Night Time Chapter 9
A/N: Okay I am really really really sorry it took me so long to update. I'm horrible I know. I've been super busy. But just to let you know I have grounded myself. I am not allowed to read any fics until I update both of my stories that aren't complete and write new chapters for then. Is that punishment enough?
I am going to speed up the story a bit. This chapter is sad but kind of corny so be warned. I know the last chapter was short but it was one of the secrets so I thought you'd all overlook how brief it was. On the Padma thing…all in due time, all in due time. Trust me.
One last thing before the story. Harry and Ginny got new brooms. Remember Harry's is gone from the accident? Well they both got new brooms called Silverbolts. And can you believe they are silver?
Anyway………..On to the story now!
Chapter 9
Several tense weeks passed and nothing drastic had occurred. Harry and Ginny both returned to Quidditch, top notch, and the journalists were everywhere. Harry and Ginny no longer fought their presence, only accepted it. They didn't deny nor confirm the truth behind Padma Patil's article either.
Their lives continued more or less normal. Quidditch continued. Ron and Hermione continued working, and Bill and Charlie took their families back to their homes. It seemed almost as if the article was forgotten (Not by the press though).
Harry and Ginny were training hard with the team for their upcoming match. The team was flying excellent. The chasers were perfectly in sync, the beaters were doing a wonderful job of throwing the chasers of course and the keeper was blocking nearly every shot.
Harry himself was flying high above the others. Looping, twisting and diving, pushing his new broom to new limits.
"HARRY! GINNY! GET DOWN HERE NOW!
The voice sounded through the stadium. Harry roughly pulled up from a steep dive, his eyes sweeping over the ground for the owner of that familiar voice. Squinting he spotted Ron waving his arms dramatically.
Harry and Ginny quickly dropped to the spot were he stood. Holding his wand to his throat Ron muttered a spell and his booming voice returned to normal. "Come on we have to get to the Burrow now. Something has happened and Mum won't tell me until I get you. Move it! Let's go!" he spoke rapidly.
As they took off running Harry muttered 'sonorous.' "Practice is over!" and then the counter spell. Once outside the stadium where they could apperate Ron simply said, "The Burrow," and was gone.
Still clutching their brooms and in Quidditch gears, Ginny and Harry followed suit.
Once at the Burrow, Ginny and Harry deposited their brooms on the porch and entered the house. As they walked the rooms looking for someone they were dropping their Quidditch pads from their arms as they pulled them off. Their search stopped in the kitchen where they found everyone (the kids are outside playing).
"What's going on?" Ginny stuttered. She had never seen her family so reserved. Neither had Harry. He stepped up behind Ginny and wrapped an arm around her waist. Hoping to keep Ginny on her feet is the news was that bad.
"Ginny…" Mrs. Weasley cried, but couldn't go continue. Mr. Wealsey spoke up. "Ginny…" he stopped, his voice cracking, "Ginny…something's happened…Bill…Brennan…" he stopped. Ginny's head wiped around taking in the absence of her brother, niece, and nephew.
"What!" Ginny's body went ridged.
"They're gone. They were killed."
Ginny's knees buckled but Harry kept her on her feet. Ginny's brain registered one thing and she crooked out, "Zoey? What about her? Where is she?"
Mr. Weasley shook his head, "We don't know."
A strange sound emitted from Ginny's mouth.
Harry spoke up, "Who? Who did it?" His eyes glazed over.
"Deatheaters."
The little color left, drained from Harry and Ginny's faces.
Ginny squirmed until Harry released her. She determinedly walked out of the kitchen, through the living room, and outside. Harry and the others followed.
"Ginny…Ginny." Harry called. "What are you doing?"
Ginny didn't answer; she grabbed her broom and walked off the porch.
Harry glanced at the Weasley's then grabbed his own broom to follow her.
Once on the other side of the apperation barrier Ginny raised her wand. "Ginny wait! Tell me where you are going."
Ginny spun on Harry to look at him. Tears falling freely down her face. Her eyes, bright blue, showed her anger ad pain. "They're gone Harry! Don't you understand that? Bill and Brennan are dead! I have to find her! I have to get to her before they do! I'm all she has left…I promised Bill! I promised! I have to find her!" she trailed off. She could no longer speak. Harry wrapped his arms around her.
"Ginny you can't go running off."
"Harry it's because of me. ME! I have to find her. I'm going…"
"Then let me go with you."
She stared at him; "You'll come with me?"
"I just don't want you going alone. Let's go. Outside Bill's house. Do not go it without me. Understood?"
She nodded tears still welled-up in her eyes. With two pops they were gone.
They appeared together in the cover of the trees outside Bill's house. The darkmark still hovered over the house.
"Be ready Ginny…be ready."
