A/N: I'm absolutely happy today! Although the film doesn't come to Hungary until 13 December, I bought the tickets today!!! I'm over-delighted by it, really! I can imagine myself laughing in the faces of all the people who won't get tickets because they weren't quick enough. All right, I just wanted to tell you how happy I am.
And now to the reviews: people, you've set a new record! I haven't received this many reviews for a chapter before! Big thanks!
mrs kavaitis: I didn't steal scenes from Aladdin – I only borrowed names (and definitely not scenes). No copyright infringement was intended – the reason why I borrowed those names was that I WANTED TO show how much I love and respect Aladdin that used to be my favourite movie when I was a child. It was the first movie that became my favourite, so by including Ali Ababwa and Abu I saluted Aladdin. Anyway, I'm not making the story sad, and although it would be nice to make Abysmal fix Harry's memories right now, I wouldn't be able to carry on with the story-line the way I wanted to, if Harry got back his memories. (He will, of course, but not yet.)
HermioneAngel: Harry won't need to remember who his best friend is – trust me, he won't.
Caroline: you think that Harry has been through enough already? Oh, no he hasn't. There are lost of things in store for him before this story ends…
Pepsi: don't worry, I'll be writing for a while (I can assure you that I'll be posting this story until the end of this year.) You asked, why I liked Malfoy. Well, I have a knack of liking the silly and/or evil characters of the stories. For example I do love Darth Vader. (But don't like Palpatine or Voldemort. They are way too evil for my taste.)
PepsiCola: no idea whether Abysmal sun-Amun means anything in Arabic. The family name Sun-Amun comes from the Mummy, that's all I can tell you about it.
Hermione Granger: I'm happy that you think that everyone is in character – some people say the opposite. (But I don't care for them, lol)
gurlie409: I'm glad that you think that the whole thing about Egypt is starting to make sense – though it won't really make sense until you read chapter 21. That will be a pivotal chapter.
hermioneqc: you asked (as all others) when Harry will remember who he is. I promise it'll happen before the year 2001 ends… (if there won't be another long break caused by ffnet, of course.)
myr_halcyon: you asked who will curse Harry – Ginny, Ron or Hermione? Well, just one thing: Ginny ISN'T Harry's FRIEND. She is his lover.
Mistoffelees: of course Ron is still his best friend, but he doesn't remember Ron.
Amen: the same for you as for HermioneAngel. They won't need to find out that Ron is Harry's best friend. Not telling you any more.
Pampered Tigeress: of course they will cure him, but not today, and not even tomorrow. Be patient!
obi_ewan_maul_lover: Harry dying??? No way! No fanfic author has the right to kill off our hero!
JiayileeJL: how Ginny hasn't found out if the child is going to be a boy or a girl? Simple: muggles have those detectors (I don't know what they are called in English), but wizards don't. And I assumed that there was no magic that could tell you the gender of your future child. You also asked what the Cruciatus curse was. It is one of the "unforgivable curses", that means if you cast it on someone, you'll get into Azkaban. Cruciatus is a curse with which you can torture someone. (Look up the 14th chapter of HP and the goblet of fire, you'll find a detailed description of the curse there.)
the coffee fiend: do you have a wand? Lol. I also have one… two… they are just sticks from a hazel bush, but I call them "wands".
Zoozoonee: it won't be important whether Draco knows the cure of the potion or not.
pudadingding: don't worry, I'm not sending Ron to Azkaban! You asked whether they could give Harry a temporary name. I must admit that I've been giving thoughts to this, but eventually decided against it. If they want Harry to listen to them, they'll just yell: "hey, you there!" *just kidding*
Claire Thorpe: thanks for being such an enthusiastic reviewer! I promise to read your fic as soon as I find some time for it.
Ericka: I think it really would be funny if the seventh book dealt with Ginny getting pregnant, but as far as I know JK, she is way too moral to write stuff like that. (And remember: HP is supposed to be a children's book, so no sex – not even implied sex – is permissible). Anyway, don't worry about the length of the story – it won't be as long as GoF, although almost as long as the third HP book. You also wrote that the story needed more of Ginny – there, you have it! This chapter is an entirely Ginny chapter!
