Chapter 6-

Disclaimer- I own nothing of this. Well, I own Johnson and Dagan but that's it. R/R!!

Ginny kept her eyes on the files in front of her, trying to not let her emotions drive her. She wisely hadn't touched Neville's file but instead focused on Johnson's records.

"This man looks like a bloody saint." Ginny sighed, sitting back in her chair. Though not relaxing she wasn't rigid like she had been for the last two hours.

Harry looked up from where he was stationed at a second desk he had transfigured from a pen, his eyes showing his concern.

"There's no dirt on him! He had a few detentions, that's as far as his criminal record goes!"

Harry, sensing Ginny's frustration, stood and moved to where he was behind her and put his hands on either of her shoulders.

"We'll keep digging Gin. We're gonna nail this guy." Harry said, his voice as confident as he felt.

"I hope so Harry. He killed all those people, he can't get away. He just can't." Ginny said, her voice determined.

"And he wont." Harry replied, "But for now we both need a break. Care to accompany me to lunch Ms Comings?" Harry inquired, offering his arm.

Ginny eyed his arm warily, thinking about how much she needed to work. Though lunch sounded good, the questions that were sure to come with it were most unappealing. She was about to decline Harry was quicker.

"I don't bite." Harry said, eyes twinkling, his voice dry.

This elicited a very uncharacteristic giggle from Ginny. "Well, with that cleared up certainly." Ginny replied, standing and taking the offered arm.

"Where to? Any preferences?" Harry asked, suddenly remembering how little he knew of this woman.

"mmm.....I think Italian sounds lovely." Ginny commented, her mouth watering at the thought. She smiled at Harry as he led her out of the office and into the busy streets of Oxford.

"Italian it is."

Ginny looked over her wineglass at the man sitting across from her. Over the years Harry had grown into his looks, more so than he already was. His brilliant green eyes were no longer framed by glasses and he was no longer long and lanky but tall and masculine.

While studying him Ginny noticed something, or the absence of something, she had overlooked before. Harry no longer bore the lightning bolt scar.

Harry must have read her thoughts for as soon as she realized the absence of his famous scar he put a hand to his forehead and pushed his bangs up. "But.......how?" Ginny asked, stunned.

A grim smile rewarded this question. "Long story." He mumbled, releasing his bangs. He took a large gulp of his brandy. He clearly had no desire to expand his explanation.

Ginny, not about to let the matter drop, leaned back comfortably in her chair and crossed her arms. "I got nothing but time.." She crossed her legs as the waiter took their plates. "Enlighten me."

Harry gave a small chuckle at this. "How is it you always me at the most inconvenient of times?" Harry commented. "Very well then." He leaned back in his chair and stretches his long legs out in front of him. "Well after graduation at Hogwarts Hermione was oh-so-kind as to remind me that I might have problems finding a job. She mentioned something about a 'knack for trouble' and 'being rather unpredictable'." Harry began dryly. Their friend Hermione had no tact what so ever. But the loved her anyways. His voice became serious as he went on.

"I began contemplating what I was going to do with my life. I had so many interest and it didn't seem as if any job would hold my interest that long. I got various Quidditch offers but turned them all down."

Ginny gasped at this. "Why on earth would u you do such a thing? You always loved quidditch! It was always your greatest passion."

Harry shook his head at this. "Actually, believe it or not Defense Against the Dark Arts was always the subject of interest to me. Though I did get treated a little specially since I was 'Harry Potter' but none the less I loved learning about it. It's really a fascinating subject."

Ginny tried suppress a smile. She hadn't seen Harry this enthused anything in a while. But she then remembered she hadn't seen the man himself in four years and her smile quickly faded. That was always a most and unwelcome painful reminder.

"But I turned them down because they didn't want me for me. They wanted the fame that would come with having 'the boy who defeated Voldemort' on their team." Harry continued, his voice more than slightly bitter.

Ginny nodded, processing this. It had never occurred to her how much Harry's school day escapades would effect his career. Sure she knew it would hinder it a bit but this was just awful.

