It's All Relative

Chapter 3

After Percy left, Rachel grudgingly made her way back to the dining room, preparing herself for the earful she was bound to get from her father.

She sat back down cautiously and sighed when he began. He didn't even have the decency to wait until they were alone.

"I don't like that boy. Not one bit. He's a bad influence; filling your head with nonsensical garbage. And who was that boy with him. I do not want you mixing with that crowd."

Rachel bit her lip and it too everything she had not to retort. Mr. Dare, his breakfast now ruined, stood from the head of the table and left the dining room.

"Who were they," Ginny asked.

"Oh, those were my friends, Percy and Nico," Rachel replied.

Mr. Weasley spoke next, "Did that young man's shirt say Camp Half-Blood?"

"Yeah, it's a summer camp," Rachel said.

"Do you go to it?" Fred or George asked, Rachel couldn't tell.

"Not really. Sometimes just to visit friends."

Rachel heard Mr. Weasley mumble something about, "...odd name for a camp...", and smiled. She found it a bit hypocritical that he comment when his children attended a school called Hogwarts.

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The next two weeks flew by without incident and Rachel was proud to say that she could now tell which twin was Fred and which was George, after a memorable afternoon of them letting her help prank Percy.

She now considered Ginny a close friend after some pretty in depth late night chats with her new roommate. She had successfully avoided Oracle dreams, and though she knew her luck was most likely running out, she enjoyed it while it lasted. She didn't know it yet, but Ginny shared her sentiments.

On a particularly rainy night, both girls were turning in after discussing Ginny's new boyfriend, a boy named Michael Corner who was a year older than her.

Both girls fell asleep rather quickly, unknowingly sharing a common goal of making it through the night nightmare free. Unfortunately, only one would succeed.

It was around two in the morning that Rachel was awoken by noises coming from the bed next to hers.

She groggily opened her eyes and searched for the source of her arousal. Rachel was wide awake and by Ginny's side when she noticed her restless form.

Her face was pallid and she was mumbling incoherent things. Rachel was suddenly sad as she noticed the wetness on her younger relatives face.

"Hey, Ginny," Rachel shook the girl gently, "Ginny wake up."

Rachel jumped back slightly as Ginny suddenly bolted upright in her bed. She quickly looked around the room, searching for any present danger. When she found none, she surprised Rachel by shoving her face into her hands and breaking into sobs.

Rachel blinked and remained frozen for a few seconds, before cautiously climbing onto Ginny's bed and throwing her arms around the younger girl.

Ginny gladly accepted Rachel's comfort and buried her head into the others shoulder. The two remained this way for a few minutes before Rachel spoke up.

"Do you want me to get one of your brothers? Your parents?"

"No!" Ginny answered quickly.

"I'm sorry... I just..." Ginny tried.