Enjoy and don't forget to review!
Chapter 20
The girl, who will…
Dumbledore's announcement shocked all the students. Ron and Hermione couldn't find their voices from surprise. As they left the Gryffindor table, Ron saw tears appear in the girl's eyes.
He put a hand around her and pulled her into a firm embrace.
"He cannot go…" Hermione mumbled. "What will Hogwarts be like without him?"
"He'll come back, don't worry." Ron whispered into her hair. "He came back in second year, too, remember?."
"That was a totally different case." Hermione answered. "At that time only his competence was being questioned, but now his honour, too. He has admitted having had a relationship with that woman… he cannot back out anymore. Anyway, this is not why he had to resign… it was because of Harry. You know those fools in the Ministry of Magic… they blame poor old Dumbledore."
"You are being pessimistic." Ron shook his head, not feeling too optimistic himself, either.
As they exited the Great Hall, they heard mutterings like:
"That Mrs. Figg had to be cool if Dumbledore had the hots for her."
"I can't believe that Harry is really lost."
"Of course he isn't. He is just hiding from the wrath of the Weasleys."
"And well he should be… he brought about the greatest scandal of Hogwarts history!"
"Both of them deserved what they got. Potter has always thought too much of himself. And Dumbledore shouldn't have gone whoring with some wretched Muggle's wife."
The latter voice belonged to Draco, of course. Ron felt like giving him a blow in the face, but Hermione held him back.
They walked past Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode (the fat girl was sobbing her heart out). Neither Ron, nor Hermione had ever seen her cry.
"What got into her?" Hermioned wondered.
"No idea." Ron shrugged. "I never thought a Slytherin could be so sad about Dumbledore's departure."
When they reached the entrance of the Gryffindor common room, they saw many students – a very upset Ginny included – standing there and waiting for something.
"What's up?" Ron asked.
"The Fat Lady's gone." Ginny answered, her whole body trembling.
Ron let go of Hermione's hand and embraced his little sister. At that moment Ginny let out the tension that had been almost choking her, and burst out crying.
"It's okay… it's okay…" he stroked her hair, trying to soothe her.
"No, it's NOT okay! Nothing is okay!" Ginny shouted. "Harry's gone! He might never come back! I'm stranded here with a child who I'll have to bring up alone, since no one in this damned wizarding world can find its father! Those assholes who assert being employees of the Ministry of Magic sit on their laurels and scratch their toes, but don't do anything to find Harry! Now even Dumbledore is gonna leave us! And you tell me that it's okay???" her eyes were throwing fire-bolts at her brother.
"Ginny," Hermione stepped to her, "you're talking as though everything was Ron's fault. You are being unjust to your brother who only wanted to comfort you."
"It's not me who is unjust! It's life that is unjust to ME!" the redheaded girl yelled, burying her face into her hands.
Abruptly some kind of singing broke the awkward silence that had ensued between Ginny and Hermione.
Who the hell felt like singing in such a desperate situation – besides Malfoy?
The singing became louder – sometimes interrupted by a hiccup – and the Fat Lady stumbled into her portrait.
She was clearly staggering, an empty bottle of champagne in her hand. She tried to sit down on her chair, but missed, and seated herself on the floor, instead. Now, only her head visible at the bottom of the picture-frame, she yelled at the students:
"Wha're ya waitin' for?"
"You!" the Gryffindors shouted in chorus. None of them was in any mood to deal with a drunken Fat Lady, who chuckled: "I've… I've been off to… celebrate."
"Celebrate?" Ginny snapped. "Are you happy that Harry's lost and Dumbledore's gone?"
"Whaaaat?" the Fat Lady blinked. "I've been at Violet's wedding."
"Violet's wedding?" Seamus raised an eyebrow. "Who was stupid enough to marry that hag?"
"Why… Sir Cadogan, of course." the Fat Lady giggled, and with a final hiccup, disappeared under the chair.
Not much later Professor McGonagall appeared on the corridor, wearing a scowl.
"What are you all doing here?" she asked.
