I'd like to do something I haven't really done yet, which is personally address reviewers' comments. Here goes:

Kiara: Thanks, Kiara! Much obliged :o)
Jess M:
I'm glad to hear my slang wasn't totally off! Definitely trying to update soon!
EB: I'd like to answer your comments as you wrote them- that is, numbered:
1. Thank you, thank you, thank you (and to Kiara and Jess)! I was anxiously waiting for Aussies/Ozzies to read my fic and tell me exactly how badly I had butchered the slang. :o) I will be making that correction asap, and if there's anything else way off in the slang dep't, do let me know :o) Oh, and thanks for being nice about it!
2. I KNOW! -sheepish grin- Summer in the UK and Aus do NOT coincide...but that was a bit of poetic license on my end. I was hoping it wouldn't bother folks too much...:o)
3. I thought about that a lot as I was writing the Quid stuff. But I figure that as it's a wizarding community and they really haven't got any other major sport besides for Quidditch, they'd take any of it they got, junior or otherwise...make any sense?
Last thing...I'll try to drop in a coupla 'youses', though you aughta let me know if I incorporate them properly!

Natacha2430: Appreciate your loyalty and consistent feedback! Glad I've made you happy with the alternate ending idea. The only part that's going to change utterly and completely is the final chapter. I'll label them Ending #1, Ending #2.The new one is definitely in progress- If I keep at it at this pace I'll be done pretty soon :o)
SiriusLuver16: Also a steady reviewer- thanks! Hope you enjoy the alternate ending!
Sheila Dog: Thanks a mill! Sorry to say there won't be a series or a/t like that, but if ever you'll be 1 of the first to know :o)
Iflytez: Thanks, that's quite a compliment!

Baka-onna2003: Thanks a lot!
Niki Malfoy: Glad you like the pair- thanks!

Thanks again to everyone- your feedback means a lot to me!

Gnomes :o)


Bill awoke to the sound of clattering in the kitchen. Groggily, he made his way towards the noise. The claw-footed kitchen table was littered with various ingredients, Ginny was bustling about the room, and greeted him with so much energy you'd think it was at least noon, though the bloody tooth-shaped clock on the wall told him it was only 5:18 a.m.

"You're making breakfast?" he exclaimed, touched.

"You're favourite," she replied, pouring some creamy batter into a buttered pan. "All-dressed pancakes."

"If it wasn't only a tad past five in the morning, I'd be ecstatic."

"You don't have to have them now, I just won't be here to make them later. Ry and I are going to Burton's."

"Alone?" Bill smirked.

"No, with the Airbornes and the Mobs. Well, those among them who feel like getting up this early, really. What about you?"

"Me?" said Bill, attempting to sound nonchalant. "Going out with Ren."

"Alone?" Ginny smirked.

"Yeah, alone. 'Reckon you could call it our first date."

Ginny's face lit up like the Great Hall at Christmas. She dropped the spatula she was holding and began dancing around the tiny kitchen, shouting,

"YOU TWO-YOU AND REN- YOU BOTH FINALLY-WHOOHOO!"

"Yeah, I was gonna say you're the only one who knows, but the landlady found out."

"Really? How?"

"Ya just told her."

At the moment, Ginny couldn't care less. She could not have been happier if he'd just offered her season Magpie tickets. Zooming into the chair opposite him, she pounded him with questions.

"So how'd you say it? What did she answer? Give me details! Did you say you loved her from the moment you set eyes on her? Did you tell her she's the only one you've ever had true feelings for?"

"Um,no, I didn't. That may have been a lie. I had a little thing for Fleur Delacour at one point. Actually, we kept up a correspondence for while, and I can't remember why we stopped..."

"The Triwizard Frenchie who wouldn't stop criticizing Hogwarts?" Ginny looked scandalized. "I'll pretend you never said that. Lauren is ten thousand times the woman Miz Delacour could be." (Sorry, Fleur-fans, had to add that part in :o)

"Lauren's amazing," Bill agreed, "but I wouldn't go foul-mouthing the French. You might end up with one," he teased. "Or maybe not. Maybe an Aussie."

