Ginny's exams were coming up and she was stressed. However, the game of Slytherin versus Gryffindor was the following day and she waited in anticipation for it. She wanted to see her brother perform to his absolute best. She'd heard rumors that he had been struggling in practice and had been on the verge of giving up, but Harry had insisted that he continue.
Draco Malfoy had been watching her closely and she'd been having bad dreams again, but this time they involved him. She thought it was the way he had ambushed her on the stairs that set her on edge. He loved antagonizing her and making her feel foolish. She tried not to let it get to her but the other night he had been far to superseding for her liking. It was just as well the three had intervened when they did. He made her feel uncomfortable.
She spent most of her week in the library, but she had had to miss Thursday evening's D.A meeting in order to attend her detention. Luckily Umbridge hadn't scheduled her detention during the match on Friday. It was one thing Ginny had to be grateful for.
Apart from that it had been a very dull week and Ginny found herself longing for holidays. She'd had essay upon essay to write and she'd hardly seen anyone. So when she returned to the common room around twelve on Wednesday evening, she was surprised that Harry was still up. He smiled at her when she came an in and patted a space on the couch next to him, "You want to join me?" She looked at how tired his face was and she nodded as she took a seat.
Harry sighed and Ginny could tell he was bothered by something. She asked worriedly, "You okay?" He nodded and grimaced, "Nervous for tomorrow. You know how it is against Slytherin. And Ron is…shaky to put it nicely." She sighed and whispered throatily, "I know he's been down a lot lately. And so have you, except for when Cho's in the room." He seemed to blush in the firelight and he groaned, "Have you been watching me?" Ginny giggled at his embarrassment and grinned, "Whatever makes you happy, Harry," she said truthfully. He nodded and whispered, "Thanks Gin. I appreciate that. How are you and Corner?"
Ginny frowned and replied, "There's nothing going on between us. We're just friends." He grimaced and asked, "But I thought he liked you?" She shrugged and whispered, "Just because someone likes me doesn't mean I feel the same. I didn't like how he questioned you in the Hogs Head. That's what put me off to be honest." Harry looked surprised and he chuckled, "That's not a good enough reason not to give someone a fair try." She shrugged again and retorted, "I'm not ready. And he insulted my best friend even after he said he believed you. I think that's a perfectly good enough reason not to give him a try. Besides which, I still miss Cedric."
Harry nodded somberly, "I understand that more than anything else." They sat in silence for a bit and then he asked suddenly, "Is Malfoy giving you trouble again?" Ginny shook her head and replied, "Nope. That's the first time in a while that he's threatened me." Harry's expression darkened and he murmured irritably, "Well if he does it again, tell me. I have a feeling you wouldn't have said anything if I hadn't been there." Ginny couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Because I knew you'd only go after him and get yourself in trouble, Harry. That's what he wants and I'm not going to let him get it." Harry stared at her in annoyance and he murmured, "I thought you told me everything." She was slightly startled at the hostility in his tone and she retorted, "Well you don't tell me everything, either. Like why you have dark rings under your eyes all the time. I know it's not from worrying about Quidditch."
Ginny stood up suddenly tired of arguing with him when he clearly wasn't going to give her an answer, "I'm off to sleep. Goodnight," she said abruptly before climbing to the girl's dormitory and changing for bed. Something was up with Harry. He hadn't been himself from the moment he had stepped over the threshold at Grimmauld Place. She had known then and she knew now that something was eating at him and she had been determined to discover what it was. But she was starting to feel like she was giving up.
The following day dragged and she just wanted the week to be over. She avoided Harry. She avoided Ron. She avoided Hermione. She avoided everyone. When school finished, she took herself to the library and missed Cedric immensely. He had been good company for a study buddy. She hadn't fully appreciated that until he was gone. The only good thing about the day was Draco Malfoy scowled when he saw her pouring over her books.
At four o clock she dragged her feet heavily to Umbridge. She sat down and Ginny asked neutrally, "Must I write, 'I must not tell lies?' Umbridge shook her head and smiled sweetly, "No dear. Today I want you to write, 'I must not insult my professor behind her back,' because you never told a lie, did you?" Ginny clenched her fists tightly and sat down at the desk, taking the quill in her hand and she began to write the lines. The prickling sensation itched her skin.
