The Mysterious Girl

Chapter one: The Letter and Guesses

Harry was sitting in the great hall, having breakfast with Ron, Hermione and Ginny. They had arrived just yesterday for the beginning of the new school year. It was the trio's sixth year and Ginny's fifth.

"You know, this year sounds really boring to me," said Ginny.

"Really? You mean you liked last year when we had to face the torture of the ugly toad Umbridge and all the stuff at the Department of Mysteries? " asked Harry

"No! That's not what I mean. I'm just saying that I'm tired of studying for these O.W.L. exams and it's just that, last year we had fun in the D.A. You know, it was like making friends," said Ginny.

"Ginny, you need not worry about O.W.L.s. I mean, you are good at studies than me or Harry. I'm sure you will do better than us," said Ron.

"Hey!! I'm not that bad," protested Harry. "Anyway, you sounded somewhat like Luna when you said that about the D.A.," Harry smiled.

"Yes, I mean it. It was really like having friends. And it's true that this year is uneventful and boring," answered Ginny.

As if on cue, just then a brown school owl arrived and landed in front of Harry. It had a letter attached to its leg.

He was surprised. He didn't expect any letters after Sirius died.

"Open it, Harry," said Hermione.

Harry obeyed and took out the letter from the Owl's leg and read its contents. As soon as he read it, his face turned pale and he became quite stiff.

"Harry! What is wrong? Who is the letter from? " asked Ginny.

He startled and handed the letter to Ginny, who was sitting beside him. Ron and Hermione leaned over so that they could read it too.

Dear Harry,

How are you? I know that something terrible happened at the Department of Mysteries and it affected you badly. Since then, I noticed that you have become quite gloomy.
I reckon the reason must be, because Voldemort is back. I also heard from my sources that your Godfather died during that battle. I'm really sorry for your loss, Harry.
But you must not be disheartened. You should move on with your life and have some fun.
I'm sure that your Godfather would be happy for you, if you got over his loss and tried to move on.

Oh! By the way I did not say who I'm, right? Well I'm not going to tell you. You've got to find out for yourself.
I have been madly in love with you for years, Harry. I learned about your miserable date with that Cho bloody Chang and thought I should make you see that, there is someone, who truly loves you.
So don't fall for sluts like her again. By the way, Harry, you really look cute with those green eyes, black hair and your spectacles. But I think that, you should do something to your hair. It's always messy. Doesn't it ever lie flat?
And you looked damn sexy yesterday when you wore that white T-shirt. I think I should take a cold shower right now.
You'll hear from me soon. Anyway, I'll give you a hint-We share a lot in common.

Bye,
Love,
Your mysterious (soon to be) lover.

"So, Harry. Who is this mysterious lover? " asked Ron snickering.

Harry glared at him.

"Ron! Don't tease him. He probably doesn't know who she is. Do you, Harry?" asked Hermione trying to stifle a giggle behind her hand and failing miserably.

"Oh, shut up, you two. I don't know who this so called fan girl is all right?" said Harry, annoyed.

"Well let's guess then. Ginny used to write poems to you during her first and second year. Right?" asked Ron.

Ginny who was quiet until now answered angrily.

"Ron! Are you mad? You know that I gave up on Harry. Don't you?"

"Ron. I don't think it is Ginny. She has become a good friend of mine and helped me fight the Death Eaters last year. She wouldn't have written anything like that to me. Even when she wrote the poems, she was very shy. Besides, this is not her style of writing, as far as I know. But this so called mysterious fan girl seems to know a lot about me," said Harry.

"Yes, Ron. Harry is right. It probably can't be Ginny. I'll stop reading for one week if it's Ginny. I'm sure it's not Ginny," said Hermione.

"How can she know about Sirius though? We tried to keep it a secret, right? And she also knows about my breakup with Cho. And bloody hell! She goes and comments even about my appearance. What's her problem if my hair is messy, huh? And from what she says about my white shirt, it looks as if she notices me daily," said Harry and buried his head in his hands.

"Well, I think we should find out about this flirter. Do you recognize the handwriting, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"No. I don't."

"But, Harry, she might have taken someone else's help to write it so that you don't recognize it," said Ginny.

"Forget about it for the time being, Harry. If she writes another letter, then we will try to find out who she is," suggested Ron.

"Ok. Ginny, after all, this year hasn't become uneventful, at least not for me. I got an anonymous letter, on first day of school itself," said Harry.

"Yes. Well, let's go to our classes. Stop mulling over it, Harry. We can think about it later, as Ron said. See you all later," said Ginny and left the great hall with her classmates.

Soon the trio also followed suit.

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That evening, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the crowded common room, finishing their homework, when a distraction arrived in the form of Parvati Patil.

"Hi, Harry. You look nice in this white shirt," she said.

Immediately, Harry eyes went wide and he looked at the other three and gave an I-think-she-is-that-fan girl look.

"Oh. Hello. Thanks. I think, you also like my eyes and spectacles," hinted Harry and raised his eyebrows.

She was confused for a moment but then, she blushed and said." Yes, Harry. I always thought you had brilliant eyes."

"Also, did you notice that, I also have black hair like you have? Hey, same pinch!" said Harry and pinched her. Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all shaking with silent mirth.

Parvati was now completely flabbergasted and rubbed her arm where he pinched her. But nevertheless, answered him.

"Yes. It looks like we share a lot in common. All right, see you later, Harry. I've to go now. I said I'll meet Padma. Bye," said Parvati and left the common room, bewildered.

"See! She is that girl. She said that I had brilliant eyes," said Harry.

"Oh, Harry. If you ask someone, did they like your eyes, they will obviously say yes. They can't say that 'No Harry your eyes are awkward', right?" said Ginny.

"Oh. So you think my eyes are awkward?" asked Harry.

"No! If I thought so, why would I have written this line-' His eyes are as green as fresh pickled toad'?" asked Ginny in a singsong voice.

"Ha. Ha. Ha, very funny. All right, but she said we share a lot in common and also that, I looked nice in the white shirt for God's sake, Ginny," said Harry.

"You were practically flirting with her and she was just flirting back," answered Ginny, annoyed.

"Hey! Why are you both fighting about her? It looks like, this girl will eventually break your friendship," said Hermione.

"No. She can't. I will always be Ginny's friend," said Harry and smiled at Ginny, who smiled back.

"Oi! I'm hungry. I can eat a Hippogriff right now. Let's go to the great hall," said Ron.

"Yeah. Me too," agreed Ginny.

Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes and followed them out of the portrait hole. They knew very well about the Weasley appetite.