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The Forgotten Girl | ||||||
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Category: Pre-OotP Characters:Harry/Ginny Genres: Drama Warnings: None Rating: R Reviews: 258 Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated since 2006 *** WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SSPOTTER! - - -Ginny Weasley survived the Chamber of Secrets and the summer of revelation and discovery that followed, but how will she deal with her newfound powers? This is a bridging story between SUMMER OF THE SERPENT and TOWARDS TOMORROW, both posted on this site. It is highly reccomended that SUMMER OF THE SERPENT be read first. Hitcount: Story Total: 224724; Chapter Total: 9870 |
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19 February 1996 Luna couldn’t rest until she’d show me a copy of The Quibbler that came in today’s post. She was so excited, but to be perfectly honest, I think she was more excited over Harry’s interview taking precedence over the article on the Crumple Horned Snorkacks then over the contents of the article itself. It was pretty amazing article. Rita Skeeter definitely has a way with words. Too bad she doesn’t apply herself more often! I mean, look at how well written this story was, She doesn’t need to make stuff up when she can write the truth and make it live and breathe. Just reading it made me go all shivery, and I was there in person the first time! (Well, all right, I was in Harry’s head, but it amounted to the same thing). I don’t know anyone who hadn’t read the article by supper time — in spite of Umbridge’s ridiculous signs! Who does she think she’s dealing with, anyway? I mean come on, Concealment charms are hardly difficult! Everyone in third year and above knows how to do them! It’s very easy to make the magazine look like a different magazine, or to make the article itself look like a bunch of scribbled notes, or just blank pieces of parchment. Fred and George have, of course, made money off of this — they do have a flair for seeing an opportunity and jumping for it! They made a whole stack of Transfiguration notes — a transcription of Chapter three of the Standard Book of Spells Grade Five (which, incidentally, deals with advanced concealment charms — how like Fred and George to flaunt something like that in Umbridge’s face!). The notes are, of course, copies of the article. They’ve sold over a hundred copies already at eight sickles a copy. Bloody brilliant businessmen, both of them! I really, really wanted to wring Mandy’s neck tonight. She kept going on and on about Harry must have been making the whole thing up (otherwise why would The Quibbler have wanted to print the article?). I finally got sick of listening to her and came down to the Common Room. That damned poster is still hanging there — though it’s no longer shouting insults. Every now and then it makes a low sort of moaning sound, but that’s it. Kind of odd, actually, to have Harry’s head moaning above me while I’m trying to write. Hopefully when I go back up Mandy will be asleep. Stupid twit. 20 February 1996 Well, you know how they say that every cloud has a silver lining? Try reversing that and you’ll know how I’m feeling right now. I’m really glad that so many people are questioning the Ministry’s stand on the events of this last summer, but now Cho’s ‘made up’ with Harry and he’s as besotted as he ever was. Damned idiot! Can’t he see that she’s only doing this because of what he said in the article about Cedric? She’s still fixated on Cedric and what happened and what with Harry being the one who was with Cedric when he died, she’s never going to be able to like Harry just for Harry’s sake, but is forever going to associate him with Cedric’s death. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true! How could she not? Anyway, Michael and I were just behind Harry and Ron when Cho came up and got all lovey dovey right there in the hall. I nearly gagged and it took a really good snog with Michael in the broom cupboard on the fourth floor (his idea of course) to really get my mind off of it — although even that wasn’t as much fun as usual, not with me continually wondering if it was me he even wanted to be kissing. I could almost imagine that it was seeing Cho making up with Harry that put him in a snogging frame of mind. That would be odd, wouldn’t it, if while I’m pining away for Harry, Michael is pining away for Cho? More than odd actually because if that’s the case, what are we doing seeing each other? I mean, here was me just taking my mind off of Harry — yes, using Michael, I’ll admit that — and I know that Michael really isn’t ready for anything serious, so I haven’t been too worried about it. But if he really fancies Cho, well, then there’s no reason to keep stringing him along now, is there? 