9
After the Battle
Chapter 19: Consequences
Fleur came back out of Shell Cottage, smiling as she thought about Harry and Ginny staying in their new home that evening. She was a little surprised when she didn't see Ginny and at first she thought that the petite redhead had gone on without her.
Her smile disappeared when she neared the edge of the wards and saw the boxes that Ginny had been carrying lying there in a heap.
"Merde!" she cried, realizing that Ginny had been kidnapped. Pulling her wand, she levitated the boxes back toward the Cottage and set them down. Shaking her head in disgust, she Apparated away, she had to tell Harry as soon as possible.
Once she arrived she ran into the house and found Harry working in the kitchen. Initially he smiled but it dropped quickly when he saw the look on Fleur's face.
"What?" he cried desperately.
"Ginny was kidnapped," Fleur exclaimed.
"How?" Harry asked, feeling his chest begin to hurt. It felt like his heart was being squeezed in a vice.
"I don't know really. We were getting ready to come back when I realized I'd left something in the 'ouse. I called out to 'er to wait but she was gone by the time I returned, the boxes she was carrying still laying there just outside the wards," the frantic Fleur explained.
Harry knew there was only one person who would have done such a thing and he felt his anger growing exponentially.
"Damn her," he fumed.
He got a hard determined look on his face and after a moment he said "Go tell Bill what's happened."
"What are you going to do?" she asked, not liking the look on his face.
"I'm going to the Burrow," Harry replied tightly, his anger smouldering just under the surface.
Fleur grimaced, knowing that if Harry didn't find Ginny at the Burrow that there would be hell to pay. "Okay, try not to blow the Burrow up before Beel and I get there," she pleaded slightly. She was almost as angry as Harry was and she didn't want to miss out on anything.
"I'll try not to but I'm not making any promises," Harry snapped in reply. He was going to get his wife back, no matter what and if anyone tried to stop him, well, he wouldn't be responsible for his actions if that happened.
Fleur's eyes widened in shock when Harry Disapparated right from the kitchen, ignoring the powerful wards that Bill and the Goblins had just installed.
Shaking her head, knowing she didn't have any chance of copying him, she ran toward the edge of the wards so she could get to Bill as quickly as possible.
Harry and Ginny
Ginny slowly became aware of her surroundings. Her head was pounding and she found it hard to keep her eyes open as the light hurt wherever she opened her eyes.
She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious and at the moment she had no idea where she even was.
Though she hadn't seen anyone she had a good idea who was responsible for her current predicament and if that was true, she wasn't going to be responsible for her actions.
As the pounding settled down to a dull hammering, she slowly cracked her eyes open just enough to see. Doing so didn't help her with finding out where she was as she didn't recognize her surroundings at all.
Not seeing anything of note, she extended her other senses to see what she could discover. Somewhere nearby she heard something bubbling, a potion she assumed from the acrid odour she smelled.
Shifting in her seat she discovered she was tied to the chair she was sitting in. While not that uncomfortable, she was tied securely enough that she knew she couldn't get free. Since she couldn't escape, she relaxed and bided her time.
Harry and Ginny
Fleur used the employee's Apparation point to enter Gringotts and hurriedly made her way to Bill's office, hoping that he'd be there. Fortune must have been smiling at her because when she burst into his office, she found him sitting at his desk.
Startled, Bill looked up in surprise as his office door slammed open and seeing the look on his wife's face, he knew something was wrong.
Before he could even open his mouth, Fleur blurted out, "Jinee 'as been kidnapped."
"Damn Molly to hell," he exclaimed as he jumped out of his chair.
As the pair hurried back toward the Apparation point, he asked, "Where's Harry?"
"'E's 'eaded to the Burrow," Fleur replied with a worried look.
"Shite! I hope it's still standing," Bill muttered.
As they approached the Apparation Point, Bill stopped at the security desk. "Please inform Sharpaxe I've had to leave for a family crisis," he informed the Goblin sitting there.
