Author's Note:
Ok so not much to say except I guess I didn't do Slytherin as much as I wanted/thought I was going to do. Once again thank you all for the comments. I didn't know the chapter was so confusing until I reread it. I understand and I have taken steps to getting a beta writer. Hopefully that will prevent future problems. Thank you everyone for reading/reviewing/ and adding to story alert.
Spider's Web
Chapter 3
Why Don't We Do It on the Road?
Ginny and Hermione woke up slightly stiff and with enormous migraines. As if that wasn't bad enough, she couldn't remember a thing that had happened the night before, but if the sharp pain ringing in her head was any reminder then she really didn't think she wanted to.
"Ginny," Hermione whispered clutching her head in an attempt to stop the spinning room, "What happened?"
"Ow," she groaned in pain, "Don't yell at me."
"I'm not yelling," she mumbled as Giselle came in with two glasses of water and a potion, "I call that first!"
"Over your dead body! Though that might just make everything better," Ginny mused.
"There is plenty for everyone," Giselle said quietly as she sat on the edge of Ginny's bed handing her the potion and Hermione the water.
"Giselle," Hermione questioned, "D o you know what happened last night?"
A guilty expressing came over Giselle's face as she thought about last night, luckily they were too busy drinking to see her.
Flashback
"You are not my mother." Giselle glared at the silver pool of light, "And I will never call you such."
"Child, I may not have given birth to you…but you are mine." The watery voice whispered to her.
"I have not commanded you to my presence. Why have you come?" Giselle got straight to the point since the remark managed to sting a little
"You have not given me a report for two weeks! I think that is more than enough time to put together a suitable one."
"Nothing of importance has happened," Giselle defended herself as she looked away from the shining face
"You call yesterday nothing?!" the voice hissed at her.
"You mean…" Giselle whispered shock playing across her face as she looked back at the reflection, "That wasn't you guys?"
"No, you stupid girl!" she muttered angrily, "That was not the Ameretat. We would never do anything so foolish."
"Then who do you think it was?" Giselle was confused; if it wasn't anyone in the organization…then she no longer had any information about yesterday and that made her uncomfortable
"The Veela."
"What?! Why would they do something like that?" Giselle was getting more confused by the second
Before the voice could reply, Hermione stepped inside the room laughing at something Ginny had just told her. They didn't seem to notice Giselle until they were fully inside the room.
"Hey," Ginny smiled at the girl sitting cross-legged on the bed, "What are you doing….all by yourself?"
"I…" she didn't know how to answer the question and began to panic
"Do something," hissed the voice from the pool.
"What is that?" Hermione questioned curiously looking at the surface by Giselle's feet
"OBLIVIATE!" shouted Giselle knocking Hermione and Ginny unconscious from the power of the spell before they could completely see what she actually had
"Well I wouldn't have gone about it that way," came the dry response from the pool.
"When I need your help Helenus," Giselle growled, "I will ask for it. Until that time keep your opinions to yourself. If you still want my cooperation you will wait until I summon you and not just appear in my Projecieve."
Helenus cackled from the pool, "You can't get away from me and you know it. So don't even think of ordering me around."
"You know the second I find a way around this I'll be so far from you that even with your limitless time you won't be able to find me." Giselle ground out before shutting the case to the Projecieve, effectively killing the link
It was then that she turned to her two friends lying on the floor, looking so peaceful l that it hurt her to know she was the cause
"What have I done?" she whispered to herself, "How far did I erase? What if I hurt them?"
With tears pouring out of her eyes she picked up Ginny and placed her under the covers soon followed by Hermione. With that done she went downstairs to inform Mrs.Weasley that the other two were too tired and so had already gone to bed.
End flashback
"Earth to Giselle," Ginny waved her hand in front of the girl's face.
"S-sorry," she stuttered looking back at them nervously, "You guys don't remember?"
"I don't remember anything after we got back from Diagon Alley…" Hermione whispered.
"So you don't remember Harry kissing you?" Giselle questioned, "Do you even remember the explosion?"
"No and yes," Hermione looked a little worse for wear, "Did I enjoy it? The kiss?"
