THE JOURNEY HOME

Chapter Two - Tonks Proposal

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After her run in with Harry, Ginny was a little lost at what to do. She had quickly surmised that she couldn't stay at the Leaky Cauldron so had apparated to the first place that came to mind, The Burrow. Mr Weasley was working late again and so Ginny's mother was glad for the company. Ginny really wasn't in the right frame of mind for an in depth discussion and was a little relived when Fred and George showed up. Her older brothers spent the entire dinner talking animatedly and very loudly about everything and anything so it came as somewhat of a surprise when Ginny finally spoke.

"Why do I always let him get to me?" She stabbed her potato angrily.

"Ohhh, our kid sisters got quite a temper, Fred" George informed his brother.

"Doesn't need to take it out on perfectly good food though," Fred replied, nodding in agreement. Ginny shot them both cold stares. Normally she got along fairly well with her brothers, but tonight she was not in the mood for their games.

"Who, dear?" Mrs Weasley asked, ignoring the twins. Ginny turned her attention to her mother and sighed, "nobody mum."

"Now, now, since when has Harry Potter been nobody?" Fred questioned.

Ginny's head flicked back to Fred. "How did you know I was talking about him?" she demanded.

"We caught his little show in the Leaky Cauldron earlier, not too happy with Ron is he?" George replied.

"No," Ginny mumbled, turning back to stare at her plate, "he's not." Ginny suddenly realized her mother had become very interested in her own plate. "Mum, are you okay?"

Mrs Weasley stood up and took her plate to the sink so her back was to her children, "Harry's right."

"Excuse me?" Ginny chocked, "how can you say that?"

"Because I want my son home," Mrs Weasley replied, turning to look at her daughter, "I'm sick of him gallivanting all over the globe, never knowing where he is or what he's doing. I haven't seen him in over a year and I'm worried."

Ginny bit her lip. Losing Hermione, Harry and her brother had been hard for her, but she had never stopped to think what it had done to her mother. Harry and Hermione had been like adopted Weasleys once. Mrs Weasley returned to the table and began clearing plates.

"I'm sorry, mum," Ginny mumbled. Fred and George both hung their heads and stared at their food.

"That's alright. Now, you two," Mrs Weasley glared pointedly at the twins, "since you insist on showing up unannounced and late, you can help with the dishes." Fred and George opened their mouths to protest, but one look from their mother had them both on their feet clearing plates.

"I should get home, I have an early morning tomorrow," Ginny announced standing up.

"Alright dear. Will we see you tomorrow?"

"Probably not my day's pretty full, but I'll be round for lunch on Saturday." Ginny kissed her mother on the cheek. "Goodnight mum."

"Goodnight Ginny."

"Goodnight Ginny!" Fred and George mimicked. Ginny rolled her eyes and apparated to the living room of her Hogsmeade flat.

"Merlin's Beard!" The cry was followed by a loud thud as Ginny's flat mate fell off the couch and hit the living room floor. "Must you apparate right in front of me every single time?"

Ginny laughed, "Sorry Jules."

Jules clambered to her feet. "You got an owl, and Nymphadora Tonks from the ministry has been trying to get a hold of you all night. I told her you were probably at your folks, but she said she couldn't reach you there."

"Fred and George blew up the fireplace – again." Ginny picked her letter up off the coffee table and slit it open. "This is from Tonks as well. Wonder what's so important it can't wait till morning?" Ginny said with a frown.

"Don't look now, but I think you're about to find out." Jules indicated to the fire, which had just burst into bright flames.

A moment later Tonks face appeared amongst the flames. "Great Gods Ginny!" Where have you been all night? Nevermind, it doesn't matter. I need a volunteer to accompany my trainees into the middle of nowhere, and you're it."

"I think you need to look up the term 'volunteer'," laughed Ginny.

Jules patted Ginny on the shoulder, "I'm in bed. Night, and, have fun with this."

"Yeah, see you."

"Night, Jules." Tonks called. Jules chuckled and waved to them both over her shoulder as she disappeared down the hall.

"Now, where were we?" Tonks continued.

"You were volunteering me for babysitting duties," Ginny prompted.

"Right, you leave first thing in the morning so meet Harry and the recruits at –"

"Wait, Harry? What does he have to do with anything?" Ginny was beginning to smell something fishy.

"Did I say Harry? I meant… oh, blow it! Look, Ginny, I need a fully trained auror and a healer and I'm a little pressed for time so are you in or not?"

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