Summer Abroad: Carpe Diem

Disclaimer: I own nothing put the things you do not recognize. Credits for things you may recognize go to JKR and various books I may have read.

Summary: An exciting summer, in a different place, the chance of a lifetime. Love, romance, and happiness…what more could a girl ask for? Besides the fact that I keep running into none other than, Draco Malfoy. This is supposed to be my summer of romance and he isn’t helping any…or is he?

Summer Abroad: Carpe Diem

Prologue

Any moment, everything can change

Feel the wind on your shoulders

For a minute, all the world wait

Let go of your yesterday

Can you hear it calling?

Can you feel it in your soul?

Can you trust this longing?

And take control

“But mum, it’ll be a great learning experience!”

“A great learning experience, Gin? I don’t see how you being sent away with some family we don’t know on a Summer Abroad Program will be a learning experience.”

I pouted at my mum, if things weren’t going my way this was all I’d have to do, “Please mum? I’ll write to you everyday! Or use the Telly-phone, thing. Pretty please with your favorite daughter on top?”

“You’re my only daughter.”

“Which is exactly why I’m your favorite, but mum, please can I go?”

“Ginny we don’t have the money to pay for this sort of thing, or any expenses you will need out there.”

“It’s funded by, Hogwarts, all of it. I even have some of my own money saved up.”

“I’m not going to hear the end of this until I say yes, am I?” I shook my head, “Alright, but you have to ask your father.”

“Dad? Pfuit,” I said, rolling my eyes slightly, I could get anything I wanted from dad, most of them time anyways.

Oh, in case you were wondering my name is Ginevra Molly Weasley, more commonly known as Ginny or Gin. Sound familiar? You probably know my older brother, Ronald Weasley and his heroic friends Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Yeah, well I’m always somewhere around them, look closer next time and you’ll probably find me. Shoulder length red hair, dull brown eyes, a bit of freckles on my face…about 5’7, yeah, that’s me. Nothing special, right? It’s no wonder I’ve never achieved a truly sexy boyfriend. I’m ugly. It’s not that I don’t have self confidence, I just think…I could look a little better. Anyways, that’s beside the point…

I’m only sixteen and in my sixth year at Hogwarts, I’m home for Christmas break, and at school we found out about this program. Students will be sent somewhere, we choose, to live with a family for the summer. Though the family we live with will be Wizards to provide some form of comfort.

I haven’t decided where I want to go yet, but I’ll get some help with that back at school. I’ve been dying for something like this to come up. One of the reasons I want to get away is for the romance. It’s hard to find someone at Hogwarts to date. If you break up with someone, rumors will spread faster than speeding curse. Seemingly, Paris would be the perfect place to go, but I hardly speak a word of French, so I doubt that would work. Maybe I’ll go to…Ireland, Greece, or even America. No, I hear that everyone in America is stuck up, but I’ve never been one to find out. I’m leaning towards Ireland at the moment.

Now all I had to do was ask my father, that’d be a piece of cake.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Before I knew it, I was back home at the Burrow, only this time for summer vacation! Just two days after I arrived home, I was packed and ready to start my summer of romance! I couldn’t believe this was all happening, and I wouldn’t let anything get me down. I had my bags packed, taking practically everything out of my room.

I didn’t know much about the family besides they had a daughter, my age, named Tymora, and a son who was eighteen, named Devon. I could hardly wait to meet them, and only hoped that we would have things in common. My host parents’ names are Nicolette and Benjamin Leahy. I can hardly stop the butterflies fluttering through my stomach, and I haven’t even left the house yet!

I had already decided that the time I spent in Ireland would be the time of my teenage life. Carpe Diem, Seize the Day. My current motto and I was determined to live by it. I won’t care what people thing of me, because they don’t know me. I shouldn’t know anyone there, unless they attend Hogwarts, which would be by a long shot, but you never know.

The whole issue of being a Weasley and poor should be completely irrelevant. I mean, I won’t go around telling everyone that I am some rich girl, and I live in a big Manor with servants and maids of all kind. But I don’t find it necessary to introduce myself as so: “Hi, My name is Ginevra Molly Weasley and I am practically dirt poor.” We have actually moved up somewhat in that department. Only having to buy school supplies for Ron and I, saved some money.

“Ginny! Come downstairs, it’s time to go.”

I looked around my room, looking at everything one last time before running down the stairs where my family waited for me. Mum, Fred, George, and Ron would be taking me to the airport. Yes, you read right, the airport. I can’t exactly floo all the way to Ireland. Plus, I’m not old enough to apparate yet, bullocks.

“Do you have everything packed?” My mum asked, looking as though she were about to start crying at any second.

“Yes, everything,” I said, smiling at her, as if to reassure her. I didn’t like to see my mum cry. If she was crying now over me leaving for the summer, think about when I graduate from Hogwarts, good Godric. “Let’s get going, I don’t won’t to miss my flight.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I have never gone through so much security procedures in my life! All the metal detectors and bag checks. It seemed that it took forever for us all to make it to the Gate I was to go through to board my plane. I turned around, facing my family, preparing to start the dreaded Good-Byes.

“Keep a good head on your shoulders Gin, don’t create too much havoc,” Fred said, wrapping his arms around me.

“Never too much,” I said, smiling slightly, my eyes already starting to tear. I hated goodbyes. Everything is always okay at home, but when it gets time to leave, I let it go.

“And don’t create too little,” George said, taking his turn in hugging me.

“Never to little,” I replied, sniffling a bit.

“If anyone lays a finger on you, you just let me know, Gin, and I’ll be there in the blink of an eye,” Ron told me, pulling me into a really tight hug.

