Winding Down
Harry and Ron are exhausted. They'd spent the whole night catching up and are leaning on the table at breakfast, barely staying awake. Hermione walks into the Great Hall and smiles at the boys. "Good morning. Sleep well?"
Ron shakes his head at her. "Sarcasm isn't your strong suit. Stick to the books."
"Morning, Hermione," Harry replies. "You're looking awfully chipper this morning. What happened?"
Hermione drops into a chair next to them. She pulls a book from her bag. American Wizarding History is the title. She has a large smile on her face. "I looked up the names you found in the yearbook in Zimmermann's office. Margaret Nurse and Marcus Corey. The first time these names are mentioned in this book is in the seventeenth century. Corey and Nurse were apparently tried for witchcraft during the Salem Witch trials. But that was a long time ago. I don't see the significance of these two."
"What happened to them?" Ron asks.
"Well, Nurse was hanged and Corey was crushed by rocks," Hermione says. "Witchcraft was a very serious crime in those days."
Harry grimaces. "Is there anything about the Nurse and Corey from the yearbook?"
"Nothing," Hermione says. "I tried, though," he eyes fall on Ron, who's looking through the history book. She sighs. "What now?"
Daniel walks up behind Hermione and tickles her ribs briefly. She squeals and turns to slap his hands. "Morning, gang. Sorry, Hermione, I couldn't resist. Well, are we ready to get moving on the next phase of the plan?"
"And what would that be?" Ron asks, glaring at the older boy. It's bad enough he's competing with Colby for Hermione's affection. He doesn't want to add Daniel to the equation.
"We figure out what the Giants are doing in the forest, right?" Daniel asks Harry.
Harry nods. "That's right. Johnny and I are going to go ask Hagrid about the Giants."
"And you think Hagrid's just going to tell you about them?" Hermione asks.
"Why not? He's practically told us every other secret about the school," Harry says with a smile.
Ginny walks into the Hall, looking around eagerly. Ron looks up at his younger sister, a big smile on his face. "She's not here yet, Ginny!"
Ginny shrugs and sits down. "I haven't seen her since we all came back. Does anyone know if she's all right?"
Johnny walks in
then, dressed in her Slytherin robes. She sees Ginny and smiles broadly. She
sits down next to Ginny and hugs her close. "Morning!"
"Morning yourself," Ginny says, nuzzling Johnny's cheek. "How
was your break?"
Johnny's smile fades. "I… had a long talk with my folks… About a lot of things. Magic, where I'm going in life… you."
Ginny looks concerned. "It didn't go well, did it?"
"Not as well as I'd hoped," Johnny says quietly. "My folks always promised that they'd love and support me no matter what. But our relationship has gotten so strained since I got my letter of acceptance into Hogwarts. I tried so hard to be the daughter I always was when I'm home. Working on the ranch, helping Pop with the chores, and being as normal with them as I can. But nothing I do seems to matter. I'm just… weird to them now. I'm not their daughter no more. I'm the kid they took in and went wrong."
Harry sighs. "What happened?"
Johnny shrugs. "Well, I'm just not what they expected, I guess. But… I mean, they didn't disown me or anything. They just think that my getting the ranch when they retire isn't such a great idea anymore. And if I mention a girl's name in their presence, even just a friend of mine from back home, they clam up and don't speak to me for a few hours. School wasn't even talked about at all."
Ginny rests her head on Johnny's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, honey. Anything I can do?"
Johnny smiles. "Loving me seems to be a good idea."
Ginny's eyes brighten. "That I can do for sure!"
"Get a room, why don't you?" Pansy Parkinson's voice snaps from the Slytherin table. "At least let the rest of us normal people keep some of our breakfast down."
"Maybe if you'd mind your own business, you'd be fine," Daniel says angrily. "Or else you'll have a huge problem on your hands."
Pansy's face drains of color. She gets up quickly and runs from the hall. Her Slytherin classmates watch her in fascination. "What'd you say to her?" Crabbe asks suspiciously.
Daniel smirks. "Nothing you'd understand."
Goyle guffaws loudly. "He called you stupid, Crabbe!"
Crabbe cracks his knuckles menacingly. "You take that back!"
"Make me, numb skull," Daniel said.
Draco intervenes suddenly. "Knock it off, you two. Now isn't the time or the place…" he stalks away angrily. Crabbe and Goyle follow, giving Daniel very hard looks.
"I wonder what that's supposed to mean," Ron mutters.
"Ignore him" Harry said. "We've got… bigger concerns."
Johnny stands up. "After class, then, Harry, we'll go talk to Hagrid. Ginny, want to walk with me to class?"
Ginny nods and follows Johnny out of the hall. They walk for a bit before Johnny reaches down and takes Ginny's hand. They smile at each other. "I met your dad last night…"
"Oh?" Ginny asks.
"Yeah. He was at the hearing for me last night," Johnny says. "He really stuck up for me."
Ginny blushes. "He was so shocked at first. But after the initial reaction, they were really supportive. I explained to them your situation and he said he'd do whatever he could to help."
"I just hope he doesn't get into any trouble over me," Johnny says. "I'd feel terrible if anything happened."
Ginny nods. "We'll just have to see what happens, won't we?"
Johnny reaches into her pocket. "I have something for you. Kind of a late Christmas present."
Ginny looks at her excitedly. "You didn't have to, though!"
Johnny pulls a small box from her pocket and hands it to Ginny, avoiding eye contact. She doesn't want to blush.
Ginny opens the box and gasps. Inside is a thin silver chain with a tiny emerald pendant. She pulls it out and looks hard at it. "This is beautiful! How… you didn't have to…"
Johnny smiles. "Yes, I did…" she takes the necklace and places it around Ginny's neck. She smiles. "You like it?"
"Very much so," Ginny says. "But, where did you get it?"
Johnny shakes her head. "Like I'm about to tell you!" they stop at the door to Snape's Potions classroom. "I'll see you at lunch, all right, dear?"
Ginny throws her arms around Johnny's neck and hugs her tight. "I love you so much."
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your public display of affection," Snape says suddenly. "Go on to class, Miss Weasley."
Ginny sighs and looks at Johnny. "Bye!"
Johnny watches Ginny leave, smiling brightly. Things aren't so bad after all.
