Rachel E. Thompson
Email: racheview@yahoo.com
Web page: www.racheview.com
Rating: R
Category: Action/Drama
Disclaimer: Alas, I don't own Harry and Co.
Summary: Voldemort won and imprisoned the world under his regime. Now six years later, a new resistance called Lils struggles on their crusade to free the world again. So where does Ginny Weasley fit in? H/G, R/HG, N/L. OoTP Spoilers.
Author's Note: This is my sugar baby fic! It practically spawned on its own, and I've been possessed to finish it ever since. So here it is, my mauling of a classic tale by J.K. Rowling. Enjoy.
***
Chapter Five. The Underground Resistance
Ginny stared across the room at Molly Weasley. The younger woman sighed to herself. The redhead leaned heavily into the doorjamb of the bedroom. She walked slowly to the bed and eased down on it. Her eyes locked on her mother, who continued to gape out the window.
It was a lot to take in. Her father, Bill, Charlie, and Percy were dead. Fred was missing and her mother was mentally gone. Hermione Granger was blind thanks to that bastard Lucius Malfoy. Remus was still unheard from. Neville and Luna were alive, but Ginny hadn't seen them in person yet.
"Twenty-one-years old…" The redhead bowed over her lap. Her hands pressed to her face. "And I've seen more death then a normal person twice my age." She said mournfully and then let her hands drop. The witch threw herself back on the little bed. "I don't know quite what to do, mum? I can't send James off into the same fate as Harry, can I?" She turned her head to the side. She peered over at her silent mother. "Then again, there's no prophecy about Jamie, is there? That means it doesn't have to be James that kills that cruel bastard, doesn't it?" Ginny sighed and rubbed her hand over her face. "But if he's anything like Harry – and he is – he'll want to do it."
"You can't protect him forever, Ginny." Remus Lupin had told her once. "He'll want to know and when he does… He'll want Voldemort's head."
She closed her brown eyes and recalled the werewolf, and how she had tried to argue. Ginny would fight in James's place if she had to. However, if her son's confession the night before was any indication… He was Harry's son and would want justice.
"He's just a boy, mum. He's a baby, really. He can't be expected to face that monster! He'll be killed!" Ginny sighed angrily and sat back up, she raked her hands through her hair and released it from its knotted binds.
"Damn it, Harry. You promised me…" Her eyes filled with tears, as she addressed the air. She then rubbed the wetness from her eyes in an angry fashion. The redhead turned to her mother. "It IS his fault, mum! He left us all alone! He made that ridiculous promise!" She shouted angrily, and then threw a pillow across the room. Ginny collapsed to her side, as she fought another onslaught of angry tears. "Why would you say something so absurd anyway, Harry? You made me believe! Damn it. I hate what you did to me… I hate this feeling."
"Mum?" At the small voice of her son, Ginny sat up and turned to the open door. James stood there with a perplexed look on his little face. His teeth were back to their rightful color, but his cheeks were stained with some red Muggle drink Hermione had given him. "You alright?"
"Yes…" She sighed tiredly and then patted the spot beside her. He immediately raced over and jumped on the bed. He crawled up and nested himself under her chin. Ginny smiled, as she reached over and tickled his sides to insight some giggles from him. She loved his little laugh.
"Mum? Whose that lady?"
"That…" Ginny tilted her head to look at Molly. "That's your Grandmum." James blinked, as he peered over her shoulder at Molly Weasley. "She is?" The witch nodded to her son's question. "Yes, but she's not feeling well."
"How come?"
"Well sh-she," Ginny sighed darkly and lowered her eyes. "Voldemort had her soul taken away."
Her son's green eyes widen in horror. "We have to get it back then!" His mother watched him in awe. Her brown eyes searched his little determined face.
"It's not that simple, Jamie."
"Why not?"
"Well, because it was taken by Dark Magic… There was never any cure…" Her throat closed up, and her lungs burned with tears. Some leaked from her eyes without her notice. James fell back to her side and wrapped his little arms around her. "Don't cry, mum! Please don't cry!"
"Jamie…" Ginny whispered. She reached up and ran her fingers along his face. "I love you, you know that?" The boy sniffled and nodded. He worked out of her hands and placed a wet kiss on her cheek. His mother laughed and hugged him tightly.
