The Lewis House 25 страница

Now was the time to speak, but Ginny found that her voice was failing her. She didn’t want to disappoint her mother – but she couldn’t go home. She just couldn’t. She sighed and looked out the window.

Crash! A loud noise startled both of them from upstairs. It was followed by the sound of Ron's voice, "Damn! Bloody hell! Ruddy owl!" and then Pigwidgeon's high-pitched hooting. Ginny stifled a laugh - Pig had learned how to get out of his cage and had taken to greeting Ron as soon as he climbed out of bed in the morning. A few moments later, they heard Ron's big feet padding slowly down the stairs. He stopped in the doorway when he saw his mother sitting in the kitchen.

"'lo Mum," he muttered, not moving. He looked a bit frightened. Ginny heard her mother gasp and she felt like doing the same. There was an enormous bruise on Ron's cheek, the line of a healed cut on his temple, and dark bags hung under his eyes.

"Ron" Molly breathed anxiously. "Look at you - what - what - HOW could you have got involved in something like this? Did you even stop to –"

To Ginny's surprise, Ron held up a hand and said softly, "I know what you're going to say, Mum. I know the whole lecture. I'm sure you've talked to Dad already so you know what really happened." He winced. "My head hurts," he muttered.

Ginny smirked at him. He certainly did know how to play it for sympathy.

Molly sighed loudly and approached her son. She reached up to look more closely at the cut on Ron's face and he flinched slightly as she softly pressed her fingers against it. "Have you seen a doctor?" she asked much more quietly than Ginny had anticipated.

"No," Ron answered, wincing a bit as his mother probed at the wound. "Hermione put something on it last night before I went to bed, ow! Mum - " Ron pulled away from his mother, exasperated, and said, "It's okay."

"Well, if Hermione looked at it, then I'm sure she thought to disinfect it. But it looks horrible. What were you thinking?"

Ron didn't answer. Ginny felt for him. Her mother obviously wanted to discuss the situation, and at the moment, no good could come of that at all. Ron was more than sorry for the mess, and Ginny knew how scared he was of getting arrested. Yet Molly continued.

"And how does your employer feel about this whole mess? Fighting while you're at work." She crossed her arms and shook her head. "It doesn't exactly look good to start your first job in this way, does it?"

Ginny saw Ron close his eyes and take a deep breath. She stifled a laugh. The situation wasn't funny at all, but she couldn't help wanting to warn her mother that if she didn't leave Ron alone, he might punch her as well.

"It's nearly eleven o'clock, Ron. You should really go upstairs and get dressed."

"I'm dressed."

"Still, there are young women in this house. You should dress properly before you come downstairs."

"I'm wearing clothes."

"You're wearing pajamas. Where are your robes?"

"Packed. In my trunk," said Ron, picking up a piece of toast. "I wear these everywhere. To work, to the pitch – in fact, I think I’ll wear them to the wedding –"

"Well, if this were my house, you'd be wearing your robes every day. It's a sign of respect! People have given their lives so that we can continue to live the way that our kind have for thousands of years..." Ginny rolled her eyes at Ron to indicate that this topic had already been discussed.

"Robes have nothing to do with being magical." Ron grinned as much as he could manage. "Ancient wizards didn't even wear robes, Mum."

Molly opened her mouth as if to protest, but before she could say another word to Ron, Remus walked into the kitchen. Ginny breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of him. With Remus here, she'd be able to talk to her mother without the discussion escalating into a fight.

"Ron's absolutely right, Molly," Remus said, smiling. "The early wizards did not wear robes. I'm partial to them myself, but I can understand the younger generation's interest in Muggle clothing. I myself used to quite enjoy wearing blue jeans while riding with Sirius on the flying motorbike."

"Well, Remus, I suppose you are right. How are you, dear?" Mrs. Weasley smiled up at Remus and Ginny felt a pang of irritation. This was exactly the reason that she was not returning home this Autumn. Her mother still considered Ginny and Ron to be small children, and since Percy's death she'd been more overbearing than ever. Ginny knew that her mother wanted to somehow preserve the feeling of a house overrun with youthfulness, and she probably thought that having Ginny back in her old room would make the Burrow feel like home.

But Ginny knew that she'd be stifled in the Burrow without anyone for company but her parents and Penelope, no matter how cozy her mother made it. She hadn't even discussed any of this with Ron. She knew that Ron didn't want to go back home at the end of the summer, and now that he had a job, he had an excuse to stay. Of course, he was of age and could go where he liked – so was she, for that matter – but it wasn’t ever a question of what they were allowed to do. Her mother was very fond of telling them that they could do whatever they liked, in a tone of voice that suggested otherwise.

