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 2—Threats
The soft rays of morning slanted through Ginny's open dormitory window and forced her eyelids to flutter open. Her hair was a tangled mass of ginger and her dark circles surrounded her eyes. She had only gotten an hour or two of sleep--the rest of the night was spent in a nervous anxiety. No matter how many times she tossed and turned, she couldn't get comfortable, and Draco Malfoy's smirking face haunted her mind.
Ginny groaned. There was no putting it off—she would have to work, and maybe even cooperate, with a Malfoy.
Ginny swung her feet off the bed, using the floor as an anchor.
She changed into a patched pair of robes as if she were marching to her execution, and slipped her feet into her scuffed shoes.. Stifling a gloomy yawn, she ran a brush through her snarled hair and turned to the mirror. She gazed into her reflection, unable to help imagining what Draco would say about her appearance. Another pair of second hand robes, Weasley? his smooth, insinuating voice would whisper.
Ginny said aloud, looking into the brown eyes of her reflection and imagining them to be cold and gray, I bought these robes myself, with my own sickle. You see, Malfoy, unlike you, I actually earn everything I own.
Silence met her, and she whipped around, picked up her book bag and stomped down the dormitory stairs, feeling a little bit better.
This feeling was immediately vanquished when she stepped into the Gryffindor Common room.
Harry, Ron and Hermione huddled around a fat leather-bound book, and hardly glanced up when Ginny plopped down beside them. See, Ron? Hermione said in a superior tone, pointing to a large chunk of text. Look at all this history! I mean, even if you don't like the group you're in, there are dozens of things to see just in 1897! This really isn't that bad Ron—think of what a great opportunity it is for you.
Ron rolled his eyes. Oh, sure. Nothing I'd like more than to hang out with whiny Zacharias Smith, traitorous Marietta Edgcomb, and snide Pansy Parkinson. This is going to be miserable.
It could be worse, Harry gently reminded him.
The only way my group would be worse is if Malfoy transfers in tomorr— Ron seemed to suddenly realize that Ginny was in the room with them. Er, sorry, Gin, I didn't mean His voice trailed off.
Ginny sighed, the pit in her stomach growing heavier. It's, okay, Ron. I understand. Hopefully this will all be over soon.
Oh, by the way, Ginny, you should probably head down to the library Hermione told her. Ron, Harry and I will meet you in a few minutes. We just have to do some extra research.
Maybe you have to do some extra research but I don't, Ron mumbled darkly to himself, but stayed where he was.
Ginny sighed. It was now or never—she was going to have to face her fears.
She quickly slipped through the portrait hole, stepped down a flight of stairs and took an abrupt left down a hall with rough stone walls and torches lining the path. Her book bag swung back and forth with each step she took, and Ginny stopped to change it to her other shoulder. As she did, she heard a faint scuffling sound behind her. She stood rigid and whipped around, her red locks tossing around her shoulders. No one was there. The empty corridor stared back, a few portraits blinking. Ginny shrugged, and began walking again, her ears pricked. She heard the faintest, softest sound of feet, so soft that she would not have noticed them, had she been walking a pace faster.
Ginny spun around and a cold hand grabbed her wrist and shoved her face-first against the stone walls.
Her cheek slammed painfully into the rough wall and felt her arms pinned painfully behind her back. Whoever was behind her clutched her wrists painfully together and Ginny winced, struggling to move.
Her request was ignored and she heard a soft, growling voice close to her ear. We're going to get a few things straight, Weasley.
Ginny froze, no longer trying to escape free. She could recognize that silky voice anywhere--Draco Malfoy stood behind her, his soft and undoubtedly expensive robes brushing against her back and the tip of his wand pressed against her head.
First of all, little Weasley, he said. About our little assignment to go back in time. I am going to be the leader in our group. Since I doubt you have enough common sense to fully grasp what I mean, allow me to elaborate: I'm picking the time-period, and I'm making the decisions, his grip tightened and Ginny squirmed, only managing to press her body closer to Malfoy's. In addition, I have some extra business to attend to when we arrive. You will not interfere. Am I making myself clear?
Ginny couldn't bit back her retort, anger and fear pulsing through he her veins. What kind of business? She thrashed to the side and broke free of his grip. Draco Malfoy, platinum blond locks falling around his face, glared at her, his silvery-gray eyes flashing. Ginny stumbled backwards from the intensity of his gaze. She could literally feel the hatred directed towards her.
Draco smirked with cold iron eyes and Ginny smoothed her robes, taking a step backwards just in case Malfoy tried lunging at her. If you think I'm going to just let you prance off to some Death Eater Meeting—
Draco didn't miss a beat. Try to pay attention next time, Weasley. I said nothing about a Death Eater meeting. He took a step forward. Quite honestly, I have no idea how you got it into your head that you,, being the worthless Weasley that you are, have the right to know what goes on in my personal business. He raised his wand up to her face. I simply have an affair that needs attending to. His eyes grew dark. You will not, under any circumstances, stand in my way.
