Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 7
When You're Older: Stand Up For Others And Yourself.
Chapter 6
"What-What is that Hagrid?" Mrs. Weasley questioned with wonder and confusion.
"Burbersnoke." He explained simply.
"What! What's burbersnoke?" Fred exclaimed.
"It's a surprise then I guess." He replied smirking.
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Inside the box laid a brown flowerpot. And within this pot was a small, green plant stem, at the top grew a bud. Harry moved out of the way so everyone could properly see the strange, and moving gift. As the plant responded to the light, (Harry's shadow was covering it from the light) the bud opened up to reveal many small, sharp teeth.
"Yuh, don't have tuh worry 'bout this here little guy. When a buberstopy is a seedlin' they're purty harmless. But when they grow up they can be feisty buggers, almost bitin' off your fingers and stuff." Ron gave a nervous glance to Harry, wondering how in the world he was supposed to 'raise' his future vicious plant.
"Buberstopy? I though this thing was a buberstoke!" George stated while confused.
"Oh! I've read of this before." Hermione's brain had begun to research for information stored in her large internal library. "The monster plant, buberstopy, produces a special type of living rope called Buberstoke. I believe it grows to about ten feet long before harvested."
"Right you are Hermione. And that there toothed mouth can grab just 'bout anythung."
"Hagrid," Mrs. Weasley addressed him with a concerned tone in her voice. "Where could you have found such a rare plant on a summer trip?"
"I-er-uh-it was up in-er-the mountains." Hagrid nervously replied.
"So how did you get it?" Ginny inquired with wide eyes.
"Found it." Hagrid said quickly.
"Found it? But how can you just-" Fred tired to reason.
"Now, now, I'm sure Hagrid has his ways." Mr. Weasley assured them. "I surely wouldn't want to give away where I got a special birthday gift, or where I take my summer vacations. We should all respect Hagrid's privacy." He calmly reprimanded the young adults.
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Harry and Ron ascended up the stairs to Ron's bedroom. After playing an aggressive game of Quidditch, receiving his two birthday presents, already eaten cake, and conversed about all he could, Harry though nothing could look more inviting than a soft bed.
"I'm about ready to pass out, eh Harry?" Ron jested sleepily.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "That was some party you guys planned."
"You mean my parents, the twins, and Ginny planned." Ron pouted as he went up the ladder to his upper bunk bed. Harry was on the bottom one.
"Your family didn't tell you about the surprise?"
"No," He continued to pout and slouched his body against the wall. "They didn't."
"Why not?"
"They probably thought that if they told Hermione and I, we might slip up or something and ruin it for you."
"Oh." Harry paused. "Well, maybe they had another reason?"
"I don't think so." Ron said in a monotone voice.
"Um, well," Harry desperately tried to think of a reason. "They didn't tell Hermione either and um she's smart and wouldn't slip up, so there has to be another reason."
"Great Harry, thanks, now you think I'm a screw-up and I can't keep secrets." Ron grew angry with frustration. He decided to end the conversation. "I'm going to bed."
"Come on Ron, I didn't meant it like that."
Ron was silent for a few minutes, and finally he spoke up. "Sorry Harry, it wasn't your fault. You had nothing to do with it. Besides, you had a happy birthday, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks Ron."
"G'night Harry."
"Good night Ron."
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The next morning the Weasley gave their good-byes to Harry. They would see him in a month at school, but some people had more trouble saying goodbye than others did.
"Why can't I come along Mum?" Ginny pleaded, using her extra-strength dose of puppy-dog eyes.
"Because dear, if all of us went along to the nearest floo station, we'd attract too much attention from the muggles. Ron and Hermione are already coming along, and I think a group of four is enough." Mrs. Weasley explained in a kind, mothering tone.
"But mum, we're a family of nine people."
"We're also a wizard family Ginny dear. Don't worry, you'll see Harry in a month."
Ginny gave an exasperated sigh and left the living room. Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen, waiting on Mrs. Weasley who would be their escort. The trio had heard the recent conversation and felt guilty.
"It's too bad Ginny can't come." Hermione lamented. "Maybe I could let her take my place"
"No!" Ron said almost too quickly. He coughed slightly. "I-ugh-mean, Harry and I want you to come along."
'You mean, you want her to come along.' Harry thought. 'I personally wouldn't mind having Ginny's company. Oh greatdid I really just think that?'
