The Unbreakable Vow

by

Ash Darklighter

It all belongs to JK Rowling and I thank her for her inspiration – There are no galleons to be made from me. This little story is my first Harry Potter fic. It is AU and of course comments are welcome. My thanks to Tad and Mona for their help.

Part 13

Ginny had not, as her brother Percy expected, gone out of her way to thwart the Aurors and Narcissa Malfoy. What his sister did was completely different from what he would have predicted. But then, as Ginny would have said, Percy didn't know his family as well as he thought. She had decided to play along – for now. Ginny had raided her mother's wardrobe and found the dress that Molly had worn when she'd been bound to Arthur. In Ginny's eyes there was something right about wearing it.

The dress was a traditional witch's dress in a Victorian style of rich blue velvet with matching robes. After more than twenty years of marriage and the birthing seven children, it hadn't fitted Molly in a long time but on Ginny, it was almost perfect. The dress hugged Ginny's tiny waist and flared out over her hips to the floor.

"You look beautiful, Ginny," said Hermione hugging the stiff little figure. "I don't think I could be as brave."

"Of course you could," said Ginny, her lips trembling as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. "You're a Gryffindor, too. I'm only being measured for my wedding robes, not undergoing the actual ceremony…yet. I still have three weeks to prepare myself. We may be blood-traitors in Malfoy eyes but we're powerful and true. We have standards she could never reach. I think she expects me to turn up in rags or my Hogwarts school robes. However today, Narcissa will meet the perfect pure-blooded witch."

"Spoken like a true Weasley. Ginny…"

"No, Hermione. Concentrate on what you do best. Keep researching for Harry and being the friend he needs. I'm going to rely on you and Ron to look after him for me. He'll blame himself for this – you know that he will. He always seems to think that everything is his fault and its not. I did love him, you know that I did but now…" she sighed, her expression tragic. "Now, I'll never be able to be the girl of his dreams. I still hoped…"

The bushy-haired witch nodded unable to speak. This was worse somehow than the day of the betrothal notice. She looked at the parchment which lay on the mantelpiece. Even it seemed to be dull today, the colours weren't sparkling in the way that they had been. She watched Ginny pull back her bright hair and arrange it in a chignon. Suddenly, she wasn't the little girl that had followed them around The Burrow every holiday, but a young adult witch.

"I'm ready," she said. "Did you know, Hermione that this was my mother's wedding dress?"

Hermione wondered what Harry's reaction would be if he saw Ginny like this. Yes, the pair had mutually decided to dissolve their romance and remain as friends but from what the bookish witch had seen over the past few days, the romance wasn't as dead as it should be. Ginny had just admitted to still loving Harry and she was certain that Harry felt just as strongly for Ginny. "I didn't know that. It's beautiful. You're beautiful."

"But probably not good enough for the Malfoys," Ginny said bitterly.

"You are better than they are," soothed Hermione. She didn't know what else to say. There was nothing that could make this situation any better.

There was a sudden scuffle behind them and Nymphadora Tonks, Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix, came flying through the fireplace, landing in a heap on the hearthrug.

"Sorry about that," she apologised, getting to her feet and patting her hair, which changed immediately from blue to pink.

Ginny stared up at the Weasley family clock and noted for the first time in months, apart from her own, that the hands were not all pointed at Mortal Peril. Had anyone else noticed the change? "You're early," she said.

"I had to warn you…" Tonks glanced at the fireplace which was still empty. "Something's wrong…or very right. Depends on what side you believe in. There are rumours going around the Ministry today that Voldemort's been…"

"Been what?" Ginny asked sharply.

"Destroyed," whispered Tonks, her hair suddenly reverting to a dull brown colour. "I can hardly believe it."

Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Destroyed?"

"What!" exclaimed Ginny, belatedly remembering that she shouldn't know this information and changing her nodding head to a shaking one. "No!" she breathed. What Tonks had said was hardly a surprise to Ginny as Harry had already told her this. Still, the Metamorphmagus didn't know that Harry had told her anything at all.

"Did Harry…does Harry?" stuttered Hermione. They hadn't destroyed all the Horcruxes. Harry was still searching. Voldemort couldn't have been vanquished. They would have known.

