See the prologue for the disclaimer.
Afraid of the Dark
Written by LJP
Chapter 9
Ginny stepped off the Hogwarts Express holding her head high. Her Christmas holiday was probably the best out of her six while attending Hogwarts. Even with the pain and anxiety of getting a skull and snake burned onto her flesh and the vows that she dedicate the rest of her life to a man obsessed with killing, she enjoyed herself. Afterall, it did land her a date with Harry Potter.
Harry had already stepped down, and he reached out to offer her his hand. She took it smiling. "Thank you Harry." She obliged as he helped her step onto the ground without stumbling.
He smiled back at her, blushing. "You’re welcome." He didn’t let go of her hand, instead giving it a soft squeeze and allowing their joined hands to fall in between them as he led her to the carriages that would take the students up to the castle.
Ron and Hermione fell into step behind Ginny and Harry. The former couple were practically joined at the hip. As the four of them climbed into the nearest carriage, Ginny sent a glance back at her brother and his girlfriend. "I do hope the two of you can keep your hands off each other until we get to Hogwarts. I think if I have to be witness to one more public display of affection, I will vomit."
Ron opened his mouth to object, but Hermione silenced him with a kiss. Then, she looked at Ginny sheepishly. "We’re sorry Ginny. I think we can behave ourselves for a few minutes, right sweetie?"
Ron snorted, but only went as far as wrapping his arm around Hermione’s shoulder throughout the entire ride. Hermione’s head fell against Ron’s shoulder, and one of her hands lay on top ofhis thigh. Ginny rolled her eyes and turned to stare out the window.
She noticed Draco help Pansy Parkinson into a carriage a few meters ahead. He sensed her stare and turned his pale face to meet her gaze. His gray eyes were soft as he looked at her. Instead of his usual trademark sneer, he nodded his head to her, tipping an imaginary hat. Then he disappeared into the vehicle after Pansy.
"Ginny!" Harry demanded.
She spun her head around to look at him. "What?"
"I said your name four times. What’s the matter?"
She shrugged. "Just thinking."
"About..." Harry pressed on.
Ginny sighed and patted Harry hand, which was resting on his leg. "My Potions essay. It was supposed to be five feet long, and I didn’t quite write enough to get it that length. I think I stopped at four-ten." She laughed. "I was just thinking of what I can add before Snape crucifies me."
"You know Ginny," Hermione interrupted. "I’d be more than happy to help you in Potions if you need it. I’m not doing too badly in it anymore, ever since Snape stopped harassing me about helping Neville."
The younger girl smiled softly. "Thanks for the offer Hermione, but I already have a tutor." A lie, though she planned on making it reality soon enough.
"Oh, okay." Hermione nodded, returning her gaze to Ron, who leaned up and whispered something in her eye, causing her to blush furiously. She giggled.
Ginny sighed.
"Professor Snape." Ginny said as she approached her Potions Master’s desk once class let out. He looked up at her. "I was wondering if you could recommend a tutor for me."
He raised an eyebrow. "Miss Weasley, I have to admit that I’m a little confused; am I wrong to believe you are doing quite well in my class?"
She hesitated. "I am, sir. I have no problem at all in class. With the experimental aspect of Potions that is. I just don’t feel...comfortable with the theory. I had a very difficult time completing the essay you assigned us over break. I have to admit that I also have a hard time on tests when you ask us to list ingredients. It’s one thing to have the book open in front of you while you’re preparing a potion; it’s quite a different matter when you have to recall everything from memory. I was hoping a tutor might help with it. Maybe quiz me or something of the like?" She shrugged.
Snape considered this for a moment. "Very well. I can pair you up with Miss Granger. She is one of my best students and I believe — "
"Please Professor, not Hermione."
He regarded her curiously. "She is one of my best students, though I hate to admit it, and she is Gryffindor."
Ginny shook her head. "Hermione and I, we don’t get along. She’s dating Ron, and we don’t really get along sir. I don’t think she’d find the time to help me. She’s always with him and..." She looked down at her hands.
"I see."
"Is there anyone else?" She asked hopefully.
He knew what she wanted, and he hesitated to give it to her. "The only other student I would trust enough to tutor another would be Mr. Malfoy. However, I do not know what his feelings are regarding tutoring a Gryffindor, and at that fact, a Weasley."
"Sir, I..." She stopped short of what she was going to say, turning then to a different tact. Snape could have, easily, finished her sentence. "Could you talk to him? I would really appreciate the help. Thank you." Ginny finished, and then she turned to leave the classroom. On her way out, a small smile spread across her face.
Snape watched the young Gryffindor walk out of the dungeons.
"Interesting." He mumbled. "Very interesting." He returned to his paperwork.
Snape was, once again, interrupted from doing his paperwork. He looked up as the door opened to find Draco Malfoy entering the classroom. "Professor Snape?"
"Mr. Malfoy, I’m glad you came down here. I have something I need to discuss with you."
"You do?"
Snape nodded. "Yes. Miss Weasley came by to request a Potions tutor this morning." He watched the blond seventh year closely, hoping to catch a glimpse of what his feelings on this topic were. "I suggested Miss Granger."
Draco sucked in a breath. "That Mudblood doesn’t know anything about Potions! How could you even suggest that she tutor Ginny?" He gasped when he realized his slip up of using her given name.
"Indeed."
"I’m sorry sir."
Snape waved a hand at Draco. "No need to apologize. Miss Weasley objected to Miss Granger taking on the task of her tutor. She said that with Miss Granger’s relationship with her brother, she feared the tutoring would have no effect."
Draco almost sighed. "What did you need to talk to me about then?"
"I was hoping you’d agree to tutor her."
"Me?" Draco asked.
Snape nodded. "You are my best student. I see no reason other than House rivalries or perhaps familial rivalries that you shouldn’t be up to the task."
Draco nodded. "Of course Professor. I’d be happy to."
"Good! One less thing I have to worry about." Snape shuffled a few papers around, making a quick note to tell Miss Weasley about his findings. "Now, what was it that you came to see me for?"
His student looked up at him, his speech faltering.
"What a piece of work is man!" — William Shakespeare, Hamlet
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Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.