Story: The Titans of Secrets
Chapter Sixteen: Forbidden Adventures

Ginny was in her DADA class when her hair burned like it was on fire. In a moment of silliness, she literally thought it was burning before realizing that it was a signal for Dragonfly.

She stood up awkwardly and Professor Lupin looked questioningly at her.

"Erm. . Professor. . . I don't feel so well, may I go to the Hospital Wing?" Lupin smiled sympathetically at her as the Slytherins started sneering. 

"Of course, Miss Weasley. You are excused from the class," he said and waved her off. Hermione gave her a calculative look as she passed the witch. Ron and Neville were looking concerned. Harry had been down as well and was resting in his dormitory.

As soon as she reached a broom cupboard, she uttered the magical words to enhance her magic.

"Dragonfly, Enigma!"

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When Dragonfly swung to the top of the castle, she saw Shade waving her over. Using her enhanced agility, she climbed up the pointed tops and reached the landing. She smiled at him.

"What's the news, Shady?"

"A very bad news, Miss Fly," Shade stated and pushed a newspaper into her hands. She unfolded it and her brown eyes widened when it scanned the title etched in bold on the aging parchment.

TWO UNSPEAKABLES SPOTTED IN NORTHAMPTON

She looked over the paper and met his worried green eyes.

"I don't know what Blackburn and Silverflight might think of this. We were supposed to be enigmatic," he said. There was an underlying fear in his tone.

"I can't comprehend how the media catches us but not Confusion and that 16 guy!" Dragonfly exclaimed in exasperation before continuing. "We must find a way to communicate without being seen."

Shade looked thoughtful.

"If there's only some sort of object that sends messages!" she sighed.

"Object. . . Dragonfly, you just gave me brilliant idea!" Shade exclaimed.

"And that is?"

"Exceptional potions and Charming knowledge and I meant, charming you with my idea as well." He winked causing the girl to roll her brown eyes although a blush creeped to her cheeks. He smirked before saying, "Meet me here in two days and the problem shall be solved."

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The sky was dull and overcast as Ginny took to the sky. She scanned the whole area before blowing the captain's silver whistle.

"Ronald! Dean! Start! Demelza, assist!" she shouted over the low cheers from below. Three figures took to the sky. Ron flew to the left goalpost and stood guard as Dean and Demelza got into their positions. Ginny passed the quaffle to Dean who zoomed past her and towards the goal with his broomstick, Demelza on his tail. Ginny watched him intently, trying to calculate his moves. He somersaulted in the air to avoid the incoming Demelza.

Dean swiped over and threw the quaffle at the right hoop. The ball grazed Ron's fingers before going through the goalpost. He cheered happily and Ginny gave him a hand. He smiled brightly at her as she whistled for Demelza, her dormmate, to tryout against herself.

After a few minutes, she finally landed on the ground. Her back ached from flying still for more than half an hour and her neck was sore.

"I have the players in mind and I'll be pinning the list to the notice board in the common room. The selected players must assemble tomorrow at the same time. Have I made myself clear?" she shouted. Everyone replied with a 'yes' or a simple nod. She smiled sympathetically at everyone. "If you don't make the team this year, I'm sorry chaps but next year!"

As she took a warm shower after the tryouts, she sighed. Deep down in her heart, she hoped for Harry to show up at the tryouts and grab her position as the seeker to the team so that she could play as a chaser. To top that, she really wanted to be around him. His company always made her feel different but much better and happier. She could not help the feeling.

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It was nearing dusk when Ginny stood leaning on the windowsill of her dormitory, taking a break from studying and homeworks. She spotted a boy walking towards the Forbidden Forest but who was it?

She squinted her eyes so hard that wrinkles appeared near her eyes. Finally, she saw a blob of black messy hair and identified the boy to be either Harry or Gilligan. Checking the time and worrying about her friend's security, she swore to herself to protect him and there was only one way to do that.

"Dragonfly, Enigma!"

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The trees were tall, with creviced bark that was almost black, dull leaves and needles of a lighter colour, and knobby roots that rose from the damp soil like bare knees. Green beards of wolfsbane hung from the gnarled branches. The sky was reduced to a thin strip winding overhead, mostly hidden by white wisps. The forest gave Dragonfly an uneasy feeling but she pushed them to the back of her mind and continued on in order to find her friend.

