Author's note: Chapter Three, Of Lessons and Luck, really starts off the story in my opinion. Chapter Two was almost there, but not quite. I really like how the story is going from this point on. Oh, and I guess there's no way to get the indents to show up? Heh, oh well.
The first two weeks of classes had been the most boring that Ginny could remember. They were filled with dreary lectures on review material and very few practical lessons for any of the classes. Latin, which Ginny had decided to take this year, was the only subject in which she was learning anything, considering she knew nothing of which to review. Today would be her first quiz in the class, and as she made her way to breakfast with vocabulary swimming through her head, Ginny bumped into Sycamore Mordant and Colin Creevey, two Gryffindor boys in her year.
"…I was just saying he's a bit odd, you know? I mean, he's way better than Lockhart, by a million and stuff…" Sycamore was saying as he entered the Great Hall, "But the guy has this aura about him or something, I can't place it, but it creeps me out."
"His classes are great though. That first lesson with the doorknob that was enchanted to bite ill-willed visitors was hilarious! If only we could catch Malfoy with that one… Anyhow, the guy is really fair. He hasn't assigned any long essays yet, and—"
"He's really nice," Ginny interrupted Colin as she came up behind them, figuring out who they must be talking about. "Remember when the dementors came on the train? That's when I first met Professor Lupin, he was the one who fought it off for us."
"Which suffice to say, means he knows what he is doing," Colin added.
Sycamore was thoughtful as they looked for seats, "Yea, I guess. I just wish I knew what it is about Professor Lupin that gives me such a strange vibe when I'm around him."
"Do you really?" Snape drawled under his breath as he passed the second years on his way to the staff table.
Ginny was on the offensive immediately, "Now there's a slimy git if I've ever seen one. Eavesdropping on us like that. What a peeve."
"Heh, you should hear Ashlyn going on about him in class." Colin said as he scooped eggs and potatoes onto a plate.
"That reminds me, have any of you actually seen Ashlyn? I haven't seen her at all since last night. She wasn't in the dorm or the bathroom this morning."
Colin and Sycamore both shrugged, their mouths too full to verbally answer. Ginny was somewhat relieved that it wasn't only her brothers who insisted on stuffing their faces when it came to food. She cast an amused look over them.
"Hmm, well then, I guess I'll just have a look around for her, shall I?" grabbing a piece of toast, Ginny excused herself from the table and made her way to the entrance hall, occasionally waving at friends she had yet to see.
Ginny was heading to the stairs when she saw Harry and Ron making their way towards the Great Hall.
"'Morn, Gin…" Ron grumbled, still half asleep himself.
"
Hey Ginny," Harry said to her as an afterthought.
"Oh, hi Harry." Ginny let them pass before mentally smacking herself on the head. Why must I blush whenever he says my name? Why do I have to act so stupidly immature in front of him? He'll never notice you like you want him to if you keep acting so childish…
"Good morning, Ginny."
Ginny let her shoulders droop. She didn't want to talk to Blaise right now. She had managed to avoid him, no more than the occasional glimpse exchanged. He had tried speaking with her in their Latin class but she hadn't responded. I never want to talk to him again…but then…
She turned around and Blaise was still standing at the top of the stairs leading to the dungeons. He was hastily dressed and tired looking, his face was more drawn today than the previous. I'd think more Slytherins would look like that, considering they live down there.
"Look, I just wanted to say—" he began, but paused as if considering his words very carefully. "…I'm sorry."
He again had startled Ginny. "Err, what?
"Well, I mean, there's something…I should explain," he said, seeming very small.
"Alright…" Ginny tilted questioningly, "What is it?"
His eyes remained focused on the floor.
"Weasley!" Blaise and Ginny both jumped. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Draco Malfoy was exiting the Great Hall with his two shadows, as well as Pansy Parkinson, a pug-faced girl with curled blond pigtails. Malfoy was stomping his way towards Ginny, stopping at a few feet's distance.
"Give it a rest, Malfoy." Ginny said the name as an insult, her eyebrows once more drawn together.
Blaise on the other became collected at the presence of Malfoy. His eyes were suddenly alight, his shyness gone. He swept by Ginny towards his friend, making sure to let his hand gently brush hers. "Later, Red…"
What is going on here? Ginny watched the Slytherin group slink off to the doors that lead outside. She stuck her tongue out at the retreating backs, the move seemingly appropriate for the moment.
"Hey, Gin!" It was Colin Creevey, "You ready for class?"
Ginny looked up at him and Sycamore who was with him. She quickly plastered a smile to her face. "Oh, I forgot my wand, actually. I'm going to go get it now," she lied quickly, still inwardly fuming over the Slytherin third-year.
"Right then, I'll hold a seat for you!" The two headed for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom as Ginny proceeded to Gryffindor tower.
She was halfway there when she spotted Ashlyn down the hall walking in the direction of Ginny.
"There you are, I've been looking for you," Ginny said as Ashlyn reached her.
The other girl didn't look well. Her face was pale and her eyes had deep-set circles that were a mixture of bruised colors. She was shaking slightly in her shabbily applied robes, and her hair looked tangled in its hurriedly put up ponytail. Her stance seemed to be swaying, slowly rocking back and forth, her hands wrapped about her stomach. She looked ill.
"Gosh, you're not feeling so grand, are you?" Ginny said it as more of a statement than a question.
Ashlyn shook her head, "I'll be fine. Just a bit of PepperUp potion, maybe…"
"Want me to walk you to Madame Pompfrey?"
"No, no, you go ahead…"
"Really, it's no problem, Ash—"
"I said I'll do it myself," Ashlyn snapped as she stepped back, glaring at Ginny.
Ginny faltered as she withdrew her hands to her chest, "I'm sorry."
Ashlyn's face blanched. "Oh —no, Ginny, I didn't mean to— really, I'm sorry. This is just so overwhelming… Please, I'm sorry, you go ahead. I'll be fine."
She nodded, gently patting the girl on the shoulder, "Okay. You take care then, Ashlyn."
Ginny smiled reassuringly at Ashlyn who turned to leave, still swerving a little with each step.
Professor Lupin was leaning on his desk in front of the class when Ginny entered just as the bell sounded. His hair was lank and his face pallid, yet he looked on happily at his class.
"Please take a seat, Miss Weasley." Lupin smiled as he gestured to an empty seat in the front row. Most students had oddly chosen to sit further back.
Ginny nodded and took the seat directly in front of him, "Oh, Ashlyn Wischard is in the hospital wing right now for some PepperUp potion."
"That's quite alright." Lupin continued, "For today, if you could put away your quills and wands…there we go, I thought that I would start out with a practical lesson for each of my classes. I've found something that I think you'll find interesting enough." He first went to close the door, then moved around to his desk to open a drawer. "Now, try not to be too loud…" he opened to drawer and extracted a small box.
"Wow. Now that's something truly horrifying." Ginny heard a girl whisper loudly from behind her. She shushed her classmate distractedly, as she was quite interested in the contents of the box.
