Girls Gotta Do What Girls Gotta Do
Chapter I - Ginny's Plan
It was the second day after the Quidditch World Cup and all that happened there. Yesterday, after returning to the Burrow, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had spent most of the day discussing the meaning of those events and had exhausted all points of view.
After breakfast, Hermione said she wanted to start reading one of the new text books Mrs. Weasley had picked up for her in Diagon Alley and she retreated to the sitting room. The twins disappeared up to their room and Mrs. Weasley set Ginny to work helping her cleaning up the kitchen and doing laundry. Ron suggested the he and Harry should get in a match or two of Wizard chess and they went back up to the bedroom they shared when Harry stayed at the Burrow.
At noon they all gathered in the kitchen to eat and as they talked at the table Ron said, "Harry, how are you at swimming? Last time you were here we never got the chance to go out to the pond; it's getting hot, let's go cool off this afternoon."
Harry had never been swimming before; his aunt and uncle never took him anywhere. He hesitated a second before admitting that to Ron. "Swimming," he said "I don't know; I've never been swimming; I don't know how to swim."
"What!" Ron said. "Well then we have to go. You'll love it; I'll teach you what you need to know and the pond's not so deep that you have to worry.
Mom, Harry and I are going down to the pond for a few hours; could you put some sandwiches and cold drinks in the hamper for us while we run upstairs to get towels."
"Certainly," Mrs. Weasley said "but maybe the others want to go to. Hermione, Ginny, I won't need anything done this afternoon; do you want me to put enough in for you to?"
Ginny said, "That would be fun." But Hermione shook her head; "No thanks Mrs. Weasley, I want to practice some of the new spells I read about this morning."
Ginny's face fell; but she didn't say anything.
George said, "Fred and I want to get started on our school work to." Actually they planned to work on a new gag item for the joke store they wanted to open; but they knew better than to tell their mother that.
Mrs. Weasley gave them a funny look and was going to say something about the twins never caring about school work before; but instead turned to the storage room to get the hamper.
After Ron and Harry went upstairs and Hermione went back to the sitting room, Ginny went up to her bedroom and laid back on the bed thinking. She had less than a week to get Harry to notice her before they all went back to school.
While Ginny was in her room thinking, Ron and Harry got to their room; Ron grabbed a couple of big old towels he kept for swimming.
Harry said, "Ron, I don't have a swimsuit; do you have an old one you can lend me."
"Swimsuit, you don't need a swimsuit Harry." Ron answered.
"What do wear to swim? "Harry said.
Ron looked at him with his mouth open and finally said, "What do you wear when you shower?"
Harry stared back and said, "But we shower in the boy's bath; we'll be outside swimming."
"So?" Ron said. "There's nobody around but us. In school you shower with me and all the other guys in the dorm walking in and out. You know Muggles can't come through the Burrow's protective wards so who do you think will see us.
We always swim starkers; since I'm old enough to remember."
"What will your parents say if they catch us?" Harry asked.
"Nothing," Ron said "I told you we always swim this way. Mom and dad know.
Harry shrugged and they went back to the kitchen, got the hamper with the drinks, and walked the quarter mile to the Weasley's pond.
The boys were gone; but Ginny was still on her bed thinking. She fell in love with Harry when she was only five after her brother Bill had read her the story 'The Boy Who Lived' for the first time. For years she had a Harry Potter doll and pretended it loved her back.
But then when Harry came to stay with them for the first time two summers ago she panicked and froze up. She couldn't even speak to him and would run from the room or do something stupid like that time she was trying to watch him at dinner and leaned her elbow into the butter dish.
But she was over that now; she had talked normally with him all during the time they were at the Quidditch World Cup. He was friendly to her; but she still felt it was only because she was Ron's little sister.
Since he saved her life in the Chamber of Secrets more than a year ago; she had hoped he might start to see her as a possible girlfriend. But his attitude toward her hadn't changed and she was getting desperate to attract his attention.
She knew she was only eleven and he was only twelve when he saved her life. She still had the body of a child then, and she knew most twelve year old boys weren't that interested in girls. But now she was thirteen and he was fourteen; almost adults. A fourteen year old boy should have begun to think about girls; but, beside being friendly with Hermione, Harry hadn't seemed to notice girls at all.
In school she watched him to see if he seemed to fancy a particular girl; but she never saw him do more than say a few words to any girl. She felt she still had a chance with him; but time could be running out. If he started to fancy some other girl this year, Ginny knew her dream of being Harry Potter's girlfriend might never come true.
