Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Harry Potter and Co. All rights belong to J. and the publishers. I also do not own the quotes and lyrics at the beginning of each chapter.
Summary: Auror Ginny wakes up in a world where she fled to France after the first year incident to live with her Great-Aunt. Once again fourteen she is to return home to war and with a new point of view it's clear she's no Gryffindor.
Cunning like a Fox
By: Jodelle
"The weak in courage is strong in cunning."
-William Blake
Ginny sat crosslegged in her train seat as she skimmed through the green diary she'd found in her room back at Beauxbatons. At first she'd stumbled over the French while reading but like riding a bike she simply found herself remembering things she didn't remember learning.
Apparently she'd left Hogwarts after first year to live with her Great-Aunt in France. From what she'd read she loved the older woman despite her demand that Ginny follow the rules of wizarding etiquette in everything she did. Her Great Aunt had her chanting the rules in her sleep but the diary her suggested that it made her feel relieved that no-one could make her feel inferior. She'd developed a pride from doing things in a way that was full of grace.
Frowning Ginny remembered that this woman was dead. Her Great Aunt had died at the beginning of the year and when her father got ill her parents demanded her home. The diary her had been enraged when they'd said there was nothing keeping her in France. By Merlin the diary her yelled do best-friends simply not count as something?
Ginny felt that the diary writer was a lot like herself as a fourth year if perhaps a little immature. But at least this girl had friends. Ginny had had a great deal of trouble making friends during her school years until she'd reached fourth year. From the diary she'd learned that the blond girl with the mischievous smile was called Blanche, the girl with the black hair that was dyed blue at the tips was named Chantel, and the girl with the peach colored hair was called Alice.
Ginny would have let her mind wander more but she felt the train slowing down. Taking her luggage from underneath her seat she stood brushing hands over her clothes that had become wrinkled. She felt nervous as going home meant seeing some people who had been dead for many years in her world. George, Percy, and Bill had died during the war each a stab to her heart. She felt like crying but taking a deep breath she squshed that emotion.
Making her way to the exit she saw through a window a large amount of redheads waiting for her. Steeling herself she got off the train only to be surrounded first by her mother and then by her brothers. She noticed that her father wasn't here and she wondered once more how ill he must really be to not be able to come meet her.
"Hi, Gin-bug, how was your trip," asked after pulling back from a tight hug. "We've all missed you very much!"
Ginny didn't care for small talk. "How's Dad?"
Mrs. Weasley's smile wilted as she had a look of great sadness cross her face. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't seem to make words. As she looked about to cry as Charlie pulled her into a tight embrace. Ginny felt small for mentioning it like that when she should have been greeting all of her family with hugs and smiles.
Walking over to her mother Ginny slouched a little so she could look into her mothers eyes as Molly pulled back from Charlie embrace.
"Mom," Ginny said softly, "I'm sorry for upsetting you but I've been so worried." Ginny looked down at her shoes before muttering, "I've missed you so much and though I probably didn't say it much in letters I do in fact love you."
Molly sniffled and looked like she'd start crying again as she turned around to catch Ginny in a hug. Reveling in the warmth of her mothers embrace Ginny felt herself become calm inside. Her mother kissed the top of her head before whispering in her ear, "I love you too sweetie."
And with that she was welcomed home.
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Ginny had been back in England for two weeks before school was due to start. He father had been sick with Dragon Pox. She'd visited him a dozen times in the Magical Bugs ward and St. Mungos during her stay back home. While his skin had had a deep green tinge to it the first time she saw him it had faded to a pastel green since she'd been back. The last she saw of him had been the time she'd stopped by to drop off a large amount of a special cream she'd had to brew for over a week.
She'd smiled when her dad asked her if he was vain for not wanting to scar. Laughing she'd shook her head no and assured him that the cream would make the scars only half as bad as it would be without it. If not for her her father wouldn't have been able to afford it. Her mother had been hesitant to ask for any money as Ginny unlike her family had a large sum of money from her Great-Aunt's will but Ginny had insisted upon making the cream.
