Chapter 3

Saturday November 2nd, 1997
Hogsmeade Village
High Street
8:23 a.m.

Ginny spent the following week practically walking on eggshells, especially where her brother and his friends were concerned. The last thing she wanted was word of what she was planning getting back to her mother before she was ready to let the world know. She made sure she was never around when Ron was and if she couldn't prevent it she always made sure she was hidden among the shadows, something she was infinitely good at. She also spent most of the week holed up in her room, locked safely behind her bed curtains reading the books Millicent had lent her, trying to prepare herself for what she was getting herself into.

Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny, which meant that every student in sixth and seventh year would be making their way down to the village right after breakfast so Ginny decided to skip breakfast all together. Bypassing the Great Hall, she quickly made her way through the Entrance Hall and out into the early morning sunshine, arriving in the village a short while later. Ginny made her way down the almost empty High Street to the Crystal Rose, the same establishment that she had been to with Josephine and Eva on both prior occasions, greeted by James once more and escorted back to the salon where Josephine and Eva were waiting for her.

"Good morning Ginny, you're here much earlier than we expected," Eva smiled as she set her fork down.

"Morning Eva, Josette," Ginny greeted quietly, still rather nervous in the presence of the two nobles. "I didn't want to get cornered by my brother and his friends so I skipped breakfast."

"In that case, have a seat and we'll have something brought for you," Josephine smiled. "The rest of the girls won't be here for an hour at least so you have time to sit back and relax."

"Rest of the girls?" asked Ginny curiously, a slight note of worry and concern in her voice.

"There are three other noble daughters that Josie was given the wonderful job of training. One is her cousin Gabby, the other two attend Hogwarts."

"You would know Gabrielle's sister," Josephine nodded. "Fleur Delacour?"

"She's not like her sister is she?" asked Ginny worriedly.

"Oh good heavens no," Eva waved her hand as James appeared to ask if Ginny would like anything. After he left she shook her head. "Gabby is the complete opposite of Fleur."

"Thank the Goddess for that," mumbled Ginny.

"Hear hear," Josephine smiled. "The other two girls are Seventh years. Millicent and Pansy..."

"Parkinson and Bulstrode?"

"Sí," Eva agreed.

"Well that would explain the other week," commented Ginny.

"Oh?" Josephine asked as Ginny's food arrived.

"The week I first ran into you, when you told me about all this for the first time. I was coming from the library after trying to get the books back that I had returned. I ran into Draco in the hall, much the same way I did to you Josette. I figured I was dead anyways so I didn't do anything. They helped me to my feet and told me they thought that what I'd done for my brother and Harry had taken a lot of guts. They told me that if I ever wanted to talk about anything or if I wanted to read some books to let them know," Ginny told them.

"Well both Milli and Pans are very sweet and kind when they are allowed to be themselves. But to be honest we're partially responsible for them suddenly being nice to you..." Eva began.

"You are?"

"After we realized that you were Lord Prewett's granddaughter I told them that it was alright for them to ... let the shields I suppose you could say... down around you," Josephine explained.

"Oh," replied Ginny.

"Is that okay little one?" Josephine asked softly.

"I don't really know. I mean, I was so surprised when they were nice to me since they've only ever been harsh and cruel towards me, at least when they bothered to take notice of me. Mind you it was nice to be able to talk to someone about what's been happening. Someone that I know isn't going to go to tell my brother or my parents about anything I don't want them to know," Ginny admitted. "It's hard I guess because I've never really had friends since I started Hogwarts."

"Little one, things will be much different now. After you've been with us for a few 'lessons', if you choose to leave... you'd still have friends in each of us that are part of this circle. We aren't going to turn our backs on you Ginny."

Ginny nodded, not quite sure what to say.

"You're probably wondering what will happen today and tomorrow though," Eva offered as a chance to change the subject.

"I've been wondering about that all week actually," Ginny admitted quietly.

"Well, you're going to get spoiled rotten quite frankly," Josephine smirked. "We're going to Paris actually."

"P…Paris," Ginny said, chocking on her tea.

"Oui," Josephine smiled softly. "It's the best place to go for a day out. We're all going to spend some time getting pampered, and then we're going shopping."

"Shopping, oh how I love that word," a new voice spoke from the doorway.

Ginny spun around when she heard the strange voice behind her.

