Meeting
Ginny assumed Lockhart had thought it's all right for her to talk about it, but she didn't tell anyone about that conversation.
She was late for her nutritious meal that day, late for her study session at five-thirty. Hermione played a little game with her called "Fight the Power", from which the five people in Hermione's training camp cooperated exceptionally well.
On the calendar, February was followed by March, and March was followed by April, and towards the end of April, the endurance of the five people, who had not had a day off for months, was wearing thin.
"Keep up!" One day, after a tour of the camp, Hermione decided to cheer up the people, "Read more, play less, and laugh in the bushes when the flowers are blooming."
I'll rest in the bushes in peace-the five minds were united at that moment.
"Right now, every one of us has an anti-tank bazooka in our mind." Luna told Ginny, "After all we've suffered for so long, if you lose too badly, all of us are gonna shoot you."
With a month to go before the battle, Ginny's theoretical learning turned into practical training. The Student Council supported her by providing a large number of manpower and material resources, including two training assistants and a conference room.
Every night, Ginny had to do a match with all of the camp's inmates and stewards, and after a month, it was discovered that Ginny had one skill in particular-escaping.
"Stop!" Hermione threw her wand at Ginny as she leaped over Disarming Spell. "Use your spells, you can't always run away!"
"Considering her physical strength, maybe she actually could let the enemy die for being too exhausted," Harry suggested otherwise.
"Wow, exhausted, huh? Stand in a line and all spell her, she has no way out this time. Ginny Weasley, remember to use your Shield Charm!"
A flurry of spells flashed, crisscrossing each other. Ginny darted so wildly that she missed all of them. Hermione dragged the table beside her and threw it at Ginny.
"We are practicing spells!"
"I can't control my body's first reaction! The body runs away itself!" Ginny flashed past the flying table, one of the young training assistants became the first blood of table.
On the eve of the first competition, the two presidents of the council personally came to visit Ginny personally.
"Some frozen tofu, please."
"Can you pass me sesame sauce? Thanks."
"The potatoes are going to melt, get them out!"
"Maybe one more plate of kobe beef?"
"The chili oil spilled! Colin, grab the Napkins!"
"Scourgify!"
The hot pot was paired by the presidents, though nobody knows where did they get special Chinese food from. The purpose is to inspect the results of the training and also cheer Ginny on.
"So, how was the training in the last few months?" Asked the female president, concerned.
"Let's put it this way, I've made up all the work they've been doing badly," Hermione said.
Presidents felt a bit hopeless.
"Don't worry too much, we're not planning to get Weasley into the final. Things are fine as long as it's not too embarrassing and not too awkward. Actually... " The male president lowered his voice while talking, "I've heard that nobody wants to get into the final. They're not going to play their real game."
"The final will be a nightmare." The female president said in a panic.
"It wouldn't hurt to tell you guys," said Luna, adding a chopstickful of beef into her plate, "Cho Chang, our House Chief, was crying and saying she's never going to the final.'"
"I forgot to ask that. How did Ravenclaw choose their candidate?"
"Kicking shuttlecock competition. Nobody knows how to play that sport. I didn't expect Cho Chang can be such good at it."
The Student Council people shuddered, realizing another poor student had been tricked into this.
"So, chief, don't be nervous tomorrow. Hang on for ten or twenty rounds and you'll be alright." Ron patted Ginny on the shoulder.
"If I fight, I'm intended to win. If not so, why am I in the competition for?" Ginny surprised everyone by saying that. Everybody thought she was all stressed out and anxious.
There was a long silence. The female president finally ended the silence: "Everybody eats and drinks and enjoy yourselves as much as you can!"
At that moment, the door of the conference room opened. Professor McGonagall, who came in to inspect the room, was standing at the door, making eye contact with the hotpot gang.
"Professor... We... We are... " The male president struggled to explain.
There was a pause, then Professor McGonagall said: "My favorites are enoki and tofu skin."
"... " People sat still for a second.
"Get the bowl and chopsticks for the professor!" The female president made the call instantly.
