Die to Live
Chapter Seven
By Mell8
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It was simple. The clues added up so nicely. Harry didn't understand how the Ministry had been unable to figure out the biggest mystery murder ever to be committed in the Wizarding world when everything needed to solve it was right out in the open. The floo department just happened to lose the records of floo trips at exactly the time of the murders, the lack of bodies, and the missing funds from both the Malfoy and Zabini coffers. Plus there was the general oddity of the scene of the crime. Too much furniture and a lack of blood splatters were the most obvious mistakes made in the site. All one had to do was a little research to find out that the money that had disappeared had been changed into Muggle money which was then spent. They followed up the money to the floo department and to a Muggle town. Then Harry had his team of Aurors check the town for any use of magic in the last six years. Ginny's and Zabini's wands had been used to apparate into the town a few times before they disappeared. Harry knew that he would find at least a trace of Ginny in the town and hopefully that trace would lead them to her or at minimum, her body.
All he wanted for the Weasley family was closure. He wanted them to know what had happened to their baby girl.
Harry was shocked at what he discovered when he actually found Ginevra Weasley.
Ginny woke up around noon the next day with a horrible hangover. Draco, Blaise and Ginny had talked into the early morning about what they were going to do. The most obvious option would be to run. Draco had wanted to go to another country entirely. Blaise wanted to turn himself into the Aurors. He didn't want to continue hiding when it was clear to him that the war was over. He was positive that once they told their story to the Aurors they would be allowed to go free. All Ginny knew was that she didn't want her life to change. She was happy living in their run-down, dirty apartment with her two boys. With either of Draco and Blaise's plans her life would be uprooted and her happiness would be hurt.
The only thing they agreed on was that they needed to talk to Ginny's manager the day after their break. After coming to that conclusion, all three of them proceeded to drink themselves into a stupor before stumbling into bed.
Ginny groaned and shifted in the bed. Draco reflexively wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. Blaise grumbled and rolled closer until Ginny was sandwiched between the boys. She smiled happily and her headache lessened. Her boys had the ability to take away all of her pain.
As she drifted off to sleep Ginny knew that no matter where they ended up, as long as they were together everything would be okay.
"I knew who the three of you were before I hired you, Ginny," Ginny's manager sighed and rubbed his hands together self-consciously.
Ginny, Blaise and Draco were currently crowded around Ginny's manager's desk. They had spent the previous day debating on what they were going to say to the man to keep him from spilling their secret to the Aurors. Once they arrived at the grocery store, the manager took the matter out of their hands entirely. As soon as he saw them, Ginny's manager opened his mouth and said, "I know".
Draco was scowling evilly and Blaise looked neutral. Ginny couldn't decide whether it would be better to cry or to laugh. It had taken six years for her to finally realize one very important fact. She knew her manager from her years at Hogwarts.
Lee Jordan, the twins best friend, stood in front of them with a sheepish smile on his face.
"It was only a lucky chance that led you to my doorstep. Fred and George asked me to look after you once they found out that I knew where you three were hiding. I've been keeping the twins updated on your lives and they have been setting up false clues for the Death Eaters who were searching for you. I must admit that it surprised them that you were saving Malfoy and Zabini but they still kept your secret."
"So why are the Aurors out looking for us now?" Blaise asked quietly.
"The war ended almost six months ago," Lee answered slowly. "It has taken the Aurors this long to capture all of the Death Eaters. Harry rose high in the ranks of the Aurors during the war, especially after he killed Voldemort. The second he got a chance; Harry started searching for the answers to your murders. The investigation led him here. Ginny, you really don't have a choice. It is only a matter of time until Harry finds you and your boys. Even if you run he will find you. I know that Fred and George will support you if you go to the Aurors and so will I."
Draco sighed and ran a hand nervously through his hair. "It's the only way," he said sadly. Ginny wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in Draco's shoulder.
Blaise clapped his hand down on Draco's shoulder. "Very well Jordan. Send a message to Ginny's brothers. Inform them that we are going to turn ourselves in, but I don't want Ginny hurt. None of this was her fault."
