Disclaimer: Guess who doesn't own Harry Potter. Ten points if you guessed me and everyone else on this site. Heha.
A/N: Well I think this has been about three weeks or something like that? I'm hoping to have each update like this… if not sooner. I love writing this story more than anything else! Hope you like it too. But before you start I'd like to say a special THANK YOU to my awesome beta, Madoleine Tolkien!
Back Into My Heart
Chapter One: Weasley Gathering
Where can a person be better than in the bosom of their family?
Marmontel Gretry
On Hogwarts' rooftop, Hogwarts being a magical place where young wizards were taught the beginnings of magic, there was a small turret peaking out from the other towers and spires. It was a small space, perfect for one to sit or stand and look out at the roofing and grounds of the school. The view was magnificent, especially in the mid-morning, around ten, when the world had a fresh feeling and silence felt eternal.
Hogwarts was quite a grand site, cherished to the vast majority of its students, and looked upon as a large part of their childhood by wizards and witches who had graduated from the place. Ginevra Weasley, who was currently leaning over the edge of the particular turret, felt so very much. Although she loved her home, the Burrow, as it was called, Hogwarts somehow felt more familiar to her, especially where she was standing at that moment.
Ginny, as she was known to most, gave an almost sad smile, and tucked her reddish hair behind her ears. She fingered her soft tresses unconsciously, and swung her legs over the side, sitting on the edge. Ginny held onto the wall, looking over the area in front of her, as she was used to doing when she wanted time alone, away from everyone at Hogwarts.
Tilting her head, she remembered again what the day was. December 19th and a Saturday morning, the morning she and most other students would go home for Christmas break. Ginny was eager to go to the Burrow and see her family, but part of her still wanted to stay at Hogwarts.
Her mother, Molly Weasley, thought she was still a young girl, although Ginny was nearly halfway through her seventh year at Hogwarts and had been of age since the past August. Most of her siblings and her father, Arthur Weasley, believed the same. Only her brothers Fred and George thought differently. Ginny had a little mischievous streak, which was only magnified by the time she had spent with her twin brothers. Ginny missed them at Hogwarts, as they had graduated three years previously, in her fourth year.
In a little while she would need to climb down from the small towers' edge, walk down the spiraling stairs, open the door at the end of the staircase, and walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room. The door to the staircase was on the seventh floor, a few hundred yards down from the entrance to Ginny's Common Room. Her best friend, Cathy Gerrard, a loyal, extremely nice, but somewhat shy girl around strangers, who shared a dormitory with Ginny, would be waiting for her there, ready to walk down to the Great Hall where they would sign out of Hogwarts to get on the train.
A few moments later she made herself gracefully tumble back into the tower. Taking one last look at the view, she started to descend the steps.
"Why didn't I just sign up to stay here?" Ginny sighed. Though she knew once she got home to her family, she wouldn't regret coming. It was only two weeks, and she had until the end of June to be at Hogwarts.
But after that, a sad voice in her head said, you'll never be a Hogwarts student again. Ginny shuddered, realizing that what the voice said was true. She would be glad to be rid of the lessons, but all the memories she had there were things she didn't want to let go.
She had reached the Portrait Hole by now, and waiting for her on the other side was Cathy.
"You've gone off to that place again, haven't you?" Ginny had discovered the turret in her sixth year, when the Second War had gotten too intense for her. Cathy never knew where she always went, but respected Ginny's privacy and didn't bother her too much about it.
Ginny smiled at her friend and nodded.
"I gotta pack a few last things. Then we can go down," said Ginny, and went up to the seventh year girls' dormitory, Cathy behind her.
They shared the room with two other girls. Bethany Winters was an extremely quiet Gryffindor seventh year, who occasionally talked to Ginny and Cathy, but never really hung around with anyone. She loved school and was a straight O student. Denise McRae was the other girl. Denise rarely talked to her dormmates. Instead, she was always with her best friends, the seventh years of Ravenclaw.
After Ginny got her hairbrush and another set of robes packed, she stopped and talked to Bethany.
