Raksha Bandhan - Brothers And Sisters
Some people think it is "crazy" that elders do not touch youngsters' feet. Well, in my home country, Elders Do Not Touch Youngsters Feet. It would be nice if people refrained from calling tradition "crazy stuff". And yes, like in some of my previous fanfictions, I will be referring to my country, religion, and traditions in this fanfiction also. With that, let's begin.
Harry and Dudley talk in the garden, as Ginny and Chloe stay in the living room. As the boys talked, they started going out and Ron joined them. On the other hand, the two girls kept walking and talking till Hermione joined them in the garden. And rather than all day, the six teenagers spoke late in the night.
The following morning, Chloe was the first to wake up. She ran out in excitement - almost barefoot, until Hermione ran after her, "Wingardium Leviosa, Chloe's shoes!"
Ginny and Ron laughed so hard they had tears in their eyes. Harry was punching the cushion, "Hermione is still Hermione. Winga-ardium Levi-O-sa!"
And the three laughed as Hermione, panting hard, found herself in front of Luna.
"I knew I heard someone calling out after Chloe. Want to come inside, Hermione? My couch is rather comfortable, and it's better for you than standing out here."
Hermione realized she had gone to Luna's house. "Oh."
"I washed my face, Luna. Can I please hug you now?" Chloe screeched.
Luna grinned, "Sure! And Hermione here was the one who'd always insist on being clean first thing after waking up." The two girls hugged, as Luna levitated some pumpkin juice for Hermione.
"Expecto Patronum!" Luna waved her wand after that.
In two minutes, Ron and Ginny were there. "Uh, Harry is coming by walk."
"Yeah, he needs to bring his muggle cousin, right?"
"So, this is Lovegood's house?" Dudley looked up.
"Yeah, Big D." Harry shivered. Images of Death Eaters and the exploding Erumpent Horn assaulted his mind.
"Are you cold?" Dudley asked, concerned.
"You'd be bloody lucky if you think cold is the only reason people shiver." Harry muttered.
"Go up straight, Big D. I am right with you." He directed the way.
No sooner had the door opened than Chloe jumped into Dudley's arms.
"Good morning, and sorry for coming here without informing you!" Her voice was muffled by his collarbone.
"Eh, no worries. You are with your mates. Hi, Lovegood. Nice house!" Dudley greeted.
As Harry walked in, Ginny went into his arms. Her fingers gently clutched the fabric of Harry's shirt, and she closed her eyes.
"Good morning, Harry!"
Harry grinned into her hair. "Morning, Ginny."
"So, what do we do? Breakfast ideas, anyone?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, don't I deserve one as well?" Ron looked disgruntled.
"Hermione was confused, "Ron, I never said you can't choose what we will have. If you have any ideas, feel free to chime in."
"Never mind." Ron shook his head. Luna, however seemed to understand. She swiftly pushed Hermione from behind to fall into Ron's arms.
"Ouch! What was that for, Luna?" Hermione demanded. But Ron looked as though all his dreams had come true at once!
"Morning, Hermione." He grinned at her.
"Ooh! This is what you wanted!" Hermione groaned, burying her head in his chest, her voice muffled, "Good morning, Ron!"
"Now that we have settled that, what is today's plan?" Luna asked cheerfully.
"I promised Neville I'd join him today afternoon in St. Mungos. We will be visiting his parents." Harry said. There was a gloomy silence.
"Not to bring back memories of the war." Harry added guiltily.
Dudley patted his back, "We get it, mate."
Ginny looked up, "So, who all is coming?" She asked in an unusually high pitch.
"We should probably hurry." Hermione's voice carried a slight shiver.
And that was how Chloe and Dudley met Neville Longbottom for the first time, although they did not join Neville and the others at St. Mungos.
As August wore on, the festival of 'Rakha Bandhan', a festival where the bond between brothers and sisters was celebrated, neared. On this day, sisters would tie the Rakhi on their brother's wrist along with applying turmeric and vermilion on his forehead and if he is older, take his blessings. The brother gives a present to his sister, promises to protect her, prays for her wellbeing, and, if older than his sister, blesses her.
The evening before the festival, Ginny led Harry to her room.
"So, these are the Rakhi's I'm planning to tie to all my brothers!"
"These are all colorful, Ginny!" Harry said cheerfully.
"Yes! I have color-coded them!" Ginny said.
She picked up an orange one, "For Ron, the Chudley Cannons fan!"
"And this dark blue one is for Bill! I think this would suit him! As for Charlie, I have picked this golden color Rakhi! To highlight his work with dragons! And this mousy brown Rakhi would suit Percy. I was going to go for black initially, but figured this is better." Ginny said.
