Only Half-Weasley
Chapter 8
A/N: Yes, I know- another long update. What can I say, though? If I updated every single day, you would only get about a paragraph a day ;) So, I just combined it all into one so that you get the whole thing at the same time. I'm so nice, huh? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I definitely enjoyed writing it and I would like to thank my friend, Rachel, for going through it for me! Thanks!
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As eight o'clock slowly approached on Thursday, Holly spent the time in the library reading. Her homework and her attention were now directed to some light reading: Tricks and Hints: Fast and Easy Way to Learn Transfiguration! Holly didn't put down the book until a quarter to eight.
She walked slowly down the corridor, not in a quick hurry to be on time, when she ran into Cynthia on one of the many staircases in the castle. "Hi," Holly mumbled looking at her roommate apprehensively.
"Hi," Cynthia replied. There was a moment of awkward silence before Cynthia broke the spell. "You know…your hair doesn't look so bad. Red, I mean. It's quite…fitting."
Holly pulled at a lock of hair that was gathered in a ponytail. Its bright red color flashed in her eyes before she threw behind her back again. "Uh, thanks," Holly answered, now touching her hair nervously.
Cynthia nodded before looking at her watch. "Well, I...er…better get going," Cynthia said. "See you later." Cynthia passed Holly and the latter stood stunned until her roommate was out of site. Was Cynthia actually being…nice? What was going on?
Holly shook the thoughts out of her head as she tried to concentrate on her meeting with Professor Potter. His office was on the sixth floor and after two more staircases and another three corridors, Holly found herself in front of his office door. She rapped three times on the door before hearing a muffled "Enter" from within. She tentatively entered the office and came upon Professor Potter and Professor McGonagall sitting across from each other and drinking tea.
"Oh, sorry," Holly said, backing out of the room.
"It's alright, Miss Miller," Professor Potter stopped her. "We were just finishing." Her teacher motioned for her to sit down in an extra chair while the Headmistress stood up.
"We will talk again, Harry," Professor McGonagall said before leaving the room and leaving Holly alone with her teacher. For a second, Holly didn't know what to do. This was a bit awkward seeing your teacher outside of the classroom.
Professor Potter got up from behind his desk and took the chair that McGonagall had left vacant. "So, where to begin?" he asked with a good-natured smile. He picked up a piece of parchment out of Holly's bag that must have been her charms homework. "May I?" he looked at her in question. With her permission, Professor Potter looked through the essay, then onto Transfiguration, Astronomy, Potions, Herbology…and finally onto Defense Against the Dark Arts.
After about a half hour of silence while the teacher skimmed through each assignment, Professor Potter finally put down the last essay and let out a breath. "You have a real talent for writing, Miss Miller. These are some of the best essays I've seen in years," Professor Potter praised. "I can definitely see where your strengths are. Have you ever considered a career in writing?"
Holly shrugged her shoulders. "Not really," she admitted. "I have always wanted to be a doctor like my father."
Professor Potter nodded his head and handed back Holly's homework to her. "That's not bad, either. Well, let's get on to the practical form of magic, eh? I can already see you understand what you're doing. You're just having trouble with spells, am I right?"
"I can't make magic," Holly said. "No matter how hard I try, nothing happens or if something does, it's nothing to be proud of."
There was a contemplative look on the teacher's face as he pulled out his own wand and twirled it in his hand. The wand was pretty beat up-looking with little chips and dents all over it. Professor Potter noticed Holly's gaze and smiled. "Wands don't usually get this bad," he said while putting his wand back in his pocket. "Mine just happened to be used a lot when I was younger.
"Alright, get your wand out," Professor Potter instructed. "We'll begin working on some basic wand work."
Holly obeyed quietly, but by the end of the night, she was feeling much comfortable. To her delight (and with some instruction from Professor Potter), she was actually getting the hang of shooting sparks. Twice she set Professor Potter's desk on fire and even burned a hole in his robes before the teacher finally decided to call it a night.
"That was some good work," said the teacher. He glanced at the clock and turned back to Holly. "It looks like we're running out of time. How about we meet again next week, same time?"
"Sure," Holly agreed.
"Excellent. Just keep practicing those wand movements and I think you'll be ready to start working with spells!" Professor said as opened the door for Holly.
