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Chapter 10 December Blues and Sneak Attacks
~*~Harry's Flat~*~
"Those were possibly the worst rules Dumbledore ever gave us during Hogwarts." said Harry.
"Yeah, I know we couldn't go anywhere with out someone else with us." replied the redhead.
Hmmm, yea. Go on, Gin." said Harry.
~*~Flashback~*~
For the next few weeks both Ginny and Harry stayed in what they now called 'their castle prison'. They kept their promise to Dumbledore and kept his new rules, and didn't leave the castle. It was well into December, when they became really restless.
"Do you want to go visit Hagrid?' Harry asked his friends on a mid-December Saturday.
"Sure." was his basic reply from all three of them. Harry took out a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to Hagrid:
Dear Hargrid,
Could Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and me come down and visit for a while? You know that Dumbledore won't let us come down unless you come and get us. Hope we can!
Cheers,
Harry
Harry then went and got Hedwig, who had taken to sleeping in her cage in his dorm instead of the Owlery. He let her loose out of his window then returned to the Common Room and resumed his chess game with Ron. Hermione and Ginny were talking next to them. About 10 minutes later Hedwig was tapping on a window nearby. Ginny went over and let her in, then took the note off of her leg, and read it aloud.
Dear Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione,
Of ye can come down. Meet me at the front door as soon as you get this.
-Hagrid
With that they all picked up their clocks and walked down to the front entrance. They spotted Hagrid as soon as they got there, but then who can miss him?
"Hey, Hagrid!" said Harry
"Hello Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny." replied Hagrid walking toward the door. All five of them walked toward Hagrid's cabin. Seeing as how it was December the sun was already starting to sink slightly even though it was only about 4 o'clock. They arrived in his cabin about 5 minutes later. As they walked in Hagrid offered them tea and rock cakes while Fang jumped on them and barked happily. Each of them declined the rock cakes, but accepted the tea. After they all sat at the wooden table, Hagrid asked,
"So how are ye doin' with the rules Dumbledore gave ye."
"Fine, except the fact that it's kind dull being inside the castle for a long time and having to ask permission to even go out on the grounds." replied Ginny listlessly.
"Well, it is for your own good, you don't want You-Know-Who cornering you with out any hope of escape do you?" said Hagrid.
"No, but you know, Hagrid, I hate being confined to the castle." stated Harry.
"I know, Harry, but it is for your own good." Hagrid said again.
"We know." said Ginny.
"Okay then. Do you want to see my latest creature for you classes this week?" inquired Hagrid.
"Well, that all depends, does it eat wizards or does it just have fangs?" asked Ron.
"Come on see for yourself; he's very cute." replied Hagrid. Now if Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron hadn't been in his class they might have gone with enthusiasm, but they knew what Hagrid's definition of cute could mean that it was a cannibalistic, 7 foot monster, but they followed anyway just to be polite. Outside in a large wooden crate they four found about a dozen strange big footed creatures starring up at them with huge round eyes.
"Mooncalves!" said Hagrid looking down at them fondly.
"They're so cute!" Hermione and Ginny squealed.
"Aw, Hagrid can I hold one?" asked Ginny.
"Sure, Ginny, go ahead, but keep it's eyes shaded with your hand they usually only come out at full moons, so I have to keep them in this crate with the lid down." replied Hagrid.
Ginny picked up one of the small gray animals and shaded its eyes.
"Isn't he cute?" she said.
"Adorable." mumbled Ron.
"Yeah, sure, Gin." said Harry he went over to Ginny and started petting the one in her arms. They stood outside for a little while longer talking to Hagrid about their classes and the Mooncalves. Hagrid was in the middle of asking about potions class when he suddenly looked up at the darkening sky.
"Merlin, Harry, Ginny! You two aren't suppose to be outside of the castle after dark! Come on let's go back to the castle! Come on you too Ron and Hermione." shouted Hagrid. They walked back into the castle only to find that it was dinnertime anyway.
During dinner Prof. McGonagoll passed around the sign up sheet for those who were staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. Harry was about to sign it when Ginny said, "Hey, Harry your staying at my house this Christmas this year. Don't you remember?"
"Huh? Oh, right yeah." he replied in an, oh so intelligent way, and he passed the paper on. Draco seemed to spot this little action.
"So, Potter, you actually found someone to take you in during the holidays this year? Good for you, but oh wait, you're staying with the Weasels. I guess that's the best you can do though. Too bad your only relatives hate you." drawled the blonde Slytherin.
"At least they want me to be there, unlike whatever lives in your house, Malfoy." replied Harry going back to his dinner ignoring whatever insult Draco had just thrown at him. The rest of their time at dinner went peacefully until Prof. Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.
