Chapter: Talking to Dead Dragons

Ginny rushed down the hallway. She was late, late, late, late. She looked at her watch again, picking up her speed as she saw that she was still late. She knew the Room of Requirements was around here somewhere. There, Ginny could have some much-needed privacy. A first year gave her an odd look as she paced back and forth for the fifth time. The sixth time, she looked up and caught his eyes. He rushed away as if scared she would attack him.

There it was! A large wooden door began to appear. Ginny looked around for any flashes of red hair, any sound of familiar arguing voices, or piercing emerald green eyes. Seeing none of these, she rushed into the door and locked it.

She gave a sigh of relief as the cold air washed over her. Torches lit as she moved through the large room. The room of requirements always appeared exactly as the user needed it to. At this moment, it had a relaxing fire and the scent of lavender in the air. The only furniture in the large room was a single couch. Ginny lay down and felt the comfort of the cushions embrace her. Sitting up she rummaged through her bag.

She knew she had it in her bag somewhere. Suddenly she felt a prick. She made a sound of pain and pulled a pin from her bag. The pin looked rather innocently, its emerald eyes and ruby red nostrils twinkling. It resembled a coiled snake but Ginny knew that the ruby red nostrils held the promise of fire. It was a dragon. Ginny grinned pinning it onto her cloak and laying down again.

This pin was no ordinary pin, as Ginny well knew. No, this pin was special. Once a dark artifact it had been used to momentarily posses the person who wore its partner, a ring in the same shape. However, it could also be used to protect that same person, for if the possessed where harmed, it would be the possessor who scarred. Ginny rubbed her left arm. There were odd bruises on it that never seemed to leave. They made no form, no indication of how she could have received them at all. Still, after several months they were finally starting to disappear. Ginny knew that if the person who she had possessed at the moment had not fought to feel the pain himself, she might be permanently scarred with the dark mark that rested on his left arm.

He was why Ginny had rushed to this room. After their battle with Voldemort, rumor and news alike had claimed he had been killed for treason against the Dark Lord. Ginny had believed it, until she had seen through his own eyes that he was not dead. Now, the pin and ring purified (who knew exactly how), Ginny would rush up to the Room of Requirements three times a week and communicate with him. The use of the room of requirements was a necessity because Ginny, like the rest of the world, was not supposed to know that he was alive. Even Voldemort thought he had been successful in his kill.

Ginny closed her eyes and imagined his platinum blonde hair, his grey eyes dancing with hidden laughter, and his half smirk. She imagined his touch on her cheek, the look he gave when he wanted to tell her something but was unsure of how to say it. In her minds eye she focused on the formation of his lips as he spoke her name. She could almost hear him saying, "Ginny, your late."

Ginny opened her eyes to see Draco Malfoy's image standing before her tapping his foot soundlessly. He seemed ghostlike, partially transparent, but still physically present. Ginny looked at him sheepishly saying, "Sorry, McGonagall tried to keep me later." Draco smirked sitting in mid air.

Because the pin and ring were purified, they could be used differently than when they were Voldemort's tools. Now the ring and pin allowed the user to keep their person somewhat present. It caused a piece of the users soul to appear before the other, a tool of communication that looked like one of those holograms that muggle sci-fi movies always talked about. This had come in extremely handy because simply seeing the world from one another's eyes had not been Ginny idea of an ideal situation. Then again, having her boyfriend go into hiding while the world believes he is dead was also never in her "ideal situation" plan book.

"How's Hogwarts? Pansy still being a prat to you," asked Draco curiously. Ginny shrugged in response, "like I care what Parkinson says," she said nonchalantly. "I do wish you were here, though" she added sadly.

"Yes, well, being dead makes it hard to be at Hogwarts," Draco said with a smirk, but his eyes danced.

"Yes your death is really an inconvenience for our relationship," Ginny agreed, pushing scarlet hair behind her ear, "but how are you?"

Draco shrugged seeming to lean back in a chair Ginny could not see. She imagined that on his side of the communications, she must appear to be floating in midair. After all, he was unable to see the couch she was laying on lazily.

"Its so boring being dead. All I can do all day is sit around reading these old magic books and twittling my thumbs. I can't even think to myself though because there is always someone here. It's ridiculous, as if I need a nanny," Draco complained, "I haven't had one of those since I was five and changed her into a door knob."

