Malfoy snatched the parchment from the desk. The seal was broken and crumbled, but it was the same color, and the writing was unmistakable.
Harry was literally speechless. Here was proof that Snape was a traitor. He had been caught red handed.
"We have to show Dumbledore," Harry tried to take the letter from Malfoy's hand, but he held fast.
"No," he whispered, keeping his eyes locked on the paper.
"What is wrong with you?" Harry yelled. He was ready to use force against him if he had to. Harry was about to try again when the dungeon door flung open. Harry jumped but Malfoy didn't even flinch. Snape swept towards them with his usual cold sneer, until he saw what Malfoy's hand contained.
"What is this?" Malfoy raised his steel blue eyes to meet Snape's. The man stood motionless for a moment, and Harry thought for a moment he seemed almost…afraid.
"That is my business," he flicked his wand and the parchment flew across the desk into his hand. He folded it quickly, slipping it into his pocket. Harry didn't move, he was afraid Snape was going to hex them both into oblivion.
"What the hell are you doing with it?" Malfoy yelled. Harry couldn't believe Malfoy was yelling at Severus Snape, and that he was taking it.
"That is none of your concern," Snape snarled and stepped towards them. Harry's eyes widened, but he didn't retreat, "Get out, both of you," Snape glared at them and stalked towards the far door.
"I know what you are doing," Malfoy spat at his back. Snape faltered ever so slightly, but kept his pace as he slammed the door. Malfoy swore violently and threw down his cleaning rag. He walked towards the door and Harry followed suit.
"What do you know?" he asked, grabbing Malfoy's cloak.
"I know that hate can make you go blind," Malfoy's stare intensified as he pulled from Harry's grasp, "Go, watch her, and I mean really watch her," Malfoy turned back to the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"Wait, her?" Harry felt his blood run cold, "Are you talking about Ginny? Answer me!" he pulled Malfoy back violently. Malfoy scoffed and didn't answer directly. "You listen to me you great ass! You don't mess with her, and I mean it!"
"Get off," Malfoy shrugged him away with surprising strength. He straightened his robe and turned again.
"Do you love her?" Harry yelled at him. The elephant in the room had been addressed, and Harry suddenly found himself very afraid of the answer.
"I don't love anything," Malfoy fixed his eyes upon him, and Harry detected a hint of sadness. "But I won't have her harmed, you can bank on that."
Harry trudged towards the common room filled with anxiety. Malfoy knew something he didn't, and that worried him. Snape was up to something, there was no doubt about that, and whatever it was concerned Ginny. Harry felt the panic well in his throat. He would never let anything happen to her. He would die for her in a moment, and he would kill for her as well. On the up side, Harry decided, he had never had such a short detention. Harry muttered the password and stumbled into the dim common room. The fire was still burning brightly, but it seemed everyone had turned in early on the second night. Harry was about to crawl up the stairs and into bed, the excitement in the dungeons had made him forget for a moment how exhausted he was. As he reached the boy's stair case he saw something shift in the corner. Harry paused nervously; he looked cautiously behind the large armchair to find Ginny and Hermione. They were fast asleep on the study table; Harry shook his head at the sight of a dozen scattered flashcards.
"Hermione?" Harry shook her softly.
"Blurb sprouts!" Hermione muttered as she jumped up. She rubbed her eyes slowly and turned a bleary face to him, "Harry? What time…"
"Late, come on, go to bed," he started piling the cards loosely, Hermione nodded sleepily and pulled herself up.
"Ginny," Harry whispered into her ear, he didn't want to startle her. Ginny sighed softly and Harry pulled the hair away from her face. "Wake up dear; you have to get to bed."
Ginny opened her eyes a bit, "Morning," she smiled dreamily. Harry chuckled, "Not quite," he pulled her up softly, she was light as a feather. Ginny grasped his shirt as he pulled her towards the girl's stair. Hermione was watching him with a pained look.
"What?"
"You are so…sweet," she sniffed a bit, and Harry huffed at her.
"Get her to bed, please," he handed the sleeping Ginny to Hermione, who struggled a bit more under the weight. She nodded and disappeared. Harry stumbled with great difficulty to his bed and dropped down immediately. He barely took off his shoes before he felt his eyes close.
Ginny woke early the next morning. Her first thought was about her stiff neck; her next thought was about the strange bed she was sleeping in. Ginny jumped up, spying Hermione in the next bed she felt herself relax. Ginny lay back down, she vaguely remembered falling asleep in the common room, but it seemed like a fuzzy dream now. Thank goodness it was Saturday; she had no classes to worry about. Ginny looked at the small table clock, seven o'clock, hmm….wasn't something happening at seven o'clock? Ginny furrowed her brow for a moment, something about….QUIDDICH! Ginny sat straight up. Oh no, she hadn't slept in her bed with her alarm, she was late, and Ron was going to slaughter her. Ginny flew from the bed grabbing a nearby hairbrush. No time to change or shower, she had to go!
