Take A Deeper Look
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Chapter Eight: Graduation
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Ginny stared at the students she had been in school with for so many years. They had all changed, though she knew some weren't for the better. Or at all, for that matter. It was her turn to speak next, as Head Girl. Colin Creevey had been named Boy opposite her, and was in the process of his speech to their departing class.
She stood when Colin announced that she was going to speak to them, the clapping was slightly deafening to her ears. She wasn't used to all the attention she had gotten that year for being Head Girl. Smiling at the crowd in front of her eyes, she waited until they were quiet.
"I once thought I wasn't wanted, that I was useless to the wizarding world. But someone told me that I was wanted. That I just couldn't see it - that I was being daft to think such a thing. I thank him for that, because it's probably some of the best wisdom I've heard in a long time. And I pass it on to every single one of you. Don't ever think that you're not worthy of something, because you are. You can do anything you want to do in your life, don't think that you can't, it just takes hard work and dedication. That's how we got here, isn't it? I always knew looking back at us crying would make us laugh, but I never knew looking back at us laughing would make us cry.
"However, there is one thing I wish all of you to take to heart; to remember always. Voldemort is just like us," the students let out a flurry of whispers, and she waited once again until they stopped. "The only difference between Voldemort and any other wizard is that he dares to use Dark Magic; magic all of us know not to use for any reason. For all purposes, Voldemort is just a hyped up persona of an annoyed boy by the name of Tom Riddle. A boy who could not stand to see someone better than him doing something he couldn't.
"If you ever come to see Voldemort, do not let what he says faze you, because you will know from this day forward that he is just a scared little boy using a ominous name to strike fear into your heart. Don't ever fear that man, for there is no reason to.
"Have any of you stopped to think that maybe hhe is one of us? Just a slob or a stranger you could meet on the train? Well, he is one of us; there is no difference.
"And if any of you don't believe me, think back to my first year. Be strong, and go far in life." Ginny nodded her head in determination before stepping away from the podium. She smiled at Dumbledore, who gave her a wink before he stood to hand out their diplomas.
Draco smiled from under the hood. She was right, in every aspect about Voldemort. He was just a scared little boy seeking vengeance for nothing.
He was awed, though, at the girls' poise and beauty on the stage. But something had been missing from her eyes, like a bit of the spark in her life had died out. Draco was about to turn away, to make his way to Dumbledores' office as he had originally come here for, when he saw it glint in the sunlight.
She was wearing the necklace he had given her the last day they had ever spoken to one another. He watched it glint, until she reached up and clutched it like she was remembering something good.
Ginny jumped a bit when she felt the cool hand on her flesh, but when she turned to look there was nothing there but her shoulder.
"Meet me in the Astronomy Tower, after the second dance."
The red head nodded, pretending she was agreeing with Dumbledores' words, holding her breath until she felt the hand being removed from her shoulder. How could a hand be that cold on such a warm day? And where had it come from?
"Now, I do hope that the graduates enjoy their very last Hogwarts party tonight, as they will be going home or straight to jobs from here in just two days' time." Dumbledore bid everyone goodbye before the graduates cheered and made their way back into the school for the last time.
Ginny stared off in confusion until her friends ambushed her. Her face lit up with a smile as she linked her arms around her friends' shoulders, and they hers'. "Can you believe we're graduated already?"
A short brunette shook her head; "I don't want to believe it! I don't want to go out into the big, bad world! Ginny, they can't make me!" she whined like the child she wished she still was.
"I know exactly what you mean, Joan. I want to be a scared, little Firstie again," Ginny replied with a laugh, then thought it over. "Well, maybe not a Firstie, but I would love to be here forever."
Colin rolled his eyes, "but just think of all the magic we can do now without the Ministry getting their knickers in a bunch!"
"With you Colin, the Ministry needs it's knickers in a bunch," Ginny teased, "or is it you that keeps them bunched?"
Colin blushed at the accusation, through true, "I will neither confirm nor deny the fact that the Ministry women and their future employees love me and my sexy body."
Joan and Ginny snorted with laughter, together saying: "What sexy body?!"
"I see how it is!" Colin disentangled himself from Ginnys' arm and walked in front of the girls. Turning to glare at the girls as they continued their laughter.
Ginny shook her head as she walked into the building, taking a glance up at the Tower before she lost sight of it. She bid Joan a see you soon as the girl walked down the stairs to the Ravenclaw rooms before catching up with Colin. "What are you going to do for work?"
"I've gotten an offer from the Daily Prophet as a photographer. I might just take them up on it. I don't really know yet."
Ginny stared at him, "Colin! How could you pass up a job at the Prophet! You've only been dreaming of working there since I can remember! You're going to take that job, Mister, or so help me!"
