A/N: Will y'all wait for the appearance of Draco? Not everything can just be slap-bang straight there in your face all the time. It's gonna take time, it's gonna be worth it, I want to make this a proper story.

Sorry about the lyrics beginning this one, they were having a Michael Jackson countdown on MTV Hits because of his birthday, I couldn't resist it. Never realised just how much I love his music until now.

Anyhow, enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 2

Haunting Memories

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain...
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

~ Michael Jackson, Earth Song

The first thing Virginia Weasley - she'd decided to keep her name - did when she woke up in the morning was to fix herself a cup of tea, Colin too if he was there. Usually he left for work around eight o' clock. This morning he was there, enjoying the last of his holiday. He was going back this afternoon though; all he'd wanted to do was help her when Harry's family left and Dennis' arrived. Eleanor usually made a fuss if Colin wasn't there when they arrived, something about not caring enough about his brother. Ginny knew otherwise.

Colin loved his brother almost as much as he loved her, he proved it every time the family stopped around as well. Eleanor was blind to it nevertheless and spent the time paying too much attention to Tammy. She was a very over protective mother. Very overbearing also. Tammy was always dressed head to toe in designer Muggle wear, as far as Ginny knew Dennis couldn't afford it, so she assumed Eleanor must have a small fortune hidden away in the volts of Gringotts.

Moaning as she opened her eyes, Ginny brought a shaky hand up to rub her eyes, she was very thankful they had a guestroom. In the past she'd had to share with Cho, which had been a nightmare, the Seeker had spent the entire night snipping at her, and saying how Ginny hadn't been able to hold onto Harry. Ginny hadn't wanted to hold onto Harry, they'd simply drifted apart, if truth were told they never should have been together in the first place, much better off as friends. The relationship had never even got that serious that they'd slept together. Ginny at nineteen had been extremely confused, Harry at twenty had just been lonely, and then one night he'd admitted his feeling to her. Things had radiated from there.

The three months in which they'd shared had been extremely sweet. Tender kisses, evenings out, Harry buying her roses once a week. She'd grown tired, he'd grown tired, and their feelings dwindled away as acquaintances did. It had all been for the best. On occasions she could say she did still have the odd hidden feeling for him, such as last night, knowing that Harry was engaged did make her feel a little strange. Ginny couldn't put a finger on the feeling though. She couldn't say she was jealous. She couldn't say she still loved him. She just… cared. Probably just as a friend, but it didn't matter, she was married, he was engaged, and everything was over.

Ginny dropped her hand and then peeled the pale blue sheets off herself, trudging over to the mirror she groaned as she caught sight of her reflection. She lifted her fingers to her head and trailed them through the tangled excuse for her hair, last night it had been sat in neat spirals. What had happened? Shaking her head she stepped up closer examining her eyes. Were they bags under them? She sighed pressing herself against it to get a better look, and then she spotted it. No, no, no, no, no, no… she thought, that can't be a wrinkle! Trailing her finger along the line, hopefully just a laughter line, she bit her lip. Getting on now, Gin, she told herself.

With a dismissive shrug she took her eyes from the mirror, picked up her dressing gown from the end of the bed, and then walked out of the room and toward the kitchen to make her morning cup of tea. Ginny pushed open the door to the kitchen and walked into the small room, there was a fireplace in the corner sat behind a grate, and then a round wooden table in the centre of the room. Laughing a little as she caught sight of the cow Poppy had crayoned onto the paint work by the door, she shook her head and turned towards the table. She jumped back a little. Cho was sat quietly, fully clothed, her legs crossed, with a mug of steaming coffee between her hands.

Ginny shut the kitchen door behind herself and turned back to Cho. 'Good morning,' she said softly moving over to the counter, pulling her wand from the sleeve of her dressing gown, and then boiling the kettle with a simple wave.

Cho remained silent until a tap came from the window. 'There's an owl out there,' she whispered before lifting her mug to her lips and taking a careful sip. 'Been there about twenty minutes,' she added and then took another sip. Cho put the mug onto the wooden surface then picked up her wand, which was laid beside her hands, pointed it at her hair and waved it gently. Ginny cast a sidelong glance and watched as Cho's masses of black hair worked their way into a careful French plait, succouring itself tightly with a red rose tie.

