Nightingale

Nightingale
2. Counting Losses


Summary: HBP / Ginny finds herself in Tom’s nightclub and is forced to become a consort when old legends come to light. Where intrigue meets the dead and everything is black, Ginny finds some peace in the company of a tragic young man. Necromancer!Ginny & greedy!Draco

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine in any fashion or any way.

*HBP Spoilers / Beware*

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“Gin?” Ginny’s eyes fluttered open just as a group of girls was walking by. Ginny shook her head to get rid of the images that had been playing in her mind. It had been a long day, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to shake the daydreams that continued to plague her. They were exceptionally bad this morning.

Ginger Hollings, a good friend and roommate from Gryffindor, stood before her with a little girl who had to be a first year. The girl stared up at her with big brown eyes, her tiny body trembling slightly, though the girl tried to hide it.

“Yeah, Ginger?” Ginny asked, watching the little girl in the corner of her eye.

“She needs to go to the medical wing. I think she is suffering from slight shock. She has all the signs.”

Ginny nodded at Ginger before turning to the girl. “What is your name?” She asked, trying to keep her voice as level as possible. The first years hated being treated like babies, as she recalled from previous experience.

“Gretel.” The girl replied after a moment’s hesitation. She did look shocked, Ginny noticed, and her eyes were slightly dilated.

“Okay, Gretel. Let’s get you to the Medical wing so you can sleep this off. I promise, when you wake up later this afternoon, you won’t remember half of this.”

Gretel seemed to like that idea, because some of the color in her face came back. She glanced once at Ginger, who motioned for her to follow Ginny to the medical wing. She fell in place beside Ginny seconds later, each of her tiny steps echoing through the somber hallways. This was the quietest Ginny could ever remember Hogwarts being.

As they neared the Medical Wing, they could make out the sounds a someone crying. It wasn’t a deep wail, like Ginny had heard through most of the day. No. Instead it was the kind of crying that shook the body silently as small sniffs and the occasional quiet wail slipped out. It was the type of crying one did when their heart felt wrenched apart.

Gretel’s steps became slower as they approached the medical wing, her eyes growing wide at the sound of the child’s crying. She glanced once at Ginny, who took her hand and squeezed it gently.

“What did I tell you earlier?” Ginny asked in a hushed voice. Gretel looked down at her feet before looking Ginny in the eyes.

“-That when I wake up I won’t remember.” Ginny nodded and squeezed the girl’s hand again.

“All of this will be over soon. You won’t remember much.” The little girl’s feet quickened in pace, and before long Gretel was settled into one of the many cots with nothing but a dreamless sleep awaiting her.

Ginny watched as Madame Pomfrey and a team of hired nurses tucked the students into their cots and saw to their well being. The wing was packed with students, all lined up on cots that spanned from both ends of the wing. There were at least six rows of cots, half of which were filled with first and second years. Everyone else, except a few, were lined up on one side of the ward picking up small vials of Sleeping Draught.

“Have they made it through the second years?” One of the nurses asked Ginny as she checked on one of her sleeping patients.

“Yes. They are almost half-way through the first years.” Ginny replied, glancing at the sleeping child. It was a little boy that looked no older than ten years old. He was as pale as the sheets he was tucked under.

“Good. I want this to be over so everyone can sleep it off. It’s a nightmare seeing all of you in these conditions.” The nurse mumbled, toying with the sheets on the boy’s bed. A little bit of red rose to her cheeks as she said this.

The nurse was right. The Ministry’s way of handling the problem of students being influenced by the Dark Lord was too drastic. They had announced earlier in the summer break that when the students returned to Hogwarts the school would be under complete Ministry security control. This included a band of retired Unspeakables and Aurors searching the hallways for any strange events, the ministries’ ability to intercept almost every owl, and their chance to delve into the minds of the whole student body by methods of questionable interrogation.

