Chapter 23: Choices of the Heart, Choices of the Mind
Two days later, Alexander walked again in the Atrium of the Ministry. He walked directly at the private elevator that was leading to Cheldon Ambrosius' Office. The Minister had asked for news on their progress on a regular basis.
The wizard at the entrance of the Office nodded when Alexander passed before him.
Alexander knocked one the door.
"Come in," said the Minister's voice.
Alexander opened the door and found the Minister discussing with a familiar face.
"Ah, Alexander," said Cheldon cheerfully.
"Sorry to interrupt…" began Alexander.
"There's no problem," said Tanith McAllister with a nod.
She seemed in a very good mood today.
"I just confirmed Tanith as the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement," explained Ambrosius. "I think she's the best choice for this position. I should have nominated her before I let Devin enter the Office."
"That's good news," said Alexander.
"Thank you, Alexander," said Tanith with a friendly smile. "I hope I will be worthy of your trust, Sir."
"I'm sure you will, Tanith," said the Minister. "What did you want, Alexander?"
"I was willing to keep you informed of our investigations," said Alexander.
"You can talk in front of Tanith," said Alexander. "I just informed her of the exact situation. So far, Devin was the only one of his office involved, well... save for Mrs Granger-Weasley, of course. I can't afford to leave so many people unaware of what is at stake here. The crisis has become too serious. I guess Devin taught us that lesson, at least."
"I didn't realize that the situation was that critical," said Tanith. "Devin was always saying that you were too alarmist, while he would never tell me what it was about. But now, I realize that you're right from the beginning. That Seal must be destroyed as soon as possible."
Alexander took a seat, at Ambrosius' gesture.
"We're closing on the Mask, Sir," said Alexander. "Tanith already knows that we are on the trail of the descendant of Morgenstein. It has been confirmed that the family of Morgenstein has been involved with the Seal for millennia. As we were searching the house of Lazlo Morgenstein, we have found that the only living relatives of Morgenstein are three families. With the help of Ginny Weasley, we already have established that one isn't involved at all. Only two families can be the one of the Mask."
"But when you will have identified him, what can you do?" asked Tanith. "They could be using another name."
"Yes, but I'm sure Mask is someone in the Ministry," said Alexander. "And once I've got his real name, I will be able to find him. You can trust me on this."
"That's good," said Ambrosius.
"Once the Mask is caught, we will have more time ahead of us to deal with the Seal," said Alexander.
"Excellent," said Ambrosius. "At the same time, we have made progress to isolate the Seal from Magic. Wizards from the Spelling Department are creating spells that may create a Bubble of Void around anything. The only obstacle left is to make these spell unaffected by the Seal's action."
Alexander nodded.
"I guess we will see the end of this Crisis soon, said Ambrosius.
"I hope so," said Alexander.
He was walking in the streets of Hogsmeade, along with his three companions. He could feel the apprehension pulse in his veins. He couldn't fail this. Or the Mask would be unforgiving this time. So determination and fear were fighting in his mind. His mission was the most important of his life.
She had to die.
The target appeared at the turning of the street. The flaming red hair and the green eyes. The Irish Witch. He raised his wand and aimed at her. So did the other cloaked wizards. A pity, he thought. She's beautiful. But it was the will of the Master.
"CRUCIO!"
As Phyllis was screaming in pain before his eyes, the vision dissolved, to be replaced by another one. Alexander shifted in his sleep. The streets of Hogsmeade were replaced by the Halls of the Ministry. He was facing three guards. He was looking at them through the slits of a Mask. He was the Mask of Chaos. Nothing could ever stop him!
He raised his wand and one of the guards fell dead on the floor. The others were taken out by his servants. And finally, after months of waiting, the door opened in front of him, and the Seal appeared to his eyes, glowing of its blue light.
His fate, His legacy. His future. The Seal of Power.
Alexander woke up with a start. He looked around him. He was sitting in his armchair, behind his desk. Through the window, the sun was shining against the East Tower of Hogwarts. He was back in his office for hours, after his morning visit to the Minister. And he couldn't remember what happened after he took his seat in his office. He hadn't slept too much in the last days.
Alexander shivered. He was covered in cold sweat. He had fallen asleep over his book, and now, he was sure that what he had seen wasn't a dream. It was another vision. Like the one he had experienced in the summer. The one that had led him back to England and Hogwarts.
Phyllis was in danger! And the Mask was about to get the Seal!
