CHAPTER 3

As Ginny and Fallon walked through the garden Fallon exclaimed over it's appearance. "What a beautiful garden. It's so peaceful and serene and yet so alive with color and excitement. Someone has spent a great deal of time and care here."

"Remus" Ginny replied. "Well, really all of us have done some work here. Harry and Ron mostly weed and complain. Hermione and I put in those rose bushes over there. Sirius put in the seating areas and created the pond, but the real credit goes to Remus. He designed it, envisioned what he wanted and works at it quite a bit."

"It's wonderful." Pointing to a wooden bench nestled under an arch covered with a healthy vine of Sweet Peas, their light fragrance catching the breeze, Fallon asked, "Can we have a seat and I'll explain why I needed to talk to you?"

Ginny nodded and made her way over to the bench that was Sirius' newest creation. The bench was cedar with one solid board that had been shaped and curved to make up the seat and back, the legs were carved and the arms curved downward before slopping back up and finally curly under. But it was the back of the bench that was remarkable. At first glance it simply looked like vines carved into the wood but closer inspection showed that the flowing vines carried the initials of those people most important in Sirius' life, Harry and Remus of course, but also Ginny, Hermione, Ron and James and Lily. It fit in perfectly with the arch that Sirius had also built. It still amazed her that someone with that much frenetic energy had the patience to create something this beautiful. After settling back Ginny turned to the other woman, "I assume you know I'm a medi-witch and have empathic abilities and you need my services."

Fallon appreciated the straightforward response; it made things move so much faster when time was of the essence. "Aye, for my niece." Fallon stood up again and brushed her hand across the Sweet Pea blooms before turning back to Ginny. Taking a deep breath she said, "She's dying."

"Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry. You think I can help her. It might be possible but empathic healing is not a cure-all. Not everything can be healed, even through emphatic measures. Some things are just far beyond anyone's capabilities or skill. I don't say this to hurt you. It's just something you should know. But, I'd be willing to meet her." The words rushed out of Ginny like a flood. She never liked giving bad news. She still remembered how she felt the first time she lost a patient. There had been others that had pushed her abilities to the limit and she still found it hard to accept that she could not heal everyone.

"I know she can't be healed you've already said so."

Shocked Ginny gapped "When?"

"About ten months ago. We were in London on business and a bit of fun. Maggie, my niece, had some chest pains and had to be taken to St. Mungos. While she was there the medi-wizards brought you in to consult, but your conclusions where the same as theirs and all the other doctors. "The damage to her heart is to great, her blood to weak, there's nothing that can be done, just a matter of time.""

Ginny winced at the words, the pain and the acceptance, and the memory of having said those very things. "Your niece is Margaret. I remember her. I was sorry that I couldn't help her. We, uh, we had an enjoyable visit. She's a lovely girl."

Fallon noted the hesitation, "An enjoyable visit until she realized you weren't a volunteer but a staff member - correct?"

Ginny gave a half grin, "Yes. When she found out that I was there on a professional basis she got very angry, told me to go away, even started yelling at me in a foreign language."

Fallon smiled and let out a small laugh. "Gaelic. I'm afraid Maggie comes by her dislike for medical personnel honestly. No one in our family has ever handled being ill well. We can tolerate it in others, just not ourselves. And in Maggie's case, well, she's just tired of being poked at and prodded. I apologize for anything she said and I'm sure the curses didn't hold. She didn't have her wand with her and she's to young to make a Gaelic curse work without it."

Ginny stared stunned before she realized that the woman was smiling and trying hard not to laugh. Shaking her head Ginny let out a sigh of relief. Gaelic curses were nothing to mess with. She remembered reading about them when she had been preparing for her N.E.W.T.s. A Gaelic curse when properly executed was next to impossible to break. Even the most brilliant of spell breakers had problems because the magic was so old and hardly anyone spoke true Gaelic any more, it was nearly a dead language. "If you know Margaret can't be healed, what is it you think I can do for her?" Ginny's voice was a little shaky.

"Maggie, it's best to call her Maggie, Margaret makes her nearly as angry as being sick," Fallon told her. "Maggie takes a load of medications and tonics in order to relieve the pain and to help strengthen her blood. These work to a degree but leave her extremely tired and ill to her stomach. However, I noticed that after your visit she didn't seem to be in as much discomfort, not that Maggie ever complains. When I asked her about it she admitted that for some reason she didn't feel the usual pain that is always with her."

"I'm glad I was able to be of some help."

"I've talked to Maggie's doctors and they agree with me that though Maggie can't be healed, her pain can be relieved and I'm hoping that you'll agree to help her." Before Ginny could respond Fallon pushed on, "It is thought, that if you could work with Maggie once a week or so that she could come off her medications completely." Fallon's eyes clouded over, "Maggie is going to die, I've, we've, accepted that, and though it will not make losing her any easier, if her last days can be free of pain and without the need for medicine, well that would be a gift for both of us. I would pay you what you receive from St. Mungo's plus, say, an extra twenty percent."