"Hey. So you're staying here for break?" Ginny asked her, as she sat, cross-legged on her bed, reading.
"Yes. I've got to study for N.E.W.T.s." Bethany smiled at Ginny and pushed her long brown hair out of her face. Her hazel eyes were kind.
"Oh. Well then, see you in two weeks!" Ginny called as she walked out of the door.
"Bye," she replied softly and turned back to her book.
Ginny carried her bag down the steps of the girls' dormitories and met up with Cathy in the Common Room. Together they walked down to Great Hall, saying their good-byes to their friends along the way.
In the Great Hall, Ginny signed her name on a sheet McGonagall provided and walked with Cathy outside. There were horseless carriages just outside of the Hogwarts gates waiting for them. But Ginny could see the Thestrals pulling the carriages because she had fought in the Final Battle a few months before. She shuddered, remembering all the people –Death Eaters, Order members, and even Hogwarts students- killed.
That's enough of that, she told herself. Stop thinking about it. It's Christmas!
Ginny laughed and spun around while Cathy watched her amusedly.
She giggled at Ginny, who had stopped spinning and had fallen over.
Ginny laughed and let her best friend help her up.
The pair soon reached an empty carriage and were joined by Zacharias Smith and Jacob Summerby, two of their Hufflepuff friends. On the way to the train station in Hogsmeade, sitting in the carriage, the group of four now talked about their plans for the break.
Jacob would be going with his dad and sister to France, while Zacharias would stay with his cousins near Harrow.
"I'm staying at home, even though Mum and Dad are going to Scotland. So I'm going to have Nana come stay," Cathy told me, when Jacob and Zacharias were discussing a future Tornadoes match.
"The one with the ancient pet lizard?" Ginny asked sympathetically, while biting her lip to keep her from giggling.
"Yes," Cathy groaned.
"Well, you'll just have to come spend some of the holiday with me!" said Ginny brightly. "It'll be mad fun!"
"Sure." Cathy smiled gratefully at her friend.
At Hogsmeade, the students found the train would be a half-hour late. Ginny grinned at Cathy, who looked dubiously at her.
"We'll have to sneak off?" Cathy asked.
"Yes… but I really really wanna get some chocolate and Droobles gum from Honeydukes!" Ginny pleaded with her friend. Cathy didn't need much persuasion after the chocolate was mentioned, though.
"Erm… okay. Let's go really quick!" Cathy grinned and the two girls snuck off to the shop.
"Well, hello Cathy! And Ginny! Aren't you two supposed to be on the train?" Mr. Honeydukes, who was almost as old as Dumbledore, asked them.
"It got delayed," Ginny, who was looking at the new Droobles cinnamon gum, said.
"And you two came sneaking off here?" Mr. Honeydukes smiled.
"Er… yes," Cathy replied sheepishly.
Mr. Honeydukes chuckled.
"Oh! Cathy, we've got the shipment of Russian dark chocolate in early! It's in the basement." Mr. Honeydukes got his wand from the counter, but a customer walked in and he cast a look at Ginny and Cathy.
"We'll get it," Ginny told him.
They walked down to Honeydukes's basement, wands in hand.
When the girls found the box, Ginny put a charm on it.
"Wingardium Leviosa," she said and flicked and swished her wand at it. The shipment rose into the air and was brought up the stairs and onto a shelf. Cathy got several bars to last her through Christmas and stacked the rest neatly next to the Bertie Bott's Beans.
"Free samples…" Cathy got a white coconut flavored bean and tried it. "Not bad." She grinned at Ginny, who was about to taste a gray one. Ginny popped it in her mouth and choked.
"Dust." She made a face. "Must be new… never had it before."
"Chocolate and caramel ones are good." Cathy got a box of beans.
"I'll get me a box too. They're cheaper here than on the trolley in the train. What time is it?"
"Train should be ready in ten minutes. We should probably pay and leave now." Cathy said as she glanced at her watch.
"Yeah, okay," Ginny agreed and they walked towards the counter.
