June 5th late afternoon
Ginny's heart was still pounding in her chest as she hastily straightened her clothes yet again. Her hand shook as she grabbed a handful of Floo powder. She'd told Fred she'd be there around 3 o'clock; she was a good bit late.
"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." She spoke slowly, enunciating each word as she allowed the silver powder to fall from her fist. At least her voice sounded all right. A green haze enveloped her as she stepped into the grate, cool against her skin, and the world spun around her, faster and faster. She caught glimpses of other grates, other lives, and she closed her eyes and held her arms close to her body.
She wasn't sure her legs were going to hold out.
The abrupt stop at the end took her off guard-not something that usually happened-and she landed in a heap at Fred's feet. Perfect. A stunningly ungraceful entrance to humiliate herself. Even Harry would be appalled. Her stomach gave a lurch at the thought and she bowed her head, willing herself not to blush, or worse yet, cry.
"Sorry I'm late," she mumbled, pushing herself up off the floor.
"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." She spoke slowly, enunciating each word as she allowed the silver powder to fall from her fist. At least her voice sounded all right. A green haze enveloped her as she stepped into the grate, cool against her skin, and the world spun around her, faster and faster. She caught glimpses of other grates, other lives, and she closed her eyes and held her arms close to her body.
She wasn't sure her legs were going to hold out.
The abrupt stop at the end took her off guard-not something that usually happened-and she landed in a heap at Fred's feet. Perfect. A stunningly ungraceful entrance to humiliate herself. Even Harry would be appalled. Her stomach gave a lurch at the thought and she bowed her head, willing herself not to blush, or worse yet, cry.
"Sorry I'm late," she mumbled, pushing herself up off the floor.