Chapter 4

Ginny woke the next morning as the gradual lightening of the sky began filtering in through the window, dancing on her freckled face. She had been waking up with the sun since the day after her birthday, up and ready to get in an early training session. She sat up slowly, stretched her arms up over her head, and ran a hand through her slightly knotted hair. Looking around and really focusing for the first time, Ginny spotted Hermione sleeping across the room from her, facing the wall. She couldn't see her face, but she could tell the girl was still asleep by the slow and steady rise and fall of her back. Ginny quietly spun, planted her feet on the cold wooden floor boards, and stood up. She delicately walked over to the chest at the end of her bed, opened it, grabbed a jumper and a pair of joggers, threw them on, and as carefully as she could exited her room. She got down the stairs and was nearly to the back door when she realized she had left her broom upstairs in her room. Ginny rolled her eyes up to the ceiling in annoyance and frustration before closing them firmly, taking a deep breath to settle herself, and turning around to head back up the stairs. Arriving at her bedroom door, she opened it as slowly and softly as she could.

"Ginny?" Hermione murmured while rubbing her eyes and sitting up slowly.

"Yes, I'm so sorry Hermione. I was trying to be quiet and I think in all of that effort I forgot my broom. Did I wake you?" Ginny whispered apologetically.

"Well, yes, but it's okay. The sun is up, I can be up too."

"I'm really sorry Hermione."

"It's really not a problem at all Ginny. It looks like I'll be able to catch that sunrise you were talking about," Hermione was looking over towards the window and Ginny followed suit. The brunette got up out of Ginny's bed and went over to the bench under the window to sit down and take in the scene. Ginny followed her to the window and grabbed her broom.

"Well, I guess that's some consolation for being woken up so early," Ginny muttered, obviously disappointed in her failed attempt to let her guest sleep in a little.

"Honestly Ginny, it's fine. Don't dwell on it. Look, look at how pretty the sky is!" Hermione motioned towards the window with her head before turning back and looking out at the beautiful area surrounding the Burrow.

Ginny took one step closer and leaned against the bench that Hermione was seated on. Hermione was right, as per usual, the sky was gorgeous. The lightening of the dark sky that had woken Ginny up had turned to a warm purple and orange as the sun was approaching the horizon just over the orchard. Ginny smiled at this, before turning around with her broom and heading towards the door.

"Glad I didn't completely ruin your morning Hermione, I'll see you later!"

"I promise you didn't, have a good training session!"

After her morning training session, Ginny returned to the Burrow drenched in sweat. She rinsed off quickly before throwing on a t-shirt and shorts and heading back outside to do some chores. Her favorite chore by far was tending to the chickens. She found them to be so funny and loved to interact with each of the different personalities in the brood.

"Good morning ladies," she greeted the flock as she dumped some produce scraps over the fence. The seven chickens sprinted out of the coop, flapping their wings as they ran, and dug in to the pile eagerly. "Okay, okay, let's settle down a little! There's more than enough for everyone!" she laughed as a few of the chickens fought over the same piece of discarded watermelon rind. Ginny walked down the fence line and entered the chicken coop. Each chicken had laid an egg in their respective nesting boxes, Ginny picked them up and placed them in the makeshift pocket she'd made by lifting the bottom of her shirt up slightly.

"Alright now you lot, have a nice day!" she waved at the chickens who paid her no attention before heading through the back door and into the kitchen.

"Seven more eggs this morning Mum," Ginny announced as she dropped the eggs off on the counter across from where Mrs. Weasley was working.

"Thank you, Ginny dear," Mrs. Weasley answered absent mindedly as she continued preparing breakfast. Sausages and eggs were cooking simultaneously on the stove, while toast was piling up beside the focused witch. "Could you set the table for me? Nine settings will do, Harry should be arriving any moment."

