Hello all. I don't write for this series often. I am writing in the contents of my knowledge of the movies and some of Pottermore. IT MAY NOT MATCH WORD FOR WORD TO THE BOOKS.
I hope you enjoy this either way. It was a rather random idea that came to mind. Oh! Welcome to my mind.
Candles floated about in the room. They bobbed and sank to certain heights before they rose again to height suitable for the first years to pass under as they walked to the front of the great hall. The sorting hat was already sitting in the glow of all the candles. The light cast wicked shadows across it creating the wrinkles in the leather. His age grew with every bobbing candle as the darkness took it over more and more. Then McGonagall stood as the podium spreads its wings to all in the great hall in welcome.
"Students of Hogwarts! We are happy to welcome you back for your next year of great wizarding training!" Cheers went up the candles stayed steady even though the room seemed to pulse so vividly with excitement. "Now, now!" She used a simple hand motion which immediately brought the noise level down. "Let's welcome our first years as they're sorted into their houses!" There's was another cheer though it wasn't as loud because McGonagall had already pulled out the scroll and had read the first name.
Ginny Weasley was in her last year as she sat quietly at the Gryffindor table. She looked around at her friends laughing in a casual way though it wasn't particularly ecstatic. Harry had graduated the previous year and now she was struggling with keeping herself entertained. She needed something to spark the excitement in her last year just to get her through her final classes of her undergraduate career.
The number of pranks had dropped drastically. Without the other three Weasleys, the school seemed so utterly lacking in a certain element. The element of spontaneous action was only echoed in the small knickknacks that were bought from the joke store on Diagon Ally. So the school lulled lazily into tradition. Like the rest, Ginny clapped whenever a kid was put into Gryffindor and then welcomed the new person, as she was Prefect.
"Marcie Blackwood." McGonagall's name called out and there was a moment of utter silence as the hat just dangled in the air next to the chair as she clutched it. "Marcie Blackwood…" her second call was slightly confused almost as if she wasn't sure she had said it allowed the last time.
"Marcie Blackwood! Bloody step forward!" Someone shouted and laughter broke out for a moment before the doors in the back flew open.
A deep brown wolf launched itself down the center isle sprinting at top speed until suddenly there was a change. It slowly changed forms until it was human with flowing dark hair that swung out into gorgeous ringlets. "I'm sorry," she said smiling as she stepped forward with her dazzling smile, "I got stuck at the Academy. Madame Maxime held me longer than I expected." Everyone looked at her funny because there was something so strange about her. She had this regal, almost challenging heir to her and an American accent tainted by a slight French twinge seemed almost strange to them.
"Fine, very well, come here." McGonagall was already displeased with her and would take no more nonsense. She simply wanted to be done with sorting.
Marcie hurried up the steps to the chair and the hat barely reached her head before it shouted out: "SLYTHERIN!" The smirk on Marcie's face was unmistakable. She was perfectly happy with her placement just as Draco Malfoy had been when he was put into the same house. The house of Slytherin roared with approval and everyone else deflated. They had all secretly hoped for her joining of their house. Any animagus was exciting to have around and Marcie seemed particularly…interesting.
"She's not a first year," the boy next to Ginny whispered and Ginny turn toward the first year who was slowly taking chunks off a giant turkey leg. Ginny was about to comment on how the leg was bigger than his head, but she held her tongue and she asked a simple question to keep the conversation going. "Yea, she's from Beauxbatons. She's older too. Nineteen, I think." Ginny looked back to Marcie who was greeting the Prefect of Slytherin. Her hand slid to the back of her neck and she looked uncomfortable for a moment and then any discomfort faded and she was perfectly confident as the Prefect kissed her hand.
Ginny sat up taller and looked around looking a seventh year that gave her a quick glance letting her know that she was allowed to leave her spot. She then stood and brushed off her robes carefully before heading toward the back of the hall. "Where are you going?" Nearly Headless Nick asked as Ginny went back away from the crowd.
"To send a letter," she looked over at the spirit who nodded and turned around happily heading back to the people that greeted him happily. Ginny however tucked herself away in the darkness of the hallways and headed toward the towers where her owl was. Her owl was a gift to her. His name was Cinna. He was a young barn owl with big wide black eyes that looked endless. He immediately worked his way to her and perched right in front of her. "You know where Harry is, don't you?" Ginny whispered touching his head. He closed his eyes in a yes. "Good, come on."
Ginny left the tower with the owl in tow. They sat on the steps a few yards down and Ginny dug in her robes for a decent piece of paper and a writing utensil. She finally found one and flattened it out on the step above her to write:
Dear Harry,
I've been trying to think of ways to fill up my days without all of you here. Luna is still here of course, but it's still so slow.
