So here's the next chapter. I really hope you like it, and according to the title is a re-gathering chapter. It may be a little confusing, but just keep reading please! Review if you like, and please enjoy :)
If
I tell you Never thought things would
change A bitter thought All my thoughts are with you forever
Will you listen?
Will you stay?
Will you be
here forever?
Never go away?
Hold me tight
Please don't say again
That you have
to go
I had it all
But I just let it
go
Oh, this silence
It's so violent
Since yourre gone
Until the day we'll
be back together
I will be waiting for you
Bittersweet
Within Temptation
o.O.o.O.o.O.o
On Monday morning there was a large memorial service for all of the lost lives in the war. Ginny sat on her seat, paler than she usually was. Her usual glow had been drained from her spirit, temporarily at least. Her body had been so numb the day before and the feeling hadn't ever worn off.
"Today, we have gathered for a rather tragic, yet joyous occasion. Many lives have been lost in a fight to defeat Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore was saying. Ginny began to tune him out.
Thinking about everyone who had died made her feel cold inside. She couldn't even cry. The loss was such a large impact, she was in utter shock.
Neville Longbottom had been killed defending Luna Lovegood, who had survived. Her face was drawn, her usual odd liveliness gone. Neville had been her best friend, for however short a time. She had secretly loved him.
Cho Chang was also among the deceased. She had died when the eater's finally breeched the building. She had been heading toward to Great Hall, a first year in her arms. They had not been able to save the child either.
Blaise Zabini had been killed by his father, soon after killed by Mindy Reed, who was carrying Blaise's child inside of her. Mindy wasn't present at the memorial. She had locked herself in bathroom, and she wasn't coming out for anyone. Not yet.
"…but we must remember, that the lives of those who have perished were not lost in vain. Every one of them who put themselves in the way of danger has helped to rid this world of evil, and we must keep ourselves together," Dumbledore was saying, but Ginny barely heard him.
Vivian had died. She had been caught off guard, focusing on warning Draco Malfoy of his sneaky attacker.
Bill Weasley was also among those who had died. Fleur Delacour wouldn't stop crying, understandably so.
Many loves had been lost in the war, leaving their partners heartbroken.
Rubeus Hagrid was killed in a rather brutal way, which made Ginny shudder to think of. No, dear reader, I will not burden you with this information.
Romilda Vane had been injured more seriously than most who had survived. They still weren't quite sure whether or not she would make it through the day.
Seamus Finnigan was killed by Lucius Malfoy early in the night. Lavender Brown had attempted to avenge him, but she was killed as well.
Pansy Parkinson had been killed by Mindy Reed. She had been fighting alongside her father, who was teamed with Voldemort.
Cornelius Fudge had been executed by Voldemort himself.
And now, you must be wondering what happened to Voldemort in the end.
Dear Tom Riddle was killed, at long last. Although, the price for his was Harry's life. He had been the link between Voldemort's mortality and immortality. The last horcrux, if you will.
Everyone mourned the loss of the Boy Who Lived (A/N – I can't resist.. 'The Boy Who No Longer Lived'). Ginny's last memory of him was being in his arms and feeling safe. Now she would never see him again. She'd never be able to be safe in his arms. But the memory of him would live on forever, in her heart as well as the hearts of many others.
Finally the service was over. Professor Dumbledore had informed them that school would be ending early this year. There would be one more week, and then everyone would return home. Term would start again September 1st.
Everyone was exempt from end of year finals.
The war had also brought about a few changes in people. For instance, Hermione and Ron realized that one day they may never have a chance to see each other again, had confessed their love for each other and were engaged to be married, despite their young age.
As Ginny walked away from the large mass of people in the Quidditch field, Roger caught up with her.
"Hey Ginny," he said. "Really horrible everything that's happened…" His face was sad. Ginny could see it in his eyes.
Ginny nodded. "Yes, it is."
"I was going to take her out yesterday," Roger told her. "Vivian, that is. She had promised to go out with me."
Ginny frowned. "I'm sorry. I miss her a lot, too."
"I should go," Roger forced a smile and hugged Ginny. "I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Ginny agreed. "See you."
o.O.o.O.o
Three and a half years out of Hogwarts and Ginny was sitting in her office inside the large building that created the weekly issue of the Daily Prophet. She was, for the time being, an advice columnist for teens.
There was a knock on the door of her office. Moments later a tall man with blond hair entered the room.
"Ginny?" he asked, "Have you finished this weeks column?"
Ginny looked up. "Oh yeah," she said, holding a few pieces of paper out to him, "here."
He smiled. "Thanks." He turned to leave, but as he was reaching for the doorknob, he turned back and faced her. "Do you wanna go get something to eat? It's kind of late and you must be starving…"
"Yeah, sure," Ginny nodded. "Give me about five minutes, okay? I need to finish up this letter."
The man nodded. "Meet me out front?"
"Alright, see you soon, Drew."
Ginny looked back at the letter she was writing to a fourteen year old , who attended Beauxbatons, and was having boyfriend problems.
Just remember to stay strong. Things can only get better, and if they don't, then maybe the boy isn't right for you. One can always be mislead, even if you are convinced he is the love of your life.
