Chapter 8: Weird Sisters Concert

  The midday sun was blazing down on Privet Drive and Harry could feel his skin growing uncomfortably warm as he knelt in the Dursleys' front garden, pulling weeds from the flower beds. His back ached and he was covered in dirt, his hands and knees stinging from the rough ground. Meals here were… well, they weren’t enough, especially not compared to Hogwarts.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about Hogwarts, though every memory was now haunted by the dark shadow of Hermione’s death. She’d been killed by Lockhart last year. The memory still made him feel sick and guilty. In her absence, his world had felt bleak and unsteady, but at least there was still Ginny. She’d somehow understood what he was going through, staying by his side when no one else really knew how.

  Ginny… the girl he had fallen in love with without even realizing it.

  She was the only light left in the darkness of his life. It had only been a week since he’d seen her, but the ache of missing her had already settled deep in his chest. Her absence only made his feelings for her grow stronger. They had exchanged a few letters through Hedwig, but it just wasn’t the same.

  Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the rumbling sound at first, but the bang that followed jolted him out of his daze. He looked up in shock and found himself staring at a clearly magical bus, towering in the middle of Privet Drive. Not a single neighbour noticed, their gazes sliding right past it as though it didn’t exist. Mrs. Polkiss, across the street, was tending to her begonias, oblivious to the bus that had just materialized with a thunderous crack.

  The doors of the bus swung open and Harry’s jaw dropped as a familiar figure stepped out.

  It was Ginny Weasley, only… not like he’d ever seen her before. Her red hair was loose and wilder than usual and she wore a dark, punk-inspired outfit that made him blink in surprise. A short black skirt, a fitted jacket, tall boots - and there was something about the way she moved that was more confident, more mischievous.

  It was like she had planned this entrance. And yet, what struck him most wasn’t the outfit or the attitude - it was her. Somehow, she kept growing more beautiful every time he saw her, as if by magic itself.

  “Oi, Harry,” she called out, smirking as she looked down at him kneeling in the dirt. “Thought you could use some company.”

  He scrambled to his feet, feeling his face flush. “Ginny… what are you doing here? The Dursleys - they’ll go mad if they see you!”

  Ginny only laughed, stepping closer until she was right in front of him. She held up a small, black choker, a simple band with a tiny metal heart dangling from it.

  “Let’s make sure they don’t,” she murmured, her eyes glinting.

  Before he could react, she reached up and slipped the choker around his neck, her fingers brushing against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. The clasp clicked into place and only then did she step back, hands on her hips, inspecting her handiwork with a satisfied look.

  “There,” she said, almost playfully, “Muggle-repellent charm on that. They won’t see you or me. They won’t even know we’re here.”

  Harry blinked, reaching up to touch the choker, still feeling the warmth of her touch lingering on his neck. He was startled, but something about the quiet thrill in her expression made him forget his objections. He looked over his shoulder at the house, nervous and half-expecting Uncle Vernon to come storming out.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He could hardly believe she was here, standing in front of him.

  “Of course,” Ginny said, tilting her head slightly. “Trust me, Harry. Look, I’ll prove it to you.”

  Without hesitation, she took his hand in hers and led him toward the front door, glancing back at him with a smile that was both daring and reassuring. Her grip was steady and he could feel the warmth of her palm against his. Somehow, that simple touch made him feel bold, almost invincible.

  They slipped inside the house and Harry held his breath, watching for any sign of the Dursleys. But when they passed Uncle Vernon, he didn’t even glance up from his newspaper.

  Harry almost laughed aloud, disbelief mixing with giddy exhilaration.

  “See?” Ginny whispered, winking at him.

  She strode into the kitchen without hesitation, as if she owned the place and made her way over to the fridge. She opened it, rummaging around until she found a bottle of beer. She opened it and took a casual sip before turning to Harry with a sly smile, offering him the bottle.

  "Go on," she said, a teasing smile on her face. "Unless, you're afraid of trying something new?"

  Harry stared at the bottle in his hand. He’d never had a beer before and he wasn’t sure what to expect. Harry brought the bottle to his lips, took a small sip and immediately regretted it. The taste was bitter and disgusting, making him grimace.

