*I noticed in my reading that Harry tells Ron that Ginny has a test the next day, but that he says this on the same day as the Quidditch game, which would've been a Saturday. Since there are no classes on Sunday, Harry should've said, Ginny has a test on Monday. If anyone caught that, it's my mistake, and if they didn't, well now you know... Also, I KNOW there's already a memory-eraser charm, Obliviate, but this one is different, although it works in much the same way. To Chapter Five, now:
Sunlight streamed through the windows; it was a beautiful Saturday morning. Classes had ended for the second week of school the day before. Hermione stared at the ceiling of the girls' dormitory. She'd gone up to her bed right after breakfast. She was feeling fine, just wanted to be alone to think.
Harry was in the hospital wing since the previous day, just as a precaution. He was adamant about being let out, though, and Mme. Pomfrey agreed that after lunch that afternoon he could be excused. Hermione was glad, having Harry cranky wouldn't help anything. Her thoughts turned to Friday.
Voldemort was back. How? No one knew. Would he come after Harry, again? Most likely. But Harry would be safe here at Hogwarts, with Dumbledore. Everyone would be. Hermione hoped that he was still weak and that the Ministry would get him in time, before he could gain power. Little did she know... He already had, and was biding his time. ~*~
"... Killing four Muggles and wounding three more. This act is believed to be the work of dark wizards, and the Ministry is stepping up security around the country," read the Daily Prophet. Harry put down his paper. It had been a week and a half since he'd been released from the hospital wing, and since then he'd been devouring every bit of news he could find. This was the first report of anything giving credence to his claim about Voldemort's return.
"Now do you believe me?" He said defiantly to the empty common room, as he rose disgustedly and left to find Ron and Hermione. They were about to go visit Hagrid, which Harry thought was an excellent idea.
"Hey Hagrid," they chimed as the groundskeeper let the three into his hut.
"What can I do for ye'?" Hagrid asked. "Haven't seen ye's around much since the year started. Keepin' busy with classes, eh?"
"Of course we are, Hagrid," Hermione said, nudging either boy in the side. They smiled sheepishly.
"More like, Hermione's making sure we keep busy with classes," Ron mumbled. Hagrid laughed.
"Well, somebody's got to," he said. "How ye' feelin', Harry?"
"All right, Hagrid, thanks," the boy wizard said darkly. "Did you see today's Daily Prophet, though?"
"Can't say that I have, Harry; why, what's in it?"
"An attack on Muggles, believed to be dark wizards."
"Ah. Try not to think about it; there ain't nothing ye can do," Hagrid told them. Hermione nodded glumly.
"We know, Hagrid, but it's so hard!"
"Yeah, well, ye' three have had enough trouble these past six years, and Harry, enough to last a lifetime, I know ye' won't go lookin' for anythin', now will ye'?"
"We promise we won't," Ron quickly told him, and meant it. "Trouble just has a way of finding us, instead."
"I know, but try an' be careful, ye hear me?" Harry nodded, and the four left the hut for the castle. ~*~
"Ew, that's disgusting," Ron wrinkled his nose in the direction of the Slytherin table. Harry agreed, and Hermione carefully glanced over her shoulder to see what they were talking about. Pansy Parkinson was literally hanging over Draco Malfoy.
"If he's trying to show off, it's not working, Pansy's a dog!" Harry said. Hermione admonished him.
"Just because she's rude and not very attractive, you don't have- well, okay, you're right. She is a bit of a dog," she admitted.
"Hermione!" Ron gaped. She grinned.
"What, you agree, don't you?" He nodded and closed his mouth. Ginny, who'd been sitting quietly beside Hermione, looked a little green. "Gin, you look almost ill. What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Herm, thanks." Ginny refused to turn around and look, despite her friends' continued conversation about the goings-on of the Slytherin table. She quickly finished eatting and excused herself. On her way to the common room, she heard footsteps and ducked into an empty classroom. Colin Creevey hurried past, once again oblivious to anything around him. Ginny carefully followed.
