Hallowe'en night found Ginny away from the Great Hall and the Hallowe'en feast. She had just been about to sit down to the food laid out on the tables in the hall, when she had been whisked away by two unseen assailants. These turned out to be Firenze and Professor Kiliani.
They had taken her to a room somewhere deep in the castle. Not quite the Princess room, but deep enough into the castle that no one was supposed to be able to find them. From one of the corners stepped both Aubrey and Braeleigh. This in itself was a shock to Ginny, as she hadn't seen them for the darkness.
Wrenching free from the grip the professor and the centaur had on her arms she turned to look at them all.
"What are we doing here?" she demanded, "Why aren't we at the Feast?"
"The time has come Princess, for you to form your alliances." Replied the Professor. She then turned to the centaur, "Firenze, can you get the O'Rourke boy? He must be here for this, it is imperative that we do not start without him."
The centaur left the room quickly, and they heard him gallop down the hall. Soon the gallops faded away and the three left in the room turned to Ginny. She tried to escape, but the new Professor grabbed her arm.
Turning to Aubrey, Braeleigh spoke. "Your clothes are behind that screen, dress quickly and keep guard outside. If anyone finds that we are here the repercussions will be dire. It is your job to keep all but Firenze and the O'Rourke boy out."
He left for behind the screen and Braeleigh called after him, "And don't forget to make him change too!"
The two women then pulled Ginny behind a screen, and threw a dress at her. "Put this one, and then come back out. There is still more we have to do."
Ginny quickly slipped into the dress, and then looked in the mirror behind the screen. It was a dark green silk, with Celtic knots embroidered along the neckline, in a band around the upper arm, and along the bottom of the dress. There was also a black belt that tied around her waist and that hung most of the way to the floor. This was also embroidered. There were two layers of sleeves, one that was tight around her arms, and one that started under the embroidery which flowed out into bell sleeves after her hands. There was embroidery also along the ends of the bells. After inspecting herself she walked out from behind the screen.
Braeleigh was wearing a dress, simpler than her own, yet still fitting. Her dress was a black silk material, soft through the floor-length skirt. The bodice was heavy- structured, unlike the rest of the light dress. The bodice seemed to be of a heavier silk- green this time- and had the same Celtic knots embroidered in black around the bottom of the triangulated bodice.
Seamus and Aubrey came in with someone Ginny couldn't quite identify, and her teacher quickly pulled her away from her pensive gazing. The teacher quickly brushed Ginny's long hair out so that it hung behind her shoulders.
Quickly all the mirrors were banished, and the torches put out. All was dark for a minute, and then fires held in magnificent metal dishes were resting on stands. Ginny was ushered to the middle of the room. She saw there that the four dishes were each aligned with the four directions. She stood and listened to a harp that was playing unseen in the shadows.
Just as Ginny was considering bolting again the harp stopped playing. The former Divination teacher walked forward and bent down onto his front legs. Following the compulsions that haunted her life since that summer she put her right hand on the centaur's shoulder.
Firenze then started to speak. "I, Firenze- King of the Centaurs pledge my life and my soul to you, the Princess of Hogwarts. I pledge, as well, any members of my clan willing to join your fight. I will give my life to save yours, as a father would for his daughter."
"I, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts promise to honour your pledge, and will as well honour the pledge of any of your clan. I would give my life to save yours, as a daughter would for his daughter. I also pledge to restore you to your former place in the Forest when your service is no longer needed." Ginny responded.
The next stepped forwards- it was Braeleigh. "I, Braeleigh, the Companion to the Princess of Hogwarts swear allegiance to you, my Princess. I swear to stand by you in your time of need. Be it loneliness or be it battle. I also pledge to give my life for your as a sister would for her sister."
"I, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts promise to honour your pledge. I also will stand by you in your time of need. Be it loneliness or be it battle. I promise also, to give my life for yours as a sister would for her sister. I, promise to you that I will help you find your love when your service is no longer needed." Ginny said, gripping her new friend's shoulder tighter.
When waiting for the next recipient to come forwards Ginny swayed slightly but she quickly regained her balance.
The next was Aubrey, it promised to be an interesting pledge.
"I, Aubrey Dreliken, Watcher for the Princess of Hogwarts do swear allegiance to you, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts. I pledge to be a companion, and I pledge to watch for any danger to you. I hereby do pledge to give my life for yours, as a brother would for a sister."
