Disclaimer: Not Mine
Note: "Italic Dialogue like this" means that the characters are speaking in French
Chapter Eighteen: Inheritance
Ginny and Gabrielle arrived in one of the more grand private rooms due to the fact that the goblins had set aside the most ornate for the Flamels' to use. The French version of the bank was far classier than the British one, but the one of her homeland was far more imposing. The two girls waited calmly for a Goblin to come escort them to a conference room.
A few minutes later the Goblin liaison for the Flamels appeared from one of the many double doors throughout the room. Twistedspear was almost as old as Nic and Perenelle but most witches and wizards would be unable to discern that. They simply neither cared nor tried to understand anything about Goblin culture.
He bowed to Ginny and Gabrielle both of whom executed a perfect bow of respect towards the elder in response. The Goblin smiled showing his crooked teeth, pleased that some wand-wavers had respect. "Welcome to Gringotts, Ms. Weasley and Ms. Delacour. We have been expecting you, if you would both follow me."
The three odd companions walked forward with the Goblin in the lead. "I was saddened to see Lord and Lady Flamel's will's activate. For the first time I was saddened by the passing of a wand user."
"They were pretty extraordinary weren't they?" Ginny said with a small smile. "Thank you Twistedspear."
The short conversation ended as they approached the Flamels' conference room. As they entered Ginny's heart couldn't help but drop at the sight of a small sphere sitting on the table.
"I assume you know how to work the will?" Twistedspear looked at the young warrior who was more than worthy of the title.
Ginny nodded jerkily, gripping Gabrielle's hand tighter. "Yeah, pretty sure. Just pick it up right? And it'll do the rest."
The Goblin inclined his head. "Indeed. I will leave you to your business. When you are finished please summon me so I can go over the execution of the will."
The red-head nodded slowly, not speaking even after Twistedspear had left and the door had closed silently. She simply stared at the sphere that was on the table. She didn't want to do this. Nic and Perenelle always said that she was an exceptionally strong person but right now, at this moment, she didn't feel strong. She felt weak. Weak and scared and uncertain. It was like running away from home all over again.
"Ginny." Gabrielle's soft voice as she squeezed her blood sister's hand broke Ginny out of her thoughts. The bright blue of the young Veela's eyes was pure, beautiful and reminded Ginny that not all was lost. She still had family. Still had people who loved and cared for her. "Do you want to come back later?"
The older girl shook her head. "No. I need to do this now – or I never will."
Gabrielle nodded and waited, knowing that her sister was not finished. "Just stay with me? Please?"
The young girl nodded with a serious expression on her face. "Always, Ginny."
Taking a deep breath, Ginny moved towards the table and sat down. Gabrielle kept her promise taking the seat to her sister's right. The red-head looked at the younger girl for a moment – saddened by something other than the Flamels' deaths.
Ginny had been forced to grow up too fast – she was aware of that. More than aware. But Gabby…She was so very young, and Ginny felt more guilt and sorrow in that single moment of seeing the eight year-old quarter-Veela acting like a mature adult than she did at her disaster of a first year.
The teen had accepted that she was not to blame for anything that had happened that year. She was eleven. A child. It had taken Nicolas and Perenelle years to hammer the fact that it was Voldemort's fault and not hers into Ginny's mind. After she had accepted that fact, her guilt lessened. It didn't go away, an experience of that kind ensured that it never would. Especially because it was the events that her life and entire being had been shaped around.
It was a manageable guilt, the remaining vestiges from the diary.
The guilt she sometimes felt at being the cause of Gabrielle's mature outlook was not.
Not when it crashed into her with the suddenness and strength of a rogue Bludger.
Ginny was drawn away from her guilt when she felt a hand on her face. She blinked several times, realizing as she did that she was crying. Gabrielle was wiping away the small drops of liquid fire, with that too-serious expression still on her face. "What caused this Ginevra?"
The Gryffindor bowed her head, her breath catching at her full name. She shook her head not wanting to tell Gabrielle her thoughts, not wanting to burden her sister anymore than she already was.
"Tell me Ginevra. If it causes you this much pain, then you need to talk about it. And since Nic and Perenelle are…gone…" The French girl trailed off sadly, before beginning again with renewed confidence. "You need to talk. I won't let you stay silent for no reason."
The guilt she was feeling, the sorrow, the pain, the loss – all of it made for an unstable Ginny. She was scrambling to find something to hold onto, a mental hold to stop her downward spiral. And in her confusion she answered honestly. "You."
"Me?" There was no disguising the shock and building hurt in the girl's voice. "I caused this?"
