Chapter 8: Redemption

Ginny was submerged into Bill's memory and was standing in the Burrow's sitting room beside the fireplace. Bill, Charlie, George, and Ron were watching the fireplace, waiting for Percy's return.

"I still don't think this is a good idea. Mum pretty much told her she HAD to stay with him. We all know what they're probably going to do. It's Christmas for crying out loud," memory Bill said.

"Oh come on Bill, we all know you've got a soft spot for the both of them. Just shut up and stick to the plan," memory George said, "I hope we don't have to beat the scrawny git up, but this is our sister we're talking about, our sweet innocent baby sister."

"Our sister, who's madly in love with the guy," memory Bill said.

"He's my best mate. I don't want to be doing this anymore than you, but Ginny's our blood. I'll protect her any day." Memory Ron spoke up. Ginny was now standing close to Bill, and heard him mutter something about him attacking Hermione after she and Ron "get it on" and see how he likes it then. She giggled at this. She realized he had been on her side from the start, but he didn't exactly fight back against them.

Just then memory Percy bustled from the fireplace.

"I don't believe them!" he said.

"What what did he do to her?" memory Charlie asked. He had been quietly observing his brothers until now.

"You'll have to watch," memory Percy said, pulling a silver strand from his head and placing it into the bowl in front of them. Ginny watched as the scenery changed before her as memory Bill entered the Pensive.

She saw herself and Harry. He dragged her to the couch and sat her down looking very serious.

"It's not a crazy idea," she heard memory Harry say, "I've been trying to figure out the feeling I felt holding Teddy and having you so close was about. I feel more and more like we are meant to be. I think that's what it is. I'd say we start right now."

"I've only just made the Harpies. Gwen told me that marriage and Quidditch just don't mix, that's why she had you play opposite me" she heard herself say. She knew immediately that there was more to what they had both said. She saw them kiss, and knew that something more was off.

"Ginny, it's fine. We've got plenty of time, we can do this," he said. The owl tapped at the window. "Kreacher, could you get that?" When Kreacher had given Ginny the letter Harry dismissed Kreacher to Hogwarts and she watched herself open her Mum's letter.

"I think she's given me the night out," memory Ginny said hesitantly, "there are so many things that could go wrong."

"She's got that right," memory George said. Ginny really looked at all her brothers, they all looked mad, even Bill. What she had seen so far made her want to personally hunt Percy down and kill him.

"Ginny, please?" memory Harry said. Then they were kissing again and memory Harry was taking her across the room and up the stairs.

She suddenly found herself back in the memory Burrow's sitting room. Bill's memory of Percy's tale had ended.

"I say we get him after she's left for the Harpies on Saturday," memory Charlie said. Ginny wondered if he too was on her side until Percy left details out.

"I say we take him there and show them both what happens when you cross the Weasley brothers," memory Percy said. Ginny really wanted to hit him, but this memory ended then too.

Things were still very rocky between Percy and his siblings, and Ginny still hadn't forgiven him for being absent for most of her teenage years. It angered her that he appeared to care about her now.

She sat in the middle of the Grimmauld place sitting room and started sobbing all over again. She was so angry, and so tired of crying.

"What happened honey?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Percy is a downright foul git. I'm going to kill him," she found it in her to say as her father hugged her to him. Mrs. Weasley exchanged glances with Bill.

"Alright Potter, she's seen Percy's memory, I've seen Percy's memory, there was obviously, problems with it. I'd ask her for her take on it, but she's a little upset. Would you be willing to share your memory with me? I don't need all the details," Bill said. Harry thought about this for a moment

"You know I love your sister with all my heart. I'd never do anything to hurt her," Harry said.

"I'd hope you wouldn't. I trust you. Charlie, George and Ron do too, they just won't admit it. Percy's the only one who thinks she would be better off."

Embarrassed, Harry pulled his memory of what happened from his head and placed it in the Pensive. He watched Bill dive into it and then watched Mr. Weasley trying to comfort his only daughter who was now cursing Percy left and right. Mrs. Weasley looked as if she could start crying too. Harry wished he weren't so helpless.

"I'm sorry about all of this Harry, I wish there were a way to reverse this. I thought my boys knew better." Mrs. Weasley said pointing at his legs.

"It's alright Mrs. Weasley, the healer said it would only be for a few days," he replied.

It was about two and a half minutes later when Bill came back. He looked as bad as Harry felt.

"Percy left some things out as I had suspected, and twisted quite a bit," he said apologetically.

"It's okay, I'd appreciate it if you'd punch Percy in the face though," Harry said jokingly.

"If anyone touches him it'll be me," Ginny said, "I'm going to let him have everything I know."

"Now, now, Ginny, That's not necessary," Mrs. Weasley said, she didn't like it when her children fought.

"I'd normally agree with you Mum," Bill spoke up, "But I'd like to punch him myself. He made it look as though Harry was the bad guy. There was nothing wrong with what happened that night since both Harry and Ginny are engaged adults. Harry, I'm really sorry. Would you mind if I shared this with the others?" he asked. Harry nodded his head. If it would get them to not hate him eternally, he would be glad to clear his name.

When Bill left Ginny stood up from her place on the floor and relocated to Harry's lap. She threw her arms around him and nestled her head against his chest.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley watched them and noticed how fast Ginny seemed to calm down at Harry's touch.

"Ginny," Mrs. Weasley finally spoke after a few minutes, "we're going to head on home. I'm sure Kreacher could take good care of Harry, but I'm also sure that you could do just as well," she smiled.

"Don't give your brothers another reason to hex you," Mr. Weasley added. Ginny weakly smiled at her parents as they left leaving her and Harry temporarily alone. She didn't bother moving, they had had a long day and she was quite comfortable sitting in Harry's lap with him hugging her to him.

"I love you," she said closing her eyes in contentment.

"I love you too," he replied kissing the top of her head. He leaned back and closed his own eyes. They were both almost asleep as Bill, Charlie, and Ron apparated in front of them. Bill chuckled as the sound of their arrivals startled Ginny so much that she almost fell off Harry's lap.

"Sorry to startle you," Bill said. The Weasley boys were smiling. Ginny stood, stretched and then laughed at Harry as he sat in the chair awkwardly probably wishing he could do the same. Charlie pointed his wand at Harry.

"I'm going to try to reverse what I've done," he announced as Harry flinched and Ginny made move for her own wand, both of them thinking he was going to hex Harry again. Charlie started murmuring a bunch of incantations. Harry suddenly felt a sharp tingling in his legs and shouted out in pain.

"I think your legs are asleep. Ginny, help him to his feet" Bill said. Harry nearly knocked Ginny over as he tried to stand on his own, but Ginny simply laughed.

"I think you're right," he said leaning on the laughing Ginny for support.

"Walk around the room for a moment, that will help," Charlie said.

"I'm sorry mate," Ron said, nearly knocking Harry over when he hugged him a few minutes later.

"It's okay, you're all almost completely forgiven," Harry said laughing.

"I think our father has pretty much given Percy the speech, telling him he better watch his back now," Charlie said, "We don't expect either of you are too happy with us, so we'll leave you now. Both of you had better be up, dressed, and at the Burrow in time for breakfast in the morning," Charlie continued nodding to his brothers.

"You two go on, I'll be behind you soon," Ron said to them. He wanted to have his own talk with his best mate and little sister.