Written for the Flower Language Challenge
Prompt: Gladiolus -symbolises strength of character, faithfulness, honour (write about a Gryffindor)
Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competion
Team: Wimbourne Wasps
Position: Beater 2
Prompt: Ginny Weasley
Gladiolus
Symbolises strength of character, faithfulness and honour
The Room of Requirement opened to reveal a cloaked figure, covered from head to foot in sprinkles of snow. The hood cast a shadow over her face, but the bright red hair that spilled out the sides gave her away. She slumped down on the couch beside Neville and drew the cloak from around her shoulders. The dying fire burned away slowly in front of them and Ginny warmed her hands in front of it, thawing her frozen fingers.
The radio was on again, listing off the endless number of people; magic and Muggle alike, who had disappeared. She pretended not to listen and focussed solely on warming up her hands, but her ears were straining hard to hear each of the names. What if she heard Mum's name? Or Bill's, or Fred's? Or even worse, Harry's name? So far, wherever he, Ron and Hermione were, they had remained inconspicuous and that gave Ginny a bit of hope. Still, she couldn't help but wish that there was at least a small scrap of news about him. Anything to confirm that he was still alive.
The warmth of a large hand rested on her shoulder and she looked over at Neville, who smiled at her sadly.
"He's still alive, Ginny," he assured her. "If he was dead, the Ministry would be having a field day."
She bit her lip and nodded, turning her gaze back to the fire. Neville was only trying to help. They were his friends too; of course he would be just as worried about them as she was.
With a sigh, she kicked off her shoes and wiggled her sock clad toes as she gazed about the room. The other members of the DA were lounging about, playing Exploding Snap or chatting with each other. Seamus was fast asleep on one of the hammocks, the left side of his face badly bruised. Parvati and Lavender were huddled together; the former patting the back of the other as she sobbed into her hands.
The current state of the world had affected everyone. Even poor Neville. She cast him a sideways glance, to see his brown eyes downcast. Ever since Luna had been taken from the train on the way home for Christmas, he hadn't been his normal, optimistic self. He still fought on, leading the DA and being a strong figure by which so many of them admired, but he had grown hard, almost bitter. It reminded Ginny of the way Harry had acted a few years ago, after seeing Cedric Diggory murdered. She reached out and took his hand, giving it a firm squeeze, before rising from the couch and heading over to an empty hammock.
Her aching legs gave way immediately and she slumped rather clumsily into the hammock and drew a blanket around her body. She put her hands behind her head and gazed outside. The grounds were completely covered with a sheet of snow, which rained down from the sky softly. A part of her wished that she could be out there with her brothers, having snowball fights and staying up until the sunrise, when their noses would be red and their fingers numb from the cold. As much as it was convenient, she hated being cooped up here. It made her feel like a caged animal and she longed to be free.
Curling up on one side, she tucked her legs up and put her hands underneath her head in an attempt to get some rest. Lately, her dreams had been haunted by dark shadows, Harry's unconscious face often in the midst, along with her brothers, Neville's and Luna's. It had been a few months since she had slept properly. Even now, while safe in the hideout, surrounded by the other DA members, Ginny had her wand clutched defensively in her hand; as though the Carrows were going to burst in at any moment and torture them.
Eventually, her eyelids drooped closed and she fell into slumber. She dreamt of a cloaked figure, their face hidden from her view. They carried an unconscious body in their arms; it was Harry's. Ginny was kneeling on the ground in front of them, when the figure dropped him to the floor. She screamed out his name but he didn't hear her. The figure pulled back their hood and it was Luna's face. She sneered at Ginny, her voice much higher and nastier than normal, and suddenly she transformed into Bellatrix Lestrange. She raised her wand and shrieked, "I will have order!" before Ginny was suddenly shaken roughly.
She opened her eyes immediately to find Neville standing over her, his face a mask of concern. He withdrew his hand from her shoulder and smoothed some of her red hair away from her sweaty forehead.
"Are you alright, Ginny?" he asked softly. She nodded and her brown eyes darted about the room. Everything was the same as before she had fallen asleep. There were no shadows, no Bellatrix... no Harry.
"You were tossing and turning quite a bit," Neville explained. "I thought you were having a nightmare."
Gingerly, she lifted herself up and swung her legs over the edge of the hammock, burying her head in her hands.
"I was," she muttered, refusing to face her friend. Neville drew an arm around her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You look terrible," he told her. "Fancy a Butterbeer?"
Ginny nodded, and drew up her knees, resting her head against them. Neville soon returned with two steaming mugs of creamy, golden Butterbeer and plopped next to her. He handed her one and she took eager sips, savouring the feeling of the hot liquid sliding down her throat and filling her with warmth. Slowly, her fingers began to thaw and she sank lower into the hammock in an attempt to get comfortable.
Neither of them said anything, but they didn't need to. Ginny was grateful for Neville's company; he was one of the only people she knew who wouldn't pester her to talk about her nightmare. He simply let her come to terms with it herself and she gripped his hand firmly, expressing her silent gratitude. Soon, their mugs were empty, and Ginny leant her head on Neville's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Don't give up hope, Gin," he told her. "Harry's still out there, fighting for us. We have to do our bit here, to help him."
Ginny nodded and smiled up at him. "Aye, aye, captain."
She fell asleep not long after and this time, the shadows had dispersed and were replaced by brighter images; of Neville and Luna, Ron and Hermione. And of Harry, his brilliant green eyes sparkling as he embraced her and, for just a moment, everything was alright.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. Just a little snippet of what Ginny was feeling while she was at Hogwarts during the 7th book. Hope I did it justice :) Please read and review! xx