I wrote this after I read GoF, so alot of the stuff is either inaccurate or just off kilter. Hope you enjoy it anyway!
The clouds raced across the sky, lending an added chill to the already cold night. Seventeen year old Draco Malfoy surveyed the night sky with a sense of foreboding. In the distance he heard thunder and he knew the approaching storm would be long and severe. At the moment he welcomed it, it suited his mood. Tonight he was to meet his father at the Parkinson Mansion, where Pansy’s parents were holding a dinner party in honor of Mr. Parkinson’s recent success in shooting down Amos Diggory’s proposed Mandatory Artifact Registration.
Draco smiled darkly. The proposed law would make it mandatory for anyone owning any sort of magical artifact to register it under their name, along with the artifact’s type and class. It would make it quite handy to keep up with those who collected artifacts of a dark nature. Lucius Malfoy was a great collector of such artifacts, and he was already being closely watched. Having his collection known in its entirety would be quite…troublesome. In fact, most families could boast an artifact or two of questionable origin. But those like his father had good reason to keep their collections guarded. Can’t help our powerful allies along if we don’t have the proper tools, he thought.
He was not looking forward to tonight. Any party in which he was allowed to attend, especially at the Parkinson’s, meant that Pansy would be there simpering and carrying on. He remembered when he’d first mentioned her to his father. Lucius had been pleased, and encouraged Draco to “be nice to her and show your affection”. How he regretted the day he ever let her name slip out of his mouth! Now at every social function he was expected to socialize and talk to her, or else earn his father’s disapprobation. The Parkinson’s were an excellent family, rich and of pure blood. That was enough for his father.
Draco had to admit that at first the fawning adoration had been flattering. But it had soon got on his nerves. Her endless simpering and brainless chatter was enough to make him want to rip his hair out at times. The most amazing thing about her was her ability to talk. And talk. And talk. She could carry on a conversation with an empty room! And the things she talked about were boring and stupid. Just like every girl he’d ever met. Now, after six years of socializing with them almost exclusively, Draco had a nasty feeling his father and Mr. Parkinson were going to start dropping big hints of what the future should hold. And he had no idea how he was going to get out of it. All he knew was that marriage to Pansy Parkinson would be the equivalent of a life sentence in Azkaban.
But surely it wouldn’t happen tonight. It was a simple dinner party celebrating a legal victory for Mr. Parkinson. He was to meet his mother at Malfoy Mansion and they would take the BMW out to the Parkinson’s. Draco looked forward to persuading his mother to let him drive it. She was easy, and almost always gave in to his wants. He smiled as he thought of her handing him the keys, telling him that they’d let it be their secret.
“No problem, mum,” he murmured. “Just hand over the keys!”
He looked up at the sky again. The clouds had thickened and had slowed down to pile on top of one another. A sudden flash of lightening heralded the swift arrival of the evening’s storm. He closed his eyes to enjoy the after image of the lightening in the quiet chaos behind his eyelids. Violet fire, like the first jolts of the Cruciatus Curse spearing through the brain.
The after image faded. Draco laughed lightly as he turned and began walking home.
*********
Sixteen year old Ginny Weasley picked up a gnome by its feet and spun it furiously over her head before tossing it far into the bushes across from the garden. De-gnoming wasn’t her favorite chore, but she’d ceased feeling sorry for the creatures when one had thanked her for setting it gently down by suddenly relieving himself on her shoe.
“Good toss, Ginny!” Ron laughed. She grinned as she caught another one.
“Let’s see if I can go you one better!” a deep male voice cried behind her. She turned to see Harry whirl his arm over his head and toss his gnome far over the hedges of the yard. She felt herself blush as he laughed easily with Ron, his wide smile adding an extra beauty to his handsome features. He was even more handsome now, at seventeen, than he’d been at eleven. He’d grown tall and sleek, his bright green eyes sparkling with the mischief he and Ron loved to jump into at any given moment. She felt the familiar ache in her heart and wondered if she’d ever be able to get over him, or make him love her back.
Molly Weasley’s voice suddenly carried through the kitchen window, “Boys? Boys please keep it down some! I have a terrible headache!”
