POV: Ginny
The sun was just setting behind the burrow as I lay on my back under the shade of an old oak tree. Tomorrow school started, ended the most fun summer I have ever had. Never a dull moment past since Harry and Hermione moved in; late night exploring, travelling in muggle towns, adventuring whenever possible.
"Ginny dear!" mum hollers waking me from my day dream, "Have you finished packing your bags love?" I return to reality, my summer was over and I had to get over it and head back to Hogwarts again. Inside the burrow disaster has struck. The house is more of a mess than normal; clothes constantly in the washer, trunks scattering the halls, too many people trying to do their own thing. That's what happened when nine people are living in the same house.
"Watch out Ginny", calls Fred as he frantically runs around me.
"Incoming", shouted George who was feet behind him.
"I'm going to kill you guys", cursed Ron charging after them. I cautiously start climbing the stairs.
"Pardon me Ginny", Hermione said politely carrying a trunk down from our shared room.
"Do you need a hand?" I ask.
"Thanks, but I can manage", she declined. I turned the corner to the bathroom when I nearly knocked heads with Harry.
"Oh Ginny are you all right?" Harry asked fumbling to put his glasses back on, "I didn't see you coming."
"It's alright I wasn't watching were I was going either", I laugh it off. Silence comes between us. I want to say something, but my body is frozen.
After a few second Harry chimes in, "Ah well I'm just going to slide by you"; he puts his hands on both of my forearms, my whole body tense. He slowly squeezed past me in the cramped hallway. Suddenly I exhaled all of the air in my system, not realizing I had been holding my breath. In the bathroom I toss some water on my face and wash my hands. My heart is still fluttering from when he held my arms. It's such a school girl fantasy, falling for my brother's best friend, but it is just so easy. In my room I finish putting all my new books and my freshly washed robes, including other odds and ends.
"Dinner is ready!" mum hollers up the stairs. Nine people crammed around a small dining room table, while heaping plates of Shepherd's pie, garden salad, mashed potatoes, biscuits with raspberry jelly, and rice pudding. It's like we are feeding a small army, which is actually quite true. While mum goes on nagging everyone about finishing packing and about what time we need to leave by so everyone needs to be up by such and such time.
Dad goes on about this neat invention that someone brought in to his department today, it's rectangular in shape and when programmed it can tell you how to get places, "And the best part it's called a Global Positioning System or GPS! How fascinating. What will these muggles think of next?" Fred and George are whispering back and forth, scheming something or other I am sure will take effect after dinner. I scoop another spoonful of potatoes into my mouth, and eavesdrop on Hermione, Ron, and Harry's conversation.
"We can't be out too late tonight though", Hermione insists.
"Why?" Ron persists, "We can sleep on the train tomorrow".
"He has a point Hermione", Harry nods.
"Fine, but if we get busted I am so blaming the two of you", she scoffs. After a second she asks, "Can't we invite Ginny to come?" My ears perk up at the sound of my name.
"Yeah, I bet she would have fun", Ron says winking at Harry.
"Shut up Ron, "retorts Harry his cheeks slightly redden. His reaction to Ron's comment makes me grin.
"You boys are useless. I will just ask her myself after dinner", Hermione sighs. When dinner is over and everyone heads off to do their own thing Hermione asks me to give her a hand with the dishes.
"Of course", I nod my excitement bubbling.
"I'm not sure if you over heard, but we, as in Ron, Harry, and I, are planning an end of the summer last adventure. Would you like to come?"
"Well yes, but where are you going?"
"A muggle carnival".
"Really!?" I exclaim.
"Shhh keep your voice down", Hermione shushes me.
"Oh sorry", I whisper, "But I would love love love to come with! I've always wanted to go to a carnival".
"Good, just be dressed and ready to go before everyone goes to sleep. Then no one will notice when we leave", she winks. I skip up the stairs into my room. What to wear? What to wear? I dig in the back of my closet. I haven't worn this shirt yet, and they match perfectly with my maroon shorts.
