Chapter three – Ignorance rings true

Harry's pov

I let a small laugh escape my lips as Neville described his summer to me and Dean as we sat in some chairs by the common room fire. We were the last three up, and although my mind wasn't really listening to what they said, it was nice just being in their company.

'And so then my Gran falls over too!' Neville finishes and Dean and I laugh. Neville then turns to me.

'How was your summer Harry?' I don't really know what to say in response to that, I mean I'm obviously not going to tell them it was lousy, because Sirius's death is still playing on my mind. But they didn't actually expect me to tell them the truth anyway.

'It was –' I began, but the portrait door opened and Ginny came through running. I don't think she even noticed us here, as she runs to the staircase. I stop her just as she's about to go up.

'Ginny, what's up, are you ok?' I ask. She turns around and I see that she is crying.

'I'm fine; I'm just going to bed. Goodnight.' She says, trying to pull herself together. She tries to head up the stairs but I stop her again.

'Gin, what's wrong?'

'Nothing! I don't want to talk right now, goodnight Harry!' She says, her back still towards me. I let her go as she runs up the stairs. I'd have to tell Ron about this.

Draco's pov

Well that was weird. I really tried to shake off that feeling as I walked back to Granger and my common room. As I entered it I was greeted by a nasty surprise; Granger and Weasley making out on the couch.

'Sure you wouldn't rather do that with Potter, Weasley?' I spat as they looked up.

'Piss off Malfoy!' Weasley said as his ears turned pink.

'No! I wanted to sit in here and I do not want two foul people going at it!' The mudblood stood up.

'Alright we're sorry Malfoy!' Granger says. I was just oing to go to my room when the portrait door opened. I turned around to see who it was….Great Potter's here too! Damn Granger had to give the password to everyone!

'Ron you should go talk to Ginny. She came back into the common room just before. She was crying ad looked pretty upset. She tried to tell me she was fine, but it's so obvious she wasn't.' Potter said before the others could get a word in.

'Shit, where had she been?'

'I dunno, she didn't say, but I think outside cause she looked like she had been where it was windy, her hair was all…windblown.' Potter finished. Weasley and Granger looked at me as I self consciously flattened my wind blown hair.

'Malfoy!' Weasley yelled.

'I didn't do anything! I didn't even see her!' I lied as I was given daggers from Granger.

'If you did Malfoy…' Weasley started, but the slamming of my door drowned him out.

Ginny's pov

I opened my eyes wide and looked around. The rising suns rays were starting to brighten the room. Last night I did not sleep well. Harry must of told Ron I had been upset because Ron was knocking on the door for about half an hour before he gave up. I was going to put last night out of my head, I wasn't going to think about it at all. I peeled back my bed covers and quietly go my stuff ready for the shower.

Half an hour later when all the other students were just rising I slipped out of the common room and slowly made my way to the great hall. As I walked in I was surprised. Only about twenty other people were in there. I sat at the Gryffindor table, being one of the three on it. I reached for some scrambled eggs and put some onto a piece of toast. I munched on it dazily until the Great Hall started to fill with people. I watched as Ron entered. Great, here comes confrontation time. He comes and sits right next to me.

'What was wrong last night? Harry said you were upset.'

'Morning to you too,' I reply.

'Ginny.'

'What! Nothing was wrong Ron just drop it.'

'No, Gin just tell me!' Ron demanded in a harsh tone that made a few people look up.

'I just had a bad day. Everyone has them.' I said quietly, not wanting to make a scene. At this Ron got up and stormed off. I sighed as I looked across the room and saw Malfoy look up from his plate. Out eyes locked. I couldn't read anything from those eyes of cold stone. I forced myself to look elsewhere. If I wanted to forget about last night, I had to forget the person who reminded me of it.

Beth and I copied down the divination homework and scrambled out of class, glad that it was the last lesson of the day. We slowly moved down the halls, but it took forever because so many people were there. I looked up into a sea of faces and immediately find myself staying at Malfoy, who is headed straight for us. He had already seen me and was looking at me. I gave him the emptiest expression I could and kept the stare until we passed each other. As I walked away with Beth I glance back to him and that is when my expression changes. It changes to fury, hurt, anger, loneliness, bitterness and nothingness. It changes now and only now, because then he can't see me. And then he can't pretend like he knows me.

'Ginny is something going on between you and Draco?' Beth asks as we approach the common room.

'God no!' I answer quickly, wondering how she thought that.

I did not go to that tower that I loved that night. Nor did I go the next night or the next. It was a place I avoided, as much as I hated to do it I had to. I had taken to going to bed earlier, which was hell, as I felt like an animal trapped in a cage.

Life goes on, and in the next few weeks I was fine. I even managed to push aside those feelings that kept me bitter for so long. Beth and I talked like normal friends would, and Harry and Ron and I were getting on better. The only problem was every time I saw Malfoy something inside me burned. I don't know if it was anger or hate of just remembering, but it burned. He still acted like he always had, well that was as it appeared to me. I shook these thoughts and tried to focus more on the game of chess I was playing with Ron. I cautiously moved a piece and hoped it would not end badly.

'Ha! Won again, I'm too good!' Ron exclaims as I sigh.

'Yeah whatever, I so let you win.'

'Sure you did. Oh by the way Harry and I are going to 'Mione's dorm now so you want to come too?'

'Nah I'll pass.' I say dismissively.

'Please come! You haven't seen the Head's dorms yet! Hermione could really do with some girl company. Please?' Ron begs. I give in eventually and along with Harry we amble slowly up to Hermione's headquarters. Ron whispers the password, which I don't manage to overhear. Thankfully the common room is Malfoy free, so we're able to walk up to Hermione's room without confrontation. Hermione greets us all warmly and we all sit on her huge bed. I vaguely listen to the conversation that is going on while I look out the window.

I sat up quickly and looked around. My heart was beating pretty fast, but soon I realised I must have fallen asleep in Hermione's room. I can just make out the digits on my watch; it's just gone 11:30pm. I must have been more tired that I thought. I fumble around in the dark and try and find the door. I open it up and my blood runs cold. Malfoy is walking across the room, on his way to his bedroom I presume. He stops and gives me a curious look. I focus again, on keeping my expression blank, as I always do. I suddenly realise who I'm looking at and I make for the door out of the common room. I am just about to reach it when Malfoy speaks.

'Weasley,' But I stay strong and I slam the door behind me as I walk out of there. I made my way to the Gryffindor common room quickly, sleep filling my eyes. As I walk up to my dorm I once again clear my head of all things Draco related.

I was awoken by Beth's shrill scream the next morning.

'Gin, we have 10 minutes to get to class!' She yells as she frantically throws her robes on.

'Crap.' I mumble as I do the same.

5 Minutes later we arrive at Care of Magical creatures, slightly out of breathe. Hagrid greets us warmly, not minding that we're late. I follow the class slowly as we approach the forest. Today's lesson does not interest me. Nothing interests me. My glance lingers on a tree and I find myself questioning this tree. How can it stand so strong? How does the wind now break it's spirit? How is this tree so different from me? Why can I not be strong? Why after these past 2 weeks of feeling fine – why now does this faze me? How did I fool myself into thinking I was fine? Why did I push every thought I had about Malfoy out of my head? Why is it I thought I had a right to be happy? How did I think I was any different from that girl 2 weeks ago who was desperate with loneliness? I am still that girl. I am so alone in this world.

A/N – How was it? Please PLEASE review! The more reviews the faster the next chapter goes up :)