Chapter 20:

Hiding

Waking up next to each other caused panic. They had gotten ready and were so nervous they were going to get in trouble for Ginny spending the night in Kalya's room. They walked into the Great Hall, hoping that Dumbledore wouldn't get upset with them.

They sat with their group of friends who were joined by Emily.

"Have you heard the rumors," Blair asked.

"People are saying that you're using the imperious curse on Ginny," Jade sighed.

"You have got to be kidding me. I have never in my life preformed that spell," Kalya sighed, laying her head against the table, feeling the sting of tears against her reddened swollen eyes.

"People need to learn when to keep their mouth shut," Ginny sneered at some of the students near her.

"I just want to disappear."

"That would just make them think they were right," Roslyn sighed.

"This is going to get out of hand quickly," Martha frowned.

"Not to mention, everyone noticed that Ginny came in with Kalya and not us," Lillian pointed out.

"Let it add to the fire that I accidently spent the night with Kalya," Ginny rolled her eyes.

Kalya packed up her stuff and stood to leave her last class of the day. Potions, her favorite class ever and she got along great with Severus. The classroom was silent, but she knew some of the students were still here. They were just being quiet afraid that she would get made and hex or jinx them. She turned to find a small group of some of the Ravenclaws that shared her last class.

Kalya remembered that one of them she had used a small pain charm on them when a Death Eater ordered her to. She could see them shaking, to afraid to leave and to afraid to say anything.

"I never wanted to use that charm on you. I will tell you the truth; I didn't use the Cruciatus curse on you. I used a simple pain charm," Kalya sighed softly, taking out her wand she set it on the desk and stepped away from it, "I honestly won't harm any of you."

"Were you really on our side," one of the boys finally spoke up.

"If I wasn't, I would be in Azkaban right now."

"So you won't hurt us at all," a girl spoke this time.

"Not even if you wanted me to."

"Raise your left sleeve," a different boy demanded.

Pushing up her left sleeve she showed them white skin with silver like crescent scars covering the skin where she had tried to remove the mark herself. Having done it so many times the nurse couldn't remove the scars that had formed from over abuse of the skin.

"So they gave you the antidote to the mark, which means you really are on our side," a girl whispered.

"What are those scars," a boy asked.

"I tried to rip the skin from my arm multiple times. I wanted the mark to go away and stop hurting me; I would rip at it until I was bleeding uncontrollably because I couldn't stand the thought of going to a Death Eater meeting and being the center of amusement."

"Did they hurt you?"

"They beat me almost every time."

"For what?"

"Disobedience."

"How long have you and Ginny Weasley been dating," a dark haired girl asked curiously.

"Almost two years now."

"We want to get to know you, maybe we can be your friends if we can trust you," another girl added.

"I would love that," Kalya moved over and pocketed her wand.

Kalya sighed as she finally made it into the Great Hall. The group had followed her the whole way asking question after question. She wanted everyone to trust her, but it was getting annoying to have to repeat herself to every single person that asks her for information.

"There you are, what happened," Ginny asked after Kalya gave her their customary kiss.

"Just some curious students asking questions about last year and what happened."

"Must be annoying answering everyone's question," Lillian stated.

"She isn't the only one; everyone keeps asking me why the hell I'm dating Kalya and what really happened."

"It won't stop tell everyone knows our story."

"Would be so much easier to just write out a Q&A sheet," Martha joked.

"I wish I could, would be so much easier," Kalya laughed.

"Black, Weasley, could I have a word with you," Dumbledore asked softly.

The girls blushed and stood, following their Headmaster to his office. They moved into the room and sat in the chairs across from his desk. They both held their breath as they waited for him to sit down and explain to them why they were there. Well, they could guess why.

"I had already taken the liberty of owling both your parents. They have informed me that it's alright for you two to share a room, so I am not here to punish you for this morning, if that's what you think."

The girls shared a look of relief and smiled at each other before looking at their Headmaster.

