Harry felt his throat close as her looked at her. She was obviously scared out of her wits, and Harry couldn't blame her. He took the letter from her shaking hand, the same scrawl greeted him,
Ginny was sitting on Harry's bed rubbing her arms, and he didn't know what to say to her. She was terrified and Harry cursed himself silently, this was all his fault. He showed Ginny the letters, he got her involved, and now she could be in serious danger. She was sitting there watching him with questioning eyes, waiting for him to tell her what to do and he had no idea. He sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose, he had told her once that he would protect her and he would. Harry felt his eyes narrow in anger. How dare they threaten Ginny, what had she ever done to them?
"Where….was it an owl?" he put the letter away in a drawer, he knew she didn't want to look at it anymore.
Ginny shook her head, "No…..it was sitting on my night table," she swallowed hard.
Things were getting worse, now they knew that someone was inside the house, Harry felt like he was going to be sick.
"Don't worry Ginny, we're safe here, Lupin knows and I'm sure he's gotten Dumbledore in on this," she still looked worried, he smiled softly as he watched her chewing on her thumb, "hungry?" he laughed at her, only Ginny could make him laugh at the worst of times.
She dropped her hand and scrunched up her nose, "Harry this is serious."
"I know," he hadn't meant to make light of the situation. Harry sat beside her on the bed, he wanted to comfort her, to take her in his arms again, but he knew he couldn't this time.
"We're all here, no one is going to do anything to you. I'll make sure of it."
Ginny looked into his crystal clear eyes. Despite her better judgment she felt herself believing him. She noticed how tired and drawn he looked, Ginny worried about him, she wondered how many sleepless nights he had spent in his sixteen years.
"Go to bed Harry, you've had a long day," she smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Try a long life," he laughed softly. Ginny closed his door quietly, but the good feeling left her the moment he was out of sight.
After Ginny shut the door Harry collapsed into bed. His mind was racing but his body wasn't letting him win tonight. He was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.
The next few weeks passed normally, well as normally as they could pass in number twelve Grimmauld place. Lupin came back and told everyone that he had alerted the rest of the Order, though he avoided the majority of the questions Harry asked him. Malfoy was seen a bit more in the days after Ginny got her letter, though he still disappeared most of the time. Harry got to the point where he didn't even think about his presence anymore. Malfoy seemed to blend into the woodwork of the house, and as long as he stayed that way Harry didn't have a problem. Hermione went about her usual ways, though she had found a new obsession, N.E.W.T.s. Ron complained loudly to her, saying they had just gotten over the stress of O.W.L.s, but Hermione was already begging Harry and Ginny to help her make flash cards. Harry helped her reluctantly, she was his friend, and she was just a bit overzealous, but when Hermione woke him up at night mumbling about Zobot root he decided it was for her own good to stop. Ron managed to make it through the last weeks without murdering Malfoy, though Harry worried about it some. Occasionally Harry would catch Ron staring at Malfoy and fiddling with a random blunt object. It wasn't that he liked or trusted Malfoy, it was more about Ginny. She had such a kind heart and she was determined to keep her brother from killing him. Harry was civil to Malfoy, it still pained him, though he had to admit he wasn't being abrasive like he always had been, he didn't speak much at all, except to Ginny. This was another one of Harry's concerns, though he tried to brush it off. Ginny with Malfoy? It was a ridiculous thought, even though he did often find them talking quietly in a corner. Finally August was drawing to a close, it had been a stressful summer and Harry was glad to be leaving Grimmauld place and returning to Hogwarts. The night before they were to leave Mrs. Weasley prepared a huge feast. Harry took the opportunity to stuff himself before the next day. Hogwarts had wonderful food, but no one could compare with Mrs. Weasley's cooking.
Fred and George had created indoor fireworks this year and were happy to have a place to try them out, but after the third fire Mrs. Weasley put a stop to the experiment. She tried to confiscate them but somehow they disappeared before she could grab them. The twins protested loudly as she tipped them upside down with her wand, searching. Many interesting things fell out of their pockets, but no fireworks. Harry was startled to suddenly find he was a bit sad at the prospect of leaving. He was going to miss having all his favorite people in one house.
"Alright, it's late and I think it's time for you all to get to bed," Mrs. Weasley's announcement was met with groans.
