There were tears in her eyes. Not overflowing, but a hint of them."I have cancelled the day at the spa," she said and then asked me, "Can you skip apa...tment hunting today and talk?" I can do that but there will be little good to come out of a talk. I realize you are used to me now and you will miss me when I'm gone but it will get better with time. I am only a mute companion who takes care of your house and our children. Trust me; a good housekeeper can do all this, even more efficiently."I. For that matter, he’d said, “When we’re married.” Did she want that? Aside from that it would overjoy Mom and prove Mom totally wrong and that she was fighting Mom right now, did she want that?Well, “When we’re married” sounded awfully like taking her for granted. On the other hand, she’d got used to Bret, and giving up his love-making would be giving up a lot. And what did he mean by marriage? That seemed like a silly question, but it really wasn’t. Mom and Dad had a marriage; Rick and Lisette. There was no collar around her neck and as I stroked her, I could feelher ribs through her fur. She was thin, very thin and she looked veryhungry.I picked her up and she purred even louder.'Are you hungry? Come on then, let's see if I can find you some milk.'I carried her downstairs. She didn't mind one bit being carried and inno time at all we were in the kitchen and I was watching as shepolished off a full saucer of milk.I gave her another drop of milk and as I watched her drink, I. .. One... Obliviate.'*****Ginny rolled over and cuddled her pillow as she woke up. Looking down at the camp bed she realised her cousins must have already got up and left the bedroom. Then again she could hear the rumblings of all the family moving about down stairs. She'd be glad when the distant relatives left and the house could resume its normal layout. She always enjoyed sharing her room with Hermione because they got on so well and would spend most nights gossiping about the boys or.