The Unbreakable Vow 32
by
Ash Darklighter
It all belongs to JK Rowling and I thank her for her inspiration – There are no galleons to be made from me or by me. This little story is my first Harry Potter fic. It is AU and of course comments are welcome. I am also grateful for all the people who have read and reviewed this story. I am quite stunned by all the positive comments.
As always my thanks to Tad and Mona for their help.
The Ministry of Magic was not Bill Weasley's favourite place to be. He'd rather take his chances with a cursed tomb than a Ministry politician. Ah, the heady days in Egypt before he'd married his beautiful Fleur, he thought with a trace of fond nostalgia as he waited impatiently for his wand to be weighed and checked.
"Eleven-and-a-half inches, oak with sliced graphorn horn," muttered the welcome wizard grumpily. The place had been going like a fair all day and he'd not had a chance to read his Daily Prophet.
"Thanks," replied Bill, affixing to his chest the badge which read, 'Bill Weasley, Gringotts business' on it before turning and striding towards the bank of lifts at the far end of the atrium. He never failed to thank Merlin and other wizarding deities that he'd not followed his father into the Ministry after he'd left Hogwarts. It wasn't because he didn't have offers. With a superb collection of OWLS, NEWTS and the coveted position of Head Boy adding to the lustre, the Ministry very much wanted to have the eldest Weasley working for them.
But Bill was a shrewd young man and was already aware of the less attractive policies held by those in power. His father had been a good wizard but had never risen to the position he deserved whereas others like Lucius Malfoy, flaunting his wealth and status, had bought himself an escape from Azkaban, all the while sneering down at Arthur.
Lost in his thoughts, Bill never saw his estranged brother, Percy, jerk to a stop as he suddenly caught sight of the brother he'd not spoken to for over five years across the polished atrium floor.
Percy had been about to head for another meeting with the main manufacturer of Floo powder when the sight of a familiar vivid Weasley-red ponytail had made his heart slam into his throat and, rather than face Bill, he'd taken the coward's way out and slipped behind one of the decorative marble pillars. His mind immediately turned to thoughts of Ginny. He believed, at the time, that he'd done the best thing for his sister but she hadn't seen it that way. Perhaps he'd been wrong not to consult her but their father had been dead, their mother seriously traumatised in hospital and Bill and Charlie out of the country. The twins were feckless with their pranks and joke shop, Ron lacked sense and direction and Ginny was following in his footsteps. She'd fixed her romantic interest on one Harry Potter – the target of You-know-who and his dark followers. Percy considered himself to have been the only one actually thinking about her safety.
But Ginny hadn't cared for his opinion – none of his family ever had. She'd given up her magic rather than live in luxury with the Malfoy Family. At least, he assumed that was the case because no trace of her, magical or otherwise, had ever been found. He reluctantly pushed the image of Ginny from his mind, never considering the notion that she could have been dead.
There'd been something off about the atmosphere at the Ministry for the past day or two. It was oddly similar to when the Death Eater attacks had been happening during V... Percy gritted his teeth. He couldn't even think that name without blanching. He tried again. V...V...No! He just couldn't do it. But he could look around and see what was happening. The atmosphere was eerily reminiscent of You-know-who's second rise. The Ministry workers scuttled past with pinched, worried expressions and groups huddled nervously in open spaces to whisper about the strange things that were happening once more in the wizarding world.
Percy could now admit that he had buried his head in the mire of the Ministry's propaganda last time and where had it got him? He'd been demoted and shifted to a less important department. Nevertheless, the middle Weasley brother considered that he had one thing in his favour – his work ethic. He perhaps hadn't thought for himself the way he should have but he did believe in putting in an honest day's hard work. He was a Weasley and it was their unwritten motto. He was gradually working himself back into favour but it was taking time. His father had been happy to meander through his entire life underpaid and overworked. Percy did not mean to do the same.
If only his efforts had the support of his family but he suspected that with them, perhaps he'd put himself beyond the pale. Hermione was the only one he'd seen in a long time and that was only because she worked for him. He'd caught glimpses of the others in Diagon Alley but none had sought him out to tell him he'd been right. He'd been right and they'd all been wrong, hadn't they? Ginny would have been safer with the Malfoys than with Harry Potter. He never had stopped to consider that Harry was reputed to be just as wealthy as the Malfoys.
His eye moved to the large pots of Floo powder provided for approved Ministry employees and noted with satisfaction that the new self-refilling charm had been utilised successfully at least twice that morning. Aurors had been stepping in and out of the Floo with more frequency than usual. Once, Percy would have known exactly why there was so much traffic. Nowadays he just had to make sure that everything was working efficiently and that the extra upgraded quality Floo powder was available for the transportation of the magical community's law enforcement squad.
The Floo closest to Percy, used only by Wizengamot members, flared a sudden burst of green fire and a tall blonde wizard attired in black walked gracefully out of the fireplace. Two seconds later the entire Malfoy family was strutting its way towards the wand registration wizard right into the path of the oncoming Bill.
Percy slunk back behind his pillar and groaned. Without a doubt and even without the dubious benefit of any sort of Divination award, he knew that this was going to be awkward. His eldest brother could be calm and collected in the face of danger but inside lurked the infamous Weasley temper. He'd felt its effects on many occasions. Bill having any contact with the Malfoy family was a disastrous scenario.
Bill looked up, his eyes narrowing at the unexpected sight of the Malfoy family in all their perfectly expensive pureblood glory and then a strange smirk crossed his face. It was almost fitting that he run across them today. Their influence on Ginny's life was at an end. She could come home with her husband and son and be a proper witch again.
"Well, well, well! Bill Weasley," sneered Draco Malfoy. "It's been some time since you were last seen out in polite company." His confidence was at an all-time high. The Dark Lord had returned once more and his father was again by his side – his most important follower. Draco, with his assumption of Snape's position as the Dark Lord's Potions master, was surely becoming as indispensable to his Lord as his father was. The Malfoys would rise to even greater heights of wealth and glory under the rule of the Dark Lord. Nothing was impossible.