Ginny's face clouded over a little at the words, Bill noticed it instantly. "Ryan's told you,hasn't he?"

Ginny nearly toppled out of her chair. "He told YOU?" she gasped.

"Wanted to know if I minded," Bill said, frowning. "I questioned him for a while, trying to see what his motives were. He seems genuinely infatuated with you, Gin. I've known him for a while, and I've never seen him talk or act this way before about a girl, definitely never about Nikki. So I said he was welcome to try his luck, but not to expect you to run into his arms and say yes to whatever he proposed."

"And?"

"And if he hurt you, that Unforgivable Curses were very fashionable these days."

"And?" Ginny prompted, agitated. "Did you tell him I liked someone else?"

"Who? Harry Potter? No way."

Ginny's eyes grew wide.

"Wha-how do you know?"

"Gin, who doesn't?"

Ginny bit her lip.

"Hm. That's true, isn't it? But...I stopped being so obvious about it for a really long time now."

"Yeah, I know. You were trying really hard," Bill said sympathetically.

"Trying!" Ginny gave her brother a shove, but she looked at him with an exasperated pout. "D'you think he'll ever like me back?"

"He's a git if he doesn't," Bill said cooly. "Anyway, blokes need time to figure these things out. Look at me and Ren. Look at Ryan; 'took him a couple of months, didn't it?"

Ginny smiled sadly. "I s'pose I should be content if he doesn't ignore me forever for taking his Firebolt across the world."

Bill got up and gave her a hug. "Forget him for a few more hours and just enjoy the rest of your time here." He glanced at the clock.

"5:23. I'm going back to bed. Thanks for the pancakes, Gin. Wake me up when you get back, okay?"

"Sure, sure. Go dream about your Lovely Lauren."

"Funny," he said sarcastically, but Ginny caught the sleepy smile on his face before he headed back for bed.

---

When she heard it, Ginny sensed it would be the last time she would hear Batty Kildwip announcing someone's visit. She finished putting away the milk and went to answer the door, passing the mirror on the way and giving it a glance. Her hair was mildly tousled from a few hours sleep, and the curls were far less springy than last night, though she was happier for it.

"Magpies Rule," she announced. Bill had let her pick his new keyword.

The door swung open and revealed Ryan standing there, broom in hand, wearing dress pants and a Plunky Queeves t-shirt. Ginny whistled.

"Nice outfit."

Ryan peered down at his pants and his face registered moderate surprise.

"Whad'you reckon? Might be hard to surf in those?"

"Might. Wanna borrow a pair of shorts?"

"Appreciate the gesture, but you're not really my size."

"Bill's shorts."

"Ah." His face coloured. "Sounds ace, thanks."

Ryan followed Ginny into the house, with a fear of ruining their last few hours together by behaving like a moron. Yet arriving at Bill's bedroom door, Ginny turned to him and put her forefinger to her lips, her mouth broadening into a magnificent smile. Ryan's fears disapparated at once.

---

Ginny's last morning in Australia was like one of those really-wicked-roller-coasters-you-don't-mind-waiting-two hours-on-line-for-because-it's-just-that-good; it brought one thrill after the next, and Ginny had the time of her life.

The weather at Burton's Beach paradisaical, most of the Airbornes and a few Mobs were already there by the time Ryan and Ginny arrived. Altogether, they were eight: from the Airbornes was Danny, Benjy, Tommy and the two of them, from the Mobs, Sam, Catie and Joe. The reunion was boisterous and attracted the attention of a number of Airborne fans, who upon recognizing them erupted into"Born to Fly". The Airbornes cheerfully joined in, briefly reliving their moment of triumph.

"Youse're good as gold!" someone shouted from a distance.

Ginny turned to Ryan in amazement.

