Things Change
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or anything, but I definitely own this piece of writing! J.K Rowling owns all the characters and stuff. I do, however, own her 'friends' and some more new characters that'll appear later on, and the plot is ALL MINE!
A/N Howdy dudes, hows everyone feeling today? As you can probably tell, I'm in a good mood. I don't know why, seeing as I have 3 WEEKS of school left! Something must die! Well, not literally anyway.
Anyways, this is going really well, so I'm very happy. I have the ending roughly planned in my head, and the plots changed about a billion times since I started writing, but thanks to cashew (thanks for the ideas! ;) who gave me some ideas about what to do. They helped! The only thing is ff.net kept messing up my reviews, so I didn't get that one about the plot until I checked my e-mail) I've got it pretty much sorted out now, and it *will* stay that way! I hope.
This chapter will be a bit longer (I hope) and we'll see some *major* plot development (Happy days!). Anyways, here we go. Chapter eleven.
By the way, chapter ten was NOT the last chapter (obviously!) so I'm sorry if I gave that impression to anyone. Anyways, here we go.
A/N2 Okay, I'm just going to say that I apologise *profusely* for not updating sooner. As I've said before, I had a major case of writers block, so I just couldn't get the story out without absolutely *hating* the end result! Anyways, that's over now (hopefully)!
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Ginny kept her head down as she followed the flood of people streaming into the entrance hall from dinner, trying to avoid the Slytherins as they jostled past her. She glanced around for the now familiar blond hair and pale complexion, but it was no where near. She let out a breath of relief, pulling her bag over her shoulder and turning to follow the other Gryffindors as they made their way up the stairs.
As she grew closer to the steps, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rising, as if someone was watching her. She put a hand to the back of neck, looking around, but seeing nobody she ignored it, and carried on towards the steps. She was about to put her foot on the first stair when a hand roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alcove nearby. She opened her mouth to scream, but the other hand flew down over her mouth, stopping her. Her eyes widened as she tried to struggle, but the arm around her stomach stopped her from getting free. The person who held her whispered, "Shh!" in her ear, waiting as a lessening number of students streamed past. Eventually there were only a couple of people walking past, and then within a few minutes the entrance hall was deserted.
Still holding onto her, the person began to edge out into the hall, and Ginny stiffened, anticipating an attack of some sort, but to her surprise the person gently let go off her waist, and turned her round.
"Thom! Oh my god, you *frightened* me!"
He smiled apologetically, shrugging and holding his hands up.
"Sorry Gin, really I am. It's just that...well; I thought that maybe you wouldn't want to talk to me if I didn't do that. Because of, um..."
He trailed off. Ginny smiled and shrugged, slightly embarrassed, the memory of the forest encounter fresh in her mind.
"That's okay. Besides, I still want to talk to you. You're my mate, right?"
Thom paused, looking at the floor before replying.
"Well, actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Um, could we go to...the library, maybe?"
"Yeah, sure" Ginny said, shrugging. They set off up the stairs in silence, both watching their feet as they moved along the corridor, the quiet almost, but not quite, uncomfortable.
At last they reached the library, and both Thom and Ginny quietly slid through into the hushed atmosphere, Ginny following Thom down the rows of books. He seemed to know where he was going, and so Ginny didn't really focus on their path until Thom stopped in a little niche containing three armchairs and a small maroon pouffe, surrounded by high bookshelves crammed with old volumes.
"Um, maybe we could talk here? It's kinda...private" Thom said, gesturing to the armchairs. Ginny smiled and nodded, sitting down on one of them and absently smoothing the front of her skirt. Thom sat down too.
"Well...," he said, looking at the floor as he trailed off. This was one of the rare times Ginny had really seen him uncomfortable. He looked like he didn't know what to say. Shyly, Ginny gave him an encouraging smile, and this seemed to help. He smiled up, and he seemed determined to say something this time.
"What it is, Gin, is that, well, since that time in the forest...,"
He paused, before taking a deep breath and carry on.
"Icantstopthinkingaboutyou"
Ginny paused, slightly bewildered by Thom's sentence - or should she say 'word'? Finally, she replied, "Pardon?"