"Malfoy," Bill returned coldly and took a step forward.
"It's almost like a family reunion," a cold voice drawled. Lucius Malfoy stood barring his way, his dress impeccable, cane resting in an elegantly gloved hand. He was a little more circumspect than he would have been if he'd been anywhere other than the Ministry. Bill Weasley was a powerful wizard and couldn't be taken down yet - and certainly not in public - but a little intimidation never went amiss.
Bill smirked again. "You will never be family to me, Lucius."
"We are distant cousins," said Lucius with a sneer. "Very distant. Not that we would care to acknowledge such a pathetic relationship."
Bill's lip curled. So much for keeping things discreet. "How shall I put this," he mused aloud with a malicious chuckle. "Ah, yes. I believe that Lord Black removed your wife's and son's names from the Black family tapestry and reinstated Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks. What you expect is not going to happen, Lucius. We do not align ourselves with Death Eaters. Your son will never marry my sister."
"Removed!" Narcissa Malfoy gasped, two unflattering spots of red appearing on her pale face. She'd never really got on with her cousin but he was blood and that meant everything. "Sirius actually burned us from the tapestry – he hated us that much?"
"Yes." Bill's voice was cool. "Sirius hated you more than words can say. He hated you so much that he no longer considered you part of the Black Family. As head of the Family that was something he could do and did. He removed you. I can't believe that you're surprised. Harry Potter gained the Black Wealth as was his Godfather's wish."
"Potter!" spat Draco. "That coward!"
Narcissa looked stricken. She was proud of being a Black. The Blacks were one of the oldest pureblood families in the wizarding world. "We would have been good to your sister," she stated, proudly drawing herself up. "She would have been wealthy – lacking none of the finer things in life - and would have mixed in the very best wizarding circles."
"Our definitions of 'good' differ, Narcissa. She would have been used by your excuse of a son to provide an heir and then disposed of." Bill managed to squeeze the words from between his clenched teeth. He knew that his statement was the truth. "And your idea of the best wizarding circles certainly differs from mine."
"I never wanted the bitch to begin with even if she is a pureblood. I could pay for something much better and far more willing to spread her legs from Knockturn Alley," Draco gibed coarsely. "But then if I had her, Potter couldn't have her and I find that I like that idea very much. Your precious sister is still mine, Weasley. The contract cannot be broken. When I find her..." There was no mistaking the malice or the lewd suggestion in his gaze.
"Draco!" snapped Narcissa, horrified at the behaviour her son was displaying. "There is no place for such crudeness."
Bill clenched his teeth together once more. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of losing control. Oh, he wanted to – he wanted to hex all three of them until they begged for mercy - but that would be stooping to their level. He didn't want to descend that far. "You sound like a jealous child to me," he said matter-of-factly. "You want the toys that the other toddler has and so you scream and create until you get what you want. Real life isn't like that – even for a Malfoy. Your attitude is pitiable. I suggest you grow up."
Draco's face reddened with anger and embarrassment. No one pitied him – certainly not some poverty-stricken red-headed blood traitor. He was Draco Malfoy, Potions Master to the Dark Lord, and he would see that the fool paid for his words. His wand flew into his hand.
"Put that away, Draco," hissed his mother.
Draco gripped his wand tighter.
"Now!" she ordered. The young wizard glared at her but reluctantly stowed the wand within his robes.
"You know of Ginevra's whereabouts." Lucius was certain, ignoring his son's behaviour. There was something in the supercilious expression on Weasley's face that told Lucius that the young man knew more than he was saying. Unfortunately, the head of the Malfoy family did not have the Dark Lord's skill at discerning truth from lies.
"Has your dark master told you this?" Bill tutted mockingly. "I'm very surprised." He assessed the impeccable appearance of the wizard in front of him. "This is something that I don't understand. I'd never have thought that the Malfoys would lower themselves to kiss the hem of a dirty half-breed's cloak. And you call me the blood traitor! I think I prefer things that way. I'd rather be called a blood traitor than a narrow-minded pureblood bigot."
"I could have you locked up for withholding information pertinent to a Department of Magical Law Enforcement investigation." Lucius was furious. He was the Dark lord's second-in-command. How dare this long-haired imbecile ridicule him in this way? He had to know where the impertinent chit was. He raised his cane threateningly.
"You could try but as I'm telling the truth," returned Bill evenly, "you would be completely out of luck as far as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is concerned. I'm not some weak-willed wizard you can Imperio into doing your bidding. I could not tell you where my sister is even if fed Veritaserum on draught. I was out of the country when she disappeared."
"I don't believe you," snapped Draco.
"I don't care if you believe me or not," snarled Bill. He lowered his voice, blue eyes staring intently at Draco as he made his point known. "If I'd been in the country you wouldn't have had a hope of even attempting what you tried to do. Check the international portkey records for the date Ginny disappeared and you'll find that my wife and I were still in Egypt. I can't tell you where she is and I'm glad of it. My sister will never be your wife." He looked the family up and down, his sneer one that Snape would have been proud of. "You're not good enough for her."
"Why you...!" snarled Draco, his wand again appearing in his hand.
"Is there a problem here?" a deep voice said quietly.
"Auror Shacklebolt," said Narcissa thankfully, shooting 'keep quiet and put away your wand or else' looks at her husband and son. She was sure the dark-skinned auror was one of Dumbledore's associates but she was glad to have his 'official' presence. The Ministry atrium was not the place to be seen publicly brawling like common muggles and Merlin knew, Lucius and Draco were inches from doing exactly that. She was almost impressed by Weasley's control.
"Mister Weasley?" Kingsley enquired.
"Everything is fine, Auror Shacklebolt. Just bloody wonderful." And with that Bill turned on his heel and headed for the nearest lift, glad that he'd managed to keep his temper. The urge to curse the Malfoys into oblivion for all the trouble they'd caused was very strong.
