Author's Note:
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Disclaimer: Don't own anything!

Chapter 2 – When Harry Met Ginny

"My Gosh Ginny! How did you do it?" asked Esmeralda, her eyes puzzled as she looked at me in between furrowed brows.

"What?" I pretended not to notice her amazement hoping we will change the subject soon. I hate discussing to anybody the freaky things happening in my life.

"I mean...your notes walking straight at your feet. As if they've got a mind of their own." We have just gone back to my room. I was sprawled in my bed while Esmeralda, sat quietly in a chair by the window.

"Dunno. I guess there's a ghost in this house," I just said hoping she will stop pestering me.

I saw the scared "Oh!" of Esmeralda as she put her hand on her mouth. Esmeralda was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Herring, and almost the same age as I was maybe only two or three months younger. We grew up and went to school together. People always mistook me as the daughter of the house because she never inherited her mother's boldness and smartness. I had always been the pride of Mrs. Herring if only not for the numerous mischief and unfortunate accidents that always happen when I was around. Trees falling, glasses breaking, alarms setting off, I don't know. Things just happen. And the strangest of it all was that whenever I think of something to happen, it does happen. Like when the gang of Dudley Dursley raided our hidden cabin (we call it a cabin but actually, it was just a small enclosed wood shaped like a cabin that Esmeralda's dad built for us to play around) along the meadow at the back of Herring's house. I was busy trying to collect some woods with my friend Viola Watson for our camp fire when Piers Polkiss walked in and kicked off the woods off my hand. I glared at him and wished the woods will smack his face and beat his legs uncontrollably. To everybody's surprise, the woods flew off in the air and beat him all over his body. I then kicked his back legs and he fell on the ground earning loud laughs from us. Dudley as leader of the gang shoved us but I stood in front and faced him. After a few minute, he just said " Come on guys! " but not after threatening me " Watch out Weasley!". Esmeralda was always glad to have me as her surrogate sister because whenever I was around, nobody bullied her. In fact, she was lost without me. I could never be alone long because she would seek me out; she had no desire for her own company. She was afraid of her mother, afraid of the dark and afraid of life.

Summer had just begun when I started working for the Carter's. I was a little bit rebellious for I felt I was still too young to earn a living. Is this legal? Isn't this a plain exploitation of minors? Mrs. Herring said it was just around two or three hours part time. As if I was not aware she just wanted to emphasize how a poor relation in the family should stand. "I had been responsible for you since you were young, I spent for your school, and so on..." as if every penny she spent on me was a loan that I should repay in the years to come. And so as it went right after household chores in the morning, assisting in the kitchen, cleaning the house, tending the garden, I have to go to the convenience store of the Carter's in the afternoon to assist her with her records.

The sun was scorching hot that day, a clear blue sky and clouds shining silver. It was a day to be remembered for it was the first time I saw him, my third day working at the convenience store. My job was just easy for I would just sort papers, receipts from suppliers, encode data on the computer. Only few customers came in that afternoon Mrs. Stuart for her favourite toppings on her summer shake and marmalade and Mrs. Arabella Figgs for her dozen of cats. Mrs. Figgs had just left when the door opened with a loud screech and my eyes gazed at the door. There he was entering the door striding smoothly, his tousled black hair moving swiftly as he walked inside. He was alone, a newspaper in hand. My eyes never left him as I watched him from the corner of my eyes. He was just oh!...handsome as he made his way towards the counter where I did my work. Black hair, green emerald eyes and a glass that emphasized his good looks and face... He did not notice me staring at him with awe mesmerized at how gracefully he moved around. He was concentrating on the paper he was holding, engrossed in its content as he walked around the stalls. I wondered if he was searching for something or just wandering off inside the store just to read the paper. I could make out the name of the newspaper "The Daily Prophet". I stopped writing, put my hand under my chin and watched him gladly as he moved around, delighted that he did not seem to notice my stare. He was so absorbed with what he was reading. Suddenly a pile of sodas at the edge of the corner fell over him and as he tried to avoid them, he slipped and fell on the floor with a loud thud. "Oh!" was all he said. He looked around and when he saw me he said "Sorry for that!" I smiled and stood up, walked to his side but he had just recovered quickly and was up at his feet before I was there. A part of his polo shirt was caught by the tiny protruding metal of the stall that a button fell off and flew a few feet away. He was so embarrassed as he saw me staring at him. He muttered again another "Sorry" before he walked fluidly, his back to me and headed for the door. I stood frozen at the floor staring blankly after him. I felt a little bit hurt with the way he avoided me. I was hoping one way or another he would say, "Oh! sorry for that. I am _and you are?" the usual thing. I gathered the pile of sodas and rearranged them at the side when I noticed the button lying on the floor. I didn't know what hit me but I picked it up and put it inside my pocket. Well, a remembrance from Mr Whoever He Is.

I was writing and rewriting notes that night when I remembered the button. Standing up, I quickly searched for my clothes in the hamper and yes, gotcha! then returned to the table and got my black marker and put a smiley just below the two holes. I smiled as I stared at the happy face of Mr. Button. That night, I dreamt of a guy with green eyes and black tousled hair with round rim glasses.

