Harry was the first out of bed. Ron stared at the door with a look of confusion and fear. Harry raced across the hall and ripped the girls' door open. Hermione jumped a foot when the door slammed against the wall making a loud crack. She was sitting on Ginny's bed, and Ginny was looking open mouthed at Harry, her hand over her heart.
"Harry? What on Earth are you doing?" Hermione spat at him, as Ron joined Harry in the doorway.
"Are you alright? Someone screamed," Ron panted shoving Harry out of his way and sitting down by Ginny.
"I had a nightmare...." Ginny mumbled, scratching her arm self consciously. She hadn't meant to wake the house. Fred and George appeared suddenly behind Harry, followed closely by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Before long everyone in the house had filed past, checking to make sure everything was okay. Ginny assured them all everything was fine, and they grumbled back to bed. Harry was still standing in the corner, now thoroughly embarrassed. He had to come barging in, being the hero as usual. He should know better by now, especially after last year. He stole a glance at Ginny. Suddenly his blood ran cold, she was wearing a dark green nightgown.
"Harry? You okay mate?" Ron asked, noticing he was still standing in the corner. He nodded. Harry decided immediately that he wouldn't tell them about the dream. Nothing bad had happened, and he wasn't going to be the cause of any more worry. Ron, meanwhile, was yawning loudly, he told the girls goodnight and retreated back to bed.
"Sorry Ginny. I didn't mean to...rush in," Harry knew was blushing. Thank Merlin it was dark!
"No worries Harry. Good to know you came. I doubt Ron would have woken up!" she laughed and Harry's stomach relaxed a bit. Hermione agreed, but scolded him for being awake at this hour. Harry nodded; it was easier to just agree with Hermione. He waved at the two of them and closed the door as quietly as he could.
Hours later Ginny lay fully awake under her quilt. She turned restlessly. She had been having a bad dream, but she wasn't about to tell the others what it had been. Truth be told Ginny had been having nightmares since her first year. They had become fewer as she got older, but she still had them. In her dreams someone always died, and it was always her fault. Sometimes it was Ron, or Hermione, her parents or brothers, but more often it was Harry. Ginny turned again. It seemed impossible that only days ago she was comfortable and happy in her own bedroom. She sighed, now it seemed everything was getting progressively worse, except for Harry. She smiled briefly, he had come when she yelled, he had even been scared for her, like he actually cared about her as more than just Ron's little sister. Ginny felt like she should do something for him, for all of them. Everyone had been so unhappy lately, and she had to snap them out of it. She looked at the small calendar she had brought from home and smiled. Ginny was making a plan, but she only had two days to carry it out.
When Ginny woke again sun streamed into the room from the small window. Hermione was gone, and Ginny guessed she had slept rather late. She hopped out of bed, feeling a great deal better than she had yesterday. Ginny pulled on an old shirt and pair of shorts; it was time to put her plan into effect. She ran down the stairs taking them two at a time, and the she hit something hard.
"Ow, what in..." Ginny looked up, staring straight into the steel blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. He didn't say anything, he didn't even blink, he simply moved towards the wall and motioned her forward. Ginny stepped past him suspiciously. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him. Malfoy turned away from her and continued up the stairs. Once past Ginny tried to erase him from her mind, she had bigger things to think of. When she arrived at the kitchen everyone was eating, she couldn't help smiling as she surveyed the still glum faces.
"Morning!" Ginny called brightly helping herself to the milk, everyone muttered a greeting.
"Sleep well?" she asked Harry coyly when she caught his eye. Harry opened his mouth to answer, but when he noticed her expression he laughed. It was a laugh of relief as well as amusement. In fact once he started Harry felt like he couldn't stop. Ginny joined him, choking slightly on the milk she was drinking, which sent Fred and George into hysterics. Hermione eyed them all with disdain, but giggled a bit herself. When the joke had passed, it was a much happier atmosphere in the cold Grimmauld kitchen.
A few hours later Mr. Weasley called everyone into the living room for a meeting. Fred and George arrived last and stood in the corner. Harry stared at them suspiciously, they were up to something.
"Alright guys, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're all going to have to forgo the trip to Diagon alley this year."
Everyone groaned, Harry was looking forward to getting out of the house, if only for a few hours.
"I know it's disappointing, but Molly and I promise to bring you all surprise when we get back, which probably won't be until after bed time," Ron scoffed at his father. He complained to Harry all the time that he was sixteen years old and still had a bed time. Harry laughed at him softly, at least he had parents who cared if he was in bed.
"So, give me all your supply lists and we'll be off," Mr. Weasley clapped his hands as though the matter was closed.
Harry got up to go to his room. He couldn't even remember where he left his stupid book list. As he approached the kitchen stairs he caught a glimpse of blonde hair on the second floor landing. Harry hadn't seen Malfoy since they first arrived, and he was glad. Ginny appeared suddenly at his side following his gaze up the empty stairwell.
