Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power"
by Jedi Amoira
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Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. I hope JK Rowling, the movies, and my fellow fanfic writers take my imitation in the manner in which it is meant--sincere flattery of their skills.

A/N--I have some great reviewers, but an author writes for praise, and I need more! I may not own any of this, but I have worked very hard and do love this story. If you like it, please say so. And please respect my work and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!

EEDOE--I'm having a lot of fun, too! I keep the chapters short because I hate having to leave a story I'm reading in the middle of a chapter...I'm never sure I'll find where I left off. I think short sprints are also a little easier to keep writing, because I don't burn out as quickly. Of course, I also hate just getting really involved in the story again and having it end, so...I'm going to post two chapters at once this time. Maybe that will help. :-)

Bill--I think that was the most flattering review I've ever received--I love the idea of being unpredictable! I'll remember that comment with pride for years to come...thanks so much! If it won't offend you, I'll give you a hug! ;-)
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Tuesday after class, Ginny was torn between marching straight to Hagrid's hut, and stopping off in the infirmary to see Colin. She ended up at the infirmary.

"Under the weather again, dear?," greeted Madam Pomfrey.
Not so much again as still, Ginny thought, but she didn't feel like trying to explain...not that she knew how to begin, anyway. She shook her head, feeling shy, "Please," she said, barely audible, "I'd like to see Colin."

"Friend of his, are you?," Madam Pomfrey said kindly enough, but studying her with a shrewdness that made Ginny want to squirm.

Ginny nodded again.

"Well," Madam Pomfrey said, eyeing her closely, "I suppose you can't do any harm. But he probably won't even know you're there."

"That's okay," Ginny said, uncomfortable. She hoped he never did. "I just need to see him."

"Alright, then," Madam Pomfrey said, and led her back to the curtained bed.

If Colin wasn't dead, he certainly looked it...except that perhaps he was too still...too stiff...his body held in an unnatural position, as if he were still gripping his camera. Feeling eerie, Ginny inched closer to the bed.

"Uh...hi," she said lamely.

"I...uh...just wanted to say that I never meant to do this-if I did-and I never meant to hurt you, cause I would never hurt you on purpose, Colin, so I'm real sorry and--" She sounded, Ginny observed with a bitter flash of dark humor, just like Colin. She stopped, took a deep breath, said slowly, "I'm doing my best to make sure nothing like this ever happens again." She sighed. "And if this was my fault, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you if you just get better. Don't die, Colin." She paused, then added, hating herself, "And please don't tell anyone if it was me...I've waited my whole life to go to Hogwarts; I don't think I could stand it if I got expelled."

Impulsively, she leaned over and hugged him, and immediately wished she hadn't...he was cold and hard and very bumpy. Ginny gave into impulse and ran away.

Every day that week, she was going to confront Hagrid. And every day that week, something happened. Patricia needed helped with her Charms homework. Neville needed help finding Trevor. She got distracted by Ron beating Harry-very badly-at chess.

Nothing horrible happened...

Unless you counted the twins draping themselves with odd bits of fur, boils, strange teeth, Neville's onions and newts' tails, and whatever else they could find and laying in wait to grab her. She knew they were trying to make her feel better about Colin and the Chamber of Secrets, and she had to admit that in a heart-attack inducing sort-of it was funny...but she wished they wouldn't, because every time they did she had trouble not picturing herself as a horrible monster lurking in the shadows devouring her friends...She felt as though she were fighting constantly against tears. She hadn't even stolen a pair of socks all week.

--Maybe I don't have to confront Hagrid after all-Ginny admitted to Tom. -Maybe it was just my overactive imagination and didn't have anything to do with me.-

--That's my level-headed girl-Tom praised. -I'm sure Dumbledore has it all under control; he always does.-

--That's what my brothers keep telling me-Ginny smiled wryly.

--Good. Listen to your brothers, then. Quit worrying about things beyond your control and enjoy being a kid. You haven't played a good prank in ages.-

--Tom! Are you encouraging me to be bad?-

--But it's so good to be bad...just a little. Isn't it?-

Ginny snickered. -Yeah.-

--So have some fun once in a while...maybe your imagination won't run away with you so much. And you still haven't had a conversation with Hermione yet.-

--I know...she and Harry and Ron have been really scarce lately. Guess there's no room in their secret club for me.-

--Don't be ridiculous...there's room, you just have to take control and demand your due. You only get what you're willing to take, Ginny. Remember.-

"Ginny," Percy gasped, sounding scandalized.

Ginny bit a curse that Fred and George would have been proud to hear.

"I let it slide the first time because this is your first year, but you really can't continue to sit up after lights out. You aren't exempt from the rules just because you're my sister, you know."

/No/, Ginny thought acidly, /I'm forced to be that much more perfect so I don't make you look bad./ Her breath escaped half in exasperation, half wistfully. She should have stayed in the dormitory, but Patricia snored and it really got on her nerves. "I'm not doing it to be difficult," she said acidly.

Percy pulled himself up, looking for all the world like an offended rooster, then paused. "Madam Pomfrey could give you something if you're having trouble sleeping."

"No," Ginny said, more forcefully than she'd intended, and blushed.
Percy eyed her as if tempted to drag her to the infirmary again, and seemed to think better of it. "Okay," he said, as if it were his decision, "we'll wait on that for now. But you'll have to see her if I catch you out of bed again...and you'll loose points for Gryffindor. Understood?"
"Wh--" Ginny began, realized what would happen if Mum caught wind of the fact she'd voiced such a suggestion-let alone to her model son-and finished reluctantly, "Whatever you say, Percy."
"Thatta girl," Percy said, ruffling her hair in what was meant to be an affectionate way and ended up just uncomfortable.

Ginny's vague sense of relief lasted until just after Transfiguration the next day. She was walking-trudging, actually-back to the Common Room when the twins jumped out from either side of a particularly stilted statue. Fred was wearing an impressive purple-green boil and a fake tail, and George had fangs and pointed ears. "Beware," George boomed, as Fred almost hummed, "The Chamber of Secrets" in a low base grumble. A clump of students all around Ginny started and snickered. Ginny tried to smile, and almost made it. "Stop it. Stop it this instant!," Percy ordered importantly. Ginny groaned and folded in on herself, hoping against experience that she could somehow pull back into the floor like a turtle into its shell.

"Honestly, jumping out at Ginny like that when she's been having nightmares," Percy continued. Ginny wished a water fountain was near by to put out the fire in her face. The other people in the hall began to whisper to one another like the constant background hum of bees. Ginny thought she was starting to get a headache. "Completely irresponsible...totally inconsiderate...behave yourselves or I'll write home to Mum..."

"Sorry, Gin," Fred said, tuning Percy out better than she could, "We didn't realize we were scaring you."

"Yeah, we figured you thought it was funny," George said, looking sheepish.

They hugged her from either side. "Ginny sandwich," they chimed, just as they always did when they felt guilty for something they'd done. The comfort of the gesture was wonderful...Ginny just wished her family could manage to notice her without drawing the attention of the whole school...