Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter etc, please don't sue me!


A/N: Thanks all for the favourites/follows/reviews - I'm feeling super encouraged and happily fuzzy! Now for the next day XD Happy reading!

To the reviewers: LonelyConfused [Thank you! I'm super pleased to read your review!]; Neakco [Glad I can keep you guessing! That won't be for a while, much more to happen before then XD]; Nutmeg44 [Maybe, maybe not XD]; Indigo2014 [Thank you! You're so lovely!]; Guest [Thanks, glad to hear the 15 edits paid off! Maybe, maybe not XD ]; and Guest [Thanks].


Recap:

Placing the vial in clear view, she cancelled the sound charms with a roommate's obliging wand and drifted into a content sleep with dreams of the tiny squid flying on a broomstick and batting bludgers with its tentacles.


Ginny groaned as she was roughly shaken awake the next morning.

'What?' she moaned groggily through closed eyes.

'Ginny! Thank Godric you are finally awake! What is wrong? Why do you have an empty Hospital Ward vial?'

Ginny blinked blearily and tried to clear her sight. The figure standing over her – still shaking her harshly – started to come into focus; although the movement really didn't help.

Her head pounded and she closed her eyes tightly to try and force it to soften.

'Ow,' she groaned.

The offending hands immediately released her.

'Sorry, was I hurting you?' asked a frantic voice.

Ginny sat up slowly, hand to her head, and looked at the blurry girl.

'Hermione? What are you doing? Why did you wake me up – isn't it the weekend?' she asked, trying and failing to stifle a wide yawn.

Hermione picked up the Hospital Wing vial and shook it instead. 'You're dorm mates told Ron you were sick and still in bed, he sent me up to find out after falling down the staircase slide three times. He could have hurt himself!'

Waving her hand to subdue the frantic girl, Ginny said, 'I'm fine…ish. I just overdid myself at the Careers Day and Professor McGonagall sent me to the Hospital Ward with strict instructions to rest. Madam Pomfrey gave me the vial to help and I came back here early and went to sleep after drinking it.'

And technically that's all true.

'We were wondering what happened to you!' Hermione exclaimed with evident relief. 'So you are better now?'

'Mostly… I daresay waking up that way wasn't the best method,' she grouched and rubbed circles on her temple.

'Sorry,' Hermione replied sheepishly. 'It's just that I have been trying to wake you for five minutes and Ron is shouting constantly for updates.'

The door suddenly smacked open and a wide-eyed Hermione and Ginny snapped around towards it. Professor McGonagall stood in the doorway with lips pursed so tightly that they were like string.

'Mr Weasley informed me that you were dying, Miss Weasley. Clearly, however, he appears to have been rather too dramatic in his assessment.'

'I'm sorry, Professor, he is, as you correctly suggest, wrong; I was still sleeping under the effects of Madam Pomfrey's potion – my brother must have panicked.'

'Hmm, very well. Are you better?'

'Much, thank you,' Ginny replied sweetly.

'Then you best get up and have breakfast so you can do your Transfiguration homework today,' Professor McGonagall replied, swiftly departing the room with sharp movements.

'I'd better go down and fill Ron in: we will wait for you,' Hermione said, lightly patting Ginny's arm. Ginny forced herself not to shake of the mothering gesture and stayed still until the older girl left her in peace to get ready.

After quickly shrinking the squid's container and hiding it in her trunk, Ginny eventually appeared downstairs, still nursing a mild headache.

She found Harry attempting to stifle a grin, Hermione rolling her eyes with hair frizzier than ever, and a sheepish, red-faced Ron waiting for her.

Ginny shook her head at Ron and smiled. 'You're an idiot,' she said fondly.

'How was I supposed to know you were just sleeping!' he moaned.

'You were supposed to wait for Hermione,' Harry answered for her.

'She was gone forever!' Ron replied.

'A few minutes, Ron,' Hermione corrected.

'Ron has detention on Tuesday night for waking McGonagall because he jumped to preposterous conclusions,' Harry added. 'Fortunately, McGonagall didn't make me reschedule our quidditch practise by assigning it on Monday.'

