Disclaimer: I don't own any of the elements of Harry Potter. I just borrowed them.
Chapter 1: Dirty Little Secrets
Ginny Weasley stood shivering outside the great oak doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was early November and it was already beginning to snow. She didn't think it would be so cold, so she hadn't brought her heavy wool cloak.
"Are you okay, Ginny?" a pink-cheeked Hermione Granger asked. "You look terrible!"
"I - I'm fine, Hermione," Ginny answered through chattering teeth.
Ginny was in her sixth year at Hogwarts as she stood with Hermione, her brother Ron, and Harry Potter, awating their chance to escape to their Saturday trip in Hogsmeade. Despite her attempts to get over him, Ginny seemed to be falling more in love with Harry Potter every moment they shared together. Hermione and Ron were no help; they only encouraged her obsession. Of course, if it weren't for Harry's continuous flirting with her, she probably would have been over him a long time ago. But alas! she only loved him more.
"Are you cold?" Harry broke her thoughts and she looked up to see him frowning at her.
"Oh... no, I'm fine," she answered, turning away. Despite her refusal, Harry removed his cloak and placed it around Ginny's trembling shoulders. She was taken aback, and turned back around to face him.
"Thanks, Harry," she said, her gaze boring into his. She loved his eyes the most; so green, and so giving. From his jet-black hair to his calloused hands, she loved everything about him. She only wished he would take her in his arms and hold her close to him to stop her shivering. But he didn't. Instead, he smiled warmly and turned around to join the crowd that was finally moving toward Hogsmeade.
Pushing a strand of her shoulder-length red hair behind her ear, Ginny shuffled her way behind Ron and Hermione, who were publicly holding hands and occassionally touching noses.
They finally reached Hogsmeade when Hermione suggested the four of them duck into the Three Broomsticks for a few butterbeers and a chance to warm up. Following a small crowd through the open door, they searched for an open booth and took off their cloaks. After ordering a couple of butterbeers, they began to discuss the Quidditch match that had taken place the previous weekend.
"You did great pummeling that Slytherin with a bludger!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.
"It was nothing," Ginny answered, blushing slightly.
"Harry's right, Gin! Fred and George never knocked anyone off their broom before!" Ron added, taking a sip of his butterbeer.
"Yeah. You know, if you want to, we could practice together sometime," Harry suggested to Ginny, being careful to avoid her eyes.
"Really?" Ginny nearly showered the table with her mouthful of butterbeer.
"Yeah, really," Harry answered. Ginny beamed at this, and her cheeks became nearly as red as her hair.
"Awww! That's so cute!" Hermione squealed. Harry glowered at her and Ginny turned even redder.
"Wha?! Harry and Ginny? No way! She's my little sister!" Ron exclaimed, bewildered.
"Is that all I am to you? You're little sister?!" Ginny cried, standing up abruptly and running out into the blistering wind.
She was sick of being "Ron's little sister," she was sick of Harry flirting with her and not doing anything about it, and she was sick of Ron and Hermione teasing her. She wished she could sprout wings and fly away; to escape what she hated living with. Abandoning her only friends, she slowly made her back up to the castle and slipped inside its vast front doors. She breathed in the scent of November before heading up to the Gryffindor tower. Finally, after so many sleepless nights and harmful thoughts, the tears rolled down her ebony cheeks. She had cried for so long, but her eyes always remained dry. Why now? Why had she suddenly been provoked to cry inside and out?
She reached the Fat Lady's portrait and muttered the password before locking herself in the girls' dormitory. She collapsed on her bed and sobbed loudly, not caring if anyone heard. After crying over her pain, she decided to pull out the razor she hid under her mattress. She had only cut a few times, and it was never anything serious. But this time, she wanted to leave a mark. She wanted to leave a scar, to prove just how much of a "big sister" she was.
She pressed the blade against her smooth skin and blood poured out of the wound she had inflicted. She didn't mean for it to be so deep. It didn't matter, though. She would only cover it up with a handkerchief and her robes. No one notice; no one would care. She fell back on her bed and weeped some more. She weeped for her falling grades, for Harry, for Ron, for hurting herself, for lying to the world, for her broken promises, and so much more. She hated herself for what she had become; what she wasn't. Hours passed before she heard someone come in.
