Chapter 32: The plan hasn't worked out

Ginny mounted the stairs to the girls' dormitories, dragging her trunk behind her. She pushed the door open, entered the room and looked around. Her fellow classmates were all there and immediately stopped talking as they saw her. Ginny wondered if they had been talking about her. Isabella, a good friend of hers, came running toward her and hugged her.

"Ginny you're back. How are you?"

"Fine… I mean… better. Those two weeks at home did me good."

None of the other girls talked to her. They just kept staring at Ginny's back, while she unpacked her suitcase. She felt slightly uncomfortable among her roommates, knowing that some of them had actually been relieved about her break-up with Harry. Ginny didn't want their false words of comfort, knowing that behind her back they were trying to get Harry's interest. She took the phoenix bracelet out of her pocket and looked at it. Isabella had sat down on her bed next to Ginny and talked animatedly about what the girls had done during the holidays. Ginny caressed the bracelet softly, nodding absent-minded to her friend's report.

"Has anyone of you seen Hermione?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah, I saw her going to her dorm, not so long ago", said Betty, a tall blond girl. Ginny nodded and left for Hermione's room. She knocked on the door and waited.

"Come in!" she heard Hermione's voice. She opened the door and saw Hermione sitting behind a large pile of books.

Hermione looked up. "Hey, you're back!"

"Yes I am back." Ginny let out a deep sigh. "Feels strange though…" She sat down on Hermione's bed.

"How were your holidays?"

Ginny shrugged. "I think they were fine. I spent much time with Fleur and Bill. What did you do?"

"Me? I caught up with some reading and did some learning."

"And spent some time with Ron?" grinned Ginny.

"Yes of course I have", Hermione replied without blushing. "What did your mother say about your return?"

"She was sorry for me, that it hadn't worked out with Harry. She seemed a bit disappointed to me… Mentioning him… how is he?" Ginny asked avoiding Hermione's eyes.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "You really want to know?" She went on as Ginny nodded. "I think he's doing fine. But why are you asking?"

"I kind of feel sorry for him", admitted Ginny, still not looking at Hermione.

"You shouldn't. It's only his fault that you're feeling miserable." She reached at Ginny's hand and took it. Then her eyes widened and she goggled unbelievingly at Ginny.

"You're wearing his bracelet? Ginny, what are you hoping for? You should just let him go. He's not worth you worrying about him."

Ginny slowly shook her head. "No, you're wrong. I really appreciate all the people helping me and cheering me up. But no one's there for Harry. I think at least you and Ron should still be friends with him. He needs some company too, he seems so lonely…"

"No Ginny, you need us more than he does. I don't understand you, why are you protecting him? Just think about what he did to you!"

Ginny sighed. "I don't know what it is, but I feel like I don't need your help so much any more. I can handle this alone."

Hermione got up, for a moment she wanted to tell Ginny about the scene she'd witnessed during the Easter Holidays, and then thought it'd be better not to mention the kiss. She hesitated, then turned around and looked at her friend.

"What has happened during the holidays?" she asked suspiciously.

Ginny lowered her eyes and couldn't prevent herself from smiling. "Well… I met somebody…"

"Really? When, where?"

Ginny grinned. Obviously Hermione wanted to know everything right from the start, so she told her everything without leaving the slightest detail out.

"This one night, Bill, Fleur and I went to a club. There was this really handsome guy. He just came over and started talking to me. We danced and… you know… flirted a bit. I had a great time. His name is Jonathan Parker and he works in the London Zoo."

"You're dating a muggle?"

"He's not a muggle and we're not dating each other. He actually wanted to, but I couldn't…"

"Because of Harry…"

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, that's right. But he agreed to stay in touch with me. He's great."

Hermione hugged Ginny. "I am so glad for you. I hope you can count on him as a friend."

"I am sure I will. Hermione… please promise me to talk to Harry! Do it for me, if not for him", pleaded Ginny.

Hermione sighed. "If it makes you feel better…"

"Believe me it does!"

Hermione shook her head in disbelief.

"Hey Harry, guess what? Ginny has just come back!" said Ron. Harry, who was sitting on his bed, finishing the last piece of homework, didn't look up.

"How is she?" he asked casually.