Together they slipped through the door. The interior was destroyed. Items were thrown everywhere.
Ginny looked at Harry. "What if she isn't here?"
"I don't know…"
They stayed together and began exploring the house. "Zoey? Are you here babygirl?"
No answer.
Ginny began to run towards the stairs but Harry stopped her. "No Ginny. We need to make sure it's safe."
"Harry I don't care. You check down here and I'll take upstairs."
Harry opened his mouth to protest but Ginny cut him off. "Harry no…I'm strong. I'll be fine." She held up her hand to show him the bright blue glow that came from her fingers and palm. Ginny kissed Harry and trotted up the stairs. Harry watched her.
Harry continued to search the lower lever of the house.
Ginny wasted no time in searching. She went straight to Zoey's bedroom and opened the door. She went to the bed and raised her hand, palm up. The bed levitated. She then turned her hand sideways and motioned for the bed to move right. It followed.
Below where the bed had sat was a trap door, open. Ginny held her palm out and though of Hermione's bright blue flames. The flames appeared in Ginny's waiting hand. She banished then down the opening, followed by many more, until she could plainly see no danger.
Ginny lowered herself down the opening and landed, crouched, in the center of her circle of flames. She waved her hand and the balls of flame began floating and dispersed throughout the room.
Ginny saw nothing moving and called out, "Babygirl are you here?"
She heard a faint noise come from the shadows. Ginny directed one of the flames to the corner and there sat a trunk. Ginny moved her finger up and the lid opened. There was a blanket on top of everything in the trunk. And it moved. Ginny gently pulled the blanket back to reveal the little blonde haired girl.
As the blanket was pulled back Zoey cowered and attempted to shrink back under the blanket.
"Babygirl…" Ginny whispered smiling. She reached out to touch Zoey but the child recoiled. Ginny frowned…after several minutes of coaxing Zoey with no result; Ginny went back to the trap door. Standing below it, she waved her had in Zoey's direction casting a silencing charm over her.
"Harry! Get up here!"
Moments later harry was standing in Zoey's room.
"Down here." Ginny called out.
Harry gazed down into the blue tinted room at Ginny. Ginny was grinning broadly. "I've found her. Get down here." Harry too lowered himself into the room. Ginny pointed to the corner. Harry walked over to the trunk and gently waved his fingers through the air, breaking the charm.
"Zoey?" he moved to kneel by the trunk but Zoey wouldn't answer.
"She won't let me touch her." Ginny whispered. Harry frowned...Zoey pulled away from his touch as well.
Several tense minutes past as Harry thought.
"Ginny…I think I know why…they were us." She looked at him questioningly. "who ever attacked here, they were polyjuiced. I'll bet anything they were. Why else would she be afraid of us? And remember they did that to the Zane family last year?"
"Zoey's smart…tell her something that will make be understand it is really you, Ginny."
Ginny thought. "Zoey? Are you listening to me? Remember that night at the Burrow and there was a party for Uncle Harry and I? You slept with us and Daddy didn't want you too? And Uncle Harry had a night terror? And you sat on his belly and kissed his check telling him it was okay? Then I hexed Uncle Ron and turned him purple with blue hair. Remember babygirl?"
Zoey was looking up, with tear filled eyes.
'She remembers,' Ginny thought as her heart broke.
"You remember that babygirl? Then you and me went down stairs to get you something to eat. And Gamma yelled at me for turning Ron purple. Remember how funny he looked with bright blue hair and his big ears and lips?"
Zoey launched herself at Ginny, knocking her to the floor. Zoey clung to Ginny with her head buried in the crook of Ginny's neck. Ginny held the child close, rocking her gently, and looked up at Harry mournfully. Harry just stood there, looking.
Harry finally spoke, "Munchkin? Are you okay? Did any of the bad men hurt you?" Zoey shook her head. "We need to get you back to Gamma's house. Do you want to floo?" She shook her head no again. "Fly?" She nodded.
"Okay we can fly but we need to get you some clothes packed before we go. Come to me so Aunt Ginny can get back in your room." Zoey peeked at Harry from Ginny's shoulder.
Harry sighed and thought, 'finally,' he spoke again, "Zoey listen. It's me. Remember that morning when Aunt Ginny turned Uncle Ron blue and purple? Do you remember when you woke up? You couldn't hear anything and Aunt Ginny and Uncle Ron were saying mean things to each other. I was there, so was Daddy, Uncle Charlie and Uncle George and Fred . And then Aunt Hermione was there too. Remember?"
That was good enough for the child. She let go of Ginny enough to grip Harry around the neck. Once she got her arm around him, she let go of Ginny and clung to Harry.
Harry held her close and nodded towards that trapdoor. "Go on up J. Pack her some clothes."
