On My Own
Chapter Eight
The Great Hall was packed full of people, all chattering and shouting excitedly. The House tables had been cleared off to the sides and five desks placed in front of the teachers' table.
" I don't see why we have to be here. McGonagall already told us right? We know what -" Ron began, yawning slightly.
" I don't care. I'm interested in what the other students are going to be doing," Hermione said, exasperated.
A light, ringing sounded through the room and all the students turned their attention towards the front.
A tall, slender and extremely beautiful woman stood, posed like a goddess at on a raised platform. She had olive skin that glowed from the candle lights and her mane of blond hair tumbled down her back. Her eyes were a shocking amethyst, so bright, even the students at the doors saw it.
" I'm Morana Le Fay and I'm a retired Auror. Dumbledore, my grandfather, asked me to lend a hand in teaching you important aspects of defending yourselves. You'll learn things far more advanced than what you are learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which will be dropped if you choose to sign up for this class."
Hermione gasped, " Drop DADA? But it's an important course!"
" I must warn you though. Even if you are willing to participate, it does not mean you are allowed to set foot in my class due to a number of reasons. Firstly, I need your guardians permission. The attack on Hogsmeade was a cowardly and dastardly move on Voldemort's part."
A shudder passed through the Great Hall and several people gasped in horror. Which was a mistake, considering Morana drew herself even taller and glared at the room.
" It is a name. I will not tolerate any of my students shuddering at that fool's name. Fear is a weakness in the Auror business!" she shouted. Several people jumped. " I will continue from where I was before I was rudely interrupted. Many of our world have been in an outrage because of the attack. However, even with several bodies and captives as evidence, the blundering Ministry fails to see the dangers nor admit that Voldemort has indeed risen again."
Even though the students tried to suppress their shudders, several people hiccupped from fear. Morana choose to ignore them.
" And that is not all. They even turned and placed the blame on my grandfather, saying how his preposterous stories, provoked the belief of Voldemort's return in his followers. So I need your guardians permission first thing tomorrow."
" Second. I have high expectations and extreme demands from any of the participating students. I do not care about grades. It's just a mark on a piece of paper, which will mean nothing in combat. I expect everyone to show up at ev-"
" Stop! Stop right this instant!" a shrill voice screamed as the double doors swept open, nearly knocking a few students off their feet. The crowd parted and standing in all her fury was a stout sort of women and a pudgy face that resembled that of a toad. She wore a large floppy pink hat tilted on her mousy hair that was set in curly ringlets. She clutched a clipboard and her quill was poised over the parchment.
" What is the meaning of this?" Morana shouted furiously. " Who the devil are you?"
The woman drew herself upright and opened her mouth but was cut off by Cornelius Fudge.
" I should have guess, his honor, his Majesty, the Minister," Morana spat with distaste. Fudge puffed up like a rooster, his face flaming.
" Now see her, Morana Le Fay. as outrageous as your crazy grandfather. I demand utmost respect when you're speaking to me!"
Morana smirked and waved her hand delicately in the air, as if swatting an imaginary fly. " You might demand it, but that doesn't mean I'll pay you any. You are disrupting my class Minister. I advise you to get ou-"
" Now, Morana. be a little more politer to our guests. Ah! Cornelius, what a pleasant surprise," Albus Dumbledore greeted Fudge heartily from his high back chair at the front the room. Fudge glared when snorts and loud coughs erupted all over the room.
" I suppose it is. Let me introduce you to Dolores Umbridge," Fudge gestured at the toad like lady. " The reason for my visit-as you all might be wondering why- is because I'm absolutely outraged that you have the nerve to infect these students with curriculum the Ministry does not approve. Advanced defense classes, eh Dumbledore? Just what are you planning?"
" I'm not planning anything. I just felt-"
" My grandfather felt it was in the best interest of the students to learn to protect themselves when the Ministry failed to do so."
" Morana," Dumbledore said gently. Morana glanced at her grandfather and sighed wearily.
" I..I .absolutely resent that. It was the most unfortunate event. We had no idea that deranged, deserted You-know-who supporters would actually believe in the cock-and-bull that Potter and Dumbledore cook up!"
" That's ridiculous! How dare you!" Morana shrieked as she whipped out her wand. There was a bang and Morana was threw backwards several feet before smacking against the wall. The crowd gave a shocked gasp. Several Slytherins present gave a great whoop of laughter. All of them were silenced when there was a resounding crack in the air and Dolores was lifted up in the air, rising quickly before getting stuck on the ceiling. Morana struggled upwards, her wand snapped in half but her hand outstretched.
" Morana!" Dumbledore snapped. Morana looked grudgingly at her grandfather before waving her hand. Dolores Umbridge gave a earsplitting scream as she rushed downwards. " MORANA!" Dumbledore shouted angrily.
Morana smirked and snapped her fingers. Dolores stopped inches from the ground, so close that when her chest touched the floor whenever she gave a shuddering breath. Dumbledore stood up and pointed a shaking finger at his granddaughter. She looked resentfully at the ground before turning forwards.
