A/N: I'm so pleased with the way that last chapter turned out. I just re-edited it and uploaded new content; the changes aren't very visible, just little things, but reread if you're so inclined. Keep reading please! I have no idea when the romance will start really heating up, these things are rather hard to predict … but I can't let them get too comfortable with eachother too soon, right? If you think otherwise … check out that review button!! Woooowww … I think you should click it.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! Just a little teaser for next update: I'm pretty sure Ginny is gonna discover that deep, dark secret Draco's hiding from everyone. *knowing smile*
And for everyone's information, I know it's totally o.o.c. for Ron to be shunning her, it seems like he's digging his own grave, eh? Well, there's a certain filthy lie that will come to light very soon … if you've any ideas for the revenge I can assure you Ron will deserve, email me. (xangelicfirex@yahoo.com) Or any other ideas, for that matter. Or … you could review!! *huge toothy grin*
lina – I know! Sadly, I really can't dish it out that fast in person, either … took me a little thinking and the consultation of some old childhood ghosts to come up with some of those lines. I think we should take smartass lessons from Ginny. She's so cool.
sabacat – thanks for reading! I hope it stays that way =)
jane riddle – hehe my very first repeat reader! Thanks millions for sticking with the story! I have plenty more shit talk in store, have no fear.
fernanda – thank you for reading and reviewing!
GEmory – thank you sooooo soooo much for your long reveiws. As you realized in your last review, I certainly do have something in store. Mwahahaha. You shall discover soon enough … And yes, I agree entirely with you – Ginny is going to be miles ahead of everyone else when she graduates, which she actually realizes and accepts for the first time in this chapter.
ash44 – ditto to GEmory's shoutout up there. There's a certain dirty lie Ron's been telling … can you tell I'm not a real Ron fan? Anyhow, that'll come to light in either the next chapter or the one after, and it'll make it infinitely easier for Ginny to deal with all the crap everyone's giving her … and plus, I'm toying with the idea of Revenge on Ron. Any ideas? Feel free to email me or review with them.
Laura – thanks darlin! Keep reading and let me know what you think … *blushes at unnecessary compliments* I love getting reviews – you're so sweet!
Darcy16 – omg! I'm in someone's favourites! *huge grin* I love you! Hehe thank you … and here's the next chappie, as promised.
And of course, Ilana, my love. Where would I be without you? I wouldn't have met my soulmate *cough draco malfoy cough* or even have ever read Harry Potter! You're awesome. Your reviews and messages totally brighten my day.
Allright, allright I know, I'm getting carried away. On to chapter 4!
Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. (*sob*)
Chapter 4: Bittersweet Existence
Ginny smoothed the crisp white sheets over the last bed and flopped down on top of the pillows, staring up at the sterile white ceiling of the hospital wing.
It had been a very interesting week, to say the least. Ginny was absolutely exhausted, yet to her everlasting surprise, quite content. She now knew that the first couple weeks would be the hardest, as her shifts were a combination of training and actual care. Her head was swimming with potions recipes, new healing charms, bizarre accidents, and proper diagnosis and paper-filing protocol. Ginny had been gobsmacked to enter the enormous room Madame Pomfrey fondly referred to as her 'Paper Room.' What an understatement. Deep beneath Hogwarts, the Paper Room was a giant warehouse of filing cabinets filled with every medical record of every student and every accident that had ever occurred at Hogwarts. Ginny had spent the better part of her evenings there this week, and when she had emerged this morning her eyes felt blinded by the sunlight.
But, she was strangely happy. She was learning so much, and Madame Pomfrey's training felt more like a trip to Hogsmeade than work. She really did love learning about healing techniques; it enthralled and satisfied her. And then, of course, the work itself satisfied her – from the gratification in comforting a homesick first year to the delight in curing a befuddled Neville Longbottom before Madame Pomfrey figured out what was wrong. The boy had had two rather interesting Potions classes that week, one of which resulted in a lovely set of ivory horns growing out of his head.
