AN-as of now this is the second to last chapter. This was always supposed to be a short fic. I hope you like it. I do take concrit into account as I usually do try to edit and repost based on feedback so long as the feedback is in line with my vision. (See The Race to Save Nancy as evidence ; )
DISCLAIMER: JKR owns Harry Potter not me. I thank her for allowing fans to dabble, and would be pleased if she uses any of my permutations.
As expected, Harry awoke in a dark room. He smiled grimly. He tried to move all his limbs and found that he was being held down. "Awake, are we?" Loretta asked, tapping her wand on her knee. "Let's make this easy. Where is Teddy."
"No idea." Harry said, though for him the thought sent a jolt of pain. He hoped Teddy had made it to Ginny and Andromeda safely.
"Let's try this again. Where do you think Teddy is?"
Harry stared at her quietly. "You are getting Teddy over my dead body-"
"Oh when I am done with you, you will be begging for death. My mother taught me a few things, you know."
"Your mother couldn't break me, and neither can you." Harry said. Loretta had unwittingly, given him the ammunition to resist. If he could fight Dolores Umbridge and even Voldemort, Loretta was nothing. He was older and stronger now.
Loretta sliced her wand through the air and Harry gasped with pain but didn't give her the pleasure of screaming aloud.
"Voldemort couldn't break me. Why do you think you can?"
"Because Voldemort could never keep you captured. But I have you good." Loretta said.
Harry smirked, feeling at ease when she said that. Whenever they said they always always lost.
Harry let the love he felt for Teddy and Ginny and the rest of his family wash over him. He imagined he was there with them rather then here as the wand came down as a whip again. Harry wondered how long it would take her to go to the cruciatus before he let his mind go to France.
MEANWHILE: Ginny paced the floor worried. "Ginny, I hope you are ready to be a widow, because I am going to kill your husband." Andromeda said angrily from where she was standing.
"Are you okay?" Andromeda asked, her expression turning to concern as she saw that Ginny had inhaled three bags of peanuts in the last ten minutes.
"The baby wants peanuts."
Before Andromeda could say anything both she and Ginny saw something twirling. Ginny and Andromeda took out the wand but heard the wailing. "I wanna let go!"
"Let go sweetie, its time." Andromeda said, soothingly.
Teddy let go and Andromeda caught him. "Gwamma!"
"Shh." Andromeda said, comforting the obviously distraught boy.
Andromeda caught Teddy as he let go of the ball which fell beside him. Andromeda caught Ginny's eyes as she patted the boy on the back. Andromeda saw Ginny's face searching the air hoping that Harry would appear.
She sighed a minute later when he didn't appear. "Teddy, why don't we have some chocolate?"
"Chocolate!" Teddy clapped his hands gleefully.
"I will go get it." Ginny said, obviously disguising her emotion. "Mrs. Tonks?"
"Sounds wonderful. Want help?"
"Nah. Stay with Teddy." Ginny said.
Ginny came in ten minutes later holding a tray of chocolate drinks and chocolate covered pretzels.
Ginny was surprised that Teddy still fell asleep for his nap two hours later. "I guess he was tired." Ginny said, rubbing Teddy's back as he lay in a bedroom upstairs.
Andromeda sighed, looking old. "I don't blame him."
"Why don't you nap? I will keep a lookout." Ginny suggested.
"You should rest. You are resting for two." Andromeda said.
"Not until." Ginny's voice died. "Not until I know what happened to Harry. If Ron knows what is good for him he will send me a message soon."
"I will wait with you." Andromeda said. She obviously expected bad news.
"Someone should stay with Teddy."
"I will place monitoring charms. Besides, I am sure Harry thought this through when he sent us here." Andromeda said.
Ginny sighed, she was giving in today more than she ever did in her life. Andromeda cast the complicated charm. She glanced at Ginny's belly, smiled and said "I will teach you this charm."
"Thanks." Ginny said, automatically. But her mind was, obviously, with Harry.
Andromeda and Ginny sat silently for a bit when a weirdly shaped otter came through. It chimed, "Harry captured. Doing what I can. Heavily monitored. Stay put will send Mione with news when I can."
Ginny's face fell and she bit her lip to keep from crying. "We should shore up the house's defenses. Maybe find a way to connect the house to the burrow so we can get relatives and news."
"Call the Delacours." Andromeda urged.
