Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling doesn't get on restriction from her parents, so I'm not her, and therefore don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: YAY! I'm back from restriction! I'll tell you one thing, not having access to the computer for 10 weeks and 6 days kills you. Especially if you're as obsessed as me. And if you can't write long in notebooks, only the computer. But I'm back now… so read on!
Chapter Two – The Village
Life gives us simple pleasures. It is up to us to make the most of them.
– Cathy Allen
Ginny sighed happily, stretching out on her bed, having just woken up. She turned over and looked in the direction of her only window and the sun shone in her face, telling her it was time to get up.
She rolled out of bed and looked at her muggle clock Mr. Weasley had given her for her birthday when she was younger. It was nearing ten in the morning and the Weasleys normally ate breakfast before then. Ginny wondered why someone hadn't gotten her up to eat.
Only dressed in pajama pants and a baggy teeshirt, she wandered down the stairs and to the kitchen. Most of her siblings would be staying at their own homes during Christmas, leaving only Hermione and Ginny with her parents until Ron came.
Ron! Ginny remembered. He's s'posed to have come this morning! Ginny quickened her steps and soon reached the kitchen.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing with a dark-haired man on the other side of the kitchen, while Ron and Hermione were talking quietly and gazing, smiling, at each other, a bit away. Ginny slipped in the door and walked over to her brother.
"Ron!" she said, and gave him a big hug, somewhat similar to Mrs. Weasley's hugs.
"Hey, Gin." He hugged her back.
"Morning, Ginny," said Hermione, with a bit of a nervous smile on her face. Ginny grinned at her and whispered to Ron.
"Who's that man over there?"
"Er…" Ron looked at Hermione and Ginny rolled her eyes, turning back to the man. His back faced Ginny, so she walked over to him and her parents.
"Hello, Ginny. We were just talking about muggle weapons with Harry. Very interesting things… I just don't know how they got about without magic. Genius," Mr. Weasley told his daughter.
Harry? As in Harry Potter? The tall, dark-haired man… But then he faced Ginny, a smile on his face, and she could tell exactly who he was.
"Hi, Harry," Ginny mumbled, becoming quiet. Why was she being so shy though? It's just Harry, she told herself.
"Erm… I'll just go change now," she said, blushing upon realizing she was still dressed in her pajamas.
"Of course, dear." Mrs. Weasley dismissed her daughter, and Ginny, trying to hide her face which was slowly turning red, almost ran back up the stairs.
Opening her door, she flopped back on her bed. Why hadn't anyone told her Harry was coming? She didn't have a problem with it… But why wouldn't they tell her? Surely everyone knew that Ginny had long gotten over her little infatuation.
In her fourth year was really when she stopped fancying him. Harry hadn't even thought about her for a date to the Yule Ball… She was just his best friend's younger sister who had a horribly annoying crush on him. He had asked Parvati Patil over her. Parvati! He didn't even like her that much! Ginny then understood that she had no chances with him, and, keeping that in mind, couldn't really remember why she liked him anyway. So when poor Neville asked her, she couldn't say no and decided it was a good way to get over Harry. Soon she was going through boyfriends happily without a thought to Harry.
It was true, though, that she hadn't dated anyone, not one person, so far that year. Ginny didn't really know why, but it seemed kind of pointless seeing as all the guys she had already dated or were complete gits. Maybe she would meet someone special when she was out of Hogwarts… But Ginny had more important things than who her latest fling was. It was Christmas time and if she was going to be pulled out of Hogwarts for a few weeks, then she would spend it with her family and like it.
She smiled to herself, then remembered why she had come up to her room. Her face turned slightly pink again, and Ginny stood up and slipped on a casual robe. She brushed her hair and loosely pulled it back. Glancing in the mirror, Ginny went back outside her room and to the kitchen.
"I see everyone's waited for me to eat breakfast," she said, smiling at the sight of her family, Hermione, and Harry sitting down at the table munching on their breakfast.
