I knew I would be gone for a while, but I never planned this long... Sorry!
I'll leave the answers at the end of it so you guys can just dive into the chapter... But I want to thank you all in advance for the kind reviews. Seriously. Thank you.
Chapter XXIII - The going on's
The door was open, but the person inside was too distracted to notice Hermione standing in the doorway. With one hand pinching her temple, the other writing furiously fast to accompany her thoughts, Minerva worked with focus. Hermione considered it a crime to take a person away from that state of concentration, but this was probably a matter they should be working on together... So, she knocked on the doorframe...
When those grey irises greeted her – to Hermione's slight disappointment –, there wasn't the recognition she expected. Still, she accepted the welcoming smile as a good sign that at least she wasn't considered a complete stranger. "Hello, Professor."
"You can call me Minerva, I got used to it from how much I heard it in your memories."
I'll take it. A laugh burst out of her; Different as it was... she felt like everything was right in that world.
"Dumbledore told me you're going to help me with the experiments. Did you go over those memories with him as well?"
"Yes, I did. Impressive work... But I believe it's going to be trickier to do everything in secret... And without all the help from those biologist friends of yours..."
"At least we won't have to repeat the worst part." She sounded as optimistic as she felt "Rewrite the book to include our results is not going to be as hard as composing the thesis... And I've talked about it enough times to figure out the best way to explain how magic isn't passed down genetically." She took the liberty to join her mentor inside, enchanting one of the armchairs to face Minerva, before sitting. "Trust me, finding words to write that without any explanation about where magic comes from was the real challenge. The practical part is really not as complicated..." After I repeated it at least one hundred times myself just to understand the works and see everything with my own eyes... What was only for the sake of her curiosity, saved the trouble of having to go after a biologist to help her in this past.
"It would be better if we followed the protocol, get at least the proper authorization from the department of mysteries... I feel like we are rushing this."
Her complaint was valid, as was her distress over the possibility of being caught doing 'illegal experiments'...
"But we can't trust anyone in the ministry right now. We have no control over who can be imperius-ed to give away our secrets. Anyone could be Voldemort's spy." They really couldn't risk their enemies getting a hold of this knowledge before the right time. Any information in the wrong hands could be catastrophic... "And there are some breaches in the law we can explore to justify our underhanded methods."
The older witch still looked like she was doing something against her will... Which worried Hermione to a small degree.
"What is bothering you?" She leaned forwards, resting her forearms against her legs and intertwining her own fingers.
Minerva sighed and enchanted her own chair to completely face Hermione, abandoning those papers for now. "I don't like lying to the participants."
"...What are you talking about?" Hermione slowly straightened her position on the chair as she associated those words... "What lies are we going to tell?" There was a touch of urgency in her voice because she also didn't intend to lie to anyone.
"That we are doing this to possibly give them magic."
"Who are you going to tell that? No! We must explain why this experiment is needed! They should be aware of the social status that comes with being a muggleborn in the wizarding society... Why we should prove that blood isn't of importance for magic. Why would you lie to them?"
Minerva's no-nonsense stare with a small eyebrow raise was like she was saying why do you think? So, before Minerva could say anything, Hermione switched the question to: "Why did he ask this?" No need to specify who.
Minerva, for her part, seemed surprised that Hermione read her expression so well. It apparently was much too different to live something, from seeing it happen. As if it hadn't dawned on her that she had had an apprentice... who knew her as well as her family and friends. An apprentice who was a friend.
Hermione saw the emotions crossing her face and hoped that this realization came with the recognition she longed for.
"He thought that with the prospect of having magic the parents would agree to participate more easily." Her voice carried that airy quality of a person who was just coming down from a shocking experience. Honestly, it was something amusing to witness, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to smile. Not with all the irritation she felt.
Hard not to feel angry, when the person who was supposed to be transparent with her so she could be helpful was going behind her back with important decisions... Why didn't he say anything to me about this?
"No. We're not going to lie about anything. I know exactly who we should call."
"Do you, now?"