17 March 1996 My head is killing me! I swear, when Snape tries to break his way into Harry’s mind my head hurts as if I’d been beating myself about the head with a blunt object. A heavy blunt object. It was almost a relief this last time around when their session was interrupted by Trelawney’s being booted out of the castle. Poor Trelawney! I’ve never actually taken any of her classes, but she was a wreck, all tears and screaming and histrionics. She’d been drinking too, quite a lot from the whiff I got as she passed me on the marble staircase. Even more disturbing than Trelawney’s drinking though was the absolute glee in place on Umbridge’s face as she ordered Professor Trelawney out of the castle. I’ve never asked, but I have to wonder what House Umbridge was in when she went to Hogwarts. I’d bet my boots that it was Slytherin! Didn’t work though, did it? Dumbledore stepped in of course. He insisted that Trelawney remain at the castle - although the Divination classes will be taught by Firenze. It doesn’t affect me directly, seeing as that I don’t take Divination, though I’ve heard horror stories from most all my brothers. Trelawney is definitely a piece of work — but does she deserve to be booted? Does anyone deserve the kind of public humiliation that Trelawney was put through? Mandy and Laura were going on all evening about Firenze. It seems that they are quite taken with him — and they aren’t the only ones! Parvati and Lavender were having an intense discussion in the shower room about the pros and cons of cross-species love matches (!!!) I mean, come on! Not only is he a teacher — which immediately puts him out of bounds, but he’s older (no telling how old he is exactly, but he’s definitely a grown man!) AND he’s a centaur, which throws another wrench into the works. 20 March 1996 Do you know how hard it is to concentrate on Runes when scenes of Firenze’s new classroom and teaching methods kept intruding? Phenomenal concept — fixing up his classroom to resemble his forest home! Quite fascinating actually, Dumbledore did a really good job (or maybe it was McGonagall — or even Flitwick, I can’t tell if it’s a charm that’s been put on the room to make it look like a forest, or if actually classroom items have been transformed to resemble trees and desks and that sort of thing). But I wonder what Firenze thinks of teaching wizards Divination? I mean, Centaurs are magical creatures, but they don’t do magic as such, not like we do (at least not that I’ve ever heard of). Do you think that would bother him? Harry was quite distracted by Firenze’s take on humanity’s place in the grand scheme of things (not a very complimentary view actually, I can see how it would disturb people to be told that they are not the center of the universe). I can remember what a rude awakening it was for me — at the age of twelve — to be forcefully introduced to the idea that not everyone had my best interests at heart, that not everyone would care what happened to me; that someone like Tom Riddle would use me just to get what he wanted. Anyway, how can we be certain that this isn’t true on a global scale as well? And maybe, just maybe all those little daily occurrences that Firenze says are of no consequence, maybe they all add up in the end. Maybe when all of those little things are added up they can actually affect the decisions that mankind makes on a global scale, possibly enough to cause a disruption in the events foretold by the stars and their other divining concepts. It’s a thought anyway. 28 March 1996 “What do you mean this is our last visit?” Ginny stared at the older woman, a feeling very like panic welling up inside of her. She’d come to the clearing tonight all excited to tell her friend what she had learned this last month, about the progress she’d made in silently directing her Elementals to do routine assignments and how she’d successfully conjured them during Transfiguration without anyone — even McGonagall being any the wiser to what she was doing. What was she supposed to do when she had questions about how to direct her powers? Mira couldn’t leave her! She needed her! “Ginny, please, you knew that our time together was limited,” said Mira gently. “I wish I could stay, I really do, but this is the limit of my magic.” Mira spread her hands in an empty gesture. “But — Mira — there’s so much I don’t know yet!” “Good, at least you can admit it. That’s the