He stood up, without thinking any further. He ran out of his office, thinking of what he had seen. The vision of Phyllis was in Hogsmeade. He felt the emergency to get there. The vision was about to fulfil at this very moment!
Alexander ran out the Great Doors of the Castle, avoiding a collision with Hagrid by an inch. Without wasting a second to apologize, he took off in the air, and flew right over the Forbidden Forest. He had never flown that fast. The very second he was out of the grounds, he pulled out his wand, and cast a spell.
"Locatio Phyllis!" he shouted.
The tip of his wand emitted a red light, and Alexander did something he had never done before. He read the way Magic was linking his want to Phyllis, and his mind followed the trail.
He found her, and apparated in mid air.
He landed on the ground, in the middle of a street. Four wizards were standing in front of him. Four cloaked wizards, their wands trained in their hands, but that looked stunned by his sudden apparition. Behind him, he could figure Phyllis on her knees, struggling with the pain of a Cruciatus Curse.
Alexander waved his and to the wizards and they were hit by a furious wave of Energy, that sent them on the ground. They stood up quickly, and, after sharing a quick look, they disapparated.
Alexander turned to Phyllis. She stood up, weakly. She had numerous cuts on her arms and neck. Alexander ran to her, and checked her wounds.
"Are you alright?" he asked restlessly.
"I'll live," said Phyllis with a smile. "Right on time, as always. Thank you."
She kissed him. Alexander stiffened a little.
"I can't stay," he said, his voice getting desperate.
"What's going on, Alex?"
Phyllis' face was beginning to loo worried.
"I had a vision," said Alexander. "That's how I knew you needed me. But something is going on at the Ministry. These guys are servants of the Mask. He's up to something in the department of Mysteries. I've seen it. I can't stay. You must go to St Mungo's, but I can't stay with you. Can you apparate on your own?"
Usually, Phyllis would have argued endlessly over the fact that she needed to get to a hospital, as she was tougher than anyone. But this time, she seemed to understand the situation. She nodded.
"Go," she said.
"You…"
"I'll be fine, now," she said, kissing him again. "Go."
Alexander was preparing to apparate.
"Alex," she called to him.
He looked at her. She was smiling weakly.
"Thanks to have come to me first she said.
Alexander had a sad smile and he disapparated.
He emerged of the air in the Atrium. A short look around him, and Alexander heard an explosion under his feet. He disapparated and appeared back on the ninth floor. To emerge in total chaos. There was a huge battle around him, spell flashing through the air, and wizard apparating suddenly.
He spotted the door of the Seal room. She was torn open, and ten Wizards were carrying the Seal out of it, covered by the spells of their companions. And before all of the cloaked wizards, the Mask was shooting spells at everyone, forcing the Ministry guards to take cover.
Alexander threw a wave of force at Mask. The masked wizard raised a hand and blocked it. Alexander saw the Seal react to this spell. Mask was using the entropy around it to reinforce his own power!
Alexander and Mask faced each other for a long moment, with a defying look.
"Alexander! What's going on?" asked a familiar voice.
Hermione had just apparated at his side.
"What are you doing here?" asked Alexander, without tearing his eyes off Mask.
"I was picking up the last of my stuff from my office, when I heard the noise, Stupefy!" she said, casting a spell at one of the servants of the Mask. "I saw you appear in the Atrium."
"They're taking the Seal!" shouted one of the Unspeakables. "Stop them!"
Alexander looked around to see where Tallmount was. It was he who was supposed to give orders. And suddenly, he saw him.
Tallmount was lying on the ground, dead. He wasn't harmed at all. A Killing Curse.
"Bloody murderer!" shouted Alexander. "FUDERA!)
A huge lightning bolt shot out of his Wand and struck the shield of Mask. It dissolved on it.
"Too bad, Alexander," said the iron voice. "You missed your shot, this time. Let's see how you deal with this."
He waved his wand.
"Annihilato!" he said.
The huge flash of light was blinding. Alexander built a barrier to deflect the destruction spell. The impact was terrifying. The ray of light divided in smaller ones. One of the rays hit the Ceiling.
The shock made the ceiling explode. The spell of the Mask rebounded in every direction. One of the rays of light hit one of the Ministry's wizards, and he was disintegrated in a second. Another rebounded three times, losing power with each hit on the stone. Finally, it hit one of the mirrors, and shattered it.
