GINNY'S OTHER LIFE

Chapter 10

The rest of the evening went well. Molly served her usual scrumptious meal. The conversation was light, mostly they talked about the family events that Ginny had missed. Ron and Hermione's wedding was discussed. Percy had married, and they were expecting a boy very soon. Bill and Fleur had a new baby, Victoire, and were expecting again. Charlie had a new girlfriend, and they were planning marriage soon.

Wow!, Ginny thought, the Weasley family is growing fast.

They all went into the sitting room while Molly prepared desert. It was quiet as Ginny looked around the room. They were all watching her surreptitiously, and she knew that they all wanted to question her.

Ginny broke the uncomfortable silence. "Ok guys. I know that you are all dying to question me. So go to it, but I reserve the right not to answer if I so choose."

They all laughed at this. Bill was the first to speak up.

"Gin, Ron filled us in on a few things. He told us that you had a poor job and very little money to spare. How did you survive all that time?"

"Honestly Bill, I don't know. I just took it one day at a time. There was nothing else I could do. I tried to get a better job, or a second job at night, but no one would hire me because I had no credentials. I couldn't prove who I was or even what my name was. The one job I had was under the table. They let me work there without papers. That's why they got away with paying me so little. But I had no choice, it was all I could do. All I had was the name I used."

"You changed your name Gin?"

"No, more like I just assumed another name. there was nothing official about it."

"Well, what name did you use?" Percy asked.

"Jane Brown. I was just a Jane to anyone who asked."

"Ginny, it's amazing that you managed to survive at all," Bill commented. "You have to take that as a complement to your survival instincts."

"Yea, maybe. But when Ron and Hermione found me, I was about ready to pack it in. I couldn't take another day of living like that."

"And you didn't know that the ministry had exonerated you and cleared all charges against you?" Percy asked.

"That's right. How could I have known? I had no contact with anyone in the wizard world."

"So Gin, you said that you were about ready to pack it in when Ron found you. What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. If they were one day later, I wouldn't be here right now."

"Ginny, you could have contacted any of us. We would have helped you."

That made Ginny's anger boil up, and she replied in kind.

"Oh yea, any one of you. Did you forget that none of you were even talking to me. None of you even acknowledged that I existed. It was as if I was never born. I can just imagine what you would have said to me if I asked for help."

"But Gin, you are our sister. Certainly you don't think that we would…"

Ginny interrupted her brother with anger in her voice. "Don't think what. That you would do anything to help me. You all weren't even speaking to me. Why do you think I would expect any help from any of you. I would have rather died than lower myself and come grovelling to you asking for help."

"Ok guys, that's enough," Arthur interrupted. "Ginny, I can understand your anger, and your right. You have every reason to be angry at us. We all are to blame here. But that's all in the past now. We all have to get on with things, with our lives. I know that things between us will never be the same again, and I accept that because I know that it's our fault, my fault. All I have the right to ask you is that you be civil towards us, nothing more."

Ginny rubbed the tears out of her eyes and stood to embrace her father.

"Dad, I'm sorry. And I know that you all are sorry, and I do forgive you. But forgiving is one thing, forgetting is quite another; and that will take a long time, if ever."

Bill joined his father and embraced Ginny. "Little sister of mine, I can't even begin to imagine how hard it was for you this past year. My actions towards you were completely wrong, and that will haunt me for the rest of my life. But dad is right. We all do love you, even though we didn't act on it when you needed it most. So all we have the right to ask you now is that you try to tolerate us and be civil towards us. Please Gin."

Molly was standing in the doorway watching all this. Her emotions were also out of control, but she managed to call them all back to the table for coffee and desert. They sat in silence for a while, then Molly sat up and spoke to her daughter.

"Ginny, I was shocked to hear that poor Harry had been killed. I'm so sorry Gin, I know how you felt about him."

"Thanks mum. It was quite a shock to me also."

"Gin, if Harry had only been around, I'm sure he would have helped you."

"Oh he did mum. More than you will ever know."

Molly didn't understand Ginny's remark, but thought better of asking.

"Gin, your more than welcome to stay here now," her mother told her. "We would love to have you here."

"Thanks, but I will be staying at Ron and Hermione's flat for a bit. As soon as I get my money from the ministry, I will find my own place and try to find a job."

"Gin, the ministry is looking forward to you working there again," her father told her,

"Yea, I'm sure they are. But you know what? I'd rather go back to me old life than ever step foot in the ministry again. I just need to get the papers from them so I can get my money from Gringotts."

"Yes, I forgot Gin," her father said. "When I heard that you would be here today, I picked up the papers you need, so you don't have to go back there. Let me get them right now. You will have to sigh a few things to give Gringotts permission to give you the money."

"Thanks dad."

Arthur retrieved the documents and pointed out to Ginny where she had to sign. Arthur took the ministries papers and gave the others to Ginny.

"Ask to see the Goblin Toforks Gin. He will be expecting you."

"I will, tomorrow morning Dad. And thanks again."

Mione, Ron, can we go home now? I'm exhausted.

End chapter ten