The emotions in Gabrielle's words snapped Ginny out of her mess of emotions. Seeing the distraught girl allowed her to block out the worst of the still building storm to focus on her sister. "No – you didn't."
Gabrielle didn't look at all reassured. Her next words confirmed this. "You've never been a good liar sister."
Ginny closed her eyes at hearing the hurt present in Gabrielle's words. "No I haven't." Ginny opened her eyes and found blue eyes with her own gold flecked irises. "Which it is why you have to believe me when I say you didn't cause this."
Gabby nodded slowly. "But then why –"
"Why did I say you?" Ginny asked softly. She received a small, uncertain nod in return. "Because…It has to do with you but you didn't cause it."
At seeing the unceritanty still present in Gabrielle's eyes, Ginny reach up and grabbed the hand that still rested on her face and squeezed it along with the other that she still held. "You didn't cause this Gabby."
"Then what did?"
Ginny closed her eyes as she still held Gabrielle's hands tightly. "What I had to do to save you, all those years ago. And the consequences of that choice."
So much for Gryffindor courage. Ginny thought cynically, as she kept her eyes closed out of fear. Fear of what, she wasn't entirely sure, but she knew that she was afraid of something.
"I've never blamed you."
Gabrielle's voice startled her so much that Ginny almost didn't register the meaning of the words. Her eyes flew open, looking once again into the blue depths of Gabby's eyes.
"You saved my life, and then you gave it back to me, despite the consequences to yourself. I don't know anyone else who would have done that."
Ginny smiled slightly. "I saved you from those men. How could I stand by and watch you die because I saved you?"
The Veela regally inclined her head. "And that's why I've never blamed you, why I never could blame you. You've always known that Ginny."
"Thank you." Ginny whispered the word, a few syllables that dripped with so many different meanings.
Gabrielle allowed her sister a few moments to gather herself before tightening her grip slightly on Ginny's hands. "Now, perhaps we should do what we came here to do so Mom doesn't get too angry at us?"
The teen chuckled lightly before sobering. After the break down over something that she had thought behind her, Ginny wasn't sure she could do this anymore. She looked over at Gabby who smiled serenely. "I'm still here Blood Sister. And I always, always will be."
Ginny nodded, eyes now coming to rest on the small orb in front of her. It was small with a diameter no bigger than seven centimeters. The smoky grey glass swirled with latent magical energies and Ginny knew the moment she laid a finger on that glass it would activate. Freeing her left hand from Gabrielle's grip, she glanced over at her sister once again before doing exactly that.
Immediately, the glass became clear, and Nicolas's voice could be heard.
"I, Nicolas Antoine Flamel, being of sound mind and body do hereby declare this my last will and testament and in doing so make all previous documents null and void.
"While there is a great deal that I could say, there is only one thing I truly wish to. I love you Fury."
Tears sprang up in Ginny's eyes and she fought to keep them from falling.
"While I am not happy of how I came to know you, I am happy that I did. You gave my final days a peace and joy that I hadn't felt for centuries. You did the same for Perenelle. I know that you will do great things and that whatever you do, you will do with all of your heart.
"I bequeath everything I own – all money, titles, properties, and possessions – to Ginevra Molly Weasley-Delacour. To ensure that she has full access to her now substantial holdings, I also posthumously invoke Heres Ascendentes. May your life be happy and long Ginny."
The tears fell freely now, and the will reading was only half over. As Perenelle's voice started to speak a strangled sob escaped the teen's throat.
"I, Perenelle Basilia Flamel, being of sound mind and body do hereby declare this my last will and testament and in doing so make all previous documents null and void.
"I am sure you're wondering why Nicolas's and my wills are together Kittling. The answer is quite simple. We know that we will die together because not even death will separate us.
"You are a wonderful young woman Ginevra, just as unique and beautiful as your name. You have overcome things which would shatter most others and you continued to surprise both Nic and I over the years with your strength of will and your ability to laugh. Don't ever lose that ability Kittling.
"The coming years will be trying. They will be challenging. They will make you want to scream, make you doubt yourself and others. Throughout these events that I know will be coming stay strong and remember who you are. You are Ginevra Molly Weasley-Delacour. You are a Deus das Chamas, a Golden Gryphon, a Veela's Blood Sister, a daughter, and a sister. But most importantly you are a Warrior – a defender of the weak and innocent. A true testament to the inherent good in everyone and a steadfast supporter of the Light.
"I bequeath everything I own – all money, titles, properties, and possessions – to Ginevra Molly Weasley-Delacour. In addition to that, I ask that she takes a special notice to the top right drawer of the desk in my study. It is magically locked, but I have no doubt that she will be able open it with what she has learned in years since coming to live with us.
