How Soon Is Now
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling and distributed by various publishers and media companies including Warner Brothers, Bloomsbury books, Scholastic Books, and Raincoast books. No money is made from this and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1-- And so it begins
Ginny Weasley was late. She scampered down the Hogwarts corridors, crumpled parchment and quills grasped in her hands. The steady pound of her feet against the stone floor filled her ears as she glanced around for the History of Magic classroom. She knew it lay somewhere along the extensive hallway, half-hidden by an embellished statue of a 16th Century Wizard, but she could never remember exactly where. Ginny suddenly spotted the classroom and took a sharp left. As she flung open the door and dashed inside, Professor Binns' monotonous voice flooded her ears and she noticed several students fast asleep.
"—in which Algor Hipple organized the Banshee Rebellion in 1517, a league inspired by Hipple Senior, a wealthy merchant involved with the breeding of house-elves—"
Ginny slipped into a seat near the back of the classroom and unfolded a blank piece of paper, prepared to take notes. She had just printed her name when she felt her eyelids droop and Professor Binns' voice grow further away. Ginny pinched her arm and tried to focus, but her eyes begged to be closed and Collin Creevey's loud snores next to her lulled her into a dream-like haze. Why should she study, anyway, when her grades were already competent? There was no need to pay attention all the time—she wasn't Hermione Granger, after all. Plus, Ginny thought, looking around, nearly everybody else is sleeping Why shouldn't I? Just when Ginny had shrugged resolutely and set her head on her desk, a sharp rap filled her ears. She jumped, afraid that she had been discovered.
Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway, beaming at the students as if nothing pleased him more than to see them sitting there. "Professor Binns, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a brief word with your class." He smiled warmly at the old ghost. "It needn't take more than a minute or two of your time."
Professor Binns raised his feeble eyebrows in mild surprise, but nodded.
Dumbledore glided to the front of the room and peered down from his half-moon spectacles at the bleary eyed students struggling to wake. "Splendid. I'm sure many of you are wondering why your old headmaster has disrupted an undoubtably exciting class," a twinkle in his eye told Ginny that he knew quite well they had all been bored out of their minds. "but what I need to say is of utmost importance, and I wanted to be the one to tell you."
A few stricken faces dotted the crowed, and Ginny thought that perhaps there had been a deatheater attack. Her face paled and Professor Dumbledore added, "Ah, none of you need to worry. It's good news, at least, I hope so."
Ginny relaxed and twirled her quill between her thumb and index finger thoughtfully. What was this all about?
"When I attended a faculty meeting this morning, I was shocked to discover many professors discussing rivalry between the houses. As partial as I am to a little competition now and then, it has been taken too far." Professor Dumbledore's eyes grew grave. "Duels in the corridors and in between classes are not acceptable. It seems that deducting points and awarding detentions have not been enough, and a great deal of discrimination between students of different houses is occuring. That is why we have decided to divide fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years from different houses into groups of four for a class project. Your group will pick a time period within the last four hundred years and travel to that time for up to three hours, gathering all information needed for a presentation the following week. We hope that this will not only expand your knowledge of history, but also create lasting friendships among the different houses." Dumbledore smiled cheerfully and examined the skeptical faces.
A student in the front raised her hand. "When do we find out our groups?"
"The sorting hat was most delighted to divide the groups, and I anticipate that he will tell you tonight. I must inform you, however, that all groups made will be final, and if you are set with someone you aren't particularly fond of, I urge you to remember that the purpose of this is to create friendships. You may find a friendship with someone you thought you despised."
Ginny frowned. Although she did admit that travelling back in time would be delightful and exciting, all of her friends were in Gryffindor. Much of the fun would be extinguished if she were stuck in a foreign time without anyone she knew or liked.
Professor Dumbledore departed and class was dismissed. Ginny scrambled up, gathered her things, and left for her next class, her forehead scrunched with worry. She had a strange feeling that the project Dumbledore talked about wouldn't be as wonderful that she had been assured.
Later that day, Ginny sat in between Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall; dinner piled on the golden plates. The floating candles flickered with warmth and purple-bellied clouds hung above in the enchanted ceiling. Ginny watched the students laughing at the different tables with apprehension, wondering if any of them would be in her group. One thing was for sure: she was going to be stuck with a Slytherin. She could only hope that it wouldn't be anyone malicious—as if a Slytherin was anything else. Ginny scanned the Slytherin table: Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and Blaise Zabini Ginny's eyes flicked past them and then suddenly stopped when she met the cold intense eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy. He leaned back in his chair, blond hair falling around his face and his gray eyes staring right into Ginny, as if he was delving into her mind. He quirked an eyebrow and held her gaze. Had it been anyone else, they would dart their eyes away. Ginny sat there, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Suddenly, just when Ginny couldn't take his unwavering energy directed towards her for any longer, the candles dimmed and Ron nudged her. "It's about to start—they're bringing out the sorting hat now!"