"Ever think of going into politics, Gin? 'Cause you be really good at it."
She was satisfied when she heard his muffled "ouch!" as she hit his arm. She went into her own room, pulling out her dress for the Graduation Ball, and hanging it up next to the steaming shower she turned on in the bathroom.
She really didn't want to have to dress up for the occasion, so she and Joan had opted for simple dresses. Really she did love the dress she had picked out; she had loved it on sight. But it was Joans' convincing tone that made her purchase it with money she really didn't have to spare. The black, cocktail-style dress had been in the third store they had entered. All of the stores had decided formal wear was the way to go for the grads.
"Gin?"
"Vodka, if you don't mind!" she replied back, knowing Colin would open the door. "What's up?"
"Just wanted to know when you're going to be ready?"
Ginny took a seat at the vanity table put in there from a previous Head Girl, pulling her hair up, then letting some of it down. "Don't know, really," she turned to him. "What do you think? Up . . . or down?"
Colin stared at her like she had another head. "Do I look like a guy that would know?"
"Yes."
He nodded, knowing her to be right. He put a hand under his chin in a thoughtful expression. "Halfway up, leave some pieces just flying about though."
"And I ask again, are you sure you're not gay?"
Colin rolled his eyes, flitting about the room before leaving in a huff of "oh posh!" in a girlish manner.
Ginny laughed loudly as she turned back to the mirror. Her face looked different to her somehow. Like it had aged without her knowing. She was sure that she had aged, being almost eighteen now, but she didn't know she looked so mature until she took a good look at herself.
She pulled her hair up into a half ponytail, wrapping a piece of hair about the band to hide it, before curling it into loose ringlets with a charm. Not bothering with make-up except some dark brown eye shadow and a bit of her chapstick, Ginny cupped her chin in her hand, staring at her reflection.
"You made it this far, Virginia, you can make it the rest of the way." She knew the small pep talk wouldn't really work to make her feel better, but she needed to hear herself say it. "You can make it in the real world. If Ron can, you can certainly do it." She got up from the table, grabbing the dress from its hanger in the bathroom and turning off the water.
Ginny slipped it carefully over her head, smoothing out the material with her hands. She slipped on the strappy, but low, black heels. Only when she felt situated did she look in the mirror. Confusion graced her eyes as the face looked back at her. It was like she was seeing the future, like she had finally grown up.
The girl that looked back at her, hair red, curly, and secured so that it looked like she had thrown it up without a thought. Face barely touched because of natural beauty she didn't believe she had possessed, until he told her. Trim body from seven years of running about a grand castle, just a little curvy in the right areas, but not so much that she had the so-called "perfect figure;" because she would hate herself if she did. The black dress, scooping slightly at the neckline, sleeveless, and coming to her knees looked right on her. Like she was supposed to wear something so mature, so elegant - but at the same time not.
Ginny walked down the stairs, keeping her balance by holding onto the railing, and smiled when she saw Colin. "Well, don't you just look spiffy."
"Not too bad yourself, old mum," he teased before looping her arm through his and leading her out the portrait; they were meeting Joan at the stairs leading to the Ravenclaw commons.
"Colin?"
"Hm?"
Ginny stared ahead of her, "do you think that when this is all over, we'll all still be friends? I mean, do you really think that we'll keep in contact?"
Colin looked at her, "I know that we'll keep in contact, Gin. Why? D'you think we won't?"
Ginny shrugged her shoulders, smiling at the sight of the third Musketeer. "I don't really know, Col. I just don't know."
"Don't know what?" Joan asked, looping her arm through Colins free one.
"What are you going to be doing when you're twenty-five, Joan?"
Joan thought about her friends' question, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "I haven't really thought about it. Maybe starting a family with that special someone. Maybe in the middle of a career that I've always dreamed about. You can't really know, Gin, lives change from what we want them to be like. That's just the way it goes."
"Yeah, Gin, you can't just think that life is going to end like they do in fairytales. All that "Happily Ever After" crap is just that: crap. You don't know what life is going to be like; that's what makes it fun! That's what makes it worth living."
Ginny laughed, "y'know, I knew there was a reason you two were my best mates. Thanks; I really needed to hear that. Oh, what time is it?"
"Almost eight, I believe. That's when the Ball is to start, and it looks like we arrived just in time!" Joan said it loudly, causing the seventh years to look their way. "We're free!" she was met with a loud roar of cheers, even from the Slytherins.
Colin leaned towards Ginny, whispering, "and here I thought Raves were supposed quite."
"You obviously don't know me!" Joan said dramatically as she tugged them all over to a table.
