"Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power" by Jedi Amoira
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Disclaimer--Story, lines, and characters belong ultimately to J.K. Rowling with little flourishes from Mr. Kloves. Many other ideas contained here are "borrowed" from my fellow fanfiction authors. I hope everyone takes my imitation in the way in which it was intended... sincere and harmless flattery.
Author's Notes-- Since I do love this story and work hard, please don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. And I'm starting to get a little lonely, so if you could leave a comment to keep me company, I would really appreciate it.
Many, many, MANY heartfelt thanks to Pauline...when I found your review the other day, it was like...finding out maybe you do have a chance to be noticed by Harry Potter. ;-) Your enthusiasm and support is a LIFELINE--I really appreciate it!
And many more heartfelt thanks to Bill for noticing and letting me know you noticed...and for telling me exactly what Ginny needs to hear...that not being noticed isn't necessarily the same thing as not being appreciated.
You guys are my heroes. I hope you keep reading.
Amoira
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--Harry Potter is never going to be friends with me...I can't even get Hermione to notice me and we have more in common!-
--I'm sure she'd be glad to pay attention to you if you just asserted yourself a little, Ginny. You should be more confident.-
--Yeah, telling her what I think of Gilderoy Lockhart would be sure to make her want to talk to me. Oy, Hermione, quit ignoring me for that book; Lockhart is a prat!-
--Maybe she's always like that...--
--Yeah, what bugs me is Ron...he's hardly said two words to me since school started...and after I spent all last year wishing I could be keeping him company.-
--Sounds like Ron is being a prat, too-
--Maybe, or maybe I'm just too awkward to spend time with... --
--Nonsense, I think you're wonderful to spend time with-
--You have to, you're my diary.-
--Well, yes, but-
"Do you think it's ever going to stop raining again, Ginny?," Colin interrupted. Not really sorry for an excuse to end her conversation with Tom, Ginny slammed the diary shut and tossed it in her backpack. "It's been raining for days."
"I like rain," Ginny said wistfully. "At least I like the soft, gentle misty sort...this is like some sort of monsoon."
"You can hardly tell the difference between night and day," Colin added, waving a deck of cards for exploding snap. Ginny shrugged agreeably and took a few cards.
"At least we get to stay inside except for classes," she sighed, "the poor Quidditch team is constantly wet thanks to Oliver Wood."
"Well, it'll be worth it if we win the Cup," Tempest volunteered.
Ginny handed her a few of the cards. "I suppose," she said unenthusiastically.
"Are you okay, Ginny?," Tempest asked anxiously. "You usually seem more interested in Quidditch."
"Yeah," Colin added, "You haven't mentioned the Chudley Cannons for days."
"Don't you get enough of that from Ron?," Ginny demanded a little testily.
Tempest and Colin looked at one another and shrugged. "Have you done that Potions essay for Snape yet?," Tempest said.
"I don't know what ingredient to choose," Colin said, "do you think it would be easier to discuss the uses of Wolfsbane or Feverfew? Or maybe..."
"I did mine," Ginny said shortly, and sneezed so violently the house they had been building exploded with a bang.
Colin and Tempest helped her to her feet, giggling, and suddenly even Ginny was snickering. "You...uh...you've got a little soot..." Colin said, reaching out and rubbing his fingers over her cheek to remove the spot.
"Thanks," Ginny said self-consciously, pulling away to help gather up the cards. "Shall we try again?"
Colin grinned. "You go first," he said.
She started to do just that, and stopped at the sight of Percy standing in front of her, hands on his hips.
"What are you doing, Percy?," she asked curiously.
Percy snorted importantly, lifting his chin. "My duty as a Prefect. That sneeze is quite obviously the start of a cold, Virginia Eileen Weasley, and we don't want any students getting sick, letting alone spreading it around--"
"Not to mention Mum would skin him alive if he let you get sick," Fred added loudly, and Ginny was paralyzed with embarrassment to discover most of the Common Room was watching.
"Never mind that," Percy said, his own ears reddening.
"I'm not sick," Ginny protested indignantly. I just got dust up my nose or something."
"Dunno, Gin," George said seriously. "You have been a little peaked lately."
"Better safe than sorry," Percy added pompously. "Now you just come with me."
Ginny sighed, but she'd lived with six brothers long enough to know when to quit arguing. "Fine," she spat impatiently. "Sorry, Colin." She handed him back his cards and swept away regally.
"Madame Pomfrey," Percy said importantly, "I've brought my sister to see you."
"Hello, dear," the nurse-who looked rather like Mum trying to get everyone ready for school-said tiredly. "What seems to be the problem?"
