Ginny Weasley:

The Lion-Snake Prophecy

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; I only worship JKR!

Hey All,

Okay, you hate me. I know. It's been ages since I updated. But hey – I've spent the time since Christmas and Comet Moon's email (send him emails and ring his praise … for Comet Moon reminded me about my fan fiction-posting duties) going over and re-writing the previous thirteen chapters.

SO … it's been such a while since I updated that I really encourage all my (very loyal!) readers to run back and scroll through the previous chapters. Not much has changed, really .. (in fact, I thought I'd be changing a LOT more than I did) .. but it's still moderately different. Mostly just cleaned up.

Oh – and much of my understanding and ideas of the Weasley children's attitude towards Ginny, I've taken from Laura Laurent's In the House of the Quick and Hungry. It is an EXCELLENT story hosted on Sink Into Your Eyes, an HG fan fic archive site. Those (very general – you won't find any reference to specifics, so go read her story to find out what they are!!!!) ideas are being used here.

Okay, without further ado – onto the next chapter!! And please please pleaseeee review so I know that I haven't lost all my excellent readers!!!

Chapter Fourteen:

Ginny tried – for the next seven days – to have a quick moment alone with Tonks. But the young Auror seemed to have not a moment to spare. After a few days, Ginny began to wonder if Tonks was purposely avoiding her.

Tonks spent the evenings and mornings patrolling 'round the Burrow with Mad-Eye Moody; immediately after breakfast she usually disappeared (literally – she apparated from the edge of the wards near the chicken coop every morning) for several hours, then returned in the early afternoon to lead the Trio in spell work. Practice lasted until dinner time, before and after which Ginny was generally roped into helping with the kitchen. With the Twins, the Trio, mum and dad, Mad-Eye, Tonks, and Ginny herself eating meals together, there was a multitude of dishes to be cleaned, vegetables to be chopped, and general cleanliness to be maintained. Mum was a firm believer in the theory that hard-work began at home.

Ginny could, of course, have gone to the other full-fledged Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix currently residing on the premises. But Mad-Eye Moody made Ginny nervous where Hiss was concerned. She was pretty sure that Mad-Eye must have noticed the snake that curled daily around her ankle by now, that bloody eye of his missed nothing, but he had yet to say anything about it to her. Ginny, understanding the suspicion with which most members of the magical community regarded Parseltongue's, was content to let that particular conversation lie. And yet, as the days marched steadily towards Harry's birthday and their imminent departure to Headquarters, Ginny knew she had to do something about her friend. Hiss was coming with her to HQ; not only did he insist upon it – and Ginny had learned years ago that only Hiss was potentially more stubborn than she was – but Ginny wanted him to come with her. It had been absolutely horrid having to leave him behind last summer, especially when she knew Tom was finally back out and on the loose. There were so many times she needed his advice … Ginny sighed from her hiding place along the upstairs corridor broom closet … she wasn't about to leave him behind again.

Also frustrating about this week, Ginny decided as she squirmed to get more comfortable in the confining space, was the absolute refusal of anyone to speak about what had happened between Harry and Professor Lupin on the night of Mad-Eye's adventure. Usually if she wanted to find out a secret the Trio was hiding, Ginny could just bury herself in a few textbooks and hang out in the Gryffindor common-room. Only so much time would pass before either Hermione or Ron would crack and talk about Harry. And they could never quite seem to keep their whispers down.

But here at the Burrow, Ginny had no such eavesdropping opportunities. Hermione was still recovering from her summer ordeal, and no longer sat up late with Ron and talked – not even in the kitchen after dinner. During the day, the two friends were almost always around Harry, and both had apparently decided not to mention the incident in his presence. Ginny was distinctly frustrated.

So it was that Ginny found herself wedged into the broom closet on the upstairs landing … Ginny was simultaneously avoiding chores from mum and engaging in her new favourite-thing-to-do-to-distract-me-when-I'm-frustrated-activity – surprise attacking the Trio.

Again, they were most often found together, but exactly twice during the past week Ginny had managed to point her imaginary wand (her index finger) at each of them in turn and shout out "Expelliarmus!" before anyone could get a shot off. The trick was to attack Harry first - his draw was incredibly fast – then Hermione and Ron. Ginny reserved jump-attacking for the boys only, not wanting to further injure her recovering friend, and she only physically attacked them outside. Last night the Trio had gone on another "routine" training adventure with Mad-Eye, and were again sleeping in late. Ginny had ducked into the broom closet almost an hour ago, to avoid having to make breakfast downstairs. Mum, it seemed, had started packing away the clothes and possessions they would be bringing to HQ. Ginny didn't want to get roped into helping with that, either.

