Chapter Sixteen
Sirius was avoiding her.
Rather conspicuously, Ginny might add.
Every time she entered a room, he would quickly and loudly make an excuse to leave.
Ginny was trying not to let it show.
And yet, she kept thinking about what she had angrily confessed to her mother – that she saw Sirius as a trusting father-figure. Had Sirius overheard? Had he disagreed? Had he simply seen her as an acquaintance and nothing more? Had he grown sick of her? Had she done something to annoy him?
By the end of the week, Ginny was ready to explode. She just wasn't sure if she wanted to burst in anger or burst into tears.
She barely ate – even less than usual. She didn't have an appetite. Her stomach twisted at every meal. Sirius had made a point to sit in the furthest seat from her. She saw him occasionally glance over but he didn't say anything. Ginny's mother had taken the spot next to her.
To make matters worse, Ginny found that she was having a rather difficult time in the chambre de l'esprit. The beautiful forest was now concealed by a dense fog. The trees were gnarled and decayed. Ominous black shadows seemed to follow her everywhere…
oOo
"We need to talk."
Arthur Weasley looked up in surprise.
Sirius had just barged into his bedroom.
"Hullo, Sirius!"
"Hey, Arthur," Sirius shortly said, "Where's your wife?"
"She had to pick a few things up in Diagon Alley," Mr. Weasley replied, "Why?"
"Nothing," Sirius sighed, "Forget it. I'll just…what are you doing?"
Mr. Weasley was surrounded by different records and movies.
"Ah," Mr. Weasley cried, "I have to study these Muggle recording devices for work. It's my job to figure out how they work. They're very strange…"
Sirius bent down and examined some of the movies:
He recognized a few titles: The Godfather, Jaws, Star Wars, Rocky, Superman, Monty Python and the Holy Grail…
He grinned and said, "I remember watching some of these with James and Remus."
His smile faded as he realized that there were so many movies that he didn't recognize.
He realized that they had come out in the past twelve years…
"They made other Star Wars films?" Sirius whispered, "And who's Indiana Jones? Why does Ferris Bueller get to have a day off? Why is there an entire club dedicated to breakfast?"
His eyes shifted to the records as he realized that he had also missed out on twelve years of Muggle bands.
He shook his head as he realized that he was getting sidetracked.
"Look," Sirius shortly said, "You need to talk to your wife."
"About what?"
"The fact that she won't let me near Ginny," Sirius retorted, "Arthur, you know that I would never do anything to hurt her. She's like my daughter…"
He broke off as he immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing.
Mr. Weasley's eyes momentarily flashed.
Sirius sighed and said, "Listen…"
"She's not your daughter," Mr. Weasley firmly said, "She's mine!"
"I didn't mean…"
"I think that you should leave, Sirius."
"Make me!" Sirius growled, "This is my house!"
"And Ginny's my daughter!" Mr. Weasley snapped, "We both have our places, Sirius. If you want me to mind my place then I suggest that you mind yours."
"I don't give a ruddy Wormtail's ass what your place is," Sirius snarled, "The only thing I care about is Ginny's wellbeing!"
He angrily stomped away.
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after Ginny's wellbeing!"
"Clearly," Sirius roared, "Because you've been doing a bang up job all summer!"
He slammed the door with enough force to rattle the entire house.
He sighed as he heard Walburga's portrait start screaming below.
"Well, at least we know where you get it, eh?"
Sirius glanced over his shoulder and saw that Mr. Weasley had opened the door.
"Get what?" Sirius spat.
"Your explosive behavior."
Sirius' eyes sharpened and Mr. Weasley quaked.
"You want to make comparisons to Walburga?" Sirius furiously hissed, "Why don't you look at the woman who has spent a month screaming at her kids for the littlest offences?"
Mr. Weasley opened his mouth but had no reply.
Sirius triumphantly smirked and walked away.
This time, Mr. Weasley let him go.
oOo
The shadows had grown in number and size.
Ginny's chest rose and fell as she stared at them.
"I'm not afraid of you," Ginny furiously growled, "I will get rid of you!"
She clenched her fists and focused, trying to think them away.
The shadows flew towards her and Ginny let out a scream.
She whirled around and raced towards the door.
She burst through and continued to shriek as she was caught in the tapestry.
"Ginny!?"
"Oi, it's alright!"
Fred and George raced up the corridor and helped untangle her.
They then simultaneously asked, "What happened!?"
Ginny promptly broke down.
George pulled her into a hug and Fred murmured words of comfort.
"I can't do it," Ginny hysterically croaked, "I can't fight them! I need Sirius! He's the one who knows how to fight demons…"
Fred and George didn't know how to reply to that.
They helplessly glanced at one another.
They didn't know what to do.
And so, they merely held her as she cried.
oOo
Ginny was going to be sick.
Her stomach churned and boiled.
She stared at the empty plate in front of her.
Ginny hadn't even bothered to put food on it.
She glanced up and saw that Sirius was watching her from the other side of the room.
"What?" Ginny defensively said.
Sirius opened his mouth but didn't answer.
"Just say it!" Ginny exclaimed, "Say something! Anything!"
