AN: The only thing I'd like to say is that the genius belongs JK Rowling, and I am merely playing on her vast stage.

"It is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs. Tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in a corresponding quarter of your little frame, and if that boisterous channel and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapped, and then I've a nervous notion I should take to bleeding internally."

- Charlotte Bronte,

Jane Eyre

"Come on then," Ginny told him, "if we get a move on we'll be able to save them places."

Harry looked down at Ginny for a moment, before letting out a breath, "Right," he replied, picking up Hedwig's cage in one hand and the handle of his trunk in the other. They struggled off down the corridor, in the opposite direction that Ron and Hermione were taking, peering through the glass-paneled doors into the compartments they passed, which were already full. Harry could not help noticing that a lot of people stared back at him with great interest and that several of them nudged their neighbors and pointed him out. After he was met with this behavior from five consecutive carriages Harry remembered that the Daily prophet was still circulating stories of what a lying show-off he was. His shoulders tensed, and his grip on his trunk tightened as he wondered if everyone believed the articles.

As he continued down the corridor, Ginny suddenly looked back at him, with a look telling Harry that she too noticed the increased interest. Harry let out a long huff, followed by a tired shrug. He thought he really should be used to this type of negative attention by now.

Ginny just returned a dramatic roll of her amber eyes, "Idiots," she remarked offhandedly, and Harry felt the corners of his mouth tug upwards. His body began to relax as he followed Ginny further down the train corridor.

In the very last carriage they met Neville Longbottom, his round face shining with the effort of pulling his

trunk along and maintaining a one-handed grip on his struggling toad, Trevor.

"Hey Harry," he panted. "Hi, Ginny...Everywhere's full...I can't find a seat."

"What are you talking about?" asked Ginny, who had squeezed past Neville to peer into the compartment behind him. Loony Lovegood in here -"

Neville mumbled something about not wanting to disturb anyone.

"Don't be silly," said Ginny, laughing, "She's all right."

Harry shot Neville a questioning look, as he followed Ginny into the carriage. Which Neville returned with raised eyebrows.

"Hi Luna," said Ginny. "It's okay if we take these seats?"

The girl beside the window looked up. Harry found himself being introduced to Luna Lovegood, a fourth year Ravenclaw. By the looks of her, the nickname Loony Lovegood seemed very fitting. The blonde haired, radish earring wearing girl recognized him immediately. Neville did his best to not be introduced to the Ravenclaw girl, but Ginny would tolerate none of his rude behavior. Harry did his best to suppress a grin.

Luna added an altogether absurd comment, while Harry and Neville caught eyes and Ginny suppressed a chuckle. These exchanges were all unbeknownst to Luna, who had her nose back into her upside down copy of a magazine Harry had never heard of before, The Quibbler.

"Guess what I got for my birthday," Neville interjected into the awkward silence.

Harry guessed another Remembrall, but was surprised when Neville dug into his school bag and dug out a small gray cactus in a pot.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia," he said proudly. Harry looked with some trepidation as the plant pulsated slightly, giving it a sinister look of some diseased internal organ. Harry noticed Ginny looking at the plant nervously as well. Herbology was Neville's favorite subject, but there were some plants that were just too odd for even the keenest Herbologists' to like.

Harry politely asked if there was anything special about the grotesque plant. To this Neville replied enthusiastically about its defense mechanism, quickly shoving Trevor the toad, into Harry's lap, and grabbing a quill to poke the cactus. Suddenly, liquid squirted from every boil on the plant, thick, stinking, dark green jets of it; they hit the ceiling, the windows, and spattered Luna Lovegood's magazine. Ginny gave out a sharp yelp as she threw her hands up to cover her face. At the sound, Harry instinctively grabbed her round the shoulders and pulled her to his chest. Using his arms to cover her face from the spray.

As the plant settled, stopping its disgusting onslaught, Harry looked round the compartment. Neville was completely covered by the dark green slime, Luna's magazine was splattered, and as he let go of Ginny, it looked like she had been mostly spared. Minor splotches on her arms and some on her neck.

Harry on the other hand got a face full, due to his effort to protect Ginny. It smelled of rancid manure. Ginny pulled herself out of Harry's arms and looked up at him. Harry released his hold on her and shot her a look that said something akin to, "this compartment?"

As Harry spat out a mouthful of the slime, Ginny burst into laughter finding Harry's state altogether too funny to compose herself. "Yeah, it's hilarious," Harry commented unamusedly to the chuckling girl, as he wiped his face off.

"S-sorry," Neville gasped. "I haven't tried that before...Didn't realize it would be quite so...Don't worry though, Stinksap is not poisonous," he added nervously, as Harry attempted to wipe his dripping hand on a still laughing Ginny.

At that precise moment the door of their compartment slid open.

"Oh...hello, Harry," said a nervous voice. "Um, bad time?"

Harry wiped the lenses of his glasses with his Stinksap-free hand. A very pretty girl with long, shiny black hair was standing in the doorway smiling at him; Cho Chang, the seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

Harry immediately straightened. "Oh...hi," said Harry awkwardly, sneaking a peek at the girl sitting beside him. Ginny's face was expressionless as she read the sticky pages of Luna's magazine.

"Um..." said Cho. "Well...just thought I'd say hello."

"Hi," Harry repeated reflexively, and he felt his cheeks flush.

"Will you be playing Quidditch this year?" the dark-haired girl asked with a demure smile, before the scent of the Stinksap seemed to hit her nose.

"Uh, plan to," Harry answered simply; finding it difficult to formulate sentences.

But Cho didn't seem to mind. "Well, I guess I'll see you on the pitch, then?" she added as she rubbed her hand over her mouth, seeming to want to block out the smell.

