Onward, to Greater Things

by killtherat

With the war over and a child to raise, Harry finds that moving on with his life was easier than he expected. But from behind closed doors and whispered secrets comes the betrayal that will tear Harry apart. What secret will ultimately break his trust in those he thought he knew? Whose betrayal will threaten those who Harry loves the most? Sequel to Chasing the Inevitable.

21. Chapter 21 Thursday at the Cinema

Teddy just loved going to the cinemas. It was always such a special occasion when he went with his Mum and Dad, and even though they weren't here this time, John promised that they could take him to the next movie. He had already chosen which one they were going to see, even though it wasn't coming to the cinemas for a little while yet. Finding Nemo was going to be so awesome, Teddy was just sure of it. There were sharks in it, and if a movie had sharks in it then it was sure to be awesome. He had seen the start of another movie about sharks, called Jaws, but when his Mum had seen him watching it on their Muggle television she had turned it off.

"You can watch that movie when you turn seventeen," she had explained.

That was okay with Teddy, even though being seventeen was a long time away. Until then, he would wait for Finding Nemo to come out, and he would ask Dad to take him to see it. Dad would love it too, Teddy was certain. Maybe he'd have to do lots of chores to earn a privilege like going to the cinemas, but that was okay too. He would make his bed every day, and Mum's too if he had to...and he'd clean the bathroom with Mum, she always liked his help. What else would he need to do? He could help Dad chop wood for the fireplace.

"John," Teddy whispered, looking at John who was sitting next to him. "Finding Nemo will come out after I turn five, okay?"

"Okay," he whispered back.

"And my dad will take me," Teddy added, not wanting John to get the wrong idea and think he was invited. Because he was not...definitely not.

"Sounds good mate," John smiled, then quietly reminded him to keep watching the movie.

Satisfied that John understood, Teddy turned his attention back to the movie they were watching, The Wild Thornberrys. He'd never seen a movie with a monkey in it, and he had to admit that Darwin and Eliza were pretty cool. Not as cool as Woody though, who sat on his lap watching with him.

"John," Teddy whispered again. "It's Thursday, isn't it?"

"Yes," John nodded, looking at him. He was still wearing that silly black beanie over his face, but again Teddy reminded himself not to mention it. No one else seemed to be bothered by it.

"Can I go home today?"

"Not today," he said quietly. "Soon."

"Tomorrow?" Teddy asked next.

"We'll see."

"Maybe?" he asked then, knowing that maybe usually meant yes.

John hesitated for a moment. "I don't know, Teddy. I'm sorry...but it will be soon, okay?"

Sighing, Teddy nodded and turned back to the movie. He continued looking at John from the corner of his eye, wondering if he was going to change his mind. After all, Teddy had been on his best behaviour all day yesterday and all day today. He hadn't run away again, or gone into the other bedroom, or yelled or back chatted. Hadn't he been good enough yet? How long was he going to have to be so good for? Sometimes...just sometimes he liked to be silly, to jump around and sing and dance to the wireless, but he had resisted, thinking that maybe John wouldn't like it.

Watching a little bit more of the movie, Teddy ate some more popcorn and sipped at his lemonade, which very soon ran out. His lips were getting a little bit sore from the salty popcorn, and with no lemonade to drink he began to get a little annoyed. Not wanting to bother John, he reached for his backpack on the floor and got his drink bottle full of water, drinking it very quickly. As they began to feel better he licked his lips, suddenly realising he needed to go to the loo. He glanced at John again, seeing that he was watching the movie.

Sliding down from his seat, Teddy put Woody safely into his backpack and looked down the aisle, glad that he wouldn't have to climb over many feet to get out. As he began to move away, John grabbed his arm.

"What's wrong?" John asked, leaning down to talk to him.

Teddy hesitated, wondering if John thought he was running away again. "I need to go to the loo."

"Okay," John said, getting up. He picked up Teddy's back pack and put it over his shoulder. "I'll come with you."

With no choice but to agree, Teddy set off towards the exit, walking very carefully down the steps and towards the door as John followed him. Leaving Eliza and Darwin behind on the big screen, Teddy looked over his shoulder as he headed towards the mens, annoyed that John was still following. John was everywhere...he hardly left Teddy alone. He couldn't wait to go home to his dad.

The mens room was empty when Teddy and John went in. Heading into the first stall, Teddy locked the door behind him and went about his business, looking up at the wall in hopes of finding a window. He hadn't intended on trying to run away again, but now that he was there...if only there was a window he could climb through. He could just grow his legs super tall so that he could reach, and then shrink himself until he was little enough to get through. But with John watching, Teddy doubted that he could do it successfully.

Coming out of the stall, Teddy headed towards the sinks that were too tall for him. Looking around to make sure there were no Muggles, he grew his body until he was tall enough, smiling at his reflection in the mirror as he washed his hands. John was smiling at him too, obviously entertained by Teddy's morphing. Now he normally would have sprouted a funny nose and laughed at his reflection, but he didn't want John to think he was silly. He had to be on his best behaviour to go home.

