Chapter 11: When Things Go Downhill
Ginny was more than sad to see Harry go the next morning, but she also knew she should be happy she got to see him at all. The rest of break wasn't very fun for her; she tried not to mope, but she was so bored just sitting around. All that boredom did for her was give her more time to think about how much she missed Harry, or have the occasional daydream about marriage which would only leave her feeling very depressed. She tried to take on the mentality that if he hadn't asked her by now, he wasn't going to, and that she needed to be happy with what she had. Deal with it, Ginny, she told herself. She would always have Harry in her life; he made a promise to never leave her or the child alone and she knew he would keep it. That was her only comforting thought.
When term started again it was almost a relief for Ginny. Classes were something to keep her mind off things, even though it was getting harder and harder to hide her pregnancy. Being so large hindered her in ways that she wouldn't have imagined. She tried to keep a low profile in classes and never volunteered for anything, which worked to some extent.
One morning, Ginny found herself rushing to potions late after having to stop and use the loo. As she pushed open the door, breathless, Snape looked up from the blackboard where had written down the ingredients for the potion that they were brewing that day.
"Do you consider yourself oblivious to the rules since your brother is a teacher here, Miss Weasley?" he sneered. Ginny rolled her eyes visibly. She didn't have the patience for his behavior anymore.
"No, Professor, nature called. You're not ten years old, I don't see why you always act like a child and try to stir things up like that," she told him, exasperatedly. Snape stared at her. She had reprimanded him like he was a child.
That would not do.
"50 points from Gryffindor, for your tongue, Miss Weasley. And since you walked in late, and missed the first half of this lecture, I think we'll test your potion on you today," he said, his voice barely audible. She rolled her eyes again; she really didn't have patience for scumbags like him. It was then that the list of ingredients on the board caught her eye.
Weightless Potion:
The Weightless potion is designed to keep the drinker floating above the ground with a similar feeling to zero gravity. The Weightless potion allows the drinker to theoretically "swim" through the air, making it a valuable substance when stealth is required in a situation.
1 lb chopped Willow Root
3 drops of wolf blood
1 cup of crushed Milkweed
1 cluster of togron nuts
2 quail eggs
1 lyfelidae whisker
1 Abyssinian shrivelfig
Ginny stared. Of all the items on her list of what to avoid, she did not ever imagine that it would be the Abyssinian shrivelfig that might prove her downfall. She started to visibly shake. She couldn't drink that potion. Slowly it dawned on her that she would have to leave his class.
On a good day (if Snape ever had one), leaving his class would mean murder. Today after what she had (stupidly, she now realized) said she couldn't imagine the kind of reaction that would come from him when she refused to drink the potion and left. She thought about her best approach as she carefully chopped the willow root, and added the wolf blood just as the cauldron began to simmer. Next to add was the Abyssinian shrivelfig. Ginny thought for a second how to do this. Then carefully…
"Ow!" she exclaimed quietly.
"Ginny, are you okay?" Colin asked softly from next to her. She smiled at him gently, and showed him her finger, now sporting a cut.
"Oh, it's nothing really. I just cut my hand when I was chopping my Willow Root. Would you mind adding my Abyssinian shrivelfig for me before the temperature gets too hot? I just need to wrap something around my finger," she asked sweetly.
Colin smiled and plunked it in her cauldron for her. Ginny thanked him doing her best to keep a straight face, while her insides twisted inside her. She felt like she was manipulating everyone since she was lying to them. When Colin turned back to his own cauldron Ginny sighed. She only had one more obstacle before the class was over. She prayed that Snape would forget to test the potion on her, and save her trouble, or that they would miraculously run out of time. She had no such luck.
"Please come and collect a vial off my desk and put a sample of you potion in it," Snape told them 15 minutes before class ended. Ginny stood with the other students to retrieve one, silently praying for a miraculous sudden onset of Alzheimer's Disease on Snape.
The students all went to their cauldrons and dipped their vials into the substance. Ginny was at least pleased to see that her potion was the correct shade of lavender and was omitting a pleasant odor like it was supposed to. At least she would get good marks.
