It was very late, or rather very early, before the Weasley lot headed up to bed. Everyone was so glad to have Ginny home that no one even noticed how late it was. Ginny was so relieved that she just sat on the couch and listened to everyone tell her what had happened. It didn't escape her that Harry was sitting right next to her, and that he kept glancing at her. Around 3 a.m. she curled up into a little ball on the couch and fell asleep
listening to the clatter and bustle of the Burrow as she drifted off. It wasn't until she felt someone lifting her and carrying her that she woke up. Slowly she opened her eyes to reveal her father carrying up the sloping staircase to her room.
"I'm so glad to be home," she mumbled before leaning her head against her
father's chest.
"We're so glad you're home too pumpkin," Mr. Weasley said soothingly.

Arthur deposited Ginny in her bed and quietly shut the door behind him. He turned to go to his door and prepared to face his wife. So much had happened in the last few hours that it seemed like much longer since they had sat in the kitchen yelling. Yet no matter how distant the memory seemed, the pain of her words was still fresh in his mind. Taking a deep breath, and not exactly sure of what to expect he opened the door and took a step inside. He found Molly already in bed. She looked up when he entered.
"I-" she said looking up at him; she looked like a person who was guilty
and trying to find words to apologize. Arthur only stood and looked at her.
"Arthur I'm sorry," she sighed finally, "I don't know what else to say."
"Those words hurt Molly," he said slowly.

"I know!" she said her cheeks burning with shame, "I don't know what came over me. I never meant them. I've never even thought them before! But with Ginny missing I just wanted her back and I was so frustrated..." she trailed off, and looked up at him, "I really truly am sorry Arthur. Can you forgive me? Please? I know I've been impossible these last weeks but, but I'm sorry," she finished.
"Molly," Arthur said with a sigh, "I was only trying to do what's best. I knew Lucius would find out if I went to the Ministry and I knew what he would do to Ginny too."
"I know Arthur. I see that now but all I could think about was Draco Malfoy's hands on my baby," she sniffed, "All that matter's now is she's home and I'm sorry."
"I know Molly," he said with a sigh, "I know."
"Oh Arthur," Molly called and jumped up hugging him. Arthur bent down and kissed his wife soundly on the mouth.
"Let's just work together from now on," Arthur said. Mrs. Weasley agreed by
hugging her husband close to her.

Ginny awoke the next morning to the unmistakable sound of people getting ready to leave for the Hogwarts Express. It didn't matter that only Ron, Harry and Hermione were going, and Hermione had had her trunk packed for ages, it was still hectic. Everyone had decided she should wait a week before leaving herself. She smiled then sat up and did something she'd been longing to do forever: rose from the bed, walked to the door, turned the knob and walked out of the room downstairs.

"Morning!" Hermione greeted as she walked in.

"Morning Ginny," Harry said.

"Good Morning!" she greeted taking a seat at the table,

"Ausashes an affeul er ekfeth" Ron said his mouth full of food.

"Huh?" Ginny asked.

"Sausages and waffles for breakfast," Harry translated and handed her the frying pan.

"No thanks," she said waving the plate away. I'm feeling rather odd actually. I suspect it's just from the stress of trying to get out. I'll be better in a few days."

"Whatever you say," Harry said shrugging and taking what would have been Ginny's sausages for himself.

"Morning all!" Percy said as he Apparated with a pop into the kitchen.

"Morning Percy," Ron grumbled swallowing his food. Everyone thought the constant need for Percy to show he was indeed able to Apparate would wear off with time. It hadn't.

"Father and I are going to take you to the ministry as soon as he's ready. Why don't you go get ready?"

"Yeah," Ginny said, "I should," she got up from the table having not eaten a bite and walked upstairs passing her father on the way.

"Morning sweetheart," Arthur greeted. "As soon as you're ready we can take you to the ministry by floo."

"Yeah I know," she said brightly, "Percy just told me. Dad I can't wait to put Mr. Malfoy away. I know Draco's a Death Eater too, he's been gone during the days for the last week and two nights ago and I saw him in Death Eater robes the night I left. Has there been any news of attacks?"

"All last week you say?" Arthur said stopping and turning around to face Ginny.

"Yes. Why?"

"And two nights ago?"

"Yes. Why dad?"

"Because," he hesitated, "Well because there has been a string of Muggle attacks and two nights ago the Diggorys were hit. It was horrible, we could see the Dark Mark from here."

"That was the Malfoys, Dad. I'm sure of it."

"Well go get ready so we can get to the Ministry. I'm willing to bet the Minister will see us directly."

Ginny nodded and hurried up to her room.

~

"I'm ready Mother." Draco Malfoy called. He was standing at the base of the stairs with his school trunk, ready to go. Mrs. Malfoy walked calmly down the stairs to accompany her son on the four-hour car ride to King's Cross.

"I still don't see why we can't take a magical coach into London." Draco pouted, "The ride would only take but a few minutes that way."

"Don't be silly Draco," Mrs. Malfoy scolded, "We can't let the muggles see us arriving in a coach. It would be far to conspicuous."

"Whatever," Draco said. He was still in an incredibly foul mood. His father had explicitly told him he wasn't to go near Ginny while at school.