Kingsley's eyes anxiously tracked the Head of the Weasley family as he stalked away, sensing that a potential disaster had narrowly been avoided. He would have to let Dumbledore know of this – they couldn't risk an incident between Bill Weasley and Lucius Malfoy at this point in time. Not all the Weasley family were as controlled as Bill was and he had barely held on to his temper when faced with the Malfoys. Efforts had been made to keep the families apart and, until this unintended meeting, had been largely successful on the whole.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mistress Malfoy, Draco," murmured Kingsley politely with a polite bow.
"Auror Shacklebolt." Narcissa's acknowledgement was a chilly dismissal and Kingsley knew it. But he could tell that she'd been glad of his presence. Trouble had shimmered between the Malfoy wizards and Bill Weasley.
"I'm glad to see that everything is fine. I hope it stays that way." After delivering his warning hint, he bowed once more. As he left the scene, his eyes caught those of an anxious-looking witch. He gave a discreet nod in her direction before returning to his office.
Lucius gazed disdainfully after the tall auror. "Come Narcissa...Draco. The meeting of the hospital finance committee begins in ten minutes. It would not do to be late."
Percy let out a sigh of relief as the Malfoys swept smoothly in the direction of the main committee rooms, completely missing his assistant shadowing Bill across the atrium. Hermione had also witnessed the altercation and had been the witch to alert Kingsley, just in case Bill or Draco had decided to hex one another or Bill had moved to sort things out the muggle way and thrown a punch – he'd done it before. This time everything calmed down before the punches or the hexes were thrown. Still, for the various concerned observers, it had been an anxious few minutes.
Percy couldn't believe the ache he felt in his heart at the sight of the brother he'd once looked up to and admired – the one that wouldn't even look at him – the fool that followed Albus Dumbledore and the words of the Boy-who-lived taking the rest of the family with him. The fool he envied.
He'd warned them all but none of them had believed him. They had supported Potter over him – they still did and they'd been right. Potter wasn't even a blood relative and they'd believed him before one of their own. Percy blinked away treacherous tears of self-pity. He lifted his chin proudly. He was a Ministry of Magic employee and had a job to do – the floo system couldn't possibly run smoothly without his input.
Would he still have a job when You-know-who walked into the Ministry? He was being foolish. Of course, You-know-who wasn't going to enter the Ministry. The Ministry and its employees had everything under control.
With an angry sniff, Percy whirled around and headed towards one of the fireplaces, his cloak billowing behind him.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Several hours later, Hermione watched her boss sharpen his already sharpened eagle-feather quills with an almost religious zeal. Percy Weasley was acting stranger than usual and she was convinced he needed some sort of wizarding psychiatric treatment – if St. Mungos ran to such things. Even when she went to the loo, she took all her things with her as she was convinced that Percy was searching her notes to find information on Harry, Ginny or Dumbledore's Order. She could easily admit that the former Hogwarts head boy was clever but there was no way that he would be able to decipher her privacy charms, she thought smugly. Did he really think that she would be stupid enough to leave things around for him to decipher? Her certainty wavered. Perhaps she was the one who needed treatment at St. Mungos for even thinking that Percy could do such a thing.
Like most of the wizarding world, Hermione was nervous of the battles to come. Unlike most of the wizarding world, Hermione knew enough to justify that nervousness. In fact, everything around her lately was unsettling and even the Order members were all on edge, just waiting for something big to happen. It reminded her of You-know-who's second rise to power when nothing was happening and yet everyone knew that something was about to change and not necessarily for the better. The battles would come whether they wanted them to or not.
"Percy?"
"Yes, Hermione."
"If it's all right with you, I'll tidy up and go home."
"What! Oh, yes," he mumbled. "Go home."
She lifted her head and looked enquiringly at her boss. He never let her go early – something was wrong. "The new grade of floo powder seems to be working well," she offered quietly, wondering if that was a reason for her early release.
"It is," he muttered absently, his gaze fixed on a crumpled piece of parchment, obviously not seeing anything written upon it.
"Is there something wrong, Percy?" Hermione asked.
"What?"
Hermione repeated her question, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? You seem...distracted."
"Oh, no, I'm fine – everything's fine." He lifted his wrist and gazed stupidly at his watch for a moment. "Is it that time already?"
"It's after five," Hermione said. "I usually stay until six but..."
"Just go," he mumbled vaguely, cutting her off. "I'll set the privacy charms when I leave."
"Very well. If you are sure." Hermione rose from her seat and began packing away her things, locked her desk with a silent security spell of her own devising and accio-ed her cloak.
"Hermione..."
Her hand reaching for the doorknob, she turned to face Percy. "Yes?"
He looked unhappy...confused...distressed. His hair was untidy, his tie hung crookedly from his neck and there was a smear of ink down the front of his usually pristine white shirt. "My family...the Malfoys... Did I do something so very wrong in arranging security for my sister when there was no one else to protect her?"
"Did Ginny want that from you?" asked Hermione, wondering to herself what had brought this on. Could it just have been the encounter between Bill and the Malfoys that had set this off? "I don't think that she did. She wasn't defenceless."
Percy frowned." She..."
"She had Fred, George and Ron if she needed them at home and she's a strong witch, Percy. Ginny was all grown up when you made that decision for her. You know what she's like. Did you really think she would tamely accept it? And Percy - the Malfoys? You used to dislike them as much as every other member of your family did. When did you begin thinking that power and position were better than honesty and decency? When did you discount all the evidence that said that Lucius Malfoy was as much a Death Eater as the men that killed your uncles, Gideon and Fabian, during the first war or your father during the second? Did your time with Crouch and Fudge twist you from the intelligent wizard we knew you for?"
There was a long silence and Hermione opened the door only to hear Percy say softly, "I wanted to prove myself. I wanted the Weasley name to mean something again."
She paused and turned her head back to stare at him in disbelief, unable to believe what she was hearing. "What!"
"I wanted to be proud of being a Weasley," he said.
Hermione threw him a look of loathing. "If one only listens to the likes of the Malfoys, then maybe the Weasleys never had a name that meant something and if you only listen to Professor Dumbledore and most other wizards that I know, the Weasley name always counted for the right thing."