"What do you think you are doing, Miss Weasley?" Snape asked with a sneer on his lips when she went to deposit her vial on his desk. She did her best to make sure he couldn't tell she was shaking. When she did not respond he continued,
"Finally lost your tongue, Weasley? Did you lose your memory too, or did you think I wouldn't remember that we were to test your potion on you today?"
Ginny tried to speak, she really did. But no words formed. When she looked up at him and realized the satisfaction he was getting out of tormenting her, she finally found her voice.
"I can't try it, sir," she squeaked. There, now that wasn't so hard, she thought to herself, finally allowing some air into her lungs.
The amused look he wore from before slid off his face, replaced by one of menacing anger.
"What?" he asked slowly.
"I have to go see the Headmaster," she said quickly, and began to walk to her desk amid the stares of the other students, who had stopped all movement to watch the exchange between Ginny and their Professor.
"You will do no such thing, Miss Weasley! Come back here at once!" he shouted. "It will mean 100 points from Gryffindor and a months worth of detentions if you leave this room!"
Finally Ginny found her calm. He was an ass, and she didn't really care about him. It did hurt her to see the pleading expressions on the faces of her fellow Gryffindors who did not want to lose 150 points in one day from one person. Still, she figured that her baby's safety was worth a lot more than the House Cup.
"I have to go see the Headmaster," she repeated, gathering her belongings. "He will clear things up with you," she told him and walked for the door.
Snape stood up and ran to block it.
"Miss Weasley how DARE you defy me like this!" he said through clenched teeth, his eyes afire. As she made to pass him, he grabbed her arm, which pushed her over the edge. She fought with herself to remain calm.
"Let…go…of…me. Don't ever touch me. I told you I had to see the Headmaster. Now, let…me…through!" When he didn't relent, she lowered her voice, hoping less people would hear.
"I have my reasons, and I'm sure Dumbledore will explain them to you. But if you value your life, I would let go of me now," Ginny was shaking with pure anger and hatred at that moment. The man was an ass. She was sure Harry didn't really need an excuse to duel with the potions master, so she had felt no reluctance to threaten his life. If what Harry told her about his recent duels was true, then Snape didn't stand a chance.
Snape stared at her through narrowed eyes, but Ginny had had enough. She wrenched herself free and marched through the door into the hall.
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The next day was strange for Ginny, as she noticed practically everyone giving her weird looks. They all knew about the incident in the dungeons, and were dying to know the youngest Weasleys reasons for not taking the potion and why she had talked back to the potions master that way. Everyone noticed that the 100 points had been restored (the 50 was still gone since Snape had taken it away for her tardiness) and were now further curious as to know what Dumbledore had done to clear up the situation. Rumors flew about torrid love affairs with the headmaster, affiliations with Voldemort, affiliations with the Order…practically everything. Somehow it wasn't all that hard for her to deal with. The rumors died down after a couple of days anyway. She just kept thinking of how important that standing up Snape him had been for her child's life, and was able to block out the stares.
Ginny mentioned in passing about the situation to Harry. He was proud of her for being so brave to stand up to him, and did not hesitate to say he would happily kick Snape's ass if she should ever ask. She giggled at this, happy that he could at least make her laugh about the situation.
Later that week Ginny entered Defense Against the Dark Arts and eagerly got her wand out onto her desk. DADA was easily everyone's favorite class again, with Ron teaching. He took a leaf out of Lupin's book and did mostly practical stuff with the students.
"Okay class," he told them. Your N.E.W.T.S are coming up in just a few months, so I think now is as good a time as any to start reviewing some more basic things that might occur on the test, and then do a thorough review of the more complex theories, creatures, spells, and hexes you've learned this year. Sound good?" The students murmured their acceptance.
"Alright, everyone grab their wands and follow me!" he told them. The class filed out of the room and proceeded to follow him down a hall. Finally they stopped at the broom closet near the entrance of the castle. It began to shake.
"Who can tell me what you think is in here? Colin?" he said, pointing to his waving hand.
"Boggart?" he asked.