The guard Goblin just gave him a nod as Bill hurried to catch up with Fleur and a moment later they disappeared with twin pops.
Harry and Ginny
Harry appeared right outside the back door of the Burrow and without a pause he blasted the door out of the way as he charged forward.
Not seeing anyone he stalked into the parlour but found it equally empty. Turing around he ran up the stairs, checking every room along the way.
Finding nothing he charged back down the stairs, running into Ron and Hermione as the came into the house, staring at the ruined door as they entered.
"Where is she?" Harry growled menacingly, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Wha . . ." Ron stammered, looking at Harry wide-eyed in shock.
"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione asked in trepidation.
"Where's Molly?" Harry demanded, ignoring Hermione's question.
"S-she's o-off r-running some er-rands," Ron stammered.
Harry's eye bore into Ron, his face contorted in anger.
"What's going on?" his former best mate asked hesitantly.
"Your fucking mother has abducted my wife," Harry growled.
"Wife?" the redheaded boy asked in confusion.
"Yeah, you know, Ginny, your sister," Harry replied angrily.
Ron and Hermione stared at him bewilderedly.
"Where's your fucking mother?" Harry demanded again.
Before either could answer, they heard twin pops outside and Harry brushed past Ron and Hermione, heading outside.
Bill and Fleur appeared at the Apparation Point and taking one look at the destroyed door, Bill turned to Fleur. "Maybe you'd better go get Dad," he stated worriedly.
Fleur nodded and disappeared immediately.
Bill hurried forward, concerned about what he might find. He drew his wand just in case he needed it. He was about half way to the Burrow when Harry came storming out, followed closely by the still bewildered Ron and Hermione.
He winced when he saw the look on Harry's face and he hoped he could get him to calm down even if it was just a little. Right at the moment he was scared that Harry would lose control and destroy the Burrow and a large portion of the surrounding countryside.
Harry was literally shaking with rage and he felt like blowing something up just to release some of his pent up anger.
He saw Bill and headed for him, not knowing what the older wizard could do, but just wanting to be with someone who cared.
"Harry, please calm down," Bill pleaded.
Harry's eyes widened as he felt his anger grow, how dare Bill ask him to calm down. Ginny was missing and he needed to find her as fast as possible, didn't the man realize that?
"I know, I know, but losing it totally won't help Ginny at all," Bill added imploringly when he saw Harry's reaction.
Harry took a deep breath trying to rein in his runaway anger, knowing Bill was right. He needed to have a calm head if they were to find Ginny quickly.
Bill arched an eyebrow and gave Harry a small smirk as he glanced at the destroyed back door.
Harry gave him a small apologetic shrug as he grinned back at his brother-in-law.
Bill gave a small jerk of his head in Ron's and Hermione's direction. "Were they any help at all?" he asked softly so they couldn't overhear.
"No," Harry replied in disgust. "All Ron said was that Molly was out running errands."
"Well, truthfully, them knowing anything was a long shot to begin with," Bill remarked sympathetically.
"I know, it's just I feel so helpless and I can't help but worry about what Ginny is going through," Harry fumed, torn between anger and despair.
Harry and Ginny
Fleur appeared at the Ministry of Magic and fumed as she waited to clear the security check. Once she had, she hurried to the lifts so she could get to Arthur and explain what was going on.
Of course with her near frantic, everything seemed to be taking much longer than it really was. She almost knocked down some poor witch who was exiting the lift as she hurried on.
She barely muttered an apology as she pressed the button for Arthur's floor, fuming when it seemed to take forever for the door to close and the lift to begin moving.
The whole trip on the lift, Fleur was tapping her foot irritably, trying to make the damn thing move faster by force of thought.
Finally the lift drifted to a halt and Fleur squeezed through the doors as soon as she was able, almost knocking over a small older wizard in the process.
"My word," the little man exclaimed, glaring at the quarter Veela.
