When Icicles Dance In Flames
Vivien
Chapter 2Author's Note: Well chapter 1 was my set up for Draco, so yup you guessed Chapter 2 focuses on Ginny. A few ickle notes on Chapter 1, yeah there were two references to the execution of Charles I (the reasons for this I hope become apparent later) and the password for Milvorda Palace (Mundussacersanguis) Are the Latin words for pure, sacred and blood. Not a big plot point, but useless trivia non the less
Ginny Weasley was sat at her dressing table; in her small bedroom at The Burrow, brushing her hair. She had grown a lot over the summer and was now looking increasingly like a young woman and less like the little girl people were used to seeing her as. Of course that assertion had been rumpled slightly last year when she'd first started having regular boyfriends, but as she approached her sixteenth birthday one thing was clear, she was going to be a beautiful woman.
She smiled; somewhat shyly and somewhat knowingly at her reflection in the mirror. Her golden red hair was loose and fell just below her shoulders, her green eyes were large, bright and alive. She laughed slightly at her own vanity, and gave her outfit a quick check; green top and jeans, yup, she looked presentable, well at least there was nothing for 'Dear' Phlegm to pick at. Rolling her eyes at the very idea of her future sister-in-law Ginny left her room, closing the door with a slight bang.
'What eez with ze door banging Ginny?'
Sure enough, Fleur was stood on the landing; radiant as usual despite the fact it was 7:30 AM and giving Ginny her usual patronising examination.
'Eet is very aggravating, to ma head, zis place, with its banging.'
'Er sorry about that.' Ginny remarked happily before walking downstairs, leaving Fleur glaring at the door as if she half expected it to slam its self again merely to aggravate her.
Fleur was right in a way, The Burrow was still not a quiet place, (even though Fred and George had moved out to live in the flat above their shop). She really missed those two… but herself, Ron and the ghoul in the attic managed to keep the noise content going. Ginny loved her home, it always felt so happy and alive, even in these dark times. Even though 'He' was back……..
Despite the warm summer weather Ginny found herself shivering as she entered the kitchen and took her seat at the breakfast table opposite to Ron who was sat shovelling down eggs and bacon.
'Good Morning Ginny.' Greeted Mrs Weasley, turning to smile at her only daughter.
'Morning Gin' Ron greeted through a mouthful of food, Ginny laughed and pulled a plate towards her.
'Where's dad?' She asked her mother who was stood at the stove, preparing breakfast.
'He had to go into the ministry early.' Mrs Weasley replied darkly.
Ever since Voldemort's return had become public knowledge ministry workers had been run off their feet and it was beginning to feel to the Weasleys that Arthur was rarely at home.
Ron and Ginny gave each other concerned looks across the table, and tried hard not to look at the clock, where the arms representing the family members permanently rested at 'mortal peril'.
'What time's Hermione supposed to arrive?' Ginny asked her brother as she buttered herself some toast.
'Eight thirty.' Ron replied through a mouthful of tea.
'Ronald Weasley,' his mother reprimanded 'can you please not eat and speak at the same time.'
'Sorry mum' Ron replied with a laugh.
Ginny smiled and picked up the Daily Prophet from the dining table, glancing through it at the main headlines, none of which were particularly cheering.
'Where's 'Mione staying?' Ron asked his mother thoughtfully.
'Not with you.' Ginny replied smirking.
Ron glared at his sister.
'Hermione's sharing a room with Ginny and when Harry arrives he'll stay in Fred and George's room.'
'Poor Harry' said Ginny smiling 'he'll wakeup to find himself being attacked by the furniture.'
'Anything in the paper?' Ron inquired.
Ginny shook her head,
'It's all doom and gloom, more suspicious muggle deaths, more rumours about what happened in the department of mysteries…'
The siblings exchanged a knowing look.
'Something about cat's sleeping patterns changing-oh and an advert for Fred and George's shop.'
'Let's see!' Said Ron keenly and Ginny handed the paper over to him.
'Mum, when are we actually going to go to Diagon Alley?' Ginny asked her mother keenly. She had been desperate to see Fred and George's shop for ages, ever since her brothers had first described the wondrous emporium to her.
'Once Harry arrives and a ministry guard can be organised.' Mrs Weasley replied sternly.
'But mum, Voldemort's hardly going to attack "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" is he?' Ron demanded looking over the paper.
'We're not having this argument again.' Sighed Mrs Weasley, sitting down to her own breakfast.
