Disclaimer: Well as we all know JK Rowling is now richer then the queen and it's all due to the great books she wrote, Harry Potter is Rowling's and not mine, although I did make up a few character, non being Mary Sue in nature.
~ Nevermore ~
~ Chapter 6 ~
Of all nights to perform a robbery Draco would not have picked this night. It was raining, it was cold and it was windy. Of course Cheshire didn't seem to care.
"What is it that we're stealing anyway?" Asked Draco rather cheekily.
"Snowboards!"
"What?"
"Oh their muggle contraptions, they sell rather big on the black market you know."
"Hmm so this is just for money?"
"Yup!" Cheered Cheshire as she picked the lock to the sports store.
"Well are you a witch or not?" Asked Draco crossly as he pulled out his wand.
"No! Don't!" Yelled Cheshire as she grabbed his wand.
"Why not?"
"Trust me, that's not a good idea come on I got it open anyway."
Draco grumbled a little and followed Cheshire inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Cheshire laughed heartily as she drove like a wild woman down the wrong side of the road swerving this way and that. They had finished the job in record time but Draco had tripped the alarm at the last moment and as a result the police had shown up, yet this somehow amused Cheshire more then it frightened her.
She gave a whoop as she turned the corner rather roughly almost tipping over the car. Draco, next to Cheshire, looked positively green as he clutched the dashboard as if his very life depended on it. Their flight however was cut short when Cheshire abruptly turned into an alley that ended in a dead end. Draco squeezed his eyes shut as Cheshire floored the gas and drove towards what Draco felt would be their fiery doom. Of course if Draco hadn't been so distracted by Cheshire's driving he would have realized that the wall had much the same enchantments as the entrance to Platform nine and three - quarters and therefore no fiery doom instead rather smooth sailing.
"Ah, home at last." Said Cheshire as if nothing at all had happened. In fact she grinned quite broadly as she brought the car to an abrupt stop, jumping out and stretching. She smiled in her mischievous way as she heard Draco let out a low groan.
"You okay?" She asked quickly when she noticed Draco had gone quite pale.
"Um...no." Draco managed to get out, before he jumped out of the car and dashed for the dustbin. Cheshire cringed as Draco vomited and sighed.
"Get some rest Dragon and I'll come and see you in the morning." Called Cheshire once Draco was finished. Draco nodded and left quickly to find his suite. Just as he was leaving the room he wondered where they were, but his question was answered as he pushed through the door and was greeted by the rave club, it had moved once again. Draco vaguely wondered how the Lost Boys had managed to produce a club that replotted itself everyday. He staggered through the wild dancers and up to his suite still in thought, but abandoned the questions at the sight of his bed. Sleep was always a good thing, especially after a driving encounter with Cheshire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We cleaned them out. Is it enough?" Asked Cheshire as she, Raven, and a few other Lost Boys unloaded the stolen snowboards.
"For now, they take time to enchant so this should do for now. Eventually I want all Lost Boys on them or at least equipped with them, but for now just the archers ."
"Hmm."
"What?" Asked Raven as he looked at Cheshire.
"I'm wondering, if Dragon is here what are the Death Eaters doing?"
"We've kept watch, but there have been no signs of activity."
"It's just a thought but what about the Quidditch world cup? It's a big event, big enough to crash." Raven looked sharply at Cheshire.
"The Quidditch world cup? When?"
"This summer."
"I'll talk to Mad Hatter about it. Get these down to my home and I'll start working on them as soon as possible, I've got to go." Raven flew out of the room and into the Rave; not even bothering with the steps he jumped up to the second level that served as the pub. Quickly as if floating Raven strode through the pub to a closet at the back. Opening the closet he stepped inside, the door shut behind him, it was suppose to do that so it didn't matter to Raven. At the back of the closet, which was actually, more like a short narrow hall there was a vault lock. Taking out a Gringotts key he inserted it into the lock and turned it. The wall clicked and rolled aside revealing Mad Hatters private lair. Raven often wondered why his companion had half the stuff he did. To Raven it seemed like a hoard of junk but perhaps black market cauldrons appealed to Mad Hatter, Raven didn't care to ask.
As Raven entered the quite spacious lair Mad Hatter strode out of the kitchen, a frying pan in hand. It was obvious he had been cooking by the smell.
"Oh it's you, I though perhaps it was someone I'd rather not see." Said Mad Hatter as he turned around and entered the kitchen again. Raven followed him.
"Well then what brings you here? I trust Cheshire and Dragon were able to complete the mission."
"Yes of course, Cheshire is one of our best. It's not that that I'm wondering about though."
"Hmmm then what is it?"
"The Quidditch World Cup actually."
"Ah yes, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Do you think it's possible to swipe some tickets? Or are we just going to sneak in?" Raven laughed at Mad Hatter's remark, but knew the situation was dire.
"Either way we must go, the Death Eaters could attack."
