A Harry Situation
By Jill Weber/ Jelsemium
Characters copyrighted by J.K. Rowling and used without permission or intent to make a profit.


Chapter Eleven: Maturity vs. Adulthood


Hemming and Hawing at the Burrow:

Molly Weasley burst into tears.

"Mum? Mum, what's wrong?" Ginny asked in alarm. They were in her parents' room, standing in front of the only full length mirror in the house while Molly hemmed Ginny's new robes.

"Y… your robes," sniffed Molly.

"It's okay. They're okay, really! The twins didn't hex them or anything!" Ginny said. This wasn't how Ginny had expected her mother to react, but then, Ginny hadn't been sure how her parents would react to the twins' sudden generosity.

"I'm sorry," Molly sniffed. "I always promised myself I wouldn't cry; now here I am blubbing away."

"Mum!" Ginny said, growing increasingly embarrassed. "It's just a party gown, it's not like I'm getting married!"

Molly whipped out a handkerchief and blew her nose. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just so hard for me to see my little girl grow up so fast!" She banished the handkerchief to the laundry hamper and summoned a fresh one.

"Aww, Mum!" Ginny threw her arms around her mother. "Are you going to be like this when I do get married?"

"Worse," Molly admitted. "You'll have to be married in rain gear."

"Mum!" giggled Ginny.

"I do hope Harry won't mind."

"MUM!"

Molly giggled.

"Honestly, Mum, he hasn't even asked me out on a date!"

"Yet," Molly threw in.

"Mum!" Ginny said. "Stop that!"

Molly grinned. "I can see the invitations now: formal robes and wellies; brollies optional."

Ginny giggled. "My poor fiancé!" She shot her mother a sideways look. "Whoever he, or she, may be."

Molly just grinned. "Planning to give Ron a little competition for Hermione, are you?"

"Well, she seems to like red-heads," Ginny snickered.

"Oh, you!" Molly shook her head and eyed Ginny's robes. "Here, let me get a look at the fit." The next few minutes involved measuring and trimming and tucking. "There."

Ginny twirled and admired the way the gown flared out. "These are so beautiful! I just love them! I think I'll forgive Fred and George for every nasty stunt they pulled on me." She thought that over. "Most of them, anyway."

"I can't believe how good these colors look on you. You're brothers have a surprisingly good eye."

"They said Madam Gretchen helped them," Ginny said. "I guess it was easy for her to pick a good color for me with Fred and George there as samples."

Molly sighed.

"What's wrong with Madam Gretchen?" Ginny asked. The older girl hadn't passed her OWLs and had left Hogwarts a few years before Ginny had started, but she seemed nice enough. She'd been very helpful when Ginny and Molly went shopping for used robes for Ginny.

"No, there's nothing wrong with Madam Gretchen," Molly said. "I was just thinking this dress could use some nice earrings and maybe a nice necklace." She sighed again. "I'm sorry, Ginny, you seemed to have been cheated."

Ginny hugged her mother again. "Mum, it's not your fault that you don't have a lot of money to spend on me! You're wonderful parents! I'd rather have you than all the Galleons in Gringott's!"

Molly hugged her daughter back. "You're a wonderful daughter!"

"Besides, the only way you could have had more money would be to have less children," Ginny said. "And since I'm the last…"

Molly chuckled. "I wanted a daughter and I wasn't about to stop until I got one!" She gave Ginny a sideways look. "Your father didn't seem to mind…"

"MUM! That's TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!" bellowed Ginny. She blushed, but Molly didn't seem to take offense at being yelled at. Ginny decided to change the subject. "Um, can we use some of this left over material to make hair ribbons?"

"Excellent idea," Molly said. "And I'll check my jewelry drawer to see if I have anything that will look good with these."

"Thanks, Mum," Ginny said.

"Now you run along and get changed so I can get these robes cleaned and pressed. I do hope you have a good time at the Yule ball this year."

"You think they'll have one?" Ginny asked.

"I think that's the plan," Molly said calmly.

When Ginny got back to her room, she couldn't help comparing the quality of her everyday clothes to her new dress robes. It was depressing, really, to see how much difference there was. Not that everyday clothes were supposed to be as good as dress robes, but still, they weren't supposed to be total trash, either. There was no way around it, being poor was the pits.

She wondered if Harry could ever get interested 'that way' about a poor girl.

Thinking about Harry led to worrying about Harry. Worrying about Harry led her to remember one of the main reasons she was worried about Harry; his parents were dead and he had no one to look after him save those awful Dursleys. She took a deep breath and remembered what she told her mother. It was true. She wanted to have money. She understood the twins' and even Percy's determination to get money. But, if she was ever given a choice, she'd rather have her family than gold.