"Ginny, this is Gabrielle Delacour," Josephine began with a smile as the door shut behind the blonde woman who continued to breeze into the room and drop into a chair unceremoniously. "Gabby, this is Ginny Weasley."

"Wonderful to meet you Ginny," Gabby grinned, "Forgive my rather interesting entrance, I've been looking forward to being free of my classes and expectations all week."

"Expectations?" asked Ginny, confusion evident in her voice.

"Oh hon, you're going to quickly learn the downside to being noble," Gabby sighed. "We have to be perfect to the outside world; we're expected to be cold and high and mighty as it were. Around everyone else we are what we are, around ourselves, we're friends."

"All of us look forward to the times when we can just be us," Eva agreed with a smile.

"It can't be any worse than being invisible to everyone around you," countered Ginny, a hint of sadness entering her voice.

"No, I imagine it isn't," Gabrielle agreed.

"How exactly am I supposed to pay for all this pampering and shopping? My family barely has enough to get our school supplies every year. I mean I don't even have my own wand," commented Ginny.

"Girl, there is one plus to having a Malfoy for a friend, she's got no one else to give gifts to seeing as her brother has even more money than she does," Gabby giggled.

"But I…I couldn't…"

"Gin," Josephine began with a smile. "Think of it this way, it's a loan for now. You've got sixteen years of allowances you were denied from your family inheritance. When you get access to them, you can pay me back alright?"

Ginny nodded, Josephine's offer making her feel better.

"Good," Josephine smiled. "And I think I hear James coming with our final two..."

"You're entirely too good at that," Eva shook her head just as the door opened.

"Mistress Parkinson and Mistress Bulstrode," James introduced before disappearing from the room.

"About time you two got here," Gabby smirked.

"Hush Gabby," Millicent snapped lightly, a smile playing around her lips and her usual malice missing. "Ginny, good to see you," she continued with a grin.

"Hello," replied Ginny.

"Hi Ginny," Pansy smiled. "Gabby, Eva, Josette; where's Seraphine?" she asked as she took a chair.

"Waiting for us, didn't want to scare the life out of Ginny completely after all," Josephine smiled.

"Bloody cat scares the life out of anyone," Millicent rolled her eyes. "Don't know why you couldn't have a normal familiar."

"I do, she's an owl," Josephine argued lightly. "There are no rules saying you can't have a pet. Mine just happens to be a jaguar."

"A jaguar?" asked Ginny in shock.

"Exactly," Pansy nodded, her point being proven.

"It's not that unusual," Josephine sighed exasperated. "Oui Ginny, I have a jaguar as a pet. Her name is Seraphine, she's seven years old and is exceptionally docile. I'll admit she can be protective and if anyone comes towards me or anyone with me with any sort of threatening feeling, she puts herself between them and us and looks very much like the wild cat she is. But she's normally exceptionally gentle, a rather large kitty cat at times."

"Large is the key word," Gabrielle teased. "Better to warn you now Ginny, Seraphine is seven-feet in length, over two-hundred pounds and is over two-feet tall."

"Alright, alright," Josephine sighed. "Can we stop picking on my cat and head towards the City of Love?"

"Yes please," agreed Ginny. "The sooner we get out of here, the less likely I am to run into my brother in town."

"And there lies the true blessing of the Crystal Rose," Eva grinned as she stood. "They have their own private Floo point."

"Thank the Goddess for that," commented Ginny quietly, not looking forward to seeing her brother if she could avoid it.

"Relax little one, we're going to do as much as we can to keep your brother and family from ruining this weekend and those to follow," Josephine smiled before offering her hand. "Come on little one, let's go introduce you to Seraphine and then we can take the Crossroads to Paris."

Ginny nodded as she took Josephine's hand, allowing the older woman to lead her from the room.

Less than an hour later, they had arrived at their hotel for the night in Paris, Ginny a bit surprised to learn they were staying at a Muggle hotel. Though when she saw the extravagant rooms she wasn't quite sure which surprised her more, the fact it was a Muggle hotel or that the marble bathroom had a sauna and steam room.

Before Ginny had a chance to really see anything in their suite though, they were on their way to the hotel spa and a private VIP room waiting for them. The next five hours were spent being completely pampered; massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. They had a brief lunch while they were receiving their pedicures and Ginny quickly found herself becoming extremely relaxed, not just physically but mentally. She got a chance to see a complete other side to these women she had seen either in person or read of in papers for years, and as they had said, behind the outer shells were nice and caring people. Who seemed to have no other desire than to make her one of their new best friends.

