Disclaimer: Who really thinks I could profit off this crap... really now!
AN: Dear god I've reached double digits in chapters I didn't think this day would ever come. Now only if I was spending as much time on my school work as I was this fic...
Anyway - Thank you for the Reviews. I responded to some of you because you are just too clever! I also want to apologize for the comments I made regarding the H/Hr ship that runs through this work. I originally made it that way to get it on Portkey (I wasn't sure if they would take only a D/G fic - or a fic that had Hermione paired with someone else) I also placed them together to flesh out conflict and tensions that the plot bunnies in my head told me were necessary. So don't hunt me down and maim me if Harry, Hermione and Ron are not as you would like. Anyways I like Draco and Ginny much...much...much more! Don't you agree?!?
Chapter 10 - The Homecoming Queen
Tonks ran her fingers through her currently blue hair. It had been a long day and an even longer week. She hadn't thought that she would have swapped flinging attack curses for filling out paperwork so quickly.
Strong hands descended on her shoulders, rubbing out week's worth of tension.
"Long day?" Remus leaned down and touched his lips to her neck.
Tonks leaned her head to the side to allow him better access. "Hmmm… yes. But just as long as yours."
Tonks swiveled in her seat and pulled Remus close. She wanted to kiss the sorrow and weariness away for him, but she knew it wasn't possible.
"I should come home early all the time!" Remus remarked as he pulled away from her all too enticing kiss.
"I was always proud of my persuasion skills."
Tonks pulled Remus back to her not wanting to waste a minute of their time together. It had been hard for them the past year. The war had brought them together in so many ways, yet it was what kept them apart as well. They both still worked with the order trying to finish tying up all the lose ends. This resulted in long hours, varying schedules and an altogether lack of time to see each other.
Remus let himself be persuaded by her tongue skimming along the shell of his ear and its subsequent perusal of the sensitive cords of his neck. Merlin how he would love to stay and finish where this was going! But he knew that he was expected back at the Ministry in a few minutes. Arthur was waiting on him. The man was desperate to get home and Remus was taking over his work night so he could do so.
"Tonks… Honey…" Remus placed his hands on her cheeks and forced himself to pull away. "I can't stay."
Tonks murmured in protest and tried to move back to her spot in his arms.
"I have to go back. I just came home to pick up the paperwork on McNair and a change of robes."
"What! Don't tell me you aren't coming home tonight!" Passion flashed in her eyes.
"I promised Arthur I would cover for him, the man is crawling at the walls. Apparently Molly has been a basket case ever since Dumbledore came over, the kitchen is full to the brim with scones and apple pie."
Tonks relented and pulled out of Remus's arms. "I understand, it's just this separation is… it's so bloody frustrating." Tonks's hair flamed red with her emotion.
"I know… I know… There is nothing I would rather be doing right now than laying in that bed for the next 48 hours, but Arthur needs me, and I can't deny him." Remus ran frustrated fingers through his light brown hair giving it that post-sex mused look.
Tonks groaned… Merlin he was a sexy man she thought. "Go! Go now before I ravage you!" Tonks smiled, placed a brief kiss on his lips and gave him a push out the door.
"I expect a rain check when you get home… feel free to wake me"
Remus turned, his robes and files in hand, "Don't worry I have no problem waking you."
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Tonks was restless there was no way she was going to be able to sleep now… Damn that wolf she thought.
She padded through the halls toward the kitchen. It was early evening, but she had been on duty at the ministry since before the sun rose that morning. She thought to make herself a glass of hot chocolate, one her favorite indulgences.
Tonks entered the kitchen and was surprised to see Harry slouched at the kitchen table, glaring at a full bottle of Ogden's Fire Whiskey.
"Did the whiskey offend you?" Tonks paused in the entry, leaning against the jamb.
Harry jerked himself upright, surprised at her voice. "Oh Hi Tonks… I didn't know you were here?"
