Chapter One
Ginny Weasley made her was down to breakfast later the usual. The only thing that had pried her from the warm comforter and quilt was the thought of her mother coming to check on her. Ramses usually left before she woke up. Today they had spent a little more time talking before he left for Snape Hall and then, she had fall asleep.
Her forest green and silver, silk robe brushed up against her toes and hugged her waist. She had to roll up her sleeves as she sat down next to her brother, Charlie. He was her favorite brother. Charlie had never treated her like a child. He had asked her to play games even when his friends told him not to, he stood up for her in the playground and when Ron pulled her hair. The most important thing Charlie had taught her was to fly. And not only on a broom but in her dreams as well.
Every since he had left the Burrow for Hogwarts and then, life on his own, nothing had been the same for Ginny. Now, Charlie was home- at least until the Dragon Breeding Program, in Romania, called him back. It was unfair but he had a job and Ginny had school essays to focus on, if she wished to remain at the top of her year.
Last year, Ginny's fifth year, she had been made a prefect. The day she got her badge her life had stated to take form. Prefect for two years, Head Girl her final year, just what her parents wanted but she could help been feel that something was missing. But now that Ramses was in her life that was the old Ginny.
"Would you please pass the toast, Ginny?" Ginny didn't hear Hermione at first. "Gin, pass the toast! Ginny, are you listening to me?"
"What?" Ginny pulled herself from her daydream with Ramses.
Before Hermione could repeat her demand, Mrs. Weasley broke in, "After breakfast Harry, Ron, I would like you to weed the garden. Hermione, you can go and move your things into Ginny's room and after breakfast Ginny I would like to talk to you."
Ginny was about to protest but a sharp kick to the foot by Charlie told her not to just yet. The room was silence after Molly finished. Ginny and Hermione glared at each other, neither Ginny nor Hermione wanted to spend more time than was necessity with each other.
Breakfast was concluded and the family started to go about with their business. Ginny remained seated. Questions flew through her mind. Did her mother know about Ramses? What would happen if she could not get a letter out in time to warn him? Now, that Hermione was staying in her room, how would she see Ramses? If Ramose showed up at the window that night or the next night, Hermione would go screaming to her parents or worst her brother and Harry.
Molly cleared the table and with a wave of her wand, the sink began to fill with soapy water. Another wave and the scrub brush with to work cleaning the plates and silverware from breakfast. It was difficult to figure out what Molly was thinking about because she kept moving. Her face was grim though and she was ringing her hands like a washrag. Ginny knew that Molly knows but how much did Molly know? Time to go fishing.
"Ginny, dear, tell me what is wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, mum."
"There are things you're not telling me, Ginny, why?"
"Because there is nothing to tell."
"Than why do you lock your door at night? Last night was the sixth time in two week that I couldn't get into your room to get you up."
"I don't see why that should matter. I don't want everyone in my room and in my stuff. Besides it's summer vacation. I should be able to sleep in every once in a while."
"Ginny, dear, I know something is wrong. Does this have something to do with what the healer said? I know that it is hard to get over something like this but you did not ask to get sick-"
"Mum, what does that have to do with anything? Is that why you wanted to talk to me?"
"No, but I think it explains some of your behavior for the past few week-"
"What behavior?" Ginny watched her mother carefully. Molly took a deep breath and released it moments later.
"You are acting out upon your emotional turmoil and I can understand that but there are rulers in this house-"
"Mother, why don't you just tell me what has you knickers in a wrap."
""This is the behavior I spoke of, my dear, are you depressed? Hermione said-"
"HERMIONE SAID! HERMIONE SAID! Please tell me what Great One Granger said!" Ginny stood up so fast that her chair fell back with "BANG" against the yellow tile floor.
Mrs. Weasley remained seated and somewhat calm, "Hermione said that you were acting out because you don't have any where to focus your energy. She said while at school you were sneaking about the library and always down the potion's lab to all hours of night. Now, here at home, you're locking your door, hiding things, and keeping boys in your room! I do not know what to do with you anymore!"