"Faculty and students, I am deeply sorry to tell you that our former potions master, Professor Snape, was found dead inside the forest. He appeared to have been tortured by Voldemort and his servants. It appears that when he disappeared on Halloween he was taken to Voldemort's lair and tortured for information. We are confident, however, that any information that this Professor may have had was kept secret, and Voldemort seeing this was only in the end forced to kill him because he had no other use for this brave man. Now we will mourn his passing and his body will be buried in the cemetery in Hogsmeade. Now I bid you all good night." the headmaster concluded.
All the students proceed back to their Common Rooms with an air of apprehension of their actual safety.
"He truly is horrible." said Ginny
"Do you mean Voldemort, Gin?" asked Harry not quite sure what he meant.
"Yeah, I mean how could he do something like that and not even think twice about it. That's absolutely horrible!" the redhead explained.
"Some people are just evil." Said Harry.
"Harry, he's not evil. He's inhuman. No one with any shred of human compassion could do that and not even have any regrets." said Ginny.
"Well, um, I guess he isn't human then." whispered Harry. The rest of their way they didn't talk much until they got to the portrait hole. It was then that Ginny suddenly remembered that she had left her DADA homework in the library. Harry said he'd come with her to get it. The library was empty except for Prof. Lupin and a large black dog. As Ginny walked over to get her essay from a table near the odd looking pair she said,
"Hello Professor. Hello Snuffles. Um, why are you in here?" Snuffles barked a greeting, and Prof. Lupin said, "We were looking up a strange mark that was found on Professor Snape's left arm beside his dark mark. We know it was made by some sort of curse, but we don't know what one. Madame Pinch let us use the library tonight with out interruption so here we are."
"Oh, what did the mark look like?" asked Harry. Neither Moony nor Padfoot had realized that he was there until he asked this question. Sirius bounded over and barked excitedly.
"Hey Sirius!" said Harry. His godfather then changed from his dog shape back into his human form.
"The mark looked kind of like a serpent, but then he was a Slytherin. But we're still not sure what it is." said Padfoot.
"Do you want help looking?" asked Ginny.
"Sure, but not too long or Dumbledore will have our heads." replied Lupin. The four sat at a table pouring over book after book on magical curses and their effects. They had been searching a good three hours when all of them suddenly heard a loud snapping sound somewhere near the back of the library. Padfoot gave them all a signal to be quiet and to follow him. They made their way silently to the back and hid behind a bookcase.
"I thought I'd find all of you here. Hahahahahahahaha!" laughed the cruel high voice they all knew so well.
Chapter 10 December Blues and Sneak Attacks
~*~Harry's Flat~*~
"Those were possibly the worst rules Dumbledore ever gave us during Hogwarts." said Harry.
"Yeah, I know we couldn't go anywhere with out someone else with us." replied the redhead.
Hmmm, yea. Go on, Gin." said Harry.
~*~Flashback~*~
For the next few weeks both Ginny and Harry stayed in what they now called 'their castle prison'. They kept their promise to Dumbledore and kept his new rules, and didn't leave the castle. It was well into December, when they became really restless.
"Do you want to go visit Hagrid?' Harry asked his friends on a mid-December Saturday.
"Sure." was his basic reply from all three of them. Harry took out a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to Hagrid:
Dear Hargrid,
Could Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and me come down and visit for a while? You know that Dumbledore won't let us come down unless you come and get us. Hope we can!
Cheers,
Harry
Harry then went and got Hedwig, who had taken to sleeping in her cage in his dorm instead of the Owlery. He let her loose out of his window then returned to the Common Room and resumed his chess game with Ron. Hermione and Ginny were talking next to them. About 10 minutes later Hedwig was tapping on a window nearby. Ginny went over and let her in, then took the note off of her leg, and read it aloud.
Dear Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione,
Of ye can come down. Meet me at the front door as soon as you get this.
-Hagrid
With that they all picked up their clocks and walked down to the front entrance. They spotted Hagrid as soon as they got there, but then who can miss him?
"Hey, Hagrid!" said Harry
"Hello Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny." replied Hagrid walking toward the door. All five of them walked toward Hagrid's cabin. Seeing as how it was December the sun was already starting to sink slightly even though it was only about 4 o'clock. They arrived in his cabin about 5 minutes later. As they walked in Hagrid offered them tea and rock cakes while Fang jumped on them and barked happily. Each of them declined the rock cakes, but accepted the tea. After they all sat at the wooden table, Hagrid asked,
"So how are ye doin' with the rules Dumbledore gave ye."
"Fine, except the fact that it's kind dull being inside the castle for a long time and having to ask permission to even go out on the grounds." replied Ginny listlessly.
"Well, it is for your own good, you don't want You-Know-Who cornering you with out any hope of escape do you?" said Hagrid.
"No, but you know, Hagrid, I hate being confined to the castle." stated Harry.
"I know, Harry, but it is for your own good." Hagrid said again.
"We know." said Ginny.
