My Eternal Curse

My Eternal Curse

By Mara456

Chapter Forty

Are we there yet?

Meanwhile, Arthur had the privilege of attending Ginny's dissertation. In the Staff Room he took a seat by the door, while Hermione and his daughter took seats set up for them to one side of Ginny's Arithmancy chart. Professors Vector and Sinistra were already seated in armchairs directly across from them. On the table sat Professor Vector's Quick Quill Notes, slowly recording everything said. Ginny gazed curiously at her surrounds. When her eyes met his, she stiffened and guiltily looked away. He inwardly cringed at his little girl's reaction. Ginny knew; she knew what he had done. He had hoped that no one would have told her, that she could, at least, get through her formal dissertation without this hanging over her head. Although Ginny seemed completely oblivious to it, both Arthur and her master knew how special this event was.

It isn't everyday your little girl goes for her mastery in a subject. To his knowledge, the only one at her age to even come close to reaching this level in five generations had been Dumbledore. He pushed the sickening thought of the old wizard out of his mind. He couldn't afford to contemplate that right now. The dissertation finally got under way, taking his mind off his problems. As the four witches animatedly discussed the large chart he saw his daughter relax. He couldn't decipher most of what they said, but he could gauge from the teachers' moods that she was doing very well. Sometime later, Remus entered the Staff Room and silently beckoned him to join him outside. Arthur stood and followed him into the corridor.

"How are they doing?" Remus asked.

"Good, good..." Arthur answered distractedly.

The teacher led him to an empty classroom, so they could talk in private.

Remus put up a silencing charm, then began, "I've had a rather enlightening discussion with your daughter. Virginia knows that you saw the nightmare at Gryffindor Tower from her perspective. She blames herself for not discussing it with you sooner, and fears that you'll grow to hate her for it."

"I could never hate her, surely Ginny knows that," Arthur protested.

"She doesn't know, because you haven't told her yet," Remus pointed out. "You've dealt with victims before, Arthur. I know you don't want to face it, but you have to if you're going to help her past this trauma. Your daughter needs to hear that it won't feel like this forever, that there's still something worth continuing for. I know you're both hurting, but she needs you, and she won't wait around forever for you to work through it."

"Have you ever wondered why I transferred out of the Auror Division after You-Know-Who disappeared and things had finally settled down again?" he asked, turning to gaze out the dusty windows. "It was more than just the long hours, or the constant peril I was in. During the war scenes like up in Gryffindor Tower had become commonplace for me. I dealt with victims on a regular basis, the few the Death Eaters left behind. I was a terror on the battlefield - powerful, brutal... unstoppable. I had quite a gift for destruction and also for memory erasure. Most of my assignments were dangerous, secretive ones where the Ministry preferred no witnesses. I was good at my job, too good. I relished the hunt, and protecting the innocent, but nothing tasted sweeter to me than the kill. For me, the euphoria I experienced on the battlefield was a narcotic I couldn't get enough of. Then, one day I received a call, a wake up call. I was assigned to track down a Death Eater wanted for the murders of four Aurors. I had been ordered to detain him for questioning if I could, or, if he resisted, make him disappear. I found him disguised as a muggle in a park in London.

"I never even stopped to ask myself why he had gone there, I just dived in feet first. I asked him to come along quietly and, of course, he resisted. I dispatched him as I had countless others. But after the battle, I found huddled in the bushes, a young witch clutching a baby. I recognized her as the Dark Wizard's daughter from the case files. When I questioned her I discovered why he had left himself so exposed, the Death Eater had been protecting them! The man I had murdered had gone there to see his grandchild for the first time. To this day, I still don't know why I did it, but I put a memory charm on the witch and left her out of my report. After that... every Dark Wizard I killed had a human face, and every one of them had someone who would miss them once they were gone. Since then, I have prayed that none of my children would inherit my bloodlust, but when I witnessed the events at Gryffindor Tower, I saw that very same bloodlust reflected in poor Ginny's eyes. She controlled it, but it was there."

"That was a difficult time for all of us," Remus tried to console him. "You shouldn't resent yourself for surviving it. You can't afford to continue hating your own survival instincts, especially if you see those traits in Virginia, or she will see it the next time she reads you. The last thing the girl needs is any type of confirmation that you hate her."

"Why would she jump to that conclusion when she reads my mind?" Arthur asked.

"You hate the instinct she inherited," Remus clarified. "At this point, I doubt she's capable of making that distinction. If you think about it, you've misplaced your anger. There is nothing wrong with being capable of self-preservation, what's wrong is going through that alone. Look at how much your daughter had to go through, before that trait was brought to the surface. You two need to work through this together."

"But, I don't even know where to begin," Arthur lamented.

"How about 'I love you and I'm not going anywhere'?" Remus suggested.

"Since when did you become a parent?" Arthur wondered.

"The werewolf attack that made me what I am happened when I was very young," Remus confided. "It was my parents' love and support that got me through it. I don't think I would be here today without their compassion and understanding. Now it's your turn to do the same. Your child may be powerful, but she's just as injured, and feels just as alone as I did after the werewolf attack. Arthur, I've seen you with your children, I know you can do this. All you have to do is get your foot in the door and do what comes naturally."

"I hope you're right," he sighed.

*~*~*

Dismissing his Hufflepuff - Slytherin students, Zach was just relieved to have made it through his first week alive. After the last student had departed, he began tidying up his desk in preparation for leaving.

"Zachary? Can you hear me?" Severus' voice echoed loudly through his mind.

"Tone it down, Sev," he thought back. "Virginia was right, you're too loud when you connect with someone at distance."

"Sev?" his companion asked. "Since when did I give you permission to shorten my name?"

"Relax, Severus," Zach replied. "It's a term of endearment - not an insult. If it will make you feel better, I'll never call you that in public, okay?"

"I would prefer you didn't call me that at all," Severus thought, more quietly.

"You yelled in my mind for a reason?" Zach asked, redirecting their conversation back to the point.

"Yes, remember that book you gave Mr. Longbottom on magical physics?" Severus questioned.

"Sure, why?" Zach wondered.

"Apparently, last night Virginia helped her fellow cellmates with their homework," Severus explained. "Invariably, her efforts had an interesting effect on each of them. Particularly on Mr. Longbottom, who now sounds alarmingly like my apprentice, and like her he is pulling off amazing magical feats at every turn. As we speak I'm escorting him to your classroom. Another matter you need to be made aware of, the boy's powers in telepathy have grown significantly more prominent. He's currently powerful enough to briefly get past even my defenses, and worse yet, he doesn't seem to know that he's doing it."

"That is powerful," Zach agreed. "I wonder why he hasn't complained about the voices."

"Because, even in the Wizarding World, hearing voice is not considered a good sign," Severus supplied.

"And if the idiots who believe that got wind of Virginia, or the rest of us, they'd probably want to lock us up, claiming mass hysteria," Zach grumbled. "Something just occurred to me. All Gray witches and wizards were capable of hearing voices in one form or another, right?"

"Yes, although not to the extent Virginia has reached..." Severus confirmed. "That caret-blanc assertion was another form of control."

"Exactly," Zach concurred. "And what if both the Gray and The Sight are somehow connected?"

"Then it would have been in their best interest to do everything in their power to discredit the subject," Severus surmised.

"I don't know if we can prove that was the reason," Zach thought. "But the most recent tally of my Seers suggests a very high percentage of telepaths and empaths, eighty percent, possibly more. Now, imagine if only ten percent of the Wizarding World were Seers."

"That is a lot of people with the gift," Severus agreed.

"A lot of people who hear voices on a regular basis," Zach thought. "Do you realize how big this is?"

"We can speculate about the manipulation of our society later," Severus promised. "Right now, you have a student to deal with."

"Agreed," Zach thought, awaiting their arrival.

*~*~*

Eager to return to the dissertation, Hermione was glad when their lunch break finally crept to an end. Ginny's arguments and theories had been simply amazing, groundbreaking even. Except for assisting her with the occasional language barrier, Hermione had acted mostly as an observer. She wondered what it was like to be in Ginny's shoes, to be going for the title of 'Master' in two different subjects, at such a young age. It was certainly ambitious, a trait which she had always held in high regard. After trying every subject Hogwarts had to offer, she still wasn't sure what she wanted. Sure, she was good at, modesty aside, well... basically everything, but nothing was her, what she wanted out of life. Hermione hadn't realized how she truly felt until Professor Snape had given her that Potions tome. Since then, she had been wondering when she had lost sight of the point of learning. When, in her struggle to be top student, had she reduced herself to little more than a walking, talking non-volatile storage medium. Hermione knew she was missing something. She was in her sixth year but she still felt utterly rudderless. Perhaps, one day, it would be her standing in front of the bulletin board, striving to prove her worth, but not today.

Resuming the dissertation, Professor Sinistra asked her friend, "What did you mean when you told Professor Vector that this construct only represents this object's effects, interrelationships, and interactions with our reality?"

"Just that. I only covered the equations needed to define the object's various uses, and recreate it in our world. There are a lot more layers of space beneath ours, than the wizarding world's limited understanding can ever pick up. In addition to our own, exist many separate dimensions, and parallel worlds," Ginny elaborated. "For each new layer of space you add, you would have to create a whole 'other set of equations and work out its interactions with that specific layer. And, if you wanted to recreate the object while inside that underlying layer of space, you would also need to account for the natural phase-shift and its effects within that reality. However, to define all the spaces beneath ours, and any possible effects therein..." Ginny took in a sharp breath. "Let's just say, it wouldn't fit on parchment."

The Professors stared at Ginny with rather comical expressions, reminding Hermione of old cartoons. She knew that, after everything her friend had already shown them, the teachers couldn't just explain it away as a flight of fancy.

"Subspace, parallel Earths..." Hermione thought, fascinated. "As far as I know, only muggles have even dreamed of such concepts!"

"Subspace, that's a neat term to describe the spaces beneath ours," Ginny replied, dreamily.

"But, how can you even begin experimenting with this 'subspace' if you have no way of finding it?" Professor Vector skeptically asked.

"By illuminating it, of course," Ginny answered, taking out her wand and standing.

"Of course," Professor Sinistra muttered under her breath, still disbelieving. "How silly of us not to think of that!"

"I'm not making this up!" Ginny insisted. "Would you like me to show you what I'm talking about, or should we just get back to the chart and forget I said anything?"

