Hating August

By Koalaburr

Author's Note: Alrighty kids. This fic was born on a moody September day, and came out really... different. I usually don't write things like this. But my beta reader and I liked it, so, I will share it with the good people of the fandom!

It's set the summer before Harry's sixth year. So, Ginny's fifth.

Disclaimer: I really wish it was, but Harry Potter is not mine own. Nor is Ginny.

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She hated this kind of day. It was just the color that the sun spilled all over everything, and it was just too white. The way it made everything feel like winter. It wasn't about the light either. She hated how cold it was. Even though it wasn't snowing. She never liked this season simply because it was like the sky couldn't decide whether it was going to snow leaves or ice. And it was windy. She hated the fall. She hated August.

She shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket and glared at the yellow leaf on the road ahead of her. It was dieing, covered in flecks of black, and Ginny watched it until it was flat beneath her white cross-trainer.

Chilled wind danced with orange strands of thin hair. Leaves curled up spinning in tiny circles and scraping along the paved road. Ginny shivered and continued to stalk down the road.

Glaring seemed a common thing for her to do. After all, this summer was too short, and short was a good way to describe her patience. If Fred and George hadn't glued her toothbrush to the sink, or if Ron hadn't started that row with her about going in his room, or if she hadn't been thinking about Percy so much, and if Harry hadn't been there when she'd broken down about what an awful day it had been, maybe, just maybe she wouldn't be so angry with everyone. And everything. She kicked a little rock and watched it bounce off into the ditch beside the road.

School would start soon. She'd see Hermione again. But things wouldn't be the same. Not anymore. Not with the Dark Lord back. She hated it all, and sometimes wondered what it'd be like to live in a world where your potions exam was the only thing you'd have to worry about all year.

Fear seemed to engulf people. Ones who used to stand tall and proud were bunkering down, hiding, pretending they weren't involved. She found herself confused at times. Why- how could anyone who was privileged enough to be a part of the wizarding-world join forces with such a vile creature? With such a sadistic being? Such a heartless varmint?

It baffled her.

She turned her cinnamon eyes on the sign at the road before her. That sign meant 'All Weasley property ends here, if you keep angrily marching down the road, you will end up in the nearest muggle town.'

She sighed and huffed her way up the hill to the house.

And years later, when it was indeed, all over, Ginny would realize that this had been her time to grow up. And maybe growing up cautiously made her more appreciate the calmness of the aftermath. Maybe then she hadn't been all that immature.