"Didn't know you was into gingers, Malfoy?"
"Shut up Weasley"
-
Gemma Weasley shared many similarities with her siblings, the ginger hair, pale skin, freckles and a super sense of humour, yet she was the one that stood out from them all. Even her tw...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I sat on the stairs, legs sprawled out, idly tracing circles on the wooden floorboards with my fingertip. The Burrow was quiet, except for the faint sound of the ghoul rattling pipes upstairs and the occasional creak of the house settling. I wasn't tired. Not really. My mind was too loud for sleep.
A thump from below startled me. Then, the unmistakable sound of flapping wings. I straightened just as Ginny came barrelling down the stairs like a Bludger gone rogue.
I frowned, pushing myself up. "Where's the fire?"
She didn't answer.
Curious, I followed, my bare feet making no sound on the steps.
By the time I reached the doorway, Ginny was standing in front of a large, familiar trunk. Beside it, a snowy owl sat in a cage, blinking at her.
Ginny tilted her head. The owl did the same.
"Hedwig...?" she murmured, then turned and yelled, "Mum!"
I stopped short, my drowsiness evaporating. "Wait, Harry's here?"
Ginny glanced at me, her eyes bright with curiosity. "I think so. His trunk's here, isn't it?"
I stepped closer, running a hand along the scuffed leather of his case. It felt oddly surreal. Harry hadn't mentioned anything about arriving early, but then again, when did he ever get a say in his travel plans?
Ginny gave me a look. "You're actually smiling."
I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."
We peered up at the landing, the dim candlelight casting long shadows across the walls. The family clock hung in its usual spot, but my stomach lurched when I saw all our hands pointing to Mortal Peril.
I tried to ignore it.
Mum appeared at the top of the stairs, looking half-worried, half-exasperated. "What is it?" she demanded. "Is it your father? Has something happened at the Ministry? Has he been kidnapped? Is it the Death Eaters?"
Ginny grinned. "Exactly. How'd you guess?"
Mum gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth in horror.
I smacked Ginny's arm. "Merlin, Gin, you cannot joke like that."
Ginny winced. "Okay, yeah, maybe that was a bit much."
"I'm joking, Mum!" she added hastily.
Mum glared. "You're worse than Fred and George."
"Now that's offensive," I muttered.
Ginny just huffed. "I was only wondering when Harry got here."
Mum frowned. "Harry who?"
I snorted. "Harry Dimpleton," I deadpanned. "Who do you think, Mum?"
Mum gave me a tired look.
Ginny crossed her arms. "His trunk's in the kitchen. And his owl."