"Hard to tell," Ginny said.
"So you remember?!" Giselle started to hyperventilate.
"Only until I got to my room with Hermione. Then everything goes blank." Ginny said looked puzzled trying to remember anything past that.
"Oh," Giselle was slightly relieved, "Well…you see….ummm you guys decided you were too tired to stay up any longer….so….umm you see….you came up the stairs to go to sleep but you guys kinda tripped and bumped your heads a little."
"I don't feel a bump," Hermione said as her hand immediately shot to her head.
"I guess they might have gone down by now," Ginny replied handing the other half of the potion to Hermione who promptly guzzled the rest as if just remembering her headache.
"It's so disgusting that I have to take the band-aid approach," she added at their confused expressions, "You know…just rip it off fast."
"Whatever you say," Ginny rolled her eyes as she rolled off the bed and went over to her closet to pick out an outfit for today. Since they had to drive over to the train station they had to wear muggle clothes and change on the train.
"We have to go eat breakfast while it's hot," Giselle said before Ginny could get any farther, "Your mom wanted me to tell you guys that. I almost forgot to tell you guys."
"I call the shower after that," Ginny yelled as she ran out the door and down the steps forgetting all about clothing at the prospect of nourishment.
"Me next," Hermione said calmly walking down the stairs and into the kitchen seeming to not be in any hurry to fill her stomach.
"I call last," Giselle muttered following after them.
BLUR OF FASTFORWARD---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast was a rather subdued affair…compared to what it normally was…raucous. However Mrs. Weasley had made several dishes as more than usual. She claimed it was on account of this being their last year at Hogwarts and then she would 'loose her little babies to the world and would never be able to feed them again…except for holidays'.
"Can you pass the pancakes, Hermione," Harry mumbled with a small blush on his cheekbones obviously remembering his behavior from the previous day.
"Sure thing, Harry." She said.
Hermione handed him the large stack quickly and then reached for the biscuits, eggs, and sausage to pile a large amount on her own plate. After that she grabbed the gravy pouring it all over the top of her food. This seemed strange since she was the one that hadn't really seemed all to concerned about eating.
"Are you ok, Hermione?" Ginny asked looking concerned, "I've never seen you eat this much before."
"I'm fine," she said around a mouthful of food, "Never felt better."
"Ok," Ginny said going back to her own plate, "Whatever you say."
Giselle looked around at Hermione, Ron, and Harry and then to the large piles of food on their plates. If she didn't know any better, she would say that they were turning into…..no….that would be improbable, not to mention impossible. Calogero would never be so foolish as to risk it. He had to know the consequences.
"Hey, Harry," Giselle questioned cautiously more worried then she should have been, "You haven't been having any…weird urges towards any strangers…have you? Or you, Ron?"
"No," they said simultaneously.
"Not towards strangers anyone," Harry added as the blush came back.
Giselle sighed with relief. At least she knew what they weren't now. She would hate if she had to kill them all through no fault of their own. Helenus would think it joyous fun…but she wasn't here was she…she didn't know these people, not that it would make much difference to her.
"Why do you ask?" Harry asked before swallowing another bite of pancake.
"No reason," she said giving them her most dazzling smile hoping it would make them forget the topic.
They shrugged and went back to eating. Giselle and Ginny were the only ones eating at a slower pace and so naturally the last ones at the table. After everyone left leaving just the two of them, Ginny took a sip of her water before turning to Giselle.
"Is there something you aren't telling us?" she questioned without blinking.
"….why would you think that?"
"You are avoiding the question." Ginny's gaze was still unwavering.
Giselle let out a sigh and turned to the girl her eyes turning dark obsidian without her realization.
"What is your question?" Giselle asked gravely as her pupils sinking into the black.
"I…" Ginny blinked rapidly forgetting her train of thought, "Your eyes."
Giselle cursed as she shook her head trying clear her thoughts and her eyes slowly returned to there normal ice blue. "Sorry, they do that sometimes."
Ginny cleared her throat and rose from her chair just as Giselle did.
"We should go pack," Giselle smiled coaxing Ginny to follow her upstairs.
