A/N: This part is quite long…so I'll make my author's
note short. Enjoy! And I have no idea why the font is all screwy…it does not
look like that on my computer, I swear…*glares angrily at ffn.net*
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter, or Romeo
and Juliet…or even the Beatles…
**********
Draco stared aghast at the closed window for a couple of
seconds; his jaw hanging slack in openmouthed surprise.
She has quite a temper for such a little thing, he
reflected. He closed his mouth as a slow half-smile spread across his thin
lips. He rather liked this new aspect of Ginny's personality. He raised his
knuckles to the windowpane and rapped on it smartly.
"Go away," came the muffled voice from within. Draco
listened as the lock on the window clicked shut.
Unperturbed, Draco casually pulled out his wand and
muttered, "Alohomora."
The window flew open, creaking on its rusty hinges. Ginny stood, a look of
bafflement crossing her tiny face, as her curtains flapped around furiously in
the cold night wind.
"You can't really be
that thick," she finally choked out. "I said to go away already…so why don't
you just take the hint and sod off."
"A Warlock Boys fan,
I see," Draco commented offhandedly, purposely ignoring her last comment. His
steely eyes roved across her somewhat cluttered bedroom, taking in the various
posters of the band that were plastered on her walls. An upbeat, bouncy song
was blaring out of the one above her bed, as the five youngish wizards swayed
and sang to the beat.
"So?" Ginny said
defiantly, forgetting for a moment to be indignant at the fact that Draco
Malfoy was hovering right outside of her bedroom window. She flipped a stray
copper strand out her face, crossing her arms across her chest. "They're really
talented," she added, unconvincingly.
Draco snorted
derisively. "They don't even play instruments! And I bet they aren't even
really singing…look! He's obviously lip-synching." He pointed to the lead
singer who was prancing across the stage, his voice amplified by the sonorous
spell. "His lips are totally off time with the music."
Ginny gazed at her
poster, and had to grudgingly admit that he was right. Which did little to
improve her mood. "What do you want?" she demanded gritting her teeth.
"Can't I come in?"
Draco asked. His legs were getting stiff from sitting on his broom for so long
and it really was quite chilly outside. Ginny let out a tiny snort.
"You must be
nutters," she said with a sardonic smile. "To even think that I would ever
let you set foot in my bedroom."
"Oh come off it!"
Draco said, rolling his eyes. "Just let me in…its not the most comfortable
thing to sit on a broom for this long you know…"
"Oh you poor thing…I
think I am starting to get all teary-eyed. Really I am."
Draco smirked at
her. He looks rather like the Cheshire Cat—in that story we read for muggle
studies, Ginny thought. Sickeningly smug. And yet so…good. She felt
her face flush, as she stared at his undisputedly handsome looks and hoped that
Draco could not hear her heart pounding loudly against her ribcage. Draco
raised an eyebrow. "Then take pity on me, my dear Virginia." He swung both legs
over her windowsill and set foot on her carpet, clutching his broom tightly in
his right hand.
Ginny eyed him
thoughtfully. "I don't know if that is a wise choice," she mused warningly. "And
the place death, considering who thou art, if my kinsman find thee here."
Draco froze as she gave him a so-there-I-took-muggle-studies-as-well
look with a toss of her fiery locks.
"You know," she
added slowly. "I love the holidays…with the whole family here…its so nice to
see all six of my brothers at once…" There was suddenly an ominous boom
from upstairs. Ginny knew that it was the family ghoul, but Draco gulped,
imagining all seven of the Weasley males storming up the stairs…
"Uh so yeah," Draco
mounted his broom with a forced look of indifference on his face and floated
back outside. Ginny regarded him, her warm brown eyes dancing with amusement.
"I reckon I'll come in the proper way then."
"By all means,"
Ginny said, relishing her turn to smirk. "Hopefully I'll get to the door
first…I wouldn't want to see what would happen Ron or the twins answer it for
you…" She smiled at him merrily. "Parting is such sweet sorrow."
And with that she
closed the window once again on a quite pale Draco, struggling not to laugh.
Draco took a deep
breath.
Well of course he
was going to go into the house…he couldn't let her get the last word like that
could he?
He swooped downward,
letting his broom come to rest a few inches above the grass and dismounted.
Passing like a pale wraith cloaked in shadow across the dark front yard, he
crept stealthily up to the back door… tripping over an old cauldron and nearly
yelling out in shock as a fat brown chicken clucked at him impatiently…How
impossibly rustic, he thought scornfully hoping that none of its feathers
had gotten on his cloak. Isn't it supposed to be in a pen or something like
that? Ruddy farm animal. He tiptoed through the garden, and reaching the
doorstep knocked softly on the screen door.
He waited for a few
moments, feeling his anxiety rise up to dangerous levels. His mind raced…what
was he going to say? He couldn't very well claim he was dropping in for a
friendly Yuletide visit…it was late at night and moreover he and his family
probably topped the Weasley's mortal enemy list. Draco's palms went clammy. He
grasped his wand tightly in his hand, nauseated at the fact that he might have
to use it to defend himself against a whole gang of angry wizards at any moment…
After a considerable
amount of time the door swung slowly open.
"Hello?" Ginny asked
pleasantly. "Ah…Malfoy! How perfectly corking to see you! What brings
you here?" She grinned wickedly.
"Where are they?"
Draco asked shortly, his gray eyes darting back in forth in paranoia.
"They?" She furrowed
her eyebrows in mock puzzlement. "What do you…oh you mean my brothers! Of
course. Well actually…they aren't here right now. Would you like me to leave
them a message or something?"
"Cute." Draco's
voice was like ice. "Absolutely adorable. Would you please Virginia, for the
love of Merlin, just let me inside already!"
"Of course, Draky,"
she said sweetly.
"Draky?"
"If you call me Virginia its only fair that I get to call you Draky."
Draco let out a tiny chuckle. "Ok, Ginny," he said pointedly. "Can I please
come inside now?"
"I guess…" her voice trailed off, tinged with reluctance as she stood
aside. Draco stepped into the cramped Weasley kitchen, immediately kneeling
down by the fireplace to warm his hands. Ginny sat down at the wooden kitchen
table, her chin propped up with her hand. She eyed Draco expectantly, as he
rubbed his palms over the crackling flames. Finally he stood up, glancing at
the Floo Powder flowerpot that sat on the kitchen mantelpiece.
"You're running low," he commented. He turned looking suddenly at
Ginny. "Are we the only ones here?" he asked, dropping his voice a bit.
