A/N Please don't bug me when these don't get out right away. I have other writing projects as well and occasionally my life gets in the way. Besides Writers Block can be a real pain in the you know what as opposed to You Know Who. Also references to Chittenango in this chapter and Chapter Nine Are verifiable and I didn't have to research them since I live in Chittenango. In fact when I was sixth and seventh grade I attended Middle School in what is now the elementary school next to the High School. Because the two schools were next to each other the Middle Schoolers rode the bus with the High Schoolers and walked down a short path from the high school to the middle school.It wasn't until my junior year in High School that it became an elementary school and the middle school moved to North Chittenango which is sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. (Back before then the eighth graders were at the High School.) In fact the way it was for me prior to junior year was how it was when my sister was in school.
Harry Potter and the Moral Dilemma Chapter 10
Harry and Ginny were riding in their carriage with Dobby and Deory on the way back to Hogwarts the day the students were returning from break when they passed Hogsmeade Station only to see the Hogwarts Express pulling in. Harry looked over as Kelly walked over.
"I Floo Powdered last night so I could get home on time," She said. "I figured you two would already be at Hogwarts.
"We had some last minute things to do," Harry said as Leslie also walked over and the two climbed aboard.
"Your post card was pretty interesting. How is your home town pronounced anyway?" Ginny asked.
"It's pronounced Chitt-nan-go. It's a Native American Indian word that means where Water Flows North. It refers to Chittenango Creek which actually Flows through town crossing the main drag near a street that one of the Elementary School is on. Of course from what I heard at one time it was the High School and for a while it was a middle school," Kelly said.
"Where is the High School now?" Harry asked.
"It's near the Elementary School in fact the land the two schools are on adjoin one another. The Middle School is in North Chittenango. If My family hadn't ended up moving to England and I ended up coming to Hogwarts then I would have gone to the Middle School since it is for sixth through eighth grades?"
"Interesting," Ginny said. "I bet the OZ Fest would be good to see."
"It would be but being at Hogwarts it's not likely we'll see it," Kelly said. "Especially since some of the actors and actresses from the movie who are able to travel and played munchkins in the movie come every year for the Festival."
"OH man I can't take it," Harry said. "Maybe next year or the year after Ginny and I can Apparate over and see it."
By this time the carriage was arriving at the Gate and they climbed down with Dobby and Deory grabbing luggage off the carriage to take it back to the dorms. A huge post holiday feast was laid out in the Great Hall. Harry looked over at the Hufflepuff Table to see that Colleen was keeping a few of them entertained. Since Harry knew that Colleen was looking into Filch's death he tried not to blow any cover she was trying to build.
"So Harry, anything interesting happen in Hogsmeade over break?" Lavender inquired.
"It was quiet in town. From what I heard from professors I saw over the holiday Slytherin didn't fare too well," Harry replied.
"Why what happened?" Pavarti wondered.
Harry then told her about the flooded common room and the stick goo on the door to Slytherin Housing area.
"It is a proven fact that Peeves was behind the flooding of the Slytherin Common Room and he is a suspect on the entrance debacle but not a solid suspect," Harry informed them.
"What do you expect he is a poltergeist I wouldn't exactly call Poltergeists solid," a fifth year commented.
"He is solid enough for what he is capable of," a third year joked. "Is anyone looking into the cause of the problem in Slytherin House?"
"I'm not sure," Harry commented so as not to blow Colleen's cover. Harry also noticed how Professor Blankwood was a little shaky.
That night in the common room Ginny was attempting a slightly complicated spell on a pair of knitting needles.
"Ginny, What are you working on?" A Prefect asked.
"For the record Dan I'm trying to enchant these knitting needles so they can make a little pair of booties for my future kid," Ginny said. "Of course I should be in the library working on a term paper on Potions."
"Since when does Snape assign Term Papers?" Dan asked her.
"Professor Dumbledore arranged it so I could do a term paper on various types of potions and their use instead of risking myself in potions all the time," Ginny replied. "I'm just glad to be finally out of that class for this year at least. Best part is Snape isn't even involved. When I complete it I'm to hand it in to McGonagall."
The next day Harry used a free period (Read he skipped class) to walk over to the library with Ginny in case she needed assistance.
"Miss Weasley, a large chunk of your paper will be involve stuff you learned over your first sixteen terms here along with stuff you would learn in the two terms you are spending on this paper. Albus also arranged it so you could utilize any books dealing with potions in the restricted section of the library. One book you will probably require is Moste Pontente Potions," Madam Pince informed her.
"How long is it supposed to be?"
"Fairly long," the librarian said.
Ginny meanwhile was writing out a note which she handed to Harry.
"Harry, send an owl the stronger the better to the Burrow with this note," Ginny said.
"Right away Ginny," Harry said as he left and headed for the Owlery and Hedwig. HE had to slip by a couple professors in the process but he eventually arrived at the Owlery. Hedwig came right down.
"I don't know what Ginny has in mind but take this to the Burrow," Harry said.
Later that evening Harry noticed a piece of muggle paper with the Few words on it.
A Hogwarts Guide to Potionry by Virginia Potter. © 1997.
"Ginny, what's this?" Harry asked.
"It's the title page of a book that's involved with my paper," Ginny said.
"Is there a reason you put your name down as Virginia Potter instead of either Virginia Weasley or even Ginny Weasley?" Hermione asked.
"That's the final version of my cover page. I have a preliminary version which I will actually give to McGonagall," Ginny said placing another piece of paper in front of her friends.
A Wizards guide to Potions by Ginny Weasley.
"You thinking of publishing your paper or something?" Hermione asked.
