Chapter 3: Payback's a Bitch…


"Ginny?" Pansy called quietly as she sat down next to Ginny on the bed, shaking her shoulder lightly. "Ginny, are you all right?" she asked, her concern growing as she turned Ginny towards her, only to find her shivering violently.

"Pansy?" Ginny asked quietly as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" You're trembling…You know what, stay here, I'll be right back," Pansy instructed as she quickly made her way out of her room. She returned a few minutes later accompanied by Professor Snape.

"Ginevra?" Severus said quietly as he sat down on the bed next to her.

"Professor Snape?" Ginny asked as she rolled back over to face him.

"Yes Ginevra, I have a potion here to help calm your trembling, but I need you to sit up," Severus commented.

Ginny nodded and slowly managed to work her way into an upright position before Severus helped her with the potion. Her trembling subsided almost immediately after she had finished the potion. "Thank you, Professor, I…I didn't think it would be this bad."

"It's quite alright Ginevra, I should have realized that the withdrawal symptoms would have been worse after the incident yesterday," soothed Severus. "Now then I've brought you two more doses of this calming potion. I want you to take one at lunch and the other at dinner tonight, understood?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good. We will be making more during our session this evening and then I want you to take another dose before bed tonight. You will continue to take four doses for the next day or so and then we'll slowly decrease the number of doses until you no longer require it," Severus instructed.

"Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome Ginevra. Now I suggest you girls get dressed and make your way up to breakfast. I've had a house elf bring you a clean uniform and your books Ginevra and seeing as you are now under the protection of Slytherin House, you are welcome in the Common Room any time, although I would not recommend it without Pansy, Draco, Millicent or Blaise, at least not right away. The password for the Common Room is 'Salazar'," Severus informed Ginny as he rose from his seat on the bed. "Good day Miss Parkinson, Ginevra."

"Professor," the girls replied as Severus left the room.

"Ginny, why are you suffering withdrawal symptoms and withdrawal from what?" Pansy asked, turning her attention back to the redhead.

"It's a long story Pansy," Ginny replied as she got out of bed. "One that I don't really want to talk about, at least not yet anyways."

"Alright," conceded Pansy warily. "But you will talk about it eventually if I have anything to say about it. It's not good to keep things bottled up inside."

"I know Pansy, it's just…"

"Just what?"

"I've never really had anyone that I could talk to about stuff. I've always had to deal with things on my own, and the last person I trusted enough to tell about this, turned their back on me and the time before that it nearly got half the school killed. I just need some time alright?"

"Alright, I still don't like it but alright."

"Would it make you feel any better to know that Professor Snape knows everything and that's why he knew what potion to give me this morning?" Ginny asked.

"I guess so," Pansy conceded. "But I promise you that one of these days you will tell me what's going on."

"Yes Pansy, I will but like I said, just give me some time. Deal?"

"Deal," agreed Pansy.

"Pansy?" Millicent asked sticking her head through the door. "Are you…Ginny? What are you…"

"Come in Millie," commented Pansy as she collected her textbooks for the day.

"My idiotic, soon to be ex-brother the Prefect and the 'I'm better than you at everything' Head Girl decided to lock me out of my own Common Room by changing the password yesterday morning and just oh so conveniently forgot to tell me," Ginny snarled bitingly, catching the other two off guard.

"Whoa Ginny, down girl," soothed Pansy after shaking herself out of her shock.

"Sorry Pansy, Millie. I guess you could say I'm a little bitter about everything that's happened recently," Ginny apologized.

"That's okay, Ginny," replied Millicent. "You have every right to be angry, upset, bitter…you name it, you can feel it. Come on we better get going. We don't want to miss breakfast now do we?"

"What's going on Millie?" Pansy asked sceptically, noticing the mischievous glint in her friend's eye. "You've never been this eager to get to breakfast before."

"Oh…you'll see," Millicent replied with a smirk.

"Come on Ginny, we better go and find out what exactly Millie's being so secretive about," Pansy commented as she took Ginny by the hand and led her from the room.

"Where are Draco and Blaise?" Ginny asked curiously as they made their way through the Common Room. "You four always show up for breakfast together."

