-Chapter 5-
Ginny went downstairs with Harry while Hermione took Lennox to the bathroom. Harry handed Ginny back hers and Hermione's wands.
"Harry, is Hermione planning something that I'm not supposed to know about?" Ginny asked as they headed down the stairs.
"I don't know."
"Has she been at all suspicious? Come on Harry, you must know something!"
"Nope, not a clue." The corners of his mouth twitched.
"You do know! Tell me what's going on!"
"You need to talk to Hermione about that."
"Ugh you're not going to help me out at all here, are you Harry?" Ginny punched him in the arm.
"No, and I think you're losing your touch, that didn't hurt nearly as bad as it usually does." Harry broke into a run down the rest of the stairs after he said that, Ginny close on his heels. He ran down the hall to the sitting room but stopped in the doorway. Ginny almost ran into him and he shoved her back against the wall in the hallway as his face turned red as he peered at the scene before him.
Luna was sitting on the couch, Albus on her lap and James sitting next to her. Ron was in one of the chairs and standing in the middle of the room were Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, and three others Harry couldn't identify, wands drawn.
"Malfoy, Goyle, why the hell are you in my house? Who are those three?"
Ginny gasped then covered her mouth, praying Malfoy hadn't heard her.
"Don't kid me, Potter. You know damn good and well why we are here."
"I have nothing to do with your father going back to prison, Malfoy. He did it to himself. Almost every single thug we captured last month during those attacks has admitted that he was the one sending them out. Now…why don't you lot get out of here before this gets out of hand?"
Ginny saw Hermione coming down the stairs carrying Lennox and she caught her attention. Ginny moved swiftly and quietly to the staircase and up. She grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her to the second floor, Harry's study.
"Keep quiet," Ginny hissed at Hermione when she opened her mouth to start asking questions. Ginny scribbled a note on some parchment and gave it to Harry's owl. "Go find Willow, she's in Diagon Alley. It's an emergency, go quick," Ginny said and let the owl go out the window. She took out her wand and lit a fire in the fireplace and took the clay pot of Floo powder off the mantle and handed it out to Hermione. "Go to the Burrow," Ginny said as she scribbled another note. "Give this to my father."
"Ginny, what the hell is going on down there?" Hermione whispered, clutching Lennox tight to her.
"Draco and Goyle are downstairs with three others holding Luna, the twins and Ron hostage. Something about all those attacks last month. Lucius is back in prison."
"What?!" Hermione shrieked. Ginny quickly sprang up and covered the witch's mouth.
"Go. The Burrow. Now," Ginny whispered.
"How will I know you're safe?" Hermione asked when Ginny moved her hand.
"I'll come find you, just stay at the Burrow. Go love, please." Ginny pushed Hermione towards the fireplace and handed over her wand. Hermione tossed in a handful of Floo powder, turned around and kissed Ginny.
"I love you, Ginny."
"I love you too. Now go!"
Hermione stepped into the fireplace and held Lennox close. "The Burrow!"
As soon as she was gone Ginny quietly made her way up to the third floor and rummaged around in the chest at the end of Luna and Harry's bed. She found Harry's Invisibility Cloak and wrapped it around herself. She ran down the stairs. As she hit the second floor landing a green flash caught her eye and Hermione stepped out of the fireplace in Harry's study. Ginny dropped the cloak.
"What the hell are you doing Hermione?!" she hissed.
"I gave your parents the nutshell version of what was going on then Flooed right back. Your dad is going to alert the Ministry." Hermione took Ginny's hand. "We're in this together. For better or for worse."
"I don't have time to argue so just get under the cloak."
The two crept down the stairs and to the doorway that lead to the sitting room. Harry was now sitting on the couch next to Luna with James on his lap. Vincent was unconscious and tied up in a corner. Draco kept his wand aimed at Luna. Goyle's was aimed at Ron and the one of the other three had his wand aimed at Harry. The other two watched out the window.
"How's about you and I make a deal, Potter? You get this problem taken care of and I won't destroy everything you love. Although you should be used to it by now, shouldn't you? A few more won't hurt." Draco looked at Luna. Something odd caught the corner of his eye at the doorway. "Someone else here, Potter?"
