Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've been on here last... so my writing's just a little bit rusty. However, I was sitting in history class on my birthday imagining this crazy scenario where I could take off into this alternate universe... yeah, I have a pretty strange imagination. :P But then I kind of transferred that idea into this story!

So the first chapter's a bit long, but I needed something a bit more normal before the confusion starts! :P Haha, the next chapter will contain the alternate universe Ginny finds herself in, so hang tight!

I hope you all enjoy it! :D Remember to review and let me know if you have any suggestions or anything!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything from the series. Only my ideas!

"The stars look like they're dancing!" my 5-year-old voice rang out into the night.

I looked up to the skies, my big brother Bill laughing. I always loved these brother-sister moments I spent with him. Once a week he would take our servings of dinner Mum made and bring them out to the backyard while we sat by the stream, enjoying the quiet nights away from the chaos indoors. Even on December nights like this, when it was nearly freezing outside.

"They do," Bill laughed at my enthusiasm. A small gust of wind blew hair across my face, obscuring my vision of the stars. I reached up to brush my bangs out of the way, and Bill helped me tie my hair back to the messy pigtails that I loved. I giggled at the way his face scrunched up, trying to deal with my mass of red hair.

"Buttercup, when will you ever cut your hair?" Bill tutted. I absolutely loved his nickname for me. He tells me it's because he wanted to do something special when he first met me when I was born, and picked me a handful of buttercups. He told me I kicked around excitedly at the sight of them, so the name stuck.

I squealed my disagreement. "I could ask you the same question!" I reached up to flick some of his hair, now growing toward his shoulders. "Mum doesn't think it's proper for boys to have long hair like that."

"I know what Mum thinks, Gin," Bill replied. "But I think-"

"It makes you unique, I know," I smiled. "Well I like it!"

"That's why you're my favorite," he wrapped me in a hug. I sighed, thinking about those long school years where he got to go to Hogwarts, and I didn't. I frowned.

"Bill?"

"Yes, Buttercup?"

"Can't I go back to Hogwarts with you?" I asked, knowing their Christmas break would be over soon.

"Ginny, you know as much as I would love to, I can't take you."

"But I was thinking… What if I scrunched up really small and hid in your trunk? I could take a sandwich so I won't be hungry, and I'll make sure I take a bathroom break before we leave-"

Bill was laughing.

"What?" I said, slightly upset. "I'm serious, Bill!"

"I'm sorry Ginny, but Mum is too bright to be fooled by that. Especially since you've already tried it before!"

"I was hoping she'd forget about that," I crossed my arms, looking in the other direction. Bill lifted me to sit in his lap, while he sighed.

"Oh Ginny, you'll get your chance soon enough," he pressed his lips to my head. "Just be patient."

"I'm trying," I complied.

A small petal made its way over in the breeze. Bill slightly frowned, and set me down on the grass.

"I have to go, Ginny," he stood up.

"What?" I felt confused. He'd never left me in the middle of our 'talk time' as I used to call it.

"I'm sorry," Bill looked around. "Tell Mum I'll be back soon."

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Just around," he said. "It's nothing to worry about. I'll be back before you go to bed."

"Can I come with you?"

"Sorry, Ginny, but I can't take you yet."

Yet? What did he mean? What was so important that he had to interrupt the time he spent with me?

"But, Bill-" I started.

"You'll have your opportunity in time, I can tell you that," Bill looked at me. "Besides, it's getting cold out here. Why don't you run inside and drink some cocoa?"

I huffed, wanting to argue my way alongside of him, but I knew it was useless.

"Promise you'll say goodnight when you come home?" I pouted.

"Promise," Bill smiled and kissed my head one more time.

I ran toward the house, leaving him to that promise. By the time I reached the door and turned around to wave to him, he was already gone. I sat with the rest of my family inside by the fireplace, drinking cocoa and telling stories. After we finished our last sips, Mum sent me up to bed. I tried to stay awake until Bill came in, but my eyelids were drooping more than I could handle. Just as I was closing my eyes, I faintly heard the door open and something was placed on the foot of my bed, before I smelled the familiar scent of his clothes mixed with pine needles. Another kiss was planted on my forehead, and I fell fast asleep…

I woke with a start, not exactly knowing why I jumped. I was only dreaming of my time with my favorite brother… The same dream that's been popping up for almost a week now. It had only been a memory before it started creeping into my nights' rest. I didn't know why it kept showing up… It didn't seem that important to me, except that that night was the first time Bill cut out on our 'talk time' and disappeared. After that night, he tended to do that a lot.

