Breaking Boundaries
By: Somewhere Sky
Disclaimer: Of course, as always - the rights to the Harry Potter realm of fiction belongs solely to
J.K. and her brilliant mind. Although I may admit, I shall always be slightly jealous.
Chapter 3:
You Can Either Fly or Fall
Ginny was excited to go home and test out her new broomstick. Even though it's magical ability had sparked a little fright in the young girl. She was just as determined to prove that nothing was holding her back from being exactly who she is, not even a girl like Hermione.
Unfortunately Mr and Mrs. Weasley had decided to prolong their trip so that they could help George spruce up the dusty old shop that was beginning to attract some unwanted creatures. George said he found half of a Bundimun* the other day, a rather foul smelling pest. So to help out this twin-less brother the Weasley parents were left behind and the remaining four headed off to the bookshop for this years course materials.
The entire walk to the bookshop was fairly silent, the boys were of course chatting up about Quidditch apparently Harry had decided upon a favourite team: The Vratsa Vultures*. Ron was of course furious, the Vultures may be champions 8 years running but he was convinced that the Chudley Cannons were destined to come on top this year. Hermione began laughing at the two boys ahead unintentionally, it started off as just a small giggle to herself - but than it had intensified leaving Hermione crouched over clutching at her sides she was laughing so hard.
This insane burst of laughter caught Ginny's attention and she too started in on it, only she hadn't a clue what was so damn funny, Ginny walked over to Hermione placing a hand on her back, and in-between the chuckling asked Hermione if she had just pictured Ron in his muggle ducky footy pyjamas, which of course made Hermione laugh even louder.
Harry and Ron hadn't the slightest clue what was going on behind them and for the most part continued their walking.
"Oh... my... goodness" said Hermione in between breaths. Ginny had just the biggest smile on her face watching the older which in such a state. "I missed you guys, all of you." She added with a touching smile.
Ginny helped Hermione stand upright, and the touch sent both pulses wild. Ginny's hand was so soft upon Hermione's back, and Hermione's hair had fallen out of it's bun leaving it unravelled across her shoulders. She looked radiant, her cheeks still flushed and pink from laughing - a smile that has gone unseen for what seemed like centuries, and her best friend fell even more in love just looking at the brunette.
"I missed you too Hermione" Ginny whispered, hoping that it was loud enough to hear. Hermione had begun their walk to catch up with the still arguing knuckleheads who were farther ahead now. Of course Hermione heard what Ginny said, and she gave the younger witch a warm smile in return grabbing her by the hand and pulling her beside Hermione.
This was the closest they've ever been and Ginny wasn't sure if this meant something more, or if it was just their friendship hitting a peak. Hermione wanted so badly just to kiss the girl, but holding her hand for a few seconds and letting go would have to suffice.
Both girls sighed.
Ron and Harry turned around in frustration wanting to get a quick opinion, they hadn't noticed until that moment how far behind the girls had gotten. It wasn't Ron who saw the collapsing of the hands - but Harry did and he couldn't have been more proud.
"Mione! Ginny!" Ron called out to them.
"What do you want Ron?" Ginny asked him.
"Harry likes the Vratsa Vultures -" Ron began.
"So?" said Ginny
"So? What do'ya mean so? The Chudley Cannons have just as much talent as those bloody vultures, and I think that they could definitely take the cup this year, that's so!" Ron had managed to jumble the argument out of his mouth without it sounded so mixed up. Usually when he got this excited you couldn't tell Hippogriff from Blast Ended Screwt.
"Personally Ron, I like the Holyhead Harpies - and they will definitely take both your Cannons and your Vultures. Get over it boys." Ginny said winking at Hermione and tilting her head as a gesture to direct Hermione towards the bookstore. Both girl had taken the lead leaving one completely stunned Ron, and Harry who was cracking up over the whole thing. Harry was having a Hermione episode you could say.
Hermione loved walking into the bookstore, the smell of new books fresh on the shelves, their pages ready to be turned and touched and appreciated. The bookstore was her most favourite sanctuary next to the Hogwarts Library. Beside her was Ginny, there to enjoy it with her. The scene couldn't have been more romantic for two girls harbouring feelings for one another but not knowing that it was mutual. Strolling down the aisles pointing out a book here or a novel there, something that might interest one or both.
"Hermione! Come here, you got to see this" Ginny called. She had been gently grazing a line of books with her index finger surveying the titles and looking into ones that sparked some interest. What Ginny had found was a book on spells - not your everyday Hogwarts spells or your Half-Blood Prince concoctions. It was far more fascinating.
"What Gin? What'd you find? I just grabbed -" Hermione stopped talking and read the title of the book. "Spectacular Spell Study: Volume 1: Fly or Fall" Ginny thought the title was a little wonky and Hermione had agreed, but when Ginny showed her the blurb on the back, Hermione became intrigued.
"What you find in this book is up to you. All spells are equivalent to what you lack."
"What do you think it means Hermione?" Ginny asked the brighter witch.
"I think Ginny - that it wouldn't matter what I tell you, because the book is to me one thing and to you another. Let's try it out!" Hermione spiked up excited to test the validity of the book, is it truly going to show them something they lack? Hermione was the brightest witch of her age, what could she be missing? Definitely not knowledge or courage, those had been covered countless times. As for Ginny, what was is going to say about her, she was brave and smart, she did a lot of thing Hermione couldn't like flying.
