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…probably a Draco/Ginny waiting to happen. Some Ginny/Remus.
Disclaimer: If I owned this stuff, would I really be on this computer typing away right now? No… I would be eating some rich-people-food in my gigantic English manor…
Touch Me
Chapter 8: A Letter Bringing Anticipation
Ginny was sitting at the lake's edge during breakfast once again, but this time she was not cutting herself. No, she hadn't pulled out her knife since the day she had placed that bet with Draco, and today it was October 4th. She only had three more days until the bet was up, and she was glad, because burning herself just wasn't as fulfilling since there was no blood.
The redheaded girl was staring out at the clear lake when an owl appeared before her. She recognized it as Remus' gray screech owl. "Hey birdie," she said, pulling the letter off the owl's leg. The owl stared haughtily at her with huge yellow eyes and hooted indignantly when she ruffled its feathers.
Dear Ginny,
How are you? Good, I hope. I know I haven't written much since you told me that you and Malfoy had been talking a bit recently. I apologize; I've been busy. Dumbledore's been talking about new plans, and Tonks is seeing Charlie apparently. Don't know how they managed that one, as he lives in Romania. Oh well, I knew you'd like a slight update on the gossip around here. The greasy bat has been coming over to brew my potions every month. We've come to a shaky alliance.
I wrote mainly to tell you that I know this coming weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, October 5th, if I'm correct. How about we meet there? I'll see you at 10:00 outside of Zonko's, if you agree. Please write back and let me know…
Waiting for your word,
Love,
Remus
Ginny smiled to herself, knowing that the greasy bat Remus had referred to was Snape. That was good that they were getting along, she supposed.
"Don't you fly off yet, birdie," she snapped at the owl, which was rustling its wings, ready to fly away.
She tore a bit of the parchment off Remus' letter and scrawled a quick reply.
Remus,
I'll see you there.
Love,
Ginny
When the owl flew away, Ginny also stood. She needed to get to class.
The next morning Ginny slept straight through breakfast and woke up at about 9:15. She didn't need to take a shower; she had taken one last night while everybody was at dinner so she could have plenty of hot water. Ginny quickly got dressed, abandoning her black school robes in favor of the muggle clothes she usually wore during the summer and on school breaks. She pulled on a pair of blue jeans and some sneakers with a cute but casual black T-shirt to finish off the outfit. Then she pulled her red hair back into a ponytail and scampered off through the castle, forgoing any makeup. Remus liked it better when she didn't wear any.
Ginny was exactly on time to meet Remus at Zonko's, but he was already there, waiting for her.
"Early as usual," Ginny greeted her friend.
Remus smiled, pulling Ginny into a hug, discreetly kissing her on the cheek. He frowned at how small she felt, but then put the thought out of his head.
"Hey, Ginny," he said softly, squeezing her hand, but then dropping it. He didn't want to look suspicious; no one knew about their odd relationship, and neither one of them wanted to change that.
"Hi Moony," she replied, smiling. It was a true smile, not one of her fake ones, and Remus knew that was rare.
"Mind if we go visit your crazy brothers at their new shop?"
"Not a bit," Ginny answered. "You haven't seen it, have you?" She started towards the twins joke shop. "It's right down here."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, maybe I am slightly in the writing mood after all… true, the chapter is short, but at least it's something, right? I don't know if you guys notice the subtle trail I have formed in this chapter, but it will all become clear in the next one. Leave me a review if you think you've linked the hints, and I'll see what you're thinking… of course, even if you don't know, you should leave me a review as well…
REVIEW RESPONSES: Not as many this time, thought I suppose I can forgive that, seeing how quickly I got another chapter up… anyway,
Thanks to: EternalEcho and moonlightwitch