"What! Are you talking about?"
"Ginny, I heard him last night. You forget, this is a new house with a new heating system. The vent that is in your room leads to my room. Your silencing spell and locking charm may have worked on the door but you have been caught! So, don't even try and deny it."
"Fine, I won't. I had a boy in my room but nothing happen. I locked my door because-"
"Nothing happen! He stayed here until nearly six in the morning and nothing happen? Ginny, I grew up with two brothers, bought countless boyfriends home without my parents permission or knowledge and raised six sons, yet, you wish me to believe that nothing happen. I know better than that, Ginny. -"
"You won't let me finish. You think you know me, well, you don't! I'm not you! I'm not going to get pregnant at sixteen, drop out of school and be a lonely housewife. I'm not going to be you-"
"That is right. Your not because you can't. You CANNOT have children."
Ginny was shell-shocked. She never believed her mother would throw that in her face. "Mother, what do you know about me? You know nothing. The last time we talked about anything before school started last year. Do you ever send me letters? No but some how you manage to send a letter to Granger every week. Why is that, mother?" Ginny reached out and grabbed the edge of the sink, her back to Molly. All the anger that was building was pulsing through her veins, her grip tightened on the sink.
"What is your problem with Hermione? Does her being here offend you so much that you cannot even use her first name? Hermione has been a true friend to your brother and Harry."
"That is right, mother. She is Ron and Harry's friend not mine."
"Are you jealous, Ginny?" Ginny's hands started to turn white as her grip intensified. "That is it, isn't it?" An amazing force of power flowed through Ginny's body and down into her hands. With a great flash of white light on front of her eyes, everything started to go fuzzy and then finally black.
No one knew what actually happen but Ginny had been knocked out and the sink along with two-thirds of the kitchen wall was spilled across the front yard. Harry and Ron had heard the explosion and moments late were hit with flying piece of wall. Molly, who was in the kitchen, had been forced to the floor by the blast but what really saved her was the table, that had flipped over and blocked the major falling pieces. Hermione was on the stairs transferring the last of her trunks into Ginny's room when the whole house began to shake and tremble. All the Weasleys that were home came running to the kitchen and then, flooed the remaining number of family to tell them to come home.
The ministry men showed up soon after that to speak with Ginny about the under age magic rules. Ginny had been give permission to use magic but only to practice for her up coming advancement to seventh year. Blowing up a wall was not one of the listed items to practice. After Molly explained what had happen, the Ministry wrote it off as an "Uncontrollable Happening."
Charlie laid his baby sister on the couch and began to check for broken bones or breeding. What would cause Ginny to blow up like that, he didn't know but he was going to find out. It had something to do with Hermione, he knew that for sure. The way they had glared at each other it was the only answer.
His mother had woke him up early that morning and wanted to discuss Ginny for some reason. By the time he was dressed and down in the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley had worked herself into a fine knot. He watched from the doorway as she moved about the kitchen talking to herself. Charlie sat at the large family table and waited for her to the same. When she did, she handed him a cup of coffee.
"Charlie, you're going back to Romania tonight and I need you to take your little sister with you. It would just be the for the summer. Something is going on with her and I think she needs to get away." Mrs. Weasley took a moment to sip her tea and let her son take it all in. "Just this morning I went wake her up so that she could with breakfast but her door was locked and last night I could have sworn I heard a male voice in her room. I don't know what else to do but to send her away for the summer." Molly sipped her tea again. "Besides you've been saying that you wanted to take her with you, Charlie."
Charlie left the table without saying a word and had yet, to say anything to his mother. Sending Ginny away was not the answer and he was sure the problem could be fixed if people would let Ginny be Ginny even if that meant letting Ginny sneak a boy into her room. Charlie remembered what it was like to sneak a girl into his room, the excitement of getting away with it, and what fun he had had with them. Maybe that was the reason he was so worried about her. The trouble that could arise from this was, well, it would be trouble and not just for Ginny.