"Oh, they went on ahead," Millicent replied as they left the Common Room. "Said they had something very important to do before breakfast and that they'd meet us there."

"This can't be good," Pansy cursed quietly as she broke into a light run, forcing the other two to do the same just to keep up, finally slowing back to a walk in the Entrance Hall. "Come on Ginny, you're sitting with us," Pansy instructed as they three girls entered the Great Hall.

"But Pansy…"

"No buts Ginny," Pansy ordered as she steered Ginny towards the Slytherin table.

"Hey Ginny," greeted Blaise as the three girls sat down.

"Hey Blaise. Hi Draco," Ginny greeted in return.

"Hi Ginny," Draco greeted in return. "Professor Snape told us about the Gryffindors locking you out and we just want you to know that the ones responsible will get what's coming to them."

"Draco, what have you done?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Patience my dear Ginny, patience," Draco soothed. "All in good time and besides don't you know that curiosity killed the cat?"

"Yeah, and satisfaction brought him back," Ginny replied with a smirk. "Now tell me what you've done."

"We slipped Gryffindor's Golden Trio a little something in their breakfasts," commented Blaise.

"You slipped them something?" asked Pansy in disbelief. "What? How?"

"Just a few harmless little potions," replied Draco in a rather unconcerned manner.

"Potions!" Ginny demanded. "What kind of potions Draco?"

"Don't worry Ginny. They're completely harmless and they only last twenty-four hours, thirty-six at most. And as for what they do…you'll just have to wait until Potions to find out," Draco explained.

"Draco!" Ginny cried quietly so as not to draw too much attention to herself as she smacked him on the arm. "Are you insane? You want retribution for what the Gryffindors did to me that's fine, I'm all for it, but are you trying to get them killed?"

"Ginny, I told you, the potions are harmless…"

"Draco, it's not the potions I'm worried about. It's a certain Potions Master…"

"Ginny relax," Draco soothed, trying to calm down the furious redhead. "Professor Snape is on board with this. Why do you think we're using potions?"

"You're telling me that Professor Snape not only knows about this but that he approves?" Ginny asked in bewilderment.

"Not only does he approve Ginny, he handed us the finished potions and all we had to do was get into the kitchens this morning and get them into the Golden Trio's goblets. Which wasn't all that difficult given the predictability of Gryffindors to always sit in the same seats all the time," explained Blaise.

The three girls sat there speechless, starring at the two boys. "Professor Snape gave you the potions knowing that we have double Potions first thing this morning, with the Gryffindors, Golden Trio included?"

"Yes Pansy, he did," Draco replied a little tiredly. "Why are you girls having such a hard time with this?"

"Maybe because this is Professor Snape we're talking about here," Ginny commented sarcastically. "You know the Professor who doesn't allow anything outside the brewing of potions to occur in his class under the threat of the most extreme punishment. The man who…"

"Ginny, you didn't see Professor Snape when he came to talk to Draco and I last night. He was furious. We've seen the Professor upset before, but not that upset. He wants to see the Gryffindors, Golden Trio especially, pay for the way they've been treating you and for what they've done to you. And what better way than to have them unwittingly disrupt Potions and every other class they have today. They'll be lucky to be out of detention by Christmas and let's not even start on the number of House points I'm sure they'll lose because it will probably be Easter before they are even back on the plus side," explained Blaise.

"And the best part is not only do we have double Potions with Professor Snape this morning, but we also have double Defence Against the Dark Arts this afternoon with my father," commented Draco. "Both classes with the Gryffindors and both with Professors who would like nothing better than to see the Golden Trio pay."

"Speaking of classes, we better get going," commented Millicent. "Heaven forbid we miss a single moment of Potions class."

The four Slytherins plus Gryffindor rose from the Slytherin table and made their way out of the Great Hall and down towards the Potions classroom.

"Feel free to bait your brother as much as you want to today," Draco whispered conspiratorially in Ginny's ear as the rest of the class slowly filtered in causing Ginny to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at his comment.

