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. Most of this scene is from GoF by
JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is
being made.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work, but I hope you'll all 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! Please don't print or post this elsewhere without my knowledge. I'm a bit confused about the ruckus is making about "keyboard dialogue", so I hope they don't object to our notes, but it seems unfair to ask for your feedback and not respond (besides, I LIKE responding).
JamieBell--Hopefully this chapter will make up for the last one being short! As for Ron, I think he was trying to concentrate on Ginny, not how mad he was--for once!
I'm not the Weakest link--nice to see you back. Hope you enjoyed your holiday!
Raiining--Thanks for the head's up. I hope this chapter will address some of your concerns, but I'll definitely try to keep from rushing--it's hard when I really want to get things out, but I agree, it's important.
Rayny--cool :-) I'm honored to be part of your blog. I agree...Ron HAS to be a bit jealous...but that's probably good for him. snickers Hope you keep reviewing.
Auburnbeagle--I'm glad you like it. I hope you read far enough to find this response, and I'd love to hear from you again.
werewolf-0194--Thanks. I'm glad you like them enough to read up to date. :-) I hope I continue to hold your interest. :-) Please feel free to review again.
J.Rhaye--I know what you mean!! It feels like YEARS since I've gotten to add to this story, but it's not because I haven't been thinking about it! You're right...Ginny has lots of practice at accepting the other priorities in people's lives...it's sad, but she handles it well. :-) I eagerly await your comments, too. winks hugs
EEDOE--I do, indeed. It just SEEMS like the right day for Ginny, don't you think? grins and winks I loved that mental image, too. YEAH!! Go, GINNY! Go, RON! hugs
Bill--There for about 30 seconds, I nearly forgot myself. looks sheepish and grins Yeah, I definitely feel bad for Bion and Luna...they're far too important to be left out...but...for continuity...what's a girl to do? sighs I agree about how Ginny will see the timing of this party...it IS pretty pivotal...Yes, somehow, I suspect the angst isn't too far off...laughs Good question...I'm sure I don't know...Miss you. hugs
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The day wiled away in games of Exploding Chess, Black Magic, Wizard's Chess, Tag, and as many other childhood games as they could remember, interrupted at intervals during which they stuffed themselves as full as they possibly could in the vain attempt to diminish the mass of sweets Fred and George had somehow managed to produce. As first faint ribbons of cobalt and mercury twilight were twining their way along the margins of the sky, Ron attempted to get everyone's attention. Ten minutes later, everyone actually paid attention when Fred and George conjured a small explosion, and Ron announced it was time for Ginny to open her presents…which was news to Ginny, who had assumed the party was her present.
She was still trying to adjust to this newest revelation when Patricia dropped the first package in her lap. "This is from all us girls," she said, indicating Ginny's other roommates.
"This" was a copy of "Simple Beauty Charms Every Girl Should Know" and a copy of "Teen Witch"—"The first issue of your new subscription," Patricia explained as Ginny stared at it uncertainly.
"Oh, thanks, guys, I don't know what to say. This is just so--"
The girls beamed at one another, obviously pleased. "Well, we thought you deserved a little pampering this year for your birthday," Tempest said decisively. "After all, you're thirteen now—a real teenager, and your brothers are great, but there are some things guys just don't appreciate."
Ginny tipped her head to one side, considering, and was slightly disturbed to find this made sense. "You know…you're right…I hadn't really thought of it like that…"
She opened Colin's gift next, a simple cherry wood frame…containing a collage. She stared at it for ages, picking out photos of herself with Colin and Tempest, with Hermione and Neville, with Ron, with Lee and Fred and George…there were even photos of Hagrid, of Professor McGonagall, of Professor Dumbledore and—most amazing and wonderful of all—Professor Lupin…she felt tears kiss the back of her eyes with stinging love. Somehow, Colin had even managed to include photos he'd snapped of Bion and Luna in Potions and at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall.
"Colin," Ginny breathed through a throat gone suddenly stuffy, "this is absolutely incredible—I can't believe you did this all on your own. Just wait until you're a famous photographer…this will be worth a fortune—and I'm NOT going to sell it!" Colin blushed in a way to do a Weasley proud, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his fingers. Ginny grinned and hugged him wildly.
There was a basket of herbs Hagrid had collected, taking time and care to make beautiful little bouquets with the herbs she had told him she most liked when he'd shown her his garden. "Thought they'd make your room smell nice," he explained shyly, "maybe bring you sweet dreams."
