Hi All,

Welcome to chapter 30 of Little Red Bird.

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Disclaimer: All HP rights and characters owned by JK Rowling, and fics are created for entertainment only


The weather was stormy and it was pouring heavily as the train reached Hogsmeade station. Gemma helped Astoria, Ginny and a few other Slytherin second years with water repelling charm on their outer robes before they alighted the train.

This was the first time she would be taking the carriage to Hogwarts. Ginny and Astoria walked off the station towards the carriages, however, stopped in their tracks when Ginny bit back a yelp clutching Astoria's arm. "What the hell is that? Those demons pulling the carriages."

"Sshhhh! Not so loud Ginny." Astoria looked around as other students rushed towards the carriages ignoring the girls standing in the middle of the road. "There's nothing pulling the carriage."

"But-"

"But nothing Gin, keep quiet and walk normally. Later, we'll talk about it." Astoria coerced her to walk pulling her deftly by her arm.

The feast was a regular affair apart from the Headmaster's speech. It seemed the Dementors were going to be a regular feature at Hogwarts until Black was caught, which could be a long time considering the Ministry's track record in catching escaped convicts.

Ginny was happy she wasn't the only one to faint and even more happy that no one else knew about it, at least none that gossiped. Almost everyone in the Hall knew Potter fainted after an encounter with Dementors.

Astoria returned to the common room from the owlery post the feast where Ginny sat playing Exploding Snap with the Carrow twins. A pointed look was all it took for Ginny to end the game and follow her to their dorm.

"Sit." Was all Astoria said after locking the door and pointing towards the bed.

"Hmmmm, yes mother." Ginny said mockingly before plonking down on the bed.

"Gin, I'm not in the mood." Astoria pulled her to an upright position, "You know what pulls the carriage? Is it an animal?"

Ginny frowned as she recounted the encounter, "Yes, it was something like a horse but it seemed to have black leathery skin stretched over a horse's skeleton with bat-like wings. It was haunting and seemed demonic. I've never seen something like that before."

"Do you know what a Thestral is?" Astoria asked as Ginny shook her head. "Well, the animal that you have described matches the description of a Thestral. They're visible only to those that have seen someone die Ginny."

Reality dawned upon Ginny as she stood up trying to leave, however, Astoria caught hold of her arms and yanked her back on the bed. "What the hell, Astoria?"

"NO! What The Hell Ginny! What is going on? Tell me everything. No. More. Secrets." Astoria let her temper flare, "I have been patient with you and did everything to earn your trust."

"Truth. You think you can handle the truth?" Ginny got up standing right in her face, "Can you? No Tori, I don't think you can."

"Tell me Ginny, there's nothing I can't handle."

"Fine, I have tortured and killed. I have seen, learnt and practiced Dark Arts on muggles. Witnessing the death of those vermins is probably the reason I can see Thestrals. Happy?" Ginny snarled, backing off slowly.

"Honestly? I'm not." Astoria leaned back against the wall seemingly relieved. "I do hate muggles but not to that extent. I am glad though you finally shared it, I'd hope next time you do a better job of trying not to intimidate me. Speaking of which, you need to control your temper, are you doing the occlumency exercises regularly?"

Ginny took a deep breath before plonking down on the bed, "Huh! What? That's it? No comebacks, no drawn out monologues?"

Astoria gave her a pointed look, "Why? I mean that's hardly the darkest thing you've told me. It ranks quite low as compared to you admitting to following Him which means you may have to kill wizards and witches if he wishes so. Besides, monologues are your thing. I was concerned mostly because you could have seen a death that affected you, like a loved one. You know I don't care for muggles much so I don't mind it either way if you've killed a few, they are pretty inconsequential as compared to us."

"That's ridiculous, I don't do monologues." Ginny replied feeling slightly irked as Astoria smiled, "Oh shut up! I don't. You just ask questions that need explanations. I guess I can't really surprise you now a days. Hmmm."

Astoria laughed out and turned around to lift the jug of water on the other side of her bed, "It would seem so. I've known you for more than a year now, Gin. There's hardly anything you-Aaahhh!"

