The next morning, Ginny woke excitedly. Hermione was still asleep, so Ginny tried to stay quiet as she worked on her hair, wishing that she still had her house elf to help her. She soon began humming one of Jaclyn's Muggle songs, and Hermione sat up crossly, glaring.
"Why are you so excited?" she asked, annoyed. "And how do you know a bloody REM song?" Ginny frowned.
"What's an REM? And, anyway, I'm not excited," she scoffed. "I'm just happy that we're going to Diagon Alley today and I get to, you know, finally step outside this dreadful house!" Hermione rolled her eyes and pushed Crookshanks off of her bed. Ginny went on. "But we have to have a guard! This is so stupid. I would be fine in Diagon Alley, I mean, really, no Death Eater would touch me! Father would murder them!"
"Literally," Hermione muttered. Ginny smirked a trademark Malfoy smirk. She sighed contentedly—the smirk was something you had to be a Malfoy, not in blood, but in character, to pull off.
"Anyway… are you lot coming as well?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not, we all need our school supplies and things. And I suppose it would be nice to have a break from this place."
"Poor Sirius," laughed Ginny. "He's going to go stir-crazy sitting here while we're all off shopping and gallivanting…" Wait… since when do Malfoys gallivant? Ginny demanded of herself. Ah, well… must be the Weasley in me. Yes, Ginny could definitely see Weasleys gallivanting, especially the twins. Suddenly, Hermione jumped up, causing Ginny to jump in surprise.
"What?" demanded Ginny.
"Ooh… I wonder if our school letters are here today? I hope I'm a Prefect…. How couldn't I be, though? Well, there was second year… and the troll in first, and attacking a teacher in third—and helping a champion in fourth, but my grades are the best still and—oh, what if they all just think of me as a stupid know-it-all? How can I be expected to keep the entire school in line when I can't even control my two best friends?" Ginny stared at her disbelievingly.
"Are you kidding, Granger? First off, I KNEW that Dumbledore favored the Golden Trio! You should've been expelled!" she said gleefully. Then she calmed down. "Secondly, one Prefect doesn't have to control the entire school anyway, and finally, you're every teacher's favorite except Snape!" Hermione reddened.
"Well, I suppose—oh, never mind. Come on, let's go downstairs and eat so we can go to Diagon Alley." Ginny sighed and followed Hermione down the stairs, where everyone was talking excitedly, with the exception of Sirius, who was brooding once again. There were quite a few people in the kitchen; Bill, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Tonks, Remus, Sirius, Fred, and George. There was a commotion over by the boys, and Hermione rushed over. Ginny followed, slightly interested. Their letters had come after all!
Hermione ripped hers open as Harry and Ron leisurely. Fred and George Apparated from one side of the room to the other, right next to Harry and Ron. Hermione squealed. "I'm a prefect!" she yelled, flushed. Ginny looked on with interest as Harry and Ron opened theirs—and Ron was a Prefect!
"I mean—that's really—" began Hermione. Unexpected, thought Ginny at the same moment that Fred and George said it. Hermione then became quite flustered, saying that Ron deserved to be a Prefect and the like. Yeah, right.
"So can we go now?" asked Tonks after about ten minutes of congratulations and a crying Molly Weasley. "Your Mum wants to get that broom, and I have to be at training later, so…"
"Of course," said Remus. "You guys ready?" Ginny looked at the nearest clock. She was supposed to meet her friends in ten minutes exactly.
"I'm ready," she smiled.
"All right, you go on with Fred and George, and then we'll figure out what to do about disguise." Ginny nodded and grabbed a twin in each hand, stepping into the Floo. "The Leaky Cauldron," she said in an irritated voice. The three landed in the Pub, quickly followed by the Dream Team. By this time the guard had all disguised themselves, and Ginny angrily realized that she had to be with one of the trio at all times.
"Ron?" asked Hermione. "Would you like to come with me to see a Prefect Handbook in the bookstore? After all, you're going to have to be extra careful about rule-breaking and such, and you should really—"
Ron actually agreed. "Come on, Harry, Ginny… we'll only be a few minutes," said Hermione supremely.
"Actually," said Ginny, I don't want to go. Can Harry and I please just go get ice cream or something?" Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"I don't see why not. We'll meet up later, okay? We do have Guard members following us, anyway, so we shouldn't be in any danger. Is that okay with you, Harry?"
"Yeah, it's fine," Harry shrugged. "Let's go." Ginny and Harry walked off uncomfortably, and Ginny almost felt bad for the boy-who-lived.
"You know, being a Prefect is kind of stupid, anyway. Like, they have to do all these annoying things and they bother the younger years, and they often go power-hungry. The only good thing is this bathroom I've heard about that Prefects can use, but…"
"It's nice."
"What?" asked Ginny.
"The bathroom," Harry laughed. "Er, Cedric—told me the password to it last year. We sort of helped each other out and stuff."
