Chapter Twelve: A Very Creepy Day

Ginny wandered into the Great Hall later than usual on Halloween morning. She'd been up until about two that morning talking with Harry before he had to go on his rounds.

When she looked up at the staff table, she immediately knew something was wrong. All the professors were talking in hushed voices, and they all seemed to be worried about something. She sat down next to Rachel, and Harry met her eyes, and motioned toward Sev and his quarters, mouthing 'after lunch,' before resuming conversation with Sev.

"So…where were you last night?" Verna asked.

"Yeah. Where'd you run off to?" asked Rachel, who gently gave Ginny a shove with her shoulder.

Ginny began piling food on to her plate. "I was studying in the library." She took a bite of her eggs.

Warren laughed. "Oh, is that what you call it?"

Ginny swallowed, and was about to ask what he meant when Richard said, "We checked, and you weren't in the library."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "What are you insinuating?"

If someone was about to answer, they were cut short by the owls arriving. The group of Gryffindors watched as an unusually large amount went to older Slytherins. They opened their letters and glanced at one another. Some dumped small objects into their palms, and others just looked into the envelope.

She glanced at the staff table, but none of them seemed to notice.

"Did anyone else think that was really weird?" Warren asked.

Rachel nodded. "Yeah. Something's just…wrong about what just happened."

Richard leaned in, dropping his voice down. "Did you guys see the way they grinned at each other?"

The rest of the group got the hint and leaned in as well. Verna seemed to shiver as she said, "That was really creepy." Warren wrapped a protective arm around his girlfriend's shoulder, pulling her close. She moved closer, and put her head on his shoulder.

Ginny set her fork down. "Did anyone else lose their appetite?"

They all nodded. "Let's just start heading to the greenhouses," Rachel said.

On their way down, Avery caught up with them. "What did the Slytherins get in their letters?" Richard asked.

She shrugged. "I couldn't really tell. They looked small, metal and were green and silver."

Professor Sprout was her usual bubbly self for most of the lesson, but there were times when she seemed to get worried.

Next was Transfiguration, and Professor McGonagall was completely distracted, but whether it was because she was tired or something else, no one really knew.

At lunch, Ginny and her group of friends could barely eat. About half way through lunch, a group of owls came into the Great Hall, and one gave Richard a Daily Prophet before flying away. "That's strange. I already got my Prophet." Richard opened it up and nearly choked on his food.

"What's wrong?" Rachel asked. Richard lowered the paper so everyone could see.

DEATH EATERS ESCAPE PRISON

The Great Hall was filling with worried whispering. Ginny looked up at the staff table and noticed that Harry had left.

"I'll see you guys later," she said as she grabbed her bag and left.

She reached Sev and Harry's quarters and said the password. Harry was pacing, and when he saw her, he scooped her into a hug.

When they pulled away, he led her to the couch. "Did you see the Prophet?" he asked.

"The Death Eaters escaped?" Ginny asked and he nodded. "But…how?"

Harry shrugged. "We don't know. They're looking into it now."

"Is that why everyone's so worried?"

"Yeah. I was doing rounds, and I ran into this guy who said he was a guard at the prison, and that the Death Eaters had escaped. We went to Albus' office, and he called your dad. It was his idea to release the story to the press. There's going to be an Order meeting tonight, and you and Avery are welcome to come."

"I'll pass the message along. Did you notice what happened during mail time?"

Harry shook his head. "No, what happened?"

"Several Slytherins got letters, and they all got something small, and metal. But they all got these really creepy smiles on their faces." Ginny shivered. "You should have seen them. I think it's how the devil would smile."

"Tell Dumbledore at the meeting tonight."

Ginny nodded. "I will, don't worry."

Harry sighed. "I'm scared, Ginny. I feel like I'm back in fifth year. The terror, the uncertainty…I hated it. And I just feel so powerless."

"I feel the same way, Harry, don't worry."

"I hate Halloween," Harry said. Ginny didn't quite know what to say to that, so she simply gave him a hug.

OOO

Rumors as to how the Death Eaters had escaped spread like wildfire. Some actually made sense, but some were downright laughable.

As the day wore on, and the rumors became increasingly outlandish, most of the student population began to truly get scared.

Most Slytherins, however, were rather tight lipped about the whole thing. If anything, they seemed happy.

