Hello there! Yes, I am alive and well... just very busy! I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this story and stick with it. I've been blown away that this story is still getting views and from all over the world! It makes me smile! Now here we are... down to the nitty gritty. This chapter was especially difficult for me to write. I'm trying to keep true to canon and that means researching the book's timeline and rereading the same chapters over and over until I'm not even sure if what I'm writing is really very good. I hate exposition but that is pretty much what this chapter is. Well, let's get to it before I completely talk you out of reading this.
J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, but she should keep her regrets to herself (Just saying). Direct quotes from Chamber of Secrets are in bold.
Although the initial shock of Colin's petrified state had ebbed, the sting of her betrayal and the loss of her one friend were wounds that seemed to never heal. Ginny knew that he was staying in the hospital wing, but she couldn't bring herself to visit. Even with the promise of the Mandrake elixir, there was always the possibility that it may not work. And what could she even begin to say when he was revived? I'm sorry? Could that even begin to heal their friendship? Without Colin, Ginny felt even more isolated than before. She kept to herself in class and she often went to bed in silence while Matilda and Maggie chatted away.
Everyone in the school, especially the first years, were preoccupied with the Chamber of Secrets and its mysterious monster. Lee Jordan, Fred and George's best friend, had begun advertising for protection amulets on the Gryffindor notice board. Matilda had purchased one of the most popular items: a pointed purple crystal.
Ginny was trying desperately to get some shut eye, but with her guilt on her mind she was left tossing and turning. Even if she did manage to fall asleep, she thought bitterly, she would be haunted by the monster that frequented her nightmares. As she rolled over for what seemed like the hundredth time, she overheard her dorm mates whispering.
"It's supposed to make me appear pureblood to monsters. At least that's what Lee told me," Matilda reassured her friend.
Maggie sounded frightened, "Are you sure? Tilly, I'm scared for you. I don't want to lose my best friend. I don't know what I would do without you! I really hope this thing works. My mum's muggleborn and she's told me how she was treated growing up. It's just not fair."
Tears prickled at the corner of Ginny's eyes. A new wave of guilt rose from her stomach. She was supposed to have protected Colin. She knew he was muggleborn and that the monster was after anyone not considered "pure" by ignorant wizards' standards. Why did she call him that foul word? It had seemed so odd, as if the word had spontaneously flown from her mouth. But no, she really had been the one to say it. Why did she drive him away? He was wandering the castle alone at night and it was all because of her. Ginny fell asleep with tears tracking down her cheeks.
%G%
The twins had attempted to cheer her up in the only way they knew how— pranks. Ginny had been walking to her Potions class when Fred and George first jumped out at her; both their faces covered in boils. A general shriek of terror came from the group of first years who had been walking behind her. Ginny's heart had initially given a jolt of surprise, but was quickly replaced with annoyance. Growing up, she had learned that there was one thing you should never give her twin brothers— the satisfaction. She quickly recovered and masked her surprise with a smile, but it may have been more of a grimace.
"Good one, boys. But I've been around you two for far too long to scream at something like this. Better luck next time."
As she hurried further into the dungeons, she noticed Fred and George's expressions change from disappointed to mischievous. Ginny inwardly groaned. True, the twins would hound you with the same prank again and again if they knew it worked. Ginny had forgot the other thing one should never give her twin brothers— a challenge.
The following week, Ginny cautiously walked the halls; never knowing when her brothers would pounce. They had surprised her at least three times since; each attempt more elaborate than the first. The latest had Fred on George's shoulders and both of them covered top to bottom in shaggy fur. That alone would have been comical, but when Matilda Bailey's purple amulet began to cry, "I'm a pureblood, I'm a pureblood!", everyone was howling with laughter. Some people might consider what the twins were doing cruel or insensitive, but Ginny knew they were just wanting her to smile. She couldn't bring herself to though, not with Colin still and silent on a hospital cot.
%G%
"I take back what I've said before. My brothers are cruel, vicious animals!"
"Oh Ginny! What have they done this time?"
"They made me into a laughingstock! In front of the whole common room no less."
"…"
"Tom? Are you still there?"
