After much debate, Ron called in sick Monday morning to stay with Harry, so Ginny walked to work alone with her thoughts. It was a good thing the Arrows weren't due to play another match until Friday, but both Hermione and Ron were exhausting themselves with efforts to keep Dam and the rest of the team from realizing anything was wrong. The two of them and Ginny all agreed without dispute that any spell stronger than a Confundus was strictly off limits, and so the three had resorted to blatant lying when necessary. Just before Ginny had left for work - with tea, because she couldn't face the idea of drinking coffee - Hermione had sent an owl to Arrows' management describing the rather severe case of Doxy Flu that had befallen Harry. He'd likely be indisposed - and contagious - for 3-4 days, the letter said, but he was being well cared for at the Burrow. Hopefully the team's wish to keep opponents and others from learning that Harry was sick and possibly unable to play in the next game would buy them all some time, Hermione had explained while Harry was in the shower. Without a better plan, Ginny had agreed, although she didn't see how only four days was going to be enough time to figure everything out. But twice that weekend, Harry had made comments about Ginny being irritated by him individually or with the Arrows, and on another occasion, he'd brought up the prank with the weasels from months and months ago, smirking the same way he had the first time Fred had done the spell. Ginny was exhausted - both physically and emotionally - from the effort of trying to be normal around Harry, whatever normal was at the moment, and simultaneously trying not to cry. A dozen times a day she'd found herself almost touching him or responding with an innuendo or comment that he'd have found arousing only days before, only remembering and pulling back at the last moment. Ron had suggested that maybe it would be easier on Ginny if she spent some time in her own flat, but let the idea go when she'd only been able to stay away for ten minutes. Being around Harry, as painful as it was, was still better than being away from him, worrying.

It had been hard to leave that morning, even, but going to Camilla was the only idea any of them had at the moment. Ginny couldn't even begin to think about what they would do if the Auror didn't have an idea about how to help. She pushed that thought away as she hurried through the quiet streets towards the Ministry. Ginny had left earlier than usual so that she could catch Camilla alone before the other trainees arrived. The wind was sharper than she'd realized and she pulled her cloak more tightly around herself as she walked. It would be Christmas soon, a holiday Ginny had been anticipated even more than normal. Her first holiday with Harry had promised to be wonderful. He'd even dropped a few hints about a surprise for her, and no amount of teasing - or pleasuring - had convinced him to give up his secret. Now she might never know.

Pull it together, Ginevra! She'd begun lecturing herself whenever her thoughts had gone to places too dark or negative; it helped keep her from spiraling into a morass of "what ifs". It was getting harder to control though; she needed action not pep-talks, and it was with no little measure of relief that the imposing lines of the Ministry finally came into view.

Ginny rode the lift to Auror headquarters practicing what she would say to Camilla. Should she start with the coffee, or leave that and her suspicions of Kane out of it for now, and just tell her about Harry's memory loss? She and Ron and Hermione hadn't been able to decide how much to tell Camilla, if it would be helpful or risky to share all their suspicions at once, or let them come out only if needed. Ginny was still trying to figure out how to open the conversation when she rounded the corner in the office and discovered it didn't matter.

Camilla, Kane and Robards all looked up at once from what appeared to be an intense conversation right in the middle of the corridor. Ginny wouldn't say any of them looked angry, exactly, but it was clear they weren't talking about the latest Quidditch match either. There was absolutely no chance for Ginny to turn around or pretend she hadn't seen them; and any chance that they wanted privacy to finish the conversation themselves evaporated when Kane waved her over, a smile on his face.

"Miss Weasley, just the person we wanted to see!" Kane looked at her as if the three top Aurors had been waiting all day for Ginny to arrive. Robards seemed nonplussed by Kane's enthusiastic welcome, but by the look on Camilla's face, Ginny would have bet anything that Kane's words were as much a surprise to her as they were to Ginny. Camilla quickly straightened her features though, but not before shooting Ginny a quick look of warning that she interpreted to mean that she should be as agreeable as possible. Thinking quickly, she turned away from Kane and spoke to her boss.