Ginny sighed, though she and Fleur got along better, she still did not want to accept a favor from Fleur's family.
"First, I should update the Daily Prophet." Ginny said. "Harry had said… keep public pressure up."
Ginny pulled out a parchment from a satchel. "Charmed to reflect everyone's changes." Ginny explained. "Easier than owls and won't give away a reporter's position if they are somewhere dangerous."
Andromeda nodded. "All right." Ginny said, grimly. "Looks like the Prophet already has the story. My boss is asking me for my side."
Ginny scribed…"What is the Ministry thinking, By Ginny Potter. DISCLAIMER: I am the godmother of the child in question and wife of Harry Potter. However, I, and the rest of the Prophet staff believe that this gives me a unique perspective. I want to ask all of you, why are you allowing your ministry to terrorize a five year old? Why are you all not doing what Harry did… protecting this child from harassment. I was not there, but from what I have heard from reputable sources, all Harry did was try to prevent the ministry from taking his godson. All he was doing was preventing the ministry from torturing an innocent five year old war orphan.
I reiterate that. Theodore Remus Lupin is a war orphan, whose parents fought strongly and bravely and sacrificed themselves for the rest of us. that same Teddy—as we all know him-is now being chased and demonized? Though he possesses NO threat. Let me repeat, he poses no threat. Though my husband's heart went out to the then one year-old, he allowed the ministry to run tests on Teddy when he was a baby to ensure he showed no signs of lycanthropy or any sign from his parentage…
Andromeda stopped reading and nodded approvingly. "The only risk, now, is that my boss will edit what I said." She muttered.
"How will we know? We can't ask for or get a copy of the newspaper."
Ginny tapped the parchment. "This will show any changes made."
"Let's update the charms on the house." Andromeda urged.
Ginny nodded and got up. Teddy would be up soon and she wanted the charms shored up before then.
Ginny was impressed as Andromeda cast a huge protection shield above the place and upgraded the unplottable charm. She put up a muggle repellant charm. "To protect muggles if it comes to a fight."
Ginny wiped her brow. "Teddy is awake." Andromeda said as a blue light flashed.
"Go." Ginny urged. "I will keep working."
Andromeda nodded, knowing that since she had spent more time with Teddy and was more of the parental figure Teddy would be more comfortable with her. Besides Ginny needed to work off some of her emotions.
Ginny kept working furiously. Working kept her distracted and helped her quell the fear and anger that she felt.
"Gin Gin?" A small voice came fifteen minutes later.
Ginny put a smile on her face and she turned back to him. "come have dinner with me and Gwamma."
"Gwamma, where is Hawy?" Teddy asked towards the end of an uncharacteristically quiet dinner.
"Sweetie, Harry is helping to keep you safe and make the world a better place." Ginny said.
Andromeda smiled, obviously marveling at Ginny's ability to stay cool and steely in the face of everything going on.
A face began to appear in the fire. Ginny and Andromeda pushed Teddy under the table. Ginny silenced him as they didn't have time to tell him to stay quiet.
"Ginevra, Andromeda, it is Monsieur Delacour."
Ginny relaxed and let out a breath. "Mr. Delacour, I am sorry. We were just going to call you.."
"No problem at all. Please. Ronald filled me in on what is going on. I think it would be helpful, Ginevra, if you would come with me to meet with Minister Bertrand. If we go right now he is liable to hear us out and since it is late there is no chance that someone else will see us and betray you "
The reasoning made sense. Ginny sighed and got up. "Oh. Please do not take this wrong, but follow my lead. I know Bertrand."
'Of course, Monsieur. I will quickly put on more appropriate robes and join. Unfortunately, I do not have much of a selection with me."
Delacour smiled, but he winked, indicating to Ginny that that was helpful.
"This is good. God Bless your extended family."
The flames turned green a few minutes later and Andromeda raised her wand as Ginny was still changing. Thankfully Teddy was upstairs running around upstairs, working off some energy. She put down her wand as she recognized Monsieur Delacour. "Fleur gave me the codes in code." He explained. "Madam Potter, whenever you are ready."
Ginny came down a second later. "Again, do let me lead. I will present the situation as you being a desperate wronged woman in need of protection. A chance to be a beckon for hope and light in the world…"
Ginny rolled her eyes. She was not a damsel in distress but she nodded. "Thank you for your help."