"So you thought you could get good and pissed all by yourself." She moved away from the door and took a place across from him at the small oak table.
"Seemed like a good idea at the time, but it seems as though the fist sip doesn't want go down." Harry returned pushing the bottle toward her. "You look a bit… frazzled. Would you like a glass?"
Tonks looked thoughtfully at the bottle - it would probably work better than any mug of hot cocoa. "Anything to keep a friend from drinking alone."
Tonks paused as Harry handed her the glass filled with the amber alcohol. "I feel that as an adult figure I should be discouraging you, but I find it's just not in me."
Harry smiled at her. He couldn't be happier that Remus had found Tonks. He wasn't sure that anything would have made Remus happy after the death of his best friend, but she seemed to be doing a rather good job of it.
"I appreciate the thought, but I hazard to say this isn't my first glass of fire whiskey."
"We'll have to swap stories one day Potter, the one with the best tale buys the drinks!"
He stared at the worn weird sisters top and her bright blue hair… something told him that she could top any story he could even imagine to tell.
"So what brought about this desire for drink, Harry? You alright?"
Harry loved her directness. There were times that he grew so tired of the games played around him, of people skirting issues worried that he would be upset.
"I suppose I'm fine."
"Someone who is 'fine' doesn't sit at home on a Friday night glaring at a bottle of whiskey!" Tonks pointed out smiling.
"You're right again, I guess age does produce wisdom" Harry teased.
"You're skating on thin ice; I don't think Hermione would be as lenient with the whiskey as I am."
Harry's face fell a bit at the mention of Hermione.
Tonks immediately picked up on his shift in mood. Harry's emotions were often so strong you feel it in the air, if you knew him well enough.
"Is something wrong with Hermione?"
Harry sighed he didn't know what to say. "I don't know."
Tonks took pity on the boy, despite all his worldly experience he was still relatively knew to relationships, especially one as serious as this. 'Tell me about it, after all I have been in a few relationships.
"I can't rightfully say what is wrong. She's just been incredibly distant lately. She refused to come to Percy's services. I rarely get to see her. I know that she's upset about her mother but I just want to help her, but she won't let me."
Tonks sat silently as Harry talked about the various times he had gone over to her parent's house to help only to be politely told to bugger off is so many words. She furrowed her brow.
"She's been like this for days… I think since we went and visited Ron while he was recovering."
Interesting Tonks thought… since they visited Ron.
"Today I took her to lunch. I asked her if she wanted to come with me to the Weasley's when Ginny comes home tonight and she froze up. She said that she just couldn't, that her father needed her tonigh. But, when I took her home her father asked why we were back so early he's been looking forward to a night by himself. I don't understand. Ron would really appreciate his two best friends being there. But she won't come and won't say why!"
Tonks thought carefully about her response. She had her own personal suspicions as to Hermione's recent distance and she was sure they stemmed directly from that visit to the Weasleys nearly a week ago. Tonks had worried greatly about Harry when he had started dating Hermione. As a woman she had noticed the currents that ran between the three friends and it didn't bode well for Harry.
Tonks could tell that Hermione had strong feelings for both boys. She had always thought that perhaps the younger girl had jumped into the relationship with Harry prematurely, but it wasn't her place to tell Harry that. Harry had been in an incredibly vulnerable position after Sirius's death. She had been more concerned with Harry finding solace than telling him that his girlfriend may have feelings for his best friend. But now it appeared as if it was all coming back again.
"I don't know Harry, you two have been through an awful lot lately. You can't just expect everything to be ironed out without time and work." Tonks patted his hand reassuringly.
"I know, but I also know that Ron really wanted her to be there when Ginny comes back tonight. She got so upset when I mentioned going over to the Weasleys to see Ginny home. I just don't understand, Merlin!"
Tonks thought she had been helping but apparently not, at the mention of Miss Weasley Harry only seemed to think further into his depression.
"Is there more?" Tonks asked sympathetically.
