Caught In The Middle

Chapter 6 - Sunday Bloody Sunday

"I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes
And make it go away
How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long...
'cause tonight...we can be as one
Tonight..."

~Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Ginny sat cross-legged on her bed with her recently acquired copy of Moste Potente Potions Sommeil Paisible potion for the tenth time. It was impossible! How could she possibly get these ingredients? She remembered Hermione telling her about the time when she had snuck into Snape's private potion's cabinet and stole some of his supplies, but that had been with the help of Harry and one very distracting firecracker. She, on the other hand, had neither.

Ginny sighed and closed the book - it was hopeless. She'd just have to find another way to get rid of her nightmares, or learn to live with them. There was the dreamless sleep potion that Madam Pomfrey gave all of her patients; perhaps she could get that? No, that was just as unlikely as getting the Sommeil Paisible ingredients! Not to mention that -

Knock!

The sudden knocking broke Ginny's train of thoughts, and she blankly stared at the door. Meanwhile, the raps became more urgent and she finally jumped off her bed and stomped towards the door. Who could it be? I told everyone I was sleeping in today! Why must they annoy me?

She grabbed the doorknob and pulled, ready to yell at whichever roommate had disturbed her peace. Instead she found a very agitated looking Hermione. Her hair was even bushier than usual, and she was biting her lip.

"What's wrong, Hermione?"

"Well, I thought you'd like to know..." Hermione said as she handed a copy of the morning Daily Prophet to Ginny.

Ginny took the paper and was startled to find Lucius Malfoy's face sneering at her. She quickly glanced up to the title, which read Lucius Malfoy Escapes from Azkaban! Ginny suddenly felt the warmth drain out of her body...how could this have happened?

"But - how, what --?" She tried to speak but nothing but a garble of words came out.

Hermione, who had begun pacing around the room, stopped and replied, "We just found out this morning...the Dementors must be helping them. I mean, how else could he have gotten out?"

"How's Harry taking this?" Ginny asked.

"Well he's angry of course - after all we had to pay so much to get him in there; Harry sees him as one of the reasons Sirius is gone..."

But Ginny was no longer thinking of Harry; she suddenly remembered Draco. How was he taking the news? He must be furious; no, he was probably scared. After all it was because of him that Lucius had been in Azkaban.

"Oh, I should go, I've got so much to do," said Hermione as she began walking out of the room, "By the way, I really think you should get something to eat - you don't look too well."

"Yeah, of course, I'll come down in a minute."

Hermione nodded, but left bearing a very concerned expression.

Ginny plopped down on a bed. To think: just a few minutes ago I was worrying about potions ingredients! The world was changing while I was fretting over not getting sleep!

She was still clutching the paper in her hand and she began to read the article. However, Lucius Malfoy's grey eyes were so haunting that she never quite got around to reading the article. Instead, she watched Lucius' expression change from a sneer to a smirk and then to an evil laugh. His slate eyes glittered with a wickedness that reminded her so much of Draco's eyes. When she thought of it, Lucius and Draco were so alike it was scary. They both had absolutely straight blond hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see into your very soul.

Yet how could two people who looked so alike be so different? They may have once been the same, but Draco now spent his days lurking in the shadows - he was ever so quiet - and was no longer flanked by his usual group of cronies. Instead he only associated with two people: Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. The entire school had noticed his dramatic change, and to most people it was disconcerting - they all wondered what was happening to the world.

And although it was common knowledge that Dumbledore trusted Draco, most were highly suspicious of him. Ginny herself didn't know what to think. She didn't see him very often, but when she caught a glance of him in the corridors he seemed so vulnerable that she couldn't help but think that he was telling the truth. Nevertheless, his past spoke out against him.

Ginny yawned and rose from her seat. Her joints were feeling a little cramped, so she stretched a bit, raising her arms and kicking out her legs. She grabbed her book bag and decided to get a bite to eat.

Avoiding the noise of the Great Hall, which would only serve to give her a headache, Ginny headed for the kitchen instead. She got lost after a while and it seemed like she was walking in circles. She could have sworn she had seen the portrait of the young girl with eyes as green as Harry's twice now. Soon though, she reached the giant portrait of fruit.

Now how is it I get in again? Tickling the apple? - No! It was the pear! She reached out and stroked the pear, and instantly, it swung open revealing a very busy kitchen. Ginny could smell a wonderful apple pie being baked as well as all sorts of other delicious desserts as she entered. She was instantly spotted by Dobby, who came running towards her.

"Miss Wheezy! Dobby is happy you are here; he hasn't gotten visitors in some time," he said, smiling widely.

