Summary- The battle with Voldemort has been over four years now, but Harry is still unhappy. Sure he has his friends, but he still feels as if there is a void in his life. After his only loved moved away Harry thought he could never be happy. That is until she returns. DH Spoilers!

Setting- Four years after DH but before Epilouge.

Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter. I only own the plot and any original characters.

A/N: After reading the reviews and the final chapter of book seven again I realized that I had read over the name of Bill and Fleur's child. So from now on it will be Victoire. Sorry for that it was totally my fault.

Chapter 7- Malfloy Manor

He sat in the back of the rows of chairs. He knew that at any moment his life could end. Well, end again. He wasn't scared to die, but he didn't want to die by the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange. He knew she hated him. She would kill him if he let her. No, she'd try to kill him by any means necessary after she tried to use him for all she could.

"SILENCE!" All of the soft chatter stopped and they looked to the very front where a dark, heavy lidded witch was standing. A few select others trying their hardest to look strong and proud but looking nervous still.

"So, I see that you all failed to find the child then?"

"He is with Harry Potter. And being watched and guarded at all times."

"Harry Potter still around the, eh? Well he won't be for too long. I'll make sure of that. But first I want that brat taken care of! I will have my family name cleared!"

No one said anything. No one dared to breathe. Voldemort had been ruthless and uncaring, but Bellatrix would kill anyone just for breathing in the wrong moment. They had all learned that three nights ago when Pansy Parkinson had chosen to breathe a little to loudly after Bella had called for silence.

"Hmm, learned well have all of you? Good. Now, let's see, ah yes, Snape, what is your view on getting to the boy?"

He had known it was coming. Why did they have to bring the two of them back? The were known enemies.

"I think that if you can be fooled by a mere child there is no way you'll ever be able to finish Potter."

People all around gasped but Sanpe's expression stayed quite impassive. Bella swelled with fury.

"I'd kill you where you sat if I didn't have need for you! You greasy bat!"

Snape said nothing. Bella, guessing she had won the argument began pacing in front of the group.

"We'll have to take him by force. There is no other way."

"That's suicidal." Snape added.

"You have anything better to add?"

He didn't answer again. Maybe it was best to let her continue. Hopefully, Potter and the rest of his friends would have it figured out soon how to kill Bellatrix and if needed himself.

Harry sat beside Ginny on the bed and watched as Ted played with a small toy broomstick and a few action figures from the various Qudditch teams. They had bought them earlier that day while taking Ted out for some ice cream.

Ginny had not spoken a word to him the entire time except to tell him what kind of ice cream she wanted. Harry knew that she was still upset with him. He couldn't get it out of his head that Ginny might hate him. One of the few people he wanted to not hate him possibly could. It was tearing him apart inside, but he didn't let her see. What good would it do? It wouldn't.

"He seems to be having a good time. I'm glad."

"Yeah, me too."

Ted looked at them for a second and then went back to playing. Harry wondered if he knew something was going on with Harry and Ginny. It was highly possible. Ted proved to be very intelligent for his age. Harry smiled as his hair changed to a bright green without Ted's knowledge.

Ted ran to them with all of his things barely fitting in his arms. "Can I go show Grandma Wealsey and Victoire my new things?"

"Sure, I'll take you down stairs." Ginny said. They both left the room. Harry rose to his feet and went over to a window. The sun was already leaving the sky. It would be night in another hour at the most. Harry was glad for it to be the weekend so he could spend time with Ted, but he had to get back to work. Neither Ted nor anyone else would be safe again until he found where Bellatrix was. He knew some of the Order had given up on what Malfloy said. But Harry hadn't. He knew what he said had been true. He only hoped Hermione and Ron still believed him too.

Ginny returned much to Harry's suprise and sat back down on the bed.

"He almost fell going down the stairs with all of those things in his hands. I had to levitate them into the kitchen."

Another smile found it's way to Harry's face. "Yeah, I thought that you might have to."

"What did you think of his new hair color?"

Harry and Ginny both laughed. "It was brilliant, wasn't it? I'm thinking of getting mine put the same way."

"I've always pictured yours as blue not green, but I guess it'd be okay if you got a color to match your eyes."

"Do you think he even knows he's doing it?"

"Only if he looks in the mirror."

