Disclaimer: I do not own HP or anything to do with HP! It's all J.K. Rowling! I am not profiting from this in anyway.
Author's Notes: Heyyo everyone! Here's chapter 3! Hope you like it! This is one of the first longest chapters.
Also, I re-posted the Prologue because I made one mistake. I just had to change the name of Nott's son. I made it Eric I think, but when I searched, I saw it was Theodore. So, it's just that little change. :0) Take care! Happy reading! Hope to hear from you soon! *hint hint*
Love, Stompy_Sanji, Sanji
Chapter 3
That same day Ron received an owl; the DA Gryffindors were in the common room, waiting to have a meeting. "Hermione should be here in a few minutes." Ron said, as he looked at his watch, which Hermione had given him for his sixteenth birthday.
"So, this is why you didn't want us to meet Dumbledore after dinner." Colin stated, as he turned to Ginny.
"I didn't want to tell you about the meeting, incase anyone else heard about it." Ginny said to him and smiled.
Also, after the meeting Ron, Harry, Hermione, and herself were going to read the letter that Mrs.Weasley had sent to them. Ginny was anxious to see what her mother had said.
The door to the common room swung open and in walked Hermione. "Hope I didn't miss anything!" she said, and then plopped down next to Ron. "I am so tired!"
"Had a good night, Hun?" Ron asked, as he stroked her hair.
Aw, Ginny thought, when will it be me cuddling with a worthy guy?
"Not too bad. Didn't catch anyone as yet, so that's a good thing." She replied. She looked around at all of them and smiled in greeting.
"So what's the update about the Order?" Neville asked.
"It seems that Voldemort is planning something for after our graduation." Harry started, "so I think it's best if we prepare ourselves for the worst."
"So when will we start the DA meetings?" Dean asked.
"I'm not sure." Harry said. "Any suggestions?"
"Well, with the Quidditch season starting next month, I think we'll have to work around the practices." Ron said.
"And we only practice once a week at 9 on Saturday night, since we don't have classes on Sunday." Seamus said.
"Isn't there a Quidditch meeting with Madame Hooch next week?" Ginny asked.
"I reckon there is." Harry said. "I think after that meeting, we should get the Gryffindor team together and then set up practicing hours. Then after that is set, then we can set up or DA meetings in the Room of Requirement."
"I'll tell my sister about this and then she can pass it on to the other Ravenclaws." Parvati said, as she flipped her long plait over her shoulders.
"And I can tell Hannah about it, so that she can pass it on to the other Hufflepuffs." Lavender offered.
"Excellent!" Harry said.
"I wonder what Voldemort's planning." Neville wondered aloud.
"Speaking of which, Dumbledore told us that Snape found out that the day before our graduation, all the sons and daughters of the Death Eaters will be initiated. Which means we better be on alert, especially around those Slytherins." Harry informed, looking around at each one of them, his mouth formed in a straight line.
"Is it all of the Slytherins?" Parvati asked, her voice cracking a bit.
Ginny felt a nervous flutter in her stomach as she saw Parvati's expression. She knew that Parvati was scared of what might happen, and Ginny herself was feeling quite apprehensive.
"You know the usual: Malfoy, Pansy, Blaise; I reckon it'll be most of the seventh years and some of the sixth years." Harry replied, and then gave her a warm smile.
She smiled back, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. It faltered and she bit
her lip.
"Aw, Par," Dean started, "Don't worry, I'll protect you!" He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
She smiled at him gratefully.
"Love is in the air, huh mate?" Seamus teased, as he nudged Dean in his side. Dean let go of her hand and glared at Seamus, who grinned at him.
"Guys, let's try and stay focused for a few more minutes." Hermione admonished.
"Sorry." Dean and Seamus mumbled.
"Looks like Voldemort is building up his army." Colin said, after the moment of silence.
"I think we should start branching out a bit, what do you think Harry?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, we need to match Voldemort's." Harry agreed.
"Will we be able to trust the others? How will we know they're faithful to our cause?" Ginny asked. "Don't forget what happened two years ago."
"Don't worry, Ginny." Harry said. "Hermione here will come up with a good way to make sure, won't you?" He turned to her.
She smiled and said, "Of course! Also, we can count on the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff members to recruit the students from their respective houses and then before they enter the DA, we can give them Veritaserum."
"That's bloody brilliant, Herm!" Ron said, and then he kissed her on her cheek. Hermione beamed at his compliment and nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder.
