Day 115

Ginny's Harpies tryout was scheduled for the Wednesday after Hermione and the twins moved, and she had spent every minute leading up to it practising with Harry, who was waiting to receive his first Auror assignment. Fred and George had been more than happy to offer their services as well, returning to the Burrow every night after the shop closed. Hermione had designated herself Ginny's personal cheerleader, providing all the moral and emotional support needed to calm her nerves.

By supper time on Wednesday, the entire family was waiting with baited breath to hear how the tryout had gone.

Hermione and the boys had left Verity in charge of the shop and were now sitting on the floor in the Burrow living room waiting for Ginny to get home, while Harry paced the kitchen nervously.

"She should be back by now," he muttered when Hermione approached him. "What's taking so long?"

"Harry, you need to calm down," she tried to hold him still. "You're stressing everyone out."

"She's stressing everyone out!" Harry argued. "She's the one whose late."

"She's not late, she's just taking longer than you thought."

"She's late," he shook his head and turned to start pacing again.

"Harry Potter, so help me, if you don't stop pacing like that I am going to tie you to a chair!" Hermione snapped. "You're driving me mad!"

"I can't help it!"

"Yes you can, you can come and sit with the rest of us."

She took his hand and turned to lead him into the living room, but stopped when she heard the 'whoosh' of the floo.

The entire family got to their feet, watching as Ginny stepped out of the fireplace- a blank look on her face.

"Well?"Bill prompted. "How did it go?"

Ginny shook the soot off her robes slowly, ten turned to her brothers and smiled brightly.

"I'm on the team!"

Excited cheers broke out as Harry and Hermione enveloped her in a hug and the rest of the family started high-fiving and hugging, offering their congratulations.

When Hermione described the event in her letter to Charlie later that night, she compared it to the Gryffindor common room after winning the Quidditch Finals.

"Oh, we're so proud of you!" Ginny's parents beamed and hugged their daughter tightly.

"We knew you would do it," her father nodded. "They'd have been absolutely mad not to take you."

"Thanks Dad," Ginny hugged him again, on the verge of tears.

"What position did you get?" George asked.

"Chaser," she beamed. "I'll be starting off as a second string, but the coach thinks I could be a starter by next season."

"That's fantastic!" Hermione beamed. "I'm so excited for you."

"Well I couldn't have done it without you guys. I mean, where would I be without my practice mates and personal cheerleader?"

"We didn't do anything," Fred shook his head. "Just gave you some losers to fly circles around."

"You're sweet, but I still couldn't have done it without you."

"Well, this calls for a celebration!" Molly finally broke up the congratulations. "I've got all your favourites ready and chocolate gateau for dessert."

"Wow, thanks Mum!" Ginny beamed, her mouth already watering.

"But first," Arthur stopped everyone from approaching the table. "How about a toast?"

He pulled his wand and summoned a bottle of firewhiskey and enough glasses for each of them. Once the drinks had been poured, he held his own up.

"To my lovely, talented daughter Ginevra," he beamed. "May this be your first stepping stone in reaching all your dreams."

"Dad," Ginny gave him a watery smile.

"To Ginny," he kissed the top of her head.

"To Ginny!" Everyone echoed, clinking their glasses together before drinking.

"Right," Molly wiped her own eyes. "Let's tuck in!"

There was a nod of agreement as everyone took their seats, ready to hear every detail of Ginny's tryout as they ate.

- - PAGE BREAK - -

"So, when you get famous," George asked as they got ready to leave after dinner, "do you promise to be our spokeswoman?"

"Excuse me?" Ginny chuckled.

"You know, we'll put your face on all our products and say stuff like 'Weasley Approved!'" he explained.

"Everything's already Weasley approved," Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, but now it will be Famous-Quidditch-Player-Weasley approved!"

"Sure George," Ginny shrugged. "If I ever get famous, you can slap my face on any product you-"

"DON'T finish that sentence," Hermione interrupted.

"Right," Ginny realized the mistake she had almost made. "You can put my face on some products, which I will approve."

"Fantastic!" Fred bounded over. "Think how much our sales will go up with a Quidditch sponsor!"

"I have to get famous first," Ginny pointed out.

"Semantics," Hermione waved her off. "I'll bet you're playing before the end of the Hogwarts school year."

"Betting, Miss Granger?" George smiled evilly.

"Yes," she held her ground. "Betting. Care to join me?"

"How much do you wager?"

"Please don't bet on me," Ginny begged. "I might not be any good."

"Bollocks!" Fred scoffed. "Betting on you is easy money. Now, what are we talking?"

"10 galleons says she plays in a proper game before June," Hermione offered.

"I say by this time next year," George said thoughtfully. "Anyone else?"

"Are you betting on your sister?" Molly demanded.

"NO!" The three of them shook their heads quickly, then turned back to each other and lowered their voices.

"Fred?" Hermione asked. "You in?"

"Why not," he nodded. "I say she's in before July."

"You're all going to be disappointed," Ginny huffed.

"No we're not," Fred shook his head. "One of us is going to be 20 galleons richer."

George and Hermione both nodded aggressively.

"You'll see," Hermione assured her. "And when I win, I'll take you for drinks to celebrate."

"When you win what, dear?" Molly asked, pursing her lips.

"When I win... Pigwidgeon's love back," she answered lamely. "He's not very pleased with me right now because I wouldn't give him a treat the last time he saw me."

"Hmm," Molly nodded, obviously not believing a word Hermione said.

"Right, well, congrats again Gin," Hermione gave her friend another quick hug. "We'd best be getting home though, right?"

She turned to the twins, who were biting their cheeks to keep from laughing at her.

"Right," Fred nodded. "Night everyone."

He grabbed Hermione's hand and stepped into the fireplace with her, sending them spinning back to the apartment, where they buckled over with laughter.

"Pig's love?" Fred howled. "You couldn't think of anything better than Pig's love?"

"I panicked!" Hermione cried, wiping tears from her eyes. "It was the first thing that came into my head."

"Merlin, remind me never to let you make excuses for us."

"It's just because it was your mother," she explained. "I can't lie to her, it's like she looks straight into my soul."

"Don't worry," George stepped out of the fireplace as she spoke. "She does that to all of us. It's the true mark of being a Weasley."

"Great," Hermione huffed. "So I can look forward to the feeling never going away."

"Yep," Fred smiled brightly.

"Welcome to the family!" George threw an arm around her shoulder and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Well, all that stressing over Ginny has left me absolutely knackered."

"You mean cream crackered?" Hermione challenged.

"Knew there was a reason I agreed to bring you with us," George beamed at her. "It's like having another twin!"

"The word you're looking for is triplet," Hermione corrected.

"Aaand the moment's gone," he rolled his eyes. "I'm going to bed."

"Wanna watch some telly?" Hermione turned to Fred.

"Why not," he shrugged. "We can watch that Monty bloke you've been going on about."