Ginny grumbled again and grabbed the large basket of towels her mother had plunked down in front of her. She grumbled the whole way up the stairs, lugging the large basket behind her. Her mother was being ridiculous. Fleur's parents were not due to arrive for days, and yet Molly had Ginny and the other Weasleys scrubbing the smallest corner in the darkest closet as if Fleur's parents would be looking there anyway. Upon reaching the small hall closet Ginny wrenched open the door, making a mental note to tell her mother that the closet door hinges needed to be replaced, and started folding towels. After folding half of the large load and placing them nicely in piles she finally just grabbed the rest in her arms and shoved them onto the shelf, quickly slamming the door shut.
She tiptoed past her parent's room and slid into her own bedroom, pulling her door shut behind her. She flopped down on her bed and stared up at her ceiling, massaging her hands which were sore from all the work Molly had made her do. Earlier that week Arthur had held a meeting with the remaining members of the Order to inform them of the plans to get Harry. A part of Ginny was excited to see Harry, she was still quite fond of him, but the other part of her didn't want to see him. He had broken up with her after Dumbledore's funeral because he wanted to keep her safe. Ginny scoffed quietly to herself as she kicked off her shoes and pulled out one of her school books. Even though Hogwarts had closed early due to Dumbledore's death, somehow her professors had managed to assign homework for the summer.
Her first class was Transfiguration, but instead of doing her work she found herself doodling Harry's name across her paper. After a moment she ripped out the page and crumpled it up before muttering, "Stupid prat says he wants to break up with me to keep me safe. When will he learn that I can bloody well protect myself?" She tossed the paper across her room and into the trash bin before skimming her Transfiguration book.
After a moment of mindless reading she threw her book back into her trunk, sighed and slumped back onto her bed, glaring up at the ceiling. A voice called softly through her door, "Ginevera, are you in there?" Ginny froze. She would kill herself if Molly wanted her to iron any more curtains. "Ginny, dear?" The door slowly cracked open and Ginny held her breath, but to her dislike, Molly pushed the door wide open and snapped, "Ginny, why haven't you been answering me?"
"Um, I thought you were talking to someone else," Ginny said, weakly.
"Nice try," Molly said dryly, "Come on, I need you to help Ron prepare Harry's bed."
"Mum, I think Ron can do it himself, he's a big boy," Ginny groaned.
"Ginevera Weasley, don't make me call your father," Molly threatened.
Ginny sighed. A few days ago she had refused to help her mum in the garden. Molly had promptly spoken with Arthur who had a few harsh words for Ginny including 'you never help your mother,' and 'you need to stop being so selfish.' Pulling herself out of bed Ginny said, "I'll go help Ron, but if he just sits back and refuses to work, I'm warning you, I'll curse him."
Molly gave her look that said, 'oh please, don't be so dramatic,' and said, "Fine, now scoot."
Ginny walked up to Ron's room and pounded on the door saying, "Ron, I was sent against my will to help you make a bed for Harry. I hope you're decent because I'm coming in." She pushed open the door and immediately regretted it exclaiming, "What died in here? It smells like Aunt Miriam's old cat."
"Oh shut up," Ron snapped, "Mum's been making me work all day, I'm exhausted, just help me make the bed." The two quickly moved piles of Ron's stuff to make space for Harry's bed. They dragged in a cot and put sheets and pillows on it before collapsing back onto Ron's bed. "I can't believe mum's being so ridiculous," he said softly, smothering a yawn with his hand.
"I can't believe Bill is actually going to marry that twit," Ginny growled, "Today mum asked me to wash the dishes after breakfast and Fleur just stood by me, criticizing my work and saying 'I can't belieeve zat my wedding iz een lezz zan a week!' I almost punched her."
"You should have," Ron said, "Mum would be so worried about 'poor' Fleur, she wouldn't have time to make us work."
Ginny chuckled, but a minute later groaned when Molly yelled, "Ginny have you finished that? I need your help in the den!" Ron smirked at Ginny who smacked him before reluctantly pulling herself up and grumbling her whole way back down the stairs. Her arrival in the kitchen was ignored, however, due to the fact that Fleur was saying, "Molly, eef eet ez pozzible, could we make zee cake bigger?"
Molly pursed her lips tightly saying, "If you feel that it's necessary, I'll see what I can do."