'How good of her,' Ginny answered. 'Right, so how about breakfast?'

'Yes,' Ron agreed loudly and began to lead the way towards the common room exit.

Hermione smiled indulgently at the redheaded boy and followed. Harry cast a longing glance at Ginny, which she promptly ignored and followed her enthusiastic brother.

The Great Hall was its normal Saturday morning bustle to Ginny's keen disappointment. The older Slytherins were all absent – rumour had it that they often had parties on Friday nights; although Ginny had yet to confirm that. The Ravenclaws, always early risers, were drifting from the hall in their various study groups. And the Hufflepuffs were chatting happily to each other; some arriving, others leaving. The early riser Gryffindors were laughing loudly and shouting greetings to their friends, the late risers blinked sleepily. At the teacher table, the professors and Hagrid sipped pots of tea and watched the students flittering around under their eye; McGonagall sending a glare at Ron, which caused him to flush again.

Well, I suppose it is unlikely that the squid being missing would have been discovered so soon… pity. Guess I'll just have to be patient.

Ginny split from the trio with a wave and headed to sit with Luna and Kate who usually spent Saturday mornings with her.

'Morning!' Ginny called with a cheer despite her throbbing head.

Tea, I need tea; that will fix my head right up. Everything is better with tea.

'Hi,' Kate replied with a smile as she shuffled along to make room for her Gryffindor friend.

'Aloha,' Luna said.

'Huh?' Ginny raised an eyebrow at Kate for an explanation.

'Luna has been trying to learn hello in as many languages as possible,' Kate explained.

'Oh, good skill, I suppose,' Ginny replied.

'I want to travel after school to find exotic creatures. I need to know how to say hello to them,' Luna added.

'Isn't "aloha" a Muggle word?' Kate asked.

'Yes, but I'm sure magical creatures in Hawaii will understand it,' Luna said blithely, not looking up from a book propped in front of her.

'Riiight,' Kate drawled with a bemused look at Ginny.

Ginny smirked and sat down.

'Did you find your dream career yesterday, Kate?' Ginny asked.

'Maybe. I did think about working in runes or ancient artefacts. The British Magical Museum had a booth and are keen for students with my scores and interests.'

Ginny's attention tweaked at that.

Rare ancient artefacts – no I can't steal something she works on – unless it can't be traced back to her... No – if she tells me something that isn't common knowledge by accident then I could be tracked down. Well that sucks.

'Mm hmm,' Ginny acknowledged.

Kate continued talking on the subject, speaking faster and faster as she became more overtaken by her passion. Ginny munched on her breakfast, nodding along with her friend's gestures, until finally breaking in. 'It's obvious that you want to do this – I say go for it. You have to love your job!'

Kate nodded with a grin. 'You're right, I don't know why I'm hesitating.'

Kate jumped up from her seat.

'Where are you going?' Ginny asked startled at her friend's abrupt departure.

'To fill out my application for the position,' Kate called as she rushed from the table.

Ginny watched her leave, mouth agape in surprise.

Luna chuckled beside her. 'You did tell her to "go for it".'

'I didn't expect her to do it right now,' Ginny said with a bemused shake of her head. 'So, what should we do today?'

Please say 'go to the lake'.

'I think Meadow has training when they drag themselves out of bed, and Kate will probably be a while. How about we go to see the unicorns in Hagrid's paddock?' Luna suggested as she closed her book.

'Okay,' Ginny chirped, carefully to hide her disappointment.

The two girls headed outside and frowned. The sky was grey and rain drizzled down.

'What lovely Scottish weather,' Ginny groused.

Luna flicked her wand and created an Impervious Charm over them. 'That should hold for an hour. Shall we?'

Ginny jumped out of the doorway onto the muddy ground with a squelch and laughed loudly.

'Seems to be holding,' she added as she held her hands palm up to the sky and felt no droplets hit her.

Luna smiled and followed her intrepid friend into the storm to see the unicorns; after all, there was nothing as beautiful as a pure white unicorn dancing in a glistening rain shower... except, maybe, one in the evening mist.


