Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power" by Jedi Amoira
******
Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. All of Lockhart and Snape's dialogue is taken from the book, and is the property of JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended. 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. If you like it, please say so. And please respect my work and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!
EmeraldDream--I love the interaction between Ginny and Bion, too...She deserves to have a little fun! I think the distinction about why Ginny was upset about the twins hijinks is another of the subtle clues JK is so good at writing; you don't know they're clues until you see the solution. I'm looking forward to the next installment of your story!
EEDOE--I failed Patience 101, too! That's why I'm writing this story! ;-) It's a great form of flattery you can't wait for the next chapter, and it always puts a smile on my face, so don't stop complaining on my account! *grins* I find Bion and Ginny's...friendship...adorable, too (though we all know Harry is her "lobster"), and one of the best things about it is the chance to show Ginny as more than a delicate flower wilting with emotion every time she sees Harry or something begins to happen. Like you, I think Ginny is a firecracker--or will be once she grows into it.
Bill--I'm not sure about Bion's feelings yet, either...it's tough, isn't it, being 11? I'm Harry/Ginny, but I definitely agree a few male friends for Ginny are a necessity...how could they not be, growing up with five brothers? Secret--I'd love to see Lockhart made a fool of myself--I hate the git, too. *winks*
***************
The two Professors moved through the crowd assigning partners, Snape often breaking up people who'd obviously agreed to work together for no reason at all Ginny could fathom. She and Bion ducked out of sight behind the two hulking boys she usually saw flanking Malfoy, and were left to their own devices, which was exactly what they wanted.
Ginny pretended to curtsey instead of bow. Bion reproduced Lockhart's flourishing gestures with the interesting addition of several sharp jerks of his head, giving him a manic look.
"Cast your charms to disarm your opponents-and only to disarm!"
"Sniffrumplus!" Ginny shouted, hitting Bion with a roughened shaft of yellowy-green light.
Bion sneezed violently in the middle of yelling, "Dispelliarmus!", and dropped his wand. Ginny snickered.
"You don't look so together yourself," Bion retorted in between sniffles. His face, scrunched up in a vain attempt to fight the need to sneeze, was wreathed with a huge grin.
Ginny, glancing down to see what he was talking about, yelped in alarm-her left arm was missing! "Bion!!"
"What?" Bion sneezed, giving her his best innocent look, "Professor Lockhart told me to disarm you."
"At least I didn't let you finish," Ginny said, doing her best to glower at him. "But I don't want even one of my arms to be missing!"
Bion opened his mouth, and Snape's voice shouted, "Finite Incantatem!"
Ginny's left arm reappeared. She moved it experimentally. "That's better," she said with a sigh of relief.
"I'll say," Bion agreed fervently, no longer sniffling.
The two large Slytherins she and Bion had been standing behind weren't blocking Ginny's view any more, because both sat sprawl-legged on the floor, looking considerably more dazed than usual, which was saying quite a bit.
A haze of green smoke veiled the room. Ginny peered through it at a chaotic scene; Ron was supporting a sick-looking Seamus, apologizing profusely, and Ginny wondered what exactly his wand had done, and whether or not it was close to what he'd intended, Fred and George both appeared to have their robes tied around their limbs in a variety of knots, and a girl almost as large as Malfoy's bodyguards held Hermione's head against the side of her massive frame. Even as Ginny caught sight of them, Harry leapt forward and tried to pry Hermione free, and Ginny felt a surge of affectionate pride at his unthinking defense.
"I think I better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," Lockhart said, then caught sight of Snape eyeing him speculatively and quickly added, "Let's have a volunteer pair-Longbottom and Finch-Fletchly, how about you?"
"A bad idea, Professor," Snape inserted smoothly, gliding into the conversation in one bat-like motion. "Longbottom causes devestation with the simplest of spells...we'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchly up to the hospital wing in a match-box." Ginny growled under her breath at the look on Neville's friendly round face. Bion put a hand on her forearm. "How about Malfoy and Potter?," Snape suggested, twisted relish in his smile.
Ginny squeaked in protest.
"Excellent idea!," cheered Lockhart, waving Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall. "Now Harry, when Malfoy points his wand at you, do this." He traced a complex pattern in the air, ending by dropping his wand. Snape smirked. "Oops," Lockhart said, picking it up with exaggerated casualness. "My wand is a little overexcited--"
Ginny snorted, then narrowed her eyes as she saw Snape whisper something to Malfoy.
