Chapter 6: Unsuspected

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Ginny was relieved when she went down to breakfast on Monday morning. Relieved that she was still a student at Hogwarts. Relieved that Harry, sitting between Ron and Hermione, didn't seem to hate her. In fact, he gave her a faint smile when she sat down.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. "I heard you haven't been feeling well."

"Yes, thank you," she said. "I'm feeling better. How about you?"

"I'm okay," Harry said. "I'm not angry at you."

"Thanks," Ginny said again. "I promise, I'll make it up to you."

"Ginny, just don't…"

Whatever it was Harry wanted Ginny not to do was never revealed. Just then, whispers broke out in the hall, like dozens of little hissing fires.

Everyone looked at the head table. At first they couldn't see what the commotion was about. Then, they saw Snape's hair. The color was gradually fading from its usual black.

Snape's clothing was also fading. From black to grey to silver to white… then it started acquiring color.

Snape glared at the whispering students, until something caused him to look at himself. His eyes went wide and he rose hurriedly.

By then, his hair was platinum blond, and his clothing was bright fuchsia. He was walking as fast as he could on his silver stiletto heels. He paused once, as if considering taking the shoes off, but he didn't stop. Obviously he was reluctant to try to bend over with his new… accoutrements.

His accoutrements were obvious as not only had his robes become skin tight and nearly transparent; he was now the size and dimensions of Madam Maxime of Beauxbatons.

He managed to escape, but not before somebody took pictures. Several of which made their way into every common room in Hogwarts. (Although the Slytherins had to be extremely circumspect about viewing them.)

Naturally, Snape wanted Dumbledore to expel Harry, although there was no evidence to link any student, ghost or even Peeves to the deed.

"I'm sorry, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. "Unless you can prove who did this, I'm afraid it will have to go down as one of the mysteries of Hogwarts."

"Potter…"

"Harry allowed me to check his mind," Dumbledore said. "He had nothing to do with it. Neither did Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger."

Snape snarled and stormed out of the Headmaster's office. He was not seen for the rest of the week. And there was much rejoicing among the students.

Dumbledore sighed and looked at Professor McGonagall. "You might want to look into this, Minerva," he said. "Harry suspected that Miss Ginevra Weasley might have had a hand in this, although he had no idea how."

"There is any number of suspects," McGonagall said.

"True, Severus can try the patience of a saint," Dumbledore admitted.

"It's true, that Severus' attitude has grated on my nerves on occasion," McGonagall said. "And I have to admit, I did rather enjoy harassing that Umbridge woman."

Dumbledore's eyes went wide.

"Minerva! Don't tell me that you…?"

"Very well, Albus, I won't tell you," McGonagall said serenely.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Well, as I told Severus, this incident will have to be filed as one of the inexplicable happenings at Hogwarts."

"Indeed."

Tuesday morning, Ginny found two dozen multi-colored roses from Harry waiting for her in the Common Room. Naturally, she split them with her Transfiguration professor.