I followed Sally to the back door and stared at her as she turned to face me. The mysterious Mama Nessa wanted to see me?
"I know, I know. I have been so adamant about you staying away from her and now I am escorting you to her house, doesn't make much sense does it?" Sally sighed "She refuses to take no for an answer. She says it is imperative that you see her now. There is no arguing with that woman"
I opened the back door and made to step out in to the sun.
"I will go with you Jenny, don't worry yourself" Sally made to follow me out.
"No, it's okay. I have faced much worse than your mother, and I will face much worse in the coming months. I can do this alone, you tend to your children" Sally's face was one of complete shock. She had never seen me this way; focused and ready for anything.
"Good luck" she didn't argue as she closed the door behind me. I began my trek across the lawn, knowing that Sally and the children stood at the back window holding their breath, watching and waiting.
My footsteps were loud on the steps up to the porch, I made to knock on the door frame (the door still stood open) when a voice beckoned me in.
"Come in child" A voice full of southern charm called.
I stepped in to see a woman standing at the oven in the kitchen, her back was facing me and she seemed to be stirring something. A skirt swayed around her bare feet, and her sleeves were pushed up to her elbows.
"Come sit at my table, grab yourself a glass of lemonade, just made it this morn'in" She practically sang across the kitchen, never turning to face me.
I settled myself in a chair and poured myself a glass from the pitcher that resided in the center of the table. It was the perfect amount of sweet and sour, wonderful and refreshing.
"Thank you Ma'am. It tastes wonderful" I said with a voice that did not sound like my own. This woman scared the day lights out of me, but I was not going to show it.
"I am so glad you like it." She continued her stirring.
We sat in silence as I studied the room. Hardwood floors shined like nothing I had seen before and not a speck of dust was in sight. The table I sat at was covered in a white lace cloth that looked brand new, and every piece on furniture was in pristine shape. But somehow I knew that it was all much older than it looked.
"You have a very well-guarded mind my dear. Seems like you might have something worth hiding" Nessa said over her stove top.
"I learned from the best" I took another sip from my lemonade attempting to give off an aura of calm, cool, and collected, but on the inside I was in a panic. She had tried to use legilimency on me! No wonder Sally ever wanted me to go near the cottage.
"Occlumency is a very hard art to learn, much less teach. Who, may I ask, did you learn it from?" she never turned away from her pot.
"I am not at justice to say Ma'am" I kept my voice monotone as my insides felt like they had begun to shake. This woman knew more than she let on, I could feel it.
Finally she turned; the same blue eyes I had seen on Lydia and Elizabeth looked in to my soul. Her features were hardened, the same button nose that John sported resided in the middle of her face, and Sally's stern lips were pursed above her chin. "My dear child, your secrets aren't going to be safe in that pretty little head of yours for long. I have met only one who could hold their shields up against me."
"Well you might have just met another." I did not allow my gaze falter. Finally a smile spread across her face.
"I might have." she poured her own glass and sat across from me. "It has been a very long time since I have come across another witch anywhere near as powerful as me."
"You need my help my dear, and I know it" she took a long drink.
"Excuse me?" I raised my eye brow.
"Drop the act. How bad has the morning sickness gotten so far?" she folded her hands on the table.
I pushed my chair back and stepped away from the table. I was getting out of there as fast as my feet would take me. I would pack my bags and call Bobby. I was sure he would come get me, or at least I hoped, I had no one else to turn to. I started to cross the living room's hard wood floors when she spoke.
"Sit your ass down young lady" the force in her voice made me freeze. "You might want to listen to me miss; I am not a woman to be taken lightly."
I slowly, very slowly turned. She still sat at the table lemonade in hand, but I could see a black wand poking out of her apron pocket.
"Come on now" she took a drink. "Don't make me get ugly, just sit down and we will have a nice honest talk"
I took a deep breath and stood behind my chair at the table and set her with the sternest glare I could muster.
"Sit. Down." She looked up at me with those eyes and I obeyed. But I rubbed my wand in my pocket as a safety precaution.
"How do you know that" I said through gritted teeth.
"I know a lot. Like that you still got your wand in your hand right now. But answer my question. How has your morning sickness been?" she said coolly
"How. Do. You. Know." My anger and fear were boiling over. I needed to get to a phone. How could she know something Draco and I had only known?
"I have been delivering babies since before you were even a glint in your mother's eye. I know when someone is pregnant on my estate." She topped off her glass and put the pitcher away.
"It has been bearable, but very annoying" I finally answered with a sigh.
"Thatsa girl now. I would say, about a month along. Am I right?"
"About" I never let go of my wand.