Fleur just rolled her eyes, mumbling a quick "Sorry," even though she didn't really sound like she was.
Hurrying down the corridor, she finally made her way to Arthur's office and she yanked the door open as she burst into the room.
Arthur looked up in surprise but then he sighed sadly. "What's she done now," he asked in resignation.
"Ginny was kidnapped," Fleur blurted, knowing that there was no way to soften the blow.
Arthur sagged for a moment, a look of such heartbreaking sadness enveloping his face but it quickly morphed into on of pure anger.
"Come on, we'd better hurry," he stated as he rose and headed for the lifts.
Fleur gave his arm a sympathetic squeeze, knowing how difficult a position her father-in-law found himself in.
She knew he loved Molly with all his heart but the problem at the moment, Molly wasn't herself and she was tearing the family apart.
Just like on her trip to Arthur's office, the return trip to the Atrium seemed to drag out interminably. Once they finally made it to the Atrium, Arthur led Fleur to the fireplaces and they disappeared with a woosh as they flooed to the Burrow.
Harry and Ginny
Ginny awoke with a jerk and she realized she had dozed off while waiting. She heard someone somewhere behind her and she realized that must have been what woke her up.
"Good, the potion is finally ready," she heard softly behind her and she recognized her mother's voice in an instant.
Ginny quickly squashed down her anger, realizing if she played things right she might be able to effect her escape and antagonizing her mother would not help at all.
"Mum, is that you?" she called softly, making herself sound weak.
"Yes Ginny," Molly said looking at her daughter hopefully.
"What's going on? Why am I tied to this chair?" Ginny asked plaintively.
"Don't worry, everything's going to be okay," Molly stated reassuringly. "I had to tie you to the chair for your protection," she added softly, her eyes begging for understanding.
"Yeah, more like for your protection," Ginny thought to herself.
"What do you mean everything is going to be okay? Is something wrong?" she asked, sounding very worried.
"Oh sweetheart, I really don't want to get into it as it's not something I want to discuss," Molly replied sadly.
"Please Mum, I need to know," Ginny begged softly.
"I'm sure that you're under the influence of a Love Potion," Molly replied reluctantly.
Ginny looked at her mother in shock. "What? Are you sure? Who'd do such a thing?" she asked rapid-fire.
"I positive, there's no other explanation for the way you've been acting," Molly stated conciliatorily.
"Yeah right, it couldn't be that I'm madly in love with Harry," she thought sarcastically.
"While I think that Harry was the one who slipped you the potion, I'm sure that French tart, Fleur is behind it all," Molly explained with a scowl.
"Where does she come up with that? Why would Fleur want me to take a love potion to be with Harry? That doesn't make any sense at all," Ginny wondered.
"Don't worry, I've brewed the antidote and you'll be right as rain soon," Molly crooned, hoping to put Ginny at ease.
Ginny sighed, she was glad she remembered from potions class that taking the antidote wouldn't have any effects if the person wasn't really under the influence of a love potion, something that couldn't be said for several other antidotes for various potions.
Molly disappeared for a moment before returning with a goblet filled with the antidote. She placed the goblet at Ginny's lips and tilted it up slowly until Ginny had drank the whole thing.
Ginny shuddered as she swallowed the bitter concoction and slowly closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths, and then slowly opened her eyes, looking around bewilderedly.
"Mum, what's going on?" she asked, acting surprised.
Molly looked at her hopefully. "How are you feeling?" she asked hesitantly.
"Like I just woke up from a bad dream," Ginny replied softly.
"I'm sorry Harry, I promise to make it up to you later," she vowed to herself, hating that she had to act like she was recovering from the effects of a love potion.
"Oh Baby, I just knew I was right," Molly cried as she smiled at Ginny.
"Mum, do I really need to be tied up?" Ginny asked with a pleading look.
"Of course not," Molly gushed as she began to untie her daughter.