"Sweet kid," Ginny laughed. Draco nodded in agreement, ignoring the sarcasm.

"Where are you anyway," Ginny asked, "the Order headquarters?"

Draco looked concerned for a moment, looking around. "Shush," he said holding his hand up to hi mouth. "You never know who is listening."

"You sound like Harry," Ginny said rolling her eyes, "there isn't always a plot to destroy you."

"No," Draco agreed slowly," but I find it hard to believe that there is no plot to destroy you. Just be careful. You may have been able to purify a pin and fight off the dark lord once, but next time you may not be so lucky."

"I know that," Ginny snapped. She hated how everyone treated her as if she were still the small eleven year old, frightened and slime covered from her trip to the chamber of secrets. Hadn't she proved she was strong throughout her schooling and especially in her last meeting with Tom Riddle and Voldemort? She had personally purified a dark article, had personally fought off Voldemort's mind control, and had personally saved Draco. Still, after that had all happened, her parents had rushed to visit a week after she woke up and acted as if Harry had saved her once again. As if she had had no part in it! Draco seemed to sense her anger and he reached out to touch her cheek. Though Ginny could see it out of the corner of her eyes, rubbing her cheek gently with his thumb, she felt nothing touching her. That was the problem with such magic, the person before you was, for all purposes, a hologram.

"I just have heard whisperings is all," Draco explained, "It's not that I don't think you can handle yourself. After all, I would actually be dead if you couldn't. But, even Potter doesn't understand the dark lord until its too late to prevent attacks, and he's so nosey you'd think he would find out everything."

Ginny smiled softly; distracted by the fact that she still could not feel his touch. "What have you heard," she asked, "in the whispering, I mean."

Draco looked around again, but this time it seemed to be on his side. "I'm not exactly sure," he said quietly, a bit of his old drawl returning, "but whenever people come through here to swap shifts, they seem nervous and tired. They exchange looks and mention words like deatheaters and plotting. I've heard your name and shrugs. It's fishy." Draco ran his hand through his hair, and then straightened it out again. Ginny smirked. "Oh that reminds me," Draco said snapping his fingers, "I met your brother Charlie. He's one of the people who guards the house."

"The hea-" Ginny began in question, but she stopped at Draco's look. "No, that's where I was originally going to go, but I never made it. Half way there we got word from Dumbledore that if I stayed there too many people would find out about my being alive. Wasn't safe. I don't know whose house this is but only about four people know I'm here. I'm so bored," Draco said, whining the last part. Ginny smirked.

Their conversation turned to quidditch and social lives. If Michael was still bothering her (he was, to which Draco made a face. Ginny saw his hand clench briefly). What news they had heard, and what the gossip at Hogwarts was. The time streamed away like water in a brook and soon Ginny looked at her watch. "Oh, I have to got o Dinner!"

Draco smirked sadly at her. The worst part about his being dead was this goodbye. Draco kissed the dragon ring on his finger and Ginny could feel the slightest warmth on her cheek. But it was ghostly warmth, disappearing as quickly as it had come. Then, Ginny closed her eyes and separated herself from the thoughts of platinum blonde hair. Instead she focused on her own scarlet hair, her own eyes, and her own laugh. When she opened her eyes, the image of Draco was gone. She removed the pin and walked to dinner, feeling both relieved to have seen him and sad at the same time.

As Ginny walked into the Great Hall, she noticed that the golden plated were just beginning to have food on them. "Perfect timing," she thought, seeing Harry waving at her. He had saved her a seat. She sat down to find Samantha looking at her from across the table. Her back was turned towards the Slytherin table. "Trouble in paradise," Ginny asked her blonde friend. Ginny peeked over Samantha's shoulder to see one Blaise Zanbini talking to Crabbe and Goyle, looking bored. As Ginny looked at him, she saw him steal a glance at Samantha before going back to his topic of discussion. He seemed more bored after the look.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Samantha said, buttering a baked potato. "Right," Ginny smirked taking a piece of chicken. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at the girls oddly. As Ginny looked up and down the table to decide what else to eat, she saw Pansy trot into the great hall, giving the room a snotty look. Hermione made a sound of disapproval and Ginny turned to her.

