Sulking

[Ginny Weasly]

"You know, you remind me of how I act when offered help. I think I can do it myself, with no help. But I found out I didn't have to, because someone who cared very deeply for me told me that it's okay to cry, to be sad, and to ask for help." She smiled, still holding out her hand.

"That made me so happy, someone who wanted to take care of me, to help me. It was what I needed at the time. And even though that person can't always be by my side, I always feel him there." She put one knee on the bed, and patted his back. She set the herb down and stood back up.

"It's there if you want it."

[Fox]

"How can you compare me to you? You at least have someone who cares deeply for you. I... I don't," Fox said, letting it slip. He shook his head and his face hardened, "You don't understand anything. I won't be happy, because everyone hates my guts. And you do to, so don't act all comforting."

Fox hugged his plush even more tightly. Tears started to flow down his face.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Who said I hated you?" She asked, softly, quietly, struggling with herself, then touching his back again. Her eyes widened and she drew in a sharp breath. She saw memories, of his parents, his grandfather, how this little boy had sat many nights like this one. She took a step back, pulling her hand away and looking at him. He wouldn't know she had seen those at any rate, but she understood more now.

[Fox]

Fox gulped and looked at her, tears illuminated from the light coming from the door, "You... Don't you?"

Memories came back, of him sitting in a lonely, practically-barren room. It was dark inside, with only a lighted candle. No one went near him. He was sobbing silently into his fox plush. Suddenly, the candle blew out. Now the only light was from the moon high in the sky. Tears were rushing down his face, and he was so terribly lonely.

Another memory, one of his grandfather. His grandfather was standing over him, at five-years-old with eyes of steel, "You disappoint me. Go away."
"Grandpa! Come play with me!" Fox had cried.
His grandfather swiped him across the face, sending Fox flying a couple feet, "You are a weakling. I have no time for you! Go!"

Fox cried harder, "You... you still... don't really... understand..."

He wanted someone to love him, someone to hug him and say everything was alright, but he knew he wouldn't get it.

One more flash back, of him a couple years younger than he was now. Standing over a sobbing girl. He had just pushed her down. He hadn't really meant to, and he didn't know the girl, since he didn't really get out of the house. He was going to apologise, but for a brief moment, his loneliness was covered a little. He liked it, and savored that moment. He had thought, Perhaps this is the way I will fill the gap in me!

[Ginny Weasly]

"......" Ginny bit her lip, watching the small boy, who for some reason she felt so deeply for. It was strange, but she wanted to make him feel better.

"Someone to hug you?" She heard his thoughts and repeated them softly. She too flashed back, to not too long ago, a night in the forest. She nodded, remebering the step she had taken then, and knew the step she needed to take now. She knelt on the bed again and put her arms around him, hugging him, lightly, then tightly, as though she wanted him to know it was okay.

"Even if you push me away, I'll keep hugging you...." She said, holding him tightly, almost like she did with her brothers when she was little.

[Fox]

"E-eh?" Fox said at the contact. Then his eyes widened, and he sat in shock for a moment. He blinked and then turned fully towards her. His eyes were still wide, "Why? Why are you-?"

He touched the arms around him, still stunned. Then he looked at her with lost eyes, before hugging her back, something he had never done before. He longed for this his whole life...

"Is it... alright to cry?" Fox asked weakly. His grandfather had told him, 'Boys don't cry. They don't hurt, they don't hug, and they most definently do NOT cry.'

He wanted to let every last unshead tear out... but his grandfather had told him that boys didn't cry... and that they didn't hug either. Fox longed to, but... was it okay?

[Ginny Weasly]

"I have seven brothers, and eveyone of them cries when they get sad...it's okay." She said softly, keeping her arms tightly around him.

[Fox]

"Seven?" Fox said, his eyes even wider. He looked down for a second, "Before Hogwarts, I barely saw anyone my size."

Then he looked up at her again as her words sunk in. He hugged her like she was his life-line, and cried... and then cried more. He cried until his eyes were sore and dry. Until all of the hurts of the past had been cried about. He sniffed delicately and looked at her.

Fumbling, he pulled out a handkerchief from under his pillow. Most of his things were organized among his stuff, but he always had a kerchief handy. He wiped away the tears from his face.

"Umm... ah... well... Thank... you," Fox said, growing red. He looked at her, "D-don't tell. P-p-please."

He then realized that he still didn't know her name, "Um... ermm..."

[Ginny Weasly]

She patted him on the head.
"Why tell, it's not as though anyone will care." She smiled at him, tilting her head slightly, letting him know she wouldn't tell.

"My name is Ginny, and anytime you want to find me, just think it. I can even get you outta class." She laughed and patted his head again, ruffling his hair.

[Fox]

"Yeah, you're right," Fox said weakly. He felt so much better. He actually felt like smiling. He let a very small smile creep onto his lips.

"Mine is Fox. Just think your name? You'll come if I think it? Weird, but helpful. And how will you get me out of class? Aren't you a student as well?" Fox looked up at her with a confused look on his face. Then he grinned as she ruffled his dirty blone hair.

He smiled more, and hugged her more tightly for a moment, "Thank you, Ginny."

[Ginny Weasly]

"It's okay, Fox. I can do almost anything. Just think of me as a big sister." She smiled and hugged him back.

[Fox]

"Really? I-I've never had a sibling... and I'm repeating myself. I'm an idiot," Fox said. He looked down and fiddled with the sheets of his bed. Then he looked up, and there were startings of tears again. He held up his hand, pinky extended. He had never acually pinky swore before, but he had seen other kids his age do it. He blushed and looked at Ginny, "We'll be sibs forever. Right? P-Pinky swear."

Fox held up his hand. Emotionally, he was teetering between isolation and friendship. If she refused, he would plunge into darkness, and it would be hard to open up to anyone again. If she accepted, he would probably be a little nicer and a lot more open with feelings. It was ultimately her decition. He watched her with wide, green eyes.

[Ginny Weasly]

She didn't pause, or hesitate in anyway except to smile at the small childish promise keeping way. She wrapped her pinky around his and nodded.
"You bet, Fox. Now I have eight brothers, instead of seven." She smiled.

[Fox]

Fox's face lit up with happiness, and he started to cry again, but this time out of joy. He sat like that for a few moments before rubbing his eyes with one hand, still having his pinky wrapped around hers with the other. He got his emotions under control and thought back. Then he started to giggle.

"I was just thinking about what Grandfather would say about this. His face would be all twisted up and stuff. I can't help but laugh at the image," Fox said with a giggle or two. He smiled at Ginny, "I'll have to met the rest of your family then!"

[Ginny Weasly]

"Anytime. Anyone with the last name Weasly is related to me." She said, thoughtfully. She grinned and let their hands part.

"Let's see, there's Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, they're twins, Ron and Josh...." She thought for a moment, "Oh and Percy, but he's a jerk." She laughed.