Disclaimer: I still don't own a thing. I don't own the the characters, the plot, or the magic. If I had a mind as creative as that then I wouldn't be wasting my time writing fanfictions. Although, maybe the Weasley family could adopt me, yeah?!

Author's Note: What plot? Well, yes, it is rather plot-less. Please forgive that. It is, however, full of Weasley fluff. And we all love those Weasleys. I've decided on writing a series of one-shots rather than a bunch of stand alones. It's much easier this way. I intend on hitting a bit of each character as the one-shots progress. However, most of them will be focused on the Weasleys, both new and old. If you have an idea for a fic that you've always wanted to see, please let me know. I might just write it for you. With a dedication and all. : ) Haha. If not, I'll continue pulling fluffy goodness out of me until I'm fresh out. Don't be afraid to request a fic, my dears. I don't bite. Really. Now on with the show!


A Forever Thing

Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again after moments or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends

The rain fell in buckets outside of The Burrow. It had started drizzling late the night before and built up to a steady downpour. On most rainy days, Ginny hated having to stay cooped up inside. Today she was glad for the rain. It fit her mood and the occasion perfectly.

Today was the last day she would have any siblings for awhile. Sure, she had gotten used to saying goodbyes. It was only a matter of time before her last brother would abandon her and go to Hogwarts with the others. She was expecting it, anticipating it, since the first day at Platform 9 ¾, where she said goodbye to Bill for the first time. Ginny Weasley just hadn't imagined it would be quite this hard.

Of course, Ron was her favorite brother, even though she would never admit it. It was wrong to have favorites, even Ginny knew that, especially when it came down to your own bloodline. But Ginny had been stuck with Ron since the day she came into the world. Bill had Charlie, Fred had George, Percy had Mum and Ginny had Ron. That was just the way the Weasley clan worked.

Ron would never openly confess it, but he played with Ginny a lot. From house to tea party, Ron had pulled through for Ginny when she needed him the most. Sure, he was an insufferable prat at times, but he was still her brother. Ginny's favorite brother. And currently she wasn't so sure she was ready to let him go.

Ginny had attempted to speak with Ron the night before. She knocked on his door and he rambled on about how great Hogwarts was going to be. "Can you imagine I'm actually going, Gin?" and "Hogwarts… Imagine that!" were the only phrases he kept muttering, over and over again. Ginny just didn't have the heart to voice her own selfish insecurities. Ron was happy. Even if she was miserable, she was still a bit happy for Ron too.

Now time was running out. Tomorrow all of her remaining brothers would jump onto the Hogwarts Express and she would be stuck with Mum and Dad. The thought was anything but charming. This time not only would Ginny lose a brother, but a good friend as well.

Today, Mrs. Weasley announced previously, would be dedicated to packing. Ginny would sit around and wait until one of her brothers hollered they needed help. Then she would go bouncing up the stairs, eager to come to their aid. Because helping them pack meant that she was part of the Hogwarts festivities, almost likes she was really going herself. But who was she kidding? Ginny would have nothing more to look forward to than a nice nine months helping dear old Mum.

The more time that passed, the more Ginny's anxiety over the Hogwarts departure increased. The words she wanted to say to her youngest brother would get all messed up in her head. Ginny was not a very emotional girl, unless, of course, she was angered. She had no idea how to tell Ron what she wanted to without sounding overly sentimental, and girly.

"All packed! I win!"

Fred's voice broke through the room, instantly pulling Ginny out of her reverie. Fred took the seat next to her, on the well worn sofa. His arm snaked around the back, loosely hanging around Ginny's shoulders as he wore a triumphant smile.

"Oi, Ginny! Are you going to miss me?" Fred's smile turned into one that was sickly sweet as he fluttered his eyelashes a bit. It was like this every single year since the twins left. It kept Ginny from crying over their absence.

"You wish…" Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and quickly looked the other way, trying to hide the evident apprehension on her face.

"Ronniekins is almost all grown up! Ginnybear, you're almost ancient! I remember when you were a wee little crawling bundle!" A mock look of nostalgia passed over Fred's face as he did his best interpretation of Auntie Muriel.

"Ha. Ha."

What Ginny really wanted to do was run up the stairs and tell Ron that he couldn't leave her! Not for a whole school year all by herself! What would she do with all of her time? Who would she play Exploding Snap with? Certainly not anyone in the nearby neighborhoods, who thought their family was absolutely insane. She would be a loner trapped inside the Burrow for far too long. The only slight reprieve, the only thing she could truly look forward to, was the Christmas break. That is, if her brother even decided to come home! Ginny was afraid that once Ron got a good taste of Hogwarts, he would never want to leave! He would surely make his own new friends, and it would change their relationship forever.

"Ah, c'mon now Gin. No time for pouting when we've got such a busy day!"

With that, Fred abruptly stood up, petting Ginny on the head condescendingly, infuriating the smallest redhead even more. She was always the baby, the girl, the one that they had to be careful of and watch over. The only good thing was, previously Ginny hadn't been alone. Ron was also the baby, the youngest son, the one who had an irrational temper and had to be looked over closely. Apparently that wasn't the case anymore, as everyone seemed to deem him a man, now that he was shipping off to Hogwarts.