"Oh, Hagrid!" Ginny said, and the two words said so much as she kissed his cheek.
"Aww…'snot that much really," Hagrid grumbled, obviously touched, "just a few weeds."
"I love them," Ginny said firmly, and set them aside gently.
Neville gave her a pretty red-and-yellow pot containing a tiny, silvered, gnarled willow with long, frothy fountains of leaves. "It's magnificent," Ginny breathed, "I love willow trees...but, Neville, you know I have a black thumb! What if I kill it?"
"You won't," he assured her, looking embarrassed but confident, "It's pretty hardy compared to magical plants—and I'll help you take care of it."
She gave him a long, fainting look of gratitude that made everyone—even Neville—laugh.
"Here now," Fred said, mock-severely, "that's enough of that."
"Pay attention to your gifts, Gin," George added, thrusting a huge package that nearly obscured her line of vision into her lap. "Can't have you looking at, Neville, you know."
"Yes, no offense, old chap," added Fred solemnly, "just a brother's duty, you know, protect her honor and all that."
Ginny shrieked with a mortification only half-pretended, and the twins ducked—somewhat hurriedly—out of her line of sight. The oversize package turned out to be from the Burrow; Ginny set notes from Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, and Percy aside to read at her leisure later, and rummaged through the contents she knew her guests wanted to see. An impossibly delicate glass bottle Bill said was meant to hold perfume filled with shimmering golden sand radiating the warmth of Egypt in her palm, Charlie sent a set of cleverly designed filigree and enamel eggs that nested inside each other, Dad sent her several new pairs of thick wool socks with the usual muggle addition of something she'd have to ask Hermione to identify, while the copy of "Your OWLS, A Preparatory Guide" could only be from Percy, and, to round out the whole, there were four dozen homemade donuts from Mum. To Ginny's surprise, Mum hadn't sent the usual sweater…instead, there was a little vial of ever-so-slightly tinted water Ginny recognized as the lavender water she helped Mum make every summer—her first perfume.
"Some bloody git's forgotten to put his name on this one," Ron said shortly, waving about a slender little rectangle wrapped in plain brown paper.
Ginny snatched it from his hands which such violence he nearly fell over, something she hardly had time to notice before she tore into the paper, knowing before she opened it who it was from.
"Exciting," George observed, staring at the unlabeled little book that fell into her lap. Even its cover was a drab, unexciting shade of dirty grey.
"Let's move on then to something more exciting, then, shall we?" Ginny asked, her voice a bit too breezy. Waiting to open the book was torture when she was dying to examine what had to be a little known and very authoritative text on Occulumency, but it was better not to encourage people to wonder who had sent it if she preferred to keep her friendship with Professor Lupin secret, and, for now at least, she most definitely did. She had to assume he did, too, or he could have signed his name to the wrapping.
"Yeah, we'll show you what a real gift should be like," Fred teased haughtily.
Ginny had to admit the huge box of Exploding Bon-bons Lee and the twins had all pitched in to buy was pretty impressive. Looking at it certainly made her mouth water.
"I thought Hermione wanted to give you this herself," Ron said crossly, "but as she's not here, I suppose--" He broke off suddenly, an odd look on his face. Ginny stared, and suddenly, she heard it too, faintly, but growing closer…
"Ouch, oh, sorry, Neville, that is—oh, excuse me, Patricia—uh could I…OW! Wait! Ummm…" Hermione tumbled between Fred and George landing nearly at Ginny's feet. She looked up, nearly panting, her face flushed. "Oh, Ginny! Happy Birthday!! Sorry, I'm so late, but--"
Ginny just grinned. "Talk about making an entrance! Could someone hand Hermione some butterbeer? She looks like she could use a drink."
"Thanks," Hermione said, accepting the bottle with a sigh. "What have I missed?"
"What d'ye mean?" Ron snapped, impatient. "What've you missed? What haven't you missed is more like—where have you bee--"
"I was just getting ready to open your present," Ginny interrupted, staring Ron straight in the eye with a look she'd learned from their mother. Ron subsided, looking rather startled.
"Oh, I'm glad I didn't miss it!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting up, rapt, as Ron somewhat grudgingly handed Ginny the package.
It was, predictably, a book…but unlike any spell book Ginny had ever seen. She stared at the peaceful painting of the rather ugly stone house on the cover, confused. "'Mansfield Park'?" she read, looking at Hermione in question.