"No, no... please, demonstrate it for us Miss Weasley," Professor Vector quickly made amends.

Her friend shook her head in agreement, then, at an amazing speed, she began weaving in the air around them large, multi-faceted strings of magical equations that shone like fire. Entranced by the brilliant display, Hermione and the Professors each stared at different portions of the multiple layers, while Ginny bound together the separate braids of Arithmancy surrounding them. When her friend had finally stopped, the equations vanished. Suddenly, the room grew unnaturally silent, becoming pitch black.

"Hey, who turned out the sun?" Professor Sinistra asked, startled.

"Don't worry, Lydia, the sun isn't really gone, it's just hiding behind the clouds," Professor Vector replied as if she were speaking to a half-wit.

"Alicia!" Professor Sinistra reproved.

"Well, ask a stupid question..." Professor Vector chided.

"What just happened?" Hermione softly inquired, standing up.

"Watch," Ginny whispered from somewhere beside her.

In the blink of an eye, a striking ethereal light filled the room, covering everything. Slowly turning around, Hermione watched as this light restlessly shifted about in color and intensity. Vector and Sinistra stood as well, closely observing the display.

"What exactly are we seeing?" Professor Vector asked.

"I took us just outside our reality, so we could observe the separate layers of subspace," Ginny explained. "Each color you see represents a different layer. Now, we aren't really in subspace because if we were, we would suffocate since there's no air. We're actually standing inside a small bubble, somewhere in between subspace and our space. To return, we simply need to pop the bubble."

"You certainly have a dramatic way of proving your point, Miss Weasley," Professor Sinistra commented.

"Well, I had to show you," Ginny replied. "You wouldn't take my word for it."

"I apologize for jumping to conclusions, but all of this is just... incredible," Professor Sinistra complimented, running the tips of her fingernails along the table to see what would happen. Hermione noticed that Ginny had thought to bring Professor Vector's Quick Quill notes, which were writing at a frantic pace on the never-ending roll of parchment.

"I would love to study this spell's structure and application. Can you quantify it for me once we've... returned?" Professor Vector asked.

"I can't," her friend began to answer with a small frown that told her Ginny was struggling to explain what she actually meant. "It's too big."

Hermione realized at once what she was trying to say.

"Too big?" Professor Vector probed.

"She means that the spell is too complex to be represented in a two-dimensional environment such as parchment," Hermione clarified. "To accurately record the equations, you would need to do so in a three dimensional environment, right?"

Ginny eagerly nodded.

"Yeah, that's the problem!" Ginny confirmed.

"Would a Pensieve do?" Professor Sinistra inquired.

"Maybe, I'd have to take a look at it first," Ginny answered uncertainly.

"If you will pop the bubble Professor Vector will show you what she retrieved from Professor Montgomery," Professor Sinistra suggested.

"Alright," Ginny said, encircling them with a large string of interconnected numbers.

With a faint metallic ping, their surroundings returned to normal. Professor Vector left the room. While the Professor was gone, Hermione and Ginny sat conversing about the possible inherent pros and cons of recording data in two dimensions versus three. Although Professor Sinistra made no attempt to comment, she thought that the teacher looked like she felt left out.

"Wait Hermione, Professor Sinistra's not feeling left out, she's observing our interactions," Ginny disagreed with her. "Aren't you, Professor?"

"You are correct, Miss Weasley," Professor Sinistra related.

The Arithmancy teacher returned with her Pensieve and placed it on the table.

"Did I miss anything?" Professor Vector asked.

"Nothing the Quick Quill notes didn't catch," Professor Sinistra replied.

"Good," Professor Vector said, gently shaking the Pensieve, looking for the memory. "I've found it. When I say the word, I want you to touch the mists of the Pensieve with me."

They stood and gathered around the Pensieve. Hermione saw an image of Ginny, Ix Chel and Professor Montgomery leaving the library together.

"Now," Professor Vector directed.

They touched the inside of the bowl and suddenly were all pulled in. The five of them were standing in the corridor outside the library, with Professor Montgomery escorting another Ginny and Ix Chel who had just stopped.

"What is it?" Professor Montgomery asked, coming to a halt beside her.

"Wait a moment," the remembered Ginny requested.

The remembered Ginny quickly encircled herself, Ix Chel and the Divination teacher in several long, complex strings of mathematics. When the strings were complete, a bright green light covered them.

"Stop," Professor Vector ordered just before Ginny's handiwork could vanish.

The life-like image froze. Ginny began inspecting the magical equations, wearing an expression that told Hermione that the memory-recording device just wouldn't do.

"What's wrong with it?" Hermione asked.

"The primary equations are here, but all of the supporting material is missing," Ginny sighed. Her friend walked around the suspended magical field, staring at various mathematical strings. "Using this would be like building a house without walls, it wouldn't work the way you intended."

"Missing supporting material? Where?" Professor Sinistra objected. "Nothing appears to be out of place."

Hermione followed her friend's line of sight, trying to find the problem. When the line of equations she was reading disappeared behind the Divination teacher's back, she started walking around the equations as well, following the spell's logic. Then, in a cognitive epiphany, the answer came to her.

"No, she's right, the secondary equations, which give this spell its versatility, are not present, but if you look closely, you'll see that their placeholders are," Hermione excitedly explained, pointing at a glaring example. "If you were to copy down this spell exactly and use it, you would get a mishmash instead of a set of coherent, preprogrammed responses." She noticed their Professors' puzzled expressions. "Think of it as a doorbell without a button. You can press the metal casing all you want, but you won't get the effect you're looking for."

"But the Pensieve records everything the individual in question sees. If he saw them, how could the Pensieve fail to chronicle the secondary equations?" Professor Vector asked.

She halted, and Ginny stopped beside her.

"Wait..." Hermione piped in. "Is the data recorded subjectively?"

"Of course. Everything is subjected to differing points of view," Professor Vector answered. "Any third year knows that simple fact."

"Hermione, you're a genius!" Ginny exclaimed, quickly hugging her. "The Pensieve won't work, because the spell has to be recorded objectively instead of subjectively. You'll get why once you see the supporting material, Professors. This one's small enough to write down on paper. Oh, how do we get out of here?"

Hermione listened to Professor Vector's directions on how to exit the illusion. Ginny was the first to leave, and she quickly followed, anxious to see what her friend was going to do next.

*~*~*

Watching Alicia bring her dissertation with Miss Weasley to a close, Lydia was amazed by how much these children had developed in just a few short weeks. Lydia wondered why she hadn't noticed Miss Granger's astounding leap in ability sooner. She guessed that no one had taken notice earlier, because the Prefect was already so talented.

"Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, please remain for just a little while longer," Lydia requested. "Alicia, a word..."

Lydia and she stepped out into the hallway.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking about Miss Granger's sudden progress?" Lydia excitedly inquired.

"You want to try my Arithmancy NEWT on her?" Alicia asked.

She nodded in reply.

"Think about it. She may only be sixteen, but currently she's more advanced than your seventh years, and we won't know by how much until we test her," Lydia reasoned.

"How could I have been so inattentive?" Alicia asked herself aloud. "Miss Granger has been bored silly in advanced Arithmancy for the past week, maybe longer. All right, have the girl's shadow take his daughter back to her room. Then bring Miss Granger to my classroom, and I'll meet you there."

Alicia headed for her office, while Lydia reentered the Staff Room, noticing that the two girls were talking amongst themselves.

"Arthur, why don't you take your daughter back to her room?" she suggested. "Alicia and I need to borrow Miss Granger, once we're done we'll return her to you."

"Very well, Professor Sinistra," Arthur agreed, escorting his child from the room.

"What can I do for you, Professor?" politely asked the young witch.

"Come along, Miss Granger, and you will see for yourself soon enough," Lydia directed.

She led the Prefect to the Arithmancy classroom. When they arrived Alicia was standing next to her desk holding a large envelope made of heavy parchment. Lydia knew that the contents of the envelope were the only copies of this year's coveted Arithmancy NEWT, along with the answer key. To keep it safely out of the hands of over-inquisitive students the envelope was sealed, and protected by numerous enchantments. She noticed when they lay their eyes on it, Alicia's fingers twitched, telling her just how possessive her companion felt of all her hard work. Lydia could sympathize. Showing this to a student in advance, even one as rule-orientated as the Gryffindor Prefect, had its share of risks. If anything in the exam got out, Alicia would have to scrap the current NEWT and recreate it from scratch, not an enviable task at all.

"Miss Granger, what you are about to see is a test designed to accurately assess your current skill level," Alicia explained. "You are not to discuss the specifics of this test with anyone. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly, Professor Vector. I promise I won't tell a soul about the contents of this exam," Miss Granger swore.

"We'll keep you to that," Lydia promised, bidding the girl to take a seat. Miss Granger sat at a desk in the front row. Alicia took out her wand and, with a flourish, unsealed the envelope. She took out a single copy of the lengthy exam, placing it face down on the desk in front of the Prefect. Then the Arithmancy teacher gave the student a bottle of ink and a quill especially charmed for this sort of final exam.

"You will have three hours to complete this exam and not a second more," Alicia directed. "At my signal, you may turn over your test and begin. Go directly to page three and follow the directions to the letter."

The Professors looked up at the clock, waiting for the second hand to reach the twelve.

"You may begin," stated Alicia the moment the second hand reached its destination.

Lydia placed several silencing charms around Miss Granger so that she would be able to concentrate without any interference from them, then she turned to Alicia and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Turn to page three?" Lydia asked, as they took seats well out of the way. "You really don't want her to know what she's working on, do you?"

"At least not until we have the results," Alicia replied. "Besides, Miss Granger's just skipping the cover, the actual test doesn't start until page three. Now that we've taken this somewhat insane action, which if our hunch is wrong, we will never live down, what's your theory?"

"Miss Granger said it herself, she has been working with Miss Weasley since long before this began," Lydia reiterated.

"Yes, she mentioned that the nature of their study sessions had changed after Miss Weasley's shift," Alicia remembered. "I doubt this effect of Weasley's is only affecting Granger's Arithmancy grades. If I'm right, there should be some sort of proof of this mysterious evolution."

The two women gazed at each other, "Her records!" they exclaimed in unison, each following the same line of thought.

"It should only take me a minute or two to retrieve them," Lydia said, standing. "I'll be right back."