"Oh, zank 'ou!" Fleur hugged Molly tightly and said, "Now, eef 'ou do not mind, I zink I will go take a 'ot bath. I am zimply exhausted." Fleur flounced up the stairs and slammed the bathroom door shut. Soon steam floated down the small flight of stairs, followed by a soft flowery scent that made Ginny scrunch her nose.
Molly turned around, muttering "Bigger cake, how am I going to do that?" when she saw Ginny. "Ginny, what are you doing in my kitchen? You know I'm stressed out and I don't need you cluttering up my kitchen while I have to work."
"Oh," Ginny said, not feeling the need to mention that Molly had called her downstairs, "I'm sorry mum. I'll just go out into the garden and out of your way." Ginny quickly scampered outside and to the far side of the garden. The most secluded corner of the garden was surrounded by ferns and Rose bushes. A small stream trickled over from the neighboring property and pooled into a little pond before dribbling back out across the garden.
Ginny sat down on a flat rock and pulled her sandals off. Braving the cool water, she plunged her feet and legs, up to her knees, in, wiggling her toes. So much had happened in the past year and, at times, she felt like she never had time to herself. Sometimes she thought she purposefully kept herself busy; if she was busy, she didn't have to think about everything.
Draco had gone missing. The Ministry had been searching for him for months, but he and the rest of the Malfoys had vanished. Their home, Malfoy Mansion, was under impressive amounts of protective spells and couldn't be located. The pain Ginny had felt when she had heard what Draco had done was dimming. It wasn't really pain towards him; it was more towards the loss of Dumbledore. She wasn't sure how she felt about him anymore. Yes, they had been secretly owling each other the whole summer, and, after getting to know him better, she was looking at him in a different light.
A soft sigh escaped Ginny's lips when Molly's voice rang out in the garden, "Ginevera Weasley, why didn't you remind me?! I need you to come help me in the den!"
Ginny growled soft and said, "Coming," before standing up and drying her feet off in the grass. She started pulling her socks on when Molly's voice yelled, "Ginny, don't ignore me, I asked you to come help me!"
"I said I'm coming!" Ginny shouted angrily before grabbing her shoes and running up to the house.
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That evening the members of the Order gathered in the Weasley's living room before running through the plan once more and leaving. Ginny, who was quite miffed that she wasn't allowed to go, sulked in the kitchen until they left. She had poured a glass of milk when Molly came bustled in, fighting back tears.
"Mum, don't worry;" Ginny said quietly, "Everything will be alright."
"I know," Molly said, patting Ginny's hand gently.
"Can I help with something?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, I was going to start making supper so it will be ready when they all get back," Molly looked at her recipe for a moment, pulling spices off the shelves before cursing softly and saying, "Oh, dear, I forgot to pick up some more potatoes at the market. We'll have to floo down to the village to get some."
"Are you sure that it's safe?" Ginny asked, cautiously.
"Oh, yes, it will be fine," Molly said off-handedly, "And they won't be back for another hour or two." She hurried into the living room and came back in pulling a shawl around her shoulders and then her worn purple cloak. "Grab your jacket Gin; it will be getting chilly out now."
Ginny grabbed her sweatshirt out of the front closet and joined her mother in front of the fire place. In seconds they were out in the busy evening streets of the village, a journey that would have taken at least an hour if they had walked. They made their way to the small market on the corner and started going in when Ginny said, "Mum, I'm going to go look at that new clothing shop next door, is that alright?"
"Yes, that's fine, but please, be careful," Molly said, "I'll meet you back here in 15 minutes."
"Ok," Ginny slowly pushed her way through the crowd and to the big window display next to the market. She wasn't really interested in the clothes; she had been trying to take advantage of the trip away from the Burrow. Only one other trip away from the burrow that summer had left Ginny bored. But, as this was an opportunity, she took it. There was a dark green sweatshirt in the window, along with clothes that Ginny would never wear, even if she had the money to buy them.
"Do you actually like clothes like that?" a voice said behind her, making her jump.
Draco Malfoy stood behind her. He wasn't looking at her; he was looking up at the window display. His soft blonde hair was the same length, if a bit more untidy than usual, and his cheeks looked a little hollow, as if he was suddenly losing weight. His eyes held a firmness that hadn't been there months earlier and when his gaze finally met hers, it sent chills down her spine.
"W-what?" Ginny stuttered, to surprised to form a full sentence.
"Do you like those clothes?" he repeated.
"I-I was just looking," she said. After a soft pause she said quickly, "What are you doing here? What happened? Are you ok? What is going on?" She took a step closer to him and held a hand out as if to touch him, to see if he was really there, but she resisted and just let her hand linger between them.
He stepped closer to her, causing her hand to come in blissful contact with his chest. He put his hand over hers and looked around, cautiously, "I can't say much here, I came with a group of Death Eaters. They can't see me with you." He looked back down at her and cupped her cheek with his other hand, "God, you look amazing."
She felt the tears start to well in her eyes and she let them spill down her cheeks as her eyes fluttered shut and, against her better judgement, she leaned her cheek into his palm, taking in his distinct smell. She hadn't realized how much she had missed his smell; she hadn't really noticed it before, but now it surrounded her and pulled her into his presence.
"Is there anything you can tell me?" she asked, opening her eyes again and fixing them on his face.
"I'm doing ok," he said quietly, turning away from her. He kicked a small sprout of weeds on the sidewalk, "This summer has been crazy, but I've been able to put off getting the Dark Mark."
"That's good," Ginny said, "How's your mum?"
It took a moment for Draco to answer, "Both of my parents are doing well."
"Are you going back to Hogwarts?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, "Are you?"
"Yes."
Draco turned to look at her. He stared at her blankly, then suddenly his eyes grew dark and he said, "I have to go."
"Oh," said Ginny, "I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts."
Draco cursed and pulled a chain out from around his neck. He put it in her hand and said, "Listen," he tilted her chin up so she was looking into his eyes, "Whatever happens, remember, I care about you. I don't know what it is about you, but you-," he fumbled for words, "you're the best thing that ever happened to me." Finally, he kissed her. She groped for him, trying to keep him with her, but as suddenly as the kiss had started, it ended. He pulled away and said, "I'll see you at Hogwarts."
She watched him walk away from her and meet a group of older men as they came out of a small shop down the street. Glancing down at her hand she gasped and almost dropped the necklace. It was obviously made for a man, but as she draped it around her neck, the small silver dragon that dangled innocently from the chain, settled itself between her breasts. Ginny glanced up to where Draco was still talking with the men then turned away from them and hurried back to the market where Molly met her a few minutes later.
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Ginny stood out in the Weasley's garden, searching the starry sky for Ron and Tonks, Fleur and Bill, and Mad-Eye and Mundungus. They were the only people who hadn't returned yet. Harry stood next to her, holding her hand and looking silently guilty for the injuries and deaths that could possibly happen tonight.
Harry and Hagrid had been the first to return. Ginny and her mother had been sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea, when the pair had appeared in the yard. Both Harry and Hagrid had been fine, but as the evening settled into night, things were only getting worse.
George's dried blood on Ginny's hands cracked as she squeezed Harry's hand gently, trying to reassure him that everything would be ok. Ginny looked up at Harry, trying to think of something to say, but as soon as she opened her mouth a broom seemed to appear above them. It crashed into the ground and Hermione started screeching and hugging Ron.
After the excitement died down, Ron asked, "Are we the last ones back?"
"No, we're still waiting for Bill and Fleur and Mad-Eye and Mundungus," said Ginny quietly, "I'm going to tell Mum and Dad you're ok, Ron." She turned and ran back inside, "Mum, Dad! Ron and Tonks are back. They're in the garden."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley ran outside and Ginny followed them. Only a few seconds later Bill and Fleur arrived on the thestral, exhausted, but alive. Ginny trailed behind everyone back into the Burrow, but sat in silence as they all argued. Finally, after they all seemed argued out, everyone went to bed. Ginny lingered in the kitchen a bit longer to make herself a cup of warm milk before heading up to her room, which she was sharing with Hermione.
"Hey," Hermione said quietly as Ginny walked in and set her mug down on the nightstand.
"Hey," said Ginny.
"We haven't really had a chance to talk lately, have we?" Hermione asked.
"No, not really," Ginny said, "But tonight was crazy, I didn't think we'd really see much of each other until after Harry was brought here." She grabbed her pajamas and started changing.
Hermione followed suite, pulling her pajamas out of her trunk and saying, "Yeah, but I'm glad we finally get a chance to spend some time together. It's horrible being the only girl around Ron and Harry, all they ever talk about is Quidditch, food and girls."
Ginny giggled and said, "I can see how bad that would be."
Once they were both in their pajamas they nestled down into their beds and whispered to each other before drifting to sleep.
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