Disclaimer: NOT MINE! NOT MINE! NOT MINE!
Unbeta-ed so don't mind my grammar mistakes.
Spoilers: Books 1-4, ignore Book 5
Pairings: NO ONE ATM!
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4. Ginny
(Posted 09/07/03 - Sunday)
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Summer holidays were more than half over and Ron still hadn't found out where Ginny's been going in the middle of the night. He swore to uncover her secret before school began. Percy spent his time at home in his room but ate dinner with the family. As long as he wasn't alone with Mr. Weasley, everything was okay. It took a lot of bribing but the twins finally got on Severus' good side. When asked what they bribed Severus with, they would flash the victory sign, laugh, and disappear into their room.
It was nighttime, sort of late. Ron and Ginny were in the living room, their parents asleep, Percy reading to Severus, and the twins inventing something new. The family clock said so and Mrs. Weasley had added another arrow for Severus the first day he was entrusted to the Weasleys.
"Want to play chess?" Ron said, setting up the board.
Ginny put down her mystery novel. "You always bet me at chess. You should enter tournaments or something."
"I know I'm good but I'm not good enough to make it into a career," said Ron. "Play me and I'll listen to you babble about Severus."
"That's the only incentive you're offering me?" Ginny said, getting up and sitting across from her brother. "You need to work on your bribing skills."
"Yea, I should take lessons from Fred and George," said Ron. "You're white. Go first."
"I know enough about chess to know white goes first," Ginny said, moving one of her pawns. "It's a good thing Severus talking again."
"Uh-huh," said Ron, moving one of his pawns. "But we haven't found out his past yet."
"I've spoken to Percy about Severus but he's tightlipped about everything," said Ginny. "He's kind of like Mum, he tells me not to get involved in Death Eaters or their psyche but because of my age, not my gender."
"Percy is tightlipped about a lot of things," said Ron. "Remember how he didn't tell us about his girlfriend? It was that Ravenclaw prefect, right? And when he and Dad had their screaming match, Percy didn't actually say what the big picture was. Another weird thing was the saying 'big picture' is Muggle. What's with our family mixing Muggle phrases in Wizarding- related subjects?"
"We have a strange family," said Ginny. "Besides, more and more Muggle-born students being accepted into Hogwarts, it'll do us some good to know about Muggle culture."
"That's why we have Muggle Studies," said Ron.
"But not everyone picks Muggle Studies as their elective," Ginny said, frowning as one of her pawns died. "It would be better if we go socialize with real Muggles in a real Muggle town."
"Are you crazy?" said Ron. "We can't reveal our world to Muggles."
"Well, we could socialize with the parents of Muggle-born students," said Ginny. "That's a win-win situation. Purebloods could learn how Muggle live and vice versa and it'll be harmless. Hey, the parents might even let us have a tour around their homes."
"That does sound like fun," said Ron. "You should tell Dumbledore about it."
"You're right, I should," said Ginny. "Do you know when's Dumbledore's next visit?"
"Tomorrow at noon," said Ron.
"That doesn't leave me time to write a detailed proposal," said Ginny. "I guess a list of pros and cons will have to suffice for now."
"Sometimes I think you and Percy aren't part of the family, all commanding and smart," said Ron. "Then again, I don't really fit into our family either but not because of my intelligence, more of my lack of distinctiveness."
"Everybody is unique in their own way," said Ginny. "Go with the flow and you'll find your own individuality. As a matter of fact you already have one. Your level of chess playing is probably the highest in Hogwarts and you beat Professor McGonagall's giant chessboard in your first year."
"Thanks for reminding me," said Ron. "I would be drowning in self-pity if it weren't for you."
"Makes me wonder how Percy survived all these years," said Ginny.
"What do you mean?" asked Ron, taking a knight.
"Bill and Charlie are the two oldest so they get along well together," said Ginny. "Fred and George are twins so they're a pair. Then there's you and me who are the youngest and close in age~~~"
"Which leaves Percy by himself," said Ron. "No wonder he's hanging out with Severus."
"And they're alike in certain aspects," said Ginny. "Maybe that's why Percy was the only Weasley who got along with Professor Snape in Hogwarts."
"Uh-huh," Ron said, checkmating. "Why don't you eavesdrop on their conversations? Then you won't even have to try extracting information from Percy."
Ginny sighed and knocked her king down in surrender. "Believe me, I tried. His room has so many protective wards around it that I doubt a rat could sneak pass them."
"Good to hear," Ron said, knowing Voldemort's loyal follower, Peter Pettigrew, was an Animagus whose form was a rat. "Best two games out of three."
