They arrived at St. Mungos in what seemed like no time at all. Ginny rushed through the fourth floor, closely followed by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, through the second door on the right.
The ward was empty apart from a wizard whose legs were covered in bandages and Hermione, who lay unconscious in her bay. Ron sat beside her with his hand clenched around hers and a strained expression on his face. Teddy sat beside him, wringing his hands together. Only a few lamps lighted the ward; otherwise, the room was flooded with dim moonlight.
'Ron,' Ginny said hurriedly as they all approached Hermione's bed. Ron gave her a startled look and hugged her quickly. He pulled her out of the embrace and gaped at her face. 'I know,' she said quickly, swiping her hand as if brushing off the state of her bruises which had already started reddening in colour; the same could also be said about the bruises on her back and arms. 'How is she?' Ginny asked as their mother hugged Ron for comfort, stroking his back.
Ginny gaped at Hermione; a white bandage ran around the top of her head. The moonlight gave Hermione a yellow pallor; it was either the moonlight or the state she was currently in.
'Err ...' Ron cleared his throat loudly. 'They've given her a potion for her head injury, but they think she will be alright; she was knocked unconscious.'
'What happened?' Mrs. Weasley asked quickly as she moved to Hermione's other side.
'She was attacked in her office,' Ron started with that strained look still taking hold of his face. 'Robards has no idea how they got in. It looks like the attacker stupefied her and took off with some files from her desk.'
Ginny shook her head indignantly. 'What files did they take?'
'All of the files about Harry's trip to Albania,' Teddy answered, his leg tapping up and down in an anxious state.
Ginny knitted her eyebrows. She was stumped for something to say; she looked at Ron, who didn't take his eyes off Hermione. She put her arm around his shoulders, and he looked up sadly.
'All of them?' Ron asked incredulously.
Teddy nodded his head sadly. He took a breath and addressed them all, 'I was just with Robards; he can't find any remaining records of Harry's file. Whoever attacked Hermione seems to have looted the Auror Office as well.'
Everyone's eyes fell upon each other. Ginny just managed to catch Teddy's strange expression. An expression that made Ginny's stomach turn; if she knew anything about Teddy, it was that he wasn't too great at keeping something secret.
'Teddy,' Ginny said, 'why don't we get a coffee for Ron?' she asked surreptitiously with a meaningful look. Teddy nodded, but he gave her a look of confusion.
Once out in the corridor, Ginny stopped him from carrying on, 'there is more to it, isn't there?' she asked Teddy.
Teddy slumped his shoulders and huffed, then he spoke in a hurried whisper. 'They looked in Harry's office; only one drawer was open. They took something valuable from in the drawer.'
Ginny frowned, 'what did they take?'
'We don't know yet. Robards has to go through Harry's inventory first to figure it out,' Teddy explained. 'That's not the strangest part,' Teddy added with a grim look.
'What do you mean?' Ginny asked quickly.
Teddy's head fell to the floor. 'The person knew exactly where to look for this object which means that there's an imposter at the Ministry.'
'What?' Ginny asked through a constricted voice; goosebumps flew up her arms.
Visiting hours ended shortly after Teddy's declaration, so Ginny and the others left Ron at Hermione's bedside. In the lift, Mrs. Weasley had turned her concerned face to Ginny and asked, 'Why don't we have someone look at your bruises while we're here.'
Ginny smiled solemnly at her mother, 'Mum, I'm fine, honestly.' Mrs. Weasley nodded dejectedly.
A week had passed, and Ginny was currently stumbling down the stairs at the Burrow, laden with her family's bags, ready to return home. As she lumbered into the kitchen, George and Angelina lifted the bags away for her.
'There's hot tea on the table if you've got time before you go,' Angelina said kindly, nodding her head towards the kitchen.
Ginny glanced into the kitchen to see her parents sitting quietly together at the end of the table.
'Gin, can we have a quick word,' George said quietly.
