Chapter Nine: Ginny
On the morning of August tenth, Harry woke with a start, remembering what it had been that had been at the back of his mind for several days, bothering him, but not quite letting itself be known.
Tomorrow was Ginny's birthday. Her sixteenth birthday.
Jumping out of bed, he quickly showered and dressed, and was downstairs before anyone but Molly was up.
"Mrs Weasley?"
"Good morning, love," Molly said, turning from the stove.
"Good morning... I need to talk to you."
"What is it, love?"
"It's about tomorrow..."
"Yes?"
"Ginny's birthday."
Molly smiled. "I know love. I was there, remember?"
Harry flushed. "Well, she's sixteen... I was wondering if... well, would she like a party... or anything?"
"What a lovely thought, dear... we..." Molly suddenly stopped and looked at him, horrified.
"What?"
"Oh, Harry... I'm so sorry!"
"For what?"
"With everything, the day we came here... we forgot!"
"Forgot what?"
"Harry... that was your birthday! Your seventeenth! Your coming of age!"
"It's okay, Mrs Weasley... I got what I wanted for my birthday... the best gift I could have wished for."
"I know you love that bike, love."
"The bike?" Harry laughed. Funny how he'd not even thought of it since leaving it at the Weasley's that day. "I wasn't talking about the bike. I was talking about being with all of you."
"Oh, love!" Molly looked like she was close to tears again, and Harry shifted uncomfortably. Why did women always cry around him? What was he supposed to do when they did?
"Ginny's birthday..." he changed the subject quickly, recognizing a pending Molly-moment when he saw one, and not feeling equipped to deal with it right then. "Did you have anything... well, planned?"
"No, love. Just the family and a cake."
"Is that... would she like something... bigger?"
"Bigger, how?" Molly looked at him curiously.
"Well... I don't know. A party?"
"When you get our whole family together, love, you tend to end up with a party," Molly laughed.
"No... I meant..." Harry flushed. "Was there anyone... special... you think she might like to have around?"
"Ah..." Molly watched him carefully as she dried her hands and carried two tea cups to the table. "Special?"
"Well..." Harry flushed harder.
"I think that there might be someone," Molly sat, pouring tea for each of them from the pot she'd sat on the table earlier.
"Oh..." Harry nodded, trying hard to not feel upset. Of course Ginny had someone. He had read too much into that kiss in the den...
"As a matter of fact, I've not heard her go on about anyone as much as this one young man."
"Oh... well... maybe..." Harry swallowed. "If she wants him to be here..."
"Oh, I'm sure she does," Molly smiled.
"I..." Harry stood, knowing he needed to get out for a bit... cool off.
"Harry... sit down."
"I... I think I'm going to go out for a bit... I..."
"Harry, I'm teasing you."
"What?"
"Harry Potter... I know you have difficulties sometimes seeing what's right in front of you, but even you can't be so blind as to not see how Ginny feels about you?"
Harry swallowed, tried to speak, but found he couldn't.
"Now, like every other birthday, there will be a cake, and gifts... and family. And Ginny will be thrilled with it all, because this year, she'll have you and Hermione, as well, and Remus... and maybe we can even talk Dumbledore into dropping by, hmm?"
"Okay, Mrs Weasley."
"Oh, and Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Next time you want to know if Ginny is seeing someone, perhaps you ought to ask her?"
Harry turned scarlet, "Okay, Mrs Weasley."
And with that, he raced from the room, heading for his own.
"Harry!" Hermione called out from the door to her room as he raced past... and he slowed. "Where's the fire?"
Harry turned to her, his ears still burning, and she began to grin.
"Oh. I see," she laughed. "Well, Ginny didn't cause it because she's still in bed... so I'm betting on Molly?"
"What...?"
"Never mind," Hermione smirked, a rather knowing look on her face.
"Hermione..." Harry took a breath. "I was thinking about Ginny's gift... her birthday is tomorrow."
"I know," Hermione smiled. "But you can't go into Diagon Alley, Harry... not without someone along..."
"I don't need to go into Diagon Alley... I... I know what I want to give her... but... I was wondering..."
"What?"
"I'm not very good at wrapping," he admitted sheepishly.
"Where is it?" she sighed, shaking her head.
Harry smiled, took her hand and started off sprinting down the hall, Hermione being dragged along behind. Racing along the corridor, he dragged Hermione into the last room, and closed the door behind them.