"Good job, yes. Ten points to Gryffindor! This is a particularly stubborn boggart, so I thought it would be perfect to use for this class. Hopefully everyone will get a turn. Do you all remember the incantation?" they nodded, "Then good. Line up single file here," he told them.
As the students began to tackle the boggart, Ginny's baby decided to give her a nice round of kicks. She did her best to stand up straight and not put her hands on her belly, since they would appear in mid-air. Bugger, she thought. Settle down, little one. You really do have impeccable timing.
The boggart turned into a rabid bear just then and began advancing on the person directly in front of her.
"Riddikulus!" the blond in front of her shouted, and the bear was now wearing a tutu and riding a unicycle. The class laughed and Ginny stepped up to the front.
CRACK! The boggart changed and a dead Harry and a dead baby lay on the floor in front of them. The class looked on with widening eyes, as Ginny raised her wand meekly.
"Ri…riddikulus," she whispered to no effect. The blood from Harry's wounds began to seep onto the floor, and the baby let out one strangled cry. Ron was rushing over within seconds, pointing his own wand at the image and finally finishing the boggart. The class still stood there, completely puzzled as Ron ushered a sobbing Ginny out of the hall. He called over his shoulder that class was dismissed before being lost from sight.
When they got back to their quarters, Ginny was still a mess. She sat quietly on the couch, tears leaking from her eyes as Ron paced the room.
"I'm sorry Ron. I'm sorry I cracked like that. I shouldn't have reacted like that…it's just that…it was, it was so real," she whispered. Ron came and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Oh, Ginny, I don't blame you! I blame myself! How could I have not thought that your worst fear would be something like that! And now I've endangered you, possibly. It'll be so much harder for you now, the other kids will talk, or bug you about it…" he said, shame evident in his voice.
Ginny looked at him for a long time. "Don't blame yourself Ron. It's what Harry does too and it bugs me," she told him finally. "It's my fault too, so don't worry. If I hadn't broken down, it probably wouldn't have been such a big deal."
They sat in silence, an agreement forged between them. Finally Ginny decided to take a nap and went into the solitude of her room. She needed to talk to Harry. Even though she knew he was perfectly fine, she needed to see him and hear his voice for reassurance. She shuddered. It had been so real…
Pulling out her mirror she smoothed her hair and did her best to make her eyes appear less red.
"Harry?" she called softly.
No response.
"Harry?" she tried again louder.
Still nothing.
"Goddamn you Harry Potter…of all the nights to not be near your mirror!" she shrieked, biting her lip to hold her tears. She did her best not to worry. As it was, he was hard to reach. The instructors kept the trainee-aurors many long hours now, and Harry often was either away or fast asleep when she was available. They had only talked once so far that week.
Ginny knew she needed sleep, but she needed Harry more. That night she sat up, hoping that he would come home and hear her calling. But he never came, and near dawn she finally fell asleep…
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Long fingers gently strummed on the desk below them.
"Yes, Zabini? You said you have something in regards to Potter?" he asked, his red eyes flashing in annoyance. No one seemed to have anything decent on the boy. Why would this be any different?
"Well, my Lord," he said, hesitating a bit, "My daughter attends Hogwarts school you know…and she informed me of some certain events concerning a Ginny Weasley…"
"Is Ginny Weasley Harry Potter?" he said slowly, his eyes flashing menacingly.
"No, my Lord, she is not…but as you know," he swallowed, "as you know, her brother is close friends with him. And some certain events have brought her to our attention. We think that she might share something with Potter…"
He was vaguely intrigued.
"Go on…"
"Well, Miss Weasley lives with her brother, away from the main dormitories. And then last week, she exited her potions class, standing up to Snape and insisting that she couldn't take the potion he was going to test on her. Dumbledore cleared up her absence. This led people to be noticing her, and just today, she battled a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said, as a snicker omitted from the other Death Eaters in the room. As if the little brats would ever be able to defend themselves…
He was getting annoyed again. What interest did he have in the affairs of teenage girls? This did not concern Harry Potter, and therefore, he was not concerned. He raised his wand, but before he could mutter the curse, Zabini hurriedly finished,
"Her boggart turned into a dead Harry Potter and a dead baby. She dissolved into tears and couldn't fight it."
