Author: Azeroth
Author E-mail: mrlindberg3h@yahoo.com
Category: Mystery, Drama, Action/Adventure, Romance
Keywords: Harry, Ginny, Voldemort, Chalice
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: For all four books
Summary: Harry begins his fifth year at Hogwarts with a female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, feelings of guilt for Cedric Diggory's death, and looking for someone to share his emotions with. Voldemort has steadily begun to build his reign of terror as a sense of urgency and vigilance goes through Hogwarts and the rest of the wizarding world.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
The Sides of Fear
Chapter 26
Ginny's Birthday
True power comes from friendship.
Dumbledore's words echoed in Harry's mind as he tried to concentrate on part of his Herbology homework. Professor Sprout had coordinated an assignment with professor Snape where alternate ingredients were to be found to complete a momentary stunning potion. To everyone's, except Snape's, relief professor Sprout would grade their work. Harry was unable to concentrate and as he looked up from his book he watched as Hermione, who was sitting across the table from him with Ron next to her, was writing fervently. Occassionally, Ron would try to sneak a glance at her parchment. Obviously not seeing enough he finally let out a huge sigh.
"Hermione, c'mon. We need some help here." Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh all right. I need some help," said Ron.
"Ron, you should be able to do this on your own. I mean, I know you get excellent marks in Divination. This shouldn't be a problem at all," Hermione replied, not being able to hide a smile.
"Mione, just let me look at it. I won't copy all of it," whined Ron.
"No, Ron."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"NO! In case you forget we have our O.W.L.s coming up and this is good preparation for you."
Ron rolled his eyes, threw his head back, and groaned loudly. Harry could not help but laugh.
"What's so funny? I don't see you getting anywhere either," muttered Ron.
Harry shrugged. "I know. I think I need a break or something. Do you want to play some Exploding Snap?"
"Sure, I don't see why not. It's not like we're going to get any help from a certain someone," said Ron pointing at Hermione.
"Well, your work won't get done any faster if all you're going to do is play cards," she huffed.
Ron gave her a smile before heading up to his room to fetch his deck of cards. A few games later Ron and Harry found themselves enjoying their evening as the games had taken Harry's mind off the conversation with Dumbledore.
Right after they had finished their third game, Hermione put away her books and parchment and sidled up next to Ron watching the two of them play.
"Don't tell me Hermione Granger isn't doing homework," quipped Ron.
"For your information I'm done," Hermione bit back. Ron's mouth dropped.
"You're done? How? Sprout said it would take us at least two days to finish this assignment."
"I suppose all you have to do is pay attention in class and actually read the textbook. You might want to try it once," she said with a smug look. Ron pulled a face at her, and she quickly hit him on his arm. He just smiled at her and strangely enough she did the same.
"If you want to have some...privacy...I could go somewhere else," said Harry, hardly containing the laughter that was welling up inside of him. Hermione and Ron turned crimson. "I mean, I wouldn't want to be scarred for life again. Seeing the two of you together in the Owlery was enough to last me a lifetime to be quite honest," said Harry making a gagging sound.
"Shut up," said Ron throwing a pillow at Harry. "Besides, it's not like you and Cho haven't been up to things." Ron smiled broadly as Harry felt his cheeks heat up.
Everyone involved felt like the topic of conversation needed to be changed and Hermione, as always, was quick to think of something.
"What are you getting Ginny for her birthday Ron?" she asked. Harry had forgotten about it completely.
"Huh? Oh, well...I don't really know. I suppose I should get her something. I know her she probably won't expect anything with...all that's happened, but I guess I'll give her a couple of chocolate frogs. I know she likes them," said Ron shrugging his shoulders.
"What about you Harry? Are you getting her anything?" Hermione was looking at him in a strange way.
"Well, actually, I don't really know. I mean there's not really anything I could get her. I don't even know what she likes. I don't know her that well," he said, feeling instantly embarrassed by his admission.
"You really should get her something Harry. Just to show her that you care about her," said Hermione making sure she looked at Harry meaningfully again.
Harry had no clue what she was getting at. "I guess. She is on the team now so I really should get her something. I just don't know what."
