she admitted, crossing her arms in defeat.
He smiled in response. "I'm glad you told him. What does he say? Does he know what's wrong? Did you have another one?"
"No, Harry doesn't know what it means. He doesn't know everything Colin, and no I haven't had a dream since the last one I told you about in Diagon Alley."
Colin smiled and leaned back in the chair, while Ginny rolled her eyes.
The door swung open lightly, and a round faced boy entered.
Ginny smiled. "Hello Neville! How was your summer?"
Colin nodded to him.
"Hello, it was fine. Have you by any chance seen Trevor?" Trevor was Neville's pet toad, that he had a tendency for losing.
"No sorry," said Ginny, shrugging apologetically.
"Hey Neville, who you talking too?" someone shouted from down the hall. Neville poked his head out of the door.
"Ginny and Colin."
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan then appeared over Neville's shoulders. Seamus's sparkled mischievously; dulling Dean's amused expression in comparison. They stood tall, not as tall as Harry and Ron's 6'3 and 6'1 heights, but close at 5'8 and 5'9.
"Looking for your toad again, Nev?" Seamus asked, slapping Neville's back as they came up beside him.
"Yea."
"It's the first day!" he said, shaking his sandy colored head.
"I KNOW!" Neville pushed past the two boys, and disappeared. Dean and Seamus walked farther into the room.
"Hey Gin, Colin," Dean said with a small wave.
"Hey, guys!" Ginny said smiling happily.
"Hey, do you know if you brother's trying out for the Quidditch team again?" Dean asked looking at Ginny.
"I have no idea, but I expect so, why?"
"Cause I was thinking of trying out, and I wanted to see who else would possibly be on the team. Are you Colin?"
"Yea, I think so."
Ginny's attention turned to Colin in shock.
"You like Quidditch?" she asked.
"Yea, I love it, I only played once, when I went to my cousin's house, who's a whole wizard, and he loaned me a broom to play on. It was great." He grew pensive, before breaking into an excited grin. "Hey, you think Harry would help me practice?"
Ginny shook her head amused. "Probably, why don't you ask him?"
"You should try out, Gin," Seamus winked.
She grinned, "I don't feel like it this year."
Seamus's face fell into an overly concerned look. "Why not?
Ginny lifted her shoulders in a shrug.
Dean rolled his eyes, and tugged on his robes.
"On a never ending mission to pick up girls," Dean muttered under his breath, "come on Sea, let's leave them alone."
Seamus grinned one last time at Ginny, before following Dean out into the corridor.
"Think about it Gin!" Seamus called, as Dean slid the doors shut.
Ginny turned back to look at Colin.
"That was odd. Wasn't it?" Ginny asked, looking back to where to two boys had been.
Colin just grinned.
"Yea. I'm gonna go get something to munch on, you want anything?" Colin asked, standing up from his position.
"No."
And Colin was gone; Ginny relaxed into the seat, ready for the long train- ride.
~~~~
"Hermione?" Ron called softly.
She didn't look up. "Hmm?"
"Do you want to play some exploding snap?" He waved the deck of cards under her nose in an effort to tempt her away from her book. She swiped it away.
"No not really."
"Please!"
"Play with Harry," she said distractedly.
Ron looked at her with wide disbelieving eyes. "Did you completely miss the conversation over here? He's bored with it and wants to nap. Leaving only you to play with me," he grinned, what he thought was a winning smile at her.
"Rooon! I want to read!"
"One game."
"No."
"Only one?" He gave her puppy dog eyes, which she was ignoring. So, he did the only thing guaranteed to gain her attention; he slammed his hand down on the page of the book, causing her to drop it. Her eyes instantly flew to his. He gave her another of his wounded puppy looks.
She glared for a moment. "Ugh! Ok gosh your persistent!"
Ron grinned. "Thank you."
"No problem," she said emotionlessly, as she snapped her book closed and stuffed it in her carry on bag.
She got down on her knees on the floor of the compartment, and looked up at Ron. "You start."
"Gladly."
A half an hour later, the deck had not exploded yet.
"The one game I want to be over quickly, it takes the whole train ride," Hermione sighed sarcastically.