Holly moved along the corridors at a fast pace, realizing that it must be after curfew already. It seemed like forever before the portrait appeared in front of her and she gave the password. Inside the common room, it was pretty active, but Holly went straight to her dorm where it was empty. Pulling a blank piece of parchment, she began another letter to her mum. This one was not as harsh as the last dozen.
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At ten o'clock, Ginny was sitting at the table, reading the morning paper like she did every morning. Since Holly went to school, the apartment was quieter and Ginny found more time on her hands. Even though she took more hours at the bookstore along with her job in the restaurant, it still didn't fill the silence of her home when she came in late at night. So, to fight this emptiness, Ginny decided to take up a hobby- furniture arranging.
So, far, she had accomplished changing the design of her room eighteen times. She moved the bed in front of the window, behind the window, next to the window, next to the door, and then arranging the rest of her furniture around it. Yet, it still didn't make the room more inviting. So, she left it and went into Holly's room and did the same thing. After she concluded that that was hopeless, she moved onto the living room. A month and sixty-eight failed attempts later, Ginny just decided to get all new furniture.
Once she finished the muggle paper, she was about to go looking through the catalogue when Holly's owl flew into the room via the open kitchen window. Ginny felt her stomach cringe. Another letter. She was beginning to dread the letters Holly was sending home. No matter what advice Ginny gave her daughter, the eleven-year-old was just unsatisfied.
"What do you have for me today, Yaelim?" Ginny asked with a sigh. She untied the letter slowly and gave the owl a few treats before it flew through the window again. Sitting back down at the kitchen table, Ginny opened up the letter and skimmed through it. Even after she read the letter, Ginny sat motionless in her seat.
Holly was doing much better. That was good, but what was this? Harry was giving her private lessons? Harry had taken a sudden interest in her daughter? Why?
Either way, he won't see the connection, Ginny. He thinks you're dead. And Holly doesn't look like you, anyways.
Even if they turned her hair red? I will never forgive George. If anyone finds out that I'm alive…
But isn't that what you want?
No, of course not! I just want to live my life!
Sure, and I'm the Easter Bunny.
I was beginning to wonder who this was…
Fine, don't listen to your voice of reason. I will just skate out of here.
About time. I didn't even know I had a voice of reason.
How do you think you've survived life these last thirty-something years?
I thought you were skating out of here.
Oh, hush up and get a clue. Maybe this isn't a bad thing. You're daughter is happy and the man of your childhood dreams is paying some attention to her. You're single now. Have you ever considered going back to him?
What? And really get killed by my family for disappearing for twelve years? You're mad. Harry wouldn't take me back anyways. He made it very clear twelve years ago that it was over.
You mean- you made it clear.
Why does it matter who made it clear? I made my decision. We went our separate ways. I have a daughter to look after who is more important than anything.
And when she's gone?
What's that supposed to mean? She's not leaving me. She's only eleven.
You can't expect her to live with you for the rest of her life, can you? Don't you want her to get a job, get married, have kids, and live a wonderful life?
Of course! What crazy parent wouldn't?
Well, then when she's gone…what will happen to you? Here you are, already hating the loneliness of this small apartment when it's just a taste of the rest of your life. Besides, what have you got to lose?
My life.
How?
I told you that my family was going to murder me. First, I was gone for twelve years and they heard neither hide nor hair from me. Second, they have a granddaughter and niece they never met. Third, everyone thinks I'm dead anyways. Killing me won't change anything, will it?
You know they wouldn't do that…
You never grew up with Fred and George!
Ginny, I've been stuffed in your head for the last thirty-something years. I've watched them try to flush you down the toilet. That explanation won't work with me.
I'm trapped, aren't I?
Well, that depends. You need companionship, Ginny. You need to get out and find someone who will make you happy. You can't live like a hermit all your life.
I guess you're right. Why Harry, though?
It doesn't have to be, but he seems to like your daughter. That's a plus. Also, try to explain to a muggle that you're a witch and that your daughter goes to a school for magic.
Good point. Just give me some time, though, ok? I can't just go barging back into everyone's lives.
I agree. We've got to do this slowly: starting with seeing your mum.
WHAT?
Just kidding. I have a better, idea, though…
Alright, I give in. What's the plan?
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After Holly had sent off the letter to her mum, she stopped into an empty classroom to practice her wand movements again. She spent an hour of producing enough sparks to cause the whole room to light up on fire before she headed down to breakfast. She was used to getting to breakfast before everyone else and it didn't bother her that much.
