Love, Lies, Mercury Messaging, and iPods

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, any lyrics, bands, or electronic devices used in this story.

Chapter 3: Charlie's Secret

IT WAS the eve of Wednesday, November 21. Weeks had gone by since Ginny's fight with Draco. They had only spoken about three times from the time of the masquerade ball and each time ended up with Ginny saying that Draco was 'conceited and manipulative and that he had no room putting his nose in her business' and Draco saying that Ginny was 'insecure and a spoiled brat who thinks she needs all the attention in the world.'

Ginny sighed as she looked across the table at Laila and Tyler, who were busy feeding each other the pumpkin pudding. She turned to Ashley who stuck a finger in her mouth and imitated barfing. Ginny giggled and caught Laila's attention. She glared at Ginny and then at Ashley, who guiltily removed her finger and looked down. She looked away and flipped her long, blonde hair. Ginny rolled her eyes and excused herself from the table and moved her way to the staircases.

As she was being escalated up to the Gryffindor tower, Ginny looked down over the railing and saw Draco going the other way, staring straight back at her. Ginny narrowed her eyes at him and twisted away. When she looked back he was still staring and seemed to be frozen in his spot. Ginny stepped up to the platform and quietly recited the password, took a last glance at Malfoy, and treaded into the common room.

She was met by Hermione, who handed out the evening post, "Oh, Ginny, here's your issue of Teen Vogue and a letter from your mum. It's also for Ron, but just open it and tell him about it later."

Ginny smiled and took the magazine and the letter and climbed the stairs to her room. After chucking her bag onto the table and slamming the door, Ginny flung herself onto the bed and opened the letter first. It read in her mother's curvy handwriting:

Dearest Ginny and Ron,

The wizarding world has changed greatly. Not only have we gained the knowledge of electronics and other Muggle fashions, we have also plunged deeper into the Second War with You-Know-Who and his Deatheaters. But there is no need to worry; this letter has nothing to do with that.

Your father and I received some devastating news in the mail yesterday. It was from your brother Charlie. He was writing from Sydney, which is in Australia, dears. We found this particularly odd because, you're brother was supposed to be in Romania. We also received a video tape in the same package and we watched it…I think you should watch it before I tell you anything else. But I must tell you the devastating news before you come home for the weekend. Ron, Ginny, Charlie has passed away. It will pain me to tell you more through post, so please, be here before noon on Saturday.

With love,

Mum

Ginny stared at the letter, her fingers trembling and her eyes tearing. She swallowed dryly and crumpled the letter, throwing it across the room angrily. She tumbled off the bed and frantically searched the clothes-covered floor for some clean jeans and a shirt and found some jeans and just threw on her green, plaid petticoat over her wifebeater. She pulled the matching knit stocking cap over her silky hair and didn't even bother with the gloves.

Ginny tore through the common room in tears and ran through the castle halls, relieved when she threw the doors open and saw the turning trees in the distance. She sprinted across the lawn and nearly fell down the stairs that extended into the docks. When she reached the end of the dock she lobbed herself down and lay looking at the sky.

Her sunny vision was soon blocked by a tall, male figure, "'Cuse me miss, you're on my pier."

Ginny let out a strangled sob and rolled over onto her stomach, barely breathing through her crying. Draco drew back and let down his guns when he saw her crying. He slowly got onto his knees and rubbed her back.

"What is it this time, Ginevra?"

Ginny only sobbed harder at the sound of her full name, especially when spoken from the lips of the one she hated most right now. Draco gently lifted her off the wood and held her, though she protested through small, painless punches in the chest.

"Weasley, you'll have to tell me sooner or later. Now what's wrong?"

Ginny's back stopped moving and she snarled with her head still against his chest, "What do you care? You hate me, right?"

Draco came back with, "I know it feels like I don't care anymore, and deep down I probably don't, but just tell me now while I'm listening."

Ginny pulled away, "But I thought I needed all the attention in the world."

"Shut the bloody up, I shouldn't have said the shit I did, but you said some pretty nasty stuff too." Draco declared.

