Seven: Lines in the sand

Sunday breakfasts at Hogwarts always were an odd affair. Instead of the usual organised chaos and rush to get to the first class, people trickled in and out. To Ginny, it was by far the most pleasant breakfast of the week with only a fraction of the usual people staring at her. She reached for a cinnamon roll, tossed her hair back and dared anyone within sight to stare. And if her right hand shook a little bit when she bit into her roll, it did so a lot less than usual.

Demelza was seated opposite her, both early risers. A quick inspection of the Slytherin table had confirmed her suspicions that Astoria liked to sleep in. Malfoy on the other hand was present, looking even paler than usual. Maybe he was sick; that would explain why he hadn't bothered her yet.

The Head table was equally empty. Dumbledore wasn't there, but Ginny hadn't seen him since the Feast. However, most other teachers were still in their beds as well, with only McGonagall and Snape already present, though they'd taken up places on opposite ends of the table. McGonagall was absorbed in the latest issue of Transfiguration Today, while Snape attacked his porridge with a vehemence usually reserved for Potions ingredients or Gryffindor students.

"So, Demelza, you know about Dumbledore's Army, right?" she asked as she made sure no one was within earshot. The only other Gryffindors were on the far end of the table though, and discussing the latest Montrose Magpies game rather loudly.

"Yep," Demelza said, popping the 'p' as reached for the pumpkin juice. "Want some?" she asked. Ginny waved her off and leaned in a little bit closer, just in case.

"We were thinking about doing it again this year, first meeting this Wednesday. Want to come?"

Demelza choked on her pumpkin juice.

"Anapneo," Ginny said, pointing her wand at Demelza who instantly was able to breathe again. You couldn't grow up in the Weasley household without at least picking up a few useful spells from Mum.

"You can't just spring that on someone this early in the morning," she said, wiping tears from her eyes as she carefully put her pumpkin juice back down. "I'm allowed to join? I thought it was an exclusive thing."

"Very exclusive," Ginny agreed. "Luckily for you, I'm in charge."

"And you want me there?" Demelza asked. Ginny sighed.

"Demelza, look around. I'm not exactly drowning in friends. If I don't invite you, who would I invite?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I just wasn't sure if we were friends, or you know, you just lacked a better alternative."

"Of course we're friends!" Ginny let out, slightly too loud she realised when the other Gryffindors craned their necks. "I at least like to think so. Are we?" she asked, wondering if that was what she was to Demelza, an alternative.

"Yes. No," Demelza amended. "We're friends. You're not just an alternative," she clarified.

"Good," Ginny said, reaching for a piece of toast with a smile. "So, you coming to the D.A.?"

"Of course," she said. "I wasn't sure if it was happening, and even if it was, I wasn't sure if you were part of it anymore. Otherwise I'd already have badgered you about it."

"Well then that's sorted. Was that what you were trying to figure out during the Start-Of-Term Feast?"

"When you caught me staring?" Demelza asked, blushing.

"Yeah."

"No, it wasn't that. Last year I was part of a group of five. One was… one was killed during the summer," she said in a small voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry Demelza," Ginny said. "I didn't know."

"You couldn't have known," she waved her off, clearly unwilling to confront that particular memory too much. Ginny couldn't fault her for it. "The other three didn't return here. I'd considered not coming back either. Beauxbatons sounded so safe. So nice. I was still hesitating when I got on the train all alone," she said, tapping her finger nervously on the table.

Ginny could understand that. She'd hesitated all the way to King's Cross too. Her parents had never offered to send her somewhere else, but if she'd asked, they'd have tried to figure it out at least. Sometimes, she'd fantasised about it during the summer. A different country where her scars would just be ugly scars, not signs of a survivor. Where people would just see Ginny, not the Girl Who Survived or even another Weasley.

"I was still hesitating when I sat down at the Feast," Demelza continued. "And suddenly, there were you and I was in awe. They'd hurt you and your friends, and still you came back, going beyond what could be expected of even the bravest Gryffindor. That's when I stopped thinking about Beauxbatons. And that's why I want to join Dumbledore's Army," she said, suddenly looking very self-conscious. "I'm sorry for rambling."

It was the most impassioned she'd ever seen Demelza, a far cry from their easy conversations so far. But Ginny thought she'd seen signs of it before at the Start-Of-Term Feast. When she instinctively felt she'd like Demelza.

"You're not rambling. You were speaking from the heart," Ginny reassured her, though truth be told, she was unsure how to react in the face of such emotion.

"Often the same," Demelza countered.

"Not this time. So, I'll write you down as 'attending' for Wednesday?"

"Of course. Any other newcomers?"