Ginny was anxious to see what sort of fight her mother might put up about Ron’s staying in Stagsden. She looked at her brother hopefully; maybe he’d say something now and deflect some of the attention away from her own announcement.

Hermione entered the room and Molly rose to give her a hug. Soon they were chatting about Hermione's impending adventure in Cortona. Molly was concerned for Hermione, but, Ginny noted, seemed oddly supportive of her choice.

"You're a smart girl," Mrs. Weasley said brightly, and then frowned as she turned her attention to her son again. "Any thoughts as to what you'll be doing at the end of the summer?"

"Expect I'll keep working," grumbled Ron, instantly sounding defensive. Ginny couldn't help thinking that she hoped that Ron would be free to work at the end of the summer. There was no telling how Draco Malfoy might blow the whole situation out of proportion.

"Well, yes, at the pub?"

"Where else?"

"Oh, I don't know. I thought you might want to come home and see about helping your father at the Ministry."

"Doing what?"

"Whatever it is that you're good at dear."

"Thanks Mum, but Harry and I are staying here in Stagsden. We're looking for a house, aren't we Harry?"

Everyone's heads turned to face Harry, who had just entered the room, his Firebolt slung over his shoulder. Ginny saw Ron wink at Harry and guessed that this plan had been hatched in Ron's head exactly ten seconds earlier.

Harry nodded, placed his Firebolt in the corner, and sat down at the table as well, looking extremely tired. Ginny couldn’t help watching him; his eyes flitted out the window and toward the Lewis Manor every five seconds. She knew that he'd gone half-mad about what was happening with Malfoy – he had gone stark white, last night, when Hermione had told them that the M.L.E.S. was in the house for Ron. Harry had tried to push past her and go downstairs – it had taken Hermione, Ginny and Remus to talk him into staying out of it, and in the end, it had been Ginny, mentioning to him that the Daily Prophet was also in the living room, that had sent him back to his bedroom to brood alone.

"A house?" Molly asked sharply. "Here in Stagsden? With what money?"

"Mum, how many times do I have to tell you that I've got a JOB." Ron's face was getting redder and Mrs. Weasley's eyes were screwed up into tiny beads.

"At a pub! How can you afford a house? And who knows what you may have to pay to get yourself out of trouble!"

Ron ignored her last comment. "I'm a good bartender! Besides, we'd only be renting."

"Harry doesn't have a job."

"He will soon, and anyway, he's independently wealthy, aren't you Harry?"

Harry shrugged and poured himself a cup of pumpkin juice. Ginny looked at him closely. The thought of Harry, as wealthy… he just wasn’t. It didn’t matter if he was.

"Ginny'll be home to baby anyway, so you don't have to worry about me," said Ron wickedly. Ginny kicked him under the table.

This did seem to calm Molly down a bit, and she smiled indulgently at Ginny. Then she turned to Remus and said, "Yes. Now, Remus, dear, I was meaning to ask you about textbooks."

Remus cleared his throat loudly and looked over at Ginny. Ginny's heart was beating rather frantically in her chest, but she took a deep breath and said, "Actually, Mum, I've been meaning to talk to you about that."

Ron whistled under his breath while Molly looked expectantly at her daughter. "About what? Textbooks? Really?" Molly sounded pleased, "I'm glad that someone in the family has been thinking about their future."

Ginny couldn't help but smile at that. She could use it in the impending argument. She took another deep breath, and went for it. "I am so relieved to hear you say that Mum," she started sweetly, "because Remus has offered to give me lessons this year here at Lupin Lodge, and I know that'll be a burden off of your shoulders because Remus is a trained professor and it's really a wonderful opportunity."

Molly Weasley's face had turned quite pale. She stared at her youngest child in astonishment, and then turned to Remus, still keeping one eye on Ginny. "Now, Ginny," she said steadily, "you don't want to inconvenience Remus. I'm sure he has other things planned for the year, without having to teach you as well."

"Actually, Molly, it would be wonderful practice for me." Remus gave her a disarmingly apologetic smile. "I've been asked to teach at Hogwarts again when it reopens next year, and I'd love the opportunity to teach this year as well. Really, Ginny would be doing me a favor."

Ginny shot a thankful glance at Remus and then turned to look at her mother, who had now stood up and begun to boil more water for tea. She was surprised to see her mother doing it the Muggle way, rather than using her wand.

"Well," Molly finally said, a bit breathlessly, "there it is then. I shall have to discuss it with your father of course. We need to wait for his approval. I'm not sure how he'll feel about you living in a house with four grown men and no other women. Hermione will be gone until Christmas."

