Chapter 11: One Day
For the last few days of the vacation, the Weasleys returned to Cairo. Some of Bill's friends stopped by to meet the family. The twins were instantly fascinated by Carol, a really cool witch that Bill knew from Hogwarts. Fred and George kept doing increasingly stupid things to try to impress her, including confessing to trying to trap Percy in a pyramid and revealing their life's goal of establishing a joke shop. Ginny drifted away when they started recounting some of their highly exaggerated quidditch exploits.
"So you must be the infamous Ginny Weasley."
"Who wants to know," Ginny replied. It was one of Bill's friends.
"I'm Kyle," he said holding his hand out for Ginny to shake.
"Ginny," she replied gripping his hand tightly, "But then, you already know that."
A smile lit up Kyle's face and he laughed. "Oh man, Bill wasn't joking, was he? You really don't take crap from anyone?"
Ginny couldn't help but smile in reply. "I guess not."
"Well, it's nice to finally make your acquaintance, mate. I've heard a lot about you."
"I've heard a bit about you. Did you really save him from a hoard of inferi?"
"Oh, so he told you that story? He probably exaggerated my contribution. I just tossed him a broom. He's the one who lured the inferi into a wall of fire."
"What's Bill like to work with?"
"Your brother's one of the good ones. Quick with his wand and bloody brilliant. Not much of a morning person, but you probably know that."
"What's going on here?" asked Bill as he walked over.
"Nothin' mate. Just telling your little sister some stories."
"Don't believe a word he says. If I find out you've been making up stories just to make me look bad…" Bill said with a brilliant smile on his face.
"What? Come on mate? Nothing like that," Kyle laughed. "Just saying how I taught you everything you know."
"He was probably hopeless when he got here," Ginny replied.
"Exactly, couldn't tell one end of his wand from the other. Of course, we got that straightened out and now he's the fine curse breaker you see before you."
"We'll if you're all going to gang up on me, I'll go find somewhere where I'm welcome," Bill replied as he walked off laughing.
Ginny and Kyle looked at each other and broke down laughing. "You're a pretty cool guy, Kyle."
"You too, kid. I can see why Bill likes you so much. What have you all been up to?"
"Touring. We saw the pyramids, sphynxes, and some tombs. Bill even took us to that new excavation…"
"The one Hassan is running? West of Beni Suef?"
"I think so."
"Nice. It's pretty impressive. You been to the market?"
"Yeah. We went there this morning for some souvenirs."
"Whatcha get?"
Ginny reached into her pocket to pull out her purchases. She got some incense which she thought smelled pleasant and a crystal amulet supposed to bestow healing. She took a dim view of those properties, but it looked nice. Percy got some rare scrolls and a pair of earrings for his girlfriend. Ron got a sneakoskope for Harry, a book on local mythology for Hermione (heavily recommended by Bill), and a small model sphynx for himself. Fred and George insisted they didn't want any souvenirs, but Ginny saw them stuffing some scarabs into their luggage, probably for a prank.
Kyle inspected the items. "Are you interested in the practice of divination?"
"Not really. Why do you ask?"
"Well, that is commonly burned by Seers, supposedly it improves the sight," Kyle explained. "If you put stock in that sort of thing."
"I don't, but it does smell nice."
"I used to think so also but that was before I spent three days trapped in an old burial chamber."
"What?"
"Now that is an interesting story!" Bill exclaimed as he drifted back to their part of the room. "Although I tell it much better than this fool."
"Who you calling a fool? At least I was conscious the entire time. You got knocked out by that stupid scarab!"
Ginny smiled and watched the two friends argue. She would miss Bill when they left in two days, but she was still glad. He was really happy here. She turned back to the conversation to determine once and for all who could tell the better story.
Their portkey arrived at the Ministry of Magic in the early afternoon. However, they needed to clear customs where Fred and George got into trouble for trying to smuggle a Nundu fang without declaration. They, of course, did not realize that artifacts of class XXXXX creatures required documentation before import, and when Mum found out what they did, she went ballistic. It took hours to sort out what should have been a small paperwork error. It was well after nightfall by the time they flooed back to the Burrow.
The next morning was just as mad. Harry Potter had apparently had some trouble with his muggle relatives while they were away and was now staying at the Leaky Cauldron. They would be staying there to help ensure he got to the train on time. Hermione was going to be staying with them also. This came as a bit of a shock to Ginny, Fred, George, and Percy, but their parents and Ron had known all week and simply forgotten to tell them.
The Weasleys were all up early (which was not really that big of a problem for Ginny, who was still suffering from nightmares) to repack for Hogwarts. As much of their packing was done before leaving for Egypt and Ginny's mum made sure to do much of the necessary washing before they left Egypt, they were able to leave for the Leaky Cauldron while it was still the morning.
