Chapter Four: The Bargain
AN: Time is a concept, technically. It's here one minute and gone the next. And we always just need a little bit more.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
15:02 - 10 hours, 57 minutes
Stepping into the shadows just outside of the Leaky Cauldron the closest she could get to Knockturn Alley, Ginny pulled up the hood of the gray robes she'd changed into moments ago. Her plan was simple enough. Step one, go to all the bars in Knockturn Alley and ask after Danny. Step two, get Danny to tell her how to find the Fixer. Step three, bargain with the Fixer to save her family. Simple. 'If only,' she thought as she began her trek to the Alley.
While an odd experience, Ginny forced her own nervousness away. Her eyes focused on her surroundings. Holding her robes close, she avoided eye contact with the poorly disguised Auror Officer sitting just outside the entrance. She'd never been more aware of her bright red hair than that moment. No matter how she wear her robes she'd be notice. Hood up and she was one of those shady individuals. Hood down and her red hair would give her away. She tensed as she passed the Auror.
She needed have worried though as the Aurors speckled throughout Diagon Alley paid her little attention, or anyone else for that matter. Arriving at the entrance, she hesitated. A childhood fear rolling through her as her father's strict warning seemed to play on repeat in her head. It was that same stern, but kind face that broke her hesitation. He father, her family needed her. She would not fail them here.
Walking into the alley, a new, real cold seeped into her bones. It was as if the light itself had been sucked from the very air, chilling the Alley by several degrees. Thinking it a trick of the light, she glanced back at Diagon Alley behind her, but the contrast was just as clear. Where Diagon Alley was light, Knockturn Alley was unreasonable dark. And while the realization should have scared her, it instead drew a bubble of excitement. Oh what she could learn from this magic!
But that was for another time. For now, she needed to focus. Walking purposefully down the narrow twisting alleyway, she looked past the shadowy doorways of the shops on either side of her. Reading signs and peaking inside to get a general idea of what kind of shop each building was. Although using the word, 'sign', was being very generous as the majority of what clearly used to be a sign were so worn that only a handful of letters were still legible. But she was a resourceful witch, and used every marker at her disposal. Ever on the lookout for the pub Mr. Toulson had found the Fixer, or at least this 'Danny' at.
Unfortunately, even her deduction skills failed on buildings with completely blacked out windows and ambiguous signage. Meaning she had to brave entering those buildings. Which is how she found herself walking up to one such blacked out two story building that had the make of an inn. Upon opening the door, she was hit with a wave of stink
an unfortunate mixture of sweat and cheap perfume - causing her to stubble into the
questionable establishment.
'A brothel?' She thought as she brought her arm over her mouth and nose to mute the smell. Her eyes taking in the surprisingly well maintained decor of the interior and landing on the well polished welcome counter, where an auburn haired witch was currently working on some unseen task. Backing up slightly, if she left now, she might avoid detection.
A warm body met her back causing Ginny to jump away, her wand in her hand in an instant. Her eyes found another witch, blocking her exit. 'How in the world did she get behind me?' Ginny thought as the black haired witch with strikingly blue eyes smiled predatory back at her.
"Hullo stranger." The woman spoke in a sultry voice as their eyes meet.
"Looking for a good time?" Ginny snapped her attention to the rich voice from the welcome witch her attention now solely on her. Hazelnut eyes went with the deep auburn hair, an amused smile on the edge of her lips. Ginny's own eyes fell to the now exposed corset. Intricate leather weaving seemed to squeeze the woman's waist unnaturally tight, highlighting the woman's amble assets.
'How can she even breath?' Ginny thought sure that there must be magic involved.
"See something you like?" The black haired witch drawled out. "For you, I'm sure Abigail wouldn't mind working something out."
"No!" Ginny squeaked out. "No, no, that's really not necessary." She replied not sure how she'd ended up proposition so easily.
"No?" Abigail questioned innocently enough, "You sure about that, luv?"
Nodding, she continued, "You both seem like very lovely ladies, but I, ah, just took a wrong turn. Really." Ginny stammered along.
"Don't they all." The black haired witch replied amusingly.
"Don't worry, here at the Haven, we are known for our discretion." Abigail supplied.
"No, really. I'm just looking for a pub." Ginny replied quickly.
"A pub?" the black haired witch took a step forward, hips swaying, "If its drinks you want, we've plenty."
"Drinks, and much, much, more." Abigail added in a purr.
"No, ah, no thank you, I'm, ah."
"And if it's a wizard you want, we can make that happen too." The dark haired witch interrupted moving inches closer causing Ginny to take a hesitate step back.
"Or we can make it a party," Abigail added, "You look adventurous, now don't you." Looking Ginny up and down slowly, her smile turned predatory as if she could see through Ginny's robes. "Oooh, how much fun we'll have."
Ginny grew a shade redder and was grateful for the hood covering the evidence. "I'll, ah, just be on my way. If you don't mind." She replied.
"But you've come all this way. And if we can't help you come a little further, then at least let use treat you to a drink, luv." Abigail counted.
"Yes, stay a while. You wouldn't want to disappoint our dear Abigail," the black haired witch added smoothly. "Now would you, luv?"
Ginny clutched her wand tightly already preparing to fight her way out if she had too. Her eyes flickering between the two women and the door.
"If your sure," Abigail nodded in the black haired witch's direction who surprisingly moved away from the door. Ginny walked sideways towards the door, eyes keeping track of everyone and everything. "I do hope to see you back. The Haven has many pleasures." Abigail called out as Ginny stepped through the door.
Only when she was several steps back into the dingy alley did she breath a sigh of relief. 'As first times in a brothel house go, that could have been worse.' She thought as she made her way further into Knockturn Alley. Laughing silently to herself, she could only imagine how jealous the twins would be. Her expression quickly turned sour at the thought. They'd be envious, but only if she could save them.
For now, she needed to find that pub. Looking back, her eyes in the general direction of Diagon Alley, she steeled herself. This deep into Knockturn Alley, there was no turning back now. Not that she would if she could. Looking ahead, she couldn't tell how far the alley extended. But Mr. Toulson couldn't have gone that far to get a drink, now could he?
17:42 - 8 hours, 17 minutes
Ginny stared at the liquid amber housed in her glass. The fire whiskey was cheap, but burned just the same. Taking another sip, she let it burn down her long since gone numb throat. 'I've had worse.' She thought, conjuring up past Gryffindor parties with the 'fire whiskey' the twins had produced.
