Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the creative work of J.K. Rowling. I am not
her. This is merely a fan fiction to tide us fans over until the next book.
(However if J.K. Rowling is reading this let me add please, please, please
do not kill Ginny Weasley off in the books. She's my favorite character and
I could probably stomach everyone else's death except for hers. Thank you.)
AN: Thanks to all you who reviewed. This may be a short chapter, but let me warn you the next several will be a kick in the pants. Thanks.
As the chilly winter air began to nip at the students' as the attended Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, news of attacks slowed. It was causing a feeling of dread, as if something big would soon be coming. Most of the students had signed on to stay during the holidays, feeling safer at Hogwarts than out in the rest of the world.
"We have to get those letters soon," Harry told Ron as they worked on a potion the week before the holidays began.
"I know. If Hermione would just let us knock Malfoy out and put him in a closet while we search we would have the letters already," he said as he gathered up some dragon scales.
"Well most of the Slytherins are leaving. I guess they don't have to worry about attacks," Harry said shooting Malfoy a look. "They're probably in on them."
"Malfoy won't. He's signed up to stay, slimy git."
"Mr. Weasley. Mr. Potter. No talking. Need I remind you this is a very volatile potion? The slightest mistake could cause a disaster. 20 points from Gryffindor," came the voice of Professor Snape as he walked around the room.
"Speaking of slimy gits," Harry said under his breath.
"Did you say something Mr. Potter?"
"No sir," Harry said as he turned back to his cauldron.
Suddenly Harry was propelled forward as an explosion from Ron's cauldron burst through the classroom.
"Ron!" screamed Harry.
Turning around Harry saw Ron lying on the floor of the room. He was covered in welts and was unconscious.
"Idiot used too many dragon scales," snapped Snape as he motioned for Harry. "Go get Madame Pomfrey. He should be fine."
Harry dashed from the room up to the hospital wing. Quickly Madame Pomfrey managed to get Ron onto a stretcher and up onto a hospital bed. Harry was ushered from the room.
"Mr Weasley should be fine. Though I don't understand why Professor Snape insists on making that potion the week before the holidays. Students can't seem to concentrate now," said Madame Pomfrey as she closed the hospital wing doors.
Ron was indeed alright, though he would not be allowed out of the hospital wing for a week. This meant that the plan to retrieve the letters would have to be put on hold unless Harry and Hermione could figure out how to do it themselves and keep Malfoy busy at the same time.
After two days of visiting Ron in the hospital wing during meals, Harry and Hermione finally decided to eat in the Great Hall. Harry sat with his back to the rest of the table and across from Hermione. He didn't feel much like eating. There had been a report of another attack that morning. With each passing day he felt more and more pressure that they needed to get those letters from Malfoy.
"Harry," Hermione said interrupting his train of thought. "Don't tell Ron, but have you ever noticed that when Malfoy looks over here, he isn't looking at us most of the time?"
"What?" Harry asked as he looked behind his shoulder at the Slytherin table. Malfoy indeed was looking over at them. Harry squinted and tried to follow where Malfoy was staring. A laughing red-headed girl between Neville and Seamus came into sight. "Ginny?!"
"What Harry?" Ginny said as she turned to him.
"Nothing."
Ginny just shrugged and turned back to talk to Neville.
"Harry I think I have an idea on how we can get the letters this week," Hermione whispered. "It's not going to be easy and a hundred things may go wrong, plus I don't know if she'll even agree."
"What are you talking about?"
"Ginny can distract Malfoy. While we go look for the letters under your invisibility cloak. When Malfoy leaves the common room we go in," she said. "There won't be hardly any Slytherins here after tomorrow. Ginny will keep Malfoy busy or hex him if he tries anything and then we won't have to worry about it."
"I'm not leaving Ginny alone with Malfoy."
"That's not your decision. It's hers. Granted I don't like it either and Ron would never agree, but Harry this may be our only chance. Besides they both have rounds tonight she's going to be out patrolling with him anyway."