Ron just grinned, "to keep you occupied tell me something you've never told Harry." The irresistible grin spread across his face.
Hermione sighed, what could it hurt?
"Ok, but you have to promise not to tell him!"
Ron leaned in toward her. "I promise, what is it?"
"When I was 10, and I just started here I had a crush on him. This was all before I became his friend."
Ron's mouth dropped open, as she placed another card on the deck. It didn't explode.
"You liked Harry?" he asked, his eyes the size of dinner plates.
Harry started to stir on the seat.
"Shh! Used to! Key word used too, past tense. It was that whole hero worship thing. I had read about him, and he sounded so amazing," she sighed.
"Whoa, that's--there's no words--" Ron chuckled.
"Yea, your turn."
He gently placed a card next to Hermione's, and instinctively cringed, even though the tower didn't explode.
Hermione yawned loudly, "so what story do you have?"
"Um--actually you might find this interesting. In wizarding preschool, we had to learn about him, and what they thought happened. I figured he wouldn't appreciate knowing that though, so I never told him. You know how he is about that kind of thing; all he wants is to be normal. Though I must say they knew nothing about what really happened, we know more now being his best friends."
Her eyes were wide with wonder.
He cautiously placed the last card on top, and the whole thing exploded, he backed away quickly as to get away from the line of fire, while Hermione laughed at him.
Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Are we almost there?"
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and began to laugh.
Ten minutes before the train stopped, Hermione forced them to change into their robes. The door slid open, and Seamus and Dean poked their head in.
"Ahh, Ron, Harry, we were looking for you."
They pushed the door open and stepped in.
"Hey, Hermione." Seamus winked at her.
"Hey, Seamus," she said smiling in amusement.
Dean however turned to Ron grinning. "Are you trying out for Quidditch again this year?"
Ron nodded.
"Do you think your sister will?" Seamus interrupted.
Ron pulled a face at him. "I doubt it."
"Do you think you can persuade her to?" Seamus asked with a grin.
Ron gave him an annoyed look, "no."
"Pity, she'd be a great addition to the team," Seamus grinned. "So, is that a definite no?"
"Yes."
"Well I guess it's just as well. She'd be too bit of a distraction for the males of the team." Seamus grinned at the look on Ron and surprisingly Harry's face.
"What do you mean a distraction?" Ron growled.
"Hello, your sister's a fox! A sexy fox that is." Seamus smirked, while Dean snorted and looked determinedly out the window at the passing scenery. "Yep, your little sister's grown to be a full blown hottie!"
"Tra la la la la!" Ron shrieked, pressing his palms to his ears.
Harry gaped at Seamus, with wide, angry eyes.
Hermione bit back a chuckle, and stared fixedly down at her lap.
Seamus grinned and slid the door opened as the train came to a stop. "Oh don't get your knickers in a twist. I wouldn't try anything with your baby sister."
"Good!" Ron growled.
Seamus laughed and turned to address Dean, "you can cut the tension in this room with a knife. These people just don't know how to handle a good jest," Seamus shook his head. "Got poles up their butts, that's what it is."
Dean snorted with laughter.
"So, you don't really like my sister?" Ron asked, removing his hands from his ears.
"Oh, I like her just fine, she is a fox, like a said, but--I would never do that to a friend. Well, unless she wanted it." He ended with a wink at Ron.
Dean stood by the exit to the compartment, trying to usher Seamus out of the room.
Ron glared at him; "you better not."
"Well it's been grand kids, but I'm off to fetch a girl. Oh, that reminds me, Ron can you tell Ginny to meet me in ten minutes? By the front doors?"
Seamus's lower lip twitched, holding back his laughter as Ron and Harry grew bright red.
"WHAT!" shouted Ron.
Seamus looked at Dean highly amused, then back to the three in the compartment, "Jeez! 'Twas a jest! A jest!"
Ron calmed down, but surprisingly, Harry was still bright red.
"Well, we'll see you guys later," Seamus said happily, laughing as he pulled Dean out of the compartment with him, though leaving the door slightly open, so the occupants could hear the conversation as they left.
"You think they're a bit uptight about Ginny?" Seamus asked sarcastically.