"Ginny! Ginny, where you at? Oh… There you are." Ron came in from the lobby. Ginny noticed he took great pains to ignore their mother. "Someone's here. I wanted you to meet them, remember?" His sister sat up with her son, who wiggled out of her arms. "Oh. I had forgotten." Her brother looked slightly annoyed, before he motioned her to get up and move. "Well hurry up and fix your face, you look a fright!"
"Ron! You are such a—!"
"Whow! Children here!" He said with delight. The younger growled, before she threw a pillow at his face. "I'm no worse then you! You have been saying filthy words around my son since we met!" Ron grimaced, as he rubbed his redden nose. "I have not!"
"I beg to differ!" She snapped, as she stood up. Ron let her by, as he threw a look at his nephew. "Your mother is a nutter." James cocked his head to the side in confusion. While Ginny hit the redhead wizard in the arm. "Ow! Bloody hell, Ginny! That hurts!"
"Stop swearing, Ronald Weasley!"
"I would, if you stop hitting me, Ginny Weasley!"
James let out a bark of laughter at their antics.
Meanwhile, Hermione had come up behind Ron. She scowled at the Weasley siblings, as they continued to snarl at one another. "What is all this?! Ron, I sent you to fetch Ginny, not have a row!"
"But I – and she was – Ugh! Forget it! I give up! You women are all mental!" he turned to the boy in the room. "You'd do well enough to stay away from the lot of 'em! Mark my words, they'll drive you mad!" He then stomped back outside in a flourish of anger, but it only caused the pair of females to grin in his wake.
"Mum," James tugged at his mother's faded skirt. "Uncle Ron's a bit batty." Ginny threw her head back and laughed at her son's proclamation. Hermione covered her mouth to keep in her giggles.
"James," Hermione begun. The brunette reached for James's hand, and the child allowed his aunt to take it. "How about you come sit with me and I'll tell you some grand adventures of your father!"
"Really?" He asked as his eyes sparkled. Hermione pulled him down towards the living room. "Yes, this way."
***
Ginny stepped back out into the lobby, her new dark haired disguise well in place. She had felt like being an Asian temptress… And she knew it would annoy Ron to no end. She watched him finish signing out a customer. He glanced over in her direction and away, but then did a classic double take.
"Blimey! For a second I thought you were that girl – what's her name – you know – the one Harry fancied back in school." He referred of course to the infamous Cho Chang. The very same Ravenclaw girlfriend of Harry's that ran off with Ginny's own boyfriend, Michael Corner. Ron sighed and shook his quill. "You look bloody ridiculous like that, you know."
"And you look ridiculous all the time." She sneered, as she walked over and tugged on his ponytail. He scowled and hit her hand away. "Get a hair cut, for Merlin's sake!" Ron lowered himself to get right into her face. "Well, at least I don't take my fashion sense from Professor McGonagall!"
"You prat!" So maybe her robes weren't overly flattering, but she had never really cared much for appearances either. With all that happened, Voldemort's rise, the worldwide depression and not to mention being stuck out in the wilderness… Well, it didn't leave much for trips to the local robe-maker. So she made due.
"Well at least I can handle a simple task, like hammering a nail into the floor!" Ginny flashed a dark grin. Ron's scowl deepened over his face. "Oh yeah! You're so great. I seem to remember a person who let a whole broom closet incident go to waste."
Ginny saw a pinwheel of colors cross her vision. How could Ron bring up Harry like that? Didn't he understand that her heart still bled from his death? Was he that insensitive?
"You know," Ron went on. "I did you a right nice favor and how did you lot repay me? You tied me to poor Neville and left us in our knickers – in our ruddy knickers, mind you – in the Room of Requirement, to be humiliated when everyone came in for DA!"
Ginny couldn't help but grin at that memory. Colin Creevey had taken snapshots, as the DA members laughed at the pair. Ron had sworn so loud and long that his face turned blue. While Neville had looked sickly white, then shrilly red when Luna had admired his frog printed boxers.
Harry and she had been within their rights for the payback gag. Neville and Ron had gotten it into their heads to play cupid. The teenager boys had locked the pair in a closet. Filch found the couple. Ginny and Harry had been given two weeks worth of detention.
She was still reliving the memory when someone had come up to the counter and slammed their hand atop it. The Weasley siblings jumped in surprise.
