Fire and Ice

Warm Welcomes

"Gin!" Ron roared delightedly as Ginny walked into the Great Hall, smiling. Many students applauded and whoop'ed as she entered, all knowing about her "deep sleep". She blushed slightly at the mardy looks on most of the male students as she walked towards the Gryffindor table. Radiating happiness, Ginny's hair bounced off her back as she sat next to her beloved brother. She hugged him hard, suddenly feeling emotional.

"Gin, you're back- wait, why are you crying?" After gathering a few tissues, Ron pressed them clumsily on Ginny's face with his right hand, his left hand rubbing her back. Giggling through her tears, Ginny gently took the tissues out of Ron's hand and wiped her fly-away emotions off her exterior.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Ginny laughed, as a few concerned or curious students milled around her. "I'm just so glad to be awake!" Satisfied and amused by her response, the team left her. Turning, she saw Harry and Hermione near the other end of the table, beaming at her. Ginny noticed that Harry's happy expression looked slightly put-on, which made Ginny cringe.

"We're so happy you're back, Gin," Ron said to her. It was rare that Ron was so outspoken about his feelings with Ginny, and vice versa. But Ginny couldn't explain what seeing her closest brother did to her, why she felt so happy and emotional.

"I'm happy too, Ronnie." She smiled, using the name she used to call him as children. His eyes reflected more light than usual as they hugged again.

"Don't scare me like that!" Ron grumbled suddenly, punching her lightly on her right shoulder.

Feining pain, Ginny grimanced, before retorting, "I didn't scare you like anything!"

"Ginna," Ron said seriously, as he called Ginny his childhood name for her, "you fell over eighty feet in the air. Lucius fucking Malfoy basically KILLED you. Do you even stop to think about how much trouble your brother Ron would be in if you died?"

Ginny burst out laughing. "Of course you'd be more worried about what Ma and Pa would do to you! Mind, I don't blame you. They'd roast you and feed you to the ratty garden knomes."

Ron laughed too, before his serious face took over his freckles once more. Ginny's smile leaked away from her smile as she saw the humour die out of Ron's pale blue eyes.

"Ginny, you don't need to be scared anymore. Lucius Malfoy is on his was to Azkaban, the Death Eaters too, they're not going anywhere-"

"-Azkaban!?"

"Yeah, Gin! I thought you'd be happy! The sods nearly- did kill you!"

"But Azkaban..." Ginny murmured, shocked to the core. Draco's father... in the most feared prison in the world. How did Draco feel about his?

Without thinking, Ginny voiced her silent question out loud.

"Draco? Oh, Malfoy. I don't know, but his dad deserves it. But, much as I can't believe I'm saying this, I'm grateful to him. He saved my baby sister's life, at the end of the.day." Ron wrapped his arm around Ginny's shoulder and squeezed her tight. She smiled.

"Even if he is still a prat."

"Ron!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."