Lupin looked unabashed by the student's rudeness. He cleared his desk with his wand and laid the wooden chest in the center of it. "At the moment, before I open this, anyone have an idea as to what it might be?" He scanned the room again, "Ah… yes, Sycamore?"
Syca was diagonally behind Ginny, next to Colin Creevey. "Well, Grandmother told me of this thing called a Hollow Bog box. It's supposed to lure the listener to sleep. In the old days, thieves would use this to subdue the people they meant to rob… I mean, that's what I've heard."
Lupin was smiling slightly, "Yes, very good. That's partly true. Anyone else have something to add? No? Alright then, Sycamore was right about the thieves, but this little music box has much darker roots than just burglaries…
"Anyone here know of what a Bogart is?" the professor asked.
Ginny didn't know she had her hand up until he called on her, "…Oh! It's like a being that will take on any form it thinks will scare you the most."
"Right, but unfortunately, you don't cover bogarts until third year, but this little box has a very similar effect. While it does lure the listener to sleep, it feeds the mind dreams of the person's deepest fears, and traps the person in their sleep."
The class held a collective shiver. Ginny sank into her chair, I have dreams like that almost every night and I don't need any stupid box to do it for me…
"Now, there are certain things that you can do to protect yourselves from the Hollow Bog boxes, but first you need to know how to recognize one." Lupin continued, "In order for the boxes to work properly, there needs to be an incantation written somewhere along the fra—"
Just then, the door to the classroom opened. Ashlyn was smiling shyly as she softly closed the door. "Sorry Professor, I was just coming from Madame Pomfrey…"
"That's fine. Ginny explained why you were absent. Just find yourself a seat, please." He then continued on about Hollow Bog boxes as Ashlyn sat down next to Ginny, who eyed her worriedly. There were no subtle trails of smoke leaking from her ears.
"You OK?" Ginny mouthed furtively, casting an anxious look to her friend.
"Later," she mouthed back, busying herself with her books.
Ginny tilted her head and frowned to no one in particular. What is with everyone this year..? But then, do I have any right to ask after how I must have been last year…? She closed her eyes and sighed.
Lupin cleared his throat and Ginny snapped out of her reverie, being humble enough to blush. She guiltily looked at him, but he was still going full on about the box.
"…simple incantation, really, but it comes in handy if completed properly. Now, if we could practice it together, please…Dimitimor!" The class obediently recited the spell. Lupin smiled, "Now, wands aren't used with this spell, so the magic is hard to draw together. But, even more so that the user is asleep when it is used."
"Then how do we know when to use it, I mean, how do you know that it's the Hollow Box, Bog-thing, that's put you to sleep?" a brunette by the name of Fides asked from the back of the class.
Lupin was thoughtful for a second, and then "When you're dreaming, one usually can't depict all of their senses to a great extent. Faces will be blurry, direction is hard to come by, and will alone can change your surroundings completely. The dreams induced by the box, are quite…different. More vivid, more detail, much more clarity." His eyebrows were drawn together slightly. "A tiny advantage of the box is the dreamer's ability to remember falling asleep, the moments before they were put under a spell, unlike when you fall asleep naturally."
"That's all you have to go on, heh, really reassuring…" Fides murmured uncertainly.
"Now, are there any volunteers?" The room became very quiet.
"What about the rest of us, anyhow?" Fides asked, again not bothering with manners. "We won't be able to see what is happening in the person's dreams. How they react to their fear, what they say…"
Lupin still had a sad smile on his face as his eyes glided over the class. "Simple, the person acts as if they are awake, speaking aloud, moving their limbs, just all the while with their eyes, ears, and mind shut off from the world."
This isn't something I want to see, or have be seen by others. Ginny leaned back in her chair.
Sycamore Mordant then hesitantly got up from his seat and resolutely approached Lupin's desk. Silently he volunteered himself to go first. He had his face twisted, in what must only be a determined fashion. The professor cocked an eyebrow and Ginny nervously bit at the tip of her thumb.
"Won't we hear the music too?" a student asked.
Sycamore's face was paling by the second.
"Earmuffs, courtesy of Professor Sprout." Lupin said as he picked up slightly dirt-covered sack and began to hand out brightly colored earmuffs. He took a maroon pair for himself after he finished giving them out to all the students, excluding Syca. "Don't be nervous. I'm here to step in at anytime if I feel things have gotten too out of control." Lupin patted Syca lightly on the shoulder, who nearly passed out, but regained his posture soon enough.
This won't be fun… Ginny was proud of Syca's courage, and at the same time becoming sick herself thinking about going through what he was about to.
"OK, as soon as we all have our earmuffs on, you will not be able to hear Sycamore or the music, even your own breathing, so I'm asking you all to pay close attention." Lupin flashed his smile again and told the students to raise their earmuffs to their head and put them on. He cast a silencing ward on the room before he raised the earmuffs to his ears as well, and looked at Syca to signal when to open the Hollow Bog Box. Syca pulled a chair forward facing the class, sat down, and nodded curtly.
And the Box was open.
Ginny watched as Syca's head dropped slowly as he fell to sleep. He was directly in front of Ashlyn, and not much more than a foot from herself.
She wondered what the music must sound like…
The change from relaxed to tense in Syca's body posture brought tingles to Ginny's spine. He was beginning to fight off his nightmare. Something ripped at the clothes about his collar. His hand shot up to his neck, and he was pulled forth from the chair he had been sitting in. Ashlyn slammed her desk backwards to avoid him crashing into it. Syca swung out a leg and struck his foe. He rolled backwards and onto his hands and knees. In any other situation, Ginny might have laughed.
Professor Lupin was hovering over Sycamore, anxiously observing the student. But Syca still wore his determined face and he was searching his pockets for what Ginny assumed to be his wand. He found out it last —or at least he did in his dream— and he flicked his wrist sharply and shouted what must have been the incantation, for immediately his figure relaxed again and his eyes fluttered open. A goofy smile played across his face. He triumphantly got to his feet and snapped the Hooded Bog closed.
The first sound that greeted Ginny's ears as she removed the muffs was clapping. The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors alike were cheering for Syca as he returned to his seat. She was sure they had all been fighting their own fears with Syca.
Lupin smiled at his pupil and eased the class back to attention. "Sycamore inadvertently demonstrated the second way to avoiding dreams induced by the Box. Though it wasn't necessary after he recited the incantation and defeated his nightmare, but—" he tapped the box lightly, and said plainly "If ever you are suspicious of a Hooded Bog Box, just close it up. It's nice to find something so simple in the midst of complicated dark magic."
Ginny was sure she was not alone when she wished the Professor had told them that bit in the beginning of the lesson. Lupin smiled almost apologetically at the students. "It is good to know what to do if one is ever caught in the dream."
