-1Chapter One
I watched them from the stairs as they sat there laughing and smiling, talking animatedly. Part of me longed to join them. Join them in the laughter, in the inside jokes. Part of me longed to laugh with my fellow students, my friends, if you could call them that, and my family. Part of me longed to be accepted.
Sadly, acceptance by your peers and loved one wasn't going to happen soon when you had once been possessed by Lord Voldemort. Although it had happened nearly five years ago, the trust between me and my fellow students laid in ruins. Some are still fearful that he may still reside inside me. Others, find it much easier to glare and ignore me. Then there are the few who have tried, and succeeded in befriending me, but for their own personal gain. For example, to get closer to Ron, like Luna did.
Luna and Ron had just recently started dating. They had started talking after the battle at the Ministry of Magic, then, gradually, they became closer, and Ron had asked her out the day after Dumbledore's funeral. Harry and Hermione are a couple too. Coincidentally, they too hooked up the same day as my brother and Luna. The same day they got together, Luna told me she had only been my friend to get closer to Ron, and apologized, albeit insincerely. I had assumed as much, but that didn't mean it hadn't hurt. It stung bad.
My family, on the other hand, slowly detached themselves from me. Bill and Charlie started first, acting less friendly and growing quiet when I walked into the room. Part of the reason Percy had left was because of what had happened in the Chamber. Fred and George included me in prank planning less, and then they devoted all their time to their shop. As for Ron, well, as soon as he saw the scar on Harry's forehead, he decided he was too mature to hang out with his "baby sister".
My parents stuck around the longest, but completely stopped talking to me the day Dumbledore died. It seems they hoped that if Tom were to possess me again, Dumbledore would be able to do something, but that hoped died with Dumbledore. While he was alive though, my parents were overly cheerful and extremely fake. But, school starts tomorrow, and not a word has been said to me.
I smirked at the thought of school. 'This year will prove to be interesting'. I thought. Since no one has really talked to me in two months, no one knew I skipped a whole year of school. I would be a Seventh Year with the "Golden Trio" because I got all Outstandings on my O.W.L.s, better than Hermione. Even better is that I am taking all N.E.W.T.s level classes, and am also Head Girl. Hermione keeps gloating, grinning smugly as she tells my family repeatedly that McGonagall is going to personally give her her Head Girl badge. 'It'll be fun knocking her off her high horse'. I thought, laughing silently.
"Ginny?" I head a voice say.
Harry Potter was staring at me from the living room. Ron and Hermione stopped talking and looked at me too. I felt my cheeks turn pink, but my eyes remained unreadable. Harry Potter had dated me last year out of pity, as did every guy I had ever gone out with. They figured since I was a social outcast, I would be an easy screw. They were very mistaken and very disappointed.
"Is everything alright?" He asked, concerned.
'Sure Harry, show concern now of all times'. I thought. "I'm fine". I replied.
"Do you wanna sit with us?" He asked, smiling.
"I'm fine". I said again, letting some of the anger show. He got it, Ron didn't.
"Come on Gin, you've been locking yourself away all summer. Come and spend some time with your friends and family". Ron said moving over to make room on the couch.
"I'm quite alright, thanks for showing the concern though". I smiled weakly. It felt weird to smile.
Harry sighed. "All right Gin. Good night". he said.
I turned quietly and headed out of sight. Once I turned the corner, I paused, hoping to catch their conversation.
"What do you think is wrong with Ginny?" I heard Harry ask.
"She's turned into a little freaky Slytherin. Always moping, dressing in gloomy colors. Hiding away all summer, not talking to anyone." Ron muttered darkly.
I gasped, eyes widening. I looked down at my clothes. Dark red peasant shirt and a black peasant skirt. Not freaky.
"'Mione , why don't you go up and talk to her?" I heard Harry say.
"Oh, alright". Hermione whined.
I scampered into my room, closing my door soundlessly behind me. I heard her coming up the stairs and made sure my school supplies, before diving on my bed with a book I heard her knock softly. "Come in". I said.
She walked in. "May I sit down?" she asked, gesturing to my bed. I nodded. She sat down, cross-legged, and stared at me. I stared back.
We continued this for another minute before I blinked. I cursed inwardly as I saw her smile smugly.
"Is there any reason for this visit?" I asked, glaring.
She seemed shocked at my bitterness, but regained her composure. "Well, we- we being Harry, Ron, and myself- are worried about you. You've changed over the summer, and not in a positive way. We're concerned". she said.
"I'm fine". I replied, my eyes icing over.
"Are you sure? Because you know you-"
"I know I can always talk to you or Harry about anything. Thanks, but I'm fine". I said, cutting her off abruptly.
She was, once again, at a loss for words, and chose to gape at me. Then she nodded, standing up. "Okay then. Well, good night". she said, awkwardly hugging me, before walking out of my room and closing the door behind her.
I sighed, laying down on my bed. I looked around my room. My trunk, at the foot of my bed, stood there, half-packed. My summer work was piled neatly on my desk, and my school books were safely hidden under my bed. I looked over at my clock, 9:00, time to get ready for work.
I got up and stretched. I grabbed my uniform (an apron that read 'Magical Tears'), and my broom before heading over to my window. I opened it silently, glancing around to see if anything was out of place. I locked my door just to be safe, and then pictured myself sleeping in my head. I looked over at my bed and saw just that. I smiled, before getting on my broom and gliding up towards the moon.