Today had been the school’s first interrogation, and it had not gone well. The seventh and sixth years went first into their solitary rooms where they were hounded by practiced Ministry officials. Many of the students had watched as some of their classmates for seven or six years were hauled off in chains – classmates that were supposedly influenced by the Dark Lord. It was said they were to be rehabilitated, but none of the students believed this. You didn’t put students in chains to rehabilitate them, unless they directly attacked you.

The methods they used had to be illegal – Ginny knew that from DDA lessons and from talk at Grimmauld’s place. Veritaserum, which she had almost been injected with, was a highly monitored potion. When Ginny saw the color of the liquid in that needle she had almost passed out from fear. The last thing she wanted was to spill her guts, even if she had nothing to do with the Dark Lord – which was technically wrong. All through her questioning Ginny had been on edge, fearful they might find out about his possession of her in her first year. Surely that would have her put in ‘rehabilitation’ for a very long time. They had been close to finding out, too, but somehow Ginny had managed to prevent them from injecting her with the serum. Yet next time, she might not be so lucky.

“I don’t know what they are doing to you in those rooms,” The nurse continued on with her musings, her cheeks almost as red as Ginny’s hair now, “but I don’t like it. Just look at how sick these kids are.” She finished her rant with a slight ‘humph’ and then turned to Ginny. “Oh, honey, I didn’t mean to keep you. I’m sure you are needed downstairs. Thank you for bringing the students up here.”

The nurse patted Ginny on the back and gave her a soothing smile before moving on to the next bed. Ginny could hear her mumbling obscenities at the ministry as she did so. Without a word Ginny slipped from the ward and continued down the hall to the classrooms she had been posted at earlier. Ginger probably had more first years for her to see to.

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Hogwarts had changed drastically since Dumbledore’s death. Though it had only been three months, it felt like eternity to the school’s small population of returning students. As McGonagall had feared, the Death Eater breech on Hogwarts had been a blow to the school’s reputation. Hogwarts had been a school that provided protection for its students. With that image destroyed, many of the parents had pulled their children from the school in the belief that they could better protect them.

Dumbledore’s death also caused other problems for the school. With the only Wizarding School in Britain threatening to shut down, the Ministry had to step in to secure the school’s future. This meant creating laws and services that would make parents feel it was safe to send their children to Hogwarts. That is how the school became overloaded with Ministry officials combing the hallways, the random interrogations of the student body, and the arresting of students and faculty.

Hogwarts’ traditions had also been changed. Due to the small population of returning students, McGonagall discarded all current previous sorting of the students. Thus the houses were torn apart and separated by year. The first and second years became the residents of Gryffindor Tower and the third years took over Ravenclaw. The fourth and fifth years now roomed in Slytherin, leaving the sixth and seventh years in Hufflepuff. It had been a nightmare to adjust to the change, especially for the sixth and seventh years that spent all their lives hating other houses only to now room with them.

Yet all of this could have been handled in stride if one thing had not been taken from the students…their chance to escape the school. Students of the previous years had the ability to go out on the grounds, play quiditch, or walk to the library in their freetime, but now all of that had changed. The grounds were now off limits, leaving the students cooped up inside the building. Plus escorts were required to take you anywhere in the castle during the Ministries’ new curfew, that was between the hours of seven at night to eight in the morning.

Which is why Ginny had run from the Owlry all the way to the Hufflepuff commons in almost ten minutes – it was a feat she was very proud of. The common room was fairly crowded with students, most of them settled in the comfy yellow and white striped couches talking to each other in muffled voices. A radio was playing somewhere in the back of the room, masking the uncomfortable silence that had been plaguing the school since morning.

The Hufflepuff Dorms, to Ginny’s surprise, were not horrible to live in. Everyone in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had always joked about how bad the colors in Hufflepuff had to look in their common room. After all, yellow and black are two very strong colors, especially together. Yet Helga Hufflepuff had pulled it off.

