Author's Note: Okay, so this is the sequel to The Hair and the Heir. I will stress again that it won't make much sense unless you've read THatH. I will also stress, again, that I wrote and completed THatH before JKR released HPatHBP, so DUMBLEDORE IS NOT DEAD IN MY STORY! This makes it extremely difficult for me, to write, because all I can base this sequel on is The Hair and the Heir, not anything from the sixth book that does not agree with what I wrote in THatH. So, as I do love reviews, please don't submit a review questioning why Dumbledore is still alive, as I've told you, time and again, that I finished THatH before HBP, and therefore Dumbledore is still alive in my story. Yes, I did name Snape as the Half-Blood Prince correctly, but at the time it was pure theory yet to be affirmed in canon.
Okay, I think that's enough with the business. This story begins two nights before the start of term, when Ginny will take up the position of DADA teacher, instead of completing her seventh year, at Hogwarts. Now, you may think that since Voldemort is dead, what could I possibly still be writing about? Well, (hehehe grins evilly) that is for me to know, and you to find out. I really hope this lives up to the reputation of its predecessor, and please don't hate me too much if it turns out to be a flop. I'll try to update once a week, but I can't promise anything. So please, read, review, and I dearly hope you enjoy it!
BEDAZZLED
CHAPTER ONE:1
"Ginny! Harry's here, dear!" Mrs. Weasley shouted up the stairs, simultaneously drying her hands with a dish towel, sweeping the floor and attempting to catch yet another colorful flying object set off by Fred and George.
Upstairs, while she was supposed to be getting ready to go out to dinner, Ginevra Molly Weasley sat on her bed in her nightie and looked through a tattered box of her old Hogwarts things.
It was inconceivable to herself and everyone who knew her that Ginny would be teaching at Hogwarts in a mere two days. She would be instructing her own friends and former classmates how to defend themselves against Dark magic, though many of them had assisted her in her own times of need.
But Ginny was certain that she wanted to do it; she wanted to share her experiences, and if possible, help the students at Hogwarts to realize that they are no exception to the wraths of Dark wizards and witches.
Sighing and swinging her legs out from under her, Ginny knew she had to quickly get dressed and ready; though she didn't show it, she was absolutely thrilled to be going out that evening with Harry.
In just a flick of her wand, Ginny was dressed in a beautiful emerald-green gown with a real emerald brooch on the waist, and a pair of silver high heels. Her face was powdered with a slight pink blush, and her hair was in an exquisite up-do of spirally curls. With a grin, she looked down at the gorgeous emerald ring on her left hand, which Harry had proposed to her with.
"You clean up nice, sis," Ron said quietly, leaning against the doorpost of his younger sister's bedroom.
Ginny's eyes widened with glee as she looked up and ran over to her brother, smothering him in the tightest hug she could manage.
"Where's Hermione? Did you just get back?" Ginny inquired of her brother's new wife and their arrival home from the honeymoon.
"Hermione's down in the kitchen, and we stopped at the Grangers' first, but yes, we just got back," Ron replied, beaming with joy.
Ginny released her brother from her strangling hold and swiftly kissed him on the cheek. It was startling to see how much more mature her brother had become over the year; but as his sister she knew that he hadn't gotten rid of his foolish ways completely.
"Well I'm so glad you two are home, and apparently happy. Can I expect to be an auntie anytime soon?" Ginny joked with a wink, making Ron blush slightly.
She let out a short laugh and shook her head before the two of them started down the stairs together.
"GINNY!" Hermione shrieked as soon the crimson-haired seventeen year old was visible from her position at the kitchen table. Hermione jumped out of her seat and hurried to embrace her best friend and sister-in-law.
"I'm so glad to see you back!" Ginny replied, hugging Hermione in return.
"Oh, Ginny it was beautiful! I'll have to tell you all about it!"
Ginny smiled, but looked over Hermione's shoulder to the dark-haired young man seated across the table from her mother.
"And I'd love to hear it, but I actually have a previous engagement that I'm a tad bit late for," Ginny answered with a huge smile. Hermione giggled and nodded, allowing Ginny to walk over to her fiancé.
Harry rose from his seat just as Ginny was approaching, awed by her radiance.
The two stood facing one another for a few moments, just smiling, their happiness obvious, and the silence uninterrupted. Almost.
"Aww, take a gander at the two lovebirds!"
"We'd better move the furniture in case they try to get at each other!"
"Fred! George! This is not appropriate!" Mrs. Weasley shouted at her twin sons, rising from the table. Everyone laughed, however, including Harry and Ginny.
"Well, we'd better get going. We'll be back by eleven, Mrs. Weasley, I promise," Harry said, moving towards the door.
Hugging her daughter and her soon-to-be-son-in-law good-bye, Mrs. Weasley sighed, deciding not to remind Harry yet again to call her "Molly," and replied with a believing smile, "I know you will Harry, dear."
Ginny Weasley slowly opened her eyes, the bright yellowness of the morning sun warming her eyelids. After blinking a few times, she realized that she was laying on her bed, still clothed from the previous evening.
She sat up and looked around her, remembering the events of the night before. She and Harry had enjoyed a delicious dinner in Hogsmeade, and after, they went into the Hog's Head for old times' sakes. It was there that Ginny remembered how badly she mixed with Firewhiskey.
She rubbed her eyes and wandered down the hall to the bathroom to stick her head in the bathtub, which would hopefully wake her up a bit.
