An Unlikely Alliance
Chapter 3: A New Beginning
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" announced Professor Dumbledore from the podium.
Ginny rose from her chair and walked to the dais. After shaking hands with Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, Ginny waved to her family sitting in the audience who where cheering wildly.
"YEA GINNY!" shouted George and Fred. They had originally wanted to bring some Filibuster Fireworks to the event, but after receiving a severe warning from Molly Weasley, who threatened bodily harm if they ruined this day for her, they had nixed the idea.
After the ceremony, the family retreated back to the Burrow where a party was in full swing. All the Weasleys were in attendance as well as Harry, Hermione, and several members of the Order. After graduating themselves, Harry and Hermione, along with Ron, had started Auror training last summer.
Molly Weasley had outdone herself. The table, the one that the boys had brought into the yard from the kitchen, was covered with all of Ginny's favorite foods. She was currently situated at it, helping herself to her mum's pumpkin pie, butterbeer in hand. She was glad to see her brothers; they were all so spread out now that their time together had been gradually diminishing.
As she took a bite, she took a look around, trying to absorb the fact that she was finally finished with school. She wasn't as elated as she had thought she would be. As she ate, Ginny's thoughts flitted to her classmates. They had all made plans for their lives after school. Colin was going to work for the Daily Prophet as a photographer, Luna was working at her father's paper The Quibbler, and her closest friend from school, Henry Givens, was going to work at the Ministry as a cryptographer.
Ginny didn't know what she wanted to do yet. She had thought of working for the Ministry, as an Auror perhaps, but she didn't feel ready to handle all the other responsibilities that came with it. What she needed was some time off. Her parents had supported her decision to take a job in Diagon Alley until she was sure, and Ginny was going tomorrow to apply for the waitress job at the Leaky Cauldron.
She licked her fork, savoring the spicy filling and thick texture of the pie. As she swallowed, she smiled at Harry who had come over.
"Congratulations, Ginny." He smiled. "Happy to be out?"
"Happy to be done with the work more like," she replied. "N.E.W.T.s examinations were driving me mad."
"You've gotten your results, your mum said," Harry said, helping himself to a butterbeer. "She's been talking of nothing else, saying how she's so proud of her ickle Ginny for getting as many N.E.W.Ts as Hermione," he teased.
"Shut it, Potter," she smiled, raising her bottle to her lips. "So how's Auror training?" she asked.
He shifted slightly, and ducked his head, then looked up and smiled. "It's absolutely brutal," he admitted. "I come back every night to my flat completely exhausted. I can feel every muscle in my body, aching."
She laughed. "Got more than you bargained for then?"
"That's for sure, but I wouldn't want to do anything else," he stated with certainty. "What about you? Do you know what you'll be doing now? With your marks, you could get work anywhere."
Ginny blushed, she always got embarrassed when people talked about her marks. "No, I'm feeling a little hesitant about jumping into anything right now. I'll be taking some time off, working in Diagon Alley maybe."
Harry looked at her shrewdly then dropped his eyes to the ground. He cleared his throat and then spoke, "You know Ginny, you shouldn't be afraid to-"
"Everyone, can I have your attention please!" shouted Bill. He stood near the porch steps, flanked by the other Weasley boys. Holding a small parcel in his hands, he walked towards Ginny. "As you all know, our little Ginny has graduated today and my brothers and I have gotten her a little something to show how proud we are of her." He bent down to hug his sister. Planting a small kiss on her forehead, he whispered in her ear, "Congratulations, Ginny."
Feeling her eyes prickle with tears, she put down her drink and took the present that Bill was holding. Opening the box, she found some sunblock, four language dictionaries, and an apparition passport. Bewildered, she opened the passport and found several pages stamped with visas for different countries: France, Italy, India, and Egypt.
Shocked, she stared at her brothers. "Is this what I think it is?"
Pleased with her reaction, Charlie explained. "We knew you didn't want to start working right away, so we pooled our money together and bought you a trip around the world. You'll be gone for a year and the whole itinerary is listed there as well."
Ginny looked down at the papers she held in her hand, feeling emotion overwhelming her. The tears that had merely prickled before, threatened to pour out any second.
"Ginny?" Percy asked, growing worried at his sister's silence.
She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you," she choked out. She knew how much something like this must have cost and didn't know where they had gotten all the money to do this for her. Reaching out to her brothers, she grabbed as many as she could and hugged them with all her might. Feelings of love for them filled her up as they returned the embrace, each taking a turn to hug her individually.
