Never Again!

Chapter 9

After checking out my new surroundings, I gave myself a little break and did what Mum would do if she were here; I made some tea. If she'd remember me, I could tell her that I took after her...I shook my head sadly, tears threatening to fall.

"Should I visit them?" I wondered as sat in the living room drinking my tea. They are still my family, after all. But why don't they remember me? They had to be under some kind of spell, yes, that had to be it. But a nagging voice in the back of my mind had me doubting that. "Could there be a chance I am this Virginia Morgaine Watson and not Ginny Weasley? I shook my head. "Damn it Gin! Keep your head together!" I decided to go to the feast and after that I would nip down and visit them. I had a quick shower and changed into some casual robes. As I walked to my door, I knew that tonight was going to shock people...a Weasley...back from the dead. One thought I couldn't keep from surfacing in my mind: If Tom didn't already know, he would certainly know that I was alive after tonight.

"I'll think about that later."

I set off down the corridor and saw many side passages. I suddenly realized that I had no idea how to get to the Great Hall from this part of the castle.

"Lost?" a voice whispered from behind me. I whipped around and came face to face with Malfoy.

"It would appear so," I said sharply. It was not actually what I wanted to say; my first reply would be more along the lines of: "I don't need any help from you! But then again...you have talent in directing people just like you directed thirteen children straight to Heaven!" But seeing as I was indeed lost, I hoped he could or would direct me to the Great Hall.

I took in the sight of him. His hair was no longer slicked back, which I had always loathed, but hung loosely around his face. Upon closer inspection, he did have very nice eyes, probably the most gorgeous eyes that I had ever seen, come to that. Not that I would ever tell him that...ever. He was wearing black robes similar to mine, but his was a more refined fabric and without any wrinkles. Unconsciously I tried to smooth out my own robe. He noticed me appraising him and a crooked smile came upon his face.

"I've heard that weasels have a keen sense of smell...why don't you 'smell' your way back to the Great Hall, Weaslette," he smirked.

"Ugh...that stupid smirk..." I thought.

"Ah, but that I could, however the awful smell that YOU emit is far too pungent for me to 'smell' anything else, stinky Ferret," I snapped back.

Draco's face turned an interesting shade of red and he huffed. He actually huffed. "What - what was that sound? Did you just huff?" I asked, snickering.

"Malfoys don't huff!" he growled and began striding down the corridor. After watching him for a second, I followed him. I had to otherwise I would be standing in this passageway all night. We walked in silence for a few minutes when I chanced a look at his face. I could see he was seriously upset.

"Malfoy...are you leading me to the Great Hall?" I asked apprehensively.

I got a response from my question, but not words that I would not repeat.

"Look...I didn't mean to offend you with the whole 'you smell and you huffed' comment...well...that's not exactly true. I did want to offend you, but..."

My pseudo-apology didn't help the situation; Draco only looked even more angry. He walked very quickly and I nearly had to run in order to keep up with him.

"Look, Malfoy, you have no right to be upset with me when the first thing that came out of your mouth was an insult to begin with!"

His face softened a bit, but he continued on without a word to me, walking with long strides. Eventually, we arrived at the Great Hall. We were a bit late and therefore, the doors of the Great Hall were closed. I took a deep breath. It was time to return. Malfoy and I walked to the door and, after a brief glance to one another, we opened them. Of course, the doors opening after the start of the feast was not a common occurrence and every head turned to look at us. I felt heat rising up my face but Malfoy looked as indifferent as always. The Great Hall was filled with young wizards and witches watching the sorting of the first years. My Lizz had not yet been sorted yet and I was happy that I hadn't missed it. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed Malfoy and I as we walked up to the staff table and sat down. Professor McGonagall glared at us and I knew she was not impressed with the disruption that we had caused. After we sat down, she continued.

"Plagel, Sandra!" she called.

A small brunette stood up and walked to the sorting hat.

"HUFFELPUFF!" it cried out. The girl breathed a sigh of relief and joined her table.

"Stanford, Tristian!"

"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat cried out.

"Weasley, Elizabeth," McGonagall pronounced slowly, as if she couldn't believe her own eyes. And as I had envisioned, people started talking immediately. I could hear one student in particular who was not minding to keep his voice down.

"How can she be a Weasley? I've read a book about the most famous wizarding families and seeing as the entire Weasley died three months ago with no surviving offspring, I can't see how she could be a Weasley," he said.

"He's like a male Hermione, or Percy for that matter..." I thought.

