Feallan Steorra
Chapter 12: Next, the Weasleys
Author's jibberish: Yeah, yeah, shameless D/G moment in the previous chapter…kinda. Some of you like Ginny being nice to Draco like that. But we all know Draco would push her away. Well we can all dream…Argh, too many things to wait for… Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets DVD is released in April and Order of the Phoenix coming out in June. It's killing me! Who will die in this book?!?!? Ok, on with the story…
"Now," Professor Trelawney smiled. "Your assignment is to research the constellations during the time of your birth. The stars tell a lot about a person."
Ron growled. "Loads of bull," he murmured. "Do you think I could fake it?"
Harry was feeling the same way. He had no drive to do this assignment. There were just too many things on his mind.
Ron flew to the highest hoop and caught the quaffle hurling towards the goal. "Hah!" he exclaimed, hand up high in this air, catching the ball one-handed.
"Now, Ron, don't get cocky!" Angelina told him. She took a spare quaffle and threw it in his direction. It flew into one of the lower hoops; Ron didn't chase after it on time.
"Point taken, Captain," Ron saluted.
"Come on Gryffindors," Madam Hooch called from the ground. "It's almost sunset." All seven players landed and were escorted back to the castle.
They entered their tower and Lavender and Parvati had laid out astrology books.
"Oh shoot!" Ron exclaimed. He approached Lavender. "Is that Divination homework?"
"Yes, you can't copy mine," she told him. "We weren't born in the same season."
"Like she would know that! Besides stars are just stars."
"They're not just stars," she argued. "They are like eyes to who we are."
"Like how?" Ron peered over her shoulder. "Can you explain to me why the Capricornius and Aquarius are seen during summer while the zodiac signs are during the winter?" he addressed, pointing to her books.
"Oh, sod off Ron. There are no rules saying zodiac signs are corresponding to the season of its constellation," Lavender returned to her homework.
"So, how exactly are you doing this?" Harry asked.
"Simple: list the constellations in the sky during your birthday season," Lavender explained. "I was born in November, so I'm listing the winter constellations: Gemini, Orion, Canis Minor and Major…" she continued.
Ron stared at the diagrams of the winter constellations.
Just then, Professor McGonagall came in the common room. "Fred, George, Ron Weasley…" she said in a soft, gentle voice. "Please come with me."
They followed her out of the room. "Um…Professor…" Fred said, "May we know what this is about? We came back 2 hours before curfew."
"No, Mr. Weasley, it doesn't concern that."
"Then…then…" George stammered. "Why are we headed to the hospital wing?" he seemed to just notice.
As they entered, the three brothers saw Madam Pomfrey nursing the bruised head of a certain red-head.
"Ginny!" they exclaimed.
Ron ran to her side, moving past Madam Pomfrey. "Gin! Gin!" he held her by the shoulders, slightly shaking her. "What happened?!" He noticed she looked blankly at him as if her eyes going right through him. "What's wrong with her?"
"I tried to talk to her but she can't speak to me. She can't see or hear me either," Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.
"Oh Merlin," Fred muttered. He sat beside Ginny and took her hand. With his finger, he gently spelled his name on her palm one letter at a time. F-R-E-D. He also spelled G-E-O-R-G-E.
Shaking, Ron took her other hand after Fred was done. R-O-N.
As she mouthed their names, tears started to fall down her face. They all embraced her, muttering "It'll be ok…" although she couldn't hear them.
George was first to let go. "My…mother…father…"
"I already sent them an owl."
"Can…may we stay with her Professor?" he asked.
"I think you should go back--."
"I don't want to leave her alone!" Ron almost shouted, and then clamped his mouth shut. "Sorry. I mean…someone should be with her…please?"
"We won't disturb the others," Fred promised.
Madam Pomfrey exchanged looks with Professor McGonagall. She sighed, thinking. "You two may stay until your parents arrive," she said to the twins. Then she turned to Ron. "I want you to return to your tower."
