GOLDEN || Fred Wesley

two; 50 galleons.

It was a question that never should have been asked in the first place. She knew it wasn't possible, but Ginger had been hoping for some kind of understanding to be reached after a long conversation with Henry. Maybe the rumours could be cleared up and the rest of her sixth year at Hogwarts would get better. New friends might even come along.

The game had only been going for a few minutes, and she already knew that wouldn't be the case.

They took the seats closest to the exit which unfortunately was the front row, the two seats when you first reach the stair top. No one ever took them because whenever anyone came or left they were jostled around. When her friend suggested them, Ginger let out a relieved breath.

Sitting in the packed quidditch stands, watching your ex boyfriend play while everyone talks about you as if you aren't there? No. A week of detentions with Filch would be better.

No; a month's worth.

She already felt horrible and she wasn't sitting near anyone.

A dozen whispered conversations began the moment her and Helen made it through the top step. Sneers and laughs often followed the ending of them. Eyes had not-so-discretely darted her way.

When she was a child, Ginger had always been nervous about high school. In the movies she watched with her aunties there was always a group of mean girls, the goths, the handful of boys who felt entitled to do what they wanted. People would judge the clothes she wore and the food she ate, and so many other things she hadn't been able to think of.

Her aunties always said it wouldn't be as scary once she was older.

It didn't help, she never felt less scared.

The day Professor McGonagall explained the future Ginger could have, that fear had turned into something like excitement. Hope.

Now she wished more than anything to live a muggle life. She would miss magic, but escaping the nightmare she was living in? Having her family again? There was no question.

Unfortunately, she couldn't change that much.

So she would have to suffer through the next two years. After finishing school, she could run away. As soon as she was done, she could become anything she wanted.

Less than two years to go.

Someone out on the pitch shrieked.

The first thing she processed was Devon Madge swinging at a bludger right soaring over Henry's head. One of the Weasley twins had cracked it in his direction to keep Angelina Johnson out of harm's way. It seemed that Henry hadn't been paying attention so Devon stepped in. The sharp and excited smack on her thigh told her Helen had seen it play out, and she was thrilled.

Honestly, Ginger was too.

The Belmore family, though muggles, were definitely on the wealthier end of the spectrum. They gave Henry an unnecessary amount of money to be exchanged for the wizarding world currency. That money got him many things, but it couldn't buy him talent. He'd definitely tried; the library book on creating potions of luck and fortune had been 'mysteriously' lost for most of their fifth year. Madame Pince had ripped a strip out of him when he finally returned it.

That knowledge she kept tucked away only made this moment sweeter.

But her smile faded as she watched his attention turn to her. His irritability turned to smugness quickly as he stared at her, and all sense of amusement was now gone.

All she felt now, was nauseous.

Despite the churning of her stomach Ginger couldn't look away from him. He looked so incredibly the same as the boy she had been in love with, yet he was a completely different person. The Henry that she loved and had loved her back wasn't capable of what he was doing now.