Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and my characters
:: September 12th, 2004 ::
AN: well this is going to be a lovely chapter...sorry for not updating sooner but i have another story going now too and i'm hoping to start a third...
IMPORTANT!!! i had posted an author's note for the 10th chapter but then i went and posted an actual chapter over it so if you haven't read that then go back now
:: i'm still looking for people to tell me who they want to see together ::
Recap: Josh tells Blaise the people he has to sleep with (Andrea Simmons, Susan Bones, Nora O'Connell, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Padma Patil, Hannah Abbot, Riley Jenkins, Beverly Hawkins and Hermione Granger) - Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry have Angelina as a waitress and she tells them her and Fred are engaged - Draco talks to his father about the baby...Voldemort decided to use it to become immortal - Remus and Tonks find Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry for a meeting of the Order
::::::::::beginning of chapter::::::::::
Chapter 11 – News
Snape stood and looked down the table. "I have been told something that is very bad indeed"
"And it would be?" McGonagall cut in.
"I'm getting to it. The Dark Lord called me to a meeting with him and Lucius Malfoy. As you know, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy have had a child. The Dark Lord was originally planning to use the child as his successor but there's been a change in plans. He found a spell that will make him immortal. All it requires is the blood of two of his faithful followers offspring so it becomes more powerful and the blood of his enemy, which he already has in him. He plans to do this ritual the night of graduation before all the new Death Eaters are initiated." None dared to speak until Dumbledore.
"Now that you all know does anyone have any questions?"
"He's sure the spell will work?" Remus asked.
"It's very ancient dark magic so most likely, yes, it will work." Snape responded.
"What are we going to do?" Harry spoke up.
"Glad you asked Mr. Potter, for now we need to gather all the information on the spell and find out where he will be performing it. Other than that there's not much more we can do but wait for now." Dumbledore explained.
"But we can't let him become immortal." Ron protested.
"We won't let him, we just need to come up with a plan. But to do that we need all the background information. Miss Granger I believe that is your area of expertise."
"Obviously, she spends all her time in the library." Ron exclaimed.
"Ron, shut up. Let Hermione answer for herself." Ginny declared.
"Well I'm not sure I would be the best person for this job. I'm just a student here, you all have been used to this for years." Hermione argued.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with Miss Granger, can't we give the job to someone more experienced?" Snape asked.
"I believe she can handle it, don't you agree Minerva?" Dumbledore stated.
"Yes, I think she's capable but won't she at least need someone to assist her if we're going to form a plan anytime soon. Background research involves a lot of time and effort." McGonagall pointed out.
"That's true, who would like to assist Miss Granger with her task?"
"Wouldn't it have to be one of the students?" McGonagall asked.
"Ah, yes, it would. How about Miss Weasley then?"
"If it's okay with Hermione." Ginny muttered.
"It's fine Gin, at least I'll have someone to keep me company and it's not like Harry and Ron would do much." Hermione said.
"Then it's settled, I'll give you a pass so you can access the restricted section also though I don't doubt your ability to do that on your own." Hermione blushed and looked down at the table. Dumbledore then got a paper and quill and wrote them a library pass. "If it's not too much trouble I would like you two to start as soon as possible and no one can know of your assignment. If anyone asks tell them you're doing an extra credit project for Professor McGonagall."
"Yes sir." They replied simultaneously.
"Well now that we have that all worked out does anyone have anything else to say?"
"Don't we need to find out who's going to be initiated that night and how many death eaters will be there?" Kingsley spoke up.
"That will all be determined in time. Anything else?"
"Why were we called to this meeting? You never let us come." Hermione asked finally realizing it.
"I figured that we would need your help and if we just called you Miss Granger Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Weasley would force it out of you anyway."
"No we wouldn'tve." Harry protested, but cowered when Hermione gave him a look. "Okay, we might've." The Order laughed at this and Dumbledore adjourned the meeting.
::::::::::scene change::::::::::
Draco, Blaise and Josh were finally finished with their lunch and decided to go to the Quidditch store for a while before they had to head back. After looking around for a while they got bored and started up towards the castle. When they entered the common room it was empty, no one was back from Hogsmeade just yet.
"Why don't we play a game of exploding snap Draco?" Josh asked.
"What about me?" Blaise protested.
"You should get started on the bet, don't waste any time."
"I'll start another time, there's no rush."
"Whatever you say. So exploding snap?"
"How about chess?" Draco suggested.
"Sure."
"But then I can't play." Blaise whined.
"Like Josh said you really should start on your bet, it's not going to be easy." Draco replied. "Now get out of here."
"Fine, I'll go charm the ladies. Who's going to be first" Blaise muttered to himself as he exited the common room.
"Do you think he'll be able to do it?" Josh asked.
"He's going to have one hell of a time trying but I doubt he'll sleep with all of them. You'll probably win but I wouldn't be too sure."
