Well hello and blessed be – everyone! I'm so happy to be back to the amazing, hauntingly beautiful extended universe of Amaranth : Animae Gemina. I know, you've all been eagerly waiting a new chapter of my highly beloved Luna / Ginny story. In fact this story and 'Starry Starry Night' are my two most popular. OMG - I love these summer months they're my best for writing.

Firstly apologies, this 'chapter' isn't the happiest and many might come out disliking Ron even more. We're fast approaching the end of the Hermione/Narcissa story arch and the completion of this story in fact. I'm aiming for Chapter 20 being the last (in this story) and with hopefully one post a week, we should be done by August.

From chapter 15 on Gemina will finish the story of Luna and her quest, the love story and struggles they face. While Hermione will be mentioned – she will not be a central character anymore.

But don't forget, that soon I'll begin writing - Amaranth : Secret of the Blackest Blood. This story will start in January and document all the meetings we missed between Narcissa and Hermione. Plus we'll see more of Bellatrix.

I have not forgotten - Fleur de la Luxure (An Amaranth Story)

To all my old fans and the new, I hope you all enjoy the rest of this adventure.

- Cissy

See you next Saturday.

Chapter 13: Bittersweet

Ginny could not stop flinching the entire ride on the Hogwarts Express. She'd watched the scenery as it flashed by their window, detached and alone. She was lost, trapped within her own fearful impending doom.

As the Hogwarts Castle had gone beyond the sunlight's reflection in the silvery blue loch. The crimson express began the climb through the mountains, snow capped still and glided down as it thundered over bridges, miles high, the scenery breath taking, now here - in early spring.

It had meandered through gorgeous newly green forests, but still Ginny bit her lip helplessly. Above the scarlet train, the sky was the truest blue set about the softest white puffy clouds. She watched as they sailed over the brilliant yellow daisy meadows, waving gently by the wind.

Hermione, herself, knew this gorgeous landscape once upon a time had known magic. It was still early in the season, but here nature was bursting forth with a delighted mirth. She sighed – watching Ginny's empty eyes, vacant – detached and incredibly sad.

She'd opened the door cautiously after her head girl duties had finished. She'd spent most of the trip wandering the train patrolling and then peaking in to the prestigious car to share a few words with her prefects. Now here, she was drained and bitter wanting to rest her mind, laughing at her impossible request.

She felt anger bubble painfully to the surface upon seeing Narcissa so carelessly lost in a book. She'd stood there looking in from the quiet stillness outside the faculty compartment not bothering to wipe away her single tear.

Her heartbeat was thudding thinking of their kiss, something she was again trying to forget. Something her heart whispered hauntingly of whenever she tried to close her eyes.

As though through this placidity to address her emotions, she was cloaked in an invisible, hopelessness – that never died.

Hermione and Ginny's hearts each sank a little as they drew ever closer to London.

Even the softest butterfly kisses of her girlfriend only dulled Ginny's fearful ache. She was so angry so upset, completely distraught that now her heart was an icy darkness. She knew this shouldn't be right - this was all wrong!

This couldn't be right! A fear – burning ice cold - within either of the love stories.

Yet, Ginny knew - everything about Luna was beautiful. Their love the most amazing thing she'd ever experienced. Yet Ron's words slowly had eaten her soul. As the fear crawled up her throat from her stomach in dangerous waves of nausea.

Luna couldn't reach Ginny and so her she worried her lip. Why is my girlfriend so sad?

Naturally, Ginny hadn't wanted to worry Luna, why tell her these poison words her brother used to darken her heart.

Meanwhile her heart broke twice over when she saw – Hermione. Her pain was just as palpable – the book on her lap, forgotten, her eyes trained unseeing on the gathering clouds, to Ginny a warning sign of an upcoming spring storm. She frowned wringing her hands in her lap. Hermione's eyes were closed and overflowing with quiet tears.

Luna wove her fingers with Ginny and whispered 'I love you.'

Ginny hadn't the heart to rise - to gather her best friend into her arms. Instead she snuggled close to her girlfriend and sobbed at the injustice of life.

Hermione looked up as she rubbed her own eyes - they stung terribly from crying.

"I promise it'll be okay, Ginny" Hermione said, trying to steady her voice. "I promise."