Sure, she would see Harry at school in the common room and dining hall; but he was fourth year and she was third year. They would be in separate classes all day and she couldn't even ask him to study together because of that.
Now was her chance she thought. They saw each other every day while he was staying with her family; why didn't he notice her and how could she get him to?
She looked at herself the mirror and the first thing she thought was her breasts were too small. The other girls always said boys wanted girls with a big chest; and she noticed that the boys at school did seem to stare a lot at those girls. And she would look better if only she didn't have such bright red hair and those freckles all over her face.
But then she noticed her body had started to develop curves. She could see them now since she was only wearing a tee and shorts; but back in school with her school robe on, Harry wouldn't be able to see her shape. He had to notice her now. This required drastic action; and she knew she needed Hermione's help. But getting it required that she ask Hermione to do something very personal.
Ron and Harry were long gone by the time Ginny figured out exactly how to approach Hermione. She made up her mind and went down to the sitting room where Hermione was practicing the summoning charm, Accio.
"Hermione," she said interrupting the older girl's concentration; "we sort of have become friends over the past two years; would you tell me something; something personal. It's important to me."
Hermione stopped, sat down on the divan and said, "What is it Ginny?"
"Why did you come to the World Cup? You never showed much interest in Quidditch. I mean you went to all the matches at school and cheered for Harry and the house team but whenever we talked about professional Quidditch you showed no interest and went off to read."
Hermione bit her lip and said, "Well, who knows when I'll get a chance to see the world championship again." Then she quietly added, "And Ron did ask me to come."
Ginny got a little smirk on her face and said, "That's it isn't it; Ron asked you and you fancy him. I thought I noticed you did over the past year; but I wanted to be sure.
Hermione blushed and said, "Ginny, you can't tell him that, please. I'd died of embarrassment. He treats me the same as he does Harry, like another guy. I thought perhaps he asked me to the World Cup because he wanted say or do something to show me he fancies me to; but no luck."
Ginny said, "Don't worry, all this stays between us girls. I know how you feel because I feel the same about Harry.
I've always fancied him; and after he saved me in the Chamber of Secrets I thought for a while he might fancy me to. He put his arm around my waist as we walked out of the chamber and talked often to me all that week after. But at the start of last year he was back to ignoring me like he ignores all the other girls in the house; except you of course. You're the only girl he talks to on a regular basis.
I want him to notice me and I have less than a week to do it before we return to school. I need your help; and I promise if you do as I ask, you'll get Ron to notice you to. Will you help me?
What I need you to do might embarrass you. I don't know you well enough to say how much you would be embarrassed; but I'm desperate to get Harry to see me as something other than Ron's little sister so I'm asking you to please help me."
Hermione raised her eyebrows and said, "Tell me what you want first; then I'll decide. If what you want me to do is not totally dreadful, and if I think it will get Ron to fancy me, I'm in."
"Let's go swimming with the boys." Ginny said.
"I don't have a swimming suit with me; that's why I said no when your mother asked." Hermione said. "And I don't have any shorts or any summer things I can use. All I brought was my winter clothes for school; and your clothes are too small to fit me so that's out to."
Ginny bit her lip and slowly stammered out, "That's the embarrassing part; you won't need a swim suit."
Again Hermione raised her eyebrows and said, "What are you implying Ginny; that we swim starkers in front of the boys?"
"Exactly." Ginny said.
Hermione stood, shaking her head she said, "No, absolutely not. Ginny, how could you even think of doing that?" She pulled her wand to start practicing again when Ginny added, "Hear me out before you say no, please."
Hermione sat down again but said, "No matter what you say; I don't think I could do that Ginny; but I'll listen."
Ginny took a few second to think then said, "It may be hard for you to understand being from the city; but we're country folk. I've been swimming starkers with the boys since I can remember."
Hermione interrupted with, "That's different, they're your brothers; you grew up together. You didn't fancy them and they didn't fancy you. Besides, that was when you were young."
"You mean young like last week?" Ginny said. "Because Ron, Fred, George, and I were swimming starkers last week before you arrived. And I swam with a lot of their friends that way in the past few years"
Hermione drew in a deep breath but only whispered, "Do your parents know; what do they think about that?"
"Three summers ago, mom said I had to start wearing a swimsuit because I was getting older; especially when the twins' friends were visiting. And the boys are supposed to wear shorts to; but we never did and she never came out to check on us. I'm not sure if she trusts us to listen; or just doesn't want to know.