"She looks… better. I think she will be alright!"

"That's great", said Harry low.

"Is that all you've got to say?"

Harry looked up at last. "What else do you want me to say?"

Ron shrugged. "Dunno. I guess you should be happy to see her back!"

"She probably still hates me. So, what's the use in looking forward to seeing her if we can't be together…" he sighed.

"She doesn't hate you" interjected Ron. "I am sure you'll be together again once this whole thing with You-Know-Who has stopped."

"Nice try Ron, but Ginny will never forgive me." Harry went to the window and watched the deserted grounds. He wasn't thinking about the break-up thing, but of course Ron couldn't know about the incident with Cho. Harry was sure that if Hermione had told Ron, they would no longer be friends. No, Harry thought that Ginny – if she ever found out – would never forgive him about betraying her.

At dinner tonight, Harry was sitting on his own again while Hermione and Ron sat with Ginny. "I think I asked you to sit with Harry?" whispered Ginny so only Hermione could hear her.

"Yes, I know. But this evening we will still be there for you. From tomorrow on, we'll help Harry" she replied reluctantly. Harry, Ron and Hermione were among the lasts to leave the Great Hall. "Ginny told me to look after you Harry. So Ron and I will be able to be friends with you again." Harry was astonished and simply nodded. Ron grinned broadly and clapped Harry on the back. "See, I told you. This is a very good new start."

Hermione frowned, not knowing what Ron meant by that. She held Harry back at the bottom of the stairs to the boys' dorm, while Ron had already left.

"Thank you Hermione. Thanks for not having told Ron or Ginny about that night" blurted Harry out before Hermione had a chance to tell him the real reason she wanted him to stay.

"I didn't do it for you, if that's what you're playing at. I don't want Ginny to be suffering even more and she's right. You need friends like Ron now." Harry nodded silently.

"For heaven's sake! I don't know what has gotten into that girl. She feels sorry for you; sorry for the way the others treat you. I really wanted to abandon you as a friend, but Ginny wants us to cheer you up. She wants you to smile and be happy again!" For a short moment Hermione thought to see a glimmer of hope in Harry's eyes and she immediately regretted what she just had told him. "There's one more thing. During the holidays, Ginny's met… she's made a decision not to resign from the Quidditchteam. Good night!"

She went to her bed and was glad she'd changed her mind in the last minute. She really would have told Harry that Ginny had met another boy, but it wouldn't be fair. It was Ginny's choice to tell Harry about Jonathan, not hers.

The next morning, all sixth-years got their new timetables with the new subjects. Harry had chosen Disguise, Poisons, Occlumency and Forbidden Forest Studies; Hermione French, Forbidden Forest Studies and Poisons; and Ron Forbidden Forest Studies, Poisons and Wizard laws. Ron had only chosen the last one, because Percy had asked him to. Most of their fellow classmates seemed surprised to see Hermione and Ron sitting together with Harry. But Ron and Hermione – at least she tried to – acted as if nothing had happened.

In class, Ginny found herself surrounded by her classmates, all of them asking if she didn't care that Ron and Hermione seemed to be on speaking terms with Harry again. The first time, Ginny told them she didn't mind at all and that Ron and Hermione could choose their friends by themselves. But the more people asked, the angrier she got. She would've preferred if people left her alone. Luckily Professor McGonagall entered the room and they all fell silent and went to their chairs. They worked on their pots of clay, they were supposed to transform into fine crystal glasses. Isabella was sitting next to Ginny and kept bothering her with stupid questions. "Hey, you're not mad at your brother for being friends with Harry again?" Ginny tried hard not to loose her temper.

"As I already told everyone, I don't care. Ron is old enough to decide upon whose friend he wants to be and whose not!"

"But after all these things Harry's done to you!"

Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. "That would still be my little problem, don't you think? I'd appreciate if you didn't meddle into things that are not to be meddled in."

Ginny wanted to put an end to this question and answer's game, but apparently, Isabella was not yet satisfied by the answers she had received.

"Does that mean… you have forgiven Harry and you're going out with him again?"