Her eyes traced the stairs to her left, hidden rooms just out of sight. After more than forty minutes of sitting, she was no closer to learning any new information about the Fixer. And given how empty the place seemed to be with only two partially filled tables and a pair down the bar from her, she was starting to think she'd have had more luck at the Haven.
Now that she wasn't overwhelmed with embarrassment, she was sure the those ladies would have had information. Not that she was going back there, she wasn't that adventurous.
"So, whatcha think?" One of the young men sitting closest to her said loudly. Ginny was almost certain they were discussing a possible business venture of the smuggling variety.
"You lads have put up a solid proposal, just," The older gent paused briefly as if in thought, "Why not work with that Reaper fellow, huh?"
Ginny's eyebrows lifted in surprise causing her to take another look at the older man. Clean shaved, short cropped pepper gray hair. If not for the ramrod posture the man might have passed for anyone's father. 'An undercover Auror?' Ginny thought as her eyes found an equally ramrod seated gentleman down the bar with the exact same hair cut. 'Surely, they can do better?'
The older man continued even as the room went unnaturally silent, "Why not talk to him?" He looked around as he continued, "Seems like this would be his type of pub. I mean Black Scythe? Seems to me like you could find all kinds of business with that bloke."
"The Reaper?" The two young men shook their heads together as they got up to leave. "Not my cuppa tea."
"Well now, you don't have to leave." The older man replied. "It was just a question."
The pair finished off their glass and put on their coats. "If it's all the same to you, we'll just be taking our leave."
"See ya Wyatt." The second bloke called out to the bartender as the two men left together.
Wyatt, the big burly barkeep covered in scars and tattoos that fit Ginny's imagined Knockturn Alley barkeep perfectly, just nodded in the two's direction.
'Definitely Aurors, then.' She thought as she downed the last of her whiskey. Moving to stand, she shook her head at the bartender before he could fill her glass again.
She paused as Wyatt took her glass, "Wyatt?"
"Yeah?"
"You know you've got Aurors in your establishment, right?" She spoke low so as not to be over heard.
Wyatt gave a low chuckle in amusement. "Been here for weeks now." Nodding to his mostly empty bar, he continued, "Bad for business as you can see."
"Then you won't be surprised to hear that this will be all for me. Thanks for the drinks."
18:18 - 7 hours, 45 minutes
'Black Venom? That has to be a pub.' Ginny thought as she took a long apprising look at the two story building. The sign was clean and neatly legible, the outside had little grim and the windows tastefully tinted. 'Somehow I doubt this is a two-story poison shop.'
With that finally thought, she made her way inside, and promptly regretted it in a completely different way than when she'd stumbled into the Haven brothel house. To Ginny's right was a group of six wizards in robes no Weasley could ever afford. But it wasn't the robes that throw her off, but the faces of two of their owners, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. If two of the six were known Death Eaters, then odds were the whole lot of them were. 'And apparently I've just stepped into their Death Eater hangout spot.' She thought desperately.
A realization she came too within a split second of entering the building did her no good now. Unable to turn around for fear of drawing undue attention, she strolled in as if she were a local and had every intention of coming to the Black Venom to hangout with like minded individuals.
Sitting down at the bar, the Bartender came over and raised his eyebrow in question. "You here for a drink?"
"I don't know. Do you have anything good to celebrate the Dark Lord's latest successes?"
The Bartender smiled in her direction. "As it happens, I've a new batch of Dragon Barrel Brandy for the occasion."
"Then I'll take two."
The barkeep placed two drink in front of her, "Fifteen sickle."
Ginny placed a galleon in front of the Bartender, and pushed the second glass back his way. "A toast on me." The Bartender gave a toothy smile, which Ginny immediately wished he hadn't as he was missing some truly important teeth, "To the Dark Lord!"
"The Dark Lord!" The Bartender down the drink at a pace she didn't even try to emulate. "You a new recruit?"
"I'm looking to be." She nodded as she continued to sip on her brandy.
The bartender nodded in understanding, "You'll have to come back then. We won't get a recruiter in until later this week, maybe next week depending on the schedules."
Ginny took a quick look back at the group behind her, "You mean they can't help me join the cause?"
"Humph. Crabbe and Goyle? Not a chance." The Barkeep replied dismissively, "We were suppose to have someone real for Wednesday, but we got what we got, you know?" He continued with a shrug. Ginny nodded in solemn agreement as she took another deep swallow of her brandy. "You come back Friday. Fridays are normally good for joining."
Ginny knocked back the rest of her Dragon Barrel Brandy and set the glass back down, "Thanks for the info." She replied as she got up to leave.
The Bartender nodded before drifting down the bar to help other patrons, while Ginny walked confidently out of the pub. Once outside, she leaned heavily on a nearby building, her world spinning. She'd downed that brandy way too fast and was now feeling the affects. With a shaky breath, she pulled out a detox potion she'd packed in her emergency potion's kit before leaving for Knockturn Alley. It didn't take long for the potion to start doing its magic.
Standing up, she looked ahead. A brothel, a pub with undercover Aurors and now finally a Death Eater hangout, eventually, she'd have to find this Fixer pub.
20:13 - 5 hours, 50 minutes
Ginny took a sip of her second Quintin Black, her eyes finding the little sign behind the bar declaring this pub as Merlin's Wand. Setting her glass down next to the greasy remains of her destroyed basket of fish and chips, she let her eyes wander the pub again. A slow sweep over the room, but nothing had changed since the last time she'd scanned the room or the time before that or really any time in the last hour and some change that she'd been sitting here.
Oh, a few people had left and a few more had entered, but she'd yet to overhear talk about a Danny or the Fixer. 'At least the people here are lively.' She thought as another roar of laughter broke out at a table in the back. Merlin's Wand had that going for it. It landed somewhere near the Black Scythe in lived in conditions, but with ten times as many people. But it was more than that. There was a liveliness to the people, an openness about their faces that was nothing like sitting in the Black Venom surrounded by Death Eaters. She could see herself here, well, if the barkeep was a little friendlier.
If not for the circumstances, this would have been a great trip. But it was those extraordinary circumstances that was keeping her tense and unable to enjoy an otherwise enjoyable pub. 'And it's about time, I get moving.' She thought as she took another sip, now only a finger away from finishing her drink.
Riiing. The sound of the door opening caused Ginny's eyes to look over as a group of five men came strolling into the pub.
"A round of yer best for da new recruits, Skym!" The dirty blond leading the group called out.
"Danny, my boy, ya know we ain't got nothin' fancy here," replied the barkeep now identified as Skym.
"Yeah, well give us yer strongest then old man! We be payin' customers!" Danny replied a joke in his voice.