"Just trust me on this Ginny. Weasel won't be able to do anything about it, plus if he tries, he'll soon find himself up against all of Slytherin House plus two of the best duellers Hogwarts has ever seen," explained Draco. "Speaking of the Weasel, here he comes."

At Draco's last comment, Ginny turned to watch her brother and his friends enter the classroom. Ron and Harry were leading a confused and frightened looking Hermione. Sending another inquisitive look over her shoulder at Draco, Ginny got up from her seat next to him and walked over to where Harry and Ron were sitting Hermione down between them.

"Good morning brother dear," Ginny said in her most sweetly innocent voice.

Ron opened his mouth to say something, only to have nothing come out.

"What's the matter Ronniekins? Crookshanks got your tongue?" Ginny asked in her innocent voice once again, only this time she was trying to hold back the laughter that was bubbling just below the surface as Ron once again opened his mouth only to have nothing come out.

"What's going on here?" asked a silky-smooth voice from the doorway. "Miss Weasley? Mr. Weasley?"

"Nothing Professor," replied Ginny. "Merely asking my brother how he's doing but for some reason he seems rather unwilling to answer me," she finished with a shrug before returning to her seat next to Draco.

"Is that so Mr. Weasley?" inquired Severus as he walked towards where Ron was sitting, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "Tell me Mr. Weasley, why the sudden urge to hold your tongue? Or is it merely that you do not have the proper audience for one of your temper tantrums? Speak up Mr. Weasley," Severus snapped when Ron did not say anything. "Ten points from Gryffindor and detention tonight with Mr. Filch, Mr. Weasley, for your insolence," Severus sneered before turning his attention back to the class. "Instructions and ingredients are on the board," he instructed as he went to his desk and sat down.

At Severus' command, every student in the class quickly jotted down the potion directions and ingredients before setting to work on the potion itself. Well everyone that is, save one person.

"Is there a reason why you are just sitting there and not working on the assigned potion Miss Granger?" Severus questioned. "Well Miss Granger?" he demanded when Hermione refused to answer.

"She's lost her memory, you Greasy Git," Harry snapped in Hermione's defence.

All activity in the room ceased the minute Harry finished his comment. Not because he had spoken back to Professor Snape, Merlin knew Harry had done that enough in the past so it never really came as a shock but what shocked the class into stillness was the fact that Harry had just called Professor Snape a 'greasy git' to his face and they were now awaiting the Professor's reaction.

"One hundred points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter and two weeks detention for not showing me the proper respect to which I am entitled…"

"You?" Harry interrupted disbelief evident in his voice. "Entitled to respect? Since when? You're nothing but a lowly little Death Eater, Voldemort's lackey, why should I show you any respect?"

The class was now holding its collective breath waiting for the imminent explosion of the Potions Master, either that or if Harry was going to stick his other foot in his mouth and just how far.

Severus rose from his desk and stalked over to stand in front of Harry. Leaning over the table so that he was inches away from Harry, he continued, "My past, Mr. Potter is not in question here. Do not think that your defeat of the Dark Lord in any way exempts you from the expected student behaviour. I am your Professor, and I hold the key to your future in my hands Mr. Potter, which is something you would do well to remember in the future, the next time you feel the urge to disrespect me. That will be another hundred points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter and another week's detention with Mr. Filch. Now get out of my sight and take the mute and simpleton with you," Severus finished, rising up to his full height. "Don't do it Mr. Potter," Severus instructed when Harry opened his mouth to say something else. "Not unless you'd like to lose even more points on top of the two hundred you've already lost for Gryffindor."

At Ron and Hermione's silent urging, Harry reluctantly kept his mouth shut and allowed them to pull him from the dungeon classroom, much to the chagrin of the remaining Gryffindors and the amusement of Ginny and the Slytherins. Even Severus had a mirthful glint in his eyes, if you knew what to look for.

As the day progressed, things only seemed to get worse for the Gryffindors. Word of that morning's events in Potions spread rapidly throughout the school with the evidence plain to see on the wall in the Great Hall in the Gryffindors' hour-glass, that was flashing a negative number of points.