Harry and Ginny
Arthur and Fleur arrived at the Burrow and the Weasley patriarch raised an eyebrow when he spotted the blasted apart door.
"At least the rest of the house is still standing," he quipped to Fleur as they hurried outside.
"Dad, what's going on?" Ron shouted when he spotted his father.
"Ronald, do you know where your mother is?" Arthur asked, ignoring his son's question.
"No, I'm sorry, Dad. All she said was she was going to run some errands," Ron replied sounding somewhat disgruntled.
Arthur frowned at his son, not liking his attitude. "I know you have questions but they'll have to wait," he explained unhappily.
"Yes, sir," Ron replied with a frown, not liking the situation but he knew there was nothing he could do about it.
Seeing Ron's reaction, Hermione stepped forward. "Mr Weasley, Ron and I were going to head over to my parents, would it be okay if we still did so?" she asked hesitantly.
Arthur thought might be a good way to keep Ron busy and not worry about what was going on. "Okay, but please be back by dinner time," he told the pair.
As they hurried off, the Weasley patriarch wondered why Ron seemed so eager to meet Hermione's parents and he thought there might be something more going on but he just didn't have time to deal with that at the moment, he had bigger things to take care of, like where Molly would have taken Ginny.
He turned his attention back to Harry, Bill and Fleur. Harry was pacing frantically, his anger simmering just below the surface. His heart went out to the young man, knowing what he must be going through.
"Dad, please, do you know of any place that Mum could've taken Ginny to?" Bill pleaded desperately.
Arthur ran his hand through his already thinning hair, his mind working furiously, trying to come up with anything. Then a faint memory surfaced and though it was a lead, it wasn't really the complete answer they needed.
"I remember Molly once saying something about a small cabin that her brothers used, the problem is I don't have the foggiest where it might be," he replied in despair.
"Is there anyone who might know where it is?" Bill asked hopefully.
Arthur looked thoughtful for a moment, "Maybe Uncle Ignatius might know," he finally stated unsurely.
Bill sighed and shook his head, not looking happy at all.
"What iz eet?" Fleur asked with concern.
"Uncle Ignatius is pretty old and his memory can be pretty spotty at best," Bill replied sadly.
"Well, it's the best lead we have so I'll go and check with him," Arthur stated, also not looking that hopeful.
He glanced at Harry who was unaware of their conversation. "Please try to keep Harry from tearing down the rest of the Burrow," he asked softly.
"I think it's safe but we'll keep an eye on him just in case," Bill replied. "Just hurry."
Arthur nodded as he sprinted toward the edge of the wards.
Harry and Ginny
"Mum, do I really need to be tied up?" Ginny asked with a pleading look.
Molly gave her daughter a smile. "No, I suppose not now that you're no longer under the influence of the potion," she said happily as she drew her wand.
Ginny smiled when the ropes holding her vanished and she opened her arms, inviting her mother in for a hug.
Molly beamed at Ginny and began to lean in for the hug.
Ginny waited until her mother was leaning in before she launched herself from her seat, striking her mother right between the eyes with her forehead, sending the Weasley matriarch staggering back.
Molly blinked, trying to clear her vision and she swayed back and forth, not believing what had just happened.
Ginny was instantly on her feet, closing the distance between her and her mother. She had hoped that she'd be able to knock her mother out but knew that because of how close her mother had been that was more wishful thinking than reality.
Molly tried to bring her wand up to stun Ginny, but the feisty redhead knocked her arm aside, sending her wand flying from her hand.
Not taking any chances Ginny balled her fist and struck her mother in the solar plexus.
Molly gave a huge 'woof' and collapsed down onto the floor, looking at her daughter bewilderedly.
Ginny hurried over and picked up her mother's wand and without hesitating fired off a string of Stinging Hexes, driving her mother back.
"Do you . . . really think . . . I . . . was under . . . a love . . . potion,"Ginny yelled, firing off a stinging hex between each time she spoke, hitting Molly on her arms, legs and torso.
