Take A Deeper Look

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Chapter Ten: The Wreckoning

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            Ginny blocked the rising sphere with a darkened hand, squinting a bit. She loved the morning dew smell; it was rejuvenating, much better than coffee in her book. Drifting her sight to the left a bit, she looked longingly at the dig site she had to disperse from for the week.

            Upon hearing a small noise, Ginny went back into her flat. She laughed aloud when a small ball of a shape with hair every which way tumbled into the living room, emitting another small, pained noise.

            "What are you doing, Tadpole?"

            The curly haired girl shoved hair from her face in annoyance, shrugging off the duvet she had tripped upon. "I fell."

            Ginny laughed again, picking up the cover. "Yes, I can see that. But you didn't answer my question."

            She looked up, "yes I did. You asked What are you doing, Tadpole? and I told you what I was doing – falling."

            Sweeping light red hair into a proper mess, Ginny mock scowled. "Don't copy my voice like that. It's creepy."

            "You're creepy," she teased in a sarcastic voice.

            "Your mums' creepy," Ginny teased back.

            "You're a mum!"

            Ginny smiled, "how else would you explain the nine months you were in me?"

            The younger carbon copy scrunched up her face, sticking out her tongue. "Ewwy!"

            Ginny laughed once more before managing a, "go get dressed," as she shrunk the already packed bags. She checked around the flat as if she had left something to do or hadn't locked a window.

            "Mum?" Ginny turned towards the small voice, face contorted in question. "Where are we going? Is Dad coming?"

            "No, Tadpole, he's not going to be coming, he's busy with the work. But you and I are going somewhere special; then back to the Burrow for Uncle Rons' wedding." Ginny smiled at the thought of Ron getting married. She would never peg him as the marrying type, maybe because for the longest time he wasn't. But he, with help from Harry and a Freezing Spell, had finally found the right time to propose to Hermione when she found the ring box next to their strewn about papers from him running into her.

            "What's the somewhere?"

            Ginny grabbed her daughters' hand, holding it tight, "it's a surprise." And with a pop! the two were gone.

~~*~~

            "Virginia!"

            Ginny turned around quickly, a smile on her face. "Awthawae!"

            The Elfish woman gave her friend a tight hug. "It's been too long."

            "Terribly so, don't you think?" Ginny felt a slight tug on her pant leg, causing her to look down.

            "Mum?"

            Awthawae looked down in awe. "She's beautiful, Virginia. How old is she now?"

            "I'm seven!" she said confidently, staring at the pointy tips of Awthawaes' ears.

            Ginny smiled. "That's partly why I'm here. I was wondering if Lohelm would Bless her as he did me."

            Awthawaes' face darkened. "I'm afraid my father had taken quite ill; we can see no chance of recovery. There has already been a coronation ceremony held for me at my fathers' wishes."

            "I would say congratulations if not for the unhappy terms. Might I see him later?"

            The blonde elf led them thought the village, "you shall. And I will Bless her, Virginia, as my father Blessed you. I dare say he would be quite furious if I did not."

            Ginny smiled, watching her daughter stare in awe of the village. It was just how she had looked when she first visited. She greeted those she knew; smiled to ones she didn't.

"Tadpole," her astonished daughter tore her eyes from the elvish children playing. "You'll have to go with Awthawae now. D'you remember how I told you of my Blessing?" she nodded. "This is your turn. Do not be afraid."

Awthawae smiled, taking the child's hand. "My father is in his quarters. Why not visit him while I am performing the ceremony?"

            "Alright," Ginny waited until the door shut to go through the familiar castles' corridors to Lohelms' room. Guards stopped her only briefly when entering.

            "Virginia," the pale, old elf smiled up at her from his bed.

            Ginny curtsied as per usual, then sat on his bedside. "How do you feel, Lohelm?"

            "Half as bad as he does, I'm sure," he replied weakly.

            She nodded in understanding. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. Two great men should not have to die for the world to be rid of one evil."

            "Ah, but this is the safest way, my dear Virginia. We knew what we were doing when it was decided seven years ago."

Ginny looked out the windowless openings. "I supposed you're right . . . I know you're right. But I just wish you would tell your people why you are ill. They deserve to know."

            Lohelm smiled at his Blessed child. "I will do no such thing. I won't stand for my people acting better than others because of our sacrifice. That is not why we are doing this. We are doing this to save many generations of people from the pain we have had to endure. We are doing this so children, like your daughter, can live without fear."

            "How did you know I had a daughter?" she gave him a sly look, smiling slightly.

            The elf laughed, "there is not much in the lives of my Blessed that I do not know of, my dear."

            Ginny nodded, "would you like to meet her? She's heard many stories from me about you and your family."

            "As a dying mans' wish, I would love to see her, Virginia."

            And though it pained her to hear it, Ginny smiled once more, holding the mans hand comfortingly. They sat in a still silence, until it was broken by a small, familiar voice. She turned to her daughters' grinning face as she gave a wobbly curtsey, then stepped up to the bedside.

            "Hello."

            Lohelm smiled, "hello, my dear." His eyes trailed to Ginny briefly, "she's lovely, Virginia."

