Summary: Two broken hearted siblings deal with their pain in different ways as the source of their misery is slowly explained.

Song Lyrics taken from Ten Days- Missy Higgins

Chapter 2: My heart is breaking so let me cry

The uneven thud of drunken footsteps filled the dark street, accompanied only by the rumble of tired vehicles carrying late night businessmen along the distant highway. One dim streetlight produced a weak glow, illuminating a sign hanging over the doorway of a dark and empty building. The letters carved into the dark, wet wood read: The black sheep.

The street was empty but for a lone figure, slowly making its way down the road. He was swaying slightly, groaning with each step he took. Rounding the corner he shielded his eyes from the blinding headlights of a car speeding its way past him.

Bloody Muggles, Ron thought to himself. Don't even look where they're driving those things.

He stumbled across the road, cursing as he splashed his way through a knee deep puddle. The pounding of his head matched the thud of his footsteps, and he laughed at what his mother would say if she saw him now.

It was easy fooling his parents; they were so quick to believe that he was behaving, that he was a good boy. They didn't notice when he came home reeking of Muggle beer and smoke, they just smiled at him and said he should get some rest; he looked tired. It was even easier to fool them these days, as they were barely ever home at night. They were always off at some Muggle restaurant trying to be romantic, 'reigniting their romance' as they called it.

Though his parents believed the stories he spun, of spending his time out with friends, looking for love, he couldn't fool Ginny. Each night he turned up at some ungodly hour, drunk and smelling strongly of smoke and filth, and she would scream at him about being an idiot, that he was ruining his life. He'd scream back at her, insulting her and once even lashing out at her. He knew she was right though, and even as he shouted and yelled and fought with her, he wished that he could be like his little sister. He knew her heart was broken too, but she didn't spend her nights drunk at Muggle pubs, drowning in her sorrows and feeling sorry for herself. She had managed to find a job, make some friends and get on with her life. Why couldn't he?

Tonight he wasn't in the mood for another fight with Ginny; he'd have to find somewhere else to spend the night. Another car came speeding along and he noticed it was a taxi.

"Oi!" he shouted, raising his arm as he ran over to the vehicle. "I need a ride!"

The taxi slowed and he pulled the door open, sinking into the back seat, his head still throbbing.

"Where to mate?" asked the driver, his tired face creasing as he squinted at Ron.

"Thirteen Green tree Drive." Ron was barely conscious of what he was saying, and even as the words left his mouth he wondered where they had come from.

As the driver set off, Ron leaned back into the comfort of the seat, groaning as he felt a violent throb pulse through his head.

Ten or so minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a small, white house and the driver turned to Ron.

"That'll be three pounds, Mate." He spat. Ron pulled back slightly. He'd forgotten that he would have to pay. He'd spent almost all of his Muggle money at the pub. Searching through his pockets he pulled out two pounds and handed it to the driver.

"Will that do? Sorry, but I don't have anything else." He prayed for the driver to accept his money, and his prayers were granted.

"You look like you could use a break, so I guess this'll do; if you don't have any more." With that Ron pulled open the door and heaved himself out of the car, waving to the driver as he groggily made his way towards the house. As he reached the door he sighed and wondered yet again what he was doing here. Pulling himself up he leant on the doorbell and waited.

So we've put an end to it this time, I'm no longer yours and you're no longer mine …

Ginny woke to the sound of her mother's voice.

"That restaurant was lovely, even better than last time. We really should go back there again." Ginny's father grunted his agreement as they opened the door and made their way into the house. Ginny sat up and rubbed her eyes, turning to look at the television. She didn't want her parents to know she had fallen asleep. She knew they wouldn't care, but she focused her tired eyes on the colourful set anyway.

"Ginny?" Her mother called. "Are you still awake?"

"Yeah, Mum. How was your dinner?" Ginny stifled a yawn as she talked and wondered absentmindedly if Ron was home yet.

"Wonderful! It was delicious wasn't it Arthur? Though I do say, I make a much better roast lamb…" Mrs Weasley continued to gush on about the food and Ginny felt herself slip almost into sleep again.