Ron and Harry grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, Gin," Harry said, "but we haven't had a good meal like this since before training." Harry gave her another grin, making a light blush appear on Ginny's cheeks.
"Oh, yeah. It's okay." She smiled shyly and sat down at the table. Hermoine sent Ginny an odd look and Ginny looked confused.
"What?" she mouthed at the other girl. Hermione just shook her head, a small smile on her face and Ginny went back to her waffles, still a bit confused.
"What is everyone going to do today? Who hasn't done their Christmas shopping?" Mrs. Weasley asked and raised her eyebrows when Hermione and Ginny raised their hands. Surprisingly, Ron and Harry had already done their shopping. "Well, you two will just have to go shopping sometime before Christmas!"
"Yeah, we'll go soon," Ginny assured her mother.
"In the next day or two we can go to Diagon Alley. There's this new book about new spells that the Ministry and others are working on! Quite fascinating, really." Hermione started chattering excitedly and Harry looked at Ginny and grinned. She quickly smiled back, wondering why she was feeling so odd.
Since Ginny had gotten over her crush on Harry, she'd never been shy near him. Why was his grin making her blush and feel all giggly? Ginny blamed it on his absence in the past few months. She did not have anything other than purely sisterly feelings for Harry. Nevertheless, Ginny finished her breakfast and went back up to her room.
Putting on walking shoes, she remembered Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's mysterious conversation from the night before. Harry was the person coming! The one they were talking about, Ginny realised. She wondered again why they hadn't told her he was coming to the Burrow.
Ginny finished slipping on her shoes and ran down the stairs again. The rest were just getting up from the breakfast table and Hermione was helping Mrs. Weasley clear the table, while Ron and Harry went outside to fly.
"Hey, Mum?" Ginny walked up to her mother.
"Hmm?" Mrs. Weasley asked, flicking her wand at the dirty plates.
"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back in a while…" Ginny went towards the Burrow's exit.
"Hold on! Where are you going to be and how long will it take you?" Ginny sighed, knowing her mother would never realize that her only daughter was of age and could take care of herself.
"The countryside… maybe the village. And I'll see you in an hour or so."
"All right. Be back for lunch!" Mrs. Weasley called.
"Maybe I'll come meet you in the village in a little while," Hermione told Ginny.
"'Kay. It's pretty small; You'll find me easily enough," she said walking out of the door.
Ginny breathed deeply, the cold, fresh air of winter filling her lungs, and started walking from the Burrow until it disappeared from her sight. Then all she could see were the bare trees and fields of England's countryside.
Ginny laughed, throwing her head back, and looked around her again. Some birds flew over her head and she grinned, looking up at them.
She would often walk to the village as a younger girl, when she became tired of her crowded house. Ginny walked now partly from habit, but also because she loved going to the village shops and talking to the people.
It was a few miles' walk to the edge of the village, and when Ginny reached the nearest shop, the pharmacy, she was almost out of breath. Ginny opened the door to the shop –which held medice, but also a table in the back where several of the villagers sometimes gathered to talk and drink coffee.
"Ginny, dear! Come sit with us," a lady in the back called. Ginny walked to the group, smiling, and took a cup of coffee.
"Tell us about your time at school," another woman instructed her. She had short, gray hair , which was slowly becoming white, and bright turquoise eyes.
The first lady, who looked to be the older of the two, had very long hair, which reached to her thighs. It was white at the top, graying at her torso, and turned auburn at the ends.
Ginny sat down and talked with the women, another lady, and two men about her latest days at school. She couldn't go into much detail, as the villagers with her were muggles, but told about Hogwarts, like she had a normal, muggle life.
Ginny told about Quidditch matches, only pretending it was soccer. She described what she and Catherine had done on the weekends, and how they had been doing in school.
Ginny had to catch herself several times, like when Mrs. Bana, the woman with turquoise eyes, had asked her favorite subject.
She shrugged the question off by replying, "Lunch," which got general laughter.