“I know, Ron, don’t worry, I can take care of myself.” I assured him.

“Gosh, Ginny…Ginevra, Gin…” My mum started off, “We’re all going to miss you, the summer won’t be the same without you.”

“I’ll only be gone for two months and a week or so. Don’t worry, mum.” I smiled at her, before wrapping my arms around her and hugging her tightly. “I love you,” I said into her ear.

“Love you too, Gin-bug.” She pulled back from the hug, and wiped away my tears, “Now hurry or you’ll miss your flight.” She said, lightly patting my bum.

“Bye, Fred, George, Ron, love you all,” I took one last look at my family before walking through the Gate, ready to start the adventure of a life time.

Fly,

Open up the part of you that wants to hide away

You can shine; forget about the reasons why you can’t in life

And start to try, coz it’s your time

Time to fly

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Sorry, I know it’s short, but it’s only a prologue. I’ve got the next few chapters of this outlined and so they shouldn’t be too hard to write. Also, I got bored thinking of ideas for this and went to Location Works to find pictures of pretty houses and things, so I’ll have links to those in later chapters =P. This the first fic that I will be writing in First Person, so bare with me. Though I’m trying to make it as though she is talking to you, the reader. Hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to review.

Much Love,

That’s So Raven

Disclaimer: I own nothing put the things you do not recognize. Credits for things you may recognize go to JKR and various books I may have read.

Summary: An exciting summer, in a different place, the chance of a lifetime. Love, romance, and happiness…what more could a girl ask for? Besides the fact that I keep running into none other than, Draco Malfoy. This is supposed to be my summer of romance and he isn’t helping any…or is he?

Summer Abroad: Carpe Diem

Chapter One: Inner Smile

You gave me something
Like loving
And took me in so soon
You took my feelings
from nothing
Came back at noon
Just meet me
I'm ready
To show myself to you

If you have never experienced flying in an airplane, I must suggest that you do try it, at least once. At first I was a bit frightened, when we took off, I wasn’t sure if we would hold up or not. We did, and the flight was mostly smooth, just a little turbulence. Another new Muggle word I learned. It’s where the plain bumps a little bit. Anyways, I sat next to a father and daughter who were going to Ireland also.

I got off the plane when instructed to and went out of the exit and into the airport. I was trying not to look a shocked as I really am. Where the hell am I? Ireland, I know that much, but…where am I supposed to go? I looked around the airport, my heart speeding up as I grew more and more afraid.

“Ginevra? Weasley?”

I looked to where my name was being called from and let out a shaky breath. I walked towards the two people standing there, holding a sign with my name on it. “Hi.” I said, unsure of what else to say.

“I’m Tymora,” the girl said, holding her hand out, which I shook. “I’m so glad you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for this day forever. This is my mum, Nicolette.”

Tymora, I noticed, was about the same height as me, maybe an inch or two shorter. She had long dark brown hair, it was beautiful. It seemed more like the color of mahogany wood than dark brown, actually. Her eyes were a sparkling hazel color, much better compared to my boring brown ones.

“Hello, Ginevra, come along, we’ll get your bags and take you to the house.”

I nodded my head slowly, dead excited to be in Ireland, and hoping that we would all get along, but I’d said not more than one word to them so far. “Ginny,” I said, as we stepped on and eskee-lat-or. Or, so I think it’s called.

“Beg pardon?”

“Ginny, no one calls me Ginevra, except my mum when she’s angry with me. It seems so medieval, I prefer Ginny or Gin,” I told Nicolette, smiling slightly.

“Alright then, Ginny, watch your step,” she told me as we stepped off the eskee-lat-or. I was new to these things, and I didn’t want to find out what happened if you didn’t watch your step. It seemed that with the way the machine worked it would suck you in or something.

“Which bag is yours?” Tymora asked as we reached the baggage claim.

“Erm, the scarlet ones,” I said, taking a step towards the spinney thing and grabbing one and Tymora took the other. I had packed light by some standards; the only other bag I had was my carry-on bag.

“Now to the car,” Nicolette said, walking in front of us. As soon as she was in front of us I felt Tymora linking her arm through mine. I looked over at her, unsure of what she was doing.

“Finally, now we can really talk, if you’re not too tired from the flight that is…”

“No, we can talk,” I said, smiling at her, already feeling some sort of connection between us. Tymora seemed nice and open, and very excited to see me.

“Good,” She said, smiling widely at me, “Devon is at home, he was still sleeping when we left,” she rolled her eyes, “It’s going to be great to have you at the house, a girl that I can talk to, Devon’s eighteen and is over protective of me, it’s awful.”

I nodded, “I know what you mean, but you think Devon is bad? I have six older brothers, top that,” I said as we exited the airport.

“You two wait here, I’ll pull the car ‘round.”

“Alright mum,” Tymora said, waving at her mum as she walked away from us. We stood to the side of the doors while we waited. “Anyways, you have six older brothers? I don’t think I’ll be able to top that one, I don’t think I’d want to be able to, either. One is too much for me to handle. Are any of them hot?” She asked, winking at me.

“Ewe,” I scrunched up my face, “Please do not ask me that again.” I shivered, I hated hearing about my brothers in the common room, and being asked if they were hot wasn’t so spiffy either.

“Sorry,” she said, still smiling, “It’s alright if you think Devon is hot, all of my friends do. It gets annoying though, you know? How girls are only friends with you because of your brother?” She shrugged slightly, “Oh, there’s mum.”