Ginny walked over to the opening and looked to Harry. He held his hand out (palm up) and motioned up. Ginny was lifted off the ground and disappeared through the door. Harry could hear her moving around, collecting items. Harry kicked the lid of the trunk shut and sat on it. He tried to pull Zoey away so he could look at her but she wouldn't allow it.
"Zoey sit back. I need to ask you a question."—she didn't move—"Please tell me munchkin. I won't let you go."
Zoey leaned away a bit but didn't relax her hold on Harry.
"Munchkin. Did bad people come here?—She nodded—"Did they hurt Daddy and Brennan?"—She nodded.—"Did they hurt you?"—She shook her head—"You hid?"—she shook her head.
Harry's eyebrows furrowed, confused.
"Did Daddy hide you?"—She nodded—"Okay Munchkin. What did the bad people look like? Me and Aunt Ginny?"—She nodded again.—"Did they look like Gamma and Grampa? And the others?"—She nodded.
Harry dug into his pockets with one hand and pulled out an object that resembled a muggle compact.
"I need you to think about what happened okay and don't move." She watched him. Harry held his index finger to Zoey's temple and concentrated. As he pulled his finger away, a silver wisp trailed. He released it into the compact pensive.
Harry continued to do so until he pulled all of Zoey's memories of the event. He closed the compact and pocketed it again.
"Harry? Are you ready? I've got her trunk packed."
They both looked in the direction of Ginny's voice. Smiling sadly Harry stood, "Let's go back to Gamma's munchkin."
Ginny motioned for them to rise up and the two floated out of the trap door room.
Zoey buried her head back into Harry's neck as the three exited the house, followed by Zoey's trunk.
Ginny picked up their brooms and handed Harry his. They both mounted their silver brooms. Harry spoke quietly to Zoey, "Munchkin I need you to turn around for me. It's okay I've got you."
Zoey let go and Harry turned her around in his arms, setting her on his broom. During this Ginny was attaching a portkey to Zoey's trunk to take it back to their flat. Once she activated the portkey and the trunk disappeared, she turned to Harry, "Ready?" He nodded and they kicked off with Harry holding Zoey close to him with one arm.
Harry pulled his Quidditch robes off and wrapped them around Zoey as they climbed in Altitude. They flew high, above the clouds, until darkness fell. Long into the night they arrived back at the Burrow.
Ginny left her broom and walked straight into the Burrow, leaving Harry and Zoey on the porch.
"Virginia Weasley! Where have you been? You run off and no one can find you! Anything could have happened! I've already lost one child and two grandchildren! I don't want to lose another." Harry heard Mrs. Weasley's voice call out in a shrill tone. Harry began to turn Zoey around to face him when her head shot up, fully awake. "Shhh…It's okay." Harry soothed. Cradling the girl protectively, he adjusted the orange robes around her to assure she was well covered. Leaning his broom against the wall. He entered the Burrow and was met by many pairs of eyes. All focused on him.
Still sleepy, Zoey peeked out of the robes at her family. When they saw her, everyone rushed to hug her. Harry felt Zoey tremble against him as she tried to burrow deeper into his arms and the robes.
Harry held up a hand, his eyes signaling no.
Mrs. Weasley didn't care. "Zoey come to Gamma." She held out her hands to the little girl. Zoey turned her head away. Mrs. Weasley took her arm and pulled her slightly. "Now come on Zoey."
Zoey began to cry as she violently struggled to pull away.
"MUM! STOP!" Ginny yelled.
"Stop that Zoey. Ginny she is my granddaughter. I want to see her."
"MUM! She's scared. Can't you see that? Leave her alone!" Ginny stepped between Mrs. Weasley and Zoey (And Harry).
"Honestly Ginny. You'd think I was trying to hurt her."
Harry spoke up, "That's exactly what she thinks. She's afraid of you."
Mrs. Weasley scoffed, "I am her grandmother."
Harry countered, "Yes and she just watched her grandmother kill her father!"
That silenced everyone.
"Zoey said the attack was made by people who looked like us. All of us. That is why she is so scared. Just give her time, Mrs. Weasley, give her time…prove to her that it is you."
Ginny's eyes were a bright blue. "Harry…come on…" she looked to her family. "You all know she's alive…We're leaving now. Harry come on let's go home."
Harry wrapped Zoey tighter in his Quidditch robes and followed Ginny out the door.
Before they could take off Ron cam running out the door. Ginny turned her ice blue glare on him, "Shove off Ron…" she trailed off warningly. Ron stopped and held out a cloak. "Here Harry. That's all I wanted." Harry smiled at Ron gratefully and took the cloak from him. "See ya tomorrow mate," Ron somewhat waved. Once Harry had wrapped the cloak around his body they were off.