Her Father's Daughter
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, and my innate sense of twisting things to accommodate me.
The Census
Muggles in American took a census every ten years, so as to know how many and what kinds of people were living in the country. Having just returned from a meeting of the International Magical Convention, William Smithey, head of the International Magical Cooperation Department in the Ministry of Magic, decided that with the war coming to an end, a census of Britain's magical community should be taken. Minister Amelia Bones praised the idea and further approved the use of the Familial Identifying Spell.
Smithey surmised that using this spell would classify family groups and would help identify the unknown victims in St. Mungo's. The spell was actually quite simple. One drop of blood from each person would go into a cauldron. An incantation was spoken and if the samples in the cauldron matched, a white mist would appear. If the samples didn't match, a red mist appeared.
And so it began that in the summer, every wizarding family ventured to the Department of Mysteries to do the spell, after which, they would be registered with the Ministry.
The Weasleys had to wait until the very end of summer, just after their daughter Ginny celebrated her seventeenth birthday. It was on that day that she noticed her parents seemed nervous, anxious. Though there were still insurgent Death Eaters on the loose, the war was all but over. Harry had defeated Voldemort shortly before the end of his seventh year of school. Ginny had been instrumental in the Final Battle, and her parents had been quite fearful for her safety. Of course, being their only daughter and youngest child, they were very protective of her.
But this nervousness seemed to stem from the census and spell-casting. Anytime anyone mentioned it, Molly's lips pursed, and Arthur hastily changed the subject. Ginny wondered why such a thing could be bothering her parents, but she always pushed it from her mind as quickly as it had come. She had bigger things to worry about, like her upcoming last year of school.
She could hardly believe she would actually have Hogwarts all to herself this year. For once, she'd be the sole Weasley there and wouldn't have to worry about any brothers "looking out for her." She hoped classes wouldn't be as tough, with the curriculum reverting back to standard N.E.W.T. level work, rather than the extra spells and charms they'd been learning during the course of the War. Ginny hoped that her new teachers would be as fun as the old ones, though she found it difficult to believe that she would enjoy anyone as much as Professor Flitwick for Charms. His death during the War had been a shock to everyone. He'd hurried his students to their dormitory, but he had been unable to find cover when a troupe of Death Eaters had swarmed around him in a corridor.
And, of course, there would be a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ginny'd had a different one her entire school career. Kingsley had been great in her sixth year, but now that he and Tonks were married, he wanted to be closer to her with her pregnancy. Ginny and Hermione had been bridesmaids at their wedding, and both girls were thrilled that the Metamorphmagus and the tall, handsome Auror had fallen in love.
Ginny lay awake almost the entire night before the appointment at the Ministry contemplating how she wanted her last year of school to go. She wanted to make a name for herself, not just go down in history as the youngest sister of six brothers. She wanted to pass her exams with flying colors; she wanted to work with Professor Snape on a potion to heal brain damage. As she turned over and looked at her clock, which read 3:00 a.m., she realized that at that moment, all she wanted was sleep.
The next morning, Ginny awoke to sounds that were usually reserved for Christmas holidays. She could hear all six of her brothers downstairs, and she smiled to herself that they would all be together for a few days before she went back to school. She giggled, throwing on her robe, as she heard Molly arguing with Bill about his hair again.
However, when she walked into the kitchen, the broad smile on her face quickly faded as she instantly felt tension in the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared blankly at her for a moment before Charlie smiled nervously at her and picked her up, twirling her in his trademark hug. Bill's arms surrounded her next, and to her, it seemed like he held her for just a moment longer than usual before passing her off to George.
Molly cleared her throat. "All right, boys," she said tersely. "That's enough. Everyone eat up, quickly. We've got to meet your father and Percy in a half hour."
Everyone sat and ate in near silence. Ginny's stomach knotted, and she could barely stomach the dry toast she picked from the plate. When everyone was finished, they all took turns Apparating to the Ministry, except for Molly and Ginny. Ginny hadn't yet taken her Apparition test, so she and Molly would Floo to the appointment.
