The Hourglass: Chapter 7

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Ginny had long since stopped trying to make out specific shapes from the blend of colors around her. It was too much like trying to watch the blades of a moving fan: she could only focus on the motion of a form for about a second before it started making her feel dizzy and sick.

The spinning and churning probably lasted for a full three minutes: then it seemed to slow down like a rewinding film reaching the beginning and caught itself in a graceful, smooth finish. Ginny felt surprisingly normal when she uncertainly opened her eyes to find that she was alone and right where she had been before spinning the hourglass. She had somehow been expecting to have time-travel sickness.

Gazing around her, she saw that the cave indeed looked a little younger than it had when she had been with Blaise: there were no plants growing by the entrance and though the walls were damp, they were quite smooth and stalagmite-free. However, when exactly in the past—argh—present, was she?

Cautiously, Ginny made her way out of the cave and stood on the landing just outside, feeling the warm sunshine over head. Stepping onto a ledge, she squinted down and out at Hogsmead. There were people in sight, milling about, doing shopping! Moreover, the shining sun had to mean that the dementors had not yet invaded, so she had clearly gone back quite far in time. But when was she, exactly?

She was about to leave when she paused and turned to look at the cave. There were many more like it. Should she mark this one…?

That was ridiculous. What was she supposed to do? Write on it with a quill? Ginny walked about slowly before an idea came to her. Moving to the front of the cave, she dug a small hole in the loose dirt. When it was about six inches deep, she felt through her pockets for something, anything. The first thing she found was a bronze knut and she dropped it into the hole, covering it up with dirt. This way, when she came back, she could summon the knut and thus know which cave to enter….

She straightened up, wiping the dirt off her hands and stowing her wand.

Ginny also hid the hourglass down the front of her robes, figuring that it wouldn't be the best thing to be caught with at this moment, and started to hike slowly down the hill. She would have to practice precise time-folding with the hourglass, that much was evident.

From up close, the village was clearly alive. Unconcerned chattering filled the air as adults and students went blithely about their daily lives, unknowing and unconcerned about the future of this village. Ginny kept close to the buildings, walking in shadow and trying not to be noticed, for if she had somehow rewound back to first year or something, then things could get awkward.

Seeing a group of Ravenclaws that she half-recognized pass, Ginny gained some confidence. Whenever she was, it must be in the general vicinity of the time period she had left…

Then, coming out of Honeydukes from the distance, Ginny caught sight of a few forms, and almost didn't dare trust her eyes.

"Luna? Neville?" Ginny couldn't believe her luck. She made out towards them at a brisk pace, sincerely hoping that this wouldn't scare them. However, once she got within three meters, it was Neville who dropped the bag he was holding, but neglected it and sprinted to Ginny, closely followed by Luna.

"Neville, Luna, I—"

"Ginny?! Where have you been?" Neville interrupted in a shout, his voice cracking with disbelief and relief. "I—we—" he struggled with words. "What happened? Where—where were you?"

"Where was I…when?" Ginny asked nervously, really wishing she knew the date.

They both stared at her, shock written over their faces.

"For the past….week, maybe?" Luna finally broke in. "You didn't come back to the dormitory that night after we had the detention in the forest! We looked all over for you the next day and then we got really worried and asked Professor McGonagall—"

"—and she said she didn't know either, but that you must be around school somewhere—" Neville interjected.

"—and when you didn't show up the next two days either and we reported it, there was a search of the entire school and the whole grounds—"

"What, Snape ordered that?" Ginny asked, unable to believe that Snape would care enough.

"No, no, Snape isn't at Hogwarts; he left on a trip again—" Luna said breathlessly. "—McGonagall's been running the whole thing, but we couldn't find you—"

"Well, what happened?" Neville pressed. "Were you in Hogsmead this whole time? We didn't search Hogsmead that thoroughly…" he admitted.

"I—guys…" Ginny didn't know where to begin. She didn't want to lie to them, but obviously telling them the truth was out of the question.

