A\N-- And here it is, the last chapter of IDOTW. If you have enjoyed this story, and I desperately hope you have, check out my other stuff, I could use some help. (also, I edited chapter 5 a bit…so if anything doesn't make sense you may want to go back and read it) Email me.
Disclaimer—If I owned Harry Potter, I would be spending more time on my story, and less time trying to think up a way to tell you I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 6
The End
(how dull)
Fred passed a soaking wet Draco and Ginny coming in the castle as he went out, headed for the protection breech for his turn guarding for the last time. Dumbledore had wizards from the Department of Ministries coming early in the morning. Fred was a bit perturbed at the fact that the DoM was coming, it made this whole thing seem even bigger than it already did. Fred lifted one hand in greeting as Draco and Ginny walked by, presumably toward the library. Neither one responded, but it didn't both him that much. Their heads were bent close together in whispers as they walked, and though Ginny's whole expression was very serious she was still glowing exuberantly. Fred smiled.
A few moments later he was standing out in the corner of Hogwarts grounds, bent against the ravishing wind and rain, staring up at the lightening ridden sky, the illumination making it eerily green.
"It's a wild night." Fred mummered out loud. Thunder answered him, rumbling over the grounds and seeming to vibrate through the young man.
Suddenly something soft and feathery ran into his head.
"What the h-"
"It was Mo Kneebaggs' owl, looking a lot less official than it had the last time Fred had seen it. It's feathers were ruffled on one side, it was obviously having trouble navigating in this storm, and the poor beast looked very annoyed that his owner had dared to send him out in such weather. The parchment he carried was just as ornate as before however, if wet. Fred muttered a water repelling charm and quickly began to read it.
To- Mr. Fredrick S. Weasley
From- Hogsmeade Store Front Proprietors
IE- The Official Opening of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
Mr. Weasley,
We are pleased to announce that you have been awarded a store front (a\n) remember, before he was just being told he was getting one. We look forward to seeing you at the official opening on October 1.
Fred stared at the piece of paper he was holding. October 1. On October 1 he and George were going to be working at their own joke shop. After all these years. October 1…October 1 was…October 1 was…two days from now. That meant that tomorrow was Fred and George's
"Last day at Hogwarts." Fred spoke his last thought out loud. "For real this time."
"That is correct Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere.
"Professor?" Fred asked, astonished.
"Mr. Weasley." Repeated Dumbledore. "Indeed, our hallowed halls will not be the same with out you and your brother. I have already written out my letters of recommendation, and I will be sure to stop by soon, and get some of your pranks." His beard shook with laughter. "Wouldn't want the students to have all the fun would be?"
"Ummmm…no sir." Fred replied, wondering just how much he didn't know about the Headmaster.
"Well, do go tell your brother. I will take over."
And the old man was still chuckling pleasantly as Fred Weasley ran back to the Castle, busting with excitement.
"That's not all you had to tell me was it?" Ginny asked Draco fearfully. The boy had told her a lot of things that had happened during their brief breakup, including some things about Lucius Malfoy's letter, but he was very obviously still holding something back.
"Well, no." Admitted Draco quite bluntly
"Well…go ahead. Finish."
"OK. Well, I told you my Father sent me that note…"
"About you breaking up with me. Yes."
"Yes, that's the one. And he mentioned consequences...and Halloween."
"Yes Draco." Ginny's voice was getting a bit tighter. "We covered that too."
"What did you think he was talking about Ginny?"
She searched his eyes, looking, perhaps for a joke, or even just a point to this seeming madness.
"I figured…" her voice was more timid, not scared of him of course, just unsure of her speech. "That on Halloween you were to be made a death eater. And if you didn't comply to that…the consequences would be…death."
"How simple that sounds." Said Draco. Ginny knew it wasn't so much that he was trying to be mean as it was that he was just Draco. "Things are never that simple Gin."
"Good Point. But enough guessing games. You're scaring me."
He reached across the reference table in the library that they were sitting in and took her hand. "I'm sorry." His voice was softer. "The consequences were for you Gin. He was gonna hurt you. Kill you."
She gasped.
" Don't be scared, they can't be carried out now. Not with Dumbledore getting the DoM on his protection committee."
Ginny nodded.
"Pott-Harry told you about what happened to him fourth year right?"
Ginny nodded again. "Eventually. It was hard for him though."