"It's only a rumour," muttered Tonks, her hair shifting between colours until it settled on a muted purple. "So it's unlikely that Harry will know anything yet. I heard it from Mad-Eye late last night."

"Does that mean I don't need to marry Malfoy?" Ginny asked desperately.

"Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry." Tonks shook her head regretfully. "I hate to say this but I can't let you get your hopes up. Quite the reverse, I suspect. I saw Malfoy senior in the Ministry today speaking to the registrar of births, deaths and marriages. My instinct says that they will try to get the marriage moved forward. But don't tell anyone else yet…" She gave Hermione a warning glare. "Including Ron and Harry, that this might happen. Keep your wits about you."

"But we must tell them," Hermione protested.

"Why?" asked the young Auror. "What could they do?"

"But Ginny's Ron's sister and Harry's…" She froze. There was nothing they could do. It was, as she kept telling Ginny and Harry, a magical contract.

"Exactly. Harry is…" Tonks had seen the way Harry's eyes had followed Ginny and vice versa. She had watched the two young people for longer than Hermione had. The story of just being friends was exactly that – a story. Even if they were unaware of that fact.

"We have to tell them," Hermione insisted. "Harry has to know. He's been under so much pressure lately and…" she looked down at her hands. "He's her friend."

Tonks gave a heavy sigh. So Hermione had her suspicions about the young wizard's feelings for the pretty redhead, too. "I suppose we must." Tonks lifted her head and glanced around the room. "Where are the boys?"

"Ron's gone to Grimmauld Place to spend the morning with Harry," Hermione admitted. "I think they're meeting Moody. He was going to show them some more Auror defence tricks. The boys are obsessed with learning these defensive spells."

"If its Moody that's training them, then it won't be tricks. It could keep them alive," Tonks said firmly. "I think Harry's gone way beyond mere tricks in Defence now. I've never seen anyone master defensive spells the way he can."

Hermione nodded. "He was always the best in that subject in our class."

"Rankled, did it?" asked Tonks with a grin. "I heard you were top in most of the other classes. Did you hear from Charlie?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes, he's coming home as soon as he can and is threatening all kind of hexes on Percy, but we've heard nothing from Bill and Fleur. I hope they're okay."

Tonks placed a reassuring hand on Ginny's shoulder. "I think they are okay but I haven't been told where they've been sent or what exactly they're doing. It's Order business."

"Credit me with some intelligence," Ginny said wearily. "I knew that much. I'd hoped that Bill's skill as a curse-breaker could rid me of my particular curse. I should have realised that it just wasn't going to happen. If he'd been here, Percy wouldn't have dared to sell me to the Malfoy's."

"He didn't…" Tonks closed her mouth with something of a snap. Percy Weasley had done exactly that. He'd sold his sister to the Malfoys. She didn't know what the price was but she could guess. Percy was ambitious but penniless and the Malfoys could certainly promote his career aspirations.

A rumble in the fireplace alerted them to the sound of another incoming floo traveller and Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped gracefully onto the hearthrug, brushing some soot from his robes.

"Why can't I ever arrive like that," moaned Tonks.

"Did you warn her?" the dark-skinned Auror asked urgently.

"Yes, she did," Ginny said. "But what good is a warning going to do? As you've already pointed out, Tonks. It's not going to change anything."

Kingsley sighed. "It will at least prepare you for…" he held out his hands helplessly.

"Marriage to Malfoy sooner than expected and still against my will." Ginny tilted her head enquiringly to one side. "Can they move the wedding forward?"

"Oh yes," Kingsley muttered. "It's very easy to do what you want when your family has poured thousands of galleons into the Ministry's coffers. Fudge may no longer be Minister and I know Scrimgeour has no love for Lucius but wealth and blood still tells."

"Draco wants to marry me as much as I want to marry him. Which should tell you everything about our damned union." Ginny picked up her cloak. "Are you my assigned escorts for the day?"

Tonks shook her head. "Kingsley is but I'm not. Percy thinks that I'm too close to Dumbledore and Harry."

"He'd be right," said Hermione, with a faint smile.

"I'm glad I was able to get to know Harry Potter, Hermione." Tonks sighed as she glanced at her watch. "We're waiting for Auror Dawlish – he's a stickler for the rules. We deliberately gave him the wrong time so that we could speak to you first. He's not going to be happy that he's late."