"Guys, I'm…really tired. Can we go back to school?" Ginny finally asked rather lamely. "I don't really know how to explain this right now…"

"Of course," Luna immediately went to Ginny's side and held onto her elbow as though afraid Ginny might faint at any moment. "Who knows what she's been through, Neville?" she said, making a motion that Neville, who was standing there looking displeased with this answer, should do the same. "C'mon, let's take her up to school…"

Ginny allowed herself to be led, half-dragged to the carriage station at the outskirts of Hogsmead and loaded into one for the trip back.

"We'll take you to Madame Pomfrey once we get back to the castle," Luna said reassuringly, once the carriage had started to move.

"I don't want…I don't need…" Ginny suddenly felt very tired. "I don't need to see her."

Neville made a noise of disbelief, but Luna presumably shushed him because he didn't say anything. Ginny's eyes began to droop.

"But you know, we really were worried…" she heard Luna say, as if from far away. "You've been off somewhere for almost a full week and we couldn't contact you at all, through owl or anything else…"

"We were really scared," Neville said.

"Yeah, that's why you guys were candy-shopping in Hogsmead, right?" Ginny joked weakly, and heard their nervously humorous protests before she suddenly found herself unable to keep her eyelids open and her mind on the present moment.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

When she woke up, Ginny found herself in the merciful comfort of the hospital wing bathed in warm torchlight and in a soft bed. Cautiously, she raised her head a few inches and looked about. There were a few people in beds on the other side of the room, but couldn't make out any faces. She mentally groaned as Madame Pomfrey became aware of Ginny's consciousness and immediately bustled over to check her temperature and started griping about reckless behavior.

Ginny protested and sat up, feeling more or less normal, if a little clammy.

"Honestly, I'm fine—I want to go back to my dormitory," she said as Madame Pomfrey peered into her eyes and felt her pulse.

"—welts still haven't healed—"

Ginny looked down at her arms and saw that Madame Pomfrey was right, though it was only because everyone seemed to think she had gotten the welts a week ago when in fact she had had them less than a day.

"They don't hurt," Ginny said automatically, pulling her sleeves down and getting out of the bed. "I think they're getting better; I can go back now—"

"Well, have some chocolate at least," Madame Pomfrey insisted, hurrying off while Ginny sighed in mild irritation.

The door opened. Ginny looked up, expecting to see one of her friends, but it was Professor McGonagall who entered and swept over to Ginny, looking worried.

"Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood informed me of the situation immediately after dropping you off here," McGonagall said in response to the questioning look on Ginny's face. "Are you feeling all right?"

Ginny nodded as she accepted the chocolate from Madame Pomfrey. Professor McGonagall, looking mildly appeased by Ginny's motor skills, asked the nurse if Ginny could come down to her office. Madame Pomfrey did not look pleased, but she allowed it and Ginny carefully followed McGonagall out of the hospital wing, very nervous about what this conversation was going to be like.

McGonagall sat down behind her desk and Ginny followed suit. After a moment, she took a bite of the chocolate so as to have something to do. She was avoiding looking McGonagall in the eye, afraid that she might spill everything if she did.

McGonagall was quiet for a few moments waiting for Ginny to swallow before saying, "I trust that your friends told you what has happened at this school since you were away."

Ginny nodded dumbly.

"We searched for three days the entire grounds of Hogwarts and the village of Hogsmead."

Another nod.

"Miss Weasley…" McGonagall sighed, as if she already knew the answer to the question she was about to ask, but had to pose it out of formality. "Can you tell me where you were this past week? Do you know where you were?"

Ginny shifted, uncomfortable by the motherly way McGonagall was regarding her. It would have been better if McGonagall was angry. It wasn't helping that the truth of all this was hanging just under the front of her robes and that she had stolen that object from this very office.

"I…don't." she finally replied with a controlled effort. She looked up. "I can't remember anything of this last week," she replied honestly. "I don't know what happened at all."

McGonagall looked at her for a few more seconds and Ginny thought she was going to say she didn't believe her, but surprisingly, McGonagall nodded.

"I suspected as much," McGonagall said gravely.

Ginny started. "Suspected?" she asked incredulously. It seemed like the utterly wrong word.

