Thanks to new beta reader, Marinka!
Ginny continued stuffing pairs of socks in the trunk, her back still turned to him.
"I'm sorry Harry, but I can't do this right now," she replied bluntly. The pain in her eyes made him want to gather her into his arms and ride away with her into the sunset where nothing would ever hurt his sweet Ginny again. However, he knew that she would never let him do that; she was simply too stubborn and independent to let others take care of her problems for her.
Hermione took that as her cue to slip out of the room, leaving Harry standing in the middle of the room helplessly. He threw his hands in the air with a scowl.
"What did I do, Ginny? Did I not love you enough? Did I not comfort you enough after Fr-" he started angrily, but she cut him off before he could finish.
"Don't you dare say his name!" she commanded sharply, her lips thinning.
Harry's eyes widened in shock and his mouth dropped open. She had never taken that sort of tone with anyone, not even when she and Ron had gotten into an argument and started to hex each other at the end of her fourth year. She had especially never spoken to Harry like that. Her heart must truly be hurting if she was trying to push away the man she loved. At least, he had thought she loved him. Now, however, it seemed that was not the case, or else she would not be acting this way.
Harry immediately felt ashamed for thinking that way. Of course she still loved him! She was just mourning her brother. This was to be expected. All he could do was help her through it and let her know just how much he loved her.
"Ginny, I'm sorry," he began in a more gentle tone, walking forward to stroke her cheek comfortingly.
However, she turned her head away. "Please, Harry. Don't. Just don't." By now, she was just hoping that he would go away before he saw how much this was hurting her. She cared about him, but not the way he wanted her to. It was pure torture to see the sadness and confusion reflected in his eyes as he stared at her.
Why? Why don't you love me? they seemed to ask her in accusation. You said you loved me! But you lied. You lied to me.
Ginny yearned to yell out that she never meant to hurt him, that she was only doing what was necessary for the both of them. It was time to move on; she could feel it inside, growing like a sickness within her. The blackness and heartache threatened to swallow her whole, but she resisted the pull, knowing that her family needed her to be strong for them.
She was the one the others leaned on. She was Ginny, the invincible Weasley. Nothing ever hurt her. Only Hermione knew the truth—that Ginny was much more human than anyone was. Late at night, she would stare at the ceiling, wondering if she had made the right choices. Nevertheless, it was too late to go back. The only option left to her was to move forward and hope that she did not do too much damage to the people around her.
His hands dropping to his sides again, Harry examined her face. Whatever he saw there seemed to have convinced him that she was serious. Finally, he sighed, turned around, and walked out of the room. As if in sympathy with his breaking heart, the wind outside moaned. With every step he took away from her, he could feel the chipped pieces drifting further and further away. Harry shook his head in anger at himself.
Stop thinking about it. She'll get over this. I just have to give her some time. Yeah, that's all she needs. Once she sees that she still loves me, she'll come back and I can finally put this thing to good use, he mused as he rubbed his thumb against the smooth black box in his pocket.
Ginny threw the pair of socks in her hand down on the bed. Slumping down on the floor, she wrapped her arms around her knees with a sigh.
Oh, Harry. I'm just not ready for this. I saw horrible things during the Battle for Hogwarts, things that still haunt my nightmares. I just... I want to move on with life, get away from serious stuff. I'm not the same person anymore. I'm just not. You deserve better, Harry. I care about you too much to hold you back. I want to put the past behind me, and like it or not, that includes you. There's a nice, sweet girl out there whose heart is ready to love you more than anyone else has every loved you—but that girl isn't me. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry for hurting you. But I have to move on. Maybe I can find myself again at Hogwarts. Maybe I'll finally find some peace within the castle walls. Godric knows I could use some right about now.
After rubbing her eyes, Ginny stood up and walked down the stairs to where Ron, Hermione, and her parents were sitting in the kitchen discussing something in hushed tones. Probably me, Ginny mused, the corners of her lips lifting in rueful amusement. Clearing her throat to get their attention, she raised her chin determinedly.
"Mum, Dad. I changed my mind. I'm going back to Hogwarts."
They stared at her in shock, their mouths hanging open. Finally, Molly snapped out of it and rushed forward, grabbing her daughter and crushing her against her ample bosom. "Oh, Ginny! I'm so proud of you! Oh! Oh!"
The woman could not find the words to express her feelings as she sobbed into Ginny's shoulder. Arthur slowly stood up from his chair and walked across the room to encase his wife and daughter in his arms. The shudders racing through his body were the only visible evidence of his relief. Soon, they were all hugging, laughing, and crying together, too emotional to speak.
A few moments later, they reluctantly pulled away from Ginny, tear trails running down their faces. Molly patted the young woman's cheeks, her brown eyes shinning with love and tears.
"Well, that's a good girl. Go on now; we don't have much time to pack. Go, go!" She shooed Hermione and Ginny up the stairs, a joyful half sob, half laugh rising from her throat as she clasped her hands together under her chin. Arthur wrapped his arms around his wife's rounded waist, and she leaned back against his chest.
"Oh, Arthur. Our Ginny is going to be okay," Molly whispered in a choked voice between hiccups.
Draco will be introduced in chapter five. Thanks for reading!
