Okay FYI's for this chapter. We mention some stuff from the Bible in this
chapter. If you don't like it I'm sorry. If you want to check it out it's
in Exodus Chapter 1. Also I have been inform by my studious room mate that
Seti is actually spelled Sety. My bad.
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Into The Mists By: Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher
Chapter 13: Confessions of a Woman's Heart
Estel watched as every one filed out of the room. When only Yu Gi was left standing there she turned to him. As she turned he caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes before it dissolve into the half annoyed, half playful look she had worn for the past few hours. "Yu Gi," she said in a quiet voice, "I need to talk to Yami. Now."
"Uh," Yu Gi stuttered in confusion, "alright." Then the gentle hikari forfeited control to his Yami.
"What do you need?" Yami Yu Gi said trying to take control of the conversation.
"Not this time." E.T.'s Yami said forcefully, shoving him into a nearby armchair. "I may never ask you to do this again, and I know this sounds like an odd request, but we want you to lock Yu Gi into his soul room. We don't want him listening in on this conversation."
Yami, taken aback, told Yu Gi what their fiances wanted. /Alright./ Yu Gi consented. /Just remember to let me out when the discussion is through. Oh, by the way, E.T.'s upset about something. If you find out what it is, let me know./
//Alright.// The Yu Gi went into his soul room and listened to the light click as his Yami locked the door behind him.
"Alright, he's locked in. Now do you want to tell me what has the two of you so upset?"
The female yami looked at her soul mate before deciding how much he needed to know. And how much she needed to gripe him out. "It's my Hikari. You really upset her."
"What did I do?" He asked in genuine concern.
"Me! Marry a street rat?! From nowhere?" She quipped. He blanched, not expecting his joke to be thrown back in his face.
"It was a joke." He said lamely.
"Yes, but as you were so fond of saying, words are the most dangerous type of weapon. She took it as a joke, but afterwards she started thinking that Yu Gi would rather have Tea."
"Yu Gi loved Tea, yes. And I won't say that Tea wasn't good for him, but he loves Estel."
"You know that, and I know that, but we both know that the human mind is a funny thing when it comes to matters of the heart." She paused a moment to study his face. Then, looking down, she went on. "Estel is hiding something form Yu Gi." She said quietly. Yami stared in disbelief at the woman standing in front of him.
"If she is keeping something from him, then that means you are keeping the same something from me." He said half angered, half betrayed.
"Don't be stupid." Estel snapped at him. "I have a hikari shredding herself to pieces in her soul room because *Tea didn't keep secrets*. I don't need her to overhear a guilt trip from you. We cleared every one out to tell you the problem, but if your going to be stupid I'll use my Scales to lock *you* in *your* soul room. And don't think I won't do it."
Startled he looked into her eyes since they first started talking. The pain he saw there made any angry retort he may have had die on his lips. "What is she hiding. Maybe I can help."
"That's better. Now can I trust you not to tell your Hikari what I'm about to tell you. This is something that he needs to hear from Estel." At his slight nod she sat down in the chair across from him. Do you remember the night Tea died?"
Perplexed he nodded. "Yu Gi had nightmares about it until he met Estel, but what does that have to do with anything."
"Estel knows who killed Tea." Yami rose quickly, and with a sharp intake of breath was by her side in moments.
"Who?"
"I said it's something Estel needs to tell. I can tell you that she was killed by a duel monster. The Portrait's Secret in fact. If it helps, she died quickly. Estel happened to pass by there that night. She had had the Scales for a little over a year. She was the only one with the power and knowledge to avenge the murder. We didn't kill him, but we made *damn* sure he suffered for it. Later she met Yu Gi and fell in love. It was four months before she realized that Yu Gi's love, and the girl that died that night were one in the same. She never told him, because she was afraid. Afraid he would hate her for not telling him. Afraid he would reject her for the way she punished the murderer. Afraid that if the police found out she would be an accomplis. But most of all she was afraid that he would love her so much that if the murderer came back Yu Gi would get in the way and get killed."
Yami looked at the woman before him and saw that her eyes were brimming with tears. "I'm glad you told me. I'll get Yu Gi to start showing his affection more openly, and make sure she knows that I won't let *anything* happen to her or my hikari."
