Birthday Surprises Chapter 55
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only. Lolly, xxx.
Ok people, listen up. I'm grateful for reviews and all, but if you're using reviews to totally trash my story, then I really think you should stop reading this.
Jami - look, what exactly is your problem? If you don't like my story, DON'T READ IT! IT'S THAT SIMPLE! As for rules and such about keeping everything in canon or whatever, this site is called 'FANFICTION' for a reason! If you don't have any useful or encouraging comments, don't comment at all.
Magic Sparkle 1 and Jaquelyne: thank you both for encouragement - especially you, Magic Sparkle 1. Your reviews rocked and made me smile after the not-so-good reviews.
And finally to everyone who reviewed the story at any point and said GOOD THINGS, OR AT LEAST OFFERED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, thank you so much. I really appreciate the fact that people take the time to read my story and review it. Having said all of that, I have one thing left to say: enjoy.
********************************************************************
Hermione tried to get Ginny and Harry to speak to one another, and they did. But it was only to exchange information about the triplets, or about Quidditch, and even then they were polite and formal towards each other. Eventually Hermione gave up, and Ginny's visits to the triplets usually happened while Harry was away for one reason or another. Harry avoided Ginny like the plague, still hurt from her words. He wouldn't dream of stopping her seeing the triplets, but he tried to stay away when she was there. He spent increasing amounts of time working on his plans for the final battle, his many chess games with Ron finally paying off in that he was getting better with strategy. He was under increasing amounts of pressure, and began to snap at every little thing, until it was so bad that he started staying away from Ron and Hermione. They were fed up of his whining, he was sure, and besides, they would want some time alone now that they were a couple. So Harry grew more and more isolated, putting his all into everything else, rather than trying to work things out between himself and his friends. He had a feeling that he would regret it, but while he was so busy, it didn't seem quite so important.
***
Christmas crept up on everyone silently, and Harry hadn't even considered gifts for anyone. He supposed that he might as well get gifts for everyone, and went to Hogsmeade with everyone else in order to buy them. He went without Ron and Hermione, and he was sure that Ginny was with the triplets, and so, alone, he trudged around the village in the snow, searching for presents.
***
Almost three hours later, and freezing cold, Harry walked back into his room at Hogwarts, dropping his purchases on the floor. He sighed heavily, lying back on his bed and sighing. In the corner, Ginny watched unnoticed as a single tear rolled down his cheek as he fell asleep. She peeked into the bag to see wrapped parcels, each with a name on. Amongst them, she could see one addressed to her. She bit her lip and slipped from the room, wondering what had upset Harry so much. She had never seen him crying before, and assumed that it must be something pretty big that was bothering him.
***
On Christmas morning, everyone that had stayed at Hogwarts woke up to snow covering the ground outside. Harry smiled at this, deciding to take the triplets out for their first taste of snow. He crept outside silently, making sure not to wake the others. The common room was completely empty, but then again, it was half past five in the morning. Soon he and the triplets were outside, bundled up against the bitter cold. All three triplets were wide-awake now, and staring into the snow as it fell on their little pink noses. Harry had always loved the snow, especially since his time at Hogwarts. It seemed something so perfect. So pure and white, yet freezing and deadly at the same time. The triplets loved the snow as much as he did, and gurgled happily as Harry twirled them around in it.
"Merry Christmas. Your first." Harry said quietly. "We have presents to open - maybe we'll go in in a few minutes." The triplets gurgled their agreement and clapped their chubby little hands as the snow continued to fall.
***
Ginny watched from her room as Harry took the triplets to see their first snow. He looked happy again, grinning as the triplets smiled and laughed. He spoke to them quietly, and Ginny longed to hear what he was saying. He put the triplets back into their carrycot after twirling each of them around and giving them a little hug. A smile spread across her face as she watched them. They looked so perfect together.
***
When Harry returned to the common room, he was smiling widely. He didn't even see Ginny waiting for him as he sat down on one of the large couches, beside the triplets. He was humming a Christmas carol of some sort, but Ginny supposed it was a Muggle one, as she didn't recognise it.
"Shall we go and wake Uncle Ron up? Shall we?" He said, a wicked grin coming over his face. Ginny couldn't help but grin as Harry stole up the stairs with the triplets, heading to Ron's room.
***
"ARGH!" The entire seventh year boys dorm was awake now, and the triplets were giggling as all of them groaned and mumbled something.
"Get up!" Harry said between laughs. "It's Christmas!"
"What time is it?" Ron moaned gruffly.
"Ten to six." Harry said innocently.
"WHAT! Harry you are an idiot, insufferable..."
"Why thank you - I thought you might want to watch your niece and nephews' first Christmas."
"Oh. Right. Have you woken Ginny up?"
