Title: Ginny From the Block
Chapter Thirteen
Disclaimer: Still don't own them…
Note: Once again, I'm sorry for the wait. Real life just hasn't let up on me lately. Also, I would like to apologize that I'm not going to give individual responses to feedback, but I really don't have time this time and I just wanted to get the chapter posted so you would have something to read! Hope you like the chapter anyway! Do know that your FEEDBACK is what is keeping me writing on this one and I desperately need and appreciate it! PLEASE send some my way…hehehe…
On to the chapter…
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Chapter Thirteen: William and Willow
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Location: Great Hall
Date: August 26th, 2003 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:40 p.m.
They made quite the picture. Ginny couldn't really even blame the other students for staring. Spike was dressed, as always, in his black jeans, black t-shirt, and long black leather duster. His bleached blonde hair contrasted with the dark material and the Great Hall lighting just enough to make him appear dangerous, edgy, and sexy as hell. Willow, on the other hand, was dressed in a casual but very attractive ensemble of blue jeans and a hunter green form-fitting silk shirt. Her dark red hair hung down to just past her shoulders in soft curls. The look radiated earthy, comfortable, and approachable. The resolve face she was sporting with it would send a chill down any Scooby's spine. Neither Ginny, nor Dawn was immune.
"Spike…uh…" Dawn gulped for what seemed like the millionth time.
Snapping herself out of her shock, Ginny again took in all the attention they were gathering from other tables. It was amazing someone hadn't fallen off into the bloody floor yet. They were leaning at all sorts of odd angles for a peak at the show at the Sunstone table.
Ginny rolled her eyes in disgust at the nosy display before taking a deep breath and plastering an enthusiastic smile on her lips. "Hello Spike, Wills, we were just finishing lunch. Would you care to join us?"
Willow frowned for a moment, but then she seemed to remember their surroundings as well. She looked at the curious students eyeing them and then turned back to smile ruefully at Ginny. Slipping in to join Ginny's act, Willow's posture visibly relaxed and she nodded calmly. "Sure." Her eyes glinted with determination as she turned down the volume so only Ginny, Dawn, Spike, and a few others could hear her. "But the resolve face stays on."
Ginny just nodded thankfully to the other redhead; then turned an inquiring glance on Spike with a lifted brow.
The blonde vampire just lifted a brow right back. Spike was not unaware of the attention they were getting; he simply didn't care. Or more likely, he relished it. "Unless they have O Negative, Ginger, I'll pass."
A series of gasps sounded from around them and Ginny just groaned. She knew they'd never gotten around to explaining something to their gang. Spinning back to face her friends, Ginny quickly started to whisper an abbreviated version of Spike's situation. "He's a good vamp." That ought to hold them for now.
"Oh, Onion Blossom!" Dawn seemed to have finally found her voice. Ginny wondered briefly at her logic, but then smirked as Dawn continued. "Nice tasty onion flower thingy all for Spike!" She grabbed the appetizer in question and shoved it up for Spike's inspection.
Spike fought valiantly for a whole twenty seconds to keep up his menacing look, but finally gave up and licked his lips. "As good as the Bronze's?"
"Only one way to find out…"
With a reluctant shrug of his shoulders, Spike sighed. "Okay Bit, but I'm still going to…"
"Rip off my bloody head and drink from my brain stem. Yeah, I know."
Throwing his rapt audience one last menacing growl for affect, Spike slowly strutted the last five or so feet to the table. Dawn, keeping Spike locked in her sweetest little smile, grabbed Dare from beside her and shoved him up off the bench and out of the way so Spike could sit down. The dark-haired Seventh Year sent Dawn a glare before rounded the end of the table and plopping down on the open bench seat next to Chris.
Ginny noticed Willow frowning over where to sit and bit her lip. The younger redhead put on her best puppy dog eyes and glanced up pleadingly at her boyfriend. For a moment Hunter's mouth just fell open in affront at being booted for another girl, but then he rolled his eyes in disgust and slid down the bench to let Willow fit in between them.
