Ginny arrived at her parents house as her mother was cleaning up from breakfast. A pile of untouched toast sat on the counter, and she had to force herself not to stare hungrily at it. She let go of James' hand and he ran straight to his grandmother.
'Nanna', he shrieked. Molly turned and bent down, her arms open wide, and James launched himself into her arms. She embraced him affectionately, planting kisses all over his face as he giggled. She looked over his black curls and met her daughters' eyes. The sparkle in her eyes at seeing her grandsons made Ginny smile.
Molly put James down and walked over to Ginny. "Come to Nanna, my sweet boy." She cooed at Albus. Albus shrunk into his mothers shoulder, staring wearily at the strange woman approaching him. Ginny cursed to herself. She saw her mother so rarely that her youngest son didn't recognise her.
"He didn't have a lot of sleep last night. I'm sure he will be fine in a few minutes,' she lied quickly to hide her guilt. Her mother looked slightly put out, but accepted Ginny's explanation. She sat down on the floor with James, and started chanting action rhymes with him. After a few minutes, Albus signalled to be put down and crawled his way over to the pair and into the eager arms of his grandmother.
"I wish you would bring the boys here more often, Ginny. I miss not having children to take care of, and they are such precious boys.'
"I know mum. I'm sorry. I will try and bring them around more often in the future. We've just been so busy that we haven't found the time." Molly glanced sideways at her daughter, not fully convinced this was true. Ginny had made plenty of time to visit when James was younger, and she never allowed visitors into her home either. "It's odd", she thought, but shrugged it off. She turned to James.
"Shall we go play outside?'
"YEAH" he squealed, running for the door. Molly laughed and opened the door for him, summoning a blanket for them all to sit on. Ginny followed her outside carry Albus and some toys. While James ran off and played, Ginny settled Albus on the blanket with his toys and sat down beside her mother. They talked for the rest of the morning. They discussed work and what was happening at the ministry, talked about the rebuild of Hogwarts and how it was nearly complete. They shared memories of their childhoods and laughed at all the jokes Fred and George used to play. They shared in their grief of Fred's passing and Molly filled Ginny in on what was happening with the rest of the family. As they talked, Ginny's heart lifted a little: she missed adult conversation, and it was so nice to spend some time with her mother. Being the only girl in her family, they had always been close, and Ginny hoped that sometimes in the future they could rebuild their relationship into what it once was.
As lunchtime approached, Ginny called James in and helped her mother prepare some sandwiches. She changed Albus and helped Harry go to the toilet, and laid the table for their meal. They all sat down to eat, Ginny resisting the urge to tear into her food like a beast. She laughed as Albus smeared his food all over his tray, face and hands, and noted that he would need a bath when they had finished. James was banging his hands on the table, using his plate as a drum, and singing Happy Birthday loudly and out of tune.
The opening of a door and some heavy footsteps announced the arrival of her father. He gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down for lunch. Ginny watched the exchange and felt a tightening in her chess, remembering how Harry used to greet her like that after a long day at work. She had always admired her parents; even after more than three decades of marriage, their love was still as strong as ever. When she was a child, she had always dreamed of having a similar marriage; she'd never imagined how differently her own would turn out.
Arthur joined in James' song and soon the two were engaged in a food fight, much to Molly's displeasure. When all the sandwiches has been eaten or were scattered all over the floor, Ginny washed James face and hands and cleaned the food off his clothes while Molly cleaned the kitchen. Ginny unbuckled Albus from his highchair, and took him to the bathroom for a wash, leaving her parents alone with James.
'I got that money of out Gringotts, Molly. It will save us time in the morning.' Mrs Weasley nodded her head as her husband placed a leather bag on the table. A faint chink confirmed that it was full of coins. Since the war had ended, Mr Weasley had become Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, and had received a generous pay rise. Molly and Arthur now lived in relative luxury, their money troubles a thing of the past.
