Author's note: WOW. I mean, I got reviews, and alerts, and favorites! Awesome! Thank you all so much! Just a reminder, things may seem a bit impossible in my story, but that's why it's a fanfiction:-) I'm trying out a new divider with this chapter, since my other ones haven't shown up in the others. So, yea, if it doesn't work, I'll just keep resubmitting it with something else. Heh, and I am still working on the indent thing…maybe if I tried double 'tab'ing it…
Halloween was one day away, and Ginny was positively bubbling with holiday spirit. She had missed the Halloween feast last year, but had heard from her brothers that the Great Hall is always decorated fantastically, and even the food was festive. The second years were not invited to the Hogsmeade visit, but she had decided to spend the day with Scruffy, she had nicknamed the dog, and for once was not disappointed that she would not be able to tag along with the Trio.
The last lesson of the day, another class of Defense Against the Dark, had just ended and Ginny was busying herself with putting away her things after the other students had filed out.
"Ginny?" it was Lupin.
She turned smiling to him, "Hello Professor, awesome lesson today! I never knew bewitched knives to do so many things…kinda creepy, huh?"
He laughed and leaned against a desk, "I suppose. I once knew someone who had a knife that could unlock any door."
"Really, who?"
"A very old friend, he's —gone, now. But Ginny, I just wanted to check up on your progress in Occlumency."
"Oh," Ginny let her shoulders sag. The last few lessons hadn't gone so well, according to Snape. Riddle had yet to re-emerge, and Snape had been pushing Ginny harder and harder in hopes of getting him back. "Well, they've been really tough lately, honestly. Professor Snape is a bit frustrated; he says I'm not trying hard enough. Wait, no, he says I'm not trying…smart enough? Says I'm going about the lessons the wrong way. He just doesn't communicate very well, and I'm confused as to what exactly I should be doing. I've been having Occlumency for two months now, and there's been little progress."
"When do you have it tonight?" he asked quietly.
"Four thirty, just like every other night."
"That's twenty minutes from now," Lupin's eye brows were knotted. "Are you able to eat? How long are you down there for?"
"Eh, a good while. But don't worry, I go to the kitchens and get food afterwards. The house elves are great here, always happy to give me food."
"What about your work? You're doing exceptionally well in my class, but what about Charms, Transfiguration..?"
"Fine enough, I assume. I mean, none of the teachers have had to talk with me about my grades." Ginny was worrying now if she'd have enough time to make it to her room and then back to the dungeons. As much as she liked Lupin as a teacher, he was holding her up. He seemed to sense this however and dismissed her.
Ginny had managed to change, pick up the books she needed for after Occlumency, and freshen up all in time to make it to the Potions classroom with two minutes to spare. She walked into the classroom unannounced as usual, but was surprised to find Lupin there with Snape.
"…needs a break now and then, Severus." Lupin was saying when she entered. He stopped and smiled at her. "Professor Snape has agreed to let me stay for your lesson tonight Miss Weasley, if it's alright with you?"
She nodded mutely and dropped her bags in the normal seat before walking in front of Snape.
"Well then, let us go," Snape said, eying Lupin with a clear expression of annoyance on his face. "Legilimens!"
Ginny was sure the second the spell hit her that this time it was different again. She was in the Headmasters office, talking to a funny looking old man, who she knew to be named Dippet…She was taking the Potions O.W.L. exam, smirking as she completed making the perfect Dexterity Potion…Pouring a vial of black liquid into a plain diary where it was soaked up and an invisible hand was pulling out a shadow of her dark soul, binding it inside the book…
Ginny was laughing hysterically, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were wide open as the room swam back into focus. She was pushed against the far wall, her knees buckled beneath her. The laughter slowly died and she was able to take in Snape's condition. His robes were smoldering, a light green smoke steadily rising from them, his face sooty. Lupin was repairing some shelves and desks, his eyes wide and unbelieving.
"More practice needed, huh?" Ginny rasped.
"It seems so," Snape answered, a sad smile tugging at his lips as he patted out his robes.
"Well, again then," she said struggling to her feet and brushing off a layer of dusty residue that had landed on her. The Potions Professor nodded.
Lupin spun to face Severus, "Again? Severus, for god's sake, look at her! At least give her a moment to breathe—"
"That's enough, Lupin. You agreed to observe, I don't recall anything about having to listen to you make worthless comments." Snape closed any further debate from Lupin, who seemed to be biting his tongue to keep from talking. "One, two, three…Legilimens!"
After three other attempts, the spell hit Ginny. A feeling she had never quite had before came over her, it was as if she had pleasantly detached from her body and was merely a spectator in the back of her mind. She watched as she raised her wand at Snape and shot a Blistering hex at him before summoning a magical barrier. "Well, well if isn't the slimy Potions Professor. How are you these days, Severus?"
Snape ignored the smoldering sore on his shoulder, "Better than you, I assume Riddle. Living off the soul of a twelve year old girl, what a glorious life you lead."
"This is merely temporary. She'll be dead before long, and I will have regained my physical self again." Ginny smirked, "Let's have some fun, shall we? Crucio!"
Snape managed to dodge the spell, but was knocked to the ground by the debris from the hole in the wall it had caused.
Ginny was delighted, and sneered, but stopped when she was knocked backwards and suddenly bound by numerous cords. "What the hell is this?"
Lupin stepped in front of her, his wand still held up defensively. He was torn between glaring and looking sympathetically at Ginny, "Ginny, I know you're in there…it's time to come back now…"
Ginny was quite happy where she was, tucked away and safe. "Go scr—"
"Ginevra, you can hear me. It's me, Professor Lupin. Please come back now."
He sounded so sincere, "Professor?" Ginny blinked her eyes.
"Over here, you dimwits!" Lupin pulled Ginny to her feet before rushing to find Snape. She followed obediently. Snape was leaning against a cabinet, nursing his wound. "This one can't wait, unfortunately. I'll need to see Madam Pomfrey about it."
Lupin helped Snape up as well, who almost looked as if he'd have rather stayed on the floor than touch the other professor. Snape sent him a scathing look before telling them both to get out of his classroom, in a more unpleasant manner, of course.
Ginny did not need to be told twice and ran to get her stuff, Lupin trailing her as she left.
