I Would like to thank Gothic Angel for adding my story to her favourite list and to everyone for reviewing my last chapter. It really does mean a lot to me when people encourage me to write more. *queue dorky smile*

I still don't have a particular pattern down for when I post these up but I think it usually happens on a Sunday night after re-reading it over numerous times during the day. So if you're waiting for the next chapter, expect it to be around then or maybe a Monday morning.

I would just like to remind you that I am still a student so I still have to do the usual of going to school and having homework, but I don't want to use that as my excuse for it being late. My real excuse is that I'm hook on reading this FanFic called Marriage, Babies and Hatred by megg.x

You should check it out, it's pretty good :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or even Voldemort's sexy name unfortunately.

Chapter 7

'I should clear out this smoke shouldn't I? Before someone else chokes to death.' He chuckled and removed his wand from his robe, waving it once in the air, making the green smoke disappear.

Things became clearer and Harry jumped at the sudden appearance of a red headed girl in front of him.

'Ginny.' Harry looked at her puzzled. 'What are you doing here?'

'Harry.' She rolled her eyes. 'Obviously I have this class.' She rummaged through her bag again, hiding her face. 'Shit.' He heard her whispered. Her head shot back up above the table and she smiled. 'Can I borrow a quill?'

Harry was stunned for a second; she had actually smiled at him. He hadn't seen her smile in such a long time that Harry was left mouth hanging slightly open.

'Um, I'll take that as a yes.' She leaned forward and took the quill in Harry's hands popping back down onto her own seat and began writing something down on a piece of parchment.

Harry closed his mouth and blinked a few times, eyebrows furrowed. He looked at Ron from the corner of his eye before going through his own bag for another quill.

As the Slytherin's began to come in Harry's eyes kept trailing over to Ginny who was sitting quietly and blowing the feathers on the quill, making them rustle then be still again. Rustle then be still. She seemed to be bored as she had one balled up hand pressed against her cheek, her elbow resting on the desk.

Harry got the occasional glares from the Slytherin's which he was quiet use to, most of them probably telepathically telling him that he was going to get killed by them. This made complete sense because most of their parents were presumably Death Eaters, and were now on the run from the Ministry.

'Okay, is everybody seated?' Professor Slughorn announced to the class, 'Well let's get started!' He rubbed his hands together, 'Since you are all in your seventh year and some of you might be . . . involved in some sort of relationship. Professor McGonagall informed me that it would be adequate if I showed you a potion which would help prevent unwanted . . . pregnancy.' He coughed at the end of it and averted his gaze from everyone. It was clear that he felt uncomfortable talking about these topics.

Most people in class were also looking away at random places from either their discomfort or boredom.

Professor Slughorn coughed again and pointed towards a vial which held some sort of potion, it was puffing out the green smoke that had been hovering around the room. 'Contained in this vial is a potion which will help.' He was still averting his gaze from the class. 'You will find it on page 512 in your books. Chop, chop!' He clapped his hands and the class slowly began to get off their chairs. Even Hermione was slow at getting into action.

This evidently wasn't everybody's favourite cup of tea.

Harry opened up his book to the page and stared at it blankly for a couple of minutes.

'If you're having trouble reading English I doubt they can translate it into Parseltongue for you.' Ginny whispered near his ear, a grin on her face before she skipped away towards the ingredient cabinet.

Harry stared at the page for a few more seconds before actually detecting what he needed. He walked over to the ingredient cabinet and stood next to Ginny, looking at it blankly before getting a nudge in the ribs. Ginny had her arms full of ingredients, which she chucked into Harry's arms 'Hold these for Me.' and without time to answer; she chucked one more ingredient on top, Harry's arms almost over flowing. 'Can you put that on my table? Thanks.' She then began to get some more.

Harry didn't think that they needed that many ingredients; it hadn't said so in the book. He walked back over to her table and put them down, coming back over to her and leaning against the cabinet. 'Don't you think you have enough?' he said calmly.

Ginny looked like she had a hint of blush, which she covered up with letting her hair fall in her face. 'Nope.'

'Okay.' Harry then bent down beside her and began to get his own, which took him less time considering he didn't get as much.