"Ginny? Are you in here?" Hermione's soft voice whispered into the dark room. Ginny sniffled lightly and sat up on her bed.
"Go away, Hermione. I don't want to talk," she replied, wiping her puffy eyes with the backs of her hands.
"Gin, you've been cooped up in her for nearly three hours! Are you alright?" Hermione pulled back the curtains around Ginny's bed and sat down. Her cheeks had regained their color and she looked much warmer now. But she was frowning. Why should she be worried about me? Ginny thought.
"I'm fine," Ginny pushed aside the very thing that was eating her up inside. She didn't want to tell Hermione she was hurting herself. She didn't want to tell anyone.
"Somehow, I doubt that. Will you talk to me?" Hermione touched Ginny's face, but she pulled away and walked to the window.
"I've done it again. I've done it for three months, and now I can't seem to stop. It's easier to hurt on the outside in order to kill the thing on the inside," Ginny muttered monotonously. Hermione stared in disbelief.
"What have you done?" she asked softly, her voice sounding slightly higher than normal.
Instead of answering, Ginny moved back to her bed and rolled up her sleeve to reveal the bloody handkerchief.
"Oh hon," Hermione said, taking Ginny's bloody arm in her hand and lightly running her fingers over the open wounds. Ginny winced and pulled her arm away.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and replaced the handkerchief around her forearm. "I didn't want to hurt anyone else, so I did it to myself to compensate."
"Ginny, this is serious. You can't do this to yourself! Do you understand me? This is no way to get rid of your pain. It only makes it worse," Hermione said, concerned. She stood up and joined Ginny at the window. "Harry wants to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk to Harry. Tell him to go away," Ginny responded, tears silently streaming down her cheeks again.
"He wants to apologize, Gin. He cares about you. If he knew -"
"He's not going to know," Ginny interrupted, turning to face Hermione. "I'm not going to tell him, and neither are you. If you do -"
"Ginny, this can't be kept a secret. In fact, I'm surprised you've kept it this long! You have to tell!"
"Well, then it's not Harry who's going to know," she said matter-of-factly. "And don't say anything to Ron either."
With that, Ginny left Hermione in the dormitory and decended the staircase into the common room. Much to her disappointment, Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire, engaged in a deep conversation. She approached them only to apologize and then make her way down to supper.
" - what if she does? Oh! Ginny! There you are!" Harry said, standing up quickly and walking over to the red-headed girl.
"Harry, I..." she started, avoiding his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Harry spoke for her. "I'm sorry for what happened in Hogsmeade today. But if you still want to practice some time, the offer still stands."
"I don't want to practice with you Harry. And you shouldn't be apologizing. That's my job. I'm sorry - " Ginny broke up, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. Suddenly, she wanted to tell him so bad. He can't know, she thought.
"Ginny, is something wrong?" Harry gripped her arm tightly and she let out a squeak.
"N-no, Harry. I'm fine. Really. I-I'd like to go down for supper now if you don't mind," Ginny spoke quickly, trying to break free of Harry's grasp, but he was too strong. He turned his gaze to her arm and rolled up the sleeve of her robes.
"What's this?" Harry spoke firmly, tugging lightly on the handkerchief.
"It's nothing! Nothing," Ginny responded, removing her arm from his hold and rolling her sleeve back down. "I'll be leaving now."
"Ginny, that wasn't nothing. Come back here!" Ron stood up and joined Harry in following his sister out into the corridor. "Ginny!"
Ginny began sobbing again as she ran from Harry and Ron. She didn't want them to know, and she would do whatever she could to make sure they didn't. She stumbled over her robes and fell to the ground, looking back at their worried faces coming nearer.
"No!" she yelled back, regaining her balance and continuing down the corridor.
Suddenly, she ran into an open door and fell, unconscious, to the cold floor.
