A MIDDLE, BEGINNING AND THE END.
Chapter 1 – The Middle
''Mum, mum! Please don't shout. Yes, you are shouting…'' Ginny held the mobile phone away from her ear. Mrs Weasley's voice continued to echo around the otherwise quiet room. ''1 pm is fine, do you need me to bring anything? Yes, I will be coming alone, I already told you that, mum.'' Sensing the usual line of 'Dear, Why Are You Still Single' questioning coming, Ginny brought an end to the conversation, her mum taking several attempts to find the End Call button. Ginny had given her parents the phone in an attempt to help them stand out less when they visited her in muggle London. Although, people standing out here wasn't uncommon, she did not want anyone think they were odd. Her father had taken to their new gadget far easier than her mother. Laughing furiously ''But it's for your ears! Surely it should be called EarPhone?! I dunno, those muggles!'' She smiled at the memory.
Leaning back on the sofa, she began making a mental note of what she needed to pack for the trip to her parents' house. Much as it had long been, the Burrow was the centre of all things Weasley, and tomorrow would see her back there for the latest family gathering. Her brother Ron would be turning 35 and there would be a party to celebrate. Although, if Mrs Weasley had her way, there would be a party every day of the week - she was quite keen on a family gathering. A passing thought went through Ginny's mind about who else would be attending tomorrow, she quickly caught herself and got back, instead, to her mental note of what to pack for the journey.
The next day, after a quick work-out and an early lunch, Ginny dressed and stood in front of her mirror, a youthful looking woman stared back at her. Never really one to enjoy dressing up, she had opted for a smart but casual pant suit to wear to the party. Her jaw length hair, styled with the bangs pinned back off her face. ''It'll do, I guess'' she said to herself, self-consciously adjusting the blazer of her suit. Applying one last coat of lip gloss, she went to her fire-place and opened a small jar, taking from it a handful of what looked like dust. Once or twice her curious muggle friends had shown an interest in this little jar. When asked about it, she would reply ''Oh, it's my granddad's ashes…''and look off into the distance, leaving the sentence hanging thick in the air. They very rarely pursued the topic again. After a quick glance around the room to make sure all of her muggle appliances had been switched off, she picked up her travel bag, stepped into the fire-place and said in a loud voice ''The Burrow!'' A familiar but strange feeling rushed through her body. The room became a blur. She had disappeared from it.
Various Weasley children ran chaotically through the living room, playing a game they called 'Last One Smells the Sock'. Briefly explained, this involves a game of tag wherein the loser has to sniff Mr Weasley's extremely smelly socks. It wasn't a complicated game, but it was known according to legend (George) to be a deadly one. ''Tag! You're it. Yes you are!'' cried Roxanne. ''Nan! Nanny Weasley, Lucy's cheating again!'' Molly entered the room, face as red as her grandchildren's hair, flustered from trying to get Ron's birthday cake to behave and stay upright. She had tried baking the muggle way as a special treat for her son and was regretting that decision more and more with each failed attempt at a lemon drizzle sponge. As quick as a flash, two of the Weasley children ran from the room, sensing the impending telling off, leaving just Lucy and Roxanne, who were still in a yelling match of their own. ''Now listen you lot! Calm down or you won't be having any cake at the party!'' In her angered rant, she had failed to notice a popping sound from behind her, ''Judging by the burning smell, that won't be such a bad thing, mum'' Molly swung around and faced the voice, letting out a cry ''Oh Ginny! Look at you, my beautiful girl!'' Ginny was quickly embraced by her mother. Her nieces found a leg each and hugged them for good measure.