Ginny flew out the door to the Quiddich pitch; she arrived minutes later, completely out of breath. The pitch was empty. She looked around in confusion, she was sure Ron had said seven. Just then the rest of the team burst from the dressing rooms. Ron spied her first.
"Hey Gin, why so breathless?"
"I thought we were practicing at seven?" she panted, bending down to hold her knees.
"Oh, well it's only ten past," Ron shrugged casually. Ginny was resisting the urge to pummel him when Harry walked by.
"You're awake this time," he smiled at her gently. Ginny was confused for a moment, in a sudden flash she remembered the night before. Well, she remembered Harry waking her up.
"Yeah, I'm going to die now, but I'm awake."
Harry looked disturbed for a minute, but he smiled a bit and ran a finger across her cheek with a tentative look towards Ron. "Saved you something," he thrust a warm mug into her hand. Ginny thought she would die with happiness as she drank the hot tea. "Thank you," she winked at him suggestively and followed Ron onto the field.
"Alright team," Ron's eyes practically glowed with enthusiasm, "Today we have new people looking to become one of us, we have to be extremely selective about this, this could be the single most important day of the season…" Ron was talking on as everyone tried to concentrate on his speech. Ginny suddenly found her fingernails quite fascinating…
"WEASLEY!" Ron was yelling at her, Ginny glared at him when she realized he was addressing her. "Excuse me?" she gaped at him.
"Pay attention!" Ron crossed his arms stubbornly. Ginny felt her jaw drop, "Ronald! If you take that tone with me again I'm going to..."
"Alright!" Ron clapped his hands quickly, cutting her off. He knew better than to provoke her any further. Ginny sat back with satisfaction, he may have been her captain, but he was her brother first, and she knew how to handle him. Meanwhile Harry had sat beside her, resting his hand on the bench so his arm went slightly around her. Ginny smiled secretly, if Ron only knew.
"So, Ginny, are you going to be trying out for chaser?" Ron was talking to her again, Ginny snapped back to Earth.
"Try out? Didn't I prove last year…"
"No, last year you were the seeker. If you want to be a chaser you have to try out like everyone else," Ron was standing firm but Harry heard his voice waiver. He saw Ginny's eyes narrow dangerously.
"Alright," she said much too sweetly, "I'll try out."
The try out attendance was a roaring success. Since a seeker wasn't needed Harry was to be dubbed in whatever position he could. Quite a few people from all different years came. Harry was most surprised by Pravati Patil who was there for chaser, though he suspected she was there to gawk at Ron, who she had been flirting with since the year had started. Colin and Dennis Creevy came to try for chaser positions, along with Ginny. Alicia was back, and Harry was glad. It was going to be hard this year with all the new people. Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirk were there, though they didn't seem too enthused about being beaters again. Andrew was trying out for chaser and Jack had decided he would play only if a suitable substitute wasn't found. Seamus Finnegan came for beater, to Harry's relief; no one seemed too interested in that position. Since Harry had technically been removed as seeker last year he had the place only if Ginny didn't want it. She teased him about it, saying he would have to make it up to her later. Harry zoomed around the pitch for a few minutes, easily catching the snitch in his little audition. It was just a formality, Ron said. Ron was about to assign numbers when Harry heard the despicable voice.
"Oh, so sorry I'm late," Dean Thomas strutted across the pitch like he was arriving to a party. Harry noticed with satisfaction that Ron's eyes had narrowed. "I'm here to try out for beater," Dean picked up the small wooden bat. He swung it playfully and winked at Ginny. Harry inhaled sharply, it wouldn't do to kill him.
"Right, well…" Ron pressed forward, "Let's try the beaters first," he glanced at Seamus and Dean, "Harry, Alicia, and I will be chasers, keep the bludgers at bay, if you can," Ron smirked at Dean a bit as he flew upward. Harry kicked off from the ground with new found excitement. He was glad to be back on the pitch, it was a comfortable feeling. The three old players zoomed around the field, not even trying to dodge the bludgers. Seamus was pretty good. He missed a few, and accidentally sent one flying into Alicia's broom, but other than that he had great potential. Harry's heart fell at the sight of Dean. He was fantastic, even Harry had to admit. He flew around the pitch practically smashing the bludgers into the ground. He was a lot stronger than Harry had thought. After a while Ron signaled everyone down and caught the nasty bludgers, who struggled the entire way into the box.
