Chapter 1: Growing Friendships.
Sirius ducked Bellatrix's jet of red light & laughed at her.
"C'mon you can do better than that!" Harry heard Sirius yell.
Harry saw a second light hit Sirius in the chest. Sirius's eyes widened & he fell through the veil.
"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled "SIRIUS!"
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"SIRIUS!" Harry woke with a start, sweating. He had the dreadful dream again. He missed Sirius, the closest person he had to a father.
"Good you're awake. Are you OK?" Ron's voice brought him back to earth.
"Yeah, just a nightmare" Harry replied.
Ron looked sceptical, but he did not push the subject & Harry was glad for it.
"Well its time for breakfast. I'll meet you downstairs." Ron said finally.
"Yeah, Ok." Harry replied as he started to get ready for the day.
It was Sunday, so he didn't have to worry about classes, but considering that Hermione was his best friend, he would have to study anyhow. One would have thought, that if Hermione fell in love she will forget about studies for a while, but....well...you don't always get what you wish for.
Harry descended the stairs to the common room to meet Ron & Hermione, who greeted him cheerfully before the trio made their way to the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was filled with joyful students ready to start the day. The trio took a place at the Gryffindor table, & helped themselves.
"Harry, Ron told me you're still having nightmares. Why don't you pay more attention to the Occlumency lessons?" Hermione said in her know-it-all voice.
Harry glared at Ron before answering, "Hermione, I am pretty good at Occlumency now. I have been taking my lessons since I arrived back. And the nightmares have stopped."
"But then........" Hermione was saying before Harry interrupted her.
"It wasn't about that. It.....well....I dreamt about the night Sirius died." Harry said in a low voice.
All three of them were silent for a while before Ron broke the silence.
"So Harry, who do you think will be the new beaters?"
With that started a long conversation about Quidditch.
********** XXXXX **********
The rest of the day passed smoothly. Harry was informed by his two best friends that they'll be busy in the prefects meetings, so Harry knew they would be back late since the sixth year prefects & above have to make rounds around the castle due to Hogwarts security reasons. They spent the afternoon doing homework. Ron & Harry passed the OWLs just on the margin to fulfil their dream of being aurors, much to Snape's dismay. Hermione, however, was not so happy about this so she would always drag them to library to study under her watchful gaze.
Harry entered the Gryffindor common room in the evening. He didn't have anything better to do, so he decided on finishing his potions homework. The Gryffindor common room was full of students at this time. He searched around to find an empty table when he eyes caught bright red hair. There were only two people in Gryffindor with bright red hair & this definitely was not Ron.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked when he was by Ginny's side.
Ginny looked up from her work & smiled. "Not at all," she said moving her books from the chair.
"Thanks", said Harry as he sat down & started working on his homework.
"What are you doing?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Homework" Ginny replied with a smirk.
"I know I mean what homework?" Harry said smiling.
"Charms."
"Oh. So how come you aren't in the prefects meeting?"
Ginny had been made a prefect from Gryffindor.
"It's over already." Ginny replied.
"Oh. So how come you're not with any of your friends?"
"They're all out."
"Even Luna?"
"Yep, out on a date with Neville." Ginny replied.
"Ron & Hermione on rounds again?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah. And I am here, stuck with doing boring stuff." Harry said with a smile.
"Am I that boring?" Ginny asked with a smirk.
"No! I didn't mean that...I...err... well...." Harry said embarrassed.
Ginny laughed aloud at this.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked indignantly.
"You!" Ginny replied laughing harder.
"Me?"
"Yeah you, you should've seen your expressions.....priceless."
Harry smiled.
"So why don't you start dating again?" Harry asked once Ginny had sobered.
"Well I just wanted to take a break. I made the wrong decision twice, & besides there are the OWLs coming up." She said.
"Are you by any chance related to Hermione Granger?"
"Huh?" Ginny looked at Harry confused.
"You're acting just like her, all studious." Harry said his eyes twinkling.
"Oh." Ginny said blushing.
"How about you why don't you date, I mean it'll be easy for you to find dates."
"Exactly."
"Care to explain?" Ginny asked confused.
"Girls would go out with me 'coz I am famous & handsome. They see me as the boy who lived, not as Harry Potter. I don't want that."
"Oh." Ginny said awkwardly.
"It's ok. I didn't mean you. I know you're over me." Harry said seeing the blush on Ginny's face.
Ginny simply smiled.
Their conversations carried on late into the night, until finally both had to leave for bed. However, while getting ready for bed, both were thinking along the same lines. Both were glad to have befriended the other, & for getting to know each other. And before long, both were in deep slumber.
********** XXXXX **********
Over the next few days, the two became very good friends & got to know a lot about each other. Ginny found out how much Harry hated all the attention & that he was ready to trade it for a simple life. She also realised how responsible & mature Harry was for such a young age, & that he was a very loyal friend. Harry, on the other hand, found out that Ginny was an attentive & encouraging companion, & a true friend. He also realised that you should not be on the receiving end of her wand when she is angry, but she also truly showed that she was Fred & George's sister. However, perhaps what he liked about her the most was that she treated him like Harry, a normal person, & not like some hero, & that she understood him perfectly.