She hurried off to Vector's office, threw some floo powder into the lit fireplace, and was whisked away to the records room where everyone's grades were kept. Lydia went to pull Granger's and found that someone else had beat them to it. She was further surprised to discover that not only was Remus the culprit, but he had also taken the liberty of pulling the records of the Miss Weasley's other friends. Instead of returning to the classroom as planned, Lydia flooed directly to Remus' office. The werewolf was already studying one of the folders when she arrived.

"I've been looking for those," she began, dispensing with the pleasantries. "What gave you the idea that Weasley's brilliant understanding might be contagious?"

Looking up from his work, he answered with a genial smile, "Mr. Longbottom. Which were you looking for?"

"Miss Granger's," Lydia replied, checking the time. "In fact, I have to be getting back to her in a little more than a minute."

"On the clock?" Remus asked curiously.

"If you come with me, and bring those records with you... you'll get to find out," she offered. "After all, three pairs of eyes on this are far better than one."

"You have a point. Besides, who can resist a mystery," he gave in, getting up and picking up the neat pile of folders. "Lead the way."

Lydia brought the werewolf back to the classroom, with seconds to spare. Careful not to disturb the Prefect, he peered over Miss Granger's shoulder to see what the girl was so diligently working on, while she quickly explained his presence to Alicia. His eyes widened in recognition. He pulled back, watching them with a questioning expression.

"Since when did sixth years, even ones as talented as Miss Granger, receive their NEWT in Arithmancy a year and a half early?" Remus asked as soon as he was outside the silencing charm's range.

"When they demonstrate a possible mastery in the subject during another student's dissertation they do," Alicia replied. "Pull up a chair and we'll explain."

Lydia returned to the seat she had vacated earlier, while Remus placed the small pile of records he had collected on the table and pulled over a chair to sit across from them. Alicia and Lydia took turns explaining what had taken place during Miss Weasley dissertation. Remus listened intently, keeping them on track by asking questions whenever they started going over his head. Then Remus told them what he had observed during his test of the sixth years. After that, they began reviewing the students' recent progress together, looking for any perceivable patterns.

"Hey, look at this one," urged Alicia, studying Mark Dippet's file. "Just like the others, there's marked improvement in his scores across the different subjects, but they seem to have leveled off during the course of the week. Why do you suppose that is?"

"There was some sort of altercation between him and Miss Weasley," Remus explained. "They haven't spoken again since."

"Oh, a lovers' spat," Lydia joked, sighing for effect. "I bet you two Gallons that in no time those two will be back together."

"I'll take that bet," Alicia rejoined, with a light chuckle. "How about you, Remus?"

"Mark and Virginia are just friends, Alicia," Remus pointed out tautly.

"Right now, anyway," Lydia teased, continuing poring over the records of Minerva's apprentice. "If you think that's fascinating, take a look at this."

"This doesn't beat the three students I found who've had startling improvements after just one evening," Remus replied, studying Miss Levine's latest scores for himself.

*~*~*

Ginny and Ix Chel sat on their bed while she stared at a tome on Merlin, but she couldn't really absorb anything she read. Her dad sat on the sofa, reluctant to start the conversation they both knew was coming.

"How long are you two going to keep pretending that everything is peachy-keen, while a big, day-glow yellow Emineo Lupus named Gryffindor Tower rests in the center of the room?" Tom goaded, figuring that she was better off dealing with her problems sooner rather than later.

"Speak for yourself," Ginny internally retorted. "How long are you going to sit back and tell yourself that your problems don't matter, that you're fine just as long as you don't acknowledge their existence? That maybe, if you keep repeating that to yourself, you'll even come to believe it? Well, I've got news for you, Tom. You aren't fooling anyone, yourself least of all."

"Stop trying to avoid the real topic," Tom persisted. "You've barely uttered more than two words to your father since we got here, and that was a half an hour ago!"

"Well, it's nice to know that my bonded can tell time. Why won't you face the truth about your family's origins?" Ginny pushed in return. "We've had your mum's locket for ages now, and you haven't said word one to it. Out of respect to you, I haven't spoken to it either, but I do know this: Rachel loved that locket very much and kept it close to her heart. That object is your best chance of finding your clan. Believe that she would want you to know who your family are. Trust in her."

"And you should trust that Arthur doesn't love you any less, just because he saw what took place that night," Tom countered. "He really loves you, my little princess, and love like that is rare. I don't know much about family, but I know how much you need each other. Believe that you can count on his support."

"I'll make a deal with you," Ginny proposed. "If I let my father in, you have to have a nice, long chat with the locket, and learn everything it has to impart. Do we have a deal?"

"You must be joking?" Tom protested, letting out a small laugh of discomfort.

"No, I'm not. And we aren't going anywhere until you answer me," Ginny stubbornly thought. "So what is it going to be? Besides, each day you put this off that locket has been getting heavier. I can feel how much this is weighing on your heart. Ix Chel and me aren't going anywhere. Do this for yourself... Please, Tom, do this for us!"

"Fine then, ladies first," Tom acquiesced.

She looked up, putting her book aside.

"Dad," Ginny started. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I should have spoken up sooner."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Arthur assured, moving to sit beside her. "I understand how hard this is, and... I am sorry I haven't been here for you like I should have been." Her father wrapped his arms around her, pulling Ginny protectively to him. "I love you so much, my little one... I'm not going anywhere."

A single tear rolled down her cheek, as Ginny whispered, "You haven't called me that since... Tom Riddle's diary."

At the mere mention of her possession by Tom Ginny felt a shiver run through her father.

"We almost lost you back then," Arthur recalled. After a long pause, he released her, saying, "...And, after awhile, children decide they're all grown up and prefer to be treated that way."

"You saw what happened that night through my eyes," Ginny pressed on. "I... I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Tom caught a flash of what Arthur had seen, as his princess' father was reminded of the terrible experience. It took him a moment to discern that the Tower hadn't revealed Tom's continued presence to the Auror.

It must be protecting us, he realized, the only way it knows how.

"You showed great restraint that night," Arthur praised. "I'm very proud of you."

"You are?" Ginny asked, surprised.

"I know how hard it is to control yourself when passions are running high," Arthur sympathized.

"You shouldn't hate your gifts for survival," she asserted. "Professor Lupin's right, they're an important part of you, they're not your adversary." She looked down at her hands, suddenly feeling incredibly old. "But I've already got blood on my mine..."

"But wait, no one at Gryffindor Tower died," Arthur said confused, following her line of sight.

"Remember my fight with the Death Eaters at Hogsmeade, when I protected Harry?" Ginny reminded him, vulnerability edging her voice. "After the magical shield stopped the Killing Curse I sicced some snakes on the Dark Wizards. One of them tried to sneak up on me but, when a snake caught him, he hit the shield instead. He bounced right off my shield and caught fire, and everything he tried to stop it with just made it worse... There wasn't much left of him after that."

"You've killed..." Arthur croaked softly, shocked.

"What, no one told you?" she objected, confused. "I figured you knew. Professor Lupin was there, and I know Dumbledore heard the whole story."

"But after the battle you- you looked fine," Arthur stammered, shaking his head.

Ginny sighed.

"Let me let you in on a little secret, daddy," Ginny whispered in his ear. "I'm always fine."

"But..." her father repeated.

"I'm fine, just like you were," she continued, not really sure why she wanted to tell him about this. "No matter what, when you came home, you were always fine, and that, somehow, made it alright."

Taking her hand, Arthur said, "I'm certain what you did was necessary. Why did Dumbledore keep this from us?"

"Maybe for the same reason he came after me while I was sick," Ginny guessed.

"He what?" Arthur exclaimed.

"Oh, you didn't know about that," she groaned.

"No, no one told me anything," Arthur wearily replied.

"That's not very fair," Ginny whimpered. "All those adults, I'm surprised none of them explained it to you. I don't want to make this any worse for you, but I might as well tell you what they didn't..."

"None of this is your fault," Arthur asserted.

"That's what they all say," she dismissed with a slight wave. She made herself press on before the suffocating pressure building up in her chest could become too much for her. "The Headmaster came to my room while I was still very ill and ordered all of my friends to leave. Just being in Dumbledore's presence made me literally sick to my stomach. When I sensed his intent, I knew that he wanted to use me. Then he used this spell on me and it- it hurt so much. I wanted to throw up. This intense pressure in my mind overwhelmed me. It felt like he was ripping my brain apart! I tried to get away, but he just kept getting closer. I knew I couldn't let him touch me, cause if I did..." She shook her head. "Anyway, Ix Chel protected me till my friends burst into the room and master Snape showed up. I think Professor Lupin was there too, but my memory of that is still kind of hazy. The one thing I do remember clearly is how amazing Master Snape was! The moment he saw what Dumbledore was up to, he grabbed the Light Lord and threw him into the wall. Then he held him a foot off the ground and made the unnatural overload stop. When the pressure eased, I collapsed. Harry and Hermione stopped me from hurting myself in the fall. I think the reason why Dumbledore's spell failed was because our magics are incompatible...

"The adults won't even think about it when I'm around," Ginny complained. "Maybe they're praying that the shock I endured or my illness, wiped away the memory, or something. That's not about to happen, but if that belief makes them feel better, then I won't be the one to take it from them... They deserve better than that. Just thinking about that now makes me feel sick, like I was violated!"

A shudder ran through both Ginny and Tom at the thought. From the symptoms she described her father recognized what Dumbledore had done to her.

"What's an Intentio Animi?" Ginny wondered, picking the name from her father's mind.

"It's a spell used to control a person's mind!" Arthur blurted out, trying desperately to hold it together for her sake. "Because of its medicinal properties it's largely considered a Light spell. However, in the wrong hands, the effects on the victim's mind can be harrowing. Using that spell on you in the manner he did was a violation. And your age makes it so much worse, because a younger person's neural pathways are still forming. The effects on children are unimaginable - most cases have severe brain damage, with irreversible mental retardation, and it only goes downhill from there... It's a bloody miracle you can still function!"

"I guess I was lucky, then," Ginny whispered, as the three of them took in what the Light Lord had actually tried to do to them. "That explains master Snape's unusual precautions after that."

"Precautions?" Arthur questioned, afraid of what else the Professors might have kept from him.

"You don't know about that either?" Ginny exclaimed, on the verge of tears, the pitch of her voice rising as she continued, horrified. "They didn't tell you anything! What did they think? That I should tell you? And no one, like, told me! It figures... I thought teachers informed parents. That's what teachers tell us they do!"

"I thought that as well, although lately I've begun wondering," Arthur replied, thinking back to Snape's comment at the high table.