I looked onto the street and saw her mum in a black car, I don’t know name brands so, me trying tell you what it was or describe it would be useless. Tymora and I put my bags in the boot before getting into the car.

For the duration of the ride I looked out the window, observing my surroundings. There was a lot greener here than in England, though I had already expected that. A small part of me was hoping that I’d see Oliver Wood walking down the street, but I knew it wouldn’t happen.

“We’re here,” Nicolette announced as she parked the car.

“Did I miss something?” I asked, unable to believe my eyes, “Are we stopping at a mansion?” I over exaggerated, just a little. But the house was huge. Compared to what I was used to. Sure, the burrow was tall, but it wasn’t very wide. This house was two stories high maybe with an attic, but it looked like it never ended. There was even a white picket fence around it. And there was an additional thing out in the distance. Wait, It wasn’t an additional thing it was a barn. “Wow…” I said simply awestruck.

The door I had been leaning against was opened, causing me to nearly fall out of the car. “Come on, Gin, let’s get inside, I want to show you your room!” Tymora grabbed a hold of me just before I fell out. “Mum’ll call Devon out to get your bags.” She told me as I stood up straight and we started to walk towards the house.

We walked in through the front door and it was even more extravagant than the outside. The floor was wooden and there was a large rug lying on the floor with a table on top of it. The table holding what looked to be fresh flowers.

As Tymora and I walked up the stairs, they seemed to never end. Finally, we got off at the second floor landing and walked down a fairly wide hall. We stopped in front of a door and Tymora nudged me softly, “Go on, this ones yours, mine is right next to it.”

I slowly reached out and put a hand on the door knob. I could even begin to imagine what my room would look like, but I guessed that I would probably love it and not want to leave it by the time this was over. I opened the door and immediately took my shoes off, not wanting to dirty up anything.

Upon entering the room I was afraid to touch anything. It all looked so tidy, and clean. The carpet was a gray color and felt downy soft beneath my feet. There were a lot of things in the room that I did not recognize, but the bed and mirror rang a bell. The bed had wonderful framework and it looked soft and inviting, but I was too excited to be able to take a nap. There was also a wardrobe, two right next to each other with designs to match the bed frames…along with a dresser. Wow, I wondered if I had enough clothes to fill them up.

“There’s a balcony outside…you can see everything from it, there’s a really great view of the ranch too,” Tymora said, walking to the left to a door before opening it. “There’s a door to here from my room too.”

I quickly followed her and tentatively took a step onto the balcony, “It won’t fall, right?”

“Not unless you way a metric ton,” she joked, and I laughed before walking over to the edge, it was very spacious. You really could see everything. There were mostly a lot of trees off in the distance, but if you looked hard enough there were more trees and way far out buildings, streets things of the like.

We stayed out on the balcony for a few more minutes before going back into my room. I stopped walking and momentarily wished I had a mirror to check if I looked alright. In front of me stood a boy, whom I guessed to be her brother, Devon.

“Where do you want these?” His voice sounded so smooth, like he always knew the right things to say, and never got tongue tied. It was deep and mellow, quite soothing.

I then noticed he was carrying all three of my bags, as though it were nothing. “Uh, anywhere is fine. He set my two suitcases on the floor and tossed my carry on bag onto the bed.

“Aren’t you even going to say hi?” Tymora said, glaring at her brother.

“Hello,” he said, shortly before glaring at his sister and walking out the room.

I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders when he left. I didn’t feel the need to grab a mirror or anything like that. Devon just seemed, man pretty. He was very tall probably about 6 feet. His hair was shaggy and black, it looked nice on him. Like he washed it regularly but didn’t really bother to get it cut and the front fell into his eyes sometimes and he’d jerk his head to get it out of the way.

I think he had a muscular build, but I couldn’t really tell right now. He was wearing a pair of baggy black pants and a black shirt, and when he had turned around to walk away, I noticed his boxers were showing…with what appeared to be little green frogs on them. Childish, yes, cute, yes, but it all seemed to work with his dark green eyes. I mentally smacked myself, he had barely been in the room for a minute and I had already memorized so much about him. I could only hope to know more.

“Wow,” I muttered to myself before turning back to look at Tymora who was grinning.

“Just say it.”

“Say what?” I asked, a little confused.

“Tymora, I think your brother is hot. Just say it.”

I scrunched up my face, “No…” I said stubbornly. She rolled her eyes and we walked out of my room, passing by her room.

“Mum and dad’s room is on the first floor, and Devon’s is on the second too but he has another room in the attic, God knows what he’s doing up there.”

“Do you two get along well?” I asked as we walked down the stairs.

“We get into fights like every normal brother and sister, but yeah…we get a long pretty good.”

“Your house is so bloody big I’m afraid I’ll get lost one of these days.”

“Don’t worry about it, the maid will help you out.”

“You have a maid too!?” I asked, shocked.

“No,” she laughed lightly, “I’m kidding, we do all the chores by our self, so don’t be shocked when you’re asked to do some too.”

“It’s alright…I’ll need something to bring me back to reality…I already feel like I’m living in a palace.”

“A palace?” She said, looking back at me, “All of it isn’t really ours; you know…most of it we just look after, like the ranch…”

“Whose is it?”

“I’m not really that sure, a Wizards, that’s all I know.”

I nodded my head, not thinking much of it at the time. We walked past a game room, I’d never seen those kinds of games before, but my stomach grumbled and it was a good thing the next stop was the kitchen.

“Grab anything you want,” Tymora told me, and I was only too happy to oblige. She opened the door to their pantry and I was in food heaven.

“What’s…Top Ramen?” I asked, reaching for a pack of it.

