But as long as he didn't bother him or Ginny then Harry could put up without, as a matter of fact Lockhart seemed like the perfect target for the Marauders. Upon thinking about all the things he could do his mouth fell into a smile that only the best pranksters possessed. The twins and Ginny realized what Harry was thinking and plastered matching smiles on their faces. The teachers saw it and lit up with similar smiles, they may have to gloss over some rules but this could end up being a good year after all.
After dinner everyone made their way to the common room, the next day Harry and Ginny were naturally the first to the great hall after the heads of houses. After breakfast the group engaged in a conversation.
"Anything eventful happen over summer?" Flitwick asked
"Oh yeah" Harry nodded "first my godfather was freed, he's actually written a letter apologizing to you Professor Snape" Snape raised an eyebrow when he handed him the letter "admittedly I had to encourage him to do so but he said he's willing to forgive and forget if you are."
"Thank you" Snape responded, the surprise still very visible
"Oh yeah and there was that business with Malfoys elf" Harry continued and told them the story of what happened
"So I understand you now have fifty one elves?" Sprout asked
"Sort of" Harry responded "I own fifty one but I instructed one of them to look after Sirius, he didn't want me to stop being his master so I didn't exactly give him away. Oh and by the way my elves, will like last year be helping out in the kitchens"
"That should be fine" McGonagall smiled before handing him his time table
"That's not bad is it?" Harry asked Ginny
"No" She smiled "we start the day with our favorite Slytherin"
"If I spend more time with you too I may end up permanently smiling" Snape responded with an annoyed voice but everyone could tell it was fake.
"Good morning all" Lockhart entered, and Snapes fake annoyance soon became real
"Hello Harry" Lockhart flashed his snowy white teeth "you're an early bird aren't you? I hope you've read my books"
"I've read them all at least twice sir"
"Excellent, I'll go and have breakfast and I shall see you later in class" Once Lockhart had walked off everyone else was looking at him with surprise and disappointment. Harry figured he should probably explain before they make assumptions.
"The first time was to see if there was anything useful in there, the second time was just so I could count the mistakes" The teachers felt reassured and glad that they're top student wasn't just another clingy fan, Ginny was just glad her boyfriend wasn't an idiot.
In defense class Lockhart made them all answer questions, all of which, had nothing to do with defense but rather about him. One question even asked what his best angle was? Harry sadly knew the answers to the questions from reading the books, however this was one accomplishment he was not going to accept so he decided to write 'meh' for all his answers whereas Ginny stuck with 'who cares?' Harry was further annoyed when Ginny had actually gotten at least one question right
Hermione naturally got full marks, Harry was just glad her attention wasn't on him. Lockhart then introduced the class to pixies, pixies that managed to escape and wreak havoc on the classroom. While all the students were running away, Lockhart called out to Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione
"Do us a favor and round them up please" he shouted before running away. Hermione turned around to find Harry and Ginny had disappeared. Later an angry Ron and Hermione found Harry and Ginny holding hands and eating in the great hall. The two strode up to them.
"Where were you two?!" Hermione demanded "you were supposed to help us with the pixies!"
"We just copied what our teacher did" Ginny said with an innocent face
"Besides they were only pixies" Harry added "I'm sure you pair of above average students and the great Lockhart could handle a small group of little blue flying people"
"You think your funny?" Ron growled
"Yes" Harry nodded, Ron however suddenly became very interested in their joined hands
"Why are you holding hands with my sister?" Ron shouted
"Fred and George stuck our hands together" Harry replied
"What really?" Ron was so gullible it was painful
"No you idiot" Ginny responded "he's holding my hand because he's my boyfriend"
"No he's not, you're too young to have a boyfriend, besides when did you two even become boyfriend and girlfriend? Like Harry would be your boyfriend when he could have nearly any girl in the school." Ginny was furious, but the last comment struck a cord and she began to wonder. Harry had never given her a reason to doubt his loyalty but she did wonder why he chose her, was it because she was the first girl who would willingly hang out with him. She knew it wasn't because of her looks, maybe it was just because of the marriage contract. Harry, however, was and is still furious.
"First of all it's not for you to decide if she's too young to date, second of all she became my girlfriend on the train ride over here and finally, I don't care about any other girls you prat!" Harry stood up and dragged Ginny away with him.
"Sorry Gin" Harry apologized as soon as they were alone "I just got a bit angry and figured it be best if we leave before one of us kills him"
"Hmm" She absently replied
"Gin what's wrong?" Harry asked with a voice full of concern
"It's just the last thing Ron said" She took a deep breath before continuing "I trust you one hundred percent but I was hoping you could tell me now so I don't have doubts in the future. Why are you with me? You're the handsome, rich, famous, heroic, funny and kind Harry Potter, why do you want to be with me?" Ginny held back her tears, she knew they were going to burst soon
"I think I understand" Harry replied, thinking his answer through in his head "Ron's last comment made you wonder why I chose you and your wondering if I did it because your my first friend that's a girl or because of the contract? Am I right?" Ginny slowly nodded her head, she was surprised to see a smile on Harry's face.
"Gin" he spoke softly "first off all forget about the contract, I'm not letting anyone, especially Dumbledore tell me what to do or who to love. As for my being my first friend, I should let you know my first friends were spiders and when I was in muggle school. I did have a friend and she was a girl" Ginny was surprised, Harry never told her about this
"I never told you or anyone else about this because I didn't want you to pity me. But I know when someone's being nice to me or pretending, I've always known. It's one of the few things I gained from my time in the muggle world. This girl, her name was Sarah, she was really nice to me. Really nice and yes, she was pretty. But I always knew she couldn't be trusted, I knew it but I ignored it because I was so desperate for a friend.
Then one day, she tricked me into running into my cousin and his gang, they beat me up and broke my right leg. After that I never I doubted my instincts again, I can always tell when a person is nice or not. I did it with your dad and your brothers and your parents so I knew which ones to trust and I did it with you. You're not my first friend, you're just the first person I ever trusted. The first person who liked me for me, I know the twins and Neville wouldn't abandon me if I stopped helping them. But you're the only person I feel comfortable being around.
Gin you're smart, strong, pretty, funny, kind and I trust you with my life because I know that you wouldn't betray me. People may tell you you're lucky to be near me but I feel lucky just getting to know you. You're someone I can care for and someone I know cares for me" Ginny was right, she did start crying, fortunately these were tears of happiness. She hugged Harry as hard as she could and sobbed into his shoulder, eventually she pulled away and whipped her eyes.
"Thanks Harry" Harry leaned in and pecked her on the lips
"You're welcome" He whispered before grabbing her hand
"Harry that was my first kiss"
"Mine too" Harry smiled "told you I was serious about us"
"What's going on here?" The pair turned to find Snape looking at them, he looked quite concerned after noticing the tears that still hung on her face and the wetness of Harry's shoulder
"It's nothing sir" Ginny sniffed "Ron upset me and Harry calmed me down"
"What did your brother do exactly?" Snape turned from a concerned man into one filled with protective rage
"He insulted her sir, right after he found out she had become my girlfriend. He said she couldn't be my girlfriend and wasn't good enough for me"
"Did he know?" Snape drawled "very well Potter ten points for helping a fellow student and take a further ten for defending your girlfriend, if you'll excuse me I'm going to have a chat with Mr. Weasley. Worry not Miss Weasley, your brother will keep all of his limbs, I can't make him do his homework without them."
Snape walked off, his cape billowing behind him, now he had to decide if he'd deal with it himself or involve the other heads of gouses.
....
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