A/N – AHH! I'm sorry everyone! I know it's been FORever since I posted, but I've been very busy. Also, I had my computer taken away from me for a month so far (it's March 19th as I write this little message) and my internet is not back as of now. The reason, if you'd like to know, is because Bambiky was being a bad little girl on Myspace, and her parents found it. So anyway, I'll post this as soon as I get my internet, which is when you are reading this now, but to me, that hasn't happened yet. Whatever, I'm confusing my self. Sorry!
Now about the new story… I know I said I was going to try and have the winner announced by New Years, so now I must admit I haven't even read the outlines yet. I'm sorry! I'm really trying, I swear, and to be honest it may be summer time before I start that story, but I'll get to it as soon as possible.
And without further ado… On to Chapter 14! Enjoy and review if you want. Notice it's called Christmas and you've been waiting so long it's almost as if you were waiting for… Christmas! Okay anyway…
o.O.o
Sunday morning a large tawny owl swooped into the library and landed gracefully on the empty chair beside Ginny, holding a thick newspaper. Ginny undid the packet of printed paper and the owl flew away. Both girls sitting at the table looked up and watched as Ginny opened to page one, which was headed in big bold letters: 'THE DAILY PROPHET'.
"So what's new in the wizarding world, Gin?" Mindy asked.
"Yes, do tell," Vivian urged.
Ginny cleared her throat and began to read aloud, "Over the past few weeks several attacks, by who we assume to be the Dark Lord's followers, on citizens in various wizarding and muggle towns have been reported. In Dufftown, right outside of Hogsmeade, the death count since last Friday is at an astonishing 27. The Deatheaters have left no traces of their whereabouts. The Ministry of Magic is searching frantically for them.
Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge says, 'The Dark Lord's forces are getting stronger. We are expecting a large attack in the near future possibly resulting in war.'"
Vivian shuddered and Mindy sighed, "I suppose there will be attacks at Hogwarts soon then."
Ginny gave a half-shrug, "Maybe. But Hogwarts is the safest place in England. You don't really think Voldemort could get in?"
"I do," Vivian remarked, "It wouldn't take too much effort for the death eaters to slip in. I mean, we don't exactly have names and faces for most of them. Take Lucius Malfoy for example. He could easily get into Hogwarts if he wanted to."
"That's true," Ginny agreed. "I'll bet you anything he's already got Draco working around here on something."
The girls continued talking when Mindy finally asked, "Are you going to fight?"
"In the war?" Vivian asked. Mindy nodded at the blond that she had come to tolerate for Ginny's sake, and even if she wouldn't admit it, she kind of liked her too.
"I will," Ginny said boldly, "I'm going to be ready too. I'd do anything to help get rid of him." Both girls looked at Ginny and could tell she was reflecting upon her past, particularly year 1 when she had been ensnared by Tom Riddle and taken into the Chamber of Secrets.
"I think I will too," Vivian said. "He killed my parents when I was younger."
Mindy and Ginny exchanged slightly uncomfortable glances, but Vivian didn't show signs of sorrow. She turned her eyes to Mindy, "What about you?"
"Of course I will," Mindy said.
"Vivian's worried though," Vivian said. "I don't know if I'll be prepared."
"Me either, come to think about it," Ginny agreed. "Maybe we could use our nights after classes and learn some new hexes and spells and stuff."
Both girls agreed readily. Ginny would most likely take charge, as she had learned a lot from Harry Potter when he had started the DA in her earlier years.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o
A week before Christmas Ginny, Vivian, and Mindy were all lounging in the Gryffindor dormitory's. Vivian was reading Witch Weekly, Ginny writing to 'D', and Mindy packing for Christmas holidays – she was leaving early the next morning.
"So have you two started thinking about what to wear to the ball in May?" Vivian asked, while thumbing through pages of 'hot new dresses'.
Mindy and Ginny exchanged odd glances and shook their heads, "That's not for 5 months, Viv."
"I know," she replied, "but I've already started looking."
Ginny laughed and groaned, "I can't believe you're both leaving me for three weeks."
"Sorry, Gin, but Roger asked me to go with him months ago."
Mindy shrugged, "I just have to go. End of story."
"Well, I have one more night and I suppose that will have to do. Do you want your presents now or should I just send them to you on Christmas?"
"Just owl me mine," Mindy said, placing a stack of folded clothes in her trunk.
Vivian grinned, "If you give me mine now, I'll wait until I get home to open it."
Ginny grinned back and handed her the present, "Don't leave the paper on the train, okay?"
Vivian nodded, "Got it."
The next morning at 10, Ginny was up and ready, helping Mindy pack a few last minute things. Vivian was still sound asleep in the bathtub. Yes, reader, she was in the bathtub.
"Alright Gin, I'm all through," Mindy said. "Should we wake her up?"
Ginny shrugged, "I guess so."
