#fresh pickled toad

[gryffindormischief]

Gamesome

A/N: Shorty something for Fresh Pickled Toad!

Also on Ao3 :) [log in required]

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“Oi! Potter! Elbows in.”

Harry startles and nearly drops the broom clenched between his thighs, but he complies with the barked order. He fights the urge to swipe at the sweat working its way down his face in salty rivulets. “Yes Captain.”

A scoff sounds from somewhere over his shoulder, but no more instructions are leveled his way so it feels like a win and he tosses the weighted quaffle directly from his chest to Lee who winks and throws it right back. Captains with brooms up their arses are a staple in quidditch.

“Alright, drop ‘em!”

Groans sound from around the pitch as the rag tag bunch sinks down toward the grass. They all start lurching toward the locker rooms like a hulking mass of undead witches and wizards, rather than a team of wizarding ‘celebrities’ who’ve played quidditch on some level at some point in their lives.

Lee comes up alongside Harry and claps a hand on his shoulder, the other holding a practice quaffle against his hip. “Rough one eh? It’s like she forgot that I hold the people in the palm of my hand.”

Harry snorts and drags his arm across his forehead.

“Don’t guffaw, I have their ear! I can make or break anyone on this field. I am beloved by the public.”

“Not arguing the point, Lee. You’re nothing if not capable of self-promotion,” Harry laughs, ducking away when Lee takes a swipe at him, “My point is, today made it pretty clear that she can make or break anyone on this field in a much more painful, physical way.”

“You have no vision, Potter.”

“He’s just smarter than you, Jordan,” a new voice joins the conversation and even underneath the smell of grass and sweat and fresh paint around the stadium, he gets a whiff of her flowery scent.

Lee stiffens, comedically ‘at attention’ as he twists to face Ginny. “Captain.”

“Jordan?” Ginny eyes him head to toe and back.

“Yes?”

Quicker than should be possible, she darts forward, grabs the quaffle, and tosses it in the opposite direction from the changing rooms with all the force a professional player can pack.

“You suck.”

Ginny snorts, “Do I hear a request for bleacher runs tomorrow?”

Lee jogs off toward the quaffle, chuckling as he calls over his shoulder, “Drunk with power doesn’t look good on you, Weasley.”

Ginny flips him off while Harry murmurs, “I dunno, it seems pretty hot to me.”

“I know it does,” Ginny winks and throws her arm around Harry’s neck. “The second most motivating factor in today’s practice.”

“Captaining the winning team at a charity tournament is clearly the first,” Harry says, voice weighty with sarcasm as they pause at the entrance to the lockers.

“Obviously,” Ginny agrees, eyeing him up and down in a much more lingering fashion than with Lee, “But I’ll see you for a one-on-one cool down.”

[saintsenara]

You're so right... why the hell DID the locket say "I have seen your heart, and it is mine." ??? Deeply insane thing for Voldemort to be saying to Ron!

ron's clearly not the only one who's been flicking through twelve fail-safe ways to charm witches.

[bibayaga]

One hundred thousand percent

Oh, Draco definitely wrote the Valentine's poem in Chamber of Secrets!

Who do we know who stays up all night workshopping poems and songs about his enemies (*cough cough* "enemies" *cough*)

That's right, Draco! Weasley is our King didn't come out of nowhere.

You know who doesn't stay up late into the night composing sonnets about Harry? Ginny.

So why does she get embarrassed you may ask. Well, she's having blackouts. She's told Tom all about her crush on Harry. Maybe she thinks she did write the poem and can't remember.

NOT TO MENTION. Most people don't call Voldemort 'The Dark Lord,' as Harry so rightly points out to Snape in OOTP. Y'know who does call him that? That's right, the Malfoys.

Harry then humiliates Draco so Draco immediately turns and blames Ginny for the poem. Which like? If it was her how would he even know that? We know Ginny has a crush on Harry because he spent time at the Burrow and Ron is his best friend. How would Draco know that? Except, oh yeah, of course he has a mental list of all the students at Hogwarts with a crush on Harry, they're his competition.