"Yeah little ones, run off to bed, you don't want to be tuckered out for your big train ride!" Fred ruffled Ginny's hair, to which she promptly kicked him in the shin. Lately the twins had taken every available moment to remind everyone that they didn't have to go back to school. They were going after their joke shop idea full force; they were already planning a second location set to open sometime later in the year, to everyone's intense discomfort.
"Ow! So violent! I hope you don't treat all the men in your life like that," Fred rubbed his leg and poked his lip out.
"What men in her life?" this question was directed from Ron, who had always been extremely over protective of his little sister. Harry shuttered to think what would happen if Ron knew some of the thoughts he had….
"Yeah Ginny," George broke in, "what men?" it seemed the kitchen's whole focus settled on her red face.
"Are you still seeing that Thomas bloke?" Ron growled the name out as if he was a beast. Harry was a bit alarmed now, he hadn't heard Ginny speak about Dean all summer, he had forgotten all about it until just then.
"Well, if you must know….we broke up."
Hermione looked surprised, "When?" Harry was surprised too, if Hermione didn't know about it then no one knew about it.
Ginny tossed her hair casually, "Oh a few weeks ago, it was nothing big really, he wrote me and said I never talked to him, so he wanted to break up, I don't think I even bothered to respond."
Harry felt a lop sided grin creep across his face; he dropped it quickly when he saw Ginny glance at him. Harry put on the most nonchalant face he could manage.
"Good!" Ron nodded his head sharply, "He was a git I always said."
"I agree," everyone looked at Ginny in surprise, she never agreed with Ron on anything, "besides, I like someone else," Ginny smiled at him and stood before he could stop her.
"Shameless," Fred shook his head, "much too young!"
Ginny ignored him and started up the stairs with a proud look on her face. Harry had been so worried about Ron's expression he had missed her exit completely. He chased after her quickly, trying to slip silently out of the kitchen.
"Hey," he caught up with her on the second floor landing, "Are we still doing it tomorrow?"
Ginny nodded vigorously and Harry sighed, he should have know, when her mind was made up it was made up and no one, not Dumbledore himself could make her back down.
"You're not scared are you Potter?" she laughed as she noticed a frown on his face. Harry felt his pride take a blow, it might have been true that he worried about Hermione's wrath more than Voldermort's, but he wasn't going to admit it.
"No! I….I just don't want you to mess it up or anything," he frowned again, it wasn't the best come back in the world.
"Right, I'll try not to," she hit his chin softly, "Harry Potter, scared of a girl, Night," she grinned and continued down the hall. He watched her go smiling, Merlin, if only she wasn't so cute!
Harry decided he had better start packing since he had officially waited until the last minute. He was in the middle of forcing Hedwig out of her cage to clean it when Ron stormed in.
"Stupid….tell me what to do…." He mumbled incoherently, Harry sighed, only one person made Ron act this way.
"What'd she do now mate?" he tried not to laugh at Ron's furious expression.
"She told me that I needed to be a better prefect, 'now that you don't have to hide from your brothers,'" Ron mimicked in a high pitch. "When was I not good? Just because she's bloody Miss perfect prefect…" he trailed off again. Harry listened vaguely and nodded along. He felt it was his duty to agree, Ron was his best friend, and he tried his best after all.
"Harry!" Ron called suddenly snapping him back to Earth, "Were you listening to me?" he asked with a yawn. Harry assured him that he was, but Ron didn't seem to care much anyway, he slumped down in bed closing his eyes.
"I'm going to go search the living room for stuff," he told Ron who nodded, already half asleep. Harry jogged down the dark stairs; he busied himself for the better part of an hour fishing papers out from under the sofa. He was trying to find his lost charms book when he heard voices from the kitchen. At first Harry assumed it was Mrs. Weasley washing up but after a few minutes he heard a deeper voice. Harry crawled closer to the door, it was closed tight but he could distinctly make out the voice of Malfoy.
"I should have done it faster, I waited too long and now we're out of time," Harry thought he heard a book close.
"Yes well, it can wait," Ginny's voice came from behind the door, "it will be just as easy later."
"You know, it's not going to be easy back at Hogwarts, I won't be able to see you like this."
"Well we'll have to find a place won't we?" Harry put his hand over his mouth to stifle a gasp. What were they talking about? Could…..no, he told himself firmly, if only he could see inside.
"Are you all packed?" Ginny's voice came again, Harry heard the sound of glass clinking.
"Mostly, I put all the clothes back in your room."
