Ginny's eyelids felt heavy as if they were being pulled down by weights. But she wasn't sleeping. The pressure of the endless day pressed down on her like a boulder. Her mind raced with thoughts of escaped convicts, Harry alone, and her father's angry growl. The hot August air suffocated her in the absence of a summer breeze. She pulled at her nightdress trying to find some relief from her oppressive thoughts. Ginny rolled over burying her face into her pillow releasing a frustrated groan.

"Tap tap tap." A slight knock rapt her door. Ginny peered over her patchwork quilt towards the door. "Tap tap tap."

Rising from her bed Ginny fumbled for her dressing gown. She crept across the room and turned the cool metal on the brass doorknob. Opening the door she peered through and saw a familiar tall gangly form in the dark night. He leaned against her doorway twisting the waist tie on his robe with his left hand.

"Ron?"

"Couldn't sleep. You?" Ginny nodded her head in affirmation. She stepped back letting him walk through. She looked nervously down the hall towards her parent's door. It was closed.

"What do you want Ron?"

"Nothing. Couldn't sleep." He sat on her bed tracing a figure into the pattern in the carpet. His shoulders hunched as he looked into his hands in his lap instead of Ginny's questioning face. Ginny pulled her desk chair over and sat across from Ron. His blue eyes looked duller in the dark. His brow crinkled as his jaw tightened. Scabbers quivered on his lap as Ron absentmindedly stroke his back.

"What did Mum want with you in the shed?"

"She's worried about Harry. Something happened at his Uncle's where he blew up his Aunt or something. Then he ran away. He has been living at the Leaky. Wish he would have come here."

Ginny's stomach flopped in anticipatory anxious circles. She remembered last summer. Coming down the stairs filled with excitement to meet the Harry Potter only to find a small scrawny boy. A boy with brilliant emerald eyes taking the whole world in, beaming the widest smile. He sat swallowed by his clothes, at least three sizes too big, falling off his bony shoulder. She was caught so off guard by how human he looked. Her hero sitting in her kitchen eating in her stool, that she lost the ability to talk for the rest of the summer.

"Is he okay?"

"I don't know yet. Haven't heard back." A floorboard outside the room creaked causing them to freeze. Holding their collective breath Ginny could feel Ron's heart pounding through the air. Ron sighed. "I guess I ought to get back to bed, thanks for listening Gin."

"Anytime," Ginny rose from her desk chair. Thoughts of Harry beaten, starved, and hurt invaded her mind. She didn't know a lot about Harry's summer life. Only that it was bad enough last year for her brothers to steal a car to rescue him. Ginny looked at her brother's face lined with guilt and nerves.

"At least we will see him for ourselves tomorrow, whether he is ready or not."

"Yeah, you are right." Ron smiled. "I almost hope he doesn't get the letter, it would be fun to surprise him."


"Now remember just a pinch, floo powder doesn't grow on trees. And speak clearly." Mum stood in front of the fire in her best robes. Their school trunks and things were shrunk and stuffed into Mum's handbag.

"Leaky Cauldron." Percy recited with pomp and circumstance stepping into the green flames. His head boy badge glistened in the rising flames reflecting a green beam across the kitchen.

"Fred you go ahead next."

"Sure Mum," said Fred as he pinched a portion of powder from the pot. "But just so you know, I am Geoooooooorge."

He pretended to spin dramatically in the fireplace. Mum sighed and rubbed her brow.

"Go."

"Leaky Cauldron." Poof. A burst of green flames swept him into the chimney.

"George, I mean Fred, I mean, whoever you are go."

"Just teasing Mum, I am George. See you in a bit! Leaky Cauldron." The emerald flames encircled him as he departed in a poof of smoke.

Mum sighed and looked exhausted. She turned with a weary smile towards Ron and Ginny.

"Please, no dramatics."

