Going Under

I was lying awake in bed waiting for Ginny to arrive back. It had just gone half past 11, so I guess they were having the time of their lives. At that exact moment, Ginny stumbled through the door. She collapsed onto her bed, still clothed and I heard muffled sobs.

“Gin? What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned. I didn’t hear an answer, just more sobbing. I leapt out of bed and ran to her.

”What happened? Didn’t it work out for you two?”

Still no reply, but I saw it then; a fresh cute to her face and a tear in her dress. I held hear hand, realising she needed someone to stay with her but I knew she wouldn’t talk to me about it. Ginny was clutching at her stomach with her right arm. She had a purple bruise beginning to appear on her wrist, and as I lifted her left arm to inspect, I saw the same harsh bruising appearing. I had no idea about who or what had done this, but I certainly intended to find out. I stood up, leant over and kissed her forehead and said goodnight. Looking back, it would have been more honourable of me to stay by her bedside.

The next morning I woke up and made my way to the shower. I heard water cascading down – Ginny’s bed was empty and all the other girls were still sleeping, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to question Ginny about the night before. At half past 6, fifteen minutes later, Ginny emerged, looking a lot better than she had done. She took one look at me and yelled, “don’t even BOTHER asking me, Hermione. I’m not going to talk about it!” And she stormed passed me and started rummaging through her clothes. I jumped in and out of the shower and was ready in 5 minutes, after drying my hair with a spell. When I was dressed, I hurried out and caught up with Ginny as she was leaving the bedroom.

We entered the common room together. It was almost 7am, and the only other people in the room were Harry, Neville and Ron. “Ginny, darling, we had a good time last night didn’t we?” Harry winked and gave a sly, almost evil, smile. He turned to me and grinned, “you have no idea what you’re missing, ‘Mione.” I rolled my eyes, but focused on Ginny again. Something was very wrong; she hadn’t smiled or uttered a word. Perhaps Harry didn’t notice the cut on her face – Ginny had covered it up pretty well. But his devious smile was twisted, which lead me to think he knew more than he was letting on. Harry stood up proudly and said he was going for a walk. Ron and Neville followed, sharing a private joke between the two of them.

“Ginny, you have to tell me what happened! It’ll stay between the two of us, I promise. You know you can trust me, hon.” I pleaded with her, desperate to find a way in. Ginny walked slowly over to me and sat down cautiously with a pained expression on her face.

“Hermione, I can’t.” And she let her tears flow. She allowed my arms to comfort her and she cried into my hug for at least half an hour. Other students, who had begun to float downstairs got told to go away by me before they could open their mouths to ask Ginny how she was. Finally, ten minutes later, Ginny told me she was staying in the girl’s room all day. I told her I would stay with her, but she insisted I went to my lessons.

I jogged to the Great Hall to have breakfast, but before I got through the doors I heard that deep, silky voice. “Ms. Granger? Why are we late?” I spun around to meet Snape’s glaring, but perfect, eyes.

“We, Sir? I’m late because I over slept, but I can’t answer on your behalf.” I grinned cheekily. Snape raised an eyebrow, then stepped forward to open the Hall doors and gently pushed me forward. I hated going in that all even a few minutes late. Everybody felt the need to turn and look at the late arriver. I found a seat next to Pavarti, but wasn’t hungry. I felt too worried about Ginny, so I started a conversation about potions. I had potions with Snape next, but I reminded myself to visit Ginny before the lessons started.