Harry went back to his table and started to get to work. Adding each ingredient as instructed by the book. By the time his was finished it looked completely wrong.

'Dear me Harry, seems you've lost your touch. Oh well, that's quite understandable. It's great that you have the rest of the year to find it again.' Professor Slughorn said, looking at his work then continuing onto Hermione's.

'Well done Hermione!' Slughorn patted her on the shoulder and as he went behind her he whispered something in her ear.

She stiffened and looked down at her feet, like something interesting was on them.

As per usual Ron's wasn't brilliant but was ordinary and as Slughorn went over to Ginny she seemed to blush and bite her lip.

'Wonderful! Dear Molly has taught her daughter well.' Professor Slughorn grinned and went on with the inspections, checking on the Slytherin's and other Gryffindors.

'Man,' Ron exaggerated, 'I didn't think that would end!'

'Me either.' Harry agreed as they made their way towards the Quidditch pitch, Harry had his broom with him in one hand and the Quaffle in the other, all ready to go, while Ron was slugging behind and taking his time seeing as they had lunch next break.

They walked onto the pitch and pushed off the green grass. Harry had been looking forward to playing on this pitch again, and since it was summer the grass was nice and lush and there seemed to be a couple of clouds in the sky, enough to keep out the blinding sun but not enough to ruin the day.

Harry made one lap around the field, bringing back all the memories and filling up on them. He was now in his "zone".

'Ready?' he called over to Ron, who was in front of one of the goals.

'I'm always ready Potter!' Ron yelled back, he was though too slow to duck from the Quaffle coming his way, which Harry had pegged at him. Ron could see from the distance the eyebrow Harry had raised at him mockingly.

'Maybe not that time . . .' He mumbled.

Harry laughed and Ron threw the Quaffle back to him. Harry raised it this time and Ron nodded.

Harry made a loop back around the stands and to the other side of the pitch, coming up just beside one of the goal posts and threw the Quaffle.

Ron came out of nowhere and caught it, pegging it at the back of Harry's head as he retreated to start again.

Harry shot down to get the falling Quaffle and threw it back at Ron who caught it and pegged it back at Harry again.

They continued this banter for most of their free period, pegging it at each other and then dodging each other's blows.

'Forfeit Weasley!' Harry called over to Ron who was hiding behind a stadium.

'Never!' He shot out from behind and hid behind another one. 'You forfeit Potter!'

'Ha! You wish!' Harry flew up behind Ron. 'You're talking to the Harry Potter.'

Ron backhanded him right in the face and Harry was left there, mouth wide open, hovering in the air.

Ron saw the look on Harry's face and instantly gripped his broom tighter and flew off. 'Coward!' Harry called, shooting after him, catching up to him seconds later and pegging the Quaffle as hard as he could at Ron's back.

Ron groaned and raised his hands. 'I forfeit!'

'Knew you would call first.' Harry chuckled.

'Ha. Ha.' Ron said stiffly before lowering closer to the ground and dismounting. ''t's not fair, you have a faster broom.' Ron muttered.

'Save up.' Harry grinned and patted Ron on the back before going towards the Gryffindor Locker Room to clean up.

Ron peeled off his dirty shirt and groaned as he looked over his shoulder. 'Jerk.'

Harry glanced over to see a dull pink – developing into purple – round bruise on his back. 'Aw, is Ronald going to cry?' Harry teased.

'Tsk, as if.' Ron replied sharply, putting on a new clean shirt and stashing his dirty one in his bag. He looked over at Harry who, unlike Ron, already had scars across his back and chest. 'Did I get any good ones on you?' He asked, leaning against the locker, waiting for Harry.

'Not that I can feel.' He said, 'Though I don't really feel pain anymore. If you get what I mean.' Harry shrugged, his back still to Ron. Harry pulled on a new shirt and wiped his glasses on the front of them, finally turning around to face Ron.

'Where did Hermione say we were meeting for lunch?' Harry asked casually.

'Usual spot.'

'Library?'

'Yep.' Ron replied.

Harry smiled and grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder and walking out of the Gryffindor locker room with Ron following beside him.

'What do we have after lunch? I forgot.' Harry asked Ron.

'Um, I think we had Herbology with Hufflepuff.' Ron mumbled, grabbing some food out of his bag and beginning to eat.

