Cruel Beauty
Rating: PG-13
Summery: Alternate Universe. When Ginny was six years old her parents died and she was left in the care of her mother's beautiful yet cruel sister. She raises Ginny with misguided views on love, will Ginny be able to love or is she too late to save?
Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize is not mine
A/N I know that I've probably said this a thousand times, but I hate school. I swear that if I have to take one more exam I am going to scream. And since I have a three hundred-question Biology test on Tuesday I probably will. So instead of studying like I should I'm going to write and go shopping with my friends (I'm a bad student, lol!) So all of you can benefit from my procrastination and get a new chapter. I know that the last chapter was a little strange and boring but believe me, there was reason for everything.
Chapter Twenty-one
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the heavenly strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The tidings which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing! Edmund H. Sears
"Are you absolutely positive that you want to go?"
I rolled my eyes as Draco pleaded with me for the thousandth time on the train. "Yes Draco, I am absolutely, completely, totally, utterly positive that I want to go to the Weasley's."
"All right then, but if you ever want to leave floo me and I will be there in two seconds flat." The train came slowed down as it pulled into the station and Draco shot me a sympathetic look as if it was the last time that he would ever see me. I rolled my eyes yet again and gathered up my things. He sighed and ran his finger down my arm sending the standard shiver down my spine that I always got when he touched me.
"Draco it's only two weeks."
"I know, but still…" His trailing hand grasped my arm and pulled me down next to him. "Do you remember our first kiss?" He asked huskily.
I nodded and licked my lips in anticipation of a reenactment of that moment. He brought his head down to meet mine and our lips crashed together creating the same explosion that still happened every time we kissed.
I gasped lightly as he pushed his mouth against mine harder with a desperation of sorts. The pain quickly turned into pleasure as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He broke the kiss after a few minutes and we both stayed with our foreheads resting against each other's until they began announcing for people to leave the train.
I pulled away and smiled at him, "so see you in a couple of weeks then." He nodded and helped me out of the compartment so that I could find Ron. We had agreed beforehand that Draco would not be taking me to the Weasley's; he said that he was afraid of getting lost in a sea of freckles and red hair. I think that sometimes he forgets that they're my family; but I can hardly blame him, I used to forget too.
I found the dream team and we all wandered into the station without a greeting of any sorts. As we were walking I saw people staring and pointing at Harry, which didn't really surprise me and it didn't even surprise me that people were also whispering about Ron and Hermione, as they were somewhat famous for being the boy who lived friends. But when I saw people pointing at me I shuddered as the horrible image of the dream team becoming the fantastic four came to my mind, and walked a few feet behind them.
I heard a voice yelling through the crowd, "Ginnybean!" I cringed at the nickname being said in public but smiled at Charlie nonetheless. He greeted the other three as well and led us to his motorcycle that had been enchanted to carry five people.
When we arrived at The Burrow I felt the incessant need for a shower. I will never understand why people enjoy riding on motorcycles, you have bugs flying at you and the wind does absolutely nothing for your hair. I didn't complain though, that would be rude. I suppose that you can take the girl out the Evansole family but you can't take the Evansole manners out of the girl.
I walked into the old house and willed the ill memories that I had of it away. I would simply pretend that my mother and father didn't die five feet from where I was standing. Everyone greeted me with more enthusiasm then I ever expected. Of course, I knew that Bill and Charlie would be happy to see me, but as for the rest…lets just say that they don't have much reason to like me after attending Hogwarts with me.
Fred and George seemed to still be holding a slight grudge and I could tell that they were threatened into being nice to me. They offered me some candy, which I thought was a kind gesture but Bill assured me that I didn't want any.
Percy, who I have actually never even really talked to, was quite proper with me. He would have actually fit in well in the Evansole household, he had no sense of humor and his manners and study habits were impeccable.
His girlfriend, Penelope, was about the same. She is a Clearwater so I expected good etiquette and grace from her. She seemed a bit apprehensive around me, but that came as no shock, Evansoles are not known for their kindness.