Murmured whispers buzzed around the huge room as Professor McGonagall wheeled out a three-legged stool with a tattered hat upon it. Ginny was instantly reminded of her first year, quivering as she sat on the stool and waited to be placed in a house. She wondered if they were going to have to put the hat on again, in order to be divided for the class project.
"May I have your attention please?" Professor McGonnagal said, standing with a regal posture. The room immediately grew quiet as McGonnagal explained what was going to happen. "The hat will call out the names in each group—first through third years, you might as well go back to your dormitories." Ginny heard the gloomy shuffling of the students leaving. "Once you hear the names of the members of your groups, you may leave. Instead of classes tomorrow, meet with your group in the library to conduct research and discuss time periods. I strongly suggest you have a basic idea of what year you would like to travel to by tomorrow, so that you can discuss it among your group."
Ginny bit her lip with nervous apprehension as the slit-like mouth of the Sorting Hat opened up and it began to speak loudly and clearly. "Group one: Lavender Brown, Luna Lovegood, Michael Corner, and Vincent Crabbe." Each student stood up and filed out of the building, Lavender looking as if she were about to burst into tears. "Group two," Ginny held her breath. "Lee Jordan, Mandy Brocklehurst, Morag MacDougal, Sally-Anne Perks."
This went on for the next five minutes and every time the next group was announced, Ginny would hold her breath and hope for the best.
"Group sixteen: Ronald Weasley, Zacharias Smith, Marietta Edgecomb, and Pansy Parkinson."
Ron swore loudly and strode out of the room, ignoring Hermione's moan of "Oh, Ron" and Harry's clap on the back.
Ginny held her breath as the next group was announced, but nothing could have prepared her for what came next. "Group seventeen: Ginevra Weasley, Alexandra Small, Cho Chang, and...Draco Malfoy." Ginny's pounding heart grew cold and she stiffened. Draco Malfoy? She was going to be stuck in another time period with Draco Malfoy?
Author's Note: Ahso what happens next? How does Draco react? What time period will the two decide to go? Please review—suggestions, comments, flames, anything. I'm dying to know what you think of this—as long as you review, I'm happy.
(Don't be an invisible reader )
V Review!
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling and distributed by various publishers and media companies including Warner Brothers, Bloomsbury books, Scholastic Books, and Raincoast books. No money is made from this and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1-- And so it begins
Ginny Weasley was late. She scampered down the Hogwarts corridors, crumpled parchment and quills grasped in her hands. The steady pound of her feet against the stone floor filled her ears as she glanced around for the History of Magic classroom. She knew it lay somewhere along the extensive hallway, half-hidden by an embellished statue of a 16th Century Wizard, but she could never remember exactly where. Ginny suddenly spotted the classroom and took a sharp left. As she flung open the door and dashed inside, Professor Binns' monotonous voice flooded her ears and she noticed several students fast asleep.
"—in which Algor Hipple organized the Banshee Rebellion in 1517, a league inspired by Hipple Senior, a wealthy merchant involved with the breeding of house-elves—"
Ginny slipped into a seat near the back of the classroom and unfolded a blank piece of paper, prepared to take notes. She had just printed her name when she felt her eyelids droop and Professor Binns' voice grow further away. Ginny pinched her arm and tried to focus, but her eyes begged to be closed and Collin Creevey's loud snores next to her lulled her into a dream-like haze. Why should she study, anyway, when her grades were already competent? There was no need to pay attention all the time—she wasn't Hermione Granger, after all. Plus, Ginny thought, looking around, nearly everybody else is sleeping Why shouldn't I? Just when Ginny had shrugged resolutely and set her head on her desk, a sharp rap filled her ears. She jumped, afraid that she had been discovered.
Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway, beaming at the students as if nothing pleased him more than to see them sitting there. "Professor Binns, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a brief word with your class." He smiled warmly at the old ghost. "It needn't take more than a minute or two of your time."
Professor Binns raised his feeble eyebrows in mild surprise, but nodded.
Dumbledore glided to the front of the room and peered down from his half-moon spectacles at the bleary eyed students struggling to wake. "Splendid. I'm sure many of you are wondering why your old headmaster has disrupted an undoubtably exciting class," a twinkle in his eye told Ginny that he knew quite well they had all been bored out of their minds. "but what I need to say is of utmost importance, and I wanted to be the one to tell you."
A few stricken faces dotted the crowed, and Ginny thought that perhaps there had been a deatheater attack. Her face paled and Professor Dumbledore added, "Ah, none of you need to worry. It's good news, at least, I hope so."