Chris, from her safe seat facing the odd group of her friends and their friends, just laughed at the antics and continued to watch the show.
Now that the strange dangerous looking blonde and the pretty redhead were seated, most of the students in the hall found their interest drawn back to the food before them or new conversations of their own. More than a few of these new conversations centered on the possible identity of the two strangers and their relationship to Weasley and her new best friend, but thankfully they dropped the staring and gaping. Things were moving relatively back to normal.
Ginny turned her attention to the older redheaded witch now sitting beside her. Even with the less than ideal situation Ginny now found herself in, she still felt a spurt of pleasure at seeing Willow again. She realized that although only a few days had passed, she was already missing the Scooby gang terribly.
Willow was frowning at the food selections before her. "They serve Onion Blossoms, Potato Skins, and Buffalo Wings in England?"
"They do now." Ginny shrugged. She was still trying to understand Dumbledore's ideas of new cuisine herself.
Shaking her head ruefully and pushing idle chat aside; Willow turned extremely concerned eyes on Ginny. "So? Tell me what happened."
"Buffy didn't explain?"
"Buffy woke us up at five this morning with this really long Giles-esque spill about dark wizards and dark creatures. I don't think she ever got around to what you'd done." Willow explained with a frown. "Or I'd dozed back off by then. Both are entirely possible because Buffy was in a mood."
With a grimace, Ginny began to fill her in. She told Willow about yesterday and the announcement of the first victim. She told her about having the vision and being pulled out too soon. She explained the plan to verify the vision before calling in Dumbledore and Buffy, and finished up by recounting the actual attack and the meeting with Dumbledore thereafter.
By the time Ginny finished explaining Willow was shaking her head sadly. "You knew that vision wasn't a fluke, Gin. You don't do flukes. You're too good for that. What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't, obviously." Ginny released a pent up sigh and found herself spilling her troubles to the woman she knew would listen and not judge. "I guess I just…I just choked, really. The thought of all those people knowing about my visions and what I'd seen? I'm not at Sunstone anymore, Will. I'm at Hogwarts, and here I'm not supposed to stand out. I'm supposed to just be…"
"Little Ginny Weasley?" Willow smiled sadly at Ginny's nod. "Oh, do I know the feeling well. This may come as quite the shock, but I wasn't always the super-cool Superwitch you now see sitting beside you. I spent the first sixteen years of my life as little nerdy Willow Rosenburg. I was very good…at being invisible. Then Buffy came along and suddenly I wasn't little invisible Willow anymore. I was somebody, or at least part of a group of somebodies. Only I didn't really know who I was anymore. I kind of got lost somewhere along the way."
Willow's eyes turned very serious. "It took me too long to figure out I had a problem with that, Gin, and it led me to some of the darkest times of my life. I hope that doesn't happen to you. You're special just the way you are and you shouldn't feel like you have to pretend to be anything for anyone. You should just…be." Her eyes lightened and her lips curved into a teasing smile. "Just be Ginny. We like her. She tends to grow on ya."
Ginny smiled back at her and a rueful chuckle escaped her throat. "I think I figured that out sometime between that vampire grabbing Dawn and my sending him up in flames. It wasn't an easy lesson, and I've no doubt bloody hard and awkward times are still ahead, but I did learn it."
"Idn't that sweet?" Spike's sarcastic drawl cut right through the bonding moment. He shot Ginny an evil grin. "I'm still killing you both."
Ginny and Willow looked to each other and rolled their eyes in unison; then giggled at Spike's answering growl of annoyance.
"No bloody respect anymore."
With an impish grin, Ginny reached out and took an untouched goblet full of pumpkin juice from the table. She sat it carefully before her and pulled out her wand. Focusing her magic, Ginny locked her eyes on the liquid inside the cup as a spell rolled off her lips.
"Darkness, dusk, and moonlight shine,
Liquid now to blood of swine."
