Chapter Twenty-Five – Separate Ways
"Gentlemen, I know it's early, but would either of you like a drink? It seems as if this debacle may warrant one, even at this early hour," inquired Sirius politely.
Arthur and Bill shook their heads. It really was dreadfully early. None of them had even breakfasted yet. Sirius didn't blame them for refusing - drinking on an empty stomach was serious business. He had a strong suspicion, however, that drinks would be called for before they were done.
Sirius opened the discussion. "Arthur, let me first extend my profound apologies for what has happened this morning. It was never my intention for events to unfold as they have done. Somewhere, somehow, someone has committed a grievous error, and innocent people are suffering as a result. I deeply regret that my actions that have contributed to this terrible misunderstanding."
"I accept your apology, Sirius, but it would really help me, if I knew what you were apologising for. At this moment in time, I am truly in the dark," replied Arthur hesitantly.
"Allow me to be blunt then. The document your wife received in the mail this morning is a betrothal contract between your daughter and my godson." He looked down at his hands and realised he was still holding the offending document. "Merlin, I forgot I still had this in all the confusion. Why don't you look it over for yourself?" Sirius suggested, handing the parchment to Arthur.
Arthur stared at Sirius in shock. Of all the things he might have imagined the fuss to be about, this was not one of them. Understanding flooded his mind. No wonder Molly had reacted so strongly. He couldn't imagine a worse scenario than her receiving a betrothal contract in the mail for Ginny.
"Oh Merlin! Now this is all beginning to make sense. You wouldn't have known this, Sirius, but, because of my wife's history, Molly would take this as the worst possible affront. I'm not certain you could have offended her any more if you had tried."
Sirius and Bill stared at him in complete bewilderment, and Sirius' heart sunk. Perhaps his brilliant idea was not going to work after all. Perhaps he was going to have to die and declare Harry emancipated in his will. He had been hoping to avoid that particular scenario - it was rather final, after all - and he had been looking forward to spending some time with his godson in this lifetime.
Arthur began his explanation. "During Molly's Sixth Year at Hogwarts, her father received a betrothal contract for her. Without consulting her, he signed the contract. Her signature was not required." Arthur swallowed heavily. "We were already dating at the time. I'm not sure whether or not her father knew about us. We were very serious about each other and had already mentioned the possibility of marriage." He tensed as he reached the next part of the story. It was obvious that the memories were not pleasant ones. "When Molly returned home for the summer, her father informed her she would be marrying Edmund MacDougal in August, and there would be no need for her to finish her education. Molly was devastated. She contacted me, and we decided to elope before her wedding could occur. It caused a great scandal when our elopement was revealed."
Arthur stood up and began pacing around the room, then stopped in front of Sirius' desk. "Sirius, is that offer for a drink still open?"
Sirius rose, poured him a generous splash of Ogden's and handed it to the older man.
Whilst Bill watched in amazement, his father tossed back his drink in one swallow. He couldn't remember seeing his father drink like that. He couldn't help but feel, though, that if there ever were a situation that called for a drink, this would definitely be one.
Arthur resumed his story and his pacing. "Her father was furious with her. He had been counting on an alliance with the MacDougals. The fact that his daughter defied him and caused him to break a magical contract did not reflect well upon him, and he lost a great deal of standing in Wizarding society as a result of our actions. I'm not entirely sure her father ever forgave her." He looked apologetically at his oldest son. "Another unintended consequence of our decision is my lack of position in the Ministry. Had there not been scandal attached to my name, I probably could have obtained a more lucrative position within the Ministry and done a better job of providing for my family." With a look of defeat, Arthur resumed his seat.
Sirius simply covered his face with his hands. Could this situation get much worse? Quickly he squelched that thought. There was no sense in tempting fate. He looked at Arthur in sympathy. "I can only repeat my previous words. I am truly sorry for the distress I have inadvertently caused. If you will excuse me a minute, I need to send an owl to my solicitor and find out what in Merlin's name happened."
Swiftly sending off an owl to Daniel MacKenzie's office inquiring into the matter of the betrothal contracts suddenly appearing in the hands of his godson and the Weasleys, he then turned his attention back to Arthur.
