Aww, I'm sorry for the confusion, everyone.
I have to leave you something to think about very chapter.
Oh, just for your information. I had to go back through the chapters to remember what the date was.. So, on the day before Valentine's Day (the 13th) Ginny still hasn't talked to Draco about Cho. Harry is (supposedly) locked up safely in Dumbledore's office.
I could see some of you getting a bit confused about it. I almost killed the whole dream thing on amount of the fact that it was too confusing. But I didn't have anything else suspenseful or confusing to write about, so I kept it. Don't worry, Ginny will figure it all out in this chapter. Oh, and just so you know.. the story might get a little deep, ok? I mean, this girl has been beaten by Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the one who was supposed to save everyone from Voldemort. He cast Crucio on her, even. She's not going to come out of this mentally unscathed. So yes, she will be having a crisis of sorts.
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
Ginny bit into her toast violently, throwing it down onto the table. Where was all of this dreaming getting her, anyway? She should just accept that the here, the now was reality, and leave it at that. So, this was reality. Which means that she had a painful day ahead of her.
Precisely at that moment, Emmy, Draco and Blaise walked into the Great Hall, bleary-eyed and dazed. She met Draco's eyes as he looked over, willing him to come and talk to her. Blaise said something and his gaze drifted away, and Ginny sighed. He wasn't going to make it easy for her, was he?
Ginny stood up, slowly walking out of the Great Hall. She half-way hoped that Draco would follow her, but, seeing as she had been ignoring him for the past few months, she knew that he wouldn't, just out of habit more than anything. He did watch her, though, and Ginny attempted to look back, while still walking, and not running into a wall or door at any point. She nearly succeeded, and when she looked back, her face was only a few millimetres from the main doors. She pushed it open carefully, thanking the Hogwart's Ghosts that she hadn't run into it. What an impression that would have been.
Her first few classes were a flurry of collecting thoughts, trying to piece through her confusing array of dreams and dream-like material. She still couldn't be sure which was real or not.. She knew she would confront Draco, like she had.. in the dream? After potions. Which meant that she had to do this the right way. What would happen if she approached what happened with Cho differently? What if it actually had been Draco, and he had just been lying to her? It was possible. The thought made her chest ache, but she ignored it, trying to figure her conversation with Draco (that was inevitable).
As she drew nearer to Potions class, she found herself contemplating Draco. If he really had been snogging Cho.. She hadseen him gone pale when she mentioned Cho. Which meant something was going on. Between Draco and Cho. And this time around, Ginny was determined to find out what it was.
Finally, it was potions. She walked habitually into the class, plopping into the chair next to Emmy. She had been feeling such déjà vu the whole day, and talking to Emmy wasn't going to make it any better. But she did, knowing each twist and turn of the conversation even before either one of them said it. Ginny found herself shivering beyond reason. It's all too strange.. It's insanity! I must be mad..
The bell rang, signaling the end of Potions. Ginny gulped, remembering what she was going to say to Draco. Maybe, if I don't even talk to him at all.. NO! I have to know what is going on between him and Cho. I cant just pretend it's nothing, and let him get off as easily as he did the last time. She walked out of the door, spotting Draco. She felt herself shaking, then, steadying herself, approached the blond, beating Emmy to him.
"Look, Draco, we need to talk." So far, so good.. Her voice had started out softly, and she couldn't quite meet Draco's eyes as he looked at her questioningly. She saw Emmy pause out of the corner of her eye, then turn and walk over to Blaise, still watching Ginny with the same look as Draco had.
She took his forearm, leading him towards that niche. Wait.. you don't want it to be the same.. Do something different, Gin. Instead, she stopped a few feet away, looking up into Draco's warm gray eyes.
"Can you miss Potions?" She saw him smile, then it disappeared and he nodded. Why isn't he talking? He hasn't said anything yet.. Still thinking deeply, she led him outside, outside to the Quidditch Pitch. Ah, the Quidditch Pitch. Everything happened there, didn't it? She sat on the nearest bleacher, pulling Draco down to sit next to her.
"Draco, have you ever loved anyone?" Well, that approach was unexpected, even to Ginny. She hadn't planned to say that.. He sat next to her for a minute silently, watching the snowflakes fall around them.
"Yes." He said, so softly that Ginny could barely hear it. He seemed to be withdrawing from her now, turning back into Malfoy. She could almost watch the change in his face as he grew colder, drifting away from Ginny. She had blown it, now. He was almost back to his Slytherin self, and she knew any moment a cold sneer would twist his lips.
Yet it didn't. The process reversed, and he came back to Draco, looking down at his feet.
"Who?" Ginny asked, almost wishing she could draw the question back. He looked up slowly, and Ginny found herself standing up at the look he gave her.
She was shattering all over again, but there weren't tears to blur her vision. She knew that he would haunt her for the rest of her life. But she could never get close to him, again.
That look, those clear gray eyes, a single tear on his pale cheek. It's not me.. He doesn't love me. Ginny felt the energy leaving her body with every step she took towards the castle. She was completely numb; her mind could barely force her legs to move. Everything seemed to be slowing down, waiting for Ginny to catch up.
The castle was warm, but it couldn't thaw the cold that Ginny felt. She walked mechanically towards Gryffindor Tower, bypassing Ron and Hermione, hand in hand. They immediately drew their hands, but Ginny didn't even notice them. She climbed through the portrait hole, something thudding in her chest.
When she reached her dormitory, she closed the door softly, finding herself watching a pale face in the mirror. She slowly peeled off her robes, putting on a dark sweater and jeans. She was packing her trunk even before she knew what she was doing. Socks, textbook, cauldron.. The methodical motions calmed her mind, and she had her trunk packed in ten minute's time.
She slowly hauled her trunk down to the Entry Hall, knowing that everyone was enjoying their dinner. She attached her trunk to her broom, walking out of the door and into the flurries.
Just one last look..
And then Ginny disappeared into the night sky, leaving Hogwarts behind her.
X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
WHAT?!?
Review.