"I soon realized all job offers would be that way and decided to change my name. Hermione suggested a concealing charm to hide the scar as well. I then went to the ministry and applied for a job as an auror under the name James Evans. Well, here I am." Harry finished, holding his arms out slightly.

Ginny felt her heart go out to the boy-no man- sitting across from her. She reached out her hand and took his in it, squeezing it slightly. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."

Harry shook his head. "You went through a lot too. I don't want or need your pity Gin."

"I'm not giving it Harry, I just hate that you went through all that. " Ginny said softly.

Harry didn't need to ask Ginny why she had changed her name. He had a hunch, and a pretty accurate one. He had a feeling her change of identity was one of the outcomes of her running. He did have one question. "Did Malfoy change his name as well?"

Ginny shook her head. "Ashamed as he is of his bloodline, he's determined he'll restore the Malfoy name." She gave a small laugh.

Harry was taken aback. Malfoy trying to save his family name? Harry mused. It was hard to believe any one would be ashamed of a name they tried to protect so hard at one point of their life. Harry then came to the realization that Malfoy, had in fact, changed for the better.

He knew this meant a truce was in order but was reluctant to even think of it too much. "He has changed a lot." Harry admitted.

Ginny, no longer holding Harry's hand, nodded, a small smile gracing her features. "Yeah, he really has."

Harry studied the look on Ginny's face feeling a pang of jealousy. Not for the first time he found himself wishing he been with Ginny these past ears, not Malfoy. Then not only could he have helped her through hard times, but he would know more of her. It physically hurt that he knew so little of Ginny.

Harry, so caught up in his thoughts, failed to realize Ginny studying him as well. "What are you thinking Harry?" Ginny asked , breaking through his reverie.

Harry's head snapped up. "Nothing Gin, and don't give me that look." Harry snapped, though clearly not as irritated as he was trying to sound.

Ginny gave him a wry smile.

Harry's phone chose that moment to go off. He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, answering the call. "Yes, she's here as well. Of course. We'll be right there." Harry hung up as he finished, standing and tossing a hand full of coins on the table.

Ginny stood as we, knowing this was urgent.

"Come on we'll apparate there." Harry commanded his voice empty.

Ginny nodded and with a snap of air they were gone.

A lone figure in the far corner of cafe allowed a small smirk to cross his features ever-so-briefly. He stood and exited the cafe without bringing any attention to himself. He pulled up the collar of his jacket and angled his hat down, stuffing his hands in his worn trench coat.

"Time for phase two."

Ginny and Harry appeared at the office to see that the office was in an uproar. Unsure of what to think, Ginny gave Harry a sidelong glance only to see that he was no longer beside her. Ginny turned to see Harry tap the chief on the shoulder and the chief turning around, an annoyed look on his face. She watches the chief mummer something to Harry that had Harry's eyes flashing.

Ginny, unable to stand wondering any longer, strode over to where the two men were talking their tones aggravated. "What's going on Chief?"

The chief turned and looked at Ginny his face flustered. "It was a good try Lieutenant, but it was a dead end. This wand," Holds up Finnagan's wand, "wasn't used to kill any of the victims."

"But, how could he not? Admittedly the victim's murders all were based on a muggle story but how could any man do all that with just his hands and a few tools? It's nearly impossible." Ginny exclaimed, trying to grasp the fact that her only lead was a dud.

"Maybe we've been underestimating Finnigan. He's a much craftier man than we would have thought and seems to be just as strong. You two had better nail this guy or all hell will break loose when he's released." The chief reprimanded, and with that he left the two officers to brood.

Ginny turned and kicked a nearby file cabinet. She turned back to Harry, her eyes flaming. Harry had never seen her so upset over something. He knew the Weasley temper was fierce and had seen it many times himself, but it was a whole different game when it came to Ginny's job.

"I'm gonna throw his arse in Azkaban, I swear I will." Ginny fumed. As she spoke she was already on her way to her office, presumably to attempt to dig up some dirt on Finnigan.

