Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling, except for some of the songs, but I've listed who they belong to. Enjoy and please review!
I'm glad to see that you all are liking my story so far! And I really want to thank my reviewers! You all rock and kick ass and I love you. = ) So I decided to put this up before I leave on vacation for a week, which means that I won't be putting up the next chapter for a while, but here you go. I hope you enjoy it. Peace! -- Heather
Ferret in the Burrow - Chapter 3 - The one with all the tears
The next day, Ginny awoke to her alarm clock and then dressed up in her black, spaghetti-strap dress that she had made herself, and then wore a black shawl over the top. She put her hair up into a bun and then put on her black shoes that her mom wore when she was a kid. She surveyed herself in the mirror, noticing that her red hair stuck out above everything else and she wondered what she might look like with black hair, or maybe brown or blonde...anything but red.
"You 'bout ready yet pumpkin?" Her father knocked on the door.
"Almost!" Ginny stated. She rushed over to her sock drawer and pulled out a little baggy of makeup. It had purple eye shadow, lip gloss, mascara and blush that she never used. Why do I have this blush anyway, she asked herself, my face is always blushing. She quickly applied her make up and then hurried downstairs to join the others.
They arrived at Godric's Hollow cemetery in due time. Ginny felt really awkward around Harry. He had already started distancing himself from the rest of the group, when it was time for the sermon, Ginny ended up sitting between Draco and Harry.
It was a really cold day and the wind was slightly blowing. It looked like it would rain soon. Ginny looked around at all the people who came. She spotted Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Mad-eye Moody, Tonks and even Lupin was the there. He looked more depressed then the others and he would every once in a while look back over at Harry sadly.
Ginny looked as they brought in the casket. As they set it down a man put a picture of Sirius on top near the display of flowers. Ginny felt that she ought to be more sad, possibly crying, but she never really knew Sirius that well. Up until last year she thought Sirius Black was the name of a mass murderer, a man of evil. And then she found out he was working for the order that her parents worked for, that he was a good guy and that he was Harry's godfather. It took some time to get used to being around him, but he turned out to be a really nice and fun guy.
She felt a tear begin to trickle down her cheek. She brushed it away just as a few more began slipping down.
The man behind the podium began talking about Sirius's life and how he lived it as full as he could. He listed off the people he left behind in his life. Most of them were friends, not really any family, and then Harry. Ginny looked over at him. He was looking down sadly. Ginny didn't know if it was the right thing to do or not, and there was no romantic gesture to it, just friendship, but she reached over and grabbed Harry's hand. He looked up at her. His eyes were red and there were tears welling up. She gave him a smile and he returned it, gratifyingly. He looked back down and then leaned on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned her head on Harry's head. She heard him sniff into her shoulder.
"It's okay," Ginny whispered. He continued to sniffle a bit. Ginny felt her chin tremble at the effort of trying not to cry. She sniffed and cried some more at the remembrance of Sirius's final hours. It went by so slowly, but it was over and done with within seconds. He was gone...so quickly. She imagined that Harry was probably thinking these same thoughts, but he had a longer time to know Sirius.
The man talking stopped to allow a song to play while people grieved. The song was Sarah McLaughlin, Angel. It was a beautifully sad song, and though Ginny had never heard it before it was a song, it had a weird effect on her that made her remember times she had been with Sirius. The way he made her laugh and smile. After the song ended, Lupin took the stand as he began to talk about memories he had with Sirius, and James. Occasionally he mentioned a man named Peter, but he was obviously of little importance. Lupin would stop to take a breath to not cry over the death of his two friends that he had known for forever through thick and thin. The people who stood by him even through his 'difference'. He finished up and sat down, head in hands as Dumbledore stood up to speak of his remembrance of Sirius and what a great man he was. Ginny wondered often how he could talk without crying. He smiled occasionally and his eyes twinkled a bit at a few people. He finished his up and then they played more music.
"Do you think I should go up?" Harry whispered to Ginny.
"You can if you want to," Ginny replied.
"I feel like I should," Harry stated, "Like this is the last time I'll be able to...talk to him. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense," Ginny smiled sadly.
"What should I say?" Harry asked.
"Whatever you want to say," Ginny smiled.
"Will you come up with me?" Harry asked.
"Me?" Ginny asked, she wiped away the tears on her face. She was sure she looked miserable.
"Yeah, I don't want to be up there by myself," Harry sniffed.
"Sure," Ginny gulped. Harry sighed gratefully and then looked down at his feet nervously, thinking of something to say. Ginny pulled out a pocket mirror from her small hand bag. She did her best to wipe away her running mascara. Stupid idiot, she told herself, who wear's mascara to a funeral in the first place?
The song ended and the speaker asked if there was anyone else who wanted to say a few words. Harry stood up and grabbed Ginny's hand and they walked up to the stage. Harry looked at the crowd and he squeezed Ginny's hand tightly. He was sweating. Ginny lightly squeezed back in a gentle gesture. I'm here for you, Ginny thought. Harry began talking and Ginny knew that soon enough the words began to flow off his tongue.
"Sirius helped me, in more ways than he knows. He was truly the father that I never got to be with. Thank you, Sirius," Harry concluded. Ginny smiled at him and wiped the tears from her eyes as she guided him back to their seat.
"You were wonderful," Ginny smiled at him, "I'm sure Sirius is very glad you did that." Harry smiled at her.