McGonagall looked up, her glasses flashing in the lamplight. "You had been informed about this week, I thought?" she said.

"About the search for me…?"

"And about the incident at the school!" McGonagall said deliberately. "Didn't your friends tell you?"

"No! What happened?" Ginny said nervously. And before she could help herself, she was thinking, please don't let it be Blaise….

"I suppose they didn't want to worry you right after finding you again," McGonagall said, almost to herself. There was a pause. "Miss Weasley, a certain student who has been attending this school for years woke up a few days ago not knowing where or who he was. He was transferred to St. Mungo's just this morning."

"Who?" Ginny asked, dreading the answer.

"Theodore Nott."

"Oh." Ginny leaned back a little, relieved, but immediately felt ashamed of her relief. He was a member of their defense club! "And…no one knows what happened? Haven't we made an effort to solve the mystery?"

McGonagall shook her head. "I made an announcement about it to the school this morning, so I thought you should know as well," she said grimly. "It's in St. Mungo's hands now."

Something in her tone made Ginny nervous. "Did someone modify his memory?" Ginny asked slowly. "Or is it something else?"

McGonagall didn't reply right away. "It would have to have been a very powerful memory charm if that was the case," she finally replied. "I doubt any person in this school could have performed it."

"…do you suspect outside involvement?" Ginny ventured, reading McGonagall's eyes.

McGonagall flinched slightly, and straightened her glasses. "That will do, Miss Weasley," she said in response. "Such a thing cannot be proved and this is not the right place to discuss it, anyhow." She paused, looking troubled. "This isn't quite the same thing as with you, however. You are not having long-term memory difficulties....I don't know whether we can reasonably draw a connection between these incidences or not. I brought it up because it seems to relate to your condition."

"Oh…yeah." Ginny had almost forgotten that she herself was under suspicion. What on earth had happened at Hogwarts while she was gone? Ginny realized that McGonagall had started speaking again, and dragged her attention back.

"I'm sorry?"

"Do you feel well enough to start classes again tomorrow?" McGonagall repeated.

"Yes, I feel fine," said Ginny.

"Good." McGonagall's voice took on a slightly more business-like tone. Madame Pomfrey ran some tests on you while you were out. Your body seems to be in normal health…You will continue school from tomorrow."

"Really?" Again, Ginny was astonished by her good fortune. They were going to let her 'I don't know what happened' excuse slide? She wasn't going to be questioned anymore?

Some of her thoughts must have shown on her face, for McGonagall added seriously, "Miss Weasley, I suspect foul play at Hogwarts. I speak to you frankly now. We don't know what will happen to Mr. Nott and many students are ill at ease. Although you seem to have made it back fine, I ask that you don't provoke your peers with stories."

"I wouldn't do that," Ginny said in astonishment, but McGonagall shook her head.

"It's better if you don't tell many people about this…occurrence," said McGonagall slowly, as if not happy with that word. "You may tell your friends that you were called away on emergency family business."

This was really strange. The way McGonagall was helping Ginny cover up her bizarre story seemed unbelievably out of character. It was almost as if McGonagall knew the truth. Either that, or she simply didn't want it to become big news outside of Hogwarts.

"Did the Ministry know I had gone missing?" Ginny asked, as something suddenly clicked into place.

McGonagall eyed her beadily. "No."

"But they heard about Nott?"

"There was no choice, as he had to be transferred. They've kept a closer eye on the school since then. There has even been talk of stationing dementors as guards—in the case that there was outside involvement."

Ah. That explained something, at least. Without Snape here, McGonagall wanted to keep the news of Ginny's escapade away from the Ministry of Magic, and not risk repercussions that would affect the whole school.

"If you don't have any other questions, you're dismissed." McGonagall said finally.

Ginny nodded and they both got up.

"About Nott…" Ginny said as she reached the door. "Do you think he'll be able to come back anytime soon?"

McGonagall looked grim. "I really couldn't say."

XxXxXxXx

Nott gone? What had happened while Ginny had been away?