"Sure," Harry agreed eagerly, before she waved off, leaving the four alone once more in the rank compartment.

Cho closed the door again, rather pink in the face, and departed. Harry slumped back in his seat and groaned. He would have liked Cho to discover him sitting with a group of very cool people laughing their heads off at a joke he had just told; he would not have chosen to be sitting with Neville and Loony Lovegood, and dripping in Stinksap.

Neville and Luna went back to trying to clean themselves up, and Harry found himself looking over at Ginny once again. Her posture was stiff and her cheeks were a bit flushed. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that she was doing her best to avoid looking at him.

"Look, Ginny, about Cho," He whispered to her, leaning closer to avoid the chance of Neville or Luna overhearing them. Ginny's amber eyes widened before she shot Harry a sharp glare.

"Harry," Ginny warned, pulling her straightened finger across her throat in warning, to stop the conversation immediately.

Harry promptly hushed, as he nodded in compliance. She was right. They did not need to discuss it in front of anyone else.

Ginny seemed to shake herself. "Never mind," she said bracingly, vehemently refusing to look over to Harry. "Look, we can get rid of all this easily." She pulled out her wand. "Scourgify!"

The Stinksap vanished.

"Sorry," said Neville again, in a small voice.

Ron and Hermione did not turn up till nearly an hour later. The compartment was quiet all the while. Harry and Ginny doing their best to avoid the need to converse. After the trolley had been around and Harry, Ginny and Neville had finished their pumpkin pasties and their chocolate frog cards were swapped, Hermione and Ron finally joined the odd group.

Harry felt a great amount of relief to see his friends, and immediately engaged them in conversation; curious to know what had gone on in the prefect meeting. Ron, quickly told the compartment of Malfoy's appointment to Slytherin prefect, while making himself comfortable in a seat next to Harry on the bench.

Ron's pointy elbows caused Harry to have to scoot closer to Ginny, their shoulders touching due to the confined space. Harry wondered if Ginny too felt the ease he did, when they were close. Based on Ginny's uncomfortable shifting next to him, he guessed she did not.

Ron and Hermione proceeded to go down the list of the fifth year prefects, discussing what they thought of the choices. Luna continued to make ludicrous interjections much to the compartment's amusement. The fourth year Ravenclaw seemed particularly entertained by Ron's conjectures in the conversation. Luna even remembered that Ron had taken Padma Patil to the Yule Ball last year; describing Padma's feelings on Ron being a lousy date. Harry found himself chuckling, but couldn't fault his friend. Harry had the sneaking suspicion that Parvati, Padma's sister, and Harry's date to the ball, would say the same thing about him.

The only positive thing that came out of his night at the Yule Ball last year, was the conversation he'd had with Ginny, during their one shared dance. Although, Harry had a feeling he had just mucked that up earlier...

Soon Luna was explaining the odd magazine, The Quibbler, to the confused group. Harry nearly laughed as he read a featured article detailing how his Godfather, Sirius Black, was not the 'Notorious Mass Murderer,' he was accused of being, but rather an, "Innocent Singing Sensation," who just wanted his privacy. Harry found himself missing Sirius already. Wondering when he would get to talk to him again.

A few minutes after reading the article, Malfoy showed up at their compartment, gloating over his new position of power.

"What?" Harry said aggressively, before Malfoy could open his mouth.

"Manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention," drawled Malfoy, whose sleek blond hair and pointed chin were just like his father's. "You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments." Harry found himself shifting in his seat so Ginny was slightly behind him.

"Yeah," said Harry, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville laughed. Malfoy's lip curled. The pointy faced boy made a remark about Harry coming in second to a Weasley, which caused Hermione to demand that he leave. Malfoy seemed pleased enough, that this comment riled up the inhabitants of the compartment, and made to leave.

However, just before shutting the compartment door, Malfoy made one more comment about how he would be dogging Harry all year. This put the spectacled boy immediately on edge, as Harry thought of Sirius accompanying them to Platform 9 and 3/4 earlier that day.

Ron broke the tension that filled the compartment after Malfoy's exit by asking for some food, but Harry couldn't shake the implication of Malfoy's comment. Burdened that he could not share his concern with Ron and Hermione in front of Neville and Luna.

The weather continued to be undecided as the rain splattered against the windows of the Hogwarts Express, and Harry found himself staring thoughtlessly out the window, his shoulder still leaning against Ginny, who was contentedly flipping through the copy of The Quibbler. He hoped to catch the comforting lights of the

Hogwart's castle, but it was a moonless night and the rain-streaked window was grimy.

"We'd better change," said Hermione at last, and they all opened their trunks with difficulty and pulled on their dress robes. She and Ron pinned their prefect badges carefully to their chests. Harry saw Ron checking how it looked in the black window. Harry pretended not to notice and took his seat once more next to Ginny.

At last the train began to slow down and they heard the usual racket up and down it as everybody scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, ready for departure. Ron and Hermione were supposed to supervise all this; they disappeared from the carriage again leaving Harry and the others to look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon.

Luna offered to take the owl. An offer a surprised Harry accepted, having a hard time balancing both Pigwidgeon's cage and Hedwig's in his hand.

They shuffled out of the compartment feeling the first sting of the night air on their faces as they joined the crowd in the corridor. Harry was ready for some comforting familiarity, hoping to hear the greeting of Hagrid's predictable greeting of, "Firs' years over here..." But it never came.

Instead the distinctly female voice of Professor Grubby-Plank, called the first years to order. Harry found this altogether unsettling.

"Where's Hagrid?" he asked out loud.