"Yes, Ginny. I wanted to try something. I have always thought it was a shame that I can't really see what you have described to me. I think I can be of better help to you if I were able to… shall we say… view your circumstances."
Ginny paused. This was certainly new and intriguing, but what did he want to try? Tom hadn't led her astray yet, she reasoned. What would be the harm?
"Sure, let's try it. Is it going to hurt?"
"Certainly not! I'm just going to look into your memories. It's possible that it might not even work. It requires that we have developed a close enough bond."
Eager to prove herself to him, Ginny quickly wrote back, "You're the only friend I have left, Tom."
"Alright then. Just concentrate on the memory you want me to see. Imagine you are in the common room… that's it… I think it is working."
Ginny closed her eyes tight and pictured the scene from the past couple hours. She had been sitting in the common room trying to study for her History of Magic exam. She could feel the warmth coming from the lit hearth. She opened her eyes and found that she was staring at herself. Present Ginny looked around the common room. No one else seemed taken aback that there were two Ginny Weasleys not three feet away from each other.
Ginny gave a start when a smooth voice whispered in her ear.
"Ah, Ginny! I can finally see you! What lovely ginger hair you have."
She turned towards the voice, but found no one there.
"Tom? Where are you?"
"Unfortunately, I do not have body. You will have to be my eyes and ears. What you witness is what I will witness. This is your memory so we will not be overheard or observed."
Ginny turned back to her memory self. Memory Ginny was reviewing Uric the Oddball and his penchant for herding cats on one of the couches. Present Ginny noticed two ginger heads creeping up along the back of the couch. Fred's face was just as grotesque as she remembered. He had conjured his own tongue to be long and forked and began to tickle her ear. Memory Ginny was oblivious and kept batting it away, fixing her long hair behind her ear. She had been annoyed and turned to stop whatever was tickling her once and for all when she was met with a living nightmare. Fred had covered his face with black scales and transfigured his eyes blood red. The effect was completed by the forked tongue which slithered between rows of sharp fangs. Ginny's heart had lurched to a stop as she screamed and scrambled from the couch. It was the monster from her nightmares! Memory Ginny's wide eyes searched the common room frantically for an escape, but it was then that she heard the laughter. Fred and George were doubled over with guffaws.
"Oh, you should have seen your face, Gin!" George crowed.
Fred was wiping the conjured black scales from his face along with the tears from his eyes, "I can't believe you fell for it! I nearly lost hope, George. Our Ginny's a tough one, but we just needed to find the right combo."
Memory Ginny was getting red in the face. Present Ginny knew that she had refused to cry in front of her brothers and least of all the rest of Gryffindor house. It was then that she saw Ron, Harry, and Hermione in the crowd. Her mortification was remembered how her head began to ache with the effort of restraining her tears. At that moment, Percy entered through the portrait hole.
"What is the meaning of this?" The laughter immediately died down as Percy scanned the room with narrowed eyes. When his gaze fell on the twins, his scowl deepened.
"Ugh! Never mind! What have you two done now?" The twins had the decency to look apologetic, but it was too late.
"We were just surprising Ginny is all. She knows we meant well, right Gin?" Fred went to clap her on the shoulder, but she shrugged him off. His brown eyes widened in concern.
George also appeared rattled and spoke up then, "It was just a joke, honest!"
Memory Ginny looked as though she were going to crumble at any moment. The month's events had flooded through her mind. She had never felt so alone. Percy was shouting something at the twins, but she really wasn't paying attention. Everything was a mess. She had no friends. She had screwed up the one real friendship she had had. She fancied a boy who didn't even see her. Her brothers were fighting over her and it wasn't even really about her. It was about Percy's sense of responsibility and honor and the twin's desire to escape trouble. Her parents were miles away and probably happy to be rid of all of their annoying children. No one saw her. Except for Tom. She needed to write to Tom. As she bolted up the stairs, she heard Percy continuing to rage at the twins.
"If you ever do this again, I promise that I will write Mum and tell her that you are giving Ginny nightmares. Do you understand me?"
The scene faded out of focus as Ginny returned to the present. She had never even left her four poster. The diary still lay in her lap; Tom's words seeped from the page.
"Your brothers acted appallingly to you, Ginny. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be treated that way."
