A huge thanks to all those people who have read, reviewed, alerted and/or favorited the story. Thanks a lot, guys. This is my first story ever and every act of encouragement only helps me write better . Also, do I need to mention the disclaimer once again? You know, the one which says, "I don't own Harry Potter, nor will I ever in my lifetime." I know that, people and I have accepted the fact.
(set in Ginny's 6th year at Hogwarts)
She couldn't stand it anymore. She was boiling with rage inside. How dare they? How dare the Carrows use the Cruciatus curse on an innocent little first year in the Great Hall, just because they felt it would be fun to watch the helpless child scream in agony, writhing in pain? She closed her eyes, the child's screams still haunting her ears. Tears threatened to come in her eyes. She knew she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. She had to get out of the class.
So she told Professor Sprout that she was feeling unwell and needed to go to the infirmary. The kind-hearted Herbology professor seemed to understand the unspoken despair in Ginny's eyes, nodded and granted her leave. Ginny left the greenhouses and hurried towards the lake. She felt that she was being suffocated from all sides. She needed the fresh air.
When she reached the lake, she was surprised to see Luna Lovegood sitting in the banks, staring at the lake. She sat beside the Ravenclaw , hoping that a conversation would take her mind off the bastard death eaters. "Hey, Luna", she attempted.
"Are you here too because of what happened to little Timmy Maxwell?" Trust Luna to be blunt and go to the heart of things directly. Ginny nodded.
"How can they do that to him? Are they even human?", Luna asked quietly.
"Well, what do you expect from a Death-Eater, Luna? As long as You-Know-Who's cronies are controlling Hogwarts, who knows what more we will have to see?", Ginny seethed, her voice shaking.
"The school doesn't feel like Hogwarts anymore. I don't recognize this hell-hole anymore. " Ginny silently agreed with the Ravenclaw.
"That's just it, you know. If Hogwarts feels like this, then the world outside-",Ginny stopped talking abruptly. Luna noticed her silence and stared at her. Her gaze was deep, soul-searching.
"The truth is, Luna, I am scared.", Ginny spoke again, " I am scared for my family. Everyone knows that my family is a big part of the Order. They have resisted You-Know-Who for so long. Now that he's taken over everything, who knows what will happen to my mum…my dad…", Ginny was on the verge of tears again.
Luna took the Gryffindor's hand and squeezed it sympathetically. Ginny wiped her tears and continued, "I did not want to come to Hogwarts this year for precisely this reason. I wanted to be with them…I hate not knowing that they are safe. If anything was to happen to any of them…..", she couldn't finish the thought.
"But we cannot live in fear and darkness, can we? That will just let You-Know-Who win this battle of black and white.", Luna said solemnly." We can't let that happen. We need to fight back, Ginny. We need to support Harry, Ron and Hermione in every way we can."
Ah…the main reason for her worries. Those three names…Harry, Ron and Hermione… one was her soulmate (she was sure of it, even though he broke up with her only for her safety); one was the brother she was closest to; and the other was like the elder sister she never had. Now they were off to somewhere fighting off the most evil wizard of all times all by themselves. She had no way of contacting them. She hadn't talked to them, seen them in months. Nobody knew where they were, whether they were safe; hell, nobody knew if they were still alive .Ginny felt new tears springing up in her eyes again.
Luna sensed her discomfort and hugged her. "Ginny, don't lose hope. I am sure they are fine. They are fighting for the good, Ginny. The good will always win. Right now, I am sure Hermione's in her mobile library searching for new ways to finish the Dark Lord, Ron's winning again in Wizard's chess against Harry and the only reason Harry is losing that game is because he is thinking about you,."Luna attempted to cheer her friend up.
A slow smile crept in Ginny's face."If only that was true", she sighed.
"It will all be true one day, Ginny. We just need to fight alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione. Someday, we will defeat You-Know-Who", Luna spoke, a steady resolution shining in her eyes.
Yes, she will fight back. She will fight until all the darkness is gone forever from all of their lives. Her fight will start from Hogwarts itself, Ginny decided. She will fight against the Death Eaters' regime in school. She won't let innocent children suffer anymore. She will revive Dumbledore's Army once more, if needed.
Ginny Weasley was born to be a fighter.
Good? Bad? What do you think?
