Taking The Chance

Ginny had woken up earlier than normal; her books still lying closed at her feet where she had fallen asleep the previous night with the questions regarding Draco still flying through her head. She sat up and looked at her books in disgust, so much for getting an early jump on the revision.

Doing real well there, Gin. Last I checked no one has ever passed an exam on good intentions.

She continued to chastise herself mentally as she got dressed. Of course, she reasoned, no one else had 6 brothers who had been there and done that and who would be able to point her in the right direction of how the exams would go. She paused and thought for a second. How much use would Fred, George and Ron really be... She smiled as she sprang up from her bed, no one else had 3 brothers who would be able to point them in the right direction...

She walked out to the Common Room where a handful of people already were- mainly stressed 6th and 7th years who were buried behind a mountain of books. She sat down and began drumming her hands as a chorus of "Shhh's" greeted her. She rolled her eyes, if they wanted quiet that badly they should have went to the library. Reluctantly she pulled open her Muggle studies book and began reading. "Muggles have somewhat successfully developed methods of bartering which involves different types of 'currency' (see apendix IV: Muggle economy and their applications) this currency changes depending on where in the world you are and the value changes in accordance to the location and the time of day (see next chapter on Muggle Exchange Rates for fuller explanation)"

Ginny groaned and slammed the book shut. How could anyone work something like that out? Why couldn't they just use galleons like the rest of the world?

"It's not even December yet, Gin and you're studying? You're showing the family up...you sure you haven't switched brains with Hermione?"

Ginny groaned as she looked at her brother and sighed. "I wish I had Hermione's brain...I can't take any of this in..."

"What is it? Ah, Muggle studies? Check with Perce, I think he might have done that if not Bill definitely did...me and Fred considered it but then we realised that we wouldn't get a moments peace from dad...it would be all 'so, tell us about the concepts of the electric power grids' every 2 minutes..." George sat down and yawned loudly as he looked at her. "So why studying now?"

Ginny sighed as she answered. She really didn't want to think about it but... "2 exams in Muggle studies because they split the course into 2 sections: one on Muggle history and another on Muggle life in the present day, so we have an exam in December..." She smiled and looked at George, who was desperately trying to look interested as he stifled another yawn. "You look tired, George. Why are you up so early?"

George looked at her steelily as he answered bitterly. "Seamus. I swear the boy is an Oliver clone - I thought he was easy going but he is Quidditch on the brain. He thinks the only way the team can be prepped is to get up before the sun..."

Ginny giggled slightly as she tried to envisage Seamus being authoritative to her brothers and Harry. "Where's the rest of the team?"

George looked at her and grinned. "The girls are getting preened because they just *love* him and I think that Seamus and Harry are trying to unstick Fred from his covers as he put a little charm on himself...." He sighed dramatically as he muttered, "Wish I'd thought of it..."

Ginny smiled at him as she nudged him. "You never know, you might thank him one day..."

George raised his eyebrows as he looked at her like she had lost her mind. Why couldn't she get away with a look like that without looking ridiculous? "The boy is obsessed! Harry said he was talking in his sleep the other night about being the youngest captain to have an undefeated team and he keeps on about how it won't be acceptable if we loss more than 150 points in the 3 matches...I could kill Oliver. Seamus was perfectly normal until Oliver said during his visit that he would never make it as a captain because he wasn't dedicated...i think they have some kind of Celtic rivalry there."

Ginny took a deep breath. That was obsessed and she was just about to say that when she heard the smooth Irish voice come down the stairs. "You all will thank me for this when we go down in history...even you Fred..."

She turned and saw Fred groan in reply as he walked over to the girls who had come out their bedroom and were waiting on them. Fred placed his head on Angelina's shoulder as he muttered loudly. "Come back, Oliver...all is forgiven..."

Ginny looked at Fred and grinned. "Shouldn't you get going?"

Fred looked at her and shook his head in disbelief. "Et tu, Ginny? Where's the loyalty?"

"I left it in my other robes..." Ginny replied with a smile as she looked away from her brothers.

