It's Complicated

Chapter 1: Red Barns and Empty Eyes

She sat at the window on the third floor stars, staring out over the vast landscape. Green fields surrounded her for miles with few buildings to be seen. The one thing that stood out was an old, rickety barn. The faded red paint was cracked, chipping from the wood. Despite its sad looks, the barn held many happy memories for the girl, hide and seek with her brothers, painting canvases with her father, watching the sunset from the window. The most vivid memory of the barn was also her favourite, her first kiss. The feel of soft, warm hands against her skin, the taste of strawberries on her lips, the smell of lavender catching her bre-

"Ginny dear, dinner is nearly ready, come and set the table."

The redhead sighed, being brought out of her dream and back into reality. She stood up, took one last look out towards the barn and made her way downstairs to the kitchen.

"Come on Ginny, everyone will be here soon, hurry up and set the table then come and give me a hand plating up." Her mother hurried.

"Okay Mum," Ginny replied unenthusiastically. Usually she was ecstatic about seeing her brothers but recently, she didn't have the energy to be happy about anything. This didn't go un-noticed by her mother, Molly had been keeping a close eye on her youngest child. She had told her husband of her concerns but he assured her it was just normal teenage behaviour. Molly wasn't so sure it was normal for any child to be so apathetic, she had tried to talk to Ginny, to ask her what was wrong but all she got in reply was an empty smile and a shrug.

Molly was brought out of her thoughts by the smell of burning, she quickly focused on her surroundings and managed to save the chicken before it turned into charcoal.

"We're home!" Ginny's brother, Ron announced as he walked through the front door with his two best friends, Harry and Hermione.

"Hello dears, how was your day? Oh You must be starving! Go and wash yourselves up and dinner will be on the table when you get back!" Molly fussed around the trio.

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley," Hermione smiled politely.

"How many times dear?! Call me Molly!" She insisted.

Hermione blushed and turned to follow Harry and Ron who had dashed upstairs to clean themselves up so that they could get to the food faster. Just as she reached the first step she felt eyes on her back and turned to find who the belonged to. Her eyes were met by chocolate brown ones that stared for a few moments then turned away. Hermione watched as their owner walked further into the kitchen out of sight, with that she sighed and ascended the stairs towards the bathroom.

Staring into the bathroom mirror, Hermione couldn't help but think about how empty Ginny's eyes looked. Eyes that were once as warm as hot chocolate were now as cold and empty as a hole in the ground. She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of the front door closing and muffled greetings. She finished washing her hands and headed towards the kitchen.

"Hello Hermione," Greeted Arthur, Ginny's father.

"Good evening Arthur," Hermione said softly. She looked towards the table where all the noise was coming from. Fred and George had arrived and were now taking every opportunity to annoy their younger brother, Ron. Hermione chuckled to herself at the sight of Ron's face turning pink over something the twins had whispered to him.

A sudden flash of red caught Hermione's eye. Ginny had passed her and was heading to the table to take her seat for dinner. Hermione stood for a second, watching the younger girl. When she finally realised how long she had been staring she saw that the only available seat was opposite Ginny. She walked over to the table and took her seat next to Harry.

"So Hermione, are you looking forward to going back to school on Thursday?" Arthur enquired.

"Yes, I can't wait to start my classes again, I'm also hoping to be made a prefect as well." Hermione answered.

"Who in their right mind actually hopes to be a prefect?!" Ron blundered.

"Some people actually care about their education and their future Ron. They're not stupid enough to thing that they can get though life by winging it like you do!" Ginny snapped.

"Oh yeah, well at least I'm not kidding myself with some stupid, unrealistic dream about playing for the Holyhead Harpies." Ron barked.

"That's enough, the pair of you!" Molly warned. Ginny stood abruptly and marched towards the stairs.

"Ginny! Come back to the table!" Her mother ordered but Ginny was already halfway towards her room. She slammed her door, flopped onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

After clearing and washing the dishes, Harry, Ron and Hermione walked up towards Ron's room. Stopping outside Ginny's room, Hermione stared at the door.

"Are you coming Hermione?" Harry asked.

"No," Hermione replied, "I think I'll just get an early night tonight."

"Suit yourself," Ron said, turning around to walk to his room with Harry not far behind him. Hermione stared at the door for a few more moments before finally turning the handle, pushing and entering the room. She looked up to see Ginny lying on her bed with her eyes closed. Un-sure if she was asleep on not, Hermione slowly walked towards the smaller camp bed beside Ginny's. As she sat down the old bed let out a loud creak. Hermione turned to see if she had woken Ginny. She had. Those empty brown eyes were staring into hers.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Hermione apologised.

"You didn't," Ginny replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, right." Hermione sat for a moment before asking, "are you okay Ginny? It's just, you've been looking really down lately and I just... I just wondered if something was wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong and even if it was you wouldn't care anyway," Ginny replied as she turned to face the wall, her back to Hermione.

"That's not true Ginny, you're my friend, of course I care if something upsets you." Hermione said, hurt from Ginny's words.

"Whatever Hermione, nothings wrong, I'm fine, just a bit tired is all. I'm just going to go to sleep."

"Okay well, if you ever need to talk, you know where I am." Hermione stated. Ginny sighed, turning back to face Hermione.

"Yeah I know, I'm sorry, I'm just tired. I didn't mean to say anything to upset you," Ginny apologised.

"It's okay Gin, I understand, Ron's snoring keeps us all awake," She joked.

"Yeah," Ginny laughed. "Well I'm going to sleep. Night 'Mione."

"Night Gin." Hermione smiled. After a few minutes Ginny's breathing became deeper and regulated letting Hermione know she was asleep. Hermione changed into her pyjamas, turned the lights off, got into bed and closed her eyes waiting for sleep to take her.

Thanks for reading guys! I'm hoping to make this a series so let me know if you like it and I'll definitely write more!

Thanks! Mozi164 :)