"But--."
"I'm sure the others will like to know," Professor McGonagall said.
"Don't worry, Ron. We'll take shifts; we'll take care of her," George assured.
Ron reluctantly nodded. He gave one last hug and hair-ruffle to Ginny. His eyes trailed to her neck; he felt his throat dry as he saw 3 dots. He was escorted back to Gryffindor Tower by Professor McGonagall.
Harry was pacing in front of the fireplace when Ron entered. "Ron!" he approached him. He noted his pale ashen face. "What's wrong?"
"Ginny is the 5th…she was attacked," Ron answered slowly.
Harry's eyes widened. "Oh gods…Sorry, Ron."
Ron quickly turned to Lavender. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's in the dormi--," she watched as Ron ran right upstairs. "Ron! What the-What are you doing?"
Harry ran after him as Ron threw open the girl's dormitory door. Hermione jumped. She was sitting on her bed in a scarlet night robe, four books spread in front of her. "Ron! What are your doing?" Harry asked, chasing after him.
"Exactly; this is a girl's room," Hermione scolded.
"Just shut it," Ron muttered. "Whether you fancy Morell or not…I don't care at the moment."
"What's wrong?"
"Ginny got attacked. She…" Ron bit his lip. "She can't hear, speak…or see. I need your help; help me find the person that did this."
Hermione gasped. "Poor Ginny…"
"Will you help her or not?"
"Of course I will!"
"Everyone!" They heard McGonagall's voice. "Gryffindors, downstairs please." Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked downstairs, joining the rest of their house.
Professor McGonagall was standing, already taking roll. After 15 minutes of reading names, she left.
The three were sitting on the couch as Ron was telling her what happened. "Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe and Weatherby can't speak or open their fists. They all have the same mark: 3 dots right here," he explained, pointing to the back of his ear, where his jaw ended.
"And Ginny is the same?" Hermione asked.
"She has the marks but she can't see, hear or speak."
Harry looked up. "How come her attacks are different?"
"I…I don't know," Ron said. "But those marks are key." He pulled out a piece of parchment from his notepad and drew it. "They're on all five of them, at the exact same spot. There's got to be a meaning to it."
"And what do you suppose we do?" she asked. "You don't mean…"
"Tonight, I'll go to the library."
"But Ron! That thing could be out there--," Hermione argued.
"You don't have to go but I will," Ron said. "I need you to find out what kind of curse it is while I find out what those marks mean."
"You can't go out there alone," Harry said. "I'll come too."
Ron nodded. "Thanks Harry." His eyes trailed back to the drawing. "I know I've seen this mark before…"
With the Invisibility cloak, Harry and Ron snuck into the library.
Harry pulled off his cloak. He sighed in relief. "We were almost caught back there!"
Ron nodded but it seemed as if he didn't care. He was too focused. They walked through the aisles of books.
"Ron do you know where to begi--." Harry stopped as he tripped over a book. "What the- That's a little careless." He picked it up.
Ron read the crystal lettering on the black cover. "Stars and Constellations…"
Suddenly, a pain shot through Harry's head like a knife. He staggered back.
"Harry what's wrong?" Ron asked.
"I…I don't know…"
A bright light shot at them, Ron falling backwards on Harry. Harry took a blow to the head, getting knocked out. He didn't see the events that occurred.
It was hours later when sunlight woke him. It looked as if it was nearly sunrise. In a blurred panic, Harry searched for Ron. "Ron!" he called in a hoarse whisper.
Madam Pince opened the door. Harry pulled the Invisibility cloak over his head and snuck past her back to Gryffindor tower.
He found Hermione asleep on the couch, mounds of books beside her. He found notes in her handwriting, scattered on the floor. He pulled off the Invisibility cloak. "Hermione!" he shook her awake.
She yawned. " 'Arry? What zit?"
"It's Ron," he gulped. "He's gone."
