GINNY'S OTHER LIFE

Chapter 7

Hermione was totally fascinated by Ginny's tale. She almost didn't want to believe her. But too many things were indisputable. Ginny knew nothing of the things Harry allegedly told her. So she had to hear it somewhere. And for the same reasons, it couldn't have been a dream. Still?

Herminie's family was never into religion, although they attend religious services frequently. Hermione figured that they did so only for her benefit, which was ok. At least it gave her some knowledge of religion. And she knew that the Weasleys only attended services at a local nondenominational church on Easter and Christmas, so she couldn't see Ginny as a religious person.

Hermione knew that it was not unusual for a person under extreme emotional distress to pray to God for help. Actually it was quite common. But with all her knowledge and reading, she had never heard of a case where God verbally or otherwise answered the persons prayers. Or in Ginny's case, another person acting through God answering her prayers.

But it did happen, and Hermione had no logical explanation for it. She needed to research this phenomenon very carefully. She knew that her parents had a close friend in a local priest, Father Thomas. He had dinner with her parents frequently, and she would listen intently to the stories the priest often told. Stories about his experiences as a missionary in far away countries. If anyone could explain this to her, it was Father Thomas.

But that would be for later, Ginny's health was her first priority right now. She checked on her just as Ron returned, she was sleeping restfully.

"Hi luv, did you accomplish everything?"

"Yea, I think so Mione. I paid off what she owed for her flat, and did get her pay check from that place, whatever it's called. I had to twist a few arms though, but I managed to convince them that she was my sister and that she was sick and would not be returning to her job. Actually they seemed a bit relieved at that. Here, look at this," Ron said handing Hermione Ginny's pay check.

Hermione let out a gasp. "Ron, this terrible. It's slave labour. How did she ever survive with so little money?"

"Good question Mione. From the looks of her flat, she almost didn't. The whole place could fit into our sitting room, with some to spare. And look at this," he said, emptying a small bag onto the table. This was all she had that was salvageable. She had other clothes that weren't meant to be seen by decent folks, so I trashed them. The whole place was not fit for pigs Mione, really."

"This is very disturbing Ron. How could she live like this? Oh, did you find her wand?"

"Yea, it's right here," he said and pulled it out of his pocket. "Even her wand is filthy."

"This is all worse than I expected Ron. Come on in the kitchen and I'll warm up your supper."

"Thanks Mione. Did Ginny have much to say about, well, anything?"

"Yea, too much. Finish up, you won't feel much like eating later."

After Ron finished eating and they prepared for bed, Hermione filled him on every detail of her talk with his sister. Ron was astounded. He couldn't believe that his sister, little Ginny Weasley, had sunk so low in debauchery. She turned herself into a common whore.

"Ron, think about it for a minute. We all abandoned her, we drove her out. She was crushed. Her self worth was at rock bottom. She did what she had to do to survive, and it's not her fault Ron. It's our fault, everyone of us."

"But she didn't have to turn into a bloody whore Mione."

"What else could she have done Ron. She had no family left to support her. She had no money, and no way to get a decent job. She was forced to live in squalor. You saw her place, and her pay check. She was thrown into the midst of societies lowest riffraff and left to fend for herself. Ron, she tried to kill herself, doesn't tell you something?"

"I don't know Mione. She could have done something."

"Ok genius, like what? Doesn't the fact that she was ready to die tell you anything?"

Ron was beside himself. He didn't have answers. He just didn't know how to handle the situation. He felt very bad for his sister. Mione is right though, he thought.

"Ok Mione, I'll concede the point. So what do we do about it?"

"We help her to build herself up again. Let's take her home tomorrow a little before supper. I think you should go first and let your parents know what she has been through. Set some rules with them. Warn them not to push her, especially if they ask something that we think is going to upset Gin. Meantime, I'll take her out to a hair specialist in London and see what we can do with her hair. Then I'll take her shopping for some decent clothes. She needs everything. I didn't even see a bra in that pile of clothes you brought back. Oh, and we should stop off at Gringotts. You remember they were trying to find her last week. I have their letter to her someplace around here."

"That can wait a bit Mione. Let's get her settled with her family first. We shouldn't throw too much at her just yet. I'll take her to Gringotts later."

"Ok, that sounds about right. Now there is one more thing that I would like to do Ron. I want to call Father Thomas, You remember him don't you?"

"Well yea Mione. He married us. Seemed like a decent bloke."

"Good. I'm glad you agree. I will call him right away, before it get's too late."

"Ok Mione. Maybe he could come over tonight. It might be a help to Ginny to talk to him."

"I agree."

End chapter seven