Ginny woke up to singing. She groaned and turned over to discover Hermione, Demelza and Katie Bell standing beside her and holding a cake in their hands while singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She laughed and said curiously, "What's this?" Hermione grinned, "It's your birthday of course!" Demelza sat down on the end of the bed and said, "Ginny, make a wish before all of the candles blow out."
She chuckled and said, "Demelza, I have everything I want and need. What more could I wish for?" Hermione rolled her eyes, "Come on Gin! I didn't bake a cake for nothing, you know." On the cake in curly letters read, "Happy 17th Birthday, Ginny!" She grinned and closed her eyes and then finally wished. All she really wanted was to see Harry today.
Hermione brandished a letter in her face and said, "This is from you mother and father. And there's one from Bill, Fleur and Charlie, as well as the twins and this is from Ron and me." She handed the pile to Ginny and she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. There wasn't one from Harry. She supposed he didn't have time that morning because he had his Auror obligations to fulfill.
She got up from bed and hugged each of her friends, "Thanks you guys! For making me feel so special and loved!" Hermione hugged her tightly back, "What are friends for, Gin?" She smiled and asked, "What are we going to do with the cake?" Hermione called for Kreacher and Kreacher appeared suddenly. Ginny jolted in surprise and Kreacher bowed, "Miss Weasley, happy birthday!"
She smiled and thanked him and then turned to Hermione, "Only Harry can call him though." Hermione shrugged nonchalantly, "Harry has arranged that Kreacher help us while we are here. Obviously I'm not happy about it but Harry insisted." Kreacher bowed lower still, "And I will do the best I can to obey Mr Potter."
Ginny couldn't help but let a small smile slip from the corner of her mouth, "So you're alright with using house elves now?" Hermione handed the cake to Kreacher and retorted, "No I am not! I only called Kreacher because we have to be in class in an hour and we have to still get dressed and eat breakfast!" She sounded indignant about it and Ginny couldn't help but laugh, "Alright Hermione! I believe you!"
They got dressed and showered and then Ginny headed with Hermione down to the common room, where Neville, Dean and Seamus were all waiting with a Happy 17th Ginny! banner plastered around the walls of the common room. As soon as they saw her, they all sang Happy Birthday. Ginny beamed at them and hugged each of them, "Thanks so much you guys! This is great, really!" She hugged Neville tightly and he grinned, "Of course, Gin. You're one of our best friends."
Seamus nodded and without warning, popped a streamer. This caused the others to do the same and the streamers all hung in the air to form the words: from Fred and George. We love you, Ginbug! There was a streamer-lined drawing of ladybug on the edge of the words. Ginny grinned. She would remind herself to thank Fred and George for all of the paraphernalia later.
As they headed downstairs as a group, chatting and laughing, they met up with Luna. She hugged Ginny and handed her a package. Ginny smiled and when she opened it, she actually felt genuinely touched. They were the horse radish earrings that Luna was so well known for. Inside was also a necklace chain with a simple sunflower pendant dangling off it. It was massive, but Ginny loved it. She thanked Luna and hugged her for such a generous gift!
Breakfast was uneventful and so was lunch. She had at least hoped to have received mail from Harry by then, but with no such luck. She had to remind herself that he had a full time job now and that he didn't have time for it. Besides which, she had said she didn't want a hyped up affair anyway!
As she was heading down to dinner with Luna and Hermione, Ginny bumped into none other than Draco Malfoy! She gasped in surprise when she nearly knocked into him and he helped her balance. She flinched out of his grasp as if he was scolding her. It wasn't in his touch, but when she glanced up his eyes were burning.
He swallowed hard and whispered tautly, "Happy birthday, Weasley." Ginny frowned and replied just as stiffly, "Thanks, Malfoy for nearly running me over. How did you know it was my birthday?" Draco shrugged and replied casually, "One hears things." Ginny glanced at her friends and hoped her eyes conveyed a message: she wanted to speak to Draco alone.
Luna caught on sooner than Hermione, who was glaring at him with intense dislike and her arms were folded. She took Hermione's arm and said firmly, "Come Hermione. Ginny wants to talk to Malfoy without us around." Hermione blanched and started to protest, "Ginny…no…" Ginny smiled kindly and waved, "I'll be alright. Carry on to Defense without me." Hermione scowled but otherwise went with Luna.
Draco pulled her into a nearby hallway and from there into an empty classroom. She inhaled sharply at the door, "No Draco, I can't!" He slowly turned to her, "Can't what?" he raised an eyebrow suggestively. Ginny grimaced and replied, "Can't go in there with you alone. I am engaged." He scowled at the word, rather like Hermione had done a moment previously. He snapped, "I know that, Ginny! I just want to talk."