"Well…" Ginny turned instinctively to look at the large oak Grandfather
clock that stood in the corner of the kitchen. It was totally useless if you
wanted to know the time, but priceless if you wanted to ascertain your family
members' whereabouts. Her parents' clock hands pointed to "home"; they were
probably upstairs asleep by now. The twins were "out," surely at some wild
party somewhere. Ron was at "school" and Percy was at the "home of friend."
Bill and Charlie were at "work". Draco followed her gaze to look interestedly
at the clock. He had never seen anything quite like it…even he had to
grudgingly admit that it was sort of fascinating.
"Well nobody seems to be here expect for my parents," Ginny finally
concluded. "And if you try anything dodgy they can Apparate down her with a
snap…and hex you senseless."
"Ginny, I am being completely serious right now—what I have to say is
really…. well…" Draco looked at her suddenly with a keen, piercing glance. "Can
I sit down?"
Ginny idly waved her wand, pulling out a chair across the table. Draco
sat down in it. He propped his boots on the table, but Ginny gave him a sharp
glance so he took them back off. He pulled his chair closer to the table, and
running his fingers through his hair heaved a sigh. Ginny narrowed her eyes,
perplexed. He almost looked…nervous. It was slightly alarming to see him like
that; his features were supposed to exude a sense of smug cockiness, like they
always had done…not this wavering uncertainty. Ginny suddenly felt very cold.
"What is it Draco?" she asked quietly, biting her lip.
"Ginny…ok here's the thing. I heard that—erm—your family, particularly
your father…well…" He just shook his head, and raised his eyes to lock Ginny in
a steady gaze. "Some people are probably going to try to kill you all." He
finally said simply. He searched Ginny's face intently, waiting for her
reaction.
Ginny eyes bore into his, her jaw hanging slightly ajar. "If I find out
that this is your idea of some kind of horrid joke Malfoy…"
"Ginny, I may not be the nicest person sometimes…but really now why
would I go to all of this trouble to play a prank on you?"
"Well how do you know then?" Ginny's voice rose to a shrill squeak. The
freckles across her nose stood out like angry red blots on her pale face.
Draco sighed. "My father had me meet Voldemort about a week ago."
Ginny shuddered involuntarily at the name. Her memory traveled back in
time against her will…she was a tiny scared first year again…her life was being
sucked out from her as another she had trusted greedily claimed it as his
own…she felt the betrayal and icy fear that went along with being inflicted
with a irrecoverable wound that would never quite heal. She dropped her eyes,
focusing on the wooden tabletop.
"…and I saw him," Draco's voice floated over to her as if it were
coming from a great distance. "He said that your father would have to be dealt
with…he plans to use him as an example to keep others in the Ministry in their
place. He said…well he said that he would have to do with away with your whole
family as well." Draco broke off nodding slowly. "So, that is why I came here.
To warn you."
There was a long heavy pause.
"What was it like?" Ginny asked suddenly. She looked up, her brown eyes
filled with fear. "Seeing Vold—I mean," she gulped. "Him?"
Draco thought for a minute. "I don't know," he shrugged finally. "It
was exactly shocking. I knew I would have to meet him eventually. Not that it
was all that pleasant either…I suppose that seeing him with all of his
followers…well they seemed to me like death would be…"
"Death? I don't understand."
"You know…frozen. Like there was nothing to struggle for anymore; all
you needed to do was submit and everything would be taken care of for you.
They…the Death Eaters I mean…they don't think anymore. They only obey. The
power has consumed them from the inside out…all they are left with is the cold."
"I don't understand what you mean." Ginny looked quite alarmed. Draco
just gave her a dry smile. "Well I mean…maybe a little…he almost killed me
three years ago…" He voice trailed off into the silence. Ginny could hear the
giant grandfather clock ticking like a steady pulse. She stared at Draco Malfoy
like she was seeing him for the first time.
"Why?" Ginny inquired abruptly. "Why are you telling me this?"
Draco shrugged. "Well why not?"
"Well no offense, but you don't seem like the type who would really
care, that's all."
"Well perhaps if Voldemort finds out about it he'll blame my father,"
Draco said part in sarcasm, part in earnest. "It'll serve him right."
"Oh Draco," Ginny groaned. "How ghastly! You don't really mean that!" Draco
just raised his eyebrows and stared back at her evenly.
"Well my father will not be killed," Ginny said decidedly,
balling up her fists with determination. "He works for the Ministry…it isn't
that easy to assassinate a ministry official is it?" Her defiance barely
covered her quaking voice. "I really think that this will turn out to be an
empty threat…"
Draco shook his head. "Voldemort is nothing to sneeze at," he objected.
"If he wanted to kill me, I would have left the country by now and assumed a
different identity."
"Thanks Draco for your unquenchable enthusiasm and for being such a
reassuring presence! Could you be any less dismal perhaps?"
Draco thought for a minute and then shook his head. "Not really," he
said. "I would warn your father right away…especially with Fudge as Minister.
He isn't one of them…but they got him in their pocket. He's like a
puppet on a pair of strings. I heard them talking about Veronica…I really don't
know what exactly they need her for, but Fudge was apparently willing to hand
her over to them. So I wouldn't trust the Ministry for any type of reliable
protection."
"What a coward," Ginny shook her head disgustedly, as she thought of
the Minister of Magic. "Remind me again…why does he exist?"
Draco stared at her for a moment, before bursting out with laughter.
"Good one," he said finally, still shaking a bit. Ginny looked rather proud.
"I got it from Ron," she said. "I think he was talking about Professor
Trelawney…I've been waiting for ages to use it."
************
Ron stepped through the portrait opening, entering the Gryffindor
common room. His blue eyes took in the scene…the room was completely deserted
except for a figure curled up on one of the sofas, fast asleep. Ron walked over
to the couch and stared down at Hermione. Her mouth was slightly open, an
enormous book lay open on top of her hip, and she was breathing evenly. She
looked different somehow…all of the stress and worry that go along with being
the top student in her class were gone from her face and replaced with simple
peace. Ron gazed down at her as the dull red glow of the dying crackling embers
caught and illuminated her curly brown hair, and as her chest slowly rose and
fell with a serene rhythm. He felt like he could watch her sleep indefinitely…but
he knew that he had to rouse her.
"'Mione?" Ron shook her gently. She awoke, her brown eyes gazing up at
him blearily, still heavy with sleep.
"What time is it?" She yawned, staring up at the tall lanky figure that
stood over her.
"Its almost nine. Harry said nine right?"
"Yeah he did," Hermione stretched out her arms again. "Why does Sir—I
mean Snuffles want to talk to us now?" she wondered out loud.
Ron shrugged. "Don't know." He sat down carefully on the couch, as if
it were a piece of china that might shatter. He felt very awkward suddenly now
that she was awake, the way he always did when they were alone together. Well
at least ever since the ball…Ron cleared his throat. The way he felt towards
her was confusing…terrifying almost. Hermione shifted uncomfortably apparently
ill at ease herself.