  Ginny giggled at his expression.

  "Not quite what you were expecting, huh?" she teased, her voice light with laughter.

  Harry wiped his mouth, trying to hide his discomfort, but the bitter aftertaste still lingered. There was something thrilling, though, about breaking the rules, defying the Dursleys. He took another sip, this time with more purpose, despite the taste.

  Ginny watched him, her eyes glinting with amusement, but there was something deeper there too - something knowing. She reached out, her fingers grazing the choker around his neck and gave it a little tug.

  "That collar…" she said softly, “it’ll protect you while you’re here. You can have a bit of freedom, at least while you're stuck with them.”

  Harry felt the weight of her words settle in and suddenly, the collar didn’t just feel like a piece of jewellery. It was something to help him survive the Dursleys' suffocating presence. He looked up at her, the gratitude swelling inside him.

  "Thanks, Ginny," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "This... really does mean a lot."

  Ginny smiled, a warm, almost indulgent smile that made Harry feel like she could see right through him.

  "I know," she said, her voice soft but confident. "Now, come on, we’ve got a whole day ahead of us. I’ve got a surprise for you!"

  She took his hand again and this time Harry didn’t hesitate. He let her lead him, the feeling of her hand in his both grounding and thrilling him at the same time. He wasn’t alone anymore.

  Ginny turned to him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  "By the way," she added, her smile widening, "I’ve got two tickets for something fun. Thought you might want to join me."

  Harry blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in focus.

  "What do you mean?" he asked, still not quite following.

  Ginny’s grin grew wider.

  "A surprise! Trust me, you’ll love it. I thought you could use something exciting to break the monotony."

  Harry frowned slightly, curiosity piqued.

  "What is it?"

  Ginny leaned closer, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret.

  "We’re going to see a band called the Weird Sisters. They’re amazing - you'll see."

  Harry’s eyes widened.

  "A band?" He had never heard of them, but the enthusiasm in her voice made him want to be part of whatever she was planning.

  "You deserve some fun, Harry. Something to shake off the Dursleys and all this…" She waved her hand around, as if dismissing the whole neighbourhood. "It'll be good. Come on."

  Harry felt a small spark of hope rise inside him. It had been a rough few days back at the Dursleys, and the thought of escaping made him feel lighter.

  "Alright," he said, offering a tentative smile, "I’ll go."

  Ginny smiled, satisfied.

  "Great. Now, let’s get out of here. I don’t like this place"

  She led him out to the street and casually announced they’d be taking the Knight Bus to the concert - which stopped Harry short.

  Ginny looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

  "You’ve never heard of the Knight Bus?" she asked, surprised. "I can’t believe no one told you about it. It’s common knowledge in the magical world."

  Harry just shrugged.

  "I guess nobody thought to mention it," he muttered. The feeling of being kept in the dark about so many things always seemed to follow him.

  Ginny’s lips curled into a knowing smile.

  "Well, that’s why I’m here to show you the ropes." She took a step back and gestured to the open air. "Just raise your wand and say 'Knight Bus'. Simple as that."

  Harry glanced at her for a moment, still trying to wrap his head around the simplicity of it. But then, thinking of how magical the world already was, he just nodded. He raised his wand, a little uncertain, but trusting Ginny’s guidance.

  "Knight Bus," he said, his voice just above a whisper.

  The air shimmered and within moments, the massive purple bus appeared, rocking slightly as it came into view, nearly knocking Harry off balance. The magical contraption loomed above them, with its three-tiered structure and small, mismatched windows.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The same bus Ginny had stepped out off, just a few minutes ago.

  Ginny, as if completely used to buses appearing out of nowhere, tugged Harry toward the door. The bus was a whirlwind of colourful seats and odd, mismatched decor, most seats occupied by someone.

  "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor today,” the conductor - Stan Shunpike - greeted them but stopped, when he saw Ginny.

  “Well now, young miss, back again, are you?” Stan said with a grin. "Where to now?"

  "Two tickets to the Weird Sisters concert," Ginny flashed a grin and paid the 22 sickles.

