-1
Chapter one.
A Time For Change.
Ginny Weasley lay in her bed in the small cramped room of the burrow. It was a warm, sticky night and the window had long been opened in attempt to catch any breeze that passed. The covers were pushed to the very bottom of her bed, leaving only a small thin sheet to cover over herself. The red head stretched out her hand in the dark to pick up her small bedside clock and holding it just in front of her she tilted it slightly to the right, to allow some moonlight be cast on it's face. It read 2 am.
Placing the clock back into its settlement she looked up towards the low hanging ceiling of her room. It was a small room, yet cosy. The bed she was occupying was situated at the far right corner beneath the window. A small desk was pushed to the opposite side and on it was strewn several books, some parchment, a quill she had had since starting Hogwarts and her owl cage, which was currently empty. The rest of her inhabitance was quite free of clutter, apart from some shelves on the wall, precariously balancing some old stuff and her trunk, which lay at the bottom of her bed. She certainly missed her room when she was at school, the privacy for one thing was definitely hard to come by, but above all there was silence, allowing her to think and concentrate when she needed to.
Raising her hand to her head she rubbed her temple gently, not quite understanding why her brain refused to switch itself off. She had been lying there for hours in thought, her mind reeling through everything. Everything from school, to the events of the last year and mostly about, Harry. She felt a sinking feeling in the very gut of her stomach. He wouldn't be returning this year, nor her brother and Hermione. Her eyes stung slightly with the thought. What would she do without them? It wasn't as though she was lonely, she did have other friends, it was just, they were the ones she spent the most time with. Especially Harry.
She felt annoyed with herself for getting so upset about it because she knew they weren't coming back and that she couldn't go with them, so what was the point in putting so much effort in wondering about it. She rolled over on to her side in order to get more comfortable, closing her eyes. If she thought doing this would help her sleep, she could think again because all she saw in the darkness of her mind, was Harry.
Letting out a growling noise as she did, she stood up and skulked over to her desk to try and distract herself. Picking up a few lone pieces of parchment she saw a shining cover of a magazine, glistening under the moonlight. She picked it up, not able to remember when she left it there and shrugging slightly she glanced down at the front cover. A headline read 'Windsor Scandal'. Ginny rolled her eyes once looking to see who had written it. "Rita Skeeter," she mumbled under breath, rolling her eyes again.
Knowing that it would be a pile of rubbish, she skimmed her eyes over the tiny lettering.
"A young Miss Rachel Windsor, going into her sixth year at Hogwarts was involved in a rather serious event over the past weekend. After her victory in the under 18's Quidditch world final, Miss Windsor attended an extravagant celebratory party…"
Ginny's eyes flicked over a few more lines until continuing.
"…The young Quidditch champion was seen, in contact with a boy also at the event. Particular rumours have been confirmed, saying that she was seen kissing the young man under the lavish waterfall in the courtyard. I myself caught a glimpse of their young 'love' when they held hands and walked back into the hall."
Ginny placed the magazine back on to her desk, frowning darkly to herself. Rachel Windsor, her mind repeated. The article was right she thought, the girl was in her year at school. She bit her lip slightly as she mussed…Rachel Windsor. She had never actually spoken to the her, just knew who she was and the reputation of her family was as strong as the Malfoy's, both being very old Wizarding families.
Giving the magazine another look over, Ginny realised that the entire article was about how Rachel apparently 'cheated' on her former boyfriend - however, it didn't mention his name. She frowned again and stared blankly to her right and out of the window. The sky was dark, yet warm. Plush clouds pushed themselves passed the moon every now and then.
A loud grumble issued itself from her stomach. Looking down she gave a small sigh and rubbed it slightly, thinking the words I know as she did so. Peering over to the clock again she found it had only been ten minutes since she last checked. Taking in another sigh and tapping her toes lightly against the wooden floor she decided she might go and grab some food from the kitchen below.
Making her way across her room and opening the door it gave a small squeak, so she paused just to check no one had heard, then opening it fully she crept on down the spiralling stairs.
Once reaching the hall way she crossed over to the kitchen door opposite, slowly turned the handle slightly and pushed it away from its frame. Inside, it looked the same as it ever did. The wooden table tops blank in the darkness and her mother's pans hung loosely from beneath a thin beam. She walked past the small island in the middle and bent down slightly, opening a small cupboard.
She must have been rummaging for a while until a hoarse voice was heard.
