Note: I AM SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO SORRY about this absolutely horrible updating time. I couldn't believe all the stuff we've had to do lately. BUT that is invalid and I'm really sorry once again. I hope you all keep reading. Anyway…the focus of this chapter is Hermione researching some more about Ginny's odd disappearance and then we find out a little more about the headline we saw in chapter eight. That's where Draco comes in. Him and Lucius have chat about the newspaper article and we find out whose behind it and blah blah. Bare with me here.
The young blonde's shoes crossed the barrier between platforms nine and ten. He heaved a heavy sigh, discouraged with the thoughts of schoolwork, the lack of servants and of course Potter. Of course Draco was not going to say he didn't like Hogwarts, because he did very much. He loved Potions most of all when Professor Snape would burn Potter, Weasley and Granger simultaneously. He gave a hollow laugh at the thought of those three losing points for Gryffindor. As his gray eyes closed for a moment, he felt the presence of another approach him. He didn't bothering opening his eyes though, because he already knew who it was.
"Hullo Father," Draco said sullenly as he casually glanced down at his feet. Mr. Malfoy sensed his son was a somewhat bitter from having to return to school, filled with mudbloods and muggle lovers.
"Draco, my son," he said as his strong hand clapped his son's shoulder, shaking Draco's much lighter frame slightly. "I want to tell you something, Draco. Something very…important. Come with me," he said, pushing Draco aside from rushing witches and wizards. Draco glanced back to steal a quick look at the shiny bright red steam engine known as the Hogwarts Express. Dejected, he turned his head back and hung his head in depression as he followed his father. How he hated when his father had these 'talks' with him. He hated it when he'd say, 'Draco my son, I work for a powerful master, would you not like the same?' Draco wasn't a muggle lover but frankly working for a guy like You-Know-Who creeped him out. He never told his father though; otherwise he'd be in a lot of trouble. He'd always respond with, 'yes father' just to shut him up. He had a feeling his father would do the same now, he always did right before he went back to school, either in the summer or winter.
His father came to an abrupt halt, leaving his long black cloak to wave gently. He turned around to face his only son, who at the moment looked like he would have rather eaten a bogey flavored bean (Bertie Botts you know?) then be standing there right now.
"Draco, son. I do believe before you left, the Headmaster was talking about some sort of … 'news'. Correct Draco?" Draco looked up at his suddenly. Yes… he thought to himself after thinking about it. Dumbledweeb did say something. He said that it was up to our guardians or something to tell us. Completely forgot about that one. Eh, I bet ol' Lucius is gonna tell me now. It's probably some stupid thing about You-Know-Who. He let out an exasperated sigh.
"Yes sir he did" Draco said, his tone completely the opposite of his thoughts. "What about it?" Draco said, as rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet trying to make the time pass quicker as his father looked thoughtfully at his own hands. Then Lucius lifted his head and reached into the back pocket of his black coat and retrieved what seemed to be a crumpled newspaper.
"I want you to read this Draco," he said as he shoved it into Draco's face. Draco grimaced at the paper as it was thrust under his nose. He grabbed it, and harshly pulled it out of his father's hands. He had an incredible urge to give his father a dirty look, but he decided to direct it at the paper instead. His eyes scanned the page, it was the Daily Prophet.
You-Know-Who's Supporter leaves an Important Message
Draco stopped looking at the paper after reading the headline. He sighed once again in annoyance. More about the Dark Lord. Draco grew rather bored of the whole conspiracy with You-Know-Who and it was growing rather old in his opinion. His arm with the paper dropped to his side and Draco cocked an eyebrow at his father.
"I know how much you want me to be his servant, but I'm really already convinced that he's powerf-" Lucius slapped his son in mid-sentence. Draco brought his free hand up to his swollen cheek and rubbed it gingerly as he starred at the floor angrily.
"Do NOT back talk me," he said sternly to his son. "Now if I tell you to read something you read it! It that understood?" Draco could feel his blood boiling at the sound of his father's voice. How he wished he could just slap his father right there. However he simply nodded, to avoid any further confrontations.
"Good," his father drawled on. "Now read it, read the entire article. Is that clear?" he said pointing a sharp finger at Draco. Draco's eyes never left the floor as he nodded again. He lifted the Daily Prophet up to eye level andbegan to read the words on the page.
Early, on the morning of December 19th, Ministry workers found a message written on the wall of the headquarters. The message read, 'The Dark Lord's vengeance seeks the young one,' written in blood. Ministry officials are still trying to decipher the meaning of this message. Some believe it to be Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived. However some other experts have their money on a few other children who were found in the Department of Mysteries just two years ago, at the up rise of You-Know-Who.
Some officials link this to be the work of You-Know-Who himself. Roughly five years ago, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, similar messages also written in blood were found all over the school. Following them were several petrified students. It is known to be related to a diary left behind by the Dark Lord's former self, Tom Riddle. Riddle revived himself because of the carelessness of one young student at Hogwarts that lead to this tragedy. Witches and Wizards alike wonder if something similar is happening now.
Others speculate a Death Eater, who most likely works for the Ministry, wrote it. It is still unknown who this could be, but the Aurors will be checking the records for any suspicious Ministry Officials. As for now, Quarters have been closed until further notice and the Aurors have evacuated their headquarters and have been relocated to a place that is known by few.
To further explain, on the morning of December 19th at 7:45 am one very startled secretary came across the message in the Aurors' cubicles. And finally it was written very largely on the walls, obviously to make some sort of point. The woman apparently screamed and was found later by a fellow employee, unconscious. She has been brought to St. Mungo's for treatment. The Ministry will still run business as usual, with the exception of Aurors. Extra high security has been set and wizards everywhere are trying to create a spell to remove the blood that stains the walls of the Auror headquarters. It is uncertain why this blood will not come off with an ordinary cleaning spell, but this is certainly dark magic. It is a rough time for the Wizarding World…
Draco stopped reading to glance at the picture on the right of the article. It was a picture of a cubicle in the Ministry. He could see pieces of parchment every where on the cherry wood desk. Dots of blood fell upon the white parchment and in contrast looked very…deathly in a way. He could see the red blood shining in the letters 'Dark Lord seeks young one' on the plain gray wall. He couldn't help but feel a little happy; knowing Potter might just be in danger. Yes, that was lovely. A small grin crept onto his lips as his eyes finally parted with the newspaper.
"So is this about the Great Potter?" Draco said crossing his arms, addressing his father. Lucius couldn't help but grin slightly. His son was growing up exactly as he wanted in perfect enlightenment of him.
"You'd think so wouldn't you?" Lucius said as he slowly circled around his son. "But no, this has nothing to do with him. It actually has to do with someone else you're not too fond about." The people Draco was not too fond of could fill a book. A very large book to be exact. (You know Gone with the Wind? Try 10 times bigger…plus 8 :D) It began with Potter and ended with every muggle loving, mudblood out there. He listed in order who he hated…Potter, Weasley, Granger, Dumbledore… Draco found himself slipping away from reality, imagining everyone he hated as his slaves. His thoughts were disrupted by a loud fake cough.
"I'll give you a clue," Lucius said as he finally caught his son's attention. "It's a certain someone with…red hair."