Ron then whispered. "And don't you need to tell someone about a certain forgotten gift?"
"Oh yeah" Hermione remembered. "But Ginny really should come Ron"
"If you stay, then I'll stay too." Ron said, sounding more determined than he had intended to be. "Someone's got to keep you company, right?"
"Ron," Hermione replied with a Mrs. Weasley tone of 'now you listen to me young man', "You should say goodbye to Harry, I can stay to read a book. Plus, don't you want to keep an eye on your little sister around Harry?" She finished, raising her eyebrows at him. Ron's ears turned their second-nature shade of pink.
Harry looked at them whispering. "Are you guys done yet? I'm feeling left out, and we're about ready to leave."
"Sorry Harry. We didn't mean to exclude you, but Harry, don't you think Ginny should come along too?" Hermione asked, directing this question toward Mrs. Weasley who was preparing the fireplace.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind."
Mrs. Weasley sighed. "Well alright, Ginny can come along. I suppose you four are indeed becoming good friends now."
With this statement, a petite red-haired girl sprang out from behind the kitchen doorway wall from where she was eavesdropping. Her arms latched around her mother's waist. "I love you Mum!" Ron rolled his eyes. 'Why does the baby of the family always get what she wants?'
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The group of five magically talented people walked down the sidewalk of Privet Drive. They had managed to go the floo fireplace that belonged to an old friend of Molly's two streets over from their destination.
As they neared the house that read the number four in black letting across the front, a fat and pudgy boy strolled (or rolled) out the house.
"Hurry it up already Harry. You've got chores to do." He commanded.
"But he just got back, and we haven't said goodbye to him yet!" Ginny called out. Mrs. Weasley placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You actually have people that want to say goodbye to you Harry! That's bloody amazing. Most normal people," Dudley looked at the group of friends, "would love to get rid of a pathetic and annoying cousin like you."
Harry snarled, but stood there taking his beating. He was used to this treatment by now; after all he has been dealing with it fifteen years of torture so far. Ron and Hermione looked angry as well, but they kept themselves under control as well. However, a certain other person could not. Ginny shook off her mother's shoulder and walked up to Dudley.
"Even a person with half of a brain wouldn't be stupid enough to say that to Harry Potter. I suggest you take that rude comment back, you filthy little"
"What's this?" Dudley interrupted. "Getting your little girlfriend to stand up for you Harry?" Dudley laughed.
Hermione couldn't take it either, she stood behind Ginny and drew her wand up to Dudley's face. "Nojust abnormal people, also known as his friends."
It took Ron a few seconds to register what Hermione said, and then he joined her by taking a few steps forward. "Yeah." He added. Harry tired to protest but surprisingly Mrs. Weasley put out a hand in front of him, halting his movement forward.
"I know you freaks aren't allowed to use magic outside of school, you don't scare me." Dudley puffed out his chest in pride. "You're all talk!"
"Then taste my words, you filthy worm!" And with that Ginny clenched her fingers into a fist and swung up her arm. It came crashing onto the bewildered squishy face of Dudley. A smack of skin echoed though out the street.
Tears welled in the eyes of the bruised face. But before he could comment a somewhat shocked Hermione spoke up. "To insult someone just because they are different from you in culture, appearance, skill or any other characteristic, is to be inhumane, unwise, and selfish. I advise you act with caution next time."
Dudley eyes watered from the pain of the bruise that was beginning to form on his cheek. He gritted his teeth in anger and stomped off. As he opened the door of his house, he shouted out, "You're all freaks! Every one of you! And that scruffy git with the umbrella too!" The door slammed and Dudley ran to his mother holding his cheek.
Hermione whispered to Ron. "What did Hagrid do to him?"
"I dunno, but I hope it was a good one!" Ron grinned.
Harry sighed. 'I'm glad he finally got what he deserved, but now I'll never be able to visit the Burrow again.'
"I'm sorry harry. But that guy was so irritating! How do you put up with it?" Ginny apologized.
"The same way I'll have to deal with this for the rest of the summer." Harry sighed again.
That's when it dawned on Ginny. Her eyes became glassy with future tears. "Oh no, Harry, oh, I'm such an idiot! Now I've gone and made this problem even worse. I'm so sorry."
"It's alright Ginny." Harry said.
"Don't cry Ginny dear," Mrs. Weasley comforted putting her daughter inside her arms. "That boy deserved it. And Harry," She looked to him. "If you have any problems, just owl alright?"