"It's my current goal. My hope is to develop a text book for Potions Class. IT will be divided into sections on Beginners Potionry, Intermediate Potionry, Advanced Potionry, and AS an Appendix a discussion on Dark Potions," Ginny said. "It will provide discussion on each type of potion along with a list of ingredients and mixing directions for them. Of course I won't provide that information for the part on Dark Potions."
"Sounds like a good idea but would Snape use a textbook written by a Gryffindor?" Hermione asked.
"He might for all we know Phyllida Spore and Arsenius Jigger might have been in Gryffindor," Ginny said.
Harry then slipped off and started playing with the Quidditch equipment so he could plan strategy.
"Harry, the Ravenclaw match isn't until March 20th," Ron pointed out.
"I know but I feel as if I should get started now on the preparations. I'm worried Ravenclaw will be our toughest match yet," Harry said.
Ginny started taking notes on some stuff from a few books she had borrowed from the library.
"Doesn't look like you've gotten very far on your paper," Leslie commented.
"I don't have all my notes here at school. Once I have all my notes I will be a lot farther along," Ginny said.
"Why what other notes do you have?" Leslie asked.
"A lot of material for the first two parts will come from class notes from previous years and those are somewhere between The Burrow and here," Ginny said.
"Maybe you should send an owl for them or even Floo Powder over there and get them," Leslie said.
"I sent Hedwig this morning to get them," Harry said from his table where he was concentrating on his strategic planning.
"Harry, you got any plans for the Valentine's Day ball yet?" Dean asked him.
"Most likely Ginny will be accompanying me," Harry said.
"Hey Harry, the ball is sooner then the next Match. Relax a little.
"Maybe you're right Dean. Besides I have some studying to do We do have the NEWTS coming up after all," Harry said.
"Oh No I forgot all about the NEWTS," Hermione screamed. "I should have started studying last spring."
"Nice going Harry," Seamus said.
Harry simply shrugged.
"Harry does have a point though Seamus we do have to study for them. Especially me," Neville said.
"Neville you'll do fine I'm sure," Pavarti said.
"I better after only getting two OWL's," Neville said.
"Just remember Neville they don't call them Nearly Exhausting Wizarding Tests for nothing," Hermione said which caused Neville to go so pasty white that he was paler then Nearly Headless Nick who happened to be making an appearance right then.
"Now now Hermione, we don't want to scare the chap. You all will do fine," Nick said. "Even Neville will manage."
"Thanks Sir Nicholas," Neville said.
"Don't mention it Neville," Nick said. "Despite what Professor Trelawney was saying up in her tower."
The next morning everyone was at breakfast when the swarm of owls came streaming into the Great Room. Hedwig was holding a good size package in her claws which she set down at the table where Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Leslie, Lucy, and Kelly were seated.
"Oh man what is in that huge package?" Leslie asked as they looked at it.
"I think it's my potion notes from the last five years," Ginny said opening the package. "Sure enough along with a few books from the Library at the Ministry of Magic and a couple books from Flourish and Blots on certain common drafts and potions. I was just expecting my class notes."
"Man you have a lot of material for your paper," Kelly commented.
"Tell me about it," Ginny said. Right then Professor McGonagall walked up.
"Whoa looks like somebody has been working hard," She commented.
"My parents sent a few resources for me to use on my research project," Ginny said. "Also I figured my old class notes would be of use."
"Good point. You might also look to your friends for assistance," Professor McGonagall said.
After Breakfast Ginny decided to stop by Professor McGonagall's office so she grabbed her materials and had Myrtle along with Ritala a ghost who usually hung out near the Astronomy Tower help her carry everything she had to the Transfiguration Professors office.
"Whoa you have been working hard," Professor McGonagall said.
"Well I decided to do my paper as a Textbook. I think that's why my parents sent the extra books along. A few are from the Library at the Ministry of Magic," Ginny said.
"I would have given authorization for you to visit the library there in connection with your work," Prof. McGonagall said. "Your idea though sounds like a good idea. While there is no guarantee that it would get used by certain individuals here at Hogwarts someday possibly by the time your children are at Hogwarts it might get adopted as the standard text book."
"Assuming it makes it that far," Ginny said.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore and I can arrange something," McGonagall said. "I'd hate to run you off but I really should get ready for class myself."
"No Problem Professor. See you in Transfiguration," Ginny said as she started to head for Professor Blankwood's class. On the way though she passed Sir Nick.
"Ginny, wait up," he said.
"Can't right now Sir Nick, I have to get to class," Ginny said.
"Professor Blankwood is going to do a potentially dangerous practicum today and he sent me to tell you that you are excused from today's class," Sir Nick informed her.
"Well then I guess I should head back to Gryffindor Tower and work on my term paper.
Ginny did that working hard that day. She managed to get the research for a good portion of the First part of Beginners Potionry done before the end of the day after she reviewed her notes. It helped that she had plenty of free time that day. In fact she only had a couple classes to go to.
That night Ginny was laying on her bed looking at her stomach.
"Am I doing the right thing bringing you into the world? Here with You Know Who still out there somewhere I have no idea what kind of world I'll be bringing you into," Ginny said as he felt her abdomen looking for a characteristic kick. Leslie when she walked in noticed Ginny.
"You are something else Ginny. I don't know if I could handle pregnancy the way you do," Leslie commented.
"I'm just trying to do my best," Ginny said. "I only have about four and a half to five months to go then my child will be a member of the outside world. What do you think I should name it?"
"That's for you and Harry to decide when the time comes," Leslie said.
"I have an idea," Myrtle said as she slipped in. "How about Amy?"
"Amy would be fine if it turns out to be a girl but Myrtle, what if it turns out to be a boy?" Ginny wondered.
"What makes you think it will be?" Myrtle asked.
"It's hard to tell," Ginny said.