Chapter Two
Ginny's head was pounding.
She knew that there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
She had gone to bed shortly after talking to Sirius.
Still, she hadn't gotten much sleep.
She rarely did.
"Eat up, Ginny!"
Ginny jumped at her mother's command and quickly said, "Yes, Mum!"
Mrs. Weasley piled a mountain of food onto her daughter's plate.
Ginny gave her a weak smile but didn't touch anything.
Fortunately, her mother didn't notice.
She was too busy scolding the twins for one of their latest inventions.
"Morning, everyone!" Mr. Weasley cried, entering the small kitchen.
"Morning, Dad!"
"Spot of coffee, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Please," Mr. Weasley gratefully said.
"Can I have some?" Ginny spoke up.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley laughed, "You're way too young."
The laugh was forced—her eyes were still red-rimmed.
"Yes, Mum," Ginny sighed.
There was no point in arguing the matter.
The kitchen door reopened and Sirius entered.
He plopped into the seat next to Ginny and cheerfully said, "Hey, Juniper!"
Ginny grinned and said, "Hey, Sirius!"
"What did you call her?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Sirius merely chuckled.
"Her name's Ginny," Ron pointed out.
"He knows what my name is," Ginny sighed, "It's just a nickname."
Ron's brow furrowed and he mumbled, "Some nickname…"
"'Reckon it's better than Ronniekins," Ginny retorted.
Fred, George, and Sirius cracked up.
Ron's ears turned a marvelous shade of magenta.
"Ginny," Mrs. Weasley spoke up, "Stop berating your brother!"
"Yeah," Fred cried, "There's nothing wrong with a name like Ickle Ronniekins!"
"It's a dashing name," George agreed.
They ducked their heads at their mother's glare.
Sirius helped himself to the sausages and said, "So, find anything last night?"
Ginny's eyes widened and she stifled a gasp.
"Find anything?" Mrs. Weasley repeated, "What do you mean? What was she finding?"
"Cobwebs," Sirius smoothly replied, "I told her to be on the lookout."
Ginny threw him an appreciative glance.
'Did you?' Sirius mouthed.
Ginny shook her head.
"Ginny," Ron spoke up, "Are you going to eat your sausage?"
She shook her head and pushed her plate towards him.
"Are you trying to lose weight or something?" Ron curiously asked.
Ginny sighed and said, "No, Ron."
"So, Sirius," Mrs. Weasley spoke up, "If you don't mind, I was thinking that we could all clean up the extra bedroom on the third floor?"
"Is Percy coming back?" Ginny asked.
Her mother abruptly burst into tears and her father hissed, "Ginny!"
"'Guess that's a 'no'," Sirius mumbled.
Ginny couldn't help it – she laughed.
"Ginny, please!" Mr. Weasley muttered.
He whispered words of comfort to his wife.
"It's alright," Mrs. Weasley shakily said, "No, Ginny, Percy is not coming…"
"I figured that much out on my own," Ginny muttered.
Sirius snorted.
"But you never know when a visitor might need to stay," Mrs. Weasley continued, "Is everyone done eating? Good. Let's go!"
She waved her wand and the dishes flew towards the sink.
Sirius' eyebrow twitched as he watched Ginny's plate soar past him. Other than the sausages, which had been obtained by Ron, not a single piece of food had been touched.
oOo
"Ginny!"
Ginny gave a start. She sleepily looked around, trying to get her bearings. She realized that she was sitting on the floor of the spare bedroom. They had spent all day cleaning. Her chore was to mop the floors. Ginny flushed as she realized that she must have dozed off…
Sure enough, her mother was reproachfully staring at her.
"None of us are taking a break," Mrs. Weasley declared, "No slacking."
"Yes, how dare a teenager slack during their summer vacation!?"
Both women turned at the statement.
Sirius was sitting in the corner, looking amused.
Ginny's face broke out into a smile.
Unfortunately, her mother scowled.
Before she could say anything, however, Ron heaved a box over and grunted, "Where do you want this junk, Mum?"
"Fred, George," Mrs. Weasley commanded, "Help us take this up to the attic."
The twins begrudgingly complied.
"I want that floor mopped by the time we return," Mrs. Weasley called over her shoulder.
Ginny sighed.
She scrambled to her feet and Sirius did the same.