“Its noodles, you’ve never had them?”

I shook my head, “How do you make them?” I was more than a little curious as to how something in this pack that felt brick hard could be made into noodles.

“You’re supposed to put them on the stove in boiling water, but Devon and I, lazy arses that we are, put them in the microwave, they taste better that way anyhow.” As she talked she walked around the kitchen, grabbing a bowl and fork as she did. “Open it up and put them in here, then poor water in it.” I didn’t exactly comprehend what she said and she spoke again, “Gin. Open pack. Put in bowl. Poor in water. Insert in microwave.”

I rolled my eyes and did as told, “What and where is the microwave?”

“It’s a device that warms things up and it’s above the stove,” she pointed it out and told me how to work it.

“Spiffy,” I said as I put my elbows on the island and rested my head in my hands as the food cooked, “What’re you having?”

“I’m not that hungry, a poptart should do.” She pulled something out that was in a silvery wrapper and opened it. “Cinnamon’s my favorite.”

“You do know you’ll have to explain everything to me…”

“Yeah,” she said grinning at me, “As long as you tell me everything about the Wizarding world.”

“Of course.” Then something clicked and I had to ask, “Well, shouldn’t you know? I mean…I don’t think you go to Hogwarts but…isn’t one of your parents a…?”

“Yes, my dad is, but I never received a Hogwarts letter and so…I’m a little left in the dark about most of everything. I think they even have a name for people like me…a squib?”

“A squib, yes…but you could have fooled me…What about Devon?”

“He goes to Durmstrang, of all places I don’t know why he picked there but…at least he didn’t pick up one of those awful accents,” she said, breaking off a piece of her poptart and eating it. I jumped, hearing something beeping behind me. “Chill, it’s just the microwave.”

I nodded and opened it up, seeing steam coming from my bowl of noodles I grabbed them and carried them to the island, shaking off my fingers. “Hot,” I said, picking up the package that came with them and poured it around the bowl, stirring it with a fork.

“What sort of things do you do at home for fun?” Tymora asked, taking out two pouched things from the refrigerator. She handed one to me and took a yellow straw from the back of hers, hitting it on the island top to slide the wrapper off. She then placed the straw through a hole on the thing as I watched, bewildered. “It’s a caprisun.” She then took mine and showed me how to do it too.

“Well, we play exploding snaps…quidditch, degnoming the garden but that’s not exactly fun.”

“Is that it?”

“No, but all I can think of right now, a bit sad. I bet there are a lot more fun things that you all do.”

Tymora nodded, “From the sounds of it. Have you ever played football? Gone to the cinema? Rode a bike? Skateboarded?”

I shook my head, “Football, I’ve heard of, but never really played.”

“By the end of the summer, you’ll have learned so much. After you eat, we’ll go play some football, I’ll even ask Devon if he wants to join, he’s wicked at it.”

“Yeah, that all sounds great.” I blew on my noodles before placing them in my mouth, instantly loving the taste. Needless to say I ate it all pretty fast, drinking the caprisun with it. “Football?”

Tymora was staring at me, wide eyed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen food consumed that quickly.”

“6 brothers, 7 if you count Harry…eating contests, I’ve had great mentors.”

“Whose Harry?”

“I’ll tell you about him later, but I’m sure you’ve already heard of him, let’s go play football!”

I put the bowl in the sink and threw the caprisun into the trash can. “Devon! Gin and I are going out to play on the pitch, come down if you want to!”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Tymora and I walked out the front of the house, she picked up a round ball on our way out, and it was white with black dots on it. She put it in front of her and kicked it as we walked up to the pitch. “The game is pretty much running and kicking, gives you a good work out too.”

We both looked back when the back door was shut again, out walked Devon, “You two gonna play or what?”

He walked passed us kicked the ball the rest of the way over the pitch. Tymora and I quickly caught up, each of us taking turns to hop over the white fence.

“Do you know how to play?” He asked me and I shook my head, “right…we don’t eve have enough people to play a game so we’ll just kick it around. Tymora, get in the goal.”

“Why me? Why don’t you?”

“Because, you suck at kicking, you’re better at blocking. Get in the goal.”

I laughed at the two; it was nice to look at a brother and sister fighting, when I wasn’t the sister. Tymora pushed Devon as she ran pass him and down to the goal at the other end of the pitch.

Devon kicked the ball towards me and I stopped with my foot, “Kick the ball, try to get it pass me and into the goal, basic rules of the game, we can go over positions another time, if you even care to learn to play.”

“I do…” I said, looking up into his green eyes. He didn’t seem the type to play football, but maybe Quidditch just wasn’t his thing, and he looked more Muggle than Wizard anyways. “Will you be able to play in those pants?” I asked arching an eyebrow. I didn’t know what came over me but I suddenly felt comfortable around him, like I didn’t have to impress him. I know I didn’t have to because it’d just be weird to get involved with him, “They’re so low your arse is hanging out over them.”

“But you like it, don’t you?” He said, smirking.

“Come on you two!” I heard Tymora shout.

“Yeah, you wish,” I joked, pushing him out of my way as I gave the ball a hard kick and jogged down the pitch after it, he quickly caught back up with me, taking the ball out from under my feet and he himself kicked it into the goal. “Cheater,” I muttered softly, I hated loosing.

I don’t know how long we played, but it seemed as though we were out there forever, until we were all breathing hard and sweating, but we laid down on the grass and the sprinklers ended up coming on and I screamed, jumped up and started to go back into the house, Devon and Tymora following after.

We got into the house, Nicolette just staring at us, “Up and into the showers, all of you. Come back down for dinner when you’re done.”

