When The World Turns Its Back On You…
Disclaimer: I don't own the HP universe…obviously.
Summary: While fighting to get through her sixth year at Hogwarts emotionally unscathed, something unexpected happens that will change Ginny's life forever. Whether the change is for the better is yet to be determined…
AN: This is mainly a Ginny-centric fic. I've had this plot bunny bouncing unmercifully around inside my head for quite a while…so I'm letting him (or her…) out. Just let me warn you, this will not be a conventional fic…at least I hope it won't. The pairing isn't unheard of, but isn't frequently written into full fics…unfortunately. Give it a chance alright? It's a great SHIP with lots of potential… (No slash, by the way…though I may work some in as a background pairing…)
I'm actually reposting this…I started it last year and never got off my lazy arse to continue with it. Now I'm giving it another go.
The forest seemed thicker at night than it did during the day. Maybe it was just her imagination, but Ginny could have sworn the trees were beginning to lean in, daring her to go any further…
Figures, she thought bitterly to herself, tears streaming unhindered down her pale cheeks, that I would get lost. As she trudged, rather noisily, over the forest floor, Ginny attempted to find her way back to the castle.
With absolutely no luck, of course.
Getting the distinct feeling that she was unintentilaly guiding her self deeper into the black woods, she sat, rather ungracefully, onto a near by tree stump. Maybe if I stay in one spot someone will find me…Ginny thought hopefully, that is…if anyone has even noticed I'm missing.
Ginny, being someone who routinely keeps to herself, instinctively knew that it would be unlikely for anyone to notice her absence until classes the next morning.
'And by that time I'll probably have been mauled by some werewolf…' She whispered forlornly, not even caring that she was talking to herself. Looking through a patch of overhead trees she could distinctly make out the glow of the full moon. She just had to pick the most dangerous night to get lost in a forest full of magical beasts.
'This just hasn't been my day…'
Flashback:
Sitting patiently in the Great Hall, Ginny watched as students from various houses made their way back to their common rooms, their bellies full to bursting with Hogwarts' annual Halloween feast. Tomorrow was Monday, so they all had home-work that had been left to the last minute to finish up.
'Hermione?...' Ginny called down the table, where her bushy haired friend was leaning over whispering with Ron.
Hermione looked up, distracted, and obviously a bit miffed at being interrupted. 'Oh, Ginny…what is it?'
Probably talking about a new school assignment, Ginny mused, 'I was just wondering where Harry is, he said he'd help me with this DADA essay…'
'I'm not sure; he didn't mention anything to me.' Hermione glanced at Ron, who shrugged. 'Maybe he just forgot.'
'Yeah, probably…' Ginny said, but Hermione and Ron had already jumped back into their heated conversation. Sighing, disappointed, Ginny collected her books and made her way up to the Gryffindor common room. Maybe she would catch him up there.
During her fourth year, Harry's fifth, Ginny had actually managed to work up the nerve to talk to him like a normal human being. He even responded, as if she were one of his friends.
They did share the meeting with Tom Riddle in common, after all…it was only natural that they could relate. Then the whole DA thing, along with the fight at the ministry.
Ginny was confident that she had finally gotten in, finally noticed by the elite trio. But she still hadn't gotten over the niggling in the pit of her stomach that indicated her infatuation with The-Boy-Who-Saved-Her-Life. Though, she had gotten better at hiding it.
That is why she was disappointed, and not a little hurt, that Harry had forgotten about her…again. He was just so busy, she reasoned. What with Voldemort on the prowl, he couldn't be expected to pay attention to unimportant details in his life like her.
That's when she heard the unmistakable sound of giggling coming from behind a suspiciously lumpy tapestry. Rolling her eyes, Ginny decided to have pity and warn them how bad their hiding spot was. 'You know, whoever you are, it's perfectly obvious to anyone walking by what's going on behind there. Filtch is probably somewhere near by.'
The giggling hushed at the sound of Ginny's voice and a female whisper could be heard saying, 'I told you this was a bad spot…'
After much shuffling, a head topped with tussled black hair poked out into the open and said, 'Err, thanks…'
'Harry?' Ginny blurted, shocked.
'Ginny…that you? ... Err…could you do me a favor and keep quiet about this…it's just that I'd never hear the end of it from Ron. You know how he can be.' Harry gave an uncomfortable laugh. The girl concealed in the tapestry giggled, and did something that made Harry gasp.
Jealousy and hurt welled up simultaneously in Ginny's small frame, doing the only thing she could think of at the time, she bolted.
End of flashback.
And that's how she came to be lost in the Forbidden forest.
If only I had been smart enough to run up to my room…Ginny thought miserably. Curling up on the stump, Ginny contemplated making a small fire with her wand…and rejected the idea immediately. That would only let whatever creatures were lurking in the darkness know exactly where she was sitting. Definitely not smart…
Clutching her wand tightly, Ginny tried to make herself as small as possible. To keep her mind off the disturbing noises coming out of the dark, Ginny watched as a red tinted cloud drifted across the face of the full moon. Creepy, she thought shivering.
Thinking back to a divination text she had read a couple years back, Ginny tried to remember what kind of omen the red moon represented. Probably not a good one.
Shifting uncomfortably, Ginny attempted to judge how much time had passed since her disappearance…afraid any magic would attract unwanted attention, she had no way of knowing how late it was. Yawning, she guessed she would normally have been in bed by now. Don't fall asleep…she commanded her tiered body, you need to stay alert!
Little did she know, being alert would only make things more painful…
A dark shadow like creature, or was it a person…? made it's way steadily toward the huddling figure of Ginny Weasley. It crept from tree to tree, hidden in mist during the transitions, so silent, that no human eye or ear would have caught its presence.
Ginny was no exception.
As the thing approached, its motions grew quicker, desperate almost. The glint of a crazed red eye could bee seen through the mist. It was looking for something, and seemed to have found it in Ginny.
Human blood.
Ginny was unaware of anything amiss until the creature was on her. She let out a piercing scream that was muffled by the thickness of the air. Her body froze up, weather from sheer terror, or some spell she didn't know. She felt something sharp and cold pierce into the side of her neck, and nothing else made sense.
All she knew for hours later was pain…earth shattering, mind numbing pain.
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