Chapter 13
Conspiracy
As they left the Shrieking Shack, Fred and George were shaking their heads in disbelief. "You know, I can't believe we just got outsmarted by Malfoys!" exclaimed Fred disapprovingly.
"Yeah, how did that happen anyway? How'd they get you in there, Ginny?" asked Ron, sounding concerned and curious.
"Well, I-" Ginny hesitated, "… I don't want to talk about it."
"Yeah, what happened?" registered Fred.
Ginny was flushing madly, looking as if she was about to cry. "Oh, I can't believe I was so stupid! I probably shouldn't even be telling you this…" she trailed off.
Harry was now getting rather concerned. In a sympathetic voice, he said, "Come on, it can't be that bad. You can tell us."
Ginny let out a sigh of frustration before saying, "Malfoy baited me into it. As soon as we got here, he said, 'Ginny, you and Potter make a nice couple, but it looks as if you'll be carrying the wand in the family. The way you and Hermione had to come and rescue him last month, it was rather pathetic.' I know I should have been able to resist the jab, but Malfoy is just so cocky, and he was acting as if Harry was at fault for Malfoy having rigged an unfair duel. So I told him that I could beat him in a fair duel. And so I agreed to duel him."
At this point in the story, Hermione gasped and looked over at Ginny in a way that conveyed shock and disappointment at the stupidity of the action. Ron looked respectfully at his sister, as did Fred and George. "Stupid," commented Fred, "but brave."
As this conversation was occurring, the 6 young Gryffindors (current and former) were walking away from the Shrieking Shack toward Hogsmeade. Harry was looking back every once in a while, just to make sure that nobody was following them to sneak up from behind, and so he saw as several forms retreated in the other direction.
"Just like a Weasley," commented George, patting Ginny on the shoulder, "letting anger win out over reason."
"I know that this is just the sort of thing that I was mad at you for doing," Ginny said to Harry, "but I told him that the only way we were going to be able to do it was if he let me pick the place, and if I was able to watch to make sure nobody was following him to where we were going. I picked the Shrieking Shack randomly as a place to go, and there's no way he could've known ahead of time that that's where I was going to pick. I figure he must've had some kind of secret communication spell that allowed him to tell the others where he'd be. Once we got there, the Dark Wizards were there, they must have apparated. I just had time to scribble that note onto that parchment from the inside of my pocket. I didn't even have time to ink the quill or anything, it must transfer messages just on quill pressure and not ink. Anyway, then Malfoy went to get the others, and their plan must've been to torture me before killing me. I'm so glad you guys got there when you did!" It was at this point that she started crying.
"I'm glad too," echoed Harry, who, looking at her, was able to see that helpless girl who he had rescued from the Basilisk during his second year. But he was also able to see the part of Ginny that he… well… he hadn't really thought about it before, but he supposed that love really might be the right term. That noble, defiant, talented young witch who was also sweet and caring. And she had almost died trying to protect his honor.
Harry noticed that the others had increased their speed a little bit, to give him and Ginny some room to talk. He took advantage of the opportunity, "Look, we'll figure out someway to get Malfoy back. And anything that I plan on doing, I promise that I'll tell you first. Just promise me that you'll tell me before you go off dueling anybody again."
Ginny's tears were lessening, and she was beginning to regain the ability of coherent speech. "I promise. I would have told you before I did this too, except that I wanted to prove that I can take care of myself. Kind of backfired though," she smiled slightly at the irony.
"Are we… Are we all right then?" asked Harry. Having just recognized the possibility that he might love her, Harry felt that right now would not be a good time for his relationship with Ginny to end. Granted, he wasn't too certain about the love thing, but this was certainly on a different level than his relationship with Cho had been (although curiously, now with the crying episode, they were beginning to seem more alike). Still, he would definitely prefer to continue the relationship to see where it would lead.
"Assuming that you're all right with me," said Ginny. They exchanged a quick hug before taking a couple quick running steps to catch back up with the rest of the group.
