Disclaimer- I certainly do not own Harry Potter
Monuments and Melodies
Chapter Seven- Ready
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It was already deep into the night when Severus apparated back to Grimmauld Place. The house had fallen into that deep silence as though no one had stepped inside it for ages. Severus stood hushed a moment, willing himself to not make a sound, to stop breathing just to fit in with the atmosphere.
The crack beside him broke through the peace. He looked over and there was Albus beside him, his silver beard running down his metallic purple robes, and the small glasses just falling from his crooked nose.
"Where is she?" the elder man asked, taking a look around the kitchen in which he arrived in.
"Upstairs, I assume," Severus answered, "It was the last time I saw of her before I left."
"Would she be awake at this hour?"
Severus nodded, "She usually is."
Dumbledore took this information, and walked slowly to the stairs, racketing as he ascended them. The potions master, still unaware of Dumbledore's purpose, followed closely behind, directing him to the destined door.
Standing in front of the wooden barrier, Severus could see the soft glow of candlelight through the bottom crack. Maybe it was his imagination, but he swore he heard the ruffling of paper.
Dumbledore knocked, waiting patiently for the door to open. When it did, Ginny stood in the doorway, her frail hands grasping the trim tightly. Severus could tell she had been crying. The whites of her eyes were now a scratching red, and her face was pasty from tear stains. She had pulled her hair back loosely, rough and messy.
"Yes?" she said softly, looking from Albus to Severus.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, I was hoping to have a word with you. May I come in?" Dumbledore gestured to the table her could see through the door.
"Yes, of course," she stepped back, letting them come through. She headed towards the bed and sat for there were only two chairs at the table. Severus took a seat in one of the antique chairs, and found an open book in front of him, one he recognized, The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked plainly, but Severus could see the worry lines.
"Oh no, my dear child, there is nothing to worry about," Dumbledore assured her, "My visit is firmly concerned with the future of Hogwarts."
"Is the reconstruction going well?"
"Very much so. We're looking at about a year for completion."
Ginny was surprised, "Only a year?"
"We had originally planned for around three, but Mr. Malfoy turned out to be a very generous benefactor." The red head frowned at this.
"I see… but why are you here then?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly, "I'm afraid we lost a great deal of our faculty in the war, and Hogwarts is in need of a new Mediwitch." He looked pointedly at her.
"But Professor, what of Madam Pomfrey?" Ginny asked.
"Poppy has taken up the position at the head of St. Mungo's. She is no longer able to work at the school. She did, however, recommend you as a replacement with much fervor, and I can not say I disagree."
Ginny's mouth was open, and she was taken aback, almost curious, "Professor, surely there is someone better than myself to meet the requirements. I'm not sure I even meet the requirements."
"There are many who meet the requirements, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said, "There are many who have given years to their studies and have perfected their art. There are many who have much experience, and have worked out in reality for years. There are many who have heart and are passionate about what they do. But none of them so much as you, Miss Weasley. You have the heart we need in a healer after such a deep wound has been made."
Severus could see the wheels turning in Ginny's mind, "Professor, honestly, I am greatly flattered, but I do not know if I am capable of-"
The Headmaster cut her off, "Nonsense, Miss Weasley. You are one of the best out there. There is no way I will let your own self doubt keep you from this."
"But Professor, I do not know if I'm ready."
Dumbledore sighed, "Miss Weasley, will any of us ever be ready? The answer is no. None of us will ever be ready to go out again and face the world, but that doesn't mean we can't. It doesn't mean we don't have to. We need to take our issues in stride, not hide away with them," he paused before continuing, "I need you, Miss Weasley. Please do not excuse yourself."
Ginny looked down, picking at the hem of her sweater, "You said a year?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley, a year and it will be done."
"So, I would have a year to get things together, figure things out?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley."
She gave out a deep breath and bit her lip, closing her eyes, "Alright. I'll be your Mediwitch."
Dumbledore was visibly pleased. He stood, a great grin on his face, "I'm glad to here it Miss Weasley. Very glad to hear it. Now, what are you going to do about your situation, if it is not too much to ask?"
When she spoke, her voice sounded uncertain and shaky, "I was hoping to take a trip back to the Cottage. Until then, I'll ask you if I can remain here."
"The Cottage," Dumbledore's brow furrowed, "You want to move back in there, I am guessing."
"Yes…"
"I do not know if know is the best time for you to be living alone, Miss Weasley. There are many who have a price set for the head of Neville Longbottom's fiancé."
"Professor-" Ginny pleaded.
"Miss Weasley, I'll not willingly put you in a spot of danger. The Cottage is in the center of the remaining Death Eater activity and for good reason too. To live there would be suicide."
"I can take care of myself," she said defensively.
Dumbledore sighed, "I know that, Miss Weasley, but even the great witch that you are could not protect you from their ploys. Though their master is gone, their mission still runs strong. Zabini is out there. You have to stay sharp with these facts."
"I understand these facts, Professor. Honestly, I do! But you cannot keep me from going back. I need to return to the Cottage, if only for a little while," she was getting desperate, and Severus could see the need in her silky brown eyes.
"Miss Weasley, it is not-"
"Appropriate, I know…" she finished in soft resent, "But surely you can give me a visit, just for a few hours, to collect my things, take a look around," she began picking at her jumper again, "Closure, you know?"