Reverting her attention to the window Ginny turned the kettle off and walked over, pushing it open and almost knocking the owl off the window ledge. She stared at the owl as it swooped into the room landing on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. It was a tawny owl, brown feathers, which were smooth and neat. Ginny looked at Cho and both girls shrugged in unison as the owl stuck its leg out. Leaning forward Cho took the piece of parchment from it and passed it over to Ginny.

She took it and moved to sit down in one of the empty chairs, the tawny hooted at her expectantly. 'You can wait,' muttered Ginny softly as she took the small piece of silver ribbon from around the parchment. She put it down gently and then unrolled the aged paper, smoothing it out across the tabletop. Cho leant in closer to look as Ginny read it gradually.

Where are you?

Never forgot you…

This love is forever…

'Is that it? Is that all there was?' The inquisitive Seeker asked after reading over the few words on the page.

Ginny shrugged again and turned the parchment over, there was nothing on the back, it was completely blank. 'That's it,' she replied. Sighing she put it down on the table and glanced at the owl. 'Where'd you come from?' she asked it, stroking its feathers gently with her fingers.

'Might not be yours,' Cho suddenly piped up, 'It could be for Harry, another one of those obsessive girls that follow him around, maybe.' She shook her head. 'They could have at least had the decency to sign it or write who is was to, you know.' She leant forward again and picked it up. 'Want me to show it to him, he might recognise the handwriting or something.'

'No!' Ginny snatched the letter from the older girl's hand. 'I don't want Colin to see it, and especially not Eleanor this afternoon, she gets a bit meddlesome.'

Cho rolled her eyes and Ginny got a glimpse at how long her eyelashes really were. 'I remember from last time I stayed here with Harry, remind me never to come to your family gatherings again,' she said sharply then rose from her chair, picking up a crust of bread from the counter left there from last night, and tossing it to the tawny owl.

The owl sprung from the back of the chair gripping the bread with its beak tightly and shot back out of the window, spreading its wings and soaring up into the clouds. Ginny laughed and then got up hiding the letter underneath the cookie jar, and out of reach.

'OK, well, I'm going to get showered,' Ginny said quickly wanting to escape the clutches of Cho. 'If Colin gets up tell him where I am.' She smiled, reached for the kettle and poured a mug of hot water. Putting it down again, she took a teabag from the relevant jar with her other hand and dropped it into the mug, then pulled open the fridge getting out the milk and putting a little in the mug along with the tea. She glanced around. Where was the sugar?

Almost automatically Cho stuck her hand out, sugar jar clutched tightly in her fingers. 'That milk from Colin's father?' she questioned gently as Ginny took the sugar from her. Chuckling to herself Ginny chose not to answer. She spooned her sugar into the mug, took out the teabag, and then started for the kitchen door.

But the tall form of Ron blocked her path.

Ginny looked up at him with raised eyebrows as he spoke. 'Mornin' all,' he said cheerily, pushed past her, and then made a grab for the kettle. She turned around slowly to watch him. He looked a mess. His red hair was all tangled, and a few pieces of it were sticking up, his eyes were still reddened from sleep, and the robes he'd been wearing last night were wrinkled dreadfully.

'May I ask why you're in my house at nine in the morning?' she muttered and leant against the doorframe, warming her hands around her mug, as she continued to watch her brother. 'Because you're not meant to be here,' she added, though it was more to mentally remind herself of that fact.

'Asked Colin,' grumbled Ron as he flicked his wand over to the other side of the kitchen. A mug picked itself up from the mug tree and floated its way over to Ron. 'Last night, you know when you'd fallen asleep at the end of the garden. Poor little sleepy Gin.' He sniggered.

Ginny sighed and dragged her fingers through her hair, before trying to stifle a yawn, it was unsuccessful. 'Well I'm perfectly rested now, thank you. Did you sleep on the couch?'

'Yep, and Hermione did.'

'Hermione?' She blinked a few times standing up straight again, and sipping at her tea. 'Hermione and you? You two shared the couch? Whatever for…?'