"Hermione…"
"No! You've got what you wanted – a career in the Ministry. It's a shame that you had to sacrifice your family to get what you wanted. You may never have been proud of being a Weasley but I'm going to be very proud indeed when I marry Ron." Her mouth twisted into a sneer. "But perhaps the Ministry career isn't what you hoped it would be."
"Of course it is. I am the youngest..."
"Don't feed me that codswallop!" Hermione cut him off. "Deep down you wanted to be like Bill... clever and exciting... or like Charlie with a dangerous and difficult occupation in the dragon reserve. The twins are successful and making money with their joke shop, a career you find unworthy, and that eats away at your pride. You forget that your father was far from a joke at the Ministry. Yes, he loved muggle things but he was well-liked and respected amongst his colleagues. Your mother was happy to stay at home caring for her family and her cooking skills are legendary amongst the wizarding community. The Weasley name is only tarnished in the eyes of those families who are unworthy to look down on them for their priceless gift of love. Ron in some ways still has to find himself. He's suffered from an inferiority complex for a long time. It's not easy being the youngest of six brothers but he's doing well in the Department of Magical Sports and Games. Ginny was different being the only girl but she didn't want to be patronised or protected. You will remember I fought with Ginny at the Department of Mysteries and she was just as capable as some of the adults that we faced. She loved Harry Potter...loved him and you helped drive both of them away from us."
"You-know-who is back, isn't he?" Percy's voice trembled.
Hermione gasped and went white. "How...how did you know?"
"You may not think very much of me but I'm not stupid, Hermione." He tugged at the tie around his neck rendering it even more askew. "I watch and I listen. Dumbledore's called up his Order of the Phoenix again. Don't deny it. I've seen you all congregating in the atrium on several occasions. It's not terribly discreet of you."
"That's none of your business," she returned fiercely.
"It would be if I wanted to join the Order," he said carefully. "You are close to Dumbledore, Hermione, and could put forward my name. My family were members the last time You-know-who rose to power and I would expect no less from them this time."
Hermione uttered a short burst of disbelieving laughter. "Excuse me, Percy, if I don't believe you. The members of the Order of the Phoenix are dedicated to stopping V...Voldemort and it's considered to be a vigilante organisation by some of the DMLE. Your opinion of Dumbledore's actions has not been a positive one. In fact, you and Fudge were singing from the same parchment – that was before he was booted out of office." Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Who in the Ministry wants you to spy on us?"
"No one. I suspect the Minister already knows quite a bit. He's been cloistered in meetings with Dumbledore off and on since Halloween. Once I would have been privy to such information. Now I am not."
"Oh."
"Recall Potter from wherever Dumbledore has him stashed and get him back out there. He is the chosen one, so it's said." Percy watched Hermione carefully for her reaction. Was Potter really the chosen one?
Hermione's face went even paler. "H...Harry?"
"The Daily Prophet's been calling him that for years. If he is the chosen one then he needs to do the thing he was chosen for."
"H...how dare you say that." Hermione's gaze skittered away from Percy's. "Why should such a task be Harry's responsibility?"
"And I still think he knows where my sister is."
"Harry..." Hermione clasped a shaking hand to her mouth.
Percy stared at her, taking in her pallor. An idea suddenly occurred to him. "You don't know where Potter is, do you?" he said slowly, his voice deepening in horror. "None of you do. I thought it was strange that he hadn't been seen at all. I did think that he had something to do with Ginny's disappearance but the Aurors investigated quite thoroughly and he was interviewed several times. Like the rest of the wizarding world, I just accepted that he was off training somewhere."
Hermione drew herself up. "You have a very good imagination, Percy. You were ready to have Harry thrown in Azkaban the last time you met. How can he be a villain one minute and our saviour the next? He's just one wizard. What can one wizard do? Harry is fine." They'd treated Harry so unfairly, heaping far too much pressure on his skinny shoulders.
"You've seen him then?" He raised a thin red eyebrow.
"Well..." Hermione looked completely nonplussed.
"Of course you haven't. No one has but when he appears he'll have to answer for what he's done." Percy's sudden fit of bravado vanished as he admitted softly, "I've been a fool, Hermione, and where has it got me?"
Hermione's mouth dropped open in surprise. For the first time since she'd known him, Percy Weasley was honest to her about his family.
"I'm currently going nowhere in the Ministry – my job is head of this Department but it's a dead end. There's nowhere else for me to go - and despite everything I miss my family. I've no friends – all I do is work." His eyes pleaded with her. "My m...mum. Is she alright?"
"Molly's fine," Hermione answered quietly. "She misses you. I believe she would welcome a visit from you even if the rest of the family would not. She misses your father very much. Your father she will never see again in this lifetime but you..." Hermione left her words hanging in the air unsaid. "She also misses Ginny and Harry," she added.
"You've no news of them – of Ginny and Potter?" he asked casually, knowing now that he'd been right all along. Potter had been behind his sister's avoidance of the Malfoy contract.
Hermione stiffened, suddenly afraid. "I can't believe I nearly fell for it, Percy. I almost thought that you were genuine for once."
"So you truly don't know where they are?" he persisted, wanting to hear her admit it even if it was a lie.
"No," Hermione cried summoning her heavy book bag to her. "We don't even know if they're together – if Ginny's still alive." She took a step out of the door, her shoulders heaving with distress. "Oh, Merlin! I can't..."
"Hermione!" There was the scrape of Percy's chair, footsteps and she felt his hand tentatively touch her shoulder. She couldn't lie very well - even he knew that. "Look, I'm sorry. I just want to know that my sister is safe. If she's with Potter then he'll keep her as safe as she allows him to. I may not agree with what he believes and I have to reluctantly admit that he's been proven right more often than not but she is still contracted to Draco Malfoy and the marriage will still have to take place when she returns from wherever she's hiding." All traces of his usual pomposity had gone. "Someone must know where they are."
