Back in the room, Ginny sat in the bed, and her family all around her. They were explaining what had happened since yesterday. Apparently when she had thrust her hands out forwards to stop the fire, all the fires, in St. Mungo's had gone out. Every single last one, it was the equivalent of a black out. People had to apparate, or use the underground. Which was a very big problem. Of course everyone thought it was just a coincidence. Ginny figured it was just raw instinct; witches and wizards do strange things when feeling heightened emotion.
Only the person lurking in the shadows thought different. Of course, no one knew that he was there. And if anyone did notice him they figured he was just some patient out for a walk. With a smirk, the boy stalked out of the hospital and back on the streets of London, to get his supplies.
Discharged from the hospital, since everything was too chaotic, the Weasley brood-Harry and Hermione too- went shopping. Ginny didn't know what she was supposed to be getting, but she felt oddly compelled to go to Diagon Alley. It was the same compulsion that she had felt with the music. When entering, the alley, the whole group split up. Managing to sneak away from her mother, Ginny entered the bank, got her money, and left. Quickly gathering her stuff Ginny wasn't sure what she still had to do. But she followed the compulsion down the road, to the outskirts of the alley.
On the edge of the alley there were shops that weren't frequented by many. In fact many of them hadn't been updated in years, waiting for someone to come buy something- to make a profit.
Ginny entered the store where the compulsion seemed to be radiating off of the most. This store was a store that sold combat material- swords, crossbows, and all sorts of other weapons. Stretching out her hand, a sword came flying to it. Lifting it up, it felt familiar to her.
There it was again, that same music. It seemed to be the thing that had sent her into each of her previous "visions". Or so she thought. Maybe she was just going insane. But the visions… that seemed to be the odd thing, it was always there.
She was walking down another corridor. But it was in a building that looked so much like school. She was wearing a black dress. Non-descript, but fancy enough, her hair was loose, which a memory somewhere still indicated that she was a virgin. She was older than she had been before-and more powerful. That was good.
Down the hall she passed a man. Dressed in dazzling silver. His hair was black and he had a goatee. Accompanying him was a man who also had black hair, but he had no beard. He was dressed in all gold. A woman dressed in all blue was following them at a respectful distance. Another memory indicated that she was one of their wives.
Still walking in the same direction she held her head high and walked towards her quarters. She picked up a sword. Which surprisingly was the same sword that had flown into her hand. It was shinier than it had been in the store, and sharper too. She picked up the sword and the scabbard and tied it around her waist. Leaving her quarters she continued walking. And she walked out of the building. And in the courtyard stood….
She returned to the modern world with a start. A man, rather old- abetter description would probably beancient- stood in front of her. The man didn't seem to be fazed by the fact she had blanked out. Ginny took that as a good sign. Maybe that happened to everyone who came in her. A nagging voice in the back of her head told her that wasn't so. Told her that she was a special case. The man stepped forward.
"It has chosen."
"It had chosen?" Ginny inquired incredulously.
"Yes, yes it has, the sword that is. You see, this isn't any ordinary sword. This sword belonged to the founders of Hogwarts. It is enchanted so that when someone, who is powerful enough, and pure enough in spirit came into the resting place of the sword it would be drawn to them. You must be a very powerful witch. I cannot charge you for this."
"But, I should pay-"
"No, I insist. It is yours rightfully."
The man bowed and pushed her out of the shop, with the sword and scabbard.
The shop beside the combat shop was filled full of material. Materials ranging from silk to cotton to velvet to papyrus. Ginny bought a few yards of cotton, and few yards of a silky material, some tight and loose fishnet, and finally a bolt of velvet. The velvet was another compulsion. She could make some sort of dress out of it-for a ball. Ginny was sure that another ball would be scheduled for this year. Dumbledore was predictable like that.
In the shop next door Ginny stopped by to buy a diamond. She didn't have to. But in the Wizarding world diamonds were inexpensive. And besides, they were much better looking than rhinestones.
Back in the Leaky Cauldron Ginny skipped supper to make her outfits. She had several she had to make. The velvet dress, for a ball, the outfit from the first time her dream had changed, the one from her day long dream, and a couple that she had designed herself. She could make more later.
