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DISCLAIMER: For people who didn't read the bio, all of this stuff belongs to JK Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic etc.! NONE OF IT'S MINE! There's one part where you should look into Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander to see what I'm talking about. Oh and there's a line from the Hindenburg 1937, by Cameron Dokey, yes I stole that.
A/N: I wrote this before Order of the Phoenix came out, so bits and pieces of it won't be right, but I think you lot can deal! Also, enjoy, since I'm finally typing after writing out about 5 chapters in my notebook.
One more thing, this is going to be an AU by the end of the 7th book, if it's not too different from the fifth book as it is. So I'll just say AU for now, shall I?
OH AND A HUGE MERCI BEAUCOUP POUR MES CHERIES AUBREY, LORNA, AND MAUREEN!! (Check out their stories- you might know them as Diamond Rainne, singer, and Molicious). That's all for now- START READING!!! ^_^
One Kiss
Lives About To Change
A hooded figure covered in a long, thick, expensive black cloak trudged on through the night. The rain was coming down
hard on this stranger as he kept walking down the lane into the small pub. With a swish of his cloak, he entered the
place and left the night in a sort of strained silence.
Even though the tavern was a lot warmer than outside, the figure didn't take off his cloak. The bartender looked at him, wondering what this man was doing here. He held a single suitcase and a... no, he must have imagined it, but he swore he saw a broomstick. Right now, the object seemed to have disappeared. The bartender shook his head and forgot the broomstick as the stranger sat down.
"How may I help you, sir?" the bartender asked as he wiped the counter in front of the person.
"I would like a room, please," the man answered.
"Well, there is a comfy spot, room number 6, which would suit you well..."
"Why is that?" the stranger turned to look at him, with a fierce glare in his direction. The bartender gulped.
"Sorry, sir, I just meant that since you are alone, that it might be..."
"Never mind, how much will that be?"
"100 Euros for the night."
The stranger nodded and just threw money down. The bartender starred. There must have been 400 Euros there! What was this man thinking?!
"Er, sir, how long will you be staying?"
"Just the night."
The bartender stared back down at the money. He was an honest man, and although this honesty was battling quite brutally with his greed, he returned the money and directed the man, "Up the stairs, third door on the left."
"Thank you."
With that, the man walked past the bar up to the room and collapsed on the bed, not even bothering to take his cloak off. He wiped his face with his hand, momentarily flattening the few lines of premature aging. Then he rolled over into a more comfortable position and tried to get to sleep.
Just as he was starting to fall into a deep sleep, a small clunk signaled a small silver chain dropping to the floor...
~*~*~
Draco walked up the barren hill to the neglected house. It was another one of Voldemort's meetings, held, as
always, at the Riddle House. He wondered what the hell the power-hungry bastard had thought up this time. Reaching the
moldy steps that creaked with age, he lifted up the sleeve of his left forearm, despising the dark skull that he saw
there. This was the first time in a while that Voldemort had called them for a meeting, since he was dwindling in
power. He must have another huge plan to get into control, yet again.
Draco sighed and snapped his left middle finger and thumb together twice. The door creaked open and admitted him. His cloak swished lightly as he walked briskly down the hall, turning into the dining room. The place was now devoid of chairs and table, and he was one of the last people to arrive.
Their circle had diminished to half its original size. Draco's own fath- no, Lucius, he ordered himself to say- had been taken to court about three months ago, and was awaiting his trial for the raping of five women, and the killing of twelve men, wizard and Muggle alike. Draco was happy to be rid of him, and as he crawled up to Voldemort, kissing the hem of his robes, he wondered why his father had given up his money and life to become the slave of this man.
He stood at his place in the circle, zoning out and thinking about that awful day, years ago, when he had come home from his Apparition test. Voldemort was droning on about how their numbers were dwindling, and about all his failed conquests, from the Sorcerer's Stone to the Lost Prophecy. He now had another one of those master plans that always managed to fail miserably. Draco had heard it all before, and his thought went back to that day.
It had been his 7th year, and, graduated from Hogwarts, he would stay home for a while. Once off the
train, his parents had met him and they had used the Floo Network to get home. Draco noticed, as he was heading for the
huge fireplace on the platform used for that purpose, that his parents had been speaking only to him, not to each
other, and in strained voices. Draco hadn't known what was wrong, but he figured that his parents had gotten into a
fight again, probably over Voldemort.
