Chapter 8 Going Home
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/n: Technically this is the last chapter of Under Pressure. There will be an epilogue so everyone will get some insight on what happens after this. I am so sorry how long it took me to finish this. And I am super grateful to all the people who have stayed on board for the whole process. Much love- Remie
A month passes and one morning Blaise and Pansy are just gone. All that is left behind is a note.
Gone to join the war.
In only five words none of which are goodbye. But that is exactly what it was. I'm hurt and sad but as soon as Jackson's cry reaches my ears, the hurt is gone. Draco and I move in unison up the stairs and into our room.
I pick him up, and settle myself into an oversized chair to feed him. Draco sits across from me on the bed. He's reaches to the bedside table and picks up the camera that somehow he just seemed to have as soon as Jackson was born.
"Don't take a picture, I'm exposed" I grab for a blanket and with one hand toss it over the baby, covering me to my chin.
"Now you're not" He smiles and takes a picture of me rolling my eyes at him.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" My expression is serious as soon as he puts the camera down.
"I hope so." His eyes drift out the window and his expression is sad. If it weren't for Jackson, he would have gone with them. But his son is more important. And if we lose this war, our time is limited. So for now, we give all we have to the infant in my arms and hope there will be a home for us in England once again.
Another month and things are tense. Jackson is barely sleeping so no one else is either. Draco and I fight. Azlyn and Logan fight. We all fight.
Jackson is screaming again. He is fed. He is changed. But he is miserable. I'm walking up and down the beach with him. Everyone else is asleep in the house. I hope, desperately so, that perhaps a night of sleep will improve their moods.
"Sshh, Jackson please. Mommy is so tired." I don't realize I am crying too until a tear falls onto his forehead. I collapse in the sand, sobbing. He is still wailing. I know I should get up. I should move and try to comfort him but I can't. "I want my mommy" I whisper to him. "She would know what to do."
I don't even hear the footstep coming towards me until they are in front of me. Three pairs of feet standing in the sand. Draco leans down and takes Jackson out of my arms. Azlyn helps me up and lets me lean on her shoulder and cry for a while.
"I want to go home." I cry as the sun begins to rise.
"I know. Me too." Azlyn sighs.
"Soon, hopefully, we will all get to go home." Logan takes hold of one of Azlyn's hands.
We stay on the beach until Jackson falls asleep.
Another month is gone.
One morning an old owl comes flying in the window while I am rocking Jackson and drops a letter on the table next to me.
Gin
I hope this letter reaches you. I have made sure that it is untraceable so don't worry about it leading someone to wherever you are.
Pansy and Blaise found us. They showed up at the burrow the day before Bill and Fluer's wedding. They brought the news of Jackson's birth. Congratulations Ginny. I know I'm a bit behind on that seeing as how he is probably nearly three months old now.
Things have been crazy and we are on the move. Harry, Hermione, and I are going to end this Ginny. I promise there will be a safer world for Jackson.
Before we left though, I spoke to mom and she was so upset. Her and dad are constantly fighting now. She blames him for you having to hide somewhere that we don't even know about. She wants you home badly. When we did leave, I was positive she was about to give him an ultimatum. Either he lets you come home or she is leaving after the war to be with you. She misses you. We all do.
I didn't expect to be so sad when I found out you had the baby. I can't wait to see him. Pansy assured me that Draco was taking a million pictures. Stay safe little sister.
I love you.
Ron
It takes one more month before Jackson is sleeping through the night. We are all relieved and it puts us all in better moods.
Draco and I are sitting in the kitchen after putting Jackson to sleep. We can see Azlyn and Logan arguing on the beach but decide they will tell us what is going on if they choose to.
"I can't believe it's October already. Shouldn't it be cold outside?" I wonder and wince at the grand hand motions Azlyn only makes when really angry about something.
"Not here. It stays the same year round here." He is watching them too. I can see the frown forming on his face.
