AN:Wow I didn't expect to get reviews so fast. So I guess it was a good thing I finished up chapter two during algebra huh? These chapters are not as long as I would like, this one is a bit longer than the first one though. Oh well, its only my first story and I'm writing it while I should be listening to my teacher. Thanks everybody I love hearing from you :)
Chapter 2 Blackmail and Boredom -
After showering, Harry stared at himself in the mirror. He looked awful. He needed to find something to keep him busy so he wouldn't think about Sirius, but first he had a letter to answer.
Upon returning to his room, he immediately noticed that Pig had departed. He got a clean piece of parchment and a quill out of his Hogwarts trunk, which the Dursley's had let him keep in his room because of their fear of the Order of the Phoenix members, and began drafting a response to Ginny. Harry tried to write exactly what he was feeling on paper, but after thirty minutes he gave up, frustrated, and handed the letter to Hedwig.
He was watching the empty street out the window when he realized that he was returning to his former state. Getting up quickly, he dug through his trunk and fished out his potions book.
"I can't believe I'm actually starting potions early," he mumbled to himself. "Snape would have a fit." He grinned, imagining the potion master's face the first day back when Harry knew all the answers to the usual questions. He decided he would study extra hard for potions that summer.
The sound of Aunt Petunia making dinner reached his ears and he decided he would make his own dinner tonight. After completing the sentence he was working on, he put away his school supplies and continued down the stairs.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, his aunt promptly dropped the plate she was holding and it shattered on the ground. She glared accusingly.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in your room!"
"I came to eat dinner. Of course if you don't want me to, I can go finish the letter I'm writing to my friends."
Remembering the incident at King's Cross, she told him to get his own food and left the kitchen with her nose in the air. The only thing Harry knew how to make was bacon so he got out the frying pan to make his own dinner.
"I'm no better at cooking than I am at potions," he muttered. "Maybe if I learn to cook I'll do better in Snape's class. Another thing to add to my list of things to keep me busy." It was then that he realized he was talking to himself and promptly closed his mouth.
Harry finished making his bacon and took it to his room. He didn't want to spend time with the Dursley's if he didn't have to. As he sat on his bed eating the bacon, he looked around his room. It had become a big mess during his month of confinement (it was already July). Another thing to add to his "busy list."
He wondered if Ginny knew of anything to add to the list. He wondered what Ginny was doing at the moment. He wondered if Ginny would be made a prefect this year. He wondered why he was wondering about Ginny.
Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and made his way through the mess in his room back to his desk. He took his potions essay back out and picked up where he had left off. He checked the length and found he just needed two more inches although he had a lot more to write about. For the first time ever he was writing a decent potions essay. Harry growled. Of course Snape would probably fail him anyway.
Thinking about Snape made him double his efforts on the essay. He had to get back at him. After all, wasn't it partially his fault that Sirius died? Harry still blamed himself but believed Snape deserved partial credit. If he had kept teaching him Occlumency, then he would have been able to block out those dreams he had about Sirius in the Department of Mysteries and Sirius would still be alive.
Harry groaned. He was thinking about Sirius again. He needed serious help.
***
Ginny bit her nails nervously. It had been three days since she sent the letter to Harry and she hadn't gotten a reply. What ever gave me the idea that he would respond? I'm just Ron's little sister. Why didd I write that damn letter? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"Oy Ginny! You ok?" Ginny blinked in confusion for a second at Ron's hand waving in front of her face, before turning and glaring at him. She shouldn't be mad at him, how was he supposed to know she was busy berating herself? But her redheaded temper flared up just then.
"What was that for?" She demanded.
"Sorry...you just spaced out for a minute there...we were playing chess remember?"
"Of course I remember," she snapped. Truthfully, she had completely forgotten Ron was there, but her temper was getting the better of her.
"Your move...oh look its Hedwig. Probably Harry replying to my last letter."
Ginny smiled sadly wishing the letter was addressed to her. Ron got up to let the snowy owl in through the window. She soared once around the room before landing in front of Ginny and extending her leg.
"For me?"
The owl hooted indignantly at the implication that she had delivered a letter to the wrong person. Ginny's smile brightened and she apologized before excitedly taking the letter. She fled to her room, leaving Ron and the unfinished chess game forgotten.
He answered. He had answered her letter, and before Ron's! She opened the envelope and immediately recognized Harry's messy handwriting.
Dear Ginny,
You know me so well. I'm doing terribly awful and I look like hell. And what's worse? I hate getting mail from Ron and Hermione, my best friends! I'm not cheerful and I even hate pretending to be. Actually, your letter made me smile for the first time this summer.
Ginny smiled triumphantly. He had opened up to her. Not Ron, not Hermione, but Ginny. And she made him smile! Maybe the letter wasn't so bad after all
I must be a pretty good actor to have fooled Hermione, but really, Michael J. Fox? Did you know Back to the Future is my favorite movie or is that just a coincidence? I didn't know you watched muggle movies.
