A/N: OK, I finally got this one done. It was a real b*tch to write, for the fact that it's really different than most of the other chapters (as you'll see). I'd also like to express my complete surprise that so many people want to read Harry's poems. I'll try to work them in, but don't kill me if I don't because, quite frankly, I can't write poetry to save my life. Oh, the other big question I got asked was whether I made up that stuff about mythology and the name Brighid or not. The answer is no, I researched all of that stuff before I even started on the story. I hope this doesn't ruin anyone's enjoyment of it. Anyway, there were some specific reviews that I wanted to address, but I don't want to take up so much room in the beginning, so those are at the end. Well, enjoy this installment.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Chapter Eight
Tomorrow's Going to be Another Day
The next night, the four of them were back in the library, working together to find out more about Turners. The task proved long and tedious, as Turners were rarely mentioned, and when they were, it was more about the Turners themselves-what they were like, etc.-than about what they could do beyond the basics. It was a rather frustrating roadblock that they hoped would be removed by access to the restricted section of the library.
It had been surprisingly easy to convince Professor McGonagall to give them a note to look through the restricted section, particularly after they had explained what they wanted it for. Still, after a week's worth of research into the subject, they had uncovered very little about Turners, though access to the restricted section had been enlightening. The best find by far had been a book that had a chapter about Turners who had been used as tools of the Dark Arts. The book went into the most detail about the dark wizard Nigellus of Norwich, who, during the 10th century, had tried to use a Turner to eradicate his enemies by ensuring that they had never been born. He was unsuccessful, stopped by a Turner from the 14th century.
Their research hit another roadblock, this time in the form of the approaching NEWT's. Hermione insisted that they all-save Ginny who pleaded too much other schoolwork-study for them whenever possible, as they were taking place in just under a month. This left Ginny to do a bulk of the research on her own, though the other three helped whenever they could. The time spent in the library gave Ginny valuable time to think about so many things that had been on her mind lately. Like Harry, her relationship with Justin, Harry's eyes, her odd dreams, Harry's smile, this bizarre prophecy, the research she was working on, Harry's deep, wonderful voice, her family, her schoolwork, Harry, her upcoming birthday, Harry, Harry, Harry!
She sighed as she sat in the library, two weeks after she and the others had first discovered the prophecy. Her sigh was one of frustration, as she realized that, within a matter of a few weeks, Harry had once again become the subject of most of her thoughts. Thinking about Harry led her to think about the status of her current "relationship"-if one could even call it that. She had known since the beginning that her relationship with Justin wouldn't last. They'd been friends since the year before, when they had both gotten detention from Professor Sprout. They'd become friends and soon they had become nearly inseparable. Ginny had known for some time that he had a crush on her, and when he had finally asked her out in front of the entire school, she really hadn't known what to do or say. Plus, truth be told, she hadn't known how to say no to him. So she had said yes instead. It hadn't taken her long to regret that answer and that, combined with her realization that she had only fooled herself into thinking she was over Harry, led her to believe that she might never grow to love Justin a romantic way, as she had originally hoped. She knew that for both their sakes' she should break it off, but she wasn't sure how to go about that, having never been in this situation before.
As an act of goodwill, and out of desperation, she had explained her predicament to Ron-carefully leaving her feelings for Harry out-and then asked for his advice. He had been no help, grinning while telling her to dump the no good heartbreaker. Ginny had gotten the feeling that he had entirely missed the point, though it had cheered him up after the terrific fight the two of them had had the night Harry had asked her for her input.
She sighed again. It seemed that no matter where her thoughts started, they always ended up with Harry. It was really beginning to get on her nerves. But now that she thought about Harry-her research momentarily forgotten-she couldn't help but notice that lately he'd been acting a little . . . differently around her. For all the years that she had known him he had barely noticed her-the obvious exception being when he rescued her from the Chamber of Secrets. Yet, in the last month he'd gone from barely saying hello to her when they passed each other in the hall to having conversations with her and making a point of inviting her to hang out with him, Ron and Hermione. It had been an abrupt about-face and Ginny could hardly believe it had even happened. If she didn't know any better, she would think that he liked her. But of course that's ridiculous!, one part of her thought. Still, it could be true . . . . There had to be some way she could find out, one way or the other, without having to come out and ask him.
But if he did, then what? She was still with Justin. To her dismay, her first response to that was, but I'd much rather be with Harry. So that was it then. I guess I should just do it then, get it over with now, before I lose my nerve. Ginny Weasley got up-her research now permanently abandoned-and left the library. She was, after all, a woman on a mission.
***
"Ah, Minerva. Come in."
"You wanted to see me Albus?"
"Yes. Sit down. Sour peach?"
"No thank you."
"A shame. They're very good." Albus Dumbledore ate his sour peach before continuing. "I take it things are going well?"
Minerva McGonagall didn't have to ask to what he was referring. "Yes. They've even included Ginny Weasley, which was surprising."
"It seems that things are going to plan then."
"Yes, the seem to have worked much of the prophecy out for themselves, though the identity and specific abilities of the Turner still elude them."
"That is to be expected, though I daresay that both should be known to them soon enough."
"Indeed."
"Have the other arrangements been made?"
McGonagall hesitated slightly before answering a little more quietly. "Yes, they have."
Even though she hadn't let much emotion show, Dumbledore was able to read her like a book. "There's no need to be upset about it. We've known this was going to happen for quite some time," he told her calmly, but not unkindly.
She nodded, her voice as calm as his, even though her eyes still held some sadness. "You're right, of course."
