Chapter 16.
Ginny had married straight out of Hogwarts and by 21 had her first child, Lincon. 3 years later came her only son Jack and 2
years after him was Georgia. She was once again training to be a healer and the day Hermione, 3 children and a maid turned
up on her doorstep was her first day off in months. Harry had taken their children to a Chudley Cannons Vs Paldmore
United Quidditch match in which Ron had gotten tickets.
The minute in which they came through he door Hermione had fainted, her maid and the Potter maid were currently looking
after her. Ginny sat in the living room with her friends' children. Ben was the only child old enough to know what was
happening. The others playing on the floor.
'What happened?' Ginny was horrified, the drained look on her old friends pale and thin face still hung before her eyes.
'It's been happening for years. I think before I was born. They've been married 14 years. Father treats her like dirt, like any
supposed 'decent pureblood should treat a mudblood.' He spat out the last word, but carried on;
'He banned her from using magic, made sure she had no friends and refused to let her work. He even forbids her from using
the library.
Yesterday I found the muggle girl who went missing. Clare was with me, we had sneaked out for a walk, although father
thinks I was sleepwalking. She apparated us to St. Mungos. When Dumbledore arrived, we were sent home and reporters
arrived last night during dinner. Father smiled at acted the proud father and asked them to leave me alone because I'm so
young. He screamed and threw things when he closed the door, mostly at mum. He had asked mum to join us for diner, he
never does that, so we were all really tense. We were sent o bed soon after, but stayed on the stairs, we knew what was to
happen. We heard a crash from the dining room. We went back to have a look and saw him using . . . using her as a punch
bag. It was the worst beating I know of. He threw things at her, or he would throw her!
He left for the pub and Clare sorted out mums injuries as much as she could. We cried. Once Clare was done mum sprinted
up to the attic, but came back with nothing. She told us to pack, including Clare. We just left, no note, nothing, and came
here.'
The boy was crying now and his younger siblings were cuddling around his legs. Ginny felt sick.
'You're safe now. I won't let him get to you, and most specially not your mother, although my husband will be protecting her
the most.'
'I don't mean to be rude, but I have no idea where we are, or who you are. You sound like a friend of my mothers but she
hasn't been allowed to keep in touch.'
'Yes I am a friend. My brother was one of her best friend along with my husband. I'm Ginny Potter and you're in Godric's
Hallow.'
'You do look familiar.'
'Thank-you, I think.'
Suddenly a tiredness came over the children as the day caught up with them. Ginny took them up to a spare room near
Hermione's and where they could sleep in the same room. Clare went to stay with them. Looking at the clock, Ginny saw
that the kids and Harry weren't due home for a few hours. She wen to check on her scarred old friend.
She walked in to find the other woman sitting up in bed looking around at her new surroundings. The room hadn't been
changed for generations.
Hermione was sitting in a large oak king size 4 poster. The posts all had lions carved into them and the feet of the bed were
clawed. The room had 2 large bay windows reaching floor to ceiling, looking south over the Potter estate. A desk and
bookcases filled the wall opposite the bed along with a door leading to the bathroom. Next to Hermione was another door
leading to te walk in closet. Over the rest of te walls were portraits of other Potters.
'Hermione?'
She snapped her head away from a very captivating picture of Lily Potter hanging over the fireplace, holding a baby Harry,
next to the oak desk.
'Ginny!'
Ginny suddenly found it difficult ot breath as Hermione launched herself onto her 'little sister.'
'O-ok . . .Herm. . .can't. . .breath.'
'Oh, sorry.'
They let each other go and took a step back to look over each other.
'You're safe. All of you are.'
This broke the silence and tears were constantly spilled over the early evening as the two friends caught up on each others
lives. Both were dreading what Harry was going to say about this new development, after not hearing from the first person
who showed him what true love really was for over 14 years.