"Okay then. Do you want to see my latest creature for you classes this week?" inquired Hagrid.
"Well, that all depends, does it eat wizards or does it just have fangs?" asked Ron.
"Come on see for yourself; he's very cute." replied Hagrid. Now if Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron hadn't been in his class they might have gone with enthusiasm, but they knew what Hagrid's definition of cute could mean that it was a cannibalistic, 7 foot monster, but they followed anyway just to be polite. Outside in a large wooden crate they four found about a dozen strange big footed creatures starring up at them with huge round eyes.
"Mooncalves!" said Hagrid looking down at them fondly.
"They're so cute!" Hermione and Ginny squealed.
"Aw, Hagrid can I hold one?" asked Ginny.
"Sure, Ginny, go ahead, but keep it's eyes shaded with your hand they usually only come out at full moons, so I have to keep them in this crate with the lid down." replied Hagrid.
Ginny picked up one of the small gray animals and shaded its eyes.
"Isn't he cute?" she said.
"Adorable." mumbled Ron.
"Yeah, sure, Gin." said Harry he went over to Ginny and started petting the one in her arms. They stood outside for a little while longer talking to Hagrid about their classes and the Mooncalves. Hagrid was in the middle of asking about potions class when he suddenly looked up at the darkening sky.
"Merlin, Harry, Ginny! You two aren't suppose to be outside of the castle after dark! Come on let's go back to the castle! Come on you too Ron and Hermione." shouted Hagrid. They walked back into the castle only to find that it was dinnertime anyway.
During dinner Prof. McGonagoll passed around the sign up sheet for those who were staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. Harry was about to sign it when Ginny said, "Hey, Harry your staying at my house this Christmas this year. Don't you remember?"
"Huh? Oh, right yeah." he replied in an, oh so intelligent way, and he passed the paper on. Draco seemed to spot this little action.
"So, Potter, you actually found someone to take you in during the holidays this year? Good for you, but oh wait, you're staying with the Weasels. I guess that's the best you can do though. Too bad your only relatives hate you." drawled the blonde Slytherin.
"At least they want me to be there, unlike whatever lives in your house, Malfoy." replied Harry going back to his dinner ignoring whatever insult Draco had just thrown at him. The rest of their time at dinner went peacefully until Prof. Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.
"Faculty and students, I am deeply sorry to tell you that our former potions master, Professor Snape, was found dead inside the forest. He appeared to have been tortured by Voldemort and his servants. It appears that when he disappeared on Halloween he was taken to Voldemort's lair and tortured for information. We are confident, however, that any information that this Professor may have had was kept secret, and Voldemort seeing this was only in the end forced to kill him because he had no other use for this brave man. Now we will mourn his passing and his body will be buried in the cemetery in Hogsmeade. Now I bid you all good night." the headmaster concluded.
All the students proceed back to their Common Rooms with an air of apprehension of their actual safety.
"He truly is horrible." said Ginny
"Do you mean Voldemort, Gin?" asked Harry not quite sure what he meant.
"Yeah, I mean how could he do something like that and not even think twice about it. That's absolutely horrible!" the redhead explained.
"Some people are just evil." Said Harry.
"Harry, he's not evil. He's inhuman. No one with any shred of human compassion could do that and not even have any regrets." said Ginny.
"Well, um, I guess he isn't human then." whispered Harry. The rest of their way they didn't talk much until they got to the portrait hole. It was then that Ginny suddenly remembered that she had left her DADA homework in the library. Harry said he'd come with her to get it. The library was empty except for Prof. Lupin and a large black dog. As Ginny walked over to get her essay from a table near the odd looking pair she said,
"Hello Professor. Hello Snuffles. Um, why are you in here?" Snuffles barked a greeting, and Prof. Lupin said, "We were looking up a strange mark that was found on Professor Snape's left arm beside his dark mark. We know it was made by some sort of curse, but we don't know what one. Madame Pinch let us use the library tonight with out interruption so here we are."
"Oh, what did the mark look like?" asked Harry. Neither Moony nor Padfoot had realized that he was there until he asked this question. Sirius bounded over and barked excitedly.
"Hey Sirius!" said Harry. His godfather then changed from his dog shape back into his human form.
"The mark looked kind of like a serpent, but then he was a Slytherin. But we're still not sure what it is." said Padfoot.
"Do you want help looking?" asked Ginny.
"Sure, but not too long or Dumbledore will have our heads." replied Lupin. The four sat at a table pouring over book after book on magical curses and their effects. They had been searching a good three hours when all of them suddenly heard a loud snapping sound somewhere near the back of the library. Padfoot gave them all a signal to be quiet and to follow him. They made their way silently to the back and hid behind a bookcase.
"I thought I'd find all of you here. Hahahahahahahaha!" laughed the cruel high voice they all knew so well.