Ginny cast the tempus charm a few minutes after Zabini left the class, it was still around 11.
She decided to take a walk by the lake.
It'd been quite a while since she had done that. She decided to take some fresh air by the lake and headed there.
When she got there, she saw a head of familiar platinum hair. Certainly not Malfoys of course.
Luna sat by the edge of the lake with a loaf of bread in her hand, her wand tucked by her left ear. She wore a light blue washed thigh length dungaree shorts, a light pink top inside and brown calf length boots. She occasionally tossed pieces of bread into the lake and movements indicated the giant squid or some other aquatic animals were enjoying their early lunch.
She smiled at her best friend and hugged her from behind.
"Oh, hey Ginny."
Ginny sighed ruefully before moving to flop down next to Luna.
"How do you always know its me?!"
"That's because you're the only one willing to hug me like you mean it in this school."
She began humming a song Ginny was quite familiar with.
"That's not true… there's hagrid, there's Hermione, there's even Neville!"
But Luna smiled serenely at Ginny.
"I don't think Hannah would take lightly to Neville being hugged by another 'competition'." Luna said amusedly and Ginny giggled remembering the jealous girl.
"Yes! You are so right! I mean, he deserves better! She's such a jealous, spiteful bitch!"
"No, she's just protective I guess."
"Whatever… besides, you've also got professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, even Ron and even Harr--"
She almost completed the name when her heart skipped painfully at the sudden reminder of her recent break up. She blinked repeatedly to dry her already heavy tear glands. She wouldn't waste her tears on a liar.
Luna smiled sympathetically.
"It's okay you know… sometimes, we have to let go of things we truly love. If it comes back, then we're meant to always have it… but if it doesn't, then it's just not meant to be…" Luna said.
Ginny thought this through as Luna removes her boots and socks and stepped into the warm waters, basking in the feel of the fresh waters around her feet.
Luna was right after all, she was rarely ever wrong and she loved her best friend for it. So dearly.
She cursed herself for not searching her out for the past 3 days. She had to fully mend her relationship with her fairy like best friend once more.
Before she could sigh, she felt someone splash water on her and she blinked and coughed while trying to clean it off, glaring at the giggling Ravenclaw.
"What the bloody hell was that for!"
"You're being too gloomy! Its not a face I like to see on people I like. Now, come over and play!"
Ginny squeezed her nose in thought.
"my trousers are long, and I really don't want to go back to the dorms wet."
Luna smiled at her knowingly.
"Are you a witch or not?"
Ginny blushed at that sudden realization before pulling off her sneakers and socks and rushing into the waters to play with her friend.
She remembered when they were young and used to play near the little pond by Luna's house.
Those were the times. She also remembered how she used to get jealous of Luna's new clothes and shoes, but not anymore though.
Especially now that her twin siblings, Bill and Charlie both combined money and she went on a shopping spree for her 17th birthday, so relatively most of her things were new. She kept a little amount of the money left for her own savings for when she graduated and began looking for jobs and all.
She still didn't know exactly what she wanted to do after graduation.
She always envisioned herself immediately getting married with harry and becoming Mrs. potter, then maybe joining a quidditch team for a while, then retiring to start a family with harry.
But now, her future wasn't looking so bright anymore.
But that didn't matter to her right now. She was having fun with her best friend, and nothing else really mattered to her.
It was almost lunch time at 12 in the afternoon when they left the lake, arms linked together and giggling as they decided to catch a spot of lunch together at the great hall.
As they turned through a yard, they saw something that made Ginny stop as her heart began frosting icy cold. Luna held her tightly so she wouldn't do anything stupid and she hissed silently.
For right in front of her, harry potter, her ex boyfriend was snogging the hell out of Cho 'perfect' Chang!
Of course! She should have known! She should have been suspicious, all those times in 4th year when he had a crush on her. Or 5th year when they actually went on that date. She should have known his feelings for her wouldn't have gone immediately.
"Well" Luna sighed dreamily, which made the couple jump apart, red in the face.
"This is certainly a twist of events… those wrackspurts sure are doing their work I say."
Ginny didn't know if she should break down and shout bloody hell on them, or break down and laugh at Luna's comment.
Harry looked caught in the act and a bit guilty, driving his hand through his messy hair and Ginny looked at it wistfully before turning away.
