Reputations

Red faced, Ginny made her way to the Gryffindor common room. Ceridon was sitting innocently in the corner reading a book. She would have had Ginny convinced had the book not been upside down. "Hi, Ginny," said Ceridon sweetly, looking up from the book. "What happened to you? I thought you were right behind me." The look on Ginny's face told Ceridon it was no use. "All right. I saw Draco walking up the corridor and thought it would be a perfect moment for you two to be on your own."

"Ceridon, he was with a group of Slytherins, how could we have been on our own?"

"OK, so the situation wasn't perfect, but it was a start!"

"Yes. Yes it was, because falling flat on your face is incredibly attractive."

"Well, he helped you to stand up and that was ever so romantic."

"He helped me to stand up because I was in his way."

"Don't be such a cynic."

"I bet they're all talking about me now," Ginny groaned.

"That's a good thing. Come on," Ceridon said, standing up, and linking arms with Ginny.

"Where are we going?"

"To the dungeons," Ceridon replied casually.

"What? No way! Haven't I suffered enough humiliation for one day?"

"Don't worry; we're not going to the Slytherin common room. We're going to see Snape."

"Oh. What!? Why would I want to do a thing like that?"

"To get you a seventh year tutor because you're having trouble in Potions."

"Are you ever going to give up?"

"No," smiled Ceridon. "Not until we get some results. This is all for your benefit."

"Perhaps when I'm a 'bad girl', the first thing I should do is drop irritating friends," teased Ginny.

"Ha ha."

Both girls made their way back down to the dungeons. Ceridon hovered a bit at the start of the long bleak corridor.

"Having second thoughts?" asked Ginny, "because I have no problem with turning back."

Ceridon took Ginny's arm. "No, come on." Taking a deep breath, Ceridon knocked on the door of Snape's office.

"Yes?" was the agitated response.

Ginny, looking petrified followed Ceridon into the office.

"Miss Cate, what have you come to torment me about now?"

"Ginny." She pulled Ginny next to her. "Ginny is very, very shy."

"Your point please, Miss Cate. I haven't got all day."

"Ginny has been having trouble in Potions. She's not the sharpest quill in the box," Ceridon added in a hushed tone, as if Ginny wasn't there. Ginny gave Ceridon a stunned look, but Ceridon continued, much to the amusement of Snape. "She would really appreciate a seventh year tutor. You saw what she was like last lesson, poor thing."

Snape looked at Ginny. "Are you able to speak for yourself, Miss Weasley, or do I have to give you tutoring details via your secretary?"

"No, er, I can speak, sir."

"Are you having trouble in Potions?"

"Yes," she replied reluctantly.

"Very well. Mr Malfoy is probably best qualified to give help with Potions. I will arrange it with him."

Ceridon laughed triumphantly and Snape glared at her. "And your tutor, Miss Cate, will be Mr Longbottom. Though the roles may be reversed..."

"But..." protested Ceridon. "I don't need a tutor!"

"That, Miss Cate, is debatable. Now excuse me, I have the rest of these papers to mark." Ginny and Ceridon headed towards the door. "And I will see you in detention tonight, Miss Cate."

"What a cheek," said Ceridon, when they were safely in the corridor.

"You deserved it," Ginny smiled.

"Well, at least we got one good result. Quality time with a certain Mr Malfoy for a certain Miss Weasley to rebel."

"Great," muttered Ginny.

"You must remember to act uninterested."

"I'll try," said Ginny sarcastically.

*

Ginny daydreamed as she strolled across the grounds to the castle. Ceridon was with Neville, so she had decided to go for a walk. All peaceful thoughts were interrupted by an abrupt "Weasley!" Oh no, she thought to herself. She turned to see Draco and assorted Slytherins walking towards her. He pushed a book into her hands. "Read this." Then he walked off. 'Potions made easy, by Clifford Notesi.' She felt like a complete fool, and headed towards the Gryffindor common room. Ginny couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Neville Longbottom going over detailed Potion notes with her best friend.

"Help," mouthed Ceridon.

"No," replied Ginny, smiling.

"Ginny!" It was Ron.

"Hi, Ron."

"What did Malfoy want?"

"Oh, he's my, er, tutor for Potions."

"Malfoy? Tutor? Ha!"

"I would have been happy to tutor you," said Hermione, sitting down next to Ron.

"Snape assigned the tutors. I didn't get a say."

Hermione looked at her sympathetically. "Well Draco's good at Potions, just ignore his attitude."

Harry walked over. "Hey guys."

Ginny's heart skipped a beat.

"Hi, Ginny."

"Hi," she replied meekly.

"Malfoy has been assigned as Ginny's Potions tutor. She's not very happy." Ron updated Harry.

"Well, I didn't actually say I was unhappy..." Ginny began, but Harry cut her off.

"Malfoy helping someone has to be seen to be believed."

"Harry," scolded Hermione. "We always knew that Draco had a heart."

Harry and Ron laughed and the three continued to talk over Ginny's head, as if she wasn't there. She felt like a baby, but they would notice her, soon enough. Ginny got up and walked over to Ceridon. "Neville, I need to borrow Ceridon, it's really important. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not," mumbled Neville. "Ceridon we will pick up on chapter 103 tomorrow."

"Thanks for saving me," said Ceridon as they left the common room.

"I didn't do it for your sake. I've decided to give this whole new image thing a try. I'm sick of being treated like a baby."

"Where are we going?" asked an amazed and slightly scared Ceridon.

"To find Draco Malfoy."