Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful world of Harry Potter.


Chapter Four: The Late Call


A figure in dark robes entered his superior's office, illuminated brightly in stark contrast. He moved to accompany the man who had summoned him by the ceiling high windows overlooking a dark courtyard.

"Fudge passed an order for her to be suspended from the office," he informed softly, hesitant to break the heavy silence.

"Of course he has, after all, he always takes my suggestions… most seriously," a chilling pause filled the room. A star drifted across the sky, blinking its light lazily back down to them. To them, the word "satellite" was simply part of the foreign language of a lesser race. "Have you actually anything of use to tell me, Gibbon?"

A stuttering reply in the negative. The other's voice cutting through the renewed quiet.

"Very well, you may―

"Sir?"

"What?"

"The Auror, did you still want―?

"If the children are done with him then so am I. Now, get out of my sight. I am expecting someone."


A soft knock at Remus' door signaled his expected guest's arrival. They'd agreed on Monday to meet. Although Remus had suggested going out for lunch Ginny had seemed put off by the idea. He invited her over to his flat and she consented.

"I am a knob," she declared as he opened the door.

Remus laughed, "I didn't say a word." He motioned her to come in and take a seat on any of his limited furniture: an old couch that had come with the place or a wooden kitchen chair that seemed to have lost its table and mates. She set herself down on the couch, letting out a small sound of surprise when she sank nearly half way through. This was much his own reaction when he first tried it out.

"May I get you anything?" he offered, remembering his long since used hosting manners.

"My dignity, if you've seen it lying around," she jested. He gave a shrug of the shoulders in mock apology, retaking his seat on the other end of the couch next to a still steaming tea.

"Are you feeling any better?"

She sighed and sank further back, running a subconscious hand through her hair. It was a habit he'd noticed when they lived together, almost a small way of pushing back talking about what she didn't want to.

"Physically, I suppose. Although," she paused, flexing her right hand, "did I …punch someone on Friday?"

Remus guffawed with no attempt to restrain it. "Ginevra Weasley, I'm sorry to tell you, but I believe the wall won that skirmish."

Ginny flushed red with embarrassment and shame.

"Although it wasn't for lack of trying, I'll give you that. If I hadn't gotten in your way I'm sure those kids would have been worse off than you in the morning." Remus looked so thoroughly entertained by the whole event her desire to strike was renewing.

Well, that explains my mangled hand, she admitted, realizing that it might be for the best if she was not reminded of every single detail.

Remus waited for her to open up the discussion while he sipped at the tea, but she remained quiet, fidgeting on the other side of the couch. Stubborn to the last.

Changing tactics he fixed her with an unexpectedly piercing gaze. Ginny resisted the urge to make a face. "So?"

Ginny blinked in attempted innocence, but failed abysmally. "So, what?" she asked, attempting to delay the inevitable question.

Remus looked entirely unimpressed, "Don't play dim."

Trying to look scandalized, Ginny replied "That doesn't sound like me."

"Ginevra."

"Remus."

"Care to explain?"

"I―" Ginny considered giving another less than mature retort, being loathe to finally talk about Scrimgeour, Dumbledore, and how pitiable she must seem, but her voice faltered at Remus' expression of sincere concern. She'd been avoiding it so hard because she knew that once she let it out it would finally feel real, but knowing from experience, she wasn't going to get out of there without giving a satisfactory answer. She sighed softly before ploughing straight into it. "I've been suspended from the office and temporarily dismissed from the Order."

Staring blankly at her for a moment, Remus tried to comprehend the mess of a statement Ginny speedily blurted out. He frowned. "Merlin, Ginny… For how long?" he was having troubles coming to terms with the confession. I guess that explains the box of her office belongings.

Remus had known Ginevra Weasley since he'd taught her in her second year. He'd repeatedly watched her throw herself into work, whether it was her studies at school after the incident in her first year, her training and realization of becoming a Healer after the war, or finally her pursuit to make a difference for all the suffering she saw daily by become a field-agent in the Auror division. Ginevra was nothing if not driven. Admittedly she could be seen as bit of a workaholic, but she was wholly dedicated and honest; Remus could not see how both the Ministry and Albus made such a blunder.

She filled him in on the meetings with both of them, leaving out the particular bits of taking her shirt off in the safe-house and all mention of Edward Donoghue. In a perhaps pessimistic and biased view, Remus realized that he didn't have any troubles believing in the corruption within the Ministry. He hadn't been long in the country in the last three years but things had certainly deteriorated.

