Chapter 26

Ginny's Day

Sunday, 11 August 1996

Ginny awoke at her normal time, even though Harry had said he wasn't going to do a workout on her birthday. Force of habit is a terrible thing sometimes. Reluctantly she got up and decided, her birthday, she was wearing her new favorite shirt, Harry's jersey. After getting dressed she was about to leave but then noticed a bouquet of roses on the floor by the door. The card was clearly Harry's writing (as if there were any doubt).

Happy Birthday Gin,

You have a roommate, otherwise I would have copied your idea. But there is more than one way to show I care.

-Love,

Harry

"Harry delivered roses?" a waking Hermione asked.

"I'm willing to believe it was likely a 12:01 delivery too. Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

"Oh you didn't, not really. And there are far worst things to wake up to than a friend getting flowers. Happy Birthday, Ginny, now we're at the time that we originally planned for me to arrive." They shared a laugh.

"It has been great having you over this summer, that's been better than any gift."

"Oh you're still getting something, just later with everyone else. My gifts can be given in public." she smiled as she got dressed.

"Oi, Harry's been wearing my gift in public for a week and a half now. I'm actually quite surprised."

"Why would you be surprised? Harry adores you."

"A stupid hair bracelet. Like what century is it? He is ridiculously forgiving. "

"Hardly, I'm with Harry, that's one of the most romantic gifts I've ever heard of." Hermione stopped and tilted her head. "He never told you about our chat at Grimmauld, before his shock, did he?"

"No, likely because of the shock. What did I miss?"

"Well that was the first visit after Sirius's passing. It was really giving him a sense of finality, and kind of hitting him. And in his word, he was saying, that made it official, he's alone again."

Gin started to object, till Hermione stopped her.

"And I cut that off then and there. Told him I didn't know the order but that you would likely both kiss him and slap him for that."

"True," Gin smiled.

"Bill reminded him of the rest of you Weasleys. I also suggested that I wasn't chop liver either."

"You're a good friend, to both of us. Thank you."

"All that to say, when Harry had concerns about being alone, you give him a literal piece of yourself. I don't think you could have done anything more perfect."

Gin smiled, "I had no idea. Thank you 'Mione."

"I think, even if you don't know things consciously, you two are just similar enough and frankly love each other enough, you just feel these things. It's actually quite inspiring."

"How does that balance out in your analytical mind of yours?"

Hermione smiled, "It completely doesn't. I don't understand it. But, I also believe in love. Even though I don't understand it, I still believe it."

Ginny smiled. "Hermione, this right here, that's being a great big sister."

"Oh…. well thank you."

Ginny's day was spent with a morning match of quidditch. Followed by a few rounds of Wizard Tag. The afternoon was spent swimming in and sunning by the pond, which was complained about by no one. It wasn't until after swimming Ron finally noticed the jersey.

"Um, Harry?"

Harry smiled, "It's a muggle dating thing."

"Oh." he nodded, then turned to his girlfriend. "'Mione, why didn't you tell me?"

She smiled, "Because I am a muggle and that just looked normal and sweet to me. It didn't even register that you didn't know."

"Okay, but if you were expecting something, let me know."

"You're a darling. If it were to appear, yes Ron, I'd be happy to wear your jersey, but I'm not expecting something. I'm still in awe of you talking to DAD. You're good for a little bit, Ron." she said with a smile.

Supper was roast lamb, Yorkshire pudding, potato, and veg and of course, the cake. When the song and candles came she leaned over to Harry, "This is how you gracefully handle a birthday," she smiled. Which she did, perhaps even encouraged the moment with smiling and faux conducting of the song.

Fred and George passed their gift first. "This may seemed familiar, but"

"Considering how you two are."

"It made sense to us."

Ginny opened the box to find a pair of flight goggles. "Crimson doesn't have one yet, Neither do I actually, thank you."

"They're charmed too. Sunshade, Darkvision. No detect magic but for yours we built a direction compass, to help with your flight navigation."

"Oh, that's brilliant, thank you guys."

Bill chuckled, "I'm sensing a theme then today lads," as he passed he and Fleur's gift. Ginny opened it and found a leather multi pouch utility belt. It had a silver belt buckle with a french inscription.

"If you're going to be on the broom a lot, belt pockets for storage makes more sense to me than a pack."

