Blue in the Face
By Tess Walker
Rating: R – adult content, language and some violence.
Summary: Ginny has a detention with a few other students from Professor Snape. It is a night that, however hard she tries, she will never forget and it changes her life forever. WARNING: This is going to be a little dark but I promise to try to make it end somewhat well.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling and Warner Brother's Studios own all names, places and events mentioned in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. All of the above are used for the sole purpose of entertainment and no profit is being made as a result of this publication. The title of this story is the title of an Alkaline Trio song. All of the chapter titles are either quotations from a song or a song title.
Author's Note: It's marked as Romance/Angst. This is tentative. Angst will be plenty and I'm planning on there being a little bit of actual romance in it. If there is romance, it will be D/G. Just to let you know, in case that pairing bothers you. I still encourage you to read and review this though. I've got college essays to write so feel free to criticize my style. I can use all the help available… By the way, this chapter's title is taken from a song by Big Audio Dynamite.
Chapter One: Situation No Win
Ginny slowly opened her eyes. They drifted across the room until they landed on her clock. She shot straight out of bed with a yelp and ran frantically around her room getting ready. She grabbed her books and sprinted as fast as she could to the dungeons while tying her tie into a sloppy but passable knot. She slowed down as she reached her classroom door and took a deep breath before she entered; knowing a storm of insults and criticisms awaited her from Professor Snape.
"Miss Weasley how nice of you to join us," sneered Professor Snape. "Fifteen points from Gryffindor and a detention tonight for your exorbitant tardiness." Ginny groaned – this was not a good start to the day.
"I'm very sorry, Professor," Ginny managed to say as she made her way to her seat. "Here's my essay." She put the roll of parchment on his desk and took her seat next to Victoria Frobisher. "Why didn't you wake me?" hissed Ginny.
"Sorry," whispered Vicky. "I thought you would wake up on your own."
"Miss Weasley, Miss Frobisher, no talking. Five points from Gryffindor each and a detention to both of you," said Professor Snape. "And Miss Weasley, in case you can't count that high, that's two detentions for you."
"Yes Professor," said Ginny.
"What crawled up his ass and died?" asked Andrew Kirke from behind her.
"I heard that, Mr. Kirke," said Professor Snape. "Five more points from Gryffindor and another detention. I suggest you just keep working at the risk of more points being taken." Ginny inwardly whimpered and glanced over at the other side of the room where the Slytherins were sitting, gleeful looks on their faces but apparently realizing that any other outward sign of their happiness would result in lost points for their house as well. Apparently Snape was not in a good mood. She thanked God that her brother didn't have Potions today. Snape walked by her cauldron, rather stiffly Ginny thought, and looked down at her potion simmering in the cauldron. He sniffed – the fact that she was a passable potions student bothered him. She looked up hopefully but Professor Snape rolled his eyes. All of the sudden she heard a boom from behind her and turned around to see Colin Creevey with soot on his face and a smoking cauldron.
"Oh no," said Ginny under her breath. Vicky gave her a sympathetic look and continued with their potion.
"Stupid fool," shouted Professor Snape. "Do you have any idea what you could have done? We're lucky to all still be alive! Ten points from Gryffindor and you will be joining your housemates in a detention." One Slytherin, Malcolm Campbell, couldn't resist himself and he choked back a laugh. Snape rounded on him suddenly and the poor boy quivered in his chair. "Think near death experiences are laughable Mr. Campbell? Very well. Three points from Slytherin for your utter stupidity and you, as well, can join your peers in detention for sheer idiocy." The Slytherins were dumbfounded as Professor Snape swept through their half of the room inspecting their potions. Ginny had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from smiling, and even still she bent her head down and shot Vicky a sidelong glance filled with delight. The bell rang after a few minutes, thankfully before anymore points had been docked from Gryffindor, but not before Professor Snape announced a large test on Restorative Potions, a chapter that they had yet to finish.
"I think," said Drew, "that we just witnessed, for the first time in Hogwart's History, that Snape ever deducted points from his own house."
"Mind, it was two points less than everyone else," said Vicky. "But I think we'll live."
"This is still probably the worst day I've had all year," said Ginny. "I slept through half of class, got not one, but two detentions with Snape and we have a test on a chapter we haven't even started yet. It's only been first period! Still, I feel worse for Colin. You know he's still getting tongue lashed by Snape?" Vicky and Drew winced as they headed towards Transfiguration. The three waited for Professor McGonagall to finish assigning the last bit of homework. This was the seventh year's class and Ginny immediately spotted her brother's fireball hair. He apparently caught sight of her too because he sent Hermione and Harry ahead.
"Hey Gin, we missed you at breakfast this morning," he said, sounding concerned. "Where were you?"
"I overslept," Ginny explained. "I was thirty minutes late for Potions. I have a detention tonight with Snape. I can't wait. Do me a favor?"
"Anything," said Ron.
"Ask Hermione if she can spare an hour tonight to help me with Restorative Potions? We have a test tomorrow and we haven't even finished the chapter yet," said Ginny.
"It must not have gone well," said Ron.
"What?" she asked, then lowered her voice. "Did he have a mission to go on last night?" Ron nodded and Ginny groaned. "No wonder, I thought he was walking a little stiffly. Stay clear of his path alright? He was so angry at Colin it spilled over and he docked points from Slytherin." Ron grinned from ear to ear, as only he could.
"Thanks for the heads up," he said. "But wait till I tell Harry, he'll be thrilled!"
"Get going, you're going to be late," said Ginny. Ron went sprinting down the hall and Ginny entered the classroom to take a seat next to Vicky. Professor McGonagall erased the board with a swish of her wand.
"Pull out some blank parchment," she said and the whole room let out a louder than usual moan of protest. "Pop quiz." Professor McGonagall somehow managed to exert her voice over the noise without sounding like she was raising her voice. Ginny shook her head to empty all thoughts of her horrid Potions class and tried to recall the reading she did late last night.
Ginny flopped down next to her brother and laid her head on his shoulder. Ron squeezed her shoulders and lay his head on top her hers for a minute. He patted her back and gave her a sympathetic look.
"Bad day?" asked Harry empathetically.
"The worst," said Ginny, helping herself to the beef stew in front of her. "First, I sleep through half of Potions to receive a detention from Snape. Then McGonagall gives us a pop quiz on a reading that I only skimmed. During Muggle Studies, I must have failed my report because I mixed up the differences between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Herbology was my only good class because mine was the only one that hadn't died overnight. I'll spare you the gory details but let me tell you, it only got worse."
"Well if you want, I'll help you with your Potions," said Hermione. "Besides, it'll help me review for my N.E.W.T.s."
"Which are still four months away, Hermione," said Ron.
"It's never too early to start reviewing," said Hermione in a huff.
"Thanks Hermione," said Ginny. "I'll just find you in the common room after my detention then."
"Speaking of detention," said Drew as he and Vicky sat down next to her. "We have to be there in ten minutes."
"You're joking right?" asked Ginny.
"Actually its more like twelve," said Vicky.
"I haven't changed yet," said Ginny. "I'm still in my uniform."
"Well just go in your uniform, the house elves will take care of it," said Drew, ignoring the livid glare he received from Hermione.
"This is my last clean set of robes," said Ginny. "They don't leave the laundry until tomorrow afternoon."
"I'll lend you some," said Vicky. "No worries. We better go; otherwise it'll be three for you Ginny."
"Three?" asked Ron.
"I got another for 'talking' to Vicky," said Ginny. She made a face and headed towards the dungeons.
"Situation no win… Rush for a change of atmosphere… I can't go on so I give in… Gotta get myself right out of here." – Big Audio Dynamite