"I can't stop thinking about you" Thom repeated, the words seeming to come easier this time. He looked up at Ginny, his face anxious, but when he saw Ginny's face, he broke into a grin. She was smiling dazedly at him, a slight blush blooming on her cheeks, her eyes looking at him shyly from under long lashes. Then, bashfully, she reached out a hand to him, and he took it, creamy-white and slender fingers meeting long, elegant ones. They looked at each other, and then, slowly, they both stood up. Thom pulled Ginny closer to him, placing a hand round her waist and sliding the other one up her arm from her hand to rest at the nape of her neck, stroking it under the fiery red hair.
"Do you know what I mean?" he asked softly.
Ginny nodded, her arms coming to rest on his shoulders, straight and solid, with her hands clasped. (A/N Like Satine in Moulin Rouge when her and Christian kiss - you know, the one on the video cover).
"It means that," he said, his face getting closer to hers. She vaguely noticed the way his thick black hair fell over his forehead in untidy curls, making him more beautiful than ever. He leant forward again, and Ginny could feel a tiny exhalation of breath on her lips as he said his next words. "I love you..."
Their lips touched, and the world exploded around her.
'This must be right...' she thought as they sank into an armchair, holding each other blissfully. 'It has to be right...
Little did she know that two silver eyes were watching her at that very moment, calm annoyance sparkling in their depths.
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Ginny felt like she was floating all the way to her lesson after lunch, her eyes staring dreamily into space as she went up the stairs to the North Tower. She was still reeling from her 'encounter' in the library.
Thom and Ginny had stayed in the library until the bell had rung (A/N Ah ha! OoP confirms that they have a bell!). Mostly they had been making out, but in between Thom had asked her if she wanted to come to a party that some friends of his were holding at the weekend. Ginny had hastily agreed, having the 'strange' desire to show off her new boyfriend to the world. Well, maybe not the world, but the Hogwarts population at least. Because Thom had asked her out. She now officially had a boyfriend. Fleetingly a thought of Draco passed through her mind, accompanied by a shadow of guilt. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the feeling. She wasn't going to talk to Draco again - and besides, she wasn't even going out with Thom when all that stuff had happened, so there was no reason for her to feel guilty.
Brushing all thoughts of Draco from her mind, she stopped outside the trap door to Professor Trelawney's tower, seeing that most of the class were already there. They waited a few more minutes until everyone had joined them, and then the trap door opened and the silvery ladder fell into their midst. Ginny was the last to climb up and emerge into the sweltering room, taking her usual place at her table with the others. They had become a lot more removed lately, but Ginny didn't really seem to notice these days, and so it didn't bother her.
The packets of Tarot cards lay on the table as usual, and Ginny picked hers up, took them out and absently began to shuffle them. She had become quite fond of this particular form of divining after a while, glad that for once Professor Trelawney didn't seem to have much power over their future. The cards did their own thing.
The sound of tinkling bangles and earrings alerted the class to Professor Trelawney's presence as she drifted over from the fire, her huge glasses magnifying her eyes as usual. She had recovered quite well from her sacking by Umbridge last year, and was now almost back to normal, the class had noted sadly in the first weeks of term.
"Good afternoon class," she said breezily, sitting in her armchair at the front of the class. "We are today going to be studying the Cross Spread. You will at first start with reading your own cards, and then we will move onto reading each others, as you did with the Three Card spread. This spread is very good for answering specific questions, so if you could keep one in mind. Now, if you would turn to page 563 in Unfogging the Future, we can begin..."
The students turned to the correct pages in their books and then started, the sound of quiet chatter breaking out over the rustling pages. Ginny stopped shuffling her cards and tuned to the correct page. It showed a complicated and long winded explanation and a diagram of six cards laid out in the right way. Five of the cards were spread out in a cross shape, each numbered in the order to be laid down, and sixth card was over to the side, alone.
She paused for a moment, trying to think of a particular question she wanted answered. She cast around in her mind, until, suddenly, she found the perfect one.
"Will I make the right choice?" she whispered to herself quietly. She was referring to the previous Tarot reading she had done that day in Professor Trelawney's classroom, long ago (A/N In chapter three). Not bothering to really read through the instructions (she had a knack for this by now), Ginny shuffled her cards once more before laying them out in the complex pattern.