"I want to go," A dreamy voice drifted from the left of Ginny. It belonged to a very petite, very blond, very strange looking Ravenclaw girl. Her name was Luna Lovegood. Her wand was tucked safely behind her ear, and her robes were bound against her body by an excessive amount of oddly decorated sashes. Her long wavy hair was tied back in two loose braids that were held together by blue and black ribbons which had The Quibbler flashing across them in silver calligraphy every so often. Alternately protruding from beneath her school robes with each step was a pair of pink and red cowboy boots, imported from what Ginny supposed were the States. Luna was already making her way up to the front of the room, dragging her chair behind her as she went.
Luna handed her earmuffs to Syca and settled herself in her seat before the class. "I want to see what happens if I fail to defeat my nightmare," she stated clearly. "And I want the class to see as well."
"If you are certain Miss Lovegood…" She nodded. "Well, I'm right here for you."
Luna's reaction to the dreams was quite different than Syca's. She took a shorter time to fall asleep, Ginny noticed, and she seemed almost excited to be in the circumstances that she was. Her eyes twitched once when she was suddenly lifted by the roots of her hair from her chair, dangling three feet off the ground.
The entire class drew back in unison, having not expected anything like this. Lupin was unsettled as well.
But that was not all that Luna was dealing with in her dream, as she now was floating in midair and trying to dodge her opponent, whatever it may be. Ginny gasped shrilly as one of Luna's sashes started smoking after she apparently was struck by her nightmare. She was gritting her teeth now, frantically patting at her robes and struggling against the force holding her back. Swinging back and forth, she was being tugged by each arm in opposite directions. There were multiple things attacking the Ravenclaw. Two were tugging her apart, one or more igniting parts of her robes on fire, and more clawing at her face and hair. Luna's mouth flew open in a scream and her body started to go limp when Lupin slammed the lid of the Box shut. He caught Luna's body as it fell towards the floor. He threw off his earmuffs, as did the students.
"Professor!" cried a distressed Ravenclaw, "What's happened to her? Please, will she be OK?"
Luna was still out cold when Lupin had her sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. "Yes," he answered after a moment. "The smoke and scratches aren't physically here, they're illusions. But unfortunately, at this point it would be impossible for Luna to wake up on her own. She is lost to her subconscious and the effects of the Box."
Ginny shivered at the thought.
"She can only be awoken by another person speaking a charm for her. But in order to do this correctly, that person has to share some of their happiness, laughter more specifically, with her." Lupin looked around the room, his eyes landed on Ginny, "Come here Ginny. Repeat after me, Laeparas!"
She did as told.
"Now, think of a happy memory, something that's made you laugh or keeps you happy…"
Ginny thought of the toilet seat she received in the post two years ago from Fred and George when they were at Hogwarts. She giggled at the reaction her mother had had to it.
Lupin smiled, "Got it, I assume? Good, concentrate on that thought and feeling when you say the spell. Touch the tip of your wand to her forehead… Great."
"Laeparas!" she said firmly as images of Mrs. Weasley making a howler for the twins flipped through her head. Her wand glowed a dim blue for a second before the spell died. Ginny sighed.
"Try a more specific memory."
This time a picture of Harry popped into her head. He saved me…
"Laeparas!" she said again, this time having faith in the outcome of the spell. Her wand shined much stronger and the blue light illuminated Luna entirely for a full minute, when her eyes flew open and a smile broke her calm face. Ginny slumped over, suddenly feeling very emotionally drained. Lupin steadied her.
"Brilliantly done, Miss Weasley!" he said as he helped both girls to their feet. "You're feeling a bit dizzy from the spell because you gave a little bit of your energy to Luna, more than usual I'd say actually. The effect was very intense for both of you. But honestly, just brilliant getting it on your second try. And Luna, might I say very brave of you to volunteer to do such a thing. Five points to both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, and another five for Sycamore as well. Excellent job class."
Ginny beamed.
"That's plenty for today. Tonight's homework is to write down your thoughts on the transfer of energy that takes place between the two persons…" Lupin's voice faded as Ginny returned to her seat. Wait until she tells Ron that she earned five points to their house this early. He'll be proud of her, she was sure. All she had to do now is to make sure Snape doesn't come up with an excuse to deduct points because of her.
Potions class is a meticulous, tedious, acute, annoyingly complicated magical science, according to Ginny Weasley. Yet contrary to Professor Snape's preference and Ginny's belief, she earned an average of 5.5 in his subject, surpassing all other first formers in the previous school year. It was higher than all her other classes ─including charms, which she had always liked best─ and she had even received a complement from Snape…Less tiresome to teach than the average Gryffindor…
It was apparent as Ginny entered the classroom that each Slytherin had remembered her success in the class and held it against her. Not my fault that they're all so bloody spoiled that they get upset when honors grades aren't handed to them on silver platters with beaming comments and teachers bowing at their feet bending to my will, all of them, every witch and wizard, every muggle crushed beneath my…
The impact of Ginny's books upon the stone floor silenced her fellow students immediately and left a hollow sound vibrating within the walls. Where had that come from?
"Gin?" Colin finally broke the stillness of the room. He glared at the Slytherins who were either snickering or laughing at Ginny. "Tired, huh?"
Ginny found that she was unable to answer, or even move.
"Miss Weasley, although I am aware of your enthusiasm for my class, I would appreciate that you restrain yourself from celebrating by throwing your books and other possessions on my classroom floor." Professor Snape had emerged from his private chamber and was eying Ginny agitatedly as he made his way to his desk. "Do not think so highly of yourself that you are pardoned from picking up your own rubbish. Gather your things and make haste to your seat."
Ginny hadn't inched, her eyes staring wide in front of her. She couldn't bring herself to budge, her body outright denying her will. Her hand twitched on its own accord. It slowly lifted to her neck, where she could feel her pulse struggling with the effort of her heart, which hadn't received fresh oxygen for over half a minute now, Ginny had stopped breathing sometime back. The saliva that was gathering in the back of her mouth was beginning to make her gag reflexively. Her hand traced the line of her jaw as she stood frozen.
Professor Snape had been watching long enough and started towards Ginny. "Out!" he motioned for the students to disperse, "NOW." There was great commotion and Ginny watched as Slytherins and Gryffindors gaped openly at her as they fled the room. Snape motioned the door shut and grabbed Ginny's shoulders.
"Ginevra Weasley, you control this body, now tell it so."
I can't…
"You can. He has no right to it now, and he never did. Tell him!"
He shouldn't be here, I'm dying. Out, I want him gone. Leave me…
"Good," If it were possible, Snape's hawk eyes softened, "You're getting it back now."
Ginny's hand dropped to her side and her body shook as she was able to inhale. The force of breathing knocked her to her knees, her hands hit the floor hard, but it was barely registered in comparison with the relief she felt as oxygen circulated in her body. "Get out of my head…"
"Miss Weasley," Snape's voice was fading, "Miss Weasley?"
Ginny slumped over and everything was black.
"Dumbledore never said there may be some remnants of his spirit lingering in her mind… He didn't say anything like this would happen to her, poor thing. She's been through too much for her years."
