All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.
Beta: Roman's Sundial
Chapter Four: The Attempt
Ginny Weasley - Present Day
October 10, 1999
Ginny roamed the halls, vigorously looking for Harry. Saturday night, after the order meeting, only Mum and Dad apparated back to the Burrow and refused to tell Ginny anything that had happened. She messaged Harry the minute she returned to Hogwarts but never received a response. It was now Sunday, mid-afternoon, and Harry still had not replied.
"He cannot keep avoiding me!" Ginny said to herself aloud and angrily. "I will find you Potter!" Ginny barged into the Great Hall and nearly collided with Luna Lovegood. "Luna, have you seen Harry?"
"Oh, hello, Ginny!" replied Luna dreamily. "Yes, I was just with him actually, but then he said he was going to go find Neville."
"Where were you guys?" Ginny asked, hoping Harry would still be in the area.
"Moaning Myrtle's toilets. We needed privacy, of course."
"Privacy for what?" Luna looked down at her feet unwilling to reply. At first, Ginny was confused, but then it dawned on her.
"He's inducted you into the Order, hasn't he? And now he's doing the same with Neville!" Luna smiled but didn't reply. Ginny turned on her heal and ran out of the Great Hall. Now she really needed to find Harry. How dare he induct Luna and Neville and not her! She ran into Hermione in the library. "Hermione!" Ginny said angrily. "You guys inducted Luna and Neville, but not me?"
"Shh, quiet, Ginny!" Whispered Hermione, looking around.
"What was that meeting about?" Ginny asked more quietly. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Ginny, not until you're actually in."
"So put me in!"
"It's not my decision to make."
"Where is Harry?" demanded Ginny.
"I really don't know, Ginny, I'm sorry."
Ginny stormed out of the library and headed towards the owlery. "Harry Potter, don't move!" she yelled. Harry was standing at the back of the owlery, looking out into the grounds.
"How did you find me here?" Harry asked her.
"Because I know you don't come here anymore and since you are avoiding me, I thought to look in places that you don't visit." Harry said nothing. "Why are you avoiding me?" Ginny asked.
Harry sighed. "You know why, Ginny, I can't tell you what happened and I can't induct you into the Order."
"And why the bloody hell not?" Ginny asked, her blood boiling.
Harry seemed to have had his response rehearsed. "The Order made a decision to put a stop on inducting people for now. Once it opens up again, I'll mention you."
"You really think I'm going to accept that answer Harry? The decision was made right after you elected Luna and Neville? Why wasn't my name said then, too?"
"Ginny.." Harry sighed but Ginny was not letting down. "It's dangerous Ginny," Harry started. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Don't give me that garbage Harry Potter! I was there at the Ministry, I was here at the castle during the battle, I can handle myself! You can't always protect me, if there's a threat out there I should know about it. Inducting me into the Order is protecting me!"
"Ginny, I'm sorry, this is how it is at the moment. You understood before, you need to understand now."
"You broke up with me the last time, Harry, are you going to do that again?" Harry didn't respond, but instead turned and walked out of the owlery. Ginny was beyond furious. If Harry was going to start treating her like this, then she would start showing Harry a side of her that he did not want to see.
Draco Malfoy - Present Day
October 11, 1999
Meet me on the grounds near the forbidden forest at 3 o'clock.
Draco reread the message over and over. Why did Hermione want to see him now? He was not disappointed at all, but he had tried on several occasions to talk to her and she had refused. What had caused her to change her mind all of a sudden? He stood at the edge of the forest, waiting. A little after three, he saw Hermione approaching him. Goodness, she was beautiful. What a stupid decision he had made that day at his Mother's mansion, how he wished he could take it all back. But he was a Malfoy, a pureblood Malfoy at that, and nothing could change that. "Hello, Hermione," he said casually.
"Hi Draco, thank you for meeting me." Draco nodded. Hermione was hesitating; what was she up to? "Look, this is a one time meeting. You have your hearing coming up and you said you needed me, so here I am."
Draco started to walk away, "I don't need your charity, Granger."
She grabbed his arm, "wait, stop! Let me help you."
Draco considered her offer. "Why?"
Hermione lowered her eyes, "I cared about you at one point."
Draco's heart skipped a beat, "and now?"
Hermione responded so low that Draco had to lean in closer to hear her, "I will never forgive you, but I still care."
That was enough for Draco. "Okay, let's talk about the hearing."
Hermione nodded, "are you prepared?"
Draco shrugged, "nothing has really changed. I'm going to say the same things I said last time."
"What if they ask you new questions? Shall we do a test run?" Draco nodded, it couldn't hurt. "Okay, did you attend any meetings with Voldemort?"
Draco considered his answer, "not one on one or anything, but sometimes he would gather all of us and talk."
"About what?"
"Usually Potter. He was obsessed with killing him."
"Did he tell you what spell to use?"
Draco looked puzzled, "no, I'm pretty sure he thought us all capable of knowing the words for Avada Kedavra. But none of us were allowed to kill Potter, anyway, he had to be the one to do it."
"So he never told you guys about any spells?"