Hermione opened the book, and as the pages turned it began whispering things to her." You have forgotten how to love, you may be brave but you have yet to conquer fear, try as you might you may know all but you cannot see all." Hermione close it and turned to Ginny.
"Did you hear that? " asked Hermione.
"Hear what? I've been watching you just zoom through all of the pages, I couldn't keep up let alone hear anything." Ginny said flailing her arms in the air a bit frustrated that Hermione had her something and she didn't hear a thing.
"Here you open it Ginny..." Hermione said in a soft tone, she was half pondering the points of the book and half curious as to what it would tell Ginny.
"No Hermione I really don't want to, it makes me kind of nervous." Ginny told her with her voice a little hushed, embarrassed by what she was saying.
"Some Gryffindor you are Gin" Hermione said with a laugh wrapping her arms around the young lioness unintentionally - it was a hug, but at the same time it was meaning something incredibly different for the both of them. As soon as they realized the embrace they were now in, they scattered apart flustered and blushing.
"Oops, sorry Gin.. got a little overwhelmed I s'pose." Hermione told her adding the book to her pile of course materials and a few history volumes for her own enjoyment.
"It's - o-okay" Ginny stuttered still overly surprised by Hermione's gesture of friendship, not only did she just wrap her arms around Ginny, but goodness - she had felt so good in her arms!
"Did you need to look for anything else while we're here Ginny? I just wanted to quickly look at the new arrivals before we left." Hermione smiled as she said it, you knew her blood was all spiraled up and ready to jump if you told her how high, anything to get over to the new and arriving books. That section was always so magical, books circling the shelf little envelopes crashing into the wooden backdrop and conjuring itself into the latest release. It was really fun to watch and all, but Ginny had different plans.
"Go ahead, I'll catch up with you Hermione, just got to do one last thing.. " said Ginny, and Hermione nodded and skipped off without a sound. Leaving Ginny to go do a little digging up of her own while Hermione was distracted with other things.
Off Ginny went to the back of the store, Ginny knew this is where the Book Shop owner kept materials more for magical items as opposed to spells or learning, fiction too. Ginny looked for what seemed like hours, she could hear a ticking echoing her head as if there were a bomb counting down in her mind reading to explode, when really she was just exhausted and desperate to find it.
She hadn't realized at first that her hand was touching the book as she was trying to reach for another one, instead a pile of books had began tumbling down upon her falling every which way, leaving the book under her hand on the shelf forcing Ginny to take a look at it as she watched the other books climb up into their previous places - literally. The books had sprouted small arms and legs and grabbed hold of the shelf, it was like watching a bunch of mountain climbers, only Ginny was preoccupied.
Broom Witchery - By: Gerogean Banks, long-time Broom historian, maker and creator of all brooms and materials relating to or about the art of crafting of brooms. It was exactly what Ginny had been looking for, she knew she had recognized her new broom in a book in the Hogwarts library, she had wanted to look up the different types of brooms for purchase before everything had gone awry with the war. She remembered something about a special kind of broom where the broom itself was magnificent, but it's magic was hard to get around.
And than she found it.
The Sprite: Make - Pheonix Ash, Pine, Birchwood and a beating heart.
Created By: Albert J.P. Oliver: Having combined an original muggle-look-a- like
broomstick with the magical ability to sense when an individual has yet to feel
comfortable in their own skin. A good witch or wizard knows exactly who they
were, who they are and who they want to be. To get to that safe haven all
wizards are searching for Oliver placed an enchantment on the broom that
will only allow you to ride it if before each mount you reveal something about
yourself. It was a strange and very absurd magic, but when placed in stores
for purchase people were reviewing that it had helped them find love, fortune
and success in their days with it.
No wonder the broom had requested she be only herself, the broom wasn't going to allow her to mount it if she were to be anyone else. It still made very little sense to Ginny, this kind of magic made her feel very uncomfortable - she didn't like being forced into being something she wasn't already, so if she hasn't 'found herself' than obviously it wasn't time for her to; but if she wanted to play Quidditch she was going to have to compromise with the brooms contract. Ginny was not looking forward to the partnership at all.
After having collected all school materials needed for the upcoming year, and Mr. & Mrs. Weasley had finished cleaning up some unwanted visitors at the joke-stop, the group travelled home by floo, and everyone raced into the kitchen to await dinner.
While sitting around the table, Hermione and Ginny had become more friendly towards one another, that hadn't found their way back to the easy friendship they were so accustomed to, but each of them talked plenty over dinner, and even late into the evening where they fell asleep in the same bed. The Brunette's arm finding it's way around the young Gryffindor.
Okay, finally - I managed to post the fourth chapter in less than twenty-four hours from the third one, go me! I was really excited about this chapter, I got to explain about the broom finally, I hope I didn't confuse anyone - and I know the broom being magical is kind of a lame idea (the book too) - but it'll help progress the relationship between the two girls. Aren't they so cute? Hermione with her arm around Ginny, I wonder how that will play out? As usual, thank you for all of the alerts, reviews and favourites, I love getting them in my e-mail. Makes the writing process so much more exciting because than I can't wait to get started on the next chapter for you all. So - there you have it: Read & Review!
Two notes:
*Bundimun - They are known to muggles and the wizarding world. These pests will infest houses and are very good at sneaking under floorboards and behind skirting boards. It is recognised by its foul smell of decay. .com/magical-creatures/
*Vratsa Vultures - Eight times champions of Europe. .org/wiki/Quidditch
Somewhere Sky