"Another reminder of how understated "Quid is big here" was."

Ryan smirked. "Kinda makes you feel like a celebrity, doesn't it?"

Ginny agreed, wondering if this is what Harry felt like all the time. Hm. Probably not. Harry didn't look like he enjoyed it, and this was definitely enjoyable.

They all threw off their shoes and raced towards the beckoning ocean, screaming dares at each other as they ran. But while the others splashed into the water right away, Ginny did not. Weeks of practice hadn't made her a fearless surfer, nor a perfect one. She still obeyed the rules Ryan had clearly layed out for her, even though Ryan himself didn't necessarily follow them. He was an expert. She on the other hand...

Rule #1: Stretch.

Ginny stretched, watching Ryan catch his first wave (a really beauty). One time, she had convinced herself she didn't needed to stretch. She'd spent the next day in horrible pain (which, come to think of it, derived more from the smug, I-told-you-so face Ryan had on than from any physical discomfort).

Rule #2: Watch the waves.

Ginny monitored the waves carefully. She wasn't going to go too soon or too late this time. The waves were breaking further out, meaning they were big. Ginny stopped stretching and wrapped her fingers firmly around her broom. It was time. The tip of her broom touched the gleaming waters and actuated the surf spell, which flattened the broom handle and made it easy to lie on.

Rule #3: Wait until the water is waist-deep before mounting your broom.

She was used to the water now. The first few times she'd been careless and swallowed too much ocean water. Even three scoops of Faustus's best flavours couldn't rid her of the thick, salty taste at the back of her throat. Her mouth was shut tightly as she tread further. When she was at the right place, she lay on her broom, her nose a few inches out of water. Well-positioned, she began the even, alternating strokes Ryan had demonstrated time and again. In surfing, she had gloomily discovered, there was little room for magic. It relied rather on things like Timing, Skill, and the key ingredient: Experience.

Rule #4: Pick your wave.

This was the tough part. Her broom had better wave-picking instincts than she did (um... that was probably true). Timing was crucial. She kept paddling until she saw it. It was beautiful. It was hers.

Rule #5: When you try standing up, stand up. Don't kneebroom!

Her mind screamed; One...two...three...UP! The summer had asked a lot from her, mostly ample amounts of courage (of course, it was all self-inflicted, but who's asking?). Using all the strength and bravery she could muster, Ginny stood on her broom. She angled it the way Ryan had instructed, going both left and right to keep her broom/board steady.

Rule #6: Catch a wave right before or when it breaks. Ride while turning to keep to where the wave is breaking. Become one with the wave.

I got it! I got it! She felt the force of the wave beneath her as she steered her broom to maintain her position. Inexplicably, she felt what she had been waiting to feel all summer; the unification, the synthesis of her and the wave.It lifted herhighenoughtobecapableof scanning the whole beach, from the pearly, gleamingsandtoa tiny trinket shop at the furthest end of the boardwalk. It felt like flying, even preferable in some respects...in fact, she was having a hard time deciding which she preferred: flying, or surfing.

The end of her ride was less graceful, helping her to a quick decision. She slipped off her broom and winded up emerging from the water coughing and spluttering, butchering the dramatic, wind-blowing-in-her-auburn-hair vision she'd had in mind.

Ryan jogged up to her.

"You okay?" he asked, concerned.

Again, not part of my daydream.

"I'm (cough, cough) fine," she assured him, waving her hand dismissively.

"That was sick, mate. I was watching you. Great job."

Ginny shrugged modestly, glowing on the inside.

"'Could use some work on your landing, though."

"'Could've stopped at Great job."

"Ah, c'mon!" Ryan laughed. "I need to find some reason for you to come back, don't I?"

Ginny smiled...then remembered.

"Gifts!" she exclaimed. "I'm still missing a few."

"T's why we're here, isn't it? All the best shops are on the boardwalk, remember? I'll get the others, we'll probably do better as a group."