Skym along with the rest of the bar broke out in laughter at the inside joke. Given that the Bartender had yet to ask for her money for anything, she didn't see how he could complain if a customer or two walked out without settling the bill.
"Thanks again, boss!" One of the recruits chimed in as the four of them sat down at one of the few empty tables.
"Na, na, naa. Don't thank me. It be da big boss man, who's payin'. I'm just da lucky son of a dog, gettin' ta drink up." Danny replied smoothly.
"Yeah? Do you think we could ever meet him?"
"I've heard he's stronger than You-Know-Who!" Another recruit replied without waiting to hear Danny's answer to the first recruit's question.
"Yeah, way stronger!" A different recruit added his support.
"I heard, he's so strong, he could fight Dumbledore and Voldemort at the same time and not break a sweat!"
"Yeah, well I heard he's so powerful, he has to stay locked away so he doesn't destroy the Earth when he walks!"
The bragging only got worse as the four new recruits tried to out 'hear' each other. For Ginny, it was all new, interesting even. For she had never heard of anyone that could possible be stronger than Riddle. Even Dumbledore could only match the Dark Lord in strength. But more importantly, if it were true. If even a faction of what was begin said was true, then she, her family had a chance.
In her mind, she had just one question, 'Was this Danny?'
In Ginny's heart, she had not really thought this would work. Her search, this endless quest for a faceless man, had just been a way for her to pass the time. Sleep? Sleep had been a joke of an option, when her family was trapped. But now? Here he was, maybe. Either way, she'd soon find out.
Danny had moved away from the new recruits' table to the bar probably to pick up the drinks he'd loudly requested upon entering. Ginny turned her eyes back to her own finger of liquor. She might have to get another one so she had more time to figure out how to approach this Danny character.
"Hey, little miss. I don't think I've ever had da pleasure."
Ginny nearly jumped out of her seat at the voice so close. The very person of her thoughts having sat down on the stool next to hers.
"Oh now, I didn't mean ta scare ya." Danny continued a toothy grin on his face. "Name's Danny, but I suppose ya already knew dat."
Not one to look a gift horse in the face, Ginny jumped on the opportunity. Shrugging she looked back at her own glass, "I have ears, yes, but your business is yours and mine is my own." Taking a sip she continued, "I thought that was the point of places like this."
Danny was silent, but Ginny didn't look his way. She was channeling all of her self control at not just asking outright about the Fixer. But Mr. Toulson had mentioned Danny bring it up and she could dare to break that trend.
"Yeah, dis is dat kinda place, but so if da Black Scythe 'n dat's a helluva lot closer for yer lot." He replied easily causing Ginny to snap her head in confusion. "But I'ma guessin' ya tried dat place first, huh?" Ginny raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So, not just lookin' for a place ta drink. Nah, ya ain't got da look for a witch down on her luck." Ginny frowned at the clear dismissal, "Yer robes' too nice." Shaking his head, she felt her jaw tighten. Anger flaring up inside her, her family was in trouble and this man was judging her for not being desperate enough.
"And dat look in yer eye?" He shook his head again, "Don't know what ya be thinkin', but ya ain't gonna find no one here for killin'. Yer in da wrong pub for dat, little missy." Turning away from Ginny, he downed his glass of amber fire. "I best, be seein' yer back, soon. This being a respectable establishment in all."
Ginny's lips pierced in a thin line. Shock mixed with argue as she tried to calm down, but she was running on no sleep and this man stood in the way of her keeping her family alive. Even so, she attempted to focus a false calm, so that she could reply without ripping his head off. Her efforts vanished with a dismissive wave of Danny's hand, "And don't ya worry about dat tab. I'll tally it up for ya."
"Tab?" Ginny replied with an edge in her voice as she slammed a couple of Galleons on the counter. "I don't need help with a tab." Scoffing at the implication, she continued, "And if I wanted someone dead, I'd do it myself." She stood up angrily causing the bar to stand as well, suddenly eerily quiet. "I pride myself in being able to take care of my own problems, but even some problems need a miracle to solve. But I guess I've overestimated this Fixer."
With Ginny's hood still up, Danny could only look at Ginny's tightly wound frame. His face an open book as he contemplated her words. Her breathing came out ragged as she tried to find some control over her emotions. Raw at the thought of losing her whole family in one sweep, her emotions seemed to bubble over. With her magic crackling around her, she took two deep controlling breaths.
Whatever Danny was looking for he found it, because his whole demeanor changed. With a wide grin, he replied hands up in surrender, "Hey, now. I mean no offense. We just get a couple of fancy folks lookin' for a hit job now and again." At Danny's words, the atmosphere settled in the pub. Conversations striking back up as Danny came back to the bar. "Let me buy ya drink ta apologize, eh?"
Ginny nodded as she took her seat once more. A new glass was placed in front of her without an exchange of words with the barkeeper. She took a deep pull to settle her nerves further. Her eyes staring in the clear liquor, her mind conjuring images of her family, happy, health, whole.
"Now we've got da introductions out of the way. What say ya tell me yer story?" Danny interrupted her thoughts.
She took a small sip of her drink before speaking. "I can't say much, not here, not to anyone but the Fixer." Danny's eyebrow raised in question, "What I can say, is that I'm looking for help from someone as powerful, if not more powerful than Dumbledore. Is your Fixer that powerful?" Taking another sip of drink she let her statement sit. "If he isn't, then you can't help me."
"Now, isn't that a tall order, eh?" Danny replied drinking from his own glass. "While, I might be a wee bit bias, I'd like to think the boss man is more powerful than that sack of old bones any day of the week." Danny nearly knocked back his own drink after his simple but almost unbelievable statement. "Nah, I don't see dat power is an issue for ya little miss, not when it comes to da boss man."
"An issue?" Ginny questioned.
"Ah, while the boss man can do whatever you need, he don't exactly work for free." Danny added easily finishing his drink. With a belch, he wiped his mouth before continuing, "The way I reckon, if you've got something to trade, then you'll be alright."
"I'm prepared to trade." Ginny replied steel in her eyes. She didn't care what it cost her, she would save her family.
20:59 - 5 hours, 4 minutes
Danny didn't immediately tell her how to find the Fixer, instead he ordered another drink and grabbed the two pitchers of beer sitting in front of him. Turning to his group of new recruits, he spoke, "Oi, Callum. As ya had da best showin', I'll give ya da honor of given ya yer first official job."
Grumbling ensued as Callum's blond locks bounced up and down with his vigorous nod. "Yes, sir!"