Her parents, Ron, and Hermione glanced up.
Sirius looked pained but still remained silent.
Ginny snapped.
"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Ginny shrieked, "WHAT DID I DO!? TELL ME!"
Sirius looked shocked.
"You didn't do anyt—"
His remark was drowned out by a large explosion.
Mrs. Weasley screamed.
Hermione grabbed Ron's arm.
Sirius, Ginny, Mr. Weasley quickly took out their wands.
"Bloody hell!" Ron gasped, "What was that?"
"Stay here," Mr. Weasley ordered, "Do not follow us!"
Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius raced upstairs.
Ginny immediately followed them.
Her parents were too busy to notice.
Sirius glanced over his shoulder and a smirk spread across his face.
The four raced through the house before reaching the drawing room.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley ran inside.
"FRED!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "GEORGE!"
Sirius caught Ginny and restrained her.
He wasn't quick enough; she saw the inside of the room.
Ginny let out a terrified gasp.
The entire room was covered in soot.
Small flames were scattered about.
Fred and George were lying in the middle of the room.
Mr. Weasley waved his wand and muttered, "Enervate!"
Their eyes flew open.
They sat up, glanced at one another, and promptly cracked up.
Ginny relaxed and pulled away from Sirius.
"What happened?" Ginny amusedly asked, "What did you do?"
"We were testing our latest product—"
"—for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!"
"What is it?" Ginny eagerly asked.
"Fireworks, of course!"
Ginny grinned at their simultaneous cry.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked deflated.
"Fireworks?" Mrs. Weasley hissed, "Do you mean to tell me that you just let off a firework in the middle of the room?"
Fred shrugged and said, "Well, we're not allowed outside."
Ginny threw her head back and cracked up.
She could hear Sirius snickering behind her.
"Well, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley huffed, "Since you think that it's so amusing, you can help them clean this mess up!"
She waved her wand and conjured a bucket of soapy water.
She then stomped away with her husband in tow.
Ginny groaned as her adrenaline crashed.
She really wasn't feeling well.
"I hate to break this to you, mates," Sirius was amusedly saying, "But I think that the firework has already been invented."
"These aren't just any fireworks," Fred mischievously replied, "Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs are going to have different enchantments on them."
"Brilliant!"
Ginny was going to be sick.
Her entire body felt hot and prickly.
As though someone was stabbing her with thousands of red hot needles.
She grabbed the bucket and went to heave it across the room.
Unfortunately, the room seemed to be tilting back and forth.
Ginny's stomach grumbled.
She was tired…so tired…
On the other side of the room, Sirius cried out. He crossed the room in a single stride and caught Ginny as the teenager collapsed.
"Juniper!?" Sirius exclaimed, "Ginny!? Are you alright?"
"Ginny!" Fred and George roared, "GINNY!"
They frantically raced over.
Sirius waved his wand and summoned his Potions Kit.
"Fred, George," Sirius murmured, "I need your help."
They gingerly held their baby sister as Sirius began to mix several vials together.
"What are you doing?" George anxiously asked.
"I'm making a cocktail of potions," Sirius replied.
"Will she be alright?" Fred pressed.
"Physically?" Sirius sighed, "Yeah."
He stirred the cocktail and muttered, "Honestly, I should have made this weeks ago."
He poured the concoction down Ginny's throat.
Within a few seconds, she was coughing and stirring.
Fred and George sighed with relief.
"Alright, Gin?" George worriedly asked.
"How are you feeling?" Fred questioned.
"Hungry," Ginny murmured, "Really…really hungry!"
Sirius chuckled and said, "Come on."
Ginny and the twins followed him down to the kitchen. Fred and George walked on either side of Ginny in case she collapsed once more. In the end, they didn't have to worry. Ginny was feeling better than ever.
They entered the kitchen and Sirius cried, "What do you want to eat?"
"Everything," Ginny exclaimed.
"What was in those vials, mate?" Fred chuckled.
"Several nourishment and strength potions," Sirius admitted, "And an appetite potion."
He went over to the stove and began to cheerfully cook. He whipped up several steaks, a mountain of scrambled eggs, a stack of pancakes, and an entire slab of bacon.
He poured most of it onto Ginny's plate and divided the rest between him and the twins.
Ginny eagerly ate.
"'Bout time, too," Fred muttered.
"Yeah," George agreed, "You were looking pretty thin there, Gin."
"We were getting worried," Fred added.
"So was I," Sirius spoke up, sitting down next to her.
"So was I," Ginny admitted.
"What's going on down here?"
The four stifled their groans as Mrs. Weasley entered.
"Sirius," Mrs. Weasley snarled, "I told you to stay away from her."
"He's helping her, Mum!" Fred snapped.
"Yeah," George furiously said, "Let it go!"
Mrs. Weasley gave a start, as did Sirius and Ginny.
Fred and George were mischievous and sarcastic but they rarely spoke up.
"He's been helping her all summer," Fred continued, "Ginny even admitted that she needs him!"
"And he needs her," George added.
Mrs. Weasley merely frowned.