He was saying something that she'd thought herself on a number of occasions. "I can't tell you anything on that matter," whispered Hermione sadly. "Because I really don't know. If Harry helped Ginny then Ginny was the only one who knew anything about it." And she didn't trust him not to honour Ginny's commitment to the Malfoys after his earlier statement. Percy Weasley was still a stickler for the rules.
"I was wrong, Hermione. I know that now and if You-know-who is truly back..."
"The bastard's name is V...Voldemort." Hermione closed her eyes, refusing to look at him. It was pretty late in the game to start having regrets! She scowled. "We must all take some of the blame for Ginny's actions but you more than most and I'm not the one you should be apologising to – I'm not the people you wronged. I have to go." With the quick tap of her heels on the floor she whisked herself out of the office door leaving him alone with his troubled thoughts.
xxxxxxxxxxx
Later that evening
Apparating straight from the Ministry to the gates of Hogwarts, Hermione walked up to the castle, shivering slightly against the December cold, and entered through the side door that the headmaster kept enchanted to admit Order members. She wanted to do a little research and Dumbledore had told her that the library was open to her whenever she wanted information. After her conversation with Percy she needed the calming feeling that the smell of parchment and leather always gave her.
There were reasons she had often been called the smartest witch of her age and various things had been gnawing away at her mind – things she'd missed in all the upheaval that had taken place since the unmasking of Snape as a spy for Dumbledore and the light by the followers of You-know-who. There was an inexorable downward spiral to life ever since Snape had been returned to Hogwarts by Harry and Hermione knew she'd been waiting for it to happen ever since You-know-who had been defeated five years previously.
She, along with Percy which was a rather worrying development, had come to the conclusion that someone had to know where the boy-who-lived was hiding. Even Sirius at the height of his notoriety had had help even if it was only Crookshanks, her cat. She had her suspicions that someone within the Order knew far more than they were saying but she couldn't prove anything yet.
Harry had walked out of their lives rather than return to his Aunt and Uncle without the comfort of his magic. It might not have been as bad for him as an adult as it had been as a child but it would still have been bad enough. How could he have been protected without an almost permanent guard? Hermione couldn't see how it could have been done. It would have been almost impossible without creating a prison for him. Harry's feelings of anger and isolation at the time were now easily explained by the terrible curse that had been inflicted upon him. She felt ashamed of how she'd continued to nag him about his studies, his behaviour and his feelings and hadn't given him and Ginny any help at all.
Harry had few friends or reliable contacts outside the Order and certainly none outside the wizarding world. It hadn't been encouraged by his family or Dumbledore. He'd been protected to the point of captivity.
Hermione didn't think that there was anything she could have done to help Ginny avoid the Malfoy's marriage trap but it now grated upon her that she hadn't even tried. Even worse, neither had Dumbledore. The supposed greatest and most powerful wizard of their age had folded to the dark side's machinations without a murmur. To him, it had been another chance to have someone spying upon their enemies. Ginny's plight had only been another opportunity for the greater good, her rights as an individual ignored. Hermione could see now that Harry had probably been accurate – a marriage to Malfoy would inevitably have meant Ginny's death.
How could Dumbledore have even contemplated such a move? Her faith in the elderly mage had been severely rattled upon hearing the news that Harry had been cursed of his magic and would have been unwillingly returned to his relatives. She'd found it difficult to fathom some of the decisions made by his supposed protectors when Harry had been a child but as an adult? The headmaster should not have the right to decide such things.
She had to admit that she was ashamed of her own behaviour - fooled into looking at the bigger picture rather than helping a friend. It wasn't too late to start doing that now. Hermione pulled the large dusty leather-bound book towards her and began hurriedly to make notes.
"Miss Granger..."
Hermione lifted her head from the parchment she was studying. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore," she murmured warily, trying to push away her feelings. They hadn't done right by Harry, but Dumbledore was probably the only person that could help him now.
"Hermione," the old wizard chided fondly. "It's been a number of years since you were a Hogwarts student. Surely you can call me Albus?"
"It's difficult, Headmaster," she admitted, not meeting his eyes.
"Ah!" Dumbledore sighed. "You're questioning your faith in me – in the decisions I made." He held up a hand forestalling her stammered apologies. "It's only right that you should. It is another step into adulthood and independence of mind and thought. Many do not attain such lofty plains and continue to follow blindly." He gave a weary sigh. "You and I have already seen what happens. I have, as I said, made many mistakes with regards to Harry and my mistakes tend to be bigger than most. We need him back under our protection. I am trying to right my wrongs."
"By dragging him back against his will?" asked Hermione, finding her backbone. "It's not a very good idea – not if you want his co-operation. You do want his co-operation?"
"I do."
Hermione would have offered her opinion to Ron and Harry in an instant whether they'd asked for it or not but this was Albus Dumbledore she was speaking to and, his views about developing independent thought notwithstanding, it was difficult to countermand his opinions. Still, this was for Harry and she wanted to make up for not supporting him as she should have done in the past. "Then perhaps if I were you, I would leave him where he is until he includes us in his life once more. From my brief glimpses of Professor Snape's memories of Harry in the Pensieve, I can only say that I've never seen him looking so well."
The headmaster's expression did not change but Hermione could tell that her plain speaking had pained him.
"If his magic is returning, Hermione, then he is in grave danger. Voldemort has always had a connection to Harry through his scar. I only want to protect him until he's ready to meet Voldemort."
"What if he never becomes ready? What if he doesn't want your protection? He is an adult wiz..." She paled. Harry had lost his magic and would be vulnerable to any Death Eater attack. She waved her hand wildly at the ancient tome she'd been leafing through. "I've just read up on the curse he was hit with and it's horrible...truly horrible. What if his magic never recovers properly?"
"Ah, Miss Granger. You always ask the difficult questions."
The young witch blushed. "I try because someone has to and the book says that there's no known cure – only time. You are Professor Dumbledore, leader of the light and the only wizard V...Voldemort ever feared..." She lifted her chin. "But you could have been as bad as V...Voldemort in your own way. I'm not saying that you are," she added hurriedly. "But who holds you to account?"