They laughed again. "Listen, I'm really thankful for your help. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I adore Ted. I don't need to be thanked. I should be thanking the both of you for letting me be such a big part of his life."

"Well still thank you."

Ginny didn't say anything for a few moments. She came and stood beside Harry and looked out of the window.

"Do you really regret it Harry?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Everything. Me and you." She finished at Harry's puzzled look.

"Why would you even think that?"

"Because when I said you should've protected me from you, you said I was right."

"That's not what I meant. We were both angry Gin. Sometimes people say things they don't mean. Or they say things the wrong way."

"What did you mean then?"

"I meant, I shouldn't have hurt you. I was trying to protect you but I ended up being the one you needed protection from. I just didn't know what else I could do. I didn't want you dead. I hoped that if I ended things you'd move on and be happy without me. Which, I guess you kind of did for awhile. But now that you're back here I feel like I'm hurting you all over again." He sat down on the bed in frustration. Ginny joined him and put her hand over one of his.

"Harry, I was never happy there. I'm happier here. I have my family, my job, Ted and you. I know we haven't been seeing eye to eye lately, but you're still a big part of my life. I could never forget you. I never will forget you."

Harry didn't look at her. He couldn't. He didn't deserve someone like her. "Gin, I-I just don't know how to realize that you don't need me to protect you anymore."

"Well we'll give it time then. You'll get the point eventually." She gave one final squeez of his hand and stood up. He looked at her. They both smiled and she left the room. Harry wasn't positive as to what that meant, but he liked the way it sounded.

"Hermione, would you please stop reading?"

"I can't Ronald. You and Harry need my help. You two are not going to leave me out of things ever again."

"Hermione, it's our job to keep everyone safe. That includes you."

"So, just because I'm not an Auror that means I can't help?"

"I didn't say that."

Hermione just rolled her eyes and kept reading. She hadn't found anything on what Harry had described. Not even the spell used itself. She got to her feet. "I'm going to speak to Harry about this. I will be back." She didn't give Ron time to say he'd come to. She apparated to what was currently Harry's room. Harry had his wand drawn and facing her.

"Glad to see you're on your toes, but it's only me."

"Sorry, what's up?"

"Is there anyway to get into contact with the person that came to warn you?"

"No, not without putting them in great danger."

"I was afraid of that. Harry, I haven't found anything. I was hoping there was a way for this person to get the book the spell was found in."

"No, he said he'd contact me again. He never said when."

"There is somethng that I am missing. I just don't know what."

"If you don't, then I don't."

Hermione paced the room for several minutes. "Harry, I think I'm right about who it was that came to see you. I just need to be sure."

Harry knew he wasn't supposed to say anything, but knew he had no choice. "It was Draco."

"I knew it! He owed his life to you. It was quite obvious. Do you know if anyone has been to the Malfloy manor?"

"I don't think so. I've checked it out a few times since hearing what Draco had to say, but no one had been there."

"What about after the war? Did anyone check after?"

"No."

Hermione apparated out of the room. What that was all about he didn't know and at the moment he didn't care. He lay back on the bed thinking of what Ginny said to him.

Ginny was in her room when the knock came. She got up and opened it. Hermione rushed into the room.

"Ginny, you and I need to get into Malfloy manor."

"What? Why?"

"I think that whoever brought back Bellatrix did so there. If we go there I might be able to find their research."

"Does Ron or Harry know about this?"

"No, but I knew they'd want us to stay behind. They don't know what to look for and I do."

"Okay, but we'll wait until everyone is asleep."

"Okay, I'll apparate here when Ron has fallen asleep."

She rushed back out of the room. Ginny welled with excitement. Finally she was going to be able to contribute to this battle. She heard her mother calling for dinner and with a smirk on her face headed down the stairs.

No one spoke about much else besided Ted and Victoire. And Ginny and Hermione only joined in the conversation when directly adressed. Ron could see the two glimpsing at each other from time to time. He knew something was going on but didn't really think much of it. They were women after all it could be anything.

But what if it was something big? Was Hermione pregnant? Was Ginny? By who? Harry? No, he gave himself a mental slap. He was blowing things way out of proportion. He was just bored was all. He needed to find something else to entertain himself so he decided to actually start listening to the conversation going on.

