A Very Special Day

(One-Shot)

Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.

AN: This is a short drabble prompt for "The Houses Competition" set in 'Marauders' Era' time. As I am old (ish), my views of them may vary from the young ones, including the fact that I am TeamCharlus/Dorea, have Sirius/James as distant relations through Black blood, as well as TeamTrans (as an ally). I do not accept any new stuff by Rowling.

House: Gryffindor

Class: Ancient Runes (stand in for Mega/Megaflash)

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s):

Word count: 626 according to AO3 (2 pages)

Summary: In which Ginny has a very special day.

The sun shone brightly, causing a heatwave in the countryside, which forced most people to seek coolness indoors.

At the Burrow, streamers decorated the living room. Several presents sat on a desk by the wall. The table in the kitchen held a fantastic spread of food. In the center of the table, a large chocolate cake was placed on a raised platter to hold it up over the meal.

It was August 11, 1992, which was a very special day for a very special red-headed girl. As of today, Ginny Weasley was now eleven years old! This meant that she was now old enough to go to Hogwarts, a school where one could learn magic if they had the power. Ginny knew she had abilities. She had often made things happen with no other explanation than it had to have been done by magic!

There was no way she would not receive her letter. She had powers. She was a pureblooded, little young lady. That letter was definitely coming to her!

Molly Weasley picked up another present. "Oh, this one is from the neighbors down the street." She handed it over to Ginny.

"Aren't they Muggles?" Fred asked. Or wait. Maybe it was George. Who knew? They always switched places.

"Well, yes," said Arthur. "They always give me their old wires or whatever they don't need anymore for me to study." He ignored Molly's disparaging look as he added, "But even Muggles have birthdays. We aren't all that different, you know."

Ginny opened it up. "Oh, wow! You're right, Daddy!" She pulled out a set of eight paint patties in a tray as well as a singular, elegant black brush with dark brown bristles. She pulled out the card next. "Happy birthday, Ginny. We hope you will like this art set." The bottom of the card was signed with their names.

Ron held back, waiting for Ginny to go through all the other presents. Once she had opened every last one of them, he pulled out his own gift for her.

"What's this one?" Ginny asked as she eagerly took the flat, square object wrapped in red. She opened it up to find a book about Harry Potter.

Ohh! Oh, that was right! Ginny remembered suddenly that if she did indeed end up going to Hogwarts, Harry Potter was already there. A year ahead of her! In Gryffindor! She had no doubt that if she went to Hogwarts as well, Gryffindor would be her house. All Weasleys ended up there. Oh my! She would be in the same house as Harry Potter!

"Open the book," Ron whispered after Ginny had been staring at the thing for several moments.

She tentatively did so. Her eyes landed on something not printed in the book. It had been written in by hand after it had been printed. "YOU GOT HIM TO WRITE HIS AUTOGRAPH?!" Ginny squealed in excitement.

"Yes," Ron said with a straight face, trying not to roll his eyes. His sister's dumb crush on her first boy was really starting to get annoying. Ginny had talked about Harry Potter all summer. She never shut up. She—

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Ginny bounced over to Ron, interrupting his thoughts. Before he could blink or duck to avoid her, she had already trapped him in her arms. Then worse, she even left a little kiss on his cheek.

She went back to her chair, gushing over her favourite present. Ron sighed. Yeah, it was annoying, but at the same time, it made his sister happy.

The final gift Ginny got was indeed the official owl bearing her invitation letter to Hogwarts. Ginny squealed with glee. She was going to go to school with Harry Potter!