While she spoke, Remus watched her closely. He noticed the concealed circles under her eyes, and a heavy weight that seemed to rest on her shoulders. In the past he'd often worried about her and had been very gratified to hear she was doing well at the meeting, but as more often than not in these time, things were not always what they seemed.

"Are you going to be alright for the next few months?" An entry Auror's wages were not terribly high and owning a flat on your own in London incurred no small fee; Remus had spent much of his life toeing the line of poverty during the times his condition made it impossible to find work. He would never wish that state upon anyone. I couldn't even afford this place if Albus weren't compensating me for the trips north.

Ginny smiled at his question wearily. "I'll be fine. Things will be tight for a while, but I'll manage." She swiped a hand over her forehead again, pulling back the few flyaway strands of hair. Remus didn't know whether to believe her or not, but it was not the time to press the matter. The girl was clearly exhausted, they'd been talking for hours.

Remus told her as much, and she laughed in acknowledgement. "I don't know when I'll see you next," Ginny started as they made their way to the door, "but send me an owl and we can do lunch someday. Preferably a late one," she added and he cracked a grin despite himself. Even at her worst, she could still find humour in a bad situation.

"Fair enough," he replied knowingly.

She made to turn, but quickly stopped, looking back to Remus. "Thank you for listening…" she hesitated, "and for not making me feel like an idiot. It's been a long time since I've needed you to reign me in."

"I don't think you needed me so much as those young fellows did," he replied cheekily.

"Yeah, yeah…" Ginny laughed once more, giving him a quick hug before Disapparating.

Remus was left alone in his flat to contemplate the situation. He wondered what she was going to do with herself because for the first time since she'd left school, she was temporarily removed from the fighting front of the war.

One thing he had noticed though, was that in the three years since he'd been out of touch with her, even in spite of recent events, Ginevra had matured a great deal.


It had been a long few days. She hadn't exactly planned to tell Remus everything, but his insistence and sincerity won out. Plus, she figured she owed him. It definitely lifted some of the weight off her chest by being able to talk to someone objective and unbiased, as Remus had always been. There had been a time in her life when he'd been the first, if only, person she'd go to to talk or sort things out; both had shared many of their intimate feelings about their lives, their families, and themselves during those long, heavy months at twelve Grimmauld. It seemed only natural to find herself making confessions again to him before her friends and family. But instead of filling the hallowed void that had been left, she felt… nothing. There was no comfort in her empty home, no distraction to drown out her introspective thoughts.

Mere minutes after deciding she could at least clean her flat, Ginny sought out her darkened bedroom, crawled under the heavy duvet. Just a quick nap… just one of the many she'd been taking of late. As sleep almost managed to wrap itself completely around her it was interrupted unapologetically by a sharp beak rapping against the glass on the outside of her curtained window.

"ALRIGHT!" she cried in despair, tearing herself free from the warm cocoon of blankets. The bird's talons scraped against the glass in a hair-raising screech. She turned and launched herself off the bed towards the offending window, pushing Napoleon out of the way as he stood on his hind legs, pressing a round paw against the curtain, purring happily. The window opened, letting in an awful breeze along with Archimedes, Neville and Luna's familiar.

"Hello, beautiful," Ginny cooed after overcoming her delighted surprise, annoyance melting away. She tore the envelop from his leg and offered some pellets she kept on hand.

Ginny,

We've soaked up every last drop of exotic fun Tibet could offer.

Make sure you start shaving your legs again because my man and I will be home Wednesday night.

Hope your life isn't falling apart without me,

Love, hugs, and all that stuff,

Luna Lovesyougood.

Ginny snorted; after three weeks of not hearing from the woman, she manages five and a bit lines of drabble. But she smiled brightly. Her more competent, yet less sane, half was coming back a week early. Ginny couldn't help grin at the situation as she imagined Luna's expression when she learned just how apart her life had actually fallen since they'd left.

She walked out of the room, grabbing Napoleon on the way to stop him from pestering the resting owl. Coming back with paper, she scrawled a quick note telling them that no matter how late it was on Wednesday, they should stop by when they got in. She attached it to their owl's leg, who departed after relaxing for a while on Ginny's dresser.

Now where were we, she thought to herself, slipping back under the covers.


"Ginny, over here," Ron called across the crowded café. Making her way towards the waving redhead, she hung her coat and greeted her brother inside the Redbrick.

"How are things with you and Hermione? Have you talked to mum again?" Ron made his sigh heard over the background chatter.

"Not really, dad owled us yesterday, speaking for them both, I assume," they shared a look of understanding, knowing their mother would cool off. Plus, it wasn't as if she could stay angry with the promise of her first grandchildren to come.

