Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and scholastic and warner
bros. Please don't sue me, I have nothing...
A/N: Hey everyone. This is my first time signed in at ff.net in forever! I haven't been able to get on the login page so I read the thing on ff.net's homepage about how you have to adjust your browser. Anwyay...here is chapter 4. Sorry its been so long!!
CHAPTER 4 ~ FIND OLD MAN SWITCHFOOT
"Miss Weasley, it has come to my attention that you have been charged with promoting the Dark Arts by harboring illegal books in your store, you accepted an illegal object as means of escape-"
"But!" Ginny started.
"Please let me finish, Miss Weasley," the professor said with a smile. "You accepted the Globus Obtego in order to...vanish... from Mr. Malfoy's care. And the reason you are here, Miss Weasley, is because you think that I can help you prove your innocence."
"Well, yes," Ginny said. He must be able to read minds or something.
"There are a limited number of things I can do for you," Dumbledore started kindly. "You will need to risk a few things in order to start the long process of trying to prove yourself innocent."
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Ginny said quickly. I'm determined to do this! Draco Malfoy will not intimidate me again.
"The first thing you must do is search for an old man in the Forbidden Forest. If you are willing to do this, I can give you directions to his cottage in the heart of the forest. I shall also send an owl ahead of you to inform him of your coming."
"The Forbidden Forest? Ginny said weakly. "Will I face a lot of danger?"
"No more than what you faced in the War, Miss Weasley. The defense you learned in preparation for fighting could be very useful to you in case you do face any problems in the forest," Professor Dumbledore said with an encouraging smile.
'The man you will be looking for is named Arnie Switch. Though you might know him as Old Man Switchfoot."
"Old Man Switchfoot? I thought he only lived in the faerie tales my mother told me when I was little." Ginny looked surprised at Old Man Switchfoot's mortality.
Oh yes, Miss Weasley. He is as real as you or me. He will be able to give you very useful information."
Ginny nodded her head. Come on Ginny-girl. You faced a whole group of Death Eaters while you were in the War! Remember? A bunch of stupid animals is all you would encounter. Not that the Death Eaters weren't animal like. I'm a Gryffindor for Merlin's sake and I'm giving myself a bloody pep talk! Oh I'm real brave...
"All right Professor. I'll go into the Forbidden Forest and find Old Man Switchfoot," Ginny said with determination etched on her face. She would not be afraid! "Do you really think he can help me?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley, I do. You know the stories. A whole village a faeries were save due to his marvelous work with a wand. The town he freed of a severe doxy infestation. And better yet! Switchfoot sleighed two dragons and tamed a werewolf without the wolfsbane potion!" The professor said all this with a look that clearly said he wanted to slay a dragon. But Ginny was reminded of a certain good looking professor from her first year of Hogwarts. The one with blonde hair and sparkling teeth.
"Er...Professor? He won't be anything like Professor Lockhart, will he?" Ginny asked, looking a bit worried.
"No, he won't Miss Weasley. No, he won't," Dumbledore said with a small chuckle.
"But how will his...great accomplishments...and the knowledge behind them, help me prove my innocence in front of the Ministry?" Ginny asked skeptically.
"He has a brilliant mind," was the simple answer Dumbledore gave her.
"But you have a brilliant mind too professor! Why can't you help me?"
"The Forest is an experience that nothing else compares to. You will learn and grow as a person in there and that is why I want you to go," Dumbledore said all this with a pronounced twinkle in his eyes. "And I thank you, Miss Weasley, for you compliment."
"Your welcome," Ginny mumbled.
---
Draco woke up with a start...and a splitting headache. Where am I? And what the hell happened to me? Draco sat all the way up and started to look around through bleary eyes. He was sitting on a very dirty cobblestone street. There were ripped pieces of the Daily Prophet scattered across the street and a plastic wrapper for doxy droppings in the apothecary of Knockturn Alley.
I'm in Knockturn Alley by the looks of things. But why am I on the ground? Then it came to him. He had been walking down the street looking for the brat Weaslette when he had been shoved from behind. I must've hit my head really hard and passed out. If I ever find who did it-
Draco felt a slight pressure on his right shoulder. I do not need a sleazy woman right now. But when Draco looked up, it was just an owl. And the owl had a letter bearing the crest of Hogwarts. What does Snape want now...