"She was lucky I was there to aid her. With my occlumency I was able to talk to her, even though she was physically incapable of speech. Much like Lupin if you catch him at the right time of the month—"
"That's enough Severus. Miss Weasley needs her peace and quiet. Please inform the Headmaster and Professor McGonnagal of her whereabouts if they don't already know."
"Of course," there was swishing of a cloak and clapping of shoes walking away.
Ginny opened her eyes and let them adjust to the lighting. She was in the hospital wing, but that wasn't important, sleep was. She closed her eyes again.
It was nearly three hours later, "I can help her. It would be no problem for me."
"I was afraid something like this would happen, but I do not think extra Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons will be enough for her, Remus. She'll need to find something more that can help her."
A pause, "I understand."
Ginny opened her eyes again and sat up. The curtains around her bed were drawn shut and from what she could make out, Dumbledore and Lupin were at the opposite end of the wing. She vaguely wondered why she was in the hospital wing, what time it was, and if she could get any food.
Two pairs of feet were slowly making their way to her bed.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Ginny called out, she was surprised to find her voice raspy. She swallowed dryly and rubbed at her throat.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, nice to see you're awake." Dumbledore drew the curtains back.
"Professor, would you, uh, happen to know why I'm here?" Ginny asked timidly, fiddling with the hem of her bed sheet. "What happened? Was it the Hooded Bog Box, did I lose to it?"
Lupin stepped forward, "You were in Potions, Ginny. That's your third class, after charms. Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?"
"You're right, I remember Charms…we did a lesson on warming charms. Then I went to Potions, I was thinking about how annoying the class is, and my grades, and Slytherins, and then… I was really mad. I felt so mad, and vengeful."
She studied her hands.
"I am going to ask Poppy to excuse you for the afternoon, as I would like to see you in my office." Dumbledore glanced at Lupin, "Yes, you can come too."
"Would it be of use for Severus to be there?"
"He is in the middle of a meeting right now, but I'll summon him when it ends. He may be able to do something for Miss Weasley as well."
"Do what for me? What did I do? Have I done something to get me expelled?" Ginny crawled forward to sit on her knees.
Dumbledore smiled kindly, "Not you at all." He turned to find Madame Pomfry.
Ginny watched him go and then sheepishly crawled back into her sheets, burying herself from Lupin's gaze. "What's wrong with me?"
He did not reply immediately. A bird flew across the windows, its shadow gliding along the beds and wall as it went. Lupin sighed as it drifted on. Then, "I've never thought there to be anything wrong with you, Ginny. If you ever need any help, my office door is open to you."
"Here are your things, Miss Weasley. We'll be right outside when you're ready." Dumbledore had returned.
Ginny nodded and watched the two professors disappear out the door. Ginny sat out of bed and dressed, making sure to flat out wrinkles in her shirt and straighten her robes. She tucked her hair into a ponytail and checked that she had everything before leaving.
"This way, please, Ginevra." Dumbledore smiled as she closed the door behind her. They were silent through the halls, which were strangely quiet for a Hogwarts school day. They passed no one as they made their way to Dumbledore's office. Ginny was dimly aware of where they were heading, but was surprised to see them stop at a very odd little statue of a Gargoyle.
"Cockroach clusters," Dumbledore said to the statue. It nodded and pulled to the side, triggering the wall behind it to open up to a staircase. Dumbledore started up them, Ginny followed with Lupin behind her.
The stairs spiraled up and up, several floors from what she could tell. Ginny's head started to spin. When her legs seemingly protested to walk any further, they reached the top. Ginny exhaled happily, and found herself in a waiting room of sorts. There were two benches, and at the far end of the room, a single door with a bronzed griffin knocker. How appropriate, she thought.
He led to the door, and opened it to the most amazing office Ginny had ever seen. There were trinkets, scrolls, clocks, vases, and outright odd things that couldn't fit into any generalized category. Even being raised in a magical home had not prepared her for this wonderful collection Dumbledore had. She found nothing to do but stare and gasp for the first minute she was in the room. Dumbledore's opulently blue eyes shone from behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Professor," a sudden thought had entered Ginny's mind, "Ron doesn't know about me collapsing in Potions, does he?"
"I'm afraid not, Ginevra."
"Could you, uh, keep it that way?" She did not need anyone in her family knowing about this. "I mean, you don't tell Harry's aunt and uncle about what happens to him, so can you do that for me?"
Dumbledore had settled himself behind his desk and motioned for Ginny to sit as well. He was leaning on his elbows, his hands entwined. "It would be inappropriate and unacceptable for me not to inform your family."
Ginny's heart sank. She pictured her parents storming into Hogwarts and removing Ginny from the school only to have her put in the Permanent Spell Damage Ward in St. Mungo's.
"However," Dumbledore cleared his throat at Ginny's fallen face, the familiar twinkle alight in his eyes. "I have never been known for following ordinary guidelines. I trust you to solve this, Ginevra. But before you can do that, you need to understand what is happening to you."
"It's Riddle, isn't it?"
Lupin, who had been leaning on the back of Ginny's chair, tightened his grip at the name.
"Yes, to put it simply. Last year, the memory of Tom Riddle used you for your life energy and the power in your soul to feed him, to give him strength to accumulate a physical form. Before he could finish the spell and dispose of you, he was stopped and the diary destroyed."
Ginny felt a huge debt to Harry at that.
Dumbledore continued, "Unfortunately, I underestimated the complexity of what he had done to you, and the backup he must have planned in the chance his original intentions did not work out. It may be that when the diary was destroyed and you regained your energy, Riddle allowed some of himself to be drawn back into you, in this method, preserving his essence in you until he could gain more power and attempt to free himself again."
Just great, this is all I need, a part of my soul belonging to the young Dark Lord. "How am I supposed to get him out?"
The Headmaster's face remained calm, but his sorrow betrayed his eyes as he stared at Ginny. She worried her hands.
"It is impossible for me to say as of right now."
Her heart seemed to settle permanently somewhere around her intestines. She felt a lump form in the back of her throat. "Oh."
"That is not to say we will never find a way to rid of him, Ginevra. Sometimes, all one needs is faith in themselves. What I believe is that you have the answer to this problem and it all depends on whether or not you can find it."
"But, Professor, is there no spell or charm, anything, to help me? This must have happened to someone else at another point in time. There must be something to help me…" Ginny wanted desperately for a one-step solution to fall from the skies for her.
"I will of course be looking into it. I have many sources to look through for you. As for the action you are to take, I have arranged for Professor Snape to hold Occlumency lessons with you each Thursday evening during study hours. He is a skilled Legilemens—"
"You mean he can read minds?" Ginny gasped out. "And that's how he was able to talk with me!" An unfamiliar feeling of gratitude for the potions professor swept through her.
"Yes, and through these lessons we hope to help you overcome the influence of Tom Riddle."
"Headmaster," Lupin started, then looked down at Ginny and back to Dumbledore.
"This will not interfere with any of the Potion-making duties that Professor Snape may have." Dumbledore stated.
