Thank you to all who reviewed! I just want to let you all know that there is a scene from the book that I put in here but I changed it around just a small bit so it would fit Ginny's POV. You should all know what scene it is, and I didn't want anyone to think that I copied it wrong! As always, all the bold writing and the overall plot for this story belong to J.K. Rowling! Enjoy!
The next day was tense as I walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Mad-Eye's death hung around like a think fog after a terrible storm; you knew the fog would clear but it was only a matter of how long it would take. I noticed Fleur's eyes were red and puffy and Hermione had sever bags under her eyes. Mum was shoveling large amounts of food onto everyone's plates, as though the extra food would erase last nights events. But we couldn't erase the past events; there was a gaping hole on the left side of George's face to prove that.
Speaking of George, I noticed he was moodily pushing around the food on his plate. I saw Fred trying to talk to him, but George ignored him. Fred sighed and turned back to his breakfast.
It was amazing how one moment a we could look at the bright side of things; we were all alive, Harry and made it back safe, and Bill was getting married in a few days time. But sitting here in this seemingly dark and quiet room, we couldn't help but broad over the here and now. George was missing an ear! Bill and Fleur had to watch Mad-Eye die! Harry was seeing Voldemort in his head! So many things were going wrong in the world-my world-and I didn't know how much longer I could take.
"Has anyone seen Ron?" Hermione asked us all, looking around the table. It was only just now that I realized Ron wasn't around scarfing down all the food.
"He was still sleeping when I got up. I'll see if he's awake," Harry said pushing up from the table.
"No!" Mum's outburst made Harry jump and I dropped my glass of milk all down my front. I gasped as the freezing liquid hit my shirt.
"Sorry Ginny dear. Well, since you're heading upstairs to change, why don't you wake your brother up? Hmm?"
I sighed apathetically and pushed away from the table as a confused Harry sat back down. Bill syphoned away the milk from the table as Mum turned her back to everyone and began pouring more muffin batter into it's pan.
I stomped upstairs, annoyed at everything. What was with Mum? Why couldn't Harry wake Ron? Why was I left with so many questions? I was so enveloped in my thoughts that I didn't see Ron trudging down the stairs. I smacked right into him and left small spot of wetness on his shirt from my sopping one.
"Alright Gin?" He asked, his voice unnaturally high. I raised my eyebrows, looking down at my shirt.
"Er, yeah. Are you okay? You seem like you're hiding something… And what is that horrid smell?" I crossed my arms and watched as a deep crimson crept up Ron's neck and onto his cheeks.
"I was just, er, visiting with the Ghoul." Ron cleared his throat and fiddled with his wand in his pocket.
"Why in the name of Merlin's pants would you ever want to visit with the Ghoul?"
It had been an unspoken Weasley rule that you under no circumstances went to see the Ghoul. Not only was the smell guaranteed to stun you for a moment, the Ghoul was a nuisance once you gave it a speck of attention.
"Uh…"
"Oh just stop, Ron. I know you three are planning something so you mine as well just tell me." If I knew Ron, he'd keep this secret no matter how much I wish he would slip up just this once.
"I can't Ginny."
"I figured you wouldn't. Can you at least tell me why you were visiting the Ghoul?" I looked up at him hopefully. He looked torn between staying loyal to his friends and looking like he wanted to unload his secret.
"Fine," he said at last and dragged me up another floor. "Look, you've probably worked it out for yourself that Hermione, Harry and I aren't returning to Hogwarts." He paused to take a breath and I took a moment to compose my surprise. I honestly expected them to come back to school and then maybe leave towards the end…I thought I'd have more time with them.
"Well I figured that people are going to get suspicious when they see I don't show up and you do, so…I made the Ghoul look like me."
I couldn't help it. I had to. My laughter bubbled out of me before I could stop it. Ron glowered at me and started walking up the rest of the stairs to where the entrance to the attic was.
"Shut up. Come on," he motioned for me to follow him and I hurried up to catch up with him.
"Ron, I'm almost positive that they'll realize that the Ghoul isn't you."
Ron gave me a look as if to say I was stupid for even pointing this out.
