Godric's Hollow

Ginny grabbed Charlie's arm tightly before he turned on the spot. She recognized the familiar feeling of a hook somewhere below her bellybutton and as she opened her eyes again a few seconds later she was standing on a deserted street. The small houses surrounding it were lit up and as she looked closer she could see people inside, moving and laughing. No surprise there, considering it was Christmas Day... The snow fell gently and landed on the street, creating a thin, white cover. From somewhere in the distance, Ginny heard singing, probably coming from a choir.

It was all beautiful.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Charlie asked for the tenth time that night, bringing his younger sister back to reality.

Ginny smiled slightly.

"Charlie, I've told you at least a thousand times already that I'm going to be okay. Just... go somewhere where mum and dad won't find you and come back for me in an hour. I need some time alone, anyway"

He still seemed to hesitate.

"An hour" he repeated sternly. "If we're not back for the hot chocolate mum will kill us"

Ginny smirked.

"I know" she said. "Thanks Charlie"

He nodded and smiled back.

"See you in an hour then"

And then, he disapparated. Ginny stood there for a few seconds, staring at the spot where he'd just disappeared before she turned around and slowly made her way down the street. She had no idea where to go, or what she was even looking for, so it didn't really matter which way she took. Soon, the singing seemed to grow louder and she realized that it came from the church surrounded by a large graveyard with hundreds of tombs, all looking sadly lonely and deserted in the darkness.

Without really knowing why, Ginny crossed the road and then slowly opened the gate leading into the graveyard. Perhaps she could find someone inside the church who could give her some information on Harry and the others. Someone who'd spotted them...

Ginny stopped dead in her tracks. Suddenly, all pieces seemed to fall into place. Godric's Hollow. This was the place where Harry had lived with his parents when he was little. And then, this graveyard must be where...

She slowly turned around, glancing at the tombs. She didn't have to look long; a tomb somewhat whiter than the rest of them stood out and for some reason she just knew. Ginny slowly made her way towards if, almost feeling as if she was doing something criminal... After all, what right did she have to visit her ex-boyfriend's parents' grave?

She stopped in front of it, gasping slightly as she read the words:

IN LOVELY MEMORY OF

James Potter, born 27 March 1960, died 31 October 1981

Lily Potter, born 30 Januari 1960, died 31 October 1981

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death

For a short while, Ginny just stood there, staring at the words. It was strange; she hadn't even known them and yet she could feel tears erupting in her eyes. These were only two of the many lives Voldemort had taken... One of the many families he'd ruined.

She noticed some flowers lying on the ground in front of the tomb; white, beautiful roses. Probably Hermione's work... She smiled slightly at the thought. Then, she heard a sound, like a breaking twig, coming from somewhere on her right.

Ginny froze. She couldn't make out who the person standing a few tombs away from her was, but judging from the silhouette he was probably male. She considered just running away. After all it could be anyone, maybe even a death eater looking for Harry...

But right then, the person turned to look at her and as Ginny saw his face her eyes widened in surprise.

Honestly, what were the odds?

They stood like that for a short while. Staring at each other, both seemingly unaware of the fact that it had started snowing. Then, Ginny did the only thing she could think of and headed towards him. She walked slowly but the sounds coming from the ground as she moved her feet over the snow seemed so loud. Too loud.

She stopped in front of him, didn't know what to say. What did people usually say when they saw someone on a graveyard? A simple "Hello!" somehow seemed inappropriate... Ginny smiled weakly, she had to say something...

"Merry christmas"

To her huge relief, Blaise Zabini actually smiled back. But there was also grief in his eyes, grief she hadn't seen there before... But then again, was that so strange? It wasn't like they actually knew each other...

"Merry christmas" he replied.

They both fell silent. Ginny took a quick look around the graveyard; it was still deserted unless one counted Blaise and herself. It would have felt less awkward if there were more people present...

"We can't keep running into each other like this" Blaise said slowly. "People might think we're actually friends"

He didn't sound cruel, scornful or disgusted like one could have expected a slytherin to when he talked to a Weasley. It was just a statement. Ginny nodded slowly.

"I know. I wouldn't have expected to see anyone here today though"

"Well, I find it more comfortable being here when no one else is around" Blaise replied and she could see how he cast a quick glance at the tomb to his left.

Ginny bit her lip before asking, her voice soft:

"Who did you come here f..."

"I'd rather not talk about that, thank you"

There was a trace of coldness in his voice and Ginny fell silent. It only made sense; why would he want to talk to her about that? So why did it hurt when he said it?

"I take it you read the newspaper yesterday" Blaise said quietly, looking straight at her as he spoke.

Once again, the intensity in his eyes was too much and Ginny looked down. His words made the worry return.

What had they been doing here? And where was Ron?