Ginny knew what she would say this time. "I, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts promise to honour your pledge. I will be a companion to you, and I will watch to prevent any harm to you and to your own. I pledge to give my life for yours, as a sister would for a brother. I pledge to you that I will help to show you love when your service is no longer needed."
She was swaying more, and unconsciously she clenched and unclenched her fists. Soon she felt much more energetic.
The next to come to her was the male she had previously been trying to identify. He, like Seamus and Aubrey, was dressed in black breeches and tights, as well as a simple black poet's top. The top was made out of a silky material, while the breeches were made of a thick cottony material. Along the bottom of the shirt, as well as at the bottom of the sleeves were embroidered green Celtic Knots.
When he kneeled in front of Ginny she was shocked. Blaise Zambini of Slytherin was kneeling in front of her. He knelt, and like the three before she placed her right arm on his shoulder.
"I, Blaise Zambini, of Slytherin swear allegiance to you, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts. I pledge to you that I will provide you with information that will have use to your cause. I pledge that I will gather allies to your side. I pledge to you that I will give my life for yours as a knight would for his queen."
"I, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts promise to honour you as an ally. I pledge that I will give you information in return for information given from you. I will accept allies you send my way, as I have accepted you. I pledge to you, that I will give my life for yours as a queen would for her knight. I do also swear that I will grant you recognition when your service is no longer needed."
The Slytherin looked surprised at the last promise, but quickly recovered and bowed away. Ginny swallowed nervously. The next oath was the one she was most worried about- she would have to swear Seamus into the clan. She wasn't sure what she was going to promise him, choosing what to give the other four had been easy- she knew what they all wanted. She barely knew anything about Seamus.
Seamus stepped up to her, looking confident. But it might have just been a façade, one that all Gryffindors learned to put up after a week at school.
The same procedure was followed with Seamus that Ginny had followed with the rest.
"I, Seamus Finnegan, member of the O'Rourke Clan, here by swear allegiance to you, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts. I pledge that I will stand beside you, in battle, and in life as a knight. I do swear that I would give my life for yours, as a friend would for a friend."
Ginny swallowed. "I, Ginevra Weasley, Princess of Hogwarts promise to honour your pledge. I promise that I will stand by you in battle, and in life, as long as I have breath. I do also promise that I would die for you as a friend would for a friend. I pledge to grant you whatever you wish, when your service is no longer needed."
After the last vow Ginny found that she couldn't keep her balance, and fell to the floor. It seemed that the ceremony had taken energy out of her. She couldn't understand why, because it hadn't seemed overly magical to her. And she had grown up with magic.
Slowly, she became dizzy, and the world was spinning. It got worse and worse until she blacked out.
She walked down the hall of a castle. She was not alone, although she did not speak. The woman walking beside her was thin, but she also looked quite strong. Her hair was black, and she wore grey. The most striking thing about her was her eyes. In them was an immense look of sadness, and of aloneness.
They continued down the hall, and they soon came to a staircase. Ginny knew this staircase well; it was one she had walked for the past five years. It lead to the entrance hall, and then out to the grounds. The walk across the grounds seemed to take no time at all. It was only when Ginny noticed that Hagrid's hut was not in this vision that she noticed where they were.
Their march did not halt at the edge of the forest, but rather continued into the dark woods. The paths did not seem so overbearing, as they would at any other times. They both walked deep into the forest. Down into where the paths were older- where they were not as often travelled.
The woman stopped, and Ginny stopped as well. She did not want to give up her companion so soon into the walk.
"Do not worry, my Princess," instructed the woman. "We will continue this walk. There will be many walks in the future. But for now we must stop."
The woman smiled affectionately and cupped Ginny's cheek in her hand. It was a gesture of affection, and Ginny felt like she had come home after years away.
"That was very brave what you did today, Princess. But, there is still much you need to do. Today is just the beginning- tomorrow is when it really starts. Relax, and enjoy what you can in this dark time."
The woman turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ginny called, trying to get the woman to stop. "Who are you?"
The woman turned back to face her. A smile graced her lips for the second time.
"I am Hogwarts." She then shimmered and disappeared.
The Death Eater wiped down his wand and turned to his master. Voldemort, Dark Lord, looked down at the bowing man.