She took a deep breath, controlling her anger so it didn't show in her voice. Minerva shouldn't be on the receiving end of her frustration.
"Yes, The Tonks'. I'll have the opportunity to talk to Ted about this, and I'm sure he will be able to help us explain the situation to his parents."
After regarding her seriously for a few seconds, Minerva nodded and turned around again to pull out another fancy envelope and paper. "Very well. Daniel and Clara Tonks..." Minerva smiled to herself as she started writing the formal invitation, and explanation as to why they were being called over to the wizarding side of the world. "I'm glad you agree with me on this, Hermione. You see, I do trust Albus, but I wasn't at ease..."
Dumbledore thought he was the great mastermind, and she was just another piece in his game against Voldemort. He is doing it again and he doesn't even realize it. "Of course... Dumbledore is a wise man, but not infallible." Her irritation ended up showing on her voice this time.
Minerva paused in her writings, much too aware of that fact... "What did he ask of you?"
She sighed and threw her head back to rest against that chair, avoiding eye contact with that perceptive woman. "It's more about the fact that he doesn't seem to trust my judgement." She is sure that her face is showing every bit of her frustration. "Why would he go behind my back about this? He didn't even consult me on how we should proceed with things, and this is my experiment we are talking about. What else is he hiding from me?"
When she looked down, she was surprised to find Minerva, once more, with her chair completely turned towards her. She would be glad if her friend had some enlightening explanation about Dumbledore's actions that would put her mind at ease.
She hated to feel the seed of distrust taking root in her heart.
It wasn't the first time she felt as though Dumbledore was doing the opposite of changing things with the advantage he had. She knew that timing was everything, whatever he said, had to be said at the right time or else it lost its intended impact. He had to have an opening, an opportunity. Especially when they were fighting the narrative wars... But many came, and he missed it because he was so Inflexible!
"He seems to forget that, right now, it isn't Voldemort that we are fighting. Not directly. It's his supporters that need to be convinced that he isn't in the right just because he 'fights to preserve magic'. Dumbledore doesn't believe that his politics are pushing away people that don't necessarily agree with Voldemort on his most nefarious views..." And he refuses to move an inch. Even knowing how Voldemort amassed support for himself! "This is – in theory – my task. But he never agrees with anything I plan. How does he expect me to sway these angry teenagers from the only person who is willing to teach them what they want to learn?"
This is the only year I have before Bellatrix is out of my reach... I can't miss this opportunity! I just can't... "I know what has to be done. If he simply refuses to give my plan a chance... I'll have another. One in which I won't even care to make him aware of it."
This seemed to worry Minerva more than anything that was said beforehand. With a deep sigh, Hermione got up. "Don't worry, Minerva. I promise it's nothing outlandish..."
"I'll talk to him. I'm sure he'd rather have your complete trust."
"Thank you." I hope you convince him. "I'll go after Ted. If you need anything..."
"I know where to find you. Have a good afternoon."
"You too."
For all his flourish, Draco didn't make a fuss when he left. A soft click was all the sound that echoed in that bare room. She glared at the door as if the man would come back anytime to gloat...
The irony of that situation is that Ginny couldn't feel anything but relief. The thought that their lives were in danger didn't cross her mind. Harry would find them... and Hermione was there! Just beside her!
Just beside... her...
But that light brown hair got shorter, and shorter... and black. Her body grew larger, taller. Stronger. And with every change, Ginny's feeling of relief was being slowly replaced by fear. Light brown eyes were losing their tonality...
Until her husband's green ones were locked on hers... The hopelessness in his stare made Ginny lose the confidence she felt about everything turning out fine...
Hermione wasn't here...
And no one would come to the rescue.
In Andromeda's living room, expanded to fit the people who gathered to watch her memories, the members of the order of the phoenix that could attend made different sounds of protest and rage. If she didn't know what was about to happen next, she'd be like that too... But so much happened... And they didn't know the least of it. Using her wand to control the thought projector, she paused the memories just so she could make sure they'd pay attention to it again.
"I can't believe this!" Ron complained, his voice louder than the murmurs going around.