"That doesn't look good," Bion said, echoing her own thoughts.
Harry must have agreed. "Uh...Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?" he asked Lockhart doubtfully.
Lockhart cuffed him on the arm and gave the crowd a jovial grin. "Just do what I did!"
"What," Ginny heard Harry mutter, "drop my wand?" Bion snickered. Ginny tried-and failed-to grin.
"Three-two-one-go!" Lockhart shouted.
"Serpensortia," Malfoy said immediately. A black snake, thick as a python, exploded from his wand. Ginny caught her breath. Bion grabbed the sleeve of her robes and yanked her back so sharply she nearly fell over. All around them students were screaming and pushing against one another in the effort to get out of the way. Hermione looked horrified, and what little Ginny could see of Ron on the other side of her was standing painfully still, as if afraid any sudden moves might provoke tragedy.
"Don't move, Potter," Snape drawled in satisfaction. "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" The snake shot into the air with a thunderous crack. Ginny and Bion both jumped. Behind them someone else whistled. The snake was hissing like overheated fry oil, almost drowning the sound when it hit the stone floor. It undulated like lightning toward the crowd of students, and arched upright, fangs bared.
Harry looked like a figure from a dream as he moved slowly through the lingering smoke. He was staring at the snake as if trying to control it with sheer concentration. Ginny vibrated with the sheer force of his presence. Harry did something that made Ginny's heart nearly stop-he began to hiss. His voice echoed hollowly through the Great Hall, thready and threatening.
It was frightening, alien, inexplicable...It was Parseltongue, and Harry was speaking it.
And, rising through Ginny with the immutability of the tide, was the realization that in spite of the incomprehensibility of the sounds, she knew without a doubt what Harry was saying...she understood.
Bion caught Ginny as she reeled. His cobalt eyes were troubled. Before he could say anything, Snape gestured at the Snake, and ash crackled along its coils, breaking apart against the floorstones.
Finch-Fletchly was outraged. "What do you think you're playing at?" He shouted at Harry, storming away.
"What was that?," Bion said in bemusement as the rest of the room erupted in anxious mutters.
Ginny watched blankly as Ron fought his way forward to unceremoniously grab the back of Harry's collar and steer him out of the hall with Hermione fast on their heels.
Shaking was all she could do.
******
Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. All of Lockhart and Snape's dialogue is taken from the book, and is the property of JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended. 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. If you like it, please say so. And please respect my work and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!
EmeraldDream--I love the interaction between Ginny and Bion, too...She deserves to have a little fun! I think the distinction about why Ginny was upset about the twins hijinks is another of the subtle clues JK is so good at writing; you don't know they're clues until you see the solution. I'm looking forward to the next installment of your story!
EEDOE--I failed Patience 101, too! That's why I'm writing this story! ;-) It's a great form of flattery you can't wait for the next chapter, and it always puts a smile on my face, so don't stop complaining on my account! *grins* I find Bion and Ginny's...friendship...adorable, too (though we all know Harry is her "lobster"), and one of the best things about it is the chance to show Ginny as more than a delicate flower wilting with emotion every time she sees Harry or something begins to happen. Like you, I think Ginny is a firecracker--or will be once she grows into it.
Bill--I'm not sure about Bion's feelings yet, either...it's tough, isn't it, being 11? I'm Harry/Ginny, but I definitely agree a few male friends for Ginny are a necessity...how could they not be, growing up with five brothers? Secret--I'd love to see Lockhart made a fool of myself--I hate the git, too. *winks*
***************
The two Professors moved through the crowd assigning partners, Snape often breaking up people who'd obviously agreed to work together for no reason at all Ginny could fathom. She and Bion ducked out of sight behind the two hulking boys she usually saw flanking Malfoy, and were left to their own devices, which was exactly what they wanted.
Ginny pretended to curtsey instead of bow. Bion reproduced Lockhart's flourishing gestures with the interesting addition of several sharp jerks of his head, giving him a manic look.
"Cast your charms to disarm your opponents-and only to disarm!"
"Sniffrumplus!" Ginny shouted, hitting Bion with a roughened shaft of yellowy-green light.
Bion sneezed violently in the middle of yelling, "Dispelliarmus!", and dropped his wand. Ginny snickered.
"You don't look so together yourself," Bion retorted in between sniffles. His face, scrunched up in a vain attempt to fight the need to sneeze, was wreathed with a huge grin.
Ginny, glancing down to see what he was talking about, yelped in alarm-her left arm was missing! "Bion!!"