Just when she was starting to get her head around everything, Ginny was being swept off to the wizarding side of Paris to meet Jozséf and Pierre. Jozséf, she learned briefly, accompanied Josephine everywhere she went - she wasn't sure if that meant he was a bodyguard or a companion... She never had a chance to really think about it when she found herself in a chair in front of a large mirror, and Pierre standing behind her with a rather scary look on his face.

An hour later, her once waist-length, rather dull hair was now shoulder-length with layers and had a whole new shine, in part to a few highlights. Her skin as well had a new glow to it, the facial having done wonders before and then Pierre having completed the transformation. Ginny survived being plucked and prodded - she had a feeling they were just being evil and having her eyebrows plucked the Muggle way when wands were close by... Regardless though, by the time Pierre was done and she was allowed to see herself in the mirror once more, Ginny was shocked. Staring back at her was a person she barely recognized, her freckles were gone and she had a healthy glow. She knew she wore make-up but she couldn't tell where it was and where it wasn't... and her hair had a whole new life.

"Girl, you look fantastic!" Gabrielle squealed.

"I look like a stranger," countered Ginny as she stared at her reflection.

"No, you look like Ginny Weasley who I met a few weeks ago," Josephine countered as she leaned over the back of the chair so her chin rested slightly on Ginny's shoulder. "You were gorgeous when I met you little one, this is just bringing you out from of the shadows. About time everyone noticed the ray of light that is you," she whispered conspiratorially.

"This is going to take some getting used to," Ginny admitted with a smile. "But I don't think it will be all that hard."

"Good," Josephine smiled before straightening. "Come on girl, we have much more shopping to do today. And dear Jozséf has already made arrangements for us for some of our favourite stores."

"Why does she get Joe and the rest of us get just ourselves for protection and all those other things he does for her?" Gabrielle asked as they watched Josephine step away with Jozséf for a moment.

"Because she's the Countess de Winters and is the only female heir of Pendragon," Pansy countered. "You think she can care for Camelot without having an assistant?"

"True," Gabrielle agreed.

"Oh, wait until you see Camelot Ginny, you're going to adore it," Millicent smiled. "And Avalon... you think you're in heaven when you visit Avalon. It's so beautiful there..."

"It sounds it from what I read in those books you leant me Milli. Thanks by the way," replied Ginny.

"Your welcome," Millicent smiled. "Come on, let's go. We're having a shopping spree, and I need to find something for the Winter Ball, so you're not getting completely spoiled if you're worried about it," she added with a wink before Gabrielle pulled Ginny from her chair.

"We all need something for the Ball," Josephine agreed as she joined them. "So we're going to see Anne-Marie first..."

"Perfect," Pansy grinned. "Anne-Marie has the best everyday clothes."

"Be afraid, be very afraid," Eva whispered in Ginny's ear as she walked by, sending a grin back at Ginny. "Those two are more fashion crazy for everyday clothes than my family is for our horses."

"Your family is obsessed with your horses," Gabrielle shot back with a smirk. "The Álvarez family breeds Lipizzaners. You'll get to see a few when we take you riding in a few weeks."

"Riding? As in actually on a horse?" gulped Ginny.

"Stop trying to scare her," Josephine admonished lightly before linking her arm with Ginny's and pulling her away slightly so they would actually start towards their next destination. "Oui little one, as in on a horse. It's another thing that you've missed out on, but relax Gin. I'm going to start you on the most gentle of the horses in my stable. And we won't push you into anything elaborate, just calmly walking."

"That's good…I guess," Ginny gulped.

"Much of the wizarding world as you know has forgotten many of the things we took for granted during the years under the great kings," Eva smiled as she joined them. "Riding is one of the many traditions that we have carried on. But it's not something that is a requirement. Many of us ride simply as a way to give us an escape. When we go out to give the horses a chance to exercise, we don't have to deal with the laws and rules of society. But if you are uncomfortable riding Ginny, you don't have to continue. We're just going to give you the chance to try and see if you like it."

"Okay," agreed Ginny. "I've just never been around a horse before. They seem so big."

"I'll let you in on a secret," Gabby smirked. "They are big. But they can be the most gentle creatures in the world."

"I'll take your word on that Gabby," commented Ginny.

