Disclaimer: i dont own any of the characters, they all belong to JKR
a/n: this is written in Ginny's POV so everything in italics are her thoughts
" I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
Ginny ran out of the boys dormitories where she found her boyfriend, Dean Thomas, snuggling with another Gryffindor girl. She ran as fast as she could out of the common room, to go anywhere – just anywhere where she can be alone with her thoughts.
How? How can he do that to me? Going around behind my back and snog other girls. I'm such an idiot! Why did I go out with him, even when all my friends warned me that he was a player? I thought he would change, for me… I can't believe how naïve I am. Sixteen years old and still so stupid about this!
Ginny continued in her thoughts as she approached the clear blue lake that the Giant Squid inhabited in. She desperately wanted to fade from the world now. Nothing would cheer her in this minute and no one can comfort her in this hour. Everything around her seemed to whither and die, her family, her friends, her life, her everything. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She just wanted to part from this world, from this pain. As she was about to jump into the waters, she heard a little voice behind.
"There's no guy in the world worth your tears, and if he is, then he wouldn't make you cry."
Ginny turned around to the source of the sound to find the timid seventh year Gryffindor named Neville Longbottom. He was never very popular and was often ridiculed because everyone thought he was wimpy and wondered how he got into Gryffindor.
"Neville…" Ginny managed to mutter this much before she started sobbing uncontrollably again.
What took her aback was what he did next. It probably took all of his Gryffindor bravery to do this, but he did it. He wrapped his arms around her protectively, trying to chase off all misery that came her way and he whispered soothing, comforting words into her ears like "He's not worth it", "You can get anyone you like", and so on. She buried her face into his chest and just then is when she realized how buffed Neville was under his baggy clothing. He smelled like… there wasn't a scent that described it but it felt safe. She took realization in how strong his arms felt around her, and how much he grew over the years. What seemed to be minutes in Neville's arms actually lasted for hours. When the sky grew dark, Neville broke the comfortable yet awkward silence.
"It's getting dark. Curfew is about to pass."
Ginny nodded and Neville released Ginny, which Ginny loathed. She wanted to stay in those strong arms and bury her face into his chest forever but she knew she couldn't. She and Neville walked back into the castle, to their common room, and Ginny to her dormitory. When she entered, she found a very worried bushy-browned hair girl sitting on her bed, fiddling with the sleeves of her robes.
"Hey 'mione…"
"Ginny! Where were you? I've been so worried! I found out what Dean did, and believe me when I tell you that the next time you see him, you wouldn't recognize him at all."
"What did you do?"
"Not so much what I did. When I told Ron, he was outraged. Ten people weren't enough to hold him down from beating Dean up to a pulp. Of course, Harry was the reason for that, he tackled everyone who tried." Hermione gave a little chuckled at the thought, and then her expression turned to one of worry again. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" was Ginny's unconvincing answer.
Hermione looked like she wanted to ask more, but she could tell from Ginny's pleading eyes that she wanted to be alone, so she dropped the subject and left the 5th years dormitories.
The very next morning, the sun was up and light was seething through to where Ginny laid motionless. She didn't feel like attending her classes today, especially when she had double Potions with Snape first thing in the morning. When she finally decided to get up, her body felt so much heavier than she had intended so, plus the effects of gravity, thus she ended up on the floor with a loud 'thump'. She got to her feet very slowly and got ready for breakfast in the Great Hall. There were many empty seats in the Gryffindor table around the Golden Trio, but instead, Ginny seated herself next to the one who comforted her yesterday. She figured she could at least say thanks for what happened yesterday.
"Good morning, Neville"
"Good morning, Ginny. Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes. Thanks for being there yesterday. I really needed a shoulder to cry on."
"Your welcome, though you cried on my chest."
"Yes, well…I…uh… thank you"
Neville smiled at her and went back to breakfast. After a while of silence, Dean Thomas emerged, and Hermione was right, she couldn't recognize him. If someone hadn't greeted him, she would have thought it was some kid she never seen before. He was literally bandaged on both arms, he limped a bit as he walked, and his face was injured with bruises and scars.
Ron really went all outNeville followed Ginny's gaze and spoke to her, which caused her to snap back to reality.
"I shunned him, you know. Yesterday, when I found out what he did. I can't stand people who toy with another person's emotions."
Does everyone have to know about it? Oh well, I guess it just makes him look bad.
