So I've been really slow on updating but I am NOT giving up on these unfinished stories. I just started law school this semester but I am committed to these stories. Keep commenting!
Ginny surveyed herself in the mirror, pleased with the way the bronze dress hugged each part of her. Perhaps the needles and pierced flesh had been worth something., she mused. Behind her, Fleur smeared away at her makeup and ordered Molly, who was having histerics over the mismatched shades in Fluer's boque, to stop.
"eet es enough. Meeses Weesley.
Ginny's mother nodded absently, continuing to mumble about the proper shade of lavendar. Fluer rolled her ice-blue eyes, sat Mrs. Weasley in the chair and began to magically coff her hair.
Fluer was right, of course. Molly had done a spectacular job transforming the burrow. Candles and flowers and crisp linens lined each surface of the once shabby house. Ginny peaked out of the once-dusty parlor window.. The scene was one of merriment and excitement. A grandiose tent towered in the yard beside rows of seats. Behind the tent stood a cluster of red-heads that she loved dealy.
Bill and George were smiling broadly as Fred sobbed in jest. Ron was peaking around the tent, dizzily staring at some willowy blond. Ginny watched Aurther fold Bill into a hug and nearly began to weep. It was undeniable that their family was changing today.
"What's going on out there." Hermionie asked as she came up behind her. Ginny watched as her friend's face pinched in distain. "Veelas," she mumbled as if it were a foul tasting words. Clearly Mionie had also spotted Ron.
"Ron's just being daft, he wont be watching any more of Fluer's cousin's after he sees you." It was true. Hermionie looked absolutely radiant in a sand-colored gown. Her hair had been upswept and sown in with babies' breath. Ginny couldn't stop her grin, Ron was going to be bloody jealous at any bloke near Mione tonight.
The girl smiled shyly. "You're one to talk, Gin. He's not going to be able to keep his eyes off of you, you know."
Ginny wasn't sure whether she meant Harry or her date, Oliver. But she was sure Mionie meant Harry after spotting the sad smile on her face.
"You know he still cares about you."
Sure he did, they had been friends and harry was a good person. He cared, just not in the way she wanted; not in the way she needed.
"I know he does Mionie. I just-"
"miffed he wont treat you like an adult?"
she smiled wryly. "I guess."
" I keep telling him you can handle it. He just refuses." Both girls peek back out the window, toward where Ron and a disguised Harry stood. Gabrielle, Fluer's sister waved once to them as she made her way across the lawn. Both boys adopted a goofy grin causing Hermione to huff. "Idiots."
Sometime later Fluer had been laced into her gown, Molly had traded fussing for crying and Hermione had begun to incessantly remind the group that they were running 30 minutes behind schedule.
Fluer had begun to panic, concocting a story of Bill leaving her at the alter when Molly had instructed Ginny to find what was holding them up.
She left the parlor but saw not sight of the boys behind the tent. She was just about to accio one of them when a grey haired head peeked around the corner. Muriel was dressed is blue robes adorned with gaudy stars and silver lace. Her hair was coiffed into a beehive upon her head. The green chain of her cat-eyed glasses clashed violently with the attire.
"Ginerva." She barked. "hullo Aunt Muriel. Have you seen my brother?"
she scoffed. "which one? There are far too many. Your parents reproduce like devil's snare." The woman threw a hand up in protest, "should have stopped after one, if you ask me!"
"Well, um. Right Thank you."
The old woman tipped her glasses back, as if she spotted Ginny for the first time. "merlin's big toe- what's that you're wearing Ginerva?"
A stab of self-doubt momentarily swept over her.
"it's a dress mum- "
"my, my. It's as revealing as a house-elfs rags. "you know, I've always said no one will want to buy your culdron…"
As she spoke a flash of red hair came to stand beside her. The face attached was no one of her brothers, but rather that of the boy from the local village.
Muriel continued, directing the statement toward him. "If you give away viles of potion for free, right boy?"
Er.. uh. I've never fancied potions, much."
"humpf. Did Aurther and Molly have another one when I wasn't looking. Who are you?"
"a family friend," he mumbled. "Tonks is looking for you."
The woman gave one fleeting look before fluttering off, mubling about pink hair and feathers.
Harry, or rather Barry, smiled at her.
"you look lovely Gin."
Lovely. The words hung between them. Platonic. Friendly.
Things between them had been quite uneventful since the kiss. Ginny had expected things to feel tense, for her to be wounded each time she saw him, but mostly she felt sad. Something had changed for her since his birthday. Harry hadn't even mentioned her bringing Oliver tonight. Perhaps something had changed for him too.
"have you seen my brothers? Fluer's having a hippogriff over the delay."
"yea…err. Fred and George broke out the fire whiskey. I think Bill might have had a few and he spilled-" she pulled up a hand, halting his words.
"I'd rather not know… just tell him that if she wants his bride only part vela- the lack of razor-sharp fangs part; He'd better get his arse to the head of that isle. He chuckled and began to leave as Ginny called out to him.
Curious, Harry turned. "I hope you have fun tonight." He looked stricken for a moment before rearranging his features into a polite smile, "you too, Gin."
Ginny's threats seemed to have worked because before she knew it she was making her way down the isle. Dozens of people sat in the chairs on either side of her. She spotted Luna and her father, Kingsley and McGonagall. And of course, Muriel stood apart, due to her tortured hair.
Ginny took her place at the front and watched Hermione glide down the isle. Ron's jack slacked a bt at the front, next to fred. She heard the twin lean over and mumble something to which caused Ron to glare.