"Um.. he-hey loon-- Luna…" Cho squeaked out in embarrassment and didn't dare turn to greet Ginny. She loved it that way.
"Come on Luna, lunch has already begun"
Ginny muttered and dragged Luna away as Harry seemed to want to say something.
She breathed out through her nose. Of course he'd choose bloody Cho Chang over her! How would he not?!
Captain of the Ravenclaw quidditch team, and a real beauty.
With exquisite black hair and alluring black eyes, her puffy cheeks and cute pouty lips, long lashes to add. She had a beautiful curvy body like it was sculpted and her petite height of 5'7 unlike her and Luna's 5'9, it still fit her perfectly and made her cute nonetheless! Ginny thought disgruntled.
She frowned at her lack of self esteem until she felt Luna use her other hand to rub her arm comfortingly while the other was still linked to Ginny's.
"I know what you're thinking gin. And it's a lie, you really Don't know how much boys talk about you, do you?" Luna asked shrewdly.
"Me?"
"Yes, besides, what the boys are talking about is how happy they are that they've been given an opportunity with the beautiful Miss Weasley. And, don't think I didn't see you this morning…"
Ginny furrowed her brows confused
"This morning?..." she trailed of in confusion.
"Yes, going out the door, after Blaise Zabini"
Ginny didn't know why, but she blushed immediately and Luna gave her a knowing smile.
"I-its not what you think!" she blew out.
"Hmm, I'm glad you seem to have something taking over your mind at the moment. Besides, it would also help me with my own pursuit" Luna said sounding discreet.
"Your pursuit??"
Luna smiled slyly "A receny thing, but I just might be interested in a friend of his..."
Ginny frowned in thought… who could it be??... It definitely couldn't be that… that blonde albino ponce, could it??
She turned to a smirking Luna who was humming to herself but before she could question her, she was dragged into the great hall by a giggling Luna and towards the Ravenclaw table. She really didn't want to be questioned by Hermione and Ron.
Of course, the whisperings were still there although to a minimum. She knew it would take weeks before the 'break up' of the century would be truly forgotten.
Soon enough, lunch was over and they decided to visit hagrid where they spent their day helping him out with the thestral and talk about some creatures with Luna. It was a pretty nice day for her.
They walked back towards their dorms, planning to meet at the Ravenclaw table for dinner in an hour.
"Y'know, I still can't believe you have a thing for that ponce."
Luna smiled at her.
"He's different…" and she left it at that.
Ginny shrugged as they waved each other goodbye and she went towards the direction of the dorms. She had a charms assignment to complete before tomorrow, Monday.
Monday
Ginny woke up feeling surprisingly energized.
Last night, Hermione and Ron had tried to ambush her in the common room after dinner to talk about her feelings!!!!
She was still shocked up till now, but the look on Ron's face said it all. He didn't want to be there, but Hermione had dragged him along. She snuck away from the two crazies as they argued once more like an old married couple.
She did her hygiene routine and threw on her best uniforms, which was just her new one. She had acquired one with her other old one and put a light make up.
The one thing she loved about her appearance was her waist length blood red hair. It was unique courtesy of her maternal grandfather and made the girls jealous and boys look at it mesmerizingly. She put her hair in a messy bun.
When she was done, she put on a nice pair of black flats over her knee length black socks, grabbed her bag and went down the stairs.
It was 6:20am. She knew she had to wait for Zabini—no, Blaise at the great hall entrance. For some reason she couldn't quite understand, she felt awfully giddy about meeting him. She shook her head, no, it was just a simple plan. Walk in with him and that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Soon enough, she got to the entrance and rested her back on a wall, her backpack hanging in one hand as she looked left and right, waiting patiently for him to come.
It was already 6:45am and he'd still not arrived. Ginny scowled as she entered the great hall and slumped on the bench, pouring herself a large bowl of her favorite cereal and adding milk to it, and clearing her plate within 5 minutes.
As she poured herself a cup of pumpkin juice, she cast the tempus charm and it was already after 7.
The golden trio walked in. Hermione looking enthusiastic as ever to begin a new lesson day, Ron was grumbling, no doubt about it being too early for classes. And harry…he was looking in the direction of the Ravenclaw table, no doubt for that tramp.