I sighed and sat up in bed, searching through my mind to remember what day it is- my morning routine.

It's still summer holiday… We'll be going back to Hogwarts soon… August, that's right… the 10th? No, that was yesterday… the 11th…. The 11th of August…

A surge of joy spread through my stomach.

My birthday! Of course!

I jumped off my bed, with a little extra spring in my step. Right when I stood on my cool, wooden floor, a bucket of some kind of fluffy milk dropped onto my head.

What the-?

I heard snickering coming from outside my window. My good mood immediately shattered, I stomped over to it and thrust open the shutters, smacking George in the face as it swung out. (Fred's amazingly quick reflexes helped him duck out of the way just in time.)

"Woah, there Ginevra!" George shrieked while he swayed on the ladder holding him up.

"Don't call me that, and what-" I started.

"Hey, no need to be sour," Fred retorted.

"Actually, I think she's rather…" George reached out and stole a finger-lick of the milky stuff off my nose. "Sweet. Wouldn't you say so, Fred?"

"Do you care to tell me what this stuff covering every inch of my body is?" I half-yelled at him.

"A muggle topping called 'whipped cream'. It comes in handy for some sugary pranking!" George winked.

"Oh of course, George," Fred chuckled. "It just needs one more thing."

Before I could protest (or realize anything for that matter), Fred pulled a small cherry from his pocket and stuck it to my nose, right above the spot George wiped off.

"Stop it!" I shouted, not even saying half the things I wanted to at the moment. I started trying to swat away the cherry, but didn't get far before Fred pulled out a camera and snapped a picture. I froze, horrified at how humiliating all of this was. I reached out the window to snatch the camera from my brother, but just before my hand could reach him, he disapparated. I felt a sickening amount of frustration boiling inside of me, and had to do all I could to keep from screaming at them. My head snapped toward George on the opposite side of the window.

"Happy birthday, Ginny… I'd best be off now," George said with a hint of fear in his voice. He barely had time to complete his thought before he too disapparated.

I slammed the shutters on my window close and turned around to see a pool of whipped cream on the floor and making another blanket of it on my bed. I released an angry sigh. Really? On my birthday? How am I supposed to get rid of this stuff? I'm not of age yet, so I can't just magic it away.

I shuffled through the puddle, and prodded at the whipped cream sitting on my covers. I licked my finger, and nodded at the sweet flavor.

Under normal circumstances, I would have loved to try out a new muggle sweet! On the other hand, it was used against me. Normally I give the twins credit for the pranks they pull… even if I get a little mad. Okay. Sometimes a LOT... but today's not a normal day. At least not for me. Today's the day I turn 16! It should be special, NOT meaning being pranked first thing in the morning.

I closed my eyes and took a breath, calming my irritation down and thinking about how happy I felt when I realized it was my birthday. Besides, I couldn't help but smile at George's frightened expression when he saw how angry I was getting. I find it absolutely hilarious how much I can scare my brothers sometimes. I admit I do have a temper (although I'd never say that out loud), and little things set me off. Believe me, I love pranking others. But as soon as it gets turned around on me instead… things aren't pretty.

I walked over to my closet, determined to make a new and better start to my day. I opened the doors to find a card flutter to the ground. Wondering how it got there, I picked it up. I recognized the handwriting immediately.

"Bill!" I gasped, accidentally saying it out loud. I ripped open the letter and started to read.

Ginny,

Happy birthday Buttercup. I told Mum and Dad to put this somewhere you'll see it, and hopefully they did. One thing I will ask you to do is to keep this to yourself. I wouldn't want anyone else knowing about my little secret, now, would I?

When I turned 16, I woke up to hear a faint squeaking noise on my window (which is now your bedroom window), so I got up to take a better look. Something was being written in the fog on the window, and whoever was writing it was invisible. The words written were, "Follow me." At the tip of the 'e', a golden droplet started rolling down the window until I couldn't see it anymore.

I was curious as to whether this was a prank or not, but I quickly ran down the stairs and out to the backyard to see if it was still there. I spotted it just as it hit the ground, and it transformed into a buttercup petal (strange, considering that's my nickname for you). I debated turning back inside, but my curiosity got the better of me.