"Oh its Weasley is it? What has it got to do with him, the poor fool," Draco spat. Just thinking of Ronald Weasley made him want to vomit. Once again, a chuckle emitted from his father as he finally stopped circling and stood directly in front of his son.
"My son you're on the right track. Indeed it is a Weasley, but it is not a him," he said crouching down and patting his son on the back. Draco had a questioning look on his face as he thought a moment. Almost all the Weasleys are boys. Except of course their smelly mum and…of course! The sister! Miss Ginevra Weasley. The Potter fan! Yes, she disappeared did she not? Of course! Why didn't I think of that sooner?
"You mean it's his sister, the Baby Weasel?" Draco said, turning his head to Lucius. Lucius rose from his crouched position next to his son and stood at his full height. "Indeed Draco. It is Miss Weasley. And that's brings me to what I have to tell you about." Lucius said, his expression becoming stern. Draco's eyes opened a little bit wider than usual.
"What's this got to do with Weasley?" Draco said astonished. He never thought that Weasley could have anything important enough happen to her that it would be in the Daily Prophet. After all…he was never in the newspaper and he was ten times better and more important than any Weasley in existence. Draco snapped from his thoughts to await his father's reply.
"Everything…" Draco's eyebrows couldn't resist the urge to rise in a questioning matter.
"Let me explain." Lucius began as he motioned for Draco to sit on the chair he had just conjured up using a simple spell. "You see Draco my son, Miss Weasley has accidentally fallen into past years using a time turner belonging to a certain Miss Granger. It is a device that will put you in the past however many hours you want to go, depending on the number of times you flip it over. Well, she broke it, and the complex charm that the time turner uses to teleport people backward in time is broken, it malfunctioned. Instead of putting her back hours, it put her back in year's time. Apparently, she tripped while holding it and it was spinning through the air until it broke on the wall. Being she was the first person it then touch it put her into the past during the time I went to school. Are you following so far?" Draco nodded his head, yet no sound escaped his lips. Lucius took this as a sign to continue.
"All right. When I went to school I began following the Dark Lord, around my 6th year. During those years he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. So at this very moment Ginny Weasley is being taught by Professor Riddle…future Dark Lord. However, the Dark Lord now and then, is afraid Miss Weasley will spill the events of his doings to people of the past, completely ruining his plans for his future and ending his reign of terror. To get to the point, It was I who wrote the message in the Ministry. My master instructed that I do so because he wanted to show his power is rising even greater by the second. He wants all to fear his name, and learn to respect it for he will soon be the most powerful wizard in the world. And it worked didn't it? It sent the whole wizarding world into a rut. Before instructing me do this of course he told me everything first. He's able to do this because he is an accomplished Legilimens. Now back to Miss Weasley as of now…or then. If Ginny Weasley's time turner is destroyed she can never get back to the future. And if she were to die, the people of the past will be as clueless as they ever were. She couldn't warn them against my master and My Lord shall be able to destroy them as he did James and Lily Potter as well as countless others. That is why at first he considered killing her. But…he's offered, or he shall offer Ginny yet another deal. If she were to become his mistress their power together will completely destroy the Wizarding world. Do you understand?" Draco put a hand to his head in confusion. His head was swimming in thoughts of present, past and future trying to decipher everything he was just told.
"Yeah…I think so…" he said, his head still aching. "But what's this got to do with me?" he ask messaging his temples with his fingers as he began to comprehend his father's words.
"I am concerned, my master is concerned about anyone finding about Ginny's disappearance. Where she went anyway. Everyone believes the 'young one' to be Harry Potter. He thinks if anyone knew where she went, they'd surely go after her, and stop the master's plan of either killing her, or having her join his evil forces. His new plans would be spoiled and my master does not like when that happens. I need you to keep an eye on the Gryffindors when you go back to school, especially Granger. I want you to make certain none of them find out what's going on. Is that clear Draco?"
Draco blinked. "Wait, so…you want me to…spy on the Gryffindors to make sure they aren't snooping around about Weasley? Is that right?" he said scratching his head.
"Precisely." Draco rubbed his forehead. It ached with new thoughts about what he had just been told. Weasley is in the past? You-know-who wants her to be his mistress? Uh why? I mean she's a muggle loving snotball! And she's certainly not very attractive! And now he's got to leave messages all over the walls so people stay afraid. Blimey, the rest of the school gets jittery just by his name, I don't think he needs to make them more fearful. And I doubt Weasley is planning on telling anyone about You-know-who's plan. I mean who's going to listen to a 16 year old girl accuse her teacher of being an evil overlord! And even is Weasley did, I'm pretty sure that she wouldn't be able to tell many people before someone killed her for opening her big mouth, namely Father or You-Know-Who. Am I the only person who sees all these things? Honestly I –
"Draco!" His thoughts came to a halt when he heard his father's voice. Draco shook his thoughts aside to turn his attention to what was happening around him. "Wha - ?" he said as he realized he had no idea what was going on before, when he was pondering Weasley's situation.
"Draco, you're going to be late. I suggest you get on the train now," Lucius said pushing his son back into the traffic of students and parents that were currently boarding the train. "Remember what I said Draco. Do not fail me…"
"Hurry up! The train will be leaving any minute now!" Mrs. Weasley pushed her youngest son through the throngs of people as she quickly pardoned herself to all she had bumped into. Hermione and Harry were close behind, pushing their trolleys as fast as they could. Bringing up the rear was Arthur, Tonks and Mundungus.
The crowd of Weasleys and company were rushing past wizards and witches of all sorts, knocking into them and sending their luggage all over the place. However as kind-hearted as the Weasleys were they were in no place to stop and help everybody. They were extremely late due several mishaps at the Burrow. These included Ron falling down the stairs, Ron forgetting Pig, Ron stepping on Crookshanks tail and Crookshanks running out the door and Ron insisting on eating as much as possible. Of course this was why in the end Mrs. Weasley wound up pushing young Ronald because he didn't seem to move otherwise.
As Mrs. Weasley shoved him through the hoards of witches and wizards he was still chomping down on a breakfast roll, chewing nosily to get it down faster. Hermione was having a difficult time keeping up with everybody being the shortest in the group. She was huffing and puffing just to keep up with everyone. Tonks continually changed her hair color insisting that the light was changing and every time it did her hair didn't look right. Ron replied with something that made Mrs. Weasley and Hermione shout "RON!" Arthur was still trying to get the zipper up on his muggle jeans that he insisted up wearing and Mundungus continually tried stealing students cauldrons. Everyone appeared to be having some problem or dilemma that was slowing them down.
When they finally reached the entrance to the train they were all breathing heavily and it was quite a relief. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley pulled their youngest son into a hug, for it was the last time they'd have a boy going on the Hogwarts Express. As they did so Mundungus shook Harry's hand, (while eyeing what was in Harry's pockets) and Tonks bid farewell to Hermione. The trio of students boarded the train with all their luggage. Arthur comforted his wife as she sobbed how her little boy was growing up so quickly. She turned around and sobbed on Arthur's muggle tie, which had tiny Christmas Trees on it. He looked at her a moment, and then shrugged it off and put his arm around her to console her.
