Chapter Two: Homecoming
As soon as they arrived, Ginny had been bustled into the house and sat forcibly down on the couch. Hermione followed Ron upstairs, and the twins had came down behind them. Their mother, Mrs. Weasley, brought out large mugs full of hot chocolate for all as they sat around Ginny.
Her dad and mother were across from her, both with somber looks on their faces. The twins had settled in on either side of her, as if to head her off in case she tried to bolt for the door. Bill and Fleur were standing together near the kitchen door, as if blocking another exit. Ginny eyed them all with a curious, but very agitated, look.
The wireless crooned softly in the background, as if to soothe the situation. Her mother began to fumble over her words slowly, avoiding looking Ginny completely in the eye.
"I know that you want to be a help to us," She began, old eyes revealing the tired soul beneath, "and I know you are capable of it. Despite all of this, I think that . . . well, your father and I think that it would be best if you stayed here this year with us."
As if they were all waiting for her to scream in protest, to run out of the room in tears of rebellion and defiance, they all seemed to recoil as they waited for her reaction. Ginny had looked around at them, her face completely devoid of the anger they had been expecting.
"Sure, that's fine."
Fred looked at her questioningly. "You don't care at all?"
"Not even one bit?" George added, the note of awe in his voice much more noticeable than he had meant for it to be.
Ginny looked round at them again, this time looking slightly annoyed. "Why do you think I'd want to be there? It's not the same anymore. And besides, I know that Mum's right. I'd much rather be here with you."
They seemed satisfied, and she could see and hear the room calming. Bill and Fleur went into the kitchen, both of them acting as if they were nothing that interesting happening anyway and that they had better things to do. The twins still sat on either side of her. Their faces were grave and calm, as if they just remembered another little thing that needed to be taken care of.
"So, dad . . . are you going to tell her about the trip?" George asked, looking hopefully at their worn father.
Ginny's ambivalence evaporated. "Trip? Are we going somewhere?"
"Well . . . not all of us."
Her hopeful smile vanished, and the anger they had been waiting for settled into her voice. "What do you mean by that?"
"Dear," her mother chimed in gently, "it's not something we think you should be exposed to. Not yet. Your father and I, and Bill of course, are going on a sort of mission for the Order."
Fred and George scooted in closer to Ginny, as if making she sure she'd have to stay and hear the whole story. Their father picked up from this spot before Ginny could interject.
"Now, don't act offended. Fred and George will be staying here also. Actually, we're having them keep guard over the house."
The twins smiled nervously. Ginny knew what he meant by keeping guard over the house. That was just an easier way of saying, we don't trust you at all, darling daughter. Her brown eyes were ablaze.
"What do I need them here for? I can handle myself, Dad." Her teeth were clenched.
"Don't be that way, Gin!" George said desperately, "Do you think we're really enjoying having to close up shop to watch the Burrow? It's not hard on you, granted, but it's not any easier on the rest of us."
Ginny glared at him, "Oh, damn you and your shop." She turned back to her parents, trying to calm herself a bit. "Why don't you want me to go? What are you doing? Where are you going?"
Fred scoffed. "They won't even tell us. Why the hell do you suppose they'd want to let you in on their plans?"
He barely had time to duck as Ginny swung her fist to give him a nice knock on the head. Mrs. Weasley stood up, her face blanching.
"Now, that is enough you two." She drew in a deep breath before turning strict and stern. "You'll just have to learn to get along. Ron and Hermione will be here too, Ginny. We'll only be gone for a month---"
"A month!" Ginny shrieked incredulously. "You're leaving me here for an entire month?"
Her father, who had sat still until this point, looked at her calmly. The sympathy in his voice had a slight calming effect on her. "It's not nearly as long as you think. We'll be fine, and you'll be fine. You have three older brothers here, along with Hermione who can more than handle herself." He stiffened as Ginny began to bristle. "Yes, I know you can curse your little heart out too, dear. That's not what I'm saying . . . I just need you to be calm about this. We can't be worrying about all of you while we're out there. Just tell me that you'll try to behave."
Ginny looked at the floor, swinging her feet slowly. "I'll behave, Dad."
That very night, after a full and hearty meal, they set off, Ginny standing morosely in the doorway to see them off. Ron and Hermione sat at the table with the twins, all of them talking in hushed whispers. Ginny walked gloomily inside to see Ron and Hermione stand up resolutely.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning, with or without your say so," Hermione said, looking at the twins with a fiery, but still slightly cool and collected, expression.
