Chapter Nine
When Ginny opened her eyes the next morning, although she was barely out of the haze that characterized the threshold between sleep and wakefulness, she wondered why she was feeling deliriously happy. And then she remembered.
Ginny closed her eyes again and a silly grin spread across her face. She buried her face deeper into her pillow as images of Harry's warm smile and dazed stare came rushing back to her. Perhaps she was overreacting; maybe she still was not fully awake—but the feel of Harry's lips still lingered on hers, and she thought she could still taste them when she concentrated well enough.
Realizing that Harry was probably downstairs waiting for her with everybody else, Ginny sat up and glanced at the clock beside her. It was a few minutes past seven. Looking around the room, she found that Hermione was already gone, her sleeping bag rolled up and propped against a wall.
Ginny stood up, crossed the room, and sat in front of her bureau, gazing at her own image the mirror. The morning light from the window behind her cast a halo around her head, enhancing the sparkle in her eyes and the slight blush underneath her many freckles.
This is going to be a good day.
Smiling dreamily, Ginny quickly brushed her hair, put on her dressing gown, and went down to the kitchen for breakfast.
"'Morning all," she said. Her eyes immediately swept the kitchen for Harry—and there he was, at the dining table, looking up from his plate.
Ginny caught his eye and smiled. Harry smiled back, almost lazily, and motioned to the empty seat beside him.
Ginny's heart fluttered as she made her way to Harry's side. She and Harry exchanged another knowing smile before she turned to Hermione, who had pushed a plate of eggs in front of her. Only then did she notice that apart from Harry, only Ron and Hermione were present.
"Where's Dad?" Ginny asked.
"He had an emergency meeting," Mrs. Weasley replied, bringing a jug of hot chocolate to the table. "Good morning, dear."
Ginny looked up at her mother and frowned slightly. There was a nonchalant air about Mrs. Weasley, as though she was trying not to think about something. Yet Ginny saw that her mother was disturbed by a thought. She saw it when Mrs. Weasley set the jug on the table; the jug shook slightly as she did so.
Ginny was shaken out of her thoughts by the grandfather clock in the corner, the one that informed them of the whereabouts of each member of the family. Two of the nine hands had suddenly turned to "traveling". Squinting, Ginny saw that they were Fred's and George's. The two of them were now staying in a flat in Hogsmeade, where the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes joke shop was situated.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Weasley said. "Those two are going with you to Diagon Alley."
"You're not coming with us?" asked Ginny, surprised.
"No, dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled ruefully. "I've got work to do."
The two hands halted on "Home" just as Fred and George appeared in the kitchen, wearing matching brown coats of what looked like genuine leather.
"Mum!" Fred and George greeted at the same time.
"You two," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging the twins as they politely kept still. "You're just in time for breakfast."
"Aww, you kids!" Fred greeted energetically as he and George headed to the table. He gave Ron a slap on the back and Hermione a milder pat on the shoulder. "How've you four been?"
"We're great," Ginny said with a grin.
George came up beside Ginny and hugged her from the side. "I bet Hogwarts is boring without us."
"Yeah," Ron admitted, rubbing the spot where Fred had smacked him.
"It's been a relatively quiet term," Hermione agreed thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well, at least there's Quidditch to keep you amused at times," Fred said, taking a seat beside Hermione.
Ginny felt her stomach clench at the word "Quidditch", knowing what her brothers would be asking afterwards.
"Say," George said, sitting beside Fred, "how about a spot of Quidditch after breakfast?"
"Good idea, George," said Fred, piling eggs on his plate.
The twins did not seem to notice Harry, Ron and Hermione glance at Ginny, who had fixed her eyes on the sausages her mother had just brought to the table.
"Er," Hermione began uneasily, "don't you think we'd be a bit late for Diagon Alley if you still—"
"Aw, it'll only be for an hour or less, Hermione," said Fred.
"And it's only half past seven," added George.
"Well—I think it's a good idea," Harry said slowly. Ginny saw him glancing at her again. "Er…what do you think, Ginny?"
Struggling to keep a straight face, Ginny gripped her fork tightly in her fist. "Um…maybe not today."
Fred and George looked up from their food and stared at her. "But why?" they asked in unison, both wearing identical scandalized expressions.
Ginny shrugged, and then feigned a haughty smile. "Playing against you two is too easy."
Fred and George both groaned out loud.
"One year in the team and that's how big her head already is," muttered Fred.
Ginny's smile remained frozen on her face. She did not think that the fact that she had just been thrown off the Gryffindor team would sit very well with her two brothers. She had barely even lasted for a year.