"Thank you." Then a Yami pulled her up out of the chair she was sitting in and onto his lap in the chair he had vacated earlier. Then, holding her in his arms, he kissed her. Into that kiss he poured all of his love for the dancer, and every ounce of the confidence and compassion he held in his soul.
Suddenly Yami E.T. pulled away laughing. "What's so funny?" he asked her.
"I think my hikari needs Ryou's 'Girl's Night Out' more than I do."
The couple fell asleep curled up in each other's arms, and woke a few hours later cramped from sleeping in a chair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Yami Yu Gi woke the sky was just turning the brilliant ruby red of sunset. The first thing he noticed was the sent of plumiera as Estel snuggled closer. Then he became aware of a light tapping on the door. Cradling Estel he stood up and walked over to the bed. There he laid her down and kissed her cheek. When he reached the door he opened it expecting to see one of the professors standing on the other side. But there was no one there. After a moment he realized that the knocking was *inside* his head.
//Yu Gi?// he said sending the thought tendril to his hikari's soul room.
The muffled answer came back to him sounding slightly impatient. /Are you three *still* talking?/ There was a slight pause then, / I didn't think she was *that* upset./
//No,// he said unlocking the door with in their mind. //we're not still talking, but yes, she is that upset.//
/What happened? Did someone get hurt?/
//It was a misunderstanding. She was afraid you didn't love her anymore.//
/What gave her that idea?/ the hikari asked alarmed.
//The human mind is a funny thing. You just might want to tell her a few more times how much you want to marry her.//
/I tell her I love her nearly every day./
//Yes, but I think what she needs to hear is that you love her *no matter what*.// With that Yami left Yu Gi to ponder it in his small room in their mind, and left the girls to sleep off the emotional roller coaster of that morning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Estel woke slowly. As her eyes fluttered open her hand rose to the cheek Yami had kissed. \\Hikari?\\ she asked after a moment.
There was a long pause before the spent young woman responded to her darker half. \Yes.\
\\Do you want to talk about it?\\
\No.\
\\Of course not.\\ Her Yami sighed bitterly. \\You never do.\\ Yami Estel surrendered control to her hikari, then materialized beside her on the bed. E.T. Looked at her Yami's transparent eyes and a single tear fell from her eye.
\You don't understand. You've done those things before. You know that Yami will always forgive you. Yu Gi's so innocent. He doesn't know half of what goes on out there on the streets. He doesn't know any of the bad things I've done. And even with all the things I had to do to survive on the streets, *nothing* compares to what I did *that* night. How can I tell him?\
\\E.T.\\ The yami paused not sure how to continue. \\We all have things we're ashamed of. I was a slave before I became a dancer. I had to do whatever my master said, and I'm not proud of the things I had to do.\\
\Yes, I know. But you don't have castrating someone on your list of sins.\
\\Very well, I'll tell you something I've never told anyone. You have to promise never to tell Yu Gi. And don't mention it to anyone. EVER. Yami doesn't remember this, thank the Gods, but someday he will. Have you ever read the Christian Bible?\\
\Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?\
\\In that Bible the Hebrews were enslaved.\\
\Yeah, but isn't that Bible just stories?\
\\No. Everything in that Bible is true. Everything, even the part about how they were freed.\\
\What are you talking about?\ The Hikari asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
\\Yami and I were never married. He was married before he met me though. I remember his daughter was a wonderful woman. I think you might be one of her descendants. She was so wise.\\ the spirit smiled at her other. Then she went on. \\Yami's reign was almost perfect, but like everything else, he made mistakes. Fortunately he only made one big one.\\
\He was the Pharaoh who refused to free the slaves?!?\ The younger of the two interrupted.
\\No, that was his son. *He* was the pharaoh who killed the children of the Hebrew slaves.\\
\But,...but, he always seemed like such a nice guy.\
\\Yes, I know. Yami always regretted doing that. In fact in refusing to forgive himself, he wouldn't let me forgive him either. That's why we never married after his wife died. He became so wrapped up in his crime that he wouldn't let me love him. I wanted to. By Bastet, I wanted to. I died trying to love him.\\
The two young women sat in silence for a little while before the Yami spoke again. \\Yami doesn't remember any of this. Yu Gi doesn't know. For all I know Marik and Bakura don't know. The only reason I'm telling you this is so you don't make the same mistake he did. I know what it's like to be rejected because the person you love thinks they aren't worthy of that love. I won't let you subject Yu Gi to that kind of pain.\\
\Thank you, Yami.\
\\And Estel, when Yami gets that memory back, I'll still love him. I never stopped loving him. And Yu Gi won't stop loving you.\\
\How do you know.\
\\I don't, but you do.\\
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny folded her blue robe and placed it in her bag. She was packing for the girls only weekend Estel had set up for them. Her mind began to wonder as she packed until it focused on the thought of a certain boy. Hermione entered the room and noticed Ginny had stopped half way through her packing and start to tremble.
