Disclaimer-Instead of nitpicking everything that's mine and everything that's J.K. Rowling's, I'll just give the rights of everything here to her and get it over with. I earn enough money babysitting bratty kids anyway.

Another Disclaimer-Yes, I am American. And just as most British do not fully understand American culture, I am not completely versed in British culture. So, rather than make an ass of myself pretending I completely understand everything and use 'bloody git' over and over, I'm going to use American culture and some British phrases that I think I can use without sounding like my 8th grade Science teacher trying to act 'Jiggy wit it.'

Yet Another Disclaimer- This is my first attempt at something where I try to make it worth reading, which is considerably harder than something which is supposed to suck. And beware, I have a tendency to lose interest in things. So I could just never update, like my other story, which I abandoned. (Btw, if anyone wants to take that story, be my guest.) Anyway, on with the story.

"What the hell, Jack? You mean that you'd put your stupid job over me? Over Dylan?"

"Well, you put everything before me, why not?"

"I do everything for you!"

"Between Dylan's football games and chatting with your damn brothers, I'd say you do?"

"Well excuse me! It's not like you could ever come to a game! I'm pretty pleased with myself for learning how to play, how to drive cars, and be a Muggle mother for you and Dylan! You were the one who got him into football anyway!"

"Oh, so now it's my fault?"

"And talking to my brothers! Well, yeah, I'm going to talk to my brothers, they're my best friends! It's not like I can make any friends anyway, because everything I do has to fit your schedule!"

Before he knew what he was doing, Jack's hand reached out and slapped his wife. They both fell silent. She looked up at him, holding her cheek, shocked.

"Ohmygod, Gin, I'm so sorry, I-"

"Jack."

"I don't know what I was doing, I am so sorry."

"Jack."

"I can't believe I did that. Look, I promise I'll never do it again. I'll take Dylan to his games, I'll-"

"Jack!"

"What, Gin."

"That's what you said the last time."

Jack looked sorrowfully at his wife once more, this time ashamed.

"I know, I don't know what's wrong with me, Gin. I love you, I truly do. I love Dylan, too, and I'm trying, but-"

"I'm taking some time to go stay with Ron and Hermione. Dylan's coming with me."

"Gin! Please, no, don't leave me, and don't divorce me."

"I'm not leaving you, Jack."

"Thank you, thank you-"
"Silencio!" Stunned, Jack's mouth fell silent. He hadn't realized his wife had her wand out. She didn't use it all the time anymore.

"I'm not planning to get a divorce, Jack. But I do think that we need some time apart. I know you love me, I know you try. I-I love you too. But this hasn't been working out much, lately. I don't want Dylan to grow up with his parents arguing, and definitely not hitting. Besides, Dylan hasn't had much time in the wizarding world. I think he could use the experience, and I haven't seen all the Weasleys in ages. We talk, but I haven't seen them." Gin took the charm off of her husband.

"How long will you be gone?" he whispered feebly, knowing not to argue with his wife when she had her wand.

"I don't know. Now eat your dinner. Dylan and I ate before the sun went down."

Jack did what he was told. When he was done, his wife and son were gone.

Lately Ginny had felt restless. She belonged in the wizarding world. She didn't want to be second place to her husband's job. She didn't want her son to be unimportant to his father. And she knew Dean didn't mean to hit her, but he still did. And she was not stupid. She knew it could very easily grow. He could turn on Dylan.

But they loved each other. All they needed was some time apart.

"Gin! Hey, what are you doing here?" Ron called to his only sister as she appeared on his doorstep. She had packed her and Dylan's things with magic, and used a duffel bag as a Portkey.

Crap, don't let him know something's wrong. Ginny thought.

"Um, I was hoping Dylan and I could crash here for a while."

"What? Is something wrong? I always knew Jack was a bast-"

"Ron! I don't want my son to swear before he's ten! Besides, isn't that Fred and George's department?" Ginny grinned.

"Possibly. Come on in." Ginny pulled the nervous Dylan through the threshold. He was never an outgoing young boy, but he was always nervous in the wizarding world, where things kept unexpectedly moving. Like his cousins.

And here it'll come. He thought, In three, two-

"Hey, Dylan, how about you go find your cousins? Your mom and I need to talk. You can take the extra bunk in Kenny's room."

Drat, he hasn't forgotten. Damn overprotective brothers. Ginny thought.

Grumbling but obedient, Dylan trudged upstairs.

"So, Gin, like I said, is there something wrong between you and Jack? Because if he's not treating you right, I just might have to kick his ass."

Trying to grin at the most predictable of her brothers despite her dismay, Ginny replied "No. I just thought that for a year before he gets his Hogwarts letter, Dylan should come into the wizarding world more often. I think he's a bit scared of it."