"That's not what I wanted to talk about," Ron's expression turned a little more serious and Ginny quirked an eyebrow. He seemed nervous about something, "Ginny, do you know why I wanted you to come to lunch with me?"

"Is it because I'm your favourite sibling and you've been fighting off an overwhelming desire to feed me?" Ron rolled his eyes.

"If I was made Minister for Magic I don't think I'd make enough to feed us both," he retorted. As if on cue, the waitress came around with a huge bowl of chili, a side of garlic bread, and some fish and chips for Ron, plus a salad, soup, and sandwich for Ginny. They both grinned, delighted at how little space on their table was left over.

"Are you going to keep me in suspense or will you tell me what I'm doing here, brother dear," Ginny restarted after taking a delicious spoonful of potato and leek soup. Ron bit off a piece of garlic bread that he'd dipped in the chili and proceeded to respond as he chewed. Ginny wasn't altogether grossed out by her brother's manners as she was under the firm belief that time efficiency was at a minimum when you had to stop and swallow your food. Time is of the essence, she thought to herself with a mouthful of salad.

"Ginny, I know about Fudge ordering your suspension," Ginny opened her mouth to respond but wasn't surprised. "How long have our units been working together on this case? Of course I was going to find out, we both know how fast news travels."

Ron leaned forward on the table, taking a significant break from his food, "Things are starting to move again, Gin. Fudge has been very busy, especially in our departments; if you so much as sneeze the wrong way you could find yourself off work for a month without pay. It's all done under the guise of rooting out insubordination and shoddy management within the Ministry, but obviously there's more at stake."

Ginny leaned in as well, rapt with attention.

"I've been seeing a lot of new faces, particularly within the Auror division. Fudge is trying to get his people mingling in with the rest of us, keeping an eye out for "illicit" behaviour."

"But why? What is he gaining from any of this?" she asked, furious. Fudge had been nothing but a hindrance from all sides in the war, ever since he returned in Ginny's third year.

"You know as well as I do that most of the inspiration for Fudge's actions comes from someone else. You Know Who may not be directly involved at this point, but Kingsley's certain that before long he means to take over the Ministry; this is just the start. He won't be so bold as to name himself Minister, it suits his purposes now to keep out of the public's sights. But whoever it is that's influencing Fudge has obviously decided, or been given permission, to start preparing for the final overthrow Things are going to start looking even more grim and I'm sure we haven't even seen the darkest of it yet," Ron leaned back in his chair and Ginny let his words sink in.

"Keep your head down, Gin. They'll be looking for any excuse to terminate your status as Agent." Ron looked as if he were about to say something else, but changed his mind. "Just, look after yourself."

Ginny bristled at his protective brotherly instincts, but she knew his meaning was very well intended. I can't imagine what he's going through, what with mum, Hermione, a baby on its way, and fighting against a corrupted government…

They wordlessly agreed on the conversation taking a turn as they ate their meals in subdued happiness, enjoying the easy conversation that happened only between family and old friends.

They paid their bills and headed out the door with a final goodbye.

"Tell Hermione I'm thinking of her," Ginny bade.

"I will," he smiled and ruffled her hair which earned him a jab to the ribs. Brothers, she thought, annoyed.

"Now little sister, if you need anything at all, come see me. Things are going to be tough for a while, no doubt, especially with everything you've been dealing with these last months: Ed and―

"Ron, you know very well him and I―

"Yes, yes, alright. All I'm saying is that if anything's wrong or… off, our door will be open," he finished with uncharacteristic sensitivity.

Ginny sighed in acceptance. "Thank you, Ron. You know I'll be there if you need it too." Ron smiled and made to mess up her hair even more but in the blink of an eye she had her wand out. "Don't. You. Dare," he laughed in response to her murderous gaze, patting her on the cheek before Disapparating back to the office.

Stopping at the shop on her way back home to pick up some mulled wine for the honeymooners that may or may not be arriving tomorrow, Ginny finished her chores for the day.

On Wednesday she contemplated once again cleaning her flat, but decided to put on The Lord of the Rings and do some yoga. She'd always loved the films but could never stop wondering why Gandalf didn't just Apparate to Mount Doom and chuck the damn ring in, but Hermione insisted he didn't have those kind of magic powers. Some wizard.

She started to do her routine of stretches realizing she'd been neglecting her exercise since she no longer had work to keep her motivated, but she willed herself back into it. More than once her body's quick reflexes and fitness had gotten her out of trouble when there hadn't been time to cast magic. Ron's update had not left her mind with much ease and she wanted to make sure she was as prepared for the months ahead as could be.