Ron grunted as he grabbed the powder. His shoulders were hunched and he barely spoke above a whisper as he stepped into the emerald flames. Scabbers squealed loudly trying to wiggle his way out of Ron's tight grasp. The smoke swirled around his downtrodden head as he met eyes with Ginny. His brow crinkled as a pit formed in the base of Ginny's stomach. A She tried to offer him a weak smile as he swirled away to London.

Ginny waited for the flames to subside and smoke to dissipate before she grabbed her own pinch of powder. Throwing it into the back corner of the fireplace she articulated Leaky Cauldron.

A suctioning sensation swept her into a long tube as she swirled away into the smoke. Closing her eyes tight she waited until her feet hit the hard stone fireplace. The sounds of a hustling pub filled her ears. The smell of food cooking wafted into her nose and gurgled her stomach. Ginny realized she was still a little hungry after her light breakfast. She opened her eyes, taking in the older but clean building. Dark wood paneled the walls and continued across the ceiling. Rafters with candlelit chandeliers intersected high above her head. The room was massive, at least twice the size of the kitchen at the Burrow, but the darkness of the wood made it feel small and intimate. Breakfasting witches and wizards of all ages filled the pub. They sat at tables with their morning teas talking about their upcoming days.

A small group of familiar red heads surrounded a very tan girl with bushy brown hair near the back corner of the pub. Ginny walked over to her family and saw Hermione's familiar smile beaming back at her. Her Mum walked to the manager's desk and began conversing in fast-paced tones. Her hands gestured wildly pointing up towards the staircase that led to the rooms for let. Ginny watched as they left walking up the stairs continuing their frenzied conversation.

"Have you all got your supplies yet? The front desk clerk said Harry already left," Hermione said to Ron. Ron relaxed as he looked into Hermione's face. They walked away from the others unnoticed in comfortable strides. Ron pushed into Hermione's side with his elbow jostling her off-kilter. His relaxed face transformed into one of irritation as they bickered about something. Ginny pulled forward to rush after them when something held her back. Arthur, still conversing with the Grangers, placed his hand on her shoulder restraining her from chasing after the pair.

Ginny's stomach sank. She had hoped to stay with Ron when they found Harry. Annoyed she shot a pouting look at her Dad. Arthur, too busy talking to notice her, continued on about teeth drills undisturbed.

"Pst Ginners." Fred stage whispered over towards her. She turned her head and saw him gesturing her away from their Dad. Ginny wriggle away from his tight grasp on his shoulder cautiously walking to the peripheral of the group.

"We need you to distract Percy."

"Why. What are you going to do to him."

"Nothing too bad," Replied George with some hesitation.

"Define too bad."

Mum stomped downstairs ahead of the now shaking manager. She wore a cross look on her face. Ginny jumped back beside her father as the twins kept talking in hushed tones.

"We will tell you later. Just trust us." Fred pleaded. Ginny snorted. This wasn't the first time they tried to use her as bait. She scanned the room and saw Ron's fire red head conspiratorially smooshed against a brown bushy one.

"Family, it's time to go shopping." Molly counted redheads and came up short. "Where is Ron? Oh there you are, come on don't wander. We need to get you a wand."

Hermione jerked her head up when Molly called Ron's name and walked over to say goodbye to her parents. Ginny followed close behind her Mum with the twins trailing close.

"What do you say?" George asked. Ginny sighed. She looked into George's brown pleading puppy dog eyes. Whatever they had in mind probably equals trouble. And trouble equals fun. A burst of energy pulsed through Ginny as she turned and faced George with her best bored and uninterested expression. She could get a chocolate frog or two out of this.

"Fine. But you owe me five frogs on the train," she said with her face etched with a deadpan expression. If she gave away her excitement at being included they would make her do this for free. She pushed all the excess energy down to her feet and willed her hands to stay still by her side.

"What? 5? You're mental." George huffed at her.

"Okay find someone else for your scheme." She turned to face their Dad again. "I am sure Dad would be interested in this."

"2 Frogs."

