Title: The Thing He'd Miss Most
Summary: Ginny gave up on Harry in her third year...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea.
Author's Notes: This is set just after the Second Task in GOF
Ginny gnawed on her bottom lip until it bled, clenched her hands into fists until her nails cut into her palms, and felt her heart lift when Harry stumbled out of the water, completely unscathed.
Then it plummeted down to her shoes as she realised the implications of Ron being the 'Thing He'd Miss Most'.
Unsteadily, she got up from the stands and walked up towards the castle. Without being aware of it, she made a beeline for Myrtle's bathroom, and sat down on the water-drenched stone, trying to keep the scream of pure agony from bursting forth.
Unfortunately, it did anyway. A splash from one of the toilets signalled the arrival of one startled Hufflepuff ghost.
"What's wrong with you?" Myrtle asked glumly.
"Harry." Ginny sobbed, curling in upon herself. She couldn't believe it. Her entire life, Ron had been the one thing she could count on. He was always her best friend, her teacher, her confidante, her protector from her other brothers, the one who took the force of Mum's wrath. And now he betrayed her, unwittingly, yes, but still betrayed her, and took the one thing she'd wanted-no, needed to survive. Harry was her life's blood, her reason for living, the only reason she was living, and not some pile of bones in the Chamber of Secrets.
With a flash of insight she realised even that, his noble rescue, had been because of Ron. Yes, Harry was a hero, but if it hadn't been for the fact that she was Ron's little sister, he probably would have waited for a teacher, or told one of the teachers, instead of going to rescue her himself.
Everything was about Ron. She and Hermione hadn't been able to cheer him up before the First Task, when Ron had abandoned him.
"And what did Harry do?" Myrtle asked, looking interested. "He's got nice muscles, you know, I saw them in the Prefect's Bathroom when he was having a bath before the Second Task, trying to figure out what that egg meant."
Ginny slammed her fists down in the water, splashing it everywhere. "That bloody Second task!" She shrieked. "If it hadn't been for that fucking Task, I'd still think I had a chance! I wouldn't be miserable..." The last word turned into a wail.
"What? Tell me!"
"Harry's in love with Ron! Oh, he doesn't know it yet, and neither does my prat of a brother, but he is! And I've no chance at all! He'll always love Ron, when Harry gives his heart and his loyalty he gives it forever! And once again, he gets something I wanted first! Ron never wanted to go to Hogwarts, I did! If I'd been born first Harry would be in love with me!"
Myrtle patted her arm comfortingly, chilling the tiny redhead even further. "It wasn't meant to be." She said comfortingly.
"Doesn't make it hurt any less." Ginny replied dully, her anger spent. All that was left was an aching loneliness. "And now I have to go play nice, and pretend I'm not breaking inside."
"It'll get easier with time." Myrtle encouraged. "I got used to being dead. At least you still have a chance to find love."
"Pooh, a chance to find love. I'll never love again." Ginny buried her head in her arms, and began to cry again, tears mingling with the water on the floor.
End