" An outrage! An absolute outrage!" Dolores shrieked at the floor. She wrung her arms and kicked her legs. " That's a deliberate attack on a Ministry official!"
" Oh, please, you're still in one piece," Morana snapped. She gently, much to her distaste, lowered her hand and Dolores struggled upright on her feet.
Fudge seem to stare at Morana with a mixture of fear and awe. He cleared his throat, " Yes. outrage. Well. back to the original business. I'm here to inform you that I took the liberty to fire Hogwarts current Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and replaced him with Dolores."
Dumbledore thought for a moment before giving a hearty laugh, " I trust your judgments are correct. Dolores, welcome to Hogwarts."
There was an uncomfortable and heavy silence following his oddly consenting statement. Even Fudge looked taken back, " Very well. I also want none of this nonsense-" he said, shaking his finger at the room.
" That I cannot agree with. Since you're not taking any necessary precautions, I have to teach my students how to defend for themselves."
" There is nothing to protect against!"
" I wouldn't be so sure. Lucius Malfoy is still running around. So is Peter-"
" Enough! Potter! I will not to-"
" Do you think that a group of Deatheaters attacking Hogsmeade is not a threat? Are you telling me that the twelve casualties we suffered were nothing more than the work of deranged minds? That the students who died in the prime of their lives were nothing?" Dumbledore asked harshly. " If the parents find out you are denying their children the right to defend themselves, how will they react? Think about that before you act any further."
A silence fell upon the room again and Fudge was sputtering, his face red and contorted in anger. " You.you.see here Dumbledore. I will not have you badgering me about humanity and such. Yes. it's unfortunate that those students died but you have to admit, you are at fault. If you do not rattle on about You-Know-Who getting back and getting that idea stuck in those kooky minds, maybe those-"
" My sister died and you're blaming it on Dumbledore? Dumbledore was there protecting us and where were you? Sitting cozily on your pompous chair?" Ron asked bitterly. Fudge whipped his head to face Ron, his face still red.
" Ah. Arthur Weasley's youngest son? I had the pleasure of meeting your brother. I'm happy he decided to revoke all those petitions and signatures."
Fudge smiled manically and triumph gleamed in his eyes. Ron, Fred and George paled.
" He what?"
" He wouldn't!"
" He did," Fudge said. He glanced at Dumbledore. " Dumbledore, I suppose we need a little chat."
He turned on his heel and rushed, with Umbridge at his heels, out the double doors.
~*~
Dear Ron,
Concerning the Minister's statement, yes, I did decide to revoke the silly petition. I had originally presented the signatures. He and I had a lengthy chat and he made me see that he is not to blame for Ginny's death.
"Are you believing this?" Fred said angrily as he chucked the unfinished letter in the fire.
"No, not really. not since you threw it in the fire," Ron said quietly.
Hermione glanced nervously at the three brothers and her eyes pleaded with Harry to do something.
" Er. guys. Maybe this is a temporary thing. he'll come to-"
" No! This is not okay even for a moment!" Ron snapped.
" Ron maybe you should calm down. You'll know, Percy has a point, Fudge wasn't the one holding the wand. But he is at fault for not reacting -"
" Hermione, shut up!" Ron snapped. " Shut up with your in depth view on everything. They are all acting as if her death. didn't matter. That it was just some tragic accident!" Hermione, whose hand was raised to put on Ron's shoulder, dropped limply to her side.
" But it's not that what I wanted to say. Her death does matter. But -"
" What is with you and buts? There's nothing more about it!" Ron screamed.
Hermione's eyes looked skittishly around as her face paled and her cheeks took on a rosy color. Her eyes riveted alarmingly in their sockets before she sucked in her breath and left the common room.
" Bloody smart mate. Real smart," Harry said, clapping half heartedly. Ron glared at him and paced in a two foot radius.
" I shouldn't have done that. I really shouldn't have done that." he glanced at the portrait and waved good bye before dashing out.
" Where can she be?" he muttered. " Library? Yes. library. Hermione. we're talking about Hermione. Of cour-"
" That's stereotyping and I resent that," a soft voice scowled behind him.
" I'm sorry," he automatically said as he turned around. Hermione stood, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed as she glared at him.
" I'm really sorry," he said as he moved forward. She held out a restraining hand and he stopped, staring at the hand on his chest. She blushed and removed it.
" What are you sorry about?" she asked quietly.
Ron felt like jumping out a nearby window. " For making you.mad."
" What am I mad about?"
" Me yelling at you."
Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. " No. not quite."
She moved to leave but Ron cleared his throat nervously, " I'm sorry, okay? Does it matter? At least I'm sorry."
Hermione glared at him. " Yes it does matter. You know what. you acted as if ..as if I didn't care about Ginny."
Ron opened his mouth.
" You did! You acted as if I didn't have a friendship with her. You acted as if I didn't treat her like a sister. You acted as if I didn't care for her at all!"
