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. 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.
Raiining--I'm glad you enjoyed it. :-) The Ravenclaws made sure Malfoy picked up the candy and ate it...I imagine Ginny might not have been around for all the details, as that would have made it harder to pull off. *grins and shrugs*
JamieBell--I'm blushing like you wouldn't believe! Even Ginny might be impressed. Thanks...I'm flattered you think I did such a great job with the last chapter. I agree with you about Hermione, too. *winks*
J.Rhaye--I love the little by-play between Lee and Ginny too. It's so cute. ;-) Absolutely. Teamwork was the key to a great prank, and the team did a great job. I really loved writing that. I think one of the hardest and best things a friend can do is understand the importance of a passion she/he doesn't share and figure out how to support the other person's interest. I'm glad to see that Ginny is up to the challenge. ;-) *hugs*
EEDOE--The mental image of Bion and Luna squabbling and Ginny kind of grunting along just cracks me up. I agree...Ginny definitely deserved her chance at revenge on Malfoy. I'm glad you enjoyed the twins--I hoped you would...I tried to do them justice. *winks* Ginny DID reveal herself a bit, but the twins let it slide...*grins* *hugs*
Bill--The twins are starting to catch on, but, as you say, it probably had to happen eventually. *sighs* Absolutely...and I love the mental image of Malfoy trying to do just that. *giggles* I think I missed JK's mention of Ron and Harry's gifts to Hermione, but I might have absorbed it without realizing it, since I sort of assumed they all celebrated each other's b-days and there just wasn't time, room, inclination, etc, to include them all in the books. I hope my little liberty agrees with whatever JK hinted. *looks sheepish* It did sound quite nice, didn't it? *grins* Hmmm...yes...Ron and Harry might have a bit of a point...but Ginny can't be expected to think of EVERYTHING...*coughs and looks innocent* Great minds, indeed...*grins* Read the first couple of paragraphs to this chapter! *laughs* *hugs*
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Within a couple of days, Ginny found herself wishing Hermione had hated her gift after all.
Ginny was sitting in her usual spot on the comfy couch in the smallest corner near the fire of the Tower Common Room, in her usual cross-legged position with her Potions book spread across her knees, struggling with the latest frustrating and inexplicable essay assigned by Snape when Hermione bounded up and dropped a box directly into the center with a flourish and a flat bang. Badges spilled out, rattling across the edges of Ginny's book, all of which seemed to read—"SPEW?" she asked with a frown, not really looking up.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Hermione demanded impatiently. "It's S-P-E-W."
"Oh, of course," Ginny said, gathering the badges back into the box, and trying to hand it to Hermione, who didn't seem to be paying attention. "How silly of me."
"Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare," Hermione explained with an air of exasperation, as if this were perfectly obvious.
"Um…okay…" Ginny said, trying to figure out exactly what the effects of pennyroyal in a wealth potion might be.
"We're starting it," Hermione explained happily. "I'm President, Ron's Treasurer, Harry's Secretary, and—you're Vice President."
"Oh," Ginny said, as something that might have been a headache sparked in her left temple. "Um."
"That's all you have to say?" scolded Hermione.
Ginny winced. "Um…not exactly?"
She sighed and rubbed at her temple, unfortunately forgetting to set her quill aside, so that she marked little dashes along her face. "I'm thrilled—and honored—you would think of me—trust me—enough to want me to be your Vice President and all, and I do want to support Elf rights…but…I also believe the House-Elves will be unhappy if you try to force them to take time off and wages…I don't know a lot about slavery or anything, but I do know what it feels like to be forced to do something…at least what it felt like when Tom did that to me…and I can't—I won't—do that to anyone else. Not even for you, Hermione. Not even for their own good. So…I'm sorry…but I really can't join S. P. E. W. Forgive me?"
"I still think the House-Elves do want wages and time off," Hermione said quietly, crossing her arms. "They just don't know it yet."
"If anyone can talk them into it, you can," Ginny said, trying to smile.
"I didn't think this would dredge up old memories for you," Hermione said a bit more softly. "I didn't want to do that."