            "That's what everyone says! Why can't I just be smashing or something like that?" the girl grinned at her mothers' slight glare.

            "How did you enjoy the ceremony?"

            Eyes bright, she started to describe what it had been like - quite emphatically.

~~*~~

            Ginny looked up at the lopsided house she had grown up in. It seemed quieter now that just her parents lived there; but she knew it would get louder in just a few minutes. She stepped up to the porch, opening the front door quietly.

            "Mum?"

            Ginny looked down at her daughter, signaling her to stay quiet with a finger to her lips. She walked into the all too familiar kitchen, spotting her mother standing at the head of the table next to her aged father. Her brothers surrounding the table, Harry included. It was almost like the scene she had ran in on when she was eleven.

            "I feel like I should be asking you where my jumper is, mum," Ginny smiled as she caused everyone to jump in surprise.

            "Ginny!" Ron exclaimed first, jumping from his seat to hug his little sister. "I thought you said you couldn't come!"

            She smacked his arm, "d'you honestly think I would miss my brothers wedding?" Before Ron could answer, the rest of her family bombarded her.

            "Look at you, Virginia, you're absolutely thin! Are you not getting enough food? D'you need any money to help you along?" Molly Weasley instantly started fussing over her daughter.

            Ginny laughed, "I'm fine, Mum. I get enough money in Egypt, don't worry. Food just isn't as heavy there as it is in England. Speaking of which, I brought you some recipes you'll just love."

            "Ginny!" she heard the familiar voice from behind her.

            "Hermione – congratulations!" the red head hugged her soon to be sister-in-law. "How have you been?"

            Hermione ginned, "fantastic. By the way, does she belong to you?"

            Ginny looked at her daughter, who must have backed towards the fireplace in the living room when her mother had been bombarded from slight fright. "C'mere, Tadpole," she picked her up when she approached, "everyone, this is my daughter."

            "I really know how to quite a room, don't I, Mum?" she whispered into her mothers ear.

            Molly looked as if she were going to faint, but Arthur held her up. "You – You have a daughter?"

            Ginny nodded, biting her lip, grinning like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "I guess I never mentioned it?"

            Ron stared, fish-mouthed. "You have a daughter? Since when!?"

            "Since seven years ago, Ron," Ginny sighed with annoyance. "Look, if you're just going to stand there, staring like fish, then we'll just go back to Egypt."

            Harry smiled at the little girl, "what's her name?"

            Ginny inwardly sighed, thanking Harry for his words. "Her name is Abigail, but she likes to be called Abby."

            "Hi!" everyone but Ginny jumped a bit again when Abby made her exclamation. Her eyes focused on Fred and George, "which one is which?"

            Fred blinked once, "I'm George, that's Fred."

            Abby smirked, eyes narrow, "no you're not! You're Fred and he's George, right Mum?"

            Ginny laughed, "right . . . She's seen many pictures of you two, she's probably the only one of us that can truly tell you two apart." She started pointing people out, though she knew Abby already recognized them all. "That's Bill, Harry, Charlie, Ron and Hermione, Fred and George, and of course the lovable Percy in the back there. Your Grandmum and Grandfather, right there."

            Molly's eyes instantly watered, "oh, I'm a Grandmum . . . Where's her father?"

            "He couldn't make it," Ginny put on an apologetic face, glancing at her daughter who was smiling knowingly. "But I'm going to put our stuff in my old room, if it's still mine."

            "Of course it is, Ginny!" Molly exclaimed as if she had been offended. "Come straight back down, you two must be famished!"

            Ginny nodded as she walked away, rolling her eyes. Yes, because Apparating makes you so hungry! She walked the familiar creaky stairway, pointing out pictures to Abby and answering her questions. "What do you think of them, Tadpole?"

            "I like them, Mummy. They're funny!" she replied ecstatically. "Can we talk to them more? I wanna talk to them more!"

            She laughed, putting her things on the floor near her old desk. "We'll go back down there as soon as our things are unpacked," enlarging the bags, and turning to open her closet.

            "Mum?"

            Ginny turned to her daughter, "yeah?"

            Abby looked up with big, curious eyes, "never mind. I forgot what I was going to ask."

            Giving her a curious look, Ginny reached into her bag, only to find it empty. She looked quickly up at the closet – all her clothes were hanging in a neat row on hangers. "Abigail! What did I tell you?"

            Abby put on an innocent look. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Mum."

            "Abby . . ."

            "Okay. You said not to do that because you didn't know if the Ministry here would catch me. I know, Mum."

            She smiled sadly, "I just don't want to lose you, Tadpole. They'd take you away if they knew what you could do. I have no doubts about that. Speaking of which, how would you like to visit Hogwarts with me tomorrow?"

            "Can I?" her eyes lit up with her smile; she was jumping around happily now. "Yay! I'm going to Hogwarts! I'm going to Hogwarts!"

            Ginny walked back downstairs with the still bouncy child beside her, who was repeating her phrase over and over again. "Tadpole."

            Abby pouted briefly before smiling at the still shocked occupants of the kitchen. "Hi!"

            Once again, they jumped with surprise. Molly watched as the small girl walked over to her, them promptly climbed into her lap and sat down.

