Faceless in a Sea of Faces

Chapter Four

* * * * * Weeks Later * * * * *

A few weeks passed and Ginny was fine. She was becoming more and more fine the longer she went without an episode. It was almost as if it hadn't happened to begin with. Ginny and I were quickly become top of our class with nothing better to do than study. I still owl back and forth with my brother, but the letters aren't as frequent now nor are they as long.

Hagrid's become a good friend and Ginny and I were currently helping him cut jack o lanterns for the feast tonight, via magic of course. I stuck out my tongue as I concentrated, getting it to look exactly how I wanted. On one of them, I put a figure I'd seen in my defense against the dark arts book- a dementor. Ginny was doing a grindylow while the two of us chatted about how great our hinkypunks and redcaps turned out. Hagrid made a goblin and, for the trio's amusement, a three headed dog. Ginny told me the whole story, which she'd gotten in detail over the summer, while we worked. I was amazed but I also really wanted to do something like that this year.

It'd be so much fun! Well, the adventure part.

"Alrigh' girls. I think we've got enough." Hagrid chuckled, looking around his lawn as hundreds of carved pumpkins sat about. The other professors came down to help levitate them up to the castle when they noticed Ginny and I. It made us grin when they complimented our work, though I felt odd. As if this isn't what life was supposed to be like.

I felt like that a lot here recently.

Suddenly, Ginny stopped as we were heading to the castle. I grew nervous as her eyes glazed over like they did in class that day. "No, come on Gin please! It's okay, lets just go up to the castle and we'll relax a bit before the feast. Get something to eat, you'll be alright!" I pleaded, gripping her arm. She nodded quickly, pulling her arm back.

"Yeah, yeah. Um, just, hold this and I'll meet you in the common room. I'm going to splash some water on my face really quick." She murmured, causing me to chew on my lip as she took off. Ginny never lets ANYONE touch this diary, and I mean anyone. Ever. I ran into our dorm, opening it and pulling out a quill. It is definitely time to figure this out.

'Hello' I wrote, pausing. The words disappeared just like I expected them to. What I didn't expect was a reply.

'Hello Ginny'

'So much to tell you! Tonight is our Halloween feast.'

'I know, are you excited?'

'Well of course! But, I'm also upset. My brothers are still ignoring me and,' I paused, biting my lip as the words faded. Had she wrote about her crush? She had to have. 'And so is Harry'

'Please, forget him. He isn't worth your time Ginny. You have so much to look forward to in life, he isn't worth it. Lets talk about something else, to get your mind off of it. How is your friendship with Sam?'

My heart swelled as I realized she cared enough to write about me. I bit my lip again, thinking of what to reply. 'She is definitely suspicious. I know it. Sam has always been rather paranoid about things and this is definitely one to have her worried. She's still a great friend though.'

'Mm. Talking a bit highly of yourself aren't you Sam?'

I gasped, dropping my quill as I looked at the page. More words inked themselves in as my heart pounded in my chest. 'I am surprised though. Very, very much so. Surprised you made it this far in the conversation. How did you know what to write about?'

'Ginny is my best friend. I know her. Who are you?'

'My name is Tom.'

'Obviously you know me. What gave me away?'