"Astoria. For the rest, we'll see. I think Padma's working on some kind of vetting process."

"Cool. Will we be trying to drive Snape from the school as well? Or was that an Umbridge-only thing?"

Ginny glanced at Snape, who chose that precise moment to look up from his breakfast and fix her with a murderous glare. She quickly looked away and told herself she wasn't afraid of him. He was just a teacher. He was on their side. Presumably.

"We'll probably leave that up to the DADA curse," she said.

When she got to the library, she was one of the first there. Demelza had begged off with a foolish excuse she hadn't expected either of them to believe and Astoria was still nowhere to be seen. Not that she minded, there was plenty of work to do. She was halfway building a tower of books on the Fanged Geranium, Sprout had wanted seven inches on it and so far she had one, when Katie Bell appeared next to her. Most of her body was obscured by a pile of reference works on Transfiguration, so it took a while before she recognised her Quidditch teammate.

"Word from the wise, never pursue a N.E.W.T. in Transfiguration," Katie said with self-deriding smile. "Can I join you?"

"Sure," Ginny said after constating there were at least half a dozen tables nearby still completely empty.

Katie happily dropped her collection on the table, sending a cloud of dust flying, and pulled up a chair. Pince gave them a warning look and Katie mouthed an at first glance rather insincere, apology. They both worked in silence for a few minutes when Katie cleared her throat.

"So… I've been made Quidditch captain," she announced.

"Right, Angelina's graduated. Congratulations!" Ginny said, not exactly surprised but still a bit confused. She hadn't given it much thought yet. Part of her had still been expecting Angelina to march into the locker room for the first match and deliver a terrifying pep talk. But it made sense for Katie to get the badge. Fred and George had gone off as well, she'd only been a substitute and Harry and Ron…

"Thank you," Katie said with a sad look that told her she'd reached the same conclusion in her head. "Do you still want to play this year?"

"Of course!" Ginny burst out, earning her another glare from Pince. "If you still want me that is. Won't I need to try out as well? I was only a substitute last year."

"Ginny, I've seen you fly. No one in our House can match that. And we already need to fill five spots. You're in."

"Thanks," Ginny said.

"Are you still playing Seeker?" she asked.

"No. Not Seeker. I'd like to be Chaser," she admitted.

Katie nodded. "Is it about Harry? "

Of course it was about Harry. Everything was about Harry.

"Yes. And no, " she said, holding up her right hand. As if on cue, the tremors returned. "Hard to make daring catches like this," she admitted.

Katie just studied it, the shaking, the scars that ran from the back of her hand to her arm until they disappeared up her sleeve.

"I'm sorry. The curse?" she asked tentatively.

"Yeah," Ginny said, even if she wasn't entirely sure. No one was. It could be that curse they still hadn't identified, or it could be something psychological. The Healers hadn't been able to agree on it, but she preferred to think it was the curse.

"So Chaser it is," Katie said, pulling out a parchment with only two names and one title on it so far. Next to Ginny's name she wrote 'Chaser' in a tight scribble. "I just hope we'll get a full team."

"Of course we will, it's Quidditch. People are crazy about it."

"Fine, I hope we'll get a full team that is at least halfway decent," Katie amended. "Know anyone who will try out this year?"

"Demelza," Ginny supplied.

"Right, your new friend. Is she any good?"

"She says she is," Ginny said. Maybe she'd go flying with Demelza beforehand, just to make sure she wasn't all talk.

"I'll take it. Apparently McLaggen has been telling everyone he's going to be our new Keeper, so that's two."

"Not that idiot," Ginny groaned.

"An idiot who supposedly is a decent Keeper. Beggars can't be choosers," Katie said. "Though he is an idiot. I can confirm after spending six years with him."

"He's in his seventh year, can't we exclude him on account of us wanting a long-term team?"

"I'll consider it," Katie said with a sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I don't expect us to win the cup this year, we'll be rebuilding, but I'd like for us to win a match at least."

Rebuilding. That was one way to call it. In a way, that was what this whole year would be about. Picking themselves up again while hoping that Voldemort didn't kill them.

"Anyway, sorry to bother you, I'll leave you to your work," Katie said, misinterpreting Ginny's distant look. "Try-outs are in two weeks, Thursday if you want to come watch the disaster," she said before walking away, levitating her stack of books in front of her.

Rebuilding. She liked the way it sounded. And wasn't that what she'd been doing so far? Signing up for the Slug Club, restarting the D.A, continuing with Quidditch even if their team was in tatters, finding friends in Astoria and Demelza who both had become outsiders as well … She dug up Colin's picture again and stared at her friends who would stay forever young. It wasn't a betrayal of their memory, she told herself. It'd only be a betrayal if she forgot them and that she never would. What she was doing was simply learning to live with it and learning not to feel guilty when she felt happy. They wouldn't mind, would they?

