Lame Duck
"Hi Harry," Ginny smiled at Harry and stumbled as she walked past him to get to her seat.
"Ron, what's up with Ginny?" Harry waved a bit at Ginny and watched as she knocked over a pitcher of juice.
"Oh I don't like it…." Ron grumbled and Harry looked at him with a confounded expression.
"You've never dealt with young girls, have you Harry?" Hermione glanced at him and he shook his head. "Well then there's no wonder you've never seen anyone do that."
"I've never seen anyone…stumble and knock over a pitcher of juice?" Harry asked and cocked an eyebrow. He didn't follow.
"Right," Hermione said and shook her head. She knew that look—she was going to have to explain it. "It's a trick all girls use. They call it 'Lame Duck'."
"So…she acts like an injured duck and that helps her…um…What?" Harry eyed Hermione and she rolled her eyes.
"Lame Duck is an act Harry." Hermione started to explain it slowly so Harry could ask questions. Ron knew some of this already but he was busy loathing the situation between his sister and a certain Slytherin. "It's when you pretend to be weak and fragile that way people take pity on you."
"Ginny wants pity?" Harry asked dubiously.
"Let's try another approach." Hermione closed the book she'd been reading and folded her hands on the table. "If Ginny were to get into a fistfight with say…Parvati Patil, and they were caught by teachers."
"Ginny getting into a fistfight with Parvati?" Harry stared at Hermione like she'd gone mad.
"Hypothetical, Harry." Hermione shook her head and continued. "If Ginny was losing, and looked like she was worse off she could play Lame Duck. She could probably pretend that her injuries hurt more than they did, and use her own small personage to get herself a much lighter punishment—if any at all."
"Girls do that?" Harry asked and glanced over at Ginny who was chatting with Neville.
"All girls do that at one time or another Harry." Hermione smiled smugly. "But Ginny is really, really good at it."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked sounding a bit worried. "There are levels?"
"Something like that." Hermione waved her hand and took a sip of her water. "Normally girls can usually tell when someone's playing Lame Duck, but Ginny's so good at it that I don't think even McGonagall could ferret her out. The worst part of that is, I've never seen her really use her skills."
"What?" Harry choked out. This secret world of girls was starting to shock Harry just a bit.
"Well, I bet she's really good at it when she gets going—judging by the fit Fred and George threw when they saw her let up her act." Hermione answered simply and glanced at the fuming Ron.
"Ron," Harry said flatly and waved his hand in front of the redhead's face.
"What?" Ron looked at them both and blinked.
"Surely you know why Fred and George were so scared of Ginny yesterday?" Hermione eyed him and Ron went very, very pale.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked and put his hand on the pale boy's shoulders.
"She did something that bad?" Hermione asked looking more than a tad astonished and leaned over the table slightly. Ron nodded and started his story.
"It was a long time ago, way back when Ginny was around five—I think." Ron stared and glanced over his shoulder to make sure Ginny wasn't towering over him. "It was her birthday and Fred and George decided to wake her up with some fireworks."
"They did?" Hermione's eyes widened slightly and Ron continued.
"They set them off right next to her head and she shot up out of bed with a terrible start. They burst out laughing—I warned them not to do it, I did! They both realized something was deadly wrong with the situation when they didn't hear Ginny yelling, or crying, or anything." Ron gulped and shook his head slightly. "They looked at her and they both nearly fainted. She was madder than she'd ever been. They'd burned her hair, and the stupid gits had managed to singe most of the pink color out of her favorite pink stuffed bear."
"Oh no," Hermione winced and Harry listened with rapt attention.
"She glared at them and I remember she looked mean as a dragon. Terrifying it was." Ron shuddered. "They started falling over themselves with apologies, but it was too late. She counted down from five and by the time she hit one she was bawling. She ran out of the room, and I had to jump into Mum and Dad's room just to get out of the way. She bolted down the hall, and went straight for the kitchen." Ron had a very dark look on his face and Harry waited for the next part.
"Well?" Harry asked. "What happened?"
"Harry. A five year old Ginny ran into the kitchen with burnt hair, purple cow pajamas, and a singed pink bear out in front of her crying like there was no tomorrow." Ron looked at Harry and answered him flatly. "What do you think happened?"
"Which one was it?" Hermione interrupted and Ron glanced over at her.
"Mum got mad, but Ginny ran straight to Dad. He went off on Fred and George. Mum had to convince him to reduce their sentence." Ron took a deep breath.
"What did they get?" Harry wanted to know just how bad those two would need to be punished to scare them enough that they'd wanted to help Malfoy.
"Nothing magic for two months—at all. They were only allowed to have vegetables, unsalted, and water to eat for one month. No leaving the house unless it burned down, and no contact with the outside world for the rest of the summer." Ron nodded gravely and Harry stared at him with disbelief. "Mum reduced it all down to one month and managed to get them more than vegetables to eat, but still…."
"Ginny's that good?" Hermione sat back in her seat and stared at Ron.
"I never would have thought…." Harry sounded totally amazed. "But then it does make some sort of twisted sense. The only girl out of the lot and the youngest to boot…she probably used that skill quite a bit." Harry glanced down the table at the innocent looking Virginia Weasley with a new sort of respect.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Colin, do you have any idea why Harry has been staring at me with that approving look on his face ever since I sat down?" Ginny asked and tried to quell the euphoria that was threatening to burst forth and send her dancing on the tabletop.
"Not the faintest," Colin said and looked at her. "Think you could sound any happier about it though?" He asked and Ginny flushed.
"Is it that obvious?" Ginny blinked.