Ginny felt her face crumple; her fallen tears began to smear the writing in the diary. Wiping her nose, she wrote back to the only person who understood.
"It was awful. I didn't really like reliving it either. It was interesting magic, but I don't think I want to see my memories again if that's alright with you."
"Oh. But it was so wonderful seeing you. And now I know what you are facing first hand. Don't you want my help?"
"It's not that… I've just always been told not to let anyone read my mind or anything like that. I don't know how to describe it."
"Do you always do what you're told? Your family just seems very overprotective. Do they really have your best interests at heart or are they just being overbearing? I can teach you so much, Ginny, if you are willing."
Ginny's head was aching again. She didn't want to get into an argument with Tom, but she had to admit that he had some good points.
"Can I think about it, Tom? I'm just really tired. I'm going to try to sleep."
"Very well. Goodnight, Ginny."
%G%
November's autumnal colors were quickly replaced with December's white snow. Ginny's world felt more desolate and cold than the weather outside. She had become increasingly isolated from everyone. Matilda and Maggie had shut her out completely because they blamed her for the amulet prank Lee and her brothers had pulled. Viola was as much of a help as she had already been this year, which was not much at all. She preferred the company of the Slytherin first years to Ginny's. Percy was busy being a Prefect. The twins didn't know how to interact with Ginny minus jokes so they avoided her all together. They seemed afraid of upsetting her again and word getting back to their Mum. Ron was too preoccupied with Harry and Hermione to give her any notice. Harry acted as if she didn't exist as always.
It continued like this for weeks until one morning at breakfast, Percy's owl, Hermes, made a special delivery. Percy receiving letters was not an uncommon occurrence. In fact, Percy received letters nearly everyday. Ginny assumed that he wrote Mum often enough to warrant a reply— he always had been Mummy's little boy. But he had never shared a letter with her, until now.
"Mum and Dad wrote to all of us. I thought you should know," he announced as he sat down next to her. He began to sip his pumpkin juice with an air of superiority that only Percy could pull off.
Ginny eagerly took the letter from his hand. She hoped that their parents had written about the Christmas holiday. She needed a break from the oppressive silence of Hogwarts. The Burrow was always lively and festive for Christmas. She missed her parents and wanted to feel at home again. There was even a possibility that they might be able to visit Bill in Egypt this year.
Dear Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny,
We have missed you all terribly these past couple months. We hope you are all doing well in your classes and staying out of trouble with your teachers. (Especially Fred and George.) Ron, I hope you are behaving yourself since my last letter. Remember— one toe out of line. Percy, we are so proud of you. We are so happy that you are being given extra responsibilities as a Prefect. Someone with your organizational skills shouldn't find it difficult to create scheduling tables for all the Prefects. Once again, great work, dear. Ginny, we hope you are enjoying your first year at Hogwarts. We can't wait to hear about all the new friends you've made and how much you've learned. Your Father told me not to mention it, but I am worried that you haven't written us much. It must mean you are too busy with school work and friends to make time for dear old Mum and Dad. Just let us know how you are every once and a while. I'm sure Percy will let you borrow Hermes. The least you could do is use a school owl. Errol has been molting recently and I'm not sure if he could make the journey.
I know all of you are wondering about Christmas holidays and our trip to Bill's. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear like we will be able to go. Things with your Father's job have been rather taxing lately. Your Father and I think it might be best for you all to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. He'll be working so much anyway that you will barely get to see him. Charlie and Bill weren't able to get time off to travel this year either. I know this is difficult, but please know that we are sending warm hugs your way. We love you all. Ron, please wish Harry a Merry Christmas for us.
All our love,
Mum and Dad
Ginny was beyond disappointed. She could read between the lines. They couldn't afford to travel to Egypt. Dad was working overtime to even have enough money for presents this year. But this meant that she would be at Hogwarts until the end of the year. So much for an escape.
"So I guess we're staying," she handed the letter back to Percy.
"Yes. I'll make sure to sign up with Professor McGonagall." He stood and pat her head. "Cheer up, Ginny. We can still have a happy Christmas."
Ginny sighed, "Ho, ho, ho."