"Ah!" Dumbledore said, a bittersweet smile crossing his face for a moment. "You are, of course, correct. There's the famous quote about 'absolute power corrupting absolutely'. I am certainly not immune from making mistakes. I strive to do the best for the wizarding world and I certainly do not want immortality. I find that I am curious where my next great adventure will take me. I may be head of the Wizengamot but I never wanted to be Minister of Magic and once I became headmaster of Hogwarts I wanted nothing else but to be there guiding the next generation of the wizarding world. Voldemort wants power only for himself. He does not care about others. I like to think that I'm different."
Hermione swallowed and nodded. "I understand."
"Harry's magic has returned in some shape or form - that much is clear," the headmaster explained quietly. "We have to hope that it is enough. Voldemort will not cease his pursuit of Mister Potter because his magic has lost its power. He will revel in the fact that his curse was successful but desire to complete what he started. I think Voldemort also may fear what Harry may do whether he has magical power or not. Our young friend has proven his resourcefulness over the years but I am certain that Harry needs more time than we can give him. And finally, if you are ready to question me and hold me to account, Miss Granger, then you can call me Albus."
"I will try to use your name, Sir. I may relapse but I promise to do my best. You've been Professor Dumbledore to me since I first knew that magic existed."
"That's all I can ask for." He seated himself in the chair opposite, carefully arranging his violet robes around himself. "I did not think to see you here tonight."
"Ron has to cover an evening Quidditch match," she explained. "While he's away I wanted to come and use the library." She gave the headmaster a rueful smile, as she gestured around the almost empty library. "I get peace and quiet to do what I want without interruptions. Molly means well but she..."
"Any time, Hermione. Hogwarts is always open to aid those who require it." The old wizard smoothed the soft iridescent fabric of his purple robes once more across his knees. "It is fortuitous that you are here for I wanted to ask you to handle a task for me on behalf of the Order and also to enquire about Molly's health. It's been several weeks since she's been able to come to an Order meeting and I have been concerned. Since Arthur died and Ginny and Harry vanished I know that Molly has found things difficult. She's not the powerhouse that she once was. She lost much of her fire when she lost Arthur."
Hermione frowned and fiddled with the quill in her hand before placing it carefully next to the parchment. "She's fine...happier than I've seen her in years. I wondered if she was seeing someone and doesn't feel that we would approve. I only wondered because she's going out quite a lot and never says where she's going and for the first time in years she's making an effort with her appearance. It's been six years since Arthur died and I wouldn't begrudge Molly a chance at happiness. I haven't said anything as I don't want to be seen to be interfering and she hasn't offered us any information. She's not my mother but in view of V...Voldemort coming back I worry that it could be the wrong sort of wizard."
Dumbledore's words soothed the anxious witch. "Of course you are worried. Molly is as close to you as your own mother, Hermione, and has been more vulnerable of late with Arthur's death. Closer in some ways with you being Muggleborn and your parents still in Australia. Mention your concerns to Ronald and perhaps to Bill. He will likely find it easier to speak to his mother without interfering with her privacy."
Hermione brushed away a hint of a tear and took a fortifying breath. "What would you like me to do, A...Albus?"
"One day, when we've defeated the evil in our world I hope to be able to say 'nothing," he said with a bittersweet smile. "The task that I need you to perform must be done with the utmost discretion on your part."
"You can trust me on that."
"I can, Hermione. I trust you on a great many things and you are ideally placed at the Ministry to look into this matter." Dumbledore smiled kindly at the young witch. "We need you to check wizarding records for Ginny Weasley's marriage contract without alerting the Ministry to your activities."
"That's strange," she murmured, her forehead creasing with her frown. "Bill Weasley was looking into the very same thing."
"He was?" Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. "Was this recent?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, this morning in fact. He said that he was at the Ministry on goblin business but I doubt that's true."
"It could very well be true, Hermione. The Ministry's finances are run by the goblins, too."
"Bill's a cursebreaker, not a goblin-ministry liaison officer and the Ministry have their own cursebreakers – they don't need Gringotts' employees. I'm sure he's got nothing to do with protecting Ministry finances. If it weren't for marrying Fleur and with the baby on the way, Bill would be abroad..."
"Mister Weasley came home when the threat of Voldemort's second rise hit the wizarding world. He came home on sabbatical from his job in Egypt and met and then married Fleur. You know that both of them returned to Egypt until Arthur died but he was always intending to return to Britain. Bill willingly returned home to be with his family. He has put down his own roots at Shell Cottage with his marriage and impending fatherhood." Dumbledore frowned. "But why would he be checking the marriage contract today unless...?"
"He blames himself for Ginny's situation," offered Hermione sadly.
"It wasn't his fault," returned Dumbledore, still thinking hard. "Deep down, I'm sure he knows that he had nothing to do with Ginny being contracted to the Malfoys. He's recently been promoted, too, I hear. I'm glad that the goblins are giving him more responsibility. He is a capable, trustworthy and very powerful wizard." The old wizard had sensed greater than usual antipathy from Bill at the last couple of meetings that the eldest Weasley had attended. The headmaster hadn't spoken to Bill for a couple of weeks and certainly not since Harry had appeared in Aberdeen on Saturday so how could Bill have known that they were suddenly interested in the Malfoy-Weasley marriage contract? Perhaps Remus had told him but Dumbledore didn't think so.
Hermione shook her head. "Bill wasn't there on Gringotts business. Why would he be looking for information in the records department?"
"You are sure?"
"I followed him," Hermione admitted, "but he didn't see me. I waited until he'd gone and popped in to see if Mary Spiderwicke would let something slip." Bill's hushed tone had been urgent as he spoke with the older witch but Hermione had been unable to hear the discussion.
The headmaster sat up. "And did she? Did Mary say anything that could help us?"