"Ginny."
His one word reply summed up a great deal of his problems.
"You mentioned she was coming home tonight - I believe Remus is covering for Arthur."
Harry paused for a good while before he answered her. "Yes… yes she is coming home."
"Is there a problem with that?" Tonks slowly asked taking a sip of her drink "Merlin that burns!"
Harry smiled and downed another shot himself. "No… I don't know." He finally admitted.
Tonks cocked her head to the side and looked at Harry, "tell me about it."
He had always appreciated how easy it was to talk to Tonks, so with little hesitation Harry continued on with his concerns.
"I'm worried for Ron; I don't know how he is going to handle her being back. I know he wants to see his sister, especially with Percy being gone. But…"
"But what Harry? I don't understand. What do you know that could bother Ron? Ever since the funeral all I have heard from that family is their desire to have her home."
"I know where she's been since the final battle…and…and I saw her. She's not the same, Tonks."
Tonks was a bit shocked no one knew where the youngest Weasley was except for professor Dumbledore.
"I know that if Ron finds out where she has been, he will probably believe everything that has been said about her."
"Do you believe it?" Tonks asked pointedly.
"I don't know. What I saw was brief and confusing. I wish I could tell you more, but I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't…" Harry stood up abruptly causing his chair to skid across the wooden floors. "Damn it! She was with the enemy. I think she was hurt, but I don't know. Why was she there?"
Harry paced the room as Tonks watched on. There was more at work in the boy's head she knew.
"I don't understand what has happened. I hate it when I'm kept in the dark! If only I hadn't been so blinded."
That was surprising Tonks thought. "Blinded?"
He slowed his pacing and faced Tonks. "At the final battle, I left her there. I didn't even look for her. I saw Hermione and forgot about everything else. I forgot about all those that lost their lives trying to protect me, all those who nearly died, and I forgot about my best friends little sister. I left her there, I ignored her for all those years and now… now she's with…" Harry, who Tonks now noticed had consumed quite a bit of the whiskey during their talk, leaned against the counter and sunk to the ground.
Guilt, so that's it she thought. Harry felt guilty that he forgot about Ginny. "Harry" Tonks got up from her spot at the table and assumed a spot on the ground next to him. "Harry, it's okay. There is no reason to feel guilt about this, you did everything you could. It's not your fault that Ginny ended up wherever she did. Plus we don't know what happened. I can't believe that Ginny helped Voldemort, she didn't I know it!"
Harry turned his head toward Tonks, appreciating her help. He sighed, she was right. Despite everything he had seen he knew that there was more to the story. He had failed Ginny once and he would try not to do the same again.
Yet he pictured her lying in that bed, Malfoy sitting smug by her side. That image was interrupted by her haunting screams.
"I wish I was as sure as you…" Harry slowly got up. "I told Ron I would be there soon… I'm going to take a walk - sober up a bit."
Tonks watched his back through the hallway as he headed for the front entrance. It was sad that at 17 he had so much on his on his shoulders, but then again she mused, he wouldn't be the man he was if he didn't.
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Molly Weasley placed a second apple pie on the worn butchers block table, next to a small mountain of scones.
"Mum! She's not an elephant! Really!" Ron turned to his mother in exasperation. "I really don't think she eat all that."
"I know Ron…I know. I just want her to feel welcome when she gets here. I figure you boys will eat the rest… am I right."
Ron nodded with a smile on his face. He was quickly shoved aside by George bounding down the stairs and nicking off with a scone.
"George! How many times do I have to tell you to leave that food alone - It's for your sister!"
George leaned down to Ron, "We were just going to add a few hexes to it nothing too bad! What a spoilsport!"
"Mum would kill you" Ron grinned at his brother. It was kind of nice having them all here. Bill had arrived earlier that morning, even Harry was going to be here when Dumbledore arrived with Ginny.
A loud knock interrupted Ron and George's discussion of the best hex to use on a scone. Swelling curses always worked well with food.
