Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Reviews welcome. Any advice to help me improve would be brilliant. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 15 - Sending a Message

A few people had confirmed sightings of Bernd Beaumont, although no one seemed to know anything about him or his supposed son. He had been seen with Fred and George in the pub some nights, strangely he had never gotten to know anyone else in the alley.

With nothing but sightings to go on, Harry had started searching the name in the Muggle records and had asked Tonks to look through the Ministry census. So far they had turned up nothing, causing Harry to quickly assume it wasn't his real name. He was like a ghost. Coming and going as he pleased, no one even saw or heard him dissaparate. Similarly, no one had ever seen Beaumont using the floo.

It was a mystery, one Harry was keen on solving. He'd just walked in from the cold after driving over to St Ottery Catchpole. They had decided that Beaumont may of shown up before all his attacks, so Harry was asking locals if they had ever seen him.

Unfortunately, no one seemed to remember, he could only hope Ginny had more luck. She was in Hogsmeade, with a similar task.

Harry grimaced from his seat in the living room as he heard the front door slam. Ginny stormed in and threw herself onto the settee next to him. 'I take it no luck then?' Asked Harry with a sigh.

'No.' She said moodily. 'How did you get on?'

'I didn't. There's got to be something we're missing.'

Tiredly, she leaned his head on his shoulder. 'Don't worry, we'll spot it. Do you want to go over the next places to search?'

'Nah let's have a night off. I don't know about you, but I need a break from it.'

'A break would be nice. You know Ron and Hermione asked me to go around theirs later for dinner. You fancy coming?'

Harry shifted slightly. 'I'm OK, I'm sure they don't want me around.'

'Don't be daft, come, it'll be fun.'

'OK.' Harry said hesitantly. 'If you're sure they won't mind, what time you going?' he asked as he rested his head on hers.

'About half seven.' She mumbled.

'OK.'

The next thing Harry knew he was jolted awake as the front door closed with a snap. Through the haziness of sleep, it took a few seconds to get his bearings. Looking around he realised that he had dozed off in the sitting room and there was a comfy weight on his shoulder.

Somehow in sleep they had shifted position slightly, Harry had his arm around her shoulders and her arms were snaked around his middle.

'Ginny?' He whispered.

'Zappenin?' She groaned groggily.

'We fell asleep on the settee.'

'So? Comfy.' She replied hazily, snuggling into his side further.

'I thought you wanted to go Ron and Hermione's.'

'Not now.' She moaned. 'Go 'morrow instead.'

'K.'

She hummed in contentment and it wasn't long until her breathing evened out again as she fell back into sleep. Instead of following her back to the land of slumber, Harry reached for the remote and turned on the TV, although he still kept his arm around her.

There was something comforting to it, a closeness he had never had with anyone before. Neither had been brave enough to broach the subject of what nearly happened in the Leaky Cauldron almost a week ago, yet they had each gone out of the way to be close to the other. They had taken to sitting next to each other during meals, and Ginny had even started getting up early to help Harry with breakfast.

Whilst knowing they needed to talk about it, the whole thing frightened Harry. He was used to being on his own, not really caring to be in a relationship. Now he suddenly felt ready to offer that lonely part of himself up, it was an effort not to run away. The self-doubt was like a dark bottomless pit he couldn't help staring into from the edge. Opening up to someone wasn't who he was, for some reason though, he wanted to with Ginny.

Somehow Ginny had developed an uncanny knack to get him to want to talk. Instead of just burying anything below a brash, confident exterior, she saw through all that. Tonks could read him similarly well, the difference being when he didn't want to talk Tonks would drop the subject, Ginny didn't let him get off so easily.

It was sometime later and well after Harry had told Kreacher they wouldn't want any dinner, that Ginny finally started to wake. She shifted slightly against Harry, turning her face too bury into his neck, as if chasing the last remnants of sleep.

Unsuccessful in her hunt for another nap, she groaned. 'What time is it?'