Hufflepuff was nothing like Gryffindor for starters. While both were cylindrical in shape, Hufflepuff had a stronger feeling of unity than Gryffindor Tower could ever boast. Ginny’s first impression of the dormitories had reminded her of the domes in England’s giant cathedrals’, which she had visited with her father on rare occasions. The walls were made of a huge system of tree roots that wove intricately through the domed ceiling, the stairwells, and the chimney. At the center of the room was a four sided fireplace that was crawling with all kinds of plants from Professor Sprout’s greenhouses. Couches and chairs made of wood with light yellow and white-stripped cushions were scattered about the room. At the back of the common room three tall windows stretched toward the ceiling, enchanted much like the Great Hall’s ceiling. For now it was displaying the lake at nighttime.

Ginny especially liked the dorm rooms, which were placed on three levels of stairwells accessed by balconies that projected from the wall. In the walls were the dorm rooms, which were laid out much the same as Gryffindor’s, save they had bunk beds instead of four poster beds – another accent that made the dorms feel more connected as opposed to secluded.

Truthfully, if Ginny had not been a Gryffindor at heart, she probably would have preferred the living conditions of the Hufflepuffs to the stuffy atmosphere of Gryffindor. Everything just seemed more open and accessible here than it did in the tower where you could hide behind the curtains of your four poster bed.

Ginny nodded at some of the people she knew and said goodnight breathlessly. After such a long day, and many scares, she wanted nothing more than to get a quick shower and then sleep.

She made a quick stop by her room to grab some pajamas, and then made a beeline for the restrooms located at the end of the balcony behind the enchanted windows. To Ginny’s relief three of the showers were open.

Fifteen minutes later Ginny stepped out of the shower and was about to leave the bathroom when her bare foot touched something fuzzy. Surprised, Ginny glanced down to see that she was standing on locks of pale blonde hair. Her eyes traveled from the hair to the face of the girl that was sprawled out on the bathroom floor. A small ‘oh’ slipped from her lips as she realized who it was.

Daphne Greengrass, a seventh year Slytherin and one of her current roommates, was lying on the bathroom floor looking, of all things, wasted. She was on her side with her arms crossed over her bosom. She looked dead, just lying there with her eyes closed and her whole body completely motionless. If it had not been for the slight rise and fall of her chest, Ginny would have thought her gone.

“Greengrass.” Ginny breathed, trying to wake the girl up. She waited for a reply, but never received one. “Oh bugger.” She groaned and walked over to the girl and pushed at her with her foot, much like one would an animal one was afraid to approach. Daphne moaned and rolled slightly.

Ginny pulled her wand from her pajama pocket and waved it at Daphne. “Sobrius.”

Daphne let out another small moan before rolling over again and letting out a long string of incoherent words. Her eyes fluttered open for a second, revealing dilated pupils and a strange glow to the whites of her eyes. Then her eyelids drew shut again as Daphne rolled onto her back.

Ginny pocketed her wand and settled down on her haunches. She grabbed on of the girl’s arms and pulled the body toward her. It was harder than Ginny had thought it would be. Despite her willowy build, Daphne obviously had some weight on her. Perhaps it was from her height.

“Come on Daphne, help me get you to your bed.” She grumbled at the girl, linking an arm around Daphne’s waist. To her surprise, when she pushed herself off the ground with Daphne’s weight on her, Daphne pushed up as well, helping Ginny pull her off the floor. Together, without a word, the two girls entered their dorm.

Ginny helped Daphne into one of the bottom bunks before climbing up a latter to her own bed.

“Nox.” She whispered, making all the lights in the room wink out, bathing the two girl’s in darkness. Ginny quickly fell asleep, though she did not sleep well. The visions or daydreams she had earlier that day were now plaguing her dreams.

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“She’s on Harmony.” Ginger said simply, putting down the magazine she had been flipping through while Ginny relayed the scene with Daphne in the bathroom to her.

“You can’t be serious.” Ginny answered, though she sounded slightly doubtful. “Daphne on Harmony is just…unthinkable.”

“Well get used to it.” Ginger sighed and glanced at Ginny. “Please don’t tell me you had no clue…after all the classes we are taking this year for medi-witch.”