"3. And I keep the cards." George turned to Fred who shrugged.

"Done!"

The cobblestones were alive with frenzied activity of students, parents, and shoppers. Molly tutted at Ron and Hermione to keep them from running off together to go looking for Harry.

"We will find Harry soon enough. The desk clerk said he left shortly after breakfast and is wandering around unaccompanied. Arthur went up ahead to find him. But right now we need to go get Ron his wand."

Ron grumbled while Hermione shoved him in the side shooting him a fierce look. Ginny heard Hermione mutter something about language. Ginny giggled under her breath as Ron rolled his eyes with an annoyed grimace on his face.

"Percy, you take Ginny and the twins to the Parchment shop. No funny business. We have a lot to do today." Molly said with her sternest expression. The twins pretended to shake and gulp as they competed to see who could react in the most melodramatic fashion.

Ginny kept to the back of their disruption watching as Percy tried to leave the embarrassment of his brother's behind. Molly sighed and walked with Ron and Hermione in the opposite direction away from the twins.

With Mum out of the way, Ginny quickened her pace to meet up with Fred and George. She punched Fred on the back of his arm smirking as he spun around to face her.

"Ow. Whatcha do that for?"

"So what's the plan?"


It was the last store for the evening. They had to leave to meet up with Mum in 10 minutes. This was her last chance to complete her mission. After three failed attempted she had to make contact.

Three chocolate frogs and bragging rights were riding on this.

Ginny's heart pounded as she stalked Percy around the dusty old bookstore. Fred and George were waiting at the front to cause a diversion. She just had to give the signal she was ready. Blood pulsed fiercely through her body as she felt every hair stand on her skin. Her skin felt flushed and hot when she spotted the silver badge flickering in the setting August sun.

"Coooo coo cooooo" she quietly hooted towards the twins. Having given the 3-minute warning she slinked through the stacks and placed herself between the twins and Percy. She picked up a stack of books and balanced them precariously on the edge of the shelf.

"BANG" a shot rang out in the front of the shop. The twins distinctive laugh caterwauled throughout the shop. The shopkeeper, a small old woman with blue hair, jumped screeching at the sudden sound. Percy spun around as if his robes had caught fire, completely red in the face. He stalked over towards the sound of the noise when Ginny sprung into action.

Screaming slightly she knocked over the books into Percy's path. He lost his footing and fell over the sudden pile of discarded books.

"Percy! Are you alright! What was that noise?" Ginny asked innocently leaning over to help him up. "Are you hurt?"

She brushed off the front of his perfectly pressed robes. He pushed her hand away as she felt it. She felt the silver glimmering edge of his head boy badge. Stretching her fingers she tried to pry it loose but it was stuck with some type of charm on his robe. She brushed against the robes a second time shooing away invisible dust and grime. She felt her outstretched fingers hit the badge again, her heart pounded so hard in her chest she was certain it would give her away. This time she pulled harder and felt the fabric beneath sticking as it pulled away from Percy's chest.

"Ginny, that is quite enough. I can help myself up thank you very much." Percy got to his feet and walked away. "And clean up this mess."

Ginny's stomach sank as she fell to her feet to pick up the books. Failure. Determination rose from within. She turned and faced the twins with a resolved look on her face. She nodded no in their direction right before they turned running out of the shop and straight into their Mum. Ginny ignored the commotion of their Mum apologizing profusely to the clerk while staring daggers at the twins. Tonight. She would figure out a way to get that badge tonight. Before they get on the train that badge would be hers.

Ginny lagged behind during the walk back to the Leaky Cauldron. She had an idea. If she left dinner a little early, she would be able to sneak into Percy's room and nick the badge. She saw George looking back at her and she nodded towards him signaling she needed to talk.

"Nice try back their Ginny, but no frogs."

"I just need one more chance. Can you cause a diversion at dinner?"

"No too many witnesses, you won't be able to sneak up and back in enough time."

