Hello Everyone.
I know, I know. I've kept you all waiting a long time for this. I am so sorry about that. Really and truly. Please don't think I didn't work on this as much as I could. I did. But I was a little busy working on a play. As some of you know I studied theatre in school as well as literature. It was my life for the longest time. I haven't been able to work on a play since I graduated and I finally got the chance. I was asked to come back and help my old school with their eighth grade production of Robin Hood. It was so much fun but very time consuming and very tiring. When I got home at night I didn't have the energy to make myself go through the chapter and make corrections. But I'm done now. So until I manage to get a job I should hopefully have more time. I say that a lot, don't I? I'm a terrible person. But as it is, I think this chapter is ready to be sent out.
For all of you who took the time to review, I want to thank you once again. I sincerely adore everyone I get and love being in correspondence with you.
So, after all of that, here's the next chapter. I hope you all like it. If you don't let me know too. Tell me what it is that bothered you. I really want to know. Thanks again and Happy Reading, Noterwomann
Chapter Twenty-Three: Me over Them
Ginny reappeared in an alley a short distance away from the visitor's entrance to the Ministry. Too angry to wait and see if any Muggles had noticed her sudden appearance, she yanked open the door to the old telephone booth, punched in 62442 before the door was fully closed, and growled the purpose of her visit to the obnoxiously pleasant voice on the other end of the line.
When the name badge clinked into the coin return, she shoved it in her pocket, too wound up to be fussed with pinning it to her clothes.
With a lethal glare on her bright red face, Ginny made it quickly through the atrium, most witches and wizards being smart enough to move out of her way when they saw her. Those who weren't, got a sharp reprimand and escaped, miraculously, not knowing how close they had come to being hexed.
The time it had taken to get to the Ministry had done nothing to cool her temper. If anything, the journey had made it worse. In the lift the other riders shied away from her and the angry heat that radiated off her in waves, and in some cases even got off on the wrong floor to escape her volatile presences.
When she finally reached her floor, she forced her way through the grates before they were fully open, and into the busy corridor. She looked around with a calculating eye and caught the first Auror she spotted by the collar, whipping him around until he was facing her.
The man's eyes widened in a mingled look of shock and a hint of fear. Ginny's fingers curled tighter as she pulled him closer, their noses nearly touching. "I'm here to see Hermione Granger." She bit out. "Now."
Recovering from his initial shock, the man pried his robes out of her grasp and took a precautionary step back, putting a safe distance between them, before frowning at Ginny with the same look of disapproval as he would a petulant child. He tugged his robes back into place as he squared his shoulders. "I'm afraid that's not possible. Hermione Granger is a…"
"I didn't ask if it was possible," Ginny interrupted. "Take me to her now."
"If you're not an Auror," he looked her over, making it clear he understood that was not even a possibility, "you must be preapproved by the Ministry." He grimaced at her smugly. "I very much doubt you've been approved."
Oblivious to the crowd beginning to gather, Ginny growled "I don't have time for this." and pushed past the arrogant man.
"Hold on a minute." His fingers curled around her arm and pulled her to a stop. "Where do you think you're going?"
Ginny yanked her arm free. "I'm going to see my husband. Is that alright? Or do I have to be Ministry approved first?"
The man rolled his eyes with annoyance, clearly at the end of his patience. "Ma'am, you're mad if you think I'm going to let you past to see your husband, just so you can sneak off to the holding cells. You'll need to do better than that."
"I don't need to sneak off to the holding cells. My husband will escort me."
"Enough of this." He said sharply. "You don't have a husband in this department and you're not getting past me. So turn around and go home before I call Ministry security."
"Charlie!" one of the bystanders stepped away from the increasing crowd. "I'll handle this" A slender woman pushed her way to the front of the crowd and crossed briskly to where the Auror and Ginny were still glaring at each other. The man only turned his glare away from Ginny and onto the other Auror when she was standing next to them. "It's alright Charlie," she said putting a hand on his upper arm, "I got this."
With a smile on her face the woman turned and extended a hand to Ginny. "It's wonderful to see you again Mrs Potter." Ginny took her hand and shook it curtly before letting it drop. Beside her, Charlie's eyes widened in horror. "I'm afraid your husband's in class right now. But I would be happy to assist you in the mean time. Adelaide Carter, Gamma Squad." She stepped back and made a sweeping motion with her hand. "If you'll come this way?"
Ginny glared pointedly at the man, titling her chin up triumphantly as she passed the now embarrassed Charlie.
"Don't think too poorly of him, Mrs Potter." Adelaide said as she led her into the heart of the chaos that made up the Auror office. "Charlie's a stickler for protocol. His hearts in the right place."
Ginny humphed, staying close to her guide, aware that she could very easily get lost in the seemingly never ending maze of cubicles. Just when she thought she couldn't be any more disoriented, the Auror stepped into one of the work stations and offered Ginny her seat.
When Ginny was seated, Adelaide turned and leaned against her desk, ankles and arms crossed comfortably. "Now, how can I help you Mrs Potter?"
Ginny squared her shoulders, readying herself for another battle. "I need to see Hermione Granger."
"I see." Adelaide twitched her lips from side to side, her eyes focused in thought. "Hmm. Well, I can't make any promises…" Ginny began to protest, "but," she held up a hand to quiet her, "if you wait here, and you promise to behave…, I'll see what I can do."