"Obviously Ginny, but I figured if I, meaning him, was sick no one would want to get too close to do a proper check, right?" Ron muttered, "Descendo," and down came the ladder. He let me climb up first and I almost fell back by the nauseating smell that hit me in the face like a brick.
"Oh God, Ron! This smells horrifying." I coughed a little as he joined me holding his nose.
"I know!" His voice sounded nasally due to him holding his nose, but his smile was big. "When we leave, the Ghoul will move to my room and everything will be taken care of!"
I had to hand it to him; the plan really seemed like it would work. I took in the Ghoul's appearance; he was wearing Ron's favorite pair of Chudley Cannons pajamas, and had ginger hair sprouting from its' head. Purple blisters were scattering themselves across its' body.
"How are you going to get him down there without Mum and Dad noticing?"
"Dad knows about this! Fred and George too, they helped transform him. The promised not to tell Mum until I'm already gone."
I nodded, seeing no visible flaw in his plan. We spent another minute up there, both of us staring at the moaning Ghoul. He seemed miserable; then again, if I had boils bursting all over me and smelt like dirty Quidditch robes left out in the sun too long, I'd be moaning too.
"Ron! Ginny! Where'd you two get to?" Mum called up the many flights of stairs and we jumped up.
"Let's go," I said leading the way back down towards the bottom landing. Just as I reached my door, Ron pulled me back again.
"Hey, I just thought of something; if something happens and I don't have time to move the Ghoul, could you do it for me?"
I stared at my brother and uninvited tears sprang to my eyes.
"Ginny….?" Ron asked confused as I threw my arms around him and hugged him.
I hadn't got to hug any of my brothers last night. They'd never understand how I felt being left behind and not knowing if my family was going to come back whole. He patted my back and sighed.
"Ginny, please don't cry. Nothing is going to happen to me." Ron comforted me.
"You don't know that!" I sniffed and wiped my tears on my soiled shirt. "Just look at George!" Ron's faced paled as the images of all the possible dangers ran across his mind. He shook his head and refocused on me.
"I give you my word that I'll be okay. That we'll all be okay."
I nodded and wiped away the rest of the tears from my cheeks. I turned around and entered my room, but before I closed my door I said, "I'll make sure the Ghoul get's into your room if you have to leave."
I waited until I heard Ron's footsteps retreat before letting out one last sob. Things were getting too real. My brother basically just said that he thought that something was going to happen, something bad. How bad would it be though?
After a few days had passed, Mum seemed to snap into wedding mode. She assigned us all so many jobs it was hard to get a moment to think!
"I think Mum thinks that if she can stop the three of you getting together and planning, she'll be able to delay you leaving," I told Harry in an undertone, as we laid the table for dinner on the third night of his stay.
"And then what does she think's going to happen?" Harry muttered. "Someone else might kill off Voldemort while she's holding us here making vol-au-vents?"
My face paled. My suspicions were right.
"So it's true?" I said. "That's what you're trying to do?"
"I - not - I was joking," said Harry evasively.
I stared at him, not immune to the fact that this as the first tim eI was alone in a room with him since last year. My mind flitted back to our long walks around the lake and our private 'tutoring' sessions in the back corners of the library, away from the prying eyes of Madam Pince. Dad, Kingsley, and Bill decided to barge in just then, and I blushed as my memories slid away.
The Burrow had become headquarters for the Order. Order members came in and out of here so many times a day, I didn't even try to keep up with who was around. Dad told us that since Dumbledore died, he was no longer Secret Keeper. However, all those he had told about Grimmauld Place were now the Secret Keepers.
"And as there are around twenty of us, that greatly dilutes the power of the Fidelius Charm. Twenty times as many opportunities for the Death Eaters to get the secret out of somebody. We can't expect it to hold much longer."\
"But surely Snape will have told the Death Eaters the address by now?" asked Harry.
"Well, Mad-Eye set up a couple of curses against Snape in case he turns up there again. We hope they'll be strong enough both to keep him out and to bind his tongue if he trues to talk about the place, but we can't be sure. It would have been insane to keep using the place as headquarters now that its protection has become so shaky."
