You Don't See Me

CHAPTER FIVE: Caught Off Guard

I rolled over in bed and opened my eyes. Sunshine was streaming through my bedroom window, while a bird sang softly from the tree outside. `A storybook morning', I thought to myself. I stretched my arms and sat up. Hermione was still sleeping peacefully in the spare bed that Mum had set up in my room.

Not wanting to wake her up, I hurriedly pulled on a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt and headed for my door. When I opened it, I found my oldest brother Bill standing in the hall.

"Oh. You're up. Finally," he said, before breaking into a wide grin. "How's the does it feel to have left Hogwarts?"

"BILL! You made it!" I yelled cheerfully. "I thought you'd never arrive!"

"And miss the celebration? No way!" he replied, hooking an arm around my neck. I noticed he still sported the same hairstyle that Mum hated. "Besides, Via wanted to bring Valerie over to meet her grandparents and uncles and a pretty aunt." Bill teased. Via was Olivia, Bill's wife for almost three years now. She met Bill in Egypt when she was sent there to look after her family's business.

"You brought Val? Wonderful! I'm sure Hermione will love her too!" Valerie was Bill's two year-old daughter. I had only seen her in pictures, but judging from them, Mum said she resembled me when I was still a baby.

Bill still looked the same. As he grew older, he never lost that sense of "coolness" that was inherent in his personality. No one would ever guess that this brother of mine, with his long hair and earrings, was once a Prefect and Head Boy at Hogwarts.

"So, how's Charlie?" I asked him about my brother who was based in Romania.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Bill answered. "He's downstairs with Erin." Charlie had been married almost a year now. His wife's from Romania but unlike Bill and Olivia they have no children yet. "I'll go check on Ron and Harry for now. I think those two are still sleeping," he winked, disappearing up the staircase going to Ron's room on the top floor.

I slowly wandered down the stairs, thanking the good heavens for allowing my family to be together on this very special day of my life. I told Ron before the party that I wanted the event to be an intimate gathering of family and friends. No unnecessary spending if possible. Besides, the Burrow could only accommodate a limited number of guests.

****

I smoothed the skirt of my baby blue peasant dress and turned sideways to study myself in the wall mirror.

There was something different about today that I couldn't quite put a finger on. My reflection looked exactly the same as I'd always remembered; only my features seemed somehow... calm? Perhaps it was acceptance as I'd learned to accept Harry's impending marriage. Or maybe it was simply contentment, since I couldn't ask for anything more with my recent high marks on my NEWTs and my brothers having stable jobs.

"Wow, Gin. You look great," Hermione said as she stood in the doorway of my bedroom. "That dress we got at Diagon Alley really looks good on you." We had done a little shopping spree Friday, and Hermione was all too willing to help me pick out a few nice outfits.

"Yeah, I was hoping I could wow Harry with this sometime, but..." I frowned at my reflection. I didn't want to feel sorry for myself. Not anymore.

"His loss." Hermione said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Hey, we'd better head downstairs. Guests have started to arrive," she continued, strolling out of the room.

I said nothing as I turned off the lights and followed Hermione downstairs. After all, tonight had the potential for something important to happen. I could literally feel it.

The affair was strictly friends and family, just as I had envisioned. My Gryffindor friends from Hogwarts came and we relived school memories the moment we got together. Mum cooked her specialties for the night and we all feasted before splitting into groups. Fred and George played a game of exploding snap with some of the guys while Percy was busy talking to some colleagues from the Ministry near the fireplace.

My older brothers, Bill and Charlie, were off in the garden with my parents and their families. Val was the adored grandchild, and it seemed my Mum and Dad couldn't get enough of her. We had learned that another grandchild was on the way since Erin announced over lunch that she was three months pregnant. It made me wish I would have the same blissful married life of my brothers when I settle down in the near future.

Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head and smiled. Harry was standing right next to me, with Cho at his side. They were the epitome of a happy engaged couple, and people had been congratulating them left and right on the upcoming wedding. The twins must've spread the news for it to travel that fast.

"Ginny," Harry beamed, his right arm draped around Cho's shoulder. "I'd like you to meet, Cho. I don't think you've been introduced before." I could feel my cheeks turn beet red but I fought to regain my composure.

"Hi!" I greeted her. "Nice to meet you, Cho. I'm glad you could join us for the celebration." Something odd struck me about her that night. For the first time in my life, I got to see another side of Cho Chang. I already knew she wasn't bitchy... people just loved to dislike her because she came off as someone who's too pretty and too nice.

"The pleasure is all mine, Ginny," Cho replied in a soft-spoken manner. I began to see why Harry fell for her charms. "Harry's told me so much about you," Cho continued. I felt myself blush again. "It's a pity that we never got the chance to know each other while we were still at Hogwarts," she said. It was hard to hate her when she was being so nice.

From where I stood, I could see Hermione scowling when she saw who I was talking to. But I flashed her with an "I'm-okay" smile and she continued with the conversation she was having with Parvati and her sister. After a moment, Cho whispered something to Harry and the next thing I knew, Harry had left us to look for Ron and I was stuck in a conversation with the lady who I envied most.

"Harry's a catch, you know," I spoke first, breaking the ice between us.

"Yeah, I know Ginny," Cho replied. "I have a small favor to ask of you," she continued. Cho Chang? Asking me a favor? What could it be?

"Really? What is it? I'll oblige, as long as I can manage it."

"Oh you can, trust me," she continued. "Promise me you won't say no?

"Promise," I swore, fully sealing my fate to fulfil whatever she asked.

"Will you be one of the bridesmaids at our wedding?"

(To Be Continued...)