"And I have picked this yellow-and-blue for..."
"George," Harry added. But instead of one, two came out of the bag. Ginny froze, "Yeah, j-just George."
A sudden heavy silence filled the room.
"Ginny?" Harry asked tentatively. "What's wrong?"
"I-I might have picked one for F-F-Fred!" Ginny's voice broke.
Harry approached her and put an arm around her.
With a heartbreaking sob, Ginny's head dropped into Harry's chest. Her shoulders shook, her head sinking into the comforting warmth of Harry's chest, while Harry stood erect and firmly held her.
"I brought two - for Fred and George!" Ginny sobbed into Harry's shirt, as he rubbed her back comfortingly. Ginny felt the steady rhythm of Harry's heartbeat beneath her cheek as she found solace in the rise and fall of his chest. Harry's chin rested atop her head.
"I-I know," Harry said, his own heart feeling heavy. He held her and tried hard not to break down himself.
Ginny's sobs began to subside, and she lifted her head from his chest, her red-rimmed eyes gazing into his green ones. "I miss him, Harry!"
Harry wiped away her tears with his fingers, "Me too! But I'm here for you, always."
Ginny pressed her forehead against Harry's chest, "And Remus, Tonks, Colin, so many of them!"
Harry willingly held back tears of his own so he could stay strong for Ginny and himself.
"Wherever Fred is, I am sure he is watching over you and me and all of us." Harry comforted Ginny.
At that moment, Harry noted Ginny fit perfectly against him, their heights aligning in a way that felt almost poetic, her head against his chest. It was as though they were made to fit together, two pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place.
Ginny pulled back from his embrace and wiped at her eyes. Then, her expression turned into shock. Tense, Harry turned back to see George Weasley at the door, wiping his eyes.
"First of all, Ginny, you can tie Fred's Rakhi to me itself, along with mine. I am still George AND Fred!" He emphasized the word, "and".
"Secondly, I never thought Ron and your cousin would be friends, Harry, but they're both looking for you and I said I'd look for you upstairs."
"Thirdly, a word with you, Harry," George said. "I know you will, but I still need to say this. You can count it as on behalf of Fred. Please take care of Ginny."
"I will!" Harry's arm was still around Ginny.
Ginny glared at her brother, "I WILL take of Harry, George!"
"Haha! Of course!" George grinned at Ginny.
"We'll be down in a moment, George," Harry said.
As the sun rose over the Burrow the following day, Ginny gathered her brothers together in the garden. She held a bundle of colorful rakhis in her hand, each one carefully crafted with love and care.
"Ginny, what's all this about?" asked Ron, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the rakhis.
"It's Raksha Bandhan, a day to celebrate the bond between sisters and brothers," Ginny explained with a smile. "I thought it would be nice if I tied rakhis to all of you. In return, you'll give me presents."
"But we don't have any presents, dear." Bill calmly said.
"We will need some time to bring your present." Charlie winked.
Ginny smiled at her brothers, "Take your time, but make it fast."
Harry, Hermione, Dudley, Chloe, and Luna sat with Fleur, Molly, and Arthur.
"I was going to start with Ron initially, but I've changed my mind. I will start with you, George. This is your Rakhi, this is F-Fred's!" With tears in her eyes, she tied the two Rakhi's to George, who also had tears in his eyes. Everyone seemed to be sniffling and swiping at their eyes.
"Now, now, this is a Happy Occasion!" Ginny kept her voice cheery. She proceeded to tie Rakhi's to Ron, Percy, Bill, and Charlie.
"Well, I think I too have to do this." Hermione smiled.
"Do what, Hermione?" Harry was puzzled.
As Ginny and Harry spent time by the lake in the village, Ron seemed busy helping Molly around the house. Hermione was nowhere around. Chloe seemed to be busy levitating some gnomes and hurling them faraway to Dudley's amusement.
And after about 90 minutes, Hermione showed up with a grin on her face. "I have something for you, Harry!"
"Eh? What, Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione took out a green Rakhi and tied it to Harry, "You are the brother I never had, Harry Potter!"
Harry's eyes glistened, his voice caught in his throat. This was such a sweet gesture! Emotions swirled within him. He felt Ginny's palm wipe his face and realized he had begun crying.
"I love you, Hermione! You're the older sister I have never had!" Harry sniffled and gratefully said. At the sight of him crying, Hermione had begun shedding tears too.
"Come here, dear brother of mine!" She hugged Harry hard. Hermione, being shorter than Ginny, pressed her face against Harry's chest as Harry hugged her back.
