Chapter 12 – Mr Black

Ginny wasn't happy. She wasn't happy at all. Indeed she was just about to throw a nice little temper tantrum.

She sat on Lavender's couch waiting for her idiot brother. The redhead hated what Lavender had made of this flat that used to be Ron's and Hermione's. Everything seemed to be pink or white. Like a 'little princess' girl's room. In its attempt to be cosy it reminded her of Umbridge's office during her 'reign' at Hogwarts. How Ron could stand that she'd never get.

"Did you tell him I'd come?" As the question was out, she realized the menacing sound of it. Lavender sighed. She reached for the teacup and took another sip before she answered.

"No, Ginevra, I didn't tell him. And I don't know why he's late. He often is, though, I told you, remember?"

Ginny huffed. Lavender knew perfectly well that she hated to be called Ginevra. Another awkward silence fell between them. They had never been friends. In fact, they hated each other with a passion when they were still in school. Ginny thought Lavender to be shallow while Lavender considered Ginny a tomboy which, at least in her opinion, was a bad thing. Later they grew out of that hatred though they wouldn't become friends but acquaintances rather.

Finally, Ginny heard the door. She turned to see her brother.

"I am home, Lavender. How … what's she doing here?" He asked with a glare in Ginny's direction.

"How nice, Ron. I am so glad to see you, too. I am her to visit my dear brother. Since it seems too much to ask of you to just owl us, I came to ask WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Ron glared at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I am perfectly fine. I have a lot of work to do, lately, so I am sorry if you felt let down." When he finished, Ginny's face had turned to the colour of her hair.

"If I felt let down? Are you stupid? One of your best friends just awoke from a coma which lasted one and a half years. Your other best friend and I have to try and explain to her what the hell keeps you from her … though we don't understand it ourselves. Now, the least you could do is to explain this. Merlin Ron, Hermione needs you as I am sure Lavender already told you." She glared at him, waiting for his answer.

"She doesn't need me. She's got you and Harry. She's got Malfoy." He spat. "And Hermione and I will never get together again. Why are you all insisting on me to go to her? Even Lavender who really shouldn't want me to go there …" He didn't get further.

"When will you understand that we don't want you to get back together? And how dare you say something like that to Lavender? You are 'Mione's friend Ron. To visit her wouldn't mean anything else than being her friend. And just so you know, Hermione said that you two would have split up anyways … she's not angry at you though she had every right to be, mind you. So what is your problem?" She watched her brother closely and recognized the look of defeat on his face instantly. He sighed.

"How could she not be angry at me, Gin? Regardless of what she says. I left her while she was in a coma. I stopped visiting her because I couldn't stand to see what I had done to her. And for what? I just didn't have the guts to split up with her. I was treating her like shit hoping she wouldn't take it anymore. I thought that if I was behaving badly enough she would make the decision for me. Then nobody would have blamed me and I wouldn't have to hurt her or anyone else. And then my cowardice resulted in this crash and she was more or less gone. And I was sorry for my friend, I really was. But I was also relieved. I was relieved that she wasn't living with me anymore. That I didn't have to listen to her telling me which mistakes I made, how lazy I was and all these things. I know she's way more intelligent than I am. I just couldn't stand being with her anymore. And she was the one to endure the consequences. I can barely look me in the eyes when I stand in front of the mirror each morning. And that's mainly because I was almost as relieved as I was horrified for her. I can't go there and just be her friend because if I was her friend I would not have been relieved. I just can't." Ginny was as horrified by this revelation as she was by seeing tears in his eyes. Then he stood and left the room, slamming the door behind him. The two women looked at each other helplessly.

"I didn't know he felt that way." Lavender seemed rather shocked. "Merlin, that must have gnawed at his conscience for all this time. How could he … I mean, to feel that way … I don't know. I didn't think he could be like that."

"Well, I guess he felt imprisoned, Lavender. We all expected him and Hermione to end up together. Whenever one of them indicated that they might not be the perfect match we told them how they were supposed to live happily ever after. Looking back it seems so stupid to have been meddling but back then it just seemed so natural for them to be together. Don' judge him too hard."

When Ginny came home, she was unusually quiet. Her husband watched her for a while before saying: "Ok, Gin, what is it? You're walking around the house like a ghost. You do not talk to me and you didn't even react when I said the Chudley Cannons would win the Quidditch cup this season. So what's wrong?"

Ginny stared at him incredulously. "You said the Cannons would win the cup? Even Hermione would certainly know better than that."

"Yes, I know. I just wanted to get a reaction from you … which I didn't. So stop procrastinating, Gin, and tell me what's bothering you!"

"Well, I've been to Lavender and Ron's place. Lavender and I decided that it was high time for Ron and me to have a nice little chat. And we had. I am still angry, don't get me wrong but I am afraid my brother has more emotional depth than I thought. He feels he doesn't deserve 'Mione's friendship anymore." She paused.