She also made a vow to herself. She would always love Harry. It didn't matter how he felt about her. He needed somebody to love him. And if he only saw her as a little sister, so be it. She'd be a loving little sister to him. She took a deep breath. She would even love his wife, whoever she was. She pulled herself up to her full height and looked herself in the eye in the mirror. Could she do it? Could she love the person Harry married?

"If she makes Harry happy, then, yes, I can love her," Ginny said.

"Beautiful," her mirror said. "You are the fairest in the land."

"Thank you," Ginny said, blushing. She carefully folded her new robes and went down to the kitchen to give them to her Mum.

The only person in the kitchen was Ron, who was scowling at a letter in his hand. Blodwen was shifting back and forth on the Weasley owl perch and looking hopefully at Ron.

"Honestly, Ron," Ginny huffed. She went over to give the poor bird water and some owl treats. "How rude of you!"

Ron didn't respond and Ginny felt a pang of alarm. "What's wrong? Has something happened to Hermione?"

Ron didn't look up until Ginny pinched him.

"Ow!"

"Ron, what's wrong?"

"Hermione's father can't go with them to Bulgaria," he said. "She's asked me to go with them, instead. They have three reservations for the Knight Bus and at the International Portkey Terminal. It's already paid for, so they might as well get a substitute."

"Oh, how wonderful!" squealed Ginny. "Bulgaria is so beautiful!"

"How would you know?" Ron snapped.

"I've been to Rumania, which is right next door to Bulgaria," Ginny said. "What is your problem? You get a free vacation!"

"Yeah, wonderful, I get to go to a strange place and watch some foreign git put the moves on my best friend. What fun."

Ginny snorted. "You're the git. You know Hermione isn't interested in him."

"But he's interested in her."

"Honestly, you're such an ingrate," Ginny snapped. "I'd give… I'd give my new dress robes for a chance like this."

"Yeah, but what would you wear then? Your shabby old hand-me-downs? Do you really want to go to Krum's looking like a beggar? Not that it would make any difference. You don't have to compete against a world-famous Seeker."

"No," Ginny muttered sourly. "I just have to compete with the Ravenclaw Seeker." She bit her lip. After all, it had been less than five minutes ago that she'd been swearing eternal devotion to the love of Harry's life. No, wait, she swore eternal devotion to his wife. So, until Harry got married, she was free to be as jealous and petty as she wanted. She sighed with relief.

"What?" Ron demanded. Apparently he thought the sigh was directed at him.

"I just wish you'd grow up," Ginny said. She laid her new robes on the table.

If Ron had a response, he didn't get to use it. Just then, they heard raised voices.

"… after all your father and I have done to give you a good life…!" their mother's voice was steadily rising to a shout.

"Good life?" George was incredulous. "You call this a good life? I know you work hard…"

Ginny and Ron looked for a way out. They could see their mum and the twins outside. No escape there. With one accord, they headed upstairs.

Ron got to his room and was surprised to realize that Ginny was still behind him. "Where are you going?" he asked, rather sourly.

"Up to the attic to finish cleaning," Ginny snapped back. She stomped up the stairs to the attic.

Ron watched her, then closed his mouth. He had been rude, he admitted to himself. "She deserved it," he muttered. "Taking Viktor Bloody Krum's side. She's my sister, she should take my side. Is that too much to ask?"

He closed his door and scowled around the room, looking for something to kick. He hated feeling like this. He hated being poor. He wished his parents had more money. He wished Harry were there. Hell, why he was at it, why not wish that Harry's parents were alive and living next door? He looked at the letter from Hermione that he had crumpled in his hand. Why did she do things like this to him? Didn't she understand what it was like to like somebody who didn't like you back?

No, he decided. Hermione had never suffered from unrequited love. Harry might understand… but Harry never had to contend with a rival who was richer and more famous than he was. Ron snorted. It would be hard to find a wizard who was more famous than Harry Potter… Merlin, maybe.

He made a face. Face it, the only person who'd really understand his situation was Ginny. And he couldn't talk to her because she was mad at him for not wanting to accept Hermione's invitation. He looked at the letter again, and then sat down at his desk. Ginny was right, it was time to grow up.


Introducing the Nantucket Sleigh Ride:

"Potter? Potter, wake UP!"

His aunt's shrill voice gradually penetrated through the cotton batting someone had stuffed inside Harry's head.

"Huh?" he managed.

"Get UP!"