His eyes flashed, but this time for a different reason.
"Potter and a baby you say?" Zabini nodded.
Hmmm…this was definitely interesting.
"I think it's time to pay that little one a visit again…" he sneered, eyes flashing in excitement. Now here was something he could work with…
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It was a warm summer evening…the night of the graduation party. Ginny looked at Harry with pride as Dumbledore talked with him…This was one of her favorite memories for some reason, even though the events following it weren't…Suddenly there was a sharp sting…
First year, Harry arriving at the burrow, and spilling her porridge on herself…Harry saving her from the basilisk and Riddle…
Third year, Ron telling her to go with Harry to the Yule Ball, but already having had said yes to Neville…
Fourth year, cleaning the house at Grimwald Place with Harry, battling with Harry in the Department of Mysteries…
Fifth year, watching Harry go out with Cho…going out with Dean…her nasty break up…
Sixth year, the Hogsmeade trip…getting drunk…waking up next to Harry…
Her body twitched violently…
Finding out she was pregnant…
Harry telling her he would never leave her…
Telling her parents and brothers…
Talking to Dumbledore about having to hide it…
Harry's Birthday…
Moving in with Ron at Hogwarts…
Christmas…
Potions…
Defense Against the Dark Arts…their baby dead…Harry dead…
Harry, Harry! Not Harry…Please help me Harry!
"Ginny! GINNY!" Ron was shaking her.
Ron and Hermione looked at her with wide eyes as she stopped screaming and pulled herself away from her sweaty sheets.
"Ginny, are you alright?" Hermione asked, her voice laced with concern and fear. "What happened?"
"I…I had a bad dream…" she whispered slowly, massaging her aching back.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked her gently.
Ginny shook her head. It was enough to have to see Harry dead and the relive everything about their relationship once…she couldn't bear to do it again. She lurched to her feet slowly.
"I think you should stay in here today Gin," Ron told her. "You were screaming bloody murder…and shaking and convulsing. It was so scary Gin…I think that a day of rest would do you good…"
She shook her head, more violently this time.
"I need something to keep my mind off things. I need to go to class, Ron." She looked meaningfully at both of them. Hermione nodded and gave her a hug before leaving her and Ron alone.
"Are you sure Gin? I really think…"
"Yes, Ron. I need to get out of here today."
"Alright Gin…" he said meekly, admitting defeat. He hugged her for a long time. "Just take deep breaths okay? It's almost over…"
Wow, she thought, realizing for the first time. I'm at almost 8 months now. It is almost over…Her heart panged at the realization that change was soon to come, but she was more excited than nervous. It was just the boost she needed to get out the door.
"Thanks Ron. I love you," she told him, embracing him again.
"Me too Gin…both of you…" he kissed her cheek and her belly and then left the room. Ginny was left breathless. It was the first time Ron had really ever acknowledged the whole situation. It was just the kind of confidence that she was looking for, and with that, she muttered the pregnancy charm and headed out the door.
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"Today, class, you will be trying something we haven't done before," Professor McGonagall told them. "When dueling an opponent, it is often a good strategy to use transfiguration against them. Can anyone guess what one could do?"
A few hands went up. "Yes, Mister Creevy?"
"Could you transfigure an object to attack them as a distraction?"
"Yes very good thinking! Ten points to Gryffindor. What do you think you could transfigure an object into?" she pointed at another waving hand.
"An animal who would charge it? Anything really…like a dog, or even a rhino," a blond boy answered.
"Yes Steven, that is possible. Any other ideas? Miss Weasley?" Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows when she noticed her hand.
"Could you transfigure their legs into tentacles or something so they couldn't walk? Or could you transfigure their wand into something useless?"
"Very good thinking, Miss Weasley! Another ten points. Now, yes you could do this, but not at this stage. Although you are in Advanced Transfiguration, only highly trained Aurors or specialists should try a difficult transformation as changing another person's legs. As for wands…it is theoretically possible to transfigure an opponent's wand. However, there is no one who can successfully do this who is alive right now," she told them.
