Chapter 3: Hogsmeade, Fights, & Quidditch.
"Honestly, I will have a nervous breakdown before the OWLs" Ginny said flopping down on the chair beside Harry in the common room that night. "Ron & Hermione off to patrolling again?"
"Umm hmm. And take it easy with the studies." Harry said pausing. "Sometimes I really think you are related to Hermione." He finished with a laugh.
Ginny rolled her eyes at him, taking out her Defence Against the Dark Arts homework.
"So when's the next quidditch practice?" She asked Harry.
"Friday. Listen tomorrow is the Hogsmeade trip. Do you think we could go together?" He cautiously put forward his question.
"Why Harry Potter, are you asking me to a date?" Ginny asked grinning & looking up at him.
"You know what I mean," He replied with an equally wide grin.
"I suppose since Luna will be going with Neville..."
"And Ron & Hermione are going together..."
"Ok. I will. Isn't it so unfair, our best friends left us just 'cause they "fell in love"." Ginny said faking a sob.
"Yeah. Its unfair." Harry said grinning broadly.
"Listen, can you help me out with this stuff..."
And so they sat there in the common room, unaware of all the eyes on them, studying until they were drained of all energy, barely perceptive of the hard road ahead them.
********** XXXXX **********
"Finally a break from studies, don't you think?" Harry asked Ginny once they had left for Hogsmeade.
"I had to complete my potions work..."
"Give it a break Ginny! You're getting worse than Hermione," Harry interrupted.
"Ok. Ok. So where to first." She replied.
"Zonkos?"
"Ok, let's go." They started of their trip by visiting Zonko's, enjoyed in the cold weather of November, & headed for the Three Broomsticks for warming up.
As they were returning to Hogwarts, they had an unfortunate encounter with Draco Malfoy.
"Well, well, if it isn't Potter & little Weasel." Malofy said.
"Shut it Malfoy!" Harry said trying to keep control.
"How is it having one less dog to look after?" Malfoy remarked.
Before Harry could answer, Ginny replied, "How is it having a prisoner as a father Malfoy?"
"Watch you tongue Weasel. Although I see, it has developed quite finely, just like you. How about a night with me? I will pay you well & it looks like you could do with some money too." Malfoy smirked.
Harry lost it at that. He launched himself at Malfoy & before long Malfoy had a bleeding nose, a bruised eye, & a few broken ribs. Ginny had a tough time getting Harry off Malfoy & when she did, she resumed her journey with him back to Hogwarts before he got a chance to hit Malfoy again. Although she did present Malfoy with a kick before departing.
When they were far from the scene, Harry turned towards her.
"Why the hell did you do that for?" Harry was still fuming.
"You didn't have to do that. I know what he said was wrong but you didn't need to get in trouble for that." She replied forcefully.
"Wrong? That's all you think of it. What he said was outrageous & what I did was correct."
"Killing is not the solution Harry!" Ginny screamed at him.
"Or maybe you were deciding to take up on his offer. Didn't want him injured did you?" Harry said angrily, ignoring her answer, & then left.
"Harry" Ginny gasped at his retreating figure.
If she was angry & hurt at Malfoy's remark, she was distraught at Harry's.
'How can he think like that?' she thought as tears stung her eyes & before long she was running towards Hogwarts at full speed.
The last thing Harry saw of Ginny that day was her red hair & puffed eyes as she ran up to her dormitory, & she was not seen again that day.
********** XXXXX **********
'Why did I act like that yesterday?' Harry thought the next morning.
Of course, he was angry about what Malfoy said, & he wanted to murder him then, but why Ginny? He was really mad when Malfoy said those awful things to Ginny. She was his friend...a friend he cherished more than others...but why did...
Then it clicked. He took out her anger on her. This realisation, however only made him feel worse. He was already regretting what he said to her. And last night when she went up to her dormitory, he didn't miss the tears in her eyes...& for a reason unknown to him, it broke his heart.
