Unlike Hermione, Ginny wasn't enrolled in Runes so she didn't know what was branded on her face until she had asked Professor Babbling about it at the end of September. The Professor had shown no concern for her feelings and bluntly told her the truth. She was the bought and paid for property of Harry James Potter. When Ginny had gasped and turned red, the Professor looked her in the eye and flatly said, "What did you think taking coin to be his potential woman made you, Girl? You may have thought you had a promise of being his wife in the future but did you really? That's called a betrothal contract, Girl. And if you'd had one of those, that mark wouldn't be on your face now."
"Because you took his coin knowing exactly what it entailed, you agreed to be his kept female. That he didn't actually broker the deal with you or have any knowledge of the arrangement, just degrades your status even further since the person who did broker it, is in no position to act in that manner legally on his behalf. Which is why there was no contract attached to the offer." She had stressed that last sentence to make sure Ginny heard her and got her point.
"You didn't even have the intelligence to get yourself a residence out of the arrangement. So he isn't even required to keep you in a real house. And didn't you attend the Yule Ball with Mr. Longbottom? I'm sure I'm not the only person who remembers seeing you there with him. That rune on your face says you had no right to be there with him at all. Add to that, your conduct with Mr. Corner and Mr. Thomas and that labels you as an untrustworthy whore who cheated on her patron. And that is exactly what that rune will tell anyone who can read it."
"But I haven't… I… Professor Dumbledore said," stuttered Ginny.
Professor Babbling cut her off. "I don't care what lies the Headmaster told you. Nor apparently does Mr. Potter. The fact of the matter is, the Headmaster wasn't the one you were to hold yourself in abeyance for. Mr. Potter was. It was his coin you were knowingly taking." "What is even more disgusting is that you owed Mr. Potter your life for him saving you in your first year here. Your own magic should have told you the Headmaster was lying when he said Mr. Potter didn't save your life because the phoenix was his pet and bonded to him. Your magic pulls towards Mr. Potter. Not the Headmaster. Because it knows Mr. Potter risked his own life to save you. Not the Headmaster. But instead of trying to rep[ay your debt to him, you aided others in tearing him down and trying to ruin him. Both his reputation and honor as well as his person. You're magically born and bred, Girl. There is no excuse for what you and your brother have done to him all these years."
Ginny had sighed as her shoulders drooped. She glumly nodded to show she understood the Professor. Once more the Professor stated the most salient points for Ginny just to make sure the girl understood her. "You owed him your loyalty and respectability from the moment you agreed to be his girl when he was ready to date and you didn't give it to him. He deserves a virtuous girl. Not used goods. Not even the Headmaster set a time frame on that. You took coin to hold yourself free for Mr. Potter's use. You knowingly took coin to be with him which means you owed him your fidelity. Then you stepped out with not one but possibly three other boys without first clearing it with him. You were raised in this world unlike Ms. Granger. You know that is against the rules, Ms. Weasely so don't try your lies on me."
She had leaned forward to pin the girl in her place. "And that you bear that rune now tells me you knew exactly what you were doing at the time you did it. That mark wouldn't be there if you didn't. You were judged by your own magic and soul, Ginerva Weasely. And you were found guilty. Now leave my classroom as I have a class to teach and you aren't in it."
A trip to the library with Hermione and her grumbling brother had let her check a runes reference book. That had told her the Professor had told her the truth. The rune simply labeled her as an adulteress and a thief because even kept women were supposed to be faithful to their patron. And taking money while not being faithful to your patron is stealing from him unless he agrees to it beforehand. Much like a wife couldn't step out on her husband and their vows, neither could a mistress step out on her patron. And whether she liked it or not now, she knew she had agreed to be Harry's kept woman. The Headmaster had never really tried to lie about what he was asking her to agree to. Oh, he had prettied it up but he'd never actually lied.
He had offered her pay if she would agree and her Mum had been ecstatic at the mere idea that one day Ginny would marry Harry. But the Headmaster had never actually said that. Headmaster Dumbledore had paid her to be his girlfriend and future wife with the full approval of her parents and herself. But he had never actually said Harry would ask her to be his girl. Just as he hadn't actually said she would be Harry's wife.
As the Professor had explained. She was paid to be available for him in that capacity but that didn't ensure it would happen. And she had nothing in writing to back up the Headmaster's promise. Which meant in this world she had no legal recourse should he fail to follow through and offer her respectability.
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