"Good," Ron wore a triumphant smile, as much as he hated to admit it; Harry knew Dean would be valuable during games. "Chasers next, Colin, you come up with Alicia, I'll guard," Ron flew off to the hoops. Colin did pretty well, to Harry's surprise. To Harry Colin would always be the tiny first year chasing him with a camera. Colin succeeded in getting six goals past Ron, which wasn't bad, especially on his first time. Dennis wasn't as good as his brother. He wasn't awful, but he failed to get any goals past Ron, even with Alicia's help. Pravati was next. Harry chuckled as she tipped precariously on her broom. The only thing Pravati succeeded in was not killing herself as she putted around the goals, throwing the quaffle feebly. Andrew wasn't as bad as Dennis, but he still couldn't get many goals. Harry could tell by Ron's face that he was getting discouraged.
"Alright Ginny, you're up," Ron called. Ginny smiled sweetly and stood.
"Thanks Ron."
Harry was alarmed. Ginny was acting…odd. He suspected she hadn't taken Ron's attitude towards her well. Ginny gripped her broom lightly as she rose in the air. Alicia tossed her the quaffle, zooming in front of her to assist the pass. Ginny put the quaffle under her arm instead of throwing it and tucked her head down. Harry watched open mouthed with the rest as she made a bee line for the hoops, and Ron. Ron sat in the air, watching her. Ginny was a red blur zooming towards him.
"Ginny…Ginny you might want to slow…GINNY!" Ron dived away from the hoop as she came. Ginny stopped suddenly, throwing the quaffle not through the hoop but straight at Ron. He shrieked and dodged, as Alicia caught it with both hands, getting the breath knocked out of her. Ron stared at Ginny in disbelief. She smiled and batted her eyes before grabbing the Quaffle from Alicia. Harry winced inwardly for the next ten minutes as Ginny dive bombed Ron from every side.
"Wow, what did her do to her?" Seamus rubbed his neck protectively as Ginny flew at Ron again. By the end of the massacre everyone had lost count of how many goals she had scored. Alicia sat, mostly forgotten, on the side watching like everyone else.
"Alright!" Ron gasped finally. Ginny stopped in an instant.
"Thank you SO much for the chance," she cooed at Ron, hitting him with the Quaffle one last time. Ginny touched back down lightly. She smiled at the mixed looks of awe and fear. Dean met her as she walked back to the group.
"Wonderful job Red."
Harry felt his forehead wrinkle. Why did he have a pet name for her? Harry didn't have a pet name for her, why didn't he get one? Ginny smiled at him politely, sitting down on the bench next to Harry.
"How'd I do?" she smiled at him. Harry wasn't sure what to say. "Well, I think you made the team," he laughed, "But I'm officially scared of you."
Ron returned grumbling lightly. It was obvious from the scattered snickers that he had been shown up by his little sister. "Well, thank you all for coming out, I'm going to talk to the team, and I'll get back to you all by the end of the day," Ron nodded to them as everyone dispersed.
"So what do you think?" Ron turned to Harry, Alicia, Andrew and Jack; he noticed suddenly Ginny standing beside him. "Sorry Ginny, you're trying out too, you have to go."
Ginny looked as though Ron had slapped her in the face. "I was on the team last year, just like you!"
"Technically you are trying out, so you have to go!" Ron's temper was flaring, and so was Ginny's. Harry groaned, the old Weasley temper was out in full force.
"Well, Mr. Technicality, Harry and Andrew are TECHNICALLY trying out too, so they have to go as well, don't they?" Ginny had her hands in fists, and Harry didn't want the scene to escalate any more.
"She's right mate, it's no problem, we'll meet you in the common room later," Harry grabbed Ginny by the shoulders and dragged her away. Ron was left standing looking quite put out with Alicia and Jack.
"I ought to rip his bloody head off!" Ginny fumed as they walked back to the common room. She had never been so outraged. She was being treated like the wicked step child! True she hadn't been on the team the whole year, and she was trying out, but Merlin! Harry chuckled and sat beside her on the sofa.
"He's just a bit….over excited Gin, he'll calm down," Ginny was still seething. She was contemplating where she could find a tarantula when Harry took her hand.
"Hey," he smiled at her softly, "You were amazing. Did you know that?"
Ginny felt her anger slip a bit, "Yeah well, with enough will power there's not much I can't do."
Harry nodded, "Remind me never to make you angry alright? I quite fancy my life," Ginny slapped him lightly, but smiled all the same. She curled up on the sofa next to him, laying her head on his shoulder. Harry kissed the top of her head and put his arm around her. For a moment Harry considered telling her about the night before, but he shook the thought quickly. He didn't want to worry her until he knew what was going on.