Harry sighed. Hermione was right. This may be their only chance to get the letters
"I'll ask her to do it," Harry said, adding to himself he would also be using his invisibility cloak tonight to check on Ginny just in case.
"Right then."
AN: Thanks to all you who reviewed. This may be a short chapter, but let me warn you the next several will be a kick in the pants. Thanks.
As the chilly winter air began to nip at the students' as the attended Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, news of attacks slowed. It was causing a feeling of dread, as if something big would soon be coming. Most of the students had signed on to stay during the holidays, feeling safer at Hogwarts than out in the rest of the world.
"We have to get those letters soon," Harry told Ron as they worked on a potion the week before the holidays began.
"I know. If Hermione would just let us knock Malfoy out and put him in a closet while we search we would have the letters already," he said as he gathered up some dragon scales.
"Well most of the Slytherins are leaving. I guess they don't have to worry about attacks," Harry said shooting Malfoy a look. "They're probably in on them."
"Malfoy won't. He's signed up to stay, slimy git."
"Mr. Weasley. Mr. Potter. No talking. Need I remind you this is a very volatile potion? The slightest mistake could cause a disaster. 20 points from Gryffindor," came the voice of Professor Snape as he walked around the room.
"Speaking of slimy gits," Harry said under his breath.
"Did you say something Mr. Potter?"
"No sir," Harry said as he turned back to his cauldron.
Suddenly Harry was propelled forward as an explosion from Ron's cauldron burst through the classroom.
"Ron!" screamed Harry.
Turning around Harry saw Ron lying on the floor of the room. He was covered in welts and was unconscious.
"Idiot used too many dragon scales," snapped Snape as he motioned for Harry. "Go get Madame Pomfrey. He should be fine."
Harry dashed from the room up to the hospital wing. Quickly Madame Pomfrey managed to get Ron onto a stretcher and up onto a hospital bed. Harry was ushered from the room.
"Mr Weasley should be fine. Though I don't understand why Professor Snape insists on making that potion the week before the holidays. Students can't seem to concentrate now," said Madame Pomfrey as she closed the hospital wing doors.
Ron was indeed alright, though he would not be allowed out of the hospital wing for a week. This meant that the plan to retrieve the letters would have to be put on hold unless Harry and Hermione could figure out how to do it themselves and keep Malfoy busy at the same time.
After two days of visiting Ron in the hospital wing during meals, Harry and Hermione finally decided to eat in the Great Hall. Harry sat with his back to the rest of the table and across from Hermione. He didn't feel much like eating. There had been a report of another attack that morning. With each passing day he felt more and more pressure that they needed to get those letters from Malfoy.
"Harry," Hermione said interrupting his train of thought. "Don't tell Ron, but have you ever noticed that when Malfoy looks over here, he isn't looking at us most of the time?"
"What?" Harry asked as he looked behind his shoulder at the Slytherin table. Malfoy indeed was looking over at them. Harry squinted and tried to follow where Malfoy was staring. A laughing red-headed girl between Neville and Seamus came into sight. "Ginny?!"
"What Harry?" Ginny said as she turned to him.
"Nothing."
Ginny just shrugged and turned back to talk to Neville.
"Harry I think I have an idea on how we can get the letters this week," Hermione whispered. "It's not going to be easy and a hundred things may go wrong, plus I don't know if she'll even agree."
"What are you talking about?"
"Ginny can distract Malfoy. While we go look for the letters under your invisibility cloak. When Malfoy leaves the common room we go in," she said. "There won't be hardly any Slytherins here after tomorrow. Ginny will keep Malfoy busy or hex him if he tries anything and then we won't have to worry about it."
"I'm not leaving Ginny alone with Malfoy."
"That's not your decision. It's hers. Granted I don't like it either and Ron would never agree, but Harry this may be our only chance. Besides they both have rounds tonight she's going to be out patrolling with him anyway."
Harry sighed. Hermione was right. This may be their only chance to get the letters
"I'll ask her to do it," Harry said, adding to himself he would also be using his invisibility cloak tonight to check on Ginny just in case.
"Right then."