"Oh, that sounds really nice Mum. But I'm going to go to bed now. I'll see you in the morning." Mrs Weasley nodded and gave Ginny a kiss on the cheek, and she slowly made her way up to her bedroom. On her way past Ron's room, she saw that he wasn't home yet. Sighing, she closed the door so that her parents wouldn't notice, and went into her bedroom. Gently shutting the door behind her she sank onto the floor and let her head fall into her arms.

She sat on the floor for a long time listening to the sounds of her parents getting ready to go to bed. When she finally heard their voices fade to silence she stood up and went over to her closet. Pulling open a drawer, she found a stack of letters, held in a bundle with string. Grabbing the bundle she went over to her bed and lay down on it, untying the string and letting the letters fall onto her bedspread. She picked up the first one and opened it, and began to read.

Dear Ginny,

How are you? I hope that the experience with Voldemort hasn't affected you as it has me. I'm so scared for you Ginny. I broke up with you to protect you, but he got to you anyway. I just want you to be happy and safe. I know that he's still out there, and I also know that Hogwarts is the safest place for you now. If he does find a way to come back, you will be protected there. I know that it isn't the same as having Dumbledore, but they have so many Aurors protecting it that I know you won't get hurt. I am spending all of my time working on my Auror training. After what happened with Voldemort I'm more determined than ever to finish this. I want to be able to help people, Ginny. But what I want most is for you to be safe, and once I have passed I will be able to protect you.

I miss you so much.

Love,

Harry

She reached out for another as she slipped the piece of parchment back into its envelope.

Dear Ginny,

Auror training is becoming more and more difficult, but it's great all the same. I feel so free now, living on my own without the Dursleys. It's like I'm a whole new person. I know my last letter was full of concern, but now I am feeling so much lighter, and not nearly as worried. I am sure you are safe, and I hope that your classes are going well. I can't wait until Christmas when I'll get to see you again. I have a special present for you, I hope you like it.

Missing you more than ever,

Harry

A tear leaked down Ginny's cheek, and she reached for several more letters. Her heart felt heavier with every one she read.

Dear Ginny,

I had the best time at Christmas. I miss you even more now that I've seen you again. How are things going at Hogwarts? I miss it a lot, but I'm happy in my new life. I love Auror training, but I'm feeling increasingly worried. How am I ever going to find the last Horcrux? Dumbledore didn't know what it was, and I can't find any way of working it out. I feel so pressured Ginny; everyone thinks Voldemort is gone for now, and that they are safe. I've told them that he isn't gone, that he can still come back, but they don't believe me. They are too happy being free. How am I supposed to feel happy, to relax, when I know he is out there somewhere, his Death Eaters no doubt trying to bring him back to power again? How can I relax when I know that he has all of this information on me and my friends? Every time someone sees me they wave and smile, because they think I destroyed him. Oh Gin, I need you here with me. I don't think I can bear to wait until school is over. I love you so much.

Love,

Harry

Dear Ginny,

Auror training is as usual; very difficult but also rewarding. Has Hermione told you? No doubt she has, you are her best friend after all. She and Ron have broken up. I don't understand why, perhaps you can explain to me; Hermione won't. Ron said Hermione felt that he was holding her back, or something like that. I've seen her with another man; I think he's one of her work colleagues. I know that Hermione is very obsessive about her work, but why would she let it come between her and Ron? I'm just glad that nothing like that will ever happen to us. Oh, did I tell you Ginny? There's this witch I've been training with, she's from America and has come here to train to be an Auror. Her name is Mathilda Francis. She's very nice, reminds me of you a lot. I think you two would be great friends. It's been good to have her to talk to; Hermione is always so busy and Ron hasn't really been in the mood for talking lately.

Missing you insanely,

Harry

The sight of the name Mathilda made Ginny's blood run cold. It had seemed such an innocent friendship when Harry had first mentioned her, how was Ginny to know that she would be the end of their relationship? She was sobbing now, her body shook as she read yet another of Harry's precious letters.

