Chapter 7
It's a god awful small affair
Sunday, 17th of July 1994
As Ginny took aim, and booted the living daylights out of a particularly vulgar gnome, her father winced.
"Nice shot," Ron remarked, slightly impressed as the gnome landed in the grassy field and shouted obscenities at them from a distance.
Ron dropped and kicked his own gnome at least 30 yards further than Ginny had, then turned to face her with a cocky grin.
Ginny, never one to pass up a challenge, grabbed another gnome and turned to her brother.
"Tell you what, I bet you a galleon I can hit the gnome you just kicked".
Ron looked out to the field at his last gnome victim. There was no way she could make that. Even if she did, I'm good for it anyway, he thought, at least when I can exchange this muggle money.
"Deal" he said, finally coming to a decision.
Ginny immediately kicked the gnome right on target, knocking the previous gnome down just as he started to get up.
"You owe me a Galleon Ronnie"
It was at that point that Arthur, slightly awed by the impressive shot his daughter made (even if it was at the expense of his beloved gnomes) decided to speak up.
"Boys- ahh, girls, no… Ron and Ginny, that's an awful lot of money to be betting at your age, and you know how your mother feels about gambling."
"Not to worry dad, I knew I wasn't going to miss, so it wasn't really gambling" Ginny replied.
Ron rolled his eyes as Arthur beamed at his daughter with pride. Last year he was told that his only daughter had been killed. After Harry and Ron saved her, he realised very quickly that while she may have survived, he seemed to have have lost that bubbly, curious (and more than a little bit overconfident) little girl he adored. And now she was standing taller than ever, grinning like she didn't have a care in the world. It was not for the first time recently that Arthur counted his blessings.
"Right" Arthur boomed, "I think we're all done for today"
"Yes!" Ginny exclaimed, immediately running into the house.
"You sure we're done dad, I think I see a few of the gnomes hiding in your shed" Ron whispered with a grin, "I'm sure mum wouldn't want us to half-arse it"
"What you mother doesn't know, won't hurt her aye" Arthur said with a wink, "And watch your language"
"Yeah, yeah" Ron sighed as he slowly made his way back to the house.
As he walked away Arthur couldn't help but frown. Ron was always easy to read, but lately he couldn't help but feel his youngest son was hiding something from him.
Ginny got the first shower, while Ron had to wait outside the door impatiently. When Ginny started to sing some horrible tune, Ron snapped.
"Ginny! Hurry up, we're going to be late!
At that moment Fred and George seemed to manifest out of thin air.
"Late," said George placing his arm on Ron's shoulder, "late for what"
Ron jumped.
"Ughh, don't do that George" he sputtered.
"George?, Nah mate you got it wrong, I'm Fr-"
"I'm not eight anymore George"
"Aww, ickle Ronniekins is all grown up, our jokes don't work on him anymore" Said Fred as he grabbed Ron's cheek and spoke to him in baby talk.
"Shut up you prick!" Said Ron, slapping Fred's hand away.
"Oh don't get your knickers in a twist, Ronniekins" said Ginny, as she stepped out wearing a bathrobe.
"So, what are you two up to that's got you hurrying like this?" George said smiling, as he held onto Ron's collar to stop him from getting into the bathroom.
"We're going to a party" said Ginny, defiantly.
The twins oohed at them mockingly.
"A party you say!" Said Fred.
"Yes indeed, that's what I heard" replied George.
"Well you best be on your very best behaviour!" Fred replied as he waggled his finger at them.
"Which means no drinking" George lectured.
"Or smoking," Fred added.
"Or fighting, Ginny," George advised.
"Or getting too frisky with any nice lads, Ron" Fred chastised.
Ron scowled.
"Well if you do have to fight anyone Ginny, be sure to win" George urged.
"And if you simply must share a bed with a few strapping young village men, be sure to use protection, Ron" Fred relented, as Ron pushed the twins away in frustration and made his way into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
From the other side if the door, he heard George shout;
"Oh Ronnie, I'm sure-" Fred stopped, as Ron heard an oof,
"Ow, Ginny!"
"Serves you right you bloody pillock, an elbow to the stomach ought to shut you up for a bit".
"Thanks Gin," Ron yelled softly through the door.
"Welcome" she replied, as Ron finally turned the shower on.
Eddie's party was a relatively small affair, with only a few kids her own age playing in the public park where they had all gathered. Luna had already arrived and was giggling maniacally about something with the birthday girl. A few parents had gathered in a small circle, chatting away about their kids and the news and whatever topics sprang to mind.
Martin was speaking to a young woman with a sad smile, as she held her small son's hand. Her son, a very small, pale boy, was shivering slightly, which seemed odd to some as it was a bright summer's day.
As Ron and Ginny approached, Eddie spotted them, and lifted off from her seat on the grass under the shade of a tree. She offered a hand to Luna, and pulled her up, and the pair came sprinting over the two red-haired siblings.