Dean shrugged, "wrong move on your part to joke about Ron's little sister. You know how the Weasley's are about her."
Seamus put a hand to his heart looking scandalized. "It was all in good fun! It's not my fault some people lack the sense of humor!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~
The next morning Ginny woke up, finding Hermione's bed empty. She rolled over on her back, and stared at the ceiling. She stretched the length of the bed, and smiled to herself. No dreams! Maybe she was free of them for good? It was the second night in a row that she hadn't dreamed, and she was refreshed considerably from the two whole nights of blissfully free dreaming.
She swung her pale legs over the side of her bed, and stood up, stretching on her tiptoes, before making her way to her robe that was hanging on the peg behind her closet. She swung the terry cloth material over her shoulder, and groggily made her way into the hallway. The normal craziness that she was used to on the mornings they went back to Hogwarts was surprisingly absent, so she quickly made her way to the bathroom door in case they were on their way. Knocking loudly against the running water, she waited for a reply.
"In a minute!" a female voice shouted. The water was turned off, and a scurrying could be heard from the other side of the door. Ginny recognized the voice as Hermione's.
The door opened a moment later, admitting a cloud of perfume smelling steam into the hallway.
"All yours," said Hermione brightly. "Got it before the mad rush!"
"Thanks," mumbled Ginny trying to shake off her sleepiness. Hermione grinned at her once more, clutching her towel around her, and moved passed, disappearing in Ginny's room with a soft click as the door closed behind her.
Ginny slowly undressed, and ran her hands through her tangled hair. Her eyes were slightly crossed from sleep as she climbed into the shower. She put it on the highest notch, letting it warm up, and run down her skin, turning it flushed pink. This was her method of waking up every morning. She scrubbed the overnight grime off her body, slowly feeling more awake, as she ran the sweet smelling shampoo through her bright red locks. She rinsed quickly, and turned off the head. She wrung her hair out; a gentle stream of water flowed consistently from her soaking hair to her toes. The bathroom was thick with steam when she finally stepped out, wrapping her white fluffy robe tightly around her slender body. She bent over to gather her pajamas. Her knees cracked slightly as she stood up, and swung the door open. She stepped back startled at seeing Harry standing on the other side, his hand poised over it, ready to knock.
"Oh hello Harry. Late getting up this morning?" she asked, holding her pajamas in her right hand, and her robe closed with her left.
Harry's mouth opened but no sound came out. Finally, he seemed to have found his voice, "yea."
She tilted her head at him with a wide grin. "You're so cute sometimes."
Where did that come from? She thought. I must be feeling extra bold today.
Harry smiled the kind that made her knees weak, and her heart rate quicken.
"Did you have any nightmares last night?" he asked, messing up his hair in that adorable way that he had.
Ginny smiled happily. "Nope, maybe I'm out of the dark!"
"Let's hope so." Harry smiled at her. Ginny grinned back, and turned to walk away.
"Gin, I want to know every time you have a nightmare," he shot quickly, before she reached her bedroom.
Ginny swung around, this time frowning at Harry.
"Harry, why are you making me check in with you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Harry blushed to the roots of his hair. "I'm just.worried."
Ginny smiled, and walked back up to Harry. She reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek, a gesture she was so used to doing with her many brothers. "Well, thanks," she whispered, before turning and walking into her bedroom, and shutting the door using her foot.
"Whoa Gin? What's up?" Hermione asked promptly, looking up from the large textbook that was propped open on her knees. Her damp hair was limp around her shoulders, and her brown eyes were staring at her questioningly.
What had she just done? Ginny thought.
Ginny looked up into her friend's eyes. She walked over to her hamper, throwing her pajamas in, then walking over to her wardrobe, and opened it. She chose a simple green shirt, and denim trousers, with a black robe to wear over them.
"Gin?" Hermione tried again, placing a marker in her book.
Ginny turned to her, clothes in hand. "What, huh?" she stammered.
"What happened? You're all red."
Ginny looked at her puzzled, as she placed her clothes on her bed, and pulled on her undergarments, under the towel. "What do you mean what happened? Nothing," she said, pulling on her trousers, and shirt.
