Chapter 31
Ginny POV
"Bottoms up," Ginny said as she held her bottle of Polyjuice Potion up in cheers to Harry and Ron, who had already taken their dose at the Ministry before leaving to meet Ginny in Diagon Alley that was bustling enough to allow them to blend in. She swallowed the not-entirely-pleasant-tasting potion and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, a grimace on her face as she tucked the bottle away. A few uncomfortable moments later she had transformed and shooed the boys away as she changed in the abandoned nook off the far end of Diagon.
"Alright, we're good to go," she announced as she straightened her shirt. "You have your wands?" She asked as she tucked her temporary wand in her back pocket. The boys nodded, their grips each respectively tightening on the unfamiliar wands.
Over the course of the past week as they further established the details of their plan and the execution, Fred and George had managed to repair a few wands from the Junk Shop enough to at least last through a handful of heavy duty spells. Worst case scenario they would be forced to use their true wands, but if they could use these makeshift wands, that would eliminate a trail that would lead the Ministry back to them.
Ginny reached out her hand as she took a steadying breath. Ron took her hand and soon Harry's was conjoined, too. The three gave each other a final nod and they disapparated.
They landed with a dull thud, and each immediately readied their wands and turned so they were standing back to back and surveyed the strange surroundings.
"Not much for aesthetic value, is she?" Ron mumbled as he commented on the dreary room.
"Let's get going," Ginny ordered quietly and she led the way through the house, hoping that she was leading them in the right direction. They walked closely together as the wandered through the abandoned manor. Ginny came to an abrupt stop, both Ron and Harry walking into the back of her as she spotted a large set of stairs leading down to the basement. She glanced over her shoulder at them and they nodded in silent affirmation and the three proceeded.
The second that were at the top of the stairs, Ginny could see a heavy, bolted door at the bottom of the steps. Brumski was in there, she knew it. As they reached the door, just for kicks, she tried to push it open, but was of course met with resistance.
"Sure he's in there?" Ron asked.
Ginny took a step back to examine the door once more, and sighed almost inaudibly. "He has to be." She lifted up her wand, "Well, let's see what these wands can do."
Several minutes and spells later, the three still stood on the wrong side of the door and stared hard at it.
Ginny backed up several steps, pulling the boys with her and steadied her footing.
"Harry, the second I cast the spell I need you cast a shield charm in the room immediately. There's going to be a lot of debris and we need to protect Brumski," she announced. She waited for his nod and readied her wand once more. "Reducto!"
A large ball of light emitted from the wand and nailed the door doing away with it as though it were nothing but a pile of twigs. Harry's reaction time was spectacular and the splinters of wood were kept in check and swiftly fell to the floor in as neat a pile as she could hope for.
The three exchanged apprehensive looks once more upon seeing no immediate activity in the room and cautiously descended the steps and entered.
"Dobby?" Harry said and a second later Dobby popped up next to Harry.
"Dobby is here, Harry Potter," the house-elf smiled before he must have spotted Brumski and gave a cry of horror.
"What is it?" All three asked in unison as they rushed up behind Dobby who was now kneeling in the corner and cradling something invisible in his arms.
"Oh Merlin," Ginny breathed, "Is he dead?"
"No, Miss," Dobby announced shakily and the trio each released their own sigh of relief. "But he is under a spell. He is sleeping."
"Which spell is it exactly, Dobby?" Harry inquired as he eyed Dobby intently.
"The same spell that Mr. Dumbledore cast on Wheezy and Miss Granger during the Tri-Wizard Tournament," Dobby announced in his wispy voice. Harry knelt down next to Dobby and tried to place his hand on the house-elf that Dobby supposedly held in his arms, but all he got was air.
"Dobby, I'm going to need you to help me cast the counter-spell," Harry instructed and Dobby eagerly obliged.
Ginny and her brother watched in anticipation as Harry cast the counter-spell with a bit of guidance from Dobby, and a moment later Dobby jumped back, startling all three of them.
The visible house-elf put his arms out tentatively and started to reassuring the invisible house-elf.