"For now," Gabrielle grinned before skipping out ahead of them to the Muggle limousine.

"Don't worry about the horses for now," Josephine smiled. "Let's go enjoy some shopping."

Ten minutes later the vehicle was pulling up to Anne-Marie's Boutique. Everyone piled out of the car and strolled into the store. Initially it was completely empty before a woman in her early thirties came from the back. "Bonjour, Milady Winters!" she greeted as she crossed the room to Josephine's side and they kissed cheeks before she stepped back. "Jozséf said you were coming, and you brought the girls... And this, we have a new one?"

"Oui," Josephine smiled. "This is Ginny, Ginny this is Anne-Marie, the best designer in all Paris."

"Hello," Ginny said quietly.

"She exaggerates so," Anne-Marie laughed. "Simply beautiful," she continued as she circled Ginny. "Royals... Blues and Greens especially I think. Nothing exceptionally revealing..." nodding she turned and rang a bell. "We will have such fun today," she grinned as other employees came from behind curtains.

Ginny soon found herself completely overwhelmed by the sheer insanity that was going on around her. People were running around and clothes were quickly piling beside her. Then she was being pushed towards a dressing area, Pansy and Millicent with her and all the clothes.

"Pansy! Are you nuts!" cried Ginny from inside the dressing room.

"I think she just found that emerald halter that Pans found," Eva shook her head.

"I knew she was going to freak," Gabrielle chuckled. "Wait until she finds that blue dress," she grinned evilly.

"Wait, are you talking about the dress that Anne-Marie made that you've been dying for but it's not your size?" Josephine asked surprised as she looked at her cousin. "Gabrielle Angelica Delacour! That dress ends two-inches above the knees..."

"So? It would be cute on her," she defended herself.

"We're so making sure she realizes you're the one responsible for that," Eva shook her head.

Another shriek from the dressing area revealed that Ginny had no doubt found 'the dress', and the three women exchanged glances before Eva and Josephine stepped back from Gabrielle.

"Hey!" Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "What happened to supporting each other through everything?"

"When it comes to another woman being pissed about clothing, you're on your own," Josephine countered with a smile before patting Gabrielle on her shoulder. "Relax, Pans and Milli will help you, since they're going to be in the same boat after all."

"Zut!" Gabrielle huffed before shaking her head and watching as Josephine left them to walk to the dressing room.

"Alright girls, let her be in peace," Josephine ordered lightly before Pansy and Millicent groaned then made their way out of the dressing area. "You decent in there little one?"

"If you could call it that," replied Ginny petulantly. "I can't be seen in public like this."

"Can I come in?"

Ginny quickly grabbed her sweater from earlier and put it on over what she was currently wearing. "Okay."

"How bad is it?" Josephine asked with a smile.

"You can't honestly expect me to wear this in public," countered Ginny holding her sweater tightly.

"I can't see it, therefore I can't agree or disagree little one," she countered gently.

Ginny sighed and closed her eyes before pulling her sweater off over her head, quickly wrapping her arms around her waist protectively.

Raising one eyebrow, Josephine took in the low cut halter top that showed off Ginny's stomach, along with a pair of tight fitting hip hugger jeans. It was actually very cute, but since she wasn't comfortable in it yet... "Well, if you don't like it, then you don't have to get it little one. Why don't we focus on things that aren't quite as revealing for now?" she offered with a smile.

"Yes please," replied Ginny.

"Alright then," she smiled before turning and looking through the remaining outfits. "Here, try this one..." she continued as she held up a knee-length dark blue velvet dress with long sleeves.

Ginny took the dress from Josephine and waited until the older woman had stepped outside before changing into the new outfit. This one making her feel much more comfortable. The sleeves were tight fitting to her arms and finished just below her wrist bones. The bottom of the dress flared out at her knees and she was even comfortable with the low slung back of the dress since the front was a solid piece of fabric from where it circled the front of her neck.

"Now that is you," Josephine grinned. "Okay, you and I are going to sit and go through everything in this pile to find things that you like and then you can torture those three on our way to the next boutique."

"Thank you," Ginny said with a smile of relief as she sat down next to Josephine.

"Oh by the Goddess, I can't believe they picked this," Josephine laughed as she held up a pair of short shorts and a piece of fabric that tied around the neck and another string that tied around the back.

"They didn't think I'd actually wear that did they?" asked Ginny in shock when she saw what Josephine was holding.

