A/N:
Sorry again for having taken so long before writing Chapter 4. School is less stressful now. Hopefully, Chapter 5 will be finished sooner.
What are the eye colours of Ginny, Ron and Hermione in JKR's books? Is there the term "money" in the wizarding world? If you know, please tell me ASAP. Thanks.
I may have skipped the part which you expected to read in this chapter but this story is rated PG13 and I have no intention in raising the rating. Please understand.
~ Thanks Section ~
HGW, w&m_law, and Ayleeandra, thank you for reviewing every chapter. wajeena, sorry if the previous chapters confuse you, but I can assure you I've been sticking to one plot which just seems complicated at the moment. Alexis, there're readers who're waiting for the identity to be revealed. You're one of those who've worked it out early on. Xoni Newcomer, I'm glad that you find Ron & Neville fit the roles. I agree flashbacks are hard to handle, but because of my limitation, I couldn't think of a clearer way to narrate the many things that happened in those ten years. However, I'll adopt your advice & am planning a more straightforward story after this series is complete. You've made a right guess about Pansy though that's not the "trap". In fact, I intended to say "there may still be some turns or twists". Anyway, I'm delighted to see readers making guesses. sirius fan (I'm happy that you like the Seamus-Wormtail part), Druisilla (yeah, I like to imagine what the HP characters will be like & whom they will be with years later), and A. Spinnet (good guess & you'll know if Lavender ran off with Draco in this chapter), Harry may not appear so soon but he'll. ariana, be confident in yourself. Though it didn't turn out to be Harry, it doesn't necessarily mean that your other guess is wrong. sweetfires_elf@yahoo.com, Termes, and Rena Vulcan (I didn't mean the front teeth to be a clue because Hermione had her bucked teeth shrunk in her fourth year. Anyway, I appreciate your observation.), I've been thinking really hard & hope the following chapters won't disappoint you. Cimpanzee Loco, I take it as a compliment. Thank you. Marna13, sorry, I can't answer your question because I don't know what "beng" is, but for you, I keep going. Alisha, you can find out the answer for sure in this chapter. Hogwarts chica, yes, she's in this story. College Girl, I pity Seamus, too. However, Dean and Parvati are reconciled. I've written something especially for you near the end of this chapter to ease the mood. Miki_RainWater, don't get mad. You'll know in this chapter. Erised, I love to explore Ron's mind, too. Ariel Star, yes, the Mystery Woman will be revealed, and I believe who you have in mind is the one. Maris, don't worry. I promise to work to the end of the story though it takes quite some time for each chapter to come out. Me, SilverTone, Draco'sGirl, Terra Incognita aka Alexis Malfoy, Caitie, Laure, Strider, Silver Theory, ScarletWitchXIII (I hope you aren't mad yet), trowa barton, Trudy, Aries_wrath I_am_steph33@hotmail.com, SapphirePrincess, Bandy, Katherine, here's Chapter 4 for you.
- CHAPTER FOUR -
HOME AND AWAY
It was 24 June, 2009. Voldemort was finally defeated, exactly fourteen years after his second rise.
Even in the secluded corner of Romania, I knew the whole magical community was triumphing over the Dark Lord's death. His downfall was what I had been working for in the previous eleven years. It was done, but the victorious feeling didn't last for long. Soon, I felt unsure of where to go. There was no excuse for me to stay far away anymore.
Anyway, I waited there, for Draco. Every year around July, he came to see me. I had promised Seamus to find him. Having learnt what he had done to Seamus, I was not sure whether I could still call him friend.
Strangely, he did not turn up that year. I waited for the whole month of July, from dawn till dusk. Still, there was no trace of him. That left me one more place to go - Spain.
*
It was the first time I went to Seamus' villa in Barcelona. As described by those who had attended his wedding, his house was situated in a great location, up on a headland overlooking the Balearic Sea. Judging by the size of the estate, Seamus had intended to raise a big family with lots of children or even grandchildren there, that he could never accomplish then.
After appreciating the panoramic view for a few minutes, I turned and knocked on the front door. I wasn't sure whether Lavender was still living there. Perhaps the villa had been sold, but it was the remaining place I could try to find Draco and her.
The door was opened. It was surprising for both the resident that an old acquaintance showed up in front of the house and me that she was really still there.