"It's a novel—rather like the one my parents sent me—remember?" Hermione said encouragingly. "It's a story…in this case, not a true story, but make believe—about regular muggle people. This one's quite famous. I think you'll really like it."
"I'm sure I'll love it," Ginny said, giving her a hug. "Thanks so much, everyone!"
"We're not done with you just yet," Ron said in a good impression of Dad attempting to be stern. "You still have to open my present." There was a look of suppressed excitement about him that completely erased his earlier annoyance.
In fact, he looked so…so…alight with some intense anticipation Ginny couldn't help thinking the real present was the look on his face as she turned the package over in her lap.
When she saw what she was holding, she felt faint. "I don't believe it," she said weakly as the world slowly stopped spinning. "This can't be…what I think it is." Her whole body tingled where it touched it with an electric disbelief and the intoxication of remembered childhood joy.
"Oh, it is," Ron said confidently. "It most definitely is."
"'The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle, Issue One'" Ginny read, tracing the words with a reverent finger. "But, Ron, these are impossible to find—how did you get this?"
Ron shrugged negligently. "Told Mum and Dad what I wanted to get you and why. They let me do extra chores til I had enough to pay for it, and Dad picked it up for me on his way to work in London one day."
They had spent hours together when they were one another's only friends, reading every issue of "Martin Miggs, The Mad Muggle" they could find...Their great disappointment had been that they had never been able to find issue one. They didn't know how the story began…Ginny stared at the comic book in its slick plastic envelope, and forced words past the lump in her throat. "Have you read it?"
Ron looked offended. " 'Course not," he said indignantly. "I wouldn't read it before you—it's yours!"
"Want to read it together?" Ginny asked, painfully aware that she was holding her breath…even now, after all this time…
Ron's whole body seemed to flare like a Filibuster's Wet Start Firework. "Do I?" He responded positively.
"Okay…meet you tonight by the Common Room fire." Ginny said, amazed people hadn't been blinded by her glow.
Her first birthday as a teenager was a resounding success—she hoped it was a sign…she was going to have a chance to be happy, to be quiet, to be secure…to be normal at last. But…no matter what happened, she had today…the memory of one perfect day, and that alone was more than she could ask.
Author's Notes-- Progress has been a lot slower in this work, but I hope you'll all 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! Please don't print or post this elsewhere without my knowledge. I'm a bit confused about the ruckus is making about "keyboard dialogue", so I hope they don't object to our notes, but it seems unfair to ask for your feedback and not respond (besides, I LIKE responding).
JamieBell--Hopefully this chapter will make up for the last one being short! As for Ron, I think he was trying to concentrate on Ginny, not how mad he was--for once!
I'm not the Weakest link--nice to see you back. Hope you enjoyed your holiday!
Raiining--Thanks for the head's up. I hope this chapter will address some of your concerns, but I'll definitely try to keep from rushing--it's hard when I really want to get things out, but I agree, it's important.
Rayny--cool :-) I'm honored to be part of your blog. I agree...Ron HAS to be a bit jealous...but that's probably good for him. snickers Hope you keep reviewing.
Auburnbeagle--I'm glad you like it. I hope you read far enough to find this response, and I'd love to hear from you again.
werewolf-0194--Thanks. I'm glad you like them enough to read up to date. :-) I hope I continue to hold your interest. :-) Please feel free to review again.
J.Rhaye--I know what you mean!! It feels like YEARS since I've gotten to add to this story, but it's not because I haven't been thinking about it! You're right...Ginny has lots of practice at accepting the other priorities in people's lives...it's sad, but she handles it well. :-) I eagerly await your comments, too. winks hugs
EEDOE--I do, indeed. It just SEEMS like the right day for Ginny, don't you think? grins and winks I loved that mental image, too. YEAH!! Go, GINNY! Go, RON! hugs
Bill--There for about 30 seconds, I nearly forgot myself. looks sheepish and grins Yeah, I definitely feel bad for Bion and Luna...they're far too important to be left out...but...for continuity...what's a girl to do? sighs I agree about how Ginny will see the timing of this party...it IS pretty pivotal...Yes, somehow, I suspect the angst isn't too far off...laughs Good question...I'm sure I don't know...Miss you. hugs
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The day wiled away in games of Exploding Chess, Black Magic, Wizard's Chess, Tag, and as many other childhood games as they could remember, interrupted at intervals during which they stuffed themselves as full as they possibly could in the vain attempt to diminish the mass of sweets Fred and George had somehow managed to produce. As first faint ribbons of cobalt and mercury twilight were twining their way along the margins of the sky, Ron attempted to get everyone's attention. Ten minutes later, everyone actually paid attention when Fred and George conjured a small explosion, and Ron announced it was time for Ginny to open her presents…which was news to Ginny, who had assumed the party was her present.
