Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling, though sometime I do wish I was. Nor does any of this belong to me, save for the characters that you all don't recognize. If I was making any money from this life would be all the more sweeter.

A/N: You know, I just found an inconsistency in my story. In chapter 5 (Awake in a Dream) we first meet Michael and Susan, but they're in 4th year. Then when we come across them again, in chapter 13 (Telling Ron) they've somehow fallen back to 1st year. So just to clear things up: SUSAN AND MICHAEL ARE FIRST YEARS. Sorry about that.

You're all wonderful and your reviews are just so awesome. I'm glad that you're all enjoying this. It's fun to write and it's even better to read the feedback.

Amanda: Just a quick answer to your question: No I don't add characters in just for kicks. Everyone's got a purpose in this story. Even the little things they do might by important. Think of them as hints. D

She was bored. Horrifically bored. Tremendously bored. Incredibly, absolutely, stupendously bored, which explained the book in her hand. Not that Ginevra Weasley loathed books. Quite the contrary actually. In the common room she would sometimes curl up by the fire, her head buried in a novel, but these moments were few and far between. Right now she wanted to do something exciting. Like Draco Malfoy for instance. The sudden picture of the blond wizard smirking at her made her blink and shake her head. Absolutely not. Hermione needed her and she would not leave to satisfy certain cravings.

The book in her hand slowly lowered onto her lap as her mind wandered. She gazed down over the banister overlooking the ground floor of the room. Harry was sprawled on the sofa; one arm draped over his eyes the other splayed over the edge of the cushion, his fingers brushing the soft carpet. His chest slowly rose and fell and his glasses lay on the table which sheltered a snoring Ron. How her brother had managed to roll from his spot by the hearth to the middle of the room and scoot under the coffee table in his sleep was unfathomable to her. She smiled fondly at him and giggled. He was lying on his stomach, his cheek resting on the carpet. One arm was bent and pressed against his mat of hair and the other was stretched out past the table leg as if he was reaching for something. He really did need a hair cut. Ginny bit her lip. She didn't know how she was going to tell him, but she had to eventually.

Her eyes wandered to the shut door. She was supposed to meet him tonight. She wondered if Draco was still waiting for her. Knowing him, he probably was. Her eyes hardened and she clutched the book and forced herself to concentrate on the words printed on the page.

"I won't leave her. Not now, and not for a bloody snog."

He was probably pacing in the dark corner muttering to himself angrily. She could just hear him muttering, "Damn Weasley. Making me wait here like a bleeding damsel. Does she expect me to stay here all sodding night? Five more minutes and then I'm off."

Her lips curved into a smile. He'd add five more minutes to that. Then five more. Then another five just to be safe.

Ginny's eyes flicked to the door again. She didn't like leaving him like that. Maybe just a quick snog—A scream sliced through the silence of the room. Ginny jerked in surprise and looked towards Hermione's bed. She shot to her feet without hesitation. There was an echoing thump from downstairs and a loud curse, but Ginny didn't bother to look down and see Ron wincing and rubbing his head as he moved from under the table.

"Hermione?"

She threw open the curtains and Hermione's head whipped towards her, eyes wide with fright. Before she could say another word, Ginny stumbled back and cried out. Her hands clutched her face and she staggered before grasping the bed post at her back.

Hermione had thrown a book at her.

At that moment if someone were to ask her if she liked reading, Ginny would have pulled out her wand and shown the inconsiderate ponce just exactly how much she did.

"Ginny! Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" Hermione rushed to her. "Here, let me just..." and she quickly took out her wand, and gently pulled Ginny's hands from her face. Ginny didn't notice Hermione wince before she said in a shaking voice, "I'm going to heal it. You'll only feel a bit of a chill." And with a wave of her wand Ginny felt as if her head was dunked into a bucket filled with ice. Her eyes shot open, and she gasped and jerked her head away.

"That is the last time I'm coming to your rescue," Ginny joked as she brought a hand to her head. She was healed and all that was left of the assault was a faint throbbing in her head, and a desire to curse whoever invented the hard cover book.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione apologized, still wanting to fuss over her face, but Ginny stepped back and pushed her hands away.

"Don't be, love. That must have been a hell of a dream."

Before Hermione could answer, Ron shouted as he staggered up the stairs, "Oy! What's going on up here? Sounds like a bleeding war." His hair was rumpled and his eyes still held traces of sleep.

"Hermione attacked me with a book," Ginny said and almost laughed at the scandalous look on Hermione's face.

"I didn't mean to-"

"Hermione, what did I tell you about asking nicely? If you want us to study just say so."