"It may be good because Severus is kept safe but it's not good for me," Ginny said, taking back her captured pieces from Ron. "It's making my job to dig out Severus' skeletons harder."
"You have the Weasley stubbornness," said Ron. "School's around the corner and we haven't made any progress with Severus."
"I can't rush him," said Ginny. "Anything could break him."
"Break him?" said Ron. "What do you mean?"
"Severus is young and his mind is fragile," said Ginny. "We don't know his past so something we say may bring up bad or scary memories. And we don't know anything about the potion that turned Severus into a child. It's too big of an risk to do something reckless."
"Always caring," said Ron. "That's my baby sister."
"Your flattery won't work on me," said Ginny. "I'm not going to tell you where I go at night."
"Come on, I swear I won't tell anybody," said Ron. "It'll be our secret. I hate being kept in the dark."
"Now you know how I feel," said Ginny. "You, Harry, and Hermione never let me in on your secrets."
"Let's make a compromise then," said Ron. "You tell me where you go at night and I promise to let you join in our escapades. And I'll make Harry and Hermione promise too."
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you," said Ginny. "I wish you were this persistent when it came to exams."
Ron's tiny, little voice in his head was cheering. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I don't have to stalk my baby sister to find out her secret! Hurray! Three cheers for Ron!"
"Are you listening to me?" said Ginny.
Ron tucked the tiny voice aside. "I am."
"Absolutely no interruptions," said Ginny.
"Absolutely no interruptions," repeated Ron.
"It was the beginning of summer," said Ginny. "I woke up one night and couldn't fall back asleep so I went out for a walk in the forest. Then I heard the music of a violin and it was a very enchanting piece that I searched for the source. I walked and walked until I came out of the forest on the other side. Right there was a nice and clean house and I knew it was Muggle because I saw Muggle contraptions lying on the lawn. I think it was something to trim grass."
"Anyway, the music came from behind the house so I walked to the back. Standing on the patio was an elderly man with a head of white hair playing the violin. He finished his piece and saw me. We had a long conversation and tea after that. It turned out he had insomnia so he hardly sleep at night and had no family so he was glad to have met me. He is also a retired psychologist, a Muggle who studies the workings of a person's mind."
"He's the one who's teaching you all those theories and stuff?" asked Ron. "Does he know about us?"
"He doesn't know I'm a witch and he's really kind," said Ginny. "He's taught me a lot of things and lent me books to read."
"He sounds like a great guy," said Ron.
"I'm going to miss talking to him," Ginny said, then looking at the chessboard. "I've lost this match."
"Best three out of five," said Ron.
While Ginny and Ron had their conversation, above them were Percy and Severus getting ready for bed. It was their nightly ritual where Percy would read either a potions-related book or magical theories to Severus. Tonight was Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard, a fifth year's textbook.
"The end of chapter four," Percy said, closing the book and shelving it. "We'll read five and six tomorrow since they're both short chapters."
"Kay," Severus said, snuggling in a light blanket on the cot Mr. Weasley laid out. "You tired?"
Percy took off his horn-rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes. "A little. The Ministry had been swarming with newspaper journalists and questions about You-Know-Who and Harry. With school starting soon, they're wondering whether or not Harry would be continuing his education at Hogwarts or if he needs to be in a locked room."
"Should he continue?" asked Severus.
"I really don't know," said Percy. "The situation is getting out of control and Harry doesn't think about the consequences of his words. He has always been pressured about being the Boy-Who-Lived and add in the normal troubles of teenage lives and it's impossible to tell what's running through his mind."
"See doctor?" said Severus.
"That would clear a lot of things up but Dumbledore doesn't want Harry to be questioned," said Percy. "Harry is given special treatment just because he happened to survive an attack from You-Know-Who."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Say Voldemort."
"What?" Percy said, eyes budging out.
"Say his name," Severus said sternly, a perfect image of the adult Potions Master. "It's Voldemort."
"Who told you You-Know-Who's name?" Percy said, color draining from his face. "Was it the twins? Or Ron? I'll give them an earful for telling you You-Know-Who's name. I'll tell Mum, yes, I'll tell Mum."
"Oops," thought Severus. "That accidentally slipped out."
Percy was angry with his family again. It seemed like he was looking for a reason to loathe his siblings further and here was his opportunity. He stormed out of his room and stomped down the stairs. Severus followed a minute, in case he had to stop Percy from doing something idiotic. Ron and Ginny were still playing chess in the living room when they heard someone come in.
"Hey Percy," said Ron. "I thought you were already asleep."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, noticing her brother's glare, which she could see because he wasn't wearing his unnecessary glasses.