The end of lunch found the Gryffindor seventh years reluctantly making their way towards Transfiguration with the exception of Ginny, who was being escorted to her class by her four new friends, who were taking great pleasure in Gryffindor's current misfortune, plus the fact that Transfiguration was taught by none other than the Gryffindors' own Head of House, who had been far from pleased when she had seen her house's negative point total. Ginny was not too worried about McGonagall's reaction as she no longer really considered herself a Gryffindor. She may still wear the uniform of a Gryffindor but since her acceptance by Slytherin, in her mind she was a Slytherin and it was Professor Snape's opinion that mattered to her now, not McGonagall's.

Ginny got stuck sitting next to Ron in Transfiguration and it was approximately half way through the class when he shoved a folded piece of parchment in front of her, interrupting her reading that McGonagall had assigned the class after lecturing them for at least twenty minutes about what it meant to be a Gryffindor and exactly how a Gryffindor is expected to act. Ginny looked at the parchment now sitting in front of her trying to decide if it was worth the trouble of opening it. Deciding it was not worth the effort she started to put it aside when…

"Ow! Ronald!" Ginny hissed when Ron, deciding she was taking too long with the note, decided to poke her hard in the ribs.

"Miss Weasley," came McGonagall's strident voice as she neared the table Ginny was sharing with her soon to be ex-brother. "Would you care to explain to me why you felt it necessary to disrupt the class? And passing notes of all things, I thought a girl in your special circumstances would know better," McGonagall commented as she picked up the parchment from Ginny's desk.

"It's not mine Professor," Ginny defended herself. "Ron just shoved it in front of me."

"I see," McGonagall replied as she opened and read the note. "Would you care to explain this then, Mr. Weasley?"

"He can't."

"Mr. Potter! If I had wanted your opinion, then I would have asked for it!" McGonagall snapped. "Well Mr. Weasley? Can you explain this note?"

Ron opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it again when nothing came out.

"Answer me Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall snapped in frustration. "Miss Weasley, kindly explain to me what is going on here."

"I can't Professor," Ginny replied innocently. "I really wish I could, but I can't. All I know is that Ron tried to pull the same stunt on Professor Snape in Potions this morning…"

"Stunt!" cried Harry. "This is no stunt, you stupid, arrogant little Slytherin whore!"

"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall cried in shocked outrage. "How dare you speak to another student, let alone a housemate, in such a fashion. Fifty points from Gryffindor and another week's detention on top of that which Professor Snape gave you this morning. Now get out of here, all of you. Out! Now!"

The Gryffindors quickly grabbed their things and raced for the door, except for Ginny, who took her time gathering her books. McGonagall had dismissed them fifteen minutes early and she really had no desire to spend any more time with the Gryffindors than necessary, plus she was not too certain about what would happen when she was in such close quarters with Lucius.

"A moment Miss Weasley," McGonagall called just as Ginny reached the door.

"Yes Professor?" Ginny asked as she turned back towards McGonagall's desk.

"What is all this nonsense I'm hearing from Professor Snape about, Miss Weasley?"

"Nonsense Professor?" Ginny asked in confusion. "I don't understand what you mean."

"I am all for building inter-house relations Miss Weasley, especially between Gryffindor and Slytherin, but don't you think you're taking this a bit too far?"

"I'm sorry Professor, but I don't understand what you're talking about. What nonsense and what have I taken too far?" Ginny asked clearly confused at this point.

"Did you or did you not spend the night in the Slytherin dorms last night Miss Weasley?"

"I did Professor," admitted Ginny.

"What was the matter with your own dormitory Miss Weasley? Do you find it lacking in some way?"

"No Professor. The reason I spent the night in the Slytherin dormitories, which Professor Snape was completely aware of, is because I could not get into Gryffindor Tower…"

"A Gryffindor who cannot get into Gryffindor Tower?" McGonagall asked in disbelief. "The only way that would happen is if the student forgot the password and given you new status as a seventh year Miss Weasley, I find it rather hard to believe that you of all people would forget the password. Longbottom yes but not you."

"I did not forget the password Professor."

"Then why could you not get into Gryffindor Tower last night?" demanded McGonagall.