"I wonder if there are any Slytherins who would come to our side." Lavender wondered. "I mean I'm sure not all of them are with Voldemort, right?"
It was quiet for a while, as everyone thought this over.
It would be a miracle if we got one Slytherin on our side, Ginny thought. She couldn't see any Slytherin willingly come to their side.
"Even if they wanted to, it would be quite a risk." Harry said after a while.
"Do you think we should try and recruit a few?" Dennis asked.
"That's too risky." Hermione said. "We can never be too sure. I think we should just stick to the other three Houses."
"But wouldn't it be wicked if we got a few Slyths on our side?" Dennis asked, a wistful smile forming on his face.
"The more the merrier." Ron said. "But as long as they're loyal."
"You know," Hermione started. "All we would need is one certain Slytherin to join us and then we would be better prepared to face Voldemort."
"Who?" Ron asked, his eyes drawing close.
"Malfoy." Harry said, his eyes hard.
"Malfoy!" Ron said incredulously. "Bloody hell! That git! He's probably the first one in line to get the Dark Mark!"
"Ron, relax!" Ginny said.
"But you know Hermione is right." Dean said. "He's the leader of the Slytherin pack. Not to mention his father is very close to You-Know-Who."
"Dean, remember a fear of a name only increases a fear of the thing itself." Hermione said gently.
He smiled at her weakly and said, "I'll keep trying."
"There's no way Malfoy would join us. He's practically a junior version of Voldemort!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron, Hun, don't exaggerate. He's not that bad." Hermione said, as she took his hand in hers. "But I do agree with you, there's no way he'll come to our side."
"I hope we beat Slytherin!" Neville exclaimed.
"Don't worry we will, Neville!" Ron said confidently. "We have Harry as captain!"
Harry smiled widely, his eyes alive with the thought of the Quidditch season starting. "I can't wait until the season starts! We'll start practicing right away!"
The boys started talking about Quidditch maneuvers and brooms, while the girls just listened politely, seldom making a comment.
Ginny tuned them out, since she was deep in thought. Malfoy is the key to being another step a head of Voldemort. If only we could convince him to join our cause. Yet, there was no way in bloody hell that he would join them. He was a lost cause…unless…she could try to convince him to join them. It wasn't going to be easy. She knew he was quite stubborn in his old-fashioned wizard ways, with his father's influence.
"Well, this was one interesting night." Lavender said, interrupting Ginny's thoughts. She rose from her chair. "But two in the morning is as late as my body will let me stay up." She got up and stretched.
Parvati yawned and then rose from her chair. "I agree. Goodnight, fellow Gryffs!" she said, giving them all a sleepy smile.
"I think we'll head off too, right Seamus?" Dean asked and then yawned widely.
"Right, mate!" Seamus agreed. "Goodnight, mates!" he and Dean both rose from their chair.
"Goodnight!" Dean said, and then the four of them walked up the stairs.
The remaining seven chorused a goodnight. They all sat in a comfortable silence, each left alone with their thoughts.
Colin, Neville, and Dennis exchanged glances and then all got up from their chairs. "We're off too." Neville said.
"Goodnight, all!" Colin said, and Dennis gave a wave to them.
"Night!" the remaining four chorused.
Now it was just Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry left in the common room. They were sitting next to the fireplace, surrounded by its warmth. Ginny, who was sitting on a chair next to the sofa Ron and Hermione shared, moved to sit next to Harry on the sofa across from them.
"What'd Mum say?" Ginny asked excitedly.
Ron smiled widely at his younger sister and reached in his pocket. He pulled out the letter and gave it to her. She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
"Dear Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione," Ginny started reading. "I hope all is well with you and you are staying out of trouble. I trust that you are all sticking close to each other and are studying hard. The N.E.W.T.S. are not too far away. Everything here is fine. We are here planning. Your father and brothers send their love; along with Professor Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye Moody. We're missing you all dreadfully. Write back soon, but remember to be discreet, as it's never for sure whether our letters may be intercepted. Lots of love, your Mum, and Dad." Ginny finished.
Draco sneered as he saw the Three Musketeers and the other Weasley heading his way, to the Great Hall, for dinner. Draco had been in a fowl mood ever since lunch.
His father had decided that after a week of not getting a response from Draco, that he would send him a little reminder. Draco, have you forgotten everything I told you in the summer? Are you trying to get on my bad side, boy? If I don't hear from you right away then I will be most displeased. Your Mother sends her love.