After Ginny had purchased a box of beans and a good-sized amount of gum and Cathy had bought her Russian chocolate and some beans, the girls went back to the train station. The train was just pulling up and all the students loaded onto it.
Cathy and Ginny got their own compartment nearing the end of the train, where they put their luggage and sat down.
Cathy immediately got out her chocolate and started munching on it.
"It's good!" She finished a piece and handed a small bit to Ginny, who tasted it and nodded in agreement.
"You're so chocolate obsessed," Ginny laughed at her friend, who was forcing herself to save some of her precious chocolate for the break.
"Maybe I am. But you can't ever stop chewing on Droobles!"
Ginny put another piece of gum in her mouth.
"You're right about that." Ginny grinned and blew a big bubble, popping it with a loud crack.
"You're just staying at the Burrow for break, right?" asked Cathy.
"Yup. And Ron is coming for break from auror training, along with Hermione."
"Ooh! Did they finally get together?" Cathy leaned forward and Ginny laughed.
"Last fall. It was funny. From what I heard they were yelling at each other and then just started snogging." Ginny grinned.
"Oh, Merlin." Cathy laughed.
"And Bill and Fleur are engaged, as of last month. Charlie's still single, and you know Percy and Penelope are married. Then Fred and Angelina and George and Alicia are dating."
"And you're still single," Cathy said.
"Aye. You too." Ginny smiled.
"Right. We'll grow up and be old maids," Cathy sighed and grinned.
"Old maids that do fun things. Like play quidditch. Or travel to the States. And kick Death Eaters' asses!" Both girls laughed. Although Voldemort was defeated, some Death Eaters were still out there and attacking muggles and muggleborns. It was like when Voldemort was defeated the first time and the Death Eaters had done many attacks. Remembering this, they stopped laughing.
"Anyway," said Ginny. "Have you bought all your Christmas gifts?"
"Er…not all of them. I bought yours though!"
"Yeah. Same here. We can go shopping in Diagon Alley soon!" Ginny got more gum.
"Lotsa fun!" Cathy agreed.
"Uh huh."
The girls sat in silence for a moment, Ginny cracking her gum and Cathy sneaking some chocolate from her bag.
"I'm kinda tired," Cathy yawned.
"Yeah, me too. We can take a nap before we pull into the station." Ginny curled up on her seat and took out a blanket from her trunk.
"'Kay Gin. Nighty night!"
"It's the afternoon. But whatever."
Cathy and Ginny were soon asleep, and spent the rest of the ride that way, having stayed up all night the night before just chatting and doing all their homework for the holidays in the Common room. When the train was nearing Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the conductor came on the intercom and told them to change into their muggle clothing. The voice woke them up and they changed and waited until the station came into view.
"And now to the Burrow!" Ginny said, as the girls walked out of the train and onto the platform.
"For you. My house, with Nana for me!" Cathy frowned dejectedly.
"I told you that you could come over any time. And we'll go shopping together before Christmas," Ginny said.
"Right."
They stepped out of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and Mrs. Weasley was standing where they appeared.
"Oh, Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley hugged her daughter. "Won't be long until none of my children are going to Hogwarts," she added sadly.
"Hi Mum." Ginny hugged her mother back.
"But I will have grandchildren at Hogwarts in a few years," Mrs. Weasley continued, her eyes shining.
"Oh, really?" Ginny could tell that Mrs. Weasley knew something.
"Yes," her mother said, bursting to tell Ginny. "Penny's pregnant!"
"Oh Merlin!" Ginny jumped up and down. "I'm going to be an auntie!"
"And I'll be a Grandmama." Mrs. Weasley got a faraway look in her eyes.
"Wow. Tell her and Percy congratulations for me!" Cathy saw her mum, who would be leaving for Scotland that night. "Oh, there's Mum. Gotta go! Bye Gin and Mrs. Weasley!"
Cathy and Ginny hugged and Cathy went over to her mum.