The idea of rebuilding was still on her mind when a paper phoenix drifted towards her from the top of the ceiling. It landed on her essay with which she had barely progressed so far and unfolded itself with precision, straightening out the creases as it did so. Ginny looked around, but no one had the air of someone who had just tossed a paper bird at her. No one was even looking in her direction. She shifted her attention back to the now fully unfolded paper, filled with the curliest script she'd ever seen, its letters elongated all over the paper, almost as if they were ready to jump off the paper into the world.

Dear Miss Weasley,

I apologise for not reaching out sooner, but other obligations have so far kept me away from Hogwarts more than I would have liked. I would, however, wish to rectify this as soon as possible when I return to Hogwarts in two weeks.

Would it be possible for you to visit my office that Friday, eight o' clock in the evening? If this would be convenient to you, just tell this paper as much.

Yours sincerely,

A.P.W.B. Dumbledore

That confirmed her suspicions that Dumbledore hadn't been around so far. So much for his promises to protect them. But why he wanted to speak with her, she wasn't sure. If it was for further commiserations or, worse, to discuss what had happened, she was hardly interested. But it was difficult to say no to your own Headmaster, who also happened to lead the resistance against Voldemort.

Besides, maybe talking to him would finally allow her to figure out if she was angry with him or not.

She and Harry are hiding behind the stone benches, spells flying through the room as the Order and the Death Eaters clash. Their friends are hard-pressed, fighting like lions but outnumbered. Then, a sudden flare of heat draws her attention. Amidst the purest flames and with Fawkes on his shoulder, Dumbledore appears.

"Look!" she says, nudging Harry and pointing at the wizened wizard who descends the steps and with simple flicks of his wands dispatches Death Eater after Death Eater.

And despite everything that has happened tonight, Harry smiles and his eyes light up. He's thinking the same thing she's thinking. They're safe now.

She studied the parchment, trying to figure out its instructions. 'Tell the paper'. How did one 'tell the paper'? Feeling slightly stupid, she leans closer forward and whispers.

"I'd like to attend. R.S.V.P. or whatever it is," she said.

Nothing happened and Ginny felt like an absolute idiot. Then, the paper scrunched up and unfurled itself, revealing a much shorter message.

Thank you. The stone gargoyle guarding my office appreciates it when people offer him cauldron cakes.

More enigmatic messages. She wondered how the Order put up with him.

As Ginny left the library, five Slytherins were waiting for her in a side corridor. Her stomach sank, she'd been expecting a Slytherin intervention for some time now, but she wished they'd been less numerous. Or not quite so tall. Nott and Harper stepped in front of her, blocking the way. Behind them, Zabini, a visibly amused Parkinson and a bored-looking Daphne Greengrass watched the spectacle. Strangely enough, neither Malfoy nor Crabbe or Goyle were there.

"Weasley," Nott sneered.

"Nott. You're in the way," she said, trying to push past him.

He grabbed her by the arm. Her right arm. A shiver ran down her spine and she pulled herself loose.

"Nervous, aren't you Weasley?" Nott remarked and despite it not being funny at all, the four other Slytherins laughed. "I thought you'd have learned some more restraint by now," he said.

He closed the distance, towering over her. Ginny tried to take a step back, but walked into Zabini who had taken up position behind her. Trapped between them, she couldn't get away. Nott extended a hand and ran it over the leaflike scar on her face. For a second, she was frozen.

"Shame, without this, you'd have almost been pretty," he remarked.

She shoved him back, hard enough to make him stumble, and drew her wand, pointing its trembling tip at a very unimpressed Nott.

"And no manners either. You should be careful where you point that thing, blood traitor," Nott said. "Unless you want us to finish what Dolohov started?" he asked, taking a step forward again so her wand was now almost poking him in the chest.

"Back off Nott!" she warned.

"Or else?" he said, taking another step forward at the same time that Harper went for her arm. She quickly ducked to the side, rolling between Harper and Zabini. She landed in a crouch and kept her wand fixed on the three male Slytherins.

"Ah, Quidditch reflexes. How annoying," Nott said, finally reaching for his own wand. That was the excuse she had been waiting for.

"Stupefy!" she yelled.

A jet of red light burst from her wand. Nott's eyes widened and he only barely managed to conjure a shield. Everyone stood there in shock. Then Nott's expression hardened and a cruel, almost familiar smile formed on his lips. Ginny told herself this wasn't Dolohov, or even any Death Eater. Just some stupid kids, acting tough while they had no idea what was truly happening out there. Only, there were five of them, all of whom had had drawn their wands, Daphne excepted, and she was alone.