[ginevra11]

It can be safely presumed that Ginny Weasley has always been a good writer. The fact that she used to maintain a personal diary and grew up to become a sports editor is enough proof of that. Her witty dialogues, her yapping tendencies, and her social circle in the book solidify her image as an engaging, outgoing, and creative person in general.

Harry Potter, on the other hand, is a socially awkward mess. Yes, he is a natural leader, but more often than not we have witnessed that his life was not in his control. He had to struggle for it. Whether it be basic love & affection, career, camaraderie, and sometimes even friendship. He is a touch-starved man who grew up in the most toxic environment for 10 years, yet he grew up to become an epic, a beloved hero.

The crux is that Ginny Weasley, writer extraordinaire, came up with the most basic yet the cutest poem for her crush!

“His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.”

Yes, this is cute but not something you expect from a writeress at heart. Picked toads! Emeralds or even peridots would have been a better fit.

At the same time, Harry Potter, the eternally awkward legend, came up with the most romantic poetry ever, and that too even before he realised that he was in love with the one Ginevra Molly Weasley!

“She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged with her face glowing like the setting sun.”

This is only the context from the Chamber of Secrets, but do you see what I'm trying to say?

We tend to be our most natural selves in love, but at the same time, the greatest poets are reduced to stuttering, and the most awkward person ever starts to exhale sonnets!

The bold, brilliant, sunshine Ginevra was reduced to the vocabulary of a bumpkin, and the awkward, aloof, ostracised Harry subconsciously composed unsurpassed romantic poetry!

The fact that our touch-starved Harry initiated their hug and their sunlit first kiss and our social sky siren Ginevra was all elbows in the butter dish!!! Loving her comes naturally to him! That's true love right there!

Harry and Ginny is not ‘she fell first, he fell harder’; it's ‘she fell first, he fell second, and both of them are still falling’ or should I say flying!

They are a phenomenon!

[dream-with-a-fever]

romance strategies by ginny weasley (according to harry potter books)

write future boyfriend a singing get well soon card that doesn’t shut up unless kept under a fruit bowl

blush so much in his presence that your face glows like a setting sun

send future boyfriend a valentine’s day poem likening his eyes to a fresh pickled toad

romance strategies by harry potter (according to harry potter books)

get six bludgers to the head in one practise because you can’t stop staring at future girlfriend

imagine scenarios of future girlfriend crying over your injured body and confessing undying love for you

not notice future girlfriend until she’s older, moved on and in a relationship

[joannerowling]

What that wasn’t in the movies do you hope they include in the new show 😋 they better do it justice or elseee. If they game of thrones-ify it I’ll kill someone

PS: Peeves is confirmed! I'd love for the show to include some of Vernon's POV in the first chapter, because it's such a funny and iconic introduction, and spend a bit longer on Harry's awful life at the Dursleys. Ron throwing hands with Malfoy. The twins shooting snowballs at the back of Quirrell's head. Also, PLEASE, an accurate depiction of the way Hermione deals with the Devil Snare. Do NOT cut Ron's "are you a witch or what?!" line again i'm begging!

CoS: Nearly-Headless Nick's anniversary is a popular one i subscribe to! And Ginny's Valentine card ("his eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad"). Percy being a bit more present.

PoA: Hermione and Ron working on Buckbeak's case, Hermione's Girlboss Day where she quits Divination and slaps Malfoy in the span of a few hours (and Ron's reaction to it). Hermione making fun of Ron for believing in the Grim. Oliver crying tears of joy after winning the Quidditch Cup.

GoF: Ok, now we're in business. Give me the SPEW sideplot, including Dobby's salary, drunk Winky and the kitchens. Also, don't skip over the harrassment Hermione gets from Skeeter, let her grow obsessed with finding out how she manages to evesdrop on conversations (specifically, i need that scene where Hermione is wondering aloud about her while viciously grinding beetles into dust in Potions class) and trap her in an unbreakable jar.