Ginny started placing plates around the long table that sat in the center of the sunlit kitchen. She very much liked Ron's best friend Harry, and was looking forward to his arrival. He was a huge fan of Quidditch, but unlike her brother Ron was actually very good at the sport and enjoyed dissecting it as much as Ginny did. He was also often game for ganging up on Ron with her, which was always a good time. There was a brief moment a few years ago where she thought she might've been developing a small crush on the boy, but it soon passed as their relationship grew in the direction of one between siblings. Especially since Bill and Charlie were no longer living at home, it was nice to have a brotherly figure around who didn't give her a hard time. Percy often lectured her about not being well-behaved enough at school, Fred and George harassed her about being too well-behaved at school, and Ron picked on her for whatever he could come up with because she was the only sibling younger than Ron, and all of their older brothers gave him a hard time for whatever they could come up with. Much like Bill and Charlie, Harry was the brother that Ginny had that always treated her with kindness and genuinely got along with her. He spoke to her like an equal, and she very much appreciated that.

"Good morning, for the second time," Hermione greeted the redhead with a knowing smile as she descended the stairs and strode into the kitchen. Ginny smiled back and lightly rolled her eyes as she placed cutlery next to the plates, "Good morning. What did you end up doing once I left?"

"Actually, I wandered out to the orchard. The wildflowers are absolutely stunning this time of year. Anyway, Ginny, I am so impressed with what a great flyer you are. Once I saw you, I realized I've never seen you fly before, and wow. You're so serious about this, aren't you?"

Heat immediately filled Ginny's cheeks as she blushed hard, "You watched me train this morning? Where were you? How did I not see you?"

"Ginny, I'm not sure I've ever seen someone so focused," Hermione laughed kindly. "I planned to make myself known when I first reached the edge of the clearing, but I'm not sure you would've registered my presence had I actually followed through and yelled out to get your attention. Besides, at the speeds you were flying, I didn't want to distract you."

"She's only flying that fast because of the broom. Not sure it has much to do with skill," Ron declared as he came around the corner.

"Right mate, no doubt you'd fly circles around Ginny if you had the same broom. Hang on… I believe I remember you trying out my Firebolt last summer and Ginny somehow managed to outmaneuver you on George's Cleansweep Five? What was it then? Oh right, the Firebolt was too fast, and therefore any slower broom had an advantage agility-wise? I think when we go to Quality Quidditch Supplies on our trip to Diagon Alley we can ask them and clarify once and for all what exactly was the matter that day when you were outflown on the world's best broom," Harry stated as he followed Ron into the kitchen, smiling broadly at his best friend. Ron did not return the smile, and narrowed his eyes before responding, "Whatever…"

"Harry!" Hermione wrapped her friend into a tight hug.

Ginny placed the last setting at the table and walked around it to hug Harry as well "Thanks for that."

"No problem," Harry chuckled as he returned the hug. "We can't let him live with a false sense of reality – wouldn't be healthy for the old boy," Harry patted Ron on the arm, eliciting a reluctant laugh out of Ron.

"Yeah, yeah, alright. Mum is breakfast quite ready yet, I'm starving!" whined the youngest Weasley boy. Mrs. Weasley turned around, raised an eyebrow, and placed a hand firmly on her hip while using the other hand to point a wooden spatula at her son.

"Ronald Weasley, it would have been ready sooner had you helped me like you were supposed to! Instead of slept in until just before you were due to go meet Harry. You're fourteen for goodness sakes, do you think I don't know your tricks by now to get out of work? Breakfast will be ready when it's ready, and you can serve yourself up last now for pushing your luck!" she glared at her son firmly, solidifying her message.

Harry stared at Ron amused, "Wow mate, you couldn't even help make breakfast for your best friend's arrival? Way to make a guy feel special…" Everyone laughed at this, and the tension instantly dissipated. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a huge hug and patted his cheeks gently, giving him a warm smile before returning to the eggs and sausages.

Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry moved to the living room to catch up on Harry's summer as Mrs. Weasley finished up breakfast. Suddenly, Fred and George, two more of Ginny's older brothers, came thundering down the stairs.

"Good morning everyone!" George announced loudly upon hitting the living room floor.

"Mr. Potter, good morning sir. Ms. Granger, always a pleasure," Fred greeted as he shook Harry's hand in an exaggerated fashion and then reached for Hermione's hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss it. Everyone laughed boisterously as Hermione ripped her hand from Fred's grasp before it reached his mouth.

"Fred! For goodness' sake, you saw me last night when I arrived!" Hermione scolded while holding back a laugh.

"Well, my apologies! I could hear little Ronnie being reprimanded from our room, wanted to get ahead of things and make sure I'm on my utmost behavior!" Fred bowed at this, again to more laughter. "George, shall we help our dear old mum in the kitchen? I can't imagine the monster that wouldn't be willing to lend a hand to woman who does so much," as he motioned towards the kitchen.

