In Which Ginny's Clumsiness Finally Pays Off

Chapter Three: In the Ghetto

"Oh no, I'm so sorry, Gin," Neville apologized sadly after hearing what happened at Potions an hour ago. The three friends were sprawled beside the lake, their backs resting on the fresh green grass, while munching on their chicken sandwiches. All three were leaning against each other, eyes closed as the bright rays of the sun warmed their faces. Having enough of the noise inside the Great Hall, they decided to grab as many sandwiches as their hands can carry and headed outside for lunch. It was serene and quiet outside, since everyone was spending their lunch time at the Hall. Sometimes, Ginny felt it was nice to be alone with her bestfriends to think things over.

Away, far, far away from that particular trouble-making Slytherin with her diary.

"What are you sorry for Neville?" Ginny asked through a mouthful of chicken, "I mean, you weren't exactly the one who was reading my diary in front of everyone."

"If I didn't push you towards Harry--I thought it was Harry though, but of all coincidences, our Malfoy just have to turn out--none of this would've happened."

"Well...if you think of it that way--oh no, I was only joking Neville! I'm sorry--no, no--stop banging your head in that tree Neville--Colin, will you please stop him? Oh for Merlin's sake Colin, stop laughing and help Neville--oh no, he's bleeding--Colin your bestfriend killing himself through bleeding to death is not cool--ooh, honestly!"

When Ron found his sister after thirty agonizing minutes of searching, she was pulling Neville away from a tree while Colin was behind her, laughing his head off. It was really a scene you don't see everyday.

"What's Ginny doing?" Harry asked behind him, staring wide-eyed at the whole banging, laughing and pulling away picture.

"Apparently wrestling," Ron replied as Hermione giggled beside him. He ran towards his sister, who was now scolding Colin for not helping her.

"Ginny!"

Ginny turned around to see Ron running towards her, his arms waving. Behind him was--

"Tippy-toe! Tippy-toe!" Colin screamed enthusiastically, waving his arms above his head for everyone to see.

"I noticed him Colin, hush! If you keep shouting that out every single time Harry comes, the whole world will know that it's a code."

"A code for what?" Ron asked, panting as he handed Ginny some sweets he bought from Honeydukes.

"Exploding Gum!" she gasped, examining the neatly-wrapped package from her brother.

"I remember you mentioning how much you liked them after Fred gave you some, so I bought them for you last week," Ron explained, giving her a smile. "I just keep forgetting to give it to you. Besides, I knew that you can't go to Hogsmeade because you have to stay with Neville this week."

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing," Neville sniffed, while rubbing the sore spot on his forehead.

"Oh no, Neville--he didn't mean any of that--Ron!" Hermione gave Ron a menacing glare that everyone noticed. Colin laughed some more.

"So Ginny, we heard Malfoy talking about you in trouble with Snape, is that true?" Harry inquired curiously, eyeing her with the luscious green eyes she always dreamed about. Of course, she must have been imagining but did it seem like he winked? Oh, he most certainly did. This is Harry Potter after all, and you can never expect him to fail at something impossible. Why, he defeated the Dark Lord three times--and that one time, he was trying to save her. How weird it was that even though the Chamber of Secrets was dark and most certainly empty (with the exception of course, of a gigantic snake), to her it seemed like paradise--the way she dreamed of it oh so many times, it was a wonder how it still takes away her breath--

"Ummm...Ginny?"

Ginny popped out of her reverie as soon as she felt Colin's elbow dig into her ribs, "I think he's asking you a question."

"Oh!" Immediately, Ginny felt her cheeks turn pink as it always did when she was in a very awkward situation or for short, whenever she was near Harry.

Ron grinned at her reaction while Hermione stifled a giggle. Colin and Neville were winking rapidly and continuously at each other while Harry pretended he didn't notice anything, he merely continued to stare at her curiously as he was doing before the--thing.

"The question that you were asking, not that I was listening to every word that you say that comes out of your--mouth--and it's not that I don't listen to you, just that in some times, you catch me absent-minded, which is me and my mind being--absent..." her voice trailed off as she realized that she's given too much information. Sometimes, she just has to learn to keep her mouth shut. To make things comfortable once more, she added, "Absent-minded--that's me..."

