Chapter 23
The Return of Fire
A/N 1: Song lyrics included in this chapter are from the song "You Raise Me Up" by Celtic Woman. I highly suggest listening to it as you read the beginning of the chapter to achieve the full effect of this portion of the story.
A/N 2: My muse, Maggie, is simple girl. All she likes are plot bunnies and reviews. So be kind to Maggie and feed her review cookies please.
Big thanks to my beta Lbandoly for her hard work. She has spent countless hours editing and providing plot help for my stories. She makes my writing possible.
No copyright infringement intended. All characters are the property of JKR, Scholastic, and any number of other companies with more money than I've ever dreamed of seeing. I didn't make any money off of this, so please don't sue.
DGDGDGDGDGDGDG
Draco returned to their suite to find his wife had awakened while he was gone and had vacated the bed. The lavatory door stood just barely cracked open. The almost mournful sounds of a violin wafted through the open door into the bedroom. He moved to the door and peer through the opening. His wife was laid back against the gentle slope of the tub, her fiery hair tumbling over the edge. He smiled at the picture before him as she lay among millions of colorful bubbles that filled the mammoth marble antique claw foot tub that sat centered under the window.
The violin was joined by another string instrument then a simple piano melody before dropping off leaving only the piano to continue. The beautiful sound of a calming soprano voice came in.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; when troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me.
He would know that song anywhere. It was one of Ginny's favorite songs to listen to when she needed to stop thinking and just feel. There had been days where it seemed like she listened to the song endlessly, restarting the song over and over after it had completed playing each time. He heard her begin to sing along with the songstress.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up, to more than I can
be.
He allowed the song to finish before he entered the room. "You should sing more often angel. You have the most beautiful voice."
Ginny looked up slightly startled by her husband. "I do not, but thank you anyway."
"You don't give yourself nearly enough credit pet. You really do have a lovely voice."
She let the topic drop in favor of just enjoying the peace of the music still filling the room and the harmonious silence between herself and her husband.
Draco moved from the spot against the cabinet he had been leaning on and over to her. "If you lean forward, I'll wash your back."
She smiled and sat up, handing him the cloth she had been bathing with. He took the cloth and lathered it with the sweet pea and lilac soap that sat in a glass bottle on a shelf next to the tub. He started at the tops of her shoulders, gently sliding the cloth over her creamy skin slowly working his way down to the dip at the small of her back. He placed a feather soft kiss on her right shoulder as he passed the cloth back to her. She moaned slightly at the feel of his lips against her wet skin. "If you keep that up we won't ever make it out of here."
Draco chuckled. "We can't have that."
"Must we go?"
"Gin, we've been through this. You're only making this worse on yourself."
"I know."
Draco gave her and encouraging smile. "Are you nearly finished?"
"Yes. I'm not washing my hair. I just don't feel like fussing with having to dry it."
As she stood to move from the tub, he handed her a towel from a nearby stack. She took the proffered town and dried before stepping from the tub. She wrapped herself in the fluffy comfort of the soft towel. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm going to find the kids and make sure they are dressed so we can go." As he slipped from the room he remembered Isaac's successful animagus transformation. He called back to her as he went, "When you see Isaac ask him what he can do?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow at him as he continued on his way to find the children. She turned and walked into the adjoined dressing room to find something suitable to wear to the monthly Weasley family gathering. She rifled through the hangers where Uric had hung her clothes after they had arrived. After several wardrobe changes and more than one colorful comment to herself she settled on a soft white sundress that had vibrant red rose petals embroidered to look as if they were falling from her left shoulder across the front of the dress to pool at the bottom edge that fit loosely over her curves and hung just past her knees. The sleeves were capped, barely covering the bend of her shoulder with a scope-neck that dropped just low enough to hint at her cleavage. The skirt fell freely from an empire waist, swirling delicately around her legs as she moved. She slipped her feet into a pair of matching sandals and grabbed a white cardigan before declaring herself dressed but still missing something.
She stepped to the dressing table and grabbed her favorite necklace; heart-shaped platinum locket that opened into a clover design that held four photos verses the standard two. It had been a gift from Draco for their fifteenth anniversary. He had taken great care to pick just the perfect photos to place in the locket. Each charmed to never fade out. She had fallen in love with it instantly and had rarely been seen without it since the moment he had placed it around her neck.
Finally pleased with her overall appearance she headed off in search of the rest of their family. If there was no getting out of visiting with her family she might as well pluck up the courage and act like the Gryffindor she was.
She found the children, Draco, and Narcissa sitting together in the lady's parlor. The girls were stretched across the hearth rug playing Uno while the others talked.
