Growing Up Weasley

Kings Cross Station. As busy as ever, Ginny thought. She saw a couple of friends she'd missed over the summer. She recognized the worried and nervous looks of first years. A couple of them appeared to be Muggle-born. Ginny always wondered how Muggle-born wizards and witches managed to find Diagon Alley and get their textbooks and things for first year. She knew Hagrid had taken Harry, and she remembered the way Mum had had to tell him how to get to Platform 9 3/4. How did the other Muggle-borns manage it?

Mystifying, perhaps, but not something Ginny wanted to give much thought just now. "Colin!" she called, with a wave and a smile. In a minute, she was practically surrounded by Creeveys.

"All right, Ginny?" the honorary Fifth Year Photographer greeted with a flash of his camera and a bright smile. "Have a good summer? Sorry I couldn't make the Burrow. S'pose it was all brilliant, huh?" Ginny didn't miss the note of envy in his voice, no matter how hard he was trying to cover it.

She shrugged noncommittally. "I can't say. All right, I guess. Where's your sister?"

In truth, Ginny was quite eager to meet Magnolia (Magnolia!) Creevey. With a name like that, she couldn't be too much like her brothers - who, if Ginny was perfectly honest, were both rather tiresome. However, clan Creevey didn't tend to breed geniuses. So when Colin called the girl over, Ginny couldn't have been more surprised if he'd introduced her to the Abominable Snowman. "Maggie, this is Ginny Weasley. Ginny, this is my baby sister Magnolia Creevey."

The girl delivered a sharp elbow to her brother's side and scowled fiercely at him before turning to Ginny and putting out her hand demurely. "Pleased to meet you, Ginny. I've heard ever so much about your family." Ginny's ears turned red at that, but the Creevey girl wasn't finished. "I've never met any full-blooded wizarding families before. Mum and Da are so hopelessly...Muggle."

The woebegone emphasis on that last word, paired with the twinkle of mischief in Maggie's dark eyes told Ginny that here was something altogether different. She thought perhaps Maggie Creevey was someone worth getting to know. "Oh, I dunno about that," Ginny countered. "After all, they've sent three of you to Hogwarts. And my mum said she remembered your mum from school." Maggie and Colin both gave her an odd look at that, but said nothing. Perhaps, Ginny thought suddenly, there was a bit of a secret there.

Hermione came up behind Ginny then, along with Ron and - "Harry Potter!" Maggie squeeked excitedly. Ginny felt all her hope in Maggie fade at those two breathless words. Colin's Potter adoration was bad enough - still going full-throttle after four years at Hogwarts - but Dennis appeared little interested in Harry. Perhaps it was too much to hope that Maggie would be the same.

"Ron, Harry, 'Mione, this is Colin's sister Maggie. Maggie, this is my brother and his friends."

"What did I tell you, Mags?" Colin whispered. "The Harry Potter!"

Ginny glanced at Harry, who was turning red. Ron looked as if steam would come pouring from his ears any moment. Hermione had already rolled her eyes and dismissed the Creeveys en masse. It was always a point of contention between Ginny and her brothers - this friendship with the Creeveys. Now it appeared to be a problem between Ginny and her brother's friends, too. "Well," she said over-brightly. "Shall we find a spot aboard the train?"

Ron snorted dismissively, and Harry made some excuse about waiting for Dean and Seamus. Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she said sharply. "Colin, Maggie? Shall we?"

Colin was obviously torn between hanging on around The Great Harry Potter and the unequalled (and unexpected) honor of squiring the Fair Ginny Weasley to a private compartment onboard the Hogwarts Express. After a moment's hesitation, though, he blushed proudly and took Ginny's arm. Maggie followed, and after one last look of annoyance at her two best friends, Hermione joined Ginny.

The four settled comfortably into an empty compartment and for a time chatted about their respective summers. Quickly enough, however, Colin appeared to figure out he was the only boy in a cabin of girls. Ginny wasn't terribly disappointed when he said he was going to find his brother. For a short while later, Ginny's friend Ivy Martin knocked on the door and entered the girls' sanctuary.