"Yes it's probable, even likely so we'll have to be on alert that's all."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"Well what is there for me to say? We can't just think up a plan with nothing to go on. We've go weeks to plan and so plan we will. For now I want you to enchant those snowboards, they could come in handy."
Raven nodded and left Mad Hatters junk filled lair to return to the cave he called home.
~~~~~~~~~~~
May was dead and gone and June had arrived, along with June also came exams which in turn brought much complaining. Ginny didn't really notice though, she had studied enough for her exams and there was nothing she really needed to worry about. Well nothing she needed to worry about at school anyway, she had yet to find a reasonable way to explain the "exchange" she was going on to her parents. Every time she thought about the enviable conversation Ginny only wanted to run to Myrtle who would reassure her that everything would work out. Ginny could only hope that everything would work out or else she would be doing some last minute improvising which didn't really suit her at all.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Honest Ron one would think you would have studied a bit more." Huffed Hermione Granger as they exited their Charms exam.
"It was a hard test and I did study!" Exclaimed Ron in his defense.
"At least Harry studied a bit more then you." Shrieked back Hermione, Ron went rigged at the sound of his lost friend's name then scowled.
"In case you've forgotten Hermione, Harry's not here! And he won't be here ever again if the ministry is right!" Hermione took a step back shuddering at Ron's words.
The Ministry had all but called off the Search for Harry Potter, they didn't want to stop all efforts but the situation seemed quite bleak. Even with the supposed sighting in the previous month experts had proven that it couldn't have been him and wrote the magical signature off as a near identical signal. In short all the ministry was looking for now was Harry's dead body. As a friend it hurt to know that the short-lived hope from last month had died and that The-Boy-Who-Lived wasn't going to be walking the halls of Hogwarts with his friends ever again.
"I'm sorry Ron." Apologized Hermione quietly as she turned to walk down the hall and up to the Gryffindor tower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 21st had arrived without too many problems for the Lost Boys. Of course Draco Malfoy could always be viewed as a problem but not a really big one. With the exception of Draco Malfoy who lay in a drug induced sleep back at the rave club and their muggle contacts all the Lost Boys had gathered at Stonehedge before sunrise. They were met at the sacred stone structure by their allies the Elves who had brought all the tools necessary for the ceremonies.
It looked like a branding tool for livestock really; the design was a simple square that all Lost Boys and Elves would have burned into their left cheek. The alliance tattoo that had been chosen was a fading one meaning it would only be visible with use of a spell, they didn't need to be identifiable like the Death Eaters and a ugly mark on their face all the time was unappealing.
The elves laid out the branding tools carefully making sure that the end with the design on it was facing east towards the soon to be rising sun. Then they waited; the sun began to rise and as it did it heated the ends of the tools with ancient magic that was only found once a year at Stonehedge during the summer solstice. Once the sun was half over the horizon the branding began, the elf elders first branded each other with the ceremonial tools after which they began branding all the elves and Lost Boys.
Raven watched the Ceremonies from his kneeling position waiting his turn to receive the mark of the Square alliance. Mad Hatter had been one of the first to be branded and after receiving his mark he had been given what appeared to be a new communication orb. Raven was brought out of his thoughts when a hand gently grab his chin and turned his face upward, Gwen smiled at Raven as she carefully pressed the tool to his left cheek. Raven shuddered as he felt new magic flow into him, it didn't burn as he had first thought the brand would, but it did hurt and it gave him dizzy and dazed feeling. He vaguely felt a smooth glass orb pressed into his hand before Gwen moved on to the next Lost Boy leaving Raven trying to fight his way out of the daze he had fallen into.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven woke up in his bed, although he didn't remember ever getting into it. Rolling out of bed with a groan he decide he must had drunken his face off or something and just forgotten what he had done. Of course Ravens theory was soon rejected as Mad Hatter suddenly spoke up.
"You know I keep forgetting how young you are." He said with a bit of a smile as he took a bite from the apple he was holding.
"What? When did you get here?" Asked Raven searching his brain for an answer and finding none.
"Oh I've been popping in and out, checking up on you for a few days now. The ceremony worked and all by the way but perhaps the magic was just a bit much for you, knocked you right out."
"Oh, what's the date then?"
"July first, mate!" Laughed Mad Hatter.
"I was out for that long?!"
"Yeah, well it's good to see you're awake anyway, that's progress! Although Gwen recommended some more bed rest for you even after you woke up, so back to bed!" Exclaimed Mad Hatter in a cheerful voice. Raven groaned resting his head in his hands.
"But what about the hoverboards? If its July first that means the Quidditch World Cup is coming up soon, I don't have time to rest I need to get enchanting!"
"Don't worry about it, Myth is on his way here and Cheshire as well as other Lost Boys are just as good with enchantments as you, let them to the work and you can supervise, from bed of course." Mad Hatter grinned widely again as he took another bite of his apple. "Well go on then off to bed!"
Raven sighed rather loudly but complied and plopped back into bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny sat with a somber expression on her face in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The Hogwarts Express was bound for London in just a few hours and Ginny wanted to spend what time she could with Myrtle before leaving.
