Globes & Maps
Prologue
The Rising Tide
Home, is this the quiet place that you should be alone?
Is this where the tortured and the troubled find their own?
...Space
"The prosecution calls Miss Ginevra Weasley to the stand."
Ginny walked forward, trying her best to look confident on the outside, while on the inside she felt like a shaking little girl. She drank the cup of Veritaserum handed to her by an Auror and sat down on the wooden chair, smoothing her second-hand robes with shaking fingers.
"Please state your name, age, and occupation for the court."
"Ginevra London Weasley. I turned fourteen to days ago and I will be a 4th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in September.
Mr. Marty, the lead prosecuter, stood up. Ginny liked this man, he had helped her a lot in the past 48 hours. "Ms. Weasley, what is your relation to the deceased?"
Ginny took a deep breath to control her voice. "Molly and Arthur Weasley were my parents. Percy, Fred, and George Weasley were my brothers."
Mr. Marty smiled kindly at her. "If it isn't too much trouble, could you tell us what happened the night of August 11th?"
Ginny nodded her head and looked down at her folded hands in her lap.
"August 11th is my birthday," she started off. "Mum and Dad had planned a party at the Burrow- that is- was- my home. My brother Bill was coming in from France, where he'd been doing some research for Gringott's and Charlie was leaving his job with dragons in Romania for a few days to visit. He and Ron l eft for a few hours at around four to pick up Ron's friends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger from their houses. Bill and I were playing a card game in the attic with the family ghoul when it- when we heard the screams." Here Ginny stopped and wiped the tears forming in her eyes, embarrassed.
"Would you like to go on?" Mr Marty asked, his voice still kind.
"Yeah, just hold on a second." Ginny composed herself rather quickly and looked up, her eyes scanning the court room and meeting a pair of silver-grey ones. Her own doe brown eyes never left those of the handsome boy's sitting in the shadows as she continued her story.
"Bill immediately grabbed his wand and ran downstairs, but not before locking me in. I only lasted through about a minute of the screaming before I decided to go ahead and use my own magic, even though I was underage. So I unlocked the door and went downstairs. When I reached the first floor landing I couldn't believe what I saw. "Ginny blinked rapidly to clear her vision. "Bill was the only one left alive. I suppose it was lucky that Charlie and Ron hadn't returned with the rest yet. Bill was kneeling in front of a Death Eater, who had his wand pointed at Bill's throat. The Death Eater was about to kill him and I froze when he looked up and saw me. I don't remember how, but somehow I managed to stun him. Then I fainted and the last thing I remember was watching Bill stun and tie up the rest of the Death Eaters along with some Aurors that had just arrived." Her tears were flowing freely now and Ginny gulped and looked down again, finally breaking the gaze of Draco Malfoy.
The trial was soon over and Ginny sat as still as she could in her seat as Aurors led the guilty wizards away. She didn't look any of them in the face but one: Lucius Malfoy.
And I don't wish to know the secrets of summer at all
...21 and Invincible
"You wanted to speak to me Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley. Please, sit down." Professor Dumbledore gestured to a large armchair in front of his desk and Ginny sank down into it gratefully, studying the aging Headmaster. Dumbledore had lines around his face that hadn't been there before, and even though GInny had always known he was old -incredibly so- he had never looked it until the night a week ago when more than half of her family had been killed.
Dumbledore folded his hands and settled his chin on them, but not before making sure his beard was out of the way.
"Now, Ginevra, I know you know that Hogwarts is probably the safest place to be in Europe, which is why you are here now. But the truth is, no where in Europe will be safe once the war starts."
Ginny jumped in her chair when Professor Snape emerged from the shadows. His greasy hair was messy and his eyes red-rimmed, as if he'd either been crying or hadn't gotten a lot of sleep in the past few days. She decided it was probably the latter, as Snape didn't seem like the type of person who'd ever cried in his life.
