Fred was gone. Gone. He wouldn't pull my hair anymore or even set off a bomb in the kitchen while mum wasn't looking. I missed him so much. Mum had become more than words depressed. She became dead herself. She hardly smiled anymore and when she did talk, she was even more overbearing than before.
But what could you expect? The Weasleys were bound to get something done to them.
"Ginny," my mum called. "Please come help me find my wand." …..
"Yes, mum!" I called as I went down the stairs of the now empty Burrow. Ron and Harry, much to my dismay, had decided to go to Hogwarts and help rebuild. Professor McGonagall was extremely weak from the battle and was still recovering. Ron and Harry had started living in Hogwarts and were ready to rebuild.
Bill was married to Fleur, or course, and that meant he hardly ever came home. Especially now that Fleur was pregnant.
Charlie was helping Ron and Harry from time to time but mostly spent his time traveling back and forth to Romania and back.
Percy was extremely busy at the Ministry, doing Merlin knows what but dad apparently agreed that it was important business.
George went traveling to France. I suppose it was his way of grieving.
Dad was busy working at the Ministry of course. He came home late and that didn't seem to bother mum anymore but it bothered me plenty.
I was left to help my mum heal from her loss. I was the sacrifice of the family. I had to hear her crying and sobbing at least three times a week. I, Ginny Weasley, was left to fix the remains of my mum. She had been utterly wrecked. Fred was the cheer of the family. Him and George made any mood brighter. And with both of them gone, nothing seemed brighter.
"Ginny, dear," my mum sighed. She was sitting in her normal position and stance for the past few weeks. My mum sat at our kitchen table, a hot tea nestled between her hands, her wand beside her tea, and a blank stare on her face. "I can't find my wand."
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. "It's right here, mum. See?" i showed her the wand. She gave a rare smile.
"Blimey, I am going mad. You were right." she said in a depressed voice.
"You're not going mad, mummy," I said comfortingly. She looked at me with tear-stained eyes. I sat down beside her and started talking about something, anything to get her to see she was just fine. I smiled. "Remember that one time when Percy tripped down the stairs? And Charlie was racing down the stairs that morning too, because he had a date with that girl and he tripped over Percy's body?"
"That was an unexpected trip to St. Mungo's," my mum smiled, almost forming a smile. She looked…almost happy for once. I pressed on further. This was working all too well.
"Or remember that time when you and Hermione started gaining up on Ron? He failed his Transfiguration class. McGonagall had to come here, and then all three of you beat him for it. I've never seen Professor McGonagall act so civil, you two were friends, weren't you?" I asked.
Mum smiled faintly. "She was my professor, the mum of one of my best friends," her eyes watered up. "You know I had two brothers, Fabian and Gideon. Now, Minerva McGonagall had a daughter, Maggie McGonagall. Fabian fancied her more than anything in the world. And they married right after Hogwarts, literally. The wedding was days after graduation." mum laughed and I did so too, not realizing how nice it felt.
"I never knew she had a daughter," I said.
Mum's eyes watered a bit. "That's because Maggie died a few years before we had Bill. Fabian and Maggie had two sons, James and Thomas. Dolohov, Bellatrix Lestrange, Greyback, and a few others killed Maggie and the boys. Cold murder. Fabian wanted revenge, Gideon tried to stop him, but in the end, they both perished. Minerva took it the hardest. Her daughter and grandsons were dead and gone. And Minerva's other son, Samuel, had already died a few years before. Only now do I know her grief."
I suddenly realized something. "That's why she's so strict with us," I said in awe.
"Yes, Ginny, dear," my mum laughed. I smiled. Then there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," I offered. My mum jumped up before I had even positioned myself to get up.
She scowled at me and suddenly, I felt warm, knowing that that was the first time my mum had been herself and scowled at me in over three weeks. I smiled. "Ginny! Times are still dangerous. I'll answer the door."
"Do it then, mum," I said urgently. The guest at the door was probably there for five minutes already.
"Oh." my mum and I said at the same time. It was Hermione. Not that I wasn't glad to see her, I had just forgotten that we were supposed to go to Diagon Alley together that day.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said warmly as she hugged her. "Ginny. Mrs. Weasley, I was planning on taking Ginny to Diagon Alley today. You wouldn't want to join us, would you? I'm sure it will be a sunny day today and it is quite hot in the Burrow on hot days." Hermione offered with a smile.
"Oh, no," my mum said nonchalantly. "I am far too busy, my dears. You two go on and have fun."
"Busy doing what, may I ask?" I asked her with high eyebrows.
My mum stared at me. "Busy cleaning the house, Ginevra! And if you are in the mood to question, then you might as well pick up a sponge and start cleaning like a Muggle!" my mum ordered. Hermione and I smiled at each other for once.
My mum bustled around the kitchen and it didn't feel so empty.
"Let's go then," Hermione decided. I agreed.
Just as Hermione and I were about to step outside the door, my mum tapped my shoulder. She smiled warmly at me and hugged me. "Your wand, Ginny." she handed me my good old trusty wand. I smiled and hugged her back.
"And I want to hear more about that Maggie girl when I come back!" I called to my mum as hermione and I started walking away.
"Who's Maggie?" Hermione asked me as we walked over to Luna's house.
I smiled. "Technically, my aunt." Hermione looked at me skeptically. "Come on, let's go. We haven't all day."