Well my computer is really dumb. I was about 3 pages into this chapter, and I had all these ideas, and then POOF! My computer shuts off and I lose all of it. I was so mad. Then I had to retype it all and the beginning isn't as good as the original. Yes, I know, I haven't been getting into the real plot of this story. But next chapter everythingreally starts to take off. Actually, it has started a little…(hint hint.) Anyway, you'll see.
louey31- Well I don't think I'll have them duke it out revenge style, though I've thought about it. I don't know, maybe I'll put a little something in there. We'll just see how it goes. Thanks soooooo much for reviewing. You're only one of…I think, 2…regular reviewers I have. It means a lot to me.
love it!- Thank you for all of the compliments (and the review). I like humor in a story, so whenever I get any inspiration, I'm putting it in. Please keep reviewing!
QueenThayet12990- First of all,kudos to youfor readingand reviewingThe Messenger. You're the only one I got to do it. Second, I am reading your friends story, and I am very much enjoying it. It'll probably take me a while to get through though, since there are so many chapters. I'll review it at the end when I'm done. Thanks for the review!
Disclaimer: I've said this a million times (not literally) that I do not own Harry Potter and Co. (literally) but I wish that I did (literally) because then I'd own the world (not literally)
Chapter 8: Snow
Time passed swiftly for Ginny. After Albert had been found, things had settled down. Ginny had learned from Madame Pomfrey that Albert's memory had been erased, so he didn't know what had happened to him. Whoever had done it was skillful though. Albert had retained all of his memories except the ones from right before he disappeared. No matter how many times people stopped him in the hallways to question him, his reply was always the same. He didn't know what had happened to him. Other than that, he was his old self again. He'd jumped right back into classes.
Surprisingly, Quidditch tryouts had been easy. Though Parvati and Lavender had tried out, they had not made the team. Their new Chaser was Seamus Finnigan, and their two new beaters were, to everyone's shock, Colin and Dennis Creevey. They had both been so proud when Harry announced them to be on the team.
Ginny walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. October was coming to a close; it was already the eve of Halloween. The castle was in a bustle to decorate for the upcoming feast. To Hermione's disgust, the house elves had been working overtime. Since they worked at night, nobody ever saw them. However, each morning there would be something new in the castle. Today, two enlarged pumpkins stood like guards next to each door of the Great Hall. They each stood about eight feet tall. The sky had been enchanted to always look like night; there was even a full moon. Bats swooped low over the tables, occasionally knocking a piece of toast out of a student's hands. Vines hung off the edges of all the tables, crept up each wall, and wrapped around every door. Ginny walked over to the Gryffindor table.
Hermione and Ron were sitting across from Harry and, to Ginny's displeasure, Jenny. However, she smiled and sat down next to Hermione.
"Ginny," Harry said, "this is Jenny. Jenny, Ginny." Harry pointed back and forth between the girls. Ginny nodded and smiled at Jenny, then filled her plate with scrambled eggs.
"So, Ginny, Harry tells me you play Quidditch," Jenny said. She seemed nice enough, but because she was with Harry, Ginny didn't like her. She couldn't let that show though.
"Yes, I'm a Chaser."
"I've always wanted to play Quidditch, but I can hardly ride a broom," Jenny laughed.
"You didn't tell me that, Jenny." Harry said. "I could teach you how."
"I'd love that, Harry," Jenny smiled brightly at Harry. Ginny rolled her eyes. Then an image of Harry and Jenny flying together invaded Ginny's mind. As the image showed Harry wrapping his arms around Jenny to hold her on the broom, Ginny lost her appetite.
Shoving away her food, she stood up.
"I'm going to be late for class," Ginny called over her shoulder. Then she strode out of the Great Hall.
Ginny woke up the next morning excited. It was Saturday, and Halloween. Also, a Hogsmede trip was planned. She took a shower and dressed, quickly leaving the Gryffindor common room. Students were allowed to go to Hogsmede as soon as they wished, and Ginny didn't want to miss anything.
When she got downstairs, there was already a long line waiting; Filch insisted on checking every student to make sure they had permission to go. She saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jenny just leaving.
"Ron! Hermione!" Ginny called out, waving to them. They seemed to not hear her, and kept walking. Soon, they were out of sight.
Disappointed, Ginny went to the end of the line. Her mood did not improve any when she saw who was directly in front of her. Draco Malfoy, along with Crabbe and Goyle. Honestly, Ginny didn't know why Malfoy tolerated those two. They were nothing more than oversized cabbages. They were just as smart, too.
