PhoenixSong.net :: A Harry/Ginny Fanfic and Fanart Archive

Author: Grandma Kate

Story: Ginny's Third Year at Hogwarts

Part: 7:Spring Arrives-March and April, 1995

Rating: Everyone

Setting: Pre-OotP

Status: Completed

Reviews: 8

Words: 3,178

Updated: February 23, 2008, 12:09pm

Printer Friendly Format

Chapter Navigation:

7:Spring Arrives-March and April, 1995

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 Twenty-seven: Padfoot Returns, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.

Molly always remembered Ron's birth on his birthday. Healer Carroll had been so sure he would come on the Leap Year Day in 1980 that she kept joking that Molly and Arthur would save on birthday parties and presents because he'd not have a birthday for four more years. However, Ron took his own sweet time in arriving and was not born until 3:01 AM.

'It will be easy to remember when he was born,' said Healer Carroll as she cleaned him off a bit and put him on Molly's chest. 'It's a repeating number, 03:01 on 03/01. I'd guess three will be his lucky number.'

Molly mused that Ron didn't seem to be so very lucky until he joined in with Harry and Hermione. The twins said that the rest of Gryffindor called them 'The Lucky Threesome' so maybe Healer Carroll had a bit of the Seer in her.

As Molly finished her Monday chores, she reflected again on how much easier it was to wash the sheets from just one bed than eight of them. Percy had not been home to sleep for the entire week before the Triwizard Tournament. He'd been kipping at the Ministry on a couch or in one of the guest suites at Hogwarts. Getting the Hogwarts Lake back to its original state had also been his responsibility. Molly hung the sheets from the bed she and Arthur shared on the line and they started flapping in the breeze.

It was fine enough to walk over to Corrine's for their exercises. Walking was always such good exercise but she could feel the wind growing stronger so was glad to arrive at Diggory Downs. The two old friends decided to exercise outside while the sun was shining. They spent most of the time while they were drinking their tea afterwards talking about what Florian Gardener had recommended planting on How Does Your Garden Grow. He always recommended a mix of Muggle and magical plants.

Corrine showed Molly the note that Ceddie had sent them after the Second Task. "Listen to this, Molly.'

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm quite proud of my showing in the Second Task. I'm glad that I enjoy swimming so much because I had to swim all the way out to the middle of the lake while maintaining my Bubble-Head Charm. There were Grindylows and very angry Merpeople all along the way.

I was really scared that something had gone wrong when I got to the stone that all four of the hostages were tied to. Cho Chang was limp with her head bobbing onto Hermione Granger's shoulder. Harry had already sawed Ron's bindings off with a sharp rock so he was floating near the bottom of the lake. When I arrived for Cho, he was trying to free Hermione and Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle. I'm sure he would have tried to take Cho if I had not arrived just then. I signaled to him that he should leave Hermione because Victor Krum was swimming towards us with his Transfigured Shark Head. I tried to tell him that I thought Fleur was on the way, as well.

Harry could have taken Ron and beat me back to the judging area because his feet had turned into what the Muggles call flippers but he didn't go. I think he wanted to be sure that Fleur came for the little girl. I wanted to get Cho back for medical attention, so I headed for the surface.

When I got back to the judges, Madame Pomfrey took Cho and wrapped her in warm blankets. Fleur was already there, in hysterics. Percy told me that the Grindylows had attacked her before she could rescue her sister. She kept screaming, 'Gabrielle!' and trying to go back in the water. Victor Krum brought Hermione to the surface and transfigured his head back. Hermione was not in such bad shape as Cho so she took the warm blanket and huddled with Ginny looking for Harry and Ron.

Harry took the longest time getting back to where we all were waiting. Everyone cheered when he showed up with both Ron and little Gabrielle. Percy jumped into the water and grabbed Ron. Fleur broke free from her Headmistress and hugged her little sister. It was pandemonium! I watched Fleur kiss Harry and Ron on both cheeks after she was sure her sister was fine.

The judges were right in awarding the same number of points to Harry as they gave me. He would have been back first if he hadn't been so noble. I am proud to be co-champion with him. We will help each other with the Third Task, just like those Muggle Musketeers.

I am fine and Cho is, too. No ill effects at all! We are going to Hogsmeade next Saturday to celebrate. We think we will go to Madame Puddifoot's again. We had such a good time there at Valentines Day. I am going to suggest to Percy that he invite the parents of the champions to the Third Task. I'd really like for you both to be there.

Love, Ced

'He's all grown up now. He's got a girlfriend and all. You and Amos must be so proud of him!' Molly smiled at Corrine.

'We are!' she replied. 'He's turned out so well. Amos thinks he'll surely get a job at the Ministry, just like Percy. He says Cho is very smart and athletic. She's the Ravensclaw Seeker, too.'

'Speaking of Percy, I think I'll put a bug in his ear about our family being closer to Harry than those Muggles that Dumbledore forces him to stay with every Summer. We'd be proud to cheer him on at the Third Task.' said Molly as she kissed Corinne and started out the door to walk back to the Burrow. 'I better get the sheets in before the wind gets stronger.'