Harry managed to shove himself into a sitting position. He squinted at the clock, but all he could see was a blur.

"It's almost seven," snapped his aunt. "Don't think you can lie about all summer, you lazy ingrate."

"Oh," was Harry's witty rejoinder. He managed to fumble his glasses onto his face and squinted at the clock again. It was ten minutes until seven, just like his aunt had said.

"Get dressed and get downstairs, Mrs. Figg has a job for you," Aunt Petunia snapped.

"Oh."

Petunia gave him a last glare to make sure her nephew wasn't going to just fall back asleep. Then she went back downstairs. Harry could hear her talking to Mrs. Figg. "I'm telling you, Arabella, I can't do a thing with that brat! He's impossible!"

*Sigh* Just when he thought his aunt was turning into an actual human being. He scrambled into his new clothes… then scramble out and into some of his usual rags. No sense in letting his aunt see that he had new duds. He managed to get downstairs without breaking any bones or spraining any muscles, much to his surprise.

Aunt Petunia was standing at the back door, talking to Mrs. Figg who stood just outside.

"It's about time, boy," Mrs. Figg said. She wasn't smiling, but Harry was sure she was amused. She'd shown up at five o'clock in the morning to find Harry and Sirius still going over the basics of human to animal transfiguration. She'd gone to bed laughing.

Harry gave her a bleary look and wondered how she could look so… awake… at this obscene hour. " 'lo, Mrs. Figg," he said through a yawn.

"Good morning, boy," Mrs. Figg said. "I've been saddled with this monstrosity for a day or two and I need somebody to look after him."

That's when Harry noticed that Padfoot was standing next to Mrs. Figg. Aunt Petunia must have mistaken his shock at seeing his godfather cavorting about in public for fear because she laughed.

"Do you good to get some exercise, Potter," Aunt Petunia mocked.

Padfoot growled.

"What do you want me to do?" Harry asked hastily. The last thing he needed was for his godfather to bite his aunt. He didn't want Sirius to get food poisoning. Besides, he knew who'd have to clean up the blood.

"Well, for starters, take him for his morning walk," Mrs. Figg said. She handed a leash to Harry, who took it without thinking.

Harry looked down the alarmingly short distance between his face and Padfoot's. The dog looked amused. Harry guessed what was coming next, but was too fatigued to do anything to avoid it.

Padfoot gave a tremendous 'WOOF' and took off.

The dewy grass was cool and refreshing, but Harry didn't appreciate being dragged through it. He was beginning to believe his aunt's complaints about how many rocks there were in the lawn. Then he was bumping across something a little drier than the grass.

"My pansies!" wailed Petunia.

Ah, that would explain the salad that was going up Harry's nose.

Harry made a valiant, albeit futile, effort to untangle himself from the leash. He wished that the Weasleys had a telephone. He desperately needed some hints from the twins as to how to repay his godfather for this lovely morning walk.


Chivalry is Feeling Much Better:

Blodwen settled down on her perch gratefully. It wasn't the flying that bothered her; it was all the yelling at the other end. She had a feeling that there was going to be more yelling at this end.

"Oh, good, Ron's sent his answer," Hermione said. She untied the letter, and then fussed over Blodwen.

"Aren't you going to read your letter?" her mother asked after a few minutes. Emma was fussing with her preparations for Dumbledore's visit.

"I guess I'm a little… nervous," Hermione admitted. She took a deep breath, and then opened the letter.

"Dear Hermione, Thank you for the invitation, but I pass."

Hermione crumpled the letter up and threw it into the corner. "That arrogant, idiotic…"

"Hermione, stop!" Emma said. "I can understand your disappointment, but that's no excuse for throwing a tantrum. Now, pick that up and find out why the boy is declining before you lose your temper. He might have a good reason."

"Yeah, he's an idiot," growled Hermione. But she obediently picked up the paper and flattened it out again. "'Dear Hermione, Thank you for the invitation, but I pass. I think you should invite Ginny instead.' Oh," Hermione said.

"Sounds rather generous for a stupid git," Emma said.

"He has his moments," Hermione said. Then she read the rest of the letter.

"It's not that I don't appreciate your offer, but Ginny loves to travel. She loved Rumania when she went to visit Charlie there. Bulgaria is right next door, so it's probably more of the same (only without Charlie. But at least it will be without dragons, too. She didn't like them.) Things have been pretty tense around here and I think it will do her some good to get out of the Burrow.

"It would do me good to get out of the Burrow, too, but I don't want to leave England now. I don't know if Dumbledore will let Harry come to the Burrow any time soon, or even if he'll let him come at all; but Harry has a better excuse to come if I'm here.

