The Black Rose Castle

The Black Rose Castle

Chapter One ~ Farewell Hogwarts

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

The mirror laughed and gave a grunt

"It isn't you, you ugly cunt."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Welcome back Faith. Please tell the kind gentlemen that-"

"Every door leads to a new adventure?"

"Yes that's right; make it seem......fun."

"May I kill him later Narcissa?"

"Of course."

~*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*~

"Ginny! Ginny! Bloody hell there you are!" cried a red faced Ron as he halted into the compartment where his year younger sister sat alone.

Ginny glanced at her red faced brother, before altering her gaze back to the splendid mountains out in the distance.

"Hey Ron, what's the matter?"

Ron rushed into the compartment and sat across from Ginny, his face bright as ever and a huge, megawatt grin spread across his face. Ginny looked at him with a slight frown, she didn't like it when Ron was this happy, it usually meant he had a crazy idea, like going down to a muggles house and throwing garden gnomes at there back door then running all the way home from the humongous dog that just happened to live with a poor old lady, who did have very funny facial expression.

"It wonderful Ginny, it's the best thing ever, well beside the part that Fudge was killed but-"

"Are you talking about Voldemort making Azkaban his fortress? Cause Ron that's real great and-"

"No Gin, it's much better then that, its better then anything that's ever happened to us, ever."

Ginny was beginning to feel excited, she'd never seen Ron like this before.

"What is it?!" she almost screamed. At that moment Harry and Hermione entered the compartment. The instant Ginny's eyes met Harry's, his cheeks went dangerously pink and he smiled nervously. Ginny looked back to Ron, who was sharing a confused look with Hermione, well neither of them knew about the whole "shower" thing.

"Ron, what is it?" Ginny whined, getting back Ron's attention. Ron's head snapped back to Ginny and his super smile returned.

"Ginny, its dad." He suddenly went really serious and breathed in deeply. "Well he's-"

"What?! Freaking hell Ron spit it out!"

"Gin he's the new minister of magic and we have to move to the minister quarters at London," he said very, very fast, making it hard for Ginny to process the words.

She sat for a moment and stared at Ron as if he was mad, but Ron nodded with a grin. Ginny's jaw dropped, the excitement rose insanely quick inside her and she jumped breathlessly from her seat and embraced Ron tightly, and his face slowly went red again.

"Gin, come on I can't breathe."

Ginny let Ron go and pulled herself back so she was at height with his face. She grabbed his shoulders and grinned from ear to ear.

"Ron do you know what this means! This means we are gonna be so rich!" then a thought hit her like a tone of bricks. Her smiled flicked away quicker then it had appeared.

"Gin, what's the matter? We are rich now, we get the minister fortune cause apparently Fudge don't own it, whoever the minister is does and that's dad. Isn't that great?"

Ginny nodded but something was bothering her.

"Ron, don't you think it's a bit weird that dad was chosen for minister, out of all the people qualified for it a simple, muggle loving guy from a small ministry office gets the gig?"

"That's exactly what I've been trying to say the whole time," Hermione added, annoyed.

Ron's smile flicked but didn't disappear.

"Ah, Gin there's nothing to worry about. Mum says dads really confident about the position," Ron said happily, ignoring Hermione's comment. Ginny rolled her eyes and stared back out the window.

What was going on? Since when is her father important enough to become minister? But on the plus side, she was the only daughter of the leader of Wizarding England's leader, she was rich. She could have things she could only dream about before.

~*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*^_^*~

"In the darkest regions of The Forbidden forest, yes the forest that surrounds this very castle is a sinister castle. It is called The Black Rose Castle and is the dwelling of many magical and dangerous creatures, each more fearsome then the next."

"But Miss, there's not really like a real castle. Isn't it just a big fake? You know, pretend?"

We were in Defence Against the Dark Arts, with our new teacher. Her name is Professor Kington and she's been all over the world. I also have my suspicions she just may be a vampire, just judging from her looks. She had the look of someone not to mess with; this was why everyone turned to Victoria when she spoke, each with looks of annoyance or dread.

