CHAPTER 7
Walking down the hallway, she strode confidently towards Dumbledore's office, where teachers milled about in the room, waiting in tension and fear. Giving the password, she climbed the escalating staircase, not in a mood to just wait for it to take her towards the large, polished door with the griffin knocker. The door was opened to her before she had the chance to knock.
"Come in Ginny," McGonagall smiled softly down at the younger woman. She opened the door wide for her to slip through. The room was packed, just as it had before the start of school, though Dumbledore was presiding at that meeting. "You are the last to arrive, we can begin now," McGonagall stated non-accusingly. She motioned towards the open seat on the couch between Draco and Madame Pomfrey.
She walked over to the spot saved for her and smiled at Draco, who seemed to be off in his own little world, staring off into space. Before she sat down though, she noticed a figure standing next to the window, talking in hushed tones with none other than Snape. I see Harry is moving past the delusions he had of Snape when they were younger. Not that Snape is much better now that I'm older. Pulling herself out of her thoughts by the hand that sat lightly on her thigh. Grinning at Draco she interlaced their fingers.
"I missed you at dinner," he whispered in her ear, sending her shivers up and down her spine.
"I can only eat breakfast with you," she murmured. "I'm cutting it close opening the library later than usual."
Draco was cut off from responding when McGonagall called the meeting to order. She seemed paler, and thinner than usual. Ginny was worried about her former Head of House. Despite McGonagall's pallor, she demonstrated the confidence and formidable aura that they sorely needed in this time of grief.
"I trust you understand the danger we face as Dumbledore lies in a coma, so I will not belittle you in talking on and on about it." She paused and for a moment, her energy seemed to wane, but came back in full force.
"Our biggest feat is to keep this as much as we can from the students. We are trying to keep them away from the effects of dealing with a war."
"Are you sure that is the way to go?" Lupin questioned. He looked very tired and more haggard since the last staff meeting. More lines creased his face, making him looker far older than his thirty some odd years.
"Students do not need to be aware of the danger they face," McGonagall said sternly. "This is where they are safe, some the only place of safety. Let us give them this last illusion."
"But that's what it is Minerva," Snape drawled from the shadows of the room. "An illusion that could mean the death of some of our students."
The room grew deadly silent as McGonagall and Snape eyed each other, not with disdain as she expected to see, but something akin to respect?
"You may be right Severus. But the main reason is that I don't want them to panic. They are more likely to do something rash when they are scared and not thinking rational. Telling them will be a last resort. I hope I won't have to. I hope that Albus will wake before anything permanent happens to the school and the people in it, but we can't just hope, we need actions.
"Each of you are skilled in a certain art that will be beneficial to the defense of Hogwarts. For instance, the DADA teachers," that caught the attention of Draco and Lupin. "I would like you both to brush up on the more dangerous spells of defense."
McGonagall began to give different assignments to various teachers, mostly having to do with the subject they taught. Ginny's mind began to wander to her own thoughts that plagued her mind. How would we really be able to push back a full force of Death Eaters? I know the havoc and death they can cause, I won't be able to suffer through the pain again. She was in such deep thought that when McGonagall turned so swiftly on Ginny, she nearly jumped off the couch.
"Ginny," she admonished gently, obviously seeing that she wasn't quite paying attention. Ginny felt as if she were back in Transfiguration class, and she had made an error in changing her tortoise into a teacup.
"Yes," Ginny squeaked out pathetically.
"You will be the deciding factor in how fluid we work. We will be in and out of the library checking out books and researching. I am counting on you to know where everything is at the drop of a hat. You may also have to send for books from elsewhere, I want you to be prepared for that, maybe look through a catalog and if you find anything interesting, feel free to order it and put it on the school tab.
"Poppy...I think it is time to bring in extra counsel. See if anyone from St. Mungo's would be willing to assist you in the care of Albus. Find out if there were any similar cases and how and if they recovered." McGonagall sank wearily into a chair. She had been talking and standing during the whole meeting. She let Dumbledore's chair vacant. Sitting in it would have made the absence of Dumbledore even more real and painful.
"I thank you all for the support and loyalty that you have shown towards Albus Dumbledore and to Hogwarts. This school," she lifted her hands wearily, "is a place where young children can learn, in a safe environment. That safe environment has been threatened and I for one, will not let the students, that I have come to think of as my own children, be harmed in any way. I have watched many of them grow into wonderful young men and women, and I intend to watch them grow for many years to come. With your help, I know we can accomplish this. Once again, I hope that we do all this work and not have any attacks. But I'm not going to put your lives, and the lives of our children in danger." McGonagall stood up from the chair and faced her colleagues with amazing poise. "You may all leave," she nodded to them all as one by one they filed out the door. Ginny held Draco's hand as he led the way out the door, she smiled at McGonagall, but was stopped as she placed a hand on her shoulder. Draco stopped when he felt the soft tug on his hand.
