Chapter 3: The Call

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just enjoy playing with other peoples toys. Thank you JKR for sharing.

"Mommy," Lily whispered in her mother's ear attempting to wake her.

"Hmmph," came Ginny's reply as she rolled over on the couch.

"Mommy Lily up."

Ginny sat up in a flash all sleepiness gone staring around with her wand in her hand ready for a fight. It was only after Lily giggled at her mother's bizarre behavior that Ginny realized that they were not under attack. Willing her heart beat to return to normal she forced a smile on her panicked face and addressed her little angel. "Good morning darling. Did you sleep well? Give Mummy kisses," she said sweeping the little girl into her arms and planting kisses all over her small face.

She couldn't believe that she had fallen asleep, it bothered Ginny even more that Lily had been able to sneak up on her unnoticed. It appeared that after finishing the protective charm work on their little apartment she had fallen, exhausted from her nights work, onto the couch and slept. She had never intended to fall into sleep. Instead she had meant to sit up all night alert and waiting for any unfamiliar sound, perhaps an unfamiliar footfall, a swish of a cloak, or the pop of someone Apparating. Ginny couldn't see how she could have let herself fall asleep with the threat of an unknown stranger.

"What if it had been a Death Eater and they had returned to kill her and take Lily," thought Ginny.

Her mind filled with unwanted images that haunted her thoughts daily. She had to keep her daughter safe. That was the whole reason she was here. She couldn't let them have her. When Ginny had heard the horrible news about Harry her maternal instincts had taken control. Those instincts had taken her far from home, into a muggle world, into hiding. The thought of what could happen to her unborn child spurring her on from place to place. A deep and unspoken fear that followed her had all but taken over her life while she had been on the run. Lyle and Brenda had seen it when she arrived at their home.

"Brenda, this here is Ginger. She's far from home and needs a place to stay, thought we could use her in the bar to replace Crystal," Lyle said introducing Ginny to his wife.

"Very pleased to meet you," Ginny said extending her hand just as she had learned in muggle studies.

Brenda had not shaken her hand but pulled her into a tight hug. Something in Ginny's eyes had made Brenda's motherly nature take over. Instinctively she had known that Ginny needed her. Being wrapped in Brenda's warm arms reminded Ginny of her mother and the tears began to fall unrelenting onto the older woman's shoulder. Brenda did not release Ginny. Instead, she had lead her awkwardly over to the couch and sat with her until the crying ceased while whispering soothing words into Ginny's ear.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me," Ginny apologized bowing her head ashamedly.

Shaking her head Brenda tilted Ginny's head upward to look into her eyes saying, "Nonsense, everyone needs a good cry now and then. There is no need to feel sorry."

They had set her up in their den on the fold out couch. Each had something weighing on their heart. Brenda wanted to ask what had made Ginger so sad while Ginny wanted to tell Brenda her fears. Ginny was quite confused by longing to confess to Brenda. The feeling was there strong and unbidden although she did not know why. Ginny, after being tucked into bed by Brenda, fell into her first real sleep in days and although her dreams were punctuated with nightmares about Harry and Death Eaters she thankfully did not remember them in the morning. Brenda, on the other hand, did remember them. She lay in bed listening to Ginny crying and moaning in her sleep wondering again what had caused this girl so much pain.

The next morning dawned with a weak sunshine flowing through the yellow curtains of the Mason's family room. Ginny yawned and rolled out of her bed and grabbed her clothing before heading to the bathroom to change. After preparing herself for the day ahead Ginny found Brenda in the kitchen frying eggs in a large cast iron skillet.

"Morning Ginger," Brenda called over her shoulder. "Breakfast will be ready in a minute. Have a seat at the table. Would you like coffee or orange juice to drink?"

Ginny smiled, Brenda just made her feel at home. "Coffee," Ginny answered Brenda as two fried eggs slid onto her empty plate from the frying pan.

"Ginger, I know you don't know me from Adam but I want you to know that I'm here for you if you need to talk. It doesn't take a genius to see that you are going through something difficult and it's taking its toll on you. If you need anything just let me know," Brenda told Ginny as she handed her a cup of coffee.

