Sorry for the wait, life got in the way, high school, ugh...
So, to answer a review, Ginny is not gone, she will be back. In this chapter even...
Please Review, I've only got a few, and while I've appreciate them, I wish I would get more. The small number of reviews makes me sad... :( .
Enjoy.
3 Months later:
Fred was carefully settling back into a normal life. After the flurry of events of the war, most of the family had decided that they were angry at Fred for keeping his entire involvement in the war. They were all, currently giving him the cold shoulder. He was only surprised that they had time to hate him, especially after Ginny.
After his family had pushed him away, he had taken to spending more time with his friends, and fellow ex-spies. Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy.
Severus Snape had regained his teaching position at Hogwarts, and threw himself into it. His friend, John (who had been home sick with a magical cold, when the Ministry had fallen and the rest of the Unspeakables were killed), was who he primarily hung out with. He was still close with Fred and the other spies, but didn't see them as much.
Luna and Draco, had gotten engaged. They had actually gotten engaged, during the war, in secret. Both knowing that the other was a spy far before the final battle, or even before their relationship. But after the war, Draco asked again, and after she said yes, of course, they had had a small dinner party and invited only their closest friends to it, announcing it then. They had moved into one of the many Malfoy properties, that Draco had inherited, together.
Currently, Fred was sitting in The Leaky Cauldron, waiting for Draco, Luna and Neville to arrive, he had arranged to meet them here. As they had done every other Sunday since the war. Today was a Saturday, but today was a special occasion, for once a good one. Lucius Malfoy had been caught.
Directly after the Final Battle, Lucius had fled, leaving his wife behind. Both of Draco's parents had been shocked that he had been anything but a loyal death eater. While his mother had been sobbing, and had been caught, his father had ran. His shock had turned into anger, fury, before his wife's had, and so fueled by his fury, he had ran, screaming behind him for his son to hear.
"Just wait until I'm back! You are no son of mine!" and he had disapperated, disappearing for the past few months, despite the Aurors efforts. It was assumed that he had fled the country. It had looked like it would stay that way for any amount of time, it was anyone's guess, until two days ago, when he had been caught on the outer edges of a forest in America.
One of the American Aurors was in the forest, it was near a muggle town and the muggles had noticed his presence, he had been careless using magic, underestimating the muggles and American Wizarding community. The auror had been doing a social call, one of his friends had muggle relatives who had claimed that magic was going on. While there he had seen Malfoy and recognised him, the auror himself was a British wizard immigrant, who had, as many others did, fled Britain when the second war started.
Now he was in British custody, and awaiting trial. Draco planned to testify against him at the trial. Though, privately he dreaded it, Fred completely supported his friend, as he knew Draco would do for him if their situations were reversed. The trial had been organised quickly and was only days away.
Ginny, Bellatrix Lestrange and a few other notable death eaters were still on the loose.
Fred still didn't quite know what to make of Ginny being a death eater. A part of him wasn't surprised, he had found his way to the dark side, why not her? The difference between them being their contradicting loyalties.
But still, Ginny? He had thought that she was still smitten by Harry, far to much to even look at the dark side, he realised now that that must have been a front, for how long he didn't know.
He was pulled out of his thoughts, by a faint chuckle behind him. He turned to look, muscles tensing in apprehension as his hand immediately pulled his wand out of his jacket. He wasn't used to being snuck up on, and was rather startled by it. His death eater reflexes had propelled him to turn around and fire a curse at whoever was behind him.
Draco dodged out of the way, looking amusedly at Fred, he had expected that. It was him that had startled Fred, on purpose Fred suspected.
Fred scowled at him, stuffing his wand back into his pocket and sitting down. Draco sat down next to him with a small chuckle, which Fred glared at him for.
Losing the glare after a moment, Fred looked at Draco, his face expressionless.
"How have you been doing?"
Draco looked at him with a raised eyebrow as he signalled to Tom for a drink, "I don't know what you mean."
Fred snorted, "The trial is on Monday." two days from now.
Draco nodded, sipping on the drink that had just been brought to him. His face was one of cold fury, and Fred knew that it was directed at his father.
