Disclaimer: i do not own Harry Potter...you know the rest.
Chapter 10: Christmas with the twins.
I lay on my bed staring at the walls, I really needed to redecorate. I can't believe Harry saw my room when it looked like this, so embarrassing. The smell of my mum's home cooked meal radiated throughout the whole house, making my stomach rumble. Sadly it didn't give me the home feeling that it used to. The burrow felt so foreign, now more than ever. I didn't feel any kind of closeness, which I usually felt.
"Ginny, dinner!" Mum called. Slowly I forced myself to get off my bed. The loss of Luna was still plaguing my thoughts. How could they just take her like that? As i entered the kitchen mum looked at me as if for the first time, "Ginny have you been eating? You look so skinny and my look at those bags under your eyes. After dinner you are to go straight to bed." She ordered. I honestly had no objections.
"Yes mum" I answered as I took my seat.
"Fred and George should be stopping by to eat, also Charlie might be coming by too."
"What about Bill and Fleur?" I asked
"Oh they have been enjoying their time as newlyweds that they will probably stay at their cottage today." Mum said warily. Without everyone here it must be pretty quiet. All I could think about was what Harry was doing? Was he eating properly? Oh gosh I sound like my mum. Suddenly my thoughts drifted to Luna. I really hope they aren't hurting her. I don't even know how anyone could hurt her, she's too peaceful.
"Gin-Gin!" The voices of Fred and George echoed the kitchen.
"To think it has been so long" Fred started
"since we last attended Hogwarts" George cut in
"That we forgot it is the start of break," Fred finished
"I swear you two practice that" I mumbled.
"What was that Gin?" Fred asked
"Oh nothing" I said.
"Wow Ginny, when did the night bus hit you?" George asked as he took a seat next to Fred.
"Oh i forgot how lovely you can be." I replied pushing around my food. I could feel eyes on me and noticed Fred staring at me with an odd look.
Dinner came and left, Charlie had arrived late just as I was finishing, and I honestly was not in the mood to sit and talk as if I was fine. I wanted to pretend that I was fine, but with the recent kidnapping of Luna on my mind, it was almost impossible. A million questions zoomed around my head. Did they hurt her? Was she even aware she was being kidnapped?
~HP~HP~HP~HP~
I sat with my back against a tree, enjoying the cold air and the snow beneath me. I had been at the burrow for a few days and it still felt foreign.
"Hey Ginny" My brother Charlie called out.
"Oh Morning Charlie" I said idly, staring at the snow. If I were an artist this would be the perfect landscape to draw.
"Why are you out here so early? Don't you ever sleep?" he asked. What did he want me to say? Being awake was less of a nightmare then dreaming. Harry haunted my dreams along with Hermione, Ron and Luna. So many of my loved ones are out there and i wasn't sure i would ever see them again, i couldn't even say goodbye.
"I like the air" I answered without any emotion.
"Ginny what's going on with you? You seem different" he asked with concern. I couldn't help but sigh. I know I was usually the "alive" one in the house, but honestly that part of me seemed too closed up. This is war and people grow up and I must say war does not discriminate against age.
"Nothing Charlie, absolutely nothing." I answered.
"Ginny that is complete bul-ah" Charlie said as he was hit upside the head with a gigantic snowball.
"Why so serious Charlie?" Fred laughed as he winked at me. I could hug Fred right there, but of course I noticed George aiming a snowball at me.
"George if you even-" Sadly I never got to finish that sentence because a well aimed snowball hit me right in the face, "That's it" I mumbled before grabbing the easiest accessible snow and throwing it. Lucky for my chaser skills I was able to hit George in the chest.
"Snowball fight!" Fred yelled before running to build a fort. Somehow Charlie and I ended up against Fred and George. For the first time in months I felt carefree. The old Ginny Weasley, the one that was all laughs and cheerful came out even if only for those few minutes. I hadn't laughed that much for the longest time. It felt like If I laughed any harder that I'd faint. Afterward we all went inside to change. I had a certain craving for hot chocolate, so I went into the kitchen to make mum's special hot chocolate. Mum taught me it years ago. Just as it was finishing Fred walked in sniffing the air loudly.
"Now this is more like it" Fred said with a smile. I couldn't help but laugh and hug him right there. Somehow he knew me so well, he knew exactly what I needed. I knew it would be short lived, but I felt much better.
"Thank you" I whispered.
"No problem Gin," he replied, "Just remember I'm always here." He finished stealing the cup of cocoa from my hands.
"Hey! Get your own,"
"Why would I do that? When this one is perfect?" He laughed before taking a sip and running away.
