A/n: I know that there is a bit of a delay for this chapter, but there is a viable reason: I got a beta! woot! I am so excited. She is Yonavi, and she's awesome. So special thanks to her for being my beta! Any who, on with the story then, eh? I really hope that you will all review, and enjoy it! Here ya go!
Sanity of the
Insane
Chapter 12
Taking a stand
Draco fumed as he spit on the shoe he was holding in his
hand. It was simply unbelievable that he had been sentenced to
spit shine as punishment from that
little Creevey girl. Every day
he felt the loath in him rise a notch for
this girl, and it was
getting so bad, that he actually preferred being around
Potter,
which was saying something. She bounds up to Slytherin,
and
everyone pants like some pathetic beast with no foresight to
what is
happening. It was down right embarrassing, to see a
little first year
mud blood run the show.
But he
wasn't going to stand for it; he had a plan. He would take
her
down, no matter what depths he had to plunge to.
"Ginny?"
"Huh?" Ginny jumped
in her seat and looked around to see who was
addressing her.
It was Colin. "What is it Colin?"
"I was just wondering, I mean, we have potions together and…."
"Colin,
we have every class together, we're in the same year, and
in
Gryffindor."
"I know..." He faltered,
coloring slightly, "But it's just that you're so
good at
potions and all, and I'm well. I'm not so good, so I was wondering
if
we could have a study group."
"Erm, study group?"
"Well actually, it would just be me and you;
I don't really have many
friends. But you'll do it, won't you?"
Ginny actually considered saying no but couldn't resist the
anxious,
hopeful look on his face.
"All right Colin," she sighed, "I'll have a study partnership with you."
Colin brightened like fluorescence lights.
"Gee Ginny, that's swell! Um,
how's tomorrow for you?"
"Erm, sure Colin, I'm free tomorrow for about a half hour before dinner."
"O.k.! Thanks!" He
shouted as he ran out of the room, stumbling all over
himself.
Ginny
smiled and shook her head. Poor kid, he was so clueless. A
shadow
fell across her face as she thought darkly, nothing like
his little sister.
"What are you looking so sullen about?"
Ginny jumped. "Oh, Harry, nothing. I was just thinking."
"Well, if it hurts that bad, you don't have to do it."
"Harry!" she shoved at his arm. "No, it was about Emily."
Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Yea, makes you
think, if she's
already running Slytherin, then what will happen
in her later years?"
"You know, I heard something,
through rumor, but I heard that she could be
related to He who- to
Voldemort." She looked at him uncertainly. "Do
you
think there's a possibility?"
Harry led her by the
arm down the corridor as he thought. "Well, I know
that
Voldemort had a muggle father, and a witch mother. His father
was an
only child, but maybe he had cousins and things. So
broadly speaking, they
could be. But not immediate or
anything."
Ginny nodded. "Yes, but I think
that evil genes are dominant, so to
speak, I mean, all of the
Weasleys, even my third and fourth cousins have
bright red hair,
because it's dominant. So it just makes me wonder if
maybe
she will follow in her dear ole uncle or cousin or what ever
he is, that
she will follow in his foot steps."
"Yea,
I know. But don't worry, if she becomes too much of a threat,
we'll
deal with her while she's still young. Its amazing
though, that some one
related to Colin and Dennis could be
so..."
"Intelligent? Evil? Dominant?
Popular?" Ginny suggested as she pushed
open the Great
hall door.
"Ha, I was going for more of a sadistic
tone, but those too." Harry
laughed. "Wait,
if she's related to Voldemort, then so are the other two.
That's
somehow much less believable."
"Yea."
Ginny smiled as she sat next to Hermione, who was apparently in
an
argument with Ron.
"No, Ronald, that's not
what muggles think, it's what I think!"
Hermione
seethed, with her eyes narrowed.
"Well,
then, I'm sorry. I just thought that when you made the comment…
it
just didn't seem like something you would say!"
Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron struggled to cover his tracks
and make up
for lost time. "Hello Ginny." She
looked at her for a moment, and then her
eyes dropped to Harry's
hand tangled in hers.