first step to understanding Ginny. But you have an excellent grasp of the basics of your power. From here on, it’s up to you to develop your gifts. And don’t forget, you still have your grandmother’s journal.” “What if I have questions? Who do I go to? Who can I ask? I can’t ask my mum!” “Heavens no! Talk to Dumbledore if you have any questions Ginny.” “But you said it yourself Mira, he’s not a Natural Elemental!” “No, he’s not. But he is an Elemental Magician. I’ve taught you everything I can about how to use the powers specially granted to a Natural Elemental. Anything beyond what I’ve taught you is common to both types of Elemental Magicians.” “But . . .” Ginny could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. It wasn’t just Mira’s help in learning how to handle her Elemental powers that she was going to miss. She’d come to think of Mira almost as an older sister; a friend; someone she could talk to about anything at all. “Isn’t there some way . . . ?” Ginny’s voice trailed off as she caught a look on Mira’s face. Was she actually crying? “What am I going to do without you?” Without thinking about it Ginny threw herself into the older woman’s arms. Mira held her for several long minutes, stroking her hair and letting Ginny cry. “It’s not just about what I can teach you, is it?” said Mira quietly, drawing back so she could see Ginny’s face. “I — no, it’s not,” said Ginny, hiccupping slightly as she wiped her eyes. “I — I have lots of people who seem to like me well enough — that one charm you taught me? It works wonders with the way people see you, but it’s not real. I don’t have a whole lot of friends Mira, not real friends.” “You’ll always have me Ginny,” said Mira, a smile playing around the corners of her lips. “Not if you’re going to be gone I won’t!” said Ginny grumpily. “Sweetheart, you might not understand right now but one day you will. Trust me when I say that if you call me to mind, you’ll find me no matter where you are.” * * * I stayed with Mira until Hagrid stuck his head through the oak to collect me. I can’t believe that this was our last night together! Who will I go to now when I have questions? I know she told me that I could go to Dumbledore, but somehow the idea of intruding on the Headmaster’s time just seems, well, frivolous I guess. I’m really going to miss Mira — she’s like the sister I never had! I’ve never had to hide anything from her — anything! She knows everything about me — all my faults and weaknesses, all my insecurities, all my fears. What am I going to do without her? I know, I know, she said that soon I’ll have Harry (and that’s another issue altogether, and one I’m not entirely certain I can wrap my brain around) but it still seems like wishful thinking to me. I’m certain she knows what she’s talking about — I mean, I’ve never known her to be wrong before, but how can I just start acting as if Harry and I are a done deal? Won’t that seem a little strange all the way around? I’ve been sitting here in the common room since Hagrid brought me back three hours ago and I can’t get to sleep. I feel like I’ve closed a chapter in my life — the one titled “My Friend Mira” and while I have to trust her when she says that she’ll always be there for me, I have to wonder how that can be? Was she being cryptic on purpose? Or was there some sort of hidden meaning in her words? I’ve closed a chapter — maybe an entire book of my life. So what happens now? Where do I go from here? “Ginny?” Startled, Ginny looked up from her journal to find Harry standing at her elbow, a frown of concern knitting his eyebrows. Why hadn’t she felt him coming? Had she been that distracted by tonight’s events? “Harry? What are you doing up?” “I could ask the same of you.” Harry flopped into the chair beside her then, without warning, leaned across the arm and wiped away several tears that were still spilling down Ginny’s cheeks. “Right, sorry,” mumbled Ginny, using the hem of her sleeve to blot her eyes. She could feel her cheeks growing warm. Why was it that Harry always saw her at her worst? “What’s wrong Ginny?” Ginny shrugged, not certain how to answer. Thankfully Harry didn’t pursue the subject but switched topics smoothly. “I didn’t see you at supper tonight.” “Nah, I missed it,” said Ginny, smiling slightly. “You know,” said Harry looking at her sideways with a lopsided grin, “we never did have a chance to go back down to the kitchens.” “You feeling peckish Potter?” said Ginny raising an eyebrow. Harry shrugged. “You up for it?” “Sure, why not.” “I’ll get my cloak then.” Two minutes later they were climbing out of the portrait hole under Harry’s