Ginny stood up herself, following in Fred's wake back up the rickety staircase. She passed Percy's room, leaning her ear closer to the door to hear his muffled words.

"Thirty house points from Slytherin for that prank!"

A long pause followed as Ginny's eyebrows rose in confusion.

"Excuse me, I believe this is the Restricted Section for a reason!"

After hearing a frustrated sigh coming from behind the closed door, Ginny grew a bit concerned over her older brother's sanity.

"No, no. Not firm enough!" Came Percy's angry voice, berating himself.

"Is Percy playing Prefect again?"

Ginny's head whipped around, her face burning red as she was caught eavesdropping on Percy, coming face to face with Fred's counterpart.

"You think that's what he's doing?" Ginny's whisper carried some surprise to it, as she cocked her head in George's direction.

"Definitely! Ever since he got that badge he's been a terror. That wand up his arse is stuck even higher!"

Ginny muffled a laugh and rolled her eyes, slowly backing away from the door before Percy realized she was there.

"Lucky you get a break from him!"

George gave Ginny a meaningful look as he turned the corner to go up another flight of stairs, a tangle of clothes carried in his arms.

A sigh escaped Ginny as she headed over to Ron's shut door, knocking on it briefly before opening it. Ginny knew the minute she flung the door open, with Ron's back to her, that something wasn't quite right. Hesitantly, she shut he door behind her firmly, startling her brother enough to cause him to jump off of his bed.

Ginny took in Ron's red eyes and blotchy cheeks immediately. Ron's fists flew to his side, clenched, the anger evident and radiating off of him.

"Just what gives you the right to came barging in my room like that!"

If Ginny had had her doubts before, the cracking in his hoarse voice gave it away completely. Ginny didn't say anything, just looked down at the floor a bit nervously. Out of all the things they had been through together, Ginny had never witnessed her brother crying. At least, not true tears that were full of emotions.

"Why are you sad?"

"Ginny, just get out, will you?! Get lost!"

Ron pointed at the door, swinging his arms madly in his honest attempt to make her leave.

"Get lost, huh? Is this what it's going to be like now? You go off to bloody Hogwarts and think you're too good for me? Well I'll have you know Ron Weasley that it was me who taught you almost everything you know!" In her rage, Ginny stomped her foot childishly, her true ten year old behaviors coming out at the unfairness of it all.

"You don't have the right to come in here, yelling at me -"

"No, you don't have the right to leave me here all by myself!"

Ron immediately stopped, as he noticed Ginny was near tears. It took him by surprise, a shock, almost, that his little sister was practically crying. The last time he had witnessed her tears was when she was four or five, a very long time ago to an eleven year old.

Embarrassed by her show of emotions, Ginny tilted her head down towards the carpet, avoiding Ron's eyes at all costs.

"You should be happy to be going. Not crying about it."

"Yeah, well it's scary, alright?"

Ron drew in a deep breath and collapsed onto his bed.

"If I'm not sorted into Gryffindor, I'll be disowned. I'll have to make all new friends. I'll have to actually be a wizard. Merlin, what if I'm not meant to be one?"

Ginny strode over to him and rolled her eyes, slumping herself down beside him.

"That's rubbish. You're a Weasley. Of course you'll be sorted into Gryffindor. You're meant to be a wizard."

She intentionally left out the friends bit, as that was the part Ginny was worried about the most, herself. Ron finding new friends and completely snubbing her would be one of the worst things in the whole world.

"I don't know, Gin…"

"Well I do!" Ginny said firmly, her eyes narrowing at her brother. "And if you don't manage to find any friends, I'll always be here."

At that, Ron did something Ginny hadn't expected. He flung his arms around her and hugged her hard, nearly suffocating her with the strength of it.

"Ginny, we'll always be friends. Is that's what had you all in a mood all month? We're siblings. I couldn't break away from you even if I tried."

Ron gave his sister a small smile, one that was oddly comforting, considering who it came from.

"And you'll write to me, Ron?"

"I swear I will."

"Every day?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far."

"Once a week?"

"If you're lucky."

A scoff followed his reply, and Ginny punched Ron lightly in the arm.

"I'll miss you."

"Gin, I'll miss you too."

"Don't forget about me suffering here all year!" Ginny flashed him a smile, her mind more at ease.

"You'd never let me." Looking around his room, Ron eyed Ginny and sighed. "You don't think you'd want to help me pack, huh?"

Groaning, Ginny hopped off of Ron's bed and grabbed Ron's trunk.

"Well, somebody has to do it!"

Together, the two siblings laughed and filled Ron's trunk with everything he would need for the school year. There was no doubt that Ginny and Ron's relationship would change over the years. But he was still her brother, and brothers were a forever thing.


Please read and review.

Feedback from wonderful readers like you would be very much appreciated.

I don't mind if you tell me 'Ew! That was horrible.' or 'Aw, I liked it.' Just a little note would be fantastic.

And I am sorry I haven't updated this as often as I should have. But I have multiple one-shots going for THE BURROW. I just have to work on pulling them together and finishing them.

There hasn't been much interest in these one-shots. But we'll see how it goes.

- Mur