She was still trying to adjust to this newest revelation when Patricia dropped the first package in her lap. "This is from all us girls," she said, indicating Ginny's other roommates.
"This" was a copy of "Simple Beauty Charms Every Girl Should Know" and a copy of "Teen Witch"—"The first issue of your new subscription," Patricia explained as Ginny stared at it uncertainly.
"Oh, thanks, guys, I don't know what to say. This is just so--"
The girls beamed at one another, obviously pleased. "Well, we thought you deserved a little pampering this year for your birthday," Tempest said decisively. "After all, you're thirteen now—a real teenager, and your brothers are great, but there are some things guys just don't appreciate."
Ginny tipped her head to one side, considering, and was slightly disturbed to find this made sense. "You know…you're right…I hadn't really thought of it like that…"
She opened Colin's gift next, a simple cherry wood frame…containing a collage. She stared at it for ages, picking out photos of herself with Colin and Tempest, with Hermione and Neville, with Ron, with Lee and Fred and George…there were even photos of Hagrid, of Professor McGonagall, of Professor Dumbledore and—most amazing and wonderful of all—Professor Lupin…she felt tears kiss the back of her eyes with stinging love. Somehow, Colin had even managed to include photos he'd snapped of Bion and Luna in Potions and at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall.
"Colin," Ginny breathed through a throat gone suddenly stuffy, "this is absolutely incredible—I can't believe you did this all on your own. Just wait until you're a famous photographer…this will be worth a fortune—and I'm NOT going to sell it!" Colin blushed in a way to do a Weasley proud, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his fingers. Ginny grinned and hugged him wildly.
There was a basket of herbs Hagrid had collected, taking time and care to make beautiful little bouquets with the herbs she had told him she most liked when he'd shown her his garden. "Thought they'd make your room smell nice," he explained shyly, "maybe bring you sweet dreams."
"Oh, Hagrid!" Ginny said, and the two words said so much as she kissed his cheek.
"Aww…'snot that much really," Hagrid grumbled, obviously touched, "just a few weeds."
"I love them," Ginny said firmly, and set them aside gently.
Neville gave her a pretty red-and-yellow pot containing a tiny, silvered, gnarled willow with long, frothy fountains of leaves. "It's magnificent," Ginny breathed, "I love willow trees...but, Neville, you know I have a black thumb! What if I kill it?"
"You won't," he assured her, looking embarrassed but confident, "It's pretty hardy compared to magical plants—and I'll help you take care of it."
She gave him a long, fainting look of gratitude that made everyone—even Neville—laugh.
"Here now," Fred said, mock-severely, "that's enough of that."
"Pay attention to your gifts, Gin," George added, thrusting a huge package that nearly obscured her line of vision into her lap. "Can't have you looking at, Neville, you know."
"Yes, no offense, old chap," added Fred solemnly, "just a brother's duty, you know, protect her honor and all that."
Ginny shrieked with a mortification only half-pretended, and the twins ducked—somewhat hurriedly—out of her line of sight. The oversize package turned out to be from the Burrow; Ginny set notes from Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, and Percy aside to read at her leisure later, and rummaged through the contents she knew her guests wanted to see. An impossibly delicate glass bottle Bill said was meant to hold perfume filled with shimmering golden sand radiating the warmth of Egypt in her palm, Charlie sent a set of cleverly designed filigree and enamel eggs that nested inside each other, Dad sent her several new pairs of thick wool socks with the usual muggle addition of something she'd have to ask Hermione to identify, while the copy of "Your OWLS, A Preparatory Guide" could only be from Percy, and, to round out the whole, there were four dozen homemade donuts from Mum. To Ginny's surprise, Mum hadn't sent the usual sweater…instead, there was a little vial of ever-so-slightly tinted water Ginny recognized as the lavender water she helped Mum make every summer—her first perfume.
"Some bloody git's forgotten to put his name on this one," Ron said shortly, waving about a slender little rectangle wrapped in plain brown paper.