"You think I made the team?" she laughed at him. Harry shrugged, "I think you have a very good shot."
Harry rubbed her arm gently watching the door like a hawk. As much as he loved this he was ready to fly away from her at the slightest move from the portrait hole. Harry sighed, everything would be so much easier if Ron knew.
"Gin, when do you think we can…you know, tell Ron, about us?"
Ginny grinned at his use of the word 'us,' but she frowned at the thought, "I don't know Harry, soon. I don't like hiding it any more than you do, but not now," she turned her head to look at his face. He looked unsure and Ginny felt a rise of panic in her throat.
"Harry, please, not now," she sat up on her knees, "soon," she kissed his lips softly. Harry felt his will dissolve. He would wait until she agreed; it was her life too after all. Ginny looked triumphant, she knew she had won.
"I'm going to have to learn to say no to you," Harry shook his head at her in mock disapproval. Ginny beamed, "We'll see," she kissed him again, though not daring to draw it out. A few minutes later the portrait hole opened. Dean walked in followed by Ron and Alicia.
"Hey Red, I made the team," Dean swooped her up in a hug and Harry felt himself go rigid.
"Congratulations," she smiled at him before glaring at Ron, "Am I to know whether I made the cut?"
"Yeah you did you little priss," Ron rolled his eyes at her.
"What about me?" Harry bit his lip with a pleading look.
"I don't know Harry, that Creevy boy was pretty handy with a broom…" Harry chucked a pillow at Ron who dodged it easily.
It took Ginny a full day before she could sneak away. Between Hermione's new text book and Ron's obsessive Quiddich talk Ginny hadn't had a moment to herself all day. Ginny slid out of the common room quietly, ducking as Colin came around the corner, he had just found out he had made chaser, and she would never get away if he saw her. She ran down the steps quickly, taking the long way towards the fourth floor. When she finally made it to the library Ginny was glad to see it was almost deserted. It seemed no one wanted to spend their Saturday night in the stacks of dusty books. Ginny walked purposefully into the smallest study room, she hoped against hope that he would be there.
"Draco?"
She spied him, sitting silently on the floor surrounded by papers. He glanced up quickly, relaxing again as he recognized her.
"What are you doing here, did you come by yourself?" he asked, shutting the small blue book and looking nervous.
"Oh just trying to find the new book about rutis beetles," Ginny rolled her eyes at him, "I'm looking for you of course, and yes I'm alone. I can come to the library unassisted, I can even cross the street by myself!"
"What do you need? A full blown romance potion this time?" Draco snorted, "Course I can do that."
"No, I have no more plots in the near future," Ginny sat down beside him. She sighed a bit, he was by no means naive, he knew why she had come.
"I wasn't going to kill them," he frowned slightly. Ginny eyed him for a moment silently, "I wasn't!" he protested, watching her expression.
"It was really stupid Draco, why did you do that?"
"They needed to remember their place," he murmured, reaching for another book. Ginny took it from him impatiently, he was avoiding the topic splendidly.
"Draco, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! Are you seriously telling me you assaulted two people for the sake of your reputation?"
"What else do I still have," Draco looked at her with a bit of sadness. He took the book from her and opened it to the first page.
"You have a choice," she began to feel impatient, "You can choose how you react to people. Draco I know that you feel…well, no I don't know how you feel, but I do know trying two drown two of your mates is not the way to go about your life."
"They're not my mates," Draco glanced at her quickly, "So how's school going for you?"
"Fine I guess, Snape is a nightmare as always but I think with a bit of work….what?" Draco was smirking at her openly.
"I was talking about Potter."
"What about him?" Ginny knew she was a horrible liar, but she didn't know if it was a good idea to tell Draco what was going on, she couldn't chance it getting back to Ron.
"Oh please Ginny, I know you two finally broke down and starting snogging like mad!" Draco laughed at her amazed face.
"How did you know?"
"Well, by the way he nearly pummeled me last night, and the fact that he asked me if I was in love with you."
Ginny snorted with laughter, "Well, at least it wasn't me who let it slip. He actually asked if you were in love with me?"
Draco laughed, "I was going to screw with him and say yes, but I took pity on the sap. He's really got it bad Ginny."
Ginny smiled despite herself, "Who would have thought huh?"
"Not me," Draco shrugged and Ginny hit his shoulder with surprising force. "So have you been to Defense Against the Dark Arts yet?" Draco asked her suddenly.
"No, I don't have it until Tuesday, have you?"
"Not the class, but I've met the Professor. Interesting man," Draco raised his eyebrows, "A bit more intense than your average instructor."