Harry did the same, considering they weren't allowed to eat in the library, Ron and Harry had previously begun a routine of eating on their way there. Harry was feeling pretty hungry after his "practise" session with Ron that he thought he could eat a whole cow and by the time they got to the library doors he still wanted more food.

Hermione was at the front, talking to Ginny, she seemed to be giggling about something that had made Ginny blush. Ginny replied with something that made Hermione stiffen and Ginny laughed her head off. Hermione slapped Ginny on the arm and that only made Ginny laugh more as Hermione was bathed in the shame of blushing red.

'Shh.' Hermione warned her, nodded towards Harry and Ron who were coming within earshot.

'"Shh" About what Hermione?' Ron asked, grabbing and squeezing her hand once before letting it drop, still intertwined.

'About our . . .' She began to go redder as she thought of a word. 'relationship.' She settled on before biting her lip and looking away, which only made Ginny laugh more.

'So why are we at the library this time Hermione? It's not like we have important research to do this time.' Harry asked honestly.

'McGonagall wanted to talk to you about your Quidditch positions.'

'Yes!' Ron exclaimed.

'Where did she say she was going to meet us?' Harry asked.

'Here at the front doors.' She looked around. 'Though it appears she is late.'

'I'm never late.' Professor McGonagall said calmly, appearing from behind a bookshelf.

Hermione looked shocked from seeing her come out from somewhere close, earshot close to be precise.

'Professor McGonagall.' Harry said.

'Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley.' She nodded at them and motioned for them to join at a table.

They all sat down and she began.

'Mr. Potter, since you were captain and Seeker last time you were here, I was under the impression that you might be eligible to become it again. Meaning that you will have to organise training sessions and will have to dedicate time to the team and its members. Would you still like to be captain of Gryffindors Quidditch team as well as their Seeker?'

'Professor, what makes you think I would refuse that offer?' He grinned.

She smiled back at him. 'Mr. Weasley, would you also like to continue your position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as their goal keeper? Meaning you would will have to also dedicate time for training sessions. '

Ron hesitated then nodded.

'Wonderful.' She said proudly.

'Professor, I was wondering if I am Gryffindors Chaser still?' Ginny asked from beside Hermione.

'That would be up to Potter, seeing as he will need to hold another tryout for positions.' She looked at Harry, 'Which you would need to inform me about before you do so.'

Harry nodded.

'Professor, I'm just curious but when is the next Hogsmeade visit?' Ginny asked, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

McGonagall tilted her head to one side just a fraction, 'It's a bit early to verify but I should say perhaps next weekend. I'm not so sure but when the date is settled the notice will be up in your common room.'

Ginny nodded and looked down at her hands, resting on the table's wooden surface.

'Well if that's all, I don't want to be holding up your lunch break.' She smiled at them and left the table, leaving the library after nodding a hello to a few younger students.

'Why did you ask about the Hogsmeade trip?' Ron asked, secretly eating some food from his bag which was resting on his lap and was zipped open. Hermione looked at him disapprovingly.

'Can't I ask when the next time I am able to run away from you?' She poked her tongue out at him.

'Why would you would want to run away from me, I hang around with Harry.' He retorted. Hermione sighed heavily and brought her hand up to cover her eyes, running it down her face. It was obvious where Ron was going with this. The low blow.

'And?' she said, not blushing for once about this topic, which Harry thought was unusual.

'I was just stating the obvious.' Ron said matter-of-factly.

'I think I kind of worked that one out for myself.' Ginny replied.

'Where's Luna?' Harry asked, changing topics for the safety of Ron's face and health.

'Neville arrived and they were meeting up for lunch.' Hermione said.

'Speaking of lunch, can we please leave the library now? I'm hungry and I want to eat.' Ron complained.

Hermione sighed and stood up. 'Fine. Let's go eat by the lake then.'

'I'll see you guys in Herbology then, I have people to catch up with.' Ginny waved dismissively and left the library, heading in the direction of the Grand Staircase.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat under the tree.

Well really only Harry sat, Hermione was sprawled across Ron who was lying in the tall grass. Ron was playing with Hermione's hair absentmindedly and Hermione was smiling at the book in her hand. Though Harry didn't think she was paying much attention to it with Ron distracting her.

