Ch. 4
Enter the Rookwoods
The ministry official gave Ginny a patronizing look.
"Yes, the Rookwoods. Is that a problem?"
Pleas, excuses, and alibis ran rampant through Ginny's head. Of course, she knew none of them were plausible, but she couldn't help but think of them. After all, what could she possibly say 'You can't send me to stay with them; they're death eater scum!' Somehow, she didn't figure it would go over well.
"Umm, no. Of course not, Sir."
"In that case, we will apparate now." He said, grabbing her hand irritatedly.
Ginny felt a rush of wind as if she were twirling in a small tornado. Then, she fell with a thud onto the floor. The ministry worker gave a derisive snort and apparated away. Well, here she was. There was no turning back now.
In front of Ginny, a tall, foreboding man stood. There was a deadening silence, in which he looked her up and down, making a silent appraisal. Ginny felt very awkward and began to stare at her feet. He cleared his throat and she raised her eyes from the floor to meet his challenging gaze.
They stood for a while, just staring each other down. It was almost as if they were in a staring contest. But it was different. Neither of them were making funny faces or telling jokes. Just staring. This man wanted to intimidate her. And it was working.
"You must be the youngest Weasley."
It was then that she noticed his prominent cheekbones and the sneer resting on his lips. It wasn't really a question, more likely a judgment, but she answered anyways, just to break the silence.
"Yes Sir."
"Well," he drawled out slowly, "my wife will show you to your room." With that he called out, 'Jacqueline'.
A slender woman with a long black gown on entered the room. She had high cheekbones and long silky blonde hair. From her strappy sandals to her sparkling rings, this woman exemplified the very essence of style.
"Please show the Weasley to her room. And see if you can't do something about her appearance. I can't have guests over with THAT walking about," he said coldly.
Jacqueline gave Ginny a once over. "I understand completely."
With that Jacqueline grabbed Ginny's arm and whisked her out of the room. Ginny felt numb inside. It was as if she were a piece of property. They just talked about her as if she wasn't even standing there. She was too shocked to even cry.
No one bothered to help Ginny with her luggage. So she was forced to lug it up several flights of steps. At last, she was guided into a spacious room at the end of a landing, almost as big as the common room at school she thought.
"This will be your room. Your bath is just through there. And your closet is there," she said pointing to another closed door. "I'll send my daughter in to get you ready for supper. Your behavior must be a paragon of perfection as my husband is having guests over tonight. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Yes, we'll have to see about that nasty accent of yours as well. You sound every inch of a commoner."
With that, Jacqueline swept out of the room with as much grace as when she had entered.
Ginny was in utter shock.
These people were more rude than anyone else she had ever had the displeasure of meeting. She let her trunk and other baggage fall to the floor with a loud thump. Then, she proceeded to flop onto the bed.
Was she really that ugly? And her accent, what was wrong with it? Didn't everyone talk like that? The countless insults she had received were beginning to sink in. She felt a tear slide down her cheek and wiped it away roughly. She had cried enough for one day. She couldn't allow herself to be the Weasley baby anymore. It was time she grew up.
It was with this new resolve that she rose from the bed and began to unpack. She was almost done when a knock resounded on her door.
"Come in," she called, hoping her eyes weren't red.
A girl, probably a few years older than Ginny, strolled into the room with an air of superiority.
She approached Ginny, looking her up and down.
"Mother wasn't kidding when she said I had my work cut out for me. You're a wreck," she said. "You've been crying too, haven't you?"
Ginny shrugged, refusing to admit that she had indeed been crying.
The girl smirked.
"So, what is your name?"
"Ginny Weasley."
"Ahh, so you can speak. Just as well, it does get rather dull around here. You can call me Shana."
Ginny nodded, making no effort to speak. She had no urge to take any more verbal lashings from these people.
"Well, where are your clothes?"
"In the chest of drawers over there," Ginny said pointing.
