Disclaimer--If you like it, assume I don't own it. The Potterverse belongs to JKR, Steve Klowes, Scholastic and WB. Fanon belongs to the multitude...I'm simply paying homage with the sincerest form of flattery. Most of this scene is from GoF by JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.
Author's Notes-- For those of you who know my posting habits, a warning progress may be a lot slower in this work. I really hope you'll make the effort to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it!
Ranting Idiot--It's okay you didn't review sooner...I'm interested in what you have to say, not how fast you say it! And it was certainly worth the wait...you have me glowing. *grins sheepishly* Since this is supposed to be Ginny's pov of Harry's world, I think it's important--and a lot of fun--to make what we discover more or less in accord with what we know...It's nice to know you're noticing and appreciating that. :-D
Bee11--I like the Hermione and Ginny interaction, too, it gives both characters a chance to be seen completely free of Harry's expectations and assumptions (not that those are wrong or bad, but assumptions of any sort limit depth), and tell us a lot about themselves. You nailed it--Ginny's wistful comment that "at least he talks to you" could be, and probably is, as much or more about Ron than it is about Harry, though it is almost definitely about both. Poor Hermione is in the middle, being, as usual, way ahead of Ron and Harry in figuring out what needs to be done, but she's handling it quite well, uncomfortable as it has to be. And, yes, Patience is a virtue, but--as Ginny is learning--a very painful one at times! Very insightful review! *hugs*
J. Rhaye--There are always new things to discover in the books...or new ways to read the things you've already found...that's one of the reasons they are--and probably always will be--such an incredibly popular series. They grow and change with you as you grow and change. So I know you'll enjoy re-reading them when you get the chance. *winks* *laughs* Yeah..."Ron's a prat" or therebaouts, is the standard form for any discussion girls have concerning guys, don't you think? *grins and winks* I'm glad you enjoyed the moment...I'm a hopeless romantic, and try to stick them in wherever I can. *looks sheepish* I agree...it is nice to see Hermione loosening up, and that Ginny knows things about her the boys don't...and pretty realistic...women are always different with their female friends than they are with their male ones, I think...at least to a certain extent. *hugs*
EEDOE--Awwww...poor thing! I hate it when I've poored a lot of time and energy and excitement into something and the computer swallows it into an ether abyss. *hugs* I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter...hope your curses made you feel better! *hugs again*
Bill--I agree...all that yelling would be sure to make me a constant jumpy wreck like Quirrell...I would think both your comments about Ginny's trust in Harry could be considered correct...I guess we'll have to wait and see for sure. *winks* Insightful as always--Hermione's relationship with Ron is the oppostite end of the spectrum from Ginny's with Harry, but the girls' feelings are very similar. Interesting development, don't you think? And, like you, I think Ginny and Hermione are very good for one another--kind of like a lot of people in the club! *winks* *hugs*
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"What are Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?" Harry asked as they climbed the crooked, winding stair.
Ron's eyes met Ginny's in a flash of blue as they both laughed. For one brief second, they were as close as they had been before he started school. "Mum found this stack of order forms when she was cleaning Fred and George's room," Ron explained. "Great long price lists for the stuff they've invented. Joke stuff, you know. Fake wands and trick sweets, loads of stuff. It was brilliant-I never knew they'd been inventing all that..."
"We've been hearing explosions out of their room for ages," Ginny said, picking up the end of his sentence just as she used to do, "but we never thought they were actually making things-we thought they just liked the noise."
"Only most of the stuff-well, all of it, really-was a bit dangerous," Ron added. "And, you know, they were planning to sell it at Hogwarts to make money, and Mum went mad at them. Told them they weren't allowed to make any more of it, and burned all their order forms...She's furious at them anyway. They didn't get as many O.W.L.S. as she expected."
"And then," Ginny concluded, rolling her eyes, as Mum really ought to have known better to begin with, "there was this big row, because Mum wants them to go into the Ministry of Magic like Dad, and all they want to do is open a joke shop."