Actually, it was rather strange that mum was focusing on packing this morning, Ginny considered to herself as she waited for signs of life in Ron's room across the hall. Harry's birthday was tomorrow, and Ginny had figured that her mum would get all the packing done early, and then spend the last few days at the Burrow getting ready for Harry's inevitable "surprise party". After all, the boy was sixteen this year and it was the first time the Weasley's were in a position to throw a party for him. Ginny couldn't imagine her mum missing out on a chance like this.

And yet, nothing appeared to be happening. Ginny had spent the past few days quietly waiting and watching for the balloons to appear, the box with the party materials to be taken out … but she had seen nothing. Was it, she wondered, perhaps too dangerous to throw a party right now? Had a large gathering of people celebrating been deemed too high a security risk?

They were indeed living, Ginny decided unhappily, in dark days.

Just as Hiss had mentioned, in a muted whisper Ginny could hardly understand, that perhaps they should wait outside for an opportunity to ambush the obviously-exhausted Trio, Ginny heard a soft footfall outside her broom closet door.

Holding her breath, Ginny waited with practiced stillness, and was rewarded with the slight creak from a much-abused floor board. Grinning her to herself, Ginny readied her imaginary wand and with a burst of energy and speed leapt from her hiding place.

"Expelliarmus!" the flying red-head shouted, springing from the broom closet to whirl at the approaching figure.

"Petrificus Totalus!" The figure shouted back, reacting instantly to the unexpected assault. Ginny felt her arms and legs instantly snap together, causing her to lose her balance and hang for a moment on the heels of her feet.

Poised on the edge of the landing, Ginny stared at the figure that had jinxed her and felt her jaw hang loose. "Bill?"

But the next moment, unable to catch her balance, Ginny felt herself topple backwards end over end, down the rickety staircase until she saw the next landing rushing up at her with terrible speed …

"Accio Ginny!" her eldest brother shouted, just before Ginny hit the next landing. The spell gripped her firmly, and Ginny felt herself go shooting up the staircase towards Bill, who caught her in a firm grip.

"Bill!" Ginny cried, overjoyed to see her eldest brother. Looking astonished to see her, Bill quickly removed the body bind he had placed on his sister – much to the relief of Hiss, who hadn't at all appreciated the sequence of events.

"Ginny!" Bill exclaimed, as he undid the jinx and caught her in a surprised hug, "what are you doing jumping out of broom closets at a time like this! I could have killed you!"

Ginny giggled, too happy to see her brother again to worry about what might have happened had his Accio been slightly off, "I've been giving the task of keeping the Golden Trio on their toes," she explained. Bill's red eyebrow's rose and Ginny laughed.

"Dad's idea. I can't actually practice spell-work, but I've gotten really good at ducking!" She glanced over to the stair case and shook her head, "You've got the fastest draw I've seen so far, you know. You even beat Harry."

But Bill shook his head and chuckled, "I don't know, kid. If you had a real wand, I wouldn't have been able to get a shot off at all." He nudged her towards the kitchen, "Come on," he smiled, "let's go find some grub."

Ginny had already had breakfast, but she could easily go for another glass of pumpkin juice. Besides, she wanted to find out everything she could about what Bill had been up to lately before something else came up and he had to leave again. That was a common problem in her family these days.

"So when did you get home?" Ginny asked him as they made their way down the stairs. She didn't bother keeping her voice down; if their little tussle hadn't woken the Trio, nothing would. "I thought you and Fleur had some top secret mission you were on." Ginny didn't mention the details, but she knew (with the help of Fred and George's Extendible Ears) that Bill and Fleur Delacour had been sent to France to make contact with half-bloods who might support their war against Voldemort.

Bill looked down at her reprovingly, but there was a glint of amusement in his eye, "You know fully well that Fleur and I just went on vacation, a little relaxation packet from Gringott's."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Okay ... so when did you get back from your 'vacation'?" She asked, smirking a little, "How were the sights?"

A tiny love-sick grin appeared on Bill's face, "Excellent," he replied in a soft murmur that Ginny was not entirely sure she was supposed to hear.

