Disclaimer: I don't own anything so please don't sue. I don't have any money anyway.
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while research projects should be banned.
Chapter 9 So Basically We're Stuck Here
The next morning Ginny's world came crashing down around her. People began skirting her in the halls, and she attracted some frightened looks. Thankfully it was Sunday and she didn't have classes and didn't have deal with too many skirting and looks that day. She, Harry, Hermione, Joan, Ann, and Ron spent most of the day on the grounds walking around the lake and the edges of the Forbidden Forest, against Harry's wishes.
"Uh, Gin, maybe we should stay inside today, ya know it's kind of cold out." said Harry looking around suspiciously for the hundredth time in five minutes.
"Yeah, he's right." agreed Hermione.
"Fine, go inside if you want. I'm going to stay out for a little while longer." replied Ginny. Night was approaching and the temperature was beginning to drop as the sun sank lower and lower.
"Come on, Gin, we're going inside." said Joan
"I'm going to stay out a little longer." she replied again.
"You guys can go in. I'll stay out here with her." Harry whispered to the other so Ginny couldn't hear.
"Okay." They all agreed.
"You sure you don't want to come inside, Gin?" asked Ann again.
"No, I'll be fine out here. You guys go in." said Ginny. Joan, Ann, Hermione, and Ron all left for the castle, but Harry stayed.
"You don't have to stay out here with me, Harry." Ginny said as she was watching the others.
"I want to." replied Harry. They stood in silence for a few minutes before moving or speaking.
"Let's walk around the lake again." said Harry wanted to get away from the lengthening shadows of the forest. Ginny nodded her head in agreement. They walk for a few more minutes in silence; until Ginny broke it with the question Harry had been dreading all day.
"Harry, do you really think he's after me for some master plan, or do you think he's just trying to get to you through me?"
"Both." Harry replied.
"Do you think he'll come back?" asked Ginny
"Yes, and I think next time he'll have more death eaters or he'll get us while we're alone," responded Harry, "Gin, are you scared?"
"Terrified." Ginny mumbled in reply.
"Ginny, don't be. You know I'll do everything I can to protect you. Voldemort won't get you. I swear." Harry stated.
"Harry, I don't want you to get hurt, or die, or do something stupid because of me. Okay? I'm not worth all that!" said Ginny beginning to cry.
"Don't ever say that! You are, Ginny! I'm not going to get hurt or anything. If anyone will it's going to be Voldemort!" Harry said. By then tears were streaming down Ginny's face.
"Aw, come on, Gin, don't cry." said Harry hugging her.
"Sorry, can't help it." responded Ginny.
"Ok, come on it's getting dark. We should really go back to the Common Room, before people start to worry." said Harry looking at the setting sun. Harry took Ginny's hand and they walked back to the castle as the sun finished it's daily routine. As they were about to go through the portrait hole Prof. McGonagall stopped them.
"Harry, Ginny! The Headmaster would like to see you." she said.
"Ok, thank you, Professor." replied Harry.
Harry and Ginny headed toward the stone gargoyle that locked Dumbledore's office.
"I don't know the password, should've asked McGonagall." said Harry suddenly, while they were standing in front of the statue.
"Pumpkin pastries." Ginny simply said.
"How'd you know that?" asked Harry while they were walking up the staircase.
"Oh, well I had to see Dumbledore earlier this year." said Ginny expecting Harry to ask why, but he didn't. They reached the top of the steps and knocked on the door.
"Come in." the headmaster reacted. They walked in.
"Um, Professor McGonagall said you wanted to see us." said Harry looking around and noticing a large black dog and Prof. Lupin. The dog bounded over, and jumped on Harry. This dog was of course Sirius. His name hadn't been cleared yet, because no one knew that Wormtail was still alive. Harry had explained about Sirius to Ginny earlier.
"Sirius! Why are you here?" exclaimed Harry, trying to ward off his attack.
"You'll find out in a few minutes, Harry. Now Sirius would you please get off of Harry and transform back into a human?" said Dumbledore, "Thank you. Now won't you all have a seat?" he finished gesturing to four chairs in front of his desk. After they all sat down Dumbledore started to speak again.
"Now you are all aware that Voldemort has devised a new plan to now not get only Harry, but also Ginny. But he has also concocted some new spells that allow him to transport people even out of apparition zones, along with various other spells that have no counter curse or any kind of defense. But we're not going to dwell on that right now. Right now we are going to focus on how we are going to keep Ginny and Harry safe." He concluded.
"You just attracted trouble, don't you, Potter?" said Sirius trying to lighten the mood, but he didn't pick the best comment.
"Thanks, I needed that. I'm well aware that just my presence puts people in danger." said Harry despondently.
