Chapter Text
After weeks of observation, Ginny knew exactly where professor Snape was about to place his key chain. The potions lesson was creeping to a halt, and her classmates were growing anxious. Snape’s keys were dangling in his pocket, but before the inspection, he will place them on the desk.
"Keep quiet! You careless, hasty Gryffindors! This is fourth year. Are there no manners imparted upon you?" Snape's voice rang throughout the dark shadowy dungeons. Her housemates were fidgeting under his scowl.
There goes the Gryffindor bravery.
Snape's dark cussing had stopped scaring Ginny for a while now. She had already finished the minor draught of tranquility. Others were not faring so well. As always, the Slytherins had butchered their compounds beyond belief. Not to mention, their part of the room was covered in orange smoke - radiating the distinct smell of dragon dung.
That won't be an obstacle for receiving top marks, of course.
"How many of you will pass your O.W.L.S. with acceptable? I bet, I will see only one Gryffindor in my N.E.W.Ts."
"And even that's up for debate." He noted after a brief, pointed look at Ginny Weasley.
She blushed. Looking around the room, there did not seem to be any other candidates. Colin Creevey had destroyed his cauldron so abominably that he was now mending the bottom of it with spellotape. Poor Johnson's pot was no longer just smoking. Its insides had turned into smoldering coal. Oblivious, he kept increasing heat.
I'm sorry... it's going to be you.
To copy the keys, a diversion was needed. Sabotaging a failing potion was the easiest.
Merely yesterday, Ginny had stood in this exact spot, nervously searching for an opportunity. But paranoia and fear had gripped her. One sleepless night full of self-scolding later, it was now time.
Today is my last chance. This is not a silly prank.
I need these ingredients… to save my life.
Trying to compose herself, she couldn't shake off the irritation about having to throw out the mixture. I could use this, and I think It's quite pure. Impurities ruin it with side effects. This was her specialty. The main motivating force, about a year ago, to begin a serious pursuit in the knowledge of potion making.
Restless nights had tortured her, and finally Professor McGonagall had agreed to provide small doses. Not long afterwards, the supply was cut off, and she had to fend for herself.
Ginny had made it a habit to brew the potion in the common room, but Hermione’s nagging had grown unbearable over time. "Why are you making it all the time?” she’d ask. “How about trying some meditation techniques? Ginny, there’s a reason McGonagall put a stop to it."
Soon, she had to relocate her efforts to the relative privacy of her own dormitory. The few occasions her dormmates spotted her working on potion, they were gladder Ginny would not wake them up in the middle of night by unexpectedly arriving or exiting.
Any minute Snape will bring a halt to this lesson. He’s already contorting his face.
Fear and desperation growing by every instant, uncharacteristically she felt her palms starting to sweat. She brushed them off against her clothes. A firm grip against her wand was absolutely necessary.
The full moon is just days away. I will not have time to brew everything again. I can't delay for another four weeks...
Subconsciously, Ginny turned to the Slytherins, and instantly the image of another Slytherin boy emerged in her mind. One that was not in this room at the moment, but a year above.
I've been ignoring Draco for more than a month now... I can't lose our friendship.
If only he knew why I was keeping this secret from him.
"Everyone!" An authoritative, distinct command. "Hands up and wands down."
"You too Johnson! Fancy even more deductions?"
"Brown, put it down right this instant or I will discipline you!" he bellowed, moving in snake-like strides throughout the classroom. Snape was now on the opposite side of the room from her and all eyes were cast on him.
Nobody is looking.
She cast her glance towards his desk. A glance so slight it couldn't possibly be noticed by her enemies. The keys were there!
I have to go.
During inspection nobody moved, but it wasn’t enough to be sure. I still need a diversion. Slytherins won’t wait a second to rat me out.
The smoldering coal in Johnson's cauldron had started to smoke. He had forgotten to turn off the burner even during the inspection. Ginny readied her wand under the table. Levioso!
On her desk she had prepared several twigs of bumbleweed. They levitated slowly from her table, and she felt dissociated as her magic gradually lowered the bumbleweed into Johnson's cauldron.
In mere seconds this dangerous combination would mix and ignite.
Nobody noticed. All eyes were still glued to Brown, whose concoction was being brutally berated.
"Oh, no, no. NO. Miss Brown, how dull are you?" Snape continued to scold her potion for an unusually long time. Ginny was not sure how it could be even worse than usual.
It had to mix already. Explode! Please!
Nothing happened. The suspense was torturing her. Come on!
The inspection was now near her table. This was her last chance. No more potions lessons for the week. I need that key!