The oldest and youngest Weasley stepped off the last stair and into the kitchen, and Bill's ponytail hopped on his back as he bounced over to a plate of waiting sausages. "Got back last night," he explained in a normal tone as he cast a quick warming charm over the food, "Harry, Ron, and Hermione came to pick me up at the international-apparatition station. With Mad-Eye, of course." He looked over at Ginny and winked, "Hermione's getting a lot better on a broom, and Ron looks as if he might actually be a decent Keeper."

Ginny grinned as she took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with pumpkin juice, "We actually won the Quidditch Cup last year, even without Fred, George or Harry on the team." A slightly frown appeared on her face as she moved to stand with her eldest brother by the counter, "Is that what Mad-Eye has them doing, then? Missions for the Order?"

But Bill shook his head, "Not really; just small errands to keep them on their toes. I wasn't a priority or anything like that;if I had there would have been a lot more security. But don't worry," he flashed her a grin, swallowing a piece of sausage, "I can look after myself."

Ginny knew he could, but she still worried. Lucius Malfoy might be in Azkaban, but that didn't mean that her family wasn't a prime target. They were pure-bloods who fought back against Tom, and good friends with Harry Potter. Ginny didn't like blaming Harry for her family's predicament; it had been – after all – their choice to take him in. But it couldn't be denied that the Weasley's were now on the Deatheater's hit list.

"It's more the attitude of 'watching-and-waiting' that Moody wants to train them in, I think." Bill was saying. The plate of sausages was almost gone, so Ginny went to the fridge and found a few cold flapjacks. "That's one of the hardest things for most people to learn. It's easy to grow complacent and let an odd movement in the corner of your eye slip by."

Bill took out a frying pan and warmed in on the stove. "Harry's really good at it, actually," he continued, "and Ron and Hermione, too. I know no one's particularly happy about having them semi-join the Order and get some practice, but I think Moody's got the right idea."

Ginny sighed as she handed Bill the flapjacks and watched as he crisped their edges. She hated being left out, but had to admit that it was easier not being directly involved in the war. She had been living in such relative peace at the Burrow these past few weeks that it was sometimes hard to look out the window at the bright summer sky and think of the war being waged across the country right now.

Bill finished with the flapjacks and asked if she wanted one. Ginny shook her head, "I already ate. Mum had me up early this morning to do the garden. It was a mess when we came back this year. I think she's afraid the vines will get out of control if we're gone too long again."

Bill had poured jam over his plate, and started cutting up his breakfast. He stopped and sighed at her words, however, and looked up to meet Ginny's eyes.

"It can't be helped, you know." He told her sincerely, "The Burrow's only so safe, and we know Voldemort's spending his energies rounding up his army and wondering how to break his people out of Azkaban. When that's done, he'll start the attacks again. We've got to be out of here before then."

Sadly, Ginny nodded. "I know, I do – it's the safe, the right thing to do. But I don't have to like it."

"No one likes it, kid." Bill replied as he smeared the jam over his flapjack. He continued in a softer voice, "No one likes what they have to do during a war."

Ginny didn't have any reply for this, so she sat quietly while Bill ate. After a few minutes though, another thought occurred to her.

"Oh Bill – you're a member of the Order. Do you have a little bag from Professor Dumbledore, one with your name on it that you get order's through?"

Bill turned to her, looking surprised. "I do, actually. Why?"

"Does it work both ways?" Ginny asked him, a hint of urgency in her voice now, "Can you send Dumbledore information through it back to him?"

Bill put down his fork and knife and leaned back against the counter to scrutinize her. "Ginny," he asked after a moment's pause, "what do you really want to know?"

Ginny blushed faintly, "I want to ask Professor Dumbledore an … an important question. But I don't know how to contact him."

Bill was silent for another moment. "If this is about Harry …"

Ginny felt anger condense in her stomach, "It's not about Harry!" Why does everyone still think that I fancy him? "It's just a question, Bill. About me, actually."

"You're too young to join the Order, Ginny." Bill told her firmly, "And Dumbledore can't get you any special privileges to do magic. I know it must be hard for you with Ron, Hermione and –"

"Bill!" Ginny looked at her eldest brother incredulously, "That's not it either! Merlin, mum would have my head if I even –"

Now it was Bill who cut her off. He was looking at her curiously, "What is it then?"

Ginny stared at him, anger again giving her strength, "It's nothing like that." She told him firmly, "Just a quick question between me and Professor Dumbledore. Something he told me back in second year. It won't take an instant, but it's something I need to check on."