“Sorry mum!” Ron called, as he and Harry laughed more quietly. Harry ran his hand through his unruly dark hair, gripping it and jerking himself to the side. Ron almost collapsed in his fit of giggles. The boys were giddy today, and it was no wonder. It wasn’t ever day you got an invitation to try out for a professional Quidditch team!
The Montrose Magpies were interested in both Harry and Ron, who’d started playing quidditch in his fifth year, as a chaser. Harry had also received offers from the Wimbourne Wasps, the Appleby Arrows, and several other teams. Ron, Ginny remembered, had hidden his jealousy rather well. But she’d seen him in a quiet moment, while Harry had read his umpteenth invitation, and tears had dripped down his face for a moment before he’d hastily wiped them away. Ron and Harry’s friendship was sometimes a double edged sword, and their closeness had sometimes been tainted by Harry’s fame. But Ginny knew that Harry hated this even more than Ron, hated the fact that he was famous for something he didn’t remember. Hated the fact that he got special treatment even when he didn’t want it, and most of all hated how much all of this hurt his best friend. That was one of Harry’s most endearing qualities, as far as she was concerned. Not like that awful Draco Malfoy, who was snobbish and rude and mean spirited…
Where in the name of Merlin’s beard had that come from? Ginny scowled and threw the next gnome she grabbed viciously over the garden gate. It was nearing the end of summer and she’d see that crass dolt soon enough. She refused to ruin what was left of her holiday by thinking about him. She would most especially not think of how, at the end of last term, he’d called her a spotted menace, referring to her freckles. How dare that foul mouthed little bastard spout such things at her! Spotted menace? She’d show him the meaning of menace! The next gnome she threw actually gave a shrill cry, knocking her back to reality.
“Ginny, what’s wrong?” A hand rested on her shoulder and she turned to see Harry looking at her with concern.
She blushed furiously. “Oh, nothing Harry…sorry!”
Feeling like an idiot, she quickly excused herself to wash up. The boys could finish the chore; she needed a moment alone.
She ran into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face and neck, then decided to take a bath. As she filled the tub and stripped down, she wondered how she could have once again embarrassed herself in front of Harry like that. All he had to do was look at her and her tongue would thicken. If he spoke to or touched her directly she would get too flustered to speak, and run. Every time! It was humiliating the way it always happened. He lived with them now, for heaven’s sake, and had for almost two years. Why couldn’t she manage to talk to him like a normal person?
To make matters worse, she’d been thinking about his most hated enemy. Well, her enemy too. In fact, it might be called a family feud. The enmity between the Weasleys and the Malfoys was quite thick, and it was worse for Harry. She’d always had the suspicion that, if the Potters had lived, they too would be caught up in this fierce rivalry that seemed to seethe around the Malfoys and others of their ilk. She frowned. The Potters had not lived, unfortunately, and she thought that maybe Harry believed that Draco’s father may have had something to do with it. Since it was now known that Sirius Black hadn’t done it -- by her family anyway -- whom else did that leave?
Well, plenty of others, actually. But she rather enjoyed putting Lucius Malfoy in the role of Disgusting Villain. Not that he needed help with that, she thought grimly, remembering her mental torture at the hands of Tom Riddle. The Chamber of Secrets, the basilisk -- all she had suffered in an attempt to shoot down her father’s Muggle Protection Act. Well it hadn’t worked, she thought with fierce triumph. It hadn’t worked because Harry had saved her, as well as the rest of the school.
Harry. She blushed at the mere mention of his name, and yet he never seemed to notice. If he did, he hid it rather well. For a moment, she felt resentment well in her heart. What kind of boy could see you and know of your love, and yet ignore it? But another part of her mind jumped to his defense, reminding her that he was sweet and shy, and probably didn’t know what to do about it.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and for once she let them fall. No, he didn’t feel the same. He loved Cho Chang, or maybe he loved that new girl from Scotland, Heather. Did it matter who? It wasn’t her, and it never would be.
Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest and sobbed as quietly as she could.