Hermione was waiting for them when they arrived, so Ron left with her to do their shopping. Ginny was stuck with Mum, Percy, Fred, and George. By the time they returned with bags full of supplies and books, Ron and Hermione were sitting there with Harry. Ginny barely was able to mumble out a "Hello."
After a nice dinner, Ginny fled to the safety of her room. She looked at the pile of books on her bed and settled down to pack them into her trunk. Behind her, the door opened, and Hermione walked in. Ginny muttered a curse. She had forgotten she was sharing a room with Hermione. Thankfully, Ginny didn't think she was a noisy sleeper. Just a restless one. Besides, she would need to deal with similar problems once she returned to Hogwarts.
"How was your summer?" Hermione asked amicably.
"It was nice. We spent most of it in Egypt, as you heard over dinner," Ginny replied.
"I know. It sounded so exciting. There is so much magical history there!"
"There was," Ginny admitted, "Although, a lot of it probably would be classified as dark. Ancient Egyptian warlocks focused a lot on immortality and necromancy. But they also did a lot of work on warding, which is why Gringotts needs so many curse breakers there. All that treasure buried, yet no way to access it without the help of wizards."
"Bill is a curse breaker, right?"
"Yeah. It was nice to see him."
"I'm sure," Hermione said as she looked over her recently purchased pile of books. "You mind if I let Crookshanks out? He's been cooped up in the cage all afternoon."
"Not at all," Ginny replied. "I'm sure Ron is thrilled about you getting a cat."
"Oh, he is." Hermione rolled her eyes. "He hates poor Crookshanks already. Thinks he has it out for Scabbers." She pulled the orange cat out of his cage. "But you don't do you? You're just doing what cats do. Right?"
"I'd be careful if I were you. For all he complains, Ron is very protective of his pet. If something happened, he would be devastated."
Hermione nodded. "You're going to stop chasing poor Scabbers. Okay?"
"He's a cat, Hermione. He doesn't understand you."
"I'll have you know I think he is a very intelligent cat."
"He's still a cat."
"Fine. I'll keep an eye on him. I just couldn't leave him in the pet store. He had been there for ages, and no one wanted him."
Ginny shrugged in response, and the conversation faded as they both packed. Crookshanks wandered around the room for a bit, before sitting down on Ginny's Standard Book of Spells: Grade 2. "Furball, off. I need the book." Crookshanks hissed but moved over. "I guess he isn't that dumb," Ginny said. When she reached over to pick up the book, Crookshanks slashed at her hand with his claws. "Shit. You heard me. Didn't you?"
"I told you he was smart," Hermione said from her place curled up on her bed with a book, having already finished packing. Crookshanks flicked his tail into the air and jumped over to Hermione, who gave him an absentminded belly rub.
An hour later, after they had both gotten ready for bed, Ginny said, "Hermione."
"Yeah?"
Ginny rolled over to face the other girl (who was currently reading a book by candlelight). "What does Harry think of me?"
"Um… well… why do you ask?"
"Because he showed up, and I acted like an idiot again. Whenever he walks into the room my mind just shuts down."
"Why? I've never understood that about you. It's not like you have trouble talking to other people. Is it because you have a crush on him?"
"Well," Ginny hesitated. She probably shouldn't have started this conversation with Hermione, but in for the knut, in for the galleon. "It's a bit more than that. You know how big of a deal he is in the rest of the world. Before he came to Hogwarts, he was even bigger. The boy who defeated You-know-who. There were so many stories and rumors about where he has been and the adventures he was on. He was larger than life. I always wanted to meet him, then Ron became his friend and started writing home. This was the real Harry Potter, not some mythical figure, and I just wanted to meet him even more. I was so desperate that year, and then he just turned up in the kitchen one day. I froze and panicked. He was with us all summer, and I could barely speak a word in front of him. I was just too embarrassed and too awed. I know it is stupid, but I couldn't help it. Then last year with Tom and the Chamber and Harry rescued me. It is so stupid, but it was just like in children's stories. The hero comes, kills the beast, and saved me. I never even thanked him."
"Ginny, you need to relax."
"Huh?"
Hermione put her book down and sat up in bed. "You need to relax around Harry. I know you have a crush on him, but it's based on a bunch of myths. I know it's partially based on your own experiences, but you've never spoken to the real Harry."
"And who is the real Harry?"
"A kind, earnest boy who is way to noble and self-sacrificing for his own good. He is compassionate and has an unhealthy obsession with quidditch," Hermione fixed Ginny with a stare, daring her to challenge her. "But he is also my best friend and your brother's best friend."
"And I'm nobody. Just the fool girl who stutters whenever he walks into the room."
"Ginny, I don't mean to sound harsh, but you need to move on from Harry. Stop fixating on him. Make friends and date other people. Your obsession isn't healthy."
"I know. I've tried before. It's just a lot harder than you think."
