Chapter Four: Far More Shocking

Of course that dreaded time finally came around. Ginny found herself sitting nervously in a circular room filled with odd artifacts and gatherings. She sat in front of a large desk in an equally large chair; in the chair next to her sat Blaise. It was late Thursday night. Supper had passed and both students waited for the Headmaster to return.

They waited a mere five minutes, probably less, for the Hogwarts Headmaster to arrive in his office. He said nothing as he entered, closed the door and sat himself in the seat behind his desk. His Phoenix, Fawkes, looked to the elder man with gleaming balls of yellow eyes as if wondering what the two students were doing here.

"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore acknowledged, his voice low, "Blaise spoke to me yesterday and told me you had come to him with rather interesting information about the Gryffindor team."

Ginny's eyes lowered to the floor by her feet. The guilt in her stomach was like a rolling thunder storm, becoming stronger and more unbearable. But put the guilt aside and she could feel that she had indeed done the right thing. It was like she was a living juxtaposition; guilt to contrast beside her truthfulness. Ginny wasn't sure which feeling was right - or if either was. "I did Professor," she mumbled quietly.

Dumbledore shared glances between the Gryffindor sixth year and Blaise, his eyes surveying them from behind his half-moon spectacles. "Blaise tells me that you've spoken with Mister Potter and that he in fact is not being quite honest with his call on the Slytherin team."

Nodding in agreement, Ginny looked to the Headmaster's crystal eyes. "That is what I told him."

"Blaise also told me that Harry never came forth with this bit of news and that it is only your instincts and suspicions that have lead you to believe this."

If Ginny didn't know better she'd have guessed that Dumbledore was trying to make it so that this wasn't an option he could use against the Gryffindor team. "No, Professor, I know Harry's not telling the truth. I've known him long enough to know when he's lying and this is one of those times."

"However you aren't certain?" Dumbledore was looking over his glasses right into her eyes and Ginny felt a bit intimidated.

"Well I can't be a good hundred percent certain, not without Harry right out saying that the call's a hoax. But sir, I can almost guarantee you that it is so."

"Can you tell me what Harry told you?"

Ginny, for a moment, looked to Blaise who gave her an encouraging look with his eyes. She returned her attention to Dumbledore and gave him a summary of what Harry had told her that night she'd approached him. "All he would say was if it turned out in Gryffindor favour Slytherin cheated. And then I'd question him about that and he said that's all I needed to know. Gryffindor comes out of this in a favourable fashion no matter what - they can't loose. Professor I know Harry's lying. Him and the rest of the team. They can't face a lose to Slytherin and so they're going to bluff their way to a win."

"Very well," Dumbledore said slowly and solemnly. "I know you are reliable Miss Weasley, and I doubt that you are lying to me, how unfortunate that is. However due to the fact that you have no solid evidence in the aspect that Harry never told you the honest truth about his team's doings I cannot call this upon them."

Blaise and Ginny looked horrifically to the other. Both had thought that for sure this would've won Slytherin the call and the match's results would be as they were supposed to be with a Slytherin win. But what Dumbledore was saying was that this wasn't fact enough and he couldn't go off it.

"I have discussed the matter with Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch. Together we have come to the conclusion that Slytherin has not committed any foul and the Quidditch match was rightly won by them." Ginny detected a faint darkness in his eyes, almost as if he were hoping that Gryffindor would win.

Ginny looked with relief to Blaise, a grin spread across his face. His team was off. Ginny didn't think he could be too much happier and she too smiled.

"I will make this announcement tomorrow night during supper. However, I don't want this matter to leave this office. It is to stay between us and the two others who are making this decision along with me. I don't ever want to hear any talk of it."

"There will be no speaking of this Professor," Ginny said with a sparkle in her eye. The guilt had vanished from her gut and she couldn't help but feel joyous for the Slytherin team - be they her House rivals or not.

Blaise nodded as well. "We won't speak of it again sir. You have our word."

"Good, than you are both dismissed. I will see you at dinner time tomorrow." The two students left Dumbledore's office. A grin of achievement was present on both.

"Thanks again Ginny," Blaise said casually turning to the young redhead. They exited the hidden staircase and came out into the large corridor.

"Just did what I thought was right," Ginny replied with a small shrug of her shoulders. She too was pleased with Dumbledore's decision. She could see an interesting smirk on Blaise's face and she raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think you know what this means to us Slytherins. It's because of you that we got off this call in the better."

Ginny looked to the floor, feeling slightly hot in the cheeks, and tried to cover her nerves. She hated that this boy was able to make her feel like this, flustered and nervous. She suddenly felt his hand come to her chin and raise her face. Looking into his dark eyes she saw his sincerity. She swallowed hard in her throat and bite gently on her bottom lip. She watched his eyes search her face and than stop upon her own eyes.