Lee nodded. "I'll do my best. Malfoy, you and Zabini should go to your jobs and ask for an extended leave. Let me have a quick word with Ginny. She will meet you at Draco's store." Blaise and Draco nodded before gently detangling themselves from Ginny and walking out of the office.
"Ginny I just want to warn you," Lee said as soon as the boys were gone. "It is very possible that you will end up in Azkaban until your sentence is cleared." Ginny nodded sadly. "Look, it would be best for Malfoy and Zabini if you didn't show them your feelings about prison and possible separation from them. If you show your pain to the boys they will suffer more. Be strong for them and for yourself." Ginny nodded again and walked out of the office.
She took her time leaving the grocery store and walked slowly through the town. Ginny ignored the glances from the other townspeople. At first, when they had just moved in, the townspeople had been wary of the three teens. They lived in the worst part of town and were barely able to get by. Now, six years later, all three of them were well known as strong, hardworking and friendly. For the townspeople, seeing Ginny so upset was a rare occasion.
For two different pairs of eyes it was a chance. Both sets of eyes blinked in surprise when they saw Ginny walking by herself down the busy street. One left to tell his superior about his find; the other snickered and turned to his friends. Together they slid out of the dark alley into the street. They began to follow Ginny down the street until the best opportunity to strike presented itself.
Ginny, lost in her misery as she was, was oblivious to the two sets of eyes. She continued walking down the street and almost paused in front of the pizza parlor but continued down the street towards Draco's shop instead. She only stopped walking when a hard hand landed on her shoulder and started pulling her into an alley.
Blaise saw Ginny walk by the restaurant on her way to Draco's and quickly finished up his business before following her down the street. He was still a few blocks away when he saw it happen. Blaise quickly broke into a run. He needed to get to Ginny quickly.
Draco had finished his business at the shop very swiftly. It was easier for him to take a few weeks off in his own shop than it was for Blaise to get leave for that long. Draco waited for both Ginny and Blaise for five minutes before leaving the shop to meet up with them in the street. He caught sight of Ginny's red hair and saw whom she was with within seconds. He also saw Blaise rushing to save her. Draco broke into a sprint.
Harry Potter apparated into the town moments after his Auror informed him that Ginny had been spotted. He followed her trail and stopped short at the scene in front of him.
Ginny was being dragged, fighting and screaming, down the street by a group of ratty gang members. Harry quickly grabbed his wand and moved forward to help her. He stopped short when two flashes, one of blond hair and the other of dark skin, flew by him. Harry's mouth opened in shock. Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy were alive! He quickly sent a message for backup before moving closer to the scene. Harry watched as Malfoy's fist connected with the face of the boy who was dragging Ginny. Ginny quickly pulled away and wrapped herself around Malfoy's body. Zabini took down another two boys before the gang scattered. Harry watched as his worst enemy and his worst enemy's best friend consoled his sobbing ex-girlfriend with practiced ease. It was suddenly clear to Harry that Ginny did not hate these two boys. She could not have been kidnapped as Harry hoped. In fact, it seemed that Ginny had willingly left her family for those two. It didn't make sense.
There was a loud swish of robes and suddenly three more Aurors walked up next to Harry. Ron, Neville, and Hermione watched the scene in front of them in disbelief.
"Is that Ginny?" Ron asked quietly.
Harry nodded. "And Malfoy and Zabini."
Hermione shook her head. "This is going to take some explaining," she sighed. All four of them nodded before moving into position.
Ginny looked up from where she was sobbing in Draco's arms and gasped. Her face was tearstained and her eyes were puffy but that did not disguise the look of anguish that crossed her face when she saw Harry standing in front of her with his wand poised to strike. She tightened her arms around Draco and sighed.
"Hello Harry," she murmured. Ginny felt Draco stiffen under her arms and Blaise freeze in place.
"You are officially under arrest, under the order of the Ministry of Magic, the jurisdiction of the Department of Aurors, Head Auror Harry Potter," Harry said quietly, "for the murders of Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini and Ginevra Weasley."
Ginny looked up at Harry and nodded. She gripped Draco's left hand in her right and Blaise's right hand in her left and, under constant wand point, followed Harry Potter away from their home and back into the Wizarding world. All they could hope was that the Wizarding world would be nicer and less deadly to them this time around.