She went in hesitantly and she said firmly, "Leave the door open. You can put Muffliato on the entrance." He did so and then he exhaled in relief. Ginny still felt tense. After a long pause, he said hopefully, "Ginny, I know you are engaged. I know you don't feel the same about me as I do you, and that's alright. I can live with that." Ginny waited with baited breath for what was to come next, "But I just need to be friends. I…I want to be friends." She raised her eyebrows sky-high and said sarcastically, "Oh yeah? Why Malfoy? What good could us being friends possibly have? What makes you think Hermione would ever allow you that sort of friendship with her?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "I'm not talking about the Mudblood!" he snapped. Ginny snapped back, "Well you see that's just the problem, Malfoy! If you can't get on with my friends, then you can't be friends with me either. And judging by how she behaved to you a mere moment ago, that's not going to happen anytime soon." Then something clicked for her and she smirked, "So that's why you wanted Harry's 'forgiveness!' So you can be friends with me. It all makes sense now."
Draco had the common decency to hold her eye contact, "Think what you like. It doesn't matter to me." His eyes were bright and Ginny recognized that look in them. He was after something and she had hit the nail on the head. She shook her head, "Draco, I'm not going to convince Hermione to like you. What kind of a friend would I be if I did that? She'd hate me. I'm not putting myself in that position."
He sighed and shrugged, "Fine then. Whatever you say." Ginny kind of felt bad for him in that one instant. She walked towards him and hugged him. He went rigid. She sighed into him and whispered, "You know it will never be that easy, even just being friends. You've said so many hurtful things, not only to Hermione, but to me and my family too." Draco swallowed hard and Ginny glanced up. He slowly put his arms around her too, "I know. And I'm trying to change."
Ginny smiled and stared up at him, "And I want to believe you. But first, I have to see it for myself." She leant up and kissed his cheek before removing herself from him. It was like he had never been hugged before by a friend. It made her sad. She nodded and said smoothly, "If you can convince Hermione, then you can convince me." She winked at him, causing him to smile, before departing for Defense class with their new Defense teacher, Professor Burke.
When their last class of the day had finished with Ravenclaw, Hermione, Ginny, Demelza and Luna headed for the Great Hall. They were discussing how good of a teacher they thought Professor Burke to be when they stopped on the Entrance Hall. Standing there, with a handful of red roses, was Harry. She beamed from ear to ear and couldn't help but let out a squeal when she saw him.
She noticed that he was talking to someone, but she couldn't help herself as she ran up to him and kissed him properly on the lips. He laughed beneath the kiss and then they had to swiftly break apart at the clearing of the throat. Ginny turned to find McGonagall red-cheeked and Slughorn chuckling beside him and he muttered, "Young love. I must congratulate you Miss Weasley!"
McGonagall said swiftly, "Miss Weasley, I don't think that this is entirely the right moment for all of that…" Some of the younger students around them were laughing and McGonagall continued, "If he had just defeated Voldemort I would suggest differently but given the circumstances…"
Ginny recovered herself and unclasped herself from Harry's neck. She murmured her apologies and the Professor nodded before heading in the Great Hall. Professor Slughorn grinned at them and rolled his eyes, "She's just jealous. If you'll excuse me…" He nodded and then plodded on his merry way.
Ginny turned back to Harry, "How…?" she asked speechlessly and then continued, "I thought since I didn't get a letter from you that I wouldn't hear from you today!" He grinned and replied, "I couldn't miss your seventeenth, could I? Especially after the…er…present you gave me last year." He winked and Ginny laughed.
Then she heard a voice behind her, "Yeah, I remember being real mad about that particular present!" Ginny gasped, "Ron!" She ran up to her brother and hugged him fiercely and then she saw the twins enter the Entrance Hall and her mother and father. Hermione was beaming, and she laughed, "I knew they were coming. We arranged it as a surprise."
Ginny hugged each of her family members, "You guys are the best!" Her mother beamed, "Well I'm sorry I can't make you a home-cooked meal, but this will have to do." Ginny hugged her tightly, "It's perfect! Just perfect!" She saw Draco coming down the stairs and he caught her eye. She glanced away and Fred commented, "Hey sis! Happy birthday! What's the Ferret been up to?" George grimaced, "Yeah, why's he eyeing you?"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "I dunno. Just jealous probably." Harry muttered, "As he should be. His dad is facing jail time." Harry then realized something, "I'm not supposed to talk about ministry matters outside of work. That's cannot be repeated!" Her father asked, "How much jail time, Harry?" Harry sighed and replied, "Up to ten years."
Ron replied firmly, "Good. He deserves it for all the trouble he caused. What with the diary and supporting Voldemort from day one." Harry nodded in agreement, "Yeah, anyway let's not worry about it all now. Let's focus on Ginny's birthday. It's what we're all here for." Ginny beamed and asked, "How did you get permission?" He chuckled and responded, "Told McGonagall I'd teach some extra defense classes over the weekend. She doesn't seem to think the new professor has much practical experience."
Ginny smiled brightly, "So you'll be here on weekends then?" Harry shrugged and replied, "If it's ok with you? I don't want to be interrupting your life though." Ginny rolled her eyes, "Harry, you don't interrupt it. You complete it."
A/n: Hi all! So sorry for keeping quiet lately! Haven't felt motivated much to write. Anyway, here's a chapter for you! Thanks always for feedback! It's much appreciated.