"I swear his temper hasn't changed in twenty years," Lupin smiled half-heartedly. He looked at Ginny oddly.
"I'm fine, really," she answered him without being asked. His concern was written all over his face. "Riddle has receded again, for now. He will not resurface until next lesson. Snape says he shows himself only because the Legilimency affects him sometimes as well…Today was likely the most progressive lesson in awhile."
Lupin was thoughtful at this, his hands buried in his pockets.
"Want to come with me to the kitchens?" Ginny asked abruptly, an idea popping into her head.
"But, dinner has already begun, why not just go to the Dining Hall?"
"Just trust me," she smiled and started towards the kitchens, suddenly feeling very light on her feet. She arrived shortly at the painting of a bowl of fruit. She tickled the pear and wrenched open the handle that had materialized. A house elf appeared immediately at her side.
"Out early today, Miss?" it squeaked up to her happily.
"Yup, and I have a friend with me, if you don't mind," she looked behind her to see the Professor resting on the frame of the painting door.
"'Course not, Miss!" the house elf chirped merrily before bustling off to find some food. It returned quickly with another elf, each holding a considerably sized bundle of food. Another came forward with a canister of hot tea.
Ginny took all of this with a number of thanks before walking back to Lupin. He offered to carry a bundle and the canister of tea, arguing that she already had a book bag. Ginny shrugged and led the way down the corridor.
After a while of silent walking Lupin asked, "Where are we going?"
"To meet a friend of mine," Ginny chimed pleasantly. Maybe Lupin could take the dog in, and then Scruffy could live in the castle all the time. She was almost skipping now that they were nearly to the spot she and Scruffy always met.
"Who is this friend?"
"Scruffy."
"Uh…well, that's a…nice…name." Ginny could tell Lupin was trying to pin the name to a person.
"No, heh, you don't understand Scruffy," Ginny slowed to a stop, "Isn't here."
Lupin stopped besides her scanning the hall for any movement.
"That's odd, he usually knows if I am coming early or late. Don't ask me how he does it…"
"What is Scruffy, Ginny?" Lupin was trying to appear disinterested, but his eyes gave way to the seriousness of his question.
Ginny opened her mouth to tell him that Scruffy was a dog, when something stopped her. Lie, a voice said very clearly in her head. She stammered, "A–a cat. Scruffy is a homeless cat. I was hoping you could take care of, take care of her for me. I come here to feed her every night. I feel bad because there aren't many mice for her to eat in the Castle, and I hate to think she has to kill birds for food."
Lupin nodded slowly, his eyes piercing into hers. They flashed quickly, and Ginny could have sworn they were amber, if only for a split second. "I'm sorry Ginny, I'm allergic to cat dander, so keeping one wouldn't be such a good idea."
"Oh," Ginny felt very awkward all of the sudden. "Maybe, maybe another professor then."
Lupin smiled and reached a hand to her shoulder, "Don't worry, I know how much you like cats. I'll ask the staff if anyone is interested—"
"No, no," she said quickly, "Actually, don't worry about it. I'll just ask Ron to see if anyone in town could own her. Heh, she probably just comes here because I give her food. Ya know, someone probably already owns her, I probably didn't notice a collar on her because she has really —scruffy— fur. Yep, heh."
Lupin looked unconvinced, but didn't push anything. "I should go, Miss Weasley. I'm expecting a delivery tomorrow, and need to prepare my office for the new comer."
"A newcomer?" Ginny hid a frown at his sudden formality.
"Yes, a grindylow will be taking up residence in my classroom tomorrow afternoon. I should find a suitable tank for it tonight."
"Yea, I'd expect so…" Ginny was very quiet.
"Don't stay down here too long."
"I won't. Good night, Professor."
"Good night," Lupin smiled and walked away down the corridor. Ginny watched as his figure got smaller and smaller and finally moved out of sight. When she was sure he was long gone, she sighed and flopped to the marble floor.
A soft clicking of dull claws snapped Ginny's head up. She smiled at Scruffy, "Hey boy, where have you been? I brought a friend here to meet you…"
Scruffy looked at her, his head titled skeptically. He let out a very confused whine of a bark.
"Don't worry. He's a really good guy. I trust him," Ginny said, her words getting softer by the second. She felt guilty suddenly, "Maybe I should have asked you first. I'm sorry."
Scruffy just padded towards her and dropped down next to her, resting his head in her lap like usual.
"I didn't tell him about you, really," Ginny scratched Scruffy's ears absently. "I lied to him, actually. I can't really explain it, but I heard someone tell me to lie about you. It was so odd…but then again, I guess I am notorious for hearing strange voices in my mind telling me what to do, huh?" She laughed uncertainly.
Scruffy twitched his ears, and Ginny noticed he was drifting to sleep. As if contagious, her eyes felt heavy with sleep as well. She leaned her head on Scruffy's back, "No one will mind if I just rest for a minute…"
Ginny dreamed she was in the Library. Oliver Wood was trying to teach her how to throw a teddy-bear shaped quaffel through a goal post made of bubbles without popping any of them. Harry was there too, zooming around on a giant feather chasing a flying cupcake. Ginny decided not to play Quidditch anymore and to play with Scruffy instead. She leaned to pet him when Lupin came up to her in wearing violently violet robes telling her off for breaking a school rule and that she'd have to accompany him to the Ministry. Ginny looked around for Scruffy, who said, "Jump on my back, we'll run away!"…Lupin just waved sadly as Ginny turned from him. But Scruffy was already running from her…
Ginny felt a pair of hands lifting her upright, she moaned in protest. A nice warm spot had moved from under her, "Wheresissat?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Shh…you should get back to your room, Ginny Weasley," the hands left her arms and something clicked away, running from her. Ginny nodded blindly, not sure if she was really awake.
Not long after, Ginny sat bolt upright. She looked around frantically, finally having sense to check her watch. She slapped her forehead and groaned. It was ten o'clock. She was lucky that Filch hadn't already found her. Gathering up her things, she sprinted very quietly back to her dorm, making it to Gryffindor tower faster than had seemed possible. She said the password to the Fat Lady before she had even made it to the portrait completely and clambered through the door without looking back. The common room was still filled with students, none of whom were her brothers thankfully. She collapsed into bed without changing that night.
