Welcome to the first story by Twinly Productions. Book One – Finding Home.

All you read is a collaboration of writing between & The-Darkness-Befalls. Obviously all that you recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter belongs to the lovely JK Rowling.

A big thank you to ABitOfBlack for being our fantastic beta for this chapter.

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Book One; Chapter One.

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Her last assignment had run late and did little to sate her worries about the encroaching storm, but when she had left the flat her fears were calmed. The night was quiet, the wind a silent but chilling breeze. It seemed a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of her busy day and a break before the loud rambunctiousness of her ancestral home. She loved the Burrow and her job, but there was a streak in her that craved a simple silence.

She smiled and took a deep breath before walking down the road that would eventually bring her to the Leaky Cauldron. Madam Malkins was open late for the holiday and she knew there was a set of robes she'd been eyeing for weeks hanging in the back. It paid to work for a paper that put the premier of wizard clothing in a good light.

Most of all, she was looking forward to a long, quiet walk by herself in the brisk winter air. She loved walking and always had. Since she was a child, taking walks with Charlie when he still lived with them and later George. Of course, those walks had taken place ages ago, but reminded her of a time before. Before, well, that didn't matter now.

The streets were eerily empty. Perhaps the masses had locked themselves inside for the impending storm or perhaps they'd left long before she had. She continued to walk in silence, mostly staring at the ground and revelling in her thoughts.

Before long, she found herself at The Leaky Cauldron. The shop's windows were boarded, but the sign on the door proclaimed that it was still open to pub customers. She knew Hannah was likely to let patrons sleep upstairs should the storm actually hit, but she also knew Hannah wasn't about to keep the bar open once her fiancée came to get her for Christmas with his grandmother.

She pushed open the door and smiled at Neville, who was already patiently waiting in a chair as Hannah locked up. Ginny waved at the couple and continued to the back alley. She tapped the bricks and smiled as they opened the passage to Diagon Alley. The bulk of the stores were marked with "closed", including her brother's joke shop. It was to be expected, given that it was just after sunset on Christmas Eve. Flourish and Blotts was still open and Gringotts, but she was headed for a shop that was often full of clothes she had to restrain herself from buying. She had a little jump in her step as she walked to Madam Malkin's, smiling happily at anyone who walked by.

Ginny rounded the corner and entered the shop; waving a quick hello to Madam Malkin and heading straight to the rack that contained the robes she wanted. Within minutes that particular set had been located as well as several others to try on. Ginny was just getting back into her own robes trying to decide which to purchase when the lights suddenly went out. She called out a questioning hello and waited for a reply; but there was only silence. 'Well, this is odd' she thought to herself whilst picking up the garments, surely they hadn't forgotten she was there? Exiting the change room she realised that they had indeed forgotten her. The door had been locked, the blinds pulled shut. "Just great" she muttered to herself, wondering how she was going to get out and to the Burrow on time.

'Alohamora' had not worked on the door, not that she really expected it to with the increase in security. Glancing around the shop she spied a window that had been left partially open, it would have to be her escape route. Grabbing a piece of parchment and quill lay on the counter, Ginny decided to write a note explaining what happened; list the robes she was purchasing (after all she did come to the store for that reason) and a handful of galleons as payment. She shrunk the robes and placed them into her bag, pushed a small table in front of the window and scrambled out. With a soft thud Ginny landed rather ungracefully into a pile of snow. The weather had taken a turn, the snow was swirling, and the storm had set in.

As she pulled herself out of the pile of snow it dawned on her that the tip of her nose was barely visible; she needed to get to the apparation point quickly before the storm got any worse. 'If the apparation wards weren't in place I could be at the Burrow in the warmth now,' she thought to herself grimly. Since the war Diagon Alley had been placed under strict wards to ensure the safety of all who visited.

Ginny stumbled through the snow with her cloak pulled tight; it was a fruitless attempt to block out the cold. After a short while she stopped and tried to look around, but nothing was recognisable; she was lost. "Damn it, how the ruddy hell could I get lost?" she huffed. After a few moments thought she continued in the direction she was heading until she tripped over unceremoniously. Dragging herself out of the snow and straightening her robes for the second time that day she realised her wand was missing from her pocket. She dropped to her knees and began feeling around the snow for it.

"You alright there?" she heard a masculine voice ask. She glanced around and saw a figure in a black cloak appear to her right.

"No, I dropped my wand in the damn snow" she replied, frustrated.

"Accio, wand!" he commanded and her wand flew into his hand. "Here" He said as he passed it to her.

"Oh, thank you so much!"

"What are you doing out in this storm? It's meant to be the worst in five years. Come inside and get warmed up."

"I really have to be somewhere though…"

"The apparation point is closed because of the storm; you're stuck 'til it clears."

"Oh, okay," she muttered and followed him into what turned out to be a store. She surveyed the shelves in awe; they were lined with books, parchment and the most delicate and intricate looking quills she had ever seen. It was then she turned and cast her eyes upon her knight in shining armour, the realisation of who he was hitting her like a brick. It was one of the last wizards she would have expected.

Draco Malfoy.