"Well! If I didn't know better, I'd say my ickle Ronniekins was having a luscious affair!" Ginny turned to a tall, but lanky looking fellow. His short hair was a bright red. She spotted the faded freckles along his nose and cheeks. It was George Weasley. He had a beard; she just couldn't picture any of her brother's with facial hair… Ever. His eyes were sunken and flat. The sadness was bizarre on her merry jester of a brother. Her heart constricted. Fred and George had always been together… And now it was just George.
"George?" Ginny whispered softly and caused the older man's eyes to shift to her. He didn't recognize her, because of her disguise.
"George, it's her." Ron whispered. He paused to glance around the empty inn. "It's Ginny." At this, George Weasley looked windswept, as he turned to his little sister. "Ginny? Our Ginny?" Ginny nodded, as she rounded the counter. Her elder brother met her half way. He tugged her into a bear hug. "Bless Merlin! My sister is alive and well!"
"George!" Ginny cried into his shoulder and tightened her arms around him. "I've missed you so much!"
"Not as much as I've missed you, dear Ginny, not as much as we've missed you." He whispered before he pulled away and placed a kiss to her forehead. He then glanced towards Ron. "This is a fine day! It calls for fireworks!"
The younger brother just smirked in amusement, before he added in a scolding voice. "You better not be exploding any bloody fireworks in here! The last time you blew up half the lobby!" George waved him away. "No worse then you've done, ickle brother!" Ginny laughed, while Ron looked severely irritated. "Why do you all got to keep bringing that up?"
"Oh, George! There's someone I want you to meet!"
"Do I want to meet this person?" George cheekily asked Ron, who smiled again and nodded. "I should imagine you do, mate, he's your nephew after all." The eldest Weasley let out a belt of laughter and clapped his hands. "Wonderful! Where is the chum? I shall spoil him rotten!"
"This way," Ginny told him, as she led him back into Ron's flat. "James!" George snorted at the name, but it was all in good fun. "James, come here, love!" Suddenly James was at the doorway to the living room. "Mum! Aunt Hermione was just getting to the good part! Dada was the youngest Gryffindor Seeker of the century!"
"Never mind all that, I want you to meet your uncle!"
"I met ol' Uncle Ron!"
"Oy! What do you mean ol' Uncle Ron?" Ron snapped as he peered his head in the doorway. James just flashed him a toothy grin. His uncle scowled at him. "You obviously are your mother's child. Show some respect—"
"No, James! Your other uncle! This is Uncle George!" Ginny interrupted Ron. Meanwhile, George gaped at the boy, as he walked up and ruffled the child's hair. "Bloody hell! Will you look at this one, eh? Looks just like dear ol' Harry!" James scowled a little at his hair being ruffled, but he seemed excited to meet another one of his uncles. Especially the notorious George Weasley.
"Of course I look like Dada!" He said, as he puffed up his chest in pride. "He's my Dada, that's why!"
"Of course, my mistake." George said before he reached into his worn, brown robe. He pulled out a boxed candy. "Here you are, chum, I have something for you." James's eyes lit up and he took the food item. He hurriedly tore the box open. He then let out a startled but excited yelp, as a Chocolate Frog sprung out of his hands.
"Mum!" He cried as the frog jumped to the ground. "Look! It's a frog!" The boy dropped to all fours and stared at the candy. Ginny grinned down at the child, as he continued to prod the chocolate.
"Don't tell me he's never seen any Chocolate Frogs before, Ginny?"
"We stayed outside a Muggle town, George. There were no enchanted foods there."
"Pity that." George walked over and knelt beside his nephew. "Ey, chum, you're supposed to eat that."
"I can't eat it, Uncle George!"
"It's not alive. Here, look." He reached over and picked it up, before he snapped it in half. He then handed the plain chocolate back to the boy. James stared at the candy, as if George had committed murder. The eldest Weasley laughed, "Relax. Here, see? No harm done." The uncle took a half and threw it into his mouth. "Nummy, you try." The green-eyed boy grudgingly nibbled at the Chocolate Frog, before his eyes lit up. He giggled and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. "It's good!"
"That's nothing, ickle Jamiekins. Why, I've made even better sweets then this."
"Really?"
