Author's Note: Needed to re-edit a few parts of this chapter, and take a few things out. Sorry for the mix up. So now that the wedding is taken care of, and the bittersweetness quota has been filled - moving on to chapter three. Ginny's actually going to be getting a bit of a break - sort of. Responses again are at the bottom again.
"Immobulus!" I aimed my wand at a scurrying gnome who tried dashing into a nearby bush.The gnome froze mid-stride in the air and felt flat to the ground on his face.
Satisfaction forced a smile onto my face, even though my muscles were not use to the movement since I had not smiled, or talked for that matter, all day. Everyone I knew - everyone in the Order - was out doing legwork or spying or gathering information. Where was I? Stuck at the Burrow.
It was her way of saying she worried too much and didn't want me risking my neck since she already knew her other son was out there searching for Voldemort. But didn't she know leaving me alone to wallow (on the inside, of course) alone at the Burrow probably caused me more pain that setting my mind to a task that needed doing?
No, of course she didn't know that. No one knew that.
Because I was such a good liar...
"I wouldn't want to be on the other side of that wand," I heard a familiar oice from behind me. I turned around only to be met by a bright-eyed Tonks. Her hair was neon green today - she must have seen Remus.
I looked from her to the gnome, registering her comment then put my wand away. "Gnomes really get to me," I said.
Tonks laughed. "I should think so - I don't even think that poor guy would move his eyes!" She exclaimed. It was a compliment, but only made me wince thinking of all of Voldemort's enemies - had they even had a chance when they were on the other side of his wand? Had they even been given the luxury of a painless death? Of course not. Because Voldemort wasn't that kind of wizard. He was the kind of wizard I knew would not hesitate to kill Ron, Hermione, and especially Harry.
Holding back a wince - and a twinge - at the thought I turned my attention back to Tonks who was now standing next to the gnome poking it with her wand. She looked up at me. "Well, you'll be gnome free soon, at least for a while," she grinned. "We've got an assignment."
I stared at her. An assignment? With Tonks?
"What?" I asked.
"An assignment, you know - legwork dolled out by our superiors so we can learn to build character," Tonks exaggerated. Seeing my expression she added, "I just came from - er - other work,but now Kingsley has a new one for the both of us."
I couldn't help but feel a little lifted by Tonks morale, she was truly the one bright (at times literally) face that I saw at the Burrow, and someone who would always try to make me laugh, despite of what else was going on around in the Wizarding World. Tonks seemed genuinely happy to be working with me.
I nodded. "Okay, so what is it? Because I'm about fed up with gnomes to last me a lifetime." Trying for lightness seemed to work, because Tonks grinned.
"Kingsley needs information on some decoding spells," Tonks said. I wondered why he didn't just go himself but her next response answered that question. "He wants you and I to go to Knockturn since he's stuck in Spain at the moment and get the charms he needs to break them," she added.
"Knockturn?" I questioned.
Tonks's smile held. "Knockturn," she echoed.
We'd traveled by car to the pub where the entrance to Diagon Alley lay, but I still didn't now how we were going to blend in. Activity in both alleys had gone down immensely since Voldemort's return, and Dumbledore's death - but I knew that Tonks and I would still stick out like sore thumbs.
Tonks tap the bricks and then as they moved to form a doorway, but she didn't walk through immediately.
I have to admit, I half-heartedly hoped that maybe Hermione, or Ron, was here getting supplies they maybe needed and that I could talk to them. I'd only seen my brother once in the past month, and even when I talked to him then he didn't seem likethe brother I knew. The same way Hermione didn't seem like the same person either - like in the past few weeks they had changed. I didn't know what caused the change.
All I knew was that I desperately wanted to help them.
Iwanted to help Harry.
Turning to me Tonks said, "Your hair's well known and I know my neon green won't help our case any." She tapped her forehead, muttering something and then without any flash or change her appearance instantly switched to that of an older aged wizard, looking to be about in her forties, with straight dark hair and pale skin. Her robes had changed to, now a deep shade of grey. Her eye color was the only thing that I recognized, though they were already a dark brown and would blend in easily.
I looked her over not knowing what charm she used. "That supposed to cover us up?" I asked.
Tonks nodded and then without warning tapped my forehead. I felt something like a soft pop inside of me - my appearance had changed just as hers. Because when I looked down I saw long straight dark brown hair over the front of my robes - my Weasley hair had vanished. My robes too had changed to black.
Tonks looked at me funny for a moment, as if trying to decide whether or not my appearance passed. "They won't question the charms if they can sense them, and I've put a lock on our them even if they try. Most Dark wizards like to lay low now, even when they're in their comfort zone." Tonks told me as she stepped through the doorway.
