CHAPTER VI PART 1
CHAPTER VI
Ginny relished at her youngest brother's attention. It has been quite a while since they have bonded like this. They are currently in the Hogwarts grounds, having a picnic near the lake. There is a wide great tree shading them from the pleasant Saturday morning sun. The air is crisp and carries the charming autumn cold.
"Hey Gin!" Ron called out without leaving his sight on the meat skewers he was cooking. "A little help, please?"
Ginny made a beeline towards Ron. She was amazed with the sheer amount of food laid out. There's a huge number of skewers, the ones Ron's sorting out, with different vegetables in it. She's quite excited for those, as it was her brother's specialty. There's also various kinds of sandwiches, and fruit cuts, and also some Muggle crisps and beverages ("Ronnie, where'd you get those?"
"From a special acquaintance, Gin. A very kind acquaintance").
Her stomach made a loud, loud growling sound.
They froze. They looked at each other. Then Ron barked a gleeful laugh.
Ronald's booming laughter attracted even more attention (there were students ogling at their food, no doubt also salivating because of the savoury aroma).
They were both as red as a tomato. Ron's red because of too much laughing - the git is almost on the ground, rolling - and Ginny's because of utter embarrassment.
She got a bundled onion leak and smacked him out.
"Shut it, you menace!" She also pinched his side, hard. But all Ron responded with was more laughter.
"Ha. Ha. Your stomach could even battle the cheers in a quidditch game, Ginny!" This little-
It took Ron a burning smell of meat to stop making fun of her misery. Now she knows how Percy felt a couple of weeks ago, when she laughed at him for Oliver Wood.
He's still smiling, though. And a teasing smirk adorned his annoying ugly face.
"What were you asking for, earlier?" Change the topic. Change the topic. Her brother won't stop teasing her if she doesn't. She could tell he knows, though. The twitch in his lips says so.
"Arrange the beverages over there, please. And put a cooling charm in it."
She did as she was told and a comfortable silence enveloped them.
"So," she says, unsure. "Why'd you organize this... picnic party?"
"Well, I thought that things are starting to be a bit suffocating, with all Percy's fretting about his NEWTS and this whole Sirius Black business." He says, while still focused on his skewers. "And I just want to relax. And to ask how the others are doing. I mean, we all live in the castle but we all have our own lives."
Ginny has a feeling that that's not all there is to it, but decided not to push through her queries. After all, it is such a good day for them to argue.
"So, how are you?" He shocked her by asking those questions.
"I'm fine. The lessons are still laid back, you know. Though I'm not so sure when the exams are here. I might just go with the flow." She started. She knows what he's really asking about, but she chose to ignore it. Again, this is too good of a day for anything negative. "There's also this girl, she's a Ravenclaw. I suppose she's smart, but shes a little bit... different. She's nice though. We quickly became friends."
"Mhm. Want to invite her?"
"Maybe next time." This is a really important family event for her, and Luna might just shock all of them with her quirks. She's sure to introduce her to them next time, though. She's a really nice girl.
Ginny snatched a skewer from the mound of cooked ones. Her other hand is also holding a pear. It's quite sweet and she's quickly becoming fond of it.
"Hey!"
"What? It smells so good!" She took a bite from the meat. She sighed at the bursting flavors in her mouth. "So good!"
Ronnie has always been good with seasonings. When they were young, their mother would hound them up in the kitchen. So Ron picked up quite a few things not only about cooking, but also about other house chores. At first, it was only supposed to be Ginny as Mum wanted to have a girls' hangout but Ron inevitably joined. Mum checked him every few moments. Ron also seemed to enjoy it dearly, especially when he couldn't go rough housing with their older brothers due to his condition.
Ron had always been sickly when they were young, so he stuck with Ginny and Mum a lot. Mostly with Mum, as Ginny went to play outside more often as she grew up. But most of the time, it's just the two of them. Ginny and Ronnie. Long before Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Hey, Ronnie," she says, munching on her pear.
" Did you make all of these?" She's hoping he made some egg drop sandwiches. Merlin, those are heavenly. It's her favorite out of all of Ron's homemade sandwiches.
"Yep," he says, popping out the p in the end. He gave her an analyzing look, and then smirked.
"Maybe, just maybe. If you fix the vegetables over there, you ought to find some extra special egg drop sandwiches in a fancy box." He then took a bite from one of the skewers. "Just maybe."
Ginny squealed in delight. She knew Ron wouldn't forget it!
Ginny happily made her way towards the pile of vegetables. Whoever gave them these ingredients sure is generous. She could kiss them any moment.
While she was happily sorting out the vegetables and hunting her precious egg drop sandwich out, she heard footsteps coming towards them.
"Oh, oh! Is that turkey I smell?!" A delighted Hermione exclaimed. Ginny could very well relate to her. It smells so amazing!
"Uhuh," she said to the bushy-haired girl. "With Ron's special marination. You should get one now before it's too late. Georgie hogs that one very well." And he's very protective of his turkeys.
Aha! She saw a very pretty package under the pile of veggies. She opened it and sure enough, the most beautiful sandwich appeared before her.