Shana opened the top drawer. She shuffled around in it for a few seconds. Then, she opened another and another.
A few minutes later, she declared, "None of this will ever do! Is this all you've brought?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well, I suppose this will have to work," she said pulling a black robe from a drawer.
She threw it at Ginny's head. Ginny managed to catch it, surprised.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Put it on," Shana commanded.
Ginny felt a little self conscious changing in front of this girl, but felt it prudent not to argue. She slipped off her jeans and t-shirt, pulling the black robe over her head quickly.
Shana rolled up her bell-like sleeves and pulled a wand from a hidden pocket.
She called out spell after spell transforming Ginny's black robe into a long, slinky evening dress. Black, of course. That seemed to be all this family wore. But even then, Shana was not done.
"Haven't you ever learned any make-up spells?"
"No."
"Well, I'm going to teach you some."
"But we can't do magic over the summer; it's illegal," Ginny protested.
"Rules are for the weak," Shana answered simply. Seeing Ginny's distress, she sighed deeply. "Listen don't worry about it. Our house is surrounded by dozens of enchantments, ensuring our privacy. No one can detect any magic used in this house. Now get your wand out."
Ginny shuffled over to her trunk and pulled out her wand, a handy me down from Bill. It was in pretty good shape though.
"Alright just copy my wand movements and repeat after me. 'Concealo Glamora.'" Shana whipped her wand downwards. Ginny imitated her.
"Well done."
"Have a look at yourself."
Ginny glanced into a full length mirror in the corner of the room. She hardly recognized the girl staring back at her. Her freckles were no longer visible and her face looked smoother.
"You'd look quite good, actually, if it weren't for that hair. If I put a regular colouring spell on it, it would just turn back in an hour or so. I'm sure I can find a better way to do it."
Without further dialogue, Shana exited the room. Ginny was greatly relieved, but still nervous. She wondered if Shana was really serious about dying her hair. She hoped not. Sure, her hair wasn't beautiful. In fact, it WAS kind of irritating at times, but she didn't want to dye it, especially not permanently!
To Ginny's disappointment, Shana did return and certainly not empty handed. In her hands were several vials and an empty glass. She set the vials down on a bedside table and began to pour varied amounts of each into the glass. Ginny recognized most of the ingredients and so far none of them seemed too potent. She was beginning to hope that, perhaps, Shana had been unable to find a way to make the potion permanent.
Just when Ginny was beginning to really believe this, Shana pulled out one last vial that had been hiding in her pocket. The vial was made of black glass, so that no one could see inside of it. Very carefully, Shana undid the cork and let two drops slide into the potion. They were silvery and had a liquidy consistency, 'almost like blood,' Ginny thought. She gasped loudly.
Shana turned around abruptly.
"Hey! What's your problem! I might have dropped this!"
Ginny shook her head, "Please, tell me that isn't…isn't-"
"Tell you it isn't undiluted unicorn blood? I suppose I could TELL you it wasn't but…"
"Shana, you can't use unicorn blood for something as stupid as my hair!"
"Sure I can," she said simply.
Ginny began to protest, but Shana cut her off, "Look Ginny, if you don't drink it now, the unicorn blood will be a complete waste. The unicorn will have died in vain. Now drink." With that she forced the glass into Ginny's hand.
Ginny raised the glass to her lips and swallowed.
AN:
Arella Hallo: Hehe. Sorry 'bout the gore. I didn't think it was that bad (cept maybe the part about the head…)
Anyanka: Oh never fear, Draco will appear. I made a rhyme… Anyways, he'll probably show up in a chapter or two.
Kitakat: From Canon, we know only that Augustus Rookwood turned spy for Voldemort. He worked in the department of Mysteries, passing information to the Dark Lord. Sorry bout the gore, hehe. I couldn't resist.
Cassandra: I liked the Barretts too, but for plot's sake I had to kill them.
Ryuu_Chan2000: You might be on to something there! ;)
DestinyGirl: Thanks for reviewing :)
Enter the Rookwoods
The ministry official gave Ginny a patronizing look.