She lay on her bed, having the rest of the afternoon off from classes. Clearly, McGonagall seemed to think that it had something to do with people outside of Hogwarts. Death Eaters, perhaps? It did not seem particularly likely, especially considering that Nott's father was a Death Eater himself, but then again, Theodore had always come off as morally ambiguous… Ginny almost wished she could move the time turner back one more week so that she could avoid all questioning and maybe discover what had happened to Nott, but the fact of the matter was that she wasn't confident in her ability to gauge the time-turn proportion. She ultimately decided against it, not wanting to mess up the turning and end up fifty years in the past by mistake.

And a week off wasn't bad at all. It was just annoying that something had happened precisely when she was out of commission. As if it was planned...

The only thing Ginny was sure of was that they had to have a meeting of the defense club as soon as possible. They were sure to have some ideas on this matter. She wondered what the members of the club had thought about her absence, or if they had noticed at all. After all, besides the Gryffindors, most of the members weren't accustomed to seeing her every day and it wasn't altogether uncommon to go a week without seeing them at all. McGonagall hadn't really made it clear whether the search for Ginny had been announced to the school or not. She rolled over, trying to get to sleep, but unable to find any.

XxX

The first day back seemed like a dream, as if Ginny had forgotten what life at Hogwarts was like. She got asked so many times where she had been that Ginny wished she could just get robes that said "family emergency" on the front.

Then of course, Blaise had cornered her almost immediately after breakfast the next day, before she could even get out of the Great Hall.

She felt as though she hadn't spoken to him in a very long time, which was ironic considering that her escapade had been with him. The words that the other Blaise had told Ginny flashed into her head the moment she saw him, but when he started to speak, it was pushed from her mind.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Yes, good morning. Fine," Ginny replied, a little affronted by him manner, even if it was out of "concern" or whatever.

"You've been missing for a week!" he snapped, apparently not in the mood for pleasantries or anything of the like. "McGonagall didn't announce it, but there were searches going on, you could tell. And you weren't anywhere to be found."

"Yeah, I…erm…"

This was going to sound really strange. Somehow, she felt that she should be able to tell him, of all people, the truth since she had been away with him…but on the other hand, it wasn't like he would believe her anyway. She looked away.

"I got called away in the night a week ago," she finally said tonelessly. "There was an emergency in my family."

She was a very bad liar whenever it came to Blaise. Probably also partially because the truth had to do with him.

He gave her a look that made it plain he didn't believe her. "McGonagall would have told me that if that was the case," Blaise pointed out coldly.

"It was personal!" Ginny said, trying to get off this topic as fast as possible. "McGonagall would have no business telling you about my family problems. I can see why she didn't make an announcement."

Blaise opened his mouth like he was going to contradict this statement, but he paused for a millisecond, perhaps because this actually sounded plausible. Ginny took full advantage of his moment of hesitation to change the subject.

"I'm sorry I didn't warn you first, but it was really sudden. I assume there haven't been club meetings since; we should schedule one for soon."

Blaise did not look particularly convinced, but he dropped the subject, perhaps taking a leap of faith in Ginny's word. He also seemed to remember that a week ago, he had been quite upset with Ginny, because his manner suddenly stiffened.

"Yeah, you can choose the time. Send me an owl if you decide when you want to meet. Or don't. I can just walk in to the Room of Requirement each day this week and hope that I manage to catch you at it."

She sighed angrily. He was still angry that she hadn't told him about the detention. "How does Wednesday at nine work?"

"Yeah, fine. Whatever," he started to walk away.

"Everything's fine after all, so you're back to being a jerk, is it?" she called after him, causing a few people to look around in confusion. He didn't even say anything.

In love, like hell. Ginny strode away, trying not to let the meeting put her in bad mood. The other Blaise clearly didn't remember what he had been like when he was seventeen. Understandable, considering how much he had been through since then, but still.

It was Blaise's attitude that grated upon her the most. How he felt entitled to everything. Like Ginny should be following him around with a notepad writing and sending memos every time she decided to take a bath or something.

She sighed and tried to think of something else. She had three full school days to focus on before she would have to see him again. That was something, at least.

a/n

Ah, don't you wish that we had magical chocolate to fix our sicknesses?