The slightest of breeze would rustle the grass, making it ripple and look like the ocean, which Harry thought was pretty neat.

Harry was leaning against the tree trunk, his wand in his hand, levitating any leaf that would fall to the ground, making its journey longer and prolonging its life. Because after it would fall to the ground it would just be stood on and be forgotten, a memory to something that was truly magnificent when whole and complete when attached to the tree.

He looked out towards the lake and saw the Giant Squid break the surface of the water for a second with one of its arms. His eyes kept trailing the landscape till it came to a rest on something white and tall. Harry squinted his eyes to get a better glimpse of it and regretted it a second later. It was Dumbledore's tomb.

Harry drew in a deep, raggedy breath and tore his eyes away from it, looking back towards the castle. It looked the exact same it did before the battle. Its walls were complete now and it looked like it hadn't even been touched, it looked like it hadn't even been a part of the worst battle in history.

Students walked down and around the grass. Harry could make out some students walking past the windows in the lower levels.

Harry would have liked to at this time visit Hagrid but he had taken a short leave to prepare himself for the new year. Apparently he had had a hard time carry the bodies back to the hospital wing after the war and they had hit him pretty hard to the core; carry dead bodies.

McGonagall said that he could take all the time he needed to repair himself. She had asked him though if he was going to come back and he had replied with a short 'It's my home, how can I not come back?' before leaving, teary eyed.

It had been so quiet that when Hermione giggled, Harry instantly looked back over to her; she was under Ron and he was giving her little pecks on the nose.

Harry groaned and looked away, pretending he was in pain and covering his eyes. 'Get a room you two. My eyes are burning in their sockets.'

'Good, those ones have terrible vision, you needed a new pair.' Ron mumbled before kissing Hermione on the mouth. It was quick but Hermione giggled anyway, she then pushed him off her and sat up, legs crossed.

'All done, you can look now Harry.' She said, bemused by his facial expression as he parted his fingers slightly to peek. He then sighed in relief and narrowed his eyebrows. 'Don't do that around me ever again. Okay, I might just throw up slugs or something.' He smirked and glanced at Ron who rolled his eyes and lent back in the grass, hands behind his head.

Harry's eyes wandered around again and they rested on the empty home of Hagrid's. They chimney wasn't smoking, the curtains were drawn and the physical appearance of Hagrid's absence was evident. Harry would have just liked to have seen Hagrid walking around with Fang by his side, waving and smiling at all the new students who he towered over.

'What are you thinking of Harry? You have a miserable expression on your face.' Hermione asked.

'Hagrid.'

Hermione's gaze followed Harry's towards Hagrid's home and the corner of her mouth turned slowly down.

'Harry, I seriously think you are getting depression. You keep ruining the best moments and you keep having moods swings just like Ginny.' Ron spoke out his thoughts which Hermione put into consideration. Her eyebrows furrowed and she thought about it a bit. 'I think Ron might be right Harry.' She said calmly, trying not to get Harry angry or upset.

Harry looked at her and rolled his eyes for her to see. 'I'm fine Hermione.'

'Harry, if you won't talk to us about what you're feeling . . . maybe you should see McGonagall- ' He cut her off.

'I'm fine.' He repeated sighing in irritation.

'No you're not!' She cried out, 'You're only human! It's alright to feel these things but it's not alright to bottle them all up!'

'And you say I have mood swings.' He chuckled.

Hermione screamed in frustration and brought her book up to cover her face as she lay back down on the grass.

'Drama Queen.' Harry muttered, smirking.

Hermione pulled out her wand, while still lying down and pointed it at Harry. Making the silent threat clear.

Ron shook his head at Harry and pulled back the book on Hermione's face a little. He whispered something that Harry couldn't hear and she whispered something back, Ron then put the book back onto her face and sighed.

'Maybe we should get going for Herbology?' Ron suggested.

Hermione mumbled something which Ron had to take the book off her face again before she repeated it. He put the book back down on her which Harry thought meant that she was going to stay there longer.

'She's staying behind again.' Ron confirmed.