"Oh, yeah--sure..." Colin whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Neville, Ron and Hermione all tried hard not to chortle out loud while Harry still concentrated on staring hard at Ginny's face, still acting as if nothing was happening.

"If it isn't the pathetic team strewn together."

An irritating voice made all the six Gryffindors whip around to see a particularly bad Slytherin, who was accompanied by his two oversized cohorts.

"Well, I'll be damned," he continued menacingly, his familiar smirk forming at the corners of his mouth.

"Back off, Malfoy," Ron growled, clenching and unclenching his fists. Hermione moved closer to Ron, obviously prepared to prevent him from doing something harsh while Harry gave Malfoy his deadliest glare. Colin and Neville cowered backwards, trying to hide themselves through the trio's backs, while Ginny stared at Malfoy passively. She wasn't exactly annoyed with him, nor was she terribly in love with him. He wasn't that bad a person, if you think about it. Sure, he attempted to fool her into reading her diary, but he did say so himself he really wasn't planning on reading it, didn't he?

"I wasn't asking for your opinion, Weasley." At the mention of their last name, Malfoy grimaced as if their name was a disease he didn't want to speak of. "In fact, I'll never need opinions from any of you, because if you haven't noticed by now, I'm a Malfoy. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

"Off. Piss off." Harry snarled beside Ron, "You're not wanted here, Malfoy, what's your problem?"

"Look into a mirror and find out, Potter," he replied, crossing his arms. "I have a totally legitimate reason as to why I'm here, for your information, Scarhead."

"Go ahead and tell us what you want," said Ron, pulling out his wand in front of him, "if we like you, we'll most probably give it, but judging by the way you've treated us in the past, you'll probably walk away with one eyebrow."

"You know Weasley, you should move to another planet. No one wants you in here because you're a worthless armpit."

Hermione, hearing enough, walked up to the silver-haired Slytherin and attempted to pull his cheeks.

"What--get your hands off me, Mudblood!" Malfoy screamed as he staggered backwards. Ginny looked up only to see Hermione staring at her hands with apparent amazement in her eyes while Malfoy gawked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"My goodness Malfoy!" she gasped out loud, "That's not a mask?? You should go to the hospital wing right now and beg Madam Pince to change your face--you look like a vulgar ogre!"

At this, all six of the Gryffindors guffawed, not even bothering even when Crabbe and Goyle seemed to advance at them. They were just about to give the Gryffindors a nice beating when Malfoy held out a hand, an indication for them to stop. The laughter continued for a few minutes until they have had a control over themselves. Malfoy's expression was unreadable.

"If I may speak--"

"No," Ron piped in, a silly grin on his face. Hermione kicked him hard on the shin, and nodded at Malfoy's direction, urging him to continue through Ron's crisp cursing in her ear.

"Professor Snape sent me to call the female Weasley up to his office," said Malfoy, his eyes darting towards Ginny, who was now also cowering with Neville and Colin at the mention of her last name.

"M-me?" She squeaked, hoping against hope she didn't hear right.

Malfoy nodded.

"What does he want from her?" asked Ron, sounding alarmed. This time, even Hermione didn't stop him when he held his wand a little bit closer to Malfoy's direction.

"Your sister spilled six half-made potions into the said professor's robes," he answered, his words scaring every fibre in Ginny's body to death. Ron looked wildly at his sister, asking through his eyes if this was true.

Ginny lowered her eyes when she walked towards Malfoy, avoiding the inquisitive looks that were thrown upon her from her brother and his friends. Somehow, although she didn't know why, she was a little embarrassed about her whole confrontation with Snape. It was a bit stupid, if you think about it.

"We'll come too," Ron announced, stuffing his wand in his pocket, while behind him, Colin and Neville were already on their feet, ready to back Ginny up.

"You can," Malfoy chuckled as Ginny stepped beside him, "but don't go blaming it on me when you each lose a hundred points for Gryffindor because you whispered too loud. The professor is in a very bad mood, I'm afraid--he maybe small, but boy, can he deflate your ego so much you'd think rock-bottom just hit you."

"Tell us something we already don't know," Harry commented sarcastically.

"No, just stay!" exclaimed Ginny so suddenly that even Malfoy, for a second, forgot to smirk at the boy-who's-face-was-mutated-by-a-horrible-scar, and that was saying something. "Gryffindor losing the house-cup just because of one trip towards Snape's office because of me is the least thing I want for the House right now. Malfoy's right. Judging by Snape's height, I don't think he's having a great time showing himself to anyone, let alone showing himself in front of the students he hate very much, no offence."

