Call to Destiny

Chapter 23

Parrots and Purple Parchment

Consciousness seeped slowly into Ginny's mind, leaving her unsurprised when she finally opened her eyes.

She was still lying on Draco's couch, in between him and the back of the sofa. Actually, much in the same position that she'd fallen asleep in. The only difference was that now Draco's arm was around her shoulders, not her waist.

She yawned and took in what she could see of Draco's room. Her line of sight was rather limited in her current position. She could see a bookshelf in the corner of her eye. That, and the door leading out of the dormitory, which was only a few feet away. There was something different about the room as well...

Ginny realized that she'd never seen Draco's room lit by anything other than torches. Now, however, morning sunlight was streaming into the room from a window that she couldn't see.

She sat bold upright.

Morning sunlight?

Bloody hell! What time was it?

"Good morning."

Ginny looked down at Draco. He had his left arm, the uninjured one that had just been around her shoulders, tucked under his head, and was looking fairly amused.

"What time is it?" Ginny blurted.

Draco frowned, but he sat up and looked behind the sofa.

"Eight seventeen," he said.

Ginny, too, looked back at the clock, suddenly reminded of their room in San Francisco. She scowled slightly. Was the whole putting-a-clock-behind-the-couch bit some sort of conspiracy or something?

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, apparently noticing her expression.

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing. I just- Merlin! I can't believe I fell asleep!"

She slumped back against the sofa, scowling.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked grumpily. Then she realized that maybe he hadn't had the chance to. Oops.

Draco, however, smirked at her. Ginny's heart flipped over, suddenly remembering her late-night realization.

"You looked too --" he paused. "Harmless, to wake up."

Ginny raised an eyebrow in question. Just because she knew that she was falling in love with Draco didn't mean that he had to as well.

"Are you implying that I'm scary?"

Draco got up and extended a hand to her. Ginny took it, still waiting for an answer.

"Luv, your temper could make a demon cry."

The redhead shook her head, trying to keep the smile off her face. She felt oddly flattered. Not to mention that he'd just called her 'luv.' That was a first.

"Arse," she muttered good-naturedly.

Draco grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist. Ginny let him draw her to him, and then wrapped her own arms around his neck. She pulled him down towards her, their lips brushing softly. Draco nipped at her bottom lip, deepening the kiss.

After what seemed like a blissful eternity, Ginny finally pulled back breathless. Draco's hands came up to cup her face, his eyes searching for something.

"Don't go," he said.

Ginny felt her heart melt.

"I can't," she said, mentally cursing everything from school to Merlin. "It's Friday and I have classes. I've already skived too much, and it's only November."

Draco nodded, as though he'd been expecting her answer.

"What about tonight?"

More melting.

And mental cursing.

"Prefect duty."

Draco scowled. "What complete pillock gave you Prefect's duty on a Friday night?"

Ginny couldn't have suppressed the grin that broke out onto her face if she'd tried.

"You did."

Draco's scowl deepened enough to make her laugh.

"There is nothing funny about this," he muttered, although he was starting to grin. "I am hurt and in pain and need your company."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You need me about as much as you need Dragon Pox."

Draco pouted.

Ginny was beginning to realize that he did that when he wasn't getting his way.

She cut him off before he could say anything to convince her to skive class.

"How about I skive Prefect duty, you cover for me later, and I come here after dinner."

"Before," Draco bargained.

"I have to eat!"

"You can eat here."

Ginny sighed, secretly feeling that she'd gotten the better part of the deal. "Fine," she said.

Draco pulled her towards him once more, smirking. He kissed her deeply before letting her go.

Ginny reluctantly disentangled herself from Draco and made for the exit. At the door she turned around, to see him watching her.

She smiled.

"I'll be back."

~

Ginny couldn't stop grinning all the way back to her dormitory.

He had wanted her to stay! He'd really wanted her to stay. He'd put so much energy into trying to convince her, and had actually been grinning when she left.

