Now, time for acknowledging my lovely reviewers:
#coco butter ( yes, I did post on darkmark but I was "azkabaned = banned" for something I said. Bother, they closed my post!! The attention I get there was not really good so I think I'll not bother updating the story there. Read my fic on here instead, coco butter!! And the moderators at DM are kinda too 'one kind', and I dun wanna post there anymore!! Thank you for following me all the way to here, since you are already here, then stay!!)
#silvercrystal77 (as for what would happen when Tonks show up at the burrow, I leave it to ur imagination. I dun wanna be too long winded and explain everything, so I skip that part. As for the kids meeting up in Diagon Alley, I'll see how I'll progress to there.)
#kittykid943 (thanks u understand why I dun put in kissing, my fic is the sweet and cute type so, kissing is not appropriate. I'm glad u like Ron's character, he's portrayed like me, I always scream at my siblings but deep inside I'm looking out for them)
#Darcy16 (I agree a kiss or two wouldn't hurt but NO snogging as u Brits put it)
# patipati22 (Is it too fast? OH, I tot the story is going too slowly that's why I fast forward it. Okay, I try not to be so impatient and move the scene slower the next time. AS for Harry sounding too in love with Ginny in the letter, that's want I wanted to express. He cares a lot for Ginny deep inside but he is not aware of it, I like the feeling of him protecting Ginny. And for longer chapters, sometimes when my stupid brain says, "That it, end of chap!!" there is nothing I can do to it. I tried threatening it but It just have a mind of it's own. As for grammatical errors, it's not in my contract, it's my beta reader's job. Sorry!! I'll try to improve everything!! )
#Me222 (so happy that u agree with me)
#dementorchic (the way u r praising me, I'm blushing!!)
#The Backliner ( Hey, my ex- beta reader, when r u coming back to me?? I miss u!! * smooch smooch * Good luck for ur exams)
#Butler (I'm a huge HP/GW shipper too. I never read HP/other ships, they gross me out!! Harry belong to ginny and no other. If I'm volde, I'll kill all the gals who had ideas on Harry!!)
#REALbluelightsaber (I'm not really having them in a relationship, but maybe I'll. But even in a relationship they dun have to kiss, even that tot gross me out!! One can love in an innocent way!! That's my ideal relationship so I'm keeping them in my fic!! But maybe it doesn't work that way, I dun know, I never go into relationship before. What do u mean by an good old American gal sounding british? I'm not an American nor am I a british, though I wish I'm one. I think u should say, a good old easterner Chinese sounding western!! That sounds better!!) #angelbreathe #katani Petitedra #Jennifer #phoenix #Mep #dolphingirl97 #The One Above All #desiree #TheMystic #Draco-FutureBF #Grip of Chaos(urukai aka Michael #rhinemjr #Lord Master Omega #laser #HarryGryffinGirl #Raven #Dragonhp1116 aka arwen #nymphadora003
(I NEVER SEE HERMIONEGREEN REVIEWING NOWADAYS!! WHERE R U, GAL?? ALRITE THERE?? I'M WORRIED ABOUT U!!)
**sorry if I missed out some of u who reviewed in chap17, I planned to acknowledge all of u til chap 17 but chap 18 is already that much. I didn't acknowledge doesn't mean I dun care. Love u ppl, u make my day!!)
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At the Dursleys' kitchen:
Harry and Ginny sat at one end of the dining table with Dudley and Aunt Pertunia at the other end, having breakfast.
Harry was eating his breakfast with relish but Ginny was prodding the eggs, causing the yolk to break and a yellow messy gooey substance was spreading out on the plate.
"Eww, what's that mess for?" Harry said eyeing Ginny's plate with disgust. Ginny looked down at her plate unconcernedly and continued stabbing at her breakfast.
"Are you not feeling well? What is it that is making you uncomfortable? Your head? Stomach? Legs?" Harry put down his cutlery and feel Ginny's forehead but she pulled his hands off her impatiently, shook her head and continued staring at her plate.
Harry could not figure out what's wrong with her for a second when it suddenly hit him. He moved closer to her and covered her small delicate hands with his big rough ones,
"I know what you are worrying about. I've explained to Mrs Weasley and Ron, they'll understand the whole situation. They would not put the blame on you and force you home." At this, Ginny lifted her head to look at Harry,
"Are you sure? They are stubborn when it comes to that sort of matter. If they insist that it's my fault, nothing could change it. It doesn't matter to me if I am to be set straight back home and confined to my room for the rest of the summer, but I don't want them to misunderstand me", Ginny said in an almost inaudible whisper.
