The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower, the Sequel

"I can't believe you, Ginny," said Hermione. "Your brother and you boyfriend were fighting, and all you could do was watch. Even Blaise would've had more sense."

"What was I supposed to do?" Ginny asked, taking a swig of pumpkin juice.

"You should've stopped them," said Hermione. "Honestly, just letting Malfoy do that; you should have more sense."

"Oh, so you're just going to blame Draco?" said Ginny. "Ron started it."

"He did not," Hermione snapped.

"Yes he did," said Ginny. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go see Draco. Or should I have more sense than that?" With those words, she left the Great Hall without a backwards glance and walked to the hospital wing where she begged Madam Pomfrey to allow her inside. After much persuasion, Madam Pomfrey finally agreed, so long as Ginny left as soon as she was told to. Madam Pomfrey then hurried off to her office, leaving Ginny in the infirmary with Draco, Ron, and Harry, all of whom were lying in separate beds, Harry and Ron fast asleep.

Ginny sat down beside Draco's bed. "How are you doing?" she asked.

"Ah, not bad," said Draco. "If it were anyone else, the pain would be unbearable, but you know me, I can handle pain."

"Yeah," Ginny smiled. "Have Harry and Ron been out all this time?"

"Oh yeah," said Draco. "But let them get their rest, they'll be needing it. Plus, they're dreaming of each other, we wouldn't want to interrupt their dreams, now would we?

"I wasn't planning on waking them," said Ginny. "But really, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"How am I supposed to make up the Creevey brothers' scandal alone?" said Ginny. "With you in here, I'm all by my lonesome."

"We'll figure something out," said Draco. "Does it need to be done by tomorrow?"

Ginny nodded.

"That could be a problem." Draco looked very thoughtful for a few moments. "All right, meet me in the Astronomy Tower at eight tonight," he said. "I'll bring a couple of sleeping potions, you bring my invisibility cloak."

"And then what?" said Ginny. "Am I supposed to bring the Creeveys with me?"

"Er, yeah," said Draco.

"I can't do that," said Ginny.

"Just the one," said Draco. "We'll get Blaise involved and she'll get the other brother. Then maybe we'll throw a few more people into it. Like Pansy. That'd be a laugh."

"Yes, but it's all very impossible," said Ginny.

"You don't know who you're working with here," said Draco. "Nothing's impossible with me."

"Fine, so I'll bring Colin to the Astronomy Tower," said Ginny. "I'll meet you there."

"Bring the camera too," said Draco. "There's no story without the camera."

"This is silly," said Ginny. "It'll never work."

"Is it too fake?" said Draco. "Because that's what makes a good story."

"All right," said Ginny. "But if this doesn't work, I'm blaming you for it."

"Fine by me."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, though not an uncomfortable silence.

"So are we getting Blaise involved?" Ginny asked.

"Nah, maybe Verity," said Draco. "It'd be easier that way."

"Okay," said Ginny. "So now what?"

"Leave it up to me," said Draco. "And it'll all work out fine."

Ginny was just about to speak when Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office to shoo Ginny away.

Much to Madam Pomfrey's annoyance, Ginny kissed Draco goodbye before leaving the hospital wing to go back to the Great Hall where she would finish lunch. But unfortunately, the bell rang just as Ginny reached the marble staircase leading down to the Entrance Hall, and she had to go to Charms.

***

After tea, Ginny went up to the Gryffindor common room for a while before she had to go meet Draco. She was having trouble coming up with a way to get Colin to the Astronomy Tower, which shouldn't have been so difficult. Perhaps it was her common sense interfering which caused such a problem.

She sat alone in the corner of a half-packed common room, waiting for something to happen. But her boredom and expectance didn't have long to last, because after no more than twenty minutes, Verity trudged into the common room, her bag slung over her shoulders. She sat down beside Ginny, looking as though she were trying to act natural, while at the same time hiding something.

"Ginny," she said in a quiet voice. "Glad I found you."

"Why?" Ginny asked.

Verity pulled her bag off her back and opened it. Inside, there were a few bottles of what looked to Ginny like the sleeping potion Madam Pomfrey gave out to her patients.

"Did Draco send you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," said Verity. "And he's got this big plan, do you know about it? He said to bring a camera and an invisibility cloak to the Astronomy Tower. And something about the Creevey brothers and Pansy Parkinson. I'm hoping you know what that's all about, because personally, it has me confused."