When Fred looked over at him sideways and saw his face he changed the subject quickly. "When will Luna be here?"
Draco's angry expression faded to one of affection when he answered, "She'll be here soon, She's coming straight from work." After the war, Luna had been offered a job at the Ministry, in the Department of Mysteries, as an Unspeakable to replace the ones that had died. Fred had been offered the same job, but he turned it down. He didn't think that he could stand to be at the place that he had spoke of the atrocities that he had been forced to do as a death eater, on a daily basis. Luna though, didn't seem to have a problem with it, though he knew for a fact that she had been forced to do some awful things as a death eater and spill them to the Unspeakables. Just the same as him.
Fred, oh the other hand, saw no need to get a job. After the war, he had been awarded a small fortune for what he had done and risked. It was easily enough to last him comfortably for a decade or two.
"What about Neville?" Draco questioned, sipping his drink.
Fred shrugged at Draco's question, not sure of the answer. He had sent an owl to Neville, with the time and date, and Neville had responded positively. Fred looked at the dark black watch on his right hand. Everyone was due to have been there 7 minutes ago, despite that he and Draco were the only ones there of their group.
They were only kept waiting a few more moments, for Neville entered the pub and walked over to their table.
After the war, and the part that he had played in it, Neville was much more accustomed to the Dark Arts, and was one of the only lawyers that was still strongly defending it. He was a lawyer and worked in the department of law enforcement, defending the ideals that he believed in from the complete Ministry reform. As of now, dark magic was still technically legal, only because of Neville's insistence, and that the temporary Minister owed him for what he had done in the war.
Draco and Fred greeted Neville warmly, happy to see him. He joined them at the table, and Tom put a drink in front of him promptly.
The three began to talk lightly about the going ons of the day, when Luna interrupted them.
She slid into the open seat next to Draco with a greeting, and planted a light kiss on Draco's lips."How are you all?" she asked pulling away.
Nevilled smiled and answered, "I'm fine Luna, thank you for asking." Neville was still, by far, the most polite of one of them all.
Fred merely shrugged in response, while Draco didn't answer, he had seen her this morning after all.
She continued not looking surprised at Fred's response, "Sorry I'm late, I got held up at work."
The three nodded, and started to talk about Lucius's upcoming trial.
"How long do you think that his sentence is going to be?" Fred asked curiously.
Luna looked thoughtful, but didn't answer yet.
"I hope its a lifetime sentence, personally." Draco said with grim excitement at the prospect.
Fred smiled slightly and answered, "I hope so". Neville nodded his agreement, studying Draco out of the corner of his eye.
"That'll probably be the case, that seems to be the trend for most of the death eaters. Although, if we still had dementors, they would all be given the Dementor's Kiss". After the war was over, the Dementors had all vanished, no one knew where they were, and the Ministry was working to track them, if only to keep tabs on them in the future.
"Azkaban is hardly the prison and hell that once was, I've heard that it's downright cheerful at times." Fred added.
Neville jumped in enthusiastically, "I've tried talking to the Minister about a dark curse, that when performed, keeps the victim in a state of eternal pain, it mimics the kind of pain that a Dementor produces, keeping one trapped in their worst nightmares."
Draco frowned, looking confused, "I've never heard of it."
Neville looked smug and answered, "It was one of the Dark Lord's best kept secrets, he didn't want it to be common knowledge, and the counter spell to be discovered. Only the Inner Circle knew about it" he looked to Fred for confirmation, he and Neville had both been in the Inner Circle.
Fred nodded,"Yep I remember it, the Raginestic Curse right, very dark. I hope that that's what the Minist-"
He was cut off by the sound of footsteps approaching behind them, all four of them made quick eye contact, and pulled their wands out of their various hiding spots. Silently agreeing, they turned around, not expecting the sight that they saw.
It was George, Fred's twin, who was glaring angrily at Fred.
But it was too late, Draco and Luna had already sent dark curses at him, not realising who it was before they had sent the curse. Neville quickly shot two spells, one at each of the beams of light that Luna and Draco had sent. Their beams both hit and exploded smalley, creating a small amount of smoke, to which George flinched slightly, and glare harder at them all. Fred turned his back on his brother, and went back to his drink, ignoring him. Draco did the same, and Neville and Luna followed after a moment, shooting cold looks at George.
