The Switch

Ginny Weasley sat quietly, listening to the drone of Professor Snape's voice, and having no idea what the hell he was talking about (though she was hoping her facial expression suggested that she was just slightly confused). It was still somewhat surreal to her. She was hoping that she could organize to drop Snape's class (Ginny knew that it was a required subject, but she kidded herself that she was persuasive enough to work her way around the curriculum) or, if worst came to worst, expelled. Anything to discontinue the hell she endured twice a week that was Potions.

She had replayed the conversation she and Professor Dumbledore had a few days ago, pondering how this situation had come to such a horrible conclusion.

Dumbledore had looked quite unperturbed that day, Ginny recalled, and it somehow made her all the more apprehensive as she sat awkwardly in the lumpy chair opposite him.

"No doubt you know why you're here, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said quietly.

The silence that followed this statement only made Ginny all the more uneasy as she barely managed to croak out a "yes".

Of course she had planned to end up in the headmaster's office but she had envisioned Professor Dumbledore to bellow at her and seem generally quite upset. She had experienced that with many teachers in her short lifetime, so naturally, she was used to this reaction.

But the fact that he was so calm, fiddling with the little useless objects on his desk, was somehow much worse.

"Could you enlighten me, why you are behaving the way you are? You have Professor Snape quite flustered over the whole thing."

Ginny swallowed. What was she meant to say? She couldn't just admit that she hated Potions, she would be granting herself her own death.

"I...I guess it would have to be because I'm finding it difficult to pay attention," she stammered, before silently congratulating herself on the swift recovery. She wasn't lying at least.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly. "Is that so?"

Ginny fidgeted in her seat, getting ready for the lecture that would most likely follow about the importance of the education of Potions in a young witch's life and how she should care more about her future.

"Off you go," was all Dumbledore said, however.

Ginny sat, stunned for what seemed an age. But when Dumbledore averted his gaze back to his desk and proceeded to construct origami out of parchment, she realized that the meeting had, indeed, finished.

She got up slowly, walking to the door. Although she didn't show it (It wouldn't have been smart to whoop and cheer in front of the headmaster, obviously) Ginny was the happiest she had been in a long time. She had just gotten away with admitting she found Potions boring (obviously she hadn't said it in that exact context, but she was sure Dumbledore got the point). And Dumbledore didn't care!

Except, unbeknownst to her, as Albus watched her discreetly skip out of the door of his office, a cheeky smile slowly crept across his face.

When she received a new time table at breakfast the next day, Ginny was excited to say the least. But her grin quite suddenly changed dramatically to a look of pure horror when she saw that she had unwillingly skipped a grade in the subject she loathed above all subjects.

"What is it?" Hermione asked curiously.

Now, Hermione had been disapproving of the whole thing (she had said several times that Ginny's behavior was "risky" and "inappropriate"), and had willingly given Ginny the lecture that Professor Dumbledore had failed to deliver. So, when she leaned over to have a peep at what was causing Ginny so much distress, all she could do was smile and give Ginny a very evident "I told you so" look.

"Oh sod off," was all Ginny said. Actually, she said something far more descriptive, but unquestionably you have learnt enough swear words in your youth, so I shall leave what she REALLY said to your imagination.

So that's how she got to where she was now, utterly confused in the front row of 7^th year Potions.

And THAT'S the way the cookie crumbles.