Disclaimer: I, Lau Hui Ling, do not own any Harry Potter related names, characters or merchandise. Joanne Kathleen Rowling is the genius behind them. I'm merely borrowing her characters for some fun, and hope she wouldn't mind.
Hiya, no reviewer responses because I got no time to do so. I'm so busy writing this chapter and also to wallow in my own despair.
You might be wondering why it took me that long this time to update. Here I apologise, life had been chaotic for me.
One, I'm now employed and the bloody job took too much of my energy and time. I'm beat dead everyday when I got home.
Two, I am currently trying to recover from an operation. It was an emergency case and it happened not too long ago. I had 3 holes opened in my stomach to have this ridiculously huge water lump taken out of me. The pain was so bad that I can't sit in front of my PC to type this fic out until now.
Now, with me feeling slightly better, here is the chap and hope you enjoy!!
"Ginny!! Ginny!!"
She heard someone call her name from behind her as she was on the way returning to the common room after a nasty detention with Filch. Turning her head to the source of the voice, she saw Lavanya running towards her. She stopped in her track as Lavanya ran towards her and stopped in front of her, panting like a cow.
"What happened? A hundred gnomes attacking my bed?" she asked humourlessly, Lavanya shook her head and tried to regain her breathe, clutching the stitch at her side at the same time. "A thousand love letters on my bed?" she suggested but Lavanya shook her head again. "Ron being eaten up by a giant spider?" she asked expectantly. Lavanya shook her head again and this time Ginny got frustrated. "Then what is it?" she snapped at her winded friend.
"It............ It's Harry.......... and Mark... They are......... duelling in the common room," she said in between sharp intakes of breath.
"WHAT??" Ginny need no second telling, she tossed her bag into Lavanya's chest carelessly, knocking the air out of her and sprint to the common room as if her life depended on it.
Ginny climbed into the portrait hole breathing heavily from the run and the bloodiest scene greeted her. There was Harry, bleeding heavily from the nose, dyeing his blue-checkered shirt red, being restrained by Ron and Frank. Ginny turned to her right to see a wild looking Mark with a set of claw-like mark on his face and small patches of blood on his white tee- shirt, in an arm lock by Guy and Dean.
"Just what in the name of Merlin are you two doing?" Ginny bellowed and advanced menacely at Harry and Mark with her wand in hand, the crowd of onlookers backed away to let her pass. She looked into the two guilty faces but they didn't reply her, only looking away from her gaze.
"Oh thank God, Ginny you are back!!" Hermione hopped on the spot merrily, clutching her hands together, looking so relieved to see her. "We couldn't stop them, and they were fighting most dangerously", Ginny gave her a nod of the head to encourage her to carry on.
"We, as in Ron and I, were doing our Potions homework when suddenly there were shouts coming from the centre of the room. It was Harry and Mark, they were arguing furiously at the top of their voices, attracting our attention. Mark was insisting on talking to Harry about you but he didn't seemed to want to. Then there were some struggling between them and the next thing we know, Mark had punched Harry in the face, broke his nose as a result..."
Hermione reported the whole incident in such a detailed manor that one would have thought she had mesmerised what to say. It took her five full minutes to finally conclude the whole matter, Ginny couldn't resist the urge to roll her eyes; trust Hermione to be able to explain things in full details in times of urgency.
Ginny offered a polite thanks to Hermione for letting her understand the situation before walking over to Harry and Mark, and stood between them. Harry looked away pinching his nose with the bottom corner of his sleeves, trying to hide the state of his nose from her. Ron and Frank had let go off him, sensing that he wouldn't do anything rash in the presence of Ginny. Harry might not care much of her presence but surely he wouldn't be as stupid as to attack Mark, whom Ginny adores, in front of her. Mark hadn't been restraining the hold on him since Ginny's presence, and thinking along the same line as Ron and Frank, Guy and Dean let go of him as well. Mark was staring at the patches of Harry's blood, which managed to stain his cloths during the struggle, refusing to meet her eyes.
Knowing that they were purposely avoiding the question, Ginny decided to approach it,
"So what is it about me that caused this?" Ginny questioned while pointing at the blood that covered each boy.
Everyone in the room turned to look between Harry, Ginny and Mark, like watching an exciting table tennis match and when they both stuttered inaudibly, she gave a loud 'Hmm' to prod them. Harry was the first to break under Ginny's stare,
"I don't really know. He's the one who wanted to talk about you in the first place." Harry addressed Mark like someone he hardly knew and Mark looked a bit flustered that the wand was pointed back at him, he tried to say something in his defence but only managed a few squeaks. Ginny stared hard at him and said a 'yes?' to him which managed to get something sensible out of him.
"I.............. I.............. Wanted to talk to him about you quitting Quidditch." Everyone gasped to hear that their star seeker is out of the Quidditch team, Ron included, he looked like he wanted to say someone but Ginny beat him to it.