"Fine," the redhead sat back in her chair, arms crossed defiantly, one leg over the other, foot bouncing with irritation. "But if you take too long I'm going without you."
Adelaide frowned at her from beneath arched brows. "Stay put." She said pointedly before she turned and disappeared into the confusion outside her office.
Huffing with annoyance, Ginny sat back in her seat. After several minutes of trying not to tap her toe she got up and made a slow inspection of the office. One thing was abundantly clear, Adelaide Carter was a perfectionist. Her little cubicle was spotless. Everything was labeled and alphabetized and quiet obviously in its designated place. There was no clutter. No interesting artwork to liven up the place. No sense of personality at all. Hermione would approve.
And with that involuntary thought the anger that was just beginning to ebb roared back to life with new vengeance, blocking out all thoughts but how good it would feel to avenge her brother.
What had she been thinking? She should have trusted Ron and his judgment from the very beginning. Who better to assess the situation between him and Hermione then him? She should have backed off when he told her too. If she hadn't pushed him so hard, if she hadn't badgered Hermione into giving it another go, Ron wouldn't be suffering like he was now.
And to make matters worse, as angry as she was with Hermione, she was even more disgusted with herself, which only fed her anger and perpetuated the cycle. So much so that by the time Adelaide came back to tell her that she had been approved and could see Hermione, she responded with no more than a grunt. She had allowed her anger such free reign that when the door to the interrogation room opened, she didn't realize what she had done until she felt the sharp tingle of sting in her hand.
Hermione stared back at her through wide, brown eyes, one hand held tenderly to her flaming cheek. The rest of her face turned white as the blood rushed to the place where her skin burned. She stared at Ginny for a silent minute, taking in everything from her stance, to the angry heat in her face to the intense fury igniting her eyes. She tilted her shin up a fraction. "I see you've spoken with Ron, then."
Ginny's fingers curled into fists at Hermione's indifference "You're just lucky they took my wand."
Hermione nodded, subdued. "That's probably true."
"That's probably true? That's probably true?" Ginny took another step towards Hermione but forced herself to stop. "You're a real bitch, do you know that? You are the most horrible, spiteful, vindictive, coldhearted, manipulative hag I've ever had the misfortune to meet."
Hermione turned her gaze away. "Is that so?" She let her hand drop. There was the distinct outline of Ginny's hand, pale white against the enflamed skin.
"Yes, that's so. How could you do this to Ron?"
"I haven't done anything to Ron."
"You told him he was a failure!"
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"I don't seem to recall that." She looked at Ginny out of the corner of her eye. "When exactly was this?"
"Are you going to try and stand there and tell me you didn't tell Ron he doesn't deserve to be a father?"
"No." She turned back to Ginny. "I'm not. I did technically say that to him."
"How could you lie to him like that?"
Hermione shrugged. "Do you really think I'm wrong?"
Ginny tensed, ready to launch herself across the room at the other woman.
Hermione threw up her hand to block her if she did. "I'm not the one you're angry at." She yelled, stopping Ginny in her tracks.
"Care to place a wager?" She began stalking the brunette. For every step she took forward, Hermione took one back, hands still raised against her.
"You're angry," Hermione said, "I get that." Somehow she managed to put the table between her and the redhead and to keep it there, "But you know as well as I do that what I said was true."
"True?" Ginny snarled, slamming her hands down on the table. "You told Ron he was a bad father."
"No," she held up a finger. "I didn't. I asked him, what made him think he deserved to be a father, seeing as he obviously doesn't appreciate the family he already has?"
"You are unbelievable!" Ginny threw up her hands. "Ron is going through the most difficult time in his life and you expect him to know if Fred's got himself a girlfriend? By Merlin, he does have his priorities mixed up. How dare a father be more concerned for his child's safety and return then his brother's love life? How can he live with himself? Who the bloody hell cares if Fred has a girlfriend?"
"I'm sure Fred cares very much."
"Fred's not important right now."
"Try telling him that."
Again Ginny slammed her hands down on the table, this time with a growl. "This isn't about Fred. This is about Ron and what you said to him."
With an annoyed sigh, Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her hip out to the side in an insolent pose. "And what exactly did I say to Ronald that was so bad?"
"He said you called him a screw up."
Hermione shook her head. "I never used those words."
"You told him a real Auror would have found Blake by now."
"Actually, I believe I told him he wasted a week he could have spent looking for Blake, trying to see me, when I clearly did not want to see him. You know as well as I do that Ron get's so wrapped up in his own misery that he doesn't see that there are people around him. People who love him and care about him and who would do absolutely anything for him. And despite his neglect, he has a family who can, and will, help him find her, all he has to do is ask."
"How dare you turn this around and put all the blame on him?"
Hermione lowered her head with a sigh. "I should have known you would be blinded by family loyalty."
Ginny snorted. "What? Did you think I would take your side in this?"
"I had hoped you'd see reason."
"There is no reason where my brother's heart is concerned. Do you have any idea what you've done to him?"
"I'm sure I don't." Hermione turned away, giving Ginny her back.