"You're right," Ginny smiled back, "That's cool though."
"Huh? What is?" Giselle asked in confusion.
"The whole eye color thing. Is it just black and blue?"
"I guess so," she replied as she ascended the stairs and turned into Ginny's room.
Hermione smiled in triumph as she closed her full-to-the-brim trunk. Ginny broke into a grin watching the older girl wrestle with the other one that was just as full.
"What did you bring?" Ginny snickered.
"You know," Hermione panted, "The necessities."
"More like the kitchen sink," Ginny whispered with a smirk.
"What was that?" Hermione asked sharply.
Ginny just smiled some more and went to her closet picking out what she would need for the year. They had all already packed everything that was only needed for Hogwarts, like robes, uniforms, supplies, and the new undergarments bought by Mrs. Weasley. The only thing that really needed finishing up was the regular clothes for Hogsmeade, days off, and dances.
"Where's Corentin?" Ginny asked Giselle suddenly remembering the little fur ball, "Don't you need to put her in a cage?"
"Not really, no," Giselle replied as she folded her clothing into the trunk neatly, "She comes when I call her and sits on my shoulder or lap most of the times."
"Wish my cat did that," Hermione chuckled.
"Crookshanks would crush you if he sat on your shoulder," Ginny joked turning to Hermione.
"He isn't that fat," Hermione complained.
"Hah! And Pluto is a planet," Ginny snorted.
"It used to be," Hermione countered.
"Just like your cat used to be thin," Ginny smiled and shut her trunk, "When it was a kitten."
Hermione rolled her eyes and shrunk her two trunks just as the door burst open.
"Well, well, well," said a deep voice, "My how our little sister has grown over the summer."
"Fred!" Ginny cried turning around, flinging herself into their arms, "George!"
"Do you think she's happy to see us?" George joked and squeezed Ginny a little tighter.
"Never," Fred joined in, "This is how she treats all her enemies."
"Hahha, you two," Ginny smiled and pulled herself from their grips to get a good look at them.
"Oi, Hermione," Fred said finally noticing her, "How have you been, dear?"
"Why, I've been quite fine kind sir," she said mocking him, "How about yourself and the other unruly gentleman you have graced our presences with?"
"Smart ass." Fred smirked.
"Someone has found their sense of humor," George said smiling as he walked over and gave her a big bear hug.
"I think she needs oxygen, mate," Fred grinned and walked over to them.
"Right you are," George replied releasing her, only to have Fred reach over and give Hermione another rough hug.
George turned as he heard a chuckle from the far corner. Giselle stopped laughing when she saw him gaze at her. Blushing, she hid her head from him.
"Well," George said finally exhaling, "It's a good thing I've got Alicia."
"Yeah," Fred breathed, "Katie would never let me out of the house if she knew people like that one existed."
"Guys," Hermione scolded rolling her eyes at their behavior, "She has a name. Her name is Giselle Reine."
"I remember that name from somewhere…." George said as he thought back to the Daily Prophet from a couple weeks back, "There was something about her family in the paper a while back."
"Yeah," Fred said nodding, "I remember that article. Aren't you that girl they found in that one house? You know the one that burnt down. They say she was the only survivor."
She wanted to deny that so bad. She wanted to tell the truth, but she knew that to do so would to actually make what they said true.
"Yes," she said not having to pretend sadness, "I was in that accident."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Hermione questioned with eyes full of pity.
"I didn't feel like being the girl everyone felt sorry for," she said quietly.
"I understand the feeling," Ginny said somberly.
"Sorry for bringing it up," George apologized sheepishly.
"What are you guys doing here anyway?" Ginny turned her questioning glance back to her brother.
"Oh that's right," Fred said, "We wanted to let you guys know we expanded."
"Again?" Hermione asked shocked.
"Yeah, we now have a store in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade." Fred said proudly.
"So I guess that means we'll be seeing a lot of each other then?" Ginny asked sounding none too happy.
"You aren't thrilled?" George teased.