"Well, well, well," Draco said, turning to face Ginny. "If it isn't the littlest Weasel. What are you up to now? Going to grovel at saintly Potter's feet? Hoping he'll take you back?" As if on cue, Crabbe and Goyle started snickering behind him. Ginny tightened her scarf around her neck and tried to ignore them. "Too bad my ingenuity messed things up for you. Maybe if you weren't such a goody two-shoes all the time, he'd pay a bit more attention to you."
"Goody two-shoes?" Ginny retorted. "What are you talking about? I'm not a goody two-shoes…" Laughing, Draco turned back to his friends, which suited Ginny just fine. She didn't need any Malfoy filth ruining her holiday.
Once she got fast Filch and Malfoy, Ginny started wondering where her friends could be. Hermione had said the day before that she needed to get a book on charms. There were many book stores in Hogsmede, but Ginny didn't think they'd be shopping yet. Most likely, they'd be at Madame Rosmerta's right now. Ginny headed in that direction.
The cold October wind whipped at her ankles, causing her robe to swish back and forth. Looking up, Ginny noticed that the sky was dark. A few snow flakes started to fall from the sky. Hogwarts always got terrible snow storms, but those usually didn't start until late November, a month away. At the moment, the gray clouds in the sky appeared very ominous.
When she pushed open the door of Madame Rosmerta's pub, a blast of warm air greeted Ginny. She removed her scarf and rubbed some warmth back into her pink cheeks. She spotted Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jenny sitting in a corner, laughing. They all had large mugs of butterbeer, which sounded wonderful to Ginny. She went to the counter, purchased some butterbeer, and joined her friends. They all looked up as she slid in next to Ron.
"Where've you been, Gin," Hermione asked.
"I was right behind all of you at Hogwarts," Ginny said, taking a sip of her butterbeer. "I yelled for you to wait for me, but apparently you didn't hear."
"Jenny's just been telling us of the first time she tried riding a broom," Ron said, focusing on Jenny before looking back at his sister. "It's hilarious!"
"I bet…" Ginny muttered, rolling her eyes as she sipped her warm drink. Luckily, nobody hear her.
"Yes, well, my brother Andy thought it would be hilarious to charm his broomstick and put it where I could find it. He's two years older than me, and my father was always telling me to stay away from the brooms," Jenny smiled, revealing perfectly even, white teeth. "You all know the rest." Everybody burst out laughing.
I don't, Ginny though. But who cares. For the next hour, Ginny just sat there, listening to the others' conversation. Once or twice, Ginny said something. Other than that, she silently sat and stared into her empty glass, fingering the rim. When she could take no more of being ignored, she stood up.
"I need to get some new quills and parchment," Ginny called out. Only Hermione acknowledged her. Before her friend could say anything, Ginny turned and walked out of the building.
Ginny did not buy any parchment or quills. Instead, she wandered through the village. The snow was falling heavier now, and a thin blanket coated the ground. At the rate it was snowing now, there would be at least a foot on the ground by nightfall. Ginny knew she was acting selfish about Jenny, but she couldn't help feeling the way she did. She kicked a large rock in frustration, but the only result was a throbbing toe. Ginny slumped down into a bench. As the snow slowly hit the ground, Ginny fell asleep.
The biting wind and cold woke Ginny. The snow was getting thicker, and night was approaching. Ginny's nose ran, and her cheeks felt like ice. She stood up, wondering where she was. Then she remembered falling asleep. She hurried into the first store she saw to get warm. The sight that greeted her was amusing.
Draco Malfoy was standing in front of a counter with a sour look on his face. Professor Juriac was next to him, talking. Draco had just finished paying for some object and was turning around. When he spotted Ginny, he stopped. His expression, if possible, became even sourer. Professor Juriac stopped talking as well. When he spotted Ginny, he smiled brightly and waved her over. Feeling slightly tired, Ginny did walk up to them.
"Ah, Ginny. I was just going to ask young Malfoy here to deliver a message up to the school. I would do it myself, but I am a bit preoccupied at the moment." Oleaney Juriac looked very happy, which was a drastic contrast to Draco Malfoy, who looked irate. "You see, I ran into one of my old colleagues this afternoon. Since there are no classes tomorrow, he offered to put up with me for the night. We have much catching up to do. I just need to let the Headmaster know, so that nobody will wonder where I am." Ginny nodded. "I would owl it myself, but it may get lost in the storm. So then I bumped into Mr. Malfoy here, and I thought he could do it. But, seeing as you're here too, maybe both of you should deliver it for me. With this storm, it may be a bit more difficult to find the castle."
"I wouldn't mind, Professor," Ginny said, even if she did mind. Working with Malfoy? Yeah, like that was going to work.
"Excellent. Here is my note." He handed a piece of folded parchment to Ginny. Now, I must finish up here," Juriac pointed to the clerk behind the desk, who was wrapping some items and putting them into a bag, "and then I'll be off. I suggest that the two of you get a head start."
