A/N: IMPORTANT NOTICE: This story may end up being bumped up to 'M' depending on how well I can convey my ideas of war. This means that my fights if I can do them right will end up not pleasant at all.
There will be no lemons (I'm terrible at them and if I can't stop cringing when I read them than I'm sure you won't be able to either).
There might be limes, but it isn't very likely to get too heated.
And, yes I did blatently advertise Hachiko because I absolutely fell in love with his story and feel others should know it too.
DISCLAIMER: SEE CHAPTER ONE!
Sunday was another free day to do whatever they wanted; Ron was secretly practicing his charms and looking up whatever he could about Natural Charmers. He continued to make notes in the difference in his charms. Harry was practicing his wand movements, aim and agility to improve his dueling skills; Lord Voldemort might not be a threat here, but he will have to face him in the future. Not to mention Harry doesn't know what threat he might have to face during his and his friends' journey. Ginny was working on her book for Care for Magical Creatures. She and Hermione flipped a Muggle coin to see who got to write it while waiting for Sabin to fix up their wands yesterday. Hermione was spending the day trying to remember all of the bones in the human body so she could start learning Healer's Arts right away.
"Hermione!" Rowena called out as the four met up to go to lunch.
"Professor?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to Hogsmeade for lunch. My family and Dawid are going to be there and they wish to get to know you better."
"I'm not sure," Hermione hesitated as she and her friends hadn't spent much time together today.
"Just go ahead Hermione," Harry said seeing her hesitance. "We met our professors' families, but you didn't get the chance. Go meet them, we'll see you later."
"Yeah, but—"
"We don't need to spend all the time together you know," Ron said. "Go have fun for once."
"I have fun all the time Ronald," Hermione automatically retorted.
"Normal fun then," Ron shot back and for once Hermione didn't have a counter to that; she knew that her idea of fun doesn't exactly fit with everyone else.
"Alright Professor, I'll go."
"Splendid! Follow me Hermione we'll take a different path then last time," Rowena chirped happily. Hermione nodded and the two headed up to the seventh floor until they stood in front of the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls ballet. Hermione was surprised; if there was some passage here she didn't know about it and neither did James Potter's Marauders since it isn't on the Marauders Map.
"Behind this portrait is a very special room," Rowena explained. "You walk back and forth three times and think about what you want and the room will provide it. Unfortunately anything created in the room cannot be taken out of it; there is also a limitation to what items can be created. The room measures how evil an item you want is and whether it should create it or not. For instance, it will refuse to create a book that shows you how to use the Evil Arts."
Hermione was amazed that such a room existed; just imagine all the books she could read in there? She will have to tell the others about this! Harry will especially love it since he's always looking for a new place to hide out.
"But, I added a secret to this room that Go, Sal and Helga have no idea about," Rowena said interrupting Hermione's thoughts. She paced back and forth three times until a door with an ornament raven appeared.
"Welcome to my secret chamber." Hermione was sincerely impressed with the room. There were bronzed ravens floating in a path with a royal blue carpet leading to giant statue of Lady Rowena Ravenclaw herself. The ceiling had the same charm the Great Hall had and was currently showed a beautiful blue sky.
"Quite beautiful isn't it?"
"Yes," Hermione said breathlessly amazed.
Rowena nodded happily and briskly walked forward towards her statue. Not wanting to be left behind, Hermione quickly followed. Rowena stepped over to the giant book statue that was by the Rowena statue's left.
"This here," she pointed to the book, "is a device of my own creation. It is a mix of a portkey and apparating. You touch the device and pour a little of magic in there and like a portkey it will take you to the designated area, but you do not take the item with you like a portkey and the feeling is the same as apparating. OH! And, to find this chamber you just ask the room to create 'Ravenclaw's Chamber' three times."
Hermione barely registered that last part in her awe of hearing about Ravenclaw's teleporting device. If rumors are true than no wards were ever created that could block it off. Quickly Hermione placed her hand on the book and waited for Rowena to activate the device. Immediately Hermione felt like she was being squeezed through a very small tube, but an instant later the sensation suddenly stopped and she found herself in a dark room with no doors.
Rowena, obviously not bothered at all, strode to the left and tapped the bottom middle brick; instantly the wall separated showing a staircase. Briskly they climbed the small staircase (only four hundred and three steps) up to where a bookcase was hiding blocking the way. Tapping the giant brown tome, the bookcase swung away to reveal a kitchen.