Her wand glowed for only a moment as the juice bubbled and turned dark red as it transfigured into blood. With a satisfied nod, Ginny picked up the goblet and held it around Dawn for Spike to take.
The vampire took it with a disgruntled snort, and Ginny smirked at him. "Now drink up and shut up, Peroxide Boy."
"Ew…ew…ew…" Chris grimaced as she looked from the cup to the gleam in Spike's eyes. "I KNOW that isn't what I think it is and he ISN'T going to drink it!"
Dare, on the other hand, looked fascinated. "So he really is a vamp?" He looked from Dawn to Ginny for an explanation. "Anyone want to fill me in on why he's not dust?"
"One of life's great mysteries, that." Ginny grinned. "For all accounts and purposes he should be."
"Several times over." Dawn agreed with a nod and a smirking glance to her surrogate big brother.
"Ha, bloody, ha." Spike snorted at them. He picked up his glass, tasted the liquid gently with his tongue, and then relished Chris and Dare's looks of disgust as he gulped some of it hungrily.
"Oh…I think I'm going to be sick." Chris groaned.
Spike just winked at her as he picked up a piece of Onion Blossom and dunked it in the blood before popping it in his mouth.
"I'm never eating one of those again." Dare winced. "Come to think of it…I'm never eating anything again."
"Just be glad he doesn't have Wheat-a-bits. That even grosses me out." Dawn told them nonchalantly. This was not new ground for her.
"I don't want to know." Chris snapped.
"Smart girl." Willow smiled at her.
Finally pushing away the sight before him, Dare looked back to Dawn, Ginny, and Willow. "You were saying?"
"About Spike's undustyness?" Willow grinned. "Well, Spike's really just a big fluffy puppy dog." Her eyes sparkled as Spike shot her a nasty look. "Buffy's big fluffy puppy dog." She clarified and Spike nodded satisfied.
"Puppy dog?" Chris' mouth fell open in disbelief. "He's in black leather and I don't even want to contemplate the amount of bleach it takes to sustain that hair."
"Punk-rock puppy dog?" Willow suggested.
"Oh, bloody hell, Red!" Spike growled in disgust as he looked over Dawn and Ginny's friends. "I was evil, I was dumped, I was chipped, I fell for the Slayer, shagged a little, got dumped again, got my soul, and I'm not evil anymore. About cover it?"
Dare looked to Chris who looked to Hunter who looked back to Chris. After a few moments of silent conversation between the three Seventh Years, Chris nodded. "Works for now."
The next five minutes were spent with everyone just trying to get to know each other. Dare, Chris, and Hunter had a million questions for Spike and Spike tried valiantly to pretend he wasn't flattered at the attention. Ginny, Dawn, and Willow just snickered at them all.
"Miss Weasley…"
Ginny froze as that unmistakable and unbelievably snide voice sounded from behind her. She prayed silently that she was wrong. Snapping her head around those prayers died along with most of the positive energy within about ten square feet. Ginny reluctantly met the cold black eyes of Severus Snape. "Yes, sir?"
"You and your…" his lips curled in disgust, "companions are to accompany me to Professor Dumbledore's office immediately."
"Companions?" Dawn questioned while beaming him with yet another of her happy smiles.
Ginny watched as Snape fought a wince at the sight and stifled a laugh of her own. She cleared her throat. "Which companions, professor?"
"Misses Summers and Rosenburg and Mister…" those cold black eyes landed on Spike and Ginny could read the reluctant curiosity there, "Bloody."
"Mr. Bloody?" Ginny heard her friends snort.
Unlike most people that quivered in fear under Snape's gaze, Spike just painted on his patented smirk and lifted a mocking brow. "Name's Spike, mate, and you'd do well to remember it." He saw Snape's eyes widen and his smirk just grew. Jumping up from his position on the bench, Spike turned to face his three females. "Right then, let's mosey along now, loves. Wouldn't want to keep old Dumbledore and the Greasy Git here waiting."
