"Pixie Stix!" Ginny yelled at the gargoyle and smiled when it opened.
'Dumbledore is such a strange man.'
When she got to his chamber, she saw Fawkes sitting on his perch and Dumbledore in his chair. He smiled warmly at Ginny, his eyes filled with the same, familiar twinkle.
"Ahh! Miss Weasely, please come in and take a seat."
Ginny sat down on the red, antique arm chair in front of the headmaster's desk. She had a sudden feeling of power and assuredness come to her. It was odd, since most of the time, she felt somewhat shy and unsure of herself around Dumbledore. She looked into his eyes and smiled warmly.
"What did you wish to speak to me about sir?"
His eyes seemed to be twinkling so much, she thought he might be about to cry.
"Miss Weasely, I wanted to make arrangements for us to start our meetings."
Ginny smiled. "Whenever you want sir."
"Well, I think it best to start immediately. Would you be able to meet me at the entrance to the dungeons at eight this evening?"
Ginny's stared at him in shock. So soon? Today was the first day back to school? 'Well, the sooner the better, it's not like I have anything better planned', she thought with a bit of resentment.
"Of course," she finally responded. And with that Ginny felt their discussion was over so she stood and told the mysterious old man good bye.
"Good day Ms. Weasely."
The days were going by in a blur. She had been practicing with Albus everyday, except on the weekends, and was having so much fun. He was always there to congratulate her and tell her how proud he was of her, but he never tried to tell her what to do, or how to do it. He just let her be herself.
After the first "lesson" he had insisted on her calling him Albus. She was dumbfounded and he had chuckled at her wide eyes, and explained,
"In these walls I am only your friend and supporter, beyond them I am your headmaster."
It took her at least a two weeks to finally stop calling him sir, or Professor Dumbledore, but it made her feel proud beyond words. Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of all time was considering HER a friend. Thanks to him she now had a chance to practice all the spells she had learned over the summer (along with a few she had made herself) with and without a wand.
She realized that her wand was nothing more than a tool to sharpen her abilities and give her greater accuracy. Albus had noted that all wizard wands act as a tuner and filter for a wizards magic. Many could do magic without a wand, but it was mostly week and if anything at all, completely uncontrollable. This is where Ginny differed from everyone else.
"Expecto Patronum!" Ginny yelled, even though she never had to say the words.
She just loved to. The words were so beautiful and held such great power, she didn't think it right to hide them away in her thoughts. Albus had agreed with her.
Suddenly a great blast of light erupted from her wand and out flew a giant dragon, spreading its wings and blowing stardust fire. Ginny's face lit up with delight. She loved her Patronus. It was beautiful and so powerful. It was like her soul spilled out of her wand every time she performed the spell.
"Very good Virginia!!", came a deeply proud voice from behind her.
She had gotten used to that tone. Albus used it daily with her. She knew he had a right to be proud of her. She was performing spells of all kinds that even great wizards could have problems with. And everyone she got right on the first try.
She tried to suppress a giggle as the great fiery dragon trotted over to her with it's huge body waving from left to right and bowed before disappearing.
She started to think of something else to do. She had made a pact with Albus to never use the unforgivable curses unless she was defending herself or someone else from dark magic. There was no question in her mind. Ginny never ever wanted to hurt people. She only wanted to help them and recently, with the help of her new friend, she began to realize the amount of good she could do.
She turned her head up and stared at the gold engraved ceiling. It had the seals of all the houses of Hogwarts. She loved this room. It was hug. It was at least the size of two Quidditch fields and completely empty. The walls were filled with winking and smiling, some frowning, headmasters. Albus had taken her here. It was deep under the castle and the entrance was near the dungeons through a wall, but only the headmaster's of Hogwarts knew about it and only they could get in. She had once again felt honored and like she was on sacred ground. Albus had said that in the beginning it was supposed to be a safe haven, and sort of club area, but now it was what he used to relax and practice his own magic away from the eyes of the school.
"How about we try another difficult one?", Albus suggested from behind her.
Ginny nodded, waiting for him to suggest something. Suddenly she felt a wave of urgency in her stomach. He was doing it again, trying to test her senses.
She spun around to face Albus and heard him yell, "Petrificus Totalus!!"
