A/N: Please Review!!! GodessAthena
"Ginny? What's going on? Why do we have to see Professor Dumbledore? What happened out there? Did you see something?" Hermione's questions flowed from her lips at a hundred miles an hour the entire way to Albus' office. Ginny just kept running, ignoring her questions until they reached the gargoyle entrance to the headmaster's office. "Ginny!! Why wont you answer me?!?" Ginny turned to Hermione before saying the password.
"Herm, you wanted answers, now you're going to get them." She turned away solemnly to the gargoyle. "Gobstoppers!" Then she turned back to the girl while the staircase opened. "But I'm warning you now, you probably wont like what you're about to hear." Her voice was grave and filled with sincerity.
As they ascended the stair case she couldn't help but wonder at how motherly she suddenly felt towards Hermione. The girl was a year older, but she felt older, wiser, almost as though she had to protect her at all costs. Behind her Hermione was quiet and Ginny knew she had to be confused as hell. As the stairs came to the Headmasters room they were greeted by a grave headmaster awaiting them behind his desk.
"Welcome ladies, please take a seat. I've been waiting for you." Ginny wasn't surprised in the least. Albus always seemed to know when important things were going on in his castle. "Tell me, what has happened?" It was more of an order than a question, but she would gladly answer it.
Ginny looked over at Hermione and gave her a faint smile. She felt kind of sad for the girl. She would have told her to go back to the dorm, but there would be too many questions that would be better answered if she was just there to witness it herself. "We were taking a walk by the lake, talking, when something happened." She sensed Hermione's body stiffen next to her. Being out on the grounds after dark was strictly against the rules and she was probably not prepared for her candid attitude with Albus. If there was one thing Ginny had come to know over the years, especially the last few months, was how imperative it was to be up front and honest with him.
Ginny continued the story and as she spoke she sensed Albus stiffening a bit. He seemed uncomfortable. To most people he would seem calm, cool and collective, but she had spent mass qualities of time with this man. She'd come to see him as a sort of surrogate grandfather and knew him like many people did not.
"Well, I do not have to tell you that this is not good. It may have been only a feeling, but one might find that feeling is just as important, sometimes more, than sight." He looked over at Hermione and smiled reassuringly at her confused and bewildered face. Probably knowing it would only get more unreal for her by the minute. "Have you told Miss. Granger anything?" He turned his attention back to Ginny who shook her head. "Well, I would think now would be as good a time as any, but it is your choice."
Ginny gave him a knowing smile. Her choice? Yeah right. That was Albus' all too not subtle way of saying tell her now or face the consequences later. Ginny had tried to prepare herself for this moment on the run up to the office, hell for the whole of the past year, but now the time was actually here. Her stomach did it's on thousandth flip of the past hour and she swallowed quietly thinking of a calming spell. Her nerves loosened up, but her stomach still felt tight. She turned to face Hermione in her seat. "Right, now, where do I start? Um..."
Albus broke in, "Perhaps it would be easier if I fill her in on some of the details?" Ginny looked at him and smiled sheepishly. He probably wanted to get a move on with it. Important things were happening and they didn't have time for pauses and shyness.
"That'd be great!" Ginny giggled slightly at the sound of her own voice that was meant to come out normally, but with her joy of being spared breaking the news was over excited and way too loud. She heard several of the paintings gripping about the hour and manners, but they went ignored by the three who were actually alive and had things to do.
"Well, Miss Granger, our Miss. Weasley here is a very powerful witch." Hermione was looking back and forth from Albus to Ginny and back, more confused now than ever.
'She's probably going to be highly upset when she realizes she can't hold a candle up to me.' Ginny thought with bitter joy and amusement.
Her thoughts were drowned out as Albus continued. "As you are aware of Danu, then you might also be aware of the prophecy she made before her death?"Ginny watched practically dumbstruck as Hermione silently shook her poor confused head no. "Well, it is little known," No doubt he was trying to make her feel better, "but she had a wand made, the very wand Miss. Weasely has. Shortly before her death she gave the wand to a man named Ollivander and told him to hold on to it for she would return." Hermione's eyes lit up. She obviously knew where the story was going. "Miss. Weasely here is her reincarnation."
He paused to let it sink in. Her mouth dropped as she turned, totally in awe at Ginny. "What? Is that true Ginny?" Ginny smiled at her, but she really wanted to laugh. Like Albus would lie? Ha! She nodded. "Wow Ginny! I had no idea."
'Of course not, you twit how could you?' Ginny was feeling better by the second; she could tell because she was getting her sarcastic self back.
"As you can imagine she is very powerful. While the impact of this may stun you, you must keep in mind that her powers far exceed any known wizard or witch since Danu herself. With this comes several aspects and powers many, including myself, do not have." He paused again, knowing this too would most likely need to sink in with the stunned Hermione.
Her eyes were wide and in awe, staring straight at Ginny. It made Ginny feel damn uncomfortable. She much preferred the fear she had seen in her the days before Christmas. At least that was because of something Ginny had done and not because of who she was. She had no control over who she was, but she could control fear.
Albus started up again with the debriefing. "There are many things about her powers we do not fully know, let alone understand. As her powers far exceed mine, there is only so far I can take her."