"Oh, I'm sorry Dobby! But I think everyone's been very busy lately; it certainly looks like you have," said Ginny. All around her house elves were busily working on what seemed like a grand feast. A row of fifteen ovens were all on, while something magnificent was cooking on a gigantic oven nearly three times the size of the one Ginny's mum had at home.

Dobby beamed. "Yes, yes, Miss Wheezy! We is working on the feast!"

"Feast?"

"Today is October thirty-first, Miss Wheezy! It's the first Hogsmeade trip and the Halloween feast!"

"Oh! It's Sunday! How could I have forgotten - the first Hogsmeade trip - but, actually I doubt they'll have it, now that - " she faltered, remembering who was standing before her. No, she couldn't tell him that Malfoy senior had escaped - he was too happy.

"Now that what, Miss?"

"Nothing, Dobby; I just forgot about Halloween and the Hogsmeade trip; it's probably because I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon!"

"Oh no! We can't be having that, no, no! You must try some of our pie!" exclaimed Dobby, enthusiastically.

Ginny smiled, and not only was she given a slice of pie but Dobby also took the liberty of making her a cup of hot chocolate. It was just what she needed; she now felt energized enough to go and write her Potions essay.

"Thank you Dobby!" she said as she was leaving.

"You're welcome, Miss Wheezy! Dobby is making a feast so you can't forget Halloween anymore!" he shouted as she left.

Ginny couldn't help but grin. Dobby was so happy and his happiness seemed to radiate towards her. She walked to the library in a trance of wonderful thoughts, but they were soon broken. She was about to turn the final corner to the library when she heard a pair of voices. They were obviously trying to whisper, but she could still make out what they were saying.

"Draco, the Headmaster wishes to speak to you." It was Snape, no doubt.

"Dumbledore wishes to speak to me? Why, sir?"

"Professor Dumbledore. Come now Draco, do not try to be clever, you know perfectly well why."

"No, Professor Snape, I do not know 'perfectly well why' the Headmaster wishes to speak to me!"

"Fine then - I will tell you - he wants to speak to you about your safety!" Snape hissed.

"My safety? Well that's ridiculous! Hogwarts is the safest place I could be right now - everyone knows that!" Malfoy exclaimed.

"We are not so sure anymore, Draco," said Snape very gravely.

Malfoy didn't say anything else and neither did Snape. They simply walked away in a strained silence.

Ginny didn't feel so well anymore. What did Snape mean? If Dumbledore is here how could Hogwarts not be safe? Surely Voldemort wouldn't think of attacking!

**

Ginny found an isolated table in the far corner of the library and sat down. She pulled out her quill and parchment and tried to write her essay; unfortunately she could get no further than the first paragraph down; after that she was stuck. Images of Hogwarts being attacked swirled in her head; she simply could not concentrate. And on top of that, the essay was impossible to write! If only she knew someone who could help!

And as if to answer her pleas, Blaise Zabini emerged from the bookshelf behind her. He was holding a heavy book under his left arm, but nevertheless stopped to read Ginny's work.

"Fifth year potions?" he questioned.

"Yeah, I'm sort of stuck."

"Ah, that's killer. It all suddenly seems so long ago," he commented, taking a seat next to her.

"But I heard you did pretty well on your O.W.L.'s, gave Hermione a run for her money."

"Oh I did; got an Outstanding in Potions!"

"You did?" exclaimed Ginny, feigning amazement; "Well then I'm sure this essay would be a piece of cake for you!"

Blaise frowned slightly, but nevertheless, he took the parchment from her and read the essay.

"Oh! The Transferring potion - you take it and some of the power of the selected person is given to you. Yes, a particularly nasty essay this is; I don't think our dear Potions master was in a very good mood when he assigned this."

Ginny giggled; Blaise was just so nonchalant with everyone, regardless of House, that it was sometimes very amusing. "No, I don't think he was!"

"What you need is..." He stood up and went down a row of books. He returned a few minutes later. "What you need is this book," he said, handing her a bright yellow book.

"Potions for Dummies?" she said incredulously.

"Now, now it may seem like an odd choice for studying fifth-year potions, but this book saved me countless times last year!" he proclaimed. "Well, I'd best be going, all you've got to do is look up the Transferring potion and it'll tell you everything you need to know."

"Thanks, Blaise," said Ginny.

Tipping off an imaginary hat, he said, "It was nothing."