Ginny smiled to some extent and looked into his eyes and uttered clearly, "I'm sorry, Draco."

Draco smirked, "I can see I've taught you how to apologize correctly." Ginny snickered and shook her head. Draco continued, "You're apology is accepted. I'm sorry, also, Ginevra."

Ginny leaned in to hug him but he jerked away, "What are you doing?"

Ginny cocked her head to the side, "I was hugging you, isn't that okay?"

"No! It reminds me of cuddly teddy bears like the ones on my nursery wall and it's just creepy. Besides, Malfoys don't hug. Please, don't try it again."

Ginny shrugged and replied, "Fine. Malfoys are cold-hearted and arrogant."

Draco held his chest, "It hurts me so much." Ginny smacked him over the head, "Ouch! You could damage the goods up here!"

"I doubt it." Ginny stated.

Draco crossed his arms, "Tell me what was wrong with you."

Ginny stood and leaned over the railing and bawled, "My brother Charlie died! He fucking up and croaked!"

Draco put a hand on her shoulder, "I…uh…I'm sorry, Ginny. What happened?"

Ginny sighed, "I don't know. Mum is having me and Ron come home for the weekend to watch some tape. I'm guessing it's his will and explains how he died and shit. I dunno."

Draco bit on his bottom lip, "Does your prat of a brother know about it?"

Ginny shook her head and stared up at the purple-orange clouds in the sky, "I should probably tell him though."

"That'd be a start."

"I should go tell him now. I'll see you around."

Draco asked, "Will I talk to you on messenger?"

Ginny shrugged, "I don't feel like talking to anyone right now."

Ginny trudged up to Gryffindor Tower and found her brother seated in the common room with Harry and Hermione. Just the sight of him brought the stinging back to her eyes. She stood staring at her brother in silence, her little breaths escalating into full sobs. Hermione stood up and took a step towards Ginny. Harry kept asking, "What's wrong Ginny?" His voice bounced off the walls of her head and echoed into the nothingness. Ginny and Ron just stared at each other and Ron knew something was wrong. Ginny stumbled over to him and fell onto her knees. She laid her head down on his lap and sobbed. He shook her by her shoulders, demanding what was wrong. Ginny took his hand and led him up to her dorm and retrieved the crumpled up letter. She put it in his hand and gripped him around the waist, sobbing into his shoulder as he read. Ron's knees buckled as he read the second to last line and he and Ginny sunk to the floor. He clutched Ginny as though he had lost her too. The two youngest Weasley children sat in their peaceful melancholy as Harry and Hermione tried to piece together what was happening.

THE NEXT two days went by in a blur for Ginny. She decided that it would best to only concentrate on the classes. Focus on only the books and the homework. She saw faces, faces of Harry, Hermione, Colin, Holly, Laila, Ashley, Kendal, Natalie, all giving her sympathy. Even the bullies like Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson gave her sympathetic looks. She saw Ron's tear-streaked face. He didn't bother to cover up his grieving. It was just too much for him. And he was the strong one. She saw the faces, but heard no words. The lips of the faces moved, but sound never reached Ginny's ears.

She saw Draco's face countless times, and his voice was the only one heard, firm, calm. "Don't get too lost in your tragedy." "Don't panic." "Don't let those tears fall from those pretty eyes. Fight back, Ginevra." "Ginevra." "Ginevra." "Listen to me, Ginevra." He was commanding things. If he would have given her comfort, she would have lost it. She hung on to those commands. He said her full name to keep her focused. When she seemed to be burning in the heat of all the sympathy, Draco's commands were an icy cold blast of breath. She could breathe when he was around. He was around more often, only because Ron was blinded by sorrow and Harry was too busy assisting Ron.

THE BOTTOM finally dropped out when Saturday rolled around. Ginny packed a small bag of clothes and a book and her iPod. She and Ron rode in a carriage to Hogsmeade and then used flu powder at the Three Broomsticks to get to the Burrow. They were greeted by their parents in the living room. Fred, George, Percy, and Bill were there, sitting silently by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa. Ron hugged Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. Ginny put her bags upstairs and came back down.