Ginny was now slightly furious. "Who says I have? For me there's no Harry Potter anymore. Now please, leave it." Ginny didn't notice she had spoken this out aloud. Everyone in the room was looking at her, including Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Weasley, Miss Andolini, be quiet please! Continue working!" Professor McGonagall was now walking between the rows and had a look at the pupils' work. She halted in front of Ginny and Isabella's desk who quickly mumbled an apology. They tried to transform their pot of clay and were relieved when they heard the bell announce the end of the lesson. Ginny was the first to leave the room. She headed straight for the Charms classroom to avoid more nosy questions from her so-called friends.

There she stood, looking into the room. It was the first time she saw it since her accident. Before the Easter Holidays, they had been taught Charms in another room, while this one had been restored. It was strange, returning to this place and peering into the classroom she had almost died in. Her fellow classmates went by her and took their seats, while Ginny remained standing outside. Isabella stopped next to Ginny. "Are you okay?" Ginny nodded and entered the room.

They were practising Cheering Charms, though Ginny was in a bad mood and not concentrated at all, so the result was that Isabella turned out to be very grumpy instead of happy. Isabella after calming down a bit did a very good job and Ginny was still smiling happily as she went to lunch.

"What are you grinning for?" asked Hermione surprised.

"Cheering Charms" replied Ginny and sat down next to her. Then she told Hermione about all the stupid questions she had been asked all morning. The Gryffindors had not been the only ones to bother her. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and even some Slytherins had been asking her about Ron and Harry's friendship. The other pupils seemed very eager to find out whether Ginny had forgiven Harry or not. By the end of the story, Ginny's mood had worsened again, the effects of the Cheering Charm finally leaving.

Hermione looked around and made sure none of the boys were watching, then she took a letter out of her bag. She gave it to Ginny, who looked puzzled at the envelope in her hand. "What's this?"

"A letter… for you. I found it on the table this morning. You must haven forgotten to pick it up."

Ginny opened it and read it slowly. Then her eyes widened and she beamed at Hermione.

"Come on, what's in it?" asked Hermione curiously.

"It's from Jonathan!" She handed Hermione the letter so she could read it by herself.

"Dear Ginny,

I am glad, that I finally found some time to write you. By the way, how are you? I hope you're feeling better even though I guess it must be hard, seeing your ex-boyfriend every day. I am fine. The job in the Zoo's just great. I get off next weekend and I wondered if we might see each other. I'd really like to see you again. Write back to me and tell me a date, a place and a time to meet you. That's to say, if you want to see me too.

Love, yours Jonathan."

Hermione smiled at her friend. "That sounds very good to me. And you're lucky; it's another trip to Hogsmeade on Saturday, next week. Why don't you meet him there?"

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know if I want to… Do you really think it would be a good idea seeing him again?" She didn't feel sure if she really wanted to meet Jonathan. She liked him, but there was something else, preventing her from falling for another boy.

"Why not?" asked Hermione. Then she followed Ginny's gaze and it landed on Harry. Hermione let out a deep sigh. "You can't spend the rest of your life running after some guy who doesn't even like you. Honestly, I would really like to see you and Harry together again, but I don't think that will ever happen. You can always try with Jonathan and if he's not nice to you, you can still screw him." Hermione hoped that someday, Ginny and Harry could be friends again, but to keep Ginny out of any possible danger, she pretended to see no hope left for them. She felt miserable for lying at her best friend, but she was sure to be doing it for Ginny's best.

Ginny nodded. "You're probably right!" Then she grinned. "And it could be real fun to see him again."

"What are you waiting for then? Send him the date."

Ginny took out a quill and a piece of parchment. "Dear Jonathan! I am loads better and I want to see you too. Meet me on Saturday 2p.m. at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. I'll be waiting there, yours Ginny!"

Hermione was pleased to see her best friend more cheerful again. Somehow she really wanted Harry and Ginny to be back together, but she couldn't forgive Harry about the kiss. And if she couldn't do it, then Ginny would most certainly never be able to. Should Harry ever be back with Ginny, he would have to confess her the kiss he shared with Cho. Hermione doubted that Harry wanted to tell Ginny so probably they'd never become a couple again.

