Ginny Weasley ran quickly through the halls of the Ministry Of Magic's Investigative and Criminal Affairs Department. She stopped short and caught her breath in front of a rather tattered looking wooden door. She pushed it open without knocking. Ginny Weasley found herself in a darkened broom closet. In a darkened closet, with seemingly no purpose.
"Well?" she whispered anxiously.
A hand appeared from behind one of the many cabinets lining the walls. In it was a largely overstuffed file. Ginny snatched the file and pushed the door open, slamming it behind her and bolting down the hall. She stopped running at the corner and resumed her normal pace, shrinking the file and hiding it in her pocket. Ginny smiled and greeted various workers and Ministry Officials as she went before finally coming to a stop out side an office labeled: Ginny Weasley, Head of Investigations and Criminal Affairs.
"Fa noi lo shag?" Ginny whispered, mentally killing Harry for placing an Unchangeable Password Charm on her door, one that she could not yet break.
She turned the knob and opened the door to reveal a large, organized office. Ginny walked to her desk in the corner and sealed the door magically before taking the file out of her pocket and returning it to it's normal size. She rifled through the contents quickly, a smile growing on her face. This was it! Just what she had been looking for. Now all she needed was to go on a date with that slimy Creevy to pay back her informant. Ginny grimaced, how obvious could you get? Colin worked in the Department of Records. She sighed to herself.
"Miss Weasley?" a voice called, accompanied by knocking on the door.
"Come in." Ginny said, while hastily shoving the file in a drawer.
"I have the Canon and Ryan files for you. I finished them." Ethan Wallace said, he handed her two more files, these not as full or as important.
"Thanks, Ethan. Take the night off. Go visit the wife and kids." Ginny joked.
"Ah, if only I were a straight man." Ethan sighed. "I guess I'll have to go to a gay bar and party the night away."
"What a pity" Ginny said mock-sarcastically.
"So, another all-nighter?" he asked, his voice teasingly scolding.
"I HAVE to get this case wrapped up. It'll be the end of me if I don't deliver. The damn Minister is already suspecting my family of helping the Order, Ethan." Ginny said testily.
"I know, but Gin, It's a waste of time! If that man doesn't want to be found…he wont be!" Ethan said seriously.
"I know." Ginny sighed.
Ethan gave her a weak smile and patted his files once before leaving the room and shutting the door quietly behind him. Ginny pulled the file out of her drawer and opened it to the first page. A wizard photograph fell out and Ginny stared into the face that had haunted her dreams since the beginning of the case. She stared into the deep silver eyes of Lucius Malfoy, and she didn't look away.
Miss Weasley,
It has come to my attention that you are currently working on a case concerning an ex-colleague of mine. I assure you, your attempts will not go unnoticed by Mr. Malfoy. He is currently hiding, I do not know where, but he has been keeping tabs on the wizarding world and has contacted me twice since his escape from prison. You mother wouldn't want you to get hurt, Ginny.
Respectfully.
Severus Aurellan Snape
Ginny smiled despite herself. Who would have thought Snape would have turned out to be such a softie? She'd seen the man in a new light since her graduation and initiation in to the Order. He truly cared. And he was nicer to her and her mother than any of the other members of her family. They seemed to have an understanding of sorts.
But, nothing would put her off this case! She would find Malfoy and have him back in prison if it was the last thing she did. Ginny gulped. If Malfoy found out, it just might be the last thing she ever did.
Ginny shook her head and crossed her kitchen to the small wooden table. She sat down and pulled out several files, laying them across the table. When everything was organized, she got up and went to the bathroom to change.
Ginny returned half an hour later, her hair dripping and her slippers making soft noises as she crossed the hard wood floors of her kitchen. Ginny let out a gasp.
Her files were gone.
And on the table lay a single burgundy rose.