a/n: OMG, I'm so sorry about my updates! As soon as I put out the last chapter, my teachers decided that it would be an excellent time to pile a whole shitload of work on us! So, I have been studying and attempting to write, and yeah. Sorry, guys!
Soaring through the halls of Hogwarts as a falcon was challenging, to say the least. Ginny, not quite used to her form yet, bumped into the many walls and sets of armor that filled the halls. Arriving at last at her dorm, she slunk upstairs immediately to take a nap before her written exam. Two hours later, she woke up and looked at her clock. Smiling, she got out of bed, smoothed down her hair and darted downstairs. She had ten minutes to get to the Transfiguration corridor, but she wanted something to eat first.
Dashing into the Great Hall with her bag over her shoulder, she picked up an apple and a small sandwich from the open buffet on the tables. Leaving the hall after nodding to a couple of her friends, she stuffed the sandwich in her mouth and started in on the apple. Seconds later, they were both gone. Ginny transfigured the apple core into a key and threw into a portrait, where a man was unable to open a cottage door. He stuck the key into the lock and the door swung open.
"I say! Thanks miss!" He jovially turned and skipped into the building. Ginny shook her head at how easy the portraits were to please.
"Hello, Ginny." Professor McGonagall's voice sounded behind her and she jumped. "Please find your seat, quill and test and begin. I will be with you shortly."
"Thank you professor."
Care of Magical Creatures was by far the most difficult CAT Ginny had to take, because she planned on going into the Ministry and helping with the wild animals. She stood among her class, about five people and grinned. Not many people had been willing to take Hagrid's advanced class.
"Well! I welcome all of ye' to your final exam! I'm sendin' all of ye' inter the Dark Forest to capture a unicorn. You'll have 'till four ter ride it back to the clearing. 'Yer lucky 'yer all girls. This should be easy fer ya. The firs' person back will get full marks, and the marks'll go down from there by letters. Fer example, firs' person will get a C, second a C, third a C-, fourth an A, and fifth an A. (they go by CAT; congratulations, acceptable, and terrible.) Good luck to ye'! An' be careful!"
"Thanks Hagrid," the girls chorused.They snuck into the forest quietly, each going their separate ways, determined to be back first. Ginny turned right on a path that soon blended in with her surroundings. She had always had a fascination with unicorns and the dark forest, ever since first year.
Heading steadily to the right, she soon came upon a grove full of unicorns. Months of learning about the beautiful creatures kicked into action, and she pulled a small golden apple from her robes, luring one of the small two year olds from the herd. The small, well defined filly trotted gracefully toward her and settled its head near the apple. A palomino mane cascaded across the crest of her neck and met her withers. Ginny nodded, giving permission, and the filly took small and delicate bites to finish the enchanted fruit.
It was no trick, unicorns are very smart at a young age, and the young foal knew of the pact made by taking fruit from a human's hand. She followed obediently as Ginny exited the clearing and found a small grove to work in. Working speedily, she wove a bridle out of ivy and fashioned a bit from a small, green branch. Approaching the unicorn slowly, she whispered as she bridled her.
"It's okay, honey, nothing's the matter." Her voice soothed the unicorns nerves, and she easily slipped the bridle over her head and the bit in her mouth. "You need a name, don't you?" She asked. "How about…Honey?" The unicorn shook her head up and down enthusiastically. "Ok, then, Honey." Ginny stroked Honey's nose gently before turning to the ivy again. She chose some long, willowy vines and wove them swiftly into a blanket, which she set over Honey's back.
"Let's go, shall we, girl?" She asked cheerfully. Honey whinnied in reply and turned so Ginny could mount. Ginny swung up easily and Honey took off at a trot, weaving through the trees. They emerged from the Forbidden Forest presently, and Hagrid's face showed a look of pure amazement.
"Ginny! How'd ye' get back so soon?" Ginny waited until she had dismounted and pulled her makeshift reins over Honey's head before she answered.
"I just knew what to do, you're a good teacher, Hagrid." She smiled brightly. "Now what?"
"Well, ye' need to write a paper on how you captured yer' unicorn. Paper and quills are in me hut. You can let yer' unicorn go back to the forest and you can run in there." He grinned. "Congratulations, Ginny. Yer' first back."
"Thanks!" She frowned sadly before taking her blanket and bridle off of Honey. "Off you go, Honey. Thanks." Ginny dropped a kiss on Honey's nose. Hagrid, who had been watching narrowed his eyes.
"Ye' named 'er!" He yelled furiously. Honey cowered behind Ginny. "Don't ye' know that it binds her to ye'?" Ginny gasped, she had forgotten. Hagrid's voice softened immediately when he saw that he was scaring the unicorn. "Ginny, alright then. Take her in me hut with ye' and then drop her off at the pen in back. I'll take care of 'er until the year's over, but ye' gotta visit everyday, alright?"
"Ok, Hagrid. Sorry."
"It's no problem, but get in there. You've only got another hour." He smiled. Ginny smiled back before starting toward the hut. Honey followed her and jumped up the stairs gracefully. Ginny sat at a desk inside and wrote a detailed report of her adventure before leading Honey to the back of Hagrid's hut. She dropped her off in a large, grassy enclosure.
"Alright, Honey. I'll be back tomorrow morning to check on you. Be good, ok?" Honey snorted before galloping off to the end of the pasture to stand under the apple trees. Ginny hurried up to the castle to pack her bags. Her and Draco were leaving for the Burrow tomorrow at noon. She had just begun to pack when she saw a note on her bed.
Ginny,
How was Care of Magical Creatures?
Meet me in the dungeons.
Dress nicely, we're going to dinner.
Love,
Draco
Ginny rolled her eyes. He could be so commanding sometimes. Oh, well. She turned from her packing and found a slinky green dress. She pulled out a bra and a cute black thong from her drawers and headed into the bathrooms. Showering quickly, she stepped out, dried off, and dressed. With a flourish, she pushed two black hair picks into a tight bun on her head. Quickly applying makeup, she looked in the mirror and deemed herself ready to go.
a/n: hope you liked it! Review please! It motivates me to update faster! and IM me if you want w/ questions n' such at MooseOnDaLoose97! Thanks guys: ) (It's an AIM address.)