"I don't know," said Ginny behind him, "but we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking the door."

"Oh, yeah..."

Harry stuck close to Ginny as they were jostled around in the crowd of students on the platform. Through the dark night Harry squinted his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of Hagrid's large form; he had to be there. Harry had been relying on it - seeing Hagrid again had been one of the things to which he had looked forward to most.

Convincing himself that Hagrid's absence must be due to some mundane reason, like a cold, Harry's eyes searched for Ginny, making sure that she was in sight of him. He found her red hair a few feet ahead of him, and Harry caught her arm, pulling her aside for a moment.

"Yeah, Harry?" Ginny asked him, a knowing look crossing her features.

Harry sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck. It's not as if he enjoyed their predicament, but he had a responsibility. "About earlier, with Cho-"

"Stop," Ginny interrupted him, "we had this conversation last year at the Yule Ball. Remember, you were in dress robes, I was wearing that dress you bought for me. You stepped on my feet," she conjectured, and

Harry found himself chuckling as a blush crept up his cheeks. Ginny smiled tiredly and continued, "we decided we're going to deal with it when it gets here. But it's not. So, go after Cho."

Harry's head piqued up as she told him this. It was hard not to feel conflicted in the situation. "Right," Harry agreed awkwardly. Maybe he didn't need to be concerned, like he was in the train.

They stood there for a moment quietly, Ginny tapping her foot against the wood planks of the platform uneasily. Harry found himself rambling, trying to say what he needed to, "It's just... Take care of yourself this year-"

"Yeah, I know, Harry," Ginny agreed placatingly, "don't go reading any rogue diaries..."

Harry found himself laughing at her blunt words, "Yeah, something like that."

Ginny gave him a cheeky grin, before adding, "Well, you be more judicious about the portkeys you grab onto."

"Yeah, will do," Harry agreed with a sober shake of his head. A beat of silence passed between them. "You know, if you need anything, you can come to me," he told the girl in front of him, hoping that Ginny was taking his words seriously. This type of conversation had become an annual occurrence for the pair over the past few years.

Ginny nodded once more, and Harry could tell she was growing tired of this little talk. "I know, Harry," she affirmed, "We've had this conversation before. I'll be fine."

With a small nod, Ginny picked up her things once more and headed back into the throng of students.

Harry watched her go for a moment, before picking up his belongings and following after her, towards the horseless carriages that bring the students to the castle.

"Should we find an empty one?" Harry asked the red-haired girl, as he caught up with her. She was walking rather quickly, saying quick hello's to different students that greeted her back from summer holidays. Her eyes scanning the crowd for someone.

Ginny didn't stop her search as she answered with a quick, "Can't, Harry."

"Oh, are you meeting someone?" Harry asked, continuing to follow her. The realization that Ginny had plenty of her own friends outside of Ron, Hermione, Neville and himself hit him a bit oddly. He and Ginny really didn't spend much time together at school.

"Yes, Harry," she answered flatly. Had he said something to upset her?

"Who?" Harry couldn't help but ask.

Ginny suddenly stopped and turned back to face the dark-haired boy. "My boyfriend," she told Harry, in a tone that told him that she knew he'd forgotten that she was in a relationship. Harry suddenly felt very foolish about assuming Ginny was upset over Cho earlier in the train.

Michael Corner. Harry remembered. Ginny had met the fifth year Ravenclaw last year at the Yule Ball. Harry didn't know much about him, but Michael had asked Ginny out right before the beginning of summer holidays last year. They'd been writing letters back and forth to each other all summer, according to Ron. Although Harry couldn't recall Ginny ever talking about Micheal, while he'd been around.

Ginny gave an impatient shake of her head and continued walking. Harry quickly followed. "How are things getting on between you two?" Harry found himself asking, as Ginny's ever searching eyes seemed to settle upon who she was looking for.

"Michael!" Ginny smiled, ignoring Harry's question and quickly walked over to the brown-haired Ravenclaw boy. Harry took a good look at his fellow student. He was about as tall as Harry, and Harry remembered overhearing some girls discussing that Michael was good-looking and fit.

"Hey, Weasley," Michael greeted Ginny affectionately, "we missed you on the train. Everyone was asking where you were. I looked for you for a bit."

Harry suddenly felt a strong sense of possession over Ginny Weasley. But the redhead just shook her head. "I was sitting with some of my other friends," she told the brown haired boy simply. Harry felt a bit insecure as he was greeted with the notion of Ginny's popularity.

"You mean Loony Lovegood?" Michael teased with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, as a matter of fact." Ginny defended, crossing her arms over her chest.

"She's crazy as a bat, that one," Michael laughed.

Ginny chucked her chin higher. "She's completely herself, no apologies. I like that." Harry found himself smiling with pride.

"You're right," Michael finally gave in, a big smile on his face. "Hey, Harry," he finally acknowledged the other boy standing with them. Harry just nodded in response. Michael continued on, "Isn't Ginny just first class?" he asked the spectacled boy. Harry once again nodded a response and wished one of her brothers were here to let Michael know exactly who would be hurting him, if he hurt Ginny.

"We'll see you later, Harry," Ginny told him, in obvious dismissal. Harry found himself nodding once more as he took his cue to leave them alone. Feeling a little out of sorts, Harry thought that Ginny was entirely too young to date. He would have to discuss this with Ron later. Maybe Fred and George would agree with him too. Now, Michael being attacked by one of the twins' fanged frisbee...that was a very appealing idea.

Pushing through the crowd once more, Harry finally caught glimpse of Ron. He came up beside his friend starting to say hello before asking about the ominous looking horses that seemed pull the carriages this year. To Harry's unease it seemed that only Loony Luna Lovegood was able to see them as well.

