Author's Note: My thanks goes out to all of you for all the encouragement and feedback, also the patience you give me which I really don't deserve. I guess I don't have much to say at the moment except that this is the fifth chapter, obviously. But for real guys? I can't believe how great you've been, the reviews you leave me are fantastic and every time I get one I smile really big, especially when they're honest!
Disclaimer: Must we go through with this yet again? I thought I established with you that I am in fact J.K. Rowling? Can't you get it through your thick head? ;)
CHAPTER FIVE: The Voice
"Don't fret my love, I'm never going to let you go. I'm still lingering in your thoughts aren't I? Now if you just remember I am here to stay then nothing will happen to you or anyone you care for, I wouldn't want to make this year any more difficult than it has to be. You know what I want Ginevra? I want you the way you were when it was just you and I, you whispering your hate of the world around you and the love you had for me. But I do not worry about that for I know that one day we will once again be reunited as we once were." The voice spoke softly, caressing her thoughts with light touches, though, somehow, it remained cold and unfeeling.
"Miss Weasley! I am going to have to ask you to pay attention in my class. Now, answer this: What charm would you use if you wanted to create an illusion, of sorts, on the one you are casting the spell on?" Professor Flitwick's voice was rasped out and he seemed to have aged a decade from even her first lesson with him a week ago.
"You know, I am very good at illusions, should I show you one of you and I together? No, why create an illusion when all I have to do is call back one of our more intimate moments together?" Ginny could hear the smirk in his voice- it caused an involuntary shiver to sliver down her spine.
"I, uh, well, I'm afraid I don't know, sir," while Ginny stuttered over her words, the other Gryffindors snickered and the Hufflepuffs shook their heads as they had just spent an hour discussing the charm's elements and functions.
"Very well, just read the chapter in your text tonight and be as ready as the rest of the students to perform the spell in class tomorrow. The spell is trompe l'oeil,meaning 'trick the eye' in English, and was created by the Italian wizard Giordano in 54 AD." Flitwick flicked his wand at Ginny, while saying the spell under his breath, immediately the room around her disappeared and she was standing in a cold chamber with goose bumps on her skin.
A cold voice sounded from behind her, "Don't turn around. I just wanted to have a few words with you in person. I need you to remember who you belong to," his voice slid through the air and touched her ears gently. "Now, close your eyes and don't move."
Ginny listened to the terrifyingly familiar yet unknown voice, afraid of what might happen to her if she dared to disobey, so she didn't speak but took in a shaky breath knowing exactly where she was. "Good girl."
Soft footsteps echoed from behind her and an icy hand touched her neck in an embrace, it fell for a moment and was replaced at the small of her back when the man stood in front of her. "Now I will no longer have to Imperio your charms teacher into casting an illusion on you, I can simply use a memory spell to recall this illusion from your memory." With that said he leaned in and softly kissed Ginny's lips but she stood still and didn't return it, the man in front of her ignored her reluctance and continued.
"Stop."
"You never made me stop before."
"This has never happened before. Leave me alone."
"I see, they have stolen the sweet moments from your past when you laid unconscious in the Hospital Wing afterwards. Then I will have to fill you in later. For now I must be off." His presence faded from Ginny's skin and she felt the warmth of the charm's class fill her, she stood in the exact spot she had a moment ago.
"No fair! Why did she get to have it cast on her! She didn't even know what it was!" Mykel Thompson, a sixth year Gryffindor boy, complained loudly.
Professor Flitwick seemed in a daze as he announced in a hollow tone that the class was dismissed and reminded of their quiz over trompe l'oeil the following day.
A couple days later, Ginny slowly sauntered down the stairs that would eventually lead outside where many students were wasting away own of the last semi-warm Saturdays of the year. Vincent walked to her left while Daphne was a little bit in front of the two.
"You alright? The past couple of days you've been kind of distant." Vincent gave her a side-long glance that had concern etched into it, though for any teacher or student who didn't know him well his look would seem simply a blank stare in her direction.
"Hmm? What'd you say Vin?" Ginny eyes were dazed and she seemed to be staring at something not present when she looked at him.
"Ginevra, I asked if you were alright. You know what? Greg and I are going to hit the Quidditch field later today; maybe that will help you snap out of whatever mood you're in right now."
"Oh, well I'm alright. Yeah, it probably would help. Ugh, I guess I've just been really tired and stressed lately. But you have to promise me one thing if I go flying with you two." He looked expectantly at her and she elaborate, "Not to make fun of my Cleansweep."
