Ginny sat in her quiet office at Grigotts. It was her first day back at work after the holidays and it had been rotten all the way around. She woke up in a panic this morning. She had once again dreamed of her father and searched for Harry to comfort her. Then Ginny remembered he wasn't there.

She walked through Diagon Alley on the way to work instead of just apparating. She needed to clear her head, get a handle on her life that was spinning out of control. Ginny saw the Daily Prophet detail the ceremony for Hermione and for the first time she felt a twinge of guilt, but immediately shook it off.

Then Ginny noticed a reference to a story in the gossip pages. It was titled Trouble in Paradise? Is It the End of a Fairy Tale Marriage? It alluded to Harry no longer living at home but at Ron's and that sources close to the couple had told the reporter that she and Harry were headed for divorce.

There was a knock on her door. "Mrs. Potter, how are you this morning?" Ginny's assistant Esmeralda walked in and handed her a cup of tea. "I saw the article in the paper and it's just scandalous. As if you and Mr. Potter would ever be separated. If the paper comes around asking me, be certain I'll show them the door."

"Thanks Esmeralda." Ginny said tersely.

"You have a client outside should I send them in?"

"Yes." Ginny didn't feel like seeing anyone or having any conversations but she might as well get one of the few appointments on her schedule out of the way.

"Mr. Brockway, she'll see you now." Ginny's eyes darted to the door. Great timing, she thought, this is all I need.

"Mrs. Potter, how are you today? I wanted to get some of my financial affairs in order." The door clicked as Esmeralda left. His demeanor changed. "I'd like for you to find out if I have to get my affairs in order is what I actually mean."

"I don't understand."

"Your husband is an Auror isn't he? I was wondering if you might find out for me if that little bitch is filing charges against me and the other guards." It was obvious he was in a panic.

"I haven't heard anything about it." She paused contemplating what she wanted to say. "Look, things are strained between us right now and it would be difficult to snoop around without arising suspicion."

"So I read." He smirked, but immediately changed to beg for her help. "I wasn't supposed to tell you anything about the prisoners but I did it as a favor to you. You were the Ministers daughter and I thought you had a right to know. Plus, you were the one that asked me, I certainly didn't offer. You seemed so interested in what was happening to her. The kind thing to do would be to return the favor."

Ginny had gotten up and looked out of the small narrow window of her office down on to the street. "Fine, I know that Harry and my brother are aware of what happened. If she plans to file official charges I don't know. As of Christmas Eve, it didn't appear to be that way."

The guard looked relieved but not certain. "If you could try to find out more I'd appreciate it. I'd also like my money transferred to a bank in Canada."

Ginny looked at him square in the eye. "Planning on leaving England? Trust me when I tell you that if she has filed, there isn't a place you could hide."

"I'll take my chances. I know what a hot-head your brother is and how much public sympathy there is for the traitor."

"I'll see what I can find out and I'll get back to you ok."

"Thank you Mrs. Potter." He left the office and the slammed shut.

What has become of me? Ginny thought as she plopped back down in her office chair.

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I had decided to remain at Hogwarts until the ceremony. I felt so happy, warm and safe there. Thursday had arrived and I was getting ready to meet Mrs. Weasley for lunch at the Three Broomsticks. I walked from the castle to the small wizarding town and made my way down to the restaurant.

When I entered Madam Rosmerta gave me a big hug welcoming me home. She pointed to Mrs. Weasley who was already sitting a booth toward the back. She stood up when she saw me and I could tell she was trying not to cry. I walked to the table and was enveloped in a giant hug which I returned although not to the same back breaking extent.

We took a seat and Madam Rosmerta immediately brought me a butterbeer and took our orders. The place was relatively empty with the students gone for the holidays and others at home with their families. "I can't tell you how sorry I am Hermione. I'm not sure you could ever forgive me and the rest of us for that matter, but I would be honored if you tried."

I looked up at her. She was really the only person that I could understand. She thought I had a part in her husband's death. She never took the stand because she was too emotional so I never got to hear her feelings. "Mrs. Weasley, I understand your feeling, you thought I killed your husband. Of anyone, you are the easiest to forgive."

Mrs. Weasley just began to cry, pretty much uncontrollably until our food arrived. I just sat there uncomfortably watching her. "What are your plans dear?"

