I know that everyone thinks that I gave up on this story but I didn't! I've just started school and I got promoted at work! This equals out to one tired person! But here it is the the ninth chapter of my story!

All of these wonderful characters belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling

Timeline (Chapter Nine)

By JLaLa

"Charles?" Ron repeated in disbelief. He clenched his fists tightly. Here they were suspecting one of their own and to only find out that it was her imbecile of a husband. He was hurt and angry at the same time. Ron didn't know whether to cry or scream. It was because of this man that his younger sister was in hiding and her future self was in a hospital. It was because of him that his friend was in misery. "That son of a b-"

"Ronald," Hermione interrupted him in her sharp voice but an underlying softness was in it. She empathized with what he was feeling. "This isn't the time." Hermione pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it up in the air. Sending two sparks in the air, she knelt down to the young girl who had revealed Charles. "Help is on it way. Don't worry, he can't hurt you now."

"We have to find Cho," Ron said as he looked up in the sky. He could make out the faint outlines of brooms in the air. "Wherever she is, she isn't safe."

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Cho's temporary home was in the outskirts of London. It was a small but elegant cottage. Draco had apparated there as fast as he could and found himself pounding on the door. It look like no one was home and the neighborhood was like a ghost town.

"CHO!" He yelled as he approached the front door. Silence. "Are you in there?"

More silence. "Answer me!"

It was driving him mad. The silence was deafening and so he did the only thing he could do. He kicked the down the door. Walking in, he could hear the sound of classical music coming from the living room. Going into the room, he saw that there was no sign of a struggle. He sighed and began to turn around when he spotted something.

There were two wine glasses on the coffee table. He noticed that one was completely empty while the other seemed relatively untouched. Taking the empty one, he held it up to examine it.

The rim of the glass had something smeared on it.

Cho had been poisoned.

And he didn't know if she was dead or alive.

He put the glass down and sat down on the plush couch. He held his head in his hands. He had lost her.

Just like Eva.

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Ginny started to notice the slight changes in everyone's demeanor as the weeks went on. Harry was no longer the sullen boy she once remembered. He was quieter but not in the angry way he use to be after Sirius's death but it was something else. Watching him as she hung the laundry, she saw the concentrated look on his face as he widdled a little wooden horse for Molly.

Molly was on the farther side of the attic near her paper forest, drawing a picture with the watercolor set they had found in her room. The sun shone thru the large windows and Molly's bright red hair swept the floor as she lean towards the paper on the floor.

She realized that Harry was making peace with himself. The anger, sadness and guilt he had once felt was slowly fading. She wasn't sure why but she believed it was because of the children. They gave him something to look forward to. Harry looked up her and gave her a soft smile and her heart skipped a beat. She smiled back and went back to her work.

It was a quiet afternoon.

Ginny knew she had changed also. She was no longer temperamental but grown into her role as a mother. Patience, which she once lacked, was what kept her going. Trying to manage her growing feelings for Harry and take care of Molly no longer left her mentally exhausted. She accepted their situation for what it was and always hoped for the best.

Walking over to the large window, she looked up at the sky and gazed at the bright blue. The soft breeze played with her hair and she felt a little melancholy sweep through her. She remembered when she could run through the woods and jump into the small pond near the Burrow. That was a long time ago. But then again…it wasn't.

She knew that he was close even though he wasn't touching her. He was doing the same thing she was, looking up at the sky and enjoying the air but he was also wondering when they could be outside again. She leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her small waist. For that moment, they just wanted to be together and enjoy it.

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The next morning, Ginny awoke and began the morning preparations. She usually made breakfast except if they were pancakes and would make sure everything in the fridge was still fresh. She had emptied the fridge the night before so she proceeded to go down to the basement. Opening the door, she proceeded down the stairs but froze suddenly.

The basement usually refilled itself with food by the time they woke up.

This time it hadn't.

She gripped the stairs as she rushed up and her heart began to beat faster. Something was happening. Ginny ran upstairs to find Harry in the kitchen drinking a mug of coffee.