But they did not have to know.
Three hours later, the six of them were standing outside Flourish and Blotts. Upon Flooing to Diagon Alley, Hermione had immediately made a beeline to the bookshop, much to the dismay of the boys.
"It will only take a minute," Hermione insisted. "I'll just buy presents for my parents and that's it!"
"Really," Ron muttered in disbelief.
"Okay, okay," George said, taking charge. "What if we just split? Me and George have to check out the Apothecary for fireworks ingredients—"
Ron had already started walking away from Flourish and Blotts. "And Harry and I'll just go check out Quality Quidditch Supplies—"
"Hey!" Hermione protested, glaring pointedly at Ron.
Harry laughed. "Oh, just go with Hermione," he said with a wink. "Let's meet in the Leaky Cauldron in…an hour?"
Ron started mouthing in complaint, then finally grunted and accompanied Hermione as she headed back to Flourish and Blotts.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He'll come around. As always," she added. "See you later, then."
Harry nodded and then waved to Fred and George, who also began to leave. Harry and Ginny were left standing on the street.
Ginny felt that she had to start talking; she had been quiet all morning after breakfast while everybody else was in an excited mood. She did not want to damped anyone's spirits anymore, and so to make up for it, she decided to cheer herself up. "Well," she began, looking around, "where to now?"
"Dunno," said Harry. "You wanted to buy some presents?"
Ginny thought for a second. "Let's check out Quality Quidditch Supplies first, then let's go buy some junk for presents."
Harry grinned and nodded. Ginny started walking, and to her surprise, she felt Harry's hand close on hers.
It was as if Harry had closed his hand on her heart as well. Looking up at his face, Ginny saw that his cheeks were slightly flushed. He threw Ginny a slightly embarrassed, questioning smile.
Ginny smiled back. He was just too adorable. She gave his hand a squeeze to reassure him that it was all right.
Ginny admired the broomsticks and national team uniforms in Quality Quidditch Supplies as she waited for Harry while he purchased some items for presents. Next, the two of them bought gifts for Hermione in the adjacent stationery shop. Afterwards, they headed to the junk shop, where Ginny bought some old flower pots for her mum and a used Muggle automobile repair kit for her dad.
"Your dad's working on a car again?" Harry asked as they waited for a tall, burly wizard wearing a smelly balaclava standing ahead of them in line to the counter.
"Oh yes," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "This time, it's a little car with this humped roof. Dad says this car's not only going to fly; he'll be able to submerge it underwater too."
"And it'll run underwater?" Harry asked, looking both intrigued and amused.
"He says he's working on it," Ginny said, sniggering. "And he's been saying that since summer."
Ginny paid for the pots and the repair kit, then both of them headed to Madam Malkin's. As Ginny looked around the shop, she noticed a navy blue dress robe with elaborate lace patterns in silver hanging for display. She smiled slightly. "That was what Michael wore to the Yule Ball," she said, pointing.
Harry lifted his eyebrows. "Something like what Lockhart would wear," he muttered.
Ginny elbowed him playfully, grinning. "He's not that bad." She started heading towards the shelves lined with earmuffs and tam-o'-shanters.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
Harry hesitated, then, "Why exactly did you break up with Corner?"
Ah, the question. She absently picked up a navy blue scarf. There had been many reasons. Michael did not understand her independence. She did not understand his priorities. He had said she was being detached. She had said he was being an idiot. In the end he had chosen to comfort the one he'd had his eyes on for a long time rather than pretend to be happy for Ginny for catching the Snitch during a Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw Quidditch match.
Ginny sighed. "I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "Maybe…we just had too little in common."
Harry didn't look satisfied with her answer.
"Can I ask you something?" Ginny asked, hoping to change the topic.
"What?"
"Why exactly did you and Cho break up?"
Harry looked slightly perplexed by her question at first. Then he stared at her thoughtfully. Shrugging, he said, "I guess we just had too much in common."
Ginny's eyebrows shot up. "What do you…oh," she finished, understanding fully, wondering why she was so slow on the uptake. Cedric Diggory. "I…I see."
They made their purchases without further conversation. As they left the shop, Ginny realized that she had not yet found a gift for Harry. And there was still one place she had not checked out yet.
"Hey," she said, "can you just—er, go ahead without me? Or wait for me here? I still have a couple of things to buy…."
Harry looked at her amusedly. "I have to buy something for you, too," he said sheepishly.
Ginny laughed and grinned playfully. "Well, so we could further spare each other the surprise…"
"Yeah," Harry said, grinning. "Let's meet here in a few."