I felt very hot as we all crammed into the kitchen. By an unlucky (or lucky depending on how you look at it) pick of the draw, I took the seat next to Harry. I could see him struggling to not touch me at all that he had barely cut into his meat. All our memories came flooding back for a second time that day, and I couldn't help but feel hurt at the thought of Harry not wanting to be near me. It was quite obvious he wished he was sitting somewhere, anywhere, else than next to me.
As Harry asked Bill about Mad-Eye's body, they never found it, I tried to eat as quickly as possible. Just by the beginning of our dinner conversations, I could tell this wouldn't be enjoyable. If some one were to look into the window at us, they'd never suspect that a wedding was on it's way. I caught Harry tensing his fist and the pale words ''I must not tell lies'' flashed at me.
"Isn't anyone at the Ministry prepared to standup to him?" asked Ron angrily.
"Of course, Ron, but people are terrified," Dad replied, "terrified that they will be next to disappear, their children the next to be attacked! There are nasty rumors going around; I for one don't believe the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts resigned. She hasn't been seen for weeks now. Meanwhile Scrimgeour remains shut up in his office all day: I just hope he's working on a plan."
Mum cleared away our dinner plates and set out the apple tart as the conversation turned towards the wedding. Fleur explained briefly how Harry was going to be disguised.
". . . Of course, none of our guests are DEath Eaters, but we cannot guarantee sat zey will not let something slip after zey 'ave 'ad champagne."
It was quite obvious she was thinking of Hagrid when she spoke. Mum agreed with her, then turned to Ron and asked if his room was clean.
"Why does my room have to be cleaned out? Harry and I are fine with it the way it is!"
"We are holding your brother's wedding here in a few days' time, young man-"
I snorted in to my glass of pumpkin juice. Mum pulled the 'young man' card which she mostly used on Ron.
"And are they getting married in my bedroom?" asked Ron furiously. "No! So why in the name of Merlin's sagy left-"
Mum gaped in horror at Ron and Dad looked at him.
"Don't talk to your mother like that,"said Dad firmly. "And do as you're told."
Ron pouted like a little kid while Mum shot down Harry's offer to help clean the room. She told him to help out Dad with the chickens and that Hermione change the sheets for Fleur's parents. Only thing was that I helped her change them yesterday.
After Fleur and Mum busied themselves with the dishes, I slipped upstairs to my room. I'd been spending quite the abnormal amount of time in here and I was becoming severely sick of this four walls. I sighed and fell backwards onto my bed, turning away from Hermione's cot in the process.
Hermione was the sister that I didn't know I wanted until I had her. She, as well as Luna, were the only two girl friends that I had. Every summer Hermione came here was fun. We'd stay up late into the night talking about two boys that happened to be three floors above us. I would gaze dreamily out the window as I recounted all the minuscule encounters I'd had with Harry and she would exclaim angrily about that annoying things Ron had done that day. It wasn't until last year that I finally got her to somewhere recognize that she like Ron a little more than a friend. She'd gone red in the face and I laughed at how closely she resembled a Weasley.
"It's official, Hermione. With that blush you must be a true Weasley at heart!" I laughed and she soon followed.
"Yeah, maybe. I'll become a Weasley the day you become Mrs. Potter!"
If only she knew how much I really wanted her joking statement to become reality.
I heard footsteps above me and, being the pesky younger sister I am, I sneaked out to see what was going on.
"That's your Ghoul, isn't it?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, it is," said Ron, and I heard the creaking of the ladder steps. "Come and have a look at him."
I figured Harry would have the same reaction as I did, so I decided to walk out to the yard instead of listening to them. I walked outside and sat down heavily in the back garden. Around me I could see bits of gnomes peeking out from behind the grass, but none of them dared get close; they were all too frightened to be thrown across the yard again.
"Something troubling you, Gin?"
I looked around and saw George striding over towards me. I shrugged and turned my attention back to the distant horizon.
"Oh come on. It's me, Georgie. You know you can always talk to me!" George said it with a smile, but I grasped the serious meaning behind it.
I sighed and wiped away a lone tear. "I still love him. I love him and I don't think I can watch him leave."