"Then what are we hear for, Professor," Kalya asked softly.

"I want you guys not to hide anything from what happened last year. It took a lot of convincing on my part to keep most of the kids that were tortured last year here at the school. Many are afraid of you, Kalya, but I'm sure if you all express your love for everyone that they will come around. I know that you two are cutting out some information that I know if you spoke of, they would trust you so much more. Don't hold back anything," Dumbledore's eyes sparkled.

"I don't think they would like to know that you almost died or that Severus almost did too," Kalya stated.

"Maybe they wouldn't want to know it, but knowing it would help them understand just how much help you really were."

"I'm not sure Draco would want me talking about him in a hero like way."

"We need these students to trust you again. You have done so much for them, and none of them know just how much you saved them that year by performing softer charms and never using the unforgivable that the other's were. You need them to know that you saved lives."

"What information would I have that could help us," Ginny asked.

"That you stood behind Kalya. You loved her and trusted her with your life no matter what happened and you still do. That you're not under the imperious curse and that you are in love with her under your own free will. That you saved her life, and she saved all of ours in return."

"But, I didn't save her life," Ginny blinked confused.

"But you did, Ginny. You gave me a reason to live. I wanted to protect you and everyone you cared about. I fought to protect you and everyone you held dear, while fighting to protect Draco because I held him dear to my heart. But, even Draco and Blaise never fully gave me a reason to live; they gave me a reason to hold on to life, you gave me a reason to actually want to live it."

Ginny smiled, placing her hand in Kalya's and squeezing. The happiness that blossomed in the room made it feel warm and comfortable.

"I want you both to remember that you both played very important parts in the war and I'm proud of both of you, for not hiding from this and moving forward trying to help the other students trust and believe you. Now you may go rejoin dinner."

They walked happily hand in hand back into the Great Hall. Sitting down they told their friends everything that had happened and the smiles and laughter in the group increased and the good mood spread around them.

Halloween was upon them, the hall decked out in Jack-o-lanterns. Ginny moved into the hall. Lunch was now and Kalya and she really didn't have any classes together. She sat down with their group of friends. She smiled at them before filling up her plate.

"Ginny, do you know what class Kalya has before lunch," Colin asked.

"I'm not sure, I haven't asked, why?"

"Cause since school started she always seems to be late for lunch."

"You know, Colin's right," Jade nodded.

"You're just agreeing with him cause you like him," Ginny mumbled.

Jade blushed wildly and started to sputter out an excuse. Ginny thought about it and Kalya always was slightly late to lunch. She shook her head and turned her attention back to Jade who was sneering at Colin. Colin was laughing and a smile on his face.

"Want to go with me to Hogsmeade when we next get to go," Colin asked.

"I… sure I'll go," Jade nodded.

"Did I miss something," Kalya asked, sitting down.

"Colin just asked Jade on a date," Lillian gossiped.

"It's about time that they finally went on a date," Kalya smiled.

"What class do you have before lunch," Colin asked.

"Um, well I was supposed to have Apparition, but I don't need the class. I dropped it and chose to go with Ancient Runes," Kalya stated.

"What other classes do you have then," Ginny asked.

"Well, let's see. I have Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, and DADA. But, on the side I also take Astronomy, History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies."

"Please tell me you don't have all those classes in one day," Martha joked.

"Nope, I have the first four every day, but I take Astronomy and History of Magic on Mondays, I take Ancient Runes on Tuesdays, Care of Magical Creatures on Wednesday and Muggle Studies on Thursday and I take an extra hour of potions on Fridays."

"You can't get enough of school, can you," Denis rolled his eyes.

"I love to learn. I'm doing great in all my classes and I still find time to do my Head Girl duties and spend time with Gin."

"I didn't know you were over working yourself," Ginny stated.

"I'm not, I enjoy it."

"You could have said something, maybe then I wouldn't have tried so hard to get more time with you."

"I wanted to spend more time with you. I get all my homework done and my grades are fair, don't worry about it."