"Um, a Cleansweep? Let me give you my old Thunderbolt, since I've gotten the Firebolt this summer." Vincent gave her an amused smirk while she shot him a glance of shock.
Daphne came to a stop when she saw Lavender Brown sitting on a bench a few meters a head of them. "So, you think it's a sign? To go approach her I mean?"
Ginny looked at Lavender and noted a soft quiver of her shoulders, that her shoulders were slightly hunched, that her delicate hands were cupped over her face, and that her brown hair poured over her shoulders. "There couldn't be a better time." Then she led the way over to the sobbing Gryffindor.
Daphne gave Ginny a confused look, which she pointedly ignored, and then followed her younger friend to the bench. Vincent strode next to her; they both were a couple meters behind Ginevra. In a low voice Daphne asked if Vincent had any idea what Gin's plan was, he shook his head heavily.
When Ginny arrived in front of Lavender she knelt down in the grass and spoke softly in her ear, "What happened? Are you okay? You can trust me not to spread whatever it is."
Lavender just cried harder into her hands and ignored the younger girl. She turned away from Ginny and the Slytherins, hoping that if she ignored them they would leave. They didn't.
"Lavender. Talk to me. I can't stand seeing you like this." Ginevra threw on a look of sympathy; her hands reached out and pulled back Lavender's hair from her face. There was a dark purple bruise forming on her left cheek, though Ginny could only see a glimpse of it because the rest was covered by pale hands. "What happened?"
"Leave me alone! You don't care, you lying bitch! Why would you give a shit about me? You left your house without a second glance; didn't even give a damn about how many feelings were hurt! So why are you coming back now?"
"You don't understand. I don't understand," she glanced back at Daphne and Vin, "Bloody hell, they don't even understand."
Daphne took a step forward and slowly sat down next to Lavender, trying to soothe the Gryffindor though she was feeling rather awkward at the open display of emotion. Vincent stepped behind Ginny and seemed rather enthralled with his hands.
"Lavender, hush don't cry. I know you would rather us leave but we aren't going to." Ginevra shared a look with Daphne who took the memo and started to softly rub Lavender's shaking back.
Slowly Lavender began to breathe regularly and though she stayed hunched over there were no more signs of trembling. "Why can't you just leave me alone? I've been isolated enough without the help of Slytherins and a house traitor." Her voice was quiet and withdrawn, she was seemingly lost in her own world.
"Tell us what happened." Ginny was no longer faking concern, there was a connection she couldn't explain and it probed her to have a need to find out what happened to this girl and take revenge on whoever was the culprit. Vincent's own clenched fists showed his own anger and emotions better than he would be able to express with words.
Lavender shook her head but her mouth seemed to decide for her, speaking of its own accord. "The Carrows have seemed to be favoring me lately, I don't know why but they always make sure to praise me in class and never punish me when I do something against the school rules. The other Gryffindors grew sick of it and decided to do something about it, said they were punishing me for all the times the Carrows didn't. I have no idea who it was because the halls were so dark, they sounded like boys though." Her words were muffled by her fingers but the pressing silence around them made each syllable stand out fiercely.
"So this is what has happened to my noble house while I was away? Succumbed to jealousy? To desperation? Where is the courage they are praised for? Where is their pride?" Ginny spoke each word with venom and her eyes burned into Lavender's own which could be seen between her fingers.
"Show me the damage. I'll heal it." The four that had sat their alone for so long jumped, somehow during their conversation Draco had quietly snuck up on their group. It was he who had spoken and he already had his wand drawn and pointing at Lavender who slowly dropped her hands to reveal a bloody, bruised, and distorted face. Draco quickly cast the mending spell on her features and her delicate appearance stitched itself back together. In a matter of seconds she was the perfect Lavender Brown again, not a scar remained of the recent events.
They sat in silence for a while, Lavender twiddled with her thumbs while the others seemed to be much more comfortable with the situation- or at least more composed with their emotions shut off once again. Once or twice someone asked if Lavender was feeling better which she answered with a slight nod or a quiet yes.
"Lavender?" Daphne spoke softly and waited for Lavender to look up at her before continuing, "Well, um, do you want to sit with us at meal times?" She seemed to want to say more but was unsure of her words as she rarely dealt with any sort of showing of emotions.
Lavender looked puzzled by the offer but gave a nod of affirmation; she had expected to eat in the kitchen that night and for the following meals to come until her classmates had settled down. "Won't the other Slytherins be rude to me, though?"
"You'd be surprised. We're truer than Gryffindors, far more cunning and clever than a Ravenclaw, and much more loyal- even if only to each other- than any Hufflepuff. We're going to give you far more than any Gryffindor could ever even imagine giving," Blaise, who had came to their gathering a little behind Draco, spoke softly yet with a strong conviction of vengeance.
Ginevra looked around her and found the curious eyes of Katherine Martin and her group resting on them. Glaring at them with hard eyes and a sneer worthy of any real Slytherin, the gossipers found themselves retreating a little farther away, already thinking up a story to go along with the scene they had witnessed.
The group comforted Lavender for some time longer before Pansy came looking for them. "Guys, dinner started a little ago. Aren't you all starving? You missed lunch too." After glancing to see who was there and who wasn't she added, a little worriedly, "Have any of you seen Greg? He said was going to look for you a couple hours ago."
Vincent nodded vigorously at the mention of food but furrowed his eyebrows when she asked about Gregory. It was Blaise who finally answered the last question, "Gregory ran into me while I was on my way out, he looked feverish. His eyes had red rims and he was more pale than usual. While he passed he hissed through his teeth that he was on his way to the infirmary and he didn't have time to stop and mingle with me."
"Huh, that's funny. He seemed completely fine when he left me to go looking for you guys. Maybe we should go visit him after we eat a little." Pansy was going over her last conversation with Greg in her mind and the only thing odd about it was that he seemed hurried and anxious to go.
Before they got up to head to the Great Hall Ginny asked Lavender if she would be okay and once she affirmed she would be fine she went over the same rules that she had been given the first time she ate with them- superiority being the main one.
When they entered the Great Hall eyes followed them all the way to the Slytherin table, the snakes didn't blink while the lions were about to pounce at the sight of another of their own sitting with their "enemies." Ginevra held her head high, nudging Lavender in the side when she began to lower her eyes as she dragged her feet across the floor to their table.
The silence that had followed their late entrance collapsed into a ringing of scandalized whispers and angry outbursts. The Slytherins rolled their eyes at the pointless words from the other houses; the Ravenclaws seemed to be the most accepting even if a little confused.
Lavender sighed in relief when she finally collapsed at the Slytherin table, Ginny sat down on her right while Vincent took the seat on her left which made her tense up automatically. He only chuckled at her actions and told her quietly to "relax." Daphne sent her an encouraging smile and Lavender tried to return it but it ended in a sort of upside down frown.
There was silence as they took the first few bites of the meal and Lavender never looked up from her plate. Vincent looked over at Lavender and Ginny looking curious and asked, "So, eh, do you two plan on staying in your dormitories now that everyone hates your guts?"
Blaise answered for Ginny, "Well, Ginevra's staying with Draco and me for now on." Then he looked at Lavender waiting for her response. At this Theodore and Vincent shared a knowing glance and Lavender looked surprised at her old friend.
"What else would I do? I guess I'll manage." She gave a worried glance over Blaise's shoulder at the Gryffindors who were staring hatefully at her.
Following her gaze Pansy shook her head and seemed to think over something and said, "Well, you can always stay with me- I can easily transfigure a bed for you."
Theodore looked from Pansy to Lavender and added his usual remarks, "Well if you're going to have two beds that's no fun. I say it's either one or with me. I won't lie, I wouldn't mind having a little of her."
Not used to his playful antics Lavender turned a bright shade of pink and looked awkwardly at her hands. "I, uh, actually, uh…"
Laughing Ginny answered for Lavender, "You wish Theo. Pansy that'd be great, I'm sure Lavender would appreciate it."
Shooting Ginevra a relieved look, Lavender took another bite of her sausage before widening her eyes and nudging Ginny to get her attention. "I don't think it was a good idea for me to sit with you guys."
"Huh, why?" As soon as Ginny spoke she saw that a couple seventh year Gryffindors and Seamus Finnigan were approaching. The latter looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but was following because he had no choice in the matter. "It's just those few guys and really it only looks like those two will be a problem. Finnigan seems a little less than excited to be coming over. Just act like you belong here, that you're better than those dicks." Lavender nodded but looked unsure of herself and was a little paler than usual when the boys stood a couple feet away.
"So Brown, you a whore now too? How many Slytherins you and Weasley have to do before you were allowed to sit here?" They were sneering at her and she was trying to put on a nonchalant face but her eyes were watery and showed that a breakdown was coming on.
"Guys, that was uncalled for. You said you were just going to try to knock some sense into her, not bully her," Seamus looked anxiously at the angry snakes as he murmured this to his friends.
Vincent was the first to speak, his voice was low and cold, "You know, I think you should get out of here. We don't want to be contaminated by you blood traitors."
"Guys let's ge-" Seamus didn't get to finish because one of the guys rounded on him.