Waving this last remark aside Ginny answered, "I will need to re-evaluate Maggie, get a sense of her pain so that I will know how much time to spend with her. It might be best to spend a little time each day, rather than a long session once a week. It will also help if we could spend some time together without the healing so that she gets to know me as someone who wants to help her, maybe then she won't try to curse me." Ginny let out her own laugh and thought she might enjoy spending time with the young girl. Maybe she could teach Ginny a few curses she could use on her brothers who still tended to treat her like a little girl, she still hadn't forgotten the last family dinner and how her Bill and Charlie had harassed her continually about Harry and his intentions. Fred and George' teasing were bad enough, but Bill and Charlie had left Harry scared to touch her. A wicked gleam came into her eyes when she thought of the possibilities.

"Ginny that would be wonderful. I was going to ask if you would consider spending time with her as a peer. I realize there is a difference in your ages and though she and I are very close I know there are times she wishes for someone younger to talk to, share secrets with, talk about magic with. I'd be glad to pay you extra for your time."

"Extra pay won't be necessary, I really did enjoy talking with her that day at the hospital. Speaking of which, it would be better if I came to Maggie rather than you bringing her to St. Mungo's. Empathic healing is more effective if the person is comfortable. With her dislike of hospitals and doctors she'll be tense and it will be harder to help her.

Feeling a little shaky with relief Fallon placed her hand on the top of the bench as she sat back down. "I can't tell you how grateful I am." Ginny noted that the small sigh sounded strangely like a sniff and knew that this woman loved her niece deeply. Ginny could respect that. She might want to curse her brothers most of the time, but she loved them beyond words.

"Well," Fallon said after making sure her emotions were under control "look at your schedule and let me know when you would like to meet again, just send word through Professor Lupin. I'm heading back to London now and will be there a few more days looking for a house to let, then I'll be back in the country with Maggie on Sunday afternoon."

"You don't live in England."

"No, we live in Ireland and Maggie's mothers people are looking after her while I'm here."

"It's not necessary to move, I can apparate to Ireland just as easily has anywhere in England."

"Aye, but the Education Council has asked Professor Lupin to oversee the development of my class curriculum. I think they're worried about what I might try to teach young impressionable wizards if left to my own device."

At this Ginny stood and stared "Hiring a Muggle is a big deal and not to be taken lightly. If the Council is being cautious it's because Hogwarts has already been attacked once, the war…"

Fallon stood as well noting Ginny's posture and appreciating it. It was much like her own when she was braced for a fight or putting someone in their rightful place. Maggie was in for a shock if she thought her sharp tongue would have any effect on this young woman. "Ginny, I understand their reasons, I'm looking forward to working with Professor Lupin and hearing his suggestions."

"Oh, well, OK." Ginny's shoulder's relaxed and she let out a calming breath. "Hey! I know a place you might be interested in renting and it's right here in Stafford's Den."

Fallon raised an eyebrow, "Really, what do you know about it?"

"It's a lovely cottage just over that hill," she said pointing to the small rise off to the left of them. "The family who lives there is going to Greece for the summer and they have asked Hermione and I to keep an eye on it for them. I know that they would prefer to have someone staying there but they've been hesitant to advertise for tenants."

"Why, what's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, it really is lovely. It's just they're Muggles and though there are quite a few Muggle/magical families in the village the owners thought it best for the cottage to go empty while they're gone rather than run the risk of renting to someone who might prove to be, you know, problematic." Ginny noted Fallon's nod and knowing smile. "With your family background I bet they'd be pleased to rent to you."

Ginny gave Fallon directions to the cottage, walked her to her car and headed back inside the house. The tension in the air could be felt as soon as she entered. When she reached the kitchen she noted Sirius' face still registered the shock and anger from Remus' announcement. Ron's face was difficult to read, he was getting better at hiding his emotions a necessity in his work, but she could sense that he was worried. Hermione was still asking questions which Remus answered in a calm voice though his face was set, letting Sirius know he was not prepared to hear anymore from him right now.

"So this is what you've been working on that you couldn't share with us," Hermione said.

Remus took a sip of his tea, "That's correct. Until everything was settled Arthur asked that we keep this quiet."

Harry was leaning against the kitchen counter his jaw clinched, his eyes worried. He hated to see Sirius and Remus angry with each other. They were his parents' best friends, his last living tie to them. He liked it better when Remus and Sirius weren't fighting, which didn't happen often but when it did it was intense. Looking over and seeing Ginny standing in the doorway Harry smiled and reached out a hand to her. Ginny walked over, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. Returning her hug he said, "You were gone a long time, everything OK."

"Yes," she smiled and squeezed a little tighter. "I'll fill you all in while we eat and you can tell me what was said in here." She then kissed him on the cheek and began to prepare dinner.

Sirius and Remus watched the young couple, looked at each other and smiled. They might not agree about hiring a Muggle, but they could agree about Harry and his happiness.