Ginny looked at the first card and what it was supposed to represent - The Page of Cups, reversed, meant to represent the past and its influence on her question. She looked through the text book for the meaning, running her finger over the "Cups" before stopping at the right one. It read,
//A petty and spoilt person is represented here, somebody who readily manipulates others' feelings for their own benefit//
Ginny sighed, blowing her bangs up in exasperation. 'So, who's that meant to represent? Well, it really is quite obvious', she thought to herself, drumming her fingers on the table cloth. 'Bloody Draco Malfoy. He really is a thorn in my side, although I don't see how he can influence some great choice I have to make'
Inhaling slowly, Ginny looked at the next card wearily. This was meant to represent...obstacles in her path, according to the book. Looking down at the spread, she saw that it was the Seven of Swords, thankfully not reversed. But then she flipped to the swords page, and her heart sank.
//Dishonesty// it read, throwing a downer on the situation immediately. //Perhaps your efforts are not whole-hearted. Direct confrontation of an opponent will not get you anywhere. Cunning is better used, and all your guile must be employed to defeat an enemy. Depending on the situation, a sacrifice may be needed to succeed//
'So dishonesty's an obstacle? But', Ginny thought, confused, 'Mum always said to be honest. Why wouldn't I be?'
More puzzled than ever, she checked the next card, which was 'influences working in her favour' (Thank god). It was the Two of Cups, not reversed.
//This card stands for commitment// the book said. //The love and understanding between two people, and harmonious relationships and emotional contentment. Opposites, in this case, may very well attract. Even if the link is not deeply emotional, friendship, mutual respect and the ending of rivalries are all represented//
The ending of rivalries? That was appropriate. She had made a truce with Draco before Christmas, and that sounded very much like an 'ending' of a rivalry to her. Then again, the part about relationships...Ginny felt a warmth rise in her chest as she thought of Thom. Feeling somewhat happier, she looked at the fourth card, which was meant to be 'the near future'. It was the Ten of Cups, reversed. She scanned further down the page until she found it.
//Contentment// was the meaning. An overly good outlook, it seemed. //Mistrust and rivalries in a previously happy situation//. Maybe not. //Losing touch with friends and relatives, perhaps feelings of isolation and misunderstanding//.
Ginny sighed and rubbed the bridge of nose anxiously. Perhaps the card meant more misunderstandings with her family, or maybe even her loss of touch with the other girls. Shaking her head, she went onto the fifth card, keen to move on. This was the Three of Swords, representing the long term future. She turned back to the sword cards.
//Heartache. A relationship will soon end painfully. That which was in your way is now being removed, possibly indicating a three-way relationship where one party, or perhaps all, will inevitably receive heartache//
That did *not* sound good. There was *no way* that that sounded good. A three way relationship? As in an affair? But...but...she would never cheat on Thom, and it was the same for him. Wasn't it? Feeling incredibly worried, Ginny fervently went on to the sixth and last card, eager to know what the eventual outcome would be. She looked down at the spread to see which card it was. The Seven of Cups. A familiar card.
//Choices//
'Ah,' Ginny thought to herself as she saw the representation. 'This is definitely familiar. I had this one in my Three Card spread to'.
//An important decision must be made; however, there are many options to choose from. Make your decision carefully, since all is not as it seems. Doorways of opportunity stand open, but you have to develop your instincts to know which one to go through. The choice is up to you, Virginia. Choose wisely//
Ginny did a double take on the last sentence. What on *earth*?!How had the book known her name? Why the *hell* was it written in there? She looked back again, fearful in case she saw her name once more, but at the same time eager to know it was really there. But looking back, the paragraph ended with instincts. Indeed, the last sentence was no longer there. Ginny felt a mixture of relief and disappointment flood through her.
She flipped back to the main Tarot page, seeing if there was anything else, but her eyes caught a page which seemed devoted to getting Combinations of Cards (A/N Getting, like, three fives at once or something) and it sparked her interest. She remembered getting two sevens, and she looked to see it had any special meaning. It did.
//True Love//
They were the only two words written, but Ginny already knew that somehow, this meant her decision had to do with love. Perhaps she had to find her true love or something?
Ginny sighed. Basically she had to make some huge choice that was about her true love, was most likely connected to Draco Malfoy, involved commitments, dishonesty, contentment, and heartache.
Utterly confused, Ginny was about to scan through the book for more information, but before she had time to try, Professor Trelawney clapped as a signal for them to listen. The students stopped reading the cards, turning towards Trelawney.
