Love and Deception

Love and Deception

Chapter One: The Meeting

CRACK! BOOM! Lightning split the sky and thunder soon followed. Light rain started to fall from the steadily darkening skies. The pitter-patter of rain on the windows awakened Ginny, fifteen and about to enter her fifth year at Hogwarts.

"Mmph, just five more minutes Mom," she mumbled sleepily, muffled by the blankets over her head.

She started to drift back to sleep, but a sudden clap of thunder fully awakened her. She slowly sat up in her bed and looked out the window at the early morning fog. The grey clouds permitted little light to get through as the morning got steadily brighter.

"Wonderful," Ginny thought aloud miserably. "I'm supposed to go to Diagon Alley to get my supplies today!" The ghoul in the attic banged a pipe in reply.

"Ginny," Mrs. Weasley called from downstairs. "Ginny, it's time to get up!"

Ginny pulled back the covers and set her feet on the ground, only to jump back in bed again. The hardwood floor was freezing! She tiptoed to her closet and grabbed a pair of slippers. She slipped them on and padded down the narrow stair case into the small kitchen.

Ron was already seated at the table looking quite sleepy indeed.

"Morning Mum, morning Ron!" Ginny said brightly. Ron only grunted in reply.

"Good morning sweetheart," Mrs. Weasley said as she waved her wand to stir the porridge.

Ginny sat down at the table and laughed, "What's wrong with you Ron?"

Ron mumbled something inaudible.

"What?" Ginny pursued.

"I said, shut up!" said Ron.

"Ron," Mrs. Weasley said in a warning tone.

Suddenly, Mr. Weasley and Ginny's older brother Percy apparated in the middle of the kitchen, making it extremely crowded.

"Good morning Dad!" said Ginny.

"Morning sweetie," he replied through a mouthful of toast that he just shoved in.

"Well, we're off to work," said Percy, puffing out his chest. He was still bragging about his promotion from 'Weatherby' to a personal assistant to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Have a good day dears," said Mrs. Weasley, handing them their bags.

"So long!" Mr. Weasley kissed his wife on the cheek as disappeared. Percy also grabbed a piece of toast and disapparated.

"Ron, Ginny, finish up please! We need to leave!" Mrs. Weasley said.

Ginny swallowed the last bite of her toast and bounded back upstairs to get dressed. She kicked off her slippers and hopped onto the small carpet beside her bed. The floor was still cold! She half hopped, half tiptoed across the floor to her dresser. She pulled off her nightgown and threw it in the hamper. She slipped on a pair of jeans, a green sweater to match her eyes, and twisted her flaming red hair up with a clip.

And, as the final touch, she fastened a silver chain around her neck with a teardrop-shaped diamond as the charm, and put in a pair of matching earrings. She had received this as a mysterious Christmas present last year from a secret admirer. She hoped it was Harry.

She grabbed a pair of sock and her Nikes and bounded back downstairs. She walked into the living room and was surprised to see her fathers face in the fireplace. He and her mother were talking in low voices. Ginny jumped back behind the corner to listen.

"Arthur, ever since your promotion, I've been so worried about you! You're working with people who are close to You-Know-Who!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"Honey, they're spies! They pose as Death Eaters and bring information back to us! They're on our side!" he replied.

"I know! But it still worries me!" Mrs. Weasley cried, almost hysterical.

"Molly! Calm down! Don't worry! I think I can take care of myself," he said.

"I'm sorry Arthur. Ever since You-Know-Who came back, I've been a little overly cautious," she said calming down a bit.

"A little?" Mr. Weasley joked.

"Okay, a lot then," she replied.

Ginny, still standing behind the corner, was shaking uncontrollably. She had no idea her father was in so much danger!

There was a small 'pop' from the other room, and when Ginny looked back, her fathers face had disappeared. She plastered a fake smile on her face and walked into the room.

"Okay Mom! I'm ready to go!" she said cheerfully.

Her mother also looked like she was wearing a false smile. "Good, go grab your school list and tell Ron to get his. I'll go get the Floo Powder," Mrs. Weasley said. She seemed to be looking into space, a glazed look in her eyes.

"I thought I heard Dad's voice," Ginny said, choosing her words carefully.

"Your father? Nonsense! Your father is at work!" Mrs. Weasley said, looking at the floor.

"Oh, okay," Ginny replied, looking away. Her mother just lied to her. She suddenly felt sick.

"I'm going to go get my list," she said, walking from the room. Now where's my list? She thought, walking down the hallway. She remembered it was in her room on her desk. She ran back up the rickety stairs and grabbed her list.

She crossed the hall to Ron's room to find him curled up on his bed asleep and fully clothed. Ginny didn't usually mess with her brother, but this was too perfect.