"Please don't think this means that you're less important to me than Harry is. That's not true and never will be. It's just that you have your parents and all Harry has are those creepy Dursleys. Things are bad here right now, but Weasleys at our worse are better than Dursleys at their best.

"Maybe it's stupid of me to think that I can protect my sister, much less Harry, but please understand why I have to try. I wouldn't have a good time in Bulgaria because I'd be spending all my time fretting about them.

"Besides, we both know that it would only be a matter of time, possibly minutes, before I picked a fight with Krum, which wouldn't do this international extend-your-hand-in-friendship program a bit of good.

"Hope you have a wonderful time, and if Krum gets fresh, be sure to transfigure him into something without hands. And send me a picture for my wall.

Cheers, Ron
."

"Well," huffed Hermione. "Transfigure Viktor indeed. He's a gentleman, I guess Ron wouldn't understand."

"Maybe," said her mother.

"But that was sweet of him to suggest Ginny," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Yes, we can make it an all girl expedition," Emma said. "We can have a good time."

"You're right," Hermione said. She looked at the letter in her hand thoughtfully, and then nodded to herself.

Author's Notes:
Thanks to all my reviewers! And thank you to all the wonderful people who have put me in their favorites' list! I am flattered that you like my story that much!

A Nantucket Sleigh Ride has nothing to do with sleighs, much less horses. Way back when, whalers plied their trade around the world. They would set out their long boats filled with harpooners to snag their oversized prey. Every now and then, a harpooned whale would decline to just die. Instead, it took off and, if the harpoon stuck, it would drag the luckless long boat after it.

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but the transfiguration assignment that dealt with changing footstools into sheep is from the Rabbit and Jinx stories – Stuck, Stuck in the Muddle and Ramifications. I highly recommend these!


DaBear: I think Sirius has been wrapped around Harry's finger for fifteen years now. ;-)

Taself: Glad the presents worked for you. Yes, a mobile rope has a lot of potential, doesn't it?

Angel of the North: Glad you think the story is 'cool'. I expect Sirius could get into the Dursleys' house if he really wanted to. He broke into Hogwarts, after all. ** No, Sirius hasn't changed the map. It was still just writing to Harry, like before. I suspect the level of rudeness depends on who's talking to it.

lan: I think I've been getting your user name wrong. Is it Lan or Ian? I keep reading it as Ian, but when I copy and paste it into my Author's Notes, Word want to turn it into Lan. ** Snif, you don't like us Evil Writers who use cliffhangers? Oh, dear.

Female Fred: Glad you enjoyed the presents. I don't think Crookshanks can be a normal cat, either. He and Pixie ought to get along well.

Doom Song: Glad to hear from you again!

Ozma: Glad I could give you a pick me up! Glad you liked the punny title. I'm having a hard time coming up with titles now. ** I don't have much experience with babies, so I'm glad that Sirius' description came across well. ** I hadn't thought about which house Mrs. Figg is from. I think I'll make her a Slytherin. Should be fun. I've heard that the next DADA teacher is going to be a woman, so I'm betting either Arabella Figg or Fleur Delacour. ** Neville's Uncle Algie is obviously too stupid and too impatient to let mere boredom trigger Neville's talents. I really dislike that man, and we've never seen him. ** Yeah, I had Mrs. Figg being rude, yet she got in a few compliments, too. (Even if they were left-handed compliments.) ** Sirius once thought that Harry would prefer living with the Dursleys to living with him. He obviously didn't know what they were really like. He took a small measure of revenge this morning. ;-) ** I figure that Harry's bound to feel protective of Ginny, no matter what his ultimate feelings for her are. ** I wanted a magic equivalent of candles that kept relighting themselves. Glad you thought they were cute! ** I had another thought about that rope, Harry's probably imagining tying up Draco Malfoy and dangling him out the Astronomy Tower, but I didn't think of that last night. Maybe I'll give that thought to Ron. ** Yes, trying to track down the Twins' sudden wealth is one of Sirius' assignments. ** Yes, I know what Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny are going to be turning into. ** Yep, A Sirius Situation will be about Harry's fifth year, so I have to have everything finished by June 20th.

SailorChibi: I'll get to Harry's Animagus form before I get to the others. (They won't get forms until A Sirius Situation.)

Lil Lupin: Glad I made you laugh!

Punkin: Love your User Name! Thanks for the review! Your stories are cute, too! I'll try to get by to review them soon. I especially loved Ginny's "non-Valentine" sweater.