"Well, than I look forward to the class," Ginny was intrigued. If Draco said the person was intense than this was going to be an experience.
"We better go, curfew comes into affect in a few minutes," Draco started to gather his papers.
"Draco," Ginny took his hand earnestly, "Promise me you won't try to drown anyone else."
Draco thought for a moment, "Alright, there's other ways."
"I mean it!" Ginny said sternly, "What was your punishment anyway?"
"Three weeks detention, Ha! I've had worse," Draco pointed to a scar on his forehead and Ginny winced.
"Not funny, really take care of yourself."
"Alright, alright," Draco stood and pulled her up, "Let me walk you back."
"Well! Are we being gentlemanly?"
"Something like that," Draco glanced around the hall before letting her out of the door.
Harry sat nervously in the common room. Ron and Hermione were with him complaining loudly. They had wanted to go to bed an hour ago but Harry had refused, they had stayed but not happily. He was waiting for Ginny. She had disappeared suddenly and no one knew where she had gone. Harry knew he couldn't go to bed until he saw her back safely. Ever since Draco's cryptic warning Harry had felt a dull panic in his stomach, and now she had gone missing. Ron grumbled that she did this all the time but Harry wasn't listening to him. Harry sighed, it was almost curfew and still no Ginny. He decided that he wasn't going to wait anymore.
"I'll be back," he muttered to them as he headed for the portrait hole.
"When did Harry start stalking my sister?" Ron asked Hermione with a sigh. Hermione hid her smile behind a large book.
Harry jumped down and started for the stairs, about the time he rounded the corner he heard voices. Ginny came into view walking beside Malfoy, Harry saw everything turn red. Here he was, worried sick about her, and she was parading around with Malfoy.
"Harry," she seemed surprised. Ginny came up to him wrapping her arms around his neck, he pulled away quickly, looking at Malfoy.
"He knows Harry, and no, I didn't tell him. Seems the two of you had an interesting detention," she smiled at Harry's mixed reaction.
"Where were you?" he asked her a bit more harshly than he had intended. Ginny turned on him in surprise, "I went out, is that a problem for you?"
"Just wondered where you were, I mean you just disappear…"
"I went to the library! I have every right…"
"Relax you two," Malfoy had cut in. Harry was annoyed by his very presence. They were back at school and Ginny was still talking to him.
"Ginny, he's worried about what I told you," Malfoy dusted a piece of fuzz from his robe.
"Oh, Harry," Ginny looked at him with understanding, "Draco, he's just afraid that the letter was meant for us. You know how Snape found us? Well, he thinks maybe someone is trying to get to you, or me," Ginny smiled softly and took his hand. Harry felt his stomach relax a bit, it was perfectly reasonable, though he didn't understand why Malfoy didn't just tell him this last night.
"Well I'm off, got to get to the dungeons," Malfoy nodded at Harry and hugged Ginny quickly before retreating down the stairs. Harry didn't know whether to be relieved or not.
"Were you worried about me?" Ginny smiled brightly.
"No!" Harry tried to laugh, "Just, well…no."
Ginny put her hand on her chest, "Oh, that is so sweet," she pinched his cheek.
"Get off," he slapped at her. Ginny pushed him to the wall roughly, "You actually asked him if he loved me?" Ginny laughed and Harry flushed red, he pretended to intently study a spider web in the far window.
"Well, he…" Harry didn't know what to tell her. He knew that he had been acting like a jealous fool. Ginny shook her head in amusement, she kissed his cheek tenderly. "You don't need to worry," she winked at him and walked back to the portrait hole. Harry stood slightly dazed by the wall, a grin spreading over his face.
The rest of the weekend passed quickly and Monday morning dawned early. Harry was sitting in his usual seat with Ginny at breakfast when Ron ran up.
"Harry, we have a problem!" he started, but before he could finish Hermione ran into him, knocking him over.
"NO Harry! Absolutely not! There is no way you can…"
"Stop, stop!" Harry held up his hands, "What is going on?" "Ron wants you to skip classes to play that stupid game!" Hermione glared at Ron with all her might.
"Not skip exactly, just, take a few minutes off, you know," Ron glared back at her as he mumbled to Harry, "And it's not such a stupid game to you when we win each year is it?"
"I don't care if you lose a thousand bloody matches," Ron gasped like she had hit him in the chest, "You can't do that, I'll report you! Ron, you're supposed to be a prefect!"
"I am so sick of you pulling that prefect garbage out whenever you feel…"
"Stop," Ginny had already had her fill of their bickering. She didn't know how Harry stood it day after day. "Ron, skip if you want, but call it what it really is…skipping!" she turned from him, "And Hermione, report him if you want, but don't call something he cares about stupid," Ginny nodded her head curtly and walked down the table to sit by Colin. Harry grinned, she really wasn't very subtle. Ron and Hermione sat down glumly, refusing to look at each other.
