A/N: I think I've mentioned it before, but when I'm finished with this story, I'm going to write a prequel about Harry going to Texas with the Dursleys; a sequel based on Hermione's feelings towards Ron when they visit her house in London; and this same story again except in Harry's point of view!
Isn't it the most? . . . to say the least ;)
One Love,
Nathalie
Disclaimer: None of the terms or characters that appear in any literature authored by J.K. Rowling belongs to me. They rightfully belong to J.K. Rowling. Any other allusions mentioned on this page do not belong to me either.
Chapter 23
Ginny got dressed and was about to depart from her room as the doorknob turned and Hermione walked in.
"Your dad came home early, and he said he didn't want anyone going in the garage without him," Hermione explained, and took off her shoes.
"Really? I think we can handle the extellical cords especially with you and Harry being there," Ginny said, still standing near the door.
"Right, but since he's there with Harry and Ron, your mom wants us to help her de-doxy some cupboards later."
Ginny sat down, as she didn't have anything else to do, but talk to Hermione. She liked talking to Hermione, but it was a tad more exciting to talk to Harry. "I had a weird dream last night."
"What's new?" Hermione said in a friendly sneer. "You always have weird dreams."
"Yeah, but it actually took place before the Quidditch match, and everything in the dream was in sync with what really happened until I tripped over Draco on the way to the pitch and he insulted me and Harry came out to defend me, and then I woke up."
Hermione looked as if she was given too much intake, but she understood what Ginny was saying. "It must not be as bizarre as the one where Fred and George become women."
Ginny laughed at the reminder. She couldn't wait to tell the twins about that one, and have them pay her not to tell anyone else. "No, that one was ridiculous, but I'm wondering if my last one stood for something."
"It was just a simple dream, Gin, but you know Harry would torture Malfoy if he did anything to hurt you," Hermione said in a sincere manner.
Ginny felt pleasant about the fact that Hermione just stated, but at the same time, it made her feel more as Ron's little sister who doesn't know how to take care of herself.
"Would he do that for you?" she asked with an inquisitive expression on her face.
Hermione looked a little uneasy and almost saddened. "Well, I'm not really sure. Maybe if I definitely couldn't handle the situation myself, I'd get help from Harry or maybe Ron."
"Didn't Ron end up coughing up snails last time he tried to defend you against Malfoy?"
Hermione contemplated for a moment and smirked. "Right, I forgot about that, but they were slugs."
Ginny smiled as well. "If I was there, I would have borrowed Colin's camera."
Hermione picked up Crookshanks and sat on Ginny's bed. "So what did you and Harry do?"
"When he took me to see the Auralilies, we sat down and I did ask him about Sirius," Ginny answered as she took off her own shoes and Lola started playing with an untied shoelace.
"Really?" Hermione asked in deep interest as she let go of Crookshanks and he jumped onto the floor to paw the shoelace away from Lola. "What did he say?"
Ginny described the full conversation with Harry from the beginning.
"I thought that he might have wanted to talk about it with you or Ron first. I hope he's not too upset about that," Ginny said. She noticed that Lola was badgering Crookshanks about the shoelace so she picked her up and put her on her lap.
"But didn't he say that he wanted any of us to bring the subject up?" Hermione asked with a firm point.
"Yeah, but he probably expected a few other people to be there like you and Ron, not to mention Lupin."
"No, Lupin is probably about as shook up about the incident as Harry is, and I'm sure they would want to talk alone since they can relate. Ron might have talked about what curses to use on Bellatrix Lestrange if he ever saw her again, and sometimes Harry thinks I worry too much about him. That's why he might have wanted to talk to me the least, but that's okay. I'm trying to work on my own flaws."
"Hermione Granger has weaknesses?" Ginny said with a sheer placement of wit in her voice.
"I know! It's ridiculous!" Hermione retorted sarcastically. She hopped down from the bed to pull Crookshanks away as he dug into her suitcase. "So did think about what you were going to get Harry for his birthday?"
"No, I haven't thought about that since last night, but I was thinking if we could maybe go to Hogsmeade or something," Ginny replied, putting Lola back on the floor and Hermione's suitcase served as a new interest of hers. "I don't think Mum would want us to go all the way there, though."
"No, not Hogsmeade, but Diagon Alley isn't that hard to get through, especially by Floo," Hermione suggested. She pulled Lola away from her suitcase and gave her a fuzzy green ball of yarn.
"Now that I think about it, Mum would probably throw a fit if I ask if we could go by ourselves," Ginny stated.
"I don't see why it's such a problem. It's only Diagon Alley, but maybe she can come with us," Hermione implied. She changed into a plain black tank top right before the twins apparated and Hermione screamed. "You two are lucky that you didn't catch me undressed before you apparated in here!" she said through clenched teeth.
Fred had a foolish smile on his face as he turned and said to George, "I told you we should have left sooner!" Hermione scoffed.
"We're just teasing you. We would never do that," George said, and Ginny snickered. "We were right outside your room anyway."
"Why didn't you knock?" Ginny asked with a dour expression.
"It's fun to shock Hermione," Fred stated, "anyway, we heard something about Diagon Alley. We could take you there."
"Oh, that sounds great!" Ginny exclaimed as her face lit up. She grabbed a small bag that held some of her allowances. "We can do that right now."
"Fine," Hermione agreed and she looked at the twins, "but you two better not do anything funny with the Floo connection!"
"We won't!" they answered in accord, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
Mrs. Weasley was busy unscrewing the broken knobs on the kitchen sink that she didn't take much consideration in letting Ginny and Hermione leave with the twins. "You can go, but remember that I need your help with the de-doxying later!"
"Thanks Mum!"
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley!"
As they made their way toward the fireplace in the living room, Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley walked in.
"Where are you going? Did you tell Mum?" Ron demanded.
"We're just going to Diagon Alley for a bit," Ginny responded in a vague tone.
"And your mother said it was all right," Hermione added.
"Diagon Alley, all alone? I'm not even sure if I like the sound of that," said Mr. Weasley.
"Dad," Ginny whined, "I'm 15, and we're going with Fred and George!"
"I'd rather go with you if I didn't have to meet with some members of the Order," he replied.
"But Harry and Ron got to go help Fred and George at the shop!" Ginny whined some more.
Harry and Ron exchanged curious glances at which Fred said to them, "Oh, we told them about that."
"Then I believe there might not be much to worry about since you're with your older brothers," Mr. Weasley gave in.
"Thank you, Dad!" Ginny exclaimed and gave him a hug.
"Can we come?" Harry asked.
"No!" Hermione and Ginny replied in unison. She felt unpleasant for turning Harry down, but it was nice to be the one to exclude for a change.
Ginny was rather flustered and gave a nervous smile. "Oh, I mean, Mum said she needed some help from you two with fixing the sink. We're not as sensible as you guys are," she lied, and Hermione frowned at the statement as Harry and Ron smirked.
"I can take care of it," Ron said and left the room, followed by Harry and Mr. Weasley.
"We'll meet you there!" said George and the twins disapparated.
"But I thought you two would take us--" Hermione started, but the twins were gone, and she groaned.
"It's okay, we'll see them in a minute," Ginny said and grabbed a sack of Floo powder and threw it into the fire as she stepped in and yelled, "WEASLEY'S WIZARD WHEEZES ON DIAGON ALLEY!"