Harry was terribly confused. Clothes? Why did Malfoy have her clothes? Why was he talking to her alone late at night? Harry leaned against the door, his ear pressed against the crack.
"Thanks, I wouldn't fancy explaining that to mum if she found under garments under your bed."
Harry's mouth dropped open. He was so shocked that he lost his footing and fell forward. Harry landed with a grunt on the kitchen floor. He closed his eyes in disgust, he didn't want to have to face Ginny after she found out he had been spying on her.
"Harry?"
He opened one eye cautiously, Ginny and Malfoy sat in the dark kitchen with a single candle, a cauldron between them.
"What in bloody hell are you doing?" her voice was dangerously high. Malfoy however had a knowing smirk on his face as he stirred something steaming.
"I….I was….looking for my charms book…and…" he sighed, it was useless he'd been caught.
"Harry Potter! I can't believe you were spying on me! How dare you I ought to…."
"Let him alone Ginny," Malfoy was laughing, much to Harry's surprise, "He can't help it."
"Can't help it? What in Merlin's name…"
"If you heard Harry talking, alone, about undergarments with Hannah Abbott what would you do?" Draco poured some of the milky blue liquid into a glass bottle. Ginny looked stunned and angry.
"What….what does Hannah Abbott have to do with anything?" she raised her chin a fraction of an inch higher. Malfoy snorted and shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing….nothing, here it's done," he handed Ginny two bottles of the liquid.
"Thanks," she put the bottles carefully in a bag and turned on Harry, "Well, if you are SO eager to know," Malfoy was snickering loudly, Ginny silenced him with a glare, "this is part of the plan."
"What is it?" he tried to see in the cauldron, but he didn't want to get within kicking distance of Ginny.
"It's called luminous soulvienca. A potion to make you see your true feelings for someone," this came from Malfoy as he disposed of the extra with a flick of his wand.
"Much too advanced for me, I had to get Draco to make it, we've been doing it for weeks, I've never seen a potion with so much prep work," she packed up the supplies. "Well I'm not Snape's best student for my looks….alone," he smiled and Ginny rolled her eyes at him.
Harry practically sighed with relief, "So….what does this have to do with underwear?"
Malfoy snickered again, "That was just for fun."
"Shut up Draco," Ginny slapped his shoulder hard. He winced a bit, "She's a strong one she is."
"We needed a personal item from Ron and Hermione, so when I did the wash I just nicked one of Hermione's skirts and some of Ron's boxers," she giggled a bit, "Bet you wouldn't want your Slytherin friends to know you slept with my brother's clothes under your mattress."
"Bet they wouldn't believe me if I told them!" he shot back.
Harry was a bit confused about the scene in front of him. The way they acted….it was kind of….familiar, like how Ginny acted around Fred or George. He didn't know how to feel, they acted around each other.
"Anyway, the potion takes a few hours to work. It doesn't implant any feelings, or force you to blurt anything out, it just makes everything clearer." "And more drastic!" Draco shot at her from across the room. Ginny looked proud of herself, "I found it in Hermione's N.E.W.T. level potion book."
"Least it's good for something," Harry mused.
"Well I'm off to bed," Malfoy picked up his cauldron and nodded to Harry, who returned the gesture somewhat reluctantly. He rubbed the top of Ginny's head with his knuckles as he passed her, "Be good," she swatted at him but he was already up the stairs.
"What was all that about?" Harry whispered to her when he was sure Malfoy was out of earshot.
"What? We this potion is the perfect thing…"
"Not that, him, Malfoy," Harry wasn't sure how to explain to her about her behavior.
"What about him? He helped us tremendously Harry, there's no way I could have made this and…"
He interrupted her again, this time a bit angrier, "I mean you and Malfoy! When did you become best friends?" he snorted at Ginny. He knew as soon as he had done it he had made a mistake. Ginny's eyes widened and then her eyebrows went into a straight line of anger.
"You arrogant prat!" she spat at him, Harry felt his ears glow red. "You know if you haven't noticed I have plenty of brothers. I have an abundance of brothers who tell me what to do, but you are not one of them Harry James Potter!" he winced, it was bad news when she used his full name, "I always thought that you were different, that you were more understanding, but I guess you fooled me!" she was on a roll and Harry didn't even try to stop her.