His mother didn't mind Lucius being Voldemort's minion, but she felt that a Malfoy shouldn't be lowering him or herself to torturing Muggles. Draco had known his mother too well, and knew she hated Lucius' life as a killer. They had had many rows before, and Draco thought that this one was no different. He should have paid more attention to the tension, for it was a lot more apparent and different from the other kind of tension.
They had arrived at the manor minutes later. Draco had unclasped his cloak and left his luggage at the door, for he knew that the house-elves would take care of it- that was what they were for, anyway. Then he took a nice, long shower before going off to take his Apparition test. He'd arrived by Floo Network, and since his father had already taught him how to Apparate illegally, he passed easily.
Showing off his skills, he arrived back at Malfoy Manor, strolling in and about to Apparate into the dining room when he heard a woman scream. He quietly tiptoed until he was right outside of the dining room. Sneaking a peek, he looked in to see Narcissa Malfoy cowering, her back to him and holding her hands up in protection. Meanwhile, Lucius was standing over her, glaring menacingly. He was silent for a moment.
"Ava-"
"STUPEFY!" Draco had shouted, fury rising in him. Before Lucius could look around Narcissa and recognize him, he slumped to the ground, unconscious. Draco rushed over to his mother. She stared at the heap of clothes that was Lucius' body. Then she lifted her eyes to meet his shakily. He hugged her quickly, and hurriedly thought over the situation, making up his mind.
"Mum, I want you to make him conscious again, but I need you to scare him, to make him leave. You can't live with this any longer; I won't let you. He needs help, and he's demented, you can't let him do this to you! Listen, pretend that it was you who did that- that your powers are strong enough not to need the aid of a wand. It's uncommon, but I know it happens. I'll be outside the door, announcing my arrival. He won't hurt you again, I promise."
Narcissa stared into his eyes, composing herself and nodding her head purposefully. There was a new determination in her eyes, and Draco was almost convinced that she could actually do the kind of magic not many were capable of performing.
Standing, he helped Narcissa up. Then he walked out the front door, waiting patiently. He saw, through a bay window partially hidden by curtains, Narcissa Malfoy standing above Lucius. She took her wand out and muttered something, which Draco knew was the countercurse to the spell. He saw her quickly shove the wand away, and as Lucius began to stir, he watched as his mother calmly started talking to Lucius. When he saw Lucius give her a death glare, and start to get up and walk, Draco opened the door to the Manor, announcing his arrival.
Before he could utter another word, Lucius walked up the stairs. He was back within minutes, with a suitcase that bulged with clothes peeking out at the edges. He strolled by Draco without a word and closed the door. Narcissa collapsed onto the ground and Draco briskly walked over to her. She looked in shock. Draco looked at her, and quietly muttered, "Tell me what happened."
Narcissa took a deep breath, and then began her story. "Lucius came home the other night drunk, and I asked him what was wrong, and he said, 'Nothing, I'm just celebrating.' I asked whatever for, and he sneered and said, 'the Dark Lord has another plan. This one I am sure won't fail.' I knew that it was another plan that would include torturing Muggles. I told him that he shouldn't go, that there was no use- this plan would fail like all the others. Then his eyes got a sort of odd glint, and he said, 'The Muggles aren't my only target.' Back then, I had no idea what he meant. I figured it was the alcohol talking. I left him to himself, to get up the stairs. It continued for a few days, us having row after row. Tonight I told him to stop torturing the Muggles, and that it was lowly and he was acting like a sick puppy, always following Voldemort's orders. He turned on me then, yelling stuff like how I was an ungrateful little wench, how I deserved to be wiped off the face of the Earth. That's when you came in, I think, right after he put the Cruciatus Curse on me, right after I screamed. He turned his wand on me, starting to utter the words of the Killing Curse. Thank you, Draco," she added emotionally, "for saving my life. I would have been dead if not for you."
Draco had seen to it that Lucius was caught in the act of torturing Muggles, and the Ministry had watched
Draco for about two months before finally letting up on security and giving him freedom.
His mind back on the meeting, he heard Voldemort come out of his ranting about how Muggles were overrunning the wizarding world, and anger at all the plans that failed. 'He must be quite upset. He's such a whiner,' Draco thought, 'all he does is complain about this person or that, or how he hates someone- seriously, does he let go of anything? Get a life and stop bothering people who actually have a purpose on this earth!'
