Severus: Say it! Me: Never. Severus: You can't hide forever; you'll have to say it one day. Me: Watch me! *Runs away into the distance* Later Sev! Severus: *sigh* Eleanor does not own any of the Harry Potter content. Me (from distance): NOOOOOO!
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(I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR. GINNY IS 17. REGARDLESS OF WHAT I WROTE IN THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS. SHE IS 17! Just so you know.)
I sat behind my desk in Dumbledore's office (I couldn't really think of it as my own) waiting for seven o'clock to come.
Taking another long look around me, I once again marvelled. I'd never got a good look at the Headmaster's office, other than the one time in first year.
On rickety wooden tables sat strange mechanical creations that I assumed Dumbledore had created like the Deluminator. On my left sat the Sword of Godric Gryffindor, collecting dust. The walls were lined with ceiling high shelves filled with books and strangely enough several Denby crockery sets. Behind my desk, two staircases led up to my quarters; One on either wall, moulded to its curved shape.
For the comfort of the Headmaster or mistress at the time, the sleeping chamber had been enchanted to morph to a bedroom of personal preference (mine was a creamy soft carpet and matching cream wallpaper. Dark mahogany wood furniture and bed frame with cream bed covers.)
As seven o'clock ticked steadily nearer I began to steel myself. Luckily when I'd returned to the school the girls who shared my dormitory were not there. I managed to pack and move rooms without being asked a single question. I wondered if anyone had even noticed I was gone. Probably not.
I wondered what the school's reaction to me would be; Shocked defiantly; Happy? Mad?
There was no doubt they would all be wondering what made me so special that I was to receive such a gift and I would wonder along with them.
Deciding I could postpone it no longer, I stood and went up to my bedroom. Pulling a forest green pair of robes over black skirt and halter neck top.
Looking in the mirror I saw a seventeen year old, young woman. Preparing to face the world.
"Thank God I didn't know what I wanted to do when I got out of Hogwarts, I might have been disappointed" I thought as I walked down the long corridors that led to the entrance to the Great Hall.
I knew that students tended to arrive just after seven, and I'd seen Professor Dumbledore make his entrance shortly after also.
Earlier Professor McGonagall had shown me a secret door near the Great Halls doors that led round the back to a door that opened onto the teacher s long table. As I entered the corridor my tummy quivered at the idea of having to walk that length to my chair in the centre with all eyes upon me.
But too late for that now, I told myself sternly, You agreed to take this position, make your bed and lie in it Ginerva.
Looking through a tiny peephole in the door to the teachers row, I saw that all of them were seated. There weren't many students that had arrived yet but I was sure that it wouldn't stay that way for long.
Dumbledore had always entered after all were seated; I thought that seeing as I was headmistress now I could change the rules.
Stepping through the door I silently skirted along the table and slid into my chair. Professor McGonagall (did I call her Minerva now?) looked at me oddly and I leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I didn't want to make a big entrance the first time. Let them adjust gradually."
Minerva nodded solemnly and I was glad to have her there.
On my other side was an empty chair where the Professor for DADA normally sat. I realised that choosing a new professor would be my job and was glad even more to have Minerva here.
As if she was reading my mind, Minerva asked, "I know you've only just got your bearings but do you have any ideas on a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?"
I said, "I haven t given it much thought yet but I think I could judge a good teacher. Being as I can see from the students perspective." I'd already segregated myself from the other kids; I guess that was a good thing. Right?
As the pupils flooded the hall, no one glanced up at the high table. I couldn't blame them, we'd all been avoiding looking at it because our eyes were immediately drawn to Dumbledore's empty chair.
When one person did and saw me, he nudged his friend at gestured. From that single point I watched the ripple of people telling their friends and pointing; That Ginny Weasley was sitting in the Headmaster's (Mistress's now) chair.
From this distance I could just about gauge everyone's general reaction. Confusion mixed with wonder (Hufflepuffs), calculation (Ravenclaws), hate (Slytherins), envy (Luna), admiration (Hermione and Harry (I liked that one), pride (Gryffindor) and disbelief (Ron of course.)
I smirked inside at the look on Luna's face as she looked from Harry to me then tried to distract his focus by giggling and clinging to him. Why was she even sitting at that table?
Dinner progressed slowly. I had good conversations with Minerva but hardly touched my salmon and cous cous. I was pretty sure that if I ate I would throw it back up onto a rather startled Minerva, what a great first impression that would make.
When it was finally over and an untouched chocolate mousse disappeared from my plate, I stood.
Minerva didn't even need to call for silence; The second I stood all noise ceased. Great.
"Um," Brilliant start Ginny, inspiration you are!
"Professor Dumbledore was a great man," I said, what the hell was I saying? "and he will be greatly missed."
A general nodding of heads around the hall gave me courage, "I know we were all expecting Professor McGonagall to take over from him, but as a last wish, Professor Dumbledore made me headmistress. I don't know why, maybe I never will, but I'm sure that we will continue to honour him as if he were still with us."
In unison the Slytherins moaned, but the Gryffindor, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws burst into a noisy applause. Cat calls and whistles sounded and I knew I must be grinning like a fool.
Flashing my trademark cheeky grin, and not sounding very adult-like or mature, I said "So don't get in trouble. Or you'll end up in my office!"
Minerva looked at me when I sat down. Uncomfortable under her gaze I said, "What?"
"You have a real way of connecting with them." She stated. I could see the other teachers flashing me looks too.
I instantly became bashful, "Was it too much? Was I too connected?"
She patted me on the shoulder comfortingly. "You are the headmistress now. It is up to you how connected you are, but if you want my opinion; I think that the fact you are 'one of them' so to speak, a known friend before you became headmistress, has helped them adjust easily and even enthusiastically."
I grinned like an idiot and stood. Most of the students had left for their common rooms and I felt exhausted by all the excitement of today. "I'll see you... Around." I said lamely to Minerva and nodded to the teachers as I left.
Hagrid gave me a huge smile as I passed, which I returned before heading upstairs to my office and bed.
The stone gargoyle leapt aside at my word, "Gryffindor" and I almost floated up the stairs.
I opened the door totally relieved to be alone at last and SO ready for sleep, but was stopped in my tracks by the familiar figure sitting in the cushioned seat facing my desk.
My wand was out in a heartbeat as I said, as calmly as I could, "Turn around and tell me what on Earth you are doing here traitor."
Professor Snape swivelled round slowly and smirked his cruel, sarcastic smirk.