Flobber Worms
July 5th, 1994, age 15.
Dear Murphy,
I've given you 'Necrosong's handwritten journal', it's a very interesting read on a study about Flobberworm's, and I hope you enjoy it. I just finished 'Bone carvin Handbook' as you suggested and it is more interesting than it sounds and not at all what I expected. I miss you, see you at the World Cup.
Yours, Cedric
"Another letter from Cedric?" Ginny asked peeking over Murphy's shoulder, "and another gift too?" This time she picked up the rectangle gift wrapped in decorative paper with her name eloquently written in the corner. "When are you two going to finally make it official?" Ginny teased.
"Official?" Murphy asked dumbly.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "you know. You and Cedric, you're basically engaged. Exchanging gifts every three days, it's not even been a week since you saw him at Hogwarts and you've already exchanged countless letters."
"Quit teasing, Ginny," Percy grumbled as he grabbed a glass from a cupboard to fill with cool water. "As if she'd actually date much less marry someone like Cedric."
"I'll have to agree with Perc on this one, Gin," Fred stated as he rounded the corner.
"First time for everything, Fred." Ginny grumbled, rolling her eyes as Murphy grabbed the rectangular gift, which she knew was a book, from Ginny's hands.
"It's just a book Cedric thought I'd find interesting," Murphy hummed as she tore it open. "See," she held it up for Ginny to examine once she'd revealed it to be true.
"Cedrica sending you books already?" George asked and Murphy frowned yet again at the nickname they insisted on calling him.
"It's a study on Flobberworm's, it's supposed to be quite interesting," Murphy stated.
"Flobberworm? According to who? Those are the most uselessly boring creatures ever to exist." Percy scoffed as if what Murphy had said was a personal insult.
"Still," Murphy shrugged. "Cedric gave it to me, so I should read it."
"Read what?" Ron asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"A book from her boyfriend." Ginny shrugged.
"He's not her boyfriend," the sound of collective annoyed voices called out.
Ginny rolled her eyes but turned to Murphy, "I think it's sweet," she stated before turning to her brothers, "And you guys are seriously going to have to lighten up on the protective big brother roles, Murph is fifteen, almost an adult. And if you haven't noticed she's grown up a lot, boys are always fawning for her attention, it's about time she finds herself a boyfriend."
"There will be no boy dating under my watch," Ron huffed already annoyed.
Murphy smiled lightly, "Thanks, Gin. Want to go to the pond?"
"Good idea, Murph." Fred grinned already inviting himself, "let's go to the pond."
"No one invited you," Ginny rolled her eyes annoyed that any opportunity she had to spend with Murphy alone was always bombarded by one of their brothers.
"Yeah Freddy, no one invited you." George piped up slinging his arms around both girl's necks, "let's go girls."
Murphy laughed as Ginny rolled her eyes once again in annoyance.
Clutching the book Cedric had gotten her in her arms Ginny, George, Fred, and Murphy made their way to the pond.
Murphy perched herself under a big willow tree, her book in hand, with Ginny seated next to her, while Fred and George competed to see who could throw rocks the furthest.
"Murph." Ginny spoke up, Murphy hummed in response while flipping through the pages of her newly acquired book. "You can tell them no, you know?"
Murphy turned to Ginny confused, "what?"
"The boys, I mean." Ginny elaborated, "you do everything they tell you without complaint. If they give you a hard time, you can come to me you know? I'll put them in their place."
"Aren't I supposed to be the older sister?" Murphy joked and bumped shoulders with her, "thank you, Ginny, I know. But they're only acting this way because they care."
Ginny sighed.
They'd never acted that way towards Ginny, but she had to remind herself that she and Murphy were not the same.
To them, Murphy is still that scared little seven-year-old that flinched away any time someone raise their hand in front of her. The same little girl who'd cried when she thought one of them might be upset with her, the same one who'd cling to them at night when the night terrors set in.
Although Ginny was the youngest, Murphy was the baby sister.
Their baby.
Not that Ginny minded.
Murphy was the sister she'd always wanted growing up, even though she needed a little extra care and gentle caresses didn't make her any less of the big sister she'd always longed for.
To Ginny, Murphy had grown a lot. Not that any of their brothers could see.
And although from time to time Murphy will still jump at a particularly loud noise, or the sudden feet stomping down the stairs, or even a few weeks ago when their dad has raised his hand to pluck out a leaf from her hair, she'd grown tremendously.
Not only has she gotten beautiful curves to complement her plump lips and her beautiful blue eyes and ash blond hair, but she's come out of her shell and learned to navigate and adapt to everyday situations that she probably wouldn't have before she came to live with them.
Though Ginny had to admit, she probably would have grown a lot more if it wasn't for the overprotective hovering of their brothers.
