Disclaimer--Nothing here belongs to me. Most of this scene is taken from PoA by JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, only the sincerest form of flattery.
Author's Notes--So sorry for the delay! I had some trouble with my internet service that meant I couldn't post for a while...and I've felt totally deprived! Hope this was worth the wait!
Strawberries and Blueberries--Sorry to disappoint, but hopefully you won't have to wait as long for the next one!
Bee11-- I'm always so excited to have a new reviewer!! :-) I'm so glad you enjoyed MOP and SOA so far! I'd love to know what about Ginny you're starting to appreciate (just curiousity). Thanks for saying it's like being inside her mind...that makes me feel great! I hope to hear from you again!
Adrienne--I like that some people pay attention to what's going on with Ginny even if Harry and Ron are a bit slow myself. I do think Ginny and Harry have a lot of similarities within canon--they make good complimentary characters. I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job of illustrating them. As for Hagrid...the other three may THINK they're the only ones with a right to appreciate him, but as you say...Ginny and Hagrid have a bond of their own, and I suspect she isn't the only one who feels that way. Looking forward to your thoughts on this chapter. *hugs*
EEDOE--I loved the bit about Ginny in the cauldron, too...I felt that way a couple of times in school projects! I agree with you about Tom's name...why should he get to pick a name to frighten people, when all he is spoiled, self-absorbed, manipulative Tom Riddle? Right on about Hagrid! A doe for Ginny's patronus...I like that mental image...I'm going to mull it over a while. I think JK is trying to build up to a slow realization of something, rather than making it too overt from the start...a lot of those parallels may still show up...*pats back encouragingly* As for Hermione...great minds do think alike, don't they? *winks* *hugs*
Bill--Yeah...Harry is smart, and very capable, but not overly perceptive...as many boys tend to be at that age...which is very much to my advantage. *smirks and winks* Isn't that sort of literary leeway wonderful? Ginny does have unshakeable faith in Harry's courage and integrity, Ron's loyalty, her father's wisdom...the conviction of her love is one of her greatest and most rare beauties. I think you've been reading my story notes...your suggestions about Hermione and Hagrid certainly sound like it! *winks* *hugs*
*************
She was convinced Malfoy was, in fact, perfectly fine.
Unfortunately, she couldn't tell Hagrid that. Not with Malfoy moaning that he wasn't, complete with the Slytherins mumbling back-up.
"Thought I migh' be seein' ya today," Hagrid said, opening his door. He looked pale, his eyes rimmed with thin lines of red, but seemed reasonably composed.
"It isn't your fault," Ginny said without preamble, "Everyone knows you told him Hippogriffs didn't like to be insulted."
"Yeh," Hagrid said dully, "tha's what Hermione said, too."
"Well, there you go," Ginny said, not bothering to ask when they had come or why they hadn't asked her when they knew how she felt about Hagrid. "Ron says Hermione always knows everything."
Hagrid didn't smile as she set about making his tea. "Doesn' matter. If Malfoy doesn' recover--"
Ginny snorted skeptically. "He's fine. Madam Pomfrey restored all those people Tom Petrified, didn't she? What's a cut compared to that?"
Hagrid sniffled over the rim of his teacup. "Tha's what Harry said..."
She felt herself blush hot pink and damned the Weasley complexion.
"Interesting how yeh two think alike," Hagrid said with surprising perception.
"It's just what anyone would say," Ginny said as her heart skipped sideways.
"If you say so," Hagrid said, clearly unconvinced. "Best get on to class."
Defense Against the Dark Arts didn't give her a headache. In fact, it not only seemed clearly presented and practical, it was interesting! In a matter of minutes, Ginny was deeply impressed with Professor Lupin, who seemed every bit as knowledgeable and competent as he had seemed aboard the train. With this lesson following Charms, and Astronomy at Midnight, Tuesday promised to quickly become her favorite day of the week, though the rest of the week went nearly as well, largely filled with discussion of Professor Lupin-especially after the third years' practical lesson with the Boggart. "That's a great story, Neville," Ginny told him after Seamus had finished telling it to the Common Room. "You should tell it more often."
"Maybe," he said hesitantly, looking shy, "I'll tell it whenever he makes fun of me in Potions."
"Good plan," Ginny agreed with a wink.
Snape, on the other hand, seemed ready for another duel.
Maybe that was why Malfoy and his goons tried so hard to make fun of Professor Lupin. Tempest reported her sister Blaise said the majority of the Slytherins thought Lupin was a vast improvement, even if he did seem...faded...the Hufflepuffs seemed reasonably happy with him, and the Ravenclaws were nearly as impressed as Gryffindor, if Bion and Luna were any indication...