"There isn't one," Ginny said petulantly. "I'm fine."
"She's got a cold or something," Percy contradicted.
"Nothing wrong with being a bit under the weather, dear," Madame Pomfrey said, eying her closely so that Ginny wanted to squirm.
"I'm just tired," Ginny insisted, and sneezed again.
Madame Pomfrey smiled. "I have just the thing. Wait here."
She came back with a smoking goblet Ginny eyed dubiously. "This Pepperup Potion will have you feeling better in no time. Down the hatch."
Ginny hesitated, but Percy and Madame Pomfrey both waited unyielding. Sighing, she scrunched up her nose, closed her eyes, and gulped the potion as quickly as she could. To her surprise, it had a rich spicy taste that was pleasantly sweet. It reminded her of the hot pepper jelly Mum sometimes made. She had just begun to think maybe drinking it wasn't so bad when her head began to feel impossibly hot...and then, the next thing she knew, her ears were shooting steam. In spite of herself, Ginny gave a feminine shriek, and rushed for the nearest mirror, which happened to be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Great," she muttered, taking in the full effect of the steam shooting from underneath her auburn hair.
"Ooh," crooned a voice over her shoulder, "You look awful."
Ginny stared into the pearly translucent eyes of the ghost, feeling baleful. "Golly, gee, no wonder you're so popular."
Myrtle let out a bloodcurdling wail and plunged into the toilet, sloshing water across the floor.
"Hey, look out, Weasel!," Malfoy shouted as she slunk out of the bathroom, "your head's on fire!"
Ginny looked between him and the bathroom, trying to decide which was worst and not having much luck.
"Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry's voice said from down the corridor. "You're just jealous because you'll never look that hot."
"I...you...umm...thanks," Ginny stammered, feeling her knees melt as Harry walked up.
He smiled easily. "No problem, I owed you one anyhow, remember?"
She was amazed he had noticed her behavior in Flourish and Blott's at all. "You're wonderful," she said dreamily, then realized what she'd said. Harry was wearing an expression somewhere between amused and uncomfortable. "Way to give whole new meaning to the phrase, 'burning imbecile', Weasley," she muttered under her breath.
"I have to get to Quidditch Practice," Harry said into the pause. "Let me know if he gives you anymore trouble."
"Thanks," she said again, irritated at her own lack of creativity. Harry threw a wave back over his shoulder. Ginny sighed and walked back up to the Common Room.
"Wow. Ginny. Does that hurt?," Tempest asked with open fascination.
"Not exactly," Ginny said, "but I think my brain is starting to sweat."
"Really?," Colin was intrigued. "What does that feel like?" His camera clicked with inhuman speed.
"You know guys, I'm feeling kind of tired," Ginny said. "I think I'm going to bed. Night."
"But, Ginny," Colin called after her, "it's only 6:30."
--I can't believe he saw me like that, Tom. He'll never think of me as attractive now.-
--Don't be ridiculous. You said he called you hot.-
Ginny blushed so that her head felt even hotter than before.
--Yeah, but I think he meant it literally. Forget it...I'm going to bed. That's the only recourse I have left.-
--You have a very good vocabulary for a twelve year old.-
--Gee, thanks...just what every girl longs to hear. Next thing you know Ron will be saying Hermione force-fed me the dictionary...as if I don't already stick out enough.-
--Standing out is a good way to gain attention...and getting someone's attention is an excellent way to gain power over them...you should think about that.-
--Sure, I have so much control over my life, let alone anyone else's.-
In spite of the Pepperup Potion, it seemed like Ginny got more and more tired. She found herself fighting to stay awake in Potions while the other students snickered at the tendrils of steam that still escaped from her ears occasionally. Stifling a yawn, she took out her diary and began writing under the edge of the table.
--With every leaf that changes color, I feel a little more homesick.-
--I thought you liked Hogwarts- Tom replied.
--I do. But Autumn has always been my favorite time of year and I feel like I'm too busy to enjoy it. Besides, I keep picturing myself sitting at the kitchen table drinking hot apple cider with Mum while we make donuts. Instead I'm here, being ignored by the brother I spent a year missing and-
"Miss Weasley," Snape said sharply, "have you been listening to a word I've said?"
Ginny gaped, trying to come up with a response that would make him stop glaring.
"I realize your family is short on funds with so many children, but surely you can afford to PAY ATTENTION?"
Anger sparked somewhere below the surface, mingling with and slowly overtaking guilt and embarrassment.
"I don't need to listen to how stupid you think we are to be able to brew a potion," she snapped without thinking, and felt her knees go weak as she realized what she'd said.
