lulu: thanks for the kind words; one of the main reasons I'm writing this story is because I can't get enough of Ginny. I wish she had a more proeminent role in the books, because she is such a great, strong character. anyways I'm thrilled you like it so far:)

thanks to all my readers, enjoy the new chapter :)

5: Temper

The door of the nearest greenhouse opened and some fourth-years spilled out of it, including Ginny.

"Hi," she said brightly as she passed. A few seconds later, Luna Lovegood emerged, trailing behind the rest of the class, a smudge of earth on her nose, and her hair tied in a knot on the top of her head. When she saw Harry, her prominent eyes seemed to bulge excitedly and she made a beeline straight for him. Many of his classmates turned curiously to watch. Luna took a great breath and then said, without so much as a preliminary hello, "I believe He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him."

"Er – right," said Harry awkwardly. Luna was wearing what looked like a pair of orange radishes for earrings, a fact that Parvati and Lavender seemed to have noticed, as they were both giggling and pointing at her earlobes.

"You can laugh," Luna said, her voice rising, apparently under the impression that Parvati and Lavender were laughing at what she had said rather than what she was wearing, "but people used to believe there were no such things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack!"

"Well, they were right, weren't they?' said Hermione impatiently. "There weren't any such things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Luna gave her a withering look and flounced away, radishes swinging madly. Parvati and Lavender were not the only ones hooting with laughter now.

"D'you mind not offending the only people who believe me?" Harry asked Hermione as they made their way into class.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry, you can do better than her," said Hermione. "Ginny's told me all about her; apparently, she'll only believe in things as long as there's no proof at all. Well, I wouldn't expect anything else from someone whose father runs The Quibbler."

Rowling J.K., Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, PDF, Chapter 13: Detention with Dolores, pages 195-196.

Ginny, who had been standing near the entrance, waiting for Luna to speak to Harry and had comforted the girl when she had immerged, angry at Lavender and Parvati, instantly flared up when she overheard Hermione talking about her.

She left Luna at the door and took quick strides to reach the Trio.

"That's not what I actually told you, Hermione. And you would know that, had you not drawn your own conclusions," Ginny began hotly, staring the bushy-haired girl down.

Hermione whirled around, caught off-guard.

"Ginny, I didn't see you there –"

"Obviously, since you spoke of my friend so lightly," Ginny interrupted her. She was very fond of Luna and she would not allow people to speak ill of her without even understanding what she was about.

"Get off your high horse, Gin," Ron interjected. "You know Luna tends to freak out some people, Hermione's not the first."

"Oh, shut it, Ron! Hermione wasn't "freaked out", she just doesn't agree with Luna's view of life. But that's no reason to undermine someone," Ginny retorted, growing redder by the minute.

Harry, who had yet to say something, was much too arrested by this sudden outburst to have any input.

He always found the Weasley temper, especially Ginny's, terrifying and fascinating at the same time.

"And just so you know, Harry can't do better than Luna," Ginny began anew, directing her words at Hermione. "Luna's one of the most loyal people you'll ever meet. Unlike the rest of these prats you're trying to convince. Also, I never told you she believes in things that aren't real, I told you she believes in things that no one else does."

"Ginny, I didn't mean to insult Luna, honestly! I know she's...really insightful, but if she's the only one that believes in something..." Hermione trailed off warily.

"I meant that as a compliment!" Ginny bellowed angrily. "She's the coolest person I know just because she stands up for her beliefs! And who's to say they might not come true? You don't know that!"

"Bloody hell, Ginny, you'll bite someone's head off!" Ron exclaimed surprised. "Hermione's got nothing against Luna!"

"Ron's right, Ginny, I really don't! I just can't condone her – well – her way of thinking, that's all!" Hermione said quickly. "But I'm glad Harry's got someone else on his side, especially someone so...independent."

"You should be!" Ginny echoed, her voice growing less stern.

She sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"Please don't get upset over this, Ginny," Hermione tried again.

"I'm not," Ginny replied darkly. "Sorry, I get really worked up sometimes. But I can't just sit by and watch others judge my friends."

Harry stepped up for the first time since the fight had started.

"I know how that feels, Ginny. And I agree with you completely. Sorry about Luna. I bet she's fantastic and we're just a bunch of dimwits. Wouldn't be the first time," he offered, smiling apologetically.

Hermione wrinkled her nose slightly at being called a dimwit, but she acknowledged at length that she might have been wrong.

Ginny chuckled. "I'd better not hear you lot complain about her again."

"If we do, we'll make sure you're around to defend her," Ron joked.

"Don't worry, I will be," Ginny replied, holding her ground.

"Oh and another thing," she added before leaving the greenhouse. "The Quibbler might not be high-brow, but it's a fascinating read. Give it a try."

With that she was gone, leaving a very conflicted Hermione, a very confused Ron and a very impressed Harry behind.