From the time that the war had ended, George had been giving Fred the cold shoulder, so much so that Fred had quit his work at their joke shop.
Behind them, George heaved a frustrated sigh, and sat down next to Neville, who was sitting next to Fred. Fred was sure that had there been any open seats next to him, George would have sat in them.
"Fred, I need to talk to you."
Without missing a beat, Fred replied looking at his drink, "Yeah. Well, I don't want to talk to you."
"Well you have to."
Fred laughed bitterly, "No I really don't."
Neville had had enough, he had heard from Fred about what a hard time he was getting from his family, and had been quite offended by it, seeing as he was sure that he would have gotten the same treatment from his grandmother was she still alive (she had been killed in the Battle of Hogwarts, looking for him) and had known about it.
"Why are you here Weasley?" Neville's voice was hard and cold, the same voice that he used when in court.
George looked startled but responded quickly nonetheless, "What business of it is your?"
Fred looked outraged and interrupted Neville's response angrily. "what business is it of his? I've talked and seen more of him that I've seen of you, in the past few months. What business could you tell me that is mine?"
George looked tired, and slightly regretful, but the angry expression returned when he opened his mouth, "I wanted to tell you in secret, but fine, if you won't listen, I'll just tell everyone. Ginny's been caught, and won't talk to anyone except to say that she wants to see you."
Fred opened his mouth, but closed it, looking shocked. Draco, seeing this, glared at George, "Buzz of Weasley, you've said your bit."
George shot a look of fury at Draco, but looked to Fred when he next talked. "You've been allowed to see her, the Aurors and the two Unspeakables seem confident that you can get her to answer questions."
He turned and walked out, his strides long and confident, he was obviously still angry, it was probably best, with the famous Weasley temper, that he left.
Fred, still slightly shocked, turned to Luna, "Did you know that she had been caught?"
Luna shook her head, "That was probably something that very few known about, they probably only just got her, especially if George hasn't even seen her yet, and they're only just getting you."
Draco nodded, looking grim, "Are you going to go to the Ministry and see her?"
Fred looked at him, seeming to consider it, "I supose I'll have to, not much of a choice if she'll only talk to me."
"Do you want us to come?"
Fred considered it for a moment, before shacking his head, this was something that he had to do himself. The rest of them had enough on theri plates as it was, they didn't need to deal with him and his messed up family life.
"No guys, I'll be fine, have another round on me." he dug into his pocket and pulled out a few coins and threw them on the table. He smiled grimly at their anxious faces before walking out, pulling on his hooded cloak as he went.
He dicided to go directly into Diagon Alley, so that he could apperate straight to the Ministry.
Moments later, he was at the Ministry. He walked to the Department of Law Enforcement, where he knew that they would be keeping her. As he walked, he realised how unaccustomed he was to being stared at when he walked. Everyone knew what he had done, and many didn't fully trust him like they had before, simply because they new of the mark on his arm.
The ministry holding cells were near the DoLE (Department of Law Enforcement), deep within the Ministry, and close to the Auror department, for obvious reasons. He decided to head directly to the holding cells, imaging that he was probably expected.
He was right and moments after arriving, a ministry official had come and stated that his presence was needed right away, and thank you for coming. She lead him to a room, an office room, that was near the beginning of the cells. once inside, he was startled to see that his entire family was there, and looking, for the most part, tearful. He wasn't surprised, he knew that Ginny had been a serious blow to most of them, though he didn't see them often. Even Bill and Charlie were there, though they looked as if they had just arrived, and their coats were still on, and bags were on their backs. They obviously hadn't seen Ginny yet, like he suspected that the rest of the family had.
He awkwardly sat down on a hard plastic chair when directed to. He, and the others in the room, were told that an Unspeakable, and experienced person, whatever that meant, would be with them momentarily.
Minutes passed, and no one had made any attempt to make conversation, when Bill broke the silence.
"You all are being ridiculous." He was looking at mainly Molly and Arthur, but his glance drifted strategically to George.