The ray exploded in little ones, again in every direction. One the rays hit Hermione in the shoulder. She fell on the ground with a cry of pain. And seem to pass out.
The commotion caused by the explosion had allowed the servants of Mask to drag the Seal by the vortex. It disappeared from view. Mask made a parody of salute to Alexander, before to run into the passage, which disappeared behind him.
Alexander had no time to roar after him, or to deal with his anger right now. He ran to Hermione, who was lying unconscious on the ground. He knelt near her, and took her wrist. With a deep sigh of relief, he felt a pulse under his thumb.
"Somebody takes her to St Mungo's Hospital!" he ordered. "And warn her husband."
"Alexander! What happened?" asked Ambrosius, who came running out of the Elevators.
"The Seal is gone, Sir," said Alexander. "The Mask came and took it with his servants."
Ambrosius looked around him, and saw the bodies lying on the ground.
"Who…"
"He killed three guards, and Corwin," said Alexander.
Ambrosius went very pale.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but we couldn't do anything," said Tallmount's deputy. "The second he was on the spot, the Mask had shot a Killing Curse at him. Even Mr. Lockenburn couldn't stop them."
"How did you know?" asked Ambrosius.
"I had a vision," said Alexander. "Like the one which had led me to Mongolia. But this time, I failed."
His heart seemed very cold, now. He was relieved to have saved Phyllis from her attackers, but this choice could lead to the destruction of England. Alexander saw somebody lift Hermione in his arms, before to disapparate.
And this choice had nearly killed one of his friends.
How could things go wrong like this?
Harry was walking as quickly as he could in the Hospital corridors. He was under the shock of what had happened. He had received a desperate call from Ron. Hermione was in St Mungo's, fighting for her life! Harry was terrified by the thought of a dying Hermione.
He exited the elevator into the wing where that a healer had indicated to him. He ran into Terry Boot, one of his old classmates. He was dressed as a Healer.
"Harry? What are you doing here?"
"Hermione's injured," said Harry quickly. "Do you know where she is?"
Terry was about to say no when a voice called Harry's name. He turned to see Fred walk toward him, looking way too worried and serious for Harry's peace of mind. He saw that his twin was waiting at the door of a room, with their parents. Terry wasted no time and entered the room, with a nod to the Weasleys.
"It's pretty bad, Harry," said Fred, darkly. "Ron's inside, but they won't let us come in."
"What the hell happened?" asked Harry.
"Hermione was in the Ministry, picking up her things, when the Mask attacked," said George, who greeted him with a nod. "Hermione's been injured by a deflected Curse. The Seal is gone."
"What?"
Harry felt panic rise in him. The Seal was in the clutches of the Mask!
"Alexander is upstairs," said Fred. "Phyllis has been attacked by servants of the Mask. She's fine, but you should go and ask him what's going on."
"Where's Ginny?" asked Harry, surprised not to see her.
"We don't know," said Fred. "She's been out of touch. I sent her three owls and tried the Floo powder, but I can't find her."
Terry walked out of the room at that moment.
"She's seriously injured," he said, very seriously. "But now, her survival is in her own hands. If she wakes up, she'll be fine. But if she doesn't, we'll lose her. You will be soon allowed in the room."
"You should go and see how Phyllis and Alexander are," said Fred. "Third floor, room thirteen."
"But..."
"Harry, there's nothing you can do by staying here," said Molly, kindly.
"If the Seal is out there," said Arthur, "this is too big to waste any time."
Reluctantly, Harry walked away from the group, his mind completely confused. All was happening too quickly! Too much things at the same time. He took the elevator to the next floor and easily found the Room. He knocked on the door.
"Come in!" came the voice of Phyllis, strong and tense.
Harry pushed the door open, and pushed his head in the crack.
Phyllis was looking furious. And she was looking terrible as well. But most of her cuts were now healing, and she looked more angry than hurt. Harry was astonished by her strength. She was arguing with Alexander, who was insisting that she should stay here, for her own sake.
"I'm fine, Alex," she said.
"What happened?" asked Harry.
Alexander seemed to notice him at last.
"Servants of Mask attacked her. But I had a vision, and I went to help her. But I had another vision, on Mask's attack on the Ministry. I was too late for that. I saw him and his cronies carry the Seal through one of his damned portals in the Air."
"But how the hex did he find the Seal?" asked Harry. "It's... It was supposed to be a secret."