"Well you don't have to be so somber about it, as I remember summer was suppose to be a happy occasion, well for everyone except me that is. After all who would want to hang out with poor, ugly Moaning Myrtle." Dramatized Myrtle. Ginny chuckled a little and smiled at her friend.
"I'm going to miss you Myrtle, really I will."
The ghost smiled and shed pearly tears, tears of sadness and happiness. "Before you go, I have a gift for you. Hold up your hand." Ginny raised her hand and Myrtle pressed something cold into it.
"What is it?" Asked Ginny as she inspected the smooth clouded orb in her hand.
"It's a friendship orb, you can talk to me through it and wherever you take it I'll be able to go too." Ginny smiled.
"So you can come and visit me at home?" Myrtle smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry I'll always be here to talk to you." Reassured Myrtle to Ginny.
"Thank you, I guess this is goodbye for now though, the train is leaving in a bit and I need to say goodbye to Sirius." Myrtle nodded in understanding and waved as Ginny left the room in search of Sirius.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny found Sirius in Remus Lupin's Classroom sorting out files and other items.
"Padfoot." Said Ginny as she entered the room. Sirius turned to look at the red haired girl and smiled.
"Vivi!" he said with some enthusiasm "Ready to go home?" Ginny nodded although it was apparent that she was not too happy about the situation.
"Oh don't be a sour pus about it, you knew you'd have to go home eventually so don't get too upset over it."
"I really wanted to stay though."
"Ha ha and then what would you're mother say? You know if she knew what you've been up to she'd probably ground you forever."
"I guess, are you going to the Quidditch world cup?"
"Yup!"
"I think I am too, so maybe I'll see you there."
"Of course, owl me too if you have time."
"I will. See you later then."
Yup, oh and Vivi?"
"Hmmm?"
"I got something for you." Said Sirius as he brought out a long brightly wrapped box.
"Oh and what's this?"
"Open it!" Ginny smiled as she took the box and tore off the bright paper and opened it, what lay before her took her breath away.
"Sirius, where did you get this?" Asked Ginny as she picked up the sword from the box. It was lightly ornamented around the hilt and gleamed brightly in the light.
"Well actually I stole it, kidding. Think of is as a graduation gift, after all you are a full fledged member of..."
"Shh! Someone might be listening." Warned Ginny.
"Well, anyway it has a built in shrinking charm so you can take it everywhere with you!"
"Padfoot it's the best! Thank you!"
"Think nothing of it, you better get going know though, you have a train to catch!"
"Right" laughed Ginny as she shrunk the sword and tucked it in her pocket.
"Bye Padfoot!"
"See you Vivi."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You sure about this?"
"Absolutely! No one's going to suspect!"
"But what if we lose?"
"Lose? right, even if we did we wouldn't pay up!"
"That's honest."
"Glad you're seeing it my way!"
"Why do you even talk me into these things?"
"Because we best buds remember!"
"I wish I had conked my head on something when I passed out, maybe I wouldn't remember."
"Har har!"
"So when is it again?"
"August, I want you to get Cheshire and the rest of the boy's together we got a party to crash!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Quidditch world cup was something of a nemesis to the Ministry of Magic. The hundreds of misuse of magic notices that went out after each world cup were enough to fill the grand canyon! Besides that muggle sightings increase one hundred and ten percent, and then there were the bets and of course with betting came law suits and all the other fun nonsense that came with it. If Cornelius Fudge had his way, Quidditch would have been banned a very long, long, LONG time ago. But of course no one ever saw the logic behind banning Quidditch and so the blasted sport played on.
"Another Bloody world cup." Muttered Fudge as he strode down the grand hallways of the Ministry of Magic a cup of tea in hand. A short, plump woman who looked something like a toad scurried up to the man in pin striped robes and smiled as in a disgustingly sweet voice she said.
"Hem hem"
"Yes, dear Umbridge what can I do for you?"
"I'm wondering if you have called off the ridiculous search for the Potter boy yet?"
"Yes, there will be a Daily prophet article printed after this bloody Quidditch cup is done. It will state that the entire operation has been shut down, no more funding and no more aurors will be set aside to look for the boy. Unfortunate really, we did have a good lead but it amounted to nothing so we downsized the operation and now have stopped it all together."
"About time too! I think the boy was just avoiding us. No good trouble maker he is."
"Perhaps."
"Hem hem, well good job anyway." Said Umbridge stiffly before scurrying off. Fudge only smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on Fred there are just loads of people around, we could bet with any number of them!" George practically yelled with glee.
"Not with everyone, we need to find right good pickings first."
"Not too smart!"
"And loaded with galleons!"
Fred and George laughed heartily as they dashed off into the crowd of wizards, looking for poor souls to play tricks on and people to bet with.
Raven watched from by a tree as his best friend's older brothers took off into the crowd of wizards. He felt uneasy being so close to people he knew and would undoubtedly know him no matter what his age. He didn't linger long though as he saw and all too familiar Oliver Wood headed in his general direction.
