Chapter 19: After Dinner "ments"
The rest of the feast passed uneventfully, thank goodness. As the last of the food magically disappeared from the tables, Dumbledore stood for his announcements.
"I hope everyone has enjoyed their feast and is now ready for a Rip Roaring, Hip-Hoping year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As always, the Forbidden Forest is, as it sounds, forbidden to all students. Mr. Filch has asked that you be reminded that after hour hall wandering is most forbidden. He also asked that torture be returned as a viable punishment, but after a close vote by the professors, it has been denied. Sorry Mr. Filch."
A loud, deep snort of disgust (and disappointment) could be heard from the main doors.
Dumbledore continued as if he had not heard. "For our last bit of business, let me announce this year's prefects, Head Boy and Head Girl. First our prefects are: from Hufflepuff, Miss Janet Dorsey; from Gryffindor, Miss Leann Jordan; from Ravenclaw, Mr. Eric Boot; and from Slytherin, Miss Polly Parkinson. The title of Head Boy goes to Mr. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin."
A loud roar erupted around Ginny and Draco at the Slytherin table. Ginny grabbed Draco's arm, squeezed lovingly and said, "Good Job Ferret Boy."
Draco gave his familiar smirk, but Ginny saw the look of pride he had in his eyes. He deserves it, she thought to herself.
"Yes, yes, congratulations Mr. Malfoy, for a job well done. Now, our decision for Head Girl was quite a dilemma, but I assure you a decision has been made. This year's Head Girl is Miss Ginny Weasley from Gryffindor."
There were no claps, no yells, just silence. Draco gave no sound due to the fact his mouth was hanging open, the rest of the crowd was silent because everyone had assumed the know-it-all Granger had it in the bag.
The first person to react was the aforementioned Miss Granger and she quickly recovered and removed herself from the Great Hall. Sobs could be heard from her retreating back. Harry and Ron quickly followed.
Draco, by the time Harry and Ron moved, had regained his composure and began to clap. Soon, out of respect, the other Houses and Professors joined in.
Ginny politely smiled. She then got up and also left the Great Hall in silent tears. Draco caught the sight of Ginny's retreating back and moved to follow, but was quickly stopped by well-wishers. He soon found himself surrounded by his fellow Slytherins, he was, after all, the first Head Boy from Slytherin in 50 years, but all he could concentrate on was Ginny and her unexpected departure.
Hermione ran as fast as she could to Gryffindor Tower. She reached the Fat Lady, said the password (mandrake juice) and flew in the door as soon as it opened. She had barely stepped inside the common room, when the portrait flew open and Harry and Ron arrived.
"'Mione, are you ok?" Ron asked, as he walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her and began rubbing soothing, circles into her back.
Her only response was a sniffle and more crying.
Harry walked up and wrapped his arms around Hermione from behind.
"Hermione," Harry said, "We know you wanted to be Head Girl, but maybe this is for the best."
Ron and Hermione's heads popped up at this. Ron's eyes relayed an angry glare, while Hermione seemed confused.
"Harry, I don't understand. How is this for the best?"
'Well, it might be the best for several reasons. It will give you more time to study for the NEWTs. It will give you more time with Ron and me. It will also give you time to work on that special project you wanted to do with Professor McGonagall, and more time in the library."
At this, Ron snorted. Hermione playfully punched Ron and sternly glared at Harry.
"Harry Potter, I don't know whether to hit you, thank you or kiss you." She said with a grin.
"Well, I know which one he better not accept." Ron informed them.
They all three hugged each other again and laughed.
They broke apart at the sound of the portrait opening.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the Magnificent Three." Ginny sneered.
"Ginny, I just want to say congratulations and…" Hermione stopped mid-sentence after seeing the look of hatred in Ginny's eyes.
"Save it. All of you, it was just as I expected. Poor Hermione, oh…wait… was that Ginny? Oh! Good Job Ginny! Puh-lease, go congratulate some Prefect who might think you actually mean it, because I don't. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to send out a few owls to people who will give a damn and then, I am going to ask to be moved out Gryffindor Tower. Good night and Good Bye.
"Ginny…" Ron said as he moved towards her.
'Stay away from me, Ron. You are the worst of the three by far. I AM YOUR SISTER, flesh and blood, but apparently that is not as important as Miss Perfect over there. Well, I guess maybe one would have to question just how perfect she really is considering, but I find this stream of conversation to be turning quite boring. Move out of my way, NOW."
With that, Ginny turned and flew up the stairs to the Girl's Dormitory, leaving three pondering minds in her angry wake.
Ginny quickly sent letters to her parents, Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins via one of Draco's extra owls. After she placed the parchments on the owl and sent it on its way, she put a shrinking charm on her belongings and put them in her purse.
She quietly walked down the stairwell hoping that the trio would not still be in the common room. Fate was partially on her side, the trio was still there, but so was the rest of Gryffindor House. So, she quickly immersed herself in the existing crowd and headed for the portrait and out she went into the dank hallway.
Her first order of business was to broach Dumbledore on her sleeping arrangements, but before she got ten feet down the hall; an arm grabbed her from behind. She made to scream, but another hand went over her mouth. Then, the unknown assailant pulled her into a dark corridor and cast a silencing charm around them and on her.
"Scared?" asked an oddly deep voice.
Ginny nodded. The voice was not recognizable, and yet familiar. It seemed transformed, somehow, garbled, yet understandable
"You shouldn't be. At least not yet, I am a mere messenger for Lord Voldemort. So listen and listen well, my lord feels that it is time for you to come back to him and finish the work you started. He will be sending someone for you soon. Be ready, Miss Weasley."
She was then released and before she could turn around, the stranger disappeared with a swish.
"Ginny! Ginny!" Ginny heard someone frantically calling her name followed by pounding on something. She stepped out from the dank corner and saw Draco in front of the Fat Lady.
"Please let me in. I need to find Ginny Weasley."
"No. You are Slytherin; you probably want to cause trouble for the Gryffindors." The Fat Lady answered.
"I'm over here." Ginny called out.
Draco turned saw the small, redhead and sighed in relief. He briskly walked to her and pulled her into a warm, tight hug. He pulled back, put his hands on either side of her face, noted the tear stains and asked if she was okay.
"I'm fine. I just had to deal with something."
"Want to share?"
"Yes, but not right now."
"Fair enough, where were you headed?"
Well, I was headed to Professor Dumbledore's office until I was accosted…"
"Accosted, by whom?"
"I have no idea, but he said he was a messenger of the Dark lord."
"What? Shit!" Draco exclaimed. "We are going to see Dumbledore immediately"
With that, he took Ginny by the arm and escorted her to the Gargoyle statue that hid Dumbledore's office.
"Licorice Sticks" Draco told the statue. The statue moved to reveal a staircase that wound upwards to an unknown destination.
Draco and Ginny began climbing the steps and soon found themselves outside a door labeled "Albus Dumbledore, Order of Merlin First Class and Headmaster of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Draco went to knock on the door, but it opened as he tried. There stood Professor Dumbledore without the normal twinkle in his eye. In fact, he looked as if he had aged 50 years overnight.
"Come in. I do believe we have something to discuss." Dumbledore said while motioning for them to come in with his arms.