Ginny looked between the four, her body hid within slight shadows, hoping to get an explanation without asking any immediate questions.
It was Ron who spoke first. "Harry needs us more than you do. We can handle ourselves fine. Besides, we can Apparate now."
George sighed, "Look, we just don't want you two to get into any trouble. Any number of things could happen."
"Besides," Fred said, "who would get blamed if you went and got yourselves killed, eh? You think that Mum'd stand over your dead body shouting! She'd come after us. Do you really think we're crazy enough to just let you two gallivant around the country?"
"It's not your problem, Fred." Hermione's face was turning red.
Ginny moved into the light and cleared her throat. Ron spun around and threw his arms in the air.
"God, not you too!"
She took this as an insult. "Just what on Earth is going on here?"
Hermione gave her a gentle look, "It's nothing, Ginny. Don't worry about it."
"Oh, it seems as if I should worry about it."
Ron looked at the twins, "Now you've gone and gotten her in on it. You know she's worse than Mum! We'll be here until next week at this rate!"
"Maybe if you'd learn to keep your big mouth shut and not yell across the kitchen she wouldn't have known! And you will be here next week, because you're not going anywhere!"
Ginny had enough. "Would you two just stop arguing for two damn minutes!"
Everyone was silent. They all looked at Ginny, each face conveying a varying degree of annoyance. She knew what they were thinking, and she didn't care. As much as she disliked sounding like the mother of the group, she still couldn't stand listening to any more of their pointless bickering.
"Now that I've gotten you to calm down a bit," Ginny said with the air one takes when talking to children, "tell me . . . what exactly is going on?"
Ron looked at Hermione, as if willing her to talk first. She glared at him, but still obliged. "We're going to see Harry tomorrow."
"No, they're not." George glared at them defiantly, though he made no move to stand. Fred nodded in agreement.
"Stop that," Ginny snapped impatiently. "Why doesn't Harry just come here?"
Ron open his mouth in protest, but Hermione stopped him. "He doesn't want to risk being seen coming to the Burrow. He doesn't want any trouble for you—er . . . that is to say, any trouble for your family."
On the inside Ginny was beaming. She did her best to remain calm on the surface, though she caught a glimpse of smug satisfaction in Ron's smile.
"I still don't think you two need to run off and find him. Any number of things could happen to you." Fred tried his best to sound understanding, and not pushy.
Ginny couldn't help but disagree. "If they Apparate, it's fairly instantaneous, isn't it? I mean, the only risk they run is being noticed by Muggles."
Hermione smiled at her appreciatively. Ron looked at the twins in triumph. "Told you she'd be on our side."
The twins shook their heads tiredly. "Look, you don't understand. Under normalcircumstances, we'd be all for you two running off to aid Harry. This is different! Can't you see how dangerous it is? Are we not allowed to be worried about your well-being."
"It's not so much that you aren't allowed, but more that it's highly unlikely," Ginny stated in a very convincing manner.
"It's not as if we'll be gone long. We're only going to meet him, then we'll be back within days. He just wants to show us something, then he needs us back here to do research and other sorts of things for him."
Ginny could see the twins relenting. Hermione was ever the voice of reason. Ron looked at her lovingly. George sighed, calling in defeat.
The next day the two of them left. Ginny now sat remorsefully at the breakfast table, realizing just how lonely the next few days were going to feel to her. The twins were company, but they weren't like Hermione or Harry. No confiding girly secrets or receiving exciting news . . . just brotherly companionship. She let her head fall onto the table.
She had hoped beyond all hope that they might have invited her to come with them to see Harry. She should have known better. Ron, Hermione, and he were always together. They always confided in each other, and each other alone. The precious time Ginny spent with Harry alone was far and few between when it was available, and now she didn't have him at all. His excuse was just as silly and as stubborn as she knew it would be, and she had seen it coming . . . but it still made her want to weep every time she thought about what could have been.
Of course, she always told herself, there was nothing that was stopping them from having a relationship in the future. They didn't end what they had under normal circumstances. It was not the result of a lover's spat, or a snuffed flame. It was his nobility that had ended them. His stupid, insanely attractive, and utterly heartbreaking nobility.
Fred got up from the table and took their dishes away. Ginny kept her head down, but peeked out from under her hair as George rose also. They headed off in separate directions, leaving her alone in the kitchen.
