"I love you Ginny."
"I love you too Hermione."
"Where are you going Hermione?" I asked her retreating back. She turned around and smiled sadly at me.
"On." And she disappeared.
I jerked up from the bed, panting slightly, my eyes wide.
"Bad dream?" Pansy smirked at me. I sighed and shook my head. That was the strangest dream I've ever had.
"You might want to hurry up. Breakfast will be over soon." I forced a smile at her and got out of bed slowly, pulling on some clothes. I headed out of the dormitory and down towards the common room. As soon as I appeared, everyone stopped talking and looked at me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked forwards with my head held high.
"What kind of Slytherin are you?" I was interrupted by a scary looking girl. She was towering over me, glaring. If looks could kill, I'd be dead. I suddenly felt very intimidated but I didn't let it show. It wouldn't do me any good by showing weakness to these vultures.
"A better one than you." I snarled and shoved past her.
"Oh yeah, you certainly proved that last night. Draco is still in the Hospital Wing because of you." Anger boiled under my skin and I once again had my wand out. I shoved it under her chin and I heard people getting up from their chairs, ready to join in.
"I don't give a damn about Malfoy. He deserved everything he got and more." I growled lowly. The girl was eyeing my wand warily and she swallowed. I smirked, satisfied and I turned my back from her, heading for the door. Everywhere I looked were shocked and angry Slytherins.
"You're not a Slytherin. You're worse! There is something seriously wrong with you Weasley." That almost made me stop; a strange sense of fear curling in my stomach but I continued walking out of the room. As soon as I was free from the judgemental stares I felt like I could breathe easier; I actually found myself gasping for breath.
"Get a hold of yourself Ginny," I scolded myself. "Everything's going to be okay." I put my wand back in my pocket and slowly walked out of the dungeons, glad to escape the darkness.
Entering the Great Hall was like entering a zoo, but as soon as they got scent of prey everything stopped. All heads turned to me and I felt the need to get away. I glanced at the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy's goonies standing up angrily.
They weren't alone.
That's when I decided that maybe I didn't need breakfast after all.
I turned around and walked back through the Great Hall's doors, feeling hot tears pricking at my eyes. I needed fresh air before I went mental.
I broke into a jog and burst out of the suffocating castle into the school's grounds. I felt like I hadn't seen the sun in months. I had to shield my eyes for a bit while they adjusted. I'd spent so much time in the castle that I'd almost forgotten what the outside looked like and to say it was overwhelming was an understatement.
I could see the lake with the Giant Squid in, I could see Hagrid's Hut, I could see students sitting under the trees and practicing spells; it was truly beautiful. I smiled slightly as I realised that I was very fortunate to be at the best school for Witchcraft and Wizardry, despite what was happening to me right now. I then also realised that it must be the weekend for students to be milling around the grounds.
I rolled my eyes at myself. I really had lost all touch with reality. It was almost scary.
"Ginny?" I heard a low, gruff voice from behind me. I spun around and had to crane my neck to see the face of the half-giant, which, mind you, was covered in hair.
"H-hello Hagrid," I stuttered and then cleared my throat.
"What you doin' out here aye? I aven't seen you in months!" he grinned at me and I couldn't help grinning back.
"I just needed some fresh air." He nodded and gestured towards his hut.
"I'm just 'bout to head home me self. Want to come? I'll make tea." I couldn't refuse his offer and I was soon walking down the path towards the small, but cosy hut. As we were walking, something in Hagrid's hand caught my eye.
"Hagrid? What is that you're holding?" I asked. He grunted and lifted what looked to be a silver can.
"Slug repellent. Silly creatures destroying the pumpkins." I smiled and shook my head.
Typical Hagrid.
We arrived outside the hut and I awed at the very large and impressive pumpkins that were growing outside.
"Wow, good job on the pumpkins!" I commended, walking inside the clustered hut. As soon as I went in, Hagrid's dog, Fang, jumped up at me and slobbered all over my hand. I patted him and wiped my hand on my jeans before sitting down at the large table. Hagrid started to boil the kettle.
"So, how's Ron?" I tensed up at my brother's name but tried to relax.
"Oh, I'm sure he's fine." I said nonchalantly. He raised his big, furry eyebrows at me and set down two steaming hot mugs of tea.
That was fast.
"What do you mean you're 'sure he's fine?' You're his sister for goodness sake." I took a sip of the tea and felt it warm my bones immediately.
"Well, we don't really talk." I answered his question and he frowned.
"Why ever not?" I shrugged.
"Because I'm a Slytherin?" I suggested bitterly.
"Merlin's beard Ginny! That shouldn't be a reason for you two to be ignoring each other! You're family and family stick together." He grunted and picked his tea cup up. I was almost worried he would crush it in his fist. I watched in wonderment as he chugged the liquid down and when he was finished he patted his belly appreciatively, smiling at me.