The next morning she joined Hermione, Ron, and Harry as they went down to breakfast. The sky reflected in the Dining Hall ceiling was a slightly cloudy blue, but was dry and sunny enough for Ginny. She was smiling happily to herself as she ate her toast and eggs, thinking of the food she could give Scruffy today.
"What are you smiling about, Gin?" George asked from next to her.
"You know me, I love Halloween is all!" she said, still smiling secretly to herself. He pulled on her ponytail, pretending to be innocently sipping from his orange juice. Ginny could play that game as well and tugged his ear while looking in the opposite direction and chewing at her toast.
"What a bum, wish you could come too, Ginny," Fred said as he stood to leave, "But there's only one way you could, and we're not ready to let go of it quite yet."
George cleared his throat loudly as he patted her on the head, "Later, kiddo." The twins filed out of the Great Hall behind the trio, joined by Lee Jordan.
Ginny finished up her breakfast as well, and trotted back to her bedroom to change. She found a comfortably worn in pair of flared jeans, a black polo, and a deep blue jumper to wear. She reset her ponytail, making sure to have it perfectly neat and messy at the same time. Ginny looked at herself in the mirror before putting on the same serpent necklace she had worn in Diagon Alley for Harry in the summer. She laughed at herself, happy, genuinely happy that she was going to see a dog for the day. She hopped down the stairs two at a time and swung through the portrait hole humming to herself.
Down in the kitchens a house elf, named Kindle, prepared Ginny a little sack of food and drinks, twittering about nothings as she did so. Ginny thanked the elf and made her way to the front doors.
Once outside she started towards the lake and a particularly welcoming Beach tree where she had always liked to sit under last year. She looked around for Scruffy as she put down the food. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet slightly as she scanned around for the bear-like black dog. Ginny laughed aloud, she couldn't help being so happy right now. The weight of Occlumency, classes, Snape, Riddle, everything seemed to have just evaporated right off her shoulders.
She looked over the lake, spots of it sparkling in the sunshine and decided it could not hurt to walk around a little. Maybe he would find her sooner if she was out in sight. She pulled her jumper closer to her as the wind picked up.
The walk around the lake was much longer than it looked, and unfortunately Ginny had yet to spot Scruffy anywhere. She again clutched the jumper closer to her body, the temperature was dropping as she hit a remote niche in the lake's shore. She sang to herself, her spirits still high about the picnic lunch waiting for her under the Beach tree.
Ginny's foot crunched something, and she stopped to look down at what it was. She knelt on her knees and reached a hand out to feel a layer of frost covering the ground. Her breath left her in gray clouds.
"Oh crap," she sprang to her feet, fear suddenly descending on her like a heavy cloak. "Crap, crap, crap!"
She was in mid step to start running when she heard it. A long raspy breath. Ginny moved little by little to face the Dementor.
It stood at least two meters high, wearing layers and layers of what look like rotting gray cloth covering every inch of its body. It glided a few paces from her, coming closer. A pair of hands reached to its hood, decaying flesh and bones stretching forth to grasp the equally detestable fabric.
'RUN!' A voice echoed loudly in her head, Ginny snapped out of her frozen reverie. She stumbled backwards as a giant form leapt clear over her head and hurled itself at the dementor. Teeth bared and uttering horrible growls and barks, was Scruffy. The hairs on his back were standing on end as he settled himself between Ginny and the dementor, 'Go, go! Go back towards the castle now!'
She started sprinting, her sneakers barely hitting the ground before they flew back into the air in another stride. She did not concentrate on her breathing, just running. Pushing through the cramps already starting in her side, Ginny kept moving her legs. She was almost to the Beach tree, just a bit further…
There was a terrible shriek from behind her and Ginny tripped, "Oh Merlin, Scruffy!"
There were distant crashes in undergrowth from where the cry had come from, Ginny willed the strength to push her body up and started back towards the rustling in the bushes. There was a trail of blood streaming down her chin from where she had split her lip open, but none of it mattered as she ran back to where the dementor and the dog were. She was back to a spot just before where the dementor had shown up. She stopped to catch her breath and listened for any movement. The bushes quivered.
Scruffy finally emerged from the underbrush, leaves, twigs, and weeds tangled in his fur. Ginny ignored all of it as she flung her arms around the animal, burying her face deep in his coat as she cried, "I left you! Oh god, I'm sorry…please, I'm sorry —thank you! You're an amazing, just an incredible—" Ginny was cut off by a shift in Scruffy. He was changing in her arms, his fur retreating into his skin, his paws changing to hands…Ginny's chest tightened, "An incredible man?"
She turned to see whether either of them was in view from the Castle. There seemed to be plenty of trees and bushes blocking them from sight though. Ginny remained with her face nestled in the curve of the man's neck and shoulder, supporting the weight of his torso and upper body altogether. Scruffy is a man, Scruffy is a man, Scruffy is a man…
"OK, just because man's best friend is actually a guy, doesn't mean that he hasn't still been there for me. And, and, he's always seemed too smart to be an ordinary dog anyhow. I can't believe I scratched his belly…"
The man wheezed out of nowhere, and coughed out, "Ginny, are you alright now?"
"Y-yes," she answered softly, not quite confident with her voice.
"The Dementor is gone for now…I chased it off."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry," the man said in his rough voice.
Ginny clumsily rubbed at his back, not used to the feeling of cloth instead of fur. "You're sorry?"
"I don't mean to hurt anyone," he said through racking breaths.
"What?" Ginny knitted her brows, "Of course you don't, I've been with you plenty of times on my own and you've never done anything…why would you hurt anyone?"
"Get back to the Castle quickly. Don't look back," the man was speaking very fast now.
"Take the food from under the bronze Beach tree, it's for you," Ginny said equally as fast, Scruffy needed to eat whether he was a man or dog.
"Thank you," the man said faintly, "Thank you for being a friend to me when no one else would…"
Scruffy was changing again, he was a dog once more and licked her face and ear several times before bounding over her shoulder and off into the woods.
Ginny lifted a hand to her face absently, but didn't wait long before listening to his instructions and running back to Hogwarts as swiftly as she could.
