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Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Third Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 4 Words: 38,332
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Bold Face Type indicates a direct quote from Chapter Twenty-four, Rita Skeeter's Scoop, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. Although they left the Christmas decorations up until January sixth, Molly and Arthur and Percy were too busy to spend much time enjoying their tree or listening to Christmas music. Percy went into the Ministry every day during what was supposed to be his holiday. Arthur returned to work the Monday after New Years and Molly knew that the children had started their new term that day, as well. She sat at the kitchen table drinking a second cup of tea and thought about what she planned to do to get in even better shape during the year 1995. She wasn't the sort that wrote out resolutions for the coming year but she admitted that she felt better now that she was getting more healthful exercise. She decided to see if Corrine would agree to practice dueling twice a week rather than just once. She'd be willing to Apparate over to Diggory Downs for the extra day. Corrine had a lovely meadow behind her house and a copse of small trees off to one side that would provide cover for evading spells. Molly decided that she'd suggest the extra morning devoted to exercise and dueling when Corrine came over. After all, Amos had said that Corrine slept better after exercise. Maybe she could even walk over to Corinne's on fine days. Walking was supposed to build stamina. Molly noticed her tea had gone cold while she was thinking of ways to get more exercise, so she went upstairs and changed into one of the outfits that Arthur brought her from some sort of Oriental exercise place. What had he called it? 'Car-ate-tea' or something like that. Whatever it was called, the short jacket and divided skirt made it easy to move. What did the Muggles call that kind of skirt? Something like 'Cool-louts'. Corrine arrived promptly and was eager to add another day of exercise on the weeks that they could fit it in. She was likewise agreeable to taking turns hosting. 'It's so lonely with Amos at work and Ceddie at school. Remember when I used to invite Percy and the twins over every Wednesday. Those were happy years.' 'You were all the help that I had, except for Arthur. If it hadn't been for you and your play dates, I couldn't have managed. The twins were a handful when they were young!' Molly hugged her friend. 'They still are!' laughed Corinne, returning the hug. The two friends warmed up by rushing up and down the stairs and next practiced aiming spells. They helped each other use the weights correctly for about an hour and then settled in to listen to Days of Destiny while they did their cool down stretches. 'I didn't listen to any of my programs while Charlie was here,' admitted Molly. 'So maybe some of the people with mental problems have gotten better.' 'Or fallen into mysterious comas,' suggested Corrine, as Molly laughed at the expression on her face. 'Nic Meath is announcing,' said Molly in surprise. 'He and Kate must be back from America. No one else sounds the same with the introduction.' Molly tried imitating Nick as she used a deep voice to say: 'Some time ago, but not so very far from here, an orphaned Irish lass was welcomed into Pureblood Wizard Society. A Seer could have revealed to her that she was about to enter her DAYS OF DESTINY.' Corrine giggled. They both drank tea and ate biscuits, carrying on their own conversation, while directing snide comments to the characters on the program who were still suffering from extreme cases of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It was quite amusing to listen to each of the actors ignoring what the others were saying and talking only about themselves. 'I better go home and tidy up, or else, take a nap,' said Corrine, yawning. "You can tell me what happens on Bedside at St Brigid's.' Molly decided that she'd mix up some bread dough and let it rise while she listened to the WWN program about Healers in Training. Her friend Kate Wallace was back from Boston so Healer O'Malley was telling everyone about the new miracle Potion that she'd learned about at the MHA convention in New York that prevented Dragon Pox and helped alleviate some of the more bizarre symptoms of Spattergroit. She said it was far superior to the traditional remedy that called for ingesting toad liver while standing naked in a container of eel's eyes. After Molly set the bread out to rise she decided to 'rest her eyes' for a bit while it rose. She was awake and making dinner when Arthur Apparated home carrying The Daily Prophet. 'That idiot Skeeter woman has done it again,' he announced as soon as he came into the kitchen. 'Listen to this, Molly!' DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments. "Is this about Mad-Eye?' asked Molly, in alarm. 