"I don't know why they thought you would," she sighed, "Eva and I tried these out last summer; the only thing they are good for is for when you're going swimming. A sarong and one of these make the best outfit when you're not swimming... But this time of year... and just because..." she trailed off shaking her head.

"I don't know if I'd ever feel comfortable wearing something like that," Ginny admitted.

"I don't think you'll have to worry little one... Something tells me we're not going to get you into a bikini any time in the near future," Josephine teased. "I think we might get Milli in one first..."

"I'm just not used to wearing clothes that actually fit. I mean my mother did the best she could but it's not easy being the youngest of seven and the only girl," Ginny shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it.

"I know little one... but you know what... give it time and you'll feel much more comfortable"

"I hope so," agreed Ginny.

The next few hours were spent dragging Ginny from boutique to boutique in both the Muggle and wizarding parts of Paris. By the time they were done, Ginny had a whole new wardrobe consisting of too many pairs of shoes to count thanks to Gabrielle, everyday clothes that she would actually wear thanks to Pansy and Millicent, after having Josephine tell them to stop thinking like themselves and more like Ginny would. Josephine focused on jewelry, keeping the pieces very simple and tastefully elegant while Eva focused on robes of any and every description from school robes to everyday robes to formal robes.

The next morning Eva and Josephine sat on the balcony with breakfast, chuckling over the various moans coming from inside the suite beyond the glass. The night before they had declined the plan to go out and spend some time on the town, placing Millicent and Pansy in charge of Gabrielle and Ginny. They had actually both been up when the four came stumbling in just before dawn, drunk off their arses but quite happy... until the headaches hit.

"Do you remember when we used to do that?" Eva smirked

"Oh shut up, if Lucia or Horatio ever heard about some of the things we did... they'd lock us up in a convent."

"That's because we were fourteen," Eva countered before Josephine rolled her eyes.

"Oh enjoy bringing back memories I don't want to think of... I just know my brother will find out if I do," she shook her head as she rose. "Jozséf should be downstairs, want to go let him know that you and I will be ready soon and I'll go see if I can find someone who's awake in there to let them know we're leaving. And I'll get the hangover remedy for after they've suffered a bit..."

"You're evil," Eva called after her with a laugh before Josephine closed the glass door and crossed to the various beds. Peeking in on Ginny, she found the younger woman staring up at the ceiling, eyes bloodshot.

"I'm going to kill Pansy…once the room stops spinning," Ginny groaned as she put her arm over her eyes, only to suddenly sit up and bolt from her bed, running to the bathroom as quickly as she could, only to shriek a few minutes later.

Josephine chuckled after Ginny left, only to turn and make her way straight for the bathroom when she heard the shriek.

"Ginny?" she asked concerned as she opened the door, behind her she could hear Pansy, Millicent and Gabby all groaning at the sudden increased pounding in their heads at Ginny's cry.

"I'm gonna kill her," Ginny said as she stepped towards the door. "I don't care if the room is still spinning, I'm gonna kill her."

"Why?" Josephine asked as she reached out to brace the other woman before she fell, or ran head first into something.

"Because my mother is going to kill me when she finds out about it so I need to kill Pansy before then cause I'm not going to be able to kill her if I'm already dead which defeats the purpose of killing her in the first place," Ginny said. "This is all her fault you know. I never would have done it if she hadn't dared me to do it in the first place. So you see, I have to kill Pansy because it's all her fault."

"Ginny, stop, breathe, it's a very good thing to do..." Josephine instructed, trying not to laugh at the same time. "What did Pansy dare you to do?" she asked after Ginny took a deep breath.

"Get a tattoo," Ginny said matter of factly.

"Ahh, well welcome to the club," Josephine smiled. "Where did you get it? And you do realize that there is a lovely lotion that does mask tattoos the same as a charm would," she teased lightly.

"It's on my hip," Ginny said. "I love magic."

"So do I, and being on your hip will make it harder for your mum to see in the first place... unless you're running around in a two piece or exceptionally low hip huggers," Josephine winked. "So, what do you say we let Pansy live, but let her keep her hangover a while and I'll give you the hangover remedy now and you can join Eva and I this morning?"

"That sounds like a much better plan," Ginny agreed. "At least since it means she'll suffer longer than if I were to kill her outright."