I honestly don't know what to do with myself. I need to stay busy to keep from thinking about Sirius and that stupid prophecy, but there isn't much to do around here. I've already started on my homework, but do you have any other suggestions? I've tried writing what I feel down but I can't describe it. Sorry I'm bothering you about this, but I thought you would understand better than Ron and Hermione because of the Chamber of Secrets.
Ginny blinked. Prophecy? Could that mean...she continued reading.
There's no need to send a howler, I took a shower.
-Michael J. Fox (aka Harry)
Ginny smiled. At least he still had his since of humor. Now how was she going to help him? His birthday is coming up, and he needs to get over Sirius. Padfoot...Padfoot! That was it! She knew exactly what to get him for his birthday. Now she just needed to get a few galleons from Fred and George without letting them know what she needed them for. She was sure that Molly Weasley wouldn't like what she was getting him. Ginny hastily wrote a reply and went back downstairs where Hedwig was waiting.
Ron glared at her. "Are we playing chess or not?"
"Not" she replied before hurrying up to Fred and George's room. It was nearing dinner time so they would be back from Diagon Alley. After leaving early at their final year of Hogwarts, they had bought a small shop at Diagon Alley and Weasley's Whizard Wheezes was getting great business. Of course they were still doing mail order for Hogwarts students.
Ginny knocked on their door and waited for one of the twins to answer. Eventually Fred opened the door a crack and stuck his head out. "What do you want?"
"Money."
"How much?"
"Ten galleons should be enough."
"Why should we give it to you?"
"Because if you don't I'll tell Mum what really happened to her favorite vase."
"You wouldn't!"
Ginny smirked. "You know I would."
"No" Fred began to shut the door in her face, but she had expected they wouldn't be won that easily so she put her foot in the door.
"And I'll test one of your jokes."
"You won't tell Mum?"
"As long as you don't tell her I was asking for money."
"Fine. Come in." He opened the door all the way and let her into the room. George was sitting on his bed but jumped up when she entered and led her to a chair. Fred dug through a box labeled "Untested" on the desk and came up with a blue lollipop.
"What is it?" She asked nervously.
"Hair Scare. Its supposed to change your hair a different color every lick and gets stuck the last color for a week. We're pretty sure it works but we don't want to get stuck with green hair."
Just my luck.Ginny liked her red hair. "Well hand it over then." She stuck the lollipop in her mouth and looked in the mirror to her right. She was now sporting neon green hair. Then purple. Then yellow. "Can I have my money now?"
"Yeah, hold on a sec. What do you want it for anyway?"
"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."
She took her ten galleons from George and quickly exited their room. Now she needed to obtain permission to go to Diagon Alley.
***
Harry sat at his desk, putting the finishing touches on his potions essay. He paused and looked out the window and felt a strange excitement when he saw Hedwig in the distance. He got up and waited patiently by the window for her to arrive. He opened the letter and was happy to see it was from Ginny and not Ron. As soon as he had that thought he felt guilty but he didn't have to pretend with Ginny. He could be his miserable self if he wanted to.
Dear Michael,
Harry grinned at the use of his new alias.
You should have seen Ron's face when Hedwig flew to me instead of him. I'm sure if I would have had a camera I could have made you smile a second time.
Harry laughed but couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. He had completely forgotten about Ron's last letter.
I honestly don't think I can stop you from feeling guilty. But would it make you feel better if we somehow honor Sirius' memory? I have several ideas but I'm not telling you until we get to Hogwarts. The suspense is killing you I'm sure, or it will be by then at least.
Back to the Future is my favorite move too. Of course its the only one I've seen. Me and Linda Hartman watched it when I went to her house for a day last year. She's a muggleborn. Oh yes, that reminds me, I think we have a problem. If you are going to continue your acting career at Hogwarts its not going to work if you look like hell. Maybe you should try jogging, it always helps me get my mind off things.
And what's this about a prophecy? You aren't talking about the one Neville broke and nobody heard are you? I'm expecting an answer in your next letter.
Harry could almost see her glaring at him, resembling a small tiger.
Why are you apologizing for bothering me? I'm the one who asked you about it in the first place. If anyone should apologize it should be me for being too pushy.
I've really got to run. I just got the perfect idea for your birthday present.
Awaiting your next letter,
Ginny Weasley
Harry had completely forgotten his birthday was coming up soon. In just two days he would be sixteen. And he had mentioned the prophecy to her! He hadn't even told Ron and Hermione about that. He mentally added jogging to his "busy list" before getting out a fresh piece of parchment and writing a reply to Ginny's letter. He handed it to Hedwig and was just about to let her out the window when he remembered he still needed to write back to Ron. He scribbled a hasty response and gave that one to Hedwig also. He opened the window and watched his owl retreat into the distance until he could no longer see her.