"Hermione…Harry's not said anything to you about You-Know-Who?" asked Kingsley quietly.

"Only that V…V…Voldemort wasn't speaking to him. Anything Harry sees is through the link of his scar. Remember Tonks, last night when he had the headache? He said that You-Know-Who wasn't speaking…"

"So he did, Hermione," Tonks said thoughtfully.

"V…V…Voldemort used to cause his headaches but doesn't exactly speak to him," Hermione murmured. "But Harry can tell if he's happy or angry. If Voldemort's emotions are strong, Harry can feel them."

"Could Harry tell if V…You-Know-Who is alive?" Tonks wondered aloud.

"For that answer you would have to ask Harry himself," said Hermione. "Because I cannot tell you – I don't know. I would have thought that if he knew, he would have told me and Ron. He usually tells us most things, although he's not been so forthcoming lately. Not since Sirius died really."

Ginny inspected the hem of her cloak, her shabby booted feet just visible. "And I still have to Marry Malfoy." She looked very young. "I want to visit my mother," she announced suddenly. "And I want to do it now."

Hermione shook her head. "But Ginny…"

"Kingsley will take me," she looked pleadingly at the dark-skinned Auror. "He'll take me to St. Mungos and then will deliver me to Narcissa. If I'm to be married off to Draco Malfoy in less time than expected, I want to see my mother first. She does know about the betrothal and if I'm to be married sooner than I was told... "

"You informed her!" Kingsley exclaimed.

"Of course," said Ginny. "I had to tell her. Yes, she's been unwell and perhaps three months ago, we wouldn't have said anything but she's much improved and not telling her wasn't something that I could have on my conscience. She's my mother and I love her. I want to see her and that's what I'm going to do. I need to see her."

The others looked helplessly at one another. She had a point. She was a seventeen year old witch in a situation not of her choosing and she wanted her mother. It was a simple decision to make.

Kingsley glanced at Tonks and gave a brief nod of assent. "Okay, I'll take you to St. Mungos."

"I'll stay behind and tell Dawlish," said Hermione with a sigh. She did understand Ginny's need to speak to Molly. "Go on – quickly now. It's nearly noon."

"Thanks, Hermione." Ginny threw her arms around the other girl and hugged her tightly.

"We'll apparate," decided Tonks, moving closer to Ginny. "It's safer."

Kingsley stepped closer to the two witches and with a crack the three vanished just as a blaze of green in the fireplace announced the arrival of Auror Dawlish.

"Miss Weasley?"

"Oh!" said Hermione, her eyes wide. "You just missed them. I'm Miss Granger."

Dawlish checked his watch. "I know who you are," he said brusquely. "Where exactly did they go?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies

The fourth floor patient's day room was empty apart from the lone figure of a woman sitting in a large wing backed chair, staring into space, knitting needles lying abandoned on her knees.

"Mum!"

"Ginny! Why are you…?" Molly Weasley sat up straighter in her chair all her attention focused on the figure in blue velvet as it rushed towards her. The knitting fell to the floor and a ball of maroon wool rolled lazily away.

"I didn't know that they'd allowed you out of bed?" Ginny exclaimed as she knelt at Molly's side.

"Just today," Molly said proudly. "I was going to build up my strength to surprise you all. It means that I'll soon be able to come home."

Ginny stared at her mother, the love shining in her earnest expression. "That's the best news I've heard for months. We need you home, Mum. The Burrow isn't the same without you. I've been trying to keep it just the way you like but…"

Molly was thinner since the attack that had robbed her of her husband and her children of their father. She was thinner and greyer, her face contained more lines than it once had. But her eyes were bright and clear and they gazed at her daughter with love. "Hush, love. It's so good to see you." She gazed at the sweet face, topped with its crown of shining red hair and sighed, noting the dress and could only wonder at the implications. "You're looking so grown up, Ginny. I suppose you couldn't be my baby girl forever, could you?"

"I'll always be that. Even when I'm an old grey witch. Oh, Mum!" Ginny found that her cheeks were wet with tears.