Ginny left Harry and headed in the direction of Gringgots, smiling to herself. The day was shaping up to be the good day she had thought it would be, despite the little incident during breakfast. Ginny winced inwardly. Let's just hope that's the last of today's little incidents, she thought.
Between the wizarding bank and the Magical Menagerie was a small alleyway where some gypsies sold brass jewelries, antique vases and other novelty items. She had no idea what she could find there for Harry, but she decided to give it a shot anyway.
Ginny usually took a long time studying the products, and that morning was no exception. There were several sellers already there. Ginny passed one after another, idly studying items, until she reached a heavily veiled witch who sat behind a low table that showcased peculiar jewelry. There, she found a smaller version of Bill's dragon fang earrings and a silver bracelet with charms that looked like miniature Snitches.
Ginny set her bags down and picked up the bracelet. "Wow," she said. Even the wings of the Snitches fluttered madly, as though trying to flee the chains that bound them to the bracelet. She was reminded of that strange game Harry played with himself, the one which involved him letting go of a Snitch and catching it before it flew out of his reach.
"That'll be six sickles, my dear," said the voice of the woman underneath the veil.
Ginny looked up at the woman. She could just make out the smile on the woman's lips through the shadows of her veil.
Ginny knew Harry would not exactly appreciate a girl's bracelet, but she wondered if she still had enough money to buy it for herself. She reached for her pocket for her money bag and smiled at the woman. "I'll just check—"
Her words froze mid-sentence when she saw the smile on the woman again and realized that it was not a friendly smile at all.
She's sneering at me.
I've seen that sneer before.
Ginny's blood went cold. She heard her heart hammering hard against her chest.
Before Ginny knew it, Bellatrix Lestrange cried—"STUPEFY!"
"PROTEGO!"
Ginny had whipped her wand out of her pocket and cast the Shield Charm upon herself. The suddenness of it made her unable to cast the spell properly; just as the Stunning Spell hit the Shield, she felt a sharp sting across her cheek. But she did not have the time to dwell on it; thinking quickly, she kicked Lestrange's table with all her might, sending jewelry in all places.
And she ran out of the alleyway, wand in hand, weaving her way around mobbing gypsies, towards Diagon Alley, where people stared at the commotion.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"
Ginny looked up to see Harry rushing towards her. She had to recoil. The eyes that had gazed at her warmly just a few minutes ago were now aflame with rage.
Harry did not give her the time to answer, however; he grabbed her arm and led her quickly from the crowd.
Ginny stumbled after him. She could feel his arms shaking. "Harry, Bellatrix Lestrange was there," she blurted out.
Ginny felt Harry grip her wrist harder. "They're all here," he said harshly.
"What? But—Harry, there are other people here!"
"They're not after them!" Harry snapped.
Ginny stared at Harry, her heart sinking even as he continued to drag her to the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.
All of a sudden, Harry stopped. Ginny heard him swear under his breath.
"What—" Ginny began, but then she saw it. A heavily cloaked wizard, staring at them, was guarding the door to the Leaky Cauldron. She had seen those eyes before, too.
They're all here.
Ginny felt her chest constrict. Terror flooded its way through her veins. She was suddenly very, very afraid; she had not felt this afraid since last June in the Department of Mysteries.
Harry slipped her shaking hand into his and tugged. "Let's go back," he said in a quivering whisper. The fury was gone in his voice.
Ginny looked at him for comfort, more than anything. He seemed to struggle to be calm, to look normal to the shoppers around them, but his back was unnaturally straight and his neck was craned, betraying his purpose; he looked like a stag sniffing the air, aware of danger.
Ginny swallowed her fright and forced a calm tone. "Go back where?" she asked.
"Anywhere. As long as there's a fireplace. We have to Floo back to the Burrow."
The Burrow. Another wave of terror. "Where are the others?"
"They've gone back."
Ginny's thoughts were suddenly in a whirlwind; she fought to keep them in control as she stared around her, straining all her senses for any sign of a Death Eater.
They've gone back, she repeated in her head. They knew. Someone must have told them. They left instantly—
No. They looked for Harry and me. They found Harry. They couldn't find me…
And Harry insisted he stay, to look for me.
And a realization, unbidden, suddenly rose out of her reeling thoughts: We're both trapped here.
But where's the Order now?
"Here," Ginny heard Harry say. He was headed to Quality Quidditch Supplies. There were many people there…and if Harry was right—that the Death Eaters were not after the people—with any luck, they might get to the Burrow without any problem…
The doorbell rang when they entered the shop. The buyers turned to look at the two of them—they both had their wands out and they certainly looked alert and frightened. Ginny swore inwardly. Doorbells in shops had never bothered her until now.
