Disclaimer: I do not own anything. I just feel like writing.
A/N: Thank you for the entire lovely reviews section so far! I'm sorry that this is put up a bit later then the other chapters, but I was very ill. I am still ill but I'm a bit better at least.
This will be the last chapter, it is short. I wanted it to be exactly like this! Really! I wrote the ending before I wrote the first chapter, even, so I could work up to the ending! So hah! Sorry if I had anyone's hopes up. I am writing a story called "Like the Wind" It is in the Originals Fantasy Section and I am really proud of it. Please check it out, even if you only like Harry Potter. I wrote the story when I was twelve and going through very hard times (a battle with bulimia). Please check it out.
Chapter 5
Ginny jerked the cold handle of the brush through her hair. The two chopsticks lay on the counter of the bathroom, both slightly tangled in single strands of hair. Having unusually thick, bouncy hair, Ginny had the most awful time getting it combed. Usually people comb their hair on the surface and it'll be fine. Her hair was so thick the brush's bristles didn't go through her hair entirely, leaving the underside of her hair matted and tangled. Ginny had to tilt her head to the side and then comb from the bottom as well, which was not only annoying but painful as well.
Her dress was drying out a bit. Since she was in the confines of the ladies' room, she had locked the door and then unzipped her dress, leaving it on the heater in the corner of the room to dry up a bit. She stood in her slip and in an undershirt that she'd worn since the fancy stitching on her dress irritated her skin unless she had something to shield her neck and chest from it.
Despite her tries, her eyes looked dark now, almost frightening in effect, due to the fact that her mascara had run. Nearly every lady knows (and gentlemen can imagine) what murder it can be to wash black ink-like substance off your face with only your hands and very stale, tepid water that smelled of rust.
Ginny dipped her hand under the sink, the water splashing away black streaks that ran down her fingers. The warm atmosphere in the bathroom gave her comfort and she moved freely inside it.
She looked into the mirror again, trying to analyze what she saw. It had been a while since she had last cut her hair. Molly Weasley would usually cut the Weasley's hair, or Arthur if he had time, but nevertheless neither of these people had any knowledge in fashionable haircuts. Ron was prime example. Since the Weasleys were very interested in saving money lately, Ron had his hair cut by Arthur. Now Ron had an interesting haircut where he had very wispy bangs in front, which were short, like baby hairs. In the back his hair was longer, and it looked slightly spiked on top. It looked rather odd, as if someone had cut it different lengths all over.
Ginny had saved her hair for a long time to keep it from being cut, for reasons she didn't want to explain to her parents. Now she wondered if she looked ugly with her hair that way. Was this the reason Draco might have been so - repulsed - kissing her? It couldn't have been, though! Pansy wasn't attractive either, but Draco had no problem with her.
Ginny heard a rap on the door. She turned to look at the doorway and she said, softly: "Who is it?"
" Ginny, is that you in there?" Hermione's voice asked.
" Yes." Ginny replied, scurrying to the heater to get her dress.
" Can I come in?" Hermione sounded very kind and gentle. Ginny shook her head and then realized Hermione couldn't see her shake her head so she called out:
" No. Sorry."
Hermione was silent for a moment.
" I hope you're not crying?" Hermione questioned.
" No." Ginny said, pulling the warm and still semi-wet dress onto her. She had trouble zipping it in the back. Molly Weasley had zipped it up for her when she was dressing earlier in the afternoon.
" Ginny, I know that you're upset about Draco. Please don't lock yourself up in there like this." Hermione sounded very upset.
" I'm just drying my dress out. I was outside, remember?" Ginny replied. This was partially true, after all. Hermione shook her head.
" I hope so."
" I'm fine, really." Ginny wiped at her eyes furiously with the paper towel in her hand. She knew her mascara was even more smeared now. It looked as if she had been crying for hours on end. She debated whether to open the door or not. Finally, Ginny jerked the bathroom door open.
" Oh! You have been crying!" Hermione exclaimed when she caught sight of Ginny and the mascara that had run from her eyelashes and to where it ought not to be on her face.
" No, it's not what you think. I've just smudged it, myself." Ginny explained, but she could see Hermione didn't believe her.
" You know, Ginny, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Hermione began.
" Please, it isn't like that at all! Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
" Well, I hope this isn't what I think it is." Hermione looked at Ginny with understanding eyes. " If you'd like to talk to me about anything, I'm always here. I can listen to you, if you really wish to speak about something."