He needed to apologise to her right away. With that, he left the Gryffindor common room in search for Ginny.
********** XXXXX **********
"What's wrong with you Ginny?" Luna asked sitting next to her in the library.
"Nothing Luna. Everything is fine." Ginny replied.
'Yeah Right' Ginny thought.
"Something is wrong Ginny. Your eyes are all puffed. You've been crying. What's wrong?" Luna pressured.
Ginny stayed quiet for a moment before replying.
"Luna, yesterday..."
Before she could complete she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Ginny...I need to talk to you." Harry said
"Continue." Ginny replied coldly.
Harry cringed.
"In private."
Ginny was about to tell him off when Luna said, "I have to go meet Neville. I'll see you two later."
Saying that Luna left. Ginny turned her attention towards her book as Harry sat by her
"Listen Ginny...I am sorry. I know what I said was wrong. I was just angry & I took out my anger on you. I am really sorry. Please forgive me." Harry said.
Ginny was silent for so long that Harry thought she wasn't about to forgive him.
"Do you know how much your remarks hurt?" She replied looking up to him. Harry noticed tears in her eyes.
"I know Ginny. I didn't mean any of them. I was just so angry at Malfoy for what he did. I wanted to kill him...& so that's why maybe when you stopped me I screamed at you. I am really sorry Ginny."
"Murder is not the solution Harry. I was only saving your back."
Harry remained silent.
"Its ok Harry, you're forgiven. Just don't say anything like that again."
Harry smiled, "I promise I won't. So... do you need any help?"
"Potions if you can help."
"Oh." Harry smiled sheepishly. "I guess I will bring my homework & do it then."
Ginny smiled as Harry left. Everything was back to normal...for now.
********** XXXXX **********
"Ok, everyone. Tonight's the last night. Tomorrow we will be playing against the Slytherins. So make the best of this time." Harry said leading the quiddtch team to the pitch for practice.
Practice was going fine, & Harry had his eyes inspecting the pitch...but not for the snitch...rather for a red-haired female who was flying around the pitch as gracefully as a bird.
Harry watched Ginny as she practiced. She looked beautiful. Her hair braided with a few loose strands caressing the wind. Her face was determined & she managed to throw the quaffle through the hoops almost every time...and that was when Ron had his defences on "red alert".
"HARRY!!" Someone screamed in his ear.
Harry looked to see Ron looking at him awkwardly.
"What?" Harry asked.
Ron simply pointed to the side of his head. Harry turned to see the snitch inches from him.
"It was there all the while...apparently you were not. What's wrong with you mate? If you continued like this we will never be able to win O-High-And- Mighty-Captain-Who-Ordered-Us-To-Win" Ron said smirking & was off in a blink.
'What is wrong with me? I was staring at Ginny the whole while. If I continue like this tomorrow, we are doomed. This has gotta stop.' Harry thought packing up the quidditch stuff after practice.
'Yup! It has gotta stop.'
********** XXXXX **********
"Welcome all to the first Quidditch match of the year! Seamus Finnigan at your service. The match between Gryffindor & Slytherin is going to be interesting so don't leave you seats!"
"And here are the two teams Gryffindor"—there was a large cheer heard from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw & Hufflepuff which drowned out the boos from Slytherin –"and Slytherin" cheers were heard from Slytherin.
"Here goes the whistle & the game begins. Ginny Weasley, in possession of the quaffle, passes on to Earl, to Creevey to Weasley again, to Earl, to...to...to...where the hell is the quaffle?"
"Mr. Finnigan!" McGonagall scolded.
"Sorry professor. Ok folks Gryffindor in possession f the quaffle. Ginny Weasley sweeps her way to the Slytherins side, she is aiming for the left hoop, the keeper moves & she shoots...right. And Gryffindor scores, a very good tactic by Ms. Weasley. Gryffindor 10-0."
