Disclaimer: I wonder what would happen if I claimed all this was mine? On second thought, I don't want to know. I own nothing, there, I said it. Damn, I'm depressed.
Looking Back
Ginevra Weasley stood in her flat overlooking muggle London. She was dressed in a beautiful black Armani suit and black Manalo Blahnik heels. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail. She was the epitome of muggle style and sophistication. It was 2005, and she had finished her elementary studies six years ago. She actually had left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 8 1/2 years previously. Shortly after the end of her 4th year she was forced to go into hiding. When she went along to help Harry fight off the Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic at the end of her fourth year she had made strong enemies in Voldemort's followers. Despite the fact that the Ministry incarcerated those caught in the incident that night, there was little doubt that they would all escape. The Dementors had chosen to follow the Dark Lord. The Aurors that were placed at the wizarding prison had little chance to keep such powerful prisoners locked up.
Dumbledore had felt it prudent to send Ginny into hiding. He did not want to give Voldemort the chance to get a hold of her and attempt to corrupt her in any way. Dumbledore had been certain since the beginning of Ginny's third year that Voldemort was aware of her special destiny. The spring before it had been discovered that Ron's pet rat Scabbers was in reality an Animagus named Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew had once been a dear friend of Lily and James Potter. He was the one who betrayed the couple's whereabouts to the Dark Lord. The Animagus hid with the Weasleys until he was discovered. Since he was privy to all conversations that went on in the household, there was little doubt that he had learned Ginny's secret. Information like that was a valuable commodity, which he surely relayed to Voldemort.
As she looked out the window of her palatial flat, her thoughts were transported back to her days at Hogwarts.
**************************FLASHBACK***************************
It was Ginny's third year, and she was at the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom. The previous two years had been a blur. When she was first given the necklace she was skeptical. The first time she placed it around her neck she felt empowered and comforted. It was as if strength and love radiated from her very being.
As she stood in Hogwarts' Great Hall, she looked around in wonder. Could he be here? This was a question that she had begun to ask herself often. As much as Ginny wanted to doubt the validity of the legend, she was finding it more and more difficult to deny as time went on. Upon her arrival at Hogwarts that first year, she experienced a strong sensation of warmth through her body whenever the school was together. She assumed this meant her betrothed was indeed there.
Ginny found it quite amazing, really; this destiny became more real everyday. She found herself finding goodness in everyone she met. At first, her friends thought she had gone mad. Not that she blamed them. She remembers vividly the first time she realized she was being overly understanding towards others. It was during Potions, one of her least favorite classes.
Professor Snape had always been the coldest, strictest teacher in the school. He had just finished docking fifty points from Gryffindor because Colin Creevey could not seem to fight the urge to talk continuously to Ginny. Rather than being outraged by the harsh punishment, Ginny shrugged her shoulders and told Colin that he had it coming. When Colin asked what she meant by that, Ginny responded that Professor Snape had a difficult job. Many of the ingredients they were working with could be dangerous if not properly handled or mixed. She cited that as a professor it was Snape's responsibility to keep them all safe, and he had been infuriated by Colin's lack of respect for the potentially dangerous situation they could be in. If Colin was talking, they could not hear the instructions; someone could get hurt. Needless to say, Colin was not the only one surprised by Ginny's little lecture. She could not believe she had even put two and two together to come up with that line of reasoning. She had never been particularly good at Potions, and was not a fan of Snape's. From that day forward, however, she found the subject much easier. It was as if someone flipped a switch in her mind. Though she did not want to acknowledge it, a little voice spoke in her head, `Each time you embrace your destiny you will be rewarded.' Her logical side knew that her sticking up for Snape could have nothing to do with her sudden turn around in potions. Her heart, though told her differently.
"Ginny, hello, you in there?" Neville waived a hand in front of Ginny's eyes to snap her out of her daydream. "I know the hall is beautiful, quite mesmerizing, huh?" He squeaked, trying to make small talk.
Snapping out of her trance, she replied, "Yes, it is, Neville, yes it is. Why don't we go say hello to my brother for a moment?" Not wanting to have her poor feet assaulted anymore by Neville's lack of dancing prowess, she dragged him towards Ron and his friends.
"Hey there, Ginny-bean. How's my favorite sister doing this evening?" Her brother looked thoroughly pleased to see her. "Ladies, you don't mind if Harry and I visit with my sister for a moment? Neville, be a gent and dance with Miss Patil here, would you?" Ron added, obviously looking for any excuse to get away from his date.
"Oh, I see how it is," Ginny joked, as Neville walked away with a very irritated looking Parvati, or was it Padma; she could never tell them apart. "You just wanted a way to get rid of her. Oh, and Ron, I am your only sister." She added with an over dramatized huff.
"Small details, sis, small details," Ron added with a jovial smile. "Now, let your big brother twirl you around the dance floor for a few times. Then Harry can dance with you a moment; we gotta give him a break from his date, too, you know." At that Ron led his little sister onto the dance floor.