Ivy, Ginny thought, was just the girl to complete their party. Maggie was a first year, and at least part muggle (the mystery of her mother would have to be solved later). Hermione was a sixth year and one part of the Wonder Trio, as well as the cleverest witch Hogwarts had seen in ages. Ginny was a Weasley, part of a well-respected (if not well-off) wizarding family. Ivy, being part veela and part muggle and half witch, was beautiful and brilliant and as bent on mischief as Harry - perhaps more. She practically sparkled with fun, which was why Ginny liked her so well. Ivy didn't like being coddled and cosseted by the boys of Gryffindor anymore than Ginny did.

"So, girls, how was your summer?" she asked as she sat down beside Hermione. Noticing Maggie, she nodded. "Sorry, mate. Didn't quite catch your name."

Ginny blushed. Her mother had certainly taught her better than this! "Ivy, this is Maggie Creevey, Colin's sister. Maggie, Ivy's a Gryffindor, too. Fifth year."

"Fifth year prefect," Ivy corrected, smiling.

"Prefect? Really?" Ginny asked, pleased for her friend.

"You?" This, incredulous, from Hermione. The three younger girls turned her way. "Not, I mean, that it makes no sense... But really, Ivy, why do you even want to be prefect? It's a lot of work, you know."

"Yes, I know," insolently. "You're not the only Gryffindor able to manage it, Hermione."

Ginny bit back a grin. Very few people were willing to match wits with Hermione Granger. Ivy, though, had no compunction about that. Still, Ginny didn't want to see the two of them go at it - if for no other reason than the cabin was a bit small. "Congratulations, Ivy. I'm sure Donald'll be pleased." At this, Ivy turned a bit pink.

"Who's Donald?" Maggie asked.

"Donald Gervase is a Ravenclaw seventh year who's arse over teakettle for Ivy," Ginny explained, while Hermione and Ivy both laughed. Donald's adoration was legendary - and a source of everlasting mirth for Gryffindor House. Sometimes, though, Ginny felt more than a little pity for the Ravenclaw boy. She, too, knew what it was like to love someone who did not return the feeling. Likely she would never quite forget the embarrassing things she did her first year. And if she did, all she'd have to do to remember was visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and open a horrible singing valentine her brothers had developed.

"You inspired us, Gin," they told her, laughing, as the card sang about its recipient's most endearing characteristics in dreadful Seuss-like verse.

Ginny was brought back to the present by a knock on the closed compartment door. It was her brother, and Harry. Speak of the devil. They opened the door.

"Hey, Gin," Ron greeted. He and Harry were both apparently relieved to find Colin Creevey not among the ladies of Compartment G-11. "'Mione, mind if we sit down a minute?" Not waiting for an invitation, he squeezed in on Hermione's other side. Harry, sparing a worried moment's glance for Maggie, followed suit and sat beside Ginny. She stiffened slightly, but moved over and let him sit down.

In an instant, Maggie shot up. "Sorry, I - erm...forgot something. I left it with my brothers. Yes. Excuse me, will you?" She stepped over the long legs of the older boys, and the shorter legs of Hermione and Ginny, to the door. "Ivy?" she asked, turning back to face the cabin. "Will you come with me? I wanted to ask you something. About being a Prefect."

Ivy shot a knowing look at Ginny, who caught it and studiously looked away, before getting up to join the all-too-Gryffindor first year.

***

"Well, Ron? What is it?" Hermione asked. "There are no Creeveys around now."

Ginny could practically taste the disdain in the air as Hermione spoke. It impressed the younger girl to no end. Ginny thought that if Hermione weren't so - well, ordinary-looking - she'd be part veela. There was that much power to her. At least where Ron was concerned.

