When Doves Cry
Chapter 2: Somewhere Out There
Disclaimer: Nope.
A/N: Well here's chapter two. I'm still a little unsure about this story. I kind of feel like I'm trying to get into a pool to go swimming and I've put my feet in but I'm still trying to adjust the water. But it's too late to turn back now! I started posting this therefore I'm going to have to finish. Thanks for the enormous response so far. That means a lot. I hope you all are enjoying it so far.
Ginny opened her eyes the second day of the New Year to find the space of bed next to her empty. Harry was up and about already, changing into his clothes for the day. His hair was wet indicating that he had already showered and Ginny could smell the aroma coming from the mug of coffee he had.
"What time is it?" she asked her husband groggily.
"Early. You should go back to sleep," he told her.
"What you are you doing up? There's no practice written on the calendar for today," she said sitting up a little.
"That's because there wasn't supposed to be practice. But just because we weren't supposed to have practice doesn't mean we don't. You know how the coach is."
"Do you know what time it'll be over?" she asked him. She had been planning to have a family day in Hogsmeade since it was Harry's day off. Ron had mentioned wanting to meet them there for lunch with Allison and Emma, their daughter.
"Not sure Gin. You know how it is."
Ginny smiled as she climbed out of the bed. "And people say Quidditch players live the easy life." Ginny walked over to Harry and pecked him quickly on the lips, messing his damp hair with her hand. She then cocked her head giving him an amused look before saying, "Why on earth did you shower to go to Quidditch practice?"
Harry smiled back. "Helps me wake up. Well I've got to run Gin. But I'll try to be home for lunch."
"Well if you're not and I'm not here when you do get home I'll be in Hogsmeade with Ron and Allison and the kids. I didn't think you had to work today so I told Ron we might meet them there."
"I'll try. I promise." With that Harry kissed Ginny on the cheek and disapparated.
After Harry was gone Ginny made her way towards the bathroom. Maybe if she got in right away she'd have time to have a decent length shower before Hope awoke for the morning.
She turned the knob and let the warm water cascade over her hand to test the temperature. Just as she reached to take off her nightshirt and small familiar cry sounded and Ginny sighed, turning the tap back off. She'd have to settle for a cleaning spell until Harry got home. They never made her feel as clean as a good shower did. Casting the spell Ginny quickly exited the bathroom and made her way towards her daughter's room.
Harry sighed as he arrived inside the Ministry of Magic. He hated the feeling of knowing he had just lied to his wife. What he hated more was the ease in which he'd done it with.
Pushing the guilty thoughts from mind, Harry made his way to the room in which the meeting was supposed to take place in. When he arrived there he found two guards outside of the room. One look at Harry was all the guards needed to know who he was and the quickly stepped aside to allow him inside.
When Harry entered the room he found a room with twenty or so folding chairs set up, facing the front of the room. People were standing around the room, not yet ready to sit, and Harry was surprised to find that nearly all of the people there seemed to be around his age. He had expected to be surrounded by older, more experienced wizards.
Among the group Harry recognized most of the people either from the war or from Hogwarts. Gazing around the room he spotted Cho Chang in a corner chatting with Seamus Finnegan and Justin Finch-Fletchy. He was about to make his way over to greet them when he heard his name.
"What are you doing here Potter?" the voice snarled. Harry grinned as he turned around to see one of his closest friends.
"Same thing a you Malfoy," he sneered back before laughing.
Before either could say anything else an older wizard entered the room and requested that everyone have a seat. Harry and Draco grabbed two chairs in the back row where they were standing and sat while the man got settled at the front of the room.
"Really Harry, what are you doing here?"
"I got a letter. Same as you I presume."
"Just because you got the letter didn't mean you had to come. You know as well as I do that this is the last place you need to be," Draco paused. "Does Ginny know where you are?"
"No! And you're not going to tell her. Not just because she'd kill me but also because you read the letter. This has got to be kept a secret. I didn't even tell Ron or Hermione."
"Oh well that is serious," Draco rolled his eyes. "God forbid you leave the rest of the dream team out of something. Bloody three musketeers you three are. 'All for one and one for all!' How cute."
Harry ignored his friend and continued on with the conversation.
"Does Jen know you're here?" Harry asked.
"No," Draco replied coolly. "Not that she would. We split up just after the holidays," he told Harry as if it were no big deal.
"What?" Harry exclaimed.
Draco shrugged.
Harry was about to question him further when the man at the front of the room finally spoke.
"For those of you who don't know me, I am Lorcan Nepot. I am pleased to see that so many of you have agreed to help us in our cause. I think that all of us in this room understand exactly what Voldemort's death eaters have done to our world, and why it is important to make sure that any death eater activity still occurring is put to an end immediately."
