The Baby

My brother said that I was rotten to the core.

I was the youngest child so I got by with more.

I guess she was tired by the time I came along.

She'd laugh until she cried I could do no wrong.

She would always save me because I was her baby.

"Ooooooo Gin, Mum's gonna be soooo mad when she finds out," Ron said in a sing-song voice.

"No she's not, cause no one's gonna tell. I'm not going to, and you won't either. Will you Ronnie?"

"Yes I will, cause you always get what you want and you never get punished. It's not fair."

"MUM! Ginny bit me again!"

"Now Ron, I'm sure she didn't. Leave you sister alone. Why don't you just go play with the twins?"

Ron turned to his 6 year-old sister, who was only one year younger than him, called her a rotten and mean spoiled brat and then stomped inside the house, complaining that his mum loved his sister more than him and all his brothers combined. Ginny was glad he left. She went into the kitchen and sat with her mum.

"Mummy," she started, "Do you love me more than Ronnie?"

"Why do you ask? Did he say so?"

Ginny nodded.

"Oh no honey, you're just my baby girl. I'm sure you weren't bothering him anyway, he's just a bit jealous."

Ginny hung her head. "No mummy I did bite him."

"Why?"

"Because he was gonna tattle on me because I was playing with Charlie's broom. But I just wanted to see if I could fly like the boys. And when Ron came outside he saw me and I was scared you would get mad and wouldn't want me to be you're baby girl anymore so I bit Ron so he wouldn't tell you and... Mum, why are you laughing? This is not very funny."

"Oh honey its okay, just don't bite Ron anymore."

I worked a factory in Ohio, a shrimp boat in the Bayou,

I drove a truck in Birmingham. I Turned 21 in Cincinnati,

I called home to mom and daddy, I said Your boy is now a man.

She said I don't care if you're 80, you'll always be my baby.

"Mum! I've just been transferred to the Paris division! It'll be so much more money and it's the center of the fashion world and it will be so amazing!"

"Mum?"

Ginny stared into the green flames where she was talking to her mother.

"Mum? What's wrong? Aren't you happy? This really is It Mum, not graduating from Hogwarts or being manager of Gladrags or even finally getting to be a designer. I'm ready to start my life! Your little girl is finally a woman!"

Mrs. Weasley remained silent.

"Mum! Why are you crying? It's just a short floo away! I could be home in two minutes flat and it's such a jump in my career! A 21 year-old designer in Paris is practically unheard of!"

It was silent. Ginny turned her face away from the emerald flames.

"Why can't you be happy for me?" she whispered.

Mrs. Weasley looked up.

She said, "Baby I'm so unbelievably happy for you. I'm just sad that my baby girl's leaving and thinking she's not my baby anymore."

Ginny protested, "But Mum, I'm not your baby anymore."

"Now you hush Ginevra Molly, I don't care if you're the highest paid fancy designer in the Magical or Muggle world, you'll always be my baby."

She loved that photograph of our whole family.

She'd always point us out for all her friends to see.

That's Greg he's doing great, he really loves his job.

Ronnie with his 2 kids, how 'bout that wife he's got.

And that one's kinda crazy, but that one is my baby.

"Come 'round here Amelia, I want to show you the picture of my family."

The Minister of Magic walked over to Molly Weasley's family portrait for probably the hundredth time since she'd be Minister.

"Go 'head Molly, tell me what your rascals are up to these days."

Mrs. Weasley always pointed to Bill first.

"Here's my oldest, you know he was Head Boy at Hogwarts. Anyway he's off happily married to Fleur, you know that beautiful French woman, and she's expecting again. That's three now for them, and I really couldn't be any happier, but I do really wish they could come around more to visit poor Mum."

Always next was Charlie.

"He was quite the charmer in school you know. Always had a different girl comin' round to visit in the summer. He probably uses those same charms to get those dragons to do what he likes 'em to.

"Is he married?"

"Oh, my Charlie, I hope someday. But right now all he worries about is those dragons. At least that's what he says. I think he's just holdin' out for that right girl to come along and sweep him off his feet."

There was a brief silence. Next was supposed to be Percy, but some days Mrs. Weasley felt the pain of his betrayal and couldn't pretend that everything was alright and say her son loved his job -- like usual. Amelia Bones pretended not to notice and brought up the twins.

"So how is Weasley's Wizarding Weezes doing Molly? I know the twins have opened a new branch and my grandsons are crazy about that pumpkin juice that makes them float."

"Fred and George, well I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know what they're futures would bring for them, but they've flourished! The two of them were the first of my rascals to marry and bring me grandkids. I was definitely surprised. Katie and Angelina must be saints to put up with those two everyday. But every time I see them, they're laughing. I must have done something right I guess."

"Now here's my Ronnie. He was so timid and unsure of himself as a child but look at him now-- married to Hermione Granger (who's headed straight for your job Amelia) with two beautiful babies (they look just like their parents) and a head Auror. I always knew he would do something fantastic and he has.

"Last is little Ginny."

"Molly, she's not so little anymore. The wife of a star Quidditch player-- Harry Potter nonetheless."

"We were thrilled she married Harry. He really was one of our own already. But don't forget all the accomplishments she has made in her career. She became head designer for Gladrags all over the world. And she has thrived. They've moved to America for a year or two you know. Harry's gone to teach those Americans real Quidditch and she's off to launch Gladrags all over the United States. I do wish they would slow down and come visit Arthur and me so we could see their twins. They've grown so much over the years and I've really hardly seen them. And boy are they beautiful"

Molly stopped talking for a while. She stared off into space.

"Now Ginny may be married with twins and a successful business woman and is no longer little and has inherited many crazy Weasley attributes, but she will always always be my baby."

I got a call in Alabama, said come on home to Louisiana

And come as fast as you can fly.

'Cause your momma really needs you, and says she's got to see you,

She might not make it through the night.

The whole way I drove 80, so she could see her baby.

"Ron calm down."

"Ginny listen to me!"

Ginny turned to her daughter, "No Lily, you cannot take a broomstick to Hogwarts as a first year. Don't listen to your father."

"Ginny!"

"What Ron? Can't you see I'm trying to get Lily and Jack ready for school?"

Ron lowered his voice and said almost in a whisper,"Gin, its Mum."

Ginny paled. She sat on a cushion in front of the fire.

"What?," she breathed.

"Gin, Mum's at St. Mungo's."

Ginny noticed Ron's red rimmed eyes and his tear-stained cheeks. She realized what was happening now. And she wished to Merlin that she had never stayed in America for so long.

"I've arranged a Port Key for you Harry and the kids, but you've got to hurry."

It was silent.

"She's askin' for you Gin. You always were her baby."

She looked like she was sleepin' and my family had been weepin'

By the time that I got to her side.

And I knew that she'd been taken and my heart it was breakin',

I never got to say goodbye.

I softly kissed that lady and cried just like a baby...