A/N: To the reviewer who asked for a sequel to this: let's just get through the rewrite first, ok? : ) I'm learning that sequels are very hard to write.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K Rowling. I own nothing.
Thanks to Imogen for getting me through a nasty case of writer's block and giving me a bit of confidence. "Long live Queen Imogen!" J
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Breakfast that morning was not a pleasant affair. Ginny just shoved food around on her plate, pretending to be oblivious to the looks she kept on receiving from Ron, Hermione and Harry, who talked quietly among themselves. They had tried to get her to join their conversation, but she didn't feel like talking to them, especially when all they would do is ask her if she's ok and then demand she go see Madam Pomfrey.
It was Friday, normally her favorite day out of the week since she had Care of Magical Creatures in the morning, easily her best subject despite the fact that Hagrid still placed them into contact with dangerous creatures. Having had enough of the silent treatment from her friends, she quickly gathered up her books and left.
"Ginny, wait!"
Ginny sighed, hearing her brother's voice. Why couldn't she just be left alone? "What is it Ron?" she asked in a cold tone.
"I'm worried about you," he said, his dark blue eyes filled with brotherly concern. "Is this about dad? 'Cause I know you're having a really hard time dealing with this, but please Ginny…you have got to get over this, you have to!"
"Nothing's wrong with me, Ron. I'm fine!" Ginny sighed and turned to go.
"No you are not fine," Ron said very firmly. "You aren't fine at all. Ginny, please talk to me!"
"I'm late for class, Ron." Ginny left her brother standing there at the entrance to Hogwarts, a hurt and confused expression on his freckled face. She felt a slight ache for treating him like she had, but it was quickly dismissed by the thought that she didn't need the likes of him, his girlfriend, or Harry Potter. She was just fine.
The rest of the class was already gathered around Hagrid's cabin as Ginny slowly made her way down to join them. Hagrid was standing inside the small paddock with two dazzling white unicorns, the brightness of their coats nearly blinding them all in the sunlight. A small flock of girls surrounded the unicorns, cooing and admiring the silvery manes and tails.
"Thought yeh'd enjoy workin' with Unicorns agin today, Ginny." Hagrid told her as she approached, smiling through his thick beard. "They seem ter be real fond o' yeh, and I know how down yeh bin lately. Thought this might cheer yeh up a bit." Hagrid was right, Unicorns were unusually fond of her. Hagrid said she "jus' had somethin' special" that made them trust her.
Ginny gave Hagrid a tiny smile as she walked inside the gate. One of the unicorns was Ginny's favorite, because of the small patch of silver fur that rested on its forehead.
Ginny walked over to the unicorn, her hand held out to rub its nose. Before she had even touched it, the unicorn had stamped its feet and backed away, snorting harshly as it did so. Ginny blinked. Unicorns never acted that way around her. Ginny backed up, running smack into Hagrid.
"Hmm…well….I don' know what's wrong with 'er," said a bewildered Hagrid, frowning at the unicorn who was swishing its tail back and forth like it was a weapon. "Perhaps yer jus' came up on 'er too fast…might've startled 'er. Go on up ter 'er again, Ginny and see what she does."
Ginny knew perfectly well that she didn't startle the unicorn and Hagrid was making up excuses for its odd behavior. Gingerly she tried again. The unicorn, seeing Ginny coming closer, tossed its blinding white head, the silver horn aimed directly at Ginny as if it were to charge her. The bright blue eyes of the animal were staring at her, sending a shiver of fear down Ginny's spine as she gazed dumbstruck back at the beast. Hagrid, sensing danger, shoved Ginny out of the unicorn's sight and marched her through the gate.
"Don' know what could be wrong with it, ain't never seen anythin' like that," Hagrid muttered, shaking his head. Ginny sat on the steps of Hagrid's cabin, miserably gazing at the others, who were huddled about in groups, whispering, while Hagrid went back to see why the animal was acting so strange. For the rest of the session, Ginny stayed on the steps, listening to the growls of Fang who was inside, scratching at the door. On the way back to the castle, no one would look at her, but she could hear the whispers. "Did you see what happened?" "Look at her, she's so pale and boney! I bet she's turned into a vampire!" Ginny heard one Slytherin boy sneer as she walked past the Slytherin table during lunch, "She hangs around that Potter quite a bit. Won't be surprised if she turns up dead like that Diggory boy a few years ago!" Ginny didn't feel like sitting at the Gryffindor table and immediately went up the stairs to lie down for a bit.