Josephine laughed as she summoned the remedy and gave it to Ginny. "Come on, let's get you dressed. We're going to do a little bit of shopping this morning, nothing as insane as yesterday, more leisure shopping, and then we planned lunch at the Eiffel Tower..."

Ginny downed the potion, shaking her head as she felt her headache fade and the fuzziness disappear from her brain. "Sounds good," she said. "What should I wear? Anything in particular?"

"Whatever you feel like," Josephine shrugged. "I'll let you get ready and let Eva know that we're going to be a few minutes and write a note for those three... They're going to be in bed for a few hours yet."

"Good. Serves them right," Ginny said as she made her way over to where they'd piled all her purchases from the day before, pulling out something to wear and making her way back to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Shaking her head Josephine turned and quickly sent a note down to Eva before writing a letter for the three telling them to write her when they woke up - then she'd send them the remedy...

Sunday November 3rd, 1997
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Great Hall
7:28 p.m.

The rest of the day was spent playing tourist around Paris, showing Ginny the sights, Pansy, Milli and Gabby joining Ginny, Eva and Josette after lunch to take in the Louvre, the Arc du Triomphe and the Champs de L'Eysee. While they had been strolling down the street in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, Ginny had suddenly darted out into the street into oncoming traffic and scaring the crap out of everyone only to step back up onto the curb with a small puppy in her arms. The lady that owned the puppy thanked Ginny profusely and even offered to give her one of the other puppies in the litter. Knowing that pets were not allowed at Hogwarts unless they were of the specified kind, Ginny refused, even though she really wanted to accept the woman's offer seeing as she had always wanted a dog.

They had been on their way to dinner when Ginny had rescued the puppy and they had continued on their way to the little bistro, Ginny a little quieter than she had been before the incident. Pansy, Milli and Gabby were determined to get Ginny out of her funk no matter what it took and it was not long before they were all in hysterics. The good humour lasted through the rest of dinner and all the way back to the hotel where everyone gathered their things and shrunk them down so they fit into pockets and purses before making their way back to Hogsmeade the same way they came to Paris the day before.

Eva and Josephine bid farewell to Pansy, Millicent and Ginny from outside the Crystal Rose, Gabby having returned to Beauxbatons from Paris. Eva and Josephine watched the three girls make their way up the High Street of Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts before apparating from the village, shaking their heads at the continued laughter trailing behind the girls.

The laughter continued right up until they reached the front doors of the castle when each one knew they had to put on their masks for everyone else. Only problem was trying to maintain the image and refrain from laughing, which no one seemed able to do so they had to remain outside the castle for a few minutes as they tried to calm their breathing and get their giggles under control.

Once they had managed to get their breathing and by extension their giggles under control the three girls quickly made their way into the Entrance Hall. Unfortunately for Ginny, she was unaccustomed to wearing her new shoes on the stone floor of the castle and her feet went flying out from underneath her, sending her crashing to the floor, causing Pansy and Millicent to immediately rush to her side to see if she was hurt. When they reached her, Ginny had her hands over her face and appeared to be crying.

"Ginny are you all right?" asked Millicent in concern; afraid her friend was seriously hurt, only to have Ginny nod.

"Let's get you up then," Pansy suggested as she held out her hand towards Ginny.

As Ginny took Pansy and Millicent's hands, she was forced to take her hands away from her face, revealing the fact that she was not in fact crying but giggling once more, immediately setting the other two off as well.

As Pansy and Millicent were helping Ginny up off the floor and back to her feet, Ron, Harry and Hermione were in the process of making their way down the grand staircase towards the Great Hall. "Who's that?" asked Ron as they stopped on the stairs to watch the scene in front of them.

"Look's like Parkinson and Bulstrode," commented Hermione.

"Not them, the one with them," countered Ron. "Whoever she is, she's hot."

"Ron, you do realize that's your sister right? That's Ginny with them," Hermione pointed out when she caught sight of the mystery girl's face.

"WHAT?" cried Ron in outrage, catching the attention of the three girls in the Entrance Hall, sobering them quickly.

"Please tell me that voice doesn't belong to who I think it does," pleaded Ginny, not wanting to turn around.

"Ginevra Molly Weasley, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Ron demanded as he strode over and grabbed Ginny by the arm and spun her around, taking in her appearance in the process. He did not like the fact that his sister was standing before him in a pair of well fitted jeans, a slim fitted white v-neck t-shirt, black boots with what appeared to be a three inch heel and a fitted knee length black leather jacket. "What the hell are you wearing?" he demanded. "Mum is going to have a fit," he said as he started dragging Ginny into the Great Hall.

