Disclaimer--If you like it, assume I don't own it. The Potterverse belongs to JKR, Steve Klowes, Scholastic and WB. Fanon belongs to the multitude...I'm simply paying homage with the sincerest form of flattery. Most of this scene is from GoF by JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work, although this chapter might have been posted sooner if tech problems hadn't gotten in the way. *grins and shrugs* I hope you're still willing to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it! Please don't print or post this elsewhere without my knowledge.
Hairy_Hen--You make a great point about the parallels between the twins wanting to know what was happening at Hogwarts in GoF and wanting to know about the Order in OotP. I hadn't really noticed before, but it makes perfect sense now that you mention it! I'm glad you thought Luna and Bion's reactions were in character...I really wanted them to be, but it was hard to know what they might say. *grins sheepishly*
J.Rhaye--You caught me. I used to be a fan of the X-files myself...which is probably why I'm channeling Mulder and Scully! *laughs* I hadn't even noticed. Like you, I just love watching Bion and Luna's opposing opinions balance each other out so perfectly. It is a relief to have Ginny feeling natural instead of out-of-place for once! *hugs*
EEDOE--Oh, definite twin-channeling there. I just love that mental image. *giggles* It is nice to see Bion again...I think I neglect him. I need to work at a way to fit him in more often. Government conspiracy seemed like one of Luna's prefered topics, so...*grins* I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of how I worked it in. *snickers* Yeah, I wish I could just be a kid. *winks* *hugs*
Bill--Mad-eye Ginny? *giggles* I'm tempted to have someone call her that sometime...possibly one of the twins...Just because she's paranoid doesn't mean You-Know-Who isn't out to get her. *winks* You described my mental image of Harry at the Weasley's perfectly. Happy to be part of the group, and completely at a loss as to how to show it. *grins* It's really quite endearing, if a bit sad. You make an excellent point about Ginny looking to HERMIONE and not Harry...*laughs* perhaps the conscious idea was that there are some things women just naturally understand? Subconsciously...perhaps Ginny is starting to worry a bit less about whether or not Harry is thinking what she is? Certainly his reaction would be more like hers...though I love the way Hermione's eye roll shows disapproval indulgently softened. *grins* Bion is indeed a skeptic to Luna's believer...I like pairing them together for that reason, though it seems Luna has a bit of crush on Ron in book 5...I also like the way they show the diversity available in being intelligent.*grins* *hugs*
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The wind and rain were so strong that Ginny could feel herself being blown away across the cobblestones as she emerged from the horseless carriage. Bion and Luna each caught one of her arms, holding her in place, and she slumped against them in relief. "Thanks."
"No problem," Bion assured her, giving her arm a squeeze.
Ahead of them, students streamed up the broad stone steps and through massive doors like gates. They followed as best they could, listing sideways in the wind. They barely made it into the clammy shelter of the entry hall in time to see a bright red water balloon hurtle into the crowd in front of them. People shrieked, pushing sideways and backwards, until Ginny began to worry about being pushed back into the storm. She tried not to think about what would happen if they hit a wall instead.
"PEEVES," Professor McGonagall's voice cracked like a whip. "Peeves, come down here at ONCE!" She slid across the floor with a soft swoosh that made Ginny think she was kicking up a wave of water , scrabbling at the crowd with open hands to stop her forward momentum. "Ouch-sorry, Miss Granger--"
Ginny didn't hear much of a response, and craned her neck, trying to bring Hermione into sight without much luck. "Peeves, get down here NOW!" Without further ado, Professor McGonagall returned to the issue at hand.
"Not doing nothing!" Peeves protested, tossing another balloon. Several girls near the line of fire shrieked and dived into the next room. "Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheee!" And he aimed another bomb at a group of second years who'd just struggled inside. They looked decidedly taken aback. Ginny wished she could assure them that everything was all right-business as usual at Hogwarts.
"I shall call the Headmaster," Professor McGonagall threatened, wisely refusing to argue the point. "I'm warning you, Peeves--"
The poltergeist stuck his tongue in the air, lobbed the last of his balloons into the air, and zoomed off up the marble stair. "Well," said Professor McGonagall. "Move along, then! Into the Great Hall, come on!" The crowd surged forward like a wave, slopping wetly into place. Unlike the students, most of whom looked decidedly bedraggled, the Great Hall looked wonderful, bright, dry, and warm.
Ginny left Bion and Luna situated at the Ravenclaw table, and made her way to the far end of the room to collapse gratefully, sandwiched between Fred and George. Lee beamed across from her. "Hey, there, Ginger."
"Hey, Jordan," Ginny said, beaming. She'd missed him, but the twins might be surprised to hear it-they'd only played a prank together. Or so the twins thought...Lee had actually been a friend since her first year, confidante, protector, and self-appointed mentor. "How was your summer?"
