It was a gloomy, slushy Monday a few days after Christmas. Harry and Ron had returned to the Academy and Hermione holed herself up in her rooms to study, which left Ginny alone at Grimmauld Place. She did try to study. Honestly, but really, who wants to write essays during Christmas break?
She paced around the living room, a room that filled the entire floor of the house. She was so proud of this homey and warm place. A Christmas tree stood next to the fireplace, the baubles placed high so Crookshanks wouldn't play with them. There were no petrified gnomes on top, just an enchanted star. Her heart was filled with joy, thinking how this was her home.
But it felt empty. There was no Harry to share it with. "Oh, forget this!" She grabbed her jacket and headed to the floo.
"Hello? Mum?" She called as she stepped out of the large fireplace of the Burrow. Molly didn't answer, but she could hear rumbling voices coming from the sitting room. As she got closer, she saw Charlie and her dad talking over a cup of tea. "Hi! Where's Mum?" Ginny set her things down and sat next to Charlie.
"After Bill and Fleur's announcement, she decided to do a run to the yarn shop. It seems she feels a bit behind as the wee babe will need jumpers, booties, layettes…what are layettes? Anyways, what brings you here?" Charlie set his arm over his sister's shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
"Oh, you know, the dull time between the holidays. And layettes are baby gowns. I thought you were going back to Romania today." She was more than happy to change the subject.
"Yes, well, things change. I was going to mention something on New Year's, but I might as well tell you, I'm not going back."
"So, you're moving back home? What will you do for a job?" She felt excited. The family still needed each other nearby.
Charlie stood and stretched until his back cracked, "Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while. When I was here for the wedding and then, things turned so bad, I decided. I've been offered a place with the Department of Magical Creatures."
"I thought you liked the dragons." Ginny said, curious.
"I do, really, but I feel like I've done all I can do with them. It's time for a change. Besides, There's more girls here." His mouth curled into a grin.
"Charlie…" Ginny hesitated, unsure if this was the time to ask, "I have to…Harry asked me…about what you said Christmas night."
"What did you say?" Charlie turned to face her, a concerned look on his face. His jovial grin slightly fading.
"Well, not much obviously, because I'm not dead. I just told him that I couldn't say. He tried to ask again, but being newlyweds, I was able to distract him." She gave a smile.
To her left, Arthur chuckled.
"But I've got to say this. All these years, I've never said anything. Not even to myself. But seeing you, hearing you, I feel like that scared little ten-year-old being put under an unbreakable vow. That's not something a little girl goes through often."
"What are you getting at?" Charlie asked, a feeling of anxiety building.
"What I'm getting at is this, I've grown up. I understand more about what you went through. And it's been so long now."
"Are you saying that time heals all wounds?" He snapped.
"I'm not that stupid. I'm saying that sometimes it's better to share the pain than allow it to fester."
"Fester? Hah. That was a long time ago. I've been dating, I've seen loads of girls. I've been moving on." Charlie laughed. "Like I said, it's time."
"Then release me." Ginny said simply.
"What?" He was stunned.
"Charlie, I said release me from this vow."
"Why, what does it matter?" He laughed again, "It was all so long ago."
"Listen, I was ten years old when you put Mum, Dad and I under that vow. You were hurting. I didn't know how bad until recently?"
"I guess I forgot about it." He stood from the sofa and shook his head, "Oh, not about her, just about that silly vow thing."
"That silly vow thing is still over my head. I've learned something these past few months. Sharing helps." Ginny said, remembering what the group therapist at school had said.
"Helps? Will it bring her back?" He felt an anger grow, "Will talking about Fred bring him back?" He started to turn his back to her.
Arthur started to rise but Ginny stood faster. She stepped closer to her big brother, "No, it helps to keep them here." She pointed to her heart.
Charlie turned so he was fully face-to-face with her, "You want to be released so you can turn around and tell Harry?"
Ginny nodded, "I made an even more eternal vow to him. I refuse to keep anything from him. If you won't release me, then you will be the one to tell him why."
"But it just doesn't matter!" He nearly whispered.
"Then release me." Ginny said simply.
Charlie sighed and gave a little grin, "Take out your wand."
0o0o0o0o0
Under duress, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione went to the Burrow for dinner. It had been a tough day training, and the men were tired. But a summons to the Burrow was not easily ignored.
Just after dinner, Charlie stood, leaned against the sideboard and spoke, "I heard there were a few questions about a comment I made the other night. I need to clarify a few things." He sighed and took a sip of his coffee. "I have a story to tell." He looked directly to his sister.
"Seven years ago, I started in at the reserve. Well, I was never shy around girls and there were a few girls there to become friendly with. But one in particular caught my eye. Sophia. A dark-haired fireball. And fierce? She could wrangle a dragon with more bravery than me. Anyway, a little fling turned more serious. Our director thought it was ridiculous, two eighteen-year old's that serious. But when a Weasley knows, he knows, right?" He waited while the chuckles and snickers faded.
"We decided around November that we wanted to marry. Why wait? What better time than Christmas? I sent money to Mum and Dad and they brought Ginny. Sophia's folks couldn't make it. The day before Christmas Eve, the wedding, Sophia went out to observe the hatching of a ridgeback. We had a hide close enough to observe yet far enough to stay hidden. It was a raised platform, disguised as a tree, facing the nesting ground.
Now, dragons are not exactly cuddly to begin with, but a nesting one is a bit… well, Harry, you know. Anyways, Sophia was up there for about an hour, when something spooked the dragon. She attacked the Hide and…and Sophie didn't survive." Charlie's face closed up with emotion. He wanted to turn away, to hide.
"He put me, and the folks under an unbreakable vow. He didn't want it blabbing all about." Ginny put in.
"Yeah, I was upset, like you'd imagine. I wanted no one to talk about her. I thought, if I held it all inside, then it wouldn't hurt so bad. Even the next year, when we were all in Egypt, I reminded them to stay silent. It's taken this long to say enough is enough."
"But why didn't you want the support of your family? Or even other people?" Hermione asked, confused.
"No. I understand. Look how we are. We run if anyone outside the family asks about last year. We all avoid the topic." Harry said quietly, "We lost loved ones, we also killed many. Do we yell it from the rooftops?"
"It's not quite the same thing…" Charlie started.
Ron lifted his head, "It is the same thing. We nearly lost each other many times this past year. It was a load of miracles that we survived. We were on the brink of insanity the whole time. Loosing Fred devastated us all. Although we don't talk much about it, we were and still are here for each other. We could have been there for you."
"Yeah, I know that now." Charlie rubbed his hand across his face and shook his head, "Like I said, I was a bit messed up for a while. But what made my mind up was a letter I got last month. It was from her father. He said he forgives me. I realized, it was time to forgive myself."
Ron was about to say something when Molly passed a tray of little tarts and cakes left over from Christmas, "How about finishing this up for me?"
The mood had broken. Charlie laughed, "Sorry Mum. I promised a cute little blond from the Ministry to meet for drinks." He kissed his mother's cheek and winked at Ginny. "It's time, right?" With a wave, he sauntered to the Floo and was gone.
"Don't worry Mum, I'll make sure they don't go to waste." Ron jumped up and grabbed three off the tray then also kissed his mother on the cheek. "Thanks."
A/N Thanks for all the follows and favs. They really boost me up and makes me want to write more. You know what will make me write even more?- Your reviews! Each one makes me dance and shout for joy, and the creative juices flow from the Heavens. May you all have wonderful Holidays and your new year be filled with joy and stories.
May you each have magical Holidays and your year be filled with Joy and Stories.