Chapter 5:

Ignorance

A few days later Ginny was walking back to her common room. Things had been quiet but no one had even tried to laugh or poke fun at Hart who had yet to return to eating in the Hall. She wasn't embarrassed of her love for muggles, Ginny knew though that she didn't want to have everyone staring at her.

Ginny found her at the same window she had her first real talk with her. At least Ginny was in nicer jeans and a form fitting dark blue shirt. Moving forward, she sat down next to the Slytherin girl.

"That's my favorite color," Hart's voice was soft.

"Blue?"

"I love that color. All shades of blue, they make me feel calm and at peace."

"So that's why you wear blue a lot."

"I also love pink, purple, silver, green, gold and red."

"I love green, it's my favorite color, like your eyes," Ginny blushed when the last part slipped past her lips.

"Thank you. I actually don't like my eyes. Your eyes on the other hand, they are like a milky chocolate color and have such emotions in them, their beautiful."

"Thanks," Ginny blushed ducking her head.

"You know, I think you would look good with short hair."

"Does it not look good long?"

"It looks great, but you always wear it up and it stays hidden from everyone. I think it would be beautiful short, it wouldn't be in your way and everyone could see it."

Ginny blushed, she had thought about cutting it, but she was afraid if she had that others would think she was lesbian and make fun of her. She wasn't ready to come out yet. She didn't want her family to disown her, but she didn't want to hide the rest of her life either. She sighed.

"Were you looking for me," Hart asked softly.

"Yeah, I was honestly heading back to my common room, but I remember you standing by this window last year, so I thought I would walk by just in case."

"How was your summer?"

"It was great. I enjoyed our time at Grimmauld place. I'm just a bit upset with my brother, Harry and Hermione."

"Don't worry too much about it. Remember, I'm only a Slytherin in their eyes."

"But not in mine."

"That's good enough for me. You don't have to associate with me."

"Should I not want to? You don't seem like such a bad person."

"I've never been bad. I have my times where my grades drop, but I try my hardest."

Ginny smiled at her, she noticed she was chewing on her bottom lip. Worry in her eyes.

"I'm scared that Draco and Blaise are going to leave me now."

"Well they shouldn't, would they?"

"They might because of everyone knowing I'm a muggle lover."

They spoke for hours about what happened and rolling their eyes at stupid antics that some people do. Ginny was glad though that she accepted her family. Ginny was happy that her Mum seemed to really like Hart. She only wished that Hart was lesbian, then it might not be so hard to break it to her family that she isn't straight.

At the end of September Dumbledore had stated they were going to have a Halloween Ball that all students would be invited to, since the Ball two years ago only fourth year and above were allowed.

Ginny was excited, knowing what she was going to be already. She was sure she was ready to come out, finally. She smiled remembering what had happened earlier this month.

"Hey," Ginny said, meeting Hart at the same window.

"Hey."

"What's in the bag," Ginny asked.

"You said you liked reading and there was a book wrote in America I thought you would love. I read it forever ago and I own all of the books," Hart opened the bag.

Ginny reached in and pulled out the first book, "Twilight?"

"It's about vampires and werewolves. In Muggle theory of course."

"I think I would like it. Are you sure you want to let me borrow them?"

"Of course, they just sit there now."

Oh yes, Ginny was going to get a lot of looks this Halloween, but it was going to be amazing!

The girls weren't hiding their new budding friendship, but it seemed no one found them. They would sit at the same window for hours. They would walk the lake or the castle. No matter where they ended up or how long they walked it seemed that no one found them.

Ginny was sitting at a library table, she was supposed to be doing homework for potions but she kept finding her mind wondering off. She didn't want her brother or his friends to interrupt her. Knowing them they would talk for hours about how Draco is on the wrong side and how they were going to prove it.

A bit of movement and the sound of someone sitting down made Ginny tip her book backwards. Warm hazel eyes and an easy going smile greeted her.

"Hey, Gin."

"Hey, Kal."

Ginny had been so excited when Kalya had asked her to call her by her given name and not surname. Ginny had thought she was dreaming that Kalya wanted to be her friend, but she realized that indeed she hadn't been. At least being her friend was better than nothing.

"I'm struggling in Transfiguration. I was wondering if you could help me," Kalya admitted.

"I'm struggling in Potions myself," Ginny blushed.

"Oh, really? With what? I'll happily help you," Kalya moved her chair till she was next to Ginny.

Their legs brushed together causing Ginny to break out in goose bumps. A shiver ran down her spine and she looked toward the girl next to her. A large smile on her beautiful face but Ginny couldn't find anything letting her know if she was enjoying the contact like she was.

They were there for a little over two hours before they headed down to dinner. Talking and laughing about everything they could think about saying. Neither girl noticed all the odd looks and nasty whispers that were spreading through the halls.

Not even halfway through dinner did the girls find out just what had happened and how horrible the rumors were that started. Ginny found herself sitting completely alone at her table. Kalya found herself completely alone as well. Blinking she looked over at Malfoy and Zabini who were sitting with a different group of friends today.