A breeze picked up the petal and sent it tumbling through the grass and to the edge of the yard right through the trees. I stumbled trying to keep up with it when it led me to some kind of alternate world. I won't go into detail since this letter is long enough already… I'll just let you see for yourself.

Just know that that was where I always disappeared off to when I needed space before I moved out… I know you were upset and curious, and so was the rest of the family. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about it, or else my secret hideaway wouldn't be secret anymore.

Since (according to this sort of 'prophecy' I was reluctant to believe at first) you'll have access now, I can finally tell someone. However, I strongly encourage you to keep the secret. You'll find that some space will really come in handy around here.

Love you Buttercup, and I hope to see you soon.

Bill

I read and reread the letter, not believing what was written. Some kind of alternate world? And in the forest right outside our backyard? It didn't seem possible.

Anyway, Bill never really opens up to anyone like that. Sometimes not even to me. I have to weasel stuff out of him most of the time!

I closed my mouth, not realizing it had been hanging open. I folded the paper back up and carefully stuffed it back in its envelope. I unlocked my one locking drawer in my room, and placed it inside. I definitely didn't want this falling into anyone else's hands.

As soon as I make sure it was locked safely in my drawer, I went back to my closet and pulled out my favorite golden floral sundress. I always have it hanging up in my closet for special occasions… and my birthday absolutely falls into that category. I quickly got dressed and brushed my now almost waist-length red hair, and I slipped a pair of matching gold ballet flats on. I grabbed a small, pale gold locket necklace (which also held the key to my drawer) and put it on to complete my outfit. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.

"Beautiful as always, sweetie!" it approved.

"Thanks!" I smiled, and left the room.

The second I stepped into the hallway, I smelled my favorite breakfast cooking downstairs. The scent of fresh bacon, waffles, and hot cocoa lingered in the air. Not 10 seconds after I closed my bedroom door, something collided with me, nearly knocking me to the floor.

"Merlin! You don't need to run me over!" I smiled at the mess of red hair in front of my face.

"Happy birthday, Ginny!" Ron released me from his iron grasp. "It's not every day your little sister turns 16!"

I was a little surprised at this random act of brotherly love.

"Since when does it matter that much to you?" I giggled.

"What?" Ron's expression changed. "Do you mean I can't say happy birthday to my favorite sister?"

"Favorite sister?!" I laughed. "I'm only your favorite because I'm your only sister!" I jokingly whacked him on the arm.

"But if I had another, you'd still be my favorite!" Ron winked.

"Right," I shook my head, smiling.

He turned around, and I immediately jumped onto his back like I used to do 10 years ago.

"Oof!" Ron grunted. "Wow, Gin. You're not as light as you used to be… I think it's time to lay off the sweets."

"Shut up!" I whacked him again, this time on the head.

"Watch it, Gin! I'm only kidding!" Ron squeaked, almost falling down the stairs.

"You better be," I responded as he started running down the stairs, Mum scolding us the whole time.

"RON!" she screamed. "You could have gotten the both of you injured! It might have been a good idea when you were six, but CERTAINLY not now! This is the LAST time I want to have to tell you, you hear me?!"

"Relax, Mum! I'm careful!" Ron set me down. My mom huffed at him and then turned to me and smiled.

"Ginny, dear," she enveloped me in a rib-crushing hug. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!"

"Thanks Mum," I choked out, trying my hardest to breathe. She finally released me.

"You got Bill's letter?" she asked.

"Yes." I was really hoping she hadn't read it.

"And what did he say?" she smiled curiously.

"Um… just that he wished he could be here to give me my card in person… and happy birthday, of course," I lied, hoping I sounded convincing. Luckily I didn't have to be, because my dad walked into the room right at that moment.

"Oh, there's my little angel!" he said while stuffing a chocolate muffin in his mouth. I felt my own mouth widen with surprise and excitement.

"How did you-?" I started.

I had tried chocolate muffins once before. My friend, Skyler, that I met at Hogwarts my first year, is a muggle-born. On our first train ride to Hogwarts, she gave me a chocolate muffin claiming that her mom said it was a sure way to make a new friend. We are best friends now (not just because of the muffin). I wanted to invite her to spend some of the summer holiday with us, but she was busy visiting her cousins in America.

"Hermione helped me find the recipe in her mom's muggle cookbook," she laughed at my reaction.