Mr. Draco Malfoy,
I, Albus Dumbledore, would like to meet with you in my office as soon as possible. If you would kindly stop trying to track the girl for a minute-
How does Dumbledore know so much?!
I would like to discuss her and her whereabouts. I've already asked Tom, the bartender in the Leaky Cauldron, if you could use a fireplace and his floo powder. He agreed and will be waiting for you.
Hoping to see you soon,
Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
"Sod it all!" Draco was fuming. "Manipulation if I ever did see it. Making me come because he just knows everything. A job can never be done easily!" Draco shouted all this to the empty street.
I can't believe it. Or wait, maybe I can. Draco thought cynically. No matter how much respect I have...developed...for Dumbledore, he always seems to make things happen his own way. Even when I'm chasing an escapee. Merlin! These were Draco's thoughts as he melded into the throng moving about in Diagon Alley.
A few minutes later Draco stepped into the dimly lit bar that was the Leaky Cauldron. With his confident and purposeful stride, Draco parted the group around the actual bar easily.
"Where's Tom?" Draco asked roughly. The pretty brunette barmaid flushed furiously and said, "I-I'll go get him for you, sir."
"No need, Miss Patil, I'm right here" Tom said with a crooked grin. "I'm assuming you are Draco Malfoy and here on the good professor's orders?"
At this statement, Draco's eyes turned icy. I only take orders from Moody because he's the one that forks over the galleons.
"Yes, I am," Draco bit out while following Tom up the stairs. Though Draco had fought on Dumbledore's side during the War, it didn't necessarily make him a pleasant and agreeable fellow.
Tom led Draco into the first room on the right at the top of the stairs. On the far side of the room there was a fire roaring in its grate. He could also see the small jar of floo powder on the brick mantle.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, the floo powder is ready and waitin' on the mantle," Tom said good-naturedly.
Draco nodded. Yes, I can see that you twit. I'm not blind. "Thanks." I really need to work on my "please and thanks yous." They don't sound sincere to my ear and one day, that could end my life. Acting (and vigilance) was everything in his line of work.
"No problem, son," Tom said while exiting the room. As the peeling door closed behind him, Draco strode towards the fireplace and plucked up a bit of floo powder.
Dumbledore better have something good to say. And with that as his last thought, Draco through the powder in, walked into the grate, and shouted for Dumbledore's office. With a thud, Draco landed on Professor Dumbledore's plush carpet.
---
"Welcome to my office, Mr. Malfoy," the professor said with an amused voice. One did not get to see a Malfoy sprawled out haphazardly across a floor everyday.
Picking himself up off the floor, Draco asked, "What information do you have for me, sir?" Draco sneered to himself. Sir my arse. At least my "sir" sounded like I meant it. Bet that old man can see through any act though.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, I would first like to say that I believe that Miss Virginia Weasley is completely innocent-"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Well if you had seen the evidence against...Virginia... you wouldn't be so quick to say you believe her." Here, Draco gave a full blown sneer. One that said I-am-more-privileged- than-you. "And running like she did made her look even more guilty!"
"I have seen the evidence, Mr. Malfoy. And to your last statement, I asked Ginny myself, before she left my office, why she ran from you." Dumbledore said all this without looking disturbed by Draco's vehemence on the subject of Ginny Weasley's supposed involvement with the Dark Arts.
*FLASHBACK*
"Miss Weasley, before you go, I have one last question," Professor Dumbledore said from behind his desk. His eyes were not sparkling, yet they weren't emanating coldness or dislike.
"All right, Professor," Ginny agreed.
"Why did you run from Draco Malfoy?" Was the question.
Ginny bowed her head. I should've expected this question. "I was so frightened of him. I wasn't thinking! He said he would make said he would make sure I would be found guilty because he would be presenting my trial to Fudge and the rest of the Ministry. Or, that's what he implied would happen," Ginny said. She looked like she was already heading off to Azkaban. She looked up at Dumbledore. "He frightened me and that's why I ran," she said without subterfuge. *END OF FLASHBACK*
"Just trust me, Mr. Malfoy," the professor said quietly. "To me, it looked like the girl had been set up with all those books. Why were there not any Dark curses surrounding them?"
