Chapter 8

Dobby appeared in the kitchen, gave a scowl to the stack of dishes lying in the sink, and shuffled out to find Sirius. With a second thought, he cringed and snapped his fingers, knowing that the dishes would soon be washed. No matter how much Sirius scolded him, Dobby just couldn't let him and Master live that way.

"Master Sirius, you called?"

He found Sirius in the library, a stack of spell books open in front of him, and his hair hanging loose around his shoulders. He looked as if he had been agitated for some time. Balls of parchment littered the floor around him, and several quills had been discarded, leaving splotches of ink on the rug. Dobby cleaned them up quickly and waited for Sirius to growl at him.

"Yes, I did. I need you to do something for me, Dobby."

Dobby's eyes widened as he considered the long list of things that Sirius had asked of him over the years. Some of there were illegal-which Dobby was not necessarily opposed to-and many of them were impossible.

"Master Sirius…"

"Don't get your tea towel in a bunch," Sirius said. "It's nothing horrible. I just need you to figure out what Blackheart is up to. He's been...cagey about this new assignment, even more so than usual. I never even saw the owl come, and even though he promised it would be quick, it's been nearly three weeks now." Sirius scowled and slumped back in his chair. Dobby moved closer and climbed up onto the desk he'd been working on, standing and looking down at Sirius.

"And he's been...happy."

Dobby felt a well of pity for Sirius and nodded his head. "Yes, Master seems...happy, lately." Even he had noticed the change in Blackheart, even if he wasn't sure what it meant.

"Yes," SIrius barked out. "You've seen it. This one...it's different. I need you to track him, Dobby. FIgure out where he goes every day. FIgure out what he's doing and why this is changing him."

Dobby's little shoulders slumped and he began to wring his hands until his fingers ached. "Master Sirius…"

"Don't tell me you won't do it!" Sirius slid back in his chair, making it scrape along the hardwood. "You know it's for his own good."

"Yes, but Master Sirius…"

"It's to protect us all…"

"Yes, but…"

Sirius glared at him, coming close and looming over Dobby. But Dobby was unafraid. He'd had worse masters before, ones that had beaten him if he didn't move fast enough, or if he didn't stay hidden well enough. Sirius may be a scary wizard, but Dobby knew he would never hurt a house elf.

"I'm asking you as your Master, Dobby."

A sly smile spread over the elf's face. "Master Sirius is not Dobby's master. Dobby is a free elf."

Sirius' shoulders fell and he leaned heavily on the desk. "Please?"

"No," Dobby said simply. "Besides, Master Blackheart already forbade it."

Sirius' dark eyes flashed in anger. "And you'll listen to him?"

"Of course, Master Sirius," said Dobby. "Why would I not?"

"But you're a free elf."

"Dobby does not listen to Master Blackheart because he is Dobby's master, but because he is Dobby's friend."

"Am I not your friend, also, Dobby?"

Dobby's heart pounded in his chest. Sirius was a friend, but Master was so much more. They'd grown up together, really, Master from a child, and Dobby from a naive, young elf who was just trying to do the right thing.

"Master Sirius is a friend, yes," Dobby said. "But…"

Sirius sighed and threw up his hands. "Fine. Tell me about what Dumbledore has been up to."

A wave of relief overcame Dobby as he sat down on the desk, swinging his legs back and forth. "Well, Harry Potter came to see the Headmaster just the other day. Dobby was not able to get into the office to hear the conversation, but the portraits are talking. There is a prophecy…"

Blackheart found himself whistling as he slung his broom over his shoulder and walked back across the pitch. Ginny had landed on the far side and was examining the tail section of the broom she'd been flying. He'd called out to her when she'd spun downward sharply before landing, but Ginny had waved him off, an annoyed look on her face. Thankfully, after several weeks of flying together, Blackheart knew that she was not frustrated with him, just with the new model she'd been testing.

He glanced over his shoulder once more to see her tugging at various twigs in the configuration, muttering to herself. A wider smile spread across his face and he couldn't help but chuckle a little. This job had certainly been an adventure. He'd taken it more out of curiosity about the youngest Weasley than anything. He'd read her background, the detailed-and supposedly sealed file-stored in the Ministry of her possession by Tom Riddle and escape from the Chamber of Secrets after fighting off the shadow and being rescued by Fawkes. He'd investigated all of the Weasleys in gathering background for his various cases with them, but Ginny hadn't been more than a mention until this last one when he'd dug a little deeper.

And now he felt like he was hooked. Spending almost every day with her doing something that he loved anyway, well, that was just icing on Blackheart's cake.

He found himself looking forward to having a regular schedule, something he'd hated in the past. Even getting up early didn't bother him, despite a comfortable bed. Sirius was almost beside himself with Blackheart's mysterious disappearances, but Blackheart had been holding out on his godfather. He couldn't say just why he felt it necessary to keep the secret, just that he wasn't ready to share whatever this was-friendship or more-that was developing between he and Ginny.

And Blackheart was also the first to admit that he was complete pants with girls. He had no idea what he was doing, but with Ginny it just seemed…natural.