Snape's onyx eyes crackled with hidden flames. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your impertinence, Miss Weasley," he hissed, "Another remark like that and I might feel compelled to draw your behavior to the Headmaster's attention. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," she said aloud. "You slimy git," she added under breath, and caught sight of the nearly-hidden grin the Ravenclaw boy sharing her cauldron seemed to be flashing.
"In the meantime, we'll see if you can live up to your claims," the Potions Master continued silkily. "You shall brew your potion without further instruction and at the end of the hour we shall test it."
Crushed with guilt, Ginny stared at her Potions partner. "I'm so sorry."
The Ravenclaw boy's grin appeared again and he leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't be. It's a Giggling Gulp--I have the instructions." He flashed a page of closely written notes at her, making her sag with relief. "It's going to be fun to see the look on his face."
Ginny grinned back as she began tearing hensbane. "Ginny Weasley, by the way."
The boy tipped his head to the side. "You really don't remember me? How embarrassing. My ego will take years in recovery."
Ginny snickered. "I know we were introduced at the beginning of the term, but--"
"We also spent years running around your garden. We were partners in crime," the boy said, shaking his head.
Ginny blinked. "Seriously? When?"
The boy laughed. "Between the ages of two and four. I don't remember either, I just have my parents' word for it."
"Okay," Ginny said slowly, stirring as he began to add the cricket legs.
"Alderley, " the boy supplied.
"Dad's friend from the ministry," Ginny exclaimed, drawing a sharp look from Snape.
"Yup. And I'm Bion." the boy explained.
Ginny frowned thoughtfully, grasping at memory.
"Time's up," Snape said at her shoulder. "The potion looks like a reasonable facsimile," he added with an expression that suggested the words had an extremely unpleasant taste. "But we shall see if it works. Miss Weasley?"
Ginny hesitated, but Bion caught her eye and nodded encouragingly. Squaring her shoulders, Ginny took the ladle and sipped the thick hot pink liquid. The next thing she knew, she began to giggle. She just couldn't help it.
"Ten points from Ravenclaw," Snape snarled, "you weren't supposed to help her with the assignment, Mr. Alderley."
"What was I supposed to do, then," Bion grumbled. "Fail?"
"I..feel...terrible..." Ginny gasped between giggles.
Bion looked at her for a minute, and began to laugh with her. "Don't," he advised. "It was worth it...I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Partner."
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Disclaimer--Story, lines, and characters belong ultimately to J.K. Rowling with little flourishes from Mr. Kloves. Many other ideas contained here are "borrowed" from my fellow fanfiction authors. I hope everyone takes my imitation in the way in which it was intended... sincere and harmless flattery.
Author's Notes-- Since I do love this story and work hard, please don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. And I'm starting to get a little lonely, so if you could leave a comment to keep me company, I would really appreciate it.
Many, many, MANY heartfelt thanks to Pauline...when I found your review the other day, it was like...finding out maybe you do have a chance to be noticed by Harry Potter. ;-) Your enthusiasm and support is a LIFELINE--I really appreciate it!
And many more heartfelt thanks to Bill for noticing and letting me know you noticed...and for telling me exactly what Ginny needs to hear...that not being noticed isn't necessarily the same thing as not being appreciated.
You guys are my heroes. I hope you keep reading.
Amoira
*************************************************************************************************
--Harry Potter is never going to be friends with me...I can't even get Hermione to notice me and we have more in common!-
--I'm sure she'd be glad to pay attention to you if you just asserted yourself a little, Ginny. You should be more confident.-
--Yeah, telling her what I think of Gilderoy Lockhart would be sure to make her want to talk to me. Oy, Hermione, quit ignoring me for that book; Lockhart is a prat!-
--Maybe she's always like that...--
--Yeah, what bugs me is Ron...he's hardly said two words to me since school started...and after I spent all last year wishing I could be keeping him company.-
--Sounds like Ron is being a prat, too-
--Maybe, or maybe I'm just too awkward to spend time with... --
--Nonsense, I think you're wonderful to spend time with-
--You have to, you're my diary.-
--Well, yes, but-
"Do you think it's ever going to stop raining again, Ginny?," Colin interrupted. Not really sorry for an excuse to end her conversation with Tom, Ginny slammed the diary shut and tossed it in her backpack. "It's been raining for days."
"I like rain," Ginny said wistfully. "At least I like the soft, gentle misty sort...this is like some sort of monsoon."
"You can hardly tell the difference between night and day," Colin added, waving a deck of cards for exploding snap. Ginny shrugged agreeably and took a few cards.
"At least we get to stay inside except for classes," she sighed, "the poor Quidditch team is constantly wet thanks to Oliver Wood."
