I'm a lonely girl I'll tell a tale for you[CLOSED]

[ginny]

Ginny was sitting on her bed, flicking half heartedly through her Defence Against the Dark Arts book. I mean really, she had helped fight a war against Voldemort, for Merlin's sake! The DA had already taught her everything on the DADA syllabus, and then some. But she still had to take the class, hand in homework, etcetera etcetera. She hadn't witnessed it first hand (with her being in the year below) but apparently Harry hardly even had to turn up to his DADA classes, if he didn't want to. And when he did it was often treated as some sort of a joke, with the teacher often deferring to him. And he didn't have to do homework.

As Ginny was thinking this, Hermione stormed into her otherwise empty dorm room. For a moment Ginny was surprised, but that didn't last long. Hermione was one of her best friends, often visited her in her dorm, and was prone to working herself up into these sorts of moods. It was more Hermione's sudden appearance that had startled Ginny.

Ginny smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow as Hermione exclaimed that Ron was an idiot. "Hermione, I've lived with Ron almost all my life; tell me something I don't know." Ginny didn't need to ask which brother she was talking about, and she normally; she had six. Wait... she had five. Ginny's face fell slightly as she remembered that she was one brother short. Fred had died over four months ago, but she still had trouble believing it.

Either way, dead or alive, Fred would always be Ginny's brother. She would always have six brothers, and the Weasley children would always be seven. Ginny hurriedly pulled the smile back onto her face. She couldn't keep dwelling on Fred, she had to force herself to be cheerful, even if sometimes it was hard. She made herself focus on Hermione, and her problems with the one brother Ginny was sure she'd never get rid of (even if sometimes she wanted to). "What's he done this time?" she asked.

[ginny]

Ginny closed her Defence Against the Dark Arts book, resigned to the fact that she wasn't going to get any work done tonight, although not really too disappointed about it. She dropped her book carelessly onto the floor, and leaned back against the pillows, her feet on her bed, her knees bent up.

She listened to Hermione, and tried to understand what was going on. Hermione wasn't exactly clearing things up, but Ginny just waited patiently. She knew Hermione really well, and knew she would get to her point eventually. But Hermione didn't seem to be getting to the point this time. Ginny knew that Hermione had never wanted to speak to Ginny in the past about her feelings for Ron (feelings which Ginny had known were there anyway) but she had just assumed that was because Hermione didn't want to admit it. She wasn't sure that she had even admitted it to herself. But after the final battle at Hogwarts last May, Ginny had assumed that she and Ron and been sort of a given.

"Its ok, Hermione," Ginny said, patiently "of course you can talk to me about Ron! What do I care what he gets up to. And no one will be more sympathetic to his twattish ways- believe me." Ginny wasn't exactly squirmish when it came to things like this, and wasn't above poking fun at her brother for his love life. "After all, you helped me with Harry, remember? I was such a wreck around him, and you told me I should relax, date other people, get my own life, and start being more myself, and then maybe he'd start to notice me. And it worked, didn't it? You were right," Ginny smiled "so I guess I owe you in the relationship-advice department." Ginny thought that if Hermione could just apply some of her brilliant advice to herself that everything would be perfect for her. But Hermione was much better at giving advice than she was at taking it, and when it came to her personal life she didn't really seem to trust her instincts. "So," Ginny asked again, "what's he done this time?"

[ginny]

Ginny listened patiently as Hermione told the story of her and Ron, from start to finish. There were a lot of 'Oh' moments for Ginny, as something made sense that hadn't before, now that she had all the pieces of the puzzle. She listened carefully, not interrupting. She knew that Hermione really needed to get all of this out, and that the advice giving would come later. Sure, Hermione would most definitely want Ginny's opinion, but right now she just wanted someone to listen.

Ginny couldn't imagine how hard it would have been for Hermione to keep all of this bottled up for so many years. After she had gotten over her initial embarrassment, Ginny had talked openly about her feelings to Harry (to Hermione, anyway) and had talked about her other boyfriends to her girl friends. Of course, none of those other boyfriends had been serious, so it wasn't really hard for her to talk about it. And Ginny was a no nonsense kind of girl; she wasn't one to over analyse everything to death, to brood over what a look or the way he said something meant. Luckily for Ginny, Hermione wasn't like that either. Ginny didn't think she could have stood the silliness that her dorm-mates sometimes spouted coming from the sensible Hermione.