Molly cried out each time the hex hit her, scrabbling backwards as best she could until she was trapped in the corner.
She curled up and began crying, mumbling something about her poor Freddie.
Ginny felt her anger drain away and she stared at her broken mother, huddled tightly in a ball, babbling incoherently.
"Oh Mum," she sighed despondently.
Knowing that her mother was beyond cooperating, Ginny raised the wand once more and softly said, "Stupefy."
A quick search of the small cabin allowed her to find her own wand and after tucking her mother's away, she grabbed onto her mother and Apparated away.
Harry and Ginny
Hermione and Ron appeared outside her parent's home and Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, pulling him toward the front door. Once inside, she didn't slow, heading up to her bedroom.
As soon as they were inside, she kissed Ron passionately before she began to pull off his shirt. Getting the idea, Ron unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants, lowered his zipper and pushed his pants down, taking his boxers with them.
With Hermione having removed his shirt, he began to attack her clothing until she was as naked as he was. Wrapping his arms around her he pushed her backwards until they tumbled onto the bed.
Hermione rolled as they fell onto the bed, forcing Ron onto his back with her sitting astride his hips ending up in her favourite position with her on top. She loved being in control of their love making.
She smiled seductively and reached down and grasped his rock hard manhood. Lifting her hips, she lined him up with her centre and lowered herself down, moaning as she felt him enter her.
Ron groaned as he felt Hermione envelop him and he reached up and began to play with her breasts.
Hermione began to rock up and down on Ron, loving the feeling of having him inside of her once again. She began moaning continuously as she felt the pressure growing inside her and she knew she'd reach her release real soon.
She smiled as she sped up her bouncing because she could tell Ron was also just about ready for his own release by the way he was breathing raggedly.
"Just . . . a little . . . more," she groaned.
"Fuck Hermione . . . me too," Ron gasped.
Hermione closed her eyes, concentrating on the exquisite sensations that were taking over her body and she knew she was moments from her release.
"Hermione Jean Granger!" they heard yelled from the doorway.
Hermione's eyes snapped open and she turned her head and found her mother standing there looking outraged.
"Mum," she cried out in shock.
Harry and Ginny
Fleur watched as Bill tried to calm Harry down and it appeared he was having at least some effect. She fervently hoped that Arthur was able to find out something before anything drastic happened to Ginny and Harry lost it.
Only a few minutes had gone by from when Arthur left and they heard the sound of someone Apparating. They all looked and saw Arthur but one look at his face told them that he didn't have good news.
Arthur approached Harry, Bill and Fleur, giving them a wan look.
"Did Uncle Ignatius have anything to help?" Bill asked hopefully.
"Not really. All he could remember was that it was in the woods somewhere and then he said to ask your mother as he was sure she knew where it was," Arthur replied sadly.
"Mon dieu, zat doesn't 'elp us at all," Fleur exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. "Molly iz za one we are trying to find."
Bill grabbed Harry's arm, seeing the young man shaking with rage and he hoped he'd be able to forestall a blow up.
Arthur looked at Harry and he felt his heart breaking, he knew how much the young man loved his daughter and the fact he was helpless at the moment just tore him apart.
Bill glanced at his father. "Dad, I hate to bring it up but do you think it's time to call in the Aurors?" he asked reluctantly.
Arthur contemplated the situation and as much as he hated the idea he knew they had no other choice. He looked up at Bill, his eyes filled with pain and he slowly nodded his head.
Bill could see how much it was tearing his father up to agree to call in the Aurors. He went over to his father and hugged him tightly, wishing he knew what to say to ease his pain.
With a heavy sigh he let go of his father and turned to head into the Burrow to use the floo to call the MLE.
He had just taken a step when there was the sound of someone Apparating in.
They all stared in stunned disbelief as they saw Ginny holding onto Molly, who appeared to be unconscious.
Harry ran to Ginny, practically knocking her over as he swept her into his arms, crushing her body to his.