"Momma, I'm home!" Rowena called out.
"Ro, is that you?" A voice called out from the front.
"Who else would call you momma?" Rowena muttered to herself before calling back, "Yes and I brought my apprentice!"
Hermione turned to look at Rowena so fast her neck cracked. As far as she knew, she was only a student and not an apprentice.
When did she get that title?
"I'll explain later," Rowena whispered as a woman who could only be described as Rowena's older self came in. Indeed the only difference was that Rosellina Ravenclaw had slightly lighter hair than her daughter. You would think they were twins rather than mother and daughter.
"Hello ma'am," Hermione said politely.
"None of this 'ma'am' business," Rosellina said immediately. "Please call me Elli; it's nice to meet you Hermione."
"Where's daddy?" Ro asked.
"He's already at Dawid's. Apparently Dawid had a letter from Draug asking to help with the wards," Elli informed her. "Although Dawid decided not to go himself; you know he's been helping me with the store since you left to go work at that school of yours, so he had his friend who lives on the outskirts check on it. Her name's Ardith Penney, a nice Muggle-born witch, who specializes in ward crafting."
"Why doesn't she live in the village?" Hermione asked, but was afraid when Elli sighed despondently.
"I'll explain on the way to Dawid's," Elli answered as she and Hermione walked out of the store. "Ro you close up shop."
"You know how difficult it is to be Muggle-born, don't you?" Elli asked.
"Yes, as I am Muggle-born myself," Hermione answered. "Though my parents were quite proud when we found out."
"Then you are one of the lucky few; most Muggle-borns are not so lucky. With strict beliefs on what is normal and how the Church views us leaves most not so lucky," Elli sighed. "Ardith, at least according to Dawid, is one of those truly unfortunate witches. Her father is a Lay Cardinal for the church you see."
"Lay Cardinal?" Hermione asked never really looking into religious affairs.
"I'm not surprised you don't know about them, not many do. A Lay Cardinal is a Cardinal who had only received first tonsure—cutting the hair of the scalp—but had not been assigned as a priest yet," Elli explained. "It goes without saying that Ardith's father completely abandoned her and her mother once he received the title of Priest. Ardith was six at the time and she took it hard when her father took over the church she and her mother went to, but acted as if they were nothing but townsfolk."
"The trauma led to accidental magic, didn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Yes and her first act was to burn her family portrait. Ardith's mother did not take well to realizing that her daughter was in fact a witch. She would have handed over her daughter to the Church, but it would mean her former husband—who she still loved—would be executed as they believed that a Muggle could only birth a magical child by delving into the Devil's Arts," Elli snorted in an unladylike manner. "For the next two years, her mother tried to suppress her daughter's magic completely."
"But, suppressing magic only leads to greater and more catastrophic accidental magic!" Hermione exclaimed remembering the book she read about it.
"Exactly, and it did. Worse yet was it happened at a church meeting! She was trying once again to get her father's attention, but when he pointedly ignored her she finally burst," Elli said sadly. "She burned the entire building down with everyone in it."
Hermione shivered at that; she knew it was things like this that made half-bloods and pure-bloods distrust Muggle-borns. She nearly threw up though when she imagined what it would be like to accidentally burn her parents and many innocent people just because she wanted her dad's attention.
"She ran away after that, as far as an eight year old girl could get. She eventually ended up in Diagon Village where she could get a wand when she was fifteen. She met an expert ward specialist and convinced him to take her as an apprentice. Dawid was that master, he was eighteen at the time. He took her to Puckle Village, since he moved back there when his parents were killed in a witch hunt.
There he trained her for five years, and then he moved here. Ardith didn't take living by herself very well, but refused to come with Dawid."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Dawid says that she's mad at him for leaving her to live here, but I think it's because she's jealous," Rowena said suddenly making the two jump in surprise and Rosellina grab her heart.
"Jealous?" Hermione inquired.
"Yeah, I met her once just before Dawid moved here. When I told him we are going to get married she tried everything she could to make her seem better than me! She even took a growth potion to enlarge her chest! Dawid didn't notice of course, but I did."
"So, how did she end up outside of Draug?" Hermione asked feeling like she probably knows more this girl than she should, but this always happens to her, Harry and Ron anyway.
"We don't know, it's been two years since Dawid left and we only know where she is because of a letter she sent three months ago," Elli explained. "But, whatever happened made her dislike living in any town, Muggle or Magical, completely. It saddens Dawid a lot because it reminds him of when she first met him; completely withdrawn and afraid of everyone around her."
