The Dragon's Treasure

Beltane

Ginny peeked her head around the door in Holly's room. Holly paused and smiled at Ginny when she heard the door open.

"Can I come in?" Ginny asked.

"Of course." Holly sat down on the couch beside her trunk. Ginny took the seat across from her and looked down timidly. It wasn't like her, and it made Holly nervous.

"What's wrong Ginny?"

Ginny looked up anxiously, before coming to some sort of resolve.

"I think we should spend the summer at Potter Manor, all of us. It will be decided soon, and I know it's not really my place-"

"It is," Holly interrupted. Surprise overtook Ginny's face. "It's exactly your place, Ginny. You're a Potter now You're also the future Lady Gryffindor. If you'd like to spend the summer at our ancestral home, we will."

Ginny's spine straightened as she listened to Holly, she no longer looked at the ground timidly. She knew she was a Potter now, she could see it in the mirror, and she could feel it in her magic, but to hear her sister say it, reaffirmed something inside her.

"Thank you Holly."

"Thank you for coming to me. Truthfully, I've been thinking the same thing for a while. It's perfect. The Manor is large enough for our friends, and there is something so comforting about being there. Besides, the Quidditch World Cup is here this summer. You know everyone will want to be in the country for that."

Ginny nodded. She was excited to see professional teams play, and the excitement leading up to it.

She had never been to a professional game before, and it promised to be a treat.

"Let's go tell Lady Malfoy so she can coordinate with the other families. Trixie is going to have a field day."

"Where in Merlin's name is Sally?!" Draco moaned.

He had been looking all morning. Mipsy and Trixie were busy getting everything coordinated for their return to Hogwarts, or he would have asked for assistance by now. He didn't particularly want to have to tell Holly that he couldn't find her familiar.

"Watch your mouth," Lord Malfoy replied, though he too looked around with frustration. They were supposed to leave any moment for the platform, and the snake could not be found.

"Shall I floo call the Longbottom's and see if she's over there?" Ginny asked upon entering the room.

"Yes!" Lord Malfoy affirmed, surprised they hadn't thought of it earlier.

Holly and Lady Malfoy entered the floo room with Mipsy. Trixie, and Dobby following them. The trunks floated after them like ducklings following their mother. Ginny approached the floo, but just as she picked up a handful of powder, the flames roared to life, and the head of Minerva McGonagall appeared in the fireplace.

"Headmistress, what are you doing here?" Ginny yelped, stumbling back. Lord Malfoy rushed forward to steady her. He gave Ginny a reassuring smile as Lady Malfoy joined him by the fireplace.

"Good Morning Miss Potter. Lord and Lady Malfoy I apologize for the early call, but I thought you might like to know that Lady Slytherin's snake is at Hogwarts. When I arrived at my office this morning, Sally and Godric were curled up in front of my fire with nary a care in the world."

Draco laughed, but quelled at the look his mother dealt him.

"How did they get there?!" Holly questioned.

"Mother Magic only knows, but suffice it to say, they are safe with me. Would you like to come through the floo, since I have it open, or ride the train?"