Title: The Fire Diamond

By: BlahBabe

Major Help by: Aprila

Encouragement for this Chapter by: Iluvevilyamis

Chapter 2:

"MALFOY?" Ginny yelled, furious. She started to stomp over to the Slytherin table. McGonnagal wasn't at the teacher's table because she was getting the first years so they could be sorted. But Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw and Dean, Seamus and Neville from Gryffindor all looked alarmed as relation dawned on them. All four of them quickly got up to grab Ginny before she went to Azkaban on account of strangling and murdering someone.

"Ginny!" Seamus warned in his Irish accent.

"Come on..." Dean said, both he and Seamus grabbing Ginny's arms and pulling her out of the Great Hall. Luna following right behind them.

"What were you thinking, lass?" Seamus asked.

"That's Draco Malfoy out there!" Ginny yelled, making Seamus rub his ear.

"Aye, lass. It is."

"He-"

"We know, Ginny. You have to deal with it though. McGonnagal wouldn't have let him back without a good reason."

"Yeah, the reason is she's out of her bloody mind!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Where's Harry?" Luna asked, startling all three of them. She had been so quiet they forgot she was even there.

"Not here," Ginny mumbled, reluctantly giving information out.

"I knew they would do something like that." Neville muttered, glumly. They jumped again out of surprise.

"They caused they train to stop didn't they?" Seamus asked.

"Mmhmm..." Ginny murmured.

"They went to fight right? All three of them?" Luna commented. Ginny shifted uncomfortably.

"I guess that's a yes." Seamus grinned.

"Shadows!" Neville announced, pulling them all back in the shadows as Professor McGonnagal passed with the nervously twitchy first years.

"Gin-girl, can we trust you to go in for the sorting and not, you know, get thrown in Azkaban?" Seamus asked, his Irish accent rumbling in a soft tone.

"Yeah Ginny, relax," Dean said, his deep voice echoing through the halls.

"Well, OK..." Ginny finally gave in.

"Xavier, Annabella." McGonnagal called out in a mono-tone, almost setting the Great Hall off to sleep.

"SLYTHERIN!"

They had started with Acdirad, Alziah and had finally narrowed it down to the X's. Ginny felt sorry for the first kid, not only had he gone first, but his name...what were his parents thinking?

"Zubidiah, Jennifer." McGonnagal finished, just in time to be heard, for the hat immediately called out:

"RAVENCLAW!"

McGonnagal, having recited the rules before the sorting, stood to give the final announcement.

"Last announcements, I would like to introduce Head Boy and Head Girl, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger!"

The Slytherins "Wallooped" for Malfoy, and "Booed" for the 'Mudblood'. Ginny was furious.

Draco Malfoy was Head Boy!

The Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs clapped politely for Hermione. (And death glared Malfoy...).

"Please stand up, Heads." McGonnagal said proudly. Draco stood up reluctantly, and McGonnagal turned frantic when she finally realized that the Trio were not there at all. She cleared her throat, furiously, and told Draco to sit back down.

"I also would like a moment of silence in remembrance of Albus Dumbledore." She continued. Everyone (even the Slytherins) quieted, and Ginny started glaring at Malfoy even harder.

"Thank you. Now in remembrance I would like to say something he would have. Fruitcakes! Thank you and now have a wonderful feast."

With that, thousands of dishes appeared on the tables, and people began to gorge themselves, which sadly reminded Ginny of Ron. Though she couldn't believe she actually missed watching him eat...

McGonnagal stomped down from the platform and straight to Ginny.

"Where are they, Miss Weasley."

"I don't know Professor." Ginny sighed, fully knowing where this was going.

"You don't know?" her professor asked, skeptically.

"Look Professor," Ginny whispered, aware of the eyes upon her, "I have some letters for you. Just hold on while I get them out."

Ginny sorted through a pack full of letters, and finally pulled out three addressed to Headmistress McGonnagal.

"Here."

McGonnagal snatched them from her fingers, and opened them.

Dear Professor McGonnagal,

Erm...hi. I don't know what to say really. Ginny should have given this to you and we should be far gone so don't bother looking for us. We'll be skipping our 7th year, all three of us. Don't worry, I have made plans to continue my 7th year as soon as I get back, whenever that will be.

Ron.

P.S. By the way, did I mention we were looking for them? Probably not. Oh well. There ya go.

McGonnagal only smiled slightly, for where it said "I have made plans," before that was scratched out "Hermione is making me have plans". Ginny watched the Professor intently. Gin admired McGonnagal for taking on the responsibilities of DADA teacher (in addition to Headmistress). No one would take the job now...

Dear Professor McGonnagal,

I know what you're thinking. I had too, Professor. Everyone thinks I'm the "Chosen One." And they're right. If I don't find the Hor..I mean them, I might never win this battle. I'm tired of doing this. I've chosen to act. Don't blame Hermione and Ron, they wouldn't stay even if they were tortured too. And Ginny is just the messenger. Take care,

Harry

McGonnagal read Hermione's letter, and her eyes grew wide and then narrowed.

"Miss Weasley, my office, after the feast," and with that she left.

"I'm WHAT?" Ginny yelled. After the feast she had found out the password. (It had been Fruitcakes, a flavor of jelly beans) and had entered.

"You're going to be Head Girl."

"I'm 6th year Professor! It's not possible!"

"Miss Weasley, I am highly aware of your age. But I respect Miss Granger's decision." McGonnagal countered.

"What decision!"

"Here. Read this." McGonnagal replied, handing her a letter.

Dear Headmistress McGonnagal,

I'm so sorry, Professor. But I couldn't have these two ignorant boys running off by themselves, could I? And I had a sense of duty just like Harry. Harry has been growing depressed each day. I don't know what he would have done without help. We just had to be there, please understand this.

Now to my duties as Head Girl. I won't be there, so you need a replacement. I ask of you that you give Ginny the position. Yes, she's a 6th year, but she's talented and undiscovered. Plus, she can record notes for me while I'm away. This way also, if she's willing, she can graduate a year earlier then the other 6th years. I know it's a great deal to ask of you and her, but it's not impossible, is it? (Tell Ginny it is possible.)

Ginny has a stack of letters she needs to deliver. Don't forget to remind her to do that. They are very important. They don't contain valuable information, Professor. Just valuable information from our hearts.

I made this letter short for your (and her) convenience. Please Professor, don't think about what's going to happen to us. There's a letter to the Order from all three of us in the stack.

Love,

Hermione

"I-I-.." Ginny gasped, fighting back tears.

"Are you willing to do it? It will be a challenge. You'll have to take on twice as many classes as anyone in the school. And tests and..."

"I'll try it for Hermione," Ginny whispered.

"Well, then you may be excused Miss Weasley," McGonnagal paused long enough for Ginny to notice. Then the woman, looking older than ever before, said in a concerned, soft voice while glancing over her spectacles "And Ginny, get some sleep and mull it over. Don't fret about it."

"Goodnight Professor."

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