Chapter Six- Write at ten

Ginny was frightened. She knew that was exactly what Draco wanted but she couldn't help but play into his hands. She ran to her room, no one else was there. Flinging open her trunk, she began to dig through it fervently. At last she found what she was looking for, a journal. She sat on her bed with it and opened it ominously. It was blank- the entire thing was blank. Letting out a deep breath, she tried to calm herself.

He's there, she thought. This time he will be there.

She took out a quill and ink and hunched over the journal.

I'm sorry I haven't written in a long time, she wrote.

Ginny sat back and stared at the paper. After waiting a good ten minutes she tapped her wand to the paper, clearing it of her writing, and flung the book to the floor. How many times had she done that? How many times had she written in that empty journal and sat back to wait for a response? None came. In nearly five years there had been nothing.

Had Harry really saved her? She started to sob uncontrollably when she realized what she was thinking. "I'm sorry Harry…" she whispered, her body shaking.

Yes, he had saved her and maybe he could save her again. Would it really be so bad if he were the boy who had clumsily kissed her hand the night before? She had an idea.

Reaching down off her bed, she grabbed up the journal and examined it. It was a plain, dark red leather bound notebook. She went to her trunk and shuffled through it more patiently than the time before. When she finished going through her things she had collected four journals, all were identical. Every year after Tom she felt compelled to buy a journal as part of her back to school shopping. Why she always bought the same one she didn't know.

She picked up the four journals and plopped them on the bed next to the one she had written in earlier. After looking through the blank pages of each of them, she chose the two in the best condition and stuck them in her bag. Ginny stowed the others back in her trunk, grabbed her wand, and left the room.

The library had a few students in it. Most of them were talking in excited whispers as, she guessed, news of the fight was spreading. She casually looked through different bookshelves, pulling out random books here and there. Finally, with seven books in arm, she sat down at an empty table in the corner and started to look through them.

An hour later she left looking mildly pleased.

"Have you seen Ginny?" Harry asked Hermione, panicked.

"I don't see why you needed to start a bloody fight over her," Hermione replied, not answering his question. Harry and Ron were both looking pretty beat up and Hermione didn't feel too good herself. The professors had finally broken the fight up but they could find no clear instigation. Each student had a different story on why they joined in and so the professors decided on taking one hundred points from Gryffindor and Slytherin and fifty points from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as well as the obliteration of an entire Hogsmeade weekend.

"Hermione!" Ron cried. "Malfoy was harassing my only sister! My younger sister!"

"Get a grip Ron," Hermione said coolly. "Ginny is only one year younger than you and should hardly be treated as such an incapable baby. It's not fair that you only pay attention to her when Malfoy gets involved."

Ron looked angry, but didn't say anything back. The whole right side of his face was getting puffy, especially around his eye, and there was a large bruise forming on his upper lip. Harry didn't look as bad, but he had broken a finger and gotten hit on the head a couple times. In fact, Harry had just finished getting his finger fixed and already he was being dramatic.

Hermione turned to Harry. "And what about me, Harry? I thought we were best friends! Ginny wasn't in the fight at all and I nearly suffered a concussion!" She tried to sound more hurt than angry.

Harry looked flustered. "But Hermione," he very nearly whined, "Ginny left before the fight and Malfoy… he just disappeared!"

Hermione glared at Harry with such ferocity that he looked away. "He didn't do anything of the sort! I saw him leave, right from under your nose!" she felt smug in telling them this. Before she saw their reactions, she turned around and stormed off towards Gryffindor, leaving two confused and angry boys behind.

The night was much colder this time, but it was still and not windy. Ginny had been sitting on the tower for an hour, just thinking and relaxing. And waiting. She knew he would come, but the question was when.

A graceful landing behind her and soft footsteps, a shadow sat beside her. They sat there for a long time, waiting for the other to make a move. Ginny cautiously put out her hand towards him but he moved past it and hugged her loosely. He was so warm. She lay down and pulled him down next to her. They watched the stars.

Ginny turned on her side and he did as well. They observed one another. She wished she could just grab his hood and throw it off. That could ruin everything though. The simple need between them would become suddenly complex if they were to know each other's identity. The boy probably knew this as well.

She felt around her on the roof and found the notebook. He took it hesitantly as she handed it to him, not sure if she was giving it. Then she stood up and he followed suit. He felt tight little arms squeeze him around the chest as she hugged him and he messaged her back, along her spine, gently. He heard her sigh wistfully and let go of her. She stepped back as well and grabbed up her broom. He nodded at her and she took off, spiraling downwards off the tower until he couldn't see her anymore.

When he entered the common room, he immediately whispered "lumos" and opened the book.

Write at ten o'clock.