"Oy Fred! The lightweight's woken up to discover her first hangover!" George exclaimed as he stuck his head out of his bedroom to find Ginny staggering down the hall.
"It's not my first, believe me," Ginny mumbled absentmindedly, regretting it an instant later.
"What was that little sis? You've been intoxicated before? And we all thought you were the good one!" George said in an overly-loud voice hinted with false surprise.
"Shut up, George. I seem to remember you and Fred being drunk when you were 14!" Ginny recoiled, her hands on her hips, making herself dizzier by the second.
But she didn't wait for her brother to offer his rebuttal; instead she slammed the bathroom door closed behind her and started running the water.
"Ginny! Are you in there?" Mrs. Weasley called as she rapped on the bathroom door. Her daughter didn't hear her though, for her head was submerged in the icy cold water.
"Ginny! Open the door!"
Ginny whipped her head our of the bathtub and shook her soaking wet head as if she were a dog and replied, "Just a minute, Mum!"
Quickly drying her hair with a flick of her wand, Ginny opened the door and greeted her mother with a smile.
"Morning, Mum!"
But Mrs. Weasley wore a stern expression on her plump face, her arms folded across her chest. Ginny gulped and continued to beam a pearly-white smile at her.
"What would you like to eat? It's nearly lunchtime now, but I can still fix you some breakfast if you'd like," Mrs. Weasley asked, sighing and unfolding her arms.
"Thanks, Mum, but I really want to go back to bed. I don't feel well at-"
"Ginny, I can't let you sleep anymore! You have to get to bed early tonight, so you'll be nice and rested tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley interrupted.
Ginny felt like kicking herself; she had completely forgotten that she would be leaving on the Hogwarts Express once again the next day!
Ginny groaned as she realized that she'd have to go to Diagon Alley to purchase some new clothes and pick up the books she ordered a week before. She'd have to buy the required classroom supplies that were sent to her in a letter from Professor McGonagall two weeks before, just as the student letters were always. She had spoken to Remus Lupin, discussing lesson ideas and getting advice, so she'd also need to buy other supplies he thought would be necessary. And of course, she would need to purchase some personal items, as she would be staying yet another year at the school she loved so dearly.
That brought to mind a question: Where did the teachers stay after classes? She had spent six years at Hogwarts, and not once had she ever seen or heard of a "teacher's quarters."
Interrupting her pondering, Fred shouted up the stairs, "Ginny! You've got a letter from Dumbledore!"
Mrs. Weasley smiled and conjured a bathrobe which she handed to her daughter before they both started down the stairs.
But Ginny didn't go directly to the kitchen; she decided to make her daily stop and converse with her father and brother for a few moments.
"Morning Dad, Percy," Ginny greeted, slightly less cheerful than normal. She resumed her usual position in the armchair facing her father's and brother's portraits.
"Good morning Ginny! Your mother tells me it's a gorgeous day."
"Yes, 'tis a truly good morning, sis."
"Well I'm leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow. I won't be able to see you both until next summer," Ginny sighed dejectedly. But Percy and Mr. Weasley didn't seem at all fazed by Ginny's misery.
"Well, I'm sure you'll be fine Ginny. Dumbledore's a good man," her father replied, chipper as always. Percy nodded in agreement. Ginny frowned, wondering why she seemed to be the only one who worried about missing her friends and family.
"I know, Dad. I'll see you both later, I have a lot to do today."
Ginny waved and stood up from her chair, walking into the kitchen to read the letter Dumbledore had sent her.
"Here you are," Mrs. Weasley said as she handed the letter to her daughter.
The envelope was exactly what was expected from Hogwarts, the seal on the back and everything. Ginny slowly tore open the top and pulled out two folded pieces of parchment and read:
Dear Professor Weasley,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you back to Hogwarts, this time as teacher rather than student. I know you must have many questions, and I will try my hardest to answer them all in time. But right now, I will discuss your classroom, office, and sleeping quarters.
As you remember, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom is located on the third floor, and I have no doubt that you will be able to find it once again. I'm also sure you know where your office is located, as you have visited it a few times in your six years as a student at Hogwarts. However, I'm not sure you have any knowledge as to where you will be living outside of classes.
Enclosed is a map of the third floor. It shows the entire corridor, including your classroom, office, and the entrance to your living quarters. You will notice that there is a painting of Petrel the Prudent a few feet to the left of the door to your classroom; once supplied with the password, Petrel will allow entrance to your living quarters.
I cannot describe to you what your quarters looks like, for it is one of the many fascinating rooms in the castle. Much like the Room of Requirement, which I know you are familiar with, your suite changes depending upon who will be staying there. The room will be furnished to your own taste, so I urge you to decorate it accordingly.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the Start of Term Feast; feel free to arrive in any way you choose; I have enclosed a ticket for the Hogwarts Express if you'd like to travel by train. Please, do not hesitate to ask me about anything you are concerned with. Enjoy your final day of summer!
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
P.S. The password that allows access into your quarters is "lily pad."
Ginny looked up excitedly from her letter and placed both pieces of parchment carefully back into the envelope.
"All right, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked of her daughter, taking notice that Ginny seemed to be smiling at absolutely nothing.
"I'm fine."
But Ginny was more than fine, actually. It seemed so surreal that she would actually be teaching at Hogwarts!
Molly Weasley smiled at her only daughter's happiness; however, it was but a mask, hiding the anxiety she felt to let her daughter out into the world on her own, defenseless against unseen dangers.