Chapter 14
It had been three weeks since Sophie had received the acceptance letter from Beauxbatons. Just as Ginny had suspected, Julia wasn't speaking to Sophie. Everything was normal.
Ginny stood looking out the kitchen window. She was distracted. She was thinking of how much her life had changed by going to Hogwarts and getting sorted into Slytherin. She shuddered to think of how different her life would be if she had been sorted into Gryffindor. She would probably be seated at 'The Burrow', married to Potter with Molly begging her to have kids. Wincing at the thought, she turned around. Jumping at the sight that met her, she screamed. There was George, standing in the kitchen doorway, looking paler than usual, covered in blood. His own blood from the looks of it. Coming back to her senses, she shook her head and walked towards him and helped into the living room and onto the couch. After he was laying down, she ran to the floo and flooed Snape Manor.
"Mum!" Ginny yelled
"Gin dear, there is no need to yell. What is the matter?" Caroline said kneeling down to the fire
"It's George. He showed up all bloody and he is extremely pale and weak looking" Ginny said rushed
"Gin dear, calm down" Caroline said trying to calm her down "I'll bring Nilly over and she can have a look at him. Your father has an abundance of blood replenishing potions in the medicine cabinet, I'll bring over anything I think we will need. You just send an owl to Fred"
"Right" Ginny said before she ended the connection and ran to the study to send the owl to Fred
After Ginny had sent the owl to Fred, she made her way back to the living room where George was lying unconscious. She just sat there, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw her husband standing there. Smiling slightly she leaned back into his touch. He conjured up two more seats and sat down, beside her.
"Where is Fred?" he asked
"No clue. I sent an owl to him" Gin replied
"Shall I go get him?" asked Draco
"Yes you shall Draco" Caroline said as she walked in "I will be here for Gin until you return. Nilly will be doing some diagnostic spells on George. Fred should be here for the results"
Without a single response, Draco apparated.
"Come Gin" Caroline said holding out her hand to her "Let's go make some tea for when Fred arrives"
As the two women walked down the hall to the kitchen, nothing was said. They moved quietly around the kitchen preparing tea and cookies for the men when they arrived. No sooner had the tea finished, then they heard a pop of apparation. Before Caroline could stop her, Ginny had ran out of the room and launched herself at Fred. As soon as her arms had wrapped around him, he had tears running down his cheeks. When she pulled herself away, he pulled himself together and she showed him to where the house elf was still attending to George.
"Nilly" Ginny said announcing her presence
"Mistress Malfoy" the house elf replied bowing low
"This is Fred, George's twin brother." Ginny said as she sat down on one of the chairs by George's side
"Master Fred" Nilly responded bowing low again
"H-How is he?" Fred said unable to take his eyes off of his brother's unconscious form
"Better" Nilly responded "Nilly ran a diagnostic spell over him and found excessive bleeding, two cracked ribs and numerous bruises and blade cuts. Nilly find interesting the shape of some of the bruises Master Fred. Like rings they look"
"Rings!" exclaimed Ginny
"Yes Mistress Malfoy" Nilly responded bowing
"Mum, floo Lucius! Draco love, get the camera!" Ginny yelled before quieting down "Have you healed the bruises yet, Nilly?"
"No Mistress Malfoy" Nilly responded bowing
"Don't" Ginny said leaving no room for argument as Draco came running back into the room with the camera
Without stopping to ask permission, Ginny grabbed the camera and started to take pictures of George's bruises. After she was done, she walked out of the room. Draco followed her until they were far enough away from the room everyone was in.
"You have a feeling you know who did it, don't you?" Draco asked
"Yes." she said playing with the camera string and looking down at her hands
"Mind me asking who?" he asked
"His wife" she said snapping her head back up to look at Draco "That day at WWW when the twins and I were in the conference room, we were discussing my first impression of her and Fred cut in saying how much of a bitch she was. I think there might have been a chance that she heard it."
"How?" he asked pulling her close
"Gut feeling" she responded automatically knowing what he meant "Can you take this to my father and get him to develop the pictures?"
"Yes love" he said taking the camera "Don't over exert yourself love"
"I won't" she said smiling slightly as he stepped into the floo and disappeared in a flash of emerald green flames.
When she walked back into the living room, she saw that Fred was still sitting by the couch, next to an unconscious George. Smiling sadly at the loving scene in front of her, she stepped forward and rested her hand on Fred's shoulder. When he looked up, she saw a look of pure sadness instead of the look of pure mischief that was usually present. Sitting down in the vacant seat beside him, she covered his hand with her own.
"He will be alright Freddie, I know he will be. I promise." she said soothingly
"How do you know?" he asked sceptical
"Because he came to me instead of going to St. Mungo's" she said
"True." he said silently weighing the options
"I think we should move him to the guest room. That couch really isn't as comfy as it looks." she said as she began to stand up
"How?" he asked "I don't want to hurt him"
"Nilly can apparate him and we will meet them upstairs." she said as she began to help Fred rise
Within ten minutes, George was resting on the king size canopy bed in the guest room. Fred had stationed himself next to the bed, and had resorted to not talking and just staring at George's still form. Ginny quickly gave up and went down to the kitchen to find that her mother had gone and Lucius had taken her place. Recovering from the shock quickly, she sat down in the chair across from him as he sat at the kitchen table and read the Daily Prophet.
"Blah. More destructive weddings" Lucius sneered at the paper
"Who is it now?" Ginny asked
"Mara Parkinson." Lucius said
"Who did she marry?" she asked curiously
"Colin Creevey" Lucius spat
"Oh Merlin. Her parents are not going to like that at all. They disowned Pansy for marry Roderick because he didn't ask their permission first. Their youngest daughter marrying a muggleborn won't be pretty at all" Ginny said cringing slightly
"Do they get the paper at your parents?" asked Lucius
"Yes" Ginny said nodding her head, they will
"Pansy will know without us having to tell her then" replied Lucius with relief
"I don't know. She never has been into reading the paper." Ginny stated
"Your father and brother do. Surely, one of them will tell her" Lucius said smiling "Are your brother and her going to be leaving your parent's house anytime soon?"
