Chapter Three - A Break from Reality
He haunted her thoughts. The fresh memory of his threat flitting in and out of her ears. She shook her head ridding the thought from her mind. She needed a break, a holiday.
Ginny found herself taking a brisk step forwards, rapping firmly on the wooden door. It had been so long since she had been back here, back home. She gazed around the front yard, things lying strewn across the grass. She supposed that her parents would want to keep the place as homey as possible, even if their kids weren't there to mess everything up.
Ginny sighed, setting her suitcase down, slipping her shoes off. She stepped onto the extremely short grass (which her father had undoubtedly cut one too many times with a Muggle lawnmower), stepping lightly over to the garden. The blades of grass caressed her bare feet. Ginny felt carefree, as if she were a child again, traipsing about her grounds.
She laughed upon seeing the garden completely taken over by the gnomes. One popped up, shaking a fist at her. She stuck out her tongue, one finger pulling at her cheek so one could see her entire eye. The gnome laughed, diving back into its hole. Ginny smiled, walking to the back of their house. She spotted the back door, rushing over to it. Before Ginny got a chance to close the door, a loud thudding came from the staircase. She could feel the ceiling begin to shake.
"GINNY!" Ron roared as he jumped off the bottom step of the staircase. He ran up, engulfing his sister in a walloping hug. He squeezed her sides, pinning her arms down, swinging her around in circles. Ginny, though her mind occupied with the problem of breathing, made out thumping footsteps rushing towards them. When Ron let her go, she saw her entire troop of brothers grinning madly, each fighting to stay in front of the rest. Percy bustled his way out from the back of the pack of boys, clearing his throat importantly.
"Welcome home Ginny, I would love to stay and chat, but I must be writing a report for the ministry. It would be utter chaos if my report wasn't in on time for the case on magic carpets, it's a wonder mother and father got me home at all." Percy sniffed arrogantly, bowing his head slightly. He pushed up his glasses, quickly turning his back to them all. Percy trudged up the stairs, to his room Ginny suspected.
Her thoughts were soon turned to those of cheer as each of the rest of her brothers bombarded her with hugs and kisses. She smiled at them all, glad to be home, but muttered that she really should be putting her things away.
Finally freed from her sibling's grasp, Ginny walked up the stairs, her suitcase, fetched for her by Charlie, grasped snug in her hand. She held her shoes in her free hand, her feet getting reacquainted with the soft carpeting of The Burrow. Ginny stopped short on the second floor as a door was thrown open.
"Dear, you're home!" Molly beamed rushing out the door, her arms outstretched. She pulled Ginny into one of her famous motherly hugs, robbing Ginny of her breath. Ginny stumbled back as her mother let her go. She could feel her mother's soft hands on her cheeks, examining her eyes.
"Oh Ginny, how we've missed you, all of you children! Come down as soon as you've got your things situated for a cup of tea. I dear say you'll find your room just as you left it. Your father will be home by the time you're done if I'm correct," Molly sighed, walking down the stairs.
Ginny laughed, picking up her suitcase once more. She ducked down the hall, stopping at the door at the end of the hallway. Glimmering letters painted across the door read 'Virginia's room'. She smiled; opening the door, covering her face with her hands as a wave of stuffed animals came piling down on top of her. She kicked them inside her room, pushing a few off her bed. She flopped down onto the feather bed, examining her room.
The yellow walls were just as vibrant as ever, though the charmed paint was dimming with the darkening sky. She turned to the picture that lay on her bedside table, the images of her mother and father smiling at her warmly.
Ginny bounced off her bed, retrieving her suitcase from the floor. She unzipped the bag, charming all of her clothes into her dressers. A shrill shout from downstairs told her that her father was home. Bounding down the stairs, she rushed over to Arthur, practically jumping into his arms.
"Well, if it isn't my baby girl!" he laughed, letting her go. She smiled up at him, sitting down at the kitchen table, grabbing a cup for her tea. Soon enough everyone was at the table, making conversation.
"So Ron, how are things going with, Lovegood?" Fred coughed, setting his cup of tea down. Ron turned bright red, tipping his cup up to hide his face.
"I just work with her," he snapped, shoving a tea biscuit in his mouth. Ginny laughed as Ron turned to look out the window, signaling that the subject was closed.
She noticed that George was fidgeting in his seat, his face looked as if it were about to explode with laughter. She knew why as a big sign suddenly appeared above Ron's head which read 'liar'. Ginny snorted into her tea, a wave splashing up into her face, down her shirt. Fred and George exchanged mischievous glances, quickly excusing themselves from the table.
Arthur looked up from his paper, bursting out into laughter. Molly shot him a nasty glance, her eyes following his gaze. Her mouth dropped in astonishment when she saw what was going on. Molly's hand slid over to the dough roller, griping the handle tightly.
"FRED, GEORGE, THIS IS THE LAST STRAW!" she hollered, marching out in the general direction the twins had left. The remaining members of the Weasley family lapsed into a silence so they could hear what was going on.
"The first day you're back in this house you're causing trouble, I don't know what I'm going to do with you two! If I weren't your mother I would roast you alive! To tease your brother like that..." Molly's voice echoed down the hallway. Ginny could just picture the two shrinking back from their mother. Ron looked at her, a questioning expression on his face.
"What is she talking about?" he asked, turning his head to Bill, Charlie, and Ginny, the sign wiggling with his head as it moved. Ginny pressed her lips together, trying to remain calm.
"Look in the mirror Ron," she managed to spit out before chuckling heartily. Ron jumped up, rushing to the bathroom. It was the first time Ginny ever heard one of her brothers scream like a girl. Bill and Charlie rolled their eyes, turning back to Ginny. Arthur rolled up his paper, excusing himself from the table, saying he had to look into something for work.