"How can I? Remember the fact that we can't go up the stairs to the girls dorms?"
"Oh yeah. Give me a minute."
"We'll wait down in the common room."
***
By the time Harry returned from the boys' dorms, he had noticed that Ginny was awake too, and wondered how long she had been sitting there.
"Merry Christmas." He said softly, making her head snap around.
"Merry Christmas. How did Ron take to being woken up so early?"
"Not as badly as I'd hoped." Harry confessed.
"You mean he didn't blow a fuse?"
"Nope. But then again, I did mention that the longer he slept, the more he was missing of the triplets' first Christmas."
"Ah, so that's how you escaped bodily injury." Ginny nodded. "How are the triplets?"
"They're fine - they like the snow." Harry replied.
"Yeah, I saw that."
"Were you spying on me?" Harry asked jokingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course." Ginny replied innocently. Harry shook his head and laughed, his eyes bright and sparkling.
"I'm sorry about that thing with Granddad." He said after a moment.
"I was a bit...umm...harsh about that. I didn't mean it."
"No, you got it pretty much spot on. Anyway, we sorted things out."
"Is that where you and the triplets disappear to every Saturday after dinner?"
"Yeah. Sort of a family day thing...pretty bizarre, but there you go."
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah, I am." Harry said after a pause, in which he considered telling her the truth. Then he decided against it - it was Christmas, after all. He smiled at her before looking towards the stairs, where Ron was grinning like a cat that had just caught the canary.
"What's with you?" He asked suspiciously.
"You've two have made up then?"
"Yeah." Harry said, still suspicious.
"That's good. In that case, you might want to look up." Harry groaned, knowing exactly what was coming next. He and Ginny looked up to see a small bunch of mistletoe hanging above them. Rolling his eyes, Harry pecked Ginny on the cheek.
"Happy now?" He asked Ron.
"I suppose it'll have to do." Ron sighed, as if it pained him to say it.
"Hey Gin, maybe we should move over and make room for when Hermione arrives - maybe we should just give them their own private little corner. First we'll have to wake Hermione though." Harry said, his voice just audible. Ginny grinned at him and kissed his cheek before running up to wake up the other girl.
***
"What were you two whispering about?" Ron asked curiously.
"When?" Harry asked.
"A second ago." "Not much. So, when do we get to open presents?"
"When Hermione wakes up, I reckon." Ron shrugged.
"Right - by the way, it's the triplet's six-month birthday tomorrow."
"Eh?" "The broomsticks!" Harry said with a grin. Ron's eyes lit up and he grinned as well.
"Wicked! Finally." He said.
"What are you two talking about?" Hermione asked, as she and Ginny returned.
"Oh nothing." Harry said, nudging Ron to play along.
"We were just wondering when we'd get to open presents." Ron said.
"Right. Well, I suppose..." Ginny trailed off as several letters appeared in mid-air, one addressed to each of them. They all plucked them from the air and opened them simultaneously.
"Harry, did you know about this?" Hermione asked. "Well...granddad may have mentioned it...once...or twice...several...hundred...times?" Harry said.
"You didn't think to tell us?"
"Nah. I thought it would be a nice surprise."
"I can't believe it - everyone's going to be there?"
"Well, all of the Weasley's, Remus, Tonks, Granddad, Hagrid, us four...erm, I think that might be it - oh, no, wait. Aunt Petunia's coming too."
"That will cause a riot." Ginny murmured.
"Actually, I've explained everything to everyone - well, everyone that knows. Aunt Petunia's left Vernon."
"She has?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide.
"Yeah. Dudley's at school, so he won't be coming. Vernon's still paying for him to go to Smeltings."
"Right. Well...umm...this is definitely...sudden. When did it happen?"
"A few weeks ago - I went to visit Aunt Petunia to see how she was, and...well, things were pretty bad when I got there. Needless to say, they got worse when I arrived."
"Oh dear."
"Yeah. Vernon nearly ripped himself in half trying to kill me - again."
"You don't mean literally?"
"No - well, sort of. The spell will cause damage if he tries to deliberately hurt me or anyone else - when he fights it, it gets worse, and when he knowingly tries to do serious harm, it could cause pretty bad damage."
"Well, I can't say I'd be sorry." Hermione said shrilly, Ginny nodded her agreement and Harry smiled.
"Well, he's fine now. Living with his sister Marge and her horrible beasts. I daresay they'll be wanting to start a 'we all hate Harry Potter' club."
"Makes a change from 'we all love Harry Potter' club." Ginny grinned.
"Yeah, weren't you a co-founder of that?" Ron asked teasingly.
"Co-founder? No - I was the only founder!" Ginny said with no hint of embarrassment. Harry laughed and asked who else was in this club of hers. Ginny refused to give any details, but she did hint about Lavender and Parvati.