"Who told Severus You-Know-Who's name?" demanded Percy.
Ron and Ginny shared a look.
"We've never talked about You-Know-Who in front of Severus," Ginny said, Ron nodding in agreement. "Could he have read the Daily Prophet without us knowing?"
"But the Daily Prophet wouldn't print You-Know-Who's name," said Ron. "Maybe he heard it from Mum and Dad?"
"They wouldn't say You-Know-Who's name," said Ginny. "Nor would Fred and George."
"You two! Shut up!" said Percy.
"What's with the attitude?" said Ron. "You asked us a question and we're answering."
"Sit and calm down," said Ginny. "Your face is all red."
"How can I be calm when I don't know what you're saying to Severus when I'm not home," said Percy. "He's a child. I have to make sure his mind doesn't get filled with things he shouldn't be concerned about."
"He's technically not a child," said Ron.
"Severus is a brilliant child," said Ginny. "He absorbs knowledge about everything like sponge to water."
"We're supposed to be giving him a second childhood," said Percy.
Severus came in. "All of you! Silence!"
They did. The three of them were reacting as a reflex honed from when Severus was their professor and was caught talking in his class.
"I may be seven-years-old but I'm an observer," said Severus. "I observe who my parents talk to and what they're talking about. I know from the information I've gathered that the Voldemort, also know as the Dark Lord, is the same person as the one you refer as You-Know-Who."
Severus paused from the longest speech he had ever spoken. Percy sat down hard on the couch while Ron and Ginny shared another look. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had woken from their slumber from the loud noises and came downstairs to see what was going on.
"Why are you children still up?" asked Mrs. Weasley, her hair in curlers and wearing a faded bathrobe over her nightgown. "It's late."
"Severus?" said Mr. Weasley. "Aren't you sleepy?"
"I am," said Severus. "But I had to let Percy know that I knew You-Know- Who's name was Voldemort because of my parents and not because I heard it from anyone else. My parents talked to their friends about a Lord Voldemort that was going to get rid of all Muggle-borns and it sounded like the You- Know-Who who was beaten by Harry."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were shocked at Severus' speech. One, it was long, and two; the implication of the words could mean he was raised by Death Eater parents.
"WHAT!!!"
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My writer's block is finally over! Hurray for me!
Unbeta-ed so don't mind my grammar mistakes.
Spoilers: Books 1-4, ignore Book 5
Pairings: NO ONE ATM!
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4. Ginny
(Posted 09/07/03 - Sunday)
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Summer holidays were more than half over and Ron still hadn't found out where Ginny's been going in the middle of the night. He swore to uncover her secret before school began. Percy spent his time at home in his room but ate dinner with the family. As long as he wasn't alone with Mr. Weasley, everything was okay. It took a lot of bribing but the twins finally got on Severus' good side. When asked what they bribed Severus with, they would flash the victory sign, laugh, and disappear into their room.
It was nighttime, sort of late. Ron and Ginny were in the living room, their parents asleep, Percy reading to Severus, and the twins inventing something new. The family clock said so and Mrs. Weasley had added another arrow for Severus the first day he was entrusted to the Weasleys.
"Want to play chess?" Ron said, setting up the board.
Ginny put down her mystery novel. "You always bet me at chess. You should enter tournaments or something."
"I know I'm good but I'm not good enough to make it into a career," said Ron. "Play me and I'll listen to you babble about Severus."
"That's the only incentive you're offering me?" Ginny said, getting up and sitting across from her brother. "You need to work on your bribing skills."
"Yea, I should take lessons from Fred and George," said Ron. "You're white. Go first."
"I know enough about chess to know white goes first," Ginny said, moving one of her pawns. "It's a good thing Severus talking again."
"Uh-huh," said Ron, moving one of his pawns. "But we haven't found out his past yet."
"I've spoken to Percy about Severus but he's tightlipped about everything," said Ginny. "He's kind of like Mum, he tells me not to get involved in Death Eaters or their psyche but because of my age, not my gender."
"Percy is tightlipped about a lot of things," said Ron. "Remember how he didn't tell us about his girlfriend? It was that Ravenclaw prefect, right? And when he and Dad had their screaming match, Percy didn't actually say what the big picture was. Another weird thing was the saying 'big picture' is Muggle. What's with our family mixing Muggle phrases in Wizarding- related subjects?"
"We have a strange family," said Ginny. "Besides, more and more Muggle-born students being accepted into Hogwarts, it'll do us some good to know about Muggle culture."
"That's why we have Muggle Studies," said Ron.