They apparated together straight to the Ministry of Magic. Ginny felt a little out of sorts in this strange building which was even more ornate than the British ministry. People came up to Fleur's father and began talking to him in rapid French. He gestured that she should follow him.
They were taken directly to Bertrand's office. "Seet." His secretary said to Ginny, glancing at her belly. "Aq… water? Juice?"
"I am fine. I thank you." Ginny said.
The secretary nodded, smiling sadly.
The minister came in and Mr. Delacour rose and Ginny started to but Bertrand waved her down.
"Minister, Ginevra Molly Potter and Theodore Remus Lupin need your protection." He said without preamble. "The British have started an unfounded campaign against an innocent five year old and are unlawfully holding my son-in-law's brother-in-law."
"Minister Bertrand, here is a British ministry certified letter holding that Teddy showed no signs of lycanthropy. Those tests itself were so painful. Harry" Ginny's voice caught as she thought of her husband "Harry and Andromeda Tonks had to calm him down for hours afterwards. But they cooperated in bringing Teddy in to the hospital and ministry to have him tested. So we don't know why they are doing this now."
Bertrand clicked his tongue sympathetically.
"So they came to France to seek refuge, staying at the ancestral Potter properties which is clearly within your jurisdiction."
"Yes. Yes it is." Bertrand said, getting up.
"And if what I have told you is not already egregious enough, they are spying on my Fleur and not letting her come visit me here without the indignity of being followed."
He tsked tsked. "Fleur is still a French citizen, non?"
"I believe she has dual citizenship."
Bertrand waved that off. "She is French. I will work on that."
"Madam Potter, please do not worry. No harm will come to you in France. We will not surrender you or your, young Lupin, or Madam Tonks's location. They will be unable to monitor the floo so please, travel via floo comfortably as well."
Ginny nodded. "Now, please rest."
"Thank you, Minister." Both chorused.
Andromeda was waiting anxiously. "Now, my wife is expecting you all for supper tomorrow."
"Thank you for everything."
He waved it off. "Good bye. Get rest. Let me know if you need something."
"Thank you." Gnny said, giving her a genuine smile.
The next day, Ginny awoke late. She heard Andromeda moving around downstairs and Teddy squealing happily as he played with a toy that Andromeda had charmed.
She came downstairs fast. "Wow. It is late." She said, looking at the clock.
"I remember being exhausted when pregnant so I felt you needed to sleep." Andromeda said, with a ghost of a smile on his face. "Lunch… breakfast is on the table if you want some."
Ginny shook her head. "Maybe in a bit. Any news?"
Andromeda paused until Teddy had run a bit further. "I am still waiting. Perhaps you should use the Order communication technique."
Ginny nodded. She quickly sent Hermione, who was on bed rest and therefore the most likely to not be with someone who was not family, her patronus.
As expected, twenty minutes later a patronus came back. "Don't worry. We are creating plans. Go to the Delacours for supper in a few hours. We are going to try and get you some proper news."
Ginny and Andromeda looked at each other astonished. However there was nothing that they could do until supper. So they focused on Teddy and the protection spells around the house.
Finally, it was time to leave. Ginny was surprised to see that Fleur opened the door. "I cannot stay in Britain if they continue to persecute like this." She said.
Ginny nodded and let her pull her in and then take Teddy from Andromeda. Ginny watched her walk and felt that something was wrong. She wasn't walking like Fleur usually walked…
Sure enough, halfway through dinner… "Hermione." Andromeda said.
She nodded. "It was actually Fleur's idea. The French minister made such a stink that a French citizen was being targeted and followed and not allowed to come home that the ministry had to backtrack." Hermione shrugged. "Then a simple Polyjuice and I am here…"
"So what is happening." Ginny asked, leaning forward glad for the news.
"Teddy, sweetie, why don't you see if you can help Madame Delacour." Andromeda said, before Hermione could say anything.
Teddy sighed, hopped off the chair and went into the kitchen.
"Ron hasn't been able to find where they are holding Harry. However, we have been able to increase public pressure with varying degrees of success." Hermione sighed. She shifted slightly, obviously trying to get more comfortable. "Your op-ed helped.
Ginny nodded. "I asked my boss if I could write another. She is thinking about it. You know the Prophet. Unfortunately, I am under contract so I can't write something for the Quibbler. "
"And everyone thinks you should make sure to keep that job." Hermione asserted. "It will help with public pressure."