invisibility cloak, both of them ignoring the Fat Lady’s protests and inquiries. The kitchens were quiet and dark except for the fire crackling in the fireplace at the far end of the room. As if by magic a small shape materialized out of thin air at Harry’s elbow. “Harry Potter sir!” squeaked the elf, beaming at Harry through his large, tennis-ball shaped eyes. “I was hoping that Harry Potter would bring back the young mistress!” “Good to see you Dobby,” said Ginny grinning him. It didn’t matter how bad she was feeling. Just seeing Dobby always made her feel better. Of course having just spent ten minutes with Harry’s arm wrapped around her waist to keep her close to his side and safely under his cloak as they had navigated the mostly empty corridors had done wonders for her depression. Dobby soon had them seated at one of the empty tables and was plying them with scones and hot butter beer. “It has been a long time Harry Potter,” said Dobby, backing away from their table, his tennis-ball sized eyes fixed adoringly on Harry. “Dobby was beginning to wonder if Harry Potter had forgotten where the kitchens were sir.” “How could I forget about the kitchens?” laughed Harry, clapping the elf on his bony shoulder. “Dobby was worried sir,” said Dobby earnestly. “That I’d forgotten about the kitchens?” said Harry looking bemusedly at the small elf. “No sir. Dobby was worried that you’d forgotten about your lady, sir.” “That I’d-” “Forgotten about your lady,” said Dobby, turning his gaze on Ginny and beaming at her. Ginny could feel her damned Weasley complexion betraying her even as she felt Harry’s vying blush suffuse his cheeks. “Dobby, we’re not-” began Harry, but Ginny cut across him. “We’re just friends, Dobby. Harry’s lady is Cho Chang, not me. Surely you’ve seen them together Dobby and as for me, I’m still going with Michael Corner.” But the elf was shaking his head, his eyes large and imploring. “Say what you will Miss,” said Dobby seriously, his tone apologetic, “but Dobby knows what he knows.” 29 April 1996 I didn’t sleep last night. Between Mira’s parting message and Harry’s sneaking me down to the kitchen and Dobby saying straight out what I’ve known for the last three years, how could I possible have gotten any sleep? Too much to think about. Much too much to think about. Harry, Mira, Dobby — and Michael. Yes, Michael. I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately for some reason. Heaven knows he’s been good for my self esteem. I mean, there’s nothing like having a guy (especially one with heavenly blue eyes like Mike’s) look at you as if you are the most gorgeous thing he’s ever seen. And he can kiss like an angel (as our little snogging session this afternoon surely testifies). That’s not all he does like an angel. Maybe I should be ashamed (and I am in a way) but I actually let him Damn. I don’t think I can actually bring myself to write it! Well then, let’s start at the beginning. Harry clammed up after Dobby said his piece last night and it made me feel pretty low, especially when I could clearly feel everything he was feeling. His initial reaction was agreement (surprisingly enough). When Dobby said “Dobby knows what he knows,” I caught Harry looking at me — he was smiling, and the look in his eye wasn’t just of the pair of us sharing a friendly moment, it was much warmer than that and I could feel my insides melting, but a second later a picture of Cho had swum into his head and the look faded to be replaced by one of guarded observation. He watched me closely, barely talking for the entire time that we were eating. You see, his second thought — the one that followed closely on the heels of his mental image of Cho, was that I must have told Dobby that we were an item. So I had to act normal — act as if there was nothing at all unusual (or thrilling) about spending an hour alone with the very man I’ve been in love with for as long as I can remember. And it’s not like I can come out and contradict him, I mean, it would sound really silly to tell him something that has absolutely nothing to do with the animated (if guarded) conversation we were having. I mean, it’s great that Dobby knows what I know, but did he have to blurt it out like that? Harry barely said two words to me the entire time we were eating, and then, when we walked back up to the common room he made a point of not touching me. Anyway, after lunch today Michael was walking me back to Gryffindor tower and we made a detour into an unused classroom (big surprise) and before I realized what we were doing I was responding as enthusiastically to his kisses as he was to mine. Damn