Twenty
For two days straight Ron tried to get a hint of what Hermione's dress looked like. To the amusement of the rest of the Gryffindor upper classmen he was unsuccessful. "But what sort of flowers am I supposed to get you if you don't tell me?" Ron pressed early in the evening sitting on a couch with her in the common room. "I'm sure anything you get will be lovely," Hermione said not looking up from her Potions book. "But what if my suit clashes with your dress?" Ron tried again. Hermione looked up this time from her book with one eyebrow quirked up, "Since when did you start worrying about fashion?" she asked. Ron tried his best to give a puppy dog look, "Please," he begged. Hermione sat up closing her book looking straight into Ron's pleading eyes. "If I give you a kiss will you drop it and wait until this weekend at the dance?" she said. This made Ron perk up, "Oh I suppose it will do," he said grinning. Hermione reached placing a hand on the back of his neck slowly drawing him closer to her. She allowed her lips to lightly graze across his parted ones, sending goose bumps racing over both of them. She continued feather light kisses along his jaw to his ear, "Perhaps I should ensure you'll stop asking by continuing this later. . . Ron," she whispered. Hermione felt him gasp and shudder, a delicious smile of satisfaction spread across her lips. "Evil woman," Ron growled at her.
"Urgg, I'm going to lose my dinner if you two don't stop!" Seamus yelled from across the room launching a chair pillow at the back of Ron's head where it made contact before bouncing off and landing on the floor. "Hey!" Ron yelled rubbing the back of his head. Hermione simply smiled going back to her book. Ginny and Harry were sitting at a table with Colin and Ginger each studying for their respective classes. After watching Seamus hit Ron with the pillow they chuckled turning back to their work. "So, Ginger," Colin began. "Don't even," Ginger cut him off picking her quill up to write. Harry merely looked over at Ginny who smiled and shook her head.
Later the next morning Ginny was walking down the hall with Hermione and Ron. "But of course," Ginny thought, "I have to have a baby sitter with me." Hermione was talking quietly to Ron as they walked slightly behind her. Ginny looked down at the stone flooring, she felt cold again crawling up her spine, she looked back up the corridor. Gone were the many windows bright with sunlight and doors with students moving among them. In their place were two long rows of serpent heads down either side Tom Riddle stood at the end of the corridor. His feet were apart in a wide stance, arms calmly at his sides. He was looking down at the floor, slowly his head rose, black hair falling away from his eyes, one corner of his mouth turned up in an evil smirk. Ginny gasped staggering backwards as her books tumbled out of her arms crashing to the floor. Swaying on her feet her vision swam before her. Strong arms grabbed her from behind, she heard her brother Ron say her name in an urgent tone.
Ginny blinked slowly, the corridor was as it were before. Sunlight filtered through the glass panes, students milled around her quietly making their way to their classes. "Ginny?" Ron had caught her as she stumbled backwards; "Ginny are you ok?" concern was strong in his voice. Hermione's eyebrows were furrowed, "Ginny, you look pale, are you feeling ill?" she asked. Recovering quickly Ginny tried to think of something to say. "Yeah I'm all right, I think I stayed up too late studying is all," she said getting onto her knees to pick up her books. Ron looked over at Hermione who returned his look while they helped pick up Ginny's dropped books, neither of them believed her. Standing back up Ginny nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear looking around to make sure she had gotten everything. Her eyes moved to the end of the corridor and she gave a little start, standing there watching her with a cocky smile on his face was Draco Malfoy. He made sure she met his eyes before he turned walking into a classroom.
"Gin, let's take you to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said touching Ginny's elbow. Ginny looked down at Hermione's hand, her eyes traveled up to her face. Looking between Ron's determined appearance and Hermione's concerned gentle smile Ginny knew it was probably for the best to not argue. "Well just have you checked out and we'll be on our way. I don't want to have to tell Harry his date won't be making it to the spring formal," said Ron trying to lighten things up. Madam Pomfrey insisted that Ginny stay for a while so she could be checked over thoroughly. Ron tried to protest when the nurse thanked him and Hermione but told them firmly they should be getting on to class. "But I'm her brother, I should stay," he said. "Nonsense Mr. Weasley, you go onto class and I'll make sure everything is alright with your sister." Hermione finally had to tug on Ron's arm several times to get him to leave. Ginny could hear them speaking heatedly as they headed for the door, she knew for a fact she heard Ron mention Harry's name in his conversation.