With a swish of black robes he turned and strode off into the woods where the Lost Boys had set up camp. They of course had brought their Rave with them in tent form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To say the least Oliver Wood had been surprised to see Harry Potter standing in plain view of everyone without being noticed by anyone. Oliver of course had tried to investigate but Harry had taken off into the woods. Not being swayed so easily he pursued his lost teammate and housemate, only to lose him in the forest, although he could hear something else and it sounded like music. Following the sound he was met with a rather run down looking tent but apon investigating with a peek through the door he was confronted with a giant rave party. With a grin he left in a hurry running to find some of his friends, this was way too good of a chance to pass up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're pulling our legs aren't you!" Exclaimed George
"You're a bloody git! A party you must be joking, the ministry's crawling all over this place there's no way they'd allow such a thing!" Commented Fred
"Which is why..."
"...We are very much obliged..."
"...To join you..."
"...Upon this most joyous turn of events!"
Oliver grinned.
"Well come on then we don't have all day and besides the match is starting in a few hours!"
"Plenty of time for us..." Laughed Fred.
"To reek havoc on others!" agreed George.
Together the three teens left to go and find Lee Jordan and the rest of the Quidditch team not noticing that a very sneaky red head had been listening in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny's heart was pounding a million miles a minute, she could believe her luck. The Lost Boys or at least a group who sounded like the lost boys were here at the Quidditch cup! Probably with stolen tickets no less. Looking around she found herself to be alone and carefully she pulled out her friendship orb.
"Myrtle." She whispered hesitantly into the orb "Are you there?"
"Oh hello."
*whew* "I wasn't sure if I was using it right. Myrtle I think the Lost Boys are here at the Quidditch world cup!"
"Oh, this could be interesting."
"I think tonight is the night!"
"Night for what?"
"I'm going to join the lost boys tonight!"
"Oh I see! So why are you calling me?"
"I need something I left with you. That potion."
"Ah yes, so I assume you want it brought to you?"
"If you wouldn't mind?"
"Not at all. Don't worry I'll be there in a flash!"
Myrtle winked out of the orb and Ginny hastily shoved the delicate looking orb into her pocket. With a sigh she lend against a nearby tree only to be started out of her wits by a hand coming to rest on her shoulder.
"Whoa a little skittish aren't we?"
"Bill! Don't do that!"
"What did I scary you?"
"Obviously, honestly you could be a little louder."
"Yeah well, do you know where Fred and George are? Mum was looking for them."
"Uh, no I didn't see them. Sorry." Said Ginny trying to end the conversation so she could be on her way.
"Hmm well then how about we talk a little, you've hardly said anything this last summer!"
"Maybe I have nothing to say."
"Common Ginny don't be like that!"
"Like what?"
"Aloof."
"I'm hardly aloof, just distanced a little, maybe for the better."
"And what's that suppose to mean?"
"Nothing at all."
"Come on Gin talk to me, mum has been worried about you, you know. She was in tears when you didn't come home for Christmas."
"Funny she didn't sound that way in the howler she sent me!"
"You didn't take it to heart did you?"
"Well no, but there are other things that are hard not to take to heart."
"Such as?"
"Well Ron and everyone after the Chamber of Secrets thing, it hurts to be treated as something dirty or tainted."
Bill didn't say anything.
"See even you are the same as them."
"Ginny it was a hard time for everyone."
"Put yourself in my shoes and say that!" Ginny stormed off into the wood for what would be Bill's last glimpse of his little sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you ready for this?" Asked Myrtle cautiously to a sixteen-year-old looking Ginny, Ginny nodded and carefully slit the palm of her hand while Myrtle did the same thing. Bring their hands together a soft glow surrounded them. Myrtle slowly began to loose her pearl like coloring and slowly began to change. She grew older and her hair longer while turning a blood colored red. When the transformation was done Ginny was staring at an exact replica of herself.
"Are you suppose to look like me?" She asked carefully.
"No I'm a metamorphmagus that's all!"
"Oh, hey look I can float! But I feel kind of cold."
"You will you're body temperature has dropped since you know have my blood flowing in you're veins you're part ghost just as I am part human." Explained Myrtle.
"And we're sisters."
"Yes." Myrtle would have explained more about what their blood fusion had just caused except they were interrupted by a flash of light and the appearing of the Dark Mark in the sky.
"It starts then."
"Yes, good luck!" Said Myrtle as she shifted her form into that of the thirteen year old Ginny. "Keep in touch won't you?" Before Ginny could answer Myrtle had already run off and Ginny was left to head towards the Dark Mark and her mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Okay so next chapter obviously Ginny and the Lost Boys are going to join. Can you see my evil plans falling into place? No oh well! Thanx for reading please review it gives me good feed back on what people think of the story. Sorry for the long wait, promise to do better! Thank you to Sami for beta-reading and to put anyone's mind at ease there is no romance so no Harry and Ginny pairing if that's what you're after, there is however Ginny and Harry interaction. After all the story is about Harry and Ginny just no as a couple.