There was, of course, the question of why he'd wanted her to stay, but right then, she didn't care. He'd wanted her to stay, and that was that.

She was falling in love with him.

She was falling in love with Draco Malfoy. Prat of all prats, arse beyond belief, stubborn to no end, Draco Malfoy. If her brothers knew....Well, she was a humane person. Her brothers would never know.

"Lime," she said to the giggling portrait that was the entrance to her dormitory.

The portrait swung open and Ginny collided with something coming her way. Or rather, someone.

She fell back with an "Oof."

"You know," Cassie said, rubbing her forehead and wincing. "When I said 'Go see him,' I didn't mean 'Stay the night.'"

Ginny blushed to the roots of her hair, realizing what it must have seemed like to Cassie.

"I- we didn't- I mean- I fell asleep, okay!"

Cassie nodded, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Sure you did."

Ginny glared at the Wicca, causing Cassie to laugh.

"Okay, okay, I believe you!" the dark haired girl laughed. "Still, if I was in your shoes, I wouldn't have slept if I'd stayed the night."

"Cassie!"

Cassie just laughed-- like a hyena in a school uniform.

Ginny scowled. "I'm going to go change."

Cassie followed her back into the dormitory.

"Don't worry. I'll wait. You can tell me about what did happen on our way to breakfast."

~

Fifteen minutes later, the two girls made their way out of their dormitory.

Cassie had, thankfully, calmed down, and Ginny's good mood was back.

"I'll tell you after class, alright?" the redhead said.

Cassie frowned. "History of Magic."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fine."

She shook her head, marveling at the amount of bargaining she'd already had to do. And it wasn't even nine yet!

Entering the Great Hall, the two girls took their seats across from the Trio, who didn't look unhappy to see them.

"Morning!" Cassie chirped.

Ron and Harry gave her questioning looks, both half asleep. Hermione merely raised her eyebrows. She looked rather irritated, impatiently tapping her fingers on the table, and glancing up at the ceiling with a frown.

Cassie seemed put-out by their lack of response.

"Oh, how am I? I'm fine, thanks for asking," Cassie said exaggeratedly, reaching for the orange juice. "And how are you?"

Harry chuckled. "Morning, Cassie."

The raven-haired girl nodded, satisfied. "Thank you."

Ginny rolled her eyes, and a silence slowly fell over the group, only interrupted by Hermione's tapping.

"For the love of Merlin, Hermione, quit it!" Ron said, grabbing her hand.

The brunette scowled at him.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, picking up a bagel.

"Professor Lupin is supposed to send me a book on demonology," Hermione explained, tapping once more.

Ginny and Cassie exchanged a look.

"Demonology?" Cassie asked.

Hermione nodded. "They're becoming increasingly problematic. The chances of attacks keep growing. I'd want to be prepared if I were to ever meet a demon."

Ginny vividly remembered the time she'd seen Cassie reading a book on demons. Cassie had told her something eerily similar.

Before either of the sixth year girls could reply, the commotion of the morning post arriving began.

"Finally!" Hermione exclaimed.

Ginny looked up and was shocked enough to drop her bagel. She wasn't the only one, though. Most of the inhabitants of the Great Hall were staring at the arriving birds. Well, one in particular.

Ron's jaw dropped. "What the-"

Amid the black, brown, and white owls was a big red, green, and blue macaw.

The giant parrot was making a beeline for them.

A few people jumped out of the bird's giant wingspan, giving it a clear landing spot in Cassie's plate.

Ginny, along with several others, turned to stare at her. For once, the American girl looked sheepish.

Cassie gave a feeble shrug. "My mom thinks owls are boring."

Ginny laughed out loud. She was in a good mood, and somehow Cassie owning a giant tropical bird was not very surprising.

Hermione looked rather put-out since her book had not arrived.

She frowned. "But I was sure that Professor Lupin said-"

"What in the buggering hell...?"