*****

Corrine came over on Wednesday and she and Molly had a good session with the weights and practicing casting spells accurately. It was too windy to be outside so they took turns moving all the brink-a-brack in the lounge with Wingardium Levoisa and dusting under them. They were so accurate that they didn't need to cast Repario even once.

As they settled in to drink tea and have a couple of biscuits to restore their strength, they realized that the plot on Days of Destiny had turned dark. Lord Lyle had escaped from the pirates who had been holding him captive for nearly a year and was back with his family. He had been speaking whatever language the pirates spoke so he had a strange accent and sounded hoarse.

'I heard that they hired a new Lord Lyle,' said Corrine, matter of factly. 'The one that has played the part for the past four years wanted too many Galleons to renew his contract, so they let him go. I read it in Witch Weekly's Let Us Entertain You section.'

'He doesn't sound anything like the old Lord Lyle,' said Molly. "Let's hope his disposition has improved.'

It was late Thursday when a school owl blew into the kitchen window. He had notes tied to each leg. Molly realized that the notes were from Ron and Ginny. She opened Ron's first.

Dear Mum and Dad and Percy,

I'm sorry I haven't written earlier to thank you for my birthday cake and the new undershirts. How did you know mine were all getting tatty and too short? The cake was the best I've ever tasted. Your cakes are truly magical. Ha Ha Ha!

Not much is going on around her this week except people asking me for my autograph because of my part in rescuing the little French girl. Everyone wants to hear about what Harry and I did to protect her from all the creatures in the lake. Harry doesn't like all the attention but I think everyone deserves to know how brave he was and what we both went through. I helped him quite a lot.

Hermione is getting mental again. She doesn't want me to tell everyone how we rescued the little girl. Her beautiful sister is very grateful. All the Beauxbaton students smile and wave at me now.

We are going to Hogsmeade this Saturday. It will be good to get away from all my admiring fans.

Love, Ron

Ginny's letter was shorter.

Dear Mum and Dad and Percy,

Harry and Ceddie were both very brave. I am glad they got the most points. I don't think I like Victor Krum so much but Hermione says he is perfect gentleman. He looks cross to me. Fleur Delacour is very beautiful so maybe she can't help that all the boys like her.

Michael Corner asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him and some other Ravenclaw students this Saturday and I am excited about that. He has dark hair and light eyes like Harry. It's not a date, just a group of friends going together. Harry always goes to Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione but I think he likes Ceddie's girlfriend Cho, too. He always gets a funny look on his face when he sees her. She is very popular. Michael always talks about how good she is at everything.

It was good to see Percy so much the week of the Second Task. He surprised everyone when he jumped in the water to help Ron get out. Ron is so enjoying being popular. I know it's making Hermione cross but he is having such a good time being a hero.

Love, Ginny

'I am not sure what Arthur will think about his baby girl going on even a group date,' said Molly to herself. 'I'm not sure that either of us are ready for that.' Molly put the letters by Arthur's place.

When Arthur came home that night, he motioned Molly to sit down and said, 'Don't get upset by what I am going to read to you. Rita Skeeter has outdone herself this time.'

"What does she say now?' asked Molly. 'Is it about you or Percy?'

'This is mostly about Harry and Hermione and it's titled Harry's Secret Heartache.'

'Oh, I see,' said Molly in a rather cold voice. 'How has Hermione made his heart ache?'

Arthur turned the page of Witch Weekly and said, 'Here it is � Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone can't satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Victor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, who is obviously smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria�' Arthur stopped reading when he saw the expression on Molly's face. 'It's all nonsense, of course,' he began.

Molly cut him off. 'A scarlet woman! Oh my, she seemed so nice when she was here. What else does it say?'

'The rest of it is just speculation from jealous girls about Hermione using Love Potions,' said Arthur quietly. 'There is no evidence that Hermione used a Love Potion on either Harry or Victor Krum.'

'Or Ron,' said Molly. She began to cry. 'He likes her, too. He just doesn't notice that she is a girl yet.'

'What is this I hear about the champions getting to invite their families to the Third Task?' said Arthur, changing the subject. 'Amos was going on and on about his Ced suggesting it.'

'Yes, he did,' said Molly, 'He wrote that he was going to suggest it to Percy. Didn't I tell you that Corrine read me his letter?'

'All I remember is you going on about Madame Puddifoot's and how you hoped that our boys would stay away from that den of iniquity.' said Arthur with a smile. 'Amos says that Cho and Ced are very serious.'

'They are too young,' said Molly.

'How old were we when we were married, Molly?' asked Arthur with a smile.

Molly changed the subject. 'I left the letters from Ron and Ginny for you. Ginny's got a boyfriend.'

Arthur sputtered. 'We'll see about that. Her brothers will make sure there is no hanky-panky.'

��

Molly began to dig up the garden as the ground thawed. She planted the sweet peas that she was so fond of and some early vegetables that Florian Gardener said would survive a late frost. She continued her exercise and dueling with Corrine and they both commented on the lack of information from Hogwarts. They blamed it on heavy workloads in all of their children's classes.

