Chapter Fourteen:
(A/N. I am ashamed to say that I have developed a writer's block along with the stresses of back to school. LOL. Please don't expect the chapters to come out nearly as quickly but keep on reviewing and checking for updates. This chapter thankfully came out relatively unscathed by my W.B but that is why it is so short. Enjoy! REVIEW PLEASE!)
The feeling of contentment that had been with Ginny when she had fallen asleep was still there when she awoke. She dressed and jogged down to the common room. Just as she left, her dormitory, Hermione came up to her.
"Can we talk now?" She asked and Ginny nodded, following Hermione to a corner of the common room.
"You alright?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded but Ginny saw that she immediately crossed her arms over her chest.
"Look Ginny, I don't think you should have changed yourself. At first I thought you were just rebelling and that you'd get over it. Now I know that you no plans of changing back. I'd just like to say that none of us are liking this new you." She said and Ginny's eyes narrowed.
"Who's us?" She demanded. Hermione seemed taken back by the question but she quickly recovered.
"Harry, Ron and I." She answered. Ginny almost laughed out loud. All it had taken was a little rebelling to get the trios attention. However, she knew that if she went back to the way she was, in a few days they would have gone back into their impenetrable world and Ginny would be left on the outside.
"Forget it. I'm not changing back." She answered. Hermione's lips pursed in anger and Ginny was reminded of her transfigurations teacher.
"Now, this is ridiculous, Ginny…" She began but Ginny cut her off before she could say more.
"Look, Hermione, you're not my mother. Alright? So sod off and mind your own business." Ginny snapped and some people glanced over.
"Ginny, I'm just trying to help." Hermione put in, glancing around nervously. Ginny sighed.
"You want to help? Then leave me be." Ginny said. Hermione shook her head, peeking over at where Ron and Harry sat near the fire.
"I can't do that, Ginny…" She started to say but once again Ginny was faster then the Gryffindor prefect.
"Why? Because Ron and Harry told you to? Because they're two bloody Nancy-Boys that can't face the disgraceful Weasley?" She mocked. Everyone in the common room had gone silent and was staring at them. Ginny turned to walk away but Hermione put her hand on her shoulder.
"Ginny, we're your friends." She said and Ginny laughed, a laugh that verged on hysterical. When she stopped she smiled sadly. All her life she had waited to hear those words.
"No you don't, but thanks for saying it." She said and walked away, her anger warring with her sorrow. She knew she had just walked away from the life she had always wanted, and even then could never have. Then she realized something that made her freeze in her tracks in her route down to the Great Hall. She didn't care anymore. The things she had wanted two weeks ago meant nothing to her. The thought brought a smile to her face and she kept going.
It was day but in there was no sunlight in the Malfoy Manor thanks to the heavy, velvet drapes that hung over every window in the house. Lucius Malfoy stared down at the parchment. On it was written the spell that would activate the crystals and break down any magical barrier encompassed by the five crystals. He smiled in self-satisfaction. The plan was flawless, of course it was. He had designed it himself.
"Lucius?" A voice came from behind the mahogany door. Lucius looked up and waved his hand. The door swung open and Narcissa walked in.
"What do you want?" He asked. The statement wasn't spoken harshly. In fact, there was no emotion in the man's voice.
"I was wondering if you were going to come down for breakfast." Narcissa said, her voice soft and just as indifferent as his. This was her job, lady of the manor. Making sure everyone ate when they were supposed to, the house was always tidy and that everything ran smoothly.
"Yes, my dear. I will be down shortly." Despite the term of endearment, there was no love in his voice. No emotion.
"Very well." Narcissa said and walked out, the door swinging shut behind her. Lucius glanced down at the parchment once more. A perfect plan indeed. He rolled the parchment up and packed it into a leather cylinder, closing the lid tightly. He stood and placed the cylinder in a large chest and locked it. That finished he walked away.