There's a new girl, and I know I'm supposed to just steer clear of anyone that could get me in trouble. There's something different about her though, and I want to find out what it is. Not to mention, she's an animagus. She chose a wolf which is always interesting.
Cinna will be happy to wait with you until you reply. There are so many owls here and you have so much room at your apartment. He's used to having someone around anyway. I'm sure he'll be glad if you linger in your reply. (I won't be.)
Write soon.
Truly yours,
Ginny Weasley
Ginny tied the message to Cinna's leg and he spread his wings experimentally. "You be careful. You're still a baby," she told him and then reminded Cinna that he was off to find Harry. Soon Cinna was high up in the sky and fading into the moonlight. Its silver glow left Ginny squinting, but even worse than that it swallowed Cinna whole and took him out of sight.
Ginny took off down the stairs and headed back toward the Great Hall. She was late leading the first years to their common rooms. She was sure Morgan would cover her, but sometimes even he had bad days where he would like her take the blame. It was her job after all, just as it had been Percy's job. They were expecting her to do just as well.
The candlelight welcomed her back with open arms swallowing her in their orange glow. She continued toward the Great Hall, passing the new Slytherin students. Lucky or unlucky, it's still the question because right then Ginny slammed into Marcie and both of them fell to the ground. They both tossed apologies as they crumbled to the ground, but they really didn't look at each other until Marcie was on her feet and helping Ginny up.
"Sorry about that," Marcie chuckled and patted Ginny on the back. "I'll see you in class."
"Fat chance," was Ginny's first though, but instead she said, "I'll see you then."
To her surprise, Marcie was sitting right next to her in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class. (That class requirement had been doubled in the past couple years.) She was tapping her wand on the desk like a drumstick and it was driving Ginny crazy. It was this persistent tapping that went on and on. When it became unbearable Ginny turned toward her to get her attention. Then, hopefully, she would take a hint.
"Stop," she hissed.
"Calm down Weasley," Marcie smiled and started digging through her pockets quietly as the teacher continued on unnoticing. "Don't let Granger rub off on you too much."
"How do you know my name? And Hermione?" Ginny whispered finally finding something to talk to her about instead of her animagus or her happiness with Slytherin. Those conversations seemed too personal for the time being.
"I was around for the Triwizard tournament and I met a few people. Believe or not," Marcie smirked finding what she wanted to and pulling it out and setting it out on the desk, "I'm not shut off from the world. Now, let's have some fun." Her eyes lit up as she picked up her pocket findings. It was a gumball wrapped in a bit of plastic. The gum was a light blue and on the wrapper it said Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes: "Bubble" Gum. "There's our target," Marcie pointed at a girl with dark hair and soft spoken features other than her nose. She was Slytherin.
"Are you going to try and get her to eat it?" Ginny asked under her breath.
"No," Marcie rolled her eyes as if Ginny was ridiculous. "I'm gonna eat it." Ginny looked over at Marcie. Marcie was officially the crazy one, but she didn't think of it that way. She already had it planned this out because this girl was uptight and needed to get in trouble, just once. She chomped down on the gum ball and she chewed it quickly before spitting it back into the wrapper. There was a moment of dead silence where no one seemed to be doing anything, and then Marcie hiccupped.
Large bubbles floated from her mouth and soared high toward the ceiling. Everyone heard it pop and it made the teacher turn to look at the class instead of the board. Marcie hiccupped again and two or three bubbles slipped out soaring up and away. When it started to get worse the professor cocked her scraggly eyebrow.
"Ms. Blackwood?" she asked in her annoying scratchy voice.
"Yes—," hiccup, "Professor—," hiccup, "Langdum?" HICCUP! Everyone began to snicker and pop the bubbles that floated past their desk. The Slytherin girl they had targeted was playing along quite well though she didn't realize she was playing right into their trap. She looked unsurprised and genuinely bored.
"Are you okay?"" Professor Langdum asked.
"No ma'am," she squeaked halfway through a hiccup. Marcie managed to get a hand up and pointed to the girl. "Astoria gave me this candy." She hiccupped throughout her sentence making it hard to understand, but when she held up the chewed candy it made sense. "Now—I can't stop!"
Astoria whipped around to face Marcie with a slack jaw. "No! I didn't give you that candy! You filthy half-blood."
"Ms. Greengrass, I think it's time for you to leave," Professor Langdum scowled and ordered Astoria to gather her things and leave. As she went Marcie continued to hiccup, but she waved to Astoria smiling. When the Professor left with Astoria, Marcie turned to Ginny and gave her a high-five. Ginny found herself smiling unwillingly because she had just found the new class clowns, and this time it wasn't her brothers.
Tell me what you think. I have more up my sleeves because, like my friend Marcie here, I'm a bit of a trickster. Stick around for more pranks...and a back story that could get some in trouble.
Sincerely,
wisegirlindisguise