"Ssh!" Molly soothed, her hands moving to stroke her daughter's gleaming red hair. This shouldn't be happening to her beautiful girl. She'd always dreamed of her marrying someone like Harry. "Everything will work out for the best." What else could she say? She lifted her head to see Kingsley and Tonks standing there watching them.

"You've not got long," said Tonks.

Molly gave them a nod to show that she understood and they withdrew to the corridor. They wouldn't be far away but they would grant them the privacy they needed. But she was surprised when Ginny pulled out her wand and performed the necessary actions indicating that several privacy charms were being activated.

"I don't want to marry…" Ginny confessed.

"I know," Molly replied. "If I'd been… If your father…"

"Don't," Ginny whispered. "Don't blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault."

"What are you going to do about it?" Molly asked matter of factly. "You wouldn't be my brave Gryffindor girl if you hadn't thought of something.

"I…" Ginny stopped. What was she going to do? Her mother wouldn't like her answer but there wasn't another solution to the problem. If she stayed in the wizarding world she would have to marry Malfoy and if she left, she was deserting her friends and her family.

"I've spoken to Fred and George and I even managed to send Percy a howler," her mother said proudly.

"That's quite impressive from St. Mungos." Ginny managed. "But it won't change anything."

Molly leaned forward. "What does Dumbledore say? Cannot he help you?"

Ginny's eyes narrowed angrily, but she wasn't surprised at Molly's continued faith in Dumbledore. "He won't help," she said succinctly.

"Won't help!" Molly echoed. "What do you mean he won't help?"

"Says he can't," snapped Ginny. "So I'm taking matters into my own hands. For the first time ever, I really know how Harry feels." She took a deep breath and ploughed on. "I'm going into hiding. I'm running away."

"Ginny!" Molly's pale face paled even further.

"What else can I do? If Dumbledore can't help me, who will?" Ginny reached out and grasped her mother's hands. "It's my idea and it will only be for a short while. Just until Bill or Charlie or someone…anyone, has a chance to get me out of this," she babbled wildly. "There must be a loophole. I cannot marry…"

"Oh, Ginny…"

"I can't…I won't marry him." The 'him' was so full of disgust that it almost made Molly smile despite the seriousness of what her daughter was telling her. "It's just for a few months," Ginny continued. "But you cannot tell anyone. Not the family, not Harry or Hermione…"

"Not Harry?" Molly echoed. "But Ginny."

"Especially not Harry," she said fiercely. "He has enough to worry about. The prophecy…"

"He told you?" Molly's face paled. "I didn't think he would have told you."

So her mother knew or like Ginny had worked out all the details. "I guessed, Mum. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what the prophecy says. He can't help me." She gripped her mother's hands tightly and averted her gaze. "Besides, he gave up on me."

"Ginny Weasley," her mother said in horror. "How dare you say that. He didn't do that and you know it. Harry was trying to protect you."

"I didn't want to be protected in that way. I wanted…I still want him and I always will. How can I…when I…?" Ginny closed her eyes, her shoulders shaking and began sobbing quietly.

Molly did what she did best - leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her incoherent daughter giving comfort. "I know. You love him."

A few moments later Ginny withdrew and with a sniff, fumbled for a handkerchief. "I can't tell Harry, Mum. He would try and find me and then I'd be back in the position I am now and he'd be in trouble. They watch Harry closer than anyone. They treat him worse than they treated Sirius and Harry hasn't done anything wrong."

"Neither, as it happens, had Sirius. They're only trying to protect him," Molly offered.

"Maybe," Ginny said. "They've not done a very good job, so far, have they? He's miserable and they ignore it for the greater good than Dumbledore is always going on about. I'm not quite convinced about their attempts at protecting Harry and I don't think that he is, either. He doesn't want to be protected. "

"That's a rather silly attitude for Harry to have," Molly remonstrated gently. "We all care about him."

"I don't think its enough for Harry any more. Dumbledore's caring is very suspect to me. Harry wants a normal life and he's never going to get one and neither am I."

"Ginny…"

"Don't worry, I'll be okay," she said bravely.

"I'm your mother, it's my job to worry," said Molly tartly. "When are you going?"

"As soon as possible," Ginny replied. "When I feel that I have to. You don't know anything. If anyone asks and they will when I've gone."

