Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Ginny stared at the fireball in her hands and panicked.

"Get it off me!" she screeched and started shaking her hand.

"No! Don't do that!" Cassie yelled. Because Ginny waved her hand the fireball shot loose and headed straight for Cassie. Luckily Cassie ducked in time and it missed her. The fireball went into a plant and burned it to a crisp.

Wide-eyed Ginny stared at Cassie.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect that!"

Ginny felt tired. That trance and the fireball are very difficult to do and it takes a lot of magic from a person. She tried to stand up, but became dizzy. After a few steps Ginny fainted from exhaustion.

Voices, she heard voices. Slowly Ginny opened her eyes. After a few seconds her vision cleared and she could see properly again. She was lying on a couch that wasn't there before she fainted. She saw Dumbledore talking to Cassie. Cassie turned to Ginny and noticed that she had regained consciousness.

"Ah, you're awake" She said cheerfully and gave her a bit of Chocolate. "Here, this will help you regain your strength.

Ginny scowled and took the bar. "You could have at least told me to expect that" She said while munching on the chocolate.

"Would you have believed me if I told you that you could probably produce a fireball?" was the reply.

"Probably not" She admitted.

Dumbledore spoke up. "Now that you are convinced of your...ability's...Cassie here will train you to get better control of it. You will meet her every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday in the evening at 8 o'clock in the Room of Requirement. Now that that's settled, maybe you should be on your way. Didn't you have some people to meet to go to Hogsmeade?" he asked her with a knowing smile.

Ginny nodded and got up. Still too dazed from everything she left without saying anything. I'm really beginning to hate that office. She looked at her watch. It was 11:40; still 20 minutes before she had to meet her friends. She began walking trough the castle aimlessly while thinking about everything.

Again tears spilled over, flowing across her cheeks. Why do I cry every time? Why am I not strong? Though amazed, Ginny did now believe she was this Elemental, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Ginny was so deep in thought that she suddenly bumped into something hard. She looked up and saw the only other professor that knew about her; Professor Snape.

"Miss Weasley" He nodded at her. Even before all this Snape was never as vicious to her as he was to other Gryffindors. Must be because she was talented at Potions.

"Professor Snape" Ginny acknowledged.

"No need for formality's now Miss Weasley, call me Severus when we are in private"

"Then you can call me Ginny, Severus"

Snape grimaced at the mention of her childhood name. "Ginerva suits you better...I've heard about what happened a while ago"

Ginny looked down. "News sure travels fast here" she muttered.

Severus smiled. "It sure does, Ginerva, but I should not worry about Voldemort now. You are strong and whatever will come, let it come. You can still live your life you know" He looked at her.

"You're right Profe...uh…Severus. But I cannot help but worry...can I ask you a question?"

"Of course"

Again Ginny hesitated. "...Everything is going so fast and it's becoming more and more dangerous and...I was wondering...people that are close to me...am I selfish if I...If..."

"Are you selfish if you want to keep your friends with you even though danger is increasing?" he finished for her.

..."Yes, that's my question"

Severus crouched so that he was at eyelevel with her. Then he spoke softly, but Ginny heard every word.

"It would not be selfish. It would be wise. Friends are sometimes the only way to victory. The Princess of Fire is not alone is she? The Prince of Ice is out there too. You'll find him. So it wouldn't do much good if you were to separate yourself from everyone else, is it?"

Ginny looked at him. Respect for this man growing!

"I see your point" Ginny looked at her watch. 11:55!

"Oh no! I've got to hurry, thanks for your advice Severus. I'm not going to forget what you've done for me!"

Ginny ran as fast as she could; in the meantime wiping the tears of her face, hoping that nobody'd notice. At exactly 11:59 she arrived.

"Hey Gin, didn't think you'd make it on time" Blaise commented.

"Yeah, that must have been a long letter to your mother then. Ratting out on your brother I suppose?"

Ginny gulped nervously. She hated lying to them, but she had to be more careful. Not that she didn't trust them, it's just that the doors and walls have ears; you can never know who's listening.

"Yeah, lots to tell...shall we go?" Ginny said quickly while walking to a horseless carriage.

To say it was busy in Hogsmeade would be...the understatement of the year. The whole place was crawling with Hogwarts students and different witches and wizards.

"So...where to first?" Ginny asked.

"OOOH! Let's go to Madam Malkins first! We have to get the best dresses before everything is sold out"

The boys groaned.