We were all laughing as we squished our way up the stairs, everyone going into a separate bathroom to shower. I hadn’t even been here for twenty four hours, but I was already fitting in with the family. Nicolette treated me like I was her own daughter, Tymora as though I were a sister and Devon…well I wasn’t too sure about him, but a small part of me hoped he didn’t think of me as a little sister he had to take care of.

After I got out the shower, I dressed in a pair of pajama pants and a tank top, before going downstairs and sitting at the table the food was on. Tymora and Devon were already down there, along with a man I guessed to be their father.

“Ginevra, Ginny, it’s nice to finally meet you.” He was tall, I guess that’s where Devon got it from, and he didn’t look so old, he didn’t have a beard or anything. His hair was too short to do anything to and it sort of stood up on its own.

“Nice to meet you too Mr. Leahy,” I said, smiling warmly at him. Devon and Tymora began laughing.

“Mr. Leahy? Dork. Call him Ben or Mr. L,” Tymora told me. I nodded my head as Nicolette sat down and we all ate dinner. That night they had spaghetti, my favorite, and it tasted delicious. I would say it was better than my mum’s but, no one cooks better than my mum.

“Could I use your telly-phone, thing?” I asked, bringing chuckles from them all.

“Of course, love, it’s on the wall.”

I nodded and stood up, I had remembered the number my mum had told me to call and quickly punched it in. “Hello? Mum?” I spoke into the receiver.

“Ginny? Is that you? Mum! Ginny’s on the phone!” It was Ron, “How are you? Is everything alright there? Is the family treating you well?”

I was surprised that Ron learned not to shout into the phone, “I thought mum would be asking me those questions.”

“Well she is, but I figured you’d tell me the truth.”

I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me. I heard the phone being moved around, “Gin? How are you?”

“I’m good, mum, how is everything at home?”

“Just fine, we all miss you.”

“I miss you too, but mum I’ve not been gone for a full day yet.”

“Well, I know, but no one is here to argue with Ron and it keeps the house quiet.” She said, laughing slightly.

“Would you like me to send a howler everyday?” I joked.

“I think that would suffice. How is the family? They’re treating you good, yes?”

“Yeah, they’re great. Would you like to talk to Nicolette, I’m sure there are some things you two could converse over.”

“Yes, dear, that would be lovely.”

“Alright,” I put my hand over the receiver, “Nicolette, my mum would like to talk to you.” Nicolette stopped putting the plates in the sink and walked towards me, “Okay, mum I’m going to go up to bed now, talk to you soon. Love you.” I passed the phone to Nicolette who gave me a kiss on the cheek and bid me goodnight.

I ran up the stairs, in search of Tymora who was lying in her bed, watching telle-vision. “Going to sleep already?”

She shrugged, “Football wore me out so I’m a bit tired, sorry.”

“It’s alright; I was on my way to bed too…what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”

“I’ll phone my friends around noon to see what they’re doing…maybe we’ll go see a film or something,” she stifled a yawn.

“Wicked, well, goodnight then.”

“Night,” she turned onto her side and closed her eyes. I quietly closed her door before walking the few steps into my room and lying on my bed. This was the first time I actually got on it since I’d been here and it was just as soft and comfortable as it looked. I climbed under the covers and clicked the TV on with a remote. I didn’t know what channel was what, but I found something, it was a music veedio channel. I could easily fall asleep to music at night and so I left there. As I closed my eyes I knew that if one day was this fun, I couldn’t begin to fathom what would happen the rest of the time I was here, but I knew it would be an awesome experience.

Cause you make me feel
Cause you make me feel wild
You touch my inner smile
You got me in the mood
So come and make your rule
And free me

Inner Smile by Texas

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Sadly, this is one of the longest chapters I have written in a long time. I hope you all enjoyed the second chapter of this fic. Again, bare with me on the first place thing, ha-ha, it’s seemed to confuse me more than normal. I would have updated sooner but I went on a random trip to California Thursday afternoon and just got back Sunday night and so, I don’t know how long it’ll take for the next chapter to come up as I haven’t had anytime to write.

Also, I’m not sure how people talk in Ireland. I live in America and I know our lingo and so if anyone happens to live overseas and would know of some useful things I could say, that would be great. IM me or Email me, something like that… HybridExplorer08 is my AIM and missmonet@msn.com is my email address.

I’m not sure if they say awesome or chill or anything like that, so, anyone that could help me with that would have my love, forever. I’m also thinking of changing my name to Miss Monet instead of That’s So Raven/Captain Pirate Jack Sparrow, just because haha. But if it’d be less confusing for you all if I left it the same, I will. Here are where I got the ideas for rooms/house designs and stuff, I’ll have some with things that I try to describe, but sometimes I’m awful at it so here they are:

Ginny’s Room: http://www.locationworks.com/library/pix/49/02/1/1/2/45/14.html

The House: http://www.locationworks.com/library/pix/49/02/1/1/3/12/01.html

Balcony View: http://www.locationworks.com/library/pix/49/02/1/1/3/12/16.html

Disclaimer: I own nothing put the things you do not recognize. Credits for things you may recognize go to JKR and various books I may have read.

Summary: An exciting summer, in a different place, the chance of a lifetime. Love, romance, and happiness…what more could a girl ask for? Besides the fact that I keep running into none other than, Draco Malfoy. This is supposed to be my summer of romance and he isn’t helping any…or is he?