During the next few days, Ginny's life went almost back to normal. She learned for her O.W.L exams which weren't too far away anymore and did the large amounts of homework she got every day. If she had a problem with any of the topics, she would go to Hermione who helped her on understanding the school stuff she needed to catch up with. Adding to all the learning, she had Quidditch practise three times a week. Most times, Hermione accompanied her, in case Ginny needed mental support.

But the nearer the Hogsmeade Saturday came, the more nervous Ginny got. She didn't know what she expected from the day and that made her feel excited. Then the day had finally arrived and Ginny was on her way to the Three Broomsticks with Hermione. She entered the pub on her own because Hermione wanted to wait outside for Harry and Ron.

Ginny looked around and there he was. Jonathan sat at a table in the corner and waved at her. She went over and took the chair opposite of him.

"Hi. How are you?" he asked.

"Thanks, I am fine. I am glad we met again. How are you doing?"

"Splendid. I was looking forward to see you so much. I have some news for you. You remembered that I told you about my work at the Zoo? Well… I found out that I am not the only wizard working there. I wanted to fill new water in the fish's aquariums as I watched a girl using magic to speed up the cleaning of some tanks. I went over to her and told her to be more careful otherwise the muggles would get suspicious. She asked me if I knew what she was and I told her about me having magical powers as well. That's the way I met her. By the way, her name's Laura and we went out a couple of times. I think it's getting pretty serious. What do you think?"

Ginny didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure if she had expected herself to date Jonathan but then again, she noticed that she had no special feelings for him. He was only a good friend to her. She just wanted to give him an answer, as the door of the pub opened.

Hermione had tried hard to convince Harry not to go into the Three Broomsticks. But all her trying was for nothing. Now Ron, Harry and Hermione went in and passed Ginny and Jonathan's table without a word. Ginny decided to ignore Harry's presence.

"Back to your question… I am happy for you. It is great that you found someone and if you really have deep feelings for her…"

"I do" he said firmly. "But you're not mad at me?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Why would I? We weren't dating and I still tried to get along with my own problems."

Jonathan sighed. "That's a relief, I thought – no, I feared you'd be disappointed and I couldn't have lived with the thought of it." They sat in silence for a while.

Back at Harry's table, he couldn't help observing Ginny and this boy all the time. "Have you any idea, who that guy is?" he asked in a low whisper. Ron and Hermione shook their heads, but Harry had a slight feeling that Hermione wasn't telling the truth.

"Am I crazy, or is this black-haired boy staring at us all the time? Or am I just imagining things?" Ginny turned and looked at Harry, who quickly turned away, pretending to be in a deep conversation with Ron.

"You're not crazy, he's watching us."

"Your ex?" asked Jonathan. Then his eyes widened. "No, wait. Can it be? You never told me you used to go out with Harry Potter!"

"So what? Yes, I used to be famous Harry Potter's girlfriend. That doesn't make things easier though" she replied a bit harshly.

Jonathan reached out for her hand. "Sorry Ginny, I didn't mean to upset you."

"It is not your fault. I am just overreacting, that's all…"she said, patting his hand.

Harry watched them from the corner of his eye. Unwillingly he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. The cold stab of jealousy was deep in his heart. There sat this stranger, holding hands with the girl Harry was in love with. Everything that happened in his life seemed unfair to Harry. Every single time Harry thought to have found some happiness, Voldemort would make sure to destroy it.

First, he killed Harry's parents, then Sirius and now he tried to take Ginny away from him. Actually he had managed to do so, because he and Ginny were no longer a couple.

Meanwhile, Ginny and Jonathan had left the pub. She was showing him around Hogsmeade. They went to the Sweet's shop, the Quidditch supplies store, the post office, the joke shop and finished their tour with the Shrieking Shack.

"Do you want to see Hogwarts?" asked Ginny on their way back to the town.

"I would really like to, but unfortunately I have to leave you now. See you around."

They hugged for a moment. "Bye" said Ginny. "And thank you for coming over here."

"Anytime" he answered. He smiled at her and with a small 'pop' he disapparated.

Hermione and Harry were on their way back to Hogwarts. Ron was still in the Quidditch supplies store and Harry took the opportunity to talk to Hermione. "I wonder who the boy Ginny was with is…"

Hermione shrugged.

"Hermione, you can't pretend Ginny hasn't mentioned this boy to you. I know she tells you everything" he went on slightly mad.