"If you want a better example, Albus, try asking Virginia the next time you happen to be 'dropping by,'" the memory of their master's comment came through loud and clear.

"He said that? Now I'll have to tell you the rest!" Ginny groaned. They closed her eyes for a second, allowing a tear to fall. "Uh, the last time Dumbledore was 'dropping by' was the day master Snape went to the Burrow to inform you of my condition. He had left Alexis and Professor Lupin to protect me, and it was a good thing he did too. Dumbledore tried to attack me again, only, according to what I saw in Professor Montgomery's vision, that time he wasn't out to control me, he was out to kill me. Hence my master's orders to shoot the Headmaster on sight. Please don't interrupt; I'm getting to that. They confronted him in the corridor, and Alexis ended up dueling with the Headmaster to protect me.

"Ever wondered how she became Professor McGonagall's apprentice? Alexis used a temporary Animagi spell to turn the Light Lord into an adorable rabbit, and knocked him out. Professor McGonagall caught her escorting him out of the Dungeons." Ginny giggled at the memory. Her father looked both surprised and relieved, happy that she could still laugh. "You know, Professor Montgomery thought exactly the same thing."

Sighing softly, she went on, "Alexis has been so wonderful to me. I just don't what I've done to deserve her. Did you know that during the first week after I was attacked she practically never left my side, and neither did Harry? Since my shift she hasn't judged me even once, and whenever Alexis observes something strange, she just rolls with the punches. We've only been apart for a day because she has had to make up so much work and I already miss her terribly. I feel so close to her, like we're sisters... Oh, that's what that meant!"

Realizing the truth, Ginny burst into tears. Feeling lost himself, her father gave her a hug in the hopes of comforting her. She rested her head on his shoulder, praying that she was up to the task of protecting Alexis.

"What is it, my little one?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"Trelawney's prophecy is about Alexis and the first sign's already happened," Ginny explained. "No, not fraud-Trelawney, crazy-Seer-Trelawney. Trust me, they're two completely different personas, and yes, Professor Montgomery believes it's real too. Trelawney told us to watch for the signs, that we needed to heed them to protect the innocent. The first one was when I projected the deaths of those poor little plants in Herbology. It's probably best that I can't return to that class. The second's a healer with a Dark curse, and the third's a bird of madness, dying for no apparent reason. This can only mean one thing, Alexis is the target of an upcoming Death Eater attack."

"But why would Death Eaters target one fifth year student?" Arthur wondered.

Ginny straightened up, searching her father's face for something, for what, she wasn't quite sure.

"You have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you," Ginny emotionally insisted. "If this gets out, it'll put Alexis in even further danger and I won't risk that."

"I swear, I won't tell a soul," Arthur sincerely promised.

"Alexis' parents are loyal Death Eaters, and because of me, she turned them in to the Ministry of Magic," Ginny divulged. "Unfortunately, someone tipped them off and they escaped. Alexis thinks they're out for her blood, both Draco and I agree with her. I've sworn to protect her, as she has sworn herself to my side. For better or worse, it's my job to help stop her parents... if I can. Don't worry, daddy. Not about that, not when there are so many worse things..."

"Like what?" Arthur asked.

Ignoring the question she dare not answer, Ginny changed the subject, "Did you know that our clan's older than most? I found out when I asked my wand about the person who owned it last. Our oldest ancestor was a remarkable Gray witch named Taleen, one of the last of her kind. If I close my eyes and think back to what those times were like, I can almost picture her. I suppose bearing her wand as well is only appropriate, since I am her successor..."

Ginny realized she had told him too much, but the damage had been done and there wasn't anything she could do about it.

"I'm happy it's Friday," Ginny stated, unconsciously drawing away from him. "Now I can rest for a little while. When I think about it, I have no idea how I made it through this week. I didn't really do anything right, but at least I managed to do some good for a few people."

"But you performed beautifully at your dissertation," Arthur disagreed. "I could tell that Vector and Sinistra were truly taken with your amazing achievement!"

Puzzled, Ginny declaimed, "What's so amazing about explaining a chart?"

"You don't know what a formal dissertation is?" Arthur asked, surprised.

"No," Ginny answered, wondering about his reaction. "They just wanted me to relax and explain how the chart works."

"Ginny, honey, a formal dissertation in a subject is the final step in obtaining your Mastery," Arthur explained. "As far as Professor Vector is concerned, you are now a master in Arithmancy. The rest is simply paperwork. After your display of skill and working knowledge today, I'd say that the approval of the Ministry and the Board of Governors is just a formality."

"I'm Professor Vector's equal?" Ginny exclaimed, her voice squeaking.

"I think she considers you her better," Arthur supposed. "But don't remind Vector of that. She's a woman of great pride. I give her credit for giving you the chance."

"Vector's nothing like Binns or some of the others," Ginny whole-heartedly agreed. "She's a great witch, and so is Professor Sinistra."

"You think that, after you both behaved so defensively during the dissertation?" Arthur asked, trying to understand what he had observed.

"Professor Sinistra is always hostile when her beliefs are threatened," she clarified. "The only way to change her mind on anything is to challenge her, and then be prepared to substantiate your viewpoint."

"The little one I've always known is still in there, somewhere... I just need to find a way to reach her," Ginny caught her father's thought like whispers on the wind. She looked into his eyes and smiled, finally allowing herself to feel what she had been denying for so long, that she needed him.

"I'm glad you're here..." Ginny whispered in an emotional voice, hugging him tightly.

*~*~*

Ginny, Tom and their master listened to Ix Chel's instructions as they tended to the life-extending potion in their master's hidden lab. Carefully keeping the potion's magical balance in check, both Ginny and Tom focused on their work. After their frustrating Potions class yesterday, she was glad that there was something they could still do by hand. Back, before Tom had finished the diary, Potions had not been one of his favorite subjects. But his princess' passion for potions brewing combined with their master's tutelage, had opened his eyes to an art that was just as intricate and vital as the first subject he'd fallen in love with. They were forced to wait fifteen minutes after the last ingredient was added before continuing.

"Each of you has done well in meeting the challenge of brewing this potion," Ix Chel complimented. "Now that you've added every ingredient, save one, you mustn't let it touch you under any circumstances. What you currently have before you is the fastest, deadliest, and most vicious poison ever conceived. If anyone ever coerces you into brewing the Aetas Conservo, stop at this point, and you will possess the perfect weapon to use against them. If they want you to drink it first, just tell them that you have already taken your dose for the month and cannot take more. Unlike other poisons, which only attack the body itself, once the poison has been drunk or touches the skin, it attacks its victim's magic, with a greater rapidity than either of you can. It's quick, clean, effective, and one of the worst ways to die imaginable. My line has only witnessed this measure used twice against our foes, and their deaths are something we will never forget. The final element you will add acts as a catalyst, morphing the potion's nature into the life-sustaining substance we seek to create. Virginia, there is something in our memory we will require to harvest the final element."

"Harvest?" Tom wondered.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

"Close your eyes, and reach back to the times before the first wars," Ix Chel instructed. Ginny and Tom listened, allowing Ix Chel to guide them to wherever she needed them to go. "Remember the ancient forges of the old world, where the Gray fashioned their forgotten weapons and tools. Remember how they were made... Good, now you must recreate a Dagger of Animi before we can proceed."

They saw it clearly in their minds, transfiguring the small, enchanted dagger out of air in the palm of her hand. Ginny opened her eyes and examined their handiwork. The knife was made of the purest sliver and its design was relatively simple. The only decoration on it was a tiny inscription etched into the length of the blade on both sides. Tightening her grip on it, she noticed that it was amazingly light and perfectly balanced. Tom felt power positively radiating from it and knew that knife was anything but ordinary.

"What is the purpose of this dagger?" Severus inquired.

"If we did this correctly, you will see in a moment," Ix Chel replied. "Virginia, cut your palm."

"What?" Ginny and Tom mentally asked together.

"We need to test it to make sure it works properly," Ix Chel thought.

"It's a knife, Ix, it cuts - that's all we need to know," Tom parried, not wanting to reveal his fear of knives.

"Trust me, it does more than merely cut," their familiar insisted.

"Alright," Ginny agreed, feeling uncertain.

She held the dagger steady, making a shallow cut along her palm. The only thing she felt was pressure from the knife on their skin, as it left a rivulet of blood in its wake. Tom marveled at the strange artifact, noticing that not only did they feel no pain, but also that the tip was completely clean. Ginny put down the knife and transfigured a handkerchief for their hand.

"Look, Severus," said Ginny, holding out her hand after she wiped away the blood, revealing uninjured skin. "It didn't even hurt. How is this possible?"

"The Gray believed that life's blood was a precious commodity that shouldn't be wasted, so they forged the Daggers of Animi for ceremonies where actual harm wasn't necessary," Ix Chel explained. "It is designed to only draw blood, leaving the body unharmed. This tool is perfect for harvesting the last element of this potion, my life's blood. A note of warning on requesting this element from another Divinus: the only thing more dangerous than our venom is our blood. There is only one failsafe a Divinus can enact if their normal defenses prove inadequate, and that is sabotaging the blood given. If sabotaged blood is added to the mixture, it will explode with enough force to destroy this school!"

"So that's what happened to Kelab the Destroyer," Severus muttered under his breath.

"Who?" Ginny asked.

"He was an extreme Dark Wizard, who became obsessed with the search for immortality," Severus explained. "He used muggles, wizards, and magical creatures in his depraved experiments, rather like the muggle butcher Mengele. Until one day, a massive magical explosion obliterated both his castle and the side of the mountain it stood upon. He gained some measure of immortality because of the way he died, if for no other reason. I've heard that Dark parents often tell their children that tale, as a warning to be careful of what you wish for. Too bad using it as a weapon means you would have to blow up with it."

"Not if you don't mix the two right away," she speculated. "I'm sure Fred and George could rig up a timer for you, kind of like the wizarding version of a chemical explosive."

"How can you understand the muggle tools for anarchy and not know what 'having all the cards' means?" Tom asked, incredulous.

"I was reading my brothers' and dad's stash of technical manuals during the summer," Ginny thought back, mentally shrugging.

"That's an idea, but it would only work against extremely large targets," Severus pointed out.

"Maybe," Ginny supposed. "Is the intensity of the explosion directly proportional to the potion's mass?"

"Yes, it is," answered Ix Chel.

