The Magical Quad: Book 2-The Silvery Mist Animals

Chapter 4- Ginny

Ginny

My eyes are glued to the Quidditch field – and on Angelina, Alicia, and Katie. I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted to be a Chaser for Gryffindor. Plus, I think Fred likes Angelina. So, I'm just gonna watch her specifically to see if I can tease Fred with anything...

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After the Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch Match...

Gryffindor smashed Slytherin, of course. They smash everyone. I figured that I’ll have a price to pay when I first became friends with Lynx, Cass, and Luna. I thought that they wouldn’t talk to me for about a month each time their house was crushed by Gryffindor. But that’s not the case. My friends are tough.

Lynx helped a lot to bring around Slytherin’s defeat. I once saw a Slytherin player gaping at Lynx in midair – he stopped a moment too long. My brothers, Fred and George, came up behind him and before you could say “Quidditch,” he was plummeting to the ground.

The game is over before you know it, with Harry catching the snitch, as usual. He always does. Fred and George told me that on his first game, he almost swallowed it.

As I blab about what a good throw Katie Bell made, and how great a save Oliver Wood did, Luna and Cass are solemnly talking about something. I finally shut up about Quidditch. “What’s going on?” I ask wearily.

“Lynx isn’t being herself,” Cass replies. “Ever since I told her that she was being a bit too much of a rebel on the first day, she’s seemed really upset and now, she’s pretending that she’s not bothered at all about it by being more rebellious than she actually is. But I can tell this type of stuff, you know, I know she’s pretending.”

“Wow, you’re good with feelings,” I mutter.

“I know, sorry, I don’t mean to brag.” Cass blushes. She hates bragging, that’s a trait of Hufflepuffs. Modesty.

“It’s fine,” Luna adds quickly. “I think we should go find Lynx, though, and talk to her.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” I agree. “I haven’t seen her for a while. She usually hangs out with us. I can tell she’s not being herself…

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“LYNX ATLANTA MALFOY!”

Cass stares around, scowling. “I’ve tried everywhere! In the Slytherin common room, too, I used my Cloak.”

Draco Malfoy walks by. “Looking for my sister? Is she mad or something? Then don’t bother.” He walks away to hang out with his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

I glance around the orchards outside Hogwarts. “Have you tried all of the trees?”

“I’m telling you, she’s nowhere!”

“Maybe you should look in the trees.” Luna says dreamily. “She likes to climb, you know… Oh! She’s here!”

I run to the tree that Luna’s standing by. “Lynx?”

“Lynx, come back down, please!” Cass calls. “We know that you’re not being yourself, come down, it’s okay! We’re not mad at you or anything, why are you avoiding us?”

Lynx, the dark figure 20 feet above me, doesn’t move.

“Come down, Lynx, you’ll need to be a professional liar to trick us.” Luna grins. “We’re your friends, and you can’t hide from us.”

“Lynx, come down,” I say quietly. “We know.”

Lynx throws a glance in our direction.

“I’m going to the dorm, I’ll come back later,” she sighs, slinking down the tree.

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We meet Lynx next outside in the orchard again; the sun is setting and Lynx’s hair is sleek and wet, her braid newly made. “I like the water,” Lynx mutters, avoiding our eyes, “Slytherin’s element, you know…”

But a look in her eyes told us that she was not proud of being in Slytherin House. I decided not to mention that and say encouragingly, “Oh, yeah, it’s nice to mull things over in the water.”

We sit down under a tree. Cass plops down like it’s a normal day and we’re just having a chat about Quidditch or how Snape is mean. “So tell us, what’s up?”

“Yeah, we don’t bloody care about You-Know-Poo,” I add fiercely yet jokingly. “It’s you we care about.”

Lynx gives me a small smile.

“Yeah, Lynx, smile!”

Luna nods. “Smiling is a good way to attract Crumple Horned Snorkacks.”

Lynx’s grin widens. I can tell she’s holding back giggles.

“Yeah, laugh!” Cass says encouragingly. She glances nervously at Luna. “I mean, not if it offends you or – “

“Laughing, offend me? No way!”

Lynx giggles a little, but stops suddenly. The air turns bitter and cold. We all suddenly stand up and pull out our wands – it’s our instinct. When something doesn’t feel right, wands out.

“What is it?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

Lynx points. Dementors.