" I didn't mean it like that! I know you care about her! If you didn't, you wouldn't try to include her in everything we did! You wouldn't be her best friend! I know you care about her! But what you said. that we can't blame Fudge? Do you know how much that hurt? To know my best friend wasn't behind me in everything I believe in or did?"
Hermione closed her eyes and Ron panicked, seeing tears roll down her cheeks.
" Ron. I can't be behind you 100%. But . but I cared a Ginny, still care about her. And I know how much it hurt you to know she was gone. And now. people are starting to neglect what danger she went through. Ron. I care about Ginny because she's like a sister to me. But I care about her also. because you care about her. and I don't want to see your heart broken. because. my heart breaks to see your heart broken."
Hermione said it so quietly and softly, Ron had to strain to hear her. However, once he comprehended what she meant, his heart thumped wildly against his chest and his blood pounded in his ears. He gazed at her and his eyes softened. She stood quietly, drowsed in moonlight from a nearby window. Her eyes were downcast and her eyelashes were clumped together from her tears. Her cheeks were rosy from crying and her lips were red from her constant chewing on them. Tresses of curly hair fell across her face as she waited nervously for his response.
" Ron, do you understand what I'm saying?" she whispered, moving closer. She looked up at him and quickly glanced back down. " It's alright. didn't expect your dense head to-"
" I'm going to ignore that," he chuckled as he placed his finger underneath her chin. He lifted her face up and brushed away stray locks of hair. " Stop crying. you're too beautiful to cry," he said, kissing her sticky cheeks. She gasped and leaned in closer to him, her eyes closed.
" Please don't be joking," she sighed. Her lip trembled and she pleaded again. " Don't be joking now."
His hand moved awkwardly to behind her neck as he placed his other arm loosely around her waist.
" .No. I won't be joking now. too nervous to," he said, stuttering a little. He cocked his head from side to side, wishing he was a natural at this, to look for a suitable angle. Finding one, he took a deep breath, gathered up his courage and leaned forward.
Their lips touched for a split second when a loud shrieking voice cried, " What could a boy and girl be doing in an empty corridor, at night with no one around?"
Ron jumped and so did Hermione. Their foreheads bumped painfully together. Hermione accidentally pushed Ron backwards from the force and he collided with the wall, bumping the back of his head in the process.
Groaning from the impact and shaking away the stars, he stared menacingly the intruder. Seeing no one in the corridor, he glanced at Hermione with a questioningly frown.
Hermione was wiping her eyes with one hand and the other nervously tugged at a strand of curly brown hair. Her cheeks were flaming red and her neck was slowly flushing with awkwardness.
" Hermione? Um. do you. know who interrupted us?" he asked, looking everywhere but her.
" I dunno. some girl with stringy blond hair. And I think I saw a wand in her hair but she was moving too quickly."
Ron walked up to her and reached for her hand, making her jump. She snatched the hand to her chest as if his touch burned.
" I'm. sorry. You startled me. Um. thanks. Don't you think we need to get back?" she asked quickly. " Yeah. We should," she mumbled quickly, answering her own question. She glanced at him, her eyes glazed over and unreadable. She turned on her heel and began walking quickly towards the Gryffindor Tower. However, she paused at corner and started running back before skidding to a halt in front of Ron.
She glanced shyly at him and stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, " Thanks for cheering me up. You aren't as dense as you look," she smiled against his ear and he shivered from this strange yet pleasant sensation. " But next time, kiss me when we are definitely alone and won't be disturbed. I don't count that right there, a kiss. By the way, I don't fancy knocking heads with you again. You're pretty hard headed," she said, laughing merrily in his ear. She turned and pecked him on the cheek. She stepped down and patted him on the cheek.
" Eh. thanks. I'll keep that in mind," he muttered.
She smiled up at him, her cheeks rosy and hazel eyes sparkling with happiness, before nodding.
" Alright then, you keep that at top most priority in your mind," she said. She turned and walked towards the Gryffindor Tower.
Ron glanced up and down the corridor before splitting his face with an ear to ear grin. He gave a whoop of laughter and jumped a foot in the air, waving his arms like mad.
" I got the point this time! I got the point!"
~*~
" Hayden is a jerk! A coward! A nasty bugger! An arse-" Ginny spat as she pounded relentlessly on the chicken with the hammer.
Her roommates; Selene, Leila, Milan and an African girl named Amadi, stared cautiously at her.
" Ginny. don't you think you gave it quite enough pounding?" Milan asked. Ginny ignored her.
" Yeah. I don't like my food to feel as if it were." Leila trailed a little from Ginny's glare," pre-chewed."
" Uh, wouldn't it just better if we just named Hayden, Chicken, so she go pounding him and we can go on with our dinner," Selene suggested.
" Uh. Ginny? I think the chicken is," Amadi glanced at the chicken for a moment, " tender enough."
" No, it's not! It's my turn to make dinner and I'll make it the way I want to!" she shouted. She pounded vigorously on the poultry and gritted her teeth.
Leila ushered her fellow roommates into a huddle and said in a hushed voice, " We can't go on with this! I do not like eating food feeling as if it was pre-chewed!"
" Stop it with the pre-chewed!" Milan snapped.