---

List of Presents

Dad-

A muggle souvenir from the Sydney Opera House: It sings opera when you press a small black button on the side. (Ginny reckoned it was enough to get her dad giddy with excitement)

Mom-

The Culinary Cauldron: A cookbook by a popular (and handsome) Australian chef . (When her mum discovered Lockhart had been willing to leave Ginny to fend for herself in the Chamber of Secrets, she and her friends held a book-burning of their Lockhart collections and that was the end of that obsession. Ginny figured she could use a new one.)

Bill-

Beautiful dragon-skin jacket from Too Right (Lauren had helped her pick it out, and given her a great price for it as well. )

Charlie-

A BEWARE DRAGON t-shirt: There's a flashing pic of a dragon on it that snaps his jaws when someone gets too close.

Fred & George-

Quills for the Quarrelsome: Offer it to your enemy struggling with an essay! Seems helpful, but once handed every important word in the essay turns into foul language! (Ginny was hesitant, because the swearing was Australian and couldn't cause that much damage in England, but Ryan pointed out that it sounded like her brothers could probably patent it on their own, and Ginny conceded.)

Ron-

Flown Away: the brand-new Plunky Queeves CD (Both Ginny and Ron were big fans of this Aussie group, but their CDs always arrived later in the UK.)

Percy-

A CHILL OUT, MATE Pin: (She doubted he would pick up the humour in it, but she was thinking of the rest of her family when she bought it.)

Harry-

Surfing potion and guidebook. (She wasn't sure why. A definite factor was that Ryan was standing a few inches away, and she didn't want to buy Harry anything with tell-tale signs on it).

Hermione-

Aussie Wizard Culture, A-Z: (A book thick enough to keep anybody busy for a month. And Hermione for, say, about a day and half.)

Ginny's face was very pale and her eyes very red as she hugged her teammates one last time. It was actually one, giant group-hug, right in the middle of Burton's Boardwalk, and when they finally broke up, Ginny noticed she wasn't the only one teary-eyed.

"We're gonna get creamed this year," Benjy vowed ominously.

"Shut up, mate," Tommy said, looking just as horrified.

"You're not going to get creamed," Ginny said firmly.

"Uh-huh. So yeah," continued a frightened Benjy. "And I'm gonna spend the whole year catching up schoolwork in the hospital wing."

"No you're not. Danny, tell him he's not," said Ginny.

"You're not, Benj."

"Say it like you mean it!"

The others laughed. Ginny laughed with them, but she felt a pang in her chest that had nothing to do with being attacked by a bludger. They'd become a second family to her, in some ways closer than the real thing.

"You guys are brilliant Quidditch players," she told them. "Cross my heart, I've felt privileged to play alongside all of you. Benjy, you're brilliant, you're all brilliant. And you've all got an open invitation to The Burrow, so if any of you are ever in England, you're staying with us. Mum's a wicked cook, and she'd be thrilled."

"How 'bout right now?" asked Benjy. "I'm bloody starving!"

The Airbornes laughed.

"Thanks, 'might be going there with my brother next summer," replied Danny.

"When the Warriors play 'gainst England," Wirinun said. "We finish school next year, and they're always ready to recruit young blood."

"Which means we gotta fair shot," added Wirruna.

"Thanks for the offer Ginny," exclaimed Audrey.

"Sure you won't have forgotten us?"

Ryan was looking straight at her, sadness hiding right behind his smile.

"Impossible," Ginny replied softly.

Ryan cleared his throat.

"Reckon we aughta go back now," he said. He surveyed the rest of his team. "You folks stayin' here?" The Airbornes and Mobs looked at each other,then burst into laughter.

"'S that a joke?" Danny snorted. "It's ten in the bloody morning on one of the last days of vacation. We're going back to bed!"


Next chapter's coming in a few days! Oh, and one last thing...I've never surfed...but something tells me I didn't even have to say it... :o)