"He's tearing his house apart, Hermione. All of Blake's things are packed away. When I arrived this afternoon to talk to him he was dismantling her cot. He says he doesn't want her back. He say's you're right, and that he doesn't deserve to be a father. He thinks she'd be better off with someone else." Ginny waited for Hermione to respond, to give any indication that Hermione felt any remorse for what he words had wrought. When there was none Ginny lost what little control she had. She flew around the table, took Hermione by the shoulders, and shoved her painfully against the wall, holding her there. "Don't you get it?" She shook her. "He's stopped trying? He's not going to look for her anymore."
Something passed by Hermione's eyes, but Ginny didn't understand it. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and latched on. Slowly her eyes drew level with Ginny's. "What do you want me to do about it?" She asked.
Ginny released her. Her hands fell numbly to her side. She stepped back, shaking her head with disbelief. "Nothing. Clearly, your heart is made of ice."
Hermione tilted her chin up. "You wouldn't be the first Weasley to suggest it."
"How can you be so cold?"
"I said what he needed to hear."
Ginny shook her head. "You really don't understand how much damage you've done, do you? Ron's broken. You broke him. He's spent the last five years trying to get over you, to fix all the damage you did. And in one day, one day," she held up a finger,"you've completely destroyed him. I don't understand what you've done, or why you're doing it, but you're clearly not the person I thought you were. I can't believe I ever thought you and Ron were meant to be. He was right from the beginning. I should have left things alone. You cause him nothing but heartache. You're like a disease that'll never go away. But, you're going to try. Do you understand? You stay away from my brother. And you stay away from me." She stepped back several paces, putting as much space as she could between them. "You're no longer welcome in my home. If you ever manage to get yourself out of this mess, you can find yourself someplace else to stay. I'll send you're things any place you want, but you are never to step foot in my house again."
"Gin…" Hermione reached a hand out when she turned her back, but let it drop limply at her side.
Ginny closed her eyes against the pain she thought she heard in the other woman's voice. "I wish you had never left Spain."
Hermione closed her eyes as she turned her face away.
Moments after she knocked the door opened and Ginny was let out of the room.
When the door banged closed Hermione sagged against the wall. Her knees started to buckle beneath her. She lurched for the nearest chair. Body trembling, she collapsed onto the seat. With a last shaky breath her fortitude shattered, bending over the table, she buried her face in her arms, and wept. Her entire body heaved with every gasp, heavy tears slid from her eyes and soaked the sleeves of her robes.
"That's quite a show you put on."
Hermione bit into her arm to keep from screaming. "Go away." The moaned, the words a muffled gasp.
Jillian smiled down with satisfaction at Hermione's bent head. "You really pulled a number on him. On both of them. She hates you almost as much as he does. You have no idea how satisfying that was to watch."
Hermione pulled her head, eyes narrowed with loathing. "Don't you have anything better to do?" Her cheek was still bright red, the fading imprint of Ginny's hand.
"Nope." She said brightly. "Not until you give me what I need."
"I didn't do anything wrong." She bit out each word.
"That's not for you to decide." Jillian glided forward. She sat on the corner of the table. She crossed one leg over the other toward Hermione. "What's it like?" Hermione stared at her blankly. "To have the person you love despise you so much?" The brunette cringed into herself. "Because he really hates you… You know that, don't you? He despises you."
Hermione took several breaths to compose herself, but couldn't bring her emotions under control. Her voice trembled despite her efforts. "What do I care if he hates me?"
"Oh," Jillian leaned toward Hermione, all her weight braced on one hand. "I think you care very much." She used a finger to wipe a stray tear from Hermione's cheek.
Hermione hit her hand away. "Don't touch me."
Jillian stared at the tear clinging to her finger tip. "So the Ice Princess feels after all."
Hermione turned her face away, eyes closed. "Leave me alone." She breathed.
"What are you going to do about it, Granger? Have one of your best friends come after me? Weasley, you're great defender? He's never coming back. You've made sure of that."
"Harry…"
"Is far too busy with Ministry work to be concerned with you."
Hermione threw her head up, eyes narrowed shrewdly. "What do you mean by that?"
Jillian sat back away from Hermione, ignoring her in favor of her painted nails.
"Oldham," Hermione snapped. "What did you mean by that?"
The Auror buffed her nails against her robes before looking at them again. "I decided after that stunt Weasley pulled yesterday that my entire squad needed a refresher course." She finally looked at Hermione, a smile returning to her lips when she saw the furious flush on Hermione's face. "It was somewhat ironic and almost poetic, I must admit, that I got the idea from Weasley. That alone was almost enough for me to reconsider. But then I realized, the prospect of having Potter out of my hair and proving to him that I don't hate him was just too good to pass up."
"I knew it." The words were as soft as a breath.
"Yes, yes." Jillian rolled her eyes. "You're so smart. So clever. You've outwitted us all." She hopped off the table so that she could stand over Hermione. She placed one hand on the table and one on the back of Hermione's chair, caging her in. "Why are you still fighting me, Granger?" Jillian's voice was low enough that anyone who might be listening couldn't here. "You've proven Weasley didn't have anything to do with the kidnapping. We know you did it. Why don't you just confess and put yourself out of this misery. Maybe then Weasley will hear what you did for him and he'll forgive you…Not that it would do you much good, seeing as you'll be in prison…but at least there will be one less thing to torment you."
Hermione clamped down on her teeth, eyes blazing, struggling violently inside not to lose control and let Jillian Oldham win. Her nostrils flared with each labored breath. Her body burned with hatred for the other woman. Her finger curled into the underside of her seat, her nails bit into the wood, her knuckles turned white. She had never hated anyone so much before in her life.
