Chapter I: Strange Occurrences
A soft scratching sound invaded the fog that enveloped Virginia Weasley. She drew in a frustrated breath as she drew her blankets over her head in an effort to block out this disturbance to her sleep. The scratching stopped abruptly, causing Virginia to smile ever so slightly and release a quiet sigh at her success.
Two beats later, it began again.
Groaning in defeat, she threw off her blanket and rolled over to face the cot placed just next to her bed, annoyance clearly etched on her features. "Hermione, what are you doing?"
Hermione glanced over and flashed a smile in Virginia's direction. "Good morning, Ginny. I didn't know you were up yet."
"I wasn't," Virginia scowled. She hated morning people, and lately, Hermione has been down right chipper in the mornings, which Virginia attributed to her brother Ron, disturbingly enough. It wasn't that she wasn't happy for Ron and Hermione, goodness knows how long they danced around the issue, it was just, ever since they finally got up the nerve to actually pursue a relationship outside of friendship, they've been sickenly sweet to each other. She wondered how Harry put up with the two of them, and almost felt sorry for him. Almost. It was him, after all, who finally got them together in the first place. 'He couldn't have waited two more years,' she thought dejectedly to herself.
Hermione continued to grin stupidly as she tucked her bushy brown hair behind her ear, wiping some ink which was on her hand across her cheek in the process. "I'm just working on some homework."
"I thought you would've been done by now."
Hermione blushed at this. "Well, I would have, but I've been quite busy this summer now, haven't I."
Virginia snorted at this.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but let out a yelp instead and quickly drew her covers over herself, almost spilling her ink well as the door opened and Ron stepped through. "Ron!"
Ron grinned widely at her. "Oh, come on, 'Mione, I've seen you in you night gown tons of times."
"Ron," Virginia cut in, "what are you doing in here?"
"Mum says it's time to get up."
Virginia groaned while Hermione continued to hide under her blankets. "Fine, just get out then, will you."
Ron snickered and turned back to his girlfriend. "You look so cute with ink across your face." Her hand flew up to her cheek as she turned a deep shade of red. Ron just chuckled again and leaned down to steal a kiss. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
Hermione grinned up at him and released a sigh as he closed the door. "Isn't he so sweet."
Virginia just rolled her eyes. "Yea, he gives me a tooth ache."
"What?"
"You know, sweet. Tooth ache…never mind." She reached over, grabbed her tattered house coat and rose. "I'm going for a shower. I won't be long." It was one thing she'd learned early on, growing up in a house with six other kids, how to take the least amount of time in the bathroom as possible.
Thirty minutes later, Virginia came down the stairs to face the madness in the kitchen. Harry sat, toast hanging out of his mouth, leafing through a Quality Quidditch Supplies catalogue. Ron alternated between looking over his shoulder and smiling dreamily at Hermione, who, in turn, alternation between reading a transfiguration text and smiling back. Her father and Percy were in conversation at the far end of the table, with Percy shooting suspicious glances at the twins who were sitting, heads together and snickering. Never a good sign. Her mother stood at the stove, turning over sausages and calling out, "Don't even think about it, George. Fred, don't encourage him, for goodness sakes."
Virginia just grinned at the scene and cleared her throat.
Her mother glanced over. "Good morning, Gin— oh dear."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"My robes don't fit anymore." To emphasize her point, she raised her arms to the side, showing the sleeves that only came down to her forearm and her hem falling to mid-calf.
"You couldn't have grown that much over the summer." Her mother circled her. "Well, I guess there's nothing for it. We'll have to get you some new robes."
Virginia could feel guilt creeping up on her. "Can't we just alter them?"
Her mum tutted at her, "It's fine, Ginny. We only have to worry about you and Ron now, and hopefully you can use most of Ron's books from last year, goodness knows he didn't use them very much."
Ron cried out indignantly.
"Mum, I'm sure we could just alter some of the boy's old robes…"
"Nonsense. We'll just go to Madam Malkin's and order you some new ones."
"But—"
"Ginny," her father cut in, "it really is fine. Though we appreciate your concern, it's not necessary. We are more than able to get you some new robes." He got up and kissed her on her head, "Don't worry about it, pumpkin."
Sighing, Virginia nodded. "Okay." While she did know her parents had more money now, with her father finally excepting a promotion last year, and no longer having to provide for the twins and Percy, as they made agreements to pay a small amount per month for rent, which she also knew her parents put into savings to give back to them when they did moved out, but she still felt guilty that her parents sacrificed everything for them.
Her father, resting a hand on her shoulder, looked her in the eye, which where now almost even with his as she stood 5'10". "I know what your thinking, pumpkin. Don't. We love you, and it's not a hardship."
She leaned in and gave him a hug. "Thank you, daddy."
