27A/N: Wow. (Please feel free to skip to the start of the chapter below, I won't be offended if you bypass my opening ramblings.)
Has it really been so long since I had the first idea I couldn't shake after binge reading Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix back-to-back over the course of three days in the spare bedroom of my grandparent's house? As of the time I'm writing this note, it's been 6,275 days since I published the very first chapter of "A Twisted Sense of Fate" on Harry's own birthday back in 2003.
About that same time last year (the end of July 2019) I found myself utterly heartbroken after losing a job that I had dedicated myself to for almost a decade, and for the first time since I graduated from college I had no idea what to do with myself when I woke up each day. I soon decided that I need to do something productive while life found a way, and decided to finally go back and do something I always wanted to do: rewrite that original fanfiction story. (It's taken more than a year to get far enough to feel comfortable that I could start posting without getting too distracted-and for those wondering I did find a new home with a local company that I enjoy being part of more than the last one I was with.)
When I first wrote "A Twisted Sense of Fate", I was 16-and I had no idea how to truly express in written word the idea that was in my head. More importantly, I started envisioning a sequel before it was finished which locked me into a path and made a lot of decisions for me. I'm not going to say this is to fix all of that. It's not. While there are different decisions I could have made, I did what felt right in the moment. Writing "Twisted Fate", my revised version of "A Twisted Sense of Fate", is more of an exercise in determination: starting and finishing something.
Some things you'll notice off the bat is that I'm no longer a teen, so some of the sap and drama will be greatly toned down. Plus, a LOT (practically all) of the pure fluff will be removed. I don't mind a bit of fluff, but when I re-read my original 60 chapter telling, I can see the pressure of posting a chapter a day put on the process. Some chapters were written just to post something and not to drive the story.
I've already outlined the majority of the story and pre-written about half of the intended chapters, so I don't anticipate long delays between posts. (And I don't anticipate a super long story either… perhaps 16-20 chapters to get it all out.) But I find myself surprised at how long it has taken me to start to post what I have completed, and I feel that is 100% due to the lack of energy from trying to pre-write 100% of the story vs. having readers and followers to help drive me as well as hold me accountable.
Thank you all for your support over the years! I hope you enjoy the new Twisted Fate. The premise is very much the same, and the opening chapter is going to look very similar-but you don't need to read the original at all: this is meant to be a stand-alone story.
If anyone is interested in potentially beta'ing this story, please send me a PM! I wouldn't mind a sounding board. (And, as always, please don't forget to review!)
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own anything Harry Potter affiliated. If I did, I would be sending this off to a publisher—not posting it online.
Chapter One
The summer was over and the train, just a memory. So far, everything at Hogwarts was going surprisingly well and it didn't sit right with Harry. Voldemort was attacking, but for the first time ever Harry and his friends weren't directly affected. Minus the rumblings of being the chosen one, Harry was having a normal school year. And that was just, well—weird.
Rather than attacking Harry or Hogwarts directly, Voldemort focused his sporadic attacks on the Ministry of Magic staff and their families, but Harry knew that it was only a matter of time before something bigger happened. There was nothing to be done except to wait for the inevitable.
But waiting was getting harder for the students.
Panic struck with each edition of the Daily Prophet or with each black letter that arrived for students whose relative had "suddenly passed". After each killing, the students would be on edge for days. Sometimes, what was worse than the sorrow was the guilt. For those with family being targeted, it was hard not to feel guilty when you were tucked safe and sound behind the wards of Hogwarts.
At least the students were finally getting a proper defence education. Much to the displeasure of Professor Snape, Remus Lupin returned to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Realizing how far behind all of his students were, Lupin encouraged Harry, Hermione and Ron to restart Dumbledore's Army—although now it was officially retitled Defense Association now that Umbridge wasn't there to antagonize Hermione.
It was nearing the end of term and Christmas was fast approaching. Harry was actually looking forward to the holidays this year. Unlike last year, Harry's mind wasn't being plagued by visions from Voldemort. Plus, Harry would be spending the holiday at Hogwarts—but he wouldn't be alone. This year Hermione as well as the Weasley's would be at the castle for Christmas as well. Not just Ginny and Ron, though. Mrs. Weasley had written a few days earlier that she and Mr. Weasley would be coming to the castle along with Bill, Charlie and the twins. In fact, there would be a number non-student guests at the school. At the persistence of Professor McGonagall the headmaster had decided to allow other families of students, particularly those who were high on the target list of the Death Eaters, to come and stay at Hogwarts for the break.