"And you just happened to show up on our doorstep in the rain at a late hour unannounced because you felt like crashing at our place on a whim? Good thing I got Ron to repair that Anti-Weather Charm over our doorway." a female voice asked from the doorway.

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed, delighted to see her friend. She leapt up and grabbed Hermione in a hug.

"You didn't answer her question." Ron noted as they sat down.

"In fact, you seem to be trying to change the subject whenever someone asks you a question." Hermione noted. Ginny examined her shrewdly for a moment. "Okay, so I was eavesdropping. After all, this is my house."

Ginny paused for a moment, thinking, before she could come up with a solid answer.

"So I forgot to owl you first. I had just forgotten that Jack was going out of town." Ginny lied gracefully. She had always had a knack for theatre. "This just seemed like a good time to bring Dylan over, and it was too late to make arrangements anywhere else, and you know I don't favor the Leaky Cauldron, and I really had planned to bring Dylan into the wizarding world more, you know, get him used to things."

"Okay, okay, I understand." Ron said, holding his hands up in defeat. "So, how long will you be staying?"

Ginny thought fast. In truth, she only planned to be here for a short time, but not go back to her house until she knew it was right. "Jack wasn't sure when he'd be back." The Weasleys looked alarmed for a moment. "Something for work in Ireland, they don't know when it'll end. I think it had to with publicity. I didn't press for details."

They relaxed. Ron stood and stretched. "You can crash in the guest bedroom. But like Hermy said, it's late. We're going to bed."

"Alright, see you in the morning." Ginny said, getting up. She walked down the hallway to the first-floor guest bedroom, hearing her brother and his wife bicker all the way upstairs over whether or not 'Hermy' was an acceptable nickname. Despite the lonely unfamiliarity of the room, the circumstances under which she was there, and pain in her cheek, Ginny smiled at her favorite married couple.

Some things never change.

Dylan trudged up the two staircases of the large house to the kids' floor, including a rec room, TV room (Aunt Hermione said she simply couldn't imagine a childhood without television), and two bedrooms. A large amount of noise issued from Sara's room, while Kenny's was uncharacteristically silent. It appeared that both children were playing in Sara's room, despite the late hour. He briefly considered going straight into Kenny's room and falling asleep without saying hello, but stopped himself.

No, Kenny'd only wake you up when he comes in later.

Kenny, who turned eight two months ago, was a very excitable young boy. While he had, of course, inherited the Weasley hair, he also inherited his mother's intelligence. Dylan's mother joked that it was a good thing they didn't have another dunce like Uncle Ron around. The one thing that was truly his own was his total abundance of energy and rash decisions. Aunt Hermione had hoped it was just a stage he'd grow out of, but he hadn't yet.

Sara was almost six, and absolutely adored her older brother. She trailed him everywhere and agreed with everything he said, nodding her red bushy head hundreds of times a day. It was rather irritating.

Dylan knew very well why he and his mother were here. He heard the argument, the slap, and the apologies. It wasn't new. But leaving was. He had played along with his mother's unexpected idea to holiday with his aunt, uncle, and cousins for a while, to "Get him more accustomed to the wizarding world before Hogwarts." She had discussed the idea before- to his father's refusal- but never suggested that they would leave at 10 pm one night, completely unannounced.

Great cover, Mom.

With a heavy hand and a heavier heart, Dylan knocked on Sara's door and stuck his head in. Indeed, they were playing with Kenny's mini-Nimbus. Sara yelped with joy at her cousin when they saw Dylan's red-blonde hair and pale Weasley skin appear through the doorway.

"Dylie!" Sara yelped and grabbed him in a hug that nearly pulled him over. Kenny was more skeptical.

"Why are you here?" he asked as Sara quickly stepped back, trying to look cautious like her brother.

"Mom decided that her and I are gonna stay here for a little while and take us around London."

"For how long?" Kenny asked. Dylan sighed inwardly. He knew his cousins loved to interrogate people constantly, and he was no exception.

"I don't know."

"Why not? Do I have to share a room with you?"

"We're supposed to share rooms, but I think I'll sleep in the TV room."

"So your junk is going to be in my way when I want to watch Even Stevens?"

"No, I'll move it during the day."

"Where will you move it?" Dylan sighed out loud and decided to ignore this question. He knew Kenny would barrage him with questions for hours if he got the chance. He suddenly wished he could do a Silencing Charm.

"Look, I'm really tired, and I want to go to bed, who knows what Mom will plan for tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning." He announced, and closed the door behind him as he stepped into the hall as Kenny asked him if they were going to Honeydukes, whatever that was. Dylan picked up his duffel bag (which was packed for too long of a time for comfort) and headed to the TV room, quickly falling asleep during a Will and Grace rerun.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I'm not going to be annoying and demand or beg for reviews, but good ideas are always appreciated!