Disclaimers: See the first chapter.

Snippets From the Potterverse

Chapter 42 - The Horrible Truth

Ginny Weasley had a horrible secret. A terrible, bowel-clenching, gut-spewing, terror-inspiring secret.

Her real name was Ginevra.

It was the worst name in the world! Ginny hated it more than anything. Whatever had possessed her mother and father to give her such a horrid name?!

It was such an awful name, Ginny couldn't bear to let anyone know about it. She had pretended since her very first day at Hogwarts that her real first name was Virginia, just so no one would know her horrible secret. Even her closest friends didn't know. She swore she would go to her grave holding back this terrible secret. And her tombstone would say Ginny', not Ginevra'.

It was her expertise at Bat-Bogey Hexes that had kept Fred, George, and Ron from blurting the secret out to the whole school. She was so good at them that her brothers remained in terror of angering her, so they had never leaked Ginny's real name to anyone.

So, one day, she was horrified to see Pigwidgeon flying towards her at breakfast, bearing what looked like a birthday card from her grandmother. It never failed! Gramma Weasley always sent singing birthday cards, and she also always called Ginny by her real name. No! She couldn't open a SINGING birthday card which would potentially reveal her REAL name in the middle of the Great Hall, where EVERYONE was eating breakfast!

Look Ginny, you've got post! Hermione said cheerfully, pulling the envelope from Pigwidgeon's beak and holding it out to her. Ginny grabbed it and stuffed it in her bag.

Aren't you going to open it? Hermione asked.

Ginny said.

Why not? Hermione ducked down and pulled the envelope from the bag. She slit it open and pulled out the card. Look! It's a birthday card from your grandmother! Isn't that sweet? She started to open it.

Hermione, NO! Ginny wailed.

But it was too late. As soon as Hermione opened the card, it began to sing loudly, echoing all around the cavernous Great Hall and making people look up: Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR GINEVRA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

A ringing silence fell. Heads whipped around to face the Gryffindor table. Ginny sunk as low as possible in her chair, highly embarrassed. Hermione had her hands clasped over her mouth, looking stunned. Then, finally, she lowered them, and in a trembling voice that nevertheless traveled all around the silent Great Hall, asked, G-Ginevra? But Ginny, I thought your real name was Virginia!

Ginny burst into tears.