Ginny had turned back around and hadn't noticed a person standing behind her. "Hey, Ginny? How's it going? What are you doing up so early?"

Ginny almost jumped out her skin as she turned around and saw a tired looking Harry looking at her questionably. She took a deep breath as she felt her face pink up. Dammit, not now, not now...

"I, um, I went to bed really early...so I woke up early..." She smiled shyly as she looked down. Was it just her or did Harry look really good this morning? Like he doesn't look good all the time...

Harry nodded his head as he smiled at her. "Oh well, see you at breakfast..."

She nodded her head as he walked away with the rest of the half asleep team out the portrait hole. As soon as she was sure he was out of sight she allowed herself to grin happily. He had said he would see her at breakfast. He had came and spoke to her and said he would see her at breakfast. That was something, maybe he didn't think she was invisible. Maybe that proved Malfoy wrong when he said that Harry didn't acknowledge her existence? Showed what he knew with his snidey remarks and his sneering. She sat back happily on the couch and sighed as she allowed herself to imagine all the possibilities that emerged from the simple line, "see you at breakfast."

Ginny was still laying on the couch when she heard a voice calling her name gently from behind her. She opened her eyes and saw Rhianne McEntire looking at her with an amused smile.

"Rhianne...what are you doing back?" Ginny said as she jumped up and hugged her friend tightly. "I thought you would have been gone to the weekend. How was the funeral?"

Rhianne looked at her and shook her head. "Depressing, why more people don't ask for fun stuff when they die I'll never know. All the Mourning robes and hats surrounding the pyre just made me want to jump right in there along with Calum..."

Ginny smiled sympathetically as she wrapped her arm around her friends shoulders. Poor Rhianne had just buried her brother after he had died in a Muggle accident and she had been at home for the past fortnight. "How are you feeling?"

Rhianne smiled and sighed as she sat down on the seat beside Ginny. "I haven't been great, you know...he had just graduated University, he was getting ready to start his new job and now...now he's just not." She took a deep breath as she looked at the fire. "But you know, he would never have wanted all the doom and gloom...that's why I realised that I couldn't just concentrate on the fact that he died. I had to concentrate on the fact that he lived! I mean, he was in Egypt, he went to the Mayan ruins, he conversed with Mer-people, he stayed with centaurs and he saw the head of the first Medusa...he had a good life. Way too short, but good."

Rhianne wiped her eyes as she gave Ginny a big smile. "And that's how I'm going to remember him. How's Bill, he looked pretty bad at the funeral..."

Ginny sighed as she smiled sadly "Shocked, but better. My mum is worse, she had a hard time dealing with the fact that it had happened after how often he was round ours while him and Bill were at Hogwarts...it's just really weird for her."

Rhianne nodded as she sighed and they both sat in silence for a minute. Ginny looked at Rhianne and fought the need to hug her again. She didn't want to think what she must be going through...her brother dying. And in a Muggle hospital...the pure blooded McEntire's weren't equipped to deal with the Muggle world and the questions that would follow...any more than her family would be if...if... Stop it Ginny, just stop it! How can you think like that? It was an accident. It won't happen to any of your family!

She shook her head, angry at herself for even considering it, as Rhianne looked at her and smiled. "So, what have I missed? I saw your brother and Neville having a rather heated conversation as I came in...what's going on there?" She began to laugh gently. "Neville hasn't suddenly developed a backbone has he?"

Ginny felt her eyes widen. "Ron and Neville? I have no idea...it's probably to do with yesterday..."

"Which would make sense to me, why?" Rhianne said with a smile as Ginny spoke quietly, almost to herself. "Come on, Gin...what happened?"

Ginny sighed as she sank back on the couch and looked at her. "Malfoy announced in the middle of the school that Neville's parents had been subjected to the cruciatus curse and were now insane...well, announced might be too bland a way to put it. He actually acted it out, complete with his interpretations of what his parents were like now..."

Rhianne's hand went to her mouth in horror. "He never? Poor Neville...god, what kind of person would do that?"