"You might say I heard about it from the other end. But the point is, you know that Peter Petigrew had to make a blood sacrifice to bring The Dark Lord back to life." This time he didn't wait for her nod. "It wasn't enough Ginny. There's another sacrifice. Every year."
Ginny sputtered in revoltion. "But…But…-that's….-the Bible- says…-Mum said-"
"Oh Gin do you really think Voldemort reads the Bible a whole lot? And I hate to tell you this but your Mother's opinion doesn't matter here."
Ginny had a feeling of dread nearly overwhelm her. "So there's a sacrifice on Halloween?" She whispered, dreading what was coming.
Draco's hands had begun to shake. "Yes. M-me." His voice took on a more bitter tone, but his fear was obvious. "My father says it's a great honor. That I should be proud. Looking forward to helping bring the Dark Lord back to power. Such an honor for the Malfoy line. Course, I mentioned the Malfoy's weren't going to have a line if they wrote me off. He wasn't to fond of me for that. So, at last I figured, if I;m gonna die anyway, might as well not be serving the dark Lord. And then the way you looked. I couldn't take it."
Ginny's breath caught in her chest. She felt sick and dizzy, and looked at Draco who was still pale from the wounds he had yet to recover from, and something more as well. There were tears gathering in his eyes, but still showing no signs of falling. "He should be in bed." She thought desperately. And then a sort of calm resolve filled her.
"So you want go anywhere on Halloween. Stay here. With the protection barrier. With me."
And this time she initiated the kiss. Like the one they had shared in the rain earlier, it was innocent, filled with nothing but love, and, like Ginny, said one thing. "I'm not going to let anything else happen to you."
The next morning, Hogwarts was in a tizzy. At least they thought they were. It was hard to tell, as the whole castle had been filled with a deep scarlet fog that refused to disperse. Courteously of Fred and George of course. As the morning progressed it became clear that this was the least of the problems.
A large number of the student body had been turned into turtles, but no one was quite sure how the pranksters accomplished that. Moreover, the candles in Snape's dungeon were behaving strangely. Each time he attempted to light them the fire would flare up in his face, and end up setting his greasy hair on fire. This was not necessarily painful, but it was quite annoying to continuously have to plunge your head into a bucket to peanut butter. Lastly, Professor Trelawny's room, including the bat eyed teacher had completely vanished. After being assured it was only temporary, students and faculty (with the exception of Lavender and Parvati) were quiet happy about this joke. Everyone's patience had just begun to wear thin at the end of the day however, when many loud popping noises filled the castle.
"Misters Weasley," began Dumbledore. "What are you doing?"
"Going out with a bang Sir." Fred and George answered together.
And Dumbledore, still laughing, returned to his office…with bright pink hair.
"Bye you three." Fred and George told Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Do keep us up to date on the happenings. Might be good for a nice prank Eh? And look after Ginny."
"Awwwwwwwwwwww. Are my big brother's worried about me?" Ginny asked as she hugged the two of them. George looked at Draco, who was standing beside her.
"Always."
Both Twins smiled and shook Draco's hand however. "Do come by Mal-Draco" George told him heartily. "Mum'll love having an extra mouth to feed." Fred added. Draco nodded, adding his (some what sarcastic) sentiments. Then Angelina and Katie entered the hall.
"You're sure you won't come?" George asked Angelina. "We could use the help."
Angelina reached up on her tip toes and kissed his nose. "I'm sure. I'm gonna stay here. Katie's staying too. It'll be nice, having a girl around on a permanent basis."
"You will owl me though?"
She smiled. "Of course." And they kissed.
While this was going on Fred hugged Katie goodbye, and though a spark passed across both their eyes, neither noticed.
Finally, Fred said good bye to Angelina.
"I'll see you 'Lina." He whispered.
Her eyes teared slightly. "Of course you will."
One quick hug, and a wish for a good rest of the year later, they were gone… But not before every single person in that room found them self with a long purple clown nose. And laughter followed, because a persons mood and the quality of the day depends on so much more than just the weather. Love, and Laughter, Forgiveness and Hope have to figure in. Because the Weather can change.
-Fin-
A\N And I have actually finished a story. I am very happy now! I hope you are happy too! If you are not happy, chapter five made a pretty good ending by itself.. It didn't turn out just like I wanted, but I think it does nicely. If you want to discuss this further, you can email me. My friend needs a penname, any ideas? Well, I've babbled on long enough. See ya.
Chocolate Frogs and Butter Beers,
CatalinaRose