Ginny touched Luna's cheek, losing herself in the beauty of those luminous eyes.

"I hope so," she said as she whispered "I'll miss you so much Luna."

It had begun to rain, the trees now bent painfully with the wind and the water ran like curtains down the windows.

"It's only two weeks my love" Luna said lovingly "remember we have always – two weeks mean nothing."

Hermione bit her lip as her own sadness threatened to over come her heart. Standing she left the lovers to themselves, she'd go find a place to study quietly. She'd lose herself in her academics once more.

When the girls got off the Hogwarts Express in London, it was still raining and chilly. Hermione had synched her coat tightly around her hips as she gave Ginny a sympathetic smile.

Luna waved goodbye to Hermione and hugged Ginny fiercely. She sensed her girlfriend's distance and fear as she whispered "I love you. I'll see you soon my darling." She let her go, her own heart beat uncomfortably and fighting her own tears.

Ginny wouldn't even look at her.

"I'll see you after the holidays" Hermione said. "I hope you'll have a wonderful Easter, Luna."

Ginny nodded, but refused to look up. She knew she was hurting Luna by not saying 'I love you' back. She took a breath and opened her mouth, "I….." but her mother's voice stopped her.

"Ginevra Molly Weasley" her mother's voice was steely and cold. "Come here right now."

She frowned at Luna as she turned to Hermione. "Hermione, sweetheart, Ron will be so happy to see you. Harry too." She said giving her daughter a baleful look. "He's talked of nothing else."

She quickly snapped her fingers and sent their belongings to the Burrow. Sighing she acknowledged Luna with a nod and "Ms. Lovegood," before she turned and expected Hermione and Ginny to follow.

Luna watched her girlfriend walk away. She wanted to cry - but didn't.

Hermione didn't follow, her heart was torn and she lingered beside Luna.

"Hermione!" Molly called insistently.

"Coming!" Hermione said tersely. She gave Luna her bravest smile, "I'll talk to her, I promise – she does love you I know that. But she's just…." she didn't have the energy to continue. She picked up Crookshanks who was yowling angrily and followed her best friend and mum.

She couldn't bring herself to look back.

Dinner was a mostly silent affair for the Weasley family, the night after the Quidditch match. Since Molly refused to speak to anyone, Arthur concentrated on his food. He chewed thoughtfully and worried about what his wife was going to say to their daughter.

Harry who still felt hurt only whispered with Hermione, he'd avoided talking to Ron as much as possible. He'd begun to feel jangled and fearful of his best guy friend. He was freaked that Ron would suspect his feelings for Draco.

Meanwhile Ron refused to look at Ginny, so he instead watched his girlfriend with such an intensity, she felt sick.

She shivered, he couldn't know about the kiss could he? Her food tasted like sawdust and every bite was lead in her stomach.

It was the most awkward dinner, Ginny was in fact ever forced to sit through. She waited to disappear –her eyes red from crying. Sliding down in her chair, she'd never tried harder to be invisible, only Hermione shot her an apologetic smile. That was whenever Ron wasn't looking at her. As he conspiratorially conversed with Harry in hushed voices.

As dinner drew to a close, Ginny made to escape but her mother stopped her with a look.

Arthur sighed as he pushed his chair in, "don't be too hard on her darling."

Harry wanted no part of this conversation, he quickly left the table, Ron following. Hermione wanted to stay but Molly shot her a pointed look. She followed the rest of the family from the room.

Molly mentioned for Ginny to follow her upstairs. When Ginny had closed her bedroom door and her mother was comfortably seated, she gave her daughter a reassuring hug. Ginny accepted it. Still she was fearfully reminded of her mother's anger earlier.

"Ginny" her mother said softly almost caringly "do you know why I'm so upset?"

"I kissed Luna" Ginny said truthfully.

Her mother bristled but nodded. "You know your father and I have always been open minded people. I mean, obviously – we don't forgive Ms. Malfoy, but we accept she's your professor."

"Black – Professor Black" she muttered. If her mother heard, she ignored the comment to continue her speech.

"But you've got to know….." she paused pointedly "we both think you're too young to experiment in such a way. "

"She's not an experiment!" Ginny yelled.