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only. Lolly, xxx.
Ok people, listen up. I'm grateful for reviews and all, but if you're using reviews to totally trash my story, then I really think you should stop reading this.
Jami - look, what exactly is your problem? If you don't like my story, DON'T READ IT! IT'S THAT SIMPLE! As for rules and such about keeping everything in canon or whatever, this site is called 'FANFICTION' for a reason! If you don't have any useful or encouraging comments, don't comment at all.
Magic Sparkle 1 and Jaquelyne: thank you both for encouragement - especially you, Magic Sparkle 1. Your reviews rocked and made me smile after the not-so-good reviews.
And finally to everyone who reviewed the story at any point and said GOOD THINGS, OR AT LEAST OFFERED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, thank you so much. I really appreciate the fact that people take the time to read my story and review it. Having said all of that, I have one thing left to say: enjoy.
********************************************************************
Hermione tried to get Ginny and Harry to speak to one another, and they did. But it was only to exchange information about the triplets, or about Quidditch, and even then they were polite and formal towards each other. Eventually Hermione gave up, and Ginny's visits to the triplets usually happened while Harry was away for one reason or another. Harry avoided Ginny like the plague, still hurt from her words. He wouldn't dream of stopping her seeing the triplets, but he tried to stay away when she was there. He spent increasing amounts of time working on his plans for the final battle, his many chess games with Ron finally paying off in that he was getting better with strategy. He was under increasing amounts of pressure, and began to snap at every little thing, until it was so bad that he started staying away from Ron and Hermione. They were fed up of his whining, he was sure, and besides, they would want some time alone now that they were a couple. So Harry grew more and more isolated, putting his all into everything else, rather than trying to work things out between himself and his friends. He had a feeling that he would regret it, but while he was so busy, it didn't seem quite so important.
***
Christmas crept up on everyone silently, and Harry hadn't even considered gifts for anyone. He supposed that he might as well get gifts for everyone, and went to Hogsmeade with everyone else in order to buy them. He went without Ron and Hermione, and he was sure that Ginny was with the triplets, and so, alone, he trudged around the village in the snow, searching for presents.
***
Almost three hours later, and freezing cold, Harry walked back into his room at Hogwarts, dropping his purchases on the floor. He sighed heavily, lying back on his bed and sighing. In the corner, Ginny watched unnoticed as a single tear rolled down his cheek as he fell asleep. She peeked into the bag to see wrapped parcels, each with a name on. Amongst them, she could see one addressed to her. She bit her lip and slipped from the room, wondering what had upset Harry so much. She had never seen him crying before, and assumed that it must be something pretty big that was bothering him.
***
On Christmas morning, everyone that had stayed at Hogwarts woke up to snow covering the ground outside. Harry smiled at this, deciding to take the triplets out for their first taste of snow. He crept outside silently, making sure not to wake the others. The common room was completely empty, but then again, it was half past five in the morning. Soon he and the triplets were outside, bundled up against the bitter cold. All three triplets were wide-awake now, and staring into the snow as it fell on their little pink noses. Harry had always loved the snow, especially since his time at Hogwarts. It seemed something so perfect. So pure and white, yet freezing and deadly at the same time. The triplets loved the snow as much as he did, and gurgled happily as Harry twirled them around in it.
"Merry Christmas. Your first." Harry said quietly. "We have presents to open - maybe we'll go in in a few minutes." The triplets gurgled their agreement and clapped their chubby little hands as the snow continued to fall.
***
Ginny watched from her room as Harry took the triplets to see their first snow. He looked happy again, grinning as the triplets smiled and laughed. He spoke to them quietly, and Ginny longed to hear what he was saying. He put the triplets back into their carrycot after twirling each of them around and giving them a little hug. A smile spread across her face as she watched them. They looked so perfect together.
***
When Harry returned to the common room, he was smiling widely. He didn't even see Ginny waiting for him as he sat down on one of the large couches, beside the triplets. He was humming a Christmas carol of some sort, but Ginny supposed it was a Muggle one, as she didn't recognise it.
"Shall we go and wake Uncle Ron up? Shall we?" He said, a wicked grin coming over his face. Ginny couldn't help but grin as Harry stole up the stairs with the triplets, heading to Ron's room.
***
"ARGH!" The entire seventh year boys dorm was awake now, and the triplets were giggling as all of them groaned and mumbled something.
"Get up!" Harry said between laughs. "It's Christmas!"
"What time is it?" Ron moaned gruffly.
"Ten to six." Harry said innocently.
"WHAT! Harry you are an idiot, insufferable..."
"Why thank you - I thought you might want to watch your niece and nephews' first Christmas."
"Oh. Right. Have you woken Ginny up?"
"How can I? Remember the fact that we can't go up the stairs to the girls dorms?"
