Disclaimer--None of this is mine. It's all JK Rowling, WB, and Scholastic property. I hope JK, Steve, and my fellow fanfic writers see my imitation in the way it is intended, as the sincerest form of flattery.

Author's Notes--This is a bit of a slow installment, but Ginny's earned a break, and the next one should be a lot more exciting, so bear with me, please. ;-)

Bill--I feel awful for disappearing on you...especially since you're my biggest fan. I was going to tell you I thought I could work Luna into Ginny's second year...but what do you know, she showed up! *grins and shrugs* I'm thrilled beyond belief you think my Ginny is like JK Rowling's. After all, she's the master artist, and I'm a very poor imitator...I LOVED Ginny in OTP, she was amazing. I missed you! *hugs*

EEDOE--You are amazing and supportive! I love your enthusiasm! *hugs*

Hilary and Jess--I'm excited...It's a big accomplishment for me to make a favorite writer's list! :-D I loved your review...Breathtaking and vivid--that was really nice! I'm glad you remembered the summary suggestion...it's always hard to condense your own stories to a sentence or two.

Emerald Dream--Thanks so much for such high praise, it really makes me smile...I'm so glad you're enjoying my humble little story. :-)

Pauline--Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you're still interested. I thought Ginny did a good job with Lee, too--I was proud of her. Thanks for the story development suggestion. I'll try to apply it.

Strawberries and Blueberries--Hope this was a good start...more shouldn't be too long in coming...*crosses fingers*

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Things quieted down a bit when term ended, and Ginny, at least, wasn't sorry. Well, actually, things were as noisy as ever between the loud games of Exploding Snap that seemed to stretch on for hours, the chess games turned spectator sport with everyone shouting advice to either person playing, and countless mock duels in which you attacked whomever happened to be nearby at the time. A couple of times Ginny raised her wand to attack Harry, but she couldn't quite bring herself to attract his attention that way, and Harry seemed equally unwilling to approach her-probably because he figured a sentence from him was enough to completely do away with her wits, an idea with enough truth in it to make Ginny scowl at herself when no one was looking. But, in the midst of all the excitement, the Chamber of Secrets was never mentioned...or wouldn't have been if Percy hadn't marched around like a soldier on duty, giving repeated speeches about his duty to help the teachers during this troubled time. Each time he said this, the twins would sneak up behind him on either side and proceed to imitate him precisely, right down to the slight tilt of his head and the way he held his shoulders. More often than not, they'd also take advantage of his distraction in yelling at the others for laughing to nick his Prefect's badge. Ginny wished Lee were around at times like that, filled with the urge to confess particularly mischievous impulses she knew he would appreciate. She didn't just miss Lee. She missed Tempest...and Colin. Even more, she missed Bion. And...as much fun as she was having...she missed Mum and Dad and Bill and Charlie...

Especially when she woke to the cool white silence of Christmas morning...for an instant, it was as if she were the only person left alive on earth. Then she caught sight of the presents heaped at the foot of the bed.

Pouncing, Ginny tore the paper off the first one-Flying with the Cannons from Charlie. Grinning, she flipped through the pages, watching the orange-clad wizards soar around and collide. She didn't remember the rest of the packages until she was half way through the first chapter. Laughing sheepishly, she shook the closest and tried to guess what might be inside. It turned out to be a coiled rubber snake with impossibly long fangs and fur-in the split second before she realized as much, Ginny jumped back off the bed with a little shriek-"Fred and George," she said, making the names a curse, as she tried to get her heartbeat under control. The paper still held a sheath of sugar quills. Ginny gave the blanket a sharp jerk, tossing the snake into the corner and sat back down, soothing herself with a sugar quill. Bill had sent a book about ancient Egyptian Astronomers Ginny was sure she'd find fascinating. A small flat package turned out to be a photo of Tempest-obviously taken by Colin, and Ginny promised a visit to the infirmary later-sitting in the Common Room, looking at her with an impish expression. The photo was framed in the curves of a graceful and swirling rendition of something that looked like wind, complete with the face of the Green Man, probably drawn and painted by Tempest herself. Ginny set the photo on her bedside table, making sure it was where Tempest could see it later, wondering what Tempest thought of the little compact mirror she'd gotten her.