"What did you want to see me for, sir?" She half expected Kane to answer instead, but Robards nodded.

"We want to organize more fieldwork around the homeschooling issue," he said mildly. Ginny got the odd impression the the head Auror was parroting words he'd heard from Kane. Ginny frowned, but before she could think what to do, Robards continued. "Shep here is especially concerned that there may be a new crop of families starting to teach the Dark Arts, ones we haven't been tracking."

"Even though there's very little evidence to support the theory, and even though Hermione Granger's work on the homeschooling legislation should be more than adequate to identify and track anyone who doesn't wish to send their children to a formal school of magic," interrupted Camilla. She turned to Kane, but Ginny had the feeling she was trying to tell her something as well. "Honestly Shepard, the way you imagine dark magic in every little boy and girl who doesn't go to Hogwarts is getting a little excessive."

Kane didn't get angry as Ginny expected. Instead, he shook his head in an almost patronizing manner. "As I've said before, 'Milla, that hasn't been my experience, and I think I have made significant strides in backing up my suspicions." He inclined his head at Ginny. "Of course, my research is not as . . . complete as I'd like." He gave a little shrug. "We all make our choices though, don't we?" This time he looked directly at Ginny. "Although I've recently become concerned that some of those choices turn out to have more significant repercussions, which is what else I wanted to talk to you about."

Camilla made a small noise of exasperation. "Out with it, Kane, you've been dancing around your 'suspicions' all weekend at the conference," she said, just as Robards asked "This is something about Quidditch, you said?"

"Quidditch? What about Quidditch?" asked Ginny. She suddenly wished they'd been able to figure out another way to keep an eye on Harry and that Ron had come to work with her. There were too many things she wasn't sure she should say, particularly with how odd the other three seemed to be acting. But it was too late now.

Kane was direct. "Do you listen to the Arrows' post-game press conferences?" he asked. "Harry's interviews, specifically?"

Ginny froze, unsure what to say. The truth was, she didn't always bother listening after the game itself ended, having the real thing in her bed soon after, or at least available for a chat by Floo or sexy note. She knew Harry still felt uncomfortable at the press conferences, and while she didn't consciously avoid listening to them, she didn't seek them out either. "Umm, sometimes I do," she said cautiously. "But as the team lives in my building, I see and hear enough of them anyway." She hoped that answer was sufficiently complete.

Kane seemed pleased. "Ahh, then even though you know Harry rather well, you probably wouldn't have noticed what I have," he said. "And not only me; I actually had a note from one of the Quidditch correspondents for the Prophet too, asking me if I'd picked up on the . . . oddity." He gave Ginny a serious look.

Ginny had no doubt that Kane was setting her up for something. The fact that he was doing it in front of Gawain Robards and Camilla Stalk spoke either to the innocence of the query or to the fact that Kane was setting them up too. Normally Ginny would be comforted by the fact that they were experienced Aurors who should recognize anything off, but Robards at least was acting - almost disinterested, if that was the right word. Camilla seemed to be fully present, although Ginny didn't dare look at her.

Robards leaned forward. "Quidditch, eh?" he said in the same mild voice. "I hope it's nothing that's going to affect the friendly wager I have with Kingsley. He's got his money on the Arrows but I think the Harpies are going to rout them in the end." He shifted on his feet and stumbled, putting a hand on Ginny's arm to steady himself. A quick squeeze before he straightened up and suddenly Ginny understood that Robards' casualness was an act. She let out a small breath before speaking.

"A Quidditch writer for the Prophet told you?" she said with a light laugh. "Most of the freelancers wouldn't recognize a Bludger if it hit them straight in the head. They only follow the game so they can comment on the state of the players' arses." Next to her, she saw Robards give a tiny nod. She shrugged. "I don't know if I'd believe anything I read in the Prophet."