  Harry blinked, feeling a slight pang of guilt. He hadn't thought to bring any wizarding money with him and he glanced down at his clothes, feeling self-conscious. She must have also spent money on the concert ticket for him, right?

  A quiet sense of gratitude surged through him. He’d never had anyone do anything like this for him before. He promised himself he’d find a way to repay her, somehow.

  Stan blinked at her.

  "The Weird Sisters? Aye, quite the crowd tonight, a lotta young people headed there. Shouldn’t be a problem, miss." He gave a casual wave of his hand, signalling for the bus to start. "Hold tight, then!"

  Ginny shot Harry a look, almost as if daring him to enjoy the experience.

  "See? Told you it was easy." She took his hand and gave it a playful squeeze.

  Harry, still a bit disoriented from the sudden movement of the bus, clutched the nearest seat. The bus lurched forward, sending him stumbling slightly.

  The ride was wild, a chaotic blur of magic as the Knight Bus sped through the streets, making sharp turns and sudden stops. Harry glanced out the windows at the blur of lights and even though it was a little unsettling, there was a strange thrill in it, too.

  After a few minutes, the bus slowed to a halt and Ginny stood, pulling Harry to his feet.

  "Come on, we’re here."

  The doors opened and Harry stepped out, still a little dizzy. It wasn’t night yet, but the evening had settled in and the cool air felt refreshing.

  Before them stretched a vast field scattered with tents, distant laughter and music drifting across the evening air. A wooden stage stood in the distance, the source of the music.

  Ginny glanced at Harry, her expression bright with excitement.

  “Let’s go, Harry!”

  They stood at the edge of a large field, rows of colourful tents scattered around the perimeter, their magical lights flickering in vibrant hues. The air was thick with the buzz of excited chatter and the sounds of music. The crowd around them was mostly made up of Hogwarts students from higher years - 4th to 7th years, most of them older than Harry. Some wore casual Muggle clothing, while others sported punk outfits similar to Ginny’s, their wild hair and colourful accessories making them stand out in the crowd.

  Strange magical lights hovered overhead. They were different from the Wild Feylights at Beltane, since they were just staying static in the air without moving.

  Ginny squeezed his hand and he looked back to find her smiling at him.

  “Let’s go,” she said, practically dragging him into the crowd. “We’re not here to stand at the back.”

  Harry let her pull him along, feeling the jostling of the crowd as they moved deeper into the throng.

  The stage was a rustic wooden platform adorned with eerie trinkets - Harry spotted Doxy skulls among them - bathed in flickering magical lights and wreathed in tendrils of smoke that curled upward from its edges, lending it a haunting, theatrical air.

  The instruments - two guitars, a cello, bagpipes, a bass, and a lute - stopped playing. Previously they had been floating in the air, performing the background music he had heard since coming here. The crowd’s anticipation buzzed.

  Then the band burst onto the stage, taking their instruments out of the air and the crowd surged with renewed energy, bodies shifting and pressing closer as the atmosphere grew electric.

  “Alright, are you ready!?” shouted the lead singer - a brown-haired man dressed in heavy black clothes, his oversized belt buckle gleaming under the stage lights. “I wanna see your hands in the air!”

  The crowd erupted in cheers, arms shooting up all around them. Ginny joined in without hesitation, smiling brightly as she raised her hands. But Harry hesitated, suddenly aware of how out of place he felt. He didn’t know what to do with his hands - raising them felt silly, but keeping them at his sides felt even worse.

  With one final shout - “Are you ready!?” - and the crowd roaring in response, the music exploded to life: A rapid-fire beat of drums and screaming electric guitars that reverberated straight through Harry’s chest.

  “Move your body like a hairy troll,

  Learning to rock and roll,

  Spin around like a crazy elf,

  Dancin’ by himself…”

  The song wasn’t bad - but Harry had no idea what to do with himself. Other teenagers were shouting the lyrics or throwing their hands in the air, some even dancing in pairs or tangled up in laughter.

  He glanced at Ginny. She was bouncing on her feet, arms swaying above her head, completely carefree. She looked radiant in the shifting lights, her red hair catching the glow like fire.