Hermione didn't try do deny anything. "Yes, she's told me about him. They met in a club during the Easter Holidays. I guess I could've told you about it."

"You could and you definitely should have told me that Ginny's going out with somebody else."

"There's no need to be angry at me. She is not even dating him. Besides, I didn't know whether the thought of Ginny meeting somebody else wouldn't hurt your feelings, so I kept my mouth shut. And if I am not mistaken, you're the one who broke up with her. You can't expect her to be lovesick forever!" she answered annoyed.

Harry had a bad feeling in his stomach. "I am sorry. It's not your fault."

After this, they spoke no more till they got into the common room.

Some minutes later, Ron was back, accompanied by his sister. Ginny was immediately surrounded by a group of girls who had seen her at Hogsmeade.

"Who was that cute guy?"

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"What's his name?"

"I am so jealous!"

Ginny didn't listen to any of them and went upstairs for her dorm, not without casting a look back at Harry, who looked extremely depressed. She had expected to feel some kind of satisfaction; however she only felt sorry and regretted that Harry had ever seen her with Jonathan.

She made a gesture, telling Hermione to follow her into her room and went out of sight.

"Would you guys excuse me for a second?" asked Hermione and followed Ginny to a quiet room. They were sitting in Hermione's dormitory and talked.

"So, how was your day?" Hermione wanted to know.

Ginny shrugged. "I don't really know what to think of it. Jonathan revealed to me that he is dating another girl."

"Oh Ginny… I am sorry. How do you feel about it?"

Ginny shook her head. "I just don't know what I expected. Somehow I don't feel any different. I am glad for him."

Hermione looked at her, without saying a word. After some minutes Ginny asked, wanting it to sound very casually: "He saw us together, didn't he?"

Hermione didn't need asking who was meant by 'he'. "Yes, he saw you in the Three Broomsticks."

Ginny's heart began to race and she had a funny feeling in her stomach. "How did he react?" she pressed on.

"Well… he asked me who the boy next to you was and so I told him that you two had met in a club."

"You did WHAT? Why the hell did you have to tell him?" Ginny shouted.

"I didn't know I wasn't allowed to tell anyone. What else should I've told him? You know I don't like to lie at people. And Harry is a friend, so I just wanted to be honest to him" replied Hermione calmly.

"How can you speak of him as your friend after all he did to me?"

Hermione sat quietly on her bed. At first she didn't want to say anything. Ginny's behaviour was confusing her.

"If I am right, you were the one telling me that Harry needed friends right now. You begged me to cheer him up remember? I really don't know what's going on with you. Apparently you don't know what you want. If you want to blame somebody, blame yourself. You were fully aware of the fact that Harry might see you together with Jonathan, so don't take me as your scapegoat!" She turned on her heels and hurried down into the common room. She didn't want to fight with Ginny, but she couldn't see that she had committed a fault. Ginny had known that this might happen. Hermione got angrier the more she thought about it. She sat down next to Ron.

"Your sister is going insane" she growled.

"What happened now?" he asked. He tried to soothe his girlfriend, but she was in a rage. "First, she tells me to be friends with Harry again and now she is blaming me for doing so."

"Is it about the guy she was with today?"

"Okay, I knew all along about Jonathan since Ginny has returned from the Burrow. I wouldn't tell you, because I thought Harry was suffering enough without knowing that Ginny has met somebody else. If you want to blame me too go on, I am getting used to it!" she spat.

"No one wants to blame you. Just relax; I guess Ginny didn't want to tell you off."

"I am sorry Ron. I'll skip dinner and go to bed, night."

The following days, Hermione and Ginny weren't speaking to each other. Ginny was convinced that Hermione had told Harry about Jonathan on purpose, though she didn't know what the purpose could've been.

As for Hermione, she was really fed up with people blaming her for their misery. From now on, Ginny had to find somebody else who'd help her handle her problems.

Ginny was too stubborn to take the first move and didn't want to apologize for her behaviour.

But then something happened, none of the girls was expecting. On the evening before their last Quidditch match of the season (Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw) Harry had a sudden idea he couldn't suppress. After the training session which had been extremely promising, he waited for his team mates to leave until only Ginny was left. She wanted to leave the room quickly, but Harry asked her to stay. They both felt kind of uncomfortable, standing in front of each other.