"Then, with a little experimentation, you could use it for a variety of sizes," Ginny proposed. "Ooh, imagine what you could do if you used unfinished Aetas Conservo potion on blow darts or in somebody's drink, neat!"

"Neat?" Tom and Severus repeated in unison.

"Do you know just how many people we could theoretically murder with your 'neat' little ideas alone?" Tom asked more bluntly than he had intended to.

Her happy expression faltered.

"Now that you mention it..." Ginny thought, lapsing into a state of depression and guilt.

"You could kill thousands, maybe millions of people with something like that," Tom continued her thought aloud.

"Death is a reality of war, Virginia," Severus admonished. "Weapons, defensive or otherwise are merely a means to an end. I know that you weren't thinking about the consequences when you considered this potion's military applications, you were thinking of it as just a harmless mental exercise. While people's lives aren't a game, nor is the threat Voldemort represents. We need every weapon at our disposal to stop him, and you need to start learning proper judgement. Take solace in the fact that one day your ideas may save innocent lives."

"Or destroy them," she refuted.

"Death Eaters are not innocent," their master maintained. "They knew what they were signing up for."

"Most of them did," Tom sharply acknowledged aloud. "But what about the ones who got suckered into it?"

"And it's okay to kill them, because they're not innocent victims, just victims," she continued the retort, feeling old again. "That's like Lavender saying in her defense, 'We never intended to harm Ginny, we only wanted to scare her.' Even I'm not gullible enough to think that I don't have blood on my hands, just because my actions are socially sanctioned!"

"Blood is blood, whether it's on your hands or another wizard's," Severus countered. "Wizards and Witches like us don't choose to fight because it's pretty or because we have nothing better to do. We fight, and when necessary we get our hands dirty, for the sake of what we believe in. In time, you will learn to live with it."

"And what do you believe in?" she probed, feeling as though the weight of everything was literally on her shoulders.

"A year ago, I would have answered 'nothing,' and now..." Severus trailed off.

Their master frowned slightly, apparently having trouble with the answer. She couldn't blame him, because when it came down to it, she couldn't answer that question either.

*~*~*

In the Arithmancy classroom, Alicia was enthralled with the elegant exam before her. She paid little attention to the anticipation shared by Lydia, Remus, and Miss Granger, who stood in front of her desk. Unconsciously, she traced patterns under her chin with her colorful feather quill filled with red ink, but hardly felt the need to use it. Miss Granger's NEWT was another inexplicable work of art. There was no doubt. The young woman had graduated her class with full honors! The sheer scope of innate brilliance and talent both Miss Granger and Miss Weasley had demonstrated to date was certainly one for Hogwarts: A History. She completed grading the exam and exuberantly tallied up the final score. This test proved their theory with finality. Somehow, Severus' apprentice was maximizing the potential of those around her by teaching them whole new approaches, which would leave the Wizarding World's most advanced wizards and witches scratching their heads for years, perhaps even generations to come. And that was being optimistic. Without serious, irrefutable intervention, too many close-minded oafs would hold back such research with ridiculous claims, for them to truly progress faster than that. There were days when Alicia wondered how much they were truly missing of the universe around them and this was certainly proof that there was more than they knew. Now that Miss Weasley and Miss Granger had opened her eyes to the fact that nothing was ever what they had decided to believe, she couldn't look at anything in the quite the same light again. Turning her gaze to her Lydia, Alicia knew she wasn't the only one.

"Congratulations, Miss Granger. Not only did you pass, but you've made the ninety fifth percentile!" Alicia eagerly informed the Gryffindor Prefect, getting up to offer the young woman her hand. "Your score has totally surpassed our expectations!"

Lydia and Remus added their congratulations.

Taking her hand, Hermione asked uneasily, "At the risk of ruining what I'm sure is a great moment, what precisely did you just test me for? I mean, I loved the pop quiz. It was a lot of fun, but why are the results so important?"

"It's nice to see that you enjoyed your Arithmancy NEWT so much," Lydia piped in.

"That was my what?" the young woman exclaimed, bewildered. "I think I need to sit down."

Miss Granger took a seat in the front row, then asked, "Let me get this straight, not only did I pass my final exam, but I also made it into the ninety fifth percentile. But why would you give me my Arithmancy NEWT a year and a half early? I've always been a little ahead of my classmates, but this..."

"Tell me, Miss Granger, have you been having difficulty maintaining an active interest in your classes of late?" Remus tentatively probed.

"While I found the presentations somewhat engaging, unfortunately the material was just too... familiar to me," Hermione evaluated.

"If you're interested, you can come up with your own Arithmancy project and I would be more than happy to review it for you," Alicia offered.

Forgetting herself, the Prefect enthusiastically replied, "Are you kidding? Of course I would be interested!"

Alicia blinked, quite taken aback by the intensity of young woman's response. She had been waiting so long to see any sign of genuine interest. It was hard to believe that all she had to do was ask.

"If you felt this way, why didn't you come to me sooner?" Alicia asked, perplexed.

"You never gave me any indication that I was ready for something like that," Hermione replied.

"No, my dear, for some time now the teachers have been waiting for you to pick a subject to devote yourself to," Alicia corrected.

"Pick a subject? But I love magic in all its applications, just like the various applications in muggle science," Hermione said. "I don't realistically see myself spending my life working with just one, but no one ever approached me. In the muggle colleges you're not allowed to progress further until your mentor thinks you're ready. Are you telling me that in the Wizarding World, it's the other way around?"

"Yes," Alicia confirmed.

"I would never have dreamed that being a pain in the neck was seen as a genuine and acceptable sign of interest," Hermione sighed, expressing her frustration. "The Wizarding World is really backwards in some areas."

"Thank you so much for your cooperation, Hermione. May I call you Hermione?" Alicia requested. The young woman nodded. "I'm sorry we monopolized so much of your time, but I wanted to see if our assessment during the dissertation was correct. Since we made you miss dinner, why don't we order something that the house-elves can bring up here? Then, we can continue this discussion in a more relaxed atmosphere."

"I would like that, Professor," Hermione agreed.

*~*~*

In Salazar's personal library, Draco lay on a large bed he had transfigured for himself wrestling with what he was going to tell to his father. He knew better than to think of his letters as merely familial correspondence. Although his mother saw his letters as such, to his father they were nothing less than useful intelligence. The last report he'd sent was the night his godfather had discovered his gift. He hadn't told him anything about that then, and certainly didn't want to now. At this point, the last thing he wanted was for his value to the Dark to climb further. If it got too high, his father would forgo waiting altogether and deliver him to the Dark Lord himself. As it was, he felt as if he was on borrowed time. Draco didn't know how, but he knew he had to inform his father soon that he was a Seer and face the consequences, or this was going to blow up in his face. He remembered his pact with Ginny and Alexis, hoping that- Wait, that's it! If they were here, he would kiss those two.

Dear Lucius,

As I have no doubt you are aware, this past week has been quite eventful. Montgomery was more than happy to accept my request to join his class. Since the moment he arrived, he's been busy redefining every aspect of Divination and is currently trying to, single-handedly, return the subject to its former glory. After seeing him in action for myself, I believe he has a chance.

Now for the tricky part, Draco thought.

I don't recall ever seeing a seasoned Seer as powerful or capable as Professor Montgomery, with the exception of Virginia Weasley. Of course, she isn't seasoned yet, but the analogy of power and insight is just the same. Snape's allowed me the liberty of getting to know her a little better. I've found her attitude to be rather different and refreshing. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to approach her, when I heard from Alexis that Virginia gets to know a wizard's unique magic, before she agrees to trust them to any extent. I don't know why, but she seems to have taken a great liking to me because of it. Virginia believes that we can put our families' differences aside, and I, for one, agree with her.

Rereading the previous lines, Draco smirked. Implying that taking the Mark would endanger his developing relationship with Ginny, and thus his work with Alexis, was a stroke of genius. Greed may be one of his father's vices, but stupidity certainly isn't. There was no way Lucius would change his timetable after he read the rest, not if he wanted all three of them.

Have you heard about that Seer detecting spell, Montgomery has pioneered? Well, he's finally gotten around to using it on me, away from the prying eyes of others. I have The Sight, and all the inherited problems that come with it. Fortunately, I haven't needed to be isolated so far, but Montgomery tells me that it's going to take time before I adjust to my condition.

I'm looking forward to this Sunday's Quidditch match. An interesting rumor has been going around the school that Potter's quit the team, though no one's been able to confirm it yet. If he has quit, I doubt if it will make any difference, the outcome will still be the same. Since the assassination attempt on Virginia, Potter's been slipping. I doubt he even cares if Gryffindor's team goes down in flames, after the way they've treated him and his friends. I'll let you know how the match works out.

Draco M.

Satisfied with the results as he reread his message, Draco smugly thought to himself. Well, that's one less thing to worry about-

"Damn, I thought that thing would never open... You are not an easy person to follow, Draco Malfoy," griped an incensed female voice. "You have been patently avoiding me since Wednesday, and I demand to know why!"

He cursed himself for forgetting their little Arithmancy 'study' session, realizing that she had been more than patient with him, until he stood her up. She headed towards him wearing her Ravenclaw uniform and Prefect badge. The lamplight brought out the red highlights in her dark chocolate hair, which for a change she had worn out in public. Her dark brown eyes flashed with anger, while her normally sweet and disarming face wore a sneer that would have made him proud, had it not been aimed at him at the time.

"Claudia..." Draco started, getting up as she halted in front of him. "I would never dream of avoiding-"

His fiery angel slapped him in the face.

"Don't lie to me!" Claudia snapped. "I hate it when people lie to me."

"And I hate it when someone cuts me off, but you don't see me slapping people around," Draco shot back. He gestured towards his communiqué to his father. "I didn't mean to break our date, but as you can see, I've got other things on my mind."

"Be happy... it wasn't... a punch..." Claudia trailed off, gazing all about her, as though taken aback by something. "Why is it so quiet in here?"

"Earlier in the week I had a ward set up to cut out interference," Draco said. "I might have shared the secret of this place with you, if you'd given me some time."

"Tell me why you've been avoiding me, the truth this time," Claudia demanded, relief filling her expression, washing away some of her anger.

"Well, if you must know, I wanted to get my mind reading under control before I found out how much my girlfriend hated me!" Draco spat.