"Oh yeah. Give me a minute."
"We'll wait down in the common room."
***
By the time Harry returned from the boys' dorms, he had noticed that Ginny was awake too, and wondered how long she had been sitting there.
"Merry Christmas." He said softly, making her head snap around.
"Merry Christmas. How did Ron take to being woken up so early?"
"Not as badly as I'd hoped." Harry confessed.
"You mean he didn't blow a fuse?"
"Nope. But then again, I did mention that the longer he slept, the more he was missing of the triplets' first Christmas."
"Ah, so that's how you escaped bodily injury." Ginny nodded. "How are the triplets?"
"They're fine - they like the snow." Harry replied.
"Yeah, I saw that."
"Were you spying on me?" Harry asked jokingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course." Ginny replied innocently. Harry shook his head and laughed, his eyes bright and sparkling.
"I'm sorry about that thing with Granddad." He said after a moment.
"I was a bit...umm...harsh about that. I didn't mean it."
"No, you got it pretty much spot on. Anyway, we sorted things out."
"Is that where you and the triplets disappear to every Saturday after dinner?"
"Yeah. Sort of a family day thing...pretty bizarre, but there you go."
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah, I am." Harry said after a pause, in which he considered telling her the truth. Then he decided against it - it was Christmas, after all. He smiled at her before looking towards the stairs, where Ron was grinning like a cat that had just caught the canary.
"What's with you?" He asked suspiciously.
"You've two have made up then?"
"Yeah." Harry said, still suspicious.
"That's good. In that case, you might want to look up." Harry groaned, knowing exactly what was coming next. He and Ginny looked up to see a small bunch of mistletoe hanging above them. Rolling his eyes, Harry pecked Ginny on the cheek.
"Happy now?" He asked Ron.
"I suppose it'll have to do." Ron sighed, as if it pained him to say it.
"Hey Gin, maybe we should move over and make room for when Hermione arrives - maybe we should just give them their own private little corner. First we'll have to wake Hermione though." Harry said, his voice just audible. Ginny grinned at him and kissed his cheek before running up to wake up the other girl.
***
"What were you two whispering about?" Ron asked curiously.
"When?" Harry asked.
"A second ago." "Not much. So, when do we get to open presents?"
"When Hermione wakes up, I reckon." Ron shrugged.
"Right - by the way, it's the triplet's six-month birthday tomorrow."
"Eh?" "The broomsticks!" Harry said with a grin. Ron's eyes lit up and he grinned as well.
"Wicked! Finally." He said.
"What are you two talking about?" Hermione asked, as she and Ginny returned.
"Oh nothing." Harry said, nudging Ron to play along.
"We were just wondering when we'd get to open presents." Ron said.
"Right. Well, I suppose..." Ginny trailed off as several letters appeared in mid-air, one addressed to each of them. They all plucked them from the air and opened them simultaneously.
"Harry, did you know about this?" Hermione asked. "Well...granddad may have mentioned it...once...or twice...several...hundred...times?" Harry said.
"You didn't think to tell us?"
"Nah. I thought it would be a nice surprise."
"I can't believe it - everyone's going to be there?"
"Well, all of the Weasley's, Remus, Tonks, Granddad, Hagrid, us four...erm, I think that might be it - oh, no, wait. Aunt Petunia's coming too."
"That will cause a riot." Ginny murmured.
"Actually, I've explained everything to everyone - well, everyone that knows. Aunt Petunia's left Vernon."
"She has?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide.
"Yeah. Dudley's at school, so he won't be coming. Vernon's still paying for him to go to Smeltings."
"Right. Well...umm...this is definitely...sudden. When did it happen?"
"A few weeks ago - I went to visit Aunt Petunia to see how she was, and...well, things were pretty bad when I got there. Needless to say, they got worse when I arrived."
"Oh dear."
"Yeah. Vernon nearly ripped himself in half trying to kill me - again."
"You don't mean literally?"
"No - well, sort of. The spell will cause damage if he tries to deliberately hurt me or anyone else - when he fights it, it gets worse, and when he knowingly tries to do serious harm, it could cause pretty bad damage."
"Well, I can't say I'd be sorry." Hermione said shrilly, Ginny nodded her agreement and Harry smiled.
"Well, he's fine now. Living with his sister Marge and her horrible beasts. I daresay they'll be wanting to start a 'we all hate Harry Potter' club."
"Makes a change from 'we all love Harry Potter' club." Ginny grinned.
"Yeah, weren't you a co-founder of that?" Ron asked teasingly.
"Co-founder? No - I was the only founder!" Ginny said with no hint of embarrassment. Harry laughed and asked who else was in this club of hers. Ginny refused to give any details, but she did hint about Lavender and Parvati.
