Chapter Nineteen
Ginny could only remember ever being so anxious to get to Hogwarts once before, that was her very first journey. Now however, it was as though she was a child again, with ants in her pants. She was up and down, looking out of the dooors, out of the windows, alternately reading and then eating, anything to make the journey go that much more quickly.
She was almost relieved to have to take her turn pacing up and down the train carriages, supervising the younger students, she was only too pleased to be drawn into conversations about Quidditch, it was to be the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff match, with Ravenclaw to be carting the Quidditch gear. Even just thinking about Ravenclaw reminded her of Cho Chang and she experienced that same squirming behind her navel. As a result she ended up eating too many sweets from the trolley on the train.
Ginny intended to go directly to her Common room to throw off her luggage, to greet Hermione and to send Pigwidgeon around to Cho's room to ask her to meet her, but she was no sooner in the front door than she felt Cho had flung herself across the Entrance Hall and in to Ginny's arms. They hugged each other hard but not nearly as long as they would have liked to - they both felt that they had already drawn enough attention to their friendship!
Neither Ginny nor Cho particularly cared that anybody knew they were a couple, but they didn't wish to draw attention or controversy in their role as Head Girl and Prefect. They pulled apart and Cho helped Ginny to collect her belongings and they chattered all the way to the Gryffindor Common Room, rather than break Hogwarts regulations Cho waited outside the Common Room that was not her own.
Ginny greeted her House mates, raced upstairs to throw her belongings on her four poster bed where she hugged Hermione firmly. "How are you? How was your Christmas?"
"More pleasant than I could have anticipated, how was yours?"
"Mine was good too, guess what? Bill and Fleur are having a baby!"
"Oh Ginny, that's awesome, I will send them an owl, straight away," Hermione jumped up and Ginny said, "Cho is waiting for me, can we catch up over dinner?"
"Sure, of course, I will see you then," Hermione was already putting ink to parchment.
Ginny ran back through the Common room and through the portrait, she grabbed Cho's hand and they walked very fast, almost at a run, all the way to the Room of Requirement and burst into the room that turned their precious hour into four. They had clearly missed each other very much, they kissed each other generously, thanked each other and gushed over the gifts that meant so much.
Cho spoke of the gifts she had given and received from her Ravenclaw and team mates, she described her gift exchange with Hermione and relayed their pleasant day together, eating, reading and talking away - no scholl work at all. Then she asked all about Ginny's Christmas, and she listened with rapt attention as Ginny gave an update on her parents and each of her brothers, including Bill and Fleur's wonderful news.
There was a touch of sadness when Ginny spoke of her parents and of George to, who, although outwardly lighthearted and chipper, revealed a muted, rather melancholy inner. All of their hearts broke for him all over again. But there was nothing to be said and nothing to be done, there would be no 'time heals all wounds' fix all, they had to wear their pain, their grief, and they had to let George wear and carry his, as well. It wasn't easy and they were all still learning.
Cho seemed to intuitively understand the meaning of Ginny's words as well as comprehend the struggle both she and the Weasley family were facing. With her thumb, she rubbed Ginny's hand, which laid in Cho's lap, imparting comfort and understanding, but knowing, like Ginny with George, she could do no more for Ginny. These burden's can only be carried by those to whom they belong, others can only watch with love and care, they can support too, but not carry.
The upset passed and the girls found other things of interest to discuss, other things to laugh about, and of course the kissing. They were so happy to see each other again and to spend the evening in each other's company. When it was time, they reluctantly left the room and headed to the Great Hall for their dinner, Cho sat with Ginny and Hermione for the meal but followed the earliest Ravenclaws back to their Common Room. The couple had planned to meet early the following morning for training before classes.
Hermione wanted all of the Weasley news, she asked in detail about how George seemed to be coping, and Mr and Mrs Wealsey, she wanted to know all the details about Bill and Fleur, but there were no more details to be had. Ginny talked about each of her brothers except for Ron, finally Hermione sighed and said,
"I won't burst into flame if you mention Ron, Ginny, I am interested, you know?"
"Okay, I wasn't sure, but really there isn't anything to say. Ron is still the same. Exactly the same, if you know what I mean, I don't think he has matured at all since he was about 15 years old. If I thought he would listen to me at all, I would have a serious talk with him - actually I did have that talk, only with Bill and Charlie, I know they will keep an eye on him."
Hermione was already knitting tiny little pairs of Gryffindor themed baby socks and bonnet, she really wanted to knit one of Mrs Weasley's Christmas jumpers but she knew that Mrs Weasley would knit one herself! The very beginning of a whole new generation of Weasleys, if they each had two children - there would be, at some point in the not too distant future, one dozen boisterous red headed Gryffindors, tearing around Hogwarts!
The rest of the First Term whittled away with great haste in a flurry of early morning training, classes and homework, Training and Quidditch and Prefect duties. There was a short break between terms during which Hermione Granger, Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley had each decided to go home and be with their families for a week.
The Second Term was upon them before they knew what they were about and as Hermione and Cho were in their seventh and final, they were preparing for the NEWT examinations toward the end of the third term. Ginny had regular end of year exams but nothing as poignant as the OWL or NEWT examinations which were both academically crippling and apparently significant and necessary for a happy and legitimate adulthood and career.
All three were extremely good students, not only were they clever but they were also prepared to apply themselves far beyond what even the most demanding Professor could possibly expect. Ginny and Cho finally let Hermione in on their 'need for extended time' room, which, upon Hermione's first visit, found three desks rather than two. Hermione was a little miffed that the girls had been keeping such a valuable resource from her, but given that she had not been significantly disadvantaged, and acknowledging to herself what couple's time the girls had sacrificed to invite her to participate - she decided to let it go with very good grace.
They all fell into a routine by spending an hour before dinner and an hour after dinner, Cho and Ginny sometimes had to miss the after dinner study session if one or the other had a Quidditch practice or Prefect meeting. But Hermione almost never missed one, for the first time since arriving at Hogwarts, she had more time than she needed to read every single text book from cover to cover, every reference mentioned by every Professor! She was easily able to manage all of her assessments and exam preparation to the fullest extent - she was in her element!
The final Term One Quidditch matches were Slytherin versus Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor and Ravenclaw versus Slytherin with Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin, in that order, all finding a win. The Term Two Round Robin Fixture was set as follows:
Slytherin versus Hufflepuff
Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw
Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor
Gryffindor versus Slytherin
Slytherin versus Ravenclaw
Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff
Ravenclaw never lost a game - and following the final Term Two match the Daily Prophet published a three page article entitled 'Cho Chang - elite Hogwarts Seeker', featuring a huge photograph of Cho in her Quidditch Robes looking fierce and holding her broomstick vertically. Cho had given Penelope a quick post game interview on the pitch which was somehow turned into a two page detailed story with direct quotes.
Cho looked at Ginny, her face full of regret, but Ginny poked her,
"You are the best Seeker, Chang, and you deserve all the press and attention in the world. I am proud of you and not the least jealous or resentful."
"Thanks, Weasley, I appreciate not having to play down my success to accommodate your ego," They both laughed, it sounded like a backhanded compliment but Cho was being perfectly frank and Ginny, after her experience with Michael Corner who turned out to be a very bad sport, understood perfectly.