Dear Ginny,

I know this will come as a shock, but I've quit Auror training. It was becoming very full on, and with everything else that's going on I couldn't handle it. It was Mathilda that helped me realise it wasn't doing anybody any good. Right now I have to focus on working out what the last Horcrux is, and destroying it. I can't be busy worrying about becoming an Auror; I can start training again once I've defeated Voldemort. It's so much easier now that I don't have to worry about training every day, I can focus on my friends, my aim, and you.

Love,

Harry

Ginny supposed she should have seen something was wrong then. Harry was so involved in his Auror training, so proud of what he was doing. She was shocked when she read that he was quitting. She put it down to stress, but she realised now that it was all Mathilda's fault. Slowly she lifted the last three letters and, determined not to rip them to shreds, began to read the letters that had ruined everything.

Dear Ginny,

I bought a house! It's a cottage really, but it's very nice. It's quite old and a little run down, but Mathilda is going to help me fix it up. I can't wait for you to see it, you'll love it. Mathilda has some really good ideas; I think it's the American in her, personally. They're very different ideas, but I think they might work. Of course it's just a plain old Muggle house, and I've decided to keep it as Muggle as possible. I want to blend in a little, not be so… famous. Anyway, I hope you're studying for your exams! I'm sure Hermione has said this enough times that I don't need to, but I really want you to do well. I know you will.

Harry

There were so many signs! Why didn't she see it? The letters she sent him were so dull and full of school that he was probably getting bored with her. She had wondered then what had inspired him to buy a house, but now she knew that it was Mathilda. Mathilda ruined everything. If she read closely she could almost hear the fondness of her in his words. There was also the fact that he had signed the letter with Harry. Not Love, not 'Missing you', just Harry. His next letter had come months later, it was a few weeks before her final exams that it had arrived.

Ginny,

How are you? I hope Hogwarts is good. Say hello to McGonagall for me. Everything is well here, the house looks great. Good luck on your N.E.W.Ts.

Harry

This was when she had realised. There was no enthusiasm in the letter, just practical questions and a quick mention of the house he had been so thrilled about in his last letter. She had known then that something was wrong, and she had written to him about it.

Dear Harry,

Is something wrong? Your last letter sounded very empty. What did you do to the house? Does it look Muggle like? How's Mathilda? Hogwarts is good; I'm studying a lot for my N.E.W.Ts, so I think I will do well. I miss you Harry, you haven't written a lot lately. Please tell me what's wrong.

Love,

Ginny

His reply had come after Ginny's N.E.W.Ts, three days before she finished school.

Ginny,

I'm so sorry. I know you must have done well on your N.E.W.Ts; you worked so hard for them. I know I haven't written much, and I'm sorry for that. It's just… I think we should break up. I don't think I love you any more Ginny. I'm in love with someone else.

I'm so so sorry Ginny; I'll never forgive myself for not telling you sooner.

Harry

Ginny dropped the letter and turned to her pillow, sobbing. She remembered the day the letter had come; she had been waiting for it. She'd ripped it off Hedwig's leg and ran back to her dorm. Collapsing onto her bed she had read it, and her heart had broken.

She had spent her last three days at school crying, and no matter what anyone said she had refused to leave her dormitory. The train ride home she had found an empty carriage and locked it, giving herself space. She had spent the trip writing and rewriting a letter to Harry, one that she never intended to give him.

Dear Harry,

I just wanted you to know that you have broken my heart. I love you, and I always will, even if you don't love me back. I am glad you will never forgive yourself, because I will never forgive you either. I do not hate you, but I hate what you did to me. I hate that you lied to me, and that you broke up with me by letter. But no matter how much I hate you, I will b always /b love you

Yours always,

Ginny

She had finished the letter just as the train pulled up at platform nine and three quarters, and had left it in her carriage to rot over summer, as she herself would rot for the rest of her life, because the one she had given her heart to loved someone else.

But time has changed, nothing at all, you're still the only one that feels like home…