Afterwards she decided on a lengthy run to soothe her busy mind. It was a slight toll on her recently sedentary muscles, but she returned to the flat hot, sweaty, and satisfied. Changing into a pair of track-pants she went about cooking dinner, shuffling subconsciously around the kitchen as her radio blared.

Turning the tello-vision on once more, she ate in relaxation, feeling that awful tug of sleepiness pull at her eyes. Napoleon came and pinned the blankets on top of her as she lay down to get more comfortable. She tried to find something interesting to watch to keep her awake, but nothing could handle the heavy task. Her run had taken away most of her ability to overcome the pull, which she found unbelievable as all she'd been doing these days was sleep. She closed her eyes for the slightest of moments. Just for a little rest…


It wasn't until she was jarred awake by a loud rapping at her door that she realized she'd succumbed. Judging by the darkness hours must have slipped by. She jumped up off the couch, tossing a displeased cat to the floor. She jabbed her wand towards the lights in the flat to brighten the place up and turned off the TV. Rushing to the door, she noticed how impatient the knocks had become. I hope they haven't been waiting long. "Hold on, I'm coming."

The smile at seeing her friends on the other side was already creeping to her face before she'd unlocked the door. The knocking stopped as the lock unhitched and she threw the door open, ready to embrace her long awaited Luna.

She was met by an empty hallway.

Ginny stepped outside her flat, checking around to see if she could make any sense of it. The building was quiet, not a soul to be found. Luna wouldn't have left if she'd heard me inside… she thought with absolute certainly, and she couldn't have zipped away that quickly. A chill went down her spine and her Auror precautions took over. She cast a quick searching spell which would reveal any hidden presences, but it came back with nothing to tell.

Not knowing what else to do, she went back inside, pulling the door shut behind her. She stopped short of closing it at the sound of clinking metal against the wood. After an investigation, she discovered a ring attached to a chain slung over her doorknob. She grabbed it hesitantly, looking around vainly to see if any persons had reappeared. Closing her door and sealing it with magic just in case, she took a closer look at the warm gold ring with a band of jade through the middle. Every hair on her body stood on end. She knew the ring very well and that it was the only one of its kind.

In a quick flurry of motion she put a number of spells on the offending object, mostly to detect hidden curses or enchantments and make sure the ring was not a sophisticated replica. Nothing came up to suggest it was not exactly what it appeared to be. Her blood turned cold as she tried to come to terms with the implications of its presence. She lay awake the rest of the night, wand close at hand. For whatever reason it was there, someone had been feet away outside her flat waiting for her to find it.

She watched as the first few rays of the new day peaked through her window before dozing off for a few hours. She mercifully waited until eight thirty before leaving the flat. Obviously there was something nefarious at work here and Ginny knew that a clue as significant as this needed to be told to someone with the resources to look into it. Resources which she'd been barred from for the next eighty four days. Someone was trying to get a message to her, but she didn't have enough information to put it together.

She made herself a quick pot of coffee while putting on her coat and scarf to protect against the morning chill. Pouring the reviving liquid into a thermos, she Apparated to her brother's flat, taking him up on the offer he'd made her yesterday.

Ginny rapped on their front door perhaps a little louder than necessary, but she was in desperate need of a second eye to look over the situation. The sight of that particular ring instilled in her a disturbing unease.

The door swung open and a very bushy haired Hermione came into view. "Ginny! How are you, come inside," obviously surprised to see her good friend and partner's sister at the front door, but nonetheless pleased. Hermione had always been a morning person, so it was no surprise to see her up; Ron was another matter.

"I've just come by to tell Ron something… important," she explained vaguely, shifting from one foot to another anxiously. "He hasn't left for work has he?" noting the absence of the loud presence that was usually her brother. On occasions Ron was in at the office by seven in the morning and she was worried she'd not get to talk to him until the evening.

"He's just in the shower, can I get you anything? You look pretty worn out."

I can only imagine, she thought humourlessly. "I'm alright; I grabbed a coffee before leaving my place. So how are you doing?" She took a seat at the kitchen table while Hermione continued to wash the dishes that must have been from breakfast. Ginny sipped from her thermos with mild impatience as she waited for her brother to come out, but listened with genuine interest. Hermione filled her in on her own work and their plans to start looking for a bigger place for before the baby was due.

"Ginny, what are you doing here?" her brother's voice called from the other end of the kitchen in blunt surprise. "It's a miracle you're even awake," he slumped down in a chair opposite his sister, arranging his freshly put on work robes.

"You're the one who told me to come by if I had anything to tell you," Ginny reminded, and he looked at her inquisitively.

