RP: Easter in Phoenix Park

[rar_npc]

Date: 7 April 1999
Character(s): [Edward Clarke], Any citizens who want to come out and have a picnic
Location: Phoenix Park, Hogsmeade
Status: Very Public
Summary: Easter Sunday in Hogsmeade and the grand opening of Phoenix Memorial Park
Completion: InComplete

Comments

[rar_ginny]

Ginny wandered through the park. The flowers were quite nice and she stopped a few times just to enjoy their rich colors. She held a bag of food she'd packed in case she wanted to sit down in the quiet and eat. It was peaceful even if there were loads of kids running around and playing. She knew the festivities would be happening later, but for now, most everyone was enjoying the park and it's natural beauty.

She tried not to gaze around too often to see if she could find a familiar face, but every now and then, she wondered if she might run into anyone she knew. Oliver had mentioned coming to the park, and it would be nice to have a friendly chat with him. But mostly she was content walking down the winding paths and smiling at the flowers.

[rar_oliver]

Oliver sipped his water an looked around. He didn't know if George and Lee were planning to come, or Charlie, or even Percy, but he hoped he might get a chance to see some of his mates. He didn't talk to many people at George's birthday, so this might be a chance to make up for it.

He spotted Ginny, and debated with himself for a minute. He'd thought about this new, and sort of silly, crush over the last few days, and knew it would be best to ignore it. If that was the case, would seeking her out be a very good idea? Still, she was glancing around like she was looking for someone, and he knew it was stupid to think about it too much. Just because he'd developed a little crush didn't mean he had to do anything about it. She was like a little sister. Er. Maybe not.

It seemed his feet worked ahead of his brain, and he soon found himself tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey Ginny, happy Easter."

[rar_ginny]

Ginny was in the middle of wondering about the blooming season of a tulip when she was tapped on the shoulder. She looked up to see Oliver, and she smiled.

"Hello there," she replied. "And Happy Easter to you, too."

She looked away and let her eyes wander across the park. "Lovely, isn't it?"

[rar_oliver]

Oliver nodded. "Yeah." He looked out over the flowers and smiled. "The bee's will be something else come summer. Then in the fall, too. Don't envy the garden workers."

"Enjoy your week off?"

[rar_ginny]

Ginny gazed off and sighed. "One day, I'll have a place with flowers," she said, and then feeling frightfully silly, she cleared her throat. "But bees, yes, they'll love this place."

She looked back at him. "I have enjoyed it," she answered. "It's lovely doing whatever I feel like. Still have to clean my room, of course. We don't want Mum in a right fit. But...the freedom is nice." She was desperately trying to look at Oliver without think he was charming or handsome or any of those things that made her pulse feel thick in her veins. It had been so long since her heart rapped against her ribcage over a boy, and she felt silly allowing it to now. She inhaled slowly. He's a friend, she thought. Just a nice bloke.

"I have food," she said and shook the bag in her hands. "If you're hungry, we could find somewhere and eat."

[rar_oliver]

Oliver smiled. Was she nervous? No, probably just excited. This was a beautiful place, and it commemorated something she'd been a part of. He'd been a part of it, too, but she'd been in the thick of things.

"Yeah. It's hard, going home once you've been on your own. Think you'll move back to the Burrow once school's out?"

He nodded. "I like food," he said lamely. "I mean, yeah. Eating." Fuck.

[rar_ginny]

Oliver's question surprised her--because she hadn't even thought about where she would go. Moving back to the Burrow made sense, but she didn't want to live there forever. Moving in with someone sounded a bit more appealing, but she had no money. She would definitely have to find a job first and then decide about living arrangements. Somehow the idea of going back to the Burrow and falling back into the easy pace of living there sounded...disappointing. Not that she didn't love her family, but she needed her space, her own place where she could get up at two in the morning and have toast without someone thinking she was having troubles again.

She blinked up at Oliver. "Suppose I will. But...well, honestly I don't want to keep that arrangement for very long."

Then, Oliver surprised her again with his answer to eating. She couldn't help it; she laughed. She instinctively reached out and touched his arm while she laughed. "You're funny," she said. "But I like food as well. Frankly, I'm a bit suspicious of people who don't like to eat

[rar_oliver]

"Once you get a job, things will be different. You'll figure out where you want to be based on where you work."

