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Welcome to chapter 28 of Little Red Bird. Thanks for showing it love.
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Disclaimer: All HP rights and characters owned by JK Rowling, and fics are created for entertainment only
It had been one of the best birthdays for Ginny, easily compared to the last one she spent at the manor. Both having their own significance, however having the ability to turn into a king cobra of all snakes was a bloody good birthday gift, even if she originally wanted it to be a jaguar.
After spending a good hour and half switching between her animagus and human form, she felt much comfortable transforming with her wand. It would take her a while before she can do it without one. However the initial transformations had her feeling extremely sore, nothing a dose of pepper up couldn't fix.
She returned to Burrow around dinner but hardly ate much, still feeling miffed at her family. She didn't expect much after the drama during breakfast, and wasn't disappointed when everyone left the table before giving her a token birthday wish. The only exception being Charlie who owled her a signed jersey from the star chaser of the Holyhead Harpies, Wilda Griffiths.
Ginny didn't really have any interest in quidditch but she did have a poster of the Harpies she got when Bill took her to a Harpies game after he landed a job with Gringotts, to celebrate. It was one of her treasured memories, she always knew her eldest brothers always cared the most about her, more than anyone else in the family.
Another letter she received was from Bill who wished her and promised to give her the gift when they meet in a few days. It was a bittersweet birthday overall if she considered her family.
Quickly going back to her room and locking it, she apparated to the Manor with Dinky's help. After a long warm shower she put on the purple acromantula silk dress set out for her with a silver choker necklace and a pair of silver hoops in her ears. The one-shoulder dress with silver accents accentuated her eyes and the jewellery complimented her dress perfectly.
After putting on a light makeup and removing the glamour on her hair she sauntered into the dining room where she was greeted by Draco who had insisted on accompanying Cissa to the little celebration at Lestrange Manor. If only Astoria could join, it would have been the perfect end to the night. However, this was the next best thing and even priceless was Draco's reaction when she transformed into her animagus. There were rare occasions where she had seen him as pale as his hair as she coiled around him while he stood petrified in abject horror.
The celebrations continued late into the night with a lavish feast and a plethora of gifts from Draco, Narcissa and Bellatrix.
The next few days were quite uneventful apart from the usual hustle and bustle of packing before they took the international portkey to Egypt. The first day they arrived in the wizarding district of Cairo, they were photographed for the Prophet article. Post that her family were left to enjoy the trip on their own.
Bill had taken upon himself to show them all around. Even though the majority of landmass was made up of hot and sandy desert areas, the regions around the Nile delta were beautiful. They visited a lot of popular tourist attractions, however what she loved the most was to sit next to Bill every night when he would regale ancient Egyptian tales, some factual, others a mere figment of people's imagination.
It was the last night before they returned to Cairo and took the portkey back to Britain. They had decided to camp in the desert for their last leg of the trip. Everyone sat around the bonfire and enjoyed their meals before retiring for the night into their tent, except Ginny who sat furthest from the tent watching the dying embers of the bonfire.
It was indeed a beautiful night and a starlit sky was the only source of light left after a while. A warm hand rested on her shoulders got her out of her musings. She lifted her head to see who stood behind her, "Bill!"
"You seem surprised, Ginny." he sat next to her, "What's got you so distracted?"
Ginny sighed, "I'm not distracted, Bill. Just thinking."
"About what?" he prodded further, "Did mothe-"
"No… I mean not recently… It was just a slap though. Don't worry about it. I can handle it."
Bill clenched his fists in frustration as he gritted his teeth, "When"
"It's okay Bill, calm down please." Ginny tried to placate her brother who was trying hard to control his temper. Molly's treatment of little Ginny was one of the reasons he had frequent quarrels with his mother. The abhorrent behaviour and the incessant need to control their lives was what drove both Bill and Charlie out of the Burrow and they were happy to make a life outside Britain as long as they didn't have to return.
"How can I, Ginny? You know how much I hate this. You're as much our flesh and blood as other brothers and instead of holding you dear, she's treating you poorly for Godric knows what reason. I've had so many fights with her over the years that I gave up trying. I'm sorry Ginny, if I had stayed at the Burrow I'd never have let her hit you." Bill rubbed his face trying to control his raging emotions.
"If you stayed at the Burrow, Charlie wouldn't have left either. You've made a name for yourself as a Master Curse Breaker, Bill. Even Charlie, he's become an expert in handling Dragons at such a young age. This gives me hope that I can be free one day, so don't feel any guilt dear brother." Ginny gave him a playful nudge, "Besides, you know I'm a Slytherin, right. I can take care of myself."
"Yes, I've heard the endless tirade from mum about your sorting. It was all she could talk about for weeks in her letters."
"That must have been fun I guess. By the way, can you put up a privacy ward or spell around us?"
Bill turned sideways to face her directly gazing curiously at her, "Is something wrong? It's just us around and the camp is warded."
Ginny adjusted herself to sit face to face with Bill, "I never said it's for outsiders. Please, just ward it, I don't want another lecture from our nosy family."
Bill gave her a skeptical look but complied after a few moments nonverbally silencing their conversation for others. "Now, tell me what's going on Ginny. I know you've matured quite a bit since we last met, but even this is a bit too much maturity for your age."
"Nothing, Bill." she drawled, "Tell me one thing: what's your view on light magic and dark magic."
"Why? I mean how is it related to what you want to say?"