"All done?" John asked, smiling for some reason.

John sure seemed to smile a lot...but always at strange times. He was more like his Uncle Ron than Teddy realised...Uncle Ron smiled when he wasn't sure what to do next. Teddy just nodded, striding past John and back into the main hallway. Walking back towards the cinema they had been in, Teddy suddenly stopped in his tracks. A man to his right looked so much like his dad, that for a minute he thought it was actually him. His heart sank as he looked at the man properly, seeing that it wasn't his dad. Besides, the lady he was holding hands with was definitely not his mum.

"Teddy?" John asked, standing behind him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, rushing away.

Coming back into the cinema, Teddy tried to watch the screen and walk at the same time, and so he and John slowly progressed back to their seats. Sitting down again, Teddy retrieved Woody from his bag and put him back on his lap, making sure he too could see properly. Still thinking about the man who looked like his dad, Teddy began to sniff sadly, wishing desperately that it was his dad after all. This cinema was packed with people...maybe his dad was here, watching The Wild Thornberrys too. But he knew that wasn't likely to be the case. His dad would never go and see a movie without him.

Teddy was very glad when the movie finished and the credits began. As fun as it had been at first, he now just wanted to go...far away from here...far away from John too. They stayed in their seats until most of the other people had left, and at John's prompting Teddy got up and put his back pack on, holding Woody with one hand as he made his way out. He didn't look back to make sure John was following him. If he was lucky he would get lost, and John wouldn't be able to find him. Then he would run away.

Entering the main hallway, Teddy had to slow down, realising it was in fact very crowded. There were lots of mums and dads out with their kids, holding popcorn and sweets as they lined up to go into the other cinemas, probably to watch the next showing of The Wild Thornberrys. Looking back, he realised that John was a few steps behind him, that a woman and a pram had somehow managed to separate the two of them.

Teddy bolted.

Shrinking himself down a few inches, he darted in and around people's legs, looking back and no longer seeing John. He had to get away from him, far enough away that he would lose him. Teddy knew what to do if he ever got lost in the Muggle world, his mum and dad had told him many times. Find a nice Muggle lady with kids, and ask for a telephone. There were plenty of nice Muggle ladies in this shopping centre, and plenty of them with kids, so Teddy was sure one of them would have a telephone. He hadn't intended to run off again, but he couldn't pass up this opportunity. Maybe he'd see his mum and dad sooner than he expected.

Reaching the front doors of the cinemas, Teddy doubled back and headed towards the desks where John had purchased their tickets. Ducking in and around the people lining up, Teddy looked around for John, relieved to see that he couldn't find him. He could hear him though, John calling out his name loudly. Looking around, Teddy approached a Muggle woman with kids standing with her.

"Excuse me," he said in a rush, trying to remember to be polite. "Do you have a telephone?"

The lady looked at him in surprise, her mouth gaping a little. "Well, no I don't, sorry," she apologised, looking worried for him. "Do you want me to take you to the-"

At this response Teddy set off again, pushing his way through the line. He asked two other ladies before he found one with a telephone he could use.

"Is everything alright?" the nice lady asked him, bending down to talk to him as she found her mobile telephone in her bag. "Have you lost your mum?"

"I just need to call my dad," Teddy said, dropping his back pack to the floor and opening it. Written neatly on the inside was his dad's mobile phone number.

"Do you need me to dial it for you?" she offered, seeing the phone number.

"No," he said, taking the telephone and looking at it. It was almost the same as his dad's, and that one was easy. "I can do it."

Still listening to John calling out his name, Teddy dialled very carefully, getting more and more excited. But at the same time he was worried, scared that John might find him before his dad could get there. Putting the phone to his ear, Teddy listened as it rang, turning around on the spot before suddenly crouching down. He had seen the top of John's black beanie passing by, his voice growing louder.

People all around him were talking quietly, pointing at him and talking to the nice lady who he was with. "Is that little boy with you?" a man behind them asked. "Someone's looking for a boy named Teddy."

The nice lady looked at him with a smile. "Is your name Teddy?" she asked. "Someone's looking for you."

"No," he lied hastily, not wanting them to help John. Listening to the telephone ringing and ringing, Teddy crossed his fingers that his dad would pick up soon.

"What's your name then?"

"Harry," he replied automatically. "Harry Potter."

Suddenly, the dial tone stopped, the call ending and diverting to the voicemail. He knew what to do now, but he didn't think that leaving his dad a message would be fast enough. How long could he stay hidden from John? His hands shaking and his knees trembling in fright, Teddy hung up the telephone and carefully dialled again. The dial tone rang out once before stopping suddenly, and the beautiful sound of his mum's voice came down the telephone.

"Hello?" she said loudly, sounding as frightened as Teddy felt.

Teddy was shocked into silence for a moment, listening to his mum saying hello twice more. "Mummy," he whispered, tears beginning to spill from his eyes. He momentarily forgot what he meant to tell her."I want to come home."