%G%
Professor Flitwick had called his Charms class to order. "Before you all leave for the day, I've been asked by Professor Lockhart to make an announcement," his name was said with thinly veiled disdain.
"Apparently, the Professor has decided to organize a dueling club of sorts and the whole school has been invited to join. He didn't think that it would be wise to have himself demonstrate with the five time champion of England's Swiftest Stick competition. Too much greatness in one room he said. It might discourage the students and be counterintuitive." With each statement, the short wizard appeared to grow more and more agitated. The Professor caught himself and cleared his throat.
"Doesn't matter though. I'm sure you can show him what I have taught you these past months. The key is creativity. The more creative you are with your spell work, the more likely to catch your opponent off guard. The dueling club will take place in the Great Hall this evening at eight o'clock. It should be very…interesting. You are dismissed."
%G%
Complete and utter chaos. Those were the perfect words to describe what Ginny was seeing.
Harry was dancing some sort of jig while the Malfoy boy was in a fit of hysterics. Fred and George were taking turns transfiguring each others' ears to different shapes. One moment Fred had rabbit ears; the next George was sporting floppy puppy ears. Ron had been paired with one of his dorm mates. The boy showed no outward signs of what spell her brother had cast, but judging by the look on his face it had been highly disconcerting. Hermione was currently pinned by a rather burly looking Slytherin girl. A Ravenclaw with dirty blonde hair was standing calmly amidst the fighting, iridescent bubbles shooting from the end of her wand. A few of them burst off Snape's beak-like nose as he stormed past. Lockhart was desperately trying to rein in the students, but it seemed that he lacked any influence with them.
"Stop! Stop! Please come to order now!"
"Finite Incantatem!" Snape commanded and a general hush fell over the student body.
Lockhart was obviously flustered, "I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells. Let's have a volunteer pair— Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you—"
Snape quickly intervened, "A bad idea, Professor Lockhart. Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox. How about Malfoy and Potter?"
Pleased with the idea, Lockhart gestured for Harry and Malfoy to come into the center of the hall with the student body gathered around them. The two boys glared at each other, wands at the ready. Ginny smirked. Finally the Malfoy git would get what was coming to him. There was no way that he was going to be able to win against the Boy Who Lived. She loved the look of determination Harry wore. Lockhart counted them off, but instead of the disarming spell Malfoy was supposed to cast, he bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
A long, black snake exploded out of the end of his wand and landed between the two boys. The snake raised its head, tongue darting from its mouth. Its jaws opened revealing sharp fangs as it hissed. Ginny felt a shudder run down her spine. The snake reminded her too much of the monster from her nightmares.
Snape looked a strange combination of bored and pleased. "Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it…"
Lockhart, not to be upstaged, interrupted, "Allow me!" Unfortunately his non-verbal spell flung the snake into the air instead of making it disappear. The snake was now clearly irritated by its flight and was poised to strike the closest thing to it— which happened to be the boy named Finch-Fletchley.
Just when it looked as if it were about to strike, Harry burst forward, hissing at the top of his lungs. The snake closed its mouth and lay on the floor; docile as a newborn kneazle. Harry is a Parselmouth? But that means… No, he couldn't be. Could he?
Finch-Fletchley seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted at Harry.
All eyes were on Harry; mixtures of shock, anger, and fear. Snape vanished the snake while Ron and Hermione dragged Harry from the hall.
"Well, I believe that is enough excitement for one night," Lockhart announced with a toothy grin. "Best be off to bed. Prefects, if you would be so kind as to lead students back to their houses."
Maybe Ginny had been wrong this whole time. If Harry was a Parselmouth, it was looking more and more like he was the Heir of Slytherin. But if that were true, why were Ron and Hermione still friends with him? And Hermione was a muggleborn and she hadn't been attacked. Both Ron and Hermione were smart too. They would have seen through Harry from the start. Unless… they were under some sort of spell. Charlie had once told her about wizards in India who could charm snakes to do their bidding. If you could hypnotize a snake, how hard could it be to hypnotize a human? She had to find out for sure. She owed it to Colin to catch the perpetrator— even if it was Harry Potter.