"Sure! Only they are a wondrous sort of candy, that can play marvelous little tricks on the person eating 'em!" James was enthralled with this idea. "What kind of tricks?" Ginny smiled to herself, as she watched her older brother come alive. He animatedly explained the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes line of products. It warmed her heart to see her son bring back a piece of George.
She glanced back towards Ron, who stood in the doorway and watched the whole thing with a look of amusement, but also unease. Perhaps he was worried that George and James would gang up and play pranks on him. Ginny laughed at the uneasy expression that crossed the innkeeper's face. When the wizard glanced up at her, he of course tried to play it off with a fearless grin. She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
***
After a loud and joyous lunch, that reminded Ginny of meals at the Burrow, the small family sat around the table to shoot the breeze. A restless James ran from one uncle to the next, both willing to give their attention to the little boy. He had stolen their hearts much like his father before. While the child's mother contented herself with holding Azalea, as she told Hermione of her years with Remus Lupin.
"I hope he's alright." Ginny finished in a somber tone, which caused Hermione to pat her arm. "I am sure he is, Ginny… Don't give up hope yet, it's only been, what? Seven days? He should be fine." The redhead wasn't so convinced, as she rocked a gurgling Azalea.
"Ron," Ginny heard George start in a hush tone.
James had left his uncles for a moment, and told Hermione about his ongoing campaign with the honeybees – 'Honestly that boy!' She was so caught up in the boy's plainly alter rendition, that she almost missed what her brother was saying. "Has he come back with word, yet?"
If she hadn't been paying attention she would of missed Ron's reaction entirely, which was strange, because she didn't realize he had gotten so good at being subtle. All he did was a faint flick of the wrist and the eldest Weasley seemed to understand, because he leaned back and heaved a sigh. "That bloody git. I'd like to know what she's got plan." Ron bobbed his head and replied in the same secretive tone. "He'll show, he always does."
George nodded curtly and that was the end of it, because then he launched into a vat of memories concerning Hogwarts. All of which, Ron would laugh or correct his older brother. Still, Ginny knew they were purposely hiding something from her and/or Hermione and she didn't like it. Before she could voice her thoughts, James turned to her and said in a horrified manner, "Mum, I can't find Lils anywhere!"
"What?" Ginny was so startled by his outcry that she almost spilt her juice. She glanced around the kitchen and sure enough the sheepdog was missing – in fact, she couldn't recall when she had last seen the Border Collie. It didn't seem so unusual to her. Then again, now that she thought about it, Lils hadn't budged from the boy's side since the night before.
"Oh!" Hermione chimed in. "I wouldn't worry, Jamie, Lils sometimes disappears for a little while every few days. He's a wandering spirit, you see, can't keep him locked up forever." James pouted slightly, but his aunt went on in a soothing tone. "He'll be back, he always comes back."
"Alright…"
Ginny glanced around the table and noticed her brothers had grown solemn. The redhead witch rocked the baby within her arms, while she took note of this odd behavior. Something was going on, and she was determined to find out what.
***
It was later when night encroached, that Ginny grew annoyed with the secretive glances between her siblings. To make matters ten times worse, even Hermione had started to get into the act. She decided she would just confront them after James was asleep. So when her son started to get sleepy eyed, she whisked him off into the guestroom Hermione and Ron had moved them into.
"James, you have to go to sleep."
"I'm not." He yawned, "s-s-sleepy."
"No? Then what do you call all that?" She asked, amused at his determination. James tried to deny the fact he was tired for a second time, but when she gently tugged at his wrist he followed. Ginny helped his worn-out self up into the bed, and then tugged the covers to his chin. "You've had a busy week, I'm not surprise that you're so sleepy." The redhead told him.
"Mum, what if Lils don't come back?"
"He'll come back." Ginny told him, for what felt like the fortieth time that past hour. The witch sat herself on the bedside, and took up massaging his messy hair. "Didn't your Aunt Hermione tell you so?" He nodded slowly, but he didn't look fully convinced. "Well, then, trust her. Your best mate, Lils will come back and you'll be back to your foolishness."
"Okay." He replied reluctantly, before he rolled onto his side and curled into her. "Mum?" Ginny grinned softly at him. "What, Jamie?" The boy blinked sleepily, but tilted his head towards her. "When will Remus find us?" At his serious but obviously worried laced question, she felt her heart flutter uncomfortably. That was another question she didn't have an answer to. "I'm not sure, James."