Several hours later Madam Pomfrey couldn't find anything wrong with Ginny so she gave her a chunk of chocolate with instructions to get more rest and take better care of herself. She sent Ginny on her way in time for her final class. Opening the infirmary doors Ginny was chewing the last bite of her chocolate, standing outside the doors were Dean and Neville. "Hey Gin, feeling better?" Dean asked. Ginny swallowed looking between the two of them, "How did you know I was here?" she asked. "Oh you know how word spreads around here," Neville said dismissively. Ginny started walking down the hall putting her bag over her shoulder Dean and Neville fell into step with her. "So where are you two going?" Ginny asked, even though she knew the answer. "Err . . . um . . ." Neville tried to find a story to say to cover their real reason. "It's ok guys I'm not daft, and you don't have to pretend." Ginny said smiling, "Besides, any girl would feel lucky having such handsome gentlemen escort a fair maiden to her Potions class." "So your not angry?" said Dean. "I suppose I should be, but I know your doing it cause you care," Ginny answered. "That and Harry and Ron would have our raw hides strapped to the quidditch goals if something happened to you," Neville said with a nervous chuckle.
The three continued down to the dungeons to Ginny's last class for the day. Dean continued to make wise cracks and to Ginny's pleasant surprise Neville was able to match Dean's comments with just as witty a retort. They reached the Potions classroom with a few minutes to spare. "Last one to Muggle Studies has to wear Ron's old dress robs all day tomorrow," said Dean. "Your on!" Neville answered. They took off waving their goodbyes to Ginny before going neck and neck up the stairs. "If your so inclined Miss Weasley please find your seat so I may begin teaching" Snape said standing behind her at the door. "Yes Professor," Ginny said refraining from rolling her eyes. Ginny took her normal seat beside Shane Lewis as the professor made his way to the front of the class beginning the lecture. "Heard you were a bit under the weather," Shane said out of the side of his mouth to her while keeping an eye on Snape. "Damn, word spreads fast doesn't it?" Ginny answered in the same manner as Shane. "So who are you taking to the spring formal?" Ginny asked purposely changing the subject. Shane blushed ducking his head down to look at his parchment he was writing instructions on. "I asked Brandy," he said quietly. "Good for you," Ginny said grinning at her lab partner. "Yeah, she's great, you don't mind do you?" Shane asked. Ginny snorted, "Are you kidding I think it's wonderful." Ginny and Shane's attention was brought back up to the front of the class by a rather stern looking Snape clearing his throat looking pointedly at the two. "Five points from Ravenclaw for talking and 10 points from Gryffindor for talking and making rude noises. Now if you could pull away from your pressing conversation and grace us with your attention so we can continue?" Snape said in an icy tone. Looking properly chastised Shane and Ginny looked down at their tables before looking sideways at each other grinning then turning their attention back to their notes.
Class ended and students began to file out of the lab. Ginny noticed Harry standing at the bottom of the steps leaning against the wall with his hands in his robe pockets. When he saw her come out he stood straight and smiled at her. "Hi," he said kissing her cheek. "Hi you," Ginny said linking her arm around his. They walked up the stairs together in silence for a few minutes. "So you going to tell me what happened today?" Harry finally asked seeing as Ginny didn't make an attempt to say anything. Ginny took a deep breath, she couldn't tell him what happened today without explaining everything that had been going on the past several months. As luck would have it they were interrupted with the approach of Colin and Ginger at the top of the stairs. Ginny gave her two friends warning glances before they were able to make their first hellos. "Er. . . Hiya, heading to dinner?" Colin asked cautiously. Both Colin and Ginger had seen that look from Ginny before, they knew better than say anything for fear of being hexed into the next century. "I'm famished, lets head to the main hall," Ginger added. The four continued their trek to dinner quietly, as they approached the hall entrance Harry held Ginny back, "We are going to talk tonight, no interruptions, no more being evasive," he said giving her a pointed look, "Don't think that I haven't been paying attention, something has been going on for months and I want answers." Harry gently rubbed her upper arm with his hand. Ginny only nodded as Harry lead her to the Gryffindor tables.
Ginny put on a happy face and talked about class subjects and idle gossip. Looking around the hall she noticed the obvious absence of Pansy Parkinson. A malicious grin over took Ginny's features, that pug would get no sympathy from her. Seamus sat beside Ron who was directly across from Ginny; he took notice to Ginny's little smile and turned around to see where she was looking. "And what sort of mischief has Miss Weasley been into lately?" Seamus asked. "I was just noticing the lack of a certain lap dog in the hall tonight," Ginny said with great mirth. "Didn't you hear?" asked Lavender who was sitting on the other side of Seamus, "Pansy's been in the hospital wing for over a day now, having her ass deflated." Ron choked on his pumpkin juice causing Hermione to slap him on the back several times. "Well considering she's all ass the procedure will take days to complete," Neville said sitting across from Lavender. Everyone in the immediate area looked up wide-eyed at Neville before laughing heartily. "Neville I do believe you've finally crawled out from your shell completely," Dean said patting Neville on the back. "Here, here!" Seamus said raising his glass, "To deflating asses and Neville's arrival to the world of sarcastic remarks!" Everyone raised their glass in a toast laughing, "To Neville!" the group echoed.