There was a shout from downstairs and all trace of good humor was swallowed in it. Without a thought, Ron and Hermione bounded down the stairs. Ginny, uncertain as to what was happening, rushed to the banister over looking the room.

Harry was shrieking. His back arched. His hands clutched his forehead, and only seconds later his fingers began to claw at his scar as a fresh howl escaped his gaping maw. Ron and Hermione were at his side immediately; one trying to calm him down, the other trying to wake him up. Both were desperately repeating his name, but Harry was oblivious to their attempts and only jerked on the cushions, his face red. The veins on his neck stood out as he arched against the arm of the sofa, his wails grating against the high ceiling.

Ginny could only stand there and stare in horror at the scene that unfolded below her. His screams were reaching a fevered pitch and in fright, she whipped out her wand and pointed it at the door.

"SILENCIO!"

Her voice was drowned in Harry's mindless screams. She shivered and a whimper escaped her throat as she watched a sobbing Hermione fearfully clutch Harry to her in an attempt to still his thrashing body. Ginny watched her pulled him to her chest. Tears leaked out of Hermione's shut eyes and in another moment she opened them and Ginny watched her focused her blurry gaze onto Harry saying, "It's okay! It's alright! I'm here! I'm here, Harry. I'm here."

Ron had fallen to his knees; face pale and eyes wide, he clutched at his best friend's shoulders. "Harry! Harry, mate wake up! It's a dream, mate! A sodding dream! WAKE UP, HARRY!"

Ginny gasped and her hand flew to her mouth in surprise when she noticed the blood that matted Harry's forehead. Streaks of crimson stained his face, but he continued to howl and claw at his head madly. "Oh, Harry," she whispered.

Then for the second time that night she jumped as Hermione threw her head back and let out a wordless scream of fury before she cried, "Let him go! LET HIM GO, DAMN YOU!"

Hermione had cursed. The words sounded foreign coming from her mouth, but it was exactly what Ginny needed because she suddenly snapped out of whatever was holding her to the spot and rushed down the stairs. Wand trembling in her outstretched hand, Ginny looked at Harry and said the first thing that came to mind.

"Stupefy!"

And he fell limp in Hermione's arms.

The room was doused in a deafening silence. Breathing heavily, Ron and Hermione looked up at her, but none said a word. Ginny stood there with her wand still outstretched and shaking. "I-I'm s-sorry. I didn't know what else to do."

Ron only stared at her in shock until Hermione nudged him with her arm. In confusion, he looked back at her but she only looked at him with eyes that said, "Comfort her you brainless idiot!"

Ron stood and walked over to Ginny, whose trembling arm was still raised. He gently took her hand and placed it by her side then looked at her unsure of what to do next. Ginny only looked at Hermione who was fussing over Harry and asked, "He…He's going to be okay?"

Ron put an arm awkwardly on her shoulder and nodded. Not sure if that was enough, he raised his hand and patted her head gently. "Yeah. He'll be fine. Harry'll be alright."

"I didn't hurt him?"

"No. You didn't, Gin. It's okay," he said soothingly and she nodded.

Ginny wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked at Hermione, and watched her kiss Harry's cheek and brush the blood from his forehead with her fingertips. There was a look of disbelief on her features as she gazed at offending colour staining her fingers. "Ron, c-can you…?"

It took a moment for Ron to realize what she was asking him and he strode over to a book and transfigured it to a cloth. "Here," he said as he handed it to her. Then he pointed his wand at Harry. "Enervate."

Harry's eyes opened with a gasp and Hermione's hand froze in the act of wiping away the blood. His chest heaved with each breath his took.

"H…Hermione."

"I'm here, Harry. Shhh, I'm right here."

"Don't go," he said weakly.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, darling. It's alright. He's gone now."

"I…I think t-they killed her. I think she's dead," Harry muttered then he moaned in dismay. "Oh, god, I'm sorry…D-dead. My fault. Hermione. It's all my fault."

"Shh, no, Harry. None of this is your fault. Petra's not dead. She's fine."

"No no. Not…it's the other one….My fault. All my fault."

"You're not making sense, mate," Ron said.

"Ron, please," Hermione implored, but her eyes were wide and bright with fear.

She shifted under Harry's weight, and he mistook it for her getting up. Her eyes darted back to him when his hand shot to her arm.

"No no! Don't go," he said desperately.

"Harry, I'm not going anywhere." She kissed him softly. "You were squashing me and I had to move," she said gently.

"I'm sorry," he said in a tired voice, oddly sounding as if he was a child caught in the act of writing on the walls.

"Stop apologizing. Nothing is your fault. Just relax, love. Shhh, just relax."

"Stay?" he murmured.