"Slytherin in possession of the quaffle. A bludger by Thomas, Captain White drops the quaffle. Weasley in possession, she makes her way through the pitch once more & she shoots. GRYFFINDOR SCORES. 20-0"
********** XXXXX **********
********** SOMEWHERE DURING THE GAME **********
"The Gryffindors call for a time-out" Seamus announced.
"RONALD WEASLEY WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? YOU WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE QUAFFLE COMING DIRECTLY AT YOU "THREE TIMES"" Ginny screamed at her brother.
"I was protecting you. Slytherins are sneaky, they can do anything"
"For your information, I played last year too. Nothing happened. And keep you eyes on the Quaffle, "NOT" on me! And if you didn't listen, I will tell mum that you sneaked into one of the Order meetings last summer." With that, Ginny stormed off to the pitch leaving Ron bewildered.
The match went on peacefully after that. Gryffindor were 180-50, one due to Ron's excellent keeping & two because of Ginny's skills.
Sometime later, Harry spotted the snitch & raced towards it. Malfoy saw it too & raced towards it but was not able to beat Harry on his Firebolt.
Harry closed his hand around the snitch & landed safely on the ground.
"HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH. GRYFFINDOR WINS." Seamus announced.
Everyone cheered.
Nevertheless, someone was furious. White took the bat from his fellow beater Crabbe & shot directed the bludger straight at a Gryffindor player quite high up in the air.
"That'll teach her to stay out of our business. Its because of her we lost."
********** XXXXX **********
Ginny turned to look at Harry when Seamus announced that Gryffindor won. However, when she turned she saw something zooming towards her & felt a sharp pain in her head.
She felt herself slipping of her broom. Everyone was too busy to notice, she heard cheering, a lot of cheering. She felt herself falling fast, then heard her name & saw black.
********** XXXXX **********
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I was very busy at school. Please review. The more reviews I get the sooner I will try to update.
Thank you for all those who reviewed & enjoyed the story. Hope you like this one too.
Please Review.
Take care.
Bye.
"Honestly, I will have a nervous breakdown before the OWLs" Ginny said flopping down on the chair beside Harry in the common room that night. "Ron & Hermione off to patrolling again?"
"Umm hmm. And take it easy with the studies." Harry said pausing. "Sometimes I really think you are related to Hermione." He finished with a laugh.
Ginny rolled her eyes at him, taking out her Defence Against the Dark Arts homework.
"So when's the next quidditch practice?" She asked Harry.
"Friday. Listen tomorrow is the Hogsmeade trip. Do you think we could go together?" He cautiously put forward his question.
"Why Harry Potter, are you asking me to a date?" Ginny asked grinning & looking up at him.
"You know what I mean," He replied with an equally wide grin.
"I suppose since Luna will be going with Neville..."
"And Ron & Hermione are going together..."
"Ok. I will. Isn't it so unfair, our best friends left us just 'cause they "fell in love"." Ginny said faking a sob.
"Yeah. Its unfair." Harry said grinning broadly.
"Listen, can you help me out with this stuff..."
And so they sat there in the common room, unaware of all the eyes on them, studying until they were drained of all energy, barely perceptive of the hard road ahead them.
********** XXXXX **********
"Finally a break from studies, don't you think?" Harry asked Ginny once they had left for Hogsmeade.
"I had to complete my potions work..."
"Give it a break Ginny! You're getting worse than Hermione," Harry interrupted.
"Ok. Ok. So where to first." She replied.
"Zonkos?"
"Ok, let's go." They started of their trip by visiting Zonko's, enjoyed in the cold weather of November, & headed for the Three Broomsticks for warming up.
As they were returning to Hogwarts, they had an unfortunate encounter with Draco Malfoy.
"Well, well, if it isn't Potter & little Weasel." Malofy said.
"Shut it Malfoy!" Harry said trying to keep control.
"How is it having one less dog to look after?" Malfoy remarked.