There was a long silence, and while he waited for her to say she was coming he looked at the nice lady who was listening to his conversation.

"Where are you, Teddy? Tell me where you are."

"I don't know," he sobbed, gasping as more tears spilt. "Can you come and get me? Please Mummy...I've been so good, I just want to come home."

"Where are you?" she said again. "You have to tell me where you are!"

"I don't know!"

His mum swore loudly, saying a word that would get Teddy's mouth washed out with soap. But he didn't laugh, hating the way his mum sounded so worried. "Who are you with? Are you with someone? Is there a grown up?"

"Yes," he whispered, still looking at the lady.

"Put them on the phone."

"But Mum!" he protested. "Why can't you come and get me?"

"I will, I promise, just the put the grown up on!"

Hesitating, Teddy took the phone away from his ear and passed it back to the lady. "My mum wants to talk to you."

Giving him a comforting nod, the lady took the telephone and put it to her ear, talking to his mum and telling her not to worry. "Hello? Oh, yes, he's perfectly alright, just a little upset that's all."

"Teddy!"

Teddy's heart sank as he heard John's shout of relief, and he stood there frozen as John pushed his way through the crowd. They parted quickly to admit him, not understanding that Teddy didn't want to go with him. Even behind the black mask, he could tell that John had been worried, that he was relieved to see him.

"Teddy, there you are, come on! It's alright."

The lady with Teddy looked startled, looking between John and Teddy, whose expression showed that he didn't want to go with the man calling to him. In confusion, she tried her best to explain to Ginny, while John quickly intervened and picked up Teddy's backpack.

"I'm not going with you," Teddy said petulantly, putting his hands on his hips. "My mum is coming to get me."

"She's what?" John said in shock, suddenly seeing the lady on the telephone.

"We're in the reception area at Odeon cinemas," the lady explained to his Mum. "On Leicester street. Yes, London of course."

Realising what Teddy had done, John panicked. Grabbing his arm roughly, John hauled Teddy through the crowd, struggling to control him as Teddy began fighting and kicking. He screamed as loudly as he could, wishing another grown up would help him, but everyone just stood and looked at them both in shock. With no one to help him, Teddy screamed even louder.

"Let me go!" Teddy shouted, biting John's hand as hard as he could. "My mum's coming, and she's gonna-she's gonna...Let me go!"

"Come on mate," John said overly cheerfully. "Let's go home."

"No!" Teddy screamed again, crying as John picked up around the middle and carried him awkwardly towards the exit. He was walking as quickly as he could, trying to find a spot away from the Muggles where they could apparate. "I don't want you! I want to go home!"

"It's going to be alright," John cheerfully said as they stepped out onto Leicester street. "We're nearly home."

"No!" he shouted, scratching at the arm that held him by the waist. "I - want - to - go - home!"

Before Teddy could draw breath again, they were gone from London, gone from any hope of his mum coming to get him. She didn't know where he was now. She wouldn't be able to find him.

Returning back to the house they had been staying at, John put Teddy down with a great sigh, apologising to him quietly. Teddy would hear none of it, growing more and more upset with what was happening. He stood on the spot where John had put him down, crying softly as he clenched his hands together. Was he going to get into trouble again? Did his bad behaviour mean he had to stay longer?

Watching John carefully to see his reaction, Teddy was surprised when John slumped down into a chair at the kitchen table, putting his face into his hands. Slowly Teddy began to regain his breath, his cries settling into small sobs as he watched John, who was wiping at his eyes beneath his mask.

"I'm really sorry, Teddy," John finally said, looking up at him. His voice sounded sad, almost as sad as Teddy felt inside. "But you can't go home yet...not yet."

His brief reprieve from crying didn't last long, Teddy setting off again at these words. Picking up his backpack, he hugged it to his chest as he started back towards his room, more and more tears falling down his cheeks and running down his chin.

"I hate you!" he said loudly, walking past John on his way. "You've ruined everything!"

"I know," John said quietly, letting Teddy leave. "I'm sorry."

"We-well sorry's not good enough!" Teddy shouted next, repeating something his dad had said when he had been really naughty.

Wanting to ensure that was the last word, Teddy ran down the hallway and slammed the door when he entered his room. Not turning on the lights, Teddy kicked off his trainers and climbed straight back into the bed, pulling the blankets high over his head. He took Woody out from his bag and held him and the bag close to his chest, crying softly.

Sooner than he expected, he heard the bedroom door opening, and he listened as John stepped inside.

"Teddy, you need to get up," John said firmly, still sounding sad.

"No."

"Get up now," John told him, his tone leaving no room for argument. He pulled back the blanket and bundled it up under one arm, reaching for Teddy's backpack with the other.

"What are you doing?" Teddy protested angrily, grabbing his bag as John tried to take it.

"We're going, Teddy," John said. "Quickly now, come on. It's all right."

