Small note before we begin, yes I have read all the Harry Potter books to date and yes I know the result of Half-Blood prince but Dumbledore is alive and kicking in this story, and it is my story and I can write what I want so HA! Make sure you review, I want to know what you think. Blue
Chapter One: The Missing Purebloods
"Ginny dear will you pass the butter please?" said a tired voice from across the table. Ginny looked up from her book, 'Quidditch Through The Ages', at the tired face of her father before smiling sweetly and handing the butter dish over the snoring form of Ron to the older man.
"Thank you sweetheart" he sighed, spreading the golden butter on his toast and taking a bite. Ginny continued watching him, noting how sunken his eyes looked and how pale he was. This must have been the first time he'd eaten anything for days, he really was busy at the ministry and was never around, not that she was surprised with all the terrible occurrences due to Voldemorts return, but she loved her father dearly and missed having him around.
"RON! WAKE UP! There is to be no sleeping at the table young man!"
Ron sat bolt upright at the sound of his mother's high pitched scream, god Ginny couldn't wait to get out of Grimmauld Place and away from all this noise and hectic ness at the Orders headquarters! She didn't see why they couldn't live at the burrow. She missed her room and the calmness of the surrounding countryside; the bustle of the city unnerved her, not to mention the cramped conditions of the house. Everyone was always under someone else's feet.
"Mum, I'm absolutely knackered! Will you give me a break?" Ron moaned, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands.
Ginny smiled evilly, "well that serves you right for staying up all night and making out with your girlfriend, really you two should give it a bloody rest, I am in the next bed you know…"
"Ginny language, and YOU," Mrs Weasley snapped rounding on very red-faced Ron, "There is to be no monkey business under this roof, especially in front of your sister! When you get to Hogwarts this evening you can do as you please but whilst you're under the same roof as your parents I expect you to treat them with some respect young man."
Ron scowled darkly at Ginny before eating the full english breakfast Mrs Weasley placed in front of him. Ginny laughed to herself, god Ron and Hermione really were taking chances! They'd only been together for 2 weeks but they were very open about the fact they were together that was for sure.
"Morning Gin" Harry yawned as he shuffled into the kitchen.
Mrs Weasley's face lit up at the sight of him, "Harry dear, I made you a large breakfast. You've got to keep your strength up now you're in your final year, the hardest and most exhausting of them all, not to mention the fact that you have other matters to worry about…" she finished awkwardly, placing the plate down in front of him and placing a motherly kiss on his forehead. Harry gave her a tired smile before wolfing down his breakfast.
Ginny peeped back over the top of her book to watch him. Things had changed between them, that was for sure. She no longer felt the butterflies fluttering when she looked at him. Yes he was handsome with his emerald eyes, dark raven locks and shy smile but there was something missing. They had spent the entire summer together hanging around casually and she couldn't say that she actually fancied him, let alone loved him, well, not in that way anyway he was more a brother…, yes brother Harry…
"Ginny are you even listening to me?"
"Huh? Yes... no. What?" she gabbled, frowning deeply. Hermione was now sitting directly opposite her with an annoyingly knowing smile on her face, and wafting a letter in Ginny's face.
"I said it's great that Professor Sprout is so impressed with your herbology skills that she's moved you into the seventh year class, now you'll have some extra credit when you eventually apply for that all important job and you can come and keep me company now these two aren't taking it anymore," she added indicating the two lads next to her stuffing their piggy faces.
Ginny chuckled, trying not to sound too proud of herself. She knew she deserved to be in that class, she'd worked her arse off to get full marks throughout her 6th year, finally it was paying off to work just as hard as the bushy haired brunette sat opposite.
"Oh looks like the post is here Arthur," Mrs Weasley said as the daily prophet rattled its way down the chimney before dropping onto the hearth in the kitchen. Mr Weasley scooped the paper up and laid it flat on the table. Ginny returned to her book and was reading about how and when the Chudley Cannons formed, when suddenly her brother's voice rang out through the quiet kitchen.
"BLOODY HELL!" he shouted, pointing at the cover of the daily prophet. Ginny peeped over her book at the headlines and lowered the book in shock. The main headline read:
"ANOTHER PUREBLOOD FAMILY GONE AS PARKINSONS FAMILY TAKE OWN LIVES" full story pages 2 to 3.
"The Parkinsons?" Mr Weasley whispered curiously, "Molly dear didn't you have a Parkinson in your year at school? I'm sure you had Alistair Parkinson's wife Augusta in your year at hufflepuff?"
"We had a Parkinson in our year dad, Pansy Parkinson" Ron said snatching the newspaper off the table and turning the page to pages 2 and 3, "Can't say I'll miss her though…" he added under his breath, frowning as he read.