Ginny was startled back to reality when a hand reached over and plucked the book right out of Murphy's hands.
"Come on, Murph. Enough with the boring books," Fred sighed exasperatedly as he held the book over his head so Murphy couldn't reach it.
"You've got all summer to read the boring ole books Cedrica sends you," George complained. "Don't you want to spend time with your big brothers?"
Murphy sighed, "what do you want to do?"
"Guys, leave Murphy alone, she's trying to read."
George rolled his eyes, "there's plenty of time for reading, Ginny. Come on, Gin, you too."
Ginny rolled her eyes but asked anyways, "what do you want to do? Play Quidditch?"
"We don't have enough players," Fred shrugged. "How about something in the water."
"Good idea, Freddy. I was just thinking the same thing, it's a nice day out." George grinned, "how about Water Niffler? Winner takes all."
"All of what?" Ginny all but scoffed suspiciously.
Fred grinned, "I can think of a few things."
"How about we go and get our swimsuits on and meet back here in twenty minutes." George mirrored Fred's grin, already turning towards the house.
"Wait, what about my book?" Murphy asked making a move to grab it from Fred's hand.
Right before she could grab it, Fred pulled it behind his back with a mischievous smile, "I'll hold on to this for a while."
Murphy nodded hesitantly, "Alright."
Once they made it back to the house, (the twins faster than the girls because they'd decided to run) they walked into the house through the back, only to be greeted by Molly.
"Are you guys going swimming with the boys?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, they're wanting to play a game." Murphy nodded with a smile.
"Be sure to be back before supper, the Potters are joining us for dinner," Molly spoke as Murphy raised her brows teasingly at Ginny's quickly redding checks. "And invite Ron and Percy, no use in them staying in their rooms all afternoon. Bill and Charlie will be coming in the next couple of days so I'll need help washing their bedding"
"Okay," Murphy chirped as she walked up the stairs, happy to help wherever she can.
"I can help out sometimes too, you know?" Ginny said as they walked into their room, "and it wouldn't kill one of the boys to help with the linen every once in a while."
"I know." Murphy nodded along, "I like helping mum though, she's always doing everything for me. It's the least I can do."
"We're family, it's good to help out every once in a while but you don't have to spend your whole life trying to repay us for adopting you." Ginny grumbled, "sometimes you're too nice for your own good."
Murphy just laughed as she pulled off her shirt, replacing it with her swimsuit top, once changed she threw on a baggy tee shirt she was pretty certain was Charlie's. "I'll head up and ask Ron and Percy to join us."
Running up the stairs she came face to face with Ron who was headed down. "We're going to the pond to swim, you want to come?"
"Harry's coming over later," Ron shook his head, moving to go around the girl.
Murphy stepped in front of him with a bright smile, “Harry can join! We’re going to play Water Niffler, I’m not sure what Fred and George’s got up their sleeves for the pot of gold but I’m sure it’ll be something cool.”
“And watch Harry ogle at my sisters all day,” he scoffed finally stepping around her. “No thanks.”
“Huh?” Murphy asked confused before shaking her head and dissipating the thoughts. “Oh come on Ron! It’s summer, let’s do something fun, please?”
Murphy looked down at the girl who’s eyes suddenly rounded, big and wide like a puppy and her bottom lip puckered and curled down in a small pout.
The boy rolled his eyes as he turned once again, and moved around her, heading back up the way he came.
After all, who could really say no when she made a face like that.
“Yay! Thank you!” Murphy clapped her hands as Ron waved the girl off.
Turning she made her way to Percy’s room.
Knocking softly it only took a second for the door to be flung open to reveal an annoyed looking Percy.
“We’re all going to the pond to play Water Niffler, want to join?” Murphy asked simply.
Percy shook his head, “I have no time for childish games.”
Murphy pursed her lips in hesitation looking up to him hopefully. “Please?”
Who could say no to that face?
“No.” And then the door was shut once again.
Percy. Percy could.
Murphy pursed her lips in disappointment, shaking her head to ignore negative thoughts that came to mind.
The thoughts that always surfaced whenever she put herself out there and was rejected, no matter how little or soft that rejection may have been.
She had to remind herself that Percy was like that. He was always like that, it would have been weird if he hadn’t closed the door in her face-
Taking a deep breath, Murphy imagined all the tension leave her body as she exhaled and turned away from the door with a small set smile and headed toward the pond.
Murphy arrived at the pond with Ginny, their arms intertwined as they skipped to George who was standing at the end of the pond.
“What took you so long?”
“Where’s Fred?” Murphy asked instead looking around for the familiar red headed boy.
George shrugged simply, “you’ll see.”