"See a ghost Harry?" she laughed and sped up the stairs ahead of him.
Harry smiled half heartedly, perhaps he had….
Harry and Ron sat in a corner of the vast living room intently focusing on a game of chess. Harry was about to loose for the millionth time, but he didn't mind. Just then Ginny appeared in the room. Harry smiled at her, he couldn't tell her how much he appreciated her. When everyone was wallowing in self pity Ginny was the only one who had the good sense to laugh. Ginny smiled to as she approached him. He felt his breath catch.
"Ron, can I show you something?" she tugged at her brother's sleeve.
"Can't it wait, I'm trying to strategize here," Ron moved his Knight who promptly smashed Harry's Rook.
"No, it can't!" Ginny pulled him out of his chair with the strength that made Harry wonder about her. Ron protested but Ginny ignored him, promising Harry he would be right back.
Harry furrowed his brow in confusion, what exactly was going on? Those Weasleys were a complete mystery to him. While Harry waited he noticed a loud banging noise from upstairs, followed by Fred's voice. Harry shook his head and tried to ignore it.
"Harry, could I see you for a moment?" Harry jumped; Remus was looking at him from the kitchen door. Harry nodded and followed him. Inside Harry was a bit shocked to see Professor McGonagall sitting in her usual stiff manner at the table.
"Good day Professor," Harry muttered, a bit concerned by her presence.
"Good day Mr. Potter," she seemed to notice his worries, "Don't fret, I'm here to deliver your O.W.L. results, but before I send for the others I have something to discuss with you," she motioned Harry to sit.
"As you know the Weasley twins have decided to leave Hogwarts, which leaves you the senior member of the Gryffindor Quiddich team, so I am here to officially offer you the position of team captain."
Harry knew he had a goofy grin on his face. Captain? Wow, he thought, that was great, but….
"Professor, I appreciate this, I really do, but, I think that Ron would be a much better captain."
McGonagall eyed him suspiciously, "May I ask why Mr. Potter?"
"Well, he…he knows more about it than me really, and he…he's a lot better at setting up plays. Plus….I think he would want it more," Harry resisted the urge to hang his head under her stern gaze. To his surprise she nodded.
"That is a very mature move Mr. Potter, as you wish."
Harry sighed with relief, he was afraid she would be angry with him. McGonagall sent Remus to fetch Ron and Hermione, he returned shortly, Ron following looking afraid and Hermione wild with excitement.
"Do you have our O.W.L. results Professor?" she practically floated in the room.
"I do indeed Miss Granger, here you are," she handed three large envelopes to the students. Harry held his breath, he hadn't even thought about O.W.L.'s in a long time. Suddenly he felt rather nervous. Ron had already torn his open, he smiled slightly.
"Not bad, I got an O in Defense against the Dark Arts! One E, two A's, but I failed potions and divination horribly," Harry congratulated him and opened his own.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, barely believing his eyes, Hermione snatched his letter, her eyes opened wide with surprise.
"Good job mate!" Ron slapped him on the back. Harry had received rather good marks; he had gotten an E in potions, and even managed an A in divination. Harry was most excited about his O in Defense and Charms. He was extremely happy, when he looked over at Hermione. She was holding her unopened letter in trembling hands. Ron scoffed at her.
"Come on Hermione, you know you did great!"
She still didn't move," Ron this envelope will determine the rest of my life! What if I did terrible, what if…" Hermione was beginning to hyperventilate. Ron snatched her letter and ripped it open. Hermione held her head in her hands and didn't look. Ron smiled at her huddled shape.
"Hermione, you got six O's" Hermione grabbed the letter from him, "What?" she searched the letter, as if she was looking for a mistake. Slowly a grin crept over her face. "I did! I got six O's!" Hermione literally jumped up and down with excitement. She swept Ron and Harry into a bone crushing hug. Harry choked, and Ron blushed. Hermione was talking excitedly about her new courses when the door opened. Malfoy walked quietly inside, stopping just in the doorway.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" he spoke quietly but clearly. Harry saw Ron's eyes narrow.
"Ah yes, Mr. Malfoy. I have your O.W.L. results," she handed him an envelope. Malfoy turned to leave.
"Just a moment Mr. Malfoy," he stopped short, eyeing her suspiciously. For some reason Harry couldn't stop staring at Malfoy. He was confused, it was still old Malfoy, but something was different about him.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall stood straighter than usual, "I would like to formally present to you, under the authority of Hogwarts, the position of Gryffindor and Slytherin Quiddich team captains," she stopped and clasped her hands.
Ron's mouth literally dropped open. Hermione squealed and hugged him around the waist. He turned a wide eye on Harry.
