#ah well. at least i planned on reusing a dress so i didn’t waste any money

[adenei]

Fake It Til You Make It - Ch. 3

AO3 || FFN

Harry’s finally introduced in this chapter!

Ginny set off across town after catching her aunt and agreeing to participate in the debutante ball. Unsurprisingly, Aunt Muriel already had a room reserved, as if she knew Ginny would relent. Ginny was set to move into Beauxbatons in two days, and had a lot of work to do to make sure she was prepared. So, she decided to visit the two people she knew would help her with her cockamamie plan: Fred and George.

In addition to owning their wildly successful joke shop, Ginny’s older twin brothers also dabbled in wigs and disguises for local theater productions and Halloween. If anyone could make her look and act like Ron, it was the twins.

“...Let me get this straight; you want us to help you look like Ron for two weeks?” Fred looked completely baffled when she walked into the shop and pulled them into their office.

“Yes.”

“Fred, I think our dear sister here has gone mad. Did you forget that he’s about a foot taller than you?” George chortled.

“Or the fact that he’s a boy?” Fred added.

“Will you two shut up and help me? I only have two days to pull this off, and there’s a lot at stake here!”

“Just one question, little sis. Where’s Ron going to be while you pretend to be him?” George cocked an eyebrow at her.

Ginny sighed deeply. “Will you promise not to say anything? Mum and Dad will literally kill him. And me.”

“We’re listening,” the twins said in unison. 

“He took off to some music competition in Germany. He’ll be gone for two weeks, so I’m going to pretend to be him so I can make the Hogwarts football team, play Beauxbatons, and kick their sorry arses!” Ginny felt her face heating up as the anger threatened to return.

The twins looked at each other, no doubt having a silent conversation. After what seemed like forever, they turned back to Ginny. “We’re in.”

“Yes! Thank you! I knew I could count on—”

“You’ve got loads of work ahead of you, though,” Fred warned. “George, go tell Verity and Leah that they’re covering the floor. Gin, we need some time to get a wig ready for you, and I’m thinking some sideburns and thicker eyebrows, too. So we don’t waste time, go out and study the way guys walk and talk. You’re going to have to do all those things to blend in.”

Ginny snorted. “How hard can it be?”

It turned out it wasn’t as easy as she planned. Blokes walked a lot of different ways. She was out there for at least an hour, trailing behind random men and trying to copy their mannerisms. She only got caught once or twice before Leah waved her back to the shop.

“They’ve got everything ready for you!” Leah said brightly. “How’d the studying go?”

“Not great. Why do guys walk so weird?”

“Not sure, but if you ask me, I think it’s because of the…” Leah gestured below the belt.

“Ah, maybe,” Ginny agreed as Fred and George whisked her away into the office.

The next hour or so consisted of the twins attempting to fit her with various pieces of facial hair. She wasn’t sure who was more interested in what a moustache would add to the disguise, but it beat sitting at home, so she humored them. In the end, they opted for no facial hair and simply stuck with the wig, sideburns, and eyebrows. When they brought a mirror up to Ginny’s face, she almost didn’t believe it.

“Holy shit, I really do look like Ron!” she exclaimed.

“It’s scary, isn’t it?” Fred agreed.

“For being seventeen months apart, you’d think you were another set of twins,” George commented.

“Before we forget,” Fred reached for something in one of the cabinets, “you’re going to need this.”

It looked like a wide ankle wrap bandage.

“What? Why?”

“Do you really need us to explain that to you?” Fred asked sarcastically.

“You see,” George went on as he gestured to his chest,” you have certain anatomical parts that need to be disguised, too—”

“Alright, alright! I get it!” Ginny stopped him.

“We’ll come by the Burrow for dinner tonight and help you figure out what clothing you can reuse and pass off in your wardrobe,” Fred told her.

“And we’ll do you a favor and get you anything you don’t have tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I owe you both,” Ginny said sincerely.

Her brothers could be a right pain in the arse much of the time, but they always pulled through when she needed help.

The twins stopped the car outside the halls where Ginny would be living for the next couple of weeks. People were milling about everywhere, and for a split second, she was having second thoughts about whether she could pull this off or not.

“Is this too crazy?” she asked them.

“Not at all!” Fred reassured her.

“Seriously, Gin, if anyone can do this, it’s you. Now, get out of the car. There’s no way we’re going to let all our hard work be wasted,” George added.

“But—”

“Out! Don’t make us drag you,” Fred warned.

Ginny adjusted her tie and opened the car door. She stepped out and grabbed her backpack and two duffel bags. 