"Ginny?" It has asked in a low whisper, but still loud enough for her to hear. Jumping slightly she hit her head off the unit just above and pulled back out immediately.
"Dad?" She said back, a slight tone of worry in her voice. He was sat in the high backed armchair at the other side of the room, sitting in front of the fire place, which was in the process of extinguishing.
"What are you doing Gin? It's half two in the morning." He looked at her quizzically from round his seat.
'Oh..' Shuffling her feet slightly she replied 'I was hungry. I didn't really eat much at tea so… Yeah.' She gave him an innocent smile, which he accepted as he requested her to take a seat beside him.
Following his orders, she sat down. The soft base of the chair cushioned her as it always did and looking up at her father she could see the weariness in his eyes. He didn't say anything for a long minute, but played with a small box in his hand. Ginny eyed it questionably but then he spoke.
"Looking forward to going back to school, Gin?" He had asked all too brightly. She looked at him for a second, not expecting that question to come first.
"Erm… Yeah, I suppose. I get to see my friends…" She trailed off at the mention of friends and her father offered her a weak smile of concern.
"Yes, well I must say Ginny you are taking the news of Ron and the other two rather well," he didn't meet her eyes exactly at this, then concluded "with the fact they aren't going back."
"Yeah, well there isn't much I can do really, so.." Not quite knowing what to say, she stared into the fireplace.
Her father shuffled a little awkwardly in his chair, his hands still fiddling with the small box. Obviously thinking on his feet more he had decided to change the topic, slightly.
"I hear quite a few students aren't returning this year, put off by the events of last year I suppose," he frowned a small frown as he said this but then added more positively "but, Hogwarts still remains the safest place."
Ginny looked back round to her father.
"Dad," she let out slowly. "Do you think Malfoy will be returning?" Her father made a slight movement at this and it wasn't until after saying these words she realised that she spoke the boys name through gritted teeth.
Mr Weasley raised his eyebrow a little as he thought. "Yes, I believe he is. His mother was distraught by the end of last year and argued immensely that Draco had been under pressure by You-Know-Who and that he was acting to follow his orders. Playing on the safe side for his father's sake." He sighed deeply. "Of course, the Malfoy's being who they are were granted their wish… He will be returning, yes."
Ginny could feel her eyes darkening by the second. The sound of this news lodged itself in her chest, which evidently had and affect on what she said next. "Is it safe to let the lying little Death Eater back in the castle? What about the students, and the rest of us? If he could do it last year there's nothing stopping him this year." She had said this through gritted teeth then breathed very heavily, feeling her nostril flare.
"There is nothing that can be done, Gin," her father replied reassuringly. "He's already been accepted back to finish his final year and complete his N.E.W.T's." He paused for a while, looking very tentative, as though something was playing on his mind.
Looking at her father, she noticed he was biting his lower lip and a small look of worry pervaded its way onto his aging features. "Ginny…" He said slowly, gradually taking his time. "Are you in anyway, close to Mr. Malfoy?"
Ginny looked straight at her father at this. Close to Malfoy? What on earth was he asking that for? He knew fine well that she hated him and she was sure her last comment could only emphasise this.
"Ah, no dad, I'm wouldn't say so."
"Yes, well I didn't expect you to be…" His voice trailed off. Ginny continued to stare at him.
"Why, dad?"
"Oh, nothing it's just, some of the order suggested, well it's nothing really-"
"Dad, what is it?" She asked cutting him off, her words now sharper.
"Well, the order suggested that maybe someone should, you know, watch over him, take notice so to speak…"
"You mean spy on him?" Ginny raised her eyebrow at this.
"Well yes…" There was a long silence again and then "Well it wouldn't be so much as spying, just paying a bit more attention."
"I never paid any attention to the ferret in the first place," she grumbled under her breath making her words just audible. Her father gave a small grin at her comment.
"Well, we had just thought that, as you are the only one connected to the order in the school, that is reliable…" He gave a small pause here, "I mentioned that possibly you might be able to help us out a little."
Ginny could feel that her eyes had widened when she heard the announcement. Her father wanted her to spy on Malfoy? What on earth… "I mean-" he quickly added, judging her face "If you said no, it would be understandable..." He left his words half finished, obviously hoping for some comment from his daughter.
"Look, dad. I hate him. I have nothing in common with him. I'm in a whole different year to him in school and nothing would ever compel me to become any nearer to him."