  Then she turned and caught him awkwardly lingering at her side. She yelled something at him, but the music swallowed her words entirely.

  “I can’t understand you!” he tried to shout over the music, awkwardly holding his hands to his ears to get the message across. She shouted again - seemingly she had understood his words.

  “Groove around like a scary ghost

  Spooking himself the most

  Shake your booty like a boggart in pain

  Again and again and again…”

  The music was way too loud to understand Ginny. For a moment, he considered gesturing again that he couldn’t hear her, but he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his secret crush, so he just nodded.

  When Ginny beamed at him, he thought for a moment that he had made the right decision, but then she began dancing with him wildly, seemingly inviting him to join.

  ‘Oh! She had asked if he wanted to dance…’ he concluded - dancing at Beltane had seemed much easier.

  He should be glad that the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts wanted to dance with him, but he was painfully aware of how wooden and awkward his ‘dancing moves’ were. How did Ginny manage to make it look so natural and effortless?

  After a while, he began to forget how ridiculous he must look and just tried to mimic Ginny, who seemed to belong here in the Magical World so much more than him.

  The music was like nothing Harry had ever experienced before. The Weird Sisters’ songs were wild, full of chaotic rhythms and screaming guitars. He didn’t have to think about the Dursleys or dark wizards or Hermione’s death.

  The lyrics barely made sense and his movements were awkward, but none of that mattered. What mattered was the moment - Ginny’s laughter, the beat of the drums, the lightness in his chest.

  He recognised some other Hogwarts students nearby.

  There was Katie Bell dancing with some boy, he didn’t know, completely ignoring anything else. And wasn’t that the Ravenclaw prefect who had been there when Ginny had been injured by the Bombarda, dancing together with the other Ravenclaw who had the same family name as Mira – Fenwick.

  Everybody was just dancing or listening to the music. Nobody cared about him being here.

  For the first time in ages, he felt like a normal boy. Just happy. Just alive.

  Harry lost track of time, caught in the rhythm of it all.

  Ginny, always by his side, seemed to shine in this world of sound and colour. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe as he watched her in the crowd, her carefree movements and infectious grin making everything feel even more vivid.

  “This one's going out to all the lovers out there. Hold each other tight and keep each other warm. And dance your final dance,” the lead singer announced. Suddenly, Harry felt very conscious about the fact that he was here with Ginny of all people.

  But Ginny didn’t seem to think much of it.

  “This is your final chance

  To hold the one you love

  You know you've waited long enough…”

  They just continued to dance, close to each other, while Harry tried to hide his secret embarrassment. Even considering being ‘lovers’ with Ginny was… a bit overwhelming for him.

  Eventually, the last song ended and the crowd began to thin out, the excitement settling into a comfortable hum. Ginny turned to Harry, her face alight with the same energy she’d had all night.

  “You ready to go?” she asked, her voice gentle over the fading music.

  Harry nodded, still slightly overwhelmed by the experience.

  “Yeah, that was… incredible,” he said, his words stumbling out as he caught his breath.

  As the night began to wind down, Ginny stood and stretched, her smile soft but filled with a quiet sense of satisfaction.

  "Well, it's time for me to head home," she said, her voice carrying a touch of reluctance.

  Harry nodded, feeling a strange emptiness creeping in now that the evening was drawing to a close.

  "Back to the Burrow?" he asked, disappointed but knowing the answer.

  "Yeah," she replied, "but not before I help you get back to Privet Drive."

  She glanced around, scanning the crowd and then grabbed Harry's hand gently, guiding him through the throngs of people. The noise of the concert seemed to fade behind them as they moved toward the edge of the field, where a small alley led to a quiet corner. Harry felt a little dazed, still unsure how to process everything that had happened tonight.

  Ginny led him to a small, inconspicuous fireplace tucked away in a shadowed corner, far from the chaos of the concert. Harry looked around, realizing this must be one of the locations she could access the Floo network from.

  “You can take the Floo from here, can’t you?” Harry asked, his voice hesitant.

  Ginny nodded, giving him a quick, reassuring smile.