"What are you reading?" Ron burst out suddenly, feeling that he had to
do something to break the tension.
"Oh, it's what I told you and Harry about earlier," Hermione seemed overly
relieved that she had something concrete to talk about. "Actually…well I was
going to wait for Harry, it is about Veronica after all…but maybe I ought to
talk to you about this without him…" Hermione voice trailed off as she looked
at Ron thoughtfully.
"Well go on," Ron pressed. "Spit it out already."
"Hold on a moment." Hermione hefted up the huge volume, which was
entitled Muggles, A People Without Magic, and began flipping rapidly
through the pages. "Here." She stopped on a page, pointing with her finger.
"Look." Sighing, Ron leaned over her to stare at the miniscule print. "What am
I supposed to be looking at?"
"Oh honestly Ron!" She gave him an exasperated glance. "There. Under
where it says, The different types of non-magical persons…" Ron began to
read the page, his freckles standing out with his concentration. He lifted his
eyes when he was done and looked at Hermione expectantly.
"So you reckon that Veronica is an…Armourus…is that how you
pronounce it?" Hermione nodded. Ron scrunched up his face deep in thought.
"Well how do you figure?"
"Well," Hermione flipped a few pages forward and pointed triumphantly
to a paragraph. "It says here that Armouri…are basically impervious to
all types of magic…even the most powerful wizard could only slightly affect
them. So they are a kind of…super-muggle if you will. So if Veronica is one…it
would explain how Snape's potion and the Imperious curse didn't work on her,"
Hermione furrowed her brow. "But, I still don't get how she got onto Platform 9
¾ though…I was too preoccupied to think about it at the time, but that is kind
of strange since she is not a witch…and of course only wizards and witches can
get onto the platform."
"Well it says here that some Armouri can do a bit of magic," Ron
spoke up from her side. Hermione looked at him in surprise…his blue eyes
gleamed with interest that he usually reserved for Quidditch. "Look. Armouri
are usually either like Squibs, or in uncommon cases capable of very limited
magic and only with rigorous practice and training. They are technically
therefore, not categorized as muggles; and nor can they be called proper
wizards…it also says that they are quite rare, something like a half of a
percent of the human population." Ron looked up at Hermione who was staring
back at him with a strange expression.
"See Ron," Hermione said nodding, impressed. "Like I always say…you
could be quite a good student if only you would try harder."
Ron's ears went pink.
"That would explain how she was able to get here…but there's still one
thing I don't get though," Hermione paused. "Armouri are almost always born
from at least one wizard parent…Veronica hasn't got a wizard mum or dad has
she?"
Ron shook his head. "I don't think she does," he replied. "But I mean
who knows?"
Hermione gazed off into the fire, lost in thought. "Wonder why they
want her," she said distantly. "That kind of power…in the wrong hands it would
be awful."
Ron furrowed his brows worriedly. "'Mione…do you ever wonder," he broke
off hesitating.
Hermione looked up at him. "What is it Ron?"
"About Veronica I mean," Ron continued. "You don't reckon she's working
with You-know-who do you?"
There was a heavy silence. Hermione considered this accusation, an
expression of concern twisting across her features. "I mean…I suppose it is
possible," she said slowly. "But I certainly hope not. I rather hope that we
know her well enough to trust her at this point…"
"But that's the thing," Ron continued anxiously. "Hear me out. We don't
know her all that well…I mean she seems likeable enough…but everything
surrounding her just seems a bit dodgy…especially with how the Dark Mark came
from Harry's wand when she was holding it…all I am saying is that we shouldn't
ignore something that might be there. Especially if Harry is in danger…"
Ron fell silent. "I reckon he can make his own choices," he admitted
after a while. "I'm really just worried about him," Ron stopped short, suddenly
realizing what he was saying. "Blimey, I'm acting like my mum." He
looked horrified at the prospect. Hermione grinned.
"We'll just have to talk to Harry about this," she said. "I mean it's a
logical concern…we'll have to see what he says."
"What's a logical concern?" asked familiar voice behind them. Hermione
and Ron turned to glance at Harry who had just come in the room. Hermione bit
her lip, and Ron, who couldn't be discreet if his life depended on it, shifted
his gaze to the floor.
"Later, Harry," Hermione said quickly. "We'll tell you later."
"Right," Harry said slowly. His green eyes looked at his two best
friends suspiciously.
He knew them both almost as well as he knew himself; and it was
glaringly obvious that they were keeping something very important from him. He
suddenly felt extremely left out…it seemed to him that in the past few months
the two of them had gotten closer, a connection that he could never be a part
of. And that, he felt, was partially his own fault…he was to blame for
alienating himself from them because he was afraid…his dreams were haunted by
visions of the two people he cared about most, frozen and lifeless…like the
limp body of Cedric. That would break him, he knew, to see them like that. It
was his one fatal weakness; striking at that would shatter him to the core.
So instead, he had chosen to pursue a superficial relationship of lust
without love, empty pleasure without pain. He had sought after this without
being completely aware of it…it was to be a relationship where he was safe from
getting hurt. Simplicity was what he had subconsciously hoped for. But that
very relationship, once thought to be so simple, had ultimately turned out to
be more complicated than he could have ever foreseen. And in the end, it had
hurt him all the same. Harry conjured up an image of Veronica in his mind's
eye, feeling a dull pang in the depths of his chest. It was all so unfair…he
wasn't supposed to care this much, but he did. He had made a huge blunder, and
now somehow he was going have to put things right.
After all those things I've said…she must feel so used. He thought glumly. I'll have to talk to
her. Tonight. And apologize for being such a horrid prat…
"Where is Veronica?" asked Harry abruptly drawing himself out of his
thoughts.
Hermione and Ron exchanged worried glances that Harry tried to ignore
for the moment. "Don't know." Ron shrugged, looking as anxious as only he
could.
Harry sighed running his fingers through his jet-black hair, and making
it stand wildly on end. He took a quick glance at his watch. "Its practically
nine o'clock," he said. "Anyone still here?"
"No I think everyone left for home already…all the Gryffindors at
least," Hermione assured him.
"Good."
The three of them crouched down in front of the hearth waiting. Nine o'clock
passed, and still they waited. At ten past Harry was beginning to get a bit
concerned…he debated whether or not to send Sirius an owl…when suddenly his
godfather's disembodied head appeared, floating amidst the dancing flames. He
looked kind of hurried and out of breath, but besides that he looked well. He
was clean-shaven, and his dark silky hair fell back from his forehead…perhaps
it was a bit longer than when Harry had seen him last. His face looked full and
healthy, but his dark eyes gleamed seriously.