Ginny nodded and took her coat off, which she placed on one of the several hooks on the wall next to the door.
She was about to follow them into the living room but glanced one more time at her parents. At the corner of the table, huddled in close, their hands clasped around mugs of tea, gazing into the contents. She had seen them sit like this on too many occasions; for several mornings following their arrival back at The Burrow after Fred's death; the first days of the summer after her first year at Hogwarts; and the days when Percy first left. Ginny always liked to imagine that they were conversing telepathically, deconstructing the events that had led to a quiet morning, compartmentalising the awful things that had happened to their family and friends.
She sighed deeply and followed George and Angelina into the living room. Angelina was sitting on the armchair in front of the fire while George, clearly in a state of upset, was leaning against the arm with his arms folded.
'First you and now Hermione,' George started. 'This can't be a coincidence. Is all of this because of Harry's mission?'
'Yes,' Ginny replied quickly, although she had to admit that even hearing Harry's name these days made her feel sick.
'Well,' George said with a grim look on his face, 'I was speaking to Ron this morning; we're under the impression that a Death Eater is behind all this.'
Ginny frowned, but after a moment, she nodded her head.
'Maybe one who has served his time in Azkaban and been released?' Angelina said beside Ginny.
Ginny nodded in understanding, 'but that could be several people,' she replied weakly. 'I need to speak with Robards later; I'll ask him if any Death Eaters have been recently released,' she told them, and they both nodded.
'Why do you need to speak with Robards?' George asked with a lifted eyebrow.
Ginny paused for a moment, always the left eyebrow when he was intrigued. Fred always lifted his right eyebrow, and a faint smile grew on her mouth.
'He says that there is some new evidence,' Ginny sighed. 'And now with this rumour of an imposter at the Ministry ...'
'Are you alright?' Angelina asked with a sympathetic look.
Ginny shrugged.
'I can go with you if you like?' Angelina said delicately.
'That's alright; Teddy will come,' Ginny replied.
In the silence, Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out, 'George, there's post here for you!'
The three of them left the sitting room and entered the kitchen. James and Lily returned from upstairs and settled around the corner of the table. Lily didn't sit down before giving Ginny another hug.
'Oh, Albus, there is a letter for you,' Mrs. Weasley chimed as Albus entered the kitchen.
He raised his eyebrows at the letter and rushed to open it. He froze.
'Al?' Ginny asked tentatively as his mouth fell open. 'What is it?' she asked, moving over to him.
'It's from Scorpius,' he replied weakly, everyone looking at him. 'His mother has died,' he said with a catch in his throat.
Ginny let out a shaky breath. Mrs. Weasley rose from the table and joined Albus as he clutched the letter.
'He says they're at the hospital. Can we go?' he asked Ginny.
'Yes,' Ginny said without hesitation, 'of course we can.'
In St. Mungos, on the fourth-floor corridor once again, they headed for the last ward at the end of the corridor, the Janus Thickey ward, and spotted Scorpius in a seat against the wall, his fingers entwined and his head bowed. Albus rushed ahead.
'Scorpius,' he said softly as he approached, and Ginny kept back as Scorpius rose to hug his friend.
'I'm so sorry,' Albus said as they separated.
'Thanks, you didn't have to come here, you know,' he said with a stuffy nose but not meeting either of their eyes.
'Of course, we did. How is your father?' Ginny asked.
Scorpius gave a lopsided grin, 'not sure; he's just very quiet,' he shrugged.
'If there is anything we can do,' she said with a sympathetic smile.
Scorpius gave her a crooked smile. 'Maybe I could come round for tea; the house is very quiet. Everything is quiet,' he said with a watery smile.
'Maybe you could stay for tonight,' Ginny said with a small smile; Albus lifted his head in gratefulness. 'Where's your father?' she asked.
'He's in there waiting to collect Mum's things,' Scorpius replied and pointed to a door in front of him.
'I'll go and give my respects,' she smiled and left the two boys out in the corridor.