"And what do we have here Mr. Johnson-
There was a powerful explosion.
Ginny was thrown backwards to the ground.
As the room filled with smoke, her mind raced with sudden confusion and terror. She couldn't look back anymore. Move! Stop breathing, that's poison!
People were gasping for breath and yelling - something was on fire - and a misty fog had set upon the dungeon.
The redhead jumped back to her feet and ran towards Professor Snape's desk. Nimbly, she raised her wand, and murmured too loudly for her liking. Replicato!
Taking the duplicated key chain and sliding it into her jeans, she raced back. The smoke was evaporating much faster, than she had expected. As she returned it was now almost gone.
Pushing away her terrible fear of failure, Ginny forced herself to take a look around. Most of her classmates were still coughing. The Gryffindor part of the dungeon had been hit worst, some people had ducked to the ground for fresh air.
Her heart was racing, her blood roaring through her veins. She swore under her breath about being extremely sweaty. But that could be explained away. Please, to everything that is sacred.
Nobody could have seen me.
Feeling of intense paranoia spread through her mind like venom. Why is that Slytherin girl looking so weirdly at me? Why is Johnson staring at the desk where the keys lay?
Trying to regain her composure, Ginny Weasley carefully crafted her facial expressions into outrage and surprise.
Everyone was gazing at Snape. He was waving his wand rapidly, whisking away the remnants of the explosion. But the onlookers were not observing his wand work. Instead large parts of Snape's attire were slashed, and there was a horrible hole in his trousers. His hallmark cloak had been ripped apart.
After the deafening explosion, the room had turned into awkward silence. She almost, just almost, forgot about what had happened. The way Snape was now looking at poor Johnson made everything clear.
And nobody had anything else to say with the sight of Snape just moments away from delivering his wrath.
Her paranoia was still lingering, but she had to push away thoughts that the only reason for the silence was that everyone had seen her.
"YOU BLOODY, USELESS IDIOT!" the potions master bellowed in anger. "Johnson, you are in for a detention of your lifetime."
Ginny Weasley felt relief wash over her.
"No. Not any tiny scolding." The professor fumed. "Your detention is going to be permanent."
Permanent? She tried as hard as she could to suppress her hearty laughter. What is a permanent detention? Like, for the rest of your life?
"But professor, it wasn't me!" he protested mortified. "I have no idea what happened!"
Snape let out a cynical laugh. "Dismissed!"
"Johnson will have to clean up this whole mess. And thanks to him, all of you Gryffindors will receive a ZERO!"
Groans erupted around the room.
"Not you, Johnson. Today you have only Herbology. I will personally go down and talk to Professor Sprout. You have detention here until midnight. No dinner or lunch."
Her housemate wailed, now close to tears. "But I didn't do anything!"
"It was an accident!"
"You were incautious.” Snape spat back venom, now noticing the damage to his cloak. “Your actions could have resulted in casualties."
The miniature amount of guilt she felt was replaced by much stronger euphoria. It didn’t matter to her she had gotten zero as well. This exact potion would be the main subject for the next two weeks, and she had no doubt would be easy to make up and finish with a decent grade.
Johnson was awful at potions. It made no difference to her that he was innocent. In her relief, it was easy to conclude she had rendered him a service.
A detention will only do him good.
He's potion work is a danger to himself and others. I prevented a disaster before it occurred.
Not to mention he hasn’t been nice to me.
The more she thought about it, the surer she was that she had helped him. Providing positive reinforcement to her whole class. No longer being able to suppress her smirk, she jumped several steps at once out of the dungeons.
I have the key. I have the key.
***
"I can't believe it!" Ron laughed hysterically in the Gryffindor common room. "Tell me more Creavy! What did Snape's face look like?"
The news about the incident in the potions classroom had spread rapidly. Intensifying hate and accusations of bigotry from the Gryffindors. Despite calls for Professor Snape's removal, the damage done to his garments had gained widespread acclaim.
Not only his cloak, but the vast majority of Snape's pants had been torn off with his naked butt-cheeks showing. It amused Ron to no end. She sighed at her clown of a brother and buried her face back in her book. Tomorrow there will be an appointment with Remus Lupin in professor’s McGonagall's office. It could only go well if she prepared.
"And then! Then there was a deafening silence!" Colin gestured with his hands, making large round movements. The fog had slowly evaporated, only to reveal the potions master's revolted face.
"That's crazy!" Harry had now turned to listen. “Snape waited for so long to jump at him!"
Hermione was throwing nasty glances at all of them, but Colin continued. "Oh, no, and when he started swearing at us... his voice was deadly silent. It sent shivers down my spine." He whispered. "Poor Johnson."