Ginny followed Mindy into the bathroom and watched as Mindy reached over Vivian's sleeping body and turned the cold water on full blast, and then jumped away.
Vivian shot up quickly with a screech and jumped – no, hurled herself – out of the bathtub, soaking wet. And then she realized who had done it and where she was, and she laughed. Just laughed as hard as she could, until all three of them were in tears.
o.O.o
"I'm going to miss you so much Ginny," Vivian said, hugging Ginny tightly. When they pulled apart Vivian handed her a neatly wrapped square box with a bright red ribbon on the top. "That's your Christmas present," she said, "and I trust you won't open it until Christmas."
Ginny smiled, gave a thank you, and turned to Mindy. They hugged and bid each other goodbye, and Ginny watched as the trail pulled away.
As she watched the windows of each compartment, one particularly caught her eye. Inside was sitting Draco Malfoy by himself, with a small cage that looked as if it would carry an animal. Ginny's suspicions were raised that he was smuggling away something dangerous.
o.O.o
Christmas morning Ginny didn't wake until nearly 11 o'clock. When she did, however, she found a mound of presents at her bed larger than ever before. Her eyes lit up on one present particularly; the small black kitten from the pet store a few months before, with its big green-blue eyes. Around it's neck there was a ribbon tied into a bow, with a small note card on it. She reached for it immediately.
For my Strawberry. Merry Christmas.
It wasn't signed. It had to be from 'D', as no one else called her Strawberry… but it couldn't be from him… could it? How we he know she had admired it in the pet store?
Perhaps it was from Colin. No, Ginny decided, spotting a present from him in the corner of the pile.
Her thoughts were broken when the said kitten pounced on the ribbon that was once around her neck.
"I think," Ginny said with a laugh, "I will call you Kaida."
When Ginny finished all opening all of her presents (which took longer than usual due to the increased number and the trouble from Kaida while she was trying to move ribbons around), she ended with a box of assorted sweets from Ron, a three book set about Quidditch from Hermione, a set of quills and different colored ink from Colin, a knee length black skirt with a green v-neck top and green hair ribbons from Mindy, a make up kit from Vivian, a green sweater with a 'G' stitched on the front from her mother, a small amount of money from her father, an assorted box of prank items from Fred and George, a small dragon statue from Charlie, money from Bill, and at last, the most expensive in the bunch, a Nimbus 2001 from Harry. She was in complete awe that he had spent so much money on her.
When lunch time came around she retied the small red ribbon around Kaida's neck and decided to take her to lunch, since there would only be a small number of people there anyway. She wanted to show Harry and Ron.
Ginny entered the Great Hall minutes later in the outfit sent by Mindy, make up done from Vivian's present, and an emerald green ribbon holding her hair back. She sat down at the table and around were about 10 people, including Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Harry, Ron, a 1st year Ravenclaw, Millicent Bullstrode, Hagrid, Professor Sprout, two Hufflepuff twins, Roger Davies, and Colin Creevey.
"Hey Gin," Ron said, a mouth full of food, "Whazat?"
Ginny grinned, "This is Kaida," she explained, "Someone sent her to me for Christmas, but there was no name."
A few of the girls at the table admired with smiles of affection, and although Ginny didn't notice it, Professor Dumbledore was looking her way with a knowing grin and a twinkle in his eye.
o.O.o
Mindy woke up around noon on Christmas morning and yawned as she sat up in her bed. When she looked around, she realized she was at home and she smiled, taking in the smell of her mother's cooking, which was waiting in the kitchen.
Mindy tumbled out of bed and down the stairs into the kitchen, and thought she must be dreaming at the sight she saw. Her mother was sitting at the kitchen table, talking to Blaise Zabini. She stopped and stared until her mother stopped talking and saw her in the doorway.
"Good morning, Mindy," she said, smiling. "How did you sleep?"
Mindy blinked twice and took her eyes off Blaise and focuses them on her mother, "Fine… what's he doing here?"
"Oh Mindy, you can be nicer than that. Mr. Zabini here tells me you two are together?"
Mindy scoffed and shook her head, "You don't say. Well, if you don't mind I'm going to go back to my room and die. Call me if you need anything," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Mindy!" her mother gasped in a scolding voice.
Blaise gave an uncomfortable smile, "No, it's okay Mrs. Reed. Mindy, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"No," she said dully, crossing her arms over her chest.
Mrs. Reed stood up with a sigh and head toward the kitchen door, moving Mindy aside, "I'll leave you two alone, and when you're through we'll have lunch."
Mindy bit her lip and stared at the wall, while Blaise gave a 'Thank you' nod. The door shut and they were alone.
"What do you want?" she asked tensely, looking up at him, her bangs brushing across her eyes.
