Crash And Burn
Disclaimer: Ok. Just for fun. I don't own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form.
Author's Note: Thanks everyone for reviewing! I love writing this fic, and as such will continue. I'll work in how Cho ends up in Harry's year in a bit. I've got an idea, I just don't know where to put it in. Anyway, on with the fic! Oh! And the spells and things are in English cause I really can't find a Latin translator. English is easier to understand anyway, at least I think.
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Cho was storming down the hall, straight for the Charms classroom where Draco had asked her to meet him. She was going to get the Dark Mark today. She smiled cruelly to herself, thinking about what the power she would possess could do for her. ~I'd be the most popular girl, Harry would be gone the cheating bastard, and Ginny would be mine to torture. Who ever said evil was bad.~ She was mumbling to herself, thinking of all the things she would do once given the power when she heard movement and something recognized as distinctly Harry's voice, and someone else's, that Ron's voice. She jumped behind a suit of armor, pressing herself against the wall.
"Ron," came Harry's voice, sounding a bit worried, "do you really think she'll like him? I mean, truly?"
She heard Ron's chuckle. "Harry, if I know my sister, she'll love it! Now come on mate. We don't want to get seen by Filch's cat."
She heard the footsteps echoing loudly, so close that she could feel that they were near. She rattled the suit of armor, startling the boys. She heard footsteps flying rapidly down the hall, the echos getting further away. She turned and went the rest of the way down the hall and entered the classroom.
"Draco? Draco you bloody git. Where are you?"
"Right here." He emerged from the shadows, the moonlight streaming in through the window lighting up the area into which he stepped. "Are you ready? Cause once you commit yourself there's no turning back."
Cho grinned and growled. "Oh I'm ready. That bitch is going to pay for taking away Harry, and it will be my personal pleasure to hand the Dark Lord Harry's head."
Draco smirked. "Oh you're ready. It's a shame you aren't in Slytherin. You really do fit in better with us." And with that she felt a tug at her navel and suddenly the world was a blur.
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Ginny woke the next day to sunlight filling the room. She slowly opened her eyes and quickly shut them, rolling herself out of bed sleepily and heading off to the bathroom for a long hot shower. She hadn't had a dream last night. In fact, it was one of the best nights of sleep she'd had in a long time. She grinned sleepily in the mirror before heading into the shower.
She loved Saturdays. Nobody was there to compete with you for the showers. Everyone seemed to want to get up earlier. She was glad she was asleep so long. She stepped out of the shower, headed to her room, and changed quickly. Just as she was sitting down on her bed, she looked over to her nightstand for the first time and gasped.
There, sitting on her chair, was the most beautiful Snow Owl she had seen. The feathers were all white as winter snows, and the eyes were amber color. He looked up at her and hooted softly, a quiet hello of his own. She cautiously went to the cage door, wanting to believe that what she was seeing was real but in the same right wondering if she was hallucinating. Her hand touched the clasp on the cage and she let out a squeal of delight.
The bird hopped out of the cage and landed on her shoulder, rubbing his head against her neck affectionately. She reached over and stroked his feathers, letting him move to her forearm where she had draped her cloak. He sat there staring at her, she staring at him. He hooted again to her and flew over to his cage then brought her an envelope she had missed in his beak. She poured a bit of water in a cup she had on her desk and set him down there. He drank the water as she read the note.
Dearest Virginia,
I couldn't wait until today to give him to you. I hope you like him! Hedwig helped me pick him out so this is partially from her too! Mr. Eeylops told me that he was a very affectionate bird and would be wonderful for anyone. He's very tame too. He kept quiet last night for us in the halls. I hope you like him. He does need a name though. I'll take you two to the owlery later on before we go to Hogsmeade for the potions ingredients. Congratulations on your OWLs!
All my love,
Harry
Ginny looked over to the owl and studied him, watch as he meticulously drank his water, not letting any drip off. Watched how he turned his head to look at her, a wise look to his eyes, an affectionate hoot to her again. She thought a bit about it then turned to him and tried a few names. "Pan," she called. No answer. "Credne." No answer. "Cuchulain." No answer. She went through a list of names she had remembered of Celtic Gods. Nothing seemed to be right. Finally her thoughts drifted back to the prophecy and a thought struck her. "Merlin." His head shot up and he flew over to her arm. Ginny laughed. "It seems as though we have a name for you, dear Merlin." She left her cloak over her arm and headed out the dorm to the common room.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all up, Hermione watching the boys play a game of chess. Harry was so lost in thought that he didn't see her come down the stairs. Hermione, however, did. Ginny put a finger to her lips, quieting Hermione. She crept up behind Harry, standing there patiently, watching the game.