************
Time passed, and September arrived. It was time for the return to Hogwarts. Ron and Harry were seventh years now, their last year at Hogwarts, and Ginny was in her sixth. Ever since Molly and Arthur Weasley had adopted Harry, their monetary fortunes had improved, boosted also by the success of Fred and George’s joke shop. Though they had refused to take much, Harry had been able to give them a good deal of money in return for their raising him. The Dursleys had been only too glad to see Harry go, and since they didn’t know Harry had a small fortune to his name, he’d never heard from them again. Ginny knew that this was fine with him.
She loaded her trunk with Ron’s help and then waved and went to talk to Susan Dresh, her best friend. Susan was a Ravenclaw, but she and Ginny had bonded in Herbology, their worst subject. They had seen each other only sporadically over the summer, but they’d kept Errol and Phil, the Dresh family owl, busy with their correspondence. Susan hugged her tightly in greeting.
“It’s so good to see you Gin!” she exclaimed. “And you look so lovely!”
“Oh please, Susan!” Ginny laughed. “It’s you who looks fantastic! You’re practically glowing! What’s his name?”
Susan blushed. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
Ginny was surprised. “Susan! Why would I laugh? You’re my best friend!”
Susan chewed her lip uncertainly, and then smiled. “It’s Seamus -- Seamus Finnigan.”
Ginny’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t laugh. “I…I had no idea!” Impulsively, she hugged her friend again, “When, how? What happened?”
Susan laughed. “I’ll tell you on the train! Got to say goodbye to mum and dad, they always get so maudlin when I go!”
Ginny said goodbye and ran over to her own parents. Ron and Harry were already saying their farewells, and when her turn came she was surprised to see the tears in her mother’s eyes.
“My baby girl is all grown up now!” She smiled tremulously. “All my children are growing too fast for me to keep up with!”
“Oh mum!” Ginny hugged her tightly. “I’m not quite there yet, I still have some child in me!”
“Yes, and I mean to enjoy it. You take care of yourself my dear, and be good!”
Ginny then turned to hug her father, who was also looking rather sad. “Bye daddy!”
“You make me proud Ginny,” he said quietly, making her start. “I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
You’d think I was going away forever, she thought irritably. “Dad, please! It’s only school!”
“I know darling. But I just can’t believe you’re a sixth year already! It seems like just yesterday we brought you-“
At that moment, the train whistle blew, cutting Mr. Weasley off. He hugged Ginny quickly and pushed her towards the train. “Mind yourselves now, and stay out of trouble!” This was for Ron and Harry.
Ginny ran and hopped on the train just as it began to move. Susan was there to grab her hand and pull her to an empty car at the back of the train. They passed Hermione Granger who waved to them as she settled in with Harry and Ron. Ginny liked Hermione, and admired her great intelligence. Most people were irritated by her, but Ginny thought she was a sweet and compassionate person. Her actions always proved this, though she could come across a bit forcefully – such as with her promotion of S.P.E.W. Yet Hermione’s goal there had been admirable and could hardly be considered selfish. But Hermione was soon driven from Ginny’s mind as she and Susan took their seats in the empty car.
“All right, I’ll tell you everything.” Susan grinned.
“Oh good,” Ginny replied sardonically, “I’d hate to have to beat it out of you!”
They laughed and Susan began telling of how she and Seamus had run into each other when her parents were visiting relatives in Ireland. He had been celebrating his birthday and had invited her to come along with himself and his parents. It turned out that they had a great deal in common, and by the end of the visit she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him.
“Oh Gin, he’s so sweet and kind! I don’t think I’ve met anyone before with a bigger heart! Except Harry,” she added hastily. Ginny smiled and shook her head.
“It’s all right Susan, don’t say anything. I have to learn to pull away from him.”
Susan was taken aback. “What? Why? Did something happen?”
“Yes, I woke up!” Ginny said quietly.
She proceeded to tell Susan about her summer and her growing conviction that Harry knew -- had always known -- how she felt, but didn’t return those feelings and never would. Susan tried to argue.
“Gin, you have to tell him outright! How many times have I told you that? He can’t act on mere suspicion, and how is he supposed to know if you don’t speak up? You always say you’ll tell him when you’re ready. Now you’re just going to give up without trying?”