OotP: Three words: Department 👏 of 👏Mysteries 👏 SHOW US ALL THE ROOMS, especially the Time Room (let us freak out about the baby-headed Deatheater!!!) and the Brain Room (let Ron Weasley get his sexy scars from being strangled by flying brain tentacles). Harry throwing hands with Malfoy. Harry and Ron making shit up for Divination class. Divination teacher Firenze (i know it doesn't bring a lot to the story but i want Hermione to call out Parvati about her horse fetish). Hermione cursing Marietta Edgecombe with acne spelling "SNITCH" on her forehead (again, probably won't happen as it's maybe too gross for tv but one can dream). Ginny and Harry bonding.

HBP: That one scene where Harry brutally assassinate a seed while Ron and Hermione are trying and spectacularly failing to arrange a date. The Gaunts memory and also the one where Voldemort comes back to Hogwarts and tries to get the DADA teaching gig.

DH: Harry's 17th birthday including the cake. Ron punching Malfoy in the face while invisible and yelling at him "that's the second time we save your life this evening arsehole". Potterwatch. Fred's death. Ron and Hermione's first kiss happening exactly as ridiculously as it did in the book. Harry calling Hermione "like a sister" and embracing Ron after his return. NOT showing us the trapped bit of Voldemort's soul in purgatory King's Cross, because not seeing it makes it scarier.

[sophie-hatter-jenkins]

Nobody leaves Ginny in the WIP folder corner

Guys, @ginnyw-potter just gave me the details on her Hinny Dirty Dancing AU idea and when I tell you that you need it, that's an understatement.

I told her I'd start a petition to make it happen, and she said I wouldn't (as we all know, it is unwise to dare a Ginny Stan) so if you need a Dirty Dancing AU (you do), like or reblog this post.

We are not above peer pressure at starlingflight.org

[casasupernovas]

do you when remember ginny wrote harry a poem and it said harry's eyes were as green as "fresh pickled toad" and stuff?

that confirms why snape doesnt give af about trevor i TOLD YOU! HE'S AN INGREDIENT!

[lostinwoods]

*Ginny possessed by Tom Riddle*:

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.

[albondiguilla007]

A short Hinny one shot cause I’ve been obsessed with @blvnk-art and the way they draw the pairing. Their Harry and Ginny are beautifully portrayed, so realistic and full of life, and with more chemistry than in the seven movies together. Go look them up, you’ll love their drawings.

“Race you to the Whomping Willow Potter”

“Your ruin Weasley”

Ginny sets off towards the stairs, dropping her bag and spilling all her books over the floor.

“Oi, what about your things!?”

She barely glances at me, continuing to run like a bloody maniac, but I see a hint of a smirk before a wave of red hair hides her face. I chase after her, ignoring the protests and surprised yelps of students walking in the halls as we rush through them.

“It’s a shame you’re still the Quidditch team’s Captain! You’re bloody slow Potter!”

I scoff, skipping the steps of the stairs two by two. I’d answer her, but I’m running low on energy as it is. Fuck, I do need to train more.

Her black robe billows after her, blazing long hair flying against the air coming in from the courtyard as she continues running. The startling blue sky blinds me for a few seconds, and I put a hand against my forehead to protect me against the light. The grass dances with the breeze, emerald green reflecting the rays of sun. My breath is coming in short gasps, but I don’t stop, stubbornly chasing after the sneaky little minx.

She’s ten feet away, sprinting towards the Quidditch Pitch as fast as she’s on air, laughing with mirth. I close the distance between us, five feet, three feet away until she’s at reach.

“Hah, got you”

She wriggles against my arms, groaning when I just tighten them against her waist. “It was a race, not a dare to catch me you idiot”

I laugh in the crook of her neck, smelling her coconut body wash and a hint of something sweet. Maybe a new perfume?

Her skin is smooth as a baby, and I unashamedly rub my nose against it. Ginny elbows my ribs and I let go with a startled yelp.

“You were enjoying that too much Potter”

The corners of her lips curl in a teasing smile, and for a moment I’m struck speechless by how beautiful she is. I’d been so blind, focusing on my best friend’s little sister to realize how fucking stunning she’d become on her own right. Brilliant, harsh and aggressively beautiful, Ginny Weasley was a force of nature.