"Ok--but you're blushing like mad."
"Nothing happened," she said shrugging and trying her best to look innocent.
Ginny grinned despite herself, and stood in front of her mirror. Her freckles were light, but the more she stayed in the sun, the more noticeable they became. She fingered her damp hair a moment, suddenly frowning.
"Hermione, can I use your Muggle hair drier thing?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Well, we can't use magic over the holidays."
"Gin, you live in the Burrow, magic will go undetected."
"Well, your drier might have a different affect." she drifted off, spritzing some perfume on her pulse points.
She caught Hermione roll her eyes in the mirror, but didn't comment.
"Sure Gin, hold on." Hermione closed the book, setting it aside on her bed, and got up from her position.
She walked to her trunk, and disappeared in the depths. She emerged a moment later carrying what looked like a large Muggle gun.
Ginny gulped. "Is that a-a-drier?"
Hermione grinned, "yes, do you have a circuit, Gin?"
"A what?"
"An electrical circuit?"
"Um-er-you mean one of those things with the rectangular holes in it that dad gets all excited over?"
Hermione giggled, "yea."
"Hmm." Ginny opened the top drawer of her dresser and rummaged through it.
"Uh.Gin-it wouldn't be in there."
"It wouldn't? But isn't this it?"
She pulled out just the cover for a circuit.
Hermione laughed, "no. Why don't you just dry it?" She placed the drier back into her trunk, and watched Ginny frown in the mirror.
"I s'pose."
Hermione nodded, and plopped back down on the bed, and picked up her book.
Ginny rose her wand to her head, and muttered the drying incantation. Her hair instantly dried falling full and straight down her back. It lifted her face somehow, making her look more refreshed, and happier, if that was possible. She put on a touch of make up, and pushed away from her dresser, turning to Hermione.
"Ready?"
Hermione placed her marker back on the page, and snapped the book shut, setting it aside again. She stood up, nodding. "Yea, let's go down." She crossed the room in one swift movement, and pulled the bedroom door open. "Coming?"
~~~~
They met with a sleepy, tousle haired Ron half way down the stairs. Ginny pushed passed them, and jumped them down the stairs two at a time, knowing not to interrupt them.
She slid into her usual seat. "Morning Mum."
"Oh Ginny, dear! Thank Goodness you're eating!" Her mother scampered over, plopping two spoonfuls of scrambled eggs onto her plate. "Your favorite."
"Thanks Mum, but I don't think I can eat that much in one sitting," she said, eyeing the eggs with apprehension.
"Nonsense, you need your strength, dear."
"Ok," she sighed, not wanting to argue with her mother when she was in Mother Hen mode. She ducked her head over her plate, and stuffed a mouth full of eggs into her mouth.
She looked up to regard her Mother after moment, swallowing the eggs. "Mum, where are Dad, Percy, and the twins?"
Ron and Hermione had just entered the room smiling and holding hands. She smiled warmly at them, only causing Ron to turned red, and drop Hermione's hand like he'd been scolded. Hermione frowned, but then shrugged in Ginny's direction.
Ginny just smiled, and shook her head in amusement. When will Ron learn that he likes her?
"Fred and George left early to go open the shop, and your father and Percy send their regards, they had to leave early for work this morning."
Ginny opened her mouth to form an 'O' shape, before bending over her plate again. Ron plopped down, rather inharmoniously across from her, and began to dig through his breakfast. Hermione took the seat next to him, tutting in disapproval at his table manners.
There was a movement next to her, and she looked up to see startlingly green eyes smiling down at her.
"Hey, Gin," Harry said, pulling out his chair, and sitting down. He piled pancakes onto his plate, and smothered them in syrup. Ginny inhaled the smell of his soap and sighed. His hair was still damp from his shower, and was sticking up in dark glistening spikes.
"Hello, Harry."
"So, where'd you go yesterday?" he asked trying to sound nonchalant.
Ron grinned in her direction. "Off to snog Colin did you?"
Harry frowned at Ron's choice of words.
Ron suddenly grimaced. Ginny had the impression that Hermione had intentionally kicked his leg. Ginny grinned, and reached over to take a piece of toast from the center of the table. Ron's face turned red, and he looked over at Hermione.