"But not everyone picks Muggle Studies as their elective," Ginny said, frowning as one of her pawns died. "It would be better if we go socialize with real Muggles in a real Muggle town."
"Are you crazy?" said Ron. "We can't reveal our world to Muggles."
"Well, we could socialize with the parents of Muggle-born students," said Ginny. "That's a win-win situation. Purebloods could learn how Muggle live and vice versa and it'll be harmless. Hey, the parents might even let us have a tour around their homes."
"That does sound like fun," said Ron. "You should tell Dumbledore about it."
"You're right, I should," said Ginny. "Do you know when's Dumbledore's next visit?"
"Tomorrow at noon," said Ron.
"That doesn't leave me time to write a detailed proposal," said Ginny. "I guess a list of pros and cons will have to suffice for now."
"Sometimes I think you and Percy aren't part of the family, all commanding and smart," said Ron. "Then again, I don't really fit into our family either but not because of my intelligence, more of my lack of distinctiveness."
"Everybody is unique in their own way," said Ginny. "Go with the flow and you'll find your own individuality. As a matter of fact you already have one. Your level of chess playing is probably the highest in Hogwarts and you beat Professor McGonagall's giant chessboard in your first year."
"Thanks for reminding me," said Ron. "I would be drowning in self-pity if it weren't for you."
"Makes me wonder how Percy survived all these years," said Ginny.
"What do you mean?" asked Ron, taking a knight.
"Bill and Charlie are the two oldest so they get along well together," said Ginny. "Fred and George are twins so they're a pair. Then there's you and me who are the youngest and close in age~~~"
"Which leaves Percy by himself," said Ron. "No wonder he's hanging out with Severus."
"And they're alike in certain aspects," said Ginny. "Maybe that's why Percy was the only Weasley who got along with Professor Snape in Hogwarts."
"Uh-huh," Ron said, checkmating. "Why don't you eavesdrop on their conversations? Then you won't even have to try extracting information from Percy."
Ginny sighed and knocked her king down in surrender. "Believe me, I tried. His room has so many protective wards around it that I doubt a rat could sneak pass them."
"Good to hear," Ron said, knowing Voldemort's loyal follower, Peter Pettigrew, was an Animagus whose form was a rat. "Best two games out of three."
"It may be good because Severus is kept safe but it's not good for me," Ginny said, taking back her captured pieces from Ron. "It's making my job to dig out Severus' skeletons harder."
"You have the Weasley stubbornness," said Ron. "School's around the corner and we haven't made any progress with Severus."
"I can't rush him," said Ginny. "Anything could break him."
"Break him?" said Ron. "What do you mean?"
"Severus is young and his mind is fragile," said Ginny. "We don't know his past so something we say may bring up bad or scary memories. And we don't know anything about the potion that turned Severus into a child. It's too big of an risk to do something reckless."
"Always caring," said Ron. "That's my baby sister."
"Your flattery won't work on me," said Ginny. "I'm not going to tell you where I go at night."
"Come on, I swear I won't tell anybody," said Ron. "It'll be our secret. I hate being kept in the dark."
"Now you know how I feel," said Ginny. "You, Harry, and Hermione never let me in on your secrets."
"Let's make a compromise then," said Ron. "You tell me where you go at night and I promise to let you join in our escapades. And I'll make Harry and Hermione promise too."
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you," said Ginny. "I wish you were this persistent when it came to exams."
Ron's tiny, little voice in his head was cheering. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I don't have to stalk my baby sister to find out her secret! Hurray! Three cheers for Ron!"
"Are you listening to me?" said Ginny.
Ron tucked the tiny voice aside. "I am."
"Absolutely no interruptions," said Ginny.
"Absolutely no interruptions," repeated Ron.
"It was the beginning of summer," said Ginny. "I woke up one night and couldn't fall back asleep so I went out for a walk in the forest. Then I heard the music of a violin and it was a very enchanting piece that I searched for the source. I walked and walked until I came out of the forest on the other side. Right there was a nice and clean house and I knew it was Muggle because I saw Muggle contraptions lying on the lawn. I think it was something to trim grass."
"Anyway, the music came from behind the house so I walked to the back. Standing on the patio was an elderly man with a head of white hair playing the violin. He finished his piece and saw me. We had a long conversation and tea after that. It turned out he had insomnia so he hardly sleep at night and had no family so he was glad to have met me. He is also a retired psychologist, a Muggle who studies the workings of a person's mind."
"He's the one who's teaching you all those theories and stuff?" asked Ron. "Does he know about us?"