“It’s no use, Susan,” Ginny insisted. “He knows, I’m sure he does because I’ve been an obvious dolt about it for years! How can he not know? I just have to accept this, and I will.”
Susan looked ready to argue more, but Ginny raised a hand to forestall her. “I’ve made up my mind, Susan. No discussion! I just need time to accept it.”
Susan was shocked, to say the least. But she also knew Ginny’s stubbornness. It would be better to talk of this later, in a calmer atmosphere. But they were alone, how much calmer could it get? How could she change her mind so suddenly about telling Harry how she felt? It had been her prime obsession for the last three years! Six, if you counted the time since she’d met him.
Ginny smiled at the ground. “I can practically hear your thoughts. I don’t blame you if you’re angry with me. But I didn’t arrive at this decision lightly or suddenly. For the last year I’ve known, deep in my heart, that he won’t ever love me. It just took me this long to admit it to myself. Now all I have to do is stop pining.” She put on a brave smile, belying the sparkle of tears in her eyes
. “Trust me, it’s for the best!”
Susan sat down and hugged her friend impulsively. “Gin, I hope you know what you’re doing. This is years and years of love!”
“I know. But they’re wasted years. It’s time to move on, and maybe try to find someone who’ll appreciate me!”
Though her tone of voice was light, Susan could hear the pain underneath. She got up and opened the door.
“Where are you going?” Ginny asked.
Susan made a face. “To kick the thick headed twerp’s shins!”
“Susan!” Ginny burst out laughing, making her friend grin.
“I’m going to find the trolly, I’m starving. Want anything?”
“Get me some Cauldron Cakes, and maybe a Fizzing Whizzby.” Ginny began to dig into her pockets, but Susan waved her away.
“My treat!” she said kindly.
And so the trip passed. They laughed and talked of summer, and of Ron’s and Harry’s antics. Quidditch try-outs had gone well, but they wouldn’t hear anything definite for a while. And the boys had to finish school at any rate. They talked of Seamus and his plans to go into his father’s business, and of his hidden romantic side. “He’s forever giving me flowers, Gin!” There were even quiet moments, and if Ginny wept a bit, leaning on her friend’s shoulder, well, that’s what friends are for.
The clouds raced across the sky, lending an added chill to the already cold night. Seventeen year old Draco Malfoy surveyed the night sky with a sense of foreboding. In the distance he heard thunder and he knew the approaching storm would be long and severe. At the moment he welcomed it, it suited his mood. Tonight he was to meet his father at the Parkinson Mansion, where Pansy’s parents were holding a dinner party in honor of Mr. Parkinson’s recent success in shooting down Amos Diggory’s proposed Mandatory Artifact Registration.
Draco smiled darkly. The proposed law would make it mandatory for anyone owning any sort of magical artifact to register it under their name, along with the artifact’s type and class. It would make it quite handy to keep up with those who collected artifacts of a dark nature. Lucius Malfoy was a great collector of such artifacts, and he was already being closely watched. Having his collection known in its entirety would be quite…troublesome. In fact, most families could boast an artifact or two of questionable origin. But those like his father had good reason to keep their collections guarded. Can’t help our powerful allies along if we don’t have the proper tools, he thought.
He was not looking forward to tonight. Any party in which he was allowed to attend, especially at the Parkinson’s, meant that Pansy would be there simpering and carrying on. He remembered when he’d first mentioned her to his father. Lucius had been pleased, and encouraged Draco to “be nice to her and show your affection”. How he regretted the day he ever let her name slip out of his mouth! Now at every social function he was expected to socialize and talk to her, or else earn his father’s disapprobation. The Parkinson’s were an excellent family, rich and of pure blood. That was enough for his father.
Draco had to admit that at first the fawning adoration had been flattering. But it had soon got on his nerves. Her endless simpering and brainless chatter was enough to make him want to rip his hair out at times. The most amazing thing about her was her ability to talk. And talk. And talk. She could carry on a conversation with an empty room! And the things she talked about were boring and stupid. Just like every girl he’d ever met. Now, after six years of socializing with them almost exclusively, Draco had a nasty feeling his father and Mr. Parkinson were going to start dropping big hints of what the future should hold. And he had no idea how he was going to get out of it. All he knew was that marriage to Pansy Parkinson would be the equivalent of a life sentence in Azkaban.
