AN: Wow you guys! I couldn't be happier right now. I love hearing your feedback. Thanks to all my followers and favoriters, with special thanks to new reviewers LadyLombax, Susan M. M, The Good Child, and Kairan1979. Extra special thanks to returning reviewers anthony37, serenityselena, thunder18, and serialkeller. Right now I'm looking at an update tomorrow morning, but if not then, the day after will work too. Final word count before author's note: 1,670
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise.
"That was awesome!" Fred and George said in unison.
"No," Mrs. Weasley said sharply. "Not, it was not. Honestly Arthur, what did you think you were doing? Think of the example you just set for the children."
Arthur Weasley glanced at all the kids hanging out at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Percy was reading Prefects Who Gained Power. Harry and Ron were eating their sundaes happily. Fred and George were whispering to each other, most likely prank ideas. Hermione was already about a third of the way through a Gilderoy Lockhart book. Ginny appeared to be writing in a diary. Arthur didn't think they were particularly affected by what he'd done, but he didn't say so.
"And oh! What will people say? It's a good thing Hagrid was there to break up the fight. Lucius Malfoy could ruin you."
"I'm not afraid of him," Arthur said mutinously.
You should be, Harry thought darkly. He had seen Mr. Malfoy slip something into Ginny's cauldron after the two men had stopped fighting. It had been very fleeting and Harry hadn't gotten a good look at it, but he was certain that Ginny hadn't had that diary before. Even more suspicious was the way she always paused after writing something. Harry badly wanted to say something to the girl, but what if he was wrong? What if Harry said everything he thought in front of the Weasleys and it was just Harry being paranoid after the visit from Dobby? The Weasleys hadn't mentioned afterward, but Harry still worried. What if they thought him insane for getting anxious about a Malfoy house elf? Harry decided later that he'd confront Ginny when she was alone.
Draco Malfoy walked down Diagon Alley with his head held high. Stupid Potter and Weasley. Who did they think they were? Draco was ten times better than the two of them combined. His father would get them back and Arthur Weasley too. Draco had seen his father slip something into the Weasley girl's cauldron. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that it would be good revenge.
What made Draco even happier, though, was the fact that a brand new Nimbus 2001 had just been sent to his house, and six identical ones had been sent to every current member of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Draco was determined to be seeker and go up against Potter. He'd show everyone who the better flyer was. He'd beat Potter every time, and the Potter would regret ever crossing a Malfoy.
A week later at the Burrow, Harry tossed and turned in Charlie's old bed. He couldn't stop thinking about Dobby, the Malfoys, and Ginny. What was he going to do? He wasn't even sure that Ginny was in danger, but he didn't want to take that chance. Realizing that he wasn't going to get any sleep, Harry padded downstairs to get a glass of water. What he wasn't expecting to find was Ginny, seated at the kitchen table, writing in the little black book.
Harry went to move close and stepped on a squeaky floor board. The noise bounced off walls, making Ginny let out a gasp.
"Er, hi," Harry said awkwardly. "I just, um, wanted to get something to drink."
Ginny stared.
"What are you writing?" Harry ventured.
Still she stared.
"Right well, I'm gonna go back to bed." Harry turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ginny cried. "I-you don't have to leave." She still couldn't meet his eyes, but at least she seemed able to talk to him.
"Oh, um, okay." He sat across from her and tried not to be obvious as she scribbled in the diary.
"It's enchanted," Ginny spoke up suddenly.
"What?"
"You asked what I was writing. It's an enchanted diary. When I write something, it writes back." Ginny seemed to find a family portrait behind Harry very interesting.
"Ginny-"
"It's not dark magic," Ginny cut him off. "Tom's very nice."
"Tom?" Harry questioned.
"It's the diary's name. Listen, he's not going to hurt me. He's a diary!"
"Ginny, look." Harry said seriously. "I saw Lucius Malfoy put that in your cauldron. Whatever he's done can't be good."
"Maybe he didn't know what it was. Did you ever consider that?" Ginny challenged. "Maybe this diary's harmless. You can't take it away from me!" Ginny fled the room.
Harry cursed himself. He definitely wouldn't be getting any sleep.
Incidentally, the next day was one he really should have been well-rested for. It was September 1st, and Harry now had the rather strange feeling of wanting to go back to Hogwarts while also wanting to stay at the Burrow. He found it hard to get out of bed the next morning and began to wish he'd never gone to talk to Ginny. Perhaps then he'd have gotten some sleep.