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I was assigned to sleep in Percy's room with Hermione and Penelope, which was uncomfortable, to say the least. Being that we were the only girls in the household it seemed logical to have us room together but none of us had ever even attempted conversation with one of the other two.
I quickly grew bored of the strange silence that held. Everyone else had gone to bed but the girls were all restless. But this isn't a strange occurrence for me; I rarely sleep for more than a few hours a night. So I pulled out the reading that had been assigned by Remus for over the break reading. It was titled The Rise and Fall of You Know Who.
Hermione saw my book and gave me a smug look; "I read that book in my first year at Hogwarts. It really is quite interesting, although it is a little hard to understand at some points, if you need help with translations I would be more than happy to assist you."
I gave her my best glare, "I'm sure that I'll be fine."
She shrugged her shoulders and pulled out her own book titled Advanced Learning of the Spanish Language.
I smirked at her, "you know Hermione, I've known Spanish for seven years now and some of it is quite difficult to learn. If you require any help feel free to ask me; I'm sure that I'll know the answer."
She gave me that ridiculous know it all look that she does, "you've known Spanish for almost seven years? That is preposterous you would have to have been like eight."
"Verdaderamente era ocho cuando perfeccioné el idioma, yo comencé a aprenderlo en seis. Sé también a francés, el alemán, holandés, e italiano tan no insulta mi inteligencia sugiriendo que yo no era un niño suficiente listo de agarrar otro idioma porque aprendí cinco."
Her mouth dropped open and she quickly began flipping through the pages of her book to find the translation for what I had said. Penelope shot me an amused look before getting her own novel out to enjoy.
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The next morning I awoke early and expected to be the first person in the household up but I found that I was wrong when I went down to the kitchen to see Fred and George fixing breakfast.
I sat down at the table and looked at the food that they were making wearily; who knows what could be in it.
Fred turned and looked at me, "you're up early."
"I'm always up early; why are you up?"
George attempted to flip a pancake while talking to me but it fell on the floor. I watched in disgust as he picked it back up wiped it off and threw it right back on the skillet. He turned at me and grinned, "you can have that one. And we're up because it's our turn to fix breakfast. But since you're up, you can help."
"I would but you seem to have some sort of system going here, I don't want to mess it up."
They laughed, "good excuse but not good enough get your butt up here and earn your keep."
Fred instructed me to make scrambled eggs, which I wasn't entirely sure how to do but I think that I improvised very nicely. All right so they turned out this weird greenish color, but I was still proud of myself. "The eggs are done," I yelled to the twins.
They walked over and looked at my creation a minute before cracking up with laughter. I scowled at them, "what?"
George began to spit out words in between laughs, "oh god, that is priceless! This is even better than the time that Ron made that sausage that was so burnt that we ended up using them as miniature buldger bats." I tried to stay angry but once I looked down at the dark green eggs I couldn't help but join in with the laughter.
After that Fred and George seemed to accept me as a member of the family. Laughter is the key to many things, including the twin's hearts. The rest of the week went off without a hitch; Hermione was avoiding me at all costs and Harry and Ron still seemed apprehensive about me staying with them but I didn't really need or want any of their approval.
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One afternoon I was taking a walk outside when I heard an awful noise. It sounded like a high-pitched wailing sound. I looked around for the source of my ear's discomfort and spotted Hermione bawling her eyes out on a bench in the now dead garden.
I started to walk back inside and leave her there but I felt kind of guilty just leaving her in her obvious misery. I sighed and turned around. "Damn conscience," I muttered to myself before sitting beside her on the stone bench.
She looked up at me with her tear-stained eyes, "what do you want?"
"I just wanted a place to sit down and this seemed to be the only available source."
She angrily wiped the tears from her eyes; "well it's not available so why don't you just leave!"
I stood up, "if you insist."
I began to head towards the door when she sniffled and called out, "wait. Virginia, can I ask you something?"