Charlie made his way outside and looked out to the horizon. Once out of the shadow of the house, Charlie looked up at the new manor and at Ginny's window. A candle had been lit and two figures moved about the room. So, his mother was right. He walked up onto the porch and climbed onto the rail. "This house is easy to scale," he thought as he made his way up to the second floor and Ginny's window.
Inside the room or what little Charlie could see of it, Ginny and her unknown brown hair beau were standing in the center of the room, arms wrapped around each other. A second later, the beau took Ginny's hand and placed his other on her waist as they began to move. Charlie could see his mouth start to move with their movements. He was counting out the steps to a waltz - he was teaching Ginny to dance. Both were dressed, looked as if nothing was wrong and it was perfectly natural to be dancing at 5:00 in the morning.
Charlie watched the two for a little while and then, climbed back down onto the ground sure that nothing was going to happen. He sat at the table and thought about he had just witness. He really should tell his mother but Ginny looked so happy. It had been a long time since she had looked as happy as she looked up there with him.
When she came down for breakfast dressed in the silk and a dreamily looking into thin air, he noticed the hop in her step and the movement of her hips. No, Charlie would not tell his mother what he had seen but he would take Ginny to Romania for the last week of summer vacation.
What had his mother said to upset Ginny so? To blow half a wall up takes a heck of a lot of power. Had Ginny reacted that way because she didn't want to go to with him? Or was it something else? Charlie knew that Ginny had wanted to meet Anna for more than a year. Why would she be upset.
There was a knock on the door and then, a mad dash to answer it. Hermione's parents were to show up any moment now and Ginny had still not woken up. She looked so peaceful, sleep on the couch. Charlie took a damp cloth and began to wash her face. Her robe had been removed and placed on the coffee table. No amount of patching, sewing or magic would help to make it whole again. Charlie knew he would end up replacing it if Ginny's beau didn't before him.
Ginny began to stir as the dream team entered the room with an old face but not that old, Professor Snape. He looked just as sour and unfriendly as the last time Charlie had seen him. In his arms he carried a large box wrapped in green paper with a huge silver bow. On top of the box was a pile of letters.
Ginny's head was pounding. Her eyes felt like they were going to be pushed out of her skull and her mouth tasted like someone had stuck a three year old candy cane in it. Slowly, she began to sit up but was stopped by the dizziness that swarmed her head.
One of her brother, possible Charlie, placed her into a sitting position. The dizziness began to fade and Ginny's view started to clear. Charlie asked her how she was feeling but her only answer was to grab her head as all the blood ran from it and groan begging silently for mercy or death, which ever was quicker. Her brother seemed to sense her pain. He laid her back down onto the couch and covered her forehead with a cold, wet rag.
"Miss Weasley, I know that blowing up a wall is hard work but I know that blowing up a wall is hard work bit I think you will want to see this."
Ginny removed the rag and looked up at the cream parchment letter marked with the Hogwarts seal. A un-too-friendly Ginny snatched the letter from his hand and torn it open. Out fell a badge as expected. She paid no attention to the badge as she opened her book list and informational letter. Along with these letters was a note for the new headmistress congratulating her for being the first person in 400 years to ship a year. Ginny read her book list and then, placed the letters with her badge. She also replaced the wet cloth on her head. Having to focus on words to read hurt her head.
Snape loomed over Ginny still holding the oddly wrapped package. "Miss Weasley, you did not read all your letters."
"Thank you for the news flash, Captain." Ginny removed the cloth from her eyes but did not move to pick up the letters.
A scream from the kitchen caused Ginny to grab a hold of her head and moan. Several loud noises follow, each one like a hammer slamming into Ginny's temples. To Ginny these noises told her that hell was in charge of Hogwarts student body. Ginny didn't even see Hermione charge through the kitchen.
"You, Bitch! Isn't it enough that you're moving up to seventh year, now, you have to take the one thing that I've wanted since I got my Hogwarts letter? You bloody cow, just because you're teachers' pet and more, what gives you the right?"
