It was the day before Harry's trial and Ginny could tell he was nervous. He didn't have to say so. He was tense and no matter how much they convinced him that it would be alright, he wouldn't believe them. Ginny assumed that it was because Fudge had it out for Harry and because it was true she could not blame him for worrying. He had been on edge all day and he wouldn't settle for long.
Ginny was quite relieved when the time finally came for Harry and her dad to leave for the ministry. She was tired of Harry's jittery behavior and she was fairly certain she wasn't the only one. Ginny was helping her mum get ready for dinner that evening. It was the second last weekend of the holiday and so the entire Order was coming for dinner and to hear about Harry's trial, except for Dumbledore. He had apparently other engagements on.
Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Hermione and Ron were all helping to prepare a massive pork roast about an hour after Harry had left when her father's Patronus which appeared as a weasel told them firmly, "Family, Harry has already been taken in for questioning. They purposefully moved the hearing an hour earlier, in the hopes that Harry would not pitch. Luckily Albus was there early-I think he expected this to happen. We will commune again shortly." It said before disappearing.
Hermione threw down her spoon which she was using to stir some sauce with and nearly yelled, "They are trying to sabotage Harry on purpose because Fudge is in denial and thinks Harry is a liar! It's so unfair!" Mrs Weasley replied, "Yes, you're right Hermione. Please don't throw down my wooden spoon though." Hermione apologized profusely and quickly began stirring her anger into the sauce.
Ginny had been chopping up carrots and she found herself to be slicing them to bits. Her mother who was standing beside her noticed and said, "Ginny dear, not so fast!" Sirius appeared at the door and asked, "Did I hear someone's Patronus deliver a message?" Her mother nodded as she replied, "Yes. Arthur told us they moved the meeting earlier by an hour." Sirius clenched his fingers in irritation and sighed, "Fudge is a right moron! I swear he will get what's coming for him one day." Her mum nodded as she checked on the pork and Sirius asked, "Would you like me to help?" Her mum shook her head and replied, "No, thank you. We have enough helping hands. Too many chefs spoil the broth. You can set the table though, please."
Sirius nodded and did as he was asked. Ginny never knew how her mum felt about Sirius. Sometimes she felt like they got on well because they were both interested in Harry's well-being, and other times she thought that maybe they got competitive in terms of parenting techniques. She couldn't quite understand it. She knew her mother felt a motherly affection for Harry, and maybe that's what spurred on her competitive side when it came to Sirius.
Half an hour later, they heard the front door opening and footsteps echoing in the hallway. They all stopped what they were doing and turned to see Harry standing grimly in the hallway. Hermione whispered, "What happened, Harry?" Ginny turned to see him looking at Sirius and telling him, "Dumbledore convinced the majority of the council to clear my charges." Ginny was relieved, but she saw something in Harry's eyes which she couldn't quite place. Her mother replied, "Oh, Harry dear, that's wonderful news! I knew they couldn't actually charge you!"
Ginny found herself rolling her eyes as her mother harped on. In truth, her mother had been more worried than the rest of them, but she would never admit that. She turned back to her chopping and she heard him asking Sirius, "Mind if I have a word?" She finished the cucumber just as they walked out and she asked Hermione, "Does he seem to be acting a bit…odd, don't you think? Ever since he arrived here yesterday he's been so…distant."
Hermione sighed and responded seriously, "I think there's a lot bothering him. He's still upset over Cedric and he needs Sirius right now. Don't take it personally, Gin." Ginny frowned and asked offended, "How on earth am I taking this personally?" Hermione glanced sideways at her from the counter and replied, "You're usually the first one he confides in, and now that you're not you feel insecure."
Ginny puffed her cheeks out in frustration and retorted, "Oh, I am not!" Ron chuckled and pointed at her, "Puffed out cheeks means an irritated Ginny!" Hermione giggled and Ginny frowned at them both, "I'm irritated at the two YOU for thinking that!"
Ginny froze when she heard Harry's sullen voice ask, "Thinking what?" She turned in astonishment and fumbled, "That I cut my cucumber too small." Harry raised an eyebrow but didn't question her pathetic excuse. He turned to her mum and asked, "May I help, Mrs. Weasley?" Her mum shook her head and replied, "No thanks, dear! Did Arthur leave straight away?" Harry said that he had and her mum sighed. Ginny knew she missed having him around. He was working long hours.
Later that evening, they were joined by most Order members, including Kingsley, Lupin, Tonks, Moody and Snape. Ginny was sitting right next to Harry, and she felt like she had nothing to say to him. He had been so off the whole day that it was really making her not want to be around him. Hermione passed his behavior off as a side effect of having to be cooped up, but Ginny didn't believe that. She knew there was more going on than he was telling them.
Instead, she conversed with Ron and Hermione who were talking about how the ministry thought that Dumbledore was lying and trying to gather followers so he could take over the ministry. They all agreed that the idea was mad and that Fudge had completely lost it.
Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione were on the way to Hogwarts and Ginny felt mixed feelings, as she usually did. However, with Harry being so sullen all the time, she found herself missing Cedric's lively self. She was tired of Harry's moping so she got up and said shortly, "I'm going to get food from the cart. Anyone else want?" Her brother nodded, "Chocolate frog and Bertie Botts please, Gin." Ginny nodded and asked, "Hermione?" She shook her head and then replied, "Nope thanks, Gin. I'm all set." Ginny purposefully didn't ask Harry as she walked down the passage irritably.
As she walked down, her shoulder collided with someone and she turned to apologize, only to see that it was Michael Corner. Ginny blushed a little and smiled, "Oh, sorry Michael! Didn't see you there!" He smiled at her kindly with his piercing blue eyes and replied, "No worries, Gin! It's so good to see you. How were your holidays?" Ginny shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Um…dull for the most part. And yours?" He beamed happily, "Fantastic! Let's catch up soon?" She nodded eagerly, "Yes please! That would be great!" He grinned and waved goodbye as he hurried off down the passage in the opposite direction.
Ginny found herself smiling happily as she somewhat skipped to the trolley, her grim mood from earlier had suddenly disappeared. As Ginny reached the trolley, however she saw an all too familiar face that she hoped to avoid as much as possible-Cho. Ginny wasn't usually one to avoid confrontation, but in the case of Cho, she could make an exception.
She rushed back to their apartment and Hermione was quick to ask, "What's up with you?" Ginny swallowed breathily, "I…uh…just nearly ran into Cho. She's at the trolley." This caused Harry to leap up and he replied, "Oh cool. I've decided I'm quite hungry after all. I'll get your guys' food, Ginny." She handed him the money before she sat down beside Ron before asking, "Am I the only one, or has Harry been acting particularly strangely since he arrived?"
Ron shook his head and replied, "He's got a lot on his mind, Gin." Ginny sighed in exasperation, "Yeah, but haven't I also got a lot on my mind?" Hermione gave her a reproving look that said, 'Don't argue with Ron on this.' So Ginny pulled out her book she was reading called, "Rose Burkly and her Rally of Wolves." She didn't really feel like chatting with this somber lot and so she immersed herself in the story instead.
Eventually, they arrived at Hogwarts and Ginny couldn't help but feel relieved. She hopped off the train and as they queued in groups for the carriages, Neville approached her and she smiled kindly at him, "Hey. How was your holiday?" Neville shrugged and replied, "It was alright thanks, and yours?" That's when Ginny noticed the strange, prickly plant he was holding. She frowned and asked, "What's the plant for?" Neville smiled happily and said, "Herbology of course!"
Ginny nodded and laughed internally, "Yes, of course. Silly question. How's thing's with Hannah?" Neville's eyes widened in surprise as he stammered, "H…hannah? Why are you asking about Hannah?" She shrugged and grinned, "Just because at the dance it seemed as if you couldn't keep your eyes off her." Neville blushed and Ginny giggled, "Don't worry, Neville, your secret is safe with me."
He nodded gratefully and as he did, an invisible horse drawn carriage pulled up. Harry seemed surprised as he walked around the front and asked, "Wh-what is that?" Ginny frowned and replied, "There's nothing there, Harry." That's when a voice piped up from the carriage, "You're not going mad-I see them too. You're just as sane as I am." Ginny looked up to see a frizzy, blonde haired girl sitting in the carriage wearing strange glasses and holding The Quibbler upside down.
Ginny watched her reproachfully as they all filed into the carriage and Hermione introduced them, "Everybody this is Luny…" She paused, realizing her mistake and then swallowed as Ron secretly snickered beside Harry and Hermione swallowed, "Luna Lovegood." She then made some neutral comment about Luna's necklace and something called Nargles- a creature that Hermione even had no knowledge about.
When they arrived at Great Hall, they all filed in an Professor Dumbledore announced the new teachers as everyone settled down. A lady in pink get up from head to toe coughed pointedly and introduced herself as Professor Umbridge. Ginny glanced at Fred and George, and they both seemed to want to cast a silencing charm on her rather than listen to her unnecessary, laborious speech.
When it was over, a mild clapping echoed around the hall and Harry whispered to them, "She was at my hearing! She works for the ministry." Ron whispered quietly, "What does that mean? What she just said?" Hermione sighed and shook her head in dismay, "It means that the ministry is interfering at Hogwarts." They all shared looks of equal astonishment. Dumbledore would never allow ministry interference. So they were left to wonder, what was the world coming to? As the Order suspected, they really must be worried that Dumbledore was trying to overthrow the ministry. The idea was ludicrous to most people in the room, except maybe the Slytherin's and Umbridge.
Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry this took so long to write. There are a few reasons for it. 1) My fingers were getting sore from all the typing (don't know if I'm the only one this happens to) and 2) The fifth book is my least favorite of all of the books and I think the only one I've read once. Therefore I'm sorry if there are some inaccuracies but I'm going to try my best. And to those who asked about Luna being in the story: she most definitely is! She's one of my favorites! Hope you enjoy it.