"Ginny? Ginny?" a male voice woke Ginny from her sleep.
"No, no-Mum, too early," Ginny mumbled, swatting at the offending voice.
"I'm not Mum," the voice snorted. "Get up, Red. Don't make me hex you."
It took a few seconds for Ginny's sleepy brain to process the words. Only two people called her Red, and one of them was due for a visit.
Ginny shot up out of her bed, nearly knocking her brother to the floor.
"Bill!" Ginny screamed, tackling her brother.
"Oof! Missed you too, sis," Bill said, mussing up Ginny's bedhead.
"How are you? How's Africa? How are the goblins?" Ginny asked.
"Slow down, Ginny," Bill laughed. "Come on, let's go get some breakfast."
Ginny followed her older brother downstairs, happily chattering with him. She loved when Bill visited. He was one of the few people who saw her as her own person, and Ginny knew she could tell him anything.
Breakfast was a much happier affair than usual, Ginny had missed having someone else at home with her.
"It's been rather odd only having Ginny home," Dad commented.
"I bet," Bill agreed. "Still, rather it be Ginny home than Fred and George."
Ginny giggled and lost track of the conversation for a bit until she heard Mum calling her name.
"Have you heard from Hermione lately, dear?" Mum questioned, flicking her wand to wash the dishes.
"Who's Hermione?" Bill asked, stretching back in his seat.
"I met her at Diagon Alley," Ginny quipped. "She's a first-year Gryffindor, like Ron. I've been having her keep an on him." Ginny's eyes sparkled mischievously.
Bill smirked at his youngest sibling.
"How's Ron doing then?" He asked.
"Good, I think," Ginny said hesitantly, debating on how much to tell her brother. "Hermione tells me he's pretty good friends with Harry Potter." She tried to be nonchalant about the name, but ended up blushing rather fantastically.
Bill almost dropped his tea in shock.
"Harry Potter," Bill marveled. "I guess he would be Hogwarts age now…"
"Hermione says that he's really nice," Ginny added, still fighting a blush off her cheeks.
Bill shot her a knowing glance.
"Seems like Fred and George were right about that…" He muttered.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at Bill, but let the remark slide.
"I'm going upstairs," she announced. "I'm expecting a letter from Hermione soon."
Ginny bounded up the stairs, leaving Bill to chat with her parents.
Ginny let out an excited squeal when she spotted the familiar school owl sitting on her window sill. Even after two months, the letters from her friend still made her happy. Plus, she had to send a letter to Ron, so she could use the school owl for that.
November 1st, 1991
Dear Ginny,
You are never going to believe this. I think your brother, Harry, and I are actually friends now. Honestly, I'm still confused about how it all happened! I think I'm rather shocked still. It only happened yesterday, after all.
Halloween started out horrible. I've been lonely these past few months, but yesterday it really hit me. I was paired with your brother in Charms, and I was rather bossy while trying to show him the correct wand technique. Anyway, I don't think he appreciated my advice and said some rather rude things about me that I overheard. Don't be too harsh on him, Ginny, he did save my life.
After overhearing aforementioned remarks, I spent the day in the girl's bathroom. Er, crying, that is. It wasn't just your brother that I was upset about, it was a culmination of things.
I don't know how long I was in there for, but I guess it was a long time. The next thing I hear is a scraping noise with heavy footsteps. Not a human's footsteps either, Ginny. Someone let a TROLL into Hogwarts last night! I don't think know who did it yet, but I'm sure the Professors will figure it out.
Of course, the troll stumbles into the bathroom I'm in. Just my luck. I would tell you more about the whole event, but all I remember is it swinging its club and me screaming. I think I was in shock. Somehow Harry and Ron found me in the bathroom, and eventually knocked out the troll with its own club.
The Professors showed up, and I took the blame. Harry and Ron looked shocked, but it was partially my fault too. I was being silly crying in the stall all day. I still can't believe I lied to a teacher, but Harry and Ron saved me. I really owed them.
Afterwards, we walked to the common room together and said good night, and this morning they waited for me to walk down to breakfast! I think I finally have some friends here. Can you believe it, Ginny?
Love from,
Hermione
Ginny finished the letter and leaned back on her bed heavily. She couldn't believe some of the situations Harry and Ron managed to get into. She picked up her quill and grabbed some parchment for her letter to Ron.
Dear Ron,
If you don't start treating certain people more nicely, I will personally come to Hogwarts and hex you. Don't think I'm joking, Ronald Weasley, because I most certainly am not. Mum wanted me to tell you that we're going to Romania for Christmas. Just me, Mum, and Dad though. I suppose that means you, Fred, George, and Percy will be spending Christmas at Hogwarts this year. That means I'll be going to Romania! Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it when I see you next. We're leaving the first of December to visit Charlie, and we're not arriving back home until the twenty-seventh. Do be careful over the holidays, Ron. I actually might miss you if something happened to you.
Your loving sister,
Ginny
Ginny rolled her responses to Ron and Hermione and tied them to the waiting owl's leg.
"Thanks, girl," Ginny said softly, stroking the owls beak.
The rest of the week passed quickly. Ginny enjoyed Bill's company; she missed her older brother far too much when he wasn't around. However, all good things must come to an end, and Bill's visit was due to end that Sunday.