Voldemort finally finished his nonstop complaining, and started to talk about a new plan. Draco started to tune out again, until he heard his name.
"…Draco, here, will get our little friend Miss Weasley, who I had lured into the Chamber of Secrets 11 years ago. She was specifically chosen for her talents, and they are beginning to grow and appear. It seems that she has grown into becoming a Seer, which is normally only a gift people are born with. She will be quite… useful. And when we're done with her, you may have your fun, Draco, until we kill her." His eyes held a malicious glint, and he grinned a wicked grin. "Avery, Nott, MacNair- you three get information from the Ministry on the status of Azkaban. We'll need to get some members free from the Ministry. The rest of you, wait until I call you again." There was a tone of finality in his voice, and the circle dispersed. Draco Disapparated once outside the house, and went to see Dumbledore.
Back in the house, Voldemort moved upstairs and into the room where he'd sought refuge at the beginning of his revival. "Phoenix and Dragon," he muttered, "right when I thought I'd had enough of prophecies. This should be an interesting match." He laughed cruelly, and stared into the fire, deep in thought.
~*~*~
Draco Apparated with a crack in front of the Three Broomsticks. Being a bit disturbed, he got lost in his thoughts as
he quickly walked up the pathway to the castle, being as stealthy as possible, hiding under his black velvet cloak.
Reaching the wooden front doors, he quickly pushed them open, heading through the maze of passageways and staircases up
to the stone corridor. Once there, he whispered a quick "Ice Mice" before stepping onto the spiraled moving
staircase leading up to the oak front door.
He impatiently knocked on the door twice and stepped back. A soft "Come in" announced his entry. An old, wizened man sat behind a cherry polished desk. A powerful aura still surrounded him, as potent, if not more so, than before. But the man looked stretched, far past the greatest years he should have lived. Draco often wondered how he could have lived this long, but then again, this was Albus Dumbledore he was talking about, and this man managed to be ordinary, yet totally different, all at once.
"So tell me Draco, what have you heard?"
Draco closed the door and strode to the chair facing Dumbledore. Settling himself into it while choosing his words carefully, he spoke up.
"The Dark Lord has learned of a Seer in our midst, a young lady whom he had 'met' in the Chamber of Secrets. I believe you know who I am referring to?" Draco raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes, yes, Miss Virginia Weasley. Do continue."
"He has a plan including Miss Weasley, a plan in which the kidnapping of her is vital. We do not know the plan yet, but by the look in his eyes... with all due respect, sir, he really and truly believes that this will bring him ultimate power over everyone, including you. He thinks that he will rule for all eternity. And it is my duty to bring her to him."
Dumbledore sighed. He stroked his fine, white beard and sat quietly thinking for a few minutes. Draco anxiously awaited his answer to the news. Dumbledore got up and walked to a corner where a worn closet stood. He pulled out an ancient stone basin with odd symbols engraved in the sides. He spotted some Latin words, and noticed that they formed a poem, 'Swirl, swirl, light and water. Which is it? It does not matter. The thoughts are contained deep within, waiting to be rediscovered.' He wondered what this basin was. But before he could ask any questions, Dumbledore took out his wand and touched the tip of it to his forehead. A trail of white... what was it? Smoke? Light? Water turned to wind? Well, a trail of white stuff pursued the tip of the wand as Dumbledore moved the wand down to the basin. Then Dumbledore looked up again, his tired face wrinkled in thought.
"This, Draco, is a Pensieve. This is where I keep my thoughts so that I can look through them carefully and see the links between events. I seem to recall one thought..." he trailed off, muttering to himself while stirring the contents of the basin.
Draco's mind had wandered over to the Headmasters snoozing in their frames while Dumbledore stirred when he suddenly noticed a small figure standing in the middle of the basin. He tore his eyes away from a particularly small Headmaster with deep aqua eyes and leaned forward to inspect it. It seemed to be a young woman, her feet shuffling and her hands wringing together. She also had the telltale red hair of a Weasley.
"Sir, I keep getting this nightmare... and this time something new happened. It's always a woman, maybe in her mid-twenties. She is standing on a cliff facing the ocean, tears streaming down her cheeks. It's sunset, and there's a light breeze because her hair is blowing slightly. She steps off the cliff and falls but she can't stop it because her hands are tied. But right before she steps off, she glances back and her eyes are glazed over from the unshed tears. What I saw this time was that her hair is red. Before, it used to be in black and white, and I couldn't tell whether it was sunrise or sunset, but this time I'm sure that it's a flaming shade of red. The worst part is, I'm almost certain that it's the same shade of red as my hair. I think it's me! Please help me, sir, I don't know what to do!"