"Blimey," Ron muttered as he released his death grip on Ginny's arm. Despite the whole situation, she couldn't help but give him a teasing stare.
"Are you okay, Brumski?" Ginny asked as she dropped to her knees so she was at what she assumed was eye-level with the house-elf.
"Miss!" Dobby cried. "Brumski implores that Miss leave. He says that Miss and her friends must leave now! Ms. Blake will be so mad. She'll do more bad things!"
"It's okay, Brumski," Ginny assured him. "This ends today. And we're going to make sure that she has no more power over you - she won't be able to mistreat you any more."
Ginny went on to explain her plan, checking periodically with Dobby that Brumski was following along. At the end of it all, she looked back to Dobby in search of Brumski's opinion. A small smile crept up on Dobby's little face and he announced, "Brumski has a better plan."
Ginny's nerves rattled in apprehension of the potentially incredibly stupid thing they were about to do. Mind you, her original plan wasn't any less stupid...possibly more stupid. Either way, Ginny's nerves were shot. She and the boys had taken another dose of Polyjuice Potion, so at least worries about the potion failing in the midst of this endeavour were mercifully off her mind.
She shared a glance with Harry and Ron, the three of them spaced out across the room, all facing the fireplace and all behind pieces of furniture that could serve as cover for the impending battle.
Her breath caught as Dobby popped up beside the fireplace.
"She's coming!" He cried. If Fred and George had been successful in their side of things, Ms. Blake would be arriving alone - the other Aurors and officials pre-disposed.
A jolt of fear ran through Ginny's body as she saw the flames of the fireplace burn green. She immediately entered a duelling stance and took one last look at Dobby and gave him a nod.
"Merlin, I hope this works," Ginny muttered. As the flames before her intensified, images of Hermione flashed through her mind. A fury ignited inside of Ginny as her mind purposefully hovered on the image of Hermione being hauled away by the Aurors - if there was any motivation for her, this was the best kind for a moment like this.
Ms. Blake appeared and flurries of spells were immediately cast. Ginny ducked as a blast nailed the wall behind her with a deafening boom. She peeked over the top of the couch and a sick feeling formed in the pit of her stomach as Ms. Blake deftly blocked the attacks that Harry and Ron sent her way, and the woman even made room to retaliate.
Without another thought, Ginny jumped back up and sent a slew of attacks at the woman, but was sorely disappointed as they were blocked, coupled with a smirk no less.
"Enough of playtime, children," Ms. Blake announced and she gave a particularly strong flick of her wrist towards Ron. He just barely dodged the attack in time, and the lump in Ginny's throat began to grow. She cast another attack just to have it blocked not only repeated ease, but a cruel smirk as well. The unfamiliar feeling of her confidence wavering began to settle in.
"What are you so upset about Miss Weasley?" Ms. Blake commented lightly. The look of surprise on Ginny's face must've been plain to see because Ms. Blake let out a small chuckle. "As if anyone else would have the nerve to break into my home. I was right about you. And don't worry, I advised the guards to take it easy on your girl, she's so young and fragile, after all."
Ginny knew she couldn't send a verbal retaliation without losing her concentration on the duel, though she desperately wanted to snarl back at the wretched woman. Instead, Ginny just intensified her attacks and began using more advanced spells. She tried to not let the woman's taunts get to her as all the attacks they sent her way were blocked and her wicked smile grew.
"I've been told that she doesn't like the way they treat her," Ms. Blake relayed as her face fell in false sympathy. "Apparently she cries every night."
If it was even possible, Ginny descended into an even deeper rage at Ms. Blake's goading. The redhead knew that if she wasn't careful, she'd start to get reckless soon.
"I was wrong about one thing with you though," Ms. Blake informed her over the sounds of their spells being rebounding, "I thought you'd do a better job of protecting her. It was really far too easy."