I don't think George was prepared for that, but he bucked up and looked me in the eye.
"I'm going to assume you're talking about Harry and from the way he's been looking at you the past few days, he feels the same. I know I'm not exactly Mr. Love Doctor but I do know what it feels like watching the one you love leave you for something or someone else."
I stared at George in shock. I'd never known he was in love. He never even spoke of anyone!
"Who're you in love with George?" I asked, curiosity overtaking me for a moment.
"Eh, you wouldn't know her. All you need to know is that she didn't love me as much as she loved the other guy. He loved her too, but he didn't act on it, that idiot…" George looked away for a moment, a darkness over taking him. When he looked back at me he looked like the same old George again.
"Yeah but George, she's still alive! She isn't or wasn't leaving you to go figh-" I cut off mid word. I couldn't tell George what Harry was going to do when Harry hadn't even come out and said it himself to me. George gave me a funny look so I continued.
"She wasn't leaving you to go off and do something dangerous. She can still write you letters and pop in every now and then to say hello! I won't be able to write or see him or- or -" I resolved into body shaking sobs.
I was so over crying. I feel like all I did was cry! Crying hurt after a while; my eyes burned and my chest felt like it was about to cave in at the slightest deep breathe. My floor underneath my bed was filled with tissues that I used to sop up my tears at night. I was shocked Hermione hadn't even commented on my crying…then again she didn't exactly spend most nights in our room. Most nights she snuck up to see them.
"Ginny, please don't cry! Mum will go crazy if she sees you! She'll start crying and then you know once Mum starts to cry then every one will get all teary eyed. Please just relax." George put an arm around my shoulder and transformed an army of ants into a handkerchief. I was a little skeptic about using an ant tissue, but I had to clean my face up a little.
"Thanks," I smiled a watery smile at George. I blushed deeply then; this was the second time I broke down in front of one of brothers. It was as though I was destined to cry in front of every Weasley in the world, and that is a lot of people.
"No problem." I stood up and extended my hand towards George. he shook his head and waved me on.
"You go in. I just want to think for a little while longer." His face looked so heart broken. I wanted to stay with him but I could see he wanted to be left alone.
I used the lights from inside the house to guide me back in; it had gotten considerably dark since I left the dinner table. I bumped into Fred on my way in.
"Seen George?" He asked me. I pointed towards the head of red hair just around the corner of the house.
"Thanks Gin!" Fred was almost out the door when I called back for him.
"Fred? Who was George in love with?" I had to know.
Fred looked puzzled. "No one. As far as I know, he's never loved anyone."
I frowned slightly as I made my way up the stairs to my room. I had just made it to my room when I heard Mum yelling about something from the living room. I decided that I really didn't want to get roped into righting whatever went wrong down there, so I stayed put in my room. Not too soon later, I heard heavy footsteps running up the stairs and then four sets, two much slower than the others, coming back down.
I changed out of my clothes and into pajamas before sliding beneath my blanket. It was early for sleeping, but the week of cleaning had wiped me out and I was already exhausted just thinking about tomorrow.
The next morning Hermione and I woke bright and early, thanks to Mum.
"I swear, I'm locking Mum up when I get married." I grumbled as I slid into the floral skirt Mum told me I had to wear. I noticed Hermione's clothes had been chosen for he as well, though she seemed more pleased with hers than me.
"All I know is that who ever is next to get married better warn us ahead of time. I'd like to take a specially planned vacation leading up to it." I let out a laugh while a slipped on my shoes and together Hermione and I walked downstairs to gather with everybody else.
After the initial greetings with Mr. and Mrs. Delacour, life returned basically back to normal. Luckily for Mum, Mrs. Delacour was amazing with a good cleaning spell, and I found myself with less and less jobs to do. Unfortunately, our house just wasn't big enough for everybody. Mum and Dad ended up spending the coming nights on the couch while The Delacours, feeling slightly guilty for putting them out, took their bedroom.
The next morning I was helping Mum wash the laundry and she turned to me.
"Do you know what you're brother is planning?" She asked me honestly. I avoided looking into her warm eyes and sighed.
Yes. "No, I'm sorry Mum. They won't tell me either."
