Ginny Stands Alone

Moving day. It was the day Ginny had been waiting for ever since she finished school. The day she would finally move out of her parents' house into a place of her own. Well, hers and Hermione's anyway.

It wasn't that Ginny wanted to hurt her parents by leaving. She was their last child living at home. This arrangement had its advantages, but mostly it put her under the constant scrutiny of her mother. It was that scrutiny that Ginny was all too happy to escape.

Thankfully, Hermione had suggested they rent a flat together on Diagon Alley. Down at the end of the street, a new building had just been built to provide low-budget housing for witches and wizards working on Diagon Alley or somewhere else in London. It was the perfect place for them to live. Ginny's parents had reluctantly agreed to this arrangement, mainly because she would be living with responsible Hermione. They probably hoped some of it would rub off on her.

"This is so exciting!" Ginny whispered to Hermione as they climbed the steps to their second-floor flat. Each girl was levitating a box of belongings ahead of her on the staircase.

Hermione tried and failed to look nonchalant. "I know! It's wonderful!"

They reached the door to their flat, and Ginny opened it with a flourish. "We're home."

The main room was decent sized with lots of windows and a boxy kitchen in one corner. A short hallway had doors to each of their bedrooms and a bathroom at the end. It was a fairly no-frills operation, but perfect for two girls starting out.

"Well, let's start unpacking," Hermione said.

******

"I've already talked to Harry and Ron. They're meeting us at the Blue Moon in half an hour to celebrate," Ginny announced. She and Hermione were finally taking a break after hours of unpacking and organizing.

"But we're not done..." Hermione started to protest, but gave up when she saw the look of finality on Ginny's face.

Cho Chang had already started her first set when the girls arrived. The music of electric guitars and heavy drums filled the room.

I had it tough when I was just a little kid

It didn't matter what I thought

It didn't matter what I did

I felt the doubt for what I lacked right from the start

It did a number on my head, but it could never touch my heart

They searched the crowd and found Harry and Ron saving a table for them.

"How's the new apartment?" asked Ron when the girls reached them.

Hermione grinned from ear to ear, and Ginny said, "It's so great! You guys have to come see it!"

Ginny was happier than she had ever been since finishing school. Her mood soared up with the music. She was onstage, belting out the chorus.

I'm free

Kicking out of that prison

I am free

Singing those words of wisdom

Let it be

Nobody's gonna put the blues inside of me

The lights seemed to shine brighter and brighter with each note. She kept on singing.

And in the stress to be the best I've done it all

I've slammed the doors, I've jammed the lights

I've laid the bricks, I've built the wall

No one could tell me back then why joy eluded me

Keep bumping into that misery

Locked up deep down inside of me

"You tell 'em, Cho!" someone yelled from the back of the lounge.

Ginny shook her head slightly and refocused on the people at her table. "What are we all still sitting here for? Let's dance!"

So she and Hermione hopped up, dragging the boys with them. Cho pranced across the stage, finishing the song dramatically.

Took that rage

And I turned that page

And I packed my tools, went back to school

And I passed my graduation, and I hold my Ph.D.

In crash test blues I paid those dues

I'm free

Ginny and Hermione danced to every song, letting out all the day's excess excitement and anxiety. They didn't manage to keep the boys on the dance floor, but that was okay. Harry and Ron had other people to talk to if they got bored.

When Cho left the stage for a sort intermission, the two finally sat down to rest. They returned to their table to find Ron sitting there alone and looking rather bored.

"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked immediately.

Ron shrugged. "I don't know. I thought he'd went to the toilet, but he's been gone too long for that."

"Hope he didn't fall in," said Hermione with a giggle.

"I think I'll go find him," Ginny muttered, leaving the two lovebirds alone.

She walked around the whole lounge and didn't see Harry anywhere. Finally she wandered around to the side of the stage. Hearing voices on the other side of a door, she cautiously opened it.

The sight that greeted her stopped Ginny cold. Harry was sitting very close to Cho, much too close, in fact. They were talking in hushed voices. It looked to Ginny like they were about to start snogging any minute.

Then the door let out a little creak, and Harry glanced up. His eyes widened when he saw Ginny standing there. He jumped up from his spot next to Cho.

"Ginny, I...I didn't see you there," he stammered.

"You liar," Ginny said in a low hiss. She turned on her heals and stormed out of the room.

Harry was right on her heels. 'Ginny, it's not what it looks like! Really! We were just talking!"

"Was that before or after she sat down about a centimeter away from you?" Ginny spat over her shoulder.

"Ginny, wait!" Harry grabbed her arm, forcing her to face him. "Let me explain."

"Why her? After all she's done to you, why would you still want her?" whispered Ginny.

Harry glanced around uncomfortably. "Uh, fatal attraction?"

"My arse!" Ginny yelled, yanking her arm away. "Leave me alone, understand? Don't you dare try talking to me anymore tonight!"

She left him standing speechless. The first mournful notes of a piano played from the stage. Ginny looked up long enough to spot Ron and Hermione slow dancing, but she refused to look at the girl onstage.

If I had just one tear running down your cheek

Maybe I could cope, maybe I'd get some sleep

If I had just one moment at your expense

Maybe all my misery would be well spent

Ginny went back to their now empty table and hung her head.

After a moment she raised her head again to face the audience. Instead of crying, she poured all her pain into the song.

Could you cry a little

Lie just a little

Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain

I gave, now I'm wanting something in return

So cry just a little for me

A tear escaped from her eye in spite of her best efforts to stop it. She just hoped no one in the crowd would notice.

If your love could be caged, honey, I would hold the key

And conceal it underneath the pile of lies you handed me

And you'd hunt those lies

They'd be all you'd ever find

And that'd be all you'd have to know for me to be fine

Ron's voice broke into Ginny's daydream. "Ginny, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Ginny said, getting up. "Tell Hermione I went home early."

Give it up, baby

I hear you're doing fine

Nothing's gonna save me

'Til I see it in your eyes

Some kind of heartache, honey

Give it a try...

I don't want pity

I just want what is mine

The song followed Ginny out of the lounge. She did not look back.

Could you cry a little

Lie just a little

Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain

I gave, now I'm wanting something in return

So cry just a little for me

Could you cry just a little for me