A/N: Sorry loyal readers, it's been a long time. School and a small battle with the flu has kept me insane and busy. But chapter six is up now, so no complaints.

Chapter Six

Malfoy Manor, three days later:

Ginny took a deep breath before knocking hard on the big wooden door. After begging Hermione for more information on James Evans almost none-stop over 48 hours, Ginny had finally reached the conclusion that Hermione wasn't going to tell her anything more about him. She had become so desperate, she had even tried calling in a few favors at the ministry left over from her pro-Quiddich days. Unfortunately, her pull was mostly with the magical sports section, which could do little for her predicament, and her orderly brother, the ruddy Minister of Magic, refused to answer even his personal floo without an appointment. "Bloody bureaucrat," she'd mumbled on more than one occasion.

That left her with no other option then to ask the only other person who she was sure knew about James Evans: Draco Malfoy.

The reporter counted the seconds in her head before the tall, blonde healer opened the door.

"Weasley?" Draco said, shock written clearly on his face. "What are you doing here?"

Ginny pushed her way into the manor, ignoring Draco's confusion and questions. When she reached the entrance hall, she spun around to look at the wizard. "Who is James Evans?"

Draco did a double take. "What?"

"Evans. Who is he?"

Draco sighed and mumbled something like "why me?" under his breath. "Why?"

Ginny took the offense. "I need to know. Now."

The blonde breathed out slowly, his eyes shut. "I can't tell you."

"And why not?" Ginny bristled.

"Because I made a promise," Draco almost shouted. He hated mornings, especially when screechy redheads who wanted to know more about his secretive best friend interrupted them.

"So break it," the screechy redhead ordered.

"I'm not going to do that."

Ginny really wanted to stamp her foot. She really wanted to curse the stubborn arse with her best bat-boggy hex, but she didn't. "Can you tell me anything?"

Draco thought for a moment as he pulled on his outer healer robe. "He only works with me every other day."

"Where else does he work?" Ginny tried to think if she knew any other wizarding hospitals around.

"I am so dead," Draco mumbled to himself. "Try St. Michael's."

Ginny arched an eyebrow. "Where is that?"

Draco sighed again, and trying not to think about what Harry would do to him if he ever found out what Draco was saying, said, "It's in Scotland. A muggle hospital. Now may I go? I have a job to get to."

Ginny, who'd been standing in his way for a while, stepped aside. "Thanks."

Draco inclined his head regally. "Don't tell him I told you."

"Of course not." A second later the woman was gone and Draco was already starting to regret opening his big mouth.

St. Michael's, same day:

Ginny Weasley stepped shakily off the Knight Bus, hoping, no praying, that she wouldn't ever have to use it again. Of course, she knew that she would one day, but for now the wish made the queasy feeling in her stomach a little more bearable.

She walked hesitantly up to the doors of St. Michael's hospital, holding her breath. She headed straight to the desk right in front of the entrance and hoped that she didn't look too green.

"May I help you?" The man behind the counter looked bored and mumbled the words.

"I hope so. I'm looking for a James Evans. I think he works here," Ginny replied, looking around at her surroundings curiously. She never seized to be surprised at how advanced, and yet how primitive, the muggles really were, despite how much her father and Hermione had told her. It was really amazing to think they didn't even believe magic existed.

"Yes, he's our head of cardiology," the man replied. "Would you like me to tell him you are here?"

"Don't bother, Carson. I'll show her the way."

Ginny turned around to see a sweet looking man in a gray, stripped suit smiling at her. His dirty-brown hair was starting to thin, but he hid it well. "Are you looking for James?" he asked.

Ginny blinked. "Yeah, sort of." She held out her hand. "I'm Ginny Weasley. A friend of his from school," she exaggerated.

The man shook her hand energetically. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Weasley. The name is Nick McLeod. I'm the chief oncologist here at Michael's." He waved his hand, signaling that they should get into the elevator.

Ginny followed the cheery doctor into the lift. "So, Dr. McLeod-"

"Nick, please," Nick interrupted.

"Nick, how do you know James?"

Nick's smile dimmed slightly. "I've known James since he started here almost seven –or was it six? – years ago." He giggled a little. "You should have seen him when he started. He was the strangest young resident I think I've ever seen. And the most dedicated."

Ginny filed this new information in her brain under the category, "more confusing information". "Really? How so?"

Nick's expression sobered and he glanced at the witch as if deciding if she were trustworthy. He must have decided she was, because he said, "He took the loss of his first patient hard. Kept saying he should have been able to save him. We all told him there was nothing he could have done, but…" Nick shrugged. "I think he still feels guilty

The air in the elevator was heavy as Nick's words hung in the air. "You know, your friend's the best surgeon I've ever seen."

Ginny couldn't help but smile. "Is he?"