Colin stopped in front of the Divination classroom. Professor Lewis had insisted on a regular classroom, having to climb up and down that ladder wasn't helping her weak knees, she's said. He glanced around, as if checking he hadn't been followed, then went inside. Ginny slipped inside and was thankful that Prof. Lewis had kept the room foggy as Trelawney had, for the effect. She watched from her concealed place under Lewis' desk as Colin chanted over one of the class' crystal balls. They were bigger and got better reception than the students' tiny personal ones.
Soon, an unclear face appeared in the glass. Ginny didn't recognize the woman, but was sure she'd seen her before. She was an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin. The conversation between witch and wizard was short and quiet, but Ginny picked up what she could.
"..-ank, are you sure?" This was the first comment by Colin that Ginny could make out.
"Yes, you stupid boy!" Ginny grinned and waited for the woman to continue. "Elixir... Taken effect... But there's... Of Death... Find... Styx." Ginny's eyes grew wide. What in the world were they talking about?
"Of course, I'll find it." The ball went blank. Ginny watched as Creevey left the room, humming to himself. She waited a few minutes then left in search of Draco. On her way out, she ran into Hermione.
"Oomph! Sorry Hermione!" Hermione helped Ginny up.
"What were you doing in the Divination classroom, Gin?"
"Nothing, look I'm kinda in a hur-"
"Ginny, are you okay? You've been acting sort of... Weird lately."
"Whatever do you mean, Herm?"
"Well, you're just never around anymore, and I've heard you're talking to Malfoy, and-"
"Hermione, I'm flattered you care, really. But I'm making my own life, and what I choose to do with it is really no one's business, now is it? If you'll excuse me, I was in a hurry." Seething inwardly, Ginny left a stunned Hermione in the hallway and headed towards the Great Hall.
When Ginny arrived at the Great Hall, it was virtually empty. She didn't want to ask around for Draco, but needed to find him. She was still upset over Hermione's comments, but had enough sense to just listen to Goyle and Crabbe's conversation- apparently Draco had shunned them to practice flying at the Quidditch pitch. Ginny hurried outside.
A lone broom was doing laps around the perimeter of the pitch. Ginny ran onto the middle and waved her arms for Draco to stop. He slowly came down and dismounted, then rushed towards her.
"Ginny? What is it?" At the look on her face, a mixture of anger, confusion, and eagerness, Draco was concerned.
"I overheard something important," she began. He urged her to continue as they walked off the pitch to the shelter of some stands.
"Creevey was talking to a woman over a crystal ball... She was old, with short gray hair and a big chin, I'm sure I've seen her before. Anyway, she said something about an Elixir, and something of death, and sticks! I don't know what it means but it can't be good."
"Did you write it down?" Ginny got out a little notebook and flipped through a few pages.
"Here." Draco scanned it, then looked at her worriedly. Ginny was pacing the bleachers in front of him. "Would you sit down? What's wrong?"
"People! I mean, Hermione was only trying to be nice but really did she need to insult me- or you- like that? She doesn't even know what I'm doing! The three of them, they think they're so high and mighty and then they tell me to go away and when I do, it's still not good enough, then they want to know what I'm doing! Well that's too bad, I'm giving them some peace, aren't I? And Ron! Ohhh, you'd think I wasn't related to him or something. Am I that annoying? What did I ever do to him?" Ginny was shaking, she was so mad. She clapped a hand to her mouth and turned to see Draco staring at her. She flushed. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."
He motioned for her to sit down. Little Ginny Weasley apparently had more spunk than he'd given credit. "Care to tell me about it? I mean, at least explain your little tirade, hmm?"
"On my way out of the classroom I literally ran into Hermione, and she said that they were worried because I've been acting 'weird' lately- never around, and talking to you! I just think it was rude how she said it, since they've always told me to get a life of my own, and how they're always putting you down, too. They don't know the whole story, what gives them the right?"