'Just gone midnight.' Harry told her quietly, smiling.

'What you watching?'

'Grand prix highlights from last year.' He said, not taking his eyes off the screen.

'What's a Grand Pre?' She asked confused.

'It's a series of races across the world, in the quickest cars around. Those things are the closest you get too flying without a broom or being a pilot.' Harry explained enthusiastically, with some longing, 'I'd love to drive one.'

'Maybe one day you can.'

'No way, even using magic to help, my reaction times aren't good enough. Besides, I don't think I've got the bottle to keep my foot in it.'

Ginny leaned back off his shoulder, causing his arm to fall away. Harry felt a slight pang for the loss of contact. 'You fly as well as anyone I've seen, faced Voldemort countless times and now fight against armed wizards mostly using Muggle means.' She listed off factually. 'You're telling me they're braver than you?' She asked pointing at the screen.

'And dafter.' He admitted, Ginny snorted. 'Trust me their brave enough, I always leave a little in when I can help it, they're on the edge constantly.'

'If you say so.' She said smirking.

'In a fight, I grant you I'm going to be better. Not in one of those things though.'

'I believe you.' She said earnestly, yet there was a something to her demeanour that screamed she was taking the mick.

'Yeah right.' He grumbled.

She leaned back into his side. 'Aaarrrr, you're getting moody again.'

'Yep.'

Ginny chuckled. 'Right I'm going to bed.' She declared, stretching her arms above her head. 'Care to join me?'

Harry smirked. 'You're lucky it's passed my bedtime, or I might have taken you up on that.'

'What a pity.' She said airily. 'I'll have to find a grown-up who doesn't have to be in bed by ten.'

'Anyone in particular?' He asked casually.

'No, as long as they have green eyes and black hair, I think they'll be OK.'

'Glasses?'

She pondered the question. 'Not a deal breaker.'

'Well good luck finding him.'

She leaned in and kissed on the cheek, before whispering in his ear. 'Already have, goodnight Harry.'

'Goodnight Ginny.' He whispered back. Silently, she stood to her feet and with one final glance in his direction, left the room.

He stared after her, before a loud crack, snapped him out of his daze. 'You're batting well above your average with her.' Croaked Kreacher, before disappearing again.

The sun was beating down on a busy Diagon Alley the next day, as Harry and Ginny made their way to Gringotts. They entered the pearl white building and without stopping walked straight into the back of the bank towards Bill's office.

When they got there, Bill was just exiting the room. 'Ah I was just coming to get you two, let's go.' He led them up the stairs, and after knocking once on a large black door, ushered them into the security room. There were a series of manned desks, both by humans and goblins, and a large window that looked out over the main hall of the bank so they could spot trouble.

The goblins looked up from their paperwork to shoot them an evil glance before returning to what they were doing. Ginny jumped when a loud scream was heard from a room next door.

The goblin nearest to her grinned evilly. 'Don't mind that dear.' He sneered. 'We just had some questions for him.' A couple of the goblins seemed to chuckle at his comment, the sound was more akin to a man gurgling sandpaper.

'Oh.' Said Ginny faintly.

Automatically, Harry took a step closer to her, squaring his shoulders.

Noticing the situation could quickly get out of hand, Bill laid a hand on Harry's shoulder and steered him towards a security wizard who was seated next to the window. 'Grayson. This is my sister Ginny and her colleague Harry Evans.'

The wizard looked up from his desk, one of his eyes was milky white and there was scarring around it. His left hand was unnaturally curled into a claw like state.

'Don't mind the eye.' He said, noticing the quick glances it got from Harry and Ginny. 'My own fault for not moving out of a curse quick enough in Egypt. It's the price of retiring too late I'm afraid.' He held out his good hand. 'It's nice to meet you both.'

'Thanks for seeing us.' Said Harry taking the hand, after Ginny had firmly shaken it.

'No problem.' Grayson waved his wand, securing a privacy ward around the four of them. 'Now Bill says you need access to a Mr Dolohov's account details.'

