It's Never Two-Sided

AN: Yay!! It's Tuesday!! My favorite day of the week!! Eh, not really, but it's good enough. So, read, review, do whatever you do with fanfiction (I don't really want to know, but it's all cool)
Um... Yeah. This is starting to get really fun. And kinda hard, but that makes it even more fun!

Remember, I DO read reviews, and reply in the review section when I post. I have a pad of chapters already written, but this story is not yet complete, and suggestions may make their way into the story. So, if you have any ideas or critiques that you really need to voice, let me know!

Chapter Four: Four Unusual Gifts

A week and a half later everyone was celebrating Halle's birthday. Ron had returned from his trial week with the Chudley Cannons (who had allowed him on as part of a deal to get mutual advertising with Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes) and was cheerful and ravenous as ever. Hermione had convinced her parents to let her come, and had indeed brought a real gift for Halle. Not that the dark-haired girl had let the other go to waste; she'd read most of the book and had used a few of the cards to make notes on the ones she'd liked best.
After they'd eaten lunch and cake, it was time for presents. From Mrs. Wealey she'd gotten a pair of magenta knit socks that went all the way up to her thighs, for the 'chilly days at Hogwarts in those drafty school robes'. From Bill, she got a switchblade enchanted to cut through all hides and cloths. She had to promise his mother that she'd keep it in her trunk when she went to Hogwarts to keep the woman from confiscating it, which had given the whole table a laugh.

Charlie was still away in Romania, but he'd sent a package containing a multi-colored Fwooper-feather earring and another, smaller box with a note that said to open when alone. Halle wondered what he'd send her that she'd need to keep away from the rest of his family—then she remembered Bill's gift and slipped the box into her pocket for later.

Fred and George gave her an assortment of their latest... innovations. Including a self-tying magenta hair-bow that matched the socks and turned green when the person wearing its mind was wandering. Their explanation was 'Ginny told us—' '—that you'd never, in your entire—' '—life worn something—' '—girly.'

Ron gave her an exploding snap set that had the Chudley Cannons logo on them. He admitted that he'd wanted to get her her own chess set, but they were all too expensive. Hermione gave her a box of normal chocolates, which, combined with her earlier present, was more than enough.

Mr. Weasley gave her a sheet of questions he was working on for the Ministry, all of which were about Muggle objects. Halle always loved answering his questions, and that they now came on official paper was absolutely hilarious to her.

Ginny's gift was last, and the red-headed girl handed her a box almost guiltily. Halle undid the wrapping slowly, hoping it wasn't a WWW trick. As it didn't explode when she finally opened it all the way, she glanced at Ginny again, who was studiously staring at the ground. Halle finally looked into the box, and slumped in defeat.

The rest of the family watched this exchange with great interest, and when Halle didn't either pull out the present or jump away from it, they all leaned in curiously.

“Ginny, what did—” Hermione tried to ask, before the Weasleys erupted.

“Ginevra Molly Weasley!” her mother shouted.

“Gin-ny!” Ron whined, blushing.

“Way to—” was George's input, and Fred finished the congratulations for him. “—go Gin!”

Halle just stared at the green and magenta polka-dotted push-up bra, lacy undies, garters and belt that lay in the box before her.

~*~

“I'm really sorry, Hal,” Ron said for the twentieth time that evening. He, Halle and Hermione sat at the edge of the pond, facing away from the house.

“Ron, did you or did you not miss me laughing after you all started to blow it out of proportion?” Halle said, exasperated.

“Yeah, well, she still should've been—”

“What, more uptight? It was a joke, Ron. Somehow she found out about your mom's gift, and the twins', and gave them an extra punch.” Hermione's defense sounded hollow, for some reason.

“It's alright,” Halle tried to reassure them.

“But, you don't understand, Hal; she's been, well, she liked; that's to say—”

“She used to have a crush on me? Yeah, I found out. Look Ron, it's alright. Just because I'm clueless about relationships, doesn't mean I'm closed-minded. Love isn't something that should be thrown away or looked down upon because it's different.”

“You're really okay with it?” Hermione asked. “I mean, you don't think it's sinful?”

“'Mione, my Uncle's been calling me a bitch and a slut since I was nine. I have been purposefully starved for accidentally burning food, or not cleaning the floor well enough. I've seen people cursed and killed for amusement. I've seen evil, I've seen people sin. I don't care what the Bible or any other text says, love's not wrong.”

“Ah.” The bushy-haired girl seemed uncomfortable with the subject.

Halle looked back at the house, where the shouting that had been going on for an hour had finally stopped. She saw Ginny returning and leaned against the tree so that she could watch the fuming girl, who stomped right up to her, and said, in a tone that completely belay the words, “I'm sorry.”

Halle just stared at her.

“It was an immature, silly prank and I should be ashamed of myself.”

Halle sighed. “Gin, it was a joke. I got it. It was funny, at least until everyone got all upset. I'm not angry.”

“Good,” Ginny replied. “Because that wasn't the real gift.”

Halle was about to ask what the gift was, when she found her lips covered by the younger girl's.

It was a kiss. That was Ginny's gift. And there was even tongue involved, as Halle's mouth had been open already. It was over quickly, though, since they were being watched, and, brave as Ginny was, she wasn't quite that brave. Or reckless.

Looking at the other two teenagers, Ginny smirked. “I'm to apologize to Halle, tell you lot that it's time to get back inside, and go to my room where I will be locked in until breakfast.” Molly Weasley would never let one of her children miss a meal, even for a punishment. “If you don't mention what just happened, I won't tell Mom you've found out how to get past her girlfriend/boyfriend wards.”

That said, she turned and briskly stalked back to the house.