The next day, Ginny got up at nine and got ready to meet Harry downstairs at ten. He was already waiting for her by the portrait's entrance with a letter in his hand and she smiled shyly at him. He greeted her and then said, "So I got a reply from Dumbledore."
Harry handed her the letter and she read it to herself:
Dear Harry
Like I said before, you may confide in the people whom you trust the most. I trust your judgment entirely and therefore it is up to you whether or not you want to tell Miss Weasley. I trust you to make the right decision, no matter what that decision might be or how difficult it might be to make. However, I must be very clear on the matter that Miss Weasley, nor Ron or Hermione are allowed to confide in anyone else but the four of you in these matters.
Enjoy your trip to Hogsmeade tomorrow! Buy a packet of Bertie Botts, or two!
Kind Regards
Professor Dumbledore
Ginny raised her eyebrows, "He's leaving it up to you then?" Harry nodded and Ginny contemplated this, "And…?" Harry smiled, "I'll tell you. Ron and Hermione already know so they will be going down by themselves, but they will walk back on their own. I think they've already left actually." Ginny nodded and grinned, "Alright! Sounds like a plan to me!" They walked down the stairs and said sincerely, "I'm sorry about…uh…eavesdropping last night. I never planned to. I didn't know you were there until I stumbled across you and…well I heard you speaking about Riddle and so…" Harry finished for her, "You were curious?"
Ginny nodded and Harry sighed, "Gin, half the reason I didn't want to say anything is because a lot of this stuff has to do with Riddle, and I don't want to upset you because I know that it will." She whispered, "Does this have anything to do with the diary?" Harry nodded grimly, "It has everything to do with the diary." Ginny raised her eyebrows and grimaced, "And Dumbledore never thought I deserved to know this?" She asked, as she began walking out the room and down the stairs with him.
Harry shrugged, "I don't get to choose what Dumbledore wants people to know or not. I can't really speak for him. But I wouldn't risk our relationship. Not for this." Ginny felt her stomach flutter for the first time in a while around him and she couldn't help but beam happily, "Me neither, Harry. I promise you that when we win our first Quidditch match, we can tell everyone immediately. We can even make a big spectacle of it if you'd like." Harry chuckled and shook his head, "You know I don't like attention. That's not what it's about. I just don't like it when other girls stare at me. It makes me feel uncomfortable." They had arrived in the quad because they had taken a portrait shortcut and Ginny asked, "I thought you'd be used to people staring at you?" Harry shook his head, "Not when I have a girlfriend and I feel guilty because they try and flirt with me." Ginny turned to face him, watching McGonagall call out everyone's names as she snapped, "They…flirt with you?!" He nodded irritably, "Yes. Especially Romilda, Parvati and Lavender, as Hermione so charitably pointed out to me that I'm more popular than Quidditch."
Ginny couldn't help but feel angry with herself in that moment. Was her insistence really necessary when other girls were so openly flirting with her man? She didn't like it at all a she grumbled under her breath. McGonagall finally called out all of their names and everyone headed out of the gates and towards Hogsmeade.
Harry proceeded to tell Ginny that Tonks was stationed in the village and that they might get to see her. This lightened her mood a little. It was rather cold as they trudged through the snow, in beanies, scarves, hoodies and boots. Finally, they arrived at the Three Broomsticks. Harry opened the door for her like the gentleman he was and she clambered into the warm room gratefully.
He asked her quickly, "Do you want a Butterbeer?" She nodded as he headed over to the bar and she went off to go and get them a seat in a booth in the corner. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the far side of the restaurant. When Harry returned, he sat down beside her and sighed, "I guess I should begin at the beginning." Ginny listened attentively and Harry filled her in on everything. When he reached the end of his story about Marvolo Gaunt, Morphin and Merope, Ginny was stunned into silence. He nodded and she shook her head in bewonderment, "Wow! That's a lot to take in," she said somberly. Harry nodded in agreement and she glanced at him, "So why is Dumbledore telling you all of this?" She took a final sip of her Butterbeer and Harry sighed, "I'm not sure. He hasn't quite gotten to that part yet. He said he would tell me next time." Ginny frowned, "When is next time?" He shrugged his shoulders and just then Romilda Vane walked up to them, with Julia and Rebecca at her side and said, "Hey Harry. Can we join you?" He couldn't really say no since she was so blunt about it but Ginny retorted, "We're actually in the middle of a private conversation, Romilda." She said in such a sickly sweet voice that anyone could tell it was fake unless they were just plain stupid. Thankfully, Romilda got the message and smiled sweetly at Harry, "Oh, alright, maybe next time then!"