"Ginny?" Hermione said as she placed a hand gently on her friends shoulder. "Ginny, are you alright?"
"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny cried out as she spun and began to cry on her friends shoulder. Hermione was taken aback at the out burst and did her best to comfort her distressed friend.
"Ginny, what's wrong? You can tell me." Hermione said, her arms wrapped protectively around the red head. Then she asked tentatively, "Is it about Harry?" Ginny responded by nodding into Hermione's now damp shoulder. Hermione led Ginny to her bed and sat her down. She looked into the stricken face of her young friend with concern. "Now, tell me what is wrong."
"Well, do you remember when that Marik guy took over my mind?" When Hermione nodded she continued. "Well I only remember two things from that time. One is just weird. Right before the professor got rid of him I remember a whole bunch of elephants. But the other is from before that. I remember getting control briefly and when I did I saw Harry. He was running towards me with this really scared look on his face. And when I woke up he was right there with worry and relief written all over his face. I haven't even thought of Harry as more than a friend since my first year, but after that it just sort of happened all over again only more intense. Hermione, what if he sees me as a little sister or he just felt responsible? I mean, if he saw me as a good friend at least there would the chance it could become more, but noone ever considers dating someone they regard as a sister. And I don't want pity either I don't think I could bear it." Ginny concluded with a note of helplessness and hung her head.
"Ginny, he did blame himself partially for what happened, but only because he couldn't blame you, or any one else for that matter. Harry tends to lay at least part of the blame when there is noone else to blame. Actually, after that little outburst of yours in the hall he seemed relieved. I think he thought you blamed him. And trust me he doesn't see you as a little sister. I would almost bet he returns your feelings. The way he stood there trying everything he could to break down the wall Marik put up between you was desperate and we had to literally had to drag him from your bed side to keep him from starving himself." Hermione told her.
"Do you mean it?" Ginny asked her eyes filling with hope.
"Yes." The single word had a haunted and sad edge to it and Hermione appeared to be lost in thought.
"Hermione, does it up set you that Harry may like me?" Ginny asked almost dreading the answer.
"No!" Hermione said to reassure her companion. "It's just.... well it's.."
"Out with it." Ginny comanded.
"Alright, it's your brother." Hermione admitted sheepishly blushing then rushed on to explain. "Half the time I don't even think he realizes I'm a girl. Those kind of thoughts didn't even crossed my mind until fourth year, your third. It was the ball. I think it was the first time it really hit him that I was a girl. He looked at me differently and I liked the way he was looking at me. Honestly I hoped he would never stop. And then the look in his eye as he watched me and Viktor was one of pure jealousy. At first I was so mad at him, it was his own fault after all. He asked me as a last resort. But I was glad he was jealous it made me feel special even more so than all of Viktor's attentions. In fact if you so much as mention Viktor's name he gets that jealous look in his eye, but the rest of the time he seems so indifferent." There was a pained look in Hermione's eyes and Ginny reach out and took her hand. "Oh, Ginny you know how Ron is. He wouldn't hesitate to place himself in danger for a friend. What if something happens to him. I would never know." She cried then she gasped in horror. "Oh, Ginny I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that I..." Ginny cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"I worry about that too sometimes. Hermione Ron notices a lot more than most realize. He's generally the first to pick up on when something's wrong. He just doesn't generally handle things well from there, but he is a guy. Trust me he notices that you're a girl he just doesn't know where to go from there so he hides it. He's just to embarrassed and unsure of himself to ever say anything." Ginny told the fretting girl across from her.
"Thanks Ginny." Hermione said smiling as she brushed the tears from her eyes. Suddenly the door opened.
"Started without me I see." Estel said as she came in.
"Sorry." Ginny said blushing slightly.
"Don't be. Are you both about ready to go?"
"Almost, I just have a few more things left to pack then I'll be ready." Ginny said moving to gather the last of her stuff.