"Of course I will."

Feeling awkward and embarrassed to hear such an exchange, Ginny turned her back to them. Harry fell silent.

"Gin?" Ron was once again kneeling by Harry and staring worriedly at him. "Get Dumbledore, and hurry."

She nodded, and with another brief glance at Harry she ran from the room. Shutting the door behind her, she didn't pause to take a breath. She only ran to what she hoped was the right direction to the Headmaster's quarters.

As Ginny sped down the dark corridors, she brushed off the realization that in her haste she had forgotten to take Harry's cloak with her. Nothing could be done about it now. If a teacher found her then all the better. She wouldn't have to run blindly.

She nearly flew down one stair case and almost broke her neck in the process.

Left or right? Oh, please let it be a left.

Ginny turned left into a dark corridor and ran straight into what felt like a brick wall. Falling hard on her rear, she braced her hands on the floor and pushed herself up with a growl.

"If wanted me that badly, freckles, you didn't have to keep me waiting." Her brick wall held out a hand to help her up, but she ignored it and pushed herself up on her own with a wince.

"Not, now, Draco. I need to find Dumbledore. It's Harry."

Draco raised an eyebrow as she pushed past him and his features darkened. His voice hardened in what could only be jealousy as he said, "What, did Potter wet his bed?" He placed his hands on her shoulders and spun her around, but one glance at the wild look in her eyes filled him with worry. "Gin, what happened?" He brought a hand to gently lift her chin towards him as he peered at her face. His eyes grew cold. "Did he hurt you?" he growled.

"No, Draco! I'll explain later, but I need to find Dumbledore now." She wrenched her chin from his grasp and turned to dash away, but he took a hold of her wrist and slipped her hand into his.

"First of all, you're going the wrong way, freckles." At the sound of the nickname, she scowled at him, but he ignored her as he pulled her along. "And second," he continued without breaking his stride and turned to look down at her, "I'll take a rain check."

"Just hurry, you sodding lummox," Ginny growled and fumed when he chuckled.

How I ever got involved with this man is beyond me.

"With all do respect, Albus. Don't you think the children are far too young to be learning such advanced magic?"

"Please, Matilda. I am grateful for your concern, but I assure you that I know what I am doing, and Professor Quinlan is quite capable."

"First years learning third year defense spells? No one has ever changed the curriculum so thoroughly, Albus."

"That is true, Malachy, but Voldemort has indeed risen and we must go to any extremes to prepare the students. If the school was ever to be attacked, I refuse to have any of the students incapable of protecting themselves and their fellows."

"Attack Hogwarts! He wouldn't dare!" a hawk-nosed woman sniffed as she shifted in her portrait. "No one has ever been able to breach the castle walls, and even if that monster manages to break in there are dozens of wards and ancient spells that would stop them."

Dumbledore nodded at the portrait that hung to the left of him, and he looked thoughtfully at a few sheets of parchment on his desk He scratched his nose before answering, "Be that as it may, Shirley, I won't have the students defenseless."

There was a knock at the door and Dumbledore looked up in surprise. He absentmindedly rubbed his forehead and wondered if this sudden interruption was connected to the foreboding sensation he had felt earlier. The wizards and witches in their respected portraits fell silent immediately and Dumbledore, not taking his eyes off the parchment, said, "Come in."

Draco Malfoy strode in; his silver eyes glinted as they took in the snoring portraits. A hint of a smirk graced his lips before he directed his gaze to the Headmaster and bowed his head respectfully, without breaking eye contact.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he nodded in turn. The boy was certainly growing up to be a fine young man with as much pride and insolence as his father. Dumbledore looked behind Draco at the girl who was trying not to tremble. Perhaps Miss Weasley could tame him.

"Good evening, or should I say good morning, Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Weasley."

Ginny's cheeked were tinged with rouge and Draco's eyes hardened, but he still managed to come off as being courteous. Yes, the boy was indeed very much like his father.

" I'm sorry to bother you professor, but I was studying in the prefects' room and I was…heading to the…" his jaw clenched and his voice lowered as he muttered, "lavatory".

Dumbledore hid a smile at Draco's unnecessary embarrassment, but nodded for him too continue.

"When I saw, Gin-" Draco straightened and continued curtly, "Miss Weasley, here. I was going to send the girl back to her House but she told me that she needed to talk to you."

Dumbledore glanced at Ginny and this time a smile did grace his features. For he saw the child stare daggers at the young man's back at the mention of 'girl'. Clearly, she was exactly what the boy needed to bring out his mother's nature. They would make a fine match.

"Well, Miss Weasley," he noticed Ginny's attention suddenly snap back to him and he continued, "What is it that you want to speak to me about?"

