Chapter 28

Ginny POV

Ginny slowly walked down the stairs from her dorm to the common room, not overly eager for this day to start. She had tried to contact Hermione last night, but guessed that Hermione was busy or had gone to sleep early. Merlin knew that the brunette hadn't been sleeping well recently.

As Ginny reached the bottom of the stairs, she was puzzled by the presence of Professor McGonagall, who stood very erect by the portrait hole. She made eye contact with the elderly professor and knew instantly that she was there to speak with her. She reluctantly approached the professor who had not dropped her gaze, a feeling of mounting dread building inside of Ginny. Before she could think of anything too serious, she remembered the pranks she played on a few of the fifth years late last week and figured this could be regarding that.

"Little prats," Ginny thought - she'd get them back good.

"Come with me, Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall summoned in her most authoritative voice. Ginny wordlessly obliged as curious eyes watched on.

The redhead trudged along behind the professor as they navigated their way through the halls. As they walked, Ginny couldn't help but notice the quiet murmurings that were scattered throughout the corridors as students were huddled together. She spotted some pointing in interest at something in the Daily Prophet. Suddenly, a feeling of realization began to develop inside of Ginny - whatever McGonagall was seeing her about was bigger than a few harmless pranks. As they walked past McGonagall's office and towards the too-familiar gargoyle statue that led to Dumbledore's quarters, this theory was confirmed.

The two hadn't spoken at all since their small journey began, but now that they statue was slowly granting them access to the exclusive office, Professor McGonagall spoke and her uneasy tone made the young Weasley's pulse quicken in apprehension.

"I will let Albus speak with you more thoroughly, but I regret to say that it's regarding bad news. However, we wanted you to hear it from us rather than a biased article or from loose-lipped students."

Questions cascaded through Ginny's mind and just when she opened her mouth to speak, light from Dumbledore's office shone on them and Ginny's attention was drawn inward. She cautiously stepped forward, further ushered by McGonagall, and she watched silently as the Headmaster stood in his office, examining Fawkes. Ginny stood stiffly in the middle of the room, waiting with surprising patience as Dumbledore slowly turned towards her. Deep down she knew that this patience was nothing more than overwhelming dread over what was to be revealed.

"Good morning, Miss Weasley, Minerva," he said politely, though Ginny observed that he was much more subdued than usual.

"Hello, Professor," Ginny reciprocated and she took a tentative step forward before forcing herself to ask the question to which she most certainly wouldn't like the answer. "Professor...what's wrong?"

Dumbledore let out an uncharacteristic sigh before turning to hold his arm out towards one of the chairs. "Please, have a seat, Miss Weasley."

"No thank you," Ginny insisted, not letting her gaze leave Dumbledore. "Please, Professor, tell me what's happening," Ginny requested, her voice tight with worry though she struggled to remain composed and steady.

Dumbledore gave her a tiny smile, his eyes kind, and yielded. "Very well." He paused to reach for a copy of the paper that lay on his desk. "I'm afraid Miss Granger is in a great deal of trouble," he announced regretfully as he extended his arm across the desk and offered her the paper.

Ginny felt her senses dull as Dumbledore's words shook her. She absently shuffled over towards him and gingerly took the paper from his hand and held it up in her own trembling ones.

"Promising Ministry Intern Arrested: Illegal Memory and Emotion Modifications Performed On Dozens"

Ginny unknowingly held her breath as her eyes rapidly flitted from side to side as she scanned through the article. According to this source, Hermione was apprehended upon her arrival in Paris and brought to the French version of Azkaban, where she'd be held while she awaited trail. The article claimed that Hermione had performed these illegal spells on the house-elf owners and members of importance at Beauxbatons in an effort to garner their support for the reform she so passionately supported. The article made sure to include the price that Hermione would pay if she were found guilty - Ginny urgently wished to skip over it for fear of what she'd discover, yet couldn't help but get caught on the words 'years of imprisonment'. The person who tipped off the French Ministry to these crimes was none other than Ms. Vivian Blake - now revered for another capture of a corrupt Ministry official.

Suddenly, Ginny found herself breathing heavily and very quickly - she just couldn't catch her breath. She looked up helpless at Dumbledore and McGonagall intermittently.

"How? What?" She stammered before she looked down at the article again in panic, as if it had changed or would have some new answers. She closed her eyes so she no longer had to look at the image of Hermione being hauled away by the Aurors. "We have to do something," she said urgently, her voice shaking, as she took an insistent step towards Dumbledore. He watched her quietly with sad eyes, but said nothing. "Come on," she cried as she dropped her hands to her sides, the paper rustling as she did so. "Hermione would never do these things! She was framed!"

"We know, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said gently as she held up a hand to silence the young student. "But you have to understand, we have no power over there. Miss Granger is being tried under French jurisdiction."