Ron grinned at her devilishly and went back to making his tea in silence. Grabbing hold of the mug that was now floating about two inches from his head and filling it with boiling water. 'Think you can figure that out Gin,' he muttered eventually, chuckling as he said it.

Her eyes widened and she almost dropped her cup, she gripped it with the other hand tightly and glared at him sharply. 'No, Ron! No, no, no, no, no! Please tell me you didn't…' She felt her grip on her mug loosen again as her brother nodded. 'Oh my God!' Then she felt herself visibly gag. 'You did that on my couch…? Well you can pay for the cleaning next—'

'Relax Gin,' Ron interrupted spinning around, 'I was kidding, Hermione slept on the couch, and I slept in one of the armchairs… nothing happened.' He raised an eyebrow and smirked. 'Well, not with her anyway.'

'God, you're sickening,' Ginny let out a heavy breath and slammed her mug onto the table, which caused Cho to jump up several inches in her seat and spill a little of her coffee. 'I'm taking a shower!' She spun around and stomped out of the kitchen.

'I was joking!' Ron's voice came from the other side of the wall. Ginny only giggled before walking into the bathroom.

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Ron shrugged and picked up his mug, and then sat down at the table with Cho. He stared at her for a long moment, watching her as she finished off the remainder of whatever was in her cup. He'd admit it, he was jealous of Harry in some sense, then again he always had been. Harry Potter, world famous wizard. It wasn't like he'd done anything amazing, only defeated Lord Voldemort twice. Big deal, Ron thought a moment, I could have done that.

He mentally slapped himself and looked down into his cup. Enough petty jealousy about Harry, eight years of it was too much as it was. Ron just couldn't help it. Picking up his mug he threw down the contents, wincing as the hot liquid burned his throat a little. He looked back at Cho. 'You're up early,' he said.

The dark haired girl raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in his direction, and shrugged her shoulders delicately. 'Jack got me up around eight, just though it wasn't worth going back to bed.' She stared down into her cup and screwed her nose up a little as Ron watched. 'Harry's getting him ready; I think we're leaving in about an hour.'

'Oh OK, me too I guess, wanted to head to the Ministry with Hermione.' Nodding a few times he got up from the table taking his mug with him, and grabbing hold of Cho's as he walked past. He put them in the sink and sighed, he couldn't be bothered. Turning back Ron watched Cho for a moment as she twiddled her wand around her fingers. 'Everything OK? You seem a little far out today…' he asked her suddenly.

For the second time that morning she jumped in her seat, and then looked over her shoulder at him. 'I'm perfectly fine, thank you,' said Cho softly and she flicked a strand of her black hair from her eyes. She sighed a little and went back to twiddling her wand.

Ron kept staring at her again until he noticed someone walk into the kitchen; he looked up and was greeted by Hermione's smiling face. She still looked tired, but on the most part she looked ready to face another crazy day at the Ministry. 'Morning 'Mione,' he said with a grin as she walked over to him. She leant over him to get to the sink and took out one of the now dripping wet mugs.

Her nose twitched in uncertainty as she stepped back, but she soon frowned and placed her spare hand on her hip. 'Don't you know how to wash-up, Ron?' Hermione asked sharply. 'Think you would have learnt by now.' She shook her head and grabbed hold of the wand he was holding between his fingertips, waving it at the mug. The mug leapt out of her hand and spun around a few times, and then it landed onto her hand, perfectly washed, and perfectly dried. 'Better.' Hermione grinned at him triumphantly and patted his shoulder gently. 'It's OK, you'll learn.'

'I already know thanks,' Ron growled and snatched his wand back, tucking it away in his robes.

'Ooh, temper, temper,' she teased. Walking away from him she set to work on making breakfast and more tea. 'I tell you something,' she muttered while grabbing hold of the bread, 'I'll be glad to get home tonight, need a bit of relaxation.'

Smiling Ron stepped up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them gently. 'Want any help with that?' he whispered into her ear, 'you know that I give good massages… I'm free later.'

Cho was sniggering from the kitchen table.

'Are you now?' Hermione shrugged his hands off and started buttering toast. 'Can you pour the pumpkin juice please, if that's not too difficult for you?' she whispered with a snicker, and floated a large plate over towards her.

