✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

Ginny was watching her movies that seemed so uninteresting. She glanced at the door from time to time for the older girl, hoping to see her come through that door anytime, but she wasn't there. Amanda wasn't coming home. She did want to go to the Auror's office again and check if she was there, but she thought Amanda might come home unlike what she did the previous day, and so, Ginny decided to wait for her roommate the whole day.

The room felt so empty despite the sounds coming from the television. Ginny tried to focus her attention on the movie, but her thoughts kept on drifting to Amanda Lewis. She was worried about her, maybe, something happened to Amanda, but she remembered Amanda was one of the best Aurors. She was probably fine.

But amongst everything, Ginny missed Amanda. She missed how Amanda would be lying down on the floor while reading her book, muttering under her breath the quotes she loved from the book and insulting Ginny's movies. She just missed the mere presence of the older girl. Knowing she wasn't there left an emptiness in Ginny that she couldn't fill no matter how many movies she watched.

Ginny glanced up at their clock and saw that it was already 9 in the evening, but Amanda was still not home. It had been more than a day since she had last seen her, and Ginny hated the feeling. She sighed frustratedly before standing up. Just as she was about to enter her room, she heard a faint sound from the door. She glanced at it before sighing and opening the door. It was probably her imagination due to the fact that she hadn't gotten much sleep.

Then, there were knocks again. This time, they were louder and more hurried. Ginny ran to the door, thinking that it was probably Amanda.

"Ada- Eliza, Hermione? What are you two doing with –" Ginny's eyes widened when she saw the couple with her roommate. She frowned when she saw Amanda was being carried by the two girls. "Is she drunk?"

"Well, she's not tipsy anymore." Eliza groaned and gave Amanda another heave. "Let us throw her on the couch, eh Gin?"

"Oh, right." Ginny moved out of the way and Eliza and Hermione walked quickly to the couch and put Amanda down while groaning. Their muscles were completely sore from carrying their friend.

"Bloody hell, that Auror training may have made her stronger, but it made her heavier too." Eliza muttered under her breath and stretched her arms.

Ginny was about to say something when there was a sudden giggle. She looked down at the couch and saw Amanda giggling giddily with red cheeks. She turned to Eliza and Hermione with a raised eyebrow, wondering what happened to Amanda. Eliza and Hermione did not know what to say as they exchanged panicked looks.

Hermione cleared her throat. "She just wanted to drink."

"We just... We just came so someone would come with her." Eliza let out a sigh as she looked at her best friend who was still giggling uncontrollably at who knows what.

Ginny frowned and looked at her roommate with concern. "She knows she can't drink too much. Her limit's a glass. She knows it."

Eliza and Hermione just frowned because they knew Amanda did not like drinking that much. They were both surprised when Amanda turned up at their flat and offered to have a drink. They all knew that a glass was her limit, but they just let her drink, their hearts hurting for the usually composed Auror.

"We know that too, Ginny, but Amanda just needed to let off some –" Eliza bit the inside of her cheek when Hermione stepped on her foot. She glared at her fiancée but her eyes softened when she saw Hermione looking at the now quiet Amanda.

"We're not really sure. I mean, we too were surprised by her sudden offer." Eliza looked at her best friend with concern. "All we know is she wasn't like she usually was. She's quiet, but she was just too quiet since yesterday. It was not the Amanda I know." She paused and looked at Ginny this time. "I just miss my best friend, I miss Amanda. I just want everything to go back to the way it was." She looked to her side and saw Hermione looking down at the floor without a word.

Ginny sighed and she was about to say something in response when hands suddenly cupped her face and next thing she knew, she was looking into the warm chocolate brown eyes of her roommate. Amanda grinned at her and squished Ginny's cheeks.

"Ada!" Ginny protested, trying to take off the older girl's hold, but her grip was too strong.

"Our Gin Gin is here! Eli! Gin Gin is here. Gin Gin, why do you look like a Pygmy Puff today? You're fluffy! Like Arnold!" Amanda giggled again before leaning in. Ginny closed her eyes, but she was surprised when she heard the sound of someone sniffing. She opened her eyes to see Amanda sniffing her. "Why do you smell so good, Gin Gin? I like the smell." Ginny's cheeks turned as red as her hair at her roommate's comment.

"Ada, stop that. You're going to bruise Ginny's face." Eliza walked around them and pulled Amanda away from Ginny who rubbed her hurting cheeks.

"Look, there's an angry hamster here! Or maybe a rat." Amanda gasped and pointed at Eliza who sighed and rubbed her head.

Eliza glared at her best friend. "Ada, I'm not a rat. And stop that, you should sleep now and –"

"Angry Hamster, I feel sick." Amanda covered her mouth with her hand.

