The Phantom

Ginny woke up. It was odd, though. Normally she slept very deeply. Nothing could ever wake her. Nothing.

For a moment she lay in bed, very still. She couldn't move - no! She wouldn't move. Something was there with her. Something she couldn't see. Something no one could see.

"Harry," she whispered. "Harry. Wake up Harry." She hit him gently.

"What?" he asked in a tired groan.

"Was something else just here?" She sounded a bit nervous. Harry didn't notice.

"How should I know? It was probably just a dream. Go back to sleep." He turned back over and went back to sleep.

"Yeah," Ginny said to herself. "Just a dream." Though she didn't believe it, she tried to convince herself that it actually was a dream. Yet, she couldn't shake that feeling of fear. The feeling that she wasn't alone.

The next morning, she couldn't stop thinking about the night before. "Was it really just a dream?" she kept asking herself.

"Harry," she said, looking up. "Did something happen last night?"

"Yeah," Harry replied in an annoyed tone. "You woke me up!"

"Other than that," she smiled. "Did something unusual happen?"

"Well... you're normally fast asleep at two in the morning. AND you woke me up!"

Ginny sighed. Obviously whatever had happened, Harry also missed.

"Did you remember to close the windows?" Harry asked. "Something could have flown in."

"I closed the windows." She thought for a moment.

"Well, as much as I'd like to continue this conversation, I have to meet Ron at the golf course," Harry got up from the table. "I'll see you later."

"Ok," Ginny said glumly, not even thinking that neither Harry nor Ron golf.

"Call Hermione if you're so worried," Harry left the room and the door opened and slammed shut. Ginny sat at the table in silence for a minute, then quickly picked up the phone and dialed Hermione and Ron's number.

That evening, when Harry walked in the front door, the first thing he heard was Hermione's voice.

"Well," he said to himself. "I guess she does listen to me."

He walked into the living room and found Ginny and Hermione sitting on the couch talking. "Hey, 'Mione!" he greeted.

"Oh, hi, Harry!" Hermione replied, and looked beyond him. "Where's Ron?"

"Oh, he went home. Said he was eager to get to the house and have supper."

"Uh oh. Uh... Gin, I'd better go. I forgot to make Ron's dinner." Hermione got up and grabbed her jacket. "I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"If you hurry, you might make it back before he gets there," Harry smiled and gave her a quick embrace.

Ginny laughed. "I'll see you later, 'Mione."

"Bye!" Hermione hollered as she ran out the door. She couldn't Apparate, because her house had charms that kept people from Apparating to it.

After the door shut, Ginny looked at Harry with amusement. "Did Ron really go home for supper? Or were you just trying to get rid of Hermione?"

"Oh, yeah. He went home for supper," Harry said still smiling. "But he was less than excited. Besides, why would I want to get rid of 'Mione?"

Ginny laughed, again. "I don't know. I'm not the criminal mastermind. You are."

Harry smiled. He knew she was talking about all the times he and Ron had almost been expelled back at Hogwarts. But he tried to look innocent. "Criminal? Who's a criminal? Certainly not me!" he smiled angelically and Ginny laughed, starting up the stairs to their bedroom.

Later that night, Ginny awoke yet again. She could feel something in the room. It was the same feeling as the night before, only stronger. She quickly woke Harry up.

"Wh-," he tried to ask Ginny what was going on, but she slapped her hand over his mouth before he could finish.

The feeling was still strong. Ginny glanced over toward the window, and saw greenish light.

She slowly got out of bed, and tiptoed toward the window. When Harry saw the light, he did the same.

Ginny was almost a foot away from the glowing object when it disappeared.

"Gin," Harry began, nervously. "Wh-what was that?"

Ginny stared at the floor silently for a moment, then finally spoke up. "I don't know. But I doubt we'll ever find out."