"What?"
"For your information Ronniekins," Ginny started. Ron frowned at the nickname but didn't say anything. "Colin and I went to get ice-cream. Then, he was nice enough to join me to get our school supplies."
Ron just smiled at his sister, probably trying to keep quiet so Hermione wouldn't have reason to kick him again. It infuriated her to see the smug expression on his face, like he knew something that she didn't.
"Eat up dears, you have limited time," Mrs. Weasley said, bustling in from the kitchen with a frying pan. She plopped some eggs on Ron, Harry, and Hermione's plates.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Harry and Hermione smiled up at her, while Ron chugged down his pumpkin juice.
~~~~
Ginny pushed the extremely heavy cart through Kings Cross, and checked the Muggle watch her father had given her for her fifteenth birthday again.
"Mum, we've got to move it! The train leaves in ten minutes!" she whined. There was no way she was going to miss the train.
"Hush Ginny dear, we'll make it," her mother assured her for the fifth time that morning.
The platform came into view behind a crowd of finely dressed Muggles. She sighed heavily in relief. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, caught up, and wheeled their carts next to hers. She slowed down to walk with them.
"Now wait Ginny! You don't want to be seen!" her mother warned.
Ginny glanced at her watch again, there were 10 minutes left. "Mum! I'm going!" She pushed her cart through, disappearing into the wall.
A minute past when Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared next to her, all pushing their carts.
"Nice Virginia." Ron grinned at his little sister, as she shrugged.
"I won't miss the train, Ronald."
The scarlet steam train gleamed in front of them, issuing a large cloud of smoke, and a loud screeching whistle.
Ginny wheeled her cart along with Ron, Hermione, and Harry over to an empty storage compartment under the steaming train. She shoved her belongings in after Ron's with Harry's help, and followed them over to where Mrs. Weasley was standing.
"I'll see you at the end of the term, good luck, and Hermione, Ron, make sure they stay out of trouble," Mrs. Weasley said gesturing to Ginny and Harry. Ginny rolled her eyes as her mother smiled at all of them, pulling them into a motherly hug.
She pulled Ginny into a hug. "Be good, and if anything's bothering you, feel free to owl."
Ginny nodded against her mother's shoulder. She felt her mother pat her back, and plant a kiss on her head. "And I reckon you can talk to Ron, Hermione, or Harry if something's bothering you. Don't let it get to the point where you want to leave, ok?"
Ginny felt tears prickle her eyes. "I won't Mum," she sniffled.
"I love you, Ginny."
Ginny leaned back, and kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you too, mum, and I'm really sorry."
Mrs. Weasley waved it away, and nudged Ginny toward now slowly moving train. "Goodbye! Owl often!"
Ginny waved one final time before running to catch the train. Harry waited for her by the open door. He gripped her hand, and heaved her up onto the train. Ron and Hermione stood behind him. She turned in the doorway, and waved to her mother who disappeared as they entered the dark tunnel.
Harry released her hand, and slammed the door shut, and turned to find a compartment. Harry pushed through crowds of second and first years, trying to make his way toward the back of the train, where the older kids normally sat. A door to their right opened, and an unwelcome voice stepped out and into his path.
He stopped abruptly, causing Ginny to run right into him, her face smashed between his shoulder blades. She felt him sigh heavily.
"Well, if it isn't Potty, mudblood, and the weasels."
She stepped around, to stand next to Harry. She noticed him glaring at Malfoy, hatred pouring from his usually warm eyes. Ginny felt his arm move slightly, and looked down to witness his hand move to the pocket of his robes, gently fingering the wood of his wand.
Malfoy smirked at Ginny, "I don't believe it, is that a Weasel? Who would have thought? If you weren't a mudblood lover, I might consider you," he said looking her up and down.
"Stuff it Malfoy," she Ginny through grit teeth, feeling her cheeks flame up.
Ron stepped between Ginny and Malfoy and glared at him. "If you wanna say something, say it to me. Leave my sister out of it."
"I don't wanna say anything to her. She's only good for one thing," Malfoy smirked.
Ginny's face flamed up, heat rising from her neck, and seeping slowly up her face in anger and embarrassment.