"Certainly Fred! She does so much, we do so little... Least we could do is flip an egg or two!" The twins each lifted an eyebrow at Ron, smirks plastered on their faces, as they burst into the kitchen to greet their mum and no doubt slow down the breakfast process. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione again laughed out loud, this time without Ron, who scowled and turned red. He opened his mouth to defend himself when Mrs. Weasley announced that breakfast was ready, so instead the foursome headed back into the kitchen and found a seat at the table.

Ginny chose a seat near the end of the table, and Hermione sat down next to her, as Ron and Harry chose seats across from them. Fred plopped down hard next to Hermione, she gave him a stern look and a raised eyebrow of her own as if to send him the message to behave. George sat across from Fred, leaving a seat open next to each of the twins as well as the seat at the head of the table.

"Morning all!" Mr. Weasley walked into the kitchen from the back door. "Harry! So nice to see you!" he shook Harry's hand before sitting down at the head of the table. "So nice to have everyone here with us! How's everyone feeling about heading to the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow?"

Mr. Weasley received many beaming smiles at this. "Thank you again so much Mr. Weasley for orchestrating this and taking all of us along! As the one least interested in Quidditch, I think I speak for everyone when I say that we're absolutely thrilled!" Hermione thanked the man with the warmest smile she could give him.

"Yeah dad, it's going to be so cool! To get to see some of the best Quidditch in the world and be around witches and wizards who are also just as into in it as I am? It'll be a dream!" Ginny gushed.

"Well don't get ahead of yourself there Gin…" Fred chimed in. "Not sure anyone there will be able to even touch how obsessed you are with Quidditch," George finished for his twin. They grinned at her as she glared at them. "Well, except for maybe Harry," Fred added. "Ron, we'd count you too if you put in any effort at all at getting better at flying or really any other skill needed to be good at Quidditch. Being a faithful fan of the failing Chudley Cannons doesn't quite count." Laughter rocked through those around the table, even Ron had to admit defeat and join in with a chuckle.

"Enough picking on Ronald, Fred. Breakfast is served!" Mrs. Weasley announced as multiple plates of sausage, eggs, and toast flew over and set themselves on the table. She sat down next to Fred, giving him a stern look, before her husband offered her some eggs.

"Where's Percy?" Ron asked before stuffing his mouth full with food.

"Oh, he's up locked away in his room working diligently. Such a hard worker, that one," George answered, glancing up at Fred with a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

"Working?" Harry questioned. "Has he already gotten a job?"

"Oh, yes! He works at the Ministry, and we couldn't be more proud," Mrs. Weasley replied.

"Yes, we're so proud of our former Head Boy. I believe that ground-breaking article of his on cauldron thickness should be hitting the presses any day now. What do you think George, front page of the Daily Prophet?" Fred asked. Everyone except Mrs. Weasley laughed.

"Now, he has worked very hard, and he has accomplished a lot! Everyone has to start somewhere, right Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley looked at her husband.

"Oh.. Um.. Yes, Molly dear, of course! We are very proud of Percy, and I'm sure he'll be very successful in some facet of the Ministry," Mr. Weasley replied as he cut his laughter short. The rest of the table shared knowing looks before they settled in to eat.

After breakfast Ginny headed back out into the garden while Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to Ron's room to help Harry unpack and to continue catching up. The late August morning sun was warm on her skin and clothes, but not uncomfortably so. Butterflies and bees were busy at work, visiting the different flowers that were scattered throughout the back garden. Sporadic clumps of lavender filled the air with that familiar sweet summer scent. Ginny tied her hair back as Fred and George walked up behind her.

"Ready Fred?" George asked.

"Ready George. Ready Gin?"

Ginny gave the two a look, "Let's just get this done, shall we?" The trio began de-gnoming the surrounding area, picking up the garden gnomes as carefully as they could and flinging them up and over the hedges. About an hour passed before they were done, and the three went into the Burrow covered in dirt and glistening with sweat.

"All done, are you?" Ron teased from his seat at the table, smirking at his siblings. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were all seated at the far end of the table, talking. Ginny, Fred, and George all gave him looks that were nearly indistinguishable, looks of absolute annoyance.

