Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Nine: Ginny's Break-Up
At the beginning of October, word came that Percy and Penelope planned to get married at the end of the month. Ron and Ginny, as well as Harry and Hermione had received special permission from Professor Dumbledore to attend the wedding on a Saturday. It was to take place in Hogsmeade, and they were all looking forward to going. Ron was just happy he wouldn't have to wear his ratty old dress robes. Ginny and Hermione were excited over the wedding plans. Being the only sister of the groom, Ginny was going to be one of Penelope's bridesmaids and she and Hermione discussed possibilities of hair and make-up to go with the maroon colored dress Mrs. Weasley was going to make for her. Ron was also a participant in the wedding, but he and Harry chose to stay away from any wedding discussions.
In the midst of the wedding excitement, Ginny's feelings started to change. She began to notice that there was no more excitement to her relationship with Dean Thomas. She no longer woke up in the mornings eager to see him, nor did she feel the need to find him if she was heading off to bed for the night. She wasn't sure when things had changed, but she did know that something was different.
Dean seemed different to her as well. He wasn't as responsive when they talked, and he seemed more interested in his art than in Ginny. By the middle of October, they were barely speaking to each other, though they still sat together at the Gryffindor table at mealtimes and in the common room when they would do their homework. It seemed to Ginny that they were keeping up appearances, but neither wanted to say what was on their minds. Ginny decided it would be up to her to find out what was going on.
* * *
One afternoon, Ginny and Dean were outside enjoying a nice fall day. Ginny suspected that it was one of the last days that they would be able to sit outside without freezing and she wanted to enjoy it, but there was a task at hand that needed to be done. Dean was sitting next to her sketching some leaves. It was a beautiful drawing and she didn't want to interrupt, but it was time for them to talk.
"Hey, Dean?" she said.
"Yeah?" he asked, and he looked up at her.
"What been going on?" she asked. "I mean, with us."
"What do you mean?" Dean said and he put his pencil aside, for it seemed as though he were in for a long conversation.
"Well, for one thing, this is the most we've said to each other in a week," Ginny started. "Don't you think that's strange?"
"I suppose," he said. "I guess I just never really thought about it."
"See!" Ginny exclaimed. "That's the problem. We need to think about these things. Couples don't just ignore each other all the time."
"But we eat together, and do homework together," Dean chimed in.
"Yes, but it seems as though there should be more," said Ginny. "At least I think so."
Dean thought for a moment. Looking back, he and Ginny did spend considerably less time together. At first he had thought it was because they had moved on from the "newlywed" stage of their relationship into something more, but Ginny was right: they barely spoke, they barely held hands, and they hardly ever kissed each other, not even on the cheek.
"Wow, Gin," Dean said. "You're right. We have been drifting."
"Drifting is putting it mildly," said Ginny. "We're practically non existent. We do things next to each other, but not together."
"Interesting point," said Dean. Then he turned more serious. "So, what does this mean? Should we keep trying?"
"I don't know," said Ginny. "I just don't feel the same way, I suppose."
"But we did have fun for a while didn't we?" Dean asked.
"Yeah," said Ginny. "But tell me, do YOU feel the same way?"
"No," Dean admitted. "I don't."
"So that's it then," said Ginny. "We're just not together."
"Doesn't seem to different, does it?" said Dean. "We're both still here. No one's crying." His statement made Ginny laugh.
"I guess that's both a good sign and a bad sign," she said. "Good because we won't feel weird around each other. Bad because the relationship can just go from a couple to friends so fast." Now it was Dean's turn to laugh.
"Well then, I think I'm going to go inside," he said. "I'll see you around?"
"Sure," said Ginny, and she smiled as he walked away. Once he was gone, Ginny stayed where she was and thought about what had just happened.
'I'm glad it was so mutual,' she thought. 'Even though it's going to be a little weird. Oh no! I hope Ron doesn't get too mad at Dean later!' With that thought, Ginny started to giggle. It was back to the single life again.