“Now, let’s hear your voice,” George asked.

Ginny cleared her throat and deepened her voice. “Yo, I’m Ron. What’s up?” She added in a head nod for good measure.

George nodded approvingly while Fred reminded her not to sound too ‘gangsta.’ “How about your walk?”

“Come on, I can’t do it with all these bags,” Ginny complained, but the twins eyed her expectantly. “Ugh, fine.”

She did her best to show off her walk for a few paces before doubling back to the car like she forgot something.

“Excellent! And last but not least, let’s hear the belch,” Fred asked.

“Ugh, you guys are gross,” Ginny said as she rolled her eyes.

“Ah, but you’re one of us now,” George joked.

Ginny swallowed a bunch of air and did her best to let out a loud burp. It wasn’t easy to manage on command, so the twins would just have to deal.

Both bobbed their heads back and forth as if contemplating whether or not she passed. Not that it mattered, considering she was about to head to Gryffindor hall in a few minutes.

“I think she’s ready, Fred,” George determined.

“I do, too. Now, remember Gin, if you ever have any doubts, remember that there’s a man inside every woman, and you’ll do just fine!” Fred advised.

Both Ginny and George gave him a look. “Ew, Fred, that’s gross,” Ginny said as she made fake retching noises.

“Er, yeah, I don’t think we should be giving her any ideas. Not that you should act on them while posing as a guy,” George agreed.

“You know what I meant!” Fred defended.

“Yeah, yeah, I need to get going. I’m pretty sure trials start today, and I need to get settled first,” Ginny said as she was about to head off.

“Keep in touch!” George told her.

“Yeah, let us know how things are going. We’ll be here if you need anything else. But don’t mess up the wig; it’s the only one we’ve got!” Fred reminded her.

“Noted. Thanks, guys!” Ginny said.

She turned and began walking through campus. Gryffindor Hall was close, but she had to make her way through the commons, and there were people to dodge everywhere. When she finally entered the hall, it was like a madhouse on her floor. That was saying something considering she lived at the Burrow, which was always bustling with excitement.

Various balls and other items were being thrown from room to room, music was blasting, and some idiot thought it’d be a good idea to go skateboard luging down the hall. She almost had her head taken off more than once, but she could handle it. After all,  at one point in time, she lived with six older brothers. How hard could this be?

Finally finding room 205, she opened the door to meet her new roommate. If the bags hadn’t been slung over her shoulders, she probably would have dropped them. Standing in front of her was a tall, reasonably well-built guy with messy black hair and piercing green eyes. He was dressed only in a towel, and Ginny knew she was undeniably attracted to him.

“...Can I help you?” he asked, giving her an odd look.

“Uh, yeah, hi,” she said in her normal voice before realizing she needed to sound like Ron. Ginny cleared her throat and began speaking in the deeper voice she’d been practicing. “I’m your roommate. The name’s Ron. Uh, Ron Weasley.”

She held out her hand in an attempt to exchange pleasantries, but the shirtless guy simply laughed at her.

“Yeah, right. How old are you anyway?” 

She heard more snickering behind him and realized there were others in the room, too.

“No, really, I am your roommate. I, uh, skipped a couple of grades.” For once, being short and petite was not on her side. 

“Um, sure, whatever you say. I’m Harry. Harry Potter.”

“Nice to meet you. D’you happen to know when football trials are?” Ginny asked, changing the subject.

“Er, yeah, they start at noon. You play?” Harry was clearly sizing her up.

“Yeah, I do,” Ginny answered defiantly.

He contemplated her a bit more before saying, “Alright, then. This is Seamus and Dean. They play too, along with Neville and Colin, across the hall. You might want to unpack and get ready if you plan on getting there on time.”

“Uh, yeah, right,” Ginny said as she turned around and set her bags on the bare mattress.

So far, so good, she thought as she began unpacking her things. She’d make the bed later as she pulled out a couple of pairs of shoes and some of her athletic clothes. Ginny didn’t notice when one of her boots fell over, and a box of tampons fell out.

“What the bloody hell is that?!” Seamus shouted.

Oh, shit, Ginny thought. She needed to think fast. What the hell was she going to say?

“Oh, they’re um, they’re for—uh—bloody noses! Yeah, you’ve never used them?” God, she hoped this would work.

All three boys looked at her in horror as they shook their heads. Ginny was sure she was losing her mind as she pulled one out and opened it.

“Yeah! I mean, the purpose is to plug, uh—stuff, so it works the same way. Just up your nose instead,” she said as she shoved one up her nose.