The weekend passed without any news of the squid – thanks, no doubt, to the constant rain.

As she sat in potions class the following Monday, Ginny had to force herself not to pout that the squid had yet to be discovered missing. On the upside, she had been in the company of others the entire time since Friday, so if it wasn't discovered that the squid was stolen on Friday night, she had an excellent alibi lined up.

Determined not to be caught looking dejected, she cast her mind to try and find a new focus topic. Her eyes landed on Draco, who was by her side, slouched in his chair as his black quill twirled between his deft fingers. She scowled.

Not him, think of something else.

They had yet to start any potion work today, Professor Snape stood at the front, lecturing them on blood in potions.

Okay, blood in potions; that will do. How many are there…

'What are the four methods of preparing Wizarding blood before adding it to a potion?' Professor Snape asked the class in a bored tone.

Hermione's hand immediately shot into the air.

Professor Snape sneered at the bushy-haired girl.

Give it up, Hermione, you're just annoying him.

'Anyone?' he asked.

Hermione began to wriggle her hand to attract attention, causing Ginny to roll her eyes.

With another glance at the eager Muggle-born, Snape added, 'No one?'

Hermione whimpered slightly and Ginny heard Draco chuckle slightly beside her. Ginny scowled at him, but it wasn't very effective as she was trying to hold in her own amusement. Professor Snape was, clearly, intentionally ignoring her brother's admirer and the distress was really not necessary. Professor Snape knew if he always allowed her to answer, then no one else would bother to prepare for class; so her raised hand was not something he appreciated given the volatile nature of potion brewing.

'Very well then, Miss Granger, since it seems you can't help but be the class know-it-all. The answer,' Professor Snape demanded.

'There are only three methods,' Hermione replied primly – Draco immediately turned his focus completely towards the Muggle-born, an anticipatory smirk spread over his face, as Ginny stiffened.

Did she really just declare that Professor Snape is wrong? In front of the entire class! This is not going to end well.

Ginny glanced at the Professor; he was sneering, but didn't interrupt his student's answer.

Hermione continued on, oblivious to the foolishness of correcting the Potions Master in such a way. 'The first option is to add the blood fresh and still at body temperature. The second is to mix it with another ingredient and then add it. The third and final is to add the blood frozen.'

Hermione looked at the professor with a smug smile and Ginny's head shook in disbelief with wide eyes.

'Fifteen points from Gryffindor for your insufferable assumption that you know this basic subject matter better than a Potions Master and for insisting you knew the correct answer when you did not. Mr Malfoy, the fourth method please.'

'You dry the blood completely before adding it as a fine ground powder,' Draco drawled beside her.

'Ten points to Slytherin.'

Hermione's jaw dropped. 'But the course book only lists three!'

'This textbook,' Professor Snape said, lifting the book in question off Pansy's desk, 'does not tell you everything you will ever need to know about potions, obviously. And that's five points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn, Miss Granger.'

Hermione folded her arms and glared at the tabletop. Ginny could see the older girl's eyes sparkling with unshed tears at Professor Snape's set down. She felt a pang of pity for the girl, until she recalled that Hermione had assumed she knew better than their professor, tried to correct him in a full class, was wrong, and then continue to disrupt the class by trying to insist it wasn't fair. And Professor Snape hadn't been that harsh in his reprimand – for him anyway.

She really can be a pain to share a class with – we could be discussing blood potions instead of listening to her argue this point and noticing Draco… sod it!

'Over the next month you will have individual assignments. Since this is seventh year potions, I have a "challenge" for you – although I daresay most of you will fail in this task. You will each chose a potion to improve. It may be any potion from this textbook. You will document your research and theory for the improvements. You will be given class time to brew the potion. Brewing and testing will be under my supervision and permission only. Choose one potion to use and I will approve or disapprove your choice at the end of the lesson.'

The students immediately began to search through their texts and the professor came over to his advanced students.

'I have higher expectations of you two. Miss Weasley, you must design your own potion from scratch. Mr Malfoy, you must design two new potions and improve one from a different book – since I have already improved most of these ones.' Snape flicked his wand and tapped the table, a book appeared on the spot and Draco pulled it closer towards him.