Ginny grunted softly as Harry slammed into her, hugging her so tightly that she swore she heard her ribs creak in protest, but she didn't care, she was back safe in his arms and that's all that mattered.
Harry and Ginny
Hermione knew there was no way she was going to be able to talk her way out of her present situation. She'd been caught in the act and she could see how unhappy her mother was. In fact she wished her mother was only unhappy but it was patently obvious that she was way past unhappy.
"I expect you down stairs in two minutes, have I made myself clear?" Mrs Granger snapped. Her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Yes Mum," Hermione replied contritely.
Underneath her Ron was whimpering and his manhood slipped out of Hermione as it deflated quickly due to the circumstances.
Hermione glanced down at him and saw he was actually blushing well down onto his chest.
While he was quite red, she on the other hand had turned while as the blood drained from her head.
She shakily got off Ron and the bed and started to get dressed. Seeing Ron still laying there, his eyes screwed shut and still whimpering, she hissed, "Come on, get up and get dressed."
Ron's eyes snapped open and he looked at her horrified. "What? You want me to come down there with you?"
Hermione stared at him unbelievingly. "Yes, you berk. We're in this together. We were both involved so get your arse up and get dressed," she snapped angrily.
Ron hesitantly roll over and got up and began to throw on his clothes, glancing at Hermione with trepidation.
Hermione just shook her head and rolled her eyes, wishing for once that her boyfriend had more of a backbone.
She saw him begin to panic when he could only find one shoe and with a disgusted sigh she drew her wand, "Accio Ron's Shoe" she called out and it came flying out from under the bed.
When he sat down to tie his shoes, Hermione glared at him. "You can tie them later. It's best we not keep my mum waiting," she chided him.
Ron paled and gulped as he rose and joined Hermione, heading down stairs for the confrontation with Hermione's mother.
Harry and Ginny
Harry loosened his grip enough to push Ginny back slightly so he could get a good look at her. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine, well except for a headache," she reassured him.
Harry gave her a puzzled look, "Headache?" he asked with a frown.
"Yeah, I, ah, kind of head butted my mother," Ginny giggled softly.
Harry looked closely at her forehead and noticed a small red mark right in the centre. "You really head butted her?" he asked with a small grin.
"Mumm hummm," Ginny replied impishly.
"I guess it'd be in my best interest not to mention how hard-headed you are," Harry chuckled.
"Yes, I agree," Ginny growled, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
While Harry was checking Ginny over, Arthur and Bill slowly made their way over to where Molly lay.
Arthur looked at his wife sadly, wondering how things had gotten so out of control.
"Dad, do you still want me to go summon the Aurors?" Bill asked hesitantly.
Arthur sighed, his mind in turmoil but before he could answer, Ginny came over and said, "That's not necessary. She doesn't need to be arrested, she needs to get the help she needs."
Bill and Fleur, who had followed her over, looked at her in shock.
Harry joined Ginny, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you sure?" he asked, giving her a piercing look.
"Yes, I'm sure. The woman who abducted me wasn't my mother, at least not the one I grew up with and I want her back. My Mum is someone who loves her family and gives the greatest hugs and makes the best food in the world, not someone who goes crazy and does all these insane things," Ginny sighed forlornly.
Ginny hugged her father hard. "Please take her to St Mungo's so she can be my Mum again," she cried softly into his ear.
Bill glanced at Harry who gave him a wan smile, blinking the tears from his eyes and he nodded at his brother-in-law.
As angry as he'd been, he knew Ginny was right, the woman who drove him away and abducted Ginny wasn't the Molly he knew either. If Ginny wanted to have her get the help she obviously needed, he wouldn't try to stop her.
He knew how much he missed his own mum and he knew he'd probably have done the same thing if he'd had the chance.
"Beel, why don't you go with your father while I take 'Arry and Jinee back to Shell Cottage," Fleur said softly.