"The Fat Lady knocked herself out and cannot let us in." Hermione answered.
"Knocked herself out?" Minerva knitted her eyebrows.
"Got drunk." Parvati explained.
"Argggh, now that, too." McGonagall fumed. "Okay, everyone, go to your classes."
"To classes?" Lavender gaped. "But professor… how could we pay attention to the lectures after... after all these?"
Minerva let out a sigh and her strict expression seemed to soften a bit.
"All right, then. I'll try to bring the Fat Lady to her senses." she stated, raising her wand. "Antialcoholicus!"
The charm seemed to take effect, since the chair in the portrait creaked as its occupant pulled herself up to her knees. "Pass…woooord?"
"Ah, the very new one, huh? Avada Kedavra." the professor said, and the Fat Lady collapsed as if she had died. Some of the students shrieked.
"Enough of this! You gave me this password an hour ago, remember?" Minerva shouted.
"Hicc… sure." the Fat Lady sat up, clearly enjoying terrifying the students. The portrait hole slowly opened.
Almost all of the students disappeared into the common room when a joyous voice filled the corridor:
Naughty Albus Dumbledore,
Who thought you had a whore?
Poor professor Dumbledore,
You've always been such a bore!
You have screwed up, Dumbledore,
We are fed up with your lore!
Ex-headmaster Dumbledore,
Out with you, there's the door!
"Peeves!" Minerva shouted indignantly. "Hold your big mouth!"
"Blah-blah-blah…" the poltergeist chortled. "You won't take my good mood, crazy old spinster!"
Professor McGonagall's eyes got red with anger. "You… you…"
Peeves stuck out his tongue at the professor, and started another song:
Potter, that rotter, what has he done?
He knocked up Ginny, and now he's gone!
Potter, the rotter, he's a bad boy,
But I bet that he had lots of joy!
Didn't he, Ginny? Sure you can tell,
Don't deny that he screwed you like hell!
"Peeves!" now McGonagall was totally exasperated. "SHUT UP!"
The poltergeist stuck his tongue out once more and disappeared. Minerva turned around to see four students still outside the portrait hole – one of them was Ginny Weasley.
"Ginny…" the professor stepped closer, but the girl suddenly turned on her heels and ran away.
"Weasley, come back!" McGonagall shouted after her, but she didn't hear it. As if blind and deaf, she ran downstairs, through the gate, out into the park. She didn't even realise how freezing it was, didn't care in which direction she was running, just ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Half and hour later fatigue took possession of her body, and she collapsed onto the ground, still sobbing and quivering. Her robes quickly got soaked by the snow, and sweat froze on her eyebrows.
She sat there for about ten minutes when she heard some strange, out-of-place noise.
Ginny raised her head, blinking from the tears frozen on her eyelashes.
"Dad's Ford Anglia!" she whispered, slowly standing up.
The car opened its doors and let her in. To her greatest surprise, the inner space of the Ford was pleasantly warm and dry.
"Thank you." she whispered, and abruptly felt extremely drowsy.
She nestled herself into the blanket on the rear seat and immediately fell asleep. She was too tired to dream, so disturbing images avoided her during her slumber.
About two hours later a strange howl shook her out of her sleep. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, sat up and let out a shriek.
The turquoise Ford was surrendered by wolves. Ginny didn't waste time trying to find out whether her attackers were werewolves, or just plain, simple wolves – all she cared for was that the beasts looked hungry.
For a moment she felt too shocked to act, but as the beasts started to lunge at the car, nearly breaking its windows, she realised that she'd end up as (were)wolf-fodder, if she didn't do something. She climbed into the driver's seat, gripped the steering wheel and stepped on the gas. The motor gave out a cough, and the Ford set into motion – though slowly, too slowly. Six years spent in the Forbidden Forest weren't good for the car – it was a wonder that it was still in one piece.
"Come on!" Ginny cried, yanking the wheel right and left, steering the car away from the pack of (were)wolves, that didn't intend to let their prey get away that easily. The beasts followed the car, letting out threatening howls. Some of them were even quicker than the Ford, overtook it, and blocked the way.