She fell through the front doors, stumbling to the stairs, clutching at her side and mentally hitting herself for not getting enough exercise in her schedule.
"Weasley, perfect timing. Follow me," Snape had just walked down a staircase and was heading to the dungeons. Ginny groaned under her breath. "I said FOLLOW, Miss Weasley. By the way, there's blood on your chin."
Ginny snuffed out the string of unpleasant names she called Snape while rubbing the blood off her face. She stretched her back and legs before setting off after the Professor.
Walking behind Snape had an eerie feeling, as if the man were leading you to death. His brisk walk was an annoyingly fast pace, and the billowing robes almost tripped Ginny when she walked too fast and came too close to the Professor. Then there were the odd noises he'd make, and she wasn't sure whether he was just mumbling to himself, or if she should be paying attention. But paying attention to what he was saying was rather hard when Ginny was focusing on his oily hair and whether he used shampoo or not.
"Maybe it's gel…"
"What was that, Weasley?" Snape turned his head and cocked an eyebrow, his mouth crooked.
"Said that aloud, huh?" Ginny muttered as she smacked her forehead.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your stupidity, Miss Weasley." He strode into his class, a smirk pulling at his lips. Ginny huffed.
She could see Snape, he was foggy, but she could definitely see him. She began to raise her wand to fend him off, but thought the better of it. "It's not working, is it?"
Snape dropped his wand, the same time Ginny's knees buckled and she hit the stone floor hard, again. There was the faintest of smiles on his face, but he seemed to remember who he was in company of and replaced it with a frown. "It would appear to be as so. Congratulations."
"Oh, yes! It's over, finally over. HA!" Ginny savored in the relief that swept over her. She hugged herself happily, bouncing slightly.
"Well, onto the next one then," Snape looked at the ceiling, tapping his hands distractedly on the surface of his desk. Ginny could almost feel the floor shake as her happy mood crashed.
"I-I'm sorry," she said in a painfully strained polite voice, "But, ah, what?"
Snape was looking around the room, almost nervous, if Ginny hadn't known better, "Well, you are able to throw off a Legilimens. Tom Riddle cannot read your thoughts any longer. Very useful that is, but now you must move onto the next branch of Occlumency."
"There's something else I have to be able to do?" she was aware her mouth was hanging open in indignation and snapped it shut.
"Don't take that tone with me, Weasley!" Snape bit out. "Implimency, is the ability to alter the feelings and memories from another person's mind. You are to learn how to fend off that as well. That is how Riddle controls you. So, we will be working on that next."
"Right now? But, the Halloween feast—"
"Can wait," he said impatiently. "Do you, or do you not want him out of your head, Weasley?"
She nodded dejectedly.
"That's what I thought…" he had his wand out again, "One, two, three…"
"Eek, stop! Stop!" Ginny said dodging behind a desk at the last second, not having to look at Snape to know he was trying very hard not to roll his eyes.
"Weasley…get out from under the desk." She could here the annoyed tone in his voice.
"Wait, I just want to know what the difference is between this, and-and the Imperius curse…" she said, poking her head out a little to smile at the Professor hopefully.
He lowered his wand, his eyes glittering with malice or amusement, she couldn't place, "You are a very —talented, student, Miss Weasley. It is somewhat reassuring to me as a teacher to see that you are trying to grasp the tenuous distinctions that separate things that others may see as one of the same." Snape looked, proud? No, must be a trick of the light— "Imperius is merely the physical actions of a witch or wizard being controlled. It can last for a day, a week, even years if strong enough. It is a very dangerous curse, and as you know is an Unforgivable. Implimency does share likeness with the Imperius, but its affects go much deeper into the victims mind. It changes the feelings, alters or erases the memories—"
"And you're about to try it on me?" Ginny frowned at Snape from behind her makeshift barricade of a desk.
He gave her a very funny look, as if he were debating whether to laugh or scowl. The scowl won, "Weasley, I assure you I will refrain from doing any permanent damage. You are one of the only Gryffindor's that I can stand to teach, after all…"
"You like teaching me?"
"Don't push it, Weasley."
She slid out from behind the desk, "Right…it was worth a try."
"No, I assure you it was not and never will be." Snape hid his face, as if not wanting her to see his expression. He coughed and straightened himself out. "Are you ready now, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny nodded, even though she hadn't the faintest idea of how she going to shield herself. Her stomach chose that moment to growl very loudly.
Snape snickered, not catching himself in time. He managed to twist it into a vain attempt at a coughing fit.
Ginny snorted, "It's not my fault I couldn't eat. Someone decided to make me come straight to the dungeons before getting some food! And since when do you laugh?"
"That wasn't a laugh, Weasley. I was coughing." he said patiently, as if explaining to a very dim child that the block goes in the square hole, and the sphere goes in the circular hole.
"Do you have any food?"
"WEASLEY," Snape said rubbing his eyes and sounding exasperated. "Please, concentrate on the task at hand."
"Alright, alright…"
"One, two, three… Implimens!"
Ginny's senses dimmed and the detached sensation swept over her again. A mellow feeling of complete lack of stress and control flooded her mind. This was slightly relaxing, hanging out at the back of her brain, not worrying…
There seemed to be a tugging in Ginny's head and she felt a sharp bang against her knees, "Ow, shoot!"
"Welcome back Miss Weasley."
Ginny climbed back to her feet, leaning on a desk for support. She looked around, "What's going on?"
"You can't remember?" a smirk flashed merrily over his face, "Can you even remember where you are, the date, year? Anything at all?"
"Y-yes, I guess I know where I am. And why," she rubbed at her temples and sighed. "I just don't know how I got here." She was standing next to the supplies closet.
Snape's face slacked, his smirk deflated. Guilt? No, must be gas. "That's the effect of Implimency."
"And why isn't it illegal, then?"
"It is." Snape frowned at her as if she should've known better.
"But, uh…you…then you just broke the law?" Somehow the idea of Snape doing something completely against the law didn't strike her as a surprise.
"There are wards at Hogwarts to prevent detection of the use of Occlumency. The founders obviously had something to hide," Snape shrugged and checked his wristwatch. "Time sure does fly…Four o'clock already, what a shame."
