"Hi, Ginny. I was worried you wouldn't make it," I said, smiling at Ginny. The young girl was pretty much my shadow since we first met, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Hi, Amber. Harry and Ron came after me…"

"…They didn't make it, did they?" I read the disappointment right off her face.

"Sucks to be them."

"Yeah… Ginny, we should get a compartment."

"Of course."

We took our seats in an empty compartment, soon to be followed by Hermione, Darion, and a young blond girl.

"Who's she, Darion?"

"Her name is Luna Lovegood."

"She doesn't live all that far from my place…"

"Yes, you're Ginny Weasley. I believe we do know each other, even if only in passing…"

"Pardon my manners. My name is Amber Granger. And this is my sister, Hermione." I gestured to Hermione, who blushed furiously.

"So what happened to Harry and Ron?"

"Ginny… I can tell."

"Amber, not in front of everyone."

"I can't wait that long. You know it, too. You're crushing on Harry!"

"And why is it such a big deal?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Everyone looked at Luna.

"Amber is crushing on Harry, too. It's written all over her face."

"…I didn't know it was that obvious."

"Oh, it's not. I'm just an expert at this stuff."

"OK… now listen, Ginny…"

"You and Harry will never get together, you should get your head out of the clouds and look for something a touch more realistic. Mum delivered nearly the exact same rant."

"No. Not in the slightest."

"…You encourage me and him? But aren't you two…

"Probably. I really couldn't say. But Ginny, hear this: I want you to help Harry in addition to me helping him."

"How can she help? No offence to you, Ginny, but Amber and Harry's relationship is blooming!"

"You never know what the future holds. Somehow, I don't quite see me and Harry getting married."

"…Don't talk about uncertainty, and then try to predict something. You come off as a hypocrite like that."

"Hey, Harry. Where were you yesterday?" Ginny asked Harry.

"We flew here by the Weasley's Ford Anglia."

"So that wasn't a rumour?"

"Sadly, no. We couldn't get past the barrier. And it was a terrible idea to begin with."

Just then, a flat-faced owl swooped down across to our seats, dropped a scarlet envelope, and swerved right back out the wall.

"That had to hurt."

"Not as much as that will…" Ron stared at the scarlet envelope as if it were carrying some dreadful disease.

"What on earth could possibly be dreadful out of a letter? A few harsh words? They don't work well on paper."

"That's what wizards thought, as well," Ron told me. He opened the letter.

RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR? I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER IS NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK! AND IT IS ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! YOU AND HARRY BOTH COULD HAVE DIED! IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD PUT GINNY THROUGH! OR EVEN WHAT IT IS PUTTING HER THROUGH! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, YOU ARE COMING STRAIGHT HOME!

"So that was what a scarlet envelope could bring. Remind me to block my ears next one," I said, as if the letter hadn't brought every eye to our seats. Ginny was staring at the letter shamefacedly.

"What's wrong with you?" Harry asked.

"…If it's any comfort to you, I'm not going through psychological trauma. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to class." Ginny left without a further word.

"Choose your tone more wisely in future, Harry. I don't want you to lose her."

Welcome to Hogwarts the second time. Now with twice the chapters between the entrance and the climax!

No, seriously, this is my first Amber chapter. Probably should have put the ending in Harry's POV, but I don't know how I want to format perspective shifts. If they aren't in the chapter titles, I figured it out.

And why a double update? Internet crashed. Finished them both today, so they aren't too glaring... I hope.

Neither can live while the other survives.