Ginny Weasley and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 2- A Day of Relaxation

The next day Ginny was awoken by the sound of her mum cooking in the kitchen. Feeling the warmth of sunlight, she realized she had been allowed a nice lie-in. With the patchwork quilt thrown over her head she found herself provided with a good hour of day dreaming. The stained glass windows of fabric were lit up, making her a private cathedral of old tablecloths, ancient dresses and long forgotten handkerchiefs. She traced the old stitching with a finger, following the paths to different fabric scraps, each holding a bevy of memories, eventually finding her favourite. The tiny swatch, yellow with little daisies across it, always seemed to bring a bit of cheer. It always reminded her of the last time the whole family lived together.

Bill had been about to move to Egypt, and they had a huge picnic as a farewell. He had made daisy chains with her, even though the other boys wanted him to play Quidditch; all save Percy, who had more important things to do than make daisy chains or play sports. She didn't want to leave her stuffy cathedral, for the moment she did she'd be met with a very different house, where everyone was a bit anxious, and any guests would probably be filled with nothing but bad news. She rolled herself tighter, ignoring the sun. This would probably be her last moment of quiet, and she was going to fully take advantage of it.

Finally, when Ginny was fairly certain staying rolled within her stifling quilt cocoon would deprive her of enough oxygen to cause mental infirmity; she clumsily removed herself from her bed, unceremoniously falling into a heap on the floor and hissing as her ankle hit the bed frame quite sharply. The most blinding sunlight pierced her eyes, and instantly made her wish she had been awake enough to cast a charm on the blanket to keep it cool enough to live in forever.

"Nice to see you're finally up," she heard her bureau mirror say as she wobbled over to it. "You're looking quite scruffy, though."

Ginny gave the mirror a rude gesture ("My word!") before haphazardly dressing, and limping down stairs. She found Ron, happily being doted upon by their mum, a veritable feast lain across the table.

"Ginny! You're limping! Is your ankle still sound?" her mum instantly started in.

"Oh yeah…" Ginny had forgotten about the ministry until now. She had broken her ankle there. "I just hit it funny when I fell out of bed. It's nothing."

Her mum made a face, but thankfully refrained from saying anything more about it. The feast had every one of her and Ron's favourite luncheon foods, and by the time they were finished, even Ron was completely full. Ginny expected their mum would set them to a variety of chores, as she always had the day after they returned from Hogwarts, but she and Ron were quite surprised to find not only were they allowed to sleep late, but there were no chores at all. They spent the afternoon lazily playing chess (where Ron soundly beat her all 3 times) and playing exploding snap (where Ginny made up for her early chess defeats by decidedly defeating Ron twice.) Ginny couldn't remember having such a relaxing day.

"Perhaps we ought to nearly get killed more often," Ron joked at dinner. Ginny nearly laughed, but stopped herself when she heard an indignant squawk from their mum, who started to threateningly wave a wooden spoon at Ron.

"Ronald Weasley! How could you say such a thing?"

"Er…I was only joking, Mum-"

"It's not funny! I'm always worried sick about you, always going off on some dangerous expedition… Do you understand how it affects me and your father when you go gallivanting off without telling a soul, facing Deatheaters and Lord knows what else?"

"We always have to. It's not like I-"

"You should know better than to-"

Her mum was almost crying at this point, which Ginny took as a cue to leave. Rather than watch the uncomfortable fight ensue, or somehow get drawn into the skirmish, she decided it would be better to write a quick letter to Dean in her room. As she stealthily crept away, the sound of the row followed her up the stairs, but thankfully her door seemed to muffle it enough to ignore.

She retrieved a quill and set to write something funny, clever, and impressively long.

Dear Dean,

There had to be something to say to him…

Dear Dean,

We've been having lovely weather here. Perfect for Quid-

That has to be the most ridiculous start to a letter ever. She promptly crumpled that up and tried again.

Dear Dean,

Miss you already! I've been counting the-

Ginny made a face at that and threw the letter in the rubbish bin.

Dear Dean,

Nothing much has happened. Well, it's only been a day, so it's not that surprising. Had a nice lie in and Mum plied me and Ron with her cooking. Hopefully I can get some Quidditch in tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing from you.

-Ginny

Was it too short? Should she put 'Love from, Ginny' instead? Or perhaps one of those ambiguous little hearts? After a few moments of internal struggle, she decided the length and signature were fine enough to send. She walked down the stairs to find the row still blazing. Ron looked thoroughly sheepish and was backed into a corner; her mum looked ready to throttle him. It seemed her dad has just arrived, as he was still wearing his travelling cloak while trying to calm her mum.

"Now Molly, I'm sure he didn't mean-"

"It doesn't matter if he meant it or not! It's horrible to joke like that, Ronald, just horrible!"

Errol was somehow dozing through all of this. Ginny touched his wing, causing the old bird nearly fell off his perch in surprise.

"Sorry, Errol," she apologized, trying to keep from laughing. She quickly tied the letter onto his leg hoping no one would notice. She felt a bit guilty that it was so short and boring, but settled she'd find something more interesting for the next one.

"Can you take this to Dean Thomas, Errol? He lives somewhere around Sunderland, I think he said." Errol gave a wheezy hoot and flew out the window, though it took him a few false starts before he finally took off.

"Oi! Who are you writing to?" a cornered Ron said, who was apparently so desperate to get the attention away from him he'd resorted to selling out his own sister.

"It's none of your business, Ron," she responded coolly, hoping he'd just drop it.

"It's not that Dean character, is it?"

