Title: The Fire Diamond

By BlahBabe

Inspiration: Getting too much sleep on Saturday morning, hence staying up til 1:46am.

Chapter 3: Endings of a Letter

The next day, as always, Hogwarts let everybody off of classes so everybody could settle in. Ginny had a long discussion with McGonnagal about duties. And Ginny had asked a question that had set McGonnagal somewhat off.

"Professor, why are you letting Hermione control your choice?" Ginny had asked.

"What?" McGonnagal had replied, narrowing her eyes. "Let me tell you, young lady, that I am not letting Hermione do my job! She just requested I have you Head Girl. This is the one exception ever. And that's only because...you have to understand Miss Weasley, this is my first time doing all of this. Albus decided who was going to be the Heads, and things like that. I highly doubt you'd want Lavender Brown to be Head Girl," Ginny shuddered at the thought of Lavender, who was obsessed of clothes, make-up, and jewelry––being a Head. "That's what I thought." McGonnagal continued. "So I know for a fact that Albus would approve of you and would respect Hermione enough to let her choose the replacement of herself."

Ginny nodded, understanding somewhat. Dumbledore was just...confusing.

"Now, Miss Weasley, about classes. I'm having you do only the necessary 6th year classes. The ones that you will need to know if you're doing 7th year classes. I want you to understand, that since this year is going to be...different, new classes are being added, and most classes are being limited to around 55 minutes. Others, may go for an hour or so."

Ginny nodded, again understanding. This was going to be a bloody weird year...

Three new classes? Survivalist Preparation, Healing, Art of Self Defence, and Self Analysis? There was a small note that described the classes.

Survivalist Preparation: This class provides magical and muggle ways to survive in different situations.

Healing: This class provides the understanding, knowledge, and grace to use while healing.

Art of Self Defence: This class teaches how to physically and emotionally disarm your opponent. Wands will not be used in this class unless specifically requested in advance.

Self Analysis: This class teaches how to emotionally prepare yourself in times of distress. It demonstrates how to analyze yourself.

Ginny looked at her time table. Boy is this thing confusing. Who knew that they would have 55 minute classes?

Mondays-Fridays: 7:00-7:45 breakfast, 8:00-8:55 Transfiguration, 9:00-9:55 Charms, 10:00-10:30 Study Hall, 10:35-11:55 Defence Against the Dark Arts, and 12:00-12:45 she had lunch.

This is where it got tricky.

Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays: After lunch she had 2:05-3:00 Muggle Studies, 3:05-4:00 Potions, and then 4:05-4:45 Art of Self Defence.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2:05-3:00 Self Analysis, 3:05-4:00 Potions, and then 4:05-4:45 Survivalist Preparation.

So she had 5 minutes to get from class to class. This was her messed up 7th year Time Table.

Ginny wondered who the new Potions teacher was. She was outside of the Great Hall when it was announced. Surely Professor Slughorn would come back out of respect for Dumbledore? But then again, Harry had told her what Slughorn was like, and how he said he'd teach for only one year.

Ginny had been informed that her stuff had been moved to the Head Girl dorm. She was headed there now. After saying the password (allowed to be changed one day after), "Spitfire", she entered the chambers. She was amazed by the enormity of it.

The Common Room was huge like the Gryffindor Common Room. On the left hand side was a wooden door, set toward the back, with a scarlet red plate with the gold letters HG on it. On the right was another wooden door with a emerald green plate and with the silver letters HB on it.

Bloody crap...I forgot. I'm gonna be sharing this room with Malfoy!

She groaned outwardly, and whispered the password to her door (a magical lock placed upon it, and walked into the room. Here was her dream room. An antique like framed, king sized bed with scarlet silk sheets. Scarlet silk window curtains that draped all the way to the floor. A rich, wooden desk for studying, (including many letter sets, owl snacks, quills, etc.), her own closet and dresser, her own modest bathroom (Only a toilet, sink, and shower. A bathroom was shared by the two Heads), an enchanted mirror, and a package of chocolates that was set on the desk, from Luna.