"With everything you went through last year, I don't doubt that. Stop thinking about him as Harry Potter. Just think of him as Harry, your brother's friend, and be yourself."
"You're right. I'll give it a shot."
"I'm always here if you want to talk."
"Thanks Hermione. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome."
Ginny turned and stared up at the ceiling beams. Hermione was right. She needed to move on. Just like Tom, dwelling on Harry was bad for her. Bill would tell her the same thing. Even Luna had given her similar advice almost a year ago. She can't think about him anymore. He was just another friend of Ron's (and Hermione's) that she barely knew. She could do this. She would do this. It was time to let the past be the past. It was time to move on. One day at a time.
The following day, they all dragged their trunks downstairs to the pub until a series of cars from the Ministry of Magic (extra security for Harry) arrived to take them to the platform. Once they arrived, Percy left to meet his girlfriend, Penelope, and Fred and George vanished their friend Lee. Ginny had initially planned on staying with her family on the train, but Ron also chased her away. After all, he had something urgent to discuss with Harry and Hermione privately. What a great brother.
Instead, she drifted up the car, looking for somewhere to sit. She passed a compartment with a few of her year mates, but Colin was sitting there. Things were awkward between them after the end of last year between her guilt at getting him petrified and her anger at what he did to Luna. It would be best not to spend hours sitting with him. She checked the next compartment.
"You're in my brother Ron's year, right?" Ginny asked the compartments sole occupant. "Longbottom, right?"
"Yeah," the boy replied.
"Mind if I sit here?"
The boy shrugged in reply, "I suppose so."
Ginny pulled the trunk into the compartment, and Longbottom stood to help her lift it onto the luggage rack. Ginny fixed him with a glare, "Do you think I can't lift this on my own?"
"What? No? Sorry," he stuttered and sat back down.
Ginny immediately felt guilty. This wasn't one of her brothers who would just laugh it off. He seemed actually hurt. She sat down across from him. "No. I'm sorry. Let's start over. I'm Ginny. What's your name?"
"I know who you are, Ginny. We're in the same house, and frankly you and your family are kind of hard to miss."
"Are you trying to dodge my question?"
"Not really."
"Well, I'm sorry to say I really don't remember your first name, and it would be weird for me to keep calling you Longbottom."
"It's alright. I'm pretty forgettable."
"No, you're not. I just didn't get around that much last year." – well, she did, but didn't remember a lot of it – "If you tell me now, I swear I won't forget it again."
"It's Neville."
"See, that wasn't that hard. It's nice to meet you again, Neville Longbottom."
"It's an honor to meet you again, Ms. Weasley."
"It's Ginny, and if you call me Ms. Weasley again, I'll hex you."
"Alright. It's nice to meet you too, Ginny," Neville said with a small laugh.
"So how was your summer, Neville?"
"Alright, I guess. I spent most of it at home trying to resurrect the flutterby bush in behind the manor. I'm still not sure why it was so unhappy. I'll ask Professor Sprout when we get to the castle."
"You excited to be going back to Hogwarts?"
"Sure. You?"
"I suppose."
"Yeah, well last year was a bit exciting. I'm looking for a nice quiet year."
From there, the conversation naturally drifted to Ginny's summer, and she was happy to regale Neville with some interesting stories about the Weasley's trip to Egypt. Later, the two settled down to play a game of Exploding Snap with the cards Ginny had 'borrowed' from Fred and George but 'forgot' to return after they charmed her poster of the Holyhead Harpies into one of the Chudley Cannons.
Shortly after noon, Dean and Seamus, Ron's other dormmates stopped by and joked that Neville had "found himself a girlfriend". Ginny fiercely denied this accusation and threatened to hex anyone who said otherwise. They hung around for a few games of Exploding Snap, but eventually left to go find Lavender Brown, leaving Ginny with Neville once more. All told, Neville was a decent bloke, and it was a wonder Ron didn't talk about him more.
Ginny was sitting in one of the comfy red chairs in the common room. The fire blazed in the hearth, but she still felt a bit cold. Tom sat across from her, his legs crossed and hands steepled as he stared into the flames.
"Tom?" Ginny said.
"Yes Ginerva?"
"Are you going to answer me?"
"I'm thinking," He replied tersely. She should have been more patient. Now she had irritated him. "What do I know about the wizarding prison of Azkaban? Why would you ask me that?"
"Hagrid was just arrested and taken there. I want to know if he'll be alright."
"He opened the Chamber of Secrets and attacked all those poor muggleborns. He should have been left to rot there years ago."
"I don't think he did. I know you disagree, but that's not the Hagrid I know."
"Then you must not know him that well after all," Tom replied before falling silent once again.
Ginny waited a few minutes before hesitantly asking again, "Please Tom?"