"Well then. Are you ready?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yeah." Ginny apparated to the Burrow's door, with Mrs. Weasley soon appearing behind her.
"Gin!" her family, Hermione, Alicia, Angelina, and Fleur greeted Ginny when she walked in the door. Hermione, Alicia, and Angelina were dating Ginny's brothers, while Fleur and Bill were engaged, and came to the Weasley gatherings.
"Hi guys," she said, sitting down in a chair.
"Did you hear?" Percy asked pompously, with a smile towards his wife.
"Oh, yes! I'm going to be its auntie! When did you find out?"
"Last week," Penny said quietly, grinning and patting her stomach.
Percy was normally very haughty but Ginny could see the pride radiating from her brother when anyone talked about his future child. In Ginny's fourth year, he had stopped following Dumbledore in favor of the Ministry, almost disowning his family for Minister Fudge's lies. But as the Second War started, he realized his mistake and (very formally) apologized came back to the Weasley family.
"Well, then, supper is all cooked and we need to set up the tables," Mrs. Weasley announced.
"All right. Come on," Mr. Weasley told his sons. The Weasley men, excluding Ron, walked out of the room. Ron was still at auror training but would come to the Burrow the next morning.
The female Weasleys, along with Hermione, Alicia, Angelina, and Fleur stayed in the living room to chat. Fleur began describing her and Bill's wedding, which would be the following June.
"We should 'ave it outside, yes? On a beautiful summer day, with all ze flowers around." Fleur sighed and began on her dress. "I zink zat ze dress will be strapless, no? And a lovely pure white? Oh, yes!"
"I think that would be great, Fleur. Maybe you could have it on the Hogwarts grounds, or out in the country somewhere," Ginny said, imaging the wedding.
"Maybe at Hogwarts, down by the lake." Angelina smiled at Fleur.
"Or we could have it out in the country, near the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley suggested.
The women discussed a few details of the dress, food, and ceremony, until Mr. Weasley told them the food was out on the table.
They would be eating outside, as the Burrow had gotten too small for the large family. There was a long picnic table outside in the Burrow's yard, holding delicious samples of Mrs. Weasley's cooking.
Two pops came from behind Ginny. She quickly turned around, recognizing the sound of apparition.
"Katie dear! And Oliver! How lovely of you to join us!" George walked over to his friends, grinning. Katie and Oliver had just married two months before.
"So good of you to come!" Fred, with a matching grin, joined his twin brother. "We invited them, Mum. Hope you don't mind."
"Yes, there's plenty of food for all!" said George, surveying the table again.
"Hi everyone," Katie said, smiling.
"Thanks for letting us come." Oliver Wood grinned at the sight of Mrs. Weasley's cooking.
"Not a problem! Our pleasure!" Mrs. Weasley gave them each a hug, having known them since Fred and George were in first year.
"The more the merrier!" Mr. Weasley sat down at the head of the table, beckoning for the others to join him.
Ginny had forgotten how good her mother's cooking was. When all her friends and family were talking and catching up, Ginny concentrated on her food. The meals at Hogwarts were marvelous, but her mum's food always tasted a little different, though neither one could be named better.
"So how's life being married? I haven't talked to you in forever!" Alicia told Katie. Katie, Alicia, and Angelina had been best of friends at Hogwarts, but Ginny gathered they hadn't talked much lately, with Katie and Oliver being newlyweds and all.
"It's wonderful." Katie cast an adoring look at her husband and Ginny felt a small pang that could have been envy.
That's silly, she told herself. I've got awesome friends, Hogwarts, and a great family. I don't really need a boyfriend right now.
Oliver looked back at Katie and grinned at her.
But I maybe wouldn't say no to a really good boyfriend, if the right one came, Ginny added in her mind.
After the dessert, a tasty pumpkin pie, the Weasley family and their guests sat at the table, talking, for a few minutes.
"Oh! While everyone is here tonight, I think we should decorate the Burrow!" Mrs. Weasley told everyone.
"'Kay," said Ginny. "Are all the decorations still in the attic, Mum?"