Ginny spotted a fireplace, where there was a small fire burning, at the back of the shop. "There," she said to Harry, pointing. She went straight to it, Harry behind her, making sure that no one was looking. There were no people around when they got there.
"I got it," Harry said, pocketing his wand and handing her a small bag of Floo powder.
Ginny nodded resolutely. She took a pinch of powder. "Follow quick," she whispered.
Harry's gaze faltered; for an infinitesimal moment, Ginny saw the growing fear in his eyes. Then it vanished, and he touched her hand briefly and nodded once.
Ginny nodded back; then, she threw the powder into the flames, expecting the fire to turn green and rise higher than herself—
But the fire remained as it was.
"Damn," Ginny breathed, "it's blocked—"
"But of course it is, my little one," said a low, cold voice behind Harry.
Ginny's hair on the back of her head prickled. Blood drained from her face. She had heard that voice before.
She turned around to look at Harry. A man stood very close behind him—it was the burly man they had seen in the junk shop, wearing the balaclava. Now she saw a horrible face in front of her—a big, hairy face, with a large diagonal scar across his nose and a permanently closed left eye, as though there was nothing behind the lids. She had seen his picture not too long ago in the Prophet.
It was the former executioner. Macnair.
Harry was directly in front of Macnair. He was staring at Ginny, immobile, breathing harshly. His hands were frozen on his sides. He stared at her, wide-eyed, as though he was trying to tell her to run away and leave quickly, even without him.
For a split second, she wondered if he was under a spell.
And then she knew.
"That's right," he said in a soft, horrible voice. "I have my wand jabbing your boyfriend's back here, and if you don't follow me I could blast him to pieces." He smiled mockingly. "That's for trying to Floo through a fireplace in this shop—didn't you think they'd lock it to prevent shoplifters from escaping?"
Ginny swore harshly between her teeth. How bloody stupid can you get!
"Now get out of here, and mind you don't try anything stupid again 'cause I'm not the only one watching you."
Macnair was grinning horribly at her.
Ginny took a deep breath, keeping her eyes on Macnair's face; he likewise kept his on her.
"I don't believe you," Ginny shot back, stalling for time, all the while thinking furiously. Where's the Order? Surely they've gotten wind of this by now! She tried to train her eyes on the customers, but they were too far away and hidden.
Macnair narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Why not?"
Ginny dared a glance at Harry—and hope surged within her. Without Macnair's eyes on him, he was inching his hands into his robes.
Forcing herself to keep a straight face, she answered, sounding braver than she felt, "You can't…blast him to pieces…that's not what—what V-Voldemort wants—"
Macnair's face darkened. "How dare you," he said harshly, "speak the Dark Lord's name—"
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry yelled.
"STUPEFY!" Ginny cried almost immediately.
Within a split second, Macnair's wand flew out of his grasp, and he fell backwards onto the floor. Several cries erupted inside the shop.
"COME ON!" Harry shouted at her.
He reached for her, but his fingertips barely grazed her hand when his set expression suddenly became one of shock and pain.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Harry let his breath out in a gasp as he fell, his glasses askew, his now naked eyes widely staring at Ginny as though asking for help. She, numbed for the moment, unable to speak, threw herself in front of him and caught him in her arms.
They landed on the floor together, Ginny hitting the cold floor on her backside. She did not feel the pain. Instead she looked up and saw Bellatrix Lestrange advancing towards them, wand pointing at her.
Ginny shut her eyes.
"STUPEFY!"
It was a different voice—a familiar, comforting one despite its urgency, and when Ginny heard it she suddenly came back to her senses. Lestrange gave a cry of defeat as she fell into a heap beside Macnair.
"DAD!"
A pale and sweating Mr. Weasley ran towards them. Without any explanations, he pushed an old flower pot—one similar to the one she had bought for her mum just earlier, a detached part of her mind said—into Ginny's hands.
He kissed her hard on her forehead. "Go," he said. "Take Harry. You'll be safe at home."
Ginny glanced at Harry. His eyes were closed.
She held him closer to her, her heart sinking in dread. "Dad, where are you—"
Mr. Weasley shook his head. "I'll be safe. Go—now—"
A protest escaped Ginny's lips, but it quickly died down as she felt a harsh jerk behind her navel, pulling her forward off the floor. As the colors spun around her and the wind whipped at her hair and robes, she buried her face into Harry's neck, hardly daring to move, until they both fell onto the floor of the Burrow with a large thump.
Notes: As always, big thanks to Alcarcalime and ReaderRavenclaw for the beta!