"Sorry I'm late," he apologized. "I had a bit of trouble finding an
available fireplace."
"That's all right," the three of them replied in unison. They looked
relieved to see that he was still alive.
"I was going to just see how you were doing Harry…but something more
important has come up." Sirius furrowed his brows. "While I was out in
Hogsmeade…I ran into Veronica. She was trying to escape." Hermione gasped with
a sharp intake of breath, and Ron's blue eyes widened. "She said something
about Snape telling her that she was unknowingly part of a plot to kill you…and
that she had to get away. Do you know anything about this?"
"No," Harry answered honestly. He suddenly felt like a fool. So
that's why she wanted to talk to me, he thought cursing himself silently. I've
royally botched everything up now…
"Well don't worry," Sirius reassured them, as his eyes took in their
worried expressions. "She is back in the cave with Beaky…I've put an alarmscope
by the entrance…she should be quite safe."
"I think I should go talk to her." Harry said decidedly standing up.
Sirius looked skeptical.
"No Harry, stay here. I'll bring her back myself. Meet me by the
Honeydukes tunnel entrance…just make sure that the classroom is empty. I should
be there in about twenty minutes." There was a faint pop as Sirius' head
disappeared from the flames.
"I'll get the invisibility cloak," Harry said shortly. He bounded up
the stairs to the boy's dormitory. Hermione and Ron exchanged a long,
meaningful glance…neither wanting to say what they were thinking.
Harry came back a few moments later, with the cloak and the Marauder's
map. They gathered around the piece of parchment, searching it for where all of
the professors were presently located. Most of them seemed to be either in
their classrooms or offices, and not wandering the halls Luckily Snape was busy
in the dungeons, and Filch seemed preoccupied with Peeves upstairs in the
trophy room. It looked like the path was clear. Harry tried to drape the cloak
over himself and his two friends (due to Ron's recent growth spurt this task
was becoming kind of problematic) when suddenly the common room fire began to
spout and splutter excitedly. Harry swung around alarmed, and saw Sirius' face
floating once again among the flames.
"Sirius!" exclaimed Harry. The three of them rushed over to the
fireplace. "What are you doing back?"
"She's gone, Harry," Sirius was panting with exertion, and his face
looked drawn with anxiety. "She must have taken Beaky. Both of them are gone."
*********
Veronica soared through the foggy night sky astride Buckbeak. The wind
whisked by at their speed, making her dark hair fly out behind her. Veronica
had always had a vague notion that flying had to be this romantic, exhilarating
experience; it had been a rush to fly with Harry on his Firebolt and she
was the type who would get off of a roller coaster and immediately get back in
line for another go. But flying on the hippogriff was anything but thrilling.
Terrifying would probably be a more adequate description, Veronica thought, her heart racing as she
almost slipped off of Buckbeak's back into the gulf of space below. He had
lurched to the side unexpectedly again. The majestic beast was probably used to
having someone with more experience riding him…and though Veronica had gone
horseback riding a couple of times, this was very different.
It was for one thing about a hundred feet above the ground. And if she
fell, she would probably get more than just a couple of bruises…
Veronica peered over the hippogriff's massive neck, trying to catch a
glimpse of the ground below through the fog. She nearly yelped with relief as
she saw a collection of village lights below. She had been following the
railroad tracks, looking for the closest train station. She pulled at
Buckbeak's reins. The hippogriff slowed down and began to descend through the
clouds.
She guided Buckbeak to an open field, a little way outside of the town,
so as not to attract unwanted attention. From all accounts it seemed to be an
exclusively muggle town; there was no sign of cloaks or cauldrons as far as she
could tell. She heaved an enormous sigh of relief, and patted the hippogriff
appreciatively on the neck.
"Thanks," she whispered. "Wish me luck." Buckbeak squawked, and
pointedly tugged at her cloak sleeve with his beak.
"Oh right," Veronica felt foolish as she took off her dark Hogwarts
cloak and robes. Underneath she was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. As an
afterthought, she decided that she should leave Sirius a quick note. She had
after all borrowed his pet without asking. She pulled a pen and scrap of paper
out of the side pocket of her travel bag and scribbled on it hurriedly.
Sirius,
I had to go. Try to understand. Don't try to look for me. Tell Harry
and everyone that I'll be ok.
Sorry for taking your eagle/horse…sorry I really don't know what he is
called (it is a he, right?). But I apologize for borrowing it.
Veronica
She put the note in the robe pocket, and offered it, along with the
cloak, to Buckbeak. With a final squawk and an intelligent gleam of his
flashing orange eyes, the hippogriff took the sky, her clothes safely clenched
in his talons. Veronica watched him go, and then hurried into the town to catch
the next train into London.
She was able to get an 11:15 departure. Inside the railway car, she sat
back in her seat, feeling extremely relived. She had been able to pull it
off…she stared out of the window into the nearly complete nighttime darkness.
All she had to do now was catch a red-eye flight from London to LAX. Although
it would be a hassle to get a ticket so last minute…with any luck, she could be
at home by tomorrow evening. Veronica sighed wearily as the intercom buzzed
overhead.
"King's Cross next!" the conductor's voice called out.
*********
Ginny Weasley heard the distant whistle of a passing train, and took a
look at her watch. It was nearly a quarter to midnight. She looked at Draco who
was still sitting across the table, sipping a cup of tea.
"It's getting late," Ginny said.
Draco gave her a knowing smirk. "I feel like you are trying to kick me
out."
"Well maybe I am," Ginny retorted, but her lips were curling up into a
smile…one of her genuine smiles that were like warm sunshine after a winter
storm. Draco realized that this was the first time she had actually given him a
friendly look. He stood slowly, flinging his cloak over his shoulders.
"Well, I suppose I'll see you around…half a moment," he stopped short,
remembering something. "No, I won't be seeing you around. My father
insisted that I go to school from now on at Durmstrang…ruddy freezing place."
"Well I suppose you won't be getting any sort of tan soon,"
Ginny said somewhat critically eying Draco's pale complexion, a faint wicked
smile playing across her lips. She looked up him with a sudden earnest
expression. "I don't know how to thank you…for warning me…" she broke off
awkwardly.
"Don't mention it," Draco said shortly. "I figure this will be my
random act of kindness for the year." Ginny gave him another small smile.
"We will be alright," she said firmly, trying to remain stoic. Draco
just nodded at her slowly and put his hand on the doorknob…
Abruptly the door swung open forcefully like a shot, banging against
the wall. Draco stepped back in shock.
Percy Weasley tottered in, swaying crazily on his feet. Ginny surprised
happiness at seeing her long self-exiled brother quickly turned to disbelief.