"Yes...Minerva," Ginny had trouble getting out her first name.
"I would like to speak to you," looking at Draco she added, "in private."
Ginny nodded to Draco, who looked rather uncertain at not being able to be present in the room, but he left the room willingly. Once the door shut behind Draco, McGonagall gestured to the chair next to her own. They both sat down, and McGonagall turned her body so that she was angled towards Ginny.
"I have a request of you, something I didn't want the entire staff to have known." McGonagall paused as if she was waiting for Ginny to be highly impressed that she would confide this secret to her and not to anyone else. Ginny merely nodded, goading her to continue. "I was informed years before of a hidden library, made by the founders of Hogwarts. The personal collection of Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin."
"Wow," Ginny could not restrain herself and the utterance escaped her. A special library hidden inside the walls of Hogwarts. "What has this to do with me?"
"I believe that many of the books that we would find in the library may help us if the fight comes to our doorstep. We need to be as prepared as possible. I'm not aware of anyone except the Headmasters of Hogwarts knowing the exact location of the room, and none of them are talking." She gestured to the vacant portraits of the past Headmasters.
"Where are they?" asked Ginny.
"They are all in the infirmary, looking in on Albus. But back to the topic at hand. I am afraid I do not have the time to go traipsing around the school looking for a hidden library."
Ginny was aware that McGonagall did not mean what she said as an insult, but it hurt none the less. Is she saying that I don't have an important job, that I do have the time to go traipsing the halls in search of the Founder's library? I realize that she has a particularly strenuous job, taking over for Dumbledore is not easy, even if it's only...hopefully...temporary.
"I would like you to try and find the library. It is not something I want you to be focused on. This is something of an extra project. Something to do in your free time." Free time? Ginny almost snorted aloud.
"I would be happy to try and find this library."
"Good," McGonagall smiled genuinely. "I'm sure if anyone could find it, it would be you, a Weasley. Thank you, I'll see you tomorrow at Breakfast."
Ginny watched as McGonagall tiredly walked to the large window that looked over the Quidditch pitch, and she knew that McGonagall no longer knew she was even in the room, so lost in her thoughts was she. Softly, she let herself out the door, and took the winding staircase, and walked out the door.
Draco waited for her next to the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office. "There you are," Draco straightened. "That didn't take too long," he took her hand in his and walked down the hall, in the direction of his rooms down in the dungeon. "I don't suppose your going to give me any juicy details, huh?"
"Nope," she smiled slyly. They walked in companionable silence, before Ginny finally realized that they were standing before the door to Draco's rooms. "Why are we here?" asked Ginny curiously.
"Because," Draco drug her into his arms, placing his hands on her hips, caressing her lightly. "I have created a romantic dinner for two."
"But I've already had dinner," she told him, smiling at the way he looked longingly into her eyes.
"Yes, but you haven't had a romantic dinner yet have you?"
"Oh, of course." Draco's eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "Yes, Severus took me for this amazing picnic. We laid upon the grass, the wind blowing gently upon out faces..."
"Enough you evil witch," Draco teased. "I made this especially for you, and if you're not going to appreciate it then I'll just find someone who will."
"Oh Drakey-kins," Ginny giggled at her own use of a pet name, as Draco growled. "I would never dream of missing what you believe to be something romantic."
"Oh, Gin," Draco pulled her to him tighter. "We Malfoy's are excellent in the skill of romance. If you don't believe me, I will gladly show you."
"I can't wait," Ginny smiled, feeling the growing anticipation.
"Turn around," Draco twirled his index finger around, and Ginny reluctantly turned. Almost immediately a scarf was placed over her eyes, and tied at the back of her head.
"Is this really necessary Draco?"
"Of course my dear," he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each finger. He turned her hand, palm facing up, and proceeded to lick and kiss the inside of her hand, giving her slight tremors throughout her body. "This way," he said, and she could almost hear his grin.
He led her through the door and closed it behind them and she heard him utter his wards and she groaned aloud, "can the scarf come off now?"
"My aren't we impatient," Draco teased, but she felt the scarf slide away and the image that greeted her, truthfully took her breath away.
"Oh Draco," she whispered softly. "This is..." her words were cut off by the sheer passion that it provoked in her, and the care it took to create such an elaborate picture. "Oh, Draco," was all she could say.
Sorry for the long delay. I sadly do not have internet when I'm home but I'm back at school and ready to update. Please, please, please review!!!!! It makes me so happy and want to write more.