"Well, it'll be worth it if we win the Cup," Tempest volunteered.
Ginny handed her a few of the cards. "I suppose," she said unenthusiastically.
"Are you okay, Ginny?," Tempest asked anxiously. "You usually seem more interested in Quidditch."
"Yeah," Colin added, "You haven't mentioned the Chudley Cannons for days."
"Don't you get enough of that from Ron?," Ginny demanded a little testily.
Tempest and Colin looked at one another and shrugged. "Have you done that Potions essay for Snape yet?," Tempest said.
"I don't know what ingredient to choose," Colin said, "do you think it would be easier to discuss the uses of Wolfsbane or Feverfew? Or maybe..."
"I did mine," Ginny said shortly, and sneezed so violently the house they had been building exploded with a bang.
Colin and Tempest helped her to her feet, giggling, and suddenly even Ginny was snickering. "You...uh...you've got a little soot..." Colin said, reaching out and rubbing his fingers over her cheek to remove the spot.
"Thanks," Ginny said self-consciously, pulling away to help gather up the cards. "Shall we try again?"
Colin grinned. "You go first," he said.
She started to do just that, and stopped at the sight of Percy standing in front of her, hands on his hips.
"What are you doing, Percy?," she asked curiously.
Percy snorted importantly, lifting his chin. "My duty as a Prefect. That sneeze is quite obviously the start of a cold, Virginia Eileen Weasley, and we don't want any students getting sick, letting alone spreading it around--"
"Not to mention Mum would skin him alive if he let you get sick," Fred added loudly, and Ginny was paralyzed with embarrassment to discover most of the Common Room was watching.
"Never mind that," Percy said, his own ears reddening.
"I'm not sick," Ginny protested indignantly. I just got dust up my nose or something."
"Dunno, Gin," George said seriously. "You have been a little peaked lately."
"Better safe than sorry," Percy added pompously. "Now you just come with me."
Ginny sighed, but she'd lived with six brothers long enough to know when to quit arguing. "Fine," she spat impatiently. "Sorry, Colin." She handed him back his cards and swept away regally.
"Madame Pomfrey," Percy said importantly, "I've brought my sister to see you."
"Hello, dear," the nurse-who looked rather like Mum trying to get everyone ready for school-said tiredly. "What seems to be the problem?"
"There isn't one," Ginny said petulantly. "I'm fine."
"She's got a cold or something," Percy contradicted.
"Nothing wrong with being a bit under the weather, dear," Madame Pomfrey said, eying her closely so that Ginny wanted to squirm.
"I'm just tired," Ginny insisted, and sneezed again.
Madame Pomfrey smiled. "I have just the thing. Wait here."
She came back with a smoking goblet Ginny eyed dubiously. "This Pepperup Potion will have you feeling better in no time. Down the hatch."
Ginny hesitated, but Percy and Madame Pomfrey both waited unyielding. Sighing, she scrunched up her nose, closed her eyes, and gulped the potion as quickly as she could. To her surprise, it had a rich spicy taste that was pleasantly sweet. It reminded her of the hot pepper jelly Mum sometimes made. She had just begun to think maybe drinking it wasn't so bad when her head began to feel impossibly hot...and then, the next thing she knew, her ears were shooting steam. In spite of herself, Ginny gave a feminine shriek, and rushed for the nearest mirror, which happened to be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Great," she muttered, taking in the full effect of the steam shooting from underneath her auburn hair.
"Ooh," crooned a voice over her shoulder, "You look awful."
Ginny stared into the pearly translucent eyes of the ghost, feeling baleful. "Golly, gee, no wonder you're so popular."
Myrtle let out a bloodcurdling wail and plunged into the toilet, sloshing water across the floor.
"Hey, look out, Weasel!," Malfoy shouted as she slunk out of the bathroom, "your head's on fire!"
Ginny looked between him and the bathroom, trying to decide which was worst and not having much luck.
"Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry's voice said from down the corridor. "You're just jealous because you'll never look that hot."
"I...you...umm...thanks," Ginny stammered, feeling her knees melt as Harry walked up.
He smiled easily. "No problem, I owed you one anyhow, remember?"
She was amazed he had noticed her behavior in Flourish and Blott's at all. "You're wonderful," she said dreamily, then realized what she'd said. Harry was wearing an expression somewhere between amused and uncomfortable. "Way to give whole new meaning to the phrase, 'burning imbecile', Weasley," she muttered under her breath.
"I have to get to Quidditch Practice," Harry said into the pause. "Let me know if he gives you anymore trouble."
"Thanks," she said again, irritated at her own lack of creativity. Harry threw a wave back over his shoulder. Ginny sighed and walked back up to the Common Room.
