The Room of Requirement

While the rain teemed down outside and the lightning lit up the Hogwart's grounds, most of the castle was sleeping. That is, except for one sixth year who was up weeping as she wept countless nights before. Ginny Weasley was drowning in her mourning and nothing else in this world mattered until she cried all her tears.

Ginny was in the Room of Requirement, and it was filled with tissues for her to use. Earlier, walking down the corridor, she was wondering where she could go to cry in private when the room appeared. She remembered at once what it was, the room they had used in her fourth year for Harry's DA meetings. Until then, she simply cried into her pillow after everyone else had fallen asleep.

Ginny had been in this state ever since she learned that her father had died while fighting with the rest of the Order in the last battle. Now the war was over and she didn't have her dad. Actually, she didn't have anybody right now because Ron, Harry, and Hermione were at the old head quarters for the Order. It was not fair! She had to stay at school while they could comfort each other and be with her mom and the rest of the Weasley.

Yet, Dumbledore seemed to think that it was best for her to stay at Hogwarts and continue her studies because she had been slipping, sleeping in class and such. She had been falling asleep in class because even before her father died she hadn't been able to sleep at night. Then she had been up with romantic fantasies about a particular seventh year, now she was up because she couldn't sleep, at least not without dreaming of her father. The images in her dreams were much similar to Mrs. Weasley's boggart.

Ginny realized it was probably going to get light out soon, so she decided to go back up to her dormitory. Before she left she took out her wand and performed a cheering charm then took a sip out of a potion meant to give you energy.

When she got in the room, she opened her trunk and got out new robes. She brushed her beautiful, long, red hair and took a deep breath. She had to go brave another day.

In potions, her last class that day, she couldn't concentrate. Ginny was not longer thinking about her father, she saved mourning for the nights or she'd never accomplish anything. It was a boy taking over her thoughts... It was indeed her seventh year crush. Although he was a year ahead of her, there weren't many people who signed up for N.E.W.T level potions so they had to combine it.

Ginny was so busy staring in his direction that she let her potion simmer for 5 minutes longer than called for, and was brought out of her daze by an unpleasant voice, "Ms. Weasley, could you please concentrate on the Veritaserum and NOT Mr. Malfoy?" Prat. Ginny blushed and quickly turned her head, then tried to save her potion.

Soon her thoughts drifted back to Draco. He just... wasn't the same after his father had been sentenced to Azkaban (for good this time). She seldom saw his signature smirk, and rarely heard him insulting any one. She couldn't help but think of them having something in common. They had both lost their fathers after the last battle, and they were both alone now.

By the time the class was over her potion was salvaged and she was already starting to feel the sorrow that evening brought. She guessed she felt the worse at night because her time wasn't occupied, and she was more aware of her loneliness. Ginny's vision started to blur and she decided to head straight to the Room of Requirement.

Draco Malfoy was walking out of potions glad have gotten through that day. What he used to take for granted seemed to take an enormous effort now. He made a quick appearance at dinner then headed straight for the Slytherin common room. He needed to catch up on some sleep... with all he had been losing lately he feared he might lose his good looks also.

As soon as he hit the bed, he fell asleep, and had the strangest dream. He was walking by the tapestry of Barnabas and Barmy when he heard sobbing and then a huge door appeared. As soon as he touched the handle of the door, he woke up. When he realized his efforts to fall back asleep were fruitless, he decided to take a stroll around the castle to think.

Draco felt as if he was about to explode from his emotions, he had never in his life felt so much at once. Clueless as what exactly what to do, he tried being extra malicious but nobody seemed to notice. He tried to quit talking but people saw that as a blessing. He felt as if he needed to cry, but even in solitude, he was ashamed. Nobody had ever seen a Malfoy cry, and he wasn't about to be the first to be caught. He was getting increasingly more depressed as he thought about his father. Mr. Malfoy was carted off to Azkaban after Voldemort died. The last time his father went to the wizard prison Draco knew it was just a matter of time before Voldemort got him out... now Draco had no hope. He knew his father was imprisoned for eternity.

Draco didn't really miss his father exactly; it was just that his world fell apart when he left. His mother stopped speaking, his inheritance went to the ministry, and his family name became dung. It was as if everything he ever knew was gone because of Voldemort.

He was so deep in thought by this time that he didn't realize he was walking toward the tapestry he dreamed about...Draco couldn't help but think about how alone he was. He wished, though he would never, ever admit it to anybody, that he had somebody to love him. Not even his mother had loved him. He wished he had someone who would understand his loneliness.

Then, to Draco's incredible surprise, a huge door appeared opposite of the tapestry.