Untold Past ~g. weasley~

04

I had finally mastered my Animagus ability, and I surprisingly didn't turn into a snake, but rather a calico cat. So far, just Professor Snape, who helped me out with the process, my adoptive family, the Weasleys, and my friends Harry and Hermione knew about my Animagus form. Ginny liked to cuddle with me when I was in my cat form, and I enjoyed it when she petted me. We had figured out over the summer that I might be able to use my Animagus form to sneak out of the Slytherin common room at night and spend more time with Ginny. When I received my letter containing my list of supplies for the upcoming school year, I noticed that it felt thicker than usual, and when I opened it, something shiny fell out and landed on my bed. I picked it up and turned it over, almost squealing when I did. It was a Prefect badge. I was excited to tell my family, Ginny in particular, since I knew that they would be really happy for me. I waited downstairs for everyone to wake up, turning my badge over in my hand to occupy myself. "Good morning, Juliet. What's that you have there?" Mrs. Weasley asked me. "Good morning, Mrs. Weasley. It's a surprise for when the others get up," I said, putting the Prefect badge in my pocket before I got up to help make breakfast. A few minutes later, I felt someone's breath on the back of my neck, followed by the feeling of someone's lips. "Morning, love," Ginny said softly in my ear. "Morning, honey," I said, turning to give my girlfriend a quick kiss. "You seem like you're in a good mood today," she said. "That's because I got some interesting news to share when everyone gets up," I said.

The rest of the family got up about an hour after Ginny did, and we had breakfast before I decided to tell everyone the news. "So, what did you want to tell us?" Ron asked. "I was made a Prefect," I replied, and everyone got up and gave me a hug. "I was made a Prefect, too," Ginny said, and everyone hugged her as well. "Honestly, I don't know how I got picked to be a Prefect instead of some of my classmates," she said. "I wondered the same thing last school year, sis," Ron commented. "Hey Ginny, I still haven't given you a hug yet," I said. "Well, come on, bring it in," she replied, and I hugged her tightly, then I kissed her deeply. "Ugh, get a room, you two," Ron said. "Shut up, Ron," Fred said. "Yeah, they can snog where they want to around here," George said. "In fact, I would say that they're so much more affectionate right now because they won't get to spend as much time together this year, with the OWL exams and all," Fred added. "Trust me, I think Jules and I will find a way. Maybe she can pretend to be my cat and lay next to me while I study," Ginny said. "You know, I like that idea," I replied, burying my face in the crook of her neck and closing my eyes. "I love you too, Jules," Ginny said, picking up on my hint.

On the morning of the 1st of September, I woke up and stretched before putting a few other things in my trunk to bring with to Hogwarts. I had recently learned from Professor Snape that I was now a registered Animagus, which I had been waiting to hear. I had no idea what the school year was going to bring, however.

It all started on the Hogwarts Express, where Draco Malfoy was bragging about something loudly with the other Slytherin Prefects, excluding myself, since I was spending time with Ginny. "... says he's got something special lined up for the Delaney girl. Wouldn't say what it was, though," Malfoy said to Pansy Parkinson and Brandon Avery, the latter of whom was in the same year as me. I went to turn and look at Malfoy and his group, but Ginny gently redirected my attention to her. "Here, let's use the Extendable Ears," she whispered, and we got them out and proceeded to eavesdrop on the conversation. "It's only a matter of time before she dumps Weaslette and joins her father. I wouldn't have even gone out with the Weasley girl to begin with, but whatever," Malfoy said. "I wouldn't be surprised if the opposite happens, Draco," Brandon said. "He won't give her a choice. Wait, let me rephrase that. He'll make her choose to either join him or die. Simple as that," Malfoy replied. Ginny and I decided that we'd heard enough and put the Extendable Ears away. "What are you going to do if what Malfoy said is true?" She asked. "I would never join my father, even if hell had frozen over," I said, making Ginny chuckle softly before becoming serious again. "I don't want to lose you, though. Especially not like that," Ginny said. "I'm quick on my feet. I'll do everything I can to keep him from killing me," I said.

When we arrived at Hogwarts, I promised Ginny that I would turn into a cat after showing the first years to the Slytherin common room and the dormitories with Brandon. "Hey, Juliet, can I talk to you really quickly?" Brandon asked me after we had shown the first years to the dormitories. "Sure," I said with a shrug, and he brought me to a cupboard in the Slytherin common room. "I want to warn you that You-Know-Who is making plans to get you to join him," he said once we were inside. "I won't join him even if hell freezes over," I said. "I thought you'd say that. From what I've heard, if you refuse to join him, then he'll take your girlfriend as a prisoner either until you join him or until you reach a deadline to join him, at which point he'll kill her," he said. "I can't put her through something like that. Maybe I can talk to Professor Dumbledore about it and see if there's something he can do to help keep her safe," I said. "That's a good idea, Juliet. There's only so much a pair of fifth years can do against the Death Eaters," he said, and he stepped out of the cupboard. Once I was sure he was far enough from the cupboard, I turned into a cat and slipped out to visit Ginny in the Gryffindor common room.

Once I got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, I sat down and meowed three times to let Ginny know that I was there. A short time later, the door opened, and Ginny appeared, sweeping me up into her arms and carrying me inside. Once we were in the common room, she put me down on the floor, and I promptly leapt into her lap and curled up, waiting until only myself, Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the common room before I turned back into a human. I sat down in one of the comfortable chairs in the room and simply looked around. "Is something bothering you, love?" Ginny asked. "It's nothing," I said, and my voice started to break. "It's not nothing. I can tell by your posture. Is it something to do with the conversation that we overheard on the train?" Ginny asked. "Yeah. Brandon Avery, one of my few friends in my own House, told me that if I refused to join my father, he'll take you prisoner until either I join him, or until a deadline is reached that he sets for me to join him," I said. "What happens if you haven't joined him by the deadline?" Ginny asked me with a confidence that I wished I possessed. "If I haven't joined him by the deadline... then he'll... he'll..." I said, trying to keep my tears back. "He'll what, love?" Ginny asked. "He'll... He'll kill you," I managed to say, dissolving into tears. "Hey, it's okay. We'll think of something," Ginny said, getting up and coming over to hug me. "I was thinking we could talk to Professor Dumbledore and see if there's something he can do to help keep you safe," I said. "I like that. Just let me know when you want to do it," she said, kissing my forehead. "Maybe we can go now?" I asked. "Sure, love," Ginny replied. "You can borrow my invisibility cloak if you want," Harry offered, and we took him up on the offer. 

We decided that it would be best if we went to Professor Snape's office first so we could get the password to Professor Dumbledore's office. What I didn't expect was to see him leaving the Great Hall. I stepped out from under the invisibility cloak and approached him. "Ah. What can I do for you, Miss Delaney?" He asked in his usual monotonous tone. "I was wondering what the password for Professor Dumbledore's office is," I replied. "I see. I presume this is about protecting Miss Weasley?" He asked, and I nodded. "Professor Dumbledore is already aware of the danger that the both of you are in and has already taken precautions to ensure your safety," he said before continuing on his way. Once he was gone, I returned to Ginny and explained what he had told me. "Well, if Professor Dumbledore knows, and he already took precautions to keep us safe, then that makes me feel much better. I think I'm going to head back to the Gryffindor common room. See you tomorrow?" She asked. "Of course. I love you," I said, giving her a kiss goodnight. "I love you too, Jules," she replied, and she left for Gryffindor Tower, while I went to the Slytherin common room.

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Hey. Sorry I haven't updated this story in a while. I just haven't had any ideas for how to continue it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Until next time!