He smiled and nodded. "Now, get yourself some of this delicious breakfast you're mum made while I go finish some things in my office, then we'll get going."
Virginia nodded and sat down across from Percy and her father retreated from the room. "So, Virginia," Percy started, "are you ready to begin your fifth year?"
Virginia smiled up at him. "Yea, I think so. Are the OWLS really that hard, Perce?"
He smiled at her. "Not if you study. Don't worry, Virginia, you're going to do well, unlike some people in our family." He looked pointedly at the twins, who were slipping more toast onto Harry's plate, Harry excitedly pointing out something to Ron in the catalogue and not noticing.
Virginia caught Percy's eye and shook her head at him, indicating for him to say nothing. They both watched with bated breath as he picked up the piece of toast and brought it near his mouth. She shot a quick look to the twins to see them leaning forward, eagerly. Her gaze snapped back to Harry, who was now waving the toast, having been interrupted before being able to take a bite. Finally, the brought it to his mouth again and took a bite. At first nothing happened until she began to notice him looking a little blue.
Hermione looked up and began to look at Harry oddly as he slowly turned a deeper blue and exclaimed, "Harry!"
Harry looked up in alarm before noticing his hands. Standing up quickly, he turned to look at the twins angrily. "FRED! GEORGE!"
Their mum turned around and gaped at Harry and began to shout at the twins as Virginia and Percy looked at each other, amusement evident in their eyes and tried to stifle their laughter. Quickly grabbing some food, Virginia stood and retreated from the table so no one would see her laughing.
As she approached her fathers study, she stopped as she heard voices from within. Knowing she shouldn't be eavesdropping, she, nevertheless, moved in closer to make out the conversation.
"How soon could you be there?" she heard her father ask.
A woman sighed. "I should be able to get out in an hour. Draco's speaking with his father right now, and I don't think I can get him away any sooner than that. Lucius is still upset with me for sending him to my parents for the summer. I—I think he… I can't tell you here."
"Don't worry. I'll speak to you soon."
"Are you sure Molly won't mind you using your daughter like this?"
"I'm not using her. She has to get new robes anyway, this just works out."
"I don't want you to put your family in any unnecessary trouble. Not for our sakes."
"What about yours? You put your son in danger by using him during these meetings."
"He's in danger no matter what. This is the lesser,"
"Don't worry. Molly knows how important this is. We'll take all the necessary precautions."
"Very well. One hour."
"See you then."
Virginia released the breath she never knew she was holding as she backed away from the door. 'Using her? What did they mean?'
The floor board squeaked in front of the doorway and Virginia took off in a run back for the kitchen.
Harry was back to his regular colour, glairing at Fred and George who were arguing with their mum.
"How are we supposed to perfect our product if you won't let us test it?"
"Honestly, you two. I accept that you're doing this shop thing, but you can't test it on members of this family, or anyone without their permission!"
Virginia sat down in her seat, Percy looking questioningly at her. She shook her head and looked at the doorway to see her father entering.
"Molly dear, what's wrong?"
Molly paused in her lecture to glance at Arthur. "These two have been at it again. They turned poor Harry blue. Took three different colours to right him again."
Virginia snorted at this, but held her laughter when she saw Harry turning a deep shade of red.
Her father's eye twinkled, "Well, no harm done."
"Arthur!"
"Boy's you know our rules," he added hastily, "and I think you own Harry an apology."
Fred and George grinned as their mum glared at the lot of them. "Sorry Harry. No hard feelings their, mate."
Harry just scowled and looked at the rest of his toast suspiciously before picking up a muffin instead.
"Well then, Molly. Um, the weather has been particularly fine lately, hasn't it? Not a cloud in sight today."
Molly's head snapped up, quickly met her husband's eyes and then looked back at the stove. "Yes, it has been, hasn't it," she replied carefully.
"Yes sirry, a perfect day for shopping." Molly just nodded, not meeting his gaze. "I can't believe how much Ginny has grown over the summer."
Again, Molly's head snapped up, this time looking at Virginia then Arthur. "Yes. We'll have to get a few new robes for her." She looked at Virginia again. "Ginny, dear, would you mind going shopping with your father this time. That would give me more time the take Hermione and the boys to get supplies for their classes."
Virginia looked between her parents. She was convinced her mother knew exactly what was going on, and from what she overheard, she couldn't believe it. 'Could they really be using me? What's going on?" she asked herself. She knew her parents would do anything to protect her, she just couldn't figure out what was going on, and how she was connected to her.
"Ginny?" her father disrupted her thoughts. "You don't mind spending time with the old man, do you?"
Forcing a smile she replied, "Of course not. It could be fun."
He smiled and nodded at her. "Then it's settled then. We'll leave in about an hour, if that's alright with everyone."
An hour. There was something going on, and it involved her, somehow.