~ Maab
~ Nevermore ~
~ Chapter 6 ~
Of all nights to perform a robbery Draco would not have picked this night. It was raining, it was cold and it was windy. Of course Cheshire didn't seem to care.
"What is it that we're stealing anyway?" Asked Draco rather cheekily.
"Snowboards!"
"What?"
"Oh their muggle contraptions, they sell rather big on the black market you know."
"Hmm so this is just for money?"
"Yup!" Cheered Cheshire as she picked the lock to the sports store.
"Well are you a witch or not?" Asked Draco crossly as he pulled out his wand.
"No! Don't!" Yelled Cheshire as she grabbed his wand.
"Why not?"
"Trust me, that's not a good idea come on I got it open anyway."
Draco grumbled a little and followed Cheshire inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Cheshire laughed heartily as she drove like a wild woman down the wrong side of the road swerving this way and that. They had finished the job in record time but Draco had tripped the alarm at the last moment and as a result the police had shown up, yet this somehow amused Cheshire more then it frightened her.
She gave a whoop as she turned the corner rather roughly almost tipping over the car. Draco, next to Cheshire, looked positively green as he clutched the dashboard as if his very life depended on it. Their flight however was cut short when Cheshire abruptly turned into an alley that ended in a dead end. Draco squeezed his eyes shut as Cheshire floored the gas and drove towards what Draco felt would be their fiery doom. Of course if Draco hadn't been so distracted by Cheshire's driving he would have realized that the wall had much the same enchantments as the entrance to Platform nine and three - quarters and therefore no fiery doom instead rather smooth sailing.
"Ah, home at last." Said Cheshire as if nothing at all had happened. In fact she grinned quite broadly as she brought the car to an abrupt stop, jumping out and stretching. She smiled in her mischievous way as she heard Draco let out a low groan.
"You okay?" She asked quickly when she noticed Draco had gone quite pale.
"Um...no." Draco managed to get out, before he jumped out of the car and dashed for the dustbin. Cheshire cringed as Draco vomited and sighed.
"Get some rest Dragon and I'll come and see you in the morning." Called Cheshire once Draco was finished. Draco nodded and left quickly to find his suite. Just as he was leaving the room he wondered where they were, but his question was answered as he pushed through the door and was greeted by the rave club, it had moved once again. Draco vaguely wondered how the Lost Boys had managed to produce a club that replotted itself everyday. He staggered through the wild dancers and up to his suite still in thought, but abandoned the questions at the sight of his bed. Sleep was always a good thing, especially after a driving encounter with Cheshire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We cleaned them out. Is it enough?" Asked Cheshire as she, Raven, and a few other Lost Boys unloaded the stolen snowboards.
"For now, they take time to enchant so this should do for now. Eventually I want all Lost Boys on them or at least equipped with them, but for now just the archers ."
"Hmm."
"What?" Asked Raven as he looked at Cheshire.
"I'm wondering, if Dragon is here what are the Death Eaters doing?"
"We've kept watch, but there have been no signs of activity."
"It's just a thought but what about the Quidditch world cup? It's a big event, big enough to crash." Raven looked sharply at Cheshire.
"The Quidditch world cup? When?"
"This summer."
"I'll talk to Mad Hatter about it. Get these down to my home and I'll start working on them as soon as possible, I've got to go." Raven flew out of the room and into the Rave; not even bothering with the steps he jumped up to the second level that served as the pub. Quickly as if floating Raven strode through the pub to a closet at the back. Opening the closet he stepped inside, the door shut behind him, it was suppose to do that so it didn't matter to Raven. At the back of the closet, which was actually, more like a short narrow hall there was a vault lock. Taking out a Gringotts key he inserted it into the lock and turned it. The wall clicked and rolled aside revealing Mad Hatters private lair. Raven often wondered why his companion had half the stuff he did. To Raven it seemed like a hoard of junk but perhaps black market cauldrons appealed to Mad Hatter, Raven didn't care to ask.
As Raven entered the quite spacious lair Mad Hatter strode out of the kitchen, a frying pan in hand. It was obvious he had been cooking by the smell.
"Oh it's you, I though perhaps it was someone I'd rather not see." Said Mad Hatter as he turned around and entered the kitchen again. Raven followed him.
"Well then what brings you here? I trust Cheshire and Dragon were able to complete the mission."
"Yes of course, Cheshire is one of our best. It's not that that I'm wondering about though."
"Hmmm then what is it?"
"The Quidditch World Cup actually."
"Ah yes, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Do you think it's possible to swipe some tickets? Or are we just going to sneak in?" Raven laughed at Mad Hatter's remark, but knew the situation was dire.
"Either way we must go, the Death Eaters could attack."
"Yes it's probable, even likely so we'll have to be on alert that's all."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"Well what is there for me to say? We can't just think up a plan with nothing to go on. We've go weeks to plan and so plan we will. For now I want you to enchant those snowboards, they could come in handy."
