You Don't See Me

CHAPTER TWO: Back at the Burrow

Ron told me that the party would be Sunday night. It was still Friday morning and so I had two more days to relax and pamper myself at home before the big day. It took us less than 30 minutes to reach the Burrow, when we got there I was too tired to unload my stuff from the cab leaving Ron to do it as I hurried inside to find Mum.

"Anybody home?" I called out as I entered the front door. Within seconds, my Mum came rushing out of the kitchen to meet me and Ron.

"Oh Ginny dear, it's so nice to have you back home again," Mum hugged me so tight that I almost choked from her embrace. "Where's your brother?"

"Unloading my stuff... he owes me one since he hasn´t written me in so long," I replied naughtily as I settled on the sofa while waiting for my stuff.

"Well you have a visitor... came here a few hours ago. She wanted to surprise you when you got home."

"She? You don't mean...," A young lady with bushy, shoulder-length brown hair appeared behind Mum. I immediately recognized the familiar face, Harry and Ron's friend, and my confidante these past few years.

"Yes, it's me Ginny. In the flesh," the lady said.

"Hermione! It's nice to see you again. Why didn't you tell me you were coming over when you owled me a few days ago?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Figured I might surprise your brother as well," Hermione grinned, making me anticipate Ron's reaction when he saw Hermione.

We didn't have to wait much longer as minutes later Ron came rushing inside carrying my trunk and Spooky's cage. The moment he saw Hermione sitting on the sofa with me, his face turned the same color as our flaming red hair and I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction.

"Why are you here? I thought you were busy with work at the Ministry." Ron snapped at Hermione. As much as I knew that he was overjoyed to see her, my brother loved to annoy Hermione whenever he had the chance. "Rumor has it that you are being considered for a promotion as well. Your absence could jeopardize your chances of bagging it."

"Me? Up for a promotion? Really?" Hermione replied excitedly. "Well, I filed for a holiday for the weekend so that I could attend Ginny's party. Your parents invited me over to stay. She's my friend too. And frankly, I'm surprised you're here as well. Aren't you supposed to be in Sweden?

"Hey! I'm hosting the party, remember?" came the quick reply from my brother. "And my business in Sweden is nothing of your concern.

This was getting to be exciting. I missed seeing the two of them banter like this since they graduated from Hogwarts a year ahead of me. Hermione's like the sister I've never had. Of course, it wouldn't be a big deal if Ron would just admit that he liked her as well. The problem is they always seem to be at each other's throats whenever they were in close proximity.

"Okay you guys, I'm going up to my room to rest for a while," I told them while they were still in the middle of the friendly exchange of words. "Where are your things, Hermione?"

"I've placed them in your room already. Your mom told me to go ahead and unpack when I first arrived," Hermione replied.

I wanted to stay longer downstairs and watch them banter but I was tired from all the excitement. When I opened the door to my room, I didn't even bother to change clothes and immediately sought the comforts of my own bed. Within five minutes, I had dozed off.

****

I woke up an hour later and shared a hearty lunch with my parents, Ron and Hermione. The twins and Percy weren't due home until the evening because they were very busy with work. Mum told me that Bill and Charlie would be arriving on Saturday evening just in time for my party the next day. I loved it when we were all present for family gatherings like this. It made me feel secure somehow knowing that I had all these people to turn to when I needed something in life.

That Friday afternoon, Hermione and I shopped and strolled at Diagon Alley all by ourselves. Ron wanted to come but Hermione told him that it was an all-girls activity for now. She treated me to a banana split at Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor while we caught up on each other's lives. Talking to a friend in person is far different from communicating with each other through letters. Hermione told me all about her new job, and judging from her facial expressions, she loved the whole experience of having new responsibilities other than academics.

She in turn, asked me about Hogwarts and how things had changed since she left the school. I told her it was basically the same. Dumbledore asked me once in while what's the latest developments were with the former dynamic trio of Hogwarts. My brother and his friends were virtually celebrities at Hogwarts, especially since Harry Potter was part of the trio.

Now that I thought of Harry again, I had an urge to ask Hermione if he really would be coming to the party, but I decided against it since I didn´t want Hermione to think that I hadn´t gotten over my feelings for him. Harry Potter is part of my past and the sooner I could forget about him, the faster I could move on.

****

On Saturday morning, I woke up alone in my room and figured Hermione would be downstairs already helping Mum with breakfast. Not bothering to change from my pajamas, I got my robe, combed my hair and hurried downstairs to help. But I froze in my tracks when I saw who was chatting with my father and brothers in the den. It reminded me of the time when I was eleven and I absent-mindedly asked Mum for my jumper during breakfast not knowing that we had a visitor. I toyed with the idea of running back upstairs and changing but...

"Hello Ginny. Nice to see you again," the visitor greeted me.

If I could have asked for one wish to be granted that moment, I'd probably have asked that the ground open up and swallow me whole that instant. Now everyone was staring at me as he approached where I stood and gave me a hug.

I swear Ron and Hermione were giggling as the whole scene unfolded.

(To Be Continued...)