"I know," said Ginny.

"Right, so it's coming onto six now," said Verity, looking at her watch. "We'll have to round up the Creevey brothers and Pansy soon."

"How long does the sleeping potion last?" Ginny asked.

"I think this one's for three hours," said Verity. "I asked Blaise to slip some to Pansy, she was happy to do it. In fact, she said she'd leave her in the stair way up to the Astronomy Tower, and I didn't even have to mention the Astronomy Tower at all, it was as if she knew something.

"No, she was probably just doing it to get Pansy in trouble," said Ginny. "You know what Blaise is like."

"Yeah, well," said Verity. "There's still the Creevey brothers."

"Not both of them," said Ginny. "Just Colin; Dennis never did anything wrong."

"Ginny, I haven't a clue what you're talking about," said Verity. "Do you want to explain to me what's going on?"

"All right," said Ginny, and she plunged into the entire story of the Gossip Union, and she and Draco's plan to come up with a story for the Gossip Union which would leave them speechless.

After listening to what Ginny had to say, Verity burst into laughter. "That's absurd!" she cried. "That is honestly the shallowest thing I've ever heard! Do they have nothing better to do with their time?"

"No, they really don't," said Ginny.

***

Hermione was severely bored with both her best friends in the hospital wing. She was finished all of her homework, and now sat in the Gryffindor common room, eyeing Ginny with great suspicion, but being completely unaware of it. She knew Ginny was up to something, but she hadn't meant to stare the way she was staring.

"Can I help you with something?" Ginny said finally.

Hermione shook her head.

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Then could you please stop looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" Hermione asked.

"Like that," Ginny replied. "If you don't want anything, leave me alone."

"I'm not doing anything," Hermione snapped.

"Of course you aren't," said Ginny. "But neither am I, so you can stop looking at me like I am."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione inquired.

"You're looking at me suspiciously," said Ginny. "So stop it because there's nothing to be suspicious about."

"Colin said you wanted to meet him in the Astronomy Tower," said Hermione. "Do you care to explain yourself?"

Ginny looked at her blankly.

"I don't like Malfoy very much, but you still shouldn't treat him like that," said Hermione. "You don't see me going around with Seamus or Dean whenever Ron's not around, do you?"

"Yeah I do,"Â said Ginny. "Just because you don't see me doesn't mean I'm not there."

"What are you talking about?" said Hermione.

"I haven't told Ron, but I know what you get up to," said Ginny. "I think I'll tell Parvati and Verity; they won't be too happy with you."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione repeated. "I don't get up to anything."

"You make me sick," said Ginny. "Ron's my brother, and the way you treat him is just... sickening."

"How do I treat him?" Hermione asked.

"Going off with other boys when Ron's not around," said Ginny. "I've seen you Hermione."

"I've never done anything of the sort,"Â Hermione snapped. "You're just being an idiot, Ginny."

"I know," said Ginny. "But you should've seen the look on your face!"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well I'm going to go now," said Ginny. "I'll see you in a bit." She got up and left the common room. "Good job, Ginny," she said to herself once she was out of earshot.

"What did you do this time?" said a voice behind her, making her jump.

"Oh, nothing, Seamus," said Ginny, turning to face Seamus.

"Oh, all right," said Seamus. "Just be careful when you're talking to yourself from now on; you never know who might be lurking around the corner."

Ginny nodded, not fully understanding the meaning of Seamus' words.

"What I mean to say is Lavender might over hear you," said Seamus. "And just imagine if you had said something more."

"But I don't usually talk to myself," said Ginny. "Not normally. Usually I just think things in my head, where no one can hear."

"But you never know who might be looking into your head," said Seamus, tapping Ginny's head with his fore finger.

"Well, not many people can read minds," said Ginny.

"That's what you think," said Seamus, before turning to the portrait of the fat lady and saying the password, admitting himself into the Gryffindor common room.

Ginny stared after him for a moment. What had he been talking about?

***

Draco waited in the Astronomy Tower, holding a bottle of MacRiddler's whisky. It wasn't as strong as Odgeon's, but it would still prove believable for his plan.

Draco had formulated a plan which seemed perfectly flawless; Pansy and the Creevey brothers would arrive in the Astronomy Tower at eight, where the sleeping potions which Verity would have previously slipped them would take effect. Then, they would take a few questionable pictures, spill a little whisky on the victims (Pansy and the Creeveys), and simply leave without a trace.