They were silent for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. Finally, she spoke again. "Everything is in order. I'll let the other heads know."
Dumbledore nodded his head, looking thoughtful. "Perhaps you should speak to them about other lessons that might be helpful in the coming weeks."
She nodded once as she stood. "I'll speak to the others. I'm sure we can come up with something helpful."
***
They all arrived by the appointed time, and Minerva McGonagall wasted no time in getting the meeting started. "I've just talked to Albus. Everything is progressing as it should. Potter and the others have worked out a fair amount of the prophecy and all the preparations have been made."
"Then why, perchance, are we here?"
She glared at Snape, but answered his question as if he hadn't been deliberately antagonistic. "Albus believes that we might need to make sure they know all the spells they will need when the time comes."
"I reiterate: why are we here? Perhaps you should speak to Lupin. He is, after all, the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor."
"Now, now Severus," Sylvia Sprout intervened, before McGonagall could say something she might later regret, "you know as well as anyone that we have to approve the other instructors' lesson plans. Besides, just because none of us teach Defense Against the Dark Arts doesn't mean we know nothing about it."
Snape said nothing, just glared at her. He knew that they had him there. For years, he had been rather up front about his knowledge of counter-curses and defense magic. For him to counter her statement would not go far in netting him the job he coveted.
Seeing him weaken slightly, McGonagall decided to prompt the others. "Do any of you have any ideas?"
Fidel Flitwick, who up until now had been silent, decided to speak up. "Yes. Though it's not strictly Defense Against the Dark Arts, the Bubble Charm might be useful."
McGonagall nodded, mulling over the suggestion. "That was one I had considered when Albus charged me with this task. Any other suggestions?"
Snape cleared his throat, which caused McGonagall to turn quickly, looking at him expectantly. "The Ocultus Spell might be useful, though it's probably too advanced for them."
McGonagall leveled a cool gaze at him, though her lips had virtually disappeared. "I fear, Severus, that you underestimate their abilities. If any of the students are capable of performing the Occultus Spell, it would be these four."
"Hmmph."
She looked at him for a moment longer, then turned to the other two. "Any other suggestions?"
No one said a word.
"Are we agreed then?" Three affirmatives-with varying levels of conviction-were heard. She nodded her head once. "Very well. Fidel," she said, turning to the Head of Ravenclaw, "go ahead and teach the Bubble Charm." He nodded once in response, while she continued. "I'll talk to Lupin and Dumbledore about the Occultus Spell."
***
It had taken longer than she had originally planned, but she had done it. She had broken up with Justin. It had been the hardest thing she had ever done, and it had not gone well, as she had feared.
On the surface, he had taken the news surprisingly well. He had expressed his sadness that things had not worked out, but had hoped they could remain friends, even after she had given him the cliched-but true-"it's not you, it's me" line. But she knew better. She knew him well enough to know that he was hurting. And it was all her fault. The guilt and regret were almost unbearable-a heavy burden that would weigh her down for the foreseeable future.
Yet, inexplicably, it felt as if a different, equally as heavy, burden had been lifted from her shoulders. At least she was no longer living a lie. And, of course, Ron would be thrilled. Maybe Harry will too. She quickly brushed the though away, feeling foolish and guilty for even thinking it. She went back to thinking about how Ron would be happy to hear the news. At least there was that, the one quasi-positive result of the whole ordeal.
Her train of thought was beginning to depress her, so she focused on something that would cheer her up, namely that she still had her birthday the next day to look forward to. Maybe she would get that new Weird Sisters recording that she had her heart set on. Or maybe a new music box to add to her collection.
As she tried to guess what she might be getting for her birthday, she yawned, her rather emotionally exhausting week catching up with her. She made her way up to her dorm, where she fell into bed, welcoming the promise of sleep, but not before encouraging herself with the phrase that had become her mantra-tomorrow's going to be another day.
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First and foremost, I'd like to thank Firebolt909, college girl, ~*Ginny*~, Alyeeandra, Kathy, Carrie, w&m_law, GinnyPotter, and Hermione L. Granger for all of their reviews. They've really given me encouragement to keep writing this thing. Ok, now for some specifics:
~*Ginny*~: Thanks for the review! That was really long, but I appreciated everything you said in it. You gave me something to think about as far as who Ginny will/will not tell about her identity, and I'm currently mulling over the possibilities ;).
Hermione L. Granger: Personally, I agree with you about Ron (he was a bit too chauvinstic in the last bit), but it suited my purposes and I merely exaggerated a perceived charactersitic of his in canon.
Spellcaster: As far as Cho goes, I'm sticking to the theory that she's a reminder of Cedric and the end of the Triwizard Tournament. Plus, she's kinda "out of sight, out of mind" at this point, as she left Hogwarts the previous year.
GinnyPotter: First of all, I want to thank you for reviewing every chapter. Ok, as far as Ginny "stalking" Harry, my theory is that he would feel like she had in the beginning. I'm probably exaggerating the situation, but Harry is too ;). Also, about the sacrifice--not to give too much away, but I'm not making any promises. The teachers know who the Turner is because people have been analyzing that prophecy, plus other related ones, for close to a thousand years. Also, there is an added factor that I plan to address soon, so I don't want to give anything away. I'm glad you enjoyed what I've written thus far.
Trish: I love Lennon and the Beatles (yep, big Beatle fan :). And
I agree that "Woman" would make a really great H/G songfic. So
would "Something," but I think it's just because I'm really partial
to that song ;).