Ginny shrugged her shoulders. What kind of person would do that? Heartless? Definitely, but if he was heartless then he wouldn't have been hurt when she spoke to him. Cold? Malfoy was definitely that. Stupid? He was a lot of things but he wasn't stupid, he picked up on things that no one else did Like Harry...

"Is Neville okay?" Rhianne's voice snapped her out of her reverie about Malfoy as she looked at her expectantly. "I mean, Malfoy will be gone won't he?"

Ginny shook her head. "I spoke to him last night, he's staying..."

"Excuse me?" Rhianne's eyes widened as she gasped loudly much to the aghast of the others in the Common Room, which was rapidly filling up with people who were getting ready for breakfast. She lowered her voice as she looked at Ginny. "I don't know what bothers me more...the fact that he's staying or the fact that you spoke to him..."

Ginny looked at her and shook her head. "Rhia, god...it's not like that. It wasn't a conversation! He knocked me down and stopped to gloat." Ginny looked down at her hands as she sighed. "He was his usual charming self...you know, a little Weasley bashing, a little Harry bashing and of course the gloating...about his money, his father power and the fact that Harry didn't notice me..."

"Bastard." Rhianne shook her head as she looked at Ginny. "So what did you say to him?"

Ginny sighed as she sat up, this really wasn't something she wanted to think about again. She had spent the night thinking about what she said to Dra...to Malfoy and he didn't warrant anymore of her time. She didn't feel bad, she didn't. He didn't warrant that. He deserved to feel bad...assuming he had feelings of course. "Listen, none of the others know about him yet, so if you could maybe...keep it quiet, they'll find out at breakfast anyway..."

"Whatever you think...and I know that something happened with Malfoy." Rhianne said with a sigh as she looked at her with an expression that clearly told her that she didn't believe a word of what she said. Dammit Rhianne, just let it go...nothing happened. "So tell me, what's Harry been up to?"

Ginny shook her head. "You ask that like you expect me to know...you've been gone 2 weeks Rhia and trust me, you haven't returned to an alternate reality." Ginny stood up and began walking towards the girls dorm room. "No matter how much I wish you had...I'm going to go get my stuff. I'll see you at breakfast."

* * * * *

Ginny sat in her bed with the curtains closed over waiting on everyone to leave for breakfast, desperately hoping that she would be able to avoid the speculation getting thrown about as she wouldn't be able to lie when they started and that would just make the Gryffindors angry. And at least, if they were in the Great Hall there would be teachers there to keep them in some semblence of order...

"Ginny? You still here?" She opened her curtain and looked out to see Hermione standing at the door.

"Hermione? Hi... What's up?" Ginny said as she stood up and walked over to the door.

Hermione shook her head and gave a smile. "Nothing, Rhianne said you were up here and Ron, Harry and I are heading down to breakfast so we were wondering if you wanted to come?"

Ginny sighed as she grabbed her bag reluctantly, "I guess so..."

Can't hide from it anymore Ginny, time to face the music.

* * * * *

The trip to breakfast had been uneventful and Ginny's hopes that Harry's comment earlier in the morning had proved to turn out the exact way those comments always did. Fruitless.

They all sat at the table: Seamus, Fred, George, Lee and Dean all discussed ways in which to nobble Hufflepuff players during the next game, while Harry, Ron and Hermione kept staring at the doorway for Neville who hadn't shown up yet for breakfast.

"He should be here by now...you don't think...he's..you know, done something stupid?" Ron said nervously as he looked at Hermione and Harry.

Hermione shook her head angrily as she looked at Ron. "Don't be so stupid...he wouldn't do that. You know he wouldn't."

Rhianne sat down beside Ginny and whispered in her ear. "Guess who I just saw?"

Ginny turned around to her and waited while Rhianne smiled. "Professor Lupin and Neville..."

"Professor Lupin? He's back...and Neville was with him?" Ginny asked hopefully. Professor Lupin had been one of her favourite teachers before he left. He was always so kind and so patient with everyone and she had been always been able to talk to him.

Rhianne smiled and nodded her head. "They were coming from Dumbledore's office when I went in. I thought you might want to tell the others?"

