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Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Third Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 5 Words: 38,332
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Bold Face Type indicates a direct quote from Chapter Nineteen, The Hungarian Horntail or Chapter Twenty, The First Task in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. The Burrow had terrible wind and sleet the whole first week in December. Molly didn't mind staying inside because she still needed to finish the present for Charlie's birthday and all the Christmas jumpers for her children and Harry. The identical hats and scarves for Ginny and Hermione were already finished and wrapped. She didn't feel as close to Hermione as she had before she read about her supposed relationship with Harry but remembered how delighted she and Corrine had been when her Mum had hand knitted them twin hats and scarves. Arthur came home every night completely worn out. Old Mr Perkins had developed some sort of problem with his joints that was worse in cold damp weather so Arthur was having to Apparate all over the British Isles in this horrible weather to Obliviate Muggles who had an encounter with something magical. As he and Molly took turns rubbing each other's backs before going to sleep, he told her about Muggle heating and vibrating wands that were just for massaging. 'Muggles have to be so clever to get along without magic,' he said more than once. The weather was so bad that Molly did not want Errol to try to go out at all. She brewed him Strengthening Potions every week. 'Poor Errol, you and Mr Perkins both deserve some time by the fire with your feet up.' A very large school owl arrived during a lull in the storm at the end of the second week of December. Molly let him in and told him to rest before he returned to Hogwarts. She fed him some stew meat to help him regain his strength. Then she opened the letter that was addressed in Ginny's round writing. Dear Mum and Dad and Percy, I am so excited. I get to go to the Yule Ball so I can wear the pretty dress with the long skirt that Bill and Charlie gave me. Neville Longbottom asked me to go. I know you are surprised. I was, too. He invited Hermione first but she already had agreed to go with someone else. I can't tell you who, but he's not a Gryffindor. Anyway, I would not be allowed to go if someone in Fourth Year or above had not asked me so I am happy. Fred is going with Angelina but I am not sure if George is going to ask Katie Bell or Alicia Spinnet. He really likes them both. Hermione says that Ron and Harry have not asked anyone at all yet. I wish I could go to the ball and be home for Christmas, too. I don't like you and Dad not having anyone home but Percy. Oh, I forgot! He said that he had to be at Hogwarts because of the Yule Ball so he'll be here, too. Hermione was hit with a jinx that made her teeth grow but Madame Pomfrey fixed them and she looks even better than she used to. Her Mum sent her the most beautiful blue dress and she is going to wear her hair up on the top of her head. I know she will look very grown-up. I will miss seeing you at Christmas. Ginny Molly put Ginny's letter at Arthur's place and opened the letter from the twins. Dear Mum and Dad, Now we know why we had to have dress robes. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK VERY SPIFFY IN OURS. I asked Angelina. I'M STILL DECIDING WHICH OF THE FAIR LADIES I WILL ESCORT. We are sorry not to be home for Christmas. BUT YOU MAY ENJOY A NICE QUIET HOLIDAY. We've got to go. RIGHT NOW! Love, Fred and GEORGE 'It will be strange being home but not having anyone here,' Arthur said to Molly after he read both letters. 'Would you like to go someplace over the Christmas Holiday?' "I think I'd just like to stay home with my favorite person in the whole wide world,' replied Molly with a big smile. 'Oh, which of the many men in your life would that be?' said Arthur with a twinkle. ***** Arthur took the packages for each of their children at Hogwarts and those for Harry and Hermione into the Ministry two days before Christmas. Molly drank a second cup of tea and started to think what she needed to do to decorate the Burrow for Christmas with just the two of them. There was a familiar rhythmic tapping at the kitchen door. She knew instantly it was Charlie. As she hugged her second oldest, Molly asked questions. 'Why didn't you tell us you were coming? How long can you stay? Do you want breakfast?' 'I volunteered to be the one to do the Environment Restoration Inspection at Hogwarts to be sure we had not caused any damage to the Forbidden Forest. I finished last night but don't have to be back in Romania until December 27. I wouldn't say no to breakfast.' Suddenly, Molly was excited about getting ready for Christmas. 'Oh Charlie,' she said as she made scrambled eggs and sausages. 'Did you know that Ginny is going to the Yule Ball?' 'She told me that the boy she wished she was going with hadn't asked her but that she was happy to be going at all. I wonder why Harry didn't ask her?' 'I don't think he realizes that she is a girl yet,' said Molly with a smile. 'You were equally clueless about that nice little Rosemary when you were Harry's age. You called her Ros from Oz, just like she was one of the boys.' 'Humph!' said Charlie tucking into his breakfast. Molly placed a floo call to Arthur telling him that Charlie was home for Christmas. He said he'd try to get off a bit early so they could cut a tree before it was dark. Molly had roast chickens and browned potatoes and carrots and an apple pie ready when Arthur and Charlie came in with a particularly nicely shaped tree. 'We thought we could have a bushy one this year because there won't be so many of us crowding round,' explained Arthur as they sat down to dinner. Charlie went up to the attic and brought down the ornament boxes. He began pulling the homemade ornaments out and commenting on them as he put them on the tree. Molly began to string garlands all around the inside of the house while Arthur fiddled with the Muggle strings of lights for the outside 'I'll put them up in the morning,' said Charlie, imitating his Mum. 