Suppressing a giggle, Ginny replied, "Mum, I grew up with Dad and six boys. I think I can handle it. Besides, Ron and Harry are getting a house."

"Well your father hasn't given permission for that either! And Ron might not be in a situation to do anything for quite a while!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, slamming the kettle on the stove and turning to glare at Ron.

"I’ve got nothing to do with this," Ron warned, waving his hands out in front of him.

"Mum, please," Ginny pled, feeling Harry’s eyes rest on her, though she wasn’t looking at him. "I want to stay. I love home, but… I always went away to school, and I need to be… away at school."

Her mother sniffed. "You do whatever it is that you want to do, Ginny," she said quietly.

Ginny groaned.

"Molly," Remus cut in, walking up to her and looking both nervous and serious. "There's something else you should know. Something that – well, you’ll think I’m terribly irresponsible, and you may not want Ginny to stay here after all."

Molly eyed him curiously.

"However, it’s fair that you should know," Remus continued, "as it will make you quite proud of Ginny. I do, very much, want to be her professor – but there are other reasons that I would like for her to remain at Lupin Lodge for the rest of the year."

The room went very quiet. Hermione sent Ginny a shining look.

"Yes?" Molly prompted, frowning.

Remus cleared his throat. "She's been able to successfully brew the Wolfsbane Potion," he said slowly. "She administered it to me at the last full moon, and it was perfectly effective."

Mouth hanging open, Molly turned to look at Ginny. "What?" she gasped.

Ginny beamed. She’d never seen her mother look at her in quite that way – not even during the war. "I had help," she began modestly, but her mother cut her off.

"You – the Wolfsbane Potion? Really? But Potions was never one of your good subjects!" Molly looked at once thrilled and terrified.

"I - I know," replied Ginny, giving a little laugh. "I don't know how I did it, but it worked – and oh Mum, Remus will help me study for the Apparition exams and maybe… maybe Dad can clear me to take them early or something – I’m seventeen."

"Your father will not give you special permission to do this or that, simply because he is the acting Minister," Molly began sternly, but stopped at once when Ginny held up a hand.

"Well if he did, I'd be able to come home on weekends, or in the evenings to see you and to help with the baby…" Ginny wheedled. Of course, she could do this just as easily using Floo powder, but decided to conveniently forget about it for the moment. Molly’s face went soft again, and she regarded her only girl with evident pride and distress. Ginny tried to fan the pride. "Please let me do this," she begged. "It’s the best thing for Remus – and me." She crossed her fingers behind her back.

Molly's eyes were shining brightly, and in one swift movement, she’d gathered Ginny in her arms. "Of course you can stay." Her voice was muffled in Ginny’s hair. "I'll fix things with your father! Oh Ginny, I'm so proud of you!"

Ginny let herself cling, for just a moment, reveling in having won her battle. She caught eyes with Harry, who was half-smiling at the two of them as though he was about to laugh.

"Mum!" said Ron, after his mother and sister had collected themselves, "I mastered four new Sobering Charms this week! Aren't you proud of me?" He held out his arms to his mother.

Molly released Ginny and glared at Ron. "Have you seen the Daily Prophet this morning?" she demanded. "If you know what's good for you, you'll start reading some legal books and try to find a way to plead your case. Sirius is much too busy to be taking on this project as well as all his others. Your father says he's doing about a hundred different things at the moment –"

"Sirius is the best one for it," Harry said suddenly, his voice very deliberate and low. Everyone looked at him. Ron gave him a brief smile.

Molly heaved a sigh and turned back to Ginny. "I suppose. But there’s nothing we can do about any of that at the moment, so let's go upstairs and try on those robes. No, boys –" she said shrewdly, when Ron and Harry made for the door with the Firebolt between them, "– don't even think of wandering off. You'll need to try yours on as well. Go on, get yourselves upstairs, get them out of your trunks."

Ron rolled his eyes. Harry shrugged. But they both went for the stairs, and Hermione followed, with Ginny at her side. Satisfied that she would get to stay with her friends, and trying not to think too hard about Ron’s predicament, Ginny let her mother fuss over her robes and hair, as they all prepared for September first.

Chapter Seventeen

The Wedding

~*~

A/N: Thanks to Honeychurch, who wrote the whole Trelawney toast as a birthday gift to Zsenya. You are so very talented, and so muchly loved. Prismapillars are the invention of Jedi Boadicea. Giggle Grenades would not exist without the brilliant imagination of Cap'n Kathy.