"But, but…he's, he's senior member!" Ron pointed at him, Harry laughed.
"You're better at it than me mate. You deserve it," Ron's mouth opened and closed like a fish, but a smile was spreading slowly across his face. Finally he laughed and hugged Hermione back, as well as Harry. Harry chuckled a bit awkwardly; Ron wasn't really the hug type. The three were so lost in their happiness it took Harry a moment to notice everyone was silent. He stopped celebrating for a second and realized all eyes were on Malfoy.
"I'm sorry Professor, I'm not playing this year," Malfoy dropped his eyes to the floor and left without another word. Harry was taken aback. Malfoy refused to play Quiddich? After everything he did to get on the team in the first place? For the first time Harry felt sorry for Malfoy. He never thought it would happen, but it did. He had lost everything, his family, his life, even his freedom, and Harry knew the feeling. He decided not to dwell, Ron was back to celebrating, and Harry was happy to share in his joy.
Upstairs Ginny sat in the middle of a swirling mass of color. She tried to wrangle the unruly fabric, but Ginny lacked the skill Hermione had with these kinds of things. She heard distant yells from downstairs. By the sound of things Hermione had done well in her O.W.L.'s. Ginny laughed, she hoped she was going to do as well this year. Ginny had always been fairly good with grades, but she knew fifth year would rattle anyone. Finally she sighed in exasperation. She needed a break. Ginny figured the three would be downstairs for a while, so she thought she would sneak off. Ginny stepped lightly up the stairs to the top floor. Last summer she had been desperate to get away from people, to be alone with her thoughts, that's when Sirius had told her about the "study." The study was really a small room, only big enough for an old desk and a few chairs. It seemed no one knew about it, or if they did they didn't have a use for it, so it became Ginny's private place. She went there when she needed a few quiet moments. Ginny twisted in and out of the maze-like hallways until she found the old oak door. She opened the door wide, and jumped backward with a gasp.
Malfoy was sitting in one of the old chairs by the fireplace; he had a piece of parchment in his hand, which he dropped as Ginny opened the door.
"What are you doing here?" she practically yelled at him, though she was more shocked than angry.
Malfoy scrambled to pick up the parchment, "Sorry," he mumbled. Ginny immediately felt bad, it wasn't in her nature to be nasty, even to people as despicable as Malfoy.
"No, I'm sorry, you just surprised me," she couldn't believe she was apologizing to him. He stood motionless, as though he didn't know what to do. Her eyes floated to the letter in his hand.
"Are those your O.W.L.'s?" she asked, her curiosity over riding everything else. He eyed her for a moment, and nodded. Ginny almost laughed at how timid he seemed, she knew she had a temper but this was a bit extreme. "Can I see?"
Draco handed the paper over quickly, as though she might bite him if he hesitated. Ginny glanced over the scores with raised eyebrows. "Wow, Malfoy, these are….really good!" and indeed she was surprised, Malfoy's lowest score had been an A. She gave it back to him.
"Thanks," he said softly, shoving it into his cloak pocket. Ginny heard another scream of delight from downstairs.
"Your brother is Quiddich captain," Malfoy said quietly, still refusing to look at her. Ginny's eyes snapped up. "What," she stared at him in disbelief. For the first time since she came in Malfoy met her eyes. "But Harry is senior member!" Draco shrugged at her, "Guess he didn't want it." Ginny laughed with glee, Ron was sure to be bouncing off the walls with excitement. Draco was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
"Well, what about you? Are you the captain?" this seemed like a natural question to Ginny, he was senior member after all. She saw with a start the effect it had on Malfoy. He sat again, his head hanging slightly, "I'm not playing this year."
"Oh," it was the only thing that came to her mind. "Well, sorry…" she looked at the boy in front of her. Ginny knew him well. She knew how much Ron despised him, how mean he was to Harry and Hermione, and even herself! She remembered her first year when she had defended Harry against him, and it had been his father who gave her the Riddle diary. Every memory of him was horrible, every thing he stood for infuriated Ginny, and yet…
This wasn't the Malfoy Ginny knew. There was no pride, no arrogance. There was just a boy, he was alone, and depressed. If she really thought about it Ginny knew she owed him. He had told the Order about the attacks, she shuddered to think what might have happened if he hadn't. Ginny sighed, but could he really change? She didn't know, and she didn't have time to think about it now.
"Well, I better go see about Ron," Malfoy nodded to the floor, "But…just so you know. This was my private room, only I ever came here." Malfoy rubbed his hand through his hair. "But," she continued, "I don't mind sharing, as long as you keep it a secret," She smiled at him. Malfoy looked up, Ginny could swear she saw a tear in his eye, he nodded. She closed the door firmly. Never in her life had she had a decent conversation with Malfoy, well wonders never cease, she thought. Ginny heard more laughter and she raced down the stairs to congratulate Ron.