Tonks and Mundungus simply looked at each other bemused, not knowing the hardships of being a parent. They simply waved to the retreating forms of Hermione, Ron and Harry and then started towards the border of the platform where they'd eventually be joined by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed towards their regular compartment towards the back of the Hogwarts Express. As soon as they were settled and had placed their luggage in the niche above their heads, Ron pulled out a load of candy from his pockets. This assortment included Fizzing Whizbees, Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans, Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, and many more goodies. He and Harry began stuffing their faces with everything they could get their hands on. When Hermione glared at them disgustedly, Ron merely replied, "I didn't eat much breakfast." Hermione snorted at his comment remembering the pancakes he had shoveled down his throat that morning.
After Harry and Ron had finished their consumption of sweets, the two reclined back in the cushy seats of the Howarts Express. Meanwhile Hermione had already made herself comfortable her legs stretched out on the seat and a heavy book on her lap entitled Mysteries In Time.
The comfortable silence was soon broken by Harry's voice. "Hey," he said, sitting up slightly from his relaxed position. "Don't you two have some – Head Boyish and Head Girlish things you should be doing?" He said recalling the train rides from the past two years.
"Actually," Hermione stated as-a-matter-of-factly, not looking up from her book. "We do, but not for awhile, since we're coming back from holiday its like at the beginning of the year were we have to lead the first year students to the Common Room. So we're needed later in the train ride. Thanks for reminding us, all though I'm sure Ron already remembered that," she said eyeing Ron suspiciously.
Ron sat up at the sound of his name and after hearing Hermione's statement, he looked around the compartment guiltily. "Uh…of course," he said not looking at either of his friends as he said it. "'Course I remembered." Hermione grimaced and then steered her eyes back to the pages of her book and Harry simply suppressed a chuckle that had almost escaped.
It wasn't long afterwards, when the silence in the compartment was getting painfully dull. Ron's form was bent all over the seats as he looked up at the ceiling with boredom. Several times Harry noticed his eyes flicker over to Hermione and finally Ron took a long glance at her. He opened his mouth as to say something but simply sighed.
But then he shook his head slightly and said what was on his mind. "Hermione," he said making her look up at once. "I was wondering, where did you get that book?" he said eyeing the brown leather cover on the giant book that she held. She looked at his curiously, but responded with, "From the library, before we left break." She turned her head back towards the stale crumpled old pages and continued to read.
"Well um," Ron began again. "How come you're just reading it now?" he said somewhat curiously. Hermione sighed and then shut her book. "I've been doing a lot of thinking this weekend, and truthfully I never seemed to have time for reading, all though I think this would have helped me a lot more if I had remembered I had it. I checked it out before we got to the Burrow and found out about V-voldemort, and that thing in the Ministry. Plus everything with Ginny, I completely lost track of everything and forgot I had the book." She said frowning. Ron looked at her with the utmost amazement.
"You – Hermione, forgot you had a book?" he said astounded baffled by such a thing as what he had heard. "That's bloody crazy!" he said chuckling lying back on the soft interior of the compartment. Hermione did not seem to find this amusing in any way and she opened the book again to find the page she had last read.
After Ron's laughing died down another question formed on his lips. "So, why are you reading it?" he asked. Hermione looked at him confused. "What?" she responded. "Well I mean," he began, "you said that it could have helped you, what could a book called – " he glanced at the cover, "Mysteries in Time help you with?" Hermione bit her lip.
"Well I," she began, Ron and Harry both starring intently at her. She was beginning to wish she hadn't said anything about it. Hermione's brain raced for some excuse. She considered telling them her theory but she knew they'd just think her crazy, and she still couldn't be sure about anything. Not without the proof she knew she could find within Hogwarts. "Uh – project!" Hermione stated at once. "I'm doing an – extra credit assignment for – Professor McGonagall, yes and uh she wanted me to write five feet of parchment on the history of time travel for wizards!" she said somewhat excitedly, so they'd think she was looking forward to doing it, as she was with most assignments. "Isn't that interesting?" she added.
Ron and Harry simply starred at her momentarily, but after a moment seemed bored and appeared to look as though they thought they should have known Hermione would be doing some sort of project. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she returned to reading her book. Long moments passed as Hermione journeyed deeper and deeper within the pages of her book. Finally Hermione found exactly what she was looking for.
Chapter Eighteen: When Time Travel Goes Wrong
The Many Dangers of Time Travel and How to Avoid Problems
Time is something that even wizards do not have a firm grasp on. It is not something that can easily be manipulated and should not be tampered with. However if one does find themselves in a situation where they must alter past events to make for a better future there are precautions one must take. But to understand these precautions one must realize why time interference is so dangerous. The most famous example of this was the Finny Bucket Experiment.
Phineas Bucket: A wizard married to Olivia Weed and had three children. This man worked in the Ministry of Magic around 1936. The British wizard was in the Experimentation part of the Ministry where they test potions, create devices as a Remembrall, and conjure up new spells. At this time the wizards in this department were currently undergoing a way to travel back in time. They were able to construct a very primitive time turner (which was only invented several years ago). It consisted of an hourglass as tall as eight feet. An witch or wizard traveling would have to physically enter the device through a door on the bottom. From inside the hourglass the wizard would wave their wand perform the new spell that the Ministry had come up with, which had taken days and days of planning, experimenting and note taking. They called their device an Aevumcapio from the Latin meaning "time contained". However unsure if this method would work the Ministry officials decided they needed to test their experiment. Mr. Bucket volunteered for the job.
The experiment proved successful. As they conducted the experiment Mr. Bucket vanished from sight and moments later reported to them from 1850 by manipulating the floo network, which is very difficult. He was able to write letters back to the Ministry through this "New Floo" as they called it which could actually break the barriers of time and allow Phineas to communicate with his fellow colleagues. However, Mr. Bucket ran into a little trouble gambling and was shot with a muggle revolver. That same day all three of his children disappeared and everyone forgot who he was. The only way we are able to record this is because it was written down by the scientists before hand. It's a lucky thing that worse didn't happen…
Hermione stopped immediately. This is the man! This is the wizard Mrs. Weasley spoke of! The one who died! Hermione slapped her hand over her mouth in horror. This is horrible! Those kids they just – gone! Just like that. Ginny is in so much danger! If only Ron knew – she stopped herself to look at Ron, who had fallen asleep probably from eating so much. He now had his face down on the cushion and his butt in the air, as Harry, who was also slumbering was leaned up against the window.
Hermione sighed as she rested her back against the armrest on her seat. She could barely believe the magnitude of the events taking place. And no one seemed to care! Hermione reasoned with herself that they also had no idea so it was impossible that they even could care. But also that they should be trying to find out instead of sitting around wondering! However it wasn't long before Hermione's deep thoughts were interrupted. Without any warning the compartment doors slid open, and Hermione saw a pair of black boots step on to the carpeted floor of their section of the train. She looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway, arms crossed and a smug grin on his face.
Hermione leapt to her feet instantly as a guard. Harry quickly jerked awake at the sound of the doors opening and joined Hermione in standing. Ron, however moaned a little, muttered something about "needing sleep" and he rolled over. However, he rolled over onto the floor and hit it with a loud 'thud'. Draco looked down disgusted at Ron who was now lying by Draco's feet. Ron quickly scrambled to his feet, took a deep breath in and then glared at Draco in order to retain the little dignity he had left.
