The Mystery of the Extra Gryffindor Boy Revealed!
Sunday, 6 June 2004 02:10![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apollaInspired by chat and the fact there's an extra, pointless Gryffindor in PoA.
Not many people had noticed Dirk Grumbleweed during their first two years at Hogwarts. He had kept himself to himself as he adapted from the Muggle world to the magical one. Then in his third year, he found the confidence to go to lunch and talk to his fellow students.
They were pleasantly surprised to learn that Dirk was from Bolton in Lancashire and was particularly interested in Divination. The third year boys were pleasantly surprised to learn who this mysterious boy was who'd been sharing a room with them since 1991.
Dirk was a sweet boy, a little like Neville really, if Neville had any sort of skill in Divination. Dirk's mother Ermintrude was as overbearing as Neville's gran, and the two boys bonded over tales of mothers and grans and a plate of sticky buns.
Something else the two boys shared was a secret crush on Ginny Weasley. Both boys loved her very deeply, but only one was destined to be with her until all things end.
That boy was Dirk Grumbleweed. Of course, he didn't know it in his third year, but Dirk was Ginny's 'twoo luv' in the best Princess Bride tradition.
***
"Hello Ginny," said Dirk nervously. She smiled brightly at him.
"Hello Dirk. Pass the toast, would you?"
"There you go."
"Thanks! Hermione, have you seen Ron and Harry? I really want to ask them a question."
"They'll be down eventually, I'm sure."
"All right."
***
By his sixth year, Dirk and Ginny had progressed to full conversations.
"And then Ernie said he'd owl me and he didn't!" she wailed. Dirk handed Ginny a hanky.
"He's not worth your attention. Nor was Dean. Or Andrew. Or Colin."
"You're so sweet Dirk. How did you get so sweet?"
"Grumbleweeds are a sweet sort of bunch. Don't let the name fool you."
"Thank you. If only Ernie were like you!" Ginny dissolved into noisy tears. Dirk handed her another hanky.
***
It was in his Seventh Year that Dirk and Ginny were finally able to manifest their long held want. She had, if she were honest, gone through just about every other boy in school and so the options were pretty limited.
"We're friends, aren't we, Dirk?"
"I think so, yes."
"We've known each other a long time?"
"Yes. Well, except the first couple of years here when I didn't really exist."
"But I wasn't here for one of those, so it doesn't count."
"True."
"Dirk.... Would you please kiss me?"
"Um... Well... That is to say..."
"Stop doing your Hugh Grant impression and kiss me!"
"Are you sure? I mean, well, you know what I mean?"
"Rarely if ever, Dirk. It's why I love you so."
At those three very special words, Dirk's heart fair melted. He looked at the red-headed siren sat beside him, summoned up every fibre of Grumbleweed courage and kissed her.
***
Two years later, they were married in a simple but noisy ceremony at the Ministry of Magic.
"Do you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, take Dirk Gordon Grumbleweed to be your lawfully and magically wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for better for worse and richer for poorer or until one of you decides to get a divorce?" asked the Ministry Registrar in a bored 'they'll never last' voice.
"I do," she replied in a voice as dreamy as the Registrar's was bored.
"And do you Dirk Gordon Grumbleweed, take Ginevra Molly Weasley to be your lawfully and magically wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for better for worse and richer for poorer or until one of you decides to get a divorce?"
"I do indeed!" he said in a proud sort of voice. He looked over to where his equally proud mother Ermintrude was sat, dabbing at her tears with a hanky.
"Then you may now kiss the bride. Get on with it, we've got three more weddings this afternoon."
Dirk kissed his bride, and all present applauded.
***
Seventy years later, Dirk's hair was grey and his waist expanded. His movements were slower and he liked to sleep a lot more. But he loved his Ginny as much as he always had done. And Ginny Grumbleweed returned the feelings.
The End
Not many people had noticed Dirk Grumbleweed during their first two years at Hogwarts. He had kept himself to himself as he adapted from the Muggle world to the magical one. Then in his third year, he found the confidence to go to lunch and talk to his fellow students.
They were pleasantly surprised to learn that Dirk was from Bolton in Lancashire and was particularly interested in Divination. The third year boys were pleasantly surprised to learn who this mysterious boy was who'd been sharing a room with them since 1991.
Dirk was a sweet boy, a little like Neville really, if Neville had any sort of skill in Divination. Dirk's mother Ermintrude was as overbearing as Neville's gran, and the two boys bonded over tales of mothers and grans and a plate of sticky buns.
Something else the two boys shared was a secret crush on Ginny Weasley. Both boys loved her very deeply, but only one was destined to be with her until all things end.
That boy was Dirk Grumbleweed. Of course, he didn't know it in his third year, but Dirk was Ginny's 'twoo luv' in the best Princess Bride tradition.
***
"Hello Ginny," said Dirk nervously. She smiled brightly at him.
"Hello Dirk. Pass the toast, would you?"
"There you go."
"Thanks! Hermione, have you seen Ron and Harry? I really want to ask them a question."
"They'll be down eventually, I'm sure."
"All right."
***
By his sixth year, Dirk and Ginny had progressed to full conversations.
"And then Ernie said he'd owl me and he didn't!" she wailed. Dirk handed Ginny a hanky.
"He's not worth your attention. Nor was Dean. Or Andrew. Or Colin."
"You're so sweet Dirk. How did you get so sweet?"
"Grumbleweeds are a sweet sort of bunch. Don't let the name fool you."
"Thank you. If only Ernie were like you!" Ginny dissolved into noisy tears. Dirk handed her another hanky.
***
It was in his Seventh Year that Dirk and Ginny were finally able to manifest their long held want. She had, if she were honest, gone through just about every other boy in school and so the options were pretty limited.
"We're friends, aren't we, Dirk?"
"I think so, yes."
"We've known each other a long time?"
"Yes. Well, except the first couple of years here when I didn't really exist."
"But I wasn't here for one of those, so it doesn't count."
"True."
"Dirk.... Would you please kiss me?"
"Um... Well... That is to say..."
"Stop doing your Hugh Grant impression and kiss me!"
"Are you sure? I mean, well, you know what I mean?"
"Rarely if ever, Dirk. It's why I love you so."
At those three very special words, Dirk's heart fair melted. He looked at the red-headed siren sat beside him, summoned up every fibre of Grumbleweed courage and kissed her.
***
Two years later, they were married in a simple but noisy ceremony at the Ministry of Magic.
"Do you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, take Dirk Gordon Grumbleweed to be your lawfully and magically wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for better for worse and richer for poorer or until one of you decides to get a divorce?" asked the Ministry Registrar in a bored 'they'll never last' voice.
"I do," she replied in a voice as dreamy as the Registrar's was bored.
"And do you Dirk Gordon Grumbleweed, take Ginevra Molly Weasley to be your lawfully and magically wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for better for worse and richer for poorer or until one of you decides to get a divorce?"
"I do indeed!" he said in a proud sort of voice. He looked over to where his equally proud mother Ermintrude was sat, dabbing at her tears with a hanky.
"Then you may now kiss the bride. Get on with it, we've got three more weddings this afternoon."
Dirk kissed his bride, and all present applauded.
***
Seventy years later, Dirk's hair was grey and his waist expanded. His movements were slower and he liked to sleep a lot more. But he loved his Ginny as much as he always had done. And Ginny Grumbleweed returned the feelings.
The End
