"I did it."

"You didn't!"

"I totally did," Ron Weasley said proudly on the other line of the phone. Ginny was sitting on her bed, papers scattered around her and a phone to her ear.

"So your finally getting married. I'm happy for you Ron." Ginny said into the phone, smiling happily for her brothers engagement.

"Your the only one left, you know that?"

Ginny sighed, almost sadly. "I know, but it's not something I worry about."

"Do you have any guys in your life?"

"Hah like I'd tell you if I did! Just kidding, no, I've been extra busy with work lately, so many new people are coming for jobs in our area that I've had mounds of paperwork. I don't have time for a boyfriend."

"Oh c'mon, Ginny...you could have any guy you want and you know it's true."

"No, Ron you know perfectly well how untrue that is..." Ginny said, her smile fading so quickly and a huge wave of sadness sweeping over her. She hadn't recovered. Not one bit.

"I'm sorry Ginny...I know how much you loved him...but he doesn't deserve you."

"No, no I've come to realize that I didn't deserve him. But that's alright...I don't need him and he doesn't need me."

"Ginny..."

Ginny was on the verge of telling her brother about Draco, but realized that would be bad seeing as to how her brother hates Malfoy more than Voldemort.

"I've got to go, congratulations on popping the question...you and Taya will be a very happy couple, I'm sure of it."

"Alright, goodnight Ginny, take care of yourself. I'll send you a wedding invite when I tell mum and dad and we set a date! Bye."

Ginny hung up the phone and laid back against the dozens of pillows propped up against her headboard. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and thought about how happy she was for her brother, and how miserable she was herself.

She was now the last unmarried Weasley in their family. Their parents were always extremely proud when their children got married, and sometimes Ginny felt like she was a disappointment to them.

Even if she was the youngest, she felt like she was supposed to be hooked up for her parents. And her poor mother. Her mother had only one daughter and still hadn't been able to do the whole mother-daughter-pick-out-wedding-stuff thing.

But Ginny had made up her mind a long time ago. Life didn't want her to have love.

Opening her eyes and sitting up, Ginny began to pick up the papers scattered on her bedspread and combine them all into one large pile. Standing up and picking up the stack of papers, she set them with her work bag by her purse.

I'm way too tired to work, she thought with a stifled yawn as she climbed back into bed and shut off the lamp on the bedside table.

~*~

The roar of waves sounded in the cool salty air. Seagulls flew gracefully past, calling to the oceans soul. Glistening white sand melted between her feet as Ginny walked slowly towards the water.

The blue of the sky reflected upon the white crashing waves as she dipped her toes lightly into the water, testing its temperature.

A voice from behind called out and Ginny found herself turning to face it's speaker. The man was tall with long white hair that blew gently across his face in the breeze. His gray eyes shone out lovingly as he smiled and walked towards her.

She ran to him, throwing her arms around his shoulders and embracing him, laughing and smiling.

Leaning back, his mouth found hers as they kissed softly, tasting each other and melting together into one.

Ginny closed her eyes and let the heat of the kiss flow through her veins. This was magic, she found herself thinking. Magic of love.

The kiss found an end as she pulled away softly, gazing up into the man's eyes.

"I love you, - "

A loud buzzing noise rung through the air and Ginny jumped up, breathing heavily. Clutching her chest, she reached over with her free hand and shut off the alarm clock.

Oh dear, she thought to herself, still taking in heavy and raspy breaths. The dream seemed to send chills down her spine. What should have been heavenly to dream of had become as sick as a nightmare.

The man in her dreams...was it...Draco? Could it be him? She wanted to destroy her alarm clock for ruining the dream. She'd almost found out.

She would have been able to tell if the face she saw in her dreams didn't fade away before she could remember it. It seemed like the blonde stranger would never be revealed.

Maybe this was just a calling of her heart.

~*~

A cool wind whipped around her as Ginny apparated in front of the Burrow. Opening the door, she stepped inside, careful not to make any noise.

She could hear people talking noisily in the living room as she walked in the kitchen, peeking in at what they were going to be eating, which currently sat in dozens of pans and plates on the kitchen table.

She walked into the living room and saw everyone in her family sitting around a very excited Mr. Weasley who was currently telling a family story of some sort.

" - and then when I walked outside, 2 year old Ginny was stark naked, exhausted from playing and napping right on the grass!"

"C'mon, we don't need to hear that one again." Ginny said, smiling happily at everyone who looked up and just noticed her standing there.