George coughed fakely and said,"I'm not the one who's a Death Eater", he was looking directly at Fred when he said it, and a mean glare and scowl were on his face. Though Molly and Arthur were silent.
Fred was now, seriously mad, he was not a death eater, and he never was, not really. Not in the ways that mattered.
"I'm not the one who is a Death Eater. That's Ginny, people. The entire reason we are here. Otherwise I would have been happy to never talk to any of you ever again. Except for maybe you, Bill."
Before anyone could respond, the door opened. Luna walked in, wearing the same thing that she had been earlier. Her eyes were on Fred, and they were sympathetic. When she talked, it was only to him, she ignored the rest of the Weasley family, "Fred, if you are willing, the Ministry has prepared questions that we wish you to ask her", no one needed clarification of who 'her' was. It was obvious that she meant Ginny. "I'm also obligated to tell you that the Ministry is willing to pay you handsomely for your efforts". She looked at him, waiting for his answer, her eyes told him that she had no advice to give, but was there for him. She was a good friend.
Fred nodded wordlessly, knowing that she would know what he meant. She, eyes still on him, gestured with her head to the door, and walked out. He followed, straightening his clothes, nervous and scared.
Behind him, the Weasleys all got to their feet, assuming that they would be allowed to go in with him.
Fred, honestly, did not care that they were with him, and he knew that Luna could tell when he looked back, but didn't say anything, which was very uncharacteristic to him if he didn't want them there.
In the ministry holding cell, Ginny was sitting in a hardbak wood chair, both her hands bound, and feet strapped to the chair legs. Despite this, there was a heavenly smile on her face. There were two people, one Unspeakable and one auror, standing in front of her, clearly angry. When the Weasleys and Luna filterted in, the Unspeakable left, leaving Luna and the auror to take over.
Fred approached Ginny, and the other Weasleys huddled at the back of the room, unsure of what to do.
"Hello dear brother", Ginny's voice was harsh and hoarse from lack of use, but there was a malicious edge to it. She was sickly happy to see him.
"You are no sister of mine" his voice even, contrary to what he was really feeling. She cackled, time on the run hadn't treated her well, it seemed. "Oh but aren't I?"
He ignored her, and took the paper that was handed to him from the auror. It was the list of questions that they wanted to ask her. He, looking at them, doubted that she would answer them.
He asked the first one, his voice monotone, "Where are the other rouge death eaters located?"
"None of that now", she purred, "let's talk about your service to the Lord" her voice carressedd the words. Before he could ask the question again, determined to ignore her, she continued, "wasn't it alluring, being a death eater? Wasn't the dark magic powerful, enticing. Why were you a traitor, Fred?" her voice was sweet, and her eyes had a manic gleam in them.
He glared at her, letting her get to him, "I was never loyal to the Death Eaters, I would never lower myself to such filth!" his voice, though it had started loud, was low and dangerous. Intense. The voice that he used as a death eater.
"Yes, you were. If you have the mark on your arm, you were a death eater. You're what we call a traitor, Fred." her words were vaguely threatening, but remained soft, much to everyone's, but Fred's, discomfort. He had long ago grew accustomed to threats from death eaters.
Suddenly, despite her chains and bounds, she launched herself at Fred, who was only feet away. Everyone but Fred jumped back, and Luna and the auror both trained wands on her. The chains held, much to everyone's relief.
Fred raised an eyebrow, at her, unmoved. He repeated the question, everyone in the room was impressed that his voice wasn't shaking: Ginny was terrifying. "Where are the other rouge Death Eater located?"
She didn't answer, she was lurched forward, hair falling forward, an insane look on her face.
He asked again, his voice rising to a shout when she started yelling.
"-you filthy blood traitor!"
"-rest of the rouge-"
"How dare you betray the Dark Lord?! I will kill you for what you have done!"
While they both kept yelling at each other, Fred had foregone the questions and was yelling incoherently at her, fury on his face, Luna and the auror made eye contact and nodded to each other. Luna moved to Fred, putting a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped yelling, breathing heavy. Luna pulled out her a brisk flick, Ginny was silenced, though her lips kept on moving, and it was silent.
