Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to JK Rowling. The plot is
mine.
-----
"Wait a bloody second!" Ron stopped her," You're going to be working at Hogwarts?!?"
"Yes," his little sister replied defiantly, "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, I guess, I'm just kind of shocked, Ginny. I never thought you had it in you; Albus only picks the best."
"Oh, well, thank you, Ron, for that- uh- show of support. But I must be going; the carriage is outside to pick me up. Professor Dumble- uh- Albus said he needed me right away. Give Hermione my love."
"I will. Take care of yourself."
"I will," she called as she swept her luggage out the door of the Burrow and into the carriage, taking her to Hogwarts.
-----
It didn't seem much had changed since Ginny last attended Hogwarts but that was only eight years prior. She wasn't sure what she'd expected to be different; maybe it would seem smaller now that she had traveled, but the walls of the wizardry school loomed intimidating lofty above her head.
Ginny found her quarters easily, next to Professor McGonagall's. The room was already adorned with drapes and linens of red and gold. Though Virginia Weasley had matured considerably since her days as Seeker, the great sense of Gryffindor pride was still present in her life, more so, now, that she was returning to her second home. The house elves had already unpacked her belongings and scattered them in various organized places around the room. She laughed to herself, knowing how long that would last.
"Mistress Weasley," Ginny felt a small tug on her robe.
"Why, hello, Dobby!" she replied to the house-elf gazing up at her with his tennis ball sized eyes.
"Dinner will be served soon and it is requested that Virginia Weasley will make way to the Great Hall to join us."
"Thank you, but I'm not really hungry."
"But Mistress, Dobby thinks it most considerate to the students if the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would greet them at the Great Feast."
Ginny agreed that she would and Dobby disappeared with a snap of his fingers, leaving her to freshen up and change into a new robe for dinner.
-----
"Good evening, Ginny," Minerva McGonagall greeted her as the youngest Weasley took a seat next to the aging, but still vivacious, professor.
"Good evening, Professor," Ginny replied as she was taught in this very hall so many years before.
"My goodness, dear, no need for all those pretenses anymore; your role here has changed, so please, call me Minerva."
Ginny felt strange but she replied using the woman's first name. She had never thought before that she would be in this position-referring to those she once learned under and admired as her peers, as if she were just as wise and experienced as they were. It would take a little while to get used to. Virginia still viewed herself as a girl, a girl who traveled and faced dangers and while she spent a few good years of her life in the war against Voldemort, she knew she had a lot to learn.
"Well, good evening, Miss Weasley," a low voice drawled behind her, before the man it belonged to took his seat.
"Good evening, Professor Snape," she replied quickly, still frightened of him from her Gryffindor days as a student.
"Some things," Minerva whispered in her ear, "never change."
Ginny stifled a giggle and prepared for the feast.
-----
"Wait a bloody second!" Ron stopped her," You're going to be working at Hogwarts?!?"
"Yes," his little sister replied defiantly, "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, I guess, I'm just kind of shocked, Ginny. I never thought you had it in you; Albus only picks the best."
"Oh, well, thank you, Ron, for that- uh- show of support. But I must be going; the carriage is outside to pick me up. Professor Dumble- uh- Albus said he needed me right away. Give Hermione my love."
"I will. Take care of yourself."
"I will," she called as she swept her luggage out the door of the Burrow and into the carriage, taking her to Hogwarts.
-----
It didn't seem much had changed since Ginny last attended Hogwarts but that was only eight years prior. She wasn't sure what she'd expected to be different; maybe it would seem smaller now that she had traveled, but the walls of the wizardry school loomed intimidating lofty above her head.
Ginny found her quarters easily, next to Professor McGonagall's. The room was already adorned with drapes and linens of red and gold. Though Virginia Weasley had matured considerably since her days as Seeker, the great sense of Gryffindor pride was still present in her life, more so, now, that she was returning to her second home. The house elves had already unpacked her belongings and scattered them in various organized places around the room. She laughed to herself, knowing how long that would last.
"Mistress Weasley," Ginny felt a small tug on her robe.
"Why, hello, Dobby!" she replied to the house-elf gazing up at her with his tennis ball sized eyes.
"Dinner will be served soon and it is requested that Virginia Weasley will make way to the Great Hall to join us."
"Thank you, but I'm not really hungry."
"But Mistress, Dobby thinks it most considerate to the students if the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would greet them at the Great Feast."
Ginny agreed that she would and Dobby disappeared with a snap of his fingers, leaving her to freshen up and change into a new robe for dinner.
-----
"Good evening, Ginny," Minerva McGonagall greeted her as the youngest Weasley took a seat next to the aging, but still vivacious, professor.
"Good evening, Professor," Ginny replied as she was taught in this very hall so many years before.
"My goodness, dear, no need for all those pretenses anymore; your role here has changed, so please, call me Minerva."
Ginny felt strange but she replied using the woman's first name. She had never thought before that she would be in this position-referring to those she once learned under and admired as her peers, as if she were just as wise and experienced as they were. It would take a little while to get used to. Virginia still viewed herself as a girl, a girl who traveled and faced dangers and while she spent a few good years of her life in the war against Voldemort, she knew she had a lot to learn.
"Well, good evening, Miss Weasley," a low voice drawled behind her, before the man it belonged to took his seat.
"Good evening, Professor Snape," she replied quickly, still frightened of him from her Gryffindor days as a student.
"Some things," Minerva whispered in her ear, "never change."
Ginny stifled a giggle and prepared for the feast.