Ginny relaxed and twirled her quill between her thumb and index finger thoughtfully. What was this all about?
"When I attended a faculty meeting this morning, I was shocked to discover many professors discussing rivalry between the houses. As partial as I am to a little competition now and then, it has been taken too far." Professor Dumbledore's eyes grew grave. "Duels in the corridors and in between classes are not acceptable. It seems that deducting points and awarding detentions have not been enough, and a great deal of discrimination between students of different houses is occuring. That is why we have decided to divide fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years from different houses into groups of four for a class project. Your group will pick a time period within the last four hundred years and travel to that time for up to three hours, gathering all information needed for a presentation the following week. We hope that this will not only expand your knowledge of history, but also create lasting friendships among the different houses." Dumbledore smiled cheerfully and examined the skeptical faces.
A student in the front raised her hand. "When do we find out our groups?"
"The sorting hat was most delighted to divide the groups, and I anticipate that he will tell you tonight. I must inform you, however, that all groups made will be final, and if you are set with someone you aren't particularly fond of, I urge you to remember that the purpose of this is to create friendships. You may find a friendship with someone you thought you despised."
Ginny frowned. Although she did admit that travelling back in time would be delightful and exciting, all of her friends were in Gryffindor. Much of the fun would be extinguished if she were stuck in a foreign time without anyone she knew or liked.
Professor Dumbledore departed and class was dismissed. Ginny scrambled up, gathered her things, and left for her next class, her forehead scrunched with worry. She had a strange feeling that the project Dumbledore talked about wouldn't be as wonderful that she had been assured.
Later that day, Ginny sat in between Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall; dinner piled on the golden plates. The floating candles flickered with warmth and purple-bellied clouds hung above in the enchanted ceiling. Ginny watched the students laughing at the different tables with apprehension, wondering if any of them would be in her group. One thing was for sure: she was going to be stuck with a Slytherin. She could only hope that it wouldn't be anyone malicious—as if a Slytherin was anything else. Ginny scanned the Slytherin table: Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and Blaise Zabini Ginny's eyes flicked past them and then suddenly stopped when she met the cold intense eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy. He leaned back in his chair, blond hair falling around his face and his gray eyes staring right into Ginny, as if he was delving into her mind. He quirked an eyebrow and held her gaze. Had it been anyone else, they would dart their eyes away. Ginny sat there, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Suddenly, just when Ginny couldn't take his unwavering energy directed towards her for any longer, the candles dimmed and Ron nudged her. "It's about to start—they're bringing out the sorting hat now!"
Murmured whispers buzzed around the huge room as Professor McGonagall wheeled out a three-legged stool with a tattered hat upon it. Ginny was instantly reminded of her first year, quivering as she sat on the stool and waited to be placed in a house. She wondered if they were going to have to put the hat on again, in order to be divided for the class project.
"May I have your attention please?" Professor McGonnagal said, standing with a regal posture. The room immediately grew quiet as McGonnagal explained what was going to happen. "The hat will call out the names in each group—first through third years, you might as well go back to your dormitories." Ginny heard the gloomy shuffling of the students leaving. "Once you hear the names of the members of your groups, you may leave. Instead of classes tomorrow, meet with your group in the library to conduct research and discuss time periods. I strongly suggest you have a basic idea of what year you would like to travel to by tomorrow, so that you can discuss it among your group."
Ginny bit her lip with nervous apprehension as the slit-like mouth of the Sorting Hat opened up and it began to speak loudly and clearly. "Group one: Lavender Brown, Luna Lovegood, Michael Corner, and Vincent Crabbe." Each student stood up and filed out of the building, Lavender looking as if she were about to burst into tears. "Group two," Ginny held her breath. "Lee Jordan, Mandy Brocklehurst, Morag MacDougal, Sally-Anne Perks."
This went on for the next five minutes and every time the next group was announced, Ginny would hold her breath and hope for the best.
"Group sixteen: Ronald Weasley, Zacharias Smith, Marietta Edgecomb, and Pansy Parkinson."
Ron swore loudly and strode out of the room, ignoring Hermione's moan of "Oh, Ron" and Harry's clap on the back.
Ginny held her breath as the next group was announced, but nothing could have prepared her for what came next. "Group seventeen: Ginevra Weasley, Alexandra Small, Cho Chang, and...Draco Malfoy." Ginny's pounding heart grew cold and she stiffened. Draco Malfoy? She was going to be stuck in another time period with Draco Malfoy?
Author's Note: Ahso what happens next? How does Draco react? What time period will the two decide to go? Please review—suggestions, comments, flames, anything. I'm dying to know what you think of this—as long as you review, I'm happy.
(Don't be an invisible reader )
V Review!