Ginny smiled and nodded her head before she turned and looked over at Ron, Harry and Hermione who were talking heatedly.

"Guys..."

Ron shook his head as he looked at Harry. "Listen, crazier things have happened. How do we know he hasn't waited on Malfoy to leave this morning and blasted him away?"

Ginny sighed as she looked at the three of them. "Listen..."

Hermione looked at Ron and shook her head as she gave an exasperated sigh. "Ron...this doesn't make sense. For one thing, Neville isn't that devious or calculating. And he doesn't have the power to 'blast' anyone away..."

Ron shrugged his shoulders as he looked at her. "Hey, pain can make you do some crazy things, am I right Harry?"

Harry nodded his head as he looked at him. "Yeah, it can...but it's Neville...he isn't going to let Malfoy win..."

"Guys!" Ginny said louder to try and get their attention. What were they? Deaf or just ignoring her?

Harry turned to her and gave her a slight smile. "Just give us a minute Ginny, this stuff is important..." He then turned back to Ron and Hermione and began talking again.

Ginny immediately turned away from the three of them and bit her lip to stop it from quivering. That was important? She only wanted to help...she cared about Neville as well...how could they cut her out like that? Invisible, invisible, invisible, invisible, invisible...

Rhianne turned to her and shook her head sadly. "Ignore him, he doesn't know what he's missing. One day he'll finally work out that the scar doesn't automatically make him as much of a man as he wishes he was. He'll work it out..."

Ginny forced herself to smile at Rhianne and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Are you going to charms today?"

Rhianne shook her head. "Professor Dumbledore said I was to take the rest of the week to catch up and start back on Monday...and speak of the devil..."

Rhianne nodded over to the door and the whole Hall suddenly became quiet as Dumbledore entered followed by a brazen looking Malfoy. Ginny stiffened as she stared at Malfoy and their eyes met briefly. How could he have the audacity to walk into the Hall like that? He may as well have waved.

"I cannot believe he's still here." Parvati Patil whispered over towards the boys from her year and shook her head. "I wonder what you have to do to get suspended here..."

Ron glared at Malfoy and shook his head. "Dumbledore's gone soft. He'll have to kill someone before he's suspended." He looked over at Malfoy angrilly. "Hey Malfoy...so what, did your father threaten to get the school closed or to get the Dementors back around the place if Dumbledore didn't keep you in?"

Ginny kept her eyes on Malfoy the whole time hoping to catch a flash of emotion, or at the very least a reaction. He stood at the Slytherin table as Rhianne whispered in her ear. "You keep staring at him like that and he's going to get the wrong idea."

Ginny shook her head and looked over at the table where Malfoy was still standing. What the...she put her spoon down and looked at him as he jumped gracefully up onto the table. His wand raised in the air. As his feet made contact with the wood, in between plates and cups he fired a loud blast from the end of his wand.

"He's lost his mind...what the hell is he doing?"

"Maybe Dumbledore put him under the imperius...you know, they could have changed the rules..."

The speculations flew from table to table as every pair of eyes in the Great Hall were drawn to Draco Malfoy who was smirking at them all. "Sorry, for interupting your breakfasts but no doubt many of you will enjoy this better..."

Harry glared over at Malfoy and muttered to Ron. "I sincerely doubt it unless he plans on spontaneous combusting..."

"It is no secret that I don't like the Gryffindors..."

The Gryffindors looked at each other in shock at his audacity to say it before booing loudly and yelling at him.

Way to go and endear yourself, Malfoy... Ginny said as she looked at him dumbfounded. What on earth was he doing?

"But, I realise now that I have went over the line in that rivalry. I never considered the feelings of the people I have insulted, nor did I particularly care. But, I know I was in the wrong so I would like to take this opportunity to apologise."

Ginny noticed he smiled confidently at this...unpertubed by the booing. Although the Slytherins certainly didn't look as confident. That girl with the dark hair that followed Malfoy around like a lapdog didn't seem to like it at all as she tried to pull him down from the table. He's...apologising? Well...that a turn up for the books...i never thought he had it in him...

