A/n: Sorry it has taken so long! I think my inspiration has finally come back though. I don't know exactly what I owe it to, but here's the chapter! It is dedicated to surrethereal who wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote something. Thanks! I don't own anything except my excuse for a plot!
Chapter Ten
The rest of the year went by rather uneventfully. Nothing of note really happened, except Lily started to tolerate James a little more.
Everyone was saying their goodbyes and their 'you'd better write or I'll kill you's.
Ginny would stay in a flat at the Three Cauldrons provided by Dumbledore. He even gave her several galleons to go shopping. Maybe he was a little off the wall, but he was a nice headmaster.
Sirius hadn't even looked over at her since they left the school. It was making her very angry because she did not know why. She looked over at Lily, who had a wide grin.
Ginny looked shocked. "Lily… did you just wave goodbye to James? You were smiling!"
Lily blushed and shrugged it off. "No sense in being rude."
Ginny nodded. "Well, I guess you're right. Have a nice break, then." She smiled, but out the corner of her eye she watched Sirius walk out with James.
"You too! See you soon!" They hugged and Lily walked off.
James laughed with a confident air. "Ha! My plan is working!"
"Too bad this is your 5000th try."
James shrugged. "Well, persistence is a virtue, Padfoot."
"No it's not."
James frowned at Sirius's grin. "Well, I don't see you having any luck either, my dear friend. She didn't say goodbye to you."
"No, Prongs, you have it wrong. I didn't say goodbye to her." He smiled, proud of himself.
"What difference does that make?" James asked, confused. Sirius's logic wasn't the easiest thing to follow.
"Look." He motioned toward Ginny. "It's driving her crazy." As he basked in his self-made glory, he spotted his family. He sighed, any happiness leaving him.
James put a hand on his shoulder. "It's only a couple of weeks and you can stay with us."
"No. I'm getting out of there for good this year."
Ginny sat at the ice cream parlor. For the past few weeks, she had simply been walking about the streets of Diagon Alley. She had even started her homework, which proved one thing.
She was bored.
Being bored let her think on things, like how much she missed home… and if she really would be able to change something. These were interesting thoughts, but her main ones were a bit different.
Why didn't he say goodbye at the train station? I didn't make him mad, did I? What if he did it on purpose? What if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore? How will I save him then? She pulled at her hair.
"Argh! Why is this driving me crazy?"
"It must have been pretty bad to get you talking to yourself, Gin." He said, sitting down across from her.
She blushed from surprise, but quickly countered with a glare.
"Leave me alone, Sirius."
He mocked a hurt face. "But Gin… don't you want to be nicer to the guy who has been plaguing your thoughts since that day?"
"Plaguing is right…" She covered her mouth, realizing that she gave it away.
"Knew it." He replied, grinning. "Well, I shall walk around with you then, to make up for the pain I have caused you." He smoothly suggested.
"You mean you're making me spend the whole day with you?" She made a bitter face.
"I knew you couldn't say no." He winked.
"So what have you been doing besides missing me?"
"Quit being so self absorbed. Actually, I have been very productive… in getting my homework done."
He started laughing. "Are you serious?"
She laughed too. "Unfortunately, yes."
"See? You don't have to be so bitter all the time. Have some fun in life. You only get one chance at it." He grinned, but stopped, seeing her face.
She shakes her head. "No. You have to keep your guard up. People will take advantage of you all the time. Too many bad things have happened to trust in just anyone."
They stopped walking. "I didn't mean to upset you."
She waved it off. "It's ok."
They started walking again. He thought about that conversation in the forest. "Gin… do you trust me?"
She smiled. "With my life! And don't ever forget it. No matter what happens."
He smiled back and thought over that for awhile. She definitely knew something that she wasn't saying. She would tell in time, hopefully.
A few minutes later, he asked, "What is your family like?"
"Well, there are seven of us kids. And luckily," She rolled her eyes, "I am the only girl. And the youngest. There is no privacy. Anywhere. I can't do anything without being watched. Especially when I hang around a guy. They're too overprotective. They all do listen to Mum pretty well, after flustering her a bit. Dad works at the Ministry and he's always bringing home muggle things and taking them apart." She shook her head.
They sat on a bench. Sirius looked up at the sky. "That sounds perfect. Brothers that you can just hang out with… whenever you want to, and two parents that will care for you… no matter what. Mine surely don't." He frowned.
"Don't say that…"
He looked back at her. "It's true! I'm the disgrace of the family."
"Sirius…"
"I only worry about Regulus. They've got him. I just wish I could do something…" He had a dark look on his face.
"Yeah, I'm pretty lucky, I guess…" Ginny thought aloud to herself. Feeling bad for Sirius, she took his hand and squeezed it. "You can join my family." She smiled.
He looked down at their hands and back at her. He smiled. "So, I actually get to meet this family of yours?"
"Yep! I can promise you that."
"That sounds wonderful…"
"I know. But you're going to stick out like a sore thumb. We've all got red hair."
"All of you?" She nodded. He laughed.
They walked back to where Ginny was staying.
"I'll be at James's until we come shopping. If you need me, you can owl."
"Ok." She smiled.
He smiled mischievously and kissed her hand. "Goodnight, fair lady Ginny."
"Quit flirting, Sirius."
"I can flirt if I wish. I see it is making you blush."
"Oh, go away." She shut the door.
He grinned all the way to the Potter's.
Thanks to everyone that put up with the long wait and wanted me to keep going! I'd love to hear from you! R/r!