Chapter 2
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. How did she manage to grab on and apparate with them? Where did she come from?
"Ginny?" Harry said again suddenly at a loss for words, "What are you doing here?"
Harry was angry. Very angry. It was supposed to be just the three of them. He, Ron, and Hermione were the ones tasked to locate and destroy the Horcruxes. That was what Professor Dumbledore had wanted. He was very specific about it. Not to mention the fact that he, Ron, Hermione, and those in the Order had gone to great lengths to make sure that everyone would be protected for as long as possible when they left.
It suddenly occurred to Harry that with one rash action, Ginny had just undone a lot of work that had been undertaken by many people. Including her own Dad and brothers.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted suddenly by the exclamations of Ron and Hermione. Ron swore loudly. Hermione looked equally shocked but reacted with better grace.
"Not here," she said swiftly taking Harry by one elbow and Ron by the other. Looking fearfully around them she said, "Come on."
Together the four of them went walking quickly down the busy city sidewalk. It was evening time and there were many people out and about. There were people walking around enjoying the evening, families out for a stroll, workers who were just finishing up their jobs for the day.
Their clothes were drawing more attention than Harry was comfortable with. He gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to curse a group of men who were wolf whistling at Ginny and Hermione. They appeared to be drunk.
"Where are we?" Ron asked Hermione as they walked very quickly down the street. He glanced at the workers cautiously.
"Tottenham Court Road," Hermione said quietly as she walked staring straight ahead. There were muggles aplenty who were turning and staring. Some younger children pointed and stared. Other children who were a little older would giggle and laugh.
"Harry," Ginny said in a hurt voice trying to speak to him.
"Not just now, Ginny," Hermione replied to her curtly.
Ginny's head jerked up. Harry and Ron exchanged a look. It was the first time that they knew of when Hermione had ever been short with Ginny.
"Down here," Hermione said as she steered everyone down a darkened alleyway. The wolf whistles and laughter died away as they turned the corner and went several paces into the darkened area where the light didn't quite penetrate.
Harry looked around and let his eyes get used to the gloom. It smelled like wet cement, uncollected garbage, and other foul things that he didn't want to think about. But it was out of sight of the main street, which meant that they were safe for the moment.
"We need to change," Harry stated matter of factly.
"We don't have anything to change into!" Ron argued.
"I wish I had my invisibility cloak," Harry added as he looked around the alley. His eyes constantly scanning for signs of danger and admittedly avoiding Ginny at the moment.
"You do have it," Hermione answered him, "and some clothes."
"What?" Harry asked turning to look at her in surprise.
Hermione held up her small beaded bag, "In here..."
"What do you mean?" Ginny ventured curiously.
Hermione looked at her sternly for a moment before answering, "I put an undetectable extension charm on my bag. I've been packing it and keeping it ready to go in case we needed to leave at a moments notice,"
"What about Ginny?" Ron asked. Harry nodded agreement.
Hermione looked uncomfortable but before she could answer him, Ron rounded on Harry.
"You!" Ron exclaimed angrily.
"Me?" Harry asked in surprise, "What about me?"
Ginny looked nervously from her brother to Harry and back to Ron again. Hermione appeared to be just as cautious. She was fingering her wand with a look like she really hoped that she wouldn't have to use it.
"Yes, you!" Ron went on, "If you hadn't gone and snogged her yesterday, none of this would have happened!"
"Ron!" Hermione said placating, "Come on, we need to change. Please,"
"What about Ginny?" Harry asked again, "She can't stay in that dress,"
"Well we didn't plan on anyone else coming, did we?"
"We need to do something," Harry stated looking at her.
"What are we going to do?" Ginny asked. She hadn't really thought about what she might need to take with her when the idea to go with Harry came to her.
Hermione looked at her thoughtfully for a minute. Ginny, who was normally very outspoken, spent that minute in silence. She looked from her angry brother, to Harry, to Hermione. Then Hermione spoke.