A round of chuckles filtered through the students within hearing distance. Snape shot Spike a furious glare before turning on his heel and storming from the room. Ginny thought he must be assuming they would run after him. He was out of luck. Ginny knew the way to the office and she certainly wasn't going to chase him down.
Taking her time, Ginny stepped over the bench and turned to face Dawn and Willow as they followed suit. "Ready then?"
"As I'll ever be." Willow smiled nervously. "Meeting the greatest wizard alive is quite an honor. I…well…I might be a little nervous, and that Mr. Sneery didn't help. What if Mr. Dumbledore's like him with the negative vibes and feeling my formerly negative vibes? What if he glares at me and I just melt into a Willowy puddle of formerly negative vibes?"
"Ah…" Dawn smiled dreamily, "no one does the Willow-babble quite like Willow."
"I'm running a close second of late." Ginny smirked.
Willow smiled at them both. "Am I babbling? I didn't notice, but you know I do tend to babble…when I'm nervous and about to meet the greatest wizard in the world. I do…do that babbly thing that I do…don't I?"
"Bloody hell, Red, just stuff a sock in it." Spike growled. "Give a bloke a headache, why don't ya?" He turned and started to lead the way out of the Great Hall.
Ginny didn't take the time to realize how strange following Spike around should seem considering his never-been-to-Hogwarts status. She just followed after him and tried to help reassure Willow that Dumbledore was wonderful and would realize just how wonderful Willow was as well. Dawn joined the 'Wonderful Willow' campaign and not a one of the four realized that once again every pair of eyes in the Great Hall was focused on them. Being invisible was going to be bloody hard from this point on.
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Location: Dumbledore's Office
Date: August 26th, 2003 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:55 p.m.
By the time they finally reached Dumbledore's office, Ginny was frowning in confusion. She looked to the bleached blonde vampire standing before her. Spike was glaring in disgust at the statue of a gargoyle. He blinked slightly at Dawn as the brunette leaned past him to whisper the password and the gargoyle moved to life.
Holding her tongue, Ginny followed Spike as he moved forward through the opening revealed behind the statue and stepped onto the staircase. They moved with the winding staircase and Ginny took time to glance at the paintings of former Headmasters as they passed.
When they came to a stop, Ginny stepped out the staircase and into the opening to Dumbledore's office. Biting her lip, Ginny finally spoke. "Spike, how do you know where Dumbledore's office is? How do you know where anything is? Have you been here before?"
"Why William, have you been keeping us a secret?"
Four pairs of eyes snapped in the direction of that voice. Dumbledore was smiling at them from behind his desk. Ginny did take the time to note that Snape was suspiciously absent. Had he beaten them here and then left again or just not come at all when he realized they hadn't followed him?
Then her mind registered Dumbledore's words. A secret? William? What…
Spike winced. "Try not to dwell on the past, Professor. I've too much of it these days to keep track of it all."
"Oh," Dumbledore nodded knowingly, "or perhaps the fearsome vampire does not wish to remember the young human boy he once was?"
"Possible at that." Spike admitted ruefully.
"You went to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked stunned.
"A couple of years a bloody long time ago, Ginger." Spike smirked, but then wiped the smirk away and turned serious eyes back to the Headmaster. "Back to the matter at hand, eh?"
"Quite right." Dumbledore nodded and his eyes grew suddenly grave. The very temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees at his change of mood. "I'm afraid I have some rather disturbing news. Another victim has been found."
Ginny pressed her lips tightly together as a knot of dread settled in her stomach. Her eyes stung with tears that she instinctively fought back as she kept looking directly at Professor Dumbledore. She forced herself to speak. "Another student?" She prayed it wasn't one of her friends, but really…who was it okay to lose?
Dumbledore slowly shook his head and another new horrible possibility ran through Ginny's mind. A professor? McGonagall? Hagrid?
Before Ginny had time to settle on one, Dumbledore cleared his throat. His eyes were shadowed with a grief Ginny couldn't remember seeing there since immediately after that fateful final task in her Third Year when Harry had reappeared with Cedric's body.