The professor left and Ginny glanced at Draco with apprehension.

'You shouldn't find creating a new potion too hard if you can find something that has yet to be developed,' Draco reassured, his lip twitching up at the corner. 'And you can always go for an entirely new approach to creating an existing potion.'

Ginny wasn't comforted and her eyes darted frantically around the room, trying to think of something to make.

'Is this a test?' Ginny asked.

'Yes. I passed last year – hence why I need to create two. Most people won't manage to do the improvements – they won't be failed unless their reasoning theory is completely wrong. And you won't be dropped from advanced if you can't get it – but I'll point you in the right direction. Now be quiet for a bit while I try and think of two potions to create.'

Ginny nodded and chewed her cheek distractedly.

New potion, new potion, new potion. Crap, where are Fred and George when I need them, they would be able to think of—Fred and George, their book! I need something to make it temporarily invisible for when I return it. I can create a potion to do that!

She pulled her text towards her and started to flip through the book. There was one potion for invisibility, but it was for use on something living for a maximum of ten minutes.

This should be different enough to please Professor Snape; inanimate object and longer time period.

She quickly moved on to the potion creation section. It was only short – given it wasn't standard course material – but it was a start.

I need a base, something for a temporary effect of a few hours. I'll also need to figure out what can create invisibility – unicorn hair, obviously, hmm will Snape let me use such an expensive ingredient?

Just before the end of class, Draco looked over.

'You decided on something yet?'

'Yes,' she replied.

'Will you need a hand with research?'

'Are you offering?'

Draco shrugged. 'I'll have to research for mine anyway. I'll be in the library on Wednesday night.'

Ginny nodded. 'I'll see you on Wednesday after dinner then.'

I really hope he doesn't have his usual crowd of hangers on; I do not want to have to deal with that jealous, psychotic mob.

As they left the classroom, everyone walked via Professor Snape's desk to get the required approval.

She drifted towards the back of the group's haphazard line, Professor Snape nodding expressionlessly when he heard her idea of moderate length invisibility potion for inanimate objects. Ginny then swiftly left the room and was joined by Harry, Hermione, and Ron when she arrived outside.

Hermione was already talking at full speed about her plans, apparently her embarrassment forgotten. Ron and Harry started discussing quidditch quietly, leaving Ginny to deal with Hermione.

'Which potion will you be improving, Ginny? I hope you choose something from the first quarter of the book – those ones should be easier for you…'

Does she not hear how condescending that sounds? Probably not, she isn't intentionally a bitch. I wonder if I can get away with not saying which one so that she doesn't find out I'm creating one.

'Come on, Ginny, which one is it?'

Guess not.

'Professor Snape gave me a slightly different project,' she admitted.

'Really? I'm glad he thought to make yours easier - what do you need to do?'

A spike of annoyance shot through her.

'I am designing a new potion,' Ginny said crisply.

Hermione froze on the spot and caused Ron to stumble into her. Her blushing brother was immediately apologising and holding Hermione up to keep her stable, but the bushy-haired girl didn't seem to notice.

Blinking at Ginny, she eventually stuttered, 'A—a new potion?'

'Yes.'

'But that's hard!'

You don't say, she thought sarcastically.

'Yes.'

'Why can't I do that too?'

'You'll have to ask Professor Snape that question,' Ginny answered.

Ron blanched at the thought and Harry paled. Harry grabbed hold of Hermione's arm as she seemed to waiver between disbelief and marching straight back to the classroom to demand the same task and Harry didn't think Professor Snape was likely to be amenable to any more of Hermione today after her earlier outburst.

'Come on, Hermione, it is lunch time.'

'But—' she said weakly.

Ugh, this is going to be tiresome - time to go, Ginny decided, and silently slipped away as the boys tried to reason with Hermione.


A/N: How irritating for Ginny, she steals a giant squid and no-one notices!
If you see any Oxford English punctuation/grammar corrections, please PM me so I can fix them up. Otherwise, reviews and favouriting make me ever so happy :D