"So!" Ginny yelled. "Dumbledore," she beseeched, "Please, after what we told you the other day about Ms. Blake - she's behind this. Please, there must be something we can do."

He slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid we can't until we gather more evidence to discredit her," he said regretfully and in a way that Ginny knew was meant to inspire patience and understanding.

Ginny sniffled as her frustration and a jumble of other emotions began to overwhelm her. She looked down at the article once more and the image of her love being hauled away like an animal nearly killed her inside. Her eyes flashed up to Dumbledore as rage overtook her heartbreak.

"You're supposed to be the greatest wizard in all of Europe!" She cried. "And you can't do anything! You lied to us! You said that Hermione would be fine, that she would be safe!" She felt tears brimming in her eyes and she stared expectantly at the Headmaster who did nothing. "Well she's not!" Ginny yelled as she threw the paper down on the ground with all of her might - it didn't hit with near enough force and she felt unsatisfied by her outburst.

For the first time in a long time, Ginny began to cry.

There was a heavy silence in the room, only interrupted by Ginny's uncontrollable sniffling and the odd sob. She violently shrugged off Professor McGonagall's hand as it came to rest on her shoulder. She knew it was a gesture of comfort, but Ginny was well aware that it would just make her breakdown even further if she accepted it.

"I know you're very upset, Ginny," Dumbledore said gently, "but I promise you that we will get Hermione out of there safe and sound. She hasn't been found guilty yet, though I'm afraid as her trial is going on right now, she will find herself convicted..."

Ginny inhaled sharply in a particularly strong sob, which she fiercely silenced a moment later.

"Minerva and I will do everything that we can to help Hermione's situation. But please take comfort in the fact that they will not put Hermione in the level with the Dementors. Compared to the Unforgivable Curses, the accused crimes are minor," he continued.

"You'll take care of things," Ginny scoffed angrily as she wiped away her fallen tears before glaring at Dumbledore, only half believing that she was exploding in such a way at him. "That's what you said before and look where it got her!"

Without another thought, Ginny spun on her heel and stormed towards the staircase.

"Miss Weasley-"

She ignored both Dumbledore and McGonagall's pleas and soon found herself tearing off her school robes that were billowing madly around her as she hurried down the corridors. She cast them carelessly aside and broke out into a run, her mind quickly determining what she should do. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice as something appeared in front of her and she tripped over it and went sprawling onto the ground. Gathering her senses, she snapped her head back to glower at the thing that got in her way only to find herself face to face with a very anxious Dobby.

"Dobby is sorry, Misses," he said meekly. "He did not know you were going so quickly."

Ginny shook out her head and looked back to him, her demeanour softening dramatically. "No, it's fine. Are you okay, Dobby? I didn't see you in time."

"Dobby is fine, Misses," he said glumly. "But he is here to deliver bad news." His large eyes suddenly looked very watery.

"I already know about Hermione," Ginny sighed as she stood and dusted herself off.

"No, Miss," he said quietly. "There's more." Ginny slowly eyed him, waiting silently for him to go on. "It's Brumski, Miss. He's gone!"

"What!" Ginny exclaimed. "How? Where? You can't find him?"

"Dobby tried to apparate to him," Dobby said in a frail voice, backing away from Ginny and she instantly felt remorse over her outburst - it wasn't his fault. "But he's in a place that even Dobby can't apparate to. There's a magical barrier of some sort. Very strong," he said sorrowfully as he shook his head. "Dobby is sorry."

Ginny shook her head in exasperation over the news, but found it in her to try to offer Dobby some reprieve. "No, Dobby, don't apologize. It's not your fault." Though he didn't argue, Ginny could tell he was far from convinced. Normally she'd try further to comfort him, but right now her thoughts were elsewhere.

"Ms. Blake," Ginny growled as she seethed. She frowned and asked in frustration, "But I thought Brumski couldn't be reached if he was in Grimmauld Place. I thought the Fidelius Charm protected him from detection there."

"Not if he was still under Ms. Blake's ownership, Miss," Dobby explained. "Perhaps he was never truly freed."

Ginny brought a hand up to her forehead, the sound of the contact echoing through the corridor. "Of course," she muttered in self-reproach. "Why would we think that Ms. Blake would actually free him." She sighed gruffly. "So, I'm guessing Ms. Blake somehow figured out that Brumski's memories had been restored and she summoned him back - and now he's being held prisoner." Just the word 'prisoner' made Ginny weak, and the word got caught in her throat as she said it. She shook her head, finding herself fighting back tears once more and entirely unsure of what to do.

"Where's Harry, Dobby?"

"He's at the Ministry, Miss. But he says to wait for him at Grimmauld Place. He will come home at lunch to see you."