"Not directly." Hermione looked troubled. "Records are confidential as you know and Mary is a sensible witch with honesty and principles. She wouldn't have said anything to me even if I'd asked...which I didn't. I felt it was suspicious enough me visiting her just after my future brother-in-law had been in her office. Mary and I have taken tea together on a number of occasions – I even received an engagement gift from her."
"How very kind of her. Mistress Spiderwicke is a former Hogwarts head girl," Albus informed the young witch. "And I can understand your dilemma. You would not want to put any strain on such a cordial acquaintance. Perhaps I could have a word with Mary myself."
Hermione shot him a grateful look, glad that he didn't take her to task for finding out so little but she doubted that the extremely proper witch would divulge anything – even to the great Albus Dumbledore. "Mary had an expensive sheet of blank parchment on her desk and was examining it very carefully. It had been wrapped in green and silver ribbons and she was checking information in a very large book."
"Could you ascertain the title of the book? I am sure that Mistress Spiderwicke is in charge of the wizarding births, betrothals, deaths and marriages."
Hermione shook her head. "It looked like any official Ministry ledger. Black dragon-hide binding, gilt-tipped parchment..." She held up her hands. "It could have been anything."
As Hogwarts' headmaster and the head of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore had the power to view any sensitive information. Perhaps a trip to the department of records could be in order. "Something had probably just been misfiled," he suggested calmly.
"Possibly." Hermione pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "Possible but unlikely. Why would Bill be visiting Mary? It's just that I saw Bill removing something very similar from the old desk in Arthur's study a few weeks ago. It was the same grade of quality parchment and the ribbons were the exact shades of green and silver. I would have sworn that it was Ginny's marriage parchment had it not been blank.
"It was blank." Dumbledore straightened in his seat, his brow furrowing in thought. "You are certain that it was similar?"
Hermione cast her mind back to when Bill had been rooting around in the old desk for pieces of 'spare' parchment. "It was a few weeks ago as I said, but, yes, I'm almost certain that it was the same type of document. I also remember when Percy and the Malfoys arrived with the contract and I examined it then."
"You've given me a lot to think about and a possible idea," murmured the headmaster. "If the marriage parchment has faded then..." His voice tailed off slowly and he frowned. "It takes very powerful magic for such a thing to happen. Very powerful magic or..."
"Do you think...Sir, that something serious has happened to Ginny?"
"It's difficult to say. Five years is a long time without news." Dumbledore tapped the tips of his fingers together.
Hermione's eyes widened with alarm. "If the parchment is blank does it mean that she's still alive?"
"Did Mister Weasley look at all distressed by what he had found?" asked Albus calmly, although inside he admitted to some apprehension. He hadn't foreseen any of this. Harry had always been rebellious, untrusting of authority but never had he been so defiantly against plans made for his guidance and protection.
"No, Bill seemed to be pleased, Sir..."
"Mmm." Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "Then I think Miss Weasley is unharmed." He sat back in his chair. "You perhaps heard about the Death Eater attack two days ago on a town about four hours from here?"
"I heard rumours, nothing concrete," she admitted. "It just means that V...Voldemort has got tired of waiting and we are at war again." She shrugged. "What has this got to do with Ginny?"
"You brought to our attention the reporting of a strange attack by muggle ruffians on Halloween, remember? It was a small column of news hidden away in the middle of the local newspaper. The town attacked is a mere twenty miles from where that particular incident took place. Because of a warning, the Aurors and available Order members were able to get there before too much damage was done. The warning was given by Harry."
Hermione's face lit up. Harry had made contact? "Then you know where he is? Have you spoken to him? We have an even closer lead on his possible location?"
Dumbledore chuckled at her enthusiasm before growing serious once more. "No, Harry managed to contact Remus but refused to return to Grimmauld Place with him. You and Mister Weasley have managed to aid us further in our quest for Mister Potter using the memories Severus provided for us. We have only a general idea of Harry's whereabouts but we are getting nearer. He's been hidden well."
"It's good to know that he continues to be safe. It's frustrating, Sir, that we cannot find him but it wouldn't be Harry otherwise."
"Quite, Miss Granger."
"Ginny's marriage contract..." Hermione said thoughtfully. Once more Harry and Ginny were being talked about and it was obvious if you had half-a-brain, let alone being the brightest witch Hogwarts had seen in a century, that it all connected together. "This has got something to do with Harry...hasn't it?"
"You know me too well, Miss Granger." Albus chuckled at Hermione's blushing face. "I do think that this may be case. Remus did more than just successfully contact Harry. He saw him, spoke to him and noticed that he was wearing a wedding ring."
"H...he actually saw Harry. Viewing pensive memories are all very well, Sir, but they can never take the place of an actual meeting. Was he well? Did he look as if he'd been eating enough? His relatives never fed him properly..." Hermione snapped her mouth shut before saying quietly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push."
Albus leant across the table and patted her hand comfortingly. "No need to be sorry, Miss Granger. You've done nothing wrong."
"Did Harry say anything to help us know where he is?" She stopped and her mouth dropped open as the knut finally dropped. "Wedding ring!" she exclaimed. "Harry's married!"
"Remus allowed me to see a pensieve memory of their meeting in the wizarding area in Aberdeen – it's very small – just a couple of stores. Harry looked well, dressed in a muggle business suit, but gave very little away and I didn't expect him to. He's too shrewd to do that but I, too, noticed the wedding ring. He did not try to hide it in any way."
"Then he has married Ginny," she said, her voice ringing with conviction. "Harry Potter," she muttered under her breath. "Wait till I get my hands on the both of you."
The headmaster looked surprised. "You seem so certain without even having to consider it, Miss Granger. You don't think that it could be a ruse or that Harry could have met and married someone else while he was away from us?"
"Not Harry," she said definitely. "He loved Ginny. He really loved her and he wouldn't risk someone else – a muggle for instance - getting too close. Merlin, he broke up with her to protect her. Consider that I've been his best friend since he was eleven – there's not many that know Harry as well as I do. Ginny's the only witch strong enough to get him to change his mind. She's the only girl for him. So if it's not some sort of hoax, which I doubt, then Harry has married Ginny."