"I don't know," said Alexander. "But if I find the one who has leaked that information, he'll be in a world of trouble."
Alexander looked positively disgusted and angry. Harry guessed that part of that anger was aimed at himself, mostly. He knew the feeling. Whenever something he was involved in went wrong, Harry had the tendency to claim the blame. It seemed Alexander shared that trait. Phyllis seemed to have guessed Alexander's state of mind, because she was still trying to soothe him about it.
"Love, how could have you stopped it?" asked Phyllis. "Once he was in the place, with his reinforcements, nothing could have stopped him."
"I should have done something for Hermione. She's been hurt because I was late. Tallmount's dead. And I was almost too late to rescue you…"
"Come off it, Lockenburn," she said. "None of these idiots had done me any wrong, thanks to you! I'm serious! How's Hermione, Harry?"
"Not really good," said Harry, entering the room, still under the shock of the news. "She hasn't wakened, yet. I'll go and check on her. Glad to see you're okay," he added to Phyllis.
"Could you tell that to him?" asked Phyllis, showing Alexander with a nod of her head.
By the look on his face, Harry could tell that Alexander was still hesitating between pure panic and fury. He had to be completely beside himself with fear for her sake, but at the same time, he was planning some killing in the next days, against anyone involved in the attack against her.
Harry left the room as Phyllis was kissing her lover, to reassure him. He went back down to the floor where Hermione was taken care of. He was thinking hard of the situation.
It was disastrous. Mask at taken a serious head start, now. He had the Seal, and there was no way to find him now. It was only a question of hours until he would activate it. If they didn't find a way out of this, England was doomed, if not the whole world.
Harry reached Hermione's room, now open. He saw Ron sitting at her bedside, looking sickly pale, and Harry could tell by looking his old friend in the eye, that he was completely destroyed inside. If Hermione wasn't getting better soon, Harry was worrying for Ron's sanity. He knew that even if they fought all the time, and if they seemed to be as different as rain and sunshine, Ron and Hermione were completing each other so much that Ron couldn't live without his wife.
Harry looked at Hermione. She was pale, motionless. Harry knew it was the spell she was under that was giving her this look. But it was scary. She looked dead! Harry had to struggle to keep the idea of losing Hermione out of his mind. Hermione was the closest thing he had for a sister. Hermione had been on Harry's side through so many challenges that he couldn't even imagine something that could make her disappear from it.
She just couldn't die!
A healer entered the room. Ron raised his eyes to him, hoping for some news.
"I won't give you false hopes, Mr. Weasley," said the Healer. "But if she has lived until now, I think that she had the strength to resist the spell that got her. If she's strong enough to wake up, she'll be out of trouble."
Ron nodded, not saying a word, and his eyes went back on Hermione's face, looking for any kind of move.
Harry was about to move to join Ron and comfort him the best way he could, but an Owl entered the room by the window and flew directly at him. Ron looked at him, surprised. Harry shrugged in apology, showing he didn't know who could write to him now.
He picked the note from the owl, and tore it open.
It was from Ginny. A cold chill ran through his spine. She had been out of touch. For a moment, he had forgotten what she had been doing, these days. If she wasn't aware of what was going on…
The thought died in his mind when he read the letter.
Harry,
I found the Mask. I can't tell you more. This note could be intercepted. Meet me at Hogwarts!
I Love you,
Ginny
Harry had a sudden impression of danger. Reading the note, he was thinking hard of what just happened. Phyllis attacked, as the lover of Alexander. If the Mask knew something like that, he could very well know what Ginny meant for him. And he could also know what she was looking for in the Prophet's Archives… to get his name!
"I must go," said Harry. "Tell me how she gets, alright?"
"Harry, what's going on?" asked Ron, suddenly worrying.
"Ginny's in danger," said Harry, before to disapparate.
Ginny walked out of her house, her thoughts in complete disorder. The news would be striking for Harry and Alexander. There was no mistake, though. She had a serious lead on who Mask could be, now. She felt excited at the idea. She liked cracking a mystery.
Something in her mind warned her and she suddenly stopped. A feeling echoing the one in Diagon Alley, when she had fought beside Alexander. As if to prove her feeling of dread, a crunching noise came from the woods near the village. She got her wand in her hand in a second.
