Christmas passed as a rather spiritless affair for Ginny. Although a few Gryffindors remained in the castle, the two Weasleys, Hermione and Harry mostly kept to themselves, flitting between the room of requirement if they needed privacy, the lake if they wanted fun and the common room to relax.

Malfoy had left Hogwarts after the last night, when Ginny had been whipped, so they had a break for her to begin feeling herself again. Hermione knew that Ginny had been having a lot of trouble sleeping, so had brewed a calming draught for her to take before bed.

"You'd think nothing happened," Harry whispered to Hermione one afternoon, when the four of them found themselves gathered around the lake under their favourite beech tree. Hermione glanced up from the book she had cradled in her lap to the two redheads having a snow fight down at the edge of the water. Ginny certainly had the upper hand being a small target, she was able to dodge pretty much anything Ron could throw. Her head whipped back as she laughed heartily at Ron, who had taken respite behind the dock.

"Yeah, she's doing well, isn't she?" said Hermione. She looked over to Harry. His hair was messier than usual and he had dark circles around his eyes. "You haven't been sleeping."

It was a question, not a statement. Harry continued to stare at the two snow fighting. He knew he wasn't sleeping, why did Hermione have to bring it up again? Not only was the second task coming up, and he had no idea where to begin with his egg, but himself, Ron and Hermione had been busy helping Ginny whenever they could, whilst also trying to stay on top of school work which had been piling up, and other projects. Just as he was about to reply with an angry retort, Hermione interrupted him by placing a hand on top of his, forcing him to look at her. Her eyes were just concerned.

"I- yeah. I haven't been," he stated. "There's just a lot going on at the moment, you know?" Hermione understood straight away, but Harry found himself wanting a sudden change of subject when he spotted Hermione sympathetic gaze. "Hey, it's fine, alright. I'm just a bit stressed that's all. I'm sure it'll pass." He smiled quickly at her, put an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her into his side.

"Anyway, how are you doing?" Hermione settled herself under Harry's arm, and wrapped her own around his waist.

"I'm okay," she spoke, but Harry knew there was more to be said so remained quiet for a moment. He had learned the way with Hermione was to let her compose herself, and wait until she was ready, then everything would spill out at once. But this time, she said nothing. Harry looked down at her. She looked as though she was about to cry.

"Hermione? What is it?"

"Just, you know bad memories." She drew a shaky breath and smiled, embarrassed as she wiped a tear that fell. "I'm sorry."

"Talk to me," said Harry.

"I'm fine. It just," another shaky breath. "I thought this was over. I was finally letting it go."

Harry didn't know what to say to that. He thought it was too. Instead he turned and kissed the crown of her head.

"I'm sorry you're dealing with this again," he told her. "We'll find a way to stop that bastard." He promised veminantly.

Ginny sat next to Hermione, opposite Ron and Harry, at dinner. They had spent the day in the room of requirement, catching up on some school work before students began to return the next day, and the day after school began again. Ginny glanced at her food and felt her stomach churn.

Students returning tomorrow meant Malfoy would be returning. She had seen Ron, Hermione and Harry glancing her way throughout the meal, but none tried to engage her in conversation. Instead they seemed to be following her every move throughout the day. If she bought up a topic everyone would launch into conversation about it, and the second she went quiet again, everyone would halt immediately.

"What shall we do tonight?" She spoke to no one in particular.

"Well, me and Harry are going to the library, right?" He said to both Harry and Ginny. "But if you want to do something we can!"

"Yes, what do you fancy Gin?" Hermione said straight away, smiling encouragingly at her.

Ginny sighed and said nothing in response, whilst rolling her eyes.

"I'm finished, ready?" Harry said to the group.

"Ginny isn't ready yet," Ron answered for her.

"Ginny isn't feeling very hungry and is ready," responded the red head. This was beginning to agitate her now.

"Okay, where are we going?" Smiled Harry. The three looked expectantly at Ginny.

"I don't know, the room of requirement?" She shrugged.

"Yeah great!" Said Hermione with an overload of enthusiasm, that rubbed Ginny the wrong way, but she said nothing.

"What do you want to do tonight, Gin?" Said Harry, as the two fell in step behind Hermione and Ron, he nudged his shoulder against hers and smiled. She had enough of this.

"What I would like to do is drop this goddamn act of everyone tip toeing around me!" She raised her voice slightly, before getting herself in check. The knot in her stomach had evaporated, and been replaced with fire. "We all know what's probably going to happen tomorrow, and I would appreciate if everyone stopped bloody acting like today is the happiest day ever, thinking it's going to distract me!"

Each dropped their façade straight away, and Hermione reached towards her, but Ginny stopped her.

"Just- enough. Okay? Enough," Ginny breathed through her nose heavily and she held her hands out in front of her, stopping any approaches. "I just – it would be nice to be allowed to feel a bit shit for a while, and not have anyone try to cheer me up. I am fine, okay?"

"Okay, Gin. That's fine." Ron spoke.

The four remained quiet, stationary on the staircase for a moment, and Ginny began to feel embarrassed at her outburst but before she could apologise Ron began speaking.

"I've got an idea, Harry, Hermione, you guys can go ahead to the library," he said firmly. Hermione and Harry looked questioningly at him, but began walking away each giving Ginny an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder as they left.

"C'mon," Ron said gruffly and lead the way for the two of them into the room of requirement.

If someone had told Ginny two weeks ago, that she would thoroughly enjoy punching a stationary object repeatedly, so hard her whole body had began to ache, she would have… Actually she probably would have found the idea strange but still compelling.

When Ron first showed her the muggle punching bag, Ginny had almost laughed at him, but then he had said something, that Ginny though was probably the nicest thing he had ever said to her.

"Look, I just want you to feel better. Sometimes that means punching something, until you can't physically feel anything else but bloody exhaustion. If it doesn't work, we can try something else, but I'll do anything to make you feel better, and forget about tomorrow, okay Gin?" Ron had kept his back to her when he said this, setting up the punching bag and adjusting the height for her, but as he turned to her he repeated "Anything," so resolutely, it broke Ginny's defences slightly.

And it turns out Ron was right. After about half an hour, maybe an hour of non stop working out, Ginny felt extremely better.

She collapsed onto the sofa Ron had been sitting on as he finished an essay for History of Magic. He handed a glass of water without looking up.

"Better?" He asked.

"Better."

Ginny watched him for a moment as he looked over his work.

"Ron?" He looked up at her. "Thank you. No, I mean it. Thanks. You've been great throughout this. I – I appreciate it."

His ears went slightly pink at the compliment, but he smiled at her.

"Since when are we nice to each other?" He laughed, and Ginny joined him. Even as kids, him and Ginny were very close, but maintained a sarcastic relationship, most of their conversations consisted of them insulting one another.

"Don't get me wrong you're still a prat, but I'm greatful nonetheless." She said with a small smile.

"Yeah. Sure, I'm the prat." He whispered under his breath, but he was quickly silenced with a punch to the shoulder and a laugh from the younger Weasley.

AN: I'm sorry this is so late guys, I've just got into a new school and things have been hectic. But I hope you've enjoyed, and I promise to update more often from now. Much love. Xoxoxo