"Miss Weasley?" Professor McGonagall was waiting at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "The Headmaster wishes to see you."
Ginny sighed wearily and followed McGonagall down the long corridor, up the winding stairs, and into the office of Professor Dumbledore.
"Wait here, if you please." Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at a chair, and the chair walked over to her and bowed gracefully. Ginny sat down.
Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's pet phoenix, was eyeing her warily from his post behind the door. His plumage was a beautiful gold and scarlet, and shone brightly in the firelight. Ginny turned away from the bird and looked towards the great cabinet behind the massive desk that sat in the middle of the circular room. She could see a glint of gold just inside the door. Curious, she got up to investigate, not noticing the shrewd eyes of the phoenix watching her.
There was a dagger inside, the length of it stretching from her elbow to wrist. The whole of it must have weighed three pounds, especially at the handle where the largest emerald Ginny had ever seen sat, surrounded by smaller gems and encased in the finest gold. The blade was honed to a sharp point and Ginny had a feeling that it could cut through solid marble like melted butter. Footsteps echoed in the outside chamber, and Ginny quickly shut the door and ran back to her seat.
Dumbledore walked in, his great white beard nearly touching the tips of his shoes. His robes were of a dark navy, and his hat drooped over to the side, giving the impression that it bore a great weight upon it.
"Ah, Miss Weasley!" The headmaster greeted her warmly, a kind smile adding to the wrinkles carved into his face. "I've been wanting to speak to you." Dumbledore sat down behind his desk and peered at her over his half-moon spectacles. "It seems your professors have become a bit concerned for you. Your performance in classes is not up to your usual standards." He paused for a moment and Ginny felt his eyes pierce through her, as if he could see straight inside her. "You've also lost a great deal of weight. A great deal. Your brother Percy also wrote to me and claimed you were having nightmares as well."
Ginny made a mental note to kill Percy the next time she saw him. Meddlesome prat.
"I just wanted you to know that my door is open anytime you want to come and talk to me about it," said Dumbledore. "I know you and your father were very close and it's been hard on you. But you have friends and family that love you and want to help you, Ginny. Remember that. You are never alone."
I've always been alone, thought Ginny. But she silently nodded and got up to leave. "Thank you, Professor," she mumbled as she passed by the great bird, who ruffled his feathers and let out a shrill note.
Ginny closed the door and leaned up against it, sighing. All anyone ever wanted from her nowadays was to ask her if she was ok and if she needed to talk. It was quite tiring to have to give the same answers.
The way back to the Gryffindor common room was uneventful as Ginny did her best to avoid the passageways that was sure to be packed with students. The portrait of the Fat Lady looked down at her sadly as she gave the password and sternly told her she needed to take better care of herself. Ginny ignored her and went inside.
Ron, however, was much more stubborn than Ginny gave him credit for. She had thought that he would have taken this hint this morning and leave her alone. But he cornered her again as she tried to escape up the dormitory stairs and refused to let her pass. It was like trying to go around a mountain troll.
"Wanna tell me what happened this morning, Ginny?" he asked her, his blue eyes driving into her. Thank goodness the common room was deserted at this time of day, as most of the students were either finishing off lunch or heading to their next classes.
"There was just a slight incident at Hagrid's. Nothing to be upset over," Ginny told Ron nonchalantly as she repeated the mantra silently to herself.
"That was no slight incident, Ginny! You could've been killed!" he snarled at her, causing her to step back in surprise.
"Unicorns don't kill, you idiot!"
"Then why did that one try to attack you?" Ron's large hand seized her arm, his fingers wrapping around the thin bone, leaving purplish bruises as she tried to escape up to her room. "Damnit, Ginny! What's wrong? And don't give me that crap about being tired anymore!"
"I'M FINE!" she spat out, trying to jerk lose of his hold and wincing in pain from the tightness of his grip.
"STOP SAYING THAT!!" he yelled at her, his blue eyes wild with anger and frustration. Ron, in spite of his Weasley temper, had never taken that tone with her and Ginny became suddenly very frightened. A tear rolled down her cheek.
All traces of color left Ron's face. "Oh God, Ginny. I'm so sorry," he whispered, as his fingers slackened their grip from her arm. He moved suddenly, as if to embrace her, but Ginny, caught up in haze of panic and fear, did something she had never done in her sixteen years of life, not even when her brothers were at their worst.