"Well then" Molly gasped heatedly "it's so much more serious! Honey you're not gay, we know you – we've raised you!"

Ginny had never seen her mum so serious and it terrified her. As her stomach threatened to expel its contents.

What if she's right -No NO -it can't be. I love Luna. I know I love her-

All the same she felt a shiver of panic like ice rush through her.

"Your father and I – we've never once seen anything to suggest you're gay. I'm really upset seeing you so incredibly confused. It's what I feared - what I feared MOST - you've been influenced or brainwashed."

Ginny was furious and even more surprised as her mother started crying. What right did her mum have to be crying?

Her mother took a shuddering breath "honestly I think you're afraid of this commitment you'd made to Harry. I think you're running away from your feelings, which makes sense. You're so young – maybe. I thought privately too young to be married. Your father has talked to Harry - it's perfectly fine to break the engagement and just take a step back. Harry loves you Ginny he'll understand your fears. I'm sure he only wants you to be happy."

Ginny couldn't believe what her mother was saying. She felt like she was being lectured, she certainly wasn't too young to know whom she loved.

"Mum" she tried to interrupt her mother, but Molly wasn't stopping.

"Either way, until you stop this ridiculousness you can't see Luna. I sent her father an owl stating this fact."

Ginny gasped tears pooling behind her eyes. So she was to be denied seeing her girlfriend, she wanted to scream. She felt dizzy and her stomach churned painfully.

"You'll feel better in the morning" Molly said softly. "I'm doing this for your own good. I don't want you to do something stupid, only to regret it. You should've known better not been so thoughtless. You've hurt Harry and you obviously lead Luna on too. I'm surprised at your selfishness Ginny. Someday you'll thank me when you're a mother and have children of your own. You'll be grateful after realizing that being afraid to commit- is very common. I'm sorry it had to come to this my love."

She got up slowly and gave Ginny another hug which wasn't accepted this time.

She sighed and shrugged. She closed the door with a click as Ginny burst into tears.

Now how could she be with Luna? This was way worse than she'd feared.

Hermione had done her best to avoid Ron; at Hogwarts, but this was completely impossible - in his own house. No sooner had she left the kitchen, he was practically all over her.

She stiffened at his touch and it was so noticeable, Harry raised his eyebrow at her resistance. Her hopeful look crushed as Harry wandered outside. He wasn't going to come to her rescue after all. Her heart beat painfully as she found herself being dragged upstairs; passed Ginny's room to the attic.

As Ron attempted to be romantic, Hermione found herself progressively feeling faint. As he kissed her and wrapped her in his arms, she shuttered and wanted to pull away.

Mistakenly Ron thought the quiver at his touch meant something else and he thrilled at Hermione's racing heart and rosy cheeks.

This wasn't right and it was painfully obvious as his hands drifted under her jumper, she jerked away glaring at him.

"What?" he said frowning confused.

Hermione bit her lip, tears threatening to fall she'd never been more confused in her life. How could this be? He was her boyfriend, one of her best friends. Granted he was homophobic but wasn't it her job to open his eyes to how close minded he was being? She was supposed to love him enough to want him.

"Hermione?" Ron said giving her his best puppy dog expression? "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong? I love you I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable."

Her loyalty should have been to him, but his touch felt like devastating betrayal.

"Oh please don't cry, Mione" Ron said sincerely upset.

Hermione felt the heat of her own tears and tried to stop her sobs. She was so angry at Narcissa and her heart was broken. She remembered how upset Ginny had been when she realized, she wasn't in love with Harry. Suddenly everything was clear -painfully so.

Ron watched as his girlfriend ran from the room.

His mouth agape.

Harry knocked on his ex girlfriend's door softly. "Ginny can I come in?"

He listened to her sobs and he felt sick, this situation was beyond fucked up. "Please Ginny can I come in?"

He waited, holding his breath until he heard her whisper.

"Yes Harry."

Slowly he pushed open her door and walked to sit beside her. She fell into his arms sobbing and he tried to sooth her.

"Harry…" she gasped "I'm so…." her breathing labored and painful, as she attempted to form words. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's okay, Ginny I know it wasn't intentional. I understand. I'm not angry at you. I honestly," he sighed wondering how much he should say. "I can't blame you." He tried to convey the rest with a hug.