Ginny bit her lip as she looked down briefly. An apology must have been another condition...Muggle studies and a public apology. Lucius Malfoy wouldn't tolerate that...his son humiliating himself in front of everyone? He couldn't have been there...why would Malfoy have lied about it when he knew that she would find out?

She looked up at him again as he continued. "To the Gryffindors in particular, I used terms that are not...acceptable in a wizarding environment so I apologise if I have upset any of you." He paused for a second as he clenched his fist. He couldn't be nervous could he? "Finally, I would just like to say that I made a mistake yesterday about Longbo...Neville. I've spoken to him already and told him how much I regret what I said but...i want to make it clear in no uncertain terms that I know I did wrong, and I am truly sorry that I hurt him."

Ginny bit her lip again as she looked at him. He's apologised to Neville? She shook her head and sighed. Why was he so confusing all of a sudden? Why did he look so nervous? Why do you care?

He turned around and looked at her with a proud expression as he spoke, almost directly to her. She felt as though all the people surrounding them had disappeared as his pale eyes focused their attention on her. "Despite what some people may think, I am not a dark wizard...but I suppose I should aim to be 10 times the man I already am." She felt herself blush, she had never imagined that he would think about what she had said again. Nonetheless, she stuck her chin out and looked at him proudly as he almost dared her silently to react. After a second he turned away from her and addressed the school again. "But for starters, I can only say I'm sorry...but if you can't accept it that is your concern because I won't be saying it again, no matter how over-sensitive some people are."

Ginny dropped her gaze away from him as he jumped down from the table and the rest of the school began hurling insults at him. She took a deep breath as Rhianne nudged her. "What were you staring at him for? Everyone else was looking but in the end there you were in a little world of your own...what happened last night?"

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing...nothing happened. I just wanted to hear what he had to say for himself..." That's all, she told herself. She just wanted to hear how he talked his way out of it.

She turned around to look at Harry and Ron who were talking in whispers about what they could do about Malfoy staying. She noticed Hermione who wasn't involved in the heated conversation and attracted her attention in a move to avoid thinking about Malfoy. "Hermione? Um, Neville's with Professor Lupin...just thought you should know..."

Hermione looked at her disbelievingly and indicated to Harry and Ron who both looked at Ginny incredulously.

"Ginny! How could you not tell us? We've been worried sick..." Ron said angrilly as he looked at her.

Ginny felt like laughing. How was she supposed to tell them sooner? "I tried to tell you but..."

Harry looked at Ron and shook his head. "Leave her alone, she didn't know. Come on, we'll go see if we can find him before potions..."

With that the two of them stood up and walked away without even looking back at her. Ginny shook her head. Why did she expect any better. "Don't bother saying thank you or anything...."

She took a bite of toast and stood up. She looked at Rhianne and sighed. "I'm going to head."

Rhianne nodded her head as she looked at her and smiled. "Forget about them, they are guys...guys are dense. It's a flaw. Look on the brightside, they aren't Malfoys." She laughed gently as she looked at Ginny. Ginny forced herself to smile. At this moment in time the fact that they weren't Malfoys didn't provide as much comfort as it should have done. "You want to meet up for lunch, Ginny? And we can have a right talk?"

Ginny sighed and shook her head. If only. "Sorry, can't...I have to go over my project at lunch...I'll see you later though. Have fun...i think Colin's glad you're back..."

Rhianne smiled as she looked at her and blushed slightly. "Good, cause I missed him as well..."

Ginny felt a pang as she bid her friend goodbye. Even Colin had found someone who liked him back...

She began walking away as Rhianne said goodbye. Now all Ginny had to handle was Charms followed by herbology followed by the worse project she had ever worked on in her life...and then potions, and history of magic. Then, if that wasn't enough she would be able to go up into the common room and be ignored somemore. She sighed as she stopped outside the Great Hall and leant against the wall. Why did she do this to herself? Why did she always set herself up for being treated like crap with them? Because you're Ginny...that's what you do.

She opened her eyes and walked towards Charms...maybe it would be different later. Maybe they would apologise. Maybe they would notice she existed and she had feelings...hopefully.

TBC