"Yes, dear. Fleur, Katie, Ginny, Alicia, Angelina, and Hermione, the supplies are in the attic. Feel free to decorate however you want." Mrs. Weasley gave a warm smile to the young women and they started back inside the Burrow.
"Ginny, do you remember that time in my sixth year when Harry and I came for Christmas break and we all decorated the Burrow? And then sat in the living room with butterbeer?" Hermione asked, looking at her friend.
"Oh, yeah. That was fun! We should get some butterbeer for everyone."
"Yes! I can conjure eet, no?" Fleur asked excitedly. She didn't drink much butterbeer in France, as it wasn't very common there, but she loved the warm drink.
"Sure. After we finish decorating that will be great," said Katie.
"In the attic?" Angelina asked, starting up the staircase.
"Yup." Ginny and the other girls followed her.
When the wreaths, floating mistletoe, ribbons, ornaments, and garlands were down from the attic, Hermione conjured a Christmas tree and she and Katie began decorating it with ornaments. Angelina and Fleur went outside to do the wreaths, leaving Alicia and Ginny to do the rest.
"So, Gin, how's school? Your last year right?" Alicia asked, while hanging some garlands around the room.
"Right. It's okay. Lots of work with N.E.W.T.s coming up in June. I've started studying already, thanks to Hermione," Ginny laughed.
"Well just don't study so hard that you don't have any fun during your last year."
"Yeah," Ginny said sadly. "My last year. I can't believe that in six months I'll be leaving Hogwarts."
"I know. I mean you could come back, but it wouldn't be the same. You wouldn't be a student." Alicia had a melancholy smile on her face also.
"Not worrying about the Potions test the next day. Or the Gryffindor-Slytherin quidditch match." Ginny joined her in charming mistletoe to float in the corners of the room.
"Or getting caught out of bed in the middle of the night," Alicia giggled.
Both girls laughed, remembering their times at Hogwarts.
"I'm feeling like I've already left Hogwarts," Ginny said. "I've still got six more months!"
"Yeah," said Alicia.
"Before I leave Hogwarts, you, Angelina, Fred, George, and whoever else should come to Hogsmeade when we have a Hogsmeade weekend and we can meet up," Ginny suggested.
"That would be great! I haven't been to Hogsmeade in four years…"
Ginny and Alicia soon finished their part and decided to go outside and help Angelina and Fleur with the outside décor.
Angelina and Fleur were just finishing, and when the four came inside Hermione and Katie had perfected the Christmas tree.
Fleur conjured up the butterbeer and by now the others had come in from outside where they had been talking. They were glad to see the butterbeer and grabbed a mug full of it, sat down in the living room, and started talking again.
"Still working with Puddlemere United?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Yes sir. We're having a good season this year," said Oliver in his Scottish accent that used to make Ginny blush.
Ginny sat back in her cushioned chair that was in the corner of the room and next to the fireplace. She snuggled up in the chair with a blanket, smiling and listening to everyone talk. Hermione and Mrs. Weasley were having a discussion in low voices that Ginny could.
"…Early the next morning," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Haven't seen him in forever" was the snippet Ginny heard from Hermione.
"Have you told her?" Hermione then asked in a low voice.
"No… just let them…" Mrs. Weasley stopped and saw Ginny watching her. "Hello, Ginny. Feeling sleepy?"
"Sort of." Ginny yawned. "I might head up to bed in a little while."
Hermoine and Mrs. Weasley started talking again, but the voices were too soft for Ginny to hear. She sighed and turned to Penelope, who was smiling and rubbing her stomach. Percy glanced at his wife and grinned the trademark Weasley grin. Ginny smiled to herself. Percy, while sometimes overambitious, would love his child and be a good dad.
Mr. Weasley was talking to Bill and Charlie, but they were across the room from Ginny and she couldn't hear anything they said. Alicia, Katie, and Oliver were near enough to Ginny that she could hear them speaking though.
She listened to them talking about Oliver's latest career ventures for a while until Fred and George who were sitting with Angelina caught her attention. Ginny devised they were planning some sort of prank.