Ron wiped the tears from her eyes gently and looked into the face of his baby sister. "I remember when you were born, telling Mum to send you back," he said gently. Ginny laughed. "You haven't been yourself, Ginny. It's like you've been keeping something locked tight inside of you," he whispered. "Maybe you've been here too long. You deserve a chance to escape and go to places that won't remind you of the things you've been hiding from."
Touched by her brother's words, Ginny hugged her brother once more.
Harry watched as the Weasleys surrounded Ginny. Ron was right, he thought. She does need to get away. He had a feeling he knew what it was that made her so hesitant to put herself out there, but also knew that she would have to work it out herself.
A few days later, Ginny was preparing for her trip, her trunk open at the foot of her bed. She knew that the weather would be warm in most of the places she would be going, but she brought a jumper anyway. Folding it neatly, she placed it in the trunk and looked around her room. She had all the clothes she needed. She also had her camera, a birthday gift from Colin, her notebook so she could document all the places she had been, some parchment for letters home, and her wand of course. Deciding she hadn't forgotten anything, she closed her trunk. As she was locking it, her mother walked in and took a seat on the bed.
Smoothing down the bedspread absently, she watched as her daughter dragged her trunk to her door. "I'm going to miss you dear. This will be the longest that I'll have gone without seeing my baby," she smiled sadly. Hearing the tone in her mother's, Ginny walked over and sat down next to Molly.
"I'll be sure to write often, Mum," Ginny said.
Molly stopped fiddling with the sheets and folded her hands in her lap. "You're sure you haven't forgotten anything? You have your toothbrush? An extra jumper?"
Ginny smiled. "I have everything I need Mum."
Nodding, Molly Weasley pulled a small box out of her pocket and handed it to Ginny. Taking it curiously, Ginny opened the soft velvet lid and gasped, "Oh mum! It's beautiful." Nestled in a small black pillow was a small, iridescent, white stone connected to a small gold chain.
Molly smiled. "My mother gave me that necklace when I got married, and her mother gave it to her. It's been passed down through generations of Prewitt women." Ginny looked at the stone reverently. "And now, I'm passing it down to you. It was made by a very powerful Prewitt Witch several centuries ago. It's called the Moonstone Pendant. She used some very strong protection charms and filled it with moonbeams from a full moon. It's meant to protect the wearer and holds all the wisdom of the women who have come before you." She looked at Ginny, picked up the necklace and placed it around her neck. "It is meant to guide you in times of uncertainty and darkness. If you ever feel lost, just hold it and you will be supported by the strength of the women in your family."
Ginny fingered the necklace. Reaching out, she hugged her mother. "Thank you."
Wiping her eyes, Molly smiled at her daughter. "You're welcome dear." She patted her hand and stood up. "You should get some rest now; into bed with you. You have a long day tomorrow."
Ginny obliged her and watched as her mother left the room and turned off the light. Her family was remarkable really. All her life, Ginny had never felt the empty feeling of being unloved or unwanted. She knew that she always had a place here, but knew that there was something she was missing as well; as though there was also another place out there for her.
She was looking forward to the trip, hoping that the time away from England would help her to sort out her thoughts and give her time to breathe. Lying against her pillow, Ginny sent a small thank you to the Gods for giving her this opportunity; asking them to protect her family while she was gone.
"ATTENTION ALL APPARATORS! THE LINK TO THE PARIS TERMINAL WILL BE OPENING IN 10 MINUTES! PLEASE HAVE YOUR PASSPORTS AND VISAS READY!"
"Mum, they've just made the announcement. I have to go," Ginny said. Molly was currently holding onto her child for dear life.
"I know dear, but I won't see you for so long. Please take care of yourself," she replied tears in her eyes.
"Molly, Ginny is a big girl. She'll be fine," stated Arthur Weasley. He was standing a bit further back, waiting for his chance to say good-bye. Having already bade farewell to her brothers, Harry and Hermione back at the Burrow, Ginny had come to the station with just her parents.
Hugging her dad next, Ginny inhaled his aftershave. It was the same woodsy smell she had loved as a girl when she would beg him to let her put it on for him. She hugged her mother once more, then levitating her trunk; she made her way to the terminal.
Glancing back, she took in the British station. She wouldn't be coming back here for some time. Feeling elated, she quickened her pace. For the next year, it would just be her. No thoughts of the war, no worries of the future; just her. She smiled at the thought. Reaching the Paris Terminal, Ginny handed in her papers. Getting them back, she found a spot in the crowd of travelers. The terminal manager informed everyone it was time, and then with a flick of the wrist, she was gone.