"Harry, is this...?"
"My parent's bedroom, as best as I can tell."
Hermione looked around, seeing the framed pictures on the dresser, of people she didn't know.
Until she saw the one next to the bed.
"Oh, Harry... look!"
"I saw it," he said softly, watching as she picked up the framed picture of an infant, a shock of black hair over dancing green eyes.
"Did you know..."
"I saw the room the first day... but I came back later, alone, to explore it. I... I've spent a couple nights in here."
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"It's okay, Mione... really. I'm okay."
"Are you really?"
"I'm better now than I have been in a long, long time," he said. "Now, look at this."
Going to the desk, he pulled out the drawer, and from it took a black box. It was obviously heavy, and Hermione thought it might be made of onyx.
"What is it?"
"It's a writing set," Harry said. "I showed it to Remus and he said that it was my mother's."
"Oh, Harry..."
"I thought... Ginny might..."
"She'll love it."
"Will she? It's not..."
"Harry, it's a lovely gift. Especially since you've only just found it yourself. It must mean a lot to you..."
"Well... so does Ginny," he flushed.
Hermione's eyes lit, and she sat down on the bed. "Go on, then."
"Go on... what?"
"Tell me what Ginny means to you."
"Mione..."
"Harry... it's no secret, you know. I've just been waiting for you to realize it."
"You... you knew?"
"I've known for a while, Harry. You can't hide the way you look at her."
"But... but I've just figured it out... how did you know?"
Hermione shrugged, smiling one of those annoying girl smiles. "I just did."
Harry, deciding a change of subject was in order, looked at her through narrowed eyes.
"Okay... what's going on with you and Ron, then?"
"What?" Hermione looked shocked.
"Oh, come on, Mione... if it's obvious to me, do you really think that no one else has noticed? I'm not exactly the most intuitive bloke around."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said stiffly, not meeting his eyes. But Harry saw the slight flush around her neck. Dead giveaway.
"He likes you, too, you know."
"He does?" she turned to him eagerly, her flush heightening as she realized what she'd done.
Harry raised his eyebrows at her.
"Oh, alright, already! Yes, I like him. More than like him, sometimes, I think. But he never so much as..."
"And he won't, Mione."
"Why not?"
"Because he's Ron. You'll have to make the first move, you know."
"No way!"
"Well, if you really wanted..."
"Don't you try reverse psychology on me, Harry Potter. I've been using it on you and Ron for the past six years... I'm a master, and I recognize it when I see it."
Harry smiled, and shrugged.
"You really think I need to..."
"Look, he's wanted to... well, he's liked you since before fourth year. Has he done anything yet?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't know, Harry, that's the point."
"Mione... you're pretty, you're smart... and your family is very, very well off."
"So?" she said, flushing at his compliments.
"So, if the first two aren't enough to make him think twice, the third one is. Ron has a real thing about his family not having much money. You know he'd never think you'd..."
"I don't care about things like that."
"I know you don't, or I wouldn't be telling you this. Go to him, make the first move, and tell him how you feel. Ron's not going to, so if you want him, you're going to have to."
"You really think so?"
"Yes."
"If you're wrong, Harry Potter..."
"You and Ginny get to take turns bat-bogey hexing me daily for the rest of the summer."
"Wow," she smiled. "You are pretty sure, then, aren't you?"
"Never more so."
"Okay. But in my own time, and in my own way. Understood?"
"Sure."
"I swear, Harry, if you say one word about this conversation with anyone..."
"What conversation was that, Mione?" he stood, handing her the box.
"The one about my wrapping this present for you, of course."
"Ah, that one. Can you put it in my room when you're done?"
"Better yet, I'll wrap it in there. Ginny is still in our room, and she could wake up at any moment."
"Thanks, Mione."
"Anytime, Harry. Although..."
"Although?"
"I think," she said as she moved towards the door, an evil little smile on her face. "That I know something Ginny would like more."
"A Firebolt?" Harry laughed. "Fred and George bound and gagged?"
"How about a Harry Potter with a red ribbon and a cherry on top?" she said naughtily before closing the door behind her, missing entirely Harry's lightning quick flush of pure embarrassment.
Dawn the following day, Ginny's birthday, found Harry sitting at the edge of the lake, staring out over the misty surface. It was cool, and damp, but the morning sun would soon burn that off. It was quiet here, and he found that, right now, he desperately needed the quiet to think.
