"Other people may be there to help us,

Teach us, guide us along our path.

But the lesson to be learned is always ours."

         -Melody Beattie

Chapter Nine

         "Miss Weasley, nice of you to make an appearance, and only two minutes late." Snape's dark sneering voice echoed off the walls of the dungeons as I literally ran into the  classroom and flew to the first seat available.

         "I was…delayed..sir." I replied hastily.

         "I see.  Now I'm sure you're dying of curiosity about what horrible thing I'm going to make you do tonight, am I right?" He asked as he turned those dark menacing eyes in my direction.  He was still seated behind his desk but now he was pacing back and forth behind it.  It was as if he had something to say but was reluctant to say it.

         "Yes sir, I am curious as to what I'll be doing for my detention." I replied again as I shadowed the lump of fear that rose in my throat at the number of possibilities that could take place.

         He sighed then and kept his gaze on my.  The urge to cower was overwhelming but I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.  I was a Gryffindor and I would uphold the honor of bravery even if it is in front of a snake like him.

         "Miss Weasley," his tone took a more gentle approach and for a minute I was unsure whether this was the same Snape or not.  "This is not easy for me to acknowledge, especially to a Gryffindor, but the reason I gave you detention is because I would like your help with something." My mouth nearly gaped at the petition he was telling me.  It wasn't only what he was saying, but also how he was saying it.  His voice wasn't dark and menacing as usual, it was soft and…well…defeated in a way.

         "You would like my help sir?  In what?" I asked him, my curiosity peaked at this point.

         "You are a very promising student, Miss Weasley, one of the few people who actually can grasp the concept of Potions.  Your marks in my class are exceptional and far exceed those of Miss Granger.  I have been asked by Dumbledore to do a certain…experiment…of sorts.  The information is highly classified and it would be safer for you and everyone else, not to know what is going on.  This experiment needs more than one person though and because of your high marks Dumbledore and I are asking that you help me with this assignment.  You will be measuring, noting, and mixing powerful potions and if you wish to decline our offer then please do so now before I continue."

         It was a lot to take in all at once.  Not only was the Headmaster trusting me to help them, but Snape who has never once cared much for my family was also trusting me to help.  I felt like I was in some kind of trance, or dream, and that in a few minutes I would wake up and Snape would once again be yelling for my tardiness.  Yet this was not a dream I feared.  Something was going on and I suspect it has to do with the fight with Voldemort and if I got involved it would surely put me at risk.  But why should that matter?  Only a few weeks ago I was ready to end my life by my own hand; this way I'd die helping a greater cause, or so I suspect anyway.  So why not help?  Draco told me to trust Snape and I suppose I should. 

         "I'll help.  Just tell me what to do."

         A hint of a smile etched his pale features and it seemed a great deal of tension was lifted too as his shoulders dropped in relief.

         "I will warn you now that this is very dangerous Miss Weasley.  I trust you to keep silent about these experiments.  Anything that goes on here is between you, Dumbledore, and I.  I will have your word on this?"

         "You have my word Professor, I will not tell a soul."  Who would bother to listen to me anyway?  Besides Draco.

         "We shall get started immediately.  I need you to gather this list of ingredients while I prepare the cauldron and collect some blank parchment scrolls to write on.  Miss Weasley?"

         I turned around to face him as he said my name.  He did smile then, very slightly.  I noticed then the strain along his dark eyes.  Draco was right, he has lived a hard life.  It showed on his face as plain as daylight.

         "Thank you."  He finished as he walked into his office to gather the necessary supplies.

         "Your welcome Professor."  I replied to his retreating back.

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         So that is how I spent the rest of my detention, in a dungeon researching a potion that I had no knowledge of for a reason I knew nothing about.   In time though I would know what the potion was for.  I noted all the different ingredients we would be using and filed it away in my brain for later research.  Last Christmas my brother Charlie gave me a book on 'Advanced Potions and Their Uses'.  So far I haven't had time to really look through it except for skimming certain chapters that caught my eye.  Now I was fully tempted to read the book cover to cover to memorize every detail and every ingredient and their purposes. 

