The Process of Healing
Her eyes open wide like the windows in her house. She pulls herself up off the couch, feeling her head spin as she walks from the living room to the bathroom. Her flat is empty…if she isn’t counted…and she doesn’t count herself as an entity these days. She’s just flesh taking up space in her flat. She’s trying so hard to kill everything inside with alcohol and pills that keep her out of it while still being functional.
Ginny looks at herself in the mirror and cringes. She’s mostly angles and they are all the wrong angles. She pokes at the circles under her eyes and frowns before undressing and making her way into the shower. She doesn’t even bother testing the water. She just lets the cold run out of it as she stands there. She finishes her shower and steps out, reaching for the nearest towel.
She needs to do laundry. Her nose wrinkles as she quickly dries herself and drops the dirty towel back onto the ground. She gets dressed and lets out a sigh before searching for her wand. A quick flick and her clothes separate into different piles. Another flick and one pile goes into the washing machine. Another and detergent goes into the machine. Another and the washing machine starts.
“At least that’s done,” she murmurs before flopping onto the couch again.
It’s uncomfortable and she is uncomfortable on it but she doesn’t really care. She glances over at the empty bottle on the table and groans before sinking more into the couch. She hasn’t talked to anyone at home for weeks that she recalls. Well no one besides George. She closes her eyes and is about to fall back to sleep until she hears a noise at her window.
Her eyes are open again but much less than before. They focus blearily on the face peeking in through her window.
“Ginny?”
She pulls herself up and rubs at her eyes before looking more closely at the face in the window. “Hermione?”
Suddenly the door opens and she is overwhelmed by questions and statements and something close to mothering. “Your family hasn’t seen you in weeks, much less heard from you,” Hermione says crossly.
“They don’t hear from Charlie for weeks sometimes and they don’t send people after him,” she shoots back. “Also…I have seen some of my family. I work with George. They would know that if they came by once in a while.”
Hermione picks up the empty bottle of firewhiskey and looks at her. “Charlie is also not trying to drink himself to death.”
“I am not trying to drink myself to death, Hermione.”
Hermione doesn’t believe her. She can tell by the look on her face and the way her forehead scrunches up. “You have at least five bottles scattered around the flat and you’ve got clothes everywhere.”
“I’ve got it under control.” Her voice is holds a hint of danger as she looks at the brunette in front of her. “And right now…I have to get to work…So if you don’t mind.”
Hermione looks stern but there is a quiet understand in her eyes. “Alright…but will you at least write to your parents?”
“Fine.”
*
Ginny looks up at George as she walks into the store. She is glad that he doesn’t give her concerned looks or treat her like a fragile baby doll. “Morning, George.”
He smiles and kisses her cheek. “Morning, Ginny.”
“What should I do?”
“Stay here a moment. I’ve got a few people visiting that you might be interested to see.”
Ginny looks at him curiously for a moment before leaning against the front counter. A few minutes later Angelina comes in and behind her is none other than Katie Bell. Ginny blinks a few times before moving swiftly on the other side of George, who raises an eyebrow in question. She shakes her head and grabs for his wrist.
“Well, good morning, Weasleys,” calls Angelina’s voice.
“Good morning, Angelina.” George laughs softly. “I see you’ve started talking to yourself.”
Ginny peeks around George and sees a scowl darken Angelina’s features briefly. “I see you’re still as much of a smartass as usual,” she counters.
“Good morning, George. Pleasure to see you again.” Katie’s voice is quiet but not out of issues with confidence. She’s just the quiet one out of the group of three, if Ginny remembers correctly. “Good morning…” Katie leans forward. “Ginny, is it?”
George once again gives her a quizzical look before turning back to Katie. “It’s Ginny and good morning.”
“Good morning,” Ginny says quietly, tightening her grip around her brother’s wrist.
“Are you alright,” Katie asks.
“I’m fine…”
Ginny slips behind the counter, murmuring about losing something and George shrugs. “Angelina…I have something to show you. Ginny?”
Ginny peeks over top of the counter. “Yes?”
“Can you stay here with Katie and keep her company for a moment?
“Alright.”
“Thank you.”
They leave and Ginny finds herself alone with Katie. She forces herself to walk out from behind the counter. She looks down before murmuring a quiet, “Hi.”
“Hi.”
Katie’s smile never dims and her hair seems to fall perfectly around her face. Ginny feels rather unkempt in comparison. Her hair falls messy and wavy around her face and she’s sure she looks like death. “I…”
“Angelina tells me you’ve been here for a bit.” Katie pauses before quickly adding, “Working, I mean…”
Ginny nearly smiles at the blush staining the older girl’s cheeks. “Yes. It’s just until I start playing for the Holyhead Harpies.”
“No way! You’re playing for the Harpies?”
This time Ginny does smile. “Yes. Seeker, in fact.”
“Woah. That’s brilliant! I wish I had been able to do the same. You’ll have to let me know your schedule, yeah? I’ve got to come see a game.”
Ginny blushes and looks down. “I’ll let you know.”
Katie’s laugh is clear and sounds like water bubbling over rocks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get all…crazy. It’s just…the Harpies are my favorite.”
“They are? I…didn’t know.”
Katie smiles, almost seeming to study her for a moment. “It’s not like I expect you to know. We haven’t really spent lots of time together.”
Ginny nods quietly. “I don’t suppose we have.”
“For a minute there, I thought you were going to hide from me all day.”
“Not all day, no. I guess I’m just a little self conscious.”
Ginny is somewhat surprised by the look on Katie’s face and the way she laughs. “You’re self conscious? Why? You’re absolutely beautiful, Ginny Weasley.”