"Are you trying to protect these traitors? You're just as bad as them," one of the boys that Ginny recognized as Anthony Turner, one of the guys Ron complained to be an "arse."
Only the Slytherins saw a flicker of Seamus's wand as he walked away, Anthony gave a yell as suddenly his skin erupted into large boils. He turned immediately to the sniggering Slytherins, "You better watch your backs after a move like that. I'll be sure to get revenge on you, all of you." He stormed off with his friends following.
It was only then that Ginny noticed the silence of the Great Hall and looked at the other houses and saw they were watching them with unhidden disgust. Draco followed her gaze and used a louder version of his infamous drawl, "I give you ten seconds to get your eyes off us before I use an unforgivable on each of you."
That was all that was needed to have the other students erupt into shocked whispers and Ginny saw from the corner of her eye that Katherine Martin was using her hands to tell a couple of guys a story, Ginevra assumed it was her version of what had happened earlier that day with Lavender.
Pansy put down her fork and began to rise, "I'm sick of this, let's go visit Greg." The others rose as one and exited the Great Hall with the eyes of Snape following their movement.
When they entered the infirmary they saw that Anthony was laying on a bed not looking any better than when he had left dinner, he glared daggers at them but they ignored them as their eyes skimmed the other beds.
"Where is he? Doesn't look like he's even in here. Where's that bint who runs this place? Madam Pomfrey!" Draco called out into the infirmary.
"Mister Malfoy, what do you want?" Her stern voice reached them before they even saw her come out of her small office.
"Goyle been in here sometime?" Draco was picking at his nails as if the matter didn't concern him though really he was worried for his friend.
"I am a member of the staff and you will address me with the proper respect, is that clear Mister Malfoy?" She didn't answer and looked at him pointedly.
"Yes ma'am. Now Madam Pomfrey has Goyle been in here today?" He rolled his eyes but she either didn't notice or ignored the gesture of superiority.
"He left just a little while ago. I told him to go back to his dormitory to get some sleep, Mister Malfoy."
Pansy looked confused and asked in a whiny, overly girly voice, "But what happened?" After she noticed Pomfrey's annoyed looked she added a hasty "ma'am."
"Looked like he ran into some enchantment. He didn't talk; I suspect he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be. Now all of you out, you seem to be making Mister Turner excited over something." Sure enough when they looked over he was fidgeting and beginning to sit up.
Draco nodded and they left without another word to the nurse. As they walked down the corridors to the dungeons, Lavender was growing increasingly nervous and out of place.
"Uh, I think I should probably actually stay upstairs…" Lavender stumbled on her words as she slowed to a stop.
The others looked back at her and Blaise rolled his eyes and went back to her, "Do you want to get killed? No, of course not." He grabbed her arm and lightly tugged her forward; she was too shocked to say anything else.
After striding down a few more corridors the group stopped in front of a blank wall. Draco shot a glance at Lavender, then leaned in close to the stones and whispered the password. It was only a precaution, even with Snape's reassurance the snakes didn't know whether or not Lavender was the real thing or not.
The seventh year Slytherins and Ginny crashed on the couch, while Lavender looked around the green Common Room. "Hey Brown, wanna go check and see if Greg is in his room?" Pansy smacked Vin's arm and stood up.
"No she doesn't. I can do it though."
A couple seconds passed in silence until Daphne and Vincent started talking and laughing, causing Lavender to give them a confused look. Draco leaned in when he caught her confusion, "You know, we aren't what we appear to be. We are better than anyone you ever met in Gryffindor, besides maybe Ginny."
She looked around at the faces of her rescuers but remained silence, she didn't know the words to say because she didn't know what to believe. Draco looked at her again and shrugged his muscled shoulders and right as he was about to say something more he was interrupted by Pansy coming into the room followed by a very disoriented Gregory.
"He won't say anything, it's killing me," Pansy looked annoyed and came and sat next to Theo who started playing with her short hair. "Seriously, do any of you know a spell to make him talk?"
Blaise rolled his eyes at Pansy and stated matter-of-factly, "We can always just do it the normal way and ask nicely for him to talk, then get angry when he doesn't, then threaten if he still refuses, and then do a spell to loosen his tongue a little. So Greg, what's wrong with you?"
Pansy gave him a smirk and raised her perfectly arched eyebrows when he was only responded with a blank stare from his friend. Lavender watched silently as the students around her grew more frustrated with Greg and then said cautiously, "Looks like he got his memory screwed with. His eyes are blank, he looks confused and disorientated. Plus, didn't Madam Pomfrey say he didn't say anything while he was in there? Maybe he had forgotten not only why he was in the infirmary but how to speak?" She blushed when she saw that everyone was looking at her as she explained quietly her theory.