"No."
"What about that Weasley girl? Rumor has it she was staying here. Or what about that Mudblood slut? Heard she was hanging around and the two are disgracing the institution of marriage sometime soon."
Ginny's face turned so red it was almost purple. Hermione squeezed her arm.
"Fuck you, Malfoy!" Ron yelled. "You're the only disgrace around here!"
"Shut it, blood traitor!" Draco nodded at Goyle.
"Crucio!" a bright red streak shot out of Goyle's wand and Ron started screaming in pain. Ginny and Hermione simultaneously threw off the cloak and each cast stunning spells but Draco was expecting it. His shield charm bounced both spells away from him.
"Stupefy!" he yelled, aiming his wand at Hermione. Ginny jumped in front of her and took the blow. She was knocked to the floor, unconscious. Draco aimed his wand back at Luna. Ron sat in the chair out of breath, clutching his chest.
"Thought so," he said with an evil smile. "Drop your wand Mudblood or Luna gets to join her parents."
"Don't do it Hermione," Luna said.
"If that's not enough motivation for you then I can make sure the Lovegoods get to meet their grandsons, too." Draco lowered his wand to Albus and smirked. The clatter of the slender piece of wood hitting the floor echoed through the sitting room. "Good. Sit." Draco motioned to the loveseat. Hermione looked at Ginny who was curled up on the floor.
"Draco, it doesn't matter what I can do at the Ministry. He can't get out this time. Shacklebolt won't let it happen no matter what I do. And if you let this go any further you're going to end up in the cell next to him." Harry tried to reason.
Draco turned quickly and aimed his wand at Hermione. "Crucio!" Hermione started screaming. The cries were loud and painful enough to rouse Ginny, Ron shot up and tried to tackle Goyle but stopped when Draco looked at him.
"AVADA…" Draco started. Ron stopped and backed up to the chair. Goyle moved closer to Ron and kept his wand aimed at Ron's temple.
Hermione collapsed on the loveseat, tears streaming down her face. She looked over at Ginny who was sitting up.
"You're all pushing your luck, here." Draco looked over at Ginny. "Welcome back, little blood-traitor. Get your arse up next to your Mudblood…thing."
Ginny moved up to the loveseat and held Hermione in her arms.
"There is nothing he can do, Malfoy! Get over yourself!" Hermione screamed.
"Shut your mouth, Mudblood!" Draco nodded his head at one of the thugs by the window. The large man grabbed Ginny off the loveseat and wrapped an arm around her neck and kept his wand up to her temple.
"I'll teach you to backtalk me, filthy Mudblood. Crucio!" Hermione's screams filled the room again. Ginny went weak at the knees and begged him to stop. Ron moved to try and stop Malfoy but the Goyle growled at him as a warning.
"Dammit Malfoy take it out on me! Please just stop! Leave her alone!" Ginny screamed. Malfoy looked at her and smiled, keeping his wand concentrated on a still screaming Hermione.
After what seemed like forever several loud cracks echoed through the room and streaks of color shot around. Hermione collapsed on the floor and Ginny got hit with another stunner. Harry covered Luna and the twins, Ron made his way to the doorway and picked up Ginny's wand and cast the counter spell at his sister. Ginny gasped for breath and Ron crawled to her and covered her as the Aurors continued battling.
At last Malfoy, Goyle, and the thugs were apprehended. One of the Aurors looked at Hermione and told the one of the others to contact St. Mungo's and get the Mediwizards. Ron helped Ginny up and she made her way to her fiancée. Hermione wasn't moving.
"For the love of Merlin will someone fucking help her?!" Ginny screamed at the Aurors who were getting ready to disapparate.
"Mediwizards will be here in a minute, Ginny," Harry said as he knelt down next to her. "Where are Lennox and Willow?"
"The Burrow. I used your owl and sent a note to Willow, she was in Diagon Alley. I told her to Floo to the Burrow then I made Hermione go there with Lennox but she came back…why the hell did she come back…" Ginny stroked Hermione's hair. She started to turn red and got up. She walked over and stood nose to nose with Draco.