"I'll help." Hermione offered.
"Okay, meet me in the common room when you're ready." Estel said as she turned and left. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Into The Mists By: Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher
Chapter 13: Confessions of a Woman's Heart
Estel watched as every one filed out of the room. When only Yu Gi was left standing there she turned to him. As she turned he caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes before it dissolve into the half annoyed, half playful look she had worn for the past few hours. "Yu Gi," she said in a quiet voice, "I need to talk to Yami. Now."
"Uh," Yu Gi stuttered in confusion, "alright." Then the gentle hikari forfeited control to his Yami.
"What do you need?" Yami Yu Gi said trying to take control of the conversation.
"Not this time." E.T.'s Yami said forcefully, shoving him into a nearby armchair. "I may never ask you to do this again, and I know this sounds like an odd request, but we want you to lock Yu Gi into his soul room. We don't want him listening in on this conversation."
Yami, taken aback, told Yu Gi what their fiances wanted. /Alright./ Yu Gi consented. /Just remember to let me out when the discussion is through. Oh, by the way, E.T.'s upset about something. If you find out what it is, let me know./
//Alright.// The Yu Gi went into his soul room and listened to the light click as his Yami locked the door behind him.
"Alright, he's locked in. Now do you want to tell me what has the two of you so upset?"
The female yami looked at her soul mate before deciding how much he needed to know. And how much she needed to gripe him out. "It's my Hikari. You really upset her."
"What did I do?" He asked in genuine concern.
"Me! Marry a street rat?! From nowhere?" She quipped. He blanched, not expecting his joke to be thrown back in his face.
"It was a joke." He said lamely.
"Yes, but as you were so fond of saying, words are the most dangerous type of weapon. She took it as a joke, but afterwards she started thinking that Yu Gi would rather have Tea."
"Yu Gi loved Tea, yes. And I won't say that Tea wasn't good for him, but he loves Estel."
"You know that, and I know that, but we both know that the human mind is a funny thing when it comes to matters of the heart." She paused a moment to study his face. Then, looking down, she went on. "Estel is hiding something form Yu Gi." She said quietly. Yami stared in disbelief at the woman standing in front of him.
"If she is keeping something from him, then that means you are keeping the same something from me." He said half angered, half betrayed.
"Don't be stupid." Estel snapped at him. "I have a hikari shredding herself to pieces in her soul room because *Tea didn't keep secrets*. I don't need her to overhear a guilt trip from you. We cleared every one out to tell you the problem, but if your going to be stupid I'll use my Scales to lock *you* in *your* soul room. And don't think I won't do it."
Startled he looked into her eyes since they first started talking. The pain he saw there made any angry retort he may have had die on his lips. "What is she hiding. Maybe I can help."
"That's better. Now can I trust you not to tell your Hikari what I'm about to tell you. This is something that he needs to hear from Estel." At his slight nod she sat down in the chair across from him. Do you remember the night Tea died?"
Perplexed he nodded. "Yu Gi had nightmares about it until he met Estel, but what does that have to do with anything."
"Estel knows who killed Tea." Yami rose quickly, and with a sharp intake of breath was by her side in moments.
"Who?"
"I said it's something Estel needs to tell. I can tell you that she was killed by a duel monster. The Portrait's Secret in fact. If it helps, she died quickly. Estel happened to pass by there that night. She had had the Scales for a little over a year. She was the only one with the power and knowledge to avenge the murder. We didn't kill him, but we made *damn* sure he suffered for it. Later she met Yu Gi and fell in love. It was four months before she realized that Yu Gi's love, and the girl that died that night were one in the same. She never told him, because she was afraid. Afraid he would hate her for not telling him. Afraid he would reject her for the way she punished the murderer. Afraid that if the police found out she would be an accomplis. But most of all she was afraid that he would love her so much that if the murderer came back Yu Gi would get in the way and get killed."
Yami looked at the woman before him and saw that her eyes were brimming with tears. "I'm glad you told me. I'll get Yu Gi to start showing his affection more openly, and make sure she knows that I won't let *anything* happen to her or my hikari."
"Thank you." Then a Yami pulled her up out of the chair she was sitting in and onto his lap in the chair he had vacated earlier. Then, holding her in his arms, he kissed her. Into that kiss he poured all of his love for the dancer, and every ounce of the confidence and compassion he held in his soul.