"I'm not telling anyone that Draco is perfect. Far from it, he was an irrepressible git and still is in a lot of ways, but it's different now. If you, any of you, had taken five minutes away from hating him you might have seen exactly how hurt that child is! His family is gone! His home is gone! He betrayed Voldermort by coming here Harry, and warning us, and do you know why he did it? Do you?" Harry shook his head quickly. She was scaring him at the moment.
"He didn't want you to die."
Harry looked at her in disbelief, as long as he had know Malfoy he had wanted nothing but Harry to die.
"He knew about the prophecy, his mother told him when Voldermort told her, after he failed to kill you at the Ministry. He found out Harry, I don't know from where but he did."
"I know, Dumbledore told me he knew," Harry felt his stomach turn at the familiar topic. He realized suddenly how hurt Ginny looked. "Ginny….I didn't tell you because…"
"It doesn't matter Harry, not anymore," she brushed her hair away from her face quickly, but Harry knew she was telling him a lie. He didn't want to put Ginny in any more danger than he already had, but something told him she was more hurt by the secret than she let on.
"She didn't die in cross fire Harry, Draco's mother. Voldermort killed her, because she wouldn't let him take Draco to the attacks, she said he was too young. Voldermort said she was being disloyal by contradicting him and he killed her, in front of Draco. He saw it happen. After that he ran to Snape, because he knew if you died Voldermort would win, his mother's murderer, and he said he couldn't let that happen, so if you were the only one who could beat him, he had to help you."
Harry sat down at the table, his head was hurting again. He was finding all of this a bit hard to accept. Draco had come to save him? Well, not him exactly, but in a way. He didn't know if it was true, what if he was lying? But why come? Why go through all this?
"He loved her like you loved Sirius," Ginny sat down beside him, she had lost the angry tone, but she still had her sharp gaze fixed on Harry. He flinched at the name, all summer he had been keeping the memories out, but just the mention of his name had cracked the hard walls Harry had built up.
"What if he's lying to you Ginny?" Harry stared at her, "What if it's all a trick?"
"Then I'm a fool, but at least I have a clear conscience. No one should have to be alone and hurting Harry, you know that better than anyone," she put her small hand on his. Harry felt like he could cry over the simple gesture.
"I'm not asking you to be his friend, or even to stop hating him, but I am asking you to trust me, and I think I deserve that. I'm not a gullible fool Harry."
"I never said you were, I don't think that, I do trust you Ginny, but…I don't trust him," Harry still felt the hatred in his heart towards Malfoy, but it had been questioned, he knew that.
"I know, just wait until you have a reason to hex him, Merlin knows I've done it before," she smiled. Harry smiled back at her, "I remember."
He stared at her bright eyes. She was very close to him, he hadn't noticed before. Harry felt his throat go dry. It would be simple just to lean forward, yet he felt as though his back had turned into steel, he couldn't move at all.
"Let's go to bed, big day tomorrow," she shook the bag with the glass bottled playfully; all traces of anger had gone. Harry hadn't let go of her hand yet.
"Ginny, I want you to know, I didn't tell anyone about the prophecy. The Order knows I suspect, but not Ron or Hermione, I never…" he stopped talking, he felt a lump in his throat. Ever since the end of last term he had felt so alone, he had been walking around with the guilt for what seemed like forever. Now that he knew Ginny knew, well, it was a lot better.
"It's alright Harry, really, when Draco told me, I'll admit I was a bit angry with you, but that's my temper. It's your life Harry, I respect what you decide to tell me, or not tell me," Harry nodded and squeezed her hand appreciatively.
"But I want you to know, that you can talk to me, if you need to, I don't feel like we have to keep secrets," she smiled at him and he felt himself drawn once again into her chocolate eyes.
"Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Never let me hear you say 'Ron's boxers' and Malfoy's name in the same conversation again!"
The next morning was the usual chaos that accompanied the first day of school. Hermione was looking for books and wrestling her cat into a carrier, Ron had slept late and was running around with his shirt on backwards, Ginny dropped her trunk down the stairs, and Harry laughed at them all at a safe distance. After his talk with Ginny the night before he had slept like a rock, but he woke early in anticipation.
"Ron! Hurry up, we have to go now! The cars are waiting!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the bottom of the stairs. Mr. Weasley was busy loading luggage into the magic enhanced trunk of the ministry car and waiting impatiently for them to leave. Ron ran down the stairs flinging Harry's cloak at him as he went. Ginny was right behind him her hair still wet. If he had had time Harry would have thought about how nice she looked, but Hermione was pulling him to the back door.