I sat back down, "trouble with Spanish?"
She shook her head, "no more like trouble with men. How long have you and Draco been together?"
"About six months, why?"
She sighed, "you guys were friends before you went out and it developed into a relationship, it isn't awkward or anything for you, is it?" I answered no and wondered if she was crying over Harry or Ron.
She laughed bitterly, "oh course it wasn't awkward for you and Draco. Every bloody guy in the school wants to go out with you, why should your best friend be any exception?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you're Virginia Evansole. You are that girl that has the mysterious aura about her, you are the girl that most people would kill to look like, you are the girl that every guy in the school looks at from the corner of their eye when they're supposed to be talking to their girlfriend."
"That's not my problem Hermione. It's not as though I care if people think that I'm beautiful, mysterious, or whatever. The only person who's opinion truly matters to me about all that is Draco and I know for a fact that he thinks that I'm beautiful because of who I am not what I look like on the outside."
She looked confused, "but you're cold on the inside. Everyone at Hogwarts knows that you are this unfeeling cruel person that doesn't care about anyone. I mean, I know that he's Malfoy and all, but he finds that beautiful?"
I glared at her, "do not pretend to know me. I don't know what the hell is going on between you and Ron or you and Harry or you and whoever; but maybe you should just stop before you allow your envy to swallow you whole. I know how I appear to be to other people but just because that's how I seem that does not mean that's how I am. Very few people actually know me and you are not one of them. Don't get things confused, I don't give a damn about you; just consider this free advice, do not become some angry bitter person because someone won't notice you the way that you want them to. You can't live your life for someone else, it'll only end in disappointment."
She wailed loudly, "I know but I can't help it. I've done everything in the world to try and let Ron, I mean this guy, know that I feel that way about him, but he's too thick to notice a hint when he gets one!"
I sighed, "Look, it's common knowledge that 'this guy' also known as Ron is not the brightest in the bunch. Instead of dropping subtle hints that he'll never pick up why don't you just talk to him?"
"I can't. I've never been good at telling guys that I like them. I have always been the bookworm with bad social skills, believe me I've read every book on the subject and none of them have helped me with talking to the opposite sex."
I shook my head in disbelief, "that's your problem, you can't just read a book on the subject. Reading is no exception for actual experience, you have to just go with your heart."
She wiped her tears away and blushed profusely. "I'm sorry that you had to deal with my nervous breakdown. I just haven't been having a very good break, with you here and all." I raised my eyebrows in confusion before she continued, "I mean, you're just so intimidating to me. I was always so shy in the muggle world and I was so determined to come to this one and be the outgoing popular girl that I always longed to be. But every time that I'm around you I just get these horrible flashbacks of being the only girl in my class that wasn't invited to the birthday parties and sleepovers."
"Why do I intimidate you?"
"I don't know, it's a lot of things. For one, you never show any emotion besides viciousness, nothing seems to bother you, and it just seems like you have the perfect life."
I laughed, "believe me, I do not have the perfect life, in fact it's far from it. I have a psychotic aunt who I'm sure is planning my death at this moment, I've had one friend my whole life, and about half of the people here wish that I would leave."
She cast her eyes down to the ground, "I don't want you to leave." I gave her a genuine smile and we walked back into the Weasley household together.
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Christmas morning came and I actually found that I was a little excited to really celebrate the holidays for once. I woke up Hermione and Penelope and we went downstairs to find that all of the boys were already awake.
Everyone greeted each other and gave the standard "Happy Christmas" before looking anxiously towards the tree that held the few presents that could be bought.
The two eldest Weasley's handed out the presents, I wasn't really expecting anything so I was surprised when Charlie came up to me and handed me a poorly wrapped gift. Everyone took turns opening what they received and I looked at my present in confusion until it was my turn, wondering what it could be.