Summer Abroad: Carpe Diem

Chapter Two: Surprises

Waking up, I momentarily wondered where I was. It only took me a couple of seconds to remember I was in great ol’ Ireland! Throwing the blankets off of me I hopped out of the bed, slid on my slippers, and walked out of my room, not realizing someone had turned the telle-vision off. Tymora’s door was wide open, but she was still sleeping. It was a rather funny sight; half of her was off the bed, slightly reminding me of the twins. Those two could sleep through and on anything.

I chuckled softly before walking down the stairs and wondering around for a bit, looking at things I had just glazed over the other day. I had seen the game room, but never really looked at what games there were. Though, there was already an occupant in the game room, I still entered, a warm smile on my face. “Morning, Devon.”

“Gin,” he said simply with a curt nod. Not really what I expected, but a boy’s response none the less. “Early riser too?” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me at first, but I was the only other person in the room.

“Yeah, being at Hogwarts really mucks up my sleeping time,” I replied, watching him hit a ball with a stick on a table with a green surface. If this was a game, I didn’t get the point, but it looked quite boring, really. “I’m guessing Tymora isn’t, right?”

Devon nodded his head, “She’ll sleep in until about 12 bells, usually, and if she’s out late maybe sometime late in the afternoon.” He looked away from the table and up at me, “Do you want to play?”

“Eh? I’d like to, but I don’t know how…” I trailed off, breaking the eye contact by looking down at the table. His eyes were amazing; the shade of green was really indescribable.

“It’s quite simple, the game is called Pool, and you just shoot these here balls into the holes,” he shrugged. Well, it sounded easy, so I grabbed a stick and tried hitting the ball, only to be told I was doing it all wrong.

Devon laughed at me as he walked towards me and showed me how to hold the stick between your fingers properly. So, maybe it did make it easier, but I would have figured that out on my own at some time. Just as I was about to shoot the ball I saw Nicolette walking into the kitchen, “Good Morning, mum.” Devon said, smiling at his mother who asked what we would like for breakfast.

I shrugged, and Devon told her pancakes. Apparently he had a liking for them and I nodded my head, agreeing. If Nicolette’s pancakes were as good as dinner, then I’d eat anything she cooked. Devon and I played a game of pool, which resulted in me winning and him losing. However, I guess I didn’t really win as he says. He knocked in the black eight ball and claims that though he did lose, but I didn’t win. The game will never cease to confuse me because I still think I won.

Tymora came down a little later, as soon as the smell of food was floating through the air. We all sat and ate breakfast, with the exception of Mr. Leahy as he had already left for work. “Ginny, my friend Skye phoned in and said a bunch of people were going to meet up and go to this club for teens tonight, if you want to come.”

“A club for teens?” Nicolette asked, before I could even respond to Tymora. “Where is this at exactly? What people will be there?”

“Muuum!” Tymora whined, “Not this again…we’ll be alright, I promise. You can even send Devon to follow us if you’re that worried.” Her mom sighed but in the end said they could go, as long as Devon went with them. He shrugged his shoulders, “so how about it Ginny?”

I nodded my head, “Sounds like fun.” Honestly, I was already beginning to get nervous. What was I to wear? I bet the clothes I have aren’t going to be as fashionable as anyone else’s. This was going to be my first outing in Ireland and already I’d make a fool of myself. I don’t even know how to dance!

After we ate and cleared the table, Tymora asked me if I had any idea of what I should wear and if I had ever drank before.

“Well…sure I’ve had sips of things but I’ve never had enough to come remotely close to being drunk,” I said with a shrug, though not embarrassed by the fact that I didn’t drink. Tymora just nodded her head, “as for clothes? I have no clue. I might as well just throw on some slacks and a shirt, it’s probably the best I have.”

Tymora smiled at me before pulling me off of my own bed and into her room, “You can borrow some of my clothes, until I can take you shopping, my treat. Anything you want, just not the black tank top or those black shoes because I’m wearing them tonight, other then that…go crazy.” She said before grabbing a towel off of her bed and heading towards the bathroom.

Walking to her closet I browsed through it, not even knowing what color to start from. Her closet was well organized; color coded so if you knew what color you wanted, it’d be easy to find something. White…black…green….red? Ah…would clash with my hair…blue? Blue could work. My train of thought, as you see is a bit odd at sometimes but you will have to deal with it.

After a while of just standing in her closet, looking around I decided on something I thought would be decent. A pair of blue jeans that had rips in some places, I think they were made like that where as my jeans have rips in them from years of wear. I also picked out a lacy, royal blue tank top and a deep, dark red jacket that had royal blue around the edges. I thought it would look cute, and maybe she would have shoes to match.

I didn’t want to look completely horrible on my first day meeting her friends. Sitting on her bed I patiently waited for her to come out of the bathroom. When she finally did, steam was following here and I arched an eyebrow, “Use up all the hot water, why don’tcha.” I said jokingly, knowing I was cable of using twice as much.

“What have you picked out?” Tymora asked, looking down at the clothes on the bed. I quickly scooped them up in my hands.

“You’ll just have to wait and see…and maybe help me decide what to do with my hair,” I smiled before walking into the bathroom. To me, it wasn’t possible to shower too much. Though I had taken one last night, I still wanted to take another this morning. Besides, who knew if I’d meet any boys? I wanted to be very fresh, correct? Correct.

A dragging two and a half hours later we were finally out the door. Tymora loved what I had picked out, and helped me with my hair. We didn’t do much to it, just dried it and then straightened it and used this…crimper thing. I like it, and hopefully other people will too. I sat in the back of Devon’s car, as he ushered us around the city.

“Where are you going first Ty?”