"Yeah..." she mumbled. "Yeah, I did"

Blaise was silent. Ginny could see from the corner of her eye that he still looked at her.

"Surely you must realize he's not coming back here?"

He didn't have to explain who "he" was. She already knew. And it hurt.

"I know" she said, realizing that she was telling nothing but the truth.

She'd gone here and mentally prepared herself for the fact that running into them was extremely unlikely.

"Then why are you here?"

Blaise's voice was hard, and maybe that's what made her look into his eyes. She needed to be strong back. Wouldn't let him win.

"It said 'Harry Potter and muggleborn friend seen in Godric's Hollow'" she explained shortly. "It may be hard for you to understand but I'm actually curious to find out why my brother wasn't with them and if he's okay"

Blaise raised his eyebrows skeptically. For a moment, Ginny listened to the song coming from inside the church. The situation was somewhat bizarre; standing on a graveyard talking to Blaise Zabini and hearing christmas songs at the same time...

"And you expect to find that out here? On a deserted graveyard on Christmas Day?"

Ginny turned her head to look the way she'd come from.

"Harry's parents are buried here" she said softly, swallowing. "I didn't even know. I guess I just... I thought going to Godric's Hollow would tell me something. Anything"

"It sounds to me as if it's Potter you're looking for" Blaise said. "Not your brother"

Ginny didn't say anything. Was it, really? She wasn't even sure she wanted to find Harry, because what would she say to him if she did? It would cause her pain to see him, only to realize that whatever they'd once shared was gone...

But he'd been here, only yesterday. Hermione too. And Ginny wanted to know why. Was it really only because of Lily and James' grave? She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to it...

"Just let go, Weasley"

She looked up quickly, raising her eyebrows at him. Blaise had his hands in his pockets now, his face expression serious.

"Let go of what?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

They were both quiet.

"You know of what"

And Ginny did. Sure she did want to know where Ron was, but that was not the real reason why she'd come here. If he hadn't even been with Harry and Hermione, then why would there be anything here connected to him now?

No, this was about Harry. In fact, it had been for months now. Ever since that day of Dumbledore's funeral it had all been about Harry, even more than at the time when they were actually dating. The thoughts of him occupied her mind even more often than thoughts concerning the war in general. More often than thoughts concerning her own family.

And it stopped her from moving on.

"I don't know if I can"

Her words came out as a mere whisper. Blaise snorted.

"Of course you can. Even I can see that the thoughts of him stop you from being truthfully happy. You've wasted enough time mourning the fact that you two are over"

It felt like Blaise had kicked her in the stommach, hard. Sure she'd told herself countless of times that she and Harry were over. But not like this. And no one else had said it to her using those exact words. Not with so much honesty as Blaise just had. It made it real, more real than ever before.

She and Harry were over and even if he'd asked her to she could never fully forgive him for the pain he'd caused her when he left her alone. When he didn't believe she could handle whatever he had to do.

"Is it easy?" Ginny asked, now staring absentmindedly at the tomb that Blaise had looked at earlier.

She couldn't make out the name on it...

"Is it easy being that... cold?"

She saw from the corner of her eye how Blaise turned to look at the tomb as well. Then he said, his voice hollow:

"If you don't care you have nothing to lose. It's better that way, especially these days"

Ginny turned to look at him.

"But you obviously do care, for someone" she said quietly, nodding towards the tomb. "Otherwise you wouldn't be here"

"Well..." Blaise started. "It's not always as easy as it sounds"

He took out his wand and made a small light appear. Ginny could now make out the name written on the tomb:

RICARDO ZABINI

MAY 19 1945- AUGUST 31 1991

"Is it... Is it your dad?"

Ginny didn't look at him whilst she spoke. She was scared to death of what her face might look like and she wasn't sure she could bear whatever face expression he might wear.

"Yes"

Ginny did some quick head count.

"He died the day before you started Hogwarts"

"I know"

Ginny was silent. Only minutes ago when she'd asked why he was here he said that he didn't want to talk about it. What made him change his mind? She couldn't help feeling as if actually trusted her, at least a little. But she had no idea how far she could go before he'd put up his walls again...

"What happened?" she asked, casting him a quick glance.

He still looked at the tomb, seemed determined not to meet her gaze now.

"He wasn't exactly young... He caught Dragonpox, died within a couple of days... Then he left my mum with an enormous inheritance and as soon as the funeral was over she practically forgot about him"

She noticed how his voice changed as he mentioned his mum; there was fury there. And hurt. Ginny didn't know what to say. She was used to her own parents, who loved each other no matter what. If her dad died the last thing her mum would think about was the money he'd leave behind...

"I'm sorry" she finally said. "I didn't know..."

"Well, why would you?" he interrupted her and Ginny knew that was the truth.

But he still just said it. No malice. Just a plain statement. And that made it even worse.