"Oh, she hasn't written about it," said Kane. "I extracted a promise from her to keep things quiet, until the Aurors had a chance to investigate. I wouldn't worry about her writing anything about the problem with Harry any time soon."

Ginny couldn't spare a moment to wonder exactly what Kane had done to the report to extract such a promise from her. She stared at the man in horror. "What problem with Harry?" she asked. Next to her, Camilla made a convulsive gesture as if to stop her talking but Ginny ignored it and stepped closer to Kane. "What have you noticed about Harry?"

Kane gave her a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It's only been in the last few weeks," he said. "No more than the past three or four, I'm not exactly sure." He paused, and Ginny bit the inside of her cheek to force herself to wait. When she didn't say anything, Kane continued. "During his press conferences, he seems to have had trouble remembering specific details of the game he'd just played, answering questions about moves he'd made and things like that." Kane gave her a questioning look. "You haven't noticed? What about at home, has Harry had any trouble remembering things recently? People's names, his favorite foods, anything?" Kane's expression became expectant.

Lie Lie Lie, Ginny silently told herself. She'd figure it out some other way, once she had a chance to talk to Ron and Hermione. Don't let Kane control things. But it was no use. The stress and pain of the long weekend, her worry about Harry, and the chance for answers sitting right before her was too much. Only half realizing what she was doing, Ginny nodded jerkily. "He's . . . yes. Ha-harry has forgotten . . . a lot." Next to her, both Camilla and Robards stiffened.

Dimly, Ginny was aware of the expression of satisfaction that flashed across Kane's face. It was gone in an instant though, replaced by deep concern. "I was afraid of that," he said grimly.

"Afraid of what?" Gawain Robards wasn't speaking mildly anymore. "Why would Harry Potter have lost his memory?" He made a convulsive movement at his waist that Ginny recognized as reaching for his wand and she automatically grabbed for hers too.

Kane held up his hands in supplication. "Now Gawain, don't get carried away," he said. "I'm merely concerned that some of the work Mr. Potter began - but did not finish - for me last year has led to . . . unfortunate circumstances. Nothing more."

There was something going on underneath the surface of Kane and Robards' interaction, but Ginny had no idea what it was, and no patience to figure it out. She turned back to Kane, her hand still on her wand. "Harry's memory?" she asked stiffly.

A noise in the hallway made them all look up; other Aurors and trainees were beginning to arrive for the day. "We should continue this in my office," Kane said. "Stalk, why don't you get the trainees situated and start their next lecture? I think they're to be working on annoyance hexes?"

Camilla waved her wand and a silvery blur shot down the hallway. "They can practice on each other for now," she said tersely. "I want to hear what's going on."

Ginny flashed Camilla a grateful smile as they all walked into Kane's office and he sealed the door. Camilla didn't smile back; she opened her mouth as if to say something and then stopped and shook her head. Once they were all seated, Kane sighed as if he had many better things to do Ginny wasn't fooled, and by the silence from the others, she knew they were as wary as she was. Briefly, she wondered if it was even wise for them to have agreed to speak in Kane's locked office, but while Camilla and Robards seemed to be on their guard, neither appeared particularly nervous or tense. Ginny forced herself to keep her face neutral.

Kane began without preamble. "Miss Weasley, throughout your training, I've had occasions to ask if you would help me . . . invite Mr. Potter back to the Aurors to finish some of the work he'd been doing for me." He looked directly at Ginny. "I'm afraid that by leaving as abruptly as he did, the task Harry began has continued unabated and unchecked, and has resulted in some unfortunately physical manifestations. Affecting his memory, I mean."

Everyone began to talk very fast. "What the hell was he doing for you, Shep?" demanded Robards as Camilla added angrily "there may have been a time for secrets after the War but not anymore."

Ginny could only think to ask the question she cared most about. "Will he get his memory back?" she asked quietly.