"Harry what do you want?"

"Well… I know there were many things that went wrong between us and I really regret how everything turned out to be… but I wondered if we could at least be friends again?" he suggested.

"Friends?" asked Ginny amazed.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, just friends."

She sighed. "Why do you suddenly bring up the friendship thing? You could've come earlier and tell me, why just now?"

Harry tried to stay calm. "We have known each other for so a long time now and we got along very well before any of this happened. I thought we might try to hold on to that relation."

"I'm sorry Harry, but there's no way for us to be like it was before we were a couple" she replied sadly.

"Why not? We could at least give it a try…"

"No Harry! Don't you understand? I can't just forget about everything that happened and act like the world was still okay, because it isn't. It is too soon for going back to normal friendship. It still hurts so damn much to see you every day and I couldn't bear being near you again, without more than innocent friendship" she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Harry didn't reply anything. He slowly walked back to the castle, visibly hurt by her rejection.

Ginny watched him until he was out of sight, and then made her way back to the common room. She went straight up the stairs, forgetting the whole row she had with Hermione and knocked on the door. Hermione had already been in bed and was surprised to see Ginny standing in the doorway as she opened up. Ginny came in and sat down on Hermione's bed. "I just don't get him…"

"What did Harry do this time?" sighed Hermione.

"He asked me if we could give it a try and be friends again, nothing more. I don't know what he wants. He can't just expect me to forget everything. I still have feelings for him and even an innocent friendship would stir it all up again."

Hermione raised her eyebrows in alarm. What was Harry doing? He wouldn't abandon his plan, would he? He'd never expose Ginny to danger? "Well, I haven't got a clue what he is up to, but I think it was right to snub him." She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"Thanks for the talking and for everything else! Let's just forget about our little disagreement, okay?" asked Ginny tentatively. Hermione grinned and nodded.

"You're always welcome. If you need support for anything, you know where to find me!"

Ginny nodded and left the room. As she closed the door, she realized how good it was to have a friend like Hermione.

The next day's Quidditch match was set under a sunny day in May. The whole school was out on the standings, eager to find out which of the two houses would win the Quidditch cup. Unfortunately for the audience the match didn't even last ten minutes. Cho had been the one to see the snitch first, but Harry's broom was the faster one and so he caught the tiny golden ball in no time. The crowd cheered as Madam Hooch announced that Gryffindor had once again won the Quidditch cup. Ron raised the cup proudly into the air. The team members praised each other and shook hands. As they had finished talking to Ron, they turned to Harry. Now his image had become better because due to him they had won the match so quickly. But Harry didn't pay attention to all those people talking to him for the first time in months. His attention was drawn at the end of the field, where Ginny was standing, talking to Jonathan.

"She hangs out a lot with that guy…" he mumbled more to himself than to anybody else. Cho had come over in the intention to shake hands with Harry and say her congratulations for winning the cup, but he ignored her presence, eyes still fixed on Ginny. "That's why she was so cold yesterday? What's going on between them?" he said absent-minded, still not focusing on Cho.

"What do you mean? You made up with her?" she asked, slightly afraid.

It was only then, that Harry realized Cho standing next to him. He shook his head. "I wanted to at first, but then I thought it would be safer for her, if we were just friends. But Ginny didn't want to hear a single word of it…"

Cho's voice sounded alarmed. "So you… you still have feelings for her?"

"Yes, I have. I miss her so much and I guess I'll never stop loving her…"

If Harry hadn't been so busy watching Ginny and Jonathan, he might've noticed how hurtful his words had been to Cho and he would've been wondering about the sad look in her eyes. Harry quickly said Goodbye to Cho, because Hermione was eyeing them suspiciously and he didn't want her to change her mind about telling Ginny the whole truth about what had happened around Easter.

The Gryffindors celebrated their victory with a glorious feast in their common room which was ended late at night by Professor McGonagall.

During the next days, the fifth years didn't have much to celebrate though. They were too busy learning and revising for their O.W.L tests to pay attention to things around them.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were beginning to rework their notes too, because they had to sit their end of the year exams. They had some work to do, but despite all her learning and her prefect duties, Hermione still found time to learn with Ginny and give her useful advises for the tests.