Victoria glance back at Thalia and me, both of us remained staring at her blankly. She had gotten herself into this she could get herself out.

Kington didn't seem to take very well to Victoria or her comment. She glided across the room and bent over a hunched up Victoria.

"What is your name young miss?"

Victoria leaned back in her chair.

"Victoria Aymers," she croaked. Thalia giggled but instantly stopped when Kington shot her a look of disgust.

"Think this is funny? What is your name?" hissed Kington. I had the sudden feeling that this woman was going to get along great with the Slytherins.

"Thalia Maris," she stated proudly. Thalia was a very brave person, and she loved to show it and a lot of people admired her for it, in fact a lot of people did.

"Well Thalia one would think you, with such looks and obvious bravery, that you would stand up more for your peers. Now tell me do you believe in such a castle?"

Thalia frowned in thought. She narrowed her eyes and sighed heavily. I could tell, after years of being her best friend that she was thinking about what would make the professor happy, not what she actually thought, if that makes sense.

"Well professor, I believe that it is entirely possible for there to be a castle deep in the forbidden forest." And she had done it, she said exactly what the professor wanted to hear, and she was instantly the best student Kington had ever had the joys of meeting.

"Very good Miss Maris, congratulations you spared everyone detention," Kington said arrogantly as she strode back to the front of class, she then shot a revolted look back to Victoria. "All except Victoria that is."

I watched with a small grin as Victoria sank in her chair, probably thinking of the horrors she was surely going to experience as the first student punished by the new professor.

"Now everyone, turn to page three of Dark Witches and Wizards in Time, which you each should have a copy of and read the first paragraph."

I sighed and turned to page three. It was a short paragraph and I read it quickly.

There have been many evil sorcerers in the past; most came to power during the Dark ages or medieval Times and most crashed into non-existence as they were over powered by others. There has always been a constant battle between good and evil, after each evil is demolished and new and "fresh" one always prevails through. In the following pages each will be looked at in alphabetical order and where they came from and where their angry and hatred came from, and of course where they are now.

"Now, that's just a little introduction to the text book. Were going to study each evil sorcerer in order and learn a lot of defence spells. I am a very practical teacher and I believe that to learn how to do something truly well, you have to have practice and practised it to perfection." This speech was what made me, Ginny Weasley, like Professor Kington. She knew what she was doing and we hadn't had a teacher like that since Lupin.

"So what do you think of Kington?" Thalia asked me as we sat down at dinner. She was staring absently at the new Slytherin 6^th year.

"I think she's cool. A bit of an old, vampirish cow but pretty cool."

"Hmm," agreed Thalia, even though she hadn't heard a word I had said but that didn't bother me because Hermione had just taken a seat across the table from me.

"Hey Ginny," she said boredly. Which was strange for Hermione, she was usually excited and in a rush, but today she was drained.

"Hi Hermione, what's up?" then noticing their absence. "Where are Ron and Harry?"

Hermione sighed as she made a sandwich; she was distracted and didn't watch as she piled on Ham and chicken, using a spoon to cut the meat.

"Well Harry's still up in his room. You know what he's like now, he's really distant, and he keeps saying something's coming but....." her voice trailed off and she began staring at the Ravenclaw table.

"Whose over there?" I asked, noticing her sudden obsession with the Ravenclaws.

Hermione's face immediately became red and she nodded towards the Ravenclaw table. I turned quickly and there was Ron sitting right next to Ravenclaw 7^th year Lisa Turpin. Not only was she a Ravenclaw but she was part of T.Q.B.O.H. I swung back and faced Hermione who was nodding and frowning and had the most serious look on her face I have ever seen. Then my memory hit full force. Hermione was going out with Ron; they had been for a year.

"Oh Hermione I'm so sorry. How long has him and Lisa been, um you know?"

Hermione frowned and poked her sandwich with the spoon.

"We only broke up at the end of the holidays, that was only two days ago and she gets the nerve to ask him out! When she know I still love him and him! He says yes, without even considering my feelings or how I bloody feel!" Hermione threw back her chair a stood and waved around the spoon. "If he thinks I care, well he's got another thing coming, I WILL SHOW HIM!" then she hurled the spoon into the air and across the room, someone screamed and Hermione stormed from the Great Hall.