"You two wait here for a moment. Ginny, you come with me."
"What are you going to do?" Ron demanded.
"Just wait there and watch the street," Hermione said, her voice commanding.
Ginny glanced quickly at Harry as she moved past him. Harry looked back at her grimly. He was angry and upset, but he and Ron did as Hermione said and watched the street. The silence between the two young men was palpable.
Hermione led Ginny a bit further down the darkened alleyway. There was barely enough light to see by. Hermione looked at Ginny carefully before she sighed.
"Take off your dress, please."
"What?" Ginny asked in shock, "What are you getting at Hermione?"
"You can't go around wearing that dress. You'll attract too much attention. You need to take off your dress and shoes."
Ginny looked at Hermione for a moment before handing the older witch her wand and then removing the dress and shoes as she was ordered.
"What are you going to do?" Ginny asked as she removed her outfit.
While Ginny was standing there in her underwear, Hermione gave her wand back to her while she explained, "I'm going to try and transfigure your dress into something else for you to wear,"
"Like what?" Ginny wanted to know.
"Shh give me a minute, I'm thinking..."
Ginny was quiet as she watched Hermione and the two boys who stood only ten paces away with their backs to them.
"Aha!" Hermione said as she waived her wand. Ginny's shoes were the first to be transfigured. It took several tries, but soon enough Hermione was able to change them into some leather sandals. Her dress took longer. Hermione had Ginny hold it up while she worked with her wand and again, after several more attempts, managed to transfigure her dress into something more like muggle casual evening wear. Hermione smiled at her success and Ginny returned it.
"That will do for you. Give me a second while I change," Hermione said then.
Reaching into her beaded bag she pulled out some clothes and then quickly changed from her formal dress into a simple blouse and jeans.
"Okay, we need to let the boys change, then we can find somewhere to talk. We really need to talk." Hermione said bossily. Ginny only nodded. She looked like she was wondering about her sudden decision to join them.
Ron and Harry quickly and silently changed into the clothes that Hermione handed to them. They didn't say a word to each other the entire time they were changing. Ron was clearly still angry and Harry was lost deep in his own thoughts.
When they finished, they approached Hermione and Ginny. Hermione was looking thoughtful, Ginny nervous. Looking from Ginny to the two boys, Hermione said;
"We need to find somewhere where we can sit down and work this out,"
Ron only nodded. He refused to look at either Ginny or Harry. Nervously Hermione looked to Harry who, after glancing quickly at Ginny, also nodded. Ginny didn't look like she knew what to say so she didn't say anything at all. It was Harry who interrupted the tense silence.
"Damn," He said,
"What is it?" Hermione asked fretfully. Ron turned towards Harry as well. For the moment his anger seemed to have subsided a bit.
"My invisibility cloak," Harry answered, "I left it at the Burrow."
"No you didn't," Hermione said with a hesitant smile.
"Hermione, I don't have it with me..."
"You're right, you don't. I have it here," she said lifting up her beaded bag again.
"In there,"
"In that bag?" asked Ron, suddenly curious.
"Yes,"
"You're amazing you are," Ron said admiringly.
"I've packed everything I thought we might need," Hermione explained as she looked sidelong at Ginny, "Books, clothes, all sorts of stuff..."
Hermione handed Harry his cloak which he quickly put on. Instantly he was invisible to everyone. Harry quickly took his wand out and kept it in his hand. At least if something happened, he wouldn't be caught totally unprepared.
"Did you pack any food?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Ron," Ginny said out of habit.
"Quiet you!" Ron ordered, his anger returning.
"Don't start on her," Harry said angrily from under his cloak, "What's done is done."
Ron looked like he had a lot more to say on the subject. He started swelling like a balloon about to explode but Hermione, seeing the coming explosion, headed him off.
"Not here! Come on. Let's just find someplace where we can get inside."
"Fine," Ginny said.