"I know," Ginny told her, and the smile began to feel a bit more real.
"Consider the request withdrawn?"
"What request?"
Hermione laughed, ruffling Ginny's hair as she reached over and relieved her of the badge-box. "You're something else."
"Thanks." Ginny replied with a smirk. "So are you."
While Ginny was off the hook, the other Gryffindors—and even people Hermione hardly knew—weren't so lucky. Ron and Harry were so obviously uncomfortable and unhappy whenever she brought the subject up—which seemed to be constantly—it was obvious they were members to support Hermione and not from any real desire to change things, let alone belief in the cause. Fred and George, like Ginny, continued to insist that if Hermione really wanted to help the House-Elves, she wouldn't force them to accept a bunch of things they didn't want, and for some reason Ginny didn't entirely understand, Hermione didn't press the point. But most of the students didn't have the foggiest idea what Hermione was talking about, let alone how they felt, and they weren't given a chance to find out. People scattered whenever they saw her coming, and those few unfortunates who weren't quite quick enough to get out of her way usually ended up agreeing to join and paying the entry dues just to make her go away so they could actually concentrate on homework, which usually seemed a lot less depressing after listening to her.
These incidents were so common, they soon started to feel like part of the everyday Hogwarts routine. Life had begun to settle into a quieter, if demanding, pattern, when Ginny and Colin came in after Care of Magical Creatures to find the Entrance Hall crowded. Again. Draco Malfoy came instantly to mind, and Ginny was already trying to devise a fitting response to whatever he'd done this time as she and Colin wove through every small gap and miniscule opening in the crowd to the source of the congestion and it turned out to be nothing more exciting than a very large sign hung on the marble staircase.
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT
THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6'OCLOCK ON FRIDAY, THE 30TH of OCT. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY—
"Not Astronomy," Ginny sighed. "I bet it's cancelled entirely." Colin looked at her as if wondering what exactly her point might be, but Ginny would have far preferred charting down stars to chatting up strangers.
STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work. 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.
Raiining--I'm glad you enjoyed it. :-) The Ravenclaws made sure Malfoy picked up the candy and ate it...I imagine Ginny might not have been around for all the details, as that would have made it harder to pull off. *grins and shrugs*
JamieBell--I'm blushing like you wouldn't believe! Even Ginny might be impressed. Thanks...I'm flattered you think I did such a great job with the last chapter. I agree with you about Hermione, too. *winks*
J.Rhaye--I love the little by-play between Lee and Ginny too. It's so cute. ;-) Absolutely. Teamwork was the key to a great prank, and the team did a great job. I really loved writing that. I think one of the hardest and best things a friend can do is understand the importance of a passion she/he doesn't share and figure out how to support the other person's interest. I'm glad to see that Ginny is up to the challenge. ;-) *hugs*
EEDOE--The mental image of Bion and Luna squabbling and Ginny kind of grunting along just cracks me up. I agree...Ginny definitely deserved her chance at revenge on Malfoy. I'm glad you enjoyed the twins--I hoped you would...I tried to do them justice. *winks* Ginny DID reveal herself a bit, but the twins let it slide...*grins* *hugs*
Bill--The twins are starting to catch on, but, as you say, it probably had to happen eventually. *sighs* Absolutely...and I love the mental image of Malfoy trying to do just that. *giggles* I think I missed JK's mention of Ron and Harry's gifts to Hermione, but I might have absorbed it without realizing it, since I sort of assumed they all celebrated each other's b-days and there just wasn't time, room, inclination, etc, to include them all in the books. I hope my little liberty agrees with whatever JK hinted. *looks sheepish* It did sound quite nice, didn't it? *grins* Hmmm...yes...Ron and Harry might have a bit of a point...but Ginny can't be expected to think of EVERYTHING...*coughs and looks innocent* Great minds, indeed...*grins* Read the first couple of paragraphs to this chapter! *laughs* *hugs*
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Within a couple of days, Ginny found herself wishing Hermione had hated her gift after all.