"Hey, leave her alone," Pansy growled.

"Step away from your sister Weasley," Millicent ordered as she and Pansy both stepped forward to block his progress.

"Back off you slimy Slytherins," Ron growled. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Ron let me go, you're hurting me," Ginny pleaded quietly from behind him where he'd stopped when Pansy and Millicent got in his way.

"You heard her Weasley," Millicent growled as she stepped around to grab him around the wrist on the arm that was holding Ginny, her nails digging into his skin, the longer he didn't let go the harder she pressed her nails.

"Ron maybe you should just let Ginny go," Harry suggested.

"Stay out of this Harry. She's my sister and I'll deal with her until Mum can punish her properly," Ron snapped, still refusing to let go of Ginny's wrist, in fact tightening his grip more, causing Ginny to cry out in pain and collapse to the floor, tears in her eyes.

Millicent growled once more before promptly, and quickly, dragging her nails up his arm as she let go, she wasn't going to give him reason to tighten his grip on Ginny.

Before he had a chance to do anything though, Ron felt the familiar feeling of a wand tip pressed against the back of his head. "I would let go of your sister Weasley," Blaise's voiced echoed in the otherwise quiet room. "You have two seconds before I put you in a body bind and remove your hand from her myself. And if I break your hand in the process I have no qualms."

"Get the hell away from me Zabini," ordered Ron as he hauled Ginny to her feet and wrapped his arm around her waist and started dragging her towards the Great Hall.

"Oh he did not," Blaise muttered before smirking as Draco, who was leaning against the Great Hall doors, cast the spell at Ron's head. Then stepped forward to hold Ron up with one hand, a look of disgust on his face over the fact he had to touch the Weasel, so Ron wouldn't fall and bring Ginny with him.

"Stupid git," Blaise muttered before crossing over to the three in two steps, and pulling Ron's arm away from Ginny so she could get away. At which point both men let go of their weak hold on Ron and he fell to the floor.

"Ginny!" Pansy cried before she and Millicent rushed towards her, both tripping on Ron... though how was beyond Ginny since Ron was behind her and they were in front of her... "You okay girl?" she asked softly.

"Other than my wrist feeling like it's about to fall off, I'm okay," Ginny said quietly as she wiped away her tears.

"Ginny are you all right?" asked Hermione as she and Harry stopped about a foot away from where Ginny was standing with Pansy and Millicent.

"Would you like to go to the hospital wing and get your wrist looked at?" Blaise whispered, giving her an option not to talk to the two.

"Yes please," Ginny replied quietly looking up at Blaise. "Thank you."

"No problem," he smiled before Pansy slipped an arm in Ginny's unharmed one, and Millicent slipped her arm around Ginny's waist from the other side so she wouldn't aggravate the wrist - the two quickly and silently leading her away. "You might want to get him to Madame Pomfrey too," he shrugged before turning and following after the three, Draco joining him as they walked.

Harry and Hermione stood there and watched Ginny walk off with the four Slytherins before turning to look at each other and then at where Ron lay. Deciding against removing the body bind curse until they reached the hospital wing, they levitated Ron's body and floated him up there, knowing exactly how he'd react when he came to and not wanting to create an even bigger scene then they already had.

Sunday November 3rd, 1997
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Common Room
9:41 p.m.

"Where is Miss Weasley?" demanded Minerva later that evening when she entered the Gryffindor Common Room.

"She's up in her room Professor," replied Hermione from her spot between Harry and Ron on the floor near the fireplace.

"Go and fetch her Miss Granger. The Headmaster wishes to see all of you immediately," Minerva instructed.

"All of us Professor?" asked Harry as Hermione made her way upstairs.

"Yes Potter, Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Miss Weasley in his office as we speak," Minerva said.

Hermione and Ginny made their way downstairs a few minutes later and the four students fell into place behind their professor as they made their way through the corridors towards Albus' office, Ginny trailing behind the other three.

When they arrived, they found the office was occupied by Professor Snape, Pansy, Millicent, Draco, and Blaise along with the Headmaster. Ginny immediately sat next to Pansy and Millicent, ignoring the looks from the Gryffindors in the room – past and present.