Bill nodded with a sad smile and he stepped over to Ginny, hugging her hard. "You're a better person than I am," he whispered to her.
"No I'm not," she whispered in denial. "You know it's the right thing to do."
Bill nodded, squeezing her hard. "I'm just glad you're okay," he sighed.
"She was never going to hurt me, she just wanted me to still be her little girl and wanted to protect me, however misguided her thoughts were," Ginny stated with a wan smile.
She gave a deep sigh. "As angry as I was, I still missed her, she's my Mum and I forgot that for a while. She's not herself, after I disarmed her she curled up and began crying for Fred. She lost a son, almost lost me and Harry too. It was just too much for her. I know she's really not to blame, she just had too much thrown at her and she couldn't take it," she sobbed, tears starting to leak from her eyes.
Harry instantly took her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest as she cried.
Arthur bent down and picked Molly up, cradling her to his chest. "She's lost so much weight," he sighed sadly as he headed inside to use the floo.
Bill hugged Harry and Ginny as they clung together before he followed his father into the house. A short time later they heard the floo whoosh twice as they took Molly to St Mungo's.
Ginny buried her face into Harry's chest, trying to fight her tears but they began to flow once more.
Harry buried his face into the top of her head, breathing in her sweet fragrance. Like Ginny, his anger melted away as he realize Molly was just one more victim of the war.
Fleur came over and hugged them both much like Bill had. "Let's 'ead back to Shell Cottage," she suggested softly.
Harry nodded as he held Ginny who had finally stopped crying.
"I want to finish what we started this morning," she whispered to Harry.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," he replied, kissing her on the top of her head.
Ginny straightened up, giving him a smile and even though her eyes were puffy and red, he could see how happy she was that they were going to continue with their plans to stay in their own home that evening.
Following Fleur they Apparated back to Shell Cottage and collected the things that Ginny and Fleur had planned on bringing with them earlier.
Fleur looked at them sadly as she showed them the basket of food she had prepared, including the bottle of champagne that she had forgotten and gone back for that led to Ginny's being abducted.
"I'm zo zorry," she said as she fought her tears. "Eef I 'adn't forgotten eet you wouldn't 'ave been taken," she sobbed.
Ginny immediately wrapped her arms around the distraught young woman. "Fleur, it isn't your fault. If she hadn't succeeded then she just would have kept trying until she did. In one sense it's better that it's all over and Mum can get the help she needs," she whispered reassuringly.
Fleur smiled at Ginny through her tears, caressing her cheek. "You know the true meaning of Love. You 'ave so much in your 'eart, for 'Arry, for Beel, me and your mother and father, all of your family. It is zo awe inspiring to zee."
"It's what my parents taught me," Ginny replied, blushing lightly.
Fleur smiled at the young redhead. "Come, let us go and finish making you 'ome ready for you and 'Arry to stay tonight," she said happily.
"Thank you Fleur, for everything you've done to help Harry and me. It means so much to both of us," Ginny remarked, fighting her happy tears.
The three of them gathered everything they were taking and Apparated away.
Harry and Ginny
Hermione and Ron made their way down stairs where they found Mrs Granger waiting in the kitchen with a pot of tea sitting on the table.
Hermione gave her mother a weak smile and she received a scowl in return.
"Sit," Mrs Granger commanded uncompromisingly.
Ron immediately dropped into a seat, dropping his eyes to the floor at the same time.
Hermione sat down slowly, looking at her mother fearfully. She opened her mouth to speak but her mother silenced her with a blazing look.
The bushy-haired girl gulped and sagged in her seat, knowing that they were in for a tough time.
"I have to say how disappointed I am in you Hermione," Mrs Granger hissed lowly.
Hermione cringed, she knew when her mother was quiet like she was she was actually angrier than if she had yelled.
"I . . ." she began.
"I didn't give you permission to speak yet," her mother snapped.
Hermione quickly closed her mouth, astounded by the way her mother was acting.
