As Ginny slunk out of the portrait hole, she fought back hot
tears of pain.
'Right, this is getting stupid.
Ginny, you can
go with Harry-'
But do I really want to, if I'm just a reserve? Ron, did you even think about my feelings
when you said that?
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She scowled at a group of nervous first-year students on their
way to dinner, and she suddenly realized that she didn't want or need
food. She craved nourishment of a
different kind. She wanted to write to
her mother, to spill out all of the troubles of her thirteen year old heart and
to have her mother tell her that everything would be just fine. Quickly, she rounded back to the Gryffindor
common room. After a quick glimpse
inside to confirm that her brother and Harry were gone, she stole up to her
room, grabbed a piece of parchment and her favorite white quill, pulled the
hangings about her bed and began to write.
Mum,
When did you realize how you felt about Dad? Did it hit you suddenly, did it build up
over years, did you date other boys before him? I'm just curious. I
really like Harry, as more than just a silly crush. I would give anything to have him see me, but I don't think that
will happen. Please write back soon.
Your loving daughter,
Ginny
P.S.-I just got asked to the Yule Ball. I'm going with Neville Longbottom. Ron teased me of course. He's really being a bit of an idiot about the
whole thing.
There. Now, time to
sneak to the owlery and get Pig to deliver it.
As she made her way up to the tower that held the owls, she
found herself lost in thought. Why
didn't Harry like her? It wasn't as
though she was ugly. She often got compliments
on her silky red hair and bright brown eyes.
She wasn't the top student in her year, but she was smart and made high
enough marks. No, there was nothing
outstanding about her. She was just
sweet, quiet, cute little Ginny Weasley.
The youngest Weasley. The latest
in a long line of Weasleys. The only
girl, so of course she stood out, she didn't give the teachers any trouble like
her brothers did. No, she was a sweet
good girl who rarely put a toe out of line.
And tonight had confirmed her deepest fear-that she was utterly invisible.
As she climbed the stone steps into the owlery, she noticed
how clear a night it was. There was not
a single cloud in the sky, and the stars were beginning to shine in a blanket
of the deepest blue. If I weren't so
upset, I could appreciate this.
Looking around for Pig, she spotted Hedwig, Harry's beautiful snowy
owl. Hedwig looked at her letter, then
gave Ginny a puzzled look. Hooting
softly, she flew down to meet Ginny, who obliged by stroking her pure white
feathers.
"Well, what do you think?
Should I send this to my mum, or deal with this on my own?"
Hedwig looked at the letter for a few seconds. It was as if she could see what the letter
contained, and somehow sensed that it related to her master. She gave the letter a severe look, then faced
Ginny with a stern look and hooted.
"Yeah, that's what I thought also. Time for me to grow up."
Her task done, Hedwig flew back up to her perch. Ginny walked to the window, tearing the
letter into fine pieces as she did so.
Once she reached the window, she let the letter fall to the lake below
and watched as it settled on the surface like fine white snow. After the paper sank into the depths below,
Ginny turned from the owlery and began her long walk back to Gryffindor tower,
feeling much older than when she last left it.
As she sank into her four-poster bed, Ginny finally felt
that there was more to her than just being the sweet redheaded girl who was
always ready with a placid smile. She
was growing up.