"Don't worry about it. It's just Ginny," said Ron. Hermione gave nudged him in the ribs with her elbow making him wince.
"What he's trying to say is not to worry about what to get her. I think you can probably figure something out, right Harry?" Hermione said giving Harry a wink.
By now Hermione was making no sense whatsoever and Harry realised she had begun acting strangely any time Ginny's name came up. Tired of playing Hermione's game Harry turned back to his books. However, the only thing that occupied his mind was what to get Ginny for her birthday. He did not even know what she liked or if there was anything she wanted. Then all of a sudden he had an idea.
"I've got it!"
"Got what?" asked Ron looking up from his parchment.
"Uh...never mind. I thought I had an ingredient, but I was wrong," said Harry trying to sound natural.
Ron looked disappointed. "We're never going to get this done," he grumbled.
The two of them went back to their work and by now Harry had already figured out what to get for Ginny. The only problem was if it would get here on time. Actually, there were a few more problems, but he would have to figure that out later.
***
Ginny was standing in the bathroom in front of the mirror. Today was her fourteenth birthday, but she did not feel like celebrating. The pain from losing Bill was still lingering and she remembered Charlie saying it would gradually fade away. She had been lying to herself every night trying to convince herself she was feeling better, but to no avail. Every night she would relive that last moment she had spent with Bill down by the oak tree. You're the strongest of all of us.
She pushed a few strands of hair from her face as her mirror image stared back at her. She had let her hair grow since her first year, mostly hoping, dreaming, that Harry would notice her. That never happened. The mirror was beginning to fog up again, and she wiped her hand across it. Sometimes she would spend hours standing in front of her mirror back at the Burrow imagining what it would be like when Harry would profess his love for her. The mere thought of it made her embarrassed. She had not done it for quite some time now. It was part of her process to face reality, in which, sadly enough, she would not experience Harry Potter getting down on his knees and tell her how much she meant to him.
Here she was again thinking about herself when she should be thinking about Bill. There were more important things in life than silly schoolgirl crushes. Sometimes she would forget all about what had happened during Christmas, and when she caught herself doing so she would feel horrible. It was not time to continue on and forget. It was still too early. Deep down she knew there was nothing she could have done, but in the end she would always think "What if?"
She knew how Harry felt now. She could never know exactly, but if she felt this bad about Bill, then what Harry had gone through must have been a hundred times worse. His mother and father had been killed by Voldemort, and he had been forced to live with those terrible Muggles. Before this summer she had only heard of the Dursleys from Ron, but her encounter with Vernon Dursley had been all she needed to know that everything she had heard was true.
His years at Hogwarts had been filled with danger. She had been the reason for him almost dying in the Chamber. Then last year the death of Cedric Diggory had compounded his misery. The few times she actually looked him in the eyes she felt like she was looking at a boy who was not fifteen years old, but much older. It would only be there for a moment, but that was not a surprise. He had lived through more than most people would go through their entire life. She never saw or heard him complain about his lot in life. He might be frustrated, but he gritted his teeth and did what he had too. She would too.
Not giving notice to the tears on her cheeks she looked herself in the mirror again and took a deep breath before getting ready to go down for breakfast. When she reached the common room Fred and George were waiting for her looking far too happy.
"Happy Birthday little sister," yelled George as he dug out a party hat from his pocket, sticking it on Ginny's head rather forcefully.
"You're fourteen already. It seems like only yesterday when you were just a wee little lass," said Fred pretending to wipe a tear out of his eye.
"Remember when you did all those cute little things little girls do?"
"Like writing poems,"
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled...oomph." Ginny had hit Fred in the stomach.
"Touchy aren't we?" smiled Fred.
"No, just not in the mood," said Ginny stomping past her brothers.
"Wait Ginny, you forgot about your gift!"
Ginny turned around and looked at the two of them. Fred was holding out a large gift wrapped purple box and George was waving a card. She looked at them suspiciously before walking back slowly. Right before she was about to touch the box she stopped and looked at them.
"You do remember what you promised on the train, right?"