A loud squeal of "HARRY! You're so thin!" caused Ron to wince.
It was followed by a "Good to see you Mrs. Weasley! I swear to you all I do is eat!"
Harry and Molly entered the kitchen, and Molly propelled him toward the platters of food.
"Here Harry have something to eat."
"But, mum…" George whined.
"Oh hush! He's skin and bones!"
"What am I… chopped Liver?" George grumbled.
Ron took a seat at the table next to Harry. "How you doing mate? I thought Hermione was coming with?"
Harry closed his eyes then raised his head slowly. "She… ah… couldn't make it. Her father needed help caring for her mother."
Ron's smile slowly disappeared. "Sad to hear that, I hope she gets better soon."
"We all do, these muggle doctors seem to fix everything the slowest way possible you know! I'm sure she'll be back to new in no time."
"Good, I swear I haven't seen Herm but once. That is not acceptable for best friends."
"I'll get her out here soon. I'm sure she'll want to see Ginny as soon as possible." Harry quickly filled his mouth with a slice of pie, he hated lying to Ron.
Before Ron could ruminate on the upcoming arrival. Arthur appeared at the front door calling Molly.
"Molly honey we're home."
"Arthur I'm so glad you're home…" Molly stopped dead in her tracks on the way to the front door. "Oh my…we're…"
Hearing the quaver in his mum's voice Ron arose from the table with Harry and George following the approached the front door.
Arthur stood inside the entry, with Professor Dumbledore at his side. Behind the two tall men, was a much smaller figure, wrapped in a large Weasley sweater bearing the letter A. Her head was bowed and she seemed to be hiding behind Dumbledore, but the crown of auburn hair was unmistakable.
"Ginny honey…" Arthur began squatting down a bit to be more on eye level with his daughter. "Come on in…"
At the noise, Charlie and Bill followed by Fred had quietly made their way down the stairs.
Ginny slowed stepped away from Dumbledore's shadow. When she paused he leant down and whispered something in her ear that seemed to put strength into her backbone.
Molly stared at her baby girl. Merlin she was pale. Large purple bags marred the ivory stillness of her face, making her eyes look huge in her face. A slight tremor seemed to be running through her limbs as she moved forward. She looked so tiny in Arthur's large sweater.
"Oh my baby!" Molly couldn't stand it. She rushed forward and crushed Ginny in a hug. Ginny bit back a groan, from the pressure Molly put on her, she was still tender, and tentatively embraced her mother.
Molly rocked Ginny back and forth murmuring incomprehensible words, more to sooth herself than to console Ginny.
Arthur slowly approached the two. He placed a hand on Molly's shoulder. "Molly, I think she needs to breathe."
Molly started, "Oh Merlin, honey I'm sorry." She pulled away wiping tears from her cheeks with one hand while the other stroked Ginny's hair unwilling to lose contact. "Its just that I'm so glad you are home. You have no idea how much I have missed you!"
Ginny stared quietly back at her mom. A smile began to crack into her staid features. This was her mum, the woman who fixed wounds and filled the table with food and love. She was glad to see her mum again.
"I missed you mum." Ginny's quiet voice broke through Molly's franticness, resulting in another batch of tears.
"Oh Gin, I've missed you too… Here come in I've made your favorites." Molly grabbed Ginny's arm and guided her into the dining room. "I'm sorry Professor, I forgot myself, please come in have some food."
Dumbledore smiled. "I would love to stay Molly, but with school beginning so soon I fear I am too busy to stay for a visit." Albus bowed graciously and exited the Weasley's. He was glad that Molly had accepted Ginny in as she did. Ginny had expressed her fears to him on the way over, he had tried to reassure her, but he truly did not know how they would react. His part was over; her family seemed ready to accept her.
As Ginny moved toward the kitchen she caught sight of her brothers.
