Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 17 – The Meaning of Family

Ginny escorted Severus, Bill, and Percy to a sitting room located down the hall from the counsel chambers. The room was adorned with hues of gold and green. Bill smiled at the symmetry of it all.

Ginny took her seat in a plush golden high back chair while Severus, Percy, and Bill sat around her.

"Since I called this impromptu family meeting, I suppose I should begin. Given the fact that you are even here Percy I assume that there is more than meets the eye about your falling out with the family and frankly I want my family whole again. I realize that things can't go back to the way they use to be. After all, time has pasted. We all grew up away from each other and in many instances grew apart. Fred is dead and George is nothing more than a shell without his other half. With all that said there is no reason that we can't pick up from here and piece our family back together. We are family and it is high time that we started acting like it." Bill intoned.

Percy and Ginny shared a look. Percy hoped for this day since his break with the family. He knew that he made the right choice, for the right reasons, but he couldn't help but hope that one day he would be welcomed back into the family with open arms. He already had that affection of his gem, Ginny, but that didn't stop him from wanting it all. Now it looked as if Bill was the ticket to getting it.

Ginny for her part knew that war tore her family apart. It was to be expected, she reflected, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Her mother's last words to her still haunted her 'Burn in hell, Ginny'. Her mother had now idea what she had to endure, the pressure, the pain, losing Severus and Draco, even if it was just for a short amount of time, and most importantly the destruction of her family ties. She couldn't bear to hope that Bill would get his wish, but she would give him, give their family, a chance.

"And how do you suppose that you begin fixing this mess that we call a family?" Ginny asked as she looked at Bill emotionless. Severus knew that look; Ginny was an inch away from crying.

"We start here with us. We work on our relationship, and then we can take it to the rest of the family. I am not going to lie to you. They hold resentment towards the two of you and a lot of confusion towards you, Ginny. Gin you helped out both sides of the war. We know what Dumbledore's portrait has told us. We know it was necessary. We also know that you never betrayed either side to each other. We just don't know why." Bill said as he took Ginny's hand.

Bill turned to Percy and said "And you! What happened? Why did you leave the family and join the Death Eaters. Everyone said that you were a coward, but Ginny and I knew differently. We often talked about the fact that there had to be an alternative reason. You were always the level headed one in the family, the logic, the voice of reason, and you always had strength to endure anything. Then again I suppose that spending eighteen years as the twin's test subject would instill that in you. So why did you really chose this path?"

Severus cleared his throat. "What about you Bill? What have you been up to? Why did you decide to join the counsel? And why are you here now requesting an audience? You never tried to reach Percy before. You waited over a year to try to reach Ginny. I realize that the war held you back to a point, especially where Ginny was concerned, but why now?"

Bill looked Severus in the eye as he answered him. "Because at the end out of the day there is a whole in our hearts were Percy and Ginny lived and played. When the chips are down all that you have is your family, your ties, and yourself. Somewhere along the way we lost sight of that, we lost sight of them, and nothing has been right since."

Percy gave and imperceptible nod, which Ginny returned. Percy raised his wand to the door and silently cast silencing charms and impenetrable charms. "What is said in this room stays in this room." Ginny said.

Bill nodded. "Of course."

"It all comes down to fate and purpose, to love and loss, and to prophesy. The Chamber of Secrets changed everything; it set everything in motion…" Ginny began.

Meanwhile…

Remus walked into his office, which was decorated in Gryffindor colors. He smiled as he looked around the room; apparently Ginny was still a Gryffindor at heart. Ginny had cleared out the office of all her personal effects, but left one object on the mantle of the fireplace. It was a picture of Ginny, Sirius, and Remus taken three years before at Grimmauld Place. The picture Sirius had his arms around Remus and Ginny. The three of them were smiling at each other and the camera. It was the day that Remus and Sirius inducted Fred, George, and Ginny into the marauders. They never inducted Harry. Not only was Harry too busy with the pressure of the war, but he just didn't have the makings of a marauder. He was too serious, but he supposed that it was because of his upbringing and his current conditions. He remembered when Ginny and the twins achieved their aminagus forms – Ginny a phoenix, the twins' hyenas. He always thought it was ironic that Severus was the one that took the picture. Of course he scowled the entire time as he did it, but know Remus believed that he knew why Severus agreed to take picture – it was because of his affection for the littlest Weasley.

Remus was disrupted by his thoughts by a knock at the door. "Come in he called."

The guard appeared surprised to see alone him in his Queen's office. "I was looking for the queen to deal with a school matter." The guard said.