There are a total of six sandwiches, all even in size. The bread looks so white and fluffy and the eggs look so gradient. The green onion leaves look so good on the yellow and white and red piles of carefully laid out ingredients.
She heard the faint conversation of Ronnie and Hermione as she held her food in care.
"How can I help?" The newcomer asked.
"Here. Grill these ones. I'll take out the pudding."
Ronald pushed the little fan he was holding until her, which Hermione took happily. It seems like she already hid a fair share of turkey, an advice from Ginny that she followed.
"Still not spilling your secrets?" He teased her.
"What secrets are you talking about? I have many." She teased back.
"Ohoh? That doesn't include discreetly setting a teacher on fire, I hope- ow!"
Ginny wonders if they are aware that they are subconsciously flirting with each other. Ron's not, obviously. She's just not sure about Hermione.
Oh well, it's not her problem. Besides, there is another concern right now.
"Ronniieee," she whined. It's not often that she whines, mind you, but this situation is different. She's really starting to get hungry, and people are staring at them.
And maybe, she feels like they were back at the Burrow, every other sibling gone to Hogwarts, and two of them having a picnic. They were in the treehouse near the lake, the one that they pestered Dad to make for them. It was their very own forth, and they are free to play all they want.
"Ronniiieeeeeee," she whines some more.
"I get it, I get it! We'll just have to wait for the others, yeah?"
As if on cue, Percy came marching towards them. his robes are fluttering and the bouncy curls in his head were messed up even more by a windy day of October. What's more, he doesn't have any sort of book with him. That's so rare as Percy always has a reading material with him. At all times.
"I am so sorry I am late. Is there anything I can help with?" He said with a deep, deep breath.
"Woah, Perce. You look like you've been chased by a cluster of spiders!" Ronnie said, after handing a cup of cold water to Percy.
"Not a clutter of spider, no-" he took a big swig of the water. "That would be far nicer. I was chased down by Peeves. Bloody manace almost bathed me with stinky glitters. I ought to ask our beloved twins where the Poltergeist could have possibly obtained those, those, cursed things!"
Oh no, Percy looks so pissed. He must be, after all the studying for the NEWTS and all.
"Chocolate cheesecake?" Ron held up a tiny pretty cake to Percy's face. He also seemed aware of the possible things that an irritated Percival could do. So he did one of the most logical ways to prevent a Weasley explosion: shoving up their favourite dishes to their face.
"... Did you make this?" And sure enough, he forgot everything he was talking about earlier. He's just focused on the little cake in front of him.
"Yepp. With a touch of special whipped cream at the top."
"Then yes, please." They all laughed when he grabbed the plate and took a forkful of the treat. "Oh, so perfect."
A few moments later, they all saw Harry coming, but he was not alone. Not very far behind him is a pair of grumpy-looking twins, a grinning Lee Jordan, and a hoard of quidditch players. Ginny and Ron's and two bookworms' jaw dropped.
Ginny turned her head and saw Percy also looking at her. They both nodded.
They oh-so-subtly hid their favourite dishes. They are in danger. Hermione looked conflicted about hoarding more turkey, as she already took a portion out earlier.
The loud chatter immediately filled the surroundings.
"Oh, it smells so good!"
"Is that muggles crisps? I love those?"
"They've got fizzy drinks, too!"
"Harry, we got you a treacle tart."
"Turkey. I smell turkey."
George's head snapped at the last comment. "Oi!"
"I'm really sorry, Ron. I was just about to go with the twins but I slipped up about the picnic. And they followed us and they smelled the aroma and, and-"
Poor Harry looks like he's about to cry.
"Hey, mate. It's alright, really." Ron let out a chuckle. "Besides, Dobby gave us plenty, and he said that we could just ask for more if needed. And oh! Hagrid also gave us some vegetables from his garden. And I'm telling you, they are enormous. A single piece of pumpkin filled out a big cauldron!"
Harry's face made an odd expression when he heard about the name 'Dobby'. Ginny wonders who could that be. Ronnie said that he was the one to give the ingredients. Oh well.
"Ronnie. Can we eat now? Now??"
"Sure. Just get what you want and settle down."
"Hey Weasley the sixth! Thanks for inviting us!" Lee Jordan cheekily said as he munched on a lamb skewer. His plate also has some salad and a pizza.
"You invited yourselves, you mean." Fred said, grabbing a grilled cheese sandwich and a fizzy drink.
"Same thing, Weasley. Same thing."
Georgie seemed to be hoarding every other turkey he could find. Hermione sighed in relief as she discreetly took out hers.
Ginny watched as a feeling of contentment enveloped her. This is more chaotic than she anticipated, but the crowd of their friends and laughter and smiles brightens up everything. She just wishes she could stay in this moment forever.
She saw the twins bickering with Lee and their other teammates, Percy looking exasperated as Oliver talked to him with animated gestures, suspiciously looking like a motion of a flying broom. Then she looked at her Ronnie serving some food to Harry and Hermione. They were all talking excitedly and both are looking at Ron with wonder. Hermione looks a bit red though. And perplexed. She doesn't realy look like she's listening. Again, oh well. She's got an egg drop sandwich to diminish.