The World As We Know It
Ginny woke up that morning with a feeling of dread stirring in the pit of her stomach. Something one does not like to wake up to. She knew just knew that today was not going to be all that pleasant. Something was going to go wrong, it was a gut instinct. She drew her midnight blue curtains away from her and stepped out of her bed. The floor was cold so she went and got her slippers from next to her bed. She was thankful that Dumbledore at least provided her with a room all to herself, after everything he had put her through. It was the least he could do. As Ginny was about to go to the bathroom, a pang of longing hit her like a tidal wave. She missed, no craved Lorelei and Adrian. It was so, so foreign to her not having them there with her. Not waking up next to Lorelei and Adrian. Not talking to them, not eating with them, not doing anything with them. She felt so alone.
Ginny made her way to the bathroom, brushed her all too straight white teeth, washed her face and brushed her hair. She then made her way to the closet and came to a fork in the road. What was she going to wear for her first real day back at Hogwarts. She wanted to make an impression on the school in whole. A good or bad impression, that she was not sure of yet. She decided on a medieval type bodice, and a long flowy skirt. She got the look she aimed for, refined yet not to be messed with.
The Common Room was surprisingly empty. But then again, it was eight in the morning. It was chilly there. The absence of fire did that, especially since they were in the dungeons. She actually was not surprised to say the least when for the fist time she found out where her house lay. It was comical in a sick way. She wove herself around the scattered chairs and couches. All black. She noted with distain that her common room back at Durmstrang was much nicer and roomier. And they were not located in the dungeons. Her house banner hung high and proud over the whole common room. It was a pretty big area, but not big enough for her taste. She stepped out of it, and made her way to breakfast.
She came to the Great Hall. There were various people scattered around interacting with each other and just hanging out. She watched, from her seat at the table. She observed. Like a lioness observing her prey.
Pathetic the bunch of them. She thought acidly. Have they no pride? The Gryffindors were laughing loudly and goofing off. The Hufflepuffs were no better, all clustered up in groups and gossiping no doubt about her. At least the Ravenclaws had the decency to be seated and not make a huge commotion. Guinevra was appalled. Did these people have no concern of how they are seen? How people saw them? At least the house she was placed knew a thing or two.
She ate her breakfast in silence. It was always in silence. She had no one to talk to. She was earlier than most that morning. As she was finishing up, some of her house members came in. They passed her and stared. No she thought absentmindedly, they goggled. They too had started to whisper to each other while pointing at her.
"Stupid first years" she mumbled as she made her way out of the Great Hall and back to her common room.
Her first class of the day was Potions with the Griffs. She did not forget that she was moved up a year. Yippee for me. She didn't care. Academics were just something she had to do. She didn't really care for it. From her first year at Durmstrang she wanted to prove to her house that she wasn't a nancy seraph. Or in Hogwarts case a nancy Gryffindor. So she had excelled in her studies proving to her house that she wasn't some stupid little exchange student. It sure surprised everyone. Even Meier. After that year though, he never doubted her. No one did. She was first in all her classes, first in her house and first in her year, even though at first when she came she was not up to par with the rest of her year. Well actually it didn't surprise everyone. Adrian and Lorelei both already knew. How could they have not? She told them everything. I still do she though to herself.
She finished her potion in record time. The first of the class. Big surprise there. When she had raised her hand though, Professor Snape ignored it for a while. This had gotten her aggravated. So she waited a few more minutes. He still did not acknowledge it.
"Professor."
He still ignored her. He merely lifted up his head and went back to grading his papers. That had really gotten under her skin. No one treated her like that. Especially not some ex-death eater turned professor. Yes she knew about that. She knew about quite a few things thanks to the information her ring gave her. But we will get back to the ring later. Another time, another story.
She tapped her foot impatiently. She hummed a little, she even cleared her throught a few times but to no avail she could not get his attention. She did on the other hand get the attention of a few of her classmates though.
"SEVERUS SNAPE" She screamed. Guinevra was beyond pissed off. Things like this never happened in Durmstrang. Her teachers respected her and of all things; did not ignore her. She knew he was ignoring her. There was no other explanation.