Draco looked confused. "What, no? What kind of questions are these?" Reality seemed to dawn on Draco, "you aren't helping me, you're helping yourself!"
"What? No, I'm helping you Draco!" but Draco got angry.
"I should have known, you wouldn't just come help me after all this time. You're trying to get information for that stupid Dobwig Association. Well I don't know anything so leave me alone." Draco walked away. He heard Hermione calling him back, but he ignored her. It hurt him that she wasn't really interested in helping and was just using him. He knew he probably deserved it, but it bothered him to know that she would treat him that way. He missed how things used to be.
Harry Potter - Present Day
October 11, 1999
Harry stared around at the members of the Order of the Pheonix. They were all gathered at number 12 Grimmauld Place and had just witnessed Harry induct Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Pomona Sprout, and Horace Slughorn. Everyone seemed to be waiting for Harry to speak. He wasn't the leader of the Order (there was no leader really), but everyone seemed to look at him to lead and he wished they hadn't. He would prefer to give that title to Kingsley. He cleared his throat, "okay, I guess we need updates. Helen?"
"Our people tracked Pius all the way to Paris, then lost him for two days. He returned, however, the third day."
"Okay, so if he is with Grindelwald, then I think it's safe to assume that Grindelwald is hiding somewhere in Paris, or at least near it," Harry said. Helen nodded. "You got anything Hermione?"
Hermione looked up, "not much, only that Voldemort did not teach them any spells."
"Just because the spell was not taught by You-Know-Who, doesn't mean it wasn't used," said George.
"I agree with you, George," said Kingsley. "We cannot rule out the possibility that the spell was used."
"So how do we test the theory?" Asked Arthur. It was quiet for a very long time. Finally, Harry spoke.
"We need to rule out the deaths that could not have survived regardless. Dumbledore fell from a tower, so even if Snape had somehow used it, the fall itself would have killed him." Painfully, they all started to discuss the deaths of their dear friends, in the hopes of naming a few that could potentially be saved.
"Fred?" Asked George. Molly Wesley burst into tears.
"I was there, George," Percy said in barely a whisper. "It was an explosion that took Freddie, not a spell." The entire Weasley family lowered their heads. The death of Fred had been the most painful loss for them and hearing of a possibility that he was alive had been the only thing they had left to hold on to. Now, all hope was lost and they began to mourn Fred again. After several long moments, Andromeda looked up at the Minister.
"Kingsley, my Nymphadora, and her husband?"
"Did anyone witness their deaths?" Kingsley asked the room. Everyone shook their heads. Minerva hesitated before speaking.
"They are buried in the Lupin vault, they would be the easiest.."
Andromeda nearly fell. "I could not bare to see her if.. if.."
"We shall visit Remus first, Andromeda," said Kingsley kindly. "And you shall be at home with Teddy." Andromeda nodded gratefully.
"And what do we do once we are there?" Asked Ron, "do we know the counter spell?"
"As far as we know it's simply the same spell backwards," answered Helen.
"How accurate is that information?" Asked Hermione.
"About as accurate as everything else we know, as it's all the same source. Best way to find out is to try it out."
"We should be certain before we even consider visiting graves," Hestia said. Everyone murmured in agreement.
"Let's test it out on one of us then, I'll volunteer," said Neville. "
No!" Harry, Minerva, and Molly all said at once.
"It needs to be tested," argued Neville, "and this is the only way!"
"It does need to be tested," agreed Pomona, "but not by you. I shall step forward instead."
"You're a teacher!" Neville stated, "you're needed!"
"And you're a student!" Retaliated Pomona, "you are needed in school much more!" The two of them continued to bicker until George stepped forward and intervened.
"Neither of you will be tested on," he said sternly, "it will be me."
"No!" Shouted Mrs. Weasley.
"This isn't your decision, Mum! Ever since I lost Freddie I've felt empty, meaningless. If I could do something that can potentially save people, I need to try. I know I can't save Fred, but there are others."
"George, you may not wake! This isn't guaranteed!"
"Then I'll be with Fred! What could be better than that?"
Molly was sobbing. "Your shop, George!" She cried, saying whatever she could to stop George from doing this.
"My shop will survive without me. Ron can take care of it, can't you Ron?"
"I won't need to mate," he said quietly, "you're coming back." George nodded.
"George, I said no!" Molly started to yell, but Arthur put a hand on her arm to silence her and looked up at his son.
"You sure about this George?" He asked him.
"I am, father," George replied confidently.
"Okay then," said Arthur, "but you wake up, George, I am not losing another son." Harry watched Arthur embrace his son. He wished there was another way, but he knew that the best chance for the Order was for this theory to be tested. George was then hugged by a sobbing Mrs. Weasley.
"It will be fine, Mum, relax." The room was incredibly quiet as George went around the room and embraced his siblings. Then he approached Harry. "If this goes sour, Harry, tell Ginny I love her."
"I will," said Harry, never hearing George speak so seriously before.
"And take care of Mum, she'll need it." Harry nodded but said nothing. He was allowing George to go through with this, but like Mrs. Weasley, he didn't approve. He would much rather have them test him but knew nobody would allow it. "Alright," said George, laying down on the couch. "Let's do this!"
