Whisper

Catch me as I fall

Say you're here and it's all over now

Speaking to the atmosphere

No one's here and I fall into myself

This truth drives me into madness

I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away

Don't turn away

Don't give into the pain

Don't try to hide

Though they're screaming your name

Don't close your eyes

God knows what lies behind

Don't turn out the light

-- Evanescence

It wasn't love.

Hermione had said it was like flying and you were happy.

Well, Ginny had flown plenty of times, and she'd also been happy.

Whatever this new feeling was, it was not love. She had come to that conclusion.

Maybe it was some new hormonal change happening to her. She'd read emotions could be affected and what not.

Ginny sighed and hit her pillow in frustration. She was still in bed, as it was Saturday and there were no lessons. True, there was breakfast, but she did not feel particularly hungry at the moment.

Rolling on to her side, Ginny considered another option: It was love, but she had not accepted it yet, and this dilemma caused her unhappiness.

"Well, I should," Ginny said irritably, sitting up. "He is my brother. It should make me unhappy."

Still, that second option made sense. Hermione must have felt tormented, having to hear all about Cho in their fifth year. Naturally, she wouldn't be happy just sitting here, worrying over it all.

Wondering how she could have been so stupid, Ginny leapt out of bed. She would have to talk to Hermione again, without Harry and Ron interrupting.

She dressed quickly and pulled her bright hair into a ponytail. She thought she should make sure Ron was not in the common room and feeling fairly sure it was empty, Ginny descended the staircase. She let out a little gasp when she caught sight of Ron sitting on one of the squishy armchairs and he looked up.

"Hey, Gin," he grinned crookedly at her. She managed a smile, momentarily unable to respond. She stood rooted to the very last step on the girls' stairway.

"You weren't at breakfast." He stood up and held out three pieces of toast wrapped in a napkin.

"Slept in," Ginny explained feebly, in a croaky sort of voice.

"I thought as much. Are you all right?"

"Yes. Thanks," she added, accepting the napkin, though she felt no hungrier than she had been half an hour ago.

"I just wanted to make sure." Ron's voice had grown softer and he was standing awfully close.

"Thanks," she repeated. Her coffee brown eyes met his china blue ones and her breath caught in her throat. That tingling sensation had returned, spreading rapidly throughout her.

The stack of toast fell from her hands when his lips touched hers, but neither noticed, nor cared. Ginny used her now free hands to pull him closer; she ran her hands down his back, and then back up again and trailed her fingers through his hair. He held her tightly against him, clutching at her as though he feared she might disappear at any moment.

It was a wonderful feeling, just as Hermione had said. Did she feel this way when Harry kissed her? Did her skin burn with the anticipation of his touch? Did he slide his hands under her shirt in a way that made her shiver? Ginny felt wonderfully light headed, never wanting it to end, for the moment to spin on and on forever and ever ...

Ron broke away suddenly and it was a moment before Ginny realized why; with a stab of sinking horror, Ginny heard a sickeningly familiar voice. She froze, staring at the portrait hole. Any second now it was going to swing open. Ginny was aware of how she must look, as well as Ron. He, fortunately, turned and pushed her up the stairs.

"Get out of here," he hissed. Ginny nodded, catching his eye. He swallowed hard and attempted to flatten his hair before making a shooing gesture with his hands.

Still she hesitated, hating whatever it was that had made them kin. Then she turned and sprinted up the spiral stairway, just as a password was given ("Phoenix Feather") and Hermione entered the common room. Ginny closed her door very quietly, breathing hard.

Why her? And why now? Of all the times for this to happen, why now?

Ginny's eyes scanned the dormitory, searching for an answer she knew she would not find here.