"I need ya to escort dat lil' miss who got dis bar a lil' riled up not just a minute ago to da apparition site for da Fixer." Danny paused his hand pointing in Ginny's general direction. "Ya remember dat one, right?"
"Yes, sir! You can count on me boss." Callum replied as he jumped up from his seat ready to follow Danny's orders only to be stopped and pushed back down into his chair by Danny's hand.
"Hey, now. Ya don't have to go right on da nine. Ya drink up with yer new mates. When yer done, dat one'll still be here." Danny waited for Callum to pick up his drink, before he returned to the bar, this time sitting on the other side, far from Ginny.
With a sigh, she turned back to her own glass. 'Time's just a concept, right?' She thought as she stared into her glass. 'And soon, I'll be talking with the Fixer.' She just hoped there would still be enough time to save her family. If not she could only hope Bill, gave her some more.
Either way, she was glad when Callum wondered over to her. With a nod, she left Merlin's Wand following Callum's fresh young face.
"You're real lucky, you know." Callum spoke once they'd left the pub.
"How so?" Ginny replied.
"I don't know no one but Danny who's ever met the big boss man," he replied with a small sigh, a wishful glint in his eyes.
Ginny let the silence return for several seconds before deciding to get some information out of the new recruit. "You're new to your organization, right Callum?"
"Yeah, just finished the last round of tests an hour or so ago." He answered, his fingers interlocked behind his head as he led Ginny down a side alleyway.
"Oh, truly? Then you must be very proud. I'm sure not just anyone could accomplish, such a feat."
Callum puffed out his chest as he spoke, "You bet your right hand, I am. The Ankou Company only accepts witches and wizards of the highest standards. I didn't even need remedial courses!"
"Really now? That truly is impressive. Soon enough, I'm sure you'll be replacing even Danny," Ginny added just trying to get the kid to keep talking.
"Boss man?" Callum shook his head, "I'm a long way off from officer ranking." He looked up in thought as he continued, "I don't even want to think about taking another test. Let alone all those certifications I'd need to get to just make officers track." He shook his head as if that would get rid of the idea.
'Officers?' Ginny thought as she took in this new information. The connection of the Ankou Company to this Fixer was something she'd never have made on her own. But adding Officers to the mixed, changed everything she'd thought she'd known about the Company. She had a chilling thought, "I'm sure you won't have too much competition to becoming an officer. I just can't imagine the Ankou Company being very large."
Callum scoff at her, "Large? We've branches all over the world!" He replied with a proud grin, "After I put in a couple of years, I'm going to put in for a transfer to one of the branches out of the country. I've always wanted to see the world." He added thoughtfully.
Ginny missed a step at the pronouncement. 'The world?' She didn't get to question it further as Callum stopped suddenly. Looking over at the surrounding buildings he nodded to himself. "Yeah, this is it. Apparition site F. This will get you where you need to go." He replied as he turned back the way they'd come.
"Thank you, Callum." Ginny smiled kindly at the young recruit before apparating away.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in another dark alley. 'Not exactly what I was expecting, but appearances aren't everything.' She thought as the murmur of soft conversation reached her ears to low to discern.
A man and a woman stood near her position wearing what apparent to be a uniform. 'That or they shop at the same store.' She thought, 'That sell only one style.' She added in her head.
"You must be here to see the Fixer." The man spoke. Ginny gave a tight nod as she followed his hand motion, "This way, then." Turning to the woman he continued, "Kate, I'll take this one. See you in a few."
"Alright, don't take to long."
They walked in silence for a handful of minutes before the guard abruptly stopped. Ginny looked around in confusion as they were standing in a small corner between two buildings, no door in sight.
"Here you go. You should be able to apparate from here." He said in answer to her unasked question, "Someone will be at the other end to escort you further. Don't wonder."
"Ah? How much further to the Fixer?" Ginny questioned hesitantly. She'd not expected to bounce from one apparition site to another.
He shrugged nonchalant, "Honestly, I have no idea. That's above my pay grade." The guard paused and patted Ginny on the shoulder sympathetically. "Don't worry, the Fixer will be able to help."
22:48 - 3 hours, 15 minutes
Four escorts later found Ginny at her final destination, or what she hoped was her final destination. Standing in front of a large two-story house in the middle of nowhere, this was either the right place or the Ankou Company realized who she was and had taken her out here to murder her.
'But if they were going to kill me, they could have done that in Knockturn Alley,' she thought as she walked steadily past the Ankou guard at the door in step with her escort. Wearing robe layered with several shades of grey and a strip of red at the shoulders, this guard look nearly identical to the numerous Ankou members, official members, that she'd seen. It was the little strip of red that seemed to hold the members rank. She'd seen enough different versions of the little symbols for it to mean anything else.
It was ingenious really, the shades of grey were so natural that she'd found herself not realizing she was looking at a person until she was feet away. And on closer inspection, those robes looked strikingly similar to muggle army uniforms she'd read about in her Muggle Studies class. And if they were divided up by rank, then the Ankou Company was more military than she'd every imagined.
During her reflection, her escort led her past several more guards as they made they way through the manor. He asked no questions and gave no room for questions to be asked. She was familiar with the routine by now, and soon enough he stopped in front of a door with two stationary guards. Nodding at the guards, her escort turned on his heels without another word. 'How charming.' She thought as the guard on the right opened the doors motioning for Ginny to enter.
Walking in, she felt the guards presence at her back. With a quick glance back, she was surprised to see they had followed her inside, closing the door behind them. Ginny held back a frown as she took in the occupants. The two guards behind her were joined by two additional guards stationed around the large study-styled room. And sitting at the desk was the Fixer. Short dark brown hair with light brown eyes and a large muscular frame almost as large as his many guards.
And it was all wrong. Closing her eyes, she hid her disappointment. This could not be the Fixer, a man that should have alluded power, sat before her with four armed guards. And if she'd had any doubt, the book lining the shelves surrounding him were just as disappointing. Filled with books she'd find at any bookstore, some of which she'd personally read at Hogwarts, they couldn't be the rare books the Fixer was known to collect.
"How can I help you?" The man across from Ginny spoke, his light tenor voice interrupting her thoughts.
"Help?" Ginny replied strainingly. She was tired. Tired of the run around. Tired of this constant worry about her family. Tired of the unknown. So tired of it all.
"Yes, you've come this far. How can I be of assistance?" He replied not noticing the warning signs in her voice.
"How can you help? By telling me where I can find the Fixer." Ginny replied sharply.