"I am terribly sorry you are learning about my plans in this manner. I would like to assure you, however, that I have not completely left your family in the dark about my intentions. Indeed, I have already consulted Bill about this."
Here, Arthur looked quizzically at his son.
"I meant no offence to you, as head of the family, however, at the time, Bill was the only Weasley I had contact with. As the oldest son, and a representative of Gringotts, I deemed it would not be improper for me to approach him with my proposition. I pray I was not wrong in that assumption." He looked at Arthur inquiringly.
"No, no. That was entirely acceptable. Bill has my trust." Arthur reassured him.
"Bill was planning on speaking with you about the contract immediately, however, Harry's disappearance and my trial threw our timetable off somewhat. Please excuse us. We were not being intentionally negligent."
Sirius rose to his feet. It was his turn to take to pacing the room. "The benefits that this contract would offer Harry and, consequently, your daughter, are manifold. It is not meant in the least to be degrading toward your daughter. Both Harry and Ginny must approve this contract, and it has been magically designed so no one who is being coerced to do so may sign it. I was advised by the goblin in charge of my accounts at Gringotts that emancipating Harry as soon as possible would be to his considerable advantage. One way for that to happen would be for me to die and emancipate him in my will. I was hoping to avoid that option." He gave a rueful chuckle. "The other way he suggested was for Harry to be party to a magically binding betrothal contract. It would allow him to attain his majority upon reaching his fifteenth birthday, and allow him all the rights and privileges of an adult Wizard. Those same rights and privileges would also be conferred on his betrothed. This would allow them to perform magic outside of school, to learn how to apparate, and a whole slew of other benefits that would enable Harry to be that much more capable of caring for himself and those around him."
Sirius paused for a moment before continuing, allowing his words to sink in. "I grew up with the Old Ways. My cousins were all betrothed. It was a way of life for me. A betrothal contract holds neither negative nor positive connotations for me. It just is. I would not even be considering it, however, if I were not so intent on protecting Harry from those who would manipulate him. I chose Ginny for a specific reason. I know she cares deeply for my godson. I believe Harry returns her feelings. I would not have suggested this otherwise. I only want the best for Harry. I desire his happiness, the freedom to live his own life."
He stopped pacing and looked intently at Arthur. "Ginny is an incredibly powerful young witch. They both have tremendous potential. In fact, and please respect that I am sharing this with you in strictest confidence, having observed them together whilst Harry was in the Hospital Wing, I believe there may already be a bond between the two of them that has simply not yet been fully activated. In that case, this whole betrothal contract may become moot."
As Sirius finished speaking, Arthur turned to his son. "What is your opinion? I would be interested in hearing it."
"Sirius and I have discussed the contract extensively. Fleur has even added her input into the situation, because I felt myself in need of an outside perspective. I believe that it would be in the best interests of both Ginny and Harry, if we were to proceed with the contract. Depending, of course, on their acquiescence. Sirius and I intended to speak with her first, even before I approached you and Mum. Without their approval, there would have been no reason to even consult you."
Arthur probed a bit deeper. "So you are telling me you don't view this as selling your sister? And what about the fact that they are still children? How can we leave such a decision up to them? They are much too young to know their own minds in this matter and they lack sufficient experience."
Bill leaned forward and looked his father straight in the eye. "Dad, can you honestly tell me Ginny is still a child? She hasn't been a child since her first year. She has the body of a thirteen year old, but the mind and the experiences of an eighteen year old. Her childhood ended when she began to write in that diary."
Arthur's face fell, and he silently nodded in resigned acknowledgement.
"And Harry. He may have just turned fifteen, but he is no more a fifteen-year-old than I am. He has faced Voldemort at least three times now. Has survived a dreadful childhood, and experienced the tragedy of war. I'm not sure he was ever a child. And Dad, do you honestly believe I would ever approve of this if I thought of it as selling Ginny? Ever since your trip to Egypt, when I saw the devastation that had been wrought upon her, I vowed to do my best to protect and strengthen her. Right now, I see this as the best way of accomplishing that goal." Bill sat back and watched his father.