When Hermione was finally finished, Ginny paused to collect her thoughts. "Right," she said, not quite sure where to begin. "Ok. Well, sorry to say it Hermione, but it was pretty obvious you and my brother had feelings for each other. Its been obvious for quite some time." She smiled, thinking back on all the little moments when it had been painfully obvious that the red-headed buffoon and the brightest witch of her age did- despite all the odds- belong together. All of their bickering was really just flirting. Ron and Hermione style.

"And it does seem like after what happened during the battle that you should just be a couple, and most people would see that clearly and act on it, but this is Ron we're talking about," she paused, then decided to continue. "Think about it; its been obvious for years that the two of you have had feelings for each other. You should have gotten it together years ago. But Ron's oblivious to everything around him, and you, well... well no offence Hermione, but you're not a very 'take action' kind of a girl. Not that you should have to be!" she added quickly "And only when it comes to your personal life. But if Ron was the kind of guy who could see past his own nose, and then make the first move, it would have happened a long time ago. You know what he's like. I think you should just talk to him. Explain everything to him. Slowly. Using small words." she smiled, and waited for Hermione's response.

In many ways, Harry and her brother were similar. Neither of them liked to make the first move, and they didn't really take the initiative. Ginny had taken matters into her own hands, and kissed him when they had won the Quidditch Cup. Now Hermione needed her own 'Quidditch Cup' moment.

[ginny]

Ginny frowned as Hermione explained how Ron had been acting strangely, wandering around on his own, and generally seemed to be avoiding her.

Now that she thought about it, Ron had been acting strangely lately. After the battle they had all been acting strangely, grieving for Fred and trying to get past it. It was even more difficult while they were at the Burrow. Ginny's brother George had been Fred's twin. As much as Ginny knew George must be hurting, and as much as she wanted to be there for him, she just couldn't handle being around George right now. He just reminded her too strongly of Fred. He'd walk into a room and for a split second she'd think Fred was back. And then she'd remember. She felt like a terrible person, but there it was. It had been a relief to get back to Hogwarts.

So with all of that going on she hadn't really noticed Ron acting strangely. Ginny felt another twinge of guilt. Her brother had been sneaking off on his own, lying to his friends, and she hadn't even noticed. Clearly she'd just been too wrapped up in herself. She should have been watching out for Ron, just like she was sure Ron would have done for her, if Ginny had been going to pieces. As it was, Ginny was holding up fairly well. The only problem was that that took a lot of energy. That was her only excuse for not noticing that Ron hadn't been himself.

She wondered why Harry hadn't mentioned anything. But then again, Harry and Ron seemed to have a sort of 'boy-code' thing going on. They didn't bother each other too much with the emotional stuff. They didn't question what the other was doing and if they were ok, the way she or Hermione might have.

"Maybe I should talk to Ron," she said "not about you and him, obviously. That's your business. I wouldn't want to get in the middle... well, unless you want me to?" She looked up at Hermione uncertainly. She wouldn't butt in where she wasn't wanted, but if Hermione thought that it would help then Ginny would try. "I should have noticed that something wasn't right with him." she added.

Pausing for a moment, Ginny tried to get back to the conversation at hand, which was Ron and Hermione's relationship; or lack there of. "I still think that the best plan of action is just to talk to him." she said "Although maybe you'll have a harder time pinning him down then I thought. You might have to be a bit more firm with him. After all, this is your life too. You deserve to know what's going on."



((I really like that as a plot idea for Ron, it makes a lot of sense too, and its much more fun than just RP-ing "and they all lived happily ever after", if you know what I mean))

[ginny]

Ginny raised her eyebrow as Hermione said that she didn't know what she wanted. Ginny knew what Hermione wanted. And unless she was quite mistaken, Hermione knew what she wanted too. She just didn't want to out right say it. Although, Ginny could sort of understand that. Not only was "I want your brother" an awkward thing to just blurt out, it could also be taken in a totally different way. That was her older brother, thank you very much. I mean, really... yuk! Fine though she may be with teasing Ron about his love life, that was one bit of information Hermione could just keep to herself.

"He will be ok, Hermione." Ginny said, wearily. "We'll all be ok. It just takes time. But I don't think Ron should be acting like this, not after four months." she felt callous saying it, as though she was implying that four months was plenty of time to get over the death of their brother. Four months was nothing! Fred had expected to have much longer then four measly months. There was no time limit on how long they would miss Fred for. But even Ginny had to admit that there was only so long you could grieve for. Eventually, even if you kicked and screamed the whole way, you would reach acceptance. And maybe four months wasn't enough time for everyone to get there- Ginny knew that she certainly hadn't accepted Fred's death yet- but Ron should at least be on his way. He shouldn't be avoiding his friends and acting so strangely.