The good thing about her world was that there were enchanted needles, you just had to concentrate on what you wanted, and it would come out. But the trick was learning to visualize what you wanted. You couldn't think of any other clothes or the needle would get confused.
Ginny decided to work on the outfit from her daylong dream. She started to work on the shirt. She held the needle and concentrated on her shirt. Her hands began to sew of their own accord. Sewing and cutting until finally she had finished her outfit. In fact she had finished all her outfits. Wow! she was really getting good at that.
She only had four outfits, but she could make more later. And plus-now she didn't have to buy any dress robes. She knew Dumbledore would plan some sort of surprise ball to cheer everyone up.
Folding up her clothes was the easy part. She just had to fold them up and stick them on top of her trunk. As Ginny worked she had to suppress yawns. Perhaps it was time to sleep.
She was there again. Walking down the same hall. Hearing the same strands of music. It was still all consuming. And yet- still untraceable. She continued walking down the corridor. The egg switched from egg to bird, and back to egg. Her ankle hurt. She was now wearing one of the outfits that she had designed.
Her pants only went three quarters down her leg. Once again they were made by cotton. Her shirt was also made of cotton, but the same silky material striped across the front of her shirt. Making it tighter than it would have been otherwise. The straps on her shirt were about as wide as three fingers, leaving the top of her chest exposed. On her neck was the same choker she had made. There was a diamond on the choker. Her hair was once again loose. On her arms and legs were the silky bands. Crisscrossing from her knee-and elbow- down. On her hands, covering the burns that would be forever there, were the fingerless gloves.
Suddenly her ankle gave out. . Pain consumed her, like a fire burning parchment. She fell down. She couldn't move. Just when she was starting to panic she heard a yell.
She woke with a start once again. The bandages were off her hands. The scars were still there, buther handsdidn't hurt anymore. She slipped on the gloves and left her bed. She brushed her hair, and went down into the pub. Sitting in the pub was a boy. A strange boy- she had never seen him before.
Everything about the boy was a contrast. His clothing and hair was black, his skin a pale white, and his eyes were deep blue, so deep they almost looked black.
When the boy realized that Ginny was in the room he stood. "Greetings stranger. I have been waiting for you."
"Who are you?"
"That is of no concern for you. Maybe it would be better for you to ask yourself- "who are you?"" Replied the boy.
"Look, I don't know who you are, and what you want. But if it matters I didn't choose for this to happen to me. It just did."
"Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?"
"Does anything you say make any sense?" Asked Ginny, who was starting to get vexed by this strange boy's answers.
"Not to you, but to memy wordsmake perfect sense. I have a letter for you. I don't know who its from. But the letter seems to be compelling me to give it to you. These compulsions seem to be growing stronger by the day." With that the boy left the tavern.
"Wait-" called out Ginny. "Now that was rude!" she remarked to no one in particular. Moving into the side room, she sat in one of the chairs to read the letter.
Dear Receiver,
You are the one. You have been chosen to wield the Sword of the Founders. This fact means many things, but to understand them you have to hear the story.
The story starts, as you know, over 1000 years ago. There were four young witches and wizards. They were the most powerful coven of their time. At that time a group of magical people was called a coven. These four- named Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin- decided to start a school to educate youngsters of magical talents.
Each of the founders added their own talents and behaviors to the castle. Which was to be named Hogwarts.
Unbeknownst to most people, the group had a sword. It could be wielded by anyone of the four founders. But before they used the sword the group enchanted the sword. So that when they were dead and gone the rightful owner of the sword would be drawn to it, and would come into their own power at the same time.
Now there were certain requirements for someone to be the rightful owner of the sword. Each of the founders added traits to the sword. First Slytherin added the traits cunning, and have been through turmoil. Hufflepuff added loyalty and hard working. Ravenclaw added intelligence and the wish to succeed. And finally Gryffindor, Gryffindor added bravery and power.
If youhave receivedthe Sword you will have to fulfill all of these traits or behaviors. I wish you luck with the sword. May your life force prosper with the time you own the sword.
Keep this letter, and look at it often. There will be advice on what to do with the situations that will come up during this year, and years later.
The Caretaker of the Sword