Outside Harry stood still for a moment startled by the sunlight. He hadn't been outside for more than a few minutes in over a month and he didn't realize how much he missed the fresh air. He thought this must have been what Sirius felt like, Harry frowned at the painful thought.
"Get in, get in, get in, get in!" Hermione pushed him towards the car, she was dreadfully afraid of being late and neglecting her duties as prefect. Harry sprawled out on the seat as Hermione shoved him into the car. There were eleven people in the 'small' car, all the Weasleys, Hermione, Lupin, Tonks, and Malfoy. Harry was glad they had magic or they would have needed a bus to get to the station. After the cars had started to go everyone seemed to relax, except Hermione but that was normal. Ron and the twins were busy in a game of exploding snap, Mrs. Weasley was talking to Tonks about how to get blood out of carpet, and Moody stared out the window silently. Harry was, as usual, watching Ginny covertly. She was reading in the seat across from him. Harry had wanted to sit by her but she had willingly sat by Malfoy since no one else wanted to. Harry had been watching her for several minutes when he noticed Malfoy smirking at him. He was about to say something ugly when Ginny looked up. She saw the two of them staring at each other and sighed.
"Boys," she breathed turning a page in her book.
"Hey I didn't say anything!" Harry looked at her incredulously.
"Me either," Malfoy held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Well why are you bothering me then?" Ginny shot at both of them making them fall silent. Harry felt himself turn red when he discovered the entire car watching him, Ron and the twins with confusion, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley with amusement. Harry huffed into his chest, this was the longest auto ride he had ever experienced.
When they finally arrived Hermione grabbed her carry on bag and was gone in a flash. Ron rolled his eyes, "Bloody crazy that one," Harry laughed and shook his head in agreement. As they waited by the gate to platform nine and three quarters Harry felt Ginny pull his arm. He let her pull him behind the brick column and was amused by her triumphant expression.
"I let you win," he laughed at her as she rolled her eyes at him.
"I gave them the potion at breakfast; it should be kicking in any time now."
"Are we still doing phase two?" he whispered as Ron rushed by holding pig by the feet.
Ginny nodded enthusiastically, "Oh yeah, don't get separated from me when we get on the train," she grabbed his hand and Harry felt himself grin stupidly. Her hand was soft and cool, he found himself walking slower so she would tug him along. You're a bloody git, he thought to himself, but still it was the most enjoyable part of the day so far.
Harry clung to Ginny's hand as they raced through the barrier onto the platform. They found the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione who was satisfied she wouldn't miss the train. Tonks and Lupin gave them all cheery goodbyes and Lupin gave Harry a one armed hug. He smiled uncomfortably, by the looks of it he was just going to have to get more comfortable with displays of affection. Mrs. Weasley was hugging Ron goodbye, looking as if she wanted to crush him into her rather than let him go.
"Good bye dear, be safe, no getting into trouble this year, I mean it!" she shook her finger at him.
"Oh goodbye Ronniekins!" Fred gushed grabbing his younger brother.
"Sod off," Ron's muffled reply came from under Fred's arm.
"Now, now, we're not going to see you until Christmas!" George sniffed, "Let's make this special!" he too grabbed Ron and the twins faked sobs until Mrs. Weasley snapped at them to stop.
"Harry, take care of yourself," Mrs. Weasley brushed a hair from his sweater, "Owl me if there are any problems," she had a tear in her eye as she hugged him.
"I will Mrs. Weasley, I promise," he felt slightly embarrassed, but in a way he loved the codling Mrs. Weasley gave to all the children. She hugged Ginny goodbye and Hermione who was yelling at a group of first years to hurry with their luggage. She ushered them all on the train with waves and promises to write. As Harry was climbing up the train steps he felt a rough hand pull him back. He stared into George's smiling face.
"You didn't think you'd get away without a goodbye from us did you?" he ruffled Harry's hair.
"Course he didn't George, he knows better," Fred slapped him on the back harder than he had too, "Just for you Harry, we put extra 'Weasley wizarding joke supplies' in your bag, pass them around to your little friends don't be shy," Fred beamed at him patting his shoulder.
"And tell them about our sale, anything Filch bans is half off!"
"I will guys, see you on holiday," Harry waved and started back for the train.
"Just one more thing Harry," George grabbed him again pulling him back, "Me and Fred here, we just want you to know we think of you as family, another brother see," Fred nodded and smiled.