Can't he just trust me, he thought angrily, as he remembered his father's brief letter. Draco had come from the Owlry, after having written his father a parchment's worth. He was heading to the Great Hall to have his dinner.
His anger was fueled, when he saw the four Gryffindors heading his way. They were all cheerful.
Well, I'll wipe those idiotic grins off their faces, he thought.
If Draco slowed down his pace, then they would all meet at the entrance of the Hall. The other four were oblivious of the Slytherin, until he spoke.
"Well, well," he started. "If it isn't Potty, the Weasel, the Mudblood…and the other Weasel." He sneered at them maliciously.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron spat angrily.
"Nothing that you can afford." Draco replied arrogantly.
"That's getting old, Ferret." Ron said confidently.
Draco glared at him and then said, "As if you're already not such a disgrace to the word 'Purebloods,' you had to go and snog one."
Ron's ears and face turned pink and he made a move to punch him, but Harry restrained him. "Look, Malfoy, we don't have time for this." Harry said, as he held Ron back. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder, whispering something in his ear.
Draco grinned inwardly. He loved making Weasley mad. He was just so easy to egg on.
Draco looked past Harry and saw Ginny standing there; just looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite determine.
She thinks she's strong now just because the other three are with her, but just wait until I get her alone, he thought angrily. He didn't like the way she was looking at him. He couldn't wait to get her alone so that he could start breaking her down. It was going to be too easy.
Draco was a good five feet eleven inches tall and he could see that he already had a great advantage over her mere five feet. He looked at her hands, which were small and dainty looking. There was no way this girl was stronger than him. She was no match for his power.
He looked her in the eye and was surprised when he saw that she looked in his confidently. She didn't cower away or avert her gaze like some of the other sixth year girls.
Ah, young Weasel, he thought, you want to play, huh?
Hermione brushed past him, dragging Ron behind her, and he broke eye contact with Ginny.
"C'mon, Gin." Harry said, as he turned to her. She looked at Harry and gave him a small smile. He took her arm and placed her in front of him, as he guided her through the doors to the Great Hall.
Feeling protective, Potty? Draco thought, as he watched Harry's retreating form.
He walked into the Great Hall and went straight for his table. He sat in between the seat Crabbe and Goyle saved him. He didn't bother to acknowledge them, especially since they were busy with their food.
Draco filled his glass with Pumpkin juice. He gulped it down. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was.
I have to think of a way to break her, he thought, as he looked across from him to see Ginny facing in his direction. She was taking a sip from her glass. He knew that he shouldn't be wasting his time bothering with her, but he needed to have fun in his last year. He could hear his father's reprimanding and cold voice in his head: Stay focused this year…your time will come…do not do anything to disgrace me and get on the Lord's bad side.
It's a Saturday night and I'm here patrolling the halls, instead of snogging some girl, Draco thought.
He was walking past the gargoyle that lead to Dumbledore's office. He looked around the hallway for anyone that might be sneaking around.
I wonder if the Mudblood's found anyone to reprimand, he thought, as he walked slowly and silently, making sure to keep quiet.
Then he saw a flash of red hair, turning a corner.
Is that a Weasley? Draco thought, as he accelerated his steps. He felt a little rush, thinking that he would catch Potter and Weasley in the act.
He quickly rounded the corner and saw that it was the other Weasley. It didn't look like she was sneaking around anywhere, since she was walking slowly.
I can't believe my luck, he thought as he smirked. This is my chance to scare her a bit.
With his long strides, he was only a few feet away. She still hadn't heard him from behind her. Once he was only an arm's length away from her, he grabbed her by her upper arms and then pulled her to him.
She gasped loudly and struggled against him.
"Now, now Weasel," he taunted her. "That's no way to treat the Head Boy is it?" He felt her go rigid and smirked arrogantly, even though she couldn't see his face.
He turned her around to face him and kept a hold on her upper arms. He saw that she looked a bit shocked, with her eyes wider than usual. He guided her to the wall and put her back right against it.
"Feeling brave now, Weasel?" he asked, his voice low. "Where's Potty to save you now?"
She looked him in the eye and said, "I can take care of myself."
"Doesn't look like it." He stated airily. He felt something poke him in his stomach, and so he looked down to see her wand sticking out of her pocket. She was slowly reaching for it.
