Summer was coming to a close and Ginny Weasley found herself feeling that same peculiar longing she felt at the end of every long break. She wanted desperately to go back to Hogwarts, to play Quidditch, to see all her friends, to do something. This would soon be replaced by a furious wish for winter break once she was buried under piles of parchment with impossible deadlines, but for now, she was tired of having to endure the boredom that came with being the only person at the Burrow not in the Order.

A sudden bout of rain had forced her inside late one afternoon. She wandered about the house, hoping someone had opted out of the daily meetings, but, quite unsurprisingly, she was alone. She slumped up the stairs, the idea of taking a nap floated through her mind, but she wasn't tired. Even more repulsive was the option of finishing, 'or starting, rather,' she thought dejectedly, her summer homework. She would half-ass it the few days before it was due, as always.

At the top of the stairs was the door to the attic, which she realized she had never explored. As a child, she peaked in once, but saw the glint of something in the darkness and ran away frightened. The feeling of childish, unfounded fear crept icily into her stomach as she cautiously opened the door.

"Lumos," she muttered quickly, before she even stepped into the room. The light from the tip of her wand was reflected in something in the corner, the same glinting object she saw years ago that frightened her away. She froze as if her life depended on it, but after a few moments without sensing movement anywhere in the room, she hesitantly stepped forward.

It was nothing but a rusty old phonograph. She remembered her father bringing it home from work one day with a box of records, attempting to figure the thing out, but giving up after breaking a record in half. He was decidedly disappointed, as he was fascinated with muggle forms of entertainment, wondering if there were magical properties that allowed sound to be stored on the thin black discs. She had no idea it was up there, nor did she have any idea how to work it.

Deciding not to touch it, she opted instead to explore the box of records

beside it. She brushed a few cobwebs off the top and coughed a little as dust rose while she flipped through the records. Taking a record from one of the plain brown sleeves, she didn't recognize any of the words written on the circle in the center.

She glanced hesitantly at the record player. Her father had gotten as far as figuring out where to put the disc, but couldn't manage more. After setting the record in the center, she touched the brass bell, swiveling it slightly on its rusty hinge, but stopped when she felt the wear of decades threaten to give way. Sitting back on her haunches, she just looked at the muggle contraption.

She brushed dust from the body of the record player half-heartedly, wondering how to get it to start playing the music it promised. Her fingers stumbled over the lever settled to the right of the record. It moved! She couldn't move it fully without picking it up slightly. Losing her grip, it fell in the middle of the record.

Suddenly, the attic was filled with a boisterous sound. Startled, she quickly picked up the lever and at once, the record and the sound stopped spinning. Was it really that easy? She cautiously placed the fragile, slightly bent needle at the tip of the lever at the far edge of the disc.

The only sound she heard this time was crackling, though the record was spinning. Her heart sank, thinking she had broken the thing only seconds after accidentally making it work. After a few moments, she was about ready to get up and go sulk in her room when she heard a whisper of violins.1

She was at once very nervous, although she didn't know why. The musical line was beautiful, drifting quietly through the dusty attic air. It swelled and enveloped her in a warmth she had never felt before. She closed her eyes and let the sound wash over her. Soon, horns joined the violins and she started swaying along with the rhythm. This was nothing like the music she knew in the wizarding world.

2The soft sound of strings was at once replaced by a booming rhythm, startling her from her contented trance. It was loud, but wonderful. She could barely stifle her will to dance, laughing under her breath as happiness erupted from her. A rich male voice joined the instruments, followed by an equally beautiful, high female voice. The melody was simple, but catchy, repeated by each singer and then a chorus of voices.

'Amazing!' She thought excitedly. As the piece rushed hurriedly to its end, she took the needle and moved it back, again and again, listening to this song over and over. She caught the melody quickly enough and began to hum along, even if she had no idea what they were singing about.

After a few times through, the tempo began to slow considerably, the voices drooping lower and lower until eventually the record came to a complete stop. Disappointed, she desperately tried to find a way to start the thing again, but was interrupted by the shuffling of feet downstairs. How long had she been up here?

Deciding to return later, she made her way to the kitchen, her full voice overtaking the gentle hum she had begun with.

"Do I hear a Ginny?" Asked Charlie, from around the corner.

Thoroughly engrossed in her half-singing, she skipped down the few remaining stairs and bounded into her brother's chest. He laughed, hugging her and kissing the top of her head. She took his hands and started swaying, trying to dance with him, but he froze.

"Charlie, dance with me!" She said emphatically, barely finishing her sentence before returning to singing the melody.

His eyes, unblinking, had quickly gone pale. "Ginny," he managed to choke out, "what-"

But Ginny couldn't stop singing. It was like she was possessed, hungry to share this song with anyone within earshot. She wouldn't let go of his hands, her knuckles turning white with pressure.

Her grip fell when he collapsed. Shocked out of her frenzy, she stared at her brother's crumpled form as her mother rounded the corner.

