Harry Potter and the Troublesome Evie
By Trephinia Cealyn
Chapter 21 | Weasel Runt
Ginny, at Draco's insistence, lay in the infirmary. She wasn't burned, wasn't sick, wasn't in any physical pain. She was bullied here. She sighed and flopped over trying to get in a comfortable position. She couldn't sleep either. She listened for Madame Pompfrey to leave, maybe she could sneak out. She flipped back over. Still uncomfortable she kicked her blankets off. Finally, feeling better, she fell asleep.
Ginny was in the Ravenclaw common room. How she knew it was the Ravenclaw common room was beyond her but that's what it was. She sighed and picked herself out of the bed.
"Don't even see why we need her." someone said. "She's to skinny." The person stepped into the room. Ginny couldn't make out any features. "Well Weasel Runt, how are you feeling?" the person took a step towards her.
"I'm okay." Ginny pulled her cloak tighter about her thin shoulders.
"See," the person said to himself, "she's to skinny to keep herself warm." He stopped to listen for a second and nodded. "Alright, I'll try not to." He turned back to her. "Now Weasel, do you know how to pay the flute?" this question took Ginny by surprise. She nodded carefully. Her mother had sent her to magical flute lessons when she was small. She also took the Magic and Music class here at Hogwarts.
"Yes." She answered hoping the voice would continue. He fished among his robes and finally pulled out a long slender box. He opened it and a silver flute lay in the blue velvet lining.
"When you get out of the infirmary this flute will be hidden under the floorboards of your dorm room." Ginny reached for the flute but the person pulled away. "You must find it yourself Weasel, even Parselmouth found the book himself."
"Parselmouth?" the figure flinched.
"I've said to much again." he looked up. "I'm sorry." He disappeared and Ginny woke.
"Madame Pompfrey!" she yelled standing up. "I want to go back!" the nurse came running in her nightgown.
"Oh no, you're not healthy enough." Madame Pompfrey looked the girl over concerned.
"I'm perfectly alright." Ginny insisted grabbing her cloak.
"Oh no oh no!" Pompfrey said hoping back and forth on her feet, "You were burned by a dragon my dear!" she said with despair.
"Look," Ginny pulled up her sleeve, "there aren't any burn marks."
"It's the middle of the night dear," Pompfrey said trying a different tactic, hoping it worked, "you can't go back now!"
"Well I'm going," Ginny pushed her out of the way and added, "tell Draco where I am."
"Oh dear, oh my." Ginny heard the nurse say as she closed the door.
"Meddlesome old bat." She muttered darkly and headed for her common room. She said the password and climbed through the portrait hole. She went up to her dormitory and sat on her bed thinking until Lila woke up. She lay her head on her pillow and pretended to snore.
"Ginny wake up." Lila shook the girl carefully.
"What – oh it's you Lila…" Ginny yawned.
"When did you get back…" but Ginny had fallen asleep, pretending, again. "Oh I'll tell McGonagle you're ill." Lila left with the others. Ginny smiled, she crawled under her bed and looked for loose floorboards.
"None." Ginny said to herself. She had searched everywhere. Except under Lila's trunk. She sighed and stood up. She pulled the heavy trunk and it budged just a little but she couldn't move it anymore. She climbed on top of it and saw a board with hinges. "Curiouser and Curiouser." She mumbled and tugged on the board. It swung up and she reached inside pulling out a long slender case. She pushed the trunk back and sat on the bed. She opened the case and ran her fingers over the metal. She assembled it and played a not softly. It was beautiful. She played song after song not noticing when Lila and the others came in and stopped talking to listen to her playing. Not noticing when they left. Only listening to the music.
Finally she put it away, she set it in her trunk carefully and went to look for Draco. He still had to pay for making her stay in the infirmary. She walked through the halls not knowing how late it was.
"What's Ginny doing up so late?" Ginny turned around and sighed. It was only Evie, but why did she sound so… normal.
"Hi Evie, have you seen Draco?" Ginny asked. Evie stared at her eyes unblinking. Ginny shivered.
"No I haven't seen Draco." Evie replied casually. Something was definitely wrong. Evie was acting normal, not a trace of her madness. Maybe she was susceptible to these outbursts of normality. Maybe she was finally accepting her parents death.
"Well if you see him, tell him I'm looking for him okay?" Ginny started to walk away. Evie was scaring her.
"Alright." Evie agreed. "One more thing," she called. Ginny stopped turning slowly. "Figure out how to open the portal runt." She turned and walked down the hallway. Ginny stared after her knowing something was not right, she could feel it in her bones.
"You see what I mean." Ginny screamed and jumped around. Harry… she sighed. "Sorry didn't mean to frighten you Ginny." Ginny nodded.
"She's not all she pretends to be." Harry nodded. Ginny continued, "What did she mean by 'open the portal'?" Harry frowned and looked away.
"I think… I'll know soon." He smiled at her. "I have to go, Draco's down that way." He pointed down the hall. "See you tomorrow."
"See you." Ginny cleared her head and walked down the hallway looking for Draco. If anyone could make her feel better he was the one to do it. She spotted him talking to Hermione. "Draco." He turned and smiled at her. Hermione smiled and left them. "I just saw Harry." Ginny said as she passed her. Hermione nodded still smiling.
"There's something I need to tell you." Draco said seriously, but his eyes gave him away. She took his outstretched hand and he led her down the hall. "Hermione heard you playing the flute." He said casually but he pressed for information. Ginny nodded. "I showed her a song I wrote." Draco's voice sounded unsure. He stopped and looked deep into Ginny's eyes. "I wrote it for you." He said quietly. She nodded her eyes dancing brightly. He shoved a packet of papers into her hands and walked off down the hall. She read the title and gasped.
"The Portal." Her eyes widened and her mind cleared except for one word, Evie.
