At the End of the Day

Title- At the End of the Day

Rating- R

Disclaimer- I own nothing but the plot

Summary- After the death of someone that Ginny held dear she becomes reclusive. Many people try to get her to open up but it isn't working. The Dark Lord is going to be attacking soon and Ginny is essential to both sides, but what side will she choose?

Chapter 1

Ginny Weasley was sitting on a rock just outside her house, her hands wrapped around her tightly and her face was stained with tears. She rocked herself back and forth shaking her head, whispering things to herself. Her brother, Bill Weasley was dead. He was killed by a death eater, or so it was assumed. She held onto the locket he gave her, his last present, remembering what he told her.

“I love you Gin- girl” he said ruffling her hair. She laughed and punched his side; he knew she hated to have her hair ruffled.

“I've got a present for you” he said, rummaging his hand around in the pocket of his jeans.

“A present?” Ginny asked him, her eyes going wide, she loved presents.

He nodded “It's for my favorite sister!”

Ginny rolled her eyes “Bill I'm your only sister” She told him.

“That's why it's so important that for your 15^th birthday I get you something special.” He took something out of his back pocket, and handed it to her.

“Open it up Gin-girl” Bill told her smiling.

She tore open the package, and ever so gently lifted the gold locket out of the case. She gasped with surprise, and opened the locket to find a picture of her and Bill. She was waving happily at the person taking the picture. On the back of the locket was Bill's favorite phrase. “Revenge is easy, but forgiveness is Godly”

Ginny held onto the locket tightly. “I'll never take it off!” she promised him.

He laughed and grabbed her hand and gave her a kiss.

That was two days ago, Bill had died the day after her birthday. Her body was shaking with tears; she didn't want to live anymore. Her favorite brother was killed by a deatheater, and what was she supposed to do about it? Forgive? She ripped the locket off her neck and threw it to the floor.

A second later she realized what she had done, and was down on the grass next to the locket. She let out a hoarse cry from the back of her throat. She remembered watching the clock as Bills hand hovered on mortal peril, and death, until it chose death. It didn't really hit Ginny until earlier, she just couldn't fathom a world with out Bill, but here it was, the cold cruel world that took things out from your arms.

Her hands fumbled with the chain as she tried to fix the broken links. In the end she threw herself down, and just wept herself to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Ginny woke up she was in her bed, someone must have carried her there. She grabbed the pink flowery blankets around her tighter as the memories of the past couple days hit her with full force. Today was Bill's funeral. Ginny got up, and went to her closet, not knowing what to wear. Bill hated black so she grabbed a dark forest green robe. She went into her top drawer and pulled out a box, she had stolen Bills earring earlier on that week and was waiting for him to come and claim them from her. She put it through one of her earring holes, and took the broken locket and slipped it into her pocket for comfort. She walked down the stairs; her family stared at her attire but said nothing. They all piled into the car, and drove down to where the funeral was being held. Many people had come wishing to pay their dues. After many remorseful speeches, and many tears the family was waiting to receive all of the condolences that the people had come to say.

The Malfoys walked up to them, Lucius and Narcissa nodded at them, and made some snide comment about how small the grave was and couldn't they afford a bigger one for their eldest son? The Weasleys had too much grief already to let the Malfoys bother them, and so all the Malfoys were ignored. Ginny slipped out of the room, she couldn't take all of the people coming to tell her how sorry they were. They weren't sorry! Why did they have to be sorry? It wasn't as if they killed him! Ginny ran out into the church graveyard and through herself down onto her brother's grave. She was in so much pain, her heart was constricting with it. She hugged the gravestone tracing every word

“Here lies Bill Christopher Weasley a loving son, and brother, may he rest in peace.”

“You must hate it in heaven Bill” she started talking. “No more adventures for you. I'm quite sure you wouldn't like hell either though, it's not your type” she gave a dry laugh. “I'm going to miss you, you know! Nothing will ever be the same again. Well Bill wherever you are I hope your happy.” She whispered to the grave; as a single tear rolled down her already tear stained cheeks.

She slowly stood up from the ground and wiped the dirt of her robe. She took a deep breath to steady herself, it didn't work. She walked back into the room, wondering if anyone had noticed that she left, they didn't. A sigh escaped her lips as she went back to stand in her place, next to Ron who was conversing with Harry and Hermione who they thought the killer was.

“Undoubtedly Malfoy” Ron said, shaking his head in an up and down motion, making him seem like a pompous ass.

“Probably” Harry agreed with him.

Hermione didn't look so sure, but pursed her lips and said nothing.

It could have been anyone Ron, Ginny wanted to yell but refrained herself because Malfoy was the most likely person to have killed Bill, after all Lucius Malfoy did try to kill her in her first year. She shook her head trying to clear her head of those thoughts; it was already a sad occasion she didn't have to make it worse for herself.

When the last person paid their respects, or in this case condolences the Weasleys piled back into the car and drove home.

Arthur parked the car in the front yard and Ginny got out of it after the rest of her family.

She slowly walked up the steps to her house and walked in the door and straight up to her room. She sank down onto her bed, closed her eyes and sank into a fitful sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Molly Weasley was bustling around the kitchen making breakfast.

“Ron, Ginny!” she screamed “get down here and eat your breakfast we don't want to be late for Kings Cross!”

A grumpy and ruffled looking Ron stumbled into the room, followed by a sad and sullen Ginny.

Molly set down their plates in front of them, and sighed when she saw her only daughter just picking at her food. Molly wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to Ginny.

“Bill wouldn't want you to starve yourself” Molly told said, and took Ginny's hand.

Ginny nodded, as tears slipped out of her eyes. It had only been two weeks after Bills death, and she had yet to stop crying herself to sleep.

“I know” she whispered to her mother. Molly stood next to Ginny as her daughter ate. She wanted to make sure that Ginny ate every thing that was on her plate, Ginny was beginning to look too skinny.

After their meal the Weasley drove to the station. Arthur went into the barrier first, then Ginny. Molly took her son aside for a second, wanting to tell him to help his younger sister.

“Watch your sister dear, make sure she eats” she told him sternly.

Ron nodded at his mother and looked around. He saw that no one he knew was there and so quickly kissed his mother on her cheek. He stepped across the barrier, and saw the scarlet engine; he scanned the crowd for Harry and Hermione. When he saw them he waved, and ran over, leaving Ginny to fend for herself.

It wasn't as if it was her first year though Ron reasoned to himself, Ginny knows where to go.

Ginny watched Ron leave it seemed that Ron was always worried about her during the wrong time. He was upset when she went out with Dean last year. He was worried she would get hurt, and now that her heart is truly broken he runs off with his friends.

Ginny picked up her bags and gave her parents each a quick kiss on the cheek.

“I love you” she told them both, and gave them a fierce hug, afraid that this would be the last time she would ever hug them.

They hugged her back with equal ferocity, afraid of the very same thing.

Ginny made her way to the train; she stepped aboard and went to the front looking for the prefect compartment, Hermione had scheduled a meeting.

When she got there she sank into a chair and waited for the rest of the people to show up.

Hermione was the second one there, followed by Ron. She smiled at Ginny, and said something to the likes of thank god this year we have one prefect that will be on time to the meetings!

When everyone was there, well everyone except for the head boy, Hermione started her little speech.

“Well most of you know me, but for those who don't I am Hermione Granger your new head girl-“

“Started without me Granger?” came a cool voice by the doorway. Seventeen sets of eyes went to look at who was standing there.

“Don't you have to wait for the head boy?” he asked her, raising only one of his aristocratic eyebrows.

“Not when the head boy is so late” she said indignantly.

He just smirked and took his seat next to Hermione, thought he made a point of putting as much space as possible between them.

“As I was saying” Hermione continued “my name is Hermione-“

“Nobody gives a fuck Granger” Draco told her “Here, I'll make it easy for you all. The reason why you all are here is to find out your house passwords and the rules. You will also receive your patrol schedule.” He told them in a bored tone.

Hermione shot a glare at him, hating the fact that he would always have more power than her.

“Rule number one” she said reading of her list.

“Just give them all the bloody handouts mudblood” he hissed at her, wanting to end this torture quickly.

Hermione and everyone else's face in the room (except for the Slytherins of course) turned pale.

“How dare you Malfoy” Ron started at him, but Hermione shook her head.

“No” she whispered to him “prefects are not allowed to fight and he isn't worth losing your badge over” she insisted.

But she did listen to Malfoy, Ginny thought with an amused grin. Ginny took the pamphlet that Hermione gave to her and scanned it. It was the usual rules.

Her eyes traveled to the Gryffindor password.

“Hermione what the bloody hell?” she screamed as she threw the paper down.

Hermione's face turned red.

“I thought you would appreciate it” she told Ginny, who looked like she was going to smack Hermione.

“I can't believe you would do that, change it now!” Ginny hissed,

“I can't do that Ginny” Hermione said sounding like a mother talking to a child who was throwing a temper tantrum, but at the same time trying to sound friendly. This didn't work as well as Hermione had hoped, and only fueled Ginny's anger.

“Rule number five states that passwords are only to be changed once a month”, and cannot be changed before that month is up” Hermione continued, giving to Ginny what she thought a rational explanation.

Ginny right now wasn't in the mood for rational and let out a choked sob. She wanted to say something to Hermione, wanted to tell her where she could shove her rules, but didn't.

“It's not worth it” she could hear Bills voice saying, in a way he was just as practical as Hermione, knowing when things were and weren't worth the penalty. And so out of respect for her now deceased brother all she did was grab her paper and ran out of the compartment, forgetting all about her luggage that was in there.

Draco Malfoy watched this display with amusement; he wondered what had gotten the littlest Weasley's knickers in such a twist. He glanced down at the sheets already knowing what the Slytherin password would be, seeing as he did make it. He grabbed the paper out of Hermione's hands to look at the Gryffindor password. It wasn't a friendly grab, it was more like an I want to know what it says so give it to me now grab.

“Bill Weasley” he said out loud. “Good job Granger didn't think you had it in you to do such a cruel thing.” In truth the only reason why it was such a cruel thing was because now the little Weasley, what was her name, Jenny? Jessie? Well whatever the girl's name was she now had to now think of her brother when she was most probably trying to forget and let go.

Draco smirked at her and started lapping, and soon all the Slytherin's joined in.

They were clapping their hands in such a way that made Hermione want to smack them, Draco the most.

“Shut up!” she said her face burning with embarrassment and rage, as she grabbed her paper back, “just shut up!”

He shrugged at her “Not my fault you were a bloody moron.”

“Sodding git” Hermione replied back.

His smirk grew even wider “silly bint.”

“This is pointless” she cried in exasperation, giving him a withering look, before storming out of the compartment to look for Ginny.

Ron stood up too, torn between beating Draco to a pulp, or running after Hermione and his sister, the latter won and he set off.

Draco snorted “great big Gryffindor ponces” he told the Slytherins that where there, “it's what all the Gryffindors are.”

But the people in the room couldn't help wonder if their head boy was right, why only after Hermione left did Ron leave, are Gryffindors more loyal to their friends than their family?

The Slytherin nodded their heads and took in every word Draco said about the Gryffindors, except for Blaise.