Ginny and Cassie turned around as the Trio looked up. To Ginny's surprise, Fred and George were standing not two feet away from them, staring open mouthed at the macaw. George was carrying a rather old, thick, leather bound book.

Their staring seemed to be Cassie's breaking point.

"It's a PARROT, okay!" she exclaimed, standing up. "Has NO ONE here EVER seen a parrot? It's a bird! A colorful BIRD!"

She turned to the rather surprised-looking macaw. "No offense, Polly."

Fred and George exchanged surprised, grinning, looks.

Ginny tugged on Cassie's wrist. "Cas, sit."

Noticing that she had once again attracted the attention of the whole hall, Cassie fell back down into her seat.

"So you're Cassie," Fred said, grinning.

Cassie narrowed her eyes, still looking rather unhappy.

"Maybe."

"Fred, don't scare her and give me my book," Hermione demanded.

George handed her the tattered book. "Professor Lupin thought it'd be better if we delivered it."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you."

"What else are you doing here?" Ron asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

"We're seeing about opening up a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Hogsmeade," Fred explained.

Cassie, who had been in the midst of untying a piece of purple parchment from Polly's leg, gave a sudden gasp of acknowledgment. When the group turned to look at her, she shook her head.

"Never mind, ignore me."

"That's your bird?" George asked, peering at it with interest. Polly, if it were possible, seemed to be scowling at him.

"Uh huh," Cassie said. She tore a piece off Ginny's bagel and gave it to Polly.

"Hey!" the redhead protested.

"What? You weren't going to eat it anyway."

The bird took the bagel and flew off, startling a few second years in the process.

Ginny shook her head and looked up at the twins. "How long do you lot plan on staying?"

George shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Couple days."

"Why?" Fred asked, eyes gleaming wickedly. "Don't want us to find out about your new boyfriend?"

Ginny stared. "What?"

Ron sat up, eyes wide. "What boyfriend?"

"I don't have a-"

At that moment, just a few seats down, Pravati gasped loudly. "Look! Malfoy's back."

Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose and sank lower in her seat. Perfect. She could hear Cassie's stifled laughter and kicked her under the table.

"What?" Cassie whispered, eyes dancing with mirth. "He's got perfect timing."

"You're a sadist, that's what."

Fred and George turned back to them, looking rather irked.

"We heard about that," Fred said grimly.

Ginny sat up, brow furrowed. "What'd you hear?"

"That somebody shot Malfoy," George answered shrugging.

Ron scowled. "They couldn't finish him off could they?"

Oddly enough, the twins weren't sharing in Ron's irritation.

"The Order thinks demons were responsible," Fred said, so quietly Ginny had to strain to hear.

The two sixth years exchanged surprised looks, Cassie's letter lying on the table forgotten.

The Trio leaned in, looking surprised.

"Demons?" Hermione whispered. "That doesn't make sense."

Ron looked puzzled. "Why would demons want to kill a Death Eater?"

Harry shook his head. Ginny realized that he'd been too quite since the arrival of the post.

"I don't think that arrow was meant for Malfoy," he said quietly.

Ron and Hermione turned to stare at him. Cassie did as well. "What?"

The twins nodded.

"Malfoy," George whispered confidentially. "Got in the way."

Harry looked grim. "The question is whether he did that intentionally or not."

Hermione looked aghast. "You don't think--"

"--that Malfoy's on our side?"

Ron's freckles stood out in stark contrast as he shook his head. "That's impossible."

"What?" Ginny asked sharply. "That he could have changed?"

She was defending Draco without even realizing it.

Damn it.

Surprisingly, Cassie was backing her.

"For gods' sakes!" she exclaimed. "Why are you people so against giving second chances?"

The twins shared a shocked look. The Trio looked equally shocked. Ginny guessed that they'd forgotten that Cassie was there.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna tell anyone, geez. I just think it's horrible how close-minded you guys are. I mean, people change. And besides that, people shouldn't be judged on what their parents did, or their last name. 'The son is not the father', or however that saying goes. You shouldn't judge based on that. It's just not fair."