Molly sent the two birthday cakes off to Fred and George on the last day of March. She included some very colorful shirts that she thought would suit their taste.

Much to Molly's surprise, Hedwig arrived at the Burrow with a letter addressed to Percy. He grumbled as he opened it. 'It is none of Ron's nor Harry's business how Mr Crouch is assigning tasks to me. I am his very own personal assistant. I have half a mind not to answer them.' Hedwig snapped at his hand. 'Ouch! Mum, that vicious bird of Harry's nipped me!'

Hedwig gave Percy a very cold look and went over to Errol's cage and put her head under her wing. She didn't look like she was going back to Hogwarts without an answer.

It was a full week before a school owl brought a letter from the twins. Molly gave the owl an owl treat and he flew away.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for the shirts. I GOT THE CHARTREUSE AND MAGENTA ONE.

Madame Rosmerta let Dobby buy a whole barrel of Butterbeer. WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD PARTY WITH YOUR CAKES AND SANDWICHES FROM THE KITCHEN.

Hermione is yelling at Ron a lot. HE SHOULD NOT HAVE CALLED HER A 'SCARLET WOMAN'.

We feel sorry for her because she is getting hate mail. SOME OF IT HAS BUBOTUBER PUS ON IT.

It is not her fault that Victor Krum likes her. LOTS OF PEOPLE THINK SHE IS USING LOVE POTIONS.

We haven't seen Percy since he got the Lake back the way it was. IS HE STILL LIVING AT HOME?

Love and HAPPY EASTER, Fred and GEORGE

Molly had already been making toffee-filled eggs for her children and Harry to send to the students at Hogwarts for Easter. She looked at the six eggs and decided that she should reduce the size of the one she was sending to Hermione and increase the size of Ron's and Harry's. 'They are heroes, after all,' she said. 'And just maybe their friend has been brewing Love Potions.'

Percy had finally given her a letter addressed to Ron to send back to Hogwarts since no one was coming home for the Easter Holiday. Molly labeled and packed up the small egg for Hermione, the three regular eggs for Ginny and the twins, and the dragon egg sized ones for Ron and Harry. 'Here you go Hedwig!' she said. Take these to Ron. He can pass them out.'

The weather grew warmer as April progressed. Molly was busy in her garden; setting out the plants that Florian Gardener recommended planting. She picked a bunch of sweet peas almost every morning. She loved the scent in the kitchen when she was baking. She had been so busy digging up the beds and buying new plants and tending to them that she had not listened to Days of Destiny or Bedside at St Brigid's for more than ten days. Some April showers were passing by on April 28^th so Molly was in the kitchen kneading bread dough and tuned in the WWN. She was greatly surprised to hear Nic Meath say that Lord Lyle had suffered another bout of amnesia and that he thought his name was Richard Roe and that he had always wanted to study ballet.

The news from the Healer Training hospital was as surprising. Healer Hoover, the specialist in twins expecting twins, was pregnant with a set of twins herself. She was asking older family members if she had been a twin herself. She did not realize that the cafeteria matron Jane Doe was secretly her twin, separated at birth. Molly was shocked that anyone would give up a set of twins, especially that anyone would leave them in a handbag in Victoria station.

Ginny was the only one who sent a thank you letter for the Easter eggs. Pig fluttered in with a small piece of parchment tied to his leg as Molly punched down the bread she was making. She read Ginny's letter eagerly.

Dear Mum and Dad and Percy,

We have all been very busy with our schoolwork. I'm sorry that I didn't write to thank your for the most excellent toffee filled egg. There is something special about your chocolate covered Easter eggs. I guess it reminds me of when I was a little girl. You know how I love chocolate. Ron distributed them to us before Easter. It was nice of you to send eggs for Harry and Hermione, too. Ron was laughing when he told me that you'd sent a small egg for Hermione and a very big one for Harry "because he's a hero'. I don't think Hermione's parents let her eat much candy when she was a girl so it is just as well hers wasn't so big.

I am revising for my end of the year exams with some people from Ravensclaw. Hermione loaned me all of her notes from last year. She did very well last year. She helps Ron and Harry get their homework done, except for Divination. I think they make up predictions.

Fred and George are still very nice to me. They are busy with many things. They will have to take N.E.W.T.s next year. I like all the people who would be on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team if we had Quidditch this year.

Percy has not been around much but I bet he will be when they start getting things ready for the Third Task. No one knows what they champions will have to do. I hope Harry doesn't get hurt. He's done very well even if he is underage. I hope Ceddie doesn't get hurt either. He is nice to Harry and tells people not to wear the badges that say 'POTTER STINKS'

It's less than two months before Hogwarts lets out for Summer Holiday. I like school but I love being home with you and Dad, too. I miss you.

Love, Ginny

'Won't she be surprised when we and Ceddie's parents show up for the Third Task,' said Molly with a smile.

Chapter Navigation: Previous Next