Blaise watched her lovingly for a moment, and then replied, "I wanted to come tell you how sorry I am. Just listen for a minute, okay? I know you're mad at me, and I know what I did was wrong, but the only reason I told you was so we would be honest with each other. I mean, think about it… I could have just gone and never said a thing to you about it and you never would have known, but I thought you would want to know. I am being honest with you, and I've never lied to you about anything. That night I was tired, and she came onto me. By the time I realized it and stopped it, I had already kissed her." He stopped for a moment and stared her straight in the eye, "Mindy, I'm telling you all of this because I care about you. I love you."
Mindy bit her lip and choked back tears. "Then that's your fault."
As she turned to leave, Blaise's heart broke inside of him. He rushed over to her and took hold of her upper arms, "Mindy please listen to me. I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you."
She pulled away from him and opened the door, "You already did." She turned and ran up the stairs, slamming the door and once she was safe inside her room, she flung herself face down on her bed and cried.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
"Draco," Lucius Malfoy said curtly to his son who stood before him.
"Father," Draco replied, just as solemnly, taking a seat before his father.
Lucius looked upon his son with pure spite, holding a letter firmly in his pale fist. "From your last letter, which I remind you was written months ago, I have come to understand that you have no intentions of joining my Lord. I do hope your childishness has left you since then."
"On the contrary, father," Draco said evenly, "I have only matured more, and I stand firm in my decision."
"I will not tolerate disobedience in this house, and you will do as I say," Lucius said hotly. "I had only hoped that I wouldn't have to force you."
Draco kept eye contact with his father. "You will not have to force me. I will not take the mark and nothing you say or do will persuade me otherwise. Good-bye, father." Draco stood and left the library they had previously been seated in, slamming the door quite loudly as he did.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o
There was a knock on Mindy's door a few hours later and her mother's body entered the room. "Mindy? Are you feeling better? Your friend said you had come up here because you weren't feeling well. He left you this."
Mindy looked up at the square box her mother sat on her bed-side table. Her mother sat beside her and put a hand on her shoulder, "Mindy, what's going on with that boy?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not stupid, you know? He came here on Christmas day to talk to you and when I went back into the kitchen you were gone and he looked as if his whole family had just been killed. What's going on?"
Mindy looked uncomfortable and suddenly felt slightly heartbroken over Blaise.
"Nothing," she lied, though for once her mother could see straight through it.
"Well, if you want to talk about it…"
Mindy's lip began to tremble, "I loved him, mom. I really thought I loved him."
Her mother looked at her sympathetically, "Then why would you leave him?"
"He kissed another girl… Somewhere in my mind I knew it was all too good to be true, but I didn't think he'd do it..."
"Did he give you a reason?" Lindsay Reed had always been one to try and understand both sides of the argument before she made her judgement.
Mindy sniffed and looked at her mother with watery eyes, "He told me they had dated before… and that she came onto him before he realized what was going on, but I think he could have done something. He's so selfish."
Mrs. Reed looked at her daughter and sighed, "Mindy, you have to understand him. It must have taken a lot for him to come out and tell you what he did. Maybe you should give him another chance; you never know what could happen."
o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
D-
Happy Late Christmas! Did you get your present from me? I hope you like it – didn't exactly know what you wanted, but I hope you like that. I did get your present if you're wondering and I absolutely love her. I named her Kaida, and I know you had to be the one that sent her. But how did you know I wanted her? Never mind – thank you so much!
I think Christmas break has been good for me, even though I was stuck here at Hogwarts. Actually, that may have helped my stress rate because I don't have to deal with family. I'm spending my time reading, flying, playing with Kaida, and just being lazy. I have all my homework done, so I can be totally lazy until classes pick up again. How about you? Nice to see your family? I hope you're having a good time with them.
Kaida did the funniest thing this morning. I woke up because I heard something fall in the bathroom, and I figured Peeves was wreaking havoc as usual. I walked into the bathroom and found Kaida tangled in the middle of a huge heap of toilet paper. I laughed so hard! I sent you a picture, and made sure that I wasn't in it. Can't give away my secret identity yet!
Well, it's dinner time and I'm going to go ahead and go. Please write me soon, I miss you – or rather, I miss your letters. Hope you're doing well.
Love, S
P.S. – Which came first – the chicken or the egg?
P.P.S – Have I already asked you that? Oh well.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
I don't know if you noticed, but you got a two page bonus in length on this chapter, and I hope that makes up for my three to four month absence, although I'm sure it doesn't. I'm so sorry it's taken so long, but I really hope you enjoyed it and can't wait to read your lovely comments (if I get any (please?))!
Thank you to every one who reviewed on the last chapter, but since as I write this I have no internet (of course I do now 'cause it's posted but right now I don't and I'm not updating before I post), I cant answer reviews or questions so all questions will have to wait until the next chapter (coming sooner than this one, I swear!).
Thanks for not giving up hope on me! I love and miss you all so much!
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxooxoxooxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo,
Bambiky