"What do you want?" Hermione sneered at him, her hands on her hips joining in the group glare. Draco chuckled slightly as he leaned up against the compartment doors while shoving his hands in the pockets of his robes. "The other houses were wondering where the Head Boy and Girl from Gryffindor were. I guess I'll have to tell them that one of the too busy drooling all over the couches and the other has got her face glued to a book!" He said laughing with malice eyeing Hermione's book on the floor, probably imagining her face actually glued to it. Hermione felt heat come to her face when she realized she had completely lost track of the time. She smacked a hand to her head and sunk down into her seat annoyed and ashamed of herself. Draco continued laughing, "You fools better hurry up before they make someone like Potter a Head Boy!" he said, taking a casual stride out the door, laughing his big head off.
Harry's eyes flickered at the last statement. He remembered how annoyed he was that Ron had become Head Boy and he hadn't. Draco's unsavory comment only made it worse. Even two years later, Harry still felt a tad jealous that his friend was wearing the badge and he wasn't. He frowned at himself and followed the same suit as Hermione.
Ron was still looking flabbergasted at the door as though he was insulted and confused at the same time. Hermione quickly got a hold of her senses and stood up. "Come on Ron," she said grabbing a hold of his wrist and pulling him towards the doors. "We have to hurry to meet the other Houses, Good-bye Harry," she said rounding the corner. Ron having no time at all to say anything simply waved to Harry before getting dragged away by Hermione. Harry was left to frown at the doorway then turned his back and starred out the window irritably.
It wasn't too long until the Hogwarts Express screeched to a halt and students of various ages returned to their school for learning and to expand their minds (and set Exploding Snaps in the hallways). When the students arrived from their Winter Break they immediately filed into the Great Hall where some of the students who had decided to stay were seated. There was much talk and excitement. Talk of presents and holiday meals filled the entire room. The professors filed in and took their seats at the staff table. In a moments time all four table were filled with foods of an amazing assortment. Pumpkin juice, mince pies, spiced sugar cakes, and trays and trays of other assorted foods were served. Harry was shortly joined by Ron and Hermione. Both seemed eager to enjoy the Hogwarts food again (even though Ron had already eaten on the train and at home). The two briefly explained what they and the other Head Boys and Girls had been doing before digging into the mounds of food in front of them. In a matter of moments the students were all filled to the brim with food and could no longer eat a single bite.
Around nine o'clock the four different houses began exiting the Great Hall and headed upstairs and indeed Hermione, Ron and Harry were no exception. As the entered the Gryffindor Common Room Ron and Harry flopped into two big armchairs. Hermione however ran up to the girls staircase as fast as she could without delay. Ron and Harry looked in her direction inquisitively, but merely shrugged and figured she was very eager to sleep ("You know, on the train when we were doing the Head Boy and Girl stuff, with shifts to patrol the hallways?" Harry snorted irritably in reference to Ron's comment. "Well Hermione tried to volunteer for every shift! Maybe she's thinking she ought to get to bed early so that she can stay awake, even though I do believe shifts don't start until tomorrow. Doesn't matter though, my shift is from 3 – 4. I'm all good," Ron said relaxing in his chair.). Hermione returned moments later, with many books in her arms, and a bag full of parchment and quills. Ron and Harry looked at her shocked as she seated herself on one of the couches and began setting out her books.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron said rising from his armchair and walking over to her. Hermione merely looked up at him, and then she proceeded to separate her notes by Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and so on in order of the year taught indicting the usefulness and difficulty of spells and potions written down. He raised an eyebrow at her and simply stated, "Well?"
Hermione let out an annoyed sigh. "I think it's fairly obvious Ronald, that I am studying for the N.E.W.T.s." He looked at her bewildered. Harry too looked confused both thinking that there was plenty of time to study for an exam six months away.
"The N.E.W.T.s! They're six bloody months away! You have plenty of time!" he insisted waving his hands around to get his point across. "And besides why do you have to do it now for anyway? We're all tired, why can't you sleep well for just one night!" Hermione arched her eyebrow.
"First of all, six months will go by quicker than you think! You can't just sit around until the very last week and expect to remember everything you had been taught in seven years!! And besides what's the big deal anyway?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Because!" Ron yelled. "Maybe I want to SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU!!" All of a sudden the Common Room was quiet. Everyone who hadn't gone to bed, which was quite a few, (Mostly fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years: the younger ones had gone to bed.) stopped all activities to stare at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked around the room frozen in his position as his ears and cheeks steadily turned red when he embarrassed himself. With that he turned violently and made his way to the Boys Staircase. He looked back at a moment at Hermione, who was starring at him slightly hurt. He however did not return it but stomped up the Boys Staircase making as much noise as possible, frown plastered across his now red face.
After a few moments, everyone was still starring in Ron's previous direction. Luckily, the silence was broken and the Common Room was noisy again. Harry looked sympathetically at Hermione who was the victim of Ron's incredible outburst. He got up and walked and said, "I'll talk to him, don't worry. Ron's just a little – upset. All he ever thinks about Ginny nowadays. I don't think he's slept much in a while. I think that he tries to cover it up, but he's bottled it up and he needs us – needs you now most of all." Hermione smiled understandingly and thanked Harry for talking to Ron. Harry nodded and began his way up to the Boys Seventh Year Dormitory.
Hermione settled herself on one of the snug maroon couches that adorned the Gryffindor Common Room with notes spread all over the place as she drilled herself over and over again cramming fact after fact. It was getting late, all the students aside from Hermione had already gone to sleep. Minutes seemed to drift by slowly, and Hermione began to become drowsy. She set aside the books and papers on her lap and dropped them on the floor. She appeared to have no more energy required to study. If she had to remember a single fact more her head might explode. However Hermione lacked the strength to go upstairs to her comfy bed, nor did she have the energy to put all her books in her bag and collect up all her papers. She put her head down on the arm of the couch and closed her eyes. Time drifted by slowly yet for some reason Hermione could not sleep. Perhaps she was too tense and needed to relax. She hoped maybe the fire would lull her into a peaceful slumber. She decided to stare at the fire until she fell asleep. And so she did, watching the flames rise and fall, rise and fall, rise and fall in one monotonous pattern. And finally Hermione drifted off into a troubled sleep.
Hermione opened her eyes to a startling sight. She gazed around her surroundings. Tall, menacing trees surrounded her. It was foggy out and as she looked up at the night sky she realized it was a full moon. She was in the middle of the woods. And they looked somewhat familiar. She was in…the Forbidden Forest!
Hermione looked down at what she was wearing. She was dressed in a gingham jumper covered by a blood-red cloak. On her arm was a small wooden basket and she could have sworn under the full moon's light her skin tone appeared much lighter then it actually was. She removed the soft light blue cloth that was hiding the contents in the basket. In it there were bottles of butter beer, cauldron cakes, pumpkin pasties, and other goods that she knew Ron would like. Confused, Hermione reached t o brush a strand of hair out of her eyes and gasped. Her hair was red! Not only that, but she felt physically closer to the ground. She also felt smaller…and more fragile. What was she doing here? She saw a small light in the distance and decided to follow it. Though she seemed to be walking forward for quite awhile she never appeared to actually be closer. Then all at once she spotted a small cottage. Under the pale moonlight the cottage looked strangely eerie. It was the only sign of life in the deserted woods.