“Well, you are my girlfriend after all”

She snorts and continues walking backwards, never taking her eyes off me. She has pretty eyes, I realize, almond shaped and a beautiful shade of brown.

The sun illuminates her skin, a jumble of red freckles covering the bridge of her nose and a bit of her cheeks.

“Not if you continue being that slow no, I can’t have my boyfriend embarrass me in front of the whole school”

I smirk with malice, happy to bring her down a peg or two. “Something you’d know about, Miss Eyes Green as Fresh Pickles Toads”

That makes her stumble, and I take the chance to close the gap between us and wrap a hand around her neck, warm with embarrassment under my fingers. Her lips are soft, and all that attitude vanishes in a second as she sighs against my lips, curling her hands around the lapels of my uniform. The low murmur of students chattering inside the castle reaches my ears, the cheerful tune of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves in the border of the Forbidden Forest.

I feel Ginny’s lips curve in a smile and I can’t help smiling back, even as we break apart and I rest my forehead against hers, breaths mingling together.

[blorger]

“You should probably tell Weasel his wife’s madly in love with you,” he suggested. “Gryffindor chivalry and everything. Though trying to woo her husband’s best friend is rather Slytherin of her; I’m impressed.” “Don’t call Ron that,” said Potter automatically, and then, darkly, “and I would if he hadn’t written me a sonnet this morning.” Draco leaned forward, fascinated. “He doesn’t even work here—how’d he do that so fast?” he asked, then：“Wait, no, answer this first. Was it any good?” He paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I always thought he might have a talent for something artsy, you know. He seems like the type. I would’ve told him, but my undying hatred of your ilk took precedence; I’m sure you understand.”

“Regardless, the Weaslette—fine, Ginny—loved you. A lot, if I remember. Poem-writing love.” He paused. “D’you think it might run in the family?” “Malfoy.” “A family of poets,” said Draco dreamily, “awakened by their united love for—what was it she said? Eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad. Oh, it would be so beautiful it’d almost make up for the hair.” “Malfoy,” Potter said again, though his mouth was twitching into a smile.

from By Any Other Name by dracognition

[greenhouse-seven]

just a line in a song by @starlingflight

Keep a fan and a cool glass of water nearby when you read this one, you're gonna need it.

Prompt: In Public

Summary: When Ginny meets her celebrity crush, Harry's eyes aren't the only thing as green as a fresh pickled toad.

[saintsenara]

More Dron *giggles evily*! There is simply no hetero way to explain "Weasley is our king". Why tf would you write that weird song about your enemy? It had like 3 verses?! And Draco didn't even have to write it down...

it left lord voldemort ginny's masterpiece "his eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad" in the dust, i fear.

[ashotofogdensoldfirewhiskey]

Prompt 21: Fresh

Writing at the pace my life permits, have prompt 21 real late, @hinnymicrofic

He’s decidedly an idiot, and a blind one at that.

How in the bloody fuck had it taken him this long to notice? She’s attractive in an obvious, you’re-a-prat-for-not-seeing-it sort of way, to the point that he’s beginning to question his sanity.

They’re at lunch, and the beaming sunlight catches her shiny hair, and he’s staring. They’re at Quidditch and she’s arching her back to urge her broom faster, and the only thing that causes him to look away is the bludger that strikes his chest. They’re in the common room, and she’s laughing heartily with Demelza, and he decides right then and there that he’s gone. 

Because he catches himelf thinking fuck, she’s beautiful, subconsciously plotting how he might make her laugh like that at practice later, and he’s a ponce and an idiot and he should be committed to St. Mungos for evaluation because how could he have gone this long without seeing it?

She’s Ron sister, only he can’t tell anymore whether that’s a respectful boundary, a weak defense, or a pitiful excuse. 

Their practice is miserable, or would be if she weren’t there. The rain is falling in sheets, soaking them all to the bone, and Harry calls it early. 