"And you took off to school the next day? When your dad had just..."

Ginny drifted off, couldn't bring herself to say the word. It was used far too often these days already.

"What else could I do, just sit at home and dwell on something that still wouldn't change?"

Ginny was silent. What could she respond to that?

"I wouldn't have managed it" she mumbled softly. "I'd be too weak..."

"No you wouldn't" Blaise interrupted her shortly, almost sounding annoyed. "You think you would be, that's most people's problem. You never realize how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have"

She pondered over his words in silence, hoping she'd never have to find out if he was right...

"Can I... Can I ask you something?" Ginny asked and forced herself to lock her gaze with his curious one.

"Go ahead"

Ginny hesitated.

"Last spring, when the mass breakout from Azkaban took place..." she started and Blaise raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Yes?"

Ginny sighed. She just had to say it:

"You told me in Hogsmeade that you didn't think Voldemort's return to power was worth celebrating..."

Blaise nodded shortly.

"I did"

"Then why did you look so pleased when you found out? I saw your face expression during breakfast that morning..."

Ginny refused to look away from him now, but silently thanked God that it was dark outside so he couldn't see just how red her cheeks had turned. How did all that sound, really? He'd surely wonder why she'd looked his way in the first place...

But to her great surprise, Blaise didn't say anything about it.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy have always been nothing but kind to me..." he started quietly. "In fact, I'm staying with them over the holidays"

"Oh" Ginny said.

It was a bit absurd for her, thinking of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy as kind people who took their son's friend in during the holidays... Just like her own parents. But then again, there were always more than one way of looking at things.

After all, she didn't know Lucius and Narcissa. At all.

"Narcissa had a really hard time when Lucius was in jail" Blaise continued. "I was simply happy for their sake. For her sake"

Ginny tried to hide her surprise. It made sense when he said it, and still it was so hard for her to believe... To imagine it.

"Well, that's another proof of that you actually do care" she said, smiling slightly. "Even though I must say that you have funny priorities"

Blaise laughed softly.

"Not everything is what it seems, Weasley" he said, looking at the tomb again. "And not everybody has a choice, the Malfoys included. One bad decision could affect your whole future"

"Yeah..." Ginny mumbled. "I think I've got that by now"

They were both quiet for a short while and then she nodded towards the tomb again, smiling.

"He was italian?" she asked and Blaise nodded slightly, actually smiling, too.

"Yes"

"Do you speak Italian?" Ginny asked curiously.

It felt nice, talking about something so... normal. Like languages. It seemed like a part of another life, a long time ago.

"Yes" Blaise replied simply and Ginny didn't have time to stop herself before she burst out:

"Say something!"

Blaise stared at her before snorting, shaking his head.

"Come on!" Ginny urged but right as he opened his mouth again, someone called:

"GINNY!"

For a moment they both just looked at each other and then Blaise said, his voice soft:

"Some other time"

They both turned around and Ginny spotted someone standing by the entrance to the graveyard, his arms crossed. She looked at her watch.

"That must be my brother" she said hurriedly. "He said he'd give me an hour, I guess my time is up..."

She looked at Blaise, who nodded.

"Have a nice holiday" he said.

"Yeah... Merry christmas!"

Ginny waved at him and then hurried off, hoping that she could avoid making Charlie too suspicious... She didn't see how Blaise Zabini remained where he was and that he said, his voice low:

"Merry christmas... Ginny"

How do you make a time line haha

Ginny could see as soon as she approached Charlie that he hadn't taken his eyes off Blaise who was still standing in front of his father's tomb. She cleared her throat uncomfortably and eventually made him look at her.

"Let's go" she said and he nodded shortly.

They walked on the deserted street in silence, Ginny silently wondering why they didn't just apparate from the spot. She got her answer a second later as Charlie asked:

"Who was that?"

Of course. He wanted some time to ask her questions before they arrived at the Burrow.

Well, at least Ginny was happy she didn't have to answer them in front of the rest of her family and Remus, Tonks and Hagrid...

"Just a f... someone from school" Ginny said, trying her best to sound unbothered.

She'd almost called Blaise her "friend" but stopped herself last second. They weren't friends, but then what were they? She wouldn't exactly call him an enemy...

"Does this 'someone' have a name?" Charlie interrupted her thoughts and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"What does it even matter?"

"It does matter to me Ginny, I don't want my little sister meeting up with random blokes on deserted graveyards!" Charlie told her seriously. "Was that why you wanted to go here in the first place...?"

"No!" Ginny exclaimed. "No, I had no idea he'd be here, I promise!"

They were both silent for a few seconds and then she added, feeling slightly annoyed:

"And I don't 'meet up' with random blokes!"

Now it was Charlie's turn to roll his eyes.