"Hermione!" I call.
"Yes?" she answers.
"Will this work for the…" I pause and force my voice to a whisper, "The carnival". I twirl showing off my white and black horizontally striped shirt, and the maroon shorts.
"Very cute, I think he will like what he sees", Hermione hints. I blush. "Okay what do you think about this?" She holds up a white v-neck t-shirt, and a pair of black shorts with peach floral print.
"It's very you", I inform her.
"Is that good?"
"Well yes, it's sophisticated and elegant. Perfect for you", I smile.
"I'm going to go change, then could you help me fix my hair?" she asks.
I roll my eyes teasing, "I suppose". Twenty minutes later we tiptoe down the stairs where the boys are already waiting for us.
"Ow ow look at these fine ladies!" Ron cheers, "We are a couple of lucky men aren't we Harry?"
"We certainly are Ron, we certainly are", Harry smiled, "Well ladies are you ready to go?"
"I think so, just let me grab my shoes", says Hermione. Standing next to the guys I can't help but notice how nice they both look. Even Ron, though his hair is still messy, his clothes are newly washed. His white shirt hem stick out from the bottom of his grey hoodie, and covers the top of his denim jeans. All of it matches his fiery red hair; which I know from experience is oh so hard to do. Harry on the other hand looks exceptionally handsome, but maybe that's bias of me. From head to toe everything looks pristine. His royal purple v-neck shirt with medium wash denim jeans and his black hooded leather jacket looks so contemporary. I probably would have kept staring, but Hermione tapped me out of my trance.
"So I'll take Hermione, and you'll follow behind with Ginny", Harry states, "Okay let's do this". He took Hermione's hand and led her to the fireplace, threw the floo powder in, and instantly disappeared. We followed close behind them. We land in a semi-open field next to a brightly light, noisy carnival; and it was all I could have hope it would be.
"Where do you guys want to do first?" Hermione asks.
"Let's go to the rollercoaster area!" I grin ear to ear. Two, four, five, eight rides later we were all happy and hungry, despite having eaten only three hours ago.
"Muggle carnivals are so amazing!" I exclaim taking a large bite of bubble gum pink cotton candy.
"I can't believe this is our first one", says Ron throw a kernel of popcorn into the air and catching it into his mouth.
"And certainly not our last", Harry chimes in.
"Here, here!" we cheer in unisons.
"Why don't we walk around for a bit and let our food settle", Hermione suggested throwing her candied apple wrapper away.
"That's probably a good idea", I agree. We stroll past all the carnival games, and the food vendors.
"I can't believe that I've never experienced something like this before", I stammer trying to make conversation with Harry.
"Me too", he responds.
"What was your favorite ride?"
"I really liked the one that went upside down; I thought that was a fun twist".
"Yeah?" I smile, "That was my favorite one too. I'm not a terribly huge fan of the ones that spin".
Harry laughs, "I would have to agree". A cool breeze stirred the leaves and sent chills down my spine. "Oh are you cold?" he asked concerned. Before I could even answer Harry had unzipped his jacket and gently wrapped it around my shoulders.
"Thank you", I smile pulling the jacket tighter around me. I can smell his cologne surrounding me, overwhelming my senses. From the corner of my eye I see Harry elbow Ron in the side and give him the 'Are you daft? Its cold gives her your hoodie' look. Ron nods finally understanding.
"Here Hermione", he pulls his sweatshirt over his head and hands it to her; "I don't want you to be cold".
"Oh Ronald how thoughtful", Hermione thanked him slipping in over her head; "We should go on the Ferris wheel." The group nods in agreement.
"It would be a perfect way to end the night", I agree.
"Alright let's do it", Harry nods. Knowing my brother he is going to try and sit next to Hermione, which is fine because then I'll get to sit next to Harry. Maybe this is my chance to tell him how I feel.