Three silhouettes walked slowly out of the woods, wands in hand. In open field like that, on her own, Ginny knew she was in danger. She began to run immediately, toward the safest place nearby, namely Hogwarts. But as she was reaching the middle of the woods, near the Gates, something it her hard in the back, throwing her on the dusty ground. A terrible pain ran through her entire body. She screamed. Her wand slashed the air.
"PROTEGO!" she managed to pain faded. She stood up with difficulties, and turned to the attackers. They suddenly began to wave their wands, sending trails of fire across the night. One of the beams hit her in the shoulder, burning her. She felt blood begin to flow out of the wound. She fell on her knees, but refused to go down.
She raised her wand.
"Expulso!" she shouted.
A wave of force hit the three wizards, who fell on the ground.
Ginny tried to stand up and to apparate, but her mind was not clear enough. Another strike of the flaming whips hit her on the chest, throwing her on the ground. She waved her wand in the approximate direction of her attackers.
"Expelliarmus!" she said, between two sobs of pain.
One wand flew back to her. She grabbed it, and stood up again. She waved two wands at them.
"Everte Statum!"
One was hit by the spell, but the other dodged it. He threw a knife at Ginny, who was too weak to avoid hit. It hit her in the stomach. Ginny had just the strength to pull the knife out of the wound. She was about to try and cast another spell. But her vision blurred suddenly. And the sounds of the woods were beginning to fade out.
The two Wizards suddenly seemed to take one decision, and disapparated, grabbing the third one, still stunned. Ginny dropped her wand and felt herself fall on the floor. She could feel the blood flowing out of her wounds, and everything was going very cold now.
No wonder they left, she thought. I'm done for.
The last thought she had was for Harry, and how much she loved him. She held on to it, not willing to let it go away. She couldn't leave him alone. Not now that hey had found each other. It wasn't fair. She didn't deserve to die like this, alone in the woods, without any reason.
Harry had run the fastest he could from the middle of Hogsmeade, led by his wand to find Ginny. He was beyond worried. His whole being was in frantic, as the wand was leading him in the woods, far from the town.
And suddenly, he saw her facing two silhouettes and, between her two opponents, another one was lying, apparently stunned.
He had his wand in his hand.
"Incendio!" he shouted.
A huge arc of flame shot in the air, speeding at the wizards. They grabbed the stunned one and disappeared. Harry ran to join Ginny, but he saw her collapse on the ground, and stay motionless.
His heart missed a beat, and a terrified cry escaped his lips.
"GINNY!" shouted a voice near her.
And suddenly, his face was bent over her. He was looking terrified. But Ginny felt better to see him before the end.
"I love you," she whispered, before she would lack the strength.
"Oh, no, you don't play that game with me, Weasley! You're going to make it, you hear me?"
He was sounding furious, but in the same time, he was crying. She could feel tears falling on her face. She wanted to tell him not to cry, but she suddenly fell into darkness.
She closed her eyes, and the world disappeared around her.
Harry cradled Ginny in his arms, panic racing in his head. How could he save her? He could not think of anything. He was too far from Hogwarts, too far from Hogsmeade. By the time he would get to anyplace, she would be dead. And he couldn't apparate into Hogwarts.
He pressed her against him. Her breathing was growing ever weaker. Harry tried a healing spell on the wound of the knife, but if the wound closed, he could still feel Ginny go weaker in his arms.
Helplessness was starting to overwhelm him, when he felt something in his inner pocket.
The coin! Hermione's coin! He took it and grasped it tightly. It was cold to the touch, the spell useless now that the threat on the Minister was passed. Harry suddenly focused on it, like never before. He needed to send a signal, hoping someone would hear it. He pressed the coin inside his fist, shutting his eyes, calling to all the power he had. It was nothing like using a wand. It was a desperate gesture, but he just couldn't lose Ginny like that!
In his fist, he felt the coin begin to warm up. When he opened his palm, the coin was red! Hermione couldn't hear the call, but maybe someone still had one of the coins.
"Help me!" he pleaded. "Somebody help me!"
And a loud crack came in response. Alexander was suddenly standing near him. His eyes widened when he saw Ginny.
"What happened?" he asked, urgently.
"Servants of Mask," said Harry, sobbing. "I don't know what to do... I tried to heal her, but..."
"Let me help you," said Alexander, acting quickly.
He waved his hand and snapped his fingers at Ginny, and she suddenly seemed to freeze, like caught in ice. Alexander flicked his fingers again and Ginny began to levitate, escaping Harry's tight embrace.