The glass slipped off her hands and shattered on the floor as Astoria found herself eye-to-eye with a huge black snake roaring in her face. The color drained off her face as the snake coiled around her neck and body making it impossible for her to move.

As quick as it attacked, the snake slithered off her and coiled itself on the bed before turning back into a hysterically laughing Ginny.

Astoria stood shaking as her eyes widened watching the snake transform back to her friend, "W...w..what the h..hell!"

Ginny jumped off the bed and with a quick spell cleaned the shattered glass. She helped her friend settle on the bed, "Well, have I surprised you enough?" She said with a cheeky smile.

"Fuck! That wasn't funny Ginny. I was scared for my life." Astoria unsuccessfully tried to push her away.

"Awwww, did I scare you? Hmmm interesting. I'm sorry, if it helps. Buuut you did goad me into it." Ginny replied before calling her elf to fetch some hot cocoa for both of them.

Astoria felt much better after a while although her hands shook a bit holding on to the warm cup of cocoa. "I still can't get the haunting image off my head Gin. I have rarely seen a venomous snake that big."

Ginny sipped on hers with a smile, "I can transform again and let you pet me if it helps. To answer your question though, you haven't seen it because it's endemic to Asia. My form is of a King Cobra."

"I'd rather not, please not today. Maybe tomorrow once I've got my head around it a bit. So, animagus eh?"

"Yup" Ginny continued, "And you know what, one of the characteristics of the King cobra is that it hunts other snakes."

"Ugh! Ginny" she whined, "Please tell me you didn't."

Ginny gave her a sheepish look, "I did. Although I threw up once I transformed back. Honestly I didn't have much control back then. Now I have perfect control when I shift into my animagus."

"That's just revolting to imagine you eating another snake. What about their venom?"

"That's the coolest part. I'm immune." Ginny said excitedly.

"What do you mean immune?"

"I mean I inherit the properties of my animagus. By its nature King Cobras are immune to other snake venom and the amount of venom I inject in a bite is lethal enough to kill a horse under 10 minutes." She explained with a proud smile.

Astoria felt a headache coming, "You have tried getting bitten by another snake."

Ginny was surprised at the lack of a query, it was more a statement than anything. She simply nodded while Astoria rubbed her face in exasperation.

"You don't do things by halves, do you? You had the potion for snake bite with you at least?"

"Yes, Tori. I'm not an idiot, you know. I was careful. I guess that's enough surprises for a day. You should rest now. I'll slither up to wake you for breakfast."

"Don't you dare Gin! I'll hex you I swear." Astoria said getting under her blanket.

Ginny just laughed, "You won't, Greengrass. Good night. I'll see you tomorrow."


Two days later, Ginny and Astoria sat working on their Transfiguration assignment in their usual corner desk inside the Slytherin common room. Apart from a few upper year students, there wasn't anyone to disturb the peace and tranquil atmosphere.

This was until a hysterically sobbing Parkinson entered the common room with other third year students. Thankfully she retired herself to the dorms shortly after, saving the others from her incessant whining.

Ginny paid no heed to her though Astoria felt intrigued, "Hmmm, I wonder what's up with her."

Without looking up from her parchment, Ginny responded, "A broken nail or maybe Malfoy finally told her about her pug face."

"How do you say that with a straight face every time? It's different though, see the time, their class wasn't supposed to end for another hour at least. Everyone's back, look." Astoria said pointing towards Nott, Zabini and her sister huddled near one of the couches. "Something's off."

Ginny looked up finally, "Maybe it was cancelled. Why're you so worked up Tori? McGonagall will kill us if this assignment isn't completed by Friday. Concentrate." she said tapping the parchment with the back of her quill.

"Oh shush now. I'll be back in a few minutes." Astoria set aside her quill before pushing back her chair.

"Where are you going?"

"Just a quick chat with Daph. Don't worry I'll be back in a jiffy." Astoria said looking over her shoulders walking away.

Ginny shook her head and went back to her assignment.

A short while later Astoria returned with a triumphant smile, "Guess what?"

With an exasperated sigh Ginny leaned back in her chair setting her quill aside, "Fine. Tell me, what's got you grinning like a lunatic."

"Heyyy! I'm not crazy, it's just so funny. You know the Gamekeeper's teaching Care of Magical Creatures now, right?"

