Ginny sat quietly in her last class of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts. She looked wearily at the teacher and tried her best to ignore the urge to lunge and snap at the stupid little fat man in front of the classroom.
"Who can tell me how to make a Patronus?" He asked patiently, his gaze landing eventually on a Slytherin sixth year.
"You focus all of your energy on one particular happy memory, that happiest one you've got, and say the words." The Professor nodded and smiled.
"And their uses?"
"To drive back beings of evil, one such as Dementors and the like."
"Very good, five points to Slytherin!"
Ginny allowed her eyes to glaze over, recounting in her mind last night's romp. She could control the change now, alternating with ease between beast and woman, the hard part being donning the human form again. Why change ever?
But those thoughts scared her and she quietly harbored the fear that one day she wouldn't want to change back...
"Miss Weasley!" The teacher waved his hand in front of her nose. "Please demonstrate a Patronus for us."
Ginny stared at him. Why her? She frowned but complied.
She drew up the sensation of being a wolf, that freedom and power...
"Expecto Patronus!" No silvery mist gathered at the end of her wand, there was nothing.
The class snickered at her and the Professor's face fell.
"I'm disappointed, please try again."
This went of for the duration of the period and when the bell finally rang, Ginny was about ready to pull her hair out.
A figure in the shadows smiled and walked away.
Ginny woke early Sunday to the sound of something knocking on her tree.
"Ginny! Open up! We know you're in there!" It was the Dream Team. She looked about fearfully, how had they found her?!
She snarled and grabbed a robe to wrap about herself. She stomped down the stairs and threw open the door.
"How did you find me?" She snapped and glared at them.
"Ginny?" Hermione squeaked and Ron and Harry stared at her.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked.
"What do you mean?" She glared and then ushered them in and up to the library.
They sat on the couch and she folded to sit on the floor. "Why have you come?"
"Ginny...what happened to you? You look, well, different."
"Look." Said Hermione and held up her compact and allowed Ginny to see herself.
("You actually carry one of those things around?!" Asked Ron in a disbelieving whisper and Hermione jabbed him with her elbow.
"Yes you idiot, all girls do. It's a fundamental." Ginny snickered and held up the mirror.)
Her hair was unbrushed and flowing behind her in a fiery red mane and she resisted the urge to groom herself with her tongue. Her cheek bones were more defined and her lips less full then before. Her eyes were a dark, feral green and shinning. Her body was taunt and sinewy; all in all she thought any wolf or human with half a mind would find her irresistible. Her eyes crinkled and she handed the compact back to Hermione.
"I look good." She said and they looked at her in amazement.
"Yeah...I guess." Harry frowned but continued. "Hermione and Ron told me what happened in the forest, to a point, but we want to hear what happened afterwards, among other things." He looked pointedly about the room.
"This is Sanctuary. What happened is that I made so that the wolf will never harm anyone again." They nodded and chewed over the information.
"Okay, but how did you make sure?" Ron asked and Ginny cut him off rudely.
"Well wouldn't you like to know?" The frowned at her but she grinned back at them.
"Fine."
"Is that all?" They nodded reluctantly. "Now how did you find me?"
"Marauder's Map." She nodded, she knew of the map having found them talking about it some years before.
"Alight." She nodded and they sat in uncomfortable silence.
"I guess we'll be leaving now." Said Hermione uneasily with a quick glance to Ron and Harry. Ginny nodded and showed them door.
"Good that's over." She said to Lance and he woofed in agreement.
Reviewer Response:
Terrisina Dragonwagon: Yes, poor Ginny. Who will help her? Not her Prince Draco? (Don't worry, next chapter will have PLENTY of him, fear not! ;D
emikae: It's by She's a Star, great story! She's still trying to come to grips with what's happening and although she's pretty well off, she's kinda tipsy emotionally. There's an idea, I'll think about it, thanks.
Bri: Thanks! Hey, you have the name of one of my friends! Kewl!
Sappjody: Well, I have a LOTR fic in the works but I think I'll finish 'Sanctuary' first.
JessicaDracoMalfoy: Thanks!
Hoppers: Glad you're surprised, and sorry for the short chapter and the wait, it was my bro's b-day and the 'Let's Torture Niamh Association' (aka my teachers) joined in and made a TON of homework. sigh
LilyDwarf: Thanks!
kia: I hope you haven't forgotten and sorry for the wait! Homework sucks.
3roken5oul- This chapter only shows the tip of the ice berg complication wise. Thanks for keeping with the story, your reviews always make me smile.