When she was done an hour later, Umbridge nodded and replied, "Thank you Miss Weasley. See you soon," she said with a glint in her eye of pure mirth and Ginny felt herself loathing this woman. Ginny was surprised when Umbridge got up and put her wand to her throat, amplifying it, "Professor Trelawney, please bring your bags and belongings to the main quad. I repeat, Professor Trelawney, please bring your bags and belongings to the main quad." Ginny froze and picked a pink tissue up from the professor's desk. She asked worriedly, "Um…professor…why?" Umbridge rolled her eyes as Ginny mopped up her bleeding hand and replied, "Oh dear, only because the old bat is useless and can't predict a thing! Surely you know that?"
Ginny had never particularly liked Trelawney, nor had she thought she was the most skilled professor of her time, but she didn't for a second believe that she should be kicked out of the castle! Umbridge walked out of the office and Ginny quickly wiped her wand over her bleeding hand to staunch the blood. She followed Umbridge at a distance and when they got to the quad, she found almost every student gathered. In the middle of the quad stood Professor Trelawney, looking miserable and distraught. Her hands were shaking she was so distressed, her old luggage bags surrounding her. She whispered as Umbridge approached, "Please…please, you can't do this. Hogwarts is my home." She put so much emphasis on the word home that it broke Ginny's heart. Everyone was staring and she knew the entire school detested Umbridge in that moment, bar the Slytherin's. The rest of the houses were watching the scene with pity in their eyes. Ginny was standing beside Cho, who seemed on the brink of tears even.
That's when Professor McGonagall came rushing out and surprised everyone by comforting the sobbing professor. Umbridge asked scathingly, "Is there anything you'd like to say, dear?" Professor McGonagall's emotions had never been so clearly readable on her face. A look of deep disgust and almost hatred could be found as she retorted, "There are plenty of things I would like to say." At that moment, the doors banged wide open and it caused several students to jump.
Professor Dumbledore walked in and paced smoothly into the quad. He spoke quickly to Professor McGonagall, "Professor McGonagall, I would appreciate if you could please escort Sybill back inside." Trelawney was practically crying by now as she thanked the headmaster profusely and Umbridge retorted, "Headmaster, under the due restriction of…" Dumbledore interrupted her fiercely, "You have the right to fire my staff. You do not have the right to ban them from the grounds. That power still belongs to me." Umbridge smiled sweetly before saying, "For now."
Ginny loathed the woman in that moment. Ginny wasn't one who seethed often, but when she did it was too much for her. She wanted to run, for the first time in her life, away from Hogwarts and back to the safety of the Burrow. She wanted to feel at home again because her school was becoming more and more like a prison. She was losing her best friend and she was almost as lonely as she had when she had confided in the diary. She was alone and she wanted to be that way.
It was the day of the match and Ginny felt excited for the first time in a while. There was always nervous energy floating around the halls on these days and she felt it too. Harry looked exhausted and she hoped it wouldn't affect his flying. However, she had gone down to breakfast earlier than usual so as to avoid him. She still hadn't figured out how she was going to put up with just being friends with him, but now on top of that she wondered how she was going to put up with his mood swings. It rattled her and it made him unpredictable.
That's when Ginny noticed Colin approaching her hesitantly. She watched him and he asked nervously, "Can I join you?" She nodded and he sat opposite her, looking glum. She asked after she swallowed her pumpkin juice, "What's up?" He sighed as he met her eyes and replied, "I just want you to know…that Julia and Rebecca are trying to give Harry love potion." Ginny nodded. She hadn't spoken to Colin since Cedric had told off Julia and Rebecca for insulting her last year. He'd avoided her and he'd obviously felt awkward about the whole thing.