"Yes, the Rookwoods. Is that a problem?"
Pleas, excuses, and alibis ran rampant through Ginny's head. Of course, she knew none of them were plausible, but she couldn't help but think of them. After all, what could she possibly say 'You can't send me to stay with them; they're death eater scum!' Somehow, she didn't figure it would go over well.
"Umm, no. Of course not, Sir."
"In that case, we will apparate now." He said, grabbing her hand irritatedly.
Ginny felt a rush of wind as if she were twirling in a small tornado. Then, she fell with a thud onto the floor. The ministry worker gave a derisive snort and apparated away. Well, here she was. There was no turning back now.
In front of Ginny, a tall, foreboding man stood. There was a deadening silence, in which he looked her up and down, making a silent appraisal. Ginny felt very awkward and began to stare at her feet. He cleared his throat and she raised her eyes from the floor to meet his challenging gaze.
They stood for a while, just staring each other down. It was almost as if they were in a staring contest. But it was different. Neither of them were making funny faces or telling jokes. Just staring. This man wanted to intimidate her. And it was working.
"You must be the youngest Weasley."
It was then that she noticed his prominent cheekbones and the sneer resting on his lips. It wasn't really a question, more likely a judgment, but she answered anyways, just to break the silence.
"Yes Sir."
"Well," he drawled out slowly, "my wife will show you to your room." With that he called out, 'Jacqueline'.
A slender woman with a long black gown on entered the room. She had high cheekbones and long silky blonde hair. From her strappy sandals to her sparkling rings, this woman exemplified the very essence of style.
"Please show the Weasley to her room. And see if you can't do something about her appearance. I can't have guests over with THAT walking about," he said coldly.
Jacqueline gave Ginny a once over. "I understand completely."
With that Jacqueline grabbed Ginny's arm and whisked her out of the room. Ginny felt numb inside. It was as if she were a piece of property. They just talked about her as if she wasn't even standing there. She was too shocked to even cry.
No one bothered to help Ginny with her luggage. So she was forced to lug it up several flights of steps. At last, she was guided into a spacious room at the end of a landing, almost as big as the common room at school she thought.
"This will be your room. Your bath is just through there. And your closet is there," she said pointing to another closed door. "I'll send my daughter in to get you ready for supper. Your behavior must be a paragon of perfection as my husband is having guests over tonight. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Yes, we'll have to see about that nasty accent of yours as well. You sound every inch of a commoner."
With that, Jacqueline swept out of the room with as much grace as when she had entered.
Ginny was in utter shock.
These people were more rude than anyone else she had ever had the displeasure of meeting. She let her trunk and other baggage fall to the floor with a loud thump. Then, she proceeded to flop onto the bed.
Was she really that ugly? And her accent, what was wrong with it? Didn't everyone talk like that? The countless insults she had received were beginning to sink in. She felt a tear slide down her cheek and wiped it away roughly. She had cried enough for one day. She couldn't allow herself to be the Weasley baby anymore. It was time she grew up.
It was with this new resolve that she rose from the bed and began to unpack. She was almost done when a knock resounded on her door.
"Come in," she called, hoping her eyes weren't red.
A girl, probably a few years older than Ginny, strolled into the room with an air of superiority.
She approached Ginny, looking her up and down.
"Mother wasn't kidding when she said I had my work cut out for me. You're a wreck," she said. "You've been crying too, haven't you?"
Ginny shrugged, refusing to admit that she had indeed been crying.
The girl smirked.
"So, what is your name?"
"Ginny Weasley."
"Ahh, so you can speak. Just as well, it does get rather dull around here. You can call me Shana."
Ginny nodded, making no effort to speak. She had no urge to take any more verbal lashings from these people.
"Well, where are your clothes?"
"In the chest of drawers over there," Ginny said pointing.
Shana opened the top drawer. She shuffled around in it for a few seconds. Then, she opened another and another.