After breakfast was over Hermione regained her excitement. The three were off to Defense against the dark arts, and she was overjoyed to meet the new instructor. Harry was a bit less excited. Professor Silverstalk reminded him of a frail old grandfather, but then, appearances could be deceiving. Hermione forced them, as usual, to sit in the front of the class. Harry smiled at the waves from former members of the D.A. The only bad sign was the fact that Gryffindor had this class with Ravenclaw, and Harry had to deal with Cho Chang. She didn't acknowledge him when she first came in; sitting in the gaggle of giggling girls, but Harry knew she was doing it on purpose. He shook his head at his own thickness, why did he ever like her? He knew nothing about her, other than she was pretty. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Professor Silverstalk.
"Hello class," he spoke a bit slowly, not a long drawl, but with a cool ease. He was rather short now that Harry saw him standing, no more than five foot two or so. His hair was snow white and his eyes were a dark almost black color of blue. He was all in all a little wisp of a man, but Dumbledore had great faith in him, so Harry decided there must be something to this man.
"My name is Professor Silverstalk, but if you would like you may call me Professor Gebbin, I find my last name rather long in polite conversation," he opened a small wooden box on his desk.
"You all have succeeded a great deal in defense from what I have been told, so I will waste no time in formal introductions. You may put your quills and scrolls away, we don't do much note taking or essay writing in this class," Ron smiled like a mad man, but Hermione's face fell a bit. From the wooden box Professor Gebbin pulled an even smaller thing, it looked perhaps like it was made from iron, but it shone faintly, like a light surrounded it.
"This is an ulenmight," Professor Gebbin gestured to the box, "It is a creature so small and powerful that it has to be magically contained in onyx. Does anyone know what an ulenmight is?" Every head in the room turned to Hermione, who, to Harry's complete surprise, didn't have her hand raised. She was focusing intently on the box.
"An ulenmight can best be described as the exact opposite of a Bogart. Instead of showing you your greatest fear the ulenmight transforms into whatever you desire most. Once it has you entranced well….let us say the end results are not pretty. The ulenmight feeds on bone, so it is of utmost importance you don't get too close to it."
Professor Gebbin flicked his wand and it looked as though water began to trickle down the ceiling. "This spell will prevent the Ulenmight from escaping. Now, just so there is no confusion, when it is released everyone is to stay firmly seated. If you begin to move I shall have to stun you. Also everyone will see a different thing and you will not be able to see anyone else's desires, so if you all are ready…" Harry found his palms suddenly sweaty. He was going to see his parents, he knew he was. He had seen them in the mirror his first year, he wasn't sure how he was going to feel. Professor Gebbin placed the small box on a table in front of the class. He walked a good six feet away from it; "Alohamora…" the lid sprang open. For a moment nothing happened and Harry was confused. Then, to Harry's horror an arm appeared from inside. It was short and stubby and gripped the edge. As he watched a small boy jumped from the box and looked around. Harry was confused; the boy greatly resembled one of the baby pictures he had seen of Ron. The thing Harry wanted most was to see Ron as a baby? Then another arm appeared from the box, this one long and slender. Harry felt his mouth drop open as Ginny climbed out, no, it wasn't Ginny, and he knew that, but still. Ginny, or…the ulenmight, scooped up the baby and smiled. She rocked him back and forth and waved to Harry from across the room. Just then Harry was knocked down by Christian Maloney, a sixth year boy in Ravenclaw. Professor Gebbin leapt up and stunned him instantly. The ulenmight Ginny screamed and cradled the boy, Harry felt himself panic, Professor Gebbin was pointing his wand and in an instant she was gone. Harry looked around the room. The expressions were mixed, happiness, grief, all kinds of things Harry felt himself. Ron was holding a squirming Hermione who was trying to run to the front.
"Intense yes?" Professor Gebbin put the small box back into the larger one and tucked it away. "Now, you all see how your desires can be even greater motivation than your fears when it comes to your demise. The ulenmight however, is very fickle, like the human heart. Your desires may fluctuate so quickly that an ulenmight can change in front of your eyes, what you see now, you may not see later. There is a spell to dispose of the ulenmight…" he surveyed them shrewdly as he spoke. His voice was full of a certain type of wisdom, as though gained through many hard years, and Harry admired him. After a brief history of the Ulenmight the class was dismissed and the three walked into the bright sunshine.
"Wow, what a great lesson!" Hermione gushed as she skipped across the courtyard.
