A Life More Ordinary

Her hand was unsteady as she scribbled the note. It read:

Harry,

I have to stay in the library all day today. Luna and I are writing an essay that we put off to the last minute. I’m really sorry that I can’t go to Hogsmeade. Perhaps another time?

Regards,

Ginny

Ginny hastily folded it up and beckoned Pig to come over. The small owl sailed from his perch high in the rafters of the owlery. She grabbed it and tied the note to his leg. “Take this to Harry, okay? Bite Ron if he tries to read it.” She shoved an owl treat in his mouth and threw him out of the window, watching him take flight. Ginny chewed on her bottom lip, wondering if she had done the right thing. She couldn’t go to Hogsmeade with Harry under falsepretenses. She wanted something from the relationship that he did not. Not matter what Hermione had said; she knew Harry did not want to become her boyfriend. Being friends with him would be painful right now, so she was going to try and avoid him as much as possible. Yesterday had been relatively easy. She had taken the long routes to all her classes and had eaten dinner late.

As Ginny left the owlery she felt the bones of mice crunching under her feet. Ginny’s brow furrowed in disgust and she began dragging her feet along the stone walkway in an attempt to rid her boots of any residual owl presents. As she walked, she made her plans to get to Hogsmeade without seeing Harry or his friends. She’d braid her hair into two long plaits and shove it under the cabby hat that Charlie had brought back from Romania last year. He’s taken it off a muggle cab driver that had come to close to the dragon sanctuary. Charlie had been forced to obliviate his memory, but not before snatching the hat for Ginny. She loved the hat and it would cover her conspicuous Weasley hair. She still had Michael’s Ravenclaw scarf that she’d worn to quidditch matches when she sat on the Ravenclaw side. He never had bothered to ask for it back. Ginny thought he might be afraid of her. It didn’t really matter to her, she was glad to have it now. She’d wear it instead of her Gryffindor scarf and no one would think to look twice at her. Ginny rushed up to Gryffindor tower and hurried to complete these tasks.

Half an hour later, Ginny stood behind one of the tall pillars that lined the walkway to get outside. Filch was checking off students names as they passed by. In the distance, Ginny saw Ron and Hermione holding hands. They were waiting for Filch to check them off. Standing away from them was Harry. His hands were in his trouser pockets and he seemed a bit put off by something. Ginny came from behind the pillar and stood at the end of the line. With the Ravenclaw scarf wound around her neck and her red hair hidden, no one would notice her. She hoped that Harry got the note and didn’t think that she had ditched him. The line seemed never ending as Filched checked people’s names against their faces and warned people that they were not to bring back any dung bombs or fireworks. At last, she was standing in front of him. He looked her up and down with his watery brown eyes.

“And you are?”

“Ginny Weasley,” she whispered.

“Can’t be. You should’ve been with your hoodlum brother and his little friends.” He eyed her closely and she leaned away to avoid smelling him.

“No, they ditched me. Can’t be bothered with waiting for an annoying sister, you know how it is.” Ginny smiled at himnervously, anxious to get to Hogsmeade.

Filch pulled off her cap and watched as her red plaits swung down from the top of her head. “Alright, I believe you. Get going!” he snarled. Ginny didn’t have to be told twice. She stepped away from him and ran for her life.

The snow crunched under her feet as she made her way through the paths broken by the students heading for Hogsmeade before her. Her breath puffed in her face as she jogged along. She laughed inwardly as she remembered the first time she had ever noticed that your breath did that when you were outside on a cold day. She had seen Charlie’s breath coming out in small steamy puffs. She had asked him if he had started doing that because he was around dragons now. A smile curved her lips as she remembered how hard he had laughed. She missed him very much. She was always worried about the family members that were working for the Order. Most nights she prayed that whatever deities watched over her family would keep them safe.

Ginny stopped jogging when she reached the outer part of Hogsmeade. Flourish and Blotts was a few feet away and she didn’t want to attract attention by barging in, huffing and puffing her way up the aisles. She took several deep breaths and winced as the icy air filled her lungs. ‘Merlin! You’d think I’d be in better shape!’ Ginny stood up taller and readjusted her scarf and hat. She walked slowly to the door and stepped in. A jangle of bells greeted her as she entered and she looked around to make sure no one was looking at her. Ginny decided she was being too suspicious and should just enjoy her time out. She walked over to the new books section and began looking for something that her friends would like.

A shiny black book caught her eye and she picked it up. The title read Grims and Other Potents of Doom by Charon Hayden. Several of the animated drawings frightened her. Ginny quickly shut the book and decided that this would be a great book for Luna. She loved thinking about things like doom and gloom. She continued looking until she came across an unusual looking book. It was a silk covered book that had a title Ginny knew Hermione would be interested in, Potions, Charms and Transfigurations for the Everyday Witch by Terra Incognita. Ginny knew from discussions with Hermione that she wanted to learn how to run a house using magic. This would be her last year in school and she still had no idea what charms to use to clean a house or cook. She was worried about what would happen when she moved out on her own. This would be a great gift her. Ginny took the two books to the sales desk and paid for them. The sales witch wrapped them carefully in brown paper and put a feather light charm on them so she wouldn’t have to lug them back to Hogwarts.