"Yeah, but I think she looks so much like Fleur at times."

"No, she looks like Bill."

"Ted told me he thought she was pretty."

"Yeah, we'll have to watch those two when they get older."

Okay he changed his mind. He didn't want in the conversation. It was boring too. He neede to think about work. Or more importantly he needed to think about Bellatrix Lestrange. He would murder whoever brought her back and then he would murder her. He kept wondering who the other person brought back was. He knew it was important for them to know that. He just couldn't think of who it could be. So many Death Eaters had been killed. And what if it wasn't a Death Eater at all? What if it was someone from their side? Harry said that the spell made Bella even more evil right? Maybe it turned the other person evil? No, the other one was said to have been completely normal. But that still didn't mean that it wasn't on of their people. Whoever it was could just be acting evil to spy.

"Ron? Ron!?"

"Huh, oh sorry what did you say Mum?"

"She didn't say anything at all. I am the one that was calling you."

"Oh, sorry Hermione. What is it?"

"I asked if you and Harry have found anything out that the rest of us should know about?"

"I've already told you Hermione that we haven't." Harry said stuffing more potatoes into his mouth.

"Oh, right I forgot." She said blushing and looking at Ginny who gave her a 'keep your mouth shut' look. Now he knew something was going on. He'd ask Hermione after dinner. No use in getting into an argument in front of everyone.

"Hermione just has alot on her mind is all. I know Hermione reads alot, but I think she's set a new record for herself. Last night she was in one of the old rooms with about two hundred books stacked around her." Ginny said hoping people would believe it. Which, of course they did. Even Ron thought this answered why she was being so air headed.

"Whoa, I didn't think you could read that much! Did you do it all in one night?"

The truth was that she almost had. She had learned a new spell that helped her look through books and find what she needed without actaully reading the whole thing. It was like skimming through except there was no way she'd miss a thing. "No, I still have quite a few to go."

No one saw Ginny smile. Hermione was getting quite good at lying when she had to. Now Hermione had an excuse for leaving Ron that night. Everything was set for them.

Later that night Hermione slid her way out of bed. It was quite difficult becasue Ron had his arm wrapped so tight around her. When she finally did break free Ron rolled over but didn't wake up. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She walked into the hallway and put a silencing charm around her so no one could hear her apparate. She found herself in Ginny's room a second later. Ginny was sitting on her bed waiting.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, let's go. We have to get back before anyone know we're gone. It'd start a lot of panic if they found both of us missing."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Okay, apparate just outside of the manor grounds. Although, I'm sure all of the spells have been lifted. But you can't be too careful."

"Yeah, okay let's go."

Hermione felt pressure all around her for a few moments. Then she landed beside Ginny in the dark night. The grass was slightly wet and there were many stars in the sky.

Ginny whispered a spell but nothing that Hermione could see happened.

"What was that?"

"Just seeing if there was anything blocking our way. There's not so we can keep going."

"Okay." Hermione said very impressed with Ginny. Harry and Ron still saw Ginny as that little girl that was a good witch but Hermione saw her as a grown woman that was a very skilled witch.

They walked for a very long time in silence. Hermione couldn't believe how long of a walk it was. They finally arrived at the huge front gate. It was worn down and hanging off of the hinges.

"What do you think happened here?" Ginny asked her examining the gate more closely.

"I don't know, but I guess some of the Death Eaters came back. Maybe without a leader they couldn't be kept in control so they all just fought each other."

"Yeah, maybe. Or it could just be normal wear and tear. I mean no one has cleaned this place up for a long time."

They made their way through the gate. The mansion was barely visible to them. As they got closer a chill ran down Hermione's spine. It was the second time she had been here, but this time it just looked more creepy. Paint was chipped and shingles were coming off and some already missing. Hermione knew she was right. A fight had taken place here. It hadn't been long enough for the place to look this way on it's own.

Hermione heard a loud bang and saw the source was the door being banged open and closed by the wind.

"Silenco." Hermione whispered the door kept opening but there was no sound.

"Thanks that was giving me the creeps."

They walked right up to the front door. Hermione made her way in front of Ginny and stood just in front of the doorway. The inside was destroyed. Walls were black from being burnt. Paintings were on the floor and hanging upside down.

"You really think you'll be able to find anything here?"