For two days straight Ron tried to get a hint of what Hermione's dress looked like. To the amusement of the rest of the Gryffindor upper classmen he was unsuccessful. "But what sort of flowers am I supposed to get you if you don't tell me?" Ron pressed early in the evening sitting on a couch with her in the common room. "I'm sure anything you get will be lovely," Hermione said not looking up from her Potions book. "But what if my suit clashes with your dress?" Ron tried again. Hermione looked up this time from her book with one eyebrow quirked up, "Since when did you start worrying about fashion?" she asked. Ron tried his best to give a puppy dog look, "Please," he begged. Hermione sat up closing her book looking straight into Ron's pleading eyes. "If I give you a kiss will you drop it and wait until this weekend at the dance?" she said. This made Ron perk up, "Oh I suppose it will do," he said grinning. Hermione reached placing a hand on the back of his neck slowly drawing him closer to her. She allowed her lips to lightly graze across his parted ones, sending goose bumps racing over both of them. She continued feather light kisses along his jaw to his ear, "Perhaps I should ensure you'll stop asking by continuing this later. . . Ron," she whispered. Hermione felt him gasp and shudder, a delicious smile of satisfaction spread across her lips. "Evil woman," Ron growled at her.
"Urgg, I'm going to lose my dinner if you two don't stop!" Seamus yelled from across the room launching a chair pillow at the back of Ron's head where it made contact before bouncing off and landing on the floor. "Hey!" Ron yelled rubbing the back of his head. Hermione simply smiled going back to her book. Ginny and Harry were sitting at a table with Colin and Ginger each studying for their respective classes. After watching Seamus hit Ron with the pillow they chuckled turning back to their work. "So, Ginger," Colin began. "Don't even," Ginger cut him off picking her quill up to write. Harry merely looked over at Ginny who smiled and shook her head.
Later the next morning Ginny was walking down the hall with Hermione and Ron. "But of course," Ginny thought, "I have to have a baby sitter with me." Hermione was talking quietly to Ron as they walked slightly behind her. Ginny looked down at the stone flooring, she felt cold again crawling up her spine, she looked back up the corridor. Gone were the many windows bright with sunlight and doors with students moving among them. In their place were two long rows of serpent heads down either side Tom Riddle stood at the end of the corridor. His feet were apart in a wide stance, arms calmly at his sides. He was looking down at the floor, slowly his head rose, black hair falling away from his eyes, one corner of his mouth turned up in an evil smirk. Ginny gasped staggering backwards as her books tumbled out of her arms crashing to the floor. Swaying on her feet her vision swam before her. Strong arms grabbed her from behind, she heard her brother Ron say her name in an urgent tone.
Ginny blinked slowly, the corridor was as it were before. Sunlight filtered through the glass panes, students milled around her quietly making their way to their classes. "Ginny?" Ron had caught her as she stumbled backwards; "Ginny are you ok?" concern was strong in his voice. Hermione's eyebrows were furrowed, "Ginny, you look pale, are you feeling ill?" she asked. Recovering quickly Ginny tried to think of something to say. "Yeah I'm all right, I think I stayed up too late studying is all," she said getting onto her knees to pick up her books. Ron looked over at Hermione who returned his look while they helped pick up Ginny's dropped books, neither of them believed her. Standing back up Ginny nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear looking around to make sure she had gotten everything. Her eyes moved to the end of the corridor and she gave a little start, standing there watching her with a cocky smile on his face was Draco Malfoy. He made sure she met his eyes before he turned walking into a classroom.
"Gin, let's take you to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said touching Ginny's elbow. Ginny looked down at Hermione's hand, her eyes traveled up to her face. Looking between Ron's determined appearance and Hermione's concerned gentle smile Ginny knew it was probably for the best to not argue. "Well just have you checked out and we'll be on our way. I don't want to have to tell Harry his date won't be making it to the spring formal," said Ron trying to lighten things up. Madam Pomfrey insisted that Ginny stay for a while so she could be checked over thoroughly. Ron tried to protest when the nurse thanked him and Hermione but told them firmly they should be getting on to class. "But I'm her brother, I should stay," he said. "Nonsense Mr. Weasley, you go onto class and I'll make sure everything is alright with your sister." Hermione finally had to tug on Ron's arm several times to get him to leave. Ginny could hear them speaking heatedly as they headed for the door, she knew for a fact she heard Ron mention Harry's name in his conversation.
