Not sure if this would interest you, but anything about Ginny realising that Harry is actually super rich and what that means? Like how does she deal with it, and does it cause a strain in their relationship?
rated pg-13 for coarse language
The air was hot and sticky, but it hadn’t stopped Ginny from getting in an afternoon fly. Every morning she’d jog around the property and do training exercises for Quaffle handling, and every afternoon she’d get in flying practice. It hadn’t been easy the first month or so after the war. She’d been far too busy crying, or trying to help her family out where she could to even think of Quidditch.
She also had Harry to contend with, but she was determined to be happy.
Being happy was a decision. You just had to decide to be happy, and then you would be. War over. Moving on. It was going to be alright now.
She just had to focus on the little things.
The dampness of her trainers after a morning run. It wasn’t pleasant, but it made her feel accomplished. She’d woken up early and had the bits of grass and mud to remind her of a job well done. She was going further every day.
The feel of Harry’s hand grazing along her side before he embraced her. If they shook a bit after a loud noise or she felt his body going tense, she could ignore it. She’d just lean back and smile at him and wait for it to pass.
The smell of the buttered rolls Ron had irritatingly managed to make very close to Mum’s recipe. (A task she had never managed. She was still struggling to not destroy eggs every time she manned a pan.) Her Mum was finally cooking a bit more and not crying every day. There. Happy! It was fine!
Harry’d grown a few inches, and now her head could perfectly tuck under his chin. She felt safe and protected, and could ignore the bits of anger she felt at him for trying to keep her ‘safe’ all the time. When something would happen and he’d share a look with Ron and Hermione that had no meaning to her she’d stab her fork into some eggs, or put that anger towards throwing the Quaffle even harder. It was helping her, really!
And so she was happy. She had a wonderful boyfriend. She was working towards the tangible goal of pursuing professional Quidditch. Her family was reunited except for the whole Fred being gone, George being desolated and drunk, and her Mum crying all the time, and her father and brothers barely holding it together. Ginny was so happy and it didn’t matter that she felt numb and broken. She had direction. She had her family. She had her friends. She had Harry.
She wanted to fucking scream.
Instead she put her broom on her shoulder and walked towards the house to get some water and do some broom maintenance.
The kitchen door was wide open to let a breeze through the house. Inside the trio sat with Bill, all looking serious. If she got told to bugger off another time she really was going to scream.
“They won’t let me have a vault there at all?” Harry asked Bill, eyes wide.
“The Goblins don’t care much for everything that happened last May,” Bill explained.
“‘Everything that happened,’ seems a bit of an understatement,” said Ron, leaning back before he noticed Ginny and gave her a wave. Apparently she was welcome for this conversation.
“Everything alright?” she asked.
“The Goblins are demanding Harry remove his assets from his and the Black family vaults. He’s being terminated from Gringott’s,” Hermione supplied.
“You’re joking!”
Ron shook his head. “The Goblins don’t care for how we broke in, stole stuff and released their dragon.”
“But they have to realize why you did it!”
“Harry saving the Wizarding World and killing Voldemort doesn’t make up for it, apparently. What was it they said, Bill? ‘That’s Wizarding business?’”
Bill nodded.
“We’re lucky they’re not confiscating your assets, Harry. They cited destroyed property and several dead goblins who have post-death pensions to be paid out,” Bill added, a foreboding look on his face. Harry flinched at that assessment. “Until some sort of negotiation can be reached, we need to move it before they change their minds.”
“Whatever you think I should do is fine,” said Harry, looking thoroughly overwhelmed. It was almost nice to see Harry looking like a clueless teen instead of battle-hardened survivor.
“I can deliver it to Grimmauld place tomorrow, around three. You’ll have to officially sign for it.”
He politely nodded. “Er, yeah. Whatever makes it easiest for you.”
Ginny knew how much he hated to be a bother, and she had to admit, negotiating with the angry Goblins was rather bothersome for Bill. She’d heard him complaining about it with their Dad at other times, and it sounded like a right nightmare.
The next day Ginny, Ron and Hermione went to Grimmauld place. She hadn’t been there for two years and was amazed at how welcoming the once foreboding building had become. Kreacher toddling about with a happy smile on his face was an odd sight the few times she’d seen him at Hogwarts or the Burrow, but seeing him in his old brooding grounds, a giant grin on his face, was plain disturbing.