She had been able to lose herself in the job and forget about her social suicide for a while.
That's not all, though, an evil little voice whispered to her.
Ginny smiled sheepishly to herself as she pulled her knees to her chest and sunk into the feather pillows of the spotless hospital bed. She was, admittedly, self-satisfied in another way. The ferret hadn't ceased to mock her at every available chance, but she had somehow trounced him thoroughly every time they had an encounter. It nearly always ended with that imperceptible grimace of pain on Malfoy's face that Ginny had learned to recognize … at first she had been shocked. Was Malfoy really hurt by her words?
She soon determined this was not the case. As soon as the wince passed, he would bite back a sharp retort and abruptly leave – or stumble away, it seemed to her. She couldn't quite pinpoint the problem … it sort of bothered her, but at the same time his repeated defeats were a definite confidence booster. There were a few third year Ravenclaws holding a betting pool on the outcome of their various arguments – and she was leading at least 6 to 1.
Something about his weird behavior bothered her, but she pushed it out of her mind for the moment. She needed to focus on the good. Not Malfoy, not her brother or the strange way he was treating her … not Harry, not anyone. Just the task at hand.
Ginny dragged herself up off the bed and absently smoothed the sheets again, walking over to where Madame Pomfrey was dissecting some newly harvested mandrakes.
"Can I help you with that?"
Poppy beamed and slid one of the dead creatures over to her. "Thank you, dear. This is such a tedious job."
They worked in silence for a while, Ginny forcefully not looking down at the body her hands were mechanically working. Mandrakes were one of the few things that bothered her about this field.
"So, love, tell me about your classes and such. Any new boys sniffing around?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and elbowed the old woman goodnaturedly. In the space of a week, Madame Pomfrey had proven herself a steady presence and reassuring friend. They soon fell into light conversation about the painfully obvious lack of romance in Ginny's life, and of Ginny's worries over schoolwork and scheduling. Poppy wasn't much of help here, but agreed to let Ginny bring her books to the hospital every now and then so she could work during the lulls in patient inflow.
The conversation soon turned to Ginny's patent social rejection. Madame Pomfrey had found it quite amusing when two Gryffindors had hauled themselves into the hospital wing that week with black eyes and bashfully informed her that they were fighting over the infamous Weasley/Malfoy bet – but her bemusement soon clouded into motherly concern when Ginny sighed and stuffed a dead mandrake into the jar angrily.
"Virginia, I know how hard it must be for you … especially at this age. I'm not trying to belittle your desire and need for friends … but honestly, if they don't accept you - challenges, weaknesses and all – they're not worth your time. You need someone who respects you, who understands what you're going through, but most of all, who understands your passion." She chuckled at Ginny's entertained face. "And no, I don't mean romantically. A friend should be all those things too. I'm ashamed to hear that no one in Hogwarts stands up to that character test."
Ginny pondered this. She supposed it was true … still, it didn't make up for the fact that she was entirely alone in the world without this old mediwitch. Somehow though, it made it more bearable. She smiled ruefully – it always made her feel better to envision herself as superior to others. Her brother's tormenting words echoed in her mind – You should have been sorted into Slytherin! She pushed the thoughts of her mind and refocused on her boss and friend.
"And you know," Poppy was adding thoughtfully. "they'll all be envious when you graduate with honours, scholarships to the best healing schools in England, and a two-year hands-on internship. You'll be on your way to big money before they've even wetted their feet in the real world."
Ginny cocked her head at the words. True. She smiled.
"You know Madame Pomfrey, I never thought of it that way. Thank you."
Pomfrey smiled broadly. "Of course dear. It's only the truth. And you can call me Poppy, I think we should be at the same level if this whole assistant thing is going to work out." She winked at the young witch playfully.
They laughed together and went back to work pensively for a few minutes.
Ginny broke the silence hesitantly.
"You really think I'll get a scholarship?"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Ginny screamed at the bored-looking Potions master. "You're giving me a bloody detention because Harry, who's sitting across the room from me, spilled his potion?" What the fuck?