The most difficult part so far had been escaping from the hospital wing, which hadn't really been difficult, as Draco got up and left while Madam Pomfrey was in her office.

It was now three minutes to eight, and Draco waited patiently.

But he didn't have long to wait; Ginny Weasley entered the Astronomy Tower, holding Colin's camera and Draco's invisibility cloak.

"Where's Creevey?" Draco asked, taking the cloak from Ginny.

"I told him to meet me here," said Ginny. "He should be here soon."

"Did you give him a sleeping potion?" Draco inquired.

"Yeah, how long does he have before it takes effect?" said Ginny, looking only slightly nervous.

Draco shrugged. "About five minutes?"

Ginny bit her lip. "Then I don't know if he'll make it."

Draco made a sound of frustration.

"Put the invisibility cloak on," said Ginny. "He just might come early."

"Early?" said Draco, throwing the cloak over his head. "It's only a minute or two until eight."

 "Okay." Ginny sat down on the floor, unable to see Draco.

After only a couple of minutes, the door opened, admitting Verity, who had her back to the room. She seemed to be hauling something very heavy along.

She turned around. "Where's Draco?" she asked.

Ginny shrugged.

"I'm here," said Draco. "You just can't see me."

Verity rolled her eyes. "Help me get these two in here."

Ginny got to her feet and saw Colin and Pansy lying unconscious on the stairs. She pulled Colin by the foot, dragging him into the room, while Verity dragged Pansy inside.

"Where's the other one?" Draco asked, pulling the invisibility cloak off of his head, so that his appeared to be floating in mid-air.

"It'll be easier if we only use one," said Ginny.

"Now you're just defeating the whole purpose," said Draco. "It was supposed to be the Creevey brothers. Now it's just Creevey brother and Pansy Parkinson."

"That's more believable," said Verity. "It'll work better."

"Fine, fine," said Draco. "Now get those two into... well, questionable positions, and start taking pictures."

"I don't want to do this," said Ginny. "You do it."

Draco rolled his eyes.

"I'll do it," Verity snapped. "But I'm taking no pictures."

"I'll take the pictures," said Ginny. "I just don't want to touch them two."

In the next few minutes, Verity put Colin and Pansy into a very wrong pose, and Ginny snapped a few pictures, which left Draco to add his personal touch with the whisky. He poured some of the alcohol onto the two victims, and some into their mouths, leaving an empty bottle lying off to the side.

Verity, Ginny, and Draco left the Astronomy Tower under the invisibility cloak, leaving no trace of them ever being there.

Verity said she had to go to the dungeons and attend to a detention with Snape, leaving Draco and Ginny in a corridor somewhere on the fourth floor.

"I think you should go back to the hospital wing," said Ginny. "Madam Pomfrey will be furious."

"Er, yeah, maybe I should," said Draco.

Ginny stood on her toes and kissed Draco on his cheek, but just as she was about to go, Draco grabbed her arm.

"Ginny, there's something I should probably tell you," he said. "It's about that coin thing."

"What is it?" said Ginny.

"Well, see, I didn't find it in France," said Draco.

"I don't care where you found it," said Ginny. "It doesn't matter to me whether it's from England, or France, or Germany; I don't care."

"Yeah, but I didn't actually find it," said Draco. "I didn't just suddenly stumble upon it."

"Then what happened?" Ginny asked.

"My father gave it to me to give to you," said Draco.

Ginny looked at him, eyebrows knitted. "Your father?" she said.

"Lucius Malfoy," said Draco. "About six feet tall, blonde hair-"

"I know who he is," Ginny cut him off. "I just don't understand."

"It's like this," said Draco. "He said it doesn't do anything, it's just a gift-"

"A gift from who, exactly?" Ginny demanded.

"That's the thing," said Draco. "It's sort of from, er, Voldemort."

Ginny's eyes widened. She reached for the coin around her neck and yanked it off, the chain breaking at the back of her neck, sending pain impulses to her brain, which she ignored. She threw the coin at Draco. "I can't believe you'd do that!" she cried, running off in the other direction.

Draco raised his eyebrow. "It's not that bad," he said, but of course, she didn't hear. "It's not as though it does anything." He picked up the coin and studied it for a moment. "Or does it?"

***

Ginny lay on her bed, tears streaming down her face, thoughts chasing each other around inside her head. Maybe she had overreacted earlier; maybe Draco's intentions had been good. But giving her something from the dark lord? Who knew what sort of dark magic was contained inside that little coin...

But why was it always her who the Malfoys picked on? It started with the Tom Riddle's diary. Lucius didn't have to slip it into her cauldron; he could've slipped it into Ron's books, or better yet, Harry's. But no, Lucius had chosen Ginny to give the diary to. Yet, there may have been no reason whatsoever for his actions, perhaps it was only the easiest plan.

And then there was Draco. He'd asked her to the Yule Ball the previous year, messing up just about everything in her life; Ron didn't like her being with Draco, she'd lost every chance of ever being with Draco, and she had come very close to death not long ago. But still, she'd been stupid enough to have stayed with Draco, which meant he really was something special...

But then again, he was probably plotting with his father and Voldemort to kill her, probably just because she was a Weasley. And then once she was gone, they would dispose of the remaining Weasleys, and then just about every Muggle-born and half-Muggle in the rest of England.

Ginny buried her head into her pillow. She had to stop thinking these mad things.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Ginny sighed. "Go away, I'm not here," she said, voice surprisingly calm.

"Please, Ginny, its Hermione," said Hermione's voice from the other side of the door. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh no," said Ginny. "Everything's fine."

"Then why don't you want to see anyone?" Hermione asked.

"Just because," said Ginny.

"But I think you want to hear this," said Hermione.

"You don't need to come inside in order for me to hear," said Ginny. "So just go ahead and say whatever you want to say, and then be on your way."

"It's about Malfoy," said Hermione.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "I don't care," she spat.

"He wasn't in the hospital wing," said Hermione. "Madam Pomfrey's really worried."

"About him?" Ginny asked. "Why should anyone worry about him?"

There was a small pause, allowing Ginny to think Hermione had left.

Finally, Hermione spoke. "What happened, Ginny?"

Ginny raised her head. "You're still here?"

"What happened?" Hermione repeated.

"Nothing happened," said Ginny. "Now get lost and stop bothering me."

***

Hermione walked slowly down the stairs into the common room, where a few first years were sitting by the fire, and Seamus and Verity were doing homework in a corner.

Hermione sat down by Verity and Seamus. "Did Ginny and Malfoy have a fight?" she asked.

"Not as far as I know," said Verity. "Why? Is something up?"

"Ginny's a little..." Hermione searched for the words to describe Ginny's mood.

"Upset?" Seamus offered, not looking up from his potions essay entitled, 'Explain the effects of the Dream Tracing Potion.' "Angry? Sad?"

"Ah, upset," said Hermione. "She seems upset."

Verity put down her quill. "Upset, how?" she asked.

"She told me to get lost," said Hermione.

"Maybe you were pestering her," said Seamus, earning a kick in the shin from Verity.

"Don't bother," said Verity. "It's probably nothing."

"But you don't understand," said Hermione. "If Malfoy did something to Ginny, Ron won't let him live."

"Since when do you care so much about Malfoy?" said Seamus. "I mean, who really cares if Ron kills him? Actually, I doubt Ron would kill him, just hurt him badly, but not exactly-"

"Shut up, Seamus," Verity cut him off. "You're talking far too much."

"But really," said Seamus. "Who cares about Malfoy?"

"I do," said Verity.

"Do you really?" said Seamus. "Now that's just a stab in the heart."

"Seamus," said Verity, sounding exasperated.

"Fine, fine," said Seamus. "But why does Hermione care?"

"I don't," said Hermione. "Well, I do, sort of. He's only human."

"Is he?" said Seamus.

"Of course he is, Seamus," said Verity. "Stop being so idiotic."

"But it's Ginny I'm worried about," said Hermione. "She's not been herself lately."

"It's probably nothing to worry about," said Verity.

"But it's got something to do with Malfoy," said Hermione. "And now he's missing from the hospital wing."

"That's what Draco does," said Verity. "He'll make up his own mind; if he feels he's injured terribly, he'll wait in the hospital wing and be sure to make his complaints heard, but if he feels he doesn't need to be there, he'll simply leave without a trace."

"But what's wrong with Ginny then?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, you're confusing me," said Verity. "Please don't."