"Because Ron, Harry and Hermione changed it yesterday morning before I left the tower and never bothered to inform me of the change," Ginny replied, her voice flat.

"Nonsense Miss Weasley. I refuse to believe that the Head Girl and a Gryffindor Prefect would do something like that. Especially since that Prefect also happens to be none other than your very own brother. Now I expect you back in Gryffindor Tower tonight Miss Weasley."

"I'm sorry Professor but unless you can guarantee me that I won't be locked out of the Tower again tomorrow then I'm afraid I'll be returning to Slytherin House tonight after my work with Professor Snape is finished. I have been accepted by Slytherin House as one of their own, Professor, and I have Professor Snape's permission to spend as much time as I like in Slytherin House. As it is, Professor Snape is the one that placed me in the Slytherin dormitories last night after he learned that I had been locked out of Gryffindor Tower," explained Ginny.

"I am your Head of House Miss Weasley, not Professor Snape. You should have come directly to me the minute you realized that you could not enter the Tower."

"I am aware of that Professor, but there were extenuating circumstances behind why I did not come directly to you and it wasn't until just before curfew that Professor Snape learned of what happened."

"What sort of extenuating circumstances, Miss Weasley?" questioned McGonagall.

"It's personal Professor," replied Ginny. "May I go Professor? I don't want to be late for my next class."

"Fine, go. But just know Miss Weasley that this discussion is far from over."

"Yes Professor," Ginny conceded as she turned and made her way out of the Transfiguration classroom and started the journey to Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Even with being held back by McGonagall, Ginny still made it to her Defence class with a few minutes to spare. Leaning up against the wall outside the classroom, Ginny took a few minutes and a few deep breaths to try to compose herself. This would be the first time since she had left the Manor that she would be in the same room as Lucius, with the exception of the Great Hall, where it was easier for her to convince herself that he wasn't there and for her to ignore the pull she felt towards him. Taking one final calming breath, Ginny pushed off the wall and entered the classroom, only to come face to face with…

"Harry," Ginny said flatly by way of greeting as she went to go by him, Ron and Hermione.

"What the bloody hell have you done Ginny?" Harry demanded as he grabbed Ginny's arms to prevent her passing.

"Let go of her Potter," Draco ordered as the Slytherin half of the class rose to their feet.

"Stay the hell out of this ferret face if you know what's good for you," Harry snapped. "Answer me Ginny. Damn it, tell me what the hell have you done to us," Harry demanded as he tightened his grip on Ginny's arms and began shaking her.

"Nothing, I haven't done anything," Ginny cried quietly, pain slowly entering her voice as Harry continued to shake her harder. "Harry please let go…you're hurting me."

"You heard her Mr. Potter. Unhand her immediately."


Lucius was making his way towards his classroom, having just spent time with Severus discussing the events of that morning, when he saw her, the young woman who haunted his dreams at night, leaning up against the wall outside his classroom. What he would not give to be able to walk up to Ginevra right now and sweep her up into his arms and kiss her senseless, but he knew better than to do that, his very life depended on it, so he slipped into the shadows and watched as she stood there collecting herself before pushing off from the wall and entering the classroom.

Sighing in frustration, Lucius stepped from the shadows and continued on towards his classroom, knowing that the sooner he got the class started, the sooner it would be over. He so desperately wanted to spend time with Ginevra and the only way he would be able to do that was in a classroom setting but it was still torture none the less, especially since any time she was near him, even on the opposite side of the vast Great Hall, he felt her pull. She was his mate and they were being kept apart by a meddlesome old man.

As Lucius entered his classroom, he was not prepared for the scene that met him. His mate was being manhandled by none other than the Saviour of the Wizarding World and he was ignoring her pleas to let her go.

"You heard her Mr. Potter. Unhand her immediately," Lucius snapped as he stalked towards the four Gryffindors, coming to a stop mere inches behind Ginny.

"It's her own fault, Professor," Harry snapped back, releasing his hold on Ginny's arms and causing Lucius to raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

"I see," Lucius purred dangerously as Ginny started to try to rub the feeling back into her arms. "Now tell me Mr. Potter, what could Miss Weasley possibly have done to warrant you assaulting her in such a manner?"