As they waited, an owl knocked on the window. She quickly recognized the owl as Percy’s. Ron retrieved its letter and read it over.
“Hermione, we need to go.”
“What? What’s it say?” asked Hermione.
“I’ll tell you there,” he said, putting up a hand to silence Hermione. “It’s important.”
He looked at Hermione with such seriousness none of them bothered to question him further. He took her hand to the Floo, and she followed with mingled confusion and concern. “We’ll see you at the Burrow later.”
With that, they Flooed away to a grate number Ginny was unfamiliar with.
“What was that about?” She clutched her arms around themselves.
“I’m not sure,” Harry answered with a shrug. “Percy’s with the Family Unification unit right now, so maybe it’s to do with Hermione’s parents?”
Ginny nodded. His hands were steepled together at his knees, one of which was bouncing up and down.
“You nervous he won’t be able to get your money back?”
“What?” he asked, surprised at her speaking. “Er… No, it’s not that. There’s just a lot on my mind…. Sorry I’m distracted.”
“You don’t have to apologize every time, Harry,” she answered, giving his knee a squeeze. He was always distracted anymore. If it wasn’t about the money, she guessed it was more guilt. her eldest brother weren’t arriving any minute she’d be tempted to snog him a bit to distract him.
There came a knock at the door, and Kreacher answered it, announcing, “The Mister Weasley is here, Master Harry.”
“Please just call me Harry, Kreacher.”
The elf crinkled his wizened face in distaste, but bowed so low his nose touched the ground. If she had to guess, that was his way of politely declining Harry’s request.
The men greeted one another and shook hands. Harry was practically family at this point, did they really need to be so formal? She rolled her eyes and gave her eldest brother a hug he one-armedly returned. He had a very secure looking metal box in his other hand, covered in at least three locks. Bill opened his pocket and place a tiny roll of paper on the table. With a twist of his wand the roll expanded until it was a thick tome of forms for Harry to sign.
“Where should I unload this, Harry?”
“It can’t stay in the box?” he asked, eyes almost imperceptibly flicking to Ginny.
“Afraid not. The goblins want their portable vault back, along with the keys to your vaults, even though they’ve changed the locks.”
Harry’s lips thinned, but he quickly lead them to one of the lesser used rooms.
“Here’s as good as any place.”
Bill nodded and drew his wand across the top of the box, before unlocking each lock three separate golden keys. The contents began to magically spill forth. What was at first a small jingling of coins became a cacophonous waterfall of metal. As soon as they hit the ground the Galleons neatly rolled to the side of the room and stacked themselves one on top of the other.
Ginny expected it to be over after a few seconds, but the coins kept spilling and gathering. With every new column of gold Ginny felt a little smaller. Harry’s face began to flush.
“We don’t need to sit and watch this!” He had to almost yell to be heard over the din of coins.
“Why don’t you go find your keys while I finish this up?” Bill offered, just as loudly.
Ginny quickly followed Harry, not wanting to look at the coins another second. She’d always known he was a celebrity. She’d always known that he wasn’t hard up. It just hadn’t clicked for her that Harry was wildly wealthy. Her stomach ached.
“I’ve no clue where to begin looking for those keys…” he said somewhat conversationally, a wane smile on his face.
“Ask Kreacher. I bet he can find them faster than you,” she suggested, throat dry. She didn’t particularly want to be with Harry or his servant as the sound of his fortune echoed around his mansion.
He called Kreacher to the room and the old elf apparated to them in an instant.
“Master Harry,” he croaked.
“Just— just Harry, please…”
After a moment's explanation from Harry, the old elf went to find the vault keys. Despite the flush that had spread over her, cold wrapped its way around her stomach.
“Want to play some chess?” He asked. She looked past him to a bit of soot next to the fireplace.
“If we’re all done here, I think I’ll Floo back to the Burrow..”
“I can Apparate you over.”
“No. I can take care of myself,” she said in what she hoped was a light and springy way.
“I know, I just thought it might—“
“I want to go home now,” she sharply cut him off. “You might be needed here for something, and…”
She gave a shrug, looking towards the ceiling. “So... I’m leaving.”