"Your last year at school, isn't it?" Ms. Foster, her multi-coloured hair streaming down her bazck, asked Ginny.
"Yes. And I have no clue what to do after I graduate." Ginny smiled a little.
"Yes, there are so many options. Not half as many when I was younger," an older man chuckled.
"But aren't you going to the University?" Mrs. Bana asked, raising her eybrwos.
Ginny hesitated, "Oh, er… maybe. I'm not quite sure." What the heck is The University, Ginny wondered.
"Oh, how is your mother? I haven't seen her in ages," said one other woman.
"She's just fine. Oh, yeah! Did she tell you about Penny's news?" Ginny asked suddenly and excitedly.
"Oh, no, dear. What happened?"
"Is she expecting yet?"
"Oh, my goodness, is she?"
"Yes, and she's due in August." Ginny smiled. "I'll be an aunt."
"That's wonderful!" Ms. Foster exclaimed.
"Yeah," Ginny said.
"Well be sure to give our congradulations," said one of the men.
"Of course. Well, I'm going to see Mr. Bana in his shop. See you another time!" Ginny got up from the table, refilled her coffee cup, and left the pharmacy.
The flower shop was right down the road from the pharmacy. Mr. and Mrs. Bana were the owners of the shop, specializing in Japanese flowers and arrangements, as they were Japanese themselves.
"Mr. Bana!" Ginny called as the shop door's bell jingled, noting Ginny's entrance.
"Why, hello, Ginevra. Do not forget to call me Ike." The elderly man smiled.
"Sorry, Ike. What have you been doing? New flowers?" Ginny admired the flowers, walking over to the man.
"Yes, yes! Beautiful flowers."
"Mmhm. Ooh, I like this little boquet. I think I'll get it for Penny. You know, she's expecting?" Ginny said, gesturing at a small bunch of flowers.
"Oh, no! She is? Yes, these flowers actually used for help in childbirth. Good choice!"
"Great." Ginny reached in her purse to pay, but Ike stopped her.
"My present for Penny." He winked and handed her the flowers.
"Thanks!" Ginny said, smiling. She walked out the door and went to the sweet shop.
"Not going to buy anything. Not going to buy anything," Ginny muttered under her breath, looking around the store.
"Fancy buying something?" the saleslady asked Ginny.
"Uh, sure. Well, actually, no. Sorry," said Ginny and the woman laughed.
"No problem. Come back if you change your mind."
"I will." Ginny walked out of the door. She left the shop and walked towards the village square. Remembering her coffe, she put the flowers down on a bench and sat beside them. Ginny gulped down the rest of her cup.
"Ginny! I've been looking for you. You said this village was small," Hermione laughed.
"Well, I guess I thought it was. Been here my whole life and know every part of it."
"It is a beautiful place. And the fudge from the sweet shop is delicious." Ginny saw the remains of Hermione's treat.
"Mum just realized how much chocolate I ate, and made me swear to stop eating so many sweets and eat healthier food. I'm trying…" Ginny grinned.
"So you saw Harry?" asked Hermione softly.
Again, a strained smile appeared on Ginny's face. "Yes, I believe I did."
"Oh." Hermione waited for Ginny to say more, but she said nothing and Hermione continued. "Well…"
"Well what?" Ginny asked, already tired of the subject.
"Ginny, you know very well what I mean!"
"No, actually, I don't. Would you like to explain? What do you want me to say?" Ginny became exasperated, throwing her hands in the air. Hermione could see her infamous Weasley/red-head temper showing.
"Okay, calm down. I was just hoping you would say something. Because I know very well that you're not perfectly fine with Harry being here," started Hermione. "Well, I know how you would feel. He just walked in after you haven't seen him in six months, and-"
"And you should have told me he was coming. Why the big secret? We just talked about him last night. Don't you think that was a good time to bring up the subject? I mean, I still would've been irritated, but that would've been better than just finding him in the kitchen!" Ginny tried to keep a calm voice, though it was becoming harder for her as she ranted.
