Ginny Weasley:

The Lion-Snake Prophecies

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter … I merely worship JKR!

Hey all!

I really want to reply to some reviews, but my internet is down so I have to go post this chapter via my roommates computer and will therefore not get the chance to answer any of your questions or anything until the next chapter (by which time my computer will hopefully be fixed!). I do remember getting a few new reviews though – excuse me a minute … Eeek!!!!! Yea!!!! … okay, all better now – and am looking forward to what people think of my latest installment.

Light love laughter,

Rain

Chapter Three

Ginny spent the next hour and a half helping her mum to prepare dinner in the Burrow's kitchen. There were potatoes to be sliced and carrots to be shredded and Ginny found herself wishing long-fully for the day when she turned seventeen and would be allowed to practice magic outside of school. As it was, the fifteen-year old witch was forced to do everything the muggle way, which was advantageous at the beginning when the cold press of steel was a good distraction from her thoughts, but was definitely irritating an hour later when the hard feelings had been buried and hunger itself surfaced.

At the loud rumbling of her daughter's stomach, Molly Weasley laughed and called the twins, as well as Harry, Hermione and Ron, down to the kitchen. Mr. Weasley left his place at the soup pot to rope in both Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks, who had disappeared nearly forty minutes ago to check out the new reinforcements. Finishing off the last of her carrot slicing, Ginny grinned a few minutes later to hear the genuine relief in Moody's voice as he declared to her father, both out of sight in the garden, that the new addition had proved themselves "satisfactory". By the light chuckle that was surely Tonks, Ginny knew he had – as usual – understated the powerful magics that now constantly encircled her home.

It was all for Harry's sake, of course, but Ginny took enough relief in the added protection that it might all have been built personally for her.

But at that moment who interrupted her thoughts but the devil himself, as Harry, Ron and Hermione poked their heads around the stairwell, the twins bouncing down behind them.

"Hey Gin-Gin!" George called as he and Fred hopped across the kitchen and over to the outside garden. Ginny grinned to see that her brothers really were bouncing – on one foot each and about three inches high. George winked at her as he turned into the garden, and Fred called out as an array of laughter erupted from the back lawn, "Bouncing baby foot lotion! It's a hit in Hogsmeade!"

Ginny laughed and shook her head, about to turn her attention back to the potatoes she was just finishing when a heavy foot on the stair reminded her that Ron was also on his way down. Ginny turned around from the sink, expecting to see her brother, as a new mischievous smile appeared on the edge of her lips as she anticipated the gleeful look in his eye now that supper was finally about to be served. Watching Ron get excited about a meal was nearly as much enjoyment as actually eating it. But as she turned to watch him, Ginny found herself staring at Harry instead, and was nearly knocked off her feet by the hostility in that green-edged gaze.

Harry, staring at her? What, did she have potato flecks in her hair? Was her hand nearly dismembered by the peeler and she stupidly hadn't realized it yet?

But no, Harry wasn't just staring at her; he was glaring at her – a deep-set glare of anger without confusion, hostility without regret. Ginny fish-mouthed wildly, what on earth had she done?

But then a grip tightened around her lower calf as Hiss reacted to her sudden change in emotion, and Ginny felt as if her ankle were about to pop off. Forced to break the fierce eye contact, Ginny momentarily closed her eyes and sent a soothing message to Hiss; hoping he wouldn't do anything rash. When she opened her eyes, Ginny turned her head to look at her brother. Ron was standing a little behind Harry, arms crossed against his chest, and Ginny remembered how hostile Harry had been to Ron and Hermione last year, frustrated at being – as he felt it – left out of the loop. But now Ron wasn't the target of his rage; she was. Ginny stared at her youngest brother; surely he would protect her if Harry suddenly got violent? Which at this moment he looked about to. Ron's face, too, was hard-set in anger, but thankfully it seemed to be directed at Harry, and not at herself. Still, Ron wouldn't meet her eyes, and a moment later he turned and literally stalked out of the kitchen, red hair and freckles shimmering.