Her mind made up, she hung back from the rest of students and hurried through the hallways in search of Ron and his friends. She hoped to overhear their conversation. It was nearly past curfew so she had to be quick about it. Hushed voices reverberated off the walls. She knew they were just around the corner. She slowed her pace to a stop and peeked around the stone wall. Two boys were standing in front of a stack of barrels that towered almost to the ceiling. Neither of them were Harry or Ron.
"I knew this was going to happen. I even told him I was down for Eton, for God's sake!" Justin Finch-Fletchley was huddled with a fellow Hufflepuff boy.
"Well, at least we know that he knows you're muggleborn. We just need to come up with a plan. Hannah, Susan, and I will escort you around. Strength in numbers, right? Plus we're all at least halfblood— Potter can't do anything to us. Just lay low in the common room when there isn't class or none of us are around."
Justin groaned, "So stupid… I should have never mentioned it to him. I wonder how long it's going to be until he attacks Granger. He must think he's so clever, but he isn't fooling anybody."
His stout Hufflepuff friend scoffed, "I honestly think he may fancy Granger. We'll see how long it takes for his bloodlust to win out though. Come on… let's get inside."
Justin turned to the stack of barrels and began tapping one of them with his wand. The barrel opened and Justin and his friend climbed inside. "Must be the entrance to Hufflepuff House," Ginny mused.
Since Mrs. Norris's petrification, Mr. Filch had been on a tear to catch students up to no good. It was most certainly past curfew now and Ginny had to get back to her own house. She rushed along the corridor towards the entrance hall. She began to climb the staircase, but who should be there waiting for her, but her main suspect.
"Ginny, there you are. I was looking for you," Harry smiled brightly at her.
She gulped and shakily replied, "What did you need me for?"
"Well, I've been trying to get away from your brother and Hermione to tell you this, but…" he came closer to her and took one of her hands in his, "I fancy you, Ginny."
"What?!" her eyes went wide with shock.
"Yes, it's true. I was worried that you wanted the mudblood boy though. I had to get rid of him."
Ginny's world spun. No, it couldn't be! She ripped her hand from his. She could feel her face turn red with fury.
"If this is a joke, it's an awful one! Colin is my best friend and you are nothing but a slimy, disgusting snake charmer if you're responsible for him getting hurt!"
Harry turned stone faced at this. "I was hoping you would understand and be on my side. But it looks like I'm going to have to take desperate measures. Come here!" He lunged for her, but she threw herself to the stairs, scrambling up them on hands and knees. He grabbed her by her ankle and she turned to kick him off. What she saw sent her blood cold. Harry had red, slitlike eyes and yellow fangs.
"Come now, Ginny! Didn't you want to find the Heir of Slytherin?" Harry gave a high pitched cackle.
Ginny jumped awake in a cold sweat. She shivered and looked out the window near her bed. A light snow had begun to fall and the wind whistled outside. It had only been a dream. It had started out as the events of yesterday, but had quickly turned into a night terror. Sweeping her slick hair back, Ginny tried to take some calming breaths. A green feather fell from her tresses. She grabbed her wand off the bedside table and cast Lumos. There were feathers all in her tangled blankets. Perplexed, she jumped out of bed to straighten her sheets and nearly tripped over her boots. She didn't remember putting them there and they were still wet with snow. Herbology had been her first class of the day, but she hadn't been outside since. Her boots should have been dry by now. And where had the feathers come from? She thought perhaps she had torn her goose down pillow in her fitful sleep, but it was intact. Besides, those feathers wouldn't be green. This wasn't the first time that she had found feathers on her person without any explanation. What was going on? The nightmare had felt so real and it didn't help that certain parts had actually happened. The last part was particularly disturbing. Could Harry really be the Heir of Slytherin? Maybe she and Tom had been deceived this entire time. She did know one thing for sure. She had to watch Harry more closely now and it wouldn't be to admire his brilliant green eyes.
%G%
The light snow from the previous day had become a full on blizzard by the morning. A thick blanket of crisp white powder covered the grounds. It would have been picturesque to see if not for the windy gale that was constantly whipping the snow back into the air. Someone could get lost out in the storm without the proper navigational charms. Professor Sprout had announced at breakfast that her classes would be cancelled for the day so she could focus on protecting the Mandrakes from the winter's blast.
