At 1 P.M. that afternoon, as Harry, Colin, Dennis, Hugh, Tina, Susan, Lily, Luna, Hermione, and Ginny reconvened in the Creeveys' backyard to now celebrate Ginny's birthday party, Errol swooped in carrying two wrapped presents in long rectangular packages, one on top of the other. Both were wrapped in scarlet wrapping paper with images of golden lions on it. Both presents were topped with a golden bow and both had white to-from tags. There was black lettering on the to-from tags indicating to: Ginny. from: mom and dad. There was also a white envelope with the name Ginny written in black ink on top of the top present. Errol dropped his load into Ginny's hands and took off again.
Ginny could feel that the present on the bottom was heavier than the present on the top, though by no means was it strenuous to hold. All the same, Ginny went and set the two presents her mom and dad had sent her in the row that now contained her birthday presents and opened the envelope first.
Inside was a letter written in black ink on a piece of parchment. Ginny unfurled the letter and read:
Dear Ginny-
Ginny, look, we're really sorry about the mean and nasty howler you received from Ron this morning. Ron is being punished in multiple ways including receiving a howler telling him off for his behavior' He will not be allowed to go to Hogwarts this year but will be homeschooled by Muriel and he will NOT be welcomed home at the Burrow for the Quidditch World Cup, Christmas, Easter, or next summer. He will not be allowed any candy, beer, or dessert until NEXT September 1st. AND the last punishment of Ron's is great news for you. To make up to you the hurt that Ron caused you by sending you that howler, we have taken all of Ron's savings away and spent the money on two extra birthday presents for you that we know you will appreciate. Always remember that you are worth nine hundred octillion to the nine hundred octillionth power of Ron.
Sincerely and love always-
Mom and dad.
Ginny felt a massive savage pleasure engulf her.
"It is deeply satisfying to know that I get to directly benefit from Ron's punishments, " said Ginny smugly.
"You deserve it Ginny, " said Harry happily, "After the hurt that asshole caused you this morning, I'm thrilled you get to benefit at his expense. "
"Everyone here is worth nine hundred octillion to the nine hundred octillionth power of that Ron asshole, " piped up Lily, "Ron Weasley is mean and cruel."
"So, " said Ginny eagerly, "Why don't I open the two presents I got from mom and dad?"
"Go for it, Ginny, " chroused Harry, Colin, Dennis, Hugh, Tina, Susan, Luna, Lily, and Hermione.
Next nanosecond, Ginny picked up the package that contained the lighter of her parents' birthday presents and ripped off the wrapping paper to discover a plain white box loosely sealed with scotch tape. Ginny opened this box to find three sets of brand new freshly manufactured Hogwarts robes.
"Aw, " said Ginny as tears of emotion started to run down her cheeks, "I've never had new robes before. Never. Being able to go to Hogwarts this year wearing newly minted and never used Hogwarts robes of my own means the world to me."
"If Arthur and Molly bought the robes today, then they got a great deal on them, " Susan informed the group, "Today only, Madam Malkin's is having a special deal where you can buy three new sets of Hogwarts robes for the price of one."
"That's awesome!" declared Dennis, "This Ron jerk gets his comeuppance, Ginny gets a nice gift that she really appreciates, and Arthur and Molly didn't have to spend a fortune on it. It's a win win win!"
"I'm delighted that Ginny got new Hogwarts robes for her birthday!' said Colin cheerfully, "I know, as the person closest to her in her own year, that having to wear secondhand robes always made Ginny uncomfortable even if she never whined or complained about it too much."
"I've always known that Ginny deserves a better fate, " said Luna kindly, "She was one of the first people to accept me for exactly who I am and has actually taken to telling off classmates who call me "looney" Lovegood.
"That nickname is so sick, so disgusting, " said Ginny in a very disapproving kind of voice, "The way the Ravenclaws in her year have treated her is fucking despicable."
"But, " said Luna brightly, "The roommate concept is being jettisoned at Hogwarts this year. Since we're all going to have our own rooms, I'm going to put spells on my room that allow only me to enter it. The days of people stealing and hiding my things are over."
"THERE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH DAYS!" yelled Harry and Ginny together, quite angrily, as everyone else nodded.
"Luna is usually great at taking things in stride, " said Ginny proudly, "Luna could win an Olympic gold medal if taking things in stride was an Olympic event. She always used to say that her roommates stealing and hiding her things was all good fun and that it all always came back in the end. "
"That just goes to show that Luna is far bigger and far better than the meanies who tormented her, " said Harry bluntly, "But Ginny told us last year that she had seen Luna barefoot on a cold winter day because her roommates had stolen and hidden all her shoes. Something like that is NEVER okay. Period."
"In addition to the fact that a person's room should be his or her own space, " said Colin firmly, "Eliminating the roommate concept also removes the most likely possibilities of theft."
"It's so sweet seeing how much Ginny actually sincerely appreciates getting new robes, " said Tina quietly.
"I think Ginny should open her parents' other present now, " suggested Hugh.
So, Ginny put the robes back in their box and set the box down on the lawn and went to retrieve her parents' other present.
Ginny tore the wrapping paper off of this present to reveal another plain white box loosely closed with scotch tape. Opening this box, Ginny saw a complete set of Hogwarts books for the third year classes she would be starting when the new semester at Hogwarts began.
"Oh, " said Ginny as more tears of emotion flooded her eyes, "To be able to have brand new books for the first time in my Hogwarts career is really nice."
"That'll be the best gift you receive today!" Hermione told Ginny predictably.
"It's right up there, " acknowledged Ginny, "But the best gift I'll get today by far is actually being able to have my birthday celebration on my actual birthday! "
A nanosecond later, Mario flew towards where Lily was standing on the lawn and dropped a letter into Lily's hands and then quickly flew off again.
Lily read the letter to herself and said apologetically, "Ginny, look, I'm really really sorry, but I'm going to have to leave in a few minutes. My mom's surgery has been moved up to this afternoon and I'm going to leave to be with her as she goes through the recovery process."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Lily, " said Ginny fiercely, "You supporting your mom is a lot more important than you being at my birthday party. Besides, it's only because of your idea that I even have my birthday party on my actual birthday in the first place."
"You are accepting and understanding. Ginny Weasley, " said Lily quietly.
"Lily, " said Ginny kindly, " Before you leave, I'd like to give you a gift and give you a gift to take to your mom as well."
Ginny retrieved her wand from her right hand pocket with her right hand and raised it.
"Flowericus!" cried Ginny and a bouquet of lilies shot out of Ginny's wand. Ginny took the bouquet of lilies off her wand and set them down on the lawn then raised her wand a second time and again cried "Flowericus!" this time causing a bouquet of daisies to emit from her wand. Ginny put the bouquet of daisies down on the lawn and put her wand back in her right hand pocket.
Ginny picked up the bouquet of lilies and said, "These are for you, " as she handed the bouquet of lilies to Lily. Ginny then picked up the bouquet of daisies and said, "These are for your mom, " as she handed the bouquet of daisies to Lily.
"You are sweet and kind, Ginny Weasley' said Lily emotionally as she accepted the flowers with tears of gratitude on her eyes.
"Lily's mom's name is Daisy!" remembered Harry, "Ginny is being very thoughtful here."
"Indeed, she is, " agreed Lily, "And before I leave, let me thank you again, Harry Potter, for providing my family with the funds we need so that my mom can get the surgery she needs to save her life. Your kindness and generosity is going to keep my family together. I am forever grateful to you Harry Potter."
And with that, Lily disapparated.