Her voice, seemingly bouncing within the basin, sounding like an echo, faded away. Draco sat up, amazed at the hidden abilities of the Pensieve. Dumbledore quietly folded his hands and stared right into Draco's eyes.
"If what you are saying is the truth, then I fear that this... nightmare may be related to it. You will contact Miss Weasley right away, and then you will do anything in your power to protect her and hide her. If Voldemort asks, you are still searching for her. You will stay with her, no complaints," Dumbledore warned as Draco opened his mouth to protest, "no, I need you to watch over her. She needs someone who knows Voldemort and how he operates."
"Why can't Potter watch her? He'd be better off, and she'd like him better. Even if I'm a spy, I was still a Slytherin, and you know how the Weasleys... er... dislike Malfoys, and we've had a few bad run-ins..."
"Harry, for now at least, is busy with a coming wedding. You, on the other hand, must get acquainted again with Miss Weasley."
Draco sputtered, "But she hates me! You know she wouldn't take this well!"
Dumbledore sighed, "You don't know that for sure, Draco, and there isn't any other option. Please just do this, just for the Order?"
Draco, unable to think of any other excuse that Dumbledore would buy, silently muttered to himself as he stood and nodded respectfully to Dumbledore. 'The Weasel's sister? Who knows what kind of temper she has, with him as a brother. Oh well, nothing else I can do... at least this will be interesting...'
Dumbledore chuckled softly as Draco left the room, about to go back to Hogsmeade to get to his flat for the night. Tomorrow he would Apparate to Diagon Alley, where Dumbledore had told him she worked. He would get a room, and then find out from Madame Malkin where she lived.
'About time,' Dumbledore muttered, 'those two would never admit it back when they were in Hogwarts...' He got up and left to research more on Dark curses, where he had left off when Draco had come in.
~*~*~
"Arghh!!" Ginny yelled at the racks, having fallen again. "Can you just please, for one DAY, be
nice to me? You've fallen at least half a dozen times today!"
The upset redhead waved her wand once more, and the robes lifted themselves up and hung themselves on the racks. She sighed and waved her wand once more, fixing that shelf.
Madame Malkin looked over and chuckled. Ginny must have been in a hurry, she usually fixed things better, and with more care than she was showing the poor robes right now. Madame Malkin chuckled quietly and looked back outside. There seemed to be no more customers coming in, and, checking her list, she noticed that all preordered customers had left. Just as she was checking the list again, making sure she'd forgotten no one, Ginny bounded up to her, still a bit mad at the racks that weren't cooperating, and addressed Madame Malkin a bit too loudly for the distance between them.
"Madame, Madame!"
"Yes, Ginny?"
"Madame Malkin, can I leave early? Today's Charlie's birthday, and I've already finished all my fittings, the store is organized, and all the customers have been taken care of. Please?"
Madame Malkin carefully scrutinized the entire shop, including the fitting rooms out back in a semi-separate room. Sure enough, it was all taken care of, and Ginny had worked that day, even more than usual.
Satisfied, Madame Malkin turned back to Ginny and patted her on the shoulder, "Sure, the gods know you work so hard already! No more preordered customers are coming in for the day, and I think I'll be fine with the rest. Take the day off, and say hi to Charlie for me, there's a dear. Tell him I'll have a robe made in blue, I know it's his favorite color."
"Thanks, Madame, and I'm sure he'll love it."
'The dear must really be in a rush, she's so temperamental all the time! I pity the customers that are subject to her wrath when she's in a foul mood. At least she's a hard-working girl,' sighed Madame Malkin, 'Someday she'll find the one person who can handle her fiery nature. She never gives up.'
Ginny happily walked out into the late September afternoon, the sunset throwing shadows along the walls of Diagon Alley. Ginny walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies to retrieve the new Slip-Striker 500. She had been saving to get the broom for Charlie, to get the one thing he'd need to become a better flyer. This model wasn't even up for sale yet. "Thank you, Cameron."
"Anytime, Virginia."
She stepped outside and quickly Apparated herself to her flat.
~*~*~
She immediately arrived at her flat. She carefully set down the broom on the couch before searching haphazardly for
wrapping paper to wrap the gift. Irritated at not finding any, she muttered a quick spell before going to her room to
debate her choice of clothing for the party.