"Yes, I know! I'm sorry. What else would you have me say? Really, I should have told you. I guess I just wanted it to be a surprise," Hermione apologized.
"But why would you think it would've been a good surprise? Sure, it's great to see Harry, but why tell everyone else except me? I told you. I'm not in love with him or anything!" Ginny's anger had receeded. She knew Hermione was only trying to be a good friend, but why did everyone think she was still that little girl in love with Harry Potter?
"Well, I suppose, I mean… I just… I think you and Harry would be wonderful together." Hermione paused, then continued upon seeing Ginny's expression. "But if you don't like him, I know I should back off. And I promise to stop messing with you about him. Really."
"Okay, thanks. I know, it's Christmas, and you and Ron are so in love… that it's hard not to want everyone to be the same way." Ginny laughed.
"You'll have your time," assured Hermione.
"Yeah, I know." I just hope it's soon, Ginny added to herself.
Hermione smiled reassuringly, as though she knew the thoughts Ginny had been thinking for the past few weeks. That, and the fact that she wasn't even out of school yet, encouraged Ginny and she smiled.
"So, do you wanna see the rest of the village? What all have you seen?" Ginny asked her friend, and they stood up.
Hermione looked around her. "I've only seen the countryside, the outside of some of the homes and shops, and now the square. What's the best place to go?"
"Over here-" Ginny pointed across the village's square to a noose that had long been used "-is where they hung Raughlin the Rogue."
"Ron said I would be interested in that." Hermione hurried over to look at the noose properly. "Supposedly, Raughlin was an ancient wizard, living up in the mountains near here. In a cave, actually. He wandered, from mountain cave to mountain cave, across England, Scotland, and Wales, studying muggle villages and trying to improve magic for personal use."
"Fascinating," said Ginny, grinning at Hermione's ignorance that she was slightly mocking her.
"Yes, I'll have to come back to look at this. All the time I've spent at the Burrow and never known the historical significance of this village. Glad Ronald told me before I came, or I might not have had enough time for a quick research." Hermione talked mostly to herself, but Ginny listened amusedly.
"Wouldn't want that," Ginny teased and Hermione looked up, blushing.
Then, a man, about a head taller than Ginny and several years older, brushed by her. He turned around, and she could see his deep, blue eyes.
"Sorry, miss!" he called out, walking away, and Ginny waved him off.
Now she saw several other people had come to the square, as it was nearing lunchtime. Though one man, about twenty, caught her eye. He had twinkling sea green eyes, and light brown hair, reminding her of someone she didn't know. The man was looking around the shops, and suddenly he locked eyes with her.
Ginny and the man smiled at each other and looked away. She turned back to Hermione, but the man's face stuck in her head for a while.
"Hey, Hermione. Besides, if I liked Harry, I couldn't be attracted to other men, right?" laughed Ginny.
"Whatever you say," Hermione said, smiling. "Let's go in this fabric shop!"
"You need something? Or just to look around?"
"Well, I love muggle clothing and haven't had a chance to shop muggle stores in a while. So why not now?" Hermione led Ginny to a store near them. It was called 'Happy Hour' and held mostly young women's clothes.
They had planned to only stay for a few minutes, but ended up taking a couple hours trying on half of the store.
"Hermione! Look at me!" Ginny came out of the dressing room with a twirly, pale blue skirt on and modeled it, laughing, for her friend.
"Oh, I love it! Put that in the 'keeping' pile!" And Hermione went into the opposite dressing room with a handful of tops and shorts.
Soon Ginny discovered the shoe area, and went squealing over to them. Hermione poked her head out of her dressing room and grinned.
A saleslady with amazingly long fake fingernails and drawn on eyebrows looked at them oddly, while the girls tried on more shoes.
"Whew! That was fun," Ginny giggled. She showed Hermione her two new skirts, three pairs of shoes, and top.
Hermione had gotten a pair of shorts, two shirts, and one pair of shoes, being slightly less extravagant than her friend.