"Ardith never talked about what happened to her before I found her," Dawid explained as he sat on the fountain that Hermione and Rowena had come out of yesterday. "Her nightmares were terrible though and her first eight years of her life were more pleasant ones. It's terrifying; imagine the idea of burning your father and mother alive as an easier memory than anything that happened until she was fifteen."
"How did you know what we were talking about?" Rowena asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I heard you since you mentioned her letter and figured it out," Dawid shrugged. "I am a Ravenclaw after all."
"So, you eavesdropped on our conversation?" Elli asked smirking.
"A little," Dawid said backing up a little in fear, "but, only because you were talking about my former apprentice!"
"Alright, we'll leave you be," Rowena said. "Just this once since I want my apprentice to get to know you better."
Hermione jumped once again at being called an apprentice, but knew she had to wait for her answer.
"Oh, hello once again Hermione," Dawid said with a smile. "I'm glad you could join us."
"Thank you for having me."
"Nonsense," Elli waved it off. "He didn't have a choice in the matter is all."
"Elli!" Dawid spluttered indignantly.
"So, what's for lunch?" Elli asked ignoring Dawid and entered Dawid's didn't room.
"A roasted pig," Lenardo said carrying a freshly cooked pig with a (much to Hermione's secret amusement) stereotypical apple in its mouth. At once the quintet sat at the table until Rosellina elbowed Dawid in the side.
"You're supposed to carve it," she hissed laughing. Dawid jumped up embarrassed and started carving. As he did the others loaded their plates with mashed potatoes and cooked carrots. Soon they were all seated and ready to start eating.
"So, Hermione, what branch of magic do you specialize in?" Dawid asked. "Ro here is a Charms specialist, but that doesn't mean you have to specialize in that."
"Transfiguration," Hermione answered. "Though I'm good at Charms as well, I've found I have quite the knack for Transfiguration."
"Although," Rowena said slyly. "According to her friends she's an exceptional witch in nearly all areas of magic. And, here those snooty pure-bloods think that Muggle-borns should be worse at magic."
Granted Rowena didn't know Hermione was Muggle-born until this afternoon, but it didn't bother her at all to find out.
"True," Lenardo agreed as they continued their lunch. "It was near impossible to be with Todor and Koru whenever Luzea showed up for a visit. Age has only made his rants worse. Thank Merlin Sabin and Salazar don't listen to him."
"He's not completely wrong though," Rosellina argued. "With the witch hunts and the church more Muggle-borns turn out insane than not."
"Yes, they should be feared to a degree," Lenardo conceded. "But, that is due to upbringing and not what kind of magical blood they have."
"Quite right, but I fear we have gotten off topic," Dawid casually mentioned. "I do believe this lunch was to get to know Ro's young student and apprentice."
"Oh! I'm so sorry Hermione; I totally forgot you were there!" Elli said embarrassed. "Apologize Len!"
"Huh? Oh, sorry Hermione," Len said.
"It's alright," Hermione said a bit uncomfortable with all of the attention she was receiving.
"So, Hermione, how would you like to work at my bookstore?" Elli asked randomly.
"Momma, stop trying to draft everyone into working at your store!" Ro exclaimed.
"A-Actually, I w-would like th-that!" Hermione squeaked.
"Really?" Ro and Elli asked in disbelief and excitement respectively.
"I really like books," Hermione shyly explained. "Ever since I was little I enjoyed reading, and I have nothing to do most Sundays anyway, right?"
"That would be great," Elli said. "Dawid gets called to help warding a lot of times and I have to travel quite often when a new book pops up in order to get it before those damn Botts' get to it! I usually have to close shop, but with you there I can leave it open more often."
"Plus it will give us time to get to know her, right?" Dawid laughed.
"Exactly!" Elli said excitedly. "I could even take her to see the other villages since most Muggle-borns don't get to!"
Now Hermione was getting excited. A chance to be surrounded by books and see villages that were completely wiped out in her time was enough to catch her attention.
The rest of day was pretty laid back with stories about what Hermione learned so far and some of Rowena's past pranks ("I can't believe you charmed Professor Gryffindor's head to inflate whenever he acted like a prat!" Hermione laughed thinking of the twins doing that Percy).
