Chapter 5 - Ginny in Distress
It was nearing time for dinner but Ada didn't care to notice. She was too wrapped up in her research and thoughts about the book Snape had given her. Her eyes shifted frantically between each book she had open. In one, she was reading descriptions of certain books and ever so often she would glance up to see if the mysterious book would match any of the descriptions. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw the gruesome book illuminate. Ada quickly stared at it, but it did nothing. She looked back at her books of research and then back again at Snape's. With her arm, she shoved the others out of the way to pull Snape's book closer to her. She took a quick glance around the library. Emily, Fred, and George were diligently flipping through page after page of texts. Ada noticed the librarian replacing books in the restricted section. She breathed in deeply as she looked back at Snape's book. She unlatched the first claw. Nothing happened. She unlatched the second. Still, nothing happened. Ada opened the book and flipped through its pages. They were all still blank. Wait. She said to herself, retracing one page. There was red ink on the two middle pages. The words were written in dragon's blood. Ada recalled learning that dragon's blood ink was usually used to make spells stronger, more powerful. It's a spell book! Ada began to read through the written words, not recognising a single one. The script wasn't in a familiar language. Without taking her eyes off the pages of ink, she called Emily over to her.
"Emily! Come quickly!" she yelled. At Ada's words, the librarian popped her head out of the restricted section and shushed her. Emily walked over to Ada. The closer she got, the more the ink faded. "Wait. Stop there," Ada whispered, holding a hand up to Emily. Emily stopped. She was about five feet away now. "Look," she instructed. Emily peeked over Ada's shoulder, obeying her command, just in time to see the ink completely disappear.
"What was that?" Emily asked.
"I have no idea. It's not in any language I know of."
Emily sat in the chair beside Ada to examine the book. "Did anything else happen?"
Ada told her how she saw the book light up and then there was text on only the two middle pages.
"It wasn't there before. Why did it disappear when I got closer?" Emily pondered.
"I don't know. It was perfectly clear when I looked at it."
"Maybe only Gryffindors can see it. I'll find Fred and George."
As Emily walked away, the writings became more clear. Ada still couldn't translate it though. She heard Fred and George approaching and the pages became blank once again.
"Emily said something about that book," George remarked.
"Yeah. Erm...well, I saw the book light up so I opened it and there was writing on the center pages. Emily came over and the writing vanished. She thought maybe only Gryffindors could read it so she fetched you two. It did the same thing as it did with Emily. I'm stumped."
Fred and George looked at Ada as if she was mentally unstable.
"Dinner starts soon," George finally said.
"I've never spent so much time in the library. Let's eat," Fred agreed.
Emily looked irritated. "Am I the only one other than Ada that wants to solve that stupid book's mystery? It's obvious she's going to have to face something that's somewhat difficult. I don't want her life to be in danger so we should figure out what the bloody thing means, dammit! You shouldn't be thinking of food!"
"No, Emily. It's okay. We can work on this some other time. They're right. Let's eat. I'm getting a headache anyway. I'm tired and I've had too many arguments in the past two days. I'd rather not add to that," Ada sighed, as she massaged her temples with her fingertips.
"Right. Okay. I could use some food, I guess. Cauldron cakes, pie, and pumpkin juice sounds like a nice gourmet meal right now," Emily forced a smile as she spoke.
Fred smiled widely at Emily. "Gourmet meal, that is. You two coming?" he asked Ada and George.
"O' course we aren't," George spat, sarcastically, "I was just the one who suggested the idea, that's all."
The four friends gathered their things and walked out of the library. After dropping their books off in their dormitories, they rejoined outside the Great Hall and plundered inside. The food was already set out and the tables were full of hungry students, snatching one of everything from the full platters. Emily, Ada, Fred, and George took their seats and were welcomed by their houses. The teachers gave them all a stern look of disapproval but took no further action.
After filling their stomachs, the students were escorted back to their dormitories. In the Ravenclaw common room, Emily sat on the floor, beside looming fire that was bewitched to be blue and silver. She was reading On A Higher Broomstick by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Emily took great pride in being a Ravenclaw. For Rowena Ravenclaw was one of her favourite famous witches. She had much in common with her. Her reading was interrupted when Brooke and her two friends, Mandy and Marjorie, ran in giggling wildly like hyenas.
"Could you possibly lower the frequency of your shrill laughter so as not to deafen my thoughts?" Emily's voice held a mild sense of malice and hatred as she kept her eyes on the book's pages. The three girls quickly silenced their laughter.
"If our laughing bothers you, Ms. Bookworm, I suggest you talk to the headmaster and have the Sorting Hat re-sort you into your proper house. Gryffindor is the house of mischief-making twits who think they're better than everyone just because of that Potter kid," Brooke replied as her smile expressed a hallow and cold hatred.
