Times: chapter Two

(Percy and Ginny)

A/N: I STILL OWN NOTHING AND I NEVER WILL!

While the Gryffindor Quidditch team, as well as Ron and Hermione, were down at the pitch, smacking ferrets and letting in goals, Percy and Ginny were in the castle. Ginny, clutching the little black book that she thought to be innocent, was making her way to the Headmaster's office, with her brother as support—and as a cover story. They couldn't just say that they'd learned the diary was a horcrux of Voldemort's through a book from the future. Dumbledore'd think them mad.

"Ginny, are you alright?" Percy asked.

"What if I get in trouble?" she asked, slightly frightened. Percy sighed and smiled gently at her.

"You're not going to get into trouble," he told her. "So relax, okay? You look like you're going to tear that book in two."

Ginny chuckled nervously and the two siblings made their way to Dumbledore's office.

"Sherbet Lemon," Percy said and the griffon that stood at the base of Dumbledore's office moved to reveal his stairs. After climbing the stairs, Percy knocked on the door.

"Enter," Dumbledore's voice called from inside the room.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Weasley," Dumbledore said slightly surprised. "What brings you up here today?"

"My sister has something she wishes to tell you, sir," Percy said. "A few weeks ago, she acquired a diary and started to write in it."

He paused there, but Dumbledore just nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"The funny thing was—"

"It wrote back, sir!" Ginny spoke up for the first time. "I thought it was something from a joke shop at first or maybe that one of my brothers had gotten it for me. I had found it in my Transfiguration book."

"Then she remembered what our father always tells us," Percy continued after Ginny became quiet again. "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain."

"Very wise words," Dumbledore nodded. "I take it Miss. Weasley's trust for this diary decreased?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes sir."

"Do you have the diary?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes sir," Percy said and gently tugged the black book out of his sister's hands. He handed it to Dumbledore, whose eyes widened a bit.

"T.M. Riddle," he said softly. He flipped through the pages gently.

"Sir?" Percy asked after several minutes.

"Oh!" Dumbledore said. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Weasley for bringing this to my attention. No punishment will be given to you," he told Ginny. "It is a rather innocent looking object after all."

Ginny smiled at the headmaster. "Thank you sir!"

"Have a good day," Dumbledore told them as they walked out of his office.

"Professor?" Ginny turned around. Percy wondered what his sister was up to.

"Yes Miss. Weasley?"

"There's a house elf that Harry told me about the other day, who works for the Malfoys," she said. "I was wondering if there's another way of freeing a house elf besides their master giving them clothes."

Not bothering to ask how Harry knew this house elf worked for the Malfoys, Dumbledore thought for a moment.

"Is the elf poorly treated?" he asked.

He belongs to the Malfoys, Percy thought. Of course he's poorly treated.

"I think so," Ginny nodded. "Harry would be the one to know for sure."

"Thank you again, Miss. Weasley," Dumbledore said. "There is a law in place to ensure that house elves are not abused but I might have to check to see if that law is still in effect."

"Thank you sir!" Ginny beamed. Chuckling under his breath, Percy gently tugged his sister's arm. Waving good bye to the headmaster, they walked down the stairs again.

"That was rather brilliant of you," he told Ginny.

"Well, Harry can't trick Malfoy Sr. now so we need to free Dobby another way," Ginny reasoned. Percy nodded at her and they walked down the hall, happy as could be. Well, for the time being at least. Neither one of them knew the calculating look Professor Dumbledore was giving the diary.

"Say, want to go to the Kitchens?" Percy asked.

"A prefect? Breaking rules?" Ginny gasped.

"Well I figured there's no problem living a little," Percy said. "We don't have to worry about that stupid diary anymore."

"Don't you have a date with Penny?" Ginny asked.

"I'll call it off," Percy said. "You're more important Gin."

Ginny smiled at the old nickname Percy used to call her when she was four. Together they walked to the kitchens where they were greeted by many house elves.

"Better hope Cho doesn't see them," Percy muttered to Ginny. He remembered the girl's passion for House elf rights. "So how are classes going?" he asked as they were served some biscuits and milk.

"Binns is so boring Percy!" Ginny complained. "Can't you ask someone to teach it? Or a student teacher? Heck I think you'd be better than Binns."

"I don't know if I've been complimented or insulted," Percy said lightly, the books had taught him the importance of not being so uptight all the time. It would cause him to leave the one thing he treasured most: his family.

"You've grown up with the twins haven't you?"

"Compliment," Percy nodded. They gave each other a look and then burst out in laughter. Percy was laughing so hard he had tears running down his face.

"That was so random," Ginny said about their laughing fit after she had recovered from it.

"But it felt so good," Percy pointed out.

"True," Ginny nodded. "So what are we going to do about Lockhart?"

"That….is a very good question, one that I think that the twins and Lee have well under control."

Ginny shuddered a bit at the idea. The twins were good pranksters, but threaten a member of the Weasleys and you'd be prank target numero uno for about five years.