"Ginny!" Everyone said at one. The whole room stood up and went over to hug her, nearly trampling her.

"How've you been?" George said happily, hugging her tightly.

"Ginny dear, it's so great to see you, I'm so glad you could make it!" her mother said, kissing her on both cheeks before rushing into the kitchen.

Ron came up to her, wrapping her in a warm hug. "I missed you honey," he said quietly, pulling out of the hug and gazing lovingly into her eyes as any big brother would to his little sister.

"I missed you too...hey Taya!" Ginny said happily, hugging her new sister in law.

"Hey Ginny." Taya said, her brown eyes sparkling from beneath her glasses.

"You have to show me the ring." Ginny said, giggling gleefully as Taya held up her hand which held a beautiful gold topaz surrounded by diamonds on a silver band. "Ugh! I'm so jealous! My brother is taking extra good care of you I see!"

Taya laughed happily and nudged Ron aside. "Shoo Ron, it's girl talk time now."

Ron eyed her and then Ginny suspiciously before skulking off to join his brother Charlie and his wife, Jennifer, who were currently having an animate conversation with Bill about his new earring.

"So, when's the date?"

"Probably sometime in the summer, were not sure yet exactly. Eek I'm so excited!" Taya replied, jumping up and down excitedly.

"And you have every reason to be. Ron is the greatest guy in the world and I'm sure you and he will be very happy."

"I already am happier then I ever have been. Oh my gosh, when Ron pulled out the box I almost leapt on him before he even opened it! I was so happy. Oh and he was VERY happy afterwards, if you know what I mean," Taya said, winking a little at Ginny and smiling playfully.

"Oh I didn't want to hear that! Just kidding. Come with me to help mum set out the food." Ginny said, motioning towards the kitchen, nudging Ron as she passed and then laughing when he yelled ow at the top of his lungs and began to complain to their mother, who was now standing very grief stricken in the doorway.

"Oh dear..." she muttered, feeling slightly faint and nearly falling to the ground if Bill hadn't caught her.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Arthur Weasley said, dashing over towards his wife who was now regaining consciousness on the living room floor.

"Malfoy...Lucius Malfoy...he's...dead."

Ginny felt her heart stop. No...no oh gosh no. Not...Draco's dad...As much as Ginny hated the man, it was Draco's father! And anyways, she couldn't help but feel the most grief and compassion for him and his family.

The rest of the Weasley family seemed shocked. Fred noticed that everyone had gone suddenly quiet and thought this would be a good time to break out a joke.

"Well...he WAS a jerk, wasn't he dad?"

"FRED! Show some respect!" Mrs. Weasley yelled at him, before placing a hand over her mouth and rushing into the kitchen, where moments later stifled sobs could be heard from.

Mr. Weasley looked at his children and their wives and walked quickly into the kitchen to comfort his own wife.

Ginny looked around the room. Charlie and his wife Jennifer had fallen back onto the couch, both of them were mute, staring off into space in deep thought as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Fred and George were standing by the fireplace with their wives, each holding his own while their wives whimpered quietly.

Percy sat in a chair in the corner, Penelope folded up in his lap, both looking respectfully pensive.

Ron and Taya stood where they were, both staring at the ground and Ron's lip was twitching slightly as he gathered Taya into his arms and held her there, no doubt grateful he had someone to hold.

Ginny, on the other hand, had no one to hold her. Feeling desolate and empty, she turned and headed out of the room, rushing towards the door silently and running out of it.

She ran into the cool air outside, feeling the now strong wind whip against her jacket as she stretched her arms out wide. The wind blew back her hair, sending it spiraling in red waves behind her. Her hands found her forehead as she ran them down her face, covering it and letting her head fall.

Tears claimed her, and she didn't even know why she was crying. It seemed that the pain that Draco must have been feeling was coursing through her at that very moment.

She felt his pain. She felt his grief. She felt a lone compassion for him that seemed to be unmatched.

The setting sun beamed in streaks across her face, warming the harsh winds that beat down on her. She uncovered her face and stared straight into the sun.

Why? Why did life take people like this? Yet...why did she care?

Lucius Malfoy was a deatheater, and knowing anything, it was at the hands of his Lord that he died. She also knew very well that Lucius was preparing Draco to follow in his footsteps, something he should have kept his son away from.

Oh but the Dark Lord had his ways of brainwashing people to do exactly what he wanted them to, and sons following in their fathers footsteps was exactly what Voldemort expected. This much, Ginny knew.

The rest, and all of it, was unfortunately clear in Draco's mind.

~*~