"Calm down!" She raised her voice... gaining the attention of everyone in that room. Ron, Elizabeth, and George sat on the floor... in front of the grey couch, their parents occupied. Her siblings looked angry, but Elizabeth was more intrigued than anything. Bill and Fleur sat to the right of the same couch, on different chairs but holding hands. Apprehensively staring at the frozen scene. "Harry is fine! remember that!" They did seem to calm down a bit with Ginny's reminder.
"But if Harry was with you... Then... Draco was the one playing us ALL THIS TIME?!" Ginny winced with his brother's sudden outburst. Her eyes unconsciously searched for Draco's relatives in the room.
Narcisa and Andromeda were sitting close to one another at the foot of the stairs, far from everyone, but still watching everything. Easy to be forgotten if no one paid them any mind... But Ginny couldn't ignore them now. Not when she knew... "Please, pay attention." She smiled reassuringly at Narcisa, who frowned – caught by surprise – then nodded with a small grateful smile of her own. It was clear from the look on their faces that they were more than bothered by the clear aggressiveness that exuded from the others... It seemed like they wanted to leave... But it was even more important for them to know.
"Love..." Elizabeth gripped Ron's arm... lightly caressing it. "Calm down..."
Ginny nodded at her sister-in-law, grateful for the support, then turned her attention to the other faces in the room. "You need to understand. Just watch... It's easier to show than to tell..."
"...Fine..." Ron complied, staring at the memory with a glare as if Draco was personally in the room.
Harry was nervous, his shallow breathing was a sign that he was doing his best to keep it cool... but failing miserably... She couldn't have him losing his hope too... Determination to survive chased away the fear that tried to paralyze her. She managed to put her chair close to Harry's... so they sit closely, side by side...
His head fell on the curve of her neck... and he cried. Like no one ever seen him do... Because these weren't tears of frustration... of rage... he wailed like everything was lost.
And terror, the one that froze you and sucked the air out of your lungs, finally hit her.
Like death tapped her on the shoulder to remind her that life could end unexpectedly... Like her time was over. Tears silently slid down her cheeks, too...
I don't want to die...
"Are you sure he is fine?" George asked, his humorous voice breaking the tension of the moment going on 'screen'. It certainly was a contrast to the sad and terrified tone of Ginny's inner voice coming from the speakers. It served to remind everyone that the worst has passed... The worst really has passed...
Ginny smiled "I'm here, aren't I?"
"But Rodolphus is on the loose." Ron said, still glaring at the screen, shaken by everything that he was witnessing.
"It had to be done." She nodded towards the screen she didn't bother pausing this time. In fact, she decided to skip the worst of what she and Harry had thought it was their 'last moments together.'...
Draco entered the room looking like a copy of her husband... Ginny couldn't keep her mind from imagining all the horrible things he could have done wearing Harry's face.
"Time to go, Ginny. But first..." He unbound both Harry and her, left their wands on their lap, and immediately left his own wand on the floor beside them. Fast.
To be free, so suddenly, and to have their enemy staring at them with a pleading expression... It took away their ability to properly react. They didn't have enough time to get angry...
The couple was expecting the executioner's axe on their necks at that very moment... Astonishment stalled them... They sat frozen on their chairs, staring at Draco – who was still under the effect of Polyjuice – without making a sound. It was hard to feel anything at all. "Listen to me, please." He got on his knees, with his hands behind his head... as if the couple wasn't shocked enough already.
Ginny was the first to react, getting rid of the gag on her mouth.
Harry followed suit "What is going on, Draco? Why did you do this?" He flexed his hands, rotated his wrists, grabbed his wand... but didn't point at the man. Not when Draco made no move to protect himself... or to attack.
If regret could be given a face, it would be Draco's at that moment. "I saved you. Believe me... I saved your lives. It had to be done this way, or else..."
"Or else what? Do you really expect us to believe that you saved our lives? By kidnaping us? By FORCING ME TO DRAG HERMIONE'S NAME IN THE MUD?" Harry finally exploded, getting up and pointing his wand at his clone. "Don't you dare pretend you had no other choice! There's always a choice!"