"Virginia, your turn." I looked up at Bill and saw him and Charlie fidgeting nervously. I opened the gift and held up a green sweater (A/N- I think that in British sweater is jumper, but I'm just going to stick with sweater!) with a gold V on the front of it, it seemed familiar but I couldn't remember why. Bill gave an explanation, "well, you see, mum always used to knit us sweaters every Christmas, and your color was green. I know that it's not much, but Charlie and I have both been working on it for a couple of months." I smiled as the memory of wearing around my sweater when I was little came back to me. I got up from my seat and gave them each a hug to show my appreciation for the gesture. I then put on the sweater and the various Weasley's started clapping and I heard the twins giving loud hoots.
Bill got up from his seat, "and that concludes this years Weasley Christmas festivities, please exit that way and do not forget to pick up your personal belongings."
Everyone laughed and began to gather up trash and things to throw away. I fingered the sweater before running upstairs to Percy's room. I dug through my trunk until I found the desired items and ran back down the stairs just as quickly as I had come. "Wait," I called out. "I have something that I want to give all of you."
They all looked at Bill and he gestured for everyone to sit back down. I walked over to where Bill and Charlie sat but made sure that all of the Weasley's could see me before I presented my gift. "I didn't have time to wrap this or anything, but these are something that I've had for years. They have helped me through hard times and I've always taken them with me everywhere. But I now realize that I'm not the only person that needs them, so I'm passing them on to all of you." I carefully sat the diary and photo album in Bill's lap and everyone else leaped up from their seats to see what I had given them.
Bill opened both and looked at me in astonishment, "this is mum's diary and pictures of her when she was young." I nodded and there was a collective gasp heard around the room. "Virginia," he breathed, "how…where…when…" Bill was beginning to get chocked up and couldn't even find the right sentence to say; so Charlie handled the questions for him.
"Where did you get these?"
I didn't like how everyone's inquiring eyes turned to me; it made me feel like some sort of criminal or something. "I just found them at Velena's." All right, so I didn't find the diary but telling them that Draco gave it to me would just bring up a lot of questions that I don't have answers to.
Each family member walked up and gave me a hug; even Ron. It was slightly uncomfortable for me to receive so much love and affection; I wasn't used to it. Percy gave me a light hug and whispered in my ear, "you have no idea how much this means to us, Velena has everything of mother's; we were actually starting to forget what she looked like." I nodded, as I had no response to that statement.
I felt kind of proud of myself. I thought that I would never give up my mother's things; there was a time when I wouldn't even let others look at them. But I came to the realization that I am not the only person that lost her, and I'm not the only person that needs to feel closer to her. I've looked at the pictures and read that diary so many times that they are both branded in my memory, as well as my heart. She is always with me, I don't need her belongings to tell me that.
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Later that night I was sitting down in the living room by myself just thinking about how much I had changed over the last few months; when Harry came down and sat on the couch with me.
"Hello Virginia."
"Potter."
He glared but it wasn't very intimidating being that his hair was half covering his eyes. "You know, I had the courtesy to use your real name you could use mine."
I rolled my eyes, "all right, Harry was there something that you wanted?"
"You know, you make it extremely difficult to be nice to you."
"So I've been told."
He sighed and pushed his messy hair back with his hand. "I just wanted to tell you that it was a really good thing that you did for them today; it really means a lot to the Weasley's to have those things."
"Glad to have your approval, was that all?"
He looked thoughtful for a minute, "no, I actually wanted to talk to you about something else. You're friends or whatever with Professor Lupin, right?"
"Yeah, we're friends or whatever, why?"
"I just, I don't know, I just get this weird feeling about him. Sometimes I see him looking at me and I swear that he looks as though he's about to cry. So I figured that since I see you talking to him sometimes maybe you know why."
"I don't know why." I did know something, but that was personal information that Remus shared with me, I wasn't going to just blurt it out.
He looked disappointed, "oh, well thanks anyway." He sighed and got up and I recalled how Remus looked when he told me that he knew Harry's parents before they died. For the second time that week I cursed my conscience and called Harry back.