Ginny blushed under her friends' gaze.
"So, do you have anything new happening Ginny?" Hermione smiled.
"Erm, actually yea,
I guess I do... We do. Well, last night Harry and
I."
Ginny stopped at the look of terror that crossed
Hermione's face.
"Ginny? You didn't-"
Ginny
glanced at her in confusion. "What? OH! No, no!
No! We became
official."
Hermione sighed. "Oh, that's wonderful! And about time!"
Ron smiled at Harry. "Yea, mate. I knew it
was only a matter of time
after you asked me. I still can't
believe you thought I'd mind. I always
thought I was the
thick one!"
Harry just shrugged and shoveled his soup into his mouth.
"But seriously," Ron continued somberly.
"Oh Ron-" Ginny began to protest, but Ron held up his hand.
"Harry, I'm really
glad that she's with you. But if you hurt her, I'll be
forced
to play the big brother role."
Ginny rolled her eyes as
she turned red. "Ron! We've only been going out
for
a few hours!"
"Well, I wasn't planning on hurting
her, so I guess we're good." Harry
smiled, and then
returned to his food, just as Ron did.
"Boys."
Hermione shook her head at Ginny, "They are so simple that
it
scares me. There brainwaves extend to 'hungry', 'sleepy'
and 'angry'. It's
pathetic really! Well, anyway, I'm off to the
library, I've got three feet
of parchment due in Ancient Runes."
"Bye!" Ron leaned over to peck her on the cheek,
which resulted in them
both turning red as it was their first
public display of affection, and
Hermione to be grossed out as Ron
left remainants of potato on her cheek.
"Aww!"
Ginny gushed, unable to resist the chance to get some of her
own
back.
"Stuff it Ginny!" Ron
mumbled, turning a deep shade of magenta, looking
around
uneasily.
"It was just cute! You and
Hermione! So perfect." She winked at him,
but he
chose to take the 'high road' and ignore her.
"Harry,"
he began instead, careful not to look at Ginny who was still
grinning
at him maniacally, "when are you re-gathering the D.A.?"
"Erm.
I don't exactly know. I am really busy, but I was thinking that
we
could plan it all for a week or so from now. I mean, with
Quidditch
and Defense classes, I am strapped."
Ron nodded, unable to respond as he was chewing on his meal intently.
"Did you say in a week, Harry?" Neville asked
from where he'd just
appeared beside Ron.
"Err,
yea, I was thinking of it. Don't worry; I'll just set the date
for
it on the coins from last year."
Neville's face
dropped instantly. "Coin? Which coin? I don't even
remember having
a coin, so I've probably spent it."
Harry
nodded, realizing that the other members, also, may not still
have
the coins, as the group had been discovered and disbanded by
Professor
Umbridge in her short reign over Hogwarts.
"Well,
I suppose the group is legal now, what with everything out in
the
open, so I could probably just post it on the message boards
in the
houses."
Ron made an indistinct noise, and swallowed. "Not Slytherin!"
"No, of
course not, I wouldn't want Voldemort to have any unknown
insiders,
I've learned from my parents' mistakes." A shadow briefly
fogged
Harry's features, and then cleared. "Well, I
suppose we should all be getting
ready for afternoon lessons, as
they are about to begin."
Ron groaned, "This teacher business is making you sound like Hermione!"
"She's
your girlfriend Ron, so is that so bad?" Harry grinned.
"Oh and
speaking of my 'Teacher Thing' I believe that your
next lesson is with me,
Ginny. So, if you would let me
escort you." He held out his arm, casting a
quick glance over
at Ron.
Ginny rolled her eyes and took his arm.
"Bye you guys, see you all
tonight." She said
generally to those sitting around them. "C'mon Harry."
And
she practically dragged him out of there.
Out in the
hallway Harry cast her a weird look. "Why in such a
hurry? I
thought that I was escorting you not the other way
around." He smiled.
"Ugh, I just wanted
to get out of there, Ron was annoying me. I can't
believe
that he gave you the 'talk'!"
"Well, really
Ginny," He stopped and looked at her. "I meant
what I
said. I am not going to hurt you."