"Well," said Harry, "next weekend's our first Quidditch match-- against Slytherin. We'll have to get them back there. Think we can look forward to a shut-out?" asked Harry, addressing Ron.
"Oh yeah. Those Slytherin's couldn't fly if they were glued to their brooms. And if they're still using Crabbe and Goyle as their Beaters… Frankly, I'm more worried about Hufflepuff!"
They all laughed at this, except for Hermione, who just smiled.
"Oh, guys, hope you don't mind," said George slyly, "but we're going to come watch the game too. Get back on the grounds, reminisce about old times, do a little bit of advertisement for Weasley Wizard Wheezes. And of course, figure out a way to get into the Slytherin lockers and pull a little pre-game prank."
Hermione looked at the twins disapprovingly, but everybody else nodded excitingly.
When they got back to the castle that night, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry huddled in a corner of the common room, trying to come up with a more practical plan on how to get back at Malfoy, the Slytherins, and the Deatheaters.
After a few minutes of exchanging ideas, Hermione came up with one. "Well, I know of this potion… I found out about it doing independent research over the summer…"
Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as if he was about to throw up at this reference to voluntary summer work.
"But it's extremely forbidden and the ingredients are really hard to come by. It's a mind-reading potion. One version must be given to the reader, and a slightly different one to the person to be read. Anyway, if we were to give one to Malfoy, we could figure out how he's been contacting Wormtail… Maybe even find out where Lestrange is staying.
"I'm in," said Harry without hesitation. Sure, maybe such a potion sounded a little drastic, but at least this time Hermione was on his side in the drastic action. Lately, he had become more concerned about being in trouble with his friends than being in trouble with the school.
Ron seemed as if he was holding some reservations. Perhaps he was being corrupted into good behavior because of his prefect duties. But he seemed half convinced just by the fact that Hermione was proposing the idea. "I'm really no good at potions," said Ron tentatively.
Then, Ginny jumped in and said that she would help. Being physically unable to be shown up by his little sister in the category of rule-breaking, Ron had no choice but to join the potions making team.
Conspiracy
As they left the Shrieking Shack, Fred and George were shaking their heads in disbelief. "You know, I can't believe we just got outsmarted by Malfoys!" exclaimed Fred disapprovingly.
"Yeah, how did that happen anyway? How'd they get you in there, Ginny?" asked Ron, sounding concerned and curious.
"Well, I-" Ginny hesitated, "… I don't want to talk about it."
"Yeah, what happened?" registered Fred.
Ginny was flushing madly, looking as if she was about to cry. "Oh, I can't believe I was so stupid! I probably shouldn't even be telling you this…" she trailed off.
Harry was now getting rather concerned. In a sympathetic voice, he said, "Come on, it can't be that bad. You can tell us."
Ginny let out a sigh of frustration before saying, "Malfoy baited me into it. As soon as we got here, he said, 'Ginny, you and Potter make a nice couple, but it looks as if you'll be carrying the wand in the family. The way you and Hermione had to come and rescue him last month, it was rather pathetic.' I know I should have been able to resist the jab, but Malfoy is just so cocky, and he was acting as if Harry was at fault for Malfoy having rigged an unfair duel. So I told him that I could beat him in a fair duel. And so I agreed to duel him."
At this point in the story, Hermione gasped and looked over at Ginny in a way that conveyed shock and disappointment at the stupidity of the action. Ron looked respectfully at his sister, as did Fred and George. "Stupid," commented Fred, "but brave."
As this conversation was occurring, the 6 young Gryffindors (current and former) were walking away from the Shrieking Shack toward Hogsmeade. Harry was looking back every once in a while, just to make sure that nobody was following them to sneak up from behind, and so he saw as several forms retreated in the other direction.
"Just like a Weasley," commented George, patting Ginny on the shoulder, "letting anger win out over reason."