"You want to fight, Weasley?" Nott asked, his eyes flashing and the anger clear in his voice. "I thought Dumbledore's Army had learnt its lesson after its… decimation last year."

She was going to end up in the Hospital Wing. Or St. Mungo's even. She could see it in Nott's eyes. All she could do was try to make sure she didn't end up there alone.

"Leave her alone!" someone shouted, following by footsteps going tip-tap on the stone floor. All eyes darted to the side as Astoria Greengrass came rushing towards them, wand in her left hand.

"Oh for Merlin's sake," Ginny heard Daphne mutter as she pushed to the fore. "Astoria, this doesn't involve you."

"That's my friend you're ganging up on. I think I'm pretty involved," Astoria said, taking up position next to Ginny, left foot in front of the other, her body angled so she presented a smaller target. A duellist's pose, Ginny realised.

"You know Daph," Nott said, his voice was cold as ice. "Your sister's almost as pretty as you are, but not nearly as smart."

"And you look just like your father, only without the smashed-in face," Ginny threw back. Nott Senior had been the only Death Eater at the Department of Mysteries that hadn't hurt anyone. Harry's elbow had seen to that.

"Astoria, leave," Daphne begged, even as Nott growled. She alone still hadn't drawn her wand.

"Yeah Tori, leave or we'll have to hurt you too," Zabini said, wagging a finger. Ginny decided she was going to hex him first. From the looks of it, Astoria had similar plans.

"What is the meaning of this!" a Scottish voice that could only be McGonagall's shouted. True to form, the Transfiguration professor strode towards them. Ginny had never been quite this happy to see her.

"Just having a conversation, Professor," Nott said, quickly slipping his wand back inside his robes.

"Hmm," McGonagall said, turning towards Ginny and Astoria as if looking for injuries. Ginny almost wished McGonagall had been a bit later. Either she'd have had a proper reason to punish the Slytherins, or Ginny could have hexed Nott's nose off by then.

"It's nothing, Professor," Ginny conceded. It would hardly help Astoria's position in the house if she got her sister detention. Besides, if threatening words were enough for a detention, Malfoy and Harry would have never had a free evening.

"I see," McGonagall said, sounding rather dubious. "Well, off with you then," she told the Slytherins with a look that promised scrubbing floors if she caught them again.

"Of course, Professor," the Slytherins chorused.

They formed up a line and swaggered away, their tread revealing that they hadn't been chastised in the least. To them, McGonagall was nothing but a relic of a crumbling regime while their star was rising. When Zabini brushed past her, he hissed in her ear.

"This isn't over, Weasley."

Ginny winked back at him.. She'd allow herself to be scared of Snape, but not of some kid trying to act tough. Zabini was no Death Eater, not even a proper Junior Death Eater like some of the rest. It, however, did not bode well for tomorrow's Slug Club meeting. Maybe if they brawled there, he'd end up evicted. It was a nice thought.

"Everything alright, Miss Weasley, Miss Greengrass?" McGonagall asked the two of them once the Slytherins were out of sight.

"Yes, thank you Professor. I guess a Slytherin welcome was long overdue," Ginny said, earning her a pained smile from McGonagall.

"That's one tradition I wish we could disperse with," she said, shaking her head. "You alright as well, Miss Greengrass?"

"Yes Professor," Astoria said softly, still staring at the corner around which her sister had disappeared.

"Well, I think it's almost time for lunch. I trust you can find your way there safely?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes Professor. Let's go, Tori," Ginny said, dragging her friend along. As soon as they were out of sight of their teacher, Ginny pulled her into a tight hug. "Thanks," she whispered. "I know that couldn't have been easy."

"Easiest thing I ever did," Astoria protested, sounding slightly muffled with her face pressed against Ginny's shoulder.

"I hope you won't get into trouble for this."

"I'll be fine," Astoria said. "It's you they hate. I'm just a nuisance and none of the boys want to risk pissing off Daph by hexing me. Not if they want a dance with her at the New Year's Eve gala," she said with an impish smile.

"Your sister won't be mad at you for intervening?" Ginny asked as they continued walking through the hallways.

"Oh, livid. But we've had plenty of shouting matches in the common room before. Nothing new there. See you in the Room after lunch," she said as they entered the Great Hall and she headed for the Slytherin table, soon disappearing in the crowd.

Ginny headed for her own table and wished Fred and George were still at Hogwarts. She'd have loved to sick them on Nott and his friends.

A/N: Happy holidays!