The Headmaster took a breath, looking at her, "Fine, Miss Weasley, if that is your wish, you may go," Ginny smiled, relieved, "But, it will not be alone. I'm sure Mr. Potter would be willing to take you."
"No sir, please anyone but Harry. I spoke the idea over with Remus. Perhaps, he would take me… but not Harry." Dumbledore nodded.
"I'll speak to him about it. Don't worry, I shan't tell Harry of this outing."
"Thank you, Professor," Ginny let out the air she had been holding.
"Anytime," he walked over to the door, pulling it open and stepping through, "Anytime. I'll see you later, I pray, Miss Weasley."
"Of course, and thank you, Professor,"
Severus stood and followed the elder man out of the room, looking back to Ginny who stood beside the bed, "Goodnight… Ginny."
"Goodnight Professor," she murmured, giving him one of her small tight lipped smiles. He nodded in return, and stepped through the door, shutting the wood behind him. Albus was already down the hall, about to descend the stairs.
"I hope you are up making me a cup of tea before I leave," the Headmaster through over his shoulder.
"It would be my pleasure," Severus replied dully, following the man down the stairs. As they entered the kitchen, Albus took a swift seat at the table, folding his wrinkled hands upon the top, watching Severus as he open the cabinet to take out the battered kettle. He quickly lit the stove, sending flames beneath the pot he had filled with water. He faced Dumbledore as he waited for the whistle to sound.
"You're just going to let her go, after all that happened there?" he shot.
"I'm afraid she needs it."
"Needs it?" Severus snorted, "For what? To see what he did? To see the destruction he caused? The shock could easily cause a relapse in her health!"
"You know her health is in the best of state, Severus. I cannot understand why you feel the need to keep her in a glass case. She is no doll."
"What? How dare you say that? I am not locking her up; I am only trying to protect her," Severus hissed.
Dumbledore, still calm as he always had been, gave the Potions Master a stern look, "Protect her from what?"
Severus looked at a loss, "The- the Death Eaters," he spat messily, "they are still out there!"
"Yes, yes, there are Death Eaters, and they are a threat, but you could have let her come today. She deserved to be there."
"You never said you wanted her to come."
"I wasn't aware I had to give you step by step instructions, Severus. If she wanted to come, I thought you would let her come, and I am sure she did. She is healing, and she has proved that to me by her wish to return to the Cottage. You cannot mollycoddle her forever. I'm surprised she takes it."
Severus looked away, guilty. He knew she had wanted to come. The only way he had stopped her was by bringing up Percy, her brother, and though it was not intentional, he felt worse for it.
"She didn't, until she heard of her brother."
"It didn't seem she took the information well," Dumbledore frowned.
Suddenly, the kettle resounded and Severus made quickly to take it off the stove, "I suppose I didn't say it in the best of manners," he said, pouring the steaming liquid into two cups and plopping a bag from the tin still on the counter from the morning in them.
"You never do, Severus," Albus said.
Severus returned this comment with a glare as he set the cup in front of the older man, "It slipped."
"I'm sure…" Dumbledore took a sip. That was the last they spoke of it, remaining in silence as they took down the rest of their drinks. The Head Master made ready to leave soon afterwards, and just as he was about to apparate, he turned to Severus, "I want you to go with her."
"To the Cottage?"
"Yes, Remus is too out of it right now, and she trusts you, I think to some extent."
Severus scowled, "What about Potter?"
"You saw her reaction when I mentioned him. Something has passed between them and I have no desire to ignite it. You will go with her."
"What if I don't want to?"
"I could always change my mind and send her alone, if that's what you would like?" Dumbledore asked.
Severus's jaw clenched, "I'll speak to her about it."
"Good, good," Dumbledore said, giving a smile, "But I must be off. Goodnight Severus."
"Goodnight, Albus," Severus said, watching as the older man disappeared with a pop. He waited a moment, still looking at the vacated spot, before turning back to the table, grabbing the two cups, and heading with them towards the sink.
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A/N- Thank you so much for your reviews! I am so utterly happy about how much feedback this story is getting! Yes!
I just wanted to let you all know, randomly, that I wrote this chapter along to my new CD If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian, and it is probably one of the best CDs I have ever owned. The three hours of consideration and the final spending of fifteen dollars were all worth it.
GreenEyesBlind- I know what you mean about Percy. I just love to see one of the Weasleys go bad, you know? I'm afraid there will be a relationship with Snape, but believe me, it's not going to be a dependency thing at all. I think it's going to turn out much different from what most people think.
TommieBoy182- I've been looking for a long in depth Snape/Ginny stories for so long and could never find one! It was quite aggravating, seeing as I've always been captivated by the ship. Both of them seduced by the darkness, yet fighting for the light, it's always been so cool to me. I guess that was my reasoning for staring up this story, for people like me who wanted that in depth, long story. And it will be long… Oh, please feel free to ramble, I love rambling! Believe me, that is all my livejournal is too. I am so obsessive compulsive with it; I have to post like six messages a day, just to be satisfied. It's very sad.
So, yes, everyone, feel free to ramble, because I'm interested in who is actually reading the story, you know? And if you don't, that's fine. Still review though, I add hastily. Yes, I am a dirty, dirty review whore. Pretty sad and awful really… so,
PLEASE REVIEW!