Ginny grinned; he was trying to duel again. Her smile deepened, he was TRYING to stupefy her. She shielded herself and the curse bounced off of her flying back towards her friend.
"Expeliaramus." she sighed and Albus' wand flew out of his hand and in to hers before he could do anything about the curse coming towards him.
She watched with delight as he froze with a slight look of shock on his face. She contemplated leaving him like that for trying something so stupid. Instead she walked up to him with a glow in her eyes.
"Albus, you should know better, I have half a mind to leave you like this all night," she smiled almost wickedly and released him from his hold.
The man suddenly came to life and smiled at her taking his wand. They had already done dueling and numerous obstacles that he had produced for her, but, with little effort, she had defeated him every time.
"I'm glad you have more than just half a mind Virginia."
She smiled at him, but could tell he was holding back something and she wanted to know what it was. She turned away from him and sighed again; taking off a necklace she had been wearing and transfiguring it into a chair so she could rest. It was really getting quit late and she wanted to sleep.
He stared at her for a moment obviously trying to decide on what to say. "I would like to tell Professor McGonagall about our arrangement."
She was definitely not prepared for that, but she remained composed, she knew Albus would not propose something unless he had good reason. Gazing at her with a knowing stare he continued.
"I think it would be good for you to learn how to become animagi."
He stopped for a moment to gage her reaction. An astonished smile snapped to her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Do you think you are ready for it?"
"Well, of course, but isn't it dangerous? I mean, I know I can do it, but will McGonagall agree?" She was freaking out.
She so wanted to be an anamgi, ever since she saw the transfiguration professor turn into a cat. She was so surprised she forgot all about manners and had forgotten to add professor to her name.
"Um, I mean professor McGonagall."
Albus smiled at her. As she stared up at him, she realized she felt an almost fatherly connection with the man in front of her.
"I think Minerva would agree once she realizes the circumstances."
Ginny began to feel that warmth she always felt when he praised her. It made her feel appreciated and loved.
"Well then, now that we are agreed, I think you should go get some rest."
Ginny stood up wearily, suddenly remembering how tired she was, transfigured her necklace back, and walked out towards her dorm. When she got to the porthole she realized she never even accepted the offer.
'Dumbledore is such a strange man.'
When she got to his chamber, she saw Fawkes sitting on his perch and Dumbledore in his chair. He smiled warmly at Ginny, his eyes filled with the same, familiar twinkle.
"Ahh! Miss Weasely, please come in and take a seat."
Ginny sat down on the red, antique arm chair in front of the headmaster's desk. She had a sudden feeling of power and assuredness come to her. It was odd, since most of the time, she felt somewhat shy and unsure of herself around Dumbledore. She looked into his eyes and smiled warmly.
"What did you wish to speak to me about sir?"
His eyes seemed to be twinkling so much, she thought he might be about to cry.
"Miss Weasely, I wanted to make arrangements for us to start our meetings."
Ginny smiled. "Whenever you want sir."
"Well, I think it best to start immediately. Would you be able to meet me at the entrance to the dungeons at eight this evening?"
Ginny's stared at him in shock. So soon? Today was the first day back to school? 'Well, the sooner the better, it's not like I have anything better planned', she thought with a bit of resentment.
"Of course," she finally responded. And with that Ginny felt their discussion was over so she stood and told the mysterious old man good bye.
"Good day Ms. Weasely."
The days were going by in a blur. She had been practicing with Albus everyday, except on the weekends, and was having so much fun. He was always there to congratulate her and tell her how proud he was of her, but he never tried to tell her what to do, or how to do it. He just let her be herself.
After the first "lesson" he had insisted on her calling him Albus. She was dumbfounded and he had chuckled at her wide eyes, and explained,
"In these walls I am only your friend and supporter, beyond them I am your headmaster."
It took her at least a two weeks to finally stop calling him sir, or Professor Dumbledore, but it made her feel proud beyond words. Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards of all time was considering HER a friend. Thanks to him she now had a chance to practice all the spells she had learned over the summer (along with a few she had made herself) with and without a wand.
She realized that her wand was nothing more than a tool to sharpen her abilities and give her greater accuracy. Albus had noted that all wizard wands act as a tuner and filter for a wizards magic. Many could do magic without a wand, but it was mostly week and if anything at all, completely uncontrollable. This is where Ginny differed from everyone else.