Ginny started picking out various clothes. "Blue silk shirt with khakis? Nah, too revealing; Ron would have a fit. White blouse with pinstripe pants? No, too formal. How about my old purple silk dress... oh, what's this?"
Ginny spotted a very old, wrinkled piece of parchment. She opened it and bitterly smiled. It was an old invitation out to eat two years ago. She remembered it like it was yesterday...
She was sitting in her flat, sipping hot chocolate on the cushy purple couch in front of the fire. She burrowed
deeper in the couch when she suddenly heard a faint tapping noise outside her window. She looked up and saw a
beautiful, snowy white owl quietly standing. She got up to let the owl in. It held a note tied in a red silk ribbon.
The ribbon held a single white rose. She inhaled deeply and set the rode inside a small glass vase. Carefully she
untied the ribbon and gasped in surprise as she read the note. She re-read it again just to make sure she hadn't
misread it. She hadn't.
Dear Gin,
I need your help. I know I haven't always been the friend you needed, but I hope you can find it in your heart to
forgive me. I really need you now. Please meet me at the Three Broomsticks at 8:00 tonight. There is so much I need to
talk to you about.
~Harry
She had looked at it sadly then. If he had sent it 7, maybe 8 years ago, she would have gone gladly, and her childhood dream might have come true. She might have brought the relationship further... but she had grown out of her infatuation with Harry. She'd thought Hermione had told Harry in Ginny's fourth year, but it seemed that Harry didn't know, or thought that she still liked him. She thought it rude not to go; she'd need to tell him in person.
At 8:00, she Apparated with a loud 'crack' right outside the Three Broomsticks and stepped inside, the frigid February air sending her teeth chattering. She looked around the pub full of creatures of all sorts- hags, ogres, and many types of creatures she hadn't even studied or recognized, with all her Hogwarts' teachings included. In the far corner she saw Harry. He spotted her and smiled warmly, giving her a quick wave over to the table. Harry was just as cute as before, but his smile didn't make her heart beat as fast as a hummingbirds' wings, or make her face flush the darkest shade of crimson anymore. She still loved him, but as a brother, like she loved Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ron. She decided to hear what he had to say and let him down easy. She quickly made her way to the table and flashed him a warm smile in return as she settled herself in. Harry called for the slightly ruffled Madame Rosmerta, only aging a bit since Ginny's Hogsmeade visits back at Hogwarts.
"So, what can I get you darlings?"
"I'd like a butterbeer, Madame Rosmerta," smiled Harry, albeit a bit shyly.
"A cherry syrup and soda with ice and an umbrella for me, Madame," Ginny smiled warmly as well.
"Coming right up, darlings!" Madame Rosmerta looked a bit rushed, but happily walked away.
Ginny turned back to Harry, asking curiously, "So, Harry, what was the note about?"
"I'm getting married, to a Muggle woman who works at my office..."
All Ginny could feel was relief. She wasn't jealous of the girl, and she didn't want him back, and it wasn't even that she wanted him to like her or announce his love for her. She simply felt reassured that he didn't like her that way, and that she didn't have to avoid an embarrassing situation. She felt a bit of disbelief that he hadn't really noticed that she'd admired him. He was quite oblivious, but she still loved him as a brother, and always would.
She was only half-listening to Harry as she felt the waves of comfort wash over her. His wife's name, was it Audrey? No, her name was Aubrey. She was his secretary ('I wonder how much work they actually did, or still do,' smirked Ginny). She zoned back into the conversation as Harry asked her a question.
"What was that again, Harry?"
Harry had gently said, "Aubrey needs a dress, and I suggested she come to you, and I was wondering if you would make it..."
Ginny smiled widely, "Of course I'll make it, I'd love to! When's the wedding?"
"She wants to wait a little while, maybe two years so we can look for a place to live, and organize the house, and make sure we absolutely want this. Mostly to get some time to learn about each other, and to think it through. Of course, you'll be invited to the wedding. She just wants to get some time alone, and she wants everything to be perfect."
"All right... but does she know about our world?"
"Our world?"
"Yeah, our world, you know, the wizarding world? Does she know? Will she be afraid of us? Or will she be overly joyful at having an excuse not to wash dishes properly?"
Harry laughed, "Actually, she thought it was cool that I'm a wizard. You'll see when you meet her, she's very strange, but that's what I..."