"No, it isn't that, I realized he would still be able to prepare the potion. There is something that I need to—" he glanced at Ginny once more, "This is about something else, rather."
"You are excused, Ginevra. We will speak again very soon. I will be watching out for your safety, of course."
Ginny had just enough sense to mumble a thank you before she wandered out of Dumbledore's office, a dazed look on her face. She wondered what Lupin was talking about, and why he looked so concerned for her. What a nice guy. Ginny shrugged her shoulders and made her way down the stairs and into the corridor. She realized that she had no idea of the time. And yet, that didn't seem to matter as she thought of Riddle being inside her at the very second. That he had been with her all summer. That he may be with her forever.
When Ginny had managed to wind her path back to Gryffindor tower, through the portrait, up the stairs, and to her room, the tears began to fall. Her sheets wrapped their arms around her lovingly as her pillow snuggled to her cheek protectively, caressing the salty water from her face.
If life could bite, I swear I'd be eaten and digested by now, and Ginny fell asleep.
Ginny was climbing a tree outside her house…watching Fred and George being told off by mum…on her first train ride to Hogwarts…watching Harry catch the Golden snitch to beat Ravenclaw…trembling behind Bill as he toured the family through a ancient tomb…
Ginny registered her body slamming on a cold surface. The Potions classroom swimming back into focus and Ginny groaned as she realized what happened.
"Up, Weasley." Snape was a few feet in front of her, his wand still at the ready. "That was dreadful, I was hoping for better from you."
"I know, I know…" she grumbled as she got to her feet, her hatred for Snape multiplying by tens with each passing moment. She had been in the classroom for less than five minutes, in which time Snape had done nothing except say 'Prepare yourself, Weasley,' and proceeded to strike her with a spell. "Professor, how am I suppose to defend myself?"
Snape looked as if her were trying very hard not to roll his eyes, "You have to use your will to shut off your mind from me. Try to clear your mind and your wand may be of some use too."
Ginny nodded and gripped her wand tighter, trying to think of possible hexes to use to fight Snape off…
"Legilimens!"
Percy was reading a bedtime story to her…she was sitting on the kitchen table as her father cleaned a scrape on her knee…she was saying goodbye to Charlie before he left to Romania…she was with Riddle in the Chamber as he stroked her hair thoughtfully…
That's enough, a voice inside Ginny argued as Riddle leaned forward, that's enough, no more—
Ginny had collapsed again, her arm covering her face as well as the tears that were streaming down it, her brain pounding. She pushed herself off the ground again, shaking much more than last time.
"You're not trying hard enough," Snape said as he battled off Bat-Boogeys swarming around his head. "At least this time—" he scorched a boogey, "you managed to throw something back at me—" he froze and shattered several more, "however odd the choice might have been." He zapped the remaining bat-boogeys.
Ginny giggled despite herself, "The twins always said I had a gift with that one, seems only natural that I'd use it."
"Quite." Snape cast a disgusted look towards her as he cleaned his robes and face. He held his wand out, "Again."
Riddle was standing above her with a smirk spreading across his face…Harry was helping her to her feet…Riddle was leaning closer…
NO! Ginny felt her hand jerk and heard herself yell, "Incendio!"
She was kneeling on the ground now, the room swirling into view.
Snape was snuffing out flames on his robes, wearing a very agitated look. He sneered as he repaired his robes, "Getting a bit violent are we?"
"Sorry sir," Ginny muttered, feeling nothing of the sort for the Professor. She wiped again at the hot tears on her cheeks. She had been having nightmares about the Chamber and Riddle for months, she needn't have Snape seeing her memories about it.
"Legilimens!"
Ginny was crying as she wrote hurriedly to the Diary…she was beaming at an excellent grade she received on a Potion…she was talking to Professor Lupin in the carriage…Riddle was feeling more solid by the second as she was falling into darkness…
"STOP IT!"
She was crumpled on the classroom floor, her entire body quavering. Her chest felt chilled and constricted as though she really had just been with Riddle in the Chamber. Ginny shakily lifted herself to her hands and feet, looking anywhere but at the Professor. Her emotions struggling between fear, anger, embarrassment, and frustration.
"You need to make more of an effort if you wish to be successful in Occlumency, Miss Weasley," said Snape, his voice quieter than previous. Ginny finally brought her eyes to his.
"Do you see everything I see, because I don't stop you fast enough?"
"I see bits of it," Snape's voice was loosing its edge. "These memories of —the Chamber— have you been able to remember them this clearly before now?"
Ginny sighed, "No. To be honest, if I remember anything of Riddle and the Chamber, it's in my dreams. I remember his voice. But of what actually took place in the Chamber, my mind has mostly blocked out, and it only comes back to me when I sleep." She tried to sound nonchalant as she brushed her robes clean of dirt, "Or something of that sort, I suppose."
"I see," Snape looked almost sympathetic, before "Well get up, Weasley. And you're wasting time and energy by yelling. Keep your emotions in check and your mind clear."
"Right, right…" Ginny took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves, not thinking about Snape and his wand pointed at her, but rather on the dusty smell of aged books. It was almost comforting.
The pages of Diary were rough to the tips of her fingers, but relaxing. She was writing Tom about Harry…
Quit it already, the voice in Ginny's head spoke very clearly this time. I said out!
"Expelliarmus!" Ginny was aware of the fact she was casting the spell, and saw hazily as it disarmed the Potions Master. Her vision focused and she realized that she was still standing.
"How do you know that spell? I don't recall having taught you in the Dueling Club." Snape's hawk eyes had narrowed.
Ginny's shoulders slumped, she had been expecting maybe a compliment. How naïve that was. "Dunno."
"You mean to say you cannot remember where you learned that spell?"
That's usually how 'I don't know' is interpreted. "That's correct, sir," Ginny answered curtly.
Snape's eyes darkened, "Let us go again then. Legilimens!"
Ginny hadn't even begun to prepare this time… She was in the common room, writing to Tom…she was alone in the corridors outside the portrait of a warrior entangled in a fight with a serpentine creature…she was in a dark study, Tom was speaking to her in Parseltongue…she was crying on her bed, covered in blood…
Ginny was again on the ground sobbing, she vaguely registered that someone was screaming. Her throat ached and she realized it was her screaming, and she stopped abruptly. Her head was pounding, her brain seemingly splitting inside her skull. Her eyes were strained by tears, her lungs bursting as she cried. Snape was coldly observing her from his desk, uncertain on what action to take.
"Didn't know you had those memories, Weasley?"
"No," she gasped, still in a heap on the floor. She had not tried to stand or even move significantly yet.
"That's how you learned the spell. You likely know more," he said bluntly. "This time, it hurts more because I was looking specifically for those memories that your subconscious had sealed away."
Ginny in that second hated Snape more than she could think possible of herself. She ground her teeth and bitterly spit out, "We're done now! I can't take anymore of this tonight."