"Did you really see Him?" whispered Ginny. "Tom?" Harry looked at her pityingly, but he didn't have the chance to answer before Ginny was attacked with hugs.
"Ginny!" yelled Ceridwen happily. "It's so good to see you!" Ginny smiled and then hugged Aidan and Michael, who kissed her deeply. Ginny, caught unawares, pushed him off and laughed, though it was extremely awkward.
"Er- you guys all know Harry Potter, right?" she asked at the very moment that a certain blonde Slytherin stepped up to her. Merlin, no! Ginny gasped.
"D-Draco! You look wonderful! How ever have you been?" she exclaimed, embracing him warmly whilst signaling madly at Ceridwen to get Harry away.
"Wonderful, Ginevra, but I couldn't say the same for you. What are you doing with Harry bloody Potter?" he demanded.
"Harry? Harry Potter?" asked Ginny with a crazy smile on as her friends ushered Harry away, undoubtedly about to be jumped on by the guard. "What are you talking about?" Draco looked around and rolled his eyes.
"Whatever… but you have some explaining to do!" Suddenly Ginny looked around guiltily.
"Draco! I had a guard, but I bet they all just ran after Potter! Can we please go to the Manor? Just for a few minutes?" Draco grinned wickedly.
"Come on!" They then discreetly stood in the ice cream line, until breaking away in a group of elderly witches. From there, they turned into an alleyway and dashed towards the nearest Fireplace, which was inside an antique shop. Ginny rushed into the fireplace, shouting, "Malfoy Manor!" She tucked her elbows in and in a matter of seconds was standing inside her home.
Narcissa had happened to be in the room at the time. "Ginny!" she shrieked, as she had been expecting Draco. Ginny rushed over to her mother, forgetting formalities, and hugged her as Draco appeared in the room, laughing his head off.
"Mother," laughed Ginny uncontrollably, "We just ran off my guard! And I don't have much time probably before Aurors are banging the doors down, so could we talk for a few minutes? Is Daddy here?"
"No, your father is at work," said Narcissa, disappointed. "Oh, Ginevra! It has been terrible here without you! I miss you so! But—oh! Nixie!" A house elf appeared with a loud crack.
"Mistress called?"
"Bring us some tea, please." The elf nodded and popped away. "Now, Ginevra. We have very little time, so I will get right to the point. Your father and I have been discussing things, and it seems as if the contract will not be in affect anymore if—" She took a deep breath—"You marry Draco." Ginny gasped, horrified, as did her brother.
"Gross!" they both exclaimed.
"I know, I know… but it really isn't so bad; you could get it annulled, you could both have, well, affairs… and it isn't as if you are truly related!"
"But, Mum… in order for a marriage to be, you know, valid," began Draco, "it had to be consummated! And—ugh! No!"
"I know, dear, I know, and we will figure something out! In the meantime, Ginny, you should probably go, as much as I love you staying here… I don't want to get into more trouble with the law. This ordeal already looks bad enough!" Ginny nodded and embraced her mother and brother.
"Tell Father I said hello, and that I send him my love," Ginny said wistfully. "Good-bye. I'll see you tomorrow, Draco, and Mum? I'll see you soon, I promise." A minute later, Ginny was standing inside the Leaky Cauldron where at least a dozen Aurors and Mrs. Weasley stood staring at her.
"Oh, bloody hell!" exclaimed Ginny, who was chastised for the next hour and was escorted back to Grimmauld Place with half of the Order beside her. She was incredibly angry and refused to speak with anyone. She chanced a glance at Mrs. Weasley, who was still crying. Hermione was behind Ginny and was frowning reprovingly, but somehow Ron and Harry looked delighted, as did Fred and George.
When they arrived at Grimmauld Place, Mrs. Weasley finally spoke. "Ginevra Molly Weasley, please go straight to your room. You, too, Harry. I am so disappointed! I thought I could trust you when I told you to stay together! Anything could have happened to you both—running off with a Malfoy, Ginny, and Harry trying to get away from the guard! Does it not matter to you all that You-Know-Who is after you?" she demanded. "Any time you go missing, we are forced to think that you've been kidnapped, or that you're being tortured or that you're dead! And you—none of you even care, you think you're the only bloody people in the world!" Tears were freely pouring down her face again. Ginny felt a surge of anger swell up inside of her.
"How—how dare you? The Malfoys love me more than you ever will! So just leave me alone! I'm not the selfish one—you have six other kids you can love, why do you need me? Have you ever been forced to live with strangers who you've considered 'the enemy' all your life? No, you haven't." Ginny then stormed upstairs, slamming her door, angry that she'd been caught and that she'd hardly had any time to speak with Draco or Ceridwen. At least school was starting tomorrow. A moment later, there came a knock at the door. Ginny sighed and opened it, and was surprised to see Fred, George, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all at the door.
"What do you want?" she asked haughtily.
"I want you to apologize to Mum," said Ron, leading the group into Ginny's room. "You really hurt her, you know."