Sirius Black, the dementors, and even the incident with Hagrid's hippogriff seemed to fade into a kaleidoscopic pattern of busy days.
But life at Hogwarts was never boring. Ginny was working diligently on an extra credit report for Professor Sinistra when Ron's roar made her blott the parchment. "OY! GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" She threw a very quelling look in his direction, only to find him oblivious, trying to wrest his backpack away from Hermione's adorable ginger cat.
"Ron, don't hurt him!" Hermione protested as Crookshanks slashed at him, still trying to crawl into the bag, even as he hurled a succession of kitty curses in Ron's direction.
Ignoring her, Ron swung the bag as hard as he could, spinning around in an off-balance circle, and Scabbers soared out of the top of his bag, landing with a thump in the middle of Ginny's ruined report. "CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron bellowed as Crookshanks struggled free and leapt after him. Ginny did nothing of the sort, rather inclined to side with anyone-human or feline-who disliked that rat.
Scabbers made a leap for her arm, and she pulled it hastily out of the way. He hit the floor instead, and began to run. Crookshanks flew in pursuit, and George-who'd never had a problem with Scabbers-dived after him. He missed, but so did Crookshanks...Scabbers had taken refuge under an old, scarred chest of drawers. Crookshanks stretched out on his belly, looking like a tiger-skin rug, and tried to reach him.
Hermione scooped him up, and Ron retrieved Scabbers himself, swinging him in front of Hermione like a pendulum. "Look at him! He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"
"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" Hermione wailed, clutching him to her chest protectively. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"
"There's something funny about that animal!" Ron insisted, cramming Scabbers into his pocket. Scabbers resisted frantically, obviously more interested in his retreat under the chest. "It heard me say Scabbers was in my bag!"
"Oh what rubbish!" Hermione snapped, but Ginny glanced speculatively at the big, fluffy cat and saw a half-buried gleam in his eye that made her wonder... "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think--"
"That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" The rest of the Common Room snickered, but Ginny didn't. If he does, he's got good taste... "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!" Ron thundered up the steps to the dormitory, leaving Hermione holding her cat.
The rest of the Common Room went back to work, but Ginny found herself staring into space, watching Crookshanks and wondering if they shared a dislike for Ron's rat and whether or not there was a reason...but that was ridiculous...
That night she found herself dreaming of a rat wearing a business suit and talking like salesman, and, over his shoulder, the face of a great, looming black dog framed by a dementor's hood...
Author's Notes--So sorry for the delay! I had some trouble with my internet service that meant I couldn't post for a while...and I've felt totally deprived! Hope this was worth the wait!
Strawberries and Blueberries--Sorry to disappoint, but hopefully you won't have to wait as long for the next one!
Bee11-- I'm always so excited to have a new reviewer!! :-) I'm so glad you enjoyed MOP and SOA so far! I'd love to know what about Ginny you're starting to appreciate (just curiousity). Thanks for saying it's like being inside her mind...that makes me feel great! I hope to hear from you again!
Adrienne--I like that some people pay attention to what's going on with Ginny even if Harry and Ron are a bit slow myself. I do think Ginny and Harry have a lot of similarities within canon--they make good complimentary characters. I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job of illustrating them. As for Hagrid...the other three may THINK they're the only ones with a right to appreciate him, but as you say...Ginny and Hagrid have a bond of their own, and I suspect she isn't the only one who feels that way. Looking forward to your thoughts on this chapter. *hugs*
EEDOE--I loved the bit about Ginny in the cauldron, too...I felt that way a couple of times in school projects! I agree with you about Tom's name...why should he get to pick a name to frighten people, when all he is spoiled, self-absorbed, manipulative Tom Riddle? Right on about Hagrid! A doe for Ginny's patronus...I like that mental image...I'm going to mull it over a while. I think JK is trying to build up to a slow realization of something, rather than making it too overt from the start...a lot of those parallels may still show up...*pats back encouragingly* As for Hermione...great minds do think alike, don't they? *winks* *hugs*
Bill--Yeah...Harry is smart, and very capable, but not overly perceptive...as many boys tend to be at that age...which is very much to my advantage. *smirks and winks* Isn't that sort of literary leeway wonderful? Ginny does have unshakeable faith in Harry's courage and integrity, Ron's loyalty, her father's wisdom...the conviction of her love is one of her greatest and most rare beauties. I think you've been reading my story notes...your suggestions about Hermione and Hagrid certainly sound like it! *winks* *hugs*
*************
She was convinced Malfoy was, in fact, perfectly fine.
Unfortunately, she couldn't tell Hagrid that. Not with Malfoy moaning that he wasn't, complete with the Slytherins mumbling back-up.