She had expected Snape to bristle at that, maybe even dock points from Gryffindor, but she hadn't expected him to approach her and lift her to her feet. He put a hand on one of her shoulders, "That is plenty for tonight. You did —much better— than what I expected. For a Gryffindor, and a Weasley at that, you are a very …acceptable… witch."
Ginny could've laughed at the twisted compliment. She wondered if Snape had ever paid anyone such a kind statement. It must be a rare thing coming from him. She wiped the tears from her face again, hiding a smile behind her sleeves. "Uh, thank you, Professor Snape."
He dismissed her after that, and Ginny turned to leave when a question struck her. "Professor?"
"Yes, Weasley?" he was at his desk recovering memories from a pensive. Ginny tucked this observation away.
"You said that you can look for specific memories?"
"That is correct."
"So, I'll be seeing a lot more of Riddle and the Chamber, won't I?"
Snape uttered something very like a sigh, "Yes."
"Heh. There's no avoiding him, huh?" and Ginny left back to her dorm, feeling utterly exhausted. She groaned thinking off all the work she had waiting for her back at Gryffindor Tower. She had been assigned an essay on the Sardinian Sorcerers Treaty of Trurdolf in 1238 by Professor Binns, on top of charts of Jupiter's moons for Astronomy, and a Latin list of verbs and various forms of which are used in common spells. "Latin's such a waste…"
"So true."
"Man, I wish I hadn't taken it."
"Same here."
"Can't imagine what posses…" Ginny stopped short. She turned to find Blaise Zabini standing next to her. "GAH!"
"Well, it's nice to see you too, Weasley…" Blaise said, his mouth quirking.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, not bothering to conceal her annoyance.
"My dorm is kind of in the Dungeons, Ginny."
"Oh, well, yes, but what are you doing out at a time like this? It's nearly nine. You'll get in trouble," Ginny said matter-of-fact-ly sticking her nose up a little more than normal.
"Yes, but I'm not the one several floors from her common room, am I?"
Ginny mentally slapped herself and had the grace to blush, "Oh damn! You're right, I have to get back or else Filch'll have my head. Lousy good-for-nothing… I have to go."
"I know, but I'm glad we're back on speaking terms." Blaise leaned against the stone wall. "Why are you down here, Ginny?"
"Extra lessons from Snape." She wasn't exactly lying.
"Lessons for what?" he persisted.
"Umm, well I just need some help on a few things…ya know?"
"Yea well, listen. I know why you're really down here. And you need to hurry up, Ginny. There's not much time for you—" he was thoughtful for a pause, "Or me."
"Huh?" Ginny was taken aback at this, Blaise had a way of doing that to her.
He pushed off the wall and walked away from her and waved a hand in a goodbye, "You'll figure it out sooner or later."
October had arrived, and with it came rain, high winds, cold temperatures and mud. Too much mud, as Filch would constantly remind the students whenever they came in the front doors. The Quidditch season had come too, and every time Ginny saw Oliver Wood a very guilty shadow fell over her. If only she had been able to fight off Riddle, maybe Wood could have led the Gryffindor team to a Quidditch Cup victory. Wood was oblivious to the fact of her involvement, however, and seemed completely focused on winning the Cup this year.
Instead of Quidditch practices in the evening, as Ginny would have preferred having, she was stuck in the Dungeons with Snape. Occlumency lessons had improved little from their first meeting. However dutiful she may be every evening by trying to empty herself of emotions, Ginny was finding each night to be more enduring than the previous. It was the last week of the month when she finally resolved to ask him about it before her lesson one evening.
"Professor," she tried, sounding more timid than she would have liked. Snape merely glared in response. "I was wondering, I mean, you know that I'm working at this. That I am trying to do my best, but I —why isn't it working?"
"What do you mean by that, Weasley," Snape was making it to be that he was bored, but his eyes had narrowed slightly as he shuffled through the papers on his desk.
Ginny hesitated, not exactly wanting to have this conversation with Snape, no matter if he saw some of her worst memories. "I can remember more now, Sir. But, I don't want to. How is resurfacing these thoughts helping me? I thought these lessons were supposed to help get Riddle out of my head, but all I do is think about him now, when I wake, when I go to bed, when I sleep —" she stopped herself at this point, hearing the hysteria creeping into her voice. Her lip trembled, and Ginny loathed how much of a baby she could be at times.
"Because that is what I want as of right now," Snape said off-handedly, straightening the papers before standing up.
Ginny went from worried to livid in a second. She wrapped her fingers around her wand and clutched it until her knuckles went white. She took several calming breaths, and then tried to speak without loosing her cool. "Fine," was all she managed as she glared daggers at her teacher.
"Good then, ready?" he didn't wait for an answer. "Legilimens!"
Two and half hours later found the pupil and master thoroughly exhausted and frazzled. Ginny was shooting icy glances at the Potions professor in between tending the purple bruises on her knees and the blue bruises on her palms. She had repeatedly been thrown at the ground after Snape had probed her mind again and again. She was about to say that this was the last round when he caught her off guard with another Legilimens.
What happened next, neither Ginny nor Snape could quite grasp. She was standing at window, watching the snow covered crowds meander by…she was walking up the steps of Hogwarts greeted by a younger Albus Dumbledore…she was cutting her wrist, pouring her own blood into a cauldron…she was tearfully gripping onto a dark haired woman's robes as she was turning to leave…she was turning to look in a mirror, an image of Tom Riddle admiring his Prefects badge staring back at her…
Ginny collapsed, yelling into the floor. Laughing and screaming as she cradled her head in her arms, not remembering having gotten to the floor. It took her many minutes to calm down and catch her breath. The feeling of immense pride in herself and power had finally ebbed away.
A groan from somewhere to the left of her snapped Ginny to full attentiveness. Snape was buried beneath several shatter shelves and contents, spots of blood scattered on the stone behind him. Ginny stumbled to her feet, not concealing the terror in her voice as she called to the professor.
"Shut it, Weasley and repair the damn shelves already," Snape said, sounding eerily calm for someone being squashed.
"Reparo!" Ginny watched as the shelves sprang back to the wall, their contents flying together once more, rearranging themselves. Snape remained lying down, the blood streaming from numerous gashes on his arms. He blinked his eyes open and leaned forward, observing his wounds. "Well, that was unexpected."
She may have laughed at this scenario if it wasn't actually happening. Ginny stepped to help the Professor up, which proved to be difficult due to the fact he towered over her. "I — I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to — I didn't even know I could!"
Snape cleaned out his cuts, "None are too deep, I will keep pressure on them until they can be properly treated." He sighed, "You did not do this Weasley. The person responsible for this is none other than the boy that those memories you saw belong to."
"Riddle did this?" Ginny faltered as her eyes roamed over the many cuts and bruises on the professor's arms.
Snape had finished applying makeshift bandages and had moved onto repairing the holes in his robes. "It would appear that way."
"And?"
"And, what? We'll continue the lessons as planned, and I'll need a word with the Headmaster to see if we should go deeper into other branches of Occlumency…"
Ginny was trying to follow what Snape was saying, but the poundings of her brain and heart were too loud to ignore. She moaned and rubbed at her aching head.