"So?" asked Ginny. "She shouldn't be so controlling of me! I don't even know the bloody woman."
"She's your Mum," said George thunderously.
"You could at least look ashamed!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Why is it such a big deal?" demanded Ginny. "I'm not the only one who ran away from the guard… I didn't even do anything to deserve a guard!"
"I said I was sorry, Ginny," said Harry. "I don't feel very sorry and was actually pleased about you before you yelled at Mrs. Weasley like that. She's such a caring woman… and even though I don't think I should need a guard, I respect the decision that the Weasleys and Sirius made—even if it is hypocritical," he scowled.
"Whatever," said Ginny. "Anyway, we'd better get ready for that stupid Prefect party…"
"Prefects," scowled Fred, glaring at Ron. "Whatever happens, you'd better not become one of those," he told Ginny. Ginny bit back a smile, seeing Ron and Hermione's indignant faces.
The next morning, Ginny awoke excitedly. School was finally starting! She quickly dressed and made sure her trunk was packed before starting down the stairs. She had descended no more than a flight when she heard a terrible whirring noise behind her. With a feeling of dread, Ginny stopped and closed her eyes as two large trunks hurtled into her.
"OUCH!" she yelled as she fell down at least two flights of stairs before landing in a heap in the hall below. Ginny groaned and clutched her head, which was hurting like hell, and her legs, which had collapsed beneath her and were surely broken. A moment later, people were running into the hallway from all directions. Sirius reached her first.
"Oh bloody Merlin," he cursed. "MOLLY! GET IN HERE!" Of course, forgetting to keep his voice down set off the portrait.
"FILTHY HALF-BREEDS AND HALF-BLOODS! HOW DARE YOU WALK AROUND THIS MANOR, TAINTING YEARS OF HARDSHIP AND PRIDE—FILTHY MUDBLOODS AND WEREWOLVES—"
"Ginny, speak to me," said Sirius, concerned. Ginny squinted her eyes open.
"What?" she said murderously. Moments later, Mrs. Weasley ran up.
"Oh! You poor little dear, what hurts? Who did this—Merlin, those twins…"
"My legs and my head and my arms and my back," moaned Ginny.
"Sirius, would you please get some healing potions from the cupboard? Oh, dear, we're going to be late, and miss the train… FRED! GEORGE!" yelled Mrs. Weasley, causing Ginny's head to pound harder. "GET DOWN HERE IMMEDIATELY!" And it didn't help that Mrs. Black wouldn't shut up. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" screeched Mrs. Weasley, administering Ginny a healing potion. Fred and George clamored down the stairs sullenly.
"Sorry, Gin—we were just trying to save a bit of time," apologized George.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, YOU IDIOTS—"
"—FILTHY HALF-BREEDS, BESMIRCHING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS—"
Ginny tuned everyone out for a moment, concentrating on her rapidly diminishing pain until Moody entered the hall gruffly.
"I know, I know," said Mrs. Weasley, helping Ginny to her feet. "We're hurrying! We'll make it in time if we—LEAVE NOW!" she yelled up the stairs.
"We can't go anyway!" said Moody angrily. "Podmore isn't here; we go now and the guard is one short!"
"I can go!" volunteered Sirius excitedly.
"You know what Dumbledore said!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, holding her temple. "WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!" she bellowed. Hermione and Harry came running down the stairs.
"Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks," she shouted. "Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage…. Oh, for heaven's sake, Sirius! Dumbledore said no!"
"MUDBLOODS! SCUM! CREATURES OF DIRT!" Sirius suddenly turned into a dog. Ginny gasped. She'd known he was an Animagus, but had never actually seen him transform. Mrs. Weasley wrenched the door open and sunlight flooded the hallway. She and Harry left, and Ginny followed with Ron and Hermione later, going withy Remus and Mr. Weasley.
"Excited about the new year, Ginny?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Yes," said Ginny, feeling particularly mean. "Hopefully we'll see Mum and Daddy at the platform; they've never not said good-bye to me before leaving!" That shut the stupid Weasley up. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, and Remus sighed.
They reached King's Cross twenty minutes later and quickly walked to platform nine and three quarters. Ginny sighed happily, remembering the excitement she used to have whilst walking through the wall. On the other side, the Weasleys hugged Ginny tightly as she wriggled out of their grasps, searching for her parents, who were nowhere to be found.
"On the train now, hurry," said Mrs. Weasley. Ginny chuckled as Sirius jumped onto Harry. Glancing around the train station once more, Ginny sighed and boarded the train as it let out a warning whistle. Hermione and Ron ran off to the Prefect compartment, and Harry sighed.
"Come on," said Ginny dejectedly. "I suppose we can save them both places in a compartment…"
"Right," said Harry, and the two began the search for a compartment.
Author's Notes: Well. Long time no update, right? Well, please don't kill me! I am going to get back into this story, but I can' t update until the first week of July because I'll be gone. Thanks for sticking with this story, anyone who is! Please review.