Oliver laughed when she did, happy he hadn't made a complete fool of himself. Or, if he had, that she didn't seem to mind. "Me too."

He glanced around and spotted a bench. "How about right over there?"

Once they were settled, Oliver looked at Ginny. "Your family coming to this, too?"

[rar_ginny]

Oliver pointed to a bench, and Ginny sat down. She unloaded her bag while he talked. When he asked about her family, she exhaled. "Don't know actually," she said, hearing the strain on the edges of her voice. Her throat felt suddenly tight. But she continued the mindless task of unpacking the bag.

"Let's see, I have a turkey sandwich or peanut butter if you'd rather have that. Have some raw veggies. Then a couple blueberry scones or chocolate chip biscuits if you like." She enlarged two bottles of butterbeer. "This okay?"

She looked at him and somehow thought he'd understand without thinking she was an overemotional girl. "It's a bit hard, I think. The memorial and all. Don't know if any of them were up to it." She watched a bird fly overhead. "I came because I thought it was the right thing to do. Support the cause. Plus I figured you might be here, and we could have a friendly chat, and I wouldn't feel...so lonely." She blushed at her honesty. "No pressure though," she said with a laugh.

[rar_oliver]

"Looks great," he said thankfully. He hadn't planned to be fed, but hey. He'd take it.

Oliver nodded, putting a hand of Ginny's shoulder. "You're really brave, Ginny. This is a great event, but really tough, too." Oliver brightened when he said she came in hopes of seeing him. "Really?" he asked, softly. If he didn't know better, he'd think she might be embarrassed. The blush was rather fetching. "I uh, wouldn't have come if you hadn't mentioned it," he said honestly.

[rar_ginny]

Ginny held the turkey sandwich in one hand and the peanut butter in the other. "Right or left?" she asked, lifting one sandwich and then the other.

She smiled at him. "Well, then," she said playfully, "suppose we both needed each other. I need friendly support, and you needed...lunch or a remedy for boredom?"

[rar_oliver]

"Hmmm. Right," he said finally, laughing a little.

"Both. Mainly just the remedy, but the food was an added bonus. Company's not half bad, either," he winked, unable to help himself.

[rar_ginny]

"Damn good company, if I do say so myself," she grinned and tried not to blush at his wink. So, he was charming, so what? It didn't hurt anything. She wasn't going to turn into some babbling silly wad a goo, right?

Ginny unwrapped her turkey sandwich and took a bite. It wasn't half bad, but then again, it was right difficult to mess up a sandwich. She leaned back on the bench and exhaled.

"So, Oliver, what have you been doing since we last met?" She wanted to shift her attention to getting to know him, being a good friend...instead of the other things her attention was focused on...

[rar_oliver]

"Since we last met?" Oliver took a bite of his sandwich and thought for a minute. "The usual. Fly, work, run, eat sleep. I'm boring, remember?"

Oliver cracked open one of the butterbeers and passed it to Ginny, taking the other and opening it for himself. "Thanks for sharing the food. It's good."

[rar_ginny]

"Thank you," Ginny said as Oliver handed her an opened butterbeer. She took a drink and swallowed.

"Oliver," she said seriously but with a twinkle in her eye. "You are hardly boring. Who's been feeding you with this nonsense?"

She waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, you're very welcome for the food," she replied. "Besides I was hoping to run into you, so I brought extra." If she could have slapped her hand over her mouth and not been obvious, she would have. Instead, she became overly interested in a bug crawling along the path. Sometimes her honesty was too much. Why couldn't she just say 'you're welcome' and that's all? Growing up in a family where everyone talked all the time she sometimes forgot to not say anything.

[rar_oliver]

He laughed. "No, I am boring. Trust me. But I'm fine with that. Being on the road with Puddlemere was plenty exciting, and I got tired of it." That made it sound like he had made a decision. "I mean, I needed a break."

Oliver coughed on his butterbeer. That was...interesting. Too interesting. But she probably meant as a big brother or whatever. "Good. I'm glad you did."