Chapter 7: As Fate Would Have It
After the breakup, Ginny and Harry became even closer friends. Since Ginny was now single, Harry didn't have to worry about her boyfriend magically appearing in the middle of their conversation. Ginny loved spending time with Harry. He was the kind of boy she wanted to be friends with. He was someone who laughed at her jokes, talked to her and actually tried to have a real conversation with her, unlike her previous boyfriends whose one and only intention was snogging. But Harry was different.
It was late afternoon as Ginny sat by the window in an armchair reading with Ron and Hermione when Harry burst into the room.
"Give me your potions book Ron," Harry shouted.
"What- why?" Ron asked confused, "what about yours?"
"Don't ask questions Ron," Harry snapped, "Just give me your book!" Ron handed his potions book to Harry who dashed out of the room without giving them an explanation but Ginny ran after him.
"Harry," she shouted down the hall, "Harry! What's wrong? What happened with your book?" she asked when she had finally caught up with him, "I told you not to listen to it but you did didn't you?"
"I cursed Malfoy with a spell from that potions book and it just about killed him," Harry said quickly and continued to run.
"Why did you curse Malfoy?" Ginny asked.
"Because I met him in the bathroom talking about killing someone with Moaning Myrtle and he was about to shoot an unforgivable curse at me," Harry said and turned the corner into Snape's office and disappeared. Ginny stood staring at the door in complete shock at what Harry had just told her. She slowly turned and started back toward the common room. When she came back in through the porthole, Ron and Hermione ran up to her and bombarded her with questions.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"What did Harry tell you," Ron shouted at his sister. Ginny shook her head.
"He'll tell you later. He hardly told me enough to fill you in," she said warily and trudged up to her room. She was tired and fell onto her bed in a deep sleep.
Ginny woke up the next morning still completely exhausted. She stared at the ceiling and suddenly remembered what Harry had told her the last time she saw him and bounded out of bed. She pulled her clothes on quickly and ran downstairs and luckily, saw Harry sitting alone on the couch. She walked down the stairs quietly and up to the couch behind him.
"Hey," she said quietly trying not to startle him. Harry turned to see her and smiled.
"Good morning," he said. Ginny came around the couch and sat down next to him.
"You seem much happier than the last time I saw you, right after you cursed Malfoy and were running back to Snape's office," Ginny said, "and what is your punishment for that anyway?"
"Oh, well," Harry said nervously, "I got detention just about every Saturday until summer. Which means I'll have to miss the Quidditch championship game," Harry said unhappily and Ginny's face fell.
"You'll miss what?" she asked in disbelief, "but we can't win without you Harry! And Snape knows it! He gave you this punishment on purpose just so you'd miss the match!" Ginny was angry and out of the breath by the time Harry stopped her.
"Ginny," he said and put his hand over her hand, "calm down. You'll just have to substitute for seeker and Dean will have to be a chaser. "
"We still won't win the match without you," Ginny said sadly, "I'm no where near as good a seeker as you are."
"What?" Ron said from behind them. Harry pulled his hand off Ginny's quickly and Ron ran around the couch with Hermione close behind him. "Why aren't you playing in the match?" Harry took a deep breath and explained the punishment that Snape had given him. Hermione's eyes were wide by the time he was done.
"I told you not to listen to that book Harry," Hermione said, "That curse could have killed Malfoy and then you would have been sent to Azkaban or expelled!"
"Hermione, relax," Ron said, "The worst thing that happened out of this is that Harry can't play in the match tomorrow and we're going to lose."
"Could you forget about the match Ron?" Hermione shouted at him, "this is serious! Your chances of winning that match were small anyway!"
"Don't pretend like you know Quidditch Hermione because you don't and you'll only end up embarrassing yourself," Ginny snapped at her. An awkward silence followed and Hermione grabbed her bag and stalked out of the room. Harry and Ron had looks of disbelief on their faces and stared at Ginny. Ginny and Hermione had always been best friends.
Ginny merely waved her hand and said, "She'll get over it." Ginny got up and walked over to a group of her friends who were now gathered on the other side of the common room.
The next day was the Quidditch match and everyone on the Gryffindor team was feeling down and defeated already, knowing that they wouldn't be able to win without Harry. The team solemnly made their way down to the pitch with low hopes as Harry walked down to Snape's office for his detention.
The Quidditch match dragged on for a long time. Malfoy's flying "skills" were no match compared to Ginny's and she caught the snitch before Malfoy had even seen it. They had won the game, but Ginny wasn't happy. She felt like something was missing. The team ran up to the common room chanting and screaming something about surprising Harry about the win and Ginny trudged behind them. The entire team piled into the common room and waited for Harry to return in silence. Ginny stood in the front, next to Ron who held the cup. Dean kept watch right outside the portrait hole, and they were waiting for his signal.
Dean came running through the door and whispered loudly, "He's coming!" A few moments later Harry stepped through the portrait hole and a shocked expression came over his face when he saw the cup in Ron's hands.
"We won Harry!" Ron shouted to his best friend, "We won!" Everyone was smiling at him and cheering. Ginny ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. When she pulled back, she looked up into his eyes and he smiled down at her. Before she knew it he had leaned in closer and kissed her. Ginny kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair and he put his arms around her waist. The common room became silent as every watched awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Ginny no longer had that feeling that something was missing and she felt happier than ever. When they broke apart, the room was silent and everyone stared until several people started whispering and giggling after a few moments. Ginny smiled up at Harry and he smiled down at her. Harry stepped back and gestured out the portrait hole, hoping to take a walk, and Ginny stepped out in front of him and he followed close behind.
"So," said Ginny as she and Harry walked through the halls together. Ginny's thoughts were racing as she walked next to him, "what...um…uh." Ginny was having trouble saying what she wanted to say and Harry found this amusing and laughed.
"I've liked you for the longest time," Harry said as he put his arm around her. Ginny felt a chill run down her spine as Harry touched her back. Ginny smiled up at him.
"Really?" she said jokingly. She had liked Harry since her first year and had never thought that this would happen. Harry laughed again and stopped walking. He took her hands in his and smiled down at her.
"I really have," said Harry happily. Ginny smiled as Harry leaned down and kissed her again. When they broke apart, Ginny smiled up at him.
"So are we…together now?" Ginny asked awkwardly. Harry smiled and kissed her forehead.
"I'd say so," said Harry and he smiled again. Ginny giggled and put her arms around his neck and kissed him again.