Chapter Nine: Ginny's Break-Up
At the beginning of October, word came that Percy and Penelope planned to get married at the end of the month. Ron and Ginny, as well as Harry and Hermione had received special permission from Professor Dumbledore to attend the wedding on a Saturday. It was to take place in Hogsmeade, and they were all looking forward to going. Ron was just happy he wouldn't have to wear his ratty old dress robes. Ginny and Hermione were excited over the wedding plans. Being the only sister of the groom, Ginny was going to be one of Penelope's bridesmaids and she and Hermione discussed possibilities of hair and make-up to go with the maroon colored dress Mrs. Weasley was going to make for her. Ron was also a participant in the wedding, but he and Harry chose to stay away from any wedding discussions.
In the midst of the wedding excitement, Ginny's feelings started to change. She began to notice that there was no more excitement to her relationship with Dean Thomas. She no longer woke up in the mornings eager to see him, nor did she feel the need to find him if she was heading off to bed for the night. She wasn't sure when things had changed, but she did know that something was different.
Dean seemed different to her as well. He wasn't as responsive when they talked, and he seemed more interested in his art than in Ginny. By the middle of October, they were barely speaking to each other, though they still sat together at the Gryffindor table at mealtimes and in the common room when they would do their homework. It seemed to Ginny that they were keeping up appearances, but neither wanted to say what was on their minds. Ginny decided it would be up to her to find out what was going on.
* * *
One afternoon, Ginny and Dean were outside enjoying a nice fall day. Ginny suspected that it was one of the last days that they would be able to sit outside without freezing and she wanted to enjoy it, but there was a task at hand that needed to be done. Dean was sitting next to her sketching some leaves. It was a beautiful drawing and she didn't want to interrupt, but it was time for them to talk.
"Hey, Dean?" she said.
"Yeah?" he asked, and he looked up at her.
"What been going on?" she asked. "I mean, with us."
"What do you mean?" Dean said and he put his pencil aside, for it seemed as though he were in for a long conversation.
"Well, for one thing, this is the most we've said to each other in a week," Ginny started. "Don't you think that's strange?"
"I suppose," he said. "I guess I just never really thought about it."
"See!" Ginny exclaimed. "That's the problem. We need to think about these things. Couples don't just ignore each other all the time."
"But we eat together, and do homework together," Dean chimed in.
"Yes, but it seems as though there should be more," said Ginny. "At least I think so."
Dean thought for a moment. Looking back, he and Ginny did spend considerably less time together. At first he had thought it was because they had moved on from the "newlywed" stage of their relationship into something more, but Ginny was right: they barely spoke, they barely held hands, and they hardly ever kissed each other, not even on the cheek.
"Wow, Gin," Dean said. "You're right. We have been drifting."
"Drifting is putting it mildly," said Ginny. "We're practically non existent. We do things next to each other, but not together."
"Interesting point," said Dean. Then he turned more serious. "So, what does this mean? Should we keep trying?"
"I don't know," said Ginny. "I just don't feel the same way, I suppose."
"But we did have fun for a while didn't we?" Dean asked.
"Yeah," said Ginny. "But tell me, do YOU feel the same way?"
"No," Dean admitted. "I don't."
"So that's it then," said Ginny. "We're just not together."
"Doesn't seem to different, does it?" said Dean. "We're both still here. No one's crying." His statement made Ginny laugh.
"I guess that's both a good sign and a bad sign," she said. "Good because we won't feel weird around each other. Bad because the relationship can just go from a couple to friends so fast." Now it was Dean's turn to laugh.
"Well then, I think I'm going to go inside," he said. "I'll see you around?"
"Sure," said Ginny, and she smiled as he walked away. Once he was gone, Ginny stayed where she was and thought about what had just happened.
'I'm glad it was so mutual,' she thought. 'Even though it's going to be a little weird. Oh no! I hope Ron doesn't get too mad at Dean later!' With that thought, Ginny started to giggle. It was back to the single life again.