Christmas Time

Ginny sat by the fireplace in the common room, staring into the red and orange dancing flames. The coals glowered red at the licks of the fire. Red... for blood... Ginny shuddered. It was Christmas time but it didn't feel like Christmas at all.

The common room was decorated with the usual tree near the stairs but yet, an air of gloom settled down uneasily in the place. It wasn't just the Gryffindor common room that felt gloomy. The whole school had a changed atmosphere. To think Fred and George said that she'd have fun in Hogwarts. It was her first year and it was anything but fun. Her mind wandered back to the Christmas she had spent at home where the whole family was together.

Where are you Christmas
Why can't I find you
Why have you gone away

She could still see it. The fairies would dance gaily among the branches of their shabby tree, bringing it to life for once. Big lumpy presents would be under the tree like every other year. Bill came back from Egypt and Charlie from Romania to celebrate with the family. That very year, she sat by the fire that night only talking to Bill for she had missed him much... until they were interrupted by Fred and George who were wrestling over the last piece of Christmas pudding. Unfortunately, the fight ended once the pudding landed on Charlie's head, only to start with a new one, coupled with laughter.

That was the kind of Christmas Ginny remembered best, those with music from the family ghoul and the laughter she would share with her brothers late into the night. Then Bill stopped spending Christmas at home. Soon, Charlie was too busy to spend Christmas at home. They would write back, of course. Bill's letters would be smudged with dirt from the tombs while Charlie's were singed by the flames of a nearby dragon. Though different in appearance and writing, they held the same message at the end.

<Wish I was at home.>

Ginny wished they were home too for she missed the laughter and joy she used to experience. Hogwarts was not giving her that. She felt tormented and twisted. Molly and Arthur asked her to join them for they were visiting Bill in Egypt. Tom said otherwise. He persuaded her to stay in Hogwarts so he could be with her and her with him. Tom sounded so sad and lonely that Ginny decided to stay. Besides, Tom spoke kindly to her, his words dripping with care and concern.

She had told him of the blood on her hands and the writing on the wall. Tom merely laughed it away and consoled her, telling her that she was just tired. He was a great listener and she poured her soul out to him. He had been a great comfort when she told him about Ron's ranting about Mrs. Norris being Petrified. The least she could do was to stay in Hogwarts since he had asked her to. Christmas was going to be empty and different.

Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play

Justin and Nearly Headless Nick were Petrified a few days ago. Colin was a victim too and it had hit Ginny quite hard for Colin was one of the few first years she actually considered a friend. With nearly no one to speak too, Ginny had thrown herself further into the little black diary she grew to love.

<It's like having a friend I can carry round in my pocket.> She wrote to him once. In her mind, she could picture him smiling kindly at her and she smiled to herself as well. Deep inside, she wondered if it was all worthwhile. Although she grew closer to Tom, she found herself drifting apart from her family. She loved Bill with all her heart for he was, after all, her oldest brother and once of her best friends in the world other then Charlie, Fred and George. But she had just forgone a chance to spend Christmas with him. Even though Fred and George were with her, it was different. She saw the twins in school everyday, not Bill. She was little afraid of what she was doing with her life suddenly.

My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too

She fingered the thin gold bracelet on her wrist. Bill had found it in a tomb. It was plain and nearly insignificant but yet, it glowed with a great intensity against the dirty stones under the light. Since it was no special jewelry from the tomb, it was not cursed. Bill took it with permission and had given it to Ginny during Christmas.

"To my little sister, the angelic one whom I know so well," he smiled.

Yet, images of red paint on the front of her black robes as well as the feathers tainted that idea of an angel.

Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know

A letter came from Bill that morning, asking her why she was not going with Molly and Arthur. Even though she could not see his face, she could sense the hurt and disappointment in his mere words. He acknowledged the fact that she was growing up and things would change.

<You wouldn't change that much, right? Don't stop being my angel.>

That was his letter after a long, long time. She knew that Bill was busy. Charlie wrote more than him and it made Ginny a little upset. Bill was her eldest brother, the one she looked to for guidance most of all. By not writing, it felt as though Bill was drifting away from her. Or was it the other way? Ginny frowned as her eyes strayed from the bracelet to the hungry fiery fire. Suddenly, she felt very lonely and cold.

I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go

Silently, she chided herself. Staring into the fire was not going to solve her loneliness and state of depression. With all that was happening in school and in her mind, she was going crazy and desperately needed someone to talk to then. There was no use writing to Bill or Charlie for it would take time for them to reply to her. She needed to talk to someone and have someone talk to her as well. Ron would be out the way for he was still hanging around Hermione and Harry, acting all secretive. Fred and George were not the brothers she would turn to when she had to talk about serious matters. Percy was out of the question for he was always so busy.

Her fingers then went into her robes and pulled out an old black diary. She returned to her dorm and pulled out her quill and ink. Pressing the nib against the paper, she watched as words formed and disappeared into the page.

Ginny's heart lightened up. There was someone she could turn to after all and he would not leave her for he had promised a lifetime of friendship.