"Seeing as how she appointed me the new headmaster, I believe that school matters come into my authority. Now what is the issue mister?" Remus asked.

"Zambini, sir, the issue is an abusive teacher who decided to harass a small child. I was instructed to bring him here after the counsel meeting." The guard answered.

"Very well Mr. Zambini. I have heard all about this pathetic excuse for an educator. Bring him in here and I shall deal with him." Remus said.

Blaise Zambini nodded and led the prisoner in by his shackles. Remus stood stunned for a moment. This was one of the last people he would have ever expected.

Remus nodded to Zambini. Zambini took his leave and took his station outside the door. Remus looked to the prisoner in disgust. "Mr. Nott."

"Uncle Remus." Nott said with a sneer.

Remus looked over his daughter's son with an apathetic nature. Apparently the apple did not fall far from the tree where Theodore was concerned. Remus hoped that his nephew would turn out better than his sister did. While his sister was cruel to others during her Hogwart days, earning the title of Slytherin Princess, Theodore was quiet and reserved. It turns out all that hope was for not. When Remus looked at Theodore he saw nothing but a monster, a child abuser. There was no saving him.

"Today laws were enacted to deal with women and child abusers. These laws are retroactive as such you will be held accountable for your actions in regards to the child that hurt and any other women and children that you may have harmed." Remus said with steel to his voice.

Nott's faced remained impassive, but inside he was screaming in fear. He knew that he was done for.

"Additionally, your tenor here as an educator is terminated. I am most disappointed in you Theodore; I thought better of you. Mr. Zambini, if you could join us?" Remus asked.

Zambini walked into the room and stood at attention waiting for Remus's command.

"You are to take Mr. Nott to holding cell six." Remus said.

Zambini nodded and grabbed Nott roughly by the arm. He led Nott out of the room and into his holding cell.

Remus sat at his desk with his head in his hands. War tears apart families, but in his case where the family was nothing more than a bitter memory of lost hope, war destroyed it.

He left his office quickly to head down to the dungeons and make sure that his order was carried out. He entered the hall to find Ginerva, Severus, Bill, and Percy headed in the same directions.

"Hello Remus. Are you enjoying your new position?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, I just handled my first responsibilities as headmaster." Remus answered carefully.

"Which was? You only just started. I would have figured that you would spend some time in your office to get acquainted with it, go for a tour of the school, the shelter, and meet the students and refugees."

"Theodore Nott, the teacher that you saw mishandling a student, he was brought to my new office after the meeting. So of course I dealt with him as the new laws describe and now that I am headed down the dungeons to make sure that my orders were carried out." Remus answered.

Ginny looked at Remus sadly. "I'm sorry Remus. I forgot that I instructed Blaise to bring him to the office after the meeting. That was not something you should have to deal with considering that he is your blood."

Remus smiled at Ginny. "It was my responsibility to do so, the responsibility that you entrusted in me to do this job properly. Blood or not I will not disappoint you." Remus said.

Ginny favored Remus with a small smile. "Well with that said 'Draco' and I are heading down to the dungeons to attend to Hermione. You are welcome to walk with us."

"Yes I suppose her out burst earlier must be dealt with." Remus said as they set off for the dungeons. Bill and Percy took their leave. Remus figure that it would be best if Hermione saw a friendly face instead of just executioners at what was sure to be her treason trial.

Remus joined Ginny and Severus when they reached the dungeon. First they checked to see that Nott was held as ordered, which he was. Remus couldn't help, but noticed certain bruises and cuts on his nephew that were not there before. He wondered who could have done it, but noticed that Ginny decided not to ask and Nott did not offer any information.

They then went to Hermione's cell; unlike Nott she was not harmed. She appeared to be intimidated by Goyle who was keeping watch over here.

Ginny walked to Goyle and whispered in his ear. "Guard duty is far below your station my friend. Why are you here?"

Goyle smiled at Ginny. "This was a special case. I decided to make an exception."

Ginny smiled back. "Very well, what I have planned for her is a bit unconventional, but necessary…" Ginny began.

"She committed treason Ginny. Surely she will have to pay the price of those acts." Goyle said.

"She will. Now please blindfold her so we can take her with us." Ginny said as Goyle went to open the cell.

Hermione backed up nervously. They were going to kill her. She looked at Remus imploringly, but he shook his head. Remus could not help her even if he wanted to.

Goyle whispered and incantation to bind Hermione in robes and another to blindfold her. Then he grabbed hold of her as she struggled against her.

Ginny took an old locket out of her pocket and touched her wand to it. Greg touched the locket as he held on to Hermione. They vanished before Remus's eyes.

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