She didn't think it possible…put her prim, straight-laced, responsible older
brother looked…well…drunk. Actually, she realized as she watched him
stumble, inebriated, across the kitchen, his short red hair a disheveled mess,
and his face as red as a beet, pissed out of his senses might be closer
to the mark. Percy pointed dazedly at Ginny.
"Ginny-pinny!" he burst out, his words slurring awfully. Ginny flushed
scarlet at her old nickname. Percy furrowed his brows trying to concentrate. "I
have to…ah…tell ya somethin'…" he voice trailed off as his eyes were distracted
by the path of his finger, which was for some reason strangely fascinating…especially
since there appeared to be two of them. He head lolled around, as he looked
back up at his sister. "Ginny-winny…there's two of you…stop doing that!" His
gray eyes widened, and then he started howling with laughter.
"One too many shots of Ogden's Ol' Firewhisky I see." Draco was
struggling not to laugh and losing badly. "And its only eleven thirty! That's
quite impressive."
"Malboy…" Percy grinned, and stumbling over to Draco to give him a friendly
slap on the shoulders. He missed badly, upsetting a stack of dishes by the
sink. They clattered to the floor as Percy was overcome with a fit of giggles.
Hanging off of the edge of the counter, he righted himself tittering
uncontrollably.
"Malboy…simply spiffing to see you old foy!" He draped one arm
drunkenly over Draco's shoulders and pulled Ginny towards him with the other.
"I love both of you…crazy people…" he said somewhat tearfully, locking both of
them in a furious bear hug.
"Um…" Draco tried desperately to extricate himself from Percy's
embrace. Percy let go and began to boisterously belt out Hexmaster Woman
at the top of his lungs. "I think we should sit him down."
"Yes," Ginny agreed worriedly. With their combined efforts, they managed
to stir Percy into the living room. Ginny suggested to her brother that he sit
down. He attempted to sit on the couch and missed badly landing flat on his
bottom on the floor. With Draco's help, she pulled Percy to his feet and sat
him bodily on the sofa. Hysterically giggling he slid to the floor, gasping for
breath. Ginny stared at her brother exasperatedly.
"C'mon, Perce," she pleaded with him. He staggered to his feet, leaning
heavily on her shoulders. Ginny grunted under his weight. "You've got to try
and sit…"
"But I keep on…missing!" Percy began to crack up again. They
suddenly he let out a low groan, as he slumped heavily against her. He had
passed out cold. Draco assisted her in laying his limp body down on the couch.
"Does this kind of thing happen a lot?" Draco asked.
"Never," Ginny gazed at her brother aghast. "He never drinks. Not even
at his graduation party."
"Yeah, he seemed like kind of a drip," Draco drawled.
"No he isn't," Ginny insisted, annoyed that he was criticizing
her brother. "I mean…well maybe a bit," she admitted. "But only I get to
criticize my family…got it?"
"All right, all right," Draco held up his hands in protest. "No need to
get all riled up."
"This is just so strange," Ginny mused quietly. "Especially after…" she
broke off, realizing that she really didn't want Draco to know about the fight
her dad had with Percy. That was family business after all…not something for
public display. "I mean it is just really queer."
"Well maybe we should try to wake him up?" Draco suggested. Ginny
shrugged. Draco bent over Percy, peering closely at his face. "Ennervate,"
he muttered with a flick of his wand. Percy's eyelids fluttered, as he looked
gratefully at Draco.
"Malboy…how good of you…thank you. Thank you," he said blearily.
And then leaning over the side of the sofa, Percy Weasley grimaced with
nausea and proceeded to vomit all over Draco's brand-new shiny black boots.
********
Draco was not pleased in the least. He began to curse vehemently. Ginny
tried to be sympathetic, and failed miserably. Soon she was curled up on the
carpet, shrieking uncontrollably with laughter.
"That's right, laugh it up." Draco said moodily.
"I'm sorry," Ginny got to her feet, gasping for breath. "I'm sure you can
buy another pair…it's just an unfortunate accident…" Her voice trailed, off
lost somewhere in her peals of mirth. Draco watched her, shaking his head as
she doubled over with laughter.
"I just ordered these!" he sighed regretfully, looking at his soiled
boots. "From the J-Wiz catalogue."
Ginny rolled her eyes, and pointed her wand at the carpet. "Lavario!"
she exclaimed. Sparks flew out at the carpet and almost instantly it was
sparklingly clean. Ginny had less luck with Draco's boots. After several spells
she just gave up.
"That's the best I can do," she said, and to her credit, she kept a
straight face. Draco looked glumly at his boots. "But don't worry…from what I
hear you've got more clothes than Lavender Brown…"
"I love it when you make biting remarks, Ginny." Draco said wearily.
"It makes you seem so sexy…in fact perhaps I should just snog you senseless
right now…"
Ginny wrinkled her brow, pretending to think. "Really I would…but
you've got bits of puke all over your boots."
Draco just shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Good
night Ginny." He tramped out of the house Ginny watched him leave, as he took
off on his Nimbus 2001, a multitude of confused feelings stirring within her.
Sighing she took some left over Pepper-Up potion out from one of the kitchen
cabinets and brought it over to where Percy lay.
She shook him gently. Percy moaned. "C'mon Perce," she said gently,
putting the vial to his lips. "Take some of this…it'll help clear your head.
Trust me…the twins use it sometimes to sober up."
Percy sipped some of the fluid down, and soon steam was exploding from
his ears, making it look like his head was on fire. But fortunately he seemed
to be more or less sober. He slowly drew himself into an upright position, and
then moaning plaintively, lay back down.
"Argh…my head," his face twisted into a grimace. "Hurts like…bugger…"
His voice trailed off.
"Perce, what happened?" Ginny peered at him anxiously. Percy could see
his sister's concerned face through his somewhat blurred vision. He realized
with a pang how much he had missed her…and his entire family for that matter.
He smiled at her weakly.
"Well I remember drinking a lot…I was in a pub somewhere…I went in
thinking I would just have a couple of butterbeers…" He trailed off. Then
suddenly his gray eyes widened in horror as he shot into an upright position.
His thin face twisted into a wretched expression, as he buried his head in his
hands and began to moan.
"Perce! What is it?" Ginny pressed, alarmed by his abrupt change in mood.
"I remember why I went to the pub in the first place," he
groaned. "Ginny…I-I," he gulped. "I quit my job!"
"WHAT?" Ginny looked at Percy as if he had just announced that he
was going to join the Warlock Boys. Which would probably have been easier to
believe.