"Mr. and Miss. Weasley, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Albus nodded towards them. "You're all probably wondering why you're here…"

"Yes sir," Hermione spoke up, the Slytherins remaining silent, not even watching the Headmaster as he spoke.

"I would like to hear an explanation of what happened in the Entrance Hall earlier this evening," he began. "A student witnessed Mr. Malfoy placing a body bind spell on Mr. Weasley, which I have been informed by Madame Pomfrey, when she removed the spell she found Mr. Weasley to have a broken arm, five deep lacerations on the same arm, three broken ribs and two cracked…"

"It was those two who broke my ribs, and Bulstrode is the one that scratched me," Ron spoke up glaring at the two female Slytherins.

"Thank you Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore nodded. "Miss. Parkinson, Miss Bulstrode, Mr. Malfoy… do any of you have an explanation for your actions?"

Pansy slowly sat up and looked towards him. "Well Professor, Ginny, Milli and I returned from our weekend of training and Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Ginny's brother came down the stairs and saw us. I'm not really sure what Weasley's problem was, but he grabbed Ginny's arm and spun her around, and then grabbed her wrist and started dragging her towards the Great Hall. Milli and I blocked his path and he refused to let her go, even telling Mr. Potter to stay out of it and tightened his grip on Ginny's wrist. She fell to the floor in pain so Milli grabbed the wrist of the hand he was holding her with and tried to get him to let go, he only increased the pressure so she scratched him hoping the pain might make him let go."

"It didn't though," Millicent continued. "Blaise and Draco had come upon us and he stepped forward to help, telling Weasley he'd put him in a body bind if he had to to get him to stop hurting his sister. Ron laughed, told him to try it and dragged Ginny to her feet and wrapped his arm around her waist as he started dragging her towards the Great Hall once more. Draco was behind them and cast the spell simply to stop him so we could get Ginny free. Blaise had no choice but to break his arm in the process of getting Ginny free. As for Weasley's ribs, Pansy and I accidentally tripped over him when we were trying to get to Ginny, it wasn't on purpose."

"Miss Weasley," Albus prompted

"Yes sir?" asked Ginny.

"Do you have anything to add or clarify?"

"No sir," replied Ginny. "Mr. Zabini, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson and Miss Bulstrode were simply trying to help me sir."

Albus nodded before looking over at Harry and Hermione, "Do you two have anything to add?"

"No sir," replied Hermione.

"No Professor," replied Harry.

"Well, it appears to me that all of this is traced back to you being away from the school for the weekend Miss Weasley, as such I am denying you the privilege to continue with these weekend sessions. Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, Mr. Weasley, Miss. Parkinson, Miss. Bulstrode, and Miss. Weasley: each of you are to spend the next week in detention, your Head of House will have who you are supposed to spend the detention with each day starting tomorrow."

"But Professor…" Ron began as Ginny remained silent, not challenging the decision.

"Mr. Weasley, you did injure your sister…" Dumbledore countered evenly. "All of you are dismissed," he continued

Everyone rose and quickly left the Headmaster's office; once they were gone Dumbledore picked up a piece of parchment and began a letter to Molly.

"Thanks a lot Ginny," Ron snapped once everyone was back in the hall outside Dumbledore's office. "Wait until Mum hears about this."

"Hey, why don't you leave her alone and quit running to your mother like a two-year-old tattler," Pansy snapped.

"You're the one who started all this Weasley," Millicent added rolling her eyes.

"Why can't the two of you just mind your own bloody business," snapped Ron in irritation. "Let's go Ginny," he said as he started to walk away, only to stop a few feet away when he realized Ginny was not with him. "Now Ginny," he ordered.

Without looking at anybody around her Ginny silently stepped towards her brother, her eyes downcast.

"We aren't going to mind our business Weasley, Ginny is our friend and you can't control who she chooses as friends," Millicent countered evenly before looking at Ginny. "You don't have to listen to him Ginny," she continued softly.

"Thank you for the weekend," Ginny said quietly, a hint of sad acceptance in her voice. "I'll cherish the memories for a lifetime. Goodbye," she said as she finally walked over to Ron.

"I'm sorry girls," Blaise sighed after Ginny, and the other Gryffindors had disappeared.

"This isn't over," Pansy argued with a determined look. "Come on Milli, we have a letter to write. Weasley isn't winning this one... she's going to be furious," she added with a pleased smirk.

"Poor Dumbledore," Millicent snickered as they made their way towards the dungeon.