"That is enough for today class, as I am sure you have found out much about your future today, and I hope your questions have been answered well," (a glower from Ginny followed this comment) "but until next lesson, I must ask you to pack away. Farewell, and fortuity to all"
Ginny gladly stuffed her things into her bag, taking off almost at a run when the bell rang, getting down the ladder as fast as she could. She sped away from the classroom, her expression dark. Little first years scattered, trying to get out of the way of what was obviously a Weasley in a bad mood. She made her way down the main staircase to the entrance hall, and she didn't stop until she had swept out through the large double doors into the grounds. She made her way to the larger courtyard by the North Tower, sitting down on one of the stone benches, the nearby birch tree trying and failing to hide her from the rest of the world. Soon enough she heard footsteps coming towards her, interrupting her moping session. She was about to tell them to go away when she turned around and found herself looking up at Thom. She smiled delightedly, throwing her arms around his neck. He kissed her lightly on the nose before sitting beside her. He put an arm around her shoulders and she lent into him, snuggling close to his chest.
"Nice to see you again" she said, feeling the cool January wind whip her hair around her face. Her hands were icy and she rubbed them together in an attempt to heat them up, but before she could do much, Thom took them into his own, kissing her windswept knuckles and then resting their intertwined fingers on his knee.
"I couldn't stay away for long" he answered, and Ginny could tell he was grinning. She sighed contentedly in reply, fiddling absent-mindedly with the cuffs of her robes. She felt amazingly relaxed, and even the strange and intriguing Tarot reading from ten minutes previous seemed far away and dreamlike, like it was of no particular importance at all.
But of course it was. The one who was watching knew that more than any.
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A/N So, what do you guys think, huh? I *finally* updated! And it was pretty long as well, with lots of events! A *not* boring chapter! This proves that, yes, miracles *can* occur!
Anyways, once again, I'm really sorry for the delay, but it's here now, so I hope you enjoyed it. I'm going to try *so* hard not to let the same thing happen again, so give me a nudge if I start to slip, okay?
Anyways, please R&R, cuz you *know* I like it!
Until next time, faithful readers!
S.e.a
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or anything, but I definitely own this piece of writing! J.K Rowling owns all the characters and stuff. I do, however, own her 'friends' and some more new characters that'll appear later on, and the plot is ALL MINE!
A/N Howdy dudes, hows everyone feeling today? As you can probably tell, I'm in a good mood. I don't know why, seeing as I have 3 WEEKS of school left! Something must die! Well, not literally anyway.
Anyways, this is going really well, so I'm very happy. I have the ending roughly planned in my head, and the plots changed about a billion times since I started writing, but thanks to cashew (thanks for the ideas! ;) who gave me some ideas about what to do. They helped! The only thing is ff.net kept messing up my reviews, so I didn't get that one about the plot until I checked my e-mail) I've got it pretty much sorted out now, and it *will* stay that way! I hope.
This chapter will be a bit longer (I hope) and we'll see some *major* plot development (Happy days!). Anyways, here we go. Chapter eleven.
By the way, chapter ten was NOT the last chapter (obviously!) so I'm sorry if I gave that impression to anyone. Anyways, here we go.
A/N2 Okay, I'm just going to say that I apologise *profusely* for not updating sooner. As I've said before, I had a major case of writers block, so I just couldn't get the story out without absolutely *hating* the end result! Anyways, that's over now (hopefully)!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny kept her head down as she followed the flood of people streaming into the entrance hall from dinner, trying to avoid the Slytherins as they jostled past her. She glanced around for the now familiar blond hair and pale complexion, but it was no where near. She let out a breath of relief, pulling her bag over her shoulder and turning to follow the other Gryffindors as they made their way up the stairs.
As she grew closer to the steps, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rising, as if someone was watching her. She put a hand to the back of neck, looking around, but seeing nobody she ignored it, and carried on towards the steps. She was about to put her foot on the first stair when a hand roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alcove nearby. She opened her mouth to scream, but the other hand flew down over her mouth, stopping her. Her eyes widened as she tried to struggle, but the arm around her stomach stopped her from getting free. The person who held her whispered, "Shh!" in her ear, waiting as a lessening number of students streamed past. Eventually there were only a couple of people walking past, and then within a few minutes the entrance hall was deserted.
