Ginny walked along the hallways, her feet gliding over the flagstone floor. She moved quickly and gracefully. It was dinnertime and she was the only one roving the halls. She didn't really want anyone around. Her friends thought she was at the library working on some homework she had failed to do because of Quidditch tryouts. They weren't exactly far wrong. Ginny was going to do some work that involved home. The fact that the work was writing a letter was beside the point. Her mother had plainly stated that she wanted a correspondence from Ginny every three days, 'to ensure she was safe,' as her mother had said. Ginny's thoughts strayed back to her friends who were enjoying a delicious dinner. They were most likely laughing and having a good time. Ginny wanted to tell them how worried she was about Harry, how confused she was about Erik, how much she wanted to quit school, and in general, how sad she had been feeling lately. Howver, she didn't think she could. Her friends would tell her to cheer up and forget about Harry. 'He'll be home soon enough,' was what they kept telling her. Ginny didn't want to hear that. She just wanted someone to listen to her fears, her hopes, her worries, but none of her friends would listen like Hermione and Harry had. All her friends wanted to do was to tell Ginny just how she should be feeling.
She rounded the last corner and walked into the owlery. She opened the door and was assaulted with a wash of orange light as it drifted into the room in shafts. Above her, owls were beginning to wake up to go hunting for the night. Before she called down two owls, she walked over the dirty floor to the western window. The orange sky was beautiful. Ginny wished she could be an owl and fly into the sunset, alone, but free. She watched the sun set for a minute or two and then she turned around and called down Hedwig and a school barn owl. Hedwig promptly stuck out her leg with the school owl reluctantly following suit. Ginny ignored the two owls and unrolled one of the two pieces of parchment she was carrying. She read it one last time to make sure that she was certain she really wanted to tie this to the owl's leg. Once the owl was gone, there was no going back.
Dear Erik,
I understand that you have been trying very hard to make our relationship work, however, it just isn't working. I can't do this to Harry. I just get this gut feeling every time we're together that I'm doing something wrong. I know it isn't wrong to love and to be with someone after being dumped, but Harry never officially dumped me. Maybe he really is coming home and will be expecting me to be waiting for him. I don't think I could break his heart by having him come home and getting the slap in the face of me going out with you. He's had a rough year; I just couldn't do it. Your past affiliations won't help the situation either.
Now, before you start yelling at me about how I should forget about Harry and go after what my heart tells me, Harry is not the only reason you and I she stop being together. Although, Harry is where my heart is trying to go right now, I'm sorry. Our age difference is a little too much to bear at this moment. After all, I am seventeen, barely of age, and you're already twenty. Hermione was right, that just isn't right. I'm young still; I'm not ready for the commitment you're probably looking for.
Also, I really need to focus on my studies. If I bring my grades up, for they are beginning to get pretty bad, and Harry is still not home when I graduate, and you are still around, I could see us trying once again. However, the current situation of both of our lives really does not permit the two of us to be together.
I am truly sorry. I hope you understand why I am doing this.
Your friend,
Ginny
Ginny rolled the parchment back up and sighed. She really liked Erik, but it just wasn't going to work out, for either one of them. Ginny took the ribbon out of her hair and used it to tie the roll closed. She motioned to the gray barn owl who flew over to her arm. He slowly extended his leg and looked at her with a somber amber eye.
"I'm sorry, but I would really appreciate it if you would deliver this to Erik. You know whom I mean," Ginny said apologetically as she tied the parchment to the owl's scaly leg. Hedwig hooted indignantly. "Don't worry, you've got one coming, and yours is more important," Ginny said absentmindedly as she read over the second piece of parchment.
Mum,
Seventh year and I just aren't getting along well. I won't lie to you, my grades keep getting worse, Quidditch is more time absorbing than I thought it would be. By the time I finish with practice and planning for the next practice and creating new plays, I'm too tired for school. And my friends have been so busy with their own schoolwork. Don't tell me that school should come first, either. I know that, but I also have a duty to my team and my house.
I can shout to the hills
Yet no one will hear a word
Let me yell of my sorrow
And cry of my pain
But no one will listen
Because no one hears a sound
There's no one out there
No one in the hills
No one in the mountains
The valleys and meadows
Ring with the emptiness
The emptiness of no one
For there's no one out there
That wants to hear a word
That may escape my lips
So I'll shout' til I hurt
I'll cry until I'm dry
But it'll be for naught
Because no one's out there
No one wants to
No one will
No one there to care
Goodbye,
Ginny
Ginny rolled the parchment back up and tapped it with her wand. The roll immediately became seamless. Ginny motioned to Hedwig and she promptly flew over to Ginny and held her leg out. Ginny tied the parchment to Hedwig's leg. Ginny then held out her arm and allowed the two owls to ride her arm over to the window. She looked at each in turn. "You know where you're going. Please, fly quickly. I want these letters delivered soon. Thank you." Ginny thrust her arm towards the west-facing window. The two owls flew into the horizon. Ginny leaned her elbows on the windowsill and cradled her chin in her hands. She stood like this even after the black specks disappeared into the blood red sky. She thought about how wonderful it would be to fly away like those owls had, to spread her wings and soar, to fly away from her problems. Ginny sighed one last time and reluctantly walked across the circular, drafty room. Her dejected feet carried her all the way to her common room where she tiredly pulled out a long roll of parchment. She looked at it for a minute then wrote with large handwriting that was larger than normal: The Effects of Valerian Roots in the Draught of the Living Dead. Ginny chewed on the end of her quill as she tried to remember what the professor had said about too much valerian in the potion.
Author's Note: Well, there's another chapter. I realize it wasn't the chapter you were hoping for where Harry comes home…. but I decided to be a little more evil. I have two one shots posted. I am rather saddened by the fact that each has only 4 reviews, three of which on one of them are my friends. So, a new challenge since you reached the 130 reviews commendably. I would like between the two one shots to have 16 reviews, that's 8 new reviews total. So, while you're wating for Harry to come home, you can read those other stories. I don't care which one(s) you R&R, I'm just asking that you do. Yes, I realize that I'm being evil yet again…and I'm sorry, but I'd really like some more input on my one shots. Thank you smiles
Response to Reviews: Wow, I had nine reviews within 24 hours of updating! I am so happy! And 80 hits, that's wonderful, I'm very happy. And your reviews for the most part were high quality (where you comment on things instead of just saying "great job, update soon!") thank you again!
Anonymous Reviews: (none)
Common Concerns: Big surprise, everyone noticed that the review count reached my goal smiles but like I said before, I put one more requirement up before Harry comes home…sorry!
k
