Disclaimer: It's not mine. I just like to play.

Prologue

"The flowers were awful pretty, weren't they? I didn't think Fleur was actually going to have that orchid hybrid in the main setting decorations. And the colors Bill chose really complemented their changing colors." Deep breath. "And the dresses she chose were beautiful. Fleur looked so peaceful and happy. Ginny was so sweet and cute. I felt like it was Yule Ball all over again. The only thing missing was—"

"Gah! Hermione, quit! We were all there for the ruddy wedding; we don't need to relive it."

"Don't be rude, Ron. I was only trying to think of a peaceful day to take my mind off this ship."

"I agree with that. I don't see why we couldn't just Apparate. Bloody ship. Rudding hard way of doing things. Fecking ocean." The last was a murmur as Ron quieted his rampant tongue.

"Hermione? Is your sea sickness coming back?"

She smiled thankfully. "No, Harry. I'm just tired of being stuck in here. I want to be there already and get down to business."

Harry smiled back. "At least we got to Apparate partway. Imagine how long it would take to get to Tokyo if we hadn't."

Ron grimaced. "I'd rather not imagine that, mate."

Thoughtfully, Hermione said, "I wonder what the Japanese Ministry of Magic will be like. I've heard it's so secretive that no one speaks at the offices."

Harry shook his head, amused. "We'll find out when we get there."

"Do you still have that paper we found in Godric's Hollow?" Ron turned and looked out the window. The sun was falling into the ocean as they traveled. It lit up the water and made it sparkle.

Harry patted his shirt pocket. It crackled with the paper within. "Yep."

The three fell silent. Then Hermione looked up from her feet. "Why do you think your parents had contact information for a family in Japan?"

Pulling out the paper and looking at it, Harry's brow creased. "I've been thinking about that." He looked up at his best friends. "I think they were going to run."

Nodding, Ron said, "Makes sense. They knew Voldemort was onto them."

"What stopped them though? The paper is dated a few months before I was born, so they had time."

"Maybe when we find those people, they will know something." Hermione rubbed her head briefly. "Boys, I'm going to lie down."

Ron looked over at her. "You feeling sick again, 'Mione?"

She winced. "Yeah. A little bit."

Harry stood. "There you go. We'll turn off the light and talk quiet. Is that alright?"

The brunette nodded as her head fell to where Harry had been sitting before. Ron turned the light down and sat on the floor by the only bed in their cabin. The Boy Who Lived sank onto the floor beside him and heaved a large sigh.

"You're not coming down sick too, are you, mate?"

With a smile, Harry replied, "Getting sick yes. Although not from the ocean."

"That's good." Ron nodded. " 'Cuz I can't take care of two chucking friends."

The boys were both quiet for a moment, humor and smiles fading.

"I want answers."

"I know."

"I'm so sick of people dancing around the truth."

"We all are."

"I don't want people in the Wizarding world depending on me anymore, but I'm scared of what will happen when they stop."

"I can't help with that one, Harry. I'm just the best friend side-kick."

"Just there for comic relief, huh?"

"You bet… I'm goin' to bed, too."

Ron clambered into the large bed on the far side form Hermione. She was deeply asleep already and when Ron's head hit the pillow, his body relaxed and breathing deepened. Asleep.

Harry smiled as he turned the light completely off. He climbed onto the bed between his two friends and relaxed. In Japan he would find his answers. In Tokyo, he wouldn't stand for anymore dancing. And Harry Potter knew, in Nerima, he would need his two pillars of strength.


Ginny sighed, bored out of her mind. This was not how she'd planned on spending the last days of summer before her 6th year at Hogwarts. But Mum was adamant. All of Ginny's brothers were out and about in the world and Mum had knuckled down on the only child she had left to control.

So Ginny Weasley was alone in the house. The dark, creepy house, full of Dark Arts and evil. Grimmauld Place refused to be lightened up, even with the presence of the normally bright Weasley girl. But that wasn't surprising as her mood hadn't been that light since she had arrived.

"Watch the house, she says. It's very dangerous, she says. Exciting stuff will happen right before school starts. Yeah right, Mum."

Ginny knew better. Mum just wanted her out of the Burrow. Molly wanted her only daughter safe.

Well, her daughter was very safe. She was safe, bored, and had read every book in the house… twice. So, now she was lying on the couch in front of the fireplace, reading a book on the Dark Arts for the third time. Since she'd read it twice before, when the fire made an odd noise she wasn't so engrossed that she couldn't look up.

The fire crackled as though someone were about to Floo in. Ginny's brow crinkled. That was odd. Usually if someone from the Order was going to pay a visit they would send an owl before they showed up. She slowly closed her book and stood. She tensed as the Floo neared completion.

Because Ginny was tensed and standing, when a body she didn't recognize came through the fire, she had her wand out and ready. Her Mum would yell at her for this, of course. She wasn't even out of Hogwarts, much less trained to handle a threat of any magnitude. But thanks to the DA and reading all those books more than once this summer, she felt like she could handle her own.

So, her confidence took a hard shot when she finally laid eyes on the man who Floo'd in. Her wand fell to the floor and her jaw dropped.

His eyes widened. "Fuck. Weasley."

She took a step back. 'Stupid! You dropped your wand!' "Why are you here?"

He looked over his shoulder, almost seeming panicked. His head whipped back around to face her. "You need to hide."

"Wha-a-a-a…..?"

He dropped to the floor and grabbed her wand. "Hide under the stairs." When she didn't move, he put a hand to her elbow and steered her that way. He shoved her in and closed the door. "For Merlin's sake, don't make a noise. And if you value your life, don't come out." He left.

'Shit. I'm in shock and he took my wand.'

But he had left. And he hadn't hurt her. His parting words hadn't even seemed threatening.

There was the thump of another person Flooing in and a chill went down her spine as he spoke.

"Well, Draco. This is it. Your cousin's property. Do you want it?"

"Didn't Black give it to Potter, his godson?" His voice was different from a moment ago, emotionless.

"There's always a loophole, Draco. If you want it, it would serve your purposes well." Lucius was walking around slowly.

Draco Malfoy was quiet for awhile. Ginny wanted to run from the house. If these two came here, what was to stop other Death Eaters. As soon as these two left, Ginny was going to send a message to Remus Lupin. She couldn't stay here anymore, obviously.

"It's a big choice to make very suddenly, Father. I will have to take time to weigh it." His voice was near Ginny's hiding place and it sounded as though he was running his hands along the wall.

"Of course. That's a good choice, Draco." There was a rapping noise. Lucius was tapping his cane against the mantle. "I must go, son. Take a look around, decide if you want it or if we burn it." He muttered his destination so Ginny couldn't hear, then it was quiet on the other side. She started shaking as she sat there not moving. She had to get word to someone. It didn't really matter who anymore. Just someone who could help. Then the door opened and there stood Draco Malfoy, her wand in his hand.

"Come out, Weasley. My father is gone and I want to talk to you."