Good luck!
GW
The letter was sent. Ginny stood up and stretched, re-adjusting her black button up shirt. She took her robes off the hanger by the door, turned off the lights, and locked her office behind her.
It was already dark when she stepped out of the building. Drew was standing there with a cigarette in hand. When he saw her, he dropped it and squashed it under his toe.
"So, where do you want to go?" he asked.
Ginny shrugged. "I heard that new café up the street is pretty good. Mindy took Blaise there last week and they loved it."
"Well then, it's definitely worth a try."
The pair walked down the road, chatting freely about the paper, and how much progress it had made since there was a new person running it, and new staff. Drew was sort of like the head of the paper. He ran everything inside the building, and reported occasionally to the higher authority, Romilda Vane. Ginny had been hired about a year earlier, and she had been very happy with her job, helping younger people.
They sat down at a two-person booth in the corner. While they ate they talked.
"So how are Mindy and Blaise, anyway?" Drew asked. "I've missed seeing Blaise around the office… you should bring her to work again soon."
Ginny smiled. "She is pretty cute. Maybe Mindy will let me have her for a day. I always love hanging out with my god-child."
"She's got the prettiest eyes."
Ginny nodded in agreement. "She got those from her daddy."
Drew nodded, "I wish I could have met him, I'm sure he was a great person."
"He was," Ginny agreed, "he really was…"
o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Before going home after dinner, Ginny stopped in at Mindy's flat. She was at home, getting Blaise ready for bed.
"Oh Ginny," Mindy said, "I didn't expect you tonight. It's getting late."
Ginny smiled, "Drew and I went to dinner after work. He was talking about Blaise, so I thought I'd drop in." Ginny looked around, "Where is she anyway?"
At that very moment, a short five year old with chin length straight black hair and dazzling royal blues eyes shot out of the hallway, straight at Ginny. Ginny swooped down and picked up the child, holding her up in the air.
"Aunt Ginny!" the kid squealed.
"Blaise!" Ginny said, beaming, "have you been getting into trouble?"
Blaise giggled and shook her head, "No!"
Mindy rolled her eyes amusingly, "That kid lies through her teeth."
Ginny set the child down. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"Yes, you should," Mindy said in mother-mode. "Get to bed!"
"But Mo-om! Aunt Ginny just got here!" Blaise complained.
"Blaise Spencer! I said go to bed!" Mindy pointed toward the hallway.
Ginny took Blaise's hand, "Come on, kiddo, I'll tuck you in."
Ginny walked into Blaise's bedroom, painted purple, and set her down in the bed, pulling the covers up around her shoulders. "Sleep good, okay?"
Blaise reached her tiny arms around Ginny neck and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek. "Guh'night!"
On her way out, Ginny turned the light out and shut the door. Mindy was in the kitchen making tea. Ginny sat down at the table.
"You'll never guess what I found today," Mindy said as she sat down, setting two mugs of hot liquid on the table.
"What?" Ginny asked with an amused smile.
"Pictures. From back when we were in Hogwarts," she said. "Pictures that Colin Creevey took when you were dating each other."
Ginny let out a small bit of air, which would barely qualify as a laugh. "Hard to believe he's married to Luna, now isn't it?"
Mindy nodded, "You know what else I found?"
"Hmm?" Ginny asked as she sipped on her tea.
"A box of letters that somehow got into my boxes when I moved in here," she said.
Ginny watched her wordlessly.
"They're yours."
o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Ginny left Mindy's flat with a large cardboard box full of about 425 letters, and headed for her own apartment.
She stayed up most the night reading letters from Draco. It had been five and a half years since she had talked to him, and that last thing they had exchanged were angry words. She knew, however, that he had saved her life, but she never got the chance to thank him. It had never seemed right.
S-
Binns is so lame. Why does he even teach? I mean, if he's going to teach anything, he should teach us how to sleep, because that's all anyone ever does in his class anyway.
Well anyway, it's January 14th today and that's my moms birthday, so I've got to go write to her.
To the box,
D
Ginny laughed, remembering all of the mocking and sarcastic humor Draco had used when writing to her.
The next letter made her eyes water.
You're going dress shopping on Saturday, eh? Well, be sure to remember that green is my favorite color. Okay? Good. Nothing too skimpy, either. I don't want any other guys asking you to dance – you're mine.
So today I was in the Great Hall eating dinner, when I heard a very large thump and when I look up Neville Longbottom was on the floor with a banana peel beneath his foot. Pumpkin juice was every where. I almost pissed myself laughing.
I've noticed that my ring has been glowing red quite a bit. And you've told me the heart on yours is almost completely red? Mine it completely green. I bet you're still wondering what that means, huh? I've decided to tell you.
The red on your heart is a measure of love. How much I love you to be specific. Yes, that's right, and I finally had the guts to say it because I know you feel the same way.
I love you.
D
She read the letter once and everything came back to her. That night she fell asleep reading the letters, almost reading every one of them.
No, Ginny was never going to forget Draco Malfoy.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o
Not exactly what you expected? Yeah, me either. So now are you positive you know how it's ending? Hah!
New chapter hopefully up soon. I hope you liked it!
Bambiky