"We never said she practiced the Dark Arts herself, only that she kept them in her bookstore for sale. They, as you should know, were marked for sale. Some even had "sold" written on a piece of paper and spell-o- taped to the front cover. The writing was tested against her writing and it was a perfect match!" Draco said, defending his team. They too were shocked at the lack of protection around the books.
"No one would leave those books unguarded the way she supposedly did! There was only one bit of magic guarding them and that was the collopotus spell that locked the door of the cellar the books were hidden in," Dumbledore said, trying his best to mollify the young Malfoy.
"Whatever, Professor! All I want to do is my job. My job, at the moment, requires me to find a Miss Virginia Anne Weasley and take her to the Ministry!" Draco yelled, finally losing his patience.
"All right, Mr. Malfoy. I will tell you where she is. Or more correctly, where she is heading," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "Ginny Weasley is currently in the Forbidden Forest, at my suggestion-"
"What?!" Draco yelled. Why have the gods and goddesses cursed me with such foolish people to deal with? What did I ever do to them?
"To find Arnie Switch who is also known as Old Man Switchfoot." The professor had continued as if there had been no interruption. "She is seeking his wisdom," he added and when seeing Draco's incredulous look, Dumbledore said, "No, Mr. Malfoy. He is not a fictional character."
Draco muttered something that was indiscernible to the headmaster's ears. But Old Man Switchfoot was just in the stories my mum use to read to me when I was small.
"I will give you the same directions I gave Miss Weasley. Follow the only path that runs through the forest until you come to a fork in the road. Once you get there, turn left. You will come upon many forks in the road and you must always turn to the left and never leave the road. If you follow these directions, you will come to a cottage beside a lake. That is where you shall find your young Miss Weasley. More than likely, you will find her on the path before you reach the cottage since it a two and a half day walk."
Draco gave a heavy sigh. "All right, Professor," Draco said, not looking forward to the walk ahead of him. "Thanks for the information." Hey! That one almost sounded genuine. I always was a fast learner...
"Oh, and Mr. Malfoy. Ginny will probably be using an object called the Globus Obtego. It makes her invisible to the naked eye. I can give you some beans, if you like, that will make you invisible and also allow you to see anything else that is using some means of turning itself transparent." Dumbledore pulled out what looked like Bertie Bott's vomit flavored beans. "These here are one of my more brilliant ideas. No one would eat these because of what they look like. I can see by the expression on your face what you think these beans are. No, they aren't Bertie's vomit flavored beans. They are simply designed to look that way. These are the beans that will turn you invisible," Dumbledore said with a look of self-satisfaction on his face and held the beans out to Draco. "They actually taste quite nice," the headmaster said with a small chuckle.
Draco took the beans with a look of incredulity but pocketed them anyway. He started walking towards the door, but:
"One more thing, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. Draco turned to listen. "Try to listen to Ginny's side of the story and show some mercy. If you don't, you will be acting just like your father would act."
Draco inclined his head in aknowlegence and walked out of the room. Who the hell does he think he is? He couldn't possibly how evil my father was. And how truly different I am than him. May he rot in hell where his damned body is! Dumbledore is such a Gryff! All kind and caring and merciful. Those who practice the Dark Arts don't deserve kindness and mercy!
Draco walked out through the front doors and looked towards the Forbidden Forest. Nothing was stirring. And even though it was around 2 p.m., the thick branches made the Forest look like it was midnight inside. It was hauntingly forbodding. I'm a man now and an Auror at that! Why should I be scared of a stupid forest? Draco convinced himself that it was his first trip into the Forest that had scarred him for life. Draco stopped just outside the Forest line. I always say a person should face their fears. And with that, Draco stepped into the forest.
---
Ginny reached the second fork in the road. OK, Dumbledore said to always go left. Ginny's wand light flickered over the thickets and briars at her feet, making them look alive. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. I don't have any happy thoughts! And what the bloody hell was that noise? OK, OK Ginny. Think. What was that song mum use to sing? That sweet, relaxing song she use to sing when I was little and couldn't go to sleep? Oh sod it all! I can't remember with these little-
Ginny gave a shrill scream as she landed in a heap at the base a one very knarled tree stump. She bumped her head and slumped against...something. And passed out. New broken ankle and all.