"Hi, Lavender. Long time no see."
*
"Have you really not seen Draco?" I asked her the third time.
"No." Lavender shot a glance, getting impatient.
"I have a message for him. It concerns both of you. Please tell me if you've seen him." I wasn't afraid of letting her know that I knew what I thought had been going on between them. The shame was on her.
"How would I know where Draco Malfoy is?" She stood up, her cheeks flushed with anger and embarassment. "I haven't seen him for as long as I haven't seen you!"
All right. She insisted. I brandished the ring on my tiny. Her face turned white immediately. Of course I knew why, but I wanted to play her up a little longer for what she had done to Seamus. "Why are you staring at my ring?"
"It belongs to Seamus. Why is it with you?" She looked up at me boldly, but I returned with a sad smirk.
After a while, her gaze softened and she turned away from me, leaning sideways against the door frame.
Time seemed to have frozen. At last, her voice came as a choke, "Is he dead?"
"Yes, he died fighting against Voldemort's force." I walked round her, stuffed the ring into her hand, that happened to have a ring of the same design on the fourth finger, and told her Seamus' last words. She was about six inches shorter than me and had dipped her head so low that I could only see her blond curls shining over her shuddering shoulders.
As I was leaving, I heard her weep her heart out. For a woman who'd let happiness slip through her hands, tears were an inevitable result.
*
It was strange how certain places could remind you so much of some people. Diagon Alley was definitely one of them for me, thanks to the very little change that had taken place there. Stepping into the alley, her words echoed clearly in my ears as if she had said them the day before as I passed by each shop.
Flourish & Blotts
^ "Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I? These are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies -"
Quality Quidditch Supplies
^ "Well, I don't see any major difference between this Lightningbolt and Harry's Firebolt except it's shinier."
# "Tsk, tsk, tsk. After hanging around with Harry and me for five years, you still know so little about racing brooms, so our Miss Perfect isn't thaaaat perfect in all fields of knowledge."
Magical Menagerie
# "That thing nearly scalped me!"
^ "He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?"
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour
# "Don't you like these flavours? I can buy you others."
^ "I like them, but how did you get all that money?"
# "From Fred and George."
Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions
# "How do I look? What's wrong? Hello, hello?"
^ "Oh, yeah, you look... dazzlingly handsome in that dress robe."
Finally, I went into Gringotts. It felt strange to hurtle through the maze of twisting passages on my own, not counting the goblin guide sitting next to me. All my previous experience there had been associated with my parents, scooping every Knut, every Sickle and every Galleon, if any, out for the welfare of the kids at the beginning of each school year to be exact.
The goblin reassured me that there was no mistake when the Weasleys' vault was open and there were columns of gold coins and mounds of silver. I left with a handful of Sickles in my bag, still wondering at the source of that fortune.
While walking back into the main hall, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the entrance chamber before she disappeared into the street. I dashed out of the bank just in time to keep track of my target. After shortening our distance in several hurried strides, I took action.
"What a small world, Pansy Parkinson!" I pinned her to a wall at the intersection of Diagon and Knockturn Alleys, about ten yards from Gringotts. Two bags dropped from her hands and heaps of Muggle coins clanged against the ground.
"R-Ronald W-Weasley...W-What do you w-want?" she asked in panic.
"Hand you over to the Ministry for the murder of Seamus Finnigan," I hissed at her.
"I didn't do it!" she squeaked.
I pushed her sleeves up abruptly.
"I have no Dark Mark. I'm not a Death Eater." Beads of sweat were breaking out from her forehead.
"Who knows? Perhaps you have it somewhere else on your body." Her pupils shrank with terror. I mentally smacked myself. "But I have no interest in searching through you. Or you're one of the special Death Eaters without a Dark Mark because you're a spy for Voldemort!" That must be right. Otherwise, how could she get through the security charms of my house?
"No, I'm never a Death Eater, I wasn't a spy and I didn't work for the Dark Lord!" Her whole face was shining with sweat then.