"Are you alright?" Sirius quietly asked.
"I…what?"
"Are you okay?"
Ginny merely stared at him.
How the hell was she supposed to reply to that!?
In the end, she plunged the mop into the bucket of water and mumbled, "I have to clean."
Sirius waved his wand and muttered, "Scorgify!"
The floor was immediately spotless.
"Thanks!" Ginny cried.
"Don't mention it," Sirius replied, "Careful though…it'll be a bit slippery."
Ginny stepped forward and realized that he was right.
Her mouth curved into a smirk.
She raced forward before abruptly stopping.
She slid halfway across the room.
Sirius laughed and kicked his own shoes off.
The two grinned and pretended to skate around.
Ginny's smile widened as Sirius preformed quite an impressive stunt.
She tried to mimic it.
Unfortunately, when she landed, she found herself stumbling backwards.
She ultimately crashed to the ground and Sirius did the same.
The two glanced at each other before cracking up.
It was the first time that Ginny had laughed in quite some time.
oOo
Ginny sadly poked at her mashed potatoes.
"Kreacher didn't poison them," Sirius quietly said, "I promise."
He was sitting next to her once more.
The other redheads in the room were busy talking.
They hadn't even noticed that her plate was still piled with food.
"I'm not hungry," Ginny mumbled.
"Are you sick?" Sirius asked.
She shook her head.
Sirius frowned and asked, "Are you sure that you're alright?"
"Mmhm."
Sirius skeptically stared at her but didn't say anything.
Ginny took a deep breath and shakily said, "Mum…can…can I tell you something?"
Her mother either didn't hear her or wasn't listening.
"And I want to clear out that bathroom tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley was saying, "We'll all have to wear masks; it's revolting. And then we…"
"Mum?" Ginny interrupted, "Can I…can I say…?"
"…can move onto the other bedroom on the third floor and then…"
"Mum…"
"…we'll get started on the second floor…"
"MOLLY!"
Everyone jumped at Sirius' shout.
"What!?" Mrs. Weasley cried.
"Nothing," Sirius calmly said, "'Just wanted to get your attention."
Mrs. Weasley blinked and Sirius added, "Juniper wants to say something."
"I…" Mrs. Weasley stammered, "Alright…what is it, Ginny?"
"Nothing," Ginny softly said, "Nothing at all…"
oOo
Ginny yawned as she made her way to her bedroom.
Perhaps she would finally be able to get a good night's sleep.
"…Voldemort…"
Her ears perked up.
Instead of stopping at her landing, she raced up to Ron's bedroom.
She peered in and saw that Ron was sitting on his bed, excitedly talking to the twins.
"And then Harry had to wrestle Voldemort," Ron was saying, "They were throwing punches left and right! And then…"
"Oh, shut up, Ron!"
Her brothers looked up.
Fred and George looked amused.
Ron looked put off.
"A fistfight?" Ginny snapped, "Really!?"
"Aw, come on, Gin," Fred cried, "Let him have his fun."
"Yeah," George added, "It's important for children to have an active imagination."
Ron scowled and muttered, "I wasn't making it up!"
Ginny merely shook her head and went to leave.
"What would you even know?" Ron mumbled.
Ginny whipped around and shrieked, "Did you seriously just ask that?"
Ron balked and confusedly glanced at his brothers.
"I know more about Tom Riddle than you ever will!" Ginny feverishly said.
"What are you—?"
"Ron," Fred and George simultaneously said, "Shut up."
They were looking uncharacteristically forlorn.
Ginny walked away, leaving her brothers to whisper in her wake.
oOo
Ginny couldn't stop shaking.
She took several deep breaths and looked around.
For a moment, she couldn't understand why everything was dark.
And then she remembered where she was.
Damn this room.
She shakily stood up.
"I'll make myself a cup of tea," Ginny whispered, "That usually helps when…"
She shuddered and set off towards her destination.
Fortunately, she was able to silently get past Walburga's portrait.
She descended the kitchen stairs and pushed the door open.
"Hey, Juniper."
Ginny froze, like a deer caught in the headlights.
She hadn't expected anybody to be in the room.
And yet, Sirius was sitting at the table.
Despite his bloodshot eyes, his tone was lively as he asked, "What're you doing up?"
She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
So, she repeated his words, "What are you doing up?"
