33
Ginny Does Her Research...
Ginny dashed the tears from her eyes and took the book from the shelf, adding it to the growing stack on the table behind her. She figured the most likely place that Brooklyn would have taken him was her family manor. The Jones' didn't have a manor, but Ginny was willing to bet her mother's family had one.
She sat on the nearest chair, looking at the stack of books. There were about ten of them, three on family trees of well established Wizarding families and seven on locations of famous manors. Most of them were older books, only two had an index.
Ginny buried her head in her hands. There was just so much. How could she ever find him on her own? She couldn't unless she had help. Brooklyn was smart. Unless she wanted Ginny to find her, Ginny had about a snowflake's chance in Hell on an August after noon.
She bit her trembling lower lip and sighed. She pushed away her tears and pulled out the first book on Family Trees. Her first task was to find Brooklyn's mother's maiden name. Then she could find her manor and hopefully, Draco.
She flipped the book to the table of contents. She ran her finger down, intent on finding Jones, but her finger hesitated on Malfoy. Before she could stop herself, she flipped to the page. The pages were covered in magical portraits. She followed the silver haired patrons down until she reached the bottom. Smirking at her from the last picture on the page, was a thirteen year old Draco Malfoy.
Ginny felt tears threaten, but couldn't stop them. She shook her head, a sad smile on her face. How did she end up falling? It was a game. But then she went a step too far and fell hard and fast. Some might say it started last night, but it was really long before that. He had always been so far out of reach all through school. That had started it. Something forbidden was more desirable to her. Her parents warned her away from him all through school. And that just gave her more reason to see how he ticked. And then, wonder of wonders, he was polite to her. It was just a sudden change, this year alone. And Ginny fell. Looking back on it in retrospect, Ginny knew that was when she started to fall, that day she posted his modified test scores. He had smiled at her then, a genuine smile, not the conniving one he usually bestowed upon her.
Ginny closed the book over her hand and blinked away the tears that had already started to fall. She opened the book again and flipped to the contents. As suspected, Jones wasn't in there. Ginny sighed and flipped to the index. The book didn't have one. Ginny sighed and picked up the next one. She repeated the procedure with similar results. The final book yielded no new information. She sighed again and was closing the book when a name caught her eye.
Black.
Ginny noted the page and flipped to it. At the bottom, with his brother, was a grinning picture of Sirius. Ginny felt tears start again. God, but she missed him. She had known him better than she let Harry know. She traced his lineage up and over, intent on finding Tonks, but stopped when she reached Bellatrix Lestrange. Ginny shuddered. Bella was a bitch and deserved what happened to her. Ginny smiled, remembering the look on the older woman's face when Tonks brought her down. Out of curiosity rather than actual concern, Ginny flipped the page to the Lestrange family.
Ginny ran her eyes over the family, checking the bottom to make sure Bella hadn't left behind any offspring. Her eyes froze when she saw the smirking blond marked as Bella's niece. Ginny knew where Brooklyn was. But it didn't do her any good. Only a Black could get into the Black manor without a portkey.
"This might help."
Ginny looked up to see a small leather bound book before her. She followed it up to Hermione's earnest brown eyes.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Brooklyn Jones' diary." Hermione smiled at Ginny's shock. "I'm sorry. I should have been more helpful."
"Me too." Victor said from behind her.
Ginny smiled sadly. "Thanks, but there's not a lot I can do."
Hermione frowned and took a book. "What do you mean?"
Ginny sighed. "Brooklyn's mother's is directly related to Sirius through marriage. She's Bellatrix's sister in law. Only a relative of a Black can get in. I'd need Tonks but she's on her honey moon with Remus."
Hermione bit her lip. "Not exactly."
Ginny studied her friend. "What are you hiding from me Hermione Granger?"
Hermione looked sheepish. "Last year, for my Muggle studies project, I was doing illegitimate children of famous families. And... Well, Sirius' grand father had some affairs with a couple of Muggles, one of which resulted in a child. The child later married a man named Granger."
Ginny laughed. "Are you serious?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm Sirius' niece, twice removed."
Ginny grinned. "So you can help me."
Now Hermione looked smug. "I don't have to."
"What do you mean?"
"Sirius' ancestor's affiars weren't limited to unmarried women or Muggles."
Ginny gaped. "You don't mean..."
Hermione grinned. "Your grand mother is the daughter of Reginald Black."
Ginny laughed. "Guess, we're related." Hermione nodded and Ginny developed a evil glint in her eye. "That means all these years you've been after Ron, you were after your cousin." Ginny laughed at Hermione's look of abject horror before turning to the book in her hands. She flipped through to the newest entry and read it. A thoughtful look crossed her face.
(A/N: OMG Ginny's related to Hermione and Sirius! Hehehehehehe. Good luck figuring out that family tree.To XThisXBeautifulXDisasterX- I hope i satisfied your curiousity. Sorry it took so long. to Not Tellin- yes Brooklyn is a girl. She is also bi. Sorry to Liz that the last chap was so dramaish, next one will be better. Next chapter- Will Ginny be able to rescue Draco? Can Ginny fight someone she likes (Brooklyn)? Why did Brooklyn do it? And finally, What was in Brooklyn's last article that made Ginny thoughtful?)
To Bookworm of the Forest and everybody else- I'm thinking about doing a side fic that corresponds to this one with Just Torrey/Snape. I also hope to explain the Denis thing there. Give some feed back if you want me to.