He reached over towards the fridge but placed one of his hands resting on her waist. Taking a large jug of pumpkin juice from the fridge he put in down on the table, and then stepped back up close to Hermione, resting his chin on her shoulder. He frowned a little and pushed a strand of hair from her neck. 'Don't you like me anymore, Hermione?' he whined quietly.

The bushy-haired girl sighed loudly, and then shoved him away with her hip turned around to face him. Ron waited patiently for the snide remark that was coming; there was usually one. He took in a breath and held it as she stared at him, her eyes moving up and down his body several times. 'What do you want me to say Ron?' questioned Hermione gently. She paused for a few moments, during that time Cho got up and walked out of the kitchen. 'You broke up with me after all, shouldn't I be asking you that?' She tuned around again and picked up the plate putting it on the table, then looked at his face hopefully.

'I got—'

'Yeah, I've heard it all before.' Hermione leant against the edge of the table and crossed her arms over her chest. 'Just stick with Susan, OK. Because there is just no chance in the world of us getting back together… I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. And you only have yourself to blame for the situation.' She sighed and looked at the floor. 'If you stopped flirting with me and messing about all the time I'd try to work on our friendship again, but until you stop, I can't.'

Ron bit his lip; he hadn't realised that was how she felt. It was true though he did only have himself to blame, and if he'd spent a little more time listening to her they probably could have sorted things out. 'I'm sorry… I'll help you with the breakfast.'

'Thank you.'

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Ten o' clock soon came around, breakfast was over, and Harry and Colin were working on washing up the remainder of the dishes. Meanwhile Ginny had ushered everyone else, Ron, Hermione, and Cho with little Jack, into the living room to get out of their way. Hermione had curled up in one of the armchairs and was sitting silently, occasionally shooting Ron odd looks. Ron himself was perched beside the fireplace fiddling with the lid on the pot of floo powder, and dusting spare grains of it off the mantle piece. Jack was shrieking excitedly thanks to Cho bouncing him up and down on her knee, while she waited impatiently for Harry.

Finally there was Ginny; she was lying stretched out on the carpet playing with Poppy and her dolls. Poppy had been trying to put an item of clothing on one of her dolls for the past five minutes, it didn't fit though, and it was way too small. But she wasn't listening to anything mummy said to her either so she kept trying to get it to fit.

'I feel like having a game of Quidditch.'

'You always do.'

Ginny looked up to see Ron and Hermione talking for the first time that she'd seen that morning, of course it had to be stupid snappy comments. For some reason they'd been like that with each other for the past week, she wasn't sure why, because they were normally so friendly. She sighed and picked up a doll with blonde hair, although half of it had been pulled out. The doll was now styling nice bald patches.

'Nothing wrong with that,' Ron answered eventually.

Hermione laughed dryly. 'You need a new hobby.'

'I need a new broom.'

Giggling Ginny shook her head, Hermione was originally meant to be buying Ron a racing broom for his birthday but they'd broken up just before and he hadn't been able to gather the money to afford it himself. Shame really.

'You can have my old one,' Harry said from the archway in-between the kitchen and living room. He stepped into the room and took Jack from Cho, lifting the little boy to nestle neatly at his shoulder. 'If you want,' he added, smiling.

Ron shook his head and lifted the floo power pot from the mantle piece. 'No, it's all right… I'm going to save up; I've had enough of hand-me-downs,' he replied, and handed the pot over to Cho.

Cho took it gratefully getting up from the couch; she looked over at Harry. 'Are we going now then?' she asked, reaching a hand over and ruffling Jack's hair. The little boy yawned sleepily. 'Think Jacker's needs a nap.'

'Actually,' started Harry, 'I was gonna ask Ron if he wanted to go for a drink at the Cauldron.'

Jack was immediately prised from Harry's arms, and Cho took a pinch of floo powder. 'Fine, fine, I'll go home alone then,' she said sighing and walking over to the fireplace. Jack settled down in her arms, making the occasional gurgling noise against her shoulder. 'See you later, Harry.' She moved to throw the floo power but was stopped as Harry kissed her cheek quickly; she smiled then tossed the powder into the fire.

