Disclaimer: I do not own HP, JK does.
A/N: First off I just want to tell everyone that it was vital to the plot line that Ginny be killed, which you will all understand when I get to the climax and the reveal of Marvolo. However that is still many chapters away. I just wanted to say thanks to those who reviewed, I love to get any kind of feed back on a story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter…and again I'm sorry for the bombshell of killing Ginny, it broke my heart to do it, but again I had too.
Chapter 7
Harry walked nervously up the walk to his house; his twenty four hours had ended. The time had passed faster than Harry had thought it would and all he had to show for the night's skull session was a list of women he knew. When morning came it would bring with it the name of Marvolo's victim and another note. Slipping the key into the lock, Harry pushed open the front door to reveal an empty house. He had come home to an empty house every night since Landon had started going to Hogwarts, but for some reason this was the darkest of all darks. He reached for the light switch with his wand at the ready as though when the room lit up he'd find someone sitting it his easy chair.
Walking to the kitchen, Harry pulled open the refrigerator looking for something to eat. Taking in everything, Harry felt his stomach turn sour. He then turned to the liquor cabinet and pulled out his old friend. He knew it was silly to drink away the pain he was feeling. After all it would only numb it for a little while, but he felt that only applied to people who were having little problems not problems that involved a crazed serial killer. He felt the familiar sting as the firewhiskey slid down his throat.
"How did I get here?" he asked himself as he took a seat at the table. The day his parents had him they had begun to plan his future, but a deranged man had ended any hope that Harry had at a normal childhood. Now, another man had attacked his semi-normal life bringing it to a very dangerous ledge. He hadn't asked for any of this, but somehow someone always found a way to stop his happiness. "Merlin," he sighed as he filled his glass again. "Help me figure this out." Slamming back the remaining firewhiskey, Harry returned the bottle to its former place of rest and headed for the stairs. Once he reached his bedroom he found himself wishing that Ginny was home. Pulling back the bed covers, Harry climbed on his side never even bothering to remove his work clothes. He turned and laid his hand on Ginny's pillow. "Good night Ginny," he whispered as he closed his eyes.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mr. Potter,
Your ignorance has cost you more than you'll ever imagine.
-Marvolo
Mariska's heart pounded as she read the words over and over again. She didn't understand why the hooded man had done this. Looking down at Ginny's lifeless body, Mariska pocketed the note. "I'm sorry Ginny," she said kissing her forehead. "But I have to leave now. I love you," she said as she pulled the cloak tight around her. She knew that shops would begin to open in a few hours. Although it hurt to leave her step mother lying lifeless on the sidewalk she couldn't risk the hooded man finding out that she saw the murder.
When she returned to the Gryffindor common room, Mariska took a seat in front of the fire. She could feel the hot tears as they fell from her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered as she thought about Ginny. Glancing at the stairs that led to the boys' dorms, Mariska's heart began to ache for a sleeping Landon. When morning came the news would spread like wildfire and both she and Landon would be taken to McGonagall's office to receive the tragic news. She could feel how heavy her eyelids were, but to sleep would mean relief and she had a guilty conscience.
She knew she shouldn't have taken the killer's note, but she felt that if this looked like some random killing that Harry wouldn't be so worried about the serial killer cases; after all he needed time to grieve later she would come up with a way to reveal the note. As she made her way to the girls' dormitory she thought about all the things that were about to change and how she had hated spending summers with Ginny. Now, she wished she could just have two more minutes with her so she could tell her how much she really cared about her and how she couldn't have asked for anyone better. It's strange how you don't know how much you care about someone until they're gone.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Harry awoke at seven the next morning. Having had a restless nights sleep; he decided to owl in sick. After all if the note said anything terribly important then Blaise would get in touch with him. In truth he was afraid of what Marvolo had done this time and what he would have in store for Harry next. Rolling onto his back, Harry tried to get some more sleep only to be denied by the terrible thoughts running through his mind. Finally giving up he made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, Harry looked himself over in the mirror. He noticed how much his face had aged in the past few years. Gone was the tight skin and jet black hair. In its place were gray strains peeping out at the temples and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. With age came wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge of what is right and wrong. That is in normal everyday situations; he was able to take all of that and guide his children. He was able to use all of that in guiding himself, but when it came to this case he felt like the helpless little eleven year old who stood waiting to be sorted.
Nothing in this killers method made any sense; it was random and yet at the same time well thought out. The conclusion that Harry came up with was that: To Marvolo this whole thing is a game and Harry is the contestant. So, like every game there are rules the problem is that he is having trouble pin pointing what those are. With a sigh, Harry began to get dressed. He wanted to be ready to go to the office just in case Blaise owled him with any news.
As he stood in the kitchen reading the Daily Prophet, Harry heard a knock at the door. He was not expecting any company and if it were Blaise he would have owled a head of time. Harry grabbed his wand and walked to the dining room window. Glancing out toward the road he noticed the official Ministry cars. His heart began to beat faster as he then noticed who was sitting in the back seat. Harry shook his head in disbelief as he watched Mr. and Mrs. Weasley get out the car. His mind began to race as he remembered that Hermione, Angelina, and Katie all were in London last night. He heard the second knock and knew he should answer it, but his feet were rooted to the floor.
When the third knock sounded, Harry found his voice. "C-Come in," he said fighting the terrible thoughts that were running through his head. He could hear the footsteps as everyone piled into the living room. Harry could tell by the looks on everyone's faces that something terrible had happened. He could see the look of utter horror on Ron's face and he just knew that something had happened to Hermione. It wasn't until Marcus entered that reality sunk in. "No," Harry heard himself say, but he couldn't remember speaking.