"FOUR?" Ginny's mouth went numb for a second, the gears in her brain slowly turning, "It was just noon a sec…" she gave Snape an accusing glare, "What did you have me do for that entire time?"
Snape studied his fingernails casually, "I needed some organizing done in the supplies closet."
It was true, as Ginny found out when she stormed over to the closest. The previously would-have-qualified-as-a-disaster-area closet, was now pristine and sparkling. She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Slave labor," loudly.
"However, in the —spare time— I had, I was able to review your paper on the Draft of Concealment. It was acceptable," he handed her the paper, which boasted an A, however small and crammed into the upright corner it may have been. "Since it was extra credit assignment, it will count as a homework grade for the term."
"A homework grade, but I worked on this for weeks!" outrage was an understatement.
"There will be no more discussion on this, Weasley. You are free to go…" he gathered a vial from his shelves and returned to his desk. He looked back up at her when she had not moved, "I said leave."
Ginny was all for standing there, glaring at him for hours while he tried to work, but decided against it, getting cleaned up for the Halloween Feast sounding more relaxing. She left the Professor to his own doings and returned to Gryffindor Tower for a shower and to unwind for awhile.
Hundreds upon hundreds of floating pumpkins, each carrying a red-glowing candle, a storm of live bats flying everywhere, and fluttering orange streamers, were only a few of the decorations in the Great Hall. Ginny giggled happily as she fastened her arms through Colin's and Sycamore's, they found seats at the top of table with the other second year Gryffindor's.
"Guess who I talked to today, guys?" Colin said excitedly as they sat down.
"Who?" Fides Winslow asked as she scooped food onto her plate.
"Harry Potter," he answered proudly, puffing his rather weedy chest out.
"Really, Colin? He's so cute! What did you talk about? Did you see his scar? Aren't his glasses so adorable," one of Ginny's roommates blushed as she bombarded Colin with questions. Madeline Corial had not let the Heir of Slytherin title that Harry had earned last year discourage her overwhelming sense of adoration for him. Ginny rolled her eyes, And people think I have it bad…
"Well," Colin shied a bit, "We…he didn't really say much. I asked him to sit with us, but he said he was busy…but I did see his scar! Harry is really something else. I just felt bad for him not being able to go to Hogsmeade with those other two people he hangs around with."
Ginny frowned, "Their names are Hermione and Ron, Colin. You know, Ron, the one with red hair and freckles? Last name Weasley? My brother…"
Colin shrugged his shoulders sheepishly.
"Augh," Fides stuck out her tongue. "I've heard enough about Harry Potter already. My dad works in the Ministry and all he ever talks about is Harry Potter and that Sirius Black character. It's enough to make anyone go mad…are you OK?"
Ginny had choked on her pumpkin juice, and took a moment to realize Fides had directed her last question at her and Ginny nodded her head, "It's just, you made me remember something my Dad said during the summer."
"Oh, and what's that?" Colin and everyone else were looking at her with curiosity written on their faces.
"Oh, well, uh…that Black was mad at him for, you know, uh," Ginny rubbed the back of her head and concluded lamely, "creating You-Know-Who's downfall…"
They all gave her a very bored look. Sycamore cleared his throat and changed the subject to The Scorched Tendrils, a wizarding band. But Ginny could care less as her mind was struggling to remember that summer morning…what had her parents said exactly?
"Oh no," Ginny was half way through dessert when it hit her. She knew the look on her face must not have been anything short of aghast as she stood from the table, each of her friends staring at her incredulously. "Umm…I forgot…something I had to do at the Library."
"But, Gin, the Library is closed…" Colin's voice was lost to her as she went out of the room.
When she got to the Library, it was as Colin said, locked up. Ginny shook her head, and pulled out her wand to unlock the door. A little rule breaking never hurt anyone…
"Last-minute studying?" she dropped her hand to her side as Professor Lupin strolled up to her. He smiled vaguely at her and leaned on the Library doors. His face fell, "Is everything alright, Ginny?"
She shook her head, "No, no. I just…remembered something my dad said this summer."
"What's that?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
"It's about," Ginny felt her cheeks warm as her eyes came close to tears. Whether they were from frustration or worry, she couldn't tell. "Well, you know about Sirius Black, right?"
Lupin lost his balance and slid sideways on the doors. He straightened himself out and nodded. His expression darkened.
"It's just, he's after Harry and B-black be-tr-trayed his parents, Professor!" Ginny wiped at her eyes as the damn broke, "He-he's coming after Harry to k-kill him, after, since Y-you-Know-Who couldn't, a-and was defeated. Isn't he? Black m-must've tricked the P-potters into t-trusting him, and then he j-just handed them o-over…"
"So, why are you at the Library?" Lupin's voice was slightly strained. His hands had curled into fists. Ginny noted this but made nothing of it and looked back at the Library doors.
"Newspaper articles. F-from twelve years ago," her face set in a determined fashion.
"What are you hoping to find out?"
She wavered, "I d-don't know. Anything, t-to help Harry, I guess."
"Ginny," he smiled sorrowfully. "There's nothing in those articles that will help you. I'd know. I've looked through all of them myself."
"R-really? Why?"
"You're not the only one worried about him, many people are. More than he could imagine."
"Do they know why Harry's m-mum and dad trusted Black so much?" she knitted her brows, "That's what I'd like to know. H-how could they not see he was a t-traitor?"
"No one knows how he did it…he fooled a lot of people," Lupin sighed and rubbed at his temples. Ginny stared at him, hoping to prompt him to continue. He shook his head but said, "Come on, I'll walk you back to Gryffindor tower…"
Following Professor Lupin was much different than walking after Professor Snape. He had the air of someone who was leading you through an ancient tomb…like Bill. Ginny mused, or even some secret and highly important conference room in the Ministry. He was tall and slim and his robes were frayed and patched, but his stride was confident and paced. Then there was the fact he hummed, which was funny but made the atmosphere around him more comfortable to be in. And thankfully, the only mildly unfortunate characteristic of his hair were the silver streaks that highlighted it here and there. But some could argue that the gray locks only served to fit his sophisticated appearance. Lupin did not seem old, but the gray in his hair and the fine lines on his face gave him a grave underlining. She rubbed her eyes dry and wondered absently what may have caused them.