"I know! This can be our Christmas present to ourselves," laughed Hermione. Both girls were grinning widely, and several around them recognized them as two teenagers that had just finished shopping.
"Speaking of Christmas presents… I haven't gotten anyone's," groaned Ginny, still giggling.
"We can buy a few today, but most things we can get at Diagon Alley. I have no clue what to get Ron though! Any ideas?"
"None," admitted Ginny. "But we'll think of something. Guys don't really care about romantic gifts, as much as we do. Probably just something from the Quidditch Shop at Diagon Alley." She shrugged and went back to admiring her new purchases.
"But what should you get Harry?" Again, Hermione persisted about Harry.
"Umm… just anything, probably. He likes quidditch," said Ginny. Then she continued in a different tone, "Nothing special. You know I don't like him!"
"Yeah, I know!" Hermione said defensively. "I was just saying…"
"Uh huh."
"Yeah."
The two girls lapsed into silence for a moment, until Ginny interuppted it. "So, presents for all of my family, plus Penny, Fleur, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, Oliver, you, Harry, and Catherine. And you have to do those, except Catherine, and your parents."
"Right. Some kind of prank present for Fred and George." Hermione grinned.
"Of course! But something that seems innocent at first… at first." Ginny laughed evilly, and Hermione gave her a worried look that quickly turned into a smile.
"You're crazy, Ginevra Weasley!"
"So are you, Hermione Granger!"
"Well, at least I'm modest about it," said Hermione.
"Well, at least I'm not. And I'm not as bad as Ron!" Ginny said.
"True."
Hermione and Ginny had now walked to the edge of the village, and were sitting down, watching some children play a game.
"So it's your last year at Hogwarts… Our last year was our best and our worst." Hermione's smile turned grim.
"Yeah, well, it's all good for the class of 1999 (1)! Voldemort's gone, and the curse of the DADA teacher is broken with Lupin. And no one's afraid to send their kids to Hogwarts anymore, because Fudge is no longer the worst minister ever."
"I think Amelia Bones is a wonderful minister. The second female Minister of Magic ever (2)," informed Hermione.
"Bones was fair to Harry in his trial. And Remus –Professor Lupin- and Sirius said they thought so too," Ginny decided.
"So you're basing your opinion of her on a werewolf, an ex-convict, and The Boy Who Lived?" Hermione smiled.
And Ginny smiled too, knowing Hermione didn't mean anything by that. But she had to stop talking about Harry! Hermione was getting way too suspicious…
"So how's work? And SPEW?" Ginny asked.
"Well, can't tell you much about work. I am an Unspeakable," Hermione said proudly. "But SPEW is getting more and more support. People seem to believe Unspeakables out of Hogwarts more than a little Hogwarts student."
"What are you doing with spew?"
"Talking to lawmakers, and joining forces with other organisations for elf liberation. And it's SPEW, not spew! Honestly, your just like Ron sometimes," Hermione laughed.
"He is my brother," Ginny defended.
"Yeah. Hey, is that Hedwig?" Hermione pointed up, and Ginny saw that Harry's owl was flying towards them.
"Hope nothing's wrong," Ginny worried.
Hedwig landed next to them, and dropped a letter in Hermione's lap. Reading over her shoulder, Ginny read:
Hermione-Hey, do you want to apparate to London for lunch?
-Ron
Both girls laughed.
"What a romantic note, Ron!" Hermione said, and turned the parchment over. Pulling out her purse, she got a quill and wrote Be there in a minute on the back.
"Okay, you go ahead and apparate there. I'll be home in a little while. Quick, no one's looking," Ginny told Hermione.
"Bye!" Hermione disappeared loudly, and Ginny smiled at the children that turned around.
They quickly went back to their game, and Ginny watched as two small teams, with four players each, play soccer. She then lay down on the grass, soaking up the sun.
A few minutes past, and Ginny was almost asleep, but a small girl came over to her.