~HP~HP~HP~HP
"Happy Christmas!" Fred and George yelled throughout the house. I guess since Ron wasn't here to wake everyone they took it upon themselves to fill in the role, "Come on wake up!" They yelled. They must have a sonorous charm on them.
"What the- Fred, George! You are so dead!" Charlie's yell could be heard throughout the whole burrow. What a way to wake up, I laughed. My heart was feeling lighter than before, but sadly I still wasn't sleeping. I got up before they could try and wake me up the way they did with Charlie.
"Happy Christmas mum," I said with a small smile. Hey it was an improvement, I could at least pull of a small smile, instead of a twitch. Too bad I had to go back to Hogwarts in a few days. I'm sure living with Fred and George would somehow find a way to bring my old self back out, but im not sure thats a good idea.
"Happy Christmas Ginny" mum said with a smile. I could tell she was probably thinking about all her children that won't be here today. Last year it was only Percy, but this year five of her children won't be here, "Ah, Ginny have you been sleeping at all?" mum sighed.
"I can't, I try, but it's too-" I cut my own self off. I just couldn't get the words out. Crying was never my thing, living with 6 older brothers does that to you. I couldn't let myself be weak. I am a co-leader of a rebellion, I can't show sign of weakness.
"Happy Christmas!" Fred and George walked in right before a soaking wet Charlie. Again perfect timing.
"Sit down boys Breakfast first then presents!" Mum ordered.
"Yes mum" the boys saluted. How can they be so cheerful? Then again I used to be just like them.
"Morning family, Happy Christmas!" Dad said cheerfully as he walked in. He kissed mum's cheek and took a seat. Mum smiled brightly at him and some of her stress seemed to leave. I wonder if I will have that one-day? Hopefully when this war is over I could.
"Okay we're done!" Fred and George yelled just as they finished eating in record-breaking time. Lets go they yelled. Fred pulled onto me, while George pulled onto Charlie.
~HP~HP~HP~HP~
I lay once again in my bed enjoying the comfort it brought. Tomorrow I would be leaving back to Hogwarts and after all the stress relief the burrow brought me, I didn't want to go back. My heart kept telling me that the right thing to do was leave. What exactly has the right thing ever done for me? I mean Harry left me because it was the right thing to do. I started this rebellion because it was the right thing to do, I went through all those detentions because it was the right thing to do. When do I get a break? Then again this was probably the break I needed. I did feel refreshed and a lot of the weight of the school wasn't on my back as much. Mum's breakdown today was horrible though.
"Ginny are you sure you want to go back?" Mum asked with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
"Mum, I love being home, but I honestly can't. Its required that I go back. I can't put you into that risk." I couldn't exactly say the DA needs me, now that Luna is gone.
"Oh hush, we could go into hiding, it will be fine." Mum argued
"No it wont put you through that!" I yelled, "Mum this is better for all of us."
"But look what its done to you!" She cried, "You barely sleep, you have bags that look 3 months old under your eyes, your nightmares are getting worse." Mum argued, "you're my only daughter, and I feel like I don't know you anymore. You are so distant, not yourself anymore." She exclaimed.
"Mum, this is war, no one is the same anymore," I replied hugging her.
"Oh Ginny, you've grown so much, just stay safe" mum cried. Part of me wanted to cry, but I couldn't let the tears flow.
I hadn't realized the effect I had on my family. Even the twins were trying their hardest to make me smile. Fred even pulled me to the side on Christmas.
"Gin, I know that you have been going through tons at school." Fred said, "Don't give me that look I don't know exactly what you been doing, but I heard about the DA restarting and have a feeling I know who the leader is." He said staring at me. I stared back, I was proud of this and needed to let him know that, "Relax I'm not mum. I just thought you could use these" he said taking out a rucksack. It looked tiny, but when I looked inside, there were tons of different Weasley products.
I gasped, "Don't you need these?" I asked as I examined all the useful products.
"No, I could easily make more, I figured my little sister could use them," He laughed. I smiled and hugged him tight.
"Thanks," I whispered.
"I'm proud of you Gin-Gin" He said, "Just don't do anything too crazy." He warned.
I still can't believe Fred could be serious. I guess I was right, war did change all of us. From under my pillow I pulled out the almost worn out picture of Harry from the Quibbler. This picture must have been taken when he was younger because his eyes still had that sparkle in them. It was definitely from his 6th year. His emerald eyes sparkled as I took them in. Staring at his eyes always gave me peace, which was the only way to get me to sleep. Harry be safe, please was my last thought before I felt sleep approaching.
Author's note: Well there's that chapter. I enjoyed writing it, i think Ginny deserved some fun, don't you? Well the next chapter will be the start of a much harder year. do you think the DA will be able to handle it? Read to find out. Thanks for the reviews, they really helped!