Harry had been a quick learner with wizard's chess and had given Ron a run for his money a few times, although had never beaten him. Today looked to be one of those times. Ron was deep in thought, as was Harry, anticipating his next move. Ron moved his knight and appeared to have Harry blocked.
"Check," said Ron, a smug look appearing on his face. Harry's brow creased with concentration, looking for a way out. Ginny saw it immediately. She tapped Harry on the shoulder and whispered in his ear "Queen to D7." Harry moved the piece and, sure enough, Ron's King yielded his sword.
"Hey, no fair. You got outside help." Ron pretended to pout as Harry jumped up and hugged Ginny, startling Merlin and causing him to fly to the back of a chair. He looked a bit flustered at the sudden movement and probably wasn't too pleased.
"Aw, I'm sorry Merlin. Come on, come here boy. I'll take you down to the kitchens for some bacon. How's that sound," she asked him. He looked as though he were thinking about it and flew over to her, landing on her shoulder.
"So you named him Merlin? Do you like him," asked Harry, worry etched on his face.
Ginny had to smile at this. He was always so worried about giving gifts. She reached up and pet Merlin, stroking his feathers. Merlin responded by once again rubbing his head against her. "Of course I do! He's absolutely charming. He did pick out his own name though. I read off a list of them that I could remember and he flew to me on Merlin. There we have it. Everyone, meet Merlin. Merlin, this is everyone." The four of them laughed as Merlin puffed out his chest and stood proudly on her shoulder at the mention of his name.
"Hey, we have to go into Hogsmeade to get some potions ingredients. You want to come with," asked Harry, looking to Ron and Hermione. He suspected that they'd end up going wherever on their own, but Harry thought it'd be nice just to ask.
"Sure! There's a great new bookstore that opened over the summer holiday that I'd just love to go into." She glanced sideways at Ron and laughed. "And we need to go to Zonko's of course!" His face lit up at the mention of this. Fred and George were working at the Zonko's in Hogsmeade, developing new pranks and gadgets.
"Alright then. We can go as soon as we get to the owlery. I'm sure that Merlin here would like to rest outside a cage," added Harry, beaming. "We'll meet you two here after we take Merlin there." With that Harry and Ginny left through the portrait hole and went to introduce Merlin to the rest of the owls at Hogwarts.
It was a short introduction, for as soon as he saw everyone his eyes set on Hedwig and he flew over to her, landing on the perch next to her. The two touched beaks and made soft hooting noises to each other before tucking their heads under their wings for a good sleep. Harry and Ginny laughed at this obvious bit of affection between the two and headed back for the portrait hole.
Almost to the Fat Lady, however, they ran into an unexpected road block: Cho. She swaggered up to Harry, trying her hardest to get his eye, but to no avail. "Harry dear," she said, glaring daggers at Ginny, "we need to talk."
Harry looked furious at this obvious intrusion on his space and with his girlfriend. He thought Cho understood that he was just a friend, nothing more, nor would he ever be anything more. He turned to Ginny, pulling her into a hug and kissing her. "Go on inside Ginny. I'm going to settle this once and for all." Ginny looked at Cho then back to Harry, nodding. She squeezed his hand, said the password, and went inside to await him.
Harry turned back to Cho. "Listen Cho, I know after fourth year and the incident you pretended to have a hard time. I was there for you because I thought you were sincere about what happened with Cedric and were sincere about you really loving him. But I see that you're not. You're nothing but a liar and a cheat. You sound sweet to everyone on the outside, but really you're as horrible as a Slytherin within. I'm with Ginny Cho, and you better get used to it."
Cho's face flushed with anger at the realization that he had figured out what she had been up to. "You bastard! How dare you say that! I was so torn up about it that I had to leave school, not to mention fall a year behind! And you, stringing me along like some groupie of yours! How dare you play with my emotions like that, especially when I'm still so upset about him!"
