Dinnertime Discussions and Garden Plans
When Ginny and Hermione made it down the stairs and into the Burrow kitchen it became obvious why Mrs. Weasley had urged them to come with speed. The dining table had place settings to include a few extra guests this evening, and Ginny squealed with delight when she saw who they were. "Bill! Percy! I didn't know you two were going to be here!" She ran over and practically leapt into each of their arms.
Percy seemed slightly embarrassed by the display of affection, but Bill took it in stride and was wearing a huge smile. "Oof! Wow Ginny you about knocked the wind out of me! You know Fleur won't be very happy with you if she comes home to find me all broken and bruised." He returned her hug as she giggled.
"She still hasn't gotten back from visiting her parents yet?" Ginny asked.
"No, she's due back in the next day or so. I've been roughing it on my own at the house and the food supply is starting to run quite low," he chuckled. "That's when I thought it would be a marvelous idea to come back to the Burrow to sample some of Mum's wonderful culinary delights and pay a visit to my favorite sister."
Ginny punched him lightly on the arm, "I'm your only sister you big git!"
"Ow!" Bill rubbed his arm with a hurt expression. "What did I just say about bruises?"
Ginny just laughed as she turned to gaze around the rest of the room. Molly Weasley was moving platters of steaming food to the table while she hummed a wordless tune. Percy was seating himself next to George on one side of the table and giving him a very uncharacteristic slap on the back. Ginny sighed as she watched George look at Percy and give him a half smile in return. Of the entire family, it was understandable that George took Fred's death the hardest. When he started returning home from the joke shop at nights to eat dinner with the family, they all took it upon themselves to be as uplifting and jovial with the surviving twin as possible. Percy felt this was his duty more than anyone, seeing as how he was with Fred the moment that he was killed. It was a slow process, but everyone could see that George was finally starting to act like his old self once again. Ginny turned to see her father Arthur walk into the room and take his customary position at the head of the table.
Across the table from Percy, Hermione was sitting down next to Ron, who gave her the briefest of nods before beginning to shovel food quickly onto his plate. Ginny sighed with disgust this time as she determined that Ron definitely de-evolved whenever he got anywhere close to food. Hermione's reaction to this was somewhat comical however. Without saying a word, she took the fork and spoon out of Ron's hands and proceeded to shovel food onto his plate herself. Ron looked at her with momentary shock, but then he blushed and a sheepish smile crossed his face. Ginny smiled to herself and accepted that after seven years together, Hermione knew how Ron worked pretty darn well.
Nodding in satisfaction, Ginny took her seat between Hermione and Bill as Mrs. Weasley set the last pan of food down and sat at the table end opposite of her husband.
"Okay everyone, tuck in and enjoy," Mrs. Weasley said as everyone began eating.
Conversation drifted among all those seated as they caught up on the going-ons of the wizarding world. Bill spoke for awhile about his work at Gringotts and how there were still trying to recover from the damage done earlier that year by the Golden Trio.
"To be quiet honest," Bill said as he leaned back in his chair, "I don't think I've had a full night's sleep since the breakout. We've had to help reapply all the vault charms and even lend a hand with the extensive construction work. It's all very tiring as you could guess."
Ginny's attention was diverted as Bill began to recount a story of a close call he had with a collapsing vault. She noticed some odd movements happening down on Ron's end of the table. Trying very hard to be nonchalant, Ron was slowly scooting his chair closer to Hermione's, letting out a loud cough each time to cover the scraping sound. Hermione was doing her best not to notice, but was unable to hide the blush beginning to spread across her cheeks. Ron had made it to within an inch of Hermione without incident before a voice cut over all the conversation.
"Ron my boy, I know Hermione is a very smart witch, but I don't think grafting yourself to her body is going to help her find a cure for that nasty cough of yours any faster."
The table went dead silent as everyone turned to the source of the jibe. George sat there calmly returning their looks with a satisfying smile. "Of course if the both of you are really set on this method of recovery," he continued with aplomb, "perhaps I should turn your chair into a loveseat and conjure a privacy curtain so you can continue uninterrupted."
At that all the Weasley offspring, including Mr. Weasley, burst into loud guffaws. Hermione gave a blush that would have made any Weasley proud and covered her face with her hands. Ron looked as if torn between laughter and indignation. Molly tried to give them all a reproving look, but was to busy getting up to give George one of her trademark soul-squeezing hugs.
"Oh George, it's so good to hear you acting like your old self again!"
"Well mother, I figured that Fred would be quite disappointed if no one made an effort to deflate our little Ronniekins at every possible chance," George replied with a slight shrug as everyone, even Ron, laughed.
Ginny was thrilled to see the mood at the dinner table at an all time high. Everyone's cares had seemed to melt away into laughter and things were alright once again. However she felt a bit sad about what she was about to have to say. Taking a deep breath and looking to Hermione for a sign of approval, she bit the bullet. "I got a letter and birthday gift from Harry today."
