Happy Birthday Ginny Date: August 11, 2006 (early evening) Characters: Neville Longbottom, Ginny Longbottom (Weasley) Location: 7 Oddington Private/Public?: Private Rating: PG Warnings: TBA Summary: Neville shows Ginny her birthday gift Complete?: Complete (unless Ginny has a reaction)
Neville had spent most of his time over the weekend thinking things over - everything. The ideas brought up at Draco’s meeting, his Mother’s very odd and sporadic behavior that sent chills running through him at times, and in between, he thought of things to give Ginny for her birthday.
Luckily, her family had monopolized most of her attention during the day, not to mention last minute work, so Neville was able to set up her gift. It was definitely bigger than a breadbox.
When she arrived back home, Neville wished Ginny a happy birthday with a kiss, a glass of wine and dinner. “But... we’re going to eat it outside since it’s so nice out.” He smiled glowingly at her and sent their plates out ahead of them, catching Ginny by the wrist when she tried to follow. “Not just yet, it’s a surprise.” With her eyes covered with his hands, Neville whispered ‘no peeking’ and told her to walk carefully, guiding her down the steps and into the backyard.
Her gift stood tall..... there was a gazebo there, where they would have dinner in the summer, but Neville took it down in bits. It was weathered over time and had to come down... but still he kept some things intact and stored at Longbottom House and assembled it that afternoon, apparating and shrinking the items several times to a point where he could assemble a new gazebo... with a latticed roof. Not only that... but covering the lattice and every post (it took a great bit of magic that drained him totally for about an hour to make it grow properly) were vines upon vines of tiny wild roses that he’d bred and cultivated just for Ginny.
He had even named the roses after her. Each tiny bud and opened rose held the characteristics of Ginny that he thought most beautiful - even the thorns. The petals were a soft pink at the base growing to a deep red near the tips, but inside glowed a golden heart, making each rose look like the colours of a summer sunset. The small tiny thorns were like kitten claws - undetectable until defense was needed, and when they were, the thorns were sharp and biting. The roses on the top covered the lattice like a canopy and some vines strewed down to hang like Spanish moss and clung to the chains that held a wooden swing aloft. Their scent was heady and sweet, like tea roses and one would likely know their presence on a night like tonight, the wind catching the wave of scent on the breeze.
Neville was holding his breath when he took his hands away from Ginny’s eyes so she could see her gift. He had poured his heart into it and whether she knew it or not, her gift had helped him through some very tough thoughts. He hoped this gift would bring her peace as well..