In my dream, I was walking on the street then suddenly I saw him among the crowd. I smiled at him and to my surprise, he began to follow me. I kept walking fast pacing the street, then suddenly he caught my arm and said " Err. I hope you're not in a hurry. Can we stop and talk awhile?" His face was cute and his skin glistening in the sunlight. I can't believe there's a guy in this world as beautiful as he. I was blushing all over and when he led me to a coffee shop, he said "I will not let this day pass without getting to know you Miss…?" I felt myself melting and when he opened the door, I suddenly disappeared from nowhere. Gosh! Did I really melt?

What a funny dream! Esmeralda was delighted and full of excitement as I told her about my work at the store and meeting or sorry seeing Mr. Button. After all, it's not everyday you get a chance to meet the man of your dreams. "Oh, was he handsome? Did he look at you? What did he say?" "None. Maybe next time he will talk to me." And we giggled wishing Monday, he will drop at the store and I will corner him for a good healthy conversation. Esmeralda reminded me that weekend, we have to go to the country house of the Herrings. I was not at all that excited to see the country side. Besides, I want Monday to come because...well, he might really drop by at the store and talk to me.

The country house of the Herrings was near the hilly part of Wiltshire, England. It was here where Esmeralda and I learned to ride horses. Madame Lorelei would visit some of her friends, help at the church fete and indulge in the country activities of the gentry. The Herrings had a neighbour, the rich and aristocratic Malfoys. The Malfoy Manor was bordered by a highly-manicured hedge, tall fence with a huge wrought iron gate and beautifully manicured lawn with a large fountain. It was surrounded by tall trees and different kinds of vines grew on its hedge that the manor was partially hidden from view from passersby in the main street. Mrs. Herring prided herself being close to the Malfoys because during summers like these, we get invited to a dinner by Narcissa Malfoy because her son Draco will be home away from Hogwarts and we get to meet and bond together. Mrs. Herring had this nasty ambition and was very hopeful that one day, Draco and Esmeralda will get married and the family name Herring will be attached to the honourable name of the Malfoys. Well, she always got disappointed because it was obvious Narcissa Malfoy seemed to be more fond of me than Esmeralda. She was always attentive to me. "Draco, please show Ginny the new horse you've got for Christmas" or "Draco, please be kind enough to tour Ginny along the garden after tea..." much to the raised eyebrow of Madame Lorelei Herring. "Hmp! Why take notice to the poor relation," I heard her muttered under her breath.

That night right after dinner as we were walking towards the stable, Esmeralda asked

"Draco, where is Hogwarts?"

"Oh, somewhere far from here."

"Why do your parents send you to a far away school when you could have studied nearby?"

"Well, my father insists I go to a special school"

"Special meaning they teach you special skills and talents?" I asked.

"Yeah. They extract your best skill and develop it."
"Wonderful! It could be a school exclusively just for the rich," Esmeralda snide as she strode faster and went ahead of us.

"Yes and they will not accept you there Esmeralda. They do not accept small brains."

"Draco!", I snapped."That's a nasty thing to say."

"I'm just being honest."

"Draco, apologize to Esmeralda," I said as I ran towards Esmeralda who ran as fast as she could, hurt. When Draco caught up with me, he whispered " Know what Ginny! You can go to Hogwarts. And we could be in the same house. Slytherin."

"I don't have time messing up with arrogant people like you," I said as I joined Esmeralda. I hate it when people make fun of Esmeralda. In all her simplicity, she was my friend and confidante. Draco just smirked.

In a far away land, where the sun seemed hotter than most part of the world, where snow was never heard of and trees never lose their green, a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. His long robe made a soft rustle sound as he walked over dried leaves and twigs in the dim forest. A small twig caught the hem of his robe and he yanked it with his right hand and the twig fell off apart. It would still be a couple of hours before the sun will rise and hope he could reach the island before the first set of gleam will reach the shore. Travelling was not always as hard as these in the older days. Tele transportation was as easy as possible. But ever since the Dark Side sealed off all possible portals, it would be hard to just appear anywhere. They will know it. Just a snap of hand will alert their mind. The seven portals will not open, not until the heiress of the island will turn eighteen. They had been living in the dark ever since, waiting for the right time, waiting for the right moment. Being the Elder of the Sacred Knowledge, he needed to protect everything making sure everything will be in its right place when the time comes. He had heard of the penetration of the Dark Lord from the West. An alliance made by his enemies with the Dark Arts a man they call Lord Voldemort. A surge of anger snapped in his inside. They had been revealing the secret of their magic to foreigners. His spies had told him they even taught him the secret of flying using the mind and some dark magic…in their hope to gain world power. He was afraid of the wrath of the Supreme Being. Their continent, the continent of his ancestors, was lost the last time he demolished them all. Now, the land and its ruins lay far beneath the ocean floor.

He reached his destination soon. He was surprised how fast he had travelled. He was deep in thought. He needed to appear before the Council of Elders and they had been waiting for him. He closed his eyes and disappeared among the rocks.

R&R!