"He knew you're parents; maybe that's why he gets so sad around you."
Harry's green eyes lit up, "he knew my parents?"
I nodded, "but I swear, that's all that I know. If you want to know more you'll have to talk to him but leave my name out of it." Harry nodded and looked as though he wanted to hug me, so I slid farther away from him.
He started to leave when we heard two people coming down the stairs. Both of our eyes followed the feet that were descending down until we discovered that it was Ron and Hermione. I figured that Harry would run over to them but instead he looked at me and put a finger over his lips to signal silence. I nodded in understanding and we both turned back to watch his two friends.
"Hermione, I just don't understand why you've been so weird lately."
Hermione huffed and put her hands on her waist, "well if you don't know I'm certainly not going to tell you."
"But Hermione," he whined, "Why can't you just be normal?" She growled and pushed past him but he caught her by the arm. "Wait, I'm sorry that I've been such a git or whatever to you lately to make you mad at me. Please just forgive me, I hate it when we fight."
She sighed and lifted her head up in exasperation. I saw her eyes get wide and she interrupted Ron, who was still apologizing. "Ron, look up." He followed her gaze and gasped while she only smiled, "it's mistletoe, you do know the tradition, don't you?" He nodded and looked nervous. He bent down to kiss her on the cheek but she turned her head at the last second and made sure that it landed on her lips.
I smiled as she took her risk and saw Harry doing the same. He bent down and whispered in my ear, "it's about time, they've liked each other for years." Ron wrapped his arms around her waist and I began to wonder how long they could manage without air. Finally Harry got tired of seeing the people that he considered to be his brother and sister go at it with each other and he cleared his throat loudly.
They bother jerked away from each other and blushed a deep red. Harry only laughed, "I always knew that you two would get together; although I didn't figure that Hermione would have to make the first move, shame on you Ron."
"Shut up Harry," they said in unison. I smiled and mouthed good job to Hermione, she continued to blush but mouthed a thank you back anyway. The dream team eventually left the room and I was left to ponder once more on how much I had changed; who would have thought that I would end up witnessing Ron and Hermione's first kiss and I had nothing negative to say about it. However, it did remind me of Draco and while I had been kind of sad to leave the Weasley's, I was happy that I was going to see him the next day. I only hoped that I could avoid Lucius and Velena during my stay there, but since when have any of my wishes came true?
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A/N All right, that was over four thousand two hundred words!! And I didn't even get to the Malfoy Manor! I kind of got Weasley mania and I just had to get some scenes with Harry and Hermione in, since they were there. Also sorry if you guys aren't R/H shippers but I am and I felt like getting some fluff in because after this point there is going to be a lot of drama. I know that I said that Velena would return but I didn't feel like dealing with her but I promise that you will see her in the next chapter, along with Draco and Lucius and some other fun people! Thanks for reading and remember to review!!!
k00lgirl1808- Well, since you wanted more Weasley interaction, hopefully this chapter quenched your thirst, lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Darcel- If I find any good AU fics, you'll be the first person that I tell! I like your Voldemort reasoning, it's very original, not to mention a cool idea! I'll think about it and thanks for the review!
Ace of Spades- Yeah, I know, ff.net is being weird. I found your review, it just didn't leave it in order. Anyway I went back and added a response to it at the end of my last chapter, sorry that I forgot you, it wasn't on purpose! I know that you've been waiting for your Weasley action so I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Dassa Mudruffin- I hope that you enjoyed the Weasley Christmas and I'm not sure what's up with Sally (All right, I am sure, but I'm not telling, lol!) Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad that you think that the Sally thing is going to be interesting!
Zainab- Sorry that your computer isn't working, mine messes up all of the time too! Thank you for taking the time to review and I hope that your computer doesn't give you any more trouble!