"Ah, yes. The promise. I suppose there are a few modifications we should attend to before handing it over," Fred said with disappointment in his voice. Ginny withdrew her hand and walked out through the portrait hole.
As the portrait closed she could hear the George's voice.
"I told you she'd remember. Wasted a perfectly good feather bomb for nothing."
"All right. We'll just disarm it and give her the gift. Not as much fun, but at least we get to keep our secret."
Ginny continued down to the Great Hall with a grin on her face. She had gotten the best of her brothers this time.
When her footsteps had faded away George's face popped out through the entrance.
"Is she gone?" whispered Fred.
"Yeah, she's gone all right."
"Good, now she thinks she's safe," smiled Fred.
"But what about our secret compartments?" asked George.
"Don't worry about it. We won't need it after this year remember?" replied Fred giving George a wink.
George snapped his fingers. "I forgot all about that. So what do you say we make her sprout fur and grow a beak?"
The twins quickly made their way up to their room where the final preparations for Ginny's special birthday gift from her loving brothers was concocted.
***
When Ginny entered the Great Hall Ron waved at her to come over and sit by him, Harry, and Hermione.
"Happy Birthday Ginny," exclaimed Hermione as Harry and Ron both joined her.
"Thanks," she answered with a half-hearted smile. Sensing the lingering question she continued. "I'm just not in the mood to celebrate."
"Fat luck, because I want to celebrate my favorite sister's birthday."
Ginny looked at Ron. "I'm your only sister."
"That's why you're my favorite," Ron smiled, handing over his present.
"Don't mind him," said Hermione shaking her head. "Happy Birthday Ginny. I hope you like it." Hermione handed over her book-like gift and Ginny almost dropped it from the sheer weight. She grimaced as she pulled the heavy load close to her.
She opened up Ron's present first and she was greeted by a couple of boxes of chocolate frogs. Trust Ron to always think with his stomach. However, there was a silver qill with her name on it at the bottom of the box. Ginny held it up and looked questioningly at Ron who just smiled back at her.
"It'll make sense in a minute," he said, reading her mind. "Just open up Hermione's present."
Ginny turned to the heavy package she had received from Hermione. When she grabbed a hold of it this time it did not seem as heavy. She carefully unwrapped it and in it was a book. No surprise there. The only thing on the cover was a blank space in the middle. She opened it up and all it contained were blank pages.
"It's a diary. I know you haven't had the best experiences with diaries," said Hermione quickly, "but this one's special. The quill that Ron gave you goes with it. The thing is if you use the quill to write with only you will be able to read it. You think of a password and then you can keep it out of prying eyes, which I know there are plenty of," finished Hermione glancing over at Ron.
For the first time on her birthday Ginny smiled. "Thank you Hermione. Only you would think of something like this."
Next up was Harry who was looking uncharacteristically nervous as he handed over his present. "Happy Birthday Ginny," he mumbled. Ginny could have sworn she saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "I hope you'll like it," he added before letting go of the present.
"You didn't have to get me anything Harry," she said trying to sound casual. All the time her heart was beating a little faster. She tore her gaze away from Harry as she unwrapped the present. In her mind she envisioned something that would tell her that Harry was madly in love with her. It was a book.
"Thank you," she said trying to hide her disappointment.
"It's a really good book. I thought you might want it because it has some world class moves by international Quidditch Keepers," mumbled Harry, being careful not to make eye contact.
"Thanks Harry, I really mean it." To Ginny's surprise she genuinely felt that way. She should not have expected anything to begin with. Really, she had not, and the fact that he had actually given her something meant he cared about her. Perhaps not the way she wanted to, but as a friend. There was that word again. At least she was no longer just "Ron's little sister."
"Ooh, Ginny look who's the co-author," said Ron with wide eyes. "It's Nikos Etolopolus, the Greece Keeper. Harry, that's a really good book. Can I borrow it?" Ron asked Ginny who just shook her head in disbelief.
Suddenly Fred and George came running through the doorway and stopped right next to Ginny.
"We made a few adjustments and now it's ready for you," said Fred grumpily.
Ginny looked at them suspiciously, but took the present from Fred and put it down on the table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione backed away.