When Ginny returned from washing Albus, she found her parents in the playroom on the first floor. The room was stocked with toys for when the grandchild visited, but someone had pushed all the toys against the walls and had erected a crib and a nap bed for the boys. Ginny handed Albus over to her mother, and knelt down to James, who had come running over to give her a hug before his nap. Ginny sat on the couch next to the low window while her parents closed the shutters. They turned the lights on low, and Molly started singing softly. Soon the boys were asleep, and Arthur conjured a one-way silencing charm around the beds, so that they could have a conversation without waking them up.
Ginny shifted on the couch and caught sight of her reflection in the window. Part of her makeup had rubbed away when James hugged her, and evidence of purple bruises marked her otherwise pale skin. She noticed her mother was looking at her curiously; it was clear that she had noticed the marks.
"Why don't you go and get us all drinks, dear? We can watch the boys." Ginned nodded and stood up, stretching her aching limbs gently, and walked into the kitchen. She hastened to fix her make-up and make tea for everyone. She waiting anxiously while the kettle boiled, knowing her mother would question her non-magical method.
Ginny saw the money sitting on the table. There were so many coins she doubted if a few would be missed. She thought about all the food she could buy with that money, and how it might keep Harry's temper at bay. She thought about her sons, pure and innocent, who were facing tomorrow without any meals.
"It's only a few coins," she told herself. "No one will notice it missing, and I can pay it back. We need this money. Mum and Dad would understand if they knew."
Making up her mind, Ginny closed her eyes and reached out a hand, grabbing a handful of coins and shoving them quickly into her pocket.
"What on earth are you doing?"
Ginny spun around, so quickly she lost her footing and fell to the floor. She glanced up into the red face of her mother. Her hair was standing on end, and she was baring her teeth. Ginny opened and closed her mouth to explain, unable to form any words. She dropped her gaze and looked at her mother, tears leaking out the corners of her eyes.
Seeing the look of fear on her daughters face, Molly Weasley instantly regretted her initial reaction. Stealing was so out of character for Ginny, that she should have known straight away that something was troubling her, and responded with kindness instead of anger. She took her daughter into her arms and hugged her tightly. She'd suspected for sometime now that all was not well with Ginny. Over the years since her marriage she had seen her bright, smart, funny, confident daughter fade away into a scared, jumpy, submissive person. She had desperately wanted to help her daughter, but Ginny avoided her questions and eventually cut off all contact with her family. Seeing Ginny so upset now broke her heart, feeling like she had failed to protect her daughter from pain. She didn't care about the money, all that mattered now was to break through Ginny's shell and find out what was going on.
"What is it, love? You know you can tell me anything, right?" Ginny nodded her head and took a deep breath. "I know mum. But... I'm just… I'm just so… so ashamed of everything".
"If I tell you, I'm afraid he's going to hurt me some more".
Molly was horrified at the words that came out of her daughters' mouth. "Ginny, are you talking about Harry?'
Ginny looked up with bleary eyes. She was numb. It was like all of her emotions had been switched off and a deflated balloon left in their place. Her mind was fuzzy and she couldn't think clearly. Before she could process what was happening, she opened her mouth. "He hits my, mum. If I don't so what he asks me to do, he yells at me and he hits me. Sometimes he leaves marks like the one you saw on my face'.
'And the money?'
'He doesn't give me any money. He spends it all on drink and leaves none for food. I have to go out to the streets and beg for coins just to feed the boys.'
'How long has this been happening for?'
'Since James was born.'
A stunned silence followed Ginny's revelations. Molly couldn't believe that Harry was treating Ginny so badly. She had never doubted that he loved her, and they had all trusted that he would take care of her. Molly felt let down and betrayed; she had loved Harry like a son, and he had repaid her by terrorising her daughter.
"Ginny, has he ever hurt the boys?'
Ginny slowly shook her head, glad that her back was to her mother. Her cheeks were burning with the lie, but she couldn't bring herself to admit how bad things really were. 'No mum, he only hurts me. The boys are always in bed and I always clean myself up before they get out of bed.'