As they’re walking back to the locker room, Ginny walks next to him. She snatches his glasses from his face, and he’s on fire despite the cold.

“How in the hell do you see in the rain with these?” she demands. 

“Impervious Charm.”

“Ha!” she says. “That’s cheating, captain.”

He can’t see anything at all, but he knows she looks adorable as the blurry shape of her dons his specs. 

“We’ve got to practice in all conditions!” she says, and he realizes with a jolt that she’s nailed his Surrey accent. “I don’t care if you’ve got to swim to the goal posts!”

He laughs, as do Katie and Jimmy Peakes. 

She abandons his accent as she says, “Blimey, you’re blind, aren’t you?”

He nearly chokes - yes, so fucking blind - but manages to pass it off as a laugh. “I prefer visually impaired.”

“A Seeker with shit eyes. Who made you captain of this team, anyway?”

“Excuse me,” he says, pretending to be affronted. “I’ve got eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad.”

He doesn’t know what compelled him to say it; he’s never once alluded to the poem she’d written about him when she was eleven. He panics internally that he’s gone and stuck his foot in it. 

Instead, she lets out a surprised bark of laughter, and he laments that he can’t see her expression with his shit pickled eyes. “Hey, I still stand by that, by the way,” she says, unfazed. “They’re very green.”

“Very green and very shit. Got it.”

She laughs and hands back his glasses. He puts them back on and can see her once again, hair dripping wet, Quidditch robes plastered against her, and something like a rosy blush coloring her cheeks. Perhaps not as unfazed as she sounded, but utterly, devastatingly fit all the same.

Yeah, he thinks. Very, very shit eyes.

[hinny-canons]

@hinnymicrofic prompt 22: Gift

Harry watched as the kids opened their gifts with wide eyes and laughter, ripping apart the wrapping paper. No matter how many times they told them to be careful, ripping things was their favourite thing to do.

When Lily opened the last gift that was for her, Ginny gave Harry his gift.

“Gin, you already got me a gift, what’s this?” He said, smiling.

Ginny smirked. “Just open it.”

Harry did and he saw that she had given him chocolate hearts. However, there a little note on the front.

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad

His hair is as dark as a blackboard

I’m so glad he’s mine, he’s very divine

The hero who I chose

Harry laughed and turned to her. “This is the best thing ever.” He kissed her and could feel her smiling.

[fizzyginfizz]

Not Flirting At All

Happy Birthday @ginnyw-potter !!!!! Here's some fluff for your Fluff O'Clock Challenge!

He’d tell himself later it wasn’t flirting.

She had a boyfriend.

His mate Dean.

Wanker.

He’d tell himself he was just distracting his overworked, exhausted teammate during her OWL year.

She had circles under her eyes.

His best friend’s sister.

“Alright,” Harry said, reaching over and taking Ginny’s spare quill out from behind her ear. He didn’t mean to, but his finger brushed against the strand of hair that had escaped the twist in the back.

His hand flexed. He would think about how silky it had felt later. Trying to salvage the moment, he lifted a piece of her parchment from in front of her and dipped his quill into her ink. “Fair warning, I’m not as good at this as you.”

“Good at what? What are you talking about?”

“Poetry,” he scoffed. “What did you think I meant?”

“Uh, well, so many things to choose from,” Ginny mused, happily putting aside her work in favor of her preferred activity, verbal one-upmanship with a side of snark. “Quidditch, baking, pranking, hexing.”

“I’m good at hexing.”

“You’re good at dueling,” Ginny grinned. “There’s a difference.”

“Alright, game on.” He returned her grin, before snapping back to his game face. “I am going to prove I’m a better poet than you.”

A burst of a laugh escaped Ginny’s throat, husky and strong. “Not too difficult. I don’t think anyone would have called any nonsense I pen ‘good.’”

Her laugh made him want to grin again, but OWL-distracting banter was on the menu, so he shrugged instead. “Please. Stop fishing for compliments.”

“I wasn’t!”

“Oh, yes you were. As if anyone could deny the brilliance of getting their eyes compared to fresh pickled toads.”