"None taken," Hermione replied, nodding, "of course we understand Ginny. Besides, it's really none of our business, although I must say, I never thought I'd live to see the day you'd tell us that Malfoy is right--"

Ron then murmured something between the lines of "stupid...useless...and ferret", Ginny wasn't so sure, for right then and there, Malfoy have poked her rather hard on the shoulder and said, "We better get going."

She was surprised to see that Crabbe and Goyle didn't follow when she and Malfoy walked up towards the castle. Those two were his bodyguards, why didn't they follow on a crisis such as this? But then again, it was a crisis for her--it was most probably a party for them--the Slytherins.

The bell rang and Ginny knew that lunch was over. She'll be late for class if she went to Snape's office now, and so will Malfoy. She tried to bring that point up.

"Umm...Malfoy?"

"Shut up."

"Don't you think...umm...I don't know...but..."

"For Merlin's sake Weasley," Malfoy snapped, getting annoyed, "if you'd like to explain now rather than making me wait ten years later, I'd say I would be very pleased."

"Well, I just thought I heard the bell rang."

"Yes, I think you're mentally capable of that--your mother must be proud."

"Thank you," after saying this though, Ginny made a mental note to herself: A Malfoy Never Compliments--It's Not A Compliment, It's An Insult.

"You make me laugh, Weasley," Malfoy uttered in front of her. She tried to see if Malfoy really was smiling, it would be a first, but she was afraid to run up to him and turn him around to face her. He might think she's rather fond of--his face.

"What I meant was," she tried again, "maybe--perhaps--we would be late for class if we go now--it's just a suggestion though."

Malfoy stopped abruptly and turned around to face her. He tossed a piece of parchment towards her which she almost caught--if she didn't trip on her face first.

"Weasley, honestly," he sighed as he watched the fifth year stand up with the note clasped in her hand, and straightening her skirt with her other hand.

Her face was the same colour as her hair as she fumbled with the parchment with trembling fingers. It read:

To Professor Trelawney,

It's a very rare moment for me to be asking favours from you but nevertheless, here I am, writing a letter to my least favourite Hogwarts teacher.

Will you excuse fifth year, Gryffindor, Virginia Weasley, for being late for Herbology today? She is currently under my control, as the Headmaster himself, says so--or should I say, ordered so.

Though I may be asking a favour from you doesn't mean you can prance around the halls announcing to everyone within hearing range that I did for I can assure you that if you want to live, you might want to learn to shut that big nasty mouth of yours.

Yours until Weasley is excused,

Severus Snape

By the time Ginny finished reading, she found herself already in front of Snape's office, which is extremely dim and cold. She shivered as she pocketed the note, hugging her robes around her closer.

Malfoy rapped once before the door opened for them.

*And here I wanted it to end but then again...*

The professor's office was lit by a green fire flaring from a metal torch. The dungeon walls were lined up with cabinets filled with different kinds of ingredients. In the corner of her eye, Ginny saw a jar labelled as gillyweed, the very plant that Harry swallowed for the tournament.

It was very disgusting indeed.

"Professor, the youngest Weasley is here."

Ginny looked up to see Snape turn around in his green swivelling cushion chair. She tried hard not to laugh as he faced her, his tiny legs dangling in the air and his miniscule face peering out from his large black robes that enveloped around his body. For once in two days, Ginny thought it was lucky that the potions covered Snape's robes too, or else they would have to deal with naked and small Snape instead of just small Snape.

She shook her head vigorously as vivid pictures started crossing her innocent mind.

"Mr. Malfoy had joined me in this wonderful decision Ms. Weasley," Snape's voice came out as a squeak, though it was evident he tried hard to make it louder.

"D-decision?" she stuttered.

"Certainly. You see, Virginia, He mentioned just last week how dirty the Slytherin broom shed was becoming and we all know of course, that dirty broom sheds lead to--?"

"Dirty brooms?"

"Precisely, Virginia. Not just dirty brooms though, seven dirty Nimbus 2001s. I might add as well, that the marvellously forest green Slytherin Quidditch robes are becoming quite--"

"Crappy green," Malfoy piped in beside her.

