Chapter Eight

Red Queen's Court to Silver King

Fred and George had only seen their sister pissed on three separate occasions. The first time didn't count really because she had been under the dark influence at the time but they still saw Ginny's inner bitch.

The second time had been when she found out about Ron trying to run off to the Ministry to fight. She hadn't been worried about Ron getting himself killed. More she had been annoyed to find out that Ron wanted to leave her behind. Ron, lacking basic subtlety skills, had made the mistake of proclaiming quite loudly that if Hermione had hurried, they could have left Ginny safely behind. Ginny did not see this as a symbol he didn't want her hurt. She saw it as Ron's botched attempt to rule her life.

The only other occasion had been when Harry broke up with her at the beginning of last year. The twins did not see Ginny until Halloween when they spent the weekend at Hogsmeade to keep an eye on Ginny while Harry ran around playing hero. Even after almost two months, Ginny was still sullen and glared at them when ever they mentioned Harry.

The war had ended at Christmas. The twins had agreed to come back in the fall to finish their education. Ginny and Harry hadn't started up their old relationship as the twins anticipated but rather she started avoiding him. Harry was in his final year now, at the same time as Ron and Hermione. Everyone's education had been pushed back due to the war. Though almost eighteen, Ginny was still in her sixth year.

After running from Hermione and Angelina, the twins had taken refuge in the Room of Requirements. Unfortunately Ginny knew exactly where she wanted to go and snuck in, grabbing both boys by their ears.

This was the forth time they had seen Ginny angry and so far it was the most painful, they both thought.

On the other hand, Ginny had a knack for getting things done and they figured they would be safe from Hermione and Angelina while in Ginny's clutches. At least until she got really mad at them. Then it would be Weasley season.

"Uh, Gin, darling sister of ours..." Fred began.

"Shove it, Fred," Ginny snapped, twisting his ear again. He wimpered and looked at his brother for help.

George had by now noticed the direction in which Ginny was hauling them, which happened to be a downward sort of direction and figured that they were headed to the dungeons.

He looked at Fred who was thinking something along the same lines. Seeing Snape was low on their priorities right now. It ranked somewhere below getting their teeth pulled and listening to Lavender Brown rave about how much shoes cost.

"Ginny... I think we should consider this before we go any further..." Fred began again.

"Too late for that, boys. I want to know what the bleeding hell you did. Since neither of you feel free to disclose that information to me or are in capable, I need to take us to someone more capable and less bound by restrictions."

Before either could come up with another reason, Ginny kicked open the door to the main dungeons.

She led them, ear first, into Snape's domain. Snape was sitting at his desk, a book in his hands. He peered at her over the pages, his dark eyes sparking with annoyance and curiosity. Ginny released her brothers.

"Miss Weasley. I trust you have a compelling reason to be here at this time of day," he drawled.

Ginny grabbed the water bottle from Fred and tossed it underhand to him. He lowered his book enough to catch the bottle.

He twisted it, holding it up to the scarce light in his room.

"Interesting, I'm sure," he said, setting it down on his table. "But what does this have to do with me?"

"I would like it very much if you could tell me what manner of potion my idiot brothers put into this water."

"Why not ask them?"

"I would, but they appear to have forgotten."

The twins grinned at Snape who sneered back.

"Alright. I'll have it back to you in a week."

Snape lifted his book again. The twins considered the matter closed.

What happened next surprised everyone. Ginny stepped forward.

"I'm afraid I want it sooner than that."

Snape looked at her with surprise. "I said, a week, Miss Weasley."

"I said," Ginny began, leaning her hands on the table and leaning closer. "Sooner."

"Miss Weasley..."

"I want it back in three days. Don't tell me you can't do that because we both know if it was your precious Malfoy Jr. You would have this done already."

Ginny picked up a piece from his table, holding it up to the light so Fred and George could see it was a piece from a Chess game. The white king.

Snape was glaring at Ginny now. The twins were staring. Who knew Ginny could be such a bad ass? And where was this coming from? Surely not just that her brothers had tested a spell on her. They had been doing that since she was thirteen and she never seemed to mind.

"Miss Weasley, I will not be brow beat into this. And should you try I can assure you it will reflect your grade."

Ginny smiled at him. "Maybe you don't get it. I don't know if you've noticed, but all year I have not been in your classes. I'm sure you've thought it some vast oversight, but the fact is you won't see me. I've been taking private classes. Courtesy of Dumbledore. So you see, you have no power over my grades in this class or any other." She leaned further forward. She was almost sitting on his table now and talking to him over her shoulder.

"You can huff. You can puff," she held out the chess piece, dangling it before him. "You can take points. But sooner or later I will get what I want. So you can play nice or I can take this into my own hands."

Snape did something funny with his throat and it took Fred a second to realize he was swallowing. Fred was impressed.

Finally he dropped his eyes. "Very well, Miss Weasley. You shall have it by Friday."

Ginny bestowed a magnificent smile on him. "Thank you very much."

Then she set the piece back on the chess board and left the room. Snape was staring at the chess board in wonder as the twins watched their sister leave. Fred moved to follow Ginny. George glanced back at the board and suddenly realized the that Ginny had put the white king in a position where it was in check mate by the red Queen.

(A/N: Is Ginny bad ass or what? Here's a quick rundown of who is who in this fic and the relationships induced by the potion just in case anyone needs it. By the way, The Katie/Alicia relationship hasn't started in the fic yet, but is going to.

Red Queen (Ginny) & White King (Draco)

Yellow Princess (Luna)& White Queen (Pansy)

Red King (Harry) & White Princess (Millie)

Red Princess (Hermione) & Red Knight (Fred)

Red Knight (Ron) & Gold Princess (Silvia)

Gold Jester (Tonks) & White Knight (Blaise)

Red Lady (Angelina) & Red Knight (George)

Red Squire (Katie) & Red Lady (Alicia)

Silver King- Snape