"That makes sense. But what, or who, would cast a memory charm on him? I mean most people don't think he's even smart enough to read- even with his high scores in classes." Daphne scrunched her eyebrows together as she thought and then spoke slowly as if working out the problem as she spoke, "Unless, he overheard or saw something he wasn't supposed to. Pomfrey said she thought he had gotten into something he wasn't supposed to have, right? Maybe what he found out was bad enough that they went all the way into taking his very knowledge of speech away."
"But he looked sick when I saw him, I'd think that if he had discovered something he would have gone straight to us to tell us." Vincent looked at his best friend with a hint of worry crossing his features.
Draco thought as his friends spoke and then stared at Greg's face as he explained his theory of what had happened, "It could have been that he wanted to but the people had noticed him before he got away and they cursed him."
Blaise caught on immediately and finished for his lover much to Draco's annoyance, "He might have been fighting the curse and that would give him a sickly look. The guys," catching a warning glare from Daphne, rolled his eyes and continued, "or girls, who had caught him might have not had time to properly get rid of him and so they decided a strong memory charm would do the trick."
Pansy's eyes widened and said quietly, "But they must realize that it won't last. They're probably going to want to get rid of him properly before long."
"Ah Ginevra, this isn't looking good is it? I know a good spell, if a little dark, that will get your friend's memory back. Should I give it to you? I want to make you happy, but when you have made me so angry, I don't see why you deserve anything but a good slap." His voice was very casual and not at all threatening but Ginny felt that the threat was enhanced by his voice. "I will give you the spell but only because it will make you grow a little darker when you cast it. Memento Mori. It will give him back his memory but it will cause him to remember vividly the last death he witnessed." He laughed cruelly and then fell silent.
"I know a spell that will bring back all his memories, but it will come at a cost for him." Ginny's voice trembled and her voice was pale.
Blaise looked at her curiously, "What is it?"
"Memento Mori it causes-" Ginny was cut off by Draco.
"It causes one to relive the last death he has seen, it will bring back his feelings, the sight, the smells, everything. If the person has not seen death before it will bring back the death of another." Draco looked surprised that Ginny knew this spell, she looked away when he tried to meet eye contact.
Pansy looked worried but spoke her consent of the spell being done, Daphne nodded in agreement. Blaise, Draco, Theodore, and Vincent looked at Greg and then nodded as well.
The group looked expectantly at Ginny who was shaking with her wand out. She slowly pointed it at Greg and whispered, "Memento Mori."
The silence of the Common Room was shattered by a scream that rung with pain, anger, vengeance, and despair. Only Ginny could hear the cold laugh that went along with it.
Author's Note: Ah well there it is, can I have honest opinions please? A little criticism can only make this better, my feelings aren't hurt very easily so please give me some- as long as it's not just complaining about the pairings or stuff that creates the whole story, if you don't like that then just go read a pairing you do like.
Springawakening1894- Yeah, it kind of makes you want to kill them, huh? Hah but thank you so much for the review! I'm hoping you keep reading and liking my plot! And I'm really sorry for definitely not updating soon, I'm pretty much a failure with this story, like I don't remember when I've been so terrible at writing and stuff- it's terrible! But my goal for the next chapter is a week.
o0oMrsBubblesClearwatero0o- Oh thank you so much! *takes a low bow!* Eh, I'm not so classy, that should be a curtsy because I'm no boy! Hahah I've done that a few times when I get excited, so I know where you're coming from! Yes there will be many more Harry Potter hate moments, promise! Not a quick update, an awfully long update actually so I apologize! Next chapter's coming up in a week, it's my goal!
Snowfire81- Gah, I hated having to make them so terrible, they're like my favorite Harry Potter characters! I'm sure excited to put them in a good light again, and don't worry I doubt it will be long before I break and do just that. I'm super sorry for this terrible story updateness, I'm basically the worst person ever. I'm shooting for a week for the next chapter!
Rum and Coke- Ah I'm glad you think so! And I won't lie, I'm hoping you continue thinking so after this chapter! Well I'm hoping you keep reading and reviewing, I'd love that lots! But I'd love it even more if you actually like what you're reading and reviewing hah.
Fahzzyquill- Yeah she's not having much luck in life at the moment. I hope that it approves, don't you? Well I hope this satisfies your interest and will hold it! I can't thank you enough for all your support and patience, though I can imagine I'm really frustrating to deal with as I barely update!