"I will. One last chance. I know I can do it. I know I can."

"Don't worry, Fred and I will get it in the morning." He pulled her into a sideways hug. "You can help us next time."

They walked in silence back to the pub, with Ginny's mind racing with ideas on how to get the badge. Distracted, she walked into the pub and saw Percy vigorously shaking hands with a black-haired scrawny kid. Ginny's heart exploded in her chest. She saw his emerald eyes look up and briefly met her gaze. Everyone else in the room disappeared for the moment when she swore he smiled at her.

The smile pushed her over the edge. Heat exploded in her face turning it a humiliating shade of blazing red. The moment was over as fast as it began. The room came crashing back into her awareness with deafening noise and chaos. She tried to mutter a small hello or how are you but no sounds made their way past her clenched jaw.

Ginny stayed silent the rest of the night. It wasn't until the pudding she mustered a giggled when George turned Mum's face her special shade of howler red. But for the most part, Ginny sat reserved and allowed herself to fade into the background. Mum kept sneaking glances between herself and Harry. Ginny knew everyone assumed her sudden bought of somber quietness was due to Harry.

And for once it was to her benefit.

"Mum, I am tired, can I go up to sleep?"

"Of course darling, make sure you pack your trunk."

"Yes, Mum."

Ginny crept up the stairs leaving during another strong burst of laughter to mask her void. Her heart pounded. Percy took his robes off before dinner. His badge was still affixed to the robes. She could get it. She knew she could now that she had time.

Ginny slinked past her door and into her Mum's room. Her wand was in her Mum's handbag. Reaching in slowly she pulled out her old friend. A spark shot from the tip as she left the room and she reminded herself to contain her excitement.

She found Percy's door and examined it for any markings or traps that might sound the alarm once she opened the door. Finding none she turned the handle. It stayed sturdily in place. Pulling out her wand she whispered, "Alohomora" and heard the click of the latch. She was in.

Creeping into his dark room she tried to not move anything. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness she looked around the perfectly orderly and neat room of Percy Weasley. It was easy to figure out which half was his instead of Ron's. Nothing was out of place or left in a helter skelter position. A place for everything and everything in its place didn't begin to describe his orderliness. Scanning the room it was easy to spot Percy's robes hanging in the wardrobe.

Ginny crept over avoiding moving the wardrobe doors. They were ajar enough she could squeeze her small body through the crack to stand in the wardrobe itself. His silver badge glistened in the moonlight. Ginny reached up to grab it before stopping. Something was wrong. Looking closer at the badge she realized it didn't have the words "Head Boy" etched in silver. It was blank. Ginny's heart pounded. It would have been a costly mistake to touch the decoy.

Smart boy. He is expecting something tonight.

Where would he put the real badge? Could it be in his pocket? Could her risk be in vain?

Ginny scanned the room in deliberate patterns looking for a small glimmer of silver. She caught it, a glimpse, underneath a book lying on his nightstand. She walked over and pulled the silver badge out from under the book. Then she ran.

She ran from the room and closed the door silently. She pulled her wand out to relock the door before scurrying into her Mum's room to redeposit her wand. Laughter from downstairs began to die down. She heard chairs scrape against the hard stone floor. Her heart pounded realizing she had only a few minutes to get the badge into the Twins room and be in bed.

Sprinting out of her parent's room she came to a skidding stop in front of the twins door. She flung open the unlocked door and waded through the discarded clothes, books, and parchment. If Percy's room was the epitome of order the Twins were the pinnacle of chaos. She flung the badge onto George's unmade bed, turned around and ran to her room and waited.

Heart beating like a kick drum she crept under her covers. A few seconds later her Mum opened the door, checked on her, and closed it again. Her alibi was intact. 5 minutes later she heart the bellowing of Percy calling for Ron. Ginny giggled gleefully from her bed. Her feet kicked in triumph unable to contain her excitement. She did it. She pranked Percy with the twins. Those chocolate frogs were hers.