"Hey, I'm sorry, kid. I was just joking. I don't really mean that." said Sirius sensing the hurt in his godson's eyes.
" 'S ok." replied Harry.
"Yes, well moving on," said Dumbledore, "I think it would be in your best interest for the holidays this year for Ginny to go home, and for Harry to go with her. But while you're here, I'd advise both of you to stay in the castle as much as you can especially after dark, which means, Harry, you can no longer indulge in your favorite hobby of wandering around in your invisibility cloak after hours. You know there were devices invented by the Ministry to detect them, and I am willing to bet anything that Voldemort found a way to get his hands on one. Should you go to visit Hagrid make sure he meets you inside the castle before you go to visit him. Now we have cast alarm spells all around the castle and on your dorm rooms. They work very much like the muggle ones and they will activate anytime an unidentified person tries to enter rooms. We made sure that all the Gryffindors were marked as ones that were able to enter. And lastly before I let you people go about your business for the rest of the night, you two are not to go to Hogsmeade without Sirius with you."
"But, sir, how are we going to do that if Sirius is still a supposed wanted criminal?" asked Ginny.
"Well, as you saw before Sirius is an animagus. He can transform into a large black dog." replied Prof. Dumbledore.
"Oh, okay that makes sense." Ginny reasoned.
"Okay then, I will let you return to you're normal routines. Good night to you all." concluded the headmaster.
Harry, Ginny, Sirius, and Prof. Lupin walked out of Dumbledore's office and closed the door. Sirius transformed back into a dog and they all began walking down the steps.
"Sirius, where are you living now?" asked Harry.
"I'm living in the cave in Hogsmeade, and occasionally Moony's office. I'll be in the castle all week!" said Sirius proudly. Harry sometimes questioned his sanity or more the point his lack of. Lupin and Sirius walked Harry and Ginny back to the Gryffindor Tower and said good night and then left. Ginny and Harry walked into the Common Room and sat down at a table with Hermione and Ron, who were finishing their homework.
"What did Dumbledore want?" asked Hermione.
"He wanted to explain to Ginny and me what our new security precautions were." said Harry looking upset.
"Oh, what are they?" asked Ron. Ginny explained to them what they were.
"So basically we can't leave the castle." she concluded.
"I'm really tired," said Harry looking at his watch which read 11:00 P.M., "Good night everyone." With that Harry walked up to his dorm.
"Yeah, I'm tired too. Good night guys." said Ginny walking to her dorm.
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while research projects should be banned.
Chapter 9 So Basically We're Stuck Here
The next morning Ginny's world came crashing down around her. People began skirting her in the halls, and she attracted some frightened looks. Thankfully it was Sunday and she didn't have classes and didn't have deal with too many skirting and looks that day. She, Harry, Hermione, Joan, Ann, and Ron spent most of the day on the grounds walking around the lake and the edges of the Forbidden Forest, against Harry's wishes.
"Uh, Gin, maybe we should stay inside today, ya know it's kind of cold out." said Harry looking around suspiciously for the hundredth time in five minutes.
"Yeah, he's right." agreed Hermione.
"Fine, go inside if you want. I'm going to stay out for a little while longer." replied Ginny. Night was approaching and the temperature was beginning to drop as the sun sank lower and lower.
"Come on, Gin, we're going inside." said Joan
"I'm going to stay out a little longer." she replied again.
"You guys can go in. I'll stay out here with her." Harry whispered to the other so Ginny couldn't hear.
"Okay." They all agreed.
"You sure you don't want to come inside, Gin?" asked Ann again.
"No, I'll be fine out here. You guys go in." said Ginny. Joan, Ann, Hermione, and Ron all left for the castle, but Harry stayed.
"You don't have to stay out here with me, Harry." Ginny said as she was watching the others.
"I want to." replied Harry. They stood in silence for a few minutes before moving or speaking.
"Let's walk around the lake again." said Harry wanted to get away from the lengthening shadows of the forest. Ginny nodded her head in agreement. They walk for a few more minutes in silence; until Ginny broke it with the question Harry had been dreading all day.
"Harry, do you really think he's after me for some master plan, or do you think he's just trying to get to you through me?"
"Both." Harry replied.
"Do you think he'll come back?" asked Ginny
"Yes, and I think next time he'll have more death eaters or he'll get us while we're alone," responded Harry, "Gin, are you scared?"
"Terrified." Ginny mumbled in reply.
"Ginny, don't be. You know I'll do everything I can to protect you. Voldemort won't get you. I swear." Harry stated.
"Harry, I don't want you to get hurt, or die, or do something stupid because of me. Okay? I'm not worth all that!" said Ginny beginning to cry.
"Don't ever say that! You are, Ginny! I'm not going to get hurt or anything. If anyone will it's going to be Voldemort!" Harry said. By then tears were streaming down Ginny's face.
