Chapter 3

Hermione-Hunting

Ginny was sat at her desk reading through some old reports she had from a muggle private investigator. Harry had laughed at her for hiring a muggle detective, but was as keen as she was when he actually turned up something that might be useful. She was reading a report from Paris, France, which suggested that Hermione might have been there for a few weeks, approximately six months ago. Ginny felt certain that Hermione would have settled down by now, but all the reports she had pointed to the contrary. They all had one thing in common though, they suggested that Hermione only stayed around for a few weeks; it just didn't sound right. Someone coming through the fireplace disrupted her train of thought and she looked up-

"Hi Dad! What are you doing here?"

"I just-" Her father exhaled furiously, he was obviously flustered- "I just needed to leave the house for a while, so I thought I'd pop in and see my favourite daughter and future son-in-law." Arthur said to Ginny, kissing her on the top of her head.

"Very subtle Dad – you could give Mum a run for her money."

"What dear? I was just-"

"Commenting on marriage again. Yes Dad I know. And as always-"

"Yes dear" Arthur said, releasing her from a hug, pulling up a chair and reaching for a nearby copy of the Daily Prophet. "I know – you and Harry will marry when you're ready and not before – I believe we've had this conversation before…"

"A few thousand times Dad – we're happy as we are." Ginny said, resolutely.

"Yes I suppose you are aren't you." Arthur said smiling. His smile turned to a sad frown.

"What is it Dad?"

"Just-thinking of Ron that's all" her father said quietly "I wish he could be as happy as you and Harry are… or at least… well." Arthur stopped himself and busied himself in the paper. Ginny however, was far more like her mother than she would ever admit and couldn't stop herself-

"Is that why you left the house?" she asked, a little too innocently. Her father sighed in defeat.

"Well that woman honestly. I mean I thought Percy had picked a right one with that Penelope girl, but I always though Ron had more sense than to pick someone so awful… so obviously biased against muggles. So obviously hung-up on pure-blood nonsense… I just – he can't even see it Ginny and now…" Arthur rested his hands in his head, and Ginny rested a supportive arm on her Dad's shoulders-

"Don't worry Dad – Ron's not marrying that evil troll if I get my way."

"Oh Ginny dear I really don't see how you can stop them – they've set a date now."

Ginny sighed, her thoughts returning to where Harry was, hoping he might find something - anything at all. "And Ginny dear – you really must stop calling her a troll. I nearly called it her at dinner yesterday night."

xxx

Harry apparated into the living room and promptly fell on top of a certain red-head.

"Bloody hell Harry! You're supposed to be a fully trained Auror and you can't even apparate properly!"

"Gin I'm sorry I was in a rush-"

"You found something didn't you?" Ginny said excited and interrupting him.

"Yeah – how'd you know?"

"Did you find her?"

"I'm not sure I think so – her hairs different, but – well it looked like her," Harry said quietly.

"What is it?" Ginny frowned.

"I didn't go in to see her…" Harry closed his eyes "It might not even be her – you know that don't you?"

"I thought it was her – you've seen her now and say the same – we're going to visit her Harry." The voice said, having already firmly made her mind up.

"What if she doesn't want to see us Ginny – what if she tells us to get lost? It would be like loosing her again…"

She heard the pain beneath his voice and pulled him into a loving embrace. He hugged her back tightly, and kissed her quick-

"You'll still have me." She said lovingly and he smiled.

"And you'll always have me Gin-"

"Always?"

"Always and forever" he said, kissing her properly.

They'd decided today was as good a day as any, and so after lunch they returned to the park that Harry had spent the morning in. He'd actually grumbled a bit at first, reminding her that he was skiving from work and if Kingsley found out there'd be trouble, but Ginny was always one step ahead and had candidly reminded him that he'd already missed the morning and so the afternoon was unlikely to make any difference, especially as the woman he was supposed to be looking after was in hospital after accidentally poisoning herself.

It was a nice day, cold but not too cold, just perfect for wrapping up warm and snuggling up to the one you love. If anyone had seen Harry and Ginny in the park, they would have guessed they were like any other young couple. And they were, kissing and cuddling, save for the fact that they glanced up to the house every few minutes to check to see if she had returned. Ginny was slowly winding herself up, which left Harry the role of supportive boyfriend and he carried this out by whispering things-not all of which were appropriate since they were in public- which occasionally made her laugh, but often made her blush.