"Yes," Percy sighed mournfully. "I-I went into Fudge's office this
afternoon…to deliver one of my reports on cauldron thickness. I was done far
before my expected filing date so I must have caught him by surprise. He was
there with Malfoy and Mancair…they were demanding that he fire Dad. Fudge
looked really frightened…but he was agreeing with them. That's when they saw
me."
Ginny stood frozen in horror, as her brother continued his story.
"Mancair and Malfoy left…they gave me these horrid, condescending glances as
they walked out of the door. And there was Fudge acting like nothing had just
happened. I stared at him in disbelief for a few moments. I really didn't want to
ask him about Dad, I-I well was afraid that I would no longer be on his good
side if I did that." Percy looked rather sheepish. "But you all—I mean we
haven't got much money as it is, and if they fired Dad, well…" Percy's voice
trailed off.
"What happened then?" Ginny was breathless.
"Well I confronted him," Percy shook his head regretfully. "I asked him
if he was going to fire Dad. I told him that we would be in awful shape if Dad
weren't working…especially with us having such a big family and all. I demanded
to know exactly what reason he would have to even fire Dad
in the first place…he is an excellent employee and does his job well. But he
just brushed me aside. He didn't have any real reason for firing Dad, of
course…except fear. 'This is not your concern Patty', he said. He-er-sometimes
tends not to remember my name…"
"I've noticed, Perce," Ginny said carefully.
"And I just kind of…snapped. I don't know what got into me…I told him
he was a coward and that he had sold himself to the Death Eaters. I-I," Percy
moaned. "I c-called the M-minister of Magic a flabby, blubbering, spineless
idiot…Oh my God…" Percy sank weakly back in his seat. "He fired me of
course."
"I thought you said that you quit…"
"Well kind of. I think I quit and got fired at the same time. So
technically it depends on whom you ask."
"Well," Ginny nodded decidedly at Percy. "I am rather proud of you.
That was really brave."
"Proud? Of this?" Percy shrieked. "This is one of the most awful
things I have ever done! I basically have no chance of ever getting a job at
the Ministry again…I'm on my way to becoming a shiftless bum…"
Ginny felt herself smile. "I highly doubt that Perce," she said. "You
were Head Boy at Hogwarts…you got more N.E.W.T.S. than the rest of your class
put together. I'm sure you'll find work somewhere…"
"No, I won't," Percy said darkly. "I'm a complete disgrace."
"No you are not!" Ginny insisted. "Wait until Mum and Dad hear…they
will be so proud of you, sticking up for the family and all."
Percy looked at her sharply. "I am not telling Mum and Dad!" he hissed.
"Dad still probably hates me for what I said to him…and I don't blame him."
Ginny looked sympathetically at her older brother…he looked so achingly
pitiful and lonely as he stared off into space. Her heart went out to him; she
wanted to comfort him somehow. She dove into him, giving him a furious hug, her
arms encircling around his waist. She suddenly felt like a very little girl
again…she wished desperately that she was back in those happy days were her
family seemed solid and unbreakable and her older brothers and parents
invincible. She felt the tears brimming up as her cheek pressed against her
brother's shirt. Back when fear and hate did not hang ominously on the horizon
threatening to rent her life to pieces…she let out a low sob.
"Ginny," Percy seemed alarmed. He awkwardly reached out to stroke his
hand across her copper hair reassuringly. "Don't cry…please it will all be ok…I
promise," he said haltingly.
"You got to talk to Mum and Dad Perce, you have to," Ginny's voice was
muffled as her face was still pressed against him.
"It's not that simple sometimes, Ginny," Percy said regretfully. Ginny
looked up at him, still a bit teary-eyed. She brushed away her remaining tears
with her hand.
"Don't give me that whole when-you-are-older-you-will-understand speech!"
Ginny looked up at him indignantly. "I'm fifteen by the way. I know Mum and Dad
just as well as you do! And I know that they will forgive you if you would only
talk to them and stop being so stubborn."
Percy gave Ginny a long wistful look, a dull sadness hung behind his
usually intense gray eyes. "I don't think they will," he objected simply. He
stood painfully. "I'm going back to Penny's…don't tell them about this? Please?"
Ginny gazed at him steadily. Then finally she nodded.
"All right," she said reluctantly, a sorrowful look in her soft brown
eyes. "We all really miss you Perce…even the twins." Percy had to grin. "I hope
that you'll change your mind."
"Maybe," Percy said distantly. He peered into the kitchen, and the
broken pieces of dishware that still lay strewn across the floor. "I didn't do
that, did I?" Ginny nodded, and Percy fixed the dishes with a binding spell.
"I must have drunk quite a lot," he said kind of impressed with
himself. "My head still hurts like a Bludger hit it and I don't remember much
of anything…" he furrowed his brows puzzled. "Draco Malfoy wasn't here was he?
I could have sworn…"
"Blimey Perce, you must have really drunk a lot then," Ginny said
quickly.
********
It was two in the morning, but a trio of young wizards sat, wide-awake,
in the dimly lit Gryffindor common room. They were all talking excitedly in
whispers, trying to keep their voices low.
"I can't believe she took off on Buckbeak!" Ron said for the
umpteenth time.
"I can," Harry shrugged thoughtfully. "But why? That's the question."
Ron gave Hermione a pointed look. Hermione nodded reluctantly and
cleared her throat.
"About Veronica Harry," she said. "We found out that she is an Armourus."
Harry stared at her blankly. "Should I know what this is?"
"What she is trying to say," Ron threw Hermione a frustrated glance.
"Is that Veronica can't be affected by magic. That's why Malfoy wasn't able to
properly curse her at the ball."
Harry's eyes grew rather big behind his glasses. But he nodded slowly.
"I guess that all makes sense," he said slowly.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione burst out anxiously. "We so are worried…the
way that she left so suddenly…and the fact that she is practically a deadly
weapon to wizards…" Hermione broke off unable to say the rest.
"We just want to warn you, Harry," Ron said gruffly. "She might be
with…You-Know-Who…"
There was a long silence. Harry stared at the low red embers of the
common room fire…he wished suddenly that Sirius was still there. He would
certainly know how to deal with this…well at least better than they all did.
Harry gazed reflectively at the hearth for a few moments before breaking the
silence.
"I don't think she is," he said with surprising firmness. "I really
think that Snape scared her into leaving so that Voldemort could get to her…"
"But Harry, why would Snape do that? Dumbledore said that he was no
longer with the Death Eaters…" Hermione's voice broke in pleadingly.
"And why would she listen to him so suddenly?" Ron added, scrunching up
his face the way he always did when he was perplexed.
Harry sighed heavily. His face was drawn and haggard…making him look
older than his years. He peered at his friends worriedly, his black hair
sticking up shockingly on his head. "It's partly my fault," he said quietly.