Arthur sat and pondered everything Sirius and Bill had said. He was not personally opposed to the idea of a betrothal contract, and, truth be told, he was intrigued at the possibilities that it opened up for his daughter. He knew that Ginny had always been preoccupied with the story of Harry Potter. And it had been Harry Potter, himself, who had risked his life to save hers during her first year at Hogwarts. Harry was close friends with several members of his family. Even Molly held him in high regard. Ginny could do a lot worse for herself. Were she to actually marry Harry, she would not want for anything. And, although he did not equate happiness with wealth, it was reassuring to think his little girl would not have to worry about finances. Mulling over the situation, he decided he needed to speak with Ginny before coming to any type of decision. If this was what she wanted, he would not stand in her way, no matter how much Molly opposed the idea.
"Sirius, I believe we ought to speak with the two most intimately involved before continuing any further. It is in everyone's best interests to keep Molly out of the discussion for the moment. I do not believe she will be receptive to hearing anything that might be said today. Once we have spoken with Harry and Ginny, I will know better how to proceed."
As Sirius turned to leave the room to fetch the two young people, an owl flew in and landed on his desk. He untied the letter and gave the owl a treat. Opening the letter, he read it swiftly. He looked up at Arthur and Bill. "It is from my solicitor, Daniel MacKenzie. He apologises profusely for the fiasco that has occurred. Apparently his secretary espied the contract on his desk. Scanning it, she noticed that it's effective date was today, so she made haste to have two copies made and sent out in a timely fashion. She was unaware that we had agreed that the contract was not to be brought into effect until after we had spoken with all parties. A simple, but costly mistake." Glancing up and seeing the look of acceptance on Arthur's and Bill's faces, he motioned to them. "I suppose there is nothing for it, but to fetch Harry and Ginny," and he gestured for them to precede him out of the study.
On their way to the kitchen, they passed Ginny, Ron, and Hermione who were perched precariously outside the kitchen door listening intently to what was going on. Sirius ruffled Ginny's hair as he walked by, giving her a reassuring smile.
In the kitchen Molly was ranting and raving at Albus Dumbledore, who stood there with a bemused expression on his face. She insisted that they needed to leave immediately. She dismissed his arguments that they would be safer at Grimmauld Place. She declared that she didn't care one whit about safety. She could not, in good conscience, live another minute in Sirius' house. Albus seemed to be valiantly trying to make sense out of Molly's rantings. The three teenagers were just staring spellbound at the spectacle. Spying Bill in the doorway, Molly ordered him to the Burrow to check on the wards and the house, to ascertain if it was safe for them to return.
Bill looked apologetically at everyone, and grabbed some Floo powder and disappeared.
Sirius edged around the door and out of sight in an effort to avoid further antagonising Molly.
The silence that subsequently reigned in the kitchen was abruptly broken by Bill's sudden reappearance. He immediately stepped over to Dumbledore, whispered hastily in his ear, and the two exited through the Floo in a flash of green light.
Molly's face furrowed in concern, but before she could say anything, three figures stepped out of the fireplace, one after another, the last one catching himself on Bill as he stumbled through. Chaos ensued.
"Harry James Potter, what have you done? How could you do this to my little girl? Have you no consideration? I thought you were an honourable boy! How could you treat her this way? You are no better than the Malfoys! To think I welcomed you into my house! Well, no longer! And stay away from my children! I will not have you associating with them any longer!" screamed Molly, beside herself. "You are no better than your Godfather! Filthy, pure-blooded bigots! Good riddance to the both of you!"
Harry just stared at her open-mouthed, completely dumbfounded by the unexpected attack.
Arthur reached out to touch Molly's shoulder. "Molly dear, don't you think you're being a tad unfair to the lad? Maybe you should take a deep breath and calm down."
"Don't you patronise me, Arthur Weasley! I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm protecting my family from foul agendas and corrupting influences. We are blood traitors and proud of it. I will not have my children associating with pure-blood filth, listening to their narrow-minded, antiquated ideas. I am so glad we found out about this now, before it was too late. We will have no more to do with these traitors. We are leaving and never speaking to them again!"