Ginny
looked around uneasily. "Yea, I know that Harry. I
trust you."
She fanned herself. "Wow, things just
got hot!" She giggled, making light
of the sincerity of
the moment. They'd only been dating a short while, and
even
though she'd always anticipated it, she didn't want to move too
fast.
"Yes, I guess they did." Harry
smiled and led her down the corridor to
the room.
"Firenze is putting me solely in charge, says that it will
be
good for both of us. Him observing, so I can get some
experience."
"That should be… fun." She grinned evilly at him.
"Now, you don't expect me to give you a break now do you?"
"Of course not
Harry! How could you even suggest such a thing?"
But she was
still grinning, and Harry just shook his head.
"Ah, here we are, after you," he held the door open for her.
"Thank you." She walked through, and was
met by a few wolf whistles and
various other equally immature
signs of the class's general knowledge of
her new love
interest. Coving her face she proceeded in and sat at her
desk
mortified. How did everyone know?
Harry walked past
her, allowing his hand to graze her shoulder briefly for
reassurance,
but the class saw, and the sounds got worse. He got to
the
front of his class, and cleared his throat loudly, silencing
the room. But
then, a hand shot up in the back.
"Yes Tiffany?"
"Professor, I have a question. Isn't
it against some rule for
teacher/student relationships?"
The class erupted again, only to be silenced by Firenze
making his way to
the front of the room.
"Class!" he
shouted as he reached the front, beside Harry. "I am appalled
at
your immature. Human teasing. Harry has merely taken a mate, as
you all
will."
But it was hopeless, the class went
crazy at the word 'mate' and became
quite unruly, so much in fact
that Harry pulled out his wand and cast a
silencing charm around
the room, ending all the noise.
"Listen."
Harry began, looking around at them all sternly. "I am
only a
year older than Ginny, so lay off of that. It has
nothing to do with
Defense of the Dark arts. Now, for your
insubordination, I will be
expecting three feet of parchment on
the importance of proper class conduct
due next class. Now,
today we will be learning stunning spells."
Ginny walked out of the room, her faced buried in her hands.
"Oh, that was awful! So terrible!" She groaned as Harry took her hand.
"Nah, it wasn't too bad, it'll die down, it always does, trust me, and I seem to be the spawn of gossip around here as a general rule."
"That you are Harry, that you are!" Ginny shook her head.
"Well, if you don't think you're up to it."
"Oh shut up!" She
rolled her eyes. "Obviously I am up to it, I mean,
I
didn't call everything off and run out of that room did I?"
"I see. Well, I will take that as a good sign."
"And
you should." She grinned at him. "Well, I have
to go to study with
Colin now." She rolled her
eyes.
"As in, Creevey?"
"The very same."
"Well have fun." He bent down and lightly brushed his lips on hers.
"Yeah right, loads!" She groaned. "See you at dinner."
"Bye."When Ginny walked
into the library, Colin was already there waiting for
her.
He smiled when he saw her coming.
"Hi Ginny!" He stood as she sat at the table across from him.
"Hi Colin. So, we're here to work on potions, right?"
"Yes, potions."
Ginny sighed, "So, what exactly to you want to know?"
"Well, I just don't
remember what ingredients to use. Or how to measure
things
out. You look really pretty tonight."
"Erm, thanks.
Well, here's a little trick I use for remembering
potion
ingredients. Almost every potion's ingredients will
rhyme if you put them
in the right order, and if they don't, then
you can just put some music to
them and make it a song, so that
you will remember. And as for measuring,
that's a pretty
much independent thing. I don't how exactly to tell you
how
to do this, except maybe to try to keep a steady hand."
"Gosh Ginny, you're so clever! That's why I asked you to help me."
"Look, Colin, while I'm flattered, I'd really
like to just stick to
potions, now here is an example of a rhyme.
Wart Removal Potion: Third
comes thyme, crushed to a pulp,
whilst first you add the shredded tulip
bulb, after thyme its
nutmeg, but second its-Colin, what are you doing"
"Huh,
oh sorry. Ginny, I have a c-confession to make. I didn't
really
need help in potions. I really asked you here
because, well… I was
wondering if you would like to go out with
me sometime."