Settling into the carriage feeling just as uneasy as he had while boarding the Hogwart's Express, Harry reached into his pocket. The tension in his shoulders seemed to dissipate as he pulled out the letter that Sirius had slipped into his pocket before they had all left No. 12 Grimmauld Place.

Cramming himself into the corner of the seat, he unfolded the parchment.

Dear Harry,

I wanted to send you off with a few words as you start your 5th year. I know this summer has been awful for you. I wish I could have been with you every step of the way, but as circumstances seem against both you and me, it does not look like we will get our wishes. Life does not always allow for fairness.

How about we make a pact, you and me? I'll stay out of trouble, if you do the same. Fair enough? We both keep our noses clean. Ah, who am I kidding? If things get tough Harry, be tougher. I know you have it in you. If you need anything, ANYTHING, you let me know. Through Dumbledore or through the Weasley's. There will times this year, when you will feel very alone. Hold tight to Ron and Hermione during those times, and know we are out here pulling for you.

Your Godfather,

Snuffles

P.S. Good luck with that Cho Chang. She sounds like a real man-killer.

P.P.S. Make sure you look after Ginny this year especially. She's only getting prettier, and what a fire-cracker! She won't go unnoticed for long. I know this whole thing is difficult, but it could be worse, my boy.

Harry spent his first week at school getting acquainted with the changes the Ministry of Magic had enforced upon Hogwarts. Not only had the Sorting Hat given an ominous message about school unity, that was only further emphasized by Nearly Headless Nick explaining that the hat only gives this kind of advice during times of great danger, but also the presence of a the new toad-like Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge, who had seem to put both student and faculty on edge. With the addition of Hagrid's unexplained absence and his fellow student's propensity to point and whisper about him, Harry found that Hogwarts was not quite filling him with the sense of comforting familiarity that he had hoped it would.

Relief did not come with the beginning of classes, and Harry found that his once favorite subject, Defense Against the Dark Arts was anything but that. Professor Umbridge had made it clear on their first day that there would be no learning of the spells that could potentially save their lives. Harry could not keep himself from arguing against her intentional blind eye of the matter and landed himself a trip to Professor McGonagall's office, and a weeks worth of detention to serve with the pink-clad tyrant. Fortunately Professor McGonagall seemed to like Umbridge even less than Harry did and he was not further penalized from actively speaking against his new professor's false words.

The only exciting notion of the beginning of the term was Ron's interest in trying out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Since Oliver Wood's recent graduation from Hogwarts left the team without a Keeper, trials were being held at the end of the week for a replacement. Harry did his best to practice with Ron, who could play brilliantly until his confidence was shot. It became more and more difficult to help Ron as Harry began serving his detentions. Professor Umbridge with her sickeningly sweet voice found pleasure in asking Harry to write lines during for his punishments, except the quill used had the horrific ability to carve the words required by the teacher, "I MUST NOT TELL LIES," into the back of Harry's hand.

As he wrote the task became increasingly more painful. First the cuts on his hand healed almost immediately, now at the end of his week, the scars of repeated cuts had stopped fading, leaving Harry with an unwanted tattoo. Probably the most unsettling incident of his detentions had been when Umbridge had touched him to make sure the scars were truly setting in, and an intense blinding pain shot through him. A pain Harry likened to when Voldemort had touched him back in the graveyard in his fourth year. Ron and Hermione repeatedly encouraged Harry to go to Dumbledore about the cruelty of Harry's detentions, but he could not bring himself to seek out his Headmaster. Dumbledore had not gone out of his way to speak to him during the worst summer of his life.

What Harry needed was Sirius. He knew his Godfather would have answers for him. Despite Hermione's insistence for Harry to refrain from writing Sirius, lest their letters be tracked and followed, Harry found himself set on the notion.

Harry was first to wake up in his dormitory next morning. He laid for a moment watching dust swirl in the ray of sunlight coming through the gap in his four-poster's hangings, and savoured the thought that it was Saturday, and Ron had indeed made Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The first week of term seemed to have dragged on for ever, like one gigantic History of Magic lesson.

It was just after daybreak when Harry found himself up and dressed, with a fresh piece of parchment, scratching away at a letter to Sirius before any of his classmates chose to rise. Harry felt his brain buzzing with all the new goings on at Hogwarts and how relatively wretched his first week had been, but found he was at a loss of what to say. How could he explain every detailed thought and theory that had captivated his mind for the past few weeks?

He sat motionless for a while, gazing into the fireplace, then, finally coming to a decision, he dipped his quill into the ink bottle once more and set it resolutely on the parchment.

Dear Snuffles,

Hope you're OK, the first week back here's been terrible. I'm really glad it's the weekend. We've got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge. She's nearly as nice as your mum. I'm writing because that thing I wrote to you about last summer happened again last night when I was doing detention with Umbridge.

We're all missing our biggest friend, we hope he'll be back soon.

Please write back quickly.

Best,

Harry

P.S. Talked to Cho once since we've been back. I was covered in putrid green slime at the time...

P.P.S. Ginny's got a boyfriend. A Ravenclaw in my year. Can't believe I'd forgotten about that.

Harry reread the letter several times, trying to see it from the point of view of an outsider. He could not see how they would know what he was talking about - or who he was talking to - just from reading this letter.

He hoped Sirius would pick up the hint about Hagrid and tell them when he might be back. Harry did not want to ask directly in case it drew too much attention to what Hagrid might be up to while he was not at Hogwarts.

Despite the brevity of the letter, it had taken Harry quite some time to pen it. The sounds of arising students could be heard from the dormitories above. Sealing the parchment carefully, he climbed through the portrait hole and headed off for the Owlery.