"If you state it that way Draco, well then I agree with that too."

"But we always have Sir Argus Filch, don't we?" Ginny suggested nervously, trying hard to avoid the professor's eyes, fearing that she knows what he will say next, "I mean, what'll we be without Mr. Filch? Dirty wizards and witches, that's what."

"Ah yes, Argus. You see, I had a little run-in with Argus' mop."

At that point, Malfoy jumped in and said, "If you want more information just change I with broom, run-in with run over and mop with cat--"

"And just change the cat to son, and you're all set," Professor Snape finished.

Ginny was left with her mouth hanging open. She stared at Malfoy for questions.

"Oh yeah, Argus have a son. He's all right, he's just paralysed with fear at the hospital wing--he seems to jump every time a broom flies. I saw you hanging out with that Squib last week, what's his name? Sir, a little help?"

"Argus Jr. Filch!" she exclaimed, turning purple, "We always thought he was Mr. Filch's son but he kept on denying it, so to be not mean I believed him! We believed him although there was a time when Mr. Filch gave detentions to each Gryffindor when we stayed up late since we won another Quidditch match and he didn't punish him! And his face--his eyes--his clothes!"

"And his name was a dead give-away too," Malfoy chuckled beside her.

"It is true then that each year, Gryffindor students lose brains, Minerva owes me one now."

Ginny stared at her shoes for a moment, processing the large amount of information she just received.

"Enough of our running around bushes, let me state your penalty now Virginia. Through the consent of the headmaster and through the wisdom of Mr. Malfoy and I, I now pronounce you as the official janitress of the Slytherin Quidditch Team. Your detention takes place tomorrow, at whatever time the Quidditch captain desire, until the end of this month, or until I grow back to my old size. You may leave now."

Ginny's jaw bounced to the floor.

Malfoy had to drag her away from the room as her brain went temporarily dead.

"Don't worry, Weasley, I know you get lots of practice in this criteria, it's what you do every summer am I right?" Malfoy sneered as he walked steadily to the greenhouse, lagging the petrified girl behind him, "Don't lie to me, I read your diary. It goes on and on with you washing your brother's clothes and filthy--"

"But without magic! You know we can't do magic outside school!" she wailed, starting to feel the first rays of panic, "Everything I do at home I do the Muggle way! I'm more comfortable without magic--I even take a bath in a shower even though it spurts out ice-cold water every now and then, and Hermione has to endure all my yelps of surprise every morning since I don't want her poking my naked body with that wand of hers, murmuring unintelligible words the way girls do to smell good every morning when they're in a rush!"

"And just when I thought you can't get anymore ghetto, you blurt out some private information that makes you more of a Weasley," he uttered, shaking his head, "really now Weasley, I could do well without those details thank you very much."

Ginny didn't care for a moment for she was in a panic.

Janitress?

She can take disembowelling live frogs, or cleaning up the whole mess she did in Potions or better yet, she can spend the whole month making the Engorging Potion from scratch. But nooo, Professor Snape just have to be cruel and make her Argus Filch the Second. Him running over Argus Filch Jr. is definitely not her problem!

The bellowing wind outside made Ginny more aware of her surroundings. She tried to block the wind with her hand but she realized that her right hand was in Malfoy's tight grip.

She blushed at the thought, but she didn't pull away. Somehow, she felt safe in his hands.

This is normal, she assured herself while she chewed on her lip, Ron thinks this all the time when Hermione holds his hand. He told me that once right? This is not sexual in any way at all...this is normal.

Sure, normal--in a sick, perverted way that is.

"Get ready at six in the morning tomorrow, we have to start early," Malfoy broke into her thoughts which startled her. Malfoy had this annoying way of breaking the silence. She didn't like it.

"Mr. Flint told you I have to be here at six? Do the Slytherins know about this now?" She asked, thinking about them laughing early this morning, which seemed like ages, and wondering if they were in fact laughing at her and not at Ms. Parkinson.

"No," he stopped suddenly, making her bump into his back. She backed away quickly as a contact was made from the two of them.

"The Slytherin captain makes the decision," he reminded her, raising a sceptical eyebrow.

"And? Isn't Mr. Flint the captain for this year?"

"Flint graduated last year Weasley. He's not the captain now."

"If he isn't the captain now--then who is it?"

"Me."

And at that point, Ginny fainted.