"Oh." He murmured half asleep. He went on in a drowsy way, "I miss him, mum."
"I know love," she whispered, as she stroked his face. She received no answer for he had dipped into the world of dreams. Ginny let her tough mother guise slip slightly. "I miss him too. All of them." She leaned over and kissed her son's forehead. Then patted his hair down one final time and whispered a loving, "Goodnight Jamie."
The witch stood up and stepped out the room and quietly shut the door to a crack. She turned to look down the hall, back towards the inn. That's when she heard hushed conversation from outside. Ginny frowned in curiosity. So silently, she walked towards the closed doorway and listened in.
"—Well she called us here, where the bloody hell is that damn fleabag?" A raspy voice of an older man demanded. Ginny didn't recognized who it was. It was Hermione who answered the question, though. "Patient, Kale, he'll be here shortly."
'Kale.' Ginny frowned harder at the name. 'Wasn't that the name of that healer? The friend of Luna's father?'
"So you've said ten minutes ago, Hermione, but I have yet to see why we're here—" Kale Cunningham was cut off.
"You know what were here for, Kale." The redhead thought she vaguely recognized this new person's voice.
"Don't look at me like that, young Neville!"
"Neville?" Ginny whispered in shock at the mentioning of one of her friends from Hogwarts. Neville Longbottom was right outside! Before she could think on it a moment longer, the old healer spoke again. "I'm not saying why are we here to begin with? I'm just saying why are we here instead of out there doing something? I'm tired of waiting, while that bastard grows stronger by the minute." The redhead witch didn't have to take many guesses to figure out whom it was they were talking about. Voldemort. 'But why?'
"He'll be here." That was Ron's confident comment. "Just wait."
"I don't like this." A woman said after a beat. "I had an awful feeling long before China fell… He's been stirring like a rats nest of late. They're getting ready to take America and Australia… I just know it. If the allies should fall, we won't stand a chance." Ginny was starting to get the idea what this meeting was about. "He almost has the entire world under his collection now… But even then he's not satisfied! It's like he's preparing for something else – something bigger."
"What's bigger then the world?" A man with a thick Irish accent asked. It also seemed familiar to Ginny.
"I'd say someone." George commented in a dry fashion, and obviously earned a confused glance from the room, because he went on. "Well it's obvious, ain't it? It's Lils." There was a long beat in which soft whispers were shared. Ginny scowled and pressed her ear tightly to the door and concentrated harder on the voices. She wondered why they were talking about that damn Lils. 'Why would Voldemort be scared of a dog?'
"I'm not surprise." Neville said firmly, "After the recent attack to Voldemort's Western Tower." He seemed proud by whatever the siege on Voldemort's Western Tower meant. However, Ginny was almost positive that attack had something to do with these people in the lobby.
"I'm not so sure." Hermione cut in. "Even when we done our worse, he hasn't been this provoked."
"—I've heard whispers." That woman spoke up again. "I've heard that there was a sighting of Ginny Weasley in Birmingham." There was a shock of silence, before the room erupted into so much talk that the redhead witch couldn't make out any of it.
Ron roared over it, "Quiet! I got to run a business, you lot! I may got a ruddy silent charm cast, but that doesn't mean you can't keep your bloody voices down!"
"—Is it true?" The hope in Neville's voice caused Ginny to grin. "Have you heard anything from her?" There was a moment, in which she pictured her brothers sharing a look, before George address the group gathered in the inn. "Not sure either way, chap. You know how those rumors are, but we haven't seen head or tail of our Ginny."
"What are you talking about, George?" The subject of the conversation whispered in confusion. "Why are you lying?" Ginny's answer was given in the form of a snort from a nasal sounding man, whom obviously didn't believe a word of it. "I'm sorry, George, but I doubt it was your sister. After all, it's been six years! Where could she have hid so long and then just suddenly come out of hiding? It's rubbish."
"I didn't say they were true, Pen." George gruffly answered, obviously annoyed with this Pen. Perhaps her brother didn't trust everyone within this room.
"Besides that," Hermione spoke up again. "I would hardly think it would be our Ginny that Voldemort would be worried about."
"If you know something, girl," Kale grumbled in an annoyed fashion. "Have out with it and spare this old man!"