Ginny replied slowly, "I know." He seemed surprised and she explained, "I overheard them talking about it when I was in bed one night and they didn't know I was there. Thanks for telling me though." She smiled sweetly at him and he somewhat grimaced in return before nodding, "You're welcome." It seemed as if he was about to get up when Ginny said, "Ginny…" she glanced up them and met his brown eyes. He seemed sad about something as he murmured, "I miss you." She was surprised when she found herself blurting out, "I miss you too. I'm sorry I was so bitchy last year…there was just as lot going on."
He nodded resolutely and whispered, "Is there a lot going on now?" She shook her head almost too soon and replied, "No…I'm just focusing on my work and trying to study as much as I can. And you?" He shook his head and smiled kindly, "Nope. I reckon we give our friendship another shot. But if it doesn't work this time then we should give up."
Ginny couldn't believe he was giving her another chance. She didn't deserve it and she knew that. So she nodded and grinned at him, "I'd like that very much. Thanks Colin." Colin shrugged and replied, "Well I figure since we're in the D.A together we may as well try and get on at least. We need to stick together." She nodded as she swallowed a piece of waffle and asked, "How are Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee?" He rolled his eyes and replied, "I've had it up to here with them!" Ginny couldn't help but giggle as he rolled his eyes dramatically. She laughed and replied, "I'm not surprised! That's why I stopped being a part of our little foursome back in the day." He chuckled and said in agreement, "I don't blame you. That's why I became friends with Jack." Ginny nodded and asked with a smirk on her face, "The guy you got to spy on me?" Colin blushed and retorted irritably, "He wasn't spying. He was staying opposite you. He'd been there for a week already."
She rolled her eyes and laughed, "I'm just kidding. Don't take me so seriously all the time." He nodded and as he did, a blonde haired girl approached him from his side with a brunette friend. She noticed they were wearing Gryffindor robes and she recognized them vaguely from seeing them in the common room. The blonde said enthusiastically, "Hey Colin! Who's this? Are you a Weasley?" she asked brightly and not as if it was a bad thing, the way Draco Malfoy said it- as if he had a bad smell under his nose. Ginny nodded and smiled, "I'm the youngest Weasley. Sorry I didn't catch your name?" The girl was grinning merely as she buttered some toast and replied, "I'm Abigail-but you can call me Abi- and this is my friend, Lucy." Lucy nodded and smiled briefly but otherwise didn't comment.
Ginny replied happily, "Nice to meet you both." Lucy had long, wavy locks, thicker and darker than Hermione's and she seemed to be shy as poured some fruit salad into her bowl.
Abigail chatted animatedly to them and Ginny nodded along, not contributing much. She wasn't paying attention when Abi asked, "If it true, Ginny?" She blinked a little and asked, "Sorry I lost track there. What were you talking about?" Abi narrowed a perfect blonde eyebrow and asked, "I heard you and Cedric were quite close?" Ginny sighed in relief and replied, "Yeah we were. Why would you ask?" Abi shrugged and said curiously, "I just feel so bad for you and everyone else who knew him. It was so tragic." She genuinely looked upset and Ginny had to force a smile as Lucy spoke for her friend, "You see, Abi is quite the romantic. She practically falls for every guy she sees."
Abi punched her friend playfully in the shoulder and retorted, "I do not! I suppose I'm a romantic yes, but I do not fall for everyone. Don't exaggerate Lucy! You're making me sound desperate!" Lucy rolled her eyes and murmured something that sounded like, "You know you are." Ginny laughed and shook her head as the two girls shared a meaningful look which Ginny understood to mean that Abigail had a crush on Colin.
Colin quickly changed the subject to the match and what they thought their odds of winning were. That's when Harry and Ron walked into the hall and Ginny tensed inwardly. Her stomach knotted and she quickly got up from her place, "I…uh…got to go. See you guys later." She hurried off to Defense Against the Dark Arts and dreaded the lesson with Umbridge.
Author's Note: So sorry for taking forever to update again! It's been a hectic week but most importantly I got to see ONE DIRECTION live in my city last night and oh my word they were amazing! I know not everyone here might be directioners but they can put on an excellent show! Even with one member down. Harry really interacted with the audience and they were so genuine. I am so impressed!
Anyway that's my excuse for not updating sooner! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!