Harry glared at her. "No you're not. You know it and I know it. You're using that as an excuse to make everyone feel sorry for you. Truth is that if you hadn't taken that year off you would've flunked out of Hogwarts. You had to review at home that fourth year cause you didn't pass any of your exams and you blamed it all on worry over Cedric when really you can't cut it."
Cho went to slap him but he grabbed her wrist. She yanked it forcefully out of his grasp. "You'll pay for this Potter. Cho Chang is not one to be messed with. You'll see, you and that precious Ginny of yours, that little child. You'll both pay with your lives." She turned around, sweeping her cape around her and stalking off into the shadows.
Harry stayed a few moments more outside before entering the common room to calm himself. When he finally did enter, he was met with a concerned Ginny. She went to him and put her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest as he put his arms around hers. "How did it go?"
He sighed. "Ok. She gets the point that I don't like her like that. I don't even want to be around her. But I'm afraid that she's gonna do something stupid. Oh well. It shant ruin our outing today my lady," he said, stepping back and bowing. He offered her his arm. "Shall we my dear? It's a lovely day to go into town." Ginny accepted his arm, laughing her way through it all. Ron and Hermione followed, and soon the famous four were on their way to Hogsmeade.
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Hermione had dragged Ron off to the new bookstore as expected, and Harry and Ginny headed to Potions For All Occaisions, the local potions supply store. Professor McGonagall had sent a list of the ingredients needed to make the potion by owl that morning. After last night, neither one had a chance to copy down the list on the board. She was right in the fact that many of the herbs required could be found around the grounds. He was sure Hagrid could help them find some of them. There were only a few, which they had written down on a separate piece of parchment, they needed to buy in town.
10 hairs from a dragon's beard
14 scales from a singing fish
12 hairs of a winged horse
12 hairs of white stag
13 pints of dragon's blood
2 pounds of beetle's eyes
3 eyes of newt
Altogether not a terrible list, although it did require them to take a trip to the Hogsmeade branch of Gringotts. As they exited the potions store Harry spotted a familiar black dog around the corner, lying lazily under a tree. He motioned for Ginny to follow him and went over to him. "Hello Snuffles. Taking a nap I see."
The dog half opened its eyes to see who was there, then slowly got up and nuzzled Harry's hand. It took a hold of the sleeve of his robes and started tugging him towards the secret entrance to the Shrieking Shack. Ginny looked from Harry to the dog and back, confused as to what was going on. Harry took her hand and told her that the dog was a good friend of his, that everything was fine, and she followed, albeit staying a bit back from the dog, not knowing what to expect.
They went through a grove of tree and came out the hidden side of the shack, entering through a door on the side of the house. Once inside the black dog quickly transformed into his human self. "Hello Harry. I haven't seen you in a while. How've you been?"
Harry hugged the man back. "Pretty good. And yourself?
Ginny stood back a bit, watching this affection on Harry's part towards this Animagi. Only upon a closer look did she realize that it was Sirius Black. She had heard the Trio talking about him a few times at the Burrow over the summer but didn't really pay much attention to it. She walked up to Sirius after setting down her set of the parcels. "Hi. I'm Ginny Weasley."
Sirius looked at her then back to Harry, whose face had turned a remarkable shade of red. "Welcome to the Shrieking Shack, my home. I'm Sirius Black, although I suspect you've already figured that out."
She nodded. "I remember overhearing Harry, Ron, and Hermione talking about Snuffles and Sirius over the summer. It took me a moment to put it together, but I figured it out. How's things?"
Sirius smiled at her. "Pretty good, all things considered. Being on the run makes things a bit more exciting." He turned to Harry. "Am I to assume, Harry, that Miss Ginny over here is a friend of yours?" He smirked, knowing how shy James was about these things. He was sure that Harry was about the same.
"Actually, Sirius, she's my girlfriend." He took her hand and squeezed it, hoping that this would show her that he meant it.
Sirius chuckled. "Ah, my godson's first girlfriend. You must be a special one Ginny."
"So you're his godfather? I'd always heard mention of one but, once again, didn't put things together until just now. You know, we're starting Animagi classes with Professor McGonagall." She reached for a bag and held it up. "Ingredients for the potion."
The three of them headed over to the couch he had set up. "Well well. That must mean that you know what you are to be. So, Harry, what animal chose you?"
"The stag. A white stag." Sirius's face paled at this and tears came to his eyes. "Just like your father." He reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "And you Ginny? What are you to be?"