Near the end of November, the Quidditch tryouts were held. Ginny, as she said, tried out for chaser. Even though, Harry had seen her play before, although not much, he was impressed by her flying. He figured it might be since she had six elder brothers to train her.
Ginny was graceful on the broom. She flew like a bird & her petite frame allowed her to make tricky moves to easily deceive the opponent & take hold of the Quaffle. From all the chasers that tried out, Ginny was the only one to have got the Quaffle through the hoops the most times. One would think it was because she was the keeper's sister, but Harry knew Ron put up his strongest defence against Ginny. Ron, apparently had been practicing because Harry was sure even the previous chasers would have had a tough time getting the quaffle through the hoops. However, Ginny's tactics were simply amazing, & of course, she was selected as a chaser. Ron was happy, but also overprotective of her, so initially he didn't agree, but after a lot of persuasion from Hermione, hexes from Ginny & a howler from Mrs. Weasley, he agreed.
The other chasers were Jacob Earl & Dennis Creevy, both third years, while the beaters were Dean Thomas, sixth year, & Colin Creevey, fifth year. The Gryffindor team for the year was a fabulous one, & everyone was sure they had a chance to win the Quidditch cup this year.
********** XXXXX **********
"Tomorrow's the Hogsmeade weekend. Finally a break from the studies." Ron said one day during breakfast.
"Ron, you should not say that. You just passed on margin for potions, you should study as much as you can." Hermione said.
"Oh c'mon Hermione, give it a break will you. I already spend most of my day in the library with you; I think I am developing a phobia." Ron replied.
"Oh. So you, Ronald Weasley, think that you're having troubles because of me. Fine then you don't have to join me." Hermione said angrily before leaving for her first class.
"What did I do?" Ron asked Harry innocently.
"I think you just said that you don't enjoy her company." Harry replied smiling. No matter how old his best friends are, they would always fight like kids. Harry even had a suspicion that even if they were married they would be like this.
"But I didn't." Ron retorted.
"C'mon, you don't wanna be late for class." Harry replied shaking his head & leaving for his first class with Ron following him.
********** XXXXX **********
A/N: Here's the first chapter. I don't have the story written down. I have the outline prepared but it'll require some work to develop. Anyway, ideas & suggestions are welcomed.
This story is parallel to my other story, Ever After, but its concentrating on Harry/Ginny.
Anyway, thank you to all those who reviewed. I am glad you liked it.
Pls. Review. The more reviews I get, the sooner the next update be. Till then Take care,
Bye.
Sirius ducked Bellatrix's jet of red light & laughed at her.
"C'mon you can do better than that!" Harry heard Sirius yell.
Harry saw a second light hit Sirius in the chest. Sirius's eyes widened & he fell through the veil.
"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled "SIRIUS!"
********** XXXXX **********
"SIRIUS!" Harry woke with a start, sweating. He had the dreadful dream again. He missed Sirius, the closest person he had to a father.
"Good you're awake. Are you OK?" Ron's voice brought him back to earth.
"Yeah, just a nightmare" Harry replied.
Ron looked sceptical, but he did not push the subject & Harry was glad for it.
"Well its time for breakfast. I'll meet you downstairs." Ron said finally.
"Yeah, Ok." Harry replied as he started to get ready for the day.
It was Sunday, so he didn't have to worry about classes, but considering that Hermione was his best friend, he would have to study anyhow. One would have thought, that if Hermione fell in love she will forget about studies for a while, but....well...you don't always get what you wish for.
Harry descended the stairs to the common room to meet Ron & Hermione, who greeted him cheerfully before the trio made their way to the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was filled with joyful students ready to start the day. The trio took a place at the Gryffindor table, & helped themselves.
"Harry, Ron told me you're still having nightmares. Why don't you pay more attention to the Occlumency lessons?" Hermione said in her know-it-all voice.
Harry glared at Ron before answering, "Hermione, I am pretty good at Occlumency now. I have been taking my lessons since I arrived back. And the nightmares have stopped."
"But then........" Hermione was saying before Harry interrupted her.
"It wasn't about that. It.....well....I dreamt about the night Sirius died." Harry said in a low voice.
All three of them were silent for a while before Ron broke the silence.
"So Harry, who do you think will be the new beaters?"
With that started a long conversation about Quidditch.
********** XXXXX **********
The rest of the day passed smoothly. Harry was informed by his two best friends that they'll be busy in the prefects meetings, so Harry knew they would be back late since the sixth year prefects & above have to make rounds around the castle due to Hogwarts security reasons. They spent the afternoon doing homework. Ron & Harry passed the OWLs just on the margin to fulfil their dream of being aurors, much to Snape's dismay. Hermione, however, was not so happy about this so she would always drag them to library to study under her watchful gaze.
Harry entered the Gryffindor common room in the evening. He didn't have anything better to do, so he decided on finishing his potions homework. The Gryffindor common room was full of students at this time. He searched around to find an empty table when he eyes caught bright red hair. There were only two people in Gryffindor with bright red hair & this definitely was not Ron.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked when he was by Ginny's side.