Kane turned to his colleagues first. "Now now, he said in a placating voice that even Ginny found infuriating. It's nothing that would have been a problem, had Mr. Potter simply seen the job to completion. Just a small spell designed to use his experiences with Tom Riddle to create a better device to detect Dark Magic." He waved in Ginny's direction. "That's why I've been rather insistent that you try to get Harry to come back to the Aurors. I had rather hoped to get this taken care of before it became a problem, and without causing unnecessary panic." Kane's voice was apologetic but Ginny heard the accusation in it. This was her fault, he seemed to say, her fault for not pushing Harry harder to come help the Aurors. She asked again.

"Will he get his memory back?"

Kane spread his hands. "Well, that depends on how serious the memory loss is already," he said. "Can you tell me what it is that Harry's forgotten?"

Despite her despair and shock, Ginny still was an Auror, and something told her not to mention the fact that Harry didn't remember working for Kane at all. "Me," she said, not caring that a tear snaked down her cheek. "He's forgotten me."

Kane gave her a sharp look. "He doesn't know who you are?" Ginny shook her head.

"He knows me just fine," she said, sure she didn't imagine Kane's shoulders relaxing a fraction. "But he was . . . I mean, we were, we are in . . . a relationship. We're together. But right now he doesn't remember that."

"Oho, is that all?" Kane gave a light chuckle. "And just how long have you and Mr. Potter been . . .together?"

Ginny felt a light pressure on her arm. Camilla. She swallowed her anger at Kane's cavalier attitude and gave a small shrug. "Only a couple of months," she said. "But now he's started treating me like he did when we were kids again. Before we got to know each other."

Kane nodded. "Ahh, yes, that makes sense. Good," he said.

"What makes sense?" asked Robards. "Look, Shep, since the War ended I've given you and Camilla more latitude to follow your own theories than the rest of the Aurors. You're the two most experienced people I've got and you've earned the right. And Merlin knows, we had too much going on for a long time for me have time to childmind you both while we got this department up and running again. But now I need to be looped in to everything, especially something as serious as memory loss from an Auror-directed spell. What exactly did you do?" Robards didn't actually swear but Ginny heard the threat in his words nonetheless.

"It's really nothing, Gawain. You know that we've all been developing new methods for detecting dark magic, and this was one of mine. Just a charm that builds on the fact that Harry was once possessed by Voldemort. I hoped to draw out of the essence of that possession to make a new sort of Dark Detector." He nodded at Ginny. "And I'd hoped to use Miss Weasley's experience as well." He shrugged. "When Harry decided to go play Quidditch, the Arrows needed him rather immediately and he left at a rather . . . delicate time." Kane shrugged. "Fortunately, from what Miss Weasley is telling us, no real harm was done."

"No real harm?" Camilla's voice was incredulous. "Ginny says that she and Harry were in a relationship and now he doesn't remember that at all! I know you're a lifelong confirmed bachelor, but the rest of us take a rather dim view of having our significant other ripped from our life like that." Camilla put a reassuring hand on Ginny's arm. "I think you owe Ginny - and Harry - a way to fix things."

"What'd you use anyway, a cleaving charm?" Robards asked. "Coupled with a situational remembrance?" He closed his eyes, and Ginny could tell he was trying to think quickly. She didn't know what situational remembrance was but it didn't sound overtly sinister. She kept her mouth shut and waited.

"Something like that," agreed Kane. "With a few of my own ideas added to account for the fact that we're looking for a dark signature from Voldemort." He turned to Ginny. "Forgive me, Miss Weasley, for implying that your loss of your, affair of the heart, is not significant. My relief was directed primarily at the fact that it appears Harry hasn't lost anything from his memory, but just a particular emotional tie instead." He cocked his head. "You never did get a chance to tell the training class about your entire experience in the Chamber, but from what I did learn from Harry's experience is that the two of you had a shared moment with Voldemort, correct? He'd just begun exploring that moment when he aborted the charm, and it seems as if some of those residual effects carried over into present day." He patted Ginny on the arm. Where Camilla had been comforting, Ginny thought Kane's touch was rather patronizing. She tried not to stiffen.