"I know that this is just the sort of thing that I was mad at you for doing," Ginny said to Harry, "but I told him that the only way we were going to be able to do it was if he let me pick the place, and if I was able to watch to make sure nobody was following him to where we were going. I picked the Shrieking Shack randomly as a place to go, and there's no way he could've known ahead of time that that's where I was going to pick. I figure he must've had some kind of secret communication spell that allowed him to tell the others where he'd be. Once we got there, the Dark Wizards were there, they must have apparated. I just had time to scribble that note onto that parchment from the inside of my pocket. I didn't even have time to ink the quill or anything, it must transfer messages just on quill pressure and not ink. Anyway, then Malfoy went to get the others, and their plan must've been to torture me before killing me. I'm so glad you guys got there when you did!" It was at this point that she started crying.
"I'm glad too," echoed Harry, who, looking at her, was able to see that helpless girl who he had rescued from the Basilisk during his second year. But he was also able to see the part of Ginny that he… well… he hadn't really thought about it before, but he supposed that love really might be the right term. That noble, defiant, talented young witch who was also sweet and caring. And she had almost died trying to protect his honor.
Harry noticed that the others had increased their speed a little bit, to give him and Ginny some room to talk. He took advantage of the opportunity, "Look, we'll figure out someway to get Malfoy back. And anything that I plan on doing, I promise that I'll tell you first. Just promise me that you'll tell me before you go off dueling anybody again."
Ginny's tears were lessening, and she was beginning to regain the ability of coherent speech. "I promise. I would have told you before I did this too, except that I wanted to prove that I can take care of myself. Kind of backfired though," she smiled slightly at the irony.
"Are we… Are we all right then?" asked Harry. Having just recognized the possibility that he might love her, Harry felt that right now would not be a good time for his relationship with Ginny to end. Granted, he wasn't too certain about the love thing, but this was certainly on a different level than his relationship with Cho had been (although curiously, now with the crying episode, they were beginning to seem more alike). Still, he would definitely prefer to continue the relationship to see where it would lead.
"Assuming that you're all right with me," said Ginny. They exchanged a quick hug before taking a couple quick running steps to catch back up with the rest of the group.
"Well," said Harry, "next weekend's our first Quidditch match-- against Slytherin. We'll have to get them back there. Think we can look forward to a shut-out?" asked Harry, addressing Ron.
"Oh yeah. Those Slytherin's couldn't fly if they were glued to their brooms. And if they're still using Crabbe and Goyle as their Beaters… Frankly, I'm more worried about Hufflepuff!"
They all laughed at this, except for Hermione, who just smiled.
"Oh, guys, hope you don't mind," said George slyly, "but we're going to come watch the game too. Get back on the grounds, reminisce about old times, do a little bit of advertisement for Weasley Wizard Wheezes. And of course, figure out a way to get into the Slytherin lockers and pull a little pre-game prank."
Hermione looked at the twins disapprovingly, but everybody else nodded excitingly.
When they got back to the castle that night, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry huddled in a corner of the common room, trying to come up with a more practical plan on how to get back at Malfoy, the Slytherins, and the Deatheaters.
After a few minutes of exchanging ideas, Hermione came up with one. "Well, I know of this potion… I found out about it doing independent research over the summer…"
Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as if he was about to throw up at this reference to voluntary summer work.
"But it's extremely forbidden and the ingredients are really hard to come by. It's a mind-reading potion. One version must be given to the reader, and a slightly different one to the person to be read. Anyway, if we were to give one to Malfoy, we could figure out how he's been contacting Wormtail… Maybe even find out where Lestrange is staying.
"I'm in," said Harry without hesitation. Sure, maybe such a potion sounded a little drastic, but at least this time Hermione was on his side in the drastic action. Lately, he had become more concerned about being in trouble with his friends than being in trouble with the school.
Ron seemed as if he was holding some reservations. Perhaps he was being corrupted into good behavior because of his prefect duties. But he seemed half convinced just by the fact that Hermione was proposing the idea. "I'm really no good at potions," said Ron tentatively.
Then, Ginny jumped in and said that she would help. Being physically unable to be shown up by his little sister in the category of rule-breaking, Ron had no choice but to join the potions making team.