Harry Potter and The Last Horcrux
Colin’s Question & The Visit

The next week went by too fast in Ginny’s opinion. She had barely enough time to think betweenher classes, homework and quidditch. Shehad held tryouts and had chosen her team and was now sitting in the common roomlooking over different strategies. Shepicked a few easier routines and felt that those would be a good place tostart.

She had taken over Harry’s position as Seeker. She wasn’t sure if she could do it as well ashe could. After all there are fivetrophies with his name on them for being a Seeker in the main trophy room. She looked at the routines again beforeputting them away and packing up her stuff.

The portrait opened and in walked Colin. He noticed her, smiled and came over.

“Hi Ginny.”

She looked up at him and smiled, “Hi.”

“Are you busy?”

She shook her head, “Nope, I was just finishing looking atsome quidditch strategies we might use this year.”

Colin nodded as he had been chosen as one of the beaterswith his brother, “We should have a good team this year,” he said.

“I hope so,” she replied, “Filling Harry’s shoes with bevery tough.”

“Nah, you’ll be just fine,” he said.

“Thanks,” she smiled again at him.

He looked into her eyes for a few moments before clearinghis throat and looking away, “Sorry. Well I’m headed to bed. GoodnightGinny.”

“Goodnight,” she said to his retreating form.

She sat back in her chair. What was that all about? She thought. She stretched hermuscles, grabbed her stuff and headed upstairs.

A few hours later a lone figure walked down the dorm stairsand headed out into the dark corridor.

Ron walked into his office that morning to replace Harrysitting at his desk.

“Harry?”

Harry looked up and got up, “Hi Ron. Sorry but I was waiting for your dad.”

“That’s ok. I thoughtyou’d be with Kingsley.”

“He sent me down here to get something from your dad. I think it’s for the Order.”

Ron nodded and sat down and pulled out his lunch from hisbag, “He should be here soon. How wasEdinburgh?”

“Great,” Harry replied less than enthusiastically, “Kingsleyand I stopped a Death Eater trying to convert a few wizards.”

Ron just nodded, “Oh I heard from ‘Mione.”

“How’s she doing?” Harry asked with a lighter tone in hisvoice.

“She’s doing well. Everybody loves her supervisor Kathryn and of course all theGryfreplaceor’s love having Hermione around.”

Harry snorted, “Well, hope they don’t get too attached. They’ll only be there a year if the patternholds.”

Ron snorted a laugh, “You’re probably right mate,” he said,“Hey, I have that day off and I’m going to see ‘Mione on Thursday, you want tocome? I’m sure McGonagall will lovehaving you.”

Harry shook his head, “I’d love too, but Kingsley’s beengiven instructions from the Order not to let me out of his sight.”

“They’re trying to replace out why you’re disappearing when youhave a break, I’m sure,” Ron said.

Harry nodded, “Yes, I’m betting McGonagall is the one whoordered him to do it,” he slammed his hand on the table, “It’s very annoyinghaving a watch dog around all the time, but I can’t stop now.”

Ron sighed, “I know, but if you need any help…”

Harry nodded, “Thanks mate,” he looked up at the sounds ofMr. Weasley’s approaching footsteps, “I’ll let you know.”

“Ginny you look exhausted,” Luna said as they settled downfor lunch, “Are you not sleeping?”

Ginny’s reply was stifled by a yawn.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Luna said and began eating.

“Oh I’m sorry Luna, it’s just I haven’t been sleeping wellthese past few days. Between quidditchpractice, studying and keeping up with the N.E.W.T.S. stuff we all areexhausted. You should see the bags underColin’s eyes. ”

“Well get some rest before your next class. You have a break now don’t you?”

Ginny nodded, “I do, but I have loads of studying to do.”

Luna went to answer but Colin interrupted her when he satdown, “Hi Ginny. Hi Luna.”

“Hi Colin,” Ginny said, “Oh while you’re here. I’ve reserved the pitch and practice will beat five o’clock today.”

Colin nodded and played with his food for a moment.

Ginny noticed and looked at him with concern, “Are you ok?”

Colin looked at her the at Luna, “Luna, can I talk to Ginnyalone?”

Luna looked a little indignant and her tone echoed her face,“Fine, I’ll see you later.”

Ginny smiled and nodded at her friend. She turned to Colin and waited patiently.

Colin cleared his throat, “Um Ginny… I was… wondering… thatis if you want to…,” he sighed and looked at her, “Would you go out with me?”

Ginny stared back at him in shock.

“I’ll take it as you said yes then,” Hermione said as she picked up anotherexam to correct from the pile on her left.