Ginny sighed and stared up at the ceiling. “You remembered.”

“Of course I remember,” he replied, eyes still on paper. Then, he frowned, stared at her a moment, and began to write. “Her hair flames as bright as a fire crab’s bum-“

Ginny giggled and Harry’s gaze shot up from his parchment at the rare sound. Ginny Weasley laughed, Ginny Weasley chuckled, Ginny Weasley threw back her head in unabashed joy. He didn’t know whether he had ever heard her giggle.

He wanted to hear it again. “Or, should it be arse, instead of bum? ‘Her hair flames as bright as a fire crab’s arse’?”

“Are you asking me the connotative differences between arse and bum?”

“Well,” Harry shrugged. “It’s my first poem. Bum sounds like something you sit on, but arse somehow sounds flamier.”

“Also bigger, though.” She giggled again, and Harry felt like he’d won the Quidditch cup.

“Hmmm… hadn’t thought about that. You’re right. Her hair flames as bright as a fire crab’s bum.”

She leaned over to watch the words on his parchment. Her freckled nose all crinkled up in the most adorable way, her brown eyes were… the words came out of his mouth while his quill hovered over the page. “Her eyes are like melted milk chocolate.”

“Oh no,” Ginny shook her head in mock sadness. “I think you may have rhymed yourself into a corner there.”

“Oh ye of little faith.”

“Alright,” she sighed. “If you insist. I do appreciate you not picking something like mud or poo.”

“Well, I think toilet humor is overrated and there’s already something about an arse in here.”

“Bum.”

“Whatever.” He grinned at her. “You going to keep distracting me, or do you want me to finish?”

“Oh,” Ginny sat back with a relaxed smile, crossing her arms. “Sorry to interrupt your art. Do continue.”

Harry had a sudden vision, Ginny Weasley, pajamas. Mugs of steaming morning tea. Slow, “glad you’re awake” kisses.

What did she taste…

Realizing he was staring at her lips, he ripped his gaze away from her mouth. Do not write about her lips.

How soft they looked. How they had a peachy-pink rightness to them that other girls didn’t have.

Focus on something else. Something not sexy.

Except everything about her was sexy.

Except her boyfriend, he reminded himself.

She had a boyfriend.

His mate Dean.

Wanker.

His pen started scratching on the parchment furiously. “She can hurl gnomes, and write silly poems- “

“Silly?” Ginny sat up, offended.

“Did I say ‘silly’?” Harry dipped his quill back in the ink. “I meant ‘brilliant’. She can hurl gnomes, and write brilliant poems-“

“That’s much better,” she grinned. “But now you’re face-to-face with your chocolate rhyme.”

“I can do it,” he narrowed his eyes at her, competitive spirit rising.

“Sure you can,” she said, with a sarcastic eyeroll.

“Chocolate, chocolate,” he muttered, tapping his quill on the parchment. “Chocolate, gnomes, poems-“

“You’re cracking under the pressure.”

“Am not.”

“You’re crumbling.”

“From her friend, who she likes to mock a lot.”

Ginny blinked. “You’re rhyming chocolate with mock a lot?”

“It sort of rhymes.”

“No it doesn’t!” She laughed. “It doesn’t at all.”

“It does if you sort of, y’know, mush your mouth on chocolate, like you’re French, or something.” He made a funny pinching move towards his mouth and was rewarded with another ring of her laughter. “Make that oh really an ‘ooooohhhhhh.’ Choc-o-loooooot.”

“That’s reaching, Harry.”

“Well,” he shrugged, folding up the parchment. “If you don’t want it…”

“No!!!” She sprang up, reached across the table, and snatched the parchment out of his hand. “I want it! I definitely want it.”

She unfolded the parchment and stared at it a moment, her smile softening to something Harry thought was achingly beautiful. Then, she held the parchment to her chest, and grinned at him over the top of it. “Thank you. All my childhood wounds are now healed,” she said with mock self-deprecation.

“My pleasure,” Harry said softly, wishing she had more dragons for him to slay.

OWL-shaped, or otherwise.