There was a pause of hesitation before the fake Fixer replied, "I am the Fixer."
Knowing that she could not take on four guards scatter across the room, she slowly walked towards the nearest bookcase. One of the guards tensed in her direction, her hand firmly on her wand. But Ginny kept her hands in sight and no further action was taken by any guard. They would regret their inaction.
With a light touch across the spines of the book, she turned to face the fake once more, "Oh, I highly doubt that."
The fake frowned as he spoke, "Speak now, girl. I've been told that this is your last resort. Tell me your problem, and I will solve it."
"Tell me where to find the Fixer, and I'll be on my way." Ginny replied feeling the tension rise in the room.
"For the last time girl, I am the Fixer. What more proof do you need?" The fake replied as he spread his hands out in question.
"Four guards, plus minimum of sixteen more all protecting you." Ginny shook her head, "If you're the Fixer, then you can't help me."
The fake smiled in amusement at her response, "I find that assassins are everywhere." He pointed to himself as he continued, "Even powerful men have to sleep." The fake laughed at Ginny as if she were a small child high and crackly, "Now, tell me, what it is that you need? Or are you simply wasting my time?"
Within the blink of an eye, Ginny's wand was out. A misdirection spell cast with the first twist of her wand. A silencing ward followed as she flicked her wrist, chased immediately by a truncated transformation spell. All preformed within a seamless series of wand motions. With a side step, a stunner passed harmlessly to her right as the air thicken into mist.
Ginny watched carefully for the handful of spells launched into the mist. While the majority blasted the bookshelves beside her, several she had to deflect, although she was careful to send the spells towards the walls beside her so as not to harm anyone. She was making a statement, not an attack. Soon enough the guards realized their spells were doing next to nothing. She heard a string of curses probably at the realization that her mist couldn't be easily swapped away.
'Ten, nine, eight, seven…' Ginny counted down mentally waiting for the only logical next step for such athletic guards. Her wand held firm, a spell on her lips. She wasn't disappointed when she got to one and saw the four heads of the Ankou guards storming her. Smiling, she cast her spell and the ground around her sprung up and entrapped the guards in wood and cement all the way to their chest.
Ginny was just beginning the counter curse to her mist spell, when she realized it was already starting to dissipate. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. The mist spell being on the darker gray side of things, there were few ways to remove it and all of the counter curses were instantaneous. 'Not like this.' She thought as the mist slowly dissipated as if pulled by magic.
With a couple of flicks of her wand, she stunned the guards before walking passed them. Facing the fake, she saw him calm, unworried as her mist was begin absorbed by the magical orb that he held tightly in his hands. 'Runes?' She thought in surprised. No wand. No magic. No wizard would reply on a magical orb for protection. 'A magical orb and lots of guards.'
"A squib?" Ginny questioned aloud.
The man shrugged untroubled as he put the magical orb back in his desk. "So you know, I can't hurt you." He replied in acknowledgment, "And you haven't hurt anyone yet. Not that it would matter." He nodded to the guards unconscious behind her. "We're expendable. So, what is it you want? I might not be the Fixer, but I have all the tools needed to help. My Lord has made sure of it."
"I don't have time to play this game with you." Ginny replied, "I need the Fixer. I need his power. And that's something you can't give me."
The fake laughed a high crackle, "And you think he'll see you?" He looked her over in disbelief, shaking his head in amusement. "Tell me what you need, I'll tell him. He'll handle it if he likes the trade." The man leaned forward, intertwining his hands in front of him. "My Lord doesn't meet just anyone."
Holding up her wand threatening, Ginny snarled in reply, "How do I find him?"
The fake leaned back in his chair, a frowned on his lips. Looking to the unconscious guards behind her, then the door, finally his eyes landing back on her. After an another long pause, he spoke seriously, "What are your intentions?"
"I need help." Ginny replied honestly. "I need a miracle. I need a wizard more power than Dumbledore, more power than Voldemort. All I want is help." She finished, her voice breaking at the thought of her family.
The fake went silent for several long seconds, before nodding his head. "You're no average witch. And you're clearly desperate with no ill intention for my Lord. So, I'll tell you want you want to know." He paused nodding to himself, "Go back to the front door and tell the guard," the fake paused again in slight hesitation. "Tell him to take you to the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Ginny blinked in confusion, "Azkaban?"
"Yes," he replied with a nod. "If you want to see my Lord, then you tell him that. The guard will know what that means."
"Thank you," Ginny replied as she turned to go.
"Don't thank me yet." The fake replied causing Ginny to give him a questioning look. "I might be a mere squib, but I can tell you've come here with nothing." He held the last word out for a second more, "My Lord is a kind man, but he doesn't work for free." His eyes flashed as he continued, "Not for anyone."
Turning away, Ginny paused at the door, "Then I have nothing to worry about." As she continued out into the hall. The fake's high pitched, maniacal laughter followed her.
01:00 - 1 hours, 3 minutes
'Two hours.' Ginny thought as she faced the rough wind, sea salt spraying in her face, hair whipping in her face. She'd known she'd been getting the run around, a test of her patience. Dozens of apparition sites, seven separate full body security screening, and she still wasn't there. Face to face with the Fixer. This level of paranoia would have made Mad Eye Moody proud. If nothing else, she was now certain that the 'Fixer' was known other than the Reaper. 'Or should I say the Prisoner of Azkaban?' She thought morosely, still unsure of the meaning behind the words.
Fixer, Reaper, Prisoner? It didn't matter. Her connection to Dumbledore would be well known by now. Had to be after her first security screening. There'd been no way around keeping her face and bright red hair hidden. And honestly, she was just amazed their were still letting her meet this Reaper. And she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Tilting her face up, she held back a sigh at the black, gloomy sky before her. It would seem even the stars were missing here. The gloom was all-encompassing. So much so, that she was starting to believe that the Prisoner of Azkaban was an actual prisoner of Azkaban. Really there was no other conclusion she could make sitting here in this small rickety boat.
A short, bark laugh, a mix of exhaustion and hysteria, left her lips at the thought. She, Ginevra Molly Weasley was heading to Azkaban, willingly.
She was pulled out of her dark thoughts as the little boat rocked precariously at a series of high waves, threatening to capsize. The Ankou member steering the little vessel heaved on the paddle, pushing them through the waves with an uncanny ease. His small lamp swag violently with each new wave, it's light flickering but never blinking out. Even so, she didn't see how it was helping as its light barely penetrated the dark around them.
Soon enough the boat hit land, sliding over wet sand. Out of nowhere another guard hovered at the edge of the boat. Pushing herself up and to the edge, she was stopped by the hand of the other guard. "Only authorized personnel beyond this point, miss."
