AN- Set during 5th year, mostly AU
Disclaimer- I own nothing except the plot.
~ Changed ~
"Ginny..Ginny? Hey Ginny!" She sat up and pulled out her wand so swiftly that Ron could only feel it against his throat, letting him know it was there.
Ginny calmed and lowered her arm, ignoring the sudden whispers that filled the common room.
"Sorry Ron." She said with a yawn, rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand. "What do you need?"
Ron took a while before he finally found his voice and color rushed back to his face. All at once he went from fear to relief and then to fury.
"What the bloody hell do you think you are doing jumping a year? Do you think you are being funny? You can't handle this! You are going to fail and have to retake your 5th year all over again! And why the hell are you taking all your classes with Slytherin? Are you a traitor now? Too good for us Gryffindors? You even sit with them when we're there! What the fuck Ginny! Are you a bloody idiot?"
At that moment Ginny stood an inch from Ron, 5 inches shorter than his 6'1" frame, with her wand at his chest; digging in hard and forcing him to take steps backwards as Ginny advanced. Her amber eyes glowing in the firelight and a sinister look on her freckled face. Her voice like acid burning into Ron's soul. Everyone watched with wide eyes and opened mouths, unsure of what to do.
"Listen to me Ronald Weasley, for I will not say this again." Her voice was calm and firm as she starred unblinking into his terrified eyes.
"I, at this moment, am at the top of my year with perfect scores in all of my classes; including History of Magic. I was approached by Professor McGonagall to take all advanced classes, however I am the only one doing so and the teachers are too busy to teach an extra class a day just for one little girl."
Ron backed into a table, but not wanting to be pinned he moved around it; occasionally knocking into the chairs but he did not fall over nor take his eyes off of the girl who was once his good little sister.
"So now I am skipping a year, mum and dad have agreed, and am working hard despite being suddenly thrown into OWLs a year earlier than expected. I have a lot of work to do, I am tired and I don't need you telling me how much of an idiot you think I am! You should be proud of me!"
Ron opened his mouth but she kept talking.
"And how dare you call me a traitor! I did not choose my classes. And if you had been paying attention you would remember that Professor Snape had me sit with the Slytherins. I did not choose! But if this offends you so much maybe I should switch houses and then I wouldn't be a traitor to you, I'd just be a 5th year Slytherin!"
She stopped advancing when he finally hit the wall and couldn't move.
"I am more capable than most my age and even those older than you. I can do this, even if I have to do this on my own."
Ginny turned and gathered her things with a flick of her wand. She made it out of the portal before anyone could say a things to her. Unsure of where she was going she focused on not letting herself cry. She was angry, so angry that she was close to hexing her favorite brother, but she hated the fact that she always seemed to cry.
"No more," she said to herself as she calmed. "I will not cry over that idiot."
It was at that moment that she wondered where she was. She knew she was still on the 7th floor because she did not go up or down any stairs. However, she did not recognize any of the paintings or statues, but when she rounded the corner she stopped walking.
Straight ahead of her was a rather large statue of a gargoyle. One she recognized from Ron telling of his trip to Dumbledore's office his second year.
She stood in front of the statue.
"Excuse me. I need to see the Headmaster please." Her voice was barely above a whisper and she wondered if it had heard her.
"He doesn't speak deary." Ginny turned to see a picture of a milkmaid milking a cow. The woman smiled kindly at her and looked around carefully as if to make sure no one was there before looking back at Ginny; beckoning her close.
Ginny stepped forward and put her ear to the painting. She had to stand on her toes but smiled as the woman whispered in her ear.
"Thank you very much ma'am." Ginny said softly as she backed away.
"Not a problem deary. I do love finding such a charming girl with exceptional manners in this school." And with a final smile she went back to milking her cow and humming to herself.
Ginny turned and looked up at the gargoyle.
"Fizzing Whizbee." She giggled at the absurd password that could only be the Headmaster's.
Suddenly the statue hopped to the side to reveal a wall which then split apart. Behind it was a stone staircase which seemed to move. Ginny stared at it in awe before stepping onto it and letting it lift her up to a large oak door with a brass knocker.
She hesitated, putting her ear to the door to see if anyone was there. Having heard nothing she lifted her hand and knocked. She waited but when nothing happened she knocked again. After knocking a third time and receiving no answer, Ginny almost turned to leave when she heard the most beautiful music coming from the room.
