luv Gnomes :o)
"Told ya so."
"Fine, maybe I should have known this would happen. But I'll have you know Nat has not had it easy lately. She can't help drinking down her sorrows...in pints."
Ginny rolled her eyes. She couldn't help feeling smug. Hadn't she warned Bill his friend was a drunk? Tonight, she alone had counted eight glasses of a variety of alcoholic drinks, and Ryan had seen her down another four while Ginny was away from the table. It seemed very obvious then that she, Bill and Ryan should be trying to get a topped-off Natalie from the banquet hall to the Unicorn without making a scene. Unsuccessfully. Still, she held her tongue, and listened to Bill as he whispered instructions to them. It was a rather rotten way of ending such a superb soiree.
Bill let himself be mugged by people who wanted to wish him goodnight and a hearty congratulations, and as he did so, no one observed Ginny and Ryan take Natalie by the arms and help her down the steps, to the parking, where the valet (carefully, very carefully) retrieved the Unicorn.
Once Natalie was safely snoring in the backseat, Ryan and Ginny discreetly and frantically waved their hands in the air, signalling to Bill that the plan had been perfectly executed. Bill spotted them immediately, made a few last goodbyes' and hurried towards them.
"You guys rule, you really do. Tomorrow, you can both have whatever you want."
"Ten Firebolts."
"The Montrose Magpies."
Ginny goggled at Ryan.
"TEN? My, aren't we ambitious. Planning on riding them all at once?"
"They're for my school. What 'bout you- reckon you're a bit too young to own a Quidditch team, aren't ya?"
"Don't knock it. That's my business. "
"No, eh, actually, it's mine," Bill interrupted, rubbing the back of his head, a tired grin on his face. "I know I got a bonus, but it isn't that much. They want to motivate me, not help me retire."
Ryan and Ginny looked at each, then back at Bill.
"Five Firebolts."
"The Chudley Cannons."
"Ryan! There you are!"
Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan approached them, a regal pair, though looking quite fatigued.
"For a moment we thought you'd apparated home, then we realized you wouldn't have left your lovely date so hastily," Russell said chuckling.
Both teenagers blushed furiously.
"Dad, we're-"
"Oh, and Ginny dear, you must come by tomorrow before you leave," Adelaide broke in. "We've got give you proper goodbye, and I've baked the chokkie cookies you love."
Ginny eagerly promised she would try her best. Bill wished them good night.
"I'd rather not see what'll happen to the Unicorn if I keep Natalie waiting too long," he said. "See you Monday, boss?"
"Monday, Monday. That new hex we've developed- lots of folks wager you won't be able to crack it. Naturally, I'm expecting you to prove them wrong."
"We'll try not disappoint them, sir," Bill laughed. "Gin, what d'you fancy; going to Ren's party or staying with Ryan? She might need a break, help cleaning up, you know."
Before Ginny could reply, Ryan's father coughed politely.
"I was just going to suggest, you know, that since your mother and I are exhausted, Ry, that we would just apparate home and you and Ginny could take a drive around. It's her last night down under, after all, we aughta let her make the most of it," he insisted, tossing his son a pair of keys.
Ryan laughed, half-nervous, half-embarrassed.
"That all depends on what she wants to do, Dad," he said, his teeth curiously glued shut. He ran his fingers through his hair, which brought it back to its ordinary ruffled state, and faced her squarely. "D'you want to?"
Ginny thought for a moment, then grinned at him.
"Naturally, Captain."
"Well, it's settled then," Russell said, giving his son a hearty slap on the back. "Have a lovely night."
"Oh, and try to come home before the sun comes up," added his mother.
"Right," said Ryan, his ears bright red. "Thanks." But his words were barely heard, if at all. His parents had barely turned their backs, and they were gone. A minute later, after a sufficient (though friendly) warning to Ryan, Bill roared off in the Unicorn, leaving the two Airbornes quite alone, for everyone but the valets had gone home.
"I don't think that could have been worse," Ryan confessed after a moment of silence had passed between them.
"Are you mad?" Ginny exclaimed, laughing. "My folks would never just toss me the keys to the car and say 'Here, sweety. Why don't you stay out until the wee hours of the morning with your boyf-" she coughed, "with your male friend."
"Let's not go on about parents," Ryan said, pitching his keys into the air and catching them in mid-flight. He flashed Ginny a roguish grin. "Wanna go on the ride of your life?"
"That utterly depends on what kind of car we're talking about."
"Wait here, I'll drive it out," Ryan said, and dashed off to the parking lot.
"But-" Ginny spluttered, not particularly wanting to be left alone. She sighed, but in a contented way. For the I've-lost-count-how-many'th time that summer, Ginny wondered if she might wake up at any moment and find herself in The Burrow, in bed, full of dreams and nothing tangible.
She then speculated for a few minutes what would happen when she returned home tomorrow; how she would be treated by her family members, by her friends (whom, if Mrs. Weasley had been serious about the mass search parties organized to locate her, would probably be anxious to see her), and by Harry. She cringed as a mental image of his face surfaced before her,but took comfort in the fact that the Firebolt was still in the perfect condition in which she had received it. She and Ryan had gone straight away after the final to The Broom Box, and had it polished and groomed before their eyes (by no one less than Peter, whom both Bill and Ryan vouched for as the best broom expert in town). Presently, it lay on her bed, carefully wrapped in an old but clean bed sheet Bill had given her.
Still, he would never talk to her again, she'd quite reconciled herself to that idea, no matter what he may have said in the fire yesterday. Maybe it was for the best. Better he not speak to her at all than in a condescending manner, or at best, as an affectionate older brother. She would entrust Ron with the return of the Firebolt, so Harry could be spared the pain of dealing with her. And, she decided on the spot, she would write a letter of apology, though she was sure it would come to nothing, as he was likely never to read it.