Ginny opened the book skeptically. She turned to the index. Okay, let see...Transferring potion, page 362. She flipped to that page and began reading:

The transferring potion, first invented in 1692 by the French witch, Alsatia, was at first thought of as an extremely dangerous potion. With the potion one may acquire any element of a chosen witch or wizard. When making the potion a lock of hair from the witch or wizard whose elements you wish to gain is required. Also required is a lock from the one they love above all - this can be the mother, father, wife, husband, sibling, or lover. Additionally a small personal possession from the chosen one's parents is also needed...

Ginny dipped her quill in the inkbottle and began writing furiously. She was done in no time. So Blaise Zabini is much more than a dark, brooding Slytherin, she mused. Next time I need help I know who to go to.

She read her essay over to make sure there were no mistakes; she wouldn't give Snape the pleasure of marking her down. She packed up her books and swiftly walked out of the library. She headed towards the Gryffindor common room but was so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't see Professor McGonagall turning the corner, and nearly bumped into her.

"Ah, Miss Weasley! We've been looking for you - did you forget about the Hogsmeade trip?" she asked sternly.

"I-well," Ginny stuttered - ever since her second year McGonagall always managed to make her feel nervous - "I thought it would be cancelled!"

"No, not at all. Just head to the Great Hall - the Headmaster wishes to speak to you all," McGonagall said, and with that she swept away, her emerald robes flowing behind her.

The Great Hall? Since when do we have school meetings before going to Hogsmeade?

**

The Great Hall was buzzing with conversation when Ginny entered; most people were speculating on why they had been called there. Third years and above from all four houses were anxiously awaiting the Headmaster's arrival.

"Do you know what's going on?" asked Ginny, as she took a seat next to Hermione.

"Well it must be something about the Hogsmeade trip that was scheduled for today, seeing as everyone but the first and second years are here," replied Hermione.

Next to her sat a relatively nonplussed Ron, and Harry, who stared at the wall in a perfectly emotionless state. Everything about Harry seemed normal - his hair was as messy as ever, his scar was still very visible through his strands of black hair, and he was still extremely pale - but his eyes, his beautiful emerald eyes, had lost their sparkle. Something in him had died when Sirius had passed through the veil, which, with all the busyness of this year, seemed like ages ago. He had almost been normal again this summer, but their arrival at Hogwarts had thrown him back into his silent reverie.

"--they probably cancelled the trip," said Dean Thomas in a solemn voice. He sat across from Ginny, and she concentrated on him, welcoming the distraction.

"That's a shame - I was hoping to load up on some dungbombs - Filch has become insufferable lately," said Seamus Finnigan, shaking his head.

"Yeah," began Ron; it was his first word since Ginny's arrival, "ever since Fred and George left, he thinks he's finally got rid of all the trouble makers. It's a shame Peeves hasn't been giving him too much trouble this year."

Ginny turned away as they all launched back into their guesses as to what Dumbledore would say, and instead began observing the other house tables.

The Ravenclaws, when compared to the Gryffindors, seemed relatively serene. Some flipped through books and magazines (Luna herself looked quite calm reading her latest issue of The Quibbler), while others were reading the Daily Prophet. A few - ever aware of their studies - had brought along their homework, and sat quietly scribbling away.

Right next to the Ravenclaws were the Hufflepuffs and they couldn't differ from the Ravenclaws more. The Hufflepuffs all looked horrible. Their eyes were wide, forehead's creased, and their mouths were moving in constant speculation. The younger Hufflepuffs seemed the most frightened of all; Ginny could tell who they were by their nervous glances towards the entrance of the Great Hall and constant questions for the elder Hufflepuffs.

To the left of the Hufflepuffs were the Slytherins, least worried of all. They seemed to be fine with it all and sat around lazily as if they couldn't care less. Most were talking busily, others laughed at some misguided joke, and some played chess, while the rest stared off into space, clearly wanting to be anywhere but here. Ginny looked away in disgust.

Surely they can't all be careless! There must be one good-natured Slytherin; it defies logic that there isn't! And almost immediately she searched for Draco's white-blonde hair. She found Parkinson and Zabini sitting together, but Draco was nowhere in sight.

He must still be speaking with Dumbledore - that must be why this is taking so long!

"Well, what are you saying, Ron - that they're not going to cancel the trip?" exclaimed Seamus.

"That's hard to believe, mate," said Dean in agreement.

"Why would they? I mean, they didn't cancel them when Sirius escaped!" And as soon as the words escaped his mouth, Ron seemed to regret it. His eyes turned wide and he nervously glanced over at Harry.

Hermione reacted similarly; she had guessed what Ron would say, and tried to tell him not to say it with her eyes. But, when that failed, she trembled slightly and turned to gaze at Harry. Seamus and Dean, who weren't quite sure what was going on themselves, also began to stare at him. Harry merely flicked his eyes up at them for a moment, as if daring any of them to speak of Sirius again, and then he fell back into his brooding.