Tears filled Draco's eyes... But despite looking exactly like her husband, Ginny didn't feel sympathy. No... Hundreds of insults came to her mind... She got up too, to stand beside the real Harry. Staring down at that pathetic, spineless man. Always going for the easier route...
This time, when he spoke... Draco sounded insistent. "Which is why I'm choosing to trust you with my plan instead of keeping you in the dark. I need your help. I COULD HAVE KILLED YOU NOW!"
Ginny realized something she hadn't before...
"THEN THAT WAS YOUR LAST MISTAKE!" Harry was still hurt... Ashamed for having a part in the destruction of Hermione's reputation... He really could have killed Draco. So, Ginny did the thoughtless, most stupid thing she could have done...
"WAIT!"
She jumped in front of the man who made no move to defend himself. The spell had already left Harry's wand, who was blind by rage.
"GINNY!" Emotions flicked quickly in her husband's face.
She watched as rage gave way to terror, then relief. His shoulders sagged when his spell bounced from her protego. Thankfully it wasn't an Avada... "What were you thinking?" He hugged her against his chest. She let herself be hugged for a moment, before pulling away to stare at the man who was still on his knees.
"Look at him, Harry."
Harry took a deep breath and did as he was told...
"Before the last battle... Before Voldemort died... He left Rodolphus and Bellatrix with a mission..." Draco spoke, unprompted. "No one knows what mission that is, but it certainly involves the child. Maybe she has some unknown power... Something she inherited from her father... If they can prove that magical prowess can be passed down genetically..."
"Then it will invalidate Hermione's work..." Harry completed his line of thought. His hardened expression didn't soften... but he seemed willing to listen."Is that their goal?"
Draco nodded "If magic isn't passed down genetically, then how these other magical abilities – like parseltongue – are inherited? They will explore these breaches. Delphine will be their new lab rat... as well as the face of their new revolution. How she represents a whole generation that was just a victim of Voldemort's bad decisions... How our traditions will suffer because of it. How we shouldn't give in to 'the muggle way' just out of guilt..."
"I knew it!" Elizabeth exclaimed, throwing Ron a look that was a very obvious 'I-told-you-so'... before smiling apologetically for interrupting what was a very important moment.
Ginny couldn't start to guess what that was about... But whatever it was, it made her brother look sheepish.
Draco got up when he finally noticed that the couple was willing to listen to him "The plan, initially, was to kidnap you to get information about Hermione's disappearance... Then kill you as soon as we got Rodolphus free. To get you out of the way... Play it off as another disappearance. The fewer people to defend Hermione's reputation there is, the easier it gets for them to completely disgrace her... I convinced my father that it was better if you were kept alive so I could spy on the order of the phoenix. Right now, they think that the advantage is theirs. The plan worked, Rodolphus is free so he can tell Delphine everything he knows of Voldemort's untold plans... They are happy enough to overlook the obvious flaws in my plan."
"And that is..."
"I don't need you alive to spy on the order. None of them knows of my participation in Ginny's kidnapping. I could play both sides without using your image, Harry."
To think that Draco's meddling saved them...
What if Lucius decided to simply follow through with his plan? What if someone else played Draco's part in the death eater's plan? What if Draco failed? Those thoughts plagued her, making her shiver involuntarily. "What should we do?" She asked to free her mind from the horrible images that assaulted her. Draco was here, he was their ally, she shouldn't linger on those what-ifs.
"I need you to pretend you were invited here... They expect you to remember nothing, as soon as you leave this door... If you play along, Ginny, they'll believe that I've obliviated you... and I can take you home with a message for the order."
"Can't you just imperius me?"
"No, they'll notice. They have to believe you suspect nothing about me... Can you do that?"
"Yeah..."
It sounds easy enough...
Everyone in the room – who knew that Ginny wasn't the best actress – laughed at the prospect. "I want to see how you managed it, sister!" George teased her...
