Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the beautiful magic of Harry Potter and I - well I only own myself. (:
Sorry about this, but I forgot to mention in the last chapter that I have reached…. *drum roll* 2.9 K VIEWS! Thank you so much everyone. I know it is not a lot, but thank you anyways.
Everyone swooned as they watched George place the ring on Angelina's awaiting fingers. It fit perfectly. The sunset filtered in through the window and cast beautiful little lights around the room. It was marvelous.
"May I have this dance?" George asked, standing up. Angelina glowed as they stepped outside. Laughing, George twirled her around. Her sunset dress twirled around around her thighs, and her gold shoes tapped along the grass softly, indicating a fairy that seemed to be flying. Her dark hair was pulled back in a simple braid. Smooth chocolate skin laid underneath the dress. She was… gorgeous.
Hermione squealed and was immediately whisked away by Ron, his face flushed. But his normal clumsy, large hands were guided by Hermione on her waist, and she placed her delicate hands on his broad shoulders. He swept her away and soon Molly and Arthur were dancing too. Fleur grabbed Bill and they were dancing as excitedly as they did on their wedding. But George and Angelina still were the best, clearing the dance floor (the Burrow's backyard). As Charlie lifted Victoire up and twirled her around, Harry raised an eyebrow to Ginny, but she stubbornly looked away. So Harry grabbed James hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. Ginny pursed her lips and ran back into the house. Harry sighed, and handed James off to the engaged couple who took him happily.
Ginny was sitting at the table, her silky ginger hair covering her face. But Harry could tell she was upset even if she was not crying. Harry sighed and sat down next to her. There, he sat until she was well enough to talk.
"Why -" Harry began cautiously.
"I don't know. I have this gut feeling. Like it's wrong even if it feels right. And I don't know why I left you because you would have loved a child. But I did. And something feels wrong Harry, and I just can't do anything about it because it is inside of me. A gut feeling. And I just can't…" Ginny let out a frustrated growl and brushed back her hair. Makeup smudged her face.
"Ginny, something is wrong. I know that. And - and we need to go to the Ministry. Tomorrow. Send an owl to Gwenog and we will sort this business out once and for all. And it is okay if you do not want to go on a date with me." Harry grasped her hands with his, her small, delicate fingers curled up inside his warm ones. He grinned shyly. Ginny looked down quickly and nodded, but now she seemed more confident.
"I just need time." Ginny looked at him with her chocolate eyes through dark thick eyelashes and Harry knew everything was going to be okay.
James crashed at Molly's. Ginny and even Harry were reluctant to leave him, but they both had work tomorrow and it was just convenient. Molly promised to stay in touch and was all too delighted with the turn of events. The two were too tired to argue. George made a couple sly notes about how they were going to have the house alone. Ginny was a little anxious about this, but the problem was solved when Harry crashed on the couch upon reaching their small flat.
Ginny, meanwhile, took a shower, removed her make up and crawled into the cold, large bed, wishing for company.
The click of high heels seemed like it could be heard from miles around, but it was dead early in the morning - everyone was still asleep. Ginny's tall heels clicked against the pavement loudly, and Harry's cloak billowed behind him. They would have looked like an odd couple - but no one was out.
Cramming into the small telephone booth, Ginny and Harry squirmed uncomfortably.
"62442." Harry recalled and Ginny punched it in.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business, visitors." A cool female voice commanded them.
"Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter, meeting with Kingsley, Minister of Magic, Auror Jack Frank, and Archie Taylor, Head of Auror Department." Ginny told the voice nervously. Two buttons popped out reading their names and business. The telephone booth slid downwards smoothly and in the couple seconds they waited, Ginny exchanged an anxious glance with Harry. But it was too late to ponder, for the doors slid open and the female voice was telling them something about having a good day.
Ginny stepped out briskly and Harry grabbed her hand. She was almost lost in the busy, early morning shuffle of witches and wizards who clutched their coffee cups and looked around blearily, still rubbing sleep from their eyes. Harry nodded and they made their way to the metal grates. Soon they had lost everyone in their elevator except a bloodshot witch and three memos that were whizzing around the witch's head. She swatted at them irritably.
As the gold, metal grates slid open, Harry grabbed Ginny's hand (he feared she might not be able to move otherwise) and dragged her forward. The bloodshot witch scrambled off in the opposite direction. Harry lead Ginny to his office and had her sit down with some coffee. She just stared at the coffee, occasionally taking tiny sips. Harry sighed and sat down before clearing all of his paperwork. A memo flew in.
"The Minister will see you now." The memo read in neat, cursive handwriting. Harry sighed again and dismissed the memo. Harry nodded to Ginny, and getting paler by the second, she walked with Harry to Kingsley's office.
Ginny's anxiety was ill-founded, for as soon as they walked in, they were enveloped in a hug. As Kingsley released them, Ginny shrank down a bit.
"Ginny! Good to see you. Come in." Kingsley gestured towards four chairs, where Frank was sitting in one, looking nervous. At once the head of the Auror office, Archie Taylor walked in. Taylor straightened his coat and brushed down his hair impatiently. Taylor was a good looking fellow - he had simple blue eyes the glittered somewhat dangerously, but still kindly, and blond hair that curled. His coat was always straight and his tie was always pressed or the other way around. He was new and already used to the job. Harry liked him as soon as he came. They all took a seat.
"Let's get right to it." Kingsley boomed with his deep voice. Frank grabbed his shiny briefcase and opened it, revealing thousands of pages of paperwork.