For the second time that evening, the entire table went deathly quiet. Ginny felt a twinge of embarrassment as all eyes in the room were now planted firmly on her person. The silence seemed to stretch for eternity before Mrs. Weasley ventured to break it. "What did you say dear? I could have sworn you said that you had heard from Harry today."
Hermione chanced a comment at this point, "She's telling the truth Mrs. Weasley. I saw the letter and the gift. Harry sent it to her."
A number of conversations broke out all at once as everyone tried to get some answers from the fidgeting Ginny.
"Did he say where he was?"
"What did he get you?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Is he coming for a visit?"
"Did the stupid git say why he buggered off?" This last question was from Ron, who received an angry slap from Hermione in response.
"All right everyone, that's ENOUGH!" For a record third time, the entire table fell silent under Mr. Weasley's orders. Very rarely did Arthur feel the need to use a firm hand with his family, so when he stepped in, everyone knew it was for a very important reason.
"Alright Ginny," Arthur said kindly. "Please continue without interruptions." He gave the entire table a once over before returning his gaze to her with a nod.
Ginny swallowed hard and began speaking, her eyes never leaving her father's. "Well this afternoon I was up in my room talking with Hermione about…um…stuff…" the red-head blushed a little at this point but continued, "Well, all of a sudden we heard a tapping at the window so I went over to open it and as soon as I did, a snowy owl flew into the room with a package."
Forgetting herself, Molly Weasley burst out, "Hedwing?! But that's impossible! I thought Hedwig was killed?"
Ginny shook her head. "I thought the same thing at first, but the owl told me that it wasn't her. So I took the package and before I could find out anything more, it flew off again."
Ginny took a big gulp of pumpkin juice before continuing, "Well I opened the package and inside was the note from Harry."
This time it was Ron who cut in, earning a reproving glare from both Hermione and his parents, "How do you know that it was from Harry?"
"Honestly Ron, I'm not stupid!" Ginny was loosing her patience now, "For one I recognized his handwriting. Secondly, he signed his name. And third, he told me to tell you to treat his Hermione with respect or that he's going to make you even more afraid of spiders then you already are!"
This caused everyone at the table to laugh at the now extremely embarrassed Ron, who could only blush and mumble, "Bloody hell. He doesn't have to worry about that any time soon."
Hermione, who seemed to be the only one to catch his words, positively beamed and graced him with a kiss on the cheek.
"Anyhow," Ginny pressed on as the noise died back down, "he told me that he was a lot of things, but he would never be insensitive and forget my birthday." Mrs. Weasley smiled at this, "He said to give all of you his love and that he wished he could say where he was…but he feels it's for the best that he doesn't. That's pretty much it." Ginny didn't really want to share the things that Harry had said about her with the entire family. It seemed to be something intimate that needed to stay between them for the time being.
As everyone sat mulling over these things Ginny felt an overwhelming urge to be alone and sort out her thoughts. Everyone looked questioningly at her as she abruptly stood up from the table.
"I'm sorry everyone, but I've had a long day and I think I need some time to sort things out. I'll see you later." With that, she turned and headed out the side door towards the garden.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged knowing looks for a moment before Arthur stood himself and headed out the same door after his only daughter.
The last thing he heard as he exited the Burrow was Ron speaking once again. "Hey! She still didn't tell us what Harry got her for her birthday!"
Arthur Weasley knew, as all fathers instinctively know, that his daughter didn't really need time by herself. She needed quite the opposite in fact. She needed someone whom she could feel safe with, someone in whom she could put all her confidence. Sadly, he knew that since Harry was not here to take that role, he would have to be that person. It truly amazed him just how much that young man had impacted his daughter's life. She seemed to be a totally different person without him around, almost as if she was incomplete. He was also smart enough to see that the connection between the two was not merely a one way street. In fact, Arthur found himself even more amazed at just how different Harry became when Ginny was with him. It seemed as if a window would open in Harry's defenses and Ginny, sensing this, would pour all her love and concern into it, banishing the darkness within, what Arthur judged to be, a very turbulent soul.
He could never say it in so many words, but Arthur Weasley was extremely proud of the woman that his daughter was growing up to be. He would always be proud of his sons and their accomplishments, but Ginny was the gem of his marriage, his fiery princess, whom he would do anything for.
It was these things he was mulling over when he finally came across Ginny. She was sitting on a bench in the garden, almost hidden from view by some trees, with her eyes raised up to the starry sky, as if searching for an answer in the heavens.
Arthur sat down quietly and smiled at her before speaking softly. "How's my pumpkin?" He called her by that name only when they were alone. It was a special thing they had always shared since she was a baby.
Ginny sighed mournfully as she lowered her eyes from the sky to the ground in front of her, "I dunno. I'm so confused right now. I don't whether to be angry or sad or scared."
"And why is that sweetheart?" Arthur asked as he took her very small hand in his own.