Harry followed her as she ranted on her way to her office, but was thoroughly surprised when she slammed the door in his face. Baffled, he knocked on the aforementioned door only to have it swung open and given very possibly the worst go to hell look he had ever received in all his twenty four years.

"I'm trying to work what the hell do you want? This isn't the time for social calls." Ginny snapped.

"Echm, actually I kinda work in here too, Comings." Harry said, barely remembering to call her by her knew last name. Truth be told he had another last name he'd like to give her but now wasn't the time to be thinking of such things.

Ginny blushed bright red. Clearly she had forgotten about that. "Oh my God I'm so sorry Ha-James." Ginny said, tripping over the name. She didn't think she'd ever have to call Harry by any other name than his, but hey, people don't usually change their names. Ginny opened the door allowing Harry to enter her-their- office.

"I'm going to review his criminal records, see it there are any wholes or anything you missed-not that there would be I'm just saying..." Harry recovered after been given another glare by Ginny. He took the offered file and began to inspect it.

Ginny went to her desk and sat down, trying to think of what t do. There were so many things to do she didn't know where to begin. She was primary on this case, and she took her job seriously. She opted to look at the autopsy reports for each victim.

Ginny opened the file, not remembering the grotesque images that were taken of the crime scenes and the bodies. She flinched when she was the first was her brother's. She shut her eyes, gathering her wit, and reopened them to dissect them.

The murders all had the same MO. Except for the initial murder, that of the late Minister Of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. He had been killed by wizard means, the trademark death eater method, using the unforgivable curse of Avada Kedavra.

Ginny closed her eyes, creating the scene in her mind.

The Ministry of Magic was experiencing a slow day due to the increase of named followers of the Dark Lord. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, was going through all the departments of The Ministry. He came upon the department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts and opened the door to check in on Arthur Weasley.

The Weasley boy, Percy, was at his heels like a trained dog. Cornelius stopped dead in his tracks to find the members of the department, among them Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Michael Corner and Neville Longbottom, against the far wall, an enraged man waving his wand.

The man had slicked back black hair with streaks of gray in it and a long hook nose. He was tall, probably about 6 foot 3 by the looks of things, and looked to be in his mid thirties. He turned angrily at the interruption but his coal black eyes lit up as if he was a child receiving a present when he saw who intruded.

"Ah, Cornelius, just the man I was looking for." The man sneered. His voice would remind one of nails on a chalk board. The others forgotten, he turned to Cornelius and moved his wand to the other hand. "Cornelius, a word."

Fudge looked at the wild eyed man, trying to assess hat the wisest choice would be given the current situation. He then looked over to where Blaise had Pansy clutched to him protectively and felt his heart squeeze. He couldn't let the man hurt these people, even if the man could very well hurt him or worse. It would be worth it to save the life of his employees.

"Very well, lets go someplace that is more private Mr.....?" Cornelius replied, hoping his voice wasn't shaking as much as he was.

"You don't need my name. Now come on I haven't got all bloody day." The angered man raged.

With that Cornelius left the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, for what would be the last time.

Later that night Ginny went back into her office after everyone had left and only she and Harry remained. She went to her desk intent on locking up the files and records when something caught her eye. There was a piece of paper on her desk over the file that read Cornelius Charles Fudge. Though her desk was messy she made a point to keep her notes and such away from files incase of a mix up.

Ginny reached for the piece of paper after deciding Harry must have put it there. One day in my office and that man's already trashing it. She picked up the piece of paper and turned it over to find a note written in a tiny, sloppy scrawl. The words on the small sheaf of paper made her blood run cold.

Discontinue your investigation detective or there shall be hell to pay.

The Crucifier

Ginny dropped the note in surprise. She resisted the urge to panic because there was something familiar about the signature on that letter. Then the everything clicked. She reached over and grabbed the nearest file. She opened it up and her eyes narrowed. She had been right. She continued to check every one of the victim's files and got the same results.

In each one of the files there was a note crumbled up that had been found in the trashcans at each crime scene. The notes were all written in the same hastened handwriting and were signed by The Crucifier.