“Come on mate, I need a smoke” Blaise said throwing his arm around Draco's shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~~

After her incident with Tom, Ginny had always prided herself on not crying ever. Now it seemed that after Bill died she couldn't stop crying.

She was in the bathroom and so she wiped her face with a wet paper towel, trying to make her eyes a little less puffy and her nose a little less red.

She looked up into the mirror and saw what she always saw, a pale girl with freckles and auburn color hair.

Her hair was the only part of her body that she liked. Instead of being a fire engine red like the rest of the Weasley's hair, Ginny's hair was a deep auburn that fell in ringlets up until the small of her back. Bill would always twist his fingers in her curls, and pull on them.

When she was eight years old she asked her mother to cut her hair like she cut the boy's hair. Her mother sighed not wanting to chop this beautiful little girl's hair off but complied with her daughter's request. When Bill saw her he made her promise never to cut her hair (except for trimming, that was allowed) ever again.

It wasn't that it was ugly like that he told her, it was just that now he can't play with it and he told her, letting her in on a little secret, mum had always wanted a girl so she shouldn't go off and cut her hair to look like a boy. Ginny agreed with him on this, and so she started to love her hair the best, because that's what Bill had loved the best. Every other body part of hers though, was disgusting, or so she thought.

She sighed, and then heard Hermione's voice.

“Ginny, Ginny where are you we need to talk!” It came from right outside the door to the lavatories, which was where Ginny was.

Ginny looked around quickly before hiding in one of the toilet stalls. She locked the door behind her and put her feet on the toilet. She ducked so that you couldn't see her head. Hermione walked into the bathroom, but found no one; she crouched down looking for feet and found nothing.

“Ginny?” She called out, hoping for an answer, but no one did. She gave a groan of despair and then walked out.

When Ginny was sure that Hermione had left she unlocked the door and went to find an empty compartment to sleep in, she was exhausted.

She made her way down the hall peeking in the compartments praying that the next one she found would be vacant. The last compartment of the train was empty and so she walked inside. She quietly lay down to sleep. She took her robe and placed it as a blanket on top of her. The last compartment was freezing.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep. An hour later she awoke to feel the train lurching to a stop. She quickly threw on her robe and ran out of her compartment. She was about to get off the train before realizing that she had forgotten her bags in the prefects room.

She let out a groan of frustration and ran as fast as she could to her bags. She was in luck that the prefect room had an exit. She opened the door and stepped out of the train.

She saw Hagrid waving at her, but she didn't have the energy to wave back. She nodded her head at him and stepped into the carriage. Luck was with her that day because no one else came into her carriage, besides for Luna Lovegood, but she doesn't count Ginny thought to herself. Luna sat on the opposite side of Ginny so Ginny was able to stretch out as much as she wanted. She closed her eyes.

What is with me? She thought to herself, I used to never get tired and now all I do is sleep. That was her life now, cry, sleep, not much room for anything else. She shrugged it off though and tried to fall asleep, but the bumps on the road to the castle made it impossible.

She sighed and looked at Luna. Ginny thought about making conversation with the girl across from her, but thought better of it. Ginny raised an eyebrow but felt that it would be rude to point out that Luna was reading her newspaper upside down

Ginny shook her head and waited. What she was waiting for she really couldn't say.

She was waiting for a lot of things, she was waiting for the ride to be over, she was waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but most of all she was waiting for the end of the day.

-->

Title: At the End of the Day

Summary: After the death of someone that Ginny held dear she becomes reclusive. Many people try to get her to open up but it isn't working. The Dark Lord is going to be attacking soon and Ginny is essential to both sides, but what side will she choose?

Rated: R, language, and some sexual scenes

Chapter 2

The carriage pulled to a stop, right outside the castle doors. Ginny let Luna get out of the carriage first, afraid that because Luna was oblivious to everything the girl wouldn't notice anyone in front of her and they would collide.

When Ginny did get out of the carriage she looked around, like she did every year. She saw the lake, and the Whomping Willow. She saw the Forbidden Forest, and then she saw the castle. The big stone walled castle sparkled as if it were made out of hundreds of gems. Ginny placed a hand on the door, wanting to feel like she was home, she wanted to feel the warmth that Ron had always talked about, but it wasn't there. She tried harder, tears forming in her eyes but the warmth never came, only a cold nothingness. A single tear slipped out of her eye and rolled down her cheek, she wiped it away with her hand.

“Open the door” a voice in back of her called out.

Ginny shook her head, trying to clear it, and shoved open the door. She walked inside, and followed everyone else into the Great Hall.

She sat down in her usual seat, next to the Golden Trio. Ginny sighed and waited patiently as Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat.

The Hat cleared its throat and began its song.

Welcome to Hogwarts my friends

Here the fun never ends.

Ginny tuned the rest of the song out; she really didn't care what the hat was singing. She pushed a curly red lock of hair behind her ear.

When the song was over Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands.

“Filch has asked me to remind you all, the Forbidden Forest is, as it was and always will be off limits. The fourth floor second wing is now also off limits. Anyone who trespasses either of these thing will be severely punished.” Dumbledore said, looking directly at Harry.

“Now that that is over with, a few things have been added to the banned at Hogwarts list if anyone wishes to see that list come to me or Filch. Now I'm hungry and you all are probably to so Shizznat” Dumbledore cried out, scaring a few first years, and the food appeared.

Ron started heaping all the food onto his plate. Ginny gave him a dirty look before she took a piece of chicken and some mashed potatoes. She finished her meal quickly, because she didn't eat anything, and got her schedule from Professor McGonagall.

She didn't even bother opening it. She walked to Gryffindor Tower, and stopped outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

“Bill Weasley” she muttered, and stormed through the hole.

“Don't be so sad, dear” the portrait called in after her as it swung shut.

Ginny muttered something under her breath and went upstairs to her dormitory.

She slowly took her schedule out of her envelope and threw it on her bed. She flopped ungracefully down next to it. She picked it up and stared at it.

Ginevra Weasley

8 A.M… Breakfast

9 A.M... NEWT Transfiguration (Ravenclaw)

10 A.M… Double NEWT potions (Slytherin)

12 P.M… Lunch

1 P.M… NEWT Herbology (Hufflepuff)

2 P.M…NEWT History of Magic (Only Gryffindor)

3 P.M… Double NEWT DADA (Only Gryffindor)

5 P.M…NEWT Charms

6 P.M…NEWT Divination (With Firenze, Only Gryffindor)

7 P.M…Dinner

8 P.M onwards…Free

Ginny sighed as she looked at her schedule, they did say fifth year was one of the hardest years, she told herself sternly, and nine hours of class was definitely hard.

Well one good thing was that she only had one class with the Slytherins, it wasn't so much she disliked the Slytherins, it was that they disliked her and so she had no other choice but to hate them back.

Ginny personally thought that the whole fight between the two houses was a little over dramatic and stupid. The fight between Godric and Salazar happened over 300 years ago, and it was over a school, or so she (and most other people) thought.

She placed her schedule on the nightstand next to her bed. She closed her eyes, and thought of Bill. It was what she did every night. She started crying again. She knew her tears were getting old, but she couldn't help them. She missed her brother terribly, and so crying and missing she fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~

At seven the next morning Ginny's alarm clock rang. She stretched and got up out of bed, grabbed her shampoo and conditioner and went to shower. When she came out she felt refreshed. She grabbed her uniform and put it on; she looked in the mirror and let out a frustrated growl. Her shirt was a little too tight, and her skirt was a little too short, it wasn't that much inappropriate, but it was noticeable.

She placed her robe on top of her clothing. The robe was too big on her; it was George's old one. She left her hair as it was, and placed her sneakers on her feet. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

Ginny walked down to breakfast by herself, as she did most mornings before this. She walked quietly into the Great Hall, and sat down at the end of the table by herself.

