Fate

Chapter 35 - Interlude Four: You Haven't Cried

After almost a whole week had gone by, Ginny was on pins and needles, waiting for the bomb to drop. She had considered several times just locking herself in her room and waiting for the inevitable, but it all seemed so very futile that she couldn't stand that much alone time.

So, instead, her days were full of mindless walking to and from classes, sitting in boring lectures in unproductive practical exercises where she swished and flicked, but didn't seem the least bit peeved when nothing happened. When she wasn't in class she was either sitting in her room, or absentmindedly walking outside in the freezing weather, something she seemed to enjoy too much, Merlin knows why.

The only thing that seemed to break her out of her stupor was whenever she would see Hermione. The older girl had been unusually quiet since their conversation in the Gryffindor common room, and though Ginny didn't want to admit it, she was worried about her.

Ron too. If Ginny thought she was usually lethargic, she was nothing compared to Ron. He seemed more like a robot on most days, only showing any emotion when Hermione was around, and even then it was short and harsh, and only drove Hermione away further.

Ginny had, as of yet, the chance to figure out exactly what had happened between the two to change their relationship so drastically. She realized that they had both lost their best friend, but Ginny figured it was times like that when you clung to your other friends, needing their support and comfort. But both Ron and Hermione were avoiding each other like the plague.

Her answer finally came on a Saturday afternoon as she was on a walk around the grounds, a few inches of snow cracking underneath her feet as she headed to wherever her mindless wandering took her.

This had become something of a routine since Harry had left. Somehow the comfort of being out in the chilly weather, snow all around her, gave her a bit of comfort. It reminded her of Harry, which was as good as she was going to get at the moment.

Just as she was contemplating whether or not to finish her Transfiguration paper, she found that her wanderings that day had taken her to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Stopping in surprise, she weighted her options, peering intently through the foliage, trying to see if there was any danger.

Surely it wouldn't hurt to just go in a bit and have a look? She had been in there last year when they all had flown the thestrals to the Department of Mysteries, and Ron and Harry always seemed to end up in the middle of it for some mad reason, and neither of them ever had too many problems.

Shrugging and quite in the mood for an adventure, Ginny started walking again, shoving her hands in her pockets and fingering her wand just in case. After all you could never be too careful when dealing with this forest.

She stopped suddenly, when she was only about ten feet into the forest, a peculiar sound reaching her ears.

Crying?

Her head whipped around towards the source of the noise and she saw a foot peaking around a tree a bit away from her. As if sensing her gaze, the foot slunk behind the tree out of sight. Ginny frowned, her grip on her wand tightening. Was it a student?

"Ginny?"

She managed not to jump as she saw Hermione peak her head out from behind the tree, her eyes watery and her robes soaked in the snow as she sat on the ground behind the tree.

Ginny hurried over, pulling Hermione up out of the snow.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny fussed, acting more like her mother than she cared to admit as she brushed off Hermione, casting a quick warm-up charm on her to make her a bit more comfortable. "How long have you been out in the snow? Were you at breakfast?"

Hermione's reply was merely a small shake of the head and she looked down, unwilling to meet Ginny's eyes.

Ginny sighed, reaching up and pulling Hermione into a hug, grateful that Hermione at least returned the hug a bit.

Pulling back, Ginny locked eyes with Hermione. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Hermione's expression changed from despair to something akin to worry as she looked at Ginny.

"How can you be so strong?" she whispered.

Ginny grimaced.

"It's not as easy as it looks, believe me," Ginny sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I've looked more like a zombie for the past week than I care to admit."

Hermione's gaze softened a bit. "You and Ron at least have that in common."

Ginny reached out, laying a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "He'll come around. He's just...upset-"

Hermione interrupted her with a series of words that Ginny was positive she had never used before in her life and Mrs. Weasley would have punished her to no end if she heard. "We're all upset."

Ginny's eyes narrowed, "Snapping at me like Ron does isn't going to help anything."

Hermione's face dropped a bit and he looked away. "Right..."

"Do you know...have any idea why he's so upset with you?" Ginny asked tensely, hoping that she'd finally be able to get an answer.

Still not looking over at her, Hermione scowled, "His stupid pride. You Weasley's are all the same, determined not to let people know how you're feeling-"

"Now, wait a second-" Ginny started to bite back, but Hermione just raised her voice.

"You haven't cried!" Hermione almost shouted accusingly at Ginny, glaring at her. "Not a tear shed, not one sleepless night..."

Silence.

Something flickered across the older girls' face as Ginny simply continued to look at her, and Hermione dropped her vengeful look, bringing a hand up to hide her face, and, no doubt, her continuing tears.

Ginny's face softened a bit. "How long have you been out here, Hermione? Do you do this often?"

"No....well, yes," Hermione wiped at her eyes and folder her arms across her body, gazing around the forest. "Actually, I've only done it a few times since Harry's gone missing. It's just...it's a quiet place to think, you know?"

Ginny had to agree. While she had her nice quiet dorm and dorm mates, Hermione was rooming with Parvati and Lavender, two girls that needed to nail signs that said "NO TACT" onto their foreheads.

"Yes...I know..."

They were both silent again and Ginny found herself looking around the forest as well, noticing for the first time that it was very silent, almost eerily silent.

She shivered a bit.

"You're wrong, you know," Ginny finally spoke.

Hermione turned to her questionably.

Ginny locked eyes with her again. "I have cried...a lot."

Blinking back the cold that was stinging here eyes, Ginny looked away, not wanting to see the pity that had appeared in Hermione's eyes.

Pity. What good would that do her?

Sighing, Ginny finally walked towards Hermione, tugging on her hand towards the castle.

"Come on, I'm taking you inside. You're freezing."

Hermione either didn't want to or decided not to make any objections as Ginny began leading her out of the Forest.

Just as Ginny was on her third step, she stopped short, sensing something behind them. Hermione must have felt something as well for she stiffened up and Ginny heard her sharp intake of breath.

Cautiously, Ginny pulled her other hand out of her pocket, her wand whipping around behind them, Hermione following suit.

There was nothing there.

Both girls must have stood there, perfectly still, with wands raised, for almost a whole minute.

Just as Ginny was about to suggest they give it up, a blinding flash of light erupted from in front of them.