"Who dares to speak to a teacher like this?" He yelled enraged some one would actually do such a thing.
"Um…Me?" Ginny said raising her hand ever so slightly.
"Miss. Guinevra, was it? I do not tolerate behavior like this. I do not know nor care how things were run in your other school. You are here now and the rules are different.
"Well I can defiantly tell you that in my other school, teachers did not ignore their students and acted like they did not give a flying fuck about them." She defended.
"How dare you, you little brat. Swearing at a teacher? You have detention for one whole month with me."
"Only one? I was told you have a reputation of being a bastard. I would have never believed you were this nice." She retorted.
"Two months and…and fifty points from your house." All she did was smirk at him. He was furious beyond belief, no he was, livid. How dare she?
"Prof you might have forgotten but I'm in your house. Two months? Is that all you can really do? Common I know you have it in you!"
That damn girl made him take points off from his own house. And fifty at that! She wanted a reaction out of him? Oh she was going to get one.
"Fine four months detention.' She was still smirking! How he wanted to swipe it off her face. He felt like a stupid hormonal teenager again. "Five, six, seven." She still never still kept smirking. " That is it. You miss, have detention with me for the whole year." There he showed her!
"I knew you had it in you Sev." With that she stood up put the vile on his desk, threw him one last smirk and went back t her desk.
He decided that was enough for one class. He did not though put aside in his memory to get her punished in some way for calling him that. He went back to grading his papers.
Five minutes before the bell rang, he remembered that he had taken off fifty points from his house. He strolled through the students. He looked at potter's potion. It was a light green where it was supposed to be a dark one. He knew that with one more ingredient, Potter should get the color he needed. But potter didn't know that. "Fifty Points from Gryffindor for awful potion making Potter." And with that the bell rang.
That was a fun class. Sure I tormented a teacher but I got away with it! Unless you count a year's detention with the most feared teacher at that school getting away with it. I'll figure out something sooner or later to get me out of that detention. Anyways, after that, the rest of my classes were pretty normal. Nothing happened until a few weeks later.
Guinevra was having a very good dream. She dreamed that she was back at Durmstrang. Just as the best part was going to happen, she fell out of her bed, making her miss the rest of her dream and in the mean time waking her up. She grumbled her way to the bathroom. She was not watching what she was doing so she burnt herself from the scolding hot water. She took one look in the mirror and knew that she needed a shower. By the time she came out, she had only 5 minutes left to get down if she still wanted to eat a peaceful breakfast. She couldn't find any clothes that she wanted so she decided on jeans and a long sweater that could have substituted for a dress. She looked a little less dressed up than she wanted but it would have to do. She added some accessories to make it look fancier. By the time that was done, she was late for breakfast. There was no way she was going to get a peaceful meal. She rushed out of her chamber and into the common room. There were people lounging around. Talking and laughing amongst each other. She hated noise first thing in the morning. She grumbled her way out of the common room. Mind, you it was not an easy task. People were loitered everywhere. She had to tiptoe and sidestep as to make sure she would not step on anybody. She briefly wondered why she even cared. The worst that would happen would be that she crushed some fingers maybe broke or sprained them, nothing serious.
She ran the whole way to the Great Hall. She was late and the hall had already started to fill up. She cursed herself for waking up so late and made her way to her table to find a remotely secluded spot. The only place left was smack in the middle of the table. She took a seat and stayed to herself, not looking up not acknowledging anyone around her. She ate her meal in silence, remembering her dream and wishing how much she wanted it to be real.
Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode were inseparable. The best of friends. They always ate together, they had every class together and shared a room. Since birth actually. As always, they ate together that morning. They conversed between themselves on the way to the Great Hall. They made their way to their regular seats in the middle of the table. Everyone knew that the middle was just for the 7th years. They took their regular spots and started to eat. Pansy raised her head and saw the new. Mysterious transfer student right across the table from her. She whispered to her peers and the other two each took a look as well.
"What is she doing over here?" Daphne asked with malice.
"Donno but she's unwanted." Pansy replied, then going back to her meal.
"Hey you, Transfer student, what are you doing here? This is for 7th years only, no 6th years beat it." Millicent said absentmindedly.