She put some eggs on her plate, took a bite and then pushed the plate away from her feeling sick, not noticing a pair of silver eyes that were focused on her. She sat where she was for a while before finally getting up and going to her first class, she would be early, but then she would be able to pick her seat

~~~~~~~~~~

Draco Malfoy was sitting eating his breakfast when he looked up and saw the little Weasley girl walk into the Great Hall. He stared at her all through breakfast; there was something…intriguing about her. He watched her place the eggs on her plate and then eat a small bite. He raised his eyebrow at this.

Did the littlest Weasley not eat? Wasn't there some Muggle disorder where you didn't eat because you thought you were fat? Was it's called? Anorexia that was it! I wonder if Weasley is anorexic, Draco thought to himself. Why should I care, he quickly caught himself. But Draco Malfoy the boy with a heart of ice found that he did care, and he really wasn't sure why.

Draco got up, a couple minutes after the little Weasley got up, he really needed to find out her name.

Draco slowly walked to his first class, potions with the Gryffindors.

He shook his head, he hated the Gryffindors, and he had to share his favorite subject with them. He got to the classroom, and took a seat next to Blaise. Snape walked in about a minute later, with The Golden Trio at his heels.

“30 points from Gryffindor, for being late” Snape barked at them.

Harry opened his mouth, wanting to say something to the Professor, but Hermione elbowed him and so he wisely closed his mouth. All three sat down, Harry and Ron next to each other, and Hermione next to Neville.

“This as all of you well know is your seventh year potions class, and so I expect more from you then I did before. I want to test your true ability for potion making. I want every person to brew me an Amortentia potion. I will give you two weeks to complete your task, but first can anyone tell me what this potion is? Snape asked the class, ignoring Hermione's frantic hand.

“Yes, Mister Malfoy?”

“Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world, it is recognizable by its mother-of-pearl sheen, and its steam rises in spirals. The potion smells differently to different people, it all depends on what attracts them.”

“Very good, Mister Malfoy, 20 points to Slytherin for going above and beyond expectations!” Snape smirked at the Gryffindors. “Now get to work” he concluded.

Neville looked around confused, and slowly put his hand up.

“What is it Longbottom?” Snape snarled at the boy.

“Um, sir, what are the ingredients?” Neville was able to stammer out.

Snape glared at him “It's your assignment Longbottom, figure it out!”

Neville nodded, happy that at least Gryffindor didn't lose any points for that.

Draco shook his head, and rolled his eyes towards Blaise, who just smirked. He opened his book trying to find anything about the Amortentia potion, but found nothing.

Figures, he thought to himself, the ingredients would only be found in the restricted section of the library.

After class he would ask Professor Snape for a pass for now he would do something else.

He flipped through his potions book, and on page 458 he stopped. He quickly read the potion, and to be sure he was right, he read it again.

“Felix Felicis” he murmured to himself. He grabbed Blaise's book and turned to the same page, but all that was there was a blood replenishing potion.

Draco gave Blaise back his book, and smirked. This year was going to be one lucky year.

He started to read all about the potion. It was highly toxic if it was taken in large quantities, and if used to much you would be dangerously overconfident, giddy, and reckless.

Draco looked around, and made sure that no one was looking; he ripped the page out of his textbook and placed it into his pocket.

The bell rang and he walked over to Snape.

“Professor?” he asked him.

Snape looked up “What is it?”

“I need a pass for the restricted section to get all of the ingredients” Draco told him.

Snape smirked “at least someone realized that that is where the ingredients would be found.”

Snape quickly jotted something down on a piece of paper. “Here you go, Mister Malfoy.”

Draco took the sheet of paper and walked on to herbology.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny was sitting in transfiguration, twirling her wand between her fingers, as Professor McGonagall spoke about what they would be doing this semester. It wasn't all that interesting.

When the bell rang Ginny got up and followed the class to potions. She sat down in her seat, and took out her potions book.

“Today class” Snape started off the lesson “you will each be brewing me a bottle of veritaserum. I expect you to have it done by the end of this class, anyone who is able to make this potion correctly will be rewarded, anyone who doesn't…” he trailed off smiling sinisterly at the Gryffindors.

“You may begin now” he stated.

Ginny flipped open to her book to the page with veritaserum ingredients, and started.

She went to the front of the class and took all the ingredients that she needed.

“Shredded Boomslang skin, root of asphodel, four drops of dragon's blood, and jobberknoll feathers” Ginny said making sure that she had everything she needed.

She placed the boomslang in, and stirred for 10 minutes. Next she chopped up the root of asphodel; she put the four drops of dragon's blood on the root, and dumped it (the root) in. She stirred counterclockwise for another twenty minutes, before she dipped the jobberknoll feathers in twenty seven times. After she did that she put the feathers in, and switched off stirring clockwise and counterclockwise for the next 45 minutes. At exactly three minutes and forty nine seconds she had to switch the way she was stirring.

When she was finished the class was almost over, and Snape was coming around to look at all of the potions.

“Very good, Miss Weasley” he told her “please stay after class.”

He walked around the class and told one more person, a Slytherin, to stay after class.

The bell rang and while everyone packed up and went to lunch, Ginny and the other girl went to Professor.

“Serena Zabini, and Ginevra Weasley” he said, motioning for them to sit down, which they did. “You two were the only ones who were able to concoct this potion, out of a class of thirty-three students. Not only that you are two of five students to ever have been able to make this potion in their sixth year, the third as you may or may not have guessed was Draco Malfoy, myself, and Lily Evans or Potter” he told them.

The girls both nodded at the same time, not sure of what to say.

“Because you were able to make this potion I will have to talk to Dumbledore immediately but I think that it would be best if the two of you were partners, and helped us make a certain potion.”

Both girls were very confused at what he was saying, a potion? What potion did they have to make? They were going to be partners-

“Of course” Snape said interrupting all of their thought “you'll be working on it with Mister Malfoy as well.”

Ginny wanted to let out a groan, but knew that if she did she would have lost so many points for Gryffindor, but she couldn't help it. The groan escaped her lips anyway.

Snape smirked “you are lucky Miss Weasley that you are a favorite of mine, dismissed.”

The two girls left the room together, outside the door Serena held out her hand towards Ginny.

“Serena Zabini” she told Ginny. Ginny took the other girls hand “Ginny Weasley” she replied. They both walked to lunch in silence, but not an uncomfortable one. When they got there Serena went to sit at the Slytherin table, and Ginny went to sit at the Gryffindor table.

She sat at the end, by herself again, she didn't want to sit next to the Dream Team anymore, and it wasn't as if they noticed her missing anyway.

She took some bread and took a bite of it before she was full. Again she didn't feel the silver eyes staring at her. She checked her watch she had 45 minutes before her next class she sighed and went up to her common room. She decided to take a nap. She lay down on the couch and fell asleep. She woke up around a half an hour later. She stretched her arms and walked to the greenhouses. Herbology was the most boring subject in the world Ginny thought to herself.

This was torture she could barely sit through it without killing her or Professor Sprout. An hour later it was over and Ginny sighed with relief. She walked onto Charms, and then DADA. Before long it was time for divination, and she was very lucky she didn't have Trelawney. She walked into the classroom (Trelawney was in the tower) and took a seat near the front. About two minutes later the rest of the class was there, because there were only five students in the whole class.

Firenze came in and stood at the front of the room.

“Hello” he nodded at all of them. “Today we will begin learning about seers, can anyone tell me what a seer is?” he asked.

Everyone raised their hand.

“Yes, Miss Phillips?” he called on the girl sitting next to Ginny.

“A person who tells future events?” she was an up talker.

“Correct, today true seers are very hard, and near impossible to find. A true seer can always see the future; they get this ability when they become of age, which is at age seventeen. If they are trained then they are able to block out future events. In every generation there are two Seers. So far in your generation we know of none. Many seers who have not had the proper training go mad because they can't block out the future, and so they see pictures in their mind that have not happened, they hear voices and so they start to go crazy.” He explained to them.

The bell rang, and Firenze nodded at them, signaling that they were dismissed. Ginny got up and gathered her stuff, she walked down to dinner.

You'd be proud of me Bill she thought. I did well in potions today, I know it was your favorite subject, I think it's mine now too! She told him, hoping against hope that he would talk back, he didn't. She sighed and went into the Great Hall, and again she didn't feel the silver eyes on her when she at a bite of the roast beef before she pushed it away.

There was a bang from the other side of the room, and Ginny's head snapped up.

“Don't you ever” she heard a calm, but deadly sounding Draco Malfoy “touch me again Pansy!” The whole hall heard it, it was hard not to. Draco glared at everyone in the Great Hall, and snarled, before walking out his cloak billowing behind him.

Ginny smirked as the conversation around her continued.

“It's the first day back, and Parkinson was already turned down” she heard Dean yelling across the Hall, which erupted into laughter as Pansy tried to do the same thing as Draco but tripped on her way out making the students laugh even harder than they already were.

Ginny sighed looked around her, people were finishing their dinners and leaving, she decided to leave with them. She walked into the common room and sat down to do her homework, one foot of parchment on seers due tomorrow for divination. She started working immediately. When she was done she rolled up the parchment and went upstairs to her room.

She got out of her clothing and dropped down onto her bed, she was exhausted. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep, but restless sleep.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, but let's pretend I live on the reviews you gave me…I'd be dead. You can give me helpful hints and stuff, also I'm looking for a Beta, so if this is kind of crappily written…so review review review because I won't put up anymore chapters until you do!!

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At the End of the Day

Rating: still R

Disclaimer: Still not mine

Notes- I'm sorry about the Ginny in her 5^th year thing, I forgot I wrote she was in her 5^th year. She isn't, she is in her 6^th year and she is 16. Just letting everyone know that.

Ginny Weasley stretched and got out of bed, or rather she tried to get out of bed. She fell back down on the red and gold covered bed with a thud. She didn't feel like moving, she was too weak. It's been two weeks into school and Ginny had yet to eat more than one bite at a meal. She wasn't anorexic, she just wasn't hungry.

She tried to stand up again, and this time it worked.

She went to the bathroom and washed her face, trying to wake her self up. She put on her now loose, because of how much weight she lost, clothing and left her curly auburn locks flowing down her back. She fastened her robe and walked down to breakfast.

She knew she fell because of how much weight she lost but she just couldn't bring herself to eat.

It wasn't that noticeable though, her weight really wasn't that bad, she reasoned with herself.

She sighed and took a bite of a strawberry for breakfast. She put it down, and stood up, and left the hall. If anyone noticed she was only in there for less than a second no one mentioned it to her, or to anyone else.

She walked slowly to transfiguration, falling at least twice on her way there. Once she got there she sank into her seat, glad to be sitting down.

Professor McGonagall came in and started their lesson.

Ginny was able to make it through the rest of the day without any more collapses. When it came time for dinner she decided to force herself to eat. She took a piece of steak. She cut a piece and took a bite of it, she was full already. She took another bite, and than another one before she felt as if she would throw up. She put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples.

