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. 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, but I hope you'll all 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.
I'm-Not-the-Weakest-Link--Thanks. :-)
JamieBell--Me too! The pranks in the Captain's Quarters would be good, but I suspect the ship is probably spelled not to let strangers aboard or at least to set off an alarm, so pranks there are probably out. :-( It's a great thought, though! ;-)
Raiining--Yeah...it's strange how likeable such a trecherous character can be. You got it...Lee's helped Ginny pull a few tricks on the twins over the years...and the twins have an inkling of that now, but no proof. Good memory. :-)
J.Rhaye--Awww...my sympathies! *hugs* I like Ginny's little commentary on herself, too. *snickers* Thanks...I thought the bit about the contract was pretty valid, so it's nice to know you agree. :-) Great observations, even if you did feel like you weren't doing them justice! *big hugs*
EEDOE--Thanks for leaving reviews for all three chapters, and for all your great input! *hugs* You noticed that Ginny DIDN'T see the coat of arms! *happy dance* I thought that was a clever touch. *smirks* I loved Hermione's comment, too. *winks* I just love the phrase "over-excited gnome" *giggles* And the bit about the Boullabaisse! *grins* JKR will always do it best. ;-) I totally agree about silent communication. Yeah...boys! *snorts* I liked Patricia's little comment on the cup, too. *grins* *hugs* It's great to have you back! *hugs*
Bill--I've had similar thoughts about Hogwarts as a socially accepted form of population control...I mean, honestly! *grins* I think JKR is good at that...pointing out the incongruities of behavior and attitude...but maybe I'm just projecting Austen onto her. *grins and shrugs* Yeah, imagine that. *blinks innocently* No...I've always thought the age difference was a little uncomfortable myself...although seniors have dated freshman before. Bleh!! *shudders* More of Patricia? I'm not sure...but as far as I know, she and Ginny aren't particularly close...*muses* It's so funny that you mention the length of the story so far...I was just observing that when I posted the last chapter! This story certainly seems to be shaping up to be much longer than the first two, but I can't say exactly how long I expect it to be, as I never expected it to take more than 25 chapters to get to Halloween! On the other hand, the pace should pick up a bit after Ginny's birthday, so it may even out some...we'll just have to wait and see. *grins sheepishly* *hugs*
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Sleeping in the next day was a bit of a challenge, but Ginny was absolutely determined to prove up to the task. So…while everyone else was racing madly in and out and making as much noise as they possibly could, Ginny slept. She eventually pulled herself out of bed and down to the kitchen—as she wasn't really in the mood to talk about all the new visitors, let alone to them—for a late lunch and early tea with the House-Elves, whom she actually rather liked. One of them seemed to be eyeing her with something akin to disconcerting interest, but Ginny decided she must be nuts, as there wasn't anything about her of any interest at all. After several extra cups of fortifying tea, she wandered away to decide what to do with the rest of her day, thinking vague thoughts about activities in which her various friends might be involved.
Fred, George, and Lee were probably trying to enter their names in the Goblet, a project she'd just as soon not be identified with when they got caught—if they got caught, at any rate. Colin and Tempest were probably milling around the Entrance Hall, trying to take in as much as they could, which held even less appeal…She thought she had a misty recollection of Hermione popping her head through her bedroom door to tell her she was going to visit Hagrid with Ron and Harry and ask if she wanted to tag along….Ginny considered that for a moment, but every Halloween she'd spent trying to attract attention from Harry and Ron hadn't gone well…perhaps it was time for a new approach. Bion and Luna…were a bit less predictable…normally chances were about even that she could find them in the library…but she thought she remembered something about an expedition Luna had wanted to make to the Forbidden Forest…
Ginny stifled a curse, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone had overheard. Several portraits hung along the corridor smirked. She coughed awkwardly, and gave them a half-apologetic look that only seemed to amuse them further. She'd just remembered she was supposed to be meeting them on the far side of Greenhouse Three, and, as a quick glance at her watch confirmed, she was nearly—
"Late." Bion greeted her reproachfully.
Ginny blushed as only she could. "Umm…sorry…"
Bion grinned. "Just don't let it happen again," he said sternly. He said that every time. Luna giggled.
Ginny coughed and tried—without success—to look a little less sheepish. "Could we just get into the Forest before Hagrid sees us, then?"
