Chapter Two
"Ginny, I absolutely need you this evening," Hermione began unceremoniously. "You've got to go somewhere with me."
"What if I'm busy?" Ginny sighed, hugging the rushed-looking brunette. "You can't just walk in and demand that I go places with you."
"Well, I wouldn't just walk in but I've popped over on my lunch break," Hermione said, wringing her hands. "You absolutely must go with me this evening, Ginny, I've signed up for another class and I can't go alone."
Ginny sighed. Along with the book club, Hermione had dragged Ginny to class after class after class, whether it was evening segments on the history of western civilization or early morning Bikram yoga or Sunday afternoon drawing sessions. Ginny usually went at least once, partly to do something nice for Hermione and partly because she was sort of hoping she'd find something to capture her interest and get rid of that nagging sense of restlessness. So far it hadn't quite happened that way, but it was always interesting to watch the perennially studious Hermione diligently work at courses that were mostly meant for entertainment. Also, it was an unusual look at Muggle culture for Ginny. Hermione, of course, had grown up studying things like art and music by choice; for Ginny, that had never been an option. Her mum had taught her reading and writing and things like that, Hogwarts had taught her the rest, and then she never wanted to see another homework assignment in her life. Hermione and (to Ginny's surprise) most other Muggles seemed to think quite the opposite. Learning about Picasso or Mozart or whomever was in the text for that day seemed to be something that they not only enjoyed, but which also gave them some sort of sophistication or distinction among their peers. Ginny's dad had never learnt that in his study of Muggles.
However, Ginny had felt neither sophisticated nor distinguished after five or six classes with Hermione on every subject imaginable, so she had little inclination to go with her on whatever "novel" idea she'd come up with. Ginny was about ready to sink into the routine of her life and just settle for being vaguely happy with her boyfriend and her part-time job and her just-okay life.
"Please, dear," Hermione pleaded, breaking Ginny's mental thread. "I promise, you'll like this one. It's a painting class."
George snorted from the shelves. "Hermione, have you ever seen any of Ginny's other artwork? Her drawings looked like grave rubbings, her pottery could be extremely useful as a chamber pot… My sister is many things, but a great artist, she is not."
Ginny flared up. "I can make art much better than you can," she huffed. "Hermione, if you ever come to my house, remind me to show you George's pathetic attempt at a macaroni sculpture that he made in daycare."
"You guys went to daycare?" Hermione asked, momentarily distracted. "I always pictured your mum as a stay-at-home parent."
"Not always," Ginny said. "When Fred and George were little, she was still out working. It was only after Ron came and she realized she couldn't work and handle six kids that she quit her job and came home to live with us."
"Where did she work?" Hermione asked.
George snickered as he finished stacking his boxes and came over to physically join the conversation. "Of course she was a nurse in St. Mungo's, Hermione," he answered. "Could you really expect anything else from our mother?"
Hermione shook her head in disbelief. "I never would have guessed that," she said. "It's so weird to imagine your mother working… And I know you two are trying to distract me," she added testily. "Ginny, you have to go to this class with me. It's at night, specifically designed for people who work and need to de-stress after a long day at the office. Or, in your case, the joke shop."
"I don't know, Hermione," Ginny fretted. "As much as I hate to say it, George is right, I'm not a very great artist, and Harry will probably want to spend time with me after work and things."
"It's two nights a week, Ginny, and Harry can have you every other night-"
"-which I'm sure he does," George interjected suggestively, winking cheekily at his little sister. Ginny stuck her tongue out at her brother as Hermione continued.
"-and the class is especially for witches and wizards. Ginny, I promise, you'll love it, and if you don't, I guess you don't have to keep coming anymore. Tonight is the first session, so you won't even be behind or anything like that."
Ginny paused for a second and sighed. "Well, all right, Hermione, I guess I could go just once. Tonight. Only. This one time."
"Thank you so much, Ginny," Hermione squealed, hugging her friend. "I've absolutely got to get back to the office now, but I'll come to your place a little before eight and we'll Apparate together. I'm so glad you decided to do this, Ginny," she added as she opened the back door. "I think you need something to shake you up."
And with that, Hermione disappeared in the twirl of Apparition.