34She was absolutely bored. She was supposed to be writing a history essay for professor Binns, but like most things at the moment, it really didn't get much attention.
Ginny sighed, "It's no good, after all that's happening, I can't concentrate."
She threw down her quill. It slid down into a crack between the seat and the window. Ginny flicked the quill out of the crack. Poising her pen over the parchment, Ginny began to write.
Dear Diary,
I'm really scared, I can't concentrate. You-know-who is back and it's just like 1st year all over again. My nightmares have started to come back, worse than before. Now in the dream when Harry come to rescue me, Tom Riddle blasts Harry in the back and he falls to the ground and he stares blankly up at me. I wake up shivering and I can't control it. I don't want to tell anyone, especially my brother. He'll go straight to mum and she'll get all over- protective, and I don't want that. I wish that it was all over and I could forget.
G.
Ginny folded the parchment in half and put it on top of her books.
"Hey Ginny, come over here, I want to show you something," called Ron from the fireplace.
She picked up her books and wandered over, not realizing that the parchment had slipped into the crack behind the window seat.
* * * * * * *
"Oh, it's got to be here somewhere," said Ginny in a whisper.
It was early the next morning and Ginny was searching the common room for the diary entry. Looking around the window seat, she saw a piece of paper poking out from the gap.
Pulling it out she sighed in relief. Opening it up, the relief was turned into horror when she realised that the writing wasn't hers.
G.
It's all right to get scared, everyone does. I heard what happened down there and all that you have to remember is that You-know-who can't get us here at Hogwarts because Dumbledore will protect us. Just remember that we are Gryffindors and we are brave, strong and courageous and we can overcome anything if we believe in what we do.
Anonymous
Ginny was shocked, someone wrote back to her and she didn't even mean for them to. Racing back up to her room, she wrote a letter back to the anonymous writer.
Dear Anon.
Thank you very much for replying to my diary entry, even though I wasn't meaning to leave it there. Your words really helped me and I thank you for them. I was wondering, who are you?
G.
Ginny slipped the paper back into the gap of the window seat and went back up to her room, a slow smile spreading across her face.
Ginny's day went quickly, her lessons going better than they had since she got to school.
In fact even Ron noticed that Ginny was happier than usual. "Ginny, what's with you, why are you so happy?" asked Ron at the dinner table. "I don't know, I just feel… lighter."
As she was getting ready for bed Ginny realised it was true what she said to Ron. She did feel better, because she'd told someone about her problems.
"Goodnight anonymous, and thank you, whoever you are," and Ginny fell asleep.
The next morning Ginny woke up feeling totally refreshed. She didn't have one nightmare last night and was positively glowing. Being Saturday, and a Hogsmede weekend, she went down to the Great hall for a late breakfast.
Sitting down at the Gryffindor table, Ginny was only one of a few still at the table. Down the other end she realized, was Harry Potter.
Ginny quickly looked away. Too late! She looked down at her plate nervously as Harry came over to her. "Hi Ginny, are you going to Hogsmede today?" asked Harry.
She looked up into his sparkling emerald green eyes, and swallowed. "Ah, yeah I am, are you?" inquired Ginny. "Sure am, do you want to go together, we can meet Ron and Hermione down there, they've already gone down."
Ginny shook her head "It's alright, I'll be going later, I'll see you later." Harry shrugged, flashed his heart-melting smile and left the hall.
Ginny could have kicked herself. "I can't believe I just gave up a chance to be with Harry Potter, alone!" she murmured to herself as she faced the fat lady portrait. "Hearthrug," said Ginny as she entered the common room.
It was empty. Not expecting anything, Ginny walked over to the window seat. Seeing a new piece of paper there, Ginny smiled. Opening it up she read:
Ginny, I'm glad to see that you looked happy yesterday. Was it me? I hope so. About your question, sure, my name is anonymous but you can call me A. I hope you're not annoyed; it's better this way. I really hope you stay happy, because it makes me happy to see you happy. Did that make sense? I'll talk to you later. I think we should leave our messages somewhere less conspicuous, how about behind the unicorn tapestry? I'll look for your next one there.
Bye,
A.
Ginny was amazed that that the anonymous messenger has written back so quickly, and this morning too!
She headed upstairs to her room, clutching the parchment to her chest. "Me, they wrote to me! Nobody's ever said kind words to me like that before.
I mean, people are always nice, but never in a comforting and personal way," Ginny thought to herself. Deciding to tell them so, she took her parchment and quill with her to Hogsmede, to write back to Anonymous at the Three Broomsticks.
Sitting down at a table at the back with a butter beer, Ginny was writing and rewriting the letter, always crossing it out and starting again.
She was so engrossed in what she was dong that she didn't notice that Hermione, Ron and Harry had sat down at her table.
"Hello? Are you there?" said Hermione as she snapped her fingers in front of Ginny's face. Ginny jumped. "Huh? Oh, hi, sorry," said Ginny as she put her things hastily into her bag.
"What have you got there Ginny?" asked Ron. "Oh nothing," replied Ginny nonchalantly. "Are you coming to the Quidditch practice today?" asked Hermione. "Uh sure, wouldn't miss it."
Since Ron had become keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Hermione and Ginny kept each other company in the stands.
"Yeah, you don't want to miss Har…" started Ron but was stopped by three kicks aimed directly at him. "Ow, I mean, you don't want to miss us practice our moves so we kick Slytherin's ass next week" finished Ron, rubbing his shins.
"So Ron," said Harry, trying to the subject, "How did the Canons go this week?"
Ginny laughed, "As badly as usual, and, against my Kenmare Kestrels, they had no chance!"
Ron turned red. "You take that back Ginny Weasley," he said, his voice getting louder. "No I will not Ron Weasley, they are bad, go for a good team for a change," said Ginny indignantly.
Harry laughed "Come on, we really don't want to start a Weasley fight in the Three Broomsticks do we?" Ron, embarrassed, turned around and noticed that half the pub was looking at them.
Ginny, equally embarrassed, finished off her butter beer and picked up her bag. "I've got to go, I'll see you later," and she made a hasty exit.
As she walked back to Hogwarts, Ginny thought about her day. "Two encounters with Harry Potter in a day is a good thing, and acting more mature in front of him was a good thing too. No spilled drinks or is a good day."