The last word of this sentence wobbled dangerously, as Ginny stopped short, tilting dangerously forward in the effort to avoid colliding with Percy, who had just burst out of his bedroom door and into the hall in front of her. On either side of her, Harry and Ron each absent-mindedly reached out a hand to catch her, neither one taking their eyes off Percy.
"Hi, Percy," Harry said.
"Oh, hello, Harry," Percy said as if he'd just noticed his presence. "I was wondering who was making all the noise."
Ginny snorted, but Percy ignored her and no one else seemed to notice as he went on, "I'm trying to work in here, you know-I've got a report to finish up for the office-and it's rather difficult to concentrate when people keep thundering up and down the stairs."
//If it bothers you so much, why don't you charm your walls to be soundproof?// Ginny wondered derisively, a thought she must have had at least half a dozen times before. "We're not thundering," Ron snapped, making it clear she wasn't alone, "we're walking. Sorry if we've disturbed the top-secret workings of the Ministry of Magic."
"What are you working on?" Harry asked, and Ginny suppressed the urge to elbow him hard in the side. At least Percy should be happy-he'd just gotten what he wanted.
"A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation," preened Percy. "We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin-leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent per year--"
"That'll change the world, that report will," Ron interrupted impatiently. "Front page of the "Daily Prophet", I expect, cauldron leaks."
Ginny couldn't remember the last time she had really seen Percy blush...probably around the time she'd first discovered he was dating Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect. "You might sneer, Ron, but unless some sort of international standard is imposed we might well find the market flooded with flimsy, shallow-bottomed products that seriously endanger--"
"Yeah, yeah," sighed Ron, shaking his head, "alright." He started upstairs again as Percy ducked into his room and out of the way, slamming the door so the floor vibrated beneath them as they passed. Shouts rose like a plume of smoke from the kitchen. Mum had finally exploded.
Ginny squinted as they came into the orange brilliance of Ron's slope-roofed bedroom, the Chudley Cannons waving at them from every available surface. The fat frog in the tank on the windowsill croaked a companionable hello, a sound she'd always found rather cozy, and Ron's owl-an adorable little ball of feathers and fluff he'd never fully explained how he'd come by-hopped and bounced in his cage like an excitable puppy. Ginny much preferred them both to the late, and not overly lamented-by anyone but Ron at any rate...and even he hadn't mentioned him in months-rat, Scabbers.
"Shut up, Pig," Ron commanded, squeezing between the extra beds that had been added to the usual two. "Fred and George are in here with us, because Bill and Charlie are in their room," he said, by way of explanation, to Harry. "Percy gets to keep his room all to himself because he's got to work."
"Er," Harry said, as if trying to decide what to comment on first. "Why are you calling that owl Pig?"
"Because he's being stupid," Ginny answered immediately, throwing a quelling look at Ron. "Its proper name is Pigwidgeon." //And it has been ever since I got off the train to find you with an owl you didn't have when I got on...//
"Yeah and that's not a stupid name at all," Ron snapped sarcastically.
//Well, maybe if you'd named him when you got him//-Ginny thought huffily, as Ron continued, "Ginny named him-she reckons it sweet." //It is//, Ginny insisted silently, crossing her arms and perfecting her unnoticed glare. //But I didn't mean to name him that...he's just so cute, and when I saw him, so tiny and fluffy and full of energy, it just sort of came out-"Oh, what a dear little pigwidgeon you are" because I've always liked the word pigwidgeon and what it means...Anyway, it suits him-he is a little duck-he's so plucky and affectionate and full of energy.// "And I tried to change it, but he wouldn't answer to anything else--" //Which just goes to prove I'm not the only one who thinks it suits him.// "-So now he's Pig. I've got to keep him up here because he annoys Errol and Hermes. He annoys me, too, come to that." //And he loves every minute of it.// But Ginny was sure from his expression Harry already knew that.
"Where's Crookshanks?" he asked Hermione.
"Out in the garden, I expect," she said indulgently. "He likes chasing gnomes-he's never seen any before." Ginny and Hermione had seen them from her bedroom window. The gnomes liked it too-they would often stop and look over their shoulders to see if he was following, and if he was, kick up their heels and scamper off, squealing madly. Just watching it made Ginny want to giggle like mad. She grinned to herself at the memory as Harry sat on one of the beds.
