Chapter 11

With Harry and Hermione gone the castle seemed different for me. I kept thinking of what they were doing, where they were and if they were all right. It was hard to concentrate on my homework at times because of it, yet I prevailed. I wanted to show everyone what I was capable of. I had already mastered the "Wingardium Leviosa" spell, along with a few others, and had properly transfigured a match into a needle. Being the only student who had managed it in the few weeks we had been in the class, I was proud of myself. It was just too bad I was horrible at Potions. I couldn't get the potions right, no matter how hard I tried. I knew I had to study more, but it was hard with Professor

Slughorn standing in front of me all day smelling like those crystallized pineapples he loved so much.

The only class I seemed to enjoy now was Professor Tonk's defense class. It was hard at first; being the smallest person in the class meant I had to work harder than most.

However, I managed to keep up somehow and ended up learning Karate with no huge problems. Oh, I managed to break a few bones here and there, but a quick trip to Madam Pomfrey fixed that. I finally learned how to do a back flip into a double twist, it was great! Mind you, I did hurt my back!

The two weeks went by quickly. Classes were moving at a good pace, getting harder and harder as the days went by. I was making more friends then ever and I finally began to realize I did belong. No one thought of me as a House Elf anymore. Instead, I was just a normal student trying to pass the first year. The Slytherins still hissed at me as I walked by them in the corridors or in the Great Hall, but I was no longer afraid of them. I was my own person now. I had a purpose and I was determined not to let them, or anyone else for that matter, get me down.

It was the afternoon of the secret DA meeting when Harry and Hermione came back, glowing with a fantastic tan it seemed. Harry was holding his arm at an odd angle. It was almost as if he was hiding something, if the bump in his robe was any indication. Was that the Horcrux? I was so curious that I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing and spilled my pumpkin juice all over myself. The Slytherins burst out laughing at I cleaned myself up and blushed a bright red. Harry and Hermione walked up to the teachers' table and spoke softly to Professor McGonagall, who then got up and followed them out of the hall. I watched with a curious expression on my face as they disappeared and turned to George.

"Wonder where they're going," I murmured to him quietly, not telling him anything.

I wasn't supposed to tell him about the Horcruxes and he would only worry more about me if he knew the truth. I trusted him implicitly, yet I still didn't want to hurt him by telling him my secret. I was still in shock over it, hoping that it was a fake, that Harry and Hermione were wrong. Yet I knew they weren't. Hermione Granger was much too smart to lie about something as important as that.

"No idea…maybe they're in trouble?" George replied, after swallowing a mouthful of potatoes and chicken. I shrugged, putting on a worrisome face for his benefit and hoping everything would work out.

Twenty minutes later Harry, Hermione and Professor McGonagall returned, talking quietly to themselves and looking worried. I began to be concerned. I realized something then; where was Ron? He was supposed to have gone with them, what if something had happened to him? I began to panic inside. What would they do without Ron? I calmed myself as I looked sideways at George, who had that same concerned look on his face. I smiled.

"It's nothing, just a headache." I muttered.

He looked at me again, his brow furrowed this time.

"Why don't you go to the Hospital wing? I heard the flu is going around," he said softly.

I shook my head, trying to look normal and replied,

"No, its ok, I'll be fine. Too much homework, I guess."

He stared at me for a few more minutes, and then went back to his food. I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding and ate my lunch. I was still worried about Ron but I hoped I would find out at the meeting. I just had to get there without getting caught, that would be the tough part.

After lunch, we went to our next lesson, History of Magic, where we fell into a stupor as Professor Binns droned on and on about the Goblin rebellions. It was excruciating to listen to and most students had their heads in their hands trying not to fall asleep. I was trying to listen but boy, was it hard listening to this professor go on about something that happened years ago. George was fast asleep already, gently snoring and drooling onto his textbook. Smirking, I nudged him in the ribs.

"Wha…?" He said groggily, jumping up and looking around stupidly.

I tried hard not to laugh as he blushed a bright red and sat back down to try and listen to the teacher. The rest of the lesson went by so slowly it seemed never-ending and everyone jumped up as the bell rang to signal the end of class. We all ran out after the Professor gave the homework; a 12 inch essay on the Goblin rebellion with examples of how the rebellion ended and what was done to prevent another one from starting. It was easy, for anyone who had read the book on the rebellion. I knew the students would be flooding towards the Library and researching it, wanting to get it done first.

Once the class was over, there was nothing left to do but wait for our next Defense

Without Magic lesson. There had been a rumor going around that some of the teachers had left the school because of the students pestering them. I didn't believe it though. It was ridiculous to think they would leave because of kids. This was preposterous of course, the professors could handle anything. They took care of the situation the other year with Voldemort and students were nothing compared to him!