The door burst open and Hermione and Ron's head jerked to the entrance. Ron swallowed audibly at the sight of the Headmaster striding in with determined eyes. Hermione clutched Harry to her as Dumbledore looked over them. Worry clouded his features, and he brought a hand to Harry's forehead. Immediately the gashes across his forehead disappeared without a trace, leaving only the lightening bolt shaped scar.

"It's alright, Miss Granger. Let's bring him to the infirmary. I am sure Madam Pomfrey will set him to rights in no time."

Hermione trembled, but nodded, and with surprising strength that made Ron wonder what exactly the Headmaster eats for breakfast, Dumbledore bent and scooped Harry into his arms as if he weighed nothing at all.

Ginny and Malfoy stepped out of the way as Dumbledore swept past them and out the door with Hermione in his wake. It was then that Ron noticed Malfoy's hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"Oy!"

Ginny jumped and Malfoy glanced at Ron with a raised eyebrow.

"Get your hand off my sister!"

Malfoy glanced at his hand which rested protectively on Ginny's shoulder. He looked up at Ron and with a deliberate smirk in his direction, Malfoy slowly took his hand away and brought it back to his side. Ron marched over to them, pulled Ginny behind him and towered over Malfoy.

"What're you doing here?" he snarled.

"Temper, Weasley. Honestly, I figured I'd get more thanks than this. After all, I'm the one who found your sister running around the corridors like a lost child. If it wasn't for me, your precious Potty would still be lying with mudblood over there, crying for his mum as if he was dying or something."

Pure rage filled Ron but before he could pull his fist back, Ginny pushed him aside and—SLAP!

Malfoy stumbled back a step from the sudden assault and Ginny's hand stung. Her eyes flashed and he looked at her in shock, a look which mirrored Ron's. But Ron was now forgotten.

"Don't you dare, Draco Malfoy," she said angrily, though her voice trembled.

Malfoy's face was stone but his eyes watched her with a look that Ron couldn't quite make out. He didn't like it.

"You have no idea what Harry has to go through. No sodding idea. So don't ever…don't you even say…" her throat constricted and she turned abruptly and took a hold of Ron's arm. "Just piss off, Draco," she said and dragged Ron away.

Ron turned back, expecting a snide remark to escape Malfoy's lips, but the man said not a word. He just stood there and stared at their retreating backs. His eyes shining with that something that Ron couldn't quite figure out.

There was something tugging at his brain though, and it was only when they had stepped through the doors and into the infirmary that with a sudden shock, Ron realized what had been bothering him so.

He stared at Ginny quizzically but she took no notice of his attention and only held Hermione's hand in comfort as they waited for Madame Pomfrey to allow them past the drawn curtains.

Ron tried to catch Ginny's eye. Something was definitely not right, and all it took for him to see this was one word.

Draco.

She had called him Draco.

"Mr. Weasley, if you would please awaken Professor McGonagall and bring her here. I believe that since this is concerning several students of her house, her presence is needed. You may go to my office and summon her from there. The password is Periwinkle."

Ron nodded and with a brief glance at Hermione he was off in a flash. Dumbledore then turned to Draco, "Mr. Malfoy, I believe it is long past Miss Weasley's bedtime. If you would please escort her to the Gryffindor common room."

Draco nodded curtly and headed for the door expecting Ginny to follow him. Instead she ignored Draco and looked up at the Headmaster saying, "No." Draco blinked at her response and put a hand on her arm, but she shook it off.

Dumbledore turned his full attention to her and she coloured slightly before going on, "I-I mean, no, professor. I would like to stay here with Hermione."

There was a heartbeat of silence before Dumbledore nodded. "Well then, Mr. Malfoy, thank you for help, but I think it's time that you should be off to bed."

For a moment it looked as if Draco was going to object but he just nodded and strode out of the room. Ginny turned to watch him go for a brief moment then turned her attention back to Hermione who never took her gaze from the drawn curtains.

"Well, I would like to think that now is a good time as any for a cup of tea," Dumbledore said and conjured up three steaming cups. "Careful it's quite hot."

Seeing Hermione making not a move to accept them, Ginny took the cups and murmured her thanks. She sipped from hers and handed Hermione the other, but Hermione ignored the steaming cup in her hands and only watched for Madam Pomfrey with dull eyes.

"I'm sure Harry will be fine, Miss Granger. He's in very capable hands." Dumbledore said gently as he peered down at Hermione's frozen form. Ginny noted that his eyebrows were knitted together and he tilted his head to get a better look at Hermione's face.