Great, she thought to herself, I have a stomachache and a headache! She sighed and stood up. She walked to Gryffindor tower, only two more hateful weeks of this password Ginny reminded herself as she said the name of her deceased brother to the portrait.

“I wonder who that is!” The fat lady had once said to Ginny.

“Who what is?” came the reply of the auburn haired girl.

“Bill Weasley”

“My murdered brother” Ginny informed the portrait, who gave a gasp of surprise and immediately started apologizing. She used to say her brother that passed away, before the term started to really annoy her. Her brother probably was anything but passive when he died. Ginny was sure that he fought all the way to his grave, and she was so proud of him for it!

She clambered into the portrait hole, and went up to her room. She opened her trunk and rummaged around into it for a while before pulling out some sort of book.

Divination Throughout the Ages by Allreena Peronstrasta Ginny read skimming her hand over the lettering. She opened up the book, Bill had given it to her for her fifteenth birthday and told her not to open it until her sixth year at Hogwarts. Ginny had forgotten about it until now.

All of a sudden there was a large bang and Ginny dropped her book. There were shrieks of terror coming from downstairs.

She quickly grabbed her wand and rushed downstairs. The Gryffindor common room was in a state of chaos.

There were three dementors, and there was no Harry Potter to be found. Ginny searched her memory for the happiest moment.

“When Bill came home and gave me my necklace for my 16^th birthday” she whispered.

“Expecto Patronum” she cried out. A large silver panther streaked out of the end of her wand. It charged the dementors with such a force that the people in the room hid behind things.

Once all of the creatures were gone the portrait hole opened and Professor McGonagall came rushing in along with Professor Snape, there wands at ready.

“Good Heavens” Professor McGonagall breathed “what happened here?”

There was a burst of noise and the whole common room was shouting at once.

The professor held up her hand signaling to them they should be silent. “One person, if you please.”

Seamus Finnegan stood up “well you see Professor, we all heard this bang, and than all of a sudden three dementors appeared, and then Ginny Weasley came down and saved us all” he said this all very fast, but it seemed the Professor McGonagall got the gist of it. She nodded, and beckoned Ginny over with her finger.

“Follow me” she said crisply.

Snape left the portrait hole first followed by McGonagall than Ginny. He led them to Dumbledore's office.

“Blood Pops” he said to the Gargoyle.

All three slowly walked up the stairs to the office.

Professor Snape knocked on the door. It swung open letting all three of them in.

Dumbledore gestured to the three seats in front of his desk, wanting them to sit down.

He raised his eyebrows and motioned for Professor McGonagall to explain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny Weasley walked slowly back to the common room, wanting to be alone for as long as possible. When she arrived she whispered the new password (Pixy Perfect) and walked in. She was lucky, everyone was asleep. She walked up the staircase and fell onto her bed. She closed her eyes and in seconds she was fast asleep.

“It's happening” a voice whispered

“I know it is!” cried a different voice, sounding a little bit indignant.

“She is coming” the first voice said.

“Who is?”

“Istahar” the first voice said, happy he knew something the other voice didn't.

The second voice gasped “It's not possible! She vowed never to return!”

The voice shook its head, or it would have if it had one to shake.

“She vowed never to return until the country needed her and when all-“

“Yes, yes, I know” interrupted the second voice, a little impatiently “but you don't think it's really going to happen do you?”

“I do” the first voice said without much conviction.

“It would be beautiful to see her…” the second voice trailed off.

“Yes, yes it would.”

“Do the two people know what to do?”

“They hardly know each other; of course they don't know what to do!”
”Somebody ought to teach them then!”

“Yes someone ought to, but no one will, everyone is too scared.”

“Then we must take it upon ourselves” cried the second voice with a fiery passion

“How are we going to do that?”

“I haven't actually figured that one out yet” the second voice said, feeling a little sheepish for the first time that night.

”Think before you speak” the first voice sneered.

The second voice sounded angry when it spoke next “Don't you dare speak to me like that” it hissed. “You are no more important than I am!”

“You must be jesting me, I am the most important! Without me the whole operation would fail!”

“Without everyone the operation would fail, don't you see if one person doesn't do their job than everything would fall apart!”

The first voice seemed to have lost its sneer because it apologized.

“Apology accepted” the second voice answered. “Now onto business, we may not think it will work but we shall do everything in our power to make it work!”

“Istahar will make it work!”

“It would be a comfort to have her, but since she may not come we must plan according to as if she is not going to be there, and if she comes all the better for us.”

“But I am positive she is coming, Alex-“

“No names” hissed the second voice.

“Centaur B is our most reliable source, and she told me!” the first voice said stubbornly.

“I know that, but just in case we must be sure!”

The first voice sighed “I suppose you're right…but still-“

“No buts about it, it's better to be safe than sorry!”

Ginny awoke with a start, and remembered the strange dream she had last night. She rubbed her eyes, and stretched. Then she realized something, she was hungry! It had been weeks since she was last hungry. She threw her robe on and rushed down the stairs and to the Great Hall.

She sat down next to Colin and piled food onto her plate. She had a helping of scrambled eggs and some fudge. She finally felt full, truly full. After she finished her breakfast she turned to speak to Colin, but he was already gone. She sighed, she knew they weren't friends but she was getting very bored with no friends. She got up and made her way to transfiguration.

They were still all working on changing an inanimate object into an animate one.

Ginny had always hated transfiguration; it was always so boring to her. She wasn't bad at transfiguration, actually quite the opposite she was one of the top in her class it just bored her to tears.

Ginny swished her wand, said the incantation and her clock became an owl. She smiled, all done. Around thirty minutes later the bell rang. Ginny gathered her stuff and went to potions.

She sat down in her seat, but stopped when Professor Snape called her to his desk along with Serena.

Ginny walked over to the potion master's desk and waited silently.

“Do you remember when I spoke to you on the first day of class about a potion you would have to work on?” he asked.

Both girls nodded simultaneously and so Snape continued.

“You two and Mister Malfoy will be working on it today; you have been excused from the rest of your classes. You will be working in my study, it is through that door on your right, the password is Valerian Roots.

Ginny and Serena both walked to the door.

“Valerian Roots” Serena said, the door opened and they stepped inside.

Malfoy was already in there, his feet up on the desk.

He nodded at Serena, and he looked Ginny up and down.

“Weasley” he sneered.

“Malfoy” she sneered back at him. If he was surprised that she had said anything to him he didn't show it.

“Let's get to work” he said, and swung his feet down.

“Draco?” Serena asked “we don't know what potion to make.”

“Everlasting Elixir” Draco told them.

Serena dropped the vile she was holding, and Ginny's jaw dropped.

“But that's never been made before” Ginny said “even the ingredients are unknown.”

“Yes” Draco said “so is the effect, and if we want to find out how to make it we'd better get started!”

They spent the whole day reading books and looking at ingredients.

Ginny was lying on the ground, Serena was sitting in a chair, and Draco was standing, but they all had one thing in common. They all were reading furiously determined to make the potion.

Ginny sighed, she grabbed another book, there was nothing in Potions for those who Excel, or in Potions for Geniuses. She looked next to her, there was still at least twenty books left in the pile that they had made.

Draco had read the most while Serena and Ginny had read only two, he was on his fifth.

It was dinner time before they knew it, and they had found nothing. Ginny wanted to scream in frustration, they had been working the whole day, and nothing had come up!

“Maybe we should just guess the ingredients” Serena said half joking, half serious.

Draco just smirked at her and packed his stuff. “This is what we're going to be doing every Sunday; we're not allowed to miss class, if you have any free time I would advise you to read up in the Library.”

He nodded at Serena, and sneered at Ginny before he left. Ginny sighed and gathered her books; she gave Serena a little smile and went to dinner. She ate her mashed potatoes and roast beef.

After she was done she went over to the table for the teachers and went up to Firenze.

“Excuse me Professor” she said, wedging her way next to him.

“Yes Miss Weasley?” he asked her.

“You see sir I was thinking back to our first lesson and you said a seer gets his or her gift at the age of seventeen. Is it possible for a seer to get their gift earlier?”

Firenze looked at her knowingly.

“Yes it is possible, and highly unlikely, but there have been cases, can I assume you are one of them?” he asked her, raising his eyebrow.

Ginny blushed and nodded “yes sir.” She said, it felt a little weird to call a centaur sir, but she respected him and so she gave him his rightful name.

Firenze smiled down at her kindly “Good night Miss Weasley” he told her.

“Good night” she answered.

She walked to her room smiling, today was a good day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She woke up the next morning and smiled, it was Saturday. Today was the first match against Slytherin.

Ginny got up and threw on her quidditch robes. She put her hair up so that it wouldn't get in her way. On her way out she grabbed her nimbus 2001, a present for getting good grades on her OWLs.

She ran down to the Gryffindor locker room, Harry was already there. He nodded at her and she sat down with the rest of the team.

“Okay” Harry said clapping his hands “we're playing Slytherin today; we've been training for this the whole year.” No one wanted to point out that it had only been to weeks into the school year. Harry was sometimes worse than Oliver Wood, he made grueling practices when they won, and even harder ones when they lost.

Harry finished his pep talk and went outside, the rest of the team followed.

“Captains shake hands” Madame Hooch said, as Ginny mounted her broom.

Neither Harry nor Draco held out their hands, they just stared at each other, Madame Hooch sighed.

“I want a nice clean game” she said staring hardly at both boys.

Ginny and Harry switched places while Draco and Theodore Nott switched places.

“On my whistle she told the two.”

She threw the ball up and blew her whistle. Ginny flew up and grabbed the quaffle she flew straight at the Slytherin hoops, but dropped a pass back to Dean who shot.

“Oh blocked by the keeper” cried Amy Jordon, the announcer. “The keeper gives it to Nott, who passes to Zabini; Ginny Weasley has stolen the quaffle”

Ginny held the quaffle tight as she flew towards the Slytherin goal post. A bludger was hit at her but she dodged it, she aimed and fired her shot.

“Goal!” cried Amy, waving her hands wildly in the air.

“Zabini passes to Phelps, who swings it around and throws it to Nott, back to Zabini. He's heading straight for the goal post, Oh Natasha Greyheart has stolen the quaffle she passes to Weasley, who passes back to Greyheart.” Amy said the excitement was evident in her voice.

Ginny sighed and sped up to get near Dean who now had the quaffle. He threw it at her and she ducked underneath Zabini, she saw that both bludgers were coming at her she threw the ball to Dean and went into a graceful dive down avoiding collision. She looked up and saw that Dean had scored. She smiled and he gave her a thumbs up. Natasha grabbed the quaffle out from Notts hand and threw it in the goal.

The Slytherins were upset, and started to play brutally. Zabini knocked Dean away with his elbow. “Foul” cried Amy, getting upset “where were you on that one Madame Hooch?”

Zabini threw the quaffle in the goal, Ron blocked it, but Nott retaliated with shoving Ginny out of the way and getting the goal. Ginny got the quaffle and streaked off toward Slytherin. She kicked Phelps out of the way-

“Foul” Madame Hooch's whistle blew.

“What are you talking about?” screamed Amy “if you're going to call a foul at least call all of them you cheating bit-“

“Miss Jordan” McGonagall cried from her seat.

“Sorry Professor.”

The shot on goal was blocked, and Natasha got the quaffle she flew to the other side of the pitch with Ginny in front of her and Dean behind her.

She threw the ball to Ginny he threw it up in the air, and hit it with the back of her broom.

“Goal!” screamed Amy “that was beautiful, did you see that? One of the best shots so far!”

Nott was getting mad, his face was red and he was not in a good mood.

“Where is the fucking Snitch?” he screamed to Blaise, who shrugged his shoulders in reply.

