The next morning Ginny was missing from the table as I walked over and sat down next to Ron. Harry was gaping at the Daily Prophet, barely noticing that his cereal was dripping gently from the spoon halfway to his mouth.
'Watsup?' I asked, frowning.
'The attack on Percy, it's in the Prophet.' muttered Harry.
Ron looked and his eyes widened.
'Look at this' Harry said.
' The first Death eater attack since the knowledge of you know who's return unfortunately took place yesterday when Percy Weasley, 20 and Penelope Clearwater, 19 were attacked by three Death-Eaters, two of whom escaped. Gresham Goyle, Martin Nott and Bellatrix Lestrange were those Death-Eaters guilty of the ambush. One of the Death-Eater was killed while the two others are believed to return to the Dark Lord. This ambush is believed to have taken place as a bait to call a member of either the Weasley family or the Penelope family to You-Know-Who's lair. From no comment from any of these families but a little side information, it is discovered that this person was once possessed by the Dark Lord himself but as a memory. Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater will have to appear in front of the Wizengamot but this is a part of the last few orders given by the Minister of Magic. Further research is conducted and hopefully the hiding areas of the Dark Lord or the Death Eaters will be found out'
He looked up.
Ron frowned and said 'How stupid do they think You-Know-Who is?'
'They cannot find him, even Dumbledore doesn't have any idea where he is'
'Well, this is Fudge... he can act all that but he needs help. Seriously' I said, scornfully.
'Well, Harry? What's wrong?' said Ron, frowning at Harry who hadn't said a word but just stared at the Prophet with a shocked look.
'They said that the person Voldemort is after was once possessed by him and is a member of you're or Penelope's family...' said Harry, looking extremely worried.
Ron fused his eyebrows together and said 'Ummm... yea I know'
'Ginny!' I exclaimed.
Ron spluttered. He took a deep breath and said as if this was all a joke 'H-he can't be behind Ginny... my sister is not in danger...' he said, grinning forcefully.
'I think we all agree that he wants Ginny...' said Harry, forcing himself to believe it.
I shuddered as a picture of Ginny being tortured crossed my mind.
'So should we tell her?' I asked.
'Tell whom?' said Ron, white as chalk.
'Ginny of course' I said, raising an eyebrow.
'Tell me what?' said a voice behind me.
I squeaked as a smiling Ginny sat down beside me. Harry stared with a look of worry and fear while Ron looked as though he needed a pint of blood.
'Tell me what?' repeated Ginny.
'Umm... so. Whom have you been hanging out with? I haven't seen you around much' I said, quickly.
'Yea, Luna has been telling me a little something. About her mom and all... hey is that the Daily prophet? Can I borrow that?' she said, picking it out of Harry's hand.
Harry sat staring for a moment then snatched it back and stuffed it into his bag.
Ginny frowned and said 'I cannot read the newspaper?'
'NO! I have to go... come on Ron, Hermione. We have stuff to do... outside' he said, turning slightly red.
'Yeah! Come on Hermione, you have to come' said Ron, standing up.
'Can I come? I can always borrow the paper later right?' said Ginny, pleadingly.
'You can't come... it's... you... you're not exactly in our... group' said Ron, lamely.
'What group?' said Ginny, raising an eyebrow.
'Oh forget it... we need to talk privately okay?' said Harry, looking frustrated.
'Whatever...' said Ginny, looking hurt but she sat down and started spreading marmalade on her toast.
Ron opened his mouth as to retort but hesitated and walked away, closely followed by Harry and me.
We didn't meet Ginny all day but we did see her chattering away merrily with Luna Lovegood, Colin Creevy and a Hufflepuff 5th yr called David Melbourne.
At the end of the day Ron and Harry sat by the fireplace trying to complete their Potions homework. I sat with Lavender and Parvati, we chatted as we finished our homework as well. Ginny on the other hand walked into the portrait hole at midnight, looking petrified.
Ron noticed this first and said Hi. Ginny waved carelessly as she took as seat beside him, then suddenly she looked angry and glared at Ron.
'What?' he said.
'You didn't tell me. Why didn't you tell me?' she said, angrily.
'Didn't tell you what?' said Ron, looking bewildered.
'ABOUT THE ARTICLE IN THE DAILY PROPHET! PERCY AND PENELOPE WERE ATTACKED! YOU-KNOW-WHO IS GOING TO ATTACK SOMEONE FROM OUR FAMILY OR PENELOPE'S! HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME!' she shrieked.
'Oh! Well, we didn't want you to panic that is why' said Ron, looking shocked at his little sister's sudden outburst.
