Big Trouble

            Harry is sitting at large round table with his Gryffindor classmates while the Americans get ready to show them a traditional American Thanksgiving.  He grinned at Hermione and Colby, who are cuddling and giggling together at the far end of the table that Hagrid had set up for them outside his hut.  He is no where to be seen, though Harry had heard him grumbling about business in the Forbidden Forest.

            Ron slumps down beside Harry, glaring over at Hermione and Colby.  "I just don't understand it," he mutters.  "What could she possibly see in that git?"

            "Leave them be, Ron," Harry says.  "They're happy.  Besides, he leaves at the end of the year and won't be back.  Let them enjoy this time."

            "Some friend you are," Ron grumbles.  "You're supposed to support me!"

            Harry shrugs.  "Sorry.  I don't know what to tell you."

            "Well, well, well.  Isn't this quaint?" Draco Malfoy says from a few feet away.  "What do you think you're doing?  If Dumbledore was to hear about this…"

            "Go soak your head, Malfoy," Harry stands up and walks toward Draco angrily.  He's had enough  of the Slytherin boy's cynicism and cruelty this year.  "Why don't you go back to your little dungeon and be miserable by yourself.  We have no room for your kind of desolation here."

            Draco crosses his arms defiantly.  "Is that so, Potter?  I'd certainly like to see you try to make me.  Besides, I can just go talk to Dumbledore about your little party.  I'm sure he'd be quite pleased to hear about his star pupils breaking into Hagrid's hut and using up the school's food supplies."

            "I'll have you know that we have full permission to do this," Hermione finally says.  She stands away from Colby and joins Harry in front of Draco.  "We spoke to Hagrid, MacGonagall, and Dumbledore before doing any of this."

            Draco sneers.  "Well, isn't that special?  I suppose I ought to run along and let you enjoy this fake holiday, shouldn't I?"

            Daniel cracks his knuckles angrily.  "It's not fake!  It's a day to give thanks for all the good in your life and to celebrate the survival of our country's first year of existence!  You should be proud, too, Malfoy.  They were your people as well."

            "My people?" Draco laughs.  "You think I'd associate myself with anything Muggle?  Not bloody likely.  If you'll excuse me, I have more productive things to do."

            The group lets him saunter away, fuming but not ready to let him ruin their day.  Cynthia is about to serve dinner when she looks around the table.  "Is everyone here?"

            "I thought Johnny was coming," Colby says.

            Denise makes a face.  "That turncoat?  I'm glad she decided not to make an appearance."

            "Look, she's just a victim of circumstance.  It's not her fault she's in Slytherin now.  Do you really think she attacked Zimmermann?" Daniel asks.

            Denise shrugs.  "I don't know.  She's always had a short fuse."

            "She didn't do it," Colby says sternly.  "She's not a bad guy, okay?"

            "Come to think of it, where's Ginny?" Hermione asks.  "Didn't you invite her?"

            Harry nods.  "Yeah, of course.  She never answered, though.  Maybe she's keeping an eye on Johnny…"

            "Public displays of affection are not permitted vithin the school's grounds, Miss Veasley.  You are more zan avare of zese rules.  Vhat vere you thinking?" Zimmermann asks Ginny, who is standing in front his desk, her head down.  He shakes his head.  "And Miss Parker, you are already skating on thin ice as it is.  You know you don't have much leniency in the system anymore."

            Johnny's fists are clenched in anger.  "I know that what we did was wrong, Professor.  But… we weren't hurting anybody and this is one of the rules that aren't as major as the others.  Can't we just get off with a detention or something?"

            Zimmermann chuckled.  "You'd like that, wouldn't you?  Any excuse to stay out of trouble, especially after what you did to me."

            "Johnny wasn't anywhere near you," Ginny says harshly.  "I was with her when you were attacked at the party.  I know you're up to something."

            "Bold vords coming from someone who's going to have to answer a lot of questions vhen I owl her mother about what just happened," Zimmermann says.

            Ginny shrugs.  "Go ahead and owl her.  I've already sent my mother word that I like girls and that I've fallen in love with Johnny.  She'll be upset that I broke a rule but she's already well aware of my interests."

            Zimmermann nods.  "Vell played, Veasley.  But, if you love her so much, why don't you go to Dumbledore vith vhat you know?  I'm sure Johnny's status could be easily cleared if ze truth vas known."

            Johnny touches Ginny's hand and shakes her head.  Zimmermann's smile broadens.  "You see?  Johnny knows zat zere is so much more going on.  If you vent to ze proper authorities, things might speed up a bit more zan she is ready for.  And ve vouldn't vant zat, vould ve?"

            Ginny sighs and glares at Johnny.  "What's our punishment, then?"

            "Knowing that you've stirred up ze interest of very powerful figures, Veasley.  Powers zat normally vouldn't have cared about your existence prior to zis," Zimmermann says.  "Now, leave.  Zere are others who vill be vorried about you, I'm sure."

            Johnny takes Ginny by the arm and drags her out of Zimmermann's office.  They walk down the long corridor together in silence before Johnny turns to look at Johnny.  "Look what you've done!  He never would have thought you knew anything if you had kept your mouth shut!"

            "I just wanted to help…" Ginny starts.

            Johnny shakes her head.  "Do me a favor and butt out.  There might be a chance to save you if you just stay out of this.  Just… just stay away from me.  Everyone, just leave me alone!"

            "But… Johnny, I love you…" Ginny whispers.

            "That doesn't matter anymore.  Anyone who comes near me is going to get burned," Johnny snaps.  "Don't you see?  Things are a lot weirder than they're supposed to be and it's all my fault!"

            Ginny takes Johnny's hand.  "Don't say that love doesn't matter, Johnny.  And things are weird every year here at Hogwarts.  If you talked to Harry—"

            "No!" Johnny exclaims.  I'm not involving anymore people than I already have.  I won't let anyone get hurt because of me."

            "You're hurting me by not letting me in!" Ginny cries.  "Please!  I need you!  I need you more than I've ever needed anyone!  Don't do this to me, Johnny.  Please…"

            Johnny just sighs and walks away.  Ginny bursts into tears and heads toward the exit.  She needs to see Harry, Hermione, and Ron.  But today is not her day.  She bumps into Draco Malfoy, who is on his way inside.  He frowns at her.  "What's the rush, Weasley?"

            "None of your business, Draco," Ginny says between sobs.  "Let me pass, please."

            Draco, at a loss for what to do with someone who is already distressed, stands aside.  He watches her go.  Shaking his head, he turns to walk away when he hears someone running toward him.

            "Ginny, wait!  Ginny, I love you, too…" Johnny calls.  She sees Draco standing in front of her, a bemused expression on his face.  She clenches her fists.  "Malfoy, if you say one word about this to anyone… I'll kill you, so help me."

            "Attacking a teacher and threatening a fellow student.  That's probably enough to get you shipped right back to the farm, isn't it?" Draco sneers.

            Johnny laughs.  "I won't get expelled.  Zimmermann won't have that.  He needs me here for something.  But I'm sure you'd know, being bred for the Death-Eaters yourself, huh?"

            "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Draco says, but the smirk on his face tells Johnny otherwise.  "We'll see what I do with my new information, Parker.  And, just so you know, I think Ginny went running to Harry Potter.  You know how she feels about him, don't you?"

            Johnny's face pales.  She takes a deep breath and turns around.  "Do what you will, Malfoy.  You'll get yours in the end," she leaves him where he's standing.