"Ginny, your brother was helping me prepare the-" Molly's eyes widened as all the air went out of her lungs. "What happened? Ginny, what happened!" She bent over Charlie and began to yell frantically, "Charlie! Charlie, wake up! Please, Charlie!"

Remus and Harry had hurried into the corridor after hearing her pleas. Concerned, Harry knelt beside Molly, but Remus stood staring at Ginny.

She was glowing, light emanating from the whites of her eyes. He was taken aback with the power she was radiating. "Ginny," he said, his brows furrowing, "what…how…I-Albus!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, his eyes never leaving hers. "Albus get in here!"

Her breathing was ragged, she could hear her heart pounding in her ears, but she couldn't move. She was pulsating, her skin tingling with a new kind of magic.

"He's breathing! Oh thank goodness." Molly sighed, exasperated. "Harry, help me lift him. He needs air." The two carried Charlie out of sight, just as Dumbledore came round the corner.

"Remus, what ha-" The words dried up in the old wizard's throat as his eyes fell on Ginny. He took a few deep breaths, his eyes darkening. "Ginny," he said softly, "I'm going to need you to tell me what happened."

Still, she couldn't move. Every inch of her was sparking with electricity. If she moved, she might lose this feeling, so she stood, active and alive, but still. She opened her mouth to reply, only half registering her words, but nothing came. The sheer aliveness she felt turned into panic as she felt she couldn't catch her breath.

Remus rushed to her, catching her just as her knees gave out. He could feel her shallow breathing wrack through her body. He stroked her hair and whispered hushed nonsense into her ear. She moaned audibly and closed her eyes as his hand tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. He looked up at Dumbledore, startled and embarrassed, his eyes asking for an answer.

"Take her to Severus. Perhaps he has a potion to calm her down. I'll go," he hesitated, looking at Ginny twisting rapturously in Remus' arms, "check on Charlie."

Remus carried Ginny quickly up the stairs, bursting unceremoniously into the room where Snape was staying for the time being.

He had removed his robe and was sitting at his desk, bent over a thick book. Startled, he rose quickly, a look of anger dissolving into one of serious concern as he saw Ginny in his arms.

Her eyes closed, she didn't register anything but how her skin moved under Remus' ministrations. She was still glowing, a sight that was as unsettling as it was beautiful. He set her down cautiously on Severus' bed, "We found her like this," he began, "standing over Charlie. He collapsed. I-I don't know what happened." His voice began to shake, as his trembling hand kept stroking her hair, afraid of what she would do if he stopped.

Severus came up beside the bed, eyes quickly darting over her. He looked up at Remus, "What was she doing before Charlie passed out?"

"I don't know," he said, the knot in his throat growing with every word.

"Lupin." He shot venomously. "Think. What happened?"

"I don't know!" He shouted. "I don't know! I was in the kitchen with Harry, heading out back to see if the rain had stopped," he let out a ragged breath, "before we heard singing." He inhaled slowly, forcing himself calm. "We heard singing. She was singing. Then Molly started screaming."

Severus turned his attention to Ginny, "Go get Albus." When Remus didn't move, his tone turned menacing, "Go get Albus! Now!"

As quickly as he rushed out of the room, Ginny's eyes flew open. She let out a series of struggled noises. Severus deftly moved to the foot of his bed and began digging through his trunk, trying to ignore her plaintive cries. He found the calming draught he was looking for and rushed back to her. Sitting on the side of the bed, his arms slithered around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Her eyes slid closed and she let out a contented sigh. As he was about to uncork the draught, he hesitated, watching as she calmed down under his hands. Cradling her head, he stroked her arm and she sighed again. Her breathing was considerably deeper and had slowed to an almost normal pace.

He lifted his hand, uncorked the vial with his teeth, and tipped it gently into her panting mouth. "Swallow," he said softly, "drink all of this." When the vial was empty, he urged her mouth closed and stroked her neck. "There you go."

Her eyes fluttered open drowsily as her breathing returned to normal. Slowly, she lifted herself up and buried her face in his neck, moaning at the contact. Her hands found their way up his back and into his hair.

"Alright you." He said softly, but stern. This was the first time he was able to take in the power that was pouring from her. He shuddered as her fingers tangled in his hair. Albus gently opened the door, careful not to draw Ginny's attention from Severus.

"She's calmed down some?" He asked, a disapproving look coming from his eyes.

Severus sighed, "Yes, I suppose. Albus," he began hurriedly, "Lupin said she was singing before Charlie fainted. Do you think," he laughed in disbelief of his own words, "is it even possible? This girl?"

Dumbledore removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I believe Ginny might be a Siren."

1 La Traviata – Overture – Verdi

2 La Traviata – Brindisi – Verdi

Author's Note- A new story! I've had this floating around in my head for a number of years, but have just worked out all the details of it. A few technical things:

There will be a listening guide along with this story that will come in the form of footnotes. I will list the name of the opera or work, the title of the song, and the composer. You can find any of these songs on youtube easily.

Many of these pieces will be in a different language. When these come along, I will put the translations at the end of the chapter with the listening guide.

Enjoy!