Ginny huffed angrily, not over the request, but just the situation in general. Again, she swallowed the emotion that threatened to rise once more and she silently nodded her assent.

"Sure. I'll be there," she said in a terse voice. Dobby nodded quietly and a moment later he disappeared.

Releasing a weary sigh, Ginny walked back towards Gryffindor Tower to gather her things. She sure as Hell wasn't going to any classes today, she'd stop off in Diagon Alley to see Fred and George first then go to Harry's. This was such a mess.

She could only begin to imagine how Hermione must be feeling right now - just the thought, the unfathomable thought, of Hermione being accused, apprehended, and locked away...it just tore Ginny to shreds. Things like this don't happen, and they especially don't happen to Hermione...Despite her efforts, Ginny just couldn't wrap her mind around this.

As she walked along, the murmurs of other students rang painfully in her ears and she gritted her teeth as she forged on. She absently noted how the students parted for her as she walked in brisk strides through the middle of the corridor. She tried mightily to disregard the words that filtered into her ears as she walked, but it was getting increasingly difficult.

"I always knew she was too 'perfect'. She'll be locked away for sure – good riddance."

Ginny came to an abrupt halt as she heard Astoria's mocking voice and derisive laughter, accompanied by the snickers of the girl's friends. Slowly turning her head, she saw Astoria and her friends examining the article in amusement. A moment later, Ginny found herself holding Astoria against the wall, her wand pushing sharply against the girl's neck. Ginny vaguely noted how all the activity in the corridor had stilled. All she could hear was Astoria's whimpers and her own heart beating loudly in her ears, her breathing heavy, jagged and uneven.

Any other time, Ginny would've had a series of wands pointed right back at her, but something must have been different in this instance because nobody moved an inch. A few tense moments passed and Ginny's breathing began to even out. Her grasp on the girl slackened as she backed away, though still holding the wand out towards the girl.

"Go," Ginny said in a dangerous voice, still eyeing the girl darkly.

Without any retaliation, Astoria scurried off, her friends close in tow, though all shooting nervous glances back towards the redhead.

"Flamin' mad," she heard Astoria sniffle and excited murmuring started up again in the corridor.

With a shuddering breath, Ginny turned and hurried off to the Tower once more. She had to get out of here.

"Ginny?"

The redhead shot up out of the chair she had been sitting in and rushed over to see Harry and Ron. She surprised herself with the emotions that quickly bubbled up inside of her, but righted herself immediately and the three eyed each other apprehensively for a moment before any of them spoke.

"You alright?" Ron asked tentatively.

Ginny let out an empty laugh. "Yeah. Right. I'm bloody fantastic."

"Fair enough," he mumbled. "I'm going to kill that Ms. Blake," he seethed.

"Not if I get to her before you," Ginny said with equal fervour. "Is she still in London?" She wasn't actually intending to go kill her this very second, but she wanted to know the woman's whereabouts.

"No," Harry answered. "She went to Paris for Hermione's trial."

Ginny exhaled furiously and nearly found herself firing a violent spell against the wall, but managed to restrain herself at the last second.

"I need to see Hermione," she demanded.

"They won't let you see her, mate," Ron responded hesitantly, obviously afraid of his sister's wrath being unleashed upon him.

"Why not," she demanded once more. "She's not a murderer. Dumbledore even said that she wouldn't be with the Dementors."

"True," Harry conceded, "But they won't let her have visitors yet."

"Well, when?"

"Depends on how the trial goes," he replied regretfully. Ginny sighed in teeming frustration.

"We have to get her out - this is completely mad!" She exclaimed, feeling her cool slipping away.

"Ginny," Harry countered firmly as he eyed her with conviction, "we have no power there. They won't let us visit her, and we'd be taken out within moments if we even began to try to break her out, and even a Patronus can't get within the walls of the facility. I know you don't want to hear it, and I hate it too, but there's nothing we can do this very second."

Ginny felt herself nearly bursting with exasperation and before she knew it she had spun on her heel and was stomping towards the fireplace. "Forget you both! I'll do it myself!"

"Ginny." The commanding voices of her brother and Harry echoed in her ears and willed her to stop, but she refused to turn around to face them. She merely straightened her shoulders and did her best to swallow her anger, frustration, but most of all, the helplessness that had overcome her. She took in a large steadying breath and held it in her lungs as the impalpable silence seemed to grow stronger. After what felt like ages, she sighed heavily. "I just can't believe this," she commented as she turned sullen. "I should've never let Hermione go back to Paris."

"Hey, it's not your fault," Ron said gently as he came over and put a hand on her shoulder. "And even if she had stayed here, they would've come for her eventually," he said, though he seemed to know that the notion may or may not be comforting.

