GINNY'S OTHER LIFE

Chapter 9

That evening Ginny slept very peacefully through the night. She awoke the next morning refreshed an feeling like a new woman. Today was to be a girls only shopping day, then on to the Burrow. Ginny was admittedly somewhat apprehensive about seeing everyone. It had been a long time since she felt her mother's hug or heard her father's laughter. And she was worried about this shopping trip too. She knew that she desperately needed everything head-to-toe; but she also knew that she had no money, not even a knut to her name.

Hermione laughed at her. "Gin, the ministry is holding more than a years back wages for you. All we have to do is stop off at Gringotts and sign for it, and it's yours. So eat up and let's go."

Ginny couldn't believe this. A year's pay. She tried not to think about the past year or so when she had a hard time scraping together enough to pay for a coffee and toast in the mornings.

Yes, things were finally looking up for her. If only Harry was here, her life would now be perfect. Well, almost, she thought. She still had to face her family. But the old self-confident Ginny Weasley was coming back again.

While Ron went on to the Burrow, Hermione took Ginny into Muggle London for the shopping trip of her life.

"Mione, shouldn't we stop off at Gringotts first, you know, for my money?"

Ginny stopped and thought about that. How long it has been since she could say 'her money'.

"They won't be open yet Gin, They do all the previous day's accounting in the mornings, then open at eleven. Don't worry about it, I have a Muggle credit card. You can pay me back later. Besides, you have to pick up the paperwork at the ministry first."

"Oh yea, I forgot about that. Thanks again Mione. You and Ron have been so good to me. I don't know how I will ever pay you back."

"Gin, seeing you alive and smiling again is all the payback we need. Really Gin, you don't know how great it is to have you back with us."

"The feeling is mutual Mione. Now all I have to do get past the rest of the family, you know."

"I do, and that's where Ron is right now. He's paving the way, as the Muggles say."

Ginny laughed. "Well isn't that what big brothers are for?"

The two spent hours going from one shop to another, buying bras, knickers, shirts,

blouses, smocks, trousers, shoes, night shirts, camisoles, and most everything Ginny would need in the near future. Hermione shrunk each purchase and stuffed it into her bag. Then on to the next shop.

The girls were having a great time, laughing, joking, telling stories, doing everything girls do while on a shopping spree. This was the best therapy for Ginny anyone could prescribe. Slowly but surely, Ginny's psyche was healing. All the bad things that she had experienced the past year were being cloaked by happy memories and were shoved far back in her mind. She was happy, truly happy for the first time in a long time.

The girls returned to Hermione's flat with their many purchases. Ginny was anxious to see her family again. Anxious, but with trepidations. Hermione helped Ginny formulate a story that would explain what and where Ginny had been for the last year. A story that was truthful, but by-passed all the bad parts.

Ginny was ready, and to two set out for the Burrow.

Everyone was there waiting for her, and when they heard the pop of Apparation, they raced outside to greet her. Molly hugged her so tight that she could hardly breath. Then each one of them hugged and kissed her like only family can do. Ginny was overwhelmed with emotion, and she couldn't hold back the tears. Finally, Bill dragged her inside to the sitting room.

The questions were flying at her fast and furious. Her voice cracked as she tried to answer, but the next question interrupted her before the last question was answered.

Her father took pity on her, and tried to restore some semblance of order. He quieted everyone, then turned to his crying daughter.

"Gin, why don't you just tell us everything in your words first. And the rest of you all let her talk without interruption, ok."

They all nodded in agreement, and Ginny started her story.

"Well, after the ministry fired me and let dad go, I was devastated. I tried to defend myself, but no one would believe me, not even my family."

She looked around at all of them as she said this. They knew she was right.

"If you remember, none of you would even talk to me after that. I felt that I was unloved and alone with no one to turn to. Even poor Harry was out of my life. I didn't know what to do. I felt that I had to get away from everyone and everything. So I ran. I took what ever things I could shove in my bag and I just left, not knowing where to go."

The words were hard coming, and her tears were flowing as she continued.

"I headed to Muggle London, not knowing where else to go. I wanted to escape the wizard world that had cast me aside like so much trash, so I decided on trying to live as a Muggle. I had little money, and no place to live, so I slept in alleys and ate whatever I could steal. I had no credentials that would get me a decent job, so I took a job as a janitor's helper. Then I was able to find a one room flat that I could afford. I was miserable, but alive."

She was crying uncontrollably now. Her father took her in his arms and held her tightly to him.

"Gin, that's enough. We get the picture," her father told her with tears now streaming down his face. "Gin, we are so sorry. Sorry for everything. We all know that this is all of our faults, and I for one don't know how to make it up to you. What can we do Gin? What can any of us do to correct the wrong that we all are so guilty of?"

Ginny wiped her tears away, pulled out of her father's embrace and stepped away from him. She didn't know how to answer him, or what to do at this moment. She thought of Harry, and what he had said to her. He forgave her without question. And God forgave her of her past behaviour. God did forgive her, Harry said so, and she believed Harry. So who was she to not forgive her parents or her family. 'Forgiving is divine', she read somewhere once. She couldn't remember where, but it was right. She would forgive them all. That's what Harry would want her to do.

End chapter nine