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]

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."

"Want to find a bench? Or we could transfigure something into a blanket." She shrugged. "Either is fine with me."

[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."

[rar_ginny]

Ginny shrugged. "I've yet to find you boring," she answered plainly. "But if you're boring, then you're a good kind of boring."

Ginny bit noisily into a carrot and apologized. "What did you get tired of?" she asked. "With Puddlemere, I mean. Was it the schedule? The lifestyle? Surely it wasn't the attention," she added with a grin. She was curious as to why someone as talented as Oliver had given up the sporting life.

[rar_oliver]

"I'm a good actor then." Oliver finished his sandwich and sat back.

"All of the above. Out all the time. No resting. And, believe it or not Miss Weasley, the attention got old pretty damn fast." He shrugged. "Still not sure what 'm going to do. It's a lot to think about."

[rar_ginny]

Not knowing what to do with his life? Ginny could definitely relate.

"At least you went out and tried, yeah?" she asked. "At least you know it's not for you...not right now," she added, not completely sure if Oliver would ever want to go back--but maybe he would. "Better that than a load of regrets."

Ginny finished her butterbeer and held out a chocolate chip biscuit for Oliver. "I haven't the slightest what to do with my life." She closed her eyes and leaned back on the bench, letting her head hang back. "I keep hoping it will just come to me, knock me off my feet, hit me when I'm not expecting it...like love sometimes does," she said, and then realizing that might sound a bit odd, she sat up quickly and clarified herself. "Before the war, I was so sure of everything. I never had doubts about my life, about the world. I just lived, and somehow I let it get away from me. My confidence, my passion, everything. But now I want it back. I want to figure out what I'm going to do...it's just not coming to me. So, I keep hoping that my future will plow me over when I'm not paying attention. I"ll get up one day and know exactly what I should be doing. But I don't suppose that's how it works."

She turned away from Oliver's gaze--his eyes were so kind...so... She cleared her throat. "It's bloody irritating, that's what it is."

She grinned sheepishly at him. "And I just went on a rant. Sorry about that."

[rar_oliver]

Oliver listened as she spoke of things before the war, loosing herself, feeling lost...he nodded in agreement.

"I understand. Completely, actually." Oliver hadn't exactly handled things after the war very gracefully either, but that would have to be a story for a time not out in public. "I'll tell you about it sometime. When we aren't in a park full of small children."

"Don't be sorry. It's life, yeah?" Oliver popped the biscuit she'd offered him into his mouth, closing his eyes and groaning. "Shite, you make that? Or your mum?"

[rar_ginny]

Saving a conversation for another time sounded like there would be another time for them to get together and talk. She would be lying if she said that didn't make her feel happier inside--lighter even. Talking with Oliver was so easy. She just hoped he didn't think of her as some little girl...or as Bill's or Charlie's or Percy's or George's little sister. Clearly that was the truth, but sometimes it was nice to venture out of that shadow. "I'd like to hear about it sometime," she said honestly.

Oliver ate the chocolate chip biscuit, and she grinned. "Yes, I did, as a matter of fact. Think they're good?" she asked. Then she added, "Course it's Mum's recipe. I can't take credit for that."

[rar_oliver]

"I'll tell you."

He nodded. "They sure are, she cooks, flies, and dances well? Ginny Weasley is a catch." Oliver blushed as he said it, but at least he didn't add cute in there. That was good.