Ginny however, was pacing the floor and had been since shecame to see her friend, “That’s just it! I didn’t say anything!”

Hermione looked up and smiled at her, “It’s ok if you sayyes. Colin’s a nice guy.”

Ginny looked at her friend and nodded, “I know, but somethingis telling me I shouldn’t.”

Hermione went back to correcting the exam, but asked, “Andwould that something be a dark-haired, green-eyed boy named Harry?”

Ginny’s head swung around and she looked at Hermione withsurprise. She then stubbed her toe onthe edge of the sofa.

“Ouch!” she shouted grabbing her foot and sat down heavily.

Hermione looked up at her, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“No! Yes! Wait, no!” Ginny said rubbing her foot. She sighed heavily, “I don’t know.”

Hermione stopped what she was doing and put down her quill,“Look, if you don’t know or aren’t sure then don’t say yes to Colin then breakhis heart later.”

Ginny nodded and Hermione went back to the exam, “Besides,If you are serious about Colin then I’m sure Harry would want you to move onwith your life.”

“Has he moved on with his?”

Hermione shook her head as she wrote, “He hasn’t moved pastDumbledore’s death.”

“Remember to hit the bludgers at their chasers, not theirother beaters Dennis!”

Dennis nodded and went back to the right side of thepitch. Ginny watched from her vantagepoint high above them as they practiced. They still had a lot of work to do, but overall she was happy with theirperformance. They were a new team withthree new players, but they were quickly becoming a good team.

After another half-hour, Ginny touched down onto the fieldand shouted up at her team, “Ok that’s it!”

The Gryfreplaceor team landed on the ground next to thechanging rooms.

“Great practice guys!” she said, “We’re looking muchbetter. I think we’re ready for thematch tomorrow. I know we’ll giveHufflepuff a fight.”

The team cheered loudly and then entered their respectivechanging rooms. She emerged a short timelater to replace Colin waiting for her. Hehad his hands in his pockets kicking the stones at his feet.

“Colin?”

He turned and smiled at her, “I wanted to apologize to youthe other night. If I knew it was goingto be that much of a shock I would have hinted a little more first. If nothing else, to avoid the embarrassmentof you suddenly rushing out the door.”

Ginny’s face went red, “No, I’m sorry Colin. I was not prepared and I didn’t know how torespond.”

Colin dropped his head and nodded.

Ginny’s mouth quirked upwards at Colin’s expression, “Howabout you buying me a butterbeer when we’re Hogsmeade next?”

Colin looked up quick and smiled, “Really?”

Ginny nodded, “Sure.”

“That sounds great!” Colin said, “Can I walk you back to thecastle?”

Ginny smiled, nodded and walked with him.

“Harry?”

Harry looked up at the sound of the deep voice calling hisname. He had been reading the journaland rubbing his scar.

Kingsley Shacklebolt had poked his head into the meetingroom, “Are you ok?”

Harry closed and put down the thin journal he’d beenreading, “Yeah. Sure.”

Kingsley walked in slowly and sat down across from him,“You’ve been reading that book for weeks now. I’m beginning to think you’ll never finish it.”

Harry smiled slightly at his joke, “I’ve read it a few timesactually.”

“What’s it about?”

“Nothing really,” Harry said trying to sound casual, “It’sjust a collection of poems.”

Kingsley’s eyebrows went up, “Poems? Trying to impress a young lady?”

“No.”

“Oh,” Kingsley’s face fell, “what a shame.”

Harry chose to remain silent.

“I understand from your friend Ron that you have beeninvited to visit Hogwarts today,” Harry nodded and Kingsley continued, “Thenwhy don’t you take the rest of the day and go? Things are pretty slow around here and I have some work I need to getcaught up on here. So why don’t yougo? They’re also having a quidditchmatch today. Your old team versesHufflepuff as I understand it.”

Harry smiled and shook his head, “Thanks, but I’m busy.”

“Come on it’ll be fun,” he said. At Harry’s shaking head he dropped the humorfrom his voice, “Then I’ll make it an order. As your supervisor I can do that.”

Harry sighed in defeat, nodded and stood.

Kingsley smiled and stood, “Excellent! Ron?” he called out.

Ron cautiously walked in looking sheepish, “Sorry mate. You’ve been looking a little depressed. I thought seeing Hermione and Hogwarts againwould cheer you up a little.”

Harry speared his friend with a cold glare, “Thanks.”

“Then be off!” Kingsley said, “And have fun!”