As of now Ginny sat on the Hogwarts express waiting for the train to start moving when the door was thrown open and she was startled to see Slytherins pouring in. They didn't ask her to move right away but she did get a cold stare from Pansy Parkinson. Biting her lip Ginny thought of all her Auror training which had dedicated three classes to creating a poker face. So she focused on making her face blank and reached above her seat for her carryon backpack.
She felt another stare on her as she slumped back in her seat and began to go about choosing a book to read. Ginny looked up through her eyelashes to see what could only be Draco Malfoy watching her with not a sneer or smirk but rather a look of consideration.
Sighing she put her things down and stopped trying to ignore them. She bolding met each of their eyes briefly before looking to their leader who was the strangely behaving blond.
"So...," Ginny said cocking her head to the side and meeting Draco's eyes.
Draco continued her sentence. "So, Weasley... You are Weasley aren't you? Bloodtraitor, poor, redhaired..." He was surprised when he didn't get a reaction. Well moreso not the expression he was looking for. The girl look amused.
"I'm not poor." Ginny said calmly getting a snort from Parkinson. She glared at her but there wasn't much heat to it. Stretching she swallowed a yawn before smiling a cold smile.
"My Great-Aunt and I were close so she left me a nice little sum in her will," Ginny grinned more widely when Pansy scowled, "Not that you need to concern yourself with this knowledge," the slytherins blinked as a whole, "seeing as I don't intend to marry a Slytherin." Her Great Aunt had said to be firm about turning down suitors unless she wanted someone following her like a lost puppy.
"It's nothing personal but that Tom Riddle was a real piece of work and unless you can prove yourself to be unlike him I'll give you wide berth simply because I'd like to remain alive rather than six feet under."
"Who's Tom Riddle?" Crabbe asked looking confused.
Taking a deep breath Ginny said loudly, "He's Voldemort!"
"So you're comparing us with Voldemort, "said an Italian boy sitting closest to the door.
"I'm sorry who are you?" Ginny asked curiously. The boy smirked causing her to frown as she leaned closer to hear the boy who'd been quiet so far.
"Blaise Zabini, sixth year slytherin." Blaise said giving her a charming smile. He took her hand as though to kiss it but was thwarted by her yanking it out of his grasp. This time she did flush a cute pink color.
Scowling she made a shooing gesture with her hands, "If that's how you're going to behave then stay in that corner." Ginny said scooting over to sit by the window and began watching the scenary. Sure it was boring but she wanted to look anywhere other than in the slytherins direction.
She heard laughter that was startlingly beautiful. Cautiously she looked over her shoulder through her veil of long hair to see Draco Malfoy laughing outright while Blaise snickered.
Draco grinned widely at her, "For someone who doesn't like Slytherins I have a feeling you'll be a Slytherin."
Ginny looked up with a confused look on her face, "What do you mean? I was a Gryffindor last I checked."
Draco smirked before whispering loudly, "There is a tradition that states if a student leaves Hogwarts for more than a year they have to be resorted."
Ginny thought for a moment before checking off the Slytherin personality list. Cunning-Yes, being an Auror you had to good at reading people and making them agree with you. Ambitious- Yes, she'd excelled through the ranks to be the highest ranking Auror next to Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks.
Draco had thought that she'd outright deny it and call him a liar and was surprised to see her looking thoughtful. He watched as her frown deepened before she let a small smile come to her face.
"Ron will have kittens if I end up in Slytherin."
This statement was met with a round of laughter and Ginny just smiled all the more brightly.
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She had followed the first years into the boat and muttered, "Merlin be praised," when they managed to get across the lake without having the boat capsize. One of the boys on her boat kept trying to stand up to get a better view of the candle lit castle. She was almost angry until she thought to how much her first sight of the castle had meant to her.
Rolling her shoulders to stretch out the crick in her neck and shivering Ginny felt relieved when the boat hit the rocks at the base of the castle. The first years scrambled out of the boats and to the caves entrance to the school. Ginny rubbed the top of her head where she'd bumped the ceiling. She always had the bad luck of being around clumsy people who often forced their clusmy behavior on her. She honestly wanted to hex the boy but restrained herself to simply glaring at the back of his head.