Ginny shrugged, not phased by her friends’ rebuke. “It was the first time I ran across her like that. Usually she is so anal about her looks and mannerisms. To see her lying on the floor, wasted, was a complete overload to my brain. The only symptom I saw was the glowing eyes. Besides, how do you know?”

Ginger looked slightly surprised by the last question and had the audacity to look hurt. Ginny highly prized Ginger as a friend, but she disapproved of her friend’s method of receiving information. If Ginny had ever seen an up and coming Rita Skeeter before, Ginger would be it. That is, if Ginger was into anything aside from fashion and flying. Ginger hated Politics.

“I found out from Attica about a week ago. Daphne and Attica were fighting and I just happened to catch some of the words they exchanged. It sounds like this is a relapse of a former addiction.”

This wasn’t good. Harmony was a highly addictive hallucinogenic drug that had been around for ages in the Wizarding World. It was first used by Seers of Delphi to enhance their visions. While it was legal in small doses, such as incense, and as a potion ingredient, but if taken in its pure form it was very addictive. The problem with Harmony was not really physical - the drug was actually very useful for healing wounds. However the effects it had one the mind were staggering. Harmony tended to create alternate realities for its takers that soon became their realities. People who became too enamored with the drug tended to become so lost in their dream world that it was impossible for them to distinguish reality from the imaginary. While Ginny wasn’t aware of Daphne’s participation in the drug, she was well aware of the number of students that had turned to it for escape from the reality they were now living.

“Former?” Ginny replied after a pause. “She was an addict before this?”

Ginger shrugged. “Who knows? I think it is possible. The Greengrass family is well known for producing Seers. Professor Trewlawny is a descendent of the Greengrasses as well as the grandmother she is always talking about. If I remember correctly, there was a long line of Greengrasses as Delphinine Oracles. Her family may pass its use down as a tradition.”

That thought had never occurred to Ginny, then again she had never really given Daphne Greengrass much thought. She had only known the girl for almost three weeks, and they didn’t really get along. Ginny rarely kept up with the heritage of the pure-blood houses and their talents. Yet, she supposed she should at least try. After all so many of these ancient talents seemed to be playing a large role in the war. Harry’s ability to speak snake was just one example of many.

“I didn’t know they were Oracles.” She said a moment later, giving Ginger a look of confusion.

Ginger smiled. “You rarely know that kind of stuff. Just like you didn’t know that the Prewits used to be powerful Arithmancers. Now that I think of it, that’s probably why Ron is so good at Wizarding Chess and strategy and Bill is a curse-breaker.”

Ginny snorted. “I knew that.”

“Of course you did, I’ve only told you a hundred times.”

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Hermione slid into one of the chairs she had pulled from the kitchen table and unfurled the latest edition of The Daily Prophet. For the second time that day her eyes rested on the main article, Narcissa Black Malfoy Grief-stricken Over the Loss of Her Son and House. A large, animated picture of the aristocratic woman was centered on the front page. It displayed a detailed picture of Narcissa Malfoy stepping into a large horse drawn carriage, leaving Malfoy Manor for good. Her face was masked by the cloak she had thrown over her head.

“What is so important that you had to go and wake us up?” Ron grumbled as he stumbled into the small living room and settled onto an old couch. A pile of dust and feathers exploded around him as he sunk into the couch’s ancient cushions. Hermione bit back a smirk. Harry wasn’t far behind Ron, still dressed in his pajamas. He pulled one of the chairs from the kitchen table, as Hermione did.

Ron was still coughing after the dust settled.

“It is twelve in the morning, Ron. You should be up by now. I was up by ten and had the chance to grab breakfast and snag a copy of the Daily Prophet.”

Ron rolled his eyes childishly at Hermione and sank even further into the couch. Had she not just had him up until three in the morning looking through thousands of books for one mention of a Horcrux? Now she was complaining that he wasn’t up early enough?