"Fine," From Ron
"Fine," Harry added, his voice slightly muffled.
It was back out into the street for the four young people. Almost immediately the cat calls and whistles started up again.
"Hey Ginger!" One drunken man yelled, "How did an ugly git like you land a beauty like that?"
Hermione's cheeks turned pink while Ron's ears turned red. He was just working up to shouting back at them when Hermione pushed him and Ginny into an open cafe. Harry slipped inside before the door closed.
The place was small, dirty, grimy, and open all night which was what had caught Hermione's attention. Ginny ran her fingers over one of the tables and made a face at the greasy film that she picked up on them. The table tops looked old and battered. The paper on the walls was peeling in places and there was a smell of old coffee and stale frying oil in the air.
Hermione steered them towards a booth against the far wall, out of sight of the door. Ginny and Hermione slid in one side, Harry and Ron the other. Harry, who was feeling the painful effects of the Polyjuice potion wearing off, put his glasses back on and felt glad as his vision went from clear to blurry to clear again in the space of a few moments.
When the server, a young woman with her hair tied back and a tattoo on the side of her neck came over, Hermione ordered three coffees. Rummaging around in her small beaded bag, Hermione extracted a handful of muggle money. She set two notes on the table and put the rest in her pocket.
"You have money?" Ginny asked staring at the notes on the table.
"I took everything I have in savings, even my Building Society money. I grabbed it before I left for the Burrow." Hermione explained as she looked around.
The server returned with the coffees. Ron absently reached out and picked up his cup. He carefully took a sip and then his face became a mask of revulsion.
"That's horrible stuff," He exclaimed, "Absolutely revolting."
Looking around to make sure they were alone, Ginny whispered a question that was on everyone's minds; "Do you think they're you know, okay?"
"I don't know," Ron answered her softly.
"I hope so," Ginny said with emotion.
Hermione looked over at Ginny, then Ron and ventured, "It all happened so fast,"
"I bet Voldemort had the Death Eaters working on those protection charms," Harry speculated quietly.
Ron winced at hearing the name, but Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. It's no secret how close you are to everyone there, and the location of the Burrow is no secret."
Ginny took her own sip of her coffee, "Eww yuck!"
This earned her a glare from the waitress Harry noticed. Then she turned to watch two workmen who entered the cafe. They took a seat behind Hermione and Ginny. One of the men was very large. He had blond hair and his muscles bulged under his clothes. Harry's attention was caught when the other one, smaller in build and with darker hair angrily waved off the approaching waitress.
Ron put his arms on the table and put his head in his hands, "God, I hope their alright."
Hermione gave Ron a tender look. She looked like she was going to say something but never got the chance. Harry noticed the workmen as they moved in unison suddenly. He recognized that they had wands in their hands immediately. "Stupefy!" Harry cried, hitting the large blond one in the face with a sudden flash of red light. The man fell instantly to the floor and didn't move.
His compatriot was fast. He rolled out of his seat and brought his wand up, pointing it at Ron. He flicked it quickly and great black ropes exploded out of the end of it. Ron lunged out of the way but was still caught by the ropes. He was soon bound from head to foot.
Harry fired a jinx at the smaller attacker from inside his invisibility cloak, "Expelliarmus!" He missed and the spell hit the far wall.
Hermione, who was quick to pick up on what was going on, cast her own spell; "Patrificus Totalus!" The dark haired man's arms snapped down to his sides, his legs went ramrod straight and he fell flat on his face.
The waitress, who had dived behind the counter, raised her head cautiously.
"Get out of here!" Ginny yelled, "Go! Now!"
The waitress didn't wait to be told twice. She ducked out through the doors to the kitchen and a moment later the back door could be heard slamming shut.
Harry stood up and shrugged off his invisibility cloak. Ginny was raising her wand towards the still bound Ron when Hermione grabbed her wrist, "No! Not here!"
"Why not?" Ginny asked angrily.