"Mind reading?" Claudia asked, astonished. "Are you telling me that you're a Seer?" She cupped her hands around his face, reading his emotional state. "Oh my goodness, you are! That's why you didn't want to see me, you were afraid of what you might find... Oh, Draco, I don't hate you. I could never hate you!"

"You certainly have a funny way of showing it," Draco coldly replied, rubbing his cheek. "And what was that quip about punching me?"

Coming to her senses, Claudia apologized, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted like that. It's just, everything's been so tense all week- I overreacted."

"If you don't hate me, then how do you feel about me?" Draco asked, afraid to look for himself.

"I am in love with you, Draco Malfoy," Claudia dangerously declared. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Before we got together, I was just some bored-stiff Light witch with an uncommon power, and a pair of 'goody-two-shoes' Aurors for parents. But you changed everything; you showed me that there was more to life than books and the same monotonous routine. My parents would go insane if they knew that their precious little girl was going out with a Malfoy. If I didn't love you, why else would I be here?"

"Because my father makes more in a year, than your parents will in a lifetime," Draco drawled.

To his surprise, Claudia snorted.

"You think that pretty bobbles are all I'm after? What do you take me for, a shallow, brain-dead twit?" Claudia accused him. "Please, you know me better than that, at least I thought you did. If you won't be convinced by words, then perhaps it's time for a more... non-verbal approach."

She held out her hands, but Draco just stared at them. He completely understood the strange gesture, yet he couldn't help but hesitate.

"Let me show in a way purer than silly declarations, my love," Claudia pleaded. "Allow me to try... Unless you don't feel the same, in which case I've worn out my welcome, and I'll leave you in peace."

Draco froze, unable to answer her either way; nevertheless she continued to wait for a response. In all of their time together matters such as love or long-term arrangements had never come up. It had always been about the moment, about stealing that extra few seconds for themselves. She knew as well as he did that Malfoy's don't get happily-ever-after, they don't marry just for love. His parents had been extremely fortunate in that regard, because, while they didn't marry for love, they had already fallen for each other by the time it was arranged. He knew that his mother and father would never permit their union, that his father would see him dead first. Every iota of his training railed against even the concept of answering her, and even more so against taking the action. If he gave into her plea, if he allowed himself to love her... it was over, very likely for them both. When it came down to it, Draco couldn't do it. He couldn't destroy her, anymore than he could destroy himself.

"Don't you get it, my fiery angel?" Draco whispered darkly. "It's not about how we feel for each other, or even if we do. It's about what I am. Malfoys don't get happy endings! If you're looking for love, look elsewhere."

A tear rolled down his cheek and Draco turned away from her, staring hatefully at the letter to his father resting on the bed, like it was a symbol of his entrapment by his birthright. He felt as if he had shoved a dagger into his own heart and savagely twisted it, but still he couldn't die, couldn't find true rest, not yet. He braced himself to hear her muffled footsteps exit the room, to hear the deafening silence he knew would follow. Seconds felt like hours as he waited to hear the sounds of the end. An end that, against all reason, never came. Instead of doing what any sane and rational person would do in her place, Claudia wrapped her arms around him drawing him closer to her, perfectly insinuated herself against his back. She kissed a sensitive spot on his neck, and then rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a barely audible sigh.

"You are right, of course, love has nothing to do with this," Claudia elegantly lied. "What counts is what we feel in the now... Anything beyond that is superfluous. Forgive me for my error, Draco."

"You're forgiven, my angel," Draco replied, relaxing under the influence of her reassuring presence.

Malfoys weren't meant to fall in love, but in her embrace all that mattered was the moment, because it was all they would ever have.

*~*~*

Severus was sitting in the teacher's Staff Room, observing each of his colleagues as they entered. In preparation, he had set up powerful silencing charms so that anything said during the meeting would stay here. Resting in front of him on the table was the large stack of muggle pads his apprentice had given him yesterday. Minerva and Arthur sat in chairs set up to his left, while Zachary and Filius conversed lightly as they sat to his right. Then taking seats directly across from him, Alicia, Lydia, and Remus, who was holding a large envelope made of heavy parchment, completing the set.

He had hoped that the reintegration they put Virginia through this week would have served as a greatly needed stabilizing influence for her. Regrettably, after seeing just how different a turn she had taken, he knew that their efforts at reintegration had failed abysmally. He felt his apprentice slipping from his grasp, and if he didn't find a way to pull her back from the brink soon, they were going to lose her. Severus had had no idea that bringing her out of isolation as early as he had would be so... damaging. He felt like he had no one other than himself to blame for these consequences. His reverie was interrupted by Zachary's voice in his mind.

"Not everything that has gone wrong is your fault," Zachary mentally reminded him.

"But Virginia is my responsibility," Severus maintained.

"Everyone in this room has made mistakes, Sev, but that doesn't mean that together, we can't start to repair the damage," Zachary thought, reminding him of why they were here. "If you'd like, I can give you my take on your audience."

"Very well, proceed," thought Severus wearily.

"You will want to go easy on Minerva tonight," his friend began. "She's not well and she won't go to Poppy. I doubt she can take much more tonight... Filius is in a pretty receptive mood. He'd probably agree to anything within reason... Alicia, Lydia, and Remus are sharing a bit of a 'cat who swallowed the canary' feel. It looks like they have something important to share with us during the course of the meeting... Also, Remus needs to discus something with you later... Watch out for Arthur, he's not nearly as 'fine' as he appears. In fact, the Auror's pretty close to going ballistic over something intensely personal. That's all I can see. I wonder what's got him so worked up." He had watched as Zachary had settled his gaze on each person he read.

"Earlier, Arthur managed to get Virginia to open up to him," Severus provided the answer. "Her recounting of the events at the tower can't have been easy for either of them."

"I suspect it's a little more complicated than that," Zachary thought.

"Maybe," Severus thought back. "I think it's time to get this bloody meeting over with."

Severus cleared his throat, commanding the assembled teachers' attention.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Severus said aloud, resting his elbows on the table and steeple his fingers. "Gathered in this room are all my most trustworthy allies, with the exceptions of Hagrid and Argus, who, for varying reasons, couldn't attend. Also, together we represent the majority, thus the controlling vote at this Sunday's staff meeting. With everything that has happened this week, I feel we need a united front on matters concerning Virginia, as well as the other special cases Zachary has been bringing to our attention. Some of you have warned me that because I brought my apprentice out of isolation too early, Virginia is growing increasingly disconnected and unstable..." He took a deep breath before continuing. "At this point, I have no choice but to agree with you. I have done everything in my power to comprehend what is happening to her... but it appears that, alone, my understanding is simply not adequate to the task. I know that each of you cares about whether she still has a future and, I would appreciate any additional suggestions or insights you may have relating to this situation as it evolves."

Severus paused. He never liked even admitting that he needed assistance in any form. Going so far as to ask for it was difficult, but Virginia is worth putting himself through that. He hoped that whatever insight they had to offer would be enough.

"I think it's safe to say that they're surprised by your request, but they'll certainly cooperate and so will I," Zachary silently informed him.

Picking up the first pad, Severus continued, "Another reason I called you here is for these. My apprentice has decided that she requires more space, a lot more space. So yesterday, in a fit of boredom, she composed a rather unique proposal and presented it to me. Instead of simply being moved to a new location, Virginia wishes to put her new understanding into practice, and alter the structure of her room. She has given me four different methods from which to choose. Since I've been unable to decipher them, and these are your areas of expertise, I believe you may have more success in reviewing her work. First, she told me that she could use Transfiguration-" Severus slid the first pad over to Minerva. "-to alter the fabric of her room and thereby hollow out additional rooms."

"I have never seen transfiguration applied in this fashion," Minerva softly commented to herself, examining the material.

"Second, she can utilize Arithmancy-" He slid the next pad across the table, and right into Alicia's waiting hands. "-to alter the properties of all forty two dimensions, and make the room dimensionally transcendental."

"Great shades of Dr. Who," Zachary muttered under his breath while Alicia, Lydia, and Filius unabashedly gaped.

"Forty-two?" Alicia whispered, awestruck.

"I take it there's a problem?" Severus inquired.

"Just that Arithmancy doesn't currently recognize forty-two dimensions," Lydia answered.

"You said there were four methods?" Remus prodded.

"Yes, the third one she created was an advanced Charm-" Severus continued, sliding the Charms pad towards Filius and Zachary. "-in order to add space to her overall room without changing its physical dimensions. Apparently, Virginia based this one on a simpler spell she used to use."

Filius and Zachary stared strangely at their pad, trying to figure out the correct orientation. After a short period of quiet disagreement, they figured it out. When they turned the pad right side up their eyes widened and Zachary let out a soft whistle.

"Oh, my word!" Filius gasped. "You-you say this charm is based on a lesser one? Did she happen to mention which one, Severus?"

"No, you'll have to ask her that yourself," Severus replied, picking up the fourth pad, leaving two behind. "Whoever gets through theirs first can start on this. She told me that, out of curiosity, she combined the three methods before you, to extend the space far beyond what any of the previous methods are capable of producing alone."

He passed it to Zachary and Filius, who took a look at it, then passed it on.

When the pad reached Remus, he remarked, "Albus would get a kick out of studying this."

Severus saw that one mention of the Headmaster's name was all it took to snap Arthur's control.

"One of you should have told me what else Dumbledore did to my little girl," Arthur angrily reproved, leaning on the table as he jumped to his feet. "After hearing my daughter's story from Gryffindor Tower, I knew that there were things I was missing, but I didn't want to hear it. I didn't think that the truth could get any worse, but it did, like everything else in this situation. Severus, I know I told you not to tell me, and I don't blame you for any of this, but I didn't know that the assassination attempt was only the beginning of her ordeal. You people should be ashamed of yourselves for not even addressing the issue, for hoping that, if you stuck your fingers in your ears and pretended it didn't happen for long enough, it would just go away!"

At his accusation the room grew unnaturally still. Realizing what Arthur was referring to, he could feel all the color drain from his face. Remus, Zachary, Filius, and Minerva plainly shared sickened, horrified expressions, while Lydia and Alicia looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" Lydia demanded.

"What do you mean 'what else Dumbledore did'?" Alicia pressed. "Is this true, Severus?"

Severus slowly nodded.

"Virginia told you what she knew," he stiffly queried of the Auror, as he fought to keep his tone calm and even, dreading the question as much as the answer. Severus closed his eyes in resignation as he prayed that the answer wasn't as bad as he was expecting, but he knew he never had that kind of luck. "How much does she remember?"