Ginny shook her head slightly at Ron. It was painfully obvious to everyone that he was utterly besotted by Hermione. But he would never admit it. And in truth, Hermione would never tolerate it. Hermione was miles ahead of Ron, and she would never be happy with someone who was not at least her mental equal. More the pity, that. For if Hermione would just open her eyes, she would see that Ron was not the foolish prat he appeared to be sometimes. No one who played chess that well could be the utter, utter git Ron seemed. And, she thought, if Ron would just stop feeling so sorry for himself, he would see that he was as worthy as anyone of Hermione.

Besides that, she thought with a grimace, no one else could tolerate the Twin Tempers of Gryffindor Tower. Ginny often thought that if You-Know-Who ever caught Ron and Hermione in the middle of an argument, they'd make mincemeat of him without losing a beat. And then they'd finish their argument.

The notion made her giggle.

She immediately wished she hadn't. Harry leaned over and whispered in her ear, "What's so funny, Gin?" Ron saw that and glared at her with all the baleful anger of an overprotective brother. Hermione saw and stifled a giggle of her own.

"Come on, Ron. Let's go find another compartment." Ginny watched, in horror, as her brother eagerly followed Hermione out of the cabin. No doubt he was hoping to get Hermione alone somewhere.

In a minute, Ginny was alone. With Harry. This time her giggle was pure nervousness.

"Ginny?" he asked.

She turned, and looked Harry in the eye for the first time all day. She was pleased to see he was a bit red, too. Good. Best she wasn't the only uncomfortable person in the compartment. "What is it, Harry?"

"Er...well, about the other day. In Diagon Alley."

"Yes?"

"Y'see...there's something I've been meaning to tell you. For some time, actually."

"Really?" she asked, careful to disguise any eagerness she felt.

"Yes." He took a deep breath, then caught sight of the sweet trolley passing their door. "But this isn't really the place to do it." As if to prove his point, there was a knock at the door, and Draco Malfoy and his two goons were looking through the window. He stood and turned to face his nemesis in the door.

For that reason Harry did not see the shockingly vulgar gesture Ginny flung toward the Slytherins. They, however, could not miss it. The shock in Draco's face was unforgettable, and Ginny filed it away to share with Ivy later.

***

In a little while, Hermione had returned, sans Ron, to the compartment. Harry had disappeared. After a short fight with Malfoy (in which, of course, Harry came out the undisputed victor), he'd gone to find Ron and plan their next attack. Ginny and Hermione had some time to talk about the boys before Ivy and Maggie also returned, and then the inquisition began.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were with Harry?" Ivy asked.

"Oh, my brother will be crushed," Maggie said.

"And Neville," Hermione couldn't help adding with a little grin.

"How long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Did he say something this summer?"

"Have you finally come to an understanding?"

"What happened?"

"I don't want to ever hear another word about Donald Gervase."

"It's about time Harry acted like a man about this, you know. He's fancied you for ages."

This last was enough for Ginny. She stared with wide eyes at the oldest girl in the compartment. "For ages, Hermione? Are you completely daft? Harry does not - is not - has never fancied me. Besides, Miss Granger, you have no place to talk. You've been leading my poor brother on for years. And I do not want to talk about Harry Potter ever again, if you don't mind."

Ginny couldn't help it. She was more than a little embittered by Harry's latest not-quite-a-declaration. Of course, he had kissed her again after quickly dispatching Malfoy, and this kiss was a bit more than they'd been at the Burrow. "You're brilliant, Gin," he'd told her. "We'll talk. Soon." And then he disappeared down the aisle in search of Ron.

If she was so wonderful, why did Harry keep disappearing to plot some vengeance or other with her git brother?

Hermione, apparently, divined the truth right away. And Ivy wasn't far behind her. As one, the two girls asked, "He didn't say anything, did he?" And Ginny shook her head miserably.