All summer Harry had delighted in seeing so many people live under one roof, but now Harry simply found it irritating. It seemed Harry couldn't go anywhere in the house without seeing flaming red hair. All of the Weasleys appeared to be tripping over each other in their haste, and Harry was certain that he wasn't helping matters. It seemed he and Percy were the only ones to follow Mrs. Weasley's instructions and pack their trunks the night before.
"HURRY UP!" Mrs. Weasley screamed up the staircase. Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's owl, were waiting by the door along with George and Harry's brooms. Everyone clambered down, Ginny giving Harry an angry look as she passed. Ron looked back and forth between the two of them and mouthed 'What's going on?'
Harry shrugged in response.
Mr. Weasley packed the luggage in the trunk, all of it fitting in neatly thanks to his charms. All of the boys fit in the back comfortably, with Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley in front. Finally it seemed that the family was off.
"I forgot something!" George shouted. "My Filibuster Fireworks are back home."
Mr. Weasley turned around and George raced in and came back out, a brightly illustrated box in hand. And then they were off. Or not.
"I forgot my broom!" Fred cried. "How am I supposed to play Quidditch without a broom?"
So Mr. Weasley turned around again so that Fred could grab his broom and stuff it in the trunk. So now they were ready. Except they weren't.
"I forgot my diary!" Ginny shrieked.
"I think you'll be okay," Harry replied coolly.
"No, I won't," Ginny snapped.
Mr. Weasley swung the Ford Anglia around for the third time and let Ginny out. Then all the remaining Weasleys turned to look at Harry.
"Are you alright, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Did that house elf frighten you?"
"No," Harry said simply.
"Because, you know, it's perfectly fine to be afraid of something like that," Mr. Weasley said.
"I know." Everyone paused, as though searching for something to say. Ginny flung open the car door, looking very upset.
"What's the matter dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I can't find it," Ginny complained.
"It was probably Malfoy trying to scare you," Ron muttered.
"What?" Harry started.
"The house elf," Ron whispered matter-of-factly. "It's just Malfoy being Malfoy."
"You're right," Harry nodded slowly. But secretly, his mind was focused on something much more complicated than a house elf.
The Weasleys arrived at the station with only five minutes left to spare. Mrs. Weasley glanced worriedly at the clock.
"Ginny, sweetheart, let's have a quick chat. The rest of you, try not to be obvious. Percy and Mr. Weasley went on the platform first, followed by Fred and George. Harry and Ron glanced back at each other, then at Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
"Reckon we should go now then?" Ron asked.
"I guess so," Harry said.
The two boys pushed their way through the wall between platforms nine and ten to find the scarlet Hogwarts Express.
They waited with the others for a bit when a loud pop was heard. Harry looked around wildly for Dobby, but instead saw Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. Ginny didn't appear very happy and simply dragged her trunk onto the train.
"Arthur, it was the strangest thing. The platform seemed to be sealed. I had to apparate us here. Now, I want you all to stay out of trouble and keep your grades up. I don't want to get any letters from school unless they're about how wonderful you're all doing. Have a good year and I'll see you for Christmas. Now go!" She made a shooing motion with her hand.
Harry and Ron searched the whole train until they found Hermione, Lee, and the Quidditch team. He grinned when he saw all of his friends. Everyone shouted out greetings and then everyone went silent. Harry was confused; why weren't they saying anything?
"Happy Birthday!" They all yelled.
"Wh-W-What?" Harry stuttered. "You guys, I thought getting me out of the Dursleys was my birthday present?"
"Of course not," Alicia laughed. A few wrapped packages were passed to Harry.
Oliver had given Harry some seeker gloves. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie managed to get him a signed copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. Fred, George, and Lee got him a huge box of pranking supplies from Zonko's Joke Shop. Ron got him an assortment of sweets. It was Hermione's gift though, that Harry appreciated most.
"Protection Against the Darkest of Magic," Harry read. "Thanks Hermione!"
"I figured it would be useful after last year. If you don't like it, I can take it back," Hermione said nervously.
"No, this is great!" Harry exclaimed. "I'll start reading this right away."
Hermione smiled shyly.
Ron spotted his sister right outside the compartment. "Do you want to come in Gin? We still have room," he offered.
"Is he going to be there" she spat venomously, glaring at Harry.
"Well, yeah." Ron frowned.
"Then no," Ginny snapped and stalked away.
"Blimey Harry, what did you do to her?" Ron asked dazedly.
Harry simply shrugged and put his hand in his pocket and felt the small, black book.