"What do you mean?"
"Blaise doesn't always play fair, you should know that by now. Plus how are you going to know if he actually does sleep with them?"
"I could use a truth potion on him."
"You better, you know he'll lie about it if he thinks he's going to lose."
"But I'm not even sure if he'll be able to get any of them."
"He'll get at least a few."
"Which ones do you think?"
"Well I don't know why you picked Luna Lovegood, she's probably easy because she doesn't know what's going on and guys probably never talk to her so she'll welcome the attention."
"That's what you think, I talk to Luna some and she's not easy."
"You talk to her? As in actual conversation?"
"I talk to a lot of people from different houses."
"I swear I have no idea why you're in Slytherin."
"We've already worn this subject out, the bet?"
"Padma should be a done deal if she's anything like her sister."
"She's not."
"Somewhere inside her she is, so he'll be able to get her. I can't imagine Andrea or Riley being much of a problem, they are in Slytherin after all. Most of the girls in our house are sluts."
"Then obviously you don't know all of them."
"I've slept with most of our year."
"Not all of them."
"Fine, okay not every girl in our house is a slut. But I still don't think those two will be difficult. The three Hufflepuffs, Hawkins, and Abbott, aren't a challenge. Hufflepuff girls would do anything to sleep with a Slytherin."
"Not all of them."
"Back to this?"
"Not all girls are sluts."
"The only girls I think he'll have a problem with are the Gryffindors, well at least Weasley and Granger. The other one's a sixth year, she'll give in eventually."
"So you think the only ones he won't get are Hermione and Ginny?"
"Could you not use their names, it disgusts me."
"Just answer the question."
"Well I'm not sure he won't crack them, but he'll have a hard time. With what Granger was wearing this morning I'm sure she has a wild side to her and the little Weasley is probably the same. The two of them probably aren't getting anything from Potter and Weasley either so they'll be looking for someone."
"But which ever he goes for first would tell the other one."
"Not if they're ashamed. You're messing with Gryffindor pride. They won't tell each other because they'll be afraid. Plus of the whole boyfriend thing, no girl wants to admit she cheated."
"You really think he can do it?"
"I'm not sure."
"But, you basically just said he could."
"When?"
"What?"
"I don't know."
"Neither do I."
"Bastard, you just confused me."
"What? You confused me."
"It's not my fault."
"Not mine either."
"We sound like idiots."
"Let's play chess now."
"Definitely."
::::::::::scene change::::::::::
As soon as the meeting was over Hermione decided to start on her assignment seeing as term started tomorrow and she'd have homework. Ginny protested as did Harry and Ron, they all said there was plenty of time. But in the end they gave in and Hermione and Ginny made their way to the library leaving Ron and Harry by themselves.
"Alright Dumbledore wrote the spell down for us, we just have to find a book about it." Hermione said.
"What's the spell?"
"It's called Immortality and for now that's all we know. We need to find out more."
"Do we know what language it's in?"
"No, but we could probably look in a dark arts book or something."
"Alright, let's start." They looked through the shelves in the Restricted Section for the dark magic books, finding about 30 of them but nothing on the spell. In the back corner where Ginny was looking she came across a book where the binding was black and gold. The words were hard to make out so she just kept looking thinking nothing of it but soon she found the book pulling her toward it. She felt complied to take it off the shelf. So she sat down at a table and opened it, dust flew at her.
"Obviously no one's used it in a while." She muttered to herself but stared in awe as the pages started to flip on their own. Finally they stopped and she stared down at the page, starring back up at her was a picture of Harry. Under the picture was the date, as she read it her eyes got wider. "'Mione come over here."
"Did you find something?"
"Not exactly, look." She said as she shoved the book over to her. Hermione looked at the book and saw nothing.
"What is it?"
"You can't see that?"
"The page is blank."
"It's a picture of Harry."
"But this book looks really old."
"The picture says it was taken in June 3, 1300."
"But how did a picture of Harry get taken then?"
"I'm not sure."
"Here let me see." Hermione passed the book back to Ginny who turned the page. But what she saw made her faint. When she woke up Hermione was standing over her worrying. As she tried to sit up a pain in her head brought her back down.
"Gin, are you okay? What happened?"
"The picture."
"Who is it?"
"It's...I can't say it."
"Why not?"
"Go get Harry and Ron."
"Why?"
"Just go."
"But I can't leave you here alone."
"Go."
"But"
"NOW!"
"...okay" she finally said meekly and then ran out of the library back to the common room.
::::::::::scene change::::::::::
As she raced through the portrait she yelled, "Harry! Ron!"
"Looking for someone Granger?" a voice drawled.
"Malfoy now is not the time."
"Troubles in paradise?"
"Have you seen Harry or Ron?"
"Potter and Weasley?"
"Just answer me Malfoy."
"Why should I?"