"Where are we going?" Teddy asked, letting go of his bag when he saw John summon Buzzy and Rex, stuffing them into the backpack.

"Away from here...it's not safe."

"Are we going home? To my home?"

"No, Teddy, we're not," John answered, shrinking the blanket and stuffing it into the back pack along with Teddy's few other clothes.

"Then I'm not going!"

John ignored this, charming Teddy's trainers so that they zoomed back onto his feet. Without another word John took his hand and pulled him off the bed, quickly leading him through the house and to the back yard.

"Where are we going?" Teddy asked again, growing more and more worried.

John sighed, wishing he could explain properly. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine...just think about something that makes you happy."

Ginny had to be more frustrated than she had ever been in her life. Though she had known it wouldn't be easy, no one had mentioned to her just how drawn out and boring breastfeeding could be, especially when one's baby was three days old and constantly hungry.

It was the middle of Thursday afternoon, and it felt like little James had spent most of the day attached to Ginny's breast, his incessant nursing driving her insane. Though she had mastered the art of successfully latching him on, her mum had stayed, making frequent cups of tea and keeping her company. Teddy had been absent for four days now, and although neither of them brought it up, Ginny knew that her Mum had caught on to the fact that he was missing. Harry's strange behaviour and involvement with Death Eaters hadn't gone unnoticed by her family, but per her unspoken request, nothing was said about it.

Thursday afternoon. This would be her third day alone, the third day since Harry had pled guilty to his apparent crimes and been escorted to Azkaban. Why had she never realised before what a difference it made when he was around? She had always known that the house felt different when he wasn't at home, but now it felt more empty than ever without him. Her mum was good company of course, and her dad had made frequent visits, but it made little difference to the way the house felt.

Shifting the pillow beneath her arm, Ginny snuggled into the corner of the couch and put her head back, carefully readjusting James where he lay nursing from her. Closing her eyes in exhaustion, she tried not to think about Teddy, not wanting to lose her cool again. It was difficult to tell her emotions apart at the moment, difficult to pinpoint exactly what she was grieving for. She knew that as a new mum she was entitled to feel a little bit of the 'baby blues,' but that coupled with Teddy's abduction and Harry's imprisonment had made it all that little bit harder.

What was she supposed to do now? Since their contact with Harry on Monday night, she hadn't heard from the Death Eaters at all. There had been nothing to indicate what was coming next, nothing to tell her what else needed to be done. Ron though, had promised that everything was covered, that she didn't need to do anything, and even though she trusted him immensely she couldn't help but doubt this. Nevertheless, there was nothing she could do. Teddy's abduction had to remain a secret, though the exact reasons for this secrecy she did not know. Short of going to the APEs and accidentally telling a crooked officer, she didn't know what could be done. She thought of Hermione too, remembering the look on Luther Fallacks' face as he pushed her through the fireplace in the Ministry atrium.

Ginny felt like she should be doing something, though, anything other than sitting around home and nursing James around the clock. Never in four years had she felt neglectful to her responsibilities as a mum, but now she was making up for that. While Teddy was god knows where with Death Eaters, she was sitting at home on her arse, having her mum bring her cups of tea and help fold laundry.

Realising that James had let go of her breast, she stroked his head and tiredly watched as his little fists flailed about, his tiny little mouth opening and closing around her breast. Fixing up her bra, she gently picked him up and put him against her shoulder, carefully laying a towel beneath his face as he began to fuss.

"I know, I'm sorry," she cooed, patting his back to wind him. "But you were only playing...you're just like your father."

Entering the lounge room, Molly sat down on the opposite end of the corner couch, watching on with a smile. "What was he doing? Having a play?"

"Yes," she answered, listening as James gave a petite but satisfying belch. He began to fuss and wiggle about, his clucky little cries telling Ginny exactly what he wanted. More. With an exasperated sigh, she lay him back down to her other breast, talking to him sternly as she helped him latch on. "If your daddy sees you playing with his toys, he'll be very upset. He loaned them to you on a strict 'no-playing' basis. Alright?"

James seemed to agree for the moment, for he hungrily latched on again and set to work, huffing and puffing through his nose as he concentrated on his important task. Settling back into the couch again, Ginny tried to get comfortable.

"If you're lucky, he might go down to sleep for you," her Mum said, trying to be encouraging.

Ginny scoffed at this. "Shouldn't he be...not feeding so often?" she asked uncertainly, convinced that she was doing everything wrong. Without Harry to do the worrying, it all fell to her. "Shouldn't I be getting him into a routine?"

Molly raised her eyebrows at this. "Love, today you brushed your teeth, took a shower and put on a clean shirt. All I can say to that, is good job!"

She smiled at this. "Really? That's all it takes?"

"That's all."

Looking at James again, Ginny sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. "Thanks Mum...for being here."

"My pleasure. I never got to do this with your sisters-in-law, that task fell to their own mothers."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"Oh I am," Molly assured her. "I just pressed a set of bed sheets for the first time in years, I'm in heaven."