Gin looked at the inscription. "Wow, now I know how Harry felt. J'accepte la grande aventure d'être moi. My best guess is: 'Accept adventures with me'?

Fleur clarified. "Close, 'I accept ze great adventure of being me.'"

That actually got Ginny. "That's actually really great. Thank you, Fleur."

Ron admitted, "I'm boring sis, but I at least tried to do better than candy this year. I tried to find something that hugged a line between useful and looked nice, but I'm a bloke and I don't know fashion." As Ginny opened them and found a new pair of black leather boots. Ron continued, "I got you minimal heels so you could run if you wanted to, but did want you to have some because I know that can help grip and lock into a broom stirrup…."

"Ron, Ron, Ron, you did fine." Gin interrupted smiling. "These are great. The best gift you've ever given me. Thank you."

Hermione had a mischievous smirk on her face. "Well I packed my bag just in case this gift gets me kicked out, but now that you are using some occasionally, I thought you would like your own. Ginny unwrapped a wooden case, to find it was a makeup kit.

"I spent a lot of time studying all those Crimson Witch posters, and I've tried to assemble everything you would need to create her yourself."

"Oh! That is BRILLIANT! Thank you 'Mione." Then both of the girls looked over to Molly.

Molly sighed and smiled. "You're clearly not a little girl anymore. Just try to use good judgment and taste."

"Thank you, mum."

Ron leaned over to Hermione. "Think that means you can stay." the pair smiled.

Her parents passed down a simply wrapped cardboard box. She opened it to find a flame shaped broach made of silver. It was once painted red, but had been worn away with only flakes remaining. Arthur explained, "That is from your grandfather Septimus Weasley, and a few relations further back to the family in Romania. Where they get some cold winters. If you tap it, it has a warming charm. You mentioned it gets cold up there. I think Dad would be proud of you and want you to have it. I know I am."

"Oh, Dad! Thank you very much. Seriously none of you talked or coordinated for this Crimson Witch theme birthday?"

"Nope, but let's be honest, it wasn't exactly a hard thought. She's only been in the paper." Bill laughed.

"And the radio." Ron added.

"And the cover of the Nimbus catalog." the Twins reminded.

"And my dreams." Harry whispered.

Ginny smiled widely and bit her tongue. "And for the record…" she paused to regain composure, "Harry got me a lovely bouquet of flowers for my birthday."

Then Harry started grinning. "That wasn't your gift, Gin."

"Okay, you have my attention."

Harry turned to Molly and Arthur. "Are we good?"

Arthur nodded his head towards the door with a smile. "Get out of here you two."

Harry took her by the hand out the door, then led her to the lake, but not to the dock. They started walking along the water edge. Gin smiled, "You're up to something, and more than just snogging."

"True. Your boyfriend made a deal with your parents."

"A deal, you say?"

"You, Miss Weasley, are a popular lady. So about a week ago, I hammered out a timeshare. You and the others got the day. Your parents got dinner. I get the evening."

"Oh, Merlin! Well, it's nice to be wanted."

"You are very much so."

Harry led her over to the far edge of the pond where… apparently nothing was different.

"Was I wrong? Have we just opted for the secluded corner?" she said with a smile and arms wrapped around his neck.

"Ginny, when have I ever taken the simple option?" and he flashed her what had to be his most devilish grin, and Gin knew again, she was in trouble, in the best way possible. "The way I see it, I have given you a couple of mundane muggle-ish dates."

"Which I have enjoyed," she replied with a smile.

"I know," Harry replied with a gentle rub to her cheek, "But why be boring?"

He drew his wand, with a spin, just for flair, he looked ahead and called accio invisibility cloak. From apparently nowhere Harry's cloak leapt from the ground to his hand. Left behind beneath it was a red and white checked picnic blanket already spread out with his wizard pack laying in the center. Harry continued lucerna lucem et supernatet. Four candles rose from the corners of the picnic blanket and hovered just over head level, then came alight. Showing a candlelit picnic.

"M'lady," he gestured.

"Good start, high points for romance and ambiance," she said as she had a seat on the blanket. Harry sat next to her with an affectionate rub to her back, then grabbed his wizard pack. "So to begin with we have…a bottle of fine oak-matured mead. I put a chill charm on it earlier."

"Okay, I'm curious, did Bill buy this for you?"

"Bill? No, why would I bother him with this?" He answered as he pulled a pair of glasses out and poured. "Professor Dumbledore did."

