Ginny wasn't just worried about Harry. Not in the least. Every person that she cared about was bound to be disgusted by her actions. Her entire family and all of her friends would be horrified by how far she'd fallen, and how badly she'd hurt someone they loved. Was she condemning herself to more ridicule than she could handle? She had a momentary vision of her mother wrapping her in her arms and telling her that everything would be alright. Could Molly Weasley possibly find it in her heart to forgive her only daughter?

Nonsense, she berated herself. My mother loves me. And even if she can't forgive me now, she will eventually. And even if everyone is still furious, I will face the consequences of my actions. She straightened her shoulders and opened the front door of The Burrow - the strangely silent Burrow. She wandered through the rooms and finally into the back yard, but there was no one around.

A sense of foreboding crept into her mind, and she apparated quickly from family residence to family residence. No one. Had something awful happened while she was gone? Wouldn't they have owled her? Or maybe it had only just happened… She shook her head sharply – there was no point in worrying just now, so she apparated back to The Burrow, curled up on the terribly familiar couch, and drifted into a light sleep.

Sometime later she was abruptly awoken by a rather lot of loud noise. She instantly flew off the couch and into the kitchen where everyone was congregating. As she walked through the door a hush fell over the group, every member freezing.

Ginny shifted awkwardly for a moment, then, unable to take it any longer, blurted, "What's happened?"

Her mother, clearly overcome with joy, smiled the largest smile she'd seen on her face in a long while and crushed her into her warm embrace. "Fleur went into labour this morning!" she proclaimed tearfully.

"Oh! Oh! Wow!" Ginny replied excitedly, her previous worries eradicated in the face of the news. "Is it a boy? Or a girl? What's its name? It has been born, right?"

Awkward chuckles rose around her, and the fact that she'd been gone three months in disgrace crashed back into her. Her mother didn't seem to notice. "It's a girl – Victoire! And oh, Ginny, she's beautiful."

Ginny couldn't help but smile at her mother's delighted gushing. And then she realised, "Oh my gosh! I'm an aunt! When do I get to see her? Are they coming here?"

Her mother pulled her close once more. "Any time now! I'm just about to start dinner." She turned to her sons, instantly business-like. "You know the routine, boys. Set things up outside – and no fooling around! Ginny, dear, you start on the potatoes. Hermione, we could use one of your apple pies, if you please. Everyone else, find something useful to do."

As everyone set about following the Weasley matriarch's directions, Ginny did so in a daze. This was… not what she'd been expecting. And then it hit her – she was now alone in the kitchen with her mother and Hermione. She smirked internally at her mother's manoeuvring, and decided to broach the subject herself.

"Mum, I- You know, I really don't know where to start." She laughed softly before turning solemn once more. "I guess with 'I'm sorry'. For everything, you know? For not listening to the two of you," she glanced at Hermione, "for losing myself, and for not talking to anyone, and for hurting Harry, and for taking off…"

Her mother took advantage of her pause, nodding in approval. "I'm not about to lecture you about things you already know, dear – that's a waste of my breath and your time. Leaving though, I think Hermione and I would both agree that it was the most mature thing you've done in a long while, and we're both proud of you for doing what you needed to." The sincerity in her voice struck Ginny powerfully.

Hermione spoke up, her eyes strangely bright, "When you walked through the door, Gin, we could all see that you were back, and I'm sure that every one of us is happy for you."

Ginny blinked. "You guys… Aren't mad at me?"

Her mother and her best friend exchanged a look, and Hermione seemed to receive a cue. "We were more sad for you, Gin, than we ever were angry – not that we weren't both. We were just sad for Harry, too. You hurt him really badly…"

She felt tears prickling at her eyes. "How's he been?" she asked tentatively.

"He was bad the first week or so," Hermione began softly, "always at my and Ron's house, moping about. But he's doing really well now. I think he's really sorted things out."

Trepidation welled up in her heart. "He's not… What I mean to say is… Is he seeing anyone?"

Her mother laughed. "He still wears his ring. Haven't seen him without it." She glanced at Ginny's finger hopefully. "You are going to try to work things out, aren't you?"

Ginny swallowed thickly, looking from her mother to Hermione. "I think I'm in love with him," she whispered hoarsely. "Is that possible? To fall in love with someone when you aren't even talking to them? Can that happen?"

Molly's smile brightened even more, and Hermione looked contemplative. Oh how she loved these two women, both so different, but so equally amazing. "Ginny, that's wonderful," her mother exclaimed. If she weren't already married to the man, she'd have expected wedding plans to begin pouring from her lips.

Hermione's brow was scrunched so characteristically, as she considered the situation carefully. After a moment she nodded thoughtfully. "I don't see why not, really. You've been together ages, and he's always been so good to you," she smiled, "I really hope you two can work things out – I'm sure he's willing to try." Her smile dropped for a moment. "You are interested in trying, right?"

"Oh, 'Mione, I wish so badly I could just do things over. But yes, yes I most definitely am interested in trying."

All three women shared a look filled with hope and with happiness, and Ginny was home again. It had been a long while.

A/N: I've received feedback that Molly is acting a little out of character in this situation, but looking at her reception of Percy, I don't think that's so. Between her hyper-emotional state over Victoire's birth, and her relief at having Ginny back, I think this is at least very close to how CanonMolly would act. Hope you agree!