"Why don't you just tell me who it was and save us all this trouble? And don't lie to me because I can always tell"

Ginny sighed. She knew it was true. Even though she was usually quite a good liar, Charlie had never had any problems seeing through it.

"Blaise Zabini" she said quietly and she could see from the corner of her eye how Charlie stared at her.

"What?" he just said.

Apparently, that was not what he'd been expecting to hear.

"Why would you talk to him? Are you two friends?"

"No" Ginny said hurriedly. "No, I wouldn't exactly call us 'friends'..."

"Then what would you call it?" Charlie asked suspiciously.

They were still walking and Ginny wondered how far they would go before Charlie decided to take her home. It was getting quite chilly... She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and then shrugged.

"I don't know! I guess he's... We just... talk sometimes, that's all"

Charlie raised his eyebrows skeptically.

"And I know that seems weird" Ginny added and he interrupted her:

"No Ginny, it seems mental! Why him? He's a slytherin and I bet he's practically a death eater himself, too..."

"He's not" Ginny said tiredly. "And honestly, what does the fact that he's a slytherin have to do with anything? That doesn't really matter, does it?"

"In his case it does, he's friends with Draco Malfoy isn't he?" Charlie asked, the disapproval clear in his voice. "And how do you know he's not a death eater, has he showed you his left forearm?"

Ginny was quiet for a short while. Of course, she hadn't seen Blaise's forearm. And Draco Malfoy was the same age as him, and he was branded with the Dark Mark... But still...

"I just know" she said simply.

Charlie sighed, turning right at a street corner. Ginny followed.

"Well, if he isn't a death eater I'll bet you anything his parents are. You should stay away from him, Ginny"

"His dad's dead, you know" Ginny pointed out, feeling almost angry now. "So I'm pretty sure he's not on You-know-who's side, either"

Why did people always assume that she couldn't look out for herself? If she'd noticed that Blaise was dangerous of course she would have stayed away from him! She didn't need people to actually tell her that...

Charlie suddenly stopped. He turned to look at his sister before holding out his arm so she could grab it. He locked his gaze with Ginny's and then said:

"I just don't want anything to happen to you"

Ginny shook her head slowly, giving him a small, reassuring smile before she put her hand on his arm.

"It won't" she said and even though Charlie didn't look entirely convinced he simply nodded.

Then, he turned on the spot and he and Ginny both apparated back to the Burrow.

How do you make a time line haha

"You go inside, I'll be with you in a minute"

Charlie raised his eyebrows questioningly and Ginny couldn't blame him; it was really cold outside even though it had stopped snowing and the sky was pitch black.

"Okay" he said after a short silence and then turned around to walk back inside.

"Charlie"

He stopped and turned around again. Ginny gave him a small smile.

"Thank you. For taking me"

He smiled back, nodding.

"Sure"

And then he left.

Ginny turned to face the now snow covered fields surrounding the Burrow and ended up staring at nothing in particular.

Just let go, Weasley.

She hadn't become much wiser by going to Godric's Hollow and she hadn't found out anything about Ron, Harry and Hermione. Just like all those seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and months of worry it all seemed pointless. What had she found out?

Nothing.

You start by telling yourself that sometimes, it's better to let go of something than hold on to nothing. And if it's meant to be, it will be. In the end.

Did the constant thoughts about him make her worry less?

No. More.

Ginny sighed. Now, more than ever before, she needed to live today and not just think about the past. She needed to spent what little time she had with her family. Her parents and brothers that were now inside the house, waiting. For her.

And she'd kept them waiting long enough already.

"Harry Potter broke up with me"

She didn't know why she spoke the words out loud; it wasn't like there was anyone there to listen. But maybe that's why she was able to. No Neville, Luna, Tonks or family members were present.

No Blaise Zabini.

Admitting it didn't hurt as much anymore. The bare thought almost made her gasp out loud. She took a deep breath. When exactly, had the pain lifted? Somewhere on the way...

"It's over" she said simply.

And at that moment, Ginny knew. It was no longer about whether Harry was sick of her; she was done. All by herself. Done with mourning over what had been and what would never be.

Just let go, Weasley.

She was Ginny Weasley. She wasn't Harry Potter's girlfriend anymore, but there were also other things people related to when hearing her name. Things she hadn't thought of until this very moment.

Harry was just a part of it. He'd always just been a part of it.

And life wasn't over yet. In fact, hopefully, it had just started. And she knew there'd be more.

"I'll let go" Ginny said to herself, so consumed by her own words that she barely noticed the white smoke that came from her mouth as she spoke.

"I'm letting go"

A mere whisper. But she was. For real this time. No more. She was free. There was more to life than this. She was more than this.

Because sometimes, like now, letting go was for the greater good.

She looked up at the stars, smiling wider than she had in weeks, and then turned around to head inside and have some hot chocolate with her family.