Title: Birthday Wishes
Author: Corking Mad
** Yeah, so I planned on having this by July 31. That obviously didn't happen. Oh well - on with the fic! **
CHAPTER FOUR: SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders at the scene unfolding around him. Mrs. Weasly was yelling at Fred and George while Mr. Weasly banked the fire. Hermione and Ron were still arguing in the house.
Harry had no idea that Ginny was crying in the family room.
Harry stood still, trying to decide what to do. He couldn't interrupt Mrs. Weasly's lecture, obviously couldn't go in the house with Ron and Hermione, and couldn't do much to help Mr. Weasly, who had just finished putting out the fire.
Mr. Weasly stood behind Harry, clapped a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Well, Harry, you're more of a Weasly than we thought - all family events end in rows! Don't worry, everything will be fine in the morning, it always is. Go relax by the fire, we'll sort things out. Ron and Hermione are coming outside for some impartial mediation right now."
Sure enough, Ron and Hermione were yelling at each other as they crossed the yard. They stopped in front of Mr. Weasly and both tried to explain their side at the same time.
Harry grinned. Shaking his head, he jogged back to the house, thinking that it really would be nice to sit and relax a bit before turning in. He stopped short when he reached the doorway to the Weasly's family room, though.
On the couch sat Ginny with her arms around her knees, crying softly.
Harry stared in trepidation. Should he -
He involuntarily coughed. He mentally sighed as his decision was made for him.
Ginny looked up and cried out in shock, "Oh! Harry! Wha - Why? What are you doing?"
"Everyone's yelling outside. I decided to seek a little refuge inside. Would you mind if I stayed here with you?" said Harry.
Ginny smiled and gently wiped away a tear. "Actually, I'd really like that, Harry." Ginny said, sniffling slightly. "I feel pathetic right now, and could use a little company."
Harry slowly took his eyes off the fire, which he had been staring at, not wanting to invade Ginny's privacy while she was crying. He crossed the room and sat next to her on the couch, awkwardly folding his hands in his lap. Harry wasn't sure whether or not he should hug Ginny or sit farther away or sit closer or sit in another chair .
"Why do you feel pathetic? Don't let the Twins get you down, Ginny!" Harry paused, searching for the right words. "Besides, I think it's really wonderful that you've given me such a thoughtful gift. Deep down I was secretly hoping you'd give me letters - you've had me intrigued since the train ride home!"
Ginny giggled through her remaining tears. "Thanks, Harry." Then changing her tone, she said, "So I take it you'll be turning in your certificate now so I can start tomorrow morning?"
"Well if it's no big deal," Harry said with exaggerated nonchalance, "I think I just might." He had to lean closer to pull the certificate out of his back pocket.
He unfolded it and presented it to her with mock formality. Ginny giggled even harder, and when she reached for the coupon, Harry jerked it out of reach. She tried again, and he moved his hand away before she could get it.
"HEY!" Ginny shouted. "IS FOR HORSES!" shouted Harry right back. Both were laughing, and soon the two were running along the couch and then jumping onto the recliners, finally ending up on the floor. Ginny ran and tackled Harry, knocking him to the carpeted floor.
He deftly flipped them over so he was on top and began tickling Ginny mercilessly. She became flushed and out of breath. Her hair was everywhere. Just then, the Twins walked into the family room.
"Eeeeeeeeek!" shrieked Fred and falsetto. He put his hand over his mouth in mock terror while Greg flipped his hand over his forehead and pretended to faint.
Harry and Ginny sat up quickly, and Fred and George switched roles completely and stood with their feet apart. Fred crossed his arms and glared while George pointed and growled "Yoooooooou!"
"We were just - " began Ginny, while Harry tried to choke it "Nothing, honestly - "
Fred and George guffawed. "I think we've scared them enough, George," said Fred. The Twins bowed, saying, "Good night all!"
Clearing his throat, Harry attempted to justify what had just happen, "Er-, er, sorry about that."
Ginny laughed at his bashfulness. "Harry, don't worry about it. We just got out of hand, that's all. I definitely needed that. I'm not the type to stay melancholy long."
She walked over to where he was standing and plucked the certificate out of his hands before he knew what hit him.
"Heeeey!" said Harry. "That was a cheap shot!"
Ginny just smiled. "Seriously, Harry, I appreciate this. Happy birthday." And with that, she hugged him.
For a moment Ginny was afraid she'd gone too far because Harry tensed up. After a moment, though, he relaxed and hugged her back. A real hug, too. "Good night, Harry" said Ginny.
Harry gave Ginny a squeeze and murmured good night to her neck.
Ginny left Harry in the family room and went upstairs to begin writing Harry a letter.
Well, there it is. Shorter than I expected, but I do what I can.