---
Draco was definitely in shape. He had had to jump many roots that had stuck up way too high for any normal tree and he hadn't even broken a sweat. He had seen a great variety of magical animals and they fascinated him. There had been a giant bird in a very tall tree that had swooped down past his face. The color of the bird's plumage had included gold, silver, purple, blue, green, and hints of orange. It was very beautiful.
At the second fork in the road, a strange wind started to blow. It chilled him to his bones. The wind also brought him a haunting sound. It sounded like someone whispering and crying. What is with me and all these noises I hear?
There seemed to be something in the road ahead. And whatever it was seemed to be making the noise he heard on the wind. As he stealthily drew nearer, he noticed a mass of tangled red hair. It was the Weaslette!
"Hey Weasel!" Draco yelled. She jumped and looked ready to pass out (again-but Draco didn't know she had passed out earlier).
When Draco was standing next to her, he noticed the ankle sticking out at odd angles from her leg. "Bloody hell Weasel, what did you do?" Draco spit out.
"Don't swear Mal-Ferret. I tripped over this blasted root and broke my ankle. I don't know any healing spells," Ginny said with just as much hate in her voice.
"Well this is your lucky day Weasel. I happen to know a few that could help you." With a flick of his wand, the bone was mended. But the pain was still there.
"Thanks Malfoy," Ginny said, eyeing him tiredly. "I won't be able to walk anywhere with you tonight. I'm just about dead from all the walking."
"Well, you'll just have to die then. I'm not carrying you and I'm not sleeping in the woods!"
"Malfoy!" Ginny said angrily. "I am staying right here till the morning. I have walked all bloody day and its starting to get late." She checked her Muggle watch. "It's 10 p.m. on the dot and I've been walking since 1:30!" And with that she cast a sleeping charm on him and magically lowered him to a clear spot on the ground. Casting a warming charm on both of them, she proceeded to fall asleep 5 feet away from Draco under a 120 foot tree.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're reading this, please, please, please review. I don't even know if I should continue this story. And when you review (cuz you KNOW you will...) it would be helpful if you gave me some ideas...*sheepish grin*
Love ya all,
Mary
A/N: Hey everyone. This is my first time signed in at ff.net in forever! I haven't been able to get on the login page so I read the thing on ff.net's homepage about how you have to adjust your browser. Anwyay...here is chapter 4. Sorry its been so long!!
CHAPTER 4 ~ FIND OLD MAN SWITCHFOOT
"Miss Weasley, it has come to my attention that you have been charged with promoting the Dark Arts by harboring illegal books in your store, you accepted an illegal object as means of escape-"
"But!" Ginny started.
"Please let me finish, Miss Weasley," the professor said with a smile. "You accepted the Globus Obtego in order to...vanish... from Mr. Malfoy's care. And the reason you are here, Miss Weasley, is because you think that I can help you prove your innocence."
"Well, yes," Ginny said. He must be able to read minds or something.
"There are a limited number of things I can do for you," Dumbledore started kindly. "You will need to risk a few things in order to start the long process of trying to prove yourself innocent."
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Ginny said quickly. I'm determined to do this! Draco Malfoy will not intimidate me again.
"The first thing you must do is search for an old man in the Forbidden Forest. If you are willing to do this, I can give you directions to his cottage in the heart of the forest. I shall also send an owl ahead of you to inform him of your coming."
"The Forbidden Forest? Ginny said weakly. "Will I face a lot of danger?"
"No more than what you faced in the War, Miss Weasley. The defense you learned in preparation for fighting could be very useful to you in case you do face any problems in the forest," Professor Dumbledore said with an encouraging smile.
'The man you will be looking for is named Arnie Switch. Though you might know him as Old Man Switchfoot."
"Old Man Switchfoot? I thought he only lived in the faerie tales my mother told me when I was little." Ginny looked surprised at Old Man Switchfoot's mortality.
Oh yes, Miss Weasley. He is as real as you or me. He will be able to give you very useful information."
Ginny nodded her head. Come on Ginny-girl. You faced a whole group of Death Eaters while you were in the War! Remember? A bunch of stupid animals is all you would encounter. Not that the Death Eaters weren't animal like. I'm a Gryffindor for Merlin's sake and I'm giving myself a bloody pep talk! Oh I'm real brave...