When we arrived at our destination, outside the Quidditch pitch, we were shocked to see a notice on the doors.

"Defense Without Magic class has been cancelled."

We stood there, scratching our heads and wondering where Professor Tonks was. I had a feeling she was on a mission for the Order. I only hoped she was okay, though. She had been through tough times and had finally begun to get back to her normal wacky self, but you could tell she was still in pain. I knew Lupin would be worried about her. I had heard from another teacher that they were dating. With nothing to do now but wait, most of the students ran off laughing and joking around, but I stayed where I was, thinking. George stood beside me, looking at the note curiously.

"What's this about?"

I shook my head.

"No idea. Maybe Professor Tonks didn't have a lesson planned for today, so gave us the day off."

George shrugged without replying and walked off towards the castle, leaving me to think about what could be happening. I needed to speak to Harry and Hermione to find out what had happened to Ron, yet they were in class so I had to wait until lessons were finished. It was one of the hardest things for me to do, though, sitting in my common room waiting as patiently as I could for the final bell to ring, then when it did running down the steps and to the Entrance Hall.

I was hoping to catch Harry and Hermione when they walked back in, but they never showed up. Curious now, I wondered where they were, but thought it best not to run off looking for them since I didn't want to look suspicious. Sighing, I returned to the common room and did some homework. Before I knew it, the clock above the fireplace read 7:45pm. I got up, making sure no one was watching or was paying attention and murmured to George.

"I'm not feeling all that great; I'm going to the Hospital Wing. I'll be back soon."

George looked at me with concern written all over his young face, but didn't say anything. I got up and walked over to the Prefect, who was standing guard in front of the portrait door.

"My stomach is feeling a bit queasy; can I go to the Hospital Wing?" I whimpered.

The Prefect, John looked at me with a quirked eyebrow and nodded his head,

"Sure, I'll take you. Give me a minute."

He walked over to the fireplace, threw some green powder, which I knew to be Floo

Power, into the blazing flames and poked his head inside. Five seconds later, he came back and began to lead me to the Hospital wing. I had no intention of getting there however, but I needed him to think I was. I made my face go a bit paler than normal and groaned a little as we walked down the steps towards the wing.

Halfway there Hermione came running up to me, a look of panic on her face and stopped as she saw the Prefect. She, as Head Girl, had power over him, so she was able to make him leave so we could get going. I gave a great sigh as relief overcame me and whispered to Hermione as we began walking.

"Thanks! I had no idea how I was going to get away from him. I told him I was going to the Hospital wing, but I'm not sure if he really believed me."

Hermione glanced at me as we went along the corridor.

"That's alright" she whispered back, hastily. "I knew what you'd said; I know

Legilimency, so I read your mind before I came to you."

"You can do that? I heard it's really hard to learn, you must be smart!"

I gawked at her in awe as we went by the secret passage way and made it to the corridor where the Room of Requirement was. The corridor was quiet. Shadows danced along its walls like a river dances through a cave opening. Our footsteps echoed as we crossed back and forth, each thinking the same thing.

This is where my memory gets a bit garbled. I can remember us crossing back and forth, but for some reason I can't remember what it was we were thinking. I remember the way the moon tilted its head at us from the open window as we turned to go back for one more pass, yet nothing more. That's not to say I don't remember what happened in the room, I do, but I'll get to that shortly.

So many things were going through my mind at the time that I wasn't even sure if I was thinking what Hermione was thinking. I watched her with an odd sense of trust. I could trust her with my soul if I had to and I knew she would protect me since she had made it her mission to get me into school. If Dumbledore had faith in her abilities to protect something as dangerous as Horcruxes, then I could trust her. Anyway, here I am rambling on again, I'll get back to my past now.

After three times crossing back and forth in front of the same spot, the door appeared, winking into reality. Its brown wood gleamed in the moonlight, beckoning us in.

Hermione walked up to it and opened the door.

She looked at me and said,

"I need you to close your eyes, Winky," she said, looking at me. "It's time for your initiation."

I froze. Initiation? Me? I had no idea there would be an initiation into the DA! From what

I heard about it, it was a group of students who wanted to defy the Ministry and help

Harry vanquish the Dark Lord. I felt panic brew up inside of me as I looked into

Hermione's piercing eyes and gulped. I had two choices then; I could change my mind and go off to the Ravenclaw common room like a scared mouse, or go into the unknown and face my fear head on. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, taking the leap.