"It's all right. Remember they promised me they weren't going to pull any tricks on me." However, Ginny's words did little to persuade any of them to move closer. Ginny rolled her eyes as she tore off the ribbon. Behind her back George was giving Fred a nudge and mouthing "Watch this" to the trio.
As Ginny opened the top Harry looked away. Nothing happened. He waited for a few seconds then turned his head ever so slightly. Ginny was looking at the three of them.
"I told you nothing was going to happen," and with that she put her head above the box and looked down into it.
Barely had she done so before there was a bang and a huge cloud of smoke that engulfed Ginny. Fred and George had already made sure to step away from Ginny before she opened up the box. When the cloud finally cleared Ginny was standing there stunned with her mouth open. Or rather her beak. She had sprouted a long red beard and her mouth had been replaced by a green duck beak. She looked furious. Harry was biting his lip trying hard not to laugh, but the sight of Ginny was too much. He broke into gales of laughter with the rest of the students and Ginny only made it worse when she tried to yell at Fred and George. Instead of words all that came out of her beak were loud quacking sounds. She was shaking with fury by now and George looked like he was going to choke on his laughter.
Just like their Canary Creams the beard and the beak disappeared as suddenly as it had formed and Ginny looked far from happy.
"You promised you wouldn't do that! I'm telling mum all about your little secret compartments!" she yelled.
Fred just smiled at her. "I think you're forgetting something little sister."
"Really? What's that?"
"We won't be here next year, alas, we don't need any secret compartments to smuggle our revenue source to Hogwarts," countered George triumphantly.
Ginny's mouth hung open then closed as she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "I'll get you for this. Both of you."
"We're counting on it little sister, but now go ahead and look at your real gift. We promise there are no more tricks," added Fred.
Ginny sighed as she looked into the box once again. With her left hand she pulled out an envelope which only read "To Ginny from her favorite twins." She held it out away from her face while opening it, and when there was no reaction she pulled out a small card. She read it quietly before letting out a small squeak.
"Fred, George, I can't accept this. I mean, how are you..."
"Ginny, you're our only sister, and our favorite one at that, and you deserve something new. It's probably not always been easy being the youngest, but you've always been a good sport."
"Besides, let's just say we've come into a bit of an investment," said George giving Harry a wink.
"What does it say?" said Ron curiously.
"They're giving me a new broom. Can you believe it? A brand new broom," said Ginny jumping up and down with excitement. "I have to tell mum and dad. Thank you so much. You're the best twin brothers I've ever had," she said giving the two of them a big hug before running out of the Great Hall to write to her parents.
Right then the owl post came flying in and Pigwidgeon came crashing down onto Ron's plate.
"Ruddy bird, why can't you just calm down?" muttered Ron as he looked at the letter and the package addressed to Ginny. "I guess she missed her birthday card and gift from mum and dad. Pig, go find Ginny. She's probably heading for the owlery anyway."
The tiny owl spread its wings and fluttered them in Ron's face before taking off in the direction of the owlery.
"Why wasn't I the youngest one. Then I would've gotten a new broom," he muttered putting his head down on the table.
Fred sat down next to him and put his arm around Ron sympathetically. "It wouldn't have mattered anyway. You'd still be a brainless prat." Ron tilted his head and glared back at him.
***
Ginny finished writing a letter to her parents thanking them for the card and the robe she had received. It was not a dress robe, but she had needed a new school robe for ages. She attached the letter to Pig and sent him on his way. At the same time another owl came barging through the window almost flying straight into Pig, who gave the owl a dirty look before flying off. The owl landed softly in front of Ginny with a package.
"Is that for me?" she asked. The owl looked at her and it almost looked like it gave a huge sigh before it let go of the package and flew out the way it had come in.
Ginny picked up the package and examined it closely. It was wrapped in brown paper, and her name was written on it with very fancy handwriting. She put it under her arm as she went back to Gryffindor Tower where she went straight up to her room. The rest of her gifts were laying on her bed. She had forgotten about them completely and Hermione must have taken them back upstairs. She set down the unopened package next to the Quidditch book Harry had given her.