"That's very smart, Weasel, I'm impressed." He said, as he leaned closer to her. He removed his right hand from her upper arm and made a quick grab for her wand, which he then pocketed. He then resumed holding her upper arm. "Can't cast any hexes on me now, can you?"
"I would do more than that." She said angrily.
"Oh, I can see how much damage you can do." He said mockingly. "I knew you weren't strong enough to fight me."
"This isn't a fair fight, Malfoy." She spat, her cheeks turning a faint red. "I wasn't ready."
"And you're convinced that if you knew I was coming you would have had the upper hand?" he said and then snorted. "A Weasley, stronger than me? I think not." She started to struggle against him and he had to admit she was quite a struggler, twisting and turning in his hold. He leaned his face closer to her and whispered, "You know, a lot of girls would only dream about me holding them like this. You should be grateful that you get to be this close to me. I know a lot of girls would be quite jealous of you, if they saw you now."
She wrinkled her nose and frowned, obvious disgust and disagreement written on her face. She leaned a little closer to his face, keeping eye contact, and said, "Who would want to be held by a cold, unfeeling serpent."
Draco's eyes widened a bit. This girl was talking back to him! He was definitely going to enjoy this now. She was challenging him.
"How long did it take you to think of that one, Weasel?" he drawled. However, before she could respond, he released her and stepped back.
He studied her. She was standing tall, with her back straight. Her face was a mixture of expressions: anger, determination, and fear. She was wary of him and he knew why. She didn't know what he was going to do next. He noticed that a few strands of her hair came out from her hair tie and fell in her eyes. She reached out and pushed her hair behind her ears. She looked at him, waiting. He noticed that she had dark eyes, which suited her hair. He liked the contrast.
I did not just think that, he thought shocked.
He saw her eyes skimming over his profile and then resting on his pockets, where her wand was held hostage.
"Aren't you going to come and get your wand back?" he taunted.
She glared at him and took one step toward him. He took one step back and saw the frustration in her face. She grimaced.
"Didn't think I'd make it easy for you, did you, Ginny?" he stressed on her nickname.
"Don't call me that." She said, through gritted teeth.
"How about Virginia then?" he asked, in a mockingly sweet tone.
She walked up to him and wound up her right hand to smack him, but he quickly caught it in mid-swing. "Tut tut, Virginia, where'd you learn to fight like this? From the Mudblood?"
She tried to pry her hand from his grip, but he held onto it tightly. "At least she got the pleasure of smacking that arrogant smirk off your face." She replied viciously.
"Maybe if you're nicer, then I'll let you go." He replied coldly. "What're you doing out this late? I can get you a nice one-week detention."
"I'm a prefect, Malfoy. You can't get me in trouble." She replied boldly, raising her chin. "And quite frankly it's none of your business as to what I'm doing."
"Gallivanting with some bloke, I suppose. Could it be Potty?" he asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She replied coolly.
He let her hand drop.
How dare she imply that I cared, he thought angrily. He needed to get away from her before he did anything that would get him in trouble.
He pulled the wand from his pocket and thrust it in her hand. He turned and walked in the direction he came from. He turned the corner and saw Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Colin Creevy walking towards him.
"What're you Gryffs doing here?" he asked, with anger in his voice. "I could report you to McGonagall right now."
"Not that we have to explain ourselves to you, Malfoy." Seamus started.
"But we have Dumbledore's permission to practice." Dean finished off.
Draco noticed that both Dean and Seamus were carrying a guitar case. Ah, so that's why that Weasel was out here. If he had known about their practice, he would have gone to pay them a visit.
The three boys pushed past him and continued on their way.
Draco frowned deeply and then continued on his way. He needed to go to sleep. It wasn't safe for him to be walking around angry and frustrated.
Oh, that girl frustrated him so!
Author Notes(2): I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again! I will try to update once a week. Who knows, maybe I get inspiration to write Chapter 4 tonight or before the weekend is over, that would be nice. :0) Yet, for now, I think this will have to do. This was really long!
I would like to thank EVERYONE who reviewed so far! Thank you for the kind words! I really appreciate it! Hope to keep hearing from you! Take care! Have a great week!
Thanks go out to (in order of reviews): cherish chang (thank you for your multiple reviews!), Kinipela12, Phoenix12, BluStarr (thank you for your multiple reviews!), CarleeAK, gohansfan, Scarlet34, Clairvoyance, Wizzabee, Kitten35, cynthetic, and Anji.