"She did something to us," replied Harry.

"Did something? I'm afraid Mr. Potter that you are going to have to be a little more explicit than 'she did something'. What exactly did she do?"

"I don't know, Sir."

"You don't know and yet you attack her anyways?"

"I don't know exactly what she did Professor," Harry snapped. "But I know that she did do something to us, since Ron can't speak and Hermione seems to have lost her memory."

"And yet you have no proof of Miss Weasley's involvement in any of this. Mr. Potter, I would think that you of all people would know better than to accuse someone of something without the proper evidence to support your accusations. Fifty points from Gryffindor," commented Lucius, causing the Gryffindor half of the class to groan. "Return to your seats and start reading chapter two in your textbooks. There will be a quiz on what you've read in forty-five minutes time," Lucius instructed as Harry, Ron and Hermione reluctantly returned to their seats, as did the Slytherins. "Are you alright?" he asked Ginny quietly as he laid a concerned hand on her shoulder before she could leave.

Ginny stiffened at the feel of Lucius' hand on her shoulder. She could feel the pull increase with his contact and had to fight hard not to give into the desire to turn around and throw herself at him. "I'm fine," she replied quietly, her back still to him. "Thank you."

"Return to your seat then Ginevra," he told her quietly as he removed his hand from her shoulder and began towards his desk, as Ginny went to hers.

The little exchange between Ginny and Lucius went unnoticed for the most part, with the exception of Draco and Pansy, who with nothing more than a shared look between them agreed to get to the bottom of what was haunting Ginny and what exactly Lucius had to do with any of it.

The class passed by fairly uneventfully after the scene at the beginning of it that is until the class handed in their test papers.

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes Professor?" Hermione replied hesitantly as she turned back towards Lucius.

"Do you believe yourself to be better than everyone else here?"

"No Professor," Hermione replied quietly.

"Then would you be so kind as to explain this?" Lucius asked, holding up Hermione's empty test paper.

"I told you Professor, that she's got amnesia," Harry cut in.

"I am well aware of what you told me Mr. Potter and that will be another ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek," Lucius snapped at Harry, before turning his attention back to Hermione. "Just because you claim to be suffering from amnesia Miss Granger, does not excuse you from your schoolwork, tests included. Your so called amnesia would only affect your ability to take this test if the test was on things already covered in previous classes but seeing as this test was on things you were supposed to read about before the test, I can only assume that you felt that you were somehow above your classmates; unless of course your amnesia has somehow affected your ability to read and comprehend. Twenty points from Gryffindor for your impudence Miss Granger and you are to report to Mr. Filch after dinner for detention," Lucius instructed. "And unless you wish to lose even more points for your House Mr. Potter, you will hold your tongue," Lucius commented turning his gaze back to Harry, who looked on the verge of exploding. "I want a six foot essay on the chapter you just finished reading, due next class," Lucius instructed the class at large. "Class dismissed."

Ginny could not get out of the room fast enough after Lucius dismissed the class; practically bolting from the room and running off down the hall. She was almost to the Entrance Hall by the time anyone caught up with her.

"Ginny what is it? What's wrong?" Draco asked in concern when he finally managed to get Ginny to stop, as Blaise, Millicent and Pansy came to a stop behind him.

"It's nothing Draco, I'm fine," replied Ginny.

"It's not nothing Ginny," argued Draco. "Talk to us Ginny, please…we can help you."

"I can't Draco. Besides, there is nothing you can do to change anything anyways. There is nothing anybody can do," Ginny pleaded.

"This has something to do with why you were at the Manor this summer, doesn't it?" Draco asked quietly.

"Miss Weasley, your presence is required in the Headmaster's office," Severus interrupted as he came up behind Ginny and before she could answer Draco's question. "This way Miss Weasley."

"Yes Professor," Ginny replied as she followed Severus down the hall and up to Dumbledore's office.

"You wished to see me Professor Dumbledore?" Ginny asked as she entered the office, taking in the fact that Professor McGonagall was present, and that Professor Snape had followed her into the office.