"Thanks guys," Harry wasn't sure what brought about this little display.
"Right, we'd take a hex for you any day" Fred nodded in agreement, "Risk out lives for you like out own we would!"
Fred smiled warmly at Harry, "But we want you to know, if you touch our little sister…."
"We'll kill you," George finished his sentence, patting Harry's shoulder, "Off you go, see you at Christmas," the twins waved merrily and walked away. Harry came shakily up to the train.
"What was that about?" Ginny asked as he walked by her. Harry didn't answer.
When they had finally settled down on the train Harry began to worry. This plan of Ginny's it was risky, if Hermione found out…..well, Harry wanted to keep his head firmly on his neck. Ginny didn't seem too worried she was sitting quite happily with Harry in the second compartment from the back in the very last train car.
"Ginny? Are you sure…."
She cut him off, "Oh Harry stop worrying, I've got it all under control," she smiled at him. Famous last words he thought dismally.
"Wonder what's taking them so long?" Harry asked, the prefect meeting hadn't been so long the year before. Ginny giggled.
"Maybe the potion worked too well and they're snogging in the luggage car."
Harry groaned, "Ginny I know the whole point of this is to get them to admit their feelings, but please don't put that image in my head," she shrugged and continued humming a little tune. Harry glanced at her sideways and smiled, she always hummed the same thing when she was happy.
"What is that?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
"That little song you hum all the time."
Ginny laughed, "It's call 'Ms. Mary Cat and the big brown rat,' a song mum used to sing when I was little. I always loved that song, because the rats get away in the end," she smiled again and Harry felt his face get hot. There was still so much he didn't know about her. Ginny jumped suddenly, "There they are!" she squealed with delight, and Harry felt his stomach drop. They were already arguing.
"Honestly Ron, you shouldn't have been so mean to him!"
"But I don't like him, he's creepy, and I don't want him sleezing around you!" he made a disgusted face. "Hey why are we sitting all the way back here?"
"What's going on?" Ginny asked Hermione before she could reply to his question.
"Ron was just horribly wretched to a boy who asked me a simple question," Hermione sat down by Ginny and crossed her arms
"He asked you were the loo was Hermione, and we all know what that means!" he looked to Harry for help, who looked at Ron like he had gone mad.
"He was a first year Ron!"
"He was a pervert Hermione!"
Ginny looked at Harry from behind her hand, obviously Malfoy's potion was working, Ron was dangerously jealous. Ginny made a small cough and tugged at her ear, Harry knew the signal.
"Say Gin, will you help me take Neville these sandwiches; I was supposed to give them to him twenty minutes ago."
"Oh, sure Harry," he handed her a few of the packages.
"Do you need help?" Hermione asked stopping the argument with Ron for a moment, "No, uh, no, it's just a compartment over, we're fine," Harry slid the door open and Ginny followed him. He breathed a sigh of relief, "Well, that wasn't so bad," he dropped the sandwiches on the floor.
"That's just the beginning," Ginny sighed and crouched down behind the door pulling Harry down beside her. "Exotios Lumous," she pointed her wand at the light in the compartment, it went out immediately. Harry heard cries of alarm from Hermione and Ron. "Isn't that magic against the rules?" he whispered into Ginny's ear, she shook her head, "Not on the train, I found that out when we all hexed Malfoy last year on the way back," she giggled. Ginny pointed her wand again, "Sealarium," she whispered, Harry watched in amazement as the latch on the metal door melted together. "Wow, you're not top in your class for nothing!" he was impressed. Ginny practically glowed at him, "Show time!" she whispered standing up.
"Ron, Hermione? What's going on?" She pressed her face against the door with a look of concern.
"Ginny! I don't know, the light just went out, and Ron's having a hissy fit because thought he saw a spider," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I did see one Hermione! It was…"
"I don't care Ron!" she snapped, "The door is jammed as well," she explained to Ginny rattling the knob.
"Oh, dear..." Ginny tried it from the outside, which obviously looked melted, "Look, we'll go and fetch someone who can sort this out, stay here," Ginny couldn't help but laugh at her own joke as she pulled Harry down the hall. She was laughing hysterically and Harry was as well.
"There, they're stuck together for at least three hours," Ginny sat down in the last empty compartment. They had purposely gone to the back, no one had reason to come this far, that would insure no one over heard Ron and Hermione's cries for help.
"I just hope they're still alive when we go to get them," Harry told her seriously.