But surely it wouldn’t happen tonight. It was a simple dinner party celebrating a legal victory for Mr. Parkinson. He was to meet his mother at Malfoy Mansion and they would take the BMW out to the Parkinson’s. Draco looked forward to persuading his mother to let him drive it. She was easy, and almost always gave in to his wants. He smiled as he thought of her handing him the keys, telling him that they’d let it be their secret.
“No problem, mum,” he murmured. “Just hand over the keys!”
He looked up at the sky again. The clouds had thickened and had slowed down to pile on top of one another. A sudden flash of lightening heralded the swift arrival of the evening’s storm. He closed his eyes to enjoy the after image of the lightening in the quiet chaos behind his eyelids. Violet fire, like the first jolts of the Cruciatus Curse spearing through the brain.
The after image faded. Draco laughed lightly as he turned and began walking home.
*********
Sixteen year old Ginny Weasley picked up a gnome by its feet and spun it furiously over her head before tossing it far into the bushes across from the garden. De-gnoming wasn’t her favorite chore, but she’d ceased feeling sorry for the creatures when one had thanked her for setting it gently down by suddenly relieving himself on her shoe.
“Good toss, Ginny!” Ron laughed. She grinned as she caught another one.
“Let’s see if I can go you one better!” a deep male voice cried behind her. She turned to see Harry whirl his arm over his head and toss his gnome far over the hedges of the yard. She felt herself blush as he laughed easily with Ron, his wide smile adding an extra beauty to his handsome features. He was even more handsome now, at seventeen, than he’d been at eleven. He’d grown tall and sleek, his bright green eyes sparkling with the mischief he and Ron loved to jump into at any given moment. She felt the familiar ache in her heart and wondered if she’d ever be able to get over him, or make him love her back.
Molly Weasley’s voice suddenly carried through the kitchen window, “Boys? Boys please keep it down some! I have a terrible headache!”
“Sorry mum!” Ron called, as he and Harry laughed more quietly. Harry ran his hand through his unruly dark hair, gripping it and jerking himself to the side. Ron almost collapsed in his fit of giggles. The boys were giddy today, and it was no wonder. It wasn’t ever day you got an invitation to try out for a professional Quidditch team!
The Montrose Magpies were interested in both Harry and Ron, who’d started playing quidditch in his fifth year, as a chaser. Harry had also received offers from the Wimbourne Wasps, the Appleby Arrows, and several other teams. Ron, Ginny remembered, had hidden his jealousy rather well. But she’d seen him in a quiet moment, while Harry had read his umpteenth invitation, and tears had dripped down his face for a moment before he’d hastily wiped them away. Ron and Harry’s friendship was sometimes a double edged sword, and their closeness had sometimes been tainted by Harry’s fame. But Ginny knew that Harry hated this even more than Ron, hated the fact that he was famous for something he didn’t remember. Hated the fact that he got special treatment even when he didn’t want it, and most of all hated how much all of this hurt his best friend. That was one of Harry’s most endearing qualities, as far as she was concerned. Not like that awful Draco Malfoy, who was snobbish and rude and mean spirited…
Where in the name of Merlin’s beard had that come from? Ginny scowled and threw the next gnome she grabbed viciously over the garden gate. It was nearing the end of summer and she’d see that crass dolt soon enough. She refused to ruin what was left of her holiday by thinking about him. She would most especially not think of how, at the end of last term, he’d called her a spotted menace, referring to her freckles. How dare that foul mouthed little bastard spout such things at her! Spotted menace? She’d show him the meaning of menace! The next gnome she threw actually gave a shrill cry, knocking her back to reality.
“Ginny, what’s wrong?” A hand rested on her shoulder and she turned to see Harry looking at her with concern.
She blushed furiously. “Oh, nothing Harry…sorry!”
Feeling like an idiot, she quickly excused herself to wash up. The boys could finish the chore; she needed a moment alone.