Raven nodded and left Mad Hatters junk filled lair to return to the cave he called home.
~~~~~~~~~~~
May was dead and gone and June had arrived, along with June also came exams which in turn brought much complaining. Ginny didn't really notice though, she had studied enough for her exams and there was nothing she really needed to worry about. Well nothing she needed to worry about at school anyway, she had yet to find a reasonable way to explain the "exchange" she was going on to her parents. Every time she thought about the enviable conversation Ginny only wanted to run to Myrtle who would reassure her that everything would work out. Ginny could only hope that everything would work out or else she would be doing some last minute improvising which didn't really suit her at all.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Honest Ron one would think you would have studied a bit more." Huffed Hermione Granger as they exited their Charms exam.
"It was a hard test and I did study!" Exclaimed Ron in his defense.
"At least Harry studied a bit more then you." Shrieked back Hermione, Ron went rigged at the sound of his lost friend's name then scowled.
"In case you've forgotten Hermione, Harry's not here! And he won't be here ever again if the ministry is right!" Hermione took a step back shuddering at Ron's words.
The Ministry had all but called off the Search for Harry Potter, they didn't want to stop all efforts but the situation seemed quite bleak. Even with the supposed sighting in the previous month experts had proven that it couldn't have been him and wrote the magical signature off as a near identical signal. In short all the ministry was looking for now was Harry's dead body. As a friend it hurt to know that the short-lived hope from last month had died and that The-Boy-Who-Lived wasn't going to be walking the halls of Hogwarts with his friends ever again.
"I'm sorry Ron." Apologized Hermione quietly as she turned to walk down the hall and up to the Gryffindor tower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 21st had arrived without too many problems for the Lost Boys. Of course Draco Malfoy could always be viewed as a problem but not a really big one. With the exception of Draco Malfoy who lay in a drug induced sleep back at the rave club and their muggle contacts all the Lost Boys had gathered at Stonehedge before sunrise. They were met at the sacred stone structure by their allies the Elves who had brought all the tools necessary for the ceremonies.
It looked like a branding tool for livestock really; the design was a simple square that all Lost Boys and Elves would have burned into their left cheek. The alliance tattoo that had been chosen was a fading one meaning it would only be visible with use of a spell, they didn't need to be identifiable like the Death Eaters and a ugly mark on their face all the time was unappealing.
The elves laid out the branding tools carefully making sure that the end with the design on it was facing east towards the soon to be rising sun. Then they waited; the sun began to rise and as it did it heated the ends of the tools with ancient magic that was only found once a year at Stonehedge during the summer solstice. Once the sun was half over the horizon the branding began, the elf elders first branded each other with the ceremonial tools after which they began branding all the elves and Lost Boys.
Raven watched the Ceremonies from his kneeling position waiting his turn to receive the mark of the Square alliance. Mad Hatter had been one of the first to be branded and after receiving his mark he had been given what appeared to be a new communication orb. Raven was brought out of his thoughts when a hand gently grab his chin and turned his face upward, Gwen smiled at Raven as she carefully pressed the tool to his left cheek. Raven shuddered as he felt new magic flow into him, it didn't burn as he had first thought the brand would, but it did hurt and it gave him dizzy and dazed feeling. He vaguely felt a smooth glass orb pressed into his hand before Gwen moved on to the next Lost Boy leaving Raven trying to fight his way out of the daze he had fallen into.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven woke up in his bed, although he didn't remember ever getting into it. Rolling out of bed with a groan he decide he must had drunken his face off or something and just forgotten what he had done. Of course Ravens theory was soon rejected as Mad Hatter suddenly spoke up.
"You know I keep forgetting how young you are." He said with a bit of a smile as he took a bite from the apple he was holding.
"What? When did you get here?" Asked Raven searching his brain for an answer and finding none.
"Oh I've been popping in and out, checking up on you for a few days now. The ceremony worked and all by the way but perhaps the magic was just a bit much for you, knocked you right out."
"Oh, what's the date then?"
"July first, mate!" Laughed Mad Hatter.
"I was out for that long?!"
"Yeah, well it's good to see you're awake anyway, that's progress! Although Gwen recommended some more bed rest for you even after you woke up, so back to bed!" Exclaimed Mad Hatter in a cheerful voice. Raven groaned resting his head in his hands.
"But what about the hoverboards? If its July first that means the Quidditch World Cup is coming up soon, I don't have time to rest I need to get enchanting!"
"Don't worry about it, Myth is on his way here and Cheshire as well as other Lost Boys are just as good with enchantments as you, let them to the work and you can supervise, from bed of course." Mad Hatter grinned widely again as he took another bite of his apple. "Well go on then off to bed!"
Raven sighed rather loudly but complied and plopped back into bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny sat with a somber expression on her face in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The Hogwarts Express was bound for London in just a few hours and Ginny wanted to spend what time she could with Myrtle before leaving.