Thirty minutes later there was still no sign of the snitch and the score was Gryffindor 150, to Slytherin 100.

Ginny grabbed the quaffle and scored once again.

“Ginny Weasley is really on tonight!” said Amy happily “her shots have been amazing and her flying is the best!”

Ginny flew with the other Gryffindor chasers in a V towards the Slytherin posts. She passed the quaffle to Greyheart, who swung it around to Dean who shot.

“Blocked by the keeper” Amy cried. “It looks like Harry Potter has seen the snitch!”

Draco started to follow Harry until a hint of gold caught his eye.

Potter was pulling a Wronski Feint; Draco smirked and veered left with his broom. He shot towards the snitch he reached out and caught it! He held it up triumphantly, as all the Slytherins cheered wildly.

The Gryffindor team landed, defeat written all over their faces.

“Come on” Harry said to the team “let's go shower.”

Ginny and Natasha went to one side of the locker room, while all the boys went to the other.

“You were really good today Ginny” Natasha told her.

“Thanks” she said smiling “you were too.”

Natasha Greyheart would have been popular if she wasn't such so smart. She would get good grades, and wouldn't let anyone cheat off her, enraging the “popular” people.

Ginny and Natasha never really spoke before, they each normally kept to themselves, but now they could see this would be the beginning of a great friendship.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was Sunday and Ginny had to work on the potion. She was the first one in Snape's office. She started on the books, reading about the ingredients.

When Draco and Serena walked in they looked surprised Ginny was already there, but said nothing.

“How where potions first made?” Ginny asked them, smiling as if she knew something.

Serena raised her eyebrows “probably exactly how we made them in potions class.”

“No, that's not what I meant” Ginny explained. “When a potion was made for the first time how did they get the right ingredients?”

Neither Draco nor Serena answered her, just looked at her expectantly.

“They researched the ingredients and found out what each ingredient did. SO if we could do that we could make the potion.”

“There's one problem with that Weasley” Draco smirked “we don't even know what the potion does.”

Ginny's face fell “Good point” she mumbled.

Ginny read through at least four books that morning, and found nothing on the potion. Towards the middle of the day though Serena jumped up, and screamed.

“I got it!” She cried, holding the book up in the air.

Ginny ran over to her, and Draco sat where he was.

“Well what does it say, Zabini?” he asked.

Serena glared at him, Draco just shrugged in reply.

“Everlasting Elixir” Serena read.

“The Everlasting Elixir is a potion that can cure all ailments, including old age, and even death. The potion will never run out. This potion has never been made before and all of the ingredients, except for one, are unknown. The known ingredient is acromantula venom.”

“Acromantula venom?” Ginny asked “that's impossible to find!”

Serena nodded “even for a Malfoy” she said glaring at Draco.

Ginny looked up “What?” she asked

“It's the only potion ingredient my father doesn't have, It is impossible to find.” Draco explained.

“Well” Ginny said “look on the bright side, now we can use my idea with potion ingredients.”

Serena nodded “let's get to work then!”

Draco smirked and went over to Ginny “You know what Weasley?” he asked.

Ginny sighed “No I don't.”

“Yea, I kind of figured you wouldn't.”

Ginny stared at the blond boy “What?” she asked him, confusion written clearly on her face.

He smirked even wider “get back to work Weasley, it's what you're good at” he took a delight in vexing her.

“As opposed to you, who has never done a decent day of work in his life” she bit out.

“Obviously, I'm a Malfoy”

“Oh shut up both of you” cried Serena, having enough of the two of them.

And for the next couple of weeks this was how it went.

I still didn't get as many reviews as I would have liked but whatever, I'll put this up anyway. It's out of love. Anyway guys please review. If you hate it review and tell me why, if you like it review and tell me why!

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At the End of the Day

Chapter 4

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I'll repeat one more time Ginny is in her 6^th year and she is 16, I know I kept messing that up, sorry guys!

It was around two weeks before Halloween when Professor Dumbledore stood up at breakfast to make an announcement.

“Many years ago, it was the custom at Hogwarts to have a masked ball. In those days, our good friends in Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were invited to attend but, due to circumstances quite beyond anyone's control, they will not be able to attend this year and so we will be forced to have a wonderful masquerade on our own. All students from the fifth year and up are invited and must arrive in costume. There will be a competition and prizes shall be awarded for the three best costumes. Since you will, of course, need to go out and find proper disguises, an emergency trip to Hogsmeade has been scheduled to accommodate you."

All the girls started talking at once about what they wanted to wear and who they were going to go with.

Natasha kicked Ginny “This is going to be so much fun!” she squealed.

Ginny made a face. “Would've been more fun if you didn't kick me,” she muttered.

Natasha just stuck her tongue out at Ginny. “Anyway, I think we should go together,” Natasha informed Ginny as they made their way back to Gryffindor tower.

“And why is that?” Ginny asked, raising one eyebrow—it was a trick Bill had taught her to do. They were the only Weasleys able to do it, though Fred and George had desperately wanted to learn.

“Because” Natasha explained to Ginny “that way we don't have to just dance with one boy!”

Ginny laughed “All right Nat,” Ginny said calling her friend by her nickname

“I wonder what we should dress up as…” Natasha said trailing off as they got to the portrait hole.

“Well we'll find out tomorrow” Ginny told her.

Ginny fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

“I saw her!” cried the voice.

“Saw who?” came the reply.

“Her! Istahar”

“What?” screamed the second voice “You saw her?”

“Yes,” the first voice said importantly. There was a moment of awed silence.

“Was she as beautiful as they say she is?”

“She has nothing on you.” The first voice whispered.

The second voice cleared its throat “thank you, but we can't compare, she's not human-”

“But yes, she is beautiful, for what she is.”

“I'd like to see her…maybe one day.”

“She gives you hope when you see her. You just have to look upon her and this warm feeling spreads into your heart.

“I can only imagine” the second voice said, a little quietly.

“Can we add her into the plan now?” the first voiced asked suddenly.

The second voice laughed it was light, airy sound “yes, I think we can.”

When Ginny woke up she realized something about her dream. The first voice was masculine, and the second was feminine. That was the only thing she was able to get out of the dream because Natasha came leaping onto Ginny's bed.

“Wake up” she cried “we're going shopping today!”

Ginny groaned and put the pillows on her head “Go away,” she mumbled.

“No” Natasha said stubbornly, shaking her head “We leave for Hogsmeade in half an hour!”

Ginny opened one eye and shooed Natasha off her. “If you don't get up” Ginny said reasonably “than I can't really get dressed, can I?”

Natasha smiled and jumped up. She threw Ginny her robes and pointed her arm outwards.

“Forward, march!” she cried out and started marching out of the room.

Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes, it was good to finally have a friend. She put her robe on and ran down to meet Natasha near the front doors. She found Natasha standing a little away from the rest of the students. Ginny ran towards her.

“Thank God” Natasha breathed “I hate this many people.”

“So then, why do you like shopping?” Ginny asked.

“That's different I hate it when there are a lot of people and I'm I don't like any of them.”

Ginny shook her head; Natasha didn't really get along with anyone at Hogwarts, besides Ginny and boys.

They had gotten to Hogsmeade. They walked around for a little while, discussing which store to go into. They had gotten to the lower part of Hogsmeade were all of the bars were, and they were about to turn around when they saw a little shop.

“Madame Florence's Shop of Costumes,” read Natasha “How original.”

Ginny rolled her eyes, and pulled Natasha inside.

“Oh my God,” Ginny breathed as they walked into the shop. From the outside it looked like an ordinary shop, but on the inside...It was as big as the Great Hall in Hogwarts with Muggle and Wizarding costumes everywhere!

“Oh, Ginny come look at this!” Natasha said as she touched a beautiful princess costume.

Ginny smiled at her friend but walked to the back of the store, looking for a costume. She wasn't sure she wanted to win; she just wanted to look beautiful and, for the first time, really feel beautiful.

They had been in there for over an hour when Natasha had spotted something she liked.

“Ginny come here!” She screamed, so Ginny could hear her. “How do you like this?” she asked.

“It's a little…revealing” Ginny said to her friend. Natasha was holding up a costume that said Cat Woman on the tag. It was an all leather bodysuit and the top looked like a bustier. It also came with a whip and mask.

“People are going to think you're into being dominant,” Ginny laughed.

Natasha winked at Ginny, “I think I'll get this one. Now all we have to do is find you a costume and we're good.”

Ginny wasn't really sure how Natasha had no friends before her, but she didn't say anything.

It was a couple minutes later, thirty two to be exact, when Ginny found the costume she wanted. It was under a section called Shakespearean Heroines.

It was the garb of an Egyptian Princess, with a sign that said Cleopatra on it. It was a white midriff baring shirt, and it had a necklace in the shape of a half circle. It had no sleeves, except two braided cords that held the shirt up.

The skirt was also white, and had what looked like a slit on the side, that went up to mid thigh-but it was only to reveal another piece of fabric-cloth of gold this time.

There was a belt that was made of pure gold with a ruby set in the center of it.

But the most beautiful part of the dress was the crown, even though it wasn't so elaborate. It was a golden cobra that wrapped around her head once before straightening itself up into a position that looked like it was going to strike.

The cobra had sapphires for its eyes, and it appeared as if it were swaying back and forth waiting for some unfortunate creature to come closer-almost daring the creature to take another step.

Ginny had fallen in love with the costume. She looked at the price tag and gasped, but then what did she expect, the gems were real. She put it back. What would you do with it, Ginny? She asked herself sternly, you would never wear it again.

Natasha looked at her friend's crestfallen face, before coming to a decision. It was times like these that she was happy to be one of the richest girls at Hogwarts.

“Tell you what,” she told Ginny, grabbing the costume “This will be your birthday present.”

Ginny started to protest saying her birthday was over a month and a half ago, but Natasha just shrugged.

“We'll call it a belated gift,” Natasha said, smiling.

Ginny grinned and hugged her “Thank you!” she cried out happily.

Natasha shrugged and bought both of their costumes “But now I think I may be all out of money, so you Ginny, will have to buy us the food.” She grabbed their purchases and marched both of them out of the stall and into The Three Broomsticks.

“Two butterbeers,” Ginny told Madame Rosmerta as they sat down in a corner booth.

A few minutes later Ginny and Natasha were sipping their butterbeers and discussing the ball.

“I wonder who Draco Malfoy is going with,” Natasha said with a smirk.

“I hope with Parkinson, they deserve each other,” Ginny said with a sneer. Ever since they had started working on their project Ginny and Draco had been nastier to each other than ever.

Ginny wasn't sure if she riled him up because he looked so hot while they were fighting, or if she just hated him. Then again it could have been both.

Natasha looked at Ginny and quirked her mouth, “Whatever you say” Natasha told her.

Ginny looked at her friend confused “Okay” she said tilting her to the side.

Natasha looked at her watch.

“Shit-“ Natasha was interrupted.

“Don't curse” Ginny told her.

“Whatever,” Natasha rolled her eyes “we need to get back to Hogwarts.”

Ginny grabbed their bags, and paid for the butterbeer, “Let's go,” she said.

They walked back to Hogwarts talking about their costumes.

“You know you're going to have to die your hair black, and straighten it for the ball,” Natasha told her.

Ginny shook her head “No, why?”

Natasha sighed “Because Ginny, Cleopatra was a Muggle Egyptian ruler who had straight black hair.”

“Then I guess I have to straighten and die my hair, but only for that night,” Ginny conceded, she hated to do anything to her hair. She didn't mind fancy hairdos; she just didn't like changing it after Bill told her he loved it.

A few minutes later they were at the castle.

“You go inside,” Ginny told Natasha “I want to stay outside a little bit.”

Natasha nodded at her, and walked inside.