Still holding onto her, the person began to edge out into the hall, and Ginny stiffened, anticipating an attack of some sort, but to her surprise the person gently let go off her waist, and turned her round.
"Thom! Oh my god, you *frightened* me!"
He smiled apologetically, shrugging and holding his hands up.
"Sorry Gin, really I am. It's just that...well; I thought that maybe you wouldn't want to talk to me if I didn't do that. Because of, um..."
He trailed off. Ginny smiled and shrugged, slightly embarrassed, the memory of the forest encounter fresh in her mind.
"That's okay. Besides, I still want to talk to you. You're my mate, right?"
Thom paused, looking at the floor before replying.
"Well, actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Um, could we go to...the library, maybe?"
"Yeah, sure" Ginny said, shrugging. They set off up the stairs in silence, both watching their feet as they moved along the corridor, the quiet almost, but not quite, uncomfortable.
At last they reached the library, and both Thom and Ginny quietly slid through into the hushed atmosphere, Ginny following Thom down the rows of books. He seemed to know where he was going, and so Ginny didn't really focus on their path until Thom stopped in a little niche containing three armchairs and a small maroon pouffe, surrounded by high bookshelves crammed with old volumes.
"Um, maybe we could talk here? It's kinda...private" Thom said, gesturing to the armchairs. Ginny smiled and nodded, sitting down on one of them and absently smoothing the front of her skirt. Thom sat down too.
"Well...," he said, looking at the floor as he trailed off. This was one of the rare times Ginny had really seen him uncomfortable. He looked like he didn't know what to say. Shyly, Ginny gave him an encouraging smile, and this seemed to help. He smiled up, and he seemed determined to say something this time.
"What it is, Gin, is that, well, since that time in the forest...,"
He paused, before taking a deep breath and carry on.
"Icantstopthinkingaboutyou"
Ginny paused, slightly bewildered by Thom's sentence - or should she say 'word'? Finally, she replied, "Pardon?"
"I can't stop thinking about you" Thom repeated, the words seeming to come easier this time. He looked up at Ginny, his face anxious, but when he saw Ginny's face, he broke into a grin. She was smiling dazedly at him, a slight blush blooming on her cheeks, her eyes looking at him shyly from under long lashes. Then, bashfully, she reached out a hand to him, and he took it, creamy-white and slender fingers meeting long, elegant ones. They looked at each other, and then, slowly, they both stood up. Thom pulled Ginny closer to him, placing a hand round her waist and sliding the other one up her arm from her hand to rest at the nape of her neck, stroking it under the fiery red hair.
"Do you know what I mean?" he asked softly.
Ginny nodded, her arms coming to rest on his shoulders, straight and solid, with her hands clasped. (A/N Like Satine in Moulin Rouge when her and Christian kiss - you know, the one on the video cover).
"It means that," he said, his face getting closer to hers. She vaguely noticed the way his thick black hair fell over his forehead in untidy curls, making him more beautiful than ever. He leant forward again, and Ginny could feel a tiny exhalation of breath on her lips as he said his next words. "I love you..."
Their lips touched, and the world exploded around her.
'This must be right...' she thought as they sank into an armchair, holding each other blissfully. 'It has to be right...
Little did she know that two silver eyes were watching her at that very moment, calm annoyance sparkling in their depths.
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Ginny felt like she was floating all the way to her lesson after lunch, her eyes staring dreamily into space as she went up the stairs to the North Tower. She was still reeling from her 'encounter' in the library.
Thom and Ginny had stayed in the library until the bell had rung (A/N Ah ha! OoP confirms that they have a bell!). Mostly they had been making out, but in between Thom had asked her if she wanted to come to a party that some friends of his were holding at the weekend. Ginny had hastily agreed, having the 'strange' desire to show off her new boyfriend to the world. Well, maybe not the world, but the Hogwarts population at least. Because Thom had asked her out. She now officially had a boyfriend. Fleetingly a thought of Draco passed through her mind, accompanied by a shadow of guilt. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the feeling. She wasn't going to talk to Draco again - and besides, she wasn't even going out with Thom when all that stuff had happened, so there was no reason for her to feel guilty.