Ginny giggled but kept her mouth shut. Harry could. He had done so only a couple weeks beforehand. Professor McGonagall continued then,
"Now, there is one more thing you can do. For instance, you can transfigure a rock on the ground to become a solid wall to block a curse. Yes you can also conjure one, but sometimes transfiguring something is a better option. So today I will be paring you up to duel with an opponent.
The object is to duel normally while employing at least 2 transfigurations to attack your opponent, and 3 to block attacks from them. Does that make sense?" the class nodded. "Good. First up Miss Green and Mister Creevy!"
Ginny watched as the two dueled, realizing that Colin had greatly improved since she had watched him last. A few more duels progressed before she heard "Miss Weasley! Mister Nolan!" Her eyes snapped to the front of the class. She almost groaned aloud; she had hoped to McGonagall might get forgotten about her and she wouldn't have to duel. Her back was sore, her feet hurt, and she didn't have much energy since she only had gotten about 3 hours of sleep the night before. However, she grumbled and made her way to the front of the class.
She and her opponent, a fellow Gryffindor named Lance Nolan raised their wands and bowed to each other, something Ginny managed with a bit of difficulty.
"Begin!" McGonagall shouted.
Lance threw a quick Babbling Curse at her, which Ginny blocked easily by transfiguring a wall. He continued to throw curses and hexes her way until she got him with a well aimed Bat Bogey Hex. While he tried to rid himself of the bat bogeys, Ginny realized that she was in danger of being hit with a Furnunculus Hex, one of the items on the list of things to avoid. Biting her lip, she quickly put an Illusion Charm on herself; creating 4 other Ginny's to surround Lance.
When he had recovered he looked around in confusion and began shooting spells at the five Ginnys, completely lost as to which was the real one. Ginny smiled to herself, and prepared to aim for her final curse…but then,
"Dissillusion!" Lance shouted, aiming at the correct Ginny by pure luck.
The four other Ginny's faded, and left a very noticeably pregnant Ginny in front of them all. Their jaws dropped and McGonagall was at a loss for words as they all stared at her protruding belly.
Ginny's eyes widened. Lance's Disillusionment Charm had not only taken away her four Ginny's, but it had uncovered the other thing she had been hiding. Slowly she looked down at the floor, her ears bright red and tears forming in her eyes.
"Miss…What…Good lord," McGonagall tried. She swallowed; her eyes fiery when she looked at Ginny once more. "What is this Ginny? Is this what it looks like?" she said softly, her voice shaking.
All Ginny could do is nod through her shame.
"Class is dismissed. Ginny, you and I will head to the Headmaster's office immediately. I can't believe he didn't know…" she mumbled to herself, and Ginny didn't bother to correct her. McGonagall would find out the whole truth soon enough.
Realization dawned on her fellow classmates faces as they walked out the door, staring at her. Colin stood still just staring at her, putting all the pieces together. Finally before he left he asked her,
"Why Ginny? Why couldn't you tell me? Why couldn't you trust me?" he said shaking his head. Ginny just closed her eyes and wished for him to go away. She couldn't have told anyone. But it hurt so badly to hurt people who she wished she could be close to. When she opened them again, her wish was granted. However, McGonagall replaced Colin in her vision.
"Follow me, Miss Weasley," she told her swiftly, and ushered her out of the class.
Ginny took a deep breath. This was it. People knew now. It would only get harder from here…
One more month…she tried to tell herself. Only one month of the taunting until it's born. Then I have it to hold and distract me from it all. And then only a few months until graduation…Come on Gin, you can do this.
She walked into the hall with her head held high, resting a hand protectively on her belly.
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McGonagall had been surprised to say the least when she had heard that Dumbledore knew that Ginny was pregnant. In his office, he had just told McGonagall that he had his reasons for Ginny to stay at Hogwarts. But he didn't share them with her. This fact scared Ginny a bit…not even trusting McGonagall with something? She shook her head in wonder as to how much danger she was really in.