"So Christmas day we will be able to walk around in swinsuits?" I laugh. It's transparently fake. But Draco doesn't say a word.
We turn back to each other and act as if we haven't been watching when Azlyn and Logan walk back in.
"I'm leaving." Logan speaks then turns to walk up stairs.
Azlyn slips into a chair burying her face in her hands. "I'm not."
"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask sitting down next to her. Draco turns and heads up the stairs after his friend.
"Not now, Ginny, I will. Just not now."
By the end of November, Jackson is sitting up on his own. He still topples now and again but he is sitting up.
We are sitting on the beach. Draco is playing in the sand with Jackson, who is more than excited just picking it up and throwing it at his father.
Azlyn and I are just enjoying the warmth of the sun when she turns to me with a serious expression.
"So, I'm pregnant. My boyfriend took off to join the war and now I'm pregnant."
"I honestly have no idea what to say to that. I'm sorry seams awkward. Congratulations is just insulting. I don't know." I stare at her face with concern and she looks back with almost no expression.
"If you can do it, I can do it. And I have you and Draco, so at least I'm not all alone." She smiles half-heartedly and I am overwhelmed with the sad reality of what is going on around us. I am so sick of this damned war.
Our quiet life on the island ends abruptly on Christmas eve when an owl flies in the window and drops a letter in Draco's hand while we are eating dinner. He skims the letter quickly and stands abrubtly.
"We have to go. You have ten minutes to pack everything you need and then we are leaving." He lifts Jackson out of his high chair and races up the stairs with him.
It takes a moment to get over the shock before Azlyn and I stand and run up the stairs. Jackson is sitting in his cirb with a few toys while Draco is throwing his clothes into a suitcase. I follow his lead and shove all of my clothes and Jackson's clothes into another suitcase.
I have no idea how we manage to get everything but we even have time to double check the house to be sure before heading down to the docks. Draco and I have all of the bags while Azlyn is carrying Jackson in his never before used car seat. Draco was prepared for us having to flee but he will not tell us where we are going or why we are leaving.
It is only a couple minutes when the boat shows up for us. And we leave the island behind just as we have left behind our school and home.
We travel by car and then plane followed by train. When we arrive at a tiny train station we walk through a small village before following a trail through a small patch of woods then up a hill side. When we reach the top, I know where we are. Nestled down on the beach below us is Shell Cottage. A smile reaches my face for the first time all day. This is family. This is close enough to home.
The door opens just as we make it to the path in front of the house. Bill steps out and his jaw falls open as soon as he sees us. I drop the bags I am holding and run. I slam into his chest, tears pouring out of my face, knocking the wind out of him.
"Ginny" His voice is cracked and tired. But underneath, I head the joy and relief of seeing me alive.
"There is someone you should meet." I step back towards Azlyn and take the car seat out of her hands. I place it on the ground and pull Jackson out of the restraints.
Tears well up in Bill's eyes and also in Fleur's as soon as she steps out of the house to pinpoint the source of commotion; he reaches out towards me and I place a sleepy Jackson in his hands.
For a few moments there is only silence as nephew and uncle stare at each other. Then Jackson smiles and laughs as if he knows we are now safe.
We find a new peaceful routine through the month of January. Azlyn has started wearing some of my clothes from when I was pregnant. Most are far too large but Fleur uses magic to make them work. We don't talk about the war much here either. But it like so many other things in the it comes to an abrupt end.
One evening, shortly before sunset, a commotion arises on the beach. Outside stands Luna and Mr. Ollivander. Fleur and Bill bring them inside while Draco, Azlyn and I all stand right outside the house watching. Without any questioning Luna speaks as soon as she reaches us.
"Malfoy manor, Harry, Ron and Hermione are there. Ron told dobby to bring us here then go back." She speaks slightly quicker than normal, and then takes a deep breath and smiles at Jackson in my arms. "Oh Ginny, he's so big."
