-Chapter 2-

~*Hermione*~

It was a year ago that our entire world was shattered. I sat at the kitchen table in mine and Ginny's flat looking through stacks of papers. It had been a little over five months since we stopped sleeping in separate rooms. We had been talking about coming out to her family and even the possibility of getting married someday. But now…now I was looking through a loophole, a forgotten amendment, anything. I hadn't told Ginny what I'd found yet. I knew she would be absolutely devastated. Not only that but both of us could be in danger.

The papers I looked through were clear. The centuries old laws clearly stated that a Wizarding marriage, performed by a ceremony official, could only take place between two opposite sex pure-blood humans. The law had been amended only a hundred and fifty years ago to include all humans from Muggles to Muggle-borns to half-bloods to pure-bloods. It still insisted on opposite sex marriages though. Copies of notes and memos from wizards when the laws were written indicated they left the law the way it was to ensure the future of the wizarding population. Even with the recent medical advances in artificial conception the laws were still upheld. There had been two attempts to get it changed but to no avail.

I decided that law wasn't too bad; we could do a small ceremony still, just not anything legal and binding. Then I found the law that nearly made me sick. I was honestly appalled at them having a law like this. I traced it back to the fact that they didn't want to further the stereotypes of the time. Back during the witch hunts, Muggles believed witches and wizards corrupted others into same-sex relationships. Purebloods and bigots had kept the law alive and the reasoning had evolved into simply wanting to keep the wizarding population going, much like the marriage laws. I realized that this was probably the reason why I didn't recognize the names of those that had tried to change the laws and why none of us had ever encountered an openly gay witch or wizard.

Acts of a homosexual nature were punished. Harshly. Persons who were allies of those engaging in those acts were also punished. Apparently they thought ten years in Azkaban with almost daily beatings was enough to turn someone straight and hate gays.

"Hey love," Ginny said when she walked into the kitchen from the fireplace in the sitting room. She sat next to me and slipped an arm around my waist. What I had just read caused me to jump. "Whoa, you okay babe?"

"No…I'm not," I told her. I was still in shock.

"What's wrong?"

"We can't ever get married, Ginny."

I knew what she was thinking. She thought I was going to break up with her. I probably should've phrased it better.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Some…some Muggle laws don't allow same-sex marriage and it got me thinking that I should check up on the Wizarding laws in case we ever decided to get married. Well…there's a reason why we've never encountered an openly gay witch or wizard."

"Okay so we can't get married, what's the big deal? We'll just do an unofficial ceremony…after we get through telling my family of course."

"The big deal is that we can't come out, either. We can't tell anyone…I know we were going to talk to your parents this weekend but we can't, Ginny. The laws…these outrageous fucking laws…gay witches and wizards are shoved in a cell in Azkaban for ten years with near daily beatings. Same for anyone that supports them."

"Please tell me you're kidding, Hermione."

"Read for yourself." I stood up and let Ginny look through the papers.

"This…this is sick! I don't get it! They think a few gay couples will completely end the entire wizarding world? Can we go somewhere else and get married then?"

"The Wizarding laws are universal. The only way we'd be able to is in a Muggle ceremony in a different country since the Muggle laws here don't allow it either. That's not the problem though…the main problem right now is never being able to tell anyone."

"Dammit…" Ginny slammed her fist on the table. "This…all I want is to hold your hand in Diagon Alley and tell my family that I love you!"

I stood behind my love and wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

"I know baby…I know…Maybe…maybe we can still talk to your family. I mean you're all a bunch of blood-traitors. Surely they won't shut you out."

"I want to talk to them alone first, just to see, you know?"

-*-*-*-*-*-

~*Ginny*~

I Apparated just outside of the Burrow that weekend. I was petrified. I honestly didn't know how my parents would take this. When I finally plucked up the courage to knock on the door my mother met me with a warm hug. I couldn't help but think that it might be my last.

"Where's Hermione, Ginny dear? I thought the both of you were coming!"

"She's got some work to do. She's been looking at some laws she thinks might need repealing. Where's Dad?"

"Your father is at the Ministry, he had some things to take care of but he should be back shortly. That girl is definitely hard-working. The man she ends up marrying will have his hands full."

"Um…yeah. Hey have you ever heard of laws putting people in Azkaban for being attracted to someone…like…being in a relationship with someone of the same sex?" I figured the best way to do it was to ease into it slowly. Get a feel for the atmosphere.

"I have. Those laws ought to stay the same, if you ask me. It's just not natural. It doesn't produce children."