I sat staring at the place where she had been standing. My jaw was hanging open and my head was spinning madly. How could Ron do this to Hermione, he loved Hermione. Well he was supposed too, he always told me he did. And Lisa Turpin, don't mean to sound like a cow but Lisa is no to greatest person in the world, she's not even close.

"Ginny," Thalia said urgently. I snapped out of my daze and looked at Thalia, thinking she was dying or something important.

"What?" Thalia grinned back at me and I could see every one of her prefect teeth. I know she was about to say something stupid.

"Look who the spoon hit."

She nodded across the hall and I stood to get a better view. Thalia stood behind and pointed at the Slytherin. But she didn't need to point, and I groaned as I noticed the Slytherin that I'd been trying to avoid forever.

The spoon had of course hit Draco Malfoy, the new improved git of all gits.

Why do I say new and improved? Well last year he was an obnoxious brat that got on everyone nerves. Also he was hardly at school; this was because his father was a known Death Eater who had gone into hiding due to "shame," well that's what everyone said. But Draco appeared at school towards the end of the year and looked worse than anyone had even seen him before. He was skinny, extremely pale and very unattractive. Everyone stayed clear of him and he was angry. It was also no secret that he smoked dope and cigarettes. Everyone shot him cheap jokes about his father.

Then, the first day of Christmas holidays, Draco's father was cleared as a Death Eater and Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy was murdered. The Dark Mark hung hideously above the Malfoy mansion. The fact that Lucius had been cleared angered most of the wizarding society and guards were put up around the Malfoy Manor.

The funeral for Narcissa was extremely privet and a few snap shots of it were in the Daily Prophet. Draco wasn't seen in any of the pictures, perhaps he was ashamed, upset or embarrassed whatever the reason, Ron and Harry still believed he was dead. That was until the first of September when it was announced on the train...

"Students welcome back, an announcement! Quidditch Captains this year are,

Hufflepuff- a new man for the job, 7th year-Zacharias Smith!

Ravenclaw-still the same captain, now in his last year-Michael Corner!

Slytherin-the sturdy captain for the past 2 years-Blaise Zabini

And last but least-Gryffindor's boy wonder captain-Harry Potter!

Now for the announcement of he new Head boy and Girl! Hermione Granger of Gryffindor! And Draco Malfoy? Yes Draco Malfoy of Slytherin!

Nobody had expected him to come back to school let alone be Head Boy. But least of all, no one expected him to be a super, mega hunk.

Draco was no longer skinny, deadly pale and pointy faced. His features had become soft and his cheek bones were high and his skin was lightly tanned. His eyes had become dark grey, like stormy clouds, untamed and ready to attack, indulged or simply be amazing. He was no longer skinny and bony and looking like a sick boy who was likely to collapse at any second. Draco was now toned and lean. He looked as if he worked out a little and could pass for a professional Quidditch player. He had turned into a fit, gorgeous, rich looking, man of the school.

But who really pays attention to all that, certainly not me.

Draco was glaring across the table and me and Thalia stared back. It turned out it had been Pansy Parkinson who had screamed. She was breathing heavily and almost crying. She was looking up at Draco, obviously waiting for him to say something, or make her feel better. But Draco wasn't paying any attention to her; he was too busy glaring at the door where Hermione had disappeared through. Then with one swift movement he walked quickly from the Great Hall, the doors slamming behind him.

Thalia sighed dramatically. "Oh what a day."

I nodded agreeably and returned to my food, I tried to eat but I kept thing about Harry. To be honest I was worried about him. Last year was a struggle for him, without Sirius he felt so alone and wouldn't eat or sleep. He became a devastating wreck. To make him feel better, Dumbledore became Harry's secret keeper and allowed him to live with Lupin at Grimmauld place. This was left to Harry in Sirius will. Harry wanted to tear the place down but then decided it would be an alright place to live after he left school, he only had to fix it up and repaint it and make it a bit more welcoming.