Struggling to control every syllable, she spoke slowly, forcing her voice to sound calm. "If we're finished, I'd like to go back to my cell."
Responding with frustration, Jillian stepped back and away from Hermione. She glared down at her prisoner with hate filled eyes. "I hope you haven't grown too attached to your current accommodations. We're moving you to a new location."
Hermione slammed a hand down on the table. "You can't keep holding me. It's against the law."
"Actually," Jillian smirked. "I can." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bit of folded parchment. "Why did you have to go and force my hand, Granger? Getting people to start questioning me?" She tossed the packet onto the table. It slid to a stop between Hermione's hands. "We're formally charging you with the Blythe Baby kidnapping."
Hermione's eyes grew wide. Her mouth fell open. "You can't do that." She jumped to her feet, fumbling to unfold the parchment as she did. She quickly scanned the document, looking up at her tormenter when she finished. The parchment crumpled between her fingers. "You have nothing without my confession."
"That's for the courts to decide. Of course, you could make my job a lot easier if…"
"Never." Hermione snapped. "You'll never get a confession out of me. Never."
Jillian shrugged dismissively. "We'll see." She turned and made her way to the open door. "We'll reopen this topic in a few days, after you've had some more time to think." She stopped in the doorway to look back at Hermione. "A think a few days will be more than adequate to loosen your tongue."
Hermione sank onto her chair. Carefully, so as not to rip the parchment, she smoothed out the creases and bent her head to read it again.
Before she could get halfway through, four men she didn't know, but immediately recognized for what they were, stepped into the room. Every muscle in her body screamed with fear and tension as they moved to surround her. "Am I…" She had to swallow past her terror. "Am I really so dangerous that I need four of you to come and retrieve me?"
One of the four men looked down at her apologetically. "Captain Oldham requested a full escort."
Hermione nodded. "Because one of you wouldn't be humiliating enough."
The man frowned as he offered her hand to help her up. "For what it's worth, it's a real honor to meet you, Ms Granger."
Hermione blinked back her tears as she forced her chin into a defiant angel. "Thank you."
He stepped back to let her by. "If you'll come with us?"
Hermione snatched up the parchment and shoved it in her pocket before turning to the door. She stopped just inside the frame, one hand resting on the smooth wood for support. "Are…" It was hard to speak around the lump of fear in her throat. "Are the rumors true?"
"What rumors, Ms Granger?"
She had to swallow again. "Are there still Dementors patrolling Azkaban?"
The man sighed. "Not as many as before. But yes."
She stood there a moment, silent and still, combating the fear threatening to annihilate her. Images of third year flooded her mind. The icy feeling of despair that washed over you. The things the Dementors had the power to make you remember. She could see clearly Sirius Black in her mind, remember distinctly how he had never fully recovered from his time. How even now Hagrid didn't like to speak of his short stint in the wizard prison. "Thank you." Her voice cracked. "For being honest with me."
"Ms Granger," the man sounded truly upset, though Hermione couldn't bring herself to turn and look at him out of fear that even the smallest movement would cause her to break down and lose control.
"Yes?"
"I'll do everything I can to make your stay more comfortable."
Hermione said nothing, but nodded. Without another word she stepped into the hall and the Azkaban guards followed.
Harry apperated into Number Twelve's front foyer, shoulders sagging with exhaustion. He hated giving refresher courses. Licensed Aurors were so much more difficult than new recruits. They never listened to what he had to say and assumed that because they worked in the field, and he didn't, that they knew more than him. Which was just ridiculous. Just because he wasn't a regular in the field didn't mean he didn't see action every now and again. Besides that, Ron and he regularly sat down to discuss his cases. It was something they had started when they had first become Aurors. They would discus every detail of an assignment. What happened? What went wrong? What went right? What could or should have been done differently. The original idea was that they could learn from each other's mistakes if a similar situation ever cropped up again. Now, with his position as an instructor he used what he learned from Ron to help train the recruits, hopefully making them better field agents.
Besides the new techniques and protocol he had to teach the current Aurors, the Betas were simply getting sloppy. So much so that he was glad Captain Oldham had done the responsible thing and sent her team his way. They needed his refresher course, and badly. It felt like it took forever today to get to the new stuff because he had to go back and fix the problems that had developed out of laziness. It was maddening.
Sighing, Harry shook his cloak off his shoulders and hung it in the hall closet. He didn't know what Hermione had been thinking. There was nothing really wrong with Jillian Oldham. True she was ignoring a few of the Ministry's rules and guidelines, but she was an old school Auror. It would take her time to adjust to the way the Ministry was run now. Besides, he had had a perfectly pleasant conversation with her yesterday when she came to him requesting he lead her team in their refresher courses.
With another sigh Harry glanced down at his watch and groaned. He hadn't realized he was so late. The Betas took much longer then they should have, which meant he hadn't been able to leave the Ministry to follow a lead on Blake's case until nearly the end of the work day. Sadly, his lead had turned up cold, but he felt better for having done something.
But still, he winced at the time on his wristwatch, he should have let Ginny know he was going to be late. She was going to be furious.
"Ginny!" He called into the quiet house. A quick look around the first floor showed most of the lights were out. "Gin?" He caught the scent of food in the air and followed it to the kitchen.