"Wait, did you say meet her? Before the wedding? For what?"
"For fittings. You'll love her..."
Ginny shook herself awake. She adored Aubrey, that was for sure, and they still needed to make some last
minute fittings before the wedding four months away. That was why she decided to love Harry as a brother- he was
completely oblivious and had never known her feelings for him, even though she'd only adored him in her first 3
years of Hogwarts. She had moved on way back then, starting to date Michael Corner and Dean Thomas and a few other
people in the school.
She kept flipping through clothes, and finally Ginny spotted a beautiful slim dress, gold and silver, silky with the colors fading and blending into each other perfectly. 'Wonderful,' she thought, 'just classic enough, but still very casual.'
She slipped on the dress, strapped on silver sandals, picked up the present and Apparated away to the Burrow for Charlie's birthday party.
~*~*~
Ginny appeared in front of the Burrow and quickly stepped up to knock on the door. Before she could knock a second
time, though, the door flew open to reveal Molly Weasley, still the short, plump woman she was when Ginny was in
school, now with a few strands of white-gray hair. Her enormous hug engulfed Ginny so, other than the fact that she was
nearly suffocating, she was happy to be back home. After Molly had finally let go of her daughter, Ginny stepped into
the home she had known for the first eighteen years of her life. Looking around, she felt a slight bout of homesickness
wash over her. She missed this place, and all its noise and inhabitants that had filled her youth.
A bang that shook the whole house completed her welcome, and her feeling of being home. "Home, sweet home," she whispered, and laughed out loud for several seconds. This was the home she remembered, the spicy smells wafting from the kitchen, her twin brothers' experiments up in their room, making ridiculous joke toys. They now owned a shop near Madam Malkin's on Diagon Alley. Their shop, Weasley's Wizard's Wheezes, had a booming business- the best-selling next to Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Ginny walked into the living room, heading for the kitchen when she noticed someone sitting on the couch, smiling up at her. It was Harry. She didn't even feel disbelief at her complete lack of feeling.
"Hey Gin, how are you?"
"Fine, thanks, and you? Oh, and how's the wedding planning going?"
"Oh, I'm doing all right. Our wedding has been going smoothly, but the wedding planner Aubrey picked is an awful perfectionist. Her name is Reen, short I think for Maureen. She is pickier than anyone I've ever known."
"Yes, I think I've heard Aubrey say something about her... she found this woman and knew her from a Muggle school... she isn't a witch, is she?"
"No, Muggle-born with no trace. She doesn't know I'm a wizard, and I don't think we're going to tell her either. I'll just let her handle the affairs of the wedding."
"What, am I not good enough for you now? My skills don't match up to this stranger?" Ginny asked, in a mock-hurt and disappointed way.
Harry laughed, "No, no one can beat your superior knowledge in these matters. We just... uh... er... needed someone less... er... set in their ways."
Ginny laughed too. She was known all around for her opinions and temper. She looked around and asked, "Where's Aubrey?"
"She's out with Reen looking at flowers. She didn't want to intrude on a wizarding birthday party, even though I could tell she was bursting to come... she sent her regards to Charlie."
"Well, that's good. I wish Charlie and everyone could meet her though, she has the fun, most wild and entertaining spirit alive."
Harry chuckled, "Her spirit was what made me first fall in love with her."
Ginny laughed louder. Aubrey was quite unique, and had many oddities about her, but she was so confident and passionate about what she loved. Ginny could see how this attracted Harry- any man would have fun with Aubrey.
"Lunch everyone!" exclaimed Molly Weasley- she had gone back to cooking a huge lunch. Ginny and Harry got up and made their way into the kitchen and out into the backyard. There was no room in the tiny kitchen for all the Weasleys and their families to stay. Even the backyard was just barely big enough to hold them all.
All the children were running around, chasing the ever present garden gnomes and playing tag on toy brooms as well as hide-and-seek, shooting up sparks randomly from the place where they found each other, so excited that their magic was going astray. They were quite a sight, running and flying after one another, causing chaos in their wake.
Fred and George were wrestling chairs. George's chair had a handle knocked off and Fred's had one leg that was splintered. Bill and Arthur were having a good argument on the goblins' control of Gringotts. Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch of course, and the wives of all the family were rolling their eyes, listening as the two men argued over the Chudley Cannons' chances at winning the Quidditch Cup.