Ginny turned to walk out of the shop, and Malfoy brushed past her, knocking into her shoulder. Rolling her eyes, Ginny followed. Once outside, the wind attacked Ginny. It was much fiercer than she remembered it being. It was also darker. She stopped for a moment, thinking of which way Hogwarts was. Malfoy was already walking off in one direction. She hurried to catch up with him.
"Do you know where you're going, Malfoy?" Ginny huffed to keep up with him. His legs were much longer than hers, and he was walking very fast.
"Of course I do, Weasley. I'm a Malfoy; I know everything." Draco seemed in a hurry to get back to the castle. Ginny followed behind him silently. Her throat was starting to hurt. Just great, she thought. Just what you need, to be sick. But you deserve it. After all, you did fall asleep in the snow.
Ginny kept her eyes on the ground while they walked. The snow was much thicker, and she needed to see where she was walking. She looked up when the light from the streets disappeared.
"Malfoy, where are you going?" Ginny looked around her. Nothing seemed familiar. Then again, she had never been in Hogsmede at night. "Isn't Hogwarts the other way?"
"Oh relax, Weasley. I know a shortcut," Malfoy replied without slowing down. He stepped into some woods and continued walking. By this time, Ginny had no idea where they were. She paused at the edge of the woods, and Malfoy's dark frame got thinner and thinner as trees obscured her vision of him.
"Malfoy, wait!" She called to him. She started running to catch up, and briefly saw his back before she tripped and fell face forward. Her head hit something hard, probably a rock. Lights exploded in front of her, and she tasted something coppery in her mouth. She lay on the ground, dazed. Which way was up? Where had Malfoy gone? Why was she in a forest? Then strong arms pulled her up from the ground, and started pushing her forward.
"Come on. We can't slow down," Ginny recognized Draco's voice, scowling as it always was. "It's snowing harder. If we don't hurry up, we're going to be stuck out here all night." Ginny nodded slowly, her head pounding, and tried to walk faster. Malfoy was jogging through the snow in front of her, lifting his feet high in the air each time he took a step. The sight was amusing to Ginny, and she would've laughed if her teeth hadn't been chattering so much.
They continued on for a while, both silently running as best as they could through the snow. The trees helped to block the wind, but they also blocked out what moonlight they had. Ginny heard Draco mutter "Lumos" in front of her, and a bright light shone on what path they had made. Ginny reached for her own wand, wondering why she hadn't done so earlier. When she reached into her cloak, however, she couldn't find it. Stopping, she frantically dug through all her pockets, but it was nowhere to be found. She heard Malfoy ahead of her yell over his shoulder, "Weasley! Hurry up!" so Ginny resumed their tiring pace.
"Wait! Malfoy!" Ginny shouted, and he turned to walk back to her.
"What?" asked Draco.
"My wand f-fell back there," she said, folding her arms in an effort to keep warmer. Draco looked past Ginny, back into the snow, and sighed.
"Accio Ginny's wand," he said. They both waited and a few seconds later, Ginny's wand flew into Draco's hand. He handed it to her and then, without another word, continued on. Ginny muttered a quick thank you under her breath, not sure if she wanted Draco to hear her or not. He was already mad enough at her for causing them to go so slowly. But to Ginny, they weren't going slowly; her side ached with the effort it was taking to keep up with Draco.
She thought of the feast waiting for her at Hogwarts. More than likely, it had already started. The thought of all that food made her stomach rumble extraordinarily loudly. She hadn't had breakfast that morning since she had been so eager to get to Hogsmede, and she had slept through lunch. The only thing she had had that day was her butterbeer, and that was a long time ago.
After several more minutes, the two teenagers came to a small clearing. The full moon shone down brightly, illuminating the snow falling furiously to the ground. They both stopped. Ginny dropped to her knees in the snow, panting. Draco was standing in the middle of the clearing, turning in circles and looking in each direction. His hands were on his forehead, pushing his hair back, and his eyebrows were knitted in frustration and confusion. Ginny looked up slowly, the snow sticking ever more in her hair. Just as she was about to get up, a violent cough attacked Ginny. Her body convulsed, and her throat burned as the coughing subsided.
Ginny looked towards Malfoy, who had not noticed her. It appeared he was trying to decipher which way to go.
"Where are we, Malfoy?" Ginny shouted over the roaring wind. Her hood had come off and her hair was whipping behind her.
"This was supposed to be a short cut!" he yelled back.
"You don't know where we are?" Ginny asked. Malfoy didn't reply, he merely continued examining the area. Anger surged through Ginny. She wasn't supposed to be here. She was supposed to be enjoying the Halloween feast right now.