Ginny decided now would be a good time for her to take up the slack. "He's been helping me train myself. That's where I've been on week nights." She could see the understanding dawning on Hermione's face as all the pieces began to fall in place. Hermione nodded her head letting Ginny know that she did now, indeed, understood what she had seen as the mystery of the year.
Ginny and Albus became silent for a second, allowing Hermione to ask any questions or say something in response, which she gladly did. "So, what does all this mean? Why now? Why have you, I mean why the reincarnation? And what exactly happened tonight?" For being unbelievably confused and shocked Hermione spoke quite clearly and calmly.
Ginny and Albus' smiles were both knowing and almost identical. "I don't know how many times I've asked myself those very same questions, and neither of us knows any clear answers," Ginny stated.
Albus began to explain, the best he could to Hermione. "As far as we can tell with the evidence we have, which isn't much, there is something out there. Something is coming, according to Ginny's dreams."
Hermione's confusion only deepened. "Something is coming? What is coming?"
Ginny smiled a kind of sad smile. "We don't know. All I can tell you is that it's ancient and evil. I spent most of the holiday in the library with Draco looking for some answers, but there are way too many ancient things out there to narrow it down."
Hermione frowned at the mention of Draco. Perhaps she also felt left out. After all, she is the best researcher in the school. Damn book worm. "So, do you think you felt that evil tonight?" Ginny frowned, thinking the question she had asked herself several times, not really knowing the answer.
"Well, I'm not really sure, but I know one thing, I felt evil, pure evil, and I still do. I don't really know how to explain it, or even why, but it's there."
"I think the important aspect here is what you said that triggered the feeling." Albus broke in.
Ginny looked from Hermione to him, still frowning. "Yes, yes I agree. People are not what they appear to be, or want to appear to be. Something like that anyway."
"What does that mean to you?" Hermione asked, kicking into inspector mode.
"Well, when I went to Ollivander's he told me the same thing. It does seem odd that I repeated it, but it's a good piece of advice. I'm sure he wasn't warning me, I think he was talking about me." Ginny looked down at her hands uncontrollably and blushed a bit.
Hermione looked over at Albus. "Is there anything to do about this? Try to find the evil?"
Albus nodded his head. "I will try a locator spell, but it does not work all the time. I will try though." With that he stood up and motioned them to the door. "I think for now you two should go to bed." And to Hermione he added while gazing at her over his half moon spectacles, "For now I think you keep this to yourself Miss. Granger." It was a simple warning, but Hermione would never defy him with something this important. They said their goodbyes and departed to their dorm.
"Ginny? What's going on? Why do we have to see Professor Dumbledore? What happened out there? Did you see something?" Hermione's questions flowed from her lips at a hundred miles an hour the entire way to Albus' office. Ginny just kept running, ignoring her questions until they reached the gargoyle entrance to the headmaster's office. "Ginny!! Why wont you answer me?!?" Ginny turned to Hermione before saying the password.
"Herm, you wanted answers, now you're going to get them." She turned away solemnly to the gargoyle. "Gobstoppers!" Then she turned back to the girl while the staircase opened. "But I'm warning you now, you probably wont like what you're about to hear." Her voice was grave and filled with sincerity.
As they ascended the stair case she couldn't help but wonder at how motherly she suddenly felt towards Hermione. The girl was a year older, but she felt older, wiser, almost as though she had to protect her at all costs. Behind her Hermione was quiet and Ginny knew she had to be confused as hell. As the stairs came to the Headmasters room they were greeted by a grave headmaster awaiting them behind his desk.
"Welcome ladies, please take a seat. I've been waiting for you." Ginny wasn't surprised in the least. Albus always seemed to know when important things were going on in his castle. "Tell me, what has happened?" It was more of an order than a question, but she would gladly answer it.
Ginny looked over at Hermione and gave her a faint smile. She felt kind of sad for the girl. She would have told her to go back to the dorm, but there would be too many questions that would be better answered if she was just there to witness it herself. "We were taking a walk by the lake, talking, when something happened." She sensed Hermione's body stiffen next to her. Being out on the grounds after dark was strictly against the rules and she was probably not prepared for her candid attitude with Albus. If there was one thing Ginny had come to know over the years, especially the last few months, was how imperative it was to be up front and honest with him.
Ginny continued the story and as she spoke she sensed Albus stiffening a bit. He seemed uncomfortable. To most people he would seem calm, cool and collective, but she had spent mass qualities of time with this man. She'd come to see him as a sort of surrogate grandfather and knew him like many people did not.
"Well, I do not have to tell you that this is not good. It may have been only a feeling, but one might find that feeling is just as important, sometimes more, than sight." He looked over at Hermione and smiled reassuringly at her confused and bewildered face. Probably knowing it would only get more unreal for her by the minute. "Have you told Miss. Granger anything?" He turned his attention back to Ginny who shook her head. "Well, I would think now would be as good a time as any, but it is your choice."