A few minutes later, she declared, "None of this will ever do! Is this all you've brought?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well, I suppose this will have to work," she said pulling a black robe from a drawer.
She threw it at Ginny's head. Ginny managed to catch it, surprised.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Put it on," Shana commanded.
Ginny felt a little self conscious changing in front of this girl, but felt it prudent not to argue. She slipped off her jeans and t-shirt, pulling the black robe over her head quickly.
Shana rolled up her bell-like sleeves and pulled a wand from a hidden pocket.
She called out spell after spell transforming Ginny's black robe into a long, slinky evening dress. Black, of course. That seemed to be all this family wore. But even then, Shana was not done.
"Haven't you ever learned any make-up spells?"
"No."
"Well, I'm going to teach you some."
"But we can't do magic over the summer; it's illegal," Ginny protested.
"Rules are for the weak," Shana answered simply. Seeing Ginny's distress, she sighed deeply. "Listen don't worry about it. Our house is surrounded by dozens of enchantments, ensuring our privacy. No one can detect any magic used in this house. Now get your wand out."
Ginny shuffled over to her trunk and pulled out her wand, a handy me down from Bill. It was in pretty good shape though.
"Alright just copy my wand movements and repeat after me. 'Concealo Glamora.'" Shana whipped her wand downwards. Ginny imitated her.
"Well done."
"Have a look at yourself."
Ginny glanced into a full length mirror in the corner of the room. She hardly recognized the girl staring back at her. Her freckles were no longer visible and her face looked smoother.
"You'd look quite good, actually, if it weren't for that hair. If I put a regular colouring spell on it, it would just turn back in an hour or so. I'm sure I can find a better way to do it."
Without further dialogue, Shana exited the room. Ginny was greatly relieved, but still nervous. She wondered if Shana was really serious about dying her hair. She hoped not. Sure, her hair wasn't beautiful. In fact, it WAS kind of irritating at times, but she didn't want to dye it, especially not permanently!
To Ginny's disappointment, Shana did return and certainly not empty handed. In her hands were several vials and an empty glass. She set the vials down on a bedside table and began to pour varied amounts of each into the glass. Ginny recognized most of the ingredients and so far none of them seemed too potent. She was beginning to hope that, perhaps, Shana had been unable to find a way to make the potion permanent.
Just when Ginny was beginning to really believe this, Shana pulled out one last vial that had been hiding in her pocket. The vial was made of black glass, so that no one could see inside of it. Very carefully, Shana undid the cork and let two drops slide into the potion. They were silvery and had a liquidy consistency, 'almost like blood,' Ginny thought. She gasped loudly.
Shana turned around abruptly.
"Hey! What's your problem! I might have dropped this!"
Ginny shook her head, "Please, tell me that isn't…isn't-"
"Tell you it isn't undiluted unicorn blood? I suppose I could TELL you it wasn't but…"
"Shana, you can't use unicorn blood for something as stupid as my hair!"
"Sure I can," she said simply.
Ginny began to protest, but Shana cut her off, "Look Ginny, if you don't drink it now, the unicorn blood will be a complete waste. The unicorn will have died in vain. Now drink." With that she forced the glass into Ginny's hand.
Ginny raised the glass to her lips and swallowed.
AN:
Arella Hallo: Hehe. Sorry 'bout the gore. I didn't think it was that bad (cept maybe the part about the head…)
Anyanka: Oh never fear, Draco will appear. I made a rhyme… Anyways, he'll probably show up in a chapter or two.
Kitakat: From Canon, we know only that Augustus Rookwood turned spy for Voldemort. He worked in the department of Mysteries, passing information to the Dark Lord. Sorry bout the gore, hehe. I couldn't resist.
Cassandra: I liked the Barretts too, but for plot's sake I had to kill them.
Ryuu_Chan2000: You might be on to something there! ;)
DestinyGirl: Thanks for reviewing :)