"Well, we knew that much before, didn't we? It's stupid, though. He's punishing himself and her for nothing and …"

"It's not nothing, Harry. He feels guilty because he wanted to end their relationship but didn't have the guts. He says he felt relieved when she was gone. I don't believe that that was his main feeling but still … He can't look her in the eyes, he says." She looked at him helplessly. "And now he's sad and she's sad and I don't know how to help them."

"Which in turn makes you sad." Harry grinned. "Well, we'll just have to change that, then. If Lavender was able to arrange a meeting between Ron and you, she certainly will be able to help you do the same for Ron and Hermione, right?" Ginny's face lit up. "Well, that is if Draco let's her out of his grasp after all that happened lately." As he saw how her face fall again he added: "We'll explain it … he wants them to meet and be friends because she's unhappy without Ron in her life."

Just as Harry was about to receive his well-earned reward, a knock sounded from the door. With a slight shake of his head because of the late hour, Harry went to get it. He opened the door to a small and rather old man who – judging by the strange range of clothes he wore – was a wizard trying to hide as a muggle.

He was almost bold apart from some tiny islands of grey hair remaining on his head. A long nose protruded out under deep-set eyes which had a nervous look upon them. His bushy eyebrows were raised and gave him a look of continuing amazement. When he spoke, Harry was surprised to hear a deep and calm voice.

"Mr Potter?"

"Yes, that would be me. Can I help you?"

"You certainly can. What's more, I can help you if you'd just let me in?"

"And your name is …?"

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Beldin Black. I am a … shall we say business acquaintance? … of Mr Lucius Malfoy. He asked me to tell you what I told him." With a mischievous grin – since he was well aware that he had won Harry's interest – Beldin Black stepped towards the door. After hesitating for just a second, Harry stepped aside and let him in.

"And what might it be that you told Lucius?" Harry closely watched Black. Once inside the house with the door shut behind him, his nervousness seemed to evaporate mostly.

"Ah, that's better. You see, Mr Potter, there are those who wouldn't want me to tell you what I know. Let's see. Where should I start? I trust you know what Miss Granger does at work?"

"Actually, no, I don't. I know she works for the International Law Regulation and Enforcement Department but I don't know what exactly it is she's doing there. I never was much of a lawyer."

Black cast him an incredulous glance. "Well, you don't need to be much of a lawyer to understand this. Your experience as an auror should quite suffice. Miss Granger's department is in charge whenever it comes to cross-border affairs. New laws are designed there and their compliance is overseen by that department as well. Whenever your department, Mr Potter, has issues chasing a Death Eater to another country, it is the ILRED which solves your problems. And if the problems cannot be solved officially, ILRED also has its own aurors to work out those problems rather … unofficially."

Harry snorted. "You make it sound as if it was a kind of secret service."

"Oh no, that is not what it is at all. It is not secret, you see? Though some of their operations are. However, Miss Granger certainly is not a spy, I can assure you. She is the head of ILRED which means she organizes things. That is quite official knowledge. What she knows, though, is not always official. It seems that in the time prior to Miss Granger's accident, ILRED found a Death Eater called Rodolphus Lestrange. I trust you heard about him?" Harry nodded. "They are after him. Now, that would affirm the Death Eater connection with the accident Miss Granger had …" Harry interrupted.

"Just let me get this straight. If there is a whole department and seemingly a whole lot of aurors knowing about this, why would Hermione alone be the target? And why didn't her colleagues inform us?"

"You see, Miss Granger is the one where all the information comes together. Not everybody in her department would know everything like she does. And you weren't informed because apparently they don't believe it was a Death Eater. It rather seems like some important people were involved with Lestrange. People who would have no interest at all to get that relation published. People who are known as respectable politicians and tradesmen. People, you see, who would do almost anything to prevent Miss Granger from telling about that connection." Black shot Harry a knowing glance. It took some moments before Harry caught up.

"You're telling me that important members of our society are involved with Lestrange? And not only that but they also tried to kill Hermione Granger? AND SHE SAID SHE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?" By that time, Harry was screaming at Beldin who didn't seem to mind though.

"Obviously, I can't know what Miss Granger told you but that would summarize what's going on pretty well. Oh, you must be Mrs Potter? Charming, really charming. You're as beautiful as people tell." Ginny had entered the room, Harry had lead Black into. She turned to Harry.

"What's going on here? You're screaming like somebody is trying to kill you." So Harry told her. "Well, we should have a chat with 'Mione." Ginny refrained from screaming though she rather felt like it. "Maybe we should have this dinner with Draco and Hermione at the manor? Like … tomorrow?"

A/N: Ok, so, obviously here's the next chapter … I am not sure whether I like it or not … one day I do – the next I don't. Hm, difficult, you know. I am updating this now without actually feeling sure about it since I feel I have left you waiting for long enough, now.

You see, a review would be great. Tell me whether you liked it or not … or whether you feel it's too much of a twist? I am (atm) willing to change this chapter if you so wish …