Fair and Tender Maidens

Draco murmured the password to the Slytherin common room. He was tired. These sessions with that Granger girl really took a lot out of him. But, then again, he was always tired these days.

To him, it seemed that life was not all that he had expected it to be. When he was younger, it had been simple: Hate Muggles, dislike Muggleborns, act powerful and full of dignity, and do not embarrass the family. Simple. But now that he was older, life was no longer as black and white as he had thought it was. There were different degrees of good and bad. He was not sure where he fit in. Nor was he sure where his family fit in.

Yet lately, he was already being classified. His peers had already decided his place in life. They assumed that he was going to go in league with Voldemort and that would be it. But, Draco wasn’t sure. He didn’t believe in some of the things that Voldemort wanted. Draco also didn’t think he was considered to be part of the side of good. He wasn’t good; but he wasn’t bad either.

Why can’t I just be declared neutral? he wondered. Because neutral isn’t want people want to hear. They want to know for sure whether you’re good or bad. And you’re not either. Not good, not bad.

There was one thing that Draco knew for sure. He would not choose a side until he knew enough about himself and where his beliefs were.

***

Ginny bit the end of her pen. She was yet again composing another letter to her current love. She couldn’t think of the words to express her longing for this person.

Ginny rolled onto her back. Was she destined to spend the rest of her life mooning over boys and never really getting a boyfriend? She’d had boyfriends before. But, not one that she had asked out.

Colin had been a great boyfriend. Except that he was not who she wanted to date.

It wasn’t like she had had a crush on him since her first year. That was not true, despite what Hermione had said. She liked him, then liked someone else, and then another person, and now she liked him again. There was nothing wrong with it, despite what Hermione said. Like Hermione knew everything.

Well, she doesn’t.

Otherwise she would know.

And she doesn’t.

So, she doesn’t know everything.

Or, she would know.

And she doesn’t.        

Ginny rolled off her bed. She walked down the stairs into the common room. She spotted Harry and Ron and flopped next to them. They both suddenly went silent.

“Hey, Ginny,”Harry said.

“What’s up, Gin?” Ron asked.

“Nothing much,” she replied. “What were you guys talking about?”

“Nothing,” Harry said quickly.

“No, what? Tell me,” she said, leaning in. “I won’t tell a soul.”

“It’s not important, Ginny,”said Ron.

Harry stood up and walked out of the common room.

“Now look what you did, Ginny,” said Ron.

Ginny gave Ron an annoyed look. She rushed out of the common room, looking for Harry. There he was.

“Harry! Wait!” she called.

Harry started running.

“Harry, wait!”

He turned corner after corner. It took several minutes to find him again. He was up in the Astronomy Tower. She slowly climbed the stairs. She found him learning against the railing, looking out at the lake.

“Hey,” she said softly.

He didn’t say anything.

“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” she asked.

“Why did you follow me here?” he asked as he turned to face her.

“What? Well, I was worried about you.”

“Because you love me?”

This took Ginny aback.

“Excuse me? I don’t love you! Not like that,” she trailed off.

“Don’t lie to me.”

He stood directly in front of her, inches away from her body. She could feel his heavy breathing. He caressed his fingers across her face.

His green eyes made her tell the truth. “I love you, Harry.” This was the part where he was supposed to kiss her. She waited expectantly.

His hand fell. “I wish...I wish you hadn’t said that,” he said softly.

“What? What do you mean?”

“I don’t love you, Ginny. I don’t! I don’t want to break your heart, but it’s the truth. You’re Ron’s little sister. Like my own little sister. The one I never had. That’s who you are to me, Ginny. Nothing else. I need you to understand that.” He looked down.

“Why not?” she asked stubbornly. “Why can’t I be more to you! That’s all I want! Just to be close to you.”

“Because,” he said, his voice cracking, “you’re not the girl I love. You, Ginny, are beautiful and wonderful. Any guy would be happy to have you as their girlfriend. But, you’re just not the girl that I love.”

“Hermione,” she said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. “Hermione. It figures. She always gets what ever she wants! Because she’s so SMART and wonderful! Isn’t she? Beautiful? Talented? Of course! Because Hermione is EVERYTHING. The teachers love her. You love her! Why I’m sure even Draco Malfoy loves her!” She screamed this all, though she tried not to.

Harry stared at her. “Does he...?”

“How the hell would I know? I have enough troubles already without having to worry about Hermione’s! She’s on her own as far as I am concerned!” Ginny spun around and ran down the steps. Hot tears fell from her eyes. She vowed she would never again waste another second on Harry Potter. And, that she would tell no one that this ever happened. Harry would never tell.         

****