Through the brown door to the office, Ginny found Draco Malfoy sitting precisely like his son. Draco's long blonde hair was tied back, and his face looked paler than usual.
'Draco?' she said softly and closed the door behind her.
Draco looked at her, cleared his throat, stood up, and straightened his jacket and tie.
'I'm so sorry for your loss,' she said, passing him a bouquet of bright roses.
Draco raised his eyebrows at the flowers, took them somewhat gratefully, and set them on the chair. 'Thank you,' he said weakly but did not meet her eyes.
'If there is anything we can do,' she said consolingly.
'There isn't, but thank you,' Draco managed and raised his chin. 'I heard about the Minister. Is she alright?' he asked with a raised eyebrow.
'Yes, Hermione will be fine,' she replied.
Draco nodded his head. 'Any news on Potter?' he asked with a slight curl in his lip.
Ginny swallowed another uncomfortable lump in her throat. 'Nothing yet, but everyone is staying hopeful,' she replied with a deceiving smile.
'You shouldn't give up hope that easily, Ginny,' Draco said with a tilt of the head.
'I haven't,' she replied with a frown.
Draco lifted his chin again, his voice returning to that customary drawl. 'If you haven't, then why didn't you include yourself in that last statement,' he said with a knowing look.
'Perhaps, I am already dreading the worst,' she replied, not meeting his eyes.
'Believe me, Ginny, whatever it is that you are imagining, it is undoubtedly the worst,' he said. 'Now, if you don't mind, I'm awaiting a meeting,' he said.
'Of course,' she acknowledged, 'Scorpius wishes to stay with us tonight. Would that be alright with you?' she asked politely.
Draco looked at her for a moment, 'yes, I suppose,' he replied, placing his hands behind his back. 'But for his sake, Ginny, please don't crowd him with your many family members; he is more fragile than he looks.'
Ginny couldn't make it out, but she was sure an insult to her family was there somewhere. She gave him another small smile, but he wasn't looking her way anymore. She turned to leave, but a nagging feeling crept up on her. She thought that if she did not ask her next question, she would always wonder about the answer. She threw caution to the wind and turned back to him.
'Do you know anything about where Harry is?' she asked tentatively.
'Excuse me?' Draco said with a frown that became an expression, looking the spitting image of his father all of a sudden.
Ginny held her ground, 'I just mean that perhaps you may have heard something?' she said slowly.
Draco folded his arms in front of his chest and rolled his jaw. 'What exactly are you insinuating?' he asked steadily but didn't wait for Ginny's reply and carried on. 'I thank you for bringing roses and expressing your sympathies, but I think you should leave.'
'Draco,' Ginny begged, taking a step towards him, 'I didn't insinuate anything. I'm worried about Harry, that's all,' she said with wilted eyebrows.
'Well, I am sorry that I do not share your worries,' he said with no expression. 'From what I understand, Potter has always weaseled himself out of sticky situations.'
Ginny bit her lip, and the term 'weaseled' rang through her head.
Draco turned away from her and gazed out of the window.
'I have no hidden agenda, Draco, I swear,' Ginny said, but he did not turn back. 'You are remarkably well connected; I thought you might have heard whispers from -' but she tailed off; he was no longer listening to her.
'From who?' he demanded and turned back to face her. 'Who?' he said louder and stepped towards her. 'You thought perhaps I'm still in contact with known Death Eaters?' he said with a mad stare.
Ginny, although much shorter than Draco, squared up to him. 'Don't take your anger out on me, Draco,' Ginny told him. 'I know you're upset, and I shouldn't have accused you of knowing something. But your anger is only stemming from Astoria's -'
'Don't say her name!' he cried. He turned away again and took a few steps.
'Draco, unlike Harry, I have always had respect for you,' she said strongly. 'So, please don't yell at me because I understand how you are feeling,' Ginny begged.
'No, you don't!' he screamed, his face growing red. 'You understand nothing!'