Dudley was eavesdropping on their conversation from the other end of the table all the while and at that moment, he broke out,
"Who's taking you away, Ginny? They'll have me to deal with. I'll give them a left hook and a scissors chop, and have them begging for mercy before they touch you", he attempted a feeble imitation of a karate chop on the table and upset his glass of low-fat milk, earning him some disapproving tut-tut sounds from his mum when the spilled milk dripped onto her sparkling clean marble floor.
Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes at Dudley and continued eating; leaving Dudley to his own muttering of what he would want to do to those people who tried to upset Ginny.
If only he knew that the army of people he wanted to deal with was Ginny's six elder brothers; one who dealt with dragons; another who knew more curses, spells and hexes than normal people; one who wasn't too deadly but could bore one to death with his speech on abiding rules; two identical faces who would come up with the nastiest prank imaginable and another, who was the most stubborn prat alive who used his mouth more than his brains. Not to mention her father, who was the most patient and fatherly person Harry knew, but his obsession of muggle artefacts endangered lives. And last of all, her notorious mother, who the rest of the Weasley clan feared, Dudley would be begging for mercy faster than he could say "Chop".
~*~
Harry and Ginny walked out of the living room a while later, leaving Dudley with Aunt Pertunia as he tried to impress the tablecloth instead.
"Did you see his piggy face? Who's he trying to kid?" Ginny said in between chuckle, "They'll have me to deal with", she finished with a very impressive pig-like grunt that had Harry doubling over with laugher.
"He'll most probably wet himself shouting for his mummy if he sees them standing in a queue outside the door", Ginny said, "I'm capable enough to look after myself"
Harry suddenly saw Ginny in a new light; she's funny, independent, a little mischievous but fun to be with. Harry had always thought of her as a shy, clumsy girl who couldn't string two words in front of him, but how wrong he had been!! She's not boring; in fact, she's a fantastic person.
He didn't realise that he'd been staring at her for the past minute and only when Ginny cleared her throat to catch his attention then he returned to reality.
"Why are you looking at me as if I've sprouted an extra head or something? Do I have some dirt on my face or what?" Ginny said, while wiping her face with the sleeves of her blouse.
"No, it's.. it's just that. I just realised that you're so funny, I always thought you as shy", Harry blurted out and blushed lightly when he realised what he had said.
"I'm not funny. I've not got bunny ears or anything weird but I'm fun to be with, I think that's what you mean", she said with an air of dignity, "It's your loss you never realised that till now, Mr Potter. And it took you four years, for goodness sake. Oh, am I that unpredictable?" Ginny pouted and muttered something like sticking with Ron too much made him as insensible as him.
"Yeah, you are. One minute you are the girl who puts her elbows in the butter dish, sending me a singing Valentine's day card and the next minute, you are the girl who isn't afraid to confront me when everyone else avoids me", Harry teased and Ginny turned a light shade of pink for being reminded how silly she had been in her first year but she recovered in no time and smacked Harry hard at the back of his head.
"Aw.. Why did you do that for?", Harry explained while rubbing his head, messing up his hair in the process.
"Listen hard, Harry Potter. I'm not the one who sent you the silly Valentine's Day card; it was Fred and George. Didn't you ever wonder why they were able to tease you with the poem when they were not there at the scene to hear it, you thick-headed idiot", Ginny shook her head and rolled her eyes dramatically, "but, it was quite amusing, I dare say. As for the * cough cough * butter dish incident, I thought no one saw it, but never mind....it was....it was just an accident..yeah, an accident", she finished lamely, earning a raised eyebrow from Harry.
"And.....and yeah, the poem they composed was lousy, wasn't it? I could do better ones....", she tried to change the topic, but Harry wasn't looking too convinced, "If you don't believe me, try me." Ginny started pacing in front of Harry with her hands behind her, trying to compose something.
Suddenly, she stopped pacing, lifted her head high and started reciting,
"His eyes are as green as the greenest pea. His hair is as dark as the garbage bag. He wears specs and has got messy hair. He's no other than Harry Potter." She finished and looked at Harry in search of any praise coming her way. Harry suppressed his laughter into coughing fits and meekly nodded his head.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ginny were chatting happily in the park sitting on the swing when Ginny's stomach groaned.
"Looks like the signal for lunch has gone off" Harry laughed good- heartedly. Ginny blushed a bit at the remark. "Come on, lass. Let's go try out this little café two streets down", he said enthusiastically, pulling Ginny away from the swing.