He pushed open the door. Using his wand he illuminated the room and groaned. A cold bowl of stew and a hunk of bread sat at the head of the table. He had definitely missed dinner. But that wasn't what made him groan. Left abandoned on the counter was a slap of butcher-block, the meat cleaver and mallet.
Harry let the door swing closed. Shite. This wasn't good. He knew the signs by now. It was never good when Ginny got out the meat mallet. It could only mean one thing. She was really and truly hacked off.
Dread rising inside him, Harry turned and fearfully began the search for his wife. Normally when the mallet and cleaver came out Harry knew to stay well away and let her take her aggression out on the meat, instead of on him, while he took care of the children and other house hold chores he could find. There was no point talking to Ginny when she had the mallet in her hand. All she seemed to notice was the raw meat and the satisfying thwack sound the mallet made with contact. Apparently, it was very therapeutic.
Now, more often than not, Harry was the cause of his wife's anger. They were still a newly married couple. They were bound to get on each other's nerves every now and again. But then again, normally he knew what he had done wrong. Today he was clueless.
When he left for work this morning Ginny had been reasonably happy, all things considered. And yes, he realized he was terribly late for dinner, but the fact that she used the mallet instead of magically tenderizing the meat suggested she had been angry before she started. Which meant it couldn't be his fault, which meant something else had happened to upset his wife.
When his search of the first floor came up empty he climbed the stairs to the next story. "Ginny!" He called when he reached the landing.
"Harry?" She called from the room at the end of the hall. Hermione's room. His eyes furrowed. "Harry, would you come give me a hand with this?"
Quickening his step, Harry hurried down the hall and into his best friend's room. "Ginny," he gapped. "What are you doing?"
Ginny tossed her hair over her shoulder as she looked back at him. "I'm stealing a page from the book of Ron."
"You're what?" He stared at her bewildered.
"Stealing a page from the book of Ron." She repeated, turning back around. "I can't believe I ever let that woman inside my house." She flicked her wand and clothes flew from the wardrobe, across the room and into Hermione's trunk, landing in a messy pile that would make Hermione cringe. "When I'm through with this will you bring it up to the attic and put it with the rest of her things?"
"Ginny," Harry went to her, putting halting hands on her shoulders, turning her around to face him. "What is going on here?"
Ginny huffed. "I'll tell you what's going on. I'm packing up her things."
"I can see that. But why?"
"Why? Why?" Her voice rose a few octaves. "I'll tell you why? That woman…" She jabbed him in the chest. "That woman did it again." She pulled her hair angrily out of her face. "If you only knew what she said to him. I can't believe she actually said…it's ridiculous…do you hear me? Ridiculous. Ron is the best. Do you hear me? The best! I could strangle her." Her fingers reflexively curled. "Tear her apart piece by piece, I'm so angry. Can you believe her?"
"Ginny," Harry shook his head, bewildered. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about that bitch who use to live here."
"Yes, yes…I've gathered that. But what exactly has she done that's got you so mad?"
"What has she done? What has she done? I'll tell you what she did. She broke my brother's heart. Again! She ripped it out of his chest! She crushed it between her…"
"I get the picture." Harry places a hand over both of hers which were simulating a heart being crushed between them. "Ginny, you have to tell me what she did, because I'm completely lost here. I thought Hermione wasn't seeing Ron?"
"She wasn't."
"Then how…?"
"Use your brain, Harry." Ginny snapped. "How do you think?" She banished more clothes into the trunk. They landed in a crumpled heap. Hermione would throw a fit if she saw how careless Ginny was being. "Ron got tired of her refusing to see him so he lied and got in. Keep up with me, please."
"I'm trying. But you have to help me here, Gin. I can't read your mind."
Ginny glared at him. "I know that." Another pile of clothes flew across the room. Harry ducked as a wooden hanger came loose and nearly hit his head. Clearly the mallet hadn't done the job.
"Great." He said coming up behind her and holding her hand when she made to banish more clothes. He gently, but forcefully, lowered her wand arm as he turned her to face him. He placed his hands calmly on her shoulders. "Why don't you take a couple of deep breaths?" Glaring with annoyance, she inhaled mockingly. Harry sighed. "And start at the beginning. Try and help me understand."
Ginny let her breath rush out her nose. "Fine. From the beginning?"
Harry nodded. "From the beginning."
"Alright. I was in the kitchen." She crossed the room to the bed and sat down. "Si made a mess. There was spaghetti everywhere. I was cleaning up when Parker Gale floo called me. He was concerned because Ron didn't come into work today."
"You know," Harry said sitting down next to her and taking her hand. "I think I heard someone mention that at work. But I dismissed it. Ron doesn't miss work."
"Exactly! Exactly my point." She said getting excited again. "That's why Parker asked me to go to his house and check on him."
"And did you?"
"Yes, of course. And Harry, I've never seen him like this before." She released his hand so that she could get to her feet. "This was so much worse than last time." She turned to face him. "He's devastated, Harry. He's packed all Blake's things away. He asked me if I knew anyone in need of a cot. Don't you get it?" She asked indignantly when Harry didn't immediately respond. "He says he doesn't want Blake back. And do you want to know why? Because Hermione told him he doesn't deserve to be a father."
"She what?"