Ginny stared at him goggle eyed. How
could he have managed to not hear
the news, when he had been in
Defense with her?
"Colin," she tried to say
delicately, feeling truly sorry for him, "I
don't know if
you've heard, but I'm dating Harry Potter."
"Oh,
I've heard, I just didn't think that it was anything serious.
He's
just too arrogant for you. You deserve so much
better."
Ginny swallowed the laugh in her throat.
"So, Colin, you think you're
better, do you?"
"Absolutely.
I mean, I get top marks on everything, I am respectful, and
I've
been told that I'm a good kisser."
Ginny vaguely
wondered who would kiss him, then shook her head.
"Look
Colin, Harry and I are happy, and this relationship has
been pending for
years-"
" See! I would never make you wait!"
Ginny could feel her temper boiling close
to the surface. "Colin," she
said tightly, "I
am with Harry, not you, and I'd appreciate it if you'd
watch your
mouth!"
"Well, it's not my fault that you've decided to date below you."
"Oh, and enlighten me, you are above me or something?"
"Well, of course it's going to sound bad if you say it like that."
"Listen,
you little..." Ginny took a deep breath, trying to hold
her
temper. "Colin, I am with Harry, and I really care
for him, and I'm sorry
that I'm not willing to throw that away for
you."
"Well, I was just letting you know that you
wouldn't be throwing much
away."
"Colin Creevey!
You better watch your mouth, before I hex you!"
Ginny
practically screamed
"SSHH!" Madame Pince, the librarian hissed from the checkout desk.
"Don't worry Madame, I was leaving."
Ginny stormed out of
the library, fuming. How could Colin have the
audacity to
say that he was better than Harry was? She could have
just
punched him.
She was still furious when she
stormed into the common room and plopped
down on the couch,
sulking.
"What's wrong with you pray tell?"
She
jumped at the voice and looked around. "Oh, hello Sarah."
She
greeted the seventh year dully. "It's
nothing."
"Well that was a lot of sulk for nothing."
"I don't know if you know Colin Creevey,
but he is just a creep, that's
all."
"Mmm...
O.k. I see." She turned back to the book she was reading,
leaving
Ginny to her thoughts.
Ginny opened her bag and to her surprise found a letter addressed to her. She opened it, still wondering who it could be from and why that person would slip it into her bag secretly. The letter was short and read:
Ginny,
sometimes
people do things they will regret.
"Ah!"
Ginny dropped the letter on the table, knocking over her
pumpkin
juice. The letter curled and self ignited.
Hermione looked up. "What's wrong Ginny?"
"I
don't know. That letter burned me. It was very odd. I
wonder who
would send such a thing."
"You'd
be surprised," Hermione said bitterly, thinking back to the
painful
sores she gotten from a bit of hate mail in her fourth
year. "What did it
say?"
"Something to
the affect of regretting something. But I haven't
done
anything. So, what does it mean? And more
importantly, who sent it?"
"Well," Ron
said slowly from where he buttered his toast, "The way I see
it,
there are a lot of deranged people in this world, so you can
either
drive yourself crazy trying to figure out which one is
attacking you, or
you can ignore it."
Ginny
rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure you would ignore it Ron,
but who
knows. They are burning me for no apparent reason,
so what makes you think
that they won't be more extreme next
time?"
"Next time don't open your post."
"Oh,
that's clever; throw all my letters away because they may be hexed!
I don't think so Ron, I'll figure out who it is." She
shifted through her
remaining mail, and settled on her new issue
of the Quibbler, which was
always good for a laugh. After
perusing it for a moment, she gasped. "Oh
no.
It can't be."
"What is it?" Harry looked over her shoulder at the paper.
"Listen to this:
Teacher's are encouraging Students at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and
Wizardry to express their feelings towards their
teachers. Recent study
has shown that many teachers in the
Hogwarts system have been very open
with Teacher/Student
relations. Lockhart, who is currently in the closed
ward of
St. Mungo's, was one such teacher, always talking of the
obvious
affection from students. Now however, it is common
knowledge that
Professor Harry J. Potter is openly dating a
student. I ask of you, is
this right?