Hermione actually glanced once, quickly, in Ginny's general direction, the expression on her face one of calculated interest and abrupt embarrassment for something, either Harry's demanding look or Ron's angry departure, Ginny couldn't decide. Hermione too, however, quickly turned on her heal and dashed after Ron, and craning her neck a little, Ginny could see her talking quietly to Ron just outside of the kitchen, hopefully calming him down.

Upset now herself, Ginny turned back to Harry, still staring at her as if Voldemort himself was watching him with her eyes. A prickle of anger began to grow from Ginny's lower spine – how dare he! It wasn't as if she had done anything, and even if she had, it wouldn't have been on purpose. He had no right to challenge her in her own house, because that's what Ginny suddenly realized it was – a challenge. Well, bloody hell, a challenge she could meet! Ginny angrily set her jaw, clenched her fists and drew herself to her full – though still not very intimidating – height. She met Harry's icy anger with a sudden intensity that would have frightened her, if she had paid it half a mind. As it was, Harry seemed the one surprised by it, and when his gaze dropped a little at her sudden reply to his own statement, Ginny purposely turned her back on her brother's best friend and methodically began placing each peeled potato carefully in the boiling pot on the stove.

Finally, after several tense moments, Ginny felt the hard eyes leave her back and heard the measured footsteps as Harry left the kitchen. Mum, humming quietly to herself on the other side of the kitchen, hadn't appeared to notice anything out of the ordinary.

But it was out of the ordinary! With Harry finally gone, Ginny allowed herself a deep, choking breath and almost collapsed over the sink, her fingers loosening around a potato, brown eyes watching helplessly as it spun in circles around the sink, unable to call even the will to pick it back up again. She felt drained – empty. Exhausted. It was a good thing she hadn't been using magic, because Ginny would have had no way to control it right now. She was shaking, and her mind danced over the last few – had it only been moments? – as she carefully drew in a breath.

What the hell had just happened?

Sure she had always wanted Harry to notice her, he had a bad habit of simply walking by and nodding to her as one would an old family pet, without, of course, the customary scratch behind the ears. For years before she had met him had Ginny entertained herself with a secret crush – silly, as young girls are want to be – for she had never even met the man. But he had seemed so close to her, and Ginny had spent endless nights wondering how they would fall in love.

Of course, things hadn't proceeded nearly as romantically as she had dreamed; they hadn't ever been romantic at all. During her first year at school she had been terrified of actually meeting him, and then she had to go and get herself roped in with the entire Tom situation and had been dealing with that – and not Harry – ever since.

She had actually resigned herself to the fact that he would never even be more than marginally aware of her existence. She had planned to eventually, when he was older, tell Professor Dumbledore about the prophecy, and remain completely out of the whole affair. She had no desire to be famous, and absolutely none to be associated in any way with one Harry James Potter, other than of course through Ron. Being honest to herself, Ginny knew that if he had ever even crooked his little finger, she would have come happily prancing to his side – but those dreams were long over.

And now, just when she was sure her life could never have become more complicated, Harry starts taking an interest in her – and a negative one at that! His behaviour earlier that afternoon became all too crystal-clear: Harry was furious at her, for some reason she could neither understand nor defend against. It couldn't be Hiss, Harry had never found out about her parseltongue abilities, and there was nothing else she could recall that would have driven him into this kind of fury.

Did he somehow blame her for Sirius's death? Impossible, she had been as eager to help as the rest of them, and had been unconscious throughout most of the really important battle anyways.

Ginny sighed into the sink, and with her muscles back under conscious control, reached down to pick up the now still potato. She rinsed it under cold water for a minute to drain away any extra dirt it may have somehow picked up. She finished slicing and moving the potatoes onto the stove, thinking to herself all the while.

