Private Message to Ginny Weasley

[alt_ron]

Gin,

I'm hoping they let you read your book if they see someone's writing you. Because we're all thinking about you, and you need to know that.

I know you're being strong. You're one of the strongest people I know. Remember! You survived all those years with the twins, yeah? And the rest of us. I mean, anyone who's youngest of seven with six older brothers--you've been training for this your whole life.


Merlin, Gin. I'm so sorry. We're going to get help to you. I promise.

Comments

[alt_ginny]

Ron, do you remember that time when we were eight and nine, and listened in on that conversation down in the living room? When they caught us?

Did they let you remember? Or did they make you forget, too? I remember Mum was crying, but she didn't stop Bill from taking me. Or Dad from taking you.

[alt_ginny]

Look, you don't have to stay with them.

Do you trust me?

[alt_ginny]

And you're right. I'm strong.

Both of us are strong.

We had to be, to survive our family.

[alt_ron]

. . .

Hey. I don't really know how to answer, Gin.

I don't remember the time you asked about, but...

There's

I dunno

something

It's just right at the edge of my

But no, I don't remember anything. And now that makes me worried, y'know?

[alt_ron]

Miss you.

And I'm worried about you. Are they hurting you? I can't stand thinking about them hurting you.

[alt_ginny]

When I was eight and you were nine we took it in our heads to eavesdrop on Mum, Dad, and Bill. It was late at night and they were drinking firewhiskey and talking downstairs; we'd been put to bed but got up. I had my stuffed kneazle and we were both barefoot and in our pyjamas. They were talking about the Order, of course, though we didn't hear enough to know that at the time, and then they caught us. Mum was really upset because she knew what was going to happen but of course she didn't stop it. Bill took me back up to my room and Dad took you somewhere else. He sound-charmed the door and then he burned me, with his wand, over and over, and said this is what happened to eavesdroppers each time. And then he Obliviated everything because the goal was to make me terrified of overhearing but not know why.

I think Dad must have done something similar to you but I wasn't there to see. I just know you were different afterward. I probably was too.

[alt_ginny]

Not anymo No.

[alt_ginny]

Mum's saying she never let the Twins kill one of our pets.

You remember THAT, don't you?

[alt_ron]

Course I do.

Bludgered Pesky, didn't they? Who does that, seriously? Ugh. I can still see its little body all curled

I don't remember if they even got in trouble for it.

Probably just had to de-gnome the garden, yeah?

[alt_ron]

Dad would nev

Dad?

. . .

[alt_ron]

You're really alright?

Brodie won't let

[alt_ginny]

Yeah, Dad.

[alt_ginny]

What won't Brodie do? I'm okay Ron, really. Antonin thinks that maybe all the blocks are gone, we're going to talk more later. I had a good night's sleep and a good breakfast.

[alt_ginny]

Yeah, Pesky. I don't remember if they got in any real trouble. She says de-gnoming the garden is what she made them do that time they turned your teddy into a spider.

[alt_ron]

Mordred! That spider!


Ugh.

[alt_ron]

Be sure you eat properly.

I mean, if they're feeding you and letting you

Stay safe, Gin. I mean it.


It's hard to feel safe anymore.

[alt_ginny]

I haven't been very hungry but they're feeding me and letting me sleep, yeah.

And of course you don't feel safe. You're working with people like Bill. And Rachel Brodie or Lamont or Weasley or whatever she's going by. We were NEVER safe around the Order, that was the thing. Our whole childhood we were unsafe and we never knew why. We weren't safe from our parent, or our siblings, or some of the people coming through our house, or any of it. No wonder Percy just about went mad; he was trying so hard to be the big brother we needed but he was under siege from every side.

[alt_ron]

No.

I don't remember that at all.

I'm trying, but I-

I mean, I do remember times (loads of times) when they all stopped talking when we'd walk in the kitchen. And those times when Mum would be going mad with worry and would try to hide it from us. When Dad was off somewhere. Remember? She would never tell us anything. And if the clock said something dire, she'd ward the kitchen so we couldn't come in. I mean, I didn't know why that was until later, but that was why, innit?

[alt_ginny]

There were times they'd all stop talking but there were also times they'd Obliviate us. Or punish us and then Obliviate us, you'd think that would be pointless but the idea was to make us afraid to overhear even if we didn't know why.

That was why Bill was so convinced he could just Obliviate you with no consequences, that time a few years ago. And probably actually why you knew to expect it and dodge. And why no one seemed all that surprised when he hit you. I mean, he'd been doing it for years and just obliviating us each time. Charlie, too, though mostly Bill was the one who was around.

[alt_ginny]

I think the Twins are basically sociopaths. They might have turned out a bit less vicious if they'd grown up in a different household.