"Great," Lee said with a broad grin that always made her melt. "How could it be anything else with the World Cup?"
A fragment of memory stirred, and Ginny glanced at George. He caught her looking at him and shook his head very slightly. /Not now./ She held his eyes a few seconds to let him know she understood, and asked Lee for his opinion on the Irish Chasers. They were happily occupied in discussing the finer points of Quidditch, which, Ginny realized with a wry grin, seemed to be the only thing she talked about anymore, with input from Fred and George, interrupted only by cracks of thunder that issued occasionally from the enchanted ceiling, until Professor McGonagall led the First Years through the Great Hall doors.
Ginny knew Lee and her brothers-most of the students-probably thought the First Years looked young and ridiculous pale and shivering with a combination of cold and fear, but when she saw them she thought they had the right idea, an idea that made a lump form in her throat. Luckily, everyone was watching them and not her. Professor McGonagall set out the stool and the old, tattered Sorting Hat.
It sang the new song it had written throughout the course of the year, and Ginny was once again impressed, as she was every year, at how very resourceful and intelligent it seemed for a hat. She wondered what Professor Dumbledore would tell her if she asked to sit down and have a conversation with it. She wondered what it would say about Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort, but she didn't suppose she'd ever have a chance to find out. Heaving an only partially disappointed sigh-sometimes it was better not to know what was coming-Ginny tried to focus her attention on Professor McGonagall and her long scroll of new students.
CREEVY, DENNIS, a boy even shorter than Ginny, who could only be Colin's brother, became a Gryffindor. Ginny watched him with half-hearted interest as he made his way to the table. He was wearing Hagrid's massive moleskin coat. She blinked.
At length, the Sorting Ceremony was finally finished. Professor McGonagall cleared the Hat and stool away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet. He smiled, holding his arms out in welcome. Ginny wanted to step right into a hug meant just for her. She shook the feeling off as best she could, knowing the gesture was meant for everyone. "I have only two words to say to you," he said in the voice of profound depth that belonged only to him. "Tuck in."
"Hear, Hear," Fred said, his mouth already full of roast beef, as he pounded on the table with his fist.
Very little demanded her attention, everyone around her was completely focused on the feast, and Ginny was more than willing to join in. The loud clang echoing down the table startled her so badly, she nearly tumbled backward off the bench. George caught her with his arm, still clutching a drumstick.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work, although this chapter might have been posted sooner if tech problems hadn't gotten in the way. *grins and shrugs* I hope you're still willing to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it! Please don't print or post this elsewhere without my knowledge.
Hairy_Hen--You make a great point about the parallels between the twins wanting to know what was happening at Hogwarts in GoF and wanting to know about the Order in OotP. I hadn't really noticed before, but it makes perfect sense now that you mention it! I'm glad you thought Luna and Bion's reactions were in character...I really wanted them to be, but it was hard to know what they might say. *grins sheepishly*
J.Rhaye--You caught me. I used to be a fan of the X-files myself...which is probably why I'm channeling Mulder and Scully! *laughs* I hadn't even noticed. Like you, I just love watching Bion and Luna's opposing opinions balance each other out so perfectly. It is a relief to have Ginny feeling natural instead of out-of-place for once! *hugs*
EEDOE--Oh, definite twin-channeling there. I just love that mental image. *giggles* It is nice to see Bion again...I think I neglect him. I need to work at a way to fit him in more often. Government conspiracy seemed like one of Luna's prefered topics, so...*grins* I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of how I worked it in. *snickers* Yeah, I wish I could just be a kid. *winks* *hugs*
Bill--Mad-eye Ginny? *giggles* I'm tempted to have someone call her that sometime...possibly one of the twins...Just because she's paranoid doesn't mean You-Know-Who isn't out to get her. *winks* You described my mental image of Harry at the Weasley's perfectly. Happy to be part of the group, and completely at a loss as to how to show it. *grins* It's really quite endearing, if a bit sad. You make an excellent point about Ginny looking to HERMIONE and not Harry...*laughs* perhaps the conscious idea was that there are some things women just naturally understand? Subconsciously...perhaps Ginny is starting to worry a bit less about whether or not Harry is thinking what she is? Certainly his reaction would be more like hers...though I love the way Hermione's eye roll shows disapproval indulgently softened. *grins* Bion is indeed a skeptic to Luna's believer...I like pairing them together for that reason, though it seems Luna has a bit of crush on Ron in book 5...I also like the way they show the diversity available in being intelligent.*grins* *hugs*
***************************************************************************************************************************
The wind and rain were so strong that Ginny could feel herself being blown away across the cobblestones as she emerged from the horseless carriage. Bion and Luna each caught one of her arms, holding her in place, and she slumped against them in relief. "Thanks."