~*~

After Lavender and Seamus had said their vows on the sandy banks of the Hogwarts lake, the procession filed out of the school’s war-torn gates and down the road toward the village of Hogsmeade. Fred and George had provided plenty of fireworks and several of the villagers opened their doors or windows to see what was causing the commotion. Several older witches and young children joined in the festivities along the way.

The Three Broomsticks had been decorated outside, as well as in. Flowers trailed down the sides of the windows, which, for once, were open wide. Enchanted butterflies of all colors flew in and out and up and down, landing on the guests as they entered the pub.

Inside, the Three Broomsticks looked entirely different from what anyone was used to. Sunlight poured through the open windows. The tables were arranged along the walls, leaving an adequate space in the middle of the room for dancing. In the center of each table was an assortment of food, and Madam Rosmerta stood at the bar, resplendent in ruby-red robes.

"How old do you suppose she is?" Ginny whispered to Hermione as they headed towards their table. "She looks so young!"

Hermione glanced appraisingly at Madam Rosmerta. "She was here when Sirius and Remus were at school, so she must be at least fifty. Probably older. Wizards age differently from Muggles, so I can't really tell, but I know that Professor McGonagall is almost eighty, and for a Muggle, that would be near the end of your life, whereas she’s only halfway through hers. It’s amazing. We’re really lucky."

Ginny looked back over at Madam Rosmerta, who was busy handing out a pink lemonade and champagne concoction that she had dubbed ‘The Finnigan Brown’. "I hope I look that good when I’m her age, whatever it is," she said approvingly, and Madam Rosmerta shot her a sudden, proud smile.

"She heard you!" Hermione gasped.

"Good." Ginny settled down at a table, along with Hermione, Harry and the rest of her family. Together, they delved into the wedding supper, which ended with the ringing sound of silver against glass. Dean Thomas had got to his feet.

"As Best Man, I’m supposed to say something funny and clever about these two idiots over here." He gestured to Seamus and Lavender, who grinned at him amidst the laughter. "But I’m no good at jokes and speeches. Seamus is my best mate, and Lavender’s a wonderful girl. They belong together. Have for years. I’ll never forget our fourth year, when he asked her to our first school ball - he came up to the dorms afterward, looking pretty shocked, pulled me aside and said, ‘She said yes!’" He smirked at Seamus. "I don’t blame you for being surprised, Finnigan. I thought she was crazy then, and I think so now."

Everyone laughed, while Lavender kissed Seamus’s cheek and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Congratulations. Cheers!" Dean raised his glass, the whole room drank together, and Parvati Patil got up in the following silence.

"After Seamus asked Lavender to marry him, she came up to our dormitory, lay on her back, and stared at the ceiling for a long, long time," Parvati began somberly, touching her hand to her heart. "It was probably quite good practice for this evening," she added.

Seamus and Lavender went scarlet as the room roared with laughter - the twins howled, Harry laughed so hard he actually spit into his napkin, Ron choked on what he was eating, and though Hermione cried "Parvati!" in the most scandalized tone she could muster, she was laughing, too. Ginny could scarcely breathe, she was so overcome with giggles, but she attempted to control herself, as her mother was eyeing all of them in shock.

"She’s my dearest friend," Parvati continued. "And I’ve seen how much she and Seamus love each other. They were both at Hogwarts, the day Voldemort disappeared."

The room went silent. Beside her, Ginny felt Harry slide down slightly in his seat.

"We all saw the school today - it’s badly damaged. So were many people. So would Seamus have been, if Lavender hadn’t got between him and a couple of wizards who were trying to curse him when he was down."

Ginny caught a silent breath. She could feel Harry looking at her.

"He would have done the same for her," Parvati went on, "and I can’t give this marriage any higher praise. I love them both, and I wish them joy. Cheers!"

Lavender burst into tears, and Parvati sat down amidst wild applause.

"Well, my dears," Professor Trelawney's curiously breathy voice cut through the noise in the room like a knife, although it was scarcely pitched above a whisper. "I must say the auras in this room are bright this evening." She paused for a moment, and when she began again, her voice was slightly tragic.

"Not all as bright as one would wish...no. Not all." Her eyes skittered over the crowd- several people shifted uncomfortably, and edged away from her line of vision. "But the fates are not always kind, I have found." She sighed almost perfunctorily, and shook her head. "The spirits have called me here tonight, and I must obey the promptings of fate, no matter how draining it may be for a sensitive like myself. Although I am honored that my dear Lavender and Seamus have deemed me worthy to witness the eternal binding of their souls."