She zoned out while Professor McGonagall gave what she dubbed the first year speech. A moment later they were led into the great hall. It was very much the same. The first years stared at the floating candels and up at the ceiling. They wrung their hands, crossed their arms, scratched, and generally fidgeted under the scrutiny of the older students but Ginny could tell that most of the eyes in the hall were on her.
Running her fingers through her hair she created a screen of it through which she could look disreetly at people. While long hair could be a hindrance in battle it was useful in spying on others and looking shy rather than calculating as she really was.
There were many many first years she thought after twenty minutes when most of them were done with the sorting. She herself began to feel nervous. Ginny knew that she'd be sorted into Slytherin and couldn't help but worry about how her brothers would react.
Then there it was looming on the horizon, "Yates, Jessica." Ginny finally paid attention as the last person blocking her way to the hat was up and with a, "Ravenclaw," down from the stool.
Dumbledore stood up and gestured Ginny forward to sit on the stool. He gave a commentary about how she had returned from France to be with family and explained why she was to be resorted.
The resorting was not met well as her brother Ron halfway stood to yell at the Slytherins who were waving at Ginny as they already knew she belonged in their house.
The hat whispered in her ear, "ahhh, an auror! You aren't in any way the young girl I sorted all those years ago. You'd be bored to tears in Ravenclaw, you wouldn't allow yourself to trust the Hufflepuffs which would make for uneasy friendships, and the Gryffindors are too fool hardy for you. I know this may sadden you but you already know where you belong."
Ginny nodded almost making the hat fall off her head. "Slytherin!" And there was a great boom from the Gryffindor table. "No! My sister is not a Slytherin!" Ron bellowed. "They'll eat her alive! She's an innocent!" Fred yelled as if she was about to killed. "The horror! The horror!" George chanted. covering his eyes.
Ginny walked gracefully without making a sound to the Slytherin table. She held herself upright proudly. She moved so stealthly that few people noticed her walking over to the Slytherin table until she'd already gotten to it.
Then she slumped into her chair ruining the effect. Ginny blew her bangs out of her face and looked at the Slytherins around her looking back at her. She grinned impishly.
" Rule one don't slouch, rule too don't show emotions, and rule three don't get sorted into Slytherin," She said pausing and then letting loose a slight laugh, "Oops!"
Several Slytherins smirked her way before turning back to face their friends. All except Pansy Parkinson who glared hatefully at her from clear on the other side of the table. Ginny waved sarcastically before fixing her posture and looking expectantly at Dumbledore. She mouthed, "Clap your hands!" His eyes twinkled madly as he did so.
She placed an assortment of foods on her plate and ate with perfect manners unlike her brother she thought wincing as he gobbled down food as though starved. He would look up every now and then wearing a look of pity while in response she rolled her eyes.
The creepiest stare came from Professor Snape. He had looked stunned, then calculating, and then annoyed. She thought, 'You are one creepy dude.' She felt that he must have read her mind as he smirked and looked amused.
The most alarming stare came from Draco Malfoy and she fought down a blush. He'd treated her family poorly but she knew he couldn't get to her anymore as they were more or less equals in wealth, manners, and blood. She also knew she wasn't ugly. She'd looked at her pictures years later and had been startled at how beautiful she was and yet wondered how she hadn't noticed. It was a confidence that took years to build and once you'd been chewed to pieces by Moody nobody could make feel poorly in comparison.
She smiled widely flashing white teeth before acting like the Slytherin she was and making mischevious plans. Oh yeah! She had plans as a refined lady though she'd have to be discrete. 'A lady does not get caught doing such frivoulus stuff,' she heard her Great Aunt say in her mind and replied, 'I don't intend to get caught.'
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A/N: Thanks to my reviewers. It's definetly nice to receive reviews! Thanks to springawakening1894, mellicent, & Angelique Collins.
-Jodelle