Ginny now turned her attention to her birthday presents from her friends.
At the left of the row was Lily's present, which she had wrapped in bright red wrapping paper with images of orange cats on it. This wrapping paper was clearly only loosely taped to whatever it was concealing.
"I like the wrapping paper, " grinned Ginny.
"I remember you telling Lily that you are a great cat lover, " Harry reminded Ginny, "She obviously remembered. This wrapping paper was chosen on purpose!"
"I expect it's not just the wrapping paper, " predicted Hermione.
Sure enough, Ginny carefully lifted the tape so as not to rip this wrapping paper and discovered a scarf. It was a teal background scarf with embroidered images of calico cats on it.
"Smart girl, that Hermione!" grinned Ginny.
"it was totally predictable, " said Hermione cheerfully.
"Lily clearly made this herself, " said Ginny happily, "Just like the sweater she gave Harry for his birthday and the blanket she gave Colin for his birthday."
"Yep, " said Harry glowingly, "I think it's wonderful that we have a friend in our circle who actually makes our presents herself. I really respect her passion for her work."
Colin, Dennis, Susan, Luna, Hermione, and Ginny all nodded fiercely at that.
"Totally agree!" said Ginny radiantly, "It gives her gifts extra meaning."
"Yeah, I felt that when I opened her sweater, " said Harry joyfully.
"I had the same reaction when opened her blanket!" said Colin brightly.
Ginny placed the scarf back in its wrapping paper and set it down on the lawn again.
Ginny picked up Susan's gift next. Susan had wrapped her present in vivid yellow wrapping paper.
As Ginny picked up Susan's present in her hands, the wrapping paper dissolved of its own accord and a huge glob of yellow paste flew into Ginny's face so that her face was covered in yellow paste. Ginny got some in her mouth. Fortunately, this paste was lemon flavored.
"PRANKED!" exclaimed Susan triumphantly, just as she had when she had pranked Colin.
Ginny, ever the good sport that she was, giggled and smiled at Susan as Hugh, Tina, Harry, Colin, Dennis, Luna, and Hermione all laughed and smiled at the same time.
"You got me good, " Ginny told Susan, "But, let me guess, just like for Colin, you did me a real birthday present as well!"
"Harder to fool someone the second time, " admitted Susan as she dug her right hand into her right pocket and retrieved a gift card and handed it to Ginny.
The gift card was light blue in color and had the name Honeydukes and the amount of ten galleons on it.
"This is a ten galleon gift card for Honeydukes, " explained Susan, "I know you're going to be able to go into Hogsmeade this year and your parents can't afford to give you much spending money. This should enable you to get a decent hall of sweets from Honeydukes. "
"That's a very thoughtful kind of gift, " observed Tina.
"Yes, " said Ginny happily, "I'll admit that while I'm looking forward to going to Hogsmeade, I wasn't expecting to be able to buy anything there. Susan just brightened my Hogsmeade experience for me with this gift. "
"I know how bummed out I would be if I went to Hogsmeade and couldn't afford to buy any sweets from Honeydukes, " said Susan matter of factly.
"This is turning out to be a fantastic birthday for Ginny, " said Harry happily.
"Indeed, " smiled Ginny as she set the gift card down on the lawn next to the scarf and went for Hermione's gift.
Hermione's gift was clearly in a thin rectangular box that was wrapped in simple brown wrapping paper with white owls on it.
Ginny tore this wrapping paper off to find a brow box inside of which was a new eagle feather quill.
"Good timing, Hermione, " grinned Ginny, "My old quill is about in the same state as Colin's old trunk."
"Exactly, " said Hermione seriously, "That's why a replacement quill was such a good birthday present for you."
"Simple but thoughtful," mused Ginny, "It's exactly the kind of present I'd expect from you!"
Ginny placed the quill down on the lawn next to the gift card and picked up Luna's gift.
Luna's gift was wrapped in blue wrapping paper with bronze eagles on it.
Like Susan's gift had done, the wrapping paper got rid of itself and Ginny was left holding a beautiful sparkling silver dress.
"OH! WOW!" cried Ginny in happy surprise.
"You will you look great in silver, Ginny Weasley!" declared a beaming Luna.
"Definitely the nicest dress I've ever gotten, " said Ginny radiantly as she set the drees down on the lawn next to the quill.
There was one last gift on the lawn, and it was from Harry.
Harry's gift was wrapped scarlet wrapping paper with golden lions on it.
This package was small, but when Ginny opened it, her heart gave huge leaps of delight.
It was a simple microphone, along a small cassette recorder and blank cassette tape.
"YES!" screamed Ginny.
"I know you are going to try out for Hogwarts new choir this year so I got you things you can use to practice your singing, " said Harry warmly.
"I can use the microphone to practice my singing and can use the cassette and cassette recorder to check how I'm doing! " said Ginny glowingly,
"That's the idea, " said Harry kindly, "I REALLY want you to make that choir!"
"You were the one who wrote to Remus to suggest he institute a choir at Hogwarts this year after you were impressed with my singing!" Ginny reminded Harry, "You've been all in on trying to give me this opportunity from the get go!"
Harry and Ginny just exchanged smiles after that.
"Pretty good haul today-" began Ginny as she set the microphone, cassette, and cassette recorder down on the lawn.
"It's not quite over!" said Hugh, Tina, Colin, and Dennis together.
"Dennis and I combined to get you a present, " explained Colin, "But it must be treated with great respect. "
At that, Colin and Dennis went inside the house. They came back outside carrying a calico cat and said, "He's all yours, Ginny!"
Ginny burst into happy tears.
"I've a-always w-wanted a c-cat!" sobbed Ginny, "To receive it as a birthday present as about as special and meaningful as it gets."
"I told Colin that I wanted us to get you a very special birthday present and he suggested a cat," revealed Dennis.
"C-Colin, D-Dennis, " said Ginny emotionally, "T-thank you so much. I am overwhelmed right now."
Ginny happily held and petted her new cat in silence.
"Hi, Shadow, " said Ginny meaningfully.