Ginny gloomily found her way downstairs the morning of Bill's departure and sat down for breakfast.
"Cheer up, Red," Bill told her. "You'll be seeing Charlie soon, and you won't even have time to miss me."
"Of course I'll still miss you! You're always gone far too long," Ginny complained, but with an undertone of sincerity in her voice. She really wished Bill could find a job in England, but she understood his reasons for staying in Africa.
"I'll be home again before you know it," Bill assured her. "Maybe I'll take a week off to visit in a few months again."
"Oh, will you, please, Bill?" Ginny pleaded. "You can save me from Mum and Dad!"
Arthur and Molly had quietly been eating breakfast until this point, but playfully glared at their daughter.
"Hmph! We'll see who will be getting presents this year!" Molly said, laughing playfully. "Oh my, that reminds me! I still need to pick up yarn for this year's Christmas sweaters!"
"I'll be waiting for mine, Mum," Bill told her. "I should get going, the goblins are expecting me back by lunchtime."
Bill moved towards his parents, giving them hugs and kissing his Mum on the cheek. He made his way towards Ginny last.
"Stay out of trouble, Red," He whispered, giving her a quick hug. "Don't miss me too much."
Ginny sniffled a little, but no tears appeared in her eyes. She hated when any member of her family left, it just didn't feel right.
Bill waved, grabbed some Floo Powder off the chimney, and with a shout of "Gringotts!" he vanished.
The remaining Weasley's sighed sadly.
"Well, I should be going into work," Arthur said. He kissed his wife on the cheek and waved to Ginny. He turned on the spot, and with a pop he too vanished.
"It looks like it's just me and you!" Mum told Ginny brightly.
Ginny smiled hesitantly back.
She loved her Mum, she really did, but spending so much time with the same person could get rather…tiresome.
"How about we go into Diagon Alley for the day?"
"Okay," Ginny agreed. She loved going to Diagon Alley near the holidays. The stores were always decorated and everything just seemed more cheerful.
The mother daughter duo pushed open the door to Madame Malkin's about a half hour later.
"We're going to need eight rolls of yarn," Mum said. "Ginny, dear, what colors should everyone have?"
Eight rolls? Last time Ginny checked, there were only seven Weasley children.
"Eight?" Ginny asked curiously. "Who's the last one for?"
"I thought Harry might like something," Mum said, blushing a tiny bit.
Ginny beamed at her mother, and nodded happily.
"I think that's a great idea, Mum," Ginny said, throwing her arms around Molly. "Let's get him green! It will match his eyes!" Ginny thought of the emerald green color that had been the first thing she noticed about Harry.
"That's perfect, dear," Molly said, thinking of a certain memory that had happened years ago.
"That's one down," Ginny said, tossing a roll of emerald green into her Mum's hand. "Can I have purple, Mum?"
Mum nodded, and Ginny went to pick out the other colors. She chose the same color blue for Fred and George, black for Charlie, navy for Bill, and an orange color for Percy. She didn't know what color suited Ron and went to ask her Mum for suggestions.
"I'm getting Ron maroon," Mum told her, moving towards the shopkeeper to pay.
"But, Mum, Ron doesn't like maroon!" Ginny reminded her mother.
However, it didn't seem like she was paying attention. Ginny sighed, but let the matter go. Ron probably wouldn't be happy getting maroon again. She knew her brother had insecurities about being one of many Weasley children. They had talked about it before.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron and to the Burrow. Ginny leaped lithely out of the fireplace, and climbed the stairs to her room.
"Hermes!" Ginny exclaimed. Her brother's owl hooted loudly and held its leg out. Ginny approached curiously and rolled out the letter.
November 10th, 1991
Dear Ickle Gin-Gin,
Great Fred, now she's going to hex us when we come home.
We'll just have to delay that as long as possible then. Won't we, Forge?
Sure, Gred…
Anyway, we're just writing to tell you about our first Quidditch match!
Against the Slytherins. We won, of course. Your husband seems to be a pretty fine Quidditch player.
It was odd, though. During the match, Harry's brooms somehow malfunctioned.
It was scary, actually. Poor chap could barely hang on.
Of course, your two favorite brothers were ready to save Harry if needed.
Got to protect the future bloodline and all that, right Ginny?
We are so in for it when we get home…
We should probably talk to Dumbledore about letting us stay here over the summer, Fred.
Not a bad idea, George. Anyway, don't worry, Ginny. Harry was perfectly fine and he even caught the Snitch.
Not so much caught, as swallowed, but same difference, really.
We reckon McGonagall is coming over here to see what we're doing now…
I think she did say something about sitting in silence and not writing anything.
Detention calls, little sister!
Don't get eaten by dragons over the hols!
Love,
Fred and George
Ginny huffed impatiently at the end of the letter and ignored the nervous twinge in her stomach. She couldn't go worrying for the Boy-Who-Lived, otherwise she would never get any sleep.
How come all the dangerous and exciting stuff had to happen when she was still stuck at home? Hogwarts would probably be absolutely boring by the time she arrived.
AN: Oh, Ginny, if only you knew…Thanks for reading, patient readers! I hope you enjoyed this chapter of GWYL. :] It's got an acronym and everything now. Stay tuned for the next chapter which includes dragons, Charlie, Weasley antics, and perhaps a psychic? Gasp! Thanks for reading! :]