She nodded as Hermione talked about the two of them working together to get Ron in a room. "That sounds like a good idea." she said. "You need to talk to him. And I think Ron needs to talk about whatever it is that's going on with him. And if he won't do it voluntarily, we'll have to try and make him. At least then, if he still really doesn't want to talk, we'll know something's really up. And then we can talk about what to do about it."

Ginny thought about asking Harry to help, but then decided against it. If his friend was in trouble Harry would definitely want to help, and would do anything to do so. But at this stage Ginny thought that Harry might just say they were being silly and overbearing, that they should leave Ron alone and give him some space. Some things he just didn't get.

[ginny]

Ginny stiffened as Hermione said it had only been four months. She knew that she wasn't really defending Ron against her, she was just trying to justify his actions. None of them wanted Ron to not be ok- well, more 'not ok' than he should be. Ginny knew that, and she wasn't offended by Hermione's tone, or what she was saying. It was just that she knew where this was going.

They had been dangerously close to the topic of Fred for a while now, and Ginny did not want to go there. She just couldn't handle it. When Hermione said that she, Ginny, couldn't say she was ok, that she was a mess and Hermione knew it, Ginny stood up abruptly and walked over the window, her back to Hermione to hide the scowl on her face. She didn't want to be angry at Hermione, but she did not want to talk about this.

She was holding it together, and that was hard enough. This was how she chose to do that. She didn't want to talk about Fred. She was fine. She wanted to be fine. She would be fine. She had to stay strong, and she was afraid that if she allowed herself a moment of weakness, she would crumble. She was afraid that if she let one tear escape they would never stop. Yes, she had cried and mourned when Fred died, but she had decided that it was time now to start being ok. She needed to be, otherwise what was it all for? She could justify her apparent coldness by saying she had to be strong for her family, her brothers, her friends and Harry, but really most of all Ginny had to be strong for herself.

Ginny took a deep breath, and rid her face of all emotion, before turning back to Hermione. "I don't know what you're talking about, Hermione." she said "I'm fine." Her tone indicated that the subject was not to be pursued further.

She listened as Hermione outlined the plan- plan 'ambush Ron and make him talk'. She agreed that early morning was best; Ron wasn't a morning person, and was usually sluggish before breakfast. He shouldn't be too difficult to ambush. And an empty classroom was also a good idea. There were hundreds of them, and there was only one exit. Ginny could easily guard it. She could even seal the door until she got the word from Hermione to open it. This was shaping up to be something of an intervention.

"Ok, tomorrow." she said. "We can get up like we would for lessons. Ron wouldn't miss a lie in, even if its only a ten minute one, so we should beat him if we get up then."

When Hermione asked about Harry, Ginny knew that she was thinking about bringing Harry in on their plan. Ginny didn't think that was a good idea, at least not yet, and she said so. Then she proceeded to answer the question Hermione had really been asking. "Harry and I are OK." she said, "We're... well, we''re taking it slow. I don't want to rush it, he's been through a lot... and he did dump me, after all!" to protect her from Lord Voldemort... but still, a girl couldn't make it too easy. She smiled to herself. Ginny had no intention of playing hard to get with Harry. It was pretty clear how she felt. "With everything that's been going on, we've not really sat down and defined anything yet." To be honest, Ginny was enjoying reliving the beginnings of their relationship all over again.

((I've not talked to 'Harry' about the H/G relationship yet so I don't really know where they stand haha, hope what I've put is ok))

[ginny]

Ginny laughed, trying hard to act like her old self. Sometimes it was a sort of fake-it-till-you-make-it sort of thing. If she acted normal, soon things would be normal.

"Thanks for the offer, Hermione," she said, smiling "I may just take you up on that. Even if only for fun." she was sure she'd never need to lock Harry in a room to get him to talk. He was a lot like Ron in many ways, but a lot different too. Still, it might be funny to have Hermione inexplicably lock Harry in a room. It would be so unexpected, coming from Hermione. It had the makings of a good prank.

Thinking about pranks wiped the smile off of Ginny's face, and she abruptly stopped her train of thought. Thinking about pranks inevitably made her think about a certain prankster, who could no longer enjoy them.

"Listen Hermione, its getting late," Ginny said, not sure if she could handle this precarious conversation for much longer. It kept veering dangerously close to somewhere she did not want to go. "If we're going to get up early to ambush Ron, I'm going to need to get some sleep." Thinking about sleep made her yawn, which was good timing, really. "Trynot to worry. It will all be fine. At the very least, we'll get to the bottom of it tomorrow."


((I thought we could end this thread here, since Ron made the 'tomorrow morning' thread and I've replied in it))