" Sorry, thought it was funny," Leila said. She shrugged.
" Er. do you think she start attacking one of us when. the chicken turns to. nothing?" Amadi said. The others stared it her with bemusement. Amadi's eyes riveted around the group and her hand flew behind her ear to rub it awkwardly. " Just a suggestion. I'm going to my aunt's for dinner. You have your.pre-chewed chicken. Ta!" she laughed, waving before disappearing with a pop.
" Why is she so mad again?" Milan said, looking cautiously at Ginny, who finally got to the point of starting the stove.
" Well. "
~*~
"Feeling better?" Leila asked as she handed Ginny a cup of herbal tea. " Drink that. It's got ginger. It'll wake you up a bit."
Ginny stared groggily at the mug. She shook it a little and the yellowish liquid swirled.
" My head feels like a ton of bricks.lots of bricks.plenty of bricks," she mumbled, dropping her head on the cold granite.
" That often happens when you have an overload," Leila mumbled absentmindedly. "What. is the tea too bitter? Add a little sugar to it. although it absolutely abolish the fact that it's suppose to be healthy."
" What's an overload?" Ginny asked sipping the tea. She was right, it was too bitter.
" Well. um," Leila glanced at the island's counter top. " Aha! Well, suppose a witch or wizard is like this salt shaker."
Leila sat on a stool and picked up the plain white salt shaker with a black 'S' stamped on it's side.
" So you are implying that we humans have four holes drilled through the top of our skulls?"
Leila scrunched her nose up and laughed, " Stop taking things so literally. Anyway," she unscrewed it and placed the bottle on the countertop between the two of them," whenever a witch or wizard feel provoked, angry, frustrated etc, they release a little magic to relieve the stress or tension in their systems. Sorta making things happen unconsciously. That situation is like. the salt shaker being emptied little by little, like you would relieve the tension. But some people can pent up the frustration and stress, causing lots of tension. Then when your mind and body can't take it, the pent up power is release full blown. Dangerous for the person and those surrounding him or her."
" How does that relate to the salt shaker then?" Ginny said, gesturing to the white bottle.
Leila puckered her lips in thought, " It'll be like," she waved her fingers over the table and picked up the top, " as if someone loosely put it on and the shaker was just waiting for someone to overturn it." Ginny laughed and screwed on the shaker tightly. " Don't want that happening now do we?"
Leila grinned and moved back to the stove, spooning some bacon and eggs onto two plates.
" Here you go, good old bacon and eggs," Leila smiled. She slid the plate in front of her. Ginny nodded thankfully and ate quickly.
" Hum honge," she answered Leila's questioning gaze.
" Right. it's not attractive. oh. but here comes someone who is," Leila said devilishly. Ginny swallowed and wiped her mouth. Taking a drink from her drink while turning to look at the door. The room's door had a square window made out of unbreakable glass. Standing, slightly distorted, was Hayden Lionhart.
Spewing her drink and she gave a loud, dry laugh. She stopped and looked at Leila from the corner of her eye. Leila smiled and shrugged. Ginny dapped her mouth and hopped off her stool. Mug still in hand, she opened the door grudgingly.
" What do you want?" she snapped.
" What? No good morning kiss?" he asked, puckering his lips with mocking kissing sounds. She took the opportunity of splashing him with a little of her drink. He sputtered and wiped his cheek.
" Good enough? I think it was a little wet though," Ginny said, glancing down at her drink. Good, got half a cup of ammo left.
" Yeah. um, I came to say," he said running a hand through his hair," .came to say, I'm sorry. about the pushing you at the Krypt and stuff." Ginny nearly dropped her ammo. " What?"
" Sorry. as in an apology? Sorry is a way of showing or expressing sympathy, pity or regret."
" I don't need a definition of it, thank you. Well, I accept your apology-"
" Oh thank god. Thought I'll never get that over with. Now I can go hit my head against a wall to forget I ever apologized to the likes of you."
" Oh! You are ab-" Ginny growled.
" Good day now," he smirked as he patted her on her head. She stomped her foot and thrust her drink forward. Hayden sputtered, spitting out a little of the drink.
" Ginger tea? Not bad. needs sugar. Good bye!"
And he did something that made Ginny drop her mug. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He smiled and pinched her nose lightly before skipping off. Ginny blinked as she stared at the empty space that previously contained one deranged Hayden Lionhart.
" Ah!" she screamed. She picked up a vase on the table next to the door frame and chucked it down the hall. " Stupid, mental, demented, insane, crazed, dumb, idiot, moron, jerk, -"
" I think some are just synonyms for the others," Leila chirped. Ginny screeched and stomped into the flat. She slammed the door shut and one of the panels of glass fell out of its frame.
" What does he think he's doing? Showing up here. apologizing. acting all giddy. ah! I'm making dinner!"
" Now? But. it's breakfast time," Leila said, watching Ginny shake the ground as she walked to the kitchen. "I don't suppose you want another drink!"
She ducked as a plate of bacon and eggs was thrown at her.
