3. Mixed News

The green flames swirled high and Harry's stomach began to do a complicated series of aerial maneuvers, which erased all thoughts except nausea from his mind. When he realized the trip was over he was lying in front of the fireplace in The Burrow with a gaggle of concerned redheads leaning over him. "Have I ever said that I hate travelling by floo powder? I believe it gets worse every time," said Harry when it became evident that his stomach had decided to remain in his body. Mrs. Weasley helped him up saying, "Are you quite all right dear? You look a most lovely shade of green." "Not as nice as his eyes though" said Ginny, whose blush was causing her face to become almost as bright as her hair. "Sure, Gin, almost as nice as the way your blush matches your hair" snickered Ron, "C'mon mate lets get your stuff upstairs."

When they had finally convinced Mrs. Weasley that Harry was fine, and gotten all his things upstairs, Harry turned to Ron. "Alright, what's the real reason we're going back to school a whole month early? Those few episodes of maniac attacks couldn't really be enough to justify all this fuss." "It really is Harry, this has been kept from the Muggles, but these creepers have been increasing greatly. So far the Ministry estimates at least thirty dead witches and wizards and that many more turned to 'them'. Last week a unit of the Muggle Royal Army tried to stop a creeper attack on a hospital in Brighton. Their weapons were all but useless. The only thing they had that works against creepers is flamethrowers, but they can't be used in a building full of sick Muggles. The ministry sent a team of Aurors to help, but they didn't fare much better. Only one in three can cast the Patronus charm, so while those that could held off the creepers, the rest used the Reductor curse to blast a whole through the wall so the remaining patients, staff, and soldiers could escape," said Ron. Harry was shocked, "H-How many dead total?" "So far the Ministry estimates between four and five hundred Muggle dead." Ron said softly.

"How can the Ministry keep this under wraps?" said Harry. "Fudge contacted the Muggle Prime Minister, and they've cooked up a misinformation campaign. The murders are being blamed on anything that isn't magical, everything from terrorism to auto bang-ups for those incidences on Motorways. It's sad really, the Muggles don't know what's happening, and the few who do, don't have any real hope of stopping the nightmare, while we, who have been trying to be unnoticed for centuries, are the only real hope of the world." Ron replied. "Yes, and we only have a few wizards and witches powerful enough to perform two of the three spells that affect them." Said Ginny as she walked in, holding what looked to be an old piece of string. "Extendable ear!" sighed Ron. Giggling, Ginny wound up the extendable ear and stowed it in her pocket. "Well if some people wouldn't treat me like a child, they would know that I can be quite resourceful when I need to be." Ginny said quietly while directing a withering glare at Ron. "I can see you're a woman-ah-ah –young lady who can take care of herself." blurted Harry, and he immediately began to blush a shade of red that nicely matched the two Weasley's hair. Ginny dropped her gaze to the floor and Ron stared at Harry openmouthed "I mean you are a great witch, ah- a-a..." Deciding that he had already said to much to cover up his feelings, Harry decided to go ahead and tell Ginny how he felt. Turning to her and taking her hand Harry said, "Ginny, I didn't want to say this now, in front of anyone, but I guess I might as well tell you this. I haven't had anyone to care for me, so I've never known what love is, but I feel very strongly for you and lately you've been on my mind nearly all the time. I don't want to throw our friendship away, and I need to know if you have any feelings for me. I would call my feelings love, but I don't know the emotion. You don't need to say anything; I just want you to think about this, I want to be with only you. You give me joy in just having the knowledge that you exist. Please think about a possible us and if you have room for me in your heart, I would forever be happy. When you decide how you feel let me know, because I'm scared to death that I've just turned you away, and that is the last thing that I want to happen." Looking into her eyes Harry didn't see the rejection he feared, he say tears, he was about to apologize for hurting her when she threw her arms around his neck and gushed, "Oh, Harry, this is the happiest moment of my life. I've loved you ever since I first saw you at King's Cross your first year at Hogwarts. Yes Harry, I'd love to be with you and my heart is yours if you want it." Harry hugged her tightly thinking that life could not get any better for him than it is right now. He was about to say when he was startled by a very loud thump behind him. Harry whirled and saw Ron, unconscious, lying on the floor. "Merlin, he's passed out." Said Ginny, as she rushed to his side.

"WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?" yelled Mrs. Weasley, as she and the twins rushed into the room. "Ah, Ron passed out." Said Harry sheepishly, looking to Ginny for support. Fred immediately pointed his wand at Ron, "Enervate!" Ron opened his eyes and looked at Harry. "Y-You and her?" Then he looked at Ginny. "You and him?" Mrs. Weasley looked puzzled and placed her hand on Ron's head to check for fever, but Fred and George just looked at each other with an identical pair of sly grins forming on their faces. "Mum, we believe..." began George, "that young Mister Potter here..." continued Fred, "would like to begin courting ickle Ginnikens!" they finished in unison. Looking from Harry to Ginny, and seeing matching blushes she beamed and gathered them both into a hug. "Oh Ginny, I just have to owl your father, he'll be so delighted." With that Mrs. Weasley turned and dashed downstairs. The twins were slowly backing toward the door being followed by a very murderous looking Ginny.

Harry had just arrived and it was already turning into an interesting visit.