A/N Sorry this took so long to write. I had (and still have) writers' block, so this will probably sound incredibly stupid. I wish I had some inspiration…. Also, I made a mistake in the first chapter. In Hogwarts, you start new classes in Third Year, but Ginny's in Fourth Year in my story. But, if I change it to Ginny's Third Year, that would be at the same time as the TriWizard tournament, so I have no intention of correcting this. Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews!

Disclaimer!!! Everything except the plot belongs to JK Rowling.

Tears In The Rain

Chapter 2

After Malfoy left, no one wanted to say anything. There were no discussions of Quidditch, no teasing, no Ginny asking questions about Arithmancy. Hermione felt so bad that she couldn't even finish reading her school books. After an hour of silence, Ginny broke the silence.

"Why does he have to be so mean?"

Harry answered. " Well, Ginny, I don't really think there is a reason."

"Maybe he was born that way." Ron added.

"Oh, I don't believe anyone could be born that way." Ginny stated. "He must have had something horrible happen to him when he was little."

"Yeah, maybe he was dropped on his head at birth…"

"Don't be ridiculous." Then, as there really wasn't much to say, Ginny lapsed into silence again. Strange thoughts kept going through her head, but they had absolutely nothing to do with Malfoy, did they? Oh, who am I kidding? Thought Ginny. Stupid Malfoy, making me think about him. As if that doesn't happen often enough already. It's so stupid, though. I really don't like him a bit, and he just keeps popping into my head at the weirdest moments. Last week, he showed up while Percy was telling us how his secretary thought the security level at local shops in Diagon Alley was too low. 'Anyone could steal things these days.' She said. And right in the middle of this speech, I lost my mind and yelled out, "Get out of my head!" Actually, it was pretty funny. The look on Percy's face was hysterical! Fred even took a picture. But honestly, how did Malfoy ever get in my head anyway? He's got no right to be there.

"Ginny!"

"Hmmm… what?"

Hermione sighed. "Ginny, if you daydream any more, you're likely to forget your head. Honestly! Go and change, we're almost there."

* * *

A few short minutes later, the Hogwarts Express pulled in to Hogsmeade, and everywhere there was the noise of students pushing their way off the train and into the carriages. Pretty soon, everyone was heading for Hogwarts. Well, all except a few people in the very last compartment.

"Harry, have you seen my journal?" asked Ginny anxiously.

"Your journal???" he replied with wonder. "I didn't know you kept a diary. Tell me, what sort of secrets do you keep in there?"

Hermione heard him and yelled at him from where she was standing impatiently. "Harry, stop teasing her. Here, Ginny, let me help you."

"Why," Ron asked, "are you jealous? I mean, that is… not that I care… well, what I meant was… uh, never mind."

Hermione looked at him strangely, then went back to helping Ginny look. "As a matter of fact, I'm not. Though you'd never believe me anyway." She continued searching, but after ten minutes she gave up.

"I'm really sorry, Ginny. But, I don't think it's here." Seeing Ginny's disappointment, she hastily added. "But I'm sure it will be there when we get back from the feast. Come on, Ron. We don't want to be late."

"We won't be. Besides, all your nagging isn't going to make us walk any faster…"

Their voices faded away, and Ginny was left to walk to the carriages alone. When she finally reached them, there was no sign of Hermione or Ron. Even Harry seemed to have forgotten about her. She gave a little sigh, and got into the very last carriage. A minute later, someone else got in after her. She said hello absentmindedly, and turned to look out the window.

"Don't you recognise me?" the newcomer asked.

Hearing that dawdling voice, she turned around to look at him properly.

"Malfoy! What the hell are you doing here?" she cried out in shock.

"What, don't you like me?"

* * *

Up at the feast, Hermione looked around at all the students that made up this place that she loved so much. All her fellow classmates, all the Gryffindors that were so much fun to be with, and the teachers who taught her so much from the start. Then she looked at her friends who have been there for her since First Year, and sighed. Too bad I'm not going to be here much longer, she thought. I'll miss them all so much, especially Ginny.

"Hey, where is she, anyway?" she asked Ron suddenly.

"Who, exactly?"

"Ginny, of course. Didn't you notice she's not here?" she said, forgetting that she only noticed a moment ago herself.

Ron replied, not taking his eyes off the food. "She's probably daydreaming again, right?"

* * *

What will happen next? Why is Hermione leaving Hogwarts? Will they find Ginny? Where will her diary appear? Will Ginny throw Draco out of the carriage? What does he want, anyway? Will Ron ever stop looking at the food? The answer to these and many other questions will be in the next episode. Stay tuned!