"I wish the Dementors were still at Azkaban…you fucking deserve to get the Kiss."
"I'll be out of there in no time, Weasley. Enjoy your time with the Mudblood while you can," Draco hissed into Ginny's ear.
The Aurors disapparated and the Mediwizards arrived to take Hermione to St. Mungo's. Ginny went with them to get checked out. A Healer looked over Ginny and dismissed her. She immediately went to the room where Hermione was. Harry and Luna were there with the twins, waiting in the hallway. Ron had gone to the Burrow to tell his parents and Willow that everyone was okay.
"Ginny, how do we find her parents? Where do they live?" Harry asked as Ginny paced outside Hermione's door.
"I'd have to apparate, I'd have no idea how to get there by cab or anything."
"You should go now while the Healers are with her."
"I can't Harry, I should be here."
"You're the only one that knows where they live, you have to."
"Fine, fine. I'll be back as soon as possible. It'll take a while since we'll have to drive back but…" before Ginny could finish her sentence she saw a hospital attendant leading Hermione's parents down the corridor.
"Where is she? Where is Hermione? And where is Lennox? What happened? The wizard that came to us said something about an attack!" Mrs. Granger started firing off questions immediately.
"She's in there." Ginny motioned to the room. "Lennox is with my parents at the Burrow." Ginny put her hand over the small scar on her chest. "Hermione was…she…she was…"
"Hermione was tortured," Harry said bluntly.
"What? How…how did that happen?" Mrs. Granger sobbed as Harry told her about the events of the night.
A Healer stepped out of the room. "All right, Miss Granger is awake but rather disoriented and confused. A common side effect of the curse when it has been used for the period of time she endured it for. We've administered a Calming Draught and a Memory Potion."
"What? What are those?" Mr. Granger asked.
"Well when Hermione woke she was very panicked and agitated, the Calming Draught obviously made her calm. She also wasn't able to answer any simple questions, her memory had been altered a bit from the curse. The Memory Potions have started working already so that is a good sign. She is still a little bit confused but that should go away with more potion and some rest."
"She's gone through this before though. It…it wasn't this bad last time, was it Harry?"
"Gin…she wasn't under the curse as long last time. Bellatrix only used it in short bursts to keep Hermione conscious enough to be interrogated. It wasn't like this. Draco held on for at least three or four minutes with that last shot.
"When can we see her?" Ginny asked.
"Now if you'd like. Only two at a time though."
"You two go on ahead, I have more questions to ask," Mr. Granger nodded to his wife and Ginny. Mrs. Granger practically ran into the room and to Hermione's bed. Ginny walked in cautiously and stood back from the bed as Hermione hugged her mother. Hermione looked shocked to see Ginny.
"How are you feeling, 'Mione?"
Hermione didn't respond, she just looked at Ginny. Images flashed through her head; holding herself close to the redhead by a creek, a nervous yet passionate embrace in a cold bedroom with snow on the windowsill, dancing at a wedding, running through a stone corridor to a room where the doors appeared on the wall, looking through a doorway and feeling heartbroken…Yet she couldn't tell you the name of the stunning redhead before her or where they met or how old the woman was. Hermione only knew that there was something about this woman's presence that made her heart race and her lips ache for the redhead's to be touching them.
"Just…give me a minute…come here." Hermione kept her eyes on Ginny as if she was afraid to look away for fear that the witch wouldn't be there when she looked back.
Ginny sat down on the bed, facing Hermione. Ginny tried her best to hold back tears as Hermione looked inquisitively at her. Hermione cupped Ginny's face in her hands then ran her fingers through the fiery red hair. More images of this witch flashed through her mind; playing with Lennox, lying in a hospital bed with bandages on her head, standing up in front of a group of people looking at a box with two silver rings in it, and most vividly a mane of red hair standing in front of her then being knocked to the ground by a jet of red coming from someone's wand.
"I know you…I do…I have to know you. I wouldn't…I wouldn't feel like this if I didn't know you," Hermione held on to Ginny's head.