The last surprise was announced the week before the term ended, as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny finished their breakfast. As a school treat, the regular end-of-term feast would be replaced by a holiday party. It wasn't exactly the Yule Ball, but it would be spectacular all the same.
"Best of all, it's not formal!" Ron said excitedly as he reached across the table for second helpings. "No dress robes!"
"But didn't you just get new dress robes last year, Ron?" Harry asked. "I would think you'd be wanting to show them off."
"But it's at the end of the week," Ginny pouted. "How am I supposed to find a date in that short of time?"
"Date?" Ron asked nervously. "Who said anything about dates?"
Hermione shook her head, ignoring him and turning back to Ginny. "The more important question is what are we going to wear?"
"I know!" the younger girl exclaimed. "What exactly does he mean by informal? Should I wear jeans and a jumper?" she asked. "Or maybe a dress? Hermione—how are you at transfiguring clothing?"
Harry shook his head at the conversation, trying not to laugh at the two friends, but Ron wasn't as subtle and Hermione caught his laugh. "And what about all this do you find funny Ronald?" she asked.
"The way way a girl's mind works," he said. "Boys and clothes!"
Hermione rolled her eyes in return. "Better than you lot, only thinking of two things!"
"And what might that be?" Ron asked.
Ginny rolled her eyes at the two, making a gagging motion towards Harry, who laughed in response and motioned his head towards the door. "We'll see you two later, alright?" Harry said, standing and grabbing his books.
"Yeah," Ginny said, following him out. "We'll talk more at lunch!"
"So Her-mi-one," Ron said, over pronouncing each syllable to recapture the girl's attention. "What are the only two things I think about?"
"Oh," Hermione said—remembering her point. "Boys only think of sports and food!"
As they made their way up the stairs and away from the Great Hall, the argument behind them quieted.
Ginny laughed as they climbed higher. "One more row Harry," she said, " and you lose."
"Yeah," Harry sighed in return. "It doesn't exactly help me when they go out of their way to pick fights with each other!"
Ginny shook her head with a smile on her face. "Your problem is that you're too loyal to bet against your friends getting along."
"Well the bet is up tomorrow," Harry said. "I could still win."
Ginny laughed. "Probably not. Those two like each other too much to get along."
"Ginny, that makes no sense."
"Think about it," she said. "They like each other enough to notice the little things, and comment on them. If it wasn't so annoying it would actually be sweet."
Harry shook his head, still confused as they paused in the corridor. Harry's first class was to the left, while Ginny's was to the right. "Well hopefully they pick up on the little thing that they like each other before I go broke!"
"Don't worry, Harry," Ginny smiled as she backed down the corridor. "I'll be happy to lend you a few gallons for your Christmas shopping if you still need to get me something."
Harry lost the bet. In addition to being hopeless at gambilng, he was also hopeless at finding a date. At first, since the event was not formal, he was hoping that everyone would just attend the event rather than feel the need to pair off. But that was apparently another hopeless thought. Everyone seemed to have a winter romance brewing. Even the Creevy brothers had dates.
"Tell me again why you don't ask Ron?" Ginny suggested while laying out the outfit that she wanted Hermione help her alter for the party.
Hermione shook her head as she looked at the clothing and waved her wand to change the top into a new look for her friend. "For the same reason you don't ask Harry," she said as she made the wand movements to change the colors.
"You don't fancy him?" Ginny joked.
"No," Hermione said, concentrating on twisting her wand to get the shade perfect.
Ginny jumped at the defensive answer. "So you do!" she squealed.
Hermione jumped at her friend's outburst, her wand jerking and causing the new dress to go from solid to plaid. "Hmm," she said as she recovered. "I know you wanted a solid blue, but I think this looks better, don't you?"
"Hermione…" Ginny whined.
"You know I fancy him," Hermione responded, tossing the dress at her friend, "But there's no way he feels the same way!"
"Hermione," Ginny said, "I live with the git year round. Trust me. He's as much head over heels for you as you are for him. He's just too stubborn to figure it out."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "But should I really be with someone that needs to be convinced that he has feelings for me? I mean, what if I ask him and he turns me down?"
"He won't."
"But—"
"He won't!" Ginny said, beating her to the punch.
"Alright," Hermione said. "Maybe he won't. But what about you? If I ask Ron, and he agrees like you say he will. Then you'll be alone!"
"Don't worry about me, Hermione," Ginny said. "I don't mind going stag. Everyone in the school will be there so it's not as if I won't have people to talk to."
"But—"
"Are you a Gryffindor or not?" Ginny asked, beginning to lose her temper. "March down to the common room and ask my brother on a date already!"
"Alright, alright!" Hermione said, her hands held up in defeat as she retreated towards the door. "But when I get back we're concentrating on getting you a date."