"Why shouldn't I be ecstatic that two more members to the No-Boys-For-Ginny club have arrived just in time for the school year?" She said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
They just smirked at this comment and made their goodbyes. They had to leave if they were going to make an interview with a potential new service clerk for their shops. Ginny shook her head as they left and plopped onto her bed.
"I do love them," she said, "Just not when they're around my boyfriends."
Hermione giggled at this and Giselle just smiled.
"Ughhh," Hermione groaned suddenly, "I still have to take a shower before we go."
"Me too," Giselle and Ginny shouted at the same time.
"Jinx!" Ginny said first.
"Fine I'll go last," Giselle conceded, "I still have to feed Corentin and put her collar back on."
"I'll be speedy," Hermione hurried out of the room with a shout back, "I promise."
BLUR OF FASTFORWARD---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several showers and numerous arguments later they were finally ready to load their items into the three cars that had pulled up to the Weasley's driveway 30 minutes early. As always no one was prepared and they were border-line late. Not to mention the fact that Ginny thought it would be funny to dye Ron's hair pink (payback to an earlier prank). It was lucky Hermione was proficient at reversing Ginny's hexes or they would have a very temperamental and homicidal male on their hands.
"Serves him right," Ginny muttered as the cars magically started up and headed down the driveway, "He shouldn't have sent that letter to Terry."
"You don't even like Terry Boot," Hermione pointed out, "You said, and I quote 'I can't believe that disgusting pig had the nerve to look at me' end quote."
"It's the principle of the matter, Hermione," Ginny sighed, "What if he had said those things to someone I actually did like."
"You will have to get over Ron eventually, Ginny," Hermione smiled.
Ginny stuck out her tongue at Hermione and crossed her arms attempting to remain silent the rest of the trip. She had never succeeded at being quiet for longer than three minutes at a time, so they were quite worried when they pulled up to the station 20 minutes later and she still had not said a word.
Ginny smirked at the two girls looking at her and said, "Boo."
"You shouldn't take things so seriously," Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, "You might stay stuck like that."
"Hah hah." Ginny smiled and got out of the car.
"I'm serious," Hermione smiled and followed suit leaving Giselle to take up the rear.
It didn't take the gang long to unload their luggage and head into the station towards the Platform. It seems Ron's temper had improved slightly during the trip and instead of being angry he was busy thinking up revenge. Oblivious to her brother's plotting, Ginny raced ahead and then between the platforms, closely followed by the rest.
"Ginny," Hermione called after she breached the wall, "Wait up!"
"Come on!" Ginny yelled back, "All the seats on the train will be taken!"
They had no choice but to follow the red head as she dove into the crowd. At one point they almost lost her, thankfully they recovered her as she was loading her bags under the train.
"You are fast," Hermione said panting has she rolled her baggage close to the train. After loading both her and Giselle's luggage they all three went to say goodbye to Ginny's parents. Mr. Weasley was had rarely been at home while the girls were there. After all, all departments at the Ministry had been assigned to gather any and all information concerning the event in Diagon Alley. He was lucky to even this much time away to say goodbye to his children.
"We'll miss you all," Mrs. Weasley sputtered as she dabbed the tears from her eyes, "It seems such a short amount of time that you were getting on the train for the first time."
"Mum," Ginny complained as her mother planted a wet kiss on bother her and Ron's cheek, "We gotta go."
"You all promise to be careful," she said waving her hanky at them, "Don't get into trouble."
"Never," Ron smirked, "We are always on our best behavior."
Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Giselle got on the train, barely making it before the train started its long journey to the castle they would be spending the better part of 10 months at. Finding an empty compartment was just as difficult as Ginny had claimed it would be. Of course she blamed Ron, not that it was his fault, but Ginny felt better after having found a scapegoat.
"Here we are," Hermione said stepping inside what had to be the very last empty compartment on the entire train, "I have to leave for a Head meeting at the halfway point."
"Sounds fun," Ginny said dryly.
"Scoot over," Ron glared at her, "You have the whole bench to yourself."