The brunette was looking at Pansy shaking her head. "She's seemed so high and mighty lately. More than usual anyways," Hermione said suspiciously. "You'd think she was personally responsible for things turning out the way they did," Ron said shoving food into his mouth. Hermione gave Ron horrified look as Harry shook his head.

"What do you mean," asked Ginny confused.

Ron wiped his mouth with his arm before saying, "You know like breaking up you and Mal- ouch! Hermione that was my shin!" Hermione looked at Ginny apologetically as Harry seemed to decide that mashing his mashed potatoes was the best way to avoid this conversation. "She does seem snobbier than usual though," Samantha agreed, seeming to ignore the whole previous moment.

Ginny chewed her chicken, watching as Pansy laughed and glared right back at her. Ginny wondered what she could possibly think she had succeeded. Had she been one of the informants to Nagendra and Voldemort? If so, Ginny couldn't understand how getting Draco "killed" would make her feel smug. Ginny shook her head turning back to the conversation at hand, one in which Hermione and Ron were arguing over the purpose of potatoes.

Halfway through dinner, Dumbledore stood. It was odd because he did not often interrupt a meal with an announcement. Ginny looked at Harry and saw his face turn into an expression of concern. The rest of the hall seemed to share Harry's feeling of foreboding because they came to a hush much quicker than usual. As if sensing the student's worry, Dumbledore smiled down at them, eyes twinkling reassuringly. "I am not standing to announce any sort of disaster or death that our news are filled with these days," Dumbledore assured them. Ginny thought she could hear a few people sighing in relief. "No, this is a much more joyful occasion," Dumbledore continued, "as many of you may know, the president of the Confederation of Magical States is working with Minister Fudge for the next six months or year to make a plan of action to combat and protect against Lord Voldemort's attacks." Ginny saw numerous people twitch uncomfortably at the use of Voldemort's name, a few others began to whisper in confusion at why they were being told something that the newspapers had announced. At the Slytherin table, numerous students looked bored, or oddly uninterested all together. One or two looked distastefully at Dumbledore, as if this was no good news to them.

Harry nudged Ginny as Dumbledore paused to let the whispers continue. "What's the Confederation of Magical States?" he asked, giving her a confused look. "Oh, it's the name for the wizarding world that exists in the United States," Ginny explained taking a bite of a roll she had been buttering as Dumbledore spoke, "just like we have a prime minister, they have a president. We haven't really communicated much in years though. Mostly because we often have different magical issues."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and the great hall went silent once again. "I am pleased to announce that President Abeowan's daughter, Emily Abeowan will be attending our school until her father's business in the country is complete. Early she was sorted into Ravenclaw and so shall participate within that house.I hope that we will all work to make her feel welcome," Dumbledore said, motioning to his right. Ginny turned to look.

Standing next to him was a tall girl, perhaps a few inches taller than Ginny, with piercing blue-green eyes that observed the room calmly. She had a long graceful neck that was graced by two or three necklaces. Her hair was presently falling down her back in raven braids, some in a crown like design around her head. Her skin was as dark as Lee Jordans' and the candles made it seem smooth and spotless. Her eyes seemed to pause momentarily on Ginny and Ginny could have sworn that she saw the corners of Emily's elegant mouth twitch. Ginny blinked and when she opened her eyes again, Emily was continuing to look around the room. Perhaps she was crazy, Ginny thought shaking her head. Dumbledore was motioning towards the Ravenclaw table, which was all excitedly buzzing at their luck in getting the daughter of a president in their house.

Ginny noticed that Harry watched carefully as Emily moved towards the table, silently, His expression was a mixture of suspicion and something else, Ginny could not pin point what. Then he suddenly turned to Ginny curiously.

"Do they have a magical senate and house of representatives," asked Harry. Ginny nodded.

"I read that when England was burning witches and wizards, many of them moved to America. Most got away unscathed when the witch trials happened there and with the migration of other wizards from all over the world, the Confederation of the Magical States of America has one of the fastest growing wizarding worlds on the planet," Hermione said excitedly," Isn't that fascinating?"