"Does Snape have a personal vendetta against all Gryffindors?" Colin whispered and Ginny scrambled to try and quell her expression.
"How about now?" Ginny asked and forced her face to remain blank.
"It would be more convincing it you weren't going to break that glass." Colin commented and Ginny blinked.
"What?" Ginny looked down at the glass of pumpkin juice in her hand. She'd been squeezing hard enough to crack it down the side. "Oh." Ginny managed so say as she let go of the glass and left it to sit on the table.
"Calm down Ginny," Colin said happily and finished his meal. "I'm sure you'll find out why Harry's been watching you!" Colin laughed and the two of them stood up.
"Alright, I'll calm down," Ginny said and took a deep breath.
"Good, after all we wouldn't want you breaking anymore glasses." Colin smiled and the two of them walked out of the Great Hall. "By the by, don't forget to show up at the meeting tonight."
"Long live Con-Artists anonymous…" Ginny waved her hand nonchalantly and Colin rolled his eyes.
"Hey, don't go knocking it." Colin warned her and smiled halfheartedly.
"Sorry Colin, see you later."
Ginny waved as he walked away and stood outside the Great Hall for a while contemplating where to go next. She had some free time to kill. There were no classes for about an hour, no Quidditch Practices she could go watch (or join in on), and no homework that she had was left unfinished. She didn't have to think long on what she was going to do because a new situation presented itself.
"Weasley, darling."
Ginny nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the smooth and eerie voice behind her. Ginny put her hand over her rapidly beating heart and turned around to see just who'd snuck up on her.
"Um, yes?" Ginny asked and blinked at the tall, pale, and strangely sticklike girl that had snuck up on her.
"Strange, you don't seem like the evil twisted type…." Tracey Davis leaned forward and inspected the shorter girl.
"Pardon me?" Ginny eyed her and backed up a step.
"Hmmm…but you are prettier than that silly sod Parkinson." Terence Higgs gave Ginny a look of mild approval.
Ginny spun around again and spotted the boy that had just come out of the Great Hall.
"I concur," Tracey said nonchalantly and smirked.
"Thanks?" Ginny wandered just what was up today.
"And she's less irritating. Not a squeal yet!" Blaise commented and walked up behind Terence.
"Where are you people coming from?" Ginny looked at all three of them and double-checked to make sure more of them weren't sneaking up behind her. "Did I miss some lesson that detailed the Slytherin ability to slink out of shadows?"
"I thought that was a secret class," Terence said flatly and glanced at Blaise. She shrugged.
"I've a question."
The three Slytherin froze and Ginny muttered something unflattering under her breath.
"Just what in all the wizarding world are you three doing?" Draco asked flatly and swept his icy gaze over each one of his housemates.
"Just disproving your depression." Tracey leaned back against the rail on the stair and stared at Draco.
"I can see why you turned the charm on her…especially from behind." Terence made a very lewd comment and Ginny stared at him incredulously.
"Do keep it to yourself Higgs." Blaise sighed and looked a bit surprised when Ginny interrupted the whole conversation.
"Stop everything!" Ginny dropped her bag and threw up her arms. "I would sincerely like to know why I'm the center of conversation in the Slytherin ranks?" Ginny shot them all the same dangerous look she normally sent at Draco.
"There's that glint." Tracey sounded happy, sort of, but fell silent when Ginny gave her the well known (among the family at least) Weasley evil eye. That skill, however, was a prominently female trait.
"Well?" Ginny put her hands on her hips and glared at the group of Slytherin students. The three that had approached her shared a look and dispersed silently. Draco remained and watched them walk off. "Are you going to answer, or not?" Ginny asked, all hostility in her voice.
"Why do you think I know?" Draco asked her coldly and the two glared at each other.
"Probably you bragging to your friends—if you can call them that." Ginny snapped.
"Bragging?" Draco let out a hollow laugh and eyed her. "About what? You're womanly physique?" He looked her over and scoffed.
"Why you bloody wanker!" Ginny exclaimed and drew the attention of the few students walking out by the stairs. "I'll have you for that one." Ginny narrowed her eyes and picked up her bag.
"Bring it on Weasley." Draco challenged and sneered at her as she walked past him and off towards the Library.
"You watch your back Malfoy! You're going down for that!" Ginny growled loudly.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" Megan Jones asked Ginny in a very small voice as she stormed by. Megan was nearly knocked off balance and Ginny took her by the wrist and pulled her off towards the Library.
"We're having a meeting, now." Ginny finished in a dangerous tone and Megan's eyes went wide.
"You gone daft?" Megan dropped her façade and stared at Ginny. "This is an emergency is it?"
Ginny nodded gravely in response and released the older girl. The older girl ran off quickly to alert the other members while Ginny walked the rest of the way to the Library. Malfoy was about to learn a very, very important lesson.
Don't screw with the quiet ones—you never know what they're up to.
Author's Notes: Interesting, no? The next chapter will have the first meeting and full reasoning behind this special club that has been referenced so many times. I do hope you'll forgive the trio moment, but it was quite necessary.
I'm impressed. You all enjoy my jokes (especially those pertaining to the Slytherin—and Pansy on the cliff)! Not seven, but eight reviews—and that's not all—Cyber cookies (which author is currently munching on) and three offers for beta readers!
I thank all my reviewers, and all those who offered. I've chosen my beta-reader but thank you anyways. I do hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Revolutionary ideas such as Reviewing is what alters and shapes the face of the world. Which is most needed and appreciated in these times.
The below, however, is not a revolutionary idea. It is conformist and can be dealt with as any Rebels feel fit.
Disclaimer: Still not J.K. Rowling and I can't write or play music to save my life.