"Expecto Patronum!" Ginny yelled, even though she never had to say the words.
She just loved to. The words were so beautiful and held such great power, she didn't think it right to hide them away in her thoughts. Albus had agreed with her.
Suddenly a great blast of light erupted from her wand and out flew a giant dragon, spreading its wings and blowing stardust fire. Ginny's face lit up with delight. She loved her Patronus. It was beautiful and so powerful. It was like her soul spilled out of her wand every time she performed the spell.
"Very good Virginia!!", came a deeply proud voice from behind her.
She had gotten used to that tone. Albus used it daily with her. She knew he had a right to be proud of her. She was performing spells of all kinds that even great wizards could have problems with. And everyone she got right on the first try.
She tried to suppress a giggle as the great fiery dragon trotted over to her with it's huge body waving from left to right and bowed before disappearing.
She started to think of something else to do. She had made a pact with Albus to never use the unforgivable curses unless she was defending herself or someone else from dark magic. There was no question in her mind. Ginny never ever wanted to hurt people. She only wanted to help them and recently, with the help of her new friend, she began to realize the amount of good she could do.
She turned her head up and stared at the gold engraved ceiling. It had the seals of all the houses of Hogwarts. She loved this room. It was hug. It was at least the size of two Quidditch fields and completely empty. The walls were filled with winking and smiling, some frowning, headmasters. Albus had taken her here. It was deep under the castle and the entrance was near the dungeons through a wall, but only the headmaster's of Hogwarts knew about it and only they could get in. She had once again felt honored and like she was on sacred ground. Albus had said that in the beginning it was supposed to be a safe haven, and sort of club area, but now it was what he used to relax and practice his own magic away from the eyes of the school.
"How about we try another difficult one?", Albus suggested from behind her.
Ginny nodded, waiting for him to suggest something. Suddenly she felt a wave of urgency in her stomach. He was doing it again, trying to test her senses.
She spun around to face Albus and heard him yell, "Petrificus Totalus!!"
Ginny grinned; he was trying to duel again. Her smile deepened, he was TRYING to stupefy her. She shielded herself and the curse bounced off of her flying back towards her friend.
"Expeliaramus." she sighed and Albus' wand flew out of his hand and in to hers before he could do anything about the curse coming towards him.
She watched with delight as he froze with a slight look of shock on his face. She contemplated leaving him like that for trying something so stupid. Instead she walked up to him with a glow in her eyes.
"Albus, you should know better, I have half a mind to leave you like this all night," she smiled almost wickedly and released him from his hold.
The man suddenly came to life and smiled at her taking his wand. They had already done dueling and numerous obstacles that he had produced for her, but, with little effort, she had defeated him every time.
"I'm glad you have more than just half a mind Virginia."
She smiled at him, but could tell he was holding back something and she wanted to know what it was. She turned away from him and sighed again; taking off a necklace she had been wearing and transfiguring it into a chair so she could rest. It was really getting quit late and she wanted to sleep.
He stared at her for a moment obviously trying to decide on what to say. "I would like to tell Professor McGonagall about our arrangement."
She was definitely not prepared for that, but she remained composed, she knew Albus would not propose something unless he had good reason. Gazing at her with a knowing stare he continued.
"I think it would be good for you to learn how to become animagi."
He stopped for a moment to gage her reaction. An astonished smile snapped to her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Do you think you are ready for it?"
"Well, of course, but isn't it dangerous? I mean, I know I can do it, but will McGonagall agree?" She was freaking out.
She so wanted to be an anamgi, ever since she saw the transfiguration professor turn into a cat. She was so surprised she forgot all about manners and had forgotten to add professor to her name.
"Um, I mean professor McGonagall."
Albus smiled at her. As she stared up at him, she realized she felt an almost fatherly connection with the man in front of her.
"I think Minerva would agree once she realizes the circumstances."
Ginny began to feel that warmth she always felt when he praised her. It made her feel appreciated and loved.
"Well then, now that we are agreed, I think you should go get some rest."
Ginny stood up wearily, suddenly remembering how tired she was, transfigured her necklace back, and walked out towards her dorm. When she got to the porthole she realized she never even accepted the offer.