Ginny Weasley and the Final Test of Friendship

Ginny woke up at two-thirty in the morning to a scream in the night. She sat up in the darkness of her room and swung her feet over the side of the bed. Someone had just screamed in the house. Someone was in trouble downstairs. She put on her dressing gown over her nightdress and walked blindly to the door in the dark. On second thought she turned around and grabbed her hand-me-down Cleansweep Five broomstick and headed back to the door. She could use it as a weapon, and if there was an emergency, a way to get out of the house.

She slowly opened the door with shaking hands and found herself looking into two pairs of eyes. She screamed and thrust the end of her broom into each of the bodies lurking at her door. Ginny slammed the door when she heard someone shouting.

"OWW! Ginny, what was that for!"

"No kidding, Gin. Is this the thanks we get for seeing what all of your screaming was about. Bloody hell..."

She stopped dead in her tracks. She knew that second voice. It was Ron! She couldn't believe she just whacked Ron in the stomach. But who was the other-- Ginny's stomach lurched as she realized what she had done. She dropped her broom and her hand flew over her mouth stifling her gasp. The other person with Ron was Harry! She hit Harry Potter! She forgot he was staying at the Burrow this week.

Ginny slowly turned around and opened the door finding a disgruntled Harry and Ron rubbing the spot on their stomachs where she just mauled them with her broomstick. She looked sheepishly at them as her face turned as red as the hair on her head.

"I--I'm sorry," she said looking at her feet in order to avoid Ron's eyes blazing at her. "I thought someone was in trouble. I heard a scream and I--"

"It was you who was screaming, Ginny. We thought you were in trouble. But geeze, did you have to hit me so hard!"

"I'm sorry Ron," she replied as she looked up at him. "And y-you too, Harry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's ok Ginny, we understand, right Ron," he said elbowing his best friend.

"Yeah, yeah..." he grumbled and started off down the hall to his room again.

Ginny looked back down at the ground still embarrassed. She looked over at Harry's feet and saw his glasses lying on the ground. She bent over quickly and picked them up.

"Here Harry," she said to the ground, avoiding his eyes. She held out her hand, "You dropped your glasses."

"Thanks, Ginny." He slid them back on his face and pushed his hair off his forehead, briefly revealing the legendary scar hidden beneath his black hair.

She watched him do this, her eyes shining at the boy she had liked since she first met him. His green eyes looked out behind the glasses and he smiled at her, making her blush yet again. She hadn't realized that she was staring.

"Well, um, goodnight, Ginny." He headed back down to Ron's room without looking back.

She watched him go, cursing herself for acting so stupidly around Harry. If she wasn't such and idiot around him, he might actually see her as someone else than "Ron's Little Sister"

She closed the door when she remembered what Ron had just said. It was you who was screaming, Ginny.

"I was screaming? Was I dreaming about something," she said aloud.

Ginny whispered to herself while she took off her dressing gown and climbed back into bed, trying to remember what she was dreaming about. Slowly the thought of the forgotten dream faded out of her mind. As she was falling asleep, thoughts of Harry flowed into her head. She smiled and closed her eyes.

*******

The smells of bacon, eggs, toast, and Mrs. Weasley's famous muffins floated into Ginny's bedroom. She woke up and breathed in the wonderful smells of breakfast while climbing out of her bed. Ginny slipped on her dressing gown and slippers and headed for the door. Halfway there she tripped on her broomstick that was lying in the middle of her room. She frowned at it, wondering why it wasn't under her bed where she normally kept it. She remembered whacking Ron and Harry in the stomach again and felt sick to her stomach again.

She'd never get over that night, she thought, and he probably hated her now for hitting him so hard in the stomach. She didn't care what Ron would think of being hit. After all, she was his sister and it didn't matter to Ginny if he hated her. But Harry was a different story.

Ginny threw the broom back on her bed and started downstairs. Her guiltiness of last night soon was surpassed by her sudden hunger, and she skipped down to the breakfast table.

George and Fred were already sitting at the table practically inhaling their food and in the middle of a conversation of their favorite sport, Quidditch. They both played on the Gryffindor team as beaters, and it was their seventh and final year at Hogwarts. Even though she had seen them eat many times, she was still amazed at the amount of food they could devour at one sitting.

She sat down at the table and grabbed a muffin and some bacon, and poured herself a glass of juice. As she started eating, Bill and Charlie came down the stairs. Bill was taking some time off from the Gringotts Bank in Egypt, and Charlie was back from Romania the since the beginning of the summer.

"What was all the commotion last night, Ginny," asked Bill thickly through a mouthful of toast. Ginny could tell he was a bit irritable this morning. "I come home for a little vacation and I'm woken up in the middle of the night by someone screaming."

"No kidding. I though you were having a party or something and didn't invite us." Fred and George looked almost offended until smiles spread across their faces. Ginny stuck her tongue out at them.

"Very mature, Ginny, and you're in what year this year?"

Ron and Harry were walking down the stairs. Ginny again turned as red as her trademark hair upon seeing Harry.

"Fourth, Charlie, you know that," she muttered looking back down at her plate.

"Could have fooled me. You'll always be my baby sister" he said reaching across the table and ruffling her hair.

All of the boys laughed, except Harry who merely smiled at Ginny and started into eating his breakfast. With all jokes past and hunger upon everyone at the Burrow, the room was soon replaced with the chewing of Mrs. Weasley's fine cooking.

*******

Ginny was sitting up in her room that afternoon thinking about the conversation that took place during breakfast that morning. Baby Sister. Baby Sister? Is that all they think of me? A little girl? I'm fourteen for the love of Merlin. I'm not a little girl.

Molly Weasley passed by Ginny's bedroom carrying a laundry basket. She saw her daughter sitting on her bed, her knees tucked to her chest and staring out the window. Ginny was watching the boys play Quidditch in the back yard with a wistful look on her face. Molly smiled and came and sat down on Ginny's bed.

"What's troubling you, Ginny, dear?"

"Oh, hello, Mum. Nothing really," she lied.

Mrs. Weasley looked her daughter knowingly in the eye. "I think I know. It's what Charlie said at the breakfast table this morning."

Ginny nodded. Molly smiled at her daughter and smoothed her hair. "I know you're not a baby anymore Ginny, and I know that you have matured beautifully over the years. But your brothers are your brothers, and even though they treat you like a little girl, I think they are more afraid of your growing up then they will admit."

"Well I am grown up. They don't see that I am! I'm fourteen!"

"They'll come around, dear. Just give them some time."

With that, Mrs. Weasley stood up and walked out of the room. Ginny sighed heavily and walked over the window to watch the boys play Quidditch. Bill looked up in the window and saw Ginny watching them play.

"Hey Gin," he yelled, "Percy and Dad will be done with work soon. As soon as they apparate home they we're going to play Quidditch with us so we have a bigger team. Dad's going to watch but Percy's playing, and we need an even number to play. You up to it?"

Ginny beamed. "I'll be right down, Bill." she shouted and grabbed her Cleansweep.

Molly Weasley saw her daughter tear out the back door, broom in hand, and she smiled. She waved her wand at the dishes and headed outside to de-gnome the garden.

When Ginny arrived in the backyard she found Ron and Harry talking about Gryffindor Team tryouts for the upcoming year.

"...and Oliver and Alicia are both gone now, and we need a new chaser and keeper. You should try out for the keeper, Ron, you're really good."

"I'm okay. I don't know anyone in our year trying out for the team. There are some younger kids trying out, but that's all I know of."

"I'm going to try out for the team, I could be a chaser," Ginny piped in. "You said it was open Harry, you think I could make it?"

Harry looked down at Ginny who was standing about a foot away from him.

"Sure, you have as good of a chance as anyone, Ginny. But let's see how you play today. After all, since I am going to be Captain this year--" Harry stopped and clamped his hand over his mouth.

"What," exclaimed Ron, "You're Captain next year and you never told me!"

Fred said, "Yeah, the team voted him captain last year after the tournament. We just sent him an owl halfway through the summer explaining it."

"I was going to keep it a secret until the tryouts, but it's out now," Harry shrugged. "Yeah I'm captain, Ron. I don't know though, I think Angelina or Katie should have it, they've been on the team longer than I have."

"Don't be modest, Harry. You deserve it, especially when we saw you fly like you did against that Horntail," George added slapping Harry on the back. "Besides, being the captain means you have to be serious during practice. Don't think we could pull that one off could we, Fred?"

Everyone laughed, except Harry. Ginny stopped when she saw he wasn't laughing. She remembered what Ron told her about Harry feeling responsible for Cedric's death. It was only two months ago, and from the expression on his face, it looks like he still felt pretty terrible.

Harry looked at Ginny and she looked back at him sympathetically. He must feel really bad.

Ginny heard two pops behind her and saw that her Percy and her Dad had finally come home from work. They went inside, and grabbed a broom, beater sticks, and the Quidditch balls.

"Ok we're all here now, let's divide up."

Bill was barking orders again. Even though he didn't live at home anymore he still assumed that since he was the oldest of the Weasley children, he could boss around whom he please.

"Alright. Harry and Charlie will be the seekers. George, you go with Harry, and Fred, with Charlie. Ron and Percy are the keepers, Ron go with Harry. And Ginny and I are Chasers. I'll be on Harry's team. Ok let's start!"

Everyone mounted their brooms and took off as Mr. Weasley released the bludgers and the snitch. He took the quaffle in his hands.

"Everyone ready," he asked.

"Yeah," came a chorus of yells.

"Ok. 3...2...1!" He threw the quaffle in the air. Before Ginny even realized what was going on, Bill had swooped down, grabbed the quaffle, and was halfway down the field. She cursed under he breath and tore off at top speed.

Ginny shot after Bill who was pulling his hand back to throw the quaffle. He released it at Percy and Ginny shot around in front of him, caught it in mid-air and sped off towards the opposite goal. She looked behind and saw Percy and Bill staring at her dumbfounded. She smiled and stuck her tongue out at them. Turning her head to look back around, she saw a bludger that George hit coming right at her. She dove and it narrowly missed her head.

"George! Watch it," she yelled at her older brother.

George smiled wryly and went after another bludger that was aiming for Bill who was gaining ground right behind her. Ginny accelerated toward the goals where Ron was looking daggers at her. She heaved the quaffle at him. He lurched at it, but it only missed his hand by inches as it sailed into the goal.

"Alright, Gin," yelled someone from behind her. It was Charlie. He slammed into her and gave her a hug. "That was awesome! I didn't know you could play so well," he said.

"Thanks, but you better be looking for the snitch," she said flying off.

He flew off and Ginny went after Bill who was in control of the quaffle again. But he'd already gotten too far of a head start and was nearing the goal. The only thing Ginny could do is to fly down there and hope Percy might actually block a goal. No such luck though as she saw the quaffle fly right by him with about 5 feet of air between the ball and Percy. She went to get the quaffle from Percy.

Ginny shot down the field again in an attempt to score. She dodged George again, but Bill rammed into her from the side and knocked the quaffle out of her arms. He grabbed it and scored again on Percy.

Ginny was fuming now. She grabbed the quaffle again and sped down to the other side of the field, not letting anything distract her this time. She pulled back and threw the ball as hard as she could. But Ron grabbed it skillfully and tossed it to Bill. Charlie flew down to Ginny.

"Ginny, concentrate! If you want to make the team next year you got to play harder than that!"

"Sod off Charlie," she yelled in his face. "Stop lecturing me and go find the snitch before--"

"I got it!" yelled Harry coming right at them. He held open his hand and the snitch was resting in his palm, calmly flapping its wings.

Everyone flew to the ground. "That was a quick game," Mrs. Weasley said walking over to them. "It's fine though, as I was just going to start supper. Everyone come in and wash up"

All of the Weasley boys congratulated Harry on catching the snitch and headed toward the house. Harry, Ron, and Ginny lagged behind a little.

"I think you two have an excellent chance of making the team," Harry said turning to Ron. "It'll be great having two of my good friends on the team."

Ginny stopped and the boys walked ahead. Friend, she thought. She frowned and the happiness of playing Quidditch faded from her.

Ron turned around and saw Ginny's face. "Something wrong, Ginny?"

She smiled. "No," she lied, "Just a little tired from the game."

"Well that first catch was amazing," Harry said. "I didn't know you could play that well."

Ginny grinned broadly at him. "Yeah, well, I guess it's a family thing. Imagine, Harry, if Ron and I make the team this year, you'll have four Weasleys to deal with. You sure you're up to that?"

"Well," Harry said softly, looking right at her, "I've taken a liking to the Weasley family."

"You better considering next year's Quidditch team," Ron yelled over his shoulder. He was heading inside for supper. "You two coming?"

"Right behind you," Harry smiled at Ginny and walked inside.

Friends, she thought walking to the door. Hopefully just for now.