"We're lost?" she shrieked as she stood up and marched towards Malfoy. "You got us lost? We're lost?" When Ginny reached Draco she quit yelling and started hitting him on the chest. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't decided on a taking a short cut, we'd be back at the castle by –"
Draco grabbed her wrists, holding them in an iron-like vice. He glared down at her fiercely, and pulled her closer to him. Ginny was forced to lean her head back to see him.
"Never," Draco whispered threateningly, "do that again." Ginny could feel his breath on her face. She closed her mouth. Draco let go of her hands and threw her backwards, causing Ginny to fall in the snow. "Now if you'll leave me be, I can try to get us out of here. Unless, of course, you'd like to stay…?" Malfoy mockingly asked her, his hands held up in question.
Ginny opened her mouth and was just about to retort when the coughing once again assaulted her body. She heaved on the ground, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop.
"Hey," Malfoy said, tapping his foot into her side. "Hey, stop it."
If I could stop, don't you think I'd have done it by now? Ginny thought angrily. Her throat felt as if a knife was being shoved down it. As well as pain in her throat, Ginny's chest hurt; she couldn't breathe right. The coughing eased and she took several quick, deep breaths. She continued breathing heavily, feeling tired. Looking up, she saw Draco looking down at her warily. Then he turned away, once again inspecting their surroundings.
Ginny stood up; the snow was soaking her clothes. Her legs were numb from cold and she was shaking badly. Ginny tried to see more clearly where they were, but the snow obscured her vision too much; the wind continued howling.
"I think it's this way," Draco shouted, waving to her as he started walking once more into the woods. Ginny stumbled towards him through the thick snow. It was falling so fast; it was slowly approaching her knees. Ginny couldn't remember the last time Hogwarts had seen a storm this bad. Since Draco's legs were longer than hers, and it was easier for him to walk in the snow, but Ginny was falling behind. She picked up her pace, determined not to show how weak she was. However, as the snow grew in ferocity, their progress slowed until both were walking side by side.
Close to an hour later, just as Ginny was wondering how much farther she could go, the trees started thinning. With the thinning of the trees, though, came thicker snow. Ginny, with a sigh of relief, recognized a road. It was the path the horse-less carriages always took to get to the school. Even in the distance, Hogwarts castle was visible, its many lights shining like beacons.
The two freezing students raced towards the castle, spurred on by the thought of warmth. They soon reached the doors and Draco wrenched them open. Both collapsed onto the floor, shaking in the cold. Ginny's eyes moved about slowly; nobody was around. They were all at the feast. Ginny was shaking so badly that she could hardly stand, but stand she did. She dazedly shut the doors, and the wind and snow ceased entering the castle. Draco was now resting against the wall, head leaning back and eyes closed. Ginny saw that his always-perfect hair was finally messed up.
Then, as if somebody had turned up the volume, the noise from the Great Hall reached Ginny's ears. She heard laughter, talking, people having a wonderful time. She peered through the open doors and saw Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Jenny sitting at the Gryffindor table. They were all eating their dinner, talking, and apparently enjoying themselves. Only Hermione looked a little worried. It seemed as if nobody except her knew that Ginny wasn't with them.
Ginny briefly debated upon going in there and slapping Ron or Harry. Maybe both. No, she decided. Let them worry about me. She turned around. After what she had just been through, she wasn't hungry anyway. The only thing she felt like was sleeping forever; her whole body ached with weariness.
Draco was standing. He looked once at Ginny, and then, without a word, headed down a hallway. Ginny assumed he was going to the Slytherin common room. She went to her own room.
Once she got upstairs, she collapsed onto her bed. Her cheeks and hands still felt like ice. Instead of succumbing to sleep, Ginny went into her bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, and laughed softly. She looked a fright. Her hair was in a giant knot, and her cheeks were bright red. On the right side of her face, and large bruise was forming; she assumed it was from when she had fallen. Turning her face to the side, she touched it. Funny, she thought. It doesn't even hurt…it should though. Probably because her face was too numb to feel anything at the moment.
Ginny sat on her bed, silently cursing Professor Juriac. The man was nice enough, but who would send two students into a storm like that? Shaking her head, Ginny stood up to change for bed. As she stood, she started coughing again. She sounded like a dog barking every time she coughed and her chest and throat hurt even worse. She held onto the bed for support; the feeling was returning to her legs, yet they seemed wobbly.
Then Ginny straightened, but the room begun to whirl around her. She stepped backwards, waving her arms in front of her for balance. Everything blurred together as a roaring filled her ears. Ginny felt as if her head were devoid of any substance, and she became dizzy. Stumbling forward as the ground rushed up to meet her, Ginny fell into darkness.
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A/N: Everybody who reviews this gets a free smile!
Lauren