She also bought Ginny a birthday present since her birthday was Wednesday. Dinner was a pleasant affair with Hermione explaining about how her parents took the news to her being a witch. ("Mum was ever so pleased since she didn't believe in most of those over religious ideas," Hermione explained. "Dad didn't like it at first, but one glare from Mum and he was putty in her hands!").
In fact by time Hermione and Rowena got back to school everyone else had already headed for bed, and so they did the same.
August 8, 930 A.D., 23:58
I spent the day with Lady Ravenclaw, her fiancé Dawid Ravenclaw, her mother Rosellina Ravenclaw and her father Lenardo Ravenclaw. Rosellina (Elli) told me about Ardith Penney, a Muggle-born witch who had the stereotypical treatment of this time period. I shudder to think if my parents had treated me the same; though Dad took about day longer to get used to the idea, he immediately was proud.
Ardith was Dawid's apprentice apparently, but something happened two years ago that made her prefer isolation to civilization. No one knows what happened though.
Lady Ravenclaw told me that each Founder had decided to make us their apprentice because our attitudes this past week as well as what "Fate" has in store for us makes us worthy. That's why they willingly showed us their secret chambers and secret passages.
It's amazing how much my life could change in a week, but I look forward to learning more.
Hermione Jean Granger
Monday wasn't exactly a very exciting day; Herbology was studying magical roses and how the different ones affected someone. Magical red roses were good at making a person suicidal while blue magical roses were good for putting people to sleep. Both need to be in at least four bouquet amounts to seriously affect someone.
Divination covered more meditation, but it was more to teach a person how to relax their mind which was much easier than finding their magical cores. Hermione was still having difficulty with the class.
"Don't worry about it too much Miss Granger," Professor Hufflepuff assured her. "Professor Ravenclaw had just as much trouble. You intellectual types just aren't meant to handle Divination well, but anyone can do it. I believe in you."
Hermione wasn't going to throw that trust for anything, and was once again glad that Trelawney was no longer teaching her.
Potions was a lecture on the best way to avoid accidents when making a potion.
"Always have your potion recipe in front of you; the room tends to fill up with steam and smoke, so having it right there makes it much easier to follow. Plus if it is written in your handwriting it should be much easier to read."
Harry secretly laughed that once again Snape was completely wrong with how he taught his class.
Tuesday was better in Harry's personal opinion; they learned more about house elves like they only need one hour of sleep each day unlike humans who need eight to nine on average. It wasn't until after class though that Harry learned something interesting…
"Ginny," Professor Hufflepuff called.
"Yes professor?"
"Is the Weasley Family Crest still a weasel?" Professor Hufflepuff asked.
"Yes it is," Ron answered for Ginny. "But, Ginny actually follows the Prewitt Family Crest of a dove."
"That's only because Mum promised Uncles Fabian and Gideon that I would!" Ginny said.
"So, your Family Crest is a dove?" Professor Hufflepuff reiterated.
"Yes."
"Thank you," Professor Hufflepuff said. "I will see you later, so hurry off to Duel Training."
"I wonder what she wanted to know your Crest for?" Ron mused, but Ginny just shrugged.
"Can someone please explain to me the Crest thing?" Harry asked annoyed and confused.
"You see Harry," Hermione started, "every wizarding family has an animal on their Family Crest that represents them. The Malfoys for example have a peacock while the Weasleys have a weasel. In fact the House animals of the Founders are all Family Crest animals."
"Why haven't I heard about this before?" Harry asked.
"Because you don't read," Hermione said exasperated.
"So, what's the Potter Family Crest?" Harry asked excitingly; anything that he could find out about his family was worth knowing.
"An eagle," Ron said.
"And, the Black Crest?" Harry asked again, but was surprised when Hermione smirked.
"A dog." That made Harry laugh; he could just imagine the disbelief when Mrs. Black found out her son's Animagus form. The white sheep of the family was the same animal as the Crest. "Yeah, it's apparently the only thing that Sirius likes about his family. He's quite partial to Akita Inu—a Japanese breed—because of a dog named Hachiko."
"Hachiko?" Ginny asked curiously.
"The most loyal dog ever," Hermione explained. "He was a dog that everyday waited for his master, Hidesaburo Ueno, to return. Even after he died the dog waited nine years in the same spot for him to return before he died. It's something Sirius apparently strives to be when it comes to James and you to Harry."
"I can see why," Harry muttered. "After that bastard Wormtail, loyalty would be more important than anything else."