"You're underage," Hermione explained, "You still have the trace on you, remember?"
Slowly and with a sudden realization Ginny lowered her wand. Harry pointed his wand at Ron instead and said, "Relishio!"
Instantly the ropes binding Ron loosened and fell away.
"Thanks," Ron said as he pushed them away and stood up, "How did they find us?"
"Did you do any magic since we left the wedding?" Hermione asked Ginny pointedly.
"No! None! Nothing at all!" Ginny exclaimed vehemently.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked skeptically.
"Yes!" Ginny affirmed.
"Well they had to come from somewhere. How did they know we were here?" Ron wondered.
Harry looked around the cafe to make sure the coast was clear, and then he went over and nudged the large blond one with his toe.
"I know him," Harry said.
Hermione looked up at Harry inquisitively. Her hair was messed up a bit and her face was still flushed from the events that had just occurred. "What do you mean?"
"That night," Ginny said with realization, "The one when Professor Dumbledore died. He was there."
Harry nodded at her and gave her a grim smile, "Yes, he was."
Ron went over and looked at the petrified man on the floor who had bound him with the black ropes.
"This is Dolohov," Ron said, "I think that other one might be Rowle,"
"Death Eaters," Harry confirmed.
"Here?" Hermione asked, "I still don't see how."
"I don't know how," Ginny said, her wand in her hand hanging uselessly at her side, "but one thing is clear..."
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"We can't stay here," Harry finished.
"Where do we go? The Leaky Cauldron?" Ron wondered.
"We can't go there, we'd be recognized!" Hermione advised.
"Well we can't go home," Ginny said sadly. The reality of the situation was beginning to dawn on her.
"Grimmauld Place," Harry said as he retrieved his invisibility cloak.
"We can't go there," Hermione argued, "Have you forgotten about Professor Snape?"
"What about him?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Where else is there, Hermione?" Harry asked her pointedly.
She thought for a moment as Harry and Ron became more and more impatient. Finally she nodded. "Fine, but we'll need to be very careful."
"No argument there," Ron agreed.
Harry nodded. He turned and really spoke to Ginny for the first time, "You're too young to do magic without the trace. Even if you learned how to apparate, you couldn't without leading them to where we are. Do you mind if I take you by side along apparition?" Ginny flinched at Harry's business like tone, but she answered him anyway.
"Fine, what do I do?" It was said with resignation.
"Take my hand," Harry said holding out his right hand. Ginny took it and Harry held her hand with a firm grip. He looked up at Hermione, "The front step?"
"Wait!" Ron said suddenly,
"What?" Harry asked,
Gesturing at the two Death Eaters who were laying on the floor motionless he asked, "What about them?"
"Oh, right," Harry said looking around.
"We need to erase their memories," Hermione advised knowingly.
"Good one," Ron agreed, "Then they can't tell anyone that they've seen us,"
Harry looked at Hermione, "You're the best with charms,"
Hermione looked from Harry to Ron to the men lying on the floor. Then she seemed to find her resolve. Raising her wand she pointed it first at one Death Eater then the other saying each time, "Obliviate,"
It was with grim satisfaction that Harry watched the eyes of the two men glaze over and their faces become expressionless. He looked at Hermione, "Before we leave we need to clear up this mess," Harry advised.
"What? Why?" Ron asked.
"Don't you think they might think it strange if they wake up in all this? Wouldn't they wonder what happened?" Harry said as he gestured at the ruined furniture around him.
"I reckon you're right," Hermione agreed.
It took a few minutes for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, using magic, to quickly clear up the mess and set things to rights. The chairs flew back together and settled into place. The tables turned upright and slid back into position, even the ashtrays, salt and pepper shakers, and coffee cups reassembled themselves and settled into place on the newly repaired tables.
"Are we ready?" Harry asked when they were finished.