If Professor Dumbledore had indeed sent her that note, and if he had been telling other members of the Order to watch out for her, Ginny knew this conversation would not look good on her record. But even if he had warned Bill, Ginny wanted desperately to believe that her brother would never believe such stories. At the same time, she didn't want to explain to him why she wanted to talk to Dumbledore, either.

Bill looked confused, but not suspicious. After another moment, he shook his head. "I'm sorry kid, but the pouch only works one way. Dumbledore puts our orders in, and we take them out. The spell-matrix used could possibly be altered to a crude locator device if it ever fell into enemy hands, so one-way traffic only was installed. If the enemy had something to lock onto, it's conceivable they could discover Dumbledore's hiding place, or even apparate into Hogwarts. We can't risk that."

Ginny frowned, "But if all they need is a signal, what's stopping them from smuggling one into Hogwarts anyways? I'm sure Draco Malfoy would gladly --"

But here Bill smiled and shook his head, "Nah, Dumbledore's got protective wards to screen against that too. And the spell-matrix for that kind of signal is pretty complex, almost beyond my ability to construct. No student at Hogwarts would have a chance, so the only way to get something inside would be to alter some spell that Dumbledore's already constructed. No mean feat. The pouch might be an option, so we're just taking precautions." Bill fixed her with a reassuring grin, "Hogwarts is still safe, Ginny," he assured her, "probably one of the last places that is."

Ginny smiled back at him, but then sighed. "So there's no way for me to contact Dumbledore, then?"

Bill shook his head, "Not directly. Once we get to Headquarters you'll see him though. He's there pretty often these days."

But seeing Dumbledore at Headquarters didn't help her at all. Ginny needed him to allow Hiss inside the wards. He was a knowing individual who would be rejected by the Fidelius Charm, of this Ginny was sure. Even owls had to be allowed in, Sirius had told her.

The thought of Sirius made Ginny blink, her eyes suddenly full of tears. But she quickly brushed the offending water away. Bill had gone back to his breakfast, and Ginny didn't want him to see her crying and get the wrong impression.

Just about then, Ginny heard movement on an upstairs landing, and knew that she had missed her opportunity to 'curse' the Trio that morning. Bill, too, looked up at the sound, and Ginny flashed him a grin.

"I'm going to go hide outside," she told him, standing up from the table, "so don't tell them you saw me, okay?"

Bill winked at her and Ginny quickly hurried out the back kitchen door. As she searched for a hiding spot, Ginny mulled over what Bill had told her. When she found a place behind a garden shrub just out the kitchen door, Ginny quickly related the conversation to Hiss.

"Ssso there isss no way of ssspeaking to this Professssor of your'sss?" Hiss asked her quietly as they waited in the backyard. From the sounds of it, Ron was in the kitchen with Hermione while Harry took a shower upstairs.

Ginny shook her head at her friend, "I don't think so, Hiss. Not until we get into Headquarters, and of course then it's too late."

"Maybe you could wait outside," Ginny continued after a moment's grim silence. "I could go in, talk to Dumbledore and he could come out and let you in."

"But what if he isss not there?" Hiss countered. "Here I am protected, but outssside thessse wardsss," he flickered his tongue in a gesture of uncertainty, "I draw attention, little sssnake," Hiss told her, "other reptilesss can sssmell me; and from what you have told me of thisss 'Tom', he isss asss reptile asss mammalssss may come."

Ginny sighed, understanding his concern. "And if he can sense you, then he'll know the general location of Headquarters," she finished for Hiss. "He might not be able to find it directly, but if we were right last summer and he does have some kind of mass bomb or something, then he could just wipe out the entire area without having to find Headquarters at all."

Hiss twirled his tail in a gesture of uncertainty. "We will sssimply have to attempt an entrancsse," he whispered after a moment, "and hope for the besssst."

Ginny didn't like that plan at all. "I have no idea what the wards will do to you Hiss. I can't imagine they would be anything good."

"You will be able to protect me, little sssnake." Hiss told her confidently, giving her a sideways look Ginny couldn't identify. "I have faith in you."

But Ginny, crouching behind the garden shrub, wasn't nearly so sure.

Hey All,

So what do you think? I'm hopping back on the horse here, so send me reviews please! Lots and lots of reviews! Good, bad, etc. etc. And no flaming other people's opinions, please!

Life Love Laughter

Rain

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