Ginny grumbled as the other girl walked away, "I see what you mean about them flirting shamelessly with you. It's pathetic." However, Harry wasn't listening to her as he was focused on someone behind her. She whispered, "Who are you staring at?" Harry muttered, "Malfoy." She rolled her eyes and asked, "Still obsessed with him being a Death Eater?" He sighed and shook his head, "I promise you he is!"
At that moment, Tonks walked in and Ginny couldn't help but grin. Tonks was such a refreshing change from most people and Ginny missed her when she wasn't around. She walked straight over to them and grinned, "Hey Ginny! Hey Harry! Your nose is looking a lot better since the last time I saw you!" She was meant to be joking but Harry wasn't in much of a joking mood. He nodded, "Hey Tonks. Good to see you too." She grinned and said, "Someone's in a surly mood. I'm good thanks Harry." She was sporting brunette hair and Ginny commented, "I miss your pink hair. Why is it so dull today?" She sighed and nodded in agreement, "I do too. It's just not the same. It's because I'm meant to be blending in." Ginny also couldn't help but notice that Tonks looked forlorn too. She asked quickly, "Are you okay?" The elder witch nodded and replied, "Yeah, thanks. It's just quite lonely being stationed here. Unless Hagrid comes there's not usually someone to talk to." Ginny frowned, "You're stationed here alone?" Tonks shook her head, "Oh no, Remus is with me thankfully. Anyway look, I better get going. There's a meeting in an hour at Grimmauld Place. By the way, I'm really happy that the two of you are together." She said it far too loudly, causing Romilda and her cronies to look over their shoulders at them, "Ginny nodded, "Yeah, we just need to catch up. Things have been busy recently." She whispered to Tonks, "Sorry, it's just not very well known yet!" Tonks frowned, "Still hiding it?" She nodded and shrugged, "Sorry, I assumed that you'd told people. Anyway I better get going. Bye Ginny, bye Harry."
Ginny watched her leave and she sighed, "Tonks looks so…sad." Harry nodded in agreement, "Definitely not her bright, cheery self." Then he added, "Oh, by the way, I wanted to tell you! Don't tell Ron this, but Hermione confounded McLaggen during his tryouts so that Ron could get the spot!" Ginny gasped, "Seriously? Wow! That is so unlike Hermione!" She couldn't help but grin as she whispered to Harry, "You don't think…I've wondered this for a while…you don't think they like each other or something?" Harry grinned back at her, more relaxed than she'd seen him in days, "Yeah I think it's a possibility that Hermione likes…Ron." He made a face then and Ginny couldn't help but giggle as he continued, "But I don't know if the feeling is reciprocated." Ginny rolled her eyes, "Yeah well Ron is a bit slow on the uptake most of the time." She grinned and Harry laughed with her. It felt like things were back to normal.