"Yeah." She said indignantly. "Hermione said he doesn't deserve to be a father. And why? Why, might you ask? Because she said he doesn't appreciate the family he already has. Can you believe that? He doesn't appreciate us? He appreciates us just fine. As if we don't understand what he's going through. At least some of us understand. Nothing, I repeat, nothing, is more important to a parent then their child. Am I right?"
"Of course." Harry agreed. "Nothing."
"Exactly my point." She let her hand come down on her thigh with a smack. "I mean, what's more important? Ron focusing on Blake's case? Or keeping up with Fred's love life?"
"Is that a trick question?"
"It shouldn't be. But for some reason, that I will never understand, Hermione thinks Ron let us all down because he doesn't know a few trivial facts about us."
"Wait, wait, wait." Harry waved his hands. "Are you trying to tell me that Hermione told Ron he doesn't deserve to be a father because he didn't ask Fred if he has a girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
Ginny opened up her hands as if to say, what have I been telling you.
Harry shook his head, bewildered. "But that doesn't make any sense." He murmured.
"Thank you." Ginny started pacing again.
"And Ron believes her?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "That was just one of the factors. Apparently he lets us down because he didn't know if Bryony was sleeping through the night, and he let Fleur down because he doesn't ask her about her morning sickness."
Harry's brow furrowed with concentration. "Huh." He slumped forward. "That just doesn't sound right."
"You're telling me."
"No, I mean, that doesn't sound like Hermione at all." Ginny gapped at him. "I'm just saying it doesn't make sense. Hermione was just as focused on Blake's case as Ron was. More so. I doubt she could even answer those questions."
"See!" Ginny said with satisfaction. "She's a hypocrite as well."
"Maybe." Harry frowned. "Hmm…" He looked lost in thought, bent forward, arms braced on his knees, eyes narrowed.
"Hmm, what?"
Harry glanced up. "Nothing." Ginny crossed her arms at him. "Nothing really." He assured her. "I was just thinking about the last time I talked to her."
"What about it."
"I don't know." Harry shrugged. "It's just…now that I think about it… she might have mentioned Fred that day as well."
"So?" Ginny folded her arms.
"So…" Harry sat up. "It might be nothing, but… and I was just thinking…I'm almost certain she mentioned Fred. Something about how Fred and George can accomplish things no one else can… or something. I don't remember exactly."
"Again I ask, so?"
"So…she specifically mentioned Fred to me…and she specifically mentioned Fred to Ron…"
"And you think she did that on purpose?"
"Well," he shrugged. "Yeah. Maybe."
"Please." Ginny snorted. "I think you're grasping."
"No, think about it. Let's try and look beyond the obvious. What if she was trying to send us a message?"
Ginny continued to snicker. "And what was she trying to tell you? That Fred was her accomplice? He was with us that night at the Burrow. Remember? He couldn't have done it."
"You're right, he couldn't have. But maybe she told Fred something she didn't tell the rest of us."
"And you honestly think Fred would have kept it a secret all this time? When he's seen firsthand how much this is killing Ron?"
"Good point." Harry conceded, leaning forward again.
"Face it, Harry. Hermione isn't who you thought she was. She fooled us all."
"Yeah may- wait." He sat up. "What did you say?"
"I said, Hermione isn't who you thought she was."
"No, no. After that?"
Ginny arched a brow. "She fooled us all?"
Harry's eyes grew wide. A thousand thoughts raced through his head, some of them fitting together and beginning to make sense. "I think you're right." He stood up, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I think you're absolutely right. Maybe she did."
"Maybe she did, what?"
"Fool us all."
Ginny threw up her hands. "I just said that."
"Yes you did." Harry wagged his finger at her excitedly. "But I think you got what she fooled us about wrong." He spun on his heel and hurried from the room, leaving her behind.
Ginny stared after him a moment, completely mystified, before she took off I pursuit. "Harry! Where are you going?"
"The Ministry. I need to speak with Hermione." He was almost to the bottom of the staircase.
She jerked to a stop. "You have got to be joking."
"No." He turned back to her. "I think we might be on to something. All this time Hermione was trying to send us a message. Why didn't I see it before?" He turned excitedly for the door. "I need to go and talk to her. I need to figure out what she was trying to tell us."
"Harry!" She took after him. "Harry, stop. You can't do this." She sped up when he didn't slow down. She flew down the stairs and somehow managed to get past him and put herself between him and the door. She put up her hands, pushing firmly against his chest, trying to move him back. "You are not going down there."
"Ginny, I have to."
"No, you don't." She gave his chest a forceful shove, knocking him back a few steps. "I can't believe you'd even consider going down there after what she did to Ron."
"If I'm right, going down there and speaking with her is going to help Ron."
"And what if you're wrong?"
"I really don't think I am."
"But what if you are? Are you prepared to pick her over Ron? Because that's what you're doing. That's how he's going to see it. You're taking her side over his."
Harry shook his head. "That's not how it will be."
"It is," she insisted, "and you know it. There's always sides with them, Harry. Hers and his. That's the way it's always been. How it will always be. Especially after what happened yesterday."
Harry shook his head harder with denial. "I won't take sides, Gin."
"You don't have a choice."
Anger flashed behind his green eyes, lighting up his face. "I won't do it, Ginny. I won't pick between my brother and my sister. That's what you're asking me to do, and I won't."
"I'm not asking you to do anything. Ron really is your brother. He's family."
