Everybody's Got A Story
By: Draconia
Summary: Ginny Weasely is in her 6th year at Hogwart's and she's tired of being seen on the sidelines, but she doesn't know how to change her life. What if it gets changed for her? What happens when a certain pale haired boy shows another side of himself? Will Ginny risk everything for him? Will she risk death? Would he?
Author's Notes: Thanks to my lovely editor Jamie! I know this one took awhile to get out but it's cause I wrote this one and Chapter 8 at just about the same time in order to keep things straight. So watch out! Double hitter! I know some of you are going to be quite mad at me for some of the events in the coming chapters. Remember, everything will turn out right because everything has a reason. You'll be getting great hints as to earlier mysteries, such as who's in the tower and what the bloody hell is goin on! ^_^
Rated: R
Email: luthien_anwamane2003@yahoo.ca
Chapter 7
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"The worst spot in hell is reserved for those who betray."
-Lilah in "Angel"
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Sputo Rana- a curse that causes the victim to spit frogs from their mouth. (Much like the slug curse that Ron tried to use on Draco during the second year.)
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Night had already fallen when Ginny Weasley exited her dormitory to meet Lee Jordan. She wore a long, cream coloured, satin dress. The sleeves billowed out around her small arms, the squared neckline was trimmed with a small amount of white lace and a ribbon tied underneath her breasts caused the outfit to appear very renaissance. To complete the ensemble she wore satin slippers of the same colour. Her hair was placed atop her head with small curls falling to frame her face. A small spell added sparkles to her hair.
When Ginny descended the steps of the tower to find Lee waiting for her in a dark green robe she smiled. Someone had told him the colour of her dress no doubt. When he offered her his hand she smiled politely. Inside she knew this wasn't exactly how she had pictured it. Her view of the dance had included a certain pale blonde boy, who of late, seemed to be missing quite a few meals and generally avoiding the youngest Weasley.
"We're going to have a lovely time tonight Ginny. Don't you think?" Lee asked with a large smile as they exited the common room and began their way towards the Great Hall.
Ginny pursed her lips together and nodded. Her eyes not meeting his for more than a moment.
***
Pearl Pundsworth stood by the entrance in a short black dress. Knee high leather boots and long black gloves graced her legs and arms. The skimpy dress seemed to be attracting much attention from the male populace.
A moment later Kyra, wearing a silver gown strolled up beside her. "So far so good Pearl. Fayth has the first and second stages wrapped up. In another hour Ginny Weasley will have been humiliated in front of all her peers."
Pearl smirked and chuckled quitely to herself. "You two have really outdone yourselves this time, remind me to buy you nice christmas presents this year," she replied cooly before moving away and into a crowd of fifth year boys who seemed on the verge of drooling on her.
***
Liz wore a traditional yellow dress in honour of her house. It was knee length with small shoulders. The closed neckline allowed for a small topaz pendant to hang just above her bust. Her strappy heels were beginning to make her feet ache as she glanced continuously at the door. She didn't dare risk sitting down for fear of missing sight of someone she was dying to meet.
Anthea stood patiently beside her in a flamboyant rose coloured tuxedo. She was never one to dress as the rules dictated. She loved surprising people.
"You know Liz, I think it's nice that Ginny came with Lee. Maybe it'll help her get over her stupid obsession with Mal-"
Anthea was interrupted by a large jumble of noise and Liz's frantic tugging of her arm.
"It's him! He came!" Liz exclaimed before she began to push through the small crowd that was crammed around the front doors.
"Who?!" Anthea called after her.
Just then the crowds seemed the part to allow Anthea a view point of the main doors. There stood Oliver Wood, resident Keeper for the Chudley Cannons. The Daily Prophet had named him the most eligible Quidditch player of the year. Apparently this was the chap that Liz had been writing to for the last year. And apparently Wood wasn't so eligible.
***
Ginny turned around from her dance with Lee to watch her exuberant Hufflepuff friend rush to the side of Oliver Wood. Previous Gryffindor Keeper and Captain. Ginny shook her head in amazement. She definitely had not foreseen this little encounter. Harry, Ron and Hermione suddenly appeared at Wood's side as well, each talking excitedly and at the same time. After a moment Harry's gaze fell to hers with a scowl and then the crowd surrounding them closed off her view. Sighing in dejection she turned with a plastered smile to face Lee.
Lee's face had held a very secretive smile for a moment when Ginny first glanced at him before it changed and he began talking. "Would you like some punch Ginny?" he asked quickly. Not waiting for her to answer he rushed away to the punch table.
Standing in the middle of the dance floor she was about to walk off when a sudden chill ran up her spine. She paused for a moment and then took a step forward. Before she could take another step she was whirled around by long elegantly pale fingers. Her green eyes clashed with his silver ones before she ripped her arm out of his grasp.
"You really need to learn when to keep your hands to yourself Malfoy!" she spat.
Draco smirked deviously as a slow song began to play. Before she could even take another breath she found herself dancing in Malfoy's arms with her own breath caught in her throat.
"Draco!" she squeeked indignantly when his hand rested on her hip a little too covetously.
Draco smiled again and leaned to whisper in her ear. "You should really consider asking yourself why Jordan asked you to this dance. When the whole school knows perfectly well that he has a hankering for Pearl."
At that moment Draco whirled around in the dance so that Ginny saw Lee at the punch table looking pointedly towards Pearl in the midst of her admirers.
She raised her chin proudly and shrugged. "Well, I don't much care Malfoy. I only came with Lee because he was the only one who asked me. Apparently I'm so ugly that none of the other boys saw fit to even approach me on the business," she replied, her voice quivering slightly at the end. Her eyes not meeting his at all.