"Yep, all done for the day. How about you take that smart mouth of yours out to the orchard this afternoon for a Quidditch match? Or will you be too busy sitting on your arse like you've done for most of the summer?" Ginny baited her brother.

"Fair enough… But who are the poor saps that'll end up on his team though…" Fred muttered to George.

"I heard that!" Ron shouted as Harry, Ginny, and Hermione roared with laughter. "And what exactly are we supposed to do now that this one has her own broom? The teams are uneven!" he complained as he motioned to Ginny.

"Well Ronnie, I think that as the one with the slowest broom, by far, you should man the baskets and the rest of us will play two versus two against you," George suggested.

"I second that!" Fred chimed in immediately.

"Sounds like it's settled Ron. Should we go get you mentally prepared then?" Harry chuckled as the two got up to begin the trek up to Ron's room. "Meet you all back down here in a bit?"

"Sure thing! Looking forward to seeing you out on the pitch Ronnie!" Fred laughed as he and George split Harry and Ron and sprinted up the stairs in front of them. This left Ginny standing by the back door and Hermione still in her seat at the table.

"Well, that certainly escalated quickly," Hermione observed.

"Yeah… I'm sorry. I've just been taking a lot of flak from Ron over the past few weeks. There's only so much I can take, you know?"

"No, you were absolutely right in how you handled Ronald. I'm just not sure I'm going to be prepared well enough for the possible blood bath that may occur," Hermione winced.

"Eh. It'll be fun for most of us. Ron might not have the best time, but maybe it'll help him improve. Realistically, keeper would be his best position and chance to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team, especially with Oliver no longer being with the team. It's not our fault that just so happens to be a position for him that brings the rest of us a lot of joy," Ginny smirked. "Anyway, I'm going to head upstairs for a bit and then I'll be back down. Are you staying down here?"

"Yes, I think I'll stay down here and away from all of the… Energy… That's upstairs right now,"

"Suit yourself! See you in a bit," Ginny crossed the kitchen, walked past Hermione, and made the short trip up the stairs to her first floor bedroom. She looked at the Comet 260 sitting in the window and smiled. She felt confident with how her trainings had been going the past few days, especially the one this morning. Hermione was right, she had been flying as fast as she could today, really trying to push the limits of herself and her broom. She couldn't believe she had been so focused that she didn't even notice Hermione on the fringe of the orchard clearing. She shrugged, actually, she could believe it. She'd been so immersed in the trainings lately that everything around her had faded away. Flying and Quidditch was her passion, and it was so easy to allow herself to just submerge herself in it completely. She started to visualize herself playing against her brothers and Harry this afternoon. She imagined weaving in and out as fast as she could, her broom instantly reacting to every move she wanted to make. She saw herself scoring on Ron again and again and again. She grinned broadly at this as the confidence welled inside of her, she was excited to show off her skills to the boys today. She strode over to the chest at the base of her bed and dug for her green Holyhead Harpies t-shirt. It might've been a little bit much to wear the shirt in the pick-up match, but it was her favorite to fly in. She swapped her dirty chore worn shorts out for a more athletic pair, and then reached down to the bottom of the sweat-drenched t-shirt she was wearing, grabbed it, and pulled it up and over her head.

"Ginny are you guys going to need me for this match or can I – Oh Ginny, I'm sorry!" Hermione had entered the room as Ginny was pulling on her Holyhead Harpies t-shirt.

"No worries, Hermione," Ginny lightly laughed. "I'm sure it's nothing you haven't seen before!"

"Yes, well you're quite right… I just feel bad walking in on you like that," Hermione said apologetically.

"No need to feel bad. Just like you said this morning when I woke you up, it really isn't a problem at all, "Ginny smiled at the older girl reassuringly. "Was there something you wanted to ask me?"

"Yes. Do you think the boys will want me to attend this pick-up match or can I get a bit of light reading in instead?"

"Honestly Hermione, if you wanted to pass on this, I'm sure you'd be fine doing so. Plus, it sounds like you've already gotten your fill of watching Quidditch this morning," Ginny gave Hermione a small, crooked, almost shy smile. "Hermione… Were you really impressed this morning?"

"Yes Ginny," Hermione smiled back at her. "I really was."