"Well, I should've known that something was up ages ago," Ginny argued further. "How do you think Ms. Blake did it? Imperius Curse? Stole her wand? What?" She rattled off.

"Imperius Curse, I'd reckon," Ron guessed. "Considering what happened with Pius."

Ginny lifted a hand to her head and let it fall against her palm, sighing once more. "Maybe that's why she was so exhausted all the time. I don't think she put the curse on Mione during the day...must've been at night or something...somehow," Ginny theorized. "Hermione had no idea though, so I'm guessing the vile wench put memory charms on Mione to keep her in the dark."

"Sounds plausible," Harry agreed. "We just have to find a way to prove it. And I take it Dobby told you about Brumski?"

"Yes," Ginny huffed. "Where do you think she took him?"

"Her manor, I would guess," Harry stated. "Dobby already checked the shack that she'd been housing him in prior and it was empty."

"Yeah, that's what he told me," Ginny said flatly. Her shoulders fell. "So now our only witness is being held in a magical prison in her manor. That's bloody brilliant."

"Well, don't get too down," Ron smirked and Ginny was about to explode at him when he continued on, "It's me, you, and Harry. Plus Fred and George if we need 'em. And we're all used to getting into trouble - this is a great excuse to get our hands dirty. I'm up for a bit of mischief, what about you, Harry?" He asked lightly.

"Always," Harry replied in the same manner. Ginny had to chuckle, however reluctantly. "We'll get her back," Harry promised as he rubbed Ginny's arm comfortingly. She smiled gratefully at him and her brother.

"And Dad's trying to look into things too," Ron added.

"Thanks," she muttered quietly as she kicked absently at the hardwood. She looked up to the boys with hollow hope in her eyes. "So, I can't see her?" They shook their heads. "Can I write to her, at least?" They shook their heads once more and she sighed in defeat. "Well how am I supposed to find out what's happening?"

"Newspaper, unfortunately," Ron said while making an apologetic face.

"And we'll see what we can find out at the Ministry - we'll let you know any updates as soon as we can," Harry promised.

"So, was everyone being watched, or just Hermione?" Ginny asked as the possibility popped into her mind.

"From the looks of it, just Hermione," Harry replied regretfully. He went on, likely seeing that Ginny was going to ask why. "Well, from what we learned from Brumski, Ms. Blake does away with anyone she deems a threat - hence competition like Pius," he explained.

"So," Ginny said incredulously as she cut Harry off. "Hermione's an intern for Merlin's sake - in France, no less!"

"Yes," Harry replied with exaggerated patience, "but she was specifically requested by the Minister, himself."

"She was?" Ginny asked as she cocked an eyebrow. Hermione never told her that.

Ron nodded. "Yeah. And the Minister's been raving about how well Hermione's been doing on this project - apparently he had big plans for her once the project wrapped up."

"But Hermione said that she's never spoken with Scrimgeour since the interview," Ginny protested. "And, well, half of the opportunities that Hermione came across in France came from Ms. Blake. Like how she developed the revised assessment and whatnot."

Harry shrugged apologetically.

"Set up from the beginning" Ginny stated flatly. "That loathsome snake," she sneered before letting out a harsh scoff. "And I don't suppose that liking for Hermione would convince the Minister to believe her over Ms. Blake, hm?" The boys simply looked at her, their expressions showcasing that they didn't believe that comment warranted a response.

"You're welcome to stay here, Ginny," Harry offered. "We have to get back, despite what we just said, we imagine that Ms. Blake's keeping a close eye on us now. If you do go back to Hogwarts though, don't send any owls, we either talk through the floo or in person. But honestly, even the floo might not be safe if she's got it monitored."

"Right," Ginny sighed. "I'm not going back to bleeding Hogwarts," she declared with a roll of her eyes. "Not until I find out a bit more anyway. Once tomorrow's paper comes out we'll know more and can figure out where to go from there," she said and the boys nodded in return.

"Thanks, guys," she said as she hugged both boys quickly.

"No problem. See you tonight, then."

Dual flashes of green later, the boys were gone and Ginny trudged over towards the chair she had been seated in earlier. She had never felt so helpless in her entire life. She had to go see Mione - she could only imagine how frightened Hermione must be. The whole situation was absolutely bonkers, and the fact that Hermione was completely isolated would only make matters worse. Ginny sighed as her mind reasoned with her, it was true, she couldn't see Hermione - there was no way she could get past security. She'd have to be patient and that was one virtue that Ginny Weasley tended to be notably lacking in.

"Mione..."

AN: Hi everyone! Don't worry, they won't be hanging back and waiting forever! Anyways, now you finally know what the opening scene from Chapter 1 was all about. Thank you to everyone for your support - it means a lot.