She noticed a book laying on the floor near her feet. She picked it up and looked at the moving picture on the cover. "Night of the Undead," she chuckled to herself. The picture was of a bloody corpse stumbling from a crypt and making its way across the graveyard. Suddenly, Ginny had an idea. She took out her wand and conjured an illusion of the face on the cover. She positioned it so when Ron woke up, he'd be looking straight into the eyes of the face. She tiptoed to Ron's bed and shook his shoulder gently. She ran out of the room like a bat out of hell all the way down the stairs.

Ron's scream was probably heard halfway across the world.

Ginny fell to the floor laughing. She finally pulled herself up, holding her side. She slowly climbed the stairs and innocently peeked into Ron's room. "Ron, are you okay? I heard you scream," Ginny said, trying not to laugh.

"Therewasthisfaceanditlookedlike....." he trailed off. "GINNY!" he yelled. He jumped from his bed and ran at Ginny.

She screamed and started to run, but she wasn't fast enough. Ron grabbed her and pinned her to the ground.

He tickled her until she screamed, "Okay Ron! I give up! You win! I'M SORRY!"

He finally let her go and looked down at her. "That was a mean trick! How'd you know I read Night of the Undead?" he asked her with a twinkle in his eyes.

Ginny smiled. "I saw it on the floor. It looked like you had thrown it!" she laughed.

"I did," he said, grinning sheepishly. "It scared me so bad, I threw it against the wall."

"Ginny! Ron! Let's go!" Mrs. Weasley called from downstairs.

"Coming!" they said in unison.. They thumped down the stairs and walked into the living room.

"Do you have your lists?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yep," said Ginny.

"Oops, I'll go get mine," said Ron.

Ginny and Mrs. Weasley listened to Ron pound up the stairs, rummage through his room, and thump back down.

"Got it!" Ron said triumphantly.

"Okay Ron, you go first," Mrs. Weasley said, holding out the Floo Powder. The all ready lit fire crackled merrily, despite the dreary weather. Ron grabbed a pinch of powder and threw it into the flames.

"Diagon Alley," Ron said, and he stepped into the flames and disappeared.

"Now you Ginny," she said. Ginny grabbed a pinch of the fine green powder and threw it into the fire. The flames rose up and crackled with an eerie green light.

"Diagon Alley!" Ginny called out as she stepped into the flames. She felt as if a vacuum had suddenly turned on and was sucking her in. She tucked her elbows in and closed her eyes as various fireplaces flashed past her as she spun wildly through the tunnel. Then, it all stopped and she fell out of a fireplace into the Leaky Cauldron.

She stood up and steadied herself. "I can't wait 'til I can apparate," she mumbled as she brushed herself off. The heavy rain pounded on the roof of the small pub.

She spotted Ron sitting at a table hidden in a corner. As she rounded the corner, she froze in place. Ron was talking and laughing with Harry!

She started to turn around only to hear Harry's voice, "Ginny! Come sit with us!"

Ginny slowly turned back around and walked toward the table. "Hey Harry! How are you?" Ginny asked, trying not to blush.

"I'm fine ever since I got away from those horrible muggles," Harry said, smiling at her.

Ginny blushed furiously.

"Y'know Ginny, you've changed since we left Hogwarts," Harry said, his cheeks turning pink.

"Really? How so?" Ginny questioned curiously.

"Well, um.....er......you've.....um......well..." Harry stuttered.

"What Harry means, is that he likes your butt," Ron laughed.

"Ron!" Harry cried, his face turning bright red.

Ginny felt her face turn a deep shape of crimson.

"Well," Harry said, "You have a very nice er...figure, and well, I think you've become very, uh, pretty.

"Harry!" Ginny said, "I'm flattered!"

"Ginny! Ron!" a voice called.

"That must be Mum," said Ron. "Come on Harry, come with us."

"Good idea, I haven't gotten my things yet," said Harry, grateful for the interruption. They walked over to where Mrs. Weasley was standing.

"Harry! I didn't expect to see you here!" Mrs. Weasley said as she gave Harry a hug. "How have those muggles been treating you?" she asked.

"Oh, same as always. Aunt Petunia is mad because Dudley was cheating on his diet the past month," he laughed. Mrs. Weasley laughed along with everyone else.

"Well, let's go!" said Mrs. Weasley. "First stop, Gringotts."

The four went out the back door of the Leaky Cauldron and into an alley. Mrs. Weasley tapped a few bricks with her wand and all the bricks shifted to reveal the usually bustling streets of Diagon Alley. But today, the streets were almost deserted.

"Mom, can't we go tomorrow when the weather isn't so...wet?" Ginny complained.

"Yes, that probably is a better idea. We'll come back tomorrow if the weather isn't too bad," decided Mrs. Weasley.