Two years after Sirius death Harry was still mourning but he was anxious. Anxious to avenge him, it was scary when Harry would get so irritated.

"Want to come to the library?"

It was Daphne Greengrass and Sally-Ann Perks. I smiled and stood from the table.

"Hey girls, have a nice dinner?" Thalia said sarcastically as we walked to the library, where we were only going because Daphne wanted to look up a spell book about body piercing.

"Yeah, best yet. Poor Pansy," Sally said blankly, and then we all giggled as we reached the library.

The library was lightly lit with numerous candles and moon light draped the tables as it hailed through the large roof to floor windows.

"How beautiful," Thalia whispered, not wanting to get in trouble of the librarian, who didn't appear to be around anyway.

We shuffled through the tables to the very back on that was hidden by a dusty book shelf. This was our table, well tables. There were three, four seated tables joined together so we could all stretch out as we studied. Last year we had decorated the small area, hanging gold, silver, black and bronze sheets around the book shelfs and over the tables and walls. We brought green, red, yellow and blue scented candles to add around the area so we could study at night and because the tables were right near a window we could see down to the lake.

All in all it was a wonderful spot.

"Great, all our stuff's still here," I said happily. We sat in our usual seats while Daphne went of the find some books. "So what exactly does Daphne want to pierce?"

Thalia shrugged and pulled a book of the shelf behind her. Sally stared absently out the window.

"Sal, are you alright?" I asked, Sally's brow furrowed and not being bothered to walk all the way around the table to see her view out the window, I pulled myself onto the desk and slid across to Sally-Ann.

"Is that Harry Potter?" she asked me as I tried to force myself onto the chair behind her but I discovered my foot was caught behind the curtain.

"Not. Sure." I wheezed, now kicking Thalia with my other foot. "Get. My. Foot. Out," I hissed at her. I looked under the table at her, she was grinning and then I realised she had my foot. "Thai. You. BITCH!" she chose that moment to let my foot go and I fell very ungracefully into Sally's lap and my legs flung across the table, kicking the large pile of books Daphne had just placed down neatly.

"Shit. Gin what are you doing?" Daphne laughed, grabbing the books and stacking them back up.

"Gin get ooff me," Sally said harshly, she didn't think it was funny. She pushed me onto the chair beside her and glared at Thalia, who was in hysterics.

"Yeah Thai, so funny," Sally murmured before saying she needed to go to the toilet and leaving.

"Oh come on Sal, it's not like it happened to you!" Daphne cried after her. "Fuck she's hypo."

"Daphne please watch you're language," Thalia said seriously. She glared at Daphne and Daph glared back.

"See you're face!" Daphne cried breaking into laughter, Thalia grinned and followed suit. Soon they were both laughing and banging the table. I sat there and smiled at them, my two best friends both laughing their faces off. Then I remembered what Sally had said and I looked out the window but couldn't see Harry anywhere. Then-

"Who is that?" I said. Thalia and Daphne instantly stopped laughing and they both moved around the table to look.

"It looks like Dumbledore," assured Daphne.

"Yeah, but who are the others?" Thalia asked no on in particular. All three of us stood and walked over to the window, we put our foreheads against the cool glass, trying to get a better view.

Daphne was right; one of them was differently Dumbledore. I could see his shiny long beard and tall pointed hat, I could even notice his sparkling eyes behind his small spectacles. He was standing near the lake with two other men. On of them was a short man who wore dark clothes and small yellow bowler hat, while the other was waving around a walking stick and dressed in a royal blue and dark red suit.

"I wish we could hear what they're saying," complained Thalia. "Is Dumbledore leaving the school?"

"Looks like it," I agreed.

A small, horse drown carriage had just landed in front of the three men, McGonagall arrived and shook the Headmasters hand before he stepped onto the carriage, the man dressed in all black stepped on after him, not even glancing at McGonagall or the other man, who remained behind. The carriage was then lifted into the sky and we watched as Dumbledore left the school.

"How safe will Hogwarts be now," Daphne said blankly. Thalia looked at me worriedly.

"So what do you want to pierce Daph?"