An intriguingly lumpy package turned out to be a complete set of lock picks with a note from Lee -Teach you how to use these after the holiday, Ginger. Stay in trouble. Don't get caught. Lee-Ginny laughed and shook her head, she knew where Lee had gotten that idea...maybe she'd give Bion a set of his own next year. But, for this year, she was sure Every Flavor Beans would do just fine.



For his part, Bion had given her a photo of Gilderoy Lockhart made into a dartboard. Ginny set it aside to hang in the Common Room later...the twins would admire idea, Harry and Ron would love a shot at Lockhart, and Percy was sure to be driven nuts by such disrespect to a teacher. "Thanks partner," Ginny said with a conspiratorial grin before turning her attention to the next present. Percy had given her Etiquette for the Proper Young Witch. Curious, Ginny glanced at the publication date. It had been written in the 19th century. She didn't know whether to be interested in the history, or exasperated by the gesture, so she settled for rolling her eyes and tossing the book off to the side.



A large, squashy package held Mum's yearly sweater. "Lavender," Ginny remarked to the empty room; she'd wear it to dinner. There was also a large tin of gingersnaps, the cookie for which Ginny's fondness had helped-though not as much as her red hair and her temper-earn her nickname. Ginny bit into one with relish and sighed with sudden longing for her father as she found the necklace he'd enclosed-a slender silver chain hung with a cute turquoise and silver turtle. She fastened it about her neck, and hastily reached for another package to distract herself.



It was from Ron. It turned out to be a gorgeous journal with a butter soft hand-tooled leather cover, and thin, parchment pages, such a delicate soft gold they seemed to glow against the beautiful ink illumination and gilded edges. Ron had written a note on the first page. -I know you already have a journal, Gin, but I figured you could use this for when it runs out...after all, you have to be able to record it when your brother's a prat.-Ginny could almost hear the long pause before the hurried-looking conclusion. -I love you. Ron- The journal had to have cost most of his yearly allowance. Ginny stared at it, completely at a loss for what to think, let alone how she felt. "I'll be damned," she said softly.



Fred shrieked in mock-disbelief from the doorway.



"Ginny," George said, in an excellent rendition of being taken aback.

"Don't let Prefect Percy hear you talk like that," Fred added, shaking his head with impossible gravity.

"Spare me," Ginny retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Why, Ginny, you act as if our presence is a burden," George said in a tone of bewilderment.

"Your inexplicable attitude hurts, Ginny," Fred added gravely. "Cuts us to the quick."

"But we love you in spite of your cruelty," George added munificently.

"Family is important," Fred chanted gravely. "Which is why we're all going to the Great Hall for Christmas dinner--"

"As a family," finished George.

"Put on your sweater and come along," commanded Fred.

Ginny laughed, pulling the sweater over her head as she followed them in search of their remaining brothers. "How did you two jokers get into the girls' dormitory? I thought--"

"If we told you," began Fred.

"We'd have to kill you," said George.

"And Mum would never let us hear the end of it," Fred sighed, shaking his head.

Ginny would have pursued the subject, but they'd just found Percy. She could tell by the sudden flare of evil inspiration in their eyes.

Percy's tap dance into the Great Hall earned laughing applause from Professor Dumbledore, who restored him with a wave of his wand. "Nice work," he observed mildly. "You'd be top students if you applied equal skill to your classwork, no doubt. However, I must ask you to refrain from practicing on fellow students."

"Aww..."

"Professor..."

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, already smiling past the twins to the rest of the group. "Miss Weasley. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," the whole group, even Percy who was still recovering from an overpowering blush, chimed.

"May I recommend the goose? It's quite excellent."

All the food, as it transpired, was excellent. Perhaps the flavor was enhanced by the Christmas carols Dumbledore interspersed throughout the meal, their voices bobbing and weaving comically. It seemed to go on and on and on with no sign of stopping. Ginny was so full she could barely move as the boys continued to help themselves to pudding. She sipped at her eggnog, and mused that she missed home, but Christmas at Hogwarts wasn't bad as an alternative.