"Now," Lorcan continued on. "Signs of possible death eater activity has been coming in for several months now. After thorough research we have discovered the location of the death eater base. Debilitor Island," Lorcan swished his wand and a three dimensional map appeared. Harry perked up at the mention of the location and he felt the wary look that Draco was giving him. "What we have to do is search the island," Lorcan explained to the room. "The problem is, the island's is full of dementors, there are sure to be numerous complicated protective wards, and no one but death eaters has ever been there, except one person that is."
Harry swallowed. So that was what Lorcan had meant in his note at the bottom of the letter when he had said that Harry would have a "crucial role" in the mission. For the hundredth time in his short live, Harry was going to be the one everyone expected to know what he was doing.
After looking at Harry for a moment, Lorcan continued with his speech. "All of you have been asked here today because you have proven yourselves capable of handling this mission and keeping it top secret. However, should any of you feel that this is not something that you can commit yourself to, feel free to leave right now. I'll give you all a moment to come to your final decisions."
With that Lorcan made his way out of the room and the group erupted into discussion.
"Well Potter guess I'll be seeing you. Go on home to your beautiful wife and children."
"Nice try Malfoy."
"Harry you cannot go back to that island!" Draco said firmly. "You didn't exactly handle it so well the last time you were there."
"Aw. Draco I didn't know you cared about me so much," Harry said mockingly.
"Who said anything about caring about you? I'm worried about what's going to happen to me when something does happen to you and Ginny finds out I knew you'd been risking your neck on some stupid mission."
"Stupid huh? Maybe if death eaters had been kept in check last time the war that messed up a lot of people's lives, including yours and mine, would have never happened. I'm not going to risk my family losing anything again just because I was too concerned about myself."
"Potter one person isn't going to hurt this little escapade that much. You'd be doing your family a bigger favor by walking away now."
"You heard Lorcan, Draco. No one but me has ever even stepped foot onto the island. I need to be here. I could help a lot. It can't walk away."
"Do you even remember anything about the stupid island?"
"Bits and pieces...." Harry admitted. He honestly didn't remember much. But he was sure once he was back on the island things would begin to spark his memory.
"So your risking yourself in order to provide us with fuzzy bits and pieces of memories from the time in your life that you went insane. How beautifully Gryffindor of you."
Their argument was ended when Lorcan reentered the room after a seemingly short period of time, and walked back to the front.
"I'm glad to see I selected a group wise enough to understand the importance of this mission. Welcome aboard everyone."
Ginny was getting Hope's diaper bag packed when she heard a voice from behind her.
"Gin?"
Ginny turned around to find Ron's face in the fireplace. Hope let out a squeal of delight at the sight of Ron, who Ginny was beginning to believe was Hope's favorite uncle.
"Are you almost ready to go to lunch?" Ron asked her.
"Well I was hoping Harry would get home from practice in time to come, but I don't think he's going to make it."
"Alli and Emma aren't going to be able to come either," Ron told her. "She promised her Mum that we'd spend the day at her house."
"Why aren't you there then?"
"I accidentally made plans with my sister that I absolutely couldn't break," Ron grinned.
Ginny laughed at her brother. He'd do anything to escape spending time with his in-laws.
"I'll tell you what Gin. Why don't I just meet you there and then we'll go to the pub together? I'll be over in five minutes."
After he spoke Ron's head disappeared in the flames and Hope broke out into tears.
Ginny sighed and picked her daughter up in to her arms, rocking her back and forth in hopes of placating her.
"What's wrong?" James yelled as he came dashing into the room looking around frantically. When he finally stopped beside Ginny he took a stance as if ready to defend himself against anyone who might attack.
Ginny let out a small chuckle. Her little protector. During their years along together they had formed a special bond in which James seemed to be able to sense that Ginny needed him as much as he needed her.
"Nothing baby," Ginny told him. "Mummy was just talking to Uncle Ron over the Floo and Hope got upset when he disappeared.
James shook his head and looked at his baby sister. "Silly Hope. We're going to see Uncle Ron at lunch. Are we still going to lunch with uncle Ron Mummy?" James asked just to make sure.
"Of course! Now go get your shoes on. Uncle Ron will be here any minute."
With that James dashed out of the room as quickly as he had entered.
Ginny sat at the table in the Leaky Cauldron with Hope, waiting for Ron to come back from taking James to the bathroom. Hope giggled at the silly faces her mother was making in an attempt to keep her occupied.
"Well if it isn't the two cutest red heads I've ever had the privilege of being in the presence of," a familiar voice sounded as a man approached the table.
"Oliver!" Ginny greeted him as he approached.
"Mind if I sit down?" he asked.
"Not at all," she replied. There was an extra seat at the table.
"I think she gets bigger every time I see her," he commented, looking at Hope.
"Well she is growing pretty quickly," Ginny commented before adding, "But I don't think she's gotten all that much bigger since two nights ago."
Oliver had attended the New Years Eve party that Ginny and Harry had decided to host in the their home, beginning what was sure to become a yearly tradition.
