"Ginny! Are you ready yet?"
Ginny sighed, annoyed, as her mother had asked her this only about a minute ago and would do so in a minute more. "Nearly, mum," she called through the door.
She turned back to the full length mirror she was standing before. She wore a cream coloured silk dress, easily the most expensive piece of clothing that she ever had. Her flaming red hair was curled and she wore a silver tiara. A simple silver necklace graced her neck. Her makeup was simple and flawless. Her nails were lovely. She looked beautiful.
Normally Ginny would have been happy to dress up like this. But today, she had two problems. One of them was that this meant her favourite brother, Bill, was getting married. This may not have been that awful if it was anyone other than Phlegm. Ginny still wished it was Tonks that would be walking down that isle. Not that she wasn't happy for Lupin, but…
Then there was her other problem. Harry Potter. She knew for a fact that he was downstairs this moment, probably in those dress robes that bring out his eyes wonderfully, or in a muggle tuxedo that would make him look equally handsome. He had broken up with her not long ago. The first time any boy had broken up with her. Usually it was her doing the dumping.
He had a very good reason, of course. But she still had strong feelings for him, and she knew he felt the same. "What ever happened to 'love conquers all'?" she whispered.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, what on earth are you doing in there!"
Cursing under her breath, Ginny pick up her bouquet of red roses and stormed out the door. She almost knocked over her mother on the way out. "Sorry, mum," she sighed, trudging off down the stairs.
"Wait, Ginny, wait," called her mother. "Let me have a look."
She caught her on the second floor landing, spinning her around and beaming. "Oh, Ginny, you look beautiful!" she exclaimed, hugging her tight,
"Mum… can't… breathe!" choked Ginny desperately.
When she was released, she hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen. There was Hermione, who she quickly embraced, Fleur, and Gabrielle Delacour. Gabrielle was quite a pleasant young girl of eleven who had arrived the previous day with her parents. Mrs Delacour was outside with the men and the other guests, showing them all where to sit and stand.
"Oh, Ginny, thank goodness you're here," whispered Hermione into her ear. "Stuck in a room with two Veelas? It's been awful!"
"Come on, Gabrielle's alright," Ginny whispered back. "Why aren't you outside with the others if it's so terrible?"
"Because I wanted to see you, of course! My God, you look gorgeous!"
The other two heard this last remark, as did Mrs Weasley who had just joined them, and they all agreed, marveling at Ginny. She managed to escape when Mr Delacour came in and announced it was time.
Hermione and Mrs Weasley quickly rushed outside to take their seats. Ginny grinned at Gabrielle, who smiled back sweetly, and they slowly made there way out the door, followed closely by Fleur and her father.
Someone had enchanted the organ to play by itself when the two bridesmaids stepped outside. Bill was standing out the front next to Charlie and a ministry official who had come to 'join Bill and Fleur in eternal matrimony'. Mr and Mrs Weasley were sitting at the front on Bill's side. Behind them were Fred and George. The latter was sitting with a young witch with short blonde hair who Ginny vaguely recognized as an assistant from their shop.
Behind these three were Ron, Hermione (who were holding hands!), and Harry. Ginny stopped noting who else was there (just some friends of Bill and Fleur, and some people from the Order) when she saw Harry. He looked at her as she walked passed, smiling weakly and offering a wave. Ginny waved back, her heart doing somersaults. At least he's not ignoring me now, she thought.
It was quite a boring ceremony. Ginny kept stealing glances of Harry, always discovering his eyes on her. They were sad, empty eyes, but they were on her. Desperately trying not to think of Harry, she let her mind wander to school next week. Harry wouldn't be there, he said he wouldn't. Neither would Ron or Hermione. Ginny was so hurt that he'd let them go with him to God-knows-where, but he wanted her out of his life.
She tried to avoid thinking of Harry. Her Hogwarts letter said that she'd be Quidditch captain! If Harry didn't end up returning, that is. Her thoughts and eyes strayed back to the forbidden topic.
After the wedding came the reception. "Food!" cried Ron, as he ran over to the buffet table and started stuffing his face. Hermione pulled him back and offered him a plate. He grudgingly accepted, then began to pile it up with gusto.
Hermione saw Ginny sitting by herself at the edge of the garden, and joined her. "All right, Ginny?" she greeted, beaming. She glanced back at Ron. "He's such a pig, isn't he?" she said, as if it was a most admirable quality.
Ginny laughed, watching him already going back for second. Then Harry joined him, and she turned away, looking instead at Tonks. This wasn't such a good idea either, and she and Lupin were getting quite intimate behind a shrub where no one but Ginny and could see.
"You're still taking it hard, aren't you?" asked Hermione, who hadn't noticed the show behind the shrub as she had her eyes on Ginny.
"Taking what hard?" asked Ginny, knowing full well what her friend was saying.
"He still loves you, you know," Hermione told her. "Maybe, after this thing with Voldemort, you might have another chance."
"No, that isn't going to happen," declared Ginny. "I'm not just some girl he can put on the shelf until he finds a convenient time to come back. No, I'm through with him. I am through with Harry Potter!"
Hermione smiled proudly at Ginny. "You know, I was surprised when Harry said you took it so well. Then when you sent me that letter explaining… well, explaining that you wanted to…"
"Wring out his neck and serve him for tea?" offered Ginny, grinning at the memory.
"Well, yes. But also that you loved him and that you'd do anything to get him back. I'm proud of you, Ginny. You're really going to put him behind you?"
Ginny nodded, and was surprised to see Professor McGonagall coming towards them. She hadn't said she was coming to the wedding. Ginny had assumed that she had too much work on. Come to think of it, she wasn't even at the ceremony.
"Miss Weasley, Miss Granger," she greeted. "You two know, of course, that Hogwarts will be open this next year due to an outcry of parents wanting their children to be educated."
"Yes, Professor," they replied.
"I am coming around to all students to see if they wish to attend or not. Mr Weasley and Mr Potter are not, of course, no one expected them to. Miss Weasley, your mother says you have permission. Will you come back?"
Ginny didn't need to think twice. "Of course I am, Professor."
"And you, Miss Granger? Your parents say it is your choice."
Hermione hesitated, obviously torn between loyalties to her friends and wish to pass her NEWTS. "I'm going to regret this, but… I need to do something else. I can't come back."
Professor McGonagall looked surprised. She apparently had thought studies were the most important thing to Hermione. "Very well, Miss Granger," she sighed. "You might like to know, however, the position of Head Girl would have been yours, if you had chosen to attend. I believe the next most deserving candidate would be Miss Patil, in Ravenclaw.
Hermione looked devastated at this news. Ginny put her arm around her as McGonagall walked briskly back to Mr and Mrs Weasley. "Oh, Ginny," Hermione sobbed. "Head Girl! What am I doing?"
"You're helping save the world," Ginny pointed out.
"Yes, but I'm severely neglecting my academic obligations."
Ginny had to laugh at this. "Hermione. You are going to be known as one of them people who rid the world of an evil dark wizard. Anyone will give you a job. Don't worry."
Seeming reassured, Hermione looked around the garden at the party. So did Ginny. Her eyes passed over Harry, and though she did feel a small twinge, her heart stayed where it belonged.
"So," she said, turning back to Hermione. "What is going on between you and my brother?"