"Mum!" Ginny protested. "You don't need to press my sheets!"

She laughed. "But I love to, and your father won't let me."

"That's because it's insane!"

"Yes, well...he has his power tools, I have my ironing. Just you wait until you climb into bed tonight, you'll be thanking me."

"If I ever climb into bed, that is," Ginny replied darkly, looking at James again. "Thanks Mum. Just don't press my knickers, alright?"

"I've already done them."

Rolling her eyes, Ginny huffed dramatically. "There's just no stopping you, is there."

"Don't tell your father, but I love that Muggle iron he gave me for Christmas. It's very good."

"I'll never tell," she promised, sealing it with a wink. "What about the refrigerator though? Are you going to let him bring it in the house?"

Molly shrugged thoughtfully. "We'll see. Perhaps for his birthday."

Smiling at her parents and their strange ways, Ginny was distracted when James suddenly let go and arched away from her, screwing his face up. He wailed loudly for no apparent reason, making her groan in frustration as she fixed up her shirt. Putting him back over her shoulder she rubbed and patted his back, bringing a few more belches out of him a minute later. His legs squirmed as he lay against her shoulder, and when he began to fill his nappy quite generously Ginny laughed, able to feel the rumbling from his lower half.

"Did you make more room, did you?" she asked him, laying him out on the couch beside her.

With a flick of her wand she had changed his nappy with no fuss, but she checked his clothing just in case. Harry being Harry, he would have changed James' nappy the Muggle way, just as he had always done with Teddy. His tendency to do menial tasks without magic always surprised Ginny, highlighting the two very different ways they were raised, with and without magic. For Harry, it was completely natural to wash dishes by hand and change a nappy the normal way, no matter what had been left inside for him. Ginny on the other hand, was usually a bit too impatient.

James seemed content to lay there for a moment, happy with his fresh nappy and a full tummy. Ginny watched him happily, secretly glad for the chance to put him down for five minutes. Though his red hair had thinned out a little at the back, it was still thick and wavy, a little bit like Harry's was when it got too long. His eyes were also following his father's, in colour at least. The more Ginny looked, the more it seemed they were turning from steel blue to a dark green. In the months to come, they would probably lighten to the bright emerald she was so used to seeing from Harry's eyes.

"What is that, dear?"

"Hmm?" Ginny asked, looking up absently.

Molly had half risen off the couch, looking behind her. "Is that the telephone?"

With startling realisation, Ginny realised that it indeed was a telephone ringing. It had rung a few times on Tuesday after the trial, mainly Timothy Green calling to warn Ginny that Harry was being fired, but since then it had been quiet. Was this the Death Eaters? Were they making contact with her again?

"I'll get it for you dear," her mum said automatically, not seeing Ginny's startled expression.

"No," she said shortly, jumping to her feet and pointing to James. "Watch him, Mum. Watch him for me."

Without waiting for an answer, Ginny bolted out of the living room towards the kitchen, her bare feet skidding painfully over the carpet as she rushed through the dining room. Bursting into the kitchen she dove for the telephone, her heart stopping when she realised that it was silent. Confusion struck her before she recognised the unusual tone, her brief stop highlighting exactly where it was coming from.

Upstairs.

She bolted again, frightening her Mum who was watching her through the double doors as she entered the front room and raced up the stairs. It was Harry's telephone, the one he had left behind before going with the APEs. It hadn't rung in days, and so she'd left it upstairs on his bedside table. Reaching the first floor, her heart sank as the shrill ringing stopped.

"No," she muttered, entering her bedroom and pouncing at Harry's bedside table. "No...come on."

She looked at the screen. 1 Missed Call.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ginny slowly assessed the screen, trying to figure out what button to press. This was another difference between her and Harry...Muggle technology came to him a lot more easily than it did her. Taking a wild guess, she pressed the centre button, swearing when it took her back to the home screen. But before she could do anything else, it rang again. This time she pressed the correct button, and saw that the connection with the caller had been made.

"Hello?" she said breathlessly.

There was no response from the caller. Leaving it for a moment, she listened to the background noise and chatter, listening for anything important.

"Hello?" she said again, louder this time. "Hello?"

"Mummy," came the small frightened voice she had been dying to hear for days. "I want to come home."

Her head spun as she heard these words, having not expected to hear Teddy on the line. Sinking down onto the bed, Ginny tried to concentrate, tried to keep control of what was happening. She had to listen, she had to be careful. If she said the wrong thing, it might mean terrible consequences for Teddy. Her heart pounded in anticipation, wondering what was happening. She had to stay calm, in complete control of herself…she promptly burst into tears.

"Where are you, Teddy? Tell me where you are."

"I don't know," he sobbed down the line, his voice thick with his own tears. "Can you come and get me? Please Mummy...I've been so good, I just want to come home."

She was shocked into silence. Come and get him? Was he free? Was this her chance, him calling to ask her for help?

"Where are you?" she repeated, getting to her feet and heading for the stairs. "You have to tell me where you are!"

