The next morning Ginny wanted to avoid Harry at all costs. She made sure she got up early so that she could go and have breakfast without seeing him and Hermione. However, Fred and George had gotten up early and walked down to breakfast with her. Fred asked inquisitively, "I hear you and a certain somebody argued last night. A good ol' couples spat?" Ginny rolled her eyes and murmured, "Yes Fred! It's always been about us being a couple." The twins laughed and George added, "Do I detect a hint of annoyance in your tone Gin-Gin?"
Ginny rolled her eyes again and replied sarcastically, "Yeah George! I wonder why that would be." He laughed and shrugged, "So how are you going to start up this…club, if you and Harry aren't on speaks?" She halted mid-step and whispered, "I dunno. Good question." Fred shrugged his shoulders and turned to Ginny, "Unless you guys make up?" he hinted. Ginny shook her head and laughed, "No way. I'm still mad with him!"
The twins smirked at each other and as George was about to open his mouth, Ginny pointed a finger at him and whispered scathingly, "Don't you dare it!" He chuckled and said mischievously, "Such an old married couple they are already, Freddie!" Fred laughed loudly and replied, "I think they should just get married already George!"
They teased her the whole way down to the dining hall. When they arrived, they sat down and joked about the upcoming Quidditch match, "Hope Ronniekins manages to stay on his broom!" George was busy saying. Ginny looked up then and frowned, "Why would you say that?" Fred chuckled as he ate his yoghurt, "Well Gin, if you ever spoke to The-Boy-Who-Lived, you would know that Ronnie's been a bit…shall we say…nervous during practices." The twins shared a smirk and Ginny nearly hurled her croissant at them. Sometimes they took their teasing a little too far.
That's when Ginny saw Michael walk in looking glum and she got up hastily and hurried over to him. Half way there, Ginny realized he was with Cho and she paused in her steps. She looked at Michael, and Cho had noticed Ginny staring at them. She whispered to Michael, and this caused Michael to glance up. He froze when he saw Ginny and she forced her feet forward.
When she reached them, she swallowed hard and asked, "Michael, can we talk please? Hi Cho," she nodded in the elder girls direction. Cho also acknowledged her with a nod and replied curtly, "Hello Ginny," before flouncing off to the Ravenclaw table. Ginny walked to a corner of the hall and she could hear Michael following her.
When they got there, she turned to face him and she said sincerely, "Michael, I'm so truly sorry! I hope believe me when I say that I really didn't know that she was there." He watched her with folded arms and a skeptical expression before nodding, "I believe you." She breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Thank you. I'm truly sorry." He grinned and hugged her quickly, "No worries, Gin. I don't hold grudges. It wasn't your fault at all." Ginny sighed in relief and she continued, "I also wanted to ask you yesterday but we got interrupted…" at that moment, as she was pulling away from the hug, Harry walked in through the door with Ron and Hermione beside him. He gave her a surprised look which quickly turned into a scowl.
Ginny turned her focus back to Michael and asked in a whispered, "Do you believe Harry's story…about…Cedric?" She paused. It was strange saying his name when she hadn't said it in what felt like such a long time. Michael grimaced and replied, "I think I do, but there's no way of proving anything." Ginny sighed and Michael frowned, "Why do you ask?" She shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "Just wondering." He grimaced and asked, "Does it have anything to do with your fight last night?" Ginny tensed but shook her head. How was she going to do this? How was she going to be friends with Michael when she couldn't open up to him? It hadn't been easy with Harry either. Michael sighed and voiced her thoughts, "Look, Ginny, if you're going to withhold information then there's nothing I can do to help you. I'm sorry." She nodded and unclenched her fists, "I know. I'm sorry Michael. I just have major trust issues." He smiled bleakly and laughed without humor, "I noticed."
He nodded and sighed, "I best be getting back to my breakfast. Have a good day." She watched him walk away from her and she felt a small, sinking feeling in her stomach. She'd royally screwed up! As Ginny walked out the Great Hall with her bag on her shoulder, she heard Umbridge's voice echoeing throughout the school, "Good morning boys and girls! I have announcement to make! I new rule has been instated whereby girls and boys may not be within eight inches of each other. Thank you very much and have a good day children!" Ginny felt her eyes widening in disbelief! Had this really been because of what Michael had said to her?!
She turned to see the toad gloating happily at the table and she was busy lowering her wand from her throat where she had magnified her voice. Ginny looked around and found Harry watching her tensely. She then glanced at the Ravenclaw table and found Michael watching her with her exact expression written on his face. He was clearly thinking the same thing!
Ginny hurried out of the Great Hall before she could think too hard. What kind of a rule was that?! Hogwarts was a co-ed school! It wasn't physically possible to keep eight inches between people all the time. She'd also noticed Dumbledore missing from the head table and she couldn't help but wonder where he was right now, or what he would think of Umbridge's new "rules." This year was going to be an absolute nightmare.
During lunch hour, Ginny was determined to find Luna and ask her if she would help fight Umbridge. She had seemed to believe Harry's story so Ginny was certain she would. She also wanted to avoid an uncomfortable looming conversation with Harry, and so locating Luna was the perfect plan. However, finding Luna proved to be rather difficult as she wasn't in the Great Hall either.
Ginny found her walking out of Professor McGonagall's office. She smiled brightly, "Hey Luna! How are you?" Luna smiled politely and replied, "I'm good thanks, Ginny, and yourself?" Ginny replied, "I'm okay thanks. Listen Luna, I know you believe Harry's story about Cedric's death…" Luna nodded avidly and replied eerily, "That I do. Why do you ask?" Ginny swallowed while keeping up with Luna and replied, "Well you see, since Umbridge is refusing to teach us to defend ourselves, Ron, Hermione and I think that we need someone who knows how."
Luna turned to face her mid-step and grinned, "So you want Harry to?" Ginny did a double take. She was surprised Luna had jumped to that confusion so quickly so Ginny nodded and whispered, "Yeah! It's kind of a secret though! It's going to be a small group and we want only people we can trust involved. Will you do it?" Luna was nodding before Ginny was even finished, "Of course I will! Thank you for offering me Ginny. I really must get going though. I'm late for a meeting. I'll speak to you soon." Ginny nodded, and replied, "Thank you Luna! Have a good day."
Ginny couldn't help but feel a little bit proud of herself for recruiting at least one member to whatever it was they were forming. She felt a rebellious streak developing in her, but she needed to rebel against Umbridge. She was changing the system and purposefully making them fall behind in their studies! That's when Ginny realized…she had detention with Umbridge again tonight. Ginny begrudgingly went to the Great Hall to try and eat some food as she had just lost her appetite.