Ginny's plan to investigate Harry had been mostly successful. He had his History of Magic class at the same time as her Defense class so it was rather easy for her to watch him before they went their separate ways. He doesn't look like a killer. But it looks like everyone thinks he is. The news of Harry's rare second language had already spread throughout Hogwarts. First years were skittering past him as if he would pounce on them with the littlest provocation. The older students were glaring suspiciously at him anytime he passed. Harry looked miserable. Hermione had put a comforting hand on his shoulder as he frustratingly ran a hand through his raven hair making it stick up even more than it naturally did. Ron was glaring defiantly back at anyone who looked at Harry the wrong way. Harry's friends weren't acting as if they were charmed. They genuinely seemed to know that everyone's suspicions were rubbish. Ginny even had to admit that the more she watched Harry, the more she was convinced that he couldn't be the Heir.
Ginny had been so deep in thought that she was late to class, but after a quick fib about getting lost in reading Holidays with Hags, Lockhart grinned, "I don't blame you. That particular book is one of my best, if I do say so myself. In fact, Ginny, would you be so kind as to act out chapter eight for the class? You will be playing Hexzibah the Horrendous and I," The smarmy peacock puffed his chest out in pride, "will play our dashing hero," he paused for effect and then turned to the rest of the class, "magical me." It was going to be a long class.
%G%
"Are you alright, dear?"
"What?" Ginny took in her surroundings. She was standing outside the entrance to Gryffindor.
"I said, are you alright? You've been standing here, staring off into space for a while now," the Fat Lady in the portrait replied.
How did she get here? And where had she come from? Ginny racked her brain. The last thing she remembered was heading to her last class of the day. She must have really been daydreaming. But what about? She couldn't recall.
"Are you a sleep walker? This isn't the first time this has happened and I usually just let you in without the password. I wouldn't want to be responsible for putting you in danger with a monster lurking about attacking students," the Fat Lady continued.
"Wait… this isn't the first time I've done this? What time is it?" Ginny was very alarmed.
"I believe it's half past eight… nearly curfew. And yes, every few weeks or so I find you outside and let you in. You should be inside where it's safe instead of waiting out here until morning. And I'm glad I did, what with the Hufflepuff boy and one of the ghosts being attacked. It's all the school is buzzing about. I told Violet, I said, how could a ghost be petrified?"
Ginny's mind was racing. Her last class ended at five o' clock. Where had she been for the last three hours? And another student was petrified. Had Harry given her the slip? Was he really that devious to have fooled her? But what of this sleep walking? Could she have been so unaware of this habit? No, her brothers would have told her. Would they have?
Ginny hastily gave the password to the Fat Lady and burst through the portrait hole; paying no attention to her offended huffs, "Why I never! A thank you would be proper!" She was so focused on getting to her dormitory that she didn't notice Percy until she ran headlong into him.
"No running in the common room! How many times… Ginny! Oh, thank Merlin, it's you! It's nearly curfew and you've been nowhere to be found. I asked your room mates, but they said they hadn't seen you. Where have you been? I didn't see you at supper. You shouldn't skip meals."
She couldn't breathe. What was happening to her? She needed to talk to Tom and clear her head. She tried to get around Percy, but he held her put.
"Ginny, you look so pale! What's wrong? Where have you been?" he repeated more sternly.
"I'm FINE!" Ginny tried to wrench out of his grip, "Will you just let me go?"
Percy frowned and released her, "I'm worried about you, Ginny. You haven't been yourself for the last couple months. Have you even written Mum or Dad? I know they are concerned for your wellbeing also. I don't know if you've heard, but another student has been petrified. It doesn't look good when a pureblood is wandering the halls late at night."
She couldn't believe what he was accusing her of. She would never harm Colin or anyone for that matter. Ginny scoffed, "Oh, yes, because that is what this is really about! We must keep up appearances, mustn't we? You aren't really worried about me… more like your image. I said I'm fine. Don't bother yourself. I'm sure you have many more important things to care about." With that, she turned and ran, leaving a speechless Percy behind her.
She flopped onto her bed. Gripping her hazel wand in her sweaty palm, she mumbled a quick "Claudo". Instantly her bed curtains closed taught. She had a raging headache, but she had to think. Talking with Tom always calmed her. He would know what to do.
