Chapter III
Ginny stood by the window as she watched Hedwig fly out of the Common Room. She was apprehensive, to say the least. She was worried that Harry might finally realise the reason for her silence over her love life. Not that she is dating anyone at the moment, nor during the summer before her seventh year at Hogwarts. Since last year, she decided to take a leaf out of Harry's book and left dating on its own.
In other words, she refused to date any guy who asked her out.
Not that there was any odd excuse for her to join the singles club. Ginny was, and is, a sight to behold, and a girl worth the worship of any boy studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and maybe throughout the entire Wizarding world. She bears the classic Wealsey features: the cool, pale complexion set against a warm backdrop of long, silky, fiery red hair, a pert nose, thin rosy lips, warm brown eyes and a smatter of freckles over her cheeks. She also carries her father's air of carefree enthusiasm and her mother's beguiling, but lethal, charms.
However, instead of her usual resolve, Ginny was the epitome of intense worrying. She was anxious over what Harry will think the moment he reads her owl. As she finally lost sight of Hedwig, Ginny shrugged her shoulders and walked with all the dignity she could muster back to the Gryffindor girls' dormitory.
Muggle music soars like a lullaby throughout one of the beat-up apartment buildings in uptown London. But nowhere else was the sound most appreciated than in Harry Potter's messy apartment.
The quiet unit silently absorbs and spreads the haunting melodies of Carole King as she sings of longing for a distant love. Inside the apartment's topsy-turvy bedroom, Harry is quietly laying on his back, his eyes closed as he listens to his Muggle neighbour's music. Today was the last day of his first written exam in Auror training, and, unlike his fellow trainees who celebrated the end of exams with a feast, he decided to see Hermione at her office in the Ministry of Magic, and at the end of the day, spend some quiet time with himself.
He was also anxiously waiting if Hedwig will return with a letter from Ginny Weasley.
Harry wanted to hex himself. He felt like a first class idiot. Of course, Ginny will not immediately answer his owl. She had to get back at him for being the world's biggest git when he waited three more days before he finally had the sense to send her his reply. Of course, Ginny wouldn't like it. Even Hermione was miffed with his silence, only she tried harder at understanding him because of his exams.
As he listened to Carole King, he can't help but smile at the look on Hermione's face when he dropped by her office. It was Arthur Weasley's old office, except for some blaring changes in its interior. The most noticeable was the fact that the Ministry extended the office's floor area. There was now a window in one of the walls, the drabby looking wallpaper was replaced with pale lilac, the formerly cramped and paper-filled office now more organized what with Hermione personally filing and refilling all the documents and Muggle items stored by Arthur and his colleague Perkins.
Arthur and Perkins no longer occupy the office. Arthur, of course is now the Minister of Magic, while Perkins was selected as a member of the Wizengamot. The occupants of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Department include Hermione, Susan Bones, Lee Jordan, Dean Thomas, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Anthony Goldstein. It was no surprise for Harry to know that the department is now filled with his fellow DA members. Justin, Hermione, and Dean all are Muggle-born; Susan has the skill and patience to deal with distraught Muggles and wizards alike; Anthony's and Hermione's brains make the legal backbone of the department; and Lee's penchant for mischief make him the perfect man for hunting down wizards who play at Muggles for fun.
The Office was in its usual state of half-disarray when Harry came. He saw Hermione and Susan poring over piles of papers. He cleared his throat, and timidly knocked on the door. Both women remained oblivious to their unexpected visitor.
"Must be really busy," he mumbled to himself, and cleared his throat louder. Susan gave a start, and gaped stupidly at the man at their door. After what seemed like forever, she finally found her voice and happily exclaimed, "Harry! It's been ages! How are you? Hermione, look who just dropped by!"
The moment those words came out of Susan's mouth, Harry saw Hermione look up from the table abruptly with his vision immediately obscured by a hefty mound of brown, bushy hair. Next thing he knew, he was enveloped in a tight hug.