This is
awful! Who wrote it? Oh, that figures… Rita."
Ginny threw the
magazine down. "Why does everyone have
to pick on Harry so much? Now that
it's proven that he's
not insane, they have to make him look scandalous!"
"Is
that the best she can do now? Write pointless columns for a
tabloid
paper. I mean, this is the same paper that proclaims
that Sirius is, err… was
just a musician?" Harry
smiled. "Don't let it vex you Ginny. I'm used to
the
slander of my name. Especially from Skeeter."
"Well,"
Ginny sulked, "I'm not used to it. And I don't appreciate
it one
bit!"
Hermione scoffed. "As if Rita
has enough self-respect left to care what
the readers appreciate.
I'd say that I've reduced her quite nicely." She
gave a
self-satisfied grin.
"Ugh," Ginny groaned.
"You're only happy that she's not writing about you,
but
don't worry, it's coming."
"Well, when it
does, I'll know what to do." Hermione said nonchalantly,
buttering a roll.
"What are you so kipper about?" Harry looked at her questioningly.
"Well, I've
gotten a letter from my Mum. And it turns out that
she's
pregnant! So I'm going to have a little sister!"
"But what if it's a boy?" Ginny pointed out.
"It can't
be. I won't allow it. I've waited my whole life for a
sibling,
and even though they waited sixteen, almost seventeen
years, they are
finally giving me one. And it would be
awful to bring another male into
my family."
"Maybe she'll be magical, like you."
"I doubt it.
I've researched it before, and it's not too common for
muggle
parents to have many magical children, just like wizards
don't have a lot
of squibs."
"Well, look at the Creevey's!" Ginny protested.
"No one is
completely sure of their muggle relations. It's been said
that
they are related to You-know... to Voldemort."
Hermione broke the yolk of her
egg, letting the yellow run down
onto her plate.
"Yea, that's kind of creepy.
I'll try to stay on the Creeveys' good
side!" Ron
shuddered.
"Wait a moment," Ginny picked up
the envelope that the scorching letter
had come from. "I
think I know who sent me this!"
"Who?"
"Colin! Last night we had a row, and I think he is probably sore over it."
"What was the row about?" Harry wanted to know.
"Well," Ginny blushed slightly in spite of herself. "It was about you."
"Me?"
"Yea,
he went on and on and on about how wrong we were for each other,
and
that I should give him a chance. Don't worry, I set him
straight. I guess
that's why he would send that letter
though."
"Like I said, you don't know what
kind of losers there are out there,
"Ginny!" Ron
said, getting a laugh from the group.
"Well, I
will wait until I get another letter, then I'll confront him.
See
if he will live up to it or not? Or if it's even really him."
Ginny
tucked the envelope between the pages of her Transfiguration
book
carefully, and returned to eating her breakfast, half-formed
thoughts of
what Colin would do next lolling around in her head.
An: Tada! There it is! So, what did you think? Please review, because.. well,… I love reviews! Expect the next update … erm, about next Monday/Tuesday, (I'll have it done, but I am on spring break, and don't really know how Yonavi's time is…) but if it's late, don't freak out, it'll be there. Oh, and as for those who read my other story (the truth isn't far behind me) I am SO sorry. Ick. I have had to rewrite the chapter like three times, and I'm still not done with it. Expect it def. by next Monday. But anyway, now on to my reviews:
Yonavi: Obviously I am in love with you. (not literally of course). I will comment on your reviews now!
Chapter one: Yes, lily and Ginny are quite a bit alike, that's why I like them both so much! They remind me of… me:D
Chapter two: Yea, I made Hermione seem a bit different on purpose. I see it too often that my friends act completely different when there are other people (especially guys) around. Yea, it was a bit harsh, but I think it came off a bit wrong. It wasn't supposed to be like some evil conspirist, more like a realization that not every one would live through this. Perhaps I should have put it a bit more like him thinking it with regret, or with sorrow. Ah, well, maybe you can help me out with that when you beta!