I couldn't tell her. This wasn't keeping a secret anymore; Mum would worry and everything would fall apart. Though I didn't want them to go, I knew they had to. I didn't want to live in fear anymore and I know no one else did. If losing that fear meant dealing with double the amount for a while longer while they ran around doing what they had to do, then so be it.
Mum slammed down the shirt she was holding and let out a frustrated click of her tongue.
"It's as if they think they can actually do anything to stop him!" I saw tear flood her eyes and I suddenly felt very tight in the small room. I turned away from her and began gathering the wet clothes in a basket. I made to take them outside, but she stopped me.
"No, no. Let me take them out." Before she left she turned back to me. "I'm sorry for making you worry, dear. I shouldn't clutter your young mind with grown up worries."
I felt small and fragile when she said that. I played the girl who felt like an adult and acted like one, but on the inside I was just a sixteen year old girl who had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow. I know they'd hate to hear it, but Harry, Hermione, and Ron were just like me.
I left quickly after Mum did and went up to the top landing and took out my wand.
"Descendo." The old ladder fell gracefully to the floor and and I climbed it quickly. I pulled it up after me so no one would come snooping around. I focused my attention on the Ghoul, trying my best to ignore the rancid smell emanating from him. I sat cross legged on the floor in front of him.
"Hi," I smiled kindly at him His eyes flitted all around the room and he shook his head vigorously. I took this as 'hello'.
"I'm Ginny! You probably don't really care do you…hmm, well I just thought I'd come up and introduce myself. i figured we'd be seeing a lot of each other after Ron and them leave."
Had I really sunk this low? Sitting by myself, talking to the family's resident Ghoul? I need to get out more.
"Anyway, when they leave, I'm going to come get you so I'll need you to be real quiet then, okay?" He moaned and nodded so I took that as a yes.
"Great! So I gu-"
"Ginny?" I heard my name muffled from below. My face reddened involuntarily and I peered over the ladder to look down. Harry was standing beneath me, looking up confused.
"Er, hi Harry!" I climbed down clumsily, slipping on the last step and stumbling into him.
"Were you talking to yourself?" He asked, righting me into a standing position. I shrugged.
"Nah, I was talking to the Ghoul. He gets lonely sometimes." Him? More like I'm the lonely one.
"Oh, well that's nice."
We stood awkwardly on the small landing. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"Your Mum was just trying to throw me a party for my birthday," He laughed quietly and I blanched. I had totally forgotten that his birthday was tomorrow!
"Ha, leave it to Mum to want to plan a party AND a wedding all in one go."
I smiled at him, happy and nervous to be near him.
He smiled back at me. We were so close that I could reach up and touch his wonderfully messy hair. My hand was moving on its own accord and he turned his face toward my palm at my touch. I could smell his cologne; it filled me up and I closed my eyes.
"I'll miss you Ginny."
The moment was broken. I felt broken, and Harry looked it. His voice fell over us like a wool blanket and the seriousness of being together hit me like the Night Bus. I dropped my hand and took a step back.
"I'll talk to you later, Harry."
I walked slowly back to my room, my mind racing. What could I give Harry for his birthday? Why didn't I say I'd miss him? I'm a horrible person.
I didn't go down to breakfast the next morning. My mind was reeling; I figured out what to give Harry and I was afraid that If I saw him earlier I would lose my nerve.
Finally, I heard the footsteps of the three of them passing my door and I ran quietly to open it.
"Harry, will you come in here a moment?"
I saw Ron stop quickly, and thankfully Hermione took his arm and steered him away from us. Harry fidgeted nervously on the landing before following me back inside my room. I blushed as I looked around my room. Why did it have to look so…young? He was probably regretting coming in here with me.
I turned on my heel and looked into Harry's face, took a deep breath, and said, "Happy seventeenth."
"Yeah . . . thanks."
I was looking at him steadily; he, however, found it difficult to look back at me; he acted as though I was too bright a light to look at or something.
"Nice view," he said feebly, pointing toward a the window.
I ignored this.
"I couldn't think of what to get you," I said.
"You didn't have to get me anything."
I disregarded this too.