Hermione nodded. Harry flashed Ginny a quick smile as he took her hand again and turned on the spot, disappearing instantly. There was the suffocating feeling of being squeezed through a thick rubber tube. And then it was over. He stood with Ginny on the stoop of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.
A moment later Hermione and Ron appeared beside them. Harry took a moment to enjoy the sensation of Ginny's hand being in his again, even if only for a minute, before he released his grip. Ginny's eyes met his and Harry gave a slight nod.
They took a moment to look up and down the quiet, run down street. There was no sign of anyone around. All the nearby houses were shut up for the night. There was barely a breeze in the air.
"Well?" Ron asked, "What now?"
Harry took out his wand and touched it to the door handle. Immediately the sounds of locks turning and chains rattling could be heard from the other side of the door. Harry opened it and ushered the other three inside quickly before stepping in himself and shutting the door behind him.
The gas lamps flickered into life as soon as the door shut, casting a dim light into the room. Odd shadows were cast by the stuffed elf heads that still hung on the wall. The old portrait of Sirius' mother hung on the wall behind the thick curtains that blocked her from view. Even the old troll leg umbrella stand was still there, though it had been knocked over.
"Do you think anyone has been here?" Ron asked cautiously.
"Professor Snape was one of the secret keepers," Ginny replied.
"I think it's possible," Harry said. Hermione was nodding slowly behind him as her eyes took in the room.
"Ron," Hermione said, "didn't you say that your Dad and some of the Order put up curses against Professor Snape?"
"Yeah, they did," Ron confirmed.
"Well, where are they?"
Just then as Harry took a step forward into the room, the voice of Mad-Eye Moody came from out of the darkness; "Severus Snape?"
"We're not Snape!" Harry said in surprise and fear. No sooner had he spoken those words, something like a cool breeze blew over them and his tongue curled back on itself that made saying anything more quite impossible.
Harry was reaching up to his face when suddenly his tongue was free. He looked up at the others only to see them with equal expressions of relief tinged with more than a little fear. Hermione and Ginny in particular looked shaken and Ron was looking very nervous. Harry thought that he probably didn't look much different from them.
"I th-think that m-might have b-been one of those c-curses the O-order set." Ron stammered fearfully.
It was with great trepidation that Harry took another step forward, his eyes scanning the room constantly. Suddenly there was fast movement from the end of the hall. Something rose up out of the dust dark and horrifying. Hermione let out a scream which was immediately echoed by Mrs. Black.
As her curtains opened, a figure in grey came billowing towards them gaining speed as it went. Horrified beyond speech, Harry recognized the long, grey hair and beard, even though its face was shriveled and skull-like, no eyes in the sockets and teeth visible in a ghastly smile. One arm raised up accusingly pointing towards Harry.
"No!" Ginny Screamed.
"It wasn't us!" Ron said breathlessly.
"We didn't kill you!" Harry yelled hoarsely.
As soon as the statement left Harry's lips, the figure disappeared in a great Chuff! leaving only a cloud of sediment in the air.
Everyone started hacking and coughing. Hermione, Ginny and Ron had cowered back against the door in fear. Hermione was quivering and Ginny wasn't faring much better. Even Ron's hands were shaking as he tried to calm the two young women. "G-gone now," Harry heard him repeating over and over.
Through it all Mrs. Black had continued to scream. Harry took his wand and went up to her.
"Filth! Mudbloods! In my house! Blood-traitors and brats besmirching my family's home!"
"QUIET YOU!" Harry said leveling his wand at the portrait. He flicked it once and the curtains swung shut punctuating the order. For the moment, the room was silent.
Turning towards the others Harry said, "I think that's it,"
"Are you sure?" Ron asked.
"I think so." Harry answered him.
"Could there be someone in here?" Ginny asked as she looked around, "Hiding maybe?"
Hermione looked at Ginny thoughtfully for a moment. Then she stood up unsteadily and raised her wand pointing it into the room. "One way to find out,"
Standing to one side, Harry watched as she cleared her throat and said, "Homonim Revelio!"