"And you, young man, I'm assuming you're this Ronald that my daughter has been going on about?" she asked, eyeing Ron sharply.
"Y-yes M-ma'am," Ron stammered, his eyes wide in fright at having been singled out.
"So what are your intentions with my daughter or is she just some jolly roll in the hay?" Mrs Granger interrogated Ron with a dark look.
"I, ah, I" Ron stuttered in horror, not believing what was happening as he blushed deeply.
"Humm, from your reaction I'm left to assume she's just some roll in the hay for you to get your jollies from," Hermione's mother remarked disdainfully.
"Mother, Ron and I are in a committed relationship," Hermione barked irritably.
"Is that so?" she asked, staring at Hermione's hands. "Strange, I don't see a ring on your finger so just how committed is this relationship?" she asked pointedly, staring at Ron.
Ron blanched and stared back wide-eyed, his mind a blank. He quickly glanced at Hermione who was glaring at him for not immediately backing her up.
Ron's mind was in turmoil as he thought about his and Hermione's relationship. Truth be told, it was the sex he found he liked the most, that's not to say he didn't like spending time with her either.
"Well, I know I like Hermione very much," he replied hesitantly, earning him a glare from Hermione's mother.
"Like? That doesn't sound like you're very committed to me," Mrs Granger retorted disapprovingly.
"What I mean is I like her very much," he added softly. He realized he was having trouble saying he loved her and he pondered if he really knew what that really meant.
Mrs Granger shook her head and snorted. "Oh yes, that sounds like a really committed relationship to me," she snapped disparagingly.
Ron saw Hermione staring at him with a mixture of anger and hurt.
"What do you want me to say? Godric, I'm only seventeen effing years old," he cried in frustration. "I do like being with Hermione even when were not . . ." he stated, his voice trailing off, unable to finish his sentence.
"Having sex . . . or do you prefer fucking each other's brains out," Mrs Granger sneered.
"Mum!" Hermione cried out in shock.
Ron had gone white as a sheet, looking like he'd pass out at any moment.
"Well, that's what you two have been doing, isn't it?" she asked angrily.
Ron started gaping like a fish while Hermione blushed deeply, looking ashamed.
"Look, I know that according to the Wizarding world you're supposedly adults but I will not have that type of behaviour happening in my house and I'm fairly certain the Ron's parents are of the same mind," Hermione's mother snapped. "I want you both to know that I'll be writing to Ron's parents and letting them know what's be going on," she added angrily.
Ron turned even paler, something that Hermione hadn't thought possible and even she knew that nothing good was going to come of her mother contacting the Weasleys.
Mrs Granger shook her head in disgust. "I just hope you've been taking the proper precautions," she stated giving Hermione a pointed look.
Hermione blanched, knowing that while she had remembered to cast the contraceptive charm most of the time, there had been a few occasions where they got carried away and she had forgotten to.
Her mother saw the look on her face and she closed her eyes, sighing deeply. "We'll deal with that if we need to," she said sadly.
Ron looked at Hermione in confusion but then it hit him what her look meant and he felt sick to his stomach. He'd always relied on her to take care of birth control, never once considering that he should have done so too.
"Thank God I was the one to come home as I think this would kill your father," Mrs Granger said to Hermione.
She looked at Ron. "I think you need to go home now while Hermione and I take a trip to the chemist," she said irritably.
Ron nodded and rose to leave. He wanted desperately to hug and kiss Hermione but the look he was receiving from Mrs Granger told him that wouldn't be received well. He gave her a sympathetic look, his eyes conveying how sorry he was for the situation.
"I'll see you later," he said hopefully and with nothing left to say, he left to Apparate back to the Burrow.
Harry and Ginny
A/N: So Ginny was able to free herself without the need of any help. Do you agree with her about what to do with Molly? Then there's Ron and Hermione's situation. What do you think? Is the smartest witch of her age pregnant or not? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
As always, your reviews are greatly appreciated.