Brushing all thoughts of Draco from her mind, she stopped outside the trap door to Professor Trelawney's tower, seeing that most of the class were already there. They waited a few more minutes until everyone had joined them, and then the trap door opened and the silvery ladder fell into their midst. Ginny was the last to climb up and emerge into the sweltering room, taking her usual place at her table with the others. They had become a lot more removed lately, but Ginny didn't really seem to notice these days, and so it didn't bother her.
The packets of Tarot cards lay on the table as usual, and Ginny picked hers up, took them out and absently began to shuffle them. She had become quite fond of this particular form of divining after a while, glad that for once Professor Trelawney didn't seem to have much power over their future. The cards did their own thing.
The sound of tinkling bangles and earrings alerted the class to Professor Trelawney's presence as she drifted over from the fire, her huge glasses magnifying her eyes as usual. She had recovered quite well from her sacking by Umbridge last year, and was now almost back to normal, the class had noted sadly in the first weeks of term.
"Good afternoon class," she said breezily, sitting in her armchair at the front of the class. "We are today going to be studying the Cross Spread. You will at first start with reading your own cards, and then we will move onto reading each others, as you did with the Three Card spread. This spread is very good for answering specific questions, so if you could keep one in mind. Now, if you would turn to page 563 in Unfogging the Future, we can begin..."
The students turned to the correct pages in their books and then started, the sound of quiet chatter breaking out over the rustling pages. Ginny stopped shuffling her cards and tuned to the correct page. It showed a complicated and long winded explanation and a diagram of six cards laid out in the right way. Five of the cards were spread out in a cross shape, each numbered in the order to be laid down, and sixth card was over to the side, alone.
She paused for a moment, trying to think of a particular question she wanted answered. She cast around in her mind, until, suddenly, she found the perfect one.
"Will I make the right choice?" she whispered to herself quietly. She was referring to the previous Tarot reading she had done that day in Professor Trelawney's classroom, long ago (A/N In chapter three). Not bothering to really read through the instructions (she had a knack for this by now), Ginny shuffled her cards once more before laying them out in the complex pattern.
Ginny looked at the first card and what it was supposed to represent - The Page of Cups, reversed, meant to represent the past and its influence on her question. She looked through the text book for the meaning, running her finger over the "Cups" before stopping at the right one. It read,
//A petty and spoilt person is represented here, somebody who readily manipulates others' feelings for their own benefit//
Ginny sighed, blowing her bangs up in exasperation. 'So, who's that meant to represent? Well, it really is quite obvious', she thought to herself, drumming her fingers on the table cloth. 'Bloody Draco Malfoy. He really is a thorn in my side, although I don't see how he can influence some great choice I have to make'
Inhaling slowly, Ginny looked at the next card wearily. This was meant to represent...obstacles in her path, according to the book. Looking down at the spread, she saw that it was the Seven of Swords, thankfully not reversed. But then she flipped to the swords page, and her heart sank.
//Dishonesty// it read, throwing a downer on the situation immediately. //Perhaps your efforts are not whole-hearted. Direct confrontation of an opponent will not get you anywhere. Cunning is better used, and all your guile must be employed to defeat an enemy. Depending on the situation, a sacrifice may be needed to succeed//
'So dishonesty's an obstacle? But', Ginny thought, confused, 'Mum always said to be honest. Why wouldn't I be?'
More puzzled than ever, she checked the next card, which was 'influences working in her favour' (Thank god). It was the Two of Cups, not reversed.
//This card stands for commitment// the book said. //The love and understanding between two people, and harmonious relationships and emotional contentment. Opposites, in this case, may very well attract. Even if the link is not deeply emotional, friendship, mutual respect and the ending of rivalries are all represented//
The ending of rivalries? That was appropriate. She had made a truce with Draco before Christmas, and that sounded very much like an 'ending' of a rivalry to her. Then again, the part about relationships...Ginny felt a warmth rise in her chest as she thought of Thom. Feeling somewhat happier, she looked at the fourth card, which was meant to be 'the near future'. It was the Ten of Cups, reversed. She scanned further down the page until she found it.
//Contentment// was the meaning. An overly good outlook, it seemed. //Mistrust and rivalries in a previously happy situation//. Maybe not. //Losing touch with friends and relatives, perhaps feelings of isolation and misunderstanding//.