"Tom, I need your help! Percy keeps telling me I'm pale and I'm not myself. I think he suspects me… there was another attack today and I don't know where I was."
"What do you mean 'suspects you'? Of what?"
"He mentioned something about it not looking good when a pureblood wanders the halls late at night. But that is ridiculous! I'm not the Heir of Slytherin!"
"Certainly not, my dear Ginny! You would never hurt a fly! Although…I do find it interesting that your brother would accuse you like that."
"What do you mean?"
"I only meant that it shows how much your brothers don't understand you. To even think that you would be able to harm someone in that way is just foolishness. But I know you, Ginny. You have poured your heart out to me in these pages. I thank you for your trust in me. Now do you trust me, Ginny?"
"Of course, Tom. What is it?"
"If you want my advice, it's time for you to finally get closer to Harry. You have fancied him for months, but you've let your fear keep you apart. You have a whole Christmas holiday here in the castle to get to know him. When he's around, casually mention Quidditch, anything to start a conversation."
"But I can't get a word out when he's around! And he's never alone. Ron and Hermione are always right next to him. Ron would tease me and it would be so embarrassing. And I think Hermione fancies Harry. I hate her. She has to be the center of attention and give her opinion all the time."
"Ginny, you are a far better person than the likes of Hermione Granger. Harry deserves someone like you. The longer you stay invisible, the more likely he will never take notice of you. Is that what you really want?"
"No, you're right. I'll try."
%G%
"Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through…" George and Fred were heralding throughout the corridors. Harry was not far behind, ducking his head in obvious embarrassment.
"It is not a laughing matter," Percy said coldly.
"Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred. "Harry's in a hurry."
"Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant," said George chortling.
"So tell us, Harry. Who are you planning on attacking next?" Fred inquired loudly.
"Oh, don't," Ginny wailed. She couldn't stand the thought of someone else being petrified. Maggie and Matilda didn't find the twins' antics funny. They kept shooting them hateful looks, which Fred and George didn't seem to notice in the least. Ginny was glad that the majority of her classmates were going home for the holidays. It meant less of a chance of another attack. She only wished that she could join them on the train back home.
%G%
Ginny hugged her new Weasley jumper closer to her body. The indigo wool smelled of cinnamon and buttercups; like her Mum. She missed home desperately. She wanted to tell her Mum everything that had happened this term; ask her how to make friends and how to repair her broken friendship with Colin. But a small voice in the back of her mind told her that her Mum wouldn't understand. She probably hadn't ever had trouble making friends at Hogwarts. And hadn't she met her Dad early on? Her Mum was perfect and Ginny could never be the girl that she wanted her to be.
"Now just the gentlemen! See the blazing yule before us! Fa la la la la! La la la la!" Professor Dumbledore waved his arms around as if conducting a choir. Hagrid's booming voice echoed throughout the Great Hall. He had a flagon the size of a cooking pot that he was swinging back and forth in time with the song; splashes of eggnog escaping every so often. The twins were taking turns opening party crackers. Fred was wearing a commodore's hat while George was sporting a giant pink wig. Their collection of candy and prizes was piling up next to them.
"I see that your brothers had to make up for the dismal show of gifts this year, Weasel-bee." Malfoy sneered at Ron from the Slytherin table. His two large cronies chortled stupidly beside him. "Oh, and look! Mummy Weasel made a sweater for Potter! I'm sure that it was a relief to receive anything this year, even if it was so poorly made." Ron's neck had turned a deep crimson; his fists clenched. Hermione placed a hand on both Harry and Ron's shoulders. The Christmas break had been enjoyable, but Ginny was no closer to being friends with Harry than the start of school. This was partly due to the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were inseparable. She couldn't even begin to wonder about what the trio was conversing about in low tones. All she could think about was how Hermione needed to get her dirty paws off of Harry's shoulder. Ginny had fantasized about getting Harry under the mistletoe; finally getting the kiss she always dreamed of. She just had to find a way of getting him alone and far away from Hermione Granger.