"Ginny remembers everything," Arthur held, his voice thick with a mass of inexpressible emotions. "You should have seen the look on Ginny's face when she realized that she had to be the one to tell me." Arthur sighed. "She didn't want to hurt me further by breaking it to me. I had to watch her relive it all, I saw my little girl's panic attack, as she forced herself to recount what she felt when that bastard used the Intentio Animi on her. Merlin, she didn't even understand what Dumbledore had done to her, until I recognized her symptoms!"

"I had hoped she was too ill to remember," Severus admitted.

He opened his eyes to see that Lydia and Alicia had blanched upon hearing of the atrocity committed against his apprentice. Lydia jumped to her feet.

"Dumbledore did what? This is simply... unacceptable! I demand to know why, in Salazar's name, that mind-raping bastard is still Headmaster of this school!" Lydia shouted, outrage clouding her judgment. "I'm surprised you didn't tear that monster limb from bloody limb, Severus. By law, it is your right-"

Stung by her words, Severus shot back, "You think I don't want to? Just thinking about it makes my blood boils. If Remus hadn't stop me, I would have snapped his neck like kindling, but had I done so, I would be remiss in my duties to this school."

Lydia looked away as she realized she had overstepped her bounds, "I apologize, Severus. I don't think I would have the will to stay my hand."

"If she remembered, then why didn't she say anything?" Minerva asked weakly. "Why did she lie to us?"

"She didn't," recalled Zachary. Severus could feel guilt suddenly weighing heavily upon his friend. "Merlin, when I saw the attack, she tried to comfort me! My head was so messed up at the time, I didn't think to mention it. I thought... I don't know what I thought."

"But then, why didn't she mention it to the rest of us?" Remus asked.

"Because you didn't want her to remember!" Arthur reproved. "She thought it was better to spare you, by allowing you to continue believing that delusion. All that compassion, and she can't even afford any for herself... Don't you see? Ginny's all but given up on herself. She'd rather use other wizards' problems as a smokescreen, so she doesn't have to deal with her own. I wish I could say that all she suffers from is an inferiority complex, but it's more than that. It's like, she's fifteen going on five thousand! It's like my poor little girl is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. What she needs is your help, not more denial!"

"That's more true than you may ever know..." Severus thought, not realizing that Zachary had heard him.

"But she seemed fine during our session," Severus stated, trying to make sense of his apprentice's behavior.

"According to Ginny, she's always fine," stressed Arthur, seeing something terrible in his statement that no one else seemed to catch.

Arthur looked about the room, expecting some sort of reaction to his statement.

Seeing their blank stares the Auror went on, "Since you don't seem to get it, let me spell it out for you. Ginny is adept at hiding her true feelings, not only from others, but also from herself. For instance, Ginny was fine after she had that vision of Harry falling to his death. She was fine when she had to kill a Death Eater in self-defense. She was fine when half the school vilified her for choosing a snake as a familiar. Ginny bounced right back after she had her first Divination teacher committed. When her brother made it his life's mission to destroy her, it was a bit of downer, but nothing she couldn't handle. He convinces the vast majority of Gryffindor to shun her, which would have caused a lesser person to fall apart, but no, Ginny rolls with the punches because she is fine." Virginia's father yelled, his skepticism growing as panic filled his tone.

"Right after that, two students try to kill her in the supposed safety of her own dorm room, triggering a magical storm unlike anything in our recorded history, one that not only permanently changed her life, but nearly killed her! Nevertheless, Ginny's a survivor, it'll be a little rough going until things settle down again, but she'll be okay! Then, while she has one foot in the grave, the Headmaster comes along and decides that, since his plans have pretty much blown up in his face, he might as well make the best of it by using a Light mind-control spell that certainly would have destroyed her, because it was never meant to be used on children. Then, when that doesn't work, Dumbledore tries to do away with her once and for all, but, thanks to her Slytherin friend's quick reflexes, he fails. One week later, Ginny's lurching from one disaster to the next in serious denial, worrying about everyone else's well being except her own, trying to bury herself in work, and somehow, when any other person would have fallen apart from the sheer weight of what she's gone through, Ginny Weasley is still fine! Tell me, what is wrong with this picture!" Arthur finished illustrating the absurdity of his daughter's situation in a scream.

He watched Arthur collapse into the nearest chair and bury his face in his arms on the table.

As an awkward stillness filled the room, Remus watched the two wizards this hurt most, Arthur and Severus. Arthur was in shambles, hiding his head in his arms on the table, while Severus might as well be. His skin had taken on a shallow, almost translucent appearance. The normally cold and emotionless wizard was overcome with frustration and suffering, more vulnerable than he had ever seen him, more, he suspected, than anyone other than the Headmaster himself had ever seen. He didn't need his werewolf senses to feel the aura of guilt coming off Severus from across the table. Zachary placed his hand on Severus', trying to comfort the man through their strange connection. Severus made no move to shrug off Zachary's attempt to ease his turmoil, nor did he seem to even acknowledge its presence. He watched Zachary look around the room for assistance, taking in the others outraged, confused, or stupefied, all with guilty expressions. When his gaze reached Arthur the Divination teacher shook his head. Then Zachary's eyes met his, silently pleading for him to do something. In response Remus stood and walked over to where Arthur was seated, placing his hand on the man's shoulder.

"You can't give up hope, not when we finally have an encouraging sign in our midst," Remus began. "Virginia let you in, she admitted that those terrible events happened. By allowing you to see that she isn't invulnerable, your daughter has stopped distancing herself from it. This is our chance to help her through it, your chance to help her. Your talk with your child isn't the end - it's the beginning."

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I really didn't know how far this had gone," Severus apologized with difficulty. "Damn Gryffindor pride... I wanted so badly for her to be better that I deluded myself- I've failed her in every way that counts."

Arthur sat up, looking at the suffering Potions master.

"Severus, you haven't done anything wrong. In fact, Ginny said that your defense of her was brilliant," Arthur tried to console his friend. "I don't blame you for this. You've done your best to hold things together, just calling this meeting to ask for help, is proof of that."

Taking some comfort from the distraught parent's absolution, Severus appealed to the assembled Professors, "Well, now that everyone knows the situation, what do we do about it?" The Potions master rubbed his temples as though trying to stay a nasty headache. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I could do with a drink."

At his words a liquor cabinet appeared behind him in a pulse of blue-white light. Remus watched Severus look behind him with a small frown on his face.

"Virginia is right, that is not Apparition," Severus commented. "Now I really do need that drink."

Remus returned to his chair as Severus stood and open the glass door of the cabinet, offering everyone a drink. After what they'd just gone through, no one could find a reason to refuse.

"You brought your liquor cabinet here with a thought?" Remus marveled, as the Potions master pulled out a bottle of scotch. "If you don't mind my asking, how?"

"I simply made the space where it was sitting and the space here one, then left the cabinet here when they became two again," Severus cryptically explained, as if the answer was obvious, while the assembled wizards and witches stared at the Potions master as if he had replied in another language. Upon seeing their reaction, his friend groaned, then placed the scotch on the table. "That is not going to even dent my mood. How about something a little more adventurous?" He took out one of several unmarked bottles filled with a light blue substance, stuck it next to the scotch, and then proceeded to take out a set of glasses.

"What is that?" Zachary wondered when he saw the liquid.

"It's uh... blue," Severus supplied, pouring himself a glass. "I never did bother to give it a name."

"You made it?" Lydia asked with interest.

"Yes. One night, on a whim, I used my potions skills to come up with this little concoction," Severus replied. "It tastes a little different each time you pour a glass, so your pallet never tires of it. 'Blue' has all the fun properties of alcohol, with none of the nasty side effects. Anyone else care to give it a try?"

"Oh, definitely," Lydia agreed. He, Zachary, Alicia, Arthur, and to his utter astonishment, Minerva were also brave enough to try it, while Filius chose to play it safe and drink a glass of scotch. Once that was done, Severus returned the bottle of scotch to its spot and took his seat, leaving the bottle of Blue next to his glass. Then Severus closed his eyes and the cabinet disappeared in another pulse of blue-white light.

"Definitely not Apparition," Severus muttered, with a definitive shake of his head, taking a sip of his concoction. Remus took a drink himself, enjoying the pleasant, fruity flavor of the odd liquor. "As I was saying before, what do you think we should do about Dumbledore?"

Enjoying her Blue immensely, Lydia remarked, "You know, you'd make a killing if you marketed this."

"Since Dumbledore keeps hurting everyone, except the wizards who actually deserve it, perhaps the risk to benefit ratio of keeping the depraved old kook around needs to be reevaluated," Alicia smoothly proposed. She took a drink and smiled. "The two incidents with Miss Weasley alone are blatant evidence that the Headmaster is a danger to the children. I seriously doubt that what little assistance his presence provides will remain reliable for much longer. I concede the fact that his name and reputation afford the school a certain measure of protection, but if his dangerous, erratic behavior continues, he'll invalidate that shortly anyway. It might be better to cut our losses and rid ourselves of this menace, before he has a chance to do more damage. With a little forethought, it shouldn't be too hard to dispose of him. Minerva's well versed in the day-to-day operation of this school; she can take his place. She and Severus can work with Arthur to keep the Ministry from becoming too much of a problem-"

"That would only work if You-Know-Who wasn't after us," Filius disagreed.

Remus felt surprised that that was the Charms Professors' only objection. On any other day he knew they wouldn't be discussing a concept as heinous as murder so calmly. Though, with the state Arthur was in, he could understand the assembled teacher's joint fear of setting off the Auror again. To Remus, the very idea of putting down their long-time friend and mentor like a rabid dog was abhorrent, but even he knew nothing about their discussion was simple. He heard Severus groan in disgust.

"We're all adults here - not simpering children afraid of the dark. Voldemort is a powerful Dark extreme with delusions of godhood. The preposterous notion that it's dangerous to use his name is nothing more than legend, a tool of psychological warfare used to keep the masses in a state of constant panic. Dumbledore may have tolerated such spinelessness, however, I will not. If you wish to avoid using his name, then refer to him as the Dark Lord. But know this, by relinquishing your right to call him by name you are giving Voldemort power over you, a power that he and his minions will use at first opportunity. Is that clear?" sneered Severus in irritation, once again sounding like the Potions master he had come to know.

Remus nodded his head in agreement along with everyone else.

"As you were saying, Filius," redirected Severus, allowing them to continue this dangerous line of thought.