She had gotten no answer so she said it a little louder. Still no answer each time a little louder and louder. Finally she was going to give up when the said transfer student got up and left the Great Hall.
"What a stuck-up bitch." Pansy said.
"Yea no wonder she doesn't have any friends." Daphne replied.
They soon forgot about it, and continued talking about the conversation they had started on the way to the Great Hall.
Guinevra made her way out of the Great Hall and towards Hagrid's hut. She had Care of Magical Creatures first thing and she wanted to be there earlier so she could have some time to herself. She took her time walking outside. She loved the outside. Especially when it was starting to get cold outside. Fall had just come upon them and soon enough the leaves would start falling and the air would be getting chillier. She strolled along the grounds and made her way past the lake. She stopped for a while, taking in a deep breath, and taking in the fresh air. She watched the lake for a while, liking how it calmed her down, making the pain a little less than it was in the beginning. It soothed her. But she knew, she had to make her way towards class. She would come here another day, another time and enjoy herself, and her solitude for once.
Draco Malfoy was making his way towards the Green houses for Herbology. He took the long way, wanting some peace and quiet to himself. In the mornings he liked to think or reflect as he out it. He was not watching where he was going. When he looked up, he was close to the lake. He would have made his way over there had there have not been someone else standing there. He made his way a little closer. It was her, the mysterious transfer student. The one no one knew about yet she knew about them all. The only who he has ever seen, talk back to Dumbledore and Dumbledore had allowed them. She was alone, facing the lake. Her eyes were closed and she looked almost peaceful, if that was possible. She looked ethereal. He would have loved to stay and stare at her but he had to make his way to class or he would be late.
The classes here were different. That was the first new adjustment. First of all she had already been over most of the stuff they were learning and secondly, compared to Durmstrang, they mostly did reading over here. Not a lot of demonstrations. Well depending on the class. Guinevra liked Care of Magical Creatures. So far it was the only class she was not entirely bored in. Back home, they did not have such creatures in their forest. Here, she learned and saw creatures that she had only heard of. Today they were doing Teresterals. These were one of the creatures she had only heard about. The class was very interesting.
" Ok class. Today we are going to learn about Tetresterals. Who can tell me a little about them? Miss Granger?"
"Teresterals can only be seen by people who have seen death. They are the creatures that carry our carriages. They are not harmful, but they are not the gentlest of creatures." Hermione concluded.
"20 points to Gryffindor." Hagrid said a little too gladly for the Slytherins likings. "Now, raise your hands if you can see them. Don't be afraid if you can."
A few Gryffindors had raised their hands especially the ones who were in the DA. Surprisingly not a lot of the Slytherins had raised their hands. But Guinevra had. She was one out of the t5hree Slytherins.
"Come up, come up. Now if yer don't mind would you tell us who you saw die? Or how you have seen death? Just so that those who havn't can get an idea of why you see these magnificent creatures?"
The Gryffindors had all refused to recount their stories but the two Slytherins had. Both of them had seen a family member die. They did not say how or where, and did not give any details. Guinevra on the other hand was glad to recount her story.
"I have seen death in two ways. The first was tragic, the other frightening. It was one of our nights off, yes my school is different from yours. My friends and I were, well what we were doing does not matter to this story. There was an attack, an ambush if you must. We were just there, at the wrong place, wrong time. We were just innocent bystanders yet we got swept up in it. We were but 13 year olds. A wicked curse was thrown my way when someone had instantly pushed me away and took my place. I instantly blacked out and found myself in the remedy center. I was then told of what had transpired. The person who had saved my life was in critical condition, in the bed next to mine. I had to go over and see whom my savior was. It was not a student but no one knew who the person was so my school had taken them in and tried to heal them. It was a man, barely 30. I will not go into detail of his condition but it was one of the most gruesome things I have ever seen and I have seen quite a number of nasty things. I came and sat by his bed. He was awake but barely. I told him thank-you. He then died."
The whole class was stunned. No one knew what to say or do. Until a kid in her house asked,
" You said you have seen death in two ways, what is the second?" With that the whole class's ears perked up.
"I have looked death right in the face. I have seen the true visage of death."
