This story will contain some spoilers to HBP in later chapters. Also, I realize that the timeline for the children is a bit off, but there was really nothing I could do to fix it and still keep my story the way I wanted it. Oh, and to preventconfusion Nicci is pronounced like Nicki. Thanks.


Ginny Weasley sighed as she stepped off the plane. She looked around at her new surroundings. Muggles were walking quickly, some carrying luggage, others holding young children. All of them looked happy. All of them were going somewhere. Ginny reached up and wiped a tear off her cheek. She had once been happy too. Before her world came crashing down. True, the war was over and Voldemort was gone, but some people went with him that she couldn't bear to live without. She walked slowly through the airport and headed for the door. She was never going back. She could never face her friends or family again. Not after she had been accused of being a traitor and thrown out by her so called family.

She let her mind wander to the worst night of her life. She could still see Percy and her friend, Blaise, lying on the floor. She remembered the anger she had felt. Her family had appeared moments later. She still heard the words Ron screamed at her. He had called her a traitor. He said it was her fault. She felt another tear roll down her cheek and quickly brushed it away. She hadn't deserved that. She had always thought they would support her no matter what. Perhaps blood wasn't as thick as they say. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind. It was better this way. She could live and forget what had happened. They could live happily without her.

No more pain and no more magic, she thought as she walked through the doors and out into the street. She motioned to a taxi driver who helped her with her luggage. She had a job and an apartment. This was her chance to start over and have a better life. After all, she thought with a smile, I'm only eighteen. I shouldn't have had a life like that anyways.

"Where to?" the driver asked, shaking her from her thoughts.

"1349 Haven Street," Ginny said.

The driver nodded. "I noticed your accent. Not from around here?" he asked.

Ginny smiled. "No, I'm not," she said softly, "I just moved here."

The driver grinned. "Welcome to Los Angeles," he said. Ginny just smiled.

Ginny watched as they passed all the tall buildings and moved into a more residential area. The area looked very nice. She grinned when he stopped at her new apartment. It was a three-story brick building with a large maple tree out in the front. She got up carefully and carried her luggage to the door. It was opened immediately by a tall and slender woman in her early sixties. Her silver hair was pulled up in a loose bun and she was smiling broadly.

"You must be the new tenant," the woman said, "I'm Betsy Baker. I live in the apartment above yours."

Ginny smiled. "Yes I am. I'm Virginia Winters, but everyone calls me Ginny." It had been strange to say her new name, but she definitely couldn't say she was Ginerva Weasley. What if someone came looking for her? Doubtful, but just in case. She wanted nothing to do with them again.

The woman smiled back. "Nice to meet you Ginny. Come on in. I'll help you with your things," Betsy said as she grabbed one of Ginny's suitcases.

She helped Ginny into the entry room. It was decorated nicely, yet inexpensively. They carried her suitcases up the stairs to apartment 7. Ginny removed the key she had been given earlier and unlocked the door. She smiled when she walked in.

The two-room apartment had come already furnished. It was nothing wonderful, but Ginny loved it. It was peaceful. She turned and smiled at Betsy. "That you so much for helping me, Betsy."

"Well, it's no problem dear," Betsy, said grinning, "Well, I'll let you get settled in. Very nice to meet you. Don't hesitate to come visit me anytime."

Ginny smiled as Betsy closed the door behind herself. She turned and surveyed the apartment again. It was already beginning to feel like home.

Ginny sighed loudly as she entered her apartment building. Work had been hard, but amazing. Her first day and she was already getting to design things. Nothing big, of course, but it was still nice. She was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't see the man in front of her chatting on a cell phone. She ran straight in to him and fell to the floor.

"I'm so sorry," the man said, holding out a hand. Ginny looked up at him and flushed. He was very good looking, with curly brown hair and gorgeous light green eyes. She judged him to be around twenty.

She took his hand and he pulled her up. "Sorry about that," she said, "I wasn't paying attention."

"That's quite all right," the man said smiling, "Neither was I."

Ginny smiled. "I'm Jacob, by the way," the man said, "You don't look familiar. Did you just move in?"

"I'm Ginny. And I just moved here from England."

"Ah, yes, I was wondering about the accent," Jacob said smiling, "So I was going out for some dinner down the block. Would you like to join me?"