"So, do you have a Crest yet Hermione?" Ron asked. "I know some Muggle-borns never make a Crest for themselves, but I figured you would."
"Yeah," Hermione told him. "An owl; I got it before we were friends in first year. Having it was one of the reasons I could keep going those two months; it made feel like I was part of the community."
"How do Muggle-borns get one?" Harry asked.
"They have to look through a book with all of the Family Crests and choose an animal that isn't in many of them, and then create a unique background," Ginny explained.
"Ah, Family Crests," Professor Gryffindor said behind them. "A wonderful subject to discuss, but not one that will make you sweat. So, get running."
Grumbling they did as they told; the work out was still just as brutal and it was far too early to see any results.
It wasn't until Dueling Class that they something even a little interesting. Basically, Professor Gryffindor decided to show the advantage of two wands.
"Watch and be awed," Professor Gryffindor smirked (Hermione noticed his head still got a little bigger and personally wondered if Rowena ever took the charm off).
With a fluid grace that came from years of training, Professor Gryffindor stood in a battle position with his primary wand in his right hand and his secondary in left. Standing in a battle position, he used his primary wand to transfigure the very ground into a solid wall while twisting his body to the right, but he wasn't finished. Twisting left just as quickly he released a powerful blast hex that due to his speed actually crescented the spell and shot the entire wall forward with a powerful boom.
The whole thing took three seconds.
"The primary wand is for your more powerful spells while the secondary wand is for your more speedy spells," Professor Gryffindor explained. "I could have done much more damage with that blasting hex if I had used my primary wand, but it would have taken an extra two seconds to do so.
Remember this you four, every second wasted in a duel is a second you can be killed. That's why you need to learn how to aim instinctually rather than manually, and why you can't care for perfect aim either. By the end of the year I expect you four to at least be able to use both wands and to be able to switch to a weapon at the same time.
But, for now we'll keep working on your dueling skills," Professor Gryffindor said jovially. "You're up first Ginny!"
The rest of class was filled with pain as they were stunned, disarmed and blasted over and over again.
It really sucks!
Wednesday was not a good day for Ginny; for the first time in her life she didn't want it to be her birthday. She kept messing up her runes practice (Professor Ravenclaw decided they needed to learn how to draw them up quickly and perfectly, so they were basically writing lines in runes) because she kept imagining Fred and George bursting in setting off the little fireworks they made when they were nine. They set them off every year since them made them.
She had difficulty eating her lunch as she imagined Bill, Charlie and her Dad making their Gin-Gin Junkbox (the only time where Molly actually let Ginny have sweets for her lunch).
Arithimacy was a no good as she remembered Percy putting down his studies and taking pictures for her annual birthday scrapbook (the only book by him that she ever wanted).
She was so depressed that by time of Charms Theory she did read any of the textbook as well.
Granted, it wasn't so bad.
Ron did his annual "Ginny's servant for a day" spiel that he did since she was four and they played Princess & the Boy-Who-Lived (not that Harry knew).
Hermione had a camera (and after she explained what it did too the Founders), she basically took Percy's place. She was going to do that anyway, so she wasn't bothered.
Best of all was that Harry talked to her more than anyone else that day (she was appalled that he still didn't have a Quidditch team though). The attention made her nervous though and she did a fair impression of her first year (butter dish and everything).
Dinner was the biggest…
"SURPRISE!" Everyone in the Great Hall shouted at once.
Ginny was so shocked she actually fell into Harry's arms. The entire Great Hall was decorated with a giant yellow banner over the Head Table that said, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINNY!" in black letters.
Everyone was there! Helga, Olga, Thor, Haldan, Salazar, Koru, Todor, Sabin, Rowena, Rosellina, Lenardo, Dawid, Godric, Gleda, Garland, Eadlyn and Aethal were all there! Just for her, and they only just met!
"Now don't go crying kid," Garland laughed. "We might have just met you, but that doesn't mean we'll just miss out your birthday."
"You just wanted to go to a party dad," Aethal giggled. "Don't worry Ginny the rest of us are here for you."
"Hey!" Garland cried indignantly and everyone laughed.
"Th-Thank you," Ginny stuttered out a little overwhelmed.
"Something you need to learn Ginny," Haldan smiled affectionately as he put a hand on her head. "The second you four became those bozos apprentices (may Merlin have mercy on your soul), you became family!"
"Ah quiet Hal," Eadlyn yelled. "Ginny is already family! She's a Weasley after all!"