Cautiously, Hermione knocked on the front door. "Is anybody home?" she called, her voice echoing through the forest. No one answered. She reached for the knob on the door, and turned it. The door opened with a creak. Hermione nervously entered the house. It looked like it hadn't been used in a very long time. Cobwebs caked the ceilings, and there were thick blankets of dust in every corner. No one seemed to be home. Hermione made her way through what she believed would be the kitchen. Over piled dirty dishes clouded the sink. On the kitchen table were two candles that were obviously well worn out since the wax had dripped all over the table. And the table! It was set as though a family had just had dinner. Except for the fact that everything on the table was covered with dust and cobwebs. Hermione left the kitchen and entered the living room. There were some old, worn couches along the walls along with a small table that held a broken lamp. A grandfather clock stood proudly in the corner of the room, its hands stuck on midnight.
Hermione finally came to the end of the house. So what had she come to do? Why had she come to this strange house? The answer was just a mere footstep ahead of her. Hermione looked in the corner of the final room she had come to and saw a trapdoor in the corner, partly covered by some old books. She carefully lifted them aside and opened the ancient trapdoor. The room suddenly filled with a bright light.
It appeared that the trapdoor had led to some sort of cellar. Dirty cobblestones covered the floor, though Hermione could hardly see due to the dim light, which was provided by candles mounted on the walls. The cellar she was going through seemed extremely damp and musty. She saw a lone door at the end of this ancient passageway. Hermione quickly headed towards it, wanting to get out as soon as possible. Her heavy footsteps rang out against the cobblestone ground. She had finally reached the end of the hallway.
Hermione opened the doors…and she was in the Great Hall at Hogwarts!! It was completely empty. "Hello?" she called out. Her voice rang out in the gargantuan hall, sounding so small and fearful. Suddenly, without any warning, a great figure came out of the shadows in the massive room. Hermione began to back up, heading for the door. She desperately tried to open it, but it was locked. She turned back to face this new creature. Once her eyes met it, she couldn't avert her gaze.
The figure stepped out of the moonlight that had leaked through one of the roof's windows. Hermione felt a small scream rise in her throat. This creature was a werewolf! (Dun dun dun!!!!) Massive amounts of fur covered its body, which was a sandy brown color. Its claws were long and jagged; jagged enough to tear any witch's body from end to end. And its eyes! They were not the eerie yellow that Hermione would have presumed. These eyes were a clear, misty blue that seemed so very familiar.
Hermione's breathing became very unstable and her chest heaved with fear. She was certain the wolf would strike out any moment and surely send her to the grave. The creature walked slowly up to her, on its sturdy hind legs, claw raised, a growl erupting from the back of his throat. Hermione closed her eyes as she felt its hot breath on her face.
She waited and waited for it rip her open, but for some reason, the creature had stopped a few inches from her and was now starring at her intently. Hermione opened her eyes, and lowered her hands which acted as her shield (a very poor one indeed yes?) as she studied the strange behavior of the so-called "vicious" creature. Why isn't he attacking me? She pondered as the wolf straightened up. She was in for another surprise when the wolf spoke to her.
"Come Ginevra," he said the voice vaguely familiar. It was a calm comforting voice, one she'd sworn had not come from an animal such as this. And at the same a sad tone underlined it. And it called her Ginevra! Since when do I look anything like Ginny? Hermione laughed at the thought of anyone confusing the two. Something stuck in the back of her brain. Something she couldn't remember, that had happened earlier. As if reading her thoughts, Hermione spotted a mirror with a golden outline on her right. She approached it, while the werewolf stood in front her entrance towards the Great Hall as though waiting for her. As she gazed into the piece of reflective glass, her eyes widened and a scream finally escaped her lips.
Her reflection was not Hermione. It was not the brown-haired bookworm who everyone knew was in love with Ron Weasley. No this was the reflection of Ginny Weasley. Hermione touched her now pale hand to her face and the mirror image followed her. She traced her hand over the bridge of her nose where the reflection showed a dotting of freckles of all different sizes and shapes. Hermione almost tripped over her own feet seeing as her eyes were glued the mirror. She felt her heart picking up pace. What is happening to me!? I thought the clothes I was wearing was odd, but this! This is – wait a minute!! The clothes! Hermione starred at the red cape and gingham jumper. She finally began to realize, as her eyes widened with disbelief. She was Ginny and Ginny was Little Red Riding Hood! That's a perfect explanation for the wolf! Hermione thought triumphantly as if she had figured out everything. As she tore herself away from the mirror was quickly joined the werewolf by his side. Without a word he started out through the doors with Hermione following silently behind him.
Hermione's footsteps were the only sound heard besides the heavy breathing of the wolf in front of her. Hermione starred at her surroundings only to find she was extremely familiar with them. They were the halls of Hogwarts, stone walls, cold concrete floor, and dimly lit candles every few feet. Despite the fact she knew where she was, she was quite unsure of were the giant beast was taking her. Hermione tried to etch the route in her brain in case this lead to somewhere important in the castle, which was her home for seven years. Perhaps a secret library or something to the effect. Yes, that would be definitely something worth remembering.
However it was becoming increasingly more difficult for Hermione to remember where she was going, every turn the werewolf took lead her down another unfamiliar corridor and the trip was beginning to seem hours long. Her light bouncy footsteps were now dragging along the cold floor, and her arms hung uselessly at her side, the basket only staying by the angle it hung on her wrist.
It was lucky that just as Hermione was about to collapse into a heap onto the floor, the shaggy werewolf stopped abruptly. He turned around and looked at Hermione, whose tired eyes were just barely staying open. He stepped aside to reveal steps leading far up the castle. Hermione perked up upon seeing them and her mind filled with innovating questions.
"What's up there?" She said, starring up into the darkness in which the stairs seemed to disappear into.
"The answers you have been searching for," the wolf said sternly joining Hermione's gaze up the steps. "This is where I leave you, Ginevra." Hermione's head snapped to meet the wolf's stare.
"You're leaving me?" She asked, panicked. Hermione knew all though she did not know the wolf and he could conceivably be dangerous she felt safe with him helping her along through the winding passages in which she would have been lost in a second without him.
"I'm sorry young Ginerva, I can no longer help you," he said and with that he vanished from sight. Hermione's eyes scanned around in case maybe…all though unlikely he might be hiding. Hermione sighed deeply as she approached the cold stone steps that seemed to vanish into an abyss of darkness. She gulped at the sight, but her foot made a bold move by taking the first step. This is it… she thought, pulling her other foot onto the step. No turning back. Hermione began up the tall flight of stairs, her heart beat and every noise she heard made her want to retreat instantly. But she had to find out what was up there. Besides there was no where else for her to go, she would get lost instantly. All the answers were up the stairs.
She climbed and she climbed, each step weighed her down. She felt exhausted as she climbed each step and it wasn't long before she felt she was going to fall right over. But she had a feeling. A feeling in her gut that told her she had to reach the top of those stairs no matter what. Something waited up there. She needed to find it.
Hours seemed to pass as Hermione climbed those steps. Her body fell against the wall and soon her legs began to not move under her command. She had to often time physically make them move with her arms. She knew it was worth it though. But her eyelids were becoming increasingly heavy and she struggled to keep them open. When Hermione saw a light at the top of the stairs, her spirits lifted and her energy flooded back into her as she raced towards the top where the light was. She got closer and closer, her heart pounded as she ascended up the stairs. Her lungs ached for air but she wasn't thinking about it. All she could think about was what was at the top. She was in such a rush that on the last step she tripped a fell. In reaction she reached her hands out and her right hand was slapped against the cold hard cobblestones.
