I'm not a coward, just shy (Hogwarts fanfic)

ch 17- new robes

Rumors whizzing as fast as they could be carried from person to person. Hermione was getting daily hate mail from all around the country. Once or twice I stopped her for opening a booby trapped letter. Because of this Her and Krum were going though an awkward stage which I was hearing about in great detail. The Yule ball was coming up quickly and a layer of excitement was laying thick in the grounds of Hogwarts. Talk of who was going with who was spreading quickly and who would be wearing what. I knew Luna disparately wanted to go and since it was 4th year and up, I had asked Cedric if he would save me a dance or two. He seemed disappointed but understood. For some reason his disappointment made me feel fluttery inside, like pixies bouncing off the sides of my stomach. He was bring a Ravenclaw girl in the year above me. Her name was Cho Chung and I knew she had a crush on him. It was in her eyes. It wasn't the same as the other dumb blondes in the school. Her gaze was longing and intelligent. As if she was looking at an apple in the tallest tree, planning her assent into the branches, watching out for the branches that wouldn't take her weight and looking for proper hand holds. She was dangerous, a rival. She was only testing the waters at the moment, seeing how deep our relationship was. She could test as much as she wanted, I was always one step ahead, blocking her and ruining her plan. There was times when I loved my gift.

I had receive a package a few days before the Yule bale. It was a set of midnight blue satin dress robes. Expertly crafted in a sort of fashion you knew would never go out of style. Elegant and Noble, the kind of thing that could only come from money. A post card had been wrapped in the robes and I carefully pulled it out. The post card was off a red double Decker bus, the kind you see in London. I flipped it, seeing the all too familiar sort of messy hand writing of my dad. It read as follows.

'I found these when I got to my old home. They were mine when I was your age and my mother forced me to go to these horrible balls. Since the Yule ball is coming up, I thought they would be of some use. ~ snuffles'

I chuckled at the name I had given my father when he was a great black huge and I was drugged up on fever medication. Seeing that they were from my dad made me feel closer to the robes, I didn't like spending money on useless things and these robes probably cost more than what the Weasley's would ever earn in the their lives even if they kept up the countless hours of hard work. However, these were my dad's and I felt a certain warmth running my hand over them . Then my smile drop. I still hadn't told him about my guitar. My throat tightened whenever I thought about it. It had been months since Dumbledore had sent away my guitar. I asked about it whenever I could but the answer was always the same. 'All we can do is wait' His kind but final tone rang in my ears. It was fixable. It just had to be. A second package landed with the muffled thud of clothes in front of Ron, Errol slided gracefully down the table. Knocking over four plates of eggs and coming to stop in Neville's Breakfast. Ron Cursed the bird and Started tearing at the brown paper. I couldn't contain my snort's of laugher seeing flashes of what was inside.

"I Would opened that if I were here" I chuckled to Fred and George as they watched as Ron recoil a little, as if the package might bite him. with only his finger and thumb's he picked up the bruise purple and sick green dress robes with frilly collar and cuffs.

"Ginny, I think these are for you" He said his voice wavering.

"There is no way in hell I am wearing them, I think their your dress robes" she said in disgust, going back to picking scrambled egg from Errol's feathers.

"There's a card," I pointed out the white envelope. He tore it from the remaining wrapping and ripped it open. He spanned it a few times not seeming to take in the information the first time before slumping black groaning. I sighed.

"Your robes are coming tomorrow, although you'll be glad to know that Emerald green really brings out your eyes" I said two twin's slipping at the coffee.

"Any frills" They asked in unions. I shook my head and they seemed to relax.

"So have you guys got dates yet?" I asked cradling my mug in my hands, trying to warm them up.

"I am going with Angelina Johnson-"

"I am going with Alicia Spinnet-" Fred spoke first followed by George. They always seemed to be able to only speak half a conversation each. It was weird and hard to get use to. I remembered my first month at the burrow, hardly speaking a word and annoying anyone, even molly at all costs. It was Only Fred and George who were ever able to find me. I did make good friends with the ghoul in the attic though.

"Really?" I raised an eye brow.

"Just as friends, though" George shrugged.

"-anyway, a little birdy told us you're not going with Cedric, are you going back in the closet or do we need to plan some revenge" Fred said darkening suddenly.

"um- No, Luna just wanted to go and She is in Ginny's years and isn't allow unless it's as a date, so I asked Cedric if I Could bring her, But that meant I couldn't go with Cedric and Since he is a champion he needs a partner, so he is taking Cho Chang, but Cedric such he would safe me a dance..." I trailed off, flushing as I realised I was babbling something trouble. They laughed, only enforcing my blush tenfold. I stuffed my package under my arm and mumbled a good bye and an excuse I didn't belief myself, dashing out before anyone could stop me.

I only slowed down when I was three corridors away and decided to wonder the corridors. We had no classes today and I didn't want to go back to the common room. I went to the room of requirement instead.

I missed lunch, only leaving the room at about three when hungry drove me out. That was a strange thing about the room, it couldn't condor food. I whipped around hearing my name. There was a Slytherin First year girl running after me shouting my name.

"Can I help you?" I used.

"Dumbledore - asked me to – give you this-" the girl huffed, handing me a scroll with a red wax seal with the Hogwarts crest pressed in detail.

"Thank you" I said before turning to start walking to the griffin statue, all the while beginning to open the scroll. There was only one sentence.

Do you like candy canes?

I clapped the heavy knocker on the door twice and only entered when I heard a voice call for me to come in. I walked into the warm office. The room was lit with candles, the snow falling thick and silent casting shadows on the magical clutter that lined every available space. I moved my eyes, fixing them on Dumbledore. He was sitting in his great big wooden arm chair, peering at me over half moon glasses. He seemed to be in a good mood.

"You wanted to see me sir" I said, sitting in one of the chair's across from him.

"I have some rather marvelous news" he said. He looked excited actually.

"Yes, sir" I tried to push him on. Slowly he reached under his desk and my heart stopped. He passed it to me and I took it, kind of shocked. I had almost lost hope. It was like new, smelling of wood polish. My thumb running over the engravings as I had done so many times before. I strummed testing the sound, it was the same.

"Will you play for me?" he asked kindly and with tears threading to spill over onto my cheeks, I nodded. My fingers began to dance over the strings and I my heart panged, just realizing how much I longed for this moment and now it was finally here. I was finally able to play my guitar again.