Harry looked on in a state of utter shock. He had never seen nor heard Mrs. Weasley act this way. He didn't understand what it was that he, or Sirius, had done to deserve such vilification. He thought she cared for him. She had, after all, come to see him during the Third Task and stood in for his parents. How could things have changed so much in the last three weeks? What was he going to do if he couldn't see or speak to his friends anymore? How was he going to survive without Ginny? Despair filled his heart and mind and darkness threatened to overcome him. Before giving in completely, understanding flashed through Harry's mind.
"Mrs. Weasley, is this about the contract? I'm so sorry about that. I didn't know anything about it. I just received one myself. I've been trying to find out what it's all about, but I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Please don't be upset, I haven't done anything," Harry declared, trying to sound calm.
"Of course you would deny it! You'd say anything to get your way. You and Sirius are the worst sort of Wizards. You pretend to be one thing, when you're really on the other side. Just stay away from my family!"
Harry gathered himself together, and replied with as much dignity as he could muster through rapidly-tearing eyes, "Very well, Mrs. Weasley. I will abide by your decision. Let me go collect my things, and I will remove myself from your company. Neither you nor the rest of your family will be burdened with my presence again."
Ginny, who had been sitting on the stairs, listening to her mother's diatribe with increasing horror, was sobbing hysterically. She couldn't believe those words were coming from her mother. She had never seen her act this way before. She was embarrassed and horrified. The tension inside her was rapidly mounting, fuelled by Harry's pain and confusion. Suddenly she jumped up and ran into the kitchen, no longer able to contain herself. Ron and Hermione, who had been vainly attempting to comfort her and quiet her down, tried to grab her and hold her back, but she was too quick for them. She ran to Harry and threw her arms around him in an effort to console him.
Ron and Hermione just sat on the stairs in shock. The tableau in front of them was unbelievable. Ron asked Hermione if she had any idea what was going on. She replied to the negative, and whispered that it had to do with some sort of contract and possibly Ginny.
Harry tried to push her away. "I can't have anything to do with you anymore," he muttered brokenly.
"Harry James Potter! Don't you dare push me away. Nothing will keep me from you!" Ginny hugged him closer murmuring comforting words in his ear.
Harry gave in and simply wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tighter, burying his face in her hair.
On the steps Ron and Hermione stared at them in open mouth shock. What was going on? Since when were Harry and Ginny this close? Why would Ginny care what was happening to Harry? They hardly ever spoke with one another.
Molly attempted to rip them apart. "Get away from him. He is scum. The lowest sort of low. He is trying to steal you away from your family. To buy you with money and fancy trinkets. Let go of him!"
Deciding it was time to step in, Albus called out in a commanding voice. "Silence!" and sent up red sparks and the sound of a cannon blast.
The word was no sooner spoken than pandemonium erupted, with everyone attempting to out yell the others and enforce their point of view on the everyone else. In the ensuing chaos, Sirius grabbed Harry and Ginny, snuck them out and headed up to his study, the two of them in tow. Once everyone was in the room, he made sure to seal and silence it.
Ginny pulled Harry down onto a chair, that Sirius conveniently enlarged so the two of them fit comfortably.
Arms still wrapped tightly around Ginny, face buried in her shoulder, Harry's muffled voice could faintly be heard. "I think this is the worst birthday I've ever had, and it's barely begun."
"I know, pup, and I never meant for this to happen. It breaks my heart to see you this way. You will have your full explanation and soon, but right now we have to act quickly. I hope you know I would never deliberately do this to you. I would never have acted without your full permission and support. I was simply attempting to help you, and it's blown up in my face." He walked over and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder in support.
"Now, I'm going to quickly explain the benefits of this contract to the both of you. Ginny, you will need to discuss this with Harry and with your Dad, as he has some concerns of his own. Harry, I need you to pull yourself together and pay attention, pup, this is vitally important."
Harry lifted his head from Ginny's shoulder, shifted in the chair, and pulled her into his lap. He turned her around so they were both facing Sirius, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and holding her hands, his thumb absently tracing circles on the back of one of her hands. He looked up at Sirius, "I'm ready."
Sirius swiftly explained his reasoning behind the contract, what the benefits were, and where they stood right now. Harry and Ginny shifted around in their chair and looked deeply at each other communicating with their eyes.