Hermione was lying on half on the steps and half on the floor when she lifted her face up to look around. All she could see was a long hallway, candles on one side and hundreds and hundreds of pictures on the other. At the end of the hallway there was a window, shaped similarly to an arch that came to a point. A yellowish moonlight poured in and lit the hallway better than the candles could.
With all her strength Hermione pushed herself up and steadied her feet on the floor. Her eyes scanned the hallways for doors or any secret passages. She removed her wand from the pocket of her robes. "Aperio," she said into the silence of the corridor. No hidden doors were etched in the side of the stone walls as she had planned. She pocketed her wand and wondered how all the answers could possible be in a hallway full of pictures.
She approached the first frame, and looked taken back when she saw it. The large frame held a picture of many Hogwarts students, (By the crest on their robes) some smiling, some frowning, others making faces(wizard photos you know). Hermione starred at the robes the children wore. They differed greatly than her robes. And the students in general looked very different. Their robes were fashioned a lot like their dress robes, and underneath the girls wore long dresses, and the men appeared to be wearing some type of…tights as Hermione could see. As she starred at it closer she realized it was not a photograph at all but a painting. A moving painting of students from Hogwarts. She glanced at the golden plaque under it that read, "First Graduation Class: Class of 1097."
Hermione began to get excited. She knew exactly where she was. It was the hallway of Class Portraits in which all the previous classes of Hogwarts had their pictures. She had read a brief passage about it in 'Hogwarts a History'. This was the place she had planned to find in order to find out if Ginny had actually traveled back in time. This is where she'd get her confirmation that Ginny was actually in 1967. She began running down the hallway searching for "1967" (Aggh I know the year is wrong but for all sakes lets just pretend its this way!) She passed by the 1200s, 1300s, 1400s, 1500s, and she began getting tired again. However she persisted running down to the 1800s when her run turned into a walk.
Hermione sauntered through the 1800s, her pace growing slower by the second. When she finally reached the 1900s her heart sped up again. She quickened her speed and shot right past the twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. And there she was in the sixties. She searched through 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966 and there it was! Hermione grabbed it hastily and peered into the picture with her brown eyes. She could see many faces, the sixties hairdos had set it with the flip and the bubble. With the guys they had haircuts like the Beatles. She scanned for Ginny, Remus, Sirius, Lily, James and Peter. However she could see none of them in the picture. There were empty spots in between children in which Hermione could not explain. Hermione released the picture and let it bump against the wall. She sighed heavily and leaned up against the opposite wall.
It was then when she felt something move inside of the basket she was holding. Curious, she slipped her hand into the basket and felt around. There were no more goodies in side. However her hand did seem to find a small trinket that she hastily pulled out. She opened her hand to remove a small silver necklace with a flat silver disk at the end. Upon studying it closer she could recognize a wolf on the front of it. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She flipped over the back . Words were imprinted on it. And they were spinning around the edges of the circle. The Dark Lord's Vengeance seeks Young One… Hermione dropped it hastily as she gasped. Where the medallion hit the floor a hole opened. Hermione backed up against the wall as the hole's edge neared her feet. When she could no longer back up anymore she began to plummet downward…
Hermione sat up screaming. She breathed heavily looking around in confusion. She was in the Common Room, her papers and books scattered all over the floor. Hermione put her hand to her chest in order to relax herself as she leaned back against the arm of the couch. It was a dream… she told herself, still gasping for breath. Just a dream. Hermione was still looking around, hoping that when she screamed no one had heard. If they did, they didn't acknowledge it. Hermione was still alone in the Gryffindor Common Room lying down on one of the couches. The fire was still burning, which Hermione reasoned must be why she was sweating. She sat up swung her legs onto the floor. She put her hands to her head to think. I don't understand…what does all this mean? It has to mean something. Hermione recapped her entire dream, trying to analyze it as she went alone. Ginny was Red Riding Hood…so naturally there is a wolf. The wolf…she thought a moment. Of course!! Who else but Professor Lupin! Hermione stroked her chin, thinking hard. And he didn't attack me because I was Ginny! And he loves her! Right…this makes sense. She said coaxing her way through the dream. Okay so – the corridor…that actually exists. And I bet I have to go there. It's the only way to get complete confirmation! It has to be! (This was the hint suggested at the end of chapter ten in case you were wondering) But I don't know if I can remember the way. Let's see – from the Great Hall we go left – Hermione mapped out where she had gone in her dream as best as she could. She felt she had to solve Ginny's mystery as soon as humanly possible.
She rose to her feet and began collecting her parchment, quills and books that had been scattered everywhere during her confusing dream. After she had successfully collected them all and stacked the books up and stored the quills and papers in her bag she lifted them up with a simple Wingardium Leviosa spell so that they floated in front of her as she walked. Hermione cast a spell on her shoes so they would make no noise as she was going on the staircase. Hermione was very careful, holding onto the banister with one hand so she wouldn't fall and create a disturbance and with the other hand she held her wand which she conducted the stack of books. She breathed a sigh of relief when she had made it upstairs.
She carefully opened the door to the Seventh Year Girls Dorm careful not to wake Lavender, Parvati or any of the other girls sleeping in her dorm. She clenched her teeth as she swung the door open. She peeked in to see all the girls were asleep. She tip toed inside past the two of the beds, in which she made her way towards the third bed which was her own. She carefully tucked her things away and then proceeded out the door. She walked to quickly to the door, and accidentally stumbled on the carpeting in which she smacked into with molding on the doorframe.
She had not been hurt, but she was now wondering if any of the girls had heard her. She cautiously moved away from the wall and looked around. No one had even stirred. She smiled victoriously and then more carefully walked out the door towards her destination. Hermione made her steps as light as possible as she sped down the stairs. She figured if she slowed down the stairs were more likely to creak, unlike if she moved quickly. When she reached the bottom of the stairwell, she smiled again proud of herself.
She began moving towards the portrait wall when she remembered that she was a prefect and that she would get caught, since Filch might still be roaming the halls. Hermione considered a Vanishing Spell, but she figured if anyone saw her that a floating wand might look a bit suspicious. Plus it was a bit advanced for her to vanish her entire self. She was afraid that she might mess up and only vanish her hear or something like that. There was only one solution that she could think of. She had to steal Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
Hermione cocked an eyebrow in the direction of the staircase. I'm going to have to be extremely careful she though to herself, figuring the best possible way to go about doing what she was about to do. Its going to be really difficult to explain to any of the boys why I'm in the dormitory and why I'm rummaging through Harry's trunk. Well first I'll need some light – but dull light as to not to wake them. "Lumos," she said quietly. The end of her wand sparked up and became like a torch to her. She then cast the no noise making spell on her shoes again incase they make sound on the wooden steps. Hermione then traveled to the other side of the room to and began up the steps quickly, but quietly.
Once Hermione had successfully reached the top she breathed a silent sigh of relief. The first part was over, but it was now time for the tricky part. She inched her way towards the Boys Dorm in which Ron, Harry, Seamus, Dean and Neville slept. Hermione held her breath as she reached for the knob, her body shaking and her palms sweating like mad. In one quick motion she swung the door open half way.