"That's right, Miss Weasley," Snape drawled. "And twenty more points from Gryffindor for talking back." He smiled at her condescendingly.
Ginny felt her classmates looking at her, and realized she must look ready to kill. She felt it too. This man was the most filthy, greasy, lying, evil snake that ever had the dishonour of crawling the earth. She glared at him with pure, unadultered hatred, feeling the anger seeping out of her pores.
She had done nothing! She had been the nearest scapegoat, and had been totally unjustified in blaming her for distracting Harry with her "distasteful red hair and altogether too small robes." What the bloody hell? If she was distracting Harry, surely he had noticed that the rest of the males in class weren't paying attention either?
She sucked in a deep breath and harnessed herself back from pouncing on this abhorrent excuse for a human. "Professor Snape," she began coolly. "My clothes and hair have nothing to do with this. I can't believe you're giving me detention for something I didn't even do! I should report you to Dumbledore or something!" Ginny sensed she had crossed the line, but she didn't care. This asshole needed to someone to tell him off.
Snape raised an oily eyebrow at her. "Miss Weasley, as you have so aptly demonstrated for us just now, someone needs to put the working girl back in her place." He sneered at her and spun back around to his desk, black robes billowing out behind him.
Ginny's hands twitched at her wand, summoning her soaring anger back from the ceiling of the dungeons.
"Shut down, Weasley." Ginny shut her eyes, assembling all her patience as Malfoy's sarcastic leer hit her.
She heard the familiar laughter of her fellow Gryffindors in the back of the classroom. They were laughing with the Slytherins? Just how far had she sunk? She lost it.
Virginia jumped up from her seat and snapped at Snape, "Professor, I'm sorry, but I have bigger and more important responsibilities than humouring your need to elevate yourself above your own students. If you wish to press things, I'll take it to Professor Dumbledore."
She flicked her wrist, and the group of Gryffindors all clutched at their throats simultaneously. She stifled a giggle and then stalked towards Malfoy, eyeing her next victim. Her tight violet robes clung to her curves, and she made sure to swing her hips seductively as she approached he desk where he was leaning back with a delighted look on his face.
"What was that, ferret?"
Before he could open his mouth to answer, she spat, "Hmm? Were you just saying how you can't fight without running to your dear teacher? Or were you saying that your puerility rivaled a three-year old's? I'd have to agree. You have some serious maturing to do, Malfoy." She looked him up and down arrogantly.
His eyes darkened and he opened his mouth again, but once again she cut him off.
"And no Malfoy, sorry, a hardon does not count as personal growth."
Crabbe and Goyle stood up stupidly, sensing that this was where their bodyguarding instinct was supposed to kick in. Ginny shook her head scornfully.
"I'd insult you too, but you're not bright enough to notice."
She strode out of the room triumphantly.
Bastards. She tried not to think about how much trouble that little stunt would get her in. Maybe they would just take a hundred points or so off Gryffindor. Ginny smiled gleefully. That would be absolutely splendid. She was slowly starting to hate those self-centered, 'brave hearted' pricks. You do one thing that actually adhered to Gryffindor code and you're banished from them forever.
Whatever. Yea, it hurt like a bitch, but she reassured herself with the comforting thought of Malfoy blustering in his seat.
When Ron finally got his voice back after his sister hexed him (hexed him! His own sister!), he wondered if he had been right to do what he did. He had thought that surely she would fight against this whole job thing harder… luckily none of the bad renown had bounced back to him. Yet.
Maybe it was time to take more drastic measures.
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A/N: oooo, that Ron. I knew he was a bad egg. Anyway, let me know what you think…
And would you check that! 5 pages, baby! hehe …
I'm not sure if I got the whole mandrake process right, please feel free to correct me … I can't remember if they dissect them or capture their screams. Email me – xangelicfirex@yahoo.com
Thank you! I love you all! I'd love you even more if you pushed that lonely lil review button down there!