Ginny snatched it from his hands which such violence he nearly fell over, something she hardly had time to notice before she tore into the paper, knowing before she opened it who it was from.
"Exciting," George observed, staring at the unlabeled little book that fell into her lap. Even its cover was a drab, unexciting shade of dirty grey.
"Let's move on then to something more exciting, then, shall we?" Ginny asked, her voice a bit too breezy. Waiting to open the book was torture when she was dying to examine what had to be a little known and very authoritative text on Occulumency, but it was better not to encourage people to wonder who had sent it if she preferred to keep her friendship with Professor Lupin secret, and, for now at least, she most definitely did. She had to assume he did, too, or he could have signed his name to the wrapping.
"Yeah, we'll show you what a real gift should be like," Fred teased haughtily.
Ginny had to admit the huge box of Exploding Bon-bons Lee and the twins had all pitched in to buy was pretty impressive. Looking at it certainly made her mouth water.
"I thought Hermione wanted to give you this herself," Ron said crossly, "but as she's not here, I suppose--" He broke off suddenly, an odd look on his face. Ginny stared, and suddenly, she heard it too, faintly, but growing closer…
"Ouch, oh, sorry, Neville, that is—oh, excuse me, Patricia—uh could I…OW! Wait! Ummm…" Hermione tumbled between Fred and George landing nearly at Ginny's feet. She looked up, nearly panting, her face flushed. "Oh, Ginny! Happy Birthday!! Sorry, I'm so late, but--"
Ginny just grinned. "Talk about making an entrance! Could someone hand Hermione some butterbeer? She looks like she could use a drink."
"Thanks," Hermione said, accepting the bottle with a sigh. "What have I missed?"
"What d'ye mean?" Ron snapped, impatient. "What've you missed? What haven't you missed is more like—where have you bee--"
"I was just getting ready to open your present," Ginny interrupted, staring Ron straight in the eye with a look she'd learned from their mother. Ron subsided, looking rather startled.
"Oh, I'm glad I didn't miss it!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting up, rapt, as Ron somewhat grudgingly handed Ginny the package.
It was, predictably, a book…but unlike any spell book Ginny had ever seen. She stared at the peaceful painting of the rather ugly stone house on the cover, confused. "'Mansfield Park'?" she read, looking at Hermione in question.
"It's a novel—rather like the one my parents sent me—remember?" Hermione said encouragingly. "It's a story…in this case, not a true story, but make believe—about regular muggle people. This one's quite famous. I think you'll really like it."
"I'm sure I'll love it," Ginny said, giving her a hug. "Thanks so much, everyone!"
"We're not done with you just yet," Ron said in a good impression of Dad attempting to be stern. "You still have to open my present." There was a look of suppressed excitement about him that completely erased his earlier annoyance.
In fact, he looked so…so…alight with some intense anticipation Ginny couldn't help thinking the real present was the look on his face as she turned the package over in her lap.
When she saw what she was holding, she felt faint. "I don't believe it," she said weakly as the world slowly stopped spinning. "This can't be…what I think it is." Her whole body tingled where it touched it with an electric disbelief and the intoxication of remembered childhood joy.
"Oh, it is," Ron said confidently. "It most definitely is."
"'The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle, Issue One'" Ginny read, tracing the words with a reverent finger. "But, Ron, these are impossible to find—how did you get this?"
Ron shrugged negligently. "Told Mum and Dad what I wanted to get you and why. They let me do extra chores til I had enough to pay for it, and Dad picked it up for me on his way to work in London one day."
They had spent hours together when they were one another's only friends, reading every issue of "Martin Miggs, The Mad Muggle" they could find...Their great disappointment had been that they had never been able to find issue one. They didn't know how the story began…Ginny stared at the comic book in its slick plastic envelope, and forced words past the lump in her throat. "Have you read it?"
Ron looked offended. " 'Course not," he said indignantly. "I wouldn't read it before you—it's yours!"
"Want to read it together?" Ginny asked, painfully aware that she was holding her breath…even now, after all this time…
Ron's whole body seemed to flare like a Filibuster's Wet Start Firework. "Do I?" He responded positively.
"Okay…meet you tonight by the Common Room fire." Ginny said, amazed people hadn't been blinded by her glow.
Her first birthday as a teenager was a resounding success—she hoped it was a sign…she was going to have a chance to be happy, to be quiet, to be secure…to be normal at last. But…no matter what happened, she had today…the memory of one perfect day, and that alone was more than she could ask.