Hufflepuff In The Family

Starting with a Bang

Year 5

Dear Diary,

Once again we're back on the train to Hogwarts! It's my fifth year and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to be back. To say this summer has been an eventful one wouldn't even begin to explain it.

First of all, Percy's left. He and Dad had a massive argument and even the mention of his name sends dad into a mad rage. Mum hates it and takes the exact opposite approach by sobbing whenever she thinks of him. Ron and Ginny don't know how to feel really but Fred, George and I are glad to be rid of him. I'd never say that in front of mum though, god no but we've all talked about it and agree.

After the events of last year, we were all instructed not to message by owl. Any of them could be intercepted and so we've barely had the chance to talk to Harry. He spent the last half of the summer with us at Grimmauld Place because someone sent dementors after him and he had to use magic to protect himself. It was a miracle he wasn't expelled.

But that's not even the most exciting thing. I have to be careful writing this because as I'm sat in the carriage, Ron is trying to read over my shoulder like he always does and there is absolutely no way he can know this. He'd hit the roof.

We spent the last few weeks trying to clear out the old Black house on Grimmauld Place for the new Order of the Phoenix headquarters and one day, it was just Harry, Ron, Hermione and I in one of the rooms, clearing out one of the incredibly dusty bookcases. We were laughing at memories from the previous year.

"I still can't believe you went with Viktor Krum!" I laughed at Hermione. "I mean how is that even possible that you, someone who knows the bare minimum about Quidditch ended up going with the most legendary Seeker the world has ever known."

Harry coughed pointedly and I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm not entirely sure either but I spent half the evening trying to teach him how to say my name!" Hermione guffawed and I burst into a fresh set of giggles.

"Any date is better than yours though, Gee," Ron chuckled. I scoffed as Harry looked pointedly downward.

"Hey, I stand by my choice. And Draco isn't that bad once you get to know him." I busied myself with untangling several cheap necklaces that seemed glued to one another. "He was a perfect gentleman."

Harry snorted. "Yeah, he seems like a real charmer." I glared at him though he pretended not to notice.

Anyway, we continued for about twenty minutes before Ron stood up and stretched. "Oi!" I shouted at him. "What do you think you're doing, we've still got loads of work left."

"Well, if you must know I'm starving."

I snorted. "There's a surprise." He threw an old dust dress at me which I narrowly dodged.

"Harry come help me sneak some snacks from the kitchen, will ya?" Harry glanced up at him and then to me. Hermione stood up abruptly.

"I'll help you."

"You what?" Ron asked, shocked by Hermione's eagerness to help him steal from the house.

"Well, Harry seems a little busy right now and I just finished clearing that shelf so we're all good." She grabbed my very confused twin brother by the wrist and dragged him out of the room. You could hear his protests as they continued down the hall.

"What was that about?" I asked and Harry just shrugged.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds being the occasional clunk from something being dropped or broken downstairs. After a while, Harry mumbled. "Hey, Gina are you going to try out for the Quidditch team this year?" I nodded.

"Well, that's if Dumbledore hasn't got a centuries dead tournament to resurrect that will cancel it for the entire year." Harry laughed. I grinned up at him.

"Listen, Regina, I've been thinking. Last year, I made the worst mistake of my life by not asking you to the Yule Ball earlier." I swallowed, terrified for what was going to come next. "I hated seeing you there with Malfoy and, well I kept thinking what if it happens again?"

"What someone else will ask me to a ball before you? I hate to tell you this Harry but I think there was just the one." He shoved me.

"No I mean, what if someone else tells you how they feel about you." He looked down at the floor as he spoke but when he finished, he looked up at me. He had the most beautiful green eyes that glistened in the dim light as he gazed at me. My lips parted and I flushed slightly. It took all my courage but I shifted slightly closer to him.

"And how do you feel, Harry?" He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and allowed his fingers to linger on my cheek.

"I really, really like you, Gina. Like painfully so. You're gorgeous and funny and possibly the fiercest person I know." I didn't speak for a moment, allowing him to suffer in the silence as payback for the waiting I did last year.

Eventually, I responded. "I like you too, Harry." For a moment, he looked shocked but then, slowly, he leaned in.

His kiss was nothing like Draco's. His was soft and scared but Harry had no fear. There was no doubt he was a Gryffindor, you could feel it in the way his lips crushed mine and his hands gripped my waist. Being sat on the floor didn't exactly make for the best kissing position but as my fingers tangled in his hair, I couldn't care less.

An eternity passed and he broke the kiss. He was grinning mischievously and I rolled my eyes and hit him playfully.

Moments later Ron was bursting into the room and we glanced at each other, a silent agreement that telling Ron could wait until the right moment, as could telling my sister. She'd had a schoolgirl crush on Harry since forever and I just couldn't do that to her.

So now here I am, sat opposite to Harry with Ron peering behind me. I couldn't find Danielle and Kelly on the platform so I figured I'd find them at the feast. Harry and I managed to steal a few more brief moments over the summer but most were quickly interrupted by my oaf of a twin brother. After much talking, we decided everyone should wait to know until we were more comfortable with our relationship. Keeping it from my family and friends will be hard, there's no doubt about that, but as I look at him now across from me, I can't help but think it'll all be worth it.

A/N 

Hope you're all enjoying so far! I just want to say thank you for everyone who continues to read and comment, I really appreciate it. Let me know in the comments who you want Regina to end up with.