Oh Bill,” Ginny sighed, as she hugged her knees in close to her chest. “I miss you. There's going to be a ball” she said, and went on to tell him all about what was going on at Hogwarts, oblivious to the other person that was only a tree away.

Draco Malfoy stared at girl with the auburn hair. She is pretty he said to himself even for a Weasley. He shook his head and sighed. He walked slowly and quietly back into the castle.

Taking a deep breath he muttered the password “Screw Potter,” and walked inside. He made a left and walked up the stairs. He got to the top floor and stood in front of a painting of Slytherin's mistress.

“Dragons blood,” he told the portrait, who swung itself open to let Draco into his room. Blaise was sitting on his bed.

“What do you want?” Draco asked him, while taking off his shoes.

“Oh nothing,” Blaise said innocently. Draco snorted in response.

”I need normal company”, Blaise moaned.

“I was with you in Hogsmeade,” Draco smirked.

Blaise waved his hand, “That's not important, the fact still is I'm sharing a room with Crabbe and Goyle, do you know what that could do to a person?”

Draco raised his eyebrow delicately “Enlighten me,” he drawled.

“It can kill them,” Blaise cried out, he always did have a flair for theatrics.

Draco rolled his eyes “Only if you sleep on the couch.”

Blaise nodded “Sonnostrat,” he muttered, changing the couch into a bed.

Draco sank down into his bed, and sighed, Gods his bed was comfortable.

“I was thinking of asking that Weasley girl to the dance” Blaise piped up.

“Weasley?” Draco sneered, wondering what the hell was up with Blaise.

“She's really hot” Blaise protested.

“She's a Weasley” Draco pointed out.

“Really?” Blaise asked, his voice laced with sarcasm “I wouldn't have noticed, thank you ever so much for pointing that out to me.”

“Now all you need to do is find out her name, and you can ask her.” Draco told him.

Blaise waved his hand “Small matter,” he said.

“What if she's already going with someone?” Draco asked.

“Don't you worry about me” Blaise sat up and winked at Draco “I can be very persuasive.”

Draco groaned “Go to sleep Blaise,” he muttered.

Blaise nodded “I think I will.”

“What are you going to the ball as Draco?” Blaise asked a few minutes later.

“Merlin, Zabini, you're like a bloody girl,” Draco cried in exasperation.

Blaise just shrugged his shoulders, “None the less,” he said “What are you going as?”

“It's a mystery Draco drawled. “Now be quiet or you have to go back to your room,” He ordered.

A few minutes later both boys fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco woke up the next day, which was Sunday, and Blaise was already gone-though the couch was still a bed.

Draco got out of bed brushed his teeth, before looking at his watch.

“Fuck” he muttered “I need to get to the potions room” He went down to the Great Hall determined to eat as fast as possible.

As soon as he got there, he piled bacon and eggs on his plate.

“Hungry much?” Serena asked him.

He glared at her “You'd better eat fast we need to work on the potion.”

“Not today,” Serena told him, looking at him as if he were stupid.

Draco hated when people did that “Why?”

“Because,” Serena said talking slowly “Ginny is in the hospital wing.”

“Why?”

“Because she's sick” Serena rolled her eyes.

“Really?” Draco asked her sarcastically “I thought she was just visiting Pomfrey. I meant why did you call her Ginny?”

“Because I like her,” Serena said simply. Anyway I'm not working today, we're all getting this Sunday off!” Serena said firmly.

Draco sneered at her “If you want that, little Zabini,” he said before he got up and left the Great Hall.

So the Weaslette is sick, he thought smugly. Serves her right for pissing him off when he tried to work on the potion. Granted he did start the fight most of the times, but still a Malfoy is never to blame. Or so that's what his father said, but then when did he ever listen to his father.

He agreed with the Death Eater dogma: The Wizarding world should not allow mudbloods and halfbloods into their schools; it contaminated all of the purebloods in it. But there was one major problem with becoming a Death Eater; his father wanted him to do it.

Draco shook his head, trying to clear it; he didn't feel like thinking about what he was going to do at the time of his initiation. He knew Voldemort promised him power beyond belief, but he also knew that the other side didn't have his father on it, it may not be such a great reason to most people but to Draco it was a major factor.

He walked outside, God he was bored.

“Shut up,” Draco heard someone whisper. “Someone is going to hear you Ron!”

“Sorry Hermione.”

Draco looked around and found the Gryffindor Trio a few feet away from him whispering about something.

“I think we should do it at the ball,” Harry said.

Kinky Draco thought I never knew Potter was into threesomes with another man, I could see it though. And that is one nasty thought.

“No!” Hermione hissed “you can't just up and leave the ball because you want to find out what's in the forbidden corridor. We have to wait until after Christmas, it's still being guarded by a teacher remember? They switch every hour! If we wait until after Christmas Dumbledore will think everyone forgot about it!”

So that's what they're up to Draco thought. He walked away thinking, I did forget about that corridor, though know I wonder what's in it. I'll have to find out before they do.

“Blaise” Draco said as he found the black haired boy.

“What?”

“We need to talk,” Draco said, pulling Blaise inside the castle. “Remember the forbidden corridor?”

“Yea, what about it?”

“I want to know what's inside,” Draco said as if he was stating the obvious.

“Why?”

“So we can see it before Potter does.”

“Good idea, lets go now!” Blaise said, getting excited.

“We can't go now! It's being guarded. The mudblood said that it would probably stop being guarded after Christmas.”

“Then we'll go then, but for future reference when I'm flirting don't pull me away.”

Draco sneered “There are no girls here hot enough to flirt with.”

“This is coming form the boy who has screwed over half the female population of Hogwarts?” Blaise asked amused.

“If you want my sloppy seconds,” Draco said looking at the blond girl Blaise was eyeing.

“Oh I do,” Blaise smirked. “I do, bye Malfoy.” And he went to go flirt with the blond girl.

Draco made his way to the library, showing his pass to the restricted section (just because he finished his potion for Snape doesn't mean he didn't keep the pass). He looked around, trying to find books on the dark arts. He grabbed a few, before one medium sized book caught his eye.

He grabbed the book, “Salazar Slytherin's Guide to the Dark Arts,” he read the title out loud.

On the bottom there was a little note that said “only for those who have a deep interest in the Dark Arts will be able to find this book. Once found though you may not use what is in this book the way you originally planned.

Draco raised an eyebrow; this book was written by Salazar Slytherin.

He opened it up, and this strange elation began rising in his chest. This was what he was waiting for his whole life. He had the book that told of the darkest magic in the world. Now, what was he going to do with it?

He slipped it into the pocket of his robe before walking out of the restricted section.

On his way he saw that girl Natalie…What was her name? Oh yes, Natasha, the Weaslette's friend.

“The chill fever” he heard her mutter.

I wonder why she's looking up the chill fever, he thought as he walked out of the library, and then he heard a very loud voice scream “Oh fuck!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One hour earlier…

Ginny Weasley was lying down in the infirmary her head was pounding, and her throat was sore.

“Hey,” Natasha said, coming to sit near her friend.

“Hello,” Ginny croaked out.

“You sound like a frog,” Natasha said smiling.

Ginny smiled, “Thanks,” she said.

“Anyway,” Natasha said “I cam to give you these,” and she dumped a huge box of chocolate on Ginny's bed.

Both of them ate all the chocolate until not only Ginny's head and throat her stomach started hurting her too.

“I don't feel so well,” Natasha moaned as she put her head on Ginny's lap. “Maybe I'll stay in the infirmary too. By the way, did they tell you what was wrong with you?”

“Yea,” Ginny said “It's something called the chill fever, I don't know what it does though.”

Natasha looked startled for a minute, when Ginny mentioned the chill fever, before she got up.

“I got to go Gin,” she said “I'll come back tomorrow.”

Ginny nodded “Bye,” she said waving.

The second Natasha got out of there she broke into a run straight into the library.

“The chill fever,” she said skimming her hand down the page. She flipped to the next page and found it.

“Oh fuck,” she yelled, and banged her fist onto the table. She closed the book and slipped it into her robe right before Madame Pince came and kicked her out of the library,

Now Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers, If I'm taking the time to write this story the least you could to is take the thirty second it takes to write a review- helpful criticism is welcomed!

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Chapter 5

Rating R

Disclaimer- I own nothing, except Natasha…but that's not really saying much is it? Oh wait, I own the fever I suppose…If I own anything else then well, don't take it!

Calm down, Natasha said breathing hard. If Ginny's fever was serious they would have told her. She flipped to the next page and read on, the more she read the worse the fever sounded. She let out a frustrated sigh. She knew what she had to do. She had to save Ginny.

She made her way to Professor Dumbledore's office, holding the book under her arm. Once she reached the gargoyle she let out a frustrated sigh, she had no clue what the password was.

“Cinnamon Sticks?” She guessed, nothing happened; she groaned but continued to guess.

“Lemon drops?”

“Cherry flavor ices?”

“Fizzing Wizbees

“Bertie Botts every flavor beans?”

“Blood pops?” At the last one the gargoyle swung aside to reveal a door, and a very long flight a stairs.

Natasha began her climb to the top, when she got there she was a little out of breath.

“How the hell does the old man do it?” she wheezed.

She knocked on the door twice, before leaning against it for support.

The door opened and she stumbled inside. Her face turned bright red and she brushed imaginary lint off her robes.

“Professor Dumbledore,” She cleared her throat, “About Ginny's fever-“

“I know Miss. Greyheart,” Dumbledore cut her off “You wish to help.” He said finishing her sentence.

Natasha nodded, she would not let her friend turn into one of those things, she would die before she would let that happen.

“You do understand what you need to do?” Asked the headmaster.

“Not really sir,” Natasha replied, her face turning redder.

“As you know, the chill fever turns a person into a dementor,” Dumbledore said kindly, repeating what the book had said. “If Miss Weasley is not able to get the antidote during this week…” He trailed off; his eyes were no longer twinkling.

Natasha nodded “What do I have to do?” This is why I was put in Gryffindor, she told herself sternly. She never thought herself the brave kind of person, but now she's turning into a hero.

Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his temples, this was the first time Natasha had ever seen him look so old.

“We need your blood,” he began.

“My blood, sir?” she asked him.

“You see the reason why dementors are not human is because they have no blood, and with no blood they have no soul. Miss Weasley is losing her soul.”

“I don't understand, sir,” Natasha said “How did Ginny get the chill fever?”

“The chill fever starts when a person loses something that they really love, something that they just aren't whole without.”

“You mean like a person?” Natasha asked.

“No, not a person, a thing, you first need to find out what that thing is that Miss Weasley has lost, after doing so you must soak it in blood, I know its sounds a little disgusting Miss Greyheart, but there is nothing else to do.” Dumbledore told the girl who was looking a little bit green. “After you soak it in blood she must wear or hold the thing that she lost-“

“With the blood on it?” Natasha asked hesitantly, not sure she really wanted to know the answer.

Dumbledore nodded sadly, “Yes, I'm afraid so.”

“It has to be my blood specifically?” Natasha asked “No one else's?”

The headmaster looked at her, “It has to be some of yours, and some from Draco Malfoy.”

Natasha looked confused “Why Malfoy?”

Dumbledore shook his head “Now is not the time to discuss it,” he told her. “You must not tell her what the chill fever does though; it will just make it harder for us.”

Natasha nodded, a little afraid at what she had just gotten herself into.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Natasha ran to the hospital wing, she needed to talk to Ginny.

She got there, and opened the door-“No visitors,” said a very pale looking Madame Pomfrey, pushing Natasha out.

“I was sent by Professor Dumbledore,” Natasha said, holding up the note.

The healer took the note, and moved aside.

“Ginny,” Natasha said, running to the bed.

“Hey Nat,” Ginny didn't look at all like herself. She was frail, and her hair was hanging limply at her sides. Natasha wanted to cry, she had seen this girl less than two hours ago, and now she looks like she was dying.

“Did you lose something?” Natasha asked, figuring it was better to just cut to the chase.

