Chapter Three – The Color Red

Gryffindors game against Hufflepuff had been an easy victory, yet the party taking place in the Gryffindor common room was as wild as it would have been if the losers had been the Slytherins. Amongst all of the people celebrating in the cramped room I was easily lost in the crowd, something I had been hoping for.

Pushing my way towards the corridor outside of the common room I left to the cool hall and looked up at the Fat Lady who was gossiping with her friend Violet about one of the new paintings that had been hung just around the corner. Apparently Sir Tyilk was a ten out of ten on their scale. I couldn't help but listen in as Violet said something about his pants being very tight. 'That's just sick.' The shrill laughter made my footsteps unheard as I easily strolled out onto the school grounds.

The sun had set forty minutes ago which covered the grounds in a darkness that allowed me to walk freely, not having to bother staying hidden within the trees. I took in the familiar surroundings and paused for a moment besides the lake that held the giant octopus. My attention was drawn to a carving on a large boulder. Squinting in the darkness I made out the letters GW hearts HP.

I suddenly remembered my second year when I dreamed of Harry as my knight in shining armor. He had rescued me from the forces of darkness and swept me away on a phoenix's tale, yet the happily ever after never happened. Far from it to tell you the truth. Instead of Harry's strong arms wrapping around me in a protective barrier, he further separated himself from my life. I was just Ron Weasley's younger sister, not Ginny.

When I had carved this into the rock I had been filled with an image of the boy-who-lived as a hero to save not only me but also the magical world. 'Now he is just a boy, a scared child who cannot defend himself from a man older then his parents. Pathetic really. If I had been able to fight Voldemort he would have been destroyed years ago.

'But now I don't want such a sad tale to come true.' No, I wanted the Dark Lord to thrive. I wanted to let him rise to his fullest power, then, well that isn't important. I cannot begin to do what is needed until I have brewed the potion and for that I need ingredients.

Finding the winding path that led Hogwarts student to Hogsmeade, I quicken my pace and wound up in Knockturn Alley within ten minutes. Pulling my hood up over my head I let my feet guide me to Borgin and Burkes where I found Mr. Borgin himself behind the counter. Pulling out my wand I slinked towards his turned back.

Pressing my wand sharply into his ribs, I hissed the ingredients I needed and that I wanted them fast. Nodding his head I allowed him to turn around and let the tips on my lips curl upwards when he saw my young face. Taking a quick glance at me he pointed me in the right direction. Not wasting time I went to the cabinets in the back and began my search for the ingredients that would help me achieve something that no one had ever attempted to do before.

Finding the Abyssinian shrivelfig was easy enough. 'It seems that this,' I took in the stores décor and grimaced, 'establishment has a knack for finding hard to get ingredients.' After searching through two more cabinets I found the nettles and measured out my fourth cup. As I continued to shop, the door opened letting in a cold gush of wind. Distracted, I found myself staring at blonde hair that was all too familiar. The voice of Draco Malfoy fluttered across the room.

"You gave me a broken chest Borgin!" The oily man behind the counter shrank at the raised voice and in a low voice apologized for the troubles his customer was having, but had given him a reliable piece of equipment. 'I wonder what chest he is talking about. And what is Malfoy doing outside of school at this hour?' Smiling at the obviousness of the situation I thought, 'Exactly what I am doing.'

The chest in question was magically restored to its proper size after Malfoy took it out of his pant pocket and set it on the dusty floor. It looked like a rugged object even my mom would have thrown out, which is something since Molly, never throws anything out. Believe me you, if she would take out the trash…I mean old possessions…then our house wouldn't seem so cramped.

"Please, Mr. Malfoy, I don't want any problems. You and your father are my best buyers. Tell me what can make this situation better, for the both of us. How about this, you can take anything you want from here for free. Do we have a deal?"

Seeing my chance to escape without being seen by a fellow student I hurriedly found the lionfish spines and shoved them into my potions jar. Searching for Malfoy's blonde hair I saw that he was in the opposite corner of the establishment and wouldn't have any reason to turn towards me. Feeling nervous I told the old man in a stern voice that I needed the ingredients to be paid for fast for I had important places to be. 'Well, anywhere but here.'

"But of course." he wheezed. "I will ring you up after I talk to the gentleman in the back."

Before he could comprehend what I was doing, I wrapped my hand into his long hair and gave it a tug. The yelp he let out wasn't necessarily loud, but I had to make sure Malfoy wasn't looking. Slowly turning my head I found him still occupied with a shriveled hand. Wanting to be back on the path to Hogwarts I said to Mr. Borgins, "Tell me how much I owe you so I can go!"

I hadn't meant for my voice to rise like it had, and stared horrified at Malfoy who was questionably looking at me. When he took in the situation that was at hand he began to run towards me, causing me to panic and flee from the scene. As the wind pushed me backwards, red hair tumbled out of the hood that now rested on my shoulders. Knowing it was dark and wishing that Malfoy hadn't noticed, I looked back to see his body in the frame of the door.

With one more rounding of a corner I was back in Hogsmeade and resumed a normal pace. Before I knew it I was back in my room stowing away my free ingredients. Making sure to start the potion on time, I crawled into bed and fell into a troubled sleep. My mind couldn't let me relax for the constant thought running through my head was, did Malfoy know it had been me in that store?