"A winged horse, white as a winter snow. At least, according to Professor McGonagall." She saw Sirius go even more pale and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. The tears were coming freely down his cheeks now, although he was doing his best to hold them back. Ginny and Harry stared at each other then back to him. Ginny got up and grabbed her handkerchief and handed it to him. "What is it Sirius? Why do you cry?"
He wiped away his tears and composed himself. "Because a winged horse was what Lily's form was. She used to go out with us sometimes at night, although not nearly as much as the other four of us. She was the only one of us who could fly. She had a great deal of power in her. And she looked so much like you, and you look so much like her. When I look at the two of you it's like I'm seeing James and Lily again." Ginny sat back on the couch and leaned back, staring first at Sirius and then turning to Harry.
Harry was shocked to see his godfather tearing up. Though he did cry occasionally when he thought about his parents, he had never really thought about how much it had affected him. And as Ginny turned to face him he could see what Sirius meant. She had the same flowing red hair he'd seen in the pictures, the same kind and caring expression usually on her face. It was almost uncanny. And he thought about how much he resembled his father. The same messy black hair, same glasses. He could see where he was coming from.
"Hey Sirius, care to join us in the common room for dinner tonight? I'm sure I could clear it with Dumbledore. I haven't seen you in a while and we could all catch up on things." He looked too hopeful for Sirius to resist. "Sure Harry. I have some parchment here and--" He stopped suddenly, transforming back into his dog form and looking to them, giving a signal for them to be quiet. Harry felt the hairs bristle up on his neck. Ginny took the packages and shrunk them, sticking them in her pocket. She had a funny feeling that this was something she would've wanted to see in her dreams last night. She was right.
A few moments later the side of the shack was blasted open by an unimaginable force, throwing the three of them back. Out of the cloud of dust emerged Peter Pettigrew, followed closely by two cloaked figures. Harry suspected that back up forces were not far behind. Seeing no choice, the three of them ran out the side of the shack and away from the village. If anyone was to get hurt it was going to be the three of them. They didn't, however, plan for what came next.
The three of them ran, ran to the empty field a ways from the village. They glanced over their shoulder and saw that nobody was there. They looked back in front of them, however, and stopped short. A wall of Death Eaters were blocking their path. They turned to each side, finding a wall there too. They were trapped. Harry and Sirius looked panicked. Ginny, however, had taken an odd sense of calm on her. Pettigrew was the first to emerge.
"Harry Potter. My, you are in a spot of trouble. And bringing your helpless girlfriend in on this, oh now that is a shame. And Sirius, you fool. Did you really think that I wouldn't be able to find you? I do believe that we have a date with my master, if you will all follow me." He turned his back and began trekking the same way he had come from when suddenly he heard someone speak. "No." He turned back around and saw that it was the helpless girlfriend.
"What did you say to me girl?"
"You heard me. No. In fact, it is you who will come with me. The rest of these people may leave before they find out exactly how big a mistake you made." She felt Harry tugging on her sleeve. "Uh, Ginny," he whispered, "now is not the time for heroics. We're outnumbered about a hundred to one. We've no chance." Sirius looked just as terrified as Harry did.
She reached around and squeezed his hand. "Harry dear, I suggest that the both of you get down on the ground and stay close to me. I may not look like it, but I know exactly what I'm doing. Think about the prophecy." She then turned back to Pettigrew.
Harry knelt down, Sirius next to him. "What in the bloody hell is that nut talking about? Harry, she's gonna get herself killed!"
"I know! I know! You think I don't?! She said something though. 'Think about the prophecy.'" The realization of what she was talking about dawned on him and he grabbed Sirius's head, bringing him down to the ground with him.
"Harry?! What in the bloody hell are you doing? Are you insane?!"
"Sirius, trust me. We'll explain all later. Right now, you just really need to do as she says. Trust me on this one." The two of them lay down on the ground by her.
Ginny, meanwhile, was continuing on with Pettigrew. "Well Pettigrew, what shall it be? Come with me, let these people live, or try to come near us and suffer the consequences?"
Peter had an evil grin on his face. "You've tried me one to many time little girl. Prepare to die." He raised his wand and instructed everyone else around him to do the same.