"No problem," Bion assured her, giving her arm a squeeze.
Ahead of them, students streamed up the broad stone steps and through massive doors like gates. They followed as best they could, listing sideways in the wind. They barely made it into the clammy shelter of the entry hall in time to see a bright red water balloon hurtle into the crowd in front of them. People shrieked, pushing sideways and backwards, until Ginny began to worry about being pushed back into the storm. She tried not to think about what would happen if they hit a wall instead.
"PEEVES," Professor McGonagall's voice cracked like a whip. "Peeves, come down here at ONCE!" She slid across the floor with a soft swoosh that made Ginny think she was kicking up a wave of water , scrabbling at the crowd with open hands to stop her forward momentum. "Ouch-sorry, Miss Granger--"
Ginny didn't hear much of a response, and craned her neck, trying to bring Hermione into sight without much luck. "Peeves, get down here NOW!" Without further ado, Professor McGonagall returned to the issue at hand.
"Not doing nothing!" Peeves protested, tossing another balloon. Several girls near the line of fire shrieked and dived into the next room. "Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheee!" And he aimed another bomb at a group of second years who'd just struggled inside. They looked decidedly taken aback. Ginny wished she could assure them that everything was all right-business as usual at Hogwarts.
"I shall call the Headmaster," Professor McGonagall threatened, wisely refusing to argue the point. "I'm warning you, Peeves--"
The poltergeist stuck his tongue in the air, lobbed the last of his balloons into the air, and zoomed off up the marble stair. "Well," said Professor McGonagall. "Move along, then! Into the Great Hall, come on!" The crowd surged forward like a wave, slopping wetly into place. Unlike the students, most of whom looked decidedly bedraggled, the Great Hall looked wonderful, bright, dry, and warm.
Ginny left Bion and Luna situated at the Ravenclaw table, and made her way to the far end of the room to collapse gratefully, sandwiched between Fred and George. Lee beamed across from her. "Hey, there, Ginger."
"Hey, Jordan," Ginny said, beaming. She'd missed him, but the twins might be surprised to hear it-they'd only played a prank together. Or so the twins thought...Lee had actually been a friend since her first year, confidante, protector, and self-appointed mentor. "How was your summer?"
"Great," Lee said with a broad grin that always made her melt. "How could it be anything else with the World Cup?"
A fragment of memory stirred, and Ginny glanced at George. He caught her looking at him and shook his head very slightly. /Not now./ She held his eyes a few seconds to let him know she understood, and asked Lee for his opinion on the Irish Chasers. They were happily occupied in discussing the finer points of Quidditch, which, Ginny realized with a wry grin, seemed to be the only thing she talked about anymore, with input from Fred and George, interrupted only by cracks of thunder that issued occasionally from the enchanted ceiling, until Professor McGonagall led the First Years through the Great Hall doors.
Ginny knew Lee and her brothers-most of the students-probably thought the First Years looked young and ridiculous pale and shivering with a combination of cold and fear, but when she saw them she thought they had the right idea, an idea that made a lump form in her throat. Luckily, everyone was watching them and not her. Professor McGonagall set out the stool and the old, tattered Sorting Hat.
It sang the new song it had written throughout the course of the year, and Ginny was once again impressed, as she was every year, at how very resourceful and intelligent it seemed for a hat. She wondered what Professor Dumbledore would tell her if she asked to sit down and have a conversation with it. She wondered what it would say about Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort, but she didn't suppose she'd ever have a chance to find out. Heaving an only partially disappointed sigh-sometimes it was better not to know what was coming-Ginny tried to focus her attention on Professor McGonagall and her long scroll of new students.
CREEVY, DENNIS, a boy even shorter than Ginny, who could only be Colin's brother, became a Gryffindor. Ginny watched him with half-hearted interest as he made his way to the table. He was wearing Hagrid's massive moleskin coat. She blinked.
At length, the Sorting Ceremony was finally finished. Professor McGonagall cleared the Hat and stool away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet. He smiled, holding his arms out in welcome. Ginny wanted to step right into a hug meant just for her. She shook the feeling off as best she could, knowing the gesture was meant for everyone. "I have only two words to say to you," he said in the voice of profound depth that belonged only to him. "Tuck in."
"Hear, Hear," Fred said, his mouth already full of roast beef, as he pounded on the table with his fist.
Very little demanded her attention, everyone around her was completely focused on the feast, and Ginny was more than willing to join in. The loud clang echoing down the table startled her so badly, she nearly tumbled backward off the bench. George caught her with his arm, still clutching a drumstick.