Narcissa was the first to notice her enter. "Well don't you look just lovely today? If I didn't know it, I would never believe you had such a harrowing evening last night."
"Thank you. I can't say I'm feeling as brave as I was this time yesterday, but I'll survive."
"Of course you will dear." Cissa turned to Draco. "When are you leaving?"
"Now if Ginny's ready."
She nodded fearing if she had to answer she would quite vehemently say that she couldn't deal with this after all.
"Floo, apparate, or portkey?"
"Floo, no one else knows where they are going."
"I'll have you know I do remember how to get there if you prefer to apparate?"
"Oh." She had forgotten he had met her at the Burrow the night they left England so long ago. "Apparate then. You take the girls? Isaac can go with me."
"We'll be right behind you."
Ginny nodded. "Narcissa you're more than welcome to join us."
"Oh no, I think I'll pass this once. I'm sure your family would like some time with you all without me around. But thank you for the invitation. Now off you go, you're all late enough as it is."
The group made their way to the entrance hall. Isaac took hold of his mother's hand and within moments the familiar crack of an apparation resonated through the hall. Draco smiled at the girls. "Remember hold on tight. Do not let go until you know we have gotten where we are going."
The two responded with a sound yes sir as they wrapped their arms around his waist. He placed a strong hand on each girl's shoulder and thought hard of the ramshackle home that had been the childhood home of his wife. The second crack resounded through the hall as the trio set off.
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Molly looked up at her prized clock just as the time chimed 2 PM. She was beginning to believe her daughter and son-in-law had decided against joining the family for dinner after all. Granted the meal was still three hours off, but she had hoped they would come a few hours early so everyone could spend time visiting and getting to know the children.
For years Ginny's hand on the clock had remained firmly on "Missing" never once betraying the location of her beloved baby girl. The day she set foot back inside England her clock hand had moved to "Visiting Family." Molly had cried so hard Arthur had threatened her with a calming draught to get her to calm herself. Just as Molly turned back to check on the meal she was cooking she realized Ginny's clock hand was moving again, first to "Traveling" then it stopped on "Home."
Her face broke into a grin that could light a room. "They're here!" she called to anyone who might still be within hearing distance. Almost instantly a chorus of "we know" could be heard from her sons from just outside the kitchen door.
Molly dusted the flour off her hands onto her apron and slid a shaking hand through her hair as she stepped out the door to greet her daughter. She couldn't help but smile. Draco and the girls popped in just as Fred and George launched themselves at their sister. Almost literally at the exact moment Isaac had let his mother go, his grandmother pulled him in for a hug.
The twins let Ginny out of their double-teamed bone crushing hug but didn't back off much. "With all the drama…"
"Last night. We never…" George picked up right where his twin left off.
"Did get a hug."
It had been so long since Ginny had heard the sweet symphony that a conversation with Fred and George could be. She couldn't help but begin to cry. She didn't even realize how much she had missed them finishing each other's sentences till she got to hear them do it again.
Fred reached up and brushed the tear away form her cheek with his thumb. "Well we didn't mean …"
"To make you cry Gin Bug."
She laughed through her tears as they continued to crowd her. "I've missed you two."
George feigned a swoon, throwing one arm across his brow like a melodramatic actress from an early muggle silent back and white film. "I told you she missed us Gred."
"Right you were Forge."
Ginny began giggling uncontrollably. "All these years and you two are still calling one another those silly names. Here I always thought you would grow out of those."
"Never," they twins responded at the same time with wide smiles.
Molly swatted her dish towel at the men. "Do move please, I would like to hug my daughter sometime this century please." The twins cleared off allowing Molly to give her daughter a hug.
There were hugs and handshakes all around as all the children got to formally meet their Aunt Ginny and Uncle Draco since they had pretty much played themselves to sleep the night before without ever baring further witness to the dramatics that had unfolded among their parents.
Much to Molly's ire and Ginny's relief Ron did not show up with his wife. Padma had in fact only stayed long enough to drop off Marie and give her apologies for her husband's behavior the night before. She had begged off staying herself saying she didn't feel well. Ginny suspected she really didn't want to give Ron a reason to be mad at both Ginny and her. While it hurt to see her former friend turn and leave she refused to let it break the happy spirit that she finally had a grasp of. It was late in the night before Ginny made her way into her childhood home for more than a quick moment. She walked through the kitchen and living room running her fingers lightly over photographs that had hung on the walls since she was a child. Her eyes misted as she looked at the photo from the Daily Prophet for their vacation to Egypt. Bill didn't have any scars and Ron had Scabbers. It was hard to believe that it had been that long since that picture had been taken.