"Let me take care of you and your baby until delivery, no one else is going to understand your, special needs" She smiled up at me.
"No thank you. I think I have it under control"
"No you don't. You don't know a damn thing about birthin a baby. A youngest child you are" she pointed at me accusingly. "Tired of having people take care of you."
"I will figure something out."
"Hmm. You don't trust easily. I like that. I wish my daughter had that trait." She drummed her fingers across the table. "I have an idea"
Nessa stood and went to the back of the cottage. I could hear her rummaging around in the other room. Finally she returned, pensive in hand. She placed it upon the table and pulled a crystal vial out of her pocket.
"Let me have a look in that pretty little brain of yours and I will let you look at our most well-kept secret." She shook the vial full of a milky substance.
"That's okay. I don't need to know your secrets" I crossed my arms over my chest and turned away from her expectant gaze.
"I need to know if I can trust you" she continued to shake the vial.
"Why don't you just use vertaserum?" I shrugged "and I don't need to know your secrets."
"It's a fair trade miss" she turned towards her room again "I will fetch the potion."
She returned a while later and I drank a few drops. I was a little hesitant, I had never been under the effects of vertaserum before but, I felt no different.
"Are you planning on harming my family?" she took her seat across the table.
"No" I answered shortly.
"Could you harm my family?" she folded her hands.
"That is a complicated question. I could never hurt your grandchildren, they already have a place in my heart forever, but if Tony or Sally ever posed a threat to their children or my family, I could have them down in a second."
She sat thoughtfully for a moment, while I was still in shock that all of that rolled off my tongue to easily. "How well are you trained?"
"I am very highly trained; I have spent the better part of the past five years in training." I spouted out.
"It's because of the Dark Lord overseas isn't it?" she wondered aloud.
"Yes" I blurted.
"Hmm I see" she scratched her chin "that baby is why you left. You wanted to protect your child. And possibly the father."
"My whole family" I nodded slowly, feeling emotions I had been pushing away began to overflow.
"Do they even know you're alive?" she said in an almost inaudible whisper.
"No." my lower lip started to tremble. I had yet to really speak about my family since I had seen them last.
"Oh child, come here" she walked around the table and wrapped her arms around me. Her dark wrinkled hands brushed the tears out of my eyes and pushed my hair out of my face "Being so far away from your momma when you're having your first baby, oh bless your heart"
I let out a sob and began spilling my guts. "Mum's probably worried herself sick, if they haven't pronounced me dead by now." She handed me a hankie to wipe my face "if they have pronounced me dead, then Mum has fallen completely apart by now, and my brothers are still out searching. They won't give up on finding my body for a while."
"Its okay, its okay" she whispered in my ear soothingly.
"I just miss them so much" I wailed in to her shirt.
We sat there for ages, her holding me while I cried. I hadn't quite let it out like this since I left and it felt really good to finally talk to someone.
"What is your name child?" Mama Nessa finally backed away from me and put her palms on my face, the same way that Mum does when she wants a good look at you.
"My favorite color is purple" I whispered a lie trying to see if the vertaserum was still in effect.
"It wore off a few minutes ago; you don't have to tell me the truth against your will anymore." She smiled gently at me.
"Ginerva. But please call me Ginny" I still felt like she deserved the truth.
"Okay Ginerva, tell you what, I am going to take care of you until your Momma can. You will be in the best hands in the state of Georgia." She smoothed my hair back. "You need rest, come on and nap in my guest bed while I cook you a good a proper dinner." She began to lead me back towards where she was digging for potions earlier.
"That's okay Mama Nessa, I can go back up to the house now" I stifled a yawn and she helped me on to the bed.
"No Ma'am, you are staying here with me today, get some rest, I will fetch you later."
Apparently I was more tired than I knew, because as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was sleep. There was no wondering about my family, or Harry, or the baby. No worries, just sleep.
When I awoke, the sun was setting out the window. A warm body lay next to me. I turned to see Elizabeth's curly mane covering the pillow.
I lay there silently taking in the room around me. A large wardrobe stood on the wall opposite the head of the bed, with the door to the right. A walk in closet was open on the left side of the wardrobe and pale blue walls surrounded me. A lamp rested in the bed side table along with a vial filled with a purple potion and a note that informed me that I should drink it before getting out of bed. I could hear whispering in the next room. I uncorked the potion and swallowed its contents, noting the sweet flavor before swing my legs over and letting my bare feet touch the wood floor. I slowly raised myself out of the bed and stood before the window. The twins and their friend Conor were playing in the orchard as the sun set behind them. A breeze carried the sweet smell of the fruit in to the room, and I realized that I was much hungrier than I originally thought. I walked in to the sitting room to see Sally and Tony having a talk with Nessa. The couple rose when they noticed me standing in the door way, but Mama Nessa kept her seat.