The room was spinning and Harry felt his heart break. He watched as Marcus laid a file on the kitchen table. He didn't even have to read the name to know what the file contained. Tears began to fill his eyes as Ginny's face entered his mind. She couldn't be dead she was at Hogwarts right now getting ready to teach her students. Ginny was fine. She had to be fine, but deep down he knew the truth.
"Harry," Marcus said placing his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we…."
"Don't say it," Harry said turning to face the older man.
"Harry," Marcus pleaded with sympathy. "You know this is hard for me, but I'm afraid it's my job."
"Where are my kids?" Harry asked, as tears fell from his eyes.
"They're with Hermione at the Ministry," Ron replied. It was easy to see the tear tracks that lined the distance between his eyes and jaw.
Turning to the case file, Harry opened the folder. He quickly noticed that the crime scene photos were missing as was Marvolo's note. Harry gave Marcus a puzzled look. "This is missing photos and the note."
Marcus shook his head. "Harry, there was no note at the crime scene," he replied. "However we did search Ginny's office and found a note there."
Harry's head began to spin. "He was in Hogwarts?"
"No," Marcus replied hesitantly. "The note in Ginny's office was from you." Noticing the confused look Harry wore, Marcus sighed. "I'm sorry Harry, but I'm afraid that I have to ask you where you were at midnight last night."
"Are you saying that I'm a suspect?" Harry asked as his grief turned to anger. "I didn't kill my wife!"
"Harry," Ron said taking a step closer. "We don't think you killed Ginny, but tell us where you were."
Harry looked around the room. Everyone seemed to have the same thought running through their minds. "I was at home."
"Do you have anyone who can confirm that?" Marcus asked with a sigh.
Tears again began to stream down Harry's face. "You know I don't."
Marcus shook his head, this was the last thing he wanted to be doing. "Harry," Marcus said pulling out a pair of silver hand cuffs. "I'm sorry about this. I truly am." Harry nodded as he placed his hands behind his back. "Harry Potter you are under arrest for the murder of Ginny Potter pending an official investigation by the Aurors' of the Ministry of Magic by order of the Minister of Magic Mr. Harold Shylow. You will await your trial in Azkaban unless proven innocent by evidence brought forth by the team investigating your crimes. Do you understand what I have told you?"
Harry shook his head. "I understand what you've said, but I don't understand why I'm being put away for a crime I could never commit," Harry replied. Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley he added, "You know I didn't do this."
Throwing her arms around Harry, Mrs. Weasley cried. "We're going to get you the best defense team that money can buy. You just hang in there Harry we've got this whole thing under control."
When they reached Azkaban there were reports everywhere waiting to get a good shot of Harry. He knew that they would have a field day with this story. By morning he would have been seen in Hogsmeade by twenty people who never existed. What hurt him the most was that all the papers would say the same thing, that he, Harry Potter, had killed the love of his life. As the car came to a stop, Harry asked, "Am I going to be able to attend the funeral?" He could tell by the look on Marcus' face that the answer was no.
Stepping out of the car, Harry was bombarded by thousands of questions.
"Mr. Potter why did you kill your wife?" he heard one witch ask.
"Mr. Potter why did you cheat on your wife?"
"Mr. Potter are you planning on killing more people?"
Harry hung his head as thousands of cameras went off. All of his years as an Auror had come down to this being led away to Azkaban. Looking up at the large building and its great stone walls, Harry recalled the day it was built. The original building sat on an island and was guarded by dementors, but the cells were becoming too crowded. So, the Ministry ordered that a new building be built. Little did Harry know that he was to one day be placed behind the bars of this prison. The original building was now a hot tourist attraction and the former cafeteria was converted into a fine restaurant.
The new Azkaban had been built by its own prisoners, under the supervision of the Aurors. Stepping inside the gates, Harry saw the faces of all the people he had helped put away over the years. "Oh yeah, I'm going to be very popular here," Harry said as he watched Theodore Nott crack his knuckles.
"Don't worry Harry," Marcus said leading him to the guard's office for sign in. "I've arranged it so you're not mixed in with the main stream criminals."
As they made their way to the guard's office, Harry suddenly remembered Azkaban nickname: Bloody Azkaban. He had forgotten how much trouble the guards had been having with the crime rate just inside the prison walls. Suddenly Marcus' comment didn't seem to make Harry feel any better. He was well aware that every guard in the prison had a price; he also knew that most of the prisoners here would be willing to pay anything for just one minute alone with their old pal Harry.
After being signed in, Harry was led down cell block B; where he was placed in a cell in the far back. He watched as the guard slid the door shut. Looking around the room he noticed that privacy was going to be next to impossible so, there was no way he would be able to just sit and let out all the bottled up pain from Ginny's lose. He then began to think of his two kids, they were going to know that their father was in Azkaban. They would have to face Ginny's funeral alone. Oh sure the Weasley's would be there, but with Harry gone he knew they would feel alone.
Apparently this had been Marvolo's plan all a long, to have Harry put away. To blemish his good name and drive a wedge between him and what was left of his family. He had to admit that Marvolo was very meticulous with details; he was almost positive that so form of evidence was or will be planted at Harry's home or on Ginny's body linking him to the murder. Taking a seat on his cot, Harry sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you," he said as tears spilled out of his eyes. "But I promise you this; I will track him down and kill him. He is going to suffer for what he has done!"