"Yeah," Ron agreed but appeared a bit distracted. Harry felt the same way. What he wanted most was Ginny, and a baby? He knew very well that he loved her, and some day he would have been glad to have a baby, but inside he felt a bit guilty as well. Had he forgotten about his parents? Were they no longer important to him? Had he become so wrapped up in himself that he had lost his love for them?
"Harry?" Hermione had stopped in front of him and he had nearly hit her, "What did you see?"
Harry blushed a bit, it wasn't as if he could just blurt it out, especially in front of Ron, "I…I saw…the Quiddich cup, and the Minister of Magic waiting to give it to me," Harry couldn't think of a lie, and he was sure Hermione saw through it. "What about you?" he asked her.
"I…" Hermione smiled dreamily, "I saw the Hogwarts Headmaster chair, I was the headmistress and….other things," Hermione stopped suddenly. Ron was still silent. "Ron?" Harry questioned him.
"Lots of things…" Ron trailed off looking at the Quiddich pitch in the distance. Suddenly Harry was glad that not everyone could see what he had seen, Ron wouldn't have been happy. The image of Ginny with a baby in her arms made him smile inside.
The next few weeks passed quickly as they always did at the first of the year. Harry was a bit overloaded with work; he had hoped it would slack off after O.W.L.s, but no luck. Ron was drilling the Quiddich team like a mad man, they had their first game in two days and he was intent on winning. Ginny was already beginning to feel the stress of fifth year; she spent most of her time on the study table reading with Hermione. Harry prized the few minutes he could get Ginny away, though they had a few near misses by Ron, who walked unexpectedly into the dormitory more than once. Ginny was good at playing it off, but Harry was beginning to feel progressively guiltier about hiding from his best friend. At times Harry almost blurted it out, why would Ron mind? He liked Harry after all, but Harry was afraid it would change things between them, and he wasn't ready for that just yet. Harry woke up at the end of October with a pain in his stomach. He looked at the dreary grey sky, it was Halloween. Harry hated Halloween; he didn't have a good track record. His first year a troll had been released in the school, his second year a petrified Mrs. Norris was found, an on and on, Harry wanted the day to be over as quickly as possible.
Ginny met him in the common room as usual, but today something was different. She seemed nervous, and evasive when he tried to talk to her.
"Ginny, is something wrong?" he asked, pulling her into a side hall and taking her hand. He wanted a chance to talk to her before breakfast, after that he wouldn't see her all day.
"No…"
"Why won't you talk to me?" Harry was hurt. Lately it seemed like she was talking to him less and less. She also seemed to be running off with Malfoy. Harry knew that he had thought this before, and she had been making potions, but this time something told him this was different.
"This…it has nothing to do with you Harry, really it doesn't. I…I just, need to figure some things out, okay?" she smiled at him weakly. Harry nodded, as much as he didn't want to he had to ask her.
"Is this about Malfoy?" he was horrified to see Ginny's eyes tear up.
"I…I need to go," she untangled her hand from his and jogged down the hall.
Breakfasts over the three were headed to Charms. Harry walked slowly, causing Hermione to snap at him about the time, but he was a million miles away. Something was bothering Ginny, and whatever it was she didn't want him to know about it. Professor Flitwick had prepared a special lesson in honor of Halloween and the whole class was busy enchanting pumpkins to talk when the doors burst open. A frazzled Professor McGonagall marched up the aisle wringing her hands. She whispered something in Flitwick's ear and he nodded vigorously.
"Class, you are dismissed for the remainder of the block, please return to your common rooms quietly," he jumped off his stool and followed Professor McGonagall out the door. Ron turned a confused face on Harry and Hermione.
"What do you think is going on?" he asked. Harry shrugged and Hermione shook her head. Whatever it was it had to be pretty severe to call Professors from their class. After Charms Harry went back to the common room instead of accompanying Ron and Hermione to the library. His head hurt and he wanted to lie down before the next class. As he entered the Gryffindor rooms he was startled to find it filled with people. Harry spotted Seamus talking wildly with Dean and a few other boys.
"Hey, Seamus, what's going on?" he approached them cautiously.
"Harry! Bloody hell you haven't heard? There was a dementor attack in muggle London. Whole streets were wiped out! The ministry has brought people here to treat them; St. Mungo's is over run!" Seamus kept talking but Harry tuned him out. So, the dementors had finally struck, he was wondering why Voldermort had been quiet for so long. Ron and Hermione ran into the common room suddenly.
"Harry! Did you hear what happened?" Ron gasped breathlessly. Harry nodded and sat down in the large armchair. The Halloween curse had struck yet again. Hermione was sitting on the sofa relentlessly chewing her fingernail, large tears had began to form in her eyes.
