The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower, the Sequel

Ginny placed her hand on the closet door as if to open it.

"Ginny, wait," said Draco, grasping her wrist. "Why do you have to go?"

"I just do," said Ginny, not looking at him.

"Is there something on my face?" Draco asked. "Because if that's it then..."

"No, Draco, there's nothing on your face," Ginny cut him off.

"Then what is it?" Draco demanded.

"I'm... well, it's just that... oh, I don't know," said Ginny. "I'm just a little, well, scared."

"Scared?" Draco whispered. "Of what?"

"You," said Ginny.

"Why?" Draco questioned. "You weren't scared yesterday, or five minutes ago, why the sudden change?"

"I don't know," said Ginny. "But I've got to get back to class."

"What do you have?" Draco asked.

"Divination," Ginny replied.

"Can't be more important than this," said Draco. "I doubt you'll miss anything." He leaned in to kiss her again, but she ducked her head out of the way.

"No, I can't," she said. "I've got to get back."

"You do not," said Draco. "You're just suddenly wanting to avoid me. What's going on?"

"It's this," said Ginny, tugging at the coin which hung around her neck. "I can't help but wonder about it."

"Then don't wear it," said Draco. "Nobody's forcing you to."

"But it's not just that," said Ginny.

"Then what is it?" Draco demanded. "Out with it."

"I don't know," said Ginny, shaking her head, still avoiding his face.

"Ginny, look at me," said Draco.

Ginny bit her lip.

"Can't you just look at me?" Draco asked.

Ginny took a deep breath and moved her head up to face him. His face was still shadowed, and his eyes showed concern, although it was still a little hard to see.

"Now tell me what's wrong," said Draco.

Ginny studied his face. He still looked like Lucius, with his pale pointed face, white blonde hair, and grey eyes. But he also had his differing appearance, the part that looked like Draco.

"Do you want me to stand here and guess what's wrong?" Draco asked.

"Your father," Ginny blurted out without thinking.

"He's locked away in Azkaban," said Draco. "And honestly, he seems quite happy, happier than he's ever been here."

"Happy?" Ginny asked.

"I think he likes the Dementors for some reason," said Draco. "He and my mother are both really happy. Like scary happy. And my father said he wishes me the best." Draco looked very distant for a moment, then he shook his head. "Whatever that was about," he continued. "The point is, you've nothing to be scared of."

"I have a feeling you aren't telling me everything you know about this," said Ginny, tugging at the coin again.

Draco's face looked blank, no sign of a smile, smirk, or frown.

"Well?" said Ginny. "What more do you know?"

Draco shrugged, and Ginny knew he was being sincere as he didn't avoid eye contact, but instead, stared her right in the eye. She wished he wouldn't, he seemed to look right through her eyes, into her mind.

"Okay," said Ginny, trying hard not to blink. "I believe you. But still, I've got to get back to class." She went to push the door open again, and again, Draco stopped her.

"Not so fast," he said. "You're forgetting something."

Ginny smiled faintly and kissed him.

And somehow, somewhere along the line, Draco's arm slipped, hitting the closet door, thrusting it open. Draco and Ginny fell out of the closet, Ginny landing on her back with Draco on top of her.

But the worst was yet to come.

Colin Creevey stood over them, gripping his camera, a sly smile on his face. "I love black mail," he said, snapping away at his camera. "Ron would love to see this!"

Draco got up hurriedly, lunging at Colin, knocking him off his feet.

Ginny jumped up, pulling the camera from Colin. "Give me the camera, Colin," she said. "There's no need for this."

"Let go of me!" Colin shrieked. "Get off me!"

Ginny pulled the camera hard, releasing it from Colin's grip. "Not a word to Ron," she said. "Or you won't be happy."

"No, you won't be happy," said Colin, getting to his feet.

Draco pulled Colin by the collar. "No, no, Creevey, it's you who won't be happy," said Draco. "That's if you're still alive."

"Let go of me Malfoy, or I'll tell Dumbledore," Colin stuttered.

"Ooh, now I'm frightened," Draco sneered. He dropped Colin, letting him fall backwards onto his bottom.

Colin tried his best to give Draco a menacing look, but failed pitifully.

"Great, now I've got Mudblood germs," said Draco, sounding utterly disgusted. "Come on, Ginny, let's go." He and Ginny walked out of the room, leaving Colin to get to his feet and dust himself off.

"That was my favourite camera," said Colin, following them out the door.

Kiera McCourt stood up from behind a desk. "Watch who you call a Mudblood, Malfoy," she said, closing the lens of her camera. "You might just get hurt."

***

Harry stared at Blaise from the Gryffindor table. She was talking with a sixth year boy, who was sitting beside her at the Slytherin table, while she ate lunch. Harry couldn't help but feel jealous every time he saw her with another boy; she was, after all, in his eyes, perfect, and sometimes, he still couldn't accept that she was his.