"I don't need rumors that you actually did rape her going around Hogwarts," Lucius had said. Draco in return had mumbled and left the room.

"Come along Draco," Mrs. Malfoy said, "Do you have your new wand with you?" she asked. Seeing as how Ginny had left with Draco's wand, Mrs. Malfoy had gone to Mr. Ollivanders to tell him her son had broken his wand and needed a new one. Mr. Ollivander wasn't too keen on the idea but after Mrs. Malfoy had offered to donate 700 galleons to his research he produced a wand identical to Draco's in every way. Most unfortunately, he never received the money, nor did he have any recollection of providing Mrs. Malfoy with such a wand because Mrs. Malfoy immediately put a memory charm on him.

"Of course I have my wand!" Draco said, "Why would I try and leave for school without my wand?" Two house elves came and carried Draco's trunk along to the car while the human driver waited for them. Draco climbed into the car and sat down crossing his arms and glaring out of the window. "What's wrong Draco?" Mrs. Malfoy asked calmly.

"I've lost my present. I liked that one!" he said pounding the back of the drivers seat and causing the car to swerve. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Draco commanded. The driver, having become extremely used to this sort of behavior simply replied, "I'm sorry Sir, I will try to be more careful next time." only to be ignored.

"Well you couldn't have kept that girl forever Draco," Mrs. Malfoy said calmly, "Sooner or later someone would have found her. I suspect she would have gone a bit bonkers before that though," she added as an afterthought.

"Well I could have at least kept her until Christmas Break," Draco commented. He was silent for a minute but suddenly added, "I just can't believe she had the gull to lie to me! After all the things I did to make her stay comfortable. I didn't have to go see her every night but I did because she said she was always so lonely!"

"So that's what this is all about." Mrs. Malfoy mused.

"What?" Draco snapped turning to look at his mother.

"Well you liked having this girl around to talk to and be with. I don't blame you, the manor is rather devoid of any sort of peer companionship for you."

"Are you suggesting I actually liked Ginny?" he asked, amazed that his mother could even think such a thing. A Malfoy liking a Weasley, it was absurd.

"I'm saying you liked how she acted and had fun playing with her like you would with a pet." Mrs. Malfoy clarified.

"She was my pet." Draco said.

"Except your pet betrayed you. A loyal pet wouldn't betray you. You're just upset because she wasn't as loyal as you thought."

"I'm upset because she's a lying little manipulative whore," Draco said, his eyes narrowing at his mother.

Mrs. Malfoy simply smiled and looked out the window. She and her son were simply using different words to describe the same feelings.

~

Twenty minutes later Ginny, Mr. Weasley, and Percy were all standing by the fireplace ready to go. Ginny had the letters she had written to her family and Draco's wand as proof.

"Let's go!" Ginny said, "I can't wait to see the look of Mr. Malfoy's face when he's charged with kidnapping and rape!" One by one the three of them stepped into the flame shouting, "MINISTRY OF MAGIC," and were whisked away.

Ginny landed with a slight thump in what was clearly the Ministry's lobby. The place was loud and had wizards running back and forth but as she stood up to wipe the soot off her robes the entire place grew beyond quiet. Slowly, she looked up to find everyone staring at her.

"Ms. Weasley," a random wizard said, "We're glad you're back." She only had time to nod before her father had taken her by the arm and started to lead her away.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked once the lobby had regained its usual hustle and bustle.

"Right to the Minister," Arthur said, "I don't want to give Lucius any time to wiggle his way out of this one." Ginny, knowing her father was right allowed herself to be pulled up what felt like 200 different staircase and led down over corridor after corridor until they finally stopped in front of a large door. Arthur knocked.

"Come in!" called a distinctly feminine voice.

"Hello, Celia" Percy said addressing a women behind the desk as he walked in with a strut. Percy was clearly boastful about the fact that he knew the Minister's secretary by name. Although Ginny reckoned it was because they had rather similar jobs, not because he made frequent visits to the Minister himself.

"Ms. Weasley!" the secretary beamed her eyes falling on Ginny and ignoring Percy, "the Minister will be delighted to see you. He's been looking for you for some time!"

"Uh, thanks." Ginny said and was immediately shot a look by Percy.

"I think what my sister means to say is that she's appreciative of the time and resources the Ministry spent looking for her."

"We need to see the Minister straight away." Arthur said ignoring both of his children.

"Well he is already with someone but I'm sure he'd be happy to see you, let me just tell him you're here.

Ginny watched as the secretary probed her wand against a circular slab of marble and a floating image of Cornelius Fudge appeared.

"I have Arthur Weasley along with his daughter here Mr. Minister," Celia said.

"Perfect!" The image bellowed back, "Send them in. Send them in!"

"Of course Mr. Minister," Celia said. The image faded and Celia sent a jet of light at the door that presumably unlocked it.

"Go right in," Celia smiled.

Ginny walked in and almost fainted. There, standing with the Minister was Lucius Malfoy.

A/N: To all of those I promised a twenty chapter story, I LIED (Just sort me into Slytherin...) I just couldn't resist this cliffhanger. The thing you're really going to hate me for: I have Chapter 21 98% written. I'm still looking for someone to draw some fanart!

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