I know it has taken me months to do this, and i am soooo sorry. But school has been very busy, and i've been practicing all semester for this show that i'm performing this weekend, so i have not had alot of time. but I got this chapter written, and i hope you guys forgive me. anyways, read and enjoy. please do review, i like to know what you think! thanx to all those who have been reviewing!

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Set the Ball Rolling

"Don't come near her," Ron growled as he and Harry stepped in front of me, effectively guarding me.

"Potter! Weasley!" Snape barked at them from behind us. "Kindly leave Mr. Malfoy alone, and be on your way."

When I turned around to see Snape, I noticed that he was glaring at me with a look of pure hatred. He must think I'm lying, either that or he doesn't care cause he thinks I had it coming.

"What?" Ron almost yelled. "Are you kidding?"

"Ron," Hermione whispered, holding his wrist to stop him from doing anything to rash. "Don't."

"I'd heed Ms. Grangers advice if I were you, Mr. Weasley," he sneered. "You don't want to get yourself expelled do you? Now please turn away from Mr. Malfoy and make your way to the office."

"How-" Ron started, but Hermione clamped a hand over his mouth.

Snape swept past us towards Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. I turned back towards them for a split second; Malfoy leered at me and winked, while puckering his lips, then turned around and left with Crabbe and Goyle on his heels. After a moment of walking, Crabbe looked back towards me. I thought he was going to say something, but instead he just stared at me, then slowly brought his focus towards the ground and turned back to Malfoy. He probably just wanted to mock me, and lost the nerve. Maybe he was trying to apologize in his own way, a tiny, insignificant, and often wrong, part of my brain tried to argue.

"It's alright Gin," Harry pulled me back to face him as we started back towards the office again.

"I can't believe Snape just yelled at you guys!" Lyra said. "And basically threatened to have you expelled!"

"Yea, but he can't have them expelled," Hermione stated matter-of-factly. "Only Dumbledore can do that."

We walked the rest of the way to his office in silence; each of us hoping that Hermione was right.

Dumbledore opened his office door just as we were about to knock.

"Com in," he said from his seat behind the desk.

"Professor," Ron started. "We ran into Snape and-"

"Professor Snape," Dumbledore corrected patiently.

"Professor Snape," Ron amended. "And he-"

"Sir," Hermione started. "What is being done to Malfoy?"

"After we evaluate the evidence," he motioned at us to take seats in the various chairs around his office. "Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and I will decide a fitting punishment."

"What is there to decide?" Lyra burst out. "He should be expelled!"

"It's not that easy Ms. Prosque," Professor McGonagall told her. "We have to make sure that the memory is not a made up one."

"Wouldn't it be easy to tell that?" Lyra asked. "Why would she make something like this up? And what about my memory?"

"Yes, yes, it'll be easy to tell, but you must be made aware that he will most like not be expelled."

"What? Why!" Hermione asked furiously. "How couldn't he? We have Ginny's memory, Lyra's memory, and Madam Pomfrey can help us too!"

"We can't guarantee anything," McGonagall told us. "I'm sorry Ms. Weasley,"

I shifted uncomfortably in my armchair. Harry and Ron sat in chairs on either side of me. Lyra was next to Harry, and Hermione was next to Ron; Dumbledore and McGonagall were across from us.

If giving them all this evidence of Malfoy's crime didn't ensure that he would be expelled, what would? How could I be at peace while he was continually harassing me?

"It's alright," I mumbled. I should have known that we wouldn't be able to expel him anyways. His dad wasn't the school governor for nothing.

"Would you like us to relieve you of your memory now?" Dumbledore politely asked as he moved from behind his desk towards me.

"Yes, please."

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"Well at least you didn't have to retell it," Hermione told me as we made our way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"I don't know what's worse, retelling it, or having to watch and hear it all over again."

"Well it's over now," Harry gave my hand a squeeze. "And you don't have to worry about seeing it anymore."

"So what do you think they'll do with Malfoy?" Lyra asked as we started up a set of stairs.

"I don't know," Hermione said. "But Professor McGonagall could hardly believe it was him. I think she was hoping we were all wrong about the identity."

"Well whatever happens to him, I still want to beat his face in!" Ron spat angrily.

"Ron," Hermione looked at him exasperated. "We have to be careful. You can't just start a fight with him in the corridor."

"Fine," Ron grudgingly agreed.

A small part of me wanted to smile at the fact that my big brother would beat up someone who hurt me. But that was a really, really small part.

"So they're just going to keep going over it?" I asked. "The three of them?"

"I suppose so," Harry answered. "They have to make sure that it's a real memory."

"I don't know why they have to watch it repeatedly," I shook slightly. "I'd think once would be more than enough."

"When did they say Malfoy would have his punishment?" Lyra asked as we reached the portrait hole.

"Soon I hope," Harry muttered.

"Dumbledore said within the week," Hermione answered. "Since the ministry isn't being involved, because it's a school issue and Mr. Malfoy would probably bribe them all if it was anyways, it shouldn't take too long for the three to decide."

"Oh I hope he's expelled!" Lyra cursed while walking into the common room.

"Don't we all," Harry added gloomily. "But something tell me Snape isn't going to allow his expulsion."

It was nearly eleven, and there was no one in the common room but us. Even Abigail wasn't down. Suddenly I remembered my blonde hair.

"Hermione," I started as we sat down on the couch. "Do you know if there's a way to make my hair go back to normal?"

"Sure there is," she responded. "Do you want me to do it now, cause I can."

"Oh that would be great," I told her smiling.

Pointing her wand at my hair, Hermione muttered a spell. I saw my hair transform back into the Weasley red. I could feel it start at my roots, then quickly make its way down to my ends.

"Thank you so much Hermione," I said.

"We'd all better get to bed," she announced. "Classes are in the morning and there's nothing more we can do tonight."

"That's right," Harry agreed. "Though whose going to look after her tomorrow in classes?"

"Well Abigail and I can," Lyra volunteered.

"And the three of us will keep an eye on Malfoy the best we can," Hermione said yawning.

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A little short, i know. but i figured it was best to get it out since i waited so long. hope you liked it, and please do REVIEW!

Thanks a bunch to: Sanya (HarryOginny), Hmmingbird, Ginny-and-Draco-fan, john, Aganippe, Treekangaroo122, Sidlovesnancy1979, and Ravin.