"Jenny, how are you feeling?" Sally took a few cautious steps toward me, holding out her hand, as if I were a skittish woodland creature.
"I am fine Mrs. Sally, thank you" I kept my feet glued to the floor where I stood.
"She's not breakable you know." Nessa said annoyed.
"Sorry" Sally and Tony reclaimed their seats and Tony looked at his feet.
"Now down to business, I didn't tell anyone anything you told me. I will not do so without your consent. They are treating you as if you are a china doll because I told them you were over exhausted and needed some extra rest. They feel as if it is their fault that you were a little 'under the weather' today" Nessa stirred her cup of coffee absentmindedly while the informed me of the goings on.
"You can tell them, I don't care." I said defeated.
"You don't have to if you don't want" Sally said reassuring.
"Even in your sleep I couldn't get in to your mind, your secrets are safe if you would like them to be" Nessa noted before I made my decision, earning a look from her daughter.
"It's fine." I took a seat on the love seat across from Tony and Sally.
"She's pregnant" Nessa said frankly before sipping her coffee.
Sally gasped and Tony stood up immediately "I will just leave you girls to it then, not my area of expertise, I will just go check on the children." Tony smiled at me and left the cottage, no one moved to stop him.
"You might as well be an expert by now Anthony! You have five children!" Nessa shouted out the door to her son-in-law. He quickened his pace, obviously embarrassed. "Now come sit down Ginerva, I will not have you standing in my doorways, find a seat and warm it."
I perched myself on the couch with Sally, she turned to me and rested her hand on my knee. "You could have told me".
"Honestly I didn't know who I could tell anything. I don't want to endanger your family" I sighed looking down at my toes feeling tears well up behind my eyes
"A baby can't put us in danger honey." She shook her head smiling. "Babies are a good thing".
"Apparently that baby can" Nessa said motioning towards my stomach. "Listen to that accent, where do you think she is from? Who is she hiding from Salina?"
"Oh no." Salina covered her mouth. "I never thought, oh sweetie, a death eater?"
"No!" I half laughed through my tears "This baby was conceived out of love" I placed my hand over my belly protectively.
"How many people have you heard about in your society that have had the name Ginerva?" Nessa seemed to be walking Sally to the answer.
"It all fits together!" Her eyes grew wide. "You said you came from a large family, red hair, lots of brothers, running away from England. You're Ginny Weasley aren't you?"
I nodded slowly, a little scared that it was so easy for her to figure out who I was.
"Do not be offended, if I were not once a board member of the society I wouldn't have known any of that, it would be hard for anyone else here in America to discover you" she patted my knee soothingly." That's his baby isn't it? That's why you say it will put us in danger"
I looked up and met her eyes "yes"
She sighed and put her head in her hands. "Oh dear Lord."
"What is this Society you speak of?" now they knew way too much about me, I needed some information of my own.
"Oh, so sorry, you'll have to forgive me, you Order people probably don't talk about us very much." She sat up and adjusted herself on the couch. "Here in the southern United States we have the Society of Dawn. It is very similar to your Order of the Phoenix; we have been known to let the Order borrow some of our members from time to time, when their people need leave, for injuries and what not. The Yankees have the Gathering of Sol, we communicate with them much more often than you guys across the pond."
"You're a board member?" I asked.
"Not anymore. I gave up my seat when we found out I was pregnant with the boys. Tony and I were active members for quite some time. In the society we don't have one single leader, we have a board, and you are elected in to a seat. There are twelve seats and we vote on all of the decisions for the Society." She crossed her legs and faced me. "We have been inactive members since the boys were born, but still attend meetings, and help where we can. Like housing refugees from the war over seas" she motioned towards me.
"Don't you have one of those things tonight?" Nessa asked before sipping her coffee.
"Yes, and I need you to accompany me Miss. Weasley." Sally fixed me with her gaze.
"Um, excuse me?" I was confused wasn't I supposed to be hiding?
"You will be disguised of course. But we need to see what's going on, and find you a place to move to. "Sally patted my knee again.
"I understand."
"She will be coming back, I am delivering that baby." Mama Nessa said matter of factly.
"I do not want to be a burden." I rubbed my arms uncomfortably.
"Nonsense. You will seem me every two weeks." She rose from her seat and went to the sink.