"First off, do either of you recognize any of these names." Frank slid them a sheet and Harry scanned it.
Hannah Williams
Victor Lockhart
Mike Sullivan
Elizabeth Rookwood
"Rookwood! That's a Death Eater -" Harry started.
"Yes. Yes. We know-" For the third time someone interrupted another person.
"I know the first two names." Ginny trembled, her face as pale as the moon. Harry was shocked, but fixed on an impassive expression as she explained. "Hannah, she was my babysitter for James. I had had a rough night and I was exhausted. I thought she left, so when I went to clean up after James' spilled milk with magic, she noticed. Hannah freaked out - I obliviated her and let her stay the night before I let her leave. And Victor - well -" Harry knew where this was going, remembering Tom, the man at the bar.
"We know Victor. He is not a good guy." Harry nodded at Ginny whose eyes were filled with gratitude.
"Perfect, well this clears some things up. In emotional states, obliviation is not complete. The victim - might you call it - will be left disoriented with a fuzzy memory of what happened, sometimes a different view of events. So, for example, Mrs. Williams might remember that you did some sort of magic, you are an evil sorcerer or something crazy, and that you kidnapped her for the night and she escaped in the morning. It is traumatic, which is why we advise against it when you are tired or emotional. As for Victor Lockhart, well…" Frank looked to Taylor for permission to explain. He nodded gravely. "I am sure you both know Gilderoy Lockhart *they nodded*. Well, he had no spouse, children, nephews, nieces, and his parents did not have siblings. But he did have a brother. His older brother, Victor Lockhart. Similar to Gilderoy. But what we believe happened is that Victor is being imprisoned. Mike Sullivan and Elizabeth Rookwood are er… married. But neither are Death Eaters, current sources have informed us." Frank paused dramatically and everyone scooched a little closer on their seats. "Which leads to believe that Augustus Rookwood was one of the Fallen Fifty. The two siblings were close. And perhaps, to avenge for her brother's death, she employed her husband to weaken Ginny and hurt her. To get to you by ways of just torturing you could not do." Ginny swallowed. Harry cast pitiful glances in her direction, but Ginny ignored him. She felt stronger than ever and as though a Shield Charm had been placed on her.
"That does not explain about Hannah, Frank." She told him crisply.
"Yeah, well, we wondered that too. But it so happened that the two had no idea where you lived until Ms. Williams came walking into their path, perhaps, on a Thursday morning. They took advantage of her weakness and used it to find out where you lived. And not to get personal, but um… where you and Harry maybe planning to get married, have a kid, anything like that before you left?" Taylor cleared his throat.
"Er… I am not sure. Maybe?" Ginny told him, a blush creeping up on her neck, refusing to look at Harry.
"Well, we believed that there is a chance that Elizabeth might have separated you two using the Imperius Curse." The silence that followed was tangible.
Ginny stared at the wall. Harry sighed. They had left soon after. Ginny had started throwing things in frustration and rage. He slid down next to her.
"Gin?" She ignored him, but took a bite of the Chinese dish. "Ginny, come on."
"Let's go get James." Ginny told him finally, setting down her fork. They paid the bill and apparated to Molly's.
They were immediately blown over by James who scrambled on top of them, his face red and his lower lip sticking out. He was completely and entirely adorable. Molly stood in the doorway, her frizzy ginger hair pulled back in a messy plait. She sighed. Gloops of what looked like cookie batter stained her apron that read "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes". Harry's heart literally melted. Fleur appeared right behind her, looking equally frazzled. Victoire on the other hand, looked just upset that he had stopped playing with her.
"Thanks Mum!" Ginny scrambled up and set a wailing James on her hip. "See you tomorrow! That is, if I can drop him off tomorrow…" Molly nodded enthusiastically. She was obviously worried they would not let her have James again.
"Okay. That's fine, dear. Dinner?" Ginny shook her head. "Oh, right! We have cookies." James scrambled off of Ginny and ran to the kitchen behind Molly with a giggle. They emerged with two trays of heart shaped cookies. Ginny grinned adoringly.
"Awww. Thanks sweetie! We will take some home!" Ginny grabbed one of the trays and Harry picked up James.
"Thanks Fleur and Molly. See you tomorrow!" Harry told them and they Flooed away.
"Don't even." Ginny told Harry who was grinning. He bet that James would not go to sleep without Ginny saying good night. He was right and Ginny was paying for it. With a treat to butterbeer in the future.
"What are you doing tomorrow tonight?" Harry casually asked her, leaning against the door frame.
"Oh I don't know. We had a big game yesterday, so we get a break. I thought I would spend the day with James and Molly. Why?" Ginny said somewhat breathlessly. She then returned her gaze to her maroon knit sweater. The ginger witch picked at a loose thread. She looked up at him again, her chocolate eyes so incredibly beautiful. Harry had no idea what made him say what he said next.
"Well I am free… so…" He paused unsure of what else to do. No taking it back.
"Okay. Sure." Ginny looked down, unaware of the happiness she had caused Harry.
"What?!" Harry gasped, something in his chest aching. His heartbeat was as loud as a herd of bulls to himself. He wondered if Ginny could hear him.
"Sure Harry. Good night." Ginny left quickly, leaving Harry in a tornado of emotions.
*FADE TO BLACK* How was that? Okay, sorry. Also - there will be less weepy Ginny in the future. I realized my mistake TOO late. )): Yeah. Anyways, please review and look out for my next chapter next Sunday! Thanks…