Ginny gave him a knowing smile. Her choice? Yeah right. That was Albus' all too not subtle way of saying tell her now or face the consequences later. Ginny had tried to prepare herself for this moment on the run up to the office, hell for the whole of the past year, but now the time was actually here. Her stomach did it's on thousandth flip of the past hour and she swallowed quietly thinking of a calming spell. Her nerves loosened up, but her stomach still felt tight. She turned to face Hermione in her seat. "Right, now, where do I start? Um..."
Albus broke in, "Perhaps it would be easier if I fill her in on some of the details?" Ginny looked at him and smiled sheepishly. He probably wanted to get a move on with it. Important things were happening and they didn't have time for pauses and shyness.
"That'd be great!" Ginny giggled slightly at the sound of her own voice that was meant to come out normally, but with her joy of being spared breaking the news was over excited and way too loud. She heard several of the paintings gripping about the hour and manners, but they went ignored by the three who were actually alive and had things to do.
"Well, Miss Granger, our Miss. Weasley here is a very powerful witch." Hermione was looking back and forth from Albus to Ginny and back, more confused now than ever.
'She's probably going to be highly upset when she realizes she can't hold a candle up to me.' Ginny thought with bitter joy and amusement.
Her thoughts were drowned out as Albus continued. "As you are aware of Danu, then you might also be aware of the prophecy she made before her death?"Ginny watched practically dumbstruck as Hermione silently shook her poor confused head no. "Well, it is little known," No doubt he was trying to make her feel better, "but she had a wand made, the very wand Miss. Weasely has. Shortly before her death she gave the wand to a man named Ollivander and told him to hold on to it for she would return." Hermione's eyes lit up. She obviously knew where the story was going. "Miss. Weasely here is her reincarnation."
He paused to let it sink in. Her mouth dropped as she turned, totally in awe at Ginny. "What? Is that true Ginny?" Ginny smiled at her, but she really wanted to laugh. Like Albus would lie? Ha! She nodded. "Wow Ginny! I had no idea."
'Of course not, you twit how could you?' Ginny was feeling better by the second; she could tell because she was getting her sarcastic self back.
"As you can imagine she is very powerful. While the impact of this may stun you, you must keep in mind that her powers far exceed any known wizard or witch since Danu herself. With this comes several aspects and powers many, including myself, do not have." He paused again, knowing this too would most likely need to sink in with the stunned Hermione.
Her eyes were wide and in awe, staring straight at Ginny. It made Ginny feel damn uncomfortable. She much preferred the fear she had seen in her the days before Christmas. At least that was because of something Ginny had done and not because of who she was. She had no control over who she was, but she could control fear.
Albus started up again with the debriefing. "There are many things about her powers we do not fully know, let alone understand. As her powers far exceed mine, there is only so far I can take her."
Ginny decided now would be a good time for her to take up the slack. "He's been helping me train myself. That's where I've been on week nights." She could see the understanding dawning on Hermione's face as all the pieces began to fall in place. Hermione nodded her head letting Ginny know that she did now, indeed, understood what she had seen as the mystery of the year.
Ginny and Albus became silent for a second, allowing Hermione to ask any questions or say something in response, which she gladly did. "So, what does all this mean? Why now? Why have you, I mean why the reincarnation? And what exactly happened tonight?" For being unbelievably confused and shocked Hermione spoke quite clearly and calmly.
Ginny and Albus' smiles were both knowing and almost identical. "I don't know how many times I've asked myself those very same questions, and neither of us knows any clear answers," Ginny stated.
Albus began to explain, the best he could to Hermione. "As far as we can tell with the evidence we have, which isn't much, there is something out there. Something is coming, according to Ginny's dreams."
Hermione's confusion only deepened. "Something is coming? What is coming?"
Ginny smiled a kind of sad smile. "We don't know. All I can tell you is that it's ancient and evil. I spent most of the holiday in the library with Draco looking for some answers, but there are way too many ancient things out there to narrow it down."
Hermione frowned at the mention of Draco. Perhaps she also felt left out. After all, she is the best researcher in the school. Damn book worm. "So, do you think you felt that evil tonight?" Ginny frowned, thinking the question she had asked herself several times, not really knowing the answer.
"Well, I'm not really sure, but I know one thing, I felt evil, pure evil, and I still do. I don't really know how to explain it, or even why, but it's there."
"I think the important aspect here is what you said that triggered the feeling." Albus broke in.
Ginny looked from Hermione to him, still frowning. "Yes, yes I agree. People are not what they appear to be, or want to appear to be. Something like that anyway."
"What does that mean to you?" Hermione asked, kicking into inspector mode.
"Well, when I went to Ollivander's he told me the same thing. It does seem odd that I repeated it, but it's a good piece of advice. I'm sure he wasn't warning me, I think he was talking about me." Ginny looked down at her hands uncontrollably and blushed a bit.
Hermione looked over at Albus. "Is there anything to do about this? Try to find the evil?"
Albus nodded his head. "I will try a locator spell, but it does not work all the time. I will try though." With that he stood up and motioned them to the door. "I think for now you two should go to bed." And to Hermione he added while gazing at her over his half moon spectacles, "For now I think you keep this to yourself Miss. Granger." It was a simple warning, but Hermione would never defy him with something this important. They said their goodbyes and departed to their dorm.