Ginny let out a sigh in frustration, "I'm here to see the Prisoner of Azkaban." She replied from rote memory. Every stop and some times several times at one of the 'checkpoints' had been the same thing. An attempt to stop her, but she would not be turned back here.
Moving to go, she was surprised to be stopped. "Like I said, only authorized personnel beyond allowed. No paperwork, no entry." Nodding to the boat man he turned to go.
"Wait!" Ginny replied jumping out of the boat. Two wands were trained on her immediately, but she didn't care. Holding her hands up, she spoke, "I don't care who he is. I don't care what he's done. I'm here for the Prisoner of Azkaban. I won't leave until I see him!" She added heatedly.
There was a long moment where no one moved. The guard on land eyed her wearily. Ginny didn't look away. The guard must have seen her desperation, because he sighed heavily before turning to the boat guard, "Go on, Georgie."
Georgie, the boat guard, looked between the two of them before shrugging and pushing the boat off and paddling away. Disappearing into the night.
Nodding his head he started off again, "Come on, then."
Ginny followed closely, a light dazing coming over her every time she looked around. 'A misdirection ward?' She thought with slight confusion. Azkaban had no such ward the last time she'd checked. It hardly needed it given that no one in their right mind would willingly come here. Obviously this Reaper, or Fixer, or whatever he wanted to be called, wasn't quite right in the head.
Arriving to the massive doors of Azkaban, two guards flanked it.
"What have we got here?" The guard on the right asked.
"A new inmate I hope!" Laughed the guard on the left.
"Open the doors." Ginny's guard replied ignoring their comments.
"Think you can get in from the cold do ya? Why don't you put in a good word with General McCaffer for us?" replied the right guard.
"Yeah, get us out of this cold every once in awhile." The left guard parroted.
"Your problem with the General isn't my problem with the General," Ginny's escort replied with a rough voice.
"Unless we make it," the right guard whispered under his breath loud enough that they all could hear.
"Open the doors, now!"
"Yeah, yeah. Alright." They turned around together and heaved on a chain on each side of the door that Ginny hadn't realized was there.
With a loud 'clank', the guards grinned at each other as they wiped sweat from their brows. "You come back now," the guard on the left added with a wink in Ginny's direction.
The guard in front of her huffed to himself as the two guards grabbed the door handles and swung them open.
The light was intense compared to the complete darkness of the outside world. It took her several seconds to adjust. Once adjusted though, she took in the large chamber before her. There had to be enough cells for about forty inmates along the walls and another twenty in the center of the building. But it wasn't quite right.
A loud whistle let loose as they passed. "Hey there luv, I hope you're in for life, 'cause we can have so much fun!"
Laughter rang out among the inmates. "I hope you're here to stay 'cause I got someone who wants to say hullo." Another inmate called out gesturing to his crotch.
"Ha. Don't listen to that wanker. I'll keep you warm all night!" More laughter rang out among the inmates as several more told Ginny how her time could be spent here in Azkaban.
"Ignore them." The guard replied roughly, which was unnecessary as she already intended too.
As they made it to the guard station, Ginny paused at the shine of the metal. This too was new. Glancing back at the cells, she realized that they, too, where different. While still dull with age, each cell was nearly twice the size in the original design. But even that wasn't what bothered her. 'Where are the dementors?'
"Well there goes our evening." The muttered words brought Ginny out of her thoughts. Eyes trained on the two guards at the guard station, some kind of game between them, as the pieces of the Ankou Company were starting come together. The Ankou Company and Azkaban. There was something there, she could feel it. But something key was missing.
"Oi, Miss?" Ginny turned her attention back to the guards behind the station. "We're going to have to search you before you go any further. Your wand, please."
"While you're at it, I'll go find General McCaffer." The guard that had led her, left through the black door directly behind the guard station. Ginny handed her wand to the guard that had spoken previously as the other did several identification spells on her. The guard with her wand weighed and measured it, before giving it back.
"Everything seems to be in order, here."
"Yeah, she's clean for me too."
"That's good to hear, lads." A male voice spoke from behind her. Ginny hadn't heard him coming.
"Sir!" The guards spoke together heels coming together as they moved as one.
"Settle down lads." The older gentleman wasn't wearing a uniform like the guards. Instead, he was dressed in what seemed to be every day robes. And he most certainly didn't look like any kind of general from her Muggle Studies textbooks. No, if anything, he looked more like a Lord as he turned to Ginny, "Miss. Weasley, correct?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "My name's Jim McCaffer. How can we help you today?"
"I'm here to see the Prisoner of Azkaban." Ginny replied shortly. She wasn't sure how many times she would have to say it before they actually took her to him, but she'd say it a hundred times if she had to. For her family, she'd do anything.
"Yes, I'm aware, but that's not what I asked." He replied good naturally.
"I'm here to see the Fixer, or the Prisoner. I don't really care what he goes by, but I know you're not him." Ginny answered sharply. She would know the power of the Reaper when she saw it and she'd yet to see it.
The guards shuffled at her tone, but McCaffer just smiled, as if to a child, "Yes, you are right. I'm not any of those, and I don't claim to share any of the boss' many names. But, it is late. I'd hate to disturb my Lord, if I don't have too. So again. Why are you here? I'm sure I can help you."
'Now, their just stalling.' Ginny took a deep breath in frustration. "Can you do the impossible? Are you deeply familiar with runes? Spells and curses that aren't quite legal? The dark arts?" She continued in a frustrated whisper. "This isn't about money, and I don't have the time to play this game with you. You know what I want."
The kind look that McCaffer had been expressing turned to a very serious frown as he studied her closely. He could look all he wanted. She'd say nothing more until she was face to face with the most powerful prisoner of this place.
McCaffer nodded to himself before giving a quick signal to the guards. All three of them dispensed and went back to what they were doing before she showed up. "Come." McCaffer turned on his heel and lead the way past the two hallways on either side to the black metal door ahead.
McCaffer, or General McCaffer as the guards had called him, always stayed at least one step ahead of her as they walked. Ginny knew she should have been somewhat offended, but she had needed the space to think and process what was to come next. And she got that time, plenty of it, as it took them several minutes of walking down a steep spiral path deep within the Earth until they arrived at a flat platform landing with a doorway on either side.
However, McCaffer did not slow down or turn into one of them. Instead he continued on, Ginny just barely had time to look into the nearly giant sized entry ways. There were people mingling in all stages of undress. 'Barracks?' Ginny questioned as she made out what looked like bunk beds and other typical dorm furniture.