"If there is such a thing during times like these," I muttered.
She stopped, then turned back to look at me, an odd expression on her face. She said, "You may be the youngest of all of us, but I don't doubt you know the danger living in times like these." Ididn't know what to say to that, mainly because it was true. Hermione's letters were oft times not sugarcoated. Tonks nodded slowly, as if understanding something that was unsaid. "You do know, don't you, Ginny?" She asked quietly.
I looked down, trying to push back tears that were on the verge of forming. Then I realized where she was coming from, and how she knew. "Is that what it's like with you and Remus? Living like we have to and serving the Order?" I asked, a mere whisper.
Tonks smiled, a sad smile. "Yes," she said, "and no. I guess the thought of being with him is stronger than the thought of not being with him, regardless of what world we live in." Her eyes glittered in the faint light - it hurt her just to say the words.
Nodding, I stepped through the doorway and silently followed Tonks downDiagon Alley and into Knockturn, her words trailing through my mind as my heartbeat quickened in anticipation, and fear.
Was being with Harry better than the chance of never seeing him?
My heart lurched in my chest.
Could I be that selfish?
Tonks's words haunted me as we continued along the ghostly shops, both alleys were deserted. The few wizards that I saw walked at a brisk pace and close to the store windows. The air around us seemed to be filled with tension. The stores, once bright and welcoming, seemed tired and colorless in the afternoon glare of the sun. I watched in a daze as I continued walking next to Tonks.
"Through here," Tonks whispered to me as we entered an even darker alley: Knockturn. My hand instinctively reached for my wand inside my robes as I continued down the way next to Tonks. I didn't care if we were cloaked by the power of an Auror, I would be ready for an attack.
Tonks stopped her walking when she came to a shop that looked particularly eerie. Cobwebs were its storefront displays, along with a few other artifacts. There was no sign hanging above the shop, unmarked.
"I'll get the charms and we'll leave. Wait out here," Tonks said in a low voice to me. She looked so different without her bright hair, and so much older. I nodded and watched as she entered the shop and then took a seat on one of the benches that lined the shop front.
My wand was at the ready inside my robes. There were a few more wizards in Knockturn, luckily none of them recognized us nor paid any mind to our presence. Another wizard entered the alley, I could see the entrance from where I sat. He continued down the line of shops until he came passed the one where I was sitting in front of and stopped. I don't think he meant to stop, but when I caught his gaze I froze.
Tattered and worn black robes, an unshaven face that looked to be about forty years old, short light brown hair - and unforgettable green eyes.
My breath hitched in my chest.
"Harry?"
Author's Note: Not much changed, an added conversation and a few parts got deleted or rewritten. Well, chapter four should be a bit more interesting now that the cliffy is a bit clearer. Things are going to pick up for Ginny - some sadness, but mainly angst and adventure including both Harry and Ginny follows. Let me know your thoughts!
Responses:
christopher i finks: Well I changed it around a bit...not Remus. Thank you for the review!
TragicFantasy: It's going to pick up, like I said. I'm actually thinking about changing the genres to romance/adventure now that I've got a clear idea for a plot in my head. And yes, I couldn't do without having Tonks' humour in this chapter.
SugarQuill Cutie: Yes, this is going to be a long fic and it's all going to be from Ginny's POV. I may in the future have it in Harry's, but for now it's all Ginny. I'm glad you liked the first two chapters!
Izzy G: Glad you like it - and it may be long than just a few more chapters, I'm not sure yet. If I have time (which work does not permit much of) I'll take a look at your story, it's HarryGinny,right?
Wen1: Thanks for the review!
Lariren-Shadow: Sleep really is overrated, you get so much more done when you're awake. Thank you for reviewing.
Final: Update for you! And thanks for the review!
MaxB88: She's going to have someone soon, don't worry. And Tonks does help her through it a little. Though she's definitely gonna need to confide after this chapter, I'm sure. Thank you for the review!
Luna Lovegood8: You're review made me laugh, and I'm sure Ginny managed not to become sopping wet.
Rogue: Ships are gonna keep sailing in this fic, thank you for the review!
ScRibBLrOfDrEaMs: Thank you, I'm glad you got so into the fic and the letter, (I had about eight other versions written and finally decided on the one that I posted.) Thanks for reviewing!
ILuvRavenclaw: I'm glad you liked that part - could you maybe recommend some HG fluff for me? I'm a sucker for it...lol.
GMUXMenSoaps: Thanks for the review!
Becka: Glad to hear it - update for you!
Sweet Temptations: Yay! So happy ya like. Thanks for the review!
Lady Elenwen: Tears? Wow. Thank you! That's a huge compliment and it definitely will help me write more.
