"Mum, why do we all have to be here?" Charlie groaned again from the table. Mrs. Weasley waved her wand at a pot simmering on the stove, and turned around.

"For the hundredth time, your brother said he had some important news. He'll be here soon." Bill grinned at his mother with his mouth full of food.

"M'm nyot complainin' mum, food's delicious." Mrs. Weasley smiled as Mr. Weasley walked down the stairs.

"Good morning family!" He said cheerfully. A chorus of "Good morning Dad"s greeted him from the table. Bill and Charlie sat next to each other on one side, with Fred and George opposite, swapping ideas for new inventions. The seat in between them stood empty, as it had for so many years. Percy's seat…

"What's for breakfast Molly?" Mr. Weasley asked as he kissed his wife on the forehead.

"Just about anything Arthur, it's all on the table." The two smiled at each other, and for a moment, it was easy to forget the pain.

But then the door burst open, the light from outside streaming in. A figure stood in the door, head down. Mrs. Weasley let out a gasp.

It was Ginny.

"Oh Ginny…my…Ginny…" Mrs. Weasley pulled her daughter into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around her thin frame. "We thought you were…"

"Dead." Ginny spoke softly, and looked up at her mother. "Hullo everyone." Fred stood up, pushing his chair back to hug Ginny.

"Where were you?" He asked gruffly, as if holding back tears. Everyone stood up, embracing their sister. But Ginny pushed them away.

"You…you don't understand. I'm not coming back." Mr. Weasley stared at Ginny.

"Don't be ridiculous dear, we thought you were…"

"I know what you thought, okay? I didn't fucking die. I eloped." Ginny's face started to flush, and she looked down at her shoes.

"You…" Molly was speechless. But Charlie grinned.

"Language dear sister. Who's the lucky guy?" Ginny spoke softly, almost inaudibly. But they heard it.

"Draco."

"Malfoy?" George stepped back.

"Is there any other?" Ginny asked quietly.

"What…how could you?" Bill's smile slid off his face. "You…Ginny!" Everyone else was silent, until Mr. Weasley spoke.

"My daughter will not be married to a Death Eater. " He spat the last two words, and Ginny recoiled, as if slapped. "Ginny, you will never see him again." Ginny looked up angrily.

"Never see him again? Who are you to tell me what to do?" Her face flushed again, and she stepped forward. "You have no fucking control over me. You don't know what the hell I do. And you don't give a damn." Mr. Weasley stepped forward as well, staring down at his daughter.

"Excuse me? No Virginia, you are never to see him again. In fact, you won't be leaving this house ever again. You're putting your life in danger!" Ginny glared up at him.

"The hell I won't! I'm leaving now. I wanted to tell you I loved him. I thought maybe you might see it that way. But what the fuck did I know? You are a bastard. You don't have any control over your children, let alone your life! You fucking bastard! Watch me! Watch me leave!" She turned to storm out, but Mr. Weasley raised his wand and the door slammed shut.

"Don't you dare speak to me that way! I'm your father, and you will do what I say!" He flicked his wand again and the lock closed on the door. Mrs. Weasley inched away from her husband and grabbed her wand as well. The boys stood dumbstruck around the table.

"Fuck! No! You can't stop me! I'll…I'll… fuck!" Ginny turned and grabbed the doorknob, but screamed in pain. Her hand was burnt yet the doorknob sat innocently. Mr. Weasley grabbed her wrist and spoke in a booming voice.

"You are my daughter! And you will stay here until I feel like it!" Ginny dissolved into sobs, crumbling down on the floor. br br

"Fuck you Arthur. fuck you!" She buried her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. The room grew quiet again except for the sound of her pain.

"Ginny…we…" Molly spoke quietly from beside the stove. Her silence throughout the whole ordeal had been unnatural, and now she looked down on her weeping child. "Ginny…it's all right…we…" She bent down and touched Ginny's head, but her daughter's hand flew up and hit her away.

"Get the fuck away from me!" Ginny stood up and threw herself against the door. "I have to go…he'll…he'll…" Her voice dissolved into wordless sobs, and Arthur ran forward, grabbing her hands that were pounding against the door.

"Bill, Charlie, take her up to her room. When you close the door, call me and I'll put the enchantments on it." Bill rushed forward and grabbed his sister around the waist. Charlie stood still. "Charlie?"

"Dad…she…what happened to her?" Arthur sighed.

"I…I don't know." With that, Charlie stepped forward and touched Ginny's face. Her sobs were hysterical now, and she was screaming in her pain. Suddenly, a voice spoke from the front hall.

"Mum! Dad! It's Ginny! She's…" Ron ran into the room and stopped short.

"Oh."