"Yeah, if you like Yankee magic," Ron said with his mouth full. "Ron, I don't think we should call them Yankees," Hermione scolded, "after all the revolutionary war is over." Ron shrugged.

"I have heard that there have been issues in the past between our politics and theirs," Samantha said looking over at the Ravenclaw table. "They really like dragons and other wild magical creatures. It's been a real issue in the past."

Hermione waved her hand away as if swatting a fly. "We shouldn't judge her by past politics anyway," Hermione said.

"Can we judge her because she and Pansy seem to be friends," asked Samantha. Ginny looked up from her plate to see Pansy approaching the table. Emily stood, moving her long braids from her face, and hugged Pansy as if they were old friends. Ginny made a face.

"That's unfortunate," Hermione said with a sigh. "What happened to not judging," asked Harry with a laugh.

"Yes, well," Hermione said making a face, "anyone who is friends with Pansy must not be completely there."

"Besides, we should be careful who we befriend," Harry said looking quickly at the Ravenclaw table once again. Ginny looked at him oddly. "I've heard that Voldemort is on the war path about Ginny getting away," Harry said, leaning in close to whisper with Ron and Hermione. Ginny rolled her eyes, leaning back to disconnect herself from the dream team scheming, despite the fact that she was the topic. She sighed. They would exclude her even when it involved her.

"Are you listening," asked Ron annoyed. Ginny looked at him surprised, "I wasn't aware I was suppose to be." Ron rolled his eyes, "It's about you," he snapped. "Oh, sorry," Ginny replied sheepishly. Samantha grinned.

"Anyway," Harry continued, "we ought to be careful; we're extremely vulnerable. Especially because we don't have any idea what he could do to try to kill Ginny. He did kill Malfoy." Ron gave Ginny an overly concerned look.

"At least we don't have to worry about the whole possession thing with that pin and ring," Ron said. Hermione nudged him hard in the arm and he gave her a dark look. "What" he asked annoyed, "It's true because she has no reason to use it. That was a dangerous thing."

"I know but do you have to keep bring up his death," Hermione hissed as if Ginny could not hear them. Ginny pretended her belief was true and looked at Harry confused. He shrugged, though he avoided her eye once again.

"Anyway, I think we should just be careful is all," Harry said talking over the argument that was about to form between the two lovers. Ginny smirked and nodded.

"But we can still go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, right," asked Samantha. Ron jumped as if he'd forgotten she was there. He looked at Harry, unsure if their confidence had been broken. "Yeah I don't see why not," Harry said thoughtfully, not noticing Ron's look, "just let us know if anything odd happens." Ginny nodded, though she felt the flames of annoyance eating at her a bit as she once again thought that she was being treated like a scared kitten. Ginny looked at Samantha, who seemed to give her an exasperated look. Still, it was hard to stay mad when the mentioned Hogsmeade trip was just days away. Ginny could not wait to get a warm butterbeer.

Just as Ginny was imaging the warm butterbeer, an owl flew into the hall. Everyone looked up as it dropped a letter in front of Ginny, flying out crookedly, almost running into the wall before veering right and just making it out the window. "That's odd," Hermione said slowly, "it's not mail time." Ginny picked up the letter, looking to see whom it was from. It had no name, just her own. Samantha nudged Ginny and nodded towards the table of professors. Hagrid was looking at Ginny and the letter curiously, his brow furrowed. Farther down the table, professor McGonagall and Professor Snape had paused their conversation to watch with equally observant eyes, their expressions unreadable. Professor Dumbledore was the only one who smiled at her, moving his head slightly in a nod as if to tell her to open the letter that everyone else seemed to be so skeptical about.

Ginny gave Samantha a look to say, 'professors are so odd," before tearing the letter open. She pulled out a letter. As she opened the parchment, a handful of white and brown dust fell out. Ginny shook her head. "However wrote you must have been writing on a dirty surface and not realized how much dirt there was," Samantha said giving the dirt a disgusted look. Ginny waved her wand to make the dirty disappear before looking back at the parchment.