"Azkaban prison is located on an island in the North Sea. It is a fortress that has been used as a high security prison for the British Ministry of Magic since 1718. In previous generations, it was reserved for those who had committed severe crimes such as murder of a pureblood wizard or the use of unforgivable curses or to contain those that the Ministry was unable to control. In recent times, the Ministry has expanded the fortress and for the past century it has served as the only prison to service magical Britain excluding, of course, the short-term lockup located in the ministry itself."
"Why is it so horrible?"
"The guards are not… kind… to prisoners," Tom turned to look her in the eye, "but of course, you know all about the Dementors, Ginny, so what are you really asking me?"
"I really don't know that much about them. Just that they are evil, and no one ever escapes them. Dad had to visit once to interview someone, and he came home all shaky. He said they suck the happiness out of the air."
"They are not evil. Dark creatures, yes, but not evil. They feed on strong emotions like happiness and joy. If a dementor is present, all a person can remember is their worst moments, their failures, their fears. Many prisoners quickly go mad, and their screams echo through the halls. It is not uncommon for prisoners to lose the will to live and they are buried there on the cold, isolated island."
"It sounds like you've been there."
"I have. I visited my uncle there shortly after creating this diary in fact. The visit was rather memorable."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He deserved to be there. But we are getting off track. You wanted to hear about dementors, so I will tell you. Wherever they go, the air turns cold as the life and magic are sucked out of the air. They are in essence a void, always hungry no matter how much they consume. Of course, that is not their worst weapon."
"The dementor's kiss."
"Yes, the kiss. The ability to suck out a soul. It is now the harshest punishment the ministry can give. Reserved for only those who they fear even Azkaban cannot hold."
"How can you fight it?"
"There are some spells that help one resist. I've always been a bit partial to casting Incindio to set their cloaks on fire. Of course, if you ever feel the cold of a dementor, Ginerva, take my diary and run."
Ginny woke up as the Hogwarts Expresses lurched to a sudden stop. She was flung from her seat and crashed into Neville.
"What happened?" She asked.
"No idea," Neville responded. He stood up and looked around, confused. "I don't think we're there yet."
Ginny shook off the last remnants of her nap, and she noticed that the air was cold. Colder than it should be on the train. She looked out the window into the black night, but thought she caught something moving towards the front of the train. Maybe she was just feeling jumpy because of her dream. Maybe the memory of her conversation with Tom was making her imagine things, but she didn't think so. For some reason, she was convinced there was a dementor outside the train.
"We need to go now," Ginny said, pushing Neville out of the compartment. She needed to find her brothers. Percy would probably be the best. He may have even learned how to fight off dementors. Then again, as Head Boy he probably had his hands full already with whatever stopped the train. Fred and George would be fine, but she had no idea where they were. Ron was in the back of the train, furthest from the dementors who were probably in the engine. He had no idea what was coming. "Head down the train. We need to find Ron."
They made it part of the way down the car when the train gave another jolt and the lamps went out. Ginny tripped and fell. The air was getting colder again. She looked back and could see a figure at the other end of the car, shrouded in darkness. She could feel it staring at her. It was coming to get her. Her skin felt like ice. It was going to get her.
She couldn't see in front of her, but she could hear Neville's voice farther ahead. Then she heard Harry. That was where Ron must be.
Ginny scrambled to her feed and ran to the compartment, colliding with Hermione. While her nose hurt, she was starting to feel better. Ron was here, and she was with family. She started to feel warm again.
A flickering light lit the compartment. There was someone else there. An adult. "Stay where you are," he ordered them. (Ginny was too overwhelmed at the moment to wonder why an adult was on the train in the first place and why he was sitting in Ron, Harry, and Hermione's compartment.)
The door to the compartment opened, and the shadow was standing there. The temperature plummeted. She pulled her legs up to her chest for warmth, but she was no longer on the train. She was lying on the cold stone floor of the Chamber of Secrets. The diary lay a few feet away from her. Tom was standing there, smiling as she struggled to crawl away. He laughed as she collapsed, never to move again.
"Thank you for your sacrifice. You should be proud. You are the reason for my return."
She struggled to look him in the eye. She wanted to say something, but her mouth would not move. She was just so tired.
"Goodbye Ginerva."
Her vision started to blur.
She opened her eyes and the dementor was gone. Neville was sitting with her, also very pale. What had he gone through? Ginny wrapped her arms around her legs and kept shivering.
Harry seemed to have collapsed so Ron and Hermione were helping him back up to his seat. The man handed out some chocolate and left, but Ginny never took a piece. She just sat there curled up in her corner, trying and failing to forget.
A/N: Ginny mentions in the last chapter of HBP that Hermione told her to "to get on with life, maybe go out with some other people, relax a bit around you [Harry]". Ginny was already behaving normally around Harry by PoA, so there wasn't really any other time to place it.