Her mother asked, "How are you holding out, darling?"

It was a knife jabbing into her stomach. She nearly screamed, "Don't ask me how I'm doing. Don't…"

She was drowning in the heated sympathy.

Her father softly suggested, "Let's watch the tape now, shall we?"

They watched it. Ginny sat in the rocking chair with her hands tightly clasped together, resting in her lap. Charlie appeared on the screen.

"Hello, my wonderful family. If you're watching this, as you know, I'm probably gone. How did I know I was going to die? Why don't I start at the beginning?"

Ginny closed her eyes and listened.

"I moved to Romania to work with the dragons. Yes, it was my dream job. I was to travel to Sydney, Australia to retrieve an antidote for the hatchlings. I went and when I was there I met a man named Nick O'Snead. He offered me a job as a delivery man for his company. It paid 4000 galleons a day, so I greatly accepted. I didn't know at the time, but Nick was a drug dealer and wanted me to run rounds. I hung with this guy for months. He gave me everything: an awesome condo on the beach, a new car, girls, and money. Of course, I did his dirty work for him. It was really dangerous. Me and some other guys would go in and kill the guys, they would come in, get the drugs, steal the money, and me and the boys would be left to get rid of the bodies. It was a nasty business and I got too involved. Nick told me one night that he wanted me to go into a warehouse and I was to do everything myself. He knew I was a wizard Mom, Dad, and he told me that if I could complete this, he would hand over the entire business to me. He said that I might not live through it, but Nick was my god, my idol, and I told him I would.

"So, I made this tape, I have to leave for the warehouse in ten minutes. I have over 50,000,000 galleons in my account and I'm giving most to Mom and Dad. I still own the hatchery and I'm handing it over to Bill. Take good care of them, bud. I'm giving 10,000 galleons to Percy; I know how hard you work for the Ministry. Start something good for yourself. I'm giving 10,000 galleons to Fred and George for their joke shop; maybe you two can add on to the shop. Have fun with it. Since I know how much Ron adores Quidditch, I'm giving him my prized broomstick and Quidditch supplies. Ginny, I'm handing over one of my most valuable possessions: my books. My whole library, all 631 books go to you along with all my Muggle music. I know how intellectual you are. I love you all so very much. You guys gave me the perfect life and I threw it away with something as selfish as this. I hope you all can live until you're over 100 years old and all pruny. I love you guys so much that words can't even describe it. Maybe I'll see you all later." The tape ended.

Mrs. Weasley broke into sobs, and Mr. Weasley comforted her. Ron began to rub his temples. Percy stared out the window, mentally honoring his older brother. Bill was dazed and lost in his and Charlie's memories. Fred and George filled their mugs with more hot coca and toasted to Charlie. Ginny sat with her hands clasped in her lap, eyes closed, thinking of nothing. Her brain was frozen. Life would go on. After all, she would see him again, eventually.

IT RAINED on Sunday. Ginny spent most of the day out on the porch reading and listening to music. Percy left on Saturday night because of business at the Ministry and because he did not want much to do with his family anymore. Bill drank the whole night and was in bed with a terrible hangover. Mr. Weasley left for work, despite his grieving, and Mrs. Weasley was left to fend for the remaining children. Ron, Fred, and George caught up with each other's news; Fred and George's joke shop was going quite well and Ron was getting better at Quidditch.

Mrs. Weasley stepped out onto the porch, "Ginny, dear, lunch is ready."

Ginny removed her headphones and put her book down on the porch swing. She stalked into the house and took a seat at the kitchen table. Ron, Fred, and George sat down and dug into the steak casserole.

Mrs. Weasley sat down and began spreading butter on her bun, "I've been thinking about ways to use that money. Of course, we'll save some, but maybe we could buy a house in Newbiggin by the Sea."

The Burrow was located in the rural area about seventeen miles out of the seaside town of Newbiggin by the Sea, England.