"I am not sure, Kale… But… I just doubt that our Lils would call us here so suddenly, if it were just a matter of Voldemort planning an attack on herself. Lils has proven herself very ingenious given stick situations. I just have a hunch. I think Voldemort is worked up over someone else."
'She? I thought the dog was a male! And how is some mutt suppose to tell them anything – unless it some witch or wizard in an Animagus form… Well, I suppose it is possible. It did seem very humanistic, but if that's a fact, I'm not rubbing that ruddy git's tummy anymore!' Ginny thought darkly to herself.
"Humph." The man with the Irish accent scuffed. "What I'd like to know is, why we haven't done nothin' about the whole Eastern Army mess? I'm tired of waitin' for Lils! I say we do somethin' and we do it soon!"
"Seamus, you know it's not that simple." Hermione calmly told him. Ginny was taken aback. She hadn't known Seamus Finnigan had even survived the attack on Hogwarts. Let alone be in some kind of underground resistance against Voldemort. "Lils will tell us what to do next, she always does."
Before anyone could speak up, there was a soft chime and everyone broke out into nonsense about his or her journeys to the hotel. The redhead imagined a costumer had walked in on the private meeting.
Just as a restless Ginny went to head off and wait for her family, the conversation started up. Only this time news from this mysterious woman-Lils had arrived.
There was a beat of silence, and then Ron thanked someone and read from a letter. "One misty, moisty morning, when cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. He began to compliment, and I began to grin… I do trust that you all know where to begin. More soon, Lils."
The letter didn't make much sense to Ginny. It sounded like an old nursery rhyme, but what did it have to do with anything? However, it seemed the group knew exactly what Lils had tried to get across in her cryptic message.
For like an army commanded by a great general, they were off and moving to complete the coded operation.
"Well, Carnation and I better get to it." Seamus said with a hint of excitement in his voice. "We'll be in touch."
"Good luck," Hermione called after the pair. There was the sound of two people leaving.
"I'll see you all soon," Pen spoke as he headed out. "I have much work to do." Then Kale left, Ginny only knew this because he bid the masters of the inn goodbye. There was a long moment of parting talk before it seemed the only ones left were her family.
"Ginny," Hermione called, Ginny turned bright red. "You can come out now."
Slowly, she cracked open the door and stared bashfully at her sister-in-law. That is, until she heard Ron tsked, and walked over to wave his index finger in front of her face. "Now, I know Mum told you to never linger at doorways, Ginny!"
"Shove off!" She snarled at him in left over embarrassment. "You always spied on me, so I call it fair!"
"Ginny… Is it truly you?" Ginny turned her head around to see a fair-haired man. He was tall and well built, but a little on the thin side. His boyish face was sunken around his eyes and he was very pale. His fair hair was tussled, as if he had been in a windstorm – 'not the same as Harry's chaotic hair' she thought critically. Then it hit her; this kind looking fellow was Neville Longbottom.
"Neville!" Ginny rushed forward and hugged her old friend tightly, who practically crushed her into his frame. The redhead flushed a little at the hold he had on her, and the way his warm breath brushed over her neck.
"Ginny, thank goodness! I'm so glad you're safe! I knew Harry wouldn't let you get hurt, I just knew it!" His words were excited, but spoken so softly that she almost missed them. Her own eyes watered at Neville's faith in Harry… The young mother wasn't sure if she had that kind of faith anymore.
Neville pulled back from her and gave her a once over. "My! You've turned into such a sight." Ginny felt the Weasley red swallow her whole under the compliment. She pulled away, uncomfortable with the attention. She nervously rubbed her arm, and stared at him from under the fringe of her red hair. 'Honestly, look at me! I'm behaving stupidly, he's just happy to see me! That's it, nothing more!'
"It's good to see you too, Neville." The taller male grinned softly, not a hint of his shy self from Hogwarts. His eyes moved thankfully from her to look at the Weasley brothers, who had a laugh at their sister's expense. Where Ron was content to remain quiet, she knew her other sibling would not be… And sure enough he wasn't…
"My! Ginnykins, you're looking a bit warm there, you feeling alright?" George teased, she was glad he was getting back into his old self. But must he tease her of all people? "I'm fine," she said in a 'drop-it-or-risk-certain-death' tone that even the densest of people would pick up. When dear George Weasley looked like he was about to say something regardless, the oddest thing happened. A soft growl came from Ginny's side. Her darling older brother took one look at the recently returned Lils, before the joker let it drop.