"I'll try."
"Okay then everyone, it's time for use to say goodbye." Molly announced.
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Ron and Harry shook hands. "Take care Harry. See you in school."
"You too, Ron."
Hermione then approached Harry. She looked nervous. "Um Harry, as you probably know, I didn't give you a gift at the party last night. I'm sorry. I-I"
"I ate it!" Ron spoke up somewhat loud.
"What?" Hermione and Harry asked together.
"Yeah," Ron continued, quieter this time. "It was in Ginny's room on the dresser. It was a package of sweets from Dragon Alley. And I-uh- thought it was Ginny's, so I ate it!" Ron faked a remorseful look. "Sorry 'bout that."
"I planned on getting you something else anyway." Hermione added, smiling at Ron's unexpected genius.
"That's okay." Harry smiled.
"Well, I'll see you in school then, Harry." She gave him a hug and moved out of the way for a smaller person making her way to her still 'secret' crush. Ginny looked up to her black-haired hero; she brushed a few red-orange strings of hair out of her face.
"I'm still sorry you know." She looked at him with earnest eyes, solid in assurance and determination. "I shouldn't have let that jerk get to me, now I've probably ruined the rest of your summer Harry."
Harry chuckled. Ginny didn't know how to interpret this, so she waited. "Ginny, it's ruined every year, every day, don't worry about it. Dudley will always be a pain. At least I'll get a few days to myself before he bothers me again." Harry smiled at the fourth year girl before him. She smiled back.
'Time to face some fears girl,' Her mind told her. And Ginny took two steps up to Harry. She leaned into him awkwardly; her arms came up around the middle of his torso. Ginny's heart pounded furiously. 'I'm hugging Harry! I'm hugging Harry Potter!' Her mind screamed inside, but outside she gave sigh and after a few seconds, Ginny pulled away slowly. 'Okay, now to see his reaction.'
Ginny's heart skipped a beat. Harry was smiling at her. He didn't mind at all that Ginny had hugged him, he didn't even have a look of uncertainty upon his face. 'Oh God, what a happy day'
"Good bye Harry." Ginny started to walk toward her mother, who had Hermione and Ron behind her walking down the sidewalk. "I'll see you in school! And owl me with how black and blue your cousin gets!" She laughed happily, smiling brilliantly.
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Ron looked at Hermione; her brown hair was bouncing lightly as she walked. They were alone, walking on the sidewalk of Privet Drive. Hermione looked to Ron. He looked at the top of roof in attempt to hide the fact that he was just staring at her, but she had seen it before he try to quickly recover.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, with no apparent facial expression.
"Y-Yeah?" He was afraid she would ask about him staring at her.
"What am I supposed to do for the next two weeks now that harry is back home?"
"I don't know."
"Didn't you have anything in mind?"
"Not really I supposed we could play quidditch."
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. "Any other plans, maybe?"
"Well knowing you, we could study, I guess." Ron pouted.
"Knowing me? Ron, don't you think I like to do other things beside study?"
"You do?"
Hermione punched his shoulder. "Just kidding!" Ron smiled. Hermione rolled her eyes, now finding the doors of each and every identical house more interesting.
"So what do you like to do then Hermione?" He asked, somewhat seriously.
"I like to go hiking, (with bug spray on) I-um-like to.."
"Go on." Ron encouraged.
"Promise you won't laugh."
"Of course not!" Ron said quickly, noticing that this dialogue sounded familiar.
"I like to lie on my back and look at the shapes of clouds and I also like to catch grasshoppers, I did it all the time with my dad when I was little."
"Funny you should mention that Hermione."
"Why?"
Ron smiled at her pleasantly. "You'll see"
A/N: WOW! Yet another is up and done! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm sorry if this is mostly Harry/Ginnt right now,but don't worry! :) There will much R/H coming up! Heh heh
Please remember to read and REVIEW with opinions, questions, remarks, etc. :) --Jishka
kris10michelle: thanks for the correction! I fixed it the day you reviewed. (Aren't ya just so proud of me?) lol
Morgana: thanks soooo much for all your supportive reviews! I love reading them over and over to make me happy (hehe) and to motivate me to keep writing. ;)
Thanks to the consistent reviewers and commentators: (is that even a word? Lol I don't really know)
Naomi SilverWolf
hermandron4ever