"Mum says I'm only afraid to commit to you. But Harry I'm…." her word caught in her throat.

"I know," Harry said softly "I saw how you kissed her at the Quidditch match."

Ginny blushed and looked away refusing to notice his sympathetic smile. "Ugh I'm sorry for that too, goodness I'm so thoughtless."

"No it's fine, we're not together and we won't be again. I love you so much it hurts Ginny but…."

"I understand," she nodded. "I just don't know what to do. Mum won't let me see Luna anymore" she whispered as tears cascaded down her face.

"Really? Seriously!?" His voice sounded angry and Ginny looked up. "I'll kill Ron" he muttered "it's all his fault."

At that moment Hermione came running down the stairs, passing Ginny's room. She was also crying and both Harry and Ginny watched this display with confusion.

"I need to go see what's wrong" Ginny said pushing her own feelings down as she struggled to her feet.

"Mmm me too." He turned to leave, but stopped "we can talk more about this tomorrow?"

Ginny nodded, gratefully she wasn't sure she'd tell Hermione.

"I have an idea," Harry said as Ginny closed the door behind them. "I won't tell you yet. But I think I know how to help both of us." He gave her another hug before heading upstairs to interrogate Ron.

Ginny ran downstairs and listened her parents had gone to bed, the fire in the hearth was the only light. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed the front door was wide open.

She shivered in the doorway, scanning the yard for Hermione, but she heard her before she saw her.

Cautiously she walked to the new gate, opening it she followed the path down to the creek and her old swing. It was cold and wished she'd brought her coat.

Hermione was on her swing, crying her shadow the only movement under the haunting moon.

"Hermione" Ginny called for her. "What's wrong?"

Hermione's eyes were haunting and empty, she gasped. What had Ron done?

"You did what?" Harry yelped. "You tried to have sex with her?"

"What?" Ron said confused. "She's my girlfriend, we've been going for over a year. I love her. You know I meant to propose to her on Valentines Day, just what a disaster. That potion didn't work right."

Harry had only been half listening, but at the word 'potion' he looked at Ron pointedly.

"Did you say potion?"

"What?" Ron said again "yes, honestly what's the big deal anyway? It was one of Fred and George's, something to bring out your inner passions or something." He frowned "it didn't work though. I mean I put it in the punch and Hermione just ignored me the entire night. Ugh and Ginny and you, it didn't work on you guys either."

"Excuse me!" Harry roared. "How could you?!" He felt betrayed, obviously his friend had meant well, it was after all supposed to be harmless. It was the principle of it and where it lead him…..no wonder he'd started to be unable to ignore his feelings for Draco.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Ron said sheepishly. "I guess I do a lot of things because… I think they'll be romantic. I just don't want to lose Hermione. I want to make her happy!" He sounded a little panicked. "And I wasn't trying to pressure her I was only trying to be caring and loving." He was pacing by this point and now he too held that haunted look.

Harry gulped. "No I know that, Ron, I forgive you - but I'm still mad."

Ginny awoke to cool, misty morning – the fog hanging heavy over the moors. She'd tentatively opened the window to see the sun rising over the mountains, it was a beautiful dawn. She sighed remembering the night before.

She'd been none too pleased to hear of her brother's attempts to influence sex.

Hermione had eventually told her and Ginny had gasped angrily. She'd grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, it had been her turn to aid support.

Support that continued all night until both girls had fallen asleep sprawled uncomfortably on Ginny's bed.

Hermione opened one eye, her best friend was near the window – so it's morning.

Both could hear Molly downstairs bustling around her kitchen preparing breakfast for a full household.

"I don't want to leave the room" Ginny whispered. "I wish we could just hide out here all afternoon Hermione."

"Ugh," came best friend's response followed by a well timed groan.

"How are we ever going to get through Easter Holiday, let alone Easter, tomorrow?" she finished.

"We'll manage, Gin" Hermione said mischievously, a thought taking form in her mind.

Ginny raised her eyebrow questioning, but Hermione refused a comment. She sat up awkwardly, attempting a smile. She might not be able to fix her problem, but she could help Ginny. She needed to find Harry.

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