"It has come to my attention Miss Weasley that you spent last night not in your room in Gryffindor Tower but in fact in Slytherin House," commented Dumbledore.

"Yes Sir, I did."

"And did you also inform Professor McGonagall that unless she could guarantee the password to Gryffindor Tower would not change that you would be returning to Slytherin House tonight and every night?"

"Not in those exact words Sir, but that was the gist of it, yes," Ginny replied.

"No student in the history of Hogwarts has ever been resorted into another house after their initial sorting at the start of their first year and if that is what you are trying to accomplish here, I'm afraid you are going to be sorely disappointed," Albus commented.

"I am not asking to be resorted Sir. I am merely asking that I be allowed to stay in Slytherin House. A place where I am accepted and I feel comfortable," replied Ginny.

"Might I make a suggestion Headmaster," interrupted Severus. At Albus' nod, he continued. "As you are aware Headmaster, I have offered the position of my apprentice to Miss Weasley…"

"WHAT?!" cried McGonagall. "Why was I not informed of this?" she demanded.

"Miss Weasley has only just accepted the offer and the apprenticeship has yet to be finalized. That is what I am suggesting here," explained Severus.

"Excuse me Professor Snape?"

"Yes Miss Weasley?"

"What do you mean by finalize the apprenticeship?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"It is nothing to be worried about Miss Weasley. We are required to sign a formal letter of intent that spells out in precise detail the extent of the apprenticeship. You will then be moved into rooms adjacent to and connected to mine. You will no longer be affiliated with any house but you will continue to attend classes, but only the standard core classes, no electives, so that you may devote more time to your apprenticeship and its studies. I will be drawing up a new class schedule for you to make better use of your time and since you will have no house affiliation, you will attend classes with all houses. So, tell me Miss Weasley is your answer still the same? Do you still wish to accept my offer of an apprenticeship?"

"Yes Professor, I do," replied Ginny.

"Excellent," commented Severus as he pulled a scroll out of his robes and handed it to Ginny. "Just sign your name on the parchment next to mine and we will get going on arranging everything else."

Ginny took the parchment from Severus, unrolled it and prepared to sign it.

"Albus, you can't be seriously considering letting Miss Weasley do this?" cried McGonagall. "She's nothing more than a child!"

"I'm afraid my hands are tied Minerva. Miss Weasley is sixteen and while not old enough to be considered an adult she is legally old enough to make her own decisions in regards to her future."

"And what of Severus, Albus? Surely, you can talk him out of this foolishness. And what of the Weasleys? I doubt very much that they will approve of this nonsense."

"Just as my hands are tied in regard to Miss Weasley, Minerva, they are just as tied in regards to Severus in this matter. Severus is a Master in his field and as such it is perfectly within his rights to take on an apprentice of his own choosing and it is up to us to accommodate both him and his apprentice. As for the Weasleys, given that Miss Weasley is in fact sixteen, they have no say in this matter or in any other matter that now concerns Miss Weasley, since she is now Severus' apprentice, he is her legal guardian from this point on and until such time as he deems her apprenticeship complete," Albus explained.

Once Ginny had read over and signed the parchment, the parchment flashed gold and duplicated, solidifying the wizarding contract between professor and student, master and apprentice.

"If that is everything Headmaster," Severus commented once Ginny had signed the parchment.

"Of course, Severus, why don't you and Miss Weasley head down to the Great Hall; I will instruct the house-elves to prepare the rooms next to yours so that Miss Weasley may move her belongings in after dinner this evening."

"Thank you, Headmaster. Miss Weasley," Severus said indicating that Ginny should precede him out of the office. "Meet me outside the Great Hall after dinner Ginevra and we will see about getting you moved into your new rooms in the dungeons," Severus instructed once they were in the hall outside the Headmaster's office.

"Yes Professor," Ginny agreed as she started towards the Great Hall. Stopping after a few feet, she turned back towards her professor's retreating back. "Professor Snape?"

"Yes Ginevra?" Severus asked, turning back to face her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now get going. I believe there are a few Slytherins that are eager to see you."

"Yes Professor," Ginny replied with a small smile before continuing her way towards the Great Hall.