He was thinking of the kiss in the den. Ginny had nearly cried when he pulled away, and she'd said she loved him. He'd thought she meant... well, as the Weasley family loved each other.
Maybe he'd been wrong. According to Hermione...
He sighed. What was he going to do? He knew what he wanted to do... but was that what would be best for Ginny? He had a Dark Lord to defeat. What if he failed?
And what if he put Ginny in danger? What if it was common knowledge that he cared about her? Wouldn't that make her a target? He knew he wouldn't be able to bear it if Tom got to her again, he'd barely survived the last time.
And that made him think. How long had he felt this way? How long...
A very long time, he realized. He'd never been very happy about her and Michael Corner... or her and Dean for that matter, despite the fact that that had ended after the first time Dean came into their dorm late, talking about his great date, and Ron had given him a black eye. Dean had backed off very quickly after that, and Harry could only remember a certain sense of... satisfaction.
He freely admitted that if Ron hadn't done it, he would have... but he'd always dismissed it as a brotherly affection. Only one didn't kiss their sister in the way that he'd kissed Ginny the other night.
Which brought up another rather interesting consideration. What would Ron's reaction be? Did he care?
Of course I care, he thought. But it wouldn't stop me...
And that answered his question of himself. Ginny Weasley, somehow over the past five years, had become more important to him than his own best friend, someone who had stood by him through some of the worst times of his life. He had no idea how it had happened…but it had.
He cared, it would hurt if Ron wasn't happy about it, but being with Ginny... that was more important.
Sighing, he stood, and made his way back to the house. He had to talk to Ron.
He found him still snoring, which wasn't surprising considering it was just after six. Harry closed Ron's door behind him, and put up a privacy charm. He didn't want anyone overhearing this particular conversation. Particularly at six in the morning. Particularly if it got loud.
Which, knowing Ron and his protective attitude towards his sister, it probably would.
"Hey, Ron... wake up."
"Ooommmaaapphff..." Ron rolled over, burying his head in his pillow and completely ignoring Harry.
"Ron, come on, I need to talk to you. Wake up."
"Harry... bloody hell, don't you ever sleep?" Ron grumbled, opening one eye to glare at his friend.
"Not often," Harry replied dryly, watching from where he sat in a chair pulled up beside the bed as Ron's other eye slowly opened.
"What do you want, Potter? And make it good. I was having a really, really good dream."
"About who? Or can I guess?"
"Shut up," Ron said over a yawn as he sat up and rubbed one hand over his face. "What time is it?"
"Six."
"Bloody hell, Harry! Why can't you ever want to talk at a decent hour?"
"Hey... you and Mione are the ones who are always on me about keeping things to myself. I come to you, and look what I get," Harry laughed.
"Shut it," Ron scooted back against the headboard of his bed, pulling the covers up to his waist, and folded his hands in his lap. His hair, which he hadn't allowed Molly to cut in months because he'd overheard Parvati and Lavender saying they liked it long, stuck out at odd angles, and he looked utterly ridiculous.
Harry smirked.
"Hey... just because you look like this all the time..."
"Not like that, mate," Harry denied.
"Yeah, whatever. So talk, already."
"Ron... I need to ask you something..."
"What?"
"Ginny..."
"What about her?"
"Ron... I know you've been a bit... concerned... over the blokes she's dated in past..."
"Is that what this is about? And it couldn't have waited until a decent hour... preferably after breakfast?"
"No."
"Bloody hell, Harry, this isn't easy on an empty stomach, you know."
Harry flushed. "Look, I just wanted..."
"Yeah, mate... I know what you want. Okay, here's the canned speech, okay? Hurt her and you'll have six Weasley men after your balls... we'll make you eat them while we watch. Dad'll help."
"Ummm... what?"
"Well, that was what this was about, right?"
"I don't..."
"Look, Harry, I love my sister. She's a right pain in the arse sometimes, but I love her. But I care about you, too. I know you're a decent bloke... not like Dean bloody Thomas... can you believe that he...?"
"Ron... focus!"
"Right... anyhow... I can't think of anyone I'd rather see her with. But I'll still feed you your stones if you hurt her. Bill has other plans for you if you mess up..."
"Bill? You've discussed this?"