"'That Dean character?'" Ginny hissed.

"What, have you got a boyfriend, Ginny?" her dad asked with a smile, looking relieved at the distraction from the row he'd been refereeing.

"Well… "

Her mother was looking expectantly at her as well, her anger forgotten, and a wide smile on her face. Ginny wished now, more than ever before, that she was old enough to Apparate. Brazil was nice this time of year, right? Good Quidditch too. Ginny backed up and hit a wall. What? How had she suddenly become cornered?

"Oh, you didn't tell me, Ginny! Who is he?" her mother asked interestedly, though her spoon was still ominously raised towards Ron. Her parents were beaming at her, obviously wanting to be told Dean's life story, all the gory details about how they met and how long they'd been dating: basically everything she never wanted to talk about with them ever. Ron was looking on, a very different sort of expression on his face. It was about as far away from encouragingly eager as an expression could get.

"His name is Dean Thomas…"

As her parents still looked eager for more details, she went on.

"He's in Gryffindor…" she continued hesitantly. "Er… And he's a Muggleborn."

"Muggleborn, eh?" That's all it took for her dad to instantly approve.

"Yeah… He's very nice." He's great kisser. He has a nice smile. His eyes have every hue of brown imaginable in them. "And he's excellent at drawing."

"Oh he can draw? How lovely," her mum said, beginning to clear the dishes from the table. She looked as if she approved as well, which was a relief.

"He's in my year. Did she tell you that?" Ron offered accusatorially. Ginny's eyes narrowed. She had forgiven him for yesterday's explosion over Dean, and had actually forgotten about it as well, but any inkling of forgiveness instantly evaporated from Ginny's mind as a teeming anger took its place.

"Yes, he's in your year, Ron. Thanks for that. Anything else you want to add?"

"Just have to wonder how many boyfriends you're planning on having this year," Ron said airily.

"What?!"

"That's enough you two," their dad kindly interrupted. He had become quite adept at quelling rows between his children by now, though he never seemed as capable with his own wife. "It's late anyways. Why don't you both head up to bed now, and you can tell us all about this mysterious Mr Thomas tomorrow."

The two glared at each other for a moment before giving into his request, bidding their parents goodnight and making their way up the stairs. Ginny gave each a peck on the cheek before running up the stairs to catch Ron.

"The next time you make some stupid remark that gets Mum on your case, don't you even think of using me to get out of it," Ginny growled, elbowing him in the side as she reached the second landing.

"I wasn't using you to-" he blustered.

"Oh yes you were, Ron!"

"I was just curious as to-"

"And that's another thing! It's none of your business if I'm writing to Dean, or any other boy!"

"So you're writing to others too?"

"You know that's not the case! I'm writing to Dean, and only Dean, at present, though it wouldn't matter if I was writing to a hundred boys, as it's none of your business!" He was lucky she had left her wand in her bedroom, or he would have bat-bogeys flapping at his face this instant.

"It is so my business! If-"

"Admit it! You were just using me to distract mum!" she said, poking him forcefully in the chest.

"Fine, I did a little," Ron gave in surprisingly fast, towering over her "-but you have to admit, she was barking mad about it. I was only joking. You ran out of there just to avoid getting jumped on too."

He had her there.

"You're an insensitive wart, you know?" She angrily crossed her arms.

"Yeah, I've been told," he said, obviously feeling heckled. "Last term Hermione said I have the 'emotional range of a teaspoon' too. Anything else you want to add?"

He forcefully jabbed his hands into his pockets, a brooding worried look taking over his face. Though Ginny had plenty to add, she found herself incapable of saying anything as he angrily kicked his foot and started tromping up the stairs. He was so smitten with Hermione, and looking so utterly gloomy, Ginny felt unbidden pity welling up. He was a right idiot when it came to being sensitive, yeah, but seeing him look so worried over it made her want to cheer him up, mostly so he'd stop making that morose face that could out-sad a wounded puppy. She rolled her eyes and, with a grunt of agitation, doggedly followed the brooding mass that was her brother. He had just passed her door when she caught up and interrupted the silence saying:

"If it's any consolation, I think you at least have the emotional range of a tablespoon."

"Oh thanks. Makes me feel loads better." Ron rolled his eyes.

"You're not that bad, you just need to set your goals," she heartily said, a humorous twinkle in her eye.

"What do you care?" Ron said, shifting his weight from side to side.

"Perhaps you should aim for the emotional range of a tea cup?" Ginny smiled hopefully.

"Well, I don't want to set my goals too high," he said, cottoning on.

"Thimble?"

"Too small."

"Perhaps we should aim for-"

"Shot glass!" he said, giving her a small grin.

"You would choose a shot glass," she said, giving him a punch in the arm and opening her door. "I'm sure we can get you to shot glass by the time she comes here for the rest of the summer."

"Who?" Ron asked, shiftily.

"Never mind," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Night, Git."

"Night, Twerp."

"Twit!" She laughed from behind her closed door.

"Cheeky!" he called back before she heard his noisy footsteps going up the stairs to his room.

The following day they were awoken early to a myriad of chores, and had corned beef sandwiches for lunch, much to Ron's chagrin, but somehow, in the end, it was just as gratifying as their day of relaxation.

Author's note- Yeah, this chapter is a bit more 'family fluffy', short, and is not plot driven. Lots of stuff happening in the next chapter, though. :) I wanted to show a bit of the Weasley household that we don't really see, and Ron and Gin's relationship too.

Reviews are very much appreciated, especially considering how very rarely I write and submit it to public scrutiny.