Chapter 10
Novel Ideas
Ginny laid in her bed taking slow deep breaths. Her knee was swollen and hurting very badly after walking so aggressively on it the night before. She could hear Hermione in the kitchen, moving about the house getting ready for work.
Ginny lay in bed and listened to Hermione's footsteps until she heard a knock on her door. "Come in," she said quietly.
"Gin, are you alright? You're usually up by now," Hermione said while pushing the door open.
"I'm fine, Hermione," Ginny said, "Knee hurts bad today, I'm going to send a note to my professor letting her know that I won't be coming to class. It's really swollen," Ginny said with a hand on her face.
"Did you need any help?" Hermione asked, stepping slightly into the room. Ginny thought for a second before answering.
"Can you grab me some parchment and a quill?…. Also, do you have an owl?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded.
"He's in the study. His name is Mars he will come when you call him," Hermione said, and turned around to cross the room and get Ginny the parchment and quill.
Ginny sat up slowly and lift her knee off of the pillows. Her leg was stiff and her body ached. Hermione came back in and saw Ginny sitting up in the bed, eyes closed and a pained look on her face. Hermione came close and set the parchment and quill on the side table. She leaned forward and gently rubbed Ginny's knee. Ginny's breath hitched a bit at the sudden touch, but released slowly as some of the tension eased.
"Are you sure you're alright?…. It is really swollen," Hermione said and began to rub down Ginny's calf a bit, "Bloody hell your skin is soft," Hermione mumbled. Ginny smiled.
"I'll be fine, Hermione. It gets like this sometimes," Ginny said and leaned forward a bit opening her eyes, "That feels really good though. My calf and thigh get really tight sometimes because they have to help support my knee much more than they usually would," the redhead continued, "I'll just spend the day off of it. If it gets better I might work on my Amortentia assignment. I can't brew right now, but it's supposed to be due soon so I should try to do the essays. At least up to the point I had it last night," Ginny said, thinking of her potions.
"I can grab your notes from the kitchen," Hermione offered, Ginny smiled.
"Thanks, that would be great," Ginny said. A few moments later, Hermione returned with Ginny's notes, more parchment, a few books and some food and drinks. Most she set on the bed. The food and drinks went on the side table. Ginny chuckled.
"I brought some other things for you to do and something to eat and drink so you don't have to get up right away. Hopefully the swelling will go down soon," Hermione said with a smile.
"You are so awesome," Ginny said and leaned forward, looking at the books. "I've never read these….what's this?" Ginny asked, picking up a blue covered book that looked more like a journal than a book.
"It's something I have been working on," Hermione said with a smile. Ginny opened it to the first page and laughed a bit. It read in beautiful handwriting:
'Harry Potter and his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' Ginny flipped forward to the first chapter. It read:
'Year One: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone'
"Is this a novel?" Ginny asked and Hermione nodded.
"Its about all of us, the things we did and what we went through during our time at Hogwarts and the war. It's like a biography/autobiography/story. It's all true, but it's set up in an entertaining way. Like reading a funny story of our lives," Hermione said. Ginny smiled as she read the first few lines.
"This is amazing. How far are you?" Ginny said flipping forward.
"This book has year one and two. I have up to our fifth year, your fourth year. It's getting harder. Writing Cedric's death in the last one was very difficult and I'm almost to Sirius,…. I am going to have trouble with that, Dumbledores death and the battle," Hermione said and Ginny nodded.
"Well, this is awesome, Hermione. I can't wait to see how you have written me," Ginny said with a smile.
"Well, obviously, in the first one you were not mentioned much. In the second, you where much more present, especially with all of Riddles diary business. I decided to keep it a secret until the end, what was actually going on, so the readers will learn what we learned at what time we learned it. They don't find out that it was you under Voldermort's control until the very end," Hermione said. Ginny giggled.
"So suspenseful," Ginny teased and Hermione nodded.
"Of course, it's all from my and Harry's perspective. He gives me notes on them from time to time," Hermione said.