The fire glowed green for a few moments and then Cho shouted, 'Brambly Hedge', the name of their small home in Cornwall. Someone had said the house was named after a collection of Muggle books, but then again no one really had that much knowledge.

After watching his fiancée and son disappear into the flames, Harry turned to look at Ron. 'Going to come then?' he asked smiling brightly again, 'We haven't done some decent catching up in a while. 'Actually, Hermione can come too… if she wants.' He glanced around at Hermione who looked up slowly. 'Herm, what about it?'

She began to shake her head, but Ron walked over to her and pulled her up from the armchair, disrupting her action. 'Ron, get off!' Hermione pushed him away and scowled in his direction crossing her arms.

Harry rolled his eyes and let out a low whistle. 'I think you two need to talk, Herm you're coming with us.' It wasn't a question, it was an order. Hermione knew not to argue and silently walked over to the fireplace with Ron. Taking a pinch of floor powder Harry threw it into the fire and shouted, 'Diagon Alley!'

Following suit, Ron did the same and grabbed hold of Hermione's hand before she could protest, the two of them disappeared into the flames and Ginny was left alone with her daughter in the living room.

'Den said that he and El were going to Apparate here later,' Colin said as he walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. 'Then I'm meant to be taking Den over to the Prophet, wants to see how it's run and everything. So you'll get the afternoon with Eleanor and the kids.'

Ginny groaned and closed her eyes, and Poppy took this as a perfect opportunity to crawl onto her mothers back. 'You little rascal,' muttered Ginny, still keeping her face pressed against the carpet. 'I should have gone to the Leaky Cauldron with Harry… it would have been so much better.'

'Why?' Colin asked, sitting down on the floor next to her and removing Poppy. Poppy made a very impressive show of objecting to this and started crying. 'Shush Pop, don't be silly,' whispered Colin and put her back down.

Rolling over on the floor Ginny stared up at Colin and pouted. 'Because Eleanor and I don't get on, she acts so immature all the time. Yes, I know she's two years younger than us, but she is twenty-two!' She lifted her hand into the air, pointing her fingers toward the ceiling. 'Actually she's twenty-three in November.'

'Mummy doesn't like Auntie Eleanor?' asked Poppy crawling over to Ginny and pulling on the broach that was attached to her robes. 'She's nice… Ooh, ooh, daddy is she bringing presents again?' The little girl looked up showing a toothy grin, well… a two toothed grin.

'No Pop, no presents. It was your birthday last time, remember?' said Colin quickly, and then turned his attention to Ginny again. 'It is only one afternoon, you'll handle it… just take her shopping in Diagon Alley or something.'

'El doesn't like shopping… oh actually wait, she likes shopping if they're Muggle stores.'

Colin sighed. 'Go into London with her then.'

'I don't think so.' Sitting up, Ginny picked Poppy up and then clambered to her feet; she coughed lightly and walked through to the kitchen. 'We'll be in the—'

She let out a loud scream as Dennis Creevey suddenly appeared in the middle of her kitchen, a moment later the figure of Eleanor Branstone holding Tammy appeared next to him. Ginny took a deep breath and put Poppy down, leaning against the counter. 'Jesus… warn me next time, please.' She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, her heart was racing.

Dennis and his "lovely" girlfriend Eleanor weren't particularly very good at the arriving at the right time thing, or in the right place for that mater. Eleanor was grinning from ear to ear as usual, and was holding Tammy against her chest tightly, where the little girl was tugging on her blonde dreadlocks. The younger witch barely batted an eyelid, just looked around the kitchen instead.

'Where's Colin?' Dennis asked gently, and took his girlfriends cloak from her. Ginny merely pointed in the direction of the living room as she watched Eleanor place Tammy down on the floor next to Poppy. Dennis had rushed off to his brother.

Eleanor continued to grin and walked over to the kettle, humming jauntily. 'I'll make the tea then, Virginia.' Of course Ginny didn't even get a chance to answer, within seconds teacups were whizzing across the kitchen over to Eleanor who at that moment was filling the teapot. 'BOYS, WANT TEA?' she called out.