"Oh I'm sure at least one of them will be," Ginny giggled.
Harry realized with a start that he was alone with Ginny for the rest of the train ride; he hadn't ever thought of that when she was telling him her master plan. He felt his stomach flip.
"Are you alright Harry?" she asked suddenly, he nodded quickly. Damn, this wasn't a good situation, how could he go three hours without embarrassing himself?
"So, did you see how jealous Ron was?" she laughed again Harry nodded.
"He's so lucky, Hermione is the best girl at Hogwarts in my opinion," Ginny nodded her head sharply as if that settled it. Harry laughed at her.
"Oh really? Is she now?" he liked to contradict Ginny, she was fun when she fought back, and Harry loved to watch her.
"Yes I think so, who is competition do you think?" she was watching him with a slightly questioning look. Harry smiled mischievously.
" Oh I don't know, I think that Hannah Abbott…"
Ginny literally gasped at the name, "Hannah? HANNAH? Better than Hermione, I don't think so! You don't even know Hannah Abbott. She's pretty, yes…that's all BOYS care about," Ginny was really running with this one, Harry knew he had to be sure and cut her off before she got too involved. "Never mind that Hermione is smart, and cunning, and resourceful, and witty…" she raised her chin again and Harry resisted the urge to laugh, "It's all about how you look to your kind, and I for one…"
"Ginny," Harry held up his hand with a laugh, "I was just joking."
He noticed her face flush a it, "Oh, well…I knew you liked Hermione anyway" she turned to face the window again.
"But I don't think she's the best girl at Hogwarts," Harry said clearly as soon as her head was turned, he was enjoying this too much. Her head snapped back, it had started raining softly and Harry could see the drops reflecting in the window. He suddenly felt quite nervous, and not a bit amused.
"Well who is Cho Chang?" Harry noticed Ginny was on the brink of anger now.
"Well, I think….that…." his throat was remarkably dry, "I don't know….you might be able to give her a run for her money."
Harry felt instantly terrified, what if she laughed in his face? But Ginny looked more embarrassed than he did, he could tell she was pleased however.
"Oh, no," she cleared her throat, "Hermione's received much better marks than me…"
"It's not all about marks," Harry almost died from surprise. How was he being so forward? He wasn't even thinking these things; they were just flying from his mouth like they had a life of their own. Ginny's face was now a deep crimson and Harry couldn't have swallowed to save his life. They both jumped as they heard a bump from the hallway. Harry raced to the door followed closely by Ginny. From the looks of it Ron was trying to kick his way out. The next thud was followed by a loud muffled 'Ow!" Ginny fell down on the compartment floor laughing. Harry slid down beside her trying to keep his voice down.
"He'll hurt himself if he tries that much more!" he whispered to her, she was almost in tears from laughing. She slapped him on the arm lightly, "Stop….Harry…..please…" Ginny sat on the floor gasping for breath.
"Ginny, be quiet, they'll hear you!" Harry whispered to her again, but she was cackling louder than ever. She rolled over on the floor, he was sure the whole train would hear her soon. Harry was working hard to keep quiet himself, "Ginny..." he took a deep breathe to stop laughing, he crouched down beside her desperately "Shhh!" he put his hand over her mouth. She stopped laughing immediately. Harry couldn't believe he had touched her. He hadn't meant to, but there he was basically lying on top of her on the floor of the compartment with his hand on her face. Ginny seemed to realize this the same time he did. Move…MOVE! His mind screeched at him, but he didn't, he wasn't sure if he was even breathing anymore. He took his hand off her mouth slowly, for some reason he couldn't look away from her eyes. Harry felt his stomach knot, was….was this it? Should he…? He had never initiated a kiss before, and he wasn't quite sure the way to go about it. He suddenly felt very intimidated by the small girl lying beside him. Harry leaned down slightly. He felt Ginny take a sharp breathe, he was inches away from her face now.
"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME IS GOING ON?" the voice came from the doorway.
A/N- Whew! Yay, the chapter's done! I got to tell you guys I had major writers block at the start of this one, but once the got on the train everything started rolling, ha, ha, get it? Ok, I thought it was funny, anyhoo…didn't you love the part with Fred and George? They are two of my favorite characters. So next chapter, who messed up the long awaited kiss? Who's new at Hogwarts? Who saves the day? And who ends up in the hospital wing? Please review! I love you guys, especially those who love me back!