Nick bobbed his head energetically, shaking off the melancholy of the previous subject like a dog shakes off water. "We call him Magic Fingers in the lounge. When he's not there, of course," he added quickly. He smiled broadly again at Ginny's questioning expression, anticipating her next question. "He's a bit unpredictable. Most of the other doctors are a little intimidated by him."

Ginny nodded, about to ask more, but the lift's bell dinged and Nick led the way out into the corridor. "Now," he pointed, "James' office is just down the hall on your right."

Ginny looked where he was pointing and nodded in comprehension. "Thank you, Nick."

Nick gave her yet another boyish smile. "Don't mention it." He turned back into the lift, whistling softly under his breath.

Ginny waited until the elevator's doors had closed before ducking into the nearby restroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, and deciding that she didn't want James to recognize her, cast a few glamours.

When she exited the bathroom a few minutes later her hair was no longer the classic Weasley orange, but a shiny black and her eyes were the color of a fresh pickled toad, her favorite hair/eye combination. Ginny was proud to say her transfiguration NEWT classes hadn't been wasted.

Ginny knocked softly on the office marked Dr. James Evans and waited patiently. After a moment's hesitation, she opened the door and peeked inside. It was empty. She crept quietly into the lightly furnished office, nodding at his choice in decorations. It was very modern and yet comfortingly classic. The desk was especially nice. If she'd had to guess, Ginny would have said it was made of an old oak. It reminded her of the one Professor Dumbledore had had in his office when he was headmaster. But there was something missing.

It took the redhead-turned-black a second to realize what it was. There were no pictures anywhere. In fact, no personal items whatsoever. It looked like the whole office had been plucked from a magazine. A cold shiver ran down her spine and she was about to leave and forget about the mystery that was James Evans when a piece of paper she hadn't noticed before flapped on his desk.

Ginny found herself drawn to the paper and read it quickly. "Where's the lab?" she asked aloud, after reading it a second time.

She remembered seeing a map outside of the elevator and headed to it. Ginny didn't know how long she was staring at the map before someone asked, "Do you need to find something?"

Ginny looked up to see a thin, pencil-like woman asking her a question. "Yes. Can you tell me where the lab is?"

The pencil woman pursed her lips. "The lab is for hospital personal only."

Ginny thought quickly. "I just started work today and got lost."

"It's hospital regulation to wear your coat at all times."

Ginny pulled her arms closer to her chest self-consciously. The woman was creepy! "I know. I just haven't gotten it yet."

The woman looked at her critically, but replied grudgingly, "It's down in the basement. First door on the right. Next time I want to see your coat."

"Right, of course. Thank you!" Ginny had to force herself not to run away from the pencil woman as fast as she could.

The lab at St. Michael's, a minute later:

Harry lifted his eye from the microscope and stretched his arms. He'd been studying the tissue sample he'd taken from the woman Draco had managed to identify as Victoria Fisch using an obscure contact he had at the ministry, for over three hours. So far the only thing he was sure about was that it was indeed some magical form of Leprosy.

"What are you doing?" someone asked, making Harry jump and reach for his wand. He only just managed to keep it in his pocket.

He turned around to see a youngish woman wearing a fitted shirt and neat slacks watching him at the door. "Who are you?" he asked, glad his voice didn't betray his surprise.

The woman ignored him and walked further into the room. "What'cha doing?"

Harry looked down at the different lab equipment surrounding him. "Research. Why? Do you need the station?" He started to gather his stuff, but the strange woman stopped him.

"No, I was just wondering. What are you researching?"

Harry thought about what he should tell her. "It's a patient of mine."

"Cool."

Harry decided that as she wasn't going to kick him out, he might as well have another crack at figuring out the strange curse. He bent over the lens again.

"What's wrong with the patient?" The woman sounded genuinely interested and Harry looked up.

"Advanced case of Leprosy," he replied.

To his surprise the woman said, "I thought you were a surgeon." Ginny wasn't sure, but she was almost positive muggle surgeons didn't do research. But then again, her father did have reputation for skewing some muggle trivia.

Harry almost smiled. "I am. This is one of my patients from my other practice."

"You have another practice?"

Harry decided he wasn't going to get any work done if the woman continued to ask so many questions. He decided the best way to get rid of her was answer. "Yeah."

"Where?"

"Does it matter?" Harry deflected distractedly. There was something familiar about this woman, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "What's your name?" he asked abruptly.

The woman hesitated. "Molly."

"Nice to-" Harry started, but stopped suddenly. He stood up straight, a look of comprehension on his face. He had the solution! "I'm sorry, I have to go." He dashed out of the lab, leaving Molly, nee Ginny, alone and completely confused.

A/N: Thanks for those of you who reviewed. And for those of you who choose to. Thanks to KatyKanada for pointing out a silly mistake. Now fixed.