"Thank you," he whispered quietly. Blaise then smiled lightly down upon her and removed his hand from her chin. He turned and walked away from the redhead, making his way for the Slytherin Dungeon.

Ginny sighed heavily as she made her way to her own House's Common Room. She was pleased, to say the very least, that Dumbledore and the others had decided in Slytherin's favour. She still found it hard to believe that Harry had really concocted that bullshit of an excuse in attempts to beat Slytherin. What was he coming to?

"Where have you been?" Quin asked when Ginny came into Gryffindor Tower and sat down in one of the chairs by the sixth years.

"Library," she fibbed, looking to the brunette and curling a leg underneath of her. "Just getting some information I needed for homework."

"Don't we find out tomorrow what was decided about last weekend's Quidditch match?" Lynda asked, picking Chester up off the floor. The cat curled in her knees and feel asleep rather rapidly.

"That we do," Quin said. "I do hope Gryffindor ends up with the win."

"They will," Colin said overtop a text book. He was rushing to finish up some last minute homework for class tomorrow. "Slytherin cheated. How can they possibly pull away with the win?"

Ginny listened attentively to her classmates as they conversed about the call. She knew better, and she knew what the outcome of Dumbledore's call was. She knew it was going to be called in favour of the Slytherins.

It had been a long night for Blaise. Long and sleepless. He had been too thrilled to sleep and the amount of energy that surged through him surely didn't help all that much.

He couldn't be any more pleased with the outcome of Potter's hoax call. Well, if they had been able to prove to Dumbledore that Potter was lying and Potter would have to face consequences, than Blaise would've been happier, but this was almost as good. He couldn't wait to see the look on Potter's face when Dumbledore announced his decision to the school.

It was unfortunate that he had not been able to tell Draco. After all, Draco was the Captain, if anyone should have known it should've been he. But Blaise would keep to his word, both to Dumbledore and to Ginny.

Ginny Weasley, she'd been a common thought on his mind for the last few days and Blaise wasn't sure why. Why had she helped him, helped Slytherin? She was a Gryffindor, an enemy, but she had helped them out none the less. Confusion had struck Blaise. She was both a Gryffindor and a Weasley. Those were probably the two groups of witches and wizards that he and Draco harassed the most. But she was different. He just couldn't figure out how.

Her eyes were remarkable. Blaise had noticed that when he'd looked upon her to thank her. They were an incredible shade of gold, flecked with specks of brown, and there was a glint present in them that he couldn't describe.

The more he thought of her, the more he saw her, the more he wanted to know her. Every part of her. But it was unheard of, and Blaise denied it to himself. She was a Gryffindor and a Weasley at that. What was he thinking?

* * *

Blaise ignored the bright sunshine that came into his dorm. He shut his eyes tight and blocked it all out. Maybe it would go away.

"Blaise we have class in a half hour," reminded Draco and Blaise stirred. He rubbed his sore eyes and got on his uniform. He managed to make it to the Great Hall with Draco.

He had finally fallen asleep about two hours before he had been rudely awoken. All he wanted now was his four poster and some shut eye. He yawned, entering the Hall, and caught the eye of one particular redhead. He gave her a smile, which she returned, and then made his way to the head of the Slytherin Table, taking a seat to Draco's left.

Well, there was one other thing he wanted. For time to miraculously pass by and for it to be two meals from now. Dumbledore would make his little announcement to the school and Blaise would be able to see Potter's crushed face when he realized his loss. The glory of it all.

"Do you think we have any chance?" Pansy asked across the table to Draco.

"Against Potter and Gryffindor?" He chuckled. "I highly doubt it," he answered pessimistically.

"You really think so Draco?"

"Yes Pansy, I really think so."

Damn, how Blaise wished he could spill his information. They all had the wrong idea. They were completely wrong. He wanted to let everyone know that Slytherin was the out coming team in this. That Gryffindor was going down. No. He'd have to wait another ten hours, or so, until the school would find out. Ten hours of silence. He could only think of one other person who understood what he was going through.



This realm of keeping quiet was like torture. Ginny was forced into listening to the rest of the Gryffindors as they boasted about winning. Every one of them thought that Gryffindor was going to pull away from this with the win. They didn't know how wrong they were.

Harry was the worst. Ginny didn't know what had gotten into him. What had happened to that boy she used to know? They one she used to like? For him to have even come up with this plot was insanely not him. And then to have the confidence, or cockiness, to think that he was going to get away with it. He was definitely no longer the Harry Potter Ginny knew in her first year at Hogwarts. Or even her fifth.