"I don't know!"

She swore loudly, clenching her hand in her hair when she saw her Mum waiting for her at the foot of the stairs. "Who are you with?" she asked, coming down and moving straight past her mother to the front door. "Are you with someone? Is there a grown up?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Put them on the phone."

"But Mum!" he protested. "Why can't you come and get me?"

"I will, I promise, just the put the grown up on!"

Opening the front door, she stepped into the snow barefoot and took off down the driveway, heading for the apparition point. She listened to Teddy's quiet voice as he passed the telephone to the adult he was with.

"Hello?" came a woman's concerned voice.

"Is he alright?" she asked breathlessly, glancing back at her mum who stood in the doorway. "My son, is he okay?"

"Oh, yes, he's perfectly alright, just a little upset that's all."

"Teddy!"

Ginny froze, only just hearing Teddy's name being called out. What was happening? Had he escaped and now been caught?

"Where are you?" she shouted down the line, getting her message across.

"We're in the reception area at Odeon cinemas," the lady on the phone explained, sounding a little confused. "I think someone's come to-"

"Come to what?" she asked desperately.

"Well, I-"

"Where is he?" she asked next, reverting to the most important question. "What Odeon cinema?"

"On Leicester street."

"In London?" she asked, taking out her wand and preparing to apparate.

"Yes, London of course," the lady replied in disbelief.

"I'm coming, alright," she said bluntly, trailing off as she listened to Teddy's protests. He was shouting loudly, but she couldn't quite distinguish his words.

Wasting no time, Ginny turned on the spot and apparated straight onto the Muggle street, not caring if she was seen. She'd pay the fine for breaching the Statue of Secrecy if she had to, she'd pay it ten times over if need be. Appearing on the corner of Leicester square, she laid her eyes on the cinemas straight away and ran towards it.

Unable to believe her eyes, it was a long moment before she realised that the child being carried out of the cinemas was her son. Teddy was held around the waist, kicking and screaming at his captor as they rushed to get down the street, to find a safe spot to apparate from. Finding herself in complete shock, Ginny felt herself slowing down inexplicably as she drew closer, her chest still as she tried to draw breath to call out to Teddy. Her wand was by her side, useless until she could find the state of mind necessary to raise it and summon her magic.

Just as she was gathering her wits, beginning to understand what was right in front of her, the man holding Teddy turned around and looked straight at her. Seeing the wizard's face, Ginny stopped in the middle of the street, her mouth gaping as she took in the last face she had ever expected to see. The wizard looked frightened by her sudden appearance, and before she could do anything other than gape at him uselessly, he and Teddy apparated.

Standing in the middle of the road, Ginny was frozen, her heart racing as she began to feel faint. This couldn't be happening...it was too surreal...she was dreaming, she had to be. The hot spike of betrayal had pierced her chest, confusion and denial clouding her ability to think at all. Impossible...completely impossible. She knew the man who had taken her son...no one had heard from him in years, but she would never forget his face.

Before she knew what was happening, a Muggle man a little older than her was by her side, looking at her in concern as he cautiously reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "Are you alright? Ma'am? Are you okay?"

"What?" she said dimly, suddenly looking up at him. "Did you...did you see him?"

"See who?" the man asked her, taking her arm and leading her off the street to the front of the cinemas.

"He was just here!" she shouted, suddenly overcome with horror. Teddy had been just there, a few feet away from her, and she had done nothing. "My son, he was..."

"Have you been mugged or something?" the man asked her. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No," she said quietly, becoming aware of the small crowd of concerned onlookers that were gathering. She slipped her wand into the waist band of her trousers and looked at the mobile telephone she clutched in her hand. The line was disconnected. "No, I'm fine."

"Do you need a taxi?" the man suggested next.

"No," she said shortly, setting off down the street and raising the telephone.

Fumbling with the buttons, she called the only person she could think of, the only person in a position to help her. When Harry and Ron had first suggested they each carry Muggle telephones she had laughed at them, accepting hers only to placate the two of them. Now though, she'd kiss both their feet if she had the time.

The telephone rang out twice while Ginny stood on the cold Muggle sidewalk, the kindly man standing nearby until he was sure she was alright. She dialled again as the man finally left her alone, and this time the person she was calling picked up.

"Hello?" Ron said down the line. "Ginny, is that you?"

"Yeah," she said, her voice trembling. At the sound of her brother's voice, she broke down. "I need you, Ron."

"What's wrong? Why are you on Harry's phone?"

She gasped, wiping her face with her sleeve as she tried to think of what to say. Is this how Teddy felt, calling her and asking for help?

"Can you come to Leicester square?"

"T-to London? What are you doing in London?"

"Ron, please just come," she managed to say, hanging up so that the conversation ended.

She didn't have to wait for him long, Ron arriving almost as fast as she had. He apparated to the other side of the square, and as soon as she saw him she set off, running to him. Thinking about how to explain, she began to feel sick, the full impact of the wizard's betrayal sinking in. She couldn't even bear to think of his name, let alone say it out loud. When she and Ron finally reached each other, Ginny began babbling at him, trying to get everything out as soon as possible.