"And Hermione really is my sister." He said, losing the last of his patience. "She and Ron have been a part of my family for a lot longer then you have. I won't abandon her now because she and Ron got in a fight. Don't ask me to choose sides, Ginny, because I can't."
Ginny stared at him threw wet eyes. Her lip trembled as she lowered her head, hiding her face from his sight. "And yet," she turned away from him, "you just did."
"Ginny," Harry reached out for her but she evaded his touch.
"I know how important they are to you, Harry." Her voice broke. "But I'm your wife." She blinked fiercely, trying to stop her tears. She placed a hand over her heart. "One day you're going to have to pick me over them. Our marriage is going to have to mean more to you, or we can't..."
"Ginny…"
Shaking her head she stepped past him and quickly climbed the stairs, ignoring his call.
Harry stood there frozen, watching his wife's retreating back, indecision warring inside of him. His first instinct was to go after her. To apologize for being the thick, emotionally challenged, idiot he sometimes was, and beg her forgiveness. Another part of him warned to stay away out of sense of self-preservation. She more than likely didn't want to see him and would probably hex him if she did. And another, very strong, part of him told him to go down to the Ministry and talk to Hermione immediately, before any more time was wasted.
He knew he was right. Hermione simply had to be trying to communicate with them. It was the only thing that came close to explaining her bizarre behavior. True, Hermione was known to attack ferociously, but only when she felt backed into a corner or provoked beyond bearing. She was never downright cruel. He needed to speak with her, and as soon as possible. He needed the chance to figure this all out.
He looked up at the darkened hallway above. But Hermione and Ron could wait until tomorrow. One more night in a holding cell wouldn't do Hermione any harm. And now that he was certain she was behind Blake's disappearance, he could rest, well assured, that she was being taken good care of. Right now, he needed to comfort his wife.
He started climbing the steps, working out in his mind just what exactly he was going to say to her.
God, he loved her. More than he had ever thought humanly possible. Sometimes the joy and wonder of it, of knowing that she was his, all his, and that she loved him as much as he loved her, it was so overwhelming it was almost painful. Yes, Ron and Hermione had been the most important people in his life for a very long time. He had never hidden the fact. How could he? Ginny had known him almost as long as he had known them. But, he thought she knew that things were different now. She and Sirius James and Bryony, they were the most important thing in his world. He loved them all more than he had ever dreamed possible.
And yet, he couldn't abandon his friends. It was his instinct to protect. To try and pay them back, in any way he could, for all the times they had sacrificed and risked their lives for him. If it weren't for Ron and Hermione he wouldn't be alive today to be having these issues at all. He owed them. He owed them everything. And the fact that he had been able to do nothing for either of them now was killing him. Hermione had asked him for one thing. To set things right, and he was failing her. Her and Ron. And until he spoke with her he couldn't begin to know how to make things right.
But his issues would have to wait. He could deal with his inadequacies for one night. He tentatively opened the door to his and Ginny's room. She was already in bed, curled up on the far edge of her side, facing away toward the wall.
Without saying a word Harry undressed and climbed in on his side. He moved behind his wife, she stiffened as he drew closer, and wrapped his arm around her waist, curling his body protectively around her. He pressed his lips tenderly to her shoulder. "I love you, Ginny." He gently pulled her hair back off her face. "I will always pick you first, I swear." He rested his cheek lightly against hers as he pulled her tighter against his chest. "I'm just an idiot with a saving people complex. And it's killing me that I can't save both of them. But that's no excuse for making you feel second to them. You're not. Not even close. Old habits just die hard, you know?"
He waited for Ginny to respond. To either tell him to go to hell or at the very least move to his own side of the bed. When she remained stiff and quiet he sighed. He loosened his hold around her, preparing to move away and let her be, when she grabbed his arm and held it firmly in place. Relieved that she had at least forgiven him that much, he settled in around her, closing his eyes and savoring the way her warm body fit so perfectly with his.
He knew this wasn't over. Ginny knew he would go to Hermione tomorrow and he knew she wouldn't he happy about it. She might even be furious. But for at least tonight, she knew that he loved her and put her first.
Parker didn't bother with normal appirating protocol. He didn't aim for the front garden. He didn't knock on the door. He appeared right in the middle of Ron's front foyer with as much noise as he could manage. "Ron!" He shouted into the quiet house. "Ron Weasley, you get your pale white arse down here right now. Ron!" He continued to bellow his partner's name at the top of his lungs until he heard the sound of a door opening to his right.
"What do you want, Parker?" Ron stood in the doorway to his office, one hand holding the handle, body tensed as if ready to slam it shut at a moment's notice.
"Come on." He clapped his hands at Ron. "We got to get going. The team's waiting."
Ron's brow arched with confusion. "The team's waiting for what?" He glanced at his watch. "It's nearly eight o-clock."
"I know what time it is. We got'to go. If we wait much longer we might miss them."
"We might miss who?"
An eager smile slipped across his lips, drawing attention to the manic excitement sparkling in his eyes. He rubbed his hands together, to keyed up to stand still. "We're going after them, Ron."
"Them?"
Parker widened his eyes encouraging Ron to come to the answer. "Them." He prompted. "Carbonell and Melantha Javed." Ron's eyes widened, an unidentifiable expression contorting his face. "Ring any bells?"
"But their case…" Ron stepped into the hall. "Their files…they went missing. How?"