It's no big deal Hermione. I was always taught that the human body is not something to be ashamed of; after all, sex is just a normal part life. I grew up on a farm; I've seen cows, horses, and pigs mating as long as I can remember.
Not that any of us were thinking about sex as we were swimming. Well, actually the boys sometimes brought girls over to swim and couples sometimes disappeared into the bushes; but at least I never thought of sex while swimming, until maybe today."
"Ginny," Hermione said "you just turned thirteen; you're too young to have sex or even be thinking about sex."
"No I'm not too young!" Ginny insisted. "Besides I'm not saying we should go out swimming so we can have sex with the boys. I just think seeing us naked may get them to think of us as more than just another one of the guys like you said before.
If Harry sees me naked he might notice that I'm not a little girl anymore and change his attitude towards me. Please Hermione, I need you to distract Ron. If I go alone I won't be able to get Harry by himself.
You said you want to get Ron to notice you as a girl, right. Well, Ron's not too swift when it comes to girls; but even he can tell girl parts from boy parts when he sees them. He never brought a girl over to swim; but he's been swimming starkers with the girls that the other boys invited and I know he's given them a good looking at. This might be you're only chance with Ron like it's my only chance with Harry.
You've fancied Ron all year; now tell me honestly that you never thought of seeing Ron naked. I bet you wonder how big his Willy is, don't you?"
Hermione's face got bright red and she stammered as she said, "But what if they want more after they see us naked? Boys can get excited over sex pretty easily. When my mother gave me my sex talk she warned me to be careful not to lead a boy on because boys can't always stop themselves when they get like that."
"You've know Ron for three years;" Ginny said "do you honestly think he would force you into having sex? He might, maybe, work up enough courage to do it if you gave him a sign you wanted to; but it would have to be a strong sign like dragging him naked into the bushes. Even then you'd probably have to jump on him."
"What about you and Harry?" Hermione asked.
"He's like Ron;" Ginny said "I'd have to climb on him and pin him down; and then he'd probably be too shy to start anything."
Hermione sat there for a minute saying nothing and Ginny knew she wanted to do it. All she needed was a little push to make her say yes.
Ginny said, "The boys are out there now, starkers, swimming around; if we wait too long they'll be coming back before we get out there. Let's go down to the pond; come and give it a shot. If you change your mind and you don't want to do it; just sit on the blanket and keep your clothes on."
That last sentence did it; Hermione stood up and said, "Alright, let's go! Do we need to take anything with us?"
"No," Ginny said "we have everything we need to get their attention right under our clothes."
When the boys reached the pond, Ron quickly striped down and Harry followed suit. Ron said, "The family claims my great-grandfather had this pond dug out from what was a swamp. He had dozens of cows and horses and it was made for them to drink out of.
We only have a few cows and only four horses now; so we keep them in pens and they get watered from the well.
The deep end over by those trees on the far side is about twelve feet. See that rope hanging from the biggest tree; you can swing out from shore and dive in off it. There are springs that bubble up from the bottom and keep the water a little cold, but also clean and fresh.
First, let's see if you can swim in the shallow area. The bottom is gravelly and feels funny on your feet at first; but you'll get used to it."
Harry had seen people swim in movies on his aunt's telly and knew basically that you reach your arm ahead, grab a hand full of water, and pull it back to you. And of course keep your head above the water.
He waded out waist deep before leaning forward and starting to paddle with his arms and kick his feet. In fifteen minutes, with a couple of tips from Ron, Harry was getting himself around the pond respectably. Thinking he was ready, Ron said, "Alright Harry, let's swim to the far side and try the rope swing."
Three years of Quidditch workouts kept Harry in better shape than Ron, and though Ron had better technique, it was a close race to the far shore.
Ron climbed the bank, unhooked the rope from where it was tied, and said," Just walk backward a few steps, lift your feet and it will carry you out over the water. Don't forget to let go or you'll swing back to shore and maybe smack the tree."
Ron did just what he had explained; but when he let go he flipped over before hitting the water. When he came to the surface he yelled to Harry, "Don't try the flip the first time; just let go and let your feet hit the water."
Harry did as Ron said; but in mid-air he somehow twisted and landed flat on his stomach making a tremendous splash. Ron was laughing hysterically when Harry got to the surface.
They continued using the swing for a half hour and Harry got better at the landings. They were standing chest deep in the water when they heard a voice yell, "Hi guys, it was getting hot in the house so we thought we'd join you."