"I must be quick," said Alexander. "Meet me in the Castle."
He suddenly flew off the ground and, Ginny floating at his side, sped up in the air, flying right at the towers of Hogwarts. Harry's eyes followed him until he vanished from view. He was still numb from the shock, torn between relief, hope and terror at the idea that she could die. He couldn't will himself to move.
Another crack and Remus was apparating right in front of him. Tonks followed the second after.
"Harry! What happened!" she said, her eyes widening at the sight of blood on his robes.
"Ginny... they... they attacked Ginny," said Harry, still feeling completely empty.
"Where is she?" insisted Remus.
"Hogwarts... Alexander took her," said Harry. "She was… she was…"
He couldn't go on. The idea of losing Ginny was too much. Tonks hesitated a second, walked to him and hugged him tightly.
"She'll be ok, Harry," she said softly. "I'm sure she'll be ok."
Harry buried his face in her shoulder, as his nerves were failing him. Remus patted his back gently.
Then Tonks took Harry by the arm and walked him toward the Castle. But he hardly noticed it. All he could think about was the vision he had had of Ginny, covered with blood, looking pale, and whispering that she loved him, just as if she was about to die.
If she was to die, he couldn't live with the thought. And Hermione was injured too. The dearest women of his life were both lying in a hospital. How could he face this?
Harry had been sitting for hours now, outside the Hospital wing, waiting impatiently to have some news, Lupin and Tonks sitting silently next to him. Ginny was in good hands, with Madam Pomfrey. Alexander had lent her his help, and a Healer had come from St Mungo's. Harry had been thrown out of the wing, as they needed to perform some real difficult spell, to keep her alive. The wounds were already mended, but poison from the blade was still running in her veins, and it was pulling her deeper in the darkness. They had to fight this and to bring her back to consciousness.
And Harry had no way to know how it was going.
"Harry?" said a voice near him.
A voice so familiar that Harry jumped, hoping to see Ginny alive and well. But as he raised his eyes, he saw that it was Molly. For the first time in his life, Harry realised how much Ginny's voice took after her mother's. Molly was standing there, her lower lip trembling. She had tears in her eyes. She was joined by her husband who came to face Harry.
"How is she?" asked Arthur, urgently. "Dumbledore warned us that she was injured."
"I don't know," said Harry. "They are still with her, right now. They fight to keep her alive. She was stabbed and the blade was poisoned."
He lowered his eyes. He couldn't bear to look at them in the eye. It was his entire fault! He tried to say this out loud, but words failed him.
It seemed to draw Molly from her teary silence. She grabbed his shoulders with her strong hands.
"Harry," she said. "You're not responsible for this. Without you, she would be simply dead. Dumbledore said you ran to her rescue."
"But without me, she wouldn't heave been even involved in all this," said Harry.
"Don't be absurd, Harry," said Arthur. "Ginny hasn't waited for you before to take risks. She would have been involved in this or something else, even without you. Don't take the blame for this. You don't deserve it."
Harry was still not convinced.
"Harry, listen to me," said Arthur. "I have always made a duty of staying out of my children's private life, but when I heard about you and Ginny, I couldn't be happier. And I know my little girl. She has never seemed so happy than since she's with you."
Molly then hugged him gently. Remus then took Harry's arm and dragged him close to a window, as Tonks came to talk to Ginny's parents.
"They're right, you know," he said. "She won't die like this. Not after she finally got the happiness she was looking for. I've watched the whole lot of you since the end of the war. And I've seen her grow happier these last months than in her whole life. All that thanks to you. I know she will fight. She won't leave you alone."
"I can't imagine losing her," said Harry, weakly.
It was all that he could say. His mind was going blank again, every thought completely eclipsed by the memory of Ginny lying in his arms, covered in blood. Remus pulled him in an awkward hug. Harry sighed against him. He was grateful that his parents' friend was here for him, today. Merlin knew he needed no to be alone, right now. Tonks joined them and put a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder.
"She'll fight, Harry," she said. "She'll be okay."
Ginny.
Something in the dark seemed to call her back. Ginny heard some voice speak in her mind, and it sounded just like someone calling her from a deep cave. No, she was in the depth of the Cave and someone was coming from the outside, to help her get out. She felt suddenly that her mind was clearing. She tried to open her eyes, but all she got from this was pain, so she gave up. Her senses were coming back one by one, to tell her that she was feeling worse than she had ever felt in her life. She clenched her teeth, struggling not to scream in pain.