'OH! YOU THOUGHT I COULDN'T HANDLE IT, DID YOU? I KNOW VERY WELL WHO HE IS BEHIND, OKAY! I AM NOT A LITTLE GIRL YOU KNOW!'
'Shut it Ginny, I was worried okay! I don't want you to get into any danger!' said Ron, standing up.
'DON'T TELL ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE YOU CARED... IF YOU CARED YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME!' she said, her eyes flashing dangerously.
'DON'T USE THAT TONE WITH ME GINNY! YOU CANNOT TELL ME IF I CARE OR NOT' yelled Ron, staring Ginny straight in the eye.
'I WILL TALK TO YOU HOW I WAN'T! IF YOU WAN'T ME TO BE SAFE AT LEAST LET ME KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN' said Ginny, her voice rising even though it was pretty loud.
'THE ONLY WAY I WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAFE IF ONLY YOU LET ME INTO YOUR LIFE A LITTLE' said Ron, looking angry yet meaningful.
'I LET YOU INTO MY LIFE JUST ENOUGH TO NOT LET YOU CONTROL IT! YOU DON'T EXPECT ME TO DEPEND ON YOU DO YOU? YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN I WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY RIDDLE OR WHEN I BROKE UP WITH MICHEAL! YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE WHEN I WAS DEAD WORRIED WHEN I SAW BLACK DRAG YOU INTO THE WHOMPING WILLOW! YOU DON'T CARE FOR ANYTHING BUT YOURSELF!' shrieked Ginny, shooting Ron a dirty look and storming up to the Girl's dormitories.
Ron opened his mouth to yell back but stopped as Ginny slammed the door behind her.
Harry looked at me with wide worried eyes.
'Can you believe her!' said Ron, looking at me.
'How could you be so horrible to your sister' said Lavender, standing up from her chair.
'You should be ashamed of yourself Ronald Weasley!' said Parvati, glaring daggers at Ron.
'What! You are blaming me!' Ron yelled at Parvati, who did not even flinch at the bombarding but glared back.
'Poor Ginny' Lavender muttered as she walked to the door to the girl's dormitories as well. Parvati shook her head, looking disgusted and followed.
Harry stared open mouthed at them and then looked at Ron who looked as though he was about to cry with guilt.
'Ron...' Harry said softly, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.
'I deserved that...' he said, his eyes bloodshot.
'No you didn't... You didn't deserve any of that' I said, walking up to Ron.
'I am not a good brother... I should be out there for her... no wonder she prefers Fred and George... but now that they aren't here she's just got me... and I don't fulfil my duty as her brother...how could I ignore her so much' said Ron, hoarsely.
'No Ron, you are a good brother... you are the sweet and sensitive and you care for Ginny as much as Fred and George... maybe even more! You didn't deserve the yelling one bit!' I said, comfortingly.
Ron looked up at me and I couldn't help giving him a warm hug. He buried his head in my shoulder as Harry looked sympathetically at us. For a moment I felt my knees buckle under Ron's strong arms but the next moment he left me.
Ron stood limply before the fireplace for a moment then suddenly looked worried once more.
'How did she see us?' he whispered.
'See us where?' Harry asked.
'When Padfoot dragged me into the whomping willow?'
'I dunno, out of one of the windows I think' said Harry.
'Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore does it?' I said, sitting down on one of the armchairs.
Suddenly the door to the girl's dormitories opened and Ginny walked out.
'What is it now?' snapped Ron.
'Since you wanted to be in on my life a little more I thought it was about time I told you that I started going out with Blaise Zabini a week ago' she said, softly and she walked immediately back into the corridor in front of our dormitory and shut the door behind her before Ron had a chance to start fighting.
I sighed and looked up at Harry and Ron, both who looked ten times as furious as they looked before. To come to think of it Harry looked angrier than Ron.
'She is going out with a Slytherin!' Harry exclaimed, his eyes flashing dangerously.
'I knew she was going out with someone but I didn't know it was Zabini' said Ron.
'Just as she said...' I said quietly.
'Whose side are you on?' Harry exclaimed, looking at me as though I was mad.
'I am not taking sides... but if only you paid a little more attention to Ginny you would know' I said, looking at Ron.
Ron looked angry but he nodded as he understood but Harry glared at Ron.
'So you are going to let Ginny date him?' he said, angrily.
'Yea... she can handle it' said Ron, looking as though he understood very well.
'What?? Okay! FINE' said Harry, walking off furiously.
I frowned with suspicion as something hit me... Could Harry Potter have a thing for Ginny Weasley? Possible... possible... but he wouldn't say yes to going out with me if he liked her, would he?