Before Harry could answer, Ginny replied, "How is it having a prisoner as a father Malfoy?"
"Watch you tongue Weasel. Although I see, it has developed quite finely, just like you. How about a night with me? I will pay you well & it looks like you could do with some money too." Malfoy smirked.
Harry lost it at that. He launched himself at Malfoy & before long Malfoy had a bleeding nose, a bruised eye, & a few broken ribs. Ginny had a tough time getting Harry off Malfoy & when she did, she resumed her journey with him back to Hogwarts before he got a chance to hit Malfoy again. Although she did present Malfoy with a kick before departing.
When they were far from the scene, Harry turned towards her.
"Why the hell did you do that for?" Harry was still fuming.
"You didn't have to do that. I know what he said was wrong but you didn't need to get in trouble for that." She replied forcefully.
"Wrong? That's all you think of it. What he said was outrageous & what I did was correct."
"Killing is not the solution Harry!" Ginny screamed at him.
"Or maybe you were deciding to take up on his offer. Didn't want him injured did you?" Harry said angrily, ignoring her answer, & then left.
"Harry" Ginny gasped at his retreating figure.
If she was angry & hurt at Malfoy's remark, she was distraught at Harry's.
'How can he think like that?' she thought as tears stung her eyes & before long she was running towards Hogwarts at full speed.
The last thing Harry saw of Ginny that day was her red hair & puffed eyes as she ran up to her dormitory, & she was not seen again that day.
********** XXXXX **********
'Why did I act like that yesterday?' Harry thought the next morning.
Of course, he was angry about what Malfoy said, & he wanted to murder him then, but why Ginny? He was really mad when Malfoy said those awful things to Ginny. She was his friend...a friend he cherished more than others...but why did...
Then it clicked. He took out her anger on her. This realisation, however only made him feel worse. He was already regretting what he said to her. And last night when she went up to her dormitory, he didn't miss the tears in her eyes...& for a reason unknown to him, it broke his heart.
He needed to apologise to her right away. With that, he left the Gryffindor common room in search for Ginny.
********** XXXXX **********
"What's wrong with you Ginny?" Luna asked sitting next to her in the library.
"Nothing Luna. Everything is fine." Ginny replied.
'Yeah Right' Ginny thought.
"Something is wrong Ginny. Your eyes are all puffed. You've been crying. What's wrong?" Luna pressured.
Ginny stayed quiet for a moment before replying.
"Luna, yesterday..."
Before she could complete she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Ginny...I need to talk to you." Harry said
"Continue." Ginny replied coldly.
Harry cringed.
"In private."
Ginny was about to tell him off when Luna said, "I have to go meet Neville. I'll see you two later."
Saying that Luna left. Ginny turned her attention towards her book as Harry sat by her
"Listen Ginny...I am sorry. I know what I said was wrong. I was just angry & I took out my anger on you. I am really sorry. Please forgive me." Harry said.
Ginny was silent for so long that Harry thought she wasn't about to forgive him.
"Do you know how much your remarks hurt?" She replied looking up to him. Harry noticed tears in her eyes.
"I know Ginny. I didn't mean any of them. I was just so angry at Malfoy for what he did. I wanted to kill him...& so that's why maybe when you stopped me I screamed at you. I am really sorry Ginny."
"Murder is not the solution Harry. I was only saving your back."
Harry remained silent.
"Its ok Harry, you're forgiven. Just don't say anything like that again."
Harry smiled, "I promise I won't. So... do you need any help?"
"Potions if you can help."
"Oh." Harry smiled sheepishly. "I guess I will bring my homework & do it then."
Ginny smiled as Harry left. Everything was back to normal...for now.
********** XXXXX **********
"Ok, everyone. Tonight's the last night. Tomorrow we will be playing against the Slytherins. So make the best of this time." Harry said leading the quiddtch team to the pitch for practice.