After dodging Peeves' latest prank involving a statue falling on one's head, and enduring a frustrating brush with the caretaker's ever suspicious cat, Mrs. Norris, Harry finally made it to the Owlery, his spirits lifted with the notion that the day turned out blue skied and beautiful and Quidditch practice began later that afternoon.

With a smile on his face, Harry entered the large loft. Its glassless windows dazzling his eyes; thick silvery beams of sunlight crisscrossed the circular room where hundreds of owls nested on rafters. Harry felt the leftover tension leave his body, as he craned his neck for Hedwig's snowy white feathers. Harry beckoned for his feathered friend to come, and the owl outstretched her wings, perching herself on Harry's shoulder. After a quick reminder that Snuffles was actually Sirius, the great snowy owl took off to deliver the letter. He watched her until she became a tiny black speck and vanished. Harry's gaze drifted towards Hagrid's hut, which stood lonely and lifeless with the curtains drawn and no smoke billowing from the crooked chimney.

"Hold still you crazy little nuisance! " came the frustrated voice of Ginny Weasley.

Harry turned back to the Owlery surprised. He hadn't noticed anyone else enter the large loft. He caught sight of Ginny's red hair dancing about, as she attempted to tie a letter from the ever-moving leg of the small owl, Pigwidgeon. A confused look on Pig's little face, as if he didn't quite understand why Ginny wouldn't just tie the string.

With a chuckle, Harry went over to the struggling girl. "Need help?" he asked trying to suppress a grin.

"Yeah," agreed Ginny, blowing a piece of her red hair out of her eyes, "he may be cute, but he is also very thick."

Harry plucked the struggling bird out of the air, holding him still in his hands while Ginny concentrated on tying a knot. Her small fingers worked feverishly, but she had to keep stopping to shake out her right hand, as if it was very painful.

"Argh!" Ginny cried, seeming to give up on the notion of getting a letter sent and cradled her hand against her chest. Taking over the task, Harry braced the erratic tiny owl against his elbow and finished tying the knot.

"Who's this to?" Harry asked quickly, heading to the window.

Ginny answered with a frustrated, "Mum," and Harry all but tossed the little bugger out the castle. After a quick plummet the small owl, found its wings and headed off into the bright day.

Harry returned to Ginny's side instantly. "What's wrong?" he asked her, concerned, reaching out and taking her injured hand in his. The sight of Ginny shaking out her stinging hand reminded Harry of his own flexing and wringing of his scarred hand after his grueling detentions. He would go to Dumbledore straight away if Umbridge had marred Ginny's innocent hands. "What did she do to you?"

"What are you talking about?" asked a confused Ginny as she tried to pull the appendage away. Harry held tight and pulled her closer, trying to get a better look for the wicked words that were surely etched below her knuckles.

"What did you do to earn a detention from Umbridge?" Harry demanded shortly his eyes skimming her skin not believing it was clear.

"Harry," Ginny settled firmly and her tone stopped Harry's search and caused his green eyes to meet her brown, "I haven't gotten a detention with Umbridge. What is going on?"

After a calming breath, Harry held up the back of his right hand for Ginny to read. "Weeks worth of detention," he explained to a wide-eyed Ginny, "And it smarts like hell."

Harry watched as her confusion turned to rage, "That crazy wench! I knew I shouldn't trust her. Harry this is madness!" she fumed, doing her best to pull her hand away again, and go to whom he assumed would be Dumbledore.

"Forget it, Ginny. It's over. Just keep your head down in her class," Harry warned her.

"But, Harry-"

"I mean it," Harry cut her off. Ginny's defiant look turned tight, but instead of arguing she nodded in understanding.

"Now," he added more gently, bringing her injured hand up for his inspection once more, "what's wrong here?"

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. I don't remember injuring it or anything. It just started hurting last night before I went to bed, and this morning it's only gotten worse. It feels as if someone is squeezing it," she explained, flexing her fingers in his grip.

Harry gave it another once over. "Does this make it feel better?" he asked, flipping her hand over and using his thumb to massage her palm. Her skin was soft against his thumbs, and he was altogether amazed about how small her hands against his. Especially after his growth spurt over the summer, Ginny seemed even smaller next to him.

He looked down at her, as he massaged her hand, noticing that her eyes had closed during his ministrations.

"That feels really nice," Ginny murmured softly. Harry found himself smiling, knowing that he'd at least done one thing right since he'd been at school. He'd looked after Ginny.

"Why don't you go see Madame Pomfrey," Harry suggested, giving her hand one last squeeze before letting it go.

Ginny's eyes opened slowly and Harry suddenly realized that Sirius had been right. She was only getting prettier.

"Yeah," she responded, sounding a little dazed. Her eyes looking at her hand curiously. She flexed her fingers and twirled her wrist. Harry watched her as she took a large step back from him, her gaze keenly avoiding his. "I'm going to go now. Thanks again for the help with the letter," Ginny told him, turning to leave.

"Bye, Ginny," Harry bid her, a bit confused by her sudden exit.

"Tell Ron good luck for me on his first day at practice!" She called from over her shoulder before disappearing out the door. Harry stood there for a minute feeling rather strange.

Moving back to the window once more he watched as the treetops of the Forbidden Forest swayed in a light breeze. Harry was surprised to see the sight of a great reptilian winged horse, just like the one's pulling the Hogwarts carriages, with leathery black wings spread wide like a pterodactyl's, rise up out of the trees like a grotesque, giant bird. Just as quick as it appeared the creature dove back into the thick of the trees. Harry stood there wondering if he was beginning to see things.

