Hi All,
Welcome to chapter 23 of Little Red Bird. Thanks for showing it love.
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Disclaimer: All HP rights and characters owned by JK Rowling, and fics are created for entertainment only
The next few months were relatively quiet for everyone, including the tarnished Trio. Hermione finally got back to getting points for Gryffindor. The student body just gave them a wide berth but the name calling finally stopped, even the teachers eased up on them. Well, everyone except Professor Snape. He still made them sit separately and refrained from letting her answer any questions.
Ginny and Astoria continued to workout and study hard, however, over the past few weeks Ginny found her friend's attention elsewhere. Astoria was staying recluse apart from their classes and workout sessions. She'd rarely stay with Ginny for dinner or library and her academic scores seemed to show her lack of interest.
It was only the day before everyone left for Easter did Ginny finally corner her best friend before during one of their morning workout sessions.
"Hey Tori!" Ginny called out, sitting next to Astoria who was busy doing squats.
"Yeah, Gin! What happened?" she replied slightly breathless between reps.
"Look, I've been… meaning to talk to you for quite sometime Tori." Ginny spoke hesitantly, putting a hand on Astoria's arm to stop her exercise, "Just sit down, please."
Astoria halted mid squat and gave a confused look before settling down besides her friend with a sigh. "Why're you acting all weird Gin? Are you alright? Everything ok?"
"It certainly doesn't seem so, Tori. You've been acting out a bit over the past few days. You almost never are around for dinner and we only meet for classes or workout. Are you avoiding me?"
"What! Noo…! Don't be stupid, Gin!" Astoria exclaimed rolling her eyes, "Everything's just fine, I was just distracted a bit with the upcoming holidays. I felt… homesick…"
"Really? Are you sure, you don't wanna share anything else? I can help you, Tori." Ginny felt skeptical as she felt Tori's answer a bit forced.
"Of course, I don't have any issues. Now can we get back to our workout." Astoria stood up dusting her shorts and moved towards the bench, "Besides, if you want to help, come here and give me support with the bars!"
"If you say so…" Ginny replied with a sigh. She knew whatever it was she'd eventually get it out. For now, she'd just have to keep a closer eye on her. "Coming!"
The train ride home was pretty quiet as very few students opted to go home for Easter. Mostly it was the students who stayed back at the castle for Christmas and a few more. Ginny and Astoria spent their time chatting up and playing some Gobstones with Mel and a couple of her friends from Hufflepuff. However, there was a slight commotion some time during the ride when a few compartments down the corridor shouts of loud cursing could be heard. It seemed Malfoy and his lackeys couldn't stop themselves from gloating and got hurt as usual in the process.
Around late in the evening before nightfall the Hogwarts Express crawled into Kings Cross station before coming to a halt on the platform 9 ¾ . Ginny changed back into her daily clothes before alighting the train. After a quick hug and goodbye to her friends, she dragged her trunk towards a group of people standing further down.
Turns out it was her father, who came down straight from the ministry to pick her brothers, Harry and herself up. Although she was a bit curious as to how they would travel since their car crashed somewhere in the Forbidden Forest.
She rushed towards her father and gave him a warm hug before they moved collectively towards the muggle exit. Ron and Harry occasionally threw her snarky looks while whispering to each other as they walked towards the station exit amidst muggles.
As they neared the parking lot, she got her answers, it was another car, probably belonging to one of the muggleborns in his department. Luckily for her she got the shared seat with Percy next to her father, while the rest of her brothers crammed the back seat with Harry.
The days were particularly boring as she did the chores along with her other brothers. She was thankful that it was just degnoming the fields near the old shed. Most times she just used the shovel to tonk the pesky gnomes over the barn, it was good exercise as well. Other times she would call in Dinky to handle the chores while she met up with Bella in the shed within the woods.
The nights, however, were another story. Just as before, she snuck out to meet Bella at the manor.
She met Cissy and Bella over Easter which was the celebration of the Spring Solstice quite different from the muggle Christian festival.
The feast was lovely, prepared by the Lestrange Elves catering the delicacies made from the freshest produce spring had to offer. She really missed having a quiet dinner with both her favourite people after moving to Hogwarts.
Once dinner was done and everyone settled down in the balcony overlooking the sea, Narcissa walked over to Ginny who sat closest to the railing holding her mug of hot chocolate.
"You don't seem too happy dear. Normally, I'd account that to missing spending time here at the manor, but somehow I feel that is not the case." Narcissa elegantly perched herself on the chair opposite Ginny, holding a flute of her favourite elven wine.
Ginny just breathed a sigh, leaning back her shoulders to relax on the chair. "Yeah! Probably!"
"Hmmmm, maybe I could be of some help? Why don't you tell me what's troubling you?" Narcissa asked, taking a small sip of the wine.