Again every last one of them was speechless. They did not know if to believe her or not. They just decided to say nothing. Luckily the bell had rung and they all made their way to their next class.
"Mis…" Hagrid started.
"Guinevra. No last name."
"Miss Guinevra, thank you for sharing that with us, you did not have to." Hagrid responded.
"But I wished to. If I did not want to then I would have not. Good day Hagrid." With that she made her way back to the lake.
She had a free period. She was thankful for that. She had a lot to think about the memories were all coming back to her. She did not exactly tell the class the whole version of the story just the cut out version, the one that would lead to no suspicions.
They had come out from the club. Ginny, Adrian and Lorelei. They had just finished a night of dancing and partying. They needed it after all tension they had. They had just finished their exams and needed a break. They were making their way back to the carriages that would take them to the school. They heard noises coming from a little ways off. It sounded like there was a fight going on. The curious ones that they were, they went to investigate. They saw swarms of people appear out of no where and start attacking the people in the village. They were death eaters. The trio were in a small muggle town. They knew that they had to help the muggles, there was no one else. They joined the fight cursing and hexing the appropriate people. Ginny never saw it coming. It was a hex, and it was shooting right towards her. All of a sudden she had gotten pushed out of the way and fell on the ground, away from the fighting. She then blacked out.
She had woken up in the remedy center. Adrian and Lorelei were both lying on her bed, one on each side. They had felt her stir and helped her get up to a sitting position. She had then demanded for an explanation. They had told her that a strange man had pushed her out of the way and had taken the hex for her. They had each taken one of the body's and brought them into the carriage. They arrived at the school and had brought them both to the remedy center. And that's where she was now. She demanded about the man. They said he was in the bed next to hers. She went over and sat next to this strange man who had saved her life. He opened his eyes and stared at her.
Why? Was all she asked. But he had seemed to understand the question. Because it was not your time. Great things lie ahead for you Miss. Weasley. You will one day be our savior but for now the waiting has only begun. She had taken his hands into hers and held them. I was here to make sure you got this. Luckily I came at the right time. Take this and guard it well. Study it. Know it. In time you will learn it's use but for now keep it safe. With those words he had died. She never found out his name. But she had kept his last wish. He had given her a ring. It was old, she could tell by the markings. It was a black band. A green snake twisted around it. Entwined with the snake was another one only a deep purple almost black color. The markings were in gold yet naked to the eye. She had only found them later n but that's another story, another memory.
Guinevra let one tear slip out of her. That was all she allowed, but that one tear held more emotions than a whole flood. She stood up and made her way back to the castle. She came in and was just in time for lunch.
Lunch as always was uneventful. Guinevra sat by herself as always. She was now at one of the ends, by herself. No one wanted to sit near her. They were all intimidated even some of the 6th and 7th years as well. She was just about to get up and leave when a Raven came pelting towards her. It was coming lower and lower, so low in fact some of the first years had to duck. She held out her arm and the bird flew onto it and perched itself there.
"Hello Morgan. How I have missed you. Do you have anything for me?" She asked the Raven.
The bird, surprisingly to the spectators, nodded its head while sticking out his or her leg.
"Good girl, you can have the rest of my meal. Remember this is foreign food from Germany. Do not get sick, I cannot afford that." With that the Raven, landed gracefully on the table and started eating of Guinevra's plate.
All around her whispering had ensued. No one had ever gotten owl post at lunch unless it was direly important. Or a howler. But she, the exchange student was not holding a howler. Everyone was also quite taken with the bird. No one has seen a Raven quite like the one who at the moment was eating off her plate. Even the richest in Slytherin had never seen quite an exquisite Bird.
Guinevra, once again ignored all the whispering. She was used to it by now. The parchment was quite plain. She opened the letter and all it said in a rushed handwriting in blue ink was He's coming back for you. Just as she had finished reading it, the doors of the Great Hall had opened with a bang and one angry man was strolling straight towards Dumbledore.
A/N I have been told that her real name in Ginevra and not Guinevra but for this story I will keep it as it is.
She huffed and puffed
Seraph- It means Guardian. It is in some way the equivalent of Gryffindor in my story
huffed and puffed- I shamelessly took that from the three little pigs