Chapter three: Well, first I must establish the 'bum issue' for like the gazillionth time. I know that it is unpotterish, but, this is a WEASLEY story. Get it? I mean, this is more about Ginny than Harry. The different point of views bring forth different things. You see what I mean? No, they weren't willingly sacrificed. What was meant more was that they have died, but more of martyrs, not willingly, but grudgingly, but it was for a good cause, and they won't have died in vain. Maybe I should be more vigilant of what I say. But I like your reviews, they make me think!
Chapter Four: The dream meaning will be revealed in good time. Patience my dear. And the Alfie thing will come to light later. More will be revealed, and yes there will be a confrontation, but that'll happen later, there is a reason that Ron doesn't talk about it.
Chapter five: Haha. well, yes, they did end up together! (obviously) But I didn't describe the class because, unless something worthy happens, I don't want to drag out the lessons. I have read stories that do that, and unless I have good cause, like maybe suspense or something, I will try to avoid it. Yes, the name Madame Bones is a bit familiar, as she is part of the Wizengammot. (that's misspelled, but w/e)
Chapter six: Ack, there was a bit of confusion with how the thingy (website) showed your reviews. I don't think there is a review for chapter six… Go look at your reviews to see what I mean.
Chapter seven: O.k. I am so glad that it is believable. Yes, I try to show the softer side of Fred and George, it's there. You just have to be in the right place to see it. Yes, harry knowing is a big deal. So much easier. And I don't think you're a rip off. I want every one to do it! but they wont. I am glad that at least some people show the curtesy to take the time to review every chapter. I know I update quickly, but that doesn't mean I don't put effort in! Ah, well, I am just happy that I get reviews!
Chapter Eight: Well, I didn't particularly like the dull boring Krum. I think a lot of his secretivness in the fourth book was that he liked Hermione, and he wasn't trusting. But now the lines are clearly drawn, so he realized that he better get with it! Beau is my own personal word for it. I get it probably from being from the south. I read gone with the wind, and it's a word used frequently, and I like it better than 'boyfriend' which is much more clichéd. And as for your English, I've seen much worse from people who know no other language.
Chapter Nine: Yea, needed to add some squish in there!
Chapter ten: (bangs head on the desk) sorry bout the trelawny thing. Urg. But yea, you got it, different position means more trying out.
Chapter eleven: Ah, you forgot! Hehe, tis o.k. Well, firstly, sanity of the insane is just a title. I'm not gifted like J.k. as far as putting the stories and titles together. I just figured that it would do. Writing is my bit, titling is not. Perhaps when I am done, then I will change it, but for now it still stands.
Don't worry, I am romantically challenged too. Urg. Lol. But hey, better get it out, cause I've learned that some people get violent when they don't' get any fluff! Lol, so I put in just enough to keep 'em coming back for more! Yea, I like the harry/draco scenario. It was fun, and I kinda did it on a whim, glad it went over nicely.
There it is. I guess I'll see you at the next chapter for a review!
Luna lovegood2: Well, don't go mad, as I'm already there, and between the two of us, we may be to much lunacy for one story. But this one was a bit slower, and I've come to realize that it doenst' make a difference. After about a week the reviews stop. Ah, well, glad you liked it!
Talix: O.k. Glad to see some one that is critical, it always helps. Well, I suppose that I'll have to get my beta to fix the whole fourth year thing. It was an honest mistake. The first years will find out soon enough. Don't' worry. Keep reviewing.
HpLovesme: gives casey a THOUSAND cookies because some one read my other story and they found it through you! O.k. (yes, you get more cookies in my other story when I update.) Glad you liked this chapter, and the whole story. Happy (late) easter too!
Sleepyhead: Thanks! Glad you like it! Keep reviewing!
Fleury: Yay, people like my fluff. I was a bit nervous that I would either go too far, or not far enough! Lol Glad you liked it. Keep reviewing!
Someone but nobody: Well, here ya go!
Harry&me: Lol, I'll take it that you like it?
Well, there you go. A general question. me and my friends have a bet on who reads my story. Could you guys please put your gender in the next review? Thanks!
Love yall!
Aimee