Harry sat around the kitchen table with everyone. Remus had given everyone mugs of butterbeer to celebrate and McGonagall had enchanted the portraits in the kitchen to say "congratulations." It was an exceedingly better day, and everyone seemed much happier. Ron was still speechlessly excited about captain and Hermione kept looking at her O.W.L.'s over and over to be sure. Ginny had run into the kitchen and threw herself at Ron giving him a hug. Harry thought she was more excited than Ron was about the position. She giggled with Hermione about her results and they both jumped around like silly girls. Ron rolled his eyes at them and frowned at Harry.
Later that night Ginny reached him, "Hey, I heard you did wonderfully on your O.W.L.s as well Mr.!" she hugged him tightly and Harry noticed the strawberry smell again.
"Yeah well, not as good as Hermione,"
"Who is?" Ginny laughed.
They talked pleasantly for a while before Ginny pulled her armchair closer to him. "Harry did you….tell anyone, about the letters?" she whispered into his ear. Harry frowned, with all the commotion he had forgotten all about the stupid things. He shook his head, "No, I forgot, I'll do it tomorrow," Ginny frowned at him "Honestly," she shrugged. He poked her side, "Hey, you sound a little too much like Hermione!"
Ginny opened her mouth in surprise, "Oh really? Well I'm not Hermione, and I'll tell you to sod off!"
Harry faked a shocked expression, "Ginny Weasley? You are much too young to use language like that!"
"Harry, I'm only four months younger than you!"
"Well, what a difference four months makes!" he shook his finger at her.
"You are a fine one to talk about maturity!" she laughed, "I know in good confidence you still sleep in cartoon pajamas!"
"Well half your room is taken over by the teddy bear army!" Harry laughed at her loudly.
"Those are……just decoration," she shot back at him incredulously.
"Whatever you say Ginny," he rumpled her hair. Ginny threw her pillow at him, hitting him squarely in the jaw.
"So violent!" he threw it back at her.
"Oh, famous Quiddich player Potter! Can catch a snitch at one hundred feet but can't dodge a pillow!" Harry grabbed for her and she leapt out of the chair landing on the couch.
"You'll pay for that one!" he chased after her, but she eluded him easily, running down the hall into the kitchen. Harry grabbed a wet towel from the sink and cornered her by the stove.
"Come here Weasley!" he demanded holding the dripping towel towards her.
"No! Harry don't!" Ginny squealed, "I've only just washed my hair!" she tried to grab the towel, but he easily pinned her against the wall with one hand.
"You started it Weasley!" he held the towel above her head.
"Excuse me!" Harry and Ginny stopped laughing as Hermione yelled at them from the doorway. Harry noticed suddenly his hand was still on Ginny's waist, he jumped away from her.
"You know, some of us are finding it quite hard to study with the two of you making such a racket!" Hermione had her hands on her hips, a sure sign of danger.
"Sorry Hermione," they said in unison, like two scolded children.
"Honestly!" she exclaimed, walking out of the kitchen. Harry smiled at Ginny, she glared back at him playfully, "Don't even say it!"
That night as Ginny tied her hair up she found a smile plastered on her face. Even Hermione's lecture about the importance of homework couldn't take her out of her good mood. She had had such a great day, and her plan was coming together beautifully. Ginny changed into her night gown with a yawn. She hadn't realized how tired she was. She snuggled down into her bed, catching sight of one of her oldest stuffed bears. She smiled again, feeling the familiar stomach flip. Harry had been happier too, laughing with the rest, and not worrying for one day. Ginny thought she would be happy forever if she could just see him smile at her again. Ginny felt her eyes closing while she listened to the familiar snore from Hermione's bed. She would die if she knew she snored like that! Ginny stifled a laugh. Ginny stopped laughing suddenly. She had heard something. What was that?
Ginny crept out of bed, there it was again! She slid quietly over to the door, the room was dark and she stubbed her toe in the process. She cursed as she moved to the door. She opened it slowly, looking out into the dark hall. A hand slid around the corner and grasped her shoulder. Ginny gasped loudly, clamping her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming.
Malfoy appeared from behind the corner, his eyes darting swiftly from side to side. He pressed a finger to his lips. Ginny noticed his face was even more pale than usual.
"I need to talk to you," he whispered pulling out a piece of parchment with a blood red seal.
A/N- Hey again! Well, I hope you liked the little Harry/Ginny chase scene. I know I always end on a cliffhanger, but hey! I update swiftly! To everyone who reviews I love you! I smile every time I see you screennames! Please keep talking to me! Okay, next chapter, Harry find out about Ginny's midnight rendezvous with Malfoy. How will he react? And, why does Malfoy have a letter?