"Is it done?" The serpentine man hissed out at his servant.
"Yes, milord," spoke the man, "the children and the wife are all dead."
The Dark Lord suppressed a chuckle. He then turned to the man cowering in the corner.
"You see now, Fudge? Your complete denial of my return was helpful in the beginning, but your death will be even more so. This will be the beginning of the end of this era of the wizarding world. But, now you see, is when I mark my first victory.
"A bit ironic, as I'm sure you'd see if you were to live. It won't even be me killing you. As I'm sure you can understand, I'm saving all my energy for two things. One is the death and ultimate demise of Harry Potter.
"My faithful henchman will be the cause of your death. Lucius, take off your mask."
The blonde bowed. "As you wish, milord." With that he complied.
The Minister of Magic gulped.
The serpentine man turned back to the Minister. "I want you to see the face of the man who kills you."
With a flash of green, the former Minister of Magic slumped to the floor- dead.
Many hundreds of kilometres from London, Ginny Weasley woke from the forest. She was once again in the Hospital Wing. Although this time, it did not seem that Madame Pomfrey's watchful eye was upon her. It was none other than Blaise Zambini.
"I wanted to be here. For I have something to tell you. But first, go close that door." Blaise said, before Ginny could get a word out.
Ginny rose and shut the door. It seemed to her; at the moment Blaise knew better what was going on. When she returned to the bed, Blaise spoke again.
"The Minister of Magic will be dead by now. I believe that it is a minute after midnight now," continued Blaise, looking at his pocket watch. "I was going to tell you before, but as it seems, you had more pressing issues to deal with."
Ginny ignored the sarcasm of the comment, and continued to listen to the Slytherin.
"The Dark Lord himself did not kill the late-Minister though, he would not put forth so much energy now. He had someone else do it, a man I'm sure you're familiar with." The Slytherin looked at Ginny.
She knew immediately who it was.
"Lucius Malfoy." She said, half whispered.
Her henchman nodded. "I have been here for hours now. It seems that Dumbledore was immediately notified of the death, he sent for Madame Pomphrey at midnight. She just ran out of here. Now, it seems that I must depart."
It seemed that Ginny had been staring at him, and Blaise seemed rather put out about it.
"Is there something you wish to ask me? Or are you staring for another reason?" hissed the boy.
Ginny looked up and down. "You're not a Death Eater, are you?"
The Slytherin's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything.
"Then how do you do you know all of this?"
He looked at her, and thought, but finally settled on one answer. "You'd be surprised how much you can hear if you just stop to listen."
He turned in a manner that seemed rather cross, and walked out of the room, careful to leave the door open. And Ginny fell back asleep, waiting for some body to come back.
The next morning Ginny woke up, to see Madame Pomphrey standing over her. The Matron tutted, and felt her forehead, and checked her eyes.
"It seems that you are once again fine Ms. Weasley. I wouldn't be concerned what has been happening to you lately. Your magic is surging, and so your body will be a bit disoriented these next few months. It wouldn't help that yesterday is Hallowe'en. Many people were using their magic, and the magic of the Earth would also be reacting. But, as soon as you eat this, you can go back to Gryffindor and get dressed for classes."
Ginny ate her food, and the Matron, wishing not to embarrass her, used a spell that brought them directly to Gryffindor. Ginny thanked the Matron profusely, and crawled into the hole.
She knew she would be late for breakfast; she had to tell her friends that she was okay. Pulling on her clothes, she repeated the spell she heard Madame Pomphrey speak and she was whooshed to the Great Hall. Running in she took a seat just before Dumbledore stood to speak.
"Beloved students. This is a war, and with war we must take the good news, and the bad news with the same breath. And today, I'm going to ask you to do the same. You must be as adults now.
"The bad news first, Minister Fudge and his family were murdered last night by Voldemort. This act was a surprise, but the Ministry is setting up an election to find the next Minister.
"Now, for the good news. There is to be a Yule Ball this year. Mainly to let you get your minds off the situation at hand. It will be on the 19 of December, before you leave for your vacation. There will be an upcoming Hogsmeade trip for those who haven't got dress robes."
The Headmaster sat back down, and then the class bell rang. All the students ran out to their classes.
A.N.: Alas, the fifteenth chapter. Thank you to all my reviewers, you all rock!
