Lost Together

Disclaimer: It’s all yours, Jo. Just don’t sue me.

Author’s Note: This is my first story set post-HBP. I wanted to do one, but I have to speculate a little more before I can take on the task of writing about the Horcruxes, which are pretty fundamental to almost any H/Hr story. So the solution? A D/G story. I can very easily picture what I think Ginny’s reaction will be to Harry leaving, since she’s always described as “fiery” and what not. And with the Narcissa’s part in HBP, I think it’s very clear that she doesn’t want her son to be a Death Eater. So this is the way I envision Ginny’s 6^th year going.

A/N 2: This is my first multi-chapter story at PK, so please bear with me. It will probably be at least 10 chapters, and I’ll try to update as soon as possible.

Chapter 1: Letting Off Steam

As Ginny Weasley stepped off the Hogwarts Express, she didn’t notice the beautiful September sunlight that bathed Hogsmeade Station. She paid no mind to the crowd of bustling students around her, ready and waiting to start a new school year away from the pain of the ongoing war. The beauty of Hogwarts’ lawns stretched out in front of her as she approached the gates to the castle was completely lost on her. Ginny was bound and determined not to let anything ruin her foul mood.

She passed through Filch’s security check and climbed into one of the school carriages, not particularly caring if someone decided to join her. The one person she wanted, after all, was probably half way around the world with her right now.

Ginny registered the sound of another person entering the carriage a moment before she saw their face. She then watched with mild curiosity as Luna Lovegood plopped into the seat across from Ginny.

“Hello!” Luna greeted her brightly, giving one of her hands a small wave. Several purple and orange bangles clinked together on her wrist.

Ginny regarded her carefully for a moment. Deciding Luna to be harmless, she gave a small, muffled, “Hi.” in return, and then went back to staring moodily out the window. She knew she was being immature again. As her mum had made such a point of telling her through the last month of summer holidays, it was childish to stay resolutely “angry at the world.” She didn’t care in the least.

Luna didn’t seem offended at all. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Luna not appearing to mind the lack of conversation as she studied the ceiling with great interest. Then suddenly, without warning, she blurted out, “I miss Ronald, you know. Like you miss Harry.”

His name crashed against Ginny’s ears, her head snapping around to meet Luna’s eyes. She hadn’t heard that name spoken aloud since Bill and Fleur’s wedding, the last time she had seen him. But no, she wouldn’t think about that, she had sworn she wouldn’t.

Pushing those thoughts away, Ginny came to the conclusion that she could no longer ignore Luna’s presence. She tried her best to be friendly as she asked, “Why do you miss Ron? You didn’t even really know him.”

“I like Ronald. He’s very interesting.” Luna looked thoughtful for a moment, and then added, “He’s very good looking, too.”

Ginny snorted loudly, trying to suppress full-out hysterics. She was saved by the sight of the front steps of Hogwarts, and their carriage coming to a stop to let them out. “Well, Luna, it’s been nice talking to you, but got to run, you know, don’t want to be late for the feast and all.” she said, hopping down from the carriage as quickly as she could. No longer able to hold back, she nearly collapsed into a fit of laughter. Honestly, her brother, good-looking? And Loony Lovegood was the one who thought so? She could picture what Ron’s reaction would be in her mind, his ears blood-red and his eyes wide and shocked.

Then his face changed, and a new image of Ron swam before her eyes, and he was just her brother, blue eyes bright and a smile on his face. She felt the familiar pang of longing. She missed him. He should be with her at Hogwarts this year, slacking on his N.E.W.T. studying and shoveling food into his mouth everyday.

Another image was flashing in Ginny’s head now, before she could stop it, and it made her insides churn. Harry. The sight of his face made her forget every promise she had made to herself that she wouldn’t think about him. Why did he have to be so bloody gorgeous? His black hair was mussed, oh, how she missed that hair. It was always so soft when she ran her fingers through it. His eyes, as she pictured them now, seemed to be an even more intense shade of that beautiful green. A small grin lit up his handsome features, the grin that he used to give her when she walked into the room. It shook her to think that he was probably now looking at another and sharing with her that beautiful smile. The smile that had always been reserved for Ginny.

Then her thoughts turned to her feelings. Ginny found it amazing that, at the beginning of the summer, her emotions had been consumed with thoughts of his safety, and how much she would miss him, and how brave and noble he had been to set off against Voldemort. Naivety was all that had been. She had put so much trust in that stupid git, had thought that it was heroic of him to want to leave her behind. She had even believed that he had only wanted to keep her safe, and that leaving her behind would cause him as much pain as it did her.