I explained to her about Professor McGonagall's offer and my other thoughts of going strictly Muggle. It was a relief to talk to her for some reason. I found myself smiling as we picked at our food.

"I'd hope you'd stay here. The wizarding world needs you."

"Why would the world need me?"

"Well, I know that we need you. Ron needs you."

I looked down. I have been thinking about Ron a lot. He had loved me and still does. I loved him and on some level still do. I still fantasize that none of this happened. "Mrs. Weasley, how did Sirius do it?"

"What do you mean dear?"

"How did he forgive everyone? Was it because everyone was fighting against a common evil? He was angry but able to let go and become great friends with those you once betrayed him. I don't know how to do that."

"You'll learn. It will just take a long time."

"Yes, but how did you all just believe him so easily? I didn't know him before or live through it so for me it was easy. There are some that still believe me to be guilty." At this Mrs. Weasley looked terribly ashamed. "Ginny isn't your fault. Plus, if it's going to take a long time, how is that fair to someone like Ron. He says he loves me," with that Mrs. Weasley's eyes began to sparkle, "but is it fair to make him wait for me to be ready. What if I never am?"

"He won't let go that easily. Trust me I know my son. He'll give you the time and space you need. I know you won't be able to forget what happened but don't deny yourself love." Her voice seemed hopeful and I could already tell she was going to relay all of this to Ron.

"But how can I ever trust any of you again. What if Ginny makes up some other terrible lie that you all suddenly believe; wouldn't I just be setting myself up again?"

"Hermione, I have to ask. Was anything she said at trial true?"

"No it wasn't! There was usually a kernel of truth to the beginning, about how we would talk about our secrets. But she took things like my feeling for Ron and turned them into me using the Imperius Curse to control him. She took a small peck on the lips from Viktor in fourth year and made it into a four year steamy affair. None of what she said was true."

I paused and right as Mrs. Weasley began to speak I continued. "She was my best friend and I can't understand why she lied like that. I know that she wanted me convicted, but wasn't the phony evidence the deatheaters planted enough?"

"I don't have any excuses for her. She is having a hard time right now too. She kicked Harry out; he's now living with Ron. Harry, poor dear, is beside himself. He doesn't know what to do and Ginny has essentially closed herself off."

I felt bad for Harry. "It's funny to think that with me in jail and everyone thinking I was guilty, he led a happy life. Now that I'm innocent and out his whole life is falling apart." I began to tear up. "I'm sure they both wish that Malfoy had never been caught."

"Don't think that way. Everything will work itself out eventually. I promise."

I looked into her eyes and I felt a sense of hope and confidence that maybe things would just work out.

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Harry had received an owl from Ginny and they were currently eating lunch together at a small Muggle café that they both loved. They made small talk both avoiding the giant elephant in the room.

"So, how's work?" She asked.

"Fine."

"I saw in the paper about the ceremony; still planning to go?"

Harry tensed. "Yes, I'm actually part of the ceremony."

"Oh. About the other night, I didn't encourage those guards to do anything. I think they just told me because they thought I wanted to hear. Truthfully, I didn't want to have her name mentioned."

"Good, but she's innocent so you'll be hearing her name a lot." Harry informed her.

"What's going to happen to them?"

"Who?"

"The guards? Will they be sharing a cell in Azkaban?"

"Why?"

"I was just curious. What they did was wrong."

"If you thought it was so wrong, why didn't you say anything before?"

Ginny looked down, appearing to Harry that she was ashamed. "Look Gin, I know you wouldn't tell them to do those things. Yes, they are going to be punished."

Ginny looked up at him. "Oh, she filed a complaint?"

"Yes, just the other day. She's been staying at Hogwarts and we saw her there. The details of what happened are" Harry shivered, "horrible."

"So when are you planning to make arrests?"

Harry began to grow suspicious. "Let's change the subject. Let's talk about us. Did you see the article in the paper?"

Ginny nodded. "I needed you this morning and you weren't there."

"You are the one who asked me to leave, remember?" Ginny just stared at her plate and shoved the food around, obviously not wanting to acknowledge this fact. "You just have to accept it, we were wrong, you were wrong." Harry placed some Muggle money on the table and left.