Ginny walked over to the tables and made her way to Charlie. Ginny looked anxiously around, happy to return to the hustle and bustle of the Weasley house and back to the place she longed for during those lonely nights in her flat. She smiled and hugged the birthday boy as she got to his place on the table. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, saying, "Happy Birthday!" cheerily before dropping the broom into his lap.
Charlie looked up and smiled quizzically. He knew that the package contained a broom, but he always kept up with the latest models out. Of course, he currently owned the best broom, the Slick Dart 60, and he couldn't figure out what kind or model she had gotten him. Unfortunately, he'd have to wait until after lunch to see it.
Finally, everyone started getting settled. Fred and George had fixed their chairs and each sat down in their seats. All the children were herded to another, smaller table while the grown-ups filled the extended table right in the middle of the yard. Ginny sat closest to the children, and decided to keep a watch on them- they could get into trouble faster than you could say, "cake!"
Laughter and talking filled the air, all the noise overwhelming the sound of clattering forks and knives. Ginny enjoyed having a long-awaited talk with her father, and she was happily chatting about businesses on Diagon Alley. Harry was having a lovely chat with Charlie about Quidditch prospects for the World Cup, at a safe hearing distance from Ron. Ron, in the meantime, was having a light-hearted conversation with the twins, most likely about their latest invention. Molly and her daughters-in-law, Fleur, Kali, Katie, Alicia, Penelope and Hermione were gasping and giggling a lot.
Everyone was having a good time, but no one more than the children. Seated at their separate table, they talked noisily and wandered every few seconds. It seemed that they couldn't stand still. The salad and mashed potatoes with gravy were passed around, and as Ginny took her fill, she laughed as she saw Vanessa hit Bianca with a pea, only to be showered back with some gravy. Ginny took out her wand, gave it a quick flick, and the girls were clean again. She couldn't stop thinking about how good it felt to be home again.
~*~*~
Draco arrived right in front of the Leaky Cauldron and walked in to greet the same old Tom that had been there when he
was a schoolboy. He asked for a room, and Tom quickly led him and his two cases up the stairs to room number three. He
gestured Draco in, clapped twice, and a fire sprang up in the well-worn fireplace. Then Tom quickly exited the room,
letting Draco get himself organized.
He looked around, and then took off his cloak and washed his face quickly, noting the pale complexion that many would die for. He smirked to himself- he knew he was easy on the eyes. Then Draco hurriedly gathered his cloak again- Madame Malkin's shop would close soon, and he needed to make it there to see her and find out where Ginny lived.
~*~*~
Lunch was almost over- now there would be cake and presents. Since it was quickly approaching fall, the sun was already
in the middle of the western sky. Shadows were gathering around the trees and fields of the Weasley's backyard.
A huge three-layered chocolate covered ice cream cake came dancing by, led by Molly Weasley, flicking her wand this way and that and doing a small jig that almost imitated the cake's dance across the tabletop. The candles winked and smiled at every person as the cake made its way up to the other end of the table where Charlie sat. When it reached him it stopped moving forward and started spinning while singing, in a merry tune, its version of Happy Birthday.
"Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday! You're thirty-two today! Not too young, and not too old, just old enough, truth be told! Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday!"
As it sang the last word, the cake stopped dancing and sat down, turning inanimate again to a roar of laughter. Charlie smiled and took up the knife, cutting through all the layers. He cut out the first piece and placed it gently in front of himself. The second piece he cut he handed down the table until it reached Ginny. She smiled and waited as he cut all the pieces and handed them all down. Then Charlie took a bite.
All hell broke loose. Every one of the guys, except Charlie, dived for their piece. Ginny and Charlie were sitting there laughing with the rest of the women at the boys and men, who were eating the cake as fast as they could shove it down their throats. Once the laughter subsided, the women and Charlie started at a slower pace.
Bill returned from scolding the boys at eating so fast, and his mouth opened wide and he started laughing raucously. He was staring at the men eating so messy that their places were so much more rumpled and disorganized than all the children put together, and he just burst out laughing. This made Ginny and Fleur explode with laughter all over again.
Finally, when everyone was done eating, Charlie opened presents. The first present was from Harry, an ordinary but very expensive Broomstick Servicing Kit, filled with the best cleaner/polisher, containing exactly five drop of dragon's blood. Charlie gave it a wistful sigh, and then put it off to start a pile of gifts, knowing that he'd only be able to use it after the party was over.