With a sigh on her lips, Kalya once again stood and left the halls. Ginny narrowed her eyes at her brother and his friends. Of course they wouldn't trust her now that they knew she was hanging out with a Slytherin but yet they let the memories of her saving Sirius rush from their heads like it never happened.

Trying to ignore the stares Ginny dug into her dinner. Taking a couple bits she noticed movement at the Slytherin table. Zabini was standing and moving toward the Hall door. The rest of his house was glaring at him and soon his name was spoken of as a traitor.

"Hey, Kal, are you alright," Blaise asked as he sat down next to her.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do Blaise. I love it here. It's my new home, but can't people see I'm not different from them," Kalya asked softly, tears rolling down her cheeks in small rivers.

Blaise pulled her to his chest and held onto her, "They don't see the beautiful person on the inside, they see the evil that Slytherin represents."

"Salazar doesn't understand the pain he has put his students under by choosing such a side in the war."

"There was no war back then," Blaise sighed.

"Maybe not then, but he set up a bad example because he makes us all look like muggle hating idiots."

"I don't think either of us is."

"Draco will never speak to me again. I know this."

"Don't worry about Draco. He will come around, he always does. Remember your like a little sister to him," his reassuring words took the ache from her heart.

"As long as you are still here, I can wait from him to come around."

"No matter who you're friends with, Kal, you're always going to be a huge part of my life."

She smiled brightly through her tears. Blaise would never admit but it was because of this beautiful bubbly dark haired girl that he decided not to follow in his mother's and step-father's footsteps. She gave him hope that he really could be his own person even if for a short time. No matter what he was going to be here for his girl and love her unconditionally.

"Come, I know you don't want to receive the looks and stares, but you really need food, you skipped lunch and breakfast."

Still smiling, her hand enclosed around his and allowed him to lead her back into the hall. The silence was unnerving even to the best of students as the two Slytherins walked hand in hand into the hall. They took their seats as far from everyone as possible.

The rumors of Kalya dating Zabini were high and Ginny couldn't stand the thought. Her heart ached in jealousy as she watched Zabini and Kalya laugh and eat. He had her affection and it wasn't fair that Ginny probably never even had a chance.

No one noticed the upset look on Ginny's face, instead taking to starting at the two Slytherins who were traitors to their house. Things were changing so quickly some of the younger students couldn't understand what was going on. The first years didn't know much of the feud, and their confused faces plainly said they couldn't understand what was going on.

Ginny walked into the library, it had been two weeks since the day she was branded a traitor. Ron had owled her Mum and Mum had merely told Ron to mind his own business. Ginny was glad that her mother approved of her new found friend, even if her youngest brother didn't.

Her eyes roamed the room finding that the Golden Trio was sitting in the table right next to Kalya. Kalya had taken no notice to the Trio and was working on her homework. Books all over the table, parchment everywhere, ink and quills as well. Her hair was a mess and she had a couple ink blots on her face.

Sitting down across from her on the only side of the table that was clean Ginny couldn't help herself and began to giggle at the look on the Slytherins face.

"Oi, don't sneak up on someone like that," Kalya sniffed before turning back to her work.

"Holy cow, how many classes do you have," Ginny asked.

"More then I can handle right now," the poor girl was almost in tears.

"Is everything okay," she couldn't keep the concern out of her voice.

"No," the tears spilt over, "Draco won't talk to me. Blaise is so busy studying for the N.E.W.T.s and I can never find you when I need you."

"I'm here now. I'm sorry."

"Blaise said Draco will come around but it's been two full weeks. He never ignores me like this. He won't even look at me. I've been neglecting my homework all week because I can't even concentrate enough to write my bloody name!"

"Wow, something is horribly wrong. You never curse."

"I just want him to stop being so stupid. He won't listen to me when I tell him he is putting his faith in the wrong area. Sneering at me when I try to speak to him. He even cursed me the last time I tried."

"And you're just going to take that?"

"What am I to do? I don't want to get him in trouble. He was… is like my brother. So much so. I want him to just forgive me, and move on."

"He shouldn't have to forgive you for being friends with me."

"So your saying it's okay your brother is mad at you for being my friend?"

"I…."

"Ginny, they are being stupid. Salazar didn't like anyone but pure-bloods. But that was YEARS ago. I love muggles. I was raised muggle! I lived just like everyone else. I love just like everyone else.

Draco is stubborn because he was raised like Salazar. They hate him because how mean he is to them, but they don't understand what it's like to be born into a place where the only chose you have to survive is to go alone with what your parents tell you.

Honestly, Harry was born to a family that happened to be Gryffindor. Maybe had he been born into Slytherin things would be different. He wouldn't be who he is. So who is to say that Draco can't be a good guy?"

"He chose it," Ron snapped.

"And you chose to be born into a family with five brothers and a sister? You chose to be poor? You chose to live the way you live?"

No one said anything. Their mouths seeming to be glued shut. The tears continued to pour down her cheeks. Her wand was drawn and with a flick of her wrist all of her homework neatly folded, her ink plugged itself, her quills cleaned and they all piled into her book bag along with her books. Throwing the strap over her shoulder she began leaving the library with Ginny chasing after her.