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Author: Jatoza Story: The Love Of Flying Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 20 Words: 2,327 "Harry, you're going too fast," Ginny cried out as they ran through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry was easily thirty feet ahead of her, and she was trying as hard as she could to keep up, but to no avail; she just was not as fast as he. "Come on, Gin. You've really got to see this. It's only a little further." She sighed. It was nice being with Harry but it really did take quite a toll on her legs, and even though she pushed herself, she knew she was starting to bog down. I guess five years of Quidditch really does a body good, she thought. Her chest began to tighten and her breathing became more difficult. They had been running for quite some time now, and suddenly she realized that they were no longer in the school. She looked over her shoulder and could see the great front doors of the entrance hall behind her. Her progress was suddenly halted when she ran into a startled Harry. "Ow! Ginny, please, watch where you're going." She got up, embarrassed, and began to brush the dust off of her robes. I can't believe I actually did that, she thought to herself. She prepared to run again, thankful for the quick bit of rest that was given, but realized that Harry was not moving. He stood there looking at her as though frozen by Medusa's stare. He was looking at her with interest, as though trying to solve a great puzzle. "Harry? Harry, what's wrong?" she asked. Something changed in his eyes, as though he had just snapped out of a trance. Harry wrinkled his nose. "What is that smell?" Now it was Ginny's turn to feel embarrassed. She flushed a little and couldn't quite meet his eyes. "It's a new perfume that I picked up in Hogsmeade. Is it really that awful? You see, I wouldn't have worn it but-" "No, it's amazing. I don't think I've ever smelled something so nice in my life." Suddenly, realizing what he had just said, Harry turned scarlet. "Um, yes. It is quite lovely." He quickly changed the subject. "Well then, let's get going. It's not that far and it is starting to get dark." They continued on, though at a slightly slower pace. He really liked my perfume, she thought. I guess Hermione was right. What was so embarrassing about admitting that? Does he think it's girly to enjoy a girl's perfume? Hey! Where are we? She hadn't been paying attention to where they were going. She looked around and quickly figured out that they must have been near the Quidditch stadium. What puzzled her was the fact that he was standing near the door to the men's changing rooms. "It's just inside here. Don't worry; there won't be anyone in there this late." He ushered her in and she gasped. There, standing before her, were seven of the most magnificent brooms she had ever seen. They were the Firebolt company's newest model: the Firebolt 909. Each one had a hand painted serial number, a diamond polish, and the most perfectly aligned tail twigs she had ever seen. It made Harry's old Firebolt look like a Comet, but something was not right; each broom would have cost over four hundred Galleons. "Harry," Ginny said, perplexed, "where on earth did you get those?" He looked slightly abashed, but at the same time proud. "Well, Gin, do you remember all those nights that I came back into the common room really late? That's where these came from. The Firebolt company, and Which Broomstick paid me to try out their new brooms and to-" he mumbled the last bit. "I'm sorry, Harry, to what?" she asked. "I said," he cleared his throat, "to participate in a photo session, and to endorse the new brooms." She burst out laughing. She pictured Harry, made up like those witches in Witch Weekly and could not stop herself. The idea of photographers fawning over Harry as he struck a modeling pose was too much for her. He cleared his throat again. "They asked me to name my own payment, so I asked for these." he gestured towards the brooms. "Think Gryffindor can win riding on them?" "Ha! Anyone could win riding on these." she said. Then she realized what he was saying. "Oh Harry!" She hugged him fiercely. "Er, yes. You're welcome." he stiffened at her warm touch. * * * Good job you idiot. That's all you could say? No wonder this setting hasn't appeared before you yet. Come on lad! Pull yourself together! "Um, Ginny?" "Yes, Harry?" she replied, finally glancing up at him. Oh God she looks beautiful. "Erm, I was wondering if, well, in Hogsmeade, maybe, if you, if you wanted to go, to Hogsmeade, I mean, with me? Maybe? It is Valentine's Day and all, and I figured that if you didn't have anyone to go with-not that nobody would go with you! If maybe you wanted to go with me?" He winced, realizing the stupidity of what he had just said, and was completely unprepared when she pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. Perfection was the only thing he could think. His mind swirled in a storm of furious color and light. It was better than flying, better than Quidditch. Then it stopped. He looked down at the set of beautiful brown eyes in front of him. He felt loved. For the first time in his life everything was perfect. Everything in the world was good. Harry, say something. She's looking at you! "So, is that a yes?" he asked. She smiled, looked at him and replied, "What do you think?" and she pulled him to her again. * * * They walked together across the lawn, arm in arm, talking softly. "So, Harry. How do you think Ron's going to take this?" she asked him. He shrugged. "I don't really know. I know he doesn't really like you spending time with other blokes, but I can't imagine that this would bother him too much. Why?" "Well, maybe you should bring your cloak just in case you need to get away. I remember the last time a boy asked me out. You wouldn't remember because McGonagall forbade us to tell anyone about it." she added the last bit seeing the blank stare on Harry's face. "It took Madam Pomfrey over an hour to clean up all the cuts. He really was quite a mess." She looked up at Harry and burst out laughing at the look of horror on his face. "Ginny, this is no time to laugh! Ron's going to- ah, I see. Very funny. Now you have to tell Ron." He looked down at her once more and smiled. This night could not have been any more perfect. Time dragged on as they slowly