"What's wrong?" He asked when he saw the look on her face. Ginny took his hand and without another word led him down the stairs. As soon as they reached the middle of the staircase, Harry looked out onto the basement where only a box of canned food laid in the middle of the otherwise basement. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Ginny replied, her voice quivering and her eyes filled with tears of panic. "It hasn't refilled! Something must have happened to Cho! What happened if something has happened to Ron and Hermione? What about the children?" The tears fell down her face.

Harry gathered her in his arms and held her for a moment. He didn't know what to do either and he felt his own insides freeze up. Harry just held her tighter and he knew that if something had happened than he had to protect Ginny and Molly. He had lost so many people in his life that he had loved.

Not them.

"Molly is going to wake up soon and be wondering why there is no breakfast," He whispered in her ears. "We have to take care of her, we have to protect her." Ginny looked up at him and saw the same fear she felt in his eyes. But he was right. Molly had been through enough and they couldn't show her that something was wrong. Ginny wiped her eyes and nodded.

"I have breakfast to make," Ginny said and took in a deep breath. "Maybe we're wrong." She didn't seem too convinced however.

"Maybe," Harry said and led her up the stairs gripping her hand tightly.

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"There has been no sign of Cho," Al reported as the rest of the Marauder Alliance sat in a collective silence. "Her pin has been found at the Chang residence outside of London. It has been almost two days. The Muggle police have also been informed of Cho's disappearance and…started searching for a body."

"Al, what about Mum and Daddy? And Molly?" Jamie said from her seat. "Cho is the only one who knows where they are and her power might not be protecting them anymore, they'll be seen."

"It might be for the best," The younger Hermione said. "That we can track them down."

"But it leaves them to be seen by just about anyone," Luna said from her seat. She was still weak from her miscarriage though it had been a few weeks ago. Neville sat next to her looking pale. The past few weeks had been hard on him. Inside, he blamed himself for not being able to remember where Harry, Ginny and Molly were. The memory was always the same. He was with Cho in a wooden area and the next he knew he was alone in the same place. Neville had just apparated home to sleep next to his girlfriend assuring himself that his friends were safe.

"It's the chance we have to take," Evan said from his own chair, a glass of bourbon in his hand. "Cho's powers also kept up their food supply. If she's in trouble then her ability to help them survive in their hiding place is also in trouble—"

"Doesn't anyone care that Cho has gone missing?" Draco said suddenly. He had been staring out the window as the meeting was proceeding. In his mind, Cho's sad face flashed in his mind. He had never had the chance to convince her to leave Charles. Or to tell her that he was falling for her…

"Dad, you know we all care about Cho," Samuel said to his father. He went over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "But if something happened to them, then Cho would feel horrible." Draco nodded, too heavy with his own feelings to respond.

"Then what else do we have to do but wait," The older Ron declared and his wife put a hand on his shoulder.

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"Why aren't you eating?" Molly asked her mother at lunch. Ginny looked at Harry, their daughter was young but not stupid. Ginny had eaten very little at breakfast and Harry didn't eat at all. They knew that what they had they would have to save for Molly.

"I'm not feeling well at all," Ginny said faking illness. Harry looked at her with a sad yet amused face. The fact that she had starve herself in order to feed his daughter was a horrible thought but the fact that they had lie to such a clever girl was funny.

"I'm seven, not stupid," Molly replied. "What is going on?" She had noticed the strangeness in their behavior for the past three days. Sometimes Harry would pretend to fixing something in the attic and would leave Ginny and Molly to dinner. Other times Ginny would claim to have eaten breakfast.

"Nothing Molly," Harry assured her while he gathered his plate of food which was the smallest portion she had ever seen him eat.

"Please don't lie to me," She replied sternly and Harry couldn't help but see why she was named after her maternal grandmother. Ginny looked at him wearily and then sat down.

"We don't want you to be scared," Ginny said. "The food supply isn't refilling itself."

"Something's happened to Aunt Cho?" Molly replied in a small voice. Harry took her in his lap as Ginny sat down.