"She's awake," said the voice of a woman.
"Good," said the voice, now familiar, of Alexander. "You can sleep, now, Ginny. You won't fall in darkness again. Go to sleep."
And before she could do or say anything, she was drifting slowly back into sleep.
Later how long, she couldn't tell-, she started again to regain consciousness. But this time, there was no pain, or at least, not that bad. It felt like a terrible headache, but all over her body. But she could move a little. She shifted in her pillows, without opening her eyes. She let out a groan, since even moving so slightly was painful.
"Ginny?"
The voice, full of love but tired, that came in response eased her pain. He was here! She slowly opened her eyes and blinked a little. The face of Harry came in focus, right over her.
When Ginny opened her eyes, Harry let out a sigh of relief. He had felt so cold, afraid and weak, while sitting on her bedside, after the spells that Alexander, Madam Pomfrey and the Healer had performed on her. He had been afraid of losing her. Now he could understand what she had felt, when he had been hurt during his game against China. He took her hand and smiled.
"Hello, Miss," he said softly.
"How am I?" she asked, with a weak smile.
Her voice wasn't much more than a whisper.
"You've been better," said Harry. "But you will get better, soon, now that you're awake."
"My head's killing me," said Ginny, with a wince of pain.
"Sorry to be pessimistic, but you ain't seen the half of it. Soon, the rest of your body will kill you. This blade was poisoned. Your body is still fighting the poison."
"That sounds nice. Thanks," she said suddenly.
"Why?" asked Harry.
"You saved my life, tonight," said Ginny.
"Alexander did the most of it, you know," said Harry. "I'm just glad that I was here to warn him so he could get you in the hospital wing."
"The hospital wing?" asked Ginny.
"We're in Hogwarts," he said. "There was no time to get you in a hospital, but Madam Pomfrey will get you on your feet in no time."
"Who were these guys?" asked Ginny, her mind snapping back to the fight and her wound.
"Servants of the Mask," said Alexander, walking in the room, in spite of Madam Pomfrey's vigorous protests. "Good to see you awake, Ginevra. Harry, I've checked on Hermione. She woke up. Healers say she'll be fine."
Harry sighed in relief. The last time he had seen Hermione, she was lying on a bed of St Mungo's, pale as death. He had seen Ron's face. Now, he could understand how he had felt much clearer now. If Ginny had died because of him, Harry would have torn down the whole country to find this Mask and kill him slowly, painfully.
"Healers say she'll get out the Hospital very soon, without any trouble," said Alexander.
"Hermione?" asked Ginny. "What happened?"
"Mask has the Seal. He broke in the Ministry again and stole it with his servants. He killed two more guards and Mr. Tallmount. Hermione's been hurt in the explosion he has caused. But she's recovering," said Harry, with a look at Alexander for him to confirm.
The decisive nod he had in response did a lot to clear his head. Neither Ginny nor Hermione would die, today. With that terrifying spectre out of his mind, his thoughts went back to the crisis at hand. And it seemed Ginny had a sudden realization.
"It's not 'he', Harry," she suddenly said, grasping his arm. "That's what I wanted to tell you. I found the family of Morgenstein. There were only two trails left. But Connor's second son died without any child. The third child was a woman, who married and kept the name Lochley. Her name was Evianna. She had a daughter, Lucia. And she married a man named Antonius Skalner! He took the name Lochley. But Alexander, he was a Chaotician, too, which is why the family insisted that she married him. She died in childbirth. It was a daughter! Antonius abandoned her after her mother died. The girl's been adopted after that."
"Adopted?" repeated Alexander, very pale, now. "You're sure?"
"Yes," said Ginny. "She is gone from the records, but she can be traced with a little patience."
Harry could see that Alexander wasn't listening anymore. There was something in his eye. He had suddenly made a connection, somehow. He stood up, his eyes flashing with a sudden anger. He hit one of the curtains of Ginny box with a scream of rage. The curtain and its frame fell on the floor loudly.
"She used me! The backstabbing bitch!"
"What?" asked Harry? "Who?"
"It's Tanith, Harry! From the very beginning, it's been Tanith! She was right under my nose!"
He took one small bottle on one of the tables and threw it against the wall, with another scream of fury.
For those who wonder, I created the Fudera Spell with the Old German root for the Word "Foudre" which means Lightning in French.