"That one looks expensive, why don't we just go to the usual one?" she asked.
"No, I want to bring you to that café. They've get real nice ice creams, I hear. I know you'll like them." Harry said while practically dragging Ginny down two streets before shoving her into the café.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny looked at the fanciful menu and swallowed hard, the dishes were really expensive. They could have two meals at the café they usually went to for the price of one meal here. She knew the conversion, the cheapest dish cost about twenty-seven sickles. She looked over the top of her menu at Harry who was still studying the menu and he caught her eye,
"Go on, order what you like. Hm.. the steak looks delicious. The fish isn't too bad either. What do you plan to have, Ginny?", Harry said. She looked at the pretty young waitress who had her skirt a few inches above her knees, and was eyeing Harry with interest and cleared her throat to get her attention,
"I'll have spaghetti, thank you."
"Any dessert for you? Or drinks?", she asked in a sweet voice, hardly taking her eyes off Harry who was still studying the menu.
"A glass of ice water will do. Thank you" and Harry suddenly looked up.
"No desserts? You sure?" he asked while frowning and she shook her head. Harry stared hard at her very a few seconds before picking up his menu again,
"No, you don't. Cancel what she ordered, give me two fish, a juice for me and a chocolate boat for this lady, please, thanks!" he handed the menu back to the waitress; she covered her mouth, gave a giggle and walked away.
She was pretty irritated with the giggly waitress but her annoyance got the better of her,
"What was that for?" she demanded irritably.
"What was what for?" Harry feigned ignorance.
"Why did you change my order?"
"Oh, that. I'm the one footing the bill, so isn't it right for me to do the ordering?", Harry said casually. Ginny blushed a little before retorting,
"I've got muggle money with me; I can pay for myself!"
"I thought we had come to an agreement that all expenses would be borne by me", Harry tried to say in the most casual way possible. Ginny blushed some more and kept quiet throughout the main dish.
When dessert came, Ginny's eye brightened a bit, Harry saw it all in her eyes and he smiled to himself. The waitress kept on coming back to their table to refill their water, Harry flashed her his famous Harry-Potter- breathe-taking smile every time she came and she would walk away giggling. The waitress was grating on Ginny's nerves so much that she had to exercise a lot of self-control not to hex her into next week. She rolled her eyes dramatically every time she came near them, and Harry kept on having coughing fits trying not to laugh out loud.
After they had finished their lunch, Harry footed the bill and the waitress escorted them all the way to the door, not before introducing herself as Mary and gave him a several numbers written on a paper napkin, which he politely accepted and pocket.
Ginny felt lousy for no reason, she was in the worst mood imaginable. She been kicking fallen leaves on the ground, all the way to the park and Harry was casting funny looks at her.
"Who made our Weasley Cannon angry? He or she's dead for sure." Harry tried to joke but earned a murderous look from her and he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to get a slap from her again. It's hard to imagine a thin and frail girl like her could be that strong, Harry's face stung like hell for a few days after she hit him, and he took care not to be the receiving end of her temper again.
Ginny kept fuming and pouting until she flopped down next to Harry under the same tree they sat the previous day,
"That waitress was so irritating; she eyed you like a lollipop that she wanted to swallow whole. It's disgusting you know and you've been smiling at her like the guy in the toothpaste advertisement. I'm witnessing all that, do you know? I think I'm going to have nightmares where you are a lollipop flashing straight, white teeth waiting to be devoured by a girl wearing a super short skirt with lots of colour on her face", there was a tone of resentment in her words.
"What you think I am, some scarlet man who falls for girl with short skirt? She's not my type; I like the traditional type of girl whose skirt falls past her knees. I can't stand girls who show too much. Hmm.... I like girls like you", Harry said casually. Ginny knew that Harry didn't mean anything by making reference to her but she still liked the idea that she was his type.
Ginny leaned back onto the bark of the tree relishing over the things Harry had said when she spotted Mark sitting alone on the grass at the far end of the field. She jumped up and down on the spot trying to get his attention and motioned him to come and join them.
Mark came over and settled down in between Harry and Ginny, the three of them were silent, each engrossed in their own thoughts until Hedwig's sudden appearance roused them.
"I've seen that kind of pigeon before", Mark said monotonously. Harry quickly untied the letter from Hedwig's leg before Mark noticed and shooed her away, earning a hit around the head from her. He cast a dark look at Ginny who returned him the same look, and they were looking at each other waiting for Mark to say something about owls.