"I didn't know what would be useful. Nothing too big, because you wouldn't be able to take it with you."
I chanced a look at me. I was not tearful; I ran out of tears. Harry had never known me to be weepy, and I preferred to keep it that way.
I took a step closer to him.
"So then I thought, I'd like you to have something to remember me by, you know, if you meet some veela when you're off doing whatever you're doing."
"I think dating opportunities are going to be pretty thin on the ground, to be honest."
"That's the silver lining I've been looking for." I whispered and then I was kissing him as I had never kissed him before, and Harry was kissing me back, and it was blissful oblivion, better than firewhisky; Harry was the only real thing in the world for me. The feel of his hand on my back, the other entangled in my hair.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer than I though was possible. This gift was equally for both of us; I wanted him to have this memory forever. I wanted to remember this incase I never had another chance to do this again.
The door banged open behind us and we jumped apart.
"Oh," said Ron pointedly. "Sorry."
"Ron!" Hermione was just behind him, slightly out of breath. There was as trained silence, the I said in a flat voice,
"Well, happy birthday anyway, Harry."
I could see the anger flare up inside Ron, and Hermione at least had the decency to look nervous. I wanted them to leave and I wanted to kiss Harry again, but I could see his wall fly back up and I knew he'd never come this close to me again. The presence of Ron and Hermione seemed to bring back the reason why Harry broke up with me in the first place, but I refused to feel anything but pure happiness at our kiss.
Harry looked over at me, but I turned my back on him. I cursed myself as I let myself cry again. So much for him not seeing me cry. I wanted him to hug me, do something, but being comforted by the man you love in front of one protective brother was nothing but a small hope I had.
"I'll see you later," he said, and followed the other two out of the bedroom.
I sobbed hard and took a seat by the window. I saw Ron storm out of the house followed by a peeved looking Harry and a scared Hermione. Just like the first night here, their voices drifted up to me, carried by the slight breeze.
"You ditched her. What are you doing now, messing her around?" Ron asked him.
"I'm not messing her around," said Harry.
"Ron-" Ron held a hand up to silence Hermione.
"She was really cut up when you ended it-"
How'd Ron know? I never spoke to anyone about the breakup. I just kept quiet.
"So was I. You know why I stopped it, and it wasn't because I wanted to."
"Yeah, but you go snogging her now and she;s just going to get her hopes up again-"
Honestly, did I come off as that pathetic to my family?
"She's not an idiot, she knows it can't happen, she's not expecting us to - to end up married, or -"
Harry cut off mid sentence and my heart squeezed. I closed my eyes, imagining myself in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle towards him. Truth was, I was expecting us to get married. If he made it out alive, I had every intention of being with him.
"If you keep groping her every chance you get -" Ron's voice cut through my fantasy.
"It won't happened again," said Harry harshly. The day was cloudless but he felt as though the sun had gone in. "Okay?"
Ron looked half resentful, half sheepish; he rocked on backward on and forward on his feet for a moment, then said, "Right then, well, that's . . . yeah."
That's my brother, Mr. Articulate! I turned away from the window, tired of the sadness inside me. I practiced smiling for a moment before reaching towards my door and began to go downstairs.
Harry's birthday dinner was held outside so that our kitchen didn't explode from the extra guests. Hermione had decorated nicely while Fred and George made many purple lanterns with the number 17 hang in midair around the yard. It was hard getting used to the large black hole on the side of George's face, but it was better than looking at a bloody mess.
Ron complimented Hermione on her decorations and Harry smirked at them. He caught my eye and smiled, making my heart swell. Then he looked away rather hurriedly and began talking to Monsieur Delacour.
Mum brought out Harry's birthday cake, (a huge golden snitch that Hermione and I had helped ice) and set it out for display. She glanced nervously toward the front gate, waiting for Dad to come home. All of a sudden, Dad's patronus came running towards us. Dad's weasel stood on hind legs and out came his voice.
"Minister of Magic coming with me."
Lupin and Tonks shot off at once, apologizing to Harry as they climbed the gate and Disapparated. Seconds later, Dad appeared accompanied by the Minister himself.