Ginny watched the no-longer students interact. She watched her friends joke around, and wondered if the stupid jokes and pranks they had pulled would still be funny when they were older and looking back. She knew they probably would be, unless she turned into a hag that hated the world.
"Gin, what's up?"
She looked at Joan. Joan had been there for her ever since she saw Ginny crying after the last encounter with Draco in the potions room. She was the only one that knew anything of what happened last year, and would always be the only one to know.
"I guess I'm just going be miss everyone. I'm leaving tomorrow morning, y'know. I'm not staying for the last night. I can't, not with the Scholars waiting for me."
Joan wrapped an arm around her friends' shoulders. "Don't worry, Gin. They'll love to have you working for them. Though I don't see why you can't stay. I mean, isn't it just an meeting at two in the afternoon the same day everyone else is leaving here?"
Ginny nodded, "but I don't want to turn up looking like I never went to sleep or anything like that. That wouldn't make the best impression on them, now would it?"
"But you would fit right in with them! They all look like they need to catch up on at least four days of sleep whenever you see them," Colin piped in.
Ginny pushed him lightly, "sod off, they do not." Joan and Colin gave each other knowing looks over the shorter girls' head. A look that clearly said: yeah right.
"Gin!"
She looked blankly up at her name, coming out of the dreamland she had been in for the moment.
"We have to open the Ball, remember? Get off your bum!" Colin held out his hand to her, waiting just as everyone else was for her.
Ginny placed her hand in his, looking around with her eyes. Who wanted to meet her? She met Colins' gaze, "I can only stay for the first two dances - let's make 'em count!"
The sandy-blonde boy whispered the tune to Madam Hooch, who had taken charge of the Muggle music, and motioned for Ginny to follow him to the center of the dance floor.
"What'd you tell her?"
The whispered question received its answer when the first chords sounded in the Hall. Ginny grinned widely, and following the steps she had burned into her memory, placed her hand in Colins outstretched one and was twirled around quickly.
Students watched in awe as the Heads kept up with the fast beat of the swing tune. Gasped when Colin hooked an arm under Ginnys curled knees and swung her around his body, her hair sweeping the floor in the process, to only toss her up a bit and catch her princess style.
Joan could be heard clearly over the whistles, yells, and claps when the song ended: "Smashing! Absolutely fantastic, Gin, Colin!"
Ginny calmed her breathing, smiling at the compliments. "Thanks, Jo. Now, one more dance, then I have to go. I know! - Don't say it."
The brunette shut her mouth, sighing heavily to say what she could say with words, "alright."
Flushed, Ginny pulled her two friends out to the dance floor again while a popular new band, Cackles, played the song that had made them a smashing success in Muggle and Magical England. And dancing like fools, they spent their last night together in Hogwarts' Hall as children.
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Her heels clicking softly as she went up the stone stairway, Ginny thought of the possibilities of who it might be. She hadn't seen anyone slip out of the Hall when she had, but then again, they could have gone when she was dancing.
Why did I even bother to come? It could have just been my imagination!
The door protested its hinges needing oil as she pushed it open. Looking around the moonlit room, she closed the door behind her as quietly as she could. The moon was shining bright that night, causing the moonscopes to sparkle. The very slight breeze made the curtains billow just so.
"Hello?" her voice sounded far too loud in the silence, eerily almost.
God, Ginny, this is stupid. Just go back downstairs.
"Anybody here?" she called just once more. She was once again met by the deafening sound of silence. It had just been her imagination, then . . . Shaking her head at her own foolishness, she turned back around to open the door once more.
Ginnys start of fright was loud in the quite tower. "Oh my God."
"I'm afraid not," he replied with a slight smirk.
She shook her head, exhaling loudly to calm herself. "I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't hear you come in."
Severus Snape nodded, "as I assumed from your start. Might I ask what you are doing up here, Miss Weasley?"
"Apparently confirming that I've gone completely out of my mind," she said idly, smiling just a bit. "I guess I should be off, I have some packing to do."
Snape held the door open for her, walking down the stairs with the former student. "So the rumors of your leaving tomorrow are true, then?"
Ginny nodded, "I have an meeting in two days with -"
"- The Scholars, yes I heard. Congratulations on that; they are quite selective."
"Thank you, sir," Ginny glanced at her former Professor. "But I think it was your letter of recommendation that made them want to meet me."
The surprised look on the Potions Masters' face was one Ginny would never forget; it was priceless. "I don't recall ever telling you I wrote one."
She smiled, "I asked them why they decided to meet with me, after refusing me once already. They said that they received a letter from you, saying I was perfect for the job."