Ginny nodded slowly.
" I guess there is something I'd like to talk to you about." Ginny admitted.
Hermione sat down on the counter of the sink and said: "I'm all ears."
~*~
Ron grinned. " Hey, Fred, how about another drink?"
Fred shook his head. " I think that's enough for you, Ron."
Ron looked disgruntled as he set the glass down. It left a wet ring on the table where he had it last. Both he and Fred stared at the wet ring for a while. " I think we ought to tell Harry to pack the party up."
" Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It's really late."
" Actually, I'm more worried about Ginny. I think we ought to take her home." Fred leaned on his elbow and then looked down at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, a bit nervously. " I've never seen her so upset. Not even after Jason."
" I don't know. It seems she was more upset after Jason."
" Well, nevertheless! It doesn't even matter now when she was more upset. I'm telling Harry to wrap the party up." Ron stood up and then went with Fred to tell Harry about how it was definitely time to end the party.
~*~
" Ginny, listen." Hermione put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. " I've listened you out. And I'm sorry but I think that, honestly, Draco won't come back. He's just - - I don't know, I guess he's just not your perfect match."
" No, it's alright, I understand." Ginny whispered, her lips numb from crying. A tear split away from one of her eyelashes where it had rested momentarily. It splashed wetly on Hermione's elbow.
" Chin up!" Hermione tilted Ginny's chin upwards. " You're like my little sister, Ginny, and I won't let some stringbean punk hurt your feelings."
" That's right." Ginny frowned, her red hair fluttering around her head angrily as she stood up, shaking her head. " I won't let this get me down!" Her breath came out in short, quick gasps. " I've had enough of waiting on a man when they don't care about me!" Her chest heaved up and down as she let out a shaky sigh. " But I'll miss him."
Hermione nodded slowly. "Draco's - well - shaken up emotionally. I don't think he's ever been normal. He was always a bit odd to me."
Ginny hugged Hermione. " Thank you, Herm. I'll remember your words of advice." Ginny's tears were cold through the fabric of Hermione's shirt.
" Don't cry anymore. Strong girls don't cry. Chin up, darling, chin up." Hermione laughed. " Just like Professor McGonagall when she was teaching the girls the proper way to walk through the outdoors graduation set for the graduation ceremony."
" I still can't believe it rained at the end of the graduation." Ginny huffed out, laughing. " Mine was perfectly sunny."
" Well, Harry did end up destroying You-Know-Who at the end of the graduation ceremony. Perhaps it matched the - well - mood of the event, if you know what I mean." Hermione pushed an escaped strand of hair back behind her ear. " Now, let's go back to the party, alright?"
" Alright." Ginny felt lighter then a feather as she left the bathroom.
~*~
Harry approached Hermione just as Hermione walked into the room, Ginny beside her. Harry turned to Ginny and said, softly: "Excuse us for a minute, okay?" Ginny nodded and Harry and Hermione split aside from Ginny.
" Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked.
" I think we should get going. It's late, and I'm worried about Ginny. If Draco returns for some reason . . ."
" He won't. I know it." Hermione replied.
" Woman's intuition." Harry smiled. " Thank goodness that one of us has a sixth sense. I seem to believe Draco will return."
" He won't." Hermione said, firmly. " And that's that."
" Nevertheless, we should wrap this party up a bit, so then we can go home, don't you think?" Harry put his arms around her, Hermione's rounded stomach brushing his own. " We have gifts to try out."
Hermione shook her head, chuckling, and then said: " I'll break the bad news, alright?"
" I'll tell the guys, SOME of them are a bit rowdy and it's not from fizzy cola." Harry walked over to Oliver Wood's table, where there seemed to be a separate party of its own.
~*~
Ginny sat in the dark and cold coat room, watching guests leaving the banquet areas. The parking lot was slowly emptied as wizards-posing-as-Muggles drove away in cars, however poor their driving abilities were. Ginny finally stood up when Fred and George walked by.
" Come on, Ginny, no use moping about it. Draco's gone, and be glad." Fred said, with a lopsided grin.
George nodded.
" Does everyone know about this?" Ginny asked, embarrassed.
" Just people that won't hold it against you." Ron said, then turned to Molly and Arthur Weasley behind him. " Mum, dad, do you think we should go by Floo powder and shrink that crummy Muggle car so we can carry it home?"