Ginny wanted to laugh at the faces her fellow Gryffindors were making. They genuinely showed pity. As if that dummy didn't deserve a detention for being so dense at potions.
But what else to expect from the second dumbest house?
Above Hufflepuff, that is.
No, I am just joking. Ginny remarked to herself, lost in her own world. We're the best.
Tonight, was the night. Having acquired the key, her plan was blossoming into fruition. The risk associated with sneaking into Snape's potions chamber, and gathering restricted ingredients was immense.
I could have asked.
But that was not possible. Even if her made up excuses would be convincing enough to get some of the items, they never would be enough for everything. This meant she would still have to sneak in.
It will be safer this way. She sighed at her impossible predicament. If I don't get caught.
It was necessary to wait until the common room was empty. There could be no witnesses. No one could see her leaving. Her alarm was set for two hours past midnight. By then Filch would be asleep. Most students were caught minutes after the curfew. But I can't let them notice I was the last one here.
"Today Snape preyed on me as well!" Ron said anticipating the same amount of sympathy. "But Johnson… that kid always outshines me."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, but you were asking for it."
"No, I didn’t!" Ron bit back. "How am I supposed to know on which finger I can't put a ring?"
"What the hell happened?" Colin perked up. Still present and eagerly taking every opportunity to hang with the Trio.
"Don't swear!" To no one's surprise, Hermione half-yelled at Colin.
"For Merlin's sake it's our common room Hermione. We can do whatever we want!" Ron replied, but his response came already subdued.
Hermione frowned at him, and instead turned to Colin. "You know which finger the ring finger is, right?"
"Yeah, this one." He held up his hand to the amusement of Harry, who was now smirking at Ron.
"How should I bloody know?"
"Ron had this elaborate silver ring sent to him by his brother. Snape ridiculed him as married for an hour." Hermione finished anticlimactically.
During the next hour, the petty bickering between the Trio and their satellites escalated. Getting bored and tired, Ginny had stopped paying attention. Pretending to look sleepy would look disingenuous, and she decided against attempting it. Instead she simply yawned and said her goodnights. Absentmindedly, the Trio echoed her farewell and continued their bickering.
I suppose, I don't care anymore... that they ignore me.
Walking up to her dormitory, Ginny noted her present anxiety. Everything could go wrong in the few next hours. Entering her bedroom, she ransacked her trunk for a small vial.
The bitter aftertaste did not bother her as she emptied the vial. Without removing her clothes, she lounged on the bed. Now it was only a matter of time until losing consciousness. I don't think I will feel the effects of this draught in three hours or so, when I have to get up. Tolerance... is a bitch.
Deciding against closing the curtains around the bed as an unnecessary cry for attention, she closed her eyes and exhaled. This place is so alien. Well, except for Luna. The rest of them are a mess...
Her first year had ruined everything. After Dumbledore's recommendations, she was mandated a compulsory recovery in St. Mungo's. However, no dark curse was found. Promptly afterwards she was moved into the mental ward.
Her family had been against it, but Dumbledore had explained that Tom Riddle's diary was laced with magic, so dark, she was protected only at Hogwarts. Outside she had to recover.
Ron had protested, having seen the same as her. But when she returned late August, it was clear to everyone they had made a mistake. Ginny had changed, and none of them could discern if it was the dark curse that nobody could find or the efforts to cure it.
Still sent me next year.
If only they would have looked closer for that curse.... I wouldn't have to raid Snape's potions chamber tonight.
Suppressing the uncomfortable visions emerging in front of her closed eyes, Ginny diverted her trail of thought. She was on comfortable terms with the Trio. Usually they admitted her into their close-knit company, although never trusted her completely.
During her second year she had desperately tried everything to befriend them, but somehow, they always remained too close. That year had been surprisingly lonely and entirely sleepless. Except for him.
Great, another thing I have to keep out of my mind.
Looking at the round dormitory, she took a passing glance at each of the beds. These people are idiots. But right away she knew it wasn't true. It was her, who was fundamentally different. Before the curse of Tom Riddle, she had known how it was to be carefree. But her mind was rewired.
For all they know, we’re best friends.
The redhead sighed as tinges of loneliness caressed her. Don't think about him.
But at least he is not an idiot. She protested.
True.
There was no need to undress. Finding her clothes in the darkness would wake everyone up. Ginny took her wand out and murmured the alarm charm automatically. After years of lazy investigation, she had found a rather neat one. Instead of making loud noises, it simply vibrated something. As usual, she put the charm on her pillow and drew the curtains around her bed shut.