Dumbledore went on, "Severus has just returned from a meeting with the Dark Lord. Apparently you, and not Harry, were the reason for the raid on your house. Voldemort has already controlled you once and it will not be difficult for him to do so again. You are a very powerful witch Ginevra, very powerful, which is why you cannot stay here much longer. Severus and I have found a Muggle family iin America that is aware of the Wizarding World and will be able to take you in. You will attend a Muggle High School and will continue your lessons here by Owl with Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them on his robes.
Ginny had been silent throughout Dumbledore's entire speech. Now she met his gaze. "Will I be able to keep in touch with my brothers?"
Dumbledore sighed sadly. "I can try to arrange a meeting but it is highly unlikely that it will be safe. I am sorry Ginevra, but it is the only option."
Ginny wiped her tears and stood up. "If that is all, Professor, I would like to go and pack."
"Of course Miss Weasley. Professor McGonagall will come for you in an hour with the Portkey."
Ginny nodded and left the office quickly. As soon as the door closed she let out the tears she had been holding back and walked quickly back to her room. She turned the corner and ran into a body. Someone's arms wrapped around her as she steadied herself. But when Ginny looked up to see who had caught her she immediately stepped back.
"Get away from me Malfoy! Come to take me to your Lord?"
Draco looked as though he would slap her. "Don't ever assume things Weasley. You never know when you might be wrong." He took a step forward menacingly. "Or right."
Professor McGonagall's voice cut in just when Ginny was about to punch him. "Mister Malfoy. If you would excuse us, Miss Weasley and I have things to do."
Malfoy sneered and resumed walking in the direction of the Headmaster's office. "As you wish, Professor."
I can't imagine all the people that you know
And the places that you go
When the lights are turned down low
...Konstantine
Ginny nodded and shut the Muggle suitcase she was borrowing, "I'm done Professor."
"All right, then grab this." McGonagall held out a Muggle dictionary and Ginny took a hold on one of the corners. "We will arrive in an alley a little ways away from where your new family will pick you up so as to avoid suspicion."
Ginny felt a tug on her navel and was whisked away quickly. She and Professor McGonagall landed on a dark street. Ginny's old Professor pocketed the dictionary and turned to Ginny.
"Now. We need to change a few things about you." She waved her wand and Ginny's red hair turned blonde, lost a few inches, and gained layers. She grew taller by about two inches and her freckles disappeared. McGonagall waved her wand again and she was dressed in Muggle clothes, her pointed hat and robes gone. "Your name is now Virginia Cross." She grimaced. "And we will have to do something about that accent." She waved her wand again but Ginny didn't feel any different. She started to say this and then realized that her English accent was gone to be replaced with an American one.
"Bloody hell," Ginny whispered. "I sound strange."
When I wake up in the morning,
Is it gonna be another ugly day?
...Bad Day
Professor McGonagall, now also dressed like a Muggle, led the way out of the alley and onto the streets.Together they walked at least five blocks before McGonagall slowed her pace and led Ginny straight to a waiting Muggle car. The window on the passenger side was rolled down and a woman of about 40 stuck her head out.
"Minerva McGonagall?" Her voice was light and airy and sounded pleasant to Ginny.
McGonagall smiled a thin smile. "Naomi Cross, I presume?"
The lady, Mrs. Cross, nodded and someone opened the back door. A man got out from the driver's side and opened the trunk, easily picking up Ginny's suitcase and putting it inside. He stuck out a hand to her. "I'm Bryant Cross." Mr. Cross gestured to the open door of the back seat. "Get in."
Ginny turned to Professor McGonagall. "Thank you," she whispered and then climbed into the car. There was a girl about her age sitting in the middle and a boy who looked to be 2 years older than Ginny next to her. The girl smiled.
"Hey, I'm Lauren. This is James. We're supposed to pretend to be your cousins."
Ginny couldn't help but grin. "You can call me Ginny."
James looked at her strangely. "I thought you were from England. Where's your accent?"
"McGonagall got rid of it. I'm supposed to be from Vermont or something."
Lauren slung an arm around Ginny's shoulders."
"Well, it might be hard at first but you're going to have fun here, Ginny. New Orleans is an awesome place."
I've never been so lost
I've never felt so much at home.
...I Woke Up In A Car