"Yes, it's Hagrid." Ginny said, "He's nice, although I'm not sure he's good enough to teach a class."

"Yeah, him. It seems he chose to demonstrate a Hippogriff for the first class. Even had Potter ride one."

"So? I know he likes Potter, what's surprising about it?"

Astoria pulled Ginny closer, "That's where it gets interesting. As usual, Malfoy couldn't hold himself back and insulted the creature and approached it carelessly. The arrogant git got his arm scratched by it. Where it gets funnier is that he was crying like a wimp."

Ginny's smile faded as she heard the last bit and schooled her emotions before she did something rash, "Oh, so he wasn't hurt severely or anything, right?"

"No, nothing serious, Daph was positive it was just a scratch. Why're you so concerned about him though?" Astoria asked suspiciously.

"I'm not. It's just irks me how idiotic he bahaves sometimes. Can you imagine, he has the traits of a typical Gryffindor I feel." Ginny tried to distract her.

Astoria laughed out loud causing a few others in the room to stare at them, "Oh yes, bloody ponce would have been mortified to be the first Malfoy in Gryffindor. Lord Malfoy would have a fit if that were to happen."

"Very funny, now quiet down. Montague's looking at you as if you've grown another head." Ginny gave Montague a pointed look before he went back to reading his book on the couch. "Besides, now that the gossip is over, let's work on the assignment, shall we."

"Fine, I'll just get another roll of parchment from my room." Astoria replied with a bored expression before leaving the common room.


Later that evening...

The hospital wing was empty barring one bed considering it was the start of term and Quidditch season was yet to begin at Hogwarts.

It was past curfew likely as Madam Pomfrey had already retired to her quarters next to her office.

Draco woke up somewhere around midnight to visit the bathroom. He was washing his face when the door opened partly and closed again. To his surprise a large black snake stood with its lower half coiled and upper half raised high at Draco's eye level.

Draco stumbled back and hit the wall as he fell. The snake transformed back into an amused Ginny who silenced and locked the bathroom.

"What the hell, Ginny? You promised not to scare me with your animagus form." Draco whined trying to get up.

"Well you promised to behave like a Slytherin, and what did you do? You go in head first like a cocky little Gryffindor and get hurt." Ginny stood against the door with her arms crossed.

"Oi! Don't call me a Gryffindor." Draco replied shortly.

"Why shouldn't I? That was a XXX category beast. You were lucky to escape with just a scrape. If Hagrid wasn't close enough, you would probably be lying on the same bed with a few limbs missing."

Feeling chastised Draco hung his head, he knew it was pointless to argue. "I know, I'm sorry. I won't repeat this, I promise. You know how much I hate him, I couldn't control when he got off that beast smiling all triumphant. Besides who gets a category XXX beast on the first day of class for 13 year olds."

"Well, Hagrid is a nice guy but I don't think he's good enough to be a teacher when it comes to planning and ensuring safety. From what I have heard he did a pretty good job of explaining how to approach the Hippogriff. I'm assuming you ignored all of that, right."

Draco nodded with a sheepish smile.

Ginny just shook her head in irritation, "I can't believe YOU are Cissa's son. Please just start behaving like you have a working brain between your ears. I'd hate to see Cissa if something happened to you."

"I already apologized, didn't I?"

"Let me be the judge of how serious that apology was. If I find you acting like a Gryffindor again, then get ready to feel what my fangs can produce. Is. That. Clear?" Ginny stepped closer with every punctuation staring him up as her eyes glinted in the dim lights.

Draco visibly gulped but nodded with a fearful look.

"Excellent. Now get back to sleep. It's past midnight already. Good night." Ginny turned around to remove the silencing ward and unlock the bathroom.

"Wait! Does that mean I can't get him fired and that beast removed? I've already owled my father."

"I don't care about it. Do whatever you want. Just make sure you don't do anything to get hurt."

"Fine, I'll be careful and thanks for visiting me. Good night." Draco said before Ginny transformed back and slithered away into the darkness.


Thanks for reading, please do write a comment if you liked/disliked the fic. It's like a shot of Red-Bull to my viens, keeps me awake writing at 3AM

Cheers!