She ran into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face and neck, then decided to take a bath. As she filled the tub and stripped down, she wondered how she could have once again embarrassed herself in front of Harry like that. All he had to do was look at her and her tongue would thicken. If he spoke to or touched her directly she would get too flustered to speak, and run. Every time! It was humiliating the way it always happened. He lived with them now, for heaven’s sake, and had for almost two years. Why couldn’t she manage to talk to him like a normal person?
To make matters worse, she’d been thinking about his most hated enemy. Well, her enemy too. In fact, it might be called a family feud. The enmity between the Weasleys and the Malfoys was quite thick, and it was worse for Harry. She’d always had the suspicion that, if the Potters had lived, they too would be caught up in this fierce rivalry that seemed to seethe around the Malfoys and others of their ilk. She frowned. The Potters had not lived, unfortunately, and she thought that maybe Harry believed that Draco’s father may have had something to do with it. Since it was now known that Sirius Black hadn’t done it -- by her family anyway -- whom else did that leave?
Well, plenty of others, actually. But she rather enjoyed putting Lucius Malfoy in the role of Disgusting Villain. Not that he needed help with that, she thought grimly, remembering her mental torture at the hands of Tom Riddle. The Chamber of Secrets, the basilisk -- all she had suffered in an attempt to shoot down her father’s Muggle Protection Act. Well it hadn’t worked, she thought with fierce triumph. It hadn’t worked because Harry had saved her, as well as the rest of the school.
Harry. She blushed at the mere mention of his name, and yet he never seemed to notice. If he did, he hid it rather well. For a moment, she felt resentment well in her heart. What kind of boy could see you and know of your love, and yet ignore it? But another part of her mind jumped to his defense, reminding her that he was sweet and shy, and probably didn’t know what to do about it.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and for once she let them fall. No, he didn’t feel the same. He loved Cho Chang, or maybe he loved that new girl from Scotland, Heather. Did it matter who? It wasn’t her, and it never would be.
Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest and sobbed as quietly as she could.
************
Time passed, and September arrived. It was time for the return to Hogwarts. Ron and Harry were seventh years now, their last year at Hogwarts, and Ginny was in her sixth. Ever since Molly and Arthur Weasley had adopted Harry, their monetary fortunes had improved, boosted also by the success of Fred and George’s joke shop. Though they had refused to take much, Harry had been able to give them a good deal of money in return for their raising him. The Dursleys had been only too glad to see Harry go, and since they didn’t know Harry had a small fortune to his name, he’d never heard from them again. Ginny knew that this was fine with him.
She loaded her trunk with Ron’s help and then waved and went to talk to Susan Dresh, her best friend. Susan was a Ravenclaw, but she and Ginny had bonded in Herbology, their worst subject. They had seen each other only sporadically over the summer, but they’d kept Errol and Phil, the Dresh family owl, busy with their correspondence. Susan hugged her tightly in greeting.
“It’s so good to see you Gin!” she exclaimed. “And you look so lovely!”
“Oh please, Susan!” Ginny laughed. “It’s you who looks fantastic! You’re practically glowing! What’s his name?”
Susan blushed. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
Ginny was surprised. “Susan! Why would I laugh? You’re my best friend!”
Susan chewed her lip uncertainly, and then smiled. “It’s Seamus -- Seamus Finnigan.”
Ginny’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t laugh. “I…I had no idea!” Impulsively, she hugged her friend again, “When, how? What happened?”
Susan laughed. “I’ll tell you on the train! Got to say goodbye to mum and dad, they always get so maudlin when I go!”
Ginny said goodbye and ran over to her own parents. Ron and Harry were already saying their farewells, and when her turn came she was surprised to see the tears in her mother’s eyes.
“My baby girl is all grown up now!” She smiled tremulously. “All my children are growing too fast for me to keep up with!”
“Oh mum!” Ginny hugged her tightly. “I’m not quite there yet, I still have some child in me!”
“Yes, and I mean to enjoy it. You take care of yourself my dear, and be good!”
Ginny then turned to hug her father, who was also looking rather sad. “Bye daddy!”
“You make me proud Ginny,” he said quietly, making her start. “I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
You’d think I was going away forever, she thought irritably. “Dad, please! It’s only school!”