Ron breathed a visible sigh of relief, and Hermione exhaled slowly. She turned to Ron and glared at him.

"Ron, why can't you be more careful?" she said in a strangled whisper. "Of all the times to remind him of Sirius! Honestly, now!"

"You don't need to whisper you know!" snarled Harry. "I can hear you perfectly from here!"

Ginny was startled by the anger in his voice; it was as if he were talking to his worst enemy rather than his two best friends. He was shaking and was staring at Ron and Hermione loathingly.

"Harry - I didn't...it's just that - "

She tried to explain; Ron decided that it was better to not say anything. He gripped her shoulder and shook his head, saying, "Let it go, Hermione."

Harry looked at them for a few seconds, and everyone seemed to hold their breath. But he didn't say anything; instead he went back to staring at the wall as if nothing at all had happened. The only thing the episode had accomplished was to make everyone uncomfortable. No one spoke a word, afraid to incur Harry's wrath.

And everyone sat in the strained silence until the door of the Great Hall creaked opened. They all looked up, but it was only Snape, followed by Draco. All eyes watched them as Snape made his way up to the professors' table, taking his seat next to McGonagall. Draco walked to his table, taking as much time as possible, and as he reached it, Pansy and Blaise moved apart, letting him take a seat in between.

Ginny did not get further time to study Draco, for almost immediately after he had taken his seat, the door creaked open again. This time it was who they all had been waiting for. Professor Dumbledore entered and smiling slightly at everyone he took slow strides up to the professor's table.

All eyes were on him as he walked, and when he turned and faced them the silence in the hall was absolute. It almost hurt Ginny's ears, and Dumbledore didn't break it; instead he observed each table individually for a few minutes.

And then he began; his powerful voice boomed and echoed through the hall.

"In light of recent events, some have wanted to cancel all the Hogsmeade trips for this year. They claim that it is in the best interest of the students to remain inside the castle walls at all times."

He paused and observed them before continuing. "But I beg to differ. I believe that it is in the student's best interest to not only attend every Hogsmeade trip, but to also continue living his or her life normally.

"Lord Voldemort thrives in times of fear. He wishes to see us living our lives with the shadow of fear overcoming us. He intends to disrupt our lives, and canceling these Hogsmeade trips will only falsely show him that he has triumphed.

"We must not; we cannot afford to let him see this. We will not let Voldemort win; we will fight him by continuing as we normally would.

"So in this way I ask for the help of each and every one of you. I ask that you attend this Hogsmeade trip and all such activities."

And again he paused, but only for a moment this time.

"I ask that you unite together as one, and fight together as one against this evil that has squeezed its way into our world."

He paused again, but this time the silence was broken. Ginny wasn't sure how it happened, but suddenly the entire Gryffindor table was standing up and applauding with all of their energy. Next the Ravenclaws joined them, followed immediately by the Hufflepuff's. And then the most peculiar thing happened: at the Slytherin table a lone person stood up and began clapping with the rest of them.

Ginny, for a single second, thought it might be Draco; after all, he was technically on their side, but when she squinted to see who it was, instead of being greeted by Draco's white-blonde hair she was met by dark hair. It wasn't Draco, but Blaise Zabini. And despite her disappointment, she couldn't help but smile. So the world is not black and white after all.

Dumbledore motioned for them to stop, and everything became quiet again.

"Now, while we will not cancel these trips, we will still take some precautions. We will send you to Hogsmeade in groups of four, no less and no more. You are to stay with your group at all times. Punishments for leaving your group will be severe. Professor McGonagall will now speak to you." Dumbledore took his seat and McGonagall rose, carrying with her an extremely long piece of parchment.

"To promote interhouse unity, the groups of four will be assigned." As soon as she said this the entire hall groaned. "Oh, please!" she said exasperated.

"Now I will read the groups of four; either you will go with these groups, or you shall not go at all!

"Members of the first group are: Hannah Abbot, Seamus Finnigan, Theodore Nott, and Marietta Edgecombe.

"The second group: Hermione Granger, Ernie Macmillan, Gregory Goyle, and Luna Lovegood." Upon hearing this Hermione buried her face in her hands while Ron patted her on her back.

"Now, now, Hermione, it's not so bad."

"The third group: Draco Malfoy, Dean Thomas, Michael Corner, and Ginny Weasley."

Ginny's eyes were wide in disbelief; how could she have such bad luck?

Not Michael, Dean, and Draco in one group!