The young mother glanced over at the Border Collie now at her side. Regardless of whoever he or she was, Ginny was grateful for his heroic qualities. She reached over and placed her right hand on his head, but the dog immediately begun to rub his wet snout into her palm.
"Ginny, tell me, where have you been all this time? And were those rumors about Birmingham true?"
"Oh well, I've been with Remus Lupin, hiding." She supplied and Neville nodded attentively. "I've been raising my son, James… We were forced out of hiding when Death Eaters managed to find us…" Ginny's voice hitched, as she remembered her last moments with Remus. Just as she felt a wave of pain, guilt and anger overtaking her again, Lils again nudged at her hand. She closed her eyes and felt a smile tug at her lips at the seemingly supportive gesture. "He made me take James and run. We were in Birmingham a few days ago, but again, they found us and we were forced to leave."
"That's dreadful." Neville replied in true sympathy and then he smiled sadly. "So you are a mother? Who is the lucky father, or should I even be asking?" His voice held a hint of a teasing tone. He had used it when he joshed her about her feelings for Harry in the old days. At the lighter conversation the family members lighten and exchanged grins.
"Harry's his father." She told him with pride. Neville smile spread into a grin at this, before he exchanged a look with Ron, who had the same stupid look on his face. Ginny watched in much annoyance, as they seemed to think it was somehow their doing – which she suppose it was on a level – but she wasn't going to allow them to think it. "Don't you get any damn ideas! Just because you locked us in a couple broom closets didn't mean we'd shag because of it!"
"Ginny!" Hermione cried but it was more out of amusement then to reprimand. While George, who was in the process of eating a Chocolate Frog, choked on it when he busted into a fit of laughter. Neville had the grace to blush, but a riled Ron couldn't understand his sister's lack of appreciation for his efforts.
"First of all, I didn't want to know," Ron begun. "And second, you two were totally clueless!"
Ginny made a face. "Oh! And I suppose you were so cued up on your love life?" When he opened his mouth to say something else, Hermione jumped in to head off the sibling fight. "Neville, won't you stay the night?"
"What?" He asked, surprised the conversation was back on him. "Oh, no, thanks Hermione." Neville declined, "I have to get back home, Luna might misplace Geoffrey again." Ginny turned to him at the mention of Luna Lovegood. The fair haired man picked up on the redhead's surprise and offered, "We've been married five years… She's a wonderful woman and I dearly love her, but she tends to let things slip her mind… And unfortunately, our witty son likes to take advantage of it." The witch wasn't sure how to react to the idea of misplacing Geoffrey Longbottom, so she decided to let sleeping dogs lay.
"You're a father!"
"Yes, of two actually." He puffed up in pride. "She's due in September."
"Oh! Smashing! Congratulations." She reached out and hugged him again, but this
time she was more comfortable with the friendly gesture. "I'll have to meet
them… I would love to see Luna again." Neville smiled at the mention of his
wife and bobbed his head. "I shall bring her by soon, she would love to see you
too." He glanced towards the other Weasleys in the room. "All of you."
"You do that, mate." Ron said as he walked over and patted the shorter on the back. He then wrapped his arm around Neville, in much the way Ginny had seen her brother do Harry. It hit her that perhaps in these last few years, the pair of men had become very close friends. "We miss the loony bird."
"Ron…" Hermione hissed at the tactless comment. Neville just smiled and nodded his head again. He glanced at the clock. "I will, but I must be going now. See you all soon, take care." He smiled brightly, before he slipped on his hat and headed out of the inn.
"Alright! Time for bed!" George said, as he clapped his hands and jumped off the counter. He then headed into the flat. Hermione hesitated a moment before she bid them goodnight. That left Ron, who set about locking up the inn for the night.
Ginny didn't care what he thought he was doing, because as of right this minute, she was on a mission. She was going to demand what in the hell that coded operation meant, and just who Lils was… Even if it was the last thing she did – And Ron was going to tell her.
***
TBC…
Finally updated! Sorry about that, but school's been murder. And yes, I used the nursery rhythm 'One Misty Moisty Morning.' Not mine, lawyers, ease off. :)