"Harry," said Hermione, breaking Harry out of thought. "Harry, you're being awful quiet lately, you barely said two words at the feast last night."

"Oh, yeah," said Harry. "No, don't worry about me."

"Is it You Know Who that's bothering you?" asked Hermione. "Because you've nothing to worry about."

"Don't I?" said Harry. "Voldemort somehow managed to get into Hogwarts last year, what makes you think he can't do it again?"

"Most of his servants are in Azkaban," said Hermione.

"Most," said Harry. "Not all."

"You still have nothing to worry about," said Hermione.

"Yes I do," said Harry. "And how do we know Snape is really on our side?"

"Oh, not this again," said Hermione. "He's proved so many times he's on our side, what more could you possibly need?"

"I don't know," said Harry. "I just don't think I can trust anyone right now."

"That's a bit rich," Ron chimed in. "You're girlfriend's a Slytherin, and she lies more than Malfoy."

Verity snorted. "I heard she told you she could turn into a serpent," she said. "And you actually believed it!"

"You mean it's not true?" Hermione asked. "She was only joking?"

Verity raised her eyebrow. "I'd have thought you'd know the truth," she said. "Nagins are practically extinct. There's probably only a few left, and I doubt they'd be walking around Britain."

"Why would she lie about something like that?" Hermione questioned.

"Who knows?" said Verity. "It's Blaise, who knows why she does anything?"

"I didn't believe her for a second," said Ron.

"Didn't mean to anger you, Harry," said Verity, noticing Harry's silence. "I just thought you'd caught on by now."

"Harry's drifted off again," said Ron, looking at the dazed expression on his best friend's face.

Colin Creevey hurried into the hall and plopped himself into the empty seat beside Verity at the Gryffindor table. "Have you seen Ginny?" he asked Ron. "Because you won't believe what I have to tell you."

"That's why he won't believe you," said Ginny, who had just walked up behind him. "Now get out of my seat, Colin."

Colin turned around, glaring at Ginny.

"Get out of my seat, Colin," said Ginny.

"It's not your seat," said Colin. "I can sit here if I want."

"Yes, but I want you to move," said Ginny, in an undertone so that nobody else but Colin would hear. "And if you ever want to see that precious camera of yours again, you'll move, and you'll also keep your big mouth shut."

"If you ever want to see that precious boyfriend of yours again, you'll stop ordering me around," Colin replied quietly.

"I'd like to see you try," said Ginny.

"I won't have to once Ron hears about this morning," said Colin. "And there'll be nothing left of Malfoy but a slimy pulp."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "But if Draco gets to you before you get to Ron, there won't even be pulp left of you," she said. "You'll be wiped clean off the face of this Earth."

"But Ron would kill Malfoy," said Colin.

"Not if Draco kills you right here," Ginny replied.

"But I could tell Ron right now," said Colin.

"And you'd never see your camera again," Ginny said. "And I heard it was your favourite."

"Ron would get it back for me," said Colin. "And he'd get rid of Malfoy, and you'd have no boyfriend."

"You'd have no camera to love night after night," said Ginny. "And a replacement just won't do."

"I'm telling Ron," said Colin, speaking louder.

"Telling Ron what?" Ron demanded.

Ginny covered Colin's mouth with her hand. "Colin, it wouldn't be a very good idea to call Ron that, especially to his face," she said.

"Call Ron what?" Ron demanded.

"Colin's not thinking straight," said Ginny. "He needs a little air."

"Yeah, go outside," said Harry. "You're blocking my view."

"View of what?" Hermione asked.

"Never you mind," Harry snapped.

Colin stood up, Ginny still covering his mouth, and together, they exited the Great Hall, a few people from the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables staring with interest. Kiera, Rachel, Danni, Vienna, and Bella amongst those few.

Once in the Entrance Hall, Ginny finally let go of Colin's mouth.

"Keep your mouth shut, Creevey," she said.

"But I'm telling Ron," said Colin. "He has a right to know."

"But if you do tell, Draco'll kill you," said Ginny.

"Draco this, Draco that," said Colin. "Ron could flatten Draco in a second." He greatly emphasized 'Draco.'

"Last I checked, Ron was my brother," said Ginny. "What makes you think he'll stand up for you?"

"Because he hates Malfoy," said Colin. "And if he found out you were skipping classes to snog Malfoy in a cloak room, he'd be furious."

"He's still my brother," said Ginny. "If he found out you were harassing me, he'd be even more furious."Â

"But I'll tell him what I saw," said Colin.

"You've no proof," Ginny retorted.

"Well, it won't matter, Ron will believe me," said Colin. "And besides, he'd jump at any chance to smash Malfoy's face in."

"Ron doesn't like you, you know," said Ginny. "So I doubt he'll believe you. And anyway, if I tell him you're bothering me, he'll smash your face in. But don't worry, you'd probably look better with a smashed up mug."

"I'm going to tell him right now what you got up to this morning," said Colin.

"What'll it take?" Ginny asked. "What'll make you keep your mouth shut?"

"Ooh, a bribe?" said Colin, eyes widening. "Hmm... A night in the Astronomy Tower?"

"No," said Ginny. "Never."

"An afternoon in a broom closet?" Colin suggested.

Ginny made a repulsed face. "Not in an eternity."

"Just a quick snog?"

"No way."

"One peck?"

"Never."

"Come on, Ginny, you know you want me," said Colin. "And Malfoy would never find out."

"No," said Ginny. "I'll give you your camera back."

"That's not enough for me," said Colin.

"Would you like your face punched in?" said Ginny. "Is that what you want?"

"Come on, Ginny," said Colin. "I don't care if you've got a boyfriend, I won't think any less of you."

"Yes, but I'm thinking less of you by the second," said Ginny. "You're a dirt bag."

Colin didn't reply, he simply looked at her.

"Just keep your mouth shut," said Ginny, making a move to leave.

Suddenly, Colin grabbed hold of her shoulders and moved his face quickly towards hers, putting his mouth over hers.

Ginny back away, trying to push him off, kicking him in the shin.

After a good shove from Ginny, Colin fell backwards into the marble stair case.

"Don't you ever touch me again!" Ginny shouted, stomping back into the Great Hall.

Colin glared at the closed door.

"Good job, Colin," said Rachel, stepping out from behind a door which was open. She was holding a camera in her hand, and wearing a smile on her face.Â

"No problem," said Colin, getting to his feet. "We'll call that one 'Weasley wants Creevey,' and there can be an interview special from me."

"Very good," said Rachel. "This one'll make the top ten, this will."

"Yeah, and we'll have to show Malfoy," said Colin. "He'll have a heart attack."

"Maybe he'll look to me for comfort," said Rachel, sounding hopeful.

"Malfoy?" asked Colin. "Since when?"

"Ever since the Yule Ball last year," said Rachel. "We've all been trying to get at him."

Colin chuckled. "And poor little Ginny has no idea."

***

"The Dream Tracing Potion, very useful when trying to remember a dream," said Professor Snape, looking straight at Harry. "Though it may not seem useful, it is a great help when it comes to tracing visions and such."

Harry tried hard not to blink, returning Snape's hard stare.

"A true Diviner would not go anywhere without it," said Snape. "Although Divination is an imprecise branch of magic. The Dream Tracing Potion has more uses than just one, it will help you explain your day time thoughts, and you're memory will be far stronger."

Beside Harry, Ron was almost nodding off to sleep, and unfortunately, Professor Snape's gaze wandered his way.

"Mr. Weasley," said Snape, in one of his silkiest voices. "What is the key ingredient in a Forgetfulness Potion?"

Ron looked flustered.

"That is a simple first year potion," said Snape. "And you can't even recall the key ingredient? Ten points from Gryffindor, for pure stupidity."

Ron groaned.

"Now remember, a Dream Tracing Potion and a Forgetfulness Potion share a common ingredient, and if you make your potion correctly, your memory will be temporarily improved, and you will be able to recall your dreams," said Snape. "If not, you'll lose parts of your memory, and receive only negative results, along with the loss of points from Gr- your house."

He turned his back to the class as a hint to get started.

"Right, we need seven shredded flingbat wings," said Hermione.

Verity picked up seven shredded flingbat wings.

"Let's get started then, Harry," said Ron, smiling.

Harry returned the smile, thinking how 'blessed' he was to be working with Ron. Well, at least it wasn't Neville; Pansy Parkinson was working with Neville, as she refused to work with Millicent.

After thirty minutes of working on the potion, Harry and Ron finally finished the first part of their potion. Hermione and Verity (who had been finished for ten minutes already) helped them with the most complex part of the potion.

Once their potions were ready, the students waited patiently for Professor Snape to resume teaching.

Blaise went over to sit with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Verity.

"This potion sounds bloody useful, doesn't it, Harry?" she said. "Now you'll never have to worry about forgetting those Voldemort dreams. And think how much easier it'll be to save the world now."

"I think it will be useful," said Harry. "I'm always forgetting dreams, and that really annoys me because I try so hard to remember."

"Isn't it nice how Professor Snape goes straight into teaching at the beginning of the year?" said Hermione. "Some teachers begin the year with reviews, but Professor Snape starts teaching right away."

"Oh yeah, it's great," said Ron, sarcastically.

"Would you like me to take another ten points from Gryffindor for your sarcasm, Weasley?" said Snape, from behind Ron, making Ron jump. "And thank you for noticing my teaching techniques, Granger. If you're expecting to be a teacher, you may want to learn more than a few useful tips from me."

"Yes, Professor," said Hermione. "I think I may tutor some of the younger students in my spare time."

"An excellent pass time," said Snape. "Young Mr. Malfoy has already taken up tutoring. It'd be nice if you could be more like him."

Draco smirked at them from across the room.

Hermione forced a polite smile.