I don't get a chance to respond as she is already following Fleur into the house and another pop pulls our attention to the beach again. Sprawled out in the sand are Harry, Dobby, Ron, Hermione, and what appears to be one of the Goblins from Gringotts.
Ron pulls Hermione to her feet. She doesn't look good. Her eyes are puffy from tears and she cradles her arm as if in pain. Ron expression is mixed between anger, sadness, and worry. I start making my way towards them and look over at Harry who is cradling Dobby's lifeless body in his arms. Draco is waking towards him. It seems appropriate as he grew up with Dobby in his home. The goblin just strolls away from the scene towards the house unfazed by what is going on. Fleur and Bill go to meet him.
Ron blinks several times when he realizes that I am the person standing in front of him and Hermione. Jackson wiggles in my arm and begins to reach for Ron. He can sense that he is family and I almost smile at him but it feels rude as Hermione still has stray tears falling down her face. She looks up at Jackson who shifts his focus to her and places a little hand on her face as if to comfort her.
"Hello, darling. " She half smiles and reaches out for him. He goes into her arms without hesitation but she flinches when his body connects with the arm she had been cradling. As soon as my arms are free, Ron pulls me into a hug.
"You're alive. And he's beautiful Gin." His expression has changed to pure joy.
And once again, I get the happy feeling of being another step closer to home.
After speaking with both Ollivander and Luna, they are both taken to another safe house. From what I understand, they are going to be with the rest of my family and I am slightly jealous. But I am staying here. As far as I know, I am still disowned and showing up unannounced with the baby my father didn't want me to keep may not be a good idea.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stay in the house with us for three months. Then one morning in the beginning of May they are just gone.
Those of us left behind are standing on the beach after they go. We all know that a battle is coming and it is coming soon.
"I wish we knew something. Anything." Azlyn is sitting in the sand, her round belly bringing me a sense of déjà vu.
"I know. It's been almost a year that we have been cut off from any real news." I sigh. Jackson is crawling around in the sound. Every now and again he stands up before falling back down on his butt. The he laughs at himself and repeats the whole process.
"Soon. I have a feeling they are going to Gringotts and that is extremely dangerous. It must be important." Bill and Fleur follow Jackson with their eyes. Every few moments I catch them glimpsing at each other as if sharing some intimate secret. I'm not going to ask though I have a feeling about what it is.
It's well after dark when news comes that the battle has begun. And only me and Azlyn are left behind with Jackson.
We pace the floor downstairs as Jackson sleeps above us. Neither of us can sleep through the worry. And all we can do is try and reassure ourselves and each other that everything will be alright.
A few hours after dawn breaks and Jackson wakes up we receive the signal that the fighting is over. We gather ourselves and all the courage we can muster before transporting ourselves to Hogwarts.
Both of our mouths open in shock at the castle we are standing in front of. People are everywhere. Some are hugging and smiling. Others are crying over bodies. The castle is partially destroyed. It is not the place we remember. Not even close.
We don't speak to each other as we make our way towards the Great Hall. Even Jackson buries his head into my shoulder, knowing that this is bittersweet. In only a moment we notice my family standing together. Next to them is Harry, Pansy, Blaise, Logan and Draco. I swear my heart skips a beat.
Logan sees us before anyone else and we can tell that no one told him that Azlyn is pregnant. His mouth falls open as he practicaly runs across the room towards us. Everyone else in the group notices and looks up at us as well. I slip away from Azlyn so the two can speak privately and walk up to my parents for the first time in over a year.
"Ginny!" My mother cries throwing her arms around me and Jackson at the same time. When she lets go, Draco pulls Jackson out of my arms and holds him close.
For the longest time my father and I just stand and stare at each other. It feels like forever but is probably only moments.
"I am so sorry Ginny. Please forgive me." He whispers turning his head down ashamed.
"Daddy" I throw my arms around him. And finally I am home.