Now, after thinking all summer, after seeing him at Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Ginny realized just how wrong she had been. He’s just as head-over-heels for her as Ron has always been, and she had always been too blinded to see it. Ginny remembered Harry’s first letter, written two weeks after the three of them left, which she had read so many times she could recite it almost entirely.

Dear Ginny,

How are you? I’m alright. We haven’t seen any action yet, nothing dangerous or anything. The problem with that is that we also haven’t accomplished anything. But I know we’re on the right track, we just have to keep looking.

We did find out some important information, though. My Hermione really is bloody brilliant. She still amazes me. I swear she can do anything. We’d be completely lost without her.

Ron is fine too, and he’s sending a letter home for your whole family, so you’ll hear from him soon.

I miss you,

Be safe,

Your always,

Harry

The letters after that came less and less frequently, and had more to do with Hermione and what she had done to once again save their mission. Harry and Ron were hopeless when it came to her. And Hermione had no trouble leading Harry and Ron on. The tramp was probably now watching with amusement as both her best friends practically threw themselves at her. Or maybe she had finally made up her mind. If she had, there was no question which one was by her side and which one was standing in the shadows, a third wheel in what had once been an equal trio. Her heart went out to her brother, because she too knew what it felt like to be abandoned. As much as she loved Ron, he didn’t stand much of a chance in a competition against Harry Potter.

She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice she was walking into the Great Hall until she ran head-on into another student. Pulling herself up from the ground where she had landed, she was met with the sneer of none other than Draco Malfoy.

“Damn.” she muttered, not believing her horrid luck. Of all the people….

“Well, nice to see you too, Weasel.” Malfoy said, brushing invisible dust off his robes. “Not Potter’s lap dog this year, eh? Or did he exclude you from his little crusade? More snogging time with the Mudblood, I suppose, if you‘re not hanging around.”

Ginny felt red-hot anger welling up inside her, and a thousand and one comebacks ran through her mind. “Aw, what’s the matter, Malfoy? The rest of your big, bad, Death Eater buddies didn’t want you anymore? I suppose they don’t want a wimp like you, I mean after all, you didn’t even have the balls to kill Dumbledore, right?”

Malfoy stood where he was, all pretenses of being arrogant and treating Ginny like dirt apparently forgotten. His mouth hung open, and it appeared that he didn’t have a snappy comeback for that. Ginny was glad, because now that she had started, she found it quite liberating to vent her frustrations on Malfoy.

“Or maybe you precious mum just begged you to come back to school? I’m told you’re quite close to her. But she can’t protect you forever, right? Eventually your dear old dad will probably step in, and you’ll be off to the war, and then you’ll be a bit surprised, I’d bet. No mother to protect you, no House elves waiting on you hand and foot, no fancy dress robes and mansion parties. You won’t have these goons-”
she motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, who were standing to the side and looking as thick as ever- “following you everywhere and fighting your battles for you. You may act tough, Malfoy, but all you really are is a spoiled, rich, brat, with a mouth almost as big as your ego. You’ll be about as useful to Voldemort as a whiny two-year old.”

And with that, Ginny stomped past Draco and took her seat at the Gryffindor table, ignoring Malfoy’s stunned expression, the piercing glares shooting her way from the Slytherin table, and the whoops and high fives of the other houses. It was going to be a long feast.

Author’s Note: So here’s the next chapter! It’s later than promised, I know, and I’m sorry. I had a bit of writer’s block at the beginning, but I worked through it and I think it turned out good. Reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 2: Word Games

When Ginny woke up the next morning, she was met with the sight of a cold and stormy sky, the complete opposite of what the weather had been the day before. Rain was coming down in sheets, and thunder clapped in the distance. Ginny felt her spirits sink even lower, if that was possible. Her first class of the day was Care of Magical Creatures, and Hagrid never cancelled class for rain.

Silently, she made her way down to the Great Hall. She ate breakfast by herself at the end of the Gryffindor table, grateful to the other students who were leaving her alone. Just as she was about to stand up and leave, she heard someone come up behind her. Turning her head a bit, she could see Malfoy out of the corner of her eye.

He leaned close to her ear. “I’ll get you for last night, Weasel. Nobody makes fool out a Malfoy.” His cold tone sent a shiver down Ginny’s spine. Then, just as fast as he had appeared, he was gone.

“Damn.” she muttered again, looking just in time to see him striding out of the Great Hall with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. She hadn’t been quick enough with a comeback that time.