So was staring so intently at the photo that she never heard Draco come up behind her. "What are you looking at?"
She picked the frame up and passed it to him. "It's the picture that was taken for the front page of the Prophet."
"You all look happy. Well no, Percy looks miserable, but the rest of you looked happy."
"We were. Even Percy."
"And are you happy now?"
"No."
"No? May I ask why?"
"Ron. He should be here." She took the frame back from him and placed it back on the mantle. "No it's not even that. It's me I'm upset at. I should have trusted mum and dad to have been able to deal with us. We could have been here all along enjoying this, family. Ron would have gotten over it eventually. Now, well now I don't know if he will or not."
"Ginny, you can't turn back time. Even if we could, I wouldn't want to. The past seventeen years have been the happiest of my life. If we had stayed I don't know that we would have been happy or even together for all I know. I wasn't as brave as you were. I wouldn't have just waited for your brother to get over his issues with us. We would have ended up drawing wands on one another eventually."
"It's my fault."
"What's your fault? That we left? No more yours than mine. You just suggested it. I'm the one that sought out a way to allow us to leave. It doesn't matter one way or the other now Gin. What's done is done. There is no changing it. The only thing that can be changed now is Ron's opinion of us."
"What if he never comes around?"
"He will."
"You can't know that."
"No I can't. But I can imagine knowing that someone I loved as much as I know he loved you was back after being thought dead would come as a shock. Let his temper cool off, he'll come make his amends when the time is right."
Ginny smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Do you think your mother would be upset if we stayed here tonight instead of returning to the manor?"
"I can't imagine why she would. Is that what you would like to do?"
"Yes. Would you mind?"
"Not at all. You might want to ask your parents first however."
Ginny grinned. "Mum practically begged."
"Well in that case, I'll pop back to the manor and grab clothes for the children and ourselves for tomorrow. Is there anything other than clothing and your potion you specifically need or want?"
"The novel I've been reading should be on the nightstand."
"Got it. I'll see if Isaac wants to go along."
"Okay."
Draco leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before heading outside.
Ginny curled up in her father's favorite chair as the memories of her childhood washed over her. So many happy evenings so similar to this one spent curled up in her father's lap as he read to her from a book of fairytales that for a tiny witch seemed utterly grand. She had been the apple of her father's eye. Her father was a fair loving man, but even he couldn't help but favor the only girl to be born to the Weasley name in so many generations. A tear rolled down her face as she thought of how her disappearance must have broken his heart. But no matter what, he had kept faith that his baby was alive and happy somewhere. She whispered to the empty room, "Oh daddy I'm so sorry."
Arthur stepped in the door just as Ginny whispered her confession to the empty room. "For what pumpkin."
Ginny looked up awe struck that he had heard her. "Dad?"
He smiled at his only daughter. "The one and only."
"I didn't realize you were there."
"I rather gathered as much. I came in to see where you had gotten off to. Draco said he was going back to the manor to gather some things since you would be staying the night."
"Mum asked."
"I know. She was rather worried you weren't even going to come right up till the moment you arrived. I'm glad you let her talk you in to staying for the evening. Now what's this you're sorry business?"
Fresh tears were streaming down her freckled face. "I'm sorry I left the way I did. I didn't mean to hurt you and mum."
"We know that Ginny Bug. We never have thought you did."
"Mum was right, I should have known better. We didn't have to leave here. We could have made a life here if we had wanted to try. It was my own stupid irrational fears and pride that stopped me from telling you."
"Ginny I know being back here is what's causing this emotional broom ride for you, but you should to know something, I agree with your original decision. No one would have understood. Your mum and I would have tried, but it would have taken a fairly long time before we would have been keen on the two of you being together, child or no. As much as it pains me to say it Ronald wouldn't have taken to it at all. He very well may have tried to follow through with his threats on Draco or Merlin forbid, you and your child. His temper is worse than your mum's when it's at full tilt. You made a decision that was hard and one that had to be made. Yes it hurt some people but that doesn't matter anymore baby girl. What matters is that you're happy, you're healthy, and you have a wonderful family of your own that love you very much."
Ginny through her arms around her father and cried into his shoulder like she had done so many times as a child. "Oh daddy."
"Hush now. It's all okay. You'll see. Ron might even come around sooner or later."
Ginny sniffled. "It's going to be a long time before I want to speak to him again."