"Sorry to intrude," said Scrimgeour, as he limped to a halt before the table. "Especially as I can see that I am gate-crashing a party."
We all stared, struck with confusion on why he was here. He spoke again, and he requested to speak with Ron, Hermione, and Harry without the chaperone of my father. The three stood up, puzzled, and lead the way into the Burrow.
"Arthur, I'm not sure we should leave them alone." Mum said fearfully as she stared at the door they all disappeared behind.
"I can't intrude, Molly. We'll just have to be on our guard in case they need us."
Dad sat down heavily in his chair. He smiled briefly at all of us before reaching over and taking a sip of some water Mum had poured for him.
"Should we start eating?" Fred asked the quiet table.
"Of course we shouldn't!" I retorted. "It's Harry's birthday; we can't just eat his birthday without him!"
"Keep your pants on, Gin. I was just asking," Fred sank low in his seat and I crossed my arms angrily.
It felt like hours passed, though it had only been ten minutes when we all heard raised voices. Mum and Dad shot out of their seats faster than I would think they could have and ran into the house. A minute later, the Minister marched across our lawn and Disapparated outside our boundaries. Mum called back that he was gone.
Harry, Dad, Hermione, and Ron all came trooping back out and passed around the objects they had all been left by Dumbledore. After examining all of them and offering no help as to why they had received them, we all finally tucked in to the meal Mum had made. We ate quickly, sang a quick version of 'Happy Birthday!' to Harry, then scarfed down his cake. After we all finished, everyone broke up and dispersed to various parts of the yard and house. I watched as Harry whispered something to Hermione and she nodded curtly. I rolled my eyes and started carrying a large stack of dishes in the house after Mum.
That night, I lay quietly in bed, steadying my breathing so Hermione would think I was sleeping. I heard her bed creak as she sat up and slipped on some slippers. She opened my door and squeezed out as to not wake me up. I waited a while before working up the nerve to sneak up to Ron's room. As I grew closer I heard a swarm of bees buzzing nearby and looked around confused.
They must have put a spell so I (or Mum) couldn't hear. Damn them. I turned down and made my way back to my room, cringing as I stepped on the loose floor board by my room.
I had just gotten under my covers when Hermione came back. I closed my eyes and turned away from her, hoping she didn't see me awake.
"Goodnight, Ginny." she whispered through the dark. I groaned internally then whispered, "Goodnight, Hermione."
Twelve hours later, I was standing by the entrance of marquee, waiting for the music to start playing. I fidgeted with my dress, trying to get it to fall right on me.
"Ginny, you look le magnifique!" Fleur said brightly, turning to assess me. I smiled gratefully at her and stopped fidgeting. The music began to play as Monsieur Delacour escorted Fleur down the aisle. Everyone gave a collective sigh as they looked at the two Delacours. Gabrielle followed after and then I walked solo down the aisle. I was feeling jittery, and was all smiles as I took my place beside Gabrielle at the end of the aisle.
"Yes my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely," said Auntie Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low-cut."
Judging by the slightly cooler air hitting my chest, I decided my dress was perfectly cut. I smiled in spite of myself, and turned and sent a wink towards Harry. I held in a laugh as I saw his face go blank, making it obvious his mind wasn't fully focused on the wedding.
". . . then I declare you bonded for life."
Stars rained down over BIll and Fleur, and birds of paradise burst from balloons. The entire wedding party and guests stood up as the marquee transformed into a reception. My smile faltered a little as everyone spread out and began dancing or grabbing seats. I strolled around the perimeter, enjoying the scene. I laughed out right as I saw Ron look angrily towards Krum before ordering Hermione to dance with him. Hermione looked pleasantly surprised as she joined him on the floor. My eyes drifted towards Luna dancing quite alone. I smiled brightly as I went to join her.
"Hello Luna!" I said loudly over the music. She opened her eyes and smiled.
"Hello Ginny." Her dreamy voice drifted through the music notes.
I giggled and tok her empty hands and danced with her happily. We dissolved into laughter as we danced circles around Ron and Hermione. Someone tapped on my shoulder and, hoping it was 'Barny', I turned eagerly.