"One of that kind of pigeon came to my house this morning, scaring the wits out of my mum", he said and stopped. Harry and Ginny nodded to each other to indicate that they knew what was coming and waited patiently for Mark to continue what he left hanging.
"Er.... Do you believe in witches and wizards, Harry? Ginny?", he started awkwardly.
"Of course we do. Witches and wizards are people with magic skills, but they are hidden very well so we don't know of their existence", Harry tried to explain in the simplest way possible, for he didn't want to sound too knowledgeable or Mark would suspect something. Harry thought that Mark would never imagine that he'd been associating with a witch and wizard all summer but his heart told him that what he suspected was right, Mark might be a muggle born wizard.
"Can I trust you two with a big secret? I don't know why but I feel that I could trust you, that's why I've been waiting for you down here the whole morning. My heart tells me to trust you completely, not to hide anything from you but I need you to swear that you would not repeat our conversation today to any other. Could you do that?", Mark asked.
He sounds sincere and the helplessness in his tone made their heart go to him and they agreed,
"I received a letter delivered from a pigeon this morning, and that's the start of the whole business. I know you two must be puzzled about the whole pigeon delivering letters matters but what I'm going to tell you is weirder", Ginny and Harry listened patiently.
"The letter said... It said.... that I'm a wizard", Mark chose his word carefully and after saying the word out, he looked at Harry and Ginny to look for any sign of laugher or fear but he could only find then smiling good-naturedly at him as if inviting him to carry on.
"I thought it was a bad joke at first but I knew in my heart that it wasn't. I'm supposed to start school at the wizarding school named Hogwarts on September", Mark looked dejected and looked to the ground.
"So what's stopping you? I myself believe a lot in magic because there are a lot of things in earth that does not have an explanation behind it. If you can be a wizard, why are you still unsure about? Do you want to go?", Harry said.
"Yeah, Harry's right. I don't think it's a joke Mark, you should go for it. Or is it that you don't want to go, you don't want to be a wizard and study magic?" Ginny had sounded too knowledgeable, it was real suspicious but Mark was too confused to take note of it.
"Of course I want to go. My mum and Dad isn't too reluctant about it, they told me that the decision lies on me. I told them I want to but there is another problem", Mark said unhappily.
"Then go for it, Mark. Don't let the idea of being a wizard makes others think that you are a freak get you down. Go for what your heart desires like when it told you to trust us. Always listen to your heart, it never betrays you.", Harry said knowledgably, he had gone through that kind of internal struggle when he first knew that he's a wizard and so he could understand how Mark feels now.
"I'm going to heed my heart and I don't give a damn about what others may think, but the school fees are expensive. The special things I need to get for school and all need money, but we can't afford that. My mum and dad are devastated that they can't provide enough money for me to go to school. I'm so confused; I really wanted to go but I can't. I think I'm not going and I need to tell the school that but I don't know how to communicate with the school. What can I do?" Harry and Ginny nodded to each other communicating in a way only they could understand.
Harry put his hand onto Mark's shoulder and squeezed it gently,
"Don't worry, Mark. As long as there's life, there's hope! Don't think of giving up now, have faith! Don't let the matter get onto you, the problem would be solved in it's own way. If worst come to worst, we'll think of ways to communicate with the school. Don't be too dejected, my lad. Feel free to come to us if there's anything."
Mark felt as if the load on his shoulders were all lifted off him, he gave a huge sigh of relieve and smiled. Harry and Ginny both smiled at each other before giving the boy a reassuring hug, with he returned gladly.
"Okay, I'm fine now. Thanks for lending me a listening ear, I feel better now. Thanks, I really appreciate your presence." Mark stood up and brushed his jeans, "I need to go now, my mum's a bit jumpy today, I need to get home early or she'll thought I've been kidnapped by some pigeons or sparrow and die of a heart attack. Bye, Harry, bye Ginny, see you around." Mark waved them goodbye and skipped down the road, his footsteps light and carefree.
"We need to plan something tonight, Ginny." Harry said as they watched him disappear around the corner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ How was it?? Still good enough?? This is the longest chapter I've ever written, don't tell me it's still short. If you tell me this again, I think I'll go kill myself. Please don t make me.
I'm going to drag this on, that means more adventures before the romance come in!!
Okay, advertisement time!!