Ginny looked surprised, but her expression turned to sadness “yes” she whispered. “I lost Bill's necklace, the one he gave me for my birthday.”

Natasha nodded, that was what she was looking for. “Do you know where you lost it?”

“Obviously not, otherwise it wouldn't be lost,” Ginny snapped at her friend.

Natasha looked taken aback, but let it slide; the girl was almost a dementor.

“I mean do you remember where you last had it?” She amended.

Ginny thought hard, “I think,” she said slowly “It was in the common room, but I can't be sure.”

Natasha nodded “Thanks Ginny,” she said, before rushing out of the hospital wing.

She ran all the way to the common room, she seemed to be doing a lot of running lately.

“Burning calories,” she told herself, as she panted up her seventh flight of stairs. She made it to the portrait and gasped out the password.

She got into the common room and started looking everywhere. After about one hour of searching she had found nothing. She went to the Great Hall, but found nothing there. She was sweaty and tired, but continued her search. She went back into the library, trying to find a locating spell. She found it in a large volume that was written by Patrick Gumberstill.

“Individui,” she cried. Her wand directed her; it took her out of the library, and into the Gryffindor Tower. She went up the girl's dormitories staircase, and it led her straight into…Hermione Granger's room? Natasha shook her wand, wanting to make sure it was pointing her in the right direction. It shoved her to Hermione's dresser. It started to vibrate when it got near the top drawer. Natasha yanked the drawer opened and rooted through the clothing that was there. On the very bottom was Ginny's locket. Natasha grabbed it and ran out of the room as fast as she could, she did not want to be caught in the Head Girl's room!

Around fifteen minutes later she was sitting in Dumbledore's office, with the locket lying on top of the desk.

“Where did you find it?” He asked, his eyes were not his usual light happy blue, but more of a dark and ferocious midnight blue.

“Hermione Granger's drawer,” she wasn't sure if the headmaster was made at her for snooping, or if he was mad at Hermione for taking the locket.

The Professor looked thoughtful for a few minutes, before he came to a decision.

“Minerva,” Dumbledore called. Natasha looked around, looking for McGonagall, but couldn't see her.

The woman stepped in from outside the door, but it wasn't McGonagall. This woman was brown curly haired, with sea green eyes. She was tall, and graceful. Her face was full of knowledge that she had learned from the centuries that she had been on earth.

“Minerva,” Dumbledore said “Please meet Miss Greyheart.”

“A pleasure,” the woman whispered. Natasha nodded, it was all she could do, had she opened her mouth she probably would have gasped and asked who the hell this woman was.

Everyone in the room was silent for a few minutes, when a loud knock was heard on the door.

“Professor Snape said you wanted to see me,” Draco Malfoy came in the room without bothering to be told to come in.

Dumbledore nodded, and gestured to the unoccupied chair in front of his desk. Draco scanned the room quickly, seeing Natasha and the beautiful woman, he shook his head.

“I'll stand,” he sneered. Natasha didn't think it was possible to show contempt to Dumbledore, but here Malfoy was sneering at the man as if Draco, himself was the headmaster, and Dumbledore the student.

The Headmaster nodded, and promptly got on to business.

“There is a young girl in the hospital wing with a fever,” Dumbledore said, staring straight at Draco. “Her fever is very dangerous-“

“Spit it out,” Draco hissed, fire erupting in his eyes, he had no clue what had prompted his outburst, but he was getting tired of the old man's games.

Dumbledore sighed sadly, but said nothing. “She has the chill fever, and in a few days she will turn into a dementor.”

“And what,” Draco asked “Does this all have to do with me?”

“We need your blood, and the blood of Miss Greyheart to save her.”

“And what if I refuse?”

“Then you will have to live the rest of your life knowing that Miss Weasley's soul was lost, because of you.”

When Draco heard who was sick he felt something that he had only felt once before-when his father had beaten his mother, and left her for dead. It was in his third year at Hogwarts, on Christmas. He, Draco Lucius Malfoy, the boy branded with his father's name, was scared.

He nodded, and held out his arm “How much blood do you need? He asked.

Dumbledore smiled thinly and shook his head at the arm Draco was offering “It can't be taken from there; it must be taken from a cut right above your heart. “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco Malfoy was lying in the Hospital Wing with a bandage on his chest. He was feeling a bit light headed from blood loss. He had given more blood than her fucking best friend, he thought angrily to himself. What the hell as wrong with him, offering to help a Weasley. Maybe he should ask Madame Pomfrey to check if his head was okay.

The Weaslette was in solitary confinement, or at least that was what it sounded like to Draco. She was in a room all by herself, unconscious and wearing the blood soaked necklace.

He grimaced as he sat up, Blaise was coming and he needed to talk to him.

Blaise sat down on the chair next to Draco's bed.

“Must've been some fall to only have cut your chest,” Blaise said raising his eyebrows.

Draco snarled “shut up, this is serious.”

Blaise leaned back on his chair, and put his arms behind his head. “Is it really?”

Draco had the sudden urge to nock Blaise off his chair but fought it. Malfoys never show emotion, but here he was about to tell Blaise what he thought of the little Weasley.

“You know Weasley?” Draco asked the dark haired boy.

“Which one?” Blaise asked.

“The girl, the one you wanted to ask to the ball.”

Blaise nodded “What about her?” he asked, looking at Draco questioningly.

“She had the chill fever-“Draco started.

“Shit,” Blaise interrupted, but quickly closed his mouth at the glare from Draco.

“And I gave her blood,” Draco told Blaise, “And that is where I got my cut from.”

Blaise nodded “So you have a crush on her,” he said seeing past what Draco was saying.

Draco hissed at Blaise “Malfoys don't have crushes.”

Blaise nodded in an amused way.

“I swear to Merlin Blaise, if any of this gets out,” Draco snarled, his eyes turning stormy grey.

Blaise held up his hands in peace “I won't say anything.”

Draco nodded “You can leave now,” he told Blaise waving him away with his hand.

Blaise snorted “Good bye Malfoy.”

As Blaise was leaving he saw Pomfrey walking to give Draco his lunch. Blaise stood at the door, his arms crossed over his chest as if waiting for something.

There was a loud bang of a pot and food flying onto the floor.

“Merlin, is there no normal food in this fucking school,” Blaise heard a voice snarl.

Blaise smirked, Draco was getting good at snarling at people, Weasley would never approve.

Blaise turned around and walked out of the Hospital Wing the smirk still on his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Ginny woke up she was clutching something in her hand. She looked down to see her necklace that was covered in blood. She let out an ear piercing shriek. The blood was slowly leaving the necklace, as if it were evaporating. The door burst open and Madame Pomfrey ran in, her breathing heavy.

“What is it child?” she asked.

Ginny was lost for words, and just pointed down to the necklace. The blood was almost gone. Madame Pomfrey nodded, and got the headmaster. By the time Dumbledore arrived the blood was gone.

Ginny wanted to explain what she saw, but nothing would come out of her mouth, when it did it was hard to understand.

“Blood,” she gasped “disappeared, necklace,” she cried pointing at her necklace, trying to let go of it but found that she could not. Dumbledore nodded at her, showing her he understood.

“Professor,” Ginny started, but he held up his hand. He waited for a few minutes, and the necklace started to melt, but it didn't turn into a watery puddle of gold it just disappeared. Ginny wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, but she bit her lip because the Headmaster did nothing. When the necklace was gone Dumbledore started to speak.

“As you know Miss Weasley you suffered from a sickness called the chill fever,” he began. “The fever is such that after a period of seven days if the antidote was not received the sick person would turn into a dementor.”

Ginny looked down, as if making sure she was a dementor.

“You have taken the antidote, and as you can see are not a dementor, but I suggest you thank Miss Greyheart, and Mister Malfoy,” he told her.

Ginny raise an eyebrow, thank a Malfoy.

“Why?” She asked, as if challenging Dumbledore.

“Because they gave their blood to save you, though Mister Malfoy did give a lot more,” he said the last part as if talking to himself.

Ginny nodded, and the Headmaster got up to leave, “Remember what I said Miss Weasley, they gave their blood for you, good day.”

Madame Pomfrey came back in, Ginny hadn't realized she left, and checked her over.

“You can leave tomorrow morning Miss Weasley, but until then, you must rest,” she said, shoving the girl down into a lying position.

Madame Pomfrey left, and Ginny sat up again, she thought better sitting.

Draco Malfoy gave his blood for me, I wonder why, determined to find out she fell asleep.

“It's working,” the male voice cried happily.

“Of course it's working Salazar,” the female voice said rolling her eyes.

“I'm so sorry for being excited Helga,” Salazar said sarcastically.

Helga snorted, but said nothing. “I don't understand,” she told him.

“What don't you understand?”

“Why you placed the locket in the muggle-born's drawer.”

“I never did like Rowena or muggle-borns come to think of it.”

“The girl could get into a lot of trouble for it,” Helga told him sternly.

“Yes well, Rowena will help hers and I'll help mine!” He hissed angrily.

“You only like the boy because he looks like you!”

Salazar pouted “It's quite upsetting that they put me in the history books as a black headed boy when I am so obviously blonde.”

“Obviously,” Helga said rolling her eyes.

“I hate Godric,” Salazar said suddenly.

“Yes, I know,” Helga told him.

“I hate that Potter boy too!”

“You only hate him because Godric likes him,” Helga pointed out.

“True,” Salazar admitted “But I never like anything Godric likes.”

“You like me,” Helga said, as if reminding him.

He smirked “That's different.”

“How so?” She asked him.

“I'm not sure, but it is,” Salazar said, sounding like a child.

Helga smirked “Anyway, you and Godric both hate Voldemort,” Helga said.

“I hate him because he's trying to take my place; Godric hates him because he's evil.”

Helga grinned “No one could take your place,” she told him serenely.

He nodded “I know.”

“I've got it!” Helga said suddenly.

“Got what?”

“I know why you placed the locket there! It's because you want the girl to hate Rowena!”

Salazar smirked, and clapped his hands “Would you like an award?” he asked her.

She hit him on the shoulder “But I don't get why,” she said looking up at him prettily.

“If she's going to end up with one of mine-“

“Yes, but she isn't yours!”

“No but he is!”

“But she's mine!”

“But they're going to end up together!”

“Not if he keeps acting the way he does,” Helga yelled, her temper getting the better of her. “Anyway, what about the other seer?” Helga asked taking deep breaths.

“You mean the other boy? What about him?”

“Right now I like him better than yours!” She told him getting annoyed.

“Why?”

“Because he's nicer, and doesn't agree with Voldemort.”

“So?”

“You're impossible,” Helga told him.

“I know,” was all he said

~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny woke up, not understanding her dream whatsoever. She sighed and looked at the clock, it was four in the morning, she sighed and decided to go visit Malfoy. She quietly crept out into the regular Hospital Wing were people normally were if they were sick.

She sat down own the stool next to Draco's bed. He was asleep.

Ginny sighed, here goes nothing.

“I want to thank you Draco,” she said, not wanting to wake him up.

“I know you're asleep and can't hear me so I figure that it's better this way. That way you can go on hating me for not saying sorry.” She lightly brushed her hand through his hair.

“You're beautiful you know,” she told him “It would probably boost your ego though, even if you are asleep. You look like an angel.” She laughed quietly.

“Sometimes,” she whispered “I like you better when you smirk; it's kind of a bad boy thing, I suppose you'd say sexy.” She told him. “But I got carried away,” she said “I came to apologize, and I did just that, so goodnight Malfoy”

She bent down and kissed his forehead, not knowing what made her do it. Two arms shot up and grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her down on top of him. Draco kissed her lips, and ran his tongue along them, coaxing her to open her mouth for it. She answered obediently, and gave him entrance.

I'm kissing Draco Malfoy, was the only thing that was going through Ginny's head now, and oh my what a good kisser he is.

When they finished Ginny was a little out a breath. She wanted to stand up but he wouldn't let go of her. She looked down at him to tell him to let go and saw him smirk.

“I think my smirk is sexy too,” he told, and kissed her once again, before she could hit him.

Hey guys, here is the next chapter, I don't like the beginning, but I like the ending heh heh! Anyway school is starting so I'm going to need a lot more reviews as an incentive to write faster, or you'll just have to wait a very long time….

Your choice guys! Anyway tell me if you liked it, if you hated it, if you have criticism…Thanks!

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At the End of the Say

Rating- R

Disclaimer- I own nothing…*tear*

Madame Pomfrey let Ginny out of the hospital the week before the dance (Malfoy was let out the day before). During that week all she and Malfoy did was trade insults-well he smirked a lot but she suspected he did it to annoy her.

Ginny sighed and rubbed her temples, she had just ended yet another fight with the arrogant Malfoy heir. Sometimes she wanted to strangle him.

She yawned loudly. Madame Pomfrey said she would be extremely tired for the next few days. She slowly dragged herself into the Gryffindor common room, and into her room. She had her rounds tonight and she needed to be awake for them.

She sank down onto her bed, letting out a soft moan of comfort, and fell asleep.

“Salazar?” Helga asked the man sitting next to her.

“What” he answered, raising his eyebrows.

“What if we're wrong about them?

He shrugged “Then at least we can't die,” he told her smirking.

Helga hit him, but smiled none the less.

“Do you think,” she asked “that Istahar will choose mine?”

Salazar snorted “Of course she will, who is she going to choose? The mudblood, I think not!” he said indignantly.

Helga sighed, she hated that word. Salazar himself had made it up and wouldn't stop using it.

“Do you think she'll choose yours?” she asked him.

Salazar nodded at her, “Why wouldn't she?”

Helga shrugged her shoulders, not answering the question. “I'm not sure I want mine involved,” Helga muttered, not meeting her lover's eyes.

“Why the hell not?” the man asked, his voice rising.

“Because,' Helga said finally glaring at him “I don't want her to get hurt!” She screamed the last part at him.

“No get hurt?” he asked, disbelievingly. “This is what she was born for, ever since the two Goddesses came down to her at the time of her birth-you never told me who her two Goddesses were,” he added as an afterthought.

“Well why should I?” Helga asked, “You never told me yours!”

“Don't be childish Helga, it's not becoming” Salazar sneered.

She crossed her arms over her chest “I'm not,” she insisted.

Salazar rolled his eyes “I'll make a deal with you,” he said. “I'll tell you who came for mine, and you tell me who came for yours.”

Helga thought this over a moment before nodding, “Fine,” she sighed in defeat.

“Zeus, and Poseidon,” he said, bragging.

Helga understood why he made the deal-he loved to brag. She sighed not wanting to say, but a deal was a deal. “Artemis, and Aphrodite,” she all but whispered.

“What?” Salazar yelled “The Goddess of the hunt and the Goddess of beauty came to her, and yet you still fear for her? Not only that Artemis is the Goddess of the animals, yours has two of the greater Gods!”

“Rowena's has Hera and Demeter!” Helga said, as if that explained everything.

“Oh wow, Demeter,” Salazar said in mock respect

“Yes, but Hera,” she said trailing off.

“What about her?” he asked.

“She's queen of the Gods,” she said.

Salazar nodded “you're scared what the other Goddesses would do to her.”

Helga nodded mutely then cleared her throat. “What about Godric?”

“What about him?” he sneered.

“Who are his Gods?”

“Ares, and Apollo,” he told her.

“And you're not scared?”

“No, I have the two strongest Gods, it's he who should be scared,” he told Helga, haughtily.

“You're too confident,” she told him.

“And you're too scared,” he answered her back.

She sneered “Isn't that the definition of a Hufflepuff?”

“No, it didn't use to be, you my dear were definitely not loyal,” he told her stroking her hair.

“It's not like I cheated on you,” she told him.

“No,” he agreed “but you cheated with me,”

“True,” Helga admitted.

Ginny woke up from her dream a little confused, who the hell were these chosen people that they keep talking about? She stretched and jumped out of the bed, today was the day of the dance. They had no classes, as it was a Sunday, and Malfoy had told her that they wouldn't be working on the potion anymore.

She slowly made her way to the prefect's bathroom, grabbing a towel from her trunk.

“Lemon Zest,” she said, some muggle born had made up the password and said something about a cleaning product. She sank into the bath, and put on the taps.

She heard giggling behind her, and immediately spun around.

She put her hands to her chest, breathing deeply, it was only the mermaid.

“Those school robes do hide a lot,” the mermaid winked at her.

Ginny's face turned a deep shade of red that clashed horribly with her hair. The mermaid waved away her embarrassment with shrug of her shoulders.

“I thought I was going to have a relaxing bath,” Ginny muttered.

The mermaid giggled again, and hoisted herself up onto the rock that was on the other side of the large bath.

Ginny laid her head back against the edge of the pool, and a sigh of pleasure escaped her mouth.

The mermaid looked at Ginny, with something that looked like jealousy.

“What's your name?” she asked the mermaid, deciding to be polite.

“You know,” the mermaid said a little sadly, all traces of her earlier jealousy gone, “I'm not sure I remember.”

Ginny looked at the mermaid “Why not?” She asked.

“Because no one has ever asked me,” the mermaid told her.

“Oh, do you want a name?” Ginny asked, a little unsure.

The mermaids face brightened, “That would be nice,” she said her face breaking into a brilliant smile.

“Do you like the name Sandra?” Ginny asked, she couldn't think of any names.

“It's a nice name,” the mermaid thought for a moment “but I don't think that it's the right one for me.”

Ginny nodded, “How about Taylor, I think it means morning dew in some language?” she asked, smiling, Taylor was a pretty name.

The mermaid thought again, before nodding her head “I like it,” she told Ginny, a slight blush on her cheeks.

Ginny nodded "Hello Taylor, my name is Ginny,” she said, holding out her hand.

Taylor flipped off the rock, and swam over to take Ginny's outstretched hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny was on her way back to Gryffindor tower, when someone grabbed her by the arm.

“Ginny,” the person rasped,

“Neville?” She asked in surprise.

He was breathing heavily, “Can you tell me if Crabbe and Goyle are waiting near that suit of armor?”

Ginny looked out from the corner they were hiding in, and looked for the two said boys.

“Yes,” she told Neville, who ran a hand through his already tousled hair.

“Why?” she asked him curiously.

“What?” he asked her distractedly.

“Never mind,” Ginny sighed, untangling herself from Neville's tight grip on her forearm. “I'll see you tonight,” She told him, leaving the curiously nervous boy standing were he was.

She said the password (Pixie dust) and walked into the common room.

She made her way to her dorm, pushing past a gaggle of shrieking girls on the second landing.

“Merlin,” she said, those girls were loud. There was still at least ten hours until the dance, and Ginny was bored. She grabbed the book about divination and started reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco Malfoy was in his room putting the last ingredients into his Felix Felcis. An hour later and he was done with the potion. He smirked and poured it into the vile on his nightstand.

He stared at the gold colored liquid for a minute or so, before taking of his pajamas and getting into the shower. The dance was after all only three hours away, and Draco liked long showers.

He stepped out of his bathroom, with a towel around his waist. He checked the clock, an hour until the dance. He hated these things. He sighed and ran his hand through his wet hair. He walked over to where the bottle filled with golden potion lay, and picked it up.

“Here's to luck,” he muttered, and drank it.

He smirked and placed the bottle down. He walked over to his closet and pulled out his costume. Maybe the ball wouldn't be so bad, after all he was feeling lucky tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny was putting the finishing touches on her costume when she heard a tapping sound at her window.

She walked over to it, and opened it. An enormous black owl flew in and landed on her bed. It dropped off the present, before quickly flying back out, not waiting for a reply.

Ginny finished with her hair, and walked over to her bed. She picked up the box, and shook it. She heard clanking. She opened it slowly, a little bit afraid. She looked inside, and found three golden bangles that matched her costume. She looked around for a note of some sort, but found nothing. She shrugged and slipped them onto her wrists.

She walked out of her room, and down the stairs. Natasha was waiting for her, cracking her whip at the scared looking first years that wouldn't be going.

Ginny laughed and grabbed her friend by the arm. They walked out of the portrait hole.

“You know,” Natasha said thoughtfully “You really do look like Cleopatra.”

Ginny nodded “And that leather,” Ginny said, directing her comment at Natasha's outfit “fits like a second skin.”

“I know,” Natasha said smiling.

Ginny rolled her eyes, and walked down the stairs, still pulling Natasha behind her.

The got to the doors of the Great Hall, and Natasha pushed it open, barely containing her excitement.

Natasha headed straight to the dance floor, while Ginny went off to the sidelines.

She was standing and sipping her pumpkin juice when Neville Longbottom, dressed up as a werewolf, came over to her and asked her to dance.

Ginny forced a smile and nodded-she didn't like the feel of the fake hair. They danced together for two dances, until Ginny said that she needed a break. Neville nodded, and went to fetch them some drinks.

“Hey Gin,” came a female voice that Ginny didn't really want to hear.

“Hello Hermione,” Ginny said, not bothering to smile. Hermione was dressed very elaborately in a Queen Elizabeth dress, and Harry hanging onto her arm as some King. She didn't know how, but they had convinced Ron to come as their servant.

Hermione frowned “Are you still upset at me?” she asked. “Because it's been over a month-“

“I hope you're enjoying the dance,” Ginny interrupted smoothly, and walked off. That girl was really starting to get on her nerves. She looked at the couples dancing. Natasha was dancing with some masked person. She smiled and waved, Ginny waved back.

“Here you go,” Neville said, appearing suddenly next to her with her drinks.

“Thank you,” Ginny said, and took the juice from Neville. She sipped it slowly, not wanting to back out and dance with Neville, who was anxiously waiting for her.

She finished her drink and let out a small sigh that Neville either ignored or just didn't hear.

He grabbed her hand and led her out to the dance floor again. In the middle of their first dance the masked boy that was dancing with Natasha came over to her.

“May I cut in?” he asked traditionally. Neville looked like he was about to say no, but the boy grabbed Ginny's hand, and Neville realizing defeat walked away.

“Hello,” the boy said.

Ginny just nodded back. They dance the next few dances together.

The boy was an amazing dancer, Ginny thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco Malfoy smirked as he finished his last dance with the Weasley girl. When the dance had ended he smirked and walked away from her. He looked back to find her still staring at him, trying to figure out who he was. Her gaze was broken though when Dumbledore got up onto the stage to speak.

“Sonorous,” he muttered. Draco looked at his watch, midnight exactly.

“Good evening,” he said his eyes twinkling with delight. “As you all know, or have guessed I am here to announce the winners of the competition.”

“God I don't want to win,” Draco muttered to Blaise, who was sitting next to him.

Blaise raised an eyebrow “Why not?”

Because it would ruin my plan for the little Weasley Draco said to himself, but out loud he just told Blaise that it was stupid.

“The winners are,” Dumbledore said as an owl flew down to hand him the envelope. “Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley, please come up and claim your prize.

Ginny knew she shouldn't be upset, she knew it was a fixed competition, but she couldn't have helped hoping.

“Thank you all for coming,” Dumbledore finished, as he led the three winners into the back room.

The ball was over, and Ginny found Natasha, who was also upset at the winner choices.

She ranted about it all the way to the Common room.

“Pixie Dust,” Natasha snarled at the portrait.

“No need to be so rude,” the woman huffed, but swung open all the same.

Natasha stomped up to their room. She took the costume off, and threw it onto the floor. Ginny did quite the opposite. She slowly and carefully took off her costume not wanting to rip anything, and hung it up. It was very expensive after all. She put on an old shirt of Charlie's and went to bed.

“I'm so nervous!” Helga told Salazar, who just yawned.

“I know,” he rolled his eyes.

She shook her head; she still couldn't understand why he wasn't scared.

“Let's talk about something else,” he suggested.

She nodded “Yes, I suppose we should.”

But she was still not at ease with what was to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys, I'm so sorry that it took me this long to put out the chapter but I've been really busy. I know it's not as long as usual and I'll try harder next time. But for now please review! I really appreciate your patience!

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