'He's mentioned as an example, but it's really about Hagrid. Rita Skeeter says he is a half-giant who has all of his students terrorized.' Arthur stopped and looked at Molly. 'Charlie always liked Hagrid when he was the Gamekeeper but isn't this his first year teaching Care of Magical Creatures?' Molly nodded her head. 'Does this Skeeter person have any evidence about Hagrid misbehaving? Professor Dumbledore trusts him.' 'The article mentions Lucius Malfoy's son being hurt and Harry.' 'Harry?' said Molly in a frightened voice. 'Has Hagrid hurt Harry?' 'No, Harry isn't hurt. Hagrid praises Harry in the story,' said Arthur. 'But it sounds as if Rita Skeeter wants Hagrid fired. Listen to the final paragraph!' In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reported to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power- thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend- but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants. 'Oh my!' said Molly. 'You're sure that our children and Harry are not in danger?' 'Merlin, Molly! Dumbledore wouldn't have hired Hagrid if he thought there was any danger. He trusted him with Harry,' 'Of course, you're right,' said Molly with a sigh. 'I must be remembering all those stories about giants from when I was a little girl. Hagrid has been to our house. Bill and Charlie like him. He helped Charlie get the job working with dragons.' 'Do I smell bread baking?' asked Arthur. 'Percy is going to be late, so we can eat early and have an early night.' ***** The next afternoon, Hedwig came with letters from both Ron and Ginny. Molly read Ginny's first. Dear Mum and Dad, Percy always makes a special effort to see me every time he comes to Hogwarts on business about the Triwizard Tournament. He says Mr Crouch is still not feeling well but trusts him completely to do what needs to be done. He is very proud of all the responsibilities he has now. I suppose you heard that Rita Skeeter wrote an article about Hagrid being a half-giant and all. He's very embarrassed and we have a substitute teacher for Care of Magical Creatures. She is Professor Grubbly-Plank and she has brought unicorns for us to study. It is a nice change from the Blast Ended Skrewts. The unicorns are so beautiful but they only like girls. I am doing well in all of my classes. Fred and George are still being nice to me. So is Hermione. She is worried about the house-elves not being paid and having days off. Where would they go on their days off? I am worried that Harry will get hurt in the Second Task. I don't think he has figured out what the Golden Egg clue means, but he says he has everything 'under control'. Ceddie looks more relaxed and is being friendly again, so I think he knows what to do. I hope Harry keeps trying. Love, Ginny 'I'm glad that Ginny is happy at school this year. It's so nice that Percy goes to see her so often.' Molly suddenly wondered why Percy hadn't mentioned how often he was at Hogwarts. 'Maybe that's why he isn't home until very late most days.' Ron's letter was short but had a great deal of information. Dear Mum and Dad, Harry says he knows what the Golden Egg is screeching about. He says he has everything under control for the Second Task. He's my best mate so I believe him. Hermione doesn't believe him. But she's mental again. We are trying to get Hagrid to come back and teach Care of Magical Creatures. All the girls like studying about unicorns. Some of them can pet them and everything. I like more manly creatures. Hermione likes Victor Krum and he's manly. He even swims in the Black Lake in January. I think he's mental, too. We could stand some leftover Christmas treats. That way you and Dad wouldn't have to eat them all and ruin your figures. Ha-Ha- Ha! Love, Ron "Interesting, now Hermione has dropped Harry for Victor Krum,' Molly said under her breath while she folded the letters up and left them at Arthur's place. ***** The rest of the month of January went by very quickly for Molly. Arthur and Percy continued to be unusually busy. Percy did not even come home some nights. Arthur thought he was eating and sleeping either at Hogwarts or in his office. Molly was a bit worried about how hard he was working but when Percy came home to get clean clothes he assured her that it was only because he had so many responsibilities helping Mr Crouch while he was under the weather. 'While Mr Crouch is unable to come into the office, I must uphold the standards of the Department for International Magical Cooperation,' said Percy, proudly. 'Mind you, I am not complaining about the lack of effort of the representative of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, but I do not see that announcing each of the tasks amounts to sufficient help.' 'Please eat proper meals and get enough sleep and stay warm, dear,' said Molly in a worried voice. You were quite susceptible to catching cold when you were a boy.' 'Yes mother,' said Percy as he threw the floo powder into the fireplace. 'The Ministry.' Molly watched him go with a heavy heart. She had a very bad feeling about what was happening.
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