"Stress, maybe…"
"Yes, everyone back then was stressed, I suppose that could've clouded our perception of him," Lupin answered absently.
"What? Oh, I didn't know I said that aloud, I'm sorry…" she felt guilty for thinking about Lupin's hair when he was still brewing over Sirius Black. Noise from ahead of them made both stop. "What is that?"
"I don't know…" a worried look had crossed his face.
"I'll go see!" Ginny ran ahead up the staircase and saw a crowd surrounding the portrait entrance. She spotted Harry and went to his side, "What's going on?"
He looked at her, just as clueless and shrugged his shoulders. "Look, it's Professor Dumbledore…"
Harry was right as Dumbledore cleared his way through the jumble of students. Ginny fell into step behind McGonagall when she arrived with Lupin and Snape, the later sending hateful glances at the Defense professor. Ginny did a favor for Lupin and glared back at Snape in his place.
They had reached the portrait and Hermione gasped and latched onto Harry, who was still next to Ginny. When she saw what had happened as well, half her mind wanted to follow Hermione's lead and reach for Harry's hand. Thankfully, she was more awed than terrified. The Fat Lady's Portrait was lacerated violently, and its inhabitant had disappeared.
Dumbledore turned from the wrecked painting to see McGonagall, Snape, and Lupin, "We need to find her. Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."
"You'll be lucky!" a cackling voice echoed from above.
The entire crowd looked up as one to find Peeves the Poltergeist gleefully zooming over their heads.
"What do you mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore's voice was calm, but the urgency was apparent in it all the same. Peeves' joyful attitude deflated a little. His mocking attitude seemed to adapt Snape's greasy voice that was no more attractive than the former.
"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he added as an unpersuasive afterthought, "Poor thing."
Who did this, who? Ginny wanted to scream, but Dumbledore asked the Poltergeist for her.
"Oh yes, Professorhead," Peeves became very energetic, and more crazy than usual, his grin encompassing the entire lower portion of his face. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black!"
Several things happened at once; Neville feinted, Lavender Brown buried herself in Seamus' arms, Oliver wood yelled something about Quidditch not being cancelled because of this, Harry spun around quickly and bumped into a sixth year, who then stumbled backwards and hit Ginny, who unfortunately was backed against the stair railing at this point and felt herself bending backwards and her legs lifting from the ground.
Then there was Lupin who simply grabbed her arm and pulled her back forward, and down the steps with him. "Dumbledore will send all the students to the Great Hall, I want you to go there now, and stay there Ginny. Don't go looking for Black. I need to go tell Harry that as well, but promise me you'll stay in the Great Hall."
Ginny watched him run back up the stairs, leaving her at the fourth floor. The window…She sighed and did exactly the opposite of what Lupin had told her. She dodged behind a tapestry as a group of teachers, Filch included, ran past her, obviously heading to find the Fat Lady. Ginny checked to see they were out of sight and ran to the far West Wing of the Castle.
It made sense now. Everything clicked into place. Why Scruffy had been in the Castle, him being a man…telling her he did not want to hurt anyone? That part maybe did not fit as well. He had to have known the Common Room would be empty, so why would he try to get in? Set a trap maybe, figuring it would be too risky to storm into the Great Hall with all the teachers there. However, Scruffy had told her he did not want to harm anyone. But he had torn apart at the Fat Lady, harm certainly intended. Her thoughts drifted off.
She had arrived at the window where she met Scruffy, or Sirius Black, as she was almost sure of now. Ginny did not have to wait long before the clicking of his claws tore her gaze from the storm that had started outside. She saw the innocently ruffled looking dog tilt its head at her, and she rolled her eyes back to the window.
"You're here to kill him, aren't you? And, I suppose you'll kill me too, now that I know who you are," Ginny said softly, quietly moving her hand to the wand in her pocket. The clicking behind her turned into the quiet padding of bare feet. She felt the wood in her palm, hexes spinning through her head.
"I'm not here to kill Harry, or you."
"How can I trust you when you say that?"
"Because you trusted me when I was Padfoot, and he's the truest form there is to me. But, I am here to kill someone tonight. And I'll remain around the Castle until he is gone for real this time—"
Ginny frowned at the window, her back still to the murderer behind her. "Dumbledore? You can't kill him, he's the most powerful wizard in the world, and even your Master V-vol…You-Know-Who, couldn't fight him—"
"You don't know what you're saying, Ginny!" his voice was quiet but cutting, Ginny heard him jerk forward, "I would never serve him! Someone betrayed Lily and James Potter, but it wasn't me.
"You're the only person I have right now. Ginny please, you believed in me when I was Padfoot, why would you stop now? Just because you know who I really am doesn't change the fact that I didn't harm anyone when I had plenty of chances to do so."
He took another step closer, "Do you know much about Animagi?"
"I know enough." She leaned closer to the window, still not looking at the man behind her.
"An Animagus can communicate telepathically while in animal form with someone they really trust, and have befriended. The thing is that they cannot lie while doing it. It's a magical bond between the Animagus and the human they found who shares a connection with them."
"Telepathically? Then you're the one…" Ginny turned around to find Sirius Black as Scruffy-the-dog again. His silver eyes flashed from beneath shaggy bangs.
Ginny, I'm telling the truth about Harry. I did not serve…You-Know-Who. Please continue trusting Padfoot, or, Scruffy as you've named me. Ginny couldn't help but smile at that.
"I guess I do owe you for earlier, you saved my life… Alright, I trust you. I won't tell anyone about you, Padfoot." Ginny sighed, why is it she is always the one with a secret?
The dog shifted, and Ginny watched amazed as it changed to a man. She had only seen one Animagus shape shift, and that had been McGonagall last year.
Sirius Black looked nothing short of crazy. His raven hair was long and tangled. His silver eyes looked out from a handsome face that seemed as if life had been sucked out of it. The eyes themselves were the only things on his face that remained young. They were bright and alert, but in them there was a scar of mourning very deeply burned.
Ginny sobbed unexpectedly. And her arms found the waist of the withered man before her. "I'm sorry!"