"She wanted to talk to me about everything…and I wouldn't listen. So her next
best option was probably to leave." He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of
his nose. "I mean if she was working for Voldemort she could have killed me
already…hundreds of times."
Ron and Hermione did not know how to respond to this, so they said
nothing at all. "But what do we do now?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Sirius told us to stay here," Hermione said softly.
"While he goes to get Professor Lupin…and tries to tell Dumbledore,"
Harry nodded. Dumbledore was unfortunately out of town in response to a wave of
muggle killings that had swept the continent, the kind of thing that was
becoming all too common lately. Remus Lupin was working in Greece, where the
government was more tolerate of the fact that he was a werewolf. "But neither
of them know where Veronica went anymore than we do."
"I'll bet she went home," commented Hermione thoughtfully.
"But where is that?" Ron asked looking at Harry. "America, I know…but
where?"
"Southern California actually…I can't remember the exact city though,"
Harry answered. Hermione's face suddenly lit up, and she took off, bounding up
the stairs…the ones that led to the boy's dormitories.
"Hey 'Mione I think you're going the wrong way!" Ron bellowed after
her, but she ignored him, disappearing into the bedrooms at the top. "I wish
she would explain to us what is going on when she gets these strange fits," he
added in an undertone to Harry. Harry grinned widely.
Hermione emerged at the foot of the stairs a few seconds later, a
rolled up newspaper clutched in her fist. She raced down the stairs, taking
them two at a time. She waved the newspaper around excitedly.
"T-there l-look," she panted, spreading in out on the floor. It was the
Daily Prophet…the issue with the column about Harry and his scandalous
love life. Veronica, in picture form, was staring out at them in dismayed
mortification, trying to shield herself from outside view her outstretched
palm. "I-I knew the twins still had a few copies. They thought it was really
funny."
"What does this have to do with anything?" Ron asked.
"Look at her clothes. I remember she had all of these t-shirts and
things from high school that she wore to bed…look!" Veronica had dropped her
arms, to stare at the camera angrily. They could now see her yellow shirt.
"See…Ventura High School Cross Country…she must live in Ventura!"
Hermione paused, wrinkling up her tiny nose. "Wherever that is."
"Well that doesn't really help us much," Harry said sadly, staring at
the newspaper article. "I mean…Voldemort could have gotten to her by now.
Especially with Dumbledore out of town. We can't tell the
Ministry…obviously…and Sirius can't look for her either, he has enough to worry
about as it is." Harry shook his head. "We need to get to her before they do,
but I don't know how. It would take ages to fly across the ocean on
brooms…could we maybe use some kind of portkey?"
"No," Hermione said quickly. "They have to be set up ahead of time."
"Maybe we could Apparate!" Ron suggested, with an excited gleam in his
blue eyes.
"That's crazy!" Hermione objected with some heat. "Ron, you said
yourself that it was really hard…didn't you miss the target area by a couple of
kilometers every time you tried to practice with your Dad this summer? And as I
always say…you can't Apparate on and off of the Hogwarts grounds!"
But by now Harry had an equally excited gleam in his eyes as well. "So
we'll sneak out and go to Hogsmeade," Harry said lightly. "Is it all that hard
to do Ron?" he asked curiously.
"Not really. The trick is staying concentrated on where you want to
go…"
"We are not Apparating anywhere!" Hermione insisted vehemently.
She looked at her two best friends like they needed a strong dosage of drugs
and a room with soft walls. "We don't have our licenses yet! We could get in so
much trouble! The Department of Magical Transportation fines people who
Apparate without a license you know. Or even worse we could get our licenses
suspended so that we can't get it until a couple of years after everyone else…"
"Well we have to make sure we don't get caught," Harry said
matter-of-factly.
"Fat chance that," Hermione said moodily. "And what if we get splinched."
Harry and Ron shuddered involuntarily.
"Erm…" Harry felt that perhaps the novelty of the idea was wearing off.
"How many people do—uh—splinch themselves."
Ron shrugged. "I really don't think that many people actually
get splinched…none of my brothers have yet and all of them passed the test. And
I didn't during the summer while I was practicing." Ron furrowed his brows. "My
father says that most of people who get splinched are usually intoxicated…the
Accidental Magic Reversal Squad gives those people an AUI along with heavy
fines of course…"
"AUI?" Harry asked curiously.
"Apparating Under the Influence," Hermione supplied. "But even that
doesn't mean that it isn't a stupid idea." She folded her arms stubbornly.
"Well do you have a better one?" Ron demanded.
Hermione let out a heavy sigh that sounded remarkably like an
exasperated critic of the male species. But she really didn't have a better
idea.
"We need to do it soon. I say two days for now…that would give 'Nica
enough time to get home." Harry looked at his two friends levelly. "We can all
head over to Hogsmeade at nine o'clock in the morning. Sound good?"
Both Hermione and Ron nodded, trying to look braver than they felt.
**********
Veronica stood the kitchen of her one-story ranch style home,
preoccupied with washing the dishes. She stacked them in the dishwasher, as she
listened to the music from the stereo in the adjoining living room. Her mom
would've probably asked her to turn it down; but right now she was out working
the night shift of her second job.
Veronica had greeted her mom at the airport terminal, feeling a flood
of relief at the familiar face. She hadn't yet explained to her everything that
had happened while she was over in the UK…she knew that she would have to tell
her eventually, but it wasn't going to be easy. The experiences that she had
gone through in the past few months were incredible to say the least; she would
have to wait for the perfect timing to explain it all to her mother. Veronica
sighed disheartened at the unpleasant chore that lay ahead.
But for now…Veronica
grinned happily as she looked out of the window. She was home. She was back in a
world that was familiar to her…a place were people communicated with telephones
and email instead of owls…where people didn't zoom across the air in brooms and
think that it was perfectly normal to see ghosts and moving pictures…it was
nice to get back into a somewhat normal rhythm.
Normal…but certainly not exactly as it had been before. Veronica
focused her attention on the dishes in front of her…refusing to think of a
certain green-eyed someone, with unruly jet-black hair and a gorgeous smile…she
frowned, staring at the blue plastic cup in her hand.
Don't think about him,
she told herself furiously. And with that she willed herself to ignore her
feelings. She gazed out the window at the sky, flushed with pink and orange as
the sun sank slowly behind the hills. Taking a deep cleansing breath, she
resolved to be thankful for being safe at home and to get on with her life.
Putting the last dish into the dishwasher, she ambled out into her living room.
Her yellow lab Monty, greeting her excitedly, jumping up on her. She patted
him, and wagging his tail he bounded off into the garage. She turned up the
stereo, humming contentedly to herself.