As she got closer, Eddie moved into a dive, and tackled Ron with a bone-shattering hug. She had almost hoped she would knock him over, but despite how lanky Ron was, he seemed to have a better centre of gravity than she had estimated.
"Thanks for coming, Ron!" she exclaimed, still holding tightly.
Ron, for his part, briefly hesitated before returning the embrace.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world Eddie" He said, feeling especially touched by Eddie's gesture.
"Oh and you must be Ginny!" Eddie exclaimed, removing her arms from Ron and holding one out to shake Ginny's hand. "Ron's told me so much about you!".
Ginny, looking somewhat bewildered, took Eddie's hand to shake it. Eddie enthusiastically shook Ginny's hand and before Ron knew it, Eddie was dragging Ginny along with her towards some other children their age.
Ron blinked for a moment, and noticed Luna was still next to him.
"Aren't you going to catch up with them?"
"Oh, I will."
Luna paused for a moment, and tilted her head sideways. Ron blinked and gave her a slightly confused look.
"You have very lovely eyes Ronald" She said simply, her lips forming a small smile.
Before Ron could even comprehend what she had said, Luna was already gone, running towards Ginny and Eddie, who seemed to be getting along swimmingly. He was going to make his way toward Martin to say hello, but before he could he heard a familiar voice.
"Morning" Ollie said from behind him, making Ron jump slightly.
"That it is," he replied,.
Ollie grinned at him, and turned her gaze to their younger sisters.
"Getting along well are they?" She mused
"Seems like it" Ron replied with a small smile.
"Thank you Ron, for inviting your sister, it means a lot to us".
Ron wanted to blush, but before he could Martin's voice boomed;
"Alright Chips are here, come and eat".
Ollie gestured to make their way over to the food, and Ron Nodded.
Muggles seem to like fish and chips as much as wizards do, thought Ginny, as she sat down in a circle with Luna and Ron's friends. Eddie was nice, not quite as out there as Luna, but more energetic. She could tell why Ron thought they would all get along. Just a little further away, Ron was chatting to Eddie's older sister Ollie, laughing at some inane comment one of them made. For some reason the sight was slightly revolting with her, and then it clicked. They were flirting. Unbelievable, the git just bought him here so he could have some alone time with the pretty muggle girl he liked.
It was a moment before Ginny begrudgingly admitted to herself that Ron was not that type of boy, or brother for that matter, and that he also clearly cared about Eddie as well. In a way she was a little proud of her brother, Ollie was quite the looker, and her hair was also very familiar. Well, she supposed, if Ron like his girls with curly hair, who was she to judge, it's not like she doesn't see the appeal.
Eventually the party had evolved to a small football match, where the two Weasleys found themselves slightly out of place. Ron played keeper, Obviously, and eventually got used to it, but Ginny could get over not using her hand to score points. Plus, what was the fun in only having one ball, she thought, it didn't even move for chist's sake.
Once everyone was tired out, parents started taking their kids home, and even Eddie's dad headed back to his shop. What he sold there, Ginny wasn't quite so sure, but she would get Ron to explain when they got home.
She and Eddie were sitting on the swing set with Luna by there side, while Ron and Ollie were "doing their own thing".
"Looking forward to school Eddie" Ginny asked curiously. She wanted to hear about how muggle school was different, without tipping off that she didn't go to muggle school.
"Umm, not really" Eddie replied, looking slightly gloomy, "I've hate normal school".
"Oh" she replied, not knowing what she meant.
"Do you read comics books" Eddie asked, the light in here eyes having now returned.
Ginny Remembered sitting with Ron and his reading his stack of Martin Miggs books with him.
"yeah, Sometimes" She returned.
"Well, I've always wanted to got to Xavier's school, you know from X-Men" Said Eddie quickly.
Ginny smiled but shrugged, indicating her ignorance.
"My great uncle was a mutant" said Luna dreamily, adding to Ginny's confusion.
Eddie gave Luna a fond smile before launching into an explanation for Ginny's benefit.
Ollie and Ron were sitting under the shade of a small tree, the sounds of the somewhat distant party somewhat dissipating as afternoon turned ever so slowly into evening. Their paper plates, once holding large slices of cake, were now empty by their sides, and their conversation now having reached a comfortable pause.
Before Ron could think of anything to say, Ollie gave a large yawn, and leaned over until her shoulder was resting on Ron's shoulder. Slightly taken aback, and just now noticing the proximity of her hand with his, Ron returned the gesture by resting his head on hers.
"I'm glad you're here, Ron" Ollie said, faintly.
Without giving himself enough time to chicken out, he took her hand and replied softly;
"Me to"
Note.
So, this update took a long while. Sorry about that. I'll try to do better, but no promises. Still, most of the next few chapters are completely planned out, and just need my attention, which I should be able to give in a couple of weeks. All the reviews have meant so much to me, I get excited every time I get a notification for a new follower or reviewer, and it gives me more motivation than anything else. I took the time to use this update to fix some mistakes, and generally touch up the other chapters.
