Harry Potter walked into Potions class with his two best friends, Ron
Weasley and Hermione Granger. Potions was not his favorite class, but
it was his last for the week and then he would be free for the weekend.
Free to think about Cho Chang. She was what he had been thinking of lately.
Ever since the Yule Ball, he had been thinking that he would really like
to take her out. All he needed was the courage.
Just then he bumped into someone. It was Ginny.
"Sorry," he said sincerely.
"It was my fault,"she said blushing. Then she turned down the
hall to Charms class.
Two classes of Gryffindors in a row, he thought. Snape is not going to
be happy. Harry and his friends walked into the dungeon and sat down at
their usual place. Snape looked like the first person to ask him a question
was going to killed, period.
The class began, and everyone was working hard on their potions, keeping
out of NevilleÆs way, and not talking to Snape. When the class was
almost over, a deafening crash broke the silence. Snape whirled around
in fury. Malfoy had dropped a glass bowl.
"What," Snape began in his cruelest voice "happened here?"
Malfoy, thinking quickly, said "Potter did it."
It didn't matter if Harry was sitting on the other side of the Dungeon.
It didnÆt matter if he hadn't even looked in Malfoy's direction
the whole class. Snape believed it, and there was nothing Harry could
do in his defense.
"Potter," Snape said "You know the rules, no unnecessary
magic is to be used in class. Detention. Be here at 8:00 tonight. Now
all of you! Get out!"
Well, there goes the weekend Harry thought.
**********************
At 8:00 Harry made his way to SnapeÆs dungeon again. There goes
my chance of seeing Cho tonight.
Snape looked like he was feeling better, but that still meant that we
would be mean to Harry. He always was. But, Harry was surprised that he
wasn't the only Gryffindor in detention. Ginny was there too.
Before Harry could speak Snape began talking. "Now, that you are
both here, you can begin your punishment. I want this floor scrubbed spotless.
No magic, do you understand?"
They both nodded their heads in agreement. "I will be back in two
hours. I expect you to be finished then. And remember, I want SILENCE!"
Then with a swish of his cloak, he left.
Harry and Ginny went to work. After a little while, when he thought Snape
was out of hearing distance, Harry spoke to Ginny. He knew it wasn't worth
disobeying Snape, but his curiosity got the better of him.
"So, why are you here?" he asked politely.
" I spilled my cauldron." she said shyly.
"Why did you do that?"
"I didn't do it on purpose! We were doing Veritaserum and I was
really nervous. You didnÆt see any other Gryffindors when you came
to class did you?"
"No."
"That's because, I had to wash the floor. And Snape thought that
was too good for me, so he gave me detention too, and ruined my plans
for this evening."
"I had plans too," Harry said looking away. "Except I
got framed for this," he said pointing his finger at some shards
of glass.
"Oh," said Ginny, her face going slightly red.
After that they worked silently. The hours were going very slow. After
a long time, they heard someone coming.
"It's Snape!" said Ginny urgently.
The footsteps got closer and closer. Harry hurriedly put the remaining
potion bottles on the shelf. Then, just as Snape walked into the room,
three of the largest bottles fell down.
CRASH!
Ginny covered her eyes in horror. Harry just stood there frozen.
"Look what you have done," said Snape.
"Now both of you will spend tomorrow afternoon in detention also.
Now get out."
Both of them ran. Ginny looked sympathetic to Harry, but still a little
angry. There goes tomorrow too.
****************************
Saturday morning was bright and cheerful, even though the thought of
detention was keeping Harry down.
After breakfast, Harry was walking down the corridors by himself to the
library to meet Ron and Hermione. Soon he met Cho Chang.
"Hi Harry!" she called to him.
Remain clam Harry "Er, Hi Cho," he said awkwardly. He saw a
group of Gryffindor girls out of the corner of his eye. Go away girls,
he thought as Cho came nearer.
"So Harry, what are you doing this afternoon?" she asked.
"Uh, nothing," he replied.
"Oh good. Do you want to go flying today?"
"Sure," he said blushing furiously.
"Okay. See you. around 3:00 then?"
"Okay."
Cho walked away. Harry, you just got the best date of your life, by using
the biggest lie in you life. What are you going to do now?
*************************
Harry knew he couldn't just scrub detention, especially with Snape. But
he was going to ask Snape if he could do it earlier. He knew it was suicide,
but he couldn't just break his date with Cho either.
