Chapter 4
Through the Comets
Ginny traveled down to the lake as soon as the sun rose the next morning. She hadn't received another note and it was starting to worry her. Had her lover given up? Was it all a joke? She didn't doubt either of those possibilities. As she tried to clear her mind she found herself at the edge of the lake, pondering taking a Friday morning dip. She knew it would be nippy but what was the problem with freezing your tail off once in a while?
As she stripped down to her knickers she wondered if anyone was around watching. Could her love be hiding somewhere at the edge of the forest, waiting until she'd gone completely naked before springing forth to rape her? She highly doubted it. Still, there was a possibility, so she kept her bra and knickers on before diving into the icy water. Something about it was extremely refreshing and brought her senses on edge.
Then she remembered… The forest. The boy. Was he still out there? Did some strange animal grab him up and chew on his insides? She hoped not. Maybe she'd imagined the entire thing. Ginny wouldn't doubt it with the way she'd been feeling lately. Bottles of Firewhiskey couldn't drown out her depression.
After about an hour long swim and an hour long battle with herself, Ginny crawled unceremoniously back onto dry land. She threw on her clothes, scourgifying herself before she headed back to the castle. She most definitely didn't want to get caught wandering about the grounds unattended.
Harry met her later that day near the Great Hall, a small box in hand. Ginny eyed it with suspicion, not quite sure what to think.
"Ginny… I know you love me. We are too good for each other not to be around one another. You can't just up and leave me. I want to be with you and I want you to want to be with me. What can I do to make you want to be with me again?" Harry was so desperate for her affections that it made her ache inside. Ginny wanted to throw herself at him, take the box in his hand (no doubt an engagement ring), and run off into the sunset to live happily ever after. Then again, she was only sixteen, and he was only eighteen, and they were still in school. Marriage was a silly thought. Being with him right now was also a silly thought.
"Harry," Ginny began, her tongue darting out over parched lips, "I'm not really sure what to say. I do love you," she saw a glimmer of hope flash through Harry's emerald depths, "I do want to be with you," what was she saying? Ginny growled inwardly at the words forcing themselves through her lips.
"Oh… God… Merlin," Harry spluttered, laughing as he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her into the air in a lung crushing hug.
"What's in the box?" Ginny squirmed free, stepping back a bit.
"Oh… It's something that I got for you a while ago. I really want you to have it," Harry smiled triumphantly, opening the little box to reveal beautiful diamond earrings. Ginny inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, forced a smile, and took the earrings from her new beau.
"They're beautiful, Harry. Thank you. But I haven't anything for you," Ginny furrowed her brow.
"Don't mention it," Harry shook his head dismissively, "This is a non-repayable kind of gift."
"Thanks, I guess," Ginny wiggled on the stop uncomfortably as she plopped the diamond studs in her ears.
"So does this mean-"
"Yes, Harry," Ginny forced herself not to roll her eyes.
"We're back together."
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After dinner Ginny rushed upstairs to her dorm, bypassing Harry in the common room. She quickly shut her door, throwing herself on her bed where she found yet another little note. She desperately pried it open, her eyes darting back and forth across the page to drink in every minute word.
Dearest Ginny,
I saw you with the Potter boy today.
You were hugging him.
You love another.
My heart breaks as I'm writing this,
And I hope that you won't mind the tears staining this page.
My dear,
I still love you.
I think it is time for us to meet.
Come to the inoperable girls' toilet.
Tonight.
Two o'clock.
-Your Love
Ginny's heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she took in every word. He wanted to meet her… He was jealous of Harry. Ginny couldn't imagine what she'd do when she met the boy. What if he was some ugly prude? What if he was a she? What if it was all a joke?
Her mind kept flying back to the latter and she was pondering not even showing up at the girls' lavatory. That was silly. She didn't want to anger her secret lover. She wouldn't want him/her to feel as hurt as she did this very moment.
Unrequited love was a strange thing.
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Two o'clock couldn't come fast enough. As Ginny found herself following the path to the specific location she'd been asked to travel to, she pondered what might happen. Would she be hurt even more than she was already? Would this mysterious stranger hurt her physically?
Ginny made sure that Hermione had the Marauders' map in hand, studying it until Ginny returned to the common room that morning. Hermione wanted to come along for back-up but Ginny refused to let her. This was something that the little redhead had to do on her own.
(Short chapter, I know, but I want to create suspense! How better to do it than make you wait! Please review! –Raea)