A/N: The next chapter should be up soon! The more you review, the faster I shall post!
Chapter 1: Dirty Little Secrets
Ginny Weasley stood shivering outside the great oak doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was early November and it was already beginning to snow. She didn't think it would be so cold, so she hadn't brought her heavy wool cloak.
"Are you okay, Ginny?" a pink-cheeked Hermione Granger asked. "You look terrible!"
"I - I'm fine, Hermione," Ginny answered through chattering teeth.
Ginny was in her sixth year at Hogwarts as she stood with Hermione, her brother Ron, and Harry Potter, awating their chance to escape to their Saturday trip in Hogsmeade. Despite her attempts to get over him, Ginny seemed to be falling more in love with Harry Potter every moment they shared together. Hermione and Ron were no help; they only encouraged her obsession. Of course, if it weren't for Harry's continuous flirting with her, she probably would have been over him a long time ago. But alas! she only loved him more.
"Are you cold?" Harry broke her thoughts and she looked up to see him frowning at her.
"Oh... no, I'm fine," she answered, turning away. Despite her refusal, Harry removed his cloak and placed it around Ginny's trembling shoulders. She was taken aback, and turned back around to face him.
"Thanks, Harry," she said, her gaze boring into his. She loved his eyes the most; so green, and so giving. From his jet-black hair to his calloused hands, she loved everything about him. She only wished he would take her in his arms and hold her close to him to stop her shivering. But he didn't. Instead, he smiled warmly and turned around to join the crowd that was finally moving toward Hogsmeade.
Pushing a strand of her shoulder-length red hair behind her ear, Ginny shuffled her way behind Ron and Hermione, who were publicly holding hands and occassionally touching noses.
They finally reached Hogsmeade when Hermione suggested the four of them duck into the Three Broomsticks for a few butterbeers and a chance to warm up. Following a small crowd through the open door, they searched for an open booth and took off their cloaks. After ordering a couple of butterbeers, they began to discuss the Quidditch match that had taken place the previous weekend.
"You did great pummeling that Slytherin with a bludger!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.
"It was nothing," Ginny answered, blushing slightly.
"Harry's right, Gin! Fred and George never knocked anyone off their broom before!" Ron added, taking a sip of his butterbeer.
"Yeah. You know, if you want to, we could practice together sometime," Harry suggested to Ginny, being careful to avoid her eyes.
"Really?" Ginny nearly showered the table with her mouthful of butterbeer.
"Yeah, really," Harry answered. Ginny beamed at this, and her cheeks became nearly as red as her hair.
"Awww! That's so cute!" Hermione squealed. Harry glowered at her and Ginny turned even redder.
"Wha?! Harry and Ginny? No way! She's my little sister!" Ron exclaimed, bewildered.
"Is that all I am to you? You're little sister?!" Ginny cried, standing up abruptly and running out into the blistering wind.
She was sick of being "Ron's little sister," she was sick of Harry flirting with her and not doing anything about it, and she was sick of Ron and Hermione teasing her. She wished she could sprout wings and fly away; to escape what she hated living with. Abandoning her only friends, she slowly made her back up to the castle and slipped inside its vast front doors. She breathed in the scent of November before heading up to the Gryffindor tower. Finally, after so many sleepless nights and harmful thoughts, the tears rolled down her ebony cheeks. She had cried for so long, but her eyes always remained dry. Why now? Why had she suddenly been provoked to cry inside and out?
She reached the Fat Lady's portrait and muttered the password before locking herself in the girls' dormitory. She collapsed on her bed and sobbed loudly, not caring if anyone heard. After crying over her pain, she decided to pull out the razor she hid under her mattress. She had only cut a few times, and it was never anything serious. But this time, she wanted to leave a mark. She wanted to leave a scar, to prove just how much of a "big sister" she was.
She pressed the blade against her smooth skin and blood poured out of the wound she had inflicted. She didn't mean for it to be so deep. It didn't matter, though. She would only cover it up with a handkerchief and her robes. No one notice; no one would care. She fell back on her bed and weeped some more. She weeped for her falling grades, for Harry, for Ron, for hurting herself, for lying to the world, for her broken promises, and so much more. She hated herself for what she had become; what she wasn't. Hours passed before she heard someone come in.