"Have you seen them?"
"Possibly."
"Don't do this, I can't be responsible for what I do."
"They came in a little while ago." Someone piped up from the other side of the room. Hermione looked over there to see Josh sitting at the table that had the chess pieces on it.
"Are they still here?"
"They left with their brooms."
"Thanks Josh." And she raced out, downstairs and to the Quidditch pitch. "Harry! Ron!" she yelled when she got there and saw them flying around. After a few minutes they both flew down and dismounted.
"Hey 'Mione, did you miss me?" Ron teased.
"Not the time Ron, you both need to come to the library."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Just come, I'll explain later."
"But"
"NOW!"
"We're right behind you." Harry stated before the three took of running to the library. Once they got there they made their way to the Restricted Section where Hermione had left Ginny.
::::::::::scene change::::::::::
"Why did you tell her where they were?" Draco asked Josh once Hermione was gone.
"You weren't going to."
"But you ruined my fun."
"You weren't going to tell her and it was obvious something was going on."
"We could've found out what it was."
"How?"
"Could've said we wouldn'tve told her unless she told us why she wanted them."
"She would've went and found them on her own."
"I thought you were friends?"
"We are, but she'd never tell you."
"Why not?"
"You're her enemy and it's gotta be something big."
"So."
"She's not stupid enough to tell you anything."
"But" his protests were cut off as Blaise came back into the common room.
"What are you doing back so early?" Josh asked.
"None of your business."
"I'm the one who gave you the bet."
"That doesn't mean I'm going to tell you how I work my charms on the ladies."
"Fine."
"Now what were you two arguing about?"
"Granger was looking for Potter and Weasley and Josh told her where they were."
"And?"
"I was trying to mess with her."
"He likes her, obviously he would help her."
"But"
"You should've known that."
"Fuck off."
"Done enough of that today."
"You got one of them already?" Josh exclaimed.
"I already told you I'm not revealing any of my methods."
"But did you get one?"
"Not yet, but almost."
"Which one?"
"Padma."
"Really?"
"What, didn't think I would?"
"She's not exactly easy."
"Well I know just what to say and do..."
::::::::::scene change::::::::::
As soon as Harry and Ron saw Ginny lying on the floor with her face void of color they rushed over to her.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"She fainted." Hermione replied.
"Why?" Ron questioned.
"It's a long story. Why don't you let her tell you because I don't even know the whole thing."
"Gin?" Harry murmured. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"I need to get in a chair first."
"No problem." Harry picked her up off the floor and sat her in the chair she was in before.
"Now what happened?" Ron exclaimed.
"Give her time." Hermione scolded him.
"Well we were looking for books on the spell and I was in the back. I passed this book it was black and gold but I couldn't read the words on the binding so I kept looking. But it was pulling me to it, I had to go and open it. When I did a bunch of dust flew up at me but then the pages started moving on their own. As they stopped I looked down and saw a picture." She stopped talking and looked down at her hands.
"What was the picture?" Ron asked.
"It was of Harry."
"What?!" Harry shouted.
"But the date was June 3, 1300."
"But he wasn't even born then." Ron reminded.
"I know, I called 'Mione over and she looked at it too. But she said she couldn't see it, so I turned the page. I saw another picture and then I can't remember anything else."
"Who was the other picture of?" Harry asked gently.
"It was...I can't say it. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Gin. Where's the book? Maybe I'll be able to see."
"It's right there." She said pointing to the book. Harry took the book she was pointing to and opened it, nothing happened.
"Nothing's happening." Ron proclaimed.
"Let me do it." Ginny sighed. She took the book from Harry and shut it again. As she opened it the pages began turning. Finally they stopped again on the picture of Harry.
"I don't see anything." Ron announced. Harry went to turn the page but found he couldn't.
"I can't see anything but I can't turn the page either." Ginny turned the page for him and looked away. "Gin, I can't see anything."
"You can't?"
"No."
"What about you Ron?"
"Nothing."
"'Mione?"
"Sorry."
"But"
"Gin, you're going to have to tell us who it is." Harry said.
"But"
"There's no other way, Gin." Hermione added.
"Hold on." She started breathing deeply and tried to calm down because she was shaking.
"Take as long as you need, Gin." Hermione stated.
"Alright, I'm fine." They waited for her to go on but she didn't say anything.
"Gin?" Harry muttered.
"Right, it's...um..."
::::::::::end of chapter::::::::::
AN: hope you liked the chapter - please review
Nora x 13: i don't get what your review was. all you did was paste the part i wrote about you. do you like your character or not? what did i do?
andii(): yes its good you like your lovely character. i'm not going to stop writing this story so you don't have to worry. i hopefully will update again soon though i'm not sure cuz i have a lot to do. well i hope you like this chapter...
:: i'm still looking for people to tell me who they want to see together ::
AN: please please review...(please)