Suddenly Yami E.T. pulled away laughing. "What's so funny?" he asked her.
"I think my hikari needs Ryou's 'Girl's Night Out' more than I do."
The couple fell asleep curled up in each other's arms, and woke a few hours later cramped from sleeping in a chair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Yami Yu Gi woke the sky was just turning the brilliant ruby red of sunset. The first thing he noticed was the sent of plumiera as Estel snuggled closer. Then he became aware of a light tapping on the door. Cradling Estel he stood up and walked over to the bed. There he laid her down and kissed her cheek. When he reached the door he opened it expecting to see one of the professors standing on the other side. But there was no one there. After a moment he realized that the knocking was *inside* his head.
//Yu Gi?// he said sending the thought tendril to his hikari's soul room.
The muffled answer came back to him sounding slightly impatient. /Are you three *still* talking?/ There was a slight pause then, / I didn't think she was *that* upset./
//No,// he said unlocking the door with in their mind. //we're not still talking, but yes, she is that upset.//
/What happened? Did someone get hurt?/
//It was a misunderstanding. She was afraid you didn't love her anymore.//
/What gave her that idea?/ the hikari asked alarmed.
//The human mind is a funny thing. You just might want to tell her a few more times how much you want to marry her.//
/I tell her I love her nearly every day./
//Yes, but I think what she needs to hear is that you love her *no matter what*.// With that Yami left Yu Gi to ponder it in his small room in their mind, and left the girls to sleep off the emotional roller coaster of that morning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Estel woke slowly. As her eyes fluttered open her hand rose to the cheek Yami had kissed. \\Hikari?\\ she asked after a moment.
There was a long pause before the spent young woman responded to her darker half. \Yes.\
\\Do you want to talk about it?\\
\No.\
\\Of course not.\\ Her Yami sighed bitterly. \\You never do.\\ Yami Estel surrendered control to her hikari, then materialized beside her on the bed. E.T. Looked at her Yami's transparent eyes and a single tear fell from her eye.
\You don't understand. You've done those things before. You know that Yami will always forgive you. Yu Gi's so innocent. He doesn't know half of what goes on out there on the streets. He doesn't know any of the bad things I've done. And even with all the things I had to do to survive on the streets, *nothing* compares to what I did *that* night. How can I tell him?\
\\E.T.\\ The yami paused not sure how to continue. \\We all have things we're ashamed of. I was a slave before I became a dancer. I had to do whatever my master said, and I'm not proud of the things I had to do.\\
\Yes, I know. But you don't have castrating someone on your list of sins.\
\\Very well, I'll tell you something I've never told anyone. You have to promise never to tell Yu Gi. And don't mention it to anyone. EVER. Yami doesn't remember this, thank the Gods, but someday he will. Have you ever read the Christian Bible?\\
\Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?\
\\In that Bible the Hebrews were enslaved.\\
\Yeah, but isn't that Bible just stories?\
\\No. Everything in that Bible is true. Everything, even the part about how they were freed.\\
\What are you talking about?\ The Hikari asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
\\Yami and I were never married. He was married before he met me though. I remember his daughter was a wonderful woman. I think you might be one of her descendants. She was so wise.\\ the spirit smiled at her other. Then she went on. \\Yami's reign was almost perfect, but like everything else, he made mistakes. Fortunately he only made one big one.\\
\He was the Pharaoh who refused to free the slaves?!?\ The younger of the two interrupted.
\\No, that was his son. *He* was the pharaoh who killed the children of the Hebrew slaves.\\
\But,...but, he always seemed like such a nice guy.\
\\Yes, I know. Yami always regretted doing that. In fact in refusing to forgive himself, he wouldn't let me forgive him either. That's why we never married after his wife died. He became so wrapped up in his crime that he wouldn't let me love him. I wanted to. By Bastet, I wanted to. I died trying to love him.\\
The two young women sat in silence for a little while before the Yami spoke again. \\Yami doesn't remember any of this. Yu Gi doesn't know. For all I know Marik and Bakura don't know. The only reason I'm telling you this is so you don't make the same mistake he did. I know what it's like to be rejected because the person you love thinks they aren't worthy of that love. I won't let you subject Yu Gi to that kind of pain.\\
\Thank you, Yami.\
\\And Estel, when Yami gets that memory back, I'll still love him. I never stopped loving him. And Yu Gi won't stop loving you.\\
\How do you know.\
\\I don't, but you do.\\
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny folded her blue robe and placed it in her bag. She was packing for the girls only weekend Estel had set up for them. Her mind began to wonder as she packed until it focused on the thought of a certain boy. Hermione entered the room and noticed Ginny had stopped half way through her packing and start to tremble.