Emily quickly bolted up from the floor and walked over to Brooke. Mandy and Marjorie sunk back as their smiles faded. Emily stared all three of them down like a hawk watching its prey. Suddenly, there was a loud SMACK! and everyone in the common room shot looks of interest and curiosity towards the group of girls. Mandy and Marjorie's eyes closed tightly as they backed away further. Brooke lifted her hand to her cheek and felt the red hot skin burning intensely beneath her chilled hand. She slowly lifted her head to look at Emily. She saw Emily's face now, filled with rage, her eyes burning into Brooke's.
"You bitch!" Brooke screamed. Emily stayed silent, clenching her teeth hard, as if she was forcing herself not to strike again. Brooke raised her hand at Emily while everyone watched in anticipation. Emily immediately grabbed Brooke's wrist and squeezed tightly. Brooke winced with pain.
"Don't you EVER insult my friends!" Emily yelled. "They're better than you will ever be. You're not even half the person any of them are. You don't have the right to bad mouth anyone you don't know. And they're not arrogant because of Harry, either!"
"You're just afraid of the truth," Brooke admitted, cowardly. Emily's grip tightened ever so slightly. Brooke's face contorted as she began to feel the small prick of Emily's nails.
"Insult me all you want. I couldn't care less. Talk behind my back, snigger about my quirks. But never...NEVER breathe a word about my friends."
Emily freed Brooke and Brooke dropped to her knees, rubbing her wrist. Emily took one last pathetic glance at Brooke. "Good day," she said acrimoniously. She made her way to the girls' dormitory. After a moment of complete silence, cheers shot up across the entirety of the room. Mandy and Marjorie glared at everyone as they rushed to Brooke's aid and sat her on the couch. Emily looked down from the top landing of the stairs and scowled before she retreated into her room to continue her book.
Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room, Ada, Fred, and George worked on their Transfiguration homework, Hermione helped Ron study some Potion concoctions, and Harry was keeping them all company.
"So Ada," Harry started, "when are we starting Quidditch practise?"
"No, no. Page 142. It's not listed in the back. There. Read that," Ada pointed out to Fred and George before answering Harry. "Oh...er...next week I think. Maybe two weeks. Oliver's planning on helping us. It'll make the 'me-being-the-new-captain' thing easier to adjust to."
"What's the difference between you two? Make it easier. Bah," George interposed.
"Wood's got somethin' between his legs. Now we have to take orders from a girl," Fred remarked. At this, Ron smirked and was going to comment when Hermione elbowed him gently in the ribs. Ada and Harry both smiled at the thought of what Ron would have said. Harry spoke first.
"Leave her alone. So, she loves...er...obsesses over Quidditch. No big deal."
"Thanks, Harry," Ada commemorated. She winked at him and continued with her homework.
Ron mouthed something to Harry and pointed to Hermione. She looked up just in time to see his motion.
"Since you're a bit preoccupied maybe I should continue studying on my own. If you fail the test, it's not my fault. The test is at the beginning of next week and you're way behind in your studies," she said as she raised one eyebrow.
"Oh. Sorry, Hermione. We have plenty of time to study. Maybe we should take a break. We can play a game of chess or something."
Hermione opened her mouth to object but stopped herself, knowing she'd get nowhere with Ron and she didn't want to start an argument within the first few days of their relationship. She sighed deeply and answered.
"Fine. We can study tomorrow." She gave him a faint smile and a peck on the lips as they stood and walked to the back table.
At that moment, Ginny stormed in very upset. Before she rushed up the stairs, Ron grabbed her arm.
"Leave me alone!" she protested, tears staining her face.
"Wassamatter with you?" he inquired. Harry, Ada, Fred, and George crowded around Ginny and Ron while Hermione stood at the back table, overlooking the situation. Ginny slumped to the floor and looked up at Ron.
"M-m-mal-foy," she sputtered through another stream of tears.
Ron's face grew with anger and he looked at Harry. Harry was looking at Ginny with a glint of pain in his eyes.
"I don't know what he did, but it must've been bad. Nothing good can come from that git anyway," he said. Ron watched as Harry knelt beside Ginny. "Come on. Sit by the fire." He led her to the chair closest to the fire and took a seat on the large, antiqued coffee table. Harry took Ginny's hand in his and squeezed it gently. Everyone watched as Ginny slowly stopped crying and glanced up at Harry.
"It's okay, Ginny," he said, "Whatever Malfoy said, ignore him. He's only trying to get to you." His voice had so much love and clam sweetness in it. Ginny weakly smiled.
"Thank you, Harry," she whispered, apprehensively.
Hermione and Ginny walked over to Ginny as Harry stood up. As the three girls talked, Fred and George began to contrive a plan for Malfoy's punishment. Ron was still looking at Harry, in amazement and suspicion. Harry and Ron paid no attention to Fred and George. Ron stared at Harry, silently. Harry stared at Ginny, silently.
Ada stood up and patted Ginny on the back, softly. Her face was full of determination.
"I'll be right back," she said. She turned and walked briskly out of the common room.
George looked up from his and Fred's scheming. "Where's she off to, then?"
Hermione smiled. "I'm certain you'll find out soon enough," she said.
Fred and George eyed her suspiciously but said nothing more.