As classes drew nearer, Ginny got up from the table and exited with the other Gryffindors of her year. Ginny, along with a few others headed to the eastern courts of the castle for Ancient Runes. The others, including with them Lynda and Quinlan, headed north where they'd have Divination. Ginny counted on this being a rather long day.

And she couldn't have been any more right. The day seemed to slip by slowly. It was anticipation. Anticipation always made for time to come to a near stop. And this day couldn't be any more like that.

Ancient Runes, a normally quick and interesting class, crawled by today. Professor Hanson, the Ancient Runes teacher, couldn't even make the time pass quickly for Ginny. Everything had just come to a halt. And that lead Ginny to think about Blaise. How she had loved the past little while. Actually speaking to him, holding a conversation with him. Although, there was always that awkward sensation she got in the pit of her stomach whenever he was around.

When the day's classes finally passed, and meal time came around, Ginny went to the Great Hall, like everyone else, and found her seat at her House Table. It was so eerie to be in there. Ginny could actually hear herself breath, that's how quiet it was. Never before, or never again, would it be so quiet. It was almost frightening. All eyes were turned in eager anticipation toward Dumbledore. The Headmaster, however, ignored the lot as he merrily whispered something to Professor McGonagall to his side.

Looking to the student body, Dumbledore cleared his throat as he rose. All inhaled deeply, awaiting for his announcement. One could almost slice the tension with a butter knife, it was so thick.

"I would like to start by saying that Professor Flitwick, Madam Hooch and myself have had a fair difficult time with this call. Very rare is it for one team to call such a foul on another." The old wizard paused and surveyed the hall of students.

Taking the moment Ginny glanced sideways at the Slytherins. Her eyes meet up with Blaise's and she gave him a weak smile. She knew the call, but this still made her nervous.

"We have reviewed the match in great detail," Dumbledore started up again by saying. "There was not a second of that game that was not thoroughly analysed." He paused again and Ginny swore he was doing it for suspense's effect. "So, Professor Flitwick, Madam Hooch and I have come to the conclusion that," the air became tighter as tension rose a notch, "Slytherin is declared the win of the match. The House team has committed no foul."

Whoops, cheers and claps came from the prevailing house, much to the disappointment of the others. Many eyes, namely Ginny, Blaise and Draco, looked to Harry.

His eyes were wide, but his pupils were small. Both eyebrows were raised in complete shock and his mouth gaped open. His eyes travelled rapidly between the Headmaster and the rival team. It was apparent that he didn't quite comprehend what had just happened. How he could've lost the call.

Dumbledore cleared his throat again and the Slytherins became silent. "I hope no further calls such as this come up as long as I am Headmaster of this school. The final Quidditch match before winter will occur next weekend and tomorrow will be the Hallowe'en Feast and trip to Hogsmeade for third years and above. A bid you all a fair evening." He clapped his hands gently and food miraculously appeared on the tables before them.

The Gryffindor Table was on the rather quiet side throughout the meal. Everyone was in a fair bit of shock with Dumbledore's choice. They had all been certain that Gryffindor would pull away with the better side of this. All save for Ginny. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff weren't all that loud either. Only Slytherin kept at their normal volume, but then they had reason to be happy.

There were still things Ginny wished she knew. Everything that had been going on through Harry's head last weekend she wanted to know. Although it didn't seem as if she'd ever find that out.



"Ginny, thanks again," came a soft hiss in her ear as she made her exit from the Great Hall. She kept up with Quin and Lynda, only falling only a pace or two behind. She turned slightly, a smile on her face, to see Blaise behind her.

"Your welcome," her whisper was faint but he could hear it and Blaise grinned.

"I hope I'll someday be able to return the favour," his words hit her ear. "In the meantime, thanks."

"Blaise," she chuckled softly, "I think you've thanked me thirty times now." She turned a corridor with the other two and knew that he had left in the opposite direction. Merlin how she could feel herself falling more and more for him.

It was nine-thirty when Ginny made her way to her dorm, much to the questioning of the sixth years. She'd simply yawned and explained that she was tired. She hiked up the stairs, staring down at her feet. Fumbling with the elastic in her hair, Ginny looked to the door entrance to her dormitory.

"Christ Harry, you're not supposed to be here," she gasped, looking to his green eyes and scar. "You know you aren't supposed to be up at the girls' dormitories."

"I need to talk," he said very clearly, turning the knob and backing into her dorm. Ginny followed him in. She gulped, perhaps in fear, and sat on the edge of her bed. Harry had closed the door and now walked the length of the room. "Did you say anything?"

"Say anything? Harry, what are you talking about?" Ginny prayed this wasn't about the Quidditch call.

"About the cheating call on Slytherin? Did you tell Slytherin it was a hoax call? After I talked with you, did you turn to them?"