"We don't know that," Harry said to her. "It might be nothing." He didn't sound convincing. Harry was no actor.

"But we're going to take care of you, Moll," Ginny said with a smile. "Don't worry, okay? We won't let anything happen to you." Molly nodded, her parents would protect her and take care of her.

But she would also do the same.

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Ginny's stomach let out a loud growl of protest when she divided her small portion of food into an even smaller portion. Before Harry and Molly came, she quickly shoved the portion into Molly's plate. She was a lot thinner, paler and weaker. It had been a week and nothing had happened. She didn't want to admit that she was worried, but she was.

Harry and Molly entered and took their seats. She noticed that while Harry was a little bit skinnier, he seemed normal. It was Molly who was sluggish and cranky. They fed her as much as they could but the food was not enough between three people. Harry gave her a weak smile. He had been pushing Molly on her swing in the attic.

It was strange how they had become so accustomed to their role as mother and father so quickly even if they couldn't see each other as husband and wife. Molly was their everything and they wanted to protect her.

"Dinnertime," Ginny said and placed their plates on the table. Molly sighed and picked at her food. Harry ate his portion with relish while Ginny ate hers with just as much. "Eat up Moll."

The little girl slammed her fork down. "I hate this! I don't want to do this anymore—"

"Molly! Calm down—" Harry stood up and tried to hold her. While Ginny sat in her seat too shock by Molly's outburst.

"I hate it here!" She said to Harry as she sobbed. "I want my mum and dad! I want Al! And Jamie! And Evan! I don't want to hide anymore." With that she fell into Harry's arms and sobbed loudly. Ginny went over to them and took them both in her arms.

She looked at Harry, and knew what he was thinking. They to expose themselves, even if it meant their own lives were at risk. It was driving Molly insane and no little girl should have to live indoors. Harry knew how it felt to be locked up and Ginny knew how wonderful it was to be free outside.

"It's okay," Ginny finally said. "We're going to leave, as soon as we know it's safe. Tonight if we can." Harry looked at her and nodded, his own eyes glistening with sadness. She kissed Molly's head. "Go to sleep and we'll figure something out." Harry carried her upstairs to her room and left Ginny to clean up the uneaten dinner.

She began to gather the plates when suddenly a wave of tiredness fell over her. Ginny placed the plates down, sat down and began to weep into her hands. She didn't know why but she was tired of all of it too. If they were going to be discovered didn't matter anymore. She suddenly felt a hand stroke her head and looked up to see Harry gazing at her with understanding.

"I remember when you use to calm me down," He said quietly. "All you had to do was sit with me and I felt ten times better. I should've known then. It was you and always you, Ginny."

She took his face in her hands and kissed him soundly and passionately on the lips. Ginny kissed him until she couldn't breathe.

Harry felt it all over his body. He knew that he loved her and her kiss only justified that fact. When they pulled apart, Ginny was blushing madly. Her face was identical to her hair color and he laughed softly.

"Let's go to the living room," He whispered. "We're getting out of here. Tonight, and you have to rest."

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Draco walked into the Chang residence in London that same evening. He had to retrieve some things from Jane's room. The young girl had been informed that her mother was missing and her father the suspected kidnapper. She had taken as they expected with a rush of tears. Jamie offered to have her at their home.

Walking upstairs, he stopped at Cho's bedroom and looked in. It was decorated very simple, there were no pictures up. It made him sad almost, perhaps she never felt like she had a home to decorate. He had felt that way also when he was young, until both Eva and Samuel entered his life.

The smell of lilacs ran through the air and he took it in. It was the perfume she wore that night they kissed. Maybe he was cursed in love…they never seemed to be the right one.

He quickly made his way out of the room and into Jane's. Paintings that she had drawn were strewn all over. One caught his very quickly. It was of Cho. She was laughing and looking at the artist with happiness shining in her eyes. Jane was very talented, she had captured the essence of her mother.