She saw Harry turn a beet red, and began to pull out his wand, with shaking fingers. Ginny reached to put an arm on his, but he only stepped right next to Ron, pushing Ginny behind him to stand beside Hermione, blocking her from Malfoy's penetrating gaze. He held his wand to Malfoy's throat, who gulped instinctively.
"Harry--" she tried, standing on her tiptoes trying to look over Harry's shoulder. "Ron--"
"Say one more thing. Go ahead--say something, Crabbe and Goyle aren't here to protect you, and you know Ron and I can kick your ass with no problem. So say something, give us some more motivation to break every bone in your miserable body," growled Harry. The scowl on his face alone made him seem suddenly dangerous. He took a step closer to the pale boy, but Ginny placed a restraining hand on his lower back.
Ron watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"Harry, let me handle this." Hermione pushed in between the two much taller boys. She pushed Harry's wand down.
"Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin. Now leave before I make it 20," said Hermione, seriously.
With that he sneered evilly at Hermione, trying to show them that she didn't intimidate him, but he however turned, and strutted down the hall, disappearing around a corner.
Harry pocketed his wand, and pushed an ebony lock out of his eyes.
"Thanks," Ginny mumbled.
"Don't mention it," said Harry, turning to address her.
Ron continued looked at him oddly.
"Right, this way," Harry said, turning back down the corridor.
~~~~
Harry could feel Ron's eyes boring into the back of his head, as he, Hermione, and Ginny followed silently behind him down the long, less cramped hallway.
Harry found an empty compartment, and walked in plopping himself down on the cushioned seat by the window. He stretched his legs long wise, and sighed in relief. "I am tired of that prat, he better not come near me this year. I may just do something drastic, and I really don't feel like having a bunch of detentions this year. But I will, oh, it'd be worth it!" he exclaimed. Ron and Hermione took the opposite bench while Ginny stood in the doorway for a minute, chewing on her lip. Harry lifted his feet, and gestured for her to sit down.
"Oi Gin! Come sit with me!" a voice called from down the corridor.
Harry looked at Ginny, her lips twitched into a smile. His stomach beginning to wiggle, and the lump that had formed in his throat dropped roughly into his stomach. Something told him that he didn't want Ginny sitting with Colin, or anyone, but himself. 'What's wrong with me?'
~~~~
Ginny turned her head, and looked down the hall toward the voice, and smiled. She then turned her head in Harry's direction, and her smile faltered at his intense look. Why is he looking at me like that? It's somewhat frightening.
"Is it ok if I go sit with Colin?" she asked quietly, looking specifically at Harry, terrified of the look his was giving her.
"Yea, do whatever you want," Ron said leaning back against the bench opposite Harry, and propping his feet up on the cushion across from him that Harry had intended for Ginny. "I'm not your father."
"Thank Goodness." She smiled one last time, before taking one last look at Harry. Her smile disappeared. Was that hurt in his eyes? She shook her head, clearing the absurd thought.
She gave him and Hermione a small wave, before turning out of their compartment toward Colin's. She tried to ignore Harry's green-eyed gaze boring into her back.
~~~~
Harry frowned. The lump that had formally dropped into his stomach was growing in size, as he watched her leave.
"Harry?"
Harry looked up to see Ron sitting looking at him from the opposite seat. Hermione had already started to read her book.
"You wanna play some exploding snap?"
Harry thought about it. It will keep me busy. "Sure."
And the game of exploding snap began.
~~~~
When Ginny slid Colin's compartment door open, Colin greeted her.
"Hey, Gin."
"Hello, Colin!" She sat down on the left, near the window, and looked at Colin who was staring at her, opposite where she was sitting. "What?" she asked, absentmindedly fixing her hair.
"Did you have any dreams?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Jeez, Colin! I get enough of this from Harry. I don't need it from you too."
"Harry knows then?"
"Yea, he beat it out of me," she admitted, crossing her arms in defeat.
He smiled in response. "I'm glad you told him. What does he say? Does he know what's wrong? Did you have another one?"
"No, Harry doesn't know what it means. He doesn't know everything Colin, and no I haven't had a dream since the last one I told you about in Diagon Alley."