She peeked her head around the doorframe. All appeared to be sleeping. She heard quiet snores coming from where she knew Ron slept. She giggled a little, but when she did she heard someone in the nearest bed, roll over. She froze to the spot she was standing on in fear. However when they said nothing she relaxed. She hesitantly tip toed past two beds and quietly approached the third, where she was certain Harry slept. She put her lighted wand down towards the floor, so the light would not wake anyone. She spotted Harry's trunk almost instantly and she knelt beside it.
"Alohomora," she said quietly tapping his lock. A bluish glow surrounded the lock and then it opened up. Hermione pulled it off, and gently lifted up the top of his trunk. Hermione lifted her wand over the chest so she could see. She frowned. All she could see where books, clothes, Quidditch Magazines leant to him by Ron, parchment and quills. No invisibility cloak. Hermione sat down on the floor and stroked her chin. She came to an idea.
"Accio Invisibility Cloak," she said clearly and quietly. For a moment nothing happened, but then the whole order of the box was disrupted. Hermione saw a box fly up from underneath the books and assorted items that Harry kept in his trunk. Some contents of the trunk spilled out from being hit underneath by the box and several noises of ink bottles breaking and books slamming against the floor were heard. The box landed beside Hermione and the silvery, liquidy cloth that was the Invisibility Cloak jumped into her hands.
"What was that?" Hermione heard Harry's voice and panicked. She got to her feet quickly and backed away slowly. "Verro," she whispered desperately as the inkbottles cleaned themselves up and books and other things slowly made their way into Harry's trunk. Hermione approached the trunk again so she could close it. She sweated apprehensively. The items were going as slow as they possibly could, as it seemed to Hermione. "Hurry!" she whispered, urging them on.
"Ron? Is that you?" Hermione jumped at the sound of Harry's voice again as she starred at the bed in front of her. She looked down again to see the last book, which happened to be Quidditch Through the Ages fly into the chest. She pushed the trunk closed, in too much of a hurry and it smacked down against the wood of the other side. Hermione's eyes widen as she saw Harry push open the curtain. With that she ran for it, throwing the Invisibility Cloak over herself haphazardly.
She just made it out the door when Harry pulled the curtains back completely. She heard a puzzled grunt come from Harry and she guessed he was probably looking around for what made the noise. Hermione, however decided not to stick around to find out. She ran down the hall, her lit wand still in hand. She was not careful of making noise she was too worried that someone was going to catch her. She sped down the stairs and through the portrait hole breathing heavily.
It took a few minutes for Hermione to regain her breath back. She looked back and relaxed her muscles. I have got to be more careful, Hermione scolded herself. She cursed herself for being so stupid, when she realized she was only taking up time. Without delay she headed for the Great Hall so she could remember her directions from there.
When Hermione reached the Great Hall she strained to remember where she had gone. Okay Hermione think. After the wolf walked out he turned left, like he was going to Defense Against the Dark Arts…right. She turned down the left corridor, her lone footsteps were heard in the corridor since the spell had worn off. Okay now before we get there, we have to turn right into that thin corridor there. She abruptly turned to the right. This continued for many hours, as it had felt to Hermione. She was afraid she might be going the wrong way. Some of the dream was getting blurry now and she couldn't remember exactly where to go. After a long while Hermione finally thought she had reached her destination. She rounded a corner and expected to find stairs as she had in the dream. She looked all around – no stairs. Just a dead end. Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock. How can the stairs not be here! After all this way! HOW?! Dejected, Hermione sighed and sat on the floor miserable. She should have tried to take the Marauder's Map.
She got up and starred at the wall where stairs should be. She began getting frustrated and started pounding her fists against it in anger and frustration. She then slammed her fists against it one final time and leaned up against the stone wall. However, she felt the wall began to shake. Confused, she backed away from the wall and starred at it from a safe distance. The wall appeared to be sliding back, to reveal – Stairs!
Hermione's heart leapt in joy. They're here after all! I found them! I don't believe I've found them! A smile broke through her frown and eagerly she bolted up the stairs in happiness.
As in her dream, the stairs seemed to be endless, her running quickly turned to walking, and the walking turned to leaning against the wall and pushing her way up. The winding stairwell was bitterly cold, dimly lit and the silence seemed deadly. Hermione felt a bad feeling in her gut as she shivered proceeding up another bend. All of sudden, Hermione heard a sound. She whipped around, her eyes scanning. Have I been caught? She thought her eyes raking over what she could see. Am I not alone? After a moment or two after seeing or hearing nothing Hermione figured her mind was playing tricks on her. After all – she was alone and it only seemed fitting that she was going crazy seeing as she was searching for a person who supposedly was sixteen in 1967 and the present time.
The minutes ticked away, slowly and Hermione was afraid that she couldn't go much longer. After all, at most she had gotten an hour of sleep and she was in no condition to be up looking for hidden passageways. She sighed to herself, and considered sleeping on the steps. It was then when she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. The light…I FOUND IT! Her heart picked up speed along with her feet, every footstep taking her closer to answer of the mystery of Ginny.
Within a few short minutes she was at the top, short of air, but finally there. (Whoo! A RHYME!). Hermione looked around. Everything was the same as the dream. Full moon outside the window, endless hall of portraits. Hermione couldn't help but beam. She had found the corridor of portraits, which she bet no other student had found. All though, Hermione did have to credit the dream for finding her way there. It seemed so odd – that her mind already knew where to go. Perhaps there was an outside force acting on her mind? Hermione quickly dismissed that thought. Now I sound like Trelawney she thought exasperated.
Hermione began down the hallway, briefly stopping to see classes of certain years, like the years during Goblin Rebellions and such. However, she was in a rush to get down to the 1967. Her legs ached from her power walking, however she disregarded it. All she could think about was what was in that picture. The answers to everything! She flew by quickly racing through the 1200's, 1300's, 1400's and 1500's. The pace slowed slight at about 1610 and Hermione felt she needed to sit for awhile. Her break didn't last long, because her curiosity was killing her. The 1700's and the 1800's simply flew by and she promptly arrived at the 1900's.
When she got there she could hardly contain herself. The portrait was only meters, then feet then inches away. Hermione's heart skipped a beat and her feet barely touched the ground as she neared it. She gnawed at her nails, she just couldn't take the suspense. She threw off the Invisibility Cloak, ran over to the 1960's and grabbed the 1967 portrait off the wall. She starred into it.
A lot of kids were in this one, all waving and moving about in the frame. Hermione easily spotted James Potter because of his resemblance to Harry. Standing next to him she could see a young Sirius. Beside him, Peter Pettigrew stood and Remus was apart from them book in hand. Hermione was still having difficulty finding who she was looking for. She noticed James Potter was looking at someone. She followed his gaze to find – Ginny? No, it couldn't be. The facial structure of this girl was slightly different then Ginny's. Hermione suspected her eye color was also off. And she appeared to stand slightly taller than the Ginny she knew. Hermione figured this girl must be, of course Harry's mum. Lily was stand close with a few friends, that Hermione didn't recognize. However, as Hermione's eyes scanned over Lily and her friends she spotted something familiar. The girl right next to Lily on the left. It was – Hermione starred at the smiling girl who was waving and stopped to chat with Lily. There was no mistaking it. That was Ginny Weasley.