Snape merely glared at her, and she waited to be told off for ignoring him, but it never came. "You are dismissed for tonight, Miss Weasley. We'll meet tomorrow as always," he turned and left to his private room, leaving Ginny standing in the room alone.
She was on her way out when a vial in one of Snape's open drawers caught her eye. She walked closer to get a better look. She could've sworn it said…
"Lupin?" She peered at the label on the glass. 'Lupin: October' it read in very scratchy penmanship. Ginny replaced the bottle, wondering what it could possibly mean. She shrugged and left for the Library.
Ginny found a secluded table in the Library where there was a semicircle outcrop along the back wall that was hardly used. The stained glass windows did not provide the best reading light, but she thought they were beautiful nonetheless and liked sitting beneath them. She took off her robes and rolled her shoulders. She straightened out the wrinkles in her blouse and skirt. Ugh, what a night…
Settling her texts in an orderly fashion, she noticed she would need a more specific book for a Potions essay Snape had assigned her for extra credit. Bloody git is just testing how far I can go before I crack, Ginny sighed, rolling her eyes.
The Potions section of the Library was dark and dreary, much like the subject Ginny thought. She was scanning over the titles when someone shoved her to the ground.
"Better off down there with the filth. You fit in better, Weasel," sneered the voice of Draco Malfoy. He was standing in the aisle with the air of someone who owned the Ministry. He managed to look ominous even with a sling tending one of his arms. Ginny ground her teeth and glared at him as she got to her feet.
"Get a life Malfoy, instead of getting high from ruining mine," she said bitingly, once again straightening her clothes.
His eyes narrowed to slits and he grabbed Ginny's shoulder, digging his finger tips into her skin. Ginny tried not to flinch at the pain, and slapped him. Her hand connected with his face with a resounding clap. Malfoy let go of her shoulder, not turning his face back to her for a very drawn moment. When he did, his eyes were closed, but his face was slack. He did not even look angry, and this unsettled her slightly.
His eyes opened slowly, and Ginny caught a surprised cry in her throat. Draco Malfoy's eyes were empty. In them she saw no hint of emotion. They were just empty. His voice cracked when he spoke, "I deserved that."
"You did?" Ginny's mouth formed an 'O' shape. "You did."
"Then why so surprised?"
"Because you realized that you deserved it…"
Malfoy leaned back on the opposite row of books. He swept his hair back and cradled his arm, considering it quietly. His brows furrowed. Ginny wondered if she could just grab her book and leave. But Malfoy chose then to speak—
"I hate you."
Ginny was not surprised at this statement coming from him, but was ashamed to find that she was hurt by the comment. She mirrored his stance and thoughtful expression. "Is that all?"
"No."
"Oh."
"I hate your family. Everything it stands for." He said this as if he were discussing the Quidditch playing conditions.
"Well, no offense, but I kind of already got that vibe coming from you… So…"
"But," Draco raised his eyes to her and glared with loathing, "I hate you alone more. You waste day and night trailing the Golden Trio and that bloody Saint Pot-head, when you could do so much better."
"I don't trail my brothers or his friends! I've barely even seen them—" But Malfoy paid no heed to her protests as he was caught up in his words.
"I noticed you last year. I saw what was happening to you. Not Potter. Not your dim brothers. Not the know-it-all Granger. But I did."
"Uh, maybe that was because it was your father that gave me up to Riddle," Ginny seethed back, but Malfoy was shaking his head.
"I didn't know, Weasley. But I did figure it out —"
"So you did know?" Her eyes widened. Was he lying? "Why… Why didn't you do something?"
Malfoy drew his gaze away from her and squinted down the dark aisle of books. He fidgeted, "Because I couldn't do anything. My father would have known immediately. My father —"
"Your father, what, Draco?" she had never used his first name before. It was like rubbing dirt on her tongue. She glared up at him, suddenly aware of how petite she actually was. "So?"
Malfoy frowned and turned to her, his eyes like ice. "Why didn't you just die, Weasley." He managed it as a statement.
"Did you want to help me?" Ginny asked quietly.
"I didn't know you, and I certainly didn't care."
"Then why all this?"
"Hey!" someone called in a stage whisper. Ginny and Malfoy turned to find Ashlyn Wischard some twenty feet away. She had her wand raised and pointed at Malfoy. "Back off, jerk. Or I'll hex you to next week!"
Malfoy said nothing but started towards Ginny. She dodged him, thinking he meant to attack, but he merely selected a book from the shelf and left without a second glance.
Ashlyn ran swiftly to Ginny, a concerned look on her face. "I tell you I could smell that jerk bothering you," she panted, grimacing as she clutched at her side.
"Geez, maybe you should exercise a bit more, Ash…" Ginny had turned from watching Malfoy's retreating back to greet her friend.
"Heh, it's not that, I just don't feel so great right now. But, if you're alright, Ginny, I'm just going to get back to finding that book I need. Later!" Ashlyn was gone as fast and erratically as she had come. Ginny shrugged and found the book on the Draft of Concealment and walked back to her seat.
Seventeen inches into the essay, Ginny was glad to find she was nearly done. "Just a quick note on the remedy and a conclusion paragraph should do it!" she exclaimed proudly.
"Bugger, we didn't even cover the Draft of Concealment until last year!" Ginny started.
"Fred!"
"Ginny!"
"George!"
"Gred?" one of the twins faked shock and started to tear.
"Forge? Man, I thought I'd never see you again!" they embraced one another, making a huge fuss and muttering theatrical nothings to each other.
"Will you two shut up?" Ginny made a quick scan for Madame Pince with her eyes, but saw that they were quite alone so she continued writing.
"No, but honestly Ginny, why has Snape got you doing this?" Fred peered over her shoulder. He scanned the heading and ushered an exaggerated gasp, "Extra credit? Since when are you a miniature Percy?"
"Seriously, this better not be the makings of a Head Girl here," George warned as he ruffled her hair affectionately. Ginny swatted at his arms, only managing in frizzing her hair more. She giggled.
"Well, how about you guys? I didn't even know you came to the Library," she laughed out.
Both had a mock expression of deep offense on their faces. "Ginny, Ginny, Ginny! Do you not realize this is our O.W.L. year? We need to study, study, study!"
"Uh huh," her mouth quirked, "Here to look up stuff for your concoctions, are you?"
Fred and George grinned and nodded their heads enthusiastically.
"Riiight, well, I'm off," Ginny rolled up her parchment and gathered her things back into her bag. "I've missed dinner, either of you have food on you?"
"Sorry, Gin."
"Nothing here," Fred emptied his jean pockets, a slip of paper was all its contents. "Oops, mustn't lose Angelina's no — er — order form…"
George and Ginny shared an amused look.
The castle was eerily quiet on the inside, but the noise from the storm outside was echoing through the empty halls. It was study hours still, and all the students but herself were either in the Library, the Great Hall, or their dormitories. Ginny listened to the click of her heels distractedly, staring at her feet.