"Ginny, what do you think? Do you think you're being bought or sold? Do you want this?" Harry asked her with concern in his voice.
Ginny half turned in his lap, still holding his hands tightly in her own and looked hard at him. She spoke quietly, a pleading tone in her voice. "Harry, I need to know what you think, what you feel first. Please tell me."
Harry realised the importance of her request. She needed him to make the first step, to voice his yet unspoken feelings. She needed to know she wasn't alone in this, that he felt this and wanted this, too. He gathered up his Gryffindor courage and responded.
"I," he said slowly, looking down at ground, "I think I would like this very much." He lifted his gaze and stared into her eyes. "You've been everything to me this summer, Ginny. I don't know what I would have done without you. I know this seems awfully sudden, and it's such a tremendous step to take, but it just feels right. I can't imagine anyone else but you in my life." Harry's eyes dropped to the floor again as he continued, "But if you don't want to, I would never make you do this." He lifted his head and stared hard at her, "You know that, don't you? It has to be something you want, too."
"I do, Harry, I do. I want this more than anything. It all sounds so perfect, so wonderful. You're the only one I'd ever want to marry. I know you will always be there and care for me, just as I will for you." As she spoke the level of magic swirling around them increased palpably due to the intensity of their feelings.
Sirius broke in, "Excellent! That's settled then. I hate to break this up, but we need to proceed quickly. If you're ready, you can both sign here. I will sign it too, and then we will only need your parents' approval."
"That will never happen. You heard Mum. She's gone off the deep end. I've never seen her like this." Ginny almost started crying again. She found her mother's actions deeply disturbing.
Sirius addressed Ginny in a soothing tone. "Don't hold it against her. There is a long story behind all this. What you need to know right now, is that your Mum is very protective of her children. She doesn't want them hurt. She cares for you all deeply. The problem is, she doesn't understand what is actually happening here. She has a deep-seated distrust of the Old Ways and has walked away from them. She sees this as a betrayal of all her beliefs. In addition to all of that, she is extremely reluctant to admit her children are growing up." He stared pointedly at Ginny. "She is especially protective of her only daughter."
Harry and Ginny still looked very skeptical. Ginny was incensed that Molly had spoken to Sirius and Harry the way she had. Her protective instincts were working overtime. She also reluctantly admitted to herself that her mother's treatment of her had deeply wounded her. It was apparent that her mother was incapable of seeing her for who she really was. She was fixated on imagining her as a small girl in pigtails, still attached to her mother's robes. Ginny surmised that it was all a result of her mother's continued denial of the events of her First Year. Outwardly, her mother had acknowledged what had happened, but, in the day to day manner in which she related to her daughter, it was clear to Ginny that in Molly's heart and mind, she never even admitted Ginny had left for Hogwarts. It was her mother's way of keeping her daughter perpetually safe.
Harry was hurt beyond belief. Molly's actions reminded him of how he was treated by the Dursleys, and the pain from that already ran deep. He felt like the last few years had all been a mirage. Nothing was real. Mrs. Weasley had said he was like family, but she obviously hadn't meant it. Family didn't treat each other like this. Or at least, he didn't think they should. It would take him a long time to ever get over these wounds, and he wondered if it was even possible, but for Ginny's sake he knew he had to try. With tremendous sorrow, Harry resigned himself to having very little contact with Mrs. Weasley.
Sirius's voice brought them both back to the present. "We ought to get back to the kitchen soon. I'll see if I can get Arthur up here to sign this. If he does, then I can start setting our summer plans in motion."
Harry looked at Sirius questioningly.
"Wonderful surprises, pup, wonderful surprises. I think you'll like them, and, if Arthur agrees, Ginny can join us." With a huge smile he left the room almost at a run.
Returning to kitchen, Sirius noticed that Ron and Hermione were no longer on the stairs. They were both in the kitchen trying to help calm Molly down. She was hysterical because Ginny had disappeared, along with Sirius and Harry. She kept insisting that those "foul excuses for wizards have kidnapped my daughter!" Listening to her ravings, Sirius came to the uncomfortable realisation that she sounded remarkably like his own mother. Quickly, before she noticed his return, he discreetly motioned to Arthur to follow him and successfully pulled him away.