Like a little child, she showed her tongue to her older brother "I'm not going to show you how that went."
"Aww... come on..."
"No."
"She messed uuuuup!" He elbowed Ron in the ribs, finally managing to make the other Weasley smile.
"No, I didn't mess anything up!"
"Oh... you so did." Fleur's teasing tone did nothing but make Ginny blush...
Yes, she messed up... In the end, she had to pretend she was feeling ill so they would let her go quickly... But she wasn't about to admit to that...
"She totally messed up..." George reaffirmed.
"Shush. Pay attention."
She wouldn't show them how disastrously she faked being calm in the presence of at least one dozen unknown Death Eaters...
"Harry, I need you to stay here... They think that I'm threatening Ginny's life to make you cooperate."
"Will you keep me informed, though?"
"I will. Now that the first part of the plan was successful, my new task is to feed the media false information... I'll be back every day to get those 'confessions.' Don't worry about Hermione's reputation... I'm giving continuity to your rescuing plan in secret. When we get her back, everything will be fixed..."
Or so they hoped. That was the plan, at least... And their goal – she hoped everyone here understood – was to keep the time-portal a secret from the death eaters and protect the muggle doctor who was working on it... Which meant...
"Is the unspeakable department clear from spies?" Andromeda's question was the one she wanted to hear.
"That's what Draco wants us to find out. He still doesn't have that information, because the division working on infiltration is commanded by Emily Rosier, and she doesn't trust 'the Malfoy's' after what... happened..." She glanced at Narcisa, who didn't seem embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, she seemed to glow with pride...
"Where is my son? Why didn't he stay?" The eagerness in her voice... It almost bordered desperation. And to see that woman, who always carried herself with the composed grace of an ice sculpture, act so... maternal...
Ginny inadvertently pressed a hand against her stomach... She wondered if that twisting feeling in her gut was her baby or her guilt.
"He's with Harry. Probably brainstorming more plans... He figured that if he stayed when everything was being revealed, no one would stay calm long enough for me to finish giving the news." She sent a faux glare in Ron's direction, simultaneously taking the attention away from her, and elevating the morale in the room...
Amidst the teasing jokes, and laughs that ensued... She smiled at everyone and took the opportunity to make herself scarce. "Give me a minute, I need to use the bathroom."
She reached the first door on the left of that corridor just past the stairs, unable to ignore the brilliant smile that Narcisa had on her face...
Closing the door behind her, she bought herself some time to let her face show every bit of the worry, guilt and sorrow she felt.
She hugged her midsection and made her way to the toilet. If only to have a place to sit that wasn't the floor...
Moments like these... Ginny questioned her ability to love her baby. Not once, during this whole time of distress, her mind wondered what could have happened to the life she was gestating... She still didn't feel that unconditional love she saw reflected in her own mother's eyes... In Narcisa's... yet, everyone who knew about her pregnancy already expected her to have.
Harry seemed to love his firstborn more than life itself... When he thought that all was lost, he mourned the death of a baby that wasn't even born yet... Why couldn't she feel the same way? She loved her husband... They had planned this child... But, to Ginny, this life inside her could very well be miles away – in a different place in the universe – she couldn't feel more detached from it... You're my baby... why don't I love you?
A knock on the door startled her, she looked up and stared at the door as if it had eyes to spy on and a mouth to tell the person behind it what she was doing.
"Ginny... It's Andromeda. I... Noticed that you didn't seem so well." How? "Are you alright?"
Maybe this door does have some sort of incantation... "Y-Yeah... It's... It's nothing. I'm fine!"
"Ok... but if you want to talk..."
Ginny couldn't talk about not loving her baby to a person who never got over the death of her daughter... Actually... she couldn't tell that to anyone... What would people think of her if they knew that she could bring herself to feel anything for the little life that she be giving birth to in six months?
There was only one person she wished she could confide in... Where are you, Hermione? I miss you so much...
"Thank you. But I'm fine. It's just... some sickness. I'll be out in just a minute..."