At about 2:30, Harry walked into the dungeon. Harry opened his mouth
to speak, but before he could do anything Snape spoke.
"What are you doing here Potter? I told Miss Weasley your detention
could be served at 5:00. What more do you want?"
Harry was shocked. Ginny got me out of detention? Harry was smart enough
not to argue, and walked out.
As he strode towards the Gryffindor common room to get his Firebolt,
he saw Ginny walking very fast away. Thanks Ginny, he thought, you just
saved my life.
*********************************
Harry had a great time flying with Cho that afternoon. Even the thought
of detention later with Snape didn't ruin his day. I'll be able to thank
Ginny.
On the way back to the castle, Cho pulled him aside into some bushes.
While Harry was still puzzled, she kissed him.
"Thank you for a wonderful time,"she said squeezing his hand.
Then she walked away.
Harry's world was flying. That kiss was the best thing that ever happened
to him. He wanted to just go over to Cho and do it again, but he knew
he couldn't do it. He had just enough time to run and put his Firebolt
away and get to detention. Ginny was the one that made this possible.
But when he got to detention, he found that he was the only one there.
"Potter, you will-"
ôWhereÆs Ginny?ö
ôShe served her detention at 3:00. Now shut your mouth. You
will be cleaning these bottles you are so fond of. And this time I will
be watching you.ö
Harry felt like a little child who had to be watched to do a chore. I'll
show you Snape. At least I can still think, unless he's a mind reader.
Harry had a lot of thoughts now, most of them concerning Cho. He really
wanted her to kiss him again. He also wondered why Ginny wasn't there.
But he decided that she had plans too.
When he was finally finished, Harry went straight to the Gryffindor Common
room, with Cho in his head, and a song in his heart.
***************************************
Harry woke suddenly. He had had the oddest dream. There were a lot of
red-headed people there. It wasn't a scary dream, but it confused him.
Harry decided to forget about it, and he turned over and went back to
sleep.
In the morning, the dream was the last thing on his mind. After breakfast
the trio went to the lake. It was a warm day, so they spent it around
the lake feeding the remains of breakfast to the giant squid.
After dinner, Harry met Cho in the Great Hall. They went on the grounds
for a late night stroll.
As they were walking, Ginny came into his mind again. Come on Harry,
you're with Cho. You can think about Ginny later.
"Harry, is something wrong?"
"No," said Harry playfully ôI was just wondering, um,
if you could kiss me again." Okay, you said it Harry.
"Oh," said Cho with a huge grin on her face. Then she kissed
him again. This is heaven Harry thought.
"Do that again Gin-Cho." he said quickly. Why did he almost
say Ginny?
They kissed again. When they were done Cho said "Meet you again
tomorrow?"
"Same time, same place," Harry replied.
Then they parted.
****************************
Monday was a good day. No detention, no Snape, and Cho tonight. Nothing
could ruin his day. Well, that's what he thought.
At lunch, he, Ron and Hermione were going up to the owlery to send a
letter to Sirius. On the way there, Harry recognized the group of Gryffindor
girls he had seen the other day. One of them with raven black hair, and
a stern face came up to him.
"Why did you do it? You've know her longer than that idiot."
"What's she talking about?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said, but he had a sinking feeling that
he did.
"Elly!" yelled another girl from the group, "Don't! There's
nothing you can do!" The girl came running over and started pulling
Elly away by force.
"You love her! You know it!" she cried.
What is she talkiing about?
******************************
Elly's talk had troubled Harry a lot. Luckily, their last class of the
day was Divination, so he had a lot of time to think about it.
He thought for a long time. Then he woke up at Professor Trelawney's
words.
"Nothing happens by mistake! It is fate!"
Am I going to believe that old bat? Harry thought immediatly. But then
it finally made sense. It was fate that Ginny and I had to serve detention
at the same time. It's our fate to be together. And at that very moment,
Harry knew Cho was going to have to wait.
******************************
At dinner, Harry sat down next to Ginny. He lent in close to her and
whispered in her ear, "Meet me tonight at the lake."
Ginny looked at him. He winked. She smiled. I love fate. Hell! I love
Ginny.
That night, as Harry explained his idea to Ginny, he had her full attention.
Finally he thought, and then said "Come here. I need to check something."
She came, and he kissed her. And it was a thousand times better than
any of the kisses Cho gave him.
And then he knew it.
"I love you Ginny."
"I love you Harry"