Slowly pushing open the door, she entered and found herself speechless. The room was very large and circular, adding to its beautiful and interesting architecture. Covering the lower walls were many shelves and bookcases full of all sorts of things that Ginny had to tear her eyes from so as to not reach out and "inspect" them.
Covering the upper walls were portraits of former headmasters and headmistress', all of which were sleeping at the moment. Straight in front of her was a large desk and next to that was the source of the music. Sitting on a gold perch stood a beautiful phoenix of gold and red. She recognized fawkes from the Chamber and smiled, but when she looked away she saw the sorting hat on a shelf behind the desk.
She quickly made her way to it and put it on. She heard the small, quiet voice at once.
"Yes? Ah hello, a young Weasley. My how you have grown. So much different from the day we met."
"How different am I? Do I still belong in Gryffindor?" She asked confidently, not hearing the footsteps coming towards her.
"My, my, quite a change. You are still as brave, maybe even more so. A heart of a lion, though loyalty has wavered a bit. Bright! A very bright mind! So much more than before, and determined. Yes…determined, and angry my dear. Angry and ambitious, most cunning. Able to trick others, able to lie convincingly, and yet you will never cheat. Moral but determined, such a contradiction my dear, hmmm…"
Ginny sat calmly as he spoke. What he said did not anger her, in fact, she found it a little refreshing.
"Slytherin!" The voice yelled out into the room and Ginny nodded before taking it off. And standing in front of her were Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape.
"Well my dear, it seems things have changed haven't they." Dumbledore chuckled but Ginny could see a soft sadness in his eyes.
"I may be more like Slytherin but that doesn't make me evil Professor. Please don't look at me so." She said softly as she set the hat back down and walked around to the front of the desk.
"Of course not, forgive me." His eyes brightened as he waved his hand towards her. Three high back chairs appeared behind her and she watched as McGonagall took the one on the right and Snape took the one on the left.
"Please sit Miss Weasley." He sat down in his own comfy chair.
"Ginevra or Ginny please Professor." She said calmly as she took her seat. She sat like a lady with her back straight, hands on her lap and legs crossed at the ankles; trying to give off the appearance of someone quite older than their age.
"Of course Ginevra. Now then, if you would be so kind as to tell us why you are here."
"Forgive me Professor, I should have stated this beforehand. I wonder, if there is any way to switch houses. I have found it greatly to my disliking to stay where I feel I do not belong."
"Severus, do you have anything to say to this? For I believe the sorting hat has placed her in your house." Dumbledore looked curiously at Snape.
"She is a very bright student. She is already taking classes with the Slytherins and here have been no problems. However," he paused for such a long time that Ginny cringed, waiting for him to say horrible things about her. "I would worry about her sleeping arrangements. All the 5th year dorms are full and I do not think her previously being in Gryffindor will bode well."
Ginny let the breath she was holding out. Were they seriously considering this? She became slightly giddy.
"I agree Severus. Minerva, do you have anything to say?"
"I will regret losing such a fine student, but it is her choice. I believe Miss W…Ginevra will do well in any house she is in."
Ginny looked over at her head of house and smiled. McGonagall did not smile but she took hold of Ginny's hand and squeezed it gently before she looked back at Dumbledore.
"However, I too worry for her physical well being. I fear her being harmed because she is both a Gryffindor and also a Weasley."
Ginny looked back at Dumbledore and saw him nod. She understood their worries; she would be alone in a house full of enemies and she was slightly worried as well.
"then I will just have to ask the school to make and extra room for her inside the dormitories." Dumbledore looked at Snape who nodded in agreement.
"Should we move her tonight Albus?" McGonagall asked in calm tone, but Ginny could see her eyes shimmer and worried that the woman might begin to cry.
"The sooner the better Minerva. Ginevra, do you have anything to say?"
Ginny shook her head, not trusting her voice to speak. She was switching to Slytherin and getting her own room. She was in complete shock.
"I will need to pack." She said softly, wondering how she was going to face her brother after she told him what she was doing.
"No need my dear. The house elves will take care of that." Dumbledore stood and smiled at them.
"Minerva, you will inform the Gryffindors of the change and Severus, you will take Ginevra to the Slytherin common room and explain to your house of the change. The room should be ready by the time you are finished. Good luck Ginevra."
She smiled up at him and nodded her thanks as the chairs disappeared as they stood. McGonagall left first and Snape followed with Ginny behind him.
I know my chapters are short, but it seems right to cut them up instead of keeping them all in one chapter. They don't get much longer for the next few chapters so just enjoy. :)
Thanks for the reviews, I love reading them.