A small chorus of "no" came from in the living room, and then in a flash the two Creevey brothers were in the kitchen admitting farewells. Colin kissed Ginny quickly and did the same with Poppy before dragging his brother out into the garden. Ginny peered out of the window just in time to see them Apparate, and then she was left staring at the willow trees by the stream. She shrugged and took the teacup Eleanor was offering her.

'Thank you,' Ginny whispered, lowering herself to sit at the kitchen table with a sigh. 'Well,' she began, 'Last night was crazy, the entire family were over, as well as Harry and Hermione.'

Sitting down Eleanor looked at her curiously. 'Did Harry bring Cho along? I got the feeling she didn't like me when we met before… it's all in the eyes you know.' The younger witch chuckled and stirred her tea contentedly, her eyes now on the two children. 'What was that letter?' she asked mildly.

Ginny jumped a little but quickly steadied her hand, trying to look at Eleanor sincerely. 'Letter, what letter?' she whispered.

'Virginia,' – Eleanor always called her that, it was very annoying – 'don't play dumb with me, someone was hiding it, and I doubt for a moment it was Poppy,' said Eleanor staring across the table with intense green eyes. 'Something about… "this love is forever", who was it from?'

'I don't know, no one sighed it, did they?' she mumbled and slurped her tea. Eleanor looked at her with disgust and Ginny tried very hard to hide the smile pulling on the corners of her mouth, there was nothing she loved more than to annoy Eleanor.

'Oh…'

Silence fell over the kitchen for around five minutes, and the two young witches drank their tea civilly. Poppy and Tammy sat on the floor and played with Poppy's dolls, and Poppy actually figured out that the item of clothing didn't fit the doll she was trying to put it on. She blamed Tammy.

Eleanor was the one to break the silence, no surprises there. 'I meant to ask you something about Hogwarts, are any of your nieces or nephews going there yet, or is there still another year to wait?'

'Another year, Bill's son Rick starts next September. Mums ecstatic about it, wants to see good old Platform 9 ¾ again… she hasn't been there for around five years, I think she misses the run out,' Ginny told her.

Nodding, Eleanor pulled her dreadlocks back from her face and chewed on her lip. 'I miss it, be glad when Tam's old enough to go…' She laughed softly. 'Only another ten and a half years to wait.'

'Eight years for me.' Shaking her head Ginny scratched her nose a little, looking down at Poppy again with a smile. She couldn't wait to take her own child to Hogwarts; Jack would be going the same year as well, so Ginny was glad Poppy would know someone before hand. Looking back up suddenly, she raised an eyebrow at Eleanor. 'Do you think Tammy will be a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff?'

'I think it's too soon to tell, but so far she seems to be more of a Gryffindor.' Eleanor smiled and opened her mouth to say something else but was stopped by a knock at the door. The young witch wrinkled her forehead in confusion. 'Are you expecting any visitors?' she asked looking through the archway.

Ginny shook her head and rose up out of her seat. 'No,' she answered quickly, 'be right back.' Walking into the living room, she passed through it quickly and into the main hallway where the front door was. Sighing gently she tugged on it hard, for some reason it always stuck; strange it was in the summer months and not the winter months though.

After a minute or so of struggling with it Ginny managed to get it open. 'Sorry about that, stupid door,' she began and looked up to the face of the visitor. Her jaw dropped automatically and the hand she was holding the door handle with began to tremble. Clasping her hand more tightly black dots started to whirl in her vision, slowly it was getting harder to see.

Ginny was sure if she spoke she wouldn't be able to put a sentence together. She was sure she wouldn't be able to move either. But luckily her visitor spoke first.

'Hello Weasley, long time no see.'

The world was swallowed in black and Ginny fainted.

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More A/N: Dum, dum, dum!! Who is it at the door? Not that it isn't obvious of course, hee hee! :) *Clears throat* And for today's piece of Harry Potter trivia, I want you all to turn to page 158 of Goblet of Fire. There you will see a name, this name is Eleanor Branstone, and this proves I did not make her up. In time I may include a few of these other lovely students mentioned in GoF's sorting, but we'll see.

Anyway, go REVIEW!