"To ensure that Ginevra Molly Weasley-Delacour is able to face the coming trials head-on I posthumously invoke Heres Ascendentes. May your life be happy and long Kittling. And don't give up on love – you are unique, and I have no doubt that you will find someone to share your life with."
Sobbing freely now, Ginny had pulled Gabrielle into her lap and cried into her sister's hair, holding the eight year old close in hopes to erase the pain she felt at hearing Nic and Perenelle's thoughts. After several minutes Ginny was able to pull away and give a watery half-smile to Gabby. The girl returned it.
"I'm not sure what to say really…" Ginny spoke softly, her voice still rough with tears. Gabby said nothing, understanding that her sister just needed to speak. "They left everything to me Gabby. Everything. How could they do that and trust that it wouldn't change me? I mean, they are…Were the richest people on Earth!"
The teen was becoming slightly hysterical and her voice was rising. It was cut off by the eight year-old "They left you everything because you're you."
Ginny blinked, her momentum taken from her by that simple comment. "That…Doesn't make sense Gabby. They trusted me because I'm me?"
"Yes. Because you're you. And it makes perfect sense."
The fourteen year-old stared at the girl six years her junior. There were many times were Gabrielle acted like an adult. But there were also times like now that reminded the teen exactly how young her blood sister was. Shaking her head slightly, Ginny decided to simply accept it and move on. "Okay, I'm going summon Twistedspear now so we can finish this."
Gabby simply nodded and the two waited in silence until the old Goblin had entered the room. The two started to rise, but Twistedspear waved them back to their seats. He place the rune covered bowl, beautifully inscribed knife, and papers he was caring on the table. "Ms. Weasley. I assume you finished listening to the will?" He paused to receive confirmation and continued when he had.
"Then you know that you are now the richest person to walk this planet. I will happily go over your finances and holdings but we must first complete Heres Ascendentes."
Ginny startled slightly, her eyes widening as the full force of the words hit her. She suddenly realized that both Nicolas and Perenelle had invoked the ritual. "But, that is only allowed for blood relatives!"
The Goblin paused in his preparation, his black eyes looking over at the distraught girl. "Yes, and while heavily diluted, the Flamel blood runs through your veins."
Stunned didn't even begin to describe Ginny as Twistedspear went back to preparing the bowl and knife. Gathering her wits about her, the teen realized what it meant. They never told me. They knew we were related but they never told me. Why?
The Goblin cleared his throat and offered Ginny the knife. Staring at the hilt of the blade for moment, Ginny decided that she could think about this later. Taking a deep breath, she took the knife and waited for instructions. Twistedspear quickly explained the ritual before asking the teen if she was ready.
Ginny could count several events that changed her life drastically. The first – and the reason for all the rest – was Riddle's Diary and the things that happened associated with it. Then there was the decision to run away from the Burrow. Meeting the Flamels, saving the unicorn, saving Gabrielle, saving Harry and the others at the ministry. Her life was filled with moments that had defined her and changed her. The teen knew without a doubt that this moment was another one of those moments.
With a shaky smile, Ginny responded with the single word that would change her life. "Yes."
So that only took Forever and a day to get out. I apologize for the long wait for this update. Life kept distracting me with shiny new video games and events. I'm hoping to finish this story before the end of summer so cross your fingers for that. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via PM or review or whatever Also this chapter is unbeta-ed so any mistakes are my own. I would appreciate any who point out errors for me to correct.
While on the subject of a beta, I am uncertain if my old beta still wishes to read over this story for me. If so, it'd be great if you could notify me somehow...And if she has neither the time nor inclination to beta EFGG then I would be grateful if someone else would be willing to volunteer their time and eyes to make this story the best it could be.
A few more words and I'll be done - promise. Thanks to everyone who still wants to read this story despite the god-awful wait time between this update and the last one. Thanks to those who've encouraged me to continue to write EFGG - I never forgot how many people liked this story, despite the fact that I didn't update in, literally, years. I hope that I can continue writing at a level that keeps you guys entertained.
Now, this is the part where I would normally respond to reviews. However, that's starting to eat up space, so I'm going to try something different. I am, instead, going to put those responses up on my profile. Every time I put up a new chapter, I'll replace the responses with new ones. Crtl + F the words "Review Responses" and you should find them easily enough.
I would like to extend my heart-felt thanks to all of those who have and continue to read this story, especially those who take the time to Review, Favorite, and add EFGG to their alerts. You guys make the sore fingers worth it!
Note: It was pointed out by a reviewer that I initially spelled Ginny's full name wrong, to my everlasting embarrassment and shame. Thank you strangeways for pointing out this error. I believe I caught all of the misspellings but if anyone else finds errors, please point them out.