"No one could have known and then told him the plan at Wooded Hills, except you! You inflicted my pity for you for a chance to steal information and my hair for the Polyjuice Potion -"
"That's not wholly true. Think from my viewpoint. If I had been working for the Dark Lord all along, I wouldn't have suffered so much all these years. Last year, at your house, when I realised there was no way I could make Draco keep his promise, whom could I turn to? WHOM COULD I TURN TO? My parents! But I knew they wouldn't forgive me so easily after I had defied them for nine years unless I made a contribution to the family. That was when I was tempted to take away a copy of your plan the next morning. But I didn't mean to cause anyone's death! I didn't even remember why there was your hair on my robe when they took it to the Dark Lord." She said all that very fast.
"The Ministry will judge whether you're guilty or not," I said coldly.
"No! They'll send me to Azkaban! No! Please!" she shouted shrilly, her face ashen. "If I can help you save Hermione Granger, will you let me go?"
Hermione? It was a name long buried in my memory, yet the mention of it seemed to be causing ripples inside me. "What are you playing at?"
Her eyes darted from left to right. "Beware of Gabrielle Delacour. Veela, including part Veela, are extremely proud and possessive. They will use whatever means to take revenge on anyone who toys with them. You'd better go check if Granger's still safe."
Gabrielle Delacour? Hermione? Revenge? Delacour taking revenge on Hermione? Hermione toying with Delacour?
Before I could make sense of what she'd said, a sharp pain suddenly shot up from my groin and I collapsed. When I regained consciousness, the little snake had already escaped!
*
On my flight home, what Parkinson had said was running through my mind, but that wasn't enough to completely distract me from the pain. Parkinson's kick still hurt, especially when flying on a broom.
After half an hour, it came into view. The Burrow. Though for some reason I hadn't wanted to go back to England, when seeing home, my heartbeat immediately quickened with joy.
I toppled gently onto the grass in the garden and called out to the first person I saw. "Ginny!"
She turned and her brown eyes widened. "Ron!"
We broke into a run and held each other in a tight embrace. I picked her up and started spinning her around and around and around until we both got so dizzy we couldn't see straight. She clung to me like life and laughed into my shoulder while I had my arms round her waist.
"You feel as plump as Mum." Of course she wasn't as fat as Mum. In fact, the weight she had gained made her look nicer and cuter at her age. However, her glare was a bit threatening. "Just kidding," I said.
"And you're as lanky and freckly as ever, and I'm not kidding." We broke into another fit of laughter.
"So, did you miss your lankiest and freckliest brother?"
"Not really," she pouted. "I didn't know it would take nearly ten years for me to see you again." Then her eyes brightened up. "Do you know you've missed out a lot of fun? Right after you were gone, Bill got married. Then, Percy and Penny had their first child. Then, it was the twins' wedding -"
"Hey, I did attend the wedding of my best friend and my dear little sister." I tweaked her adorable freckled nose and she giggled.
"But that was before you got transferred to Romania. Hey, did you see Harry?" asked my little sister.
"No. Why?"
"He sent you an owl early in the month to ask you why you weren't home yet. When you didn't respond, he went to Romania to fetch you."
"Well, I was waiting for somebody there. Then I stopped by Spain before coming back. The owl must have missed me. What was Harry thinking? Escort me home?"
"Yes, seeing that you're such a naughty boy who doesn't come home even once all these years." Her cheekiness was back.
"Yeah, the naughy boy wants to go see Mum and Dad now." I was disentangling myself from Ginny.
"They aren't here. Dad is in the Amazon on ministry business and won't be back until October. Mum's with him." She pulled away from me.
"The Amazon? What for?" How old is Dad?
"It's Fudge's order," she sighed. "He doesn't really like Dad because Dad always opposed his silly ideas. Since then, Fudge has been picking on Dad. Once, Dad was ordered to station in the Sahara for four months."
"What?" Fudge still heads the Ministry? "Why didn't Dad quit the job then? We've all grown up and can support ourselves now. Is my monthly C.A.V.E. living allowance not enough for Dad and Mum?"
"You don't understand Dad. He doesn't want to look useless and idle his time especially when we're no longer by his side. Dumbledore has been crediting your allowance to the Weasley's vault every month punctually, but Mum and Dad haven't touched it and it's all still there. They said it's your money and they don't want to spend what you risk your life for."
"You mean Dad and Mum haven't used even a Knut of what I give them and the money's been accumulated in our family vault since 2001?" She nodded.
"But my money is their money -"
"You'd better talk with Mum and Dad about it and not start a row with me. I'm neutral on this issue." Ginny knew my temper best.