OOOO

Nicci was attempting to study in the library, but was finding it to be extremely difficult. She knew what she had to do; she just didn't want to do it. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was eight o'clock. Closing her textbook, she stuffed it in her bag, and began to make her way to the dungeons. When she reached the Potion Master's office, she had to resist the urge to run.

She couldn't do this, could she? The thought terrified her. She swallowed back bile and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Professor Snape barked, and she opened the door. He was sitting at his desk surrounded by mounds of parchment. He looked up, but didn't seem surprised. "What can I do for you?" he asked her.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She sat down, and tried once again to compose herself. "You…you were a spy for Dumbledore, right?" she asked cautiously.

Professor Snape leaned back. His eyes narrowed, but they showed only mild curiosity. "Yes, I was. Why?"

She took a deep breath. "Iwannaspytoo," she blurted.

Her professor's eyes went wide. "You what?"

She had to take another breath to force herself to breathe. "I would like to spy too," she said slowly.

His eyes narrowed again, this time with suspicion. "Why?"

This was her chance; she had to tell him everything. "I don't believe in the Dark Side anymore, sir. I don't like what they stand for, what they do to innocent people. I want to spy so I can feel like I'm doing something good, to balance all the bad that happens at the meetings. I like who I am now, and I feel if I don't do something I'll become who I was before I had a change of heart. And I don't like that girl." She could feel tears stinging at her eyes, but she forced them away.

"You remind me of someone," he said after a long, tense pause.

"Who?"

"Me."

Nicci felt more at ease, especially because he no longer seemed suspicious of her. He was suddenly no longer her professor, but a man who was once in her shoes. "I feel like I'm trapped in hell. When my parents were in prison, I dared hope that maybe there could be a way out, but now I'm back."

"I was also there once."

She moved forward until she was sitting on the edge of her seat. "Then there's a way out?" She asked the question that had been plaguing her. She had to force herself not to get her hopes up, but it was difficult.

He smiled a small smile that held no humor. "Yes. My first step was forgiving my self, and acknowledging what kind of person I was. That was right after I started spying. I then had to, in a way, reinvent myself; decide who I wanted to become."

"But I know who I was and I know who I am!" she cried with frustration.

"I'm just telling you my first steps out of hell. But I think you also need to forgive yourself."

Could she do that? Could she forgive herself everything she'd done in the past?

Her professor's voice cut through her thoughts. "Will you let me question you under Veriteserum to make sure you're not a spy?"

"Of course. I have nothing to hide."

He stood up and walked to the rows of potions, pulling out a clear one. "Good. Then you have nothing to fear."

OOO

Nine o'clock came around too fast for Ginny, and she soon found herself in the Room of Requirement.

There was a huge, circular table in the middle of the room, with ample standing room around it. Even so, the room was completely packed.

Ginny and Avery found an unoccupied corner to stand in. They were in the presence of some very important people, and didn't want to get in the way.

Ginny noticed Dumbledore and Sev standing near the head chair, and seemed to be deep into serious conversation. Dumbledore nodded at whatever Sev was saying. Dumbledore once more, and said in a loud voice, "It is time for the meeting to begin. Would everyone please find a seat."

As people began to sit down, Ginny saw Hermione, Ron, Draco, Fred, George,and Harry. Avery immediately walked very fast to Draco, and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. After necessary hugs were given, they all sat down.

Ginny noticed her dad was sitting next to Dumbledore. When they caught eyes, she waved and he nodded.

Dumbledore was the only one who was still standing. "I'd assume everyone knows why they are here, so I think we can skip that part. You have all been asked to come, and have come of your own free will. By entering that door, you have agreed to become a member of the Order of the Phoenix. If anyone wishes to back out, you will not be thought any less of." No one moved. "Let's begin the discussion then."

The meeting was rather boring for Ginny and Avery, as little involved them.

Several very important decisions had been made though. Harry was going to give lessons on shielding and defense to anyone in Hogsmeade who wanted them the upcoming weekend. Hermione was in charge of scouring the books to try and find any hints as to where the Lestrange Manor was located, as that was probably where the new headquarters were.

Ginny and Avery related what had happened that morning with the Slytherins, but there was no way to know what it was they'd received, so there was nothing anyone could do about it.

The meeting was dismissed, and everyone said goodbye. Ginny and Avery went to Sev and Harry's quarters and stayed up late into the night discussing the meeting.