Ginny (obviously in a generous mood) said nothing and slid over to the windowsill. Corentin settled in Giselle's lap and for the first couple of minutes silence reigned supreme in their cramped compartment. Ron then began to fidget. It started with just a tap of the foot every second, but then progressed to his entire leg. Before it could spread to both feet she screamed and stood up.
"Come on Giselle!" She yelled annoyed grabbing the girl and startling the sleeping cat that was on her lap, "I need to go to the bathroom."
Giselle's protests didn't register with Ginny who dragged her outside and slammed the door to the compartment closed leaning against it with a sigh.
"I was going mad in there," Ginny said quietly, "If I had to endure another moment in there I'd be going to Saint Mungo's instead of school. I really do need to go to the bathroom though."
Giselle smiled and touched Ginny's shoulder, "I don't know where they are so you'd be doing me a favor as well."
Ginny grinned and motioned for her to follow her down the hall. It took them at least five minutes to reach the restrooms. Giselle didn't see the wisdom in this; if someone really had to go…it was altogether probable they wouldn't make it. Must be some cruel Hogwarts joke to the first years that already had trouble finding everything as it was in the new surroundings.
"You can use it first," Giselle ushered her into the small room, "I'll 'stand guard' outside."
"Thank you," Ginny said before closely the door and locking it.
Now that Giselle was alone she didn't know what to do with herself. After the 'accident'she hadn't been alone for more than a second. What with everyone either concerned for her or using her, so she rarely got a moment to just think and be herself without fear of reproach.
"Watch where you're going!" the angry voice broke her reverie coming from what sounded like just a little ways down the corridor.
The voice sounded strangely familiar, but she couldn't place it.
"You don't have to be so violent," was said by a much quieter voice.
That's when it clicked with her. The two voices were from the boys they ran into in Diagon Alley, Blaise and Theo. She started to panic, not knowing what to do but not wanting to get caught in the hallway by them. She did the only thing she could think of, she flung herself into the nearest compartment breathing a small sigh of relief at her luck.
"What do we have here?" said a deep voice from behind her.
She turned her self quickly around only to come face-to-face with the third boy from Diagon Alley. She watched him slide a pale hand through his blond locks as he watched her.
"You're the girl that was with Mudblood and Weaslette." He said as the door slid open yet again, "What did I tell you Theo. I knew she came to school."
Giselle closed her eyes so the horror wouldn't shine through her eyes.
"What do you know…Draco right for a change," the voice behind her chuckled after his initial shock.
"Where's Blaise?" Draco asked seeing that Theo was alone.
"He went to see his girlfriend."
"That leaves us alone with this beauty." Draco smirked for once glad their voice of reason was busy elsewhere.
"I think I just want her all to myself…no sharing," Theo said wrapping his arms around her thin frame, "She's not really my type, but hey, I don't complain."
"Oh and what is your type?" Draco asked raising his eyebrows.
"I like them wild." Theo smirked as he winked at Draco who chuckled.
Giselle had panicked at first…but then for some reason her endorphins started to kick in and she relaxed against her will. She could feel the smirk forming on their faces as they saw resignation on her face. She was about to tell them to let her go when she felt the sharpest pain cut through her shoulder. Letting out a scream of agony she writhed until Theo let her fall to the floor.
"What did you do to her?" Draco growled out.
"I didn't do anything but hold her." Theo spat back.
Giselle just continued to whimper as the pain increased. She didn't know what was happening but it felt like someone was getting scissor-happy with her left shoulder blade. It only lasted for a few more seconds but that was too long for Giselle, she had passed out from the sheer torture (no pun intended). The boys looked on in amazement as her shoulder was bared to them from all her rolling around on the floor. Where as before there had been nothing but smooth nude skin, now there was a powder blue tattoo of a swan about to take flight stamped to her skin. It took up most of her shoulder blade and looked like it went farther onto her back. They didn't have time to look any further because just then the door slammed open with a mighty crack.
"What have you done you idiots?!"
Author's Post Script:
Sorry this took so long. I've been very busy. I hope this is clearer though. Theo isn't turning out how I wanted so I'm upset with him right now. Hopefully it will only take two days for another update. Thank you guys again for your support. Sorry everything is a mystery right now. All will be explained eventually.