"Oh that's odd," Ginny said thoughtfully, "it's blank." Harry reached out and took the letter looking it over and turning it. Not a letter of writing was on it. "That is odd," Harry agreed, looking at Ron and Hermione. Ginny shrugged standing up. "Well, I'm off to bed. If you leave it on the table I'm sure someone will clean it up," Ginny said. Samantha stood as well, then they said goodbye before leaving the hall, not noticing the questioning look Harry gave Dumbledore and certainly not noticing the green-blue eyes that followed her progress out of the hall, and had been watching her open the blank letter.

Ginny stepped out of the carriage into the street of Hogsmeade a few days later, straightening out her robes. It was a lovely, though slightly cold, Saturday and Ginny was more ready than ever for that butterbeer. Samantha straightened her hair as they moved through the crowded streets, bumping shoulders and elbows with way to many people. It didn't help that this Saturday was the annual peddler sale where witches and wizards from all over the world came to Hogsmeade to sell their wares. Ginny and Samantha tried to walk along the edges of the stream of people, in order to see the numerous belts, pets, and other trinkets being sold but make eye contact with one of the vendors and you were sure to be sucked in.

Ginny made this mistake once as she noticed a wonderfully emerald green purse with a dragon on it, making her do a double take. The vendor, noticing her eyes, waved her over with calls of, "You like? For you, cheap! It will bring out your flaming hair perfectly!" Ginny had tried to shake her head no, but she had been bumped by someone hard on the shoulder and pushed form he crowd. Samantha had followed seeming thrilled.

"This is the finest silk," the vendor continued having Ginny touch the purse. "It is made by hundreds of silk worms and is hand sewn by muggles, then enchanted by the finest purse maker so that it can hold almost anything you need it to," the vendor continued, putting the strap over Ginny's neck to rest on her sore shoulder that had been pushed in the crowd. The vendor brought out a tall lamp with a tacky shade and opened the purse. "Watch," he said excitedly. His balding head shined light into Ginny's eyes and he concentrating on lowering the lamp into the purse. "See," he exclaimed through back his old, boney hands in a 'ta-da' gesture. The whole lamp had disappeared into the purse. Ginny looked inside to see the tacky lampshade looking up at her. "And if it's secrets you keep in your purse," the old man continued, pulling out his wand and tapping the purse twice, "this purse will do it!" Ginny looked in again, the lampshade was nowhere to be seen. "But its still there," said the old man, reaching in and pulling from the nothing the lamp.

"That's fantastic!" squealed Samantha, "I'll take one!" Ginny handed it to her friend, thanking the man who seemed confused by the change but accepted Samantha's money happily.

As they made their way to the three broomsticks, they ran into at least three other vendors, one of whom seemed to give them the stink eye as they walked past, averting their eyes. Ginny looked at Samantha guiltily, "I just don't need a broomstick that gives me a back massage."

"Doesn't everyone need that?" Ginny turned to the voice to find herself looking slightly up into blue-green eyes. Emily was taller than she had thought. "I don't suppose anyone would need it," Ginny said, feeling unsure of how to react. After the Nagendra affair, she was a bit hesitant to trust any new students. She knew it was wrong. Inwardly, she steeled herself and gave a smile to Emily. "How are you liking Hogwarts," she asked. Emily smiled relieved at the continued conversation.

"It's really nice. I like it. A bit different from my other school though," Emily admitted as she held the door open for Ginny and Samantha. "What do you mean," asked Samantha interestedly. "Oh you know," Emily said thoughtfully, "like you guys call that bathrooms the 'loo'. That's a bit odd."

"We also call potato fries 'chips'," Ginny said with a smile.

"What do you call potatoes chips then," asked Emily seeming confused. "Crisps of course," Answered a voice. The three girls turned to see the dream team sitting at a booth just to their right. "Crisps," repeated Emily, seeming to feel the word out. She shook her head, "just not the same." Ginny smiled, though she noticed Hermione was looking suspiciously at Emily. Emily seemed to notice and shift nervously before saying, "Well, good to talk to you two, see you around I'm sure." Emily placed her arms around both Samantha and Ginny, letting her hands rest on their shoulders in an odd hug before turning and leaving as the two remaining girls sat down in the booth. Hermione continued to watch Emily go, the same look on her face.

"Hermione, your face will get stuck like that if your not careful," Ginny said, taking a sip of her brother's butterbeer. Ron looked annoyed at her.