They turned around to go back into the pub, when a sudden gust of wind tore Ginny's list from her hands. "Ugh, I'll go get it," Ginny said. She covered her head and ran into the rain after her list. She saw it laying on the ground a few feet ahead of her. She ran over to it and picked it up. She stood up and turned around when she ran into something solid. It was a person! The person caught her before she fell over. She steadied herself and looked at the person.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was go-" she froze as she recognized the person. "Malfoy?!" Ginny cried. He still had his hands on her waist from when he caught her.

"Don't act so surprised, Weasley," Malfoy said. His wet hair clung to his forehead. "Next time, watch where you're going." Malfoy leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Then, he was gone. Ginny just stood there, looking as if she was in a daze. Finally, she started walking back to where Ron, Harry, and Mrs. Weasley were standing.

When she reached the arch, Harry was the only one left waiting. When she reached Harry, he looked at her strangely and said, "What's wrong with you? You look like you're on Cloud Nine!"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing," Ginny lied. "I'm fine."

"Alright, if you say so," Harry said. "Um, Ginny, there's something I need to tell you."

Ginny felt a blush climbing up her neck again. "What is it?" she asked.

"Er.......well......um...." he faltered.

"Harry, what are you trying to tell me?" Ginny questioned, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face.

"What I'm trying to say, is that....er," he sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Oh," Ginny said, disappointed. "See you tomorrow, then." She turned around and went through the door to the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry just stood there looking angry with himself.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Inside the Leaky Caldron, Mrs. Weasley and Ron were waiting at a table.

"Did you get your list?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"I sure did," Ginny said, thinking of the kiss.

"Alright, let's go," said Ron. "See you later Harry!" Ron waved to Harry.

Ginny was determined not to look back, but she did anyway. Harry was looking at the ground. He looked up and saw Ginny looking at him, and he gave a small wave. Ginny did not wave back. She turned around and walked to the fireplace.

She looked down at her list and cried out. Her list was ruined! The paper was wet and soggy, and the emerald ink was starting to smudge.

"Mom!" she cried. "My list is ruined!"

"Nonsense, dear! A little magic will fix it right up," Mrs. Weasley comforted. "Let me see the list." Mrs. Weasley took the list and held her wand to it.

"Ariddo!" The paper suddenly became dry.

Ginny pointed out a rip in the paper.

"Repairo," Mrs. Weasley said, fixing the rip.

"There you go, sweetheart," she said as she handed Ginny her list.

"Thanks Mom!" she said gratefully. She looked down at some of the items the list called for.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

Fifth-year student may require if needed:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One pointed hat (black) for feasts

3. One pair of protective glove (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak

5. Dress robe or a nice dress (for girls)

"A DRESS ROBE?!" Ginny cried.

"Ginny, hurry up! Ron's already gone," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Coming," Ginny sighed.

She grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder and tossed it into the flames. She sighed and accidentally breathed in some soot. She coughed violently and said, "The Bur(cough)row!" She stepped into the flames and tucked in her elbows.

Oh no! Ginny thought. I coughed when I said The Burrow! Ginny started to panic. What if I end up in the wrong fireplace? She felt herself slowing down, and she really started to worry.

She tumbled out of a fireplace onto a cream-colored carpet and looked around. Astonishingly, the had ended up in The Burrow! She stood up and brushed the soot off of her jeans. "Whew, glad that's over," Ginny said.

"What's the matter Ginny?" Ron said. He was reclining on the couch like he'd been there all day.

"What do you mean?" she replied.

"Don't play stupid Ginny. I know how much you like Harry. Why didn't you wave back at him? You looked mad or something," he said.

"It's none of your business," Ginny retorted.

"Yes it is! You're my sister and Harry's my best friend. It's my business!" Ron was starting to get angry.

"Look, it's something he said to me in the archway, okay?"

"What did he say to you?" Ron asked forcefully.

"Okay! I think he was trying to tell me something important, but then he gave up and said something stupid." Ginny felt tears welling up in her eyes and brushed them away angrily.

"Ginny! I'm sorry I didn't know that," Ron said as he got up from the couch. He walked across the room and wrapped his arms around her. Ginny was surprised at this show of brotherly affection. She melted into his comforting hug and cried spitefully.

Just then, Mrs. Weasley appeared in the middle of the living room , They quickly let go of each other, and Ginny wiped away her tears.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking concerned.

"Nothing! Uh, my allergies are bothering me," Ginny said quickly.

"Oh, alright...." Mrs. Weasley said uncertainly. "Well, I'm going to go make lunch," she said. Mrs. Weasley walked out of the room.

Ginny stared at the ground for a moment. "Thanks Ron," she said, looking up at her brother.

"No problem," Ron said, meeting her gaze.

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