Instead of returning straight to the tower, she stopped by the kitchens and had the house elves give her some food, which they were happy to do. She again left the dungeons, vaguely disappointed that her bed was still many floors above her. Ginny let her mind wander as she ascending a staircase.
The thoughts about the Occlumency lesson earlier came unwanted. She tried very hard each day to not think about them, or Riddle, or the Chamber, or any stupid spell related to any of the aforementioned things. But her anger at Snape prevented her from closing away any thoughts. Was he actually trying to get Riddle to surface in her? How was this helping her? And what if Riddle was able to posses Ginny again, and do more unthinkable things to innocent people? What if, what if he was able to have power over her again, and she wasn't able to regain control. What would happen to her mind? Would she fade away into nothing…?
Ginny stopped, and with it the steady click of her heels. Except, the clicking didn't stop. She looked up and immediately knew something was wrong. This wasn't the fifth floor landing…The clicking behind her paused.
She slowly turned to find what it was behind her, the roll in her hand being squished as she gripped her fingers instinctively. Ginny had her eyes scrunched closed tightly by the time she had turned around fully. Something was breathing heavily just a few paces ahead of her. She began opening her eyes very carefully; not really wanting to find what it was waiting in front of her. The hallway was very dark, and she could just make out a shape of a —
"Oh, a dog!" Ginny said happily under her breath as she kneeled down to eyelevel with it. She cooed, "Here puppy, here boy…"
The dog's silver eyes were on hers, but soon fell to the food in her hand.
"Hey, I have more in my bag," Ginny unlatched her bag and removed the bundle of food the house elves had given her. Unwrapping it, the aroma of warmed turkey and smoked ham sandwich wafted out and the dog whimpered pleadingly. "It's nothing glamorous, but you can have some." she tore a piece off and held it out, "Go on, it's good, I promise. The food here is great."
The dog hesitantly came forward, sniffing the air. He reached her hand and licked the food, its tail wagging. Ginny continued taking pieces of the sandwich off, forgetting her own hunger, happy to feed the dog.
"How'd ya get it here, boy? Belong to one of the teachers maybe? Are you Lupin's?"
The dog seemed to pause in mid-bite. He blinked at her and continued chewing.
"The name's familiar, eh?" Ginny pushed the rest of the sandwich forward and lifted her hand to the dog's ears. She let them rest there to see if it was ok, and when there was no objection to this action, Ginny scratched them. She slid into an Indian pretzel and continued petting the dog as it wagged its tail some more and laid down resting its head on her knee. "You're adorable! Usually I'm a cat person, sorry to say, but it's kinda hard not to be drawn to you. I wish I had met you earlier in fact, you're really cheering me up. I've been through a lot lately. What with Occlumency lessons and Snape every night, school work, and not to mention the fact that the young Dark Lord has taken residence in my head. Sorry if I'm ranting…but man, this whole thing is just…"
The dog titled its head at her, questioningly.
"Yea, I know, weird, but, here, it all started last year with this Diary that Mr. Malfoy —creep— gave me, I thought it was really neat, and didn't know who it was from. So I spent half the year writing to this Diary, because it wrote back to me. I thought it was wonderful. The Diary was a real friend to me when no one else seemed to notice I existed. My own family, my brothers on the whole ignored me. I was so lonely, and the Diary was there to comfort me and just to talk to me. I told it everything…
"But, with every time I wrote in it, I gave a little bit of myself away. A little piece of my soul was unknowingly giving strength to the memory of a sixteen year old boy who had trapped himself in the Diary in order to reemerge years later. The boy was Tom, future-to-be-You-Know-Who, and I had been enchanted by how charming he was, how much he cared. But he didn't really care for me, he was using me. Using me to petrify muggle-born's, innocent kids. There was a larger goal in Tom's mind though…Harry Potter."
The dog shifted its head into her lap, staring up at her alertly.
"Tom took me down into the Chamber of Secrets, hoping to entice Harry down there to save me. Which of course, Harry did, he came to save me. Mostly because he felt bad for his best friend, my brother Ron. Harry's like that, ya know? He puts everyone ahead of himself." Ginny sighed admiringly as the dog wagged its tail, "He defeated Tom. And we all thought Tom was gone. Even Dumbledore assured me there was no lasting damage… But he was mistaken as it turns out."
The dog's ears dropped.
"Yup, turns out that Tom had a plan incase the first one fell through. When the Diary was destroyed, Tom allowed his being to be sucked right into my head. So, for the past couple of months he has been lingering back there, to my complete unawareness. Except now he's starting to gain back a little bit of control, which is why I'm now in Occlumency lessons. I thought they were supposed to help me fend off Tom, but instead Snape is trying to draw him out, let him take control of me first, then we get rid of him. Or something like that."
Ginny shifted her legs out from under her and laid parallel to the dog, still stroking his head. She leaned her face to its, closing her eyes tiredly, "You have no idea how lucky you are…"
If dogs could laugh, Ginny was quite sure this one just had. It licked her face relentlessly, its tail thumping happily. Ginny laughed quietly, now scratching its belly.
"I've never seen you around before, do you live here? But you don't seem to be eating that well right now." Ginny frowned at the ribs that were very apparent on the dog's chest. "Hey, how about I come here every night after lessons and give you some food? Sound good?"
The dog blinked at her and then stood up. Ginny watched as it padded to a window and nudged the glass with its nose. She stood and followed it.
"So you don't normally stay inside, huh? You're just in because of the storm. Makes enough sense. So, whenever the weather is good, I'll bring food to you outside. Otherwise we'll meet here."
The dog blinked and wagged its tail in agreement.
"Never met an animal quite like you before, it's like you can understand every word I'm saying."
Ginny could have sworn it nodded its head at that.
"…Well, alright then. Since I can see where you keep your brain, I guess I can trust you." Ginny kneeled down and hugged the bear-like dog, stroking its fur contentedly. Her watch face glowed happily up at her and Ginny gasped. "Oh crap, it's almost midnight! Man, time around here just doesn't add up…"
The dog sighed as it sat back on the floor and buried its face behind a paw.
"Nah, it's not your fault at all. This was great, meeting you. You can't possibly know how much you've helped me," Ginny said as she hugged the dog again. "So, just remember our plans, we'll meet here every night, or if it's good weather, we'll meet outside."
The dog nodded its head and walked with Ginny as she got her book bag and rolled up the linen towel that had held the food and tucked it away with her books.
"Man, you are so lucky. Not having to worry about anything but getting a good meal." Ginny scratched its ears as the dog gave her a very sad look. "Don't worry we'll see each other again tomorrow night. Promise."
Ginny waved goodbye as she retraced her steps until she knew where she was again, and made her way back to Gryffindor Tower. Sleep had not come so peacefully as it did that night in many months.
Author's note: Hope ya'll like it! I'll have the fourth chapter out soon. One review would be so niiiice.