"Thought I migh' be seein' ya today," Hagrid said, opening his door. He looked pale, his eyes rimmed with thin lines of red, but seemed reasonably composed.
"It isn't your fault," Ginny said without preamble, "Everyone knows you told him Hippogriffs didn't like to be insulted."
"Yeh," Hagrid said dully, "tha's what Hermione said, too."
"Well, there you go," Ginny said, not bothering to ask when they had come or why they hadn't asked her when they knew how she felt about Hagrid. "Ron says Hermione always knows everything."
Hagrid didn't smile as she set about making his tea. "Doesn' matter. If Malfoy doesn' recover--"
Ginny snorted skeptically. "He's fine. Madam Pomfrey restored all those people Tom Petrified, didn't she? What's a cut compared to that?"
Hagrid sniffled over the rim of his teacup. "Tha's what Harry said..."
She felt herself blush hot pink and damned the Weasley complexion.
"Interesting how yeh two think alike," Hagrid said with surprising perception.
"It's just what anyone would say," Ginny said as her heart skipped sideways.
"If you say so," Hagrid said, clearly unconvinced. "Best get on to class."
Defense Against the Dark Arts didn't give her a headache. In fact, it not only seemed clearly presented and practical, it was interesting! In a matter of minutes, Ginny was deeply impressed with Professor Lupin, who seemed every bit as knowledgeable and competent as he had seemed aboard the train. With this lesson following Charms, and Astronomy at Midnight, Tuesday promised to quickly become her favorite day of the week, though the rest of the week went nearly as well, largely filled with discussion of Professor Lupin-especially after the third years' practical lesson with the Boggart. "That's a great story, Neville," Ginny told him after Seamus had finished telling it to the Common Room. "You should tell it more often."
"Maybe," he said hesitantly, looking shy, "I'll tell it whenever he makes fun of me in Potions."
"Good plan," Ginny agreed with a wink.
Snape, on the other hand, seemed ready for another duel.
Maybe that was why Malfoy and his goons tried so hard to make fun of Professor Lupin. Tempest reported her sister Blaise said the majority of the Slytherins thought Lupin was a vast improvement, even if he did seem...faded...the Hufflepuffs seemed reasonably happy with him, and the Ravenclaws were nearly as impressed as Gryffindor, if Bion and Luna were any indication...
Sirius Black, the dementors, and even the incident with Hagrid's hippogriff seemed to fade into a kaleidoscopic pattern of busy days.
But life at Hogwarts was never boring. Ginny was working diligently on an extra credit report for Professor Sinistra when Ron's roar made her blott the parchment. "OY! GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" She threw a very quelling look in his direction, only to find him oblivious, trying to wrest his backpack away from Hermione's adorable ginger cat.
"Ron, don't hurt him!" Hermione protested as Crookshanks slashed at him, still trying to crawl into the bag, even as he hurled a succession of kitty curses in Ron's direction.
Ignoring her, Ron swung the bag as hard as he could, spinning around in an off-balance circle, and Scabbers soared out of the top of his bag, landing with a thump in the middle of Ginny's ruined report. "CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron bellowed as Crookshanks struggled free and leapt after him. Ginny did nothing of the sort, rather inclined to side with anyone-human or feline-who disliked that rat.
Scabbers made a leap for her arm, and she pulled it hastily out of the way. He hit the floor instead, and began to run. Crookshanks flew in pursuit, and George-who'd never had a problem with Scabbers-dived after him. He missed, but so did Crookshanks...Scabbers had taken refuge under an old, scarred chest of drawers. Crookshanks stretched out on his belly, looking like a tiger-skin rug, and tried to reach him.
Hermione scooped him up, and Ron retrieved Scabbers himself, swinging him in front of Hermione like a pendulum. "Look at him! He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"
"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" Hermione wailed, clutching him to her chest protectively. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"
"There's something funny about that animal!" Ron insisted, cramming Scabbers into his pocket. Scabbers resisted frantically, obviously more interested in his retreat under the chest. "It heard me say Scabbers was in my bag!"
"Oh what rubbish!" Hermione snapped, but Ginny glanced speculatively at the big, fluffy cat and saw a half-buried gleam in his eye that made her wonder... "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think--"
"That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" The rest of the Common Room snickered, but Ginny didn't. If he does, he's got good taste... "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!" Ron thundered up the steps to the dormitory, leaving Hermione holding her cat.
The rest of the Common Room went back to work, but Ginny found herself staring into space, watching Crookshanks and wondering if they shared a dislike for Ron's rat and whether or not there was a reason...but that was ridiculous...
That night she found herself dreaming of a rat wearing a business suit and talking like salesman, and, over his shoulder, the face of a great, looming black dog framed by a dementor's hood...