Blood is Thicker than Water

Ginny set her bags down lightly and looked upon the magnificent entrance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The date was June seventh, only the second week of summer break. Normally, she would have been at home enjoying a long, luxurious summer, but instead she had decided to return to Hogwarts to train as a medic. With the war growing more intense, medics were very high in demand; yet there were few who possessed the skills and training needed.

Ginny could still remember the night when Dumbledore had made his announcement.

"I know this year has been a trying one for all of us. Our world is changing; freedom is no longer safe. The beginning of the war in which light will battle darkness has finally begun. Many of you have lost loved ones to the hands of Lord Voldemort and his minions. Hogwarts has lost three students this year. We are all in for dark times, but together we can survive. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to stick together. I ask that we have a moment of silence in memory of the lives lost this year."

The hall was silent as everyone bowed their heads solemnly.

Dumbledore raised his head and continued, "Thank you. Now for what I am about to offer, I want none to be coaxed into. It is a decision each and every one of you must make for yourself. If you are of heart and you are a rising sixth year or above, then you may join the reserves, meaning that should there be a dire need you will be called in to fight against the dark. You will be asked to sign a binding magical contract so there will be no backing out. Minimal training will be required, either as an extracurricular class next semester at Hogwarts, or over the summer with the ministry. If you are interested you may sign in the back of the great hall. With that said, let us enjoy our feast."

There was silence as everyone digested this information. Sure they knew a war was going on, but it was still hard to believe when they saw no evidence of it.

Suddenly a chair slid back, breaking the eerie silence. Harry Potter stood and walked resolutely towards the table in the back. Ron and Hermione trailing behind him in his wake. Everyone turned to watch Harry, Ron, and Hermione enlist unblinkingly. For them it hadn't ever been a choice. It was a matter of what was right and they were willing to fight for it.

As the trio sat back down to their dinner, all eyes were on them. Then suddenly, there was a tidal wave of students ambling towards the table in the back. It seemed that this show of bravery was the push many of the students needed, including Ginny. Gryffindor let out a cheer, which soon became deafening as the other houses joined in.

Afterwards, Ron had tried to pressure Ginny into enlisting, but Hermione had finally insisted that they leave Ginny to make her own decisions. And she had made her own decision. Fighting simply wasn't her forte. She wanted to help, but be behind the scenes.

Over the next few weeks, Ginny flirted with several ideas, but none really appealed to her. By the time the leaving feast rolled around she was no closer to a decision than before. Luckily for her, she bumped into some unexpected guidance by the name of Albus Dumbledore.

He had insisted that they have a chat and so they did. He understood her reluctance to fight and offered her a happy alternative, medical training. Ginny would return over the summer and work under the tutelage of Madame Pomfrey.

And that was why Virginia Weasley was standing on the doorstep of Hogwarts in the mid-summer.

She looked around nervously before lifting the gigantic brass knocker. She let it clang three times and stepped back from the door. Just then, the door swung open revealing Severus Snape.

"No need to knock, Miss Weasley," he snapped.

"It hardly seemed right to barge in," she answered truthfully.

He nodded curtly and picked up her bags. "Madame Pomfrey is currently out restocking her medicine cupboard and won't return until this evening. So I will be showing you to your rooms."

"My rooms?"

"Yes, of course. Gryffindor Tower won't be reopened until next semester."

"Oh."

He began to walk briskly down the hallway with Ginny trailing behind him, until they finally reached a corridor with a line of tall columns. Professor Snape stopped abruptly at the third column and hissed out 'reverto'.

The column opened with a groan, revealing a trapdoor, which Snape promptly kicked open. In front of Ginny was a sliver ladder leading downwards into the dark abyss that would be her rooms.

"Well are you going to stand there all day or go inside?" Snape sneered.

"May I do magic?" Ginny asked, ignoring his question.

"As long as you are on the Hogwarts grounds. Now if you don't mind, these suitcases are getting heavy."

Ginny nodded before he could continue and used her wand to light the darkness below. Using her foot to rid the entrance of spider webs, she descended. Professor Snape levitated her bags down.