Mionie took her palace as Gabrielle floated down the isle, followed by Fluer. Fluer looked absolutely brilliant in a gown emrbodered with black . The dress looked as if it had been melted onto her. Bill's ears began to tear. The ceremony began, and Ginny couldn't help but peak out again toward the crowd. One notishe hadn't spotted Oliver yet and her eyes seemed to search for him on their own. She made eye contact once with Harry, who smiled politely before decideing to pay attention to the words being exchanged. A soft crash echoed on the south end of the lawn, followed but Ginny ignored it, watching her mother sob happily into AUthur's shirt.
AA figure beyond the row of chairs drew her attention away as Oliver trotted into the lawn. His hair was windswept and his tie crooked. He fought his way through a row of chairs, mumbling apologies before he glanced toward her meeting his eyes. Ginny was satisfied to see his eyes widen in appreciation. Blush crept up her neck. He sat and smiled goofily toward her, rightint his tie.
MaBill began to make his vows, and Ginn was pulled back toward the ceremony. Mureil, who was only a row in front of Oliver began to mumble loudly to talks. ShThe girl was shusing the woman whose volume only began to grow. "the girl's dress is much too low cut. Ginny should really know better." Ginny head back a chuckle and saw Oliver do the same. She winked atoward him, ignoring how comfortable she felt doing souch a gesture.
He shrugged and Ginny noticed how dashing his robes fit him.
Sometime laterBill and Fluer were married and Ginny was on her second glass of champaigne. She had already danced ith Lee Jordan and several others. The rest of the night had been spent laughing with Oliver and mimicking Ron drool over Hermione. All in all, Ginny had been having a fantastic time.
She marveled at how easily Oliver fit within her circle. He was sharp enough to spar with her brothers and charming enough to shut up Muriel's muttering about Ginny's hemline. Ginny couldn't help but admit she enjoyed disagreeing with him. The tiny lines that formed over his brow as he heatedly talked of quidditch were quite endearing. They were in such a dispute as the twins came upon them.
"Buglarians have terrible keepers! They don'y even know how to-"
"Wood, you're barmy," she chuckled. " Blgarians are-"
"My, my Geroge, I think this is their collective dream's come true."
Ginny and Oliver turned toward the boys as Geroge snickered. "What's that, Fred?"
""Quidditch as foreplay."
Oliver scowled. "Some of us just actually enjoy the actual game."
Fred scoffed, "We enjoy it just fine, Woody. In fact, the sounds of bones crunching still makes me tingle."
"gives me chills," George cooed.
"Gin. Let's leave these two to dream of their prime," Oliver turned toward her, "fancy a dance?"
"Absolutely."
Oliver danced stiffly but Ginny enjoyed the strength of his stance and the muscles beneath his suit. They swayed and Ginny let herself relax to the beat.
"You look," he hesitated, "brilliant. Much nicer than a vela."
Ginny chuckled, remembering their first conversation.
"Thank you, you look quite dashing yourself, Wood."
"Well, I appear to be the envy of most blokes, tonight." He nodded toward a table
where Krum and a transformed Harry sat staring in their direction.
"Even the brute can't seem to take his eyes off of you." Oliver grinned. "I pummeled him in a match once, I think his face broke my hand."
Ginny laughed as Oliver smiled self-deprecatingly. "We won the match."
"You're a bit barmy."
He smiled down at her, inching closer. Ginny couldn't help but notice how brown his eyes were, like molten chocolate. It was a beautiful contrast with his lighter hair, Ginny decided.
"Usually only about Quidditch."
Ginny wasn't sure what was happening. Was Wood flirting with her? His eyes shot down to her lips long enough to make something flutter within her. Suddenly, her dress felt much too tight.
"Fancy some air?" she choked out
The words were enough to break the spell. Oliver's eyes cleared as he nodded. He caught Ginny's hand within his and pulled her though the crowd, narrowly avoiding a leaping Xenous lovegood.
Sometime later, Ginny and Oliver leaned against the backside of the tent, illuminated by the tinted lighting coming from the other side. Laughter, music and mixed conversations leaked out from inside the tent.
"How've you been since the split?" The question drew her back to the man next to her.
She shrugged. "Fine."
He looked down at her doubtfully, challenging her words.
"I feel like everyday I forget him a little more."
"Isn't he staying here?"
"Yea, that's not what I mean. It's like," Ginny struggled to explain what she had barley admitted to herself these past months. "I can't remember jokes we used to laugh about or the way his skin smells." She leaned back against the tent, turning her gaze upward. "I feel like I'm forgetting all those little moments, the ones that felt so important once."
Oliver nodded.
"You're moving on. That's how it goes."
"You've been chucked, eh?"
"Girls and quidditch don't seem to mesh seamlessly for me'self."
"Maybe you're shagging the wrong girls." Ginny was horrified as the words slipped out. She cursed that third glass of champaigne.
Oliver didn't seem as scandalized. He caught her eye, "You may be right."
"Oh, Sod that. You've got loads of girls chasing you. I hear there are proper fan clubs dedicated to you're arse."
He smiled. "They just think I'm an ace player s'all."
Ginny snorted. "Well, I have heard you're brilliant. I'd love to watch a match."
"I'll get you tickets."
"Really?"
"Sure," Oliver nodded, "s'the least I can do for letting me tag along tonight."
Ginny smiled brightly at him. "I'm really pleased you came. I've had a great night."
"I'm sorry I was late to the ceremony. Quidditch ran over."
"Oliver, you don't' have to apologize to me for Quidditch."
"God, Gin. You're-" A scream pierced through the fabric of the tent, followed by another. Chaos erupted as the guests sprinted toward the border of their property. Voices carried as rumblings carried through the sheer terror.
The ministry had fallen and the death eaters were coming.
I've never done the whole Beta thing but I could really use some help with editing now that I have much less free time. If anyone is interest get a hold of me.