She was not going to open up the package as she needed to finish some homework, but another glance at it and curiousity got the best of her. She sat down on the bed and crossed her legs putting the package in her lap. Carefully she opened it up and to her surprise there was another set of wrapping paper. However, it was not brown as the first layer had been, but silvery.
Her mouth fell open as she unveiled the contents of her gift. It was a silvery dress robe with golden accents to it. It looked familiar to her, but she could not think of where she had seen something like it. She held it out and a card fell out from under it. She picked it up and read it.
I wanted you to have something to wear at the Ball.
N. E.
Who was N.E.? she thought. Right then there was a knock on the door and Hermione's voice sounded from the other side.
"Ginny? Can I come in?"
Ginny just nodded, too stunned to say anything.
"Ginny? Are you in there?"
She nodded again.
"Ginny?"
Ginny blinked and finally managed to get out a stuttering "yeah."
The door opened and Hermione stepped in quickly.
"I just wanted to let you know that I put you..." she stopped as she saw the dress Ginny was holding in front of herself. "Where did you get that from?"
"From an owl."
"An owl gave it to you?"
"Yes, no...someone did. I don't know who."
Hermione frowned. "Wasn't there a card or anything?"
Ginny held out the card and Hermione took it and read it. Ginny could see the wheels turning in Hermione's head before Hermione lit up with a triumphant smile.
"It's really quite easy isn't it?"
"It is?"
Hermione sat down next to Ginny. "The initials are N.E. Who do you know that has those initials? Who would want to give you something like this?"
Ginny thought really hard, or as hard as she could at the moment. She was still in a bit of a shock. "Neville?" she said shrugging her shoulders. Hermione gave her a lopsided smile.
"Ginny, you know as well as I do that Neville's last name is Longbottom. Try it again. Who would want to give you something like this for the Ball," she said enunciating the word Ball carefully.
Then it hit Ginny. "Entwhistle?" Hermione nodded. "I don't even know his first name," said Ginny.
"It's Neil Entwhistle. N.E." Hermione looked at the dress again and she furrowed her brow. "That dress looks familiar somehow."
"That's what I thought too, but I must be imagining things. I've never been anywhere near anything like this before," replied Ginny smoothing out the neckline of the dress. Hermione was not so sure.
"I can't accept it though. I barely know him, and," she paused, "and even if he is rich it doesn't matter. I'll just have him take it back and return it."
"I'm afraid that's not possible," said Hermione.
"And why's that?"
Hermione held up the silvery wrapping paper. "This," she said, holding up the silvery wrapping paper, "is from Madam Malkin's. Her dress robes are specially made and they can't be returned. All sales are final unless a mistake has been made in fitting the dress," she finished sounding like she had read the fine print several times. Knowing Hermione she probably had.
Ginny put her head in her hands. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
"If you want to give it back you'll just have to talk to him the first chance you get."
"I was afraid you'd say that," sighed Ginny, thinking ahead of what she needed to do. At least her brothers did not know about it as they would surely try to confront Entwhistle.
***
The following evening Ginny was making her way down the stairs to find Entwhistle when she bumped into someone. The package with the dress flew out of her hands and landed on the person's head.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she squealed jumping over to pick her package off the head of whoever it was. She was horrified to see it was Harry, who looked a bit dazed.
"We have to stop doing this," he groaned.
Ginny's eyes were wide. "Do what?"
"We keep running into each other and I think it's taking a toll on my head," he said rubbing the back of his head. Ginny bit her lip. "I'm just joking Ginny," smiled Harry. "What's in that package anyway?"
"It's...a book. For...Ron, yeah, that's right. A book for Ron." She wanted to hit herself for such a bad lie.
"A book? For Ron? Your brother?" he said laughing.
"Well, yeah."
"It's all right if you don't want to tell me. You don't have to," said Harry. He was trying to study the package a little better and Ginny put it closer to her chest enveloping it with both her arms. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, good luck trying to find Ron. I think the two of them went to the library of all places," said Harry before walking past Ginny up the stairs.