"Severus makes an excellent point concerning the Dark Lord," Filius went on. "I'm afraid that, without the Headmaster opposing him, Vol-Voldemort will certainly attack within a day. I seriously doubt any of us are ready to face the consequences of that."

"You would otherwise condone taking such a drastic action, Filius?" Minerva asked.

"I don't like this any more than you do, but it doesn't look like we have a better choice. You know as well as I do that Albus will not step down just because we ask him to. While either you or Severus could depose him by political means, the resulting infighting would be disastrous." Filius reasoned.

"I agree, it's just..." Minerva sighed. "I don't wish to be Headmistress." She paused. Remus sensed her reluctance, and knew that she was about to reveal something. "Once this war is over, I intend to leave my position at Hogwarts, for good. I have been grooming my apprentice to that end. With the blessing of the next Headmaster, she will take my place. I am sorry that you have to find out in this fashion, but I will not take Albus' position."

Remus heard several teachers gasp in surprise. He himself was shocked by this turn of events.

"But why, Minerva?" he pressed. "You love this school, you've made these children your life. Why cast that aside after all these years?"

"Because I no longer belong here," Minerva answered, affirming her position. "I haven't felt like I have for awhile. I can't explain it..." Minerva stood and walked to one of the large, frost covered windows. "It's true that I love the children, and the position to which I have devoted everything, but something tells me that I have already stayed too long. Albus talked me out of this once... that won't happen a second time. Perhaps the Headmaster you are seeking is Severus."

"Minerva McGonagall basing a life altering decision solely on a feeling," Remus thought, concerned. "Tell me what isn't wrong with that picture?"

"This is unusual behavior for her?" Zachary's thought was clear in his mind, catching him off guard.

"I have never known the Deputy Headmistress to do anything without evidence to back it up," Remus directed his thought back to the Divination teacher.

Zachary thoughtfully nodded.

"Me? Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Severus scoffed. "You must be balmy!"

"Why not?" Lydia picked up on the idea. "You have the respect of a majority of the Professors. Face it, Severus, you're a natural."

"I have to agree with her," both Remus and Zachary piped in.

Minerva returned to her seat.

"Minerva can teach you the administrative aspects, and the rest shouldn't be too difficult to pick up along the way," Remus added. "Other than Minerva, you are currently the most qualified among us for the job."

He watched Zachary and Severus converse briefly through their connection.

"This is absurd," Severus muttered aloud.

"But what about Dumbledore's supporters?" Arthur asked, pulling out of his stupor.

"Well, if they don't like it..." Lydia chuckled sinisterly. "Hogwarts could always use a little more fresh blood on staff."

"I move we put this to a vote," Alicia announced. "Who's for deposing Albus Dumbledore, and replacing him with someone more amenable to our cause?"

Lydia and Alicia both glanced at Severus.

"I second the motion," Lydia pounced on the opportunity.

Severus rose to his feet, retaking control of the meeting before anyone could respond.

"We should table the motion, at least until we are certain whether Hogwarts' defenses are secure, and are ready to face the complications that would undoubtedly arise from taking this course of action," Severus pronounced. "Waiting may not harm our chances of survival, but rushing headlong certainly will."

"See, Alicia, I told you he was the one," Lydia whispered. "He's putting his needs aside for the good of us all."

"That does sound prudent," Filius agreed.

"It would be better to wait, and allow cooler heads to prevail," Remus concurred.

The other wizards and witches reluctantly acceded. Severus returned to his chair.

"Now that we've tabled that item on the agenda, I believe there was something you three wanted to share with us," Severus said, gesturing toward their side of the table.

Clearing his throat, Remus began, "Yes. I'm sure all of you have noticed an abnormal jump in ability from a few of your students lately, more specifically those of Miss Weasley's peers who stuck by her after her shift." Remus paused while he opened the large envelope sitting next to him and pulled out eight smaller folders. Alicia handed one out to each person and sat back down before he resumed. "What you are looking at are the results of Miss Granger's Arithmancy NEWT, as well as the records of Miss Weasley's other friends. I've also included my findings from the practical exam I gave Mr. Longbottom and Miss Knight this afternoon."

"As you can see each student's overall scores have suddenly improved," Alicia continued. "In Miss Granger's case, she has gone from being a top student in her sixth year to graduating my subject at the ninety-fifth percentile, a year and a half early! For more than a week now the poor young woman has been bored to tears in her classes. During the dissertation, Miss Weasley demonstrated skills centuries ahead of our own, and Miss Granger can still understand her, even when we can't. From what we can tell, Hermione Granger is the closest witch to Virginia's level. I think if we gave Hermione or Virginia their full NEWTs at this point, they would both pass."

"Miss Weasley is maximizing the potential of those around her, using what we're calling the 'Weasley Effect'," Lydia summarized. "It seems to be affecting the children to a greater extent than the adults because their views on how the world works haven't fully formed yet."

"How could this Weasley Effect have so big an impact so quickly?" Zachary asked, checking over their data.

"Virginia has a natural talent for teaching," Severus answered him. "It appears to be the one thing she can still do..." The Potions master genuinely smiled, startling the group. "I think I know a way we can keep Virginia with us. If she can't teach us to understand her, then perhaps, my apprentice can teach them!"

*~*~*

Ginny lay awake on the sofa, trying to muster up the courage to write an honest letter to her mother. Exhausted by the week's events, Tom and Ix Chel, along with their roommates, were fast asleep. Ginny felt drained too, but not in the same way as her bonded. It wasn't so much a physical exhaustion, as this horribly tired, old feeling that filled every fiber of her being. She traced this irreconcilable pain in her heart back to her conversation with her father, only it had become a million times worse since then. After that difficult discussion, it had taken everything she had to put on a brave face in front of their friends and master for the remainder of the evening. It had taken a lot of convincing, but Ginny had gotten Arthur and Hermione to sign up for the gestalt. Now all they needed was a window of opportunity to make the restoration of Gryffindor Tower happen. Giving her some suddenly much-needed space, her bonded hadn't commented about the talk with her father.

Looking up at the ceiling, she never felt more alone in her entire life. Ginny knew that she would find no rest lying here. There was no point in putting it off any longer. She sat up, using the weird Apparition-like trick that she had decided to call translocation, to summon an envelope, parchment, quill, and ink from her trunk. She figured that, once she was done, she would take the letter up to the Owlery, with nobody the wiser. She didn't really know what she was going to say, but she didn't want Molly to think that she was avoiding her. She opened the bottle of ink, carefully dipped the tip of her feather quill into it, and began.

Dear mum,

Thanks for that sweet care package you sent along with Fred and George. It was wonderful! Not much else has been this week. I really hate to use the word 'impossible', but I don't how else to describe the past few days. None of my classes went as planned.

As the events of the week began playing through her head Ginny noticed her hands trembling, but she refused to let it stop her.

I've pretty much lost my basic skills, but I've figured out more complex ways to do the same things. I guess, the bright side is that my Professors have learned something this week. However, the bad side is that I've been barred from both Herbology and History of Magic classes. Binns even tried to give me detention. Thankfully, my master overturned the ghost's unjustified decision.

On the more personal front,

Ginny's quill came to a halt. She knew her mum wouldn't understand what was happening to her. She wasn't even sure that she understood any of it herself. By the time she realized that she had left the quill on the parchment for too long, the neat comma she had written had turned into an unsightly inkblot. Normally, she would just start again, but she didn't think she could handle doing this twice. I can do this, she thought, grabbing her wrist to stop her writing hand from shaking. She just needed to hold it together for a little while longer.

The last few weeks have been the worst. The teachers have declared Gryffindor Tower off-limits. Anti-Seer hysteria has overtaken Gryffindor, and is threatening the other houses. The teachers are on the case, but I don't think anyone's going to be able to stop this mess from going over the edge. The only good things since this started have been my friends and the Slytherins. Master Snape has been doing everything he can for me, but I know now that there are some things no one can help you with. As for me, a lot has happened. I'm not the person I was before the magical storm. I don't even know what I am anymore, nobody does really.

The memories of those traumatic events seemed to get stronger, more real with each word she wrote, making it hard to breathe, hard to keep the quill from shaking.

Everyone's telling me to give it time and things will go back to normal, but I know better. The amazing things I've done will never be normal; neither will my over-heightened senses, nor constantly being in one form of danger or another.

Ginny could hardly control the quill properly anymore, as her eyes began blurring with tears.

They wish it wasn't true, but I'm not innocent anymore. I know better than to think it's all going to be all right, just because someone tells me so.

She began sobbing softly, terrified of waking the others. Her tears hit the paper, making the rapidly drying ink murkier, but, at this point, she was beyond caring. The chain-reaction of events that had begun with her possessed brother trying to harm her at the Owlery, washed over her, real enough to touch, real enough to feel, tormenting her at every turn. The world closed in all around her, making the parchment and her oppressive memories seem like the only things that were truly real. Her now shaking hand continued writing the letter under its own momentum; unable to pause for anything more than to get ink

I'm tired, mommy, so tired... I have all this power at my fingertips, but none of it does me any good. It can't fix the things I wish it could. It can't take away the memories that everyone prays in vain I don't own any more. All it does is make me a target for wizards who would use me, who would destroy me, just like all the others who were before me. I don't know how to make it better.

Ginny remembered the look on daddy's face when she told him what the Light Lord had done to her.

All I keep doing is hurting people, even when I'm trying not to. I know I'm not alone, but it would probably be better for them if I were. I wish you, or maybe daddy could help me, but even I can't remember a spell to make it all better. I can't forget, I'll never forgive, I can just try to keep moving. I wish I had enough energy for hope right now. I'll write more when there's more to tell.

Ginny

Falling apart, she folded the letter and shoved it in the envelope. Then she sealed it, wrote who it was for, and transported it to the kitchen table at home in a pulse blue-white light. Shakily, Ginny got to her feet and then sat down on her bed, giving into the past she couldn't escape. Just wanting to feel safe and invisible, she used her wand to write some Arithmancy equations around the perimeter of her bed so she would fit. Then she grabbed a pillow and her comforter, with her familiar on it, and dragged them under the bed with her. Ix Chel let out a surprised hiss when she was abruptly awakened and tried to escape. With a whispered spell Ginny knocked out Ix Chel, silencing her perturbed hissing. Then, laying well out of sight, Ginny cried herself to sleep, clutching her familiar.

_________

TBC