"I don't care to much for money," she belted out, turning on her
computer to check her email. "Money can't buy me love. Can't buy me
looooove-oh-everybody tells me so! Can't me looooove-oh-no no noooo!"
Suddenly she heard a loud crash emerge from the garage. "Monty!" she
called out exasperatedly. He had a bad habit of upsetting the recycling bin to
play with the soda cans. She left the computer desk, to stride over to the
garage. Veronica was about to turn the knob, when she stopped short. Monty was
an enormous dog and therefore incredibly noisy…and as far as she could sense
the garage was absolutely silent. She stiffened as her heart jumped up into her
throat. She knew intuitively that something was horribly wrong.
Racing across the room and grabbing the phone, Veronica dialed 9-1-1.
She told the operator that she thought there was an intruder in the garage, and
they assured her that they would send a squad car over right away. Veronica
felt somewhat calmer as she put down the receiver.
But the silence was eerie and unnerving…she was itching to know what
was in the garage…she had to know. Fully aware that she flying against
all better judgment, she grabbed a heavy frying pan from the kitchen and inched
her way over to the door…I feel like one of those woman in those horror
movies, she thought. She might have been amused if she weren't so anxious.
She gripped the handle of the pan tightly, as her palms seemed suddenly to be
exerting twice their normal amount of sweat.
"Picture yourself in a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly
A girl with Kaleidoscope eyes…"
Veronica listened
halfheartedly to the still-playing stereo as she slowly turned the doorknob.
The door swung open, creaking on its hinges. She gazed out into the dark
garage…and with trembling fingers turned on the light.
"…Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
And she's gone…"
Veronica's eyes roved the
scene. Her eyes suddenly fell on her dog…he was laying on the ground…limp and
lifeless. Veronica let out a high-pitched shriek and stumbled over to where her
dead dog lay. She shakily touched his silky amber coat…he was cold to the
touch...the tears spilled from her eyes and she quaked uncontrollably…
She felt a prickly
sensation on the nape of her neck, and knew with a sudden certainty that she
was not alone in the room. Jumping up, Veronica swung around. A stocky balding
man, slightly shorter than she was, stood by the doorway that led into the
backyard. He didn't look particularly imposing, expect for two small facts. The
first was that his wand was pointed directly at her. The second was that his
right hand was composed of a silver metallic substance that fit seamlessly to
his wrist as if it were his real flesh…Veronica shuddered as she looked at the
silver hand that gleamed dully in the dimly lit garage. She was suddenly filled
with incensed rage…she regarded his wand, and suddenly felt no fear…that
curse that dumb ass Malfoy tried on me didn't work, who is to say that this guy
can hurt me now? It wasn't really logical to
assume this…but Veronica was too angry to care.
"You!" she screeched. "You killed my dog!" She lunged at him like some wild beast; the pan
fell heavily on the man's shoulder as he slumped to the ground, groaning in
pain. The pan clattered to the ground as Veronica tossed it aside…she started
kicking the prostrate figure repeatedly as he lay on the floor twisting and
writhing to avoid her hectic pummeling…she was failing about wildly, hot tears
of wrath streaming down her cheeks…she wrapped his cloak around his neck and
pulled on it until the wizard was in a choke hold…
His face red from a lack
of oxygen, the man struggled to raise his wand in the air. "A-accio
R-revolver!" He choked out. Veronica stiffened
as she suddenly felt two things rush through the air and come to rest by the
temples on both sides of her forehead. Barely able to breathe, she slowly
craned her neck around, shifting her head slightly to the side. She was staring
down the barrel of a gun that hovered in midair a couple of inches from her
face. She closed her eyes. Please, just let the police come…please, she prayed silently, her insides like ice.
"Get up!" The man barked. He had a high whinning voice, with a definite
British accent. He looked extremely irritated. Veronica had given him two black
eyes and he was still spluttering for breath. She stood slowly, quivering like
a leaf. "You'll do as I say! These are proper muggle guns. They have six shots
in them each…that should be enough to hurt even you."
"Where are you taking me?"
Veronica demanded frantically.
"To your new master," he
said shortly. And then with a sudden movement, like a cobra striking its prey,
he whipped out his metallic hands and struck Veronica forcefully across the
forehead. She felt like something had exploded painfully between her eyes…she
sunk to the ground in a daze…the world was spinning sickeningly around her…
"Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Ooooohhhhh…"
Veronica faintly heard her
stereo as if the music were traveling across a vast distance. She thought she
could hear someone pounding on her garage door…it suddenly burst open, with a
blaze of flashing lights, blue and red, and marching feet with uniforms. She
heard yelling voices floating around her confusedly and saw sparks streaming
out of a wand, pulsing like a dull green light. The vague forms began to swirl
dizzyingly around her, and suddenly all the images before her eyes merged as
she was plunged into complete darkness. She saw and heard no more.
**********
A/N: What can I say…I'm addicted to cliffhangers! Aren't
they fun? (grins wickedly at her hapless readers). Oh and about the random
Beatles insertion at the end…they are a cool band and I was listening to them
while I was writing this. So I decided to pay a little tribute to them…or
something. Anyhow review! Review! It makes me write a lot faster
than I would otherwise.
Oh and a great huge
thanks to (takes a deep breath): BJ
(I explained platform 9 ¾ …pretty slick huh? *grins hopefully* And about the
fact that students should have noticed she was a muggle earlier – I changed
some stuff in earlier chapters to help explain that), Lin-z (thanks for the
Beta read offer! And I really like your fic by the wayJ), Lisa A., Monana
(hehe – you really don't like Draco do you? And about the flashlight I think it
would work at Hogwarts…it is not like a radio or cell phone…it doesn't rely on
an outside power source), Kathy, Shadow (yes I am cruel J), TatraMegami,
Triskel (Ginny's eyes are now permanently brown…I hope), Lani, Iphigenia
(Hermione's name is now spelled correctly throughout the whole fic…I hope.
Thanks for catching that!), California Love (please tell me that you are still
ok…you seemed kind of wound up when you reviewed…;)), Emma, (I was kidding when
I said you were torturing Harry- I really did like your fic), Sara, Anna,
Breanna Neuauer, (good suggestion about Vernon…I changed that too), Magnolia,
Sayer, Amanda Macini (heh – you'll have to wait and see about that ;)), Neva,
Kathy, Clouded Critic, Perdita, Moi, nagh, buzzardbreath, Orie (thanks for
catching that with the feast…I'll probably change it when I get the time),
Maia, sakura, Silver Dragon Flame (I hope it isn't a Mary Sue…well maybe it is a little bit…*shrugs*), Andrea, and
trowa.
I hope that I got everyone
who reviewed that last two chapters. And if not…well you know who you are and
you know already that you are awesome.
