No one talked about what had happened in Care of Magical Creatures that week. The animals had been acting strangely; even Hagrid had noticed. He couldn't explain it.
One of the blast-ended skrewts had blasted through its holding pen, and a few of the skrewts were still unaccounted for. The hippogriffs were being unusually unfriendly to everyone. Worst of all, none of the animals would listen to Hagrid. Friday morning had seen the return of Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had filled in when Hagrid had been unable to teach previously. That very day, the animals seemed to calm down. A few of the Slytherins accused Hagrid of doing something to the beasts, but no one else believed it. They were just relieved the skrewts were all back in captivity and the hippogriffs and other animals had settled.~*~
"Morgan, breathe," Ginny pleaded. It was Saturday morning and Morgan was bouncing off the walls of the Gryffindor girls' dormitory. Ginny was trying unsuccessfully to get her to calm down. "Ron'll be there, too, you know." This stopped her jumping.
"So? I'm going to a QUIDDITCH GAME with HARRY POTTER!" Morgan kept her voice down, but the excitement was obvious. It was very early and most of the girls were still sleeping.
"I know. But really, Morgan, how old are you? You're acting like a twelve-year-old on crack or something; chill!"
"Oh fine, but you're no fun," Morgan pouted. "Just because you don't have a date-"
"Since when is this a date?"
"Dur..."
"That's what I thought," Ginny said smugly. "But I'm sure after Harry spends an entire day with you, he'll realize just what a wonderful person you are and ask you out at the end of the night."
"You really think so?!"
"I was being sarcastic."
"Ah."
"Though I don't see why he wouldn't like you... As long as you calm down a bit. This caffeine-high thing is likely to scare anyone, including the great Harry Potter."
"I see your point," Morgan said, sobering up. "I just had to get it out."
"I know."
"So what're you doing today, Gin? Going to spend time with Hermione?"
"Uh, actually, no. She has a lot of work she wants to do, that's why she's not going to the game. I don't know what I'm going to do. I was thinking of going to Hogsmeade."
"Oh! That should be fun. Hey, if I give you some money will you pick me up a new quill?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
"No problem." Ginny glanced at the clock in the dorm. "You'd better go down to the common room, the boys should be just about ready to leave." Morgan hugged her, then the friends headed downstairs. Harry and Ron were already waiting for her.
"Hey, Morgan, you ready to go?" Ron asked. Morgan grinned.
"Definitely. The Arrows so are going to win today." Ron moaned.
"Don't even tell me I'm the only Wasps fan!" Harry poked him.
"'fraid so, Ron."
"Well, you guys, try not to kill each other, and have fun," Ginny said, laughing at her brother.
"Sure, Gin!" They chorused on their way out. ~*~
"Wow. I can't believe it's only 7AM," Ginny said to herself, groaning. "What am I supposed to do for another two hours?" Breakfast was at 9AM on Saturdays. No one else was awake; at least, she didn't think so. Wandering the halls when they were deserted during the day was strange, since it was only at night that the halls were ever empty. After a short walk, Ginny returned to the dorm. That had been weird. She shrugged and got out the Anceint Magic book. With nothing else to do, why not read?
Ginny was up to chapter nine by the time it was breakfast. Since her friends wouldn't be around to talk to her, she took the book to read while she ate. Lavander Brown, of all people, sat down next to her and took the book, losing Ginny's page.
"What's this?" She asked.
"May I have my book back, please, Lavander?" Ginny sighed.
"Why are you reading this stuff, Ginny? You're not in the class."
"Because I want to, that's all."
"No wonder no one ever talks to you, if all you do is read boring stuff like this," Lavander said, in a voice that to anyone else made it sound like sympathy. She stood up and continued down the length of the table. Ginny found her page and continued reading, ignoring Lavander's last comment.
Chapter nine talked about different beliefs dealing with the afterlife, including anceint myths. Apparently, a lot of those gods and goddesses had really been wizards worshipped as such. Stories had sprung up about real people. The myths dealt with in this chapter involved Dante's circles of Hell, and the underworld as known to the Greeks, including stories surrounding the waters of the river Styx.
"While being dipped in this river supposedly guarded against death, if the waters were used properly, they created a liquid that resulted in instant death, even to those considered immortal." Ginny frowned. Something was bothering her about this particular section.
Breakfast itself was disconcerting- Prof. Grubbly-Plank looked surprisingly like a vague image in a crystal ball, and Lavander's comments to her were rather upsetting. All Ginny needed now was for Colin Creevey to do something stupid and her day would be complete, all before 10AM. She left the Great Hall as soon as she finished her few slices of toast and juice. Sighing, Ginny snuck to her private corner of the library, book in hand. She kept rereading the passage about Greek mythology, but couldn't figure out why it had her puzzled.
It was after a few minutes that Ginny finally realized she wasn't alone. Draco was leaning against a bookshelf a few feet away, staring at her. She hadn't noticed him at all.