"She's there" Ginny whispered, but Harry heard her and glanced over to the house. Sure enough there was a woman, who looked exactly like Hermione who opened the door to a muggle house, using a muggle key.

"But why is she living like a muggle?" Ginny said, angrily.

"Its easier to stay hidden as a muggle." Harry replied gloomily.

Ginny paused and looked at him. He was strong on the outside and on the in, but the war had changed him; he knew what it was like to loose people he loved and always felt like he was responsible if they ever got hurt. He'd blamed himself for Hermione leaving, thought he should have been a better friend to both Hermione and Ron when they were having problems and felt guilty because he and Ginny were on holiday when she actually departed. Perhaps guilt was part of the reason driving Ginny also, but she pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and focused on why they were there.

"Harry – even if she… even if she doesn't want to see Ron, even if the reason she hasn't been in contact is because she never wants to see Ron again, that doesn't mean she won't want to see you." She said softly, comfortingly.

"Us you mean." He said gripping her hand more tightly.

She smiled and they walked slowly towards the house.

xxx

She shouldn't have had to come home really. If she'd got out of bed earlier and got her and Ronnie ready earlier she would have remembered to take the report with her. But she didn't so she had to come back. She felt like she'd forgotten something even as she left the house for the second time, but it wasn't until she reached the library that she remembered that she needed to return several books. She decided that she would call home again mid-afternoon; her boss wouldn't mind as he probably wouldn't even be there and she was sure Daisy would cover for her. Even so she still had to hurry.

While she had vowed to travel like a muggle for the rest of her life, she found it hard when she knew she could be home and back again in five minutes, instead of the half hour it had taken her walking. She wasn't in a bad mood though, it was the kind of weather she liked best, just starting to get cold and frost over, but before it was so cold that you couldn't appreciate the beauty of the place without freezing your bits off. She smiled as she walked, thinking of picking up Ronnie later. She'd decided that they were going to do some baking, and while she wasn't exactly the best chef in the world, she could stretch to making biscuits and it always made Ronnie laugh and giggle to see everything covered in flour.

She quickly collected the books from upstairs and was about to shoot off when the doorbell rang. She frowned. Of the few people that might come to call on her, none would usually call during the day and Hermione wondered if it was her batty neighbour Mrs Brown, asking if Hermione could help her with the clocks truth be told there was nothing ever wrong with the clocks and Hermione knew it, but she also knew Mrs Brown was lonely and so didn't begrudge her visiting under the pretence of finding out the real time. Today however, Hermione was in a rush and so would have to say she could call back later. In fact she'd got the speech prepared when she opened the door.

Only it wasn't Mrs Brown. It was a man with raven black hair, bright emerald eyes hidden behind round black glasses with a very identifiable scar on his head. She gasped and as she saw the red hair behind him, slumped into unconsciousness on the doorstep.

xxx

"Crap!" Harry said, obviously upset at her reaction.

"Oh come on Harry – it had to be a shock. Maybe we should have written – let's just get her up and in the house."

"Ginny" Harry said, as he lifted Hermione easily in his arms and started to find his way towards the living room "We couldn't write remember – she wouldn't let us find her. All the owls came back, letters unopened."

"Yeah I remember" Ginny said, placing a cushion underneath Hermione's head as Harry laid her on the couch. They stared at her for a while, glad to see her but wishing she would wake up. Ginny sighed – "Do you think she's gonna be mad? I mean we did just turn up without a word of warning. We're going to need to explain. And she obviously didn't want us to find her – I mean if she did she would have owled right? She would of known we wouldn't tell Ron if she asked us not to. Wouldn't she?" And then as there was no reply – "Harry?"

"Something tells me Gin that she's gonna be the one doing the explaining." Harry said quietly.

"What do you mean?" she said walking over to where he was standing, looking at some muggle pictures.

"OH MY GOD!" were the last words that left Ginny Weasley's mouth as she lost consciousness.