"It was Argus." He finally told them. "Our caretaker, Argus Filch."
Ginny exhaled loudly as her eyes widened in shock. That possibility had never even registered. Part of her felt sad for what had happened, but a bigger part felt guilty because she didn't think she felt sad enough. She'd never liked the man. She'd certainly never wished this upon him, but a part of her was relieved that it wasn't someone else. Did that make her a horrible person?
"The caretaker?" Dawn frowned. "But…isn't he that old guy? Why would a vamp kill him? They're usually all about the young blood and we're just brimming with the young blood here…this being a school and all. Why not head for the juicy young children?"
"He was in the way, Bit." Spike explained. "Caretaker patrols around at night, don't he?"
Dawn nodded.
"Then he was one of the only people standing between the vamps and these juicy children." Willow, seeming to push aside her nerves, spoke up for the first time since entering the room. "You wouldn't believe the number of janitors the high school went through."
"Or bouncers at the Bronze." Ginny agreed. Her lips twisted in contempt. "Now with Filch out of the way, the vamps will think it's playtime."
"They'll think wrong."
No one missed the cold hard rage beneath Willow's words and Spike, Ginny, and Dawn recognized it for what it was. They nodded with equal determination right back at her. The Scooby Gang had arrived and the vamps were in for a very unpleasant surprise.
"And you would be Miss Rosenburg, I believe?"
Dumbledore's voice snapped them from their group moment. Willow gulped and Ginny could practically see all her determination and rage empty away to be replaced by a massive case of nerves. The older redhead stepped forward hesitantly and faced the famous wizard. "I…uh…yes, sir…I'm Willow, sir. It's…SUCH a great honor to meet you, sir. I'm SO…SO…well, it's just a huge pleasure, Mr. Dumbledore. I've read so much about you and you're such a great wizard. You're so good and well…not…not like me…and…" Willow paused and her eyes flashed with immense guilt. "I promise I'll NEVER try to end the world again." She held up her hand and specifically her little finger. "Pinkyswear!"
Everyone stood frozen for a moment as they awaited Dumbledore's reaction to that little confession. Ginny's heart wrenched for Willow who looked very close to tears by now.
The reaction, when it came, was unexpected at least. Headmaster Dumbledore took one look at their tense expressions, threw back his head, and chuckled. Not a light little chuckle, or a strained chuckle, but a full out deep belly chuckle. The air around them lightened by at least twenty pounds.
"Oh my dear," Dumbledore finally told them, "I'm fully aware of your little slip into dark magic and subsequent recovery. The Ministry could hardly miss such a severe shift in energy." He explained. "An intervention on our part was discussed, but the idea was quickly dismissed. It was decided that you were much better left in the care of your Mr. Giles and your friends. Rupert is a former Hogwarts student himself, you know, and I had complete faith in his assessment of the situation."
"Giles went to Hogwarts?" Willow questioned. "There was an assessment? I was assessed?"
"Well, aren't we fifty miles out of the freaking loop." Dawn muttered. "Spike went to Hogwarts, Giles went to Hogwarts, Willow was assessed, what's next? Is Spike the Ferret's long lost uncle?"
"Not bloody likely." Spike barked out insulted as he cut his icy blue eyes to Ginny. "That's Malfoy, idn't it?"
Ginny, still stunned from the many revelations, just nodded.
"I'm not related to any bloody Malfoys." Spike growled in disgust. "Hated those stuck up pansy ass dark magic lapdogs. Bloody albino buggers…"
"The feeling's entirely mutual, I'm sure."
Ginny winced, Dawn smirked, and Spike just rolled his eyes. The blonde vampire turned to look at the pale blonde boy standing not five feet behind him. He lifted an unconcerned brow. "The Ferret, I presume?"
"Yep." Dawn's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Spike, meet mini-Spike."
"What the bleedin hell?" "Don't bloody call me that!" Spike and Draco burst out together with almost identical snarls.
