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Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Last Year of Home Schooling Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 6 Words: 21,638
Early in October, Molly said, 'Ginny, you and I must get started on the Christmas jumpers. We can go and get the wool tomorrow. Have you decided what color you want this year?' The next morning they went through the Floo to Little Lamb Wool Shoppe. Ginny marveled at all the different shades of wool as Molly gathered the colors for each of her sons' jumpers. Ginny picked out a rich cream for herself and then asked, "Mum, please, can we make a jumper for Ron's friend, Harry Potter. Ron says he has almost no clothes that fit him. Remember how raggy and baggy his clothes were at King's Cross? We should make him a jumper just the color of his eyes."' Ginny held up some emerald green wool. Molly agreed immediately. She was pleased that Ron and Harry had become friends. She knew that Lily would have been as delighted as she was. 'Yes, that would bring out the color of his eyes.' Molly suddenly remembered a discussion she and Arthur had had long ago. They never thought that Muggle aunt of his would show Harry as much love as he deserved. Then she began to remember Arthur saying something about Harry being family and kissing him and calling him 'son'. He was just a little tyke in a blue blanket. 'Who else will make him a Christmas jumper if we don't? Harry is like family anyway.' Molly shook her head to clear it and paid for the wool. When they got home, they cast on several different colors of wool on different pairs of needles and started them knitting the Christmas jumpers. Percy wrote from Hogwarts every week, without fail. In October, as his workload grew, the letters became quite short and he complained about the amount of homework he had, but at least he did write. Molly read his latest letter aloud to Arthur and Ginny. 'Dear Mum and Dad and Ginny, My studies are going well, although each Professor seems to think he or she is the only one assigning homework each night. Between writing yards of papers and my Prefect duties, I do not have time for much else. Ron and the twins seem to have no time for writing, although I remind them to write home every time I see them. I do not see much of them except at meals. I remind Ron that he must apply himself to his schoolwork. Fred and George claim to be busy with Quidditch practice three times a week. I exhort them not to neglect their studies. I hope I am a good example to them. Sincerely, 'All Percy's letters sound the same,' commented Ginny. 'At least he writes so we know that they are all still alive,' said Molly. 'Ginny, tomorrow you must write to all four of your brothers. Maybe one of them will write back. 'Yes, it will be Percy,' said Arthur with a grin. Arthur was as good as his word and spent some time with Ginny every fair Saturday playing catch, with her on a broom and him running alongside her. Ginny continued learning cleaning and other household charms all month but was delighted when Molly said they would take a break for Halloween because it was so special to the Wizarding Community. 'Mum, may I call the Lovegood's on the Floo and see if Luna wants me to celebrate with her on Halloween? She lives close to Ceddie and the Diggorys always have a party. I haven't seen her since she and her dad went to Sweden last month to follow some Crumple-Horned Snornack tracks. I wonder if they found any live ones?' Ginny stood by the fireplace waiting for Molly to say she could use the Floo powder. 'I guess it would be safe for you and Luna to visit her neighbors if her dad went with you,' Molly nodded her head and began to start a batch of bread dough. Ginny took a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. 'Luna, are you home?' she shouted as she crouched down by the fire. After a bit, Luna answered. 'I'm glad it's you, Ginny. I was afraid that some Venomous Krills had mastered human speech.' 'Would you like me to come over to celebrate Halloween tomorrow night? My mum says I can if your dad will go with us if we go to the Diggorys.' 'I'll ask him when he comes home for lunch,' replied Luna, suddenly sounding like she was very far away. 'I'm going to ask him if you can spend the night. I'll call you back this afternoon.' 'Mum, did you hear Luna?' asked Ginny. 'Can I spend the night, please?' Molly nodded. 'That would be fine. The Lovegoods live quite close and you and Luna will start Hogwarts together next September. I wonder if her dad would like me to teach her some household charms? Her mum's been gone for more than four years now. It was so sad to lose her in that accident. Maybe you could teach Luna the cooking and washing charms you know.' 'It 'd be fun to have Luna come some days and learn how to wash clothes. I don't know if their housekeeper is teaching her anything. I don't think Luna would wants to play Quidditch so she wouldn't need to come on Saturday when Dad is helping me'. Ginny looked at the family clock and asked Molly, 'When do you need to meet him at Diagon Alley for your birthday lunch? I can punch down the bread and form it into loaves.' 'Oh, Merlin! I need to get dressed.' Molly hurried up the stairs. When she returned and headed for the Floo she said, 'Now promise me that you will lock the doors while I am gone. I'll put the family charm on the floo so no one else can come in.' Ginny smiled. 'I'll be fine, Mum. Go! You don't want to keep Dad waiting." As soon as Molly left, Ginny started to bake her a birthday cake. 'Mum will be so surprised,' she thought to herself. She mixed, baked, cooled and frosted a big chocolate cake. Then she punched down the bread, formed it onto loaves, and scrubbed the kitchen until it was squeaky-clean. 'Now for a little light reading in the Charms book,' she said to herself. 'Oh, no, I am starting to talk to myself, just like Mum does.' Luna called on the Floo inviting Ginny to come for Halloween night before Molly and Arthur came back together by floo. Molly seemed quite relaxed. 'I'll pop the bread in to bake and get into more comfortable clothes. We had such a nice lunch that I am not very hungry. We can heat up the vegetable soup you made the other day.' She went up the stairs to change into house robes. 'Did you make the cake?' asked Arthur quietly. Ginny smiled broadly. 'Yes, a big chocolate one. Did you remember to bring home the presents that the boys sent to your office? She will be so surprised.' Molly returned to the kitchen and was pleased that Ginny had started warming the cauldron full of soup. 'The bread will be done soon and we can eat. Did Luna's dad agree to go to the neighbors with you tomorrow night? Both your dad and I think you and Luna should spend some time together before you go off to school. You won't see much of each other if you are sorted into different Houses.' After dinner, Molly was surprised at the cake. 'You are so sweet to remember my birthday!' She began to cry when Arthur pulled five tiny packages out of his robe and reversed the shrinking charms. 'Now Molly, you didn't think that your sons would forget the birthday of the woman who gave them birth,' said Arthur as he piled the presents in front of her. 'You might want to be cautious about the one that is beeping and has 'OPEN OUTSIDE' written on it. I think it's from Fred and George.' Molly opened and exclaimed over the scarab earrings, the dragon-hide slippers, the book of poems, and the chocolate frogs. She asked Arthur to open the beeping present from the twins outside and stood in the doorway admiring the small fireworks display they had made. Ginny gave her a bouquet of dried flowers from the garden, saying, "You can remember summer every time you look at them." Arthur shooed Molly and Ginny into the lounge and put away the leftover food and washed the dishes. "You women have done enough. It's my turn now." He stopped Molly as she started to leave and whispered, "You and I are going to have an early night, Mollywobbles." Ginny walked over to Luna's Halloween afternoon. She brought a bag with a nightgown, a toothbrush, and a jumper and jeans to wear tomorrow. She carried Hornie and her special "sweet dreams" pillow.
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