Chapter 5

Over the years, there were plenty of things Ginny learned to keep to herself. Not because they were dire secrets; simply that it just didn't seem to be worth the effort. Living through a war had changed her perspective and somehow the small things seemed rather irrelevant. With a brother in the ground, a lot of things often felt trivial in comparison. So there were many little facts that Ginny just never felt the need to share with anyone- not even Harry. Most were so harmless really that she figured it was too much of a bother to vocalize. Which was why she kept hidden the tiny detail that moving out of the Burrow had been one of the most frightening experiences of her young life.

It felt irrational and silly to admit, even if just to herself.

After all, she had been possessed and then subsequently terrorized for the next several years by one of the most evil wizards the world had ever seen. And while that entire ordeal had been horrifying beyond words, this was a different kind of fear, one that she wasn't able to overcome by rallying against.

It wasn't that Ginny was afraid of being on her own, exactly, but of the seemingly endless silence that was sure to consume the too large flat with just her in it. Her entire life had been filled with boisterous family and friends, both at the Burrow and then at Hogwarts. Ginny didn't understand how she would be able to find peace without the cheerful chaos surrounding her.

The first few days in her new place had been restless and lonely. She had busied herself, unpacking, decorating and planning for what she could do with this blank canvas. As the weeks passed, without realizing it, the cold and unfamiliar space grew into home.

Traces of her family and the life she cherished touched every corner. Pictures of those she loved lined the walls, the jacket that Ron had left once after dinner and never seemed to remember when visiting was on the vintage coat rack by the door, the spinning tulips Neville had given her a few birthdays ago floated above the fireplace and the familiar scent of her mother's recipes so often filled the kitchen. While Ginny embraced having guests and endless activity, she found that once they left, relaxing into comfortable solitude was satisfying in its own way.

It was then that Ginny learned that being alone didn't necessarily mean being lonely.

Still, even with that new realization, years later Ginny whole heartedly celebrated the day Harry had finally decided to move in. As each of his things were unpacked, Ginny felt as if she could actually touch the life she had dreamed of for so long. Her heart soared at the tangible proof that it was real; their brooms sitting against the far wall together, clothes side by side in the closet. And just like that, her home had become theirs. It was seamless.

At least, Ginny had thought so. Now after countless hours staring at her ceiling, doubts clouded those happy memories as she wondered if that seemingly perfect day had been the beginning of the end. Because only three short months later, Harry had left and with him had taken any joy her little home once held.

With the click of the door behind Harry, the silence that Ginny had learned to appreciate suddenly became the enemy once more. Still, it was the only companion she could bear to face.

The pictures on the walls seemed to taunt her and the people she loved served as nothing more than a reminder of all that had slipped through her fingers. So she shunned them all, in a fit of despair gracelessly snatching each frame, tossing them carelessly out of her sight. As the weeks passed, her closest relationships followed. Too twisted in her own turmoil, Ginny ignored their increasingly concerned invitations, unable to slip back into a life that now felt barren.

Now though, a little over eight months after the fact, Ginny couldn't help but think she had gotten it wrong. As laughter and the clinking of dishes filled her home after such a long absence, Ginny felt as if the ragged pieces of her soul were smoothing out, no longer cutting her to pieces.

"So clearly it's defective." Hannah declared to the small group, sipping from her wine before continuing. "I mean, it's the only reasonable explanation, right?"

The others at the table nodded, before predictably someone countered the statement. As had been going on for the past half hour.

"But how can you say that when we don't even know its true purpose?" Neville reasoned to his wife as everyone else considered the issue.

When Ginny had invited the small group for dinner, the conversation centering on her futile little adventure from the week before was not what she had been planning. She had been all too happy to forget the entire thing and pass it off as momentary insanity.

Honestly, Ginny blamed Luna as the other witch had deliberately thrown the topic into the air for the others to eagerly catch. Not that Ginny could really begrudge her, and frankly had been just as happy at the swift change of subjects from earlier in the evening. While the joy of Luna's announcement was genuine for all in the room, there had been a tightening around Hannah's eyes that was impossible for the close nit group to overlook.