She paused long enough to raise the glass in her hand. "I do not often partake of the cup that cheers, but on this occasion I find myself prompted by my spirit guides to propose a toast. To Seamus and dear Lavender. I have long known this happy day would come to pass, but I am no less pleased than those without my infallible Inner Eye..." She trailed off again, her enlarged eyes bright and unfocused. "But before we raise our glasses to the happy couple, I wish to give them my gift...a glimpse into their future." She closed her eyes tightly, and lifted one bony, beringed hand to her temple. The hush over the room grew a bit tense.

"Oh, this should really be pleasant," Hermione muttered under her breath.

"I part the mists that veil the future and I see..." Professor Trelawney's brow furrowed, and the billows of her robes quivered. "I see..." Her eyes popped back open. "I see much happiness in your future, dear ones." She looked faintly disappointed in herself, but rallying, pointed her glass skyward and intoned, "I give you Lavender and Seamus. May the stars always guide them, and the spirits surround them. My best wishes to you both."

There were audible sighs from the bridal party, but much eye-rolling at Ginny’s table, before the plates were whisked away by magic, and everyone dispersed toward the dance floor. Ginny went toward Hermione, who really looked lovely in her modest red robes, with her hair done up. Ginny told her so.

"Oh, thanks," Hermione said absently, her eyes on something across the room. Ginny followed her gaze to Ron, who stood with Harry, shaking Seamus’s hand.

"Ladies." George appeared at Ginny’s elbow with flutes of champagne, which he handed to both girls. "Stand back now, Lee’s about to start the music, and Fred and Angelina told me they were in the mood for dancing."

"I still can’t believe Mum didn’t kill them, eloping like that," Ginny whispered, glancing around for her mother, and taking her champagne.

Lee Jordan, who had taken a day off from the WWN, set the music to a lively, romantic tune with a flick of his wand, and Seamus led Lavender to the middle of the room for the first dance. They circled the empty floor, beaming at each other so happily that others were soon moved to join them. Fred did indeed waltz Angelina around the room - three times faster than the beat of the music, but she didn't seem to mind.

Ron approached Hermione, holding out his hand. Ginny noted a serious expression in his face that she wasn’t used to seeing there - not even where Hermione was concerned. "Dance with me?" he asked simply.

Hermione put her hand in his without hesitation. Moments later she’d settled into his arms and leaned her head on his shoulder, her face against his neck. Ron briefly kissed her temple, then leaned his cheek against her hair and shut his eyes. They swayed in time to the music.

Ginny watched them, feeling hot and cold at once. Rarely did Ron and Hermione express their feelings in public - it was almost uncomfortable to catch a private glimpse of their kind of love - but she couldn’t blame them. It made sense that they would forget the rest of the room, in light of all that had happened this week. The Malfoys had pressed charges against Ron, who was holding onto Hermione with more than his usual fierceness. Hermione’s fingers played in the back of his hair, and she appeared to be mumbling something. Whatever it was, it made Ron sigh out, and kiss her forehead again.

Ginny wondered what Ron would do, when Hermione left for Cortona. As far as she knew, Hermione hadn’t changed her mind about going to the Thinker. She was still supposed to be leaving in two days’ time.

"Hi, Ginny," said a quiet voice. She jumped, and noticed that Neville Longbottom was standing beside her.

"Neville!" she exclaimed, reaching to hug him.

"Would you dance with me?" he asked, when she’d stepped back. "I promise I won't step on your toes this time."

Ginny swatted him playfully. "Of course. I want to hear all about what's going on at Hogwarts." She let him lead her out to the dance floor, felt his hand on her waist, and was surprised to find that he had honestly improved. They chatted about the greenhouses, and Neville updated her on his apprenticeship with Professor Sprout without stepping on her toes even once. Ginny found herself laughing freely as he described the look Madam Hooch had given him, when she’d been informed that Neville was going to be made full Hogwarts faculty.

"I don’t think she’s forgotten my first time on a broomstick," he chuckled. "But then, you weren’t there for that - I’d forgotten."

"Oh, believe me, I’ve heard about it." Ginny exchanged grins with him, then went back to dancing, letting her gaze sweep the room. Inadvertently, she caught Harry’s eyes; he was watching her, and the look on his face was undeterminable. Ginny gave a quick, close-mouthed smile, then turned her attention swiftly away, acutely unsettled at the idea of his watching her while she danced with someone else.

In search of a distraction, her eyes fell on a rather handsome older boy at the bar, whom she recognized for some reason. She puzzled over his identity until the music ended, then allowed Parvati to steal Neville, and made her way to the bar.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04