READ OTHER FICS BY ME!! It's a Long Long Journey ~ by ahbahh He & She ~ by ahbahh Madam Ginny Butterfly ~ by ahbahh
#coco butter ( yes, I did post on darkmark but I was "azkabaned = banned" for something I said. Bother, they closed my post!! The attention I get there was not really good so I think I'll not bother updating the story there. Read my fic on here instead, coco butter!! And the moderators at DM are kinda too 'one kind', and I dun wanna post there anymore!! Thank you for following me all the way to here, since you are already here, then stay!!)
#silvercrystal77 (as for what would happen when Tonks show up at the burrow, I leave it to ur imagination. I dun wanna be too long winded and explain everything, so I skip that part. As for the kids meeting up in Diagon Alley, I'll see how I'll progress to there.)
#kittykid943 (thanks u understand why I dun put in kissing, my fic is the sweet and cute type so, kissing is not appropriate. I'm glad u like Ron's character, he's portrayed like me, I always scream at my siblings but deep inside I'm looking out for them)
#Darcy16 (I agree a kiss or two wouldn't hurt but NO snogging as u Brits put it)
# patipati22 (Is it too fast? OH, I tot the story is going too slowly that's why I fast forward it. Okay, I try not to be so impatient and move the scene slower the next time. AS for Harry sounding too in love with Ginny in the letter, that's want I wanted to express. He cares a lot for Ginny deep inside but he is not aware of it, I like the feeling of him protecting Ginny. And for longer chapters, sometimes when my stupid brain says, "That it, end of chap!!" there is nothing I can do to it. I tried threatening it but It just have a mind of it's own. As for grammatical errors, it's not in my contract, it's my beta reader's job. Sorry!! I'll try to improve everything!! )
#Me222 (so happy that u agree with me)
#dementorchic (the way u r praising me, I'm blushing!!)
#The Backliner ( Hey, my ex- beta reader, when r u coming back to me?? I miss u!! * smooch smooch * Good luck for ur exams)
#Butler (I'm a huge HP/GW shipper too. I never read HP/other ships, they gross me out!! Harry belong to ginny and no other. If I'm volde, I'll kill all the gals who had ideas on Harry!!)
#REALbluelightsaber (I'm not really having them in a relationship, but maybe I'll. But even in a relationship they dun have to kiss, even that tot gross me out!! One can love in an innocent way!! That's my ideal relationship so I'm keeping them in my fic!! But maybe it doesn't work that way, I dun know, I never go into relationship before. What do u mean by an good old American gal sounding british? I'm not an American nor am I a british, though I wish I'm one. I think u should say, a good old easterner Chinese sounding western!! That sounds better!!) #angelbreathe #katani Petitedra #Jennifer #phoenix #Mep #dolphingirl97 #The One Above All #desiree #TheMystic #Draco-FutureBF #Grip of Chaos(urukai aka Michael #rhinemjr #Lord Master Omega #laser #HarryGryffinGirl #Raven #Dragonhp1116 aka arwen #nymphadora003
(I NEVER SEE HERMIONEGREEN REVIEWING NOWADAYS!! WHERE R U, GAL?? ALRITE THERE?? I'M WORRIED ABOUT U!!)
**sorry if I missed out some of u who reviewed in chap17, I planned to acknowledge all of u til chap 17 but chap 18 is already that much. I didn't acknowledge doesn't mean I dun care. Love u ppl, u make my day!!)
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At the Dursleys' kitchen:
Harry and Ginny sat at one end of the dining table with Dudley and Aunt Pertunia at the other end, having breakfast.
Harry was eating his breakfast with relish but Ginny was prodding the eggs, causing the yolk to break and a yellow messy gooey substance was spreading out on the plate.
"Eww, what's that mess for?" Harry said eyeing Ginny's plate with disgust. Ginny looked down at her plate unconcernedly and continued stabbing at her breakfast.
"Are you not feeling well? What is it that is making you uncomfortable? Your head? Stomach? Legs?" Harry put down his cutlery and feel Ginny's forehead but she pulled his hands off her impatiently, shook her head and continued staring at her plate.
Harry could not figure out what's wrong with her for a second when it suddenly hit him. He moved closer to her and covered her small delicate hands with his big rough ones,
"I know what you are worrying about. I've explained to Mrs Weasley and Ron, they'll understand the whole situation. They would not put the blame on you and force you home." At this, Ginny lifted her head to look at Harry,
"Are you sure? They are stubborn when it comes to that sort of matter. If they insist that it's my fault, nothing could change it. It doesn't matter to me if I am to be set straight back home and confined to my room for the rest of the summer, but I don't want them to misunderstand me", Ginny said in an almost inaudible whisper.