Her dark thoughts were brightened by the headlights of Ryan's car.It was a glossy, velvety red, and though it did not possess the finesse of the Unicorn, somehow it didn't require it. Like the Unicorn, it was small and sporty, but had two wing-like triangles sticking out at the back, and narrowed like a beak in the front. As Ryan pulled up in front of Ginny, the roof of the car suddenly lifted up and began to fold like a paper napkin until it had stashed itself away.
Ginny gaped at Ryan.
"What's it called?"
"Phoenix Z2."
"Wicked."
"Thought you'd approve. Get in, Weasley."
—
After he loosened and threw off his bow-tie, Ryan showed her all the features of the car, while Ginny watched with ardent interest. Then they discussed their families; Ginny was awed by his mother's Quidditch-glory days, and Ryan laughed appreciatively at stories about the twins and her father's obsession with muggles.
"Y'know, you're really lucky," Ryan told her wistfully, making a turn on Tribble Street. "Six siblings...I can't fathom what killer fun that would be."
"I never appreciated it properly," Ginny admitted. "We have some good laughs occasionally and they are all pretty cool in their own ways, but I don't know- I've always felt somehow neglected."
"With six brothers? I'd have thought they'd make a big fuss over you."
"Um, they do," Ginny said, confused. "But they never want me to play Quidditch with them, and they're always teasing me. They treat me like a baby, you know." But she bit her lip, guilt impinging on her. She was suddenly embarrassed at her continuous whining about her brothers. She missed them, and most of all, she missed their teasing. It occurred to her that she was fussed over, by their incessant jokes and baiting, but too busy getting offended by their good-natured remarks to notice. Ginny felt very foolish.
Ryan eyed her curiously.
"You a'right?"
"Yeah, um...never mind," she told him, getting red.
"Bloody doxies."
"Uh...pardon me?"
Ryan wasn't looking at her, staring straight ahead.
"Look there."
Ginny looked, then grimaced, understanding. The Phoenix had turned up on the hippest streets of wizarding Sydney, and standing on the corner, looking smug and surly as ever, was a gang of Stings, Nikki and Les among them.
"Couldn't we just race past them?" Ginny suggested half-heartedly (for there were swarms of people everywhere, and speeding would prompt the death of dozens of pedestrians).
"Why should we? They'll probably bail out when they see us," Ryan said, relaxing his grip on the steering wheel. "Besides, we haven't had the chance to gloat properly, have we?"
"Um, right," Ginny said, but still she squirmed in her seat. She'd seen as much of Nikki Price as she'd ever wanted to. Another encounter, particularly after the Quidditch final, would be anything but agreeable.
In Ginny's mind ages slipped away before they reached the end of the block, and as they did, it was Nikki who noticed them first.
"If it isn't the Airbutts," she mocked slowly, her eyes sharply absorbing the distasteful sight before her. "How's that leg, Weasel? Too sore to walk, I wager. That's what happens to you when you rely on luck and fancy brooms. Any effort's gotta smart."
"Wow," Ryan cut in before Ginny had a chance to reply, "I completely agree with you- your brain must have worked overtime just to come up with that."
Ginny fiddled heedfully with the skirt of her dress. The power she'd felt over Nikki at the game, like a careless sprinkle of fairy dust, had quickly worn off. She felt susceptible to Nikki's intimidating glower, which no doubt was being used that very minute.
"Nikki's right," Les said, stepping closer to the car beside Nikki. "The Stings are gonna-"
"Ooh I know," Ryan cut in, his blue eyes bright with playfulness. "You're gonna clip our Airborne wings right? Cause you're the Stings? I get that right, Gin? Honestly, I can't remember exactly what those little Yanks were bouncing and shouting about. Ace about the Mobs bringing out those old kiwis, I know the crowd really enjoyed it."
"I knew it," Nikki said, not missing a beat. "You're dying to be one of us. It's pathetic to watch. Too late, mate. Should have joined when I gave you the chance."
Ryan's smile wavered.
"Offer me all the Firebolts in the world, and I'd still say no."
"Well 'course you would. You only need your little girlfriend's. Oh, and I forgot to tell you what a cute couple you two make," Nikki said laughing harshly, her angry face turning a tell-tale crimson. "So adorable."
Ginny quickly flashed Ryan an it's-not-worth-it look. The tension on his face soon melted into mischief, and Ryan beamed at Nikki.
"Thanks, Nik. We really are, y'know," he exclaimed, throwing his arm over Ginny's shoulder. He took Ginny a little by surprise, and inexplicably, she felt a little sorry for Nikki, and no longer timid.
"I...I have a great guy for you, if you and Les don't work out or whatever," she blurted.
"I'd never date a Pom," Nikki spat, ending the masquerade of indifference.
"You sure?" Ginny insisted amicably. "You two would get along famously, I mean it."
Nikki appeared livid. Meanwhile, the throngs of people had more or less dispersed. As the Phoenix began to stir, Ginny tried one last time.
"If you're ever in England, look him up! His name is Draco Malfoy! Bye!"
—
Nikki watched as the Phoenix swiftly vanished from sight. Stupid Poms, she thought hatefully. Always acting like they own world. Even so, she had a compelling urge to have it out with her father for convincing her to dump Ryan.
"What's she goin' on about, like we were breaking up or wh'tever," Les griped, easing his hand around Nikki's waist.
Nikki shoved him.
"Oh, shut up."
Chokkie: Chocolate
Doxy: Biting fairy (see Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them)
Yanks: Americans (thanks, EB!)