"Sure. It's been obvious to pretty much everyone the way things have been heading... Percy thought that public humiliation might be preferable, but Charlie and Bill and I agree that physical pain is the best deterrent... now I did point out that you seem to have a higher than average pain threshold, but that just seemed to please them..."
"Ron!"
Bleary blue eyes looked up at him. "What?"
"Are you okay with my dating your sister? Or is that going to be a problem between you and I?"
"No problem with me, mate. Might have a problem with the others. Bill seems reasonably okay with it... Charlie might be another story. He taught her how to knee a bloke when she was nine. You don't mess with a guy that'll teach a girl to do something like that."
"I'll deal with them... but I don't want you and I..."
"I'm touched, Harry, really. To tell you the truth, I'm more ticked off at your having woken me at the crack of bloody dawn for this little conversation."
"Goodnight, Ron," Harry stood, moving the desk chair back to the desk and heading for the door.
"G'night, Harry," Ron yawned, and laying back down, was asleep before Harry closed the door after him.
I've come to the conclusion that I must stop using subtlety. Apparently, I suck at it. The relationship between Remus and Petunia was in the past, and will stay there. This was merely a ploy on my part, used in an effort to show a side of Petunia that I don't think many consider... that she had a life before Vernon Dursley.
I'll stop now.
CQ
Larna Mandrea: You know, I hadn't considered putting the opening of that box in this fic... just the fact of it. Perhaps I ought to consider what happens after...
Bklynbecca: Do we know either way? Certainly they knew her. Remus refers to her as a friend, and would Lily have allowed Sirius to become her child's godfather if she didn't know him, and like him? I think we can safely assume that Lily knew and liked both Remus and Sirius. As for Remus... he is a werewolf. Canon refers to him as such, and it doesn't go away just because it's between full moons. He suffers from Lycanthropy... he's a werewolf, and I really do hope that you don't think I'm making him out to be evil because of his affliction. Remus is one of my favorite characters, has appeared in practically ALL of my fics as an older, caring, uncle-figure to Harry. I mention it in the same way that I mention that the Weasleys are red-headed, that Charlie and Bill are protective of Ginny, that Ron is loyal but a bit dense, and that Hermione is a muggle-born bookworm. It's what they are, and it's certainly not meant to be offensive.
RyougaZell: I think Harry was still too stunned to get his thoughts together enough to make any observation on Lucius Malfoy. As to the "Remember my last" the book actually says it was the deep voice of a man... but there is no interpretation given to the MEANING behind it, or whether it was someone reminding Petunia of their own words or actions, or those of someone else in the past. My interpretation of it for this story is loose, to say the least. I actually believe that there is something rather more sinister to it, and that we will learn MUCH more about that in future canon... and remember, in the book, Harry didn't recognize the voice. That tells me that it wasn't someone he knew, which (IMHO) rules out Dumbledore.
Shotgunn: One of these days, I promise, I'll write the epic you want. This one, I am afraid, will not be it. But perhaps a sequel...
Thunder's Shadow: Sometimes, to learn things, we must first look at them in the context of our own world. Perhaps Harry has some things to learn.
Merlindamage: Maybe her value isn't in her ability to do magic... maybe it's more in what Harry needs to learn from her.
Akemi: The Remus/Petunia interaction was merely a vehicle to demonstrate that Petunia wasn't always as she is, and that the choices we make sometimes change who we are... not to mention the fact that Harry needs to learn to stop looking at others as in one of two camps... people are many things... and no situation is ever only black or white.
DavidMPotter: Nope – Harry and Ginny in every chapter wouldn't be any fun at all. I like making you all wait for it...
PCB: In this story, Petunia wasn't muggleborn... David and Rebecca Evans were Squibs, both of wizarding families. As for the Remus/Petunia thing... you never know. That's the point. Who knew what Petunia was like before the advent of Vernon Dursley?
GeeUnit: Aww, such lovely compliments!
To all the others, thank you: Bobboky, MysticRuby, Kordolin, Nimbirosa, Agloechen, ImaQuidditchFan, Eris Queen of the Shadows, SabineStrohemMoss, IndiaInk, Starnat, Nightwing509, CannonFodder, Cara, DrowningGoldfish, Lourdes, Pdlegirl, Weselan, LadyofMasbolle, Lilia3, IcePhoenixTears, RedBessRackham, Medieval Woman