Ginny sighed staring down at her plate wondering if she dared bare her heart to this woman and how was she going to keep magic out of it. Finally after several minutes of silence between them Ginny spoke, "You're right. I am going through something difficult and I don't even know where to begin."

"How about from the beginning," asked Brenda softly.

"Alright. I guess it all started nearly nine years ago. I was only ten then but I had met the man of my dreams or the boy of my dreams I guess you would say. He didn't even know I was alive. He became my brother's best friend which allowed me the opportunity to get to know him. Well, over time, we became friends. My feelings for him never changed but he didn't know that. He never saw me as more than a friend. At the time I doubted he would care if he knew how I felt anyway. He was quite famous where I was from you see. He was a celebrity of sorts. There was this person who wanted him dead. This person lead many others all of them evil and all of them wanted the one that I loved dead. They had been trying to kill him since he was little," Ginny told Brenda whose eyes furrowed at what Ginny had said.

Plunging on before Brenda could ask questions Ginny continued, "Harry was my hero just like he was to so many others. He finished school a year before me and set out to stop them, the bad people. I was so in awe of him the day he got their leader but that didn't mean the threat was completely gone. There were still many out there who wanted to kill him. Well, the last time I saw him we," Ginny heisted in her story before plunging on. "We suddenly realized or he suddenly realized how we both felt. We made love that day. I found out I was pregnant a month later. I was so scared. I didn't know how I was going to tell him. I had made up my mind to tell him the very next day. We were supposed to see each other that following night. We were going to tell my family about us. My mum would have been thrilled. But, but he was killed that day. My father came home from work and told my mother and me. He was killed before I could even tell him. They finally got him just when, just when his life with us, his family."

Ginny couldn't go on she was sobbing with her hands over her face while Brenda pulled her into a warm hug trying to calm the sobs that rattled Ginny's frame. When Ginny's tears had slowed to a trickle she went on with her story. "He never had a family, the bad people's leader, he killed his parents when he was just a baby. Harry always wanted a family. When I found out he was dead I knew I had to run. My baby, our baby was in danger. If they knew about it they would want it dead too or worse. They may want to take it and raise it to be like them. I couldn't stay there and I couldn't tell anyone where I had gone. I, I just packed up and left."

Brenda looked sympathetically at Ginny whose eyes were red and swollen. "You really loved him then."

"Yes, I, I did," Ginny sputtered.

"Who," Brenda began but Ginny stopped her.

"I'm sorry," Ginny interrupted. "I can't tell you more. Please understand that I would tell you if I could but. . ."

Brenda nodded, "I understand."

Ginny allowed herself to be held by Brenda; just as her mother would have held her if she was there, while thoughts of what could happen to her unborn child flitted through her head. What a prize they would have if they managed to capture Harry Potter's child. Ginny knew that, like its father, this child would have inherited some of what Voldemort had left in Harry. What if the Death Eaters realized this as well? What if they kidnapped the child and brought it up to be the next evil wizard? Without her guidance and love would this child stand a chance against such manipulation? The thought was too horrible to even entertain. Ginny would never let that happen. She couldn't let that happen not only for herself and the rest of the world but for Harry's sake. No, she couldn't let Harry's only child grow up to be what Harry himself had to fight against.

"Brrring!"

Ginny froze as the telephone began to ring shrilly. The memories of her past were pushed out of her mind as the thought of the visitor from last night had immediately invaded her thoughts. Setting Lily down on the couch she made her way to the ringing telephone.

"Hello," Ginny said into the receiver.

"I know where you are and I'm coming for you," came a deep male voice.

"Who is this?" Ginny demanded her face reddening.

"An old friend," came the reply before she heard the soft click of the phone being hung up on the other end.

Ginny's breath caught in her throat as she laid the phone back in its cradle fear washing over her in waves. They had been found but by whom she did not know. Without pausing to think Ginny ran to her closet and pulled out her trunk and began to throw all of their belongings inside, all the time a plan forming in Ginny's mind. She would tell Brenda and Lyle tonight that she had to leave. They would not be happy but they would understand. Then she and Lily would take flight and with luck on their side they would once again be able to lose themselves in the muggle world.