Bill stood tall at the bottom of the stairs, his long hair and fang-earring still present. He smiled at her a twinkle in his blue eyes. Merlin it had been over a year since she had seen Bill. He still looked the same, but there was weariness about his eyes. As she scanned the rest of her brother she noticed the same look to all of them. Charlie stood next to Bill an old Quidditch shirt across his broad shoulders. His hands were just as scarred as before. Even Fred, a source of boundless energy, looked older and more tired, but the shock of green hair from a failed experiment reminded her of the Fred of old.
As she crossed the living room, her eyes came in direct contact with George, then Ron and finally... Harry.
George was holding a scone with spikes now protruding from it. He caught her looking at it and smiled sheepishly. She loved the twins, Merlin how she had missed them.
Her eyes met Ron next; he was silently staring at her. She felt his perusal. It wasn't cold or assessing, it was more familial. It felt like he was making sure she was okay. Ginny suddenly appreciated her brother more than she ever had. She had been scared to see Ron, when she hadn't seen him following the battle, she was certain that he thought the worst. Her eyes scanned his lanky form. He seemed thinner, the affects of his injury still apparent.
As her mother pulled her along she came across the last in the group, Harry. She felt his eyes on her. A shiver ran up her spine. She didn't think her feelings regarding Harry could be more confused. The part of her that had loved him for years still sought his approval over every action, but the girl who had lain abused and ignored couldn't forget his betrayal. Memories of the night he had stormed into Draco's flooded her memory, causing her to miss a step. She could still picture Harry in his robes leaning over her, and the tide of forgotten memories washing over her. She knew Harry had seen too much, but she had no idea what he thought. He probably thought the worst. Had he told her family that she was at Malfoy Manor, would they think that damning evidence? She didn't think that he would be forgetting that she had been with Draco for the past week anytime soon.
Ginny lowered her head unable to bear the scrutiny any longer. She knew that people thought the worst of her, but she hadn't been quite ready to face silent accusations yet.
Harry couldn't take his eyes off Ginny. She looked so young enveloped in the oversized sweater. Neat black dress trousers accompanied her top. Harry's eyes narrowed. Draco must have given her those. Harry reminded himself that he couldn't convict her yet. His own guilt washed over him, he needed to talk to her soon.
Arthur met with Ginny and her mother as they entered the food leaden kitchen. "Here Gin have a seat" he pulled a kitchen chair out for her.Molly placed a plate of food in front of her and made to watch her eat.
"Molly honey, let the poor girl eat. Come with me - let's make a pot of tea"
Arthur pulled Molly away into the kitchen. Ginny slowly picked up a fork and broke a piece of apple pie off. She really wasn't hungry, but she appreciated the effort her mother was making enough that wanted to eat to make her happy.
Her brothers stood behind her in a mass of red hair and freckles. They seemed unsure on how to approach her.
Bill finally took a seat on one side of her and tweaked a strand of hair "Hey Gin-bean! Long time no see"
Ginny raised solemn eyes to Bills, "Hey yourself…" She wanted so bad to be the little sister that she had always been to Bill, but she felt awkward and couldn't pinpoint why.
"Mom's been cooking for days - you'd better start eating."
Ginny smiled at him, she had seen little of Bill since he married. She was happy for him; he and Fleur were supremely happy last she recalled. How he tamed the Veela she never knew. "How's Fleur?"
Bills face lit up. "She's great... we're still getting used to being parents!"
Ginny smiled, inside though she ached. She hadn't even known her sister-in-law was pregnant. Still the thought of a child caused an emotionally riot inside her.
"Oh Bill, Congratulations!"
Bill seemed to puff up as he went on to describe Lucas now almost 4 months old. Apparently he had been born not long after Ginny had been taken captive. He and Fleur had been on a mission and hadn't been able to let the family know before she had the baby. Apparently Lucas was the brightest 3 and a half month old out there!