"Well Mum with the Muggles and their medicine a woman doesn't need to have sex to get pregnant anymore…"

"Those things shouldn't be left to doctors or Healers either one. It's not that difficult to find a good man and have children."

"What about love though, Mum? Do you think it's right if they're not in love?"

"Sometimes it takes a while but I believe you can learn to love anyone if you put your mind to it. What is this nonsense all about anyway? Is Hermione trying to get those laws repealed? That girl should be careful, she will find herself put in Azkaban as well if she tries to pursue this and you will, too if they think you agree with her."

There was my answer. I did the only thing I thought of at that point to try and give myself some more time to think.

"Is there anything left in my room, Mum? Besides the old furniture, I mean."

"I don't know, dear. Go up and take a look if you like."

I headed up the stairs and into my old bedroom. I looked into the closet and found a bag. I shoved the clock by my old bed, a few books that were left on the desk, some quills and ink in the drawers, and a picture of the Gryffindor Quidditch team from my fifth year that was under my bed into the bag. I paced the floor a few minutes before I took a deep breath and went back down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Will you be coming by for dinner tomorrow night?" my mother asked when I came back in.

"I doubt you'll want me there."

"Why would you say that, Ginny?"

I had to do it. I just…I couldn't hide it anymore. It had been hidden too long.

"I didn't come here to just ask you about your opinions on the laws, Mum."

"Oh?" She shuffled around at the kitchen counter.

"Can you please look at me?" She turned around. I took a deep breath. "I've been seeing someone for a while now."

"And when do we get to meet him?"

"You…you know who it is."

"Ginevra…"

My lower jaw trembled but I stood my ground. I straightened up and pulled my shoulders back.

"Hermione and I have been together since February."

I watched the color in my mother's face drain then return. Red. Bright red.

"That…WHORE!"

"Don't ever call her that! Don't you ever insult her!" I yelled. I'd never yelled at my mother before but there was a first time for everything.

"First she goes and breaks Ronald's heart and now she's corrupted you!"

"She hasn't corrupted anyone! I love her! I…I'm gay! I'm gay, Mum! And I love Hermione!"

"Get out of this house! Get out!"

"Are you really going to disown your only daughter because she's in love with someone?!" I could feel my face getting red and I balled my fists up at my sides.

"Until you get over this nonsense I have no daughter."

I almost lost it at that. My breath hitched in my throat but I quickly regained my composure. "That's bullshit! The whole family is a bunch of blood-traitors, why can't you accept this?"

She was nearly purple at this point. I stood my ground when she walked towards me.

"Get out of my house and go home to your filthy…"

"Don't you dare," I growled. "Say what you want about me but don't you dare say anything about Hermione."

"What's going on here?"

I hadn't noticed that my father had Flooed in and was standing behind me in the kitchen. I turned around to look at him and he glanced at me then my mother.

"Go on, tell him!" she screamed. "Break your father's heart!"

"Dad...I-I'm…I'm gay, Dad," I choked. I saw him grip the handle of his briefcase and his jaw twitched.

"What?" he growled. I'd lost. I'd lost both of my parents in that moment.

"Hermione and I…we…we've been together since February." I was whispering at this point. I felt defeated and alone. I'd never felt more alone in my childhood home even when it was only Mum and me during the days the year Ron went off to Hogwarts. I trembled and looked at the floor.

"You have two options," my father said. I already knew what they were and which one I would choose. "You can either…"

"Stop," I said. I looked up at him. "I choose her. If you can't support me in whatever I do then I choose someone that will."

"You're willing to trade your entire family for someone that will ruin your life?"

"She's only made my life better. No matter what happens, my life will be better for having her in it."

"Get out of my house. And don't bother coming back!" he thundered.

"Go home to your whore!" I heard my mother yell from behind me.

"You know," I slowly turned back to my mother, "For someone who loved their daughter and her girlfriend only an hour ago you sure are being a total bitch about this."

When I Disapparated and landed back in our sitting room Hermione was waiting for me. I staggered a bit when I landed and she caught me.

"Merlin's fucking beard, Ginny!" she exclaimed. She immediately summoned a towel from the kitchen and dabbed at the blood that was oozing from the gash on the right side of my jaw.

"I'm fine," I mumbled. "Mum's ring is pointier than it looks."

"She…"

"Backhanded. She's got an heirloom ring she wears. She didn't even look sorry when I started gushing blood all over."

"Sweetheart I am so sorry…I should've demanded that I go with you, I should've been there."

I shrugged her off of me and went to the bedroom. She followed. After she mended the wound on my jaw we spent the rest of the day in bed, she held me while I told her what all had happened and cried. She rocked me back and forth and assured me that we would be okay.