"Dinner is at seven. You may work out your schedule with Madame Pomfrey then. As for your lessons with me, they will begin after breakfast tomorrow."

"Thank you, Professor."

His only response was a snort and the slam of a trapdoor. She could hear the column sliding back into place. Ginny sighed and looked around her. The room she was standing in was a semi-circle with several doors leading from it. In the back of the room was a small kitchenette and in the front was a sort of den setup. She found that there were three bedrooms attached to the main area and a bath. Minus the dust and cobwebs, her rooms were fit for a queen.

After a few weeks, Ginny began to get into the swing of life at Hogwarts. The Professors were all exceptionally kind to her. Her studies were challenging, but not overly difficult and for once in her life she had some peace and quiet.

Ginny was restocking the infirmary sleeping draughts one morning when Madame Pomfrey bustled out of her office.

"Ginny, I need to get some potion ingredients from the Apothecary. Would you mind watching over the infirmary for an hour or two?"

"Of course, I will."

"Now should there be an emergency send word to me immediately and call Professor Snape in." She was halfway out the door when she turned and added, "Oh and thank you dear."

Ginny nodded and shut the door softly behind her. Was that woman ever not in a hurry? About an hour had passed with no interruption and Ginny was beginning to get bored. She had just finished restocking the sleeping drafts and decided to sit down. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

However, her peaceful slumber ended abruptly with a thunderous pounding on the infirmary door. Ginny jumped out of her chair in alarm and moved quickly to open the door. When she did the sight before her was not a pretty one. A pale blond boy was lying lifeless in the potion master's arms, blood dipping to the floor.

"Where is Poppy?" Snape demanded.

"She's not here." Ginny stammered.

"What do you mean she isn't here?" Snape roared.

"She left for London to get supplies."

Several teachers appeared in the doorway to see what the commotion was about and began questioning Severus loudly. He tried to deter their questions and get the boy into a bed, but with no luck. Ginny could see they were getting nowhere fast.

"Excuse me," she said timidly. Everyone continued talking loudly. "Excuse me!" she screamed. The teachers whirled around to face her, looking shocked at her sudden outburst.

"Madame Pomfrey is in London right now and this person needs serious help. Could someone please send word to her?"

Professor Flitwick hurried out of the room.

With the distraction of Ginny, Snape was able to lay the battered boys down on one of the infirmary beds. Ginny rushed over towards the bedside and gasped at what she saw there. The blond boy was Draco Malfoy.

"My God," she whispered in shock. "It isn't Draco Malfoy is it?"

Snape nodded his ascent, all the while looking irritated with her lack of concentration.

He was covered in blood, which made it hard to tell what was wrong with him. So Ginny performed a quick scouring charm, which revealed a nasty gash above his left eye, a lot of bruises, and a knot the size of Texas on his head.

From Draco's pallid face, it was obvious he had lost a lot of blood. She immediately healed the gash and cuts to stop the bleeding, but color didn't seem to be returning to his face.

"Professor Snape, do you have a blood restorative?" she asked doubtfully.

He shook his head.

"How long will it take you to brew one?"

"Less that ten minutes if I had dragon's blood, but I am all out."

"Malfoy will die if he doesn't get a blood restorative into his system soon. Is there any substitute for dragon's blood?"

"None that is available to us."

Ginny looked at him uneasily, "What about human blood? Would it work?"

Snape contemplated this for a second and said slowly, "In theory yes, but that is out of the question in this case. It is far too dangerous. A great deal of blood would be needed, not just a drop."

"Professor, you are capable of healing cuts correct?"

"Yes," he said eyeing her suspiciously.

She walked over to the medical cabinets and got a clean razor and a vile.

"Weasley!" Snape barked. "I will not allow this. I would rather lose one life than two!"

He walked forwards and she dug the blade into the tender skin of her wrist. She clenched her teeth as her blood trickled into the vile.

"I took an oath Professor Snape," she murmured, watching the dark red substance slide into the clear bottle.

The world flickered in and out of focus. Everything was blurry and then there was nothing but darkness.