Harry was too tired to really pay attention. He just let his head rest on the back of the chair as he stared up at the ceiling, his mind constantly running over the same information he had received before Dumbledore’s death.

“Well, since neither of you can handle the morning hours, I don’t suppose you would have heard the news about the Malfoys being stripped of their wealth?”

Harry and Ron’s head shot up at this news. Hermione smirked behind the newspaper she had in front of her face before reading the article.

The Daily Prophet was able to get an exclusive shot of Narcissa Malfoy leaving her long time residence, Malfoy Manor, for her childhood vacation home in Ireland. Just as the shock of her son’s traitorous actions had the chance to sink in, Narcissa Malfoy found that a three year court case regarding a business contract was just closing. The case, between the Malfoys and the infamous owner of the once famed nightclub The Harlequin, drew to a close on Wednesday of last week. Narcissa Malfoy was shocked when the judge pronounced that all assets the Malfoys earned from the contract should be returned with interest.

The totaling amount completely devastated the Malfoys accounts, leaving Narcissa with only her inheritance from the Black family on which to live. Still shocked by her son’s actions, and the imprisonment of her husband, Narcissa’s farewell to her families’ home was a painful scene, indeed.

“What the hell?” Ron gasped, his eyes growing rather wide. “The Malfoys practically created The Harlequin.”

Hermione looked at Ron in surprise, her eyebrows knit closely together. Harry didn’t seem too phased by the article, but instead sat in his chair with a satisfied grin.

“Why is that so surprising, Ron? The Malfoys are mixed up in a lot of businesses.” Hermione stated, matter-of-factly.

Ron looked startled by Hermione’s question. “You mean I know something you don’t?” His chest swelled in pride at the look on Hermione’s face.

“I know the Harlequin was a popular nightclub during Voldemort’s reign, but that’s the extent of my knowledge on that subject. I don’t care anything about that kind of thing.”

“It wasn’t just popular, Hermione, it was a way of life. During Voldemort’s reign the club was the only place to go that you could have a good time without getting yourself killed.”

“So what do the Malfoys have to do with it?” Harry asked, suddenly becoming interested in the subject.

“It was well known that the Malfoys, Narcissa and Lucious, designed the club and outfitted it. They practically ran the place, as no one ever saw the real owner in public. No one cared, though. The club was just too powerful to worry over who the owner was – actually it was part of the club’s charm. Then it just shut down when Voldemort died.”

“But if Narcissa and Lucious made the place what it was, why, after it shut down, would the owner suddenly take them to court?” Hermione asked, leaning forward in her chair.

“Maybe you should look at this.” Harry pointed at the article just below the picture of Narcissa. From his seat he could just barely make out the headline, Rumors: The Harlequin to Open Again?

Hermione quickly shifted the newspaper so she could read the article.

Is it true that the controversial yet highly popular nightclub, The Harlequin, could be opening up again? We at the Daily Prophet would like to think so. Senior Correspondent Nicholas Johnson managed to uncover some interesting facts about the club’s rumored reopening during his visit to Whiskey Alley this weekend. He came back with news of construction noises resonating from the old building where the club and hotel were located. Plus there have been people seen coming in and out of the old building at odd times during the day and night. The recent three year court war between the club owner and the Malfoy’s has just drawn to an astounding closure, as well. With the profit gained from that court order, the owner would not be lacking in funds for its reopening. Unfortunately we have been unable to gather any more evidence, but we are steadily working on uncovering the truth of the matter.

“Bloody hell! That would be great! I have always wanted to go there after Bill told me all about it. You know it was open when Bill and Charlie were at Hogwarts?” Harry nodded at Ron’s excitement, his own curiosity peeking. Hermione didn’t say anything, however. Instead she just neatly folded up the newspaper and went into the kitchen where she had stashed some left-overs.

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An: Thank you for your reviews. I greatly enjoyed them. I am sorry for this late update. A virus attacked my computer and I lost all of my work. It will be out much faster next time, I promise.