            Ginny wrapped her arms around her torso, smiling at the look her mothers' face held. Abby had that way with people; they just couldn't help but like her, causing her to be friends with her coworkers children easily.

"How has work been?"

            She turned her attention to Hermione. "Smashing. It's definitely knackering, but rewarding."

            Hermione looked very interested. "What, exactly, do you do?"

            "We're not allowed to say. But I can say that Tadpole there is already in the history books."

            Abby grinned, "Mum is too! I helped her in finding a new creature – I had lots of fun!"

            Ginny nodded, "that was almost a year ago. We're still trying to categorize it and find more of its species. So far, however, we haven't had any luck. It's almost as if it was the only one of its kind."

            "How is that possible?" Charlie tilted his head to the side like he did when confused.

            "For all intents and purposes, it isn't. But as of right now, it's just going to have to be."

            Abby then decided she had had enough of that subject of conversation. "Do I have to wear a dress?"

            Ron looked to Hermione, who looked a bit perplexed. "I suppose so . . ." he answered carefully.

            Abby stuck out her tongue, "yucky."

            "If I have to, you have to, Abby," Ginny winked at her daughter.

            Crossing her arms, she huffed a "fine." Then she hopped off Mollys' lap and made her way to Ron and Harry. They looked at each other, then down at her. "Will you teach me to fly, please?"

            Ron looked up at his sister, who held her hands up in surrender. "I taught her – don't give me that look. She wants to fly like a Quidditch player."

            "Please!" Abbys' voice turned to pleading.

            Hermione smiled, shooing all the boys out. "Go on. All of you can play. We'll discuss wedding stuff."

            "Yes!"

            "If she falls off I'm killing you Harry!" Ginny warned, pointing a finger at Harry.

            Harry turned, confused, "why me?"

            "Because you're the Seeker in the house," she replied as Abby laughed and pulled Harry out the door. Ginny then turned to her mother and Hermoine. "So what can I help with?"

            Hermione went through a mental checklist. "Everything is ready for us. Except for how many people are attending and who is going to sit where."

            "Don't put Fred by George," all three laughed at the comment. "Guess I came at just the right time – no planning left! Go me," she grinned cheekily.

            Molly had her head facing the window, watching her children teach her only grandchild. "Why didn't you tell us about her sooner?"

            "I couldn't."

            The now gray-haired woman looked at her daughter, who was so alike to her in appearances; so different in attitude. "Why?"

            Ginny sighed, "everything that happens in Egypt, stays in Egypt unless the Scholars say so. Abby was one of those things; she's special to them. I don't know what it is, but she had a strange ability to move things without touching them."

            "Telekinesis?" Hermione looked at her red head soon sister-in-law.

            "Not exactly. It's a form, I suppose. But she can call for something with her mind, and it will dematerialize from its spot and materialize in her hands. She can also put things where she wants them to go," Ginny put her chin in her hand. "It's strange. I don't want her to use it here in England though, the Ministry might catch it."

            Hermione looked out the window. "What else can she do?"

            "I'm not sure. I know that when I was pregnant with her, I managed to fall into the quarry where we were digging, and the wound was fixed to the point where I wouldn't bleed to death. The Scholars don't even know what she can do; they love her just the same, she weaseled her way into their hearts."

            Molly smiled, "that sounds like you. Everyone just adored you when you were her age."

            She looked out the window to see Abby snatch the slowed down golden orb, laughing at the shocked face of Harry. "I feel sorry for Harry. I know she's much better than he thought she was."

            "Talented kid," Hermione mused.

            Ginny shook her head, "not so much talented as good at things. We stumbled across those bones on accident when we were playing tag. And Quidditch playing is in her blood."

            "Too bad you never joined the school team for long, though, Ginny. You were just wonderful on the broom," Molly stood up from her seat and opened the door. "I think I'll go watch the game."

             Hermione nodded, standing up to join her. They looked at Ginny expectantly; who summoned her old broom with a grin.

            The three women walked out into the backyard, Abby cheering when she saw her mother fly up. "Mum! I caught the Snitch!"

            "I saw. She's good, isn't she, Harry?" Ginny smirked slightly, stealing the Quaffel from Ron. She tossed it lightly into the makeshift goal posts, scoring past a rusty Bill.

            Abby watched from above the rest of the players for the slow Snitch, Harry not too far from her. She liked playing Quidditch; it was fun and her mum always said it was in her blood. She once again wondered if she meant her father, then spotted the Snitch and shot after it before Harry registered what she was doing.

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Delirious – Deeper

Norah Jones – Don't Know Why

Avril Lavigne – Anything But Ordinary

Jimmy Eat World – Sweetness

Switchfoot – Dare You to Move

Avril Lavigne – Falling Down

Evanescence – Taking Over Me

Vitamin C – Graduation

Hoobastank – Too Little Too Late

Boomkats – The Wreckoning

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            Shaboobie! Yeah, so this chapter was kind of pointless and . . . yeah. But I figured some explanation was needed to keep you guys from being all "what the hell?" when Abby just kind of popped up in the story. Now you know. Yeah-Huh. I'm going now.