There was no getting around it, she had to confront Harry and find out what exactly his problem was. This kind of behaviour couldn't go on – not only would mum or dad notice something soon, but Ginny might not be so able to control her own fury next time. It had been all too difficult to simply turn her back and ignore him; her body never had wanted to ignore Harry. It responded to his moods, and right now she wanted to fight. She didn't like the idea – not that she was afraid of him, or even unconfident in her ability to face him, Ginny had, after all, grown up with six older brothers – but she was hesitant to do it around Ron or Hermione. She wasn't sure if they would side with her or not, though Ron had looked pretty angry at Harry just a minute ago. But he was their best friend, and her only a little sister and annoying fifth-year. All her convictions about fighting in the world might tremble and fall if Ron and Hermione turned against her.

So it was settle then, they would have to meet sometime soon, away from prying eyes. The paddock was the first place that came to mind, and try as she might Ginny could not find a better location that still lay within the Burrow's new-found protection.

Ginny nodded to herself, automatically straightening her spine and shaking back her long red hair; tomorrow then, in the paddock. She wasn't sure how she would get him to agree with that, but she would sure as hell try.

The potatoes were soon finished, and mum bustled her off into the garden to sit with the rest of the family for supper. Dinner was assuredly a classic Weasley affair – the twins smiled at every bite they took from their mother's excellent cooking and a fair number of kind words were said about her part as well. They managed to get Ron once with a dash of Bouncing Baby foot lotion – apparently it also came in powder form, and it took ten minutes for Ron's feet to stop launching in the other direction whenever they touched something solid. Ron didn't look very happy about this, but he did lighten up considerably during dinner; even going so far as to ask Harry to pass the potatoes without too much hostility.

Hermione was pretty quiet during the meal, smiling a little during one or another of the stories being tossed around the table. That wasn't unusual though, the recovering young student had been very quiet at meals of late, and no one obviously thought much of it.

Ginny herself did her best to appear cheerful throughout the meal. Harry's hostility remained palpable, but it was apparently only it seemed so to her, for no one else once commented about it. He sat across from her at the table on the opposite side, and mostly Ginny simply refused to make eye contact with him, talking instead to George on her right and mum on her left.

She did see that Harry glanced a few times at Percy's empty place, but wisely he decided not to pursue his obvious questions, and the subject remained untouched.

It was over an hour later when the meal was finally complete. All involved were leaning back in their chairs, stuffed to the brimming, and Ginny had to fight to keep even one eye open.

Moody and Tonks looked pleased enough to burst by the full meal, and Dad seemed completely satisfied as he put down his fork and declared lovingly to his wife, "That was delicious, darling."

Mum blushed and smiled back at her husband, and Dad's eyes twinkled as he surveyed the tired table. "Now off to bed with all of you, you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow!"

Only the twins seemed awake enough to ask him what he meant, but Dad's eyes only twinkled brighter and he smiled as he shook his head. Mum rose then and tutted them all from the table, while Moody, Tonks and Dad of course stayed behind. It seemed the grown-up's had some matters to discuss.

Ginny didn't care; she was too tired and worn-out to even think about eavesdropping. Everyone else appeared to feel the same, for not even the twins elected to try and hang around, but headed back into the Burrow along with the rest of them.

Ginny deliberately hung back a little though, waiting until Harry, who had been the last to leave the table after Moody called him back for a quick word, stepped into the now darkened kitchen.

If he seemed surprised to find her waiting for him, it didn't show itself on his face. Instead he stopped, messy black hair more limp than healthy, green eyes watching wearily behind rimmed spectacles that shone only a little in the faint light.

Ginny didn't let the worn-out image of him distract her. Instead she leaned over and hissed into his ear, "Five o'clock tomorrow morning; the great oak just inside the paddock. You and me only – and don't be late."

And with that the youngest Weasley turned on her heel and headed up the stairs, her red hair bouncing behind her as the only son of the long dead Potters watched with unreadable eyes as she walked away.

Okay … once again only minor punctuation changes. Tell me what you think!! Review review review!! Feeed the button …