Written for the Ring Around the Boyfriend Challenge by ToManyLetters on HPFC. Enjoy~

There was a game she played once, as a child, when her freckles broke the creamy skin of her face like surprise honey-drops, and she could smile without tasting venom between her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Her brothers pulled her outside, and she followed eagerly, wanting more than anything to be a part of them. To be accepted. (Now she knows better—if only you wait long enough, they will run to you.)

They all grasped hands, her and Ron and Fred and George, and they dragged her into a circular dance, keeping her moving even though she stumbled at first, and she slipped several times. They always pulled her up. And they chanted:

"Ring around the rosie,

pocket full of posies,

ashes, ashes,

we all fall down!"

As her brothers shouted the final word, they flung themselves to the grass, releasing their hands. They laughed for a while, all of them grinning, until they realized that she was still standing, her arms pulled up to her chin, her brown eyes large with confusion.

"Ginny, when you say 'we all fall down,' you kinda have to…you know, fall down," Fred and George said, overlapping words and completing each other's sentences like they always did, their voices rife with mockery.

"Why would I want to fall down?" She knew, even then—even before she had been taught the hard way that losing control was dangerous.

Ron rolled his eyes. "You just do. That's the whole point of the game."

"O-oh…okay then…" She was only a (stupid) little girl, and she wanted so badly to be a part of them.

"Look, we'll try it again—" Fred. "—and honestly, Ginny—" George. "—get it right this time." Both.

So they all clambered to their feet, and they pulled her into the dance again. She tried to keep up this time; she didn't stumble as much. And when they all yelled, "Down!" Ginny let the momentum carry her into the dirt. She giggled, because it was so silly. She decided she liked this game.

Then Ginny grew up; she covered her freckles with make-up, and she learned the power a smile could have. She stopped letting herself plummet for the simple sake of it, because that was how you got hurt.

And she figured out that only if you keep moving fast enough can you keep from falling.

let's say we were better than our bodies were found
and I saw her but, there she goes, and there she goes
her bright face, black smile, we can't change that

(A Story for Supper—Lydia)