And we're back! Hell we're back on time which is a miracle in itself!

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Chapter Thirty-Five

By Rosa241

Ginny POV:

"Ginny! Finally we've been looking everywhere for you." Turning to face my brothers I could feel fear dripping down my spine.

"Why what's wrong?" These days it seems almost like there's always something wrong. Like there's always someone in danger or someone in trouble. It's starting to become a rather worrying trend for our family. My brothers share a look as I speak.

"Nothings wrong. Percy needs to speak to you." To me? Why does he need to speak to me? "Come on."

I hesitate for a moment before following them. Ever since this stupid tournament started Percy's had to go through so much, it's not fair. They don't deserve this, Percy and Harry, neither of them do. Whoever put their names into that stupid goblet has go something to answer for. They best hope I don't find out who did it because I swear when I do…

"Ginny! Come on we don't have all day." Although there's a smile on his face I can tell that it's forced. What's going on?

Heading up to the common room I can feel the tension building in my stomach with every single step. What does Percy want with me? What's wrong? What don't I know?

"Right go on he's in there. We'll see you later. We've got a snowball fight to win." That's what we'd been doing before they'd tracked me down. It seemed like the whole school was outside now in what would no doubt be an epic tale over the next few days. Fred and George had finally joined us only to pull me to one side. Taking a deep breath I step into the room and head over to the couch where Percy's sitting.

"Finally. I thought they'd forgotten." He seems okay and part of me breathes a sigh of relief at seeing him. "Come on. We need to talk. I've already gotten through to Ron this morning and put Fred and George's minds at rest. Now it's time to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine." Gotten through to Ron? So that's why he finally looked like he was back to himself this morning. Ron's been so quiet and so unlike himself these last few weeks it's been starting to worry me. After he went to check on our brother this morning he seemed like he was feeling better. Apparently Percy had something to do with that.

"Yeah. You're about as fine as the others were. Come on I'm not buying it. There's been a hell of a lot going on these last couple of months and I have no doubt you've been worrying yourself sick." As soon as he starts talking I can feel something bubbling up within me that I hadn't expected. The familiar burning behind my eyes starts up and before long I can feel the tears building. "Come here."

Burying myself into his chest I can feel his arms wrap around my shoulders and pull me in closer. Before long the tears have turned into full blown sobs and everything that I've kept hidden inside over the last few months comes pouring out.

"Shhhh." He says nothing else as he cards a hand through my hair. For a while we sit together on the sofa and he holds me as the tears come thicker and faster than I would have thought possible.

I don't know how long it takes for the tears to finally stop but when they do I make no move to escape Percy's embrace. How long has it been since he's held me like this? Percy was always the one I went to when I was upset or when I was scared. When he started Hogwarts and the bullying started he changed, he stopped being the person who comforted me and became distant.

"Feel better?" I do actually. I do feel better. The weight that had been lying on my chest recently has gone away. Nodding I pull away from his chest and wipe the remaining tears from my eyes. "So you've been holding all that inside?"

"Didn't want to bother anyone." Everyone had so much to deal with adding my problems to the mix just seemed like I was being selfish.

"Ginny it's not bothering anyone. If you needed to talk then you should have come to me. I know I've been a bit of a pain in the backside over the last few years but I'm still your brother. It doesn't matter how much I have going on you should never, ever feel like you can't come to me."

"You're not a pain…not anymore anyway." He smiles at that and I can feel my own lips tugging into one too. "I'm just worried about you."

Admitting that for the first time seems to lift yet another weight off of my chest, one that I hadn't quite realised I was holding onto.

"I should imagine you're worried about Harry too." The knowing look he gives me has me blushing furiously which thankfully he chooses to ignore. "You've got a lot to be worrying about lately what with the tournament going on. It's been a bit mad hasn't it?"

"You're telling me." These late few years have been a nightmare. Firstly there was Ron being attacked by that giant chess set, then I got cursed by the stupid book and then there was last year where we had a convicted murderer running round the place.

"Only one more task to go, then it'll all be over. You think you can survive that long?" One more task and then we can put this all behind us.

"Think I can do that." I can survive one more task.

"And if you can't then you come to me or to Fred or George or Ron. We're your brothers and we can help if you let us." Nodding in acceptance of his words I lean back into his chest and allow him to embrace me once more.

Percy POV:

"So what are we doing here? I thought we sorted things out this morning." Fred protests as Ginny joins us.

"We did. This isn't about that. Harry and Hermione won't be able to keep Ron occupied for long so we need to get on with it." It wasn't until Bill asked me after the last task that I even thought about this. Thankfully he had and now we could make sure we sort this out.

"So what's going on?" George tilts his head to one side as he tries to work out why I've summoned them all together.

"Ron's birthday is what's going on. His birthdays coming up soon and with this tournament going on I think maybe everyones forgotten about it." Looking at their guilty faces I can hardly blame them. "Well I did too. In fact if Bill hadn't said something to me then I probably would have forgotten about it. We need to decide what we're going to do."

"What did we do last year?" Ginny answers the question before I have chance to think about it.

"Not much. With everything going on with the dementors and that convicted murderer coming round we didn't really do anything." Wincing at that it seems to me that his birthdays have been something of a passing thought these last few years. Well not this time.

"So what do we do? Party?" Fred turns to his twin and for a moment they have their own silent conversation.

"A party would work. We could sort out some supplies." He doesn't say where from and I'm not daft enough to ask him. Pushing that question to one side I choose run with the idea instead.

"I can spread the word around and make sure that everyone keeps it to themselves. Get everyone involved and make it a real big thing." The smile on Ginny's face is almost contagious. I think this was a good idea.

"Hang on we're getting ahead of ourselves. We've got to make sure we can actually have a party first. Tell you what why don't I talk to Professor McGonagall in the morning and see if she'll let us do something in here. If she agrees then we can put something together. If not then we can do something smaller outside."

Harry POV:

Dear Harry,

I can't say everything that I would like to in this letter in case it gets intercepted. Just know that I am safe and well.

I've read that stupid article of Rita Skeeters and I'll tell you now to pay it no attention. She's an attention seeking witch who wants to cause a stir. Hard as it might be ignore it and things will go back to normal before you know it.

I'm so glad you made it through the second task unscathed. The thought of you having to go through all of this worries me so much. I wish I could find out who put your name in the goblet but I can't. I will say this to you though. So long as you have Dumbledore around you and Moody you'll be fine. Dumbledore isn't going to let anything happen to you and Moody is one of the most powerful aurors in the world. He'll find out what's going on and put a stop to it before anyone else knows somethings wrong.

Be at the stile at the end of the road out of Hogsmeade, past Dervish and Banges, at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon.

Padfoot.

Reading the letter through several times I find myself smiling. With everything going on I hadn't had time to really think about Sirius too much but the worry was still there.

Was he safe?

Was he ill?

Had he been captured?

Those worries were always there in the back of my mind. Thankfully now I knew that he was safe for a little while longer. Plus I would be seeing him soon. The trip to Hogsmeade was only a few days away and I can't wait.

And that's your lot for now.

I know writers say this a lot but I really don't like this chapter. I can't seem to make my peace with it but the more I rewrite it the worse it reads. Hopefully the next one will flow better from me.

Until next time,

Bye x