Destiny- Drinny

15- Why?

Ginny woke up at the crack of dawn, tear lines stuck to her cheeks and red, patchy skin hiding her many freckles. She felt thoroughly drained and knew she looked as if she was dead.

Every night, her sleep had been troubled by nightmares; some involving herself in a dark room, all alone. It reminded her of the time where Tom Riddle possessed her in her first year- completely isolated.

Other night terrors consisted of her drowning, either through her eyes, looking at the delicate bubbles of her last breath floating further and further away, along with the fragmented surface of the water.

Sometimes, she was watching herself drown; her colourless hair motionlessly falling around her head as her pale skin shon, less and less, in the darkness. As she went further and further down, she watched her eyes slowly close, and her body look more detached, gravitating towards the never ending bottom of the pool. Thee skin turned dark grey, and finally became engulfed in the black obis.

Dragging herself out of bed, she quickly snatched up her clothes and slipped them on, making sure to be quiet as to not wake up her room mates- or more specifically, Pansy.

For the last few days she had been avoiding her, involving getting up at ridiculous hours, and going to bed as soon as she was sure Pansy was asleep. This would normally give Ginny about five hours of sleep, resulting in her nodding off in some lessons, earning her detention and a loss of house points.

She had been bypassing the grand dinners in the hall, and replacing them with sneaky visits to the kitchens, eating the left overs of dinner. For breakfast, she decided to grab an apple and eat quietly in the room of requirements, before Theo, Blaise, Pansy and Draco noticed she entered.

She skipped lunch entirely.

Her days consisted of an occurring goal: avoid the four at all costs. Luckily, most days she succeeded, but on one or two occasions, when she would linger in a place for too long, silver eyes would meet hers, forcing her to scamper into the shadows, leaving the blond dumbfounded.

It hurt her to abandon her friends, but she knew it would be best.

She left the dorm room, after correcting her appearance, and tip toed down the stairs to the common room, and left quickly.
She scurried to the great hall, making sure to dodge her old friends, Neville and Luna, who were chatting over the latest update from the quibbler.

She checked her watch as she needed the grand halls doors- 6:00. Breakfasts would be starting now.

She slid through the doors, and made her way to the Slytherin table. Luckily, none of her green friends were up, so she would have a while longer to eat.

She plonked her frail body on the bench, furthest from the only occupants on the table (some sixth years Ginny didn't know) and loaded a plate.

Last night, she had a lengthy detention with Snape, after falling asleep in one of his lessons, and missed her chance of tea. The house elves headed to sleep at 12 and the detention finished just past.

Not wanting to bother the over-worked elves, she went to bed hungry.

As she loaded her plate, she did not notice the curious brown eyes of her old Griffindor friend, tucked away behind her book of astronomy.

She watched the ginger girl, notably. Over the past few days, she had seen less and less of her old friend with her new Slytherin crew, and decided something was up. She took note of her behaviour; never turning up for meals, not talking to anyone, falling asleep in class. This was not the Ginny she knew, and she wanted to get to the bottom it.

Soon, Ginny finished her food, and the brown eyes trailed her retreating back, watching her leave the side door to the hall, as the grand doors opened.

A glum looking Zambini and Knott entered, companied by a sullen Parkinson. A few paces behind, a blue Malfoy appeared. It was clear he had not been sleeping, from the dragging bags that hung under his eyes. The Griffindor noticed the boy hadn't been starting as much trouble as he normally would, and soon, his presence was the same of a shadow; not really there- just following his friends, not speaking a word.

Blaise turned and attempted to involve him in the conversation, only to be answered by a small grunt and shrug as the four day down.

The Griffindor knew something was out of place, and was ready to get to the bottom of it.

Two boys plonked infront of her, blocking her view of the sullen four.

"Bloody hell, Malfoy seems more depressed than usual." Joked the ginger one.

"I know, so does his crannies." Replied a dark haired boy with glasses.

"Do you guys really not see it?" Huffed the girl.

"What?" The boys asked in unison.

"Ginny is avoiding them, and is clearly upset about it. Ron, if you forbid her of seeing him- I swear-"

"Don't worry, Hermione, I didn't do a thing. But I have noticed Ginny's behaviour. Seems off." Ron stated, also aware of his sisters new attitude.

"It's like her first year all over again." Mumbled the boy with the glasses, dishing up his food.

"Harry, not everything has to do with Voldemort." Hermione whispered, angrily.

"It was just an observation." He defended.

"Maybe the prick pissed her off and she left the losers." Ron chimed in, digging into his food.

"No I think it's more than that." Hermione commented, lost in thought, as she peaked over Harry's shoulder to eye the four.

They looked completely miserable.

"Right, I'm going to talk to them." She stated, standing up and making her way over to the Slytherins. Harry and Ron glanced at each other; Ron upset to leave his food, and Harry too tired to deal with Malfoy. A silent debate passed the two, and as if they finally agreed, they nodded, leaving the table to catch up with Hermione.

She stood before the four, as Harry and Ron began to leave their table.

"What's going on?" She questioned, a forceful tone coating her voice.

"What do you mean, Granger?" Zambini answered, attempting to sneer, but only to voice tiredness.

"You four and Ginny." She answered, plopping down next to them. "I know somethings up- you all look miserable and she avoids you like dragon-poks. It was only last week you were best buds." She commented, as the boys joined them.

"Ask Ginny." Said Malfoy, in a quiet voice- sounding like he had lost all hope.

To the three Griffindors, it felt weird, hearing Malfoy so weak and vulnerable- for he was always so snobby and confident. Hearing him so powerless made them idly uncomfortable. To make him so bleak must have meant it was big.

"Well we would if we could bloody find her." Ron muttered.

"All she said was Slytherins and Griffindors don't mix. She cut off all ties from us- like we don't even exist." Pansy croaked out.

"It doesn't have anything to do with the incident at the library?" Asked Hermione.

"I wouldn't be surprised." She murmured in response.

Nodding, Hermione left the four, flanked by Harry and Ron.

As Hermione stormed through every hall in Hogwarts, she zoned out the moans of the boys, and tried to understand Ginny's actions.

Thank-you for reading! Xx hope you liked it! Xxx