"Complete cock up," Ginny grumbled as she came up beside him in the reporting station. "They've completely bolluxed this one up. Yours?"

Blackheart looked down at the broom in his hand. "It's okay. A bit sluggish on takeoff, and it can't corner worth shite."

Ginny smirked at his obscenity and they shared a smile. These stolen moments were coming to mean everything to Blackheart and he sighed, knowing that they were numbered. Other tasks were looming and he was going to have to find a better balance between the two worlds he was living in. The problem was, the one he usually resided in wasn't the one he wanted anymore.

"Let's really let them have it," Ginny whispered as the Broomsmiths readied for the reports. "No holding back."

Blackheart grinned and motioned for Ginny to go first.

"You complete idiots!" Ginny roared. "You could have killed me!" She shook the broom in their direction and Blackheart had to clamp down on his lips to keep from laughing as the Broomsmiths tripped all over themselves apologizing and taking notes as she laid out everything they'd done wrong on the construction and layering of the charms.

An hour later, Blackheart stood outside the hangar and watched a dark set of clouds roll in. He should be apparating home to have dinner with Sirius, but he just couldn't bring himself to leave yet. It was becoming a sort of habit to meet with Ginny after their shift and exchange a few words before they parted for the day. However, their meetings were growing longer and longer every day.

"That was too much fun." Ginny joined him, pulling her cloak tighter to her when she glanced at the storm coming. "But you...you weren't mean at all!"

Blackheart laughed. "I couldn't be! You had them all jumping through hoops to please you. It was all I could do to keep a straight face."

Ginny grinned and nudged his shoulder. "You need to make them respect you, otherwise they'll do what they pulled with me today. Not that they were trying to make me fall, but they sometimes slack off, or don't give it their all."

"Have you fallen often?"

"Not really. Mostly, it's just little defects in the charms that only come out when we're really putting the brooms through their paces."

"Well, they certainly respect you now."

"You'll have to keep practicing. Next time they do shite work, call them on it. Really let them have it."

Blackheart laughed and nodded his head. A stinging raindrop splashed on his cheek and he sighed. "Guess we should-"

"Want to get a pint?"

His eyes went wide and he tried to decide what this meant. Was Ginny Weasley asking him out on a date, or was this just a friendship drink together? She seemed to flirt with him a lot, but maybe that's how she was with everyone. He hadn't seen her outside of work, and she certainly did not flirt with the Broomsmiths that he'd seen.

"Er…"

Ginny's face reddened and she magiced an umbrella over herself. "We don't have to. I mean, if you've got other plans-"

"Not at all," Blackheart said. "I...I'd like that."

Her smile reappeared and Blackheart's chest tightened. "The Quiet Witch, then? You know where it is?"

Blackheart nodded and watched as Ginny gave another shy smile and apparated away. He felt he could roar at the heavens and probably be heard all the way in Scotland with the way he felt. With a shake of his head, Blackheart apparated to the pub.

"Do you come here often?"

Ginny laughed as Harry's face reddened. "I didn't...I mean… Not like that. I just…"

"Sometimes," she said, putting him out of his misery. "With my brothers. Sometimes my dad will meet us, too."

"But not your mother." Harry gave a thoughtful look and Ginny wondered, not for the first time, what on earth he was thinking about. He was the strangest wizard she'd ever met. He almost acted like he'd never been around a witch, at times, but then he'd forget himself once they got talking and seem like they'd always known each other.

"Mum," Ginny sighed and then shook her head. "She doesn't drink often, and never when she's out in public. She gets a bit...loud. I think we've all decided that it's best if she keeps her spirits at home."

Harry smiled at her description. "The way you talk about your family…. It makes me think I already know them."

"You should meet them," Ginny said. "I think they'd like you." She'd been toying with the idea of asking him out since the day they met at work, but was worried what he might think about the prospect of mixing work and pleasure, so she'd hesitated. Today's invitation was a sort of testing of the waters, if you will. If it turned out well, Ginny was determined to ask him out for real. She just hoped that he'd take the hint and ask her first.

"I've never met anyone's family," he said, almost to himself.

"Well, if you ever do meet mine," Ginny said. "Be warned. The twins will do everything they can to trick you. Never, and I mean never, accept anything they hand you. And Ron, well, just talk about brooms and you'll be fine with him. Do you know anything about dragons?"

Harry sipped from his pint, leaving a faint line of foam on his upper lip that made Ginny smile. "Dragons? Er...I mean, just what you read in books, I suppose." He tugged at the collar of his robes and ruffled his hair as his eyes darted away. Ginny wondered if maybe he had a fascination with the beasts as much as Charlie did and was just trying to hide it, thinking she might judge him as strange.

"Well, Charlie is nuts about them," she continued. "He can talk all day and will, if you don't distract him. Quidditch is the key to get him off the topic."

"And your oldest brother?" Harry asked. "What...what about him?"

"Oh, Bill's fine," Ginny said with a dismissing wave. "He's rarely home, and I've got him wrapped around my little finger when he is."

Harry smirked and his tongue darted out to wipe away the foam. "I have no doubt about that."

