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 25

The Floo excursion back to the Burrow was the same as always. Hermione looked even more like a coal miner, but Ginny made a way to only let a minimal amount of powder sprinkled on her, though it was enough for each journey.

"We better not let Mum know we came back so late," said Ginny on her way to her bedroom. They never told discussed a certain time they'd be back with Mrs. Weasley, but Ginny was always prepared.

"We've only been gone for a few hours," said Hermione looking at her watch. The two girls were a few feet away from Ginny's door, but heard Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"Good trip, girls?" she asked. She sounded stern, yet pleasant.

"Yeah, it was okay. I didn't get anything though," said Ginny who was surprised at Mrs. Weasley's satisfying tone.

"I got a few books and quills. That was all, but I did have trouble with the new employee at Gringotts," said Hermione.

"I think I know who you're talking about. Bill has told me about him," said Mrs. Weasley. Hermione told her about how he kept guiding her to other peoples' vaults.

"You can't argue with a goblin either!" she said.

"Do you want us to get rid of the doxies now?" Ginny asked.

"No, it's fine. Harry and Ron did the job." She answered.

"Oh, I hope they're not mad at us," said Hermione.

"They're not mad. They were actually happy to do it."

"Oh, that's right. Because it takes a real man to de-doxy a cabinet," Ginny joked.

"You know how boys are," said Mrs. Weasley. She gave Ginny a stealthy wink.

"Is there anything else you want us to do, Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked.

Mrs. Weasley shook her head, "No, nothing really. Except I want both of you to clean up before dinner which I should start preparing now. I'll see you two in a short while!"

Ginny walked into her room along with Hermione who immediately sat down and took her shoes off. "My feet hurt. I should get some new shoes before school begins because Merlin knows how many miles I'm going to walk each day to classes."

Ginny started rummaging through drawers and boxes in her room as she didn't take interest in what Hermione was saying. "I have two days to do something for him! His birthday is in two days!"

Hermione gave a dull laugh. "You can give him a dead frog and he would treasure it like it was his Firebolt!"

"What?" asked Ginny, as emptied her sock drawer.

"Okay, maybe not like his Firebolt, but he would treat it like it was gold," Hermione assured.

"And what makes you think that?" Ginny said with snort of amusement.

"He always gets close to you when you're in the same room. He gave you his popcorn when you dropped yours last night when we saw the movie, but he never offers any of his food to Ron. And he took you to see those Auralilies."

"What's your point?" said Ginny. She knew that Hermione was going somewhere, but she wanted to hear everything else that she noticed.

"Harry really likes you."

"Well, maybe he started to feel bad that he wasn't very close to me, and now he wants a tight friendship," said Ginny. She was putting all her socks back in her drawer, but thought to herself about Harry actually fancying her.

She stopped denying her feelings for him, but she assumed that it would take a much longer time and much more effort for Harry to start having the same feelings for her. She thought it was very possible for Harry to fall in love with her, but she wasn't prepared for when it would happen. And since that it was likely that he was taking interest in her, she didn't want to get her hopes too high incase Harry was just misunderstood in his actions towards Ginny.

"That could be, but no one can be more perfect for him than you, and he needs to start realizing that," Hermione said. Ginny wasn't used to Hermione talking deeply like that, but it meant something to her. Hermione was like her wise older sister.

Ginny let out a long sigh. "Unless he's realizing it now."

Hermione smiled. "I think I should take another bath."

"Okay, but let me give you some extra towels," she said. She picked up two towels from a pile in her closet.

"That's alright. I just need one, thanks." said Hermione taking a towel and walking into the bathroom. Ginny was returning the second towel to the closet and then gasped at what she saw lying on top of the remaining pile. "This is just what I've been looking for!" she said aloud. "Happy Birthday Harry!"

Ginny decided to take a bath right after Hermione, and the two went downstairs for dinner a short while after. "I know what to give him now," Ginny whispered as they approached the dinner table.

"Really?" Hermione exclaimed and then saw that everyone was looking at her. "Tell me about it, later," she whispered back. She found a seat next to Harry.

Ginny sat on the other side of Harry. She was more confident that she didn't have to sit across from him. Instead she was sitting across from Ron who of course made her want to have more staring contests with him instead of talk to him. Tonks, Mad-Eye, and Lupin were at the table as well, and Ginny realized she hadn't seen them all day. They were most likely dealing with Order business.

"I'm so glad you all showed up for--um" Ginny said and looked down at the unfamiliar food on the table, "Mum, what is this?"

"Tacos!" Mrs. Weasley said gleefully, and held up a book that was titled, Mexican Magic. "Harry brought it for me after his trip!"

"Okay, then I'm glad you're all here for Taco night, I think," she said hesitantly. "I hope you enjoy--"

"I'm way ahead of you there!" Ron chimed in, already on his fifth taco. Ginny was uncertain over eating the exotic dinner, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.

Conversation was dull, except Tonks and Lupin had an argument over which types of cauldrons were best. Ginny reached over for more chopped tomatoes, and she saw Harry's hand guided toward the same thing. She moved her hand away quickly to avoid a tacky moment. Save it for the wedding, she thought and laughed at herself.

"It's not funny, Ginny! Steel cauldrons have very narrow handles!" said Tonks, assuming that Ginny was giving Tonks her undivided attention.

"The handles are just fine!" Lupin disagreed. Hermione was giving Ron never-ending study tips.

"Then how do I keep from falling asleep?" he asked.

"Just try to find interest." She responded.

"Right, I certainly found it engaging that in 1832, they halted the employment of leprechauns at Gringotts," Ron retorted sarcastically.

"See, you get it already!" said Hermione. "Now, after dinner, I want you to look over your old History of Magic notes and try to find interest."

"You think I'm going to take an order from you?"

"Ron!"

"Yes, ma'am," he said dryly. Ginny giggled at the fact that Hermione can change his mind over so many things. Too bad S.P.E.W. wasn't working so well.

Harry didn't say anything to Ginny the whole time, but he did pick up a fork when she dropped it. When people were done eating and talking, they started to leave the table. Harry stood up. "Ginny," he said and she looked up at him. "You smell nice."

Ginny blushed as he walked away. She was confused, but she chose a floral-scented bath for a reason. By the time, she stood up, Hermione came over to her to talk privately.

"Do you think it would be okay if we went into the attic?" Hermione whispered. She had an eager expression on her face.

Ginny grinned. "I thought you didn't approve of it."

"Well, okay, I'm throwing all my morals out the window—just for tonight!"