Ginny was back on the quidditch pitch. The wind swept up her hair and she was filled with adrenaline and took off into the sky.

The crowd on the stands were cheering for her and she was grinning and waving at them.

Suddenly the crowd began to scream. Confused she turned and nearly fell off her broom.

The tail end of her broom was on fire.

The other members of her team flew around her trying to pull her off the broom. Ginny could feel the heat of the fire. Panicking she jumped off her broom and towards the outstretched arms of the captain, who looked frustrated with her, but missed and began to fall from the height of 100 feet.

Ginny woke up with shaking with cold sweats and sighed. This was a recurring nightmare.

She pulled on her dressing gown and went down to the common room to sit by the now empty fireplace.

As predicted there were a lot of questions thrown at her the moment she came back. It was clear they expected great things from her. She felt disappointed in herself for quitting what would have been the start of an amazing career.

Now she was back to school. She needed to write some exams to complete her sixth year before she could join the others in the seventh year.

Ginny stretched and made herself more comfortable on the chair. Then a voice made her jump so hard that she fell off the chair.

"Couldn't sleep?" It was Hermione.

"Merlin's beard, Hermione! What are you doing here in the dark?" Ginny said sitting up again.

"Same as you." She replied simply.

"You are wondering if you should wake up the entire Gryffindor tower by dropping a few dung bombs?" Ginny joked.

Hermione grinned. "No. But I have been meaning to ask you, are you ok?"

"Define, 'ok'" Ginny said dully

"What happened there?" Hermione asked her seriously.

Ginny hesitated. She dint want to sound pathetic in front of anyone but since the common room was deserted and since Hermione was her best friend she decided to confess.

"I am not good enough." Ginny blurted. "I did everyone a favour and quit before they made me leave."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "Everyone there are such good fliers. Before I could pick a direction to fly, the quaffle is shot off in a different direction. It's just hard! And they are all professionals!"

Ginny looked like she had been holding back her thoughts for a long time, she hadn't been ably to confide in anyone in fear of looking weak.

"Ginny, I have know you for a long time and I have never seen you like this before." Hermione said kindly holding her hands to comfort her. "Although I don't know much about quidditch I can say this, you are a damn good flier and any quidditch team would be lucky to have you."

Ginny smiled. "I guess I just need time before I go back."

"What did you tell them." Hermione asked.

"That I wanted to finish school first." Ginny said. "I only missed a month, I'm sure I can catch up."

"So you would be here for two years?" Hermione raising her eyebrows.

"Just this one." Ginny replied "I sent an owl to McGonagal the day we got our Hogwarts letters. She said as long as I write my exams I can stay for as long as I need. So I plan to finish my sixth year exams before Christmas and take the rest with you in June.

Hermione looked taken aback by all this information.

"That is a lot of pressure, Ginny." She said. "Are you sure you can manage this?"

Ginny paused for a moment and then said "It's either this or going back to the Holyhead Harpies."

"Well, if you decide to stay I think I can help." Hermione said with a broad smile. She pulled out a roll of parchment from the bag at her feet and unrolled it at the table.

Ginny moved forward wondering what Hermione was up to. It was a time table.

"What's this for." She asked looking at Hermione sideways.

"For the last month Harry Ron and I had been swamped work school work and ministry work and quidditch. I created this to help us not fall behind." Hermione said cheerfully.

"And you all follow this?" Ginny asked.

"I do. Harry and Ron still have some difficulty and now that quidditch and ministry work have stopped, they will have more time for homework." Hermione went on.

"Wait, why did quidditch stop?" Ginny asked in shock.

"Er- I thought you knew." Hermione said going red. "Dint Harry tell you?"

"I haven't been returning his owls." Ginny said with her head down. "I didn't know what to tell him."

Hermione bit her lip.

"Let's start from the night back in Hogwarts then." She began.

*******

The whole school was buzzing. Tomorrow was the quidditch match, Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff. After which was a Hogsmead weekend.

But the main topic of discussion was the grand dinner party Slughorn was having in the dungeons that night. All the students who took park in the Hogwarts battle was invited and more.

"Ugh, do we really have to go to this thing tonight?" Hermione groaned at breakfast.

"Hi Harry." Came a dreamy voice from behind. Luna lovegood had come over from the Ravenclaw table.

"Hello Luna." Harry said "are you going to the dinner party too?"

"Yes, it's a shame we can't bring anyone." Luna said sliding to a seat next to Ron whose face was in his porridge.

"Yes it is. Anyone you wanted to take in particular?" Harry asked curious who Luna was interested in.

"Not me, silly." Luna laughed "You!"

"Me? Who would I want to bring considering I don't want to go at all?" Harry asked surprised.

Luna looked over at Ginny and then looked up at the enchanted ceiling in deep thought. "I think I would like to take somebody one day."

There was an uncomfortable silence which Harry took to look at Ginny who managed to stifle a grin.

Luna was right. Harry wanted to go with Ginny but since Ginny had only arrived the night before, she has yet to receive an invitation.

"Have you seen this?" Neville said sounding dull as he joined them at breakfast.

"Yes Neville, we all got one." Ginny said with a laugh. "Well, all except me." She added with a wink.

"You can take mine if you want." Neville said handing her the invite.

She laughed and suddenly stopped when she realised Neville was being serious.

"Neville, what's wrong?" Hermione asked looking concerned.

"It's everyone." Neville said lowering his voice so that nobody could overhear him. "All the taking and whispering. It's like they don't realise I can hear them."

"Welcome to my world." Harry said gloomily.

"You just have to get used to it Neville. You are a hero now." Hermione said and Neville sighed.

"Where do you think McGonagal is?" Ron said to change the topic.

They all looked up at the teachers table and noticeably missing was Professor McGonagal who would be sitting at the centre.

"Come to think of it, I don't think I have seen her at the table since the sorting." Hermione said.

"You think she is alright?" Neville asked.

"Maybe she is just busy." Harry said. "It can't be easy being headmaster and a professor." Everyone nodded in agreement.

*******

Hey guys!

What do you think about Ginny being back?
Atleast Harry seems happy 😜😜

I absolutely love McGonagal but I think she has too much on her plate.... Don't you think?

Also!! just so you know.... I have entered this book 'After the war' for the #wattys2016

I'm so exited about it and I hope you guys would support me by Voting and commenting!

Thank you so much for reading!! I hope you liked this chapter!

Have a great weekend!!
<3<3