The 7th Child

A/N: So, I'm really sorry about how late this update is. Like really sorry. Basically, I've started writing a completely original story (it's on Wattpad under The Balance of the World by eveningxox if you want to check it out) and I've completely neglected this, but I'm gonna try and update this more regularly from now on.

Right so now the self-promo is out of the way, I hope you enjoy the chapter! It's kinda the beginning of like the fun part, where we get a bit more action and exciting plot (I say this, but I guess we'll find out). And as always, I own none of the characters, I'm just messing with JK Rowling's universe a bit. Also, Dumbledore's welcome speech is a quote from the Prisoner of Azkaban that has been adapted for the story.

-Eve x

Chapter 6: September 1st

Harry sighed as he lugged his case towards the Hogwarts Express. The bright red steam engine stood proud next to Platform 9 ¾, surrounded by families. The various farewells that were being said created an uproarious environment. Harry gritted his teeth; he had been nursing the beginnings of a headache ever since Hermione had joined him and the Weasleys. Her and Ron had immediately begun to partake in their favourite activity (bickering constantly) and Harry had no idea how much longer he could last. It was so much worse now that Hermione had got that ginger monstrosity that she was insisting on calling a cat. Harry genuinely could not wait to get on the train and fake sleep. However, it was unlikely that was going to happen since Ron seemed incapable of going 5 minutes without bragging about the fact that they had got private ministry cars to the station.

"Well I can't wait to rub it in the smug git's face that we got private cars to the station. That'll show him that he's not as special as he seems to think he is, the pompous arse." Harry groaned as Ron's boisterous voice managed to stand above the general hubbub of the station. It wasn't that he didn't like Ron, it's just that… since Ginny had gone, Ron had seemed more self-confident. It had got to the point where it was bordering on arrogance, but Harry understood that it may be because the youngest boy was getting more attention than he was used to.

Hermione suddenly materialised beside Harry, her right arm clutching a ball of orange fluff and her left dragging her trunk behind her. "Ron's changed this summer. I don't know why but I think it has something to do with Ginny."

Harry nodded; he was in full agreement with the astute girl. "It's almost like her going has given him more confidence. Mrs Weasley has been very smothering as well, which is also weird."

Hermione gave Harry a sidelong look. "Mrs Weasley is ALWAYS smothering Harry. It just looks worse because Ginny isn't taking the brunt of it anymore."

"How do you know Ginny took the brunt of it?" Harry questioned. He hadn't thought Hermione and Ginny spoke at all.

"I spoke to her last year. She looked lonely, and I remember how that felt. I was always alone before Halloween in my first year and no one deserves to feel like that."

Harry opened his mouth to respond but before he could, a gangly ginger teenager strode up to them.

"What you guys talking about?" Ron questioned, his grin never leaving his face. "Well, it doesn't matter, lets grab a seat."

Sighing fondly, Harry and Hermione followed their excitable friend onto the train.

-The 7th Child-

"Ginny? You alright?"

Sirius' voice echoed throughout number 12 Grimmauld Place, but Ginny couldn't bring herself to answer. Today was the day she was meant to start her second year and try out for the quidditch team (if there was an opening). She was meant to learn more spells, earn house points and make her parents proud. Instead, she had no parents, and no quidditch to look forward to. At least the house was now clean. Ever since her and Sirius had found the locket, Kreacher had been much nicer. Grimmauld Place was now one of the cleanest places Ginny had ever seen, and to make thing much better, Kreacher had taken down that go-awful portrait. It hadn't been burnt to a crisp like Sirius and Ginny would have preferred but it now lived in Kreacher's small room. Ginny didn't care too much though; as long as she didn't have to hear Mrs Black shriek every day, she was fine.

"Ginny?" Sirius voice sounded much closer than it had been, and it started her out of her thoughts.

"In here!" Ginny responded, forcing her voice to remain cheery. Sirius materialised at her bedroom door and looked in at the small girl who sat with her back against her bed.

"You alright kiddo?"

"Yeah…" Ginny sighed. "I'm just… thinking. It's the first day back at Hogwarts today."

"Ah. The first day of school. Well, we can't let them lot have all the fun, can we?" Sirius smiled kindly at the young girl, although a mischievous twinkle was beginning to appear in his eyes. "I suppose Kreacher can give us a mini feast, if we're lucky." He muttered the last half of the sentence under his breath, causing Ginny to giggle. "And, since you're oh so upset about missing school, I have an idea of what we can do to fix that."

"What?!" Ginny nearly yelled, her posture straightening in her excitement.