"What?" Bion sneezed, giving her his best innocent look, "Professor Lockhart told me to disarm you."
"At least I didn't let you finish," Ginny said, doing her best to glower at him. "But I don't want even one of my arms to be missing!"
Bion opened his mouth, and Snape's voice shouted, "Finite Incantatem!"
Ginny's left arm reappeared. She moved it experimentally. "That's better," she said with a sigh of relief.
"I'll say," Bion agreed fervently, no longer sniffling.
The two large Slytherins she and Bion had been standing behind weren't blocking Ginny's view any more, because both sat sprawl-legged on the floor, looking considerably more dazed than usual, which was saying quite a bit.
A haze of green smoke veiled the room. Ginny peered through it at a chaotic scene; Ron was supporting a sick-looking Seamus, apologizing profusely, and Ginny wondered what exactly his wand had done, and whether or not it was close to what he'd intended, Fred and George both appeared to have their robes tied around their limbs in a variety of knots, and a girl almost as large as Malfoy's bodyguards held Hermione's head against the side of her massive frame. Even as Ginny caught sight of them, Harry leapt forward and tried to pry Hermione free, and Ginny felt a surge of affectionate pride at his unthinking defense.
"I think I better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," Lockhart said, then caught sight of Snape eyeing him speculatively and quickly added, "Let's have a volunteer pair-Longbottom and Finch-Fletchly, how about you?"
"A bad idea, Professor," Snape inserted smoothly, gliding into the conversation in one bat-like motion. "Longbottom causes devestation with the simplest of spells...we'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchly up to the hospital wing in a match-box." Ginny growled under her breath at the look on Neville's friendly round face. Bion put a hand on her forearm. "How about Malfoy and Potter?," Snape suggested, twisted relish in his smile.
Ginny squeaked in protest.
"Excellent idea!," cheered Lockhart, waving Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall. "Now Harry, when Malfoy points his wand at you, do this." He traced a complex pattern in the air, ending by dropping his wand. Snape smirked. "Oops," Lockhart said, picking it up with exaggerated casualness. "My wand is a little overexcited--"
Ginny snorted, then narrowed her eyes as she saw Snape whisper something to Malfoy.
"That doesn't look good," Bion said, echoing her own thoughts.
Harry must have agreed. "Uh...Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?" he asked Lockhart doubtfully.
Lockhart cuffed him on the arm and gave the crowd a jovial grin. "Just do what I did!"
"What," Ginny heard Harry mutter, "drop my wand?" Bion snickered. Ginny tried-and failed-to grin.
"Three-two-one-go!" Lockhart shouted.
"Serpensortia," Malfoy said immediately. A black snake, thick as a python, exploded from his wand. Ginny caught her breath. Bion grabbed the sleeve of her robes and yanked her back so sharply she nearly fell over. All around them students were screaming and pushing against one another in the effort to get out of the way. Hermione looked horrified, and what little Ginny could see of Ron on the other side of her was standing painfully still, as if afraid any sudden moves might provoke tragedy.
"Don't move, Potter," Snape drawled in satisfaction. "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" The snake shot into the air with a thunderous crack. Ginny and Bion both jumped. Behind them someone else whistled. The snake was hissing like overheated fry oil, almost drowning the sound when it hit the stone floor. It undulated like lightning toward the crowd of students, and arched upright, fangs bared.
Harry looked like a figure from a dream as he moved slowly through the lingering smoke. He was staring at the snake as if trying to control it with sheer concentration. Ginny vibrated with the sheer force of his presence. Harry did something that made Ginny's heart nearly stop-he began to hiss. His voice echoed hollowly through the Great Hall, thready and threatening.
It was frightening, alien, inexplicable...It was Parseltongue, and Harry was speaking it.
And, rising through Ginny with the immutability of the tide, was the realization that in spite of the incomprehensibility of the sounds, she knew without a doubt what Harry was saying...she understood.
Bion caught Ginny as she reeled. His cobalt eyes were troubled. Before he could say anything, Snape gestured at the Snake, and ash crackled along its coils, breaking apart against the floorstones.
Finch-Fletchly was outraged. "What do you think you're playing at?" He shouted at Harry, storming away.
"What was that?," Bion said in bemusement as the rest of the room erupted in anxious mutters.
Ginny watched blankly as Ron fought his way forward to unceremoniously grab the back of Harry's collar and steer him out of the hall with Hermione fast on their heels.
Shaking was all she could do.