The two of them? Oh, of course. Ron and Hermione. Ginny hurried out through the portrait hole and she soon found herself in one of the most common places for any Ravenclaw student, the library. In the far corner of the library she saw the three Ravenclaw Chasers huddled together doing their homework diligently. Entwhistle was sitting next to McCann. He looked up and when he saw Ginny he gave her a finger wave. Ginny gave a feint smile back. When Ginny came to a halt in front of them McCann was the first to look up. She was rather short, with long chestnut hair and a pair of blue eyes.
"What do you want?" she said a bit annoyed.
"It's all right Josie, she's with me remember?" said Entwhistle flashing Ginny a smile.
"Can I talk to you for a moment," asked Ginny.
"Go ahead."
"Alone."
Entwhistle excused himself as he followed Ginny to a more deserted part of the library. Ginny turned to face him.
"I can't accept this Neil," she said holding out the package. Entwhistle looked at the package then at Ginny.
"Accept what?"
"This...dress robe." whispered Ginny. "I can't accept it, even though we are going together to the Ball."
Entwhistle looked at her like she had gone mad.
"You know, the dress you gave me today for my birthday," she said holding out the card for Entwhistle to read.
"Oh, ooh, yeah...the dress. Well, there's not much I can do about that. I mean I wanted you to have a nice dress for the Ball, and I thought it would bring out your beautiful eyes," he said. "Besides, I can't really take it back, now can I?"
Ginny sighed. "Yes, Hermione already told me that Madam Malkin doesn't allow returns after they have been fitted. But I can't take it though. It's too much."
"Ginny, I want you to have that dress. You know, my favorite color is blue," he said smiling broadly.
"The dress is silver," she said raising an eyebrow.
"Of course, but...blue and silver matches so well," he stuttered.
"Neil, I can't do it," she said in a loud voice.
"Why not?"
"I just can't."
"Can't do what?" came a voice from behind them. It was Ron.
"What do you think you're doing back here with my sister?" said Ron narrowing his eyes.
Ginny rolled her eyes. She knew something like this would happen. "Nothing Ron. Now go away. I'm trying to have a conversation with Neil."
"Neil? On a first name basis all of a sudden?" He looked down at the package and the card that Entwhistle was holding. "What's this?" he said snatching the card out of Entwhistle's hand. His head shot back at Entwhistle as soon as he had read it. "What do you think you're doing? Do you think we're some sort of charity?" he growled.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"THIS!" Ron yelled waving the card in the air. "Giving my sister a dress. Are you saying she's not good enough for you the way she is? Is that it...Neil?" he said through gritted teeth.
"No, I...you...it..." stammered Entwhistle, all the time backing away from Ron.
"Gentlemen, I'll have to ask you to take your argument somewhere else," said Madam Pince, who had got out of her chair and crept up on them unnoticed.
"I'll see you outside the doors," hissed Ron. "With Fred and George as well." Entwhistle paled visibly as he watched Ron stomp out of the library.
"What did he mean by that?" Entwhistle asked Ginny.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just forget about him. He won't do anything."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but no need to worry now. Here, take it," she said handing over the package. Entwhistle just shook his head.
"No Ginny. It's for you. You should wear it to the Ball. Like you said. I can't take it back anyway."
"Neil?" McCann peeked around the corner of a bookshelf. "C'mon, we have to finish up the rest of the assignment." She shot Ginny another look of loathing.
"I have to go Ginny, but I'll talk to you later," he said giving Ginny another one of those finger waves.
Ginny returned the same kind of wave, albeit a feeble one. So much for straightening things out.
~~~~~
A/N: Well, not much to say once again. Sorry for not getting it done sooner. It was sitting on the computer half-finished, but I just never got to it. I finally did and here it is. Next chapter...on to the Ball.
Thank you to the following people who so diligently reviewed chapter 25.
Mary, PotterPerson, Autistic, Conlan, earthangel831, LivelyRach, toastedpaco,
priya, Abba, Blue Roses, FirePixie28, Angelis, Nessie, moonygirl13, Lilbluangel25,
Kellie, Elisa, and Marla.
Thanks a lot! ^_^