The red hair color didn't register in the picture because it was in black and white but still there was no mistaking the very pale skin and the freckles of a Weasley. Hermione looked up and starred at the wall, shocked look on her face. All she could think about was how she was right! She knew! The mystery was solved. Hermione beamed as she glanced at the picture once more. She carefully placed it back on the wall, admiring her detective work. I did it she said to herself. I found Ginny.
"What are you so happy about, Granger?" Hermione jumped at the sound of another's voice. She gasped when she saw a figure standing in the shadows made by the lack of candlelight. Her heart was now beating at a fast pace in worry. All color had drained from her face, her teeth chattered and she clutched her wand to her chest. She feared for her prefect badge and her breathing increased in speed. Her whole body was shaking when the figure stepped into the moonlit corridor. It was none other then Draco Malfoy.
Hermione gasped, placing a hand over her mouth as Draco smirked at her. She tried to speak but her vocal cords seemed to have malfunctioned. "Well, well, well," Draco said picking up the abandoned Invisibility Cloak. "Does this belong to you Granger?" he asked holding it up to her. Hermione still shaking, tried to control her rapid breaths.
"Y-y-yes. N-now p-please g-giv-ve it-t t-to m-me," she said shaking more violently, reached out to grab the Cloak from Draco's hand. Draco however swiftly pulled it from her grasp and held it over to his side, still grinning as though hiding a secret from her.
"Nuh uh Granger. First you better explain. What's a Head Girl like you doing out of bed so late at night?" he said cocking an eyebrow in mock curiosity. Hermione's fear quickly dissolved into anger. The little creep! The little stalker! He's a Head Boy…he's got no right to ask such a thing! Her thoughts about Draco Malfoy worsened with every new thought that entered her head.. If she thought that they were already bad – they were at least ten times as bad now.
"I should ask the same question," she spat back at him, her arms folded across her chest and her brow creased in utmost revoltion for the thing she was conversing with.
"Granger don't you remember the little meeting on the train? There's these little things called "shifts" where the Head Boys and Girls patrol the hallways for misconduct. And it happens to be mine right now! Looks like I caught someone on my first round eh?" he said treating her as if she were a stupid ignorant child. Hermione glared viciously at him .
"I know what a shift is! However what I don't know is why you're allegedly doing your "shift" when we were told shift's don't start 'til tomorrow!" she half-shouted, her voice echoing through the long hallway.
"Well I decided to start a bit early. I've got a professor's permission. He's just fine with it. In fact I have a note signed by him, in case I happen to run into anyone in the halls." He shoved a piece of parchment in front of her face and grinned slyly. She grabbed it away from him and studied it. Indeed the paper read "The Hogwarts Staff gives Head Boy Draco Malfoy full permission to patrol the halls on the first day back from Winter Holiday" Signed Professor Severus Snape and Staff. Hermione frowned. Of course Professor Snape would have given him permission, she thought angrily crumpling up in her hand and then hurling it at his feet. Draco starred at it momentarily and frowned at it. Then he looked at Hermione, his hands behind his back making him look authoritative. "And speaking of which…I'll ask you again – what – are- you – doing - here?" he asked bending down so his face was near hers, his voice dangerous and his face marked with cruelty. Hermione breathed deep in order to restrain control.
"I'm – I'm uh I was - " she began, the fear rising in her again. He narrowed her eyes at her and then rose back to his full height, which made Hermione feel tiny and insignificant. "I had to – do a thing that uh…" she tried to think up something, but her brain seemed to blank out. Why can't I do this? Her mind screamed at her. Perfect O.W.L. scores! C'mon Hermione think!! "I got lost," she replied feebly. "On the way to the – bathroom?" she said the last part as a question as if asking, "there's no way you buy this do you?"
"Save it Granger!" he snapped, silencing her stuttering. "I already know, Granger. I know what you're doing here. You were trying to find out if a certain person disappeared into the past. A certain Miss Ginny Weasley!"
Author's Note: YAY! Finally I've updated! Whoo! I'm such a lazy arse and I'm so sorry you guys had to wait so long! Anyway I'd like to thank everyone for reviewing.
Vanilla Chocolate/A Midnight Line: It wasn't supposed to hit you!! ::slaps self for dropping the anvil instead of giving it to Vanilla Chocolate:: AGGH! Not a sneaker! ::cowers in fear:: HERE TAKE THE CHAPTER! JUST DON'T SQUISH ME! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ::runs:: (P.S. Thanks for the update :D Sorry it took so long!!)
Brokentoy 13: Thanks you very much, that reassured me greatly. I'm glad you like it. Thanks a lot for your review :D :D
Lupinfan227: Heh heh indeed, I mean Remus doesn't seem like a big snogger anyway. And it wouldn't be fun unless it was a first kiss thing anyway. Also I'm glad the story isn't dragging. What a relief that is! Whoo! Sorry I haven't had time to read your stuff lately. I haven't had time to do much of anything lately but thanks for the review!
Crystal Moon Magic: I'm really happy you like my story and my plot switching. That was kind of reach on my part. I wasn't sure if it was going to work or if people would even like it. But I'm glad you liked it! It would be nice if she stayed in the past…but I can't give anything away yet! Same thing as for Voldie, he's going to be a huge part of the ending. But shush! I can say no more! And by the way…whom would you pair Ginny up with? Thanks for your comment!!
Karla Marie: Yeah the past chapters are more fun to write and I think on a whole they're written better, but oh well! Yeah Rem and Gin are cute :D :D Thanks for your review!!
DarkAngel31: I can be pretty awful with grammar sometimes. I oughta get a beta reader. Eh – we'll see. As for now I'm going to try to make sure this chapter is better. We'll see. Once again you have amused me :D Hmm – Draco cursing me off eh? ::shrugs:: not that I blame him. After all I'd probably do the same. :D But that was pretty funny anyway. Anyway thanks for the amusing review :D
Deal-with-it: Hey! Just like to compliment you on your story. It is now officially the longest story under Remus and Ginny as the main characters, ahead of the Marauder's Map by luva of timetravel and myself :D Congratulations! Anyway thanks for you review and the Remmy picture :D hehe!
HPGeek: I'm really sorry I kept you waiting so long!! I'm glad you have so many questions but I can't give away anything. And yes about Harry. Ginny feels guilty as though she's betraying. That will be explained further in later chapters. Thanks for the review!!
Galadriel2: WOW! Thanks so much! I'm so happy you think my story is awesome! That's like SO COOL!! Thanks so much for your review, hope you like this chapter! :D
Kitza: You bring up a lot of good points. Yes, I'm aware werewolves are vulnerable to silver. However I'm sort of making it only harmful if ingested. That sort of thing. Actually touching won't harm him (in the story anyway). And the silver necklace is sort of a symbol of for the foreboding of a love between Remus and Ginny that's why it's silver. Also about the diary. This is not the original diary, it's a different one which has the power to let Tom Riddle see whatever she writes through another diary. The original is gone. This one's purpose was to let Tom know Ginny has a crush on Remus and it will serve a larger purpose later in the book. Thanks for the review :D
Leogal: Again I'm SO sorry about updating! I've been so busy! I hope you like this chapter though. Thanks for the review.
Many thanks to Canadian Coco Chick, Violetfury and my bell also! Thanks for reviewing!