"Ginny? Are you in here?" Hermione's soft voice whispered into the dark room. Ginny sniffled lightly and sat up on her bed.
"Go away, Hermione. I don't want to talk," she replied, wiping her puffy eyes with the backs of her hands.
"Gin, you've been cooped up in her for nearly three hours! Are you alright?" Hermione pulled back the curtains around Ginny's bed and sat down. Her cheeks had regained their color and she looked much warmer now. But she was frowning. Why should she be worried about me? Ginny thought.
"I'm fine," Ginny pushed aside the very thing that was eating her up inside. She didn't want to tell Hermione she was hurting herself. She didn't want to tell anyone.
"Somehow, I doubt that. Will you talk to me?" Hermione touched Ginny's face, but she pulled away and walked to the window.
"I've done it again. I've done it for three months, and now I can't seem to stop. It's easier to hurt on the outside in order to kill the thing on the inside," Ginny muttered monotonously. Hermione stared in disbelief.
"What have you done?" she asked softly, her voice sounding slightly higher than normal.
Instead of answering, Ginny moved back to her bed and rolled up her sleeve to reveal the bloody handkerchief.
"Oh hon," Hermione said, taking Ginny's bloody arm in her hand and lightly running her fingers over the open wounds. Ginny winced and pulled her arm away.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and replaced the handkerchief around her forearm. "I didn't want to hurt anyone else, so I did it to myself to compensate."
"Ginny, this is serious. You can't do this to yourself! Do you understand me? This is no way to get rid of your pain. It only makes it worse," Hermione said, concerned. She stood up and joined Ginny at the window. "Harry wants to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk to Harry. Tell him to go away," Ginny responded, tears silently streaming down her cheeks again.
"He wants to apologize, Gin. He cares about you. If he knew -"
"He's not going to know," Ginny interrupted, turning to face Hermione. "I'm not going to tell him, and neither are you. If you do -"
"Ginny, this can't be kept a secret. In fact, I'm surprised you've kept it this long! You have to tell!"
"Well, then it's not Harry who's going to know," she said matter-of-factly. "And don't say anything to Ron either."
With that, Ginny left Hermione in the dormitory and decended the staircase into the common room. Much to her disappointment, Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire, engaged in a deep conversation. She approached them only to apologize and then make her way down to supper.
" - what if she does? Oh! Ginny! There you are!" Harry said, standing up quickly and walking over to the red-headed girl.
"Harry, I..." she started, avoiding his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Harry spoke for her. "I'm sorry for what happened in Hogsmeade today. But if you still want to practice some time, the offer still stands."
"I don't want to practice with you Harry. And you shouldn't be apologizing. That's my job. I'm sorry - " Ginny broke up, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. Suddenly, she wanted to tell him so bad. He can't know, she thought.
"Ginny, is something wrong?" Harry gripped her arm tightly and she let out a squeak.
"N-no, Harry. I'm fine. Really. I-I'd like to go down for supper now if you don't mind," Ginny spoke quickly, trying to break free of Harry's grasp, but he was too strong. He turned his gaze to her arm and rolled up the sleeve of her robes.
"What's this?" Harry spoke firmly, tugging lightly on the handkerchief.
"It's nothing! Nothing," Ginny responded, removing her arm from his hold and rolling her sleeve back down. "I'll be leaving now."
"Ginny, that wasn't nothing. Come back here!" Ron stood up and joined Harry in following his sister out into the corridor. "Ginny!"
Ginny began sobbing again as she ran from Harry and Ron. She didn't want them to know, and she would do whatever she could to make sure they didn't. She stumbled over her robes and fell to the ground, looking back at their worried faces coming nearer.
"No!" she yelled back, regaining her balance and continuing down the corridor.
Suddenly, she ran into an open door and fell, unconscious, to the cold floor.
A/N: The next chapter should be up soon! The more you review, the faster I shall post!