Despite that voice screaming at her in the back of her head, Ginny launched into a series of attacks that her mind could barely register. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness and control threw off Ginny's timing and a wave of dread hurriedly swept over her as she saw Ms. Blake give a subtle flick of her wrist. With all her might, Ginny tried to recover from her failed attack enough so to block the oncoming spell in time, but there just wasn't enough time - at least for her.
She winced in anticipation of the hit, only to hear the sound of the attack colliding with something other than her. She opened her eyes in time to see the remnants of the blast dissipating against a shield that had been cast in front of her, and just in time to see Ms. Blake cast a spell towards Ron who was now preoccupied with the shield he had cast in front of his only sister.
Ginny gasped as Ron was hit with a stunning spell and was sent skidding across the marble floor, stopping only when his limp body hit the wall to pile into a crumpled mess. Ginny's heart raced in fear, but she forced herself to not linger on the scene and continued to send attacks Ms. Blake's way.
Taking a moment to bend down, Ginny picked up the hat out of the pile of clothes that lay at her feet. She abruptly stood, careful to dodge the ball of red energy that was sent her way. Timing it appropriately, Ginny launched the hat at Ms. Blake just a fraction of a second after Harry cast an attack. Ms. Blake absently caught the hat, shooting a look of deranged puzzlement at Ginny before grimacing and went to release the hat to the floor in disgust.
Ginny smirked as the hat hovered in mid-air before being set on the ground – the Disillusionment Charm had worked on Brumski, and if Ginny's logic was correct, Brumski was now a free elf. Her attention momentarily pulled away from the skirmish at hand, Ginny found herself being knocked violently backward. Though she was still conscious when she hit the ground, intensely sharp pain radiated from her shoulder and she knew instantly that it was dislocated. She writhed around on the floor momentarily as she tried to ignore the blinding pain and came to her senses just in time to scurry out of the way of another blast that hit the floor just inches from where she was a moment ago - her previous cover, the couch, now nothing more than mere fragments scattered across the ground.
Harry tried to hit Ms. Blake with another Expelliarmus Charm, but she blocked it once more. Ginny hurried over to where Ron had previously been and briefly locked eyes with Harry, both knowing what was coming next.
As Ginny did her best to distract Ms. Blake with further attacks, in her periphery she saw Dobby, also under the safety of a Disillusionment Charm, come up to a space in the room that was momentarily free of attacks. As Ginny continued to ignore the pain shooting through her shoulder, she saw Dobby quickly pull out one of the wands that Fred and George had repaired and cast a spell into the area next to him. While Ginny couldn't see any result from the spell at this point, someone else could.
"Brumski!" Ms. Blake snapped in both shock and anger.
Ginny and Harry collectively gasped as Brumski appeared to them for the first time.
"Brumski," Ginny breathed in mounting excitement, only remotely realizing that the brawl had temporarily ceased.
Ms. Blake's eyes shot towards her in horror and realization. Ginny took Ms. Blake's period of surprise for all it was worth.
"Stupefy!" Ginny yelled.
Ms. Blake was sending tumbling backwards and hit the wall behind her doubly hard as Harry hit her with his own stunning spell simultaneously. A few tense moments passed and Ms. Blake did not move - surely stunned.
Ginny fell to her knees as she became keenly aware of the throbbing in her shoulder. She clutched at it and Harry rushed over, dropping down next to her. She shook her head and nodded towards Ron.
"Help him," she said as she grimaced in pain. Forcing herself to rise up to her feet, she trudged over to Brumski and Dobby.
"Brumski, are you okay?" She asked, still a little breathless from the pain.
She took a step back instinctually as he launched himself forward, wrapping his spindly arms around one of her legs.
"Thank you, Miss! Thank you! Brumski is forever grateful!" He cried in a voice very similar to Dobby's. With a pained chuckle, Ginny reached her mobile hand down and gently patted him on the head, unsure of how to react.
"You're the one who helped us, Brumski," she said after she gathered her wits. "And this was your idea - and it was brilliant!"
He shook his head fervently against her leg, continually chanting, "Thank you" over and over, causing Ginny to redden in embarrassment. She glanced over her shoulder to check on Harry and Ron and saw that Ron was now conscious and standing, seemingly okay.