She attempted a smile as they all looked at her as if she were insane. It was almost like a switch flipped as they all got lost in a fit of laughter.

“Er...forget I asked,” Harry said as he turned around and pretended to be busy with something else.

“Yo, man, your roommate’s crazy,” Dean sniggered as he punched Harry in the shoulder.

Well, Ginny thought as she went back to her unpacking, things definitely could have been worse. Yeah, it wasn’t that bad. At least that’s what she forced herself to believe.

#hp muggle au #hinny #ginny weasley #she's the man inspired

[moayoub1]

Travelling Light |  keep it up  for a 2 Week Trip

Traveling light is what I’m all about. Not only does it save a lot of money in baggage fees, but it also saves tons of hassle. You don’t need to worry about the airline losing your luggage, you save precious time hopping right off the plane and into your cab by skipping the luggage claim, and unpacking and repacking as you turn hotels is not any big deal since you've got less stuff.

Another perk of traveling light is you're not forced to order Ubers and cabs whenever you would like to urge to the railway station. I can easily walk 20 minutes to my hotel from the railway station with my carry-on, but trying that with an outsized checked bag is simply out of the question. you furthermore may open up the choice to use public transportation. Walking to the metro and rising and downstairs is doable with a keep it up, not such a lot with a 50-pound bag.

My rule of thumb is that any trip 2 weeks or less should require no quite a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. It took me a while to urge won't to this new way of thinking and packing, but now that I’m wont to it and it’s become a habit, it’s a breeze and that I would never return to how I wont to pack…checking a bag for a week-long trip. Seriously, what was I thinking and more importantly what was I packing that took up such a lot of space.

If you’ve decided now's the time to become a lean mean traveling machine, this is often the post for you. I’ll take you through the foremost important packing recommendations on the way to travel light and keep it up for a 2-week trip. Stuff that big suitcase back within the attic where it belongs and put that carry-on to good use!

1. Wash your clothes

One of my biggest ah-ha moments was once I started washing my clothes while traveling. We Americans are so won't to our washing machines and garments dryers that the thought of washing clothes within the bathroom sink is sort of foreign. If you're employed out while traveling this is often even more important. I always hated packing multiple sets of workout outfits to wear for a total of 1 hour then lug the dirty workout clothes with me the remainder of my trip. Now I bring one set of workout clothes for every 3 workouts since I wash and reuse. If you’re planning on understanding 9 times, 3 sets of workout clothes are much less substantial than 9.

You don’t need to wash everything while you’re traveling. specialize in the things that dry quickly and are easy to scrub (something to stay in mind when choosing what to pack). the things I always wash are my workout clothes, underwear, socks, and perhaps a couple of lightweight shirts if I’m traveling within the summer and it’s hot and sticky.

If you stay in rentals and Air BnB’s, attempt to pick a minimum of one during your trip that comes with a washer. Otherwise, the toilet sinks it's. Bring a travel-size bottle of detergent so you aren’t cursed with the hotel soap or body wash.

2. Wear your clothes 3 to 4 times

The biggest mistake I made once I didn't specialize in traveling light was that I wore my outfits once. Rookie mistake. there's no way you'll be ready to continue a 2 week trip with a keep it up if this is often how you travel. decide to wear every outfit a minimum of 3 or 4 times. I pack fun scarves and jewelry to vary my look so my outfit appears different in pictures.

Pack neutral items that go well with everything and are classic pieces. nobody will notice that you’ve already worn that black t-shirt 3 times, but they're going to notice once you wear the super trendy bright pink with purple flower shirt multiple times.

3. Shoe Talk

Shoes take up the foremost space and are the most important nuisance when traveling light. to hold on for a 2-week trip you would like to 1) bring only 3 pairs (4 max if we are talking flat sandals), 2) pack shoes that are light and may be compressed. By compressed I mean knit or cloth shoes which will be flattened, sandals with leather straps which will be pressed together, and shoes that are generally flexible. High heels aren't flexible and not compressible. Plus, I’d wish to hear anyone say that they had a pleasing experience walking the cobblestones of Rome in high heels.

I usually bring 1 pair of tennis shoes which will also function as a shoe. I purposely buy a good-looking workout shoe like APL or similar for the only purpose of getting a shoe that also looks ok that I can pair it with jeans and not appear as if a dork. I will be able to also bring another comfortable shoe that's a touch sleeker looking than a gym shoe. My current favorites are the Cole Haan Zerogrand Wingtip Oxfords. Then, counting on the season, I’ll bring a cushty bootie, an easy flat, or one or two flat sandals.

