CHAPTER FIVE: Ginny's Other Classes
Ginny knocked on the twin's room and waited patiently. There were a little scuffle and a quick discussion about looking dignified but Ginny ignored it and checked her little knapsack.
The door opened and Ginny found George wearing fake glasses. He made a gesture of looking at her a bit sternly and gestured her in. A couple of feet away, situated near the only window in the cluttered room was Fred and the chalkboard. There was a little box in front of the chalkboard where Ginny supposed was her seat.
"Our pupil, take a seat," said Fred. Ginny followed suit. As soon as her butt touched the box, Fred started the lecture. "So, what did we learn from Charlie and Percy's earlier altercation?"
Ginny cleared her throat and sat straighter, "That I'm not old enough to practice flying."
Somewhere behind her, George stomped his foot so loud Ginny jumped on her seat. "Wrong!"
Ginny frowned at that. "But…"
"We're talking about who was right, Gin," said Fred. "We are going to discuss who won the argument."
"Why?" Ginny asked, confused. "I like flying but I think Percy's right. It's dangerous and it was quite illuminating-"
There was a knock on the door then Ron came striding in with a notebook and quill. Ginny noticed he didn't bother putting them inside a knapsack.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Ron said as he drags another unassuming box beside her. "The pie got me wrong." He grimaced as he puts a hand on his tummy.
Fred nodded once and said, "We're discussing the earlier confrontation between Charlie and Percy—"
Ron groaned. "Yeah, it was loud. I mean did you see Percy's face?"
"Yes, Ron, we all saw Percy's face," said George. "Now, shut up."
Ron nodded in the affirmative and opened his notebook, Ginny noticed that despite Ron's lacking skill when it comes to reading and writing, he can sure take notes.
"Ron, will you tell us what we learned from our brothers' earlier altercation?" asked Fred.
Ron frowned in contemplation. "Percy considers Ginny's safety as more important than her having fun. And Charlie totally managed to turn the argument around by accusing Percy of slavery. I mean, that's a big word."
"And?" Fred asked looking smug.
"It threw Percy off and Charlie didn't have to stop Ginny's flying classes anymore, I mean, not yet," Ron said and started writing something on his notebook. Ginny just copied Ron and wrote: Take the moral high ground by accusing the other of something terrible.
George clapped his hands behind them. "Very good, Ron. Now, students, let's start by considering sample scenarios and how can we turn them around in our favor."
Ginny stared at the board as Fred started writing a scenario about being caught cheating. She looked at Fred and then George. Lastly, she watched Ron's earnest face.
The only daughter of the Weasley Family realized something today. It was that Fred and George's class was very important. And 'though she has no idea why she was being taught such, and that some of the scenarios on the chalkboard were totally absurd (like when a dragon accuses you of stealing) Ginny knew she has to learn how to think on her feet and that Ron's getting the knack of it.
Percy and Charlie are been at each other's throats throughout the week. Fred and George noticed it first, of course, and made an obvious point of steering away from the two whenever they cross paths with them. For a house as cramped as theirs, it was a funny thing. It was also because of them that Molly and Arthur noticed something's going on in the first place.
Still, it's Ginny's birthday and they were in a festive mood. The couple had saved enough money to prepare everyone's favorite food. Charlie decided to be the bigger person and talked to Percy first, albeit civilly while Percy gave him a curt nod. He still doesn't approve of his little stunt with sister-endangerment and despite Bill giving a helping-hand, Percy seems upset still.
"Now, for the present!" Molly exclaimed conjuring the gift right in front of Ginny. "There. Go on, dear. Open it."
Arthur took his wife's hand in his and watched Ginny open the present. It was a children's book and judging by the look in Ginny's eyes when she saw it, she's thrilled.
"A Harry Potter Book?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper. "Wow."
If Arthur noticed the way how Charlie carelessly dropped his fork on the plate, or Percy's piercing disapproving gaze trying to catch him, Arthur acknowledged none. He is Molly's husband and if Molly thinks giving Ginny a children's book is fine, then who is he to argue.
Thus, he may not be totally sold with the idea but Molly's happy so he's happy.
Ron swiped the book from Ginny and read the title. "Harry Potter and the Bad Bandits? What's a bandit?"
Ginny shrugged. "I don't know but it sounds cool."
"Bandits are thugs. They are essentially bad people. So the title is actually redundant," Percy told the two kids.
"It's still the best gift ever!" Ginny exclaimed and jumped off her chair and gave her parents a kiss on the cheek and a hug each. "Thanks, mum, dad."
"You're welcome, dear," Molly answered and Ginny retired herself first, excited to start reading the book.
Percy watched her sister climb the stairs and as soon as she enters her room, he turned his attention to his parents. "Must we really waste money on a book such as that, mum?"
Molly clucked her tongue. "Let your sister enjoy childish things while she's young, Percy. You all know how she is when it comes to household chores."
"Harry Potter is going to go to the same school as Ginny in the future," Bill added. "Is it really smart to turn her into a fan?"
"I, for one, would not want a fangirl as a sister," said Charlie. "I've seen girls who salivate over boys at school. They look pathetic and silly. I don't want our Ginny ending up acting like them over the Boy-Who-Lived or anyone at all."
"Charlie's right, mum," said Percy. "Don't fuel anymore of Ginny's infatuation. She's too smart to be someone's groupie no matter who he is."
Molly frowned. She ruminated right there and then. She turned to look at Arthur and found him staring at the sole pea on his plate. Perhaps, she'd been wrong.
"Alright," Molly nodded. "You boys have a point. Now help me clean all this."
Fred and George were the first to bolt back to their room. Percy helped to put the plates on the sink. He bumped elbows with Charlie but ignored him when he looked like he has something he wants to say. He went to his room thinking about Ginny's new Harry Potter book. It would've been much better if their parents gave her one book about Herbology instead.
Ron was the last to leave the table after eating the rest of the leftover pie.