Colin smiled and leaned back in the chair, while Ginny rolled her eyes.
The door swung open lightly, and a round faced boy entered.
Ginny smiled. "Hello Neville! How was your summer?"
Colin nodded to him.
"Hello, it was fine. Have you by any chance seen Trevor?" Trevor was Neville's pet toad, that he had a tendency for losing.
"No sorry," said Ginny, shrugging apologetically.
"Hey Neville, who you talking too?" someone shouted from down the hall. Neville poked his head out of the door.
"Ginny and Colin."
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan then appeared over Neville's shoulders. Seamus's sparkled mischievously; dulling Dean's amused expression in comparison. They stood tall, not as tall as Harry and Ron's 6'3 and 6'1 heights, but close at 5'8 and 5'9.
"Looking for your toad again, Nev?" Seamus asked, slapping Neville's back as they came up beside him.
"Yea."
"It's the first day!" he said, shaking his sandy colored head.
"I KNOW!" Neville pushed past the two boys, and disappeared. Dean and Seamus walked farther into the room.
"Hey Gin, Colin," Dean said with a small wave.
"Hey, guys!" Ginny said smiling happily.
"Hey, do you know if you brother's trying out for the Quidditch team again?" Dean asked looking at Ginny.
"I have no idea, but I expect so, why?"
"Cause I was thinking of trying out, and I wanted to see who else would possibly be on the team. Are you Colin?"
"Yea, I think so."
Ginny's attention turned to Colin in shock.
"You like Quidditch?" she asked.
"Yea, I love it, I only played once, when I went to my cousin's house, who's a whole wizard, and he loaned me a broom to play on. It was great." He grew pensive, before breaking into an excited grin. "Hey, you think Harry would help me practice?"
Ginny shook her head amused. "Probably, why don't you ask him?"
"You should try out, Gin," Seamus winked.
She grinned, "I don't feel like it this year."
Seamus's face fell into an overly concerned look. "Why not?
Ginny lifted her shoulders in a shrug.
Dean rolled his eyes, and tugged on his robes.
"On a never ending mission to pick up girls," Dean muttered under his breath, "come on Sea, let's leave them alone."
Seamus grinned one last time at Ginny, before following Dean out into the corridor.
"Think about it Gin!" Seamus called, as Dean slid the doors shut.
Ginny turned back to look at Colin.
"That was odd. Wasn't it?" Ginny asked, looking back to where to two boys had been.
Colin just grinned.
"Yea. I'm gonna go get something to munch on, you want anything?" Colin asked, standing up from his position.
"No."
And Colin was gone; Ginny relaxed into the seat, ready for the long train- ride.
~~~~
"Hermione?" Ron called softly.
She didn't look up. "Hmm?"
"Do you want to play some exploding snap?" He waved the deck of cards under her nose in an effort to tempt her away from her book. She swiped it away.
"No not really."
"Please!"
"Play with Harry," she said distractedly.
Ron looked at her with wide disbelieving eyes. "Did you completely miss the conversation over here? He's bored with it and wants to nap. Leaving only you to play with me," he grinned, what he thought was a winning smile at her.
"Rooon! I want to read!"
"One game."
"No."
"Only one?" He gave her puppy dog eyes, which she was ignoring. So, he did the only thing guaranteed to gain her attention; he slammed his hand down on the page of the book, causing her to drop it. Her eyes instantly flew to his. He gave her another of his wounded puppy looks.
She glared for a moment. "Ugh! Ok gosh your persistent!"
Ron grinned. "Thank you."
"No problem," she said emotionlessly, as she snapped her book closed and stuffed it in her carry on bag.
She got down on her knees on the floor of the compartment, and looked up at Ron. "You start."
"Gladly."
A half an hour later, the deck had not exploded yet.
"The one game I want to be over quickly, it takes the whole train ride," Hermione sighed sarcastically.
Ron just grinned, "to keep you occupied tell me something you've never told Harry." The irresistible grin spread across his face.
Hermione sighed, what could it hurt?
"Ok, but you have to promise not to tell him!"
Ron leaned in toward her. "I promise, what is it?"