Nothing happened.
"What was that supposed to do?" Questioned Ron.
"If anyone were here, that spell would have caused them to show themselves," Hermione explained.
The four stood there in the room for another minute before Ginny asked, "Is it safe to go up?"
"I reckon so," Harry said as he led the way into his Godfather's home. Hermione waved her wand at the lamps igniting more of them as they went further up and into the house.
They gathered in the drawing room. Ron checked out side from between a crack in the window drapes. "All clear, at least for now."
Harry sat down on one sofa, Hermione and Ginny sitting next to him. Ron took a seat in the chair opposite them. They looked at each other for a minute before Ginny asked, "How do you think they found us?"
Looking at Harry, Hermione asked; "Do you think it could be the Trace?"
"Couldn't be," Ron exclaimed confidently, "It breaks at seventeen. That's wizarding law."
"But what if one of the Death Eaters found a way to put it back on him?" Hermione argued.
"They couldn't have, Harry's not left the Burrow since that night you lot went after him," Ginny reasoned.
"Well they knew we were there, how do you explain that?" Hermione asked, "Unless you used magic?"
Ginny shook her head vigorously, "No, I've not used any magic at all. I grabbed Harry when I realized what you were going to do and I rode along when you all apparated."
"Speaking of that," Ron said as his ears turned red again, "What were you thinking grabbing on to Harry like that? You're damn lucky you weren't splinched!"
"Ron, it wasn't like that," Ginny started to say,
"Tell me what it was like then because I don't see it!" Ron was standing now and beginning to pace. Hermione's eyes followed him as he moved her expression unreadable.
"Ron..."
"Don't 'Ron' me, you don't know the danger you put yourself in!"
"But..."
"But what, Ginny? You-know-who's after us! You know the things Dad and everyone went to, to make this work for us. What about that?"
Harry watched Ron as he worked himself up into a temper. He was passing back and forth in front of them building up a head of steam. Part of him agreed with Ron. They had taken a lot of steps to be able to leave the Burrow and begin hunting down the Horcruxes. Ginny being with them when she wasn't a part of all of the planning and preparing was not going to help.
She thought they were hunting down Voldemort. She didn't know anything about the Horcruxes; they deliberately kept that from her.
However another part of him wasn't sure what to think. She must have had her reasons when she did it. There had to be, or why else would she suddenly do something that drastic? Harry was at a loss as to what that reason could be, but at the moment he wasn't going to get a chance to ask. Ron continued his tirade.
"Months of planning..." Ron was going on,
"Ron," Ginny said softly,
"Days of work, Hermione making sure she was packing everything..."
"But I..." Her voice even quieter, her eyes starting to glisten.
"George was nearly killed when we rescued Harry, what's mum going to do when she realizes you're gone?"
"Yes but..." The first tear started to slide its way silently down Ginny's cheek.
"And Dad! Dad is going to go 'round the twist!"
"B-but,"
"BUT WHAT!?" Ron roared, Harry started to speak but Ginny beat him to it. She suddenly jumped up to her feet, both hands balled into fists and tears now streaming freely from both eyes. But it was what she said that got everyone's attention.
"I LOVE HIM, DAMN YOU! I'M IN LOVE WITH HARRY AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET KILLED!" With that, Ginny started sobbing and ran from the room.
Ron jerked back as if he'd been slapped. Hermione gasped and turned to look at Harry who had closed his eyes, trying to swallow past the sudden lump in his throat. The room was dead silent except for the sound of a door slamming somewhere upstairs.
"I knew it!" Hermione said quietly.
But before Harry could ask Hermione what she meant, his scar suddenly blazed into a searing, blinding, all encompassing pain. He fell off the sofa and started writhing in agony on the drawing room floor. Ron and Hermione could only stare in open mouthed shock at what going on in front of them, powerless to help. Harry bit his lips and tried not to scream from the pain.