it all, but after an evening spent in Harry’s company, I was downright randy! Things would probably have gotten way out of control if we hadn’t been pressed for time. And here’s the sad bit — I probably would have let him go all the way — just because I wanted Harry so bad and am so damned tired of waiting! Which is why I have to call this off. I can’t keep this up. I can’t keep pretending that I really want Michael’s hands on me — damn, his fingers in me when it’s really Harry that I want. And especially since I know that it’s not me Michael is interested in anyway, but my body — the way I make him feel. Sad really. I’ve been so damned stupid. Now I just have to find a way to break up with him without making a scene. I mean, he deserves at least that much! 12 April 1996 My Patronus is an owl — how cool is that? We did Patronuses for the first time at tonight’s D.A. meeting. Very few people got it on the first go. Hermione did it perfectly of course — on the first try nonetheless. Her Patronus is an otter. Not an altogether surprising choice. Otters are quick and clever — and so is Hermione. Cho’s Patronus is a swan, which is also appropriate. Swans are graceful and beautiful, but beneath it all they are very strong and can be quite vicious if and Cho, which surprised me. The others are trying — Harry says that we’ll be working on these for the next few lessons. I can see why Patronuses would be difficult to conjure, especially around Dementors. You have to keep a happy memory firmly in mind in order to conjure them and Dementors suck away all the happy thoughts you have. God, I remember when that Dementor came into the compartment at the beginning of my second year. I was reliving the moment when Tom took me over — when he stepped out of the diary and slipped himself into my very soul. If something like that doesn’t provide you with miserable memories, I don’t know what would. All right, all right, having to live in a cupboard and wearing hand-me-downs and being treated like a second-class citizen — an outsider - for all of your life would probably do it to. Look at Harry. I have to admit, I was a bit put out that Cho could conjure a Patronus so very quickly. Harry seemed very pleased with her. Of course he would. She is a lovely girl — to look at anyway. I’m not as taken by her looks as most people (guys and girls) I think it’s the fact that I can see her underlying character. It’s not that she’s a bad person exactly, it’s just that she is very stubborn and very used to getting her own way all the time. If Cho Chang wants something, Cho Chang gets it eventually, even if it belongs to someone else or isn’t something she should have. She gets it anyway. She means well, but she’s a spoiled brat, and that can ruin a good thing very easily. Like this thing with Harry. It can’t work between them — common sense dictates this. They were both too close emotionally to what happened in the graveyard. Harry is never going to be able to forget that Cho was first and foremost Cedric’s girlfriend, and Cho is not going to be able to forget that it was Harry who was there with Cedric when he died. 18 April 1996 Damn, damn and damn! I can’t believe that Dumbledore’s gone! I can’t believe that he risked his own neck to keep Harry safely in school! I can’t believe that Marietta turned on us like that! I mean, I knew that she really wasn’t as interested in the D.A. as Cho and the rest, but to rat everyone out — including her own friend? How can she justify that? I honestly thought Harry was going to be expelled. Michael and I barely escaped from the Room of Requirement. As it is we both have detentions next Saturday night for being found necking in an unused classroom. It was Michael’s idea and it must have looked convincing enough (and certainly explained why we were both flushed and breathless). I would never have thought to put on an act like that — but Michael just snapped into action. Very clever. I guess there was a reason he was put into Ravenclaw! After all, a detention is better than being expelled! It’s a wonder no one else was caught. I knew Hermione was good, but really, she out did herself with the curse she put on that parchment we all signed! Marietta looks a right mess — big purple pimples all across her cheeks and nose. I wonder what she thinks every time she looks in the mirror. Is she sorry at all? If she isn’t now, she will be! I know that no one in the D.A. will be wanting to speak to her again. In fact, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if in the very near future those spots she’s sporting would be the least of her concerns. I can’t believe