Luna skipped in behind them without a second glance as she passed them by and beamed at Ginny, approaching her and Ginny could only smile weakly back at her.
"Hello Luna, morning… a bit late weren't you?"
Luna smiled mischievously.
"Morning Ginny. Yes, peculiar for me to be late isn't it?"
Luna giggled conspiratorially and Ginny thought she reminded her of an unmoving picture of Morgana.
Only missing thing is just the black hair, and dark green eyes, everything else was perfect.
"Come on Luna… tell meeeee" she whined and Luna gave in, smiling.
"Well, I may have put itching powder in a certain Ravenclaw seeker's hair shampoo."
Ginny blinked owlishly before breaking into a round of laughter, Luna joining her, making some students in the great hall stare at them before turning to their business. The golden trio though, stared at them longer.
Ginny finally sobered up and thought.
"But wouldn't 'you know whom' find out?"
They had taken to calling harry 'you know whom' so as not to utter his name.
"Why should he even be suspicious anyways? Besides, I just might have done it because she used to partake in hiding my stuff back since 1st year." Luna grinned and gave a sly wink and Ginny giggled.
"The twins would have loved to hear this awesome prank."
Luna smiled impishly as she bit into her bacon. Soon, the mail owls arrived and 3 headed for Ginny while 2 headed for Luna.
She didn't bother looking at Ron before grabbing her 3 letters and a package, giving the owls some treats and they flew off. Luna also did the same, after getting a letter, the Monday edition of the Quibbler and a package and feeding the owls before they flew away.
As Luna read the letter from her dad, Ginny checked who her letters where from.
One was from the twins, one from her mum and the other from Bill which the package was attached with. She decided to open the twins' first. A small tiny bag fell out and she read the letter.
Dearest Awesome Sister Ginny,
It was with a broken heart we heard the news of Harry breaking up with you. Well, Ron wrote to us actually but didn't really go into it much, said something about not betraying his best mate or some rubbish. But we have to say, we're disappointed in Harry.
We have eyes and ears like an hawk over there at Hogwarts and we heard he broke up with you over that Chang girl.We're really sorry sis, but if you want a bit of revenge, we shrunk a vial of skin changing potion that would remain for a week!A new product of ours that won't be out for a month! We would have done it ourselves, but him being our most important investor, it could hurt business.I'm sure you understand.
But that doesn't mean we won't threaten him during the holidays though… and not just us of course, Bill would be spending the Christmas with Fleur at the burrow before they go visit her parents New Years Eve.
Charlie couldn't make it, but guess who has a girl friend named Carmen?? *wink wink* Percy has some ministry thing to attend.Enough about this, business is booming as usual, be expecting a nice Christmas present from us this time around sis, take care of yourself okay?
And Don't forget the changing potion, there's enough for both of them after all.
Take care.
With love,
Fred and George Weasley.(Your Favorite Brothers)P.s. The girls say hi. They also plan on beating the sense into harry during the holiday, so you might want to get ready for a begging harry. *wink wink*
Ginny giggled at the twins' letter and smiled. It was nice to see they could still make her smile after the whole incident, not to talk of the war.
She still had nightmares from the war but not as prominent anymore. All the Cruciatus curses she got from those awful Carrow twins. Especially her, Luna, Seamus and Neville.
Ginny turned to Luna as she enlarged the vials and put it in her bag, planning to read the rest later after classes as it was almost time for classes.
"How's your dad Luna?"
"Hmm? Oh, he's doing wonderful I see. He's still in Mexico, looking for the legendary Chupacabras. Wonderful creatures I'd say. He also sent me a package, but we'd better get to transfiguration before McGonagall."
Ginny nodded understandingly and they put their things in their magically expanded bag and went for their classes, hand in hand.
Transfigurations class went by without any problems with the Ravenclaws where she had to sit behind the tramp, Chang. Of course it was fun to see her scratching her head like a maniac and her hair looking noticeably duller than usual. Bravo Luna!
Then there was also history of magic with Hufflepuff.
During lunch, she waved goodbye to Luna who wanted to write a letter to her father so she could mail it back to him before dinner. Ginny grabbed a sandwich from the great hall before sitting by the lake to eat, while going through her charms assignment to correct it before she went for the class after lunch.