"Well Harry left me again, which makes me want to be angry at him. But then he seemed to be struggling with something, which makes me sad because he won't tell me and let me help him. And then… well… I'm scared because I feel that Harry is in trouble."
Arthur gave her a gentle look, "What makes you think he's in trouble?"
Ginny turned and looked pleadingly into her father's eyes, "I know… because I can feel it… in my heart." The tiny girl, now on the verge of tears, put a hand over her heart, "And, I think that his gift to me is trying to tell me as well."
Arthur had almost forgotten about the gift. He figured that now would be a good time to find out just what it was. "What exactly is it that he got you Ginny?"
Without a word, Ginny pulled the necklace out from under her shirt, allowing it to sparkle in the bright moonlight.
Arthur let out a gasp as he looked at the treasure that Harry had bestowed on his daughter. The necklace was flawless and obviously very expensive. He knew that the price tag was not what Harry cared about however. He had wanted to give Ginny something that she would never forget and, by the look on her face, he had succeeded. Arthur's opinion of Harry increased tenfold, as if it could get any higher, at that moment.
Drawing his mind back to the conversation, he posed the question, "How could your present tell you that Harry is in trouble?"
Ginny thought for a moment, "Well, when I put it on to see how it looked, I felt a burning sensation from the pendant. It wasn't really painful, but it was strange all the same. Then it was almost as if I was pulled to a different place, almost like using a portkey. But the only thing that seemed to get taken away was my mind, not my body. Next thing, I found myself in a strange room, looking at things from another person's perspective. I could only see what the other person saw, and I couldn't move around unless the other person moved."
Ginny looked up at her father and when he nodded she continued haltingly. "Well the more I remained there in that person, the more I began to feel their emotions, which wasn't a very good thing. All I could feel was loads of shame, regret, and anger. There was so much of it washing over me that I felt like I was going to drown in it. Then, the person I was inside started moving towards a mirror at the far end of the room. The closer we got to the mirror, the worse and worse the feelings got until I wanted to scream or run away or something. Finally, we got to the mirror and in the reflection I saw… I saw…"
Suddenly, Ginny broke into wild sobs as she flung her arms around her father, clinging to him desperately.
"Pumpkin? What was it?" Arthur asked softly as he stroked the hair of his shaking daughter.
"It…it…was H-H-Harry!" she wailed. "He j-just stood there looking at himself, hating everything he saw in the m-mirror. Then he screamed at his reflection and punched the mirror until the glass b-broke!" Ginny tightened her hold on her father as if she would be swept away. "Oh Daddy! I'm so s-scared for Harry! He looked so bad and he hates himself so m-much! Why can't he see that I l-love him and n-need him?"
Arthur paled as he listened to his daughter's deep sobs, feeling tears for both his daughter and Harry rolling down his cheeks. Hadn't the boy given enough? Why did he have to live a life of constant torment and sorrow? At that moment, Arthur would have given his own life so that Harry and Ginny could be together and share the love that they both felt for each other.
Having decided that Ginny was in fact telling the truth, Arthur planned what he needed to do next. The first thing was to get his daughter calmed down.
"Ginny, sweetheart, listen to me." He lifted her face from where she had buried it into his shoulder. "I want you to know that I believe you and I'm going to do everything in my power to find Harry and get him help okay?"
Ginny, whose sobs had subsided into some fierce hiccups nodded weakly.
"I want you to promise me that you will let me or another adult know if you ever find yourself inside Harry's mind again. Whatever you tell us can help us to find him quicker, and I'm sure you want that now don't you?"
Ginny once again nodded in reply.
"I know how much you care for Harry, but I also need you to realize that you have to focus on your last year at Hogwarts. This is your most important year and you need to have your head in the game if you are to succeed. We will keep you updated whenever we find out more about Harry, but I have to ask you to promise to let us take care of this okay?"
Ginny appeared as if she was about to protest, but Arthur put a finger to her lips. "Shush now. You know that we care about Harry just as much as you do and we are going to do everything possible to find him. I don't take kindly to the idea of losing my future son-in-law." He made this last statement as a sly smile crept across his face.
Ginny blushed and brought a hand to her mouth, realized what her father had just said, "Daddy!"
Arthur Weasley laughed as he scooped his daughter up into his arms and swung her around in the air, something that was getting much harder to do. "Oh Ginny you are a treasure!"
Ginny blushed again and kissed her father on the cheek as he held her in his arms, "I love you Daddy."
Returning her kiss he replied softly, "I love you too Pumpkin."
Ginny suddenly yawned. "Daddy," she said in a small, girlish voice, "I'm awfully tired. Will you take me to bed and tuck me in?"
Arthur smiled softly, once again blinking back tears. "Of course Pumpkin, let's go right now."
With that he took Ginny, who was now nuzzling against his neck, and began to make his way back to the Burrow and its inviting warmth, which at that particular moment couldn't compare to the warmth that was radiating from this father's heart.