Ginny grabbed a book from her night stand and followed Hermione down the stairs towards the common room, but sat on a bench against the wall near the stairs. Good view from here, she thought to herself. Ginny sighed as she watched Hermione clear her throat for a second time to get the attention of the boys playing chess.
Ginny wasn't exactly without prospects. She actually had been asked by a couple of boys, but she had turned them both down, wanting to keep her options open. Ginny watched from her post as Hermione, finally getting Ron's attention, was now seeming to be arguing with him over why she interrupted his game. Ginny laughed as Hermione yelled her proposal at Ron over his next retort. It was the fastest Ron was ever shut up. He went red and then fainted on top of the chess board whereas the pieces took it as a hostel move, and started attacking him instead of each other.
Hermione sighed as she watched little stone men attacked Ron. I'll take that as a yes, she thought. Shaking her head, she noticed Ginny reading across the room and took the opportunity to grab Harry by the arm and pulled him away from the others.
"Harry," she said quietly. "I need a favor. I want you to ask Ginny to the party tomorrow night."
"Are you crazy Hermione!"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down," Hermione said, pulling him farther away from the others. " I don't want sleeping beauty over there to hear us!"
"Well neither do I," Harry said, glancing towards Ron to make sure he was either still unconscious or out of earshot. "What do you think Ron would do if he heard you asking me to ask out his baby sister?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's hardly a baby Harry."
"Doesn't matter to him. You know how protective his is."
"Come on Harry," Hermione pleaded, "if you don't ask her she'll have to go alone and I know that Ron wouldn't want her to be left out."
"Hermione…"
"Plus, I won't be able to have a good time if I know that Ginny's not having a good time," she rambled.
"Hermione…"
"AND, if I'm not having a good time, Ron won't be having a good time, and if you remember the Yule Ball, if Ron is having a bad time you won't be having a good time!"
"Hermione!" Harry said. "Are you finished?"
"I'm sorry Harry, but even if Ginny says she's okay with going alone, I know she's really just waiting to see if you'll ask her."
Harry shook her head. "Where is she?" he asked calmly, shaking his head at Hermione, who had a grin plastered on her face, proud of her accomplishment. "Nevermind, I see her. You make sure Ron stays where he is please."
"Don't worry Harry," Hermione said, still smiling. "I'll take care of Ron!"
Harry inhaled deeply as he left Hermione to deal with Ron as he approached Ginny. As he sat down next to her he cleared his throat to get her attention, laughing quietly as she jumped.
"Weren't you just over there?" she asked, hand over her heart as she calmed herself.
"I was," he replied. "But now I'm here."
Ginny's eyes widened. For all of the time they had been spending together this term in their efforts to avoid being pulled into Ron and Hermione's bickering banter, she never really thought that Harry would ever like her back. After all, he never really caught on to her flirting or teasing. But now, he seemed to actually be flirting with her.
"You alright there Ginny?" he asked, noticing her dazed expression.
Ginny just looked at him. She didn't exactly know the answer to his question. It was weird, the simple answer was yes, but there felt like so much more she could say—that she should say. "Of course Harry," she said, smiling at him as she closed her book. "I guess I just have a lot on my mind. "What's up?"
Harry glanced quickly at Hermione, who was glancing over her shoulder as she blocked Harry and Ginny from Ron's view. "I was wondering if anyone had asked you to the party tomorrow night."
"Two actually," Ginny replied. Seeing Harry's shock, she shook her head and continued. "But I turned them both down."
"Really?" he asked. "Why?"
Ginny just shrugged. "If I go without a date I can spend time with the people I want to. And," she said. Taking a deep breath she steeled her own Gryffindor courage and looked him straight in the eyes. "Besides, if I had a date it wouldn't be proper to hang out with you all night."
"Really?!" he squeaked.
Ginny giggled. "Really. I was hoping you'd ask me—but otherwise, if you didn't, going stag meant I'd still be able to spend time with you. Assuming you haven't asked anyone yet?"
"No!" Harry practically shouted at her before clearing his throat.. "Erm, I was hoping we could go together."
Ginny lit up like Harry had never seen her before. "I'd love to go with you Harry!" Hugging her book to her chest, Ginny leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before skipping up the stairs to her room.
Behind her, Harry sat dazed. As he stood to cross the stairway to his own dorm, he glanced over the room Hermione was still standing where she had been before, but instead of standing to block Ron's view—she was now beside Ron, a hand on his shoulder as she whispered quiet words into his very red ears.
One thing was very clear: Ron had seen Ginny kiss him and he was very angry.