Ron and Harry were behind Granger and stunned at her performance. Mrs. Weasley had rushed out behind the group but was not fast enough to stop Hermione from confronting Ginny. Trying to be Mrs. Weasley, though shocked, she got between her daughter and Miss Granger.
"Girls, I'm sure that the good Professor will clear up this little matter, Professor."
"I do not see a problem. The letters are very clear. In fact, I was just telling, Miss Weasley, that she should finish the headmistress's letter. Or better yet, just look at your badge." He picked up the small piece of gold metal and handed it to Ginny.
She looked at the badge and smiled. She held it for everyone to see the "HG" printed over the Hogwarts crest. Ginny smiled and placed the badge back onto the table. Then she replaced the rag back to its rightful place - a top her head. The last thing she saw before passing out was Snape looking like the cat that caught the caged canary.
Charlie looked around the living room. Hermione was crying on the shoulders of both Potter and Ron. His mother was trying to convince Professor Snape that it might not be such a good idea to have Ginny as Head Girl. She had just blow up a wall. His father and Percy were discussing what to do about the wall until it could be fixed. As for Bill and the twins, they had yet to find out about the drama of the morning. Goodness what a morning it had been and it was not even noon thirty.
Bill got home two hours later and the twins were on his heels. Hermione had called her parents to move the lunch date to a dinner date. Ginny had yet to wake or even stir. The real blow for Charlie was a phone call from Anna.
"Hello?"
"Charlie, is that you?" It was great to hear her voice after that morning.
"Yeah, love. How are you?"
"I'm good. Charlie, I need to tell you something." He could hear the worry in her voice.
"What is it? All you all right? Has something happen?"
"It's not like that. No one id hurt or anythi8ng but Charlie when are you coming home?"
"Something came up here, I'm not going to be able to make it back tonight. Now, tell me what's the matter? I love you! You can tell me anything."
"I found the job offer in you tent this morning. Are you coming back at all? I know that Hogwarts is a great place and it would be a dream to work there with the students but I really need you. Charlie didn't know what to say. He had forgotten about the letter. "Charlie, that's not what you need to know, I'm pregnant, and Charlie, and I need to know if you're going to be there for us."
Silence filled the line. He could hear Anna at the other end start to cry and then, the line went dead. She had hung up the phone.
Charlie did not know what to do. His body said jump on next transporter to Romania. His head said wait a little to let her calm down and let him get over the shock. His heart told him to get his grandmother's wedding set from his bag, get on the next transporter, and two hour trip would be time enough for everyone. Option number three worked for him well enough but he could not leave Ginny here alone. The moment she woke, Hermione would pounce.
There was only one other thing to do - call her back, but what would he say? The first thing would be to come to England but for how long. Merlin, she was pregnant with his child. A dragon camp was no place for her on her condition. And there was no way in hell his baby would be raised in one. The job offer at Hogwarts was the only option left.
He dialed Anna's cell, praying to Merlin that she would pick up. On the third ring, "Hello?"
"Anna, it's Charlie. I'm sorry about a few minutes ago. Listen we need to talk. Come to England and plan to stay a while... please."
The rest of the conversation was Charlie begging and Anna crying. She would be at the Burrow just about dinnertime. Charlie was finally able to breath fully when Anna hung up and he was in the living room seating next to Ginny on couch.
An hour later Bill interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, you haven't said a word in over an hour. What's the matter?"
"What did you do when you found out Fleur was pregnant?"
"Came here and asked Dad for Grandma Weasley's wedding rings, why?"
"Secret?" Bill nodded. "Anna pregnant and she is on her way here." Charlie looked around to make sure no one had heard.
"What are you going to do? You cannot raise a child in a dragon camp, Charlie." Bill put up a mask to cover his shock.
"I know. I got a job offer at Hogwarts. I think that I'm going to take it. Anna will be able to work in the Hospital Wing, if she would like."
"Congrats just the same. But one question, how are you going to tell mum?"
"Very carefully"