" I think that'd be a good idea. I'm tired of hour-long struggles to get it started." Mr. Weasley admitted. " Say, Molly, why wasn't Bill here? Charlie and Percy made it, even though they left early."
" Arthur, surely you remember!" Molly raised her eyebrows.
" Oh!" Mr. Weasley, who's memory was rather bad to begin with, suddenly said: " Ah, yes."
The lone Weasley, Bill, had remained at the Weasley's home to decorate it for a surprise party that was going to be held for Harry and Hermione. Harry and Hermione were to stop by after the anniversary party just for good time's sakes, just like they often dropped in after events that the Weasleys and the young Potter couple attended.
" Well, we'll be off." The Weasleys all rushed through the doors to go outside, where they proceeded to shrink the car. Then, they went back inside and left the premises of the banquet halls by Floo Powder through the chimney in the room.
~*~
An hour later
~*~
Draco had a hard time finding the right place. Finally he stood before the banquet halls. He walked inside and then found Banquet Hall 14, and through the wooden doors with the flickering `Exit' sign he went, looking around the dark and empty room. Some Muggle man was vacuuming the carpet in the back and a woman was trying to clear dishes from the table.
They both looked up as Draco stood there, feeling numb.
She left.
She didn't wait for him. She lost hope in him.
He didn't know where they lived. He had once known, but he couldn't remember now, he hadn't even been anywhere near the neighborhood the Weasleys lived in for a while. Surely the Potters or Weasleys wouldn't invite him anywhere along NOW. He had lost coldly and bitterly in a world where time waits for nobody, where first come first serve rules all laws. He'd never see her again.
His fingers felt numb, his mind reeling. He felt the pansies slip from his fingers and fall to the ground, the tender snapping sound of the flower heads as they broke and mutilated. The rustle of the leaves made him turn away. It was the sound of heartbreak.
~*~
THE END
~*~
A/N: Yes that is how I wanted it to end. I really don't think Draco and Ginny would end up together anyway because J.K. Rowling sure doesn't hint towards it. But I do believe there might be some romance, but never developed entirely.
A/N: Unless for some odd reason I get 50 reviews (which I won't) then I won't write any more to this. High school takes so much time! * angry pout * I will produce a story sometime soon though. Never anything long though.
A/N: Thank you for the entire lovely reviews section so far! I'm sorry that this is put up a bit later then the other chapters, but I was very ill. I am still ill but I'm a bit better at least.
This will be the last chapter, it is short. I wanted it to be exactly like this! Really! I wrote the ending before I wrote the first chapter, even, so I could work up to the ending! So hah! Sorry if I had anyone's hopes up. I am writing a story called "Like the Wind" It is in the Originals Fantasy Section and I am really proud of it. Please check it out, even if you only like Harry Potter. I wrote the story when I was twelve and going through very hard times (a battle with bulimia). Please check it out.
Chapter 5
Ginny jerked the cold handle of the brush through her hair. The two chopsticks lay on the counter of the bathroom, both slightly tangled in single strands of hair. Having unusually thick, bouncy hair, Ginny had the most awful time getting it combed. Usually people comb their hair on the surface and it'll be fine. Her hair was so thick the brush's bristles didn't go through her hair entirely, leaving the underside of her hair matted and tangled. Ginny had to tilt her head to the side and then comb from the bottom as well, which was not only annoying but painful as well.
Her dress was drying out a bit. Since she was in the confines of the ladies' room, she had locked the door and then unzipped her dress, leaving it on the heater in the corner of the room to dry up a bit. She stood in her slip and in an undershirt that she'd worn since the fancy stitching on her dress irritated her skin unless she had something to shield her neck and chest from it.
Despite her tries, her eyes looked dark now, almost frightening in effect, due to the fact that her mascara had run. Nearly every lady knows (and gentlemen can imagine) what murder it can be to wash black ink-like substance off your face with only your hands and very stale, tepid water that smelled of rust.
Ginny dipped her hand under the sink, the water splashing away black streaks that ran down her fingers. The warm atmosphere in the bathroom gave her comfort and she moved freely inside it.
She looked into the mirror again, trying to analyze what she saw. It had been a while since she had last cut her hair. Molly Weasley would usually cut the Weasley's hair, or Arthur if he had time, but nevertheless neither of these people had any knowledge in fashionable haircuts. Ron was prime example. Since the Weasleys were very interested in saving money lately, Ron had his hair cut by Arthur. Now Ron had an interesting haircut where he had very wispy bangs in front, which were short, like baby hairs. In the back his hair was longer, and it looked slightly spiked on top. It looked rather odd, as if someone had cut it different lengths all over.