To Be Continued
Chapter Eight
The Great Hall was packed full of people, all chattering and shouting excitedly. The House tables had been cleared off to the sides and five desks placed in front of the teachers' table.
" I don't see why we have to be here. McGonagall already told us right? We know what -" Ron began, yawning slightly.
" I don't care. I'm interested in what the other students are going to be doing," Hermione said, exasperated.
A light, ringing sounded through the room and all the students turned their attention towards the front.
A tall, slender and extremely beautiful woman stood, posed like a goddess at on a raised platform. She had olive skin that glowed from the candle lights and her mane of blond hair tumbled down her back. Her eyes were a shocking amethyst, so bright, even the students at the doors saw it.
" I'm Morana Le Fay and I'm a retired Auror. Dumbledore, my grandfather, asked me to lend a hand in teaching you important aspects of defending yourselves. You'll learn things far more advanced than what you are learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which will be dropped if you choose to sign up for this class."
Hermione gasped, " Drop DADA? But it's an important course!"
" I must warn you though. Even if you are willing to participate, it does not mean you are allowed to set foot in my class due to a number of reasons. Firstly, I need your guardians permission. The attack on Hogsmeade was a cowardly and dastardly move on Voldemort's part."
A shudder passed through the Great Hall and several people gasped in horror. Which was a mistake, considering Morana drew herself even taller and glared at the room.
" It is a name. I will not tolerate any of my students shuddering at that fool's name. Fear is a weakness in the Auror business!" she shouted. Several people jumped. " I will continue from where I was before I was rudely interrupted. Many of our world have been in an outrage because of the attack. However, even with several bodies and captives as evidence, the blundering Ministry fails to see the dangers nor admit that Voldemort has indeed risen again."
Even though the students tried to suppress their shudders, several people hiccupped from fear. Morana choose to ignore them.
" And that is not all. They even turned and placed the blame on my grandfather, saying how his preposterous stories, provoked the belief of Voldemort's return in his followers. So I need your guardians permission first thing tomorrow."
" Second. I have high expectations and extreme demands from any of the participating students. I do not care about grades. It's just a mark on a piece of paper, which will mean nothing in combat. I expect everyone to show up at ev-"
" Stop! Stop right this instant!" a shrill voice screamed as the double doors swept open, nearly knocking a few students off their feet. The crowd parted and standing in all her fury was a stout sort of women and a pudgy face that resembled that of a toad. She wore a large floppy pink hat tilted on her mousy hair that was set in curly ringlets. She clutched a clipboard and her quill was poised over the parchment.
" What is the meaning of this?" Morana shouted furiously. " Who the devil are you?"
The woman drew herself upright and opened her mouth but was cut off by Cornelius Fudge.
" I should have guess, his honor, his Majesty, the Minister," Morana spat with distaste. Fudge puffed up like a rooster, his face flaming.
" Now see her, Morana Le Fay. as outrageous as your crazy grandfather. I demand utmost respect when you're speaking to me!"
Morana smirked and waved her hand delicately in the air, as if swatting an imaginary fly. " You might demand it, but that doesn't mean I'll pay you any. You are disrupting my class Minister. I advise you to get ou-"
" Now, Morana. be a little more politer to our guests. Ah! Cornelius, what a pleasant surprise," Albus Dumbledore greeted Fudge heartily from his high back chair at the front the room. Fudge glared when snorts and loud coughs erupted all over the room.
" I suppose it is. Let me introduce you to Dolores Umbridge," Fudge gestured at the toad like lady. " The reason for my visit-as you all might be wondering why- is because I'm absolutely outraged that you have the nerve to infect these students with curriculum the Ministry does not approve. Advanced defense classes, eh Dumbledore? Just what are you planning?"
" I'm not planning anything. I just felt-"
" My grandfather felt it was in the best interest of the students to learn to protect themselves when the Ministry failed to do so."
" Morana," Dumbledore said gently. Morana glanced at her grandfather and sighed wearily.
" I..I .absolutely resent that. It was the most unfortunate event. We had no idea that deranged, deserted You-know-who supporters would actually believe in the cock-and-bull that Potter and Dumbledore cook up!"
" That's ridiculous! How dare you!" Morana shrieked as she whipped out her wand. There was a bang and Morana was threw backwards several feet before smacking against the wall. The crowd gave a shocked gasp. Several Slytherins present gave a great whoop of laughter. All of them were silenced when there was a resounding crack in the air and Dolores was lifted up in the air, rising quickly before getting stuck on the ceiling. Morana struggled upwards, her wand snapped in half but her hand outstretched.
" Morana!" Dumbledore snapped. Morana looked grudgingly at her grandfather before waving her hand. Dolores Umbridge gave a earsplitting scream as she rushed downwards. " MORANA!" Dumbledore shouted angrily.
Morana smirked and snapped her fingers. Dolores stopped inches from the ground, so close that when her chest touched the floor whenever she gave a shuddering breath. Dumbledore stood up and pointed a shaking finger at his granddaughter. She looked resentfully at the ground before turning forwards.