Ginny felt her cheeks flush. She was pleased that he seemed to be flirting back with her, something he rarely did. It was progress, she decided.

"You have another, right?"

"Percy."

"What's he like?"

"He's the most uptight, stick-in-the-mud person you'll ever meet."

Harry's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

"But I still love the prat." Ginny shook her head and ran her fingers along the glass that held her butterbeer. "We're so different, he and I. I just...never really got him, I suppose. He's not around much anymore. I guess he took some sort of job promotion with the Ministry that has him traveling all over Europe, or something. He didn't contact anyone for awhile, about sent Mum into heart failure. Then, as if nothing had ever happened, he sent an owl one day, going on about his job as if it was nothing new. Prat."

Harry nodded thoughtfully and smiled. "They all sound wonderful."

"They are." She was about to say more when Harry froze and looked down at the watch strapped to his wrist. Ginny hadn't seen it closely, but it appeared to have all sorts of dials and wheels hidden in the face.

"Damn."

"You have to go?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry," GInny said. "I've kept you longer than normal. I just thought…"

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "No, it's not… It's not that, I promise. I just...I have to take care of something tonight and I completely forgot. Good job I set a reminder." He tapped the tip of his wand on the watch and a little puff of red smoke appeared and then faded.

"I wanted to come."

He sounded so strong, so certain, that it made Ginny's heart pound.

"Do you-"

"Would you go out with me, Ginny?" he asked. "Properly, I mean."

"Yes."

Harry's smile nearly blinded her in it's intensity. "Okay."

"Okay."

He stood and took half a step away from the table before turning on his heel and leaning down, pressing his lips onto hers for the briefest second. They both seemed startled, but then Ginny grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him down again, meeting him in a firmer kiss.

"I...I'll think of someplace to go," he stammered after they broke the kiss.

"Okay."

She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him there, but thought he'd probably change his mind if she was so bold. Instead, she let the lapels of his robes slip away and watched him go, liking that he seemed just as dazed as she felt.

"It looks as if I've been replaced."

Ginny glanced up to see Neville looking shyly at her. He was sitting at a table next to hers, with a stack of books in front of him. She hadn't even noticed him there.

"Oh, Neville!" She gasped and put her hand over her mouth "I didn't mean to…"

But Neville just shook his head. "I got your message before. I can't say that I wasn't surprised in Diagon Alley that day."

"I shouldn't have done it." Ginny grabbed her drink and slid into the seat across from him. "I just...I panicked."

Neville nodded. "I know. I saw Harry coming, and I, well, I know he's been rather…determined."

"That's one way to put it."

"I can't say I blame him, but it looks like you've found someone that you do like."

Ginny laughed and shook her head. "Honestly, Neville, I have no idea what I'm doing. This one...he's completely different. And I really don't know that much about him. He's pretty private. We work together, and when we get to talking…."

"As long as he treats you well."

"So far, so good." They shared a smile and Neville lifted his drink toward hers.

"To new beginnings."

"Cheers."

Blackheart appeared in the middle of the forest, the usual meeting place. His mind was still back in the pub, though, and he was fighting to keep his mind focused on where it should be.

"Master!"

He looked up to see Dobby's bright eyes in the bushes. "Sorry, I'm late," he whispered. "Got caught up with something."

Dobby gave him a knowing look and a shake of his head. "Master needs to have his wits about him tonight. The Headmaster is definitely traveling soon."

Blackheart nodded and tried to shake away the feeling of euphoria and focus on the task at hand. There was too much riding on tonight's mission to have his mind somewhere else, no matter if it was someplace he'd much rather be.

"Master Sirius is worried about Master."

"I know." He tucked the few items that Dobby was handing him into the pockets of his robes, transfiguring them into all black, and finally adding the thick traveling cloak that levitated next to them.

"He tried to trick Dobby into telling him Master's secrets."

Blackheart smirked. "I hope you told him to mind his own business, Dobby."

Dobby nodded so strongly that his ears flapped up and down. "Oh yes, Master. Dobby told him none of Master's secrets."

Blackheart peered at the elf, wondering just how much Dobby knew. He'd been secretive with everyone, but Dobby had a knack for finding all sorts of things out that he shouldn't know.

Dobby opened his mouth to say more, and then closed it quickly, tilting his head as he listened. Through the trees came two voices that Blackheart recognized.

"I don't like it, Perfessor. I jus' don't like it."

Hagrid's lumbering steps nearly shook the ground and Blackheart melted into the shadows as the two wizards came into a sort of clearing.

"I know, Hagrid. Thank you for offering to accompany me, but I will be quite fine, I assure you."

Dumbledore patted the half-giant on the arm and readied himself to apparate. At the last second, Blackheart sent a low-lying spell that wrapped around Dumbledore's feet for less than half a second before fading into nothing. The Headmaster of Hogwarts disapparated, leaving Hagrid staring into the darkness.

Blackheart looked at the watch on his wrist, noting the faint trace of blue spell residue traveling.

"Be safe, Master," Dobby whispered as Blackheart disapparated, as well.