"RONALD WEASLEY WE DO NOT MAKE COMMENTS LIKE THAT!" Mrs Weasley roared, rounding on Ron. Her face was red and blotchy and her nostrils were flaring angrily as she beheld her youngest son. "You will have respect for the dead, even if they did make mistakes in life…" she added menacingly, wafting her wooden spoon at him. Ginny, Harry and Hermione gave each other a nervous look before turning back to a now extremely sullen Ron.
Mr Weasley took the paper back and read the article whilst everyone stared at the front page, watching the picture of the Parkinson family portrait scowl down on them all. Pansy was sat next to a younger boy, who also resembled a pug and behind her her parents, who looked snide and angry. There was another large caption below the picture asking the question, "Can this have a connection with the missing purebloods?"
Ginny frowned, what was that about? Hermione had obviously been thinking along the same lines as she frowned too and pulled a confused face before asking, "Mr Weasley, what does that caption mean? What about missing purebloods?"
Mr Weasley frowned too and looked at the front page before sighing somewhat jadedly and continuing his examination of the article. For about 10 more seconds he said nothing whilst he read, and then he folded the paper in half and slipped it under his arm. He rubbed his eyes wearily before considering the curious faces in front of him.
"I was hoping they hadn't found out about that just yet down at the Prophet but I should have known it would only be a matter of time. This is what has been keeping us even busier then we are thanks to, well, you-know-who…" he added darkly scowling at the name, "a lot of wizards, notably purebloods, are going missing and its not just those who are his side, some on our side are disappearing too. There isn't enough information to know for sure if they are missing or if they have simply disappeared purposefully due to present circumstances. We have had some alarming reports though, all very recent I might add, of young children being taken from their homes…and not just young children, children of yo-"
"Arthur that's enough" Mrs Weasley snapped from the sink, the angry look on her face once more, "you've already told them enough and you'll get in trouble at the ministry if you say anymore"
"MUM!" Ron shouted looking indignant, "Why can't we hear the rest? If dad's said too much then surely a bit more wouldn't hurt!" he cried, his eyes boggling at his mother in sheer frustration. Ginny felt the blood drain from her face. This was awful. Children being taken from their beds like the ones in muggle storybooks her dad used to read to her as a child, the mere recollection of them frightened her.
"GET UP STAIRS NOW! ALL OF YOU" Mrs Weasley suddenly screamed, tears pouring down her face. Hermione looked from the older woman to Ginny in shock before rising out of her seat and slipping out of the room. Ginny and the others followed suit, biting their lips and not daring to utter a word before they were safely upstairs. They all slipped into the room the girls were sharing and looked at each other in shock for a few moments before anyone spoke.
"Bloody hell… I've never seen mum so angry..." Ron whispered, looking across the bed at his sister. Hermione placed a soothing hand on his and interlaced their fingers together, resting her head on his broad shoulder. Ginny watched this simple exchange between the two of them and suddenly felt very alone indeed.
"I can see why she would be, she's worried about you and all of us," Harry said rationally, scratching the back of his hand where the words 'I will not tell lies' was etched into his smooth skin. "You are all in enough danger as it is as well as being one of the most well known pureblood families there is." He added, looking at them sadly. Ginny placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder without really meaning to, she needed some contact though, anything to erase the lonely feeling.
Harry looked into her brown eyes before giving a small smile and looking at his best friends. Ron nodded glumly and Hermione sighed wearily before placing a soft kiss on Ron's cheek and placing a few more things in her trunk at the foot of the bed.
"Come on Ron, we'd better pack too, we'll be off in an hour or two…" Harry sighed, as Ginny slipped her hand from his shoulder. Ron sighed too and followed his best friend out of the room. Ginny heard Ron ask if he could go on Harry's firebolt when they got to school and she heard Harry give Ron a manly slap on the back as approval before the door closed. Hermione looked up from her packing and saw the look on Ginny's pretty face, she knew that look well, and it was the one used when worrying about men.
"Ginny, if you want to talk to me you know you're always welcome to…" she said, sitting down next to the redhead and stroking a strand of curly hair out of Ginny's face. Ginny smiled happily, Hermione was like the big sister she always wanted but never got.
"I know 'Mione, thank you…" Ginny said kindly, giving Hermione a small kiss on the cheek before picking up a bundle of clothes and placing them in her trunk. Hermione smiled at the youngest Weasley before picking up a sock and throwing it playfully at her back. Ginny gasped in mock shock at the older girl who was already throwing more socks before throwing her own socks back, small giggles erupting from both the girls as they waged their war.
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