"I wish you had told me sooner, Ginny. We can help you. Me, your father, and your brothers. We are all here for you, Ginny. You don't have to keep this to yourself any longer.'
When Ginny said nothing, Molly pressed on. "Why don't you and the boys come and stay here for a while? There's plenty of space and I'd love to spend more time with the three of you.'
Ginny's head shot up, startled at her mothers offer. Leave Harry? What if he came after her? She was sure he would punish her severely for trying to leave. 'I don't think that's a good idea' she said in a small voice.
"We can protect you here, Ginny. We kept everyone safe from Voldemort and his cronies, we can protect you from Harry. You deserve better than this, and so do the boys. Please, Ginny. Let us help you. We all love you'. Molly's voice was pleading and Ginny was overwhelmed by her concern. She asked to be excused and ran out of the kitchen.
Ginny went out into the yard and stretched out in one of the lawn chairs her father had bought from a muggle shop. She closed her eyes and let the warm afternoon sun wrap her up and felt a wave of calm wash over her. She felt the same as she had during her childhood here: safe, loved, protected, and happy. The atmosphere dulled the hurt in her heart, and she felt for the first time in many months that things were going to be okay. As the afternoon wore on, Ginny reflected on her life, and where she wanted her life to go.
She loved Harry. There was no denying that. She knew that he was not a bad person, but that he was lost, and along the way had made some bad choices, choices that were now hurting her and their sons. She was sick of living in fear, sick of not being able to provide for her children. She hated the arguments and the abuse, and knowing that she was exposing her sons to a bad environment. They were so young, so easy influenced, and she didn't want Harry's behaviour to have an impact on their growth and development. As the sky began to turn orange, Ginny made a decision. It was time to take control and get herself and her children out of a dangerous environment.
Ginny found her mother in the lounge room, playing a game of cards with James. She cleared her throat and motioned for her mother to join her in the kitchen when she had the chance. She didn't have to wait long; Molly called her husband down to entertain the boys and joined Ginny in the kitchen.
"I think…' Ginny began. She found it difficult to get the words out. She coughed, shuffled her feet and tried again. "I think that… that the boys and I will stay here for a while. Just until we find somewhere else to go."
Moly took Ginny in her arms. 'Don't you worry about that. You and the kids can stay here as long as you need too. We will ward the place so that Harry cannot get in. Do you think you will be alright to go home tonight and collect all your things?'
"Yes mum, I'll be fine. But do you think I could borrow some money? If I can buy some food and cook a good dinner, perhaps he won't hurt me tonight. I'll pay it back, I promise"
"Of course you can. Help yourself to what you need. And don't worry about giving it back. To have you three here safe and happy is worth more than all the gold in the world."
Ginny pulled herself away from her mother and gave a watery smile. She took some money from her parents bag and gathered up all of her sons' items.
"Goodbye, mum. We will see you tomorrow. Can you send an owl around in the morning so I can let you know what time? Perhaps after 10, as Harry will be at work and can't intercept it.' Molly promised and Ginny picked up Albus and held James's hand. She threw some floo powder into the fireplace and they all stepped in. She smiled at her mother while James waved enthusiastically, and then they lost sight of her and were lost to the flames.
Ginny returned home in high spirits. She quickly hid the remainder of the floo powder. She put the food she had bought in the fridge and freezer, and got her sons ready for their bath. She gave them a quick dinner of eggs and toast and tucked them into bed. Then she showered, straightened up the house, and waited.
When Harry came home that night, smelling of firewhisky, Ginny had dinner waiting on the table. He ate it without complaint, and then went off to have a shower. Ginny cleaned the kitchen quickly and checked on her sons. They were sleeping peacefully in the warm night air. She gave them each a quick kiss on the cheek before retiring to bed.
When Harry finished his shower and began climbing on top of her body, she didn't object. She lay still and let him have his way with her. He grunted as he finished, rolled off her, and soon his snores filled the room. Ginny lay awake for much longer, thinking that by tomorrow night, her and her sons would have a safe place to sleep, away from him.