As the beginning of June draw nearer, the fifth years became more and more excited. They didn't receive any homework anymore. In their classes, they were repeating the things most likely to appear in the tests.

On the evening before the first O.W.L. testing, Ginny was trying to read through her notes one last time, but she didn't manage to keep a single thought in line. Hermione had been doing some last minute questioning on her. They had quickly given up, because it was useless. Ginny was just too excited to concentrate on her work.

"Learning now will only confuse you. I think it's better if you stop now, there's no need overfeeding you brain. I know you're going to be brilliant" Hermione convinced her best friend. Ginny nodded and closed her book. The atmosphere in the common room was very tense.

From time to time, students broke out into hysterical sobbing and were panicking about the coming day. By ten o'clock, Hermione was fed up with people screaming about their stupidity and telling themselves off for not having learned enough. She sent all the fifth years to their dormitory and none of them complained about being sent to bed.

At breakfast the next day, the pressure was nearly unbearable. Many had brought their books down in order to read some important passages again. By the time the bell rang, all students but the fifth and seventh years left the Hall. While Ginny was sitting her first O.W.L. exam, Ron, Hermione and Harry had an exam on Transfiguration. During that week, the days were all similar: in the morning, they were sitting tests and in the evening they were revising their notes.

Harry, Hermione and Ron had their last exam (Defence against the Dark Arts) on a Thursday. In the afternoon, they were free to go and sat under a tree near the lake.

"Man, Snape was really trying to bring us down with his test. I think I managed the most questions though. And the spells he made us do. Luckily you already taught us most of them during our DA (Dumbledore's Army) meetings, don't you think? Harry? Hey, I am talking to you!"

Harry was starring at the lake, following his own thoughts and only reacted as Ron waved a hand in front of his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Come out of dreamland! School's over now!" cheered Ron.

"When does Ginny do her last exam?" asked Harry all of a sudden.

"Tomorrow afternoon. Care of Magical Creatures at Hagrid's. But what are you asking for?" inquired Hermione very suspiciously. Harry was well aware of her watching him; he could feel her gaze on his neck.

"It's nothing, just pure interest."
They went back on talking about what they would do during the Summer Holidays and were relieved that the exams were over.

On Friday afternoon, Ginny was the last student to leave Hagrid's. The test had been no trouble at all and the jurors had been very nice. As she was slowly strolling toward the castle, trying to realize that her holidays had just begun, she ran into Cho.

"I am sorry, didn't see you" mumbled Ginny, not meeting the Asian girl's eyes.

"Never mind. Actually I have been looking for you. There are some things I wanted to talk about."

"Look Cho, that's not really a good idea and besides Hermione is waiting for me" replied Ginny, wanting to get away as fast as possible.

"Just a couple of minutes?" pleaded Cho.

"NO!" said Ginny firmly. She quickly made her way out of the grounds, but before she could reach the stone step that led up to the castle, something very heavy collided with her head. Ginny sank to her knees; her head was pounding and aching like mad. A thin line of blood was running down her front. The world around her was fading in and out of view. Ginny glimpsed a creature cloaked in black with a large stone in its hands, before she passed out.

Harry was running down the marble staircase, looking everywhere for Ginny. How could he have been so stupid? All this trouble for nothing because he hadn't seen the truth earlier!

"Hermione, have you seen Ginny?" he asked out of breath. Hermione had been waiting in the Great Hall, but Ginny hadn't come yet.

"No, but she should have arrived by now. Why?"

"Gotta talk to her NOW!"

"NO Harry, don't! You'll make everything much worse. Do you really want to expose her to this danger?"

Harry shook his head. "She is already in great danger. I wonder why it didn't occur earlier to me!"

Without another word, he ran into the grounds. He found no Ginny and began panicking. Where could she be?

He took the personfinder out of his pocket and spoke into it: "Show me where Ginny Weasley is!"

He had been carrying the little mirror around ever since Ginny had given it to him on Valentine's Day.

What he saw in the mirror, was not a very comfortable sight. But before he could try and get some help, the mirror widened and Harry fell face forward through it.