Harry smiled, "I've missed this. I really have." Ginny raised her eyebrows and teased, "So you've been avoiding me?" Harry shrugged and retorted, "You've been avoiding me!" He rolled his eyes, "Fine. Let's just drop it. I don't want to get into another argument over this." Ginny nodded, "Agreed." At this moment, Hermione and Ron came over and Hermione asked curiously, "So, I take it you've both sorted it all out now, right?" Ginny nodded and grinned, "Yup, with no help from you at all." This statement was slightly sarcastic and Hermione laughed, "Well I'm glad. You two are ridiculous when you're fighting." Ginny rolled her eyes and Ron commented, "Well shift up will you? We're not here to gawk at you all day." Harry laughed and Ginny shifted over until she was right beside Harry, Hermione seated next to her and Ron beside him. They spoke about the upcoming Quidditch practices, Ron expressing his nerves, "I don't honestly know how I beat McLaggen in tryouts! That guy is so big he could block all three hoops in one go." Hermione and Harry avoided eye contact and Ginny smiled secretly to herself. She was glad she finally knew something her brother didn't. Harry told Ron and Hermione that Malfoy had gone into the girls bathroom and he thought it was odd. Hermione rebuked him by saying irritably, "Oh Harry! For goodness sake, stop fixating over this!" Harry rolled his eyes, "I will when you stop fixating over who the Half-Blood Prince is!" Ginny frowned, "Am I missing something here?" Harry shrugged, "Hermione has been researching, about who the Half-Blood Prince might be!" Ginny grinned and couldn't help but ask, "Ah! Let me guess, in the library?" Ron and Harry smirked at each other but Hermione protested, "You know why I'm doing it, Ginny. It's for his own good, even if he doesn't believe me." Ginny sighed, "I know, I'm just kidding Hermione." Then she winked at Harry.
Hermione and Ron quickly finished their drinks before they headed back into the stormy weather. It was really cold now, and Ginny wrapped her raincoat tightly around herself. Harry sweetly wrapped an arm around her and she couldn't help but smile at him, "I've miss you," she said as they lumbered through the snow. He nodded, "I've missed you too." Hermione placed her arm around Ginny also and then Ron too, grinning happily, as they walked up the snowy path ahead of them.
Suddenly they heard a nail-biting scream coming from ahead of them. Ginny jumped and they watched as Katie Bell began twitching drastically on the ground. Her friend turned to them and said in a panic-stricken tone, "I told her not to touch it!" Harry hurried to examine the parcel on the ground, and just as he was about to reach out in to touch it, Katie was lifted into the air by an invisible force and began screaming her lungs out. Ginny closed her ears off from the sound and Hagrid appeared and they watched as she was suspended in mid air, several feet above the ground, before she was flung forcefully onto the ground again, the screaming coming to a halt.
Hagrid told them firmly, as he picked up a writhing Katie, "Don't touch that! Only pick up the wrappings!" Harry gently moved the paper of the parcel aside, only to reveal a sapphire studded, antique looking necklace. Ginny frowned and the she saw Katie's friend crying. She hurried over to her and said comfortingly, "Don't worry about Katie. Madame Pomfrey will sort her out." The girl nodded and whispered sacredly, "I told her not to touch it!" She repeated. Ginny nodded and sighed, "I know. And I believe you."
Harry picked up the mysterious packaging and Hermione said cautiously, "Be careful with it, Harry. We don't know what it could do." Harry nodded as he pocketed and re-wrapped the parcel, before they clambered through the snow to the castle. Ginny kept one hand around Katie's friend, and they finally reached the front doors.
Hermione said firmly, "Let's go to McGonagall's. That thing looks like it was cursed and she knows charms better than anyone." They all nodded in agreement and headed towards McGonagall's office. Hagrid had long since disappeared into the fog and the snow in front of them with Katie. Finally, they reached McGonagall's office with a shaken Leanne (Katie's friend) and McGonagall said immediately when she saw all of them, "I know what happened to Katie." Leanne looked terrified and she whispered, "Will she be okay?" McGonagall nodded, "Madame Pomfrey is attending to her now. But first I'd like to hear what happened and how Katie got that necklace from you, Leanne."
Leanne told the story of how Katie was given the necklace in the women's bathroom at The Three Broomsticks, but she told Leanne that she didn't know who gave it to her, but the person told to take it to Dumbledore. Leanne had told Katie not to open it, in case it might be dangerous, but Katie had done so anyway. That's when they had watched Katie rise into the air as if like a puppet on a string.