"Ginny?" Hermione said as she placed a hand gently on her friends shoulder. "Ginny, are you alright?"
"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny cried out as she spun and began to cry on her friends shoulder. Hermione was taken aback at the out burst and did her best to comfort her distressed friend.
"Ginny, what's wrong? You can tell me." Hermione said, her arms wrapped protectively around the red head. Then she asked tentatively, "Is it about Harry?" Ginny responded by nodding into Hermione's now damp shoulder. Hermione led Ginny to her bed and sat her down. She looked into the stricken face of her young friend with concern. "Now, tell me what is wrong."
"Well, do you remember when that Marik guy took over my mind?" When Hermione nodded she continued. "Well I only remember two things from that time. One is just weird. Right before the professor got rid of him I remember a whole bunch of elephants. But the other is from before that. I remember getting control briefly and when I did I saw Harry. He was running towards me with this really scared look on his face. And when I woke up he was right there with worry and relief written all over his face. I haven't even thought of Harry as more than a friend since my first year, but after that it just sort of happened all over again only more intense. Hermione, what if he sees me as a little sister or he just felt responsible? I mean, if he saw me as a good friend at least there would the chance it could become more, but noone ever considers dating someone they regard as a sister. And I don't want pity either I don't think I could bear it." Ginny concluded with a note of helplessness and hung her head.
"Ginny, he did blame himself partially for what happened, but only because he couldn't blame you, or any one else for that matter. Harry tends to lay at least part of the blame when there is noone else to blame. Actually, after that little outburst of yours in the hall he seemed relieved. I think he thought you blamed him. And trust me he doesn't see you as a little sister. I would almost bet he returns your feelings. The way he stood there trying everything he could to break down the wall Marik put up between you was desperate and we had to literally had to drag him from your bed side to keep him from starving himself." Hermione told her.
"Do you mean it?" Ginny asked her eyes filling with hope.
"Yes." The single word had a haunted and sad edge to it and Hermione appeared to be lost in thought.
"Hermione, does it up set you that Harry may like me?" Ginny asked almost dreading the answer.
"No!" Hermione said to reassure her companion. "It's just.... well it's.."
"Out with it." Ginny comanded.
"Alright, it's your brother." Hermione admitted sheepishly blushing then rushed on to explain. "Half the time I don't even think he realizes I'm a girl. Those kind of thoughts didn't even crossed my mind until fourth year, your third. It was the ball. I think it was the first time it really hit him that I was a girl. He looked at me differently and I liked the way he was looking at me. Honestly I hoped he would never stop. And then the look in his eye as he watched me and Viktor was one of pure jealousy. At first I was so mad at him, it was his own fault after all. He asked me as a last resort. But I was glad he was jealous it made me feel special even more so than all of Viktor's attentions. In fact if you so much as mention Viktor's name he gets that jealous look in his eye, but the rest of the time he seems so indifferent." There was a pained look in Hermione's eyes and Ginny reach out and took her hand. "Oh, Ginny you know how Ron is. He wouldn't hesitate to place himself in danger for a friend. What if something happens to him. I would never know." She cried then she gasped in horror. "Oh, Ginny I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that I..." Ginny cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"I worry about that too sometimes. Hermione Ron notices a lot more than most realize. He's generally the first to pick up on when something's wrong. He just doesn't generally handle things well from there, but he is a guy. Trust me he notices that you're a girl he just doesn't know where to go from there so he hides it. He's just to embarrassed and unsure of himself to ever say anything." Ginny told the fretting girl across from her.
"Thanks Ginny." Hermione said smiling as she brushed the tears from her eyes. Suddenly the door opened.
"Started without me I see." Estel said as she came in.
"Sorry." Ginny said blushing slightly.
"Don't be. Are you both about ready to go?"
"Almost, I just have a few more things left to pack then I'll be ready." Ginny said moving to gather the last of her stuff.
"I'll help." Hermione offered.
"Okay, meet me in the common room when you're ready." Estel said as she turned and left. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------