Ginny narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils at her mother.

Molly Weasley looked up at her daughter and replied, "Oh, Ginny, don't frown like that, it makes you look like a vile creature."

Ginny snarled, "Don't you think that's a little fast?"

"A little fast for what, dear?"

Ginny's voice rose, "A little fast for change. After all, my brother just died."

Molly stared down at her plate, "Change in an environment is a good way to relieve pain of a tragedy. If we just got away from here"-

"I seem to remember all my memories here, Mother." Ginny's face was flushed with fury.

"Ginny, we won't have to sell this place; we're keeping it as the family farm. Do not raise your voice to me."

Fred and George were silently stuffing their faces. They didn't mind; they lived above their precious joke shop. Ron, however, had stopped eating and was staring intently at his sister. He had sided with her on this one.

Ginny was shaking with rage. Her mother always rushed into things when she got scared. It was her way of coping with things. She would not know what to do if her children had sorrow or pain that lasted more than a minute.

Ginny suddenly threw her fork down on her plate, causing a great deal of noise. A large scratch appeared on the white china. She stood, knocking her chair over, and went back onto the porch, slamming the door behind her.

Ron stared at his sister's head through the window and then turned to his mother, who was trying her hardest to hold back tears. Ron wiped his mouth with his napkin and excused himself from the table, a thing he rarely did. He ambled out onto the porch and stood next to the swaying porch swing. Ginny hadn't bothered to put her headphones back on, and appeared to be engrossed in her book, but her eyes weren't moving.

Ron shoved his hands in his pockets, "She's wrong, I agree with you."

"I never said she was wrong. In fact, she's right. But I really don't give a fuck anymore. Sometimes you can't fix the mess ups in life. Let's move."

Ron sighed, "I feel like this year has completely gone off beam. You know? I might not have told you this, but Hermione and I are fighting constantly, Harry's been real distant lately, I got drunk and passed out one time because I was so sad, and I feel like you've slipped away from me too. What have you been up to this school year?"

Ginny felt like telling him all about Draco, but for some reason couldn't, "I've met a lot of friends on that messenger thing. I'm part of a real clique now, not just an outcast. I have Natalie, Ashley, Holly, Laila, and Kendal. We're friends, but we've been fighting a lot too. Drama has flooded Hogwarts this year."

"I totally understand. The best we can do is just move with it. There's no use swimming against the biggest wave in the sea, right?"

Ginny snorted, "Where'd you get that quote from?"

Ron cocked his head, "I dunno. Let's just say it was Harry."

ON MONDAY Ginny was back at school and in a better mood. She sat down at the breakfast table and greeted Ashley, Holly, Laila, and Kendal. They talked and caught up. Apparently Ginny and Ron's brother's death had faded away and was replaced by a new talk of the school. Pansy Parkinson and a Hufflepuff boy named Wesley Thompson had been caught snogging in a utilities closet by Filch. Returning to school wasn't half as bad as Ginny thought it would be.

BY FRIDAY Ginny's parents had bought a three bedroom cottage near the sea in Newbiggin by the Sea and fully moved in. Ginny and Ron got to go home on Saturday and paint their bedrooms and move in their new furniture. Ginny painted her room pastel pink and sea green, making it look like a watermelon. The floors were wood, just as Ginny had always wanted. It had a spacious closet and lots of room for a four poster bed with a canopy. Her bed was indeed four poster with a white canopy and her sheets were pink and green and had a handmade quilt to go over top. The woodwork on the bed was painted white, so she got matching nightstands. She got a matching desk and put her computer and CD player on top. Mr. Weasley had worked all week to build in white books shelves for Ginny's new book collection. It was perfect because she could fit all of Charlie's 631 books onto them and had a little space for a few more books. To top off the room, Ginny put down a fuzzy, pink rug. Having Charlie's money sure paid off.

Ron was right. You shouldn't swim against the biggest wave in the sea.

Author's Note: This chapter took a very long time and I want to thank you all for your patience. Please give it more reviews!

MAF