"Wow. Ginny. Does that hurt?," Tempest asked with open fascination.
"Not exactly," Ginny said, "but I think my brain is starting to sweat."
"Really?," Colin was intrigued. "What does that feel like?" His camera clicked with inhuman speed.
"You know guys, I'm feeling kind of tired," Ginny said. "I think I'm going to bed. Night."
"But, Ginny," Colin called after her, "it's only 6:30."
--I can't believe he saw me like that, Tom. He'll never think of me as attractive now.-
--Don't be ridiculous. You said he called you hot.-
Ginny blushed so that her head felt even hotter than before.
--Yeah, but I think he meant it literally. Forget it...I'm going to bed. That's the only recourse I have left.-
--You have a very good vocabulary for a twelve year old.-
--Gee, thanks...just what every girl longs to hear. Next thing you know Ron will be saying Hermione force-fed me the dictionary...as if I don't already stick out enough.-
--Standing out is a good way to gain attention...and getting someone's attention is an excellent way to gain power over them...you should think about that.-
--Sure, I have so much control over my life, let alone anyone else's.-
In spite of the Pepperup Potion, it seemed like Ginny got more and more tired. She found herself fighting to stay awake in Potions while the other students snickered at the tendrils of steam that still escaped from her ears occasionally. Stifling a yawn, she took out her diary and began writing under the edge of the table.
--With every leaf that changes color, I feel a little more homesick.-
--I thought you liked Hogwarts- Tom replied.
--I do. But Autumn has always been my favorite time of year and I feel like I'm too busy to enjoy it. Besides, I keep picturing myself sitting at the kitchen table drinking hot apple cider with Mum while we make donuts. Instead I'm here, being ignored by the brother I spent a year missing and-
"Miss Weasley," Snape said sharply, "have you been listening to a word I've said?"
Ginny gaped, trying to come up with a response that would make him stop glaring.
"I realize your family is short on funds with so many children, but surely you can afford to PAY ATTENTION?"
Anger sparked somewhere below the surface, mingling with and slowly overtaking guilt and embarrassment.
"I don't need to listen to how stupid you think we are to be able to brew a potion," she snapped without thinking, and felt her knees go weak as she realized what she'd said.
Snape's onyx eyes crackled with hidden flames. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your impertinence, Miss Weasley," he hissed, "Another remark like that and I might feel compelled to draw your behavior to the Headmaster's attention. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," she said aloud. "You slimy git," she added under breath, and caught sight of the nearly-hidden grin the Ravenclaw boy sharing her cauldron seemed to be flashing.
"In the meantime, we'll see if you can live up to your claims," the Potions Master continued silkily. "You shall brew your potion without further instruction and at the end of the hour we shall test it."
Crushed with guilt, Ginny stared at her Potions partner. "I'm so sorry."
The Ravenclaw boy's grin appeared again and he leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't be. It's a Giggling Gulp--I have the instructions." He flashed a page of closely written notes at her, making her sag with relief. "It's going to be fun to see the look on his face."
Ginny grinned back as she began tearing hensbane. "Ginny Weasley, by the way."
The boy tipped his head to the side. "You really don't remember me? How embarrassing. My ego will take years in recovery."
Ginny snickered. "I know we were introduced at the beginning of the term, but--"
"We also spent years running around your garden. We were partners in crime," the boy said, shaking his head.
Ginny blinked. "Seriously? When?"
The boy laughed. "Between the ages of two and four. I don't remember either, I just have my parents' word for it."
"Okay," Ginny said slowly, stirring as he began to add the cricket legs.
"Alderley, " the boy supplied.
"Dad's friend from the ministry," Ginny exclaimed, drawing a sharp look from Snape.
"Yup. And I'm Bion." the boy explained.
Ginny frowned thoughtfully, grasping at memory.
"Time's up," Snape said at her shoulder. "The potion looks like a reasonable facsimile," he added with an expression that suggested the words had an extremely unpleasant taste. "But we shall see if it works. Miss Weasley?"
Ginny hesitated, but Bion caught her eye and nodded encouragingly. Squaring her shoulders, Ginny took the ladle and sipped the thick hot pink liquid. The next thing she knew, she began to giggle. She just couldn't help it.
"Ten points from Ravenclaw," Snape snarled, "you weren't supposed to help her with the assignment, Mr. Alderley."
"What was I supposed to do, then," Bion grumbled. "Fail?"
"I..feel...terrible..." Ginny gasped between giggles.
Bion looked at her for a minute, and began to laugh with her. "Don't," he advised. "It was worth it...I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Partner."