Ginny had to keep herself from hugging Cassie. Yes! Yes! Exactly, she thought.

Ron and Harry looked a little stunned, while Hermione was looking at Cassie with something that could be described as new admiration. The twins seemed uneasy.

"We should get going," George said.

Fred nodded, trying to look jovial. "Hogsmeade isn't -"

"Miss Jones."

The group turned towards the sound of Professor McGonagall's voice, all looking wary.

Professor McGonagall sighed a sigh of long suffering. "None of you are in trouble, although I'm sure you are used to it by now. Miss Jones I would just like to speak with you."

Cassie still looked a little worried. "Erm, okay."

"Now."

"Oh!" Cassie jumped up and grabbed her bag.

She gave Ginny a shrug and followed after Professor McGonagall.

In short order, Fred and George said their goodbyes, leaving only Ginny and the Trio. Hermione's nose was in her new book and Harry and Ron were discussing Quidditch within moments. Ginny, however, didn't feel like joining in. She felt a little lonely without Cassie.

Her eyes drifted towards the Slytherin table where Draco was receiving one hell of a welcome back. She thought it was rather unfair that he got to skip classes on account of his wound, but had the right to wander the castle. She made a note to herself to tell him that later. The redhead couldn't help but smile at the thought of their upcoming meeting.

She turned back to her table, where her eyes landed on a scroll of purple parchment. Cassie's letter. Ginny picked it up, thinking to give it to Cassie later. The parchment unfurled in her hand and Ginny's brow furrowed. After looking over her shoulder for any sign of the American girl, Ginny spread the parchment out on her lap.

Cassie,

My darling daughter, how are you? Alright, sorry. I just had to write that. My mother, your grams, always used to begin her letters like that to me.

I'm sorry I haven't had much chance to write, but this war is hell. Literally.

How is everything, though? I hope you're loving Hogwarts as much as I did. I had so much fun there. I still wish we'd gone back England when you were old enough to start school. And I'm sorry that we had to leave so suddenly now, but you understand. And, maybe its better that we left England in the first place.

Anyway, I hope you're having fun. Even in times like these you still need to have fun. What's the point of being young and beautiful (like we both are!) and not have fun? Hogwarts was a blast for me. I hope you're having as good a time as I did.

Just...please no more turning textbooks into giant pink hamsters, alright? I know Professor Johnson was a sleaze, and I think you were in the right for doing what you did, but I couldn't exactly say that to your headmistress, could I? Then again, Professor Dumbledore is still headmaster, and I hear Snape is teaching...

Only if you have a good reason, okay? And make it something imaginative. No giant animals, that's the oldest one in the book. Sorry, kid, but it is.

Alright, I should be finishing this up. I'm staying with an old friend of mine from school for the time being, and he's bugging me to hurry with my stupid parrot. Polly doesn't look too happy.

Be careful, alright? Have fun, but be careful. We're walking on thin ice here, Cassiopeia. A little extra caution wouldn't hurt. Try to keep the recklessness to a minimum, okay?

Love you,

Mum

Ginny's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

Something wasn't quite right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Dun, dun, dun!

Okay, you all know how much I love suspense, so you shouldn't be too surprised. This chapter took me a little longer, but I got hit with a sudden bout of writer's block, so I decided to wait till inspiration struck again. The chapter's a bit longer, and I'm hoping the next one will be even longer.

The next chapter might be a while in coming, since I'm coming home after holiday soon and probably won't have much time to write. Don't give up on me though! New chapters will come, I just can't promise when. I try to get them up as fast I can, but a lot of the time that's not very fast. Just stay with me, I promise I will update. The only question is when.

Again, big, huge, gigantic thanks for all the reviews. My greatest motivation, so thanks.

I hope you liked the chapter, and reviews are always appreciated!