"Aw, come on, Gin, don't cry." said Harry hugging her.
"Sorry, can't help it." responded Ginny.
"Ok, come on it's getting dark. We should really go back to the Common Room, before people start to worry." said Harry looking at the setting sun. Harry took Ginny's hand and they walked back to the castle as the sun finished it's daily routine. As they were about to go through the portrait hole Prof. McGonagall stopped them.
"Harry, Ginny! The Headmaster would like to see you." she said.
"Ok, thank you, Professor." replied Harry.
Harry and Ginny headed toward the stone gargoyle that locked Dumbledore's office.
"I don't know the password, should've asked McGonagall." said Harry suddenly, while they were standing in front of the statue.
"Pumpkin pastries." Ginny simply said.
"How'd you know that?" asked Harry while they were walking up the staircase.
"Oh, well I had to see Dumbledore earlier this year." said Ginny expecting Harry to ask why, but he didn't. They reached the top of the steps and knocked on the door.
"Come in." the headmaster reacted. They walked in.
"Um, Professor McGonagall said you wanted to see us." said Harry looking around and noticing a large black dog and Prof. Lupin. The dog bounded over, and jumped on Harry. This dog was of course Sirius. His name hadn't been cleared yet, because no one knew that Wormtail was still alive. Harry had explained about Sirius to Ginny earlier.
"Sirius! Why are you here?" exclaimed Harry, trying to ward off his attack.
"You'll find out in a few minutes, Harry. Now Sirius would you please get off of Harry and transform back into a human?" said Dumbledore, "Thank you. Now won't you all have a seat?" he finished gesturing to four chairs in front of his desk. After they all sat down Dumbledore started to speak again.
"Now you are all aware that Voldemort has devised a new plan to now not get only Harry, but also Ginny. But he has also concocted some new spells that allow him to transport people even out of apparition zones, along with various other spells that have no counter curse or any kind of defense. But we're not going to dwell on that right now. Right now we are going to focus on how we are going to keep Ginny and Harry safe." He concluded.
"You just attracted trouble, don't you, Potter?" said Sirius trying to lighten the mood, but he didn't pick the best comment.
"Thanks, I needed that. I'm well aware that just my presence puts people in danger." said Harry despondently.
"Hey, I'm sorry, kid. I was just joking. I don't really mean that." said Sirius sensing the hurt in his godson's eyes.
" 'S ok." replied Harry.
"Yes, well moving on," said Dumbledore, "I think it would be in your best interest for the holidays this year for Ginny to go home, and for Harry to go with her. But while you're here, I'd advise both of you to stay in the castle as much as you can especially after dark, which means, Harry, you can no longer indulge in your favorite hobby of wandering around in your invisibility cloak after hours. You know there were devices invented by the Ministry to detect them, and I am willing to bet anything that Voldemort found a way to get his hands on one. Should you go to visit Hagrid make sure he meets you inside the castle before you go to visit him. Now we have cast alarm spells all around the castle and on your dorm rooms. They work very much like the muggle ones and they will activate anytime an unidentified person tries to enter rooms. We made sure that all the Gryffindors were marked as ones that were able to enter. And lastly before I let you people go about your business for the rest of the night, you two are not to go to Hogsmeade without Sirius with you."
"But, sir, how are we going to do that if Sirius is still a supposed wanted criminal?" asked Ginny.
"Well, as you saw before Sirius is an animagus. He can transform into a large black dog." replied Prof. Dumbledore.
"Oh, okay that makes sense." Ginny reasoned.
"Okay then, I will let you return to you're normal routines. Good night to you all." concluded the headmaster.
Harry, Ginny, Sirius, and Prof. Lupin walked out of Dumbledore's office and closed the door. Sirius transformed back into a dog and they all began walking down the steps.
"Sirius, where are you living now?" asked Harry.
"I'm living in the cave in Hogsmeade, and occasionally Moony's office. I'll be in the castle all week!" said Sirius proudly. Harry sometimes questioned his sanity or more the point his lack of. Lupin and Sirius walked Harry and Ginny back to the Gryffindor Tower and said good night and then left. Ginny and Harry walked into the Common Room and sat down at a table with Hermione and Ron, who were finishing their homework.
"What did Dumbledore want?" asked Hermione.
"He wanted to explain to Ginny and me what our new security precautions were." said Harry looking upset.
"Oh, what are they?" asked Ron. Ginny explained to them what they were.
"So basically we can't leave the castle." she concluded.
"I'm really tired," said Harry looking at his watch which read 11:00 P.M., "Good night everyone." With that Harry walked up to his dorm.
"Yeah, I'm tired too. Good night guys." said Ginny walking to her dorm.