"Yes, I'm sure I will. I don't think that all of the house is like this. There are probably secret rooms."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, let's get to looking then."

Harry began to feel like he couldn't breathe. Fear was overcoming him. He had gotten up to do his nightly check on Ginny only to find her gone. He ran back out to the hallway. "GET UP EVERYONE! GINNY IS MISSING!" He yelled.

He heard people begin running towards Ginny's room a few moments later.

"Harry?"

"What's going on?"

"Did you say Ginny was missing?"

"Just follow me downstairs into the kitchen and I'll explain everyhting."

They all gathered in the kitchen a few minutes later all of them looking at Harry with deep concern. Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Ted, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Ron.

"Where's Hermione?"

"Oh, she's probab;y upstaris reading. I'll go get her."

Ron ran up the stairs and a few moments later he came back down his face very pale.

"What is it Ron?" Bill asked noticing the same thing Harry did.

"Hermione, she's gone too."

"What?"

"I said HERMIONE IS GONE!"

Everyone began to talk at the same time. Harry became frustrated. Didn't they realize that they were not helping the situation?

"Okay everyone please be quiet!" They all stopped and looked at him.

"Sorry." Ron said looking down at his feet.

"Okay, now Ginny and Hermione are gone. So, that could mean one of two things. One, they snuck off for some reason and didn't want us to come along. Or, somehow someone came and took them by force."

"I don't think that the second one is likely. There doesn't seem to have been a struggle. Both of them have their wands. And we know they wouldn't go without a fight."

"So, they must 'ave left willingly?"

"Yes, I think so." Harry said sitting down at the table. Ted came and climbed into his lap. Harry ruflled his hair.

"Why would they do something so dangerous?" Ron asked sitting across from Harry.

"Ron, I think you are over reacting. Both Ginny and Hermione are very skilled witches. They can handle themselves. I think we should just get some rest and we can ask them tomorrow what they were doing." Mr.Weasley said.

"What? Are you serious?" Ron asked looking with a suprised look at his father.

"I'm not saying that I'm not worried, but it is Ginny's job to look out for the Wizarding Community. We can't stop her from doing anything and we can't stop Hermione. Now, I'm going back to bed."

Everyone, but Harry and Ron went to bed. Ted went with Mrs. Weasley so she could tuck him back into bed.

"I thought something was going on. I saw the two of them giving each other strange looks at dinner tonight." Ron said.

Harry stood up. "I know where they are!"

"Where?"

"Malfloy Manor."

"Why would they go there?"

"I'm not to sure, but Hermione asked me about it and then pratically ran out of the room."

"Should we go after them?"

Harry thought about it. He knew how mad they would be if they came to 'rescue' them. Ginny would eat him alive. But if he stayed Ginny might see it as him finally excepting that she's a grown woman now. Unless they were in trouble. Then he'd be to blame.

"No, they should be okay. If they're not back in a few hours we'll go."

Ginny felt like they had been there a lot longer than an hour. They still hadn't had any luck. No secret room. Not even a library that they could see. Most of the rooms were destroyed and neither of them could tell what it had been.

A silver-white doe came out in front of her. It looked at her for a moment and then began walking away. Ginny realized it was a patronus and began to follow it. She had a feeling this was what it wanted. She followed it down into the basement and then down into the dungeons. Then it spoke to her in a strange deep voice. She knew the voice had been altered so she would not know who it was.

"Ginny Weasley this is as far as I go. Look down."

The doe disapperaed. Ginny did as it said and looked down. There was a small door. Ginny ran back up the stairs to find Hermione.

"Ginny I was worried where did you go?"

"I think I might have found something! Come on!" They ran back down to the dungeons. Ginny bent down and opened the door. She climbed down the steep steps followed closely by Hermione. The room lit up when they walked in. It was the only room that had no damage. The paintings were all still safely on the wall. The white walls were still white and glowing. The floor was black marble. And there were rows and rows of books on their shelves. And in front of all of them was a desk with parchment and a few very old books on it.

Hermione went to the desk and skimmed through the parchment and books. "This is it. Let's go."

"Okay." They walked back up to the front door and then they walked out to the gate where they apparated back to the Burrow. When they walked into the kitchen they found Ron and Harry both asleep and drooling all over the table.

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