Author's Notes-- For those of you who know my posting habits, a warning progress may be a lot slower in this work. I really hope you'll make the effort to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it!
Ranting Idiot--It's okay you didn't review sooner...I'm interested in what you have to say, not how fast you say it! And it was certainly worth the wait...you have me glowing. *grins sheepishly* Since this is supposed to be Ginny's pov of Harry's world, I think it's important--and a lot of fun--to make what we discover more or less in accord with what we know...It's nice to know you're noticing and appreciating that. :-D
Bee11--I like the Hermione and Ginny interaction, too, it gives both characters a chance to be seen completely free of Harry's expectations and assumptions (not that those are wrong or bad, but assumptions of any sort limit depth), and tell us a lot about themselves. You nailed it--Ginny's wistful comment that "at least he talks to you" could be, and probably is, as much or more about Ron than it is about Harry, though it is almost definitely about both. Poor Hermione is in the middle, being, as usual, way ahead of Ron and Harry in figuring out what needs to be done, but she's handling it quite well, uncomfortable as it has to be. And, yes, Patience is a virtue, but--as Ginny is learning--a very painful one at times! Very insightful review! *hugs*
J. Rhaye--There are always new things to discover in the books...or new ways to read the things you've already found...that's one of the reasons they are--and probably always will be--such an incredibly popular series. They grow and change with you as you grow and change. So I know you'll enjoy re-reading them when you get the chance. *winks* *laughs* Yeah..."Ron's a prat" or therebaouts, is the standard form for any discussion girls have concerning guys, don't you think? *grins and winks* I'm glad you enjoyed the moment...I'm a hopeless romantic, and try to stick them in wherever I can. *looks sheepish* I agree...it is nice to see Hermione loosening up, and that Ginny knows things about her the boys don't...and pretty realistic...women are always different with their female friends than they are with their male ones, I think...at least to a certain extent. *hugs*
EEDOE--Awwww...poor thing! I hate it when I've poored a lot of time and energy and excitement into something and the computer swallows it into an ether abyss. *hugs* I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter...hope your curses made you feel better! *hugs again*
Bill--I agree...all that yelling would be sure to make me a constant jumpy wreck like Quirrell...I would think both your comments about Ginny's trust in Harry could be considered correct...I guess we'll have to wait and see for sure. *winks* Insightful as always--Hermione's relationship with Ron is the oppostite end of the spectrum from Ginny's with Harry, but the girls' feelings are very similar. Interesting development, don't you think? And, like you, I think Ginny and Hermione are very good for one another--kind of like a lot of people in the club! *winks* *hugs*
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"What are Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?" Harry asked as they climbed the crooked, winding stair.
Ron's eyes met Ginny's in a flash of blue as they both laughed. For one brief second, they were as close as they had been before he started school. "Mum found this stack of order forms when she was cleaning Fred and George's room," Ron explained. "Great long price lists for the stuff they've invented. Joke stuff, you know. Fake wands and trick sweets, loads of stuff. It was brilliant-I never knew they'd been inventing all that..."
"We've been hearing explosions out of their room for ages," Ginny said, picking up the end of his sentence just as she used to do, "but we never thought they were actually making things-we thought they just liked the noise."
"Only most of the stuff-well, all of it, really-was a bit dangerous," Ron added. "And, you know, they were planning to sell it at Hogwarts to make money, and Mum went mad at them. Told them they weren't allowed to make any more of it, and burned all their order forms...She's furious at them anyway. They didn't get as many O.W.L.S. as she expected."
"And then," Ginny concluded, rolling her eyes, as Mum really ought to have known better to begin with, "there was this big row, because Mum wants them to go into the Ministry of Magic like Dad, and all they want to do is open a joke shop."
The last word of this sentence wobbled dangerously, as Ginny stopped short, tilting dangerously forward in the effort to avoid colliding with Percy, who had just burst out of his bedroom door and into the hall in front of her. On either side of her, Harry and Ron each absent-mindedly reached out a hand to catch her, neither one taking their eyes off Percy.