Thirty minutes later I was buckling myself in to the front seat of the Suburban with Sally at the wheel. I pushed my now platinum blonde hair behind my shoulder and prepared myself for the ride. Nessa had put a series of charms on me to disguise me while we were at the meeting. I had watched as my hair slowly lightened to the shocking blonde and the jaw line I shared with the twins rounded. My freckles had faded completely in to a tan that graced my flesh, and my eyes were a sparkling sapphire. I examined my eyes in the passenger side window, now black lined my new eyes shined brighter than ever, I didn't recognize the face staring back at me, and this girl looked nothing like me.
Sally pulled on to the road in silence, we talked a lot and she had even applied my make up so I looked completely different, now we had a different connection, just from the past half hour. I would imagine this was what it is to have an older sister. As we drive down the road she turns to look at me, and for a moment I held her gaze before she turned to look back at the road. There was something new in her eyes when she looked at me, sorrow. Not pity, I could feel the pain in my chest reflected in her eyes. She cared for me and she wasn't expecting me to be so deeply involved in the issues in wizarding world. Sally liked it much better when I was a refugee like all the rest; I had been hurt by this war, but not as much as Ginny Weasley, not directly. Never could she imagine that I could be poor Ginny Weasley that had come face to face with the dark lord on many occasions and live to tell the tale. The road steadily grew darker as we drove, farther and farther in to wooded areas, and the paved road became gravel, which turned to dirt.
Finally we stopped at cabin far off the beaten path with two pick-up trucks parked in front. I followed Sally up the steps to the front door, from even this close it looked like the cabin had been abandoned for ages. As the door swung open, laughter and the sound of cutlery clinking could be heard, there had to be at least thirty people in this house. Inside was quite the opposite of the outside, crisp white walls lined the entry way and hard wood floors gleamed in the light. Sally walked confidently down the hall and threw the door at the end of the hall open. I heard a round of hellos as she turned to usher me in. I walked in to a huge dining area, with several round tables and a bar on the back wall, which held platters of food.
I felt the spot light on me as slowly but surely every head turned to look at us. Not us, me.
"Hello everyone." Sally's voice rung out "this is Jennifer; please do your best to make her feel at home."
I waved awkwardly as everyone broke in to smiles many people rose from their seats and shook my hand; I was taken by surprise when a woman took me by the hand and led me to the makeshift buffet in the back.
"You look like your starving, eat up, there is plenty!" the woman with black curly hair that eerily reminded me of Bellatrix shoved a plate in my hands. "I'm Lucy by the way. My momma, Pricilla, you're sure to meet her later, she made most of it, some of the best food you'll ever put in your mouth if you ask me, but I may be a little biased." She rattled on and begun filling my plate with food. "Here's you some chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, gotta have some a that. What's chicken fried steak without cream gravy? Momma's special home style mac 'n cheese, that's some good stuff there." She paused for a moment and looked in to my eyes. "You ain't allergic to nothin are you?" I shook my head." Good, after you finish this plate off I will get you a slice of my mammy's sweet potato pie, no graham cracker crust here, nuts and brown sugar all mixed up, man that's the best." She led me to a table and pulled my chair out.
A tall and intimidating woman that was probably in her forties approached the table. "Lucille let her breathe before you start shoving food in her face."
She smiled as Lucy muttered a small "yes Ma'am"
"Jennifer, I am Pricilla, this chatter box's mother, eat as much as you like, if you're not hungry I will not be offended." She walked away and began chatting with someone at the next table.
"Sorry Jennifer, I tend to come on a little strong at first" Lucy said examining her hands closely.
"A little strong? Lucy you practically carried the poor woman to the food and spoon fed her." Said a blonde man at the other side of our table. He smirked and extended his hand across the food. "I'm Blake, Lucy's cousin. She's got a good heart; don't let the first impression turn you off."
"I'm sure she does." I said as I sampled the Mashed potatoes." Now can someone please explain to me what a chicken fried steak is?"
XXXXXX
After all the food had been cleared and most of the laughter subsided a pump woman with very short auburn hair stood and motioned for silence.
"Welcome back everyone" she addressed us in a manner that was very reminiscent of professor McGonagall. "I have heard from our cousins overseas that there will be an increase in refugees in the coming months. Things are getting worse by the hour and Mr. Potter and his adversaries are nowhere to be found." Several sighs were heard throughout the crowd, and I felt my heart hit the floor as they mentioned Harry.