"Pansy is hoping too. My mother is going baby crazy already. Why?" Ginny said getting up to get herself some juice
"Mara will need somewhere to hide from her parents once they find out about this" Lucius said "I suppose, I can find a Malfoy property that will be suitable for them... Not that I like the idea of having a muggleborn living in a Malfoy property."
"Lucius, let Pansy and Mara talk it over with their husbands. Have no worries... Unless they come to you and ask for your help" Ginny said patting him on the shoulder "Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to take some food up to Fred."
After she left the kitchen and started to make her way upstairs, she wondered just how much her life was changing. A year ago, she had been so focused trying to make Draco jealous, and he was now her husband. Shaking her head, she entered the guest bedroom that George was occupying. Setting the food down, she pulled Fred into her arms and gave him a hug. After a few moments, she pulled away and set the food down on the night stand.
"You need to eat" she said
"I don't want to" Fred said grumpily
"I don't care what you want to do. George would get mad if you didn't eat." she said as she made a small table appear with the flick of her wand before resetting the food down "Now eat" she said
As he ate, she checked George. Nilly had fixed him good. She could tell that he was healing nicely. Once she was at ease with his well being, she turned her attention back to Fred. He looked like his whole life was hanging on the balance. Smiling slightly, she went and sat beside him.
"Do you want me to go and floo Leona and get her to come over and stay with you until George wakes up?" she asked
"Do you mind?" he asked
"Of course not" she exclaimed "I'll go do that now"
As she walked down the stairs, she heard yelling coming from the den where the fire place was. Carefully, she tip toed towards the entry way and listened in. She was in the middle of listening in when she felt someone tap on her shoulder. Jumping slightly, she turned and saw Lucius staring at her with a raised eyebrow. Putting a finger in front of her mouth in a 'shushing' motion, she signalled to the den. Surprisingly, he stood behind her and listened in.
"I don't care Roderick!" screeched Pansy
"You should Pansy!" exclaimed Roderick
"Why?" she sneered
"Because" he said
"Not a good enough reason Roderick Snape" she said
"We are still living with my parents! Where is Mara supposed to stay!" he yelled
"With us!" she screamed
"NO! Absolutely not!" he yelled "I am not letting a muggle born stay at Snape Manor!"
"She's my sister! I may not like her choice of husband, but if he is good enough for Mara to marry him despite our parents disliking for him, then he is good enough for me to call my brother in law!" she screamed
"If you want them to stay so badly, then don't come home tonight!" he bellowed before flooing away
Ginny and Lucius looked at each other for a moment, before Lucius squared his shoulders and walked into the room. When Ginny rounded the corner, she smiled. Pansy was sitting next to Lucius on the couch, crying into his shoulder. When Pansy felt the presence of Ginny, she looked up. Smiling gently, Ginny walked over to the floo and flooed to Fred's apartment, letting Pansy have some time alone with Lucius.
"Leona!" yelled Ginny once she had arrived
"Yes?" questioned Leona coming out of the kitchen drying her hands "Oh hello Ginny, Fred isn't here"
"I didn't come over to see Fred, I came over to see you. Are you able to come over to my place?" asked Ginny urgently
"Of course, but I really should wait for Fred" replied Leona
"No need. He is over at my place" Ginny replied simply "Something happened to George"
"Oh my goodness. Just let me get my wand" she said sprinting into a room at the far end of the hall and returning shortly, with her wand in hand
Ginny flooed back first and waited for Leona to come through. Once Leona was firmly planted in the living room, Ginny sat her down and explained to her what had happened to George. After Ginny was done, Leona sat there looking as pale as a ghost. Silence fell over the two women as they sat on the couch engrossed in their own thoughts.
"You don't think it was -" Leona began
"Oralia. Yes I do" Ginny said sneering "We have taken pictures and everything else that we can use against her in court if it is her. Unfortunately, we won't be able to know until George wakes up and we can take the memory."
"How is he doing?" she asked
"Much better. Our house elf healed up everything that she could. For the things that she couldn't because they take time, she will be returning everyday to make sure they are healing properly and to administer the medicine" she explained
"May I see him?" she asked "I take it Fred is with him"
"Of course Fred is with him" smirked Ginny "Besides when Fred is with you. I don't think they are ever apart for long. Their room is upstairs. The door is open. You may go right up"
After Leona was sitting next to Fred, Ginny walked back into the kitchen to find Lucius, Pansy and Draco all sitting around the table. Motioning for Ginny to go and sit on his lap, Draco turned to Pansy.
"Why won't he let your sister stay at the manor?" he asked
"Because of who she married. I had already asked Severus and Caroline and they were fine with it" Pansy said gripping her tea cup "I just don't see why he is complaining when his parents already said that they could"
"My brother is an idiot Pansy." Ginny said
"Pansy, Draco and I will look through our properties and find one that will suit them just fine" Lucius said "Until then, they are welcome to stay at the manor"
"You tell her that. She won't listen to me" Pansy said angry
"Very well. Where is she?" Lucius asked
"Her in-laws" Pansy said with a sigh
Without a second thought, Lucius stood and flooed to the Ministry. After he had disappeared, both girls turned and looked at Draco with questioning looks.
"Don't ask me what has gotten into him" Draco said "My father is crazy"
The two girls looked at each other and shrugged. Within seconds there was a shriek from upstairs.
"Ginny!" yelled Leona "We need your help!"