Draco turned around knocking down a small jewelry box that had been on the edge of the dresser he stood by. Quickly he knelt to pick it up when something made him jerk back.

THUMP.

A noise coming from the armoire. He stood up and moved slowly towards it. Draco took his wand out ready to attack whoever was in there. As he stood in front of it, Draco wondered if he should even open it at all.

It could just be a boggart.

Opening it, he looked inside and what he saw made heart feel like it had dropped all the way to his knees.

"Oh shit," He whispered.

It definitely wasn't a boggart.

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Harry and Ginny sat in the sitting room, later that night. Molly had finally fallen asleep after she whimpered to herself for an hour. Harry caressed Ginny whose head was resting on his shoulder. Dressed in black, they waited until they were sure that no one might possibly be wandering through the woods. They would sneak out with Molly wrapped in a blanket and they would carry her until they got to somewhere safe.

"Ginny," He whispered. "Are you scared?"

"No," She responded. "If I get scared then we'll never get out of here. We'll just keep on waiting. Molly's our daughter and I have take care of her even though I'm petrified about what's going to happen once we're out there." Harry looked into her deep brown eyes and kissed her forehead.

"Gin," He began nervously. "There's so much I want to say to you…all my life I've felt like I'm alone…but now that I know that I have you, and the children, there's something to look forward too—"

"Harry, you know we can't do this," Ginny replied though weakly. "If didn't work it out…"

"It will," Harry said and lifted her chin so they could look into each other's eyes. "Ginny, we don't know what's going to happen to us. We might not become Prime Minister and Minister of Magic. Or have the Alliance. It doesn't matter, if I have you than it's enough" Ginny's heart began to beat faster. "What I want to know is…Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?"

Her eyes widened with surprised.

And suddenly a gust of wind swept the room, blowing the fire out. They turned to the doorway which a suddenly banged open. They stood up and Harry went to the coffee table and lifted it. Inside, both of their wands laid. He handed her wand to her.

"How did you know where they were?" She asked as the wind blazed around them. Ginny knew it was coming. Whatever it was, it was there…

"Neville told me to hide them. While you were upstairs in your room the day we came here," He reply loudly while the wind kept coming. It was getting stronger. "You have to go upstairs, you have to protect Molly!"

"I can't leave you!" She replied and tears began to surface. He looked at her and his green eyes seemed to brighter in the darkness.

"You have to!" The windows began to burst open all the doors in the house began to bang loudly. Harry pushed her towards the staircase. "GO."

Before she went up, she looked at him and she could hear them approaching. It was so loud; she had to scream for him to hear her. "I love you! I always have…" He gave her a sad smile before she ran up the stairs.

All the windows had been broken in the hallway and she could hear Molly screaming. She ran into the room and Molly sat upright holding the blanket up to cover herself. The windows had burst open and the wind was sweeping through the room. She ran to Molly's bed and took her daughter in her arms.

Downstairs, she could hear Harry yelling, "GET OUT!"

"GIVE US THE GIRL!" Molly cried out and grabbed tighter to Ginny's waist. The whole house shook and outside a bright red light was permeating into the house.

"NO!" Harry yelled and a crash was heard.

Then nothing.

She could hear someone approaching…Molly was whimpering into her stomach. She stood opposite from the door by the bed as Molly sat on her knees embracing her. Ginny kissed the top of her head, and tears filled her eyes. No sound came from downstairs.

He must be dead.

"Don't worry," Ginny assured her daughter in an eerily calm tone. "I'll protect you, it will all be over soon."

The door knob turned and…

It suddenly stopped.

Ginny took a breath when suddenly the door burst open emitting a bright white light and a pale man with dark hair entered. His eyes, instead of the normal human colors, were bright red.

"Give her to me," He hissed and Ginny turned to look at him without fear in her eyes.

"No," She said. "Take me instead! Don't hurt her!"

"I'll kill you first," He replied and then pointed his wand to her heart. "Then her."

"MOLLY!"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

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My apologies on the tardiness! Have you ever balanced work and college? It sucks! Please review! Bye!