"And when they come in tomorrow morning, a whole string of fireworks will blow off in their faces." Fred grinned.
"A welcome home present from us," George told Angelina.
"Of course." Angelina smiled.
"Hey Ginny?" Hermione called to Ginny.
"Hmm?" Ginny yawned and Hermione smiled.
"I'm sharing your room with you tonight. Think that'll be okay?"
"Oh, of course. It's fine." Ginny could feel her eyelids getting heavier, even though she had slept all day on the train, she had worked hard decorating and the atmosphere was so relaxed.
"All right then. Do you want to go up now with me and go to sleep?" Hermione asked, yawning some on her own.
"I think that would be good." Ginny and Hermione stood up.
"We're going on to bed now. See everyone later," said Hermione and the girls started up the stairs to Ginny's room.
"So, Gin, are you dating anyone?" Hermione asked, sitting on Ginny's bed. Ginny blushed a light pink.
"Um…not right now," she said, wishing Hermione would change the topic.
"When's the last time you've had a boyfriend?"
"Last year… I broke up with him in April sometime, I think. Why?"
"Just wondering." Hermione smiled a secret little smile and conjured up a cot for her to sleep on. But she continued, as if she couldn't help herself. "You used to have boyfriends all the time when Harry, Ron, and I went to school. What happened?"
"Well… Er… I don't know." Ginny didn't really want to tell Hermione the reason why. She didn't even know herself really. She had a suspicion, but kept pushing it to the back of her mind, because it was obviously not true.
"It's… I mean… it's not because… you weren't keeping a boyfriend because of… well, Harry, were you?" Hermione's face was turning pink. "I mean… to keep your mind off of him or something? And now, now he's gone… you don't need one?" Hermione's face was red, but she seemed like she needed to know the answer.
Dammit! Ginny thought, sighing. Why does she have to be so smart?
What Hermione had blurted out was what Ginny had been denying to herself. She had just changed, Ginny kept saying of her boyfriendless state. But now Hermione said it out in the open, Ginny thought about it. Was that really why she wasn't dating now? And why she had been dating a lot before?
But Hermione was still staring at Ginny, and she knew she couldn't just lie to the girl. Hermione was a very bright young women and could easily tell if Ginny was lying to her. So Ginny told her the truth.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Hermione. I honestly have no idea! I mean… maybe that's it. I don't know if I still like Harry. I haven't seen him in six months or so… I just don't know!" Ginny bit her lip, as she was almost crying, feeling tired and cranky.
Ugh. Why do hormones always come at the worst times? Ginny sighed again, her tears building up in her eyes.
"It's okay, Ginny. No one says you have to make any decisions now. Let's just go to sleep and… erm… maybe something will… happen in the morning," said Hermione, rubbing her friends back.
"'Kay. Thanks 'Mione. It's just confusing…"
"Good night," whispered Hermione as they turned off the lights and Hermione went back to her cot.
"'Night."
A/N: There it is! Now you've read it, maybe you liked it, and I'd really love you to review! Constructive criticism is always good. :D
Responses to Reviewers:
Glaze: Hey! Thank you so much! About the title: well, Ginny used to fancy Harry, you know? Now she's in denial and thinks she has no interest in him. So when she likes him again… back into her heart! lol. Yeah… poor dead people. May they rest in peace. I forgot to finish that sentence, thanks! I fixed it now!
Madoleine Tolkien: Hey beta! Potential… what a nice word. lol. Don't worry; I'll continue to update til this story is through! Thanks for betaing for me!
eyeshadow5746: I think I like the length of the prologue. But thanks newayz. I sent you this chapter to beta for me but you didn't answer and it took a while so I updated newayz. Did you still want to beta for me?
banana-princess: Sorry bout Anthony. I was going to kill him, but I spared him just for you! Don't you feel special? lol. And I don't care if you didn't reread it.
GiGiFanFic: Okay. Well I'll keep updating and you can keep reading! Thanks!