"Hermione did?" I asked.

"Yeah, she just arrived this morning, right after Harry," she explained as though I should have known.

"When were you going to tell me this?" I questioned her.

"I didn't tell you?" she asked, surprised. I shook my head in response. "Oh… well surprise then!"

"Thanks, Mum," I rolled my eyes.

"Well, you'd better go get those muffins before your brothers do!" she laughed. I barely let her finish before I sprinted into the kitchen. Ron was hovered over a plate of muffins that hadn't yet been brought to the table.

"Ron," I stepped toward him threateningly. "Step away from the plate."

"Why?" Ron looked up, a ring of chocolate surrounding his mouth. "Looks like you've already had your fill of sweets this morning," he smiled, pointing at the wall behind me.

"What? My fill of sweets?"

I looked toward where he was pointing and saw the picture that Fred took this morning, along with the caption: 'You're just as fun to tease now as you were back then'. With a, 'Happy Birthday, little sis' scribbled at the bottom. I tore the picture off the wall just to see another one appear to take its place.

"I'm going to kill Fred and George!" I yelled in exasperation.

"Ah, sibling love," a new voice entered the room. I wheeled around to see Hermione smiling at me. She stood in the doorframe for a second before running over to give me a hug, revealing Harry standing behind her, now in the doorframe.

"Don't let them get to you," she whispered. She pulled away, still grabbing my arms and said louder, "You look so beautiful Ginny! That color really suits you."

"Thanks," I looked around feeling a bit embarrassed, and caught Harry staring at me too for a split second. I finally settled on just looking down, since I was feeling the familiar rush of warmth rising in my cheeks.

"Hey, what about me?" Ron butted in, looking offended that Hermione hadn't greeted him.

"I'm sure you're very beautiful too, Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron's face reddened and Harry and I laughed.

"I didn't mean it that way…" Ron mumbled. Hermione joined us laughing, when someone else entered the room.

"Aww, look at this," Fred smiled.

"Ickle Ronnie and Ginevra are starting to match their hair!" George laughed from right behind him.

"You-" I started, remembering the picture and thinking of them teasing me about Harry, yet again. My face reddened even more with embarrassment and anger. Before I really knew what I was doing, a terrified-looking Harry jumped out of my way just in time to avoid being trampled.

"Time to go!" Fred addressed the others.

"Right behind you, Fred!" George turned and followed behind.

Fred and George ran for it, snickering all the while. They escaped through the back door leading to the yard, and I slammed the door for good measure. I let out a huff and turned back to the kitchen. Three surprised, frozen faces stared back at me.

"That was bloody brilliant, Ginny!" Ron mused. "A bit frightening… but I've never seen those two run so fast."

I gave a little laugh, picturing the scene from another perspective. Both Harry's and Hermione's faces looked a little more relieved, since they were out of what my brothers call the "wrath of Ginny."

"I'm just fed up with them pranking me all the time. They need a taste of their own medicine! Just how to do it…" I thought aloud.

"Merlin, Gin," Harry shook his head. "I would hate to see them prank you next year… you'll be able to use your wand then!"

"Let that be a lesson to all of you," I jokingly pointed a finger at them all. There was a chorus of laughter in response.

Then, my mom sauntered into the kitchen.

"Well are you all going to eat or not? I made this food for a reason!" she smiled warmly.

Ron and I immediately snapped our heads toward each other, a knowing look in both of our eyes. I made a dash for the muffins, but Ron had a head start since he was standing right next to the plate. He saw me charge toward him, and he grabbed the plate and tried to run, but before he could, I pinned him to the kitchen floor.

"Harry, take them!" Ron shouted the best he could with my knee jabbing into his lungs.

Harry lunged and grabbed the plate. Still pinning Ron to the ground I reached out and seized his ankle, tripping him and flipping myself onto his back, causing him to face plant onto the ground next to Ron.

"Didn't I warn you not to mess with me?" I smirked at him. He turned his head to look at me, and returned my smirk with a mischievous smile. This can't be good. I may have been pinning Harry to the floor, but Ron was free to stand up before I noticed. Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket.

"Hey," I shifted slightly, starting to feel nervous. "That's not fair! You know I'm underage!"

Ron pulled his wand out too, and I hastily stood up and started to back away… which was a mistake on my part because now Harry was getting up too.