“I know darling. But I just can’t believe you’re a sixth year already! It seems like just yesterday we brought you-“
At that moment, the train whistle blew, cutting Mr. Weasley off. He hugged Ginny quickly and pushed her towards the train. “Mind yourselves now, and stay out of trouble!” This was for Ron and Harry.
Ginny ran and hopped on the train just as it began to move. Susan was there to grab her hand and pull her to an empty car at the back of the train. They passed Hermione Granger who waved to them as she settled in with Harry and Ron. Ginny liked Hermione, and admired her great intelligence. Most people were irritated by her, but Ginny thought she was a sweet and compassionate person. Her actions always proved this, though she could come across a bit forcefully – such as with her promotion of S.P.E.W. Yet Hermione’s goal there had been admirable and could hardly be considered selfish. But Hermione was soon driven from Ginny’s mind as she and Susan took their seats in the empty car.
“All right, I’ll tell you everything.” Susan grinned.
“Oh good,” Ginny replied sardonically, “I’d hate to have to beat it out of you!”
They laughed and Susan began telling of how she and Seamus had run into each other when her parents were visiting relatives in Ireland. He had been celebrating his birthday and had invited her to come along with himself and his parents. It turned out that they had a great deal in common, and by the end of the visit she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him.
“Oh Gin, he’s so sweet and kind! I don’t think I’ve met anyone before with a bigger heart! Except Harry,” she added hastily. Ginny smiled and shook her head.
“It’s all right Susan, don’t say anything. I have to learn to pull away from him.”
Susan was taken aback. “What? Why? Did something happen?”
“Yes, I woke up!” Ginny said quietly.
She proceeded to tell Susan about her summer and her growing conviction that Harry knew -- had always known -- how she felt, but didn’t return those feelings and never would. Susan tried to argue.
“Gin, you have to tell him outright! How many times have I told you that? He can’t act on mere suspicion, and how is he supposed to know if you don’t speak up? You always say you’ll tell him when you’re ready. Now you’re just going to give up without trying?”
“It’s no use, Susan,” Ginny insisted. “He knows, I’m sure he does because I’ve been an obvious dolt about it for years! How can he not know? I just have to accept this, and I will.”
Susan looked ready to argue more, but Ginny raised a hand to forestall her. “I’ve made up my mind, Susan. No discussion! I just need time to accept it.”
Susan was shocked, to say the least. But she also knew Ginny’s stubbornness. It would be better to talk of this later, in a calmer atmosphere. But they were alone, how much calmer could it get? How could she change her mind so suddenly about telling Harry how she felt? It had been her prime obsession for the last three years! Six, if you counted the time since she’d met him.
Ginny smiled at the ground. “I can practically hear your thoughts. I don’t blame you if you’re angry with me. But I didn’t arrive at this decision lightly or suddenly. For the last year I’ve known, deep in my heart, that he won’t ever love me. It just took me this long to admit it to myself. Now all I have to do is stop pining.” She put on a brave smile, belying the sparkle of tears in her eyes
. “Trust me, it’s for the best!”
Susan sat down and hugged her friend impulsively. “Gin, I hope you know what you’re doing. This is years and years of love!”
“I know. But they’re wasted years. It’s time to move on, and maybe try to find someone who’ll appreciate me!”
Though her tone of voice was light, Susan could hear the pain underneath. She got up and opened the door.
“Where are you going?” Ginny asked.
Susan made a face. “To kick the thick headed twerp’s shins!”
“Susan!” Ginny burst out laughing, making her friend grin.
“I’m going to find the trolly, I’m starving. Want anything?”
“Get me some Cauldron Cakes, and maybe a Fizzing Whizzby.” Ginny began to dig into her pockets, but Susan waved her away.
“My treat!” she said kindly.
And so the trip passed. They laughed and talked of summer, and of Ron’s and Harry’s antics. Quidditch try-outs had gone well, but they wouldn’t hear anything definite for a while. And the boys had to finish school at any rate. They talked of Seamus and his plans to go into his father’s business, and of his hidden romantic side. “He’s forever giving me flowers, Gin!” There were even quiet moments, and if Ginny wept a bit, leaning on her friend’s shoulder, well, that’s what friends are for.
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