"Well I meant at a reasonable hour," he explained through a yawn. Hermione smacked him on the side of the head as she put a steaming mug in front of him.

Too desperate to get to the point, Ginny held back a retort. "I have something I need to show you."

"Merlin, that was quick."

Ginny scowled at his lack of seriousness when he'd been so appropriately grave yesterday. "This was left at my apartment last night," she explained, pulling out the ring by its chain and resting it on the table. Hermione and Ron both inclined their heads closer to get a better look. Ron stared at it, comprehension slowly trickling in.

"Someone… gave you a ring?" he deduced and even Hermione had to resist the temptation to roll her eyes.

"Don't you recognize it?" Ginny asked deploringly, wishing they would understand its utter significance. She could see the gears turning inside Hermione's head.

"I suppose it is familiar, but what of it?" Ron asked, curiosity peaked.

"Ron," she began imploringly, picking it back up and holding it out for him, "this is… was Edward's. He had it made in Hong Kong years and years ago and has taken in off maybe a handful of times since then. He even slept with it on, I swear."

Ron frowned deeply. "Are you sure, I mean, how―

Hermione rested a warning hand on his arm. "Do you honestly believe I would be here if there were any doubts? And if there was a doubt could you at least help me prove it?" Ginny threw back, disappointed. She took a deep breath to collect herself. "Someone was outside my flat last night. They knocked until I came to the door but vanished before I opened it. It was placed for me to find."

"Could someone just be playing a trick on you? Trying to mess with your head?"

She opened her mouth to tell Ron that this was more significant than a mere joke, but Hermione added her voice to the conversation. "For anyone to leave such a memento for you in particular obviously indicates knowledge of yours and Edward's relationship. With his disappearance and the messenger's obvious reluctance to be seen, it certainly hints at a more malevolent purpose. It seems a little coincidental that this happened just days after your suspension too."

Ron sat in his chair, quietly processing. Ginny was more than thankful to have Hermione's insightful input and added quietly, "He was wearing it on the morning he was taken."

"Are you―

"Yes! I'm sure of it. I saw it on his hand minutes before he left the Ministry that day; it was there."

"If this is true," Hermione reasoned out, "the only ones who would have had access to it were the Death Eaters who captured him. If there's a message here, Ginny, that would have to mean it comes from them," the exact conclusion that Ginny had when she first perceived the piece in her hand. She shivered at the vulnerable situation this left her in.

"But who's the target in this?" Ron pondered aloud. "You or him?"

Hermione and Ginny shared an unsure look.

Ron continued, "If they're using this as a sign, a warning, or even a threat, it could very well mean that he's still alive. An Auror would be of great value to them, both for information and leverage against us."

"We've never found any trace of those who've gone missing…"

"Think about it Ginny… why? Why have we not been able to track them? Why have no bodies turned up? Not even a single one. We've found others, but no Agents. There's evil at work in the country, one we don't yet have the tools to understand, or the weapons to hold back, yet we keep on trying."

For a while there was nothing left for any of them to say. Ron glanced at his watch, realizing that he had to get to work. The mood in the kitchen remained subdued as Ginny said goodbye to Hermione with a promise to come round on the weekend. She left with Ron to walk him out the building.

"Ginny, are you going to be alright at your place by yourself?" Ron asked as they entered the elevator.

"Don't worry, my wards are all up to date, Bill made sure when he was last over. And I've proven more than enough times that I can handle myself. Sometimes I just get a little… shaken," she admitted, and not easily. Ron understood her confession and tactfully accepted it for what it was without pushing anything.

"Would you mind if I borrowed it?" he asked suddenly and Ginny slid it out of her pocket, passing it without hesitation. He tucked it safely inside his pocket and turned to her, explaining, "I'm going to look into this, ask around, and maybe find out if any of the other missing persons' things have turned up."

"Thank you," she returned, expecting nothing more from her sibling.

"You and I both know that with the office in such a state of disorder it probably won't amount to much…" he added unnecessarily. Ginny hadn't been gone that long to forget the sideways politics at the Ministry. "So, in the meantime, don't go walking through dark woods without your wand, and don't take any chocolate frogs from wizards you don't know," he concluded mightily.

Ginny crinkled her nose in mock distaste.

"And lock your doors," he said in a perfect imitation of seriousness before Disapparating at the very second the elevator doors opened to the building's lobby.

A wistful smile crept to her face at her brother's attitude, but it melted away as her brow snuck into a furrow. Her meeting with Ron had been meant to simplify things, but she felt them complicating by the hour.

TBC