Parker straightened his cloak smugly. "You're brilliant partner convinced Triaquin Ceemist to press charges against them for threatening his wife if he didn't side with them on Blake's case." Ron's mouth fell open in shock. "How much do you love me right now?"
"But how did you?...Why did you?...Blake's still missing…"
"And we'll find her." Parker put a hand on Ron's shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. "But right now we got'ta go. We've run out of time. If we don't go after them now, it'll be too late."
"But I…I don't…" Determination battled with denial on his face. Instinct to guard his heart, to protect it from any more pain, struggled against his overwhelming desire to go after the bastards who were responsible for tearing his world apart. As his heart and mind warred with each other his Auror instincts took over.
He looked down at the clothes he was wearing. It was a far cry from what he normally wore on a mission. He preferred to dress prepared for anything.
"No time for that now." Parker interrupted, picking up on what he was thinking. Using the hand still in Ron's shoulder he turned him and marched him toward the door. "What you're wearing is good enough. Let's go." He released Ron's shoulder with a little shove. "After you. Wait. Do you have your wand?"
"Er…" Ron patted his pockets. "It's in the…ah…"
Parker rolled his eyes. "Accio Ron's wand."
Seconds later the dark length of wood that was Ron's wand was flying down the stairs and into Parker's waiting hand. "Take it." He tossed the wand to Ron who caught it after a minor fumble, "And let's go."
"Where am I…?"
"Headquarters. I have Blume and Mathews rounding everyone up and Stone and Banning collecting supplies, just in case. If they followed my instructions, everything should be ready by the time we get there. So…" He motioned Ron to go with his hand.
"Parker, how can I…"
He held up a silencing hand. "Worry about it after we catch these sons of bitches. Now, let's go."
"Right." Ron's chin stiffened with familiar determination. He pushed everything but the current mission out of the way into the back corner of his mind. It would have to wait until later. He shook out his body and stretched his neck from side to side. "Let's do this." He spun on his heal and disappeared.
Parker sighed. It was a relief to see the familiar spark in Ron's eyes. It was the first glimpse he had seen of his partner in a long time.
"Captain," Gwen was at his side the moment he walked through the door to the Alpha briefing room. "Every things set. Every one's here and accounted for. They've all been filled in on the situation and are waiting for your orders."
"Good."Ron nodded. "But before we do that, could you fill me in on the current situation."
"Oh," Gwen rolled her eyes at herself. "Of course. Right. So, turns out the reason why mummy and daddy Javed wanted Blake was for her inheritance."
Ron's body tensed as his suspicion of Carbonell's and Melantha's motivation for filing custody against him for Blake was finally confirmed. It galled him to know end that they had accused him of wanting Blake for her inheritance when it was what they were after the entire time. "Really?" When he spoke his voice was deadly cold, completely devoid of emotion.
"Yeah," Gwen confirmed. "Turns out they've been selling off their family property for years. They planned on using Blake's inheritance to skip the country."
"And they're doing it tonight." Ron said knowingly.
Gwen nodded. "They wouldn't have waited so long, but they need the money. Carbonell was giving his wife a chance to hide the rest of her family heirlooms while he acquired some funds."
"How well did she hide them?"
Gwen smiled smugly. "We've confiscated half already. We'll go after the rest after we take care of them."
"Do we have any idea what the rest of their plans are?"
"They pooled the last of their funds to hire an illegal international portkey. They're meeting the porter at midnight in the field north of Gagglemen's Gulch."
"And the porter?"
"Two birds with one stone, sir."
"Excellent." He nodded. "Good work, Gwen." He patted her shoulder as he stepped past, greeting the rest of his team with an anxious smile. "Alright men, you know what to do. Let's keep this quick and painless. And let's try our best to bring everyone in, shall we? I'm tired of Greene ridding my arse all the time." There was a spattering of chuckles around him. "Let's move out."
The room erupted into a bevy of sound and movement as the Alphas split off into pairs, readying to take the portkeys that would transport them to their drop off zone. One by one the groups disappeared until it was just him and Parker standing in the room.
Parker put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"
Ron squared his body. "More then you know." He glanced over at his partner. "On three?" Parker nodded. "One. Two. Three." They reached out together to touch the one remaining portkey. Their fingers were instantly fused with the wood of the picture frame. There was the familiar jerk behind the navel and the disconcerting feeling that came from having your body whipped about as you were hurled through disjointed space.
When they came to the end of their journey both Ron and Parker were on their feet. As Parker set about collecting and deactivating the portkeys, Ron crept forward with Gwen to study the area. "There." She pointed to a massive boulder the stuck up from the earth a stone's throw away from the gulch. "That's where the exchange is taking place."
Ron pursed his lips as he surveyed the area. Satisfied that he understood the lay of the land and the effect the elements would have on his team, he began to pass along further instructions. He designated positions. Warned them of foreseeable blind spots they might encounter. He further reminded them to cast the appropriate charms so they wouldn't give themselves away. And most importantly, reminded them that they would be surrounding the target, so they had better make sure to watch out for each other. He didn't want to be responsible for bringing home any dead or injured teammates.
The assignments handed out, Ron settled down in his own vantage point, Parker at his side, to wait. There was no way he was going to let Melantha and Carbonell Javed escape him. He was determined. He was going to end this, once and for all.