Ginny resumed class a couple days later. Dumbledore had given the students a speech about her one night at dinner, simply saying that he knew about her situation, and that the students should please refrain from talking about it with her. That didn't mean that they didn't talk about it without her though.
Rumors flew. Who was the father? No one knew, but a few guesses were Snape, or a Death Eater, perhaps her old boyfriend Dean, and finally Harry himself because of the DADA incident. However, no one actually asked her, and so she remained quiet. Even Colin no longer talked to her, still furious that she hadn't trusted him. Ginny was terribly lonely and hated the looks she got from people as she walked the corridors, but she held her head high and reminded herself what she was doing this for.
Harry. Their baby. The end was in sight.
Harry had almost left his flat to come be with her when she told him what had happened. She refused to let him come though---he was required to be available for contact, and she didn't want him getting into any trouble. As she put it, "I'm in enough trouble for the both of us. If you are missing…it might look weird," so Harry didn't come.
Harry hated the feeling inside of him: he felt that he wasn't keeping his promise to always be there for Ginny and their child. He wanted to make things official. He wanted to make her happy and content. He hated that she was being ridiculed and tormented and was lonely. She didn't deserve that.
Somehow, he couldn't not grin to himself. Soon that would be over. It was only one week until the next Hogsmeade visit, and he had managed to get a day off. He had had to beg and plead, but finally his instructors had let him have the afternoon and evening. They didn't like that he wouldn't admit what exactly he was doing, but finally he convinced them, swearing that it was of the utmost importance. He smiled once more. It truly was.
"Ginny, I have a surprise for you," he told her later that week. He had just received a letter from Charlie, giving his blessing. That was the last Weasley.
"Yea Harry?" Ginny said hopefully.
"Well, I happened to manage an afternoon off…on a Hogsmeade weekend."
"Oh, Harry! That's wonderful! But you know we can't be seen…"
"I know Gin, that's why you get dressed up, and meet me outside the gates at 5 PM on Saturday night. We'll apparate to where we're going from there. No one will recognize us, I promise," he said with a wink.
"Alright Harry!" she grinned. "I can't wait…"
Neither can I…he thought nervously. But instead he responded with his love and a goodnight, and with that Ginny went to bed.
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Ginny was walking through the corridors with her head held high…students stole glances over their shoulders at her, whispering obviously to each other…Then…
Potions class…
Defense Against the Dark Arts…
Talking to Ron…
Waking from her nightmare…
Transfiguration…dueling…shame…
Talking with Dumbledore…
Talking with Harry…
He body spasmed…
Planning Hogsmeade…Saturday…5 PM…front gates…Saturday…5 PM…front gates…SATURDAY…5 PM…FRONT GATES…
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Long fingers drummed slowly on a desk.
A haunting laugh echoed from beneath a dark cloak.
The end was coming.
He finally had found a way to Harry Potter…
Author's Note: I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had a great time writing it. Hopefully you will notice that things have picked up a bit. ;) Here comes the action parts of it….muahaha…please don't mind my manical laughter…On another note, I think this is my longest chapter…w00t go me…I think…lol
I really really really hope that you take the 30 seconds it takes to review. As lame as this sounds, a review really brightens my day and makes me want to write more. There are only a couple more chapters to go plus an epilogue, so get your reviews in while you can…:D Anyway, I'll stop there…
don'ttouchmysexyferret: haha I love your name! Thanks for reviewing, I'm very glad you are enjoying it!
YelloWitchGrl: aww man! I hate it when I make grammatical errors…bugger…and I'm sure this chapter is full of them too since it's 11:30 at night right now as I am about to proofread it. Alas! I will fix it all once the story is finished ;) Thanks for pointing it out :D
However, it's possible that the use of excess "Well's" or whatever was just me trying to sound like people were talking…I don't know…It's also very possible that it wasn't! LOL okay I better stop typing in here and proofread before I fall asleep at the keyboard!
SaintEmo: Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoy!
MeaghanPotter: Thank you again! And thank you for being such a faithful reviewer! I hope this chapter it to your satisfaction as well :D