After dinner was over, Ginny met Severus outside the Great Hall as instructed and they made their way up towards Gryffindor Tower, where they were granted immediate access to the Common Room by the Fat Lady after Severus gave her a password known only the Heads of House. This one password would grant them access to any of the Common Rooms, in case for some reason they were required to watch over a house that was not their own.

Ginny was glad that everyone was still down at dinner when they had reached the Tower, leaving the Common Room and dormitories blissfully empty. Just as they were preparing to leave the Tower, the first Gryffindors began returning from dinner, none of them prepared to find the surly Potions Master standing in the middle of their Common Room.

"What the…"

Severus turned at the sound of an angry voice only to find Ron Weasley with his hand over Harry Potter's mouth, obviously preventing the Saviour of the Wizarding World from sticking his other foot in his mouth.

"Come along Miss Weasley," Severus instructed as the Gryffindors parted to allow them to leave the Common Room.

Once down in the dungeons, Severus came to a stop in front of a portrait just down the hall from the Slytherin Common Room. "Now then Ginevra, this is the entrance to your rooms. My rooms are the next portrait down but you have a door leading into my rooms inside. The password for your rooms is 'Aconite'. You may of course change the password if you so desire, but you must inform me of the new password, understood?"

"Yes Professor."

"Good. Aconite," he said to the portrait before leading Ginny into her new rooms.

After walking through the portrait hole, Ginny soon found herself in a rather cosy sitting room with a comfy looking couch and chair in front of a large fireplace. The room also contained bookcases and a desk in one corner. There were three doors leading off the main room. One door led to her bathroom, another to her bedroom and the third was the door that connected her rooms with her professor's. The colour scheme was not what she had expected. She had thought the rooms would have been done in reds and golds or at the very least in greens and silvers; instead the rooms were decorated in soothing creams and blues.

"Come Ginevra, we have potions for you to brew," Severus commented after allowing her to take in her new surroundings.

"Of course, Professor."

"Oh, and Ginevra, inside these rooms only you may call me Severus but outside these rooms, I expect you to address me as Professor or Sir."

"Of course, thank you…Severus," Ginny replied, trying out her professor's name for the first time.

"One more thing, Miss Weasley," Severus said as they made their way towards the Potions lab. "There are a number of things that you will be requiring for the successful completion of your apprenticeship. Therefore, you and I will be making a trip to both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley tomorrow."

"But Professor, I can't…the Weasleys will never…"

"Miss Weasley…Ginevra, by taking you on as an apprentice, you are now my responsibility and I am now your legal guardian. Therefore, I will be purchasing everything you will require," Severus explained as they gathered everything, they would need to brew a large batch of the calming potion Ginny was taking to help her deal with her withdrawal symptoms.


While Ginny was busy with Severus, Pansy, Draco, Millicent and Blaise were gathered in Draco's room, trying to figure out what it was their friend was hiding.

"Draco, what did you mean earlier when you said that Ginny was at the Manor this summer? What would a Weasley, especially the youngest Weasley, be doing at Malfoy Manor?" Blaise asked curiously.

"It was the day I returned home from spending those weeks with you. I was in my room unpacking when I saw her walk by. I called out to her but when she didn't answer, I decided to follow her. I followed her all the way to my father's study where she Flooed out without a word to me. I don't think she even saw me," explained Draco. "When I tried to ask my father about what was going on, he refused to talk about it but after what happened between them today in class…"

"So, you think there is something going on between Ginny and your father?" asked Millicent. "But what about your mother?"

"Apparently my parents split just before I returned home…"

"Wait a minute Draco, your parents divorced? Why?" Pansy questioned.

"I have absolutely no idea," admitted Draco. "Neither one of them would say but I have the strangest feeling that Ginny either knows something about it or is somehow involved in some way. We just have to get her talking."

"You're right about that Draco, we do have to get her talking," agreed Pansy. "I have a sneaking suspicion that her attempt to end her life yesterday is somehow tied into all of this. But the question is how we get her to talk about it. I tried this morning, but she adamantly refused to tell me anything."

"I have an idea…"