The Owlery door opened behind him. He leapt in shock, and turning quickly, saw Cho Chang holding a letter and a parcel in her hands. Harry's heart was beating so rapidly from the sight of those winged creatures that he almost didn't answer her when she greeted him.

Luckily, he found the will to compose himself and they talked of Quidditch. Harry informed her of Ron's new position as Keeper, and why he wasn't there at the trials.

"That Umbridge woman is foul," Cho remarked, with a sharp look on her face. To Harry's immense pleasure Cho continue to praise him for standing up to Umbridge. Saying that everyone knows how Cedric had died, and it was loathsome for her to deny Voldemort's return.

Much to Harry's annoyance, Filch had come rushing in at that moment, accusing Harry of sending a letter that would result in a large dungbomb order shipped into the school. Harry was glad he had already mailed his letter to Sirius, and even more pleased when Cho stood up for Harry's innocence.

The caretaker seemed almost scared of the pretty sixth year as they stared each other down. Filch left muttering and cursing. He thanked Cho and they left the Owlery together chatting along happily.

Once they reached the entrance of a corridor that led towards the west wing of the castle, Cho said, "I'm going this way. Well, I'll...I'll see you around, Harry."

He bid her goodbye, and she smiled as they departed. He had managed to have an entire conversation with her and not embarrassed himself once. She had called him brave. Harry congratulated himself and headed toward the Great Hall to meet Ron and Hermione for breakfast.

He hoped Ginny went to the Hospital Wing to have her hand examined.

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent their breakfast mulling over the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. An unnerving story of the Ministry suspecting Sirius was hiding out in London put the three on edge. Harry was sure that Lucius Malfoy had tipped off the Ministry, due to Draco's comment on the Hogwart's Express.

Another interesting article about a break in at the Ministry caught their attention next. Sturgis Podmore had been found trying to get through a door in the middle of the night. They all speculated why one of the Order of the Phoenix would be breaking into the Ministry. None could come up with a good reason.

Harry and Ron decided to spend their morning playing Quidditch outside against Hermione's wishes, who thought their time would be more wisely spent working on a rather long essay that Professor McGonagall had assigned them earlier in the week. The boys found themselves walking the grounds down to the pitch discussing how Hermione took school a bit too seriously, although Ron voiced his curiosity if Hermione were truly serious about not allowing them to copy her homework.

They practiced together all the way up until Quidditch practice began. To Harry's immense relief Ron was playing brilliantly, which was not always the case when the red-haired prefect was nervous. Practice started out well enough, but not too long into drills some Slytherins came out to taunt the team. Malfoy, his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson made it their personal goal to insult everyone on the team. Despite Harry's best efforts to ignore them, it seemed Ron was too insecure to handle the assault to his frail ego. Ron was so distracted that he sent Chaser Katie Bell to the Hospital Wing. Practice was called after that, and the rest of the night was shot with Ron's low mood. Harry couldn't find the motivation to work on his homework.

The three spent all of Sunday cooped up in the Gryffindor Common Room, working on unfinished homework. After hours of scratching away at unfinished essays, Harry promised himself that he would do better to not leave all of his homework for the weekend again. The bright sunshiny weather outside was taunting he and Ron as their hands cramped from fatigue.

Late into the evening he finished his second to last essay. Ron inquired to Harry about whether he thought Hermione would let them copy her essay, to which Harry huffed a negative. Sharpening his quill, the dark-haired boy looked over to see Hermione chatting with Ginny by the fire. Harry watched them for a moment, pleased to see Ginny playing with Hermione's cat Crookshanks with ease. It seemed her hand was better.

Slowly, the crowd in the common room began to thin again. At half past eleven, Hermione wandered over to them, yawning. She asked the boys if they were finished with their essays, quickly correcting Ron's mistakes in his. Ron, already on edge from his bad practice immediately began to argue. But Hermione was not listening and pointed out a handsome screech-owl perched in one of the windows.

It was Percy's owl, Hermes. Ron crossed the room, collecting the letter from the owl, wondering aloud why Percy would be writing him. This seemed to catch Ginny's attention, who had just awoken from falling asleep on the couch curled up with Crookshanks.

"Open it," Ginny yawned, as she joined the three at the study table.

Ron did so eagerly, and began to read. The further down the parchment his eyes travelled, the more pronounced became his scowl. When he had finished reading, he looked disgusted. He thrust the letter at Harry, Hermione and Ginny who leaned together to read it.

Harry felt his blood begin to heat as Percy's well wishes and congratulations of Ron's prefectship turned into a strong advisement to cut ties with Harry altogether. Percy's connections at the Ministry of Magic, allowing for him to know where the attention seeking boy was blowing from, and not only Harry, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were also belittled in the letter. Percy taking time to explain that anyone who is loyal to Dumbledore is ignorant and waiting for the oust. What really incensed Harry was Percy's kind accolades for Dolores Umbridge and his hopes that she would bring reform to the out-of-control school.

"Well," Harry said, trying to sound as though he found the whole thing a joke, "if you want to -er - what is it?" he checked Percy's letter- "Oh yea- 'sever ties' with me," I swear I won't get violent."

"Of all the nerve!" spat Ginny hotly.

"Give it back," said Ron, holding out his hand. "He is-" Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy's letter in half, "the world's-" he tore it into quarters, "biggest-" he tore it into eighths, "git." He threw the pieces into the fire. Ginny sent a spell from her wand to cause dying embers to burst into flames.

Ron threw himself down in his chair once more, encouraging Harry that they could finish their essays in one more hour if they set themselves to it. Harry noticed Hermione looking at Ron rather strangely, and the next minute Hermione was gathering up their essays to proofread and correct them. Ron looked like she had taken the world off his shoulders.