"Shit!" Ginny put on the brakes, pulled the gear-shift, then punched a button on the dashboard, and the car took off. The girl let out a gleeful yelp and grinned at the befuddled (were)wolves, that receded into small pinpricks under the Ford Anglia. "D'ya see me now?" she laughed, veering the car into northern direction, in order to reach the edge of the forest. Close to the skirts, she started to descend. She was about to put down the car on a small clearing, began to brake, but the brakes just didn't function.
"Stop you old fool! STOP!" Ginny shouted, and yanked the steering wheel to avoid collision with a tree. Suddenly a moving form appeared right before the car.
"Nooooo!" the form shrieked, waving its hands.
Ginny kicked the brakes with all her power, gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. The Ford's wheels creaked and the car stopped.
"Have you gone crazy? You could have killed me!" an angry voice yelled. "This is the Forbidden Forest, not the Paris-Dakar rally!"
Ginny opened her eyes, her hands still clutching the steering wheel, her right leg still pushing the brake.
"Oh, of course! A woman!" the owner of the angry voice carried on. "You females drive like madmen!"
Ginny rubbed her eyes – she couldn't believe what she saw: a pissed off centaur, shaking his fist at her.
She rolled down the window. "I'm sorry, Mr. Centaur. I didn't want to frighten you."
"Frighten? No one can frighten Bane!" the centaur growled.
"No one?" another voice came from behind a snow-hill. "And that case with the Easter Bunny? You got so frightened from it, that you wet yourself!"
Bane's face turned red with rage, and Ginny started to giggle.
"You are laughing at me???" Bane scowled.
"Never mind, pal." a red-bearded centaur appeared. "This poor little thing just got over a terrible shock. She needs a bit of fun."
"And making fun of ME is the best therapy for shocked brats?" Bane rumbled.
"Why not?" the other centaur winked at Ginny and extended his hand. "Hi, kid, I'm Ronan. Nice flying you made. And good escape from the wolves."
"Thank you, Ronan." the girl shook his hand. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Ginny Weasley."
"Ginny? Weasley?" a third voice yelled. It belonged to a blonde centaur, who came closer and knelt into the snow.
"What the hell are you doing, Firenze?" Bane frowned.
"I'm kneeling before you in all my humbleness." Firenze told Ginny.
"Why?" the girl raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, why?" Ronan asked, either.
"Don't you recognise her name?" Firenze turned to his fellows. "Ginny… Weasley… she is THE girl, who will…"
Ronan slapped his forehead. "Really! She is HER! The girl, who will…" and he bowed deeply before Ginny.
Bane frowned. "If that's true, and she is truly the girl, who will…" he bent his head, too.
Ginny looked from Firenze to Ronan, then to Bane, confused. "Who am I? What will I do?"
"I'm sorry, but we cannot tell you, Saviour."
"Watch your tongue, Firenze!" Bane shouted. "Don't call her that name!"
"She mustn't get to know it." Ronan agreed.
"What?" Ginny got out of the car. "What are you concealing from me?"
Firenze looked up with a dreamy face. "The stars told us."
"WHAT?" the girl frowned. She was getting really upset.
"The planet Uranus revealed it to us." Ronan said.
Bane nodded. "It did."
Ginny still didn't understand anything. "Would you, please, explain…?"
The three centaurs shook their heads.
"Okay." Ginny sighed. "Then accompany me to the edge of the forest, will you? I don't like Wondering with Werewolves, especially not alone."
"Of course we'll go with you. You have to be safe." Ronan declared.
"Yes. She is too precious to lose." Bane agreed.
For a moment Ginny felt like Alice in wonderland: a lost girl, accompanied by three crazy creatures.
She wished she could understand the centaur's words. What were they driving at? She's the girl, who will… do WHAT???
And what exactly did Firenze call her? She didn't remember.
She felt confused – but at least the shock from the wolves and the humiliation by Peeves didn't bother her anymore. Not at all.
But that implying… Hagrid was right – centaurs were really dreamy folks…
A/N2: sorry about the language, but I felt that in this chapter I needed to make the characters (especially Peeves) say bad words.