  "Of course, but before I go..." She paused and reached into her pocket, pulling out the small folded ticket she had mentioned earlier. She handed it to him with a wink. "Here. For the Knight Bus. This will get you home. You probably don’t have any money with you, right?"

  Harry felt a lump form in his throat. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been dreading the return to the Dursleys, but hearing her say it like that - so casually, but with such understanding - made him feel even more grateful.

  As she stood back, preparing to use the Floo, Harry couldn’t help but notice how comfortable she seemed, how easy it was for her to slip into this world, full of magic and warmth.

  A sharp pang of longing hit him again, this time for the Burrow, for the family he had never had, for the world Ginny belonged to.

  Harry’s lips parted to respond, but before he could, Ginny surprised him once more - she leaned in quickly, planting a soft kiss on his cheek, the briefest of touches. It was enough to make Harry freeze, his heart skipping a beat.

  Before he could even register what had happened, she stepped back with a grin.

  “Goodnight, Harry,” she said with a wink. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Harry stood frozen for a moment, still feeling the warmth of her kiss on his skin. He couldn’t say anything, couldn’t find the words. But Ginny had already turned toward the fireplace, tossing a pinch of Floo powder into the flames. "The Burrow!" she called out as the fire roared to life.

  In an instant, Ginny had disappeared, leaving Harry standing alone with the Knight Bus ticket still in his hand. He blinked, trying to collect his thoughts, but they were scattered. The kiss, the warmth of her presence, the way she made him feel - he wasn’t sure what to think or feel.

  With a deep breath, Harry turned toward the ticket, feeling both the weight of the night and the strange sense of freedom, that Ginny had given him. He didn’t know how long he stood there, just staring at the spot where she had been, but eventually, he raised his wand and muttered “Knight Bus.”

  The bus arrived with its usual noisy clatter, but Harry was still lost in thought, the concert and Ginny’s kiss spinning in his mind.

  oOoOo

  Ginny stepped out of the Floo into the Burrow’s living room, her boots clicking on the stone floor. It had been fun being a normal teenage girl, going to a concert with a boy who had a crush on her.

  The dancing and music were actually pretty nice. She’d have to thank Emily for introducing her to the Weird Sisters. Maybe she should catch a Nirvana concert while Kurt Cobain was still alive…

  “Ginevra Weasley, where have you been?” Molly’s voice cut through the quiet, sharp and furious. She stood in the doorway, a wrathful silhouette under the lamp’s dim glow, her frazzled hair wild. Ginny smirked inwardly - funny how she skipped the ‘Molly’ middle name when she was mad, like it was too sacred for scolding.

  Being a teenage daughter getting caught sneaking out to a concert with a boy was a weirdly amusing experience in its own right.

  Ginny crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

  “Out, Mum. It’s not even midnight. Relax.” Her tone dripped with teenage defiance.

  Molly’s gaze swept over her, face tightening.

  “Out? Dressed like that? And where did you even get this… outfit?” She waved a hand at Ginny’s outfit: A skirt transfigured short and jagged, a top stretched tight and ripped just so, showing off curves no one at the Burrow seemed to notice she’d grown into.

  Ginny shrugged.

  “It’s a transfiguration. We can’t afford real fashionable clothes, so I made do.”

  “Transfigured?!” Molly shrieked. “I told you, you’re forbidden to use magic over the summer! It’s against the law! You could be expelled!”

  “Mum, please,” Ginny said with exaggerated annoyance. “You know the Ministry only enforces that rule for Muggle households.”

  Molly’s expression turned stormy, her voice trembling with frustration.

  “It’s still the law. And it’s there for a reason. You’re grounded! No Floo, no magic, no owls and no leaving this house without permission!”

  “Mum! Why do you have to make such a big deal out of this!?”

  With a flick of her wand, Molly reversed the transfiguration. Ginny’s carefully chosen clothes vanished, replaced by her usual boring second-hand Muggle ones - baggy jeans and an oversized jumper.

  “Go to your room. I’ll be having a word with your father tonight.”

  Being a teenage girl could be annoying sometimes… but honestly? It was also kind of fun. She’d been an orphan in her past life and now she was living through a proper teenage fantasy. Even getting grounded felt oddly like something she’d always wanted.