"Can I ask you for one more favour," Ginny asked as she looked down to Brumski.
"Anything!"
"Where is Ms. Blake's second wand - I know you said it's protected, but we need it if we're going to free Hermione," Ginny said, a bit of apprehension creeping back into her voice over the whole situation.
"Miss Hermione is not well?" Brumski asked, suddenly looking sick with worry.
"No," Ginny shook her head. "I'm afraid she's not. Ms. Blake," Ginny said simply, knowing that it would be explanation enough.
Brumski took a step back and a look of determination formed on his face. He snapped his fingers and a wand appeared in his hand.
"Wha-" Ginny started. "Is that it? I thought you said you couldn't get it," she restated incredulously.
"Not her house-elf anymore," he explained lightly as he held out the wand to her, looking very proud to do so. She gratefully accepted it, holding it close, knowing that it was invaluable.
Ginny smiled furthermore as Dobby came up beside Brumski and began shaking his hand with great enthusiasm.
"You are a free elf, now, Brumski!" He declared. "Just like Dobby! It is great being free. Maybe Dobby can get you a job at Hogwarts! Mr. Dumbledore is very kind and he pays us, too!"
Ginny chuckled once more, wincing slightly at the pain that shot through her.
"You okay, mate?" Ron asked as he came up next to her, hobbling slightly.
"Perfect," she answered. "You?"
"I'm gorgeous as ever," he announced as he pointed to the black eye that was starting to form. She smiled at him. "Thanks for what you did back there. Could've gotten you killed you know...," she said softly as the realization weighed on her.
"Well, I figured if I didn't save you, then at Hermione's first chance she'd kill me anyway, so I figured I'd at least go down nobly," he said through a bit of a pained laugh. She smiled kindly at her brother in thanks.
"And how about you, Harry? You fare okay?" Ginny asked as she turned her head to face him.
"I'm feeling good," he answered in a chipper voice before glancing over at Ms. Blake who still lay on the floor. "She's quite the duellist, isn't she?" He asked while making a face.
Ginny made a face as well and responded, "Well, maybe it's a prerequisite for being Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," she suggested. "I kind of meant that as a joke...but it kind of makes sense." She nearly shrugged, but stopped herself at the last second, much to her satisfaction.
"Brumski," Ginny said as she looked down at the house-elf once more, "Do you mind telling the Ministry all of the things you told us about Ms. Blake. We really need your help to finish this," she said solemnly. She couldn't repress the smile that crossed her lips as Brumski puffed out his chest and agreed to the task with great bravado.
"Okay," Ginny nodded before looking to Harry and Ron. "I'm too weak to apparate right now," she admitted with resignation, "but I'll send a Patronus to Dumbledore alerting him to go to the Ministry right away. Or do you want him to meet you here," she offered.
"Meet us there," Harry replied with a decisive nod, accompanied by Ron. "And what about you? You have to see a Mediwizard."
"Yeah, I'll floo to Diagon Alley and go from there. I don't want to show up at the Ministry like this," she explained.
"No," Ron said sternly. "Include in your Patronus that you're injured and wait here. Dumbledore will send help."
Ginny grumbled, but she knew he was right. When did he get so level-headed and reasonable? All signed pointed towards Hermione's good influence, in Ginny's opinion at least. The thought of the brunette brought new urgency to their plans and Ginny gave a curt nod.
"Okay, let's get going. Here," she said as she held out Ms. Blake's wand. "Protect it with your lives." It sounded dramatic, but Ginny was being completely serious. Both Ron and Harry gave her mock salutes, but followed them up with gentle smiles and nods of understanding.
With a flick of Harry's wand, Ms. Blake was levitated off the ground and a few moments later Ginny was left alone. She fished out her true wand and mustering up the right energy, she sent a Patronus off to Hogwarts.
Now, it was time to wait.
AN: I know - simply outrageous! I apologize lol. Hopefully it was still enjoyable though. Thank you again to everyone for your support!