"Get up and I'll show you"

Ginny shot to her feet and followed the dark-haired man as he led the way. They headed down to the second floor and to a room that occupied the back of the house.

"Well Ginny, you said you wanted to go to school, so I give you the most important room in any school… the library!"

Ginny looked up at Sirius, disbelief etched upon her face. "The library?! Sirius, no one likes the library."

Sirius smirked. "That may be true, but we have got a job to do. You've got shit to learn and I've got to find out exactly what that fucking locket is and how to destroy it."

Ginny sighed, her lips thinning. "Fine." She dragged out the word, a whining tone colouring her voice.

Sirius smiled and gestured for the young girl to enter the library. Dragging her feet, Ginny headed towards the desk with the basic textbooks on and flung herself onto the chair. Sirius suddenly appeared in front of her, causing Ginny to look at him, her brow crinkling.

"I thought you had research to do."

Sirius grinned wickedly. "Nah, I've decided to become your absolutely fantastic and devastatingly handsome teacher. We can research together. Now, get out your wand and let's begin!"

Ginny smiled.

-The 7th Child-

The Great Hall was crowded, each house table filled with students. Harry chatted animatedly with Ron, his earlier misgivings all but forgotten as they discussed the eventful train ride to Hogwarts. A dementor (at least that was what R.J. Lupin had called it) had got on board the train, causing Harry to faint. Suddenly, Harry was jabbed sharply in the ribs. He spun around to glare at the culprit; Hermione Granger.

"Dumbledore's about to make his speech!" Hermione gestured towards the front of the hall, where Dumbledore was beginning to make his way to the podium. Harry sat up straighter in his seat, keen to hear what Dumbledore had to say. In contrast, Ron slouched in his, a dark look passing across his face. Ron had spent a good chunk of the last few weeks complaining about Dumbledore and the headmaster's refusal to blame Ginny for nearly killing everyone in the school.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence against the Dark Arts Teacher."

Hermione quickly hissed in Harry's ear. "Of course. That's why he knew to give you the chocolate, Harry."

"Potter. Is it true you fainted? I mean, you actually fainted?" A white-haired boy known as Draco Malfoy leant across the gap between the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables in order to ask his question.

"Shove off Malfoy." Ron quickly came to Harry's defence. "How did he find out?" The last sentence was hissed towards Harry.

"Just forget it." Harry answered shortly.

Dumbledore carried on with his speech, not noticing the dark moods of his three favourite students. "Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher had decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid. Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black and Ginny Weasley have been captured." Ron's ears flared red at that statement, and the other Weasleys looked down at their plates.

Dumbledore continued regardless. "The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you, know happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. And truth can be found in even the most complicated web of lies if one only takes their time."

-The 7th Child-

Dumbledore walked with some purpose towards his office. He had laid the first stone in his plan to gather proof that Ginny Weasley and Sirius Black were innocent. Now, he planned to utilise his ability to apparate on school grounds and head towards to location to which he had tracked those magical signatures.

It would be wrong to assume that Albus Dumbledore was not nervous about the impending meeting; he had no idea how stable either individual was after Azkaban. Particularly Sirius given that he had been there for 12 long years. If Sirius had been terribly affected by the dementors, then Dumbledore feared for Ginny Weasley. That young girl may be in more danger than any of them even knew. It was these dark thoughts that had Dumbledore increasing his pace. He wished that he had gone as soon as he discovered these signatures, but he had to wait until Harry was once again safely ensconced within the walls of Hogwarts. Regardless of how badly he felt for the escaped convicts, Harry's safety was paramount with regards to the future of the wizarding world.

Finally, Dumbledore arrived at his office, his cloak billowing behind him as he strode into the room. As the heavy door slammed shut, Dumbledore thought of his destination and disappeared with a small crack.

-The 7th Child-

Sirius was just about to shut the heavy curtains in the front room when a sudden movement in the street caused him to start backwards, knocking an end-table over in the process.

"Sirius, you alright?" Ginny's voice echoed from a higher level of the house; the young girl having headed up to her room after dinner.

"Ginny can you come down here please?" The stress in Sirius voice must have been evident as Ginny didn't even bother replying. Instead the sound of her footsteps reverberated around the house as she basically ran down the stairs.

"What's wrong?" The red-haired girl looked up at him. It was seeing her in her plaid pyjamas that really drove home to Sirius how young this girl was. She was only 12, and she was acting as though she was 20. It was jarring, but still unsurprising. Azkaban had a way of aging people.

Sirius swallowed. "Dumbledore's outside. He's found us."