Ginny had closed her eyes, focusing her energy through her wand pointed to the sky as she chanted:
Followers of the dark
You shall now see the light of your actions
Your quest has come to an end
Your bodies to the earth
Your souls to hell
A jet of light shot out of her wand and hit a spot in the sky. A swirling mist of blackness began to grow and soon a portal appeared above her. Though her eyes were closed, she could hear the helpless shrieks of the souls as they were being sucked up into the portal, knowing where they were going and trying at the last moment to cling to life. Harry and Sirius dared to open their eyes for a few moments and saw something that both shocked and scared the both of them.
They saw Ginny, rigid as a statue, eyes closed, chanting the same words over and over, her wand pointed to the sky at the center of the swirling portal above her. They looked around and saw souls, ghostly visions of the people around them being sucked into this portal, their last desperate cries for help and salvation falling on deaf ears. They went back to hiding their heads as soon as Ginny stopped chanting the words. Soon no sound could be heard. Then her voice. "It's safe now. You can get up. Come on. There's something I need to see for myself."
Harry and Sirius stood up as they heard her start walking. What they saw around them was a desolate wasteland of bodies, none of them full of the life that was formerly there. They were sure that the Ministry would be interested in what exactly happened there. They'd apparate in soon enough. They saw Ginny a bit of a ways up, standing over one of the bodies and staring down at it. They went to where she was and saw why she was there. She was standing over the body of Peter Pettigrew, the very man who had betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort.
Ginny heard them approaching but did not move. She would know when they got to her. She just wanted to see for herself what she had expected. She felt Harry's arms slip around her waist. That mere show of affection was enough. She turned around and burst into tears. Harry held her, stroking her hair, telling her that everything would be okay, trying to comfort her.
Sirius put his hand on her shoulder and turned her momentarily to him. "Ginny, neither Harry nor I know what you've just accomplished, but you saved our lives and I thank you for that. You've freed me from my debt to Azkaban as well, with this new evidence," he said, looking down at Peter's body. He sighed and looked back at her. "Though he was my friend, and in some way always was, he still condemned himself by joining Voldemort's forces. That hatred, that greed was what controlled him, much as it was with everyone else around. Thank you Ginny." He bent down a bit and hugged her.
The Ministry arrived a few seconds later, Dumbledore with them. The whole of the Aurors were there, along with Fudge, all with their wands raised and pointed. "BLACK," cried out Fudge. "You're under arrest! And what in the blazes happened here," he added, glancing around at the ring of bodies surrounding them.
"I think I can explain Minister, however impossible it may seem." And Ginny recounted the events of the past few hours to them, detail for gruesome detail. Fudge seemed skeptical at first, but Dumbledore nodded grimly at her and showed him a copy of the prophecy, one which had just been confirmed by her act. Fudge's eyes widened as he read on, finally looking up to the two of them. "Well, on behalf of the Ministry, I thank you. Now if you please, move out of the way of Mr. Black. He is due back at Azkaban."
Ginny moved to block his way. "Not so fast Mr. Fudge. New evidence has come to light that not even you can ignore." She turned to Pettigrew's body and muttered "Mobilicorpus." Pettigrew's corpse floated over to where the five of them were gathered. "This, sir, is the body of Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort's lackey if you will. He is the one who betrayed the Potter's seventeen years ago to Voldemort. What you saw in the street was not the work of Sirius Black but the work of a very clever and cunning rat. This man behind me is innocent while this body before me is guilty."
Fudge looked down at the body and back to Ginny, completely dumbfounded by the current developments, then paled as he realized that for almost thirteen years they had the wrong man in prison for the crimes. The body of Pettigrew proved it. Fudge cleared his throat. "Mr. Black, on behalf of the Ministry of Magic and under my authority, I hereby clear you of all charges brought against you in the deaths of the Muggles, Peter Pettigrew, and the Potters. You are free to go now, but mind you we will keep a close watch on you."
Sirius couldn't contain his excitement any more. He grabbed Ginny from in front of him and picked her up in another hug, spinning around and laughing like a mad man. "You did it! By god Ginny Weasley you did it!" He set her back down again and went over to Dumbledore.
Ginny, meanwhile, went back to Harry, leaning into his own hug of thanks. "Thank you Ginny. You've done more for me today than you'll ever know." She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder and watching as Dumbledore struggled to get out from beneath Sirius's grasp. They both laughed. Then Ginny felt it. Before she went, she smiled up at Harry. "I had to give you a gift as well. Welcome back to a normal life Harry." And with that, her world went black.