"When I was 10, and I just started here I had a crush on him. This was all before I became his friend."
Ron's mouth dropped open, as she placed another card on the deck. It didn't explode.
"You liked Harry?" he asked, his eyes the size of dinner plates.
Harry started to stir on the seat.
"Shh! Used to! Key word used too, past tense. It was that whole hero worship thing. I had read about him, and he sounded so amazing," she sighed.
"Whoa, that's--there's no words--" Ron chuckled.
"Yea, your turn."
He gently placed a card next to Hermione's, and instinctively cringed, even though the tower didn't explode.
Hermione yawned loudly, "so what story do you have?"
"Um--actually you might find this interesting. In wizarding preschool, we had to learn about him, and what they thought happened. I figured he wouldn't appreciate knowing that though, so I never told him. You know how he is about that kind of thing; all he wants is to be normal. Though I must say they knew nothing about what really happened, we know more now being his best friends."
Her eyes were wide with wonder.
He cautiously placed the last card on top, and the whole thing exploded, he backed away quickly as to get away from the line of fire, while Hermione laughed at him.
Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Are we almost there?"
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and began to laugh.
Ten minutes before the train stopped, Hermione forced them to change into their robes. The door slid open, and Seamus and Dean poked their head in.
"Ahh, Ron, Harry, we were looking for you."
They pushed the door open and stepped in.
"Hey, Hermione." Seamus winked at her.
"Hey, Seamus," she said smiling in amusement.
Dean however turned to Ron grinning. "Are you trying out for Quidditch again this year?"
Ron nodded.
"Do you think your sister will?" Seamus interrupted.
Ron pulled a face at him. "I doubt it."
"Do you think you can persuade her to?" Seamus asked with a grin.
Ron gave him an annoyed look, "no."
"Pity, she'd be a great addition to the team," Seamus grinned. "So, is that a definite no?"
"Yes."
"Well I guess it's just as well. She'd be too bit of a distraction for the males of the team." Seamus grinned at the look on Ron and surprisingly Harry's face.
"What do you mean a distraction?" Ron growled.
"Hello, your sister's a fox! A sexy fox that is." Seamus smirked, while Dean snorted and looked determinedly out the window at the passing scenery. "Yep, your little sister's grown to be a full blown hottie!"
"Tra la la la la!" Ron shrieked, pressing his palms to his ears.
Harry gaped at Seamus, with wide, angry eyes.
Hermione bit back a chuckle, and stared fixedly down at her lap.
Seamus grinned and slid the door opened as the train came to a stop. "Oh don't get your knickers in a twist. I wouldn't try anything with your baby sister."
"Good!" Ron growled.
Seamus laughed and turned to address Dean, "you can cut the tension in this room with a knife. These people just don't know how to handle a good jest," Seamus shook his head. "Got poles up their butts, that's what it is."
Dean snorted with laughter.
"So, you don't really like my sister?" Ron asked, removing his hands from his ears.
"Oh, I like her just fine, she is a fox, like a said, but--I would never do that to a friend. Well, unless she wanted it." He ended with a wink at Ron.
Dean stood by the exit to the compartment, trying to usher Seamus out of the room.
Ron glared at him; "you better not."
"Well it's been grand kids, but I'm off to fetch a girl. Oh, that reminds me, Ron can you tell Ginny to meet me in ten minutes? By the front doors?"
Seamus's lower lip twitched, holding back his laughter as Ron and Harry grew bright red.
"WHAT!" shouted Ron.
Seamus looked at Dean highly amused, then back to the three in the compartment, "Jeez! 'Twas a jest! A jest!"
Ron calmed down, but surprisingly, Harry was still bright red.
"Well, we'll see you guys later," Seamus said happily, laughing as he pulled Dean out of the compartment with him, though leaving the door slightly open, so the occupants could hear the conversation as they left.
"You think they're a bit uptight about Ginny?" Seamus asked sarcastically.
Dean shrugged, "wrong move on your part to joke about Ron's little sister. You know how the Weasley's are about her."
Seamus put a hand to his heart looking scandalized. "It was all in good fun! It's not my fault some people lack the sense of humor!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~