Moments of "Time"

Fifth Story. Another heart breaks.

I see you standing there, talking to her. I never quite understood why you like her. What's so special about her?

She's a Seeker, just as you, she's one year older... And I'm one year younger than you. But that doesn't mean I'm a child. I've seen more than most grown-ups can honestly say that they've faced...

Yet, you and your friends (even my stuck-up git of a brother) think of me just as a little baby girl... And I can't take it anymore! I'm fifteen for crying out loud! As I see you kiss her, my lips tremble, I feel tears coming to my eyes...

And I plan revenge.

*****

The next day I sit next to you at breakfast, but you don't even seem to notice me. Heck, you probably wouldn't notice me even if I was dancing naked in front of you... I'd check, but, unfortunately, you seldom visit places which are crowd-free enough for me to pull this off without getting into much trouble.

So, all I can do for now is sit next to you and think of a way to win you from her... And pretend that nothing's happening.

Suddenly, a solution presents itself in the most wonderful way - all I need is find out what she really thinks about you...

But then again, if she loves you then what I'm going to do would be too rude and dishonest... Especially if you love her the way it looks.

The plan is simple - I used a school owl, there it comes, and it gives her a letter... She opens it, reads it... Looks at you. You look back at her, the look of uncertainty on your face. And her face is deeply red.

There's the other owl. This one's for you. I see you read it, I see Dean's scribble in it (well, he did write it with his left hand, I told him it was supposed to be a prank like that of my older brothers...) and your face changes as well.

Now all I need to do is wait.

*****

I sit in the hiding spot I picked out for myself - a nice group of bushes that has a small empty space in the middle, thus letting one person hide within without being seen from the outside, but able to see and hear everything going on outside...

I see her come and pace back and forth on the precise spot, as if she's nervously waiting for someone. Then I see you coming from an angle at which she probably won't see you until you come up to her and say...

*****

"Hey, Cho," he says. I swallow nervously, turning around slowly.

"Harry?" I ask, trying not to look way too shocked.

"And who'd you expect?" he asks somewhat angrily... Or was it jealously?

"Er... So... It's you then?" I ask.

"Yes, me," he replies determinedly.

"Listen, I..." I try to speak, but words fail me. I just hang onto his robes, sobbing into his chest.

"It's alright, Cho," he says, "Just tell me, you'll feel better, I promise."

I look up. His eyes, those wonderful honest green eyes, are looking into mine.

"Harry, I... I'm cheating on you."

His eyes widen in shock, he cannot believe it.

"You're what?" he asks, his tone forceful and harsh.

"I'm cheating on you..." I repeat, "You're a nice guy and all, but..."

He collects himself, he looks calm as a rock now.

"But... why?" he asks, his voice cool, but still filled with shock.

"Well... I thought I loved you, I really did, but this summer..." I take a deep breath. "I met someone else. And then I understood this... You and me... It isn't love."

"Alright..." he replies slowly, as if the thought had only just now reached his mind, "At least tell me who this other person is..."

"It's... It's..." I start stammering for some odd reason, I never thought that this would be so hard, "Charlie... Charlie Weasley."

*****

I am in triumph as I see her confess to you. I tried to write you, I honestly did, but it was too hard for me, you wouldn't believe me, you wouldn't trust me, you'd think it's just a simple crush that makes me do bad things... But it's not.

I emerge from the bushes and walk up to you two, as you stand there, her face in tears, your face in shock.

"So it worked," I say, "You've confessed."

She looks at me with her tear-filled eyes and her faces changes.

"You knew?" she asks, "And you arranged this?"

"Arranged what?" you ask.

"The letters!" she says.

The letter I sent to her was an anonymous one, saying that whoever sent it knows of her affair with my brother. The one I sent to you holds the words that you are to find out a secret, should you come to a certain place at a certain time. The same time and place she was supposed to be at to meet the person blackmailing her.

You read the two letters, then look at me.

"Why did you do it, Ginny? Couldn't you just say it?" you ask.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. That's what you always thought of me - the little innocent girl that has a crush on Harry Potter, the great hero."

"And it justifies this?" she asks angrily, holding up the letters.

"And what justifies your playing two sides at once?" I ask, my voice laced with steel.

She stopped crying already, she's just staring into my eyes, malice making hers look as if they're glowing eerily.

"We're even then," she says, and turns to leave, but then stops in mid-step and turns back to me, "Nearly forgot," she says as she slaps me across the face. It hurts greatly, not in the physical way, but the mental one...

I turn to you, and am surprised to see your face being one of sorrow.

"How could you?" you ask of me.

"Harry..." I start, "I thought it was for the best..."

You look once more in the direction she walked off in, then turn back to me.

"The best for whom?" you ask bitterly.

I stand there, mouth wide open from your last words as you walk off as well, leaving me standing there all alone...