"Shh…Look, I'm leaving for awhile now. I can't tell you where, but it isn't far. I won't see you again for awhile, I expect. But for right now, get to the Great Hall. That is where Dumbledore will take the students. I will soon be long gone. Shh, don't worry. Keep your chin up, Ginny. You're a great witch," he said quickly, rubbing her back gently before prying her off. He smiled at her and turned her in the direction of the Great Hall, patting her on the back.
She stepped forward, but looked back. Padfoot stood staring up at her, Get down there, Ginny.
"Good bye," she said and started off, her eyes watering. She flew down the steps to the Great Hall, aware of each second passing, when finally she reached the entrance hall, which had darkened considerably, only spare torches were now lit.
Not much time had passed apparently, as just now the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins were being directed into the Great Hall. She mingled in the crowd, hoping to blend in the dim lighting so that no Gryffindor would see her, or that Lupin would spot her arriving late instead of early, as he intended for her. She was shoved around considerably, having landed in the middle of a group of excited upperclassmen.
"Weasley?" Ginny turned at the sound of her surname. Blaise Zabini was a few paces behind her. His disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes made her giggle and he took this as an invitation to walk besides her. "Wouldn't happen to know what's going on?"
"Kind of…" she looked at her hands. The thought of Scruffy ―Sirius― running around the castle with intentions of killing someone and the entire Hogwarts staff scurrying around trying to hunt him down was all rather dizzying in Ginny's head.
"I was in my quarters when Garroway started shouting at everyone to get to the Great Hall. Wonder what it's all about," he said as they finally got through the front doors. Someone shoved two purple sleeping bags into their hands and they were ushered off to the side. Ginny found Blaise's hand and they settled along the wall together. His company is better than none…
A silver-brown head bobbed through the crowd and maneuvered its way to them.
"Oh, Ginny! Thank Merlin I found you! Your brother Percy is having kittens about where you went—" Ashlyn had reached them and started talking immediately, before she spotted Blaise and Ginny, and more importantly their interlocking hands. "Err…are you feeling well?"
Ginny followed Ashlyn's eyes and quickly snatched her hands to her chest. "Yes. Come on, sit down..." she quieted her voice as Ashlyn lowered to her knees, "I mean, I can't stay here with a Slytherin the entire night."
"We're not all that bad…most of the time." Blaise said guiltily from Ginny's right. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled apologetically in his direction.
Ashlyn was frowning at Blaise, "Maybe I should just walk around with you until we find Percy, Ginny."
Ginny nodded and got up, "We'll be back."
"What are you doing with all these Slytherin's?" Ashlyn asked Ginny once they had reached a point where Blaise couldn't overhear them. "I mean, first those extra lessons from Snape, then confrontations with Malfoy, and now mysterious conversations with Blaise Zabini. This doesn't seem to fit you."
You've no idea… Ginny decided to avoid her friends questions and turn the tables, "Well, how about what's been up with you? You always appear so tired and sickly. I've yet to see you healthy looking once this year. Care to explain that? I'm really concerned."
They shuffled through throngs of students and their sleeping bags. Penelope Clearwater told them that Percy was across the hall with Professor Vector at the moment. Ginny and Ashlyn headed towards the staff table.
"So? Are you going to tell me what's been going on?"
"It's complicated," Ashlyn squinted at the floor for a moment. She looked up sighing, and said unexpectedly "Look, there's your brother."
Percy was puffing out his chest as he crossed to them, "Ginevra Molly Weasley!"
Ginny rolled her eyes at his exaggerated stage whisper, "I'm fine, Perce. I'm sleeping over there, by the door if you're wondering."
"Oh, no you are not. You'll be staying with Fred and George. Ron is with Harry and Hermione, but I am to make sure that you are with one of us at all times tonight. It would be best if you just stayed with the twins."
"And not get any sleep? No thanks, I'll be better off with Ashlyn and my own friends." She said goodbye to Percy and started back towards Blaise with Ashlyn. "What a waste of time. Sorry Ashlyn…Ash? What are you doing?" Ginny stopped short.
Ashlyn had frozen a few steps back, her back arched backwards awkwardly. Her eyes were wide and staring at the ceiling. Her hands were strained like talons. Then, it simply stopped, and Ashlyn shuddered forward and stumbled to Ginny, breathing a bit heavier than normal.
"About you explaining to me what is, and has been, happening with you?" Ginny pushed, her voice tightening. She held onto Ashlyn's arm to steady her.
"If you want to know, we're going to have to get out of here." Ashlyn said, scanning the large room and all of its hundreds of occupants. "Shouldn't be too hard to get out of here."
"Are you crazy? There's one exit and about four teachers guarding it." Ginny's voice was getting excited, and she was beginning to suspect that her friend was running a fever.
"You're wrong." Ginny felt her mouth drop. Ashlyn was insane. "Oh, don't give me that look. I'm just saying that there's another way out of the Great Hall than the front doors. We're just going to need a little help to get through it."
"Help from who?"
"Not from who, but from what." Ashlyn dropped to her knees and dragged Ginny down with her. She looked around to make sure no one was watching them carefully. She held a finger to her mouth and Ginny's eyes popped as Ashlyn withdrew a very silky, thin cape from the inside of her robes. "I had this with me before we had to come down here."
"Why in the world would you need an invisibility cloak?" Ginny watched the sly smile spread across her friends face.
"There are so many secrets in this castle," was Ashlyn's only response as she swiftly covered both of them under the cloak. "Stay close and make sure your feet don't stray out from under the cloak, K?"
They crept through the rows of students and teachers, taking their time to calculate the best plans of movement. They made it all the way behind the staff table, where there was indeed a door. If it was an exit, Ginny didn't know. They started towards it when a voice came drifting through the slight crack in the wood.
It was Snape standing on the other side of the door. He seemed to be talking to someone, "…don't think I didn't recognize her, too. You're pathetic, grasping unto every last bit of your past life. Well, those days are over, and your perfect friends are gone. Gone. Three dead, one insane, and another one…lost to you as well..." Snape was grinning, that much was evident in his voice, which had taken a sickeningly joyful tone in its hissed whisper.
There was no perceptible response, but Snape came bursting through the door and stomped over to where the students were sleeping. Ginny could see his hooked-nose silhouette peering over kids and snapping at them if they were still up. He moved farther away, still fuming.