"A damn good one too," Godric laughed. "She's got the temper down pact!"
"What was that?" Aethal, Eadlyn, Ginny and Ron shouted angrily.
No one could help it, they all laughed before sitting to eat the meal that Olga and Helga prepared. It was almost as good as Molly Weasleys and that brought a smile to Ginny's face. She looked around to see everyone conversing with each other; she was in a personal conversation with Aethal and Gleda coming up with good way to punish bad husbands and brothers (shrinking a certain anatomy part was suggested several, SEVERAL times).
It was strange that Harry seemed to be having a lively conversation with Koru (who proclaimed that Harry was like the son she never had and earned a playful glare from her sons) and Thor when he was so closed off back home. Salazar and Godric were being watched very closely by Olga who knew better than to let those two have a private conversation during a party (happily it reminded her of her Mum with the twins). Ron was talking to Garland, Sabin and Haldan trying to decide which confectionary treat was the best, Todor would throw in his own two Knuts every so often.
Eadlyn, Dawid and Lenardo were trying to come with brilliant (completely stupid) ways to get out of punishment from an angry spouse. Rosellina, Hermione and Rowena were discussing the latest books Rosellina had gotten (and her very open bragging about getting a one of a kind book three seconds before the Botts' could have bought it).
Slowly, but surely dinner was finished with everyone in good spirits. What came next was something Ginny never expected even after this party!
"Time to open your presents Ginny," Helga said with an infectious smile.
"I'm getting p-presents?" Ginny stuttered.
"What were you expecting? Turnips?" Harry asked and Ron snorted into his drink. She didn't get it…
"From us first," Gleda said as she handed her bundle of (predictably) sweets. Though she noticed a small jar of shrinking solution and Gleda winked. "Happy birthday from the Gryffindors!"
"We'll go next," Todor said smirking. It was a brand new wand holster. "Happy birthday from the Slytherins!"
That was the weirdest thing she ever heard.
"Next up is us!" Rosellina chirped happily. It was, of course, a book. A book on how children of seven learned to use their power though! "Happy birthday from the Ravenclaws!"
"We'll go next," Thor boomed. It was a beautiful green dress; the kind you would wear to a ball for a prince. The kind that she could never hope to touch let alone have back in her time. "Happy birthday from the Hufflepuffs!"
"Th-Thank you," Ginny said blushing at getting such wonderful presents.
"We're not done yet Ginny," Hermione laughed. "I'm next."
Ginny unwrapped the book; Ginny could help the mischievous smile when she saw the title though, Pranks for the Pranksters.
"Thanks Hermione!"
"I'm up next Ginny," Ron said. They were Dragon hide gloves; he could afford much better presents now that a Sickle is like fifteen Galleons. He whispered quietly to her, "They're standard for big league Quidditch players which I'm sure you'll join. You are a Weasley after all!"
Ginny smiled; Ron and her other brothers never let her play as children, but she knew how to fly a broom since she was six. She used to sneak out and steal their brooms, but it was great knowing that Ron thought she could do it.
"Me next Gin," Harry said and Ginny blushed brightly at Harry. Unwrapping it, she gasped in shock as she pulled out a beautiful gold necklace with an emerald in the center of it. Mysteriously, it went great with the dress that the Hufflepuffs gave her. Though the subtle wink from Haldan suggested it wasn't as mysterious as it appeared.
"It's finally our turn," Aethal said with an affectionate grin; one that a mother gives a daughter. Once again it was a dress, but this dress was something else entirely…
"Hal, that's your wedding dress!" Godric exclaimed with his jaw dropping.
"Yeah," Aethal said smiling.
"I-I can't t-take this!" Ginny cried out.
"Nonsense," Eadlyn said. "You are a Weasley and we want you to have it."
"B-But—"
"Please take it Ginny," Aethal pleaded. "Please take it and wear it to your own wedding. I want that more than anything else."
Ginny tried to protest she really did, but that pleading face, those hopeful eyes left her completely broken.
"Thank you," Ginny whispered in awe.
"And, now finally, my present," Helga said. "This is a gift from master to apprentice; this is a sign I have officially considered you to be that."
Gingerly and with care, took a sheathed dagger out of the box. On the sheath was a sleeping badger with a dove singing on its head. With great care, Ginny unsheathed it to see a beautiful blade with "GINNY WEASLEY" embodied on it. The handle was black and yellow with a red ruby on the end.