"You know I started the whole Heir of Slytherin thing as a prank, right?" Ginny continued as Narcissa nodded slightly, "Well, I went ahead and attacked a few students, who're still in the infirmary. Now, what's bothering me is I dove in head first like an idiot, but I never thought, how this'll end without a full-blown auror investigation or the school being shut down. I'm such an idiot, Cissa!"
Narcissa chuckled lightly, "Yes, that you are. Only reason I didn't hit you with a stinging hex is because we're celebrating. You could have asked me once before going ahead with your shenanigans. Bella's always looking for trouble and you, dear have inherited that gift."
"Cissa!" Ginny whined, "Please. I didn't think it through. I'm sorry. Now will you help or not!"
"Calm down, what did I tell you about that tone. Maybe I should start with the punishment, should I? No whining! It's unbecoming behaviour for a young lady." Narcissa chastised her with a stern look before softening her expression, "Secondly, yes, I shall help you, and it's not that much of a difficult problem. It is extremely simple, in reality."
"Really, simple? I don't think how it could be simple, I mean I've thought about multiple scenarios and each one ends up with the Aurors or Ministry getting involved." Ginny replied skeptically.
"Unless, they find a culprit."
"I AM the culprit. How does that help?" Ginny quipped back.
Narcissa just shook her head, "And I thought you were a Slytherin. You've clearly lost the edge dear. As I said, A culprit. Someone to take the blame without suspicion."
"I… I can't condemn an innocent student, and the professors, they're Dumbledore's most trustworthy. Besides, I can't just frame someone like a McGonagall or Sprout. They're skilled and powerful magically. How would I frame them without arousing suspicion."
"Once again dear, you have hexed mudbloods, yet you say you can't condemn a student. That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think. Besides, no one would believe even if you did. It has to be an adult, one that none would miss. Can't you think of anyone who's a dimwit with no major ability?" Narcissa finished with a smirk, picking up the wine glass to savour a sip while the cogs turned in Ginny's head.
"Sweet Merlin!" Ginny gasped wide-eyed, while Narcissa just raised her glass with a slight affirming nod.
"Finally! Now hear me carefully…" Narcissa leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Rest of their holidays were quite uneventful other than the last couple of days when she had accidentally eaten one of the puking pasties one of the twins had switched in her plate during dinner. She hadn't felt this nauseated in a while and spent the night hurling in a bucket next to her bed.
She couldn't retaliate against them, they were cheeky, crafty and extremely intelligent. One might even say a true Slytherin, she almost admired them, almost. Only thing that deterred this was their incessant need to prank her, that too with stuff they haven't perfected. Oh she would prank them one day, one to payback every little prank they've pulled on her.
It was the day of their return and they finally managed to reach the platform, as usual right before the train departed. Everyone boarded the train quickly and went their own ways to find a compartment with their friends.
Before Ginny could drag her trunk towards the opposite side of the compartment, there was a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see it was none other than Potter and Ron, both sporting unsure smiles.
"Yes! How can I help you, Potter?" Ginny replied cautiously. She detested them, but her etiquettes demanded she show politeness when not threatened. Cissa ensured that this point was drilled hard into her student over the holidays. Far too many times had Ginny triggered off unwanted arguments at Hogwarts for her liking, deviating from the main goal of remaining hidden.
"Uhmmm, yeah Ginny! I wou.." Harry stuttered as Ron elbowed him slightly, "I mean, we would like to apologise for what happened back in that corridor. We're really sorry and would like to offer truce?"
"Are you telling me or asking?" Ginny quipped back, "Either ways, it's okay. I have let that go a long time ago. Besides, it should have been Granger apologising as she too was part of the assault. I'll let it slide though. Tell her I'll get my revenge when I beat her scores."
Ron laughed out loud, "Hah! In your dreams, Gin! We came to apologise but it seems you have a pretty big head. Slimy egomaniac! Bloody hell, Hermione is the brightest witch of the age. She'd beat you in her sleep. Keep dreaming about beating her scores. Come on Harry, let's find a compartment, 'Mione must be waiting!"
Ginny sneered at them about to reply when a hand on her shoulders held her back. Turning around, it was Astoria who just shook her head and pulled her lightly by the arms towards their compartment as Ginny looked at them with disdain, shaking her head as she turned around and left.
Harry sighed, why does it always have to go south, it would have been good to have a truce with Ron's sister even though she is a bit egotistical and probably a source of information in the Slytherin common room, if only Ron held his tongue. Ron just pulled him along in the opposite direction towards the front of the carriage.
AN: I know it's a short chapter, but this was the best place to break and the next chapter should be interesting as we're almost to the end of Ginny's first year at Hogwarts.
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