WHACK!
Ginny's hand burned from the contact of skin against skin. Blood rushed up to Ron's cheek, making the imprint of her hand stand out like a brand. Silence was a loud roar in Ginny's ears as her mind tried to grasp itself around the consequences of her action. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe under the shocked blue stare of her brother, his mouth open in surprise.
"Ron….I…" The softly breathed words sounded harsh in the stillness. Unable to bear another moment, Ginny fled up the stairwell, not daring to look back.
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Ginny stayed in her room for the rest of the day, despite having another class she needed to attend. She curled up on her bed under the mass of quilts and blankets until darkness fell, and laid there until the chill in the room had permeated her blood and she could no longer stop shivering. She had to go downstairs and warm up in front of the large fire she knew would be blazing merrily in the fireplace. Ginny slowly rose, her legs quivering as she stumbled out into the hallway.
The other Gryffindors must have sensed all was not right with two of their fellow house-mates because only Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated downstairs. All three of them looked up as she crept down the stairs, her hand tightly clenching the handrail for support. Ginny noticed that Harry looked as if he wanted to come and help her, but he must have thought better of it because he turned away quickly and returned to the game of chess he and Ron were playing. Ron, of course, must have told them what she had done, and now all three of them weren't speaking to her. Ginny thought this was a fitting punishment.
Easing down into a comfortable chair right in front of the fireplace, Ginny could still see her friends out of the corner of her eye. Ron's back was to her, but she couldn't help but notice how stiffly he sat as he quietly murmured to his chess set to move. Hermione sat at a distance, obviously wanting to be near Ron, but also needing space for her homework. She was diligently hunched over a book, her quill in hand, poised to jot down any thing that might be of use.
Harry, Ginny noticed, seemed to be acting a bit unusual himself. He kept on fidgeting nervously as he waited for Ron to make the next move, constantly adjusting his glasses and shifted uncomfortably in his seat as if he was sitting on a bench full of nails. Curious, Ginny turned her head slightly to the right, to see him more clearly. He brushed back his fringe, and began rubbing the lightning shaped scar that sat off-center just above his right eyebrow. Sensing her gaze, his emerald eyes met hers, and for a moment, he froze, his hand paused in the midst of his task.
Breaking away, Ginny hastily turned back to the fire. She now trembled uncontrollably, and bit her tongue in efforts not to cry out. Fumbling around in her robes, she found the pocket which normally held her wand, wanting to summon a blanket from the small cabinet a few feet away.
But instead of finding smooth polished wood, Ginny's fingers closed about cold metal. Frowning, she pulled out the heavy object and a small gasp escaped her lips as she saw what she held. It was the dagger from Dumbledore's office, the bright gold nearly blinding her in the light of the fire. The large emerald glowed brightly and Ginny quickly looked to see if the others could see it.
It was odd, Ginny felt warmer, calmer, more energized, as she held the knife. It had been months since she had felt like this and Ginny drew the blade closer, resting it upon her chest as she inspected the hilt further. She knew, somehow that this dagger could help her, it could set her free. All she had to do was use it, and the agony that had become her daily life would disappear.
Yes…yes…Ginny, come to me…be free… It was her dad's voice, speaking in her head as if he was in the room with her. Ginny felt so light, as if she were floating on clouds. She could no longer see the orange glow of the fire as a thick fog of white drifted across her eyes. Her hands tightened around the hilt.
Pleasure-pain wrenched through her as the tip of the knife pierced her skin. Blood, warm and red began to soak her robes, leaving a dark stain that was visible even through the black woolen fabric. The sound of the ocean pounded through her brain, dulling out the deeper cry of pain from across the room.
"Harry! What is it?" Ginny heard Hermione shriek. There was a shuffling of chairs and the sound of a body hit the floor.
"What's wrong!" Ron cried.
"Nooooo! Get to Ginny!" came a strangled gasp from the floor. Ginny felt someone haul her to her feet and yank the dagger from her grasp. It fell to the floor with a resounding clatter, echoing in the circular room. The whole floor trembled violently. The fog cleared from her eyes enough to make out the form of her brother standing in front of her, shaking her. A look of terror was etched on his face. Her eyes focused on the scene behind him, the benches they had been sitting over knocked over, the chess pieces scattered about the table and floor and Hermione bent over Harry, who was still clutching his scar as he rose to his feet.
Then Ginny crumpled to the floor as the world went black.