         "So how did your detention go Ginny?" Hermione asked me as I walked into the Gryffindor Common Room two hours later.  I wasn't in the mood to really talk to anyone, but she being my brother's girlfriend I figured I owed her at least a small civil conversation.  Once a few years I had a silly childish notion that Hermione would become like an older sister to me and together we could spend hours discussing dreams and boys and even school work if that was what she wanted.  But no, that was so long ago it seems, and I am no longer a child in the eyes of society.  I could never go back to such foolish notions and she rarely seen from the 'Dream Team'.  The thought of being around my brother all the time at school nearly made me sick.

         "It was all right.  I had to organize the mess a group of first years made in the dungeons.  That's about it." I replied with a shrug.  I wasn't in the mood to make a more interesting story or to elaborate on any made up details. 

         "Sit down and talk with me Ginny.  We never get a chance to have a girl to girl chat.  The boys are off at practice so it'll just be the two of us, just like old times."

         There was never 'old times' between us, but I didn't think she'd appreciate my telling her that.  I also wasn't in the mood to be social with my brother's girlfriend.  Right now I just wanted to be back in my room reading about advanced potions and dreaming of things that could never be.  Dreaming of Draco…

         "I really have to get back to my room, I'm sorry.  Maybe we can talk another time."  I replied.  As if there really would be another time.  She spent so much time attached to Ron and Harry that people began to think of them as one person instead of three separate beings.  I didn't really wait for her reply, which I guess is rude of me but I don't really care right now.  I much prefer the sanctuary of my own bed to the openness of the common room. 

         I picked up the potions book from the bottom of my trunk where most of my books were kept.  I didn't want anyone to see the number of Muggle books that I've acquired over the years.  Someday…someday I would write a book of my own.  It has always been a dream of mine to do that.  Whether it be a Muggle book or a Wizarding one, it didn't matter.  Fiction was fiction and overlapped both worlds, though in truth there weren't many Wizard fiction writers out there.  But my dream of writing was just like my dream of researching potions as a muggle, it was unlikely to come true.  But still, maybe someday in the future I will look back to my childhood and write about the things that took place.  I would begin with the rise of the Dark Lord and his first downfall by the boy named Harry Potter, and my childhood crush on him when we first met.  Then I would include the story about the Chamber of Secrets and how I was used as a pawn for the man formally known as Tom Riddle.  Then after that I would include the stories of my second and third year, but nothing elaborate since nothing really happened that would be of any great interest.  Then, for the first time in my life I would write about my fourth year and lost innocence.  I would not leave out a single detail of the story either.  I would include the pain, the neglect, the way others treated me like a shadow, a lost face in the shadow.  I would mention my perfect brothers and their exciting and happy lives and oh how I wish I could be like them!  I would write it all!  I would tell the world! 

         Such foolishness is a weakness though, and I have to learn how to grow up.  Stop dreaming Virginia Weasley for such dreams can never happen to someone as low as yourself! 

         The black bounded book caught my eye a moment later and ripped me out of my fantasy.  I placed the leather book on my four-poster bed and drew the curtains around so as to warn the twins not to disturb me. 

         I paged through the index and the list of ingredients for all sorts of potions but still I could not find the things that were listed on Snape's paper.  Most of the ingredients that I did recognize, however, did not help in the least.  Dragon's blood, fairy wings, all these were common ingredients used for all sorts of potions, nothing specific.

         Noises filled the hallway outside my room and I knew that the girls would soon be back from studying in the library.  It was getting late anyway and since I would have to get up early for Herbology I decided to retire to bed early for tomorrow would sure be a long day.

         "I can't believe you didn't know."  The voice of one of the twins exclaimed right outside my door.  It sounded like Fiona because of the higher pitch.

         "I don't try to listen to gossip and you know it.  I thought it was just made up." Margaret (Maggie) her twin, replied.

         By now they have sparked my curiosity.  'What didn't Maggie know?'

         "It's the biggest news this year!  It's not everyday the famous Harry Potter breaks up with his girlfriend!"

         'Harry broke up with Sarya.  I wonder why?'

         "Rumor has it he likes someone else.  But no one knows who."

         "I bet it's someone like Lavender or Parvati." 

         "Dunno…could be.  But he hasn't shown any interest in them.  It's a complete mystery."

         They opened the door a few moments later and walked to their respected beds.  I feel asleep that night not thinking about the upcoming disperse of the Slytherins, or dangerous potions, but of Harry's new love interest.

         Who could it be?