"Wait, hold up a sec!" he said loudly, grabbing her arms and making her look at him. He looked even more tired than Ginny felt, his face pale and his hair lank. "Start from the beginning."

"Teddy was just here!"

"Teddy? Here?"

"Yes," she confirmed, pushing her hair back from her face. "He called me on someone's telephone, asked me to come and get him, but I wasn't quick enough. I missed him."

"Alright," Ron nodded, taking all of this in. "Think carefully. Did they let him go, or did he get away?"

"He got away from them," she explained. "I didn't get here in time, and they caught him. He was - he was right there and I missed him!"

"Were they wearing a mask, like the others?"

"No."

"Who, then?" Ron asked next. "Did you recognise them?"

Ginny nodded, steeling herself before giving her answer. It was too hard to understand fully, but she knew that her answer was going to unleash an entire sleuth of hell on their entire family. Taking a deep breath, she told him.

Ron pursed his lips as he listened. "No, it wasn't."

"It was!" she said loudly. "I saw him!"

"Well you're wrong!" he said loudly, his face and ears turning red. "You've made a mistake!"

"No, I saw him! I saw him with Teddy!"

Shaking his head in disbelief, Ron turned away for a moment, swearing loudly. "It's impossible!"

"I'm sorry," she whispered quietly, not knowing what she was apologising for. "But it's true...I saw him. He looked at me...right at me."

Turning back around to her, Ron's face was furious. "You know what this means?"

Ginny shook her head. "No..."

"If you're right," Ron began, breathing heavily. "Then they're not giving Teddy back...If you're right, he's going to keep him."

"No," she whispered, breaking down again. "No, he wouldn't do that! He'd never do that to us, not to Harry!"

"Oh, no? If you're right, then he's already in some pretty deep shit! Oh shit...it can't be...it just can't be right."

"What do we do now?" Ginny asked a few moments later, realising that Ron wasn't exactly forthcoming with an answer.

Ron considered this for a moment, his arms folded as he chewed his bottom lip. He turned away from her, clenching his fists as he tried to think. "Go home," he told her, turning around slowly.

"Go home?"

"Yes, go home," he repeated, a look of determination crossing his face. "Let me take care of this."

"What are you going to do?"

Ron looked at her hesitantly. "Just go home alright? Leave it to me. I'll come by tonight, alright?"

Nodding, Ginny hesitated before leaving. "What should I do? Can I do anything?"

"Yeah," he said sharply, looking her in the eyes. "Don't tell anyone. Least of all Harry."

It was well into the night before Ron dared to make a move on the property he had just spent the last seven hours watching under surveillance. In that time he hadn't seen one flicker of life from inside, not one candle lit as night fell. If he was going to be completely honest with himself, he had waited so long before acting because he didn't want it to be true. He feared what he might find inside that house. Any occupants were long gone now, the wizard at the centre of Ron's focus likely tipped off by Ginny recognising him. Ron hadn't stood a chance of catching him there. He and Teddy were long gone.

Nevertheless, he had settled himself into the hill behind the house, conducting his careful surveillance to ensure that nothing was missed, to make sure the house really was empty before going inside. He couldn't risk being ambushed and killed. He was one of two people actively looking for Teddy at the moment, and he had opted not to tell Kingsley about his current suspicions, about Ginny's identification. Kingsley wouldn't take it well, though perhaps he'd be a little more rational about it than Ron had been.

Groaning, Ron dipped his head forward into the snow, letting the cold moisture awaken him. Merlin...when had he last been to bed? Monday night he'd been following Harry and Draco all across London on broomstick, and Tuesday night had been spent looking for Luther Fallacks. Wednesday...what had been Wednesday? Wednesday was a blur, a complete loss to him. Thursday though...that's when things had heated up.

It had taken him only thirty seconds to decipher the encoded message that Harry had placed in the old newspaper for him, but he was forced to admit he was a little frustrated by Harry's response. Ron had spent forever looking for Sirius...ah that's what he'd been doing on Wednesday...and had appealed to Harry for help. And what was his response? Check on the Malfoys...great help.

Nevertheless, this was an instruction that couldn't be ignored, and so for a few hours the search for Sirius and Sharon had come to a halt. Kingsley had accompanied him on his secret visit to the Malfoy residence, who had been less than accommodating to their impromptu search.

"And just what do you think you're looking for?" he had asked, following Ron and Kingsley down into the cellar, where Harry had instructed them to look.

"Whatever we like, Mr Malfoy," Kingsley had declared.

The cellar was empty...completely. The enormous space that had once housed a maze of old artefacts, antiques and dark objects now housed only a few cobwebs and dust. Secretly, Ron was relieved to not find Teddy there. If there was any worse place to hold a four year old hostage, the Malfoy's cellar would be a close second. Aside from that, Ron would be unable to bear telling Harry that Teddy had been held there, in the same space in which he had endured three days of torture and sleep deprivation at the hands of Lucius Malfoy.