At this point, Dumbledore stood up and addressed the students. "I see this as my cue to explain a few things. This," he said indicating Draco, "is Mister Malfoy. He is one of the apprentices that Professor Snape will have this year and this young lady," he said as he pointed to me, "is Miss Ginevra Weasley."

It became so quiet in the Hall that someone could have dropped a needle and everyone would hear it. They all stared at me in disbelief.

"I know this must be quite a shock," Dumbledore continued, "but she did not die that fateful night with her family. She has survived, and that is all that is important." He sat back down in his chair and smiled at Professor McGonagall.

McGonagall nodded curtly, motioning to Lizz to walk up to the hat. I held my breath as she pulled the hat on her head. Which house would be her new home?

After a moment, the hat yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"

Once again, the silence was deafening. Lizz colored with embarrassment that nobody was clapping for her so I began clapping and soon everyone followed my example. Though Slytherin was not my first choice for her to go in, I was happy that Lizz found a house that she belonged to. I hoped nobody would judge her or treat her differently because her last name was Weasley. Dumbledore stood again and called out, "Tuck in!" and before too long, the tables filled with food and everyone began to eat. It always amazed me how happy I felt at Hogwarts; it was really my second home. But considering that I always counted the Burrow as my first home, I suppose Hogwarts is my only home now, if you didn't count the fact that I still had my apartment...but it didn't hold a lot of sentimental value so I didn't consider it a real home, but technically speaking...I stopped and shook my head, trying to clear it from my rambling thoughts. As I did, I noticed Malfoy watching me intently.

"So..." Malfoy said, "how come you didn't die?"

I grew angry again, but realized that I couldn't start yelling at him in the Great Hall. I was something akin to a teacher now and couldn't lose my cool in front of the students as easily as I used to when I was back in school. Ah...the memories...

Flashback-no ones P.O.V.

Everything was peaceful in the Great Hall. Harry, Ron and Hermione were eating at the Gryffindor table while everyone chatted happily. Suddenly, an angry voice filled the Hall.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!" the voice yelled. The Great Hall went silent as all eyes looked at Ron. He dropped the knife that he was holding and it made a loud noise as it clattered on the floor. His mouth was open in a silent scream that wouldn't come out. Everyone looked to the doorway and saw little Ginny Weasley storming in. Her face said it all; she was seriously pissed off.

"How DARE you!" Ginny said in a deadly whisper.

Ron stood up quickly and dragged Harry and Hermione in front of him. "Do something!" he squeaked. Everyone watched the situation with interest. Here was Ronald Bilius Weasley, Harry James Potter, and Hermione Jane Granger versus Ginevra Molly Weasley, Ron's baby sister.

"Get out of my way, Harry...Hermione!" Ginny spat. "This is a Weasley temper you're dealing with and its wrath is not directed at you so it would be wise to step away from the battlefield."

Hermione and Harry had heard stories from Fred and George about this temper. Many years before, the Weasley twins had broken Ginny's favorite toy; they had never dared to tell anyone what Ginny had done in retaliation. George and Fred just warned Harry and Hermione to run for it, should they ever see her temper rising.

Without a second thought, Harry and Hermione sidestepped away from Ron, and Ginny came face to face with her brother.

"W-what's the matter...Gin?" Ron stammered.

"Don't you 'GIN' me! You tried to read my diary!"

"How do you know?" Ron said, confused, scratching the back of his head.

She pulled her diary from her robes and held it out for him to read the letters on the front cover.

"MISTER RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY HAS TRIED TO READ THIS DIARY, BUT HE FAILED," Ginny read out loud.

Ron cowered as Ginny withdrew her wand. After the smoke cleared, Ron was left with boils all over his entire body (including some unmentionable areas) that itched horribly. It took Madame Pomfrey over an hour to get Ron calmed down enough so she was able to remove the boils.

End Flashback

I silently laughed at the memory. I received a week's worth of detention for that, but it was well worth it. Turning my attention back to Malfoy, I found he was still staring at me and I felt anger rise up within me once again. I looked down at my hands and found they were shaking slightly. Malfoy followed my gaze and smirked.

"Didn't you hear what I asked? I asked you why you didn't die?"

I ignored him. "What a bastard!" I thought to myself.

The feast finally ended; I stood up and hastened over to Dumbledore. "Could I- I mean- can I see my...you-know...sir?"

"Of course Ginevra," he said, smiling down at me.

So, we walked together, up the stairs, into his office and down the corridor until we found ourselves standing in front of the door where I last saw my mother.

I reached out my hand and knocked on the door. To say I was nervous was an understatement.