made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. It would have been sooner, but Harry had not brought his invisibility cloak and they found Filch prowling around some of the lavatories. They were about to reach the closest set of stairs to Gryffindor Tower when they heard something behind them. "Make one move and you will live to regret it," said the dark, throaty voice from behind him. They were frozen in terror. They had been so careful not to get caught, and now Filch would have them both put in detentions. Harry readied himself to take the full blame. He would not let Ginny get a detention because of him. Then he heard another voice. A familiar, slimy drawl. "Yes sir." It was the voice of Draco Malfoy. Harry and Ginny quickly turned around. They saw Filch and Malfoy standing there, face to face. "What were you doing in the girl's toilet, Malfoy?" the older man interrogated. It was all they could do to keep from laughing. Harry motioned Ginny over to stand behind a vase so that they too would not be under the wrath of the angry caretaker. "I asked you a question, Mr. Malfoy." "I, er, well, I was, you see-" Then another voice cut him off. Harry and Ginny were shocked to see Moaning Myrtle float through the door. "He was with me. We were meeting in the bathroom to keep it a secret, and unless you want me to follow you everywhere, it will stay a secret, Argus." She had mustered the most fearsome face that Harry had ever seen. "And if you don't want Peeves to learn the password to your bed chambers, I would suggest you leave us alone." He nudged Ginny in the ribs, and motioned for her to follow him back to the common room. They walked in silence and stood before the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Well, I know a certain few people who have been doing something they shouldn't have been." The Fat Lady looked pointedly at their mussed hair, and slightly rumpled clothing. Harry looked over at Ginny and was rewarded by the sight of her furious blush. "Password?" the rotund woman asked. "Great Balls of Fire," Harry answered. The portrait swung open and they entered the common room. They said good night quietly, exchanged one last kiss, and each left to their respective stair cases. Harry had just arrived in his room when he heard the door slam shut behind him. Then he felt two hands on his back, hurling him to the ground. Someone fell on top of his back, and he distinctly heard another set of footsteps walking up to him. The person on his back was pinning his arms down. He could not reach his wand, and was becoming more panicked by the second. Okay Harry, be calm. Assess the situation. There are at least two people attacking you. You can't get to your wand, and you don't know why they're here. Okay, you can panic now. The person on top of his back spoke. "Well, well, well. Looks like someone's had himself a little midnight rendezvous. What do you think, Seamus? Where did he go? Who was she?" Harry recognized the voice. It was Dean Thomas. "I don't know, Dean. Was it perhaps, Miss Lovegood? Harry, were you seeing the lovely Miss Lovegood?" Seamus asked. Harry understood now, they were going to interrogate him until he told them about Ginny. He was terrified when he heard Ron's voice enter the interrogation. "No, I don't think so. Everyone knows Luna fancies Neville here," Ron interrupted. "Hey!" Neville interjected. "Who was it, Harry? She couldn't be in our year and in Gryffindor, all of ours are taken. Hmm...." Ron asked. "Well, Ronald, I suppose he could have been seeing your sister. If that's what you were implying." Seamus added. "Were you seeing Ginny, Harry?" inquired Dean. "Oi! Come on! Harry wouldn't do that. Would you Harry?" Ron enquired. There was a hint of panic in his voice, and the formality with which they had been addressing him now vanished. Harry knew the playful interrogation was over. Suddenly the two boys nearest him, Dean and Seamus, hauled him up from the floor and tossed him relatively gently onto his bed. He looked at their faces, all except for Neville who did not appear to be participating in this ritual. They did not seem to be malicious, just having a bit of fun. "Well Harry," Dean continued. "It doesn't look like you're really going to tell us, but we will be watching you tomorrow." They retreated to their own beds and Harry was thankful for the silence that followed. He was soon asleep, having one of the most wonderful dreams. There was something about Hogsmeade and Ginny, and some kind of porridge. * * * Harry awoke to the sun shining in his eyes through the dormitory windows. It was a beautiful morning. Then the panic hit him. Oh God! Was that a dream last night? I did ask her to Hogsmeade, right? Of course I did. Oh God! What am I going to wear? * * * Ginny awoke to the sun shining in her eyes through the dormitory windows. It was a beautiful morning. Then the panic hit her. Oh God! Was last night a dream? Harry did ask me to Hogsmeade, right? I do remember kissing him quite a lot. It can't have been a dream. Oh God! What am I going to wear? * * * The two lovers met in the common room early that morning, both a little bleary eyed, but happily sitting on a couch in each others arms. They watched the fire in silence, just enjoying each other's company and were so preoccupied that they did not even notice a bushy-haired girl descend into the common room. "Well then. How long has this been going on?" asked Hermione. Harry and Ginny sprang apart as though scalded by burning cinders. They looked at each other guiltily, and it was Ginny who spoke first. "Well, er, I guess last night. We're going to Hogsmeade together." "Well, I'm happy for the both of you," Hermione replied. "Do you even know if Ron is awake yet? We were going to go to Hogsmeade together as well, but I can't leave until he comes down here." "No, he was still asleep when I got up. Listen; would you do us a really big favor? Could you let Ron know? About us, I mean." * * * Gryffindor Tower awoke with a start. The voice of Ronald Weasley could clearly be heard throughout the entirety of the Tower. "HARRY AND GINNY ARE WHAT?" Author's Note: Hi! This is my first story on PS. I wrote it as a response to the Valentine's Day contest but it was far too long to be in it. So, it has quite a few of the themes from the contest in it, without the competition. Please read and review! Thank you for reading my story! |