AN: Hello beautiful people! I'm officially unrestricted (don't ask) from the internet. I'm SOOO completely sorry that it's been so long since I've updated! But I've been working on it as much as possible. I've got two chapters for you and a third close to being on it's way. I'm begging you to PLEASE not flame me for taking so long. It was out of my control.
Disclaimer: I'm not JKR. I wish. I'm also too lazy to make something up that's funny.
Ginny tumbled out from the fireplace into the living room. She stood up quickly and looked around, only to come face to face with a woman with bushy brown hair. The woman let out a scream and dropped the picture frame she'd been holding. It shattered at her feet, but she didn't even look at it. The woman just kept staring at Ginny.
"Ginny?" Hermione Weasley asked her faintly.
"Hi 'Mione," Ginny said softly, looking at her feet.
"God, Gin, I've got so many questions."
"I know."
"The first of which is where is she?"
Ginny knew that Hermione was referring to Kara. Hermione Granger had been the only person Ginny told when she'd found out she was pregnant and Hermione had preformed the charm on Ginny to see whether the baby would be a girl or boy. And Hermione had been the last person she'd talked to before she'd left, the only person she'd said goodbye to.
"Kara is currently with Bill, who's here somewhere," Ginny answered.
"Wait. Bill? As in Bill Weasley? Why?"
"It's a long story. Kara got her letter from Hogwarts this morning and I had to explain that. So she made me take her to Diagon Alley and Bill recognized me. Things got messy. So now he's somewhere around here with my daughter. He's trying to force me into coming back, I think."
Hermione nodded. "I don't blame him. I mean, I knew you were leaving and that you were okay and everything and that it was all for the best, but it's been hard not having my best friend here. Everyone misses you. It's been too long, Gin."
"I just- I was planning on coming back, you know that. After a few years or whatever, but things got complicate. She was too much like him, and I couldn't figure out how or when or what to say when I came back." Ginny let out a sigh, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"I know, Gin, I guessed that was what had happened. But you're back. You're here. And, we've kind of started this weird tradition over the years. Weasley Week, that's what all the kids call it. Everyone takes the week off work and just hangs around, like old times. Somehow we ended up with a birthday on every day of the week with the whole family. Tonight's the first night. Why not stay? It'll be a good chance to reconnect.You know your family will welcome you back with open arms."
"It's not my family I'm worried about."
"C'mon Ginny, if you don't do it now, you never will. Do you really think it's fair to have Kara grow up without her family? And is it fair to you to leave yourself alienated? And most importantly, is it fair to leave me without my best friend any longer?" Hermione grinned.
"I want to come back, 'Mione, I really do. I miss you and Ron and Mum's cooking. I just, it's going to be so hard. What am I going to say?"
"You'll figure it out. I'll be here for you, no matter what."
"What if everything goes horribly?"
"It won't, not if you really don't want it to."
Ginny took a deep breath and thought about her options. This was her chance to get back to her old life. She wanted it desperately, but a nagging voice in the back of her head told her that no one would understand. But an even louder voice was telling her that Bill still had Kara, and in effect, her hands were tied on the issue, because if Ginny left now, she'd end up with a hoard of Weasleys at her doorstep sometime later on. Ginny sighed; she knew what she had to do.
"Okay, I'll stay and see everyone again," Ginny said, speaking the words as if they were her death sentence, "But if it doesn't work, and everything goes bad, I reserve the right to go back to my anonymous existence." Ginny knew that she'd never be able to go back to hiding, but the words made her feel a little better.
Hermione grinned and hugged her friend. She was glad to have her best friend back.
"Thanks, 'Mione, for helping me figure things out," Ginny said.
"You know that's what I'm here for."
"Now where's Bill? Ginny looked around the living room.
"I haven't seen Bill all day."
"But he came here. I saw him toss the floo powder in the fireplace and say 'the Burrow'."
A look of realization crossed Hermione's face. "WWW floo powder. They came up with it a while ago. It doesn't listen to what you say; it listens to what you think. I had to ban it from my house. My two oldest, Andrew and Jess, thought it was great fun to use it to sneak out to somewhere they weren't supposed to be."
"So then where are they then? Bill's got my daughter somewhere."
"Well, my guess would be my house. The Ron, Fred, George, and the kids are over there.