" An outrage! An absolute outrage!" Dolores shrieked at the floor. She wrung her arms and kicked her legs. " That's a deliberate attack on a Ministry official!"
" Oh, please, you're still in one piece," Morana snapped. She gently, much to her distaste, lowered her hand and Dolores struggled upright on her feet.
Fudge seem to stare at Morana with a mixture of fear and awe. He cleared his throat, " Yes. outrage. Well. back to the original business. I'm here to inform you that I took the liberty to fire Hogwarts current Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and replaced him with Dolores."
Dumbledore thought for a moment before giving a hearty laugh, " I trust your judgments are correct. Dolores, welcome to Hogwarts."
There was an uncomfortable and heavy silence following his oddly consenting statement. Even Fudge looked taken back, " Very well. I also want none of this nonsense-" he said, shaking his finger at the room.
" That I cannot agree with. Since you're not taking any necessary precautions, I have to teach my students how to defend for themselves."
" There is nothing to protect against!"
" I wouldn't be so sure. Lucius Malfoy is still running around. So is Peter-"
" Enough! Potter! I will not to-"
" Do you think that a group of Deatheaters attacking Hogsmeade is not a threat? Are you telling me that the twelve casualties we suffered were nothing more than the work of deranged minds? That the students who died in the prime of their lives were nothing?" Dumbledore asked harshly. " If the parents find out you are denying their children the right to defend themselves, how will they react? Think about that before you act any further."
A silence fell upon the room again and Fudge was sputtering, his face red and contorted in anger. " You.you.see here Dumbledore. I will not have you badgering me about humanity and such. Yes. it's unfortunate that those students died but you have to admit, you are at fault. If you do not rattle on about You-Know-Who getting back and getting that idea stuck in those kooky minds, maybe those-"
" My sister died and you're blaming it on Dumbledore? Dumbledore was there protecting us and where were you? Sitting cozily on your pompous chair?" Ron asked bitterly. Fudge whipped his head to face Ron, his face still red.
" Ah. Arthur Weasley's youngest son? I had the pleasure of meeting your brother. I'm happy he decided to revoke all those petitions and signatures."
Fudge smiled manically and triumph gleamed in his eyes. Ron, Fred and George paled.
" He what?"
" He wouldn't!"
" He did," Fudge said. He glanced at Dumbledore. " Dumbledore, I suppose we need a little chat."
He turned on his heel and rushed, with Umbridge at his heels, out the double doors.
~*~
Dear Ron,
Concerning the Minister's statement, yes, I did decide to revoke the silly petition. I had originally presented the signatures. He and I had a lengthy chat and he made me see that he is not to blame for Ginny's death.
"Are you believing this?" Fred said angrily as he chucked the unfinished letter in the fire.
"No, not really. not since you threw it in the fire," Ron said quietly.
Hermione glanced nervously at the three brothers and her eyes pleaded with Harry to do something.
" Er. guys. Maybe this is a temporary thing. he'll come to-"
" No! This is not okay even for a moment!" Ron snapped.
" Ron maybe you should calm down. You'll know, Percy has a point, Fudge wasn't the one holding the wand. But he is at fault for not reacting -"
" Hermione, shut up!" Ron snapped. " Shut up with your in depth view on everything. They are all acting as if her death. didn't matter. That it was just some tragic accident!" Hermione, whose hand was raised to put on Ron's shoulder, dropped limply to her side.
" But it's not that what I wanted to say. Her death does matter. But -"
" What is with you and buts? There's nothing more about it!" Ron screamed.
Hermione's eyes looked skittishly around as her face paled and her cheeks took on a rosy color. Her eyes riveted alarmingly in their sockets before she sucked in her breath and left the common room.
" Bloody smart mate. Real smart," Harry said, clapping half heartedly. Ron glared at him and paced in a two foot radius.
" I shouldn't have done that. I really shouldn't have done that." he glanced at the portrait and waved good bye before dashing out.
" Where can she be?" he muttered. " Library? Yes. library. Hermione. we're talking about Hermione. Of cour-"
" That's stereotyping and I resent that," a soft voice scowled behind him.
" I'm sorry," he automatically said as he turned around. Hermione stood, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed as she glared at him.
" I'm really sorry," he said as he moved forward. She held out a restraining hand and he stopped, staring at the hand on his chest. She blushed and removed it.
" What are you sorry about?" she asked quietly.
Ron felt like jumping out a nearby window. " For making you.mad."
" What am I mad about?"
" Me yelling at you."
Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. " No. not quite."
She moved to leave but Ron cleared his throat nervously, " I'm sorry, okay? Does it matter? At least I'm sorry."
Hermione glared at him. " Yes it does matter. You know what. you acted as if ..as if I didn't care about Ginny."
Ron opened his mouth.
" You did! You acted as if I didn't have a friendship with her. You acted as if I didn't treat her like a sister. You acted as if I didn't care for her at all!"
" I didn't mean it like that! I know you care about her! If you didn't, you wouldn't try to include her in everything we did! You wouldn't be her best friend! I know you care about her! But what you said. that we can't blame Fudge? Do you know how much that hurt? To know my best friend wasn't behind me in everything I believe in or did?"