It wasn't 'Barny'. It was Lee Jordan, looking dapper in dress robes the color of the lake at Hogwarts.
"Care to dance?" he asked kindly. I smiled, and took his outstretched hand.
"How've you been, Lee?" I asked him as he spun me around the floor.
"Good, got a job announcing the Quidditch match for the Holy Head Harpies. They didn't take to kindly to a man being hired, but I persuaded them in the end." Lee winked at me and I made a mental not to NOT ask what he did to persuade them.
"Great!" We lapsed into silence as a slower song came on. I rested my head on his shoulder, my eyes locking on Harry who was leaning moodily on a pillar.
The night went on and I had passed Lee, Fred and George, Dad, and even Viktor Krum who kept looking around stealthily, as if he were expecting someone to pop up and steal me away.
I was about to take a seat at a table far from the dance floor as the music stopped abruptly and a lynx soared through the canopy.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
Panic erupted in the canopy. Popping noises were everywhere; people were leaving in hurry and people were arriving. I couldn't see any body I knew as I pulled out my wand, ready to fight.
I weaved through the guests and pointed my wand at a hooded figure.
"Stupefy!" I shrieked and the man fell like a dead weight backwards.
As I watched him fall, I heard Hermione's desperate calls for Ron. I turned just in time to see them huddled together and Hermione turn on the spot. In a second, they were gone.
"Ginny, get out of here!" Dad yelled towards me. I almost went to argue but then I remembered my promise to Ron. I took off at a run towards the opening of the tent, pushing aside people as I went. I'd feel guilty about that later, but right now I had bigger worries. I hoisted up my dress to above my knees, making it easier for me to run. I burst through the back door and took the steps two at a time; not an easy feat in heels.
"Des- descend!" I gasped for air as I made the ladder fall. kicking off my shoes, I climbed the ladder half way.
"Come!" I said hurriedly to the Ghoul. He moaned rather loudly and began moving towards me. "Hurry! And stay quiet!"
It took much longer than I would have hoped, but eventually I was guiding the Ghoul be its grotesque hand towards Ron's room. I pushed him into Ron's bed and covering him with the orange blanket. Then, near hysterics now, I tried to stash away Harry's camp cot. I folded it up and shoved it in a corner, hoping Spattergroit covered 'Ron' would take the focus away from the huge eye sore that was Harry Potter's existence here.
I heard footsteps bounding on the steps and my breath hitched in my throat as the door burst open and in walked three cloaked Death Eaters, wands out.
"Where's Potter?" A familiar voice spoke through it's mask. I tried not to coil back as I spoke.
"I don't know!"
Bellatrix Lestrange's eyes flitted over to the moaning Ghoul in the bed.
"What's wrong with him?" Her voice slid like acid from her tongue. I took a step towards the Ghoul.
"My brother, Ron. He's come down with an awful case of Spattergroit." I tried my best to keep calm, but I couldn't help but wondering where the rest of my family were.
"Bellatrix…it's quite obvious that these scum don't know where he is…" A Death Eater I couldn't name backed away from 'Ron', trying to leave.
Bellatrix Lestrange took a sweeping look around the room, seemingly deciding that there was nothing left for them to search. They left in a swift motion, and I sunk to my knees by Ron's bed. Only for a moment though, because I heard them crashing things down below. I ran from landing to landing until I arrived in Mum's broken kitchen. I burst into the living room to see all my family gathered around each other. Mum rushed over when she saw me and hugged me tightly to her. To my immense relief, all Death Eaters were gone, though they left quite the mark above our house.
"Did anyone get hurt?" I asked Dad. He shook his head.
"Thankfully, no."
"Where'd you disappear to?" Charlie asked quietly. I was about to tell him when Mum shushed us both.
"We're being watched, children."
This was it. The first bits of the war had reached us all, and our only hopes had been left in the hands of a boy with striking green eyes and a lightning bolt on his head.
How was it? Sorry if it felt like I put a lot of the book in this chapter! I just felt like I had to add some of it so that it wasn't like Ginny didn't care. Anyway, the next chapter will be purely original now, because Harry has left. Reviews are always welcome! Thank you!