Helen approached him with her wand raised, "see you in five minutes George. Abracadabra!" Instantly, George fell still. Mrs. Weasley started sobbing even harder.
"It's okay, Mum," Charlie put an arm around his mother. "He's asleep, he will wake up shortly." The rest of the order hurriedly took notes so that they could wake George as soon as possible.
"He looks dead, there's no life in him," Hermione said as she attempted to feel for a pulse.
"It definitely would mimic the killing curse," said Harry, "I'm curious to hear what George says it feels like. Could he hear us or is he sleeping?"
"We won't know until we wake him up," said Luna.
"Let's do it then," said Harry, feeling uncomfortable seeing George that way. Kingsley nodded to Helen and she stepped forward, wand raised at George again.
"Arbadacarba!" she said. They all stared at George waiting for him to stir, but George laid there motionless. He did not wake.
Hermione Granger - The Past
August 13, 1998
Hermione had never been so busy in her life. Another twenty-two cases were handed to her today and she already had a large pile that she had yet to go through. They knew there would be consequences when outing the wizarding world, but Hermione was getting overwhelmed. It was her job along with the Minister of Magic to conduct a trial for any witch or wizard who harmed a muggle. Some awful witches and wizards thought it was okay to use magic on muggles now that the secret was out. Hermione sighed at the thought, but she knew that outing the secret had done more good than bad. There would never be a perfect world, she reminded herself; Wrong-doers would always exist. She grabbed the six files that were being heard for the day and headed down to the courtrooms. Harry and the Minister should be finishing up their last Death Eater hearing of the day. As she approached the court room, she heard someone call out to her. "Granger!"
"Who's there?" Hermione responded. She watched Draco Malfoy appear out of the shadows. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she asked coolly.
Malfoy hesitated before responding, "it's my father's trial. He's in there now."
"Oh," said Hermione. A part of her felt bad for Malfoy. There was a high possibility that he would never see his father again.
"Do you think, maybe, um.." Malfoy was finding it difficult to complete his sentence. Hermione had never seen him behave this way before.
"What is it?" She asked him.
Malfoy sighed. "Could you maybe help me find out what's going on?" He asked her.
"Oh," said Hermione again, stunned. Malfoy wanted her help? "Sorry, Malfoy, nobody is allowed in there.."
"Please!" Malfoy begged her, "I haven't seen my father since the war and if he loses, if they find him guilty.." Malfoy couldn't finish his sentence. Hermione wasn't sure why she felt sorry for him, but she did anyway.
"Follow me," she told him. She lead him through a side chamber that connected to the courtroom. "You cannot go inside," she warned him, "but the door is open a bit so you'll be able to see and hear."
"Granger, thanks," He said. Hermione nodded and walked back to the courtroom's main doors. She entered the trial and sat in the back quietly, just as Lucius Malfoy was rolling his sleeve up again.
"I have concluded my questioning, Minister," said Rubin Yaxley, "I find Mr. Malfoy guilty."
"Thank you, Mr. Yaxley," said Kingsley, "Mr. Potter?"
Hermione watched Harry frown. "I believe Mr. Malfoy to be guilty, however, I find his actions at the battle of Hogwarts to be innocent," Harry replied.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Kingsley turned to Lucius. "Most wizards with a record like yours are given the Dementor's Kiss; however, I too feel that your actions at the battle of Hogwarts were innocent. Therefore you will be spared the dementor's kiss, but are hereby sentenced to Azkaban prison to spend your remaining days." Well, it's what he deserves, Hermione thought to herself. She heard a noise towards the chamber on her left. Oh no, she thought, Malfoy! She quickly exited the courtroom and made her way back to the room where she had left Draco Malfoy hidden.
"Malfoy?" She called out as she entered the chamber. At first she thought he had left, but then she saw him huddled in the corner. "Malfoy?" She asked again. It was indeed Draco Malfoy, curled up in the corner. He was paler than usual, and most definitely in shock. "Oh, Malfoy!" She said. She immediately went to him and without realizing it, embraced him. Surprisingly, he hugged her back and laid his head on her shoulder.
"My father!" he said, disbelief in his voice.
"I know Malfoy, I know," she soothed. They stayed together for what seemed like forever.
Finally, Malfoy lifted his head. "You're being nice to me, after everything," he said to her.
"You just went through a terrible ordeal," she responded. "I know how you feel."
"Why?" Asked Malfoy, "where are your parents?"
"Maybe another time," Hermione answered, "I must go."
Malfoy nodded, "thanks, Granger, um.. Hermione."
Hermione jumped a little in surprise. "You're welcome, Mal- Draco." She turned and headed back to the courtroom. She sat in her designated seat and opened her briefcase to grab her files for today when her hand brushed up against something hot. She quickly glanced down at her galleon and saw a message from an unknown serial code.
Lunch tomorrow? We can discuss your parents.
Smiling, Hermione replied,
Okay.
It seemed weird, her and Malfoy getting along like this, but oddly enough, it didn't feel wrong. Hermione put her galleon away and called upon her first client, all the while thinking about how this new friendship had come about.