Written for Hogwarts Challenges & Assignments - Term 13, Assignment 7: Fashion, Textiles & Tailoring, Task #2: write about being gifted with a soft toy.

Huge thanks to Angel for all of the suggestions to make this better/more child-like. :)

A Lion for Ginny

Ginny looked down at the gift in her hands. She thought it was shaped kinda funny, but the wrapping paper was pretty. It was red and gold, just like her big brothers' school colors. She liked those colors together too, and she couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts and wear them herself.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," her mum said cheerfully. "This one's from me."

Ginny nodded and shredded the pretty paper without hesitation.

"Careful, Ginny, dear," her mum said in her strict mummy voice, "that gift wrap could be used for another present."

Ginny let out a small huff; it wasn't like her mummy couldn't just use magic to fix it like she did Ron's chess thingie. Nonetheless, Ginny heeded her mum's warning. With slow, exaggerated movements, she resumed unwrapping the present. It felt like forever to the six-year-old child—completely ignoring the fact that she did it on purpose—but she finally managed to remove all the paper. The revealed weird shape made her gasp with excitement.

It was a knitted stuffed animal shaped like a lion. It was a little bit smaller than a Bludger, and it had a puffy brown mane and a bushy tail.

"I got a lion!" Ginny exclaimed, kicking the paper aside and hugging the toy tightly against her chest. It was just like the one she saw on her brothers' school robes, its front paws raised in a fighting stance. She looked up at her mum with big, happy eyes and toothy grin before rushing into her arms. "I love it, Mummy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"It was nothing, dear." Her mum chuckled and looked pleased while hugging Ginny back.

"A lion for our little lioness," her dad chimed in, in his own quiet manner. She was filled with more happiness at his words, but Fred had to be a meanie and pop up to embarrass her.

"Yeah, it suits you well, Gin," he teased, ruffling her hair.

She jerked away from him, still holding the lion in a protective way. "Get away, Fred!"

"Definitely suits her," Meanie Number Two, George, agreed shortly after. Everyone laughed; well, everyone except for Ginny, who stubbornly set her chin, stomped her foot, and refused to join in.

Apart from her dad, her family never seemed to take her seriously. She was six years old now! But she would show them. When she got to Hogwarts, she was going to be the bestest witch that anyone had ever seen, just like Bill was the bestest wizard.

And she would be brave—so brave!—like the lion she cradled in her arms.

WC: 432