Ginny had saved her hair for a long time to keep it from being cut, for reasons she didn't want to explain to her parents. Now she wondered if she looked ugly with her hair that way. Was this the reason Draco might have been so - repulsed - kissing her? It couldn't have been, though! Pansy wasn't attractive either, but Draco had no problem with her.
Ginny heard a rap on the door. She turned to look at the doorway and she said, softly: "Who is it?"
" Ginny, is that you in there?" Hermione's voice asked.
" Yes." Ginny replied, scurrying to the heater to get her dress.
" Can I come in?" Hermione sounded very kind and gentle. Ginny shook her head and then realized Hermione couldn't see her shake her head so she called out:
" No. Sorry."
Hermione was silent for a moment.
" I hope you're not crying?" Hermione questioned.
" No." Ginny said, pulling the warm and still semi-wet dress onto her. She had trouble zipping it in the back. Molly Weasley had zipped it up for her when she was dressing earlier in the afternoon.
" Ginny, I know that you're upset about Draco. Please don't lock yourself up in there like this." Hermione sounded very upset.
" I'm just drying my dress out. I was outside, remember?" Ginny replied. This was partially true, after all. Hermione shook her head.
" I hope so."
" I'm fine, really." Ginny wiped at her eyes furiously with the paper towel in her hand. She knew her mascara was even more smeared now. It looked as if she had been crying for hours on end. She debated whether to open the door or not. Finally, Ginny jerked the bathroom door open.
" Oh! You have been crying!" Hermione exclaimed when she caught sight of Ginny and the mascara that had run from her eyelashes and to where it ought not to be on her face.
" No, it's not what you think. I've just smudged it, myself." Ginny explained, but she could see Hermione didn't believe her.
" You know, Ginny, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Hermione began.
" Please, it isn't like that at all! Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
" Well, I hope this isn't what I think it is." Hermione looked at Ginny with understanding eyes. " If you'd like to talk to me about anything, I'm always here. I can listen to you, if you really wish to speak about something."
Ginny nodded slowly.
" I guess there is something I'd like to talk to you about." Ginny admitted.
Hermione sat down on the counter of the sink and said: "I'm all ears."
~*~
Ron grinned. " Hey, Fred, how about another drink?"
Fred shook his head. " I think that's enough for you, Ron."
Ron looked disgruntled as he set the glass down. It left a wet ring on the table where he had it last. Both he and Fred stared at the wet ring for a while. " I think we ought to tell Harry to pack the party up."
" Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It's really late."
" Actually, I'm more worried about Ginny. I think we ought to take her home." Fred leaned on his elbow and then looked down at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, a bit nervously. " I've never seen her so upset. Not even after Jason."
" I don't know. It seems she was more upset after Jason."
" Well, nevertheless! It doesn't even matter now when she was more upset. I'm telling Harry to wrap the party up." Ron stood up and then went with Fred to tell Harry about how it was definitely time to end the party.
~*~
" Ginny, listen." Hermione put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. " I've listened you out. And I'm sorry but I think that, honestly, Draco won't come back. He's just - - I don't know, I guess he's just not your perfect match."
" No, it's alright, I understand." Ginny whispered, her lips numb from crying. A tear split away from one of her eyelashes where it had rested momentarily. It splashed wetly on Hermione's elbow.
" Chin up!" Hermione tilted Ginny's chin upwards. " You're like my little sister, Ginny, and I won't let some stringbean punk hurt your feelings."
" That's right." Ginny frowned, her red hair fluttering around her head angrily as she stood up, shaking her head. " I won't let this get me down!" Her breath came out in short, quick gasps. " I've had enough of waiting on a man when they don't care about me!" Her chest heaved up and down as she let out a shaky sigh. " But I'll miss him."
Hermione nodded slowly. "Draco's - well - shaken up emotionally. I don't think he's ever been normal. He was always a bit odd to me."
Ginny hugged Hermione. " Thank you, Herm. I'll remember your words of advice." Ginny's tears were cold through the fabric of Hermione's shirt.
" Don't cry anymore. Strong girls don't cry. Chin up, darling, chin up." Hermione laughed. " Just like Professor McGonagall when she was teaching the girls the proper way to walk through the outdoors graduation set for the graduation ceremony."
