Fred and George arrived before mum and dad. They were pale when they walked in and half-stumbled across the room, gifts in hand. Fred sighed and shook his head, "I can't believe it. It's really the worst of luck!" he exclaimed. They all nodded in agreement as the twins both hugged her. George asked, "How is he?"
Ginny nodded at Ron's sleeping figure and said, "He's been out for…" she checked the clock on the wall, "Two hours now. I thought mum and dad were coming?" George nodded, "They are. Mum just insisted on feeding dad dinner quickly. He's had a really long day at the office. He's bushed." Ginny sighed and shook her head and Fred said, "So, what exactly happened again?"
They reencountered the story of how Ron was given one of their love potions. Ginny added vehemently, "You should honestly pay close attention to who you sell those products! I mean it could have gotten to Harry and what if he'd acted on his instincts…" this caused Harry to be embarrassed and Fred interrupted her, "How are we supposed to tell that Romilda Vane had it out for you Gin? We don't know every single student in the school!" He argued with her defiantly.
Harry pushed on with the story, not wanting the argument to develop further. They listened tentatively as he explained about Slughorn, the mead and the bezoar which had ultimately saved Ron. At that moment, when he had finished retelling the story, her parents rushed in, her mother looking just as panicked as Fred and George had when they'd arrived. Her mum rushed up to Harry, enveloping him in a huge hug, "Oh Harry dear! You saved him! Thank you! First Ginny, then Arthur…and now Ronald…" her mum seemed to be nearly in tears.
She let go quickly when her father nodded in agreement, "It's true, Harry. Half of our family seems to owe you our lives. I'm eternally grateful." Harry shook his head, "I…uh…it was nothing Mr and Mrs Weasley." Her mum gushed, "Oh Harry, stop being so modest! I'm so glad Ginny's chosen you. I couldn't think of anyone better!"
This caused Ginny to blush her traitorous red as she grumbled, "Mum!" Her mother smiled sweetly just as Hagrid came booming into the hospital wing. At this point, Madame Pomfrey came rushing out and said, "Too many visitors! Only aloud six!" Harry said to all of them, "I'll get going then. Hermione?" Hermione got up and Ginny took his hand, "I'll come with you…" she volunteered. Harry shook his head, "Nope. You need to be with your family, Gin. I'll meet you in the common room when you're done." She nodded and kissed his cheek softly, "Thank you, again. For everything." He smiled bleakly at her and then walked out with Hagrid and Hermione.
When her parents left and were reassured a thousand times by Madame Pomfrey that Ron would live to tell the tale, they all departed. The twins walked her up to Gryffindor common room and they were mostly silent, which was strange for them. When they arrived at the top, she hugged each of them in turn before saying, "Thanks guys. I miss you both being here." They grinned and Fred shrugged, "I have to say I don't miss Umbridge. But you're one of the few people I miss, Gin." George grinned, "Same here." They said goodnight and Ginny retreated into the common room.
Harry was sitting in his usual spot by the fire. Ginny took a seat next to him and he smiled when he saw her and whispered, "Hey Gin." She sat down, feeling completely exhausted and wanting nothing more than going to bed. But she owed it to Harry to stay up and talk-after he all, he had just saved her brothers' life.
She turned to him and said as she sat down, "I cannot tell you how grateful I am…" he waved away her thanks, but she insisted, "Harry, no listen to me. My mum is right. She is not trying to give you attention. Or hero-worship you, or any of those things that you dislike so much. She's right in the fact that you have saved three of our family member's lives, and I'm eternally grateful to you. I can't express that enough." Harry smiled appreciatively, "I know, Gin. And I'm relieved myself. But I don't expect you guys to apologize consistently." She nodded in understanding, "So…your meeting with Dumbledore…?"
Ginny let the question hang in the air as Harry sighed, "Okay, well basically there are these things called Horcruxes that Riddle asked Slughorn about. We saw the memory where Riddle was asking Slughorn and it was a strange one, like Slughorn had changed it. It didn't feel…right. In the memory, Slughorn told Riddle that he didn't know about Horcruxes and he should never ask about them again." Ginny frowned, "But if the memory isn't real, then Dumbledore thinks Slughorn isn't telling the truth in that memory?" Harry nodded, "And Dumbledore wants me to suck up to Slughorn in order to get the memory from him." Ginny giggled, "I don't think it will be too hard, Harry, given that you're the chosen one and all." Harry rolled his eyes and groaned, "Yeah! Which is exactly why Dumbeldore took me to visit Slughorn even before the school year had started! He knew Slughorn wouldn't be able to resist the fact that he could have the chance of teaching me," he grumbled. She smiled and took a hold of his hand, "Hey, being the chosen one does have some advantages. I'll try and suck up to Slughorn too, if you want? Maybe I'll suggest another party?" Harry grinned, "Gin, you're amazing! I don't know what I'd do without you."
