Chapter 2: What's in a name?

A/N- I would like to thank all of my reviewers:

Voxenking: Yes, the chapters will become longer. I know the first one was super short.

Candyhearts23: What? Are you some sort of stalker? Just leave me and my family alone! LOL! Just kidding…

Okay, now here it goes…

Disclaimer- Don't sue. I don't own Harry Potter. For full disclaimer, please see chapter 1.

Harry was about to begin his Potions essay when he heard a tap at the window. He looked up, eager for an excuse to get away from his schoolwork.

It was Eleanor, Ginny's owl. Harry had given her to Ginny as a birthday present the previous year. He opened the window and let the owl in. After Ella was comfortable, he untied the letter from her leg.

Harry-

It's me, Ginny. Mum asked Ron to write you and Hermione to ask if you wanted to spend the rest of the summer with us at the Burrow but Ron has been "perfecting" his letter to Hermione all day so I figured you wouldn't mind a letter from you best mate's little sister instead. Please tell me I wasn't wrong in my assumption. Please send your letter with Ella tonight so dad can go and get you tomorrow. Please try to come. I don't think I could bear it if I were forced to put up with Ron and Hermione all summer.

Love,

Ginny

Harry grabbed a quill and a spare bit of parchment to scribble down a reply.

Ginny-

Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for inviting me.

Harry

Harry quickly folded it up and reached for Ella. Ella quickly took off flying above Harry's head, circling the room. Harry lunged for the owl but missed and landed on his bed. "Okay, Ella. Playtime's over."

He quickly got up and balanced himself on the bed. He steadied himself for a jump and leaped after the owl. He landed onto the desk, spilling his schoolwork in every direction. "Fine, fine. Do you want me to make it longer?" The owl hooted happily and settled back down. Harry unfolded the parchment and erased what he had written.

Ginny-

I know what you mean. Those two bicker like and old married couple and they still haven't told each other about their feelings. Honestly, how thick can someone be not to realize there is something going on with those two. Anyway, I would like to take you up on that offer to go to the Burrow the rest of the summer. These muggles are horrible. Of course I don't mind you writing me. You're my friend as well as Ron and feel free to write me whenever you want. Within reason, of course.

-Harry

Harry folded up the parchment and headed back towards Ella. "There? Happy now?" he asked. Ella stuck out her leg for him to tie the letter to.

The owl quickly took flight leaving Harry to pick up his school things from the ground. After he cleaned the spilled ink off the floor and picked up all his books, he began to pack. He headed over for his desk to pack his school things. Suddenly, Ginny's letter caught his eye. There was an element that he hadn't noticed before.

Love,

Ginny

'She can't have meant anything by that. After all, it's just a letter.'

And with that, all was forgotten as Harry completed the packing of his thing and promptly fell asleep.

"POTTER!" came the roaring voice of Uncle Vernon from downstairs.

Harry quickly finished changing and ran downstairs. "Yes?" he replied, sounding only slightly annoyed.

Vernon seemed to angry to say anything and could merely point to the fireplace. There, covered in soot from her fiery red hair to the tips of her shoes was none other than Ginny Weasley. "Harry, I'm sorry. Dad couldn't make it but I should've told you what time I was coming over," she began, shooting him an apologetic look.

"It's okay, Ginny. I'm ready anyways, let me go grab my stuff."

"WAIT, POTTER! HOW DID YOU UNLOCK YOU DOOR?"

Harry merely shrugged. In truth, he had unlocked it with a simple Alohamora the previous night but thought to himself, 'What the Dursleys and the Ministry don't know can't hurt them.' And with that, Harry sprinted up the stairs and returned with his luggage in record time.

"C'mon, Ginny, let's go," Harry said, heading back towards the fireplace, "and you can tell my why you're covered in soot."

Harry could tell Ginny blushed slightly beneath the ask and muttered, "The fireplace was on."

"Ooh, Harry's got a girlfriend," began Dudley who had just wandered into the living room, cake in hand.

Harry glanced over at Ginny. She didn't seem to know how to make out the situation.

"She is not my girlfriend, show's how much you know," said Harry, feeling his temper rise. However, Dudley wasn't going to be stopped quite so easily.

"Then who is she? She looks pretty good for a freak," began Dudley, continuing to stuff his face with cake.

"She is not a freak and she is not my girlfriend," Harry growled.

Vernon seemed to be enjoying the situation. "Come here," began Dudley, motioning towards Ginny, "you can do so much better than Potter over here."

Harry was about to whip his wand out of his pocket but saw Ginny was faster. 'Wow, so that's the famous temper,' Harry thought and despite himself he smiled. 'It's always good to know a girl that can defend herself,' he thought.

Dudley looked purely terrified. After all, he had two wands pointing at him. Vernon and Dudley promply shut their mouths and filed out of the room.

"Is that your cousin?" Ginny asked, a look of total disgust across her face.

Harry put his wand back and walked into the fireplace. "How about I say no?"

"That still won't make him not your cousin," said Ginny, with a smirk playing across her features.

"Well, what's in a name?"

Ginny laughed and sent a shiver through Harry. "Come on, let's go," she said and with that, the pair was off to the Burrow.

So what did you think? It's not long nor one of my bests, but gr... school. Please review!!! And I know it's a slow beginning but I promise it'll get faster VERY soon.

AlLiSon