" I still can't believe it rained at the end of the graduation." Ginny huffed out, laughing. " Mine was perfectly sunny."
" Well, Harry did end up destroying You-Know-Who at the end of the graduation ceremony. Perhaps it matched the - well - mood of the event, if you know what I mean." Hermione pushed an escaped strand of hair back behind her ear. " Now, let's go back to the party, alright?"
" Alright." Ginny felt lighter then a feather as she left the bathroom.
~*~
Harry approached Hermione just as Hermione walked into the room, Ginny beside her. Harry turned to Ginny and said, softly: "Excuse us for a minute, okay?" Ginny nodded and Harry and Hermione split aside from Ginny.
" Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked.
" I think we should get going. It's late, and I'm worried about Ginny. If Draco returns for some reason . . ."
" He won't. I know it." Hermione replied.
" Woman's intuition." Harry smiled. " Thank goodness that one of us has a sixth sense. I seem to believe Draco will return."
" He won't." Hermione said, firmly. " And that's that."
" Nevertheless, we should wrap this party up a bit, so then we can go home, don't you think?" Harry put his arms around her, Hermione's rounded stomach brushing his own. " We have gifts to try out."
Hermione shook her head, chuckling, and then said: " I'll break the bad news, alright?"
" I'll tell the guys, SOME of them are a bit rowdy and it's not from fizzy cola." Harry walked over to Oliver Wood's table, where there seemed to be a separate party of its own.
~*~
Ginny sat in the dark and cold coat room, watching guests leaving the banquet areas. The parking lot was slowly emptied as wizards-posing-as-Muggles drove away in cars, however poor their driving abilities were. Ginny finally stood up when Fred and George walked by.
" Come on, Ginny, no use moping about it. Draco's gone, and be glad." Fred said, with a lopsided grin.
George nodded.
" Does everyone know about this?" Ginny asked, embarrassed.
" Just people that won't hold it against you." Ron said, then turned to Molly and Arthur Weasley behind him. " Mum, dad, do you think we should go by Floo powder and shrink that crummy Muggle car so we can carry it home?"
" I think that'd be a good idea. I'm tired of hour-long struggles to get it started." Mr. Weasley admitted. " Say, Molly, why wasn't Bill here? Charlie and Percy made it, even though they left early."
" Arthur, surely you remember!" Molly raised her eyebrows.
" Oh!" Mr. Weasley, who's memory was rather bad to begin with, suddenly said: " Ah, yes."
The lone Weasley, Bill, had remained at the Weasley's home to decorate it for a surprise party that was going to be held for Harry and Hermione. Harry and Hermione were to stop by after the anniversary party just for good time's sakes, just like they often dropped in after events that the Weasleys and the young Potter couple attended.
" Well, we'll be off." The Weasleys all rushed through the doors to go outside, where they proceeded to shrink the car. Then, they went back inside and left the premises of the banquet halls by Floo Powder through the chimney in the room.
~*~
An hour later
~*~
Draco had a hard time finding the right place. Finally he stood before the banquet halls. He walked inside and then found Banquet Hall 14, and through the wooden doors with the flickering `Exit' sign he went, looking around the dark and empty room. Some Muggle man was vacuuming the carpet in the back and a woman was trying to clear dishes from the table.
They both looked up as Draco stood there, feeling numb.
She left.
She didn't wait for him. She lost hope in him.
He didn't know where they lived. He had once known, but he couldn't remember now, he hadn't even been anywhere near the neighborhood the Weasleys lived in for a while. Surely the Potters or Weasleys wouldn't invite him anywhere along NOW. He had lost coldly and bitterly in a world where time waits for nobody, where first come first serve rules all laws. He'd never see her again.
His fingers felt numb, his mind reeling. He felt the pansies slip from his fingers and fall to the ground, the tender snapping sound of the flower heads as they broke and mutilated. The rustle of the leaves made him turn away. It was the sound of heartbreak.
~*~
THE END
~*~
A/N: Yes that is how I wanted it to end. I really don't think Draco and Ginny would end up together anyway because J.K. Rowling sure doesn't hint towards it. But I do believe there might be some romance, but never developed entirely.
A/N: Unless for some odd reason I get 50 reviews (which I won't) then I won't write any more to this. High school takes so much time! * angry pout * I will produce a story sometime soon though. Never anything long though.