“Well a bunch of kids are down at the one park, you know? And if you don’t want to go to the club I’ll just call you when it’s over,” she said, playing with the buttons on his radio.

“I might end up going, Bryan was telling me about a Club Zodiac, if that’s what it is?” Tymora nodded her head. “Well then, you have your designated driver for the ride home.” He said as he stopped the car. “Now, get out.”

“Well gee, thanks Dev.” Tymora said as she opened her door and got out the car, I quickly followed suit, telling Devon thanks and that we’d see him later. Tymora hooked her arm through mine and pulled me along to where a group of kids were sitting. As we neared them I became a little nervous. “They’ll love you Ginny, don’t worry.” She reassured me. It only helped a bit, but I was always nervous when meeting new people. “We’re all sarcastic and humorous so, bare with it, it can get a little out of hand sometimes.”

I nodded my head, putting on a smile as we came to a stop in front of her friends. I felt their eyes staring at me, some wandering where I wouldn’t have liked but I ignored it, taking a short breath as Tymora introduced us all. “Ginny this is Lena, Jamie, Shane and Cassie, their twins, Demi, Tommy, Shelby, Alyssa and Matt, or Mattie May. Everyone this is Ginny, she’s staying with us for the summer.”

They all smiled at me, waved and said greetings, “Hi…it’s nice to meet you all,” I said, looking them over, knowing I’d have a hard time remembering them all and putting names to faces. They didn’t all look exactly a like so perhaps it’d be easy.

Lena was a pretty girl; she had long black hair and an interesting way of dressing that I can’t even begin to describe. Her eyes were this wicked light green color, as I could see them though she was sitting pretty far away from me. Jamie reminded me of Dean Thomas a bit, though his hair was rather curly and he had a wide smile.

Shane and Cassie, the twins, had brownish-red hair which made me smile. Clearly, I wouldn’t be the only red head. Though it didn’t really matter as we were in Ireland and there were many red heads around. They both shared dark brown eyes and only Cassie had freckles. Demi, she was something nice to look at. Of African decent, and apparently mixed with something else as her skin was light and her hair, I loved. She had half of it in a pony tail and the other half going down her back. It was dark brown with light brown streaks in it and her clothes…let’s just say I wouldn’t mind if she dressed me a time or two.

Tommy had shaggy, dirty-blonde hair with electric blue eyes, and a dazzling smile. Shelby had black hair and eyes that could take on Tommy’s. Alyssa had light brown hair and warm hazel eyes, she looked to be a bit young but she fit in with the group anyhow. Mattie Jay had unruly black hair and his eyes, I couldn’t tell the color of, but he was cute. And I liked his name. Now remembering this will hopefully help me not call them the wrong names. They were all handsome, and gorgeous, but I’m not one to call anyone ugly. I could only wonder who was dating whom.

“So Ginny, where are you from?” Jamie asked me.

My eyes snapped towards him, “Near St. Otter Catchpole, Devon,” I replied, my voice sounding loud and bold rather than the quiet and shy I expected it to be. I smiled, just realizing that Devon was also the name of Tymora’s brother.

“Wicked…how long will you be staying?” I looked to see Tommy smiling at me.

“A little over a month…or longer if I like it here,” I said with a smile.

“We’ll give you a time here that you’ll never forget,” Lena said before she stood from the bench, standing at just about the same height as me. “So what do you guys say we get out of here? I’m starved.”

Everyone said something; I couldn’t listen to all ten replies at once but we started walking away from the park anyways. I walked with them, observing the surroundings. My mum always told me to look where you were; you never know what might happen. If you got lost, at least you’d be able to remember you way around a little.

I forgot about the surroundings though, as I felt someone walk beside me, looking to my left I saw that it was Tommy. I smiled at him, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, “Hey,” I muttered softly, feeling the blush creeping onto my face.

“Hey,” he replied, with such coolness that I would never be able to master. It wasn’t that all these kids were cooler than me, but just that I was a new comer, wasn’t I supposed to be nervous? “You don’t have to be nervous around us,” he said, as though he had been reading my mind. “You can act however you’d like; we’ll learn to love it, as you will with our odd habits and ways of speaking.” He told me, the smile never leaving his soft, pink lips.

“Thanks,” I said, returning the smile. “It’s not that I’m nervous…well not completely, I think I will fit in with you all pretty well. I have 6 brothers and that throws in a lot of diversity so I’m used to different.” I bit my bottom lip after I finished talking, feeling that I had spoken too much. Though he had just told me to act normal, just be me, I could do that. Yes, I didn’t have to be nervous anymore, they surely didn’t seem to be nervous around me. Hopefully everything would turn out alright.

“6 brothers? Jaysus were your mum and da trying to build an army or something?” Tommy said before laughing.

I chuckled a bit, “Perhaps. I’ve never really wanted to ask…I’m the youngest too so…it makes things worse for me.”

“Bloody hell, it just sounds horrible.”

“Eh, it’s not that bad I mean…they’re pretty protective but my brother Ron is the worst. The rest…I can deal with.” I was beginning to feel at ease with Tommy, it seemed as though he and I could get close. Become good friends or maybe more. I didn’t want to think of that right now, jeopardizing a good friendship because of my thoughts would be horrible.

“What’re their names?” He asked, and I began to wonder if he was really interested, or just talking so I wouldn’t be alone. Either way, it was a bit nice.

“There’s Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ron. Fred and George are twins, also. I’m the first girl on my father’s side in ages. It’s no wonder I can be a bit spoiled at times.”

“That’s not so bad,” he said, and I looked in front of me for the first time in a while, realizing that the others were already making their way into food place. Tommy held the door open for me and I walked in, muttering a thank you before taking a seat near the others. We had to use two separate booths as there were so many of us.