That's when Ginny caught sight of the Witch Weekly magazine lying on the table in front of them. Someone must have left it there by mistake. She picked it up and saw a picture of herself and Harry kissing on the Quidditch pitch in front of the entire school. It took up most of the front cover. She grimaced and pointed angrily, "I can't believe someone had the nerve to do this!" Harry rolled his eyes, "Relax, Gin. Don't let it bother you." The title read, "Has The Chosen One Found Love?" Ginny shook her head and whispered, "Harry, what if Voldemort finds out about this?" Harry raised his eyebrows, "I know. I'm trying not to think about it." She sighed to herself. If Harry could not think about it, then she was going to try her best not to also.
She suddenly asked, "Harry! Who are we going to replace Ron with? The match is on Saturday!" She eyed him suspiciously and Harry groaned, "I know, I know. I see only one possible solution to this problem and…" Ginny gritted her teeth, "Don't say it…" Harry finished with a pained expression on his face as he answered, "McLaggen. He actually had the audacity to approach me today and ask me if he was going to be Keeper. There wasn't a way I could say no, since he outperformed everyone else." She felt her fists clench and she stood up irritably and paced across the common room. Ginny said defiantly, "There HAS to be someone better than him Harry! Anyone is better than him! I could try and play Keeper, Coote can take my place, and we can play with one Chaser less even!" She looked at him desperately and he shook his head, "You know we need all our players, Gin." She felt like punching her image of McLaggen that was in her head in the face. It was a little difficult since she was only imagining him.
Ginny seethed, "I swear Harry, if he tries to hit on me again during practice tomorrow I will…" she didn't get to finish her sentence as Harry interrupted firmly, "He won't, Gin. I can guarantee you that he won't. Thankfully he's more interested in Hermione now." Ginny nodded, still irritable as she paced around the common room, "There has to be someone better!" Eventually, she gave up pacing and she fell down onto the couch. She was kidding herself. Cormac was the only one who had gotten close to Ron's saves in tryouts, and he lost because Hermione had confounded him.
Ginny sighed, "I know we only have McLaggen. I guess I will just do my best not to kill him in practice tomorrow." Harry chuckled, "That's my girl!" She nodded and sighed, "I'm going to bed Harry. I'm bushed. I love you," she kissed his cheek softly before hurrying off to bed.
The following day during practice was an absolute nightmare, and purely because of McLaggen's presence. He was the most arrogant, self involved person she'd ever come across in her life. He often contradicted Harry's instructions because he thought he knew better, but then simultaneously tried sucking up to Harry by hinting that he was a far better Keeper than Ron.
McLaggen was so full of himself that Ginny had to grit her teeth throughout practice and had to actively prevent herself from not punching his face as she had imagined doing so many times. In the beginning, before they had kicked off, he had asked her, "How's your friend Hermione doing these days?" Ginny had kicked off then, not wanting to answer the question. Hermione had been visiting Ron in the hospital on a regular basis. Even when he was sleeping she was sometimes there, studying and doing homework. Yet Ginny wasn't about to divulge this piece of information to McLaggen of all people.
When they landed at the end of a long hour and a half, Ginny was exhausted. She had never found Quidditch to be more draining, except for when Ron was sulking because he was angry with Hermione. She went to the locker rooms to get changed and she sighed as she said to Demelza, "I'm going to kick that prick in the face one day if he's not careful!" Demelza nodded in agreement, "He pushes it. I don't know how Harry stands it." Ginny muttered, "I don't think Harry does."