Ginny sighed and rubbed the bridge of nose anxiously. Perhaps the card meant more misunderstandings with her family, or maybe even her loss of touch with the other girls. Shaking her head, she went onto the fifth card, keen to move on. This was the Three of Swords, representing the long term future. She turned back to the sword cards.
//Heartache. A relationship will soon end painfully. That which was in your way is now being removed, possibly indicating a three-way relationship where one party, or perhaps all, will inevitably receive heartache//
That did *not* sound good. There was *no way* that that sounded good. A three way relationship? As in an affair? But...but...she would never cheat on Thom, and it was the same for him. Wasn't it? Feeling incredibly worried, Ginny fervently went on to the sixth and last card, eager to know what the eventual outcome would be. She looked down at the spread to see which card it was. The Seven of Cups. A familiar card.
//Choices//
'Ah,' Ginny thought to herself as she saw the representation. 'This is definitely familiar. I had this one in my Three Card spread to'.
//An important decision must be made; however, there are many options to choose from. Make your decision carefully, since all is not as it seems. Doorways of opportunity stand open, but you have to develop your instincts to know which one to go through. The choice is up to you, Virginia. Choose wisely//
Ginny did a double take on the last sentence. What on *earth*?!How had the book known her name? Why the *hell* was it written in there? She looked back again, fearful in case she saw her name once more, but at the same time eager to know it was really there. But looking back, the paragraph ended with instincts. Indeed, the last sentence was no longer there. Ginny felt a mixture of relief and disappointment flood through her.
She flipped back to the main Tarot page, seeing if there was anything else, but her eyes caught a page which seemed devoted to getting Combinations of Cards (A/N Getting, like, three fives at once or something) and it sparked her interest. She remembered getting two sevens, and she looked to see it had any special meaning. It did.
//True Love//
They were the only two words written, but Ginny already knew that somehow, this meant her decision had to do with love. Perhaps she had to find her true love or something?
Ginny sighed. Basically she had to make some huge choice that was about her true love, was most likely connected to Draco Malfoy, involved commitments, dishonesty, contentment, and heartache.
Utterly confused, Ginny was about to scan through the book for more information, but before she had time to try, Professor Trelawney clapped as a signal for them to listen. The students stopped reading the cards, turning towards Trelawney.
"That is enough for today class, as I am sure you have found out much about your future today, and I hope your questions have been answered well," (a glower from Ginny followed this comment) "but until next lesson, I must ask you to pack away. Farewell, and fortuity to all"
Ginny gladly stuffed her things into her bag, taking off almost at a run when the bell rang, getting down the ladder as fast as she could. She sped away from the classroom, her expression dark. Little first years scattered, trying to get out of the way of what was obviously a Weasley in a bad mood. She made her way down the main staircase to the entrance hall, and she didn't stop until she had swept out through the large double doors into the grounds. She made her way to the larger courtyard by the North Tower, sitting down on one of the stone benches, the nearby birch tree trying and failing to hide her from the rest of the world. Soon enough she heard footsteps coming towards her, interrupting her moping session. She was about to tell them to go away when she turned around and found herself looking up at Thom. She smiled delightedly, throwing her arms around his neck. He kissed her lightly on the nose before sitting beside her. He put an arm around her shoulders and she lent into him, snuggling close to his chest.
"Nice to see you again" she said, feeling the cool January wind whip her hair around her face. Her hands were icy and she rubbed them together in an attempt to heat them up, but before she could do much, Thom took them into his own, kissing her windswept knuckles and then resting their intertwined fingers on his knee.
"I couldn't stay away for long" he answered, and Ginny could tell he was grinning. She sighed contentedly in reply, fiddling absent-mindedly with the cuffs of her robes. She felt amazingly relaxed, and even the strange and intriguing Tarot reading from ten minutes previous seemed far away and dreamlike, like it was of no particular importance at all.
But of course it was. The one who was watching knew that more than any.
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A/N So, what do you guys think, huh? I *finally* updated! And it was pretty long as well, with lots of events! A *not* boring chapter! This proves that, yes, miracles *can* occur!
Anyways, once again, I'm really sorry for the delay, but it's here now, so I hope you enjoyed it. I'm going to try *so* hard not to let the same thing happen again, so give me a nudge if I start to slip, okay?
Anyways, please R&R, cuz you *know* I like it!
Until next time, faithful readers!
S.e.a