"Now now everyone, he's only been out of touch for about three weeks. I know we are all hoping this can come to a close soon, and they are trying. They have requested a few volunteers be sent over to help the order, any one with medical training or experience in dueling. Every little thing counts, please speak to Dougherty about signing up and going through the screening process." She gestured towards a man to her right who raised his hand and smiled. " Also we need more people to take shifts patrolling, we do have Aurors to cover our people in power, but we need more witches and wizards in high traffic areas such as air ports and bus stations, to look for refugees and make sure we do not have less than desirable people in our borders. If you do not feel comfortable leaving the country but still would like to help out this is a great opportunity. Speak to Barfeild after the meeting if you are interested." A man in the far corner of the room looked up from his whispers with a man with a heavy mustache and tipped his hat before resuming his quiet conversation. "Third order of business is, we need more safe houses, as I stated before we will have an increase in refugees and we need places to put them. Speak to Cassandra after we adjourn." Cassandra who sat at her direct left smiled at the crowd flashing her bright blue eyes and bouncing her platinum curls and went back to writing on a piece of parchment.
I downed out the woman's announcements while I focused on Cassandra. I couldn't help but think I had seen her somewhere. She was very busy writing, but I assume she could feel my gaze because soon she looked up and met my eyes. She pierced my very soul with her eyes, and suddenly I knew. This had to be Beatrice. She narrowed her eyes, inspecting me. I was very scared she would recognize me for a few moments before I remembered I was disguised. Finally she raised her eyebrows at me and returned to her parchment.
Before I knew it Sally found me and pulled me away from my table. Apparently the meeting had been adjourned while I was having a stare down with Cassandra
"Sorry to pull you away from your new friends sweetie, but we need to go speak with a friend of mine." Sally led me towards the front table and now I stood before Beatrice/Cassandra.
"Sally." Cassandra greeted my friend while sizing me up.
"Hey there Cassandra, I was wondering if we could talk." Sally cocked her eyebrows, looking between the two of us.
Cassandra stood and motioned for us to follow her. She led us through a door behind her and in to a warm room. A fire's soft glow lit the room from the fire place, a fluffy couch and a set of chairs stood before the flames. We settled in to the chairs while Cassandra sat across from us on the couch.
"Cassandra, we have a small situation and our friend here seems to think she needs to be relocated." Sally yet again but her hand on my knee as a comforting gesture.
"I see, well let me look into the paper work, and I will see how far I get you, maybe Canada? "She pulled a pen and pad from thin air and began jotting notes without looking.
Sally straitened in her seat. "Oh no, we don't want her that far. She just feels it would be safer for the children if she was elsewhere, but we still want her close."
Cassandra looked over her glasses at Sally. "What exactly do you expect me to do then Sally? That's the point of relocation. Get her far away from the place she was before."
"But we don't want her far away" sally met her gaze.
"That's the rules Sally, you know you have been on the board before, and when you relocate the last family can't have any idea where you are going." Cassandra sat the pad down next to her and took her glasses off, letting them dangle from their gold chain.
"Can't we bend the rules this time? She still needs our help" sally pleaded.
Cassandra sat back in her chair and folded her hands together." And why can't the next host family help her? What's so different with this case Salina?"
"Um, nothing, we just really like Jennifer, and feel like she is a part of our family. "Sally rubbed her hands together nervously.
" if that's the case why do you want to relocate her at all?" the woman narrowed her blue eyes.
" never mind!" Sally stood, pulling me up with her. "Scratch that, forget we even talked."
" wait what?" Cassandra and I both said at the same time. We turned to face each other for a moment and then snapped back to Sally quickly.
" Nice talking to you Cassie" Sally drug me out of the room and out of the house before I could register what was happening.
Cassandra chased us out to the car." Sally, wait, what is going on? Why are you acting like this?"
" just forget I said anything." She buckled her seat belt and stated the engine as I closed the passenger side door. She rolled my window down and looked across my side at Cassandra and she put the car in revise. " please Cassie".
And with that she took off down the road. While bouncing along down the dirt road at a break neck speed, she leaned forward and switched on the radio. "what do you feel like listening to?" she said while twisting dials.
I pulled her hand away from the buttons and switched off the music. She glanced at me nervously.
"what the Hell Sally?" I raised my eye brows and waited for an answer while the suburban slowed to a normal speed.
"I can't let them send you off to east Jesus nowhere! There is no telling who you would end up with." She exclaimed exasperated.
" you can. And you will." I stated calmly. " we don't have another choice."
" That's the thing Ginny, there is always another choice. Always"
A/N- I am back! Sorry guys, I know it has been MONTHS, but I had some major writers block, and now I finally have my creative juices flowing! I have written a lot lately, so expect another chapter very soon! Also, if you think I am taking too long, check my Bio, and I may have some updates posted about where I am with writing and how close I am to posting another chapter, or just messagee me and say, hurry up! As always, leave me a review, nothing makes me want to write like feedback!