"Yes Harry, after you told me nothing, I ran to Draco Malfoy and told him a whole lot of nothing," she lashed, dripping with foul sarcasm. "Bloody hell Harry, even if I wanted to I had nothing to tell those slimy gits. Where are you coming off of?"

"We were sure to have the call okayed by Dumbledore. We would've won, but somehow Dumbledore was convinced otherwise. You accused me of lying, did you not? So did you go to Malfoy and his bloody team? Tell them all you knew?"

"I told you Harry, I said nothing to Slytherin. Yes, I may have accused you of lying, and I more than ever believe it now, but I didn't talk to Malfoy. Why would I?" She hoped she sounded as convincing as she thought she did.

Harry walked up to her. "I don't know. Why would you? You better very well be speaking the truth to me Ginny. I can't believe you would go to Slytherin. I can't believe you'd betray your own house."

"Oh sod off Harry. I told you I didn't go tell Slytherin anything." She paused than slyly add, "I can't believe you'd lie to win a Quidditch match."

He narrowed his eyes at her, but Ginny leered right back. She wanted him to leave before anything got out of control.

"If I ever hear otherwise Gin," he threatened, "I swear ..."

"What? You swear what?" After he didn't reply Ginny spoke again, "Leave Harry, now."

Shaking his head, Harry angrily walked from the girls' dorm, shutting the door tight behind him. What had happened? This was so not the Harry Ginny'd once known? What had gone on with his life to turn this boy around like that? It just didn't make sense. The call didn't make sense. But how had he known she's talked?

Blaise. He couldn't have, but then ... If he'd uttered a word of this to Malfoy it might just have reached Harry's ears. Sure that would give reasoning to Harry's anger, but Blaise wouldn't have. No, it wasn't plausible. Ginny didn't even want to think about that. He'd said he would keep his word. He swore to her that he wouldn't tell anyone. He promised he'd never mention her name.



"Blaise, we need to talk." The moment Draco had come into the Common Room he had wished to speak with Blaise. "You knew about this didn't you?" Draco asked the second he knew that no one else could hear them.

"About the outcome of the call?"

"Yes the outcome of the call. You had already known Slytherin was going to win, didn't you?" His tone of voice, although one could mistake it for anger, Blaise knew that Draco was just questioning. Rather enthusiastically, but he was still just questioning.

"Draco, I can't say anything ..."

"What did that Weasley girl tell you?" Draco cut in. "She told you something the other day, didn't she?"

"She didn't tell me anything." Blaise looked away. He wouldn't tell Draco, he couldn't. Draco would have to pour Truth Potion down his throat for him to let out what Ginny had told him.

"That's bullshit Blaise. Weasley didn't just want to talk to you for the sake of talking to you. I'm not an idiot Zabini, what did she tell you?" Draco demanded to know and his grey slate eyes narrowed at the other boy.

"She didn't say anything Draco, just leave it at that." Blaise turned his dark eyes to Draco and challenged him to step down. There was no way in all of hell that he would speak of this. No way.

Draco gave Blaise a look that said he knew there was something behind this, and he wanted to know what that was. "She told you something about the Gryffindors, didn't she? Something that lead us to getting Dumbledore's choice. What was it Blaise? What did that muggle loving Weasley tell you?"

"Drop it Malfoy," Blaise said angrily, cowering at the blonde. "Ginny didn't tell me anything, nothing that concerns you. Leave it be, alright?"

"Give it a rest Blaise," Draco sneered. "What did she tell you?" He hated it when things wouldn't go his way. Blaise knew Draco wouldn't let him out of this one easily.

With an even heavier glare Blaise answered, "Draco, back off. I told you, she didn't tell me anything."

"I'm not buying it Blaise. What did that Weasley tell you?"

"Look, you got your win, did you not? Be happy with that, you don't need to know any of my affairs."

Angrily, Draco turned away, shaking his head, and walked to the group of seventh years. Blaise watched the blonde prefect walk away and bit down on his tongue. Draco was a good guy, at times, but he was also the biggest prat Blaise thought he'd ever meant. Draco could go ahead and think he'd get anything from Blaise, but no, Blaise was going to keep his word to the young Weasley. He wasn't about to tell anyone what she'd come to him with.



A/n: :hmphs: I do believe there's a couple things I must say. Lets start off with a grand thank-you to all you who have reviewed. Thanks so much! Also; yeah, Harry's a bit (mark that :a lot:) OOC. Can you tell he's not my favourite character much? But there will be a reason for his OOC-ness, and when I figure out what that reason is, you will too! Not a big fan of how this chapter ended, but for now it will do. Thanks again everyone! Lizi