You Left Me a Mixed Up Girl

Ginny sat in the charms classroom grading charms essays. Ginny sighed and put her hands on her chin. The essays her students had written discouraged her. They were poorly written. Was she that bad a teacher or had her students simply done a crummy job? Ginny decided to reteach the lesson to her students. Ginny grabbed the pieces of parchment and shoved them in her leather school bag. Ginny had gotten the bag when she began working as a teacher at Hogwarts. It was like a messenger bag with a brass nameplate. She'd had 'Virginia Weasley" engraved onto the nameplate, Ginny heard footsteps coming down the corridor. Turning her head to see who was entering her classroom, Ginny saw Hermione's head poke around her doorway.

"Hi Gin! How was your day?" Hermione walked into the classroom and sat on top of a desk.

"Not bad. The first make me laugh when they attempt to do certain spells. They look so serious!" Ginny laughed and sat next to Hermione. "I really shouldn't be laughing."

"Don't worry. I won't tell." Hermione turned and faced Ginny on the table. "McGonagall asked me to speak to you Ginny. I have some interesting news for you."

Ginny raised an eyebrow quizzically and looked at Hermione blankly. "What's up?"

"I want you to promise me you'll remain calm when you hear this, okay?"

"Alright, I'll try." Ginny wondered what could be so shocking that she had to promise to remain calm.

"McGonagall hired Harry to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Lupin retired last week and she thought he'd fill the position best." Hermione looked at Ginny as Ginny slid off the table and walked over to the nearest window. "Will you be okay with that?"

"I guess so. I mean, it's been two years. I won't go crazy or anything. I should see him again. I need to. I need closure. I just don't want to have to pretend like we're buddies or anything." Ginny continued looking out the window. She noticed how calm the campus looked as compared to how she felt inside. Ginny was angry that Harry had to intrude into her life again. She was feeling happy again, she didn't want him to ruin it. Ginny kicked over a trashcan and turned to Hermione. "I can deal with it. I'll just have to make sure I steer clear of him."

Hermione nodded and smiled at Ginny. "I think I can help you there." Hermione slid off the table and stood next to Ginny. "Listen, no matter how good of friends I am with Harry, you and I are friends too. If something is bothering you come talk to me, okay?" Hermione reached over and hugged Ginny. Ginny felt tears in her eyes and nodded. "I've got to meet Harry in the Great Hall. I'll see you later, okay?" Ginny pulled out a handkerchief and wiped at her eyes. "Ginny, don't go out of your way to avoid Harry. He'll know something's up and he'll want to talk to you. If you really want him to say out of your hair, don't go out of your way to avoid him." Ginny nodded again and Hermione left the room.

As soon as Hermione left, Ginny gathered up her things and walked from the charms classroom. She was going to have to do some serious work on her face if she wanted to look normal by dinnertime. Ginny walked down the long corridors to her classroom, hearing the echo of her boots on the ground. The joy she had felt this morning when she had gotten up was squashed by her sudden dread of seeing Harry again. Ginny finally reached her room in the teacher's quarters. She sighed and pulled the key to her room out of her cloak pocket. Ginny opened her door saw Hedwig waiting on her desk, waiting with a message for her. Ginny sighed again and walked over to the snowy owl. Hedwig nipped her hand affectionately. She opened the letter and read it.

Dear Ginny,

I am teaching here at Hogwarts. I would like to talk to you. Can I please meet you soon?

With my regards,

Harry

Ginny stared at the letter in her hand. She knew she would have to talk to Harry eventually. Ginny had wanted to go through her entire life without having to talk to Harry again. If Harry hadn't come back to the school, she could have reached her goal. Now she was being forced to talk to him again. Ginny scribbled a note telling Harry to meet her in her bedroom after dinner. Hedwig took her note and flew off to Harry. Ginny knew that she would be in no mood to eat dinner before her meeting with Harry. She decided to lay down on her bed and wait for Harry to arrive.

She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing Ginny knew her door was being knocked on. Ginny sat up and looked blearily around the room. Her candles had burned down and the room was earily dark. Ginny said a charm to light the candles again and walked to her mirror. Ginny's reflection was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes. Ginny said another spell to fix her appearance and walked to her door. Ginny opened the door and saw Harry leaning casually against he doorframe. His dark hair was tousled and he wore dark gray trousers and a white dress shirt. Ginny could see a white undershirt beneath his dress shirt. Harry's green eyes darted around her room. Ginny was pleased to see that Harry was nervous.

"Yes?" Ginny asked in her most formal tones.

"Ginny. You look good." Harry stared into her eyes.

"Harry, you wanted to talk to me for a reason. What was it?" Ginny walked away from the door. Harry followed her in.

"Ginny, I was wondering if . . ." Harry's voiced trailed off. He seemed to be very nervous and was searching for his thoughts. "I wanted to know if we could be friends. I mean, it's been a while since we cancelled our wedding. Can't we please be friends again? I miss your friendship."

Ginny looked around her room. She had built a new life for herself without Harry. Could she really be friends with him again? Ginny had to admit to herself that she was bitter. She was still angry with Harry. "Friends, Harry? Like close buddies? Mates?" With each word Ginny said she took a step towards Harry. Harry backed up a step each time until he was back at the door. "Maybe someday Harry. But not right now."

Harry looked desperately into Ginny's eyes. "I've missed you."

Ginny avoided his eyes and looked past him, into the hallway. "Harry, I'll try. But that's all I can do." That didn't seem to placate Harry, but it was all Ginny was willing to give. "I'm busy Harry. Is there anything else you needed?" she asked him pointedly.

Harry looked disappointed. "No, I guess not. Goodnight, Gin." He turned slowly and walked out the door. It had not escaped Ginny's notice that he had used a pet name for her, but Ginny was too tired to think about that. She just wanted to get back to sleep and begin her day again.