After the ceremony there was much talking and gathering. The dark clouds had moved over sometime during the sermon and there was sunshine. Ginny grabbed a cup of water and sat over by a nearby tree. Draco joined her later on. He was probably the only person, besides Dumbledore, who didn't look tear-stained or completely tired from crying.
"Looks like you were emotionally shattered," Ginny said sarcastically.
"Can you blame me?" Draco asked, "He's one of the reason's my father is gone." Draco sat next to her.
"Or is your father the reason that Sirius is gone?" Ginny asked. She looked at him coldly.
"Like I said before, I'm not one to lie to you. I didn't really like the man."
"I didn't ask you to lie," Ginny stated, "But you could have showed a little more compassion. And how do you know you don't like him? You never got the chance to know him."
"Exactly. I'm not going to cry over and man I don't know."
"Fine," Ginny sighed, taking a sip of her water. As she drained the cup she saw Harry through the clear-plastic bottom. She put the cup down and saw Harry kneeling by two graves in the distance. Ginny got up and began walking over to him. Draco got up and followed after her.
"He probably wants to be alone," he said, grabbing her arm to stop her.
"Who's graves are those?" Ginny asked.
"Take a guess," Draco said sarcastically. She turned to Draco and put a hand to her mouth.
"His parents," she mumbled through her hand. Draco nodded solemnly. She looked back at Harry as he put some flowers down. Her heart went out to him. She sighed.
"Poor, Harry," Ginny said, shaking her head sadly.
"Yeah, poor, poor, Harry," Draco said sarcastically and walked off.
Soon they were back home after a long day. Nobody really talked much. Ginny took Draco's advice. She wrote a page about her feelings and then tore it up and threw it in the trash. She felt a bit better now.
A few weeks went by and it was breakfast time. It was rather quiet, with small conversation when two owls flew through the window. One was the Daily Prophet for Hermione and another was a package for Harry.
"You're still ordering that paper?" Ron hissed at Hermione, "After all the trouble they've caused!"
"Shut-up, Ron," Hermione hissed, "I just want to see what they're thoughts are on certain subjects."
"Right," Ron said angrily, "What's that, Harry?" Harry opened up the package. There was a letter and a key. Harry looked at the key curiously and then opened the letter. He read it through and then put it down and looked at the key idly.
"What is it, Harry darling?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Sirius's key," Harry said slowly, "To his vault." Ron grabbed Harry's letter off the table and read it and then handed it to his parents.
"Stuff from his will," Ron whispered to Hermione and Ginny overheard.
"Well I guess we can go see what he left for you on Sunday. Does that sound okay, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Sounds perfect," Harry said, getting up from the table and leaving.
"Molly, can I speak with you?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Weasley said and they got up and headed into the living room.
"We should go check on Harry," Hermione stated. Ron nodded and they too disappeared. Ginny finished off her cereal and looked at Draco who was picking up spoonfuls of milk and dumping them back into the bowl idly.
"You okay?" Ginny asked.
"Huh?" Draco asked looking up at her.
"I asked are you okay?" Ginny asked.
"I'm fine," Draco said, sitting up and putting the napkin that was in his lap on the table.
"You've been really quiet lately," Ginny pointed out.
"So..." Draco asked.
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"I'm sure..." Ginny said giving him a look.
"I said nothing," Draco stated and then stormed off. Ginny eyed him and then followed him up the stairs. She opened the door before he could lock it.
Once inside she looked around the room. It was certainly different from what Percy had it as. Everything seemed darker than before. Draco obviously brought that kind of darkness with him. She saw that he was sitting on his bed, propped up on his elbows eyeing her.
"What do you want?" he asked. Ginny stopped looking around the room.
"To talk," Ginny answered and sat on the foot of his bed. "Obviously something is troubling you."
"What makes you think so?" Draco said with sarcastic interest.
"Draco..." Ginny warned, "You were there for me to talk to, and I feel like I should return the favor."
"It wasn't on purpose!" Draco complained, "I had to make up with you and you spilled your guts. It wasn't a favor and you needn't return anything."
"Well, then I'm doing this as a favor," Ginny said triumphantly.
"I don't need to talk to anyone, alright?" Draco sighed, irritated.
"Malfoy, can I ask you something?" she asked.
"What is it?" he said, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.
"Why are you here?," Ginny asked, "I mean, why do you need to be here?" Draco's eyes opened and surveyed her and then closed them again. He leaned up against the wall.
"I was wondering how long it was going to be before you began wondering that."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"No," Draco replied.
"Why not?!" Ginny whined.
"Because it's none of your business," Draco replied.
"I already know half." Ginny stated proudly.
"What do you know?" Draco asked, boredly.
"Well I know you're father is missing..."
"So does the rest of the world," Draco replied.
"And I know that your mum is in St. Mungo's," Ginny added.
"Who told you that?" Draco asked surprised.
"I overheard my parents talking about it," Ginny replied, "Why is she there?"
"Ask your parents," Draco replied snidely.
"Draco..." Draco seemed to be contemplating something for a while. Either he was thinking of whether or not to tell her or he was thinking of a lie. Ginny couldn't tell.
"She's there because of my father," Draco finally replied, "She went mad with him constantly being gone on 'dangerous missions' for you-know-who."
"Oh," Ginny replied.
"Is that all, because I'd like to rest if you don't mind," Draco asked.
"Okay," Ginny sighed, "Nice talking to you." She smiled.
"Yeah, nice..." Draco said falling asleep. Ginny left the room and closed the door behind her.
Please review while you're down here! Thanks a bunch! - Heather