"But is there a way to reverse it?" she asked. She'd understood only part of what Kane was saying, but couldn't focus her mind enough on the details right now. One thing was clear to her though - what had happened to Harry had nothing to do with the coffee Kane had given him. Ginny and Ron and Hermione had spent the weekend talking about how to find an antidote and doing research on potions and it was all for naught. And whatever had really happened sounded considerably more complicated than a mere memory draught. Ginny swallowed hard against the sudden pit in her stomach and forced herself to pay attention.

"Yes, is there?" asked Camilla. "Regardless of how 'minor' you might think Harry's emotional loss is, it's not only a much bigger thing for Ginny, but other people are likely to notice too, and say something. That can't be good for Harry's mental state." Camilla was still standing close to Ginny, and she found her presence to be continually comforting. The tears she'd been holding back all morning threatened again and she bit back a sob. It was almost too much, needing to think and act like an Auror and try to find a solution when all Ginny really wanted to do was curl up in her bed and have a good cry and hope it was all just a bad dream.

"I'll have to do some research," said Kane. "The precise combination of spells and charms I used is unique, so I'll need to untangle a few things to determine the best course of action." He gave Ginny a piercing look. "If I have some questions for you, Miss Weasley, I assume I can count on your assistance?" Unspoken was the implication - again - that Ginny had brought this on herself by refusing to help Kane earlier. She nodded. "Of course," she said quietly.

"We'll all help," said Robards. "Shep, try to recreate the spells and charms as quickly as possible so we can start working on it immediately. And for Merlin's sake everyone, keep it quiet. The last thing we need is the press to find out that the Aurors were meddling with people's memories after the War, no matter the circumstances." He shook his head. "I don't need to remind any of you, do I, that we don't operate that way anymore." Robards looked first at Kane and then at Camilla before his gaze finally rested more benevolently on Ginny. "We'll figure this out," he said kindly. "In the meantime, I suggest that your interactions with Mr. Potter remain as limited as possible. And that participate in his version of reality, so as not to disturb his memories even more."

It's his emotions, not his memories, Ginny wanted to say. That's what Kane had said and she grasped at that. Emotions could be regrown, couldn't they? She was too close to crying though, and didn't dare open her mouth. Fortunately, Camilla spoke for her.

"I have some tips and tricks for Ginny to help her keep her behavior around Harry as normal as possible," she said. "Things the trainees are learning anyway as part of their interview techniques module. I'll just show her individually instead." Camilla touched her arm again. "Why don't we go to my office right now? I'm sure Shep and Gawain can manage the remainder of the trainees. Annoyance hexes are a lot of fun to teach, as long as you can avoid getting hit. Once I ended up sneezing for nearly two days!" Without waiting for anyone to answer, she swept Ginny out of the office and down the hall.

Once the door was shut and silenced, Camilla sat quietly while Ginny finally gave into her tears, conjuring a cloth for Ginny to clean her face when she was done. Ginny appreciated that the woman didn't attempt empty platitudes or false assurances, but simply let her be. When her breath finally eased and the knot she'd been carrying in her stomach lessened a bit, Ginny took a deep breath and gave Camilla a watery smile. "Thank you," she said.

"Of course," said Camilla. "You impressed me back there. You were thinking like an Auror despite how personal the problem is."

"It wasn't easy," Ginny admitted. "I think if I hadn't already had the entire weekend to get used to it I would have been much more of a mess." She sighed. "We all - me, Ron and Hermione I mean, we assumed that what happened to Harry was some kind of enhanced memory charm." She paused, wondering if she should admit that they'd all thought it was the coffee. One of the first lessons they'd learned in training was not to assume the easy answer was the correct one. It was quite the opposite of the way the Muggle world worked, actually, where something called Occam's Razor instructed students to assume that the simplest answer was the right one. In magic, in contrast, complexities were the only constant. She'd actually quoted that very thing to Harry during one of their talks, when they'd been laughing over the fact that it had taken them far too long to get over themselves and their insecurities before they could become friends. And more. Ginny had effectively ended the discussion, she remembered, by sliding her hand into Harry's pajama bottoms. She shivered.