Hermione closed her eyes and Ron panicked, seeing tears roll down her cheeks.
" Ron. I can't be behind you 100%. But . but I cared a Ginny, still care about her. And I know how much it hurt you to know she was gone. And now. people are starting to neglect what danger she went through. Ron. I care about Ginny because she's like a sister to me. But I care about her also. because you care about her. and I don't want to see your heart broken. because. my heart breaks to see your heart broken."
Hermione said it so quietly and softly, Ron had to strain to hear her. However, once he comprehended what she meant, his heart thumped wildly against his chest and his blood pounded in his ears. He gazed at her and his eyes softened. She stood quietly, drowsed in moonlight from a nearby window. Her eyes were downcast and her eyelashes were clumped together from her tears. Her cheeks were rosy from crying and her lips were red from her constant chewing on them. Tresses of curly hair fell across her face as she waited nervously for his response.
" Ron, do you understand what I'm saying?" she whispered, moving closer. She looked up at him and quickly glanced back down. " It's alright. didn't expect your dense head to-"
" I'm going to ignore that," he chuckled as he placed his finger underneath her chin. He lifted her face up and brushed away stray locks of hair. " Stop crying. you're too beautiful to cry," he said, kissing her sticky cheeks. She gasped and leaned in closer to him, her eyes closed.
" Please don't be joking," she sighed. Her lip trembled and she pleaded again. " Don't be joking now."
His hand moved awkwardly to behind her neck as he placed his other arm loosely around her waist.
" .No. I won't be joking now. too nervous to," he said, stuttering a little. He cocked his head from side to side, wishing he was a natural at this, to look for a suitable angle. Finding one, he took a deep breath, gathered up his courage and leaned forward.
Their lips touched for a split second when a loud shrieking voice cried, " What could a boy and girl be doing in an empty corridor, at night with no one around?"
Ron jumped and so did Hermione. Their foreheads bumped painfully together. Hermione accidentally pushed Ron backwards from the force and he collided with the wall, bumping the back of his head in the process.
Groaning from the impact and shaking away the stars, he stared menacingly the intruder. Seeing no one in the corridor, he glanced at Hermione with a questioningly frown.
Hermione was wiping her eyes with one hand and the other nervously tugged at a strand of curly brown hair. Her cheeks were flaming red and her neck was slowly flushing with awkwardness.
" Hermione? Um. do you. know who interrupted us?" he asked, looking everywhere but her.
" I dunno. some girl with stringy blond hair. And I think I saw a wand in her hair but she was moving too quickly."
Ron walked up to her and reached for her hand, making her jump. She snatched the hand to her chest as if his touch burned.
" I'm. sorry. You startled me. Um. thanks. Don't you think we need to get back?" she asked quickly. " Yeah. We should," she mumbled quickly, answering her own question. She glanced at him, her eyes glazed over and unreadable. She turned on her heel and began walking quickly towards the Gryffindor Tower. However, she paused at corner and started running back before skidding to a halt in front of Ron.
She glanced shyly at him and stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, " Thanks for cheering me up. You aren't as dense as you look," she smiled against his ear and he shivered from this strange yet pleasant sensation. " But next time, kiss me when we are definitely alone and won't be disturbed. I don't count that right there, a kiss. By the way, I don't fancy knocking heads with you again. You're pretty hard headed," she said, laughing merrily in his ear. She turned and pecked him on the cheek. She stepped down and patted him on the cheek.
" Eh. thanks. I'll keep that in mind," he muttered.
She smiled up at him, her cheeks rosy and hazel eyes sparkling with happiness, before nodding.
" Alright then, you keep that at top most priority in your mind," she said. She turned and walked towards the Gryffindor Tower.
Ron glanced up and down the corridor before splitting his face with an ear to ear grin. He gave a whoop of laughter and jumped a foot in the air, waving his arms like mad.
" I got the point this time! I got the point!"
~*~
" Hayden is a jerk! A coward! A nasty bugger! An arse-" Ginny spat as she pounded relentlessly on the chicken with the hammer.
Her roommates; Selene, Leila, Milan and an African girl named Amadi, stared cautiously at her.
" Ginny. don't you think you gave it quite enough pounding?" Milan asked. Ginny ignored her.
" Yeah. I don't like my food to feel as if it were." Leila trailed a little from Ginny's glare," pre-chewed."
" Uh, wouldn't it just better if we just named Hayden, Chicken, so she go pounding him and we can go on with our dinner," Selene suggested.
" Uh. Ginny? I think the chicken is," Amadi glanced at the chicken for a moment, " tender enough."
" No, it's not! It's my turn to make dinner and I'll make it the way I want to!" she shouted. She pounded vigorously on the poultry and gritted her teeth.
Leila ushered her fellow roommates into a huddle and said in a hushed voice, " We can't go on with this! I do not like eating food feeling as if it was pre-chewed!"
" Stop it with the pre-chewed!" Milan snapped.
