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Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Second Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 2 Words: 30,095
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. Arthur and Molly and the four children who had come home for Christmas took the Knight Bus to King's Cross in plenty of time to catch the Hogwarts Express back to school on the second of January. Molly loaded them down with leftovers from the Christmas holidays so she and Arthur would not be tempted to eat them rather than the diet food they had decided to eat to lose a little weight. 'Ron will greet us with open arms,' laughed Ginny. 'But we'd better eat some of it on the train if we are going to get any.' Molly hugged and kissed each child in turn. 'Study hard!' she said, looking directly at the twins. 'Do well on your O.W.L.s." Arthur hoisted Ginny's trunk into the carriage. 'Take care of your sister,' he said to the boys. 'We'll see you in June.' As the train chugged off, Molly and Arthur went to the teashop that had so many memories for them before they Apparated home. ***** Molly wanted to invite Kate and Nic to a small dinner at the Burrow so she began a frenzy of tidying-up and cleaning. The children had taken the decorations off the tree and packed them away but Arthur left the lights on the eaves so that guests coming after dark would not have to use their wands to light their path. He told Molly that some Muggle devices turned on lights when they sensed a warm body. He thought that was very clever of them to do without magic. Molly sent written invitations to a dinner party on Saturday, the fifteenth of January to Kate and Nic and to their neighbors, Amos and Corrine Diggory. Molly decided to have a small roast with roasted vegetables and her special rich triple chocolate cake. Since they were having such a decadent dessert, she planned on only raw vegetables for the before dinner nibbles. Molly began baking the morning of the dinner party. She mixed up some very rich dough for hot rolls. The Days of Destiny Saturday marathon was on so she got caught up listening to who was pregnant and didn't know it and who thought she was pregnant but wasn't. The Magical Memory Loss epidemic was certainly not helping. People kept not being able to be sure if they were with the right person. Molly wondered if all those identical twins added to the confusion. The Burrow looked better than it had for years when Molly and Arthur awaited their guests. Kate and Nic were the first to arrive. They could hear Nic's resonant baritone exclaiming, 'This house is definitely held together by nothing but magic.' Molly and Kate did their 'air kiss' and the men shook hands. Kate handed Molly a bottle of champagne. Molly was eager to show Kate and Nic how clever Arthur had been adding rooms as they were needed. She was glad that they had left the ceiling of the lounge as high as it had been to accommodate the Christmas tree, although she reminded herself that she had better look in the box room that was right above it. She had a feeling that some of their summer clothes stored there might be a bit squashed. Amos and Corrine Diggory arrived with a bottle of French Burgundy as they were starting to eat what Kate called 'Crudités' and Nic called 'Rabbit Food'. This was obviously some sort of joke between them. Corrine was also a long time fan of Days of Destiny so was thrilled to meet 'the Original Fiona'. Kate could not tell them any of the upcoming plot twists on Bedside at St Brigid's but did say that there would be a big surprise involving two of the Healer trainees. She explained that they sometime got their scripts just before the broadcast. Amos and Arthur and Nic began talking about Muggle home improvement tools. Molly was always surprised at how many wizards were interested in Muggle power tools that used very big batteries. They seemed to think 'the bigger, the better'. It must be a gender difference. Dinner was a huge success. Molly's roast was delectable as usual and the conversation was sparkling. Her triple chocolate cake was so remarkable that both female guests asked for the recipe. Molly was glowing with so much praise. They all toasted the New Year with the chilled champagne and shared memories of Hogwarts. As soon as their guests left, Molly and Arthur started the dishes washing and the broom and mop cleaning the floor. Two wands doing magic made short work of the mess and the kitchen was soon as clean as it had ever been. 'I'd like to congratulate you on another successful dinner party, my beautiful Mollywobbles,' said Arthur with a twinkle. 'Your wish is my command: a foot rub or a back rubs with some of that lotion from Egypt?' Molly smiled up at him as he headed for the staircase. 'Yes to both, to start,' she said. 'We can work out what to do after that.' ***** Molly and Arthur got very nice notes expressing their enjoyment of the dinner party from both Kate and Corrine. Kate and Nic even sent a bowl of jonquils in rocks and water that would bloom inside and make it smell like spring had come. 'Wasn't that thoughtful of them?' Molly remarked to Arthur as she put the bowl where it got some light but wasn't too close to a window. Percy continued to write every week. He said that Hogwarts students were busy with lessons and homework. He also said that Oliver Wood was trying to get Professor McGonagall to finish inspecting the Firebolt that Harry Potter had received for Christmas but that she said that all the charms had to be stripped from it to make sure it wasn't jinxed. A school owl arrived with a letter from Fred and George who were distraught about the Quidditch situation. Dear Mum and Dad, Do you think it would do any good if you wrote to Professor McGonagall? YOU COULD REMIND HER THAT GRYFFINDOR ISN'T EVER GOING TO WIN IF HARRY HAS TO PLAY USING A SCHOOL BROOM. Mr Malfoy bought pretty good brooms for the Snakes. HE JUST DID IT SO HIS BABY BOY COULD BE A SEEKER. Malfoy would be sitting on the sidelines waving a green pompom if the team tryouts judged talent. HIS BEING SEEKER JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR HARRY. If he ever gets to play on a decent broom! THE SLIPPERY SNAKES DEFEATED RAVENCLAW. We need to practice every night. OLIVER IS MENTAL ABOUT BEATING RAVENCLAW. The match is the day before your birthday, Dad. WE'LL COOK THEIR GOOSE IN YOUR HONOR! Love, Fred and GEORGE 'I wonder what else is going on this month beside homework, Prefect duties, and Quidditch?' mused Arthur. 'I wish we'd hear from Ron and Ginny.' 'I'll send them some biscuits. That usually inspires them to write,' said Molly. She mixed up the treats the next morning. "I might as well make Harry a treacle tart. He must be so disappointed to not be able to use his new Firebolt. I do wonder who sent it and why?' ***** Hardly anyone still had Brain Drain on Days of Destiny but a great many couples were expecting. The epidemic of Magical Memory Loss continued on Bedside at St Brigid's. Molly was beginning to be confused because so many of the characters were affected with it. It would probably be less confusing if she could see the actors and actresses and be sure who was who. Arthur said that Muggles has some kind of 'Tell a Vision' that was pictures of what was happening on the Wireless. Molly thought it sounded like it would be like looking in a crystal ball or listening to someone in a trance. Of course, it would be hard to work around the kitchen if she had to watch pictures. She wondered if Muggles mixed up recipes while looking at their "Tell a Vision'. ***** The last week of January, Hedwig arrived with thank you letters from Ron, Ginny, and Harry. Dear Mum and Dad, Hermione and I are still spending a lot of time in the library on the project that is for Hagrid but I can't tell you what it is. I don't know how Hermione is taking so many classes. She is studying all the time. I don't have anyone but Fred and George and Ginny to hang out with in the common room. Harry is really busy taking some extra lessons from Professor Lupin. It turns out our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a friend of Harry's Dad and Sirius Black, too. We really liked everything that you sent to us. You are a better cook than the House Elves but they make a lot more food. All of us will get something for Dad for his birthday if they ever let us go to Hogsmeade again. Dumbledore doesn't think it is safe with Dementors and Sirius Black lurking around. Love, Ron Molly and Arthur were curious about what Ron was working on while spending so much time in the library with Hermione. 'Let's see if Harry says anything about it,' suggested Arthur. Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley, It was very nice of you to make treacle tarts for me. I don't get any mail except from you. It is almost like having a family when you send me good things to eat. I'm learning some advanced magic from Professor Lupin so the Dementors will not affect me so much. If I learn how to make them go away, I will teach Ginny because she gets so cold and sad and trembles when they are around. I wish Professor McGonagall would finish testing my broom. I need it for the match next week. Thank you again, Harry 'That is nice of Remus Lupin to give Harry some extra lessons. I hope they work for him so he can teach Ginny.' Molly shivered as she remembered Ginny's description of feeling so cold and sad. 'Ron said that she was shaking all over and curled up in a ball on the floor next to where Harry had passed out, ' Molly was close to tears just thinking about it. 'Let's see what Ginny says.' Dear Mum and Dad, I am having a much better school year this year than last. I don't suppose being possessed by You-Know-Who was of much help in getting good grades. I'm keeping up with my homework and doing well on tests this year. Fred and George and their friends are helping me. Angelina has all her revision notes from when she was in second year. Hermione used to help me a lot but she is too busy with all the classes she is taking. I don't know how she does all that work. She is getting very tired. It was brilliant of you to send different packages of treats to Ron and Harry and me. That way Ron didn't eat them all and Harry could take some to Professor Lupin and I had some to share with my dorm mates and Angelina. I think she gave most of hers to Fred. I found out that Percy and Penelope have a bet on the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw game. Percy told Harry to be sure our team wins because he can't afford to lose ten Galleons. He shouldn't have bet so much but I just know Harry will catch the Snitch. He's a really good Seeker. I'll try to get my present for Dad's birthday finished as soon as possible. I love you both. Ginny 'What did I tell you, Molly?' Arthur looked happier than Molly had seen him in some time. 'You did a superb job getting our children ready for Hogwarts. Ginny just needed a little more time because she was so young and petite.' Molly smiled back at Arthur's praise. She just hoped that Ginny would never be possessed by You-Know-Who again. She also hoped that Gryffindor would win the match with Ravensclaw because she didn't have enough to spare from her grocery money to cover Percy's unwise bet. It certainly was a sign that he fancied Penelope. One by one, all of her babies were growing up.
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