Several hours later Madam Pomfrey couldn't find anything wrong with Ginny so she gave her a chunk of chocolate with instructions to get more rest and take better care of herself. She sent Ginny on her way in time for her final class. Opening the infirmary doors Ginny was chewing the last bite of her chocolate, standing outside the doors were Dean and Neville. "Hey Gin, feeling better?" Dean asked. Ginny swallowed looking between the two of them, "How did you know I was here?" she asked. "Oh you know how word spreads around here," Neville said dismissively. Ginny started walking down the hall putting her bag over her shoulder Dean and Neville fell into step with her. "So where are you two going?" Ginny asked, even though she knew the answer. "Err . . . um . . ." Neville tried to find a story to say to cover their real reason. "It's ok guys I'm not daft, and you don't have to pretend." Ginny said smiling, "Besides, any girl would feel lucky having such handsome gentlemen escort a fair maiden to her Potions class." "So your not angry?" said Dean. "I suppose I should be, but I know your doing it cause you care," Ginny answered. "That and Harry and Ron would have our raw hides strapped to the quidditch goals if something happened to you," Neville said with a nervous chuckle.
The three continued down to the dungeons to Ginny's last class for the day. Dean continued to make wise cracks and to Ginny's pleasant surprise Neville was able to match Dean's comments with just as witty a retort. They reached the Potions classroom with a few minutes to spare. "Last one to Muggle Studies has to wear Ron's old dress robs all day tomorrow," said Dean. "Your on!" Neville answered. They took off waving their goodbyes to Ginny before going neck and neck up the stairs. "If your so inclined Miss Weasley please find your seat so I may begin teaching" Snape said standing behind her at the door. "Yes Professor," Ginny said refraining from rolling her eyes. Ginny took her normal seat beside Shane Lewis as the professor made his way to the front of the class beginning the lecture. "Heard you were a bit under the weather," Shane said out of the side of his mouth to her while keeping an eye on Snape. "Damn, word spreads fast doesn't it?" Ginny answered in the same manner as Shane. "So who are you taking to the spring formal?" Ginny asked purposely changing the subject. Shane blushed ducking his head down to look at his parchment he was writing instructions on. "I asked Brandy," he said quietly. "Good for you," Ginny said grinning at her lab partner. "Yeah, she's great, you don't mind do you?" Shane asked. Ginny snorted, "Are you kidding I think it's wonderful." Ginny and Shane's attention was brought back up to the front of the class by a rather stern looking Snape clearing his throat looking pointedly at the two. "Five points from Ravenclaw for talking and 10 points from Gryffindor for talking and making rude noises. Now if you could pull away from your pressing conversation and grace us with your attention so we can continue?" Snape said in an icy tone. Looking properly chastised Shane and Ginny looked down at their tables before looking sideways at each other grinning then turning their attention back to their notes.
Class ended and students began to file out of the lab. Ginny noticed Harry standing at the bottom of the steps leaning against the wall with his hands in his robe pockets. When he saw her come out he stood straight and smiled at her. "Hi," he said kissing her cheek. "Hi you," Ginny said linking her arm around his. They walked up the stairs together in silence for a few minutes. "So you going to tell me what happened today?" Harry finally asked seeing as Ginny didn't make an attempt to say anything. Ginny took a deep breath, she couldn't tell him what happened today without explaining everything that had been going on the past several months. As luck would have it they were interrupted with the approach of Colin and Ginger at the top of the stairs. Ginny gave her two friends warning glances before they were able to make their first hellos. "Er. . . Hiya, heading to dinner?" Colin asked cautiously. Both Colin and Ginger had seen that look from Ginny before, they knew better than say anything for fear of being hexed into the next century. "I'm famished, lets head to the main hall," Ginger added. The four continued their trek to dinner quietly, as they approached the hall entrance Harry held Ginny back, "We are going to talk tonight, no interruptions, no more being evasive," he said giving her a pointed look, "Don't think that I haven't been paying attention, something has been going on for months and I want answers." Harry gently rubbed her upper arm with his hand. Ginny only nodded as Harry lead her to the Gryffindor tables.
Ginny put on a happy face and talked about class subjects and idle gossip. Looking around the hall she noticed the obvious absence of Pansy Parkinson. A malicious grin over took Ginny's features, that pug would get no sympathy from her. Seamus sat beside Ron who was directly across from Ginny; he took notice to Ginny's little smile and turned around to see where she was looking. "And what sort of mischief has Miss Weasley been into lately?" Seamus asked. "I was just noticing the lack of a certain lap dog in the hall tonight," Ginny said with great mirth. "Didn't you hear?" asked Lavender who was sitting on the other side of Seamus, "Pansy's been in the hospital wing for over a day now, having her ass deflated." Ron choked on his pumpkin juice causing Hermione to slap him on the back several times. "Well considering she's all ass the procedure will take days to complete," Neville said sitting across from Lavender. Everyone in the immediate area looked up wide-eyed at Neville before laughing heartily. "Neville I do believe you've finally crawled out from your shell completely," Dean said patting Neville on the back. "Here, here!" Seamus said raising his glass, "To deflating asses and Neville's arrival to the world of sarcastic remarks!" Everyone raised their glass in a toast laughing, "To Neville!" the group echoed.