"No Pansy! You always take too friggin long until you finally pick out you dress and it's ALWAYS the first one you've tried on" Blaise said.

Pansy huffed. "Well I have to look my best you know, it could benefit you too, you know. Popularity boost you know" She said, saying almost the exact words Blaise used earlier that day.

"One point to you Pansy" They all laughed.

When they entered the shop Ginny was immediately greeted by Madam Malkin.

"Ginerva! So good to see you! I was wondering when you would come again. Going to find a dress for the Halloween Ball?"

"Yes Madam Malkin and its good to see you too!" Ginny smiled.

"Oh I have JUST got the new collection for evening gowns. You and your friend here" Madam Malkin said, indicating with her hand that she meant Pansy too. "Can have a peek first before they go in the store this afternoon"

Pansy and Ginny squealed. "That's great!" "Thank you so much!" were screamed and needless to say that Blaise and Draco were now deaf at one ear.

"Come on!" Pansy said, dragging Draco and Blaise with her. "You two have to be our personaljudges"

Another groan was heard.

While Pansy and Ginny were shuffling trough dresses, Draco and Blaise were pouting in a corner.

"Come on try one already!"

Ginny looked up to the boys and grinned. "This takes time boys; we each have to find The Dress!"

"Yeah don't act like little boys!" Pansy laughed.

Finally they went to the changing-rooms. The first one Ginny tried on was a light golden one with a few glitters. It fitted tightly around her body and it looked pretty good. Stepping out she saw that Pansy had also changed into a dress. She had tried on a Pink one. It came to just over the knees and was decorated beautifully.

The boys drooled when they saw Ginny and Pansy.

Ginny looked in the mirror. "It's not The Dress, Pans"

"Yeah, I don't like this pink one either. Let's go find another one"

A few minutes later Ginny came across a light blue one. "Hey Pansy this one would look great one you!"

"And I've got The Dress for you!" Pansy came walking with a beautiful dress.

They tried the dresses, liked them immensely and bought them. (The boys didn't see them)

"Quidditch store, beware" Draco said while stepping into the store.

"God Pansy, do they always whine like this?" Ginny joked.

The boys looked at each other.

"Blaise, my dear friend...did you hear what I just heard?"

"Yes Draco mate. I did actually. Something about us whining"

Pansy's eyes widened. "Whoops Ginny, you did it now"

Ginny was confused. "What did I do?"

"They get like this once in a while. It means they are gonna do something that you probably won't like"

"Do what?"

Blaise looked at Pansy. "And Draco, correct me if I'm wrong, but did Miss Parkinson here not call us little boys?

Pansy stumbled back. "No! You're not gonna do this to me! Take Ginny!"

"Why thank you Pansy, now stop confusing me what are they gonna do"

Draco spoke. "Ginerva?" he drawled. "Are you...ticklish?"

Realisation shot trough Ginny's head. She looked at Pansy who mouthed something at her.

RUN!

Both turned and ran for their lives. Ginny leaped over a couch and ran. She turned her head to look at Pansy. She saw that Blaise already got her and was tickling her mercilessly. Sorry Pans, its every woman for herself now. Draco was right behind her grinning like a mad man. He jumped trying to catch her, but Ginny turned and ran between two isles filled with practise-snitches and bludgers. Draco fell right on the face.

Ginny stopped and laughed at him. He got up though and Ginny wasn't fast enough this time. He pinned her on the ground, his weight on her making it impossible for Ginny to move.

"WHAHAHA Stop! I can't take this!"

"Say 'Draco I'm sorry I called you a whiner when Ishould have called you the most handsome Slytherin on earth' and then I'll stop!"

"Whaha never!"

Tickling torture continued until Ginny had to give in.

"Stop! Alright I'll say it Draco is the most handsome, whaha, Slytherin of his own little world"

Draco stopped tickling. "Not quite right, but I'll let it slide this time"

At this moment, Ginny became aware of their close proximity. Their faces were just inches away. Draco leaned in. Noses almost touching...

Just when their lips were about to touch they could hear someone clearing their voice.

Pansy and Blaise were standing there, eyes wide open.

"Uhm..." Blaise said. "Torture-tickling time is over"

Draco got up and extended his hand to Ginny. "Yeah, I think they would think twice about calling us names don't you Blaise? Now I want to see this new broom! Come on!" Draco said, dragging Blaise away.

Pansy walked to Ginny. "Gin! What the hell was that?"

She shook her head. "I don't know"