"I encourage them, Ginny. I'm sorry. You know I have to act like the bad guy, so to them, I really am. They don't know any better because I don't let them think anything different. Don't let it get to you. And as for how they're treating you, they're wrong, but since when is that new?" Ginny smacked him on the arm.
"Ron's still my brother." Draco grinned at her, and received a small smile in return. ~*~
Sunlight streamed through the windows; it was a beautiful Saturday morning. Classes had ended for the second week of school the day before. Hermione stared at the ceiling of the girls' dormitory. She'd gone up to her bed right after breakfast. She was feeling fine, just wanted to be alone to think.
Harry was in the hospital wing since the previous day, just as a precaution. He was adamant about being let out, though, and Mme. Pomfrey agreed that after lunch that afternoon he could be excused. Hermione was glad, having Harry cranky wouldn't help anything. Her thoughts turned to Friday.
Voldemort was back. How? No one knew. Would he come after Harry, again? Most likely. But Harry would be safe here at Hogwarts, with Dumbledore. Everyone would be. Hermione hoped that he was still weak and that the Ministry would get him in time, before he could gain power. Little did she know... He already had, and was biding his time. ~*~
"... Killing four Muggles and wounding three more. This act is believed to be the work of dark wizards, and the Ministry is stepping up security around the country," read the Daily Prophet. Harry put down his paper. It had been a week and a half since he'd been released from the hospital wing, and since then he'd been devouring every bit of news he could find. This was the first report of anything giving credence to his claim about Voldemort's return.
"Now do you believe me?" He said defiantly to the empty common room, as he rose disgustedly and left to find Ron and Hermione. They were about to go visit Hagrid, which Harry thought was an excellent idea.
"Hey Hagrid," they chimed as the groundskeeper let the three into his hut.
"What can I do for ye'?" Hagrid asked. "Haven't seen ye's around much since the year started. Keepin' busy with classes, eh?"
"Of course we are, Hagrid," Hermione said, nudging either boy in the side. They smiled sheepishly.
"More like, Hermione's making sure we keep busy with classes," Ron mumbled. Hagrid laughed.
"Well, somebody's got to," he said. "How ye' feelin', Harry?"
"All right, Hagrid, thanks," the boy wizard said darkly. "Did you see today's Daily Prophet, though?"
"Can't say that I have, Harry; why, what's in it?"
"An attack on Muggles, believed to be dark wizards."
"Ah. Try not to think about it; there ain't nothing ye can do," Hagrid told them. Hermione nodded glumly.
"We know, Hagrid, but it's so hard!"
"Yeah, well, ye' three have had enough trouble these past six years, and Harry, enough to last a lifetime, I know ye' won't go lookin' for anythin', now will ye'?"
"We promise we won't," Ron quickly told him, and meant it. "Trouble just has a way of finding us, instead."
"I know, but try an' be careful, ye hear me?" Harry nodded, and the four left the hut for the castle. ~*~
"Ew, that's disgusting," Ron wrinkled his nose in the direction of the Slytherin table. Harry agreed, and Hermione carefully glanced over her shoulder to see what they were talking about. Pansy Parkinson was literally hanging over Draco Malfoy.
"If he's trying to show off, it's not working, Pansy's a dog!" Harry said. Hermione admonished him.
"Just because she's rude and not very attractive, you don't have- well, okay, you're right. She is a bit of a dog," she admitted.
"Hermione!" Ron gaped. She grinned.
"What, you agree, don't you?" He nodded and closed his mouth. Ginny, who'd been sitting quietly beside Hermione, looked a little green. "Gin, you look almost ill. What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Herm, thanks." Ginny refused to turn around and look, despite her friends' continued conversation about the goings-on of the Slytherin table. She quickly finished eatting and excused herself. On her way to the common room, she heard footsteps and ducked into an empty classroom. Colin Creevey hurried past, once again oblivious to anything around him. Ginny carefully followed.