"He doesn't know I'm a witch and he's really kind," said Ginny. "He's taught me a lot of things and lent me books to read."
"He sounds like a great guy," said Ron.
"I'm going to miss talking to him," Ginny said, then looking at the chessboard. "I've lost this match."
"Best three out of five," said Ron.
While Ginny and Ron had their conversation, above them were Percy and Severus getting ready for bed. It was their nightly ritual where Percy would read either a potions-related book or magical theories to Severus. Tonight was Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard, a fifth year's textbook.
"The end of chapter four," Percy said, closing the book and shelving it. "We'll read five and six tomorrow since they're both short chapters."
"Kay," Severus said, snuggling in a light blanket on the cot Mr. Weasley laid out. "You tired?"
Percy took off his horn-rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes. "A little. The Ministry had been swarming with newspaper journalists and questions about You-Know-Who and Harry. With school starting soon, they're wondering whether or not Harry would be continuing his education at Hogwarts or if he needs to be in a locked room."
"Should he continue?" asked Severus.
"I really don't know," said Percy. "The situation is getting out of control and Harry doesn't think about the consequences of his words. He has always been pressured about being the Boy-Who-Lived and add in the normal troubles of teenage lives and it's impossible to tell what's running through his mind."
"See doctor?" said Severus.
"That would clear a lot of things up but Dumbledore doesn't want Harry to be questioned," said Percy. "Harry is given special treatment just because he happened to survive an attack from You-Know-Who."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Say Voldemort."
"What?" Percy said, eyes budging out.
"Say his name," Severus said sternly, a perfect image of the adult Potions Master. "It's Voldemort."
"Who told you You-Know-Who's name?" Percy said, color draining from his face. "Was it the twins? Or Ron? I'll give them an earful for telling you You-Know-Who's name. I'll tell Mum, yes, I'll tell Mum."
"Oops," thought Severus. "That accidentally slipped out."
Percy was angry with his family again. It seemed like he was looking for a reason to loathe his siblings further and here was his opportunity. He stormed out of his room and stomped down the stairs. Severus followed a minute, in case he had to stop Percy from doing something idiotic. Ron and Ginny were still playing chess in the living room when they heard someone come in.
"Hey Percy," said Ron. "I thought you were already asleep."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, noticing her brother's glare, which she could see because he wasn't wearing his unnecessary glasses.
"Who told Severus You-Know-Who's name?" demanded Percy.
Ron and Ginny shared a look.
"We've never talked about You-Know-Who in front of Severus," Ginny said, Ron nodding in agreement. "Could he have read the Daily Prophet without us knowing?"
"But the Daily Prophet wouldn't print You-Know-Who's name," said Ron. "Maybe he heard it from Mum and Dad?"
"They wouldn't say You-Know-Who's name," said Ginny. "Nor would Fred and George."
"You two! Shut up!" said Percy.
"What's with the attitude?" said Ron. "You asked us a question and we're answering."
"Sit and calm down," said Ginny. "Your face is all red."
"How can I be calm when I don't know what you're saying to Severus when I'm not home," said Percy. "He's a child. I have to make sure his mind doesn't get filled with things he shouldn't be concerned about."
"He's technically not a child," said Ron.
"Severus is a brilliant child," said Ginny. "He absorbs knowledge about everything like sponge to water."
"We're supposed to be giving him a second childhood," said Percy.
Severus came in. "All of you! Silence!"
They did. The three of them were reacting as a reflex honed from when Severus was their professor and was caught talking in his class.
"I may be seven-years-old but I'm an observer," said Severus. "I observe who my parents talk to and what they're talking about. I know from the information I've gathered that the Voldemort, also know as the Dark Lord, is the same person as the one you refer as You-Know-Who."
Severus paused from the longest speech he had ever spoken. Percy sat down hard on the couch while Ron and Ginny shared another look. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had woken from their slumber from the loud noises and came downstairs to see what was going on.
"Why are you children still up?" asked Mrs. Weasley, her hair in curlers and wearing a faded bathrobe over her nightgown. "It's late."
"Severus?" said Mr. Weasley. "Aren't you sleepy?"
"I am," said Severus. "But I had to let Percy know that I knew You-Know- Who's name was Voldemort because of my parents and not because I heard it from anyone else. My parents talked to their friends about a Lord Voldemort that was going to get rid of all Muggle-borns and it sounded like the You- Know-Who who was beaten by Harry."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were shocked at Severus' speech. One, it was long, and two; the implication of the words could mean he was raised by Death Eater parents.
"WHAT!!!"
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My writer's block is finally over! Hurray for me!