"So, Ginny, how's life been treating you?" Charlie asked, setting his cup of tea down on the table.
"Alright I guess, I had a run in with Malfoy not too long ago, but that's not exactly anything interesting," she sighed, flinching, remembering how good it felt to have their bodies so close to each other again. A wave of guilty warmth flooded her cheeks. She knew she was turning scarlet and silently scolded herself for it.
Charlie looked at his sister skeptically "Why Virginia dearest, you're blushing. May I be so bold as to inquire why?" he asked his eyes wide with wonder. Bill snorted at his brother's phrasing, though he was equally as interested to find out why she was blushing.
"Oh it was nothing, just called me scum, the usual." Ginny sighed, waving the whole subject away with her hand. She bit her bottom lip, awaiting a sign from either of them that they believed her.
"Well, if he says anything about you again, just tell me and I'll 'accidentally' lose control of a dragon around him," Charlie laughed.
"If I don't get to him first," Bill added, punching his fist into his hand.
"Thanks, but it was nothing that severe," Ginny sighed. "Though I wish it were!" Bill ruffled his sister's hair suddenly giving her a noogie.
"Ouch! I think I'm in more danger with you than him," she laughed, pushing his hand away. Bill laughed appreciatively as Molly re-entered the room, smoothing out her apron as if nothing was wrong.
"Ginny, care to run with me to Diagon Alley for a few things? I fear we're running out of Floo..." Ginny lightened at the suggestion.
"Yes! Just let me go get my shoes," she replied eagerly, rushing up three stories for her sandals.
When she returned back downstairs Molly was waiting for her, the pot of Floo Powder in her hands, though the pot only held enough for two more trips. She swept a cloak over Ginny's shoulders so she wouldn't catch a chill, just like any overprotective mother would.
"I thought we would use Floo since you haven't traveled this way since you were much younger," Molly suggested, handing the pot to Ginny. She looked down only finding a bit of the granulated green powder left. She took a handful stepping into the fireplace.
"Diagon Alley!" she exclaimed, emerald flames consuming her. Within a blink of an eye she was zooming down a tunnel, thousands of fireplaces blinking past her. She tucked her elbows in so they wouldn't get jammed against the harsh brick. She began to get woozy as she finally came to a stop at the Leaky Cauldron. Sooty, she stumbled out of the fireplace, soon followed by her mum.
"Ah, hello Tom!" Molly chimed at the bald bartender. He waved a cheery hello, returning back to his work, which seemed to be attending a very argumentative blonde. Ginny gasped upon realizing whom the blonde was, shooing her mother out of the pub.
Molly huffed. "What was that for?" Ginny waved it away with her hand.
"Nothing, what do you say we go into Flourish and Blotts to buy a book Mum?" Ginny suggested, trying to divert her mother's attention.
"Oh, that's a nice prospect. I was going to pick up a copy of Newt Schmander's new book anyway," Molly replied, completely forgetting how rudely her daughter just shoved her out of the Leaky Cauldron.
A small bell chimed above their heads, signaling that they had entered Flourish and Blott's. Ginny sighed, a bit overwhelmed with she shop's clattered state. Books lay strewn across tables, the bookcases filled to the brim, some books floating in mid air. A particularly large book clunked Ginny on the head forcefully.
"Ouch!" she yelled, snatching the book from the air. Seeing it was the book her mother wanted she shoved it into Molly's hands. She gave Ginny a thankful smile, walking to the counter.
Ginny stumbled off into an odd corner of the shop, looking around at the books. They all seemed a bit odd, like something Snape would read. She looked at the sign hanging above her head.
"Ha, potions section." Ginny laughed, rolling her eyes. A leering sneer hissed from behind her. She closed her eyes tightly, dreading the person whom she thought it was. Slowly, she turned around.
"'Lo!" Blaise waved cheerfully, "Thought I was your favorite, cynical, blond, Malfoy?" he asked, a grin spreading across his lips. Ginny sighed in relief, her shoulders relaxing.
"Yeah, actually I did," she chuckled. Molly hurried up to her, tugging at her shoulder incessantly. Ginny excused herself from Blaise, walking out of the store with her mother.
They walked in silence with no destination in mind. Ginny took it as an opportunity to think. Just to ponder the things that have been going on and Draco... no Malfoy. It was more so the latter than anything else. She couldn't deny his eyes were gorgeous, and mysterious all in one. She couldn't read him, which intrigued her beyond belief.
A broad chest smacked full on into Ginny. She stumbled backwards, falling onto the harsh cobblestone. Her mother, not noticing, kept on walking, disappearing into Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Excuse me," Ginny spat sarcastically, getting up. She brushed herself off, managing to shoot a glare the rude man. A tendril of blonde hair caught her eye. Oh dear God no, not him, Ginny pleaded inwardly. Looking up into cold gray eyes she was sure it was none other than Malfoy.
"Yes, it was all your fault wasn't it?" Draco sneered, tucking his wand in his robe pocket. Ginny straightened herself, narrowing her eyes.
"I was being sarcastic..." she growled.
"Dear Merlin, save me, a sarcastic Weasel?" Draco sighed in mock humor, slapping his cheeks. Ginny's left eye was beginning to twitch in anger.
"After everything you've done, you at least owe me an apology for this." Ginny roared, her tiny hands balling up into fists.
"Your eyes were put in the front of your head for a reason you know," Draco chuckled at her.
"What...?"
"You're supposed to look ahead of you, not behind." He finished, turning his back to her. He had rendered her speechless. With a sharp turn he walked down Knockturn Alley, barely waving goodbye to her.
"Funny, that actually made sense." Ginny mumbled to herself, confused. Amazed that Draco had given her good advice, she dashed off to find her mother, determined to not let anyone know about what had just happened.