"What are your classes like?"

Kalya explained all of her classes, excited in her choices in classes. Ginny couldn't help but realize that Kalya was still trying to shelter her from the burden of her busy life. She needed to talk to her about telling her all the truth no matter what.

In the past two months the girls had been able to talk to a lot of students and many of them already trusted Kalya again. They talked to her and followed her around like she was a hero. Worshiping her like they used to do to Harry Potter. Kalya didn't mind, but she didn't like it either.

Ginny was happy that they no longer had to worry about all of that, but now they had to right their relationship and get on an equal basis. She was trying so hard not to upset or hurt Ginny that it was upsetting her when she finds out. Shaking her head, she listened to the conversation, she wasn't going to let something as stupid as this ruin their relationship.

The day passed quickly and Ginny found herself standing in front of the wall that led to Kalya's personal room. Colin was sitting on the couch in their common room reading a book that would help him in one of their classes.

"Her password is 'Thy love is better than High Birth to me',"

The wall began to move aside opening to show the room behind it. She stepped at foot in to keep the wall from closing and she looked back at Colin.

"Is that Shakespeare," Ginny asked.

"Yeah, she basis almost every password off of him. We use sentences around here, or quotes to make sure no one can guess them."

Nodded, she walked into the room and sat down on the couch. The room was warm and she glanced up at the fireplace. The two pictures that where in her dresser were now on the mantel coming before the pictures of her and her group of American friends.

Ginny felt at peace with Fred's passing. She still missed him, every single day but she knew that he was in a good place and she would see him one day. But for now she was going to live her life having fun and enjoying herself to honor his memory.

She didn't know how much time passed before she heard the wall opening. She turned around and noticed Kalya who looked completely tired. Her face was pale and she moved over to sit down in her chair at her desk, not noticing Ginny. Ginny stood up and moved over to her fiancé.

"Is everything okay?"

Kalya jumped and looked up at her, "yeah everything is alright. I'm so tired today, I haven't been sleeping well."

"How come?"

"I have a hard time sleeping alone; I just can't get my mind to close up and go to sleep when I'm by myself. I just worry about everything and I sit up thinking about nothing and everything for hours."

"I can stay the night if you want."

"Don't worry, I'll be okay. You must have had something to talk about or you wouldn't have come in without me to accompany you."

"I hope you don't mind. Colin let me in."

"Not in the least bit. I have nothing to hide from you."

Ginny sat down on the desk in front of her, "I did want to talk about you not telling me things. I know you're trying to protect me, but I want to know these things."

Kalya frowned, "I know I should tell you. I just don't want to stress you more then you already seem to be."

"We are engaged, Kalya. We are suppose to share our burdens not keep them to ourselves."

"You want to know everything then."

"Yes, no matter what it is."

"One of my friends in America is horribly ill and passing away."

Ginny felt her face drop, Kalya was hurting and she didn't even know it. She hadn't said anything and she wasn't able to be there for her. She wrapped her arms around Kalya's shoulders and hugged her to her.

"We will get through this together," Ginny whispered.

"Blaine is so young, Gin. He is fifteen and he is already dying. I was just there this summer and he was so healthy and now the medwitches and wizards can't figure out what's wrong with him."

"Have you talked to Dumbledore about maybe leaving class for a bit and portkeying out there?"

"I didn't think you would want me to."

"Kalya, you need to be there, just in case he does pass away, you will want to say your goodbyes won't you?"

"I know I do want to," Kalya pulled Ginny over to the picture and pointed at a young boy with dark red hair and green eyes.

"Wow, he is gorgeous," Ginny blinked.

"He is gay actually. He is single at the moment and it's sad to see that he has never known the love that we do."

Ginny held on to Kalya as she broke down and cried. Her depression and sadness coming so suddenly it shocked Ginny. She had only ever seen her really cry once and that was when they were talking about Xavier and Fred. It was so hard to see this normally strong happy girl be reduced to tears and pain.