"She can't keep time," Bion observed dryly, "but she does have a point." Luna giggled again.
Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbed them both by the arm, and pulled.
"So…" Bion said quite a bit later. "What are we looking for, exactly?"
Ginny snickered a sigh of relief.
Luna drew herself up to full and impressive height. "My father says there are several exotic species of semi-sentient magical herbs that can only be found in the Forest surrounding Hogwarts, including a particularly unusual--"
"Hold a mo," Bion said, stopping so short Ginny ran directly into his back. Hard. "You mean you have us out here in the cold, in the wind, in a Forest reputed to be full of werewolves, vampires, and creatures that really don't like humans to look for a plant?"
"Should have invited Neville then," Ginny said to herself very quietly. From the look in his eye, she didn't think she wanted to draw Bion's attention. Particularly as a surprisingly large raindrop happened to hit him on the nose.
"Oh," Luna said, looking rapturous. "This is perfect."
"Oh, yeah," Bion agreed as raindrops hissed off him in jets of steam. "Perfect."
"Cheer up," Ginny advised in his ear. "We might see a few dryads or nymphs or something, and you wouldn't want to startle them by scowling."
Bion scoffed, but he did look a little less annoyed by the prospect of seeing something as magical and elusive as a nymph.
They actually had a quite good time after that, even if they were all slogging wetly in their robes and squelching in their shoes by the time they came sneezing inside. Ginny used a handy little charm Hermione had taught her in one of their study sessions with Neville to make them all a bit more presentable before they came into the Great Hall and under the knowing eye of Dumbledore, not that he would care even if he did know what they had been up to…or so Ginny speculated.
The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall rushed with clouds so dark and violent Ginny could almost hear them howl…Appropriately intimidating for the holiday, Ginny decided with a smirk, not to mention our guests. How nice of the weather to cooperate. She had to admit, however, that the result was quite stunning, especially with countless candles lining the sky, casting an ethereal glow into the storm so that it spread, diffused, through every breath of air, like the warmth of an autumn afternoon you could almost feel against your skin. Live bats floated across the sky, mingling freely with the entering ghosts, black and silver. And the corners overflowed with jack-o-lanterns with expressions ranging from jolly to threatening and everything in between.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work, but I hope you'll all 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.
I'm-Not-the-Weakest-Link--Thanks. :-)
JamieBell--Me too! The pranks in the Captain's Quarters would be good, but I suspect the ship is probably spelled not to let strangers aboard or at least to set off an alarm, so pranks there are probably out. :-( It's a great thought, though! ;-)
Raiining--Yeah...it's strange how likeable such a trecherous character can be. You got it...Lee's helped Ginny pull a few tricks on the twins over the years...and the twins have an inkling of that now, but no proof. Good memory. :-)
J.Rhaye--Awww...my sympathies! *hugs* I like Ginny's little commentary on herself, too. *snickers* Thanks...I thought the bit about the contract was pretty valid, so it's nice to know you agree. :-) Great observations, even if you did feel like you weren't doing them justice! *big hugs*
EEDOE--Thanks for leaving reviews for all three chapters, and for all your great input! *hugs* You noticed that Ginny DIDN'T see the coat of arms! *happy dance* I thought that was a clever touch. *smirks* I loved Hermione's comment, too. *winks* I just love the phrase "over-excited gnome" *giggles* And the bit about the Boullabaisse! *grins* JKR will always do it best. ;-) I totally agree about silent communication. Yeah...boys! *snorts* I liked Patricia's little comment on the cup, too. *grins* *hugs* It's great to have you back! *hugs*
Bill--I've had similar thoughts about Hogwarts as a socially accepted form of population control...I mean, honestly! *grins* I think JKR is good at that...pointing out the incongruities of behavior and attitude...but maybe I'm just projecting Austen onto her. *grins and shrugs* Yeah, imagine that. *blinks innocently* No...I've always thought the age difference was a little uncomfortable myself...although seniors have dated freshman before. Bleh!! *shudders* More of Patricia? I'm not sure...but as far as I know, she and Ginny aren't particularly close...*muses* It's so funny that you mention the length of the story so far...I was just observing that when I posted the last chapter! This story certainly seems to be shaping up to be much longer than the first two, but I can't say exactly how long I expect it to be, as I never expected it to take more than 25 chapters to get to Halloween! On the other hand, the pace should pick up a bit after Ginny's birthday, so it may even out some...we'll just have to wait and see. *grins sheepishly* *hugs*
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Sleeping in the next day was a bit of a challenge, but Ginny was absolutely determined to prove up to the task. So…while everyone else was racing madly in and out and making as much noise as they possibly could, Ginny slept. She eventually pulled herself out of bed and down to the kitchen—as she wasn't really in the mood to talk about all the new visitors, let alone to them—for a late lunch and early tea with the House-Elves, whom she actually rather liked. One of them seemed to be eyeing her with something akin to disconcerting interest, but Ginny decided she must be nuts, as there wasn't anything about her of any interest at all. After several extra cups of fortifying tea, she wandered away to decide what to do with the rest of her day, thinking vague thoughts about activities in which her various friends might be involved.