Holly propped up her astronomy book against the orange juice pitcher and began to read it while eating some eggs and toast. She didn't notice when a person sat down next to until she heard their voice next to her, "Wow! Did you read all of that? You're almost done with it and the class is only on chapter 4!"
The girl jumped in surprise and found Cynthia sitting next to her, grabbing a piece of toast and spreading butter on it. "Sorry…I didn't see you there," Holly apologized. "What are you doing here?"
"Eating. What does it look like?" Cynthia teased.
"Aren't you afraid of what people will think if you are caught talking to me?" Holly asked.
Cynthia shook her head and took her eyes off her toast to face Holly. "Not really. You're not that bad of a person," Cynthia confessed. "I'm sorry that we were so rude to you before. It wasn't right. You had every right to be angry with us and I guess we did deserve the brownies. We were stuck up, weren't we?"
Holly stared at her in surprise. "What made you change your mind about me?" she asked curiously.
"A lot of thinking, I guess," she laughed. "Then, when the entire class seemed to think you were a joke…well, that's just wrong. You're a witch, too, and I bet once you get the hang of it, you'll be ten times better than any of them. And you're brave, too. I don't know another soul in this school that would admit that they needed lessons. To me, that says a lot. Will you forgive me?"
Holly grinned- a smile bigger than any she has had since she got to this school. "Sure," Holly said. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"You won't tell anyone that I'm taking private lessons."
Cynthia laughed again and her eyes sparkled with pleasure. "That shouldn't be a problem," she answered. "I don't plan on talking to the other girls until they apologize to you as well. We had a talk last night in the common room. They're still stubborn, but I think they'll come around."
Holly felt her cheeks burn as they turned bright red. "Really? You did that for me?"
"Yeah, I did," Cynthia said. "It's one thing my mum taught me before she died. When you know you're wrong, fix it. She's was a great woman and I know she would be disappointed in me to see how I'm acting now."
"I'm sorry," Holly apologized.
Cynthia smiled wanly. "It's alright," she said. "It was an accident. She was taking a potion for her health, but one of the bottles wasn't mixed right and it killed her. My father didn't think she would have lived much longer, anyways. She had a disease that I can't remember, but never mind that. I had eight good years with her and that's better than none."
"My dad died when I was just a baby," Holly admitted. "Actually, he died minutes after I was born. I never met him at all."
"Oh," Cynthia looked surprised. "I didn't know that."
Holly just shrugged. "It doesn't bother me that much. I never met him and I never knew him. How can I miss someone that I never knew?"
"You're lucky, then," Cynthia replied. "I miss my mum so much sometimes that it hurts."
A crowd of students began to pile into the Great Hall and signaled to Holly that it was about fifteen minutes until class time. Cynthia also picked up on the cue and both of the girls filed out of the hall and walked together to their next class. "I know what you mean about missing your mum," said Holly. "What's worse is when your entire family expects you to replace the person who died. My father was a physician and an honorable man from what people have told me. At this rate, I will never live up to him."
"No one should expect you to replace anyone," Cynthia reasoned. "You should be your own person- live up to your own expectations. If people can't love you for who you are, then they aren't your real friends and family to begin with."
Holly nodded in agreement as they sat down next to each other in their first class of the morning- Transfiguration. She pondered over what Cynthia had said for a few seconds, mulling it through her brain. She had always wanted to follow in her father's footsteps- but was that really what she wanted to do? Did she really want to be a doctor or was she just following a path that people expected her to take? Whose expectations was she living up to? These last few thoughts were tossed to the side as the teacher collected homework and began the lecture. In fact, these thoughts didn't surface again for quite a while.
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And lastly, I would like to thank my reviewers from the last chapter: Kat.PotterNorbetlife sucks then you die 32maerose899daubyBuffy-CrazyaboutAngel, freedakangaroos, Frodo Freak2, lilleo, MiKaYGiRlsilvirtaj5, whydouask, Mean titian, Leah, siriusbrillantbrunette, usababy, and NazgulGirl. You're reviews really encouraged me to keep up writing this (and perhaps a little quicker than it would normally have been ;) ). So, thank you so much!
Current update: update for both "Only Half Weasley" and "Life in the Green Eyes of a Crazy Potter" should be up by next Wednesday.