"C'mon guys," I pleaded. "You can't attack a defenseless girl!"

I tried to put oh my best innocent smile despite my trying to desperately find a way around this situation.

Harry started to lower his wand, but Ron shot him a look as if asking 'Are you really going to buy that?' And Harry looked back at me.

"Hmm," Ron said, advancing towards me. "What should we do to her?"

"I dunno," Harry followed smoothly alongside of Ron. "She DID pin us both to the floor… she's going to have to pay for that somehow."

"I-I'm not scared of you," I tried, but even I wasn't convinced of what I said. Darn it. How does a girl get out of this situation?

"Who are you fooling, Gin?" Ron smiled more maliciously. The two of them continued to step forward while I stepped back. "You have no escape!"

I shot a desperate look at Hermione, who just stood there watching and laughing.

"You're under our mercy now," Ron continued.

I hit the wall behind me.

"NEVER!" I let out my war cry and attempted to barrel through the boys in front of me. Ron was caught off guard, but Harry's seeker reflexes helped him move. He stuck out his arm just in time to catch me around the waist and stop me from getting away. A second later, Ron grabbed my shoulders.

"You're not getting away that easily!" Harry grunted, still holding me back.

I succeeded in knocking Ron's wand from his hand, and sent it rolling across the kitchen to Hermione's feet.

"Hermione! Help me!" I yelled. She only laughed and shook her head.

"Sorry, but I'm not getting involved. You're on your own there," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Toss me my wand?" Ron asked her hopefully.

"No, Ron, I just said I'm not getting involved!" She scolded him.

"But Hermione," Ron whined. Hermione only put her foot down on his wand to prove her point.

Without thinking it through, Ron released my shoulders to try his best to get his wand back from under Hermione's foot.

I smiled knowing that I'd only have to get past Harry now. Harry saw my smile and he yelled for Ron, but before either of them could do anything, I spun out of Harry's grasp and sprinted toward the door.

"Oh no you don't-" Ron lunged at me, but I leapt out of his way just in time and successfully made it out the back door. I let the door swing shut behind me and ran to the opposite side of the yard before I collapsed on the grass, panting.

I couldn't hold it in anymore, and started laughing. I rolled onto my side to catch my breath and saw a small buttercup petal resting about a foot from my face. I suddenly remembered Bill's letter as the petal started to move. I watched it tumble gracefully through the long grass.

I wondered if this was the same kind of petal that led Bill into the alternate universe in his letter. I sat up curiously to keep an eye on it. After it travelled a few more feet, I stood all the way up and chased after it.

The wind picked it up and soon I was sprinting to keep up with it. After running down the small hill and around the lake in our backyard, I found it resting peacefully on the grass right outside the entrance to the woods.

I glanced up from the petal and could've sworn I saw movement in between the trees. I hesitated for a second and turned my gaze back to the house. They won't miss me for half an hour, will they? I was just too intrigued by the whole idea of an alternate universe, according to Bill.

I stepped through the first row of trees and indeed saw someone half hidden by the shrubs.

"Hello?" I called out.

The person froze, still staring in my direction.

"Are you all right?" I took a few paces toward him. "Do you need help?"

The guy came out from behind the tree. I saw his face and gasped.

"Fred, come on! Quit messing around with me! I thought it was someone else," I scolded, disappointedly.

His face became slightly confused.

"Oh, sorry George," I inwardly smacked myself for mixing them up. "It's an honest mistake when you're half hidden in trees, anyway."

He glanced around his as if not knowing who I was addressing.

"Oh, honestly," I rolled my eyes at his behavior and started walking towards him.

He suddenly looked surprised at my appearance and shouted, "Over here! She's here, I've found her!"

I heard the rapid footsteps of multiple other people, and I became the startled one. I saw men with shields bearing the moon covered with eerie looking clouds, and helmets covering most of their faces, carrying swords and dashing right towards me. My heart rate went through the roof, and I whirled around, taking off as fast as I could. What on earth have I gotten myself into?

A/N: Okay, so I don't know if they have whipped cream or chocolate muffins in the wizarding world... they probably do, but I just made it more of a muggle thing in this chapter. ;)

Please remember to review and let me know what you think! If you have any suggestions, I'll be happy to take them. And the next chapter will be more interesting, because there will be more of the alternate universe that Ginny finds herself in. So hang tight!

~Megan