"Well you don't have to be so somber about it, as I remember summer was suppose to be a happy occasion, well for everyone except me that is. After all who would want to hang out with poor, ugly Moaning Myrtle." Dramatized Myrtle. Ginny chuckled a little and smiled at her friend.
"I'm going to miss you Myrtle, really I will."
The ghost smiled and shed pearly tears, tears of sadness and happiness. "Before you go, I have a gift for you. Hold up your hand." Ginny raised her hand and Myrtle pressed something cold into it.
"What is it?" Asked Ginny as she inspected the smooth clouded orb in her hand.
"It's a friendship orb, you can talk to me through it and wherever you take it I'll be able to go too." Ginny smiled.
"So you can come and visit me at home?" Myrtle smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry I'll always be here to talk to you." Reassured Myrtle to Ginny.
"Thank you, I guess this is goodbye for now though, the train is leaving in a bit and I need to say goodbye to Sirius." Myrtle nodded in understanding and waved as Ginny left the room in search of Sirius.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny found Sirius in Remus Lupin's Classroom sorting out files and other items.
"Padfoot." Said Ginny as she entered the room. Sirius turned to look at the red haired girl and smiled.
"Vivi!" he said with some enthusiasm "Ready to go home?" Ginny nodded although it was apparent that she was not too happy about the situation.
"Oh don't be a sour pus about it, you knew you'd have to go home eventually so don't get too upset over it."
"I really wanted to stay though."
"Ha ha and then what would you're mother say? You know if she knew what you've been up to she'd probably ground you forever."
"I guess, are you going to the Quidditch world cup?"
"Yup!"
"I think I am too, so maybe I'll see you there."
"Of course, owl me too if you have time."
"I will. See you later then."
Yup, oh and Vivi?"
"Hmmm?"
"I got something for you." Said Sirius as he brought out a long brightly wrapped box.
"Oh and what's this?"
"Open it!" Ginny smiled as she took the box and tore off the bright paper and opened it, what lay before her took her breath away.
"Sirius, where did you get this?" Asked Ginny as she picked up the sword from the box. It was lightly ornamented around the hilt and gleamed brightly in the light.
"Well actually I stole it, kidding. Think of is as a graduation gift, after all you are a full fledged member of..."
"Shh! Someone might be listening." Warned Ginny.
"Well, anyway it has a built in shrinking charm so you can take it everywhere with you!"
"Padfoot it's the best! Thank you!"
"Think nothing of it, you better get going know though, you have a train to catch!"
"Right" laughed Ginny as she shrunk the sword and tucked it in her pocket.
"Bye Padfoot!"
"See you Vivi."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You sure about this?"
"Absolutely! No one's going to suspect!"
"But what if we lose?"
"Lose? right, even if we did we wouldn't pay up!"
"That's honest."
"Glad you're seeing it my way!"
"Why do you even talk me into these things?"
"Because we best buds remember!"
"I wish I had conked my head on something when I passed out, maybe I wouldn't remember."
"Har har!"
"So when is it again?"
"August, I want you to get Cheshire and the rest of the boy's together we got a party to crash!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Quidditch world cup was something of a nemesis to the Ministry of Magic. The hundreds of misuse of magic notices that went out after each world cup were enough to fill the grand canyon! Besides that muggle sightings increase one hundred and ten percent, and then there were the bets and of course with betting came law suits and all the other fun nonsense that came with it. If Cornelius Fudge had his way, Quidditch would have been banned a very long, long, LONG time ago. But of course no one ever saw the logic behind banning Quidditch and so the blasted sport played on.
"Another Bloody world cup." Muttered Fudge as he strode down the grand hallways of the Ministry of Magic a cup of tea in hand. A short, plump woman who looked something like a toad scurried up to the man in pin striped robes and smiled as in a disgustingly sweet voice she said.
"Hem hem"
"Yes, dear Umbridge what can I do for you?"
"I'm wondering if you have called off the ridiculous search for the Potter boy yet?"
"Yes, there will be a Daily prophet article printed after this bloody Quidditch cup is done. It will state that the entire operation has been shut down, no more funding and no more aurors will be set aside to look for the boy. Unfortunate really, we did have a good lead but it amounted to nothing so we downsized the operation and now have stopped it all together."
"About time too! I think the boy was just avoiding us. No good trouble maker he is."
"Perhaps."
"Hem hem, well good job anyway." Said Umbridge stiffly before scurrying off. Fudge only smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on Fred there are just loads of people around, we could bet with any number of them!" George practically yelled with glee.
"Not with everyone, we need to find right good pickings first."
"Not too smart!"
"And loaded with galleons!"
Fred and George laughed heartily as they dashed off into the crowd of wizards, looking for poor souls to play tricks on and people to bet with.
Raven watched from by a tree as his best friend's older brothers took off into the crowd of wizards. He felt uneasy being so close to people he knew and would undoubtedly know him no matter what his age. He didn't linger long though as he saw and all too familiar Oliver Wood headed in his general direction.