"She's worried about her parents," Ron whispered to him before sitting down next to her and draping his arm around her. A thought flashed through Harry's head. What if the Dursleys were there? Should he be upset? Harry detested the Dursleys, but he didn't want them to die, he just never wanted to see them again. Harry sat by Ron, trying his best to comfort Hermione.
"Hey, where's Ginny?" Ron asked suddenly making Harry's head snap up. He glanced franticly around the room. Where was Ginny?
Ginny was sitting in divination furiously trying to decode an orb stone when the doors flew open. Snape marched up the aisle to Trelawney, who followed him out screaming for them to go back to their common rooms. Ginny was puzzled indeed, never in all her years had Snape ventured to the divination tower. She gathered her books quickly, following Colin and the rest of the fifth years out the door into the halls. The scene was chaos. Finally she grabbed Julie Swean, a Huffelpuff friend of hers.
"What's happened Julie?" she almost had to scream to be heard above the racket.
"Attacks in London, hundreds were killed! Ginny…I heard something about Malfoy's father…"
Ginny wasn't listening anymore. This had been what Draco was worried about. Ginny ran as fast as she could towards the dungeons. She found the stone entrance to the Slytherin common room. Though she knew the password she didn't think it wise to barge in. Ginny stopped a short first year boy.
"You there, fetch me Draco Malfoy!" the boy looked at her in confusion; "Go!" she hissed at him. The boy pulled back with a quivering lip, he pointed to the Ravenclaw crest on his robe and scurried away before she could apologize for scaring him. Ginny yelled at another boy who ignored her and was about to storm in before she heard the voice.
"Ginny," Draco was walking towards her, wand in hand and paler than usual.
"Draco! Did you hear..." he nodded and she wrapped her arms around his neck. This was bad.
"Ginny, don't worry, you and I are safe here," Draco nodded at her soothingly, but she wondered who he was trying to convince.
"What if.."
Draco shook his head quickly, "No…no," he whispered to her softly.
"Come on, we have to get you back, I'm sure they're all bloody mad with worry over you," Draco seized her hand and pulled her up the stairs. In all the confusion Ginny hadn't thought about that. She shuddered at the thought of how worried Harry would be about her. They climbed the stairs silently until they reached the fat lady's portrait.
"Draco, you have to tell Dumbledore…" Ginny felt herself go into the familiar talk. There were so many things he didn't know, no one knew, except for Ginny. Draco shook his head firmly.
"He knows all he needs too, now get going," Ginny heard the sternness in his voice, but she knew he was shaking on the inside. "Just be careful, please…I…" she stopped and hugged him again, he nodded, walking away towards the north hall. Ginny clamored through the portrait hole to find the three of them waiting for her.
"Ginny Weasley where have you been!" Hermione had tears on her cheeks.
"Merlin Ginny do you know how worried I was?" Ron put his hands on his hips in an amazing impression of Mrs. Weasley. Harry was sitting quietly on the sofa, a pained look on his face. Though Ron and Hermione kept yelling, it was Harry who hurt her the most. She was so insensitive to him! After all he had done for her, he had even tried to help her this morning, and she had blown him off. Ginny ignored Ron and Hermione for the most part and ran to Harry. He was curled up on in the corner, his hand grasped tightly around the sofa arm. Ginny didn't care if he was angry with her, and she didn't care if Ron saw, she threw herself into his arms and buried her head in his chest.
Harry was startled when Ginny came back. He was trying his best to swallow the tears of relief when she hurtled into his chest. For the briefest of moments Harry worried about Ron's reaction, but he felt Ginny sob against his chest and he wrapped her in his arms. He held her tightly and put his head on top of hers. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened. Ron was surprised as well, he was about to say something when Hermione pulled him away. His concern for her was the most abundant thing right now, but he reminded himself to talk to Harry later.
"Harry…" Ginny felt the very word hurt her throat. She knew she couldn't put this off any longer. He was looking at her with pained eyes, "yes," he tried to grab her hand but she moved from him.
"We have to talk…."
A/N- Ok, don't kill me! The next chapter is soon, and you will understand! Well kids, I'm mostly moved, so updates should be getting regular again, even though I just started band so that takes up 90% of my time. We're a little more than halfway through, this chapter was a bit slow on the action, but next chapter, watch out! Ok coming up in thirteen- Ginny's story, Quiddich, a bad omen, and the real Professor Silverstalk. Please Review! No scathing threats of my life about a certain relationship, I've explained it all before! Thanks in advance to all of you who review! One of you almost made me cry I was so happy that you loved the kiss!