Yes, I know I've already done a fic like this, but I'm not happy how I just kind of didn't know how to write that one and I wanted so badly to write it with Ginny so…deal with it. Lol…
Run…just keep running…
It seemed it was all Ginny ever did. Whenever she encountered a problem, or some unexpected thing: Run. In many ways it made Ginny feel cowardice, like she was letting down her family by not standing and facing obstacles. There was a time when she didn't feel ashamed to run though, when she knew that her hide completely depended on not being found. One thing that could make her run so fast she wasn't sure which was rupture first, her heart or her lungs, running at a speed to incredible that it was amazing the friction alone didn't start her very feet on fire, and that thing was Filch.
Ginny sprinted through the halls of the sleeping school, hung a left, and quietly bounded up two flights of stairs. She had been caught on her midnight walks before, by a ghost or two, even Dumbledore once who kindly told her that it was quite nice outside that night. But this was Filch, and Filch caught Ginny a lot. Ginny figured if she kept running, if she could find a place to hide, for the Gryffindor Tower was on the other side of the school, she wouldn't get detention.
She turned into a couple of random corridors and bounded behind a suit of armor. "Good thing I snatched the map." Ginny breathed to herself, pulling out the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." She whispered. At once the paper began to draw lines and many dots, most of them in their respected dormitories. He was in the hall that led down to the Gryffindor Tower, and Mrs. Norris was in the adjacent one. Good thing she hadn't tried to get back; Ginny would have been trapped.
She was about to put the map away when something caught her eye. Three dots in a room alarmingly close to Ginny, one of which labeled 'Draco Malfoy'. Curious, Ginny crept forward and put her ear to the door.
She couldn't hear anything; they must have put a silent charm on it. Ginny slowly turned the knob and carefully pushed the door open an inch. Music flew out into the hallway and seemed to echo throughout the entire wing. Ginny couldn't tell who was singing, but she liked the song.
"Do you wanna be somebody else?Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more
Before your life is over?
Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With their big fake smiles and stupid lies
While deep inside you're bleeding"
Ginny subconsciously put her weight against the door, trying to make out the words better. This is not smart however, when the door is ajar. Said door swung open, said body fell through, and there was silence.
Ginny quickly stuffed the map in her pocket and looked around. There was Malfoy, lips formed in mid-word. The guitarist was Blaise Zabini. Ginny didn't know the name of the drummer.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing, Weasley?" Malfoy questioned.
"Sorry…" Ginny muttered, turning red with embarrassment as she stood. "Filch…I…sorry." She said quickly, and bolted from the room, shutting the door quite loudly behind her.
Malfoy…in a band…the idea is almost laughable! Oh wait…not almost…
Ginny burst out into a fit of giggles as she made her way back to the Gryffindor Tower. Paintings she passed looked at the girl who was laughing at nothing strangely; a few even went into the neighboring portrait and began to whisper feverishly.
The lyrics to that song were in her head, and she wanted to hear the end of it. She turned into the hallway that contained the portrait of the Fat Lady, lightly singing the few lines she'd heard.
"I KNEW IT!" a voice bellowed, making Ginny jump and scream with surprise. Filch! She had forgotten to check the map! "Empty your pockets!" he ordered. Ginny realized with alarm that she hadn't cleared the Marauder's Map.
"I don't have anything." She tried
Didn't work. "Empty them, NOW!" Ginny slowly pulled the map out and handed it to Filch. His eyes bulged as he unfolded it. "This has to be illegal!"
"No, no it's really not!" Ginny pleaded
"With me!" he ordered, not that he gave her much of a choice, seeing as how he had grabbed her arm and was pulling her towards the Headmaster's office at an alarming rate.
Bloody hell.
"Chocolate-covered-ants!" Filch seethed.
He dragged her up the stairs and angrily pounded on the door. Ginny hoped Dumbledore would be too tired to answer. He wasn't.
"Come in." came a calm, awake voice.
Filch pulled Ginny in and pushed her into the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. What was he doing awake anyways?
"Headmaster, this is the seventh time I've caught this student out past curfew!"
"This isn't the seventh time she's come to see me for it." Was Dumbledore's response.
"Well…I, I haven't caught her all seven times, but I know it was her! I just know it!"
Dumbledore smiled and turned to Ginny. "Is this true, Miss Weasley?"
And the truth shall set you free… Ginny thought.
"Yes sir, I'm afraid it is."
"That's not all, that's not all, sir! She had this!" he whipped out the map, handing it to Dumbledore.
"Hmm…Thank you, Argus, I'll take it from here."
Filch nodded and left the office.
"You seem to be in here quite a lot these days, Miss Weasley."
"I know, sir." Ginny bowed her head. Innocence, go with puppy dog innocence!
"Why, you were in here not three days ago, in that very chair! And…why was that again?"
Ginny sighed. "I hexed Michael Corner and called Snape a slimy git when he gave me detention…"
"Professor Snape." Dumbledore corrected. "And while I'm quite fond of you, Miss Weasley, we need to put these visits to an end."
"Yes sir."
"I know you've been out before. I seem to recall quite literally running into you one night, is this correct?"
"You told me it was nicer outside by the lake."
"That I did." Dumbledore laughed. "But now you've been caught by someone that wants me to take charge and I need to do that Miss Weasley. Why are you always out of bed?"
"I have a mild sleeping disorder. Acute insomnia. If I walk around for a few hours I can usually tire myself out."
Dumbledore nodded. "As do I, when I can not sleep I come here and think."
"About what, sir?" The second the words left Ginny's mouth she wished she could take them back. She really didn't want to know what Dumbledore thought about, and felt a sudden surge of tiredness wash over her. She wanted to go to bed.
"About the war. About Tom (Ginny knew he meant Voldemort), and Cornelius. Sometimes wondering how it is that Severus is still alive. Thinking about how many need to die before this foolishness is over. Sometimes wondering if I myself will live through this."
Now that was a scary thought. Ginny had never thought about what would happen if Dumbledore weren't alive. She had always assumed that he would find a way to lead the Order to victory. And if Dumbledore were dead, exactly how long would it be before she was too? It seemed he was the only thing keeping Voldemort subdued at the moment.
"I'm going to give you detention with Mr. Filch, Ginny." Dumbledore broke the silence. "Sleep well."
"Yes, sir."
Ginny was almost to the door when Dumbledore called her back. "Oh, and Miss Weasley," she turned back as he handed Ginny a large piece of folded paper. "Try not to get caught again."
"Thank you, sir."
Ginny left then, and was beginning to think that it didn't go over so badly. That is, until she remembered her detention with Filch halfway down the stairs.
And the truth shall set you free…Ginny sighed. What a laugh.
So there it is…this first chapter of many (hopefully, if I actually STICK with a story!) Review please!
