"Really? Is that the best thing you can do?" Professor Snape sneered at the potion that supposed to be Veritaserum.
Ginny rolled her eyes as she tried to salvage what was left of her disgusting potion.
"This is unacceptable," Professor Snape continued, "We've been doing this the whole day and you still manage to fail. Never mind, I should have expected less from you since you're a W-"
"Severus, I think that is enough" Professor Dumbledore said as he entered the dimly lighted room, "Ginny needs to meet her new mentor for her physical combat and defense against the dark arts"
"Fine, you are dismissed"
Ginny hurriedly run towards Professor Dumbledore, afraid that Snape would change his mind and make her stay. Honestly, out of all the Hogwart's heads, he is the cruelest and unkind to Ginny. Yes, Professor McGonagall is strict but still, she doesn't despise her the same way Snape despises her.
"I heard you've been doing poorly in your potions class," Professor Dumbledore said
"Professor I promise its because of him. He's been pressuring me whenever I do something" Ginny argued frustratingly
"Professor Snape may be difficult at times-"
"At times?" Ginny whipped her head to looked at Professor Dumbledore criticizingly, "He's been like that ever since you introduce him to me"
"He has his reasons dear Ginny," Professor Dumbledore said amusedly, "I will take to him later to be less harsh to you"
"Thank you" Ginny whispered
They both entered the headmaster's office and the first thing that Ginny noticed was a creepy looking man staring at Dumbledore's pensive. He has one wooden leg, shoulder-length greyish hair, and quite a tall figure. Ginny couldn't make out his face since his back is turned towards them but still, she could feel intimidated by his presence.
"Alastor, may I present you the famous Ginny"
The guy named Alastor turned to face them and Ginny couldn't help but gasp and hide behind Dumbledore's figure. Alastor's one eye is magically attached to his face, bulging at its place and twisting and turning as if it can see the normal eyes couldn't. His nose is also abnormally disproportion, looking as if a chunk of it was missing and there are also tiny scars that surrounded his whole face. Alastor Moody started to walk towards them and Ginny couldn't do anything except grab Dumbledore's arm.
"Ginny, this is Alastor Moody, considered to be the greatest Auror of his time" Professor Dumbledore proudly introduced, urging Ginny to go forward.
Auror Moody made a snorting noise, "It's Mad-Eye and you're far too boastful, Albus but let me take a good look at you Ginny"
Professor Dumbledore guides Ginny to the front making her stare at the Auror's magical eyes.
"This eye could see everything, you know?" Auror Moody started, "It can see through any other object or the most powerful concealing charm or even an invisibility cloak"
"Ho-How did you get one?" Ginny asked curiously but still slightly afraid
Auror Moody started laughing a bit before commenting, "I already like her Albus"
"Yes, she can be quite straightforward and feisty" Professor Dumbledore replied smiling proudly at Ginny
"I am Auror Alastor Moody," Auror Moody introduced properly, "You can call me Mad-Eye, Moody or whatever you like and I will be teaching you combat techniques and defense against the dark arts," he offered his hand in which Ginny shook strongly.
"I am Ginny, just Ginny" Ginny replied smiling
"Wonderful"
"So now that you two are introduced, Ginny, your classes with him will start tomorrow after we get your wand from Ollivander's" Professor Dumbledore informed Ginny
"She still doesn't have a wand" Auror Moody inquired skeptically
"She has but unfortunately it is only a substitute since none of the wands from the Ollivander's fit her perfectly. Ollivander promised to create a new one that fit her perfectly" Professor Dumbledore explained.
"The first time that it happened since Ollivander's opened" Auror Moody commented then turned to Ginny, "You are full of surprises Miss Ginny"
Ginny could not find the words to reply to him so she just smiled. After that, Albus Dumbledore dismissed her for a 1-hour break before her class with Professor McGonagall. Without anything to do she proceeded at the tree by the lake and just lay there, enjoying the sunless day. Its been a week since she met Harry and still, she couldn't forget his eyes. She keeps on wondering if he's been doing fine or if he's still getting bullied. Ginny actually raised the concern to Dumbledore, telling him that Harry might actually not be treated well in his relatives' home but he always argued that for Lily's, Harry's mother, protection to work, he needs to stay close to a blood relative. Ginny sigh, it could have been perfect if both she and Harry work together in the lonely Castle, succumbing to her thought, Ginny fell into a peaceful sleep.
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Harry tried to forget about the girl that he had seen but he couldn't keep his mind off her. He tried asking his teachers if they have a student named Ginny but it always ended up with him being scolded or getting weird stares. Dudley has been also teasing him about her, saying that Ginny is a mere product of Harr's hallucination and imagination because no one actually wants to be friends with him. At some point, he started to believe that but the way Ginny's hands feels in his hand felt all too real to be ignored.
"HARRY!" Mrs. Dursley called angrily
Harry turned to look at her and noticed that he already burned the chicken that he is frying. He immediately turned off the stove and transferred the dark-colored poultry into a plate.
"What were you trying to do? Burn the kitchen!?" Mrs. Dursley spat angrily
"I'm sorry" Harry whispered
"I don't have the energy for your nonsense, go to your room! and no meals for today"
Harry obliged, laying at his cramped cupboard, silently wishing for everything to be better. The silent murmurs of the conversation from the kitchen lulled Harry to sleep and dreamt of laying underneath a giant oak tree in front of a wide lake.
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"Ginny!"
Ginny woke up startled and came face to face with an enraged Professor McGonagall. She's a little bit confused about why the transfiguration professor looks so angry at her and why was she disturbing her sleep, until she realized that she forgot something very important. She stood up quickly and gave the professor a very weak smile.
"Are you aware that we have a session this afternoon?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly
"Yes" Ginny responded ashamed
"You're late for almost an hour and you had us worried, we thought you disappeared again"
"I'm really sorry professor," Ginny said with remorse.
Professor McGonagall sigh, "We have no time to lose. Once the students came back from their summer, all of the professors will be busy once again and you will be training alone with Professor Dumbledore. So come on now and we will be transfiguring teacups today"
With that, she turned around and motioned Ginny to follow her. Ginny disorientedly follow her into one of the classrooms and the dreaded afternoon session for Transfiguration has finally begun.