Disclaimer: Aiden and Aradia are mine, the rest belong to JKR, I just play in her sandbox. None of the songs/lyrics belong to me either. They do give you a playlist of sorts!

Lies of the Beautiful People

Prologue

Ginny simply sat there, watching Bill and Dumbledore explain quite plainly to her parents that the Wizengamot had felt it necessary to give Bill custody of her once her parent's plans had been explained. She had been stunned when she had been told that they would be taking her straight to St Mungo's and only if the healers felt her not a threat would she ever be released again. Horrified, she had nearly begged Dumbledore to help her and he had. Which had brought her to this moment.

Bill smiled as he crouched down in front of the chair in Dumbledore's office where she had been curled up for hours and hours after being released from the hospital wing, his arms open wide. "You'll like Egypt, Gin. I promise that they will stay away. Believe me?"

She smiled though she knew it had to be a bit wobbly, throwing herself into his arms, sobbing all over again. Bill would keep her safe, that much Ginny knew but it was the rest that still had her off-kilter. It hurt badly knowing her family thought so little of her. Holding tight, Bill picked her up and walked to the Floo.

"Just hold on, Gin, I won't ever let you down like they did."

Ginny knew without a doubt that he meant it. She felt safe and happy for the first time in a year as they whirled away in the green flames. He was giving her a new start, a whole new life and she would take the opportunity and run with it.

"Gin!"

Gin peeked down over the wall of the Urn Tomb in Petra, grinning widely though it was hidden by the traditional Bedouin clothing she had worn for their trek through the desert. At thirteen she had seen so much of the world in and around Egypt and loved every moment of it. Though, if the look on Bill's face was anything to go by she was in a spot of trouble for disappearing off the moment they had stopped to rest.

"Up here," she called, down, swinging down off the wall and sliding down the rope, her booted feet landing silently on the ground, not needing to watch Aradia's descent to know that her friend would make it down safely.

He was trying to scowl at her, though both of them knew he truly wasn't upset. Rolling his eyes, Bill tried to be stern. "I swear! You get more adventurous by the day!"

Snickering, she raced over and hugged him tightly. They both knew that he, Charlie, and the twins only spurned her on when they were together in the summers. So, if anything she could always blame them…though she never would. Nor would she blame the other curse breakers who liked to see just how daring she could be. "Dia and I were just exploring."

He chuckled. "Next time, tell me. I think you shave a year off my life every time you decide to show just how much of a daredevil you are."

She giggled. "Pot…this is cauldron…you're black!"

He shooed her towards the waiting camels. "We're almost to the site. You wouldn't want to miss out on exploring that would you?"

Wide-eyed, she ran over and climbed onto the camel with the ease of long practice. Once they were moving again, she looked over the desert and smiled happily before sharing a look of mischief with her friend. She was most certainly the luckiest girl in the world.

"Oi! You three!"

Bill just shook his head and didn't bother wasting his breath trying to call them down. Charlie should know better, but if he didn't than it was on him. The five of them had gathered at the Dragon Preserve in Romania to celebrate Gin's fourteenth birthday before the twins would go to Hogwarts for their final year. Of course, the moment the younger three were together, mayhem ensued. He couldn't find it in him to mind. Instead, he stifled a laugh as Charlie tried to call them down again – this time in Romanian. That got their attention, he thought wryly, as the three of them barrelled towards the ground, bringing their brooms to a halt dangerously close to the ground. "You know," he teased, "perhaps leaving you here the first term isn't a wise idea. I could come back for you at Yule only to find you riding the dragons."

Charlie looked more than a bit panicked. "Bill! Do not give her ideas!"

He tipped his head back and laughed at the crafty look on Gin's face. Really, what else could he do? He, along with the other three, had spoilt her rotten at every turn since he had taken custody of her just over two years ago. He harboured no doubts that if riding a dragon was possible, Gin would wheedle it out of someone on the preserve before the week was up. They adored her as proper brothers should was all. Telling her 'no' was something none of them did unless her request was too outlandish and Gin had learnt quickly what the boundaries were. Taking pity on Charlie, he scooped up her broom and tossed her over his shoulder. "Come on, there is cake for the Princess."

"And presents?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes, and presents."

Her laughter filled the air.

It was moments like this that reminded Bill just why he'd fought so hard to have her with him. The gods only knew what she would be facing had he and Dumbledore not stepped in.

Gin was all but bouncing with glee. It was time for Bill to return. Not that the months in Romania hadn't been fun, because they had been…but she really missed Bill. She missed Egypt…well the entire Near East to be honest. Charlie was lovely and she adored him, but Romania wasn't the same. She would treasure every moment they'd had- the dragon rides, the festivals in the nearby village, and the sheer fun it had been to explore the area and even the quiet evenings at his little cottage.

When the Floo flared to life, it took all she had in her not to race over and tackle him the moment he appeared. Bouncing from foot to foot, she waited until he set aside his knapsack and trunk before launching herself into his arms. "Oh I missed you!"