Ginny finished showering and changing, only to find McLaggen leaning against the wall outside the girls changing room. She jumped in surprise and then asked, "What the hell are you still doing here?" McLaggen smirked at her and stretched his arms above his head before saying, "Well, I was just coming to congratulate you on how well you play. I can see now that you're not in the team just because you're Potter's girlfriend." Ginny rolled her eyes and began pacing away from him. He caught up with her quickly though before she got to the door and he stood in front of her eyeing her beadily. She didn't like the way he was looking at her as he blocked her way and she said firmly, "Stand aside, McLaggen." He shook his head and smirked, "You see, Gin, I think it would be a good idea for you to mention that you think I'm a better Keeper than your brother to Potter, and should be made permanent." Ginny gasped in exasperation, "And why on earth would I do that?" McLaggen's smirk grew wider, "Because…otherwise I could always make things really unpleasant between yourself and Potter. I know he doesn't like it when I flirt with you, you see?"
Ginny pulled her wand out and said darkly, "You watch it, McLaggen! I will Bat Bogey hex you into oblivion, like I did to Pansy Parkinson." Thankfully, she didn't need to use a hex because Demelza walked out of the girls room then and asked, shocked, "Are you seriously threatening Ginny?! You can easily get you kicked off the team for that!" Ginny shot her a thankful smile as Ginny said firmly, "Yes, McLaggen! I'm the one who has the upper hand here, so a little respect would be nice!" Ginny said frostily and then turned around, "Come on, Demelza. Let's leave this idiot to his own self misery!" McLaggen had no choice but to stand aside and let her pass.
Ginny fumed all the way back to the castle, "I cannot believe the prick! Who the heck does he think he is! He SERIOUSLY believes he has some kind of control over me! Gah! I'm so angry right now! I just…I just!" Ginny didn't realize she was shaking. They had gotten far enough away from the changing room so Demelza pulled her to a halt and turned to face her, "Ginny, listen to me. He has no authority over you. It's an empty threat. He would never do that, not while he stands a chance on the team. He knows Harry would kick him off if he so much as dared to touch you in anyway. That's why I mentioned that to him." Ginny inhaled slowly and exhaled in a whoosh, "I know. You're right. Thank you. I just...I just don't like being threatened." It reminded her too much of how Riddle used to threaten and control her. She heard his voice in her head as clear as day, 'My sources tell me that Potter and your brother are on the way to rescue you, Ginevra. You're a silly little girl. It will be all your fault when Potter dies. You will have no-one to blame but yourself. You're a foolish, silly little girl, Ginny Weasley. A silly little girl who trusts all too easily. Look where you've wound up. It's from all of the trusting you do. Any other witch or wizard would have known not to write in such a dark object, like my diary. But you, you don't know any better, and people's lives are going to end because of it…"
Ginny shivered at the memory and she turned her focus back to Demelza who was saying, "…Should we tell Harry about this?" Ginny shook her head immediately, "No, don't tell Harry. Like you said, it's probably an empty threat. Also he won't focus during the match if he's worrying about me all the time. If he threatens me again, I'll tell him." She nodded firmly to herself and she added, "Please don't tell him either?" Demelza sighed, "Alright, but if anything happens again we're telling Harry." Ginny grimaced but nodded, "Okay, sure." She didn't like being a defenseless, little girl. She was strong. She had survived being possessed by Riddle. She could easily take on McLaggen, if need be.
Thankfully, the rest of the week passed without a hint of threat for the prick so Demelza was right. To Ginny's relief, it was just an empty threat.
Author's Note: So, I know this has nothing to do with the books, but I feel like McLaggen is a huge pain in the rear, and the guy who plays his character in the movies does an exceptionally good job of it! Anyway, this is a bit of a random chapter but I thought it would be fun to write about what a pain McLaggen really is, and how arrogant he is. Don't worry though, it really is just an empty threat. He's pushing his boundaries, but this is as far as it will go!
Also, on a side note, I'm on two weeks of holiday! But it's not really holiday because I'm preparing for my practical and I've got other assignments I need to start, so I will be writing in between during my free moments! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Please review and let me know about any suggestions!
P.S 123rachel123 the scene you want me to write will hopefully be happening soon!
P.P.S: To: 123summer123 I think it's a really good idea! Sounds like a fanfic of Jodi Picoult's book In Between the Lines? It doesn't matter how long it takes to complete a piece of writing, as long as you complete it and you're proud of what you've written! That's what I've learnt through the writing process. It took me a year to write a draft of this story, and I've pretty much strayed from the draft but that's normal too and also good for creativity! Keep it up and don't give up!