Redemption

45

My eyelids fluttered open, Ginny's smiling face coming into view. "Hey you." She said. "You really should stop fainting so much. It can't possibly be good for you."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't go to bed without everyone assuming the worst?"

She giggled, waving me off. "What's got you all upset? Ronnikins says you've had a rough patch with the Bat."

I nodded. "So, Harry and Draco," I tried to change the subject, it worked.

She sighed, flipping long red hair over her shoulder. "Bit of a shocker to everyone, really. Mum nearly threw a fit. She really wants those grandkids. She's happy for Harry, but she was really looking forward to that."

I nodded slowly. Mrs Weasley and her love of children. Ginny eyed me curiously. "Too bad you're having issues with Snape. Mum would have loved the baby."

I froze. "Baby? What baby? What are you talking about?" It came out as a ramble, all at once.

My friend frowned. "Snape's youngest. You were pushing her pram at Christmas."

I felt my face go red. Merlin, I was paranoid. "Oh... Mavis." She eyed me down. "I thought you were insinuating something."

She raised an eyebrow. She had definitely noticed that my face had flushed. "Is there anything to insinuate? You seem awfully jumpy 'Mione."

I shook my head and looked out the window. I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I just couldn't. "I'd like to be alone for a while, Gin. If you don't mind."

She sighed, meeting my eyes sadly. "As you wish, I'll be downstairs should you need anything."

I offered her a small smile in thanks, though even I knew it was forced. I thought about looking into dream walking and invading others' subconscious though I couldn't bring myself to stand. Let alone leave the room. I curled into a ball and let sleep take me.

***
Not for the first time in the Weasley's home, I woke up sobbing. Vicious images assaulting my sight behind my eyelids. Terrible sounds resonating from within my head.

Within moments of waking, I felt muscled arms wrap around me. A quiet voice by my ear reassuring me I was going to be alright. Only it was the wrong voice... The wrong person holding me.

As he used to, Ron slipped between the covers next to me, holding me to his chest. My heart was in so much pain, cracking, breaking, being torn apart piece by piece.

How dare the vile man do this to me?

I shouldn't have expected anything different.

I hoped he felt the same way, though I highly doubted it. Snape took pleasure in the pain of others. It was something I had known for years.

He was a bad man, he had said so himself. Though I couldn't deny that he had good in him. We don't choose who we fall in love with. Even if we could, I'm not sure I would have chosen any differently. Despite the pain I was in.

I let out an agonized sob, letting my former fiancé hold me tight. I couldn't be alone.

I woke up the next morning wrapped in the comforter, Ron's body spooning mine. I was uncomfortably aware of how close he was. It wasn't something I had had trouble with in the past, but I had grown accustomed to the "hands off" policy Snape enacted whenever we had been in the same room.

I scooted away, standing up and heading down the stairs. Molly greeted me with a smile. "Dearie, you didn't sleep well? Have some tea." She said, thrusting a cup into my hands. I nodded in thanks, heading to the rocking chair by the window rather than the table.