Severus nodded, clasping his hands behind his back in his usual manner. "Well, this is where we shall part, Miss Weasley. I believe you have a visitor waiting outside your commons, so I won't bother you further."
When she looked up in surprise, he was already gone. She still was amazed at his ability to just disappear or appear like that around the castle. Often wondered if he knew about secret passageways that no one else knew of.
Ginny rounded the corner to her hallway, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw who was standing outside the portrait.
"Bloody hell."
"Actually, it's quite clean," he smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well? Are you just going to stand there?"
All she could do was nod. Ginnys' eyes swept over him quickly. He had grown just a bit taller, filled out some more, and his hair was now curling up just so at his shoulders. But his eyes were different; though sparkling with mischief, they were slightly empty. She knew the look only because it was the same her reflection had given her earlier that night.
"What are you doing here?"
"Reporting."
She half-smiled; slowly gaining motor skills back from shock. "Still working both sides, eh?"
Draco nodded solemnly, biting his tongue to keep silent.
Ginny broke the gaze, sighing; "we can't talk out here in the open." She walked up to the portrait, smiling at the haughty looking woman.
"Bonjour, Virginia. Qui est ceci?"
"Il est bien. La lune," Ginny replied calmly.
The woman looked down with disdain, staying closed. "Seulement les éstudiants principaux ont laissé."
"Il est bien, Mercedes! La lune," Ginny said more forcibly. Mercedes, scowling down at the girl, opened to the entrance of the Head dorms.
"You speak French?"
Ginny shrugged, "we have to with Mercedes. She was a gift from Madame Maxine, and does not want to speak a word of English." She didn't bother stopping in the sitting room, but continued on to her room.
Draco stood near the doorway, watching her move about the room confidently and gracefully. He could see how much she had grown up in the year he was absent. It was evident in every thing she did, save her actions with her friends. He watched as she carefully folded and placed pants and skirts on one side of her trunk before making any noise.
"Why are you packing?"
Ginny stopped briefly, then folded the pant legs and placed them in the trunk. "I have to leave tomorrow, before everyone else. I have to be somewhere by two o'clock in two days."
"And it's going to take you all night to get there?"
She sighed, "no, Draco, it's not. I'm just getting ready . . . I don't want to have to pack at the last minute." Ginny placed a shirt in just as carefully, avoiding any eye contact with Draco, for she knew what would happen if she did.
"Where are you going?"
"I have a meeting." God. What was he asking irrelevant questions for?
"For what?"
She dropped the shirt she was holding into the space. "Why are you here, Draco? Why did you decide to stick around this time?"
Draco stared at her curious and annoyed expression. "I told you. I -"
"- Had a meeting with Dumbledore, yes, I know. But every other meeting with him has never prompted a stay. Why now?"
The tired
blonde closed his eyes, sighing, "because I was ordered to watch Severus.
Voldemort thinks he's acting suspicious."
Her lips formed a thin line.
"He's still alive, then?"
"Unfortunately so, yes."
She turned back to her clothes, placing them in her trunk haphazardly then. Shaking her head, she tossed more shirts into the trunk before placing her hand on the edges harshly. "He's never going to go away, is he? He's always going to be around, torturing innocents and acting as if he is completely devoid of a heart."
Draco walked towards her, standing on her side. "Virginia . . ."
"No, Draco, I don't want to hear the falsities. I don't want to hear that he's dying. I don't want to hear that he's planning an attack on the school again that will inevitably cause Dumbledore to fight him again."
He stared at her in surprise. "Virginia, what are you talking about?" she didn't respond and only tightened her grip on the edge of her trunk. He lifted her head up to face his, "Virginia, what do you mean?"
Ginny closed her eyes, taking in the feel of his hands on her face again. She opened her eyes to see just how close they were. "It's irrelevant, Draco. Disregard it . . ." her face free from his grasp, she took in his face. She reached up as if it were a normal motion and tucked a stray hair behind his ear.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
Ginny placed her arms around his waist, "I've missed you so much." She smiled into his chest when she felt his arms soon wrap around her shoulders.
"I would have come sooner if -"
"- I know. I know."
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Delirious – Deeper
Norah Jones – Don't Know Why
Avril Lavigne – Anything But Ordinary
Jimmy Eat World – Sweetness
Switchfoot – Dare You to Move
Avril Lavigne – Falling Down
Evanescence – Taking Over Me
Vitamin C – Graduation
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Yeah. So I've still got one more Hogwarts chapter left, then Ginny'll be gone off to the Scholars. Want to know who they are, don't you? Well, I'm not giving you any hints since I'm still deciding on what they should be and I'm pretty sure where I want them to be! All right, see you soon.