'Yes. I would like to make a payment to him.' Said Harry.

Grayson pondered the statement. 'I take it your aware he is considered missing.'

'I'd heard a rumour yes, unfortunately, that doesn't pay the debt I owe him.'

Grayson smiled knowingly. 'I see. You know any of the goblins at the front desk would have helped.'

'I know, I would rather keep quiet what account I'm paying from.' Grayson raised his eyebrows. 'That will remain a secret unless you want to make an unbreakable vow.'

Grayson chuckled. 'Fair enough, I meant no offence. At least tell me what you're paying him for, I need something.'

'All you need to know is that I work for the government and I am most interested in anyone who had access to that account.'

'Very well, here is a paying in slip.' He slid a pre-filled out piece of paper over to Harry which had Dolohov's account details already filled in.

'I'll be back in a minute then.' Said Harry, scooping up the form and turning to leave the room. He walked back down towards the stairs and entered the entrance chamber to the cave system the vaults were housed in. There was a lone goblin waiting next to the track, leaning on an empty cart.

'How may I help?' Asked the goblin as Harry approached.

'I would like to visit vault 37 please.'

'Key?'

Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out a golden key. He had spent hours looking for it that morning, it had been years since he had even seen it.

'Very well, please step aboard the cart.' Bowed the goblin.

Most people would have been queasy after the winding rollercoaster like trip on the cart, fortunately Harry wasn't most people. After speeding around the corners, spotting brief flashes of fire from some of the tunnels, Harry stepped out of the cart grinning.

The goblin looked at him strangely before shaking his head. 'Key please?'

Still cheery from the adrenaline rush, Harry handed over the key. When the key was placed in the lock and turned, there was a loud clunking noise and the vault door swung outwards, revealing the treasure within.

This vault wasn't the Potter vault it was actually the Black family vault left to him by Sirius. He'd moved the majority of the valuables in it to his main vault and the majority of the money to the vault he had acquired under a fake name. it wouldn't do for Harry Potter to be continually seen in Gringotts.

What was left in this vault was the money he had been awarded by the Ministry before he disappeared for killing Voldemort. He didn't want the money, the idea of being rewarded when so many lost their lives sickened him. Particularly when they didn't hand out any post humous awards, Sirius was never even cleared for selling out James and Lily Potter to Voldemort and killing Peter Pettigrew (the actual traitor), something he went to prison for without a trial.

Now however, the money could finally serve a purpose. Without blinking Harry scooped One Thousand Galleons into the pay slip and sealed it after licking along the flap. Once sealed the slip vanished in his hand to be deposited in the Dolohov vault.

'All done?' Asked Ginny, when he returned from the vaults to the security room.

'Yeah, now we wait.'

'Now we wait.' She whispered, returning to look out of the window.

'What do you want to do if they turn up?' Asked Bill.

'Follow them if I can. Even if I can't track them all the way, hopefully I'll at least be able to see what apparation point or floo they use. It will give me an advantage if I want to continue tracking them.' Answered Harry.

'Clever.' Muttered Bill.

The bank was busy as ever today and the four of them watched as an all manner of people came and went. It was a tedious wait as they stood there, not comfortable with discussing any of relative importance in front of Grayson, their time was mostly spent in silence.

It was close to closing time, 7pm, when their patience was rewarded. Ginny was the first to spot a man with short black hair, enter the bank and stride purposely towards the counter. 'It's him.' Said Ginny pointing.

They watched as the same goblin that had taken Harry to the Black vault appeared to escort the Bernd Beaumont to the vault in question. 'Well that's a stroke of look, that's the same goblin who took me down to the vaults. Wonder if he'll talk.'

'Do you want him to?' Asked Bill.

Harry shrugged. 'Not really sure, I suppose it depends on what happens when they realise we're onto them. Right I'm going to wait for him in the lobby.'