that Harry almost drank the drink Umbridge offered him! I wasn’t paying any attention to be perfectly honest, I was too busy going through the box of items Fred and George had given me. (Its chock full of 25 April 1996 I’ve never had more fun than during this last week! I’ve been using my Elementals to enhance the effect of some of Fred and George’s joke items so as to cause as many disruptions as possible for our darling new Headmistress. Headmistress indeed! How can she call herself Headmistress when she can’t even make a pretense of controlling the student body? She’s a nasty piece of work, I’ll tell you that. She sent a pair of first year girls into hysterics, yelling at them because they wouldn’t stop scratching themselves all during her class. What she didn’t know is that they had walked through a cloud of itching powder that Fred had set off in the Entrance Hall. The girls ended up in the hospital wing where Madam Pince administered calming draughts to both of them (having stopped the scratching with just a flick of her wand). They were (quite understandably) more upset from being yelled at by the Headmistress than by their encounter with the itching powder. And then, at supper on Monday, Umbridge fell for one of the oldest jokes in the book — she drank from a biting teacup! There isn’t a student in Hogwarts — nor a teacher for that matter — who will drink from a biting teacup! It was priceless (and it was Colin Creevey of all people who slipped the teacup onto the teacher’s table). I watched him do it and I know for a fact that at least three of the teachers (McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout) all saw him do it — and not a one of them warned her by even so much as a look. It shows you how desperate the whole lot of them are to be rid of Umbridge! Anyway, there is Umbridge, perched in the Headmaster’s golden chair like some sort of bloated toad shrieking like a Banshee with this stupid little teacup latched onto her nose while the entire Hall was roaring with laughter. Snape alone managed to keep a straight face as he detached the sharp-toothed little cup, but I could have sworn that his lip was twitching as he turned away with the teacup in his hand. Anyway, I feel bad for the younger students who don’t know how to counter some of the jinxes that Fred and George have set up as sort of booby traps for Umbridge to walk through and activate. One poor little second year tripped one of George’s ‘skunk alerts’ and went around smelling to high heaven until someone told George that the jinx had backfired and he was able to reverse it for the kid. Most of the tricks — even the ones I’ve played — are of Fred and George’s creation, but I will take full credit for rubbing Umbridge’s desk chair — and the floor all around her desk with Billywig juice. Billywigs are of course a known levitating enhancer — so every time she approached her desk or tried to sit down, she’d levitate instead a few inches off the ground. You should have seen her! The first time she approached her desk and stepped onto the area that had been rubbed with the juice she actually tripped, flailed around for support, and ended up laying flat on her face on the ground (well, okay, with her nose just two inches shy of the ground) and it took her five minutes to maneuver herself into an upright position and she ended up clinging to the blackboard by her fingernails as if afraid that she might just up and float away. Oh yes, and another reason for my buoyant mood! Harry and Cho aren’t speaking to each other any more (yes!). They had a falling out regarding Marietta, Cho’s curly haired friend. Cho insists that Marietta really is a “lovely person who just made a mistake” and Harry of course is throwing the fact that Marietta sold out everyone in the D.A. (including Cho) into Cho’s face. But Cho, being stubborn as well as intelligent, is saying that Marietta is not to blame, seeing as that she’s under pressure from her mother (who works for the Ministry) etc. God, look at me! My hand is shaking so bad I can hardly write! The very thought that THIS COULD BE IT. That by this time next year Harry and I will be together is making me feel so nervous you’d think that I was facing my first Quidditch game or something! Come to think of it, I wasn’t this nervous the first time I played a Quidditch game. I was excited, yes, but not nervous. But why should I be nervous? Don’t be a stupid prat girl, you’re nervous because THIS IS IT. Once Harry and I get together, its forever — just say the word. FOREVER. Am I ready for this? Is he? |
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