Ginny was sitting in her usual spot on the comfy couch in the smallest corner near the fire of the Tower Common Room, in her usual cross-legged position with her Potions book spread across her knees, struggling with the latest frustrating and inexplicable essay assigned by Snape when Hermione bounded up and dropped a box directly into the center with a flourish and a flat bang. Badges spilled out, rattling across the edges of Ginny's book, all of which seemed to read—"SPEW?" she asked with a frown, not really looking up.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Hermione demanded impatiently. "It's S-P-E-W."
"Oh, of course," Ginny said, gathering the badges back into the box, and trying to hand it to Hermione, who didn't seem to be paying attention. "How silly of me."
"Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare," Hermione explained with an air of exasperation, as if this were perfectly obvious.
"Um…okay…" Ginny said, trying to figure out exactly what the effects of pennyroyal in a wealth potion might be.
"We're starting it," Hermione explained happily. "I'm President, Ron's Treasurer, Harry's Secretary, and—you're Vice President."
"Oh," Ginny said, as something that might have been a headache sparked in her left temple. "Um."
"That's all you have to say?" scolded Hermione.
Ginny winced. "Um…not exactly?"
She sighed and rubbed at her temple, unfortunately forgetting to set her quill aside, so that she marked little dashes along her face. "I'm thrilled—and honored—you would think of me—trust me—enough to want me to be your Vice President and all, and I do want to support Elf rights…but…I also believe the House-Elves will be unhappy if you try to force them to take time off and wages…I don't know a lot about slavery or anything, but I do know what it feels like to be forced to do something…at least what it felt like when Tom did that to me…and I can't—I won't—do that to anyone else. Not even for you, Hermione. Not even for their own good. So…I'm sorry…but I really can't join S. P. E. W. Forgive me?"
"I still think the House-Elves do want wages and time off," Hermione said quietly, crossing her arms. "They just don't know it yet."
"If anyone can talk them into it, you can," Ginny said, trying to smile.
"I didn't think this would dredge up old memories for you," Hermione said a bit more softly. "I didn't want to do that."
"I know," Ginny told her, and the smile began to feel a bit more real.
"Consider the request withdrawn?"
"What request?"
Hermione laughed, ruffling Ginny's hair as she reached over and relieved her of the badge-box. "You're something else."
"Thanks." Ginny replied with a smirk. "So are you."
While Ginny was off the hook, the other Gryffindors—and even people Hermione hardly knew—weren't so lucky. Ron and Harry were so obviously uncomfortable and unhappy whenever she brought the subject up—which seemed to be constantly—it was obvious they were members to support Hermione and not from any real desire to change things, let alone belief in the cause. Fred and George, like Ginny, continued to insist that if Hermione really wanted to help the House-Elves, she wouldn't force them to accept a bunch of things they didn't want, and for some reason Ginny didn't entirely understand, Hermione didn't press the point. But most of the students didn't have the foggiest idea what Hermione was talking about, let alone how they felt, and they weren't given a chance to find out. People scattered whenever they saw her coming, and those few unfortunates who weren't quite quick enough to get out of her way usually ended up agreeing to join and paying the entry dues just to make her go away so they could actually concentrate on homework, which usually seemed a lot less depressing after listening to her.
These incidents were so common, they soon started to feel like part of the everyday Hogwarts routine. Life had begun to settle into a quieter, if demanding, pattern, when Ginny and Colin came in after Care of Magical Creatures to find the Entrance Hall crowded. Again. Draco Malfoy came instantly to mind, and Ginny was already trying to devise a fitting response to whatever he'd done this time as she and Colin wove through every small gap and miniscule opening in the crowd to the source of the congestion and it turned out to be nothing more exciting than a very large sign hung on the marble staircase.
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT
THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6'OCLOCK ON FRIDAY, THE 30TH of OCT. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY—
"Not Astronomy," Ginny sighed. "I bet it's cancelled entirely." Colin looked at her as if wondering what exactly her point might be, but Ginny would have far preferred charting down stars to chatting up strangers.
STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.