"This is proof that you are my apprentice, but also that you are part of the Hufflepuffs," Helga told her. "Show this dagger to any wizarding village and to any magical creature, and you will be given the rights and properties that any Hufflepuff may claim."
It was obvious that Lady Helga Hufflepuff does not understand the significance of this statement. It will not be until Ginny's own time that having whatever belongs to a Hufflepuff will affect the world. In fact, even Ginny does not yet comprehend the difference this little dagger just made on her life.
"Thank you Master Hufflepuff," Ginny said bowing in traditional apprentice manner.
"And, now for a dance!" Olga exclaimed with a clap.
Before she could even react a curtain appeared around Ginny and her clothes started changing to the green dress she just received. She felt a weight on her neck and knew she was wearing her new necklace as well. With a clap, Ginny's curtain fell and she stood in breathtaking glory.
The dress didn't just fit, it was perfect and Sabin's wolf whistle showed just what he thought of it. Slowly a beautiful old tune started to play and the tables moved to give room for a slow dance. Her breath caught when she saw Harry dressed in black dress robes.
'They weren't expecting—they couldn't expect—she wasn't going to—'
"W-Would y-you like t-to dance G-Gin?" Harry asked nervously and she blushed profusely. Not trusting her voice, she nodded her head.
As Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's back and she felt his arms go around her waist, her breath caught. They swayed to the slow melody and Ginny was in heaven. The butterflies she felt the first time she saw him on the platform, her true butterflies that were not obscured by Harry's fame or the stories they tell about him. The feelings she had when she saw a polite boy with messy black hair and breath taking eyes asking her Mum how to get to Platform nine and three quarters returned and she knew she wanted Harry James Potter. She didn't want the wealth nor cared for his fame; she wants him and will work to that. Even if it takes hundred years, she'll make him fall in love with her or find someone who can give him the happiness he deserves.
As Harry felt Ginny place her head on his shoulder, his breath hitched. He knew how Ginny felt, Ron made sure of that, but Harry never truly felt anything for her. Or, at least he didn't think so. He had been deprived of love his entire life that he cannot comprehend such a thing. He knows he has a crush on Cho, the butterflies in his stomach says so. There have always been a couple of them whenever he saw Ginny, and a few more have come since he got to know her. However, is it a crush? Do his feelings just come from her beauty (for even the most ignorant of observers would know that Ginny is a beauty fit for royalty)? Is it sisterly? He knows he isn't ready to delve into that subject yet, he needs to learn. To see. To observe. Maybe when he knows what it is he can reciprocate her feelings or anyone else who might feel that way for him.
One thing he knows for sure, he prefers her to Parvati Patil any day.
Everyone else clapped once the music stopped and the two dancers blushed in embarrassment.
"Alright, I think it's time for this party to end!" Rowena called out. "They do have class tomorrow you know!"
Three of the four in question groaned good naturedly, but complied.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINNY!" Everyone called out one more time. "AND GOOD NIGHT!"
August 11, 930 A.D. 22:45
Happy Birthday to me! Yes, today is my fourteenth birthday.
I wasn't very happy at the beginning though. I missed my family so much…
Mum's birthday pancakes.
Dad's failed attempt at a Muggle birthday.
Bill's traditional Junkbox that he wrangles Dad and Charlie into helping him with.
Charlie's dragon pamphlet that Mum burns on sight.
Percy's scrapbook.
Fred and George's miniature fireworks display.
But, I still got Ron's servant for a day treatment, so I'm happy.
Hermione took over Percy's scrapbook, and now I have something to show everyone when we get back!
But, best of all was that Harry spent the whole day paying attention almost exclusively to me! Me!
The Founders decided to throw me a birthday party and got everyone we met into it. The most amazing gifts I got were Harry's gold necklace with an emerald in the center, Aethal's wedding dress (I can't believe she gave it to me!) and Helga's dagger (what will this mean for me to be considered a Hufflepuff?).
And, then there was the dance with Harry. A dance that told me I had indeed fallen in love with him. I'm sorry Michael, but I can't stop what I feel…I hope someone else can bring you happiness like I hope to do for Harry.
Still this birthday was hard, how many will I have to go through without my family? For Harry to get through his without anything happy at all is truly an amazing feat that no person should ever be able to accomplish.
I love you Harry James Potter and I hope you never have to go through a sad birthday again.
Ginny Molly Weasley (-Potter I hope someday)