The auror went to the other Weasleys, who were standing and staring, shocked, and asked them to leave. They began to protest, saying that they wanted to talk to her. The auror, knowing that he would be fighting a losing argument, agreed. Luna took Fred by the shoulder, and when the Weasleys shuffled to the front of the room, tried to lead him out. He shook his head, and moved to the back of the room, pulling out his wand and conjuring a chair. He sat, staring unblinkingly at the rest of his family.
Luna looked to the rest of the Weasleys, speaking softly, "I don't know how she will react to you, but if she talks, try to ask her the questions" she accioed the list that Fred had dropped, and handed it to them.
Charlie stepped forward, and took the list, seeing that no one else was going to.
Luna took off the silencing charm on Ginny, she had stopped screaming. Her eyes were still on Fred, who had his head down, and hands over his face. Ginny was hunched over, relying on the chains to hold her up. Her hair was a mess, and in her face. Her eyes were crazed.
"Ginny, I just don't understand why you did this" Charlie's voice was calm, but his hand was shaking.
She didn't answer, and Bill jumped in, "I- Ginny, why? Why the dark side?" He stepped up next to Charlie. Ginny's eyes were still focused on Fred.
Fred seemed to sense this, and he looked up at them, still leaning forward. Ginny responded, her voice edged with glee, "Ask him, or her". Her eyes, focused on Fred, flicked to Luna briefly.
Fred had stood up and started forward, hand reaching for his wand, he stopped midway and seemed to battle with himself internally. He sat back down, eyes angry. He was slowly starting to regain control of his emotions, he was a master occlumency after all.
Luna, by now was angry. She stepped forward, in front of Ginny, her eyes seething, she said in a low voice, "How dare you say that, to me or Fred? Do you know who I am? I was the Dark Lord's personal assassin. I was one of two women in the Inner circle. I was a spy since the very beginning, and was never loyal to the Dark Lord. Every murder I committed for him, only fueled my determination to see him dead. If not for me, you would have won. I am the reason for your pain". her voice, though soft and deadly, was full of rage, and commanded the attention of the room. Most of the Weasleys were unsettled, exchanging nervous glances and looking at Luna, but George was looking at Fred, wondering what to do.
Fred got up, a strong expression on his face. To anyone it was as if he had never stopped being angry, and was certainly not the man in the chair moments earlier. He was mad. Ginny had just implied that they were still loyal to the Dark Lord, and used them as an excuse.
He moved in front of her, and began to walk around her, a predator, now in control, stalking his prey. His voice was still, small and deadly, even Ginny could tell that he was dangerous, "Ginny, I never knew what position you played, you weren't in the Inner circle". She glared at him but didn't answer. He continued, "Hmm, Ginny, were you a spy, spying on the Order?" his voice was the one that he used as a death eater, and it spent shivers of fear down most people's backs. She glared at him carefully before answering, her voice almost matching his, "I was honored above all, I was a spy on the Order, carefully seeking out the information needed that would collapse the pesky fools that was the order. What were you Fred, tell our dear family, I don't think that they know".
She was right of course, he had never been very specific when he told his family what he was, as a death eater.
He was done running from his family, his family already shunned him as if they hated him. If they did, truly hate him, Fred had no idea. Honestly though, he would rather have them hate him knowing all the facts, that was his own choice to give, than to have them hate him merely on principle. If they didn't already hate him, they soon would. After he told them.
Luna looked at him, concern and worry in her eyes. She stepped to him, and gently touched his arm. Her voice was soft, and she leaned close to him when she talked so that only he could hear her words, "You don't have to say anything, she isn't going anywhere, we can come back, I think that you need to talk to Sev and everyone else". She didn't need to specify to him who she was referring to, he knew that she was talking about all of the other spies, they would understand what he was going through. He hesitated, before nodding slowly. He turned to the door, taking his eyes off Ginny at the last moment, and walked out, Luna trailing behind him. He didn't even look at the rest of his family as he left.
Molly and George were glaring angrily at Ginny, who had started laughing softly. Bill and Charlie were both looking at the door, concern and trepidation on their faces.