Molly, Arthur, Alicia, Angelina, and Fleur are over there. I was supposed to be coming over in a few minutes. It's Jessica and Andrew's birthday today."
Ginny nodded. "So everyone's over there?" She was starting to get more nervous by the second.
"Well not everyone, Charlie's out of the country. Tonight's a full moon so Lupin won't be there. Tonks is away on auror business. And a few people will be over later."
"Right, so that means I have to go over there, too?"
"Yes, Ginny, you do. You can't just stand her in the middle of your parents' living room."
Hermione pushed Ginny toward the fireplace and tossed some floo powder in the fireplace. "Ron and Hermione Weasley's," Hermione said clearly, "Go, Gin, I'll apparate over."
Ginny followed Hermione's instructions and stepped into the fireplace.
Ginny landed on her feet and looked around, unsure of where she was. Once she got her grounding, she could tell it was Ron and Hermione's kitchen. She looked around, wondering if there was anyone else in the room, but she found the room empty. There was a pop next to Ginny and Hermione appeared next to her.
"What do you think?" Hermione said, looking around the room.
Ginny looked around the warm wood cabinets, shelves of books, several plates of food sitting out on one of the counters. "I like it. It's very homey," Ginny answered.
"Thanks."
"Now where is everyone? I thought you said they'd all be here?"
Hermione shrugged. "Probably outside. There wasn't enough room in here for everyone, so we're set up out back." Hermione motioned toward a window.
Sure enough, on closer inspection, Ginny could see a few kids running around in the lawn. Ginny couldn't help but smile.
"Where do you s'pose Bill and my daughter are?" Ginny asked.
"Hey Gin-Gin," came Bill's voice as he sauntered into the room, as if on cue. Kara tailed behind him, "We were wondering when you'd be joining us."
"What would you have done if I hadn't been home?" Hermione asked.
"I'd have come over to the Burrow in a few minutes. Thanks, though, 'Mione, I owe you one. I wasn't looking forward to persuading Gin to stay."
"The only thing you will be looking forward to is a good bat bogey hex," Ginny interjected, pulling her wand from her back pocket.
"Ginny, calm down. You're going to have bigger battles to fight," Hermione said calmingly.
Ginny sighed, "Fine." But she gave in more so that she wouldn't have to hex her brother in front of her daughter than Hermione's calming words.
"Mum, do we have to leave?" Kara asked.
Ginny shook her head. "I was thinking we could stay for a bit, what do you think?"
Kara pumped her fist in the air. "Yes!"
"I should probably get this over, shouldn't I?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"The longer you wait, the harder it'll be."
Ginny sighed and nodded.
"C'mon, this way," Hermione said, walking toward the back door.
Ginny, Bill, and Kara followed Hermione out to what Ginny supposed was the back yard. As Ginny emerged, she glanced around the open yard. There was a table along one side filled with food. A large group of people was gathered there, talking in small groups and watching the children who were running across the lawn. Ginny couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. It was as she'd always pictured how things would be when they all got older.
"How do you want to do this?" Hermione asked Ginny quietly.
"As quickly and painlessly as possible," Ginny whispered in response.
"Hey everyone!" Bill called "Look who I've brought!"
"So much for quick and painless," Ginny muttered under her breath. She was about to send Bill that bat-bogey hex she'd been threatening earlier, but she realized that everyone from around the lawn had stopped to stare at her.
She gave a small wave, unsure of what to do. "Hey all," Ginny said nervously as they all stared at her.
And all hell broke loose.
Most everyone's jaws dropped. A few people dropped the plates of food they'd been holding. Ginny was even quite sure she'd seen Alicia faint. All of the men stood staring at her, dumbfounded. Even the children had stopped their games to watch. The only one who seemed to be unfazed by the whole situation was Molly Weasley. Everyone stood and watched as the matriarch of the Weasley family took a few steps forward toward Ginny.
"Ginny?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Hi mum," Ginny said faintly, then gaining the tiniest bit of confidence, took a few steps forward so she stood right in front of her mother.
Molly Weasley, unable to form any words for the tears of joy at seeing her daughter that had been gone for so long, simply gave Ginny a bone crushing hug. "I missed you, Mum," Ginny said softly.
Molly stepped back to the group, and immediately, she was smothered by hugs from the rest of the group. Finally, most of the group backed off, leaving only Ron standing in front of the sister he'd missed so much.