McGonagall sighed at the end when Leanne said, "And that's when Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione came to help." The professor nodded and replied seriously, "Thank you, Leanne. You may go and visit Katie now." Leanne thanked her and then hurried out of the classroom. McGonagall turned to them and she shook her head, "Why is it that everything always happens to the four of you." Ginny blushed nervously and Ron grinned, "Trust me, professor. I've been asking the same thing for years."
That's when Snape walked in and examined the necklace. He tested it with a few spells and he grimaced, "It was cursed. Who was the necklace intended for, professor?" McGonagall sighed, "Professor Dumbledore, Severus." Snape stared at her for a second and then shook his head, "A plot to assassinate the headmaster, but a poorly planned one. Do you know how Miss Bell got the necklace…" McGonagall was shaking her head before Snape was done talking, "No. I think someone made Miss Bell forget who gave her the necklace on purpose. A memory charm…most likely…"
That's when Harry interrupted, "Pardon me, professor, but is the necklace cursed?" Professor McGonagall nodded, "Yes. Indeed it was. Why do you ask, Potter?" Harry grimaced, "I saw that necklace in my first year at Borgin and Burkes when I used the flew powder incorrectly and ended up there by mistake. It said it was cursed and it killed nineteen muggles! I also saw Malfoy going in there two days before school started this year. He was going to buy that necklace, I'm sure!" McGonagall looked agog, there was no other word for you, "Mr Potter, you cannot go around accusing people without good evidence!" Snape nodded in agreement, a smirk that equaled Draco Malfoy's any day etched on his face, "You astound me, Potter, with your supernatural talents us mere mortals wish have."
McGonagall shook her head in irritation, "We have no proof who did this and besides which, Mr Malfoy was serving detention with me during the trip. Now please, don't go around falsely accusing people, Mr Potter." Hermione stood with her arms folded, and nodding in agreement. Harry looked furious and then McGonagall dismissed them.
When she was out of earshot, Harry mumbled, "I will prove it to all of you!" Ginny rolled her eyes behind his back and Hermione interrupted quickly, "I'm off to the library. See you guys later!" before she hurried off. Ron grumbled and murmured, "I bet you anything she's researching the Prince again. She won't let it slide, will she? I better go and do some essays. You coming Harry?" To Ginny's surprise, he shook his head and smiled, "I think I need some fresh air. You coming Gin?" Ginny was surprised but nodded enthusiastically, "Sure. Where to?" Harry smiled, "How about Hagrid's?" She nodded and they bid goodbye to Ron who went off begrudgingly in the direction of the Gryffindor common room.
Author's Note: Oh my word guys I'm so sorry this has taken a while! I really am! I'm finishing exams on Tuesday and so I've hardly actually even been on my account, let alone writing! Thank you so much for all the encouragement, guys. It really makes my day! Thank you for you patience too and I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting! Hopefully this next week I can get more writing done. It's the worst feeling in the world-having to sacrifice writing for studying but unfortunately sometimes you've got to do things you don't want to do. I'd much rather be studying than writing psychology any day, I promise you. Anyway here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy it! And thank you to my wonderful reviewers: 123summer123, CastielWitchLuna, RIPtitanic, 123rachel123, and Starrya7 for the fantastic comments! Massive thank you to you all!
Another thing that I want to warn you about is that there are six weeks coming up soon where I won't be able to write everyday (or during the week) because my teaching practical is coming up, so I will have lessons to prepare and I will be in a school from 8am-3pm every day for five days a week. That will be in July. So please really have patience with me then. I will try to give as much time to writing as possible, but it will be difficult and at that point in time my studies will really have to come before writing.
So if I don't post a lot in the coming weeks, please be patient. It will come but maybe not immediately. I'm struggling as it is to balance out my workload and writing because I get anxious when I don't write. I've been reading about this and apparently it's quite a common thing for most writers.
As most of you know, I take pride in my work as an author, and as a teacher in training, and therefore I am committed to both to achieve my fullest potential so stay tuned! Love to you all and thank you so much for your patience and understanding! It means the world, really it does! –End long, verbose author's essay!