Marchione- All right, you caught me! I did say that she went to Hogsmead and walked to their house but then I got to thinking and I never said that The Burrow was destroyed, so why couldn't they live in it? And being the lazy author that I am I didn't feel like changing the chapter, but I did say that she walked for a while so lets just pretend that she walked for a long while. Good catch and thanks for reviewing!
JerseyPike- Yeah, you're right, I should change the California State Prison thing being as it's American and muggle. However, I am a lazy lazy author and I might get around to it, but then again I might not, lol! Thank you so much for pointing it out to me and also thank you for all of the great compliments that you left!
Kryptonite- Thank you for the review, and yes I am very happy, lol! I'll read your story as soon as I have time, which will be after Tuesday because that's when I'm done with exams!! And I'm glad that you agree with me on the torture thing, lol!
AnGeL*Of*MiNe- I don't know why you don't want Velena back in the story; she is such a sweet, loving, caring person who only brings people joy. All right I'll stop with the lies before I go to hell, lol! I don't really like her that much either but she mixes things up, lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Nirvana- Thank you so much for pointing out to me that the first and second chapters switched, I never would have noticed so I really appreciate it! Hopefully this chapters length makes up for the last one being kind of short and of course I would give you a hatchet! You should always run with sharp objects, especially at annoying little kids, lol! My finals are this week and I should be freaking but I am past the point of caring when it comes to school, lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Writing*-*Wonder- Thank you very much for the compliment! I was really worried when I started this that people wouldn't take well to an AU story so whenever I get reviews like yours it makes me feel really good!
Auri- Patience is a virtue my dear, you will find out what is up with Sally in good time. Lol, I'm a dork! Velena is coming next chapter and hopefully you'll be a little surprised with her arrival! Thanks for reviewing!
Lyss- *virtually whacks Lyss upside the head* Lol, sorry about that but you can't tell me to be violent, I'll talk it seriously. I'm such a dork, feel free to return the slap, lol! And big words rule because it's a great way to make your teachers feel dumb when you use a word that they don't know, lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Keepergrl28914- Thank you so much for all of the wonderful compliments! And believe me, I know the feeling on getting caught up in a story! I have been yelled at by various members of my household many times for being on the internet too long! Thanks for reviewing!
Lily of the Shadow- I'm glad that you are enjoying the story and thank you so much for reviewing!
swt-angel-babi3- I tried to give everyone a fast update but this chapter took me a long time for some reason. Thanks for reviewing and I should be updating soon since school will be over with!
Frananddragon- I know that Sally is confusing right now, she's being weird, lol! I should be giving everyone an explanation in about two or three chapters though. Damn essential background information that takes so long to lead up to what you want it to, lol! Sorry for the vent and thanks for reviewing!
Tabbycat2000- I'm glad that you find the story interesting! Thank you for reviewing and I love your evil cackle!
S.e.a- Sorry that you have writer's block on your story! I don't have time right now but as soon as I do I'll re-read the latest chapter and try to give you some ideas! Good catch on the man in the first chapter (did you read it again?) Anyway, your right, you will see him again in the story but I'm not sure when! Thanks for reviewing!
RonandHerm4eva- You know, it's really funny because I had just finished writing the end of this chapter and I went to check my reviews and I was actually thinking of you and how much I knew you would enjoy the R/H action and there was your review! I'll try and make it a little bit of a side story because I'm actually a big fan of that ship and I'm trying to get Virginia closer to Hermione because Herm has a big role coming up! Thanks for reviewing and also thanks for recommending the story, I appreciate it!
Mixed- Thank you so much! I'm glad that you think that this is original and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter!
Fallen Angel of Darkness- My idea with McGonagall was to have kind of my own version of how Snape is to Harry. Gryffindors and Slytherins have always been enemies and I think that she would hold some resentment to Slytherins, especially Virginia who is not the easiest person to get along with. Thanks for all of the advice as well as the review!
Hey I'm really sorry if I left anybody off of this list but ff.net is messing up with my reviews and I can't access some of them! If you don't see your name I probably didn't receive your review but I thank you just the same!