"I know things seem rough right now, but it'll get better. Trust me." He patted my hand and I smiled gratefully at him.
"Thanks Hagrid. You've really made me feel better."
"Any time Ginny. You can always come down to visit me you know," he paused and looked out the window. "Ah, speaking of the devil." He motioned to the window and winked at me before getting up and opening the door. I saw who was outside and felt dread settle in my stomach.
Great.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron! Come in, come in. I've just made some tea." I swallowed nervously and looked down into my tea cup.
"Thanks Hagrid. We just thought we'd come to say-" Harry stopped what he was saying as he obviously had just seen me sitting at the table, awkwardly cradling my tea cup. I bit my lip as we were drawn into silence.
"Well, sit down then! Don't want your tea to get cold!" Hagrid broke the silence by producing three more cups of tea. I still hadn't looked up, contemplating how I was going to escape.
"So Ron, how've you been?" Hagrid asked cheerfully. There was a silence as we waited for him to speak. When he didn't, I finally looked up and saw that the famous trio was staring at me. I groaned internally. I was so sick of people judging me!
"What are you looking at?" I snapped exasperatedly.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe at my sister who has gone completely insane!" Ron snapped back, his cheeks flushing red making his freckles stand out.
"Insane? Why don't you try and see what it's like to be hated by everyone! To constantly be tortured by judging stares!" I looked at Hermione whose gaze drifted away from my face. I gritted my teeth angrily. Now she thinks she has the right to avoid me? "Why don't you try having no friends? Or, better yet, try and see what it's like to be abandoned by everyone." I whispered the last part and rose from the table.
"Thanks for the tea Hagrid, but I don't think I'm welcomed here." I glared at Ron and Hermione and completely ignored Harry, who, by the way, is a bloody, useless idiot. I stormed out of the hut and ran back up the path towards the castle.
"Ginny!" I was surprised to hear Hermione's voice but I was infuriated more. Whipping around, I pulled out my wand and pointed it at her. My hand was shaking badly, my vision blurred by tears of anger. Hermione's eyes were wide with shock but I took satisfaction in the fact that I had caught the great witch by surprise.
"Don't come any closer or I swear I will hex you into next week," I threatened. She rose her hands up and stepped closer. "I said don't move!" I practically screamed, scaring myself.
"Ginny, I'm sorry." I shook my head furiously.
"It's too late Hermione!" I looked behind her and saw that Harry, Ron and Hagrid were standing outside the hut. I knew Hagrid was about to intervene so I put my wand down, breathing heavily. "God I hate you." I muttered under my breath before turning around and walking away.
"Immobulus!" I heard Hermione shout and I realised too late that she had cast a spell on me. I suddenly was unable to move and the only thought running through my mind was, 'how dare she!? What kind of coward casts a spell on a retreating witch?!' I heard Hermione's footsteps behind me and then her face was in front of mine. She looked uncharacteristically angry.
"Now you will listen to me Ginny?!" she yelled in my face. If I could move I would have her in the Hospital Wing in 5 seconds flat. I watched her pace in front of me. "I'm sorry I had to do that but you were being ridiculous," I wanted to protest but of course I couldn't. "You're acting childish and immature and just- just not like you!" Her hands were waving everywhere and she looked flustered.
"I know you think you've been abandoned and that nobody likes you, but that's not true! I like you! And I'm sorry that I haven't been as faithful as I should have been, but you know what? Get over it! You're not the only person in life who's been let down Ginny!" she stopped pacing and looked at me squarely in the face. "And I really am truly sorry." I felt my anger settle down and I started to feel slightly ashamed of my actions.
"Now I'm going to let you go. Please, don't do anything stupid." She heaved a sigh and with a wave of her wand I could finally move. I glared at Hermione and she winced.
"Why-why would you even-" I was cut off by her arms thrown around my neck. I was shocked but couldn't help but think how perfect her body melded into mine. Despite my reasonable judgement I felt my eyes closing as I revelled in the warmth of her body. I hadn't been hugged in years and I realised how much I'd missed human contact. However I refused to wrap my arms back around her so I just stood there, still as a stone.
"Hermione," I whispered in her ear. She jumped as if she'd just been electrocuted and flew away from me so fast you'd think she was on fire. My heart was leaping into my throat and I clenched my sweaty palms.
"I'm sorry." Her voice was hearse and I tried to maintain my cold glare.
"I think it'd just be best if you left me alone." Even I didn't convince myself and it was clear she didn't believe me either. I looked at her for a moment, glancing over her bushy hair, watching her eyes, which were staring intently at me and I realised just how beautiful she really was. I tried to banish the thoughts away, but the more I tried the more they refused to disappear.
"Don't push me away." she whispered. I just shook my head and walked away from her, back up to the castle.
"You don't want to be my friend Hermione. I'm messed up remember?" I said without turning back.