"Oh you shouldn't hold it against him. It's got to be hard for him. He always thought of himself as your keeper. He hated himself for not taking better care of you your first year after that he just got worse. Well I guess you know that. I hear he chased off more than one potential boyfriend while you were in school and threatened the ones that did manage to get a moment of your time. To see you with someone that is suppose to be his enemy has to be a strong potion to swallow for him. I know it's no justification for his behavior yesterday or in the weeks before you left here so many years ago, but it's none the less how your brother's brain operates."
"I know daddy. I just can't seem to forgive him so easily though."
"Just be willing to listen when he's ready to eat his share of crow and admit he's wrong is all I ask."
"I can try."
"That's all I can ask of you pumpkin. Just try. Now what do you say to coming back outside for a bit. I suspect Draco and Isaac will be back any moment."
"I would love to." She rose from her seat and walked outside into the night with her father. Fairy lights were strung from the eves of the house, across the lawn from one tree to another, paper lanterns floated along the top of the pond at the far edge of the yard. It was the perfect picture of a family gathering at the Burrow. The older children were sitting under the willow tree talking, possibly playing truth or consequence, while the younger children were playing with a quaffle tossing it back and forth in a game of keep away.
The adults were spread around the garden table that Ginny knew had been extended to its enormous size by a very handy engorgement spell. It was after all the same picnic table that had sat in the garden her entire life. She spied an empty seat next to Percy. It had surprised her the night before when he and his wife had come along. She had half expected him to still be stuck up some aristocrat's bum. But the war, being married, and having children of his own had apparently done wonders to relax the ambitious boy into a well rounded man. "May I sit?"
He smiled. "Of course you may."
Percy's wife, Constance nodded enthusiastically. "Would you like something to drink? My glass needs to be topped off; I don't mind grabbing you something."
"Whatever's around is fine, thank you."
Constance grabbed her glass and headed in the direction of the food table. "Your wife seems nice."
"She is. I can honestly say she's the light of my life."
"That's a good thing. How did you meet?"
"At the ministry. She was the secretary for the department of records. We saw one another rather frequently when I was working for the Minister. She invited me out for coffee after work one evening. The next thing I know we're dating. I'm still not sure how it happened."
"Sounds like love."
"Most truly."
"Is she the reason you made up with mum and dad?"
"How did you guess?"
"Because it's always the ones we love that urge us to fix our mistakes."
"Yes it is and yes she was. I asked her to marry me maybe three months after we truly began dating. She refused. She insisted she couldn't marry me until she had been accepted by mum and dad. When I explained to her that I wasn't exactly on speaking terms with them she told me to fix it or become prepared to be a perpetual bachelor. I was too in love to not listen to her. I brought her with me the night I came to apologize to mum and dad. Three months later we were had the binding in the glen on the other side of the pond."
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to see it."
"You would have loved it. It was all fairy lights and white roses under the moon light. Very much the sort of thing you would have appreciated."
"It does sound awfully lovely."
"What were you two talking about?" Constance returned with her glass and one for Ginny in hand filled with red wine. One Ginny suspected that came from her own vineyard. Her father had insisted on bringing home more than a few cases when they had visited. The first sip confirmed her suspicion. Fruity and sweet, it was one of the few desert wines they had ever bottled that Ginny had truly enjoyed. It was the perfect balance.
"I was telling Gin about our wedding."
"It was lovely. I'm sure there are pictures around here somewhere if you want to see them."
Ginny smiled and nodded. "Tomorrow for certain."
Draco and Isaac had returned while she had been talking to Percy. "We're back." He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the tip of her nose.
"I can see that. Did you get everything?"
"Already in the house. Should we chase the girls off to bed or let them play a bit longer?"
"Let them play. They'll head in when they get tired."
"Okay. I'm going to find a glass of whiskey and find Potter. I want to hear more about that whole Dobby situation."
She giggled. "You do that then."
Isaac took the seat next to his mother and opened his book, slipping a tiny muggle book light over the cover to give him enough light to read.
"Still reading about animagus transformations?"
"Yes. Did dad tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I transformed this morning. He wanted me to show you, but we sort of ran out of time."
"You could do it now."
"I would rather not. Not that I think I can't do it again. I just don't want to scare anyone."
"Merlin what is it that you might scare someone?"
"A white wolf."
"That sounds down right interesting. We'll have to spare a few moments for you to show me tomorrow if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
"Isaac, I'm proud of you."
"Thanks mum."
It was well after midnight before everyone began to either leave or find somewhere at the Burrow to crash for the night. Ginny couldn't help but smile. She had been so worried about the day that it had never once occurred to her that she might enjoy the evening till it had come and gone. It was truly nice to be back with her family.
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