They danced for two songs, laughing and joking about how funny some people looked in their dress robes. Ginny tried her best to keep her brother's attention focused on their little chit chat. She knew he was rather jealous over the fact that Hermione had come to the dance with Viktor Krum; not that Ron would ever admit to it.
As the second song ended, Ron caught sight of Viktor leading Hermione towards the balcony, and decided he needed to investigate. Harry noticed that Ron deserted her, and approached Ginny quickly.
"Well, I guess since he feels the need to spy on Hermione, it's my turn to twirl you about." He said as he offered her his hand. Ginny smiled and was nearly dumbstruck when she looked into his twinkling green eyes. "Shall we, my lady?" At that Harry took Ginny into his arms and they began to sway to the music.
The dance floor was quite crowded, and couples were continuously bumping into each other. Ginny felt a warm sensation spread throughout her body. Her pulse quickened and she felt short of breathe. She looked up into Harry's eyes, and felt an overpowering sensation as she bumped into someone behind her.
"Watch where you are moving you filthy little weasel!" Draco Malfoy's voice growled at Ginny. She turned around to see him and his date Pansy Parkinson glaring at her. Ginny was still too overcome by the feeling to say anything, but Harry was quick to defend her.
"Watch yourself, Malfoy. You don't own the dance floor. Just leave us alone." He spoke up. Ginny was over the moon, Harry Potter, the man of her dreams, was defending her.
"Oh, how nice, Potty is sticking up for his wittle admirer. Better be careful, you won't be able to get rid of her now you've showed her some attention." Malfoy sneered at the two, his face in his trademark smirk. With that he and Pansy waltzed away.
"Come on, Gin, let's go make sure Ron didn't hex Krum into oblivion." Harry said, walking off the dance floor. No longer in Harry's arms, and alone on the dance floor, the feelings and sensations Ginny experienced disappeared. `I wonder what that was all about.' She thought to herself as she made her way across the room. She abruptly stopped. `Oh, my gosh…that feeling, oh, could it be? Could Harry Potter be my mate?' The thought was almost too much. She never thought she would be this lucky, she actually liked him. `Please, Merlin let it be him.' Suddenly, the whole destiny concept was very appealing to Ginny Weasley.
****************************END FLASHBACK***************************
Ginevra had to laugh to herself as she recalled this experience. She had long ago come to terms with the realization that Harry Potter was not her mate. No, he was currently married to Hermione Granger. Despite the fact that Ron was quite taken with her, she chose Harry. It was always a testament to the strength of the trio's friendship that they did not allow this potential love triangle to get in the way.
As disappointing as it was to know that her childhood crush was not her true love, the knowledge was not a devastating as one would have assumed. Truth be told, Ginevra felt comfort in the fact that her true love was not destined to kill or be killed. She knew it would be very difficult for her to sit in her London flat and worry constantly about Harry. Not that she didn't already worry, but if he was her mate, the agony of uncertainty would be unbearable.
Ginevra was a very fortunate witch, and she knew it. She was wealthy, all by her own talents. Her time in the muggle world had been well spent. She was not allowed to help the Order in any physical way; Dumbledore insisted that she stay hidden. She did, however send regular monetary assistance to help finance the war. She was beginning to get fed up with he forced, exile, though. She would never meet her mate this way.
She picked up her pen and began writing. This was a constructive outlet that Remus Lupin had encouraged her to do. He was one of the few wizards she saw regularly. He was the one who spirited her away in the dark of night all those years ago. He had been her one constant link to the wizarding world. She knew that he was an outcast, and felt a connection to him. She would talk with him about her experience with Tom Riddle's diary. At that point in he life, she feared writing, and it pained her, for she had always enjoyed it so. Remus bought her muggle paper and pens to use. He showed her that there was nothing to fear. Slowly, she began to write again. She found great comfort in it, and was proud of her work. She had become quite the story teller.
"Gin, what are you doing? The press conference is in half an hour and you cannot go like that!" Remus' voice broke her away from her writing. "Come, on, now, we need to get going. What are you writing, anyways? Get a sudden burst of creativity? Well, glad to see, it but you have a book about to be released, and your focus needs to be on promoting it!" He rambled along.
"Remus, I look fine. This is a beautiful suit, and" She caught a glimpse of her self in the mirror, and pause mid sentence. "Oh, yeah, I forgot to do the appearance glamour." Realizing her oversight, she flicked her hands (she no longer needed a wand to do magic), and took on her muggle identity. "All set, let's go", she said exiting the flat.
"You know, you definatley look interesting like that", he said motioning towards her new identity. "Blond hair suits you." With that they left for the press conference.
A/N: Okay, confused yet? First I want to thank everyone for their input on how the story should progress. I decided to split the difference, and show their time in Hogwarts through memories. I know this chapter is short, and I could have added more, like what Ginny does for a living, and such. I have a really big twist planned here, and I felt it deserved it's own chapter. Next chapter we will find out what's up with Draco's life. I know some of this chapter does not mesh with the books, but you are VERY close to that being explained away. I've given you some clues, but I hope no one can guess it yet.
In case I don't get a chance to post again before hand, Happy Easter!
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