"It's my own decision, no one forced me to. It's not Harry's fault that I'm lousy at Quidditch," said Ginny, her tone now was flat and emotionless as if she couldn't stand to be reminded of the fact again.
"But I thought Harry wouldn't let you, I thought that if he really cared for you, he wouldn't let you quit. But now things have proved to me that he's nothing but a creep. He has hurt you so much and I thought I'd teach him a lesson about how you deserve to be treated," Mark spat in distaste in Harry's direction.
The more Harry listened, the more confused he became. What is it about that him hurting Ginny? He doesn't remember doing anything to hurt her and moreover they were only in talking terms recently. What on earth was that Mark Evans talking about? Harry was more confused when Ginny nodded her head in comprehension, was it some code language only Ginny and that small git understood?
"I know you care but it's not the way to solve the problem, Mark. Resorting to muggle duelling! No matter what you do, you can't change the fact that I completely suck at Quidditch."
"NO, YOU ARE NOT!!" both Mark and Harry shouted out at the same time and after realising that, they both looked away sheepishly.
"You are the best seeker I've ever seen!"
"Whad Balfoy said is dot true ('what Malfoy said is not true')!" Mark and Harry spoke up at the same time again and everyone in the room laughed at them.
"Yeah, best seeker you've ever seen. Honestly, how many have you ever seen in your pathetic life? The fact is only two, one is me and the other is the Hufflepuff seeker," Ginny said to Mark and then in turn to Harry.
"I know myself. I'm lousy. Malfoy didn't do anything wrong, he only... Er... kindly remind me of that fact"
"God, Giddy. You rader belieb dat slibby gid den us! ('God, Ginny. You rather believe that slimy git than us!')" Harry retorted, and Mark nodded his head vigorously in agreement; in fact he's nodding his head so dangerously that Ginny was afraid that he might sprain his neck. "I agwee wib bark. You are a gread seeger, id fad wad ob de bed and dob't you trud dat I'b seed bore den bark id by libe, dod you? ('I agree with Mark. You are a great seeker, in fact one of the best and don't you trust that I've seen more than Mark in my life, do you?') "
Everyone laughed heartily again, if not that Harry was pinching his bleeding nose and his speech impaired because of that, his tee shirt dyed red by his own blood at the upper half; they might have thought that the scene playing in front of their eyes was just a conversation between friends after a tired day, not after a fight.
Hermione looked as if she was just enlightened by someone unseen by others, her face suddenly lit up with excitement in her eyes.
"So, Harry, is that why you sabotaged Malfoy's potion that day!" she exclaimed out loud suddenly and everyone jumped a foot in the air.
"What do you mean sabotage?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Malfoy's potion exploded in his face during potions last Monday. Everyone was so shocked that no one moved except Harry, who was laughing like a manic upon seeing malfoy's face, full of poison looking acne. I didn't suspect that it was Harry, I thought he's simply amused and tickled by Malfoy's face. We would have been laughing along side him had we not been so surprised by the sudden explosion. And Snape, as usual put the whole blame on Harry, giving him a week worth of detention. Honestly, we all could have been hurt; Malfoy could have been permanently disfigured. It's lucky he only drop a rat's tail into the Skelegrow potion; if he added an eel's eye instead...." Hermione gave a dramatic intake of air before continuing, "The whole castle could have been blown to pieces," She then gave Harry a very disapproving look that, unfortunately, had no effect on him.
Those nearest to Harry reached over to clap him on his shoulders to congratulate him in successfully sabotaging Malfoy, whom was commonly detested by the Gryffindors.
Ginny was now looking at Harry with wide unbelievable eyes, she almost couldn't believe that he had done all that and earned a week's worth of detention with the teacher who's on the top five of his 'to-kill' list, all because of her. She wanted to speak but words failed her; her vision was blurring as tears filled her eyes, but she forced herself to blink them back. After that incident when she broke down completely in front of Malfoy, she had sworn that she would never embarrass herself again by crying in front of a crowd.
"So, all misunderstandings cleared? Everyone friends again?" Hermione asked hopefully. Harry nodded his head but Mark didn't think things were better.
"No," he said defiantly.
"What more do you want?" Hermione asked in exasperation
"Not until Ginny's back in the Quidditch team", he replied. Ginny's face reddened to a shade called crimson, she was embarrassed. She really appreciated Mark's persistence and all things he had done for her but she don't think she need anyone to take care of her well-being, let alone someone four years her younger. She never wanted to eat her words like an unreasonable four year old, a Weasley never eat there words; what's said is considered done and they don't take back what they had given up.
"What do you think, Ginny?" Hermione asked Ginny. Ginny felt under a lot of pressure with all the people waiting for her to accept her position back.
"I don't... don't know", she stuttered in audibly.
"She wants the chaser position," Mark injected out loud to the room and there was an immediate silence, "She prefers that to seeking. I bet she'll be the best chaser I've ever seen," mark piped excited causing Harry to snigger loudly.