Dudley was eavesdropping on their conversation from the other end of the table all the while and at that moment, he broke out,
"Who's taking you away, Ginny? They'll have me to deal with. I'll give them a left hook and a scissors chop, and have them begging for mercy before they touch you", he attempted a feeble imitation of a karate chop on the table and upset his glass of low-fat milk, earning him some disapproving tut-tut sounds from his mum when the spilled milk dripped onto her sparkling clean marble floor.
Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes at Dudley and continued eating; leaving Dudley to his own muttering of what he would want to do to those people who tried to upset Ginny.
If only he knew that the army of people he wanted to deal with was Ginny's six elder brothers; one who dealt with dragons; another who knew more curses, spells and hexes than normal people; one who wasn't too deadly but could bore one to death with his speech on abiding rules; two identical faces who would come up with the nastiest prank imaginable and another, who was the most stubborn prat alive who used his mouth more than his brains. Not to mention her father, who was the most patient and fatherly person Harry knew, but his obsession of muggle artefacts endangered lives. And last of all, her notorious mother, who the rest of the Weasley clan feared, Dudley would be begging for mercy faster than he could say "Chop".
~*~
Harry and Ginny walked out of the living room a while later, leaving Dudley with Aunt Pertunia as he tried to impress the tablecloth instead.
"Did you see his piggy face? Who's he trying to kid?" Ginny said in between chuckle, "They'll have me to deal with", she finished with a very impressive pig-like grunt that had Harry doubling over with laugher.
"He'll most probably wet himself shouting for his mummy if he sees them standing in a queue outside the door", Ginny said, "I'm capable enough to look after myself"
Harry suddenly saw Ginny in a new light; she's funny, independent, a little mischievous but fun to be with. Harry had always thought of her as a shy, clumsy girl who couldn't string two words in front of him, but how wrong he had been!! She's not boring; in fact, she's a fantastic person.
He didn't realise that he'd been staring at her for the past minute and only when Ginny cleared her throat to catch his attention then he returned to reality.
"Why are you looking at me as if I've sprouted an extra head or something? Do I have some dirt on my face or what?" Ginny said, while wiping her face with the sleeves of her blouse.
"No, it's.. it's just that. I just realised that you're so funny, I always thought you as shy", Harry blurted out and blushed lightly when he realised what he had said.
"I'm not funny. I've not got bunny ears or anything weird but I'm fun to be with, I think that's what you mean", she said with an air of dignity, "It's your loss you never realised that till now, Mr Potter. And it took you four years, for goodness sake. Oh, am I that unpredictable?" Ginny pouted and muttered something like sticking with Ron too much made him as insensible as him.
"Yeah, you are. One minute you are the girl who puts her elbows in the butter dish, sending me a singing Valentine's day card and the next minute, you are the girl who isn't afraid to confront me when everyone else avoids me", Harry teased and Ginny turned a light shade of pink for being reminded how silly she had been in her first year but she recovered in no time and smacked Harry hard at the back of his head.
"Aw.. Why did you do that for?", Harry explained while rubbing his head, messing up his hair in the process.
"Listen hard, Harry Potter. I'm not the one who sent you the silly Valentine's Day card; it was Fred and George. Didn't you ever wonder why they were able to tease you with the poem when they were not there at the scene to hear it, you thick-headed idiot", Ginny shook her head and rolled her eyes dramatically, "but, it was quite amusing, I dare say. As for the * cough cough * butter dish incident, I thought no one saw it, but never mind....it was....it was just an accident..yeah, an accident", she finished lamely, earning a raised eyebrow from Harry.
"And.....and yeah, the poem they composed was lousy, wasn't it? I could do better ones....", she tried to change the topic, but Harry wasn't looking too convinced, "If you don't believe me, try me." Ginny started pacing in front of Harry with her hands behind her, trying to compose something.
Suddenly, she stopped pacing, lifted her head high and started reciting,
"His eyes are as green as the greenest pea. His hair is as dark as the garbage bag. He wears specs and has got messy hair. He's no other than Harry Potter." She finished and looked at Harry in search of any praise coming her way. Harry suppressed his laughter into coughing fits and meekly nodded his head.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ginny were chatting happily in the park sitting on the swing when Ginny's stomach groaned.
"Looks like the signal for lunch has gone off" Harry laughed good- heartedly. Ginny blushed a bit at the remark. "Come on, lass. Let's go try out this little café two streets down", he said enthusiastically, pulling Ginny away from the swing.