It was now past midnight and the common room was deserted but for the four and Crookshanks. The only sounds were the quiet scratching of Hermione's quill, the light tinkle of the bell round Crookshank's neck as Ginny played with the cat, and the small crackle of the fire that alighted the circular room. Harry was exhausted. He also felt an odd, sick, empty feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with his tiredness and everything to do with the letter now curling blackly in the fireplace.

Harry had a surge of sympathy for his godfather, he thought Sirius was probably the only person he knew who could really understand how he felt at the moment, because Sirius was in the same situation.

Harry blinked. He could hear Hermione explaining to Ron the corrections he need to make to his essay, and Ron thanking her. But he was transfixed on the fire-place. Harry had slid off his chair on to his knees and was now crouching on the singed and threadbare hearthrug, gazing into the flames.

"Er - Harry? said Ginny uncertainly. "Why are you down there?"

Harry explained to them all that he could swear he had just seen Sirius' head in the fire. This was not an odd notion, because Harry had talked to his godfather in the fire the previous year, during the Triwizard Tournament, but Hermione was the first to deny its possibility. It was simply too risky.

But the four students gasped collectively when the distinct head of long hair that belonged to Sirius Black appeared in the flames.

Harry couldn't describe his relief in seeing his godfather, whom he'd desperately missed. Sirius had apparently been popping into the fire every hour, waiting to see when Harry and his friends were finally alone.

"What if someone had seen you?" asked Hermione anxiously.

"Well, I think a girl -first year, by the looks of her - might've but don't worry, I was gone the moment she looked back. By the way Ginny, you've got quick hands with that cat. Ever think of going out for Quidditch? You'd make a Chaser," Sirius finished, completely ignoring Hermione's gasp in horror that he might have been seen.

Ginny laughed, and responded with a, "Maybe."

"Well, if your throwing arm is half as strong as your Bat Bogey Hex I saw you cast on Fred over the summer, your opponents will be quivering in fear," Sirius added, and Harry smiled. Happy to see his godfather speak of things less sinister than their usual topics.

Hermione cleared her throat, and Sirius got down to business about Harry's letter. Sirius eased Harry's fears that the pain caused by Umbridge touching his scar, meant that she was connected to Voldemort. The students explained how they weren't using a lick of magic in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes and Sirius wasn't surprised. Apparently it had been overheard that Fudge did not want any of the students trained in combat, lest Dumbledore raise up an army against him. They all scoffed at the notion. Harry took the opportunity to ask about Hagrid, and Sirius could only give them vague news, with little idea of when he'd return to the school.

Before the conversation ended Sirius offered to come meet Harry as Snuffles on the first Hogsmeade weekend, but everyone was in agreement that it was altogether too risky, especially after the article in yesterday's Daily Prophet. Sirius seemed put out about Harry's unwillingness to take a risk. The risk alone would have made it fun for James.

Harry tried to explain to Sirius that he meant too much to Harry to maybe lose him again, but unfortunately their time was up. Sirius quickly promised to write to Harry and tell him another time they could meet at the fireplace, and then he was gone.

The four remained quiet as they took in what they had learned. Hermione moved first, gathering up her books and organizing the boy's homework. Ron stood as well, and Harry knew they were talking about he and Sirius in low whispers. Harry pushed himself back from his knees, so he was sitting against one of the oversized couches.

Ron and Hermione said goodnight, but Harry said he'd be up in a minute.

"Are you coming, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

Ginny, who had been still staring into the fire perked up, "No, I mean yes. I need to gather my things. Go ahead."

Ron and Hermione climbed their respective staircases and Harry felt more alone than he had in a while. He was tired of their shared looks of concern. He'd hoped they'd stop it once the trial was over and school had begun, but it seemed as if it would last a little longer.

"Harry?" asked Ginny, as she came over to sit facing Harry on the carpet.

Harry did his best to shake off his mood and answered, "Yeah, Ginny?"

"Don't even think about Percy's letter for a minute," Ginny told him earnestly, "He's been so insufferable ever since he began his job at the Ministry. You know the rest of us believe you, right?"

Harry gave a small nod in understanding.

"Good," she affirmed, with a small smile.

"How's that hand of yours?" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject. He needed to think of something else.

"Perfect, actually," Ginny told him in a way that didn't sound perfect at all.

"That's great?" commented Harry, confused by her tone.

He watched as Ginny tucked some red strands of her hair behind her ear. "Well," Ginny started nervously, "That's what I wanted to talk to you about actually."

"Yeah," Harry prompted. He did not like seeing Ginny this way.

"So, it didn't really click until earlier today," she began, "my hand really hurt since Friday night, and the odd thing was, it felt immediately better after you had held it in the Owlery. It felt as if you were removing the pain from my hand with yours."

"That's odd," commented Harry, still not understanding what Ginny was trying to tell him.

"Yeah, I thought so too, but then I realized what had caused it to hurt in the first place," Ginny took a frustrated breath, continuing, "Michael and I held hands for the first time Friday night."

Harry's looked at her for a moment, as his mind took him back to a conversation that took place nearly four years ago in the Hospital Wing. "Oh," was all Harry could say.

Ginny huffed, "Yeah, it seems that it's true."

Harry's mind was in overdrive as he tried to remember all the parameters Dumbledore had explained to them. "But you've held hands with a boy before this," Harry reasoned, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.

"You're right, I have. I thought about that too, but it's never been an... intimate thing," Ginny explained, having a hard time meeting Harry's eyes on the last words.