Now though, he was being pulled in another direction all together. Ginny had called in an absolute state, desperate for his help. When she had told him who she had seen with Teddy, Ron's initial response was one of denial, of anger. But when he checked in with the security cameras at the Muggle cinema, he could no longer pretend that Ginny had accidentally identified the wrong wizard. The proof was right there, looking up at him through Muggle security cameras. Teddy's captor had neglected to wear a mask out in public, though Ron was certain that his identity was being withheld from Teddy.

From the Muggle cinemas, he had come straight here, settling on the very spot where he lay and not moving for the next seven hours. It was mere minutes away from midnight now, the deadline Ron had given himself for surveillance. Not wanting to stall any longer, he slowly got to his feet and stretched, reminding himself to get a desk job when this was all over. He'd had enough of this line of work, especially after finding out his most trusted co-worker was more crooked than Dumbledore's nose.

Putting his binoculars into his pocket, Ron slowly made his way down the hill in the dark, carefully climbing over the flimsy wooden fence and entering the backyard he had once known well. Pulling on a pair of leather gloves, he walked very carefully up the back path, not wanting to leave evidence of his visit. Looking through the kitchen window, he ensured that the house was empty before lighting his wand. He shone it around all four edges of the doorframe, looking for potential curses or anything that might indicate it had been opened by someone uninvited.

Determining that it was all clear, Ron turned the handle and stepped inside, surprised by the lack of protective wards on the property. Moving slowly, he closed the door behind himself and raised his wand higher, looking around the kitchen. How many weeks had he spent there? The war was hard to remember now, but on first impressions it looked as though not much had changed in the interior. Trying not to think about the past too much, Ron looked around the kitchen, treading carefully as he made his way over to the kitchen bin.

Opening the lid he looked inside, taking note of the empty can of Baked Beans and the packet of Chicken Nuggets. Teddy's favourite dinners, always sure to please. Closing the lid he opened the pantry door, finding exactly what he expected. A box of Weet Bix, Teddy's favourite biscuits, and fruit toast. Closing the pantry doors, Ron moved into the living area, taking note of the brand new television and video player. There were an array of children's video cassettes neatly stacked in the corner, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 sitting at the top.

Teddy had definitely been staying here. Not wasting any time, Ron moved down the hallway and into the first bedroom, hesitantly turning on the light so that he could see better. A single bed stood against the wall, the sheets ruffled slightly, and it appeared to be missing a blanket and pillow. Turning off the light and leaving the door half open as he had found it, he progressed onto the next room, knowing what he would find in there. As expected, there was a neatly made double bed and a chest of drawers, but no one inside. This was where Teddy's captor had been staying, the wizard Ginny had identified.

Leaving that room as he had found it, Ron looked into the only remaining room next, the bathroom. Turning on the light, Ron was suddenly startled by the sudden appearance of his reflection in the mirror. Shaking his head to himself, Ron sighed as he looked at the toothbrush and paste in the holder. Junior Jaws toothpaste with a shark on it, and a brush shaped like a dinosaur. They belonged to Teddy. Hovering in the bathroom for a few minutes, Ron continued looking around, glancing into the bath tub and shower to see the shampoo Harry usually purchased for Teddy, the no tears formula. In the two or three minutes he had spent in there, Ron had learned more about these people than he had in the last week.

They had been watching Harry and Ginny for quite some time, learning all that they could about Teddy. They wanted him to be happy, to have all the comforts of home during his abduction. It made sense...they cared about Teddy, more than they were entitled to. Ron began to feel very protective of Teddy, much in the way he did for his other nephews and nieces. This person had no right to care about Teddy...no right at all.

With these revelations came the feeling of unease that Ron had grown accustomed to over the past four years as an APE officer. He extinguished his wand and turned off the light, backing himself into the corner of the bathroom as he breathed evenly. He was no longer alone...someone had returned. There was no doubt in his mind that whoever had returned had come for him, knew he was there. He could fight them, likely come off with the upper hand, but then where would that leave him? Where would that leave Teddy?

The stupidest, most idiotic idea he had ever had came to him, but it took only a few breaths to rationalise it in his head. Hermione was already missing, Harry was in Azkaban, and he got the feeling these people were above harming a new mother with a baby like Ginny. There was really very little to lose, and a lot to gain from his idea. Lowering his wand, Ron began to wonder when exactly he had become so bold.

Coming out of the bathroom, he walked down the hallway with heavy footsteps, ensuring that his approach would be well heard. As he reached the living room and stopped, the Death Eater who had joined him lit his wand and removed his mask. With a great sigh, Ron handed over his wand to Luther Fallacks, who took it with a rather large smirk.

"Nice to see you, Ron."

"I'm still your boss," Ron reminded Fallacks.

Fallacks laughed at this. "Don't get cocky. I could use your help at Azkaban."