Colin stopped in front of the Divination classroom. Professor Lewis had insisted on a regular classroom, having to climb up and down that ladder wasn't helping her weak knees, she's said. He glanced around, as if checking he hadn't been followed, then went inside. Ginny slipped inside and was thankful that Prof. Lewis had kept the room foggy as Trelawney had, for the effect. She watched from her concealed place under Lewis' desk as Colin chanted over one of the class' crystal balls. They were bigger and got better reception than the students' tiny personal ones.
Soon, an unclear face appeared in the glass. Ginny didn't recognize the woman, but was sure she'd seen her before. She was an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin. The conversation between witch and wizard was short and quiet, but Ginny picked up what she could.
"..-ank, are you sure?" This was the first comment by Colin that Ginny could make out.
"Yes, you stupid boy!" Ginny grinned and waited for the woman to continue. "Elixir... Taken effect... But there's... Of Death... Find... Styx." Ginny's eyes grew wide. What in the world were they talking about?
"Of course, I'll find it." The ball went blank. Ginny watched as Creevey left the room, humming to himself. She waited a few minutes then left in search of Draco. On her way out, she ran into Hermione.
"Oomph! Sorry Hermione!" Hermione helped Ginny up.
"What were you doing in the Divination classroom, Gin?"
"Nothing, look I'm kinda in a hur-"
"Ginny, are you okay? You've been acting sort of... Weird lately."
"Whatever do you mean, Herm?"
"Well, you're just never around anymore, and I've heard you're talking to Malfoy, and-"
"Hermione, I'm flattered you care, really. But I'm making my own life, and what I choose to do with it is really no one's business, now is it? If you'll excuse me, I was in a hurry." Seething inwardly, Ginny left a stunned Hermione in the hallway and headed towards the Great Hall.
When Ginny arrived at the Great Hall, it was virtually empty. She didn't want to ask around for Draco, but needed to find him. She was still upset over Hermione's comments, but had enough sense to just listen to Goyle and Crabbe's conversation- apparently Draco had shunned them to practice flying at the Quidditch pitch. Ginny hurried outside.
A lone broom was doing laps around the perimeter of the pitch. Ginny ran onto the middle and waved her arms for Draco to stop. He slowly came down and dismounted, then rushed towards her.
"Ginny? What is it?" At the look on her face, a mixture of anger, confusion, and eagerness, Draco was concerned.
"I overheard something important," she began. He urged her to continue as they walked off the pitch to the shelter of some stands.
"Creevey was talking to a woman over a crystal ball... She was old, with short gray hair and a big chin, I'm sure I've seen her before. Anyway, she said something about an Elixir, and something of death, and sticks! I don't know what it means but it can't be good."
"Did you write it down?" Ginny got out a little notebook and flipped through a few pages.
"Here." Draco scanned it, then looked at her worriedly. Ginny was pacing the bleachers in front of him. "Would you sit down? What's wrong?"
"People! I mean, Hermione was only trying to be nice but really did she need to insult me- or you- like that? She doesn't even know what I'm doing! The three of them, they think they're so high and mighty and then they tell me to go away and when I do, it's still not good enough, then they want to know what I'm doing! Well that's too bad, I'm giving them some peace, aren't I? And Ron! Ohhh, you'd think I wasn't related to him or something. Am I that annoying? What did I ever do to him?" Ginny was shaking, she was so mad. She clapped a hand to her mouth and turned to see Draco staring at her. She flushed. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."
He motioned for her to sit down. Little Ginny Weasley apparently had more spunk than he'd given credit. "Care to tell me about it? I mean, at least explain your little tirade, hmm?"
"On my way out of the classroom I literally ran into Hermione, and she said that they were worried because I've been acting 'weird' lately- never around, and talking to you! I just think it was rude how she said it, since they've always told me to get a life of my own, and how they're always putting you down, too. They don't know the whole story, what gives them the right?"
"I encourage them, Ginny. I'm sorry. You know I have to act like the bad guy, so to them, I really am. They don't know any better because I don't let them think anything different. Don't let it get to you. And as for how they're treating you, they're wrong, but since when is that new?" Ginny smacked him on the arm.
"Ron's still my brother." Draco grinned at her, and received a small smile in return. ~*~