"Look," Fred impatiently said, "I know that you and Sirius don't get along—"
Mrs. Weasley huffed and Sirius snorted.
"But," Fred continued, "Sirius is the one person who can understand Ginny."
"If you don't do something," George warned, "She's going to slip away."
Fred and George both said, "Just like Percy."
Tears sprung up in Mrs. Weasley's eyes.
The moments tensely passed.
Mrs. Weasley sighed before growling, "Fine."
Sirius and Ginny high-fived.
Mrs. Weasley walked away without another word.
Sirius let out a cheer and hugged Ginny.
She laughed and returned it.
She then broke away and hugged the twins.
"Thanks," Ginny whispered, "Really…thank you!"
"Anytime, sis!"
"No problem, Gin!"
Ginny pulled back before saying, "And I know exactly how to make it up to you."
She gestured to Sirius and wryly said, "Fred, George…meet Padfoot."
It took them a moment to register what she was saying.
When they did, they both let out a tremendous gasp.
Ginny giggled as they excitedly gushed over a bewildered Sirius.
Fortunately, Sirius was flattered.
The three sat down and began to compare mischief and pranks.
Ginny amusedly watched them while helping herself to some more steak and eggs.
She was still hungry!
oOo
"Sincerely Yours, The Breakfast Club."
Ginny yawned and grabbed a handful of popcorn.
"Why is he just hovering there?" Fred sleepily asked.
"Is he stuck?" George tiredly added.
Sirius shrugged and mumbled, "'Best not question it."
The twins, Sirius, and Ginny were sitting at the table in the kitchen. Sirius had found an old movie projector that went along with his video camera. Fred and George had nicked the various tapes and records from their parents' bedroom. Ginny had pinned a white sheet up on the wall and they had set it up. Kreacher had provided the popcorn.
They had then commenced a wonderful movie marathon.
They had just finished their sixth movie.
"I can't believe how much I've missed in the past twelve years," Sirius softly said.
He picked up one of the records.
"Hey," Fred brightly said, "Lee listened to that band."
"Their one song was really loud," George explained, "They just screamed jibberish."
"Really?" Ginny replied, "Hmm…I suppose that we shouldn't play it, then."
"Obviously not," Sirius agreed.
"It would be disrespectful," Fred agreed.
"After everything that Mum has done," Ginny continued, "It would just be plain rude."
The four exchanged glances before glancing at the record player.
Thirty seconds later, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit blared through Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
The walls began to shake.
The portrait of Walburga began to shriek.
Yet the noise was quickly drowned out by the loud music.
Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Hermione jerked awake. After all, it was a quarter past three in the morning. They practically flew through the house and into the kitchen.
They stopped dead in their tracks and could only stare.
Fred, George, Sirius, and Ginny were standing on the kitchen table, wildly dancing.
At one point, the four shuffled side-to-side.
They then turned sideways and rhythmically stepped while swinging their arms.
Unfortunately, the old table gave way.
Fred and George had the sense to Apparate safely onto the other side of the room.
Sirius and Ginny made a jump for it.
The four glanced at one another before cracking up.
Their laughter faded as they saw that Mrs. Weasley's face was as red as her hair.
"I don't…I don't even know what to say," Mrs. Weasley hissed, "What…what…?"
She wildly gestured.
Sirius hesitated before cheerfully saying, "Ah, yes! You must be gesturing to my sheet!"
He took it from the wall and held it up.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Sirius continued, "I think that it's made of Egyptian silk but don't quote me on that. Look, it even has our family crest sewn into the corner. It's a shame that it's too small to fit on the large beds. But perhaps if we enlarge it? Let's try! Engorgio!"
Mrs. Weasley cried out as the sheet tripled in size.
She wildly swatted at it before finally shouting, "Reducio!"
The sheet shrank to the size of a napkin.
Mrs. Weasley's jaw dropped.
"Bloody hell," Ron whispered, "They're gone!"
"I didn't hear them Apparate," Hermione pointed out, looking fairly impressed.
Mrs. Weasley snatched the record from the player and threw it across the room.
It hit the wall and shattered into dozens of pieces.
"Err…Molly…dear…" Mr. Weasley mumbled, "I needed that for work…"
"Then fix it," Mrs. Weasley growled, "Fix all of this!"
While Mr. Weasley was pondering where to start, the twins, Sirius, and Ginny were carefully sneaking out from behind a portrait on the first floor.
"What just happened?" Fred dazedly asked.
"Sirius pushed us into the cabinet," George replied, "And now…we're here."
"Works for me!"
"FRED! GEORGE! GINNY! SIRIUS!"
"Well," Fred quickly said, "I think that I'm going to turn in!"
"'Night, Gin," George added, "'Night, Padfoot!"
The two Apparated up to their bedroom.
Sirius glanced at Ginny and whispered, "Speaking of secret passageways and rooms…"
Ginny merely smiled.
Several minutes later, the two were sitting on a tree root in the middle of their forest.
Ginny glanced around and beamed.
There wasn't a demon in sight.
Author's Note: This chapter…got weird! But I wanted to put in some lighter, sillier, moments at the end to combat the depressing moments at the beginning!