Moments in the Life of Ginny Weasley

Chapter One: Worry

Molly Weasley was worried. But then, what kind of mother would she be if she didn't worry about her children? Not a very good one, she supposed.

She shook herself and focused on the task in front of her. Dinner, she thought. I must have dinner ready by the time Arthur arrives from work.

But as she chopped carrots and peeled potatoes, her eyes and mind strayed to her children, again her worry getting the best of her.

Her oldest, Bill, who at the moment was trying to teach his younger brother, Percival, the correct wand movement for some type of spell (that Molly knew was not going to actually to be attempted, so help her!), was going into his 4th year of school and a very bright boy. She had no doubt that Bill would go on to become a prefect and later, Head Boy. He was such a bright child, getting into his fair share of mischief, but always doing well in his studies. Molly, however, worried that he was growing up and wasn't needing her as much. But, that was what happened when a child grows, wasn't it?

She could say much the same for her next oldest child, Charlie, the boy flying around the make-shift Quidditch pitch in the yard. He was only a year younger than Bill and so she supposed that was normal for a 13 year old boy. There came a time in every child's life where they grew and started molding their own selves into the person they wanted to be. Charlie was different than Bill, though. He certainly showed a great deal of interest in Care of Magical Creatures, but also very much enjoyed to play Quidditch. But worries on whether he would do well enough in his studies plagued Molly whenever she thought of him.

She would never worry about that, however, with Percy. She was fairly certain of that particular fact. No, even when he was a young boy he had never been seen without a book in hand. He was always very virtuous and followed all of the rules she placed, without question. No doubt, Molly knew, that when it came time for Percy to attend Hogwarts, he was definitely going to excel. He might even be in Ravenclaw, Molly thought with a shrug. No, when it came to academics, her thought about Percy were sound. What did worry her was his relationship with his siblings. Percy was the child that the others picked on and excluded. But, then again, children fought, didn't they? It was just a part of childhood, Molly supposed. They would grow out of it... Wouldn't they?

She let her gaze stray to the pair of young seven-year-old boys out on the lawn, standing next to Percy and Bill. Without a doubt, Molly could say they were getting under Percy's skin, by the look of utter incredulity and anger on his young face (and the amused, not-so-well hidden grin on Bill's), though they were two years his junior. Molly sighed. Fred and George certainly took a toll on Molly's sanity. They were no doubt smart boys, just a bit... Rambunctious, Molly thought, biting her lip. Yes, rambunctious was a good enough word. They were the clowns of the family, reminding Molly of her late older brothers, Gideon and Fabian, Merlin rest their souls.

Ron, however, was a different story. When Molly looked at her youngest son, running amok about the yard while casting longing looks at Charlie and his fairly new broom, she sighed in contemplation. All of her children were so different in their personalities, even the twins, that when she looked at Ronald, she was always perturbed. He seemed to have two very different sides to him, one determined and very loyal, and the other angry and often extremely jealous. How both sides of his personality coincided was a mystery to her, but it seemed as if Ronald's personality was a cross between all of his brothers', something Molly didn't know was a good thing.

Ginny was another thought altogether. A slight smile formed on Molly's face as she found her daughter sitting placidly in the grass, looking up at the sky with a peculiar expression. Ginny was the little girl Molly and Arthur had always wanted, even though she had come as a very big surprise. And now, at the tender age of four, Molly continued to be surprised by her. Just last night, even, Molly was rendered speechless when Ginny stood up in the middle of a bedtime story (Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump), and announced in a sure and very serious voice that she was going to marry one Harry Potter.

Suddenly, Ginny looked up, directly at her. Molly gave a small start and glanced down at the potato in her hand, before looking back up. Ginny cocked her head to the side and seemed as if she were deep in thought (as deep as a four year old's thoughts could go, Molly reasoned). Molly held her gaze, wondering what thoughts were running through the little red head's mind, when suddenly Ginny gave a brilliant smile, one that showed her dimples, and waved. Molly, almost against her will, felt her concerned frown melt into a (half-confused) grin of her own and she returned her daughter's wave.

Ginny clambered to her feet and ran into to the house, and for once Molly didn't mind the mud that splattered her freshly washed floor.

"Don't be sad, Mum," Ginny said in her little voice, sounding wise beyond her four years, as she wrapped her arms around her mother's middle. "Don't worry."

Yes, Ginny is right. Molly mused, as she squeezed her daughter back. Now is not the time to worry.