The last note about shoes is to shop for and pack lightweight shoes. I like my Adidas Cloudfoams because they're super comfortable, but I rarely pack them on an extended trip (unless I wear them on the plane rather than packing them). The rubber soles and stiff leather exterior not only makes them heavy, but they also don’t squish together very efficiently. That’s why I prefer the Cole Haan Zergrands such a lot. they're beyond lightweight and that I can pack them down tightly.

4. Size down your beauty bag/toiletry kit

This packing tip is so important for traveling light that I wrote a whole blog post thereon. a bit like shoes, you can’t escape with a carry-on for an extended trip if your beauty bag is that the size of an outsized shoebox. to size down your beauty bag, you would like to form sure EVERYTHING is sample or travel size. the sole thing I don’t buy sample/travel size is my mascara because the travel size ones dry out so quickly it’s a waste of cash.

Buy multipurpose products. rather than bringing makeup remover and facewash, buy a facewash that's a makeup remover and cleanser in one. Skip the three .4 ounce travel bottles. These bottles are way too big. I brought a 2-ounce travel bottle of facewash for a 3-week trip and that I still had some leftover. If you would like 3.4 ounces you're either using an excessive amount of otherwise you got to buy a more concentrated product.

Simplify your routine to pack less and travel light. Layering 3-night creams each evening may be a luxury, not a necessity. Bring one lotion to use in the dark . does one layer a BB cream with foundation and powder? attempt to find a 3 in 1 product so you'll get by with only one product. Consider this question for all of your skincare and makeup products. Believe what's an absolute must that you simply cannot live without and leave the remainder reception.

5. Compression packing cubes

Compression packing cubes are a game-changer for traveling light. Not only does one save space by compacting your clothes, but cubes keep everything organized and make moving between hotels a breeze. I keep my clothes in my packing cubes the whole trip and just transfer the whole cube into drawers and closets. I organize my cubes by category. All my workout clothes enter a little cube, pants and shirts enter a medium/large cube, dresses, bulkier clothing, and other miscellaneous clothes enter another medium/large cube, and everyone my underwear, socks, bras, and accessories like hair scarves, jewelry, etc., enter a little cube. These are the simplest packing cubes for packing light: Eagle Creek Pack-it, Eagle Creek Pack-it Specter, and eBags Compression Cubes.

6. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane

Before I put everything into my packing cubes then my suitcase I check out everything laid out and remove the things that are the bulkiest to decline the plane. that sometimes means I’m wearing my booties or workout shoes, my jacket, and my bulkiest top(s).

7. Don’t pack for the what-if

One of the most important packing mistakes that keep people from traveling light is packing for the “what if”. What if we plan to attend a pleasant dinner and that I need a dress and heels. What if the weather turns and it finishes up being cold and that I don’t have a warm enough jacket. 90% of the time the “what if” never happens and you only lugged around clothing you never ended up wearing. Unless you're getting to the center of the Sahara you’ll be ready to buy the “what if” clothing items if you find yourself needing them.

8. Ditch bulky clothing

I love an honest oversized cozy sweater, but I rarely pack items like this for long trips. consider what proportion space 5 bulky sweaters can take up. Then picture 5 sleeve tops paired with a compactable down jacket (that you'll decline the plane). The difference is considerable and you aren’t sacrificing warmth or comfort.

9. Rethink those comfort items for the long flight

Long overnight flights in the economy just aren’t fun. there's nothing around it and no travel pillow goes to form it comfortable. I’ve seen people bring bulky pillows and blankets on flights and that I can guarantee they checked a bag to bring those items. Do those items make your 10-hour flight a touch more bearable…yes…but is it worth lugging those items around for two weeks for 16 to twenty hours of flight time…no? At the very least, if you want to have a travel pillow, confirm to shop for one that features a loop or snap so you'll attach it to the handle of your backpack rather than having to use precious packing space.

10. cope with less of the non-essentials

To travel light you got to reevaluate the things you’re bringing that you simply don’t wear. I’m talking that travel steamer, two curling irons, travel hand blower, a thick novel (ditch it and obtain a kindle), etc. Don’t get me wrong, these things would be nice to possess along, but do they add enough value and daily use for the effort of getting to see your bag? Probably not.

I hope these 10 recommendations on traveling light enable you to hold on for your next adventure. Once you realize you'll get by with tons less and knowing what proportion more enjoyable it's to not be weighed down by non-essentials you'll never turn back.