"Hi, Percy," Harry said.
"Oh, hello, Harry," Percy said as if he'd just noticed his presence. "I was wondering who was making all the noise."
Ginny snorted, but Percy ignored her and no one else seemed to notice as he went on, "I'm trying to work in here, you know-I've got a report to finish up for the office-and it's rather difficult to concentrate when people keep thundering up and down the stairs."
//If it bothers you so much, why don't you charm your walls to be soundproof?// Ginny wondered derisively, a thought she must have had at least half a dozen times before. "We're not thundering," Ron snapped, making it clear she wasn't alone, "we're walking. Sorry if we've disturbed the top-secret workings of the Ministry of Magic."
"What are you working on?" Harry asked, and Ginny suppressed the urge to elbow him hard in the side. At least Percy should be happy-he'd just gotten what he wanted.
"A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation," preened Percy. "We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin-leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent per year--"
"That'll change the world, that report will," Ron interrupted impatiently. "Front page of the "Daily Prophet", I expect, cauldron leaks."
Ginny couldn't remember the last time she had really seen Percy blush...probably around the time she'd first discovered he was dating Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect. "You might sneer, Ron, but unless some sort of international standard is imposed we might well find the market flooded with flimsy, shallow-bottomed products that seriously endanger--"
"Yeah, yeah," sighed Ron, shaking his head, "alright." He started upstairs again as Percy ducked into his room and out of the way, slamming the door so the floor vibrated beneath them as they passed. Shouts rose like a plume of smoke from the kitchen. Mum had finally exploded.
Ginny squinted as they came into the orange brilliance of Ron's slope-roofed bedroom, the Chudley Cannons waving at them from every available surface. The fat frog in the tank on the windowsill croaked a companionable hello, a sound she'd always found rather cozy, and Ron's owl-an adorable little ball of feathers and fluff he'd never fully explained how he'd come by-hopped and bounced in his cage like an excitable puppy. Ginny much preferred them both to the late, and not overly lamented-by anyone but Ron at any rate...and even he hadn't mentioned him in months-rat, Scabbers.
"Shut up, Pig," Ron commanded, squeezing between the extra beds that had been added to the usual two. "Fred and George are in here with us, because Bill and Charlie are in their room," he said, by way of explanation, to Harry. "Percy gets to keep his room all to himself because he's got to work."
"Er," Harry said, as if trying to decide what to comment on first. "Why are you calling that owl Pig?"
"Because he's being stupid," Ginny answered immediately, throwing a quelling look at Ron. "Its proper name is Pigwidgeon." //And it has been ever since I got off the train to find you with an owl you didn't have when I got on...//
"Yeah and that's not a stupid name at all," Ron snapped sarcastically.
//Well, maybe if you'd named him when you got him//-Ginny thought huffily, as Ron continued, "Ginny named him-she reckons it sweet." //It is//, Ginny insisted silently, crossing her arms and perfecting her unnoticed glare. //But I didn't mean to name him that...he's just so cute, and when I saw him, so tiny and fluffy and full of energy, it just sort of came out-"Oh, what a dear little pigwidgeon you are" because I've always liked the word pigwidgeon and what it means...Anyway, it suits him-he is a little duck-he's so plucky and affectionate and full of energy.// "And I tried to change it, but he wouldn't answer to anything else--" //Which just goes to prove I'm not the only one who thinks it suits him.// "-So now he's Pig. I've got to keep him up here because he annoys Errol and Hermes. He annoys me, too, come to that." //And he loves every minute of it.// But Ginny was sure from his expression Harry already knew that.
"Where's Crookshanks?" he asked Hermione.
"Out in the garden, I expect," she said indulgently. "He likes chasing gnomes-he's never seen any before." Ginny and Hermione had seen them from her bedroom window. The gnomes liked it too-they would often stop and look over their shoulders to see if he was following, and if he was, kick up their heels and scamper off, squealing madly. Just watching it made Ginny want to giggle like mad. She grinned to herself at the memory as Harry sat on one of the beds.