She blushes at the words and looks down. “I am not. I look so much like Fred and George…and…”
“And you are beautiful. Quit arguing so much, Weasley.”
“Who’s arguing?”
Both girls look up as George and Angelina come back. “No one,” Ginny responds quickly.
“I don’t believe you for a second, little sister.”
“You ought to…”
Katie laughs quietly for a moment before saying, “We were simply discussing her self-confidence issues.”
“Hey!” Ginny frowns at Katie for a moment. “I didn’t say you needed to tell everyone.”
Katie laughs and Ginny looks even more like a petulant child. “I’m sorry, Ginny. I just thought that you should see that both of them will agree with me. You are a beautiful girl.”
“You’re worried about your looks, Ginny?”
“No, George. I’m not.”
Ginny shoots a look at Katie before storming off.
*
Ginny is at her flat and she hears and quiet little knock at her door. By this time, she’s a quarter of the way through a bottle of firewhiskey and she doesn’t feel like guests. All the same, she gets up and answers the door.
“Katie?”
“Hey. I just wanted to say sorry for this morning. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Ginny shrugs and walks back into her flat, picking up the bottle of firewhiskey and continuing to drink. She listens for the door to shut and waits to see if Katie came in or not. “So how did you find me?”
“George told me where to look.”
Ah. She came in. “I see.”
“Are you drinking that all by yourself?”
Ginny looks at the bottle and then back towards Katie. “That was the plan, yes.”
Katie tilts her head to the side. “Why?”
“Why not,” she counters.
Katie comes over and takes the bottle from her. “Because I’m joining you…so you’re just going to have to share.”
Ginny stares at her with wide eyes for a moment. “But I didn’t…”
“And I did. Fancy that.”
Ginny frowns but waits for Katie to take a sip before taking her bottle back. “Fine…but I am not letting you sleep in my bed if you are too drunk to get home.”
“Fine by me.”
Ginny takes a swig of alcohol. “Good.”
Katie takes the bottle back, drinking a good amount before returning it. “That’s what I said.”
*
Ginny stumbles backwards into the wall and laughs quietly. “Oi. Watch where you’re going, Bell.”
Katie laughs, steadying herself. “No can do.”
Ginny laughs again. “The least you can do is make all this stumbling about have purpose.”
“Purpose?”
Ginny nods and readjusts herself so their lips touch briefly. “Purpose,” she whispers.
“You said…not in your bed…”
“Fuck what I said.”
Katie appears to study her again. “We’re drunk…”
“And?”
“Shouldn’t we not?”
“Stop being logical and kiss me.”
Katie seems to have listened because they’re kissing and Ginny is all too happy with herself. Everything is a little blurry around the edges and parts of her are comfortably numb…but she’s focusing on the way Katie’s mouth slip-slides against hers in a rather pleasant way. She tangles her fingers in blonde hair and tries to stay balanced. The last part is a bit trying.
“I’m going to fall over,” Katie says through her laughter.
“Me too,” Ginny admits. “Bed…” She grabs the older girl’s hand and they stumble towards the bed, falling onto it. Ginny likes her bed. It is comfortable and Katie is there. Somehow this is okay. The only problem is “You are too polite.”
“Too polite?”
“Yes.”
Ginny opens her eyes and Katie is biting her lip. “I’ve never…you know…”
All this thinking is not good for her drunken mind. She isn’t sure how to respond, really so she goes with the first thing that comes to mind. “Never?”
“Never.”
“Oh.”
Ginny admits to herself, as far as she knows, that that was an entirely stupid response. “No. It’s okay. You’re drunk. Intelligence is not expected.”
“What?”
“You just said that was a stupid response…”
“I said that out loud? Shit.”
Katie laughs softly. “We should probably sleep…”
“But I don’t want to sleep,” Ginny responds petulantly.
“Shut up and go to sleep.”
“Fine…but you’re staying.”
“Alright,” Katie says quietly before helping Ginny under the covers and then making herself comfortable.
*
Ginny wakes up the next morning feeling less like she’s been run over by a train then she had the morning before. Something’s different, though. She looks next to her and no one is there but she can smell something from the other room. She gets up and walks out of the room and towards the kitchen.
“Good morning,” Katie says cheerfully.
Ginny eyes her silently for a moment. “Did we…”
“No.” Katie smiles and continues with something Ginny can’t see. “You really need to start shopping for more than alcohol.”
Ginny lets out a relieved sigh before stepping up next to Katie. “I’m not always very hungry…”
“Because you drink too much,” Katie says, looking at her sideways.
Ginny wrinkles her nose. “Are you going to go on about that too?”
Katie smiles over at her. “No. I just think you should find something else to help you get past whatever you’re going through.” She pauses in the middle of pushing the eggs around a pan Ginny forgot she had. “How about you come play some Quidditch with Angelina, Alicia, and I sometime. It would get you out of your flat and you could keep up so that you’re in top shape for the Harpies.”
“But…”
“Mind you,” Katie cuts in. “We won’t go easy on you. So you better bring your game.”
Ginny frowns at her but there’s a little spark of defiance growing deep inside of her. “I don’t need anyone to go easy on me. I’m good at what I do.”
“Then prove it. I’ll set up a time with the other two and owl you.” Katie smiles again and Ginny finds it hard to be upset with her. “But in the mean time…you’re going to eat something.”
Ginny stares at the plate of eggs and sausage and smiles a little. “Since you already went through all the trouble…I suppose I’ll do it.”
“Good.”