Recent Vacancy
Ginny ran her fingers through her hair and resumed tying the laces on her trainers. The itinerary for the day included breakfast in the hotel dining room followed by visit to the local bazaar, lunch at the Wizarding embassy and a tour of tombs during the hottest part of the day.
She didn't know if she'd be able to handle it.
The wood of the door muffled her mother's voice. "Ginny dear, aren't you ready yet?"
"Nearly finished mum!" Her fingers scrabbled with the laces. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Be quick about it, everyone's waiting." Her mother poked her head in through the door. "What could possibly be taking so long?"
"I said I was nearly finished! Ginny felt heat in her ears, at her neck. It itched irritatingly. "I'm having trouble with my laces..."
A loud thump was followed by a crash in the adjoining room. Her mother's head swiveled toward the sound. "Your brothers are at it again. The twins are certain to break something truly expensive if they're forced to wait much longer, Ginny."
"Why don't you go on without me, mum. It'll only take me a few minutes and I can easily find my way to the hotel dining room."
"Very well then. Don't be long." Mrs. Weasely drew the door shut behind her and Ginny could hear her shrill tones as she gathered the male members of the family together and bustled them out the door of the suite. The ensuing silence was like an exhalation and Ginny threw herself backward on the bed and closed her eyes with relief.
Everything about her family lately jarred. They were so large, so tousled and unmistakably there every single moment of the day. Since the end of term she'd barely been left alone for a moment. She'd had little time to clear her thoughts, to straighten up the ragged Tom-shaped hole in her mind.
She'd had no time to grieve him.
With a sigh she rolled off the bed and began gathering her things. Ginny had little interest in the bazaar aside from an idle curiosity, and even less of a desire to visit tombs that afternoon. The idea of spending any significant amount of time in an underground enclosure was decidedly unappealing at the moment. Perhaps she'd find a decent excuse to beg off that portion of the trip. Now, however, she knew she'd best get downstairs as soon as possible. Her brothers would leave little breakfast for her otherwise.
Ginny ran her fingers through her hair and resumed tying the laces on her trainers. The itinerary for the day included breakfast in the hotel dining room followed by visit to the local bazaar, lunch at the Wizarding embassy and a tour of tombs during the hottest part of the day.
She didn't know if she'd be able to handle it.
The wood of the door muffled her mother's voice. "Ginny dear, aren't you ready yet?"
"Nearly finished mum!" Her fingers scrabbled with the laces. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Be quick about it, everyone's waiting." Her mother poked her head in through the door. "What could possibly be taking so long?"
"I said I was nearly finished! Ginny felt heat in her ears, at her neck. It itched irritatingly. "I'm having trouble with my laces..."
A loud thump was followed by a crash in the adjoining room. Her mother's head swiveled toward the sound. "Your brothers are at it again. The twins are certain to break something truly expensive if they're forced to wait much longer, Ginny."
"Why don't you go on without me, mum. It'll only take me a few minutes and I can easily find my way to the hotel dining room."
"Very well then. Don't be long." Mrs. Weasely drew the door shut behind her and Ginny could hear her shrill tones as she gathered the male members of the family together and bustled them out the door of the suite. The ensuing silence was like an exhalation and Ginny threw herself backward on the bed and closed her eyes with relief.
Everything about her family lately jarred. They were so large, so tousled and unmistakably there every single moment of the day. Since the end of term she'd barely been left alone for a moment. She'd had little time to clear her thoughts, to straighten up the ragged Tom-shaped hole in her mind.
She'd had no time to grieve him.
With a sigh she rolled off the bed and began gathering her things. Ginny had little interest in the bazaar aside from an idle curiosity, and even less of a desire to visit tombs that afternoon. The idea of spending any significant amount of time in an underground enclosure was decidedly unappealing at the moment. Perhaps she'd find a decent excuse to beg off that portion of the trip. Now, however, she knew she'd best get downstairs as soon as possible. Her brothers would leave little breakfast for her otherwise.