"That one looks expensive, why don't we just go to the usual one?" she asked.
"No, I want to bring you to that café. They've get real nice ice creams, I hear. I know you'll like them." Harry said while practically dragging Ginny down two streets before shoving her into the café.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny looked at the fanciful menu and swallowed hard, the dishes were really expensive. They could have two meals at the café they usually went to for the price of one meal here. She knew the conversion, the cheapest dish cost about twenty-seven sickles. She looked over the top of her menu at Harry who was still studying the menu and he caught her eye,
"Go on, order what you like. Hm.. the steak looks delicious. The fish isn't too bad either. What do you plan to have, Ginny?", Harry said. She looked at the pretty young waitress who had her skirt a few inches above her knees, and was eyeing Harry with interest and cleared her throat to get her attention,
"I'll have spaghetti, thank you."
"Any dessert for you? Or drinks?", she asked in a sweet voice, hardly taking her eyes off Harry who was still studying the menu.
"A glass of ice water will do. Thank you" and Harry suddenly looked up.
"No desserts? You sure?" he asked while frowning and she shook her head. Harry stared hard at her very a few seconds before picking up his menu again,
"No, you don't. Cancel what she ordered, give me two fish, a juice for me and a chocolate boat for this lady, please, thanks!" he handed the menu back to the waitress; she covered her mouth, gave a giggle and walked away.
She was pretty irritated with the giggly waitress but her annoyance got the better of her,
"What was that for?" she demanded irritably.
"What was what for?" Harry feigned ignorance.
"Why did you change my order?"
"Oh, that. I'm the one footing the bill, so isn't it right for me to do the ordering?", Harry said casually. Ginny blushed a little before retorting,
"I've got muggle money with me; I can pay for myself!"
"I thought we had come to an agreement that all expenses would be borne by me", Harry tried to say in the most casual way possible. Ginny blushed some more and kept quiet throughout the main dish.
When dessert came, Ginny's eye brightened a bit, Harry saw it all in her eyes and he smiled to himself. The waitress kept on coming back to their table to refill their water, Harry flashed her his famous Harry-Potter- breathe-taking smile every time she came and she would walk away giggling. The waitress was grating on Ginny's nerves so much that she had to exercise a lot of self-control not to hex her into next week. She rolled her eyes dramatically every time she came near them, and Harry kept on having coughing fits trying not to laugh out loud.
After they had finished their lunch, Harry footed the bill and the waitress escorted them all the way to the door, not before introducing herself as Mary and gave him a several numbers written on a paper napkin, which he politely accepted and pocket.
Ginny felt lousy for no reason, she was in the worst mood imaginable. She been kicking fallen leaves on the ground, all the way to the park and Harry was casting funny looks at her.
"Who made our Weasley Cannon angry? He or she's dead for sure." Harry tried to joke but earned a murderous look from her and he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to get a slap from her again. It's hard to imagine a thin and frail girl like her could be that strong, Harry's face stung like hell for a few days after she hit him, and he took care not to be the receiving end of her temper again.
Ginny kept fuming and pouting until she flopped down next to Harry under the same tree they sat the previous day,
"That waitress was so irritating; she eyed you like a lollipop that she wanted to swallow whole. It's disgusting you know and you've been smiling at her like the guy in the toothpaste advertisement. I'm witnessing all that, do you know? I think I'm going to have nightmares where you are a lollipop flashing straight, white teeth waiting to be devoured by a girl wearing a super short skirt with lots of colour on her face", there was a tone of resentment in her words.
"What you think I am, some scarlet man who falls for girl with short skirt? She's not my type; I like the traditional type of girl whose skirt falls past her knees. I can't stand girls who show too much. Hmm.... I like girls like you", Harry said casually. Ginny knew that Harry didn't mean anything by making reference to her but she still liked the idea that she was his type.
Ginny leaned back onto the bark of the tree relishing over the things Harry had said when she spotted Mark sitting alone on the grass at the far end of the field. She jumped up and down on the spot trying to get his attention and motioned him to come and join them.
Mark came over and settled down in between Harry and Ginny, the three of them were silent, each engrossed in their own thoughts until Hedwig's sudden appearance roused them.
"I've seen that kind of pigeon before", Mark said monotonously. Harry quickly untied the letter from Hedwig's leg before Mark noticed and shooed her away, earning a hit around the head from her. He cast a dark look at Ginny who returned him the same look, and they were looking at each other waiting for Mark to say something about owls.