While Hannah would never begrudge anyone for the blessings of parenthood, there was no doubt that the news was a sharp prick to her bruised heart. Neville for his part had exclaimed in true delight at his friend's good fortune, but never once had his hand left his wife's own tight grasp.

Ginny's heart ached for the loving couple, but as she watched Neville absently rub soothing circles on Hannah's shoulder as she leaned against his side, Ginny felt with absolute conviction that they would get through this together. There was no doubt the pair would support each other, and through it all, protectively standing on the periphery if they were needed would be the rest of their little group.

Just as they had desperately tried to do for Ginny herself.

The way they had so earnestly tried support her filled Ginny's chest with a long absent warmth even as she felt a pang of regret at how she had thoughtlessly rebuked their well-meaning attempts. It was with great relief that Ginny realized that not one of them seemed to hold it against her, as each one had eagerly accepted the invitation to resume their once customary Thursday night get together.

"Honestly, are we really going to question it's purpose just because we don't like the results?" Cho asked, her elbow leaning precariously close to the plate of rapidly diminishing lemon bars. When Luna was the only one that seemed to nod in contemplation of her point, Cho sat up straight, her fingers lightly drumming against the wooden table. A true sign that she was prepared for the long haul.

It was a telltale trait Ginny had learned early on in their friendship. It had been a welcome surprise to discover the steely determination in the other woman, something that was often overlooked in favor of her soft voice and good looks, much like her unwavering loyalty to those she loved. Not for the first time over the years, Ginny counted herself lucky to be in that category.

"Of course Wood and Nott are hardly ideal, but what if we're writing Nott off too soon? Can we honestly say we know anything about him beyond his actions at Hogwarts?"

Neville and Ginny's eyes met across the table, both remembering those dark months at the mercy of sadistic Death Eaters. That year was a confusing haze of fear and determination that had left a permanent imprint on them all.

Taking in the grim looks on her friend's faces, Cho let out a small sigh. "I'm not saying that his actions weren't horrible, only that the war made people do crazy things. Fear can turn a person into a stranger." Cho's voice lowered as her eyes grew distant, no doubt thinking of her childhood friend, Marietta. While Cho had forgiven the other girl's betrayal of the D.A while still in school, it had placed a strain on their friendship. One that Cho had never been able to breach despite her best attempts. Marietta it seemed, didn't feel the same and as far as Ginny knew, Cho's only source of communication from her one time closest friend was through generically polite holiday cards. Still, Ginny knew all Marietta had to do was show even an ounce of desire to bridge the gap and Cho would happily embrace the return of their friendship. "Maybe he's not a monster after all. Can we really hold his actions as a frightened child against him?"

Knowing the conversation could easily turn into a minefield, Hannah let out a long groan. "Fine, maybe Nott isn't a total soulless ghoul. After all, we haven't actually seen him in ages."

"Maybe his side of the story isn't all that different from ours." Luna's gentle voice added for good measure.

Ginny leaned back with a contemplative look on her face. Perhaps she would do best to listen to the sage words of her friends. After all, if there were any opinions she was likely to trust, it was theirs.

In that moment, even though the man in question would never know it, Theo Nott had just been granted a very rare gift; a second chance.

It didn't escape Ginny's notice that the small group's compassion did not extended to Oliver Wood. The thought made her smile. There was no denying that her friend's were loyal to the bone and despite their forgiving nature, were quite capable of holding impressive grudges.

Seeing the tide turning in her favor, Cho nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly! We can't just discount him."

"Discount him from what exactly?" Neville asked, once more bringing the group back to his primary concern and making Cho frown at her victory being sidelined. "This thing could have any number of purposes! We have no idea where it comes from or it's intent."

As Ginny listened to her friends start the debate yet again, a smile crept onto her lips as a weight lifted from her shoulders. While Ginny would always cherish her friendship with Ron and Hermione, she no longer felt comfortable bearing her soul to them. Neither had taken sides in the break up, and had painstakingly made a point of trying to be supportive to all parties, but both had always belonged to Harry. It had been that way for almost as long as she could remember and Ginny refused to strain the bond of the three lifelong friends. If such a thing was even possible in the first place.

It felt good to share her burdens without worrying about loyalties, knowing that whatever the outcome of her quest the people in this room would unwaveringly support her through it.