Fred and George gave a joint gift- an innocent looking stuffed bear for James, Charlie's oldest son, to play with, and a basket full of their candies for Charlie. Charlie looked at it suspiciously and put it off to the side with Harry's gift.
Then came Bill's present, a guide to all sorts of exotic Dragon eggs, and the magical properties of all its parts, just what Charlie had wanted. He thanked Bill immensely and gave him a one-armed hug before moving on to the rest of the presents.
Ron gave him beautiful Erumpent gloves, which reached his forearm, that were sewn together with Demiguise hairs, making the gloves very light and give the feeling of the glove not being there. Charlie looked at it, amazed, and gave Ron a quizzical look. Ron shrugged and mumbled something a bit like, "Being an Auror pays well."
Charlie chuckled and turned to open his parents' gift, which was the same each year- a burgundy colored sweater with a large C on it followed by tons of his mother's homemade goodies, as well as a statue of a Re'em to lighten his spirits when he got injured. He gave them both warm smiles and huge hugs.
He then turned to the last gift, Ginny's gift, and quickly ripped the wrappings apart, suspense nearly killing him. It showed the Slip-Striker 500, beautifully laid in pale green tissue paper with a seafoam green slim box whose cover had been ripped open. She knew what everyone's reaction would be once they saw this, and sure enough, everyone gasped.
The population didn't even know this had been made- she was close friends with Cameron Boot, Terry Boot's brother. She had met Cameron at Hogwarts and had remained good friends with him ever since. She always got the latest news and models. No one even knew what this one looked like, and weren't even supposed to know until December.
Charlie looked at it in shocked silence, and with trembling fingers let it sit in the air. But as soon as he got up to mount his broom, it swept through his legs and waited for him to adjust himself before seemingly disappearing. Then, huge roars and cheers broke free of the men's controls, and they whooped as the broom switched suddenly from one place to another. Ginny smiled, knowing that this was the perfect gift to get him.
After Charlie descended, he thanked Ginny profusely and picked her up, swinging her around while everyone clapped and laughed, and then the crowd moved inside, for the sun had set and darkness was settling in. They fit comfortably into the living room, most of the children asleep on their parents' laps. Carolyn was sleeping peacefully on Kali, James on Charlie as the couple snuggled against each other. Bill and Fleur's one child, Bianca, snored softly on her mother's lap. Fred and Katie's little Vanessa was curled up on her father, leaning against his shoulder. George and Alicia had just one son, Darian. Hermione was pregnant with Ron's second child, their first son, Shane, was cradled in his father's arms. Arthur and Molly Weasley stood together, Arthur's arm around Molly as they surveyed their children and families with proud gazes. Ginny and Harry remained the only ones unmarried and with no children, though the marriage state would change for Harry on January 1st.
Ginny was tired. After one steaming cup of raspberry tea, she kissed all her brothers good-bye, and gave Harry a quick hug before thanking her parents and giving them both kisses and hugs.
"You sure, Ginny? You're welcome to stay in your old room," a tired but happy Arthur looked down at her concernedly.
"My baby's leaving again? Oh, but you just got here. At least stay the night Ginny!" Her mom exclaimed, throwing her arms around Ginny.
Ginny gave a huge yawn, "Thanks Dad, Mom. But I want to get back and finish one of my designs. I promise to visit soon, and you'll see me in four months anyway." Ginny gently squeezed her mother in return and stepped back. She really wanted to stay, since she hadn't been back in the longest time, but she was afraid that if she did, she would want to stay forever.
She stepped back outside after saying good-bye to everyone and hugging and kissing them silently so as not to wake the children. She turned around and took in the Burrow, looking exactly the same as when she'd left it four years ago. Her family was safe for now- the Dark Lord went back to torturing Muggles since his decline. Nevertheless, they had prepared the house in case he did come after them. Just for today, they had taken most of the wards down, leaving only undetectable protection ones. She knew that with a house full of wizards, the wards would be almost unnecessary. She and Apparated back to her flat with a sigh.
MORE A/N: So, the first chapter of my lovely, long story is here! This is just a sort of setting for the real action- I hope you'll review! Flames, if they must be, can be sent, but I'd love a bit of encouragement on whether or not to finish this since it's my first semi-decent story! AND if Draco seems OOC, or I don't seem to explain much, that's because it's coming up, maybe in the next chapter or the one after it. Well, that's all for now!!
~Trin M.