"All right Professor. I'll go into the Forbidden Forest and find Old Man Switchfoot," Ginny said with determination etched on her face. She would not be afraid! "Do you really think he can help me?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley, I do. You know the stories. A whole village a faeries were save due to his marvelous work with a wand. The town he freed of a severe doxy infestation. And better yet! Switchfoot sleighed two dragons and tamed a werewolf without the wolfsbane potion!" The professor said all this with a look that clearly said he wanted to slay a dragon. But Ginny was reminded of a certain good looking professor from her first year of Hogwarts. The one with blonde hair and sparkling teeth.
"Er...Professor? He won't be anything like Professor Lockhart, will he?" Ginny asked, looking a bit worried.
"No, he won't Miss Weasley. No, he won't," Dumbledore said with a small chuckle.
"But how will his...great accomplishments...and the knowledge behind them, help me prove my innocence in front of the Ministry?" Ginny asked skeptically.
"He has a brilliant mind," was the simple answer Dumbledore gave her.
"But you have a brilliant mind too professor! Why can't you help me?"
"The Forest is an experience that nothing else compares to. You will learn and grow as a person in there and that is why I want you to go," Dumbledore said all this with a pronounced twinkle in his eyes. "And I thank you, Miss Weasley, for you compliment."
"Your welcome," Ginny mumbled.
---
Draco woke up with a start...and a splitting headache. Where am I? And what the hell happened to me? Draco sat all the way up and started to look around through bleary eyes. He was sitting on a very dirty cobblestone street. There were ripped pieces of the Daily Prophet scattered across the street and a plastic wrapper for doxy droppings in the apothecary of Knockturn Alley.
I'm in Knockturn Alley by the looks of things. But why am I on the ground? Then it came to him. He had been walking down the street looking for the brat Weaslette when he had been shoved from behind. I must've hit my head really hard and passed out. If I ever find who did it-
Draco felt a slight pressure on his right shoulder. I do not need a sleazy woman right now. But when Draco looked up, it was just an owl. And the owl had a letter bearing the crest of Hogwarts. What does Snape want now...
Mr. Draco Malfoy,
I, Albus Dumbledore, would like to meet with you in my office as soon as possible. If you would kindly stop trying to track the girl for a minute-
How does Dumbledore know so much?!
I would like to discuss her and her whereabouts. I've already asked Tom, the bartender in the Leaky Cauldron, if you could use a fireplace and his floo powder. He agreed and will be waiting for you.
Hoping to see you soon,
Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
"Sod it all!" Draco was fuming. "Manipulation if I ever did see it. Making me come because he just knows everything. A job can never be done easily!" Draco shouted all this to the empty street.
I can't believe it. Or wait, maybe I can. Draco thought cynically. No matter how much respect I have...developed...for Dumbledore, he always seems to make things happen his own way. Even when I'm chasing an escapee. Merlin! These were Draco's thoughts as he melded into the throng moving about in Diagon Alley.
A few minutes later Draco stepped into the dimly lit bar that was the Leaky Cauldron. With his confident and purposeful stride, Draco parted the group around the actual bar easily.
"Where's Tom?" Draco asked roughly. The pretty brunette barmaid flushed furiously and said, "I-I'll go get him for you, sir."
"No need, Miss Patil, I'm right here" Tom said with a crooked grin. "I'm assuming you are Draco Malfoy and here on the good professor's orders?"
At this statement, Draco's eyes turned icy. I only take orders from Moody because he's the one that forks over the galleons.
"Yes, I am," Draco bit out while following Tom up the stairs. Though Draco had fought on Dumbledore's side during the War, it didn't necessarily make him a pleasant and agreeable fellow.
Tom led Draco into the first room on the right at the top of the stairs. On the far side of the room there was a fire roaring in its grate. He could also see the small jar of floo powder on the brick mantle.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, the floo powder is ready and waitin' on the mantle," Tom said good-naturedly.
Draco nodded. Yes, I can see that you twit. I'm not blind. "Thanks." I really need to work on my "please and thanks yous." They don't sound sincere to my ear and one day, that could end my life. Acting (and vigilance) was everything in his line of work.