Harry let out a long sigh, as he scrubbed his hand over his mouth. He'd taken for granted when their predicament would start to get complicated. "So, you're saying that if you don't share your first...whatever with me, it's going to cause you actual physical pain?"

"It would seem so," Ginny agreed soberly.

"Even though I don't have to share any of my firsts with you?" asked Harry incredulously.

"Nope."

"That's bullocks," argued Harry against the total imbalance of their situation.

"Total bullocks," she agreed tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Gin-" Harry found himself apologizing.

"Stop, Harry," Ginny cut him off. They had apologized to each other for four years now. Harry couldn't believe the reality that was set before him.

"What do we do?" she asked dejectedly.

Harry looked at Ginny, wishing he could free her somehow. "Figure it out?" he offered as strongly as he could.

"What do you mean Albus?" asked the nervous voice of Mr. Weasley.

Harry sat tensely on the edge of the hospital bed next to the one in which Ginny was lying, his eyes downcast in shame. The hospital wing was cleared of all of it's visitors per Dumbledore's request with only Ginny, her parents, and himself left to converse with the headmaster.

"What I am saying Arthur, is that by saving Ginny from such dark of magic, Harry triggered an ancient curse that has bonded their souls for the rest of eternity," The headmaster explained regretfully.

Molly Weasley hugged her young daughter closer to her. Harry felt like the lowest person in the world. How could he have hurt the first family that had ever been kind to him?

"How can this be?" asked Mrs. Weasley tensely.

Harry looked up into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore, the look on the twelve-year old's face asking the same question. The clear blue eyes of the headmaster returned a look of only the great remorse. A silence passed before the professor began, "As Voldemort's memory began draining Ginny's life for it's own, her soul began to slip further and further into Voldemort's power. When Harry defeated the Basilisk, an ancient magical creature that's existence holds many more questions we may never be able to answer, and then used it's venom to destroy the spirit taking Ginny's soul and life, a most magical bond was formed, unbeknownst to the children. This bond has occurred only twice in the entirety of the history of magic."

The group sat their reeling as Dumbledore continued to explain, "This bond is an ancient magic dating back to the earliest scholars of Magical Theory. The mythology goes that a there was a king who had two sons. A noble son and his cunning brother. Each of the prince's were given a creature to rule over, the noble son the winged gryffindor and the cunning, the Basilisk. The noble son was favored by the king and in line to take the throne. The cunning brother was a jealous man, plotting to take from his brother what he held most dear. When the noble son turned seventeen he fell in love with a beautiful maiden. They were to be wed, when the cunning son, who had always had a propensity for dark magic, wooed the young maiden away."

"But the cunning brother had no intentions of loving or marrying the young maiden. When the noble prince came to her rescue, the brother began to drain the maiden's soul from her body, for him to keep and wear around his neck to taunt his brother. In desperation, the noble prince grabbed the fang of the Basilisk; stabbing his brother and freeing her soul with a deep magic that bound her to him for all eternity."

"She was his to keep. The magic required her to marry him by his next birthday, his eighteenth year, and a son must be bore before the young prince's father died, his twenty-fifth year. The noble prince realizing how easily his fair maiden had been wooed away from him, became jealous and possessive over the young maiden, and his jealousies poured themselves into the magic as the bond wrapped itself around the couple. She could not be intimate with another man without suffering excruciating pain, that could only be lifted by the prince's forgiveness-"

"So you're saying that our Ginny must marry Harry by his next birthday?" Molly interrupted. Harry felt his gaze snap up at the question. He could certainly not be married at age thirteen!

"No, the bond stays in it's original form, Harry's eighteenth birthday," Dumbledore explained calmly, and Harry felt his rapid beating pulse settle back down.

"But, Ginny will still be sixteen at that time," Arthur argued, scrubbing a hand over his tired face.

"I know, it is harshly unfair," agreed the Headmaster sadly.

"There must be a way to have this undone," Mrs. Weasley offered, "They're only children." Harry glanced over to Ginny, who was wrapped in her mother's arms. She looked so young.

"Molly, I have scoured all the literature and accounts of these bonds, and the only way out is death. A fate that both Harry and Ginny fought so hard against down in the Chamber of Secrets." Dumbledore explained gently, remorse coloring his tone. "The only other account of an soulbond occurred over three hundred years ago," Dumbledore added, "A young boy and girl a few years older than Harry and Ginny in Russia were walking home through the forest when they stumbled upon a dark wizard performing a soul draining spell on a muggle woman.. The wizard first took the girl and the boy using a fang he found in the Wizard's fire, stabbed the dark wizard, saving the girl. Their soul's were bonded that night. They boy and girl went along with their lives, unaware of the bond they shared. Until the a suitor came to ask for the girls hand in marriage. When the suitor kissed the girls cheek, she experienced excruciating pain. The boy saw her in pain and brushed her cheek, immediately soothing the pain. They found solace in each other's company, drawn to the other without realizing it. But she was promised to another man. On her wedding day, after saying her vows she immediately dropped to the ground, dead."

Author's Note: So here begins my next great undertaking. I plan on following the couple all the way through the end of the series. We will see how Harry and Ginny deal with this predicament as they carry on with their lives. My plan is to keep it as close to cannon as possible with the addition of this element. Ginny will be much more present than she is in the novels.

There is a lot of summarization from the OOTP, and I did that purposely to weave my plot into the original storyline. All credit is to JK herself. There will be less of it as the story marches forward, relying on the reader to fill in the gaps.

Like CBAHM, I have read a few Soulbond stories. It is a concept that has always intrigued me, but I found myself wishing for adjustments in the stories I had read. I decided to make my own adjustments here. Do tell me what you think.