Ginny watched her anxiously. Hermione hadn't spoken since the incident and Ginny wondered how she was taking all of it. She was acting very strangely; all quiet and stiff. It was as if she wasn't herself at all.

There was no time for Ginny to react. One minute she had stretched her arm to place it comfortingly on Hermione's saying, "Hey, Hermione," then Dumbledore had stepped forward, pulled her behind him with a hiss and Hermione suddenly had her wand outstretched.

"Secumptsera!" she said hoarsely.

There was a flash of red and Dumbledore swiped his wand over his chest before the crimson jet could slice through him. Ginny cried out and dropped her cup. Dumbledore stumbled back a step.

"What on earth is-" Madam Pomfrey stepped out from behind the curtain and Hermione whipped towards the woman with a vicious, "Vreustem!"

"Kalatorpus!" Dumbledore shouted and a shower of blue sparks shattered over an invisible barrier that suddenly encased Madame Pomfrey causing her to stumble back in surprise.

"Hermione! Fight back!" Ginny shouted and she saw Hermione turn to look at her with a smirk on her face.

"The child cannot fight back. She does not have the power to do so, Miss Weasley," Hermione said.

"Leave her, Tom. She is of no use to you," Dumbledore said taking a step forward.

Hermione raised her wand slowly to point it at his chest. "Quite the contrary, Dumbledore. Hermione is extremely valuable," she looked up at him, her brown eyes glinting.

"You see, she will bring me him," Hermione drawled, waving her hand casually towards the drawn curtains. "And I simply will not have you or any one get in my way of taking what is rightfully mine."

Ginny shuddered. Knowing that it wasn't Hermione talking to them but the Dark Lord himself was horrific, but hearing Hermione's voice and seeing her face twisted into a smirk made her want to lash out.

"Revenge is pointless, Tom," Dumbledore said calmly, his eyes blue flames.

Ginny gripped her wand tightly and her eyes darted to the doorway at the sound of a gasp. Ron had skidded to a stop with Professor McGonagall standing behind him.

The sight that greeted him must have been wondrous indeed. Hermione was standing in the middle of the room with her wand pointed dangerously at Dumbledore, who stood in front of Ginny gripping her wand until her knuckles turned white.

Shards of the broken cup littered her feet and the tea pooled around her. Madame Pomfrey stood rooted to the spot, her face pale with fright and eyes bright with confusion. The white sheet of the curtain was the only thing that stood between her and Harry's prone form on the bed.

Then Hermione laughed. The sound was horrible and unlike anything Ginny had ever heard escape her friend's throat.

"Revenge? You're an even bigger fool than I thought, Dumbledore. Revenge is petty. No, it is destiny that I am after."

"Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this!" McGonagall said in a stern voice and Ginny shut her eyes and winced.

Hermione slowly tilted her head towards the doorway and her features became stone. Her eyes grew hard and there was a glint of distaste as she looked the woman up and down.

Then settling her gaze on the professor's stricken features she said, "I am sorry, but Miss Granger is not available at the moment," then her features twisted into an amused look as she continued, "But if you will leave you name, number and brief message, I'm sure she will get back to you as soon as possible."

"It's Tom, Minerva," Dumbledore said.

Professor McGonagall spluttered in answer. Ginny noticed Madame Pomfrey shift her wand to her other hand. Ron looked as if someone had punched him in the face. Hermione's eyes darted to look at him and he clenched his jaw.

She winked.

Ron's face paled.

That hard laughter escaped her lips once more. She looked at the cup of tea in her hand thoughtfully and raised the cup to her lips. Swallowing, she nodded in mocking approval.

"Well, I believe my time is up. Send my love to dearest Harry and tell him that Adel isn't dead. What he did was foolish and it has cost Miss Granger dearly."

Hermione stepped towards Dumbledore and he drew up against her, wand raised. She looked amused then suddenly her features shifted as she made herself look contrite.

"What are you going to do, professor? Expel me?"

Dumbledore's mouth thinned. "You are wasting your time, Tom."

"No, but I do think that I am wasting yours," Hermione answered, her face once more tinged with amusement. Her eyes moved to Ginny, who forced herself not to draw back from the stare.

"Tell Draco I say hello."

"You won't have him," Ginny hissed.

"Just like I didn't have you?"

Hermione smirked and Ginny felt as if a ton of bricks fell into the pit of her stomach.

Hermione turned to Dumbledore once more and said, "There is no use, Dumbledore. There is no hope. I will have him," she finished vehemently.

Her lips curved into a feral grin and she raised the cup to Dumbledore and bowed her head mockingly, not taking her eyes off him.

"Thank you for the tea."

Then Hermione shut her eyes, shuddered and fell to the ground.