The students filed into the hall for lunch before thematch. Ginny walked in and stopped deadin her tracks. She had heard the noisecoming from the hall as she approached, but wasn’t paying any attention toit. What she saw surprised her when sheentered. Not only did she see Hermionesitting at the Gryfreplaceor table, but her brother Ron as well. But the even bigger surprise was Harrysitting across from Ron. For a brief momentan intense feeling of nostalgia hit her and everything just seemed to feelright.

There were quite a few people from the seventh and sixthyears who were calling out and waving to Ron and Harry. The two smiled and waved back, but only Ronseemed to be enjoying himself. Harrywould smile and wave, but he was not as enthusiastically as Ron.

Ginny walked over to them and sat down next to her brother,“Hi Ron,” she turned to Harry and with a smirk asked, “You look familiar, havewe met before?”

Harry gave her a small smile, “My name’s Peter.”

Ginny laughed, “Well nice to meet you Peter.”

“Harry!” Colin called and came over, “Great to see youmate!”

“Go to see you,” Harry replied, “Dennis around?”

“Yeah, he’s eating lunch with his girlfriend.”

Harry watched as Colin sat down next to Ginny and they bothsmiled at each other. Harry looked atHermione with a questioning look. Shelooked at Colin and Ginny, then back at Harry and nodded slowly. Harry suddenly lost his appetite.

“So Harry, are you and Ron here to watch us play our firstmatch?” Colin asked.

Harry shook his head, “I’ll be busy, but Ron’ll be there.”

Ron gave Hermione a quick look, “I thought you wanted to seethe match?” he said to his friend.

“Not any more,” Harry muttered quietly, then stood up andput on his cloak, “No,” he said louder, “but good luck to you guys. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

He walked quickly out of the hall to the stares of confusionfrom his friends.

“What’s he worked up about?” Colin asked.

Hermione and Ron stood and put on their cloaks, “We’ll seeyou at the game. We’ll be sitting withProfessor Ryan,” Hermione said and just as quickly they left the hall and wentafter Harry.

“They cleared out quick,” Colin looked at Ginny, “Was itsomething we said?”

Ginny had a feeling she knew what is was about, but shruggedand said, “I have no clue.”

Harry strode into the library and stopped. He took a deep breath and looked around. It still had the musty old-book smell that heremembered. He went over to a quietcorner at the far end of the library and sat down. He pulled out the thin journal and began toread.

Voldemort’s school journal was destroyed by Harry, but notafter it deeply affected Miss. Weasley. I have been unable to determine if the extent of his influence upon herwas minimal, but she will unfortunately have nightmares about her experiencesin The Chamber of Secrets for the rest of her life. The journal now resides on my desk and I willdestroy it permanently here very soon.

Harry stopped reading and his mind went back to when he’dbrought the journal back to Dumbledore after freeing Dobby from LuciusMalfoy. Dumbledore had taken it and witha muttering of an incantation the journal turned a blinding white beforebursting into a fire of the same brilliance and was reduced to ashes. Harry remembered letting out a deep breath inrelief at it’s destruction.

Harry closed the journal and looked out the window towardsthe quidditch stadium. He could alreadysee a line of students heading down to it. He looked closer at a redheaded girl walking with a blonde-haired boyand almost growled.

He stood and angrily punched the table. He wanted to scream, but he stopped himselfwhen he heard footsteps coming into the library.

“Harry?” Hermione’s voice called out, “Are you here?”

“Over by the Potions section.”

He stood in front of the window looking out onto the schoolgrounds when Ron and Hermione came around the corner. They slowly approached and stood next to him.

“I’m sorry Harry,” Hermione said.

“For what?” Harry asked, “It’s not like you could havestopped me from knowing or them going out.”

“Who going’s out with who?” Ron asked confused, looking fromHarry to Hermione.

“Ginny’s seeing Colin,” Hermione said before realizing Rondidn’t know either, “Oops.”

Ron’s face turned beat red with anger, “I’ll kill him ifhe…”

“Ron!” Hermione stopped him, “The last thing Ginny needs isfor her brothers to comedown on her new boyfriend like a pack of wolves.”

“Why not?” Ron asked, “My brothers and I have a sworn dutyto protect her from all things dangerous.”

“Ron,” Harry said quietly, still looking out the window,“Colin’s not dangerous.”

Ron harrumphed, “I still think he’s the wrong guy.”

“That’s not for you to say,” Hermione said more to Harrythan Ron.

The three friends stood looking out onto the school groundsin silence for several minutes. FinallyHermione broke the silence when she looked at Harry.

“Harry, let’s go down to stadium. You’ll enjoy watching the match I’m sure.”