%G%
The already extensive Hogwarts grounds felt even more spacious without students to fill it. Even when Ginny had been wandering the halls alone during the term, there were always people nearby. Without them, the castle corridors were extra spooky. Ginny had lost track of the trio after Christmas tea so she took to wandering the halls, hoping to find them sometime soon. She had nearly decided to return to Gryffindor tower when she spotted shocks of red and black hair sprinting down a staircase to the second floor. Ginny closely tailed them as quietly as she could. They had just darted around the corner when Ginny tripped on the staircase. She had forgotten about the vanishing step and fell down the rest of the steps to the bottom.
"Did you hear something?" Ron asked. Ginny didn't wait for a reply from Harry. She pushed open the closest door and rushed inside. After taking a moment to catch her breath, she looked around the empty classroom. A thick layer of dust coated the unused furniture. The whole room was dark save for two dots of light. Ginny gasped. There at the front of the class was a couple wrapped in a close embrace. Ginny recognized her brother immediately. Percy was snogging a girl! Ginny didn't know what was more shocking— witnessing one of her brothers kissing or the fact that it was Percy. She expected something like this from the twins, but Percy was almost as oblivious about girls as Ron was. The girl's hands were threaded through his ginger hair; his hands held her at the waist. She was pressed up against the front desk; their lit wands lay forgotten next to her. Ginny turned to leave, but the girl saw her before she could make her exit. Her eyes went wide with surprise.
"Percy!" the girl jumped out of his arms. Her brother turned and saw her.
"Ginny! What are you doing here?" his face was rapidly turning the characteristic Weasley red. The girl was shaking her head and staring at her feet.
"I shouldn't have come here today. This was a mistake." With that she ran for the door and bolted into the hallway.
Percy went to run after her. "Penny! Come back! It's okay… it's just my sister!"
Ginny shifted from foot to foot. Her brother turned back to her and slammed the door behind him.
"Why, Ginny? Why couldn't you just stay where you're supposed to? I told you that you shouldn't be wandering the hallways late at night and this is what you do?"
Ginny was furious. "Wait a minute. Who was the one having a snog in an abandoned classroom? I don't think it was me! I think if you want to know who is really a sneak, you should borrow a mirror."
Percy colored, "Penelope happens to be a very private person and didn't want us parading our relationship out in the open. As Prefects, we have a reputation to uphold. We were going to tell everyone when we felt the time was right. And… I don't need to explain myself to you. You're a child! You don't understand these things!"
Oh, he had crossed the line. He accused her of sneaking around the castle and now he was belittling her intelligence. Pompous Percy needed to be taken down a few pegs.
"You really think you are so smart! Well, you know nothing and if Penelope had any sense, she would see right through you for the arse you are! In fact, I think there are two people in particular that could help her. Their names rhyme with Gred and Forge!"
Percy looked flustered, "Please, Ginny. Promise me you will keep this to yourself. Please!"
"Fine. But you need to stop questioning my behavior! I'm sick of you treating me like a baby. I can take care of myself."
Percy scowled, "Fine. I don't like it, but I'll do it." He held out his hand and they shook on it.
%G%
When Ginny came back to Gryffindor tower, Fred and George invited her to a game of exploding snap. For the first time since leaving the Burrow, she was having fun with her brothers. They had full reign to stay up as late as they wanted and be as loud as they wanted. The twins were even able to convince Percy to join a round in the spirit of the holiday. Percy kept giving her furtive glances during the hand that Ginny was sure had nothing to do with the volatile unpredictability of the deck and more to do with the romantic rendezvous she had stumbled upon earlier.
Fred's play had just exploded the deck in Percy's face when Harry and Ron entered through the portrait hole. It felt good to laugh for once with her family.
Percy composed himself and used his handkerchief to wipe the soot from his nose. "Where have you both been? Where's Hermione?"
Harry turned solemn, "Ron and I had to help her to the hospital wing."
The laughter died abruptly and smiles fell from their faces. Ginny's mind raced. Hermione's been attacked! But if there was another attack… then the Heir is still here at Hogwarts! He needs to be caught soon— lives depend on it.
So yeah... another cliffhanger, BUT I'm about a third of the way through chapter five. Hopefully that means you all will have less time to wait between updates. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews are always appreciated!