As they reached Sirius's study, Arthur stopped abruptly in the doorway. Sitting in the oversized chair were Harry and Ginny. Heads together, arms around each other, Harry was murmuring in Ginny's ear, one hand absently caressing the length of her hair. Ginny was gazing up into his eyes, an expression of quiet contentment gracing her features. Caught in a world of their own making, neither was aware of Sirius's return.
Arthur watched the scene unfolding before him with tears in his eyes. He noted the tenderness with which Harry spoke to his only daughter, and the protectiveness emanating from him. The apparent closeness between the two young people was a surprise to him, but Sirius's words replayed themselves in his mind, and he saw the truth of them for himself. There was something special happening between Harry and Ginny. He could almost see the magic pulsating around them.
Sirius motioned him into the room, sealed it and spoke. "Arthur, I have discussed everything with Ginny and Harry. They both want this very much."
Hearing their names, the pair looked up and saw that Arthur had arrived.
Ginny looked at her father apprehensively, trying to gauge his reaction.
He smiled gently down at her, letting her know that she had nothing to fear from him.
"If you need to, I will give you some time to speak with your daughter," Sirius offered solicitously.
Arthur shook his head briefly, indicating that he no longer believed that was necessary. "Sirius, I can see the truth of your words before me, clear as day. Pumpkin, this is what you want, isn't it?"
Ginny gave her father a brilliant smile and nodded her head vigorously, not moving from Harry's lap.
"And you, Harry, this is what you want too?" he asked turning his eyes on the young man holding his daughter.
Harry blushed, but held his gaze. "Yes, sir, I want nothing more than to have Ginny with me for the rest of my life. She means everything to me. Without her, I feel incomplete, empty. Please, Mr. Weasley, it would mean everything to us."
"Then I will sign the contract. You do understand that my wife has been tremendously upset by all of this. I know this is not your fault," he reassured them, "but it might behoove us all, if she didn't see you for awhile. When she finds out what I have done, things will be a little tense." He swallowed hard at the thought.
"Arthur, I may have just the solution, although it will undoubtedly add to the tension of the situation. I am planning on spending some time in a safe location this summer, training Harry and preparing him for the coming conflict. I would be more than happy to include Ginny in this training. I actually think it would be good for both of them to spend some time together, away from the tension and stress of having Voldemort," and Molly, he thought to himself, "breathing down their necks. It will also allow Harry some time to heal. Your family could continue to live here in safety, and it would give Molly additional time to recover from the shocks she has received."
Arthur thought about Sirius' proposition for a minute and realised it was probably for the best. He would miss his little girl, who, he reflected solemnly, was no longer little, but it would give Molly a chance to come to terms with what was happening, and perhaps force her to accept the reality of her daughter's maturity and life.
"I give you my permission to take her with you," Arthur declared formally, "although since she is now betrothed, I'm not sure it is needed anymore."
Ginny rose from Harry's lap and flew into her father's arms. "I love you, Daddy! Thank you so much for supporting us. I know this is hard for you. We really do appreciate it. I hate to leave you with Mum like this, but she won't be happy with any of us, and at least we won't be around to make her angry every time she sees us." She gave a wry smile.
"We will leave as soon as possible, Arthur. I will find a way to keep in touch with you. I suspect the Order will come looking for us, however, they will not have an easy time finding us. Albus may try to interfere with my plans for Harry, since he does not agree with my decisions involving him. If it's any comfort to you, Bill has agreed to come with us and help train them. I am sure he will do a good job of watching over Ginny." He winked at the young girl. "Ginny, run upstairs and pack your bags. Don't worry about the underage magic restriction; it's not detectable here. Be as quick as you can. Oh, and if you see Bill, Fleur, Remus, or Tonks, let them know it's time."
XXX
A/N I am extremely sorry I was unable to get this up before now. There was a miscommunication with my betas, which only recently got corrected. Once it was discovered my beta worked hard on getting the chapter back to me in one day. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and that things are a bit clearer now. Enjoy! Thanks to all my readers and reviewers and my dedicated betas.