Oliver laughed and shrugged.
"So how did practice…" Ginny began but was cut off.
"Gin! Sorry I'm late!" Harry's voice sounded from behind her.
Ginny grinned. They'd been a family for over a year now and just the sound of his voice could still put butterflies in her stomach.
"Harry! I didn't think you were going to make it!"
"I know, I would have been on time except on my way I ran into this," he nodded his head toward the blond man standing beside him, "and he drug me into Madame Malkin's to see some robes he wants to buy," Harry said as he walked toward another table to grab two more chairs. Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not liking Harry's lie.
"Well if me taking him robe shopping, means him convincing me to take a trip to the Quidditch store, than by all means yes, that's exactly why he's late," Draco said flashing a grin at Harry before turning to Ginny. "Hi Gin," he greeted her properly, kissing her on the cheek in a brotherly manner before sitting down in one of the chairs Harry had brought over.
"Harry, I was just about to ask Olli how practice went this morning," Ginny told her husband.
"It was good," he spat out as quickly as he could before Oliver could open his mouth. He saw his former captain shift his eyes between he and Ginny suspiciously.
"Will and Jack were a little off though," Harry added. "Almost hit me with the bludger twice!"
"Are you all right?" Ginny asked suddenly concerned.
Harry chuckled. "I'm fine Gin. I said they almost hit me."
"Whoa Gin, I didn't realize you were such a guy magnet," Ron laughed, finally returning to the table with James.
"What can I say? I'm irresistible."
"Speaking of the lack of females at the table…. where are you're two ladies Ron?" Harry questioned him.
"My in-laws'," he replied.
Harry shook his head. "See what a great husband I am Gin? I've never wiggled my way out of a trip to your folks."
"Harry that'd be as unlikely as it would or me to finagle my way out of a day with Sirius and Remus."
"Potter, everyone knows you only married Gin for her family," Draco told him.
"It's alright. I only married him for his money," Ginny grinned.
"Is that so? Well let's see what happens if I just use it all up. Lunch is on me! Everyone ready to order?"
After spending the rest of the afternoon shopping around Diagon Alley, Ginny and Harry arrived home that evening with two very tired children.
"I'll take care of Hope Gin, you can take up James," Harry said as they both made their way to the stairwell.
Harry made his way into the nursery and slowly rocked the baby in his arms as her eyes drooped and she fell further into her slumber. When she was sleeping soundly, Harry gently placed Hope into her cradle, flicked his wand to activate the monitoring charm, and crept out of the room.
Down the hall Harry could here Ginny's voice quietly coming from James' room as she sang their son to sleep. He followed the sound of her voice and stopped in the doorway, watching Ginny as she sang.
"Somewhere out there if love can see us through, then we'll be together. Somewhere out there, out where dreams come true," she sang, quieting her voice further as James' breathing grew heavier and he fell into a sound sleep.
She got up from her seat on the edge of the bed and turned to leave the room. She was visibly startled as she found Harry standing in the doorway watching her.
"You sing that song to James?" he asked, never having heard her sing what had once been their song, to their son.
"Ever since he was born," she said joining him in the doorway, as they watched their son sleep. "One night the first week he was home, he was crying and crying and wouldn't go back to sleep. I was sort of at a point where I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I was about to break down crying myself, overwhelmed by the new responsibility of being a mom, not being able to stop his tears, and missing you more than ever, when I saw the music box you gave me on my dresser. I started to hum the tune and then I started to sing quietly. I was into the third verse before I realized that James had stopped crying. By the end of the song he was asleep. Ever since then it's been my lullaby for him." Ginny told Harry. She smiled and turned to face him, but found he wore a serious expression.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here Gin. But I'm here, and we're not going to be separated ever again. I'm not going anywhere, I promise," he told her.
"You better not be," Ginny grinned. "Cause, even though it helps to know we're sleeping underneath the same big sky, I like it better when your right there in my bed," she smiled before heading down the hall to their bedroom, nodding for Harry to come with her.
Harry closed his eyes trying to push the guilty feeling that still hadn't left him away, before walking after Ginny who had stopped half way down the hallway to wait for him. As he took her hand in to his he took as silent breath and promised himself that everything would to be all right.
A/N: Guys, I am sooooo sorry that this took so long to put out. Like I said before, I'm having a little bit of trouble getting into this fic. But I'll get more comfortable with it soon. I promise. Besides that, life's been a little hectic lately so I haven't had all that much time to write. I would like to update this fic at least once every two weeks. That's the goal I'm setting for myself from this point out. Whether I'll achieve it…well, I guess we'll see won't we.
Once again, I'm so sorry about the long wait between chapters, and I want to thank all of you for your patience and support. The reviews I've gotten are truly phenomenal and mean so much. They're what keep me going, so keep it up!!
Well, look for the next chapter in two weeks if not sooner!
Love,
Bella