"Where have you been?" he asked, stating what was on everyone else's mind.
"It's not important," Ginny answered dismissively.
"Why did you leave?"
"That's not important either."
"I'm not going to say that I'm not still angry for you leaving all of us, but it's good to have you home, sis." Ron hugged Ginny tightly and Ginny felt herself grinning. She'd missed her family so much. She'd never forgive Bill for doing this, but it was good to see everyone.
"Well come on, everyone," Molly said in a loud voice, "This is a party and now we have even more to celebrate."
Ginny noted that her mum hadn't changed a bit. Everyone started to move again, but Ginny stopped them. "Wait, there's something I have to tell everyone," Ginny said.
"What is it, Gin?" her father asked.
Ginny turned around to see that Kara was standing so she was half-hidden behind Bill. "Kara, come here," Ginny whispered to the girl. Kara walked forward slowly, nervous at the thought of meeting everyone. She put on a small smile. Ginny turned back around to her family and put her arm around her daughter's shoulder. "This is my daughter, Kara," Ginny said.
The looks of shocks rivaled those that Ginny'd seen just minutes before. "Hi everybody," Kara said in an uncharacteristically shy tone, "I'm sorry I don't know all of your names."
Molly grinned at the girl. "Well then, we'd best get you introduced then shouldn't we?" Molly said in a cheerful tone. "First off, I'm Molly, but you can call me Grandma…"
Ginny couldn't help but grin as she watched Kara being introduced to her family. She felt the urge to be helping with the introductions, but her mum seemed to have it covered.
"Thank you, Mione, for making me come back," Ginny said to her best friend.
"What are friends for?" Hermione answered, smiling.
Ginny hugged her friend. "I think I'll go wander for a bit. Catch up with everyone. See how many questions I can dodge."
Ginny found herself wandering the party aimlessly. Finally, she found Alicia and Angela sitting at a table and joined them. Soon they were catching up like nothing had happened.
"Mum! Mum!" Ginny heard Kara yell a few minutes later.
Ginny looked around the yard to see her daughter running toward the table followed by two redheaded kids, a boy and a girl. The two were obviously twins as the resemblance between them was incredible.
"What is it Kara?" Ginny asked as her daughter came to a stop next to the table, "And who do you have following you?"
"This is Jessica and Andrew," Kara answered. Ginny recognized the names. They were Ron and Hermione's, "And guess what! They're turning eleven today! This'll be their first year at Hogwarts, too."
"Well it's very nice to meet you, Jessica, Andrew." Ginny shook both of their hands.
"Nice to meet you, Aunt Ginny," Jessica answered quietly. Ginny could tell the girl was a bit shy, just like she herself had been her first year at Hogwarts.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am," Andrew said, bowing deeply.
"You are such a prat, Andrew." Jessica smacked her brother upside the head. Oh well, Ginny thought not as shy as I thought.
"Jessica! Do not call your brother a prat!" Alicia interjected.
"Sorry Aunt Alicia," Jessica answered, though Ginny could tell she didn't mean it.
"Well, I'll talk to you later, Mum," Kara said, running off before her mother had a chance to say anything.
"See ya, Aunt Ginny!" Andrew called over his shoulder.
Ginny chuckled as they disappeared around the side of the house.
"Oh you laugh now," Angelina said, shaking her head, "But those have a mix of Mione's smarts, Ron's lack of common sense, and they got Fred and George's love for a good prank. I hate to see what they'll do to Hogwarts next year."
Ginny laughed. "Yeah, and add to that my daughter. Sure she looks harmless, but she's already proved time and time again that she can out prank me."
"Out prank you? And she's friends with Andrew and Jessica? Oh, Snape better watch his back next year," Alicia said, laughing.
Ginny heard a loud pop quite a ways behind her that she recognized as someone apparating. Alicia and Angelina's eyes both locked on something behind her shoulder, then looked at her with sympathy.
"What?" Ginny groaned. She grudgingly turned around in her seat.
"Where are the birthday twins?" The man on the deck called.
"Over here! And look who we've met!" Jessica yelled from the side lawn.
Oh no, not him Ginny thought regretting for the first time that evening her choice to come back.
AN: So, would call this a small cliffie… except the next chapter's going up in like three seconds. Whatever. So, yeah, uh, review, if you would be so kind. I'll love you forever.