Chapter Two: Knights of Walpurgis
Author's Note: This is rated T now, might become M as things get going, stick around to see.
The sea of moving students parted around the Doctor as he marched out ahead of Ginny through the corridors that led up past the greenhouses. She expected someone to call attention to the stranger in a bowtie strutting about the halls, but they didn't. She simply followed in step behind him looking at the passing faces.
"Step lightly, Ginny—" the Doctor chimed from up ahead. "We've got an appointment with the Headmaster here," he said.
Ginny fought through the roving ocean of students, for some reason they didn't seem to be getting out of her way like they did for him. A giggling green eyed girl slammed into Ginny knocking her back and stumbling down next to her. The Doctor paused to run back and help as the girl had dropped several books and rolls of parchment.
"I'm sorry, really," said the girl running her fingers back through her raven hair. Her eyes searched Ginny's for a moment.
"My fault, really" Ginny chuckled. "I haven't got the flow of the place apparently."
The Doctor stuffed the papers into the girl's arms. "Yes, we really must be hurrying along," said the Doctor.
"You're the new Muggle Studies Professor, aren't you?" she said. "I had heard we were getting one!" her smile brightened as she climbed to her feet. The Doctor helped Ginny up just before the girl offered them her hand. "I'm Minnie McGonagall," she said.
Ginny's heart stopped. Minerva McGonagall? Her Trasnfiguration Professor—she was here with Voldemort?
The thought of meeting Lord Voldemort as a student and when he was still weak had occupied Ginny's mind since she found out when and where they were. She hadn't even entertained the thought that they would be meeting others that she knew.
"I am," the Doctor dragged the words out. "Actually, you seem to be an important and lovely young lady. Would you mind playing tour guide for us?" he asked.
McGonagall seemed almost taken with the Doctor, she flashed a huge smile, clutching her books down in front of her waist. "I think I could give a few minutes to the cause," she giggled. "What do you want to see?"
The Doctor chuckled, tilting his head to the side so that his easy were nearly framed in his bangs. "I need to speak to Headmaster Dippet," he said.
"I can take you to his office," she said turning her back to the Doctor. "Right this way…"
As she led them through the thinning crowds Ginny hung close to the Doctor in case people decided to get pushy again. As the last of the students vanished into classrooms they passed the girl's lavatory and a pale skinned girl with pig tails in burst from the bathroom with her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. She wore Ravenclaw House colors and before Ginny could properly think on where she knew the girl from, she was running down the hall.
"You're going to be late again, Myrtle—that's five points," McGonagall said. She glanced back to Ginny and the Doctor. "Sorry, Prefect duties…Myrtle can't seem to get to any class on time," she said.
Ginny could hardly believe her ears. Moaning Myrtle was alive? She pulled herself up against the Doctor. "What year did you say it was?" she whispered. "What time of year?"
"It's Fall 1942," he whispered.
She did the math in her head, it was hard to place everything because it had been almost two years since she had been pulled out of the Chamber of Secrets by Harry…but Myrtle died sometime around June of the coming year.
"What's the matter Ginny?" asked the Doctor.
"We're almost there," chimed McGonagall.
"It's nothing," Ginny said.
In comparison to Albus Dumbledore, Armando Dippet wasn't a very imposing figure. He seemed much more subdued and uninspired. She wasn't sure how old he was, but the entire time that they had been in his office, she felt that he was extremely confused by something. Ginny could only guess that this was brought on by age.
Despite the fact that it was fifty-four years before her time, being inside the school still held the same familiarity. There wasn't much that was changed besides the faces. Ginny made her way down through the catacomb-like dungeons where the Slytherin common room was housed. She didn't like being in the snakes den like this, she was forced to be in close proximity to Voldemort now, though she planned to avoid him if at all possible.
She leaned forward at the wall where the entrance was concealed and spoke the password. "Kobra," she said. The sound of stone rubbing stone filled the air and she ducked into the dank passage that led up to a low-ceilinged dungeon with fires burning through green lamps and green leather chairs stationed around the room.
A group of boys were sitting at a table near the corner of the room talking in hushed tones. When Ginny stepped down the stone steps she turned to glance at them and they all fell silent and stared back. One of them leaned out, his dark hair slicked away from his handsome face. A sly smile took over his lips and he narrowed his eyes inquisitively. "Who are you?" he asked in a tone that seemed almost too polite.
Ginny froze, this face had haunted her dreams for several years until it was replaced by the red eyed, slit nosed visage she'd seen in the Ministry of Magic a few months ago. "My name's Ginny…Potter, I'm new here," she said. "My uncle is the new teacher…"
"The Muggle Studies teacher?" laughed one of the men at the table, she recognized his voice from the Ministry of Magic, but the face was much younger.
She started forward. "Yeah—that's him," she said.
Tom Riddle rose from his chair and walked around to intercept Ginny. "You were sorted into Slytherin then?" he asked.
"I'm Pure Blood," she said. "Would you like to see some credentials or are you going to let me pass now?"
He stepped aside. "Be my guest, I was going to offer you my services but I see that they apparently won't be needed," said Riddle as he glanced her over.
"Services?"
"I'm Prefect…I'm to see to it that you've got what you need if your new here?" Tom said. The men at his table were snickering.
"Oh, I'm fine, honestly," Ginny said. She glanced back toward the table and to the man whom she knew to be one of the Death Eaters from the Ministry. "What's going on here?" she asked pointing to the table.
"Student organization of sorts," Tom said. "We call ourselves the Knights of Walpurgis."
Ginny cocked her head to the side indignantly. "That's cute, have you decided on a secret handshake yet?" she asked smartly.
Tom chuckled. "Maybe you could help us with that—we're always willing to welcome a new Witch into the fold, that's if you pass the test," he said.
"I think I'll just pass altogether," Ginny said. "Well it was nice meeting you…" Ginny had to make sure not to mistakenly say his name. No need to look more suspicious than she did.
"Tom Riddle," he gave a little bow. "It was nice to meet you Ginny Potter," he smiled.
"Yeah," Ginny said as she climbed the stairs up to the girl's dormitories. She sighed a huge sigh of relief as she entered the dorms and found them to be empty. This Knights of Walpurgis thing…it seemed to be the beginnings of Voldemorts quest for followers. They might even be the direct precursor to the Death Eaters. She searched around until she saw her name on a piece of parchment that was spread across the bed.
Her trunk from Hogwarts was there, even though she hadn't known she was coming. The Doctor must have stolen it when he picked her up. As she cleared the trunk off the bed she wondered why she had agreed to do this.