Looking around, the Burrow sounded so quiet. "Are you here alone?" I asked.
"Of course not! Since Mum is away and thanks to my 'loving' brothers, their baby sister Ginny has become their baby-sitter, Nanny." She pretended to be annoyed but her cheerful tone underneath told me she enjoyed it.
"My nieces and nephews are here?" It'll be interesting to meet them for the first time.
"Yeah, they're here every summer." She looked up to the sky. "They should be back by now." Just then, eight brooms of different sizes hurtled across the sky and their riders landed in front of us one by one.
"Children, come and meet Uncle Ron." Ginny motioned them. Eight kids, of which six were redheads, dismounted from their brooms. The other two had to be...
"Your kids?" I asked Ginny while looking at a boy whose hair pointed at each and every direction and a girl in a ponytail. Both had jet-black hair.
Ginny smiled and introduced the children with pride, "James and Jasmine."
"Hi, Uncle Ron," the black-haired kids said in unison. They had inherited their dad's hair and frame and their mum's good look and beautiful eyes.
Then, a redhead held out his hand solemnly and said, "Uncle Ron, how nice to see you. I'm Nicholas, and this is my younger sister, Morgana." A confident girl with metal-framed glasses followed suit and shook my hand.
"Percy named them after the famous witch and wizard," Ginny explained.
"Yes, Dad has very high expectation of us. I hope we won't disappoint him," Nicholas said in a business-like tone very much like his Dad's.
"I'm sure you won't." I smiled. Throughout the conversation, something brushed my lower back and my side. I made no sound until they came near my pockets.
"Gotcha!" I had seized the wrists of two little redheads behind me. A lizard and a centipede dropped from their hands and crawled quickly into a nearby bush. I looked at the two boys quizzically.
They gave me a puppy's face. "We found some Muggle creatures this morning and would like to give them to Uncle Ron as pets," one of them said.
"How very thoughtful of you," I replied sarcastically, releasing my grip. The two boys retreated at once to the back of their cousins. Before I could learn more about the boys, a lovely girl who looked like a five-year-old version of Ginny approached me.
"I'm sorry for what my brother and cousin have done. They're so immature." The innocent-looking girl held out her small fleshy hand.
I took it but something felt wrong. I retrieved my hand and brushed her rosy cheek with my palm. There was nasty, sticky green slime on our hands and her cheek. She cried instantly and dropped a fake hand. The two boys who had tried to play a trick on me shoved the crying girl away, giving me guilty and frightened glances.
"They are -"
"Fred and George's kids. I know." Even without Ginny's help, I could tell from their michievous glint.
"Kitty and Rick are Fred's children. The one on Kitty's right is Dale, George's son." Ginny pointed at those three kids, who were then standing at the edge of a wood, cleaning Kitty's face with their sleeves . Apparently, they didn't know the Scouring Charm.
"I thought the boys' names were Trick and Fail," I commented.
Everyone burst out laughing, though Nicholas was trying hard to stifle his laughter.
After our laughs died down, only one child was left to be introduced.
"So, whose child have we got here?" I asked, referring to a boy with thick Weasley hair who was standing far away.
The remaining kids looked at each other oddly. Ginny seemed a bit surprised, or quizzical? At last, my sister gestured the boy, who appeared to be eight or nine, to come. She placed her hands on his shoulders and said encouragingly, "Tell him your name."
The boy looked up to me with his brown eyes. "Don, Don Granger."
**
A/N:
Questions for Your Thought:
- Why didn't Draco show up at Ron's place that year?
- Was Lavender telling the truth?
- What did Pansy mean to say?
- Where was Hermione?
- What was Harry up to?
- Who were Don Granger's parents?
- Why was Don at the Burrow?
Chapter 4 is finished! I can take a rest first.
Just to make a note for those who don't remember Gabrielle Delacour that well. She's Fleur Delacour's sister and about six years younger than Ron and the gang. She was Fleur's hostage in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry's fourth year.
In the next chapter, you'll have a glimpse of how Hermione had been and more facts, including something about what Pansy said to Ron in Diagon Alley, will be known.
Thank you for reading Chapter 4. Please comment. I'll start writing Part 5 after getting 10 reviews for this chapter.
Copyright © Mabel 2001