Ginny leaned against the back of the door, her heart pounding and pounding. She never thought she would be hurt this much again.
She sighed, the tears slowly dripping. Being honest with herself, she knew that this wasn't as bad as when Harry left. But it was awfully close.
She ran to her room, slamming the door and sitting on the corner of her bed. She wasn't crying anymore, but there was still a lump in her throat and her nose was still runny. She quickly swiped it, and jumped as a knock came from the door.
"Yea," Ginny croaked. The door opened, revealing a young woman with purple spikey hair, and beside her was a short, plump woman with flaming red hair.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Molly asked as she sat beside her daughter. The two were close, if you forget the couple of spats that they had now and again. Tonks shut the door behind her and sat comfortably on the floor near Ginny's feet.
"Nothing, nothing. Hones-", Ginny was about to say 'honestly', but that would be an outright lie. "Alright. It's Neville, I thought that-"
"-he liked you?" Tonks finished, recieving a curious look from Ginny. Tonks chuckled lightly. "Uh, duuh. Why won't he though?"
Ginny shrugged, and Molly rubbed her shoulders. "How about I make you some hot chocolate? Hm?" Ginny nodded guiltily.
"Molly, why don't I help?" Tonks asked, springing up and knocking over the pile of letters from Neville on the chest at the foot of the bed all over the ground. "Oops."
"Thanks dearie, I can get it. You want one too?" Molly asked, a slight edge to her voice. Ginny smiled, Tonks is Tonks, no doubt about it.
The three ladies headed downstairs. "Ginny, I've got so much to tell you!" Tonks started.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Well, the Luna girl knows so much! Did you know there's this Hornsack in the Netherlands that eats your toes on the 17th?"
Ginny laughed, that lump in her throat clearing up considerably fast.
Neville woke the next morning and remembering where he was, pulled his head back under the covers. He was still trying to forget yesterday, all that had happened was crapload after crapload.
He jolted back into reality as a knock pounded from the door. He sat up slowly, streching his worked in muscles. Hey, if you can think of something better to do in hiding other than working out, let me know, he thought. "Yeah, come in."
It was Shaklebolt, and he didn't seem to mind that Neville was half-naked as he walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. "Neville, can we talk?"
Neville nodded and sat up straighter. This was, after all, an official Auror.
"Listen, I know what Mad-Eye said yesterday might appeal to you, about becoming one of the Order, but honestly, you are just a kid," He paused here, as if his emphasis on these words deserved a pause. Neville had to try very hard to keep his eyes from rolling.
"You could go back to school, earn some degree in Herbology, live your life." Shaklebolt stopped again, but this time for a different reason.
"Although, I probably shouldn't be talking. I was only one year older than you when I joined." Apparently the look on Neville's face made Shaklebolt continue with, "But don't follow my mistakes! Go make your own!"
Neville nodded, knowing that by saying this little speech would make him feel better.
Shaklebolt looked at Neville, almost unnervingly. "So, what is your decision anyway?"