"Miss?" the seven-year-old asked her.
Ginny sat up. "Yes?"
"He won't give us our ball back!" The little girl pointed at a boy, a few years older than her, who was holding the soccer ball above their heads. Her lip quivered as she told.
"Oh, well go ask him nicely for it," advised Ginny. The girl, looking doubtful, nonetheless went back over to the boy.
Ginny looked around, and pulled out her wand, yet hiding it from view of the village children.
"Winsuilamre!" she whispered, and a sudden, short wind knocked the ball from the boys hands. Two younger boys scrambled to get it and the game resumed.
Ginny laughed at the boys expression and lay back down after seeing the little girl look curiously at her.
Then she noticed Hedwig, still on the ground next to her. Ginny turned her head.
"Hedwig! What are you still doing here?" she said in a voice a mother would use to her baby. Hedwig just hooted arrogantly.
"I didn't do anything. Leave me alone you big, old owl," Ginny said in a different tone. But Hedwig gave her an idea.
She turned a few pebbles into a small piece of parchment, and hurriedly scribbled a letter to her best friend.
Ugh, Cathy! Save me from my house. Not really, I guess. Everyone's been great, except no one wanted to tell me that Harry Potter would be joining us for break! Yeah. He just arrived this morning, and I saw him when I rolled out of bed -still in pajamas, mind you- and walked into the kitchen for breakfast. And Hermione has this odd idea that me and Harry should get together! She says she'll leave it alone, but you know Hermione. She's normally very smart about these things, but whatever. Hey, here's an idea: how about you come and spend a few days at the Burrow? You can still spend Christmas day with your parents... won't they let you? Well, you are of age! You should be allowed to do what you want. But I know you're a good girl. Haha. Write back soon!
Ginny attached the parchment to Hedwig, hoping she wasn't being too bold to use Harry's owl without his permission, and the owl flew off. She watched Hedwig for a moment, until she disappeared, and then stood and apparated home.
A/N: Whew. That chapter was fun to write. I wrote about half of it today in a couple hours, so I hope you like it. I wasn't planning to post it until Friday, but I read everyone's reviews again and it made me all grinning and I wrote and wrote.
Responses to Reviewers:
Ginny 22: thanks a ton! Srry I didn't update so soon.. I would've if I wasn't on restriction.
harry+ginnydestiny: you mean update, not review, rite? lol.
ginny-wannabee: yeah, you guessed it! I tried to make it fairly obvious, but not that much, you know? Is sezza your name?
hpgirl7777: thanks so much! Was harry's appearance soon enough?
Harrys Lover: thanks! Luv ur name! lol
RaRa: sorry for not updating for about three months, but I do have an excuse! (see top A/N)
Luna Lovegood2: yay! im on someone's favorites! lol.
Gallon of Firewhiskey: I was going to kill him, but for your sake I didn't. btw, whens ur katie/ollie cummin out? Thanks for the tip of typos, but im too much of a lazy ass to fix em. Hehe.
little-angel123452000: thanks! This one was a tiny bit shorter, but it's a short chapter.
GiGiFanFic: um… sorry? lol. no really, thanks for your advice. I wouldn't have told you to stop reading this, because I don't want anyone to. Most 17-year-olds will swear occasionally, but I realize that I'll just leave that out or hint that foul language was used. Hope you don't stop reading and sorry if I upset you.
HERMIONE GRANGER: thanks!
eatingoreo's: thanks a ton! Love your name btw.
EternalEcho: thank you! Yep, HG is my favorite pairing. Ah.. my faithful reviewer:D
blackrose: lol thank you!
A/N: thanks to everyone who reads, and if you read but don't review, please review. And one more thing, this story will be updated about every three or four days this summer, and will be finished before book six comes out. The epilogue will prolly be posted on July 10th, the day I leave for the beach. If not, before then.
(1) I'm using the timeline where Harry is born in 1980.
(2) I'm supposing Millicent Bagnold was a girl and the first female Minister of Magic.