" Sorry, thought it was funny," Leila said. She shrugged.
" Er. do you think she start attacking one of us when. the chicken turns to. nothing?" Amadi said. The others stared it her with bemusement. Amadi's eyes riveted around the group and her hand flew behind her ear to rub it awkwardly. " Just a suggestion. I'm going to my aunt's for dinner. You have your.pre-chewed chicken. Ta!" she laughed, waving before disappearing with a pop.
" Why is she so mad again?" Milan said, looking cautiously at Ginny, who finally got to the point of starting the stove.
" Well. "
~*~
"Feeling better?" Leila asked as she handed Ginny a cup of herbal tea. " Drink that. It's got ginger. It'll wake you up a bit."
Ginny stared groggily at the mug. She shook it a little and the yellowish liquid swirled.
" My head feels like a ton of bricks.lots of bricks.plenty of bricks," she mumbled, dropping her head on the cold granite.
" That often happens when you have an overload," Leila mumbled absentmindedly. "What. is the tea too bitter? Add a little sugar to it. although it absolutely abolish the fact that it's suppose to be healthy."
" What's an overload?" Ginny asked sipping the tea. She was right, it was too bitter.
" Well. um," Leila glanced at the island's counter top. " Aha! Well, suppose a witch or wizard is like this salt shaker."
Leila sat on a stool and picked up the plain white salt shaker with a black 'S' stamped on it's side.
" So you are implying that we humans have four holes drilled through the top of our skulls?"
Leila scrunched her nose up and laughed, " Stop taking things so literally. Anyway," she unscrewed it and placed the bottle on the countertop between the two of them," whenever a witch or wizard feel provoked, angry, frustrated etc, they release a little magic to relieve the stress or tension in their systems. Sorta making things happen unconsciously. That situation is like. the salt shaker being emptied little by little, like you would relieve the tension. But some people can pent up the frustration and stress, causing lots of tension. Then when your mind and body can't take it, the pent up power is release full blown. Dangerous for the person and those surrounding him or her."
" How does that relate to the salt shaker then?" Ginny said, gesturing to the white bottle.
Leila puckered her lips in thought, " It'll be like," she waved her fingers over the table and picked up the top, " as if someone loosely put it on and the shaker was just waiting for someone to overturn it." Ginny laughed and screwed on the shaker tightly. " Don't want that happening now do we?"
Leila grinned and moved back to the stove, spooning some bacon and eggs onto two plates.
" Here you go, good old bacon and eggs," Leila smiled. She slid the plate in front of her. Ginny nodded thankfully and ate quickly.
" Hum honge," she answered Leila's questioning gaze.
" Right. it's not attractive. oh. but here comes someone who is," Leila said devilishly. Ginny swallowed and wiped her mouth. Taking a drink from her drink while turning to look at the door. The room's door had a square window made out of unbreakable glass. Standing, slightly distorted, was Hayden Lionhart.
Spewing her drink and she gave a loud, dry laugh. She stopped and looked at Leila from the corner of her eye. Leila smiled and shrugged. Ginny dapped her mouth and hopped off her stool. Mug still in hand, she opened the door grudgingly.
" What do you want?" she snapped.
" What? No good morning kiss?" he asked, puckering his lips with mocking kissing sounds. She took the opportunity of splashing him with a little of her drink. He sputtered and wiped his cheek.
" Good enough? I think it was a little wet though," Ginny said, glancing down at her drink. Good, got half a cup of ammo left.
" Yeah. um, I came to say," he said running a hand through his hair," .came to say, I'm sorry. about the pushing you at the Krypt and stuff." Ginny nearly dropped her ammo. " What?"
" Sorry. as in an apology? Sorry is a way of showing or expressing sympathy, pity or regret."
" I don't need a definition of it, thank you. Well, I accept your apology-"
" Oh thank god. Thought I'll never get that over with. Now I can go hit my head against a wall to forget I ever apologized to the likes of you."
" Oh! You are ab-" Ginny growled.
" Good day now," he smirked as he patted her on her head. She stomped her foot and thrust her drink forward. Hayden sputtered, spitting out a little of the drink.
" Ginger tea? Not bad. needs sugar. Good bye!"
And he did something that made Ginny drop her mug. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He smiled and pinched her nose lightly before skipping off. Ginny blinked as she stared at the empty space that previously contained one deranged Hayden Lionhart.
" Ah!" she screamed. She picked up a vase on the table next to the door frame and chucked it down the hall. " Stupid, mental, demented, insane, crazed, dumb, idiot, moron, jerk, -"
" I think some are just synonyms for the others," Leila chirped. Ginny screeched and stomped into the flat. She slammed the door shut and one of the panels of glass fell out of its frame.
" What does he think he's doing? Showing up here. apologizing. acting all giddy. ah! I'm making dinner!"
" Now? But. it's breakfast time," Leila said, watching Ginny shake the ground as she walked to the kitchen. "I don't suppose you want another drink!"
She ducked as a plate of bacon and eggs was thrown at her.
To Be Continued