"Let's go, quick." Eliza said quickly before pulling Amanda to her feet and into the bathroom. She pulled the Auror's hair back as Amanda puked. When Amanda finished vomiting, Eliza reached behind her and wiped Amanda's mouth with the tissue. "Oh, Ada. Come on and brush your teeth."

"Can you do it for me?" Amanda said weakly with a pout on her face.

"You big baby." Eliza muttered under her breath with a soft smile on her face. "Say ah." As she brushed Amanda's teeth, she couldn't help the worry that rose in her. She hoped her best friend would be all right. She wasn't just thinking about this day. She was thinking about the whole deal.

Ginny stared at the door of the bathroom where Amanda and Eliza were, worried for her roommate. A tap on her shoulder made her look away from the bathroom and she turned to see Hermione glaring at her.

"Why haven't you stopped the deal yet?" Hermione asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"I did try stopping it, but before I could stop it, she cut me off." Ginny held her head in her hands while sighing. "She wouldn't listen when I was trying to stop it, and I waited for her today and yesterday, but she never came back. I even went to the Ministry, but she wasn't there. I tried everything, Hermione, but Amanda doesn't want to." Ginny frowned at the memory of the past days. She should have just rushed into the Auror office and forced Amanda to talk to her.

"But you know Amanda, Ginny." Hermione said, the frustration evident in her tone. "You know Amanda isn't the type of person to stop because she sees everything to the end. She won't stop just because you try to tell her."

Ginny lifted her head, and her eyes widened when she saw how intense Hermione's glare was and how angry she looked. She saw Hermione glare like that at Ron and Draco Malfoy, but she never thought she would be experiencing that piercing glare of Hermione's.

Just as Ginny was about to speak, Amanda and Eliza came out of the bathroom. Eliza carried Amanda to the couch and lay her down with her head near Ginny. Eliza looked at Ginny. "I can stay here to help if you need it. Amanda's a pain when she's drunk.

"I have a shift tomorrow night, love, so I won't be able to help." Hermione frowned and looked at Eliza apologetically. Eliza just smiled at her.

Ginny shook her head and smiled at the couple. "I'll be fine here. You two should get some rest. Thank you for bringing her home."

"Are you sure?" Eliza said worriedly while looking at her sleeping best friend.

"I'll take care of her, Eliza." Ginny smiled gently at her.

Eliza hesitated before smiling back at Ginny. "Give her a talking for me, will you?"

"I will." Ginny chuckled before looking at Hermione who was looking at her with worry in her eyes.

"Take care. The both of you." Hermione smiled at the younger Gryffindor and hugged her quickly. "Good night."

"Good night, Ginny." Eliza took Hermione's hand and the two of them Disapparated out of the flat.

Ginny looked back at Amanda who was letting out quiet snores. Ginny reached a hand out to tuck in a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. She let out a sigh before she wrapped an arm around the Ravenclaw and lifted her up. She cursed under her breath when she realized that Amanda was really as heavy as Eliza said.

After an immense amount of effort, Ginny managed to bring Amanda to her room and she gently put down the girl on the bed. Ginny took comfortable clothes out of Amanda's drawers and looked down at the girl with uncertainty on how she should change her.

After all, it was the first time Ginny was taking care of a drunk Amanda because Amanda knew her limits in drinking and she never went past that limit... until now. Ginny changed her clothes quickly. It was hard since she only glanced at Amanda's body from time to time and tried her best not to, but she managed to change her clothes successfully.

Ginny tucked the girl in then she smiled softly at Amanda. She stood up and turned around when a hand clasped around her wrist and pulled her down. Ginny yelped as she sat on the bed. She looked behind her and felt Amanda's grip on her wrist move to her waist. Amanda sat up quickly and cupped Ginny's face, caressing her cheeks gently. The way Amanda looked at her made Ginny think for a moment that her roommate wasn't drunk. Amanda smiled softly before leaning in closer to Ginny.

"I've seen so many girls tonight, but you were still the one on my mind." Amanda whispered while looking into Ginny's brown eyes. "And I've kissed so many lips tonight." Amanda's words made Ginny feel a sudden drop in her stomach. A feeling she felt once when she learned that Harry was with Jason. Why was she feeling jealous when Amanda kissed someone else?

"But not one of those kisses could compare to the ones we shared. The kisses with you were the only ones that could make me fall over and over again." Amanda let her thumb brush Ginny's lips. Ginny could hear the loud beating of her heart at the look in Amanda's eyes. They held nothing but the intensity of feelings Amanda had for Ginny. Amanda caressed Ginny's cheeks once more before leaning in slowly. When she felt Amanda's breath hit her face, Ginny's eyes fluttered shut. She knew it would take only one move for their lips to touch.

Amanda leaned her forehead against Ginny's. She whispered in a soft voice. "Just let me love you. For these last 9 days, let me love you, and I will be fine. All I want is to love you. That's all I ask of you, Ginny, and I don't need anything more." Ginny knew that Amanda was holding back her tears by the sound of her voice, but she did not know what to feel. She did not know what to say. The sound of Amanda Lewis pleading was something that made Ginny's heart break.