Ginny and Dawn couldn't help it. They took one look at each other and broke down into giggles. This did not improve the situation any, but did seem to pull some of the men's hostility away from each other and towards the giggling girls. Each blonde male picked one to glare at. Despite it's intended effect, this only caused the giggling to increase ten-fold, until Dumbledore finally had to call them back to order some five minutes later.
"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore nodded to the young man, "I'm pleased to see you have finally joined us."
Malfoy winced. "I'm sorry, sir. Professor Snape just found me a few minutes ago. I came as quickly as possible."
Hmm, interesting. Even Draco Malfoy didn't want to piss off Albus Dumbledore. That had to say something, right?
"It's quite alright, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore assured him. "We were only getting acquainted with our new guests. As I believe you've gathered, this is William and Miss Willow Rosenburg," he pointed to Spike and then Willow. "They are friends of the current Slayer, Miss Dawn Summers' sister Buffy."
"BOY-friend." Spike added. "We never really did friends all that well."
Willow, Dawn, and Ginny scoffed in disgust. Spike glared at them and Dumbledore just continued to smile.
Then something occurred to Dumbledore and he frowned slightly as he looked behind Draco. "Where is Severus?"
"Something urgent came up." Draco told him. "He said to inform you that he would be along shortly with an explanation."
"Of course." Dumbledore frowned thoughtfully for a moment before looking around the group present. "If we could move back to the matter at hand?"
The group nodded one by one, but no one spoke. An awkward silence fell.
Ginny was just about to suggest someone take up the leadership reigns when Willow cleared her throat and spoke up. "Well, what happens now? I mean, do we have a plan of attack or defense? Cause that's kinda Buffy's area of expertise." She turned her head to the side and looked to Spike for his opinion.
"We patrol, Red." Spike told her with a shrug.
Ginny saw Draco jump at Spike's use of his nickname for her. Dawn must have seen it also, because now she was snickering at them both with a knowing look in her eyes. Ginny glared at her best friend, but Dawn just grinned widely back at her. Dawn was just enjoying this entirely too much. Ginny turned her attention away from the other girl and tried to focus back on the conversation between the adults, which had continued to carry on without them.
"…so it's our best option." Spike was finishing his argument for patrolling.
"Okay," Willow nodded, "we can patrol the grounds at night. We do that in Sunnydale." She met Professor Dumbledore's eyes. "Will that be all? Do you need us to do anything during the daytime?"
"Not much I can do, Red." Spike drawled with a smirk. "Less you want to deliver me back to Buffy in a dustpan."
"And that will give us one very unhappy Buffy." Dawn agreed.
Draco snorted from his position by Ginny and crossed his arms over his chest. "And the problem with that would be?"
Spike lifted a mocking brow and an evil grin curved his lips. "Don't care how big and bad you think you are, mate, you don't want a pissed off Slayer on your hands…specially not MY Slayer."
"He's not joking." "Bloody true, that." Dawn and Ginny both told Draco at the same time.
Professor Dumbledore looked to Willow for further explanation. The redheaded Wiccan shrugged. "When Buffy gets angry things tend to get broken…like glass and furniture and…bones."
"Lots of bones." Spike smiled dreamily as scenes of past especially gory Buffy rages ran through his mind.
"And sometimes a building or two." Ginny added with a smirk.
"OH! The High School!" Dawn jumped in eagerly. She saw Draco's eyes widen and nodded happily to confirm his deduction. "Every student dreams of blowing up their high school, but only those special few actually get to realize those dreams." Her eyes twinkled in amusement. "We really should have seen it coming, though. Buffy's dreams are prophetic."
Spike snorted. "Buffy also dreams that someone kidnapped Mr. Gordo. Don't see that happening anytime soon, Bit."
"It could." Dawn frowned thoughtfully. "Like if Andrew turned evil again or something. That sounds about par to one of his evil plans of mass destruction."
"That's so true it's bloody frightening."
Willow laughed and Ginny joined in. Soon Dawn and Spike were chuckling with them. Dumbledore just continued to watch them curiously.