"Ha ha, Harry." as she accepted a glass.

"Hand on Merlin's beard, Gin." he answered, stone cold, steady and honest.

"Blimey, you're serious? How!?"

Insert cocky grin. "Never ask me about my business babe, just trust me." He finished with a wink and sip.

"Alright, we have the confidence on max today. Very smooth, I like it." She sipped. "And this is good too."

"Not done yet." he said as he pulled out a pair of plates, forks, and a treacle tart."With a warming charm."

"Oh, okay, you are going for big points, thank you." she said, smiling widely.

He took his gift knife from Bill and served slices. "Oh, you've been carrying that too. Such a bad boy." she smiled coyly.

That got Harry. "I love that. Never mind that a magic wand that casts Unforgivable Curses. The sharpened piece of metal makes me a bad boy."

"Yep, one I love." She leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you."

"Love you too." He grinned again. "Still not done yet." From the pack Harry pulled out a silver box, about the size of a bread box. "I found this in Hogsmeade, so thank you again for that trip." He waved his wand over the box to open and filled the air with piano music. Not simple chimes but a full on beautifully played piano song.

"Harry Potter, you are a romantic." Gin deduced taking a sip. "And I thought you were just the hero type.

Harry kept grinning like he was working a master plan, because … he felt like he was. "Still not done yet, Gin."

"Harry, Wine, woman, song, tart, what else do you have in that pack?"

"Trust me," he said again. Damn that man was leaning hard into the charm today. He pulled out a nicely wrapped box. "Everything else is your evening's entertainment. This is your actual gift. She opened the box to find a sleeveless little black dress with purple sapphire accents.

"Harry! This… is… beautiful," she gasped.

"Meh, I'm sure oh you it will be."

Then recollection set in. "Wait, I've seen this before… Our first date… NO! I know how much this cost."

"And I'm pulling a boyfriend card on this one, Gin. There's like what, three days a year I can spoil you and this is one of them."

"Harry this is…"

"Something you liked. And for all the reasons you wanted me to get that suit, you're keeping that dress because if I'm going, you're coming with me right beside me. Or does 'Rule 3 Partners' no longer apply."

"Harry Potter, you are by every definition of the word, unbelievable." Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much. She looked over the dress anew, felt the material. Then another realization came. "Harry, this matches the gloves you gave me."

"Yep, because, I'll be honest. I didn't know where you were going to hide a wand with that. So THAT was the original starting idea for the gloves All the other charms were after thoughts."

"But that would mean you've been planning this… for weeks?"

"Well, we've been dating for about a month and a half. Otherwise I'd put more time and effort into things."

"You do all this. I gave you a lock of my hair."

"I know, you outdid me, but I thought this was a good attempt."

'She looked deep into those emerald eyes, and tonight there was a lot going on in there; Mischief, confidence, deep love, but at the base of it all, total honesty. "You really believe that, don't you?" Gin started to happy cry "I don't … I don't deserve you."

"Let me be the judge of that." he said with a comforting rub to her cheek, wiping them away. "And I'm still not done."

"Merlin, please no, Harry. You literally are like dream come true levels now."

"Gin… trust me." he whispered, as he pulled out 4 wooden stakes from his pack. "You know, it's interesting. As we are dating, I am finding bits and pieces, of which I am absolutely sure are things my Dad did in his day. Including this…" Harry turned to one of the apple trees behind him, accio apple, he called and caught the apple with his free hand. Then he cast leviosa aliquet and the appel began to slowly hover up. Harry caught it, and threw his invisibility cloak over it. "You see, I just recently noticed in my father's cloak there are anchor loops along the edge. And I wondered, what would you ever use them for. Then I started thinking like a Potter." he winked.

Ginny sat in amazement just in a moment of pure joy.

Harry took a corner of the cloak and staked it to the ground by the corner of the picnic blanket. Then he let go and let the apple float to the air, carrying the cloak to a point, creating a pyramid around them. "Ginny Weasley , may I introduce you to the tent of invisibility."

Her eyes lit as she saw flawless execution, and the look of Harry knowing, with complete certainty, he got everything right. She nodded her head in agreement, "Harry, I think your father was quite the charmer, and I don't mean spells. But…" she grinned wickedly. "What would a noble man from House Potter use this for?"

Harry didn't waste any further time and pulled no further surprises. He simply dismissed the candle spell and kissed his beautiful lady.