"No problem, son," Tom said while exiting the room. As the peeling door closed behind him, Draco strode towards the fireplace and plucked up a bit of floo powder.
Dumbledore better have something good to say. And with that as his last thought, Draco through the powder in, walked into the grate, and shouted for Dumbledore's office. With a thud, Draco landed on Professor Dumbledore's plush carpet.
---
"Welcome to my office, Mr. Malfoy," the professor said with an amused voice. One did not get to see a Malfoy sprawled out haphazardly across a floor everyday.
Picking himself up off the floor, Draco asked, "What information do you have for me, sir?" Draco sneered to himself. Sir my arse. At least my "sir" sounded like I meant it. Bet that old man can see through any act though.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, I would first like to say that I believe that Miss Virginia Weasley is completely innocent-"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Well if you had seen the evidence against...Virginia... you wouldn't be so quick to say you believe her." Here, Draco gave a full blown sneer. One that said I-am-more-privileged- than-you. "And running like she did made her look even more guilty!"
"I have seen the evidence, Mr. Malfoy. And to your last statement, I asked Ginny myself, before she left my office, why she ran from you." Dumbledore said all this without looking disturbed by Draco's vehemence on the subject of Ginny Weasley's supposed involvement with the Dark Arts.
*FLASHBACK*
"Miss Weasley, before you go, I have one last question," Professor Dumbledore said from behind his desk. His eyes were not sparkling, yet they weren't emanating coldness or dislike.
"All right, Professor," Ginny agreed.
"Why did you run from Draco Malfoy?" Was the question.
Ginny bowed her head. I should've expected this question. "I was so frightened of him. I wasn't thinking! He said he would make said he would make sure I would be found guilty because he would be presenting my trial to Fudge and the rest of the Ministry. Or, that's what he implied would happen," Ginny said. She looked like she was already heading off to Azkaban. She looked up at Dumbledore. "He frightened me and that's why I ran," she said without subterfuge. *END OF FLASHBACK*
"Just trust me, Mr. Malfoy," the professor said quietly. "To me, it looked like the girl had been set up with all those books. Why were there not any Dark curses surrounding them?"
"We never said she practiced the Dark Arts herself, only that she kept them in her bookstore for sale. They, as you should know, were marked for sale. Some even had "sold" written on a piece of paper and spell-o- taped to the front cover. The writing was tested against her writing and it was a perfect match!" Draco said, defending his team. They too were shocked at the lack of protection around the books.
"No one would leave those books unguarded the way she supposedly did! There was only one bit of magic guarding them and that was the collopotus spell that locked the door of the cellar the books were hidden in," Dumbledore said, trying his best to mollify the young Malfoy.
"Whatever, Professor! All I want to do is my job. My job, at the moment, requires me to find a Miss Virginia Anne Weasley and take her to the Ministry!" Draco yelled, finally losing his patience.
"All right, Mr. Malfoy. I will tell you where she is. Or more correctly, where she is heading," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "Ginny Weasley is currently in the Forbidden Forest, at my suggestion-"
"What?!" Draco yelled. Why have the gods and goddesses cursed me with such foolish people to deal with? What did I ever do to them?
"To find Arnie Switch who is also known as Old Man Switchfoot." The professor had continued as if there had been no interruption. "She is seeking his wisdom," he added and when seeing Draco's incredulous look, Dumbledore said, "No, Mr. Malfoy. He is not a fictional character."
Draco muttered something that was indiscernible to the headmaster's ears. But Old Man Switchfoot was just in the stories my mum use to read to me when I was small.
"I will give you the same directions I gave Miss Weasley. Follow the only path that runs through the forest until you come to a fork in the road. Once you get there, turn left. You will come upon many forks in the road and you must always turn to the left and never leave the road. If you follow these directions, you will come to a cottage beside a lake. That is where you shall find your young Miss Weasley. More than likely, you will find her on the path before you reach the cottage since it a two and a half day walk."
Draco gave a heavy sigh. "All right, Professor," Draco said, not looking forward to the walk ahead of him. "Thanks for the information." Hey! That one almost sounded genuine. I always was a fast learner...