Soon enough they had made their way down the steep spiral path to another platform. This time Ginny was hardly surprised when McCaffer strolled passed without slowing. Like before, there were two doors across from each other. Steam was coming out from the edges between the door and the stone floor. As they passed, she read the signs. The left read 'MALE' and the right 'FEMALE'. They were clearly bathrooms of some sort.
As they took the steep spiral path again, Ginny contemplated how much farther it would take to get to their final destination. Even minute agonizingly slow. She was so close and yet…
It took longer to get to the next landing than the last one. Ginny was sure of it. While time might have been testing her, her ability to gauge depth and count the evenly placed torchlights roughly fifty paces apart were not in question. The similarity between this landing and the others were striking and Ginny thought lacked a bit of imagination. A doorway on either side, Ginny peaked into both surprisingly quiet rooms as McCaffer continued to stride further down the passageway.
Beyond one door, she spied what looked like a Quidditch field. And on the side, 'Is that a ballroom?' She thought, but she didn't get a second look as McCaffer was slightly pulling ahead of her. Quickening her steps, she left the platform and the rooms it held behind.
The walk down the spiral pathway seemed to take several minutes more than the last. She could only hope that meant they were almost there, but when they reached the next platform, McCaffer continued without slowing. Here, they passed two corridors with three simple silver and green doors down each one. A color scheme that would have fit right in with Slytherin house.
Ginny soured at the thought, confusing lacing her mind. The other platforms she could understand; barracks, bathrooms, and entertainment. But this? She let the thought escape her as McCaffer slowed at a dark dingy looking metal door less than a minute away from the confusing platform.
Pulling out his wand, McCaffer tapped the door. As it swung open, he spoke for the first time in over twenty minutes, "Welcome to Anaon."
01:55 - 0 hour, 18 minutes
As Ginny walked past the metal door to Anaon, she expected to see a room right out of hell. More importantly, she expected to feel the cold of the dementors. If there was any place the dementors would linger it would be in the heart of Azkaban. So, it was with much surprise that all she found was a dark hallway with four door shaped openings; three on the right side of the corridor and one across from the second.
It was cold, but not freezing, the corridor was dark, but the torchlight lit the passage fairly well.
Anaon, well, it fell short of her expectations. Even so, she felt a coldness in her heart. 'Tonight.' She thought to herself. She would re-read the article tonight. She could no longer push it off. Whoever this Prisoner was, Fixer or Reaper, she was sure they had one thing in common, Harry. Her mind could come up with only a handful of individuals with the wealth and means to pull off something like this, Nott chief among them.
A sad smile touched her lips. The pair had never gotten on well. And she was sure this meeting would be no different. A hint of dread filled her as they passed the first opening, a potions lab of some kind. Nott was wealth and resources, a talented wizard, but he could not do the impossible.
They slowed near the second opening. A thick blood red curtain hung before her and behind, an open brick archway revealing an extensive library easily four times the size of Grimmauld Place. Ginny glanced back at the open doorway in confusion. The first opening had also been missing a door. And she was sure the third and final doorway would be the same, just a brick archway.
McCaffer looked over at her, questioning without words if she really wanted to do this. It was the first real hesitation she felt. Closing her eyes, she took a shaky breath. 'Merlin, what am I doing here? Nott will never help me. This is just going to give me more nightmares for weeks.' Flashes of her family crossed her mind. Her mother's strong hugs. Her father's warm smile. The way Bill and Charlie could make her laugh. The twins and their pranks. Hermione's knowing smile. Even Percy and Ron held special places in her heart. She could not back out now.
Opening her eyes, she sent McCaffer a challenging look. He nodded before pushing through the curtains.
"Jim? What is it?" Ginny could hear a deep tenor voice respond beyond the veil.
'Strange, that doesn't sound like Nott.' But she could be mistaken. It had been years seen they'd last meet.
"I'm so sorry to disturb you, my Lord, but you have a visitor seeking your help."
Ginny too that as her cue and walked confidently through the curtains. Or tried too. Upon making it to the other side, she nearly lost her ability to stand. Stumbling passed McCaffer, she came face to face with the one person she thought she would never see again.
'No.' She thought, 'No, this can't be. He's dead. I know he's dead!' No one had ever out lived Anaon. And he was supposed to be the same. Harry Potter was supposed be dead. Here, Anaon, years ago, was where he'd died. And they hadn't even been able to retrieve his body for a proper burial.
And yet, Ginny would know those green eyes anywhere. The Fixer, the Reaper, this Prisoner, was her only hope. And he was also Harry Potter, the Prisoner of Anaon.
Her eyes traced over him slowly. His eyes steady on hers, quiet. She was grateful for his silence. Sitting at ease on a bed half hidden behind a desk, he looked different. Hair longer, unruly even more so than when it was short. He was in red and not that ever present green and silver she'd known him to wear everywhere. And everything about him screamed wealth, from his silk top to his black pants, a clear custom order as the ends wrapped purposefully around his ankles. A thick black cloth belt tied off his trousers. He wore no shoes or socks.
She looked up as he moved to stand. Taller than she remembered, and his face, his face lined and hard. But those eyes, no longer hidden behind thick black-rimmed glasses, he was impossible to mistake for anyone else.
"Harry," she whispered as those emerald green eyes, eyes she'd thought she'd never see again, stared back at her. 'How is this possible?'
Ginny had only been sitting in her room for little more than ten minutes, when the twins opened her door.
"Knock, knock" Fred spoke as he and George entered, closing the door behind them.
"You know you're supposed to actually knock, not just make the sound." She set the old stuffed animal she'd been holding down on her bed as she turned to face her twin brothers./
"Didn't want to give you the chance to say no," Fred replied as he moved over to Ginny's desk to sit perched on the side.
"Now did we." George finished as he flopped down to sit on the chair next to the desk. Ginny laughed at her twin brothers' response. "What are you doing up here, anyway." George questioned.
"It's not every day, our favorite sister turns fifteen." Fred added.
"I'm your only sister." She replied ignoring the question.
"Then you should be glad you're our favorite too." Fred responded.
Ginny turned away from them, a small smile on her lips as she contemplated answering. It was several second before she replied softly, "It was getting a little awkward down there."
Fred leaned over to pat Ginny gentle on the shoulders, while George replied. "I know what you mean."
"We told Sirius it was too soon," Fred added.
"But look on the bright side." George continued.
"There's a bright side? For some reason, I'm having a hard time seeing it," Ginny replied dryly as she turned back to face the twins.
