Second Date

[[Missing you. Dinner? My treat if you are up for Francesca's at half eight.]]

Ginny re-read the interoffice memo that had appeared on her desk while she was down in document archives, then scrawled a simple affirmative and refolded the memo. With a practiced flick of her wrist she launched it into the air to return to its sender. She smiled to herself, it was a Friday night and Ginny had a date.

Harry was already seated by the time Ginny arrived. Francesca's was one of three eateries conveniently located in the ministry, and the best of the three, but a far cry from genuine Italian cooking. But what Francesca's lost in authenticity it more than made up in convenience, and Ginny was ravenous.

"Hope you haven't been waiting too long..."

"Nah, I just got here. I haven't even gotten my beer yet. What will you have?"

"Honeyduke's?" Ginny wondered, laughing.

"For me, or for you? I asked for a pull of bitter, but I'd be happy to buy you a Honeyduke's if you like."

"No, thanks anyway. I like the house red though. It's a Zin they import for cheap from California's central valley, but I think it tastes like fermented blackberries. And the aftertaste of currant and chocolate is just heavenly."

Both Harry and Ginny sipped silently from their drinks for a minute, before both started speaking at once: "About the other night..."

Harry broke into a grin, "You go first..."

Ginny gazed into Harry's eyes and began to blush. "It was good to see you again. I have friends, and there is my family of course, but I don't get a chance to talk so comfortably with anyone else.

"And you, sitting there so glamorous in your Auror's robes, I bet all the witches are probably fighting to be in your bed right now," Ginny teased. "But if you want to, I mean if you can make the time for me, I'd like very much to spend more time with you."

Harry gazed back at her directly, green eyes piercing her soul. A minute passed silently.

"I would like that too." And with that Harry handed Ginny a small box.

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. This was going too fast; with nervous fingers she touched three runes on the top that roughly translated meant destiny, or soul journey, or something like that. At her touch the box opened and within she found a locket in silver filigree with seven small rubies raining like a starburst from the antlers of a rampant stag. The piece was small but beautiful in its intricacy. The locket depended from a thin chain, also finely wrought, of platinum perhaps?

"Why, it is beautiful. The top left quadrant of the Black family crest, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is," Harry smiled. "Actually it is one of the pieces that were stolen by Mundungus back when the Order was using Grimauld place. I had a loss trace on as many of the pieces as I could identify by description, and this one just came back to me yesterday. Don't worry though, I've checked it for magic and the aura is clean."

Ginny gestured to Harry to help her put it on and Harry reached behind her neck, his hand warm and dry on her neck as he fastened the chain clasp.

"I've enchanted it now of course," Harry continued.

Ginny paused wide eyed. "To do what?"

"Consider it an invitation, but let me show you before I tell you. Touch the stag and say 'Abraxas'." Harry dropped two galeons on the table. Ginny eyed him suspiciously, but Harry just winked.

"Abraxas," she whispered. There was a familiar pulling sensation centered at her navel and...

Ginny looked around in wide eyed wonder. Before her stretched a little used dirt road, which to her right side fell down ragged black rock cliffs to pounding surf. To her left was a vineyard, though not a variety she recognized, cultured by the old fashioned method, each vine grown like a stunted old tree. Beneath the grape leaves the fruit was just beginning to break, some green, some reddening in air still warm with moisture despite the sun lowering itself toward the waves.

A crack of apparition and Harry stood beside her. "Sorry that took a minute or two longer than I thought it would," he admitted.

"What... is this?" she asked, spinning to gather it all in at once.

"This is the estate. My estate now, I guess, but part of what Sirius bequeathed to me."

"But where?"

"Ah, yes. This particular property has been in the family since one of the Black ancestors, a wizard named Astero Neigri, liberated it from Roman occupation in A.D 470 or so. At the time it was a fairly productive source of silver; indeed some of the Sestersius in the London museum are, I believe, from this very estate."

"Merlin's beard, but that's," Ginny struggled to understand.

"Yes, it predates the interdict of Merlin. Actually from what I can tell Merlin's magic never penetrated the protective enchantments of the estate. This is a place of wild magic, possibly the only place in the world where the runes of power can still be read."

Ginny gulped. "But it looks so peaceful, so beautiful."

"Oh, it is that. Time stops here, in a way... ah, here comes the coach." As Harry pointed, a coach drawn by a matching pair of dappled grey horses pulled to a stop in front of them. "Ginevra Weasley, may I present Halcyon, manor elf of house Black.

The elf was like none other Ginny had ever seen. Standing half a head taller than Harry, the elf was lean with angular features, next to which the house elves of Britain seemed like simpleton pygmies. Never before had Ginny seen or imagined a fully clothed and lithe silver haired elf with jet black skin.

The elf glanced at Ginny and then ignored her. "Lord Black," he hissed, "you should know by now that the night is not safe on this estate. If you will be staying we should hurry along before the light fails.

"What say you Ginny," Harry asked. "Would you like to dine with me at the manor? Or shall I take you back to Francesca's instead?"

Ginny looked at the deepening sunset and reddening sky. "Will we have view of the sunset?" she asked.

"You know, I believe we shall!" Harry grinned back.