"Oh! Hi, Draco," she said, blushing at her lack of observation.
"Hey. I saw Lavander talking to you." Ginny's face clouded over.
"Ah, I see. And?"
"I was wondering what she said."
"Nothing 'useful,' if that's what you mean."
"Well, tell me anyway." Ginny looked at him.
"Really, it's not anything important," she insisted.
"Then you won't mind sharing." Damn his debate skills.
"She just said it was no wonder I don't have any friends if all I do is read boring old books like this one," Ginny mumbled in one breath, looking down. She hated not having friends of her own, aside from Morgan. Everyone else just considered her Ron's little sister. Being a fairly private person, it never really bothered her, but there were times she wished she wasn't so quiet and unnoticeable.
"She was only being mean, Gin. Don't believe her," Draco said.
"It's true though; Morgan's my only real friend," she murmured. "She really is a good friend, too. Tolerates me and everything."
"I'm your friend." Ginny looked up now, startled. Draco smiled. "Besides, anyone that wouldn't be your friend just because you happen to read old books really isn't worth having as a friend anyway."
"Thanks, Draco... Speaking of old books, read this. Something about it has me bothered," Ginny said, handing him her textbook. "OH! I meant to tell you this- Prof. Grubby-Plank... Is the woman from the crystal ball!" Draco looked up from his reading.
"Are you sure?" Ginny thought hard for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Okay. Be careful around her, then."
"Of course."
"And this myth stuff... I know what you mean... Strange. I think I know why it's bothering you though. Your reminding me about the woman on the crystal ball made me think of it."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Styx. We've been thinking of 'sticks,' as in, wood, but it's not. She meant this river. 'A liquid that results in instant death, even to those considered immortal.' It of course means the Elixir of Death, which I had the privilege of overhearing Harry discuss with Hermione and Ron. I think I forgot to tell you about that conversation?"
"Yes, I think you did. So, that conversation I heard... Involves the Elixir of Death, from the waters of the river Styx? But that's a mythological river!" Draco shrugged.
"It makes sense though."
"Yeah, it does. That's beside the point. You can't use water from a river that doesn't exist, now can you?"
"Maybe 'Styx' is a code for something similar?"
"Could be."
"I'll see what I can find out, okay?"
"Okay, Draco. You're probably right." Ginny picked up her book and turned to leave.
"Ginny? Be careful, please."
"I will. Don't worry, geez," she laughed. "I'm going to Hogsmeade today, so if you need me, I won't be around."
"Okay."
One of the blast-ended skrewts had blasted through its holding pen, and a few of the skrewts were still unaccounted for. The hippogriffs were being unusually unfriendly to everyone. Worst of all, none of the animals would listen to Hagrid. Friday morning had seen the return of Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had filled in when Hagrid had been unable to teach previously. That very day, the animals seemed to calm down. A few of the Slytherins accused Hagrid of doing something to the beasts, but no one else believed it. They were just relieved the skrewts were all back in captivity and the hippogriffs and other animals had settled.~*~
"Morgan, breathe," Ginny pleaded. It was Saturday morning and Morgan was bouncing off the walls of the Gryffindor girls' dormitory. Ginny was trying unsuccessfully to get her to calm down. "Ron'll be there, too, you know." This stopped her jumping.
"So? I'm going to a QUIDDITCH GAME with HARRY POTTER!" Morgan kept her voice down, but the excitement was obvious. It was very early and most of the girls were still sleeping.
"I know. But really, Morgan, how old are you? You're acting like a twelve-year-old on crack or something; chill!"
"Oh fine, but you're no fun," Morgan pouted. "Just because you don't have a date-"
"Since when is this a date?"
"Dur..."
"That's what I thought," Ginny said smugly. "But I'm sure after Harry spends an entire day with you, he'll realize just what a wonderful person you are and ask you out at the end of the night."
"You really think so?!"
"I was being sarcastic."
"Ah."
"Though I don't see why he wouldn't like you... As long as you calm down a bit. This caffeine-high thing is likely to scare anyone, including the great Harry Potter."
"I see your point," Morgan said, sobering up. "I just had to get it out."
"I know."
"So what're you doing today, Gin? Going to spend time with Hermione?"
"Uh, actually, no. She has a lot of work she wants to do, that's why she's not going to the game. I don't know what I'm going to do. I was thinking of going to Hogsmeade."
"Oh! That should be fun. Hey, if I give you some money will you pick me up a new quill?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
"No problem." Ginny glanced at the clock in the dorm. "You'd better go down to the common room, the boys should be just about ready to leave." Morgan hugged her, then the friends headed downstairs. Harry and Ron were already waiting for her.
"Hey, Morgan, you ready to go?" Ron asked. Morgan grinned.
"Definitely. The Arrows so are going to win today." Ron moaned.
"Don't even tell me I'm the only Wasps fan!" Harry poked him.