Kissing the top of her head, Bill hugged her tight. "I missed you too, Gin. Happy Yule!"

"Tell me everything," she demanded, albeit sweetly, the moment she was back on her feet. "All that you didn't tell me in your letters."

Charlie snickered, kicked back in his favourite chair over by the Yule tree. "Let him take his coat off, baby girl."

Exasperated, she flounced over and threw herself into the big, fluffy armchair. Crossing her arms over her chest, she adopted a long-suffering look and rolled her eyes dramatically. It was all a show, of course, but one that her brothers expected and Gin never was one to let an opportunity to play 'Princess' pass her by. Huffing, she sighed heavily. "Fine, fine, make me wait."

Bill tossed his coat on the third chair and dug into his knapsack, tossing her a brightly wrapped gift over his shoulder which she caught neatly. "Will a present make you feel better?"

Grinning, she hurried to unwrap it. Rather than actual wrapping paper it was a gorgeous pashmina in emerald green with stunning silver embroidery. Inside was an exquisite silver necklace, one that she noted was Bedouin worked. Thrilled, she jumped up and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "Ohh, thank you!"

"I'm forgiven then?"

She snickered. "Of course you are. Dinner should be ready soon."

He looked scared. "You didn't make it, did you?"

She shook her head. "Gods no! You know I can't cook!"

"She's right you know," he said to Charlie, shaking his head sadly. "This one won't be anyone's house witch. We've ruined her."

Gin knew they were teasing her, but she gaped anyway. Though, it was more out of horror at the mere idea than anything. "Why the seven hells would I want to be?"

"Why don't we finish the gift giving portion of the day before we have a bit of Katarina's lovely stew?" Charlie suggested dryly.

"Yes, lets," she replied, all but diving for the pile of gifts under the tree.

Fred shook his head, all but staring at the scene before him. He and George had met Charlie at the international Floo hub and the three of them had been brought out to the site Bill was currently working on. Apparently Gin had not been kidding in her letters over the years. It really was a sprawling complex of half falling down buildings in the middle of nowhere. "Good gods, I really wish Bill had taken us in as well."

George shook his head, hitching his knapsack up on his shoulder. "Could have, would have, should have. Let's just find Gin."

Their guide pointed over to the tents. "Miss Gin is in the left one. It is her study time."

Fred's brows shot up. "Seriously?"

Charlie sniggered. "Bill and I tried to tell you. Gin tried to tell you. Except for those four months they spent outside Alexandria, Gin has been home-schooled."

Bill caught sight of them and jogged over. "Glad to see you made it safe and sound."

"So, how far ahead in her studies is our lovely sister?" Fred asked unceremoniously. They all knew she was bright and curious…snarky and wicked as well, but the bright and curious were what had his attention just now.

Bill grinned. "Oh…let's just say that we are now giving her the lessons in Arabic…just to keep her from getting bored."

Fred knew he was gaping. "How?"

George elbowed him and shook his head. "I don't rightly care. I just want to see my baby sister and see what her current mischief is."

Bill winced and then covered his eyes with his hand. "I caught her spelunking down into one of the tombs yesterday."

"So?" Charlie asked wryly. "She's been climbing up cliffs and down into caves and tombs for years now."

"Without a partner or spells to cushion her fall," Bill replied flatly. "I about had a heart attack. Last month I caught her racing horses across the desert."

Fred had to sit down he was laughing so much. He knew, he just knew, that they should not be so utterly amused by her, but they were. Even Bill, who was trying to look all upset. She would be fifteen in a matter of weeks and the past years had all but insured that she was not a normal young witch by any stretch of the imagination. To his way of thinking she was so much better.

He stopped laughing the moment he spotted just who had appeared from the tent, wielding a wicked sword as if she'd been born with one in her hand and quite clearly holding her own against the brunette she was 'fighting' against. Good gods, he had no doubts that she could be deadly with it. What had Bill been thinking when he gave their volatile sister such a weapon. "Is that…"

Bill laughed aloud. "I told you…she gets bored. This is where the saif originated, though it is mostly known as a scimitar these days. Believe me, I have run out of things to teach her. I even appealed to Albus, who sent along the full course load for the fifth year at Hogwarts…she is all but done with it already."

Fred grinned, swiping the tears of mirth off of his face. It didn't surprise him in the least that she was almost a year ahead. Would she have been in Britain she would only be starting her fifth year in the autumn. "What about that lovely book we sent her?"

Bill glared. "Oh yes, Horatio's 1001 Hexes was a really good gift, you twits."

Fred just grinned wider. Only with them could 'twits' be affectionate.

"We were just looking after our baby sister," George said innocently.

"Innocence doesn't work from you two," Gin said wickedly.

He was on his feet and swinging her around a moment later. "You've grown!"

She gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek and a playful scowl before being tugged away by George and then Charlie, laughing all the while.

He shared a knowing look with Bill and George. No one would know what to make of her should she ever return to Britain. Fred just hoped to be there to see the reactions. It would be priceless, of that much he was certain.