Bill glanced at his wristwatch and remembered that Fleur would be portkeying in with Lucas soon and he needed to finish readying his room for them. Charlie came and sat with her for a bit. She found out he was looking for a job in London now. Ginny was rather shocked at this revelation; she didn't think that Charlie would ever leave Romania and his dragons.
The twins came over with a bang, quite literally that is. George exploded the prickly scone he held all over Fred.
"It's charmed to explode on when a certain word is said. The owner can personalize it as they see fit. Haven't got a name yet, thought you could come up with one now that you are home." Fred smiled at her as he mopped gooey scone batter off his nose.
They were making such an effort to welcome her back, Ginny felt a tear form.
"I'll think about it and let you know what I come up with."
The twins bounded off before Molly could identify that the bang she just heard came from one of her scones.
Ginny was left now with her Ron and Harry. They were quiet for a minute. Then Ron slowly approached the table.
"Hey Gin." Ron didn't know why this felt so awkward. It shouldn't this was his younger sister, his only sister. But he couldn't shake the feeling.
"Hey" she replied quietly. "How are you feeling? I hear you were injured." Ginny could have slapped herself for that comment. Now Ron was going to ask questions, questions she didn't want to answer.
"I'm doing fine now; it was just a rather nasty body bind." Ron looked at her questioningly.
"Dumbledore. Dumbledore told me that you had been injured." Real smooth Gin, she admonished herself.
Ron knew she was lying. He could always tell when Ginny was flat out lying; her cheeks turned a resounding pink. He didn't know why she would be lying about this, unless… No he would not think anything about it.
"I should be asking how you are doing. You look good, a bit pale though"
Ginny laughed half-heartedly "You know us red-heads we're always pale." Ginny hated this awkwardness.
Ron was lost; he didn't know what to say to her. She wasn't the same old Ginny but he didn't know what it was about her that was different. He couldn't ask her the questions he most wanted answered.
Harry watched the dialogue between the two. It was almost painful to observe. He hoped for their sake that they would be able to get over this uneasiness that was permeating their conversation.
Harry wanted to talk to Ginny, to find out what she had been doing with Malfoy, to determine if she was okay, but the weary look in her eyes kept him from asking to talk to her when Ron was done.
As Ron turned to leave, his head down in defeat, Ginny stalled him.
"Hey Ron, where's Perce? Is he still at the ministry working late as always?" The first genuine smile seemed to cross her features.
Ron froze. She didn't know. How was he going to tell his sister that her favorite brother was dead? It had nearly killed her when Percy had fallen out with their parents. She had worked day and night to get both sides to see reason. There was no way he could break her heart.
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and gave him a look offering to take the mission.
Ron shook his head, he would tell Ginny.
Ginny watched her brother closely. His eyes were clouded, why? Why would a simple question regarding Percy cause that reaction?
It began to dawn on her. Oh Good God! Percy was dead! She vaguely recalled Harry's accusatory words now the night he showed up at the Manor. "Hasn't your family done enough to the Weasley's isn't killing one enough."
Ginny's fork hit her plate with a loud clank. She doubled over. Ron rushed forward. At the sound Molly and Arthur came in from the kitchen.
Ginny raised her face to Ron. It was dry but etched in pain. She was beyond crying, there had simply been too much for her to deal with.
Ron, forgetting all the past complications held his sister.
"He's dead isn't he?"
Ron nodded his head. When she didn't see his response as her face was buried in his chest she looked up. "Yes Gin, he didn't make it."
That was all it took; she limply stayed in Ron's arms as the world moved around her. She saw her mother well up with tears as she heard Ron tell Ginny. She saw her father attempt to console her mother and she saw Harry standing off to the side a grim expression on his handsome features.
Ginny closed her eyes, she would think again in the morning. She would owl Draco, and she would get through this. She would.
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Next chapter
Harry talks with Ginny
Ginny experiences a Nightmare
Ron finds out where she has been
A possible visit from our favorite Slytherin