She was miserable. Embarrassed, angry - miserable. "It's all his fault, you know," she began, completely undeterred by her self-imposed ban on Potter-talk. "Before you two came to the Burrow, I was perfectly happy, 'Mione." A pause, then, ruefully, "Well, perhaps not perfectly happy. Not with the Weasley Knights of the Round Table bent on protecting my maidenhood from unseen attackers. But I was not pining over Harry. I've been cured of my little crush for years, I swear." Ivy nodded, attesting to the truth of that statement. Hermione raised one brow doubtfully, but wisely remained silent. "And then - he started it. He started the kissing game. We overheard you and Ron talking that Saturday morning, you know. Before we surprised you in the kitchen? Well, that's when he did it. That's when he started the game. And then when you and Ron were late coming back from Ottery St. Catchpole - I decided to get him back. And it just continued from there." She told her audience about Harry's behavior in Diagon Alley - one moment a perfect Sir Lancelot, helping her find and carry her books, discreetly stepping away so as not to hear her ask for credit in Flourish & Blotts, and holding her hand all day. Until Ron and Hermione arrived. "I'm sure he was on the verge of saying something - it was that obvious - but all he did was suggest we go to the quidditch shop." She took a deep breath, and looked around at the three girls who comprised her audience. "Well, what do you make of that? He did the same thing before Malfoy showed up today. I hate to say it, 'Mione. I know he's your friend and all, but Harry Potter is an utter prat."

Ivy shook her head. "He's not a prat, Gin."

"Then a rat ba-"

"Ginny!"

Ginny blushed slightly. "Well, anyway. What's his excuse, then, if not genetic prat-ness?"

Hermione coughed slightly, and Maggie laughed out loud. Ivy grinned. Then Hermione took the reins and explained. "He's just a boy, Ginny. Really, that's the only excuse."

"It's proof that he cares, Gin, though it doesn't seem like it," Ivy continued. "That's what boys do. They're too thick, really, to use words, when actions work just as well."

"That's right." Ginny wondered idly if this was tag-team counseling as Hermione took over the narrative. "Trust me, I know Harry as well as anyone. He's mad for you, like I said before. He's just a bit shy, I think."

Ginny snorted. Shy was the last word she'd use to describe Harry. He was the captain of the House quidditch team, had been the youngest seeker in a century, was famous before he even knew he was a wizard, hadoutwitted Snape at every turn, had been a Tri-Wizard champion, knew half the Ministry by name - Harry, shy? Hardly.

"He is," Hermione insisted. "Remember his crush on Cho Chang?" Wonderful, Ginny thought. I had hoped to be reminded of Harry's first love. "He couldn't manage to say two words to her practically all year! And besides, you're Ron's sister. That probably makes him more nervous than anything. Imagine having your six brothers gang up on you." Ginny raised her brows. She didn't have to imagine it when she could experience it firsthand. Hermione realized her misstep and blushed a bit. "Well, I mean, imagine being on the other side of that."

"Really," Ivy concurred. "They can be quite intimidating, your brothers. I remember when Percy was still here. For all he's a great ponce, with four Weasleys watching over you, Gin, nobody was going to harm one hair on your head. Well, except for Tom Riddle. But he hardly counts, does he?"

Hermione rushed to cover Ivy's non sequitur. "The point is, Ginny, Harry can't help it. He's a boy, and a sixteen-year-old one at that. You know they mature more slowly than girls. In the wizarding world, I've read, it's even worse. You cannot give up on him now, you know. Because no one else'd have him. The Boy Who Lived, and all. Rather intimidating."

"Oh, I dunno about that," Ivy disputed mischeviously.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You are not helping, Miss Martin. I hope you counsel others better than this, or you're going to be stripped of your prefect badge before September's out!" She shook her head and muttered, "Honestly."

Ginny giggled. "It's alright, 'Mione. I get your point. Even if Harry's acting like a great git, it's because he fancies me, right? And I'm supposed to sit back and let nature take its course, right?" All three girls were nodding in response to Ginny's questions. "And play the damsel in distress once again, right? Well," she squared her shoulders determinedly. "Sod that! If Harry wants to tell me how he really feels, so be it. But I'm not waiting around like some wilting flower, panting for male adoration. Maybe I should just go tell him, once and for all, hmm?"

And, to the mingled horror and admiration of the other three girls, Ginny swept out of the cabin and down the length of the train in search of Harry.