As she took in the fresh air of September, she felt a presence next to her and looked up into the smirking face of BLAISE ZABINI.
She glared at him as she began packing her things.
"You know, lunch is almost over and classes are in 10 minutes"
"Yes, I know, thank you very much, now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to get to."
She walked past him, not willing to talk to him. He had already brought her hopes up once, no need for that again.
"You know, there was a perfectly good reason I didn't make it there in time."
Ginny scoffed as she passed a group of students looking at them curiously.
After all, it was so rare to see a Gryffindor and a Slytherin walking side by side without trying to hex the other into oblivion, though Ginny was currently planning on it in her mind.
"Oh really, and just what is that?" her voice sounding dangerously low aas if she was about to bellow out in the legendary Weasley anger.
"I was called in by my father, he had to speak to me through professor Snape's floo network. Family business and all that."
Ginny felt herself relax a bit at that. At least he didn't deceive her.
"Ow, okay then.."
"But this is working too isn't it?" he asked her.
"Look at how many students are staring, and we'll also enter the class together, what do you think the message will be about?"
He looked at her and winked, making her blush a bit and focusing on her direction, not those smoldering eyes of his that looked to be staring right into your soul-- no! Bad Ginny! Bad!!
"Well, can I see you tonight?" he asked inquisitively and Ginny looked at him questioningly.
"To discuss this whole thing. There's a lot we need to know about each other before we really go deep into this… it needs to be believable after all…"
She nodded in understanding as the walked into the class.
"Okay then. How does 8 sound?"
"Perfect." He smirked and nodded to her before turning to walk towards his cousin who had raised a delicate eyebrow up.
Ginny cursed. Did it run in their bloody family?!
She looked around for a seat and saw the seat next to Hermione free. She sighed and went to seat next to her, the boys behind them. Ron glaring at Zabin- Blaise, and harry looking at him and her confusedly. She hid her smirk, yes. Revenge was good. She put her bag on the table silently and flopped into her seat, sighing in relief.
Before she could begin bringing out her note, Ron whisper shouted at her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?? Talking to a slimy Slytherin?!"
Ginny glared at him.
"None of your business Ron!"
He fumed with red anger.
"What do you mean none of my business?! You're my little sister, I have to protect you!"
"Wow, that's a plain stupid thing to say, considering who you're sitting next to!" she whisper shouted back and harry winced along with Ron, who still kept his glare though. The students in the class though were still discussing what had just happened.
Hermione sighed and tried to take charge which Ginny found she was beginning to hate it even more. Who did she think she was, acting like a boss.
"Ginny, you know how tactless Ron is with his mouth, but that doesn't mean he isn't right you know… not because he's a Slytherin and all, but he's basically mysterious, we know nothing of him, and he's Malfoys cousin! He could just be using you to get to harry, and I'm sure I would have noticed if you both were friends before… you might just be oblivious to this things, taken what happened…s-some days before…"
Ginny glared at Hermione imperiously which made her shift in her seat nervously and stutter at the end of her words.
"For your bloody information, I've been friends with him since first year when I got lost in the dungeons! Also, during my 6th when you guys went missing! Did you guys really think we were just having fun in the school or what?! Getting detention from those crazy Carrow twins everyday who kept casting the Cruciatus on you for no bloody reason!"
Thank Merlin Hermione had put up silencing charms at a point. The 3 of them had paled. They knew about this, but no one really talked about it. No one as in those who actually suffered those curses, and they were so few of them.
Hearing Ginny say it now, felt awful. Hermione had tears in her eyes and Ginny sucked in a deep breathe to control herself from bursting out and this time, shouting on top of her lungs.
"There was a time, I was certain I wouldn't have made it, and if it wasn't for him… meyrlin knows Ginny Weasley would have been a body that laid in the cemetery right now" she sneered at them and Ron looked like he'd swallowed a huge lump of something bad while Harry just looked down at his desk.
She immediately felt bad. She shouldn't guilt trip them like this, they went through things too…. But, that didn't just give them any right to try and boss over her life, she hated when people tried to do that.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm sure professor Flitwick will be getting closer to the class now, I need to get ready."
She began packing out her things, not noticing the pair of cerulean eyes watching her.