Ginny nodded. But they stopped talking as Teddy came in with Madam Delacour who was carrying a large tray of desserts. "So what is the plan." She asked, after Teddy had fallen asleep.
"Stay put." Hermione said, looking old. "Andromeda, I noticed Teddy is acting up a bit—so the emotion is getting to him-"
"-and likely the guilt as he feels responsible."
Hermione nodded. "So you watch Teddy. Gin, watch the prophet. Alert us if something is on the way. Keep writing as many editorials as you can. I am working on the DMLE. I am filing suit to get Harry released and the warrant for Teddy vacated. Ron is working on the inside to try to find where Harry is and changing ministry opinion. Ron said that most of the people in the ministry are very leery about what is going on." She snorted. "they are just being cowards. Harry's boss is doing what he can, but everyone knows he is on his way out and wanted to suggest Harry."
"So basically, if Kingsley comes back we will be fine." Ginny summed up, angrily.
"Or another minister sympathetic to us is elected." Hermione said.
Ginny looked up, Hermione's tone indicated that she was cultivating this option. "Minerva McGonagal. Everyone knows her and at least respects her. But this would be a short term option. She will only do it as a last resort."
Hermione raised a calming hand as Ginny got riled up. McGonagal was happy at Hogwarts and an amazing headmistress… Not to mention she was ill and perhaps not up to the job. "We aren't even close to there yet. We are getting good public support. And you know Harry, he is fine."
Ginny nodded, but bit her lip too. Thinking of her beloved Harry..
Harry awoke gasping. He smirked at Loretta. "I am still here and you are still here."
He was pleased to see that Loretta looked tired, disheveled, and frustrated. It told him that though she acted tough, he still scared her enough that she hadn't felt comfortable leaving even when he was out cold and she needed a break.
But it also told him that time had passed… that could be good or bad.
He was also pleased when Bulstrode came in and showed her something and her eyebrows rose. Public pressure on her must be increasing… or Kingsley's condition was getting better.
She looked at him. "I am sick of this Potter. You are going to tell me. Now. CRUCIO."
Harry felt searing pain. This time he, unwilling, was physically writhing, Loretta was good at the cruciatus. But once again he let his love for his family overtake him. He concentrated on the first time Teddy had looked up at him and beamed Ha'y and then on his and Ginny's wedding day.
He remembered, smiling to himself, holding Ginny's hand in his own and looking into her eyes and both vowing that they would love, cherish, and protect the other from all harm.
He found that the pain was a lot less as he did this, or at least he felt it less. He stayed in this position, with his family, his parents, wife, Teddy, his brother—Ron, and sister-Hermione until Bernard strode in again and whispered in Loretta's ear. This time Loretta went white.
Harry tried a non-verbal spell when Loretta's attention was elsewhere, but was too weak. He cursed himself. But the, likely days, of torture had taken their toll. His head fell.
What seemed to Harry like another day later, the door burst open and Kingsley burst in, with cameras behind him. Harry felt his breath returning and his hope rising. "Bernard. You are fired. Loretta leave now."
Harry marveled at Kingsley's finesse and political acumen as he stood just enough to the side so that Harry's bound figure was visible to the camera and reporters but not enough that that was obvious. "Harry, are you all right? I apologize on the behalf of the ministry. With your permission, I will apologize directly to little Teddy too. Please ask Ginny, Andromeda, and Teddy to come home. And Fleur. This is their home and we want the chosen one's family residing in Britain."
Harry nodded slightly. "Gin will hear through the Prophet." He coughed, cussing himself for his weakness.
Kingsley leaned down and quickly released Harry. He took off his robe and covered Harry before levitating him. "Alosyian, inform St. Mungos. I will apparate with Mr. Potter."
"Easy Harry, I got you." Kingsley whispered. "Sorry for the show. I figured you would understand."
"Bril. Brilliant." Harry said, smiling at Kingsley.
Kingsley snorted. "I am sorry for letting someone get the drop on me and put you in this position. You seriously okay?"
"Nothing St. Mungo's can't fix."
Kingsley smiled shortly. Harry felt the blackness arise at the edge of his consciousness. His body wanted release… "Umm… Kingsley. I think I am going to faint. Tell Ginn…" But before he could say anything he fainted.