"Oh yeah? At least Dumbledore's not here," George answered.
Ginny laughed harshly at that, "Yeah, that is some luck. I'm pretty sure Tonks invited all of the order members and most of my friends." Ginny smiled in thought. "And she had the nerve to tell me, if I'd had more friends I wouldn't have had to suffer though the old folks."
The twins laughed with her, before Fred replied, "Well, she does have a point…"
Ginny playfully hit her older brother before her face sobered. "You didn't come up here just to see your favorite sister."
The twins share a look before standing back up, "You caught us."
"We got you one more present," Fred pulled out a delicately wrapped package and handed it to her. She looked back at them before opening the present carefully. Inside was a newspaper. "We thought you would want to have it."
Ginny opened the paper to the front page to reveal a black and white picture of Harry Potter being carried away by dementors. 'BOY-WHO-LIVED SENTENCED TO ANAON!' flashed in bold letter. Ginny touched the image delicately.
"We know you never got a chance to read it."
"And when you were ready to read it,"
"Mum had already thrown out all the copies." Ginny made no motion to reply to either of the twins.
Fred moved closer to his little sister, and watched as she studied the front page of the special edition newspaper. "It wasn't the easiest paper to find."
"But we worked Lee into helping us find a copy for you."
An awkward silence enveloped the trio for several seconds before George broke it. "He didn't deserve to die."
"No matter the crime," Fred added.
"Especially, not for defending himself," George continued.
"He may have been a snake."
"But he always protected his friends."
"And could take a joke." A small smile touched Ginny's lips at that, so Fred continued, "We respected him."
"We still didn't think he was good enough for you," George spoke softly.
"But no one really is," Fred added in a matter of fact tone.
"It's a big brothers dilemma," George continued with a straight face and even tone.
This time a laugh escaped from Ginny. She finally looked up at the twins, "Thank you." She glanced briefly at the paper in her hands before looking back up. "Do you think they'll retrieve his body? Maybe bury him next to his parents?" She paused but the twins didn't interrupt. "After everything he's done, he's still the Boy-Who-Lived."
The twins shook their heads together as Fred replied, "I'm sorry Ginny."
"We asked dad about that first."
"We thought it would have made a better present, then just this paper."
"You getting to see him one more time." George paused before he continued. "To say goodbye."
"But he said it couldn't be done," Fred replied sadly.
"Too dangerous," George added.
"It's in the heart of Azkaban."
"Completely surrounded by dementors."
"No one can retrieve him now."
…HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER…
Ginny let silent tears dropped to the paper beneath her hands.
"Ginny?" The twins spoke together.
"I'm not strong enough! I'm just a stupid little fan girl who couldn't save the boy who saved my life." Ginny wiped the tears from her eyes. "But I promise, I promise, that one day, I will grow stronger, and I will go there, to Anaon." She paused. "I will not let his body lie in Anaon forever!" She took a deep breath before continuing, "I promise, that someday…" She paused to wipe away a few more tears. Fred moved to comfort his sister only to be stopped by the fierce look in her eyes. "I couldn't save him before. And I can do nothing now. But I promise, someday, I'll make sure he's not alone, lost to the world. No one deserves that."
02:00 - 0 hour, 13 minutes
Ginny hadn't thought about that night so many years ago in such a long time. She'd made a promise then to come to this place and bring back Harry's body, even if only a skeleton remained. The twins had promised to help her if she needed it. But she'd never intended to ask them. It didn't seem to have mattered, though. Her promise was for naught, because Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, had never needed saving.
"Ginevra, Ginevra Weasley?"
His voice was colder than she remembered too, but Azkaban could change a person. How much? She would soon find out.
"You're not the first person I would expect to need the Fixer?" Harry spoke breaking her from her thoughts.
She wasn't here for Harry or for herself. "My family is under attack."
There was a long pause where Ginny thought he would say nothing. "Why should I care about what happens to the Weasleys?" His reply surprised her. It was much crueler than she ever imagined coming from him. "No. This seems like, poetic justice."
He folded his arms as he leaned back letting his back touch the stone wall behind him. It was as if he were taunting her. Challenging her. This Harry was familiar, "But you are also the Fixer, no? Whatever my family has done, doesn't, shouldn't, matter to the Fixer. For you help those who are in need, those who are truly desperate."
Harry laughed at Ginny's reply. "That's just an old wives tale, Ginevra." He leaned in toward her as he continued, "I help those who help me. Desperation has nothing to do with it. In fact, I prefer not to deal with the desperate." He leaned back as he continued motioning with his hands as he spoke, "Desperation is only a temporary state of mind. Once it's over, how can I know I can trust their discretion?" He shook his head in answer to his own question. "No, the desperate are why I have Jacob."
Ginny was momentarily confused, before she realized that Jacob must have been the squib. "He was of no use to me. Your Jacob. But you?" She looked around as if to survey their surroundings. A ploy she used to gain her bearings as she tested her wits against Harry's once more. "The wards surrounding the Burrow are anchored to stones. It's an extremely powerful ward design that not just anyone could break, and definitely not within the time limit I have."
"And are you still sure you have time?" Ginny frowned at the question. The time was not something she cared to think about so she brushed it aside.
"I've no way of getting through to them. But you could. Those wards should be nothing compared to the wards of Azkaban, of Anaon." Ginny directed her attention back to Harry before continuing, "I didn't need Jacob. I need someone as strong if not stronger than Riddle." She paused to let her words sink in. "That can only be you."
Harry did not immediately respond. But she didn't have time for him to contemplate his options. And the Harry she remembered was not one for indecision. If he was going to do it, then he would decide now.
"Yes, I could do it. Break the wards around the Burrow, among other things. But you seem to be missing a very important requirement for speaking with the Fixer." He paused only for a second, "Why should I help you? You've nothing to exchange, Weasley."
"Weasley?" Tutting at the name, Ginny continued. "You've not called me that in a long time, Harry." She replied without pause.
"Times have changed. Haven't they?" He looked passed Ginny pensively before he snapped out of his own thoughts. "Leave, Ginny. You're wasting my time."
"Have I ever wasted your time before?" She shook her head to answer her own question, "Never, and I don't plan to start now." She knew she could not offer the family clock now that would have only insulted him. No, she only had one other option left.
"What is your bargain?"
"Save my family, and I'll trade you my life." Ginny took a deep breath before continuing. "I'll trade you my life as a Healer. I'll be the Ankou Company's personal Healer, no charge. Whatever you need or your people need. Let my skills be yours to control."