'You'll catch your death of a cold in this weather.' 'Sometimes you sound just like your mum,' replied Arthur with a laugh. Arthur was able to Apparate home at noon on Christmas Eve so the three of them had a fine dinner. Charlie announced that he had a present for Molly that needed to be opened on Christmas Eve. It was a recording of Celestina Warbeck's Christmas Eve Special from last year when she was staying at the home of Father Christmas. 'You said it was the best show that you ever heard.' Molly was speechless. She gave it to Arthur to put on the Muggle phonograph player that he had modified to run on magic. 'We can listen to last year first and then tune in for this year,' he said. 'Not everyone would enjoy two solid hours of Celestina's singing, but it's just right for you, Mollywobbles.' 'It's a thoughtful gift, Charlie. I will think of you every time I listen to it.' There were more presents to open Christmas morning, including a very nice pair of dragon hide gloves for Arthur and some scarab earrings for Molly from Bill. Amos and Corrine came over with a whole platter of biscuits and talked to Charlie about their son's encounter with the Swedish Short-Snout. He assured them that Cedric had acquitted himself admirably. Both of them beamed at the praise for their son. After the Diggorys left, Arthur brought out a surprise. He had borrowed a Muggle camera that took time-delayed pictures. He had two rolls of Muggle film and used both of them before he finally managed to take a picture of the three of them. He was still moving just enough so that he looked a bit blurry. Right after Charlie left for his International Portkey on Sunday morning, Hedwig arrived with a long letter from Hogwarts. Arthur was still at the kitchen table so he took the letter and gave Hedwig some owl treats. 'Shall I read it out loud?' he asked Molly. 'It looks like everyone wrote something.' Dear Mother and Father, Thank you for the new jumper. It is always good to have something to wear for casual occasions. I have new work robes and new dress robes. I enjoyed watching the young people dance at the Yule Ball. Mr Crouch depends completely on me. With sincere wishes for a prosperous New Year, Percy I Weasley 'Like he hadn't told us when he bought both sets of robes,' commented Molly. Dear Mum and Dad, Thanks for the new jumper with an F. I GOT ONE WITH A G ON IT. We had a grand time at the ball. I LIKED WHEN HERMIONE LOOKED SO DIFFERENT THAT RON DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER. They had a big shouting match in the Gryffindor Common Room. SHE SURE CAN YELL LOUD FOR SUCH A SHORT GIRL. Happy New Year! IT'S GOING TO BE 1995. Love, Fred and GEORGE 'I wonder if Ron will even mention the Yule Ball,' said Molly with a smile. 'We didn't get a picture of him starkers so he must have worn the lacy dress robes.' Dear Mum and Dad, Hermione went to the Yule Ball with someone who wants to spy on Harry. Victor Krum is too old to be going to a ball with a nice young girl like Hermione. She was all fancied up with a long dress and her hair up. She danced all the dances except when she came and talked to us and drank some punch. After the dance she yelled at me. But it didn't make any sense. She said I'd better ask her myself next time before someone else did. I didn't really ask anyone, even Padma. Harry asked her twin sister if she'd go to the ball with me. But she wanted to dance and I didn't so she danced with all sorts of people. Thank you for another maroon jumper. I guess you think I look good in maroon. Happy New Year! 'Poor Ron! He has a lot to learn about the fair sex,' said Molly with a sigh. 'Some of us never learn as much as we wish we knew,' said Arthur sighing back. Dear Mum and Dad, Thank you for the jumper and for making me the hat and scarf just like Hermione's. I know we will have fun pretending to be twins. She's my friend just like Mrs Diggory is yours. I hope we will be friends forever. I am so glad I went to the Yule Ball even if my toes did get stepped on a lot. Neville is very nice and is a real gentleman. I danced with some other people but he was the most fun to be with. He is very witty. I love to dance. Hermione looked like a Princess and Victor Krum was very dashing. Ron is jealous and claims he doesn't like him any more. Harry asked Parvati Patil and she tried to help him dance but he only tried it at the opening dance. I forgot that he didn't have anyone to teach him to dance. I think Harry likes the girl that Ceddie took to the Ball. He watched them a lot. Ron didn't even dance once with Parvati's twin sister. She went off and danced with other people. I'm glad that Charlie was with you for Christmas. We got to have a good visit when he was at Hogwarts. Happy New Year! Ginny "It sounds like Ginny had fun at the ball,' said Arthur. Molly just smiled. Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley, Thank you for knitting me another jumper. I will always remember that it had a dragon on it the year that I had something to do with a Horntail. The mince pies are also very good. Ron is my best friend and I love pretending that I am in your family. It makes me happy. I need to get busy trying to figure out what the Golden Egg can tell me about the Second Task. Happy New Year! 'It always makes me cry to hear how much Harry misses having a family. I wish that he had grown up with people who love him.' Molly wiped her eyes with the hem of her apron. 'Is the last part from Hermione?' Arthur nodded and read — Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley, I will treasure the hat and scarf that you made for me. Thank you for thinking of me. I never had a sister but it will be fun to pretend that Ginny is my younger sibling. She is my best female friend at Hogwarts and a trustworthy confidant. I hope that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year. Thank you again for your many kindnesses. With affection, 'I've always liked Hermione,' said Arthur. 'I don't believe what Rita Skeeter says about her,' he added, looking at Molly's expression. Molly and Arthur spent New Year's Eve cuddling but fell asleep entwined long before the stroke of midnight.
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