"Oh…" was all Ginny could say.
"You should find someone else who deserves you. You're beautiful, intelligent and athletic. You deserve better."
"Thank you" she said, as she blushed to a color similar to her hair.
Breakfast was over, and Neville's compliment cheered her up enough for her to last through Potions. She tried desperately to pay attention in her other classes, but her thoughts started to wallow back to Dean and the other girl snogging.
What is it that she has that I don't? Even Neville says that I'm smart, pretty, and athletic. That idiot! Why am I thinking like this? I shouldn't compare myself with the other girls he's with. This is stupid!
"Ms. Weasley, if you would be so kind as to tell us what spell is best to use when you are cornered."
"I-I don't know, sir" stumbled Ginny as she snapped out of her thoughts.
"If you would be so kind to pay attention, you would know."
After the humiliation of being singled out, she tried to stay focus on the subject. She survived her last class of the day without any further embarrassment. When she finished her classes, the first place she went for was the Gryffindor common room, where she can cry her heart out and no one will know, or at least that's what she thought. She saw someone approach her, and tried to dry her tears as fast as possible, but it was too late, she saw them.
"Ginny…" Hermione said as she stroke Ginny's back to comfort her.
Just then, Ginny did something that even she didn't know why she did it. She made Hermione wrap her arms around her, and sobbed into the older girl's chest, just like what she did with Neville. Hermione, although confused at the younger girl's actions, obeyed and let Ginny cry to her heart's content. When she was finished crying, she reassured her friend that she was feeling much better after crying. When she was finally alone in her room, she thought over what she did.
Why did I make Hermione do that? It didn't feel the same as when Neville comforted me yesterday.
Ginny secretly yearned to be in Neville's embrace again. To smell that sweet scent of feeling safe again.
Why? Why do I want that? I'm not attracted to him. He's just a good friend who was there for me at the right time. I don't like him…do I? I mean, I couldn't, and I'm supposed to be sad that Dean cheated on me. So why do I… want this…?
She fell asleep with those thoughts in her head. When she woke up, it was midnight, dinner passed and she didn't eat anything since breakfast. Her stomach grumbled much to her dismay. She walked to the common room, hoping to bump into a house-elf and havehim/her bring her food, but instead of a house-elf, she found Neville sitting on a couch staring attentively into the fire. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a grumbling noise behind him, which took him face to face with Ginny Weasley. She blushed because her stomach gave away her presence, then proceeded to converse with him.
"Hello, Neville. What are you doing up so late?"
"I couldn't sleep. How about you?"
"I just woke up from a nap" her stomach grumbles again "And I haven't eaten anything since breakfast…" she finished awkwardly.
Neville took out a chocolate frog from his pocket and offered it to Ginny, who gracefully accepted. They made themselves comfortable sitting on the red couches in front of the fireplace. They talked about life in general. The future, jobs, plans, interests, likes and dislikes. They stopped at dislikes when Neville mentioned his dislike in Dean cheating on her, and realized his flaw a little to late. Silence entered the room with the exception of Ginny's stomach craving for food. The silence only lasted only a few minutes up until a house-elf entered to clean the common room and Ginny jumped at the opportunity.
"Excuse me, are there leftovers in the kitchen? I'm a little hungry."
Her stomach grumbles at the exact moment, which confirmed her statement.
"Yes, Miss! There are leftovers, miss. Would you like Mesa to bring some, miss?"
"Yes, can you bring me some roast beef, mash potatoes, a few assorted deserts?"
"Yes, miss. Of course miss. What sort of deserts, miss?"
"Anything you can find in the kitchen would be nice."
"Yes, miss"
With the snap of a finger, Mesa was gone. The common room was silent again, and then he reappeared with a tray of food.
"Enjoy miss! I will be back to clean this room later miss. Just leave the tray here when you're done, miss."
After saying that much, he snapped his fingers and left again. He sure brought more than she asked for. There was basically enough food for five people. When Ginny took all of the food out of the tray, she offered some to Neville, who accepted. They continued their conversation, and Neville determinedly avoided the dislikes category. By the time they parted, it was around two or three in the morning. Both of them yawned from tiredness and decided to go to bed. That night (or rather morning), Ginny went to bed not crying. Instead she was smiling contently, thinking about Neville. She scolded herself at some occasions when she realized what she was thinking. Neville, strong, handsome, sweet, kind-hearted Neville Longbottom.
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