"Ginny?" Camilla's voice was gentle and her expression suggested she knew where Ginny's thoughts had gone. She focused back on their conversation.

"I wish it had been a memory charm," she said. The seed of fear that Kane had planted took firmer root "Those can be broken, usually. I'm actually not sure what Kane is talking about. Or if there's a solution."

Camilla gave a frustrated sigh. "We let a lot of things go in the first months after the War," she said. You heard Gawain. The Aurors were understaffed and those of us with experience were going spare trying to make sure that all former Death Eaters, even those on the fringes, were found and punished or contained." She looked seriously at Ginny. "As I think you already suspect, we didn't always agree on how to go about things, or how to identify exactly how far into the fringes we should be searching for evil. I think the homeschool legislation is a good compromise; anyone who goes to a formal school will be subject to regular oversight. But Kane still isn't convinced." She shook her head. "I don't even know exactly what he was doing with Harry. Creating a new Dark Detector, he said?"

Ginny nodded. And stopping the charm in the middle caused Harry to lose his feelings for me, even his memory of his feelings." She felt tears prick the corners of her eyes again. "Do you mind if I go home instead of training? I don't think I can face anyone today."

Camilla nodded. "I daresay, you're already the best in the class at annoyance hexes," she said. "And that's not me trying flattery to get you to so something for me, it's the truth."

Ginny gave Camilla what felt like her first real smile in days. "I appreciate that," she said. She stood to go. "I just hope Kane and Robards actually work on the problem like they said they would," she said.

"They will," said Camilla darkly. "Despite Robards' seeming calm about the issue, he was fuming, and not only because of his concern that the press will get wind of it. What Kane did, even if it was a plan borne out of the craziness after the War, well, it's not the way the Aurors operate. New charms and spells need to be discussed and tested in a controlled environment first. At any other time, there's no way Kane would have been able to develop and then implement a spell on his own like that. Especially one that apparently can have long-term side effects." She shook her head. "I know he meant well, but Kane went too far and Robards isn't going to let it happen again."

Ginny didn't voice her thoughts, that she hoped Camilla wasn't speaking only of how things would be going forward. They had to make Harry a priority now, no matter how minor the damage he suffered might seem to others. She didn't say it, however; Camilla understood. She also refrained from giving the Auror the hug she wanted to; Camilla was still her superior. Instead, Ginny nodded and thanked her again. "I'll be in tomorrow, and so will Ron," she said. "We'll figure out some way to keep an eye on Harry."

"I know you will," said Camilla. She waved her wand and a number of books flew off her shelf and floated over to her desk. "In the meantime, I'm going to read up on cleaving spells to see what I can learn about what Kane might have done. Robards won't take any action until he has a plan, especially because Harry doesn't seem to be in any imminent danger." She gave Ginny an apologetic smile. "I know you feel otherwise, and rightly so."

Ginny paused at the door. "The Auror in me knows we have to wait," she said. "I'll be okay, especially with your help."

She walked down the hall, carefully avoiding the door to the training room from which she could hear the pops and yells of the other trainees practicing. Her mind was firmly on Harry and what Ron and Hermione were going to think about what she'd learned so when Shephard Kane stepped out of his office, she almost ran into him before stopping. "I'm sorry," she said breathlessly. "I'm umm, not feeling well. I told Camilla I was going home. I'll be back tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be better by then. And Ron."

Kane ignored Ginny babbling. "I think I know something that can help Harry," he said briskly. "But I need your assistance." He gestured back into his office. "Do you have a moment to talk?"