Harry shook his head, “Thanks, but I have other things I cando here.”

Hermione looked at Ron for help. Ron gave her a ‘what do you want me to do’face and shrugged. She gave him a dirtylook and turned back to Harry. Seeinghis expression she knew she should give up.

“Well you know where we are if you want to come down.”

Harry nodded and the other two left. He kept watching the students file into thestadium for a few minutes before sitting down and reading the journal. He wasn’t able to concentrate on it for toolong.

Seeing Ginny with Colin was like having his heart rippedout. He knew that he should be happy forher. He knew that Ginny would need tomove on with her life and this was maybe the first step.

He stood and looked out the window again and saw that thequidditch match had begun. He wastorn. He wanted to watch, but his dutyto his late mentor was ever pressing. Hedecided that he could spare a few minutes and have a little fun. He turned and strode out of the library.

The castle was deserted and every footstep echoed in thestone hallways. As he walked past roomsor statues he remembered events or good times he’d had here. As he past by Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom heheard a loud snob. He smiled at themmemories of his experiences with her.

He walked out into the sunlight and down towards thestadium. The cheering from the standsgot louder as he approached and the voice of the commentator grew morecoherent. He entered the stadium andwalked to the archway leading into the pitch and stopped just inside.

He was impressed at how his old team was playing. They were up by twenty points and looked veryconfident with themselves. He looked upand saw the Ginny flying around shouting instructions at her teammates andlooking for the snitch. He too beganlooking for the snitch. It took him afew minutes, but his skills weren’t completely rusty. He found it lurking at the base of one of theGryfreplaceor goal posts.

He looked up and saw that neither Ginny nor her counter-parthad yet seen it.

“Come on Ginny,” he muttered to himself, “Look down at theposts. Look down at the posts.”

To his surprise he saw her head turn towards where he hadsaid and with a flash she was off.

“Ginny Weasley has seen the snitch!” the announcer shouted.

Harry watched as Ginny sped towards the snitch with heropponent on her heels. The snitch tookoff and was evading the two seekers. Harry wasn’t sure but he thought the snitch was a little faster than theones he’d played with. Harry was veryimpressed with Ginny’s flying. She haddefinitely improved over the summer and was a first class flyer.

“Ginny Weasley has got the snitch! Gryfreplaceor wins!”

The crowd erupted in loud cheers. Harry joined right along with them. The Gryfreplaceor team met in the middle of thefield and was congratulating each other. Harry stopped clapping and went to leave when he saw Ginny look over towhere he was.

He stood fixed to the spot and they stared at each other forseveral long moments. Harry finallysmiled, nodded to her and turned to leave. He walked away and out of the stadium heading towards the castle.

Ginny raced along the hallway trying to get to her brotherbefore he left.

The celebration of their first win was in full force in thecommon room and Ginny had nearly missed seeing Ron leave with Hermione. She turned the corner and sprinted down thecorridor towards the outside doors. Sheslid to a stop and opened one of the doors and saw Ron with Hermione standingin front of a carriage saying goodbye.

“Ron!”

The two turned at her shout and waited until she came up tothem. She gave her brother a hug,“Thanks for coming to see me.”

“No problem,” he said and released her, “Congrats on yourwin.”

“Will you come for our next match?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said.

Ginny looked around curiously, “Where’s Harry?”

Hermione cleared her throat, “I think he’s already left.”

Ginny’s face fell in disappointment, “Oh well, when you seehim thank him for coming out for me.”

Ron nodded, “I gotta get going,” he gave Hermione a quickkiss and jumped into the carriage, “Talk to you later!”

The carriage took off down the drive towards Hogsmeade.

Hermione and Ginny watched the carriage disappear and thensilently walked back into the castle.

“So,” Hermione said flatly.

“So,” Ginny said.

“Gin, I’m sorry about Harry,” Hermione said finally, “Heshould have come and watched…”

Ginny stopped and placed her hand on her friend’s arm, “It’sok. He did come and watch the match.”

Hermione blinked in surprise, “He did?”

Ginny nodded, “Yep, he watched from one of the stadiumentrances.”

“Well that’s something I suppose,” Hermione said smiling,knowing that Harry had at least tried to have a little fun, “So how does itfeel to be the winning captain?”

“Great!” Ginny exclaimed, “Now I know what Harry always feltlike.”

The two friends started walking arm in arm laughing andjoking with each other all the way back to the party.

That night, a lone figure walked down the dark and desertedhallway. Only Mrs. Norris saw theperson. She hissed and spat as theindividual passed.