Her father looked at her with a face of both understanding and disappointment. Ginny could feel a slight pang of guilt in her heart after her words. Then added, "Okay, I'll think it through. Just give me a couple of weeks to settle back in and then maybe I'll give it a shot."
Looking in to her father's face she could see a shimmering smile across his lips and a warm spot of hope in his eyes.
"There's my girl," he said leaning forward and rubbing her hand. "Well…" He concluded "You have a busy day tomorrow and I wouldn't want you falling behind on you first day back."
She nodded slightly and gave a tired smile. Picking herself up from out of the chair and adding a small wave to her father, she left the room and headed back up the stairs to bed, her stomach still just as empty as before.
The morning after came sooner than she had expected and because of her father's suggestion she was unable to sleep, repeatedly playing and toying with the thought all through the night. It was completely absurd. She hardly ever saw the lad let alone talk to him and he was possibly now the most hated kid in the school and the fact that he was a Slytherin meant that everyone disliked him in the first place. Except those who are actually 'friends' with him.
Ginny sat downstairs with her back against one of the walls in the hall. She sat with her bottom against the top of her trunk, pretending to occupy herself with one of her books in her hand. Every now and again she flicked a page for a more realistic effect as her mind continued to wander.
Suppose she did take on her father's 'task', she would never be able to pull off a reason, or find one at that rate, to even get close to Malfoy. Not that she'd want to in the first place, mind you. But she was in a different year, so it wasn't as though she had any lessons with him and they were always at different ends of the school every other time. The only occasions they did have the misfortune of meeting was either in the great hall, or on the Qudditch Pitch, not exactly a place for friendly conversation.
As she continued to preoccupy herself, out of the corner of her eye she could see her family bustling around the house. Her mother rushing backwards and forwards, all the while murmuring to herself and her father was stood outside on the yard, beside himself with the excitement of once again being in contact with the Muggle invention of the 'car', which they would be taking to Kings Cross Station.
Closing her book and getting up, she stuffed it back into her trunk, shutting it, it locked itself with a small click.
As she took a seat in the back of the vehicle, her trunk placed itself gracefully in the open boot of the car. Her mother obviously figured a bit of magic would be okay considering the taxi driver was distracted completely by her husband on the other side of the yard. Sighing as she did, Ginny looked out of the window and saw her father and the harassed looking man return to the car.
Her mother, standing at the door wearing her piny, caught Ginny's eye and walked over to her open window.
"Now Ginny," she started in her motherly tone "please try and enjoy yourself this year. I know it will be hard, getting used to Ron and that not being there, but think of it this way, it would have happened next year anyway…" She offered Ginny a very small, weak smile of hesitation.
Ginny returned the look to her mother. She was right, they would have left next year anyway, at least now she has a head start of making some new friends. "Yeah, your right mum," she replied in a soft and accepting voice. Giving her a slightly cheerier smile, her mother leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'll see you in the holidays honey!" And with that, the taxi's engine had been revved and they started to drive away, as her mother left waving them off back in the safety and warmth of the Burrow.
Ginny distanced herself from her father and the driver for the entirety of the trip. The other man was obviously annoyed at Mr. Weasley's continuous questions of the car and he was not being conspicuous about giving Ginny's father looks of mild disbelief.
Once at the station, Ginny got out of the car and helped herself to her trunk, whilst her father paid for the journey.
"So that's how much, sorry? Oh yes, right, there you are."
The man looked at her father with a face of disgust "Your three pounds short there, mate!" Mr. Weasley looked at the rest of the change in his pouch and then, to save more confusion he tipped it into the drivers open hand, who, once again gave Mr. Weasley a look of utter dismay and then got back into his car.
"Not a very happy fellow was he?" Her father said to her, a small frown on his face. Ginny said nothing.
Standing on platform 'Nine and Three Quarters' Ginny's father turned to her with a more serious expression, his following words to match.
"Remember what I said Ginny, about Malfoy. I'm not saying that you have to accept it, but at least give it some thought." He paused to look at his daughter, her face in a look of slight contemplation. He then offered a simple "Please" and Ginny nodded. "Thank you Ginny. Right well, this is you," he said, issuing to the steam train now making noises, signalling for the last of the stragglers to board.
Giving one last look to her father, he held out his arms to her. Accepting, she too did the same and gave her him a small hug.
"I'll send you an owl dad." And with that, she turned to go into the Hogwarts express and returned to the compartment of which her trunk already resided.