''Your brothers are already here, well apart from Ron, of course he's due in an hour'', ''Uh-hum'', Ginny nodded from over a freshly made cup of tea. ''They're in the garden with your dad, finishing up the decorations''. The two sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by plates of party food. Saucepans bubbled on the stove. The wireless played a song Ginny remembered from her childhood. ''So, apart from the birthday boy, anyone else coming to this?'' Ginny asked, blowing to cool her drink and then taking a sip. ''Well, Harry and Sarah, his lady friend will be here.'' Ginny giggled ''Mum, they're dating! You can just say partner'' Mrs Weasley blushed slightly, ''I just don't like to assume, dear.'' ''OK'' Ginny teased ''So Mr Potter and his female associate will be attending. Anyone else expected?'' Mrs Weasley had returned to check on the saucepans, stirring their contents. ''I don't think so. Ron had insisted we keep it small this year. I think after your father got drunk and sang to his boss at last year's party, it was for the best.'' Ginny laughed but sounded her agreement. ''…Oh how silly of me to forget. Hermione is coming, of course!''
Ginny swallowed her mouthful of tea with a loud gulp. Not looking at her mother, she nodded ''She is. That'll be nice. It'll be good to see her''. A few minutes passed in silence as Mrs Weasley continued with her preparation. Ginny stared at a collection of photos on the kitchen wall. Pictures of the family throughout the years. One caught her eye; it was from the summer of 1998. It had been taken at a previous Weasley party. It showed Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron sat around a table in the Weasley's garden, various cakes and food surrounded them. The two boys were posing for the photographer, their mouths full of sandwiches. Ginny and Hermione had seemed not to notice the camera. Instead they were leaning in close to each other, laughing. Sharing what appeared to be an extremely funny joke. A loud crash from a stray saucepan lid and the proceeding swear word from Mrs Weasley brought Ginny out of her daydream. Excusing herself, she went up to her old bedroom to store her overnight bag.
Looking around her room, she smiled. Her parent's - well let's face it, her mum, had kept it just as when she had lived there. The large single bed with shelves of books above it was in the same position. The walls had posters of the Holyhead Harpies still hanging up as were some of muggle bands that she was into as a teen, Blur and The Stone Roses among them, to this day she still played their albums. She went to the window overlooking the garden and saw her brother's and her father. George had bewitched a banner reading 'Happy birthday, Ron' to chase Percy around. He managed to dodge it a few times but very quickly, it caught up with him and wrapped itself around his body like an over friendly blanket, much to the amusement of the Weasley children. Smiling again she went to the mirror and reapplied her make-up. Her mother let out a loud yell from downstairs. As Ron wasn't due for another 30 minutes, she took it to mean that Harry had arrived. She made her way down stairs through the living room. From the kitchen she could hear her mum swooning and gushing. ''Look at you two! The man on the moon could tell how well you go together!'' Ginny cringed slightly. Molly sure had changed her tune about Harry and Sarah, she laughed to herself.
Opening the door and entering the kitchen, she saw her mother and two figures. Both had their backs turned to her. ''Oi Potter, you made it at last, then!'' She exclaimed to the back of the male figure. He turned to face Ginny. Instead of Harry's ruffled hair, this man had a stylish cut, parted to one side. And instead of glasses, he had a fashionably trimmed beard. ''Oh, sorry! I thought…'' Ginny was cut off by the female voice ''Gin! Look at you in your fancy suit, madam!'' The woman rushed forward and embraced Ginny in a long hug. ''Oh it's been too bloody long'' Hermione said with a sigh. Ginny squeezed in to the embrace slightly and then took a step back. Her friend had grown into a beautiful woman. Her chestnut brown hair, styled in long curls, hung past her shoulders. She was wearing a cream and black floral dress with a light cardigan. ''I know, Herm's. Work and that, you know, keeps me busy. How are things?'' She asked, glancing at the unknown male in the room. ''They're brilliant, Gin'' Hermione exclaimed. ''Oh, this is Michael'' She continued, taking his hand ''…My boyfriend.'' Ginny was silent for a moment, not long enough for it to be noticed by anyone. After a pause, she cleared her throat and held out her hand to Michael ''Hi, nice to meet you''.
It was going to be a long day.