'I understand nothing?' Ginny screamed back but caught her breath, calming herself down. 'Did it ever cross your mind that I may know exactly what you are going through? Everyone always speaks about Harry, and I'm getting so tired of hearing his name. I feel as though I have already mourned him as if I feel further and further away from him. I have a constant ache in my stomach, the exact feeling I had when I lost my brother.'
Tears started to fill her eyes, but she shook them off because Draco could notice. Ginny took some deep breaths, realising that this was the first time she had spoken the truth. Draco was staring at her with a twisted grin.
'The difference is, Ginny, that Harry still has the potential to return; Astoria, not so much,' he squinted and gave her a morose smile. 'You have a big enough family; that one loss isn't hard to withstand,' he said.
Ginny could feel a rage building; she stared at him, her eyes watering with hatred; Fred suddenly burst into her memory.
Draco looked away from her to the floor, 'I'm sorry, that was tactless,' he said in apology.
Ginny breathed out of her nose. 'I know you may be feeling lonely, but that doesn't mean you have to take it out on me,' she huffed.
'Who else do I have?' he asked, defeated.
'A life of chosen solitude is what led us to this future,' Ginny said strongly.
Draco blinked. 'Dumbledore?' he asked with a tilt of the head.
'Yes, I spoke to him in his portrait at the Ministry,' she told him.
Draco nodded his head; he unbuttoned his jacket and sat back down on the chair against the wall.
Ginny didn't move for a moment but understood her place and turned away. Her hand reached for the door, but she paused as Draco spoke again.
'Theodore Nott has a time-turner,' he said quietly, Ginny only just managing to catch the words.
'What do you mean?' Ginny asked, 'he's in Azkaban?' she said as she turned back to Draco.
'No, he was released nearly a year ago,' Draco said. 'I heard rumours that he had a time turner. It was in his possession when he was captured. The Aurors confiscated it,' he added.
'Have you seen it?' Ginny asked.
Draco nodded his head. 'Harry kept it in his desk,' he said with a slight frown.
Ginny couldn't move for a moment, someone somewhere had possession of a time turner, and Harry had neglected to tell anyone that he had kept it all this time. 'Thank you, Draco,' Ginny said astutely, and she made her way back to the corridor to collect Albus.
While everyone slumped off to bed that night, the Burrow fell silent; Ron stayed at the hospital with Hermione, who would soon be released from St. Mungos. The children had decided to all sleep in the same room together, and Ginny could imagine that they were all still awake, most likely playing exploding snap or wizard's chess, just like she used to with Hermione during their final year at Hogwarts.
Ginny pulled her mug of tea close as she pulled her legs underneath her on the sofa. Besides the longing to know if Harry was okay, she was perturbed by ideas of how he had kept things from her. The image of him bleeding on the floor of the Auror offices returned to her. She knew now that the recently released Dolohov was working with someone. And that someone must surely have been Theodore Nott, who had a time turner until the Ministry confiscated it. She needed to know why it had been stolen and what the thief could possibly use it for. She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes; needing answers in the dead of night can lead only to a lack of sleep.
Ginny opened her eyes after a moment and found a sparkling light issuing through the kitchen window. She stood up, the cup of tea still clasped in her hands, and wandered over to the back door.
A strange silvery light lit up the glass of the backdoor. Ginny quickly dropped her mug from her hands. It hit the tiled floor with a clatter and smashed into pieces. She opened the door, a light breeze lifting her hair from the side of her face. As she approached and squinted through the light, the light itself transformed. In a matter of seconds, the ball of light had expanded into a brilliant silver stag—a Patronus. Ginny quickly opened the backdoor, but she couldn't quite catch her breath.
'Harry,' she whispered desperately.
The brilliant stag stopped at her feet, mere inches from her face, and Harry's voice issued from somewhere within it. 'Find them first,' his voice said in earnest. And then came the words, 'I miss you.'