"I'm surprised he's ok with you writing his story," Ginny said.
"He's being bugged constantly and really doesn't want to do it, so he puts them off saying he has something in the works. They don't realize it's going to be a novel and not a documentary," Hermione said with a grin.
"I'm sure they will love it," Ginny said and looked up at the brunette. Hermione reached forward and gently caressed the redheads face. Ginny smiled.
"You're so sweet," Hermione said. Ginnys smile faltered but quickly recovered.
"So, is this going to be published in the future?" Ginny asked, looking back at the book. Hermione nodded.
"Eventually," Hermione said, "I already have a Wizarding publisher who is dying for it. They also own a muggle publication and are planning to publish it as a fictional story in the muggle world. Of course, it will be dispersed under a pen name, it won't say Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. It will be something different. I think they said J.K. Rowling or something. Kind of mysterious and such. They already have a lady set up to be her and everything. It's her job to pretend to be a muggle and go around looking like different witch pen name writers, at this point I think she is 4 or 5 different witch writers. She's a metamorphmagus so she can change her apprearance," Hermione said.
"That's amazing. So even though they will think it's fiction, the whole world will be able to know our story," Ginny said and Hermione nodded. The two were smiling at each other again before Ginny looked at the clock.
"You're going to be late," Ginny said and Hermione's eyes went wide.
"Bloody hell, I have to go! I need to finalize Masons portkey plans before I see him at noon. I'm really relieved he's leaving today after last night," Hermione said and Ginny nodded. "I'll see you when I get home," Hermione said and leaned down and kissed Ginny on the forehead then turned and ran out of the room. Ginny smiled hearing her floo away quickly. The redhead sighed and reached for the parchment and began to write a note.
'Ron,
Keep an eye out for Hermione today. That guy, Mason, tried to…. force himself on her last night and I had to step in. Used that wrist lock you taught me when you got back from the academy. Planted his face right into the desk. It made me happy. I know he's leaving today, but he was being really aggressive to her and it scared her pretty bad. Just don't leave him alone with her. I seriously don't trust him.
Love,
Ginny'
The redhead then, quickly, scribbled a note to her professor.
'Professor Bloom,
Good morning Professor,
I'm not going to be able to make it to class, today. My roommates boyfriend got a little rough with her last night and I had to step in and now I can't walk on my knee. Not to mention it pulled me from the potion I was working on and I will have to start over. I know it was due tomorrow but I can't be on my leg, so I won't be able to get it done. I'm sorry. Thanks for your understanding and all of your help this term.
Ginevra Weasley'
"Mars!" Ginny yelled while folding the notes. A beautiful black owl flew in and hopped on her bed looking at her curiously.
"Well, you are gorgeous," she said, patting his head. He hooted and hopped as if to say, 'Of course, I am!'
"I have a note here for my brother, Ron, at the Ministry of magic and one for my Professor at St. Mungos school. Can you take the one to Ron first? It's really important. Then, this one to Professor Bloom at St. Mungos," Ginny explained as she tied the notes to his feet. Mars hooted and flew away.
Ginny sighed and began to eat the food Hermione had brought her and popped open a soda. She smiled feeling the slight tingle of the carbonation. She, then, settled into the bed and began reading Hermione's book.
A few hours later, Mars flew back in and dropped a note on her lap.
"Ms. Weasley,
I'm sorry you are in pain today, but it's great you were there to help your friend. You don't need to worry about the assignment. Many others have had a hard time with it, it is one of the most difficult potions we brew this term, so I am extending the due date to next Wednesday instead of this Friday.
Amortentia is very complex and can be very dangerous, so I always make sure that my students know all about it and how to counteract it. A witch or wizard under the effects of this potion can be very unpredictable and dangerous which is why I'm alright with extending the dead line.
Hope you feel well soon,
Professor M Bloom'
Ginny smiled and relaxed as relief washed over her. She had plenty of time to finish her assignment. The redhead leaned back into her pillow to rest.