"I just don't know how I feel about her, I get an odd feeling," Hermione said tapping her finger to her chin, "something is different about her." "Like she's American," suggested Ron helpfully. Hermione gave him a look that made him shrink away.

"I don't know," Hermione answered then she looked at Ginny, frowning suddenly. She nudged Harry, who sat next to her. He looked up, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Ginny, what's on your shoulder," he asked suddenly.

Ginny rubbed the side of her shoulder. "Probably a bruise, I was nudged pretty hard on that side when we were walking through the crowd," Ginny replied. "No," Harry said pointing to the top of the shoulder she was rubbing. Ginny brushed her shoulder where he was looking. White and brown dust, much like the dust that had been in the envelope, flew off. "That's odd," Ginny said.

"Was that there before your hug," asked Hermione. Ginny gave her an odd look.

"I can't see my shoulder, maybe," Ginny said with a shrug. Harry exchanged an annoyingly secretive look with Ron and Hermione. Ginny could understand why Draco got annoyed with such behavior. "What?" Samantha asked.

"We were talking earlier," Harry explained, "about how right when Emily appeared, so did a letter with that dust and now right after she touches your shoulder it also appears. It's a bit odd." Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"You think that Emily is part of a plan? Her dad is working with Fudge to stop Voldemort's wrath," Ginny said frowning.

"Fudge isn't the best ally though," Ron reminded Ginny, "Besides it is all an odd connection." Ginny shrugged but she turned to see where Emily had departed. Emily was gone.

"And so they think that the daughter of the president of the magical USA is a deatheater and trying to kill you," repeated Draco trying to decode what Ginny had finished telling him. They had met, as always, in the room of requirements. Today the furnishings were only two chairs and chess table. "Move my knight to E5," Draco added. Ginny did and then looked at the board in thought.

"Well, is that what your telling me," Draco asked again. Ginny held up her hand as she continued to look at the board. "Ginny, we are conversing! Multitask," Draco whined. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him.

"Since when do Malfoy's whine," she asked.

"Since this Malfoy became desperate to talk to someone other than Lela Snape, Charlie Weasley, Dumbledore, and Professor Snape," Draco told her as she moved her queen to take the knight he had just moved.

"Sorry, chess is serious business in my family," Ginny explained, "but yes, that is what they think." Draco rolled his eyes, though she wasn't sure if it was at the dream team's theory or at her explanation of taking her time looking at the chessboard.

"That's ridiculous," he scoffed. "Why, isn't there a game Malfoys take seriously," Ginny asked insulted.

Draco shook his head with a smile. "Not the Weasley thing! Emily being a deatheater thing," Draco explained, "the very idea that Americans would be involved in our dark side is a bit absurd. Besides, I would know." Ginny raised her eyebrow at Draco.

"Well, I would," he said unabashed, "my father is in the inner ring and he would have bragged about being good friends with the president or at the very least his daughter. There is no way. Besides, what would she gain? It doesn't make sense."

"I don't think that necessarily means they are wrong though," Ginny said pushing hair behind her ear, "It is all rather suspect."

Draco looked like he was deciding if he should explain more. He looked around and leaned forward as I to share a secret. "Look, I'll let you in on an extremely well hidden secret," he said.

"If its so well hidden how do you know," asked Ginny teasing. Draco gave her a half exasperated look.

"Because Emily told me when she was visiting London last time and we were very small. She said it was a secret and had never told anyone else and that I could never tell. She doesn't seem like she'd break her word," Draco explained, then he ran his hand through his hair, seem unsure once again. Ginny waited patiently, "That dust, well, you see," Draco began again, and then paused. He looked up as if he heard something on his side of the communication. He cleared his throat as if to begin again, "Someone is coming but this is direly important, Ginny, so listen closely," Draco said hurriedly. "Emily is-" Draco began but no sooner had he begun to speak then his image suddenly faded.

Ginny stared at the empty place where Draco's image had just been. Had they been cut off? Ginny closed her eyes and tried to picture Draco's blonde hair, his touch, his smile, and his kiss… when she opened her eyes he had still not appeared. Ginny frowned, taking her pin off of her cloak and looking at it. It may have been her imagination but the emerald eyes of the dragon seemed to glow more dimly than before.