Ginny started to step into the fireplace, but Molly pulled her back. She patted the back of her daughter's hand and looked into her eyes.
"Dad's going to do the spell with the boys," she explained. "And then we'll go. I thought while they were busy, you could take your Apparition test. It's all been arranged."
Ginny grinned at her mother. "That's brilliant, Mum," she squealed. "Thanks!"
Molly forced a smile before turning solemn. "I love you, my little girl," she said, her voice choking.
"I love you too, Mum," Ginny replied, oblivious to her mother's turmoil.
Taking a deep breath, they stepped into the Floo and shouted their destination.
By the time Molly and Ginny caught up with the Weasley men, Arthur and Ron were just exiting the testing room.
"How'd you do on the test, Ginny?" Bill asked.
"Passed with flying colors," she said proudly. "Look, here's my license." She flashed the official looking card at her brothers, who all murmured their approval.
"Ready?" Molly asked nervously. Ginny nodded and the two women entered the chamber.
A kindly witch greeted them with a warm smile.
"All we need is one drop of blood from each of you," she explained.
Molly and Ginny nodded, and the witch pricked Molly's index finger with a lancing device and gently squeezed a drop of blood into the cauldron. She did the same with Ginny, and Ginny heard her mother's breath catch as her blood fell into the cauldron.
Ginny glanced at her mother as the witch spoke the incantation. Molly was positively trembling. After enduring two wizarding wars, surely her mother wasn't squeamish about blood. The witch conducting the spell made an indistinct noise, bringing Ginny out of her thoughts.
She turned to face her and gasped when she saw the mist above the cauldron. It wasn't white. It wasn't red, either. The mist floating in the air could only be described as pink.
"There's been a mistake," Ginny said immediately. She looked to her mother for confirmation, but the look on Molly's face revealed the opposite. "There's been a mistake," Ginny repeated, more forcefully.
"That's not possible," the testing witch said gently. "I'll give you two a moment." She gracefully exited the room, and Ginny continued to stare at her mother.
"It's not a mistake, Ginny," Molly said quietly, in almost a whisper. "You're not my natural daughter."
Ginny remained silent, sure that at some moment the rest of her family would burst through the door, laughing about the brilliant joke that Fred and George had obviously set up. She even stared pointedly at the door, willing it to open.
"Ginny," Molly said, "No matter what, I've always loved you as my own, and I always will."
Ginny snapped her head back to her and opened and closed her mouth several times to speak, but she couldn't find the words. Instead, she opted for storming out of the room. In her haste, she ran into something firm and comforting.
Charlie wrapped his arms around his sister as Molly, too, came through the door. Ginny tried to pull away from him, but he whispered to her, "Let's go home and talk it all out. Then you can do whatever you like, okay?"
She nodded against his shoulder, and he Apparated to the Burrow with Ginny in his arms.
Everyone else arrived straight after, and Arthur was doing his best to comfort his wife, but to no avail. Charlie steered Ginny to her seat at the table, and he signaled to Ron to put some tea on.
Everyone sat in their respective places, and Charlie broke the silence.
"Ginny, what we're about to tell you in no way takes away from the fact that we all love you very much and have done everything to protect you. Do you understand?" he asked.
She nodded mutely, and stared at the tea Ron placed in front of her.
"Ginny, darling," Arthur began, "You came to us when you were just two months old. We took you in and raised you as our own. We felt it was best, considering the circumstances at the time."
"Who're my parents?" Ginny asked, interrupting him. Her tone was one of despondency and flatness that her family hadn't heard from her since after her first year of school.
This time it was Molly who spoke, and as she began, Charlie put his arm protectively around his sister, as George took her hand in his.
"Your mother was my cousin, Fiona," she explained gently. "She was killed by Death Eaters, and you were discovered two days after."
"And my father?" Ginny asked blankly.
Silence reigned in the Weasley kitchen, and Ginny quickly grew frustrated.
"I want to know," she said firmly, tears forming in her eyes, but not falling down her cheeks. "Who is my father?"