“Alright…” he answered slowly, stepping back from her. He watched her with a closed expression and wariness. She’d not seen him wear that expression with her for a long time.
Part of her wanted to apologize for being so upset, but she didn’t know where to start. How could she describe the restless need to flee from him? How could she tell him the thought of spending another moment there would make her set something on fire?
She couldn’t.
She flicked her hair over her shoulder and Flooed home.
She quickly went to her quaint little room with an old patchwork quilt her mother had made for Bill, old trainers that needed replacing, and quidditch gloves that had already been through two sets of brothers before her.
Decades later I continue to be impressed by JK Rowling. In chapter five of the first book Hagrid is talking about how hard it is to rob Gringott's and about dragons guarding things and AHHHH FORESHADOWING and I love it.
New Post has been published on The Main Street Mouse Best Disney Fan Site
New Post has been published on http://www.themainstreetmouse.com/2015/01/21/tmsms-adventures-in-florida-living-venturing-to-the-dark-side/
TMSM's Adventures in Florida Living ~ Venturing to the "Dark Side"
Happy Wednesday Main Streeters! It’s that time again (already!). Yes my friends, it’s time to check in on your TMSM extended family and see what’s been going on down here in sunny Florida! There’s not a lot of new happenings, but truly that can be a good thing too. The weather is mild, so we’ve been out and about when we can be. This past weekend, we finally took the dive over to what Disney fans call “the dark side.” That’s right, we went to Universal Studios….. gasp! So, was it fun? Read on to find out!
We have been down here in Florida for roughly 7 months, and although we have been to Margaritaville at City Walk, we never actually went to Universal Studios. We have primarily focused on all things Disney thus far, but the boys were really itching to try something new. I know people have varying opinions on Universal, so I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. I haven’t been there in YEARS, so it was like going for the first time all over again. We went to Universal Studios as opposed to Islands of Adventure because the kids wanted to ride the Rip Ride Rocket coaster. We rode that first, and it was a lot of fun, I have to say. Next we headed over to Twister, The Mummy, and just kept going from there. The rides at Universal are really elaborate, I was impressed. No, there’s no “magic” like you get at Disney, but you feel like you are part of the movies and such that the rides represent. It’s pretty cool.
I had heard a ton of hype of about Diagon Alley, and the new Gringott’s ride that recently opened. I have to confess, I’m not a Harry Potter fan. I have never watched a Harry Potter film from start to finish….. don’t judge! So, being that I wasn’t totally familiar with all things Potter, I wasn’t sure what to expect over there. Well, the atmosphere at Diagon Alley is really amazing. You feel like you’re walking into a different world, truly. We got ourselves some famous Butterbeer ice cream (we had to see what they hype was about) and decided to wait the hour and check out Gringott’s, the new ride. If I’m being honest, and I am…… Gringott’s is insanely awesome. That ride is like nothing I have ever been on before, and I’ve been on a LOT of thrill rides at amusement parks. It’s interactive, larger than life, and truly outstanding. Sure, I don’t know much about Harry Potter, but for an attraction like that, it didn’t matter. Nothing short of awesomeness, and I can’t wait to do it again. So, Universal Studios was a hit, we’ll try Islands of Adventure next time. The “men” in my house love Marvel, so they’re looking forward to trying that out too.
Yesterday, we were invited to a press conference at Fun Spot Orlando, announcing their new collaboration with Gatorland. Off TMSM has been super busy, and it’s been fun. The folks that run both Fun Spot and Gatorland are really, really nice people, we talked to both. While Disney is still our home base, it’s been a blessing that other businesses in the Orlando area have been reaching out to us and have been so welcoming. We can’t thank them enough! More great things are coming for Off TMSM so stay tuned. We did head out to the Magic Kingdom though to get some footage of the new construction at the Hub. More walls, and the Partners Statue was covered. The construction doesn’t look so great, but I’m sure it will all be worth it once it’s completed.
That’s it for this weeks Florida Living update! As always, thank you all SO much for keeping up with us every Wednesday, it means a lot to me! I wish you all a safe and happy weekend coming up…. till next time… See Ya Real Soon! ~M
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