"One of that kind of pigeon came to my house this morning, scaring the wits out of my mum", he said and stopped. Harry and Ginny nodded to each other to indicate that they knew what was coming and waited patiently for Mark to continue what he left hanging.
"Er.... Do you believe in witches and wizards, Harry? Ginny?", he started awkwardly.
"Of course we do. Witches and wizards are people with magic skills, but they are hidden very well so we don't know of their existence", Harry tried to explain in the simplest way possible, for he didn't want to sound too knowledgeable or Mark would suspect something. Harry thought that Mark would never imagine that he'd been associating with a witch and wizard all summer but his heart told him that what he suspected was right, Mark might be a muggle born wizard.
"Can I trust you two with a big secret? I don't know why but I feel that I could trust you, that's why I've been waiting for you down here the whole morning. My heart tells me to trust you completely, not to hide anything from you but I need you to swear that you would not repeat our conversation today to any other. Could you do that?", Mark asked.
He sounds sincere and the helplessness in his tone made their heart go to him and they agreed,
"I received a letter delivered from a pigeon this morning, and that's the start of the whole business. I know you two must be puzzled about the whole pigeon delivering letters matters but what I'm going to tell you is weirder", Ginny and Harry listened patiently.
"The letter said... It said.... that I'm a wizard", Mark chose his word carefully and after saying the word out, he looked at Harry and Ginny to look for any sign of laugher or fear but he could only find then smiling good-naturedly at him as if inviting him to carry on.
"I thought it was a bad joke at first but I knew in my heart that it wasn't. I'm supposed to start school at the wizarding school named Hogwarts on September", Mark looked dejected and looked to the ground.
"So what's stopping you? I myself believe a lot in magic because there are a lot of things in earth that does not have an explanation behind it. If you can be a wizard, why are you still unsure about? Do you want to go?", Harry said.
"Yeah, Harry's right. I don't think it's a joke Mark, you should go for it. Or is it that you don't want to go, you don't want to be a wizard and study magic?" Ginny had sounded too knowledgeable, it was real suspicious but Mark was too confused to take note of it.
"Of course I want to go. My mum and Dad isn't too reluctant about it, they told me that the decision lies on me. I told them I want to but there is another problem", Mark said unhappily.
"Then go for it, Mark. Don't let the idea of being a wizard makes others think that you are a freak get you down. Go for what your heart desires like when it told you to trust us. Always listen to your heart, it never betrays you.", Harry said knowledgably, he had gone through that kind of internal struggle when he first knew that he's a wizard and so he could understand how Mark feels now.
"I'm going to heed my heart and I don't give a damn about what others may think, but the school fees are expensive. The special things I need to get for school and all need money, but we can't afford that. My mum and dad are devastated that they can't provide enough money for me to go to school. I'm so confused; I really wanted to go but I can't. I think I'm not going and I need to tell the school that but I don't know how to communicate with the school. What can I do?" Harry and Ginny nodded to each other communicating in a way only they could understand.
Harry put his hand onto Mark's shoulder and squeezed it gently,
"Don't worry, Mark. As long as there's life, there's hope! Don't think of giving up now, have faith! Don't let the matter get onto you, the problem would be solved in it's own way. If worst come to worst, we'll think of ways to communicate with the school. Don't be too dejected, my lad. Feel free to come to us if there's anything."
Mark felt as if the load on his shoulders were all lifted off him, he gave a huge sigh of relieve and smiled. Harry and Ginny both smiled at each other before giving the boy a reassuring hug, with he returned gladly.
"Okay, I'm fine now. Thanks for lending me a listening ear, I feel better now. Thanks, I really appreciate your presence." Mark stood up and brushed his jeans, "I need to go now, my mum's a bit jumpy today, I need to get home early or she'll thought I've been kidnapped by some pigeons or sparrow and die of a heart attack. Bye, Harry, bye Ginny, see you around." Mark waved them goodbye and skipped down the road, his footsteps light and carefree.
"We need to plan something tonight, Ginny." Harry said as they watched him disappear around the corner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ How was it?? Still good enough?? This is the longest chapter I've ever written, don't tell me it's still short. If you tell me this again, I think I'll go kill myself. Please don t make me.
I'm going to drag this on, that means more adventures before the romance come in!!
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READ OTHER FICS BY ME!! It's a Long Long Journey ~ by ahbahh He & She ~ by ahbahh Madam Ginny Butterfly ~ by ahbahh