Ginny unpacked her things. Her casual clothes went into the dresser, where robes went into her walk in closet. Hand-me-down shoes, wallets, and other accessories were stored in the closet. Her brush and comb, toothpaste, a pitiful amount of makeup, etc went into the bathroom. Her books went on the shelves, and finally she pulled out her headphones.

Not just any headphones, these were Weasley Wizard Wheezes headphones. Fred and George were testing them out. Sure, they weren't joke headphones, but the twins came up with some useful things. These headphones were given to her as a birthday present. They only played muggle songs, but the magical thing about them is that the song played to your mood. It was kind of like a mood ring, except more accurate.

Ginny loved them dearly, (and expressed this many times, as Mrs. Weasley had to shout every morning to ask her if she wanted waffles or pancakes.)

After unpacking, Ginny sorted out the letters to which were to be sent. 3 for the Weasleys, 3 for the Order, 2 for Lupin, 1 addressed to Fred, George, Charlie, and Bill.

"Figures they forgot me." Ginny grumbled.

3 for Neville, 2 for Luna, and Ginny stopped. 3 for me?

She hastily opened one of them.

Dear Ginny,

Gin, I'm not sorry for letting you come. I'm gonna miss my baby sister though. When I'm gone, don't go out with anyone, got it? And make sure to beat someone in chess for me. I'll try owling you, but with the interception of letters, and depending where I'll be, I might not be able to. Don't send out Hedwig out for anything important, because he's likely to be recognized and intercepted. Same with Pig 'cept he's just disastrous.

Love Ron

And then she opened another

Ginny,

I'm not really sure what to say. Hermione is behind me making sure my quill is scratching against the paper. I don't want you to get hurt Ginny. Stay out of trouble. I...I can't believe I did, but I left your Christmas present with your mum. It took me forever to find one like mine. Don't get into too much trouble with that. Make sure we beat those Slytherins in the House Cup. You're taking my spot in Seeker the Quidditch team, right? Make sure to stomp those Slytherins to the ground and then grind them in the dirt. Gryffindor deserves that Quidditch Cup. I don't know when I'll be back. I'm sure when I do, things won't be the same.

Don't do anything rash,

Harry

What does he mean 'Don't do anything rash'? And what kind of ending is that? Harry. Not, Love Harry. Or Yours Truely. Or even sincerely! Just plain Harry.

Ginny opened the next one.

Dear Ginny,

I know what you must be thinking. I'm sorry for not talking about it Ginny, honest! I feel really guilty writing this letter. I know you must be going bonkers, knowing you are/might become Head Girl. I felt lousy when I decided we'd leave after we got on the train. I felt awful that we were lying to your mum. Tell her I'm very sorry. It says so in the letter, but I'm awfully, sincerely sorry. I know you must be resenting us, you must be thinking you should have come. But you are too young Ginny. Younger than us. You still have 2 years to complete at Hogwarts, where we have one. Unless of course, you skip a year.

I skimmed over Harry's letter. I'm sure you think it cruel to have him talk about Quidditch. He just doesn't want to hurt you anymore. He thinks you're beautiful and he hates leaving you now that you just got back together.

Anyhow, I was hoping you could copy notes for me this year. (If you're Head Girl). That way I can use them for help when I get back to study. It must be completely insane there, with Dumbledore and Snape gone. Poor Professor McGonnagal, I'd hate to be her right now. Don't forget to be polite and ask her if she needs help, whenever. Especially when she seems frazzled. That's when she begins to panic the most. Panic isn't the right word...maybe more that she shuts down and blocks out the outer world. Anyhow, just let her know you're there.

Tell Neville and Luna and Dean and Seamus etc that we're sorry we left with out saying goodbye. Hopefully we'll be back before you know it, and it will all seem like this is a dream. Alright Gin, I left my Christmas presents (and Ron's) that are for you with your mum so she could send them to you...or maybe pack them with you? I really hope you like it. I was dying with glee when I saw it. As soon as I set my eyes upon it, I thought "Why this would just be perfect for Ginny! She'd love it!" I hate to cut this letter short, it's way too short in my opinion, but Harry and Ron and I have to get prepared for everything.

I'll miss you!

With all my heart,

Hermione

Ginny sighed. This was going to be a very, very, very long day. And it had only just begun.

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