"You haben seed bady chasers, hab you? How bady exadly? Leb be do de calculatied for you, less den egg, I'd gued! ('You haven seen many chasers, have you? How many exactly? Let me do the calculation for you, less than eight, I'd guess!)" Harry teased and mark physically tense up at his teasing.
"Don't go back there again, guys!" Hermione ordered and quickly stood between them with her arms stretched out to prevent them from lunging at each other again.
Harry smirked at Mark over Hermione's shoulder causing the younger boy to narrow his eyes. After having being satisfied with the reaction from Mark, Harry steped out from the corner and clapped his hands twice to get the desired attention on him.
"O-gay, gweefiddor qweeditch dim, everyone hear be? I addoun dat gidy's officially oud ob de dim as seeger ('Okay, Gryffindor Quidditch team, everyone hear me? I announce that Ginny's officially out of the team as seeker') ", as expected, there was an immediate uproar of disagreement and Mark looked ready to rip Harry's throat out and was only prevented by Ron and Frank you strategically positioned themselves between him and Harry. Harry turned to look at everyone and lowered his hands to indicate for them to quite down.
"Add I'b officially oud ob de dim as chaser ('And I'm officially out of the team as chaser') ". If the previous uproar was thunderous, this one was as loud as if the sky was falling down. Harry hold up his hands once again to hush them down.
"Here I'd libe do idroduce do dew the pebson whb wilb be tabking by blace, Giddweasdey! ('Here I'd like to introduce to you the person who will be taking my place,. Ginny Weasley!')" He pointed at Ginny who looked thunderstruck; "de dew chaser and Harry bodder ('The new chaser and Harry potter')" Harry pointed at himself gleefully "as de dew seeger! ('As the new seeker!')"
Everyone cheered and the rest of the Quidditch team rushed over to congratulate their team mates on their new positions, telling them that is took them long enough to figure it out. Harry grinned cheekily around and he lost a bit of his head when he saw that Guy had his hand on Ginny's shoulder a few second longer than it needed to be. He was trying to push his way towards them to 'save' Ginny from Guy, not realizing that she didn't have a problem with his hand being on her shoulder. Frank prevented Harry from doing anything he would regret later.
"O-gay, beoble, it's gedding lade. Do bed, all ob you...do bed......... ('Okay people, it's getting late. To bed, all of you... to bed...'), Harry have to shout to make himself heard over the crowd. Everyone, exhausted by the evening's excitement, needed no second telling and soon everyone retreated into the comfort of their dormitory, leaving only Hermione, Harry, Mark, Ginny, and Ron staring at each other. "Okay. Everyone friends again?" Hermione asked for the second time that day.
"Yeah, of course!"
"Yeah, ob couse!" exclaimed Harry and Mrk. Even the usually oblivious to his surroundings Ron noticed the similarity between the two dark haired boys in front of him. Both are dark haired, full of courage to stand up to what they think is right, their passion for the people around them and their same level of stubbornness. If it wasn't know that Harry's parents were not blue-eyed, Ron would have suspected that they might be brothers after all.
"All right there, Harry?" Mark asked awkwardly.
"You mean this?" Harry pointed at his now dried up nose, "Still intact," Harry grinned good naturedly at Mark, but the smile slowly slipped off his face and a pained expression replaced it.
"I feel a bit... Too light..." Harry said and his legs gave way suddenly. He had held onto Ron's arms to stay on his feet.
"Quick, Ron, Ginny, quick! Get him to the dormitory; I think he had lost too much blood in the excitement. We can't bring him to the hospital wing for it's now past curfew time, let him rest in bed and he will feel better tomorrow morning." Hermione instructed and they quickly heaved Harry up and dragged him up the stairs. Mark made to follow but was stopped by Hermione's outstretched hand.
"As a prefect, I think it's best that you receive detention for attacking a fellow student"
"But, I didn't do any real damage to him" Mark whined upon hearing a potential detention and pouted innocently, similar to what Fred and George usually did when they wanted to escape punishment, but Hermione wasn't buying it.
"You broke his nose for heaven's sake," Hermione retorted at a very dangerous voice and Mark's fate was sealed with a week's worth of school service. "Maybe Snape could do with your service," she added as an afterthought.
"NO... NOT THAT GREASY HAIRED GIT OF A TEACHER!" Mark shouted.
"I'm afraid so," Hermione flashed her usually hidden Malfoy worthy smirk and retreat up the boy's staircase, leaving Mark looking like he had been sentenced to death.
Those who skipped this section are losing out!! Because here, I'm giving hints (oh, I feel like being JK herself, it's so exciting!!)
Harry will only realise what's important to him only after he lost it, or rather, almost looses it. There will be a deatheater confrontation soon enough. Christmas is the time of love and miracle, but it's also a time when tragedy strikes. One person will not be returning to Hogwarts after the holiday. (I think this hint is so silly.) Harry will be a very angry kid. United Gryffindors in times of crises Aunt Petunia will be friendly, just a bit, to someone but whom?
That's about all!! Review and tell me what you think!!