"Ginny is…" Mrs. Granger started to say.
"No," Ginny cut her off. "Let her think about it. Her brain needs to work."
"Ginny," Hermione repeated. "Ginny. Ginevra."
Ginny nodded. "You're right. Anything else?"
"Well…yes…but I don't want to describe it in front of my mother." Hermione blushed. Ginny smiled. Hermione pulled her left hand away from Ginny's face and looked at the ring on it. Ginny held out her hand showing the matching one.
"Listen, Hermione, you need some sleep. The Healers have said that with more potions and a good night's rest that you'll be all right," Ginny said. Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry...Ginny. I-I don't know why I can't remember. I'll try, I promise."
Ginny forced a smile. "You just need some rest. You'll come back to me, I know you will." She grazed the back of her hand on Hermione's red cheek then stood up and left the room. Outside were Ron and her parents with Willow and Lennox. Willow hugged Ginny as soon as she came out of the room. Ginny took Lennox from her mother and held on to him.
"We can keep him tonight, Ginny," Mr. Granger held out his arms. Lennox buried his head in Ginny's shoulder.
"No, but thank you for offering. You and your wife can stay here with Hermione. I'll take Lennox back to Grimmauld Place with me for the night. He has plenty of things there."
Mr. Granger nodded and headed into Hermione's room. Ginny, Lennox, Willow, Ron and the Potters departed for Grimmauld Place. Molly and Arthur went back to the Burrow. When they arrived at Grimmauld Place Ron helped Harry put the sitting room back together. They all ate a late dinner in the dining room.
"Draco will get out of this, won't he, Harry?" Ginny asked.
"I'll try my best to make sure he doesn't but…yeah, he probably will. As much of a horrible person he is, he's also a brilliant wizard. Incredibly skilled at Occlumency. All he has to do is claim that he was under the Imperius curse. You'll probably be called up as a witness if it goes trial though."
"Can't Shacklebolt override this though? I mean he is a former Order member so he knows what Malfoy is capable of, surely he can do something."
"It's up to a Wizengamot vote if it goes to trial, which I doubt it will. Even though a lot of the purebloods are in Azkaban because they were Death Eaters some of the families still have some influence as do the written laws. And by influence I mean they pay off or threaten whoever they need to. Narcissa will make sure Draco is taken care of."
"Those rat bastards give purebloods a bad name. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be one," Willow piped up.
"The Malfoy family is the worst of them in Britain," Ron said as he pushed his food around on his plate.
"Yeah, I know. My dad always went on and on about Lucius. He'd come over here for business trips and come back talking about how wonderful the Malfoys were. I'm pretty sure he wanted to arrange a marriage between Draco and my little sister at one point. He knew I wasn't submissive enough to marry into a Dark family."
"Sounds like a real charmer, your dad. Bet he hated every bloke you brought home," Ron said looking up at Willow. He smiled.
"If I'd been allowed near boys I am sure he would have hated them, yeah."
While Ron started flirting with Willow, Lennox tugged on Ginny's shirt. "Ginny, I sleepy. Where's Mama?"
"She's sick so you are going to stay here tonight with me, okay?"
Lennox yawned. "Okay. I stay here."
Ginny stood up and picked up Lennox from his chair. "I'm going to get him up to bed and try to get some sleep myself."
"We're probably going to head on up with the twins here in a minute," Harry said looking down at Albus who was asleep in his arms. "Ron, you're welcome to stay the night."
"Thanks mate, I think I will. I'm gonna stay down here though. I'll sleep in the sitting room."
Harry nodded. He called for Vincent and the elf came up from the kitchen and started clearing the table. Ginny took Lennox up to her room and got him into his nightclothes. She grabbed her copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and he snuggled up against her as she read to him Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump. Willow came up a few minutes into the story and climbed into the second bed. Ginny didn't even bother getting up and changing her pajamas, she just set the book down and fell asleep.
I know, I know, I played the cliche amnesia card. I held out through two head injuries and saved it for this one though, you have to give me credit there! Hope y'all are enjoying it so far!