I sat across from Tymora who grinned at me, “You and Tommy are getting pretty close already, eh?”

I rolled my eyes, “Shut up Ty,” though I couldn’t hide the smile when Tommy sat down next to me.

“Are you hungry?” Tommy asked, I shrugged my shoulders. We had just eaten breakfast but I could use a quick snack.

Looking up I saw a large menu, my eyes raked over the food choices, “That depends, is it your treat?” I asked with a small smirk on my face.

“Why, of course.”

“Alright then I’ll take a pretzel – with cheese – and some pink lemonade.” I cocked my head to the side, smiling softly. He nodded his head and stood from the table, and walked to go order our food. When I turned back to face the others at the table, Tymora was trying hard not to laugh. I rolled my eyes and moved further into the both, turning sideways until my back was against the wall.

I looked at Shane, Alyssa, Shelby, Jamie, and Lena who were in the booth next to us. They were all talking about something that apparently, was funny. Shane threw a glance up at me and smiled. He had an odd look to him…which made him appear…nah; I won’t even bother judging him.

Tommy came back and placed two pretzels and cheese on the table and two drinks. I smiled, “Thanks.”

“So Ginny, tell us a little about yourself,” Demi said, tapping her fingers on the table and looking at me.

“Um…well I was just telling Tommy about my brothers…all six of them,” I paused, knowing there would be shocked sounds and surprised looks. Hopefully this would be the last time I had to explain all of this while I was here. “Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, twins, and Ron…I’m the only girl and the youngest. The first girl in generations makes me feel a bit special.”

“Are they a lot older than you?”

“Eh…not really. This is all going to sound confusing but it makes sense to me. Bill is two years older than Charlie who is three years old than Percy who is two years older than Fred and George who are two years older than Ron who is a year older than me.” They all just stared at me; the confused look on their face that I figured would be there. “Okay…there’s about…eight years between the oldest and I.”

They nodded their heads, apparently that made them understand easier. I smiled softly, taking a sip of my drink. As I ate my food they continued to ask questions. I answered them just as eagerly, wanting them to know much about me, minus the fact that I am a Witch. I had a set school I was supposed to say I attended, and hopefully they somehow didn’t go there or know anyone that went there. After everyone had eaten we walked around the town a bit.

They showed me some neat things and I took pictures, of things, and just of them…to have and keep and remember this trip. Before I knew it we were walking into Club Zodiac. Which apparently had something to do with your Zodiac sign…if it was during the time frame of your zodiac sign then you would get in free.

Upon walking in, the place what quite large. There was a dance floor in the middle, a bar to the left and on the right…a place for V.I.P’s or so the sign read. Tymora pulled me onto the dance floor with her, and I froze a bit, not knowing what to do. Sure there were dance at Hogwarts but to the Weird Sister’s and nothing like this. Biting my bottom lip and looking up at Tymora she laughed at me. “Just do whatever comes to you…don’t pay attention to anyone else just…feel the rhythm.” She told me, and I looked at her as she danced, her hair becoming a bit unruly, but she still managed to look pretty. I wouldn’t be able to do that.

It was as if he were reading my mind again, because Tommy came up beside me, placing a hand on my waist and turning me towards him. “Ty’s been dancing since she knew how to walk. Just do what you want. Dance with me,” he said and I shook my head at first. However, he wasn’t taking no for an answer, which I thank him for. He is apparently, just what I needed.

Before I knew it, I really wasn’t paying attention to anyone else on the floor. Just Tommy and I. And I loved every second of it. Tommy pulled me closer to him, and I reveled in the fact that we were so close. The very smell of him was like heaven to my sense. As the song slowed down I became aware of the fact that someone was staring at me. I didn’t know who, but I could feel it.

I looked around the room, but saw no one out in the open, just staring at me. It was really bugging me and I couldn’t ignore it. I turned around, still dancing, my back facing Tommy’s front as I looked around again. My eyes transfixed on the top of someone’s head. A hair color that I only knew all to well. I couldn’t see the face, but the blonde hair was etched so well into my memory that it couldn’t be anyone different.

“Something wrong?” I jumped, having been in my own little world, hearing Tommy’s voice brought me back.

I turned back around to face him, “No…just thought I saw someone I knew but…it’s not possible.”

“Why isn’t it possible?”

“It’s just; he wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.”

“He?” Tommy asked, arching an eyebrow, looking around the room.

“N-nothing just forget that I mentioned anything.”

He shrugged his shoulders, and took a small step back from me, “Are you thirsty? I’m going to go get us some drinks.”

I nodded my head rubbing my hands together before turning around, my nose coming in contact with something hard, yet soft. I rubbed my nose before looking at what I had bumped into, apparently it was a body. Looking up, my eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Hello, Weasley,” he said, his ever popular smirk appearing on his face.

MALFOY? What in the bleeding hell was he doing here? This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be here. This was a Muggle club, and Malfoy despised all things Muggle. And to top it all off, Tommy walked back over, saying the something I would have never imagined coming from his lips, “Oi, Draco…what’re you doing here?”

Hello all! First I’d like to apologize for the long period without updating. Though I did change the story status to abandoned. I’ve just spent a few hours typing this so I hope it’s good! I hope I’ll be ale to start writing and updating regularly again…school has been horrible. My grades are the worst, and I’m on Winter Break right now so I figure’d I’d try and write something. Well anyways, here it is…hope you like and don’t forget to REVIEW so I’ll know if I should keep going with it or not! Thanks in advance!