“I won’t let you get to me, Malfoy.” she whispered to herself, standing up from the table and gathering her books.

________________________________________________________________________

An hour later, Ginny trudged back up the steps and into the castle, soaked to the skin. She was dripping water onto the floor, so she did a quick drying spell on her robes and walked away from the muddy puddle she had made. After all, a run in with Filch was the last thing any student wanted.

Still shivering with cold despite her now dry clothes, she started the walk up to the Gryffindor common room. Care of Magical Creatures had been hell, just as she had predicted. Her Rain Repelling charm had worked for all of twenty minutes before the downpour had become too much for it. The Snacklehogs they had been attempting to tame had hated the rain and decided to take it out on the students, eventually sending a Hufflepuff named Jonas to the hospital wing. In truth, Ginny didn’t even know why she had chosen to continue with the class. It wasn’t as though she wanted to have a career with creatures. But Hagrid was one of the only friendly faces left at Hogwarts, and it brought a certain comfort to know that she still had one friend at the school, at least on dry days.

Ginny had just finished drying out one of her books when she arrived outside the Gryffindor portrait hole. “Er… um…” Ginny stammered, trying to recall if she had heard the password the night before. She soon realized she hadn’t; she had followed a group of fourth years through the portrait hole.

“Listen,” Ginny told the Fat Lady, “I’m having a really bad day, and I just got rained on in class, and I know you know I’m a Gryffindor because you can tell I’m a Weasley, so can you please just let me through?” She added a note of desperation to her voice, hoping she sounded convincing.

“Sorry, no admittance without the password.” the Fat Lady said.

“Damn.” That seemed to be her motto of late.

Ginny was gathering up her books and materials, having decided to go seek out a Gryffindor in the Great Hall, when Malfoy appeared from around the nearest corner.

“Couldn’t help but overhear, Weasel. It seems you may just be in need of my help.” He looked very happy with himself, an arrogant little smirk on his face.

“Why would I need any help from you? It isn’t as though you know the Gryffindor password.”

“Au contraire. You see, I was following Longbottom last night, having a good bit of fun levitating his book bag to hit him on the head, and I heard the password he used before he ran screaming like a little girl into the common room.” He laughed, and the icy tone of it made he seem even more cold.

“Leave Neville alone. He never did anything to you.”

“It’s more the fact he exists, really.”

“Look, Malfoy,” Ginny said, saying his name like a disgusting curse word, “I don’t want your help, nor will I ever. Can you just stop bothering me?”

“I like bothering you. You’re kind of cute when you get all annoyed.” He took a step closer. “At least for a Weasel.”

Ginny took a step back, adding more distance between them. She wasn’t sure she liked the look in Malfoy’s eyes. “I’m going to go now. Please just stay away from me.” She took three steps towards the staircase before he grabbed her arm.

“LET GO OF ME!” she screamed, trying to wrench her arm out of his hand.

“My, you are a fiery one, aren’t you?” he said, watching with pleasure as she squirmed beneath his grasp.

“I MEAN IT MALFOY!”

“Meet me by the lake at midnight.” Draco said, not even flinching as she screamed and struggled.

“WHAT?!”

“I’ll give you the password if you meet me by the lake at midnight.”

She gave up her fight. “I’m not meeting you anywhere, and I don’t want the password from you.”

He loosened his grip, thinking that she was done struggling. Ginny got exactly what she wanted. She jerked her arm up, too fast for him to grab her. She had run all the way to the top of the staircase, ready to run down it as fast as she could, when she was pulled off her feet. Hanging by her ankles in midair, she twisted around and saw Malfoy’s wand pointed at her.

“MALFOY”! she shouted, frantically trying to hold her skirt down. “LET ME DOWN!”

“Say you’ll meet me.” Ginny was amazed with how calm he could be.

“FINE, I’LL MEET YOU AT THE BLOODY LAKE! JUST LET ME DOWN!”

“Gladly.” he said, and with another flick of his wand she collapsed in a heap at the top of the stairs.

“Never, ever, mess with me again.” she panted, gathering her things and straightening her uniform.

“I got what I wanted, didn’t I?” he said, offering her a hand to help her up.

Ginny swatted his hand away and pulled herself to her feet. “What’s the password?”

“Jobberknoll.” The portrait hole swung open. “The lake at midnight.” he reminded her, and she climbed through the hole. “By the way, nice knickers, Weasley.”

Ginny slammed the portrait hole shut and collapsed into a chair. It was turning out to be a very long day.