A special update for you all. Today is my 21st birthday so to celebrate it here's a post for you all. Enjoy.
Kris xx
Eleven Years Later
Ginny landed comfortably on her feet in front of a large gate. On either side of the wooden entrance were the largest and greenest bushes she had ever seen. The Bordeaux countryside hid her brother's French home perfectly.
Gently she pushed open the door and stepped inside. The house she spotted was a simple French farmhouse. She took in the details of the stone brickwork. It was that grey colour that gave it a feel of history. There were two storeys to the house and it looked perfect for a family home.
The garden around it was just amazing. There was stunning green grass and flowers everywhere. It felt so magical and foreign and yet homely to her at once. She could just imagine having the family sat around this house enjoying a good meal and each others company. This was heaven.
"Qui êtes-vous?"
Ginny knew that voice. It held a strong French accent. She turned and saw Fleur stood at the doorway. She hadn't changed much in the time since they had last met. Her blonde hair was as long and straight as ever and her eyes the same piercing blue. Ginny noticed her arms were crossed over a slightly extended stomach but she looked very wary of her.
"Répondez-moi!"
"I'm really sorry but I don't speak French."
"Er – Eenglish. Who are you and what are you doing 'ere?"
"Umm Fleur … well this may be hard to believe but it's me Ginny."
"C'est impossible. Ginny iz dead."
"It's true. I'm really alive."
"Wait 'ere."
She watched as the woman went into the house. The door closed behind her and Ginny looked around. The morning sun was already beating down on the ground and the heat of the day was rising. It felt like it was going to be a perfect day.
A number of minutes passed before the door opened and Fleur stepped back out into the sunlight.
"Ginny it iz you!"
The woman wrapped her in a tight embrace before leading her into the house. She was surprised that they walked straight through and out into the garden. Her eyes darted towards the enormous pool and to a figure lying by the side with a magazine open in his hands.
Ginny smiled as she looked at Bill. She could see even from this distance the scars that covered his face. The hints of the battle he fought on that night when Albus Dumbledore died.
"Bill it iz for you."
Her brother sat up and she saw the sorrow marked in his blue eyes as he looked at her. Several minutes passed as they just looked at other from across the garden. Neither one made a move as they watched. Slowly he stood and spoke.
"Took your time didn't you."
"Pardon?"
"I thought you'd be back long before now."
"What's that suppose to mean."
"Didn't Draco contact you and tell you to come back."
"Draco's dead."
Her brother shifted his weight and walked towards her. As they stood in front of one another his arms wrapped around her and she was pulled close.
"I'm sorry."
"Bill what are you on about?"
"Fleur nous faisons une promenade."
"L'amende juste soit de retour par une. Je fais cuire le boeuf pour le diner."
Bill then took Ginny's arm and led her out of the back gardens. It was strange walking together there as there was no tension like with her other brothers.
"Bill how come your not surprised by me turning up?"
"I've been expecting you for the last seven months."
"What? But everyone thought I was dead."
He led her to a tree and dropped down under it. She sat on the grass and looked at her brother. He clearly knew something the rest of the family didn't.
"Ginny what made you come back?"
"Alysia and Ralph."
"Who?"
"My children. They're eleven now and heading off to Hogwarts. Hermione came to deliver their letters and discovered who I am. She made me come back."
"Hermione did!"
"Yes. Why who else would have?"
"Draco."
"Bill he's dead."
Her brother ran his fingers through his long hair. His eyes closed for a second before he answered her.
"Did Hermione tell you about Charlie?"
"Yeah he's dead."
"Yes he is. But did she tell you what led up to his death?"
Ginny thought back to her conversation three days ago. Wow was it really only three days that she had been back. Somehow it already felt like a lifetime.
"Draco was involved. It was when he went missing too."
Bill nodded gently.
"Yeah. You see Charlie discovered the truth."
"About?"
"You. Charlie found out that you were still alive and in hiding. He confronted Draco and this massive argument broke out between them. He was so annoyed and he had no idea what to do. So Charlie came here and told me everything. We decided to go after Draco and make him send word to you to come back."
"What?"
Ginny's mind was boggled as her brother continued with his tale.
"We found Draco and there was a big argument. Draco stormed off and Charlie went after him. It was the last time I ever saw him."
"Charlie died because of me."
"No Ginny. He died because there was a Death Eater attack. It had nothing to do with you. Draco on the other hand…"
"He died too though. Hermione said he's missing and they assume dead."
Bill shook his head a little looking up at the sky.
"Yeah Draco disappeared that night too. Nobody heard anything about him. But then something happened several months ago that changed that."
"What? Bill what are you talking about?"
"You see that house on the hill up there."
Bill turned and pointed at a cottage situated on the large hills. Ginny smiled slightly looking at it. It was beautiful. There were trees surrounding it and a peaceful feel to the area. The house looked down on the countryside and it was another perfect French house.
"It's lovely Bill."
"Indeed. It was bought seven months ago by a Mr Black."
"So?"
"I met him down at the village a few days after he moved in. There was something about him that made me uneasy. I could sense magic. Gin this is a muggle area the only wizards in this area are the Delacour's."
"So what a wizard bought a house here big deal."
"That's the thing it is a big deal. It's a big deal because the wizard that bought that house is Draco…"