Ginny loves her birthday. She loves the number eleven, the month August, the wind. She loves it.
She also loves the fact that her elder brother Percy's birthday is in August, just 11 days after her.
She calls them Double 11. Percy rolls his eyes the first time she told him that ("Sounds cheesy" he said) but his grin told her a different story.
As a ritual, she always gives him the first piece of her cake and he gives her his last.("It's to finish the double 11 ritual! Come on Percy just eat the cake!") It's daft, she knows. But it gives her something to bond over with her brother.
Percy is perplexed at first but he accepts it eventually and it just becomes an 'August sibling' tradition.
So when here she is, in front of her family and friends who are so eager to celebrate her birthday and share the joy, she finds herself sad.
She wants Percy to be here too, but he's not. How can he when he left the family, with Mum sobbing and Dad raging. The twins and Ron could care less about him.
But she does. She doesn't understand it. Bill and Charlie left. Why does Percy have to?
She keeps her mouth shut though. Noone ever listens to her anyway.
When Mum brings out the cake, all frosting and icing and the scent of strawberries, Ginny wants to throw a tantrum because she can't share this cake with her brother.
They're supposed to be August siblings, her double 11, but he's not here. He won't be here.
She thinks it's stupid of her to want her brother here, she shouldn't be so childish.
She blows the candles, smiles and makes her wish of just everyone she loves to be safe, just safe.
But when she goes to cut her cake, she feels downcast. She cuts the cake anyway.
She cuts another piece and feeds her cake to her family.
The first piece is left untouched.
She wraps it up later in the night as a package. She would have asked her Dad to deliver it but considering how much he hates Percy, she doesn't dare ask him to do such a thing.
She should hate Percy, she really should for all the terrible things he said about Harry and Dad, but she doesn't.
She remembers him braiding her hair, playing tea with her, babying her at Hogwarts and being with her after the incident.
He even wrote stories to read to her.
7 year old Ginny is excited as she asks Percy to skip to the end.
"Percy just tell me how the story of Prince Harry and Princess Ginny end".
"I can't Ginny, the story is in the details, you have to listen to the whole story."
"But why??", Ginny whined.
A 12 year old Percy looked her in the eye and replied "Because everyone's story is different Mrs Potter. Some people have sad, some happy, some a mix of them. And all their stories are important."
"Everyone makes their own ending in life, sometimes the ending is a 'happily ever after', sometimes it's not. You, Miss Weasley have to make your own ending. Don't let anyone tell you how to live your life. Will you promise me that?".
"I'll promise you anything as long as you finish the story!"
Make your own ending. That was the best advice anyone had ever given her.
And if that ending was with Harry or someone else or just her alone. It was hers to decide.
How can she hate him when all he has done is to try and protect her.
"A sleepy eyed Ginny woke up to Percy on her bed in the infirmary room. He was sleeping next to her holding her hand. His hand felt warm in hers. He woke up when Ginny tried to sit up.
"Don't do that, it'll hurt."
And right he was. "Ouch", Ginny groaned.
"I didn't tell anyone about your girlfriend.
You don't have to worry " she said not meeting his eyes.
"Oh Ginny, I came here for you. Are you alright?''
Ginny wouldn't admit it but deep down she was jealous that her elder brother has a girlfriend. That meant he wouldn't pay as much attention as he did to her.
Percy as if sensing her thoughts told her "Don't worry Gin, you're the only girl of my eye."
Yeah right only girl of his eye. She rolled her eyes.
He didn't send her anything as a gift either or even a greeting. Maybe she's dead to him too.
But then again he's not replying to Mum either so maybe she isn't dead to him.
She hates him but loves him.
She misses his lectures, his glasses, his scrunched up face when the twins do something, his smile, his voice, his everything.
But she never shows that she misses him. Noone else does and if she does what if the twins and Ron alienate her? She cannot risk losing more brothers
She sends the owl, hopefully Errol delivers it to the correct place.
And when 11 days later, she receives a package withthe note saying 'August siblings' and a happy birthday, she smiles.
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