CHAPTER 3: Midflight Rescues and Multicolored Hair

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Optimism and humor are the grease and glue of life.

[Philip Butler]

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Ginny blinked her eyes open and soon found to her surprise that she was tucked into her bed. 'Harry must've done it' she thought and smiled. She turned her head to find Hermione staring at her. The smile vanished as she clenched her teeth together. How long had Hermione been awake.

"So where have you and Harry been?" Hermione asked teasingly.

"W-What?!?" replied Ginny. Apparently Hermione had been awake long enough. 'Probably waiting up for me,' Ginny thought with a grimace. Now she'd have to explain everything and-

"You know very well 'what' I'm talking about," said Hermione, grinning at a now blushing Ginny, "Don't pretend not to know what I'm talking about."

"We were talking," said Ginny quickly.

"About what?" inquired Hermione, grinning even more.

"The 3rd task," replied Ginny told her, slightly sobering the mood.

"Oh," replied Hermione, a bit puzzled and shocked, "He told you what happened?"

"Yeah," said Ginny, "I think he's kept it to himself for a long time. Too long."

"Yeah," said Hermione, "he still hasn't told us yet."

"He didn't?" asked Ginny, surprised that he hadn't shared this with Ron or Hermione. She'd expected them to be first to know.

"No," said Hermione, "We knew better than to ask him. You should have seen how he reacted if it was mentioned at all. He just sort of shelled up and closed himself off from everything. I've hardly even seen him smile at all since the 3rd task and when he does it just doesn't seem real."

"I dunno. I guess it seemed easier to him to tell me because of the Chamber Of Secrets. I mean I'm sort of the only other person to survive when Voldemort wanted me dead," said Ginny, "though not even close to the same extent." 'And I'm much more of a coward,' she added silently.

"I guess so," said Hermione, "but do you think he'll tell us?"

"I think so, but he seemed like he was reliving it all when he told me. If you give him some time though he'll probably tell you. I think he sort of needs someone to talk to now," said Ginny, "It's like it's eating away at him."

"I'll talk to Ron about it later," replied Hermione, "but to change the subject just a little. Do you still like Harry?"

"Well…ummm I- no-," Ginny said as she began to blush, "Well I thought I was over it but now i….and... Well you can't tell him or Ron, Ever!"

"That's great Ginny," said Hermione with a big grin, "And don't worry about it."

"Not if he doesn't like me," said Ginny.

"We'll see about that," said Hermione, slyly.

"How?" asked Ginny, puzzled.

"Leave it to me," Hermione told her, still grinning, "G'night Ginny." At that she rolled over and went to sleep, a big grin still on her face, before Ginny could question her any further.

Ginny couldn't fall asleep so she pulled her diary out from under her pillow. It had been a few years since she had even considered having a diary after the Chamber of Secrets.

Dear Diary, July 27th

I just talked to Hermione. She thinks that Harry might like me. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I can't help but feel overjoyed at the thought. Also, I am worried about Harry. He seems so weak and I haven't seen him smile at all. We talked tonight out by the lake. He told me about the 3rd task and it was worse than what everyone 'thought' happened. There were so many rumors, but the actual story turned out being a lot worse. I can't believe how many awful things he went through. Voldemort has killed his parent's and He's been forced to live with the Dursley, along with almost being killed every year since he started at Hogwarts. Now, He has to deal with more after the third task. He still blames himself for Cedric's death. I think talking to him helped tonight. He needs to stop blaming himself .Oh well, maybe his birthday will cheer him up a little. I guess I had better go to bed though. It is getting late.

-Ginny Days 'til my birthday:6 'til Harry's: 4

The next morning everyone gathered downstairs for breakfast, talking about plans for the day. Harry seemed a little out of it as Ron tried to ask him if he wanted to play Quidditch later. Harry kept looking over at Ginny. Their eyes met a few times and it seemed as if they were both trying not to blush.

"Harry, Earth to Harry," said Ron, prodding him with a fork.

"Oh," said Harry, "what'd you say?"

"He just asked you for the 5th time if you wanted to come play Quidditch," said Hermione, shaking her head in disbelief "honestly Harry are you paying any attention?"

"Oh, ok," said Harry. Then he turned to Ginny and asked, "Do you wanna come?"

"Sure," said Ginny. They went out to the orchard and Mrs. Weasley gave Hermione the broom she'd been using the other day, which happened to be Percy's.

"We bought it for him but he never took a lot of interest," Mrs. Weasley had told her. No one was surprised at this though, considering it was Percy they were talking about.

