Silver Bell | Ginny Weasley

Silver Bell | Chapter 03

Cool water dripped from Ida's forehead to the wet sink as she remained bent over the faucet.
Almost a year had flown by since Katie -Ida's only companion and sister- had been taken.
She often thought about Katie - her pessimistic but alway supportive nature, the way her eyes would sparkle when she was up to something that Marissa and Cyrus would certainly not approve of.

Now she was gone, the only relic preventing her from becoming a painful yet distant memory, was Ida's refusal to get over her.
Hot tears slid down Ida's face, mingling with the chilly water that had yet to work its magic in making her feel better.
No one who really cared would be at her birthday.

"I'm turning eleven tomorrow, Katie... are you excited?" Ida choked on her words, as they faded into nothingness. "Mama won't leave the study at all now... Dad leaves the house a lot. I-I really miss you."
Ida's heart ached with sorrow. What had become of Katie now?

Maybe she was living a fulfilling life, full of excitement and the outside.
Or maybe she was... Ida couldn't bear to think of the alternative.
Pushing herself up from the sink, she wrapped her arms tightly around herself and dragged her feet to the bathroom door.

Everything was in shambles, and Ida felt absolutely hopeless.

↜↭↝

"Happy birthday to me..."
The home was almost silent as Ida's off-key singing trailed away.
A small cupcake sat in front of her, the flame on the candle flickering, uncertain of whether to blow out or stay alight.
What a contrast it was from the beginning of Katie's eleventh birthday.

Ida stared listlessly at the tiny cake, the lack of her hunger presenting itself in the form of her refusal to eat the cupcake.
Tears pricked at her eyes, and a large lump made its presence known as she swallowed with much difficulty.
Oh how times had changed.
Reluctantly blowing out the flame and peeling the wrapper off, Ida tore off a minute chunk of chocolate cupcake, and crumbled it in her hand.

Her stomach turned at the thought of biting into it.
She just couldn't.
If she squinted, Ida could still picture last year's scene - jolliness, laughter and love.
However, this was obviously not the case this year.

Ida was the forgotten-about sister - the one swamped in grief herself.
Suddenly, a large bang echoed through her living room, and instantaneously afterwards, a frazzled-looking woman appeared.
Ida's mouth slackened in shock.
It was like a repeat of last year.

But Marissa didn't come running this time, and Cyrus wasn't there to try and fight off the intruder.
"Merlin's shiny kneecaps, why can I never handle apparating?" The stranger huffed, brushing dust off of her rumpled clothing.
"It c-can't be..." Ida stumbled over her words, and was left in even more astonishment as the woman's hair flashed a series of bright colours.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you Ida?" The stranger queried, her hair eventually settling on a violet blue.
Ida was rendered speechless, opening and closing her mouth much like a goldfish.
"I'm guessing you are. Well, happy birthday by the way." The woman concluded, smiling.
"Who are you?" Ids finally regained her ability to speak, her hands trembling.

"Oh yes, you don't know me of course! The name's Tonks, and apparently you're staying with me. Don't worry, kid, I won't kill you." She winked, leaving Ida a tad more trusting of this Tonks.
"What are you doing here?"
"Look, kid, these questions can all be answered when we get back to my place. Grab onto my arm."

"I-I'm sorry what?"
"Well, do you want to stay here, locked up in this house forever? When you could be exploring the world?"
Ida gulped, took one last fleeting glance at her captor that she had once called home, and latched onto Tonks's arm.
"Take a deep breath, this is going to be terrifying."

A loud crackle emanated from a stick that Tonks had just brandished, and they were off.
It was an unpleasant feeling, and Ida's stomach was being flipped upside down.
Thankfully, it only lasted a mere few seconds, but that was enough to trigger an onset of nausea as they bumpily landed.
"I hate apparating too, kid. Feel free to throw up."

Ida happily obliged, emptying her stomach contents.
Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, Ida turned away from the mess, her face as pale as a blank canvas.
"Alright, let's get you back to my home."
However, Tonks's words feel on deaf ears, as Ida had just realised they were outside.

Outside!
Ecstasy flooded through Ida's veins as she gazed wordlessly at her surroundings.
A chilly breeze ruffled her hair, leaving her breathless and a grinning mess.
The weak sunlight that filtered through the clouds, still managed to warm her bones.
And the air! It was fresher than what Ida could have ever imagined.

A slight trace of flowers wafted to her nose, and she uncontrollably laughed with relief.
"This is... this is..." Ida couldn't find the words nor the description to fit this wonderful feeling.
She wasn't trapped any longer, she felt it deep within her heart.
She was free, and that's was all that mattered at that moment.