"Of course not," Molly declared. "I still forget things." She gave a small smile. "Spell damage, you know. The body has healed but my mind has not."

"You will…" Ginny stopped.

"Yes, I'm getting better every day. My forgetfulness isn't permanent. Not like Frank and Alice."

"Neville's parents," Ginny whispered in understanding. The Longbottoms had been Crucio'd into insanity when Neville had just been a baby. "We worried that had happened to you."

"But it didn't and they will allow me to go home soon. It won't be the same if you're not there."

"It's only for a little while. Till I'm safe."

"Your father…" The Weasley matriarch stopped and swallowed. "Your father…"

"Dad would have understood."

"He loved you all very much," Molly said with a sad smile. "Even Percy."

"Even Percy," Ginny echoed. "I know, he did. I still love Percy, too but I hate what he's become. What a pity Percy hasn't lived up to that love."

"I hope he will - one day before its too late. I do understand," Molly whispered. "Even if I'm not very happy about it. I'll worry if you're safe, if you're happy and eating enough." She smoothed her thumb tenderly over her daughter's soft cheek. "Tell me…why are you wearing my wedding dress?"

"Narcissa Malfoy," Ginny said, dislike evident in her tone, "wanted a proper pure-blooded witch today and not a scruffy Weasley blood-traitor. I'm going to look at wedding robes under duress and I'm being escorted by Aurors because I was, surprisingly, unwilling to go. I thought that this dress was more than appropriate."

"I'm glad you chose it." Molly said softly. "Merlin knows that I would never get into it again. I can't even remember being that size."

Suddenly, several loud cracks disrupted the relative peace and quiet of the corridor outside the day room. Ginny shook her head, her expression resigned.

"Ginny!" Tonks stuck her head inside the door, saying quickly, "You've got company. It's Dawlish and he's brought Percy. I suppose he wasn't happy about us leaving The Burrow without him." And immediately transfigured her customary jeans and tee-shirt into healer's robes, her face morphing into that of a stranger. "Your visiting time is up, Miss Weasley. Your mother is still far from strong."

Ginny cancelled the privacy charms with a quick flick of her wand. "Of course," she said, standing up and brushing the wrinkles out of her flowing skirt. "I see that my escorts have arrived. Lucky me."

"Ginny!" Percy bustled into the room brushing past the disguised Tonks as if she didn't exist. "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be with your future mother-in-law choosing your wedding robes. Mistress Malfoy was expecting you an hour ago."

"And my own mother isn't important, Under-secretary Weatherby?" asked Ginny, frigidly polite.

"Mother?"

"Yes, Percy," Molly said stiffly.

"Who did you think I was visiting in St. Mungos, you ignorant prat," seethed Ginny.

"I didn't know you were out of bed." Percy came forward, ignoring his fuming sister, and kissed the space where Molly's cheek might have been had she not turned away from him.

"You didn't know because you haven't bothered to visit me until now. I'm not very happy with you, Percy," Molly said quietly. "How could you?"

Percy coloured faintly, the tips of his ears glowing red. There had been rumours that Molly might not have been lucid after the attack but the healers had performed miracles. "The staff here at St. Mungos know that you're my mother," he stated pompously. "I was thinking about my sister's future and I've been very busy at the Ministry.

Molly's lip curled. "No, you were thinking of your own future and you have sacrificed your sister to a man she hates – a follower of Voldemort…" Molly gazed at her son with grim satisfaction as he froze at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, "…for political advancement."

"Nonsense," he blustered.

"It's the truth and deep down you know it. I am ashamed of you, Percy. Your father died in an attack led by Voldemort's followers and yet you still put ambition before your family. Do you hate us all so much to do this to us? " She lifted her head and gave the still altered Tonks a nod. "I am feeling very tired, Healer Ash. Could you escort me back to my room?"

As Tonks moved forwards, Molly embraced Ginny. "Be careful, love. I'll be thinking of you."

The young witch nodded. "I'm ready to go, Mr. Shacklebolt," she said politely. "Mr. Dawlish," Ginny inclined her head regally. "I was in no danger. You should not have worried."

"Miss Weasley," said Kingsley, holding out his arm.

Ginny placed hers through his, all the while ignoring the silently fuming figure of her brother and the bemused face of Dawlish.

oweH

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx