14Ginny woke up with a start. She was covered in cold sweat, shivering from the effects of a bad dream, a bad memory. She had dreamt about the war again, of Fred's death, and how her dad tried to blocked her from her brother's lifeless body but not before she saw his sleeplike form and heard George's cries of anguish.
"No…" she had hoarsely whispered as a lump formed at the back of her throat. Her eyes burned with hot tears and she could have lost her balance without her father's arms holding her.
Ginny drew a steadying breath and began to dress. It was still very early but as it was the first of April, it was just the right time to send her brother his birthday present.
She went down to the kitchens and was promptly greeted by some house elves. A familiar old house elf with a snout-like nose came forward.
"Miss Ginny, you are here to get your brother's present? I had chilled it right after you left and made sure it is in perfect shape," Kreacher said giving a low bow.
"Thank you, Kreacher," Ginny replied as she gave the house-elf an affectionate pat on the head.
Ginny made her way to one of the great ovens of the Hogwarts kitchen. She spent last night baking a birthday cake for George. Luna was around to help her decorate the box for the cake but she mostly amused herself by asking several lineage related questions to the house elves. The house elves were quite hesitant to have them around but they seemed to warm up when Ginny allowed them to help with the utensils and the measurements of the ingredients.
She opened one of the smaller ovens and carefully brought out a shiny magenta cake that formed the letter W. The cake was big enough to occupy one of the brass trays the house elves used to serve in. It was decorated with golden icing with little miniature and edible shapes of some WWW products.
"The box, Miss Ginny," Kreacher said, giving the hand painted box Luna made yesterday. It was a color of almost the same shade of magenta peppered with yellow and white stars that actually twinkled.
Ginny carefully placed the cake in the box and tied it with a gold ribbon together with a birthday card she had produced from her robes.
"Thank you, everyone!" Ginny nodded to the house elves, as she was about to leave, her hands full from the weight of the cake. The house elves gave a low bow and started cooking for breakfast.
As she made her way out from the kitchens, Ginny headed to the Owlery, carefully walking as to not drop the package. As she was about to ascend the stairs to the Owlery she heard a familiar voice.
"Knew you would do something like that," Ron said from behind her.
"You mean bake a birthday cake?" Ginny replied, slightly turning to meet her brother.
"Need help with that?" Without waiting for her reply, Ron took the box from her.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Besides, this kind of makes me look bad."
"How so?" Ginny said with a smile. "What did you get him?"
"A bunch of tools for whatever the next big thing WWW is going to come up with. The shop's going to mail it over later today," Ron replied.
As they reached the floor Ginny began gathering several owls, including Honor, and gently began tying the package to their outstretched legs. Ron called out for Pigwidgeon who as always was happy to serve her master. He tied a rather lengthy letter to her small feet.
"You sure you can do this?" Ron whispered to the bird.
Pigwidgeon hooted happily as her body slightly wavered from the letter's weight.
The siblings sent off the birds together. Both were facing the huge window, their eyes fixated on the birds that carried their presents and greetings.
There was a heavy silence apart from the soft hooting of the owls in the Owlery. Both of them suddenly felt the fresh wounds of an old pain.
Ron cleared the lump in his throat. "Have you heard from mom lately?"
"Not since last week. She said something about asking McGonagall if we can have the night off to floo in the Burrow to have dinner with the family tonight," Ginny said impassively. "I haven't heard from her since."
"I think George did not want one. A birthday celebration, you know," Ron replied in a much softer and lower voice.
"What can we do, Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing really. Just hope time makes it less and less painful, I guess." From beside him Ginny gave a sniff to which his brotherly instincts responded by drawing his sister into an embrace.
"I miss him so much. I miss them so much," Ginny said managing through hiccups.
"I know. I feel the same way," Ron replied, oblivious to the fact that he too was crying.
Ginny had always been close to the twins. They were her first source of laughter, making silly faces to calm down her cries as a baby. She followed them everywhere as Ron followed Bill and Charlie. If Ron were asked which brother's first trip to Hogwarts she took the most badly, he would answer the twins'. Those summers while everyone was away except Ron and Ginny were the summers that they grew closer.
Ron had always thought he would be the first one to die in his family when the war was happening. Being Harry Potter's best friend was a great ill-fated factor but a cross he gladly accepted. But as it happened Fred was the first one to go and never in a million years did Ron thought that would happen.
The twins were inseparable and to see one without the other can almost be described as abnormal and everyone was living in this harsh reality, much worse, George was. And he was hurting and the only one who can give him the kind of comfort that he needed was Fred.
"Thanks," Ginny said as she accepted her brother's comfort and handkerchief, wiping her tear-stained cheeks. "You're a good big brother, Ron. I know I don't say it as much but I love you very much." She tightened her embrace.
"And even though you're a pain in the ass sometimes, you're the best sister ever."
"I'm your only sister."
"And I love you too, brat."
"What were your options again?" Ron asked Ginny as they shared an early breakfast by the lake. "You didn't take Herbology for N.E. that leaves out anything to do with plants and Auror training."
"Yeah, well you know I kind of did that on purpose –"
"So you would not be tempted to go into training in the first place. But I guess since the war Kingsley's willing to make exceptions," Ron replied. "He did offer me, Harry, Hermione, and Neville even to waive any qualification in the career we wanted to pursue. I'm sure he'd do the same for you."
"That's not the point. Well, yes so I wouldn't be tempted to sign up for the training as well but also…well…" Ginny looked down at her cereal bowl, embarrassed.
"Well what?" Ron asked as he gently rest his hand on his sister's shoulder.
"I was scared that I would do something stupid like follow him all the way to Auror training just to make sure he's alright, you know? Even though I don't really want to become an Auror," Ginny replied with a sigh.
"Ginny…"
"You'll watch him for me?" Ginny looked up to her brother.
Ron looked into his sister's pleading eyes. There were only counted moments when his baby sister acted like this with him. She was a very strong woman, much like Hermione. And like Hermione, she was not so keen on allowing just anyone to show her vulnerable side.
"You know I always do, Ginny," Ron promised. "He's my best friend. He's like a brother to me."
"Thank you." Ginny gave her brother a peck on the cheek.
"So going back to your options?" Ron asked.
"Well, I thought of interning for the International Confederation of Wizards. Diplomatic affairs may not seem like my cup of tea but I'm genuinely very interested in it. There's also the option of working as a correspondent in the Daily Prophet. I heard they pay peanuts at first but the opportunities are very broad. And lately, I've been considering a career as a Quidditch player," Ginny said as she casually slipped in her last comment.
"I'd definitely second playing Quidditch professionally!" Ron exclaimed. "You're so good out there, Ginny! Wait, has this got something to do with Gwenog Jones?"
"Well, yes and no," Ginny confessed. "There's always some Quidditch scouts visiting at the end of the year games anyway but not from the Holyhead Harpies until I sort of invited her."
"Bloody hell my sister's going to be a Harpy!" Ron shouted with his fist up.
"Shh, Ron! Some people are still asleep!" Ginny scolded. "And nothing's for sure yet."
"I'm damn sure you're going to get an offer!"
"I do hope so. I thought it would be nice make a career out of something I enjoy."
"Nice? That's the ultimate dream, Ginny!"
"And what about you?" asked Ginny. "Becoming an Auror has always been your dream?"
"I'd like to think so," Ron said, his tone getting serious. "Even before the war, there's nothing I've known to be more… purposeful… than to help in any way possible to chuck the bad guys away. It's bloody dangerous but the peace of mind that I get after is all worth it. I mean, look at where we are now. We're living in a Voldemort-free world."
"I'm happy for you, Ron." Ginny said giving her brother a gentle squeeze on his shoulder. "And Hermione?"
"Oh, that's easy," Ron said with a smirk. "She's going to be Minister of Magic."
Ginny gave a giggle while shaking her head. "I'm sure she will be."
AN: Can you believe my nerve of publishing the next chapter after more than a year?! But I finally got my diploma and maybe more time to actually finish this bit! So yay! ~ E