"Harry! How are you? Did you just finish your exams? How was it? Was it hard? Did you study well for the exams? I knew I could've helped you more if I didn't simply lend you my notes at Hogwarts, but there has been a lot to do here at the office--"
"I'm fine, Hermione--just let me breathe," Harry gasped as Hermione loosened her hold on him.
"Hello, Susan, how are you?" Harry smiled as Susan grinned at him in reply.
"Forgive the mess, Harry, Hermione and I have been working on a case for days and we're still trying to find answers from the evidences we collected."
"Come in, tell us what happened. Are the exams already over?" Hermione asked as she guided Harry through the office.
"Yes, we're done with them. And what a relief that is. They were as bad as our O.W.L.s," he grimaced as he sat down on Lee's chair. "We have at least three months before we have our second exam, I just hope they're more bearable than the one we just had," he wryly admitted.
"So how are you doing at the dormitory?" Hermione asked.
"Fine, I guess. I'm still trying to get used to it," Harry said, then "What am I saying? I came here to visit one of my best friends and invite her for lunch," he exclaimed exasperatingly at himself as he rolled his eyes and looked at the ceiling. Turning to the two women, he said, "So, are you two free? We can have some lunch before I go back to my place."
"Will you be attending the after-exams feast?" Susan asked.
Harry shook his head, "No, I'd rather get some needed peace and quiet after those tension-filled days."
"So ladies, shall we go get something to eat, or shall I wait for you to finish what you're doing?" Harry asked them smilingly.
In response, both women set aside their documents and left the office with Harry.
"Hi, Ginny! Want to play some Exploding Snaps?" a hopeful Colin Creevey asked Ginny one night in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"How about hexing you?" an evil grin spread across Ginny's freckled face as she threateningly pointed her wand at Colin.
"Well," Colin balked and started backing out slowly, "I-uh-guess, I changed my mind...maybe some other time...don't want that bat Bogey Hex, I don't..." and ran for the other side of the common room.
"Colin, come back, I was kidding!" Ginny shouted after him. When he didn't return, she sighed, then smiled as she shook her head and flopped on one of the chairs.
"Nice try, Ginny," an amused Angela said.
Ginny grinned. Then sighed as she wondered if she will receive an owl from Harry.
"Still thinking about The Boy Who Lived?"
"Can't help it, I guess…Why do such things have to be so complicated? There are a lot of boys more interesting and can be considered as better company than Harry."
"Well, it's really your choice if you wish to wallow and think about Harry all the time, or--"
"Or what?"
"Either find yourself something else to do—or someone else to date…the world has a lot to offer. He's not the only wizard around, you know," Madeleine said as she sat on the other chair.
"Oh, hi Madeleine," greeted Ginny and Angela at the same time.
"Talking about him—again?! Well, I can't blame you…he IS quite divine with or without that scar, or him having to battle You-Know-Who, or him playing Seeker, or…why am I enumerating those qualities anyway? It's Ginny here who's been dreaming of snogging Harry for the longest time," Madeleine grinned evilly as Ginny glared at her.
"Very funny Madeleine," Ginny grumbled.
"What? I simply stated an observation, which, I believe is correct and accurate." Madeleine haughtily declared as she regally sat down beside Ginny. "Anyway, why wait for his owl when he made you wait for so many days? He's not the only guy worth pining after dear. Besides, someone else is literally trembling to spend some time with you now that Harry's class already left Hogwarts--"
"What are you talking about?" Angela asked. Madeleine looked across the common room to where Colin Creevey sat as he silently cleaned his camera. When Angela saw who Madeleine was looking at, a look of comprehension dawned on her face.
Ginny, still looking baffled, looked at the faces of her roommates then at the direction of their stares. When she saw the object of her friends' attention, a look of incredulity spread across her face like wildfire.
"You must be out of your minds," she said quietly.