Ashlyn tapped Ginny's shoulder and nodded that she was going to move to the door. They quietly turned the knob and checked the hallway for any movement. There was one sentinel placed firmly in front of their faces. It was the Slytherin prefect Noor. He was staring down to the left of the hall at the moment.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders at Ashlyn, who had a thoughtful expression on her face, then took off her bracelet and held her wand to it. She whispered a spell and instantly the jewelry transformed into a mouse. Ginny held in a gasp at the advanced transfiguration and winced as Ashlyn chucked the mouse down the right of the hall.
Noor heard the miserable shrieking of the mouse as it went flying through the air and started moved towards it, his wand held out first.
They simultaneously moved forward through the gap and started down the hallway, making sure their shoes made as little noise as possible. Ginny had never been in this corridor before and had a slight inclination they were heading towards the dungeons entrance and the staircase to the Ravenclaw tower. She was right as they entered another hall and she could see the distant light of the entrance hall. She started towards it instinctively when Ashlyn looped her arm through Ginny's and began in the opposite direction.
They walked a fair distance and then stopped in front of a teasingly familiar wall tapestry. Ginny opened her mouth to ask why they had paused, and then shut it once more when Ashlyn went behind the drapery to reveal a door. She unlocked it with her wand and they entered, finally able to take off the cloak.
"OK, we should be fine in here." Ashlyn lit a lantern to reveal what appeared to be a small study. The room was no bigger than half that of their dorm room and was moderately empty. It had a single bookcase, a desk, and a spindly stool. "I discovered this room accidentally last year during Christmas holiday. I come here all the time when I need a place to relax."
Ginny wondered how one could accidentally stumble across a hidden room, but pushed the thought aside as the purpose of their coming here again made itself clear in her head. She looked expectantly at her friend, "What is it that you want to tell me?"
"It's not so much that I want to tell you," Ashlyn rubbed at her arm and laughed a bit. "It sounds really stupid when I go over it in my head…"
"Wait," Ginny lurched over slightly. Her head had started hurting when she came into the room, but it had now intensified tenfold. She strangled out a little moan as she dropped to the floor. Ashlyn loomed overhead, worriedly examining her. "D-don't worry…there's just…something about…this room–"
"What are you talking about?" Ashlyn asked as her skin paled.
"This was –this is his room!" the words raced out of Ginny's mouth before she could coherently organize them in her head, but the second she heard herself speak them, she knew they were true. Riddle had named this room his refuge before he had discovered the chamber. He had taken her here before, though she never could remember that until now. Images of it had flashed disjointedly in her minds eye, but she only now knew what they had depicted.
"Are – What – Whose room?"
Ginny's view was swirling, and the sudden impulse to open the desk drawers dragged her to her feet. She staggered towards it and grasped at the first handle she could reach. Tugging it open, she found it empty. She opened three more drawers, until she reached the last one, and her eyes beheld the image she had been dreading to find. There it was, shining with an unnatural light. The very image of what had ensnared her being last year.
The Diary.
Ginny's vision, as blurred as it was, took in every inch of the ordinary book lying before her. It was identical to the one Harry had punctured with the Basilisk fang; the rough black leather covering, the single gold leaf detail that ran along the edges, and of course, the glittering letters of T. M. RIDDLE.
In a second, the book was hastily shoved and secured on the inside of her robes, and a maliciously soothing voice echoed in her head. Nice job my little Ginevra…and she blacked out.
"Ginny? Ginny? ...Ginny. Ginevra? Weasley!" Ashlyn's wonderfully worried face was hanging over Ginny's when she first opened her eyes. "What the heck happened with you? You've been out for like, I don't know, thirty minutes or something! I've been having a grand old time trying to wake you up."
Realizing she was laying uncomfortably on the stone floor, Ginny raised her upper body to a sitting position. Her head felt as if a rail spike had been driven through it, repeatedly. "It's a long story…"
"I swear everyone here has their own dreary secrets…" Ashlyn suggested as settled herself in a more relaxed position. "Care to share yours if I share mine?"
"How about we just sit on them for awhile more, I'm still fully trying to figure out my own. You understand right?" Ginny looked pleadingly at her friend. "I'm just not ready to talk about mine yet."
Ashlyn nodded, "I sort of feel the same. As for right now, I'm not completely sure what's going on myself."
"If it gets really bad, talk to someone though…"
"Heh, if only it was that easy. My parents aren't exactly there for me. At least that's what I am beginning to think. It's complicated."
Ginny was lost for a second, "You mean, you think your parents are out to get you or something?"
"No, no. Not at all…" Ashlyn stood up and brushed off her robes. "Maybe we should be heading back now…I mean, I don't think we're safe here. And, we've been gone a long time, someone may have noticed."
Ginny and Ashlyn made it back to the Great Hall easily enough, only taking a few extra minutes more to retrieve Ashlyn's bracelet, which had managed to scurry all the way down a different corridor before the spell wore off.
Noor had returned to his outpost guarding the backdoor of the Great Hall, but was thankfully further away from it this time. They had no trouble opening the door and silently slipping through it.
"Where did you two go to that whole time?" Blaise hurtfully glared at Ginny and Ashlyn as they appeared next to him. He had been pretending to sleep while they were gone. "Care to explain yourselves?"
"Nothing happened, Blaise." Ginny said nonchalantly as she snuggled inside her own sleeping bag, the diary warm against her chest.
Notes
Author's notes: I am a big fan of the passive tense, I guess! Oh, and I have waited to do this for such a long time…
Chippychoo: Thank you so much for my very first review ever, it means so much to me! I was bouncing around because I was so happy, and because I am a total loser and would do something like that:-) Don't worry, you'll be seeing lot's more of Draco.
Sabrina-Rosalie: I swear, I'd love to just hug you for that review! I think I've changed it so that I can now receive reviews from people who aren't logged in. Thank you so much for pointing that out! Hehehe, as for Tom, you'll just have to wait and see ;-) I mean, it's not like I just totally gave it away right there or anything… As for Ginny being better at Occlumency than Harry, well…she just puts more effort into than he did, I guess!
Nikashera NightDragon, Cerdwyn3: You guys totally rock, too! Thank you!