Ginny defiantly returned the glare. Is that a threat, Malfoy?
A slow smile crept across his face. Yes, Weasley, I would say it is.
Twenty minutes after Ginny had been left in the empty corridor, Draco Malfoy's words still echoing in her mind, she found herself stepping into the library and hoping no one would notice that she was late. The library was filled with Hogwarts students and discussions buzzed from all around her, many groups flipping through dusty books, already searching for the perfect year to travel to. Ginny spotted Cho Chang waving frantically at her from one of the heavy oak tables near the back. Ginny slipped rows of bookshelves and took a seat at the table, setting her book bag to the ground. The first thing Ginny noticed was that Draco Malfoy was not present. The second was that Cho Chang looked as though she were about to murder someone. You're late!
I'm sorry, I—
I don't know how we're going to work on this project when people like you are twenty minutes late and Malfoy is no where to be found. I just sent Alexandra Small to go look for you both ten minutes ago. Have you seen her? We need to find out when we're traveling to soon—some groups have already left Cho Chang said all of this very fast.
Ginny blinked. Cho was a very pretty girl whom Ginny had always enviously disliked. Although Ginny had ended her painful crush on Harry Potter long ago, she still held a grudge for the way Cho ruthlessly stole his heart. Nevertheless, this project was very important and she wasn't about to make anymore enemies. No, I'm sorry, I haven't seen Alexandra, Ginny said, trying her hardest to sound kind. saw Draco Malfoy. She didn't intend her voice to sound so shaky.
Cho Chang pulled out a large book from her bag and dropped it with a thunk onto the table. They better be here soon, I need to boost my History of Magic mark up, so I don't want anything to go wrong. Anyway, I was looking through some books while I was waiting for you, and this year looked good.—1973. It was around the time that—Oh, here they are.
Ginny followed Cho's gaze to see Draco Malfoy stride in, in the wake of a small, meek looking girl with mousy brown hair. He slid into a seat across from Ginny as though nothing had happened.
Cho Chang said. Now that we're all finally here, Ginny could almost feel the frustration pouring off of Cho. We should discuss when we want to go...I thought maybe we could go to 1978—it's when my parents graduated from Hogwarts.
Draco raised his eyebrows in mock surprise and leaned back in his chair, twirling a quill between his pale fingers. His presence made Ginny feel very ill at ease. I believe you're mistaken, Chang. You see, our group has already selected a time.
W—w—we have?
Yes. In fact, Weasley and I were just discussing it, weren't we, Weasley?
Ginny froze. Uh, er, yes, we were. She could have easily denied it, but she wasn't prepared to meet Draco's wrath again that day. Her arms still arched from where Draco had grasped them.
He smirked. So, you see, Chang, we're already prepared. We're going to 1965.
Something in Ginny's mind clicked—she associated something with that year, but she couldn't remember exactly what. Look, Cho, maybe we should go to 1973 anyway, I mean, it would probably be much more interesting.
How, Weasley? Draco asked, his eyes flashing dangerously. Other than Chang's precious parents, what makes 1973 so special?
Ginny scowled. Well, what makes 1965 any more special? As far as I can see, there's more reason to go to 1973, since Cho's parents are there. Why would we want to go to 1965?
I wouldn't expect an insignificant Weasley to be able to recognize the significance of an era.
Ginny stood up angrily, Draco's threat forgotten. We're going to 1973, okay? It seems like the majority of this group is with me!
Draco smirked and leaned further in his chair. Is that so?
said Cho Chang, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I don't want to start any fights. It's fine with me if we go to 1965, as long as we stop this bickering.
See Weasley? Draco said, lazily tossing his quill into the air and catching it behind his back.
What about Alexandra? Ginny said, suddenly remembering the timid girl sitting next to Cho Chang.
I—I guess 1965 is fine with me She looked as if this project was more than she could handle.
Excellent. So, I suppose I am with the majority, Weasley.
Ginny's face burned. At that exact moment, there was nothing she would rather do than wipe that smirk off his face. She settled for offering him an obscenely rude hand gesture that caused Alexandra to wince and Draco's grin to widen.
Cho stood up and grabbed her backpack. So, let's get going! Professor McGonagall is handing out time turners right now!
Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the beautiful reviews! I'd like to thank Samantha, Dracula-Loves-Me, Tavi, dracolovesginny, TrippyGirl20051, magicwand, emidorienne, RoseRosa, generalnothingness, Marz, lucugirl07, BabyPan, Naomi, findingtruth, Paul, Alice Dodgeson, Dracoluver2009, Molly, Jay Lupin, and Clara. Your comments meant so much to me!
(By the way, Ginny's real name is actually Ginevra, not Virginia. I know, I know. It comes as quie a bit of a shock, especially given the hundreds of fanfictions out there using the name "Virginia". If you don't believe me, go check out jkrowling.com and see for yourself. Click on the teacup, then on "Characters" and then "Some Random Facts about the Weasley Family." Sorry for all the misunderstandings!)
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