She shrugged, "Just curiosity…"
Bill sneaked a glance towards the tent before releasing a sigh, "I don't think Dark magic is all that bad. However, let's not generalise it, most of it IS used for nefarious purposes. You could say it's all about the intent. I never say this but quite a bit of my job requires me to use darker spells and wards. The curses my team have to decipher and break through sometimes aren't foolproof and such wards are what keep us safe. On the other hand you have light magic, used with malicious intent is good enough to kill. A well placed reductor to the chest or a diffindo to a vital body part can cause a lot of harm. So yes it's all intent based and no, not all who use said magic are Dark Wizards."
Ginny felt genuinely surprised and happy, this could be simpler than she thought. "Wow! You sure have a lot of passion defending it brother. But sure, it clears up what I wanted to know. Anyways, I was thinking about my birthday gift and tonight I want to ask for it."
Bill felt a smile creep on his face, "Oh sure, why not. I was wondering when you'd ask since you're supposed to return tomorrow. Go ahead, tell me, we'll see if I can get that in time."
Ginny shook her head lightly, "No, no… Nothing that you need to buy. It's something you can give me. However, I won't tell what that is until you give me an oath on your magic that you will give me whatever I ask of you. Think it through, once you give your word you can't go back on it."
"Ginny that's ver-"
"Bill, I know how serious that oath is. Decide, and agree if you trust me… If you don't… well then there's no point asking then, is it?" Ginny stood shaking off the sand and walked away towards the edge of the warded campsite.
A few moments passed while Bill remained seated contemplating, gazing into the starlit sky. Ginny remained hopeful that Bill would agree, however her resolve faltered a bit when there was no response from him after a while. She felt dejected and decided to turn in for the night, she walked past him, however before she reached the tent she heard Bill call her back.
A ray of hope glimmered as she approached Bill who was still gazing at the sky. He motioned her to sit next to her, "You know Ginny, there's not a day goes by when I don't miss you. I often gaze at the stars and I somehow know they're watching over you, keeping you safe. It's a foolish thought but it keeps me sane. So, yes I do trust you with my life Ginny. I have no clue what it is that you're going to ask of me, but I'm willing to take that chance. However, I do have one request that anything you ask make sure you're safe and sound. Agreed?"
Bill looked towards her for an answer as she nodded in understanding before he pulled his wand out, "Good. So, here it goes. I, William Weasley, hereby give you an oath on my magic that I shall grant you a wish and fulfill it unconditionally, so mote it be."
A golden glow encompassed both of them before it vanished into a thread of light connecting both of them and then disappeared completely.
This was it, Ginny took a deep breath and held her brother's hands affectionately. "I accept it. Now, please listen carefully Bill. I love you and Charlie the most and it would devastate me if either of you came to harm. The thing I want to ask of you is a simple, yet extremely difficult to follow. You know Bill, that in our first year Harry Potter fought the wraith of You-Know-Who?"
Bill shook his head solemnly, this was not the kind of information he was looking forward to. It seemed he was indeed hasty in giving an oath. "Ginny, please don't tell me you are planning to fight him. I cannot allow that, he's dangerous if he has survived after these many years."
"Of course not, Bill. However, it is imminent that he shall return and when he does, there would definitely be a war. What I want to ask of you is that You will Not take part in this war actively or in any manner whatsoever. You will also not discuss this with Charlie until I secure his oath. This is all I ask and I Will my magic to accept this as the wish that was granted."
"Ginny! What have you done… This goes against my condition. How can I keep you safe if I don't take part in the war, if and when it arises. At this moment, I don't understand how he survived but… How will you keep yourself safe Ginny? Our family will always be targeted, it was last time when mum lost her twin brothers and countless others from the light side."
"Calm down, Bill. I won't be targeted by You-Know-Who but I won't fight for the light side either. I don't care if he wins or not, my goal is to survive and I'll be much more happy if you both weren't part of the people who rebel against him and get a target painted on your back. I know you're smart enough to find a way around the oath, but here I'm trusting you to do the right thing and follow what I've asked. Make a good life for yourself here. You do this and I promise I'll survive if a war ever breaks out, happy?" Ginny gave him a reassuring smile.
"What about others? Should I not come to the rescue of mum, dad and our brothers?"
Ginny cut him off shortly, "No, Mum and Dad are mature enough to understand the risks and should keep away from war. The twins and Percy should be adults in a few years capable enough. I hope he doesn't but if he does, by then they'll be adults who would be responsible enough to decide their own fate. That leaves Ron, whom as far as I know will follow the Great Saviour Harry Potter anywhere and everywhere with their bookworm sidekick. He isn't going to listen to reason. So No Bill, whatever happens they will choose it themselves, I'll ask them the same thing I asked you, to stay away from war, without an oath, an earnest request. Please let them take their own decisions. They may coax you into returning but you can't, not until it's all over and I release you from the oath. Agreed?" Ginny waited for him to respond, "I said, Do. You. Agree?"
Bill sighed, the oath had already been activated once she placed her wish, he had no option but to agree. He hoped against hope that a war would never break out and the return of You-Know-Who would remain just that, a hoax. However, if worse came to worst he would forsake the vow to save Ginny should she ever be in any sort of danger. He could live without magic but the loss of his little Ginny would tear him apart. "Promise me Ginny. You'll stay safe."
"I promise I'll try to keep out of any trouble. Now come here and give me a hug." Ginny held her arms wide before her brother gathered her into a crushing hug.
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