'I'm coming too.' Ginny told him. When he looked like he was going to argue, she glared at him. 'There's no way you're going alone. Us Aurors can look after ourselves.'

'You're too recognisable.' Argued Harry.

Ginny folded her arms. 'I'll change my hair.'

'Don't bother follow me.' Huffed Harry. 'We'll see you later Bill, thanks for the help Grayson.' He said acknowledging the two wizards.

'No problem Evans.' Said Grayson. 'Anything else I can help with just shout.'

'Thanks will do.' Harry promised before heading back through the room towards the entrance hall. Just before they arrived, he pulled Ginny into a small, hidden alcove.

'If you wanted to get me alone all you have to do is ask.' Said Ginny saucily.

'Put this on.' Said Harry, ignoring her flirting for once whilst pulling a thin silvery cloak from his pocket.

'It's beautiful.' Gasped Ginny running her hands over the fabric. 'Is it an invisibility cloak?'

'Yeah, please look after it.'

'I will.' She promised whilst slipping the cloak on a disappearing from view.

'Stay close, that thing doesn't muffle sound and you're still solid so be careful. We don't want to spook anyone.' With those instructions in place he left the alcove and walked into the entrance hall where he pretended to be interested in the notice board. Ginny was stood just behind him.

Their arrival was timed almost perfectly, as Harry looked over a job role for a trainee accountant, Beaumont whisked back into the entrance hall. Without looking around the wizard stormed out of the bank, into the quieter streets of Diagon Alley.

Luckily most of the stores were now closed so there was nothing to distract Beaumont during his travels. Harry followed around twenty yards behind, he purposely passed closely to other people around him rather than walking down the empty corridor like strip of the alley his quarry was using.

When they entered the Leaky Cauldron, something happened that Harry didn't count on. Instead of heading towards the door or floo, the man walked to a secluded booth near the rear of the pub where he greeted the form of Draco Malfoy.

Grimacing at his misfortune, Harry continued to spy on the pair from the bar as they greeted one another. Still standing at the head of the booth, Beaumont leaned over to whisper something to the blonde-haired man, who grinned evilly as he stood to lead the other man up the stairs.

'Shit you might as well take the cloak off.' Whispered Harry to the person he assumed was behind him. When he didn't get a reply or hear the rustle of a cloak, he whispered again. 'Ginny?' Still no answer.

His eyes instinctively watched the stairs where for the briefest moment he saw the heel of a shoe disappear up the stairs. I hope she knows what she's doing.

The three of them had been upstairs for three hours and Harry was starting to worry. The bar had steadily thinned out leaving him alone with the few seasoned regulars who drank there fill regardless of the next morning's tasks.

It was with excruciating slowness that the clock behind the bar ticked down towards closing time and hopefully Ginny's escape. After going through another Butterbeer, still without a peep of anyone from the stairs, Hannah called last orders from behind the bar.

Grudgingly he brought one to nurse as his brain started going over the possibility of getting Ginny out of there. The last thing he wanted was for her to have to spend the night here alone. Unfortunately, nothing sprang to mind barring storming up there and taking the two of them by surprise. That would be reckless though, he didn't want them to know he was onto them, although Ginny was more important than his lack of notoriety.

Not able to ignore the pressure in his bladder any longer, Harry stood from his stool and walked to the toilets which were conveniently next to the stairs. As he walked back out, wiping his hands on the side of his jeans, he saw the door swing close behind someone. After a quick head count, he realised it must have been someone from upstairs.

Ignoring the remainder of his drink on the bar Harry walked out the pub as quickly as possible, there was a loud pop and the sound of a car door closing with a snap from the next street to his right. Harry rounded the corner just as a black Mercedes started up and pulled away. Thanks to the well-lit street, Harry could see the number plate which he committed to memory.

He spun around to go back to the pub and find Ginny, when she appeared out of thin air before him. Her face was ashen.

'They know who you are,' She said in panicked voice. 'and I know what they're going to do on your birthday.'