Amanda brought her hands down and leaned back when suddenly, Ginny grabbed her by the neck and made Amanda's eyes lock with hers. "I'm not going to answer that because you're such a stubborn git that you don't listen to what I ask you to do." The memories of the past 11 days she had with Amanda came back to her, and she made a decision then. She leaned closer to Amanda.

"Let's let our minds shut down and our hearts speak for us tonight." And she made the last move to kiss Amanda who kissed her back just as softly. She felt Amanda's fingers run through her hair before settling at her neck and pulling Ginny closer. She felt Amanda's hand grab hers and their fingers intertwining. Amanda pulled her closer. It was like the Ravenclaw thought she would lose Ginny if she let go of her. Their kiss had everything they had been holding in. Everything words could not express was poured into that single kiss. All their emotions delivered.

Ginny pulled away slowly with tears running down her face at how Amanda's face was still wet with her tears. She hated seeing Amanda like that. She knew Amanda was strong, she was so strong she became the anchor for everyone who was breaking even if she herself was breaking too, but the fact that she was causing this pain of Amanda's was hurting her even more.

"Why..." Ginny's voice got caught in her throat due to the emotions she had been feeling. "Why do you want to continue this deal? I've hurt you so much already. How can you still look at me like that and love me?" Ginny held onto the older girl tight and cried her heart out. For her and for the breaking girl in front of her.

Amanda started patting Ginny's back and whispered softly. "I can't help it. I've fallen in love with you over and over again." Before she surrendered to the inviting offer of sleep, she mumbled under her breath. "You have me as long as you need me, Gin. Every step of the way." The emotional evening and the firewhiskey caught up to Amanda, and her eyes closed.

Ginny wiped away her tears and slowly set down the Ravenclaw on her bed. She kissed Amanda on the forehead before going out of Amanda's room and into her own. She just lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. She remembered her conversation with Hermione during the 7th day of her deal with Amanda.

"What is happening to you?" Hermione asked her with wide eyes. Ginny knew she was talking about the deal, but she didn't know what to answer either. "And from the looks of it, you don't know what's going on as well." She stared at the quiet Ginny with a frown on her face. "Ginny?"

"I don't know, Hermione." Ginny sighed out of frustration and leaned against the wall.

Hermione's eyes softened and she held the younger girl's hand while brushing a thumb over her knuckles. "Ginny, this is not good. Are you feeling something for Amanda?"

"I... I really don't know, Hermione." Ginny rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. Not even she knew what she felt for her roommate. All she knew was that she was thankful Amanda was always there for her, but she just couldn't understand the other feelings that came with it. All of it just made Ginny even more confused.

"You have to find out, Ginny." Hermione muttered with worry. "Amanda is a friend of mine as well, and I don't want to see her broken because of this deal. She's too deeply in love for you, Gin." But what Hermione did not say was the thought that lingered in her mind. 'And the same goes for you.'

Ginny opened her mouth to answer, but she closed it again because as much as she wanted to answer Hermione, nothing came out of her mouth. She couldn't answer the older girl. She didn't have an answer for her.

"Gin, she loves you so much that she does everything for you, not caring if she herself gets hurt in the process. She's that selfless. Yes, she's selfless to everyone, but it's different with you." Hermione looked at her, raising an eyebrow when Ginny still didn't answer.

Ginny tried to answer again, just to say anything, but as if someone sewed her mouth shut, she couldn't say anything. It made her frustrated how she couldn't answer a simple question like that, but as simple as it seemed, it was actually the most complicated question someone ever asked her.

"Just please don't take Ada for granted. Do something to stop this deal." Hermione said pleadingly. "You're my friend, Ginny, but Amanda is my friend too. I'm sorry." With one last smile at Ginny, Hermione walked out of the comfort room, leaving a surprised and confused Ginny. Ginny let out a sigh before splashing some water on her face and taking a deep breath. She checked herself in the mirror before going out to meet with Hermione and exchanging glances with her fellow Gryffindor when they sat with Amanda and Eliza.

Ginny stared out the window and sighed at the memories of Hermione's advice and her moment with Amanda just a few minutes ago. Amanda did always treat her differently from the others. Ginny frowned at the thought that she could be taking her roommate for granted. She remembered how Amanda was always there for her. She was always so understanding, so kind and so caring.

"You have me as long as you need me, Gin. Every step of the way." Those words comforted Ginny a lot, knowing she always had the girl by her side, but it also hurt her so bad. The fact that Amanda thought that she would be there for Ginny as long as the Chaser would need her hurt her so bad. Amanda deserved so much more. She didn't deserve to be an option. She deserved to be a priority. And the fact that Ginny was taking Amanda for granted hurt her even more. 

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