After walking awhile, she finally found Harry crouched down on the forest floor, examining some red and yellow toadstools.

"Hello?" Dragonfly asked and he immediately looked up.

"Oh! Um. . I'm Harry –" he started but Dragonfly cut him short.

"Harry Potter, I know. Why are you out here so late?" she asked.

"I'm just here to collect some potion supplies," he answered back and stood up.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find them in –" A loud bang and a growl interrupted Dragonfly and her eyes widened. "Get out of there! Reducto!" Her spell hit a nearby spot which was holding a cedar, causing the tree to fall. Harry could not run, so he ducked and Dragonfly conjured a shield to protect him before dragging him out of the stiff place.    

They ran for several minutes until the reached the shores of the Black Lake. Panting and puffing, Harry looked at her. After catching his breath, he spoke in an awed voice, "I owe you so much!"

"No worries, just be. . . Be more careful and vigilant next time. I suppose it was the mystery animal which the Hogwarts rumor mill is currently circulating," Dragonfly supplied giving him the best smile she could muster. "I must get going now. Until then, Harry."

"Wait!" Harry shouted, blocking her from leaving. She looked questioningly at him. "You are an Unspeakable right? From what I've heard, they are the only ones who wear black hoods." Dragonfly nodded. "Ruddy brilliant! What's your name?"

Dragonfly shrugged. The newspaper already spread the word so she figured that there was no harm in telling him. "I am Dragonfly."

"Nice to meet you, Dragonfly," he said warmly.

"The pleasure is all mine." With another smile, she left with a contended heart.

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Later that evening, she met Gilligan on her way to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Hey, Ginny!" he called out to her and waited till she approached him.

"Hey Gil, goin' to have dinner?" Ginny asked as she fell into a step with him. He nodded.

"Who can go without food, Ginger?" Ginny blinked.

"Is that a nickname, Potter?"

"What if it is?" He was grinning.

"Because if it applies to me, it also applies to my brother Ron who is more of a ginger than I am! I'm more of a redhead, if you hadn't noticed, Raven," she winked causing Gilligan to burst out laughing.

They continued joking their way to the Great Hall. At the sight of food, their mouths watered and they settled down for a pleasant conversation as they devoured the delicious cooked meal.

"What comes first: the phoenix or the flame?" Gilligan asked. Ginny looked thoughtful.

"The phoenix. There's no flame without the phoenix," she answered, twisting her spoon in between her fingers. Gilligan gave her a thumbs up.

"Well answered. D'you know that you are a true phoenix?"

His statement caught Ginny by surprise and she looked up from her plate. Gilligan was grinning goofily.

"Well then, if you are doing that with our hair colours, you are probably a raven, truly," she replied before going back to her food. She had to be very careful with her words now, she could sense that. "Phoenixes and ravens are supposed to be enemies."

"Are we?"

"Of course not, silly."

"Brilliant then!"

"What's so brilliant that you, dear brother, are copying off me?" It was Harry. He looked really tired; his hair was more messier and his eyes were glowing very softly. He slumped onto the empty space beside Gilligan and gave her a small smile. She waved back.

"Nothing, really," Gilligan replied, shaking his head. "What have you been up to? You look really tired."
 
Harry shrugged. "Just. . . Too much of thinking isn't so good."

"Thinking about who or what?" Gilligan asked suspiciously, his face turning to a smirk. Harry smiled dreamily and let out a happy sigh; they seemed to have forgotten Ginny's presence. Gilligan nudged his ribs. "Who, Harry?!"

"No one!" Harry exclaimed, his skin tone changing. Ginny looked down immediately. Her fear had come true; Harry had someone in his mind and it was one hundred percent not her, she knew it.

Before her insecurities could be proved right in front of her brown orbs and attentive ears, she excused herself and left to the lonely dormitories where she could pour her heart and eyes out on her comfy pillow.

However, it was not meant to be as her headband burned and she was forced to utter the words she dreaded to tell at the moment.

"Dragonfly, Enigma."

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Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x