Ron and Harry walked up towards the greenhouse and met Neville on the way up there. Apparently he had been asking Professor Sprout about a particular plant that he had been researching. Neither Harry nor Ron had any idea what it was but nodded their heads like they understood it as he continued to talk about it.

'You have no idea what I'm going on about do you?' Neville said.

They both nodded their heads again before smiling and laughing with Neville. He then bid them goodbye and left down the trail towards the lake.

They met up with Professor Sprout and took their seats.

Apparently today's lesson was going to be theory which Harry knew for sure Hermione was going to like; get her out of her bad mood.

Ron groaned through the whole lesson and Harry just blanked out, sparing the occasional glances at Ginny who sat quietly beside Hermione, plaiting a bit of hair that she could see at the front of her head. The Hufflepuff's, in Harry's mind, weren't even there because they were so quiet. Hermione was the only one answering questions and Professor Sprout didn't seem impressed, although she blamed it on it being the first day back at school.

When it was time to leave and head over towards Transfiguration, Ginny stayed silent and followed beside Harry. She said 'hello's' to whoever said 'Hi' to her and continued on.

He didn't even know what was going on, but at the last second Ginny gave Hermione a look and then stopped in front of Harry. 'Can we talk?' She said quietly.

'Um, sure.'

She grabbed his wrist and pulled him down the corridor and under the arch of a door.

She looked down at her feet and leaned against the wall. 'I'm sorry about my attitude this morning. I don't know what came over me, Ron says their just crazy mood swings, but – and you better not tell him I said this – but since I have no other reasonable explanation, I think I'm just going to have to settle to that answer and blame it on the ruddy mood swings.' She took a deep breath and then looked up at Harry. 'Can you forgive me?'

'Ginny, I don't blame you. And if it makes you feel any better my mood hasn't been the best either.' He said mockingly.

'But do you really forgive me?' She whispered, her face softening and becoming pleading.

'Yes.' He replied smoothly.

'Thanks.' She then stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Harry once on the mouth, before running back down the corridor and into the classroom.

Harry was stunned for a second before he realized that he was now going to be late for class. McGonagall wasn't going to be happy.

He walked through the door and instantly McGonagall's lips tightened. 'So nice of you to join us Mr. Potter.'

'Sorry –' Harry began.

'Just take your seat; I doubt you have a reasonable explanation.' She said grimly before continuing to write on the board.

He sat soundlessly down next to Ron and began to get his things out of his bag.

When the lesson was over McGonagall called him up to her desk, she sat there behind it, her face indifferent. She sat there and tapped her foot against the floor, waiting silently.

'Well? Aren't you going to give me an explanation? Or are you all out of ideas?' She said, raising her eyebrow, when Harry hadn't said anything.

'Um, I don't really know how to explain, I um, I was repairing my friendship with someone? And honestly I was' he stuttered.

She surveyed him to see if he was lying and just making a poor excuse to get out of detention but from what she could tell, he was telling the truth.

'Fine, seeing as it is the first day back at school, I'll let you have a pass. Mark my word though Mr. Potter, I'm not going to be so generous if it becomes a habit.'

Harry nodded and got dismissed; Hermione and Ron were both at the door, leaning their ears against it to hear. When Harry opened the door, they both unexpectedly fell to the floor. Harry shook his head as they both got back up and dusted themselves off, a smirk on his face as he made his way back towards Gryffindor tower.

That night Harry couldn't forget the moment he had had with Ginny. She had kissed him, and even if it was as an apology, he would still take it. It had made his day better. Probably his whole week.

Okay, this chapter may be a little boring but I stuck a bit of Ron/Hermione in there with a little bit more of Ginny's sweeter side just to make Harry feel better ;)

Some of you may be wondering why Harry and Ron call each other by their last names. Well it's a habit they picked up to mock Draco and the way he had always called them by their surnames, so basically when ever Ron or Harry are using sarcasm or mocking each other, they tend to let it slip. Please forgive me if you don't really like it, but it's something that's just going to stick.

Like my cool moustache guy? - :} D

Anyways. Please forgive me once again for its lateness, once again I just want to say that I'm a pretty addictive reader and if I find something good to read, I can't put it down till I finish it i.e. Marriage, babies and Hatred by megg.x

I probably might recommend a story each chapter? What do you think? Comment : )