Author: RavenEcho
Summary: Ginny hurts. And no one knows. It's not easy being a number. Her number is zero, because that's how many people understand her…may become a Draco/Ginny or a Ginny/Severus, or a bit of both, depending. Some Ginny/Remus.
Disclaimer: If I owned this stuff, would I really be on typing away?
Touch Me
Chapter 4: A Response and an Encounter
The next morning, Ginny was woken up by an owl flapping its wings in her face. She drearily opened her eyes and pushed the bird away. It was Remus' tiny gray screech owl.
"Okay, get the fuck off me and let me have the letter," Ginny growled, sitting up in her bed. The owl hooted indignantly and dropped the envelope on Ginny's chest before flying away. She broke the seal and pulled the letter out.
Dear Ginny,
Why were you late to Potions? Knowing you, you just lost track of time thinking about something. Well, be hell for Snape. Lady knows he deserves it- he always got on my nerves back at Hogwarts. But, again, knowing you, you won't want to cross Snape. You just have to keep your perfect grade in Potions… sigh. I'm sorry about Luna. She doesn't deserve friends like you, especially if she's going to be distracted so easily. Yes, you will always have me, Ginny. How could we ever not be friends? We're together in everything, love. We both have our different pain; we're both alone. We're together mind, spirit, and body. We were both sad, but together we can make our happiness. And for that, I can really call you my friend. Don't apologize for not taking away all my pain. I can't take away yours either. I've learned to accept my pain: it's nothing I can ever change. You can change yours, however. Maybe it'll happen for you this year. Maybe your miracle will finally come along.
Nothing much is going on here. I'm working on my cooking skills since you aren't around to cook for us. I can't really say I'm getting better- but I have managed to actually get everything totally cooked. So far I'm just doing easy stuff, like scrambled eggs. And I'm not using magic either… you're right, it does taste better if you cook it the Muggle way. Other than that, it's all pretty quiet. It always was—even when you were here. I won't say I miss you, because I know you're at home now. I'll just say that I hope you find your miracle.
Love,
Remus
Ginny smiled and folded up the letter. She slipped it under her mattress, where no one would find it. Not many people knew that she was even slightly close to Remus- no one knew the full extent of their relationship. Remus always was an optimistic bastard. Miracle, my ass. Ginny opened her hangings only to discover that her dormitory was empty. She glanced at the clock- it was 9:45. No wonder the owl had come upstairs to find her- she was late as fuck. There was no way she'd have time for breakfast.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Ginny murmured, jerking her robes on.
She yanked her fingers through her hair as she slung her bag over her shoulder and jogged out through the silent common room. Ginny hurried along towards Professor Flitwick's classroom with a growing feeling of dread. She didn't mind kind old Professor Flitwick, but she just couldn't get a handle on the subject he taught.
Once Ginny was on the third floor, she slipped behind a tapestry through to the Charms corridor- it was a secret passageway that her older twin brothers had taught her in her first week. Ginny was the only one in the hallway. When she reached Professor Flitwick's classroom, the door was locked.
"Shit," she cursed, sitting down on the stone floor with her bag on the floor beside her. Sighing, Ginny tilted her head back and rested it against the hard wall. Her stomach growled.
"Agh," she said, completely frustrated. She poked herself in the stomach in a weak attempt at resigning herself to not eating until lunchtime. She couldn't really skip Charms, or Arithmancy, which she had next, to go get something from the kitchens. Ginny didn't hear footsteps. She was too busy poking her stomach.
"That is pretty damn pathetic, Weasley," Malfoy's voice said from directly above her.
Ginny looked up at the tall blond and stuck her tongue out at him. She knew it was pretty lame, but she couldn't think of a good comeback. It was rather pathetic."
"Real mature, Weaselette."
"I do try," Ginny sneered.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Here," he pulled an apple out of his pocket. "Just don't tell anyone I actually did you a favor. The first years are scared stiff of me; I think it's hilarious."
Ginny took it and inspected it thoroughly. She wasn't the twins' little sister for nothing. After a moment, she seemed to decide that it was safe and took a bite.
"Thanks," she said grudgingly.
Draco smirked at her. "You owe me now, Weasley."
Ginny scowled at him. "Figures. What the hell do you want from me, ferret?"
Draco grinned in a particularly evil way. "I get five questions. And you have to answer all of them. Honestly."
Ginny glared at Draco. "Jerk."
"Thanks," he said carelessly. "First question: which is your least favorite brother, and why?"
"That's two questions," Ginny pointed out. Draco cursed. "But too late for you. Percy is my least favorite. He's boring, and he's a prick."
"Okay, was yesterday the first time you ever cut?"
"No," Ginny answered, looking at him like he was stupid. "Didn't you see the scars?"
"Oh," Draco said dumbly. "I guess not. Okay, when did you start cutting then?"
"Summer before second year. I was twelve, so it's been about three years."
"Alright, last question. What are you most scared of in the world?"
Ginny turned her head and picked up her bag, swiftly standing up. "Class is about to start, Malfoy." She was right; Flitwick was unlocking his door, and a few students were going in.
He grabbed her elbow. "You have to answer," he said, staring at her white face and wondering what it was that was so bad.
"The past," she hissed, jerking her elbow away and walking into Professor Flitwick's classroom without looking back.
Again, Draco was left standing confused in the hallway, wondering why the hell he couldn't figure this girl out. No girl had ever confused him this much before; what the hell was up now?
His thoughts were interrupted when the bell rang. "Fuck!" he moaned. He was late for Arithmancy again!
Inside the Charms classroom, Ginny Weasley put her head into her cold hands. The coolness felt good against her hot forehead. Thinking of Tom still made her panic. Damn it, she thought. There was no way in hell she was going to be able to pay attention in Charms today. Great, that was just how she needed to start the school year in Flitwick's class.
Ginny had been right when she had predicted her failure to concentrate in Charms. They had started a new lesson today: Color-change charms, and she was already completely lost. However, she didn't expect that lack of attention to carry over to Arithmancy. Unfortunately, she had figured wrong. Professor Vector had finally gotten annoyed with her stupid mistakes and assigned her an essay to turn in tomorrow. With detention that night, plus extra work to catch up in Charms, how the hell was she going to find time to do an essay too?
The red-headed girl sighed for the umpteenth time that day as she left Transfiguration with a chapter to read and another essay to write. She could probably safely predict that she wouldn't get any sleep that night. Hermione hadn't been exaggerating when she said O.W.L. year was a nightmare. Ginny just hadn't been expecting it this soon.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow for me, ya'll, look, I have another chapter out! I know ya'll are proud, I'm just pumping these babies out. This seems to be one of those stories that just flows for me… Gods, I love those… Anyway, please review… pretty please? I haven't been getting much feedback for this story, and it's depressing… I beg of thee to review! C'mon, you've got to love the Old English… you know it's inspiring you! So just give in. Please.
REVIEW RESPONSES: Wow, I bet I can do this from memory, so few people reviewed… thank you EternalEcho and oRouth… who also happen to be my best friends, and therefore obligated to review… and thanks to you too, dakangl, I appreciate a review from someone who I haven't been friends with for at least two years… alright, that's all folks!