Ginny looked up from her work & smiled. "Not at all," she said moving her books from the chair.
"Thanks", said Harry as he sat down & started working on his homework.
"What are you doing?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Homework" Ginny replied with a smirk.
"I know I mean what homework?" Harry said smiling.
"Charms."
"Oh. So how come you aren't in the prefects meeting?"
Ginny had been made a prefect from Gryffindor.
"It's over already." Ginny replied.
"Oh. So how come you're not with any of your friends?"
"They're all out."
"Even Luna?"
"Yep, out on a date with Neville." Ginny replied.
"Ron & Hermione on rounds again?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah. And I am here, stuck with doing boring stuff." Harry said with a smile.
"Am I that boring?" Ginny asked with a smirk.
"No! I didn't mean that...I...err... well...." Harry said embarrassed.
Ginny laughed aloud at this.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked indignantly.
"You!" Ginny replied laughing harder.
"Me?"
"Yeah you, you should've seen your expressions.....priceless."
Harry smiled.
"So why don't you start dating again?" Harry asked once Ginny had sobered.
"Well I just wanted to take a break. I made the wrong decision twice, & besides there are the OWLs coming up." She said.
"Are you by any chance related to Hermione Granger?"
"Huh?" Ginny looked at Harry confused.
"You're acting just like her, all studious." Harry said his eyes twinkling.
"Oh." Ginny said blushing.
"How about you why don't you date, I mean it'll be easy for you to find dates."
"Exactly."
"Care to explain?" Ginny asked confused.
"Girls would go out with me 'coz I am famous & handsome. They see me as the boy who lived, not as Harry Potter. I don't want that."
"Oh." Ginny said awkwardly.
"It's ok. I didn't mean you. I know you're over me." Harry said seeing the blush on Ginny's face.
Ginny simply smiled.
Their conversations carried on late into the night, until finally both had to leave for bed. However, while getting ready for bed, both were thinking along the same lines. Both were glad to have befriended the other, & for getting to know each other. And before long, both were in deep slumber.
********** XXXXX **********
Over the next few days, the two became very good friends & got to know a lot about each other. Ginny found out how much Harry hated all the attention & that he was ready to trade it for a simple life. She also realised how responsible & mature Harry was for such a young age, & that he was a very loyal friend. Harry, on the other hand, found out that Ginny was an attentive & encouraging companion, & a true friend. He also realised that you should not be on the receiving end of her wand when she is angry, but she also truly showed that she was Fred & George's sister. However, perhaps what he liked about her the most was that she treated him like Harry, a normal person, & not like some hero, & that she understood him perfectly.
Near the end of November, the Quidditch tryouts were held. Ginny, as she said, tried out for chaser. Even though, Harry had seen her play before, although not much, he was impressed by her flying. He figured it might be since she had six elder brothers to train her.
Ginny was graceful on the broom. She flew like a bird & her petite frame allowed her to make tricky moves to easily deceive the opponent & take hold of the Quaffle. From all the chasers that tried out, Ginny was the only one to have got the Quaffle through the hoops the most times. One would think it was because she was the keeper's sister, but Harry knew Ron put up his strongest defence against Ginny. Ron, apparently had been practicing because Harry was sure even the previous chasers would have had a tough time getting the quaffle through the hoops. However, Ginny's tactics were simply amazing, & of course, she was selected as a chaser. Ron was happy, but also overprotective of her, so initially he didn't agree, but after a lot of persuasion from Hermione, hexes from Ginny & a howler from Mrs. Weasley, he agreed.
The other chasers were Jacob Earl & Dennis Creevy, both third years, while the beaters were Dean Thomas, sixth year, & Colin Creevey, fifth year. The Gryffindor team for the year was a fabulous one, & everyone was sure they had a chance to win the Quidditch cup this year.
********** XXXXX **********
"Tomorrow's the Hogsmeade weekend. Finally a break from the studies." Ron said one day during breakfast.
"Ron, you should not say that. You just passed on margin for potions, you should study as much as you can." Hermione said.
"Oh c'mon Hermione, give it a break will you. I already spend most of my day in the library with you; I think I am developing a phobia." Ron replied.
"Oh. So you, Ronald Weasley, think that you're having troubles because of me. Fine then you don't have to join me." Hermione said angrily before leaving for her first class.
"What did I do?" Ron asked Harry innocently.
"I think you just said that you don't enjoy her company." Harry replied smiling. No matter how old his best friends are, they would always fight like kids. Harry even had a suspicion that even if they were married they would be like this.
"But I didn't." Ron retorted.
"C'mon, you don't wanna be late for class." Harry replied shaking his head & leaving for his first class with Ron following him.
********** XXXXX **********
A/N: Here's the first chapter. I don't have the story written down. I have the outline prepared but it'll require some work to develop. Anyway, ideas & suggestions are welcomed.
This story is parallel to my other story, Ever After, but its concentrating on Harry/Ginny.
Anyway, thank you to all those who reviewed. I am glad you liked it.
Pls. Review. The more reviews I get, the sooner the next update be. Till then Take care,
Bye.