Ginger Malfoy

House Points, Howlers, and Riddles

Ginger Malfoy woke up in the infirmary.  She felt an aching pain in her head.  As she sat up, she noticed that Alex Nott was asleep two beds down from her.  What was he doing there?  What was she doing there?

She couldn't remember much.  She could picture an older boy with crooked teeth and dark hair.  She remembered a pair of intense scaly-green eyes staring at her.  She remember a syrupy sweetness that overcame her senses.  She remembered a flash of red light.  A hazy flash, one she could barely see.

Madam Pomfrey came in.  Her young face was creased in worry.  She wondered how many times her mother had had to deal with the students' foolishness.  By the looks of it, many.

"Glad to see you're awake," the younger Madam Pomfrey said.  "You're looking better."

"Why am I here?" Ginger asked in a pitiful voice.

"You went to a party last night.  Very stupid of you, in my opinion.  The older children took advantage of your drunken state.  A fifth-year from your own house hexed you.  Your parents are very displeased."

Ginger thought of her mother and father's frowning faces.  She dreaded going home.

"They were so displeased, in fact, that your mother sent this for you," Madam Pomfrey waved a red envelope in front of Ginger's face.  "You should open it up at breakfast."

"So I'm to have breakfast in the Great Hall?" Ginger asked, not wanting to get up.

"Yes," Madam Pomfrey replied.  "Wake up Mr. Nott and the two of you can head to breakfast."

Ginger woke Alex up and took her letter from Madam Pomfrey.  She and Alex slowly made their way to the Slytherin table and sat down next to a distraught Lobelia.

"Where were you all night?" Lobelia practically screamed at Ginger.  "I was so worried about you and if you would have stayed with me at the party this wouldn't have-"  Lobelia stopped yelling when she saw the letter.

"Nevermind," Lobelia said.  "You're going to get enough of a shouting from your mother."

"What?" Ginger asked.  The letter...no...it couldn't be.

"Are you telling me that my mum sent me a Howler, Lobelia?"

Lobelia nodded and grimaced.  "Open it up, Ging."

Ginger opened it up slowly.  It wrenched itself from her hands and began to scream at her.

"GINGER ANDROMEDA MALFOY, I THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE KNOWN BETTER!  I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE SO GULLIBLE!  YOUR DAD AND I ARE NOT HAPPY WITH YOU, YOUNG LADY!  YOU'LL BE LUCKY TO GET A WEASLEY SWEATER THIS CHRISTMAS!  IF YOU TRY SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN YOU'LL BE COMING STRAIGHT HOME!  YOU'RE LUCKY YOU GOT OUT OF THIS SO EASILY!  IT'S HOUSE POINTS NOW, IT COULD BE YOUR LIFE LATER!

And Rose dear, your Aunt and Uncle Gin and Drake are so proud of you for making Gryffindor.  And Albus, we're so pleased that you're a Ravenclaw like Luna."

Ginger was aghast.  She now knew Uncle Ron's pain.  Why did her mum have to put in the line about the Weasley sweater?  The last thing she needed was another reminder to the Slytherins that she was 50% Weasley.  And she was sure that the whole school would now be using her middle name against her.  

Her mother was scary.  She almost wished her father had yelled instead, but she knew he didn't yell at her.  He got mad, yeah, but he didn't yell.

Ginger set her head down on the table like she was going to cry.  Alex put his hand on her shoulder.

She might have started crying for real if Headmistress McGonagall hadn't had an announcement that drew her from her sorrows momentarily.

"Attention students," she said clearly.  "I'd like to make it clear that what happened last night is not tolerated in this castle.  250 points will be taken from Slytherin for hosting the party, and 100 more for injuring someone with the use of magic.  I'd also like to say that because we are deprived of Quidditch team members, first-years will be allowed to try out and to own broomsticks.  However, they must still get on to the team based on talent, so many of you first years who may try out won't make the team.  Thank you."

Many eyes rested on Ginger when the Quidditch announcement was made, but it didn't change anything.  She was going to try out whether she was allowed to or not, so it didn't make a difference to her.  She still doubted, however, that she could make the team.

When everyone was done eating and they were making their way to classes, she was stopped by her Potions professor, Professor Certia.

"Miss Malfoy," she tapped her foot, "are you planning on trying out for Quidditch?"

"Yes, Professor," Ginger replied nervously to the professor that she loved and feared.

"Well, then, let's have no more stunts like last night, hmm?  And don't let Miss Riddle push you around, dear.  Her name is just a name, nothing more."

"All right, Professor," said a confused Ginger.  Riddle?  Who was this girl?

Then it dawned on her.  Was the snake-eyed girl a Riddle?

Ginger didn't know whether her hunch was right, but she was very worried about her year if Snake-eyes was a Riddle.

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A/N:  Yes it's short, but I've got more coming.(: