Forever Yours

A/N- all right, all right! Don't throw tomatoes at me! Lol, just joking. I am SO sorry this chapter took forever. Sorry I haven't updated for so long. And sorry, I'm a git...oops, that last one wasn't supposed to come out. Anyways! This last month has been crazy for me and it's only just started going right when it's starting to get crazy again. But here's the chapter, sorry if the formatting of the letters and such is weird. But hopefully it's still legible. Anyways enjoy!!

Chapter 6

That night, Draco read the letter again that Chariot of Light had sent him. He traced the writing faintly as he sat by the common room fireplace, contemplating the words.
They were true, but not in Draco's life. It was if when happiness had been handed out, he had lucked out- completely.
If it wasn't for Blaise, who had taken him in and his family, who had supported him, Draco didn't know what he would have done. He wouldn't have returned to Hogwarts. Now that he was here, he was glad he had returned.
Over the next few weeks, letters were exchanged slowly between the two as the workload began to increase.
Ginny was busy with her brother and his problem with Lavender as well as Hermione's obsession with Ron, while Draco concentrated on school and studying hard, as it was the only thing he could put his mind to.
After the challenge Ginny had set for Hermione had been completed, Hermione reverted back to thinking about Ron and being upset at his relationship with Lavender.
Ginny was frustrated about the lack of willpower Hermione had and decided to ask the Prince for his help.

Oct. 31. 1997
Dear Prince of Darkness,
That's true, I suppose. You're right; being an only child is lonely. But being the youngest child is also lonely. I get lost in the family, and by the time it comes time to discuss me, my mother is too tired from dealing with my older siblings to even care about me.
But enough of that, I need some advice.
My friend, let's call her...Athena, is having problems forgetting about a certain guy. She constantly thinks about it, but it's not doing her good because she's getting behind on her school work, something that's very rare for her. It's just really sad because he's with someone else. What do you suggest I do to get her mind off of it?
Sincerely,
Chariot of Light

While sitting beside the oak tree near the lake, Draco contemplated Chariot's dilemma. He thought about it and then scribbled his brief response:

November 2nd 1997
Dear Chariot of Light,
If I was you, and she is your very good friend, I would set her up on a date. I believe there's a weekend in Hogsmeade coming up. Perhaps spending time with someone else will take the other person off her mind.
Prince of Darkness

Ginny read the response during lunch as she munched on some carrots.
Ron sat opposite to her, with Lavender close to him. They were almost back together. Ron had told her that Lavender kept threatening him with stupid things that he was finding it hard to say no. She was always around him, bugging him and annoying Hermione.
"Yes!" she whispered to herself when she read the response. She felt stupid for not thinking of it earlier. It was that simple.
As soon as she was done with her lunch, she jumped up and ran to a fifth year Ravenclaw girl, Sarah, as she was leaving the hall.
"Hey," she said as she fell in place with her.
"Hi, Ginny!" the younger exclaimed. "Oh my gosh, you will not believe what I just heard! Colin Creevey is going out with Rose Zellar, that freaky little third year with the pierced...you know what."
"Right, Sarah," said Ginny, nonplussed. Sarah was a big gossiper, and she knew everything about everyone. If something happened in the school, Sarah was the reason that everyone knew the next day.
"Listen, Hermione needs a date. Do you have anyone who's looking?" she asked.
Sarah was also the love guru of Hogwarts. She knew who was going out with whom, when they started, when they broke, major fights, how they were compatible and people who were looking for people. In other words, everything.
"Hmm," she said. "Walk with me."
Ginny walked with her outside the castle and onto the grounds.
"Hermione Granger, Hermione Granger. What about Ron?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "They're not the most compatible, but they so have this...thing!"
"Nope, someone else," said Ginny, frowning. "Someone else?"
Sarah raised her eyebrow. "Why? Don't you like Hermione for your brother? I'd think you'd be excited."
"Not really," she said. "Hermione needs a little push away from Ron, someone who'll make her laugh and forget about him."
"Oh, okay!" said Sarah, her eyes lighting up. "I get it. Let me think..." Suddenly she smiled and then said, "Hey, Blaise!"
A seventh year Slytherin that was walking by stopped in his tracks. "What?" he asked.
"Weren't you just asking me this morning for a date?" Sarah said. "I've got one for you."
"Oh my god," Ginny muttered under her breath. It was a bloody Slytherin and not only that, but he was one of Draco Malfoy's cronies.
"Never mind. Anyone but him," Ginny said.
"Hey! What's wrong with me?" Blaise asked. "I don't mind Gryffindors. Plus you're pretty, so it works."
"Ew, you idiot. It's not me," she said, crossing her arms.
"It's for H...." Sarah started to say, but Ginny put her hand over her mouth.
"It's for a friend," Ginny said. "It's for next weekend at Hogsmeade at Madam Pudifoots. Are you in?"
"So...like a blind date?" he said, slowly.
"Yes, exactly," said Ginny, nodding. "I won't tell her who you are, just like you don't know who she is. But my friend needs a date, so...?"
Blaise shrugged. "All right, all right. I guess I'm in. Do I meet her there or do we meet here?"
"I would say meet there," offered Sarah. "It's just better."
"Right," said Ginny. "There it is."
Blaise nodded. "All right. So how will I know that it's her?"
"Umm," Ginny thought wildly. "I'll be with her. I'll introduce you guys."
"Cool," he said. "See you later."
After he left, Ginny hugged Sarah. "Thank you!"
She ran back inside and scribbled her response down before the bell rang:

Nov. 2. 97
Dear Prince of Darkness,
It worked! Thanks!
Chariot of Light

"No, Ginny. Absolutely not."
"But why not? Won't it be cool to try something new?"
"No. I'm not going out with a Slytherin. Never."
"Hermione, it's you who said that we need more inter house unity. Now you're getting it. You're the one who always says that there needs to be more friendship with Slytherins and Gryffindors, didn't you?" Ginny said.
Hermione bit her lip. It was a few days later and the pair were whispering in the library, trying to finish their work before the library closed.
"I know, Ginny...but I don't have time to date right now."
"Look, Hermione, do this for me, okay? I don't want to see you just wallowing away because Ron's not going out with you. You need to forget about him and get out and enjoy yourself. We're going to Hogsmeade that day anyway, so just spend some time with this guy. He's nice, I promise."
Hermione sighed, rolling up her quill. "I don't know where you get your will from, Ginny, but it sure is strong. All right, I'll go out with this mystery man of yours."
"Thank you!" Ginny said, hugging her friend. "You won't regret it, I promise."
"Ladies!" came Madam Pince's voice from the shadows. "The library closed two and a half minutes ago. Out!"
Ginny grabbed her things and followed Hermione out of the library.
As they climbed through the portrait hole, Ginny said, "So don't forget. I'm coming to your dormitory early tomorrow morning to help you get ready, okay?"
Hermione sighed. "All right."
"Good night," she said as she climbed the stairs to her dormitory, and Ginny climbed hers.
Ginny undressed and changed, then lied down and fell asleep.
The next morning, she eagerly bounded away with the thought of getting Hermione ready for her date.
She knocked on the older girls' dormitory and walked in when she heard a muffled 'Come in'.
She walked in and found that all the girls Hermione shared her dorm with were gone, while Hermione sat in bed.
"Wow," she said, seeing Hermione's hair, which was frizzy and thick from sleep.
"I know," Hermione said. "It's like this every morning."
Ginny tried to keep herself from smiling. "That's okay. We'll work something out, I'm sure."
Hermione pushed her hair behind her ear and then said, "Listen, Gin. Could I not go today? Please?"
Ginny glared at her. "Hermione!"
Hermione stood up. "I'm sorry, but I'm not in the mood, seriously. I feel a bit sick, and I just don't want to sit in a teashop with some boy making small talk when I'd rather stay and write to my pen pal. He's very nice."
"He?" Ginny asked.
Hermione blushed, looking down. "Yes. He's really sweet and we talk about everything. I can't wait to meet him."
Ginny just laughed. "But Hermione, you should come and meet him. What will I tell him then? That you didn't want to come?"
Hermione bit her lip. "I don't know about that, but remember that dare I did for you about not thinking about Ron?"
Ginny nodded slowly, knowing where this was going. "Yeah?"
"Well, you said that you would owe me a favour. So this is it. Please do me a favour and tell him I'm sorry, but I was sick and couldn't come."
"Fine, all right." Ginny got up and said, "I guess I'll go get ready then."
"Thanks for understanding, Gin," Hermione said with a smile on her face. "I mean it."
"It's no problem," Ginny said, smiling, shutting the door behind her.
She made her way to her dorm and proceeded to get ready. She wore her school robes, which would keep her warm and then tied her hair back. She wasn't someone that was big on makeup and getting ready like the other girls. What someone thought was much more important to her.
In ten minutes, she went to the front of the castle to sign out of the school. She tried looking for Blaise Zabini to tell him that his date was off, but she couldn't find him anywhere.
In front of her stood Lavender, who was making a face as she waited. Ginny thought she knew why that was. That morning, the whole common room had witnessed a fight between Ron and Lavender. Ron had told her that he didn't feel like coming to Hogsmeade and Lavender had stomped her foot, but that hadn't changed Ron's mind.
She shivered in the cold November wind as the queue moved up. She wrapped her scarf tighter around herself and pushed her bangs behind her ear.
She walked by herself to Hogsmeade and then stood at the entrance of the village, watching all the students pass by, scanning the crowd for Blaise.
"Boo," came a voice behind her.
"Hello, Blaise," Ginny said, before turning around.
He raised his eyebrow at her. He was wearing his green robes with his scarf and gloves on. "How did you know it was me?"
She shrugged. "I'm observant?"
He cocked his head to one side. "Where's my date?"
Ginny pushed her bangs behind her ear once again, then drew her hands into the warmth of her robes' sleeves. "Um, she was sick, so she couldn't come."
He stared at her for a second. "Are you making that up?"
"No!" she said, folding her arms. "What do you think I am?"
"Obviously a liar," he said. "I only came to Hogsmeade because of this 'chick' that you said needed a date, and now I find out that she's not here. That's not cool."
"It's the truth. Take it or leave it," she said, turning to go, but he grabbed her hand.
"I'll take it," he said.
"Shove off, Zabini," she said, trying to wiggle her hand free.
"Just listen," he said, his dark eyes peering into hers. "I came all this way; surely you have to compensate me some way."
Ginny's eyebrows narrowed. "What kind of compensation?"
He smiled devilishly. "I was looking forward to a date with a cute girl. I guess you'll have to do."
She pushed him away. "Not in your bloody dreams."
He smirked again. "I think so. Otherwise I'll tell everyone...that you're in love with me."
"I am not!" she said, glaring at him. What the hell?! she thought. Who does he think he is!
"It'll be your word against mine," he said. "One cup of coffee won't hurt you."
She sighed. "I guess I have no choice."
He grinned and said, "Not in the least."
He led her to a smaller road off the main one that eventually ended at Madam Pudifoot's teashop, the same that Harry had visited in his fifth year.
Seeing the teashop made her heart skip a beat. Harry had mentioned the teashop before, telling her about the incident with Cho, taking her there on date while laughingly telling her about the time he had been there before.
As they entered the warm teashop, Ginny's eyes glazed over with tears. Come on, be a big girl, she chided herself. Don't cry. Not in front of a Slytherin.
Blaise led her to a table and then went to order some coffee.
Ginny slid into the booth and realised that it was the same booth that Harry and she had sat in the last time. Except that she was sitting in the spot Harry had been.
Her heart let out a sharp pang again and her palms began to sweat.
Blaise came and sat down, setting a coffee down in front of her and beginning to talk.
But Ginny couldn't focus. She was staring at Blaise's face, when suddenly it turned into Harry's.
Harry's handsome, shining and smiling face. His eyes had been shining and twinkling behind his obnoxious glasses. His messy, black hair had been falling into his eyes- again while he ran his hand through it, haphazardly while he grinned crookedly at her.
His cheeks had been pink from all the jokes they had shared and all the laughing they had done. His eyelashes were sprinkled with snowflakes that had been slowly melting as he told her about the last time he had been there and what an uncomfortable time it had been.
Ginny had laughed with him, of course, but in her heart she couldn't help but feel proud of herself, knowing that at least the time he spent with her was happy.
Since Ginny had seen Harry for the first time, when she was younger, she had loved him. Seeing him for the first time made her feel as if she was alive for first time only. Her heart had started thudding faster and faster as she stared at his young face, as her mum forced him to eat.
She had read books about him, heard his story and had often wondered how he would be in person. To her, he was a celebrity and the she was in awe of the fact that he had beat Lord Voldemort.
But when she had met him for the first time and stared into his honest eyes, she realised that he wasn't a celebrity. He didn't even want to be famous. He just wanted to be a normal boy and live a normal life. He didn't ask for any of the fame.
His eyes betrayed his real feelings inside and those were of sadness and betrayal. As she stared into them, she saw a boy that had been abandoned by his parents and left to fend for himself. She saw a boy whose life was filled with misfortune, pain and hardships. She saw a boy who didn't want the glory or fame, but only wanted love.
And when she saw that boy, her heart let out a deep pang, just like the one now, to see the boy that had faced many adversaries and was still putting on a brave face for the world and was smiling.
In her heart, at that moment, all Ginny wanted to do was to make that boy happy. She wanted to make him smile and to be happy for once.
But whenever she was around him, Ginny tended to make a mess of things. She would fluster, stammer and blush. She didn't know what to say because she knew, in her small heart, that someone as brave and handsome as Harry would never love someone so small and boring as her.
She continued to push him away from her mind and became her true self. His face would always be at the back of her mind whenever she was snogging another boy, and his words would replay in her mind whenever her current boyfriend spoke to her.
Those were the only reasons she started dating- to get away from the pain of not having Harry. She saw how he was in love with Cho Chang and would spend DA meetings staring at her. She decided that by dating and meeting other boys, she would forget him.
And she eventually did, at least for the most part, except one day, she couldn't control herself and kissed him after the Quidditch game.
Kissing him had felt so good. It was if her hidden self was coming out after so long, the part that belonged to Harry, the part that she had been saving for him.
And so whenever she was with him, she tried, with all her heart, to make him laugh, to keep him distracted and to keep him happy, especially as he became more and more worried.
But now that he wasn't here, Ginny had pretended as if life had continued, and in a sense, it had. But she was always thinking about him. Since she was so great at hiding her true feelings, she still went around as if she was happy with a painted smile on her face.
Harry's not here anymore, the thought struck her. And the fact that he would never sit with her, laugh with her, smile to her, tickle her, talk to her, love her or a million others hit her like a stream of bullets.
And that's when she started to cry.
Blaise finally noticed the crying girl in front of him. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?"
Ginny's response was her head sinking into her hands as she sobbed silently into the table.
"Ginny?" he said with a more worried voice. "Are you okay?"
After a few minutes, Ginny looked up and smiled weakly, through watery eyes. "I'm sorry. You must think I'm a bore."
He grinned at her as he gently wiped her tears with his thumb. "Not really. It's very rare for a girl to cry when she's on a date with me."
Ginny laughed nervously and took a sip of her steaming coffee. Her eyes continued to glaze over again and she wiped at them furiously.
"Is everything okay?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "Not really."
"Is it Potter?" he asked her, waiting a few minutes to ask her.
She nodded. "It's...just so hard to explain."
He nodded. "I understand. Really I do. You miss him, but you want to move on with your life. At times, you even feel guilty because you try to forget him. But all the same, there's this aching feeling inside of you that feels like it'll never go away, but you keep going every day, hoping it will."
She stared at him, with her mouth half open. "What? How...do you know?"
He shrugged. "That's how a lot of my friends feel, or at least one of my friends. All he does is complain about it to me, the only person who listens and understands. So I know that this war has left scars, physical, but more importantly, emotional."
Ginny continued to stare at him. "You understand..."
He smiled. "I can try to. But honestly, you're the first girl who's cried when she's been on a date with me."
Ginny laughed. "Those girls must have not known what they were getting into then."
He laughed.
After a few minutes of silence and of sipping coffee, Ginny looked up. "I'd better get going now. Thanks for everything."
Blaise got up and said, "No problem. Thanks for not fleeing from the room, screaming as many other girls have done."
Ginny laughed, while putting on her jacket. "Bye then."
"Bye," he said.
Ginny walked out of the teashop and into almost empty village that was lined with grey clouds and had white snow falling from them.

A/N- how was it? Not the most exciting chapter, but it was still good no? Next chapter: a little pen pal marathon starts and a Quidditch game, a fight and...detention?!