With a swish of black robes he turned and strode off into the woods where the Lost Boys had set up camp. They of course had brought their Rave with them in tent form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To say the least Oliver Wood had been surprised to see Harry Potter standing in plain view of everyone without being noticed by anyone. Oliver of course had tried to investigate but Harry had taken off into the woods. Not being swayed so easily he pursued his lost teammate and housemate, only to lose him in the forest, although he could hear something else and it sounded like music. Following the sound he was met with a rather run down looking tent but apon investigating with a peek through the door he was confronted with a giant rave party. With a grin he left in a hurry running to find some of his friends, this was way too good of a chance to pass up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're pulling our legs aren't you!" Exclaimed George
"You're a bloody git! A party you must be joking, the ministry's crawling all over this place there's no way they'd allow such a thing!" Commented Fred
"Which is why..."
"...We are very much obliged..."
"...To join you..."
"...Upon this most joyous turn of events!"
Oliver grinned.
"Well come on then we don't have all day and besides the match is starting in a few hours!"
"Plenty of time for us..." Laughed Fred.
"To reek havoc on others!" agreed George.
Together the three teens left to go and find Lee Jordan and the rest of the Quidditch team not noticing that a very sneaky red head had been listening in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny's heart was pounding a million miles a minute, she could believe her luck. The Lost Boys or at least a group who sounded like the lost boys were here at the Quidditch cup! Probably with stolen tickets no less. Looking around she found herself to be alone and carefully she pulled out her friendship orb.
"Myrtle." She whispered hesitantly into the orb "Are you there?"
"Oh hello."
*whew* "I wasn't sure if I was using it right. Myrtle I think the Lost Boys are here at the Quidditch world cup!"
"Oh, this could be interesting."
"I think tonight is the night!"
"Night for what?"
"I'm going to join the lost boys tonight!"
"Oh I see! So why are you calling me?"
"I need something I left with you. That potion."
"Ah yes, so I assume you want it brought to you?"
"If you wouldn't mind?"
"Not at all. Don't worry I'll be there in a flash!"
Myrtle winked out of the orb and Ginny hastily shoved the delicate looking orb into her pocket. With a sigh she lend against a nearby tree only to be started out of her wits by a hand coming to rest on her shoulder.
"Whoa a little skittish aren't we?"
"Bill! Don't do that!"
"What did I scary you?"
"Obviously, honestly you could be a little louder."
"Yeah well, do you know where Fred and George are? Mum was looking for them."
"Uh, no I didn't see them. Sorry." Said Ginny trying to end the conversation so she could be on her way.
"Hmm well then how about we talk a little, you've hardly said anything this last summer!"
"Maybe I have nothing to say."
"Common Ginny don't be like that!"
"Like what?"
"Aloof."
"I'm hardly aloof, just distanced a little, maybe for the better."
"And what's that suppose to mean?"
"Nothing at all."
"Come on Gin talk to me, mum has been worried about you, you know. She was in tears when you didn't come home for Christmas."
"Funny she didn't sound that way in the howler she sent me!"
"You didn't take it to heart did you?"
"Well no, but there are other things that are hard not to take to heart."
"Such as?"
"Well Ron and everyone after the Chamber of Secrets thing, it hurts to be treated as something dirty or tainted."
Bill didn't say anything.
"See even you are the same as them."
"Ginny it was a hard time for everyone."
"Put yourself in my shoes and say that!" Ginny stormed off into the wood for what would be Bill's last glimpse of his little sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you ready for this?" Asked Myrtle cautiously to a sixteen-year-old looking Ginny, Ginny nodded and carefully slit the palm of her hand while Myrtle did the same thing. Bring their hands together a soft glow surrounded them. Myrtle slowly began to loose her pearl like coloring and slowly began to change. She grew older and her hair longer while turning a blood colored red. When the transformation was done Ginny was staring at an exact replica of herself.
"Are you suppose to look like me?" She asked carefully.
"No I'm a metamorphmagus that's all!"
"Oh, hey look I can float! But I feel kind of cold."
"You will you're body temperature has dropped since you know have my blood flowing in you're veins you're part ghost just as I am part human." Explained Myrtle.
"And we're sisters."
"Yes." Myrtle would have explained more about what their blood fusion had just caused except they were interrupted by a flash of light and the appearing of the Dark Mark in the sky.
"It starts then."
"Yes, good luck!" Said Myrtle as she shifted her form into that of the thirteen year old Ginny. "Keep in touch won't you?" Before Ginny could answer Myrtle had already run off and Ginny was left to head towards the Dark Mark and her mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Okay so next chapter obviously Ginny and the Lost Boys are going to join. Can you see my evil plans falling into place? No oh well! Thanx for reading please review it gives me good feed back on what people think of the story. Sorry for the long wait, promise to do better! Thank you to Sami for beta-reading and to put anyone's mind at ease there is no romance so no Harry and Ginny pairing if that's what you're after, there is however Ginny and Harry interaction. After all the story is about Harry and Ginny just no as a couple.
~ Maab