"Nope, I am not. He's been drooling after you since our third year and you never noticed one bit because you've been busy paying attention to Mr. Four-Eyed Raven Hair," Madeleine quipped.
"I did not!" retorted Ginny.
"Did to!" Madeleine shot back at her.
"Prove it." Ginny bravely said.
"Hmmm…remember that Yule Ball during the Tri-Wizard Tournament? I seem to distinctly remember one female Gryffindor redhead feeling absolutely dejected that Mr. Four-Eyed Raven Hair decided to take Lavender Brown as his date. That's why she went alone, and when she met Mr. Ravenclaw at that particular Ball, she thought 'Why drown myself in misery? I might as well get over Mr. Four-Eyed Raven Hair and see if an eagle and a lion would look good together…' However, even if she dated all these guys, she still can't hide the fact that Mr. Four-Eyed Raven Hair still is the guy for her." Madeleine stopped as she took a deep breath, then said, "Well, am I right or what?"
Angela and Ginny stared at her bug-eyed for some moments. When both girls regained their composure, Ginny whispered, "So you've found out my secret—though all three girls perfectly knew what Madeleine said since they were roommates—then I have to make sure you don't get to tell anyone about it," and slowly drew out her wand from her robes.
But Madeleine was quick. She anticipated what Ginny would do after her little monologue. So did Angela. The moment she saw her roommates drawing out their wands, she immediately scuttled to the back of the chair she was sitting on and before she could say anything, ducked as cries of "Protego!" and "Tarantallegra!" filled their side of the common room.
Angela, and the rest of the Gryffindors who might be hit by the two girls' hexing game, remained hiding behind her chair when she heard Ginny and Madeleine giggling while they ran back to the girls' dormitories. Turning her gaze toward a fearful first year, Angela grinned and said, "I got seven year olds for roommates. I wonder if I still can ask McGonagall for new roommates."
The first year stared stupidly at Angela and smiled back weakly.
"I wonder if Hedwig will bring something with her," Harry muttered to himself as he stared at the ceiling. The entire apartment is silent, his Muggle neighbour opting for silence over the music he usually listens to. The minutes that passed by seemed like hours. Finally, he decided to stop waiting for Hedwig's return.
"Get over it, Potter, you're too much of a git for Ginny to even pay attention to," he said out loud as he stood up from the bed to look at the framed wizard photograph standing on his dresser.
Just then, Harry heard the most wonderful sound he could ever imagine: Hedwig's indignant hoot! Hedwig flew in from the open window and perched on his right shoulder. With shaking fingers, Harry took the letter from Hedwig's beak, tore it open and began to read:
"Harry, I've got great news! The prat is alive! How was your exam? I bet you've been acting like a dementor in the middle a desert a few days before, but I can't help trying to cheer you up…with the threat of a Howler, who am I kidding?
Anyway, I managed to "tame" the Gryffindor Quidditch team—if you would call it that—so right now, those blokes are no longer cowering from facing those mean slimes from the Slytherin team without you or my brothers. How I did it? I think one guess on your part will be enough--"
Harry laughed. He knew that "taming" for Ginny always entails a couple of threats.
"—anyway, should you decide to drop by Hogwarts to watch a game, send me an owl beforehand. If you decide to become the prat and not tell me at all, the team will be "thrilled" to see their favourite Seeker become the recipient of my Bat-Bogey Hex.
Write soon or I might really send you a Howler. Ha! Ginny"
The broad smile that first appeared on Harry's face turned into a grin as he finished reading Ginny's letter. He had to admit; he can't help but feel better every time he receives an owl from her. Reading her letters made him think as if he is talking to her in person. Her letters are so very…her.
Still, it would be better if he can talk to her. He suddenly remembered the times he spent with her. Since his fifth year at Hogwarts, Ginny proved to be one of the friends he can really count on, like it or not.
Looking at a framed photograph of him, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, he grabbed his quill, inkbottle, two rolls of parchment and began to write:
"Dear Ginny, hail to the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain!--"