"Oh, and Mr. Malfoy. Ginny will probably be using an object called the Globus Obtego. It makes her invisible to the naked eye. I can give you some beans, if you like, that will make you invisible and also allow you to see anything else that is using some means of turning itself transparent." Dumbledore pulled out what looked like Bertie Bott's vomit flavored beans. "These here are one of my more brilliant ideas. No one would eat these because of what they look like. I can see by the expression on your face what you think these beans are. No, they aren't Bertie's vomit flavored beans. They are simply designed to look that way. These are the beans that will turn you invisible," Dumbledore said with a look of self-satisfaction on his face and held the beans out to Draco. "They actually taste quite nice," the headmaster said with a small chuckle.
Draco took the beans with a look of incredulity but pocketed them anyway. He started walking towards the door, but:
"One more thing, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. Draco turned to listen. "Try to listen to Ginny's side of the story and show some mercy. If you don't, you will be acting just like your father would act."
Draco inclined his head in aknowlegence and walked out of the room. Who the hell does he think he is? He couldn't possibly how evil my father was. And how truly different I am than him. May he rot in hell where his damned body is! Dumbledore is such a Gryff! All kind and caring and merciful. Those who practice the Dark Arts don't deserve kindness and mercy!
Draco walked out through the front doors and looked towards the Forbidden Forest. Nothing was stirring. And even though it was around 2 p.m., the thick branches made the Forest look like it was midnight inside. It was hauntingly forbodding. I'm a man now and an Auror at that! Why should I be scared of a stupid forest? Draco convinced himself that it was his first trip into the Forest that had scarred him for life. Draco stopped just outside the Forest line. I always say a person should face their fears. And with that, Draco stepped into the forest.
---
Ginny reached the second fork in the road. OK, Dumbledore said to always go left. Ginny's wand light flickered over the thickets and briars at her feet, making them look alive. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. I don't have any happy thoughts! And what the bloody hell was that noise? OK, OK Ginny. Think. What was that song mum use to sing? That sweet, relaxing song she use to sing when I was little and couldn't go to sleep? Oh sod it all! I can't remember with these little-
Ginny gave a shrill scream as she landed in a heap at the base a one very knarled tree stump. She bumped her head and slumped against...something. And passed out. New broken ankle and all.
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Draco was definitely in shape. He had had to jump many roots that had stuck up way too high for any normal tree and he hadn't even broken a sweat. He had seen a great variety of magical animals and they fascinated him. There had been a giant bird in a very tall tree that had swooped down past his face. The color of the bird's plumage had included gold, silver, purple, blue, green, and hints of orange. It was very beautiful.
At the second fork in the road, a strange wind started to blow. It chilled him to his bones. The wind also brought him a haunting sound. It sounded like someone whispering and crying. What is with me and all these noises I hear?
There seemed to be something in the road ahead. And whatever it was seemed to be making the noise he heard on the wind. As he stealthily drew nearer, he noticed a mass of tangled red hair. It was the Weaslette!
"Hey Weasel!" Draco yelled. She jumped and looked ready to pass out (again-but Draco didn't know she had passed out earlier).
When Draco was standing next to her, he noticed the ankle sticking out at odd angles from her leg. "Bloody hell Weasel, what did you do?" Draco spit out.
"Don't swear Mal-Ferret. I tripped over this blasted root and broke my ankle. I don't know any healing spells," Ginny said with just as much hate in her voice.
"Well this is your lucky day Weasel. I happen to know a few that could help you." With a flick of his wand, the bone was mended. But the pain was still there.
"Thanks Malfoy," Ginny said, eyeing him tiredly. "I won't be able to walk anywhere with you tonight. I'm just about dead from all the walking."
"Well, you'll just have to die then. I'm not carrying you and I'm not sleeping in the woods!"
"Malfoy!" Ginny said angrily. "I am staying right here till the morning. I have walked all bloody day and its starting to get late." She checked her Muggle watch. "It's 10 p.m. on the dot and I've been walking since 1:30!" And with that she cast a sleeping charm on him and magically lowered him to a clear spot on the ground. Casting a warming charm on both of them, she proceeded to fall asleep 5 feet away from Draco under a 120 foot tree.
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If you're reading this, please, please, please review. I don't even know if I should continue this story. And when you review (cuz you KNOW you will...) it would be helpful if you gave me some ideas...*sheepish grin*
Love ya all,
Mary