Ron and Ginny exchanged another look, this summer had been pretty boring. They'd scarcely left the Burrow grounds, as their parents were so preoccupied with safety, and they both still found it hard to believe that Voldemort was about to launch at attack on Diagon Alley any time soon.
Two hours later there was a knock at the Burrow door and Ms Weasley nervously glanced out of the kitchen window to see who had arrived.
'Ahh Hermione's here.' She announced in relief, opening the door and beaming at Hermione Granger.
'Hello, Mrs Weasley.' Hermione greeted as Ron went outside to help Hermione drag her trunk in.
'Hermione, how on Earth did you get here?' Ginny asked, looking around her in amazement, as right on cue Tonks strolled into view carrying Crookshanks's cat basket.
'Well my parents drove me to London where I caught the train to Ottery St Catchpole and Tonks met me at the station.' Hermione explained, smiling at Tonks.
'Yup' said Tonks, whom Ginny noticed still looked as depressed as she had since that fateful night at the Department of Mysteries. 'We've had fun with that trunk.'
Ron snorted 'How many books have you got in there?'
Hermione, who had just been released from a long hug with Mrs Weasley merely laughed.
'Well, I'd best be going.' Said Tonks with a smile as she deposited Crookshank's travelling case on the Burrow kitchen floor.
'Thanks for all the help Tonks.' Hermione thanked the currently mousy haired auror.
'Wont you stay for a cup of tea?' Molly offered keenly.
'No thanks Molly, I'd best get going, auror business you know.' Tonks muttered quickly, before giving the group a cheery wave, setting off down the garden path and dissaperating.
'She's still depressed.' Ron remarked sagely as he watched her go.
'Well Hermione, shall I show you where your sleeping?' Ginny asked, hoping to give Hermione a warning about Fleur away from Mrs Weasley's ears.
'Ahh yeah good idea, I can, er, carry your, er, trunk.' Ron offered keenly.
'Lunch will be ready in two hours.' Mrs Weasley called after the friends as they disappeared upstairs.
Once the trio were safely locked in Ginny and Hermione's room they felt able to talk more freely. Ginny described in graphic detail the agonising prospect of having Fleur as a sister-in-law, whilst Ron did his best to defend her.
'Honestly!' Exclaimed Hermione, who clearly found Ron's behaviour aggravating. 'If she wasn't part Veela you'd find her as insufferable as we do.'
Ron, for once not choosing to start an argument, remained silent.
'So, what do you think about these rumours about Harry being the chosen one?' Ron asked Hermione darkly; glancing at a discarded copy of 'The Daily Prophet' which lay on Ginny's bed.
Hermione gave Ginny a wary look before answering, and Ginny sighed. Hermione, Ron and Harry never ignored her as such; but they never counted her in on 'trio' businesses.
'You guys stay and talk,' Ginny suggested duly 'I've just remembered I have to go and degnome the garden.'
'Oh ok, See you later.' Ron and Hermione chorused in unison, clearly pleased to get the chance for a private chat, and Ginny slumped away.
Ginny did go out to the Weasley's garden and then off to the paddock where she usually played Quidditch with her brothers. They hadn't done that for a long time; it felt ages since they had last all been together. Percy hadn't put in appearance for over a year now…
With a sigh, Ginny sat down in the grass; kicking off her shoes and admiring the countryside around her. In the dazzling summer sunlight it was impossible almost to believe that somewhere Lord Voldemort was plotting his next evil deed. She lay back on the grass and closed her eyes, trying to remember the happy times before this Darkness had fallen on the wizarding world and her family.
With a smile she remembered a clumsy Quidditch match a few summers earlier; the only game she could remember Percy agreeing to join in, and Harry had been there too….Harry, she felt her smile vanish. Poor Harry, if these rumours were true, the weight of the world was literally on his shoulders.
It had been almost four years since the unfortunate events that took place involving the chamber of secrets, and still Ginny hadn't got over her crush on Harry. She was better at concealing it now; and was perfectly happy in her relationship with Dean, but still….it was Harry she looked for on the Quidditch pitch, it was Harry her heart thumped for when he came near, it was Harry who could fill her stomach with butterflies just by smiling at her….
But know she'd come to the realisation that life wasn't a fairytale. Harry wasn't a handsome prince on a tall white horse who would one day realise his love for Ginny and sweep her away to a castle in the hills…Harry Potter was too busy fighting demons, no Ginny Weasley knew she was just Harry Potter's friend, and she knew she could live with that, even if her heart told her otherwise.
A/N: In the next chapter we get a sneaky peak at Draco's diary and Harry arrives at The Burrow.