Draco frowned at Ginny confused. "Who's Mr. Gordo?"
"Buffy's stuffed pig."
Draco shook his head. "Nightmares about her stuffed pig?" Ginny nodded. "And yet she blew up her bloody school?" Ginny nodded again and Draco frowned at her in disbelief. "She sounds like a walking disaster area!"
"That's my Slayer." Spike beamed at them proudly.
Draco was clearly beginning to believe they were all completely nutters. He looked to Ginny in hope of some reasonable explanation. He was out of luck. Ginny just smirked and shrugged. Draco brought a hand up to rub his tired eyes.
Ginny laughed lightly and reached over to pat him on the back consolingly. Poor Draco just didn't know what he was getting himself into by joining this group. Ginny froze at that thought. Oh dear lord! Did she just admit that Draco had joined their group? Uh…this SO wasn't good…this was horrid…just would not work…bloody hell!
"Well," Dumbledore drew the attention back his way, "despite William's unfortunate skin condition…"
Skin condition? Who was he kidding? Sometimes Ginny seriously wondered if Dumbledore was just getting too old to keep up with all his marbles…
He continued to speak to Spike and Willow. "Might I prevail upon you both to work with our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? Our students are in dire need of training in these areas and your expertise would prove extremely useful in that training."
Willow grinned eagerly at Ginny and Dawn. "We have expertise!"
Spike, as expected, was less enthusiastic. "Oh lovely," he snorted, "I get to be the bloody Hogwarts Show and Tell."
The group spent the next thirty minutes planning and arguing over what was to be done. It was finally decided that patrolling would begin that night with Spike, Willow, Professor Black, and Professor Snape. Ginny, Dawn, and Draco would act as bait. Ginny objected strongly to Draco's role, saying he wasn't properly trained and would get hurt, but Professor Dumbledore concluded that Draco was involved now and would be much safer properly supervised by Spike, Willow, and the Professors than he would sneaking around alone.
"Well," Dumbledore smiled, "if we've discussed everything for the time being then I believe we're ready to conclude this meeting. Misses Weasley and Summers you may show William and Miss Rosenburg to their quarters. They'll be staying in the Sunstone dorms in the private quarters. The entrance is concealed behind the portrait of a unicorn in the common room."
Ginny and Dawn nodded their understanding.
"I'll also give you a pass, as you're quite late for your first session of Herbology." Dumbledore added. "Make you way to class after showing your friends their rooms."
"What about me, Professor?" Draco questioned.
"Mr. Malfoy, you may also…"
"Albus!"
They spun to see Snape charge into the room from the staircase. Dumbledore lifted an inquiring brow at the Potions professor. Snape glanced around the faces of those present, but then sighed and spoke. "Fang's body has been found."
Ginny gaped at him. "Fang?"
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore's voice cut through her shock, "I would like you, Miss Summers, and Mr. Malfoy to go along to your class now. William and Miss Rosenburg will stay here and I'll have them shown to their quarters later."
"But…" Ginny started to protest.
"Ginger," Spike cut her off, "we'll fill you and Bit in later. Get to class."
Wanting to protest further, but knowing it wouldn't do any good, Ginny nodded tightly. She stepped up to Professor Dumbledore and waited as he wrote out their passes, then took her and Dawn's, and headed for the door. Dawn and Draco followed quickly behind her.
Outside the Headmaster's office in the hallway the two girls split paths from their male companion. They then continued silently towards the Herbology Greenhouse.
For most of the silent trip Ginny fought tears as she thought of that dopey old dog and the giant who adored him. She couldn't imagine how devastated Hagrid would be when they broke the news. But a part of Ginny also had to wonder whom they'd lose next because this battle was far from over. On the contrary, it had only just begun.
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End of Chapter!
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I hope you enjoyed it! PLEASE let me know if you did! I'll try to have the next chapter up sooner!
Hope to hear from some of you!
Jade Elise
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Next Chapter: Ginny and Malfoy studying together? Hmm…