His smirked and said, "Touché."
"May I join you?" Ginny uncertainly asked.
Sirius kindly gestured to the chair across from him.
Ginny sat down and ran a hand over her face.
Sirius gave a start at the action; it was rather like looking into a mirror.
He tilted his head and asked, "Alright?"
Ginny sighed and mumbled, "'m tired."
Sirius smirked and said, "I've found that going to bed helps."
"You'd be surprised," Ginny sighed, "Of course, I wouldn't be so tired if Mum hadn't made us clean all bloody day!"
Sirius groaned and said, "I know. And we'll have to do it all over again tomorrow."
He took a sip of tea before asking, "Want some?"
"Please."
He poured her a mug and handed it to her.
She accepted with shaky hands.
Sirius frowned and repeated, "Alright?"
"Sure."
Sirius arched an eyebrow and sat back down.
"So," Sirius thoughtfully said, "Ginny Weasley…what's your story?"
Ginny snorted and cried, "What?"
"I don't really know much about you," Sirius admitted, "Other than the fact that you don't like food, like skating, and apparently like to wander around my house at night."
Ginny nearly spat out her tea as she cackled.
Instead of answering, she once again repeated his question, "What's your story?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow again before saying, "Fair enough. I grew up in this hellhole until I finally had enough courage to escape. I hated my entire family. So, I ran away and moved in with Harry's father. His grandparents were the kindest people that I had ever met. I'm still grateful that they took me in. Of course, James was my best friend. Unfortunately, he ended up putting his trust in the wrong man…"
Sirius' face darkened and he bitterly finished, "…and that man framed me. I spent twelve years in Azkaban before escaping to find that very man and prevent him from getting to Harry."
He brightened again and said, "I finally met Harry a little over a year ago. I spent all last year sulking around Hogsmeade as a dog. And now, I'm here!"
Ginny was carefully surveying him.
After several moments, she whispered, "You hate your family?"
"Way to prioritize my life events," Sirius snickered.
Ginny flushed and mumbled, "Sorry…it's just…sometimes…I…I know the feeling."
Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"That probably sounds stupid, doesn't it?" Ginny sighed, "I know that they're my family and I know that I should love them and…and I know that blood is thicker than water…"
"You know," Sirius interjected, "It's actually believed that that proverb is actually a shortened version of another proverb."
"Really?" Ginny whispered, "What's the actual proverb?"
"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."
A smile spread across her face.
"So…" Ginny slowly said, "You…you don't think that it's wrong for me to hate them?"
Sirius hesitated before saying, "I…I think that people often overlook their family's wrongdoings. And that's very dangerous. It took me quite a long time to escape the toxicity of my own family. Every time I tried to do so, I was told that 'blood was thicker than water'. It wasn't until I was around your age that I finally found a family in the Potters."
"Harry's family?" Ginny whispered.
"His father and his grandparents," Sirius agreed, "I went to the Potter Manor after running away. They welcomed me with open arms. They were the nicest people that I had ever met. They treated me like their own son."
He was genuinely smiling.
"Anyway," Sirius continued, "What do you hate about your family?"
Ginny sighed and tried to explain, "I just…they never listen to me! I always feel like I'm beneath an invisibility cloak. And even when I do speak up, I'm always told to hush or the subject's quickly changed. I'm tired of feeling ignored."
"Mm?" Sirius quickly said, "Sorry, were you saying anything?"
Ginny reached over and hit his arm.
He laughed and said, "Alright, sorry. Go on."
"And when they do pay attention to me," Ginny continued, "It's usually to coddle me and keep me in the dark. Nobody treats me like an actual person. And I hate it! And I hate them!"
She clamped a hand over her mouth as she realized how loud her voice had gotten.
She took a sip of tea.
"Don't let anyone silence your voice, Juniper," Sirius quietly said, "Especially you."
"Thanks, Sirius."
"Don't mention it," Sirius remarked, "And just remember…you can always talk to me."
"Thanks," Ginny whispered, "Really…thank you."
"You're welcome."
Ginny yawned and mumbled, "I'm going to head back upstairs. Goodnight."
"Take care, Juniper."
Ginny grinned and retreated back to her bedroom.
Her eyelids were shut before her head hit the pillow.
And for the first time in years, she peacefully slept.