Draco scowled slightly at her with concern etched into his fine features.
"Listen carefully little weasel, because I will deny ever saying this and it won't be repeated. You are the most beautiful woman in this hall tonight. If you haven't noticed, Lee and myself have been recieving death stares from almost every male in the room with the exception of Wood, Potter and your pill of a brother. And, for future reference, I'm the only one allowed to call you names. Inform me if anyone else does and they shall see only the end of my wand before they never speak again."
Ginny stared incredulously at Draco. He'd just about vowed to protect her from any mockery or spite save the words leaving his own mouth. She'd even forgive the little weasel barb he'd employed before he spoke such kind words.
When the song ended, Ginny didn't even realize it, she was still struck by Malfoy's words and the charmer in question had simply left her side to dance with another girl. She was standing for a moment alone before Lee rejoined her, led her off the dance floor and presented her with her punch cup.
It was ten minutes later, after having a discussion with Liz, Anthea and Oliver that Ginny noticed Lee had left her side and gone to stand with Pearl and Kyra. She frowned lightly and excused herself.
When she approached them Pearl and Kyra moved away and left Lee facing Ginny alone. Was it just her or had his skin began to lighten and his hair grow? She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. When she opened her eyes again she was staring down the length of a cedar wand, in hands of Fayth Zephyr, notorious Slytherin Prankster.
"Say hello to humiliation Ginny. Your going to become quite good friends. Sputo rana!"
Ginny screamed as the curse hit her square in the chest and sent her flying to the refreshment table.
The entire hall turned as if on command and stare at Ginny. Soaked in punch juice with a very green complexion beginning to rise. A moment later the greeness was explained as a giant frog was spit out of her mouth.
Suddenly the entire hall burst into laughter, with a few exceptions, those few could only look on in utter shock.
Still spitting frogs Ginny began to cry and she ran at top speed out of the Great Hall and then out of sight. Professor McGonagall arrived too late on the scene to do much but repair the mess made and command a thorough search of everyone to find the wand responsible.
Fayth of course, had slipped out of the hall immediately after casting and the culprit could not be found.
***
She stood at the edge of the lake, under a dark clouded sky, looking out across the glassy surface. Her red hair ruffled from the wind that whirled around her. Her eyes were focused on no point in particular and her mind had drifted to far off thoughts. She crossed her arms in front of her as a chill swept through her.
That was exactly how she was when something came up behind her, placed cold clammy fingers around her neck and choked the life from her lungs.
***
Neville Longbottom had forgone the dance in favour of doing something that he was quite fond of doing. That was exactly how he found the body of the girl, sprawled dead on the grass, her red hair covering her face. It also happened to be exactly when a huge burst of light erupted from the Astronomy Tower.
***
The next morning at breakfast everyone was commenting upon Ginny's embarassment when Professor Dumbledore called attention to the front of the hall.
"I'm afraid I have some terrible news. One of Hogwart's students, has been murdered."
The shockwave rippled through the Great Hall like brush fire. It was then that Colin Creevey cried out. "Where's Ginny Weasley?!" Young Colin's voice hadn't lost that high pitched squeak when he became excited or scared. And it carried across the hall.
An uproar began immediately, starting with Ron breaking out into sobbing hysterics. Across the room at the Slytherin table Pearl glanced nervously at Fayth and Kyra, both girls staring back without a clue. Malfoy seemed to be the only calm person in the room.
Dumbledore sent sparks of thundering noise into the air above the students to call their attention back. "No, Miss Weasley is perfectly alright, just a slight dizzying spell, she's residing in the Hospital Wing as we speak." He looked sadly at the Hufflepuff table and nodded towards an empty chair sitting at the end of the table. "I'm afraid young Susan Bones was murdered last night."
***
And that was the end of breakfast for every student and teacher present, classes had been cancelled for the day and the students had been ordered to remain indoors or face dire punishment. McGonagall, Snape, Trelawny and Sinistra had been instructed to report to the Headmaster's office immediately.
***
Dumbledore sat tiredly in his chair as he addressed the teachers assembled. "We all know the reason why young Miss Bones was murdered. I doubt any of you believe that she was the true target. We need to compile a list of possible suspects now. The marks on Susan's neck prove that a student has comitted a very great sin. I also believe that the person is an older student, one who had attended the dance. A wand trace was not discovered around the girl's body."
Snape nodded quietly. "Longbottom or Potter are my best guesses." he commented with a sneer.
Minerva glared at him angrily. "On what grounds?"
Snape shrugged slowly. "Merely that the girl got Potter into a great deal of trouble, and because of it he has been banned from his beloved Quidditch and his spotlight. As for Mr. Longbottom, he was the one who "found" the girl, and he was not seen at the dance. Very conspicuous. Now unless either can provide an alibi, both will remain suspects."
Minerva grunted before her eyes brightened. "Well then, you had better include young Miss Poundsworth and Mr. Malfoy. Both are notorious for being cruel to the girl. Let us see if either of them have alibis."
Professor Sinistra shook her head sadly, "I'm afraid that all four are very good suspects, however the list must include Mr. Wood. It was on the night of his arrival that this occurred was it not? If either of the four previous students had wanted her dead, could they not have done it at an earlier occasion? I'm afraid Wood's sudden appearence puts him on the list." she sighed heavily before looking back towards the Headmaster.
Sybill Trelawny shook her head worriedly. "Oh this can't be happening! Not at Hogwarts!" she cried frantically.