The following evening, Ginny served her detention with Umbridge. She went to her office, which was a puke-pink color and filled with plates depicting varying types of moving cats (much like the portraits throughout the rest of the castle.) Ginny's first thought was that she had never seen such a pink room before in her life. Her own childhood bedroom had been pink, but she had soon gotten sick of the color and it hadn't been nearly this girly. Even the desk had a pink cloth covering the surface and it made Ginny feel slightly nauseated to be surrounded by so much pink.
Umbridge hadn't answered when she'd knocked on the door, so Ginny had let herself in. She saw a smallish desk sitting opposite the one with the pink cloth and she took a seat. She got a fright when she heard a high-pitched female voice squeak, "Ughm. Showing yourself in Miss. Weasley?" Ginny retorted, "Well, I was told to go to your office, wasn't I Professor? I wouldn't want to get in trouble for not following the instructions I was given." She batted her eyelids in innocent exaggeration at the professor, who seemed like she wanted to hex Ginny into oblivion. Ginny couldn't help but notice that she was wearing an identical pink to the one surrounding the room. Umbridge said in a sickly-sweet girly voice, "Now now Ginervra, there's no need for your cheek, or else you will be having another detention with me tomorrow evening. I'm sure you want to keep your Saturday night free, don't you?" Ginny wanted to slap the cow for using her full name. She was surprised Umbridge even knew her full name.
Ginny had come to detest the name after Riddle had used it for her. He'd said he preferred it to Ginny (which apparently to him sounded like a childish nickname.) At the time, she had been naïve enough to believe that it was because Riddle had shown some interest in her and she found him using her full name enduring. Maybe it was the silkiness of his voice that had made it sound so appealing. But once Ginny had overcome the chamber incident, she found herself despising her full name.
Umbridge pointed at the chair and said stiffly, "Right then. Ginevra, please sit down over there, and using the quill write, "I must not tell lies." I will tell you when to stop." Ginny had anticipated this punishment after hearing about it from Ron. She sat down in her designated spot and took the quill in her hands. Hesitantly, she began writing the sentence and as she did, she felt a prickling sensation in her hand.
She watched in distaste as the words etched themselves into her skin. Ginny didn't want to even look at Umbridge. She was going to get through this torture without giving her the satisfaction of watching Ginny in pain.
About an hour later, Ginny was done with detention and her hand was dripping blood from it. Umbridge offered her a disgustingly pink tissue and she took it, but as soon as she reached a bathroom she took a wad full of toilet paper and wrapped it around her hand. She watched the paper become drenched and she groaned as she felt the pain in her hand.
At that moment, the door opened and none other than Cho Chang walked in, tears falling down her cheeks. Ginny was leaning against a cubicle door to keep it from swinging and she tried to hide herself as the elder girl spoke to her friend whom Ginny didn't know and said, "I…I like him though." Ginny was all ears now and she listened intently as her friend replied, "But…but do you really believe his nonsense about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" Ginny inhaled sharply- they were talking about Harry! So Cho did like Harry she mused.
Cho said defensively, "I believe Harry wouldn't lie about how Cedric died." Her friend retorted, "Yes, but that's not the same thing, Cho. You didn't answer my question." Cho sighed and replied, "I do believe it, Marrietta. Harry wouldn't lie about something like this." Marietta sighed and said comfortingly, "I think it's best to ignore your feelings for him. He's too much trouble as it is and Cedric…" Ginny's heart contracted when she mentioned Cedric's name. Being back in the castle had bought back all of her memories of him and it hurt when those flooded back to her, as they were doing now.
For some reason, Cho's friend stopped speaking as Cho interrupted, "I know. Please stop reminding me! It doesn't make it any easier. You think I don't feel guilty as it is?" Her friend back tracked and Ginny heard sobs from Cho.
She felt so awkward listening to this conversation that she shouldn't have heard, but she couldn't help overhearing as she'd been there first. It would have been even more awkward if she had left the room while Cho had entered it crying. When Cho was done, her friend sighed and shook her head, "I really think it's best to wait a while when…Harry is concerned. At least until people don't think he's a liar anymore."
Cho sighed deeply and replied, "You're probably right. Let's get to the common room before Umbridge finds us here." Ginny heard the two of them leaving and she sighed in relief. She looked down at her hand and unraveled the paper. Thankfully, it had stopped bleeding, and now the words were left to scar her hand.
Ginny walked back slowly to the common room, her head lost in thought. Cho liked Harry. Was she going to tell him? He probably deserved to know. Cho's friend didn't want her to be with Harry. Come to think of it, Ginny had never liked Cho from the beginning-but that was because of Cedric and how unhappy she had made him mostly-and the fact that she had admittedly been jealous of Cho.
When she reached the common room, she found Harry conversing with Ron and Hermione. She smiled at the change in his behavior. Obviously some of what she had said had sunk in. She walked over to them and Harry smiled at her kindly, "Hey. Where have you been?" Ginny sighed and replied, "Detention with Umbridge." This caused Harry to sit up and glance at her hand. He grimaced and whispered, "Why did you get detention, Ginny?" She sighed and replied, "Remember I told you I've been defending you?" He gasped and whispered, "To Umbridge? Ginny it's not worth it!" Hermione interrupted, "I told you Ginny!"
Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione's know-it-all attitude and she replied, "It is most definitely worth it Harry. I'll stand up to anyone calling you a liar. That includes Umbridge." Harry shook his head and replied, "Thank you, I appreciate it-but please try to stay on her 'good side.'" Ron snorted, "Have you ever seen her 'good side' Harry?" Harry raised his eyebrows and laughed, "No…but I don't want Gin defending me for no reason either." Ginny grinned from ear to ear. He had just laughed.
Harry turned to find her smiling at him like a hyena and he asked, "Is something…wrong?" She shook her head and replied, "You just laughed for the first time since you came to Grimmauld Place," she whispered. He nodded and whispered, "I'm trying. It's hard thought." Ginny nodded and took his hand in hers and squeezed it comfortingly, "I know. I think of Cedric so much more now that I'm back here. It's really hard when the memories are so strong. But I'm glad you're trying at least. That's an improvement."
He smiled gratefully at her and she quickly removed her hand and said, "I heard something interesting in the girl's bathroom." Harry raised his eyebrows and Ginny checked to make sure that Ron and Hermione were having their own conversation. They were busy arguing about S.P.E.W. She turned back to Harry and whispered, "Cho likes you." Harry blinked in surprise, "How…" he seemed flummoxed for words.
Ginny giggled at his expression and said, "I was in their earlier, cleaning up my hand and in walks Cho and her friend Marietta. Cho was crying so I felt awkward getting up and letting her know I'd witnessed it. She doesn't like me very much and never did. Anyway, her and her friend were talking about you."
This caused Harry's face to light up immensely and he asked, "Are…are you joking? She's only spoken to me about twice since we got back and very briefly both times. I thought she probably didn't believe me."
Ginny shook her head and replied, "Nope. She defended you to her friend so I guess she must like you quite a bit." Harry was grinning and Ginny was happy to see a smile on his face.