Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Well, as you can all se, I am not JKR and, unfortunately, I never will be…

A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed! Or, to name you all; Unperfectwolf, fire-and-ice89 (please update soon!), Chiro-Child, Da-manta-ray, SugarGirl, and, lucky last: lonely fish in da fish bowl (luv the name D ) Anyway, sorry this update took a while, but we had our final exams. S

Just one more thing, I had no idea how to do Ginny's thoughts, without making them in first person. Please please please review and tell any suggestions for this in particular. Thanks!

Last Time

She stood back to examine it, the old, wooden chest. It looked ancient, and reminded her of pirates, and treasure. She fumbled with the catch, then slowly, ever so gently, the lid creaked open. When Ginny saw what was inside, she let out a small gasp of surprise.

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"It's amazing…" Ginny quietly murmured to herself.

The chest before was truly a sight of wonder. It was filled to bursting point with coins, each the same size. Muggles could never place them, but any witch or wizard would immediately recognize them to be gallons. Each gallon was faultless. They remained untarnished, and in the dim light of the Forest, the gallons shined mischievously; like jack-o-lanterns leering from the dark.

Suddenly, Ginny was jerked back into reality. Was class over already! She had to get back, and fast, before one of her friends noticed that she was gone. Sighing to herself, the gloom of the Forest seemed to hang over her heavier than before. What on earth could she possibly do with all of the gold? Well, I mean, I couldn't leave it here, could I! Urgh, but then, the only other alternative to leaving it here would be to take it. And I guess that would be stealing…

Undecided, she tried to picture what her friends would do. It was a little trick Harry had taught her. Hermione would never steal it, or take it. And if she did, then it would only to be to hand it into a teacher. Ron, on the other hand, he would maybe keep it a secret, but take it. Ginny could sympathize; it isn't easy to be poor. And Harry, well, Harry could be counted on to do the same as Hermione; after all, he wasn't exactly in need of money.

Ginny glanced quickly at her watch; "12:15." she said to herself and her Niffler "So History of Magic is next, and that is at 12:30, so I had better get out of here"

She paused, still silently contemplating what to do with the chest of gold. Startling her Niffler, she began to cover up the chest. "I don't really need you, and besides, Ron would eventually find out, and then I would be in huge trouble" Ginny said to the chest as she lowered it into the moist soil of her hole. Then, before she could change her mind, she turned, burning the image and location of the chest into her memory, before hurrying away.

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"Wonder where Ginny is?" asked Ron, as his Niffler dumped yet another coin onto the pile at his feet.

"Dunno, probably she just left early, maybe she is sick or something" said Harry, although his voice lacked much concern.

"Well, think of…" Hermione broke off, as Hagrid's voice announced the end of the lesson.

"Now, le' me see how much gold yeh Niffler got yeh."

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Just as the trio were walking up the lawn toward the castle, Ginny slipped out of the Forest noiselessly, blending in with the crowd of students coming out from the greenhouses. She breathed a sigh of relief; it certainly would have been awkward if she had run into them before she cleaned herself up.

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"Hey Ginny, where were you in Care of Magical creatures?" asked Hermione.

Ginny sighed inwardly. During their History of Magic class, Ginny had been debating with herself whether or not to tell them the truth. In the end, she had decided against it, so she began her prepared excuse.

"Oh yeah, sorry about that. I had a really bad headache, so I figured nobody would miss me if I went up to see Madame Pomfre. And by then there was no point in coming back, so I just rested."

"Oh, so you're feeling better now?" said Harry. Hermione opened her mouth, about to point out something, when Ron remembered that he and Harry had Divination next, and needed to leave.

Hermione also had to hurry off to Arithmancy. Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully the questions were over.

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Later that night, after they had finished dinner, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry made their way up to the common room.

"Chicken pot pie" The four repeated without enthusiasm.

"Who even picks these lame passwords?" said Ron, as the portrait swung open.

Stepping through the entrance to the common room, they were surprised to see all the Gryffindors crowded around the notice board. The center of attention was found, a poster bearing the words

HALLOWEEN BALL

On Friday 30th October, there will be a Halloween Ball

Second Year and above are invited

Other s p o o k y activities planned for first years

Begins at 8pm

Remember your costume!

First years walked away from the poster, grumbling about the unfairness of it all.

Ginny squealed with excitement. "This is gonna be so much fun!" She glanced slyly sideways at Hermione, who was looking at the ground.

"I'll probably have homework to do…" Hermione began, but she was cut off by Ginny.

"Nope, Hermione, you are going to this ball."

And she wouldn't allow Hermione another moment to protest.

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Ginny walked slowly up to the girls' dorm, thinking about the upcoming ball.

In the dorm, many of her room mates had brought in their friends, gossiping about dates and costumes.

Ginny retreated into the solitude of her bed, drawing shut the red hangings. She lay in complete silence, listening to the excited chatter of her fellow Gryffindors.

"What costume are you wearing Lavender?"

The chatter was never ending.

Ginny figured that most people's problems were centered on dates. She, however, was far more concerned about buying a decent costume.

What on Earth could I dress as that would cost practically nothing. Wait, I know the answer, nothing would look decent if even if I used all my money on it.

Another voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she didn't have to go to the ball. However, that thought was pushed away again, as she thought of Harry.

She had to at least try to look great.

Suddenly, Ginny sat up on her bed. She had had a brilliant plan, one that would certainly win Harry over, and would also allow her to be Belle of the Ball.

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Meanwhile Harry and Ron were sitting down stairs in the common room, finishing homework.

"It's not fair, how does Hermione do this?" complained Ron, as he crossed our yet another mistake on his essay. "And how, exactly how, are we meant to do 2 rolls of parchment on the procedure and effects of the sleeping draught?"

"I agree, Snape is impossible." said Harry.

At that moment, Hermione appeared downstairs, carrying a huge stack of books, quills and parchment.

"Hermione!"

"Harry, look, the savior has come to do our homework for us!"

"In what, your dreams?" retorted Hermione, as she set down her books on a near by table.

Hermione worked industriously for the next ten minutes, before she noticed the unusual lack of complaint from her companions. Turning around she found Harry dozing on "The Dream Oracle" whilst Ron was staring blankly into the fire, apparently lost in thought.

"Ron?" Hermione asked gently. He jumped, obviously startled.

"Uhuh?" He asked vaguely.

"What are you going to wear to the Halloween ball?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.

"Dunno," Ron shrugged. "I don't care, really."

Hermione nodded carefully. "Well, what about Ginny? I mean, she seems really excited about this ball, and to girls, costumes a big deal. Perhaps you should help her out a bit."

Ron stared at her blankly.

"Uh…" Hermione tried to think of a subtle way to say it, and gave up. "Maybe you could lend her some money? I was going to offer her some too. Take her shopping at Hogsmeade or something. If we combined some money, we could help her buy a decent costume."

"Oh," Ron said, processing the idea. "Well, she'd have to pay me back, but…I guess that sounds okay."

Hermione smiled warmly at him. "You're a good older brother."

She couldn't wait to see the look on Ginny's face when she found out.

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A/N: So… Did you like that? Please review! Thanks