Ginny looked at Jacob thoughtfully. She didn't really know this man, after all, she just ran into him, but he was cute. Her better judgment won the battle quite quickly. "Actually, I already ate," Ginny said hoping it seemed genuine.

"Oh, well, okay," Jacob said looking slightly disappointed, "How about a rain check then?"

"Sure," Ginny said smiling.

"Good," Jacob said smiling back. "Well, I'll see you around."

"Bye," Ginny said as she started up the stairs. When she got into her apartment, she sighed. A new and wonderful job, a cute neighbor who wanted to take her for dinner, and a new apartment. It seems as though maybe, just maybe, my life might be taking a turn in the right direction, she thought happily.


Nine Months Later

Ginny tried to keep herself composed as she walked toward her boss' office. How could I have been so stupid, she thought to herself angrily. This could cost me my job. They won't want me after this. She blinked back tears as she reached the door. The glossy golden letters read CASTILLA CAYHILL HEAD MANAGER. She knocked quietly at the door. The secretary had already informed her that Castilla was alone, but she prayed that she was wrong. She needed another excuse not to talk to her.

"Come in," a voice called.

Ginny opened the door slowly and glanced at her boss. Castilla was a small woman with silky blonde hair that she wore up in a tight bun. She had brilliant blue eyes, which could go from bright to stormy in a matter of moments. She was in her early forties and was nice when she wanted to be. Ginny had learned early not to get on her bad side. If she didn't like you, she would fire you without a second thought.

"Ah, Miss Winters," Castilla said smiling, "Please, come, sit down."

Ginny nodded and took a seat in front of her desk. Despite the fact Castilla was smiling, Ginny could sense Castilla already knew something was up.

"Allison, told me you wished to talk."

"Yes, Mrs. Cayhill," Ginny said trying to gather her courage. "You see, I'm, well, I'm pregnant." She looked down at the ground and waited for a reaction.

Castilla looked at her in shock. "Pregnant? You've only been working here nine months..." she began.

"I know," Ginny said as a tear rolled down her cheek, "It was an accident. I didn't mean to and now I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know how to raise a child. I, I..."

"Okay, well calm down," Castilla said sighing, "What about the father?"

"Jacob," Ginny said softly, "He's gone. Just gone. I went to tell him and he acted like he'd help but then the next day, he was just gone. Everything in his apartment was gone too."

Castilla raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Moved? Without even telling you?"

"Yes," Ginny said, breaking down again, "and I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't have enough money to raise a child."

"Do you have any family?" Castilla asked.

"No," Ginny said wiping the tears from her face and looking back at Castilla. She had promised herself she wouldn't cry.

"What about an abortion?" Castilla said quietly.

"No, I can't, I won't," Ginny said shaking her head, "and I can't lose this job. I'll work through my pregnancy, I'll..."

"Now hold on a minute," Castilla said, "Who said you were going to lose this job?"

"Well, I just assumed," Ginny said quickly, "After all, I've only worked here a short time and..."

"Ginny," Castilla interrupted, "I'm going to be honest with you. You are the best designer I've seen come through here in years, and trust me I've seen a lot. You have way too much talent for me to fire you. In fact, you have way too much talent to even be working here. You shouldn't be here designing this, well for lack of a better word, crap." Ginny stared at her in shock.

Castilla just smiled. "Don't look so surprised. I just manage this place. It doesn't mean I have to be a fan. And as for the money, you'll be fine. Your pay should be enough to get you by for a year or two, but then, Ginny you have to get out of here. Start your own business."

Ginny smiled at her. "Thank you, Mrs. Cayhill. I promise I'll work hard."

"You do that," Castilla said handing her a tissue, "Learn everything you can about the business and get out of here. You could really make it big, Ginny." Ginny nodded and headed out of Castilla's office. Perhaps she would make it.


Seven Months Later

"Come on dear, push," the doctor said.

I like to see him try, Ginny thought bitterly. She was pushing! The pain was overbearing.

"One more," the doctor said. Ginny screamed at the last push. She heard a baby crying somewhere close to her. "It's all over now," the doctor said, "It's a girl, Miss Winters."

Ginny smiled as a small baby was placed into her arms. She was so beautiful.

"Have you thought of a name?" the doctor asked.

"Veronica Leigh Winters," Ginny said smiling.