They headed out to the orchard and mounted their brooms, hovering above the trees. Ron tossed and apple down towards the ground and Harry zoomed down after it. He caught the apple and pulled out of the dive at the last minute, feeling his toes skim against the grass. Hermione decided to stick to hovering in circles. Flying was not her best area. Ron on the other hand had no concerns about it at all. He began to show Harry a new move that involved flying upside down in a loop. Harry grinned as his friend finished. Ginny decided to follow Ron's example and started the loop. Halfway through her sweaty hands slipped off the broom and she screamed as she plummeted towards the ground. Harry started to dive down after her and she closed her eyes waiting for the fall to end. Harry swooped under her and pulled her onto the broom. He quickly pulled out of the dive, twisting his arm painfully against the ground. He hovered about 2 feet off the ground. He collapsed from the broom, Ginny landing on top of him. She stayed there for a minute until her breathing had calmed down and she realized that she was still lying on top of Harry. Ginny quickly stood up, slightly shaken and dizzy, and helped Harry to his feet. By then Ron and Hermione had already come running over.

"Are you two alright?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I think so," said Ginny, "How about you Harry."

"Okay, but I think I twisted my arm a bit" he said, picking up his broom with his good hand and trying to grin at them. "It's ok I've done worse to it."

"We should go inside and get mum to look at it," said Ginny in concern. Hermione retrieved Ginny's broom from the center of the orchard and they walked inside.

"Oh dear," exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, seeing Harry's arm and immediately stepping into her role as the worried mother "What happened? Sit down."

"Harry saved Ginny, Mum. It was Brilliant," Ron told her excitedly.

"Ginny fell off her broom and Harry caught her just in time," Hermione explained to her, "but I think he hurt his arm."

"Oh my," was all Mrs. Weasley could say for a moment, then began buzzing around the kitchen, grabbing her wand and some pain relieving cream. She turned to Harry, "Does it hurt dear?"

"It's not that bad," said Harry. In truth it was no worse than anything his uncle had done to him or Voldemort but he wasn't going to tell her that. Come to think of it this was the same arm that had been pierced by a basilisk fang. Mrs. Weasley cleaned off a few cuts on his arm and conjured a sling for him.

"That should be better in a few days dear," she told him, "If you feel any pain just let me know and I can use a charm on it. The cream I put on it should last for awhile and make it heal faster."

"Thanks," said Harry.

"It's no problem dear," she told him, then began making them all sandwiches for lunch.

"Sorry Harry," Ginny told him as they sat down, "but thanks."

"It's fine," Harry told her, casually shrugging.

"We can all see why you made it onto the team as seeker in your first year," said Ron, grinning as he ducked a swat from Harry's good arm.

They were all about to eat the sandwiches Mrs. Weasley had prepared when a large tawny owl came in dropping them letters with the Hogwart's crest. They opened them to find their booklists. There was an extra letter though.

"Look at this Ron," said Harry handing him the letter. Ron took it and read aloud:

Dear Student,

This year there are many new security measures at Hogwarts to ensure the safety of our students. You will be informed of these at the welcoming feast. In the meantime we wish to inform you that it is no longer illegal for an underage wizard to perform magic outside of school. We encourage you to practice charms and skills to defend yourself, though we expect you to completely abide by the laws enforced on all magic users. Thank you and enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Sincerely,

Deputy Headmistress

Minerva McGonagall

"Wow," said Hermione. Harry continued to look through his envelope and pulled out another letter with a badge attached to it.

"I've been made a prefect," Harry said in astonishment. Hermione and Ron looked like they were about to burst laughing.

"Me too," said Hermione, smiling broadly.

"It's fine for you," Ron told her, "We all knew you would be one."

Hermione glared at Ron who was now laughing at the fact that Harry had become a prefect. She grabbed his envelope and pulled out an identical letter. Ron went wide-eyed and groaned. Everyone started to laugh at Ron, except for Mrs. Weasley who was telling him how proud she was.

They were sitting in the living room and Hermione was reading a book on Advanced Transfiguration. The rest of them were sitting there listening to the Wizarding Wireless Network. Ron wasn't paying attention and Harry motioned to Ginny. He pulled out his wand and muttered something causing Ron's hair to turn blue with pink highlights and He and Ginny began to snicker.

"What?" said Ron, bewildered. Hermione sat up from her book and burst out laughing. "What is it?!?", Ron shouted at them.

Finally Hermione lifted her wand and said, "Miralis."

A mirror appeared in front of Ron and he gasped in horror before yelling, "Harry, I am so going to kill you." Harry couldn't stop laughing. He ducked behind the couch to avoid Ron's spell and watched the couch turn bright orange. Ron shot another spell and Harry had sprouted a horn in the middle of his head. They all fell to the ground laughing. Ron changed the couch back. Ginny came over to Harry and muttered something tapping his head with her wand. His hair returned to normal.

"Thanks Gin," said Harry gratefully, rubbing the spot on his head where the horn had been.

"No problem," she told him.

"Hello can someone fix this NOW," said Ron, "or at least give me the damn countercurse?"

"Tsk tsk," said Ginny teasingly, "You wouldn't want Mum to hear you talking like that."

"I don't know maybe we should leave it like that for awhile," said Harry, grinning, until he saw the way Ron was glaring at him. "Fine," said Harry, performing the counter-charm Ginny had used. Ron's hair returned to normal and Harry had a new idea, "Watch out Ron, you have a spider on you shoulder." Ron jumped and spun around causing them to burst into laughter once more. Ron simply glared at them as he sat down on the couch.