Ginny left the shop and began looking over the small carts that lined the streets. She remembered that there was a cart that had lots of gardening things. She finally found the cart and stepped closer to get a better look at its contents. Gardening tools hung from the top of the cart and swung in the chilly winter air. Ginny saw a brown parcel that was labeled Demeter’s Gems! Herbs and plants that are guaranteed to restore health to the grower. This pack contains the various household herbs that every witch or wizard should have! Ginny read that inside the parcel was a variety of seeds as well as potions and different kinds of soil to help the plants grow better. Ginny thought that it would be perfect for Neville. He had confided earlier that week that his grandmother had made it clear that when he graduated he was to find his own home. Neville didn’t mind as he had asked Luna to move in with him and she had agreed. The package would be a lovely housewarming/Christmas gift.

Ginny paid for the package and noticed that she only had to buy gifts for Harry and Ron now. Ron would be easy to shop for. He only wanted food. That’s all he wanted every year. Pulling her cap lower, Ginny headed for Ron’s favorite hangout: Honeydukes. The aroma of chocolate filled her nose as soon as she entered the shop. Ginny had a quick look around and saw that Harry, Hermione and Ron were in the shop. Harry and Ron were nibbling on a large chunk of chocolate that they were passing back and forth. Ginny was momentarily disgusted by this new development in their friendship. Hermione was picking through boxes of sugar quills. Ginny walked quietly behind them to get to Ron’s favorite section, the chocolates.

“Does Ginny like cherry?” Hermione held up a box of cherry flavored quills for Ron to see.

Ron’s mouth was ringed by chocolate. “I think. She likes everything.” He continued to gnaw on the large hunk of chocolate, snatching it away from Harry’s grimy grasp. “Listen, Hermione, Harry and I are starved. We’re going to the Three Broomsticks to get some butterbeer and a sandwich, alright?” Ron made a noise of displeasure in his throat when Harry snatched the chocolate back. Harry broke off a piece and nodded in agreement with Ron’s idea.

Hermione waved them off and the two boys stumbled outside, arguing over the last bit of chocolate until they accidentally dropped it on the ground. Ginny stopped looking then because she was afraid she’d see Harry eat it. Ginny watched as Hermione paid for her purchases and left the building. The Ginny hastily chose a large bar of chocolate and several other bags of candy. She paid for them and wandered around the village for a little while. She had no idea where she would get Harry’s present. She didn’t even know what he wanted. She poked through several shops, hoping that she would see something that Harry would like. Nothing caught her interest or screamed out Harry’s name. Ginny was about to head for Hogwarts when she noticed the old pawn/thrift shop that had been opened a year ago.

Quentin Ollivander, who has Mr. Ollivander’s grandson, had opened the shop a year ago in Hogsmeade. He had figured that there was big business to be had from the students. Few students had a lot of pocket money, so his shop was sure to be a success. He had gathered items that had been pawned ages ago and cheap trinkets from around the world. Students often came in to browse and some stayed to buy things. For a shop in its infancy, Quentin thought that he was doing well.

Ginny walked slowly into the shop and waved at Quentin. He had worked for his grandfather a few years back and had taken her measurements for new Hogwarts robes. Ginny remembered him and often chatted with him. Today she was looking for something to buy. Ginny slowly walked through the shop, taking in all the merchandise. She stopped in front of the display cases. Ollivander’s most precious items were kept there. She leaned over and took a deep breath.

“Mr. Ollivander, can I see this?” She pointed to a small pin. The stone was a fiery red and upon closer inspection, she saw that beneath the stone a roaring lion had been engraved. “What is it?” Ginny asked as she held the pin in her hand.

“That? It’s rather old fashioned. People used to use pins and the like to clasp their robes closed. This is one of them.” Ollivander gently took it from her hand and polished it gently with a polishing cloth.

Ginny looked at the roaring lion and red stone. “Is it a Gryffindor pin?” ‘What a find!’ This would be perfect for Harry’s dress robes.

Ollivander shook his head. “Actually, I believe it’s a family crest.” He grabbed a thick volume from behind the display cases and flipped through it. “Ah, it’s the Potter crest.”

Ginny gasped and looked at Quentin. “Are you sure?” Ollivander nodded. “Is this for men or women?”

“Back in those days, men were kind of foppish. Now, I’d say a man or woman could wear it.” Ollivander looked at Ginny curiously. “You wouldn’t want to tell Harry Potter about this, would you? I think he would like something like this.”

“I think he’d love it!” Ginny said in an awed voice. “I’d like to buy it and give it to him for Christmas. How much is it?”

“I’d normally charge much more for this, but seeing as how it’s a Christmas present for Harry, give me a Galleon and we’ll call it even.” Ginny handed over the thick golden coin and happily watched the present being wrapped up.