She got up and flushed the toilet. If only her negative feelings could go down with that water... Hopefully, that would be enough to convince Andromeda of her lie.
Before she opened the door again, she took a deep breath. Preparing for another round of pretend. "I'm fine, see?" She smiled forcefully "Let's go... There are some things we should discuss..."
Andromeda didn't seem to be convinced; her small smile was sad... But Ginny didn't overanalyse that... She couldn't keep her eyes on the woman's face.
Acting really wasn't her strong suit.
"Ok, let's go."
AncientUrn - Answering this now after taking so long to post anything makes me feel so guilty... You have no idea! hah I'm sorry...
Yeah... That's the downside of having so many p.o.v's... The main characters end up losing the focus of the story sometimes... But I'm glad to know you're enjoying the development! Thanks xD
Though the Quidditch thing was actually an idea I got from going over this Tumblr with 'harry-potter-confessions' (or something...)... Someone mentioned: 'imagine Bellatrix only being interested in wizarding chess, and making fun of Lucius relentlessly for his interest in Quidditch'... And I thought 'huh... why not? sounds legit.' and here we are! I got the gist of it. haha, I wish I knew who that person was so I could thank them properly.
tfuinsah - Why not Minerva? ;) Let's see if she has a soft spot for her 'apprentice', shall we?. Although Grindewald would certainly be a complex character I'd like to explore. Pleeeeease don't give me ideas for other fics... for goodness sake! hahaha
AlsethGosia - Hey, leave the baby... she's learning, alright? haha
hmmm... Well... How long is long? :x The Bellamione we all want is going to take a few more chapters... (I knoooow it's taking so long!;-;) buuut Hopefully what I have planned will keep you happy until we all see the romance unfolding in truth...
Arsenal - I wish I always got the words flowing quickly. ;-;
Guest (1) - Obrigada xD
Hooray! - Yeah! \o\ But I'm still indecisive about how to proceed with things. :/
Hey, you can always count on Rodolphus to get that reaction! hahaha
I have a little thing planned to show just that :P
And about Francine... you'll get to know her more through Rod's p.o.v, they're a package deal... To Bella's utmost misfortune :v
Kirbilius Clausius - I'm managing. :P At least... in my head, they're making sense. hahah Hopefully I can write it in a way that makes sense to you, too.
Guest (2 or...Wednesdaysfire? are you the same person? I'll answer this separately in case it isn't) - Now I'm smiling like crazy. Thank you! Diving into a character's motivations is something I enjoy immensely. I'm glad you liked it.
Wednesday's fire - I wrote that so long ago I can only remember having a good time playing around in their minds... 'how must they feel right now?'. Thankfully it turned out in a way you've enjoyed as well... And it's funny that you mentioned it being like a movie... because this trigged precisely the format for Ginny's flashback. Thank you for the kind reviews... and the idea it gave me haha
Hushsound - Wow! I... you... I... (Yes, I lost my mental faculties to form proper sentences after reading this) Thank you. I love that you've felt the connection I've tried to build... The relationship between the characters is something I'm fond of, too. I try to make them as relatable as possible with their reasons... Right or wrong... The why intrigues me. And I... I'm glad this story captivated you so. Really, I'll do my best not to butcher these characters in the chapters to come haha That would be just a crime. If that happens, call the writer's police! I should be arrested.
BellaBerry - A riot! We have a riot! Oh no! my brain cells crash against one another in their desperation to figure out what to do...
Oh... wait... I finished this chapter! phew... Crisis averted.
Hopefully, no glaring mistakes interrupted your reading this time. I'm sorry for those. :/
Thanks for sticking around guys, this chapter was to tie some loose ends before I bring more focus to Bellamione and some other things I want to explore... I'm going to take a bit longer to update because I'm working on some ideas (too many of them battling for attention right now...). They have to make sense or else it's just information thrown around to cluster the story. So... Yeah, sorry... but I won't be updating as fast as usual... I mean, if I get things ready quickly, then of course I'll post as soon as I get them ready... But... I can't promise that'll be the case. I know I'm asking for something difficult but... please be patient haha