** Yeah, so I planned on having this by July 31. That obviously didn't happen. Oh well - on with the fic! **
CHAPTER FOUR: SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders at the scene unfolding around him. Mrs. Weasly was yelling at Fred and George while Mr. Weasly banked the fire. Hermione and Ron were still arguing in the house.
Harry had no idea that Ginny was crying in the family room.
Harry stood still, trying to decide what to do. He couldn't interrupt Mrs. Weasly's lecture, obviously couldn't go in the house with Ron and Hermione, and couldn't do much to help Mr. Weasly, who had just finished putting out the fire.
Mr. Weasly stood behind Harry, clapped a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Well, Harry, you're more of a Weasly than we thought - all family events end in rows! Don't worry, everything will be fine in the morning, it always is. Go relax by the fire, we'll sort things out. Ron and Hermione are coming outside for some impartial mediation right now."
Sure enough, Ron and Hermione were yelling at each other as they crossed the yard. They stopped in front of Mr. Weasly and both tried to explain their side at the same time.
Harry grinned. Shaking his head, he jogged back to the house, thinking that it really would be nice to sit and relax a bit before turning in. He stopped short when he reached the doorway to the Weasly's family room, though.
On the couch sat Ginny with her arms around her knees, crying softly.
Harry stared in trepidation. Should he -
He involuntarily coughed. He mentally sighed as his decision was made for him.
Ginny looked up and cried out in shock, "Oh! Harry! Wha - Why? What are you doing?"
"Everyone's yelling outside. I decided to seek a little refuge inside. Would you mind if I stayed here with you?" said Harry.
Ginny smiled and gently wiped away a tear. "Actually, I'd really like that, Harry." Ginny said, sniffling slightly. "I feel pathetic right now, and could use a little company."
Harry slowly took his eyes off the fire, which he had been staring at, not wanting to invade Ginny's privacy while she was crying. He crossed the room and sat next to her on the couch, awkwardly folding his hands in his lap. Harry wasn't sure whether or not he should hug Ginny or sit farther away or sit closer or sit in another chair .
"Why do you feel pathetic? Don't let the Twins get you down, Ginny!" Harry paused, searching for the right words. "Besides, I think it's really wonderful that you've given me such a thoughtful gift. Deep down I was secretly hoping you'd give me letters - you've had me intrigued since the train ride home!"
Ginny giggled through her remaining tears. "Thanks, Harry." Then changing her tone, she said, "So I take it you'll be turning in your certificate now so I can start tomorrow morning?"
"Well if it's no big deal," Harry said with exaggerated nonchalance, "I think I just might." He had to lean closer to pull the certificate out of his back pocket.
He unfolded it and presented it to her with mock formality. Ginny giggled even harder, and when she reached for the coupon, Harry jerked it out of reach. She tried again, and he moved his hand away before she could get it.
"HEY!" Ginny shouted. "IS FOR HORSES!" shouted Harry right back. Both were laughing, and soon the two were running along the couch and then jumping onto the recliners, finally ending up on the floor. Ginny ran and tackled Harry, knocking him to the carpeted floor.
He deftly flipped them over so he was on top and began tickling Ginny mercilessly. She became flushed and out of breath. Her hair was everywhere. Just then, the Twins walked into the family room.
"Eeeeeeeeek!" shrieked Fred and falsetto. He put his hand over his mouth in mock terror while Greg flipped his hand over his forehead and pretended to faint.
Harry and Ginny sat up quickly, and Fred and George switched roles completely and stood with their feet apart. Fred crossed his arms and glared while George pointed and growled "Yoooooooou!"
"We were just - " began Ginny, while Harry tried to choke it "Nothing, honestly - "
Fred and George guffawed. "I think we've scared them enough, George," said Fred. The Twins bowed, saying, "Good night all!"
Clearing his throat, Harry attempted to justify what had just happen, "Er-, er, sorry about that."
Ginny laughed at his bashfulness. "Harry, don't worry about it. We just got out of hand, that's all. I definitely needed that. I'm not the type to stay melancholy long."
She walked over to where he was standing and plucked the certificate out of his hands before he knew what hit him.
"Heeeey!" said Harry. "That was a cheap shot!"
Ginny just smiled. "Seriously, Harry, I appreciate this. Happy birthday." And with that, she hugged him.
For a moment Ginny was afraid she'd gone too far because Harry tensed up. After a moment, though, he relaxed and hugged her back. A real hug, too. "Good night, Harry" said Ginny.
Harry gave Ginny a squeeze and murmured good night to her neck.
Ginny left Harry in the family room and went upstairs to begin writing Harry a letter.
Well, there it is. Shorter than I expected, but I do what I can.