Practice was going fine, & Harry had his eyes inspecting the pitch...but not for the snitch...rather for a red-haired female who was flying around the pitch as gracefully as a bird.
Harry watched Ginny as she practiced. She looked beautiful. Her hair braided with a few loose strands caressing the wind. Her face was determined & she managed to throw the quaffle through the hoops almost every time...and that was when Ron had his defences on "red alert".
"HARRY!!" Someone screamed in his ear.
Harry looked to see Ron looking at him awkwardly.
"What?" Harry asked.
Ron simply pointed to the side of his head. Harry turned to see the snitch inches from him.
"It was there all the while...apparently you were not. What's wrong with you mate? If you continued like this we will never be able to win O-High-And- Mighty-Captain-Who-Ordered-Us-To-Win" Ron said smirking & was off in a blink.
'What is wrong with me? I was staring at Ginny the whole while. If I continue like this tomorrow, we are doomed. This has gotta stop.' Harry thought packing up the quidditch stuff after practice.
'Yup! It has gotta stop.'
********** XXXXX **********
"Welcome all to the first Quidditch match of the year! Seamus Finnigan at your service. The match between Gryffindor & Slytherin is going to be interesting so don't leave you seats!"
"And here are the two teams Gryffindor"—there was a large cheer heard from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw & Hufflepuff which drowned out the boos from Slytherin –"and Slytherin" cheers were heard from Slytherin.
"Here goes the whistle & the game begins. Ginny Weasley, in possession of the quaffle, passes on to Earl, to Creevey to Weasley again, to Earl, to...to...to...where the hell is the quaffle?"
"Mr. Finnigan!" McGonagall scolded.
"Sorry professor. Ok folks Gryffindor in possession f the quaffle. Ginny Weasley sweeps her way to the Slytherins side, she is aiming for the left hoop, the keeper moves & she shoots...right. And Gryffindor scores, a very good tactic by Ms. Weasley. Gryffindor 10-0."
"Slytherin in possession of the quaffle. A bludger by Thomas, Captain White drops the quaffle. Weasley in possession, she makes her way through the pitch once more & she shoots. GRYFFINDOR SCORES. 20-0"
********** XXXXX **********
********** SOMEWHERE DURING THE GAME **********
"The Gryffindors call for a time-out" Seamus announced.
"RONALD WEASLEY WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? YOU WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE QUAFFLE COMING DIRECTLY AT YOU "THREE TIMES"" Ginny screamed at her brother.
"I was protecting you. Slytherins are sneaky, they can do anything"
"For your information, I played last year too. Nothing happened. And keep you eyes on the Quaffle, "NOT" on me! And if you didn't listen, I will tell mum that you sneaked into one of the Order meetings last summer." With that, Ginny stormed off to the pitch leaving Ron bewildered.
The match went on peacefully after that. Gryffindor were 180-50, one due to Ron's excellent keeping & two because of Ginny's skills.
Sometime later, Harry spotted the snitch & raced towards it. Malfoy saw it too & raced towards it but was not able to beat Harry on his Firebolt.
Harry closed his hand around the snitch & landed safely on the ground.
"HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH. GRYFFINDOR WINS." Seamus announced.
Everyone cheered.
Nevertheless, someone was furious. White took the bat from his fellow beater Crabbe & shot directed the bludger straight at a Gryffindor player quite high up in the air.
"That'll teach her to stay out of our business. Its because of her we lost."
********** XXXXX **********
Ginny turned to look at Harry when Seamus announced that Gryffindor won. However, when she turned she saw something zooming towards her & felt a sharp pain in her head.
She felt herself slipping of her broom. Everyone was too busy to notice, she heard cheering, a lot of cheering. She felt herself falling fast, then heard her name & saw black.
********** XXXXX **********
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I was very busy at school. Please review. The more reviews I get the sooner I will try to update.
Thank you for all those who reviewed & enjoyed the story. Hope you like this one too.
Please Review.
Take care.
Bye.