Fred, George, and Lee were probably trying to enter their names in the Goblet, a project she'd just as soon not be identified with when they got caught—if they got caught, at any rate. Colin and Tempest were probably milling around the Entrance Hall, trying to take in as much as they could, which held even less appeal…She thought she had a misty recollection of Hermione popping her head through her bedroom door to tell her she was going to visit Hagrid with Ron and Harry and ask if she wanted to tag along….Ginny considered that for a moment, but every Halloween she'd spent trying to attract attention from Harry and Ron hadn't gone well…perhaps it was time for a new approach. Bion and Luna…were a bit less predictable…normally chances were about even that she could find them in the library…but she thought she remembered something about an expedition Luna had wanted to make to the Forbidden Forest…
Ginny stifled a curse, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone had overheard. Several portraits hung along the corridor smirked. She coughed awkwardly, and gave them a half-apologetic look that only seemed to amuse them further. She'd just remembered she was supposed to be meeting them on the far side of Greenhouse Three, and, as a quick glance at her watch confirmed, she was nearly—
"Late." Bion greeted her reproachfully.
Ginny blushed as only she could. "Umm…sorry…"
Bion grinned. "Just don't let it happen again," he said sternly. He said that every time. Luna giggled.
Ginny coughed and tried—without success—to look a little less sheepish. "Could we just get into the Forest before Hagrid sees us, then?"
"She can't keep time," Bion observed dryly, "but she does have a point." Luna giggled again.
Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbed them both by the arm, and pulled.
"So…" Bion said quite a bit later. "What are we looking for, exactly?"
Ginny snickered a sigh of relief.
Luna drew herself up to full and impressive height. "My father says there are several exotic species of semi-sentient magical herbs that can only be found in the Forest surrounding Hogwarts, including a particularly unusual--"
"Hold a mo," Bion said, stopping so short Ginny ran directly into his back. Hard. "You mean you have us out here in the cold, in the wind, in a Forest reputed to be full of werewolves, vampires, and creatures that really don't like humans to look for a plant?"
"Should have invited Neville then," Ginny said to herself very quietly. From the look in his eye, she didn't think she wanted to draw Bion's attention. Particularly as a surprisingly large raindrop happened to hit him on the nose.
"Oh," Luna said, looking rapturous. "This is perfect."
"Oh, yeah," Bion agreed as raindrops hissed off him in jets of steam. "Perfect."
"Cheer up," Ginny advised in his ear. "We might see a few dryads or nymphs or something, and you wouldn't want to startle them by scowling."
Bion scoffed, but he did look a little less annoyed by the prospect of seeing something as magical and elusive as a nymph.
They actually had a quite good time after that, even if they were all slogging wetly in their robes and squelching in their shoes by the time they came sneezing inside. Ginny used a handy little charm Hermione had taught her in one of their study sessions with Neville to make them all a bit more presentable before they came into the Great Hall and under the knowing eye of Dumbledore, not that he would care even if he did know what they had been up to…or so Ginny speculated.
The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall rushed with clouds so dark and violent Ginny could almost hear them howl…Appropriately intimidating for the holiday, Ginny decided with a smirk, not to mention our guests. How nice of the weather to cooperate. She had to admit, however, that the result was quite stunning, especially with countless candles lining the sky, casting an ethereal glow into the storm so that it spread, diffused, through every breath of air, like the warmth of an autumn afternoon you could almost feel against your skin. Live bats floated across the sky, mingling freely with the entering ghosts, black and silver. And the corners overflowed with jack-o-lanterns with expressions ranging from jolly to threatening and everything in between.