"'fraid so, Ron."
"Well, you guys, try not to kill each other, and have fun," Ginny said, laughing at her brother.
"Sure, Gin!" They chorused on their way out. ~*~
"Wow. I can't believe it's only 7AM," Ginny said to herself, groaning. "What am I supposed to do for another two hours?" Breakfast was at 9AM on Saturdays. No one else was awake; at least, she didn't think so. Wandering the halls when they were deserted during the day was strange, since it was only at night that the halls were ever empty. After a short walk, Ginny returned to the dorm. That had been weird. She shrugged and got out the Anceint Magic book. With nothing else to do, why not read?
Ginny was up to chapter nine by the time it was breakfast. Since her friends wouldn't be around to talk to her, she took the book to read while she ate. Lavander Brown, of all people, sat down next to her and took the book, losing Ginny's page.
"What's this?" She asked.
"May I have my book back, please, Lavander?" Ginny sighed.
"Why are you reading this stuff, Ginny? You're not in the class."
"Because I want to, that's all."
"No wonder no one ever talks to you, if all you do is read boring stuff like this," Lavander said, in a voice that to anyone else made it sound like sympathy. She stood up and continued down the length of the table. Ginny found her page and continued reading, ignoring Lavander's last comment.
Chapter nine talked about different beliefs dealing with the afterlife, including anceint myths. Apparently, a lot of those gods and goddesses had really been wizards worshipped as such. Stories had sprung up about real people. The myths dealt with in this chapter involved Dante's circles of Hell, and the underworld as known to the Greeks, including stories surrounding the waters of the river Styx.
"While being dipped in this river supposedly guarded against death, if the waters were used properly, they created a liquid that resulted in instant death, even to those considered immortal." Ginny frowned. Something was bothering her about this particular section.
Breakfast itself was disconcerting- Prof. Grubbly-Plank looked surprisingly like a vague image in a crystal ball, and Lavander's comments to her were rather upsetting. All Ginny needed now was for Colin Creevey to do something stupid and her day would be complete, all before 10AM. She left the Great Hall as soon as she finished her few slices of toast and juice. Sighing, Ginny snuck to her private corner of the library, book in hand. She kept rereading the passage about Greek mythology, but couldn't figure out why it had her puzzled.
It was after a few minutes that Ginny finally realized she wasn't alone. Draco was leaning against a bookshelf a few feet away, staring at her. She hadn't noticed him at all.
"Oh! Hi, Draco," she said, blushing at her lack of observation.
"Hey. I saw Lavander talking to you." Ginny's face clouded over.
"Ah, I see. And?"
"I was wondering what she said."
"Nothing 'useful,' if that's what you mean."
"Well, tell me anyway." Ginny looked at him.
"Really, it's not anything important," she insisted.
"Then you won't mind sharing." Damn his debate skills.
"She just said it was no wonder I don't have any friends if all I do is read boring old books like this one," Ginny mumbled in one breath, looking down. She hated not having friends of her own, aside from Morgan. Everyone else just considered her Ron's little sister. Being a fairly private person, it never really bothered her, but there were times she wished she wasn't so quiet and unnoticeable.
"She was only being mean, Gin. Don't believe her," Draco said.
"It's true though; Morgan's my only real friend," she murmured. "She really is a good friend, too. Tolerates me and everything."
"I'm your friend." Ginny looked up now, startled. Draco smiled. "Besides, anyone that wouldn't be your friend just because you happen to read old books really isn't worth having as a friend anyway."
"Thanks, Draco... Speaking of old books, read this. Something about it has me bothered," Ginny said, handing him her textbook. "OH! I meant to tell you this- Prof. Grubby-Plank... Is the woman from the crystal ball!" Draco looked up from his reading.
"Are you sure?" Ginny thought hard for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Okay. Be careful around her, then."
"Of course."
"And this myth stuff... I know what you mean... Strange. I think I know why it's bothering you though. Your reminding me about the woman on the crystal ball made me think of it."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Styx. We've been thinking of 'sticks,' as in, wood, but it's not. She meant this river. 'A liquid that results in instant death, even to those considered immortal.' It of course means the Elixir of Death, which I had the privilege of overhearing Harry discuss with Hermione and Ron. I think I forgot to tell you about that conversation?"
"Yes, I think you did. So, that conversation I heard... Involves the Elixir of Death, from the waters of the river Styx? But that's a mythological river!" Draco shrugged.
"It makes sense though."
"Yeah, it does. That's beside the point. You can't use water from a river that doesn't exist, now can you?"
"Maybe 'Styx' is a code for something similar?"
"Could be."
"I'll see what I can find out, okay?"
"Okay, Draco. You're probably right." Ginny picked up her book and turned to leave.
"Ginny? Be careful, please."
"I will. Don't worry, geez," she laughed. "I'm going to Hogsmeade today, so if you need me, I won't be around."
"Okay."