Albus wasn't being told anything he didn't already suspect to be true. He had hoped that someone would disagree with his ideas. But so far no one had disagreed that Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley could still be single. All he had to wait for was official proof of the marriage and he was sure that Hermione would find it.
There was a sharp pop and a house elf appeared before them. "Headmaster Dumbledore," it said solemnly, "wizard with dark skin has face in fireplace. Urgent message"
"My office?" Dumbledore asked, glancing at his watch. Kingsley was late tonight.
"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore." The elf disappeared with another sharp pop.
"Excuse me, Miss Granger."
"It has to be Kingsley with something for the Order," muttered Hermione. "Would you mind if I came too?"
"I cannot see why not. You can leave if it is for my ears only." Dumbledore quickly led the way to his office where Fawkes greeted him with a quiet trill of pleasure.
"Albus!" The anxious voice emanated from the floo as soon as they entered the office.
"Kingsley? Come through."
The tall figure of Kingsley Shacklebolt unfolded himself from the floo. "Albus! We have a problem – a major problem!"
The headmaster seated himself behind his desk. "Go on."
Hermione chewed her lip. "I'll just go back to the library – in fact, I should be getting home," she murmured with a guilty look at the time. "Ron's match should have finished an hour ago."
Kingsley glanced at Hermione. "Miss Granger should also hear this as it will affect all of us. It concerns Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley. Albus, we need to have a word with Bill Weasley." He sighed. "Bill, as the current head of house Weasley, registered today the marriage of his sister, Ginevra Molly, to one Harry James Potter."
Albus straightened, his voice cracking like a whip. "What!"
"Potter and Ginny Weasley are married," said the tall auror heavily. "We have official proof. Not only of Potter's actions but that Bill Weasley knows where he is."
Dumbledore sank back in his chair, long fingers gripping the bridge of his nose. "Oh, Harry," he murmured. "What have you done?"
"How do you know?" asked Hermione, her face white. She knew it was the truth, she'd stated it herself only moments before.
"Potter's name is one that sets off sparks..." Kingsley began explaining.
"Literally?" interrupted Hermione.
"Yes. Anything happening with regard to Potter has sparks flying and bells ringing in certain offices. Since he disappeared we have things closely monitored. If Harry's name appears in any official documents, the aurors attached to the Order will know." The auror managed a strained smile. "As will the Ministry officials and any of our enemies."
The headmaster scribbled something on a piece of parchment and with a flash of golden fire Fawkes took it and was gone. He pushed his glasses onto the bridge of his nose with a long thin finger. The proof he was seeking had come quicker than expected. Part of him had hoped that they would all be wrong. "Do the Malfoys know about this?"
Shacklebolt shrugged. "If they don't know now they soon will. Lucius Malfoy has entrenched himself too well into the Ministry – Old Pureblood money still talks and no one liked galleons and gifts like Fudge did. Scrimgeour considers Malfoy a necessary evil that he has to deal with as part of his job – he can't get rid of him as much as he wants to. Lucius is a dangerous man and has his own Ministry spies willing to inform him of anything that may help You-know-who. Albus, you know that Rufus is not going to be happy about this. Bill Weasley's landed himself, and by association, the Order in a lot of trouble."
"You think Scrimgeour will act? He has no love for me, that I know," admitted Dumbledore. "But we respect one another's stance on many things. He is not a supporter of Voldemort and we need all the help we can get."
"Of course," said the dark auror quietly. He looked at Hermione explaining, "Scrimgeour has been pressuring Albus to produce Harry for years now and doesn't believe that the boy is away training for the time he is called to defeat You-know-who. He wants to use him as a Ministry propaganda tool."
"Harry would hate being used like that," said Hermione. "But the Minister would have to find him to persuade him."
Shacklebolt's face was grave. "For Bill Weasley to have done what he did today, the only explanation is that he knows where they are. The Minister will demand Harry's presence at the Ministry and then the Malfoys will press charges..."
Hermione's hand flew to her lips in a silent gasp. "But if Harry and Ginny don't appear...?"
"Then Bill will be arrested in Harry's place," said Shacklebolt.
"How much of Bill's conversation did you hear between him and the Malfoys this morning?" asked Albus.
"Not much," she confessed. "I was more concerned with what Percy was going to do and working out how I was going to prevent it from taking place. As it happened, there were words and Bill left. They didn't seem friendly towards one another but I suppose that would be stating the obvious. I heard him mention Sirius and something about the Black Tapestry. Sirius removed the names of the Malfoys and Lestranges from the tapestry and returned Andromeda Tonks to the family."
Dumbledore's eyes widened and a tinge of annoyance crossed the normally benign countenance. He'd hoped for more information than that. "Send a Patronus to Bill. We need to talk to him immediately. I should have been informed about something of this magnitude."
"Bill's never said anything to you?" Kingsley asked Hermione, his face a picture of surprise.
Dumbledore glanced at Hermione and she shook her head. "He and Fleur haven't said anything to any of us."
"Would Fleur be party to this?"
Hermione shrugged. "I wouldn't think that Bill could keep something like this from Fleur – the rest of the family possibly, but not Fleur. She's not stupid and they're too close to keep anything like that from each other."
"So it's almost a certainty that Bill and Fleur know of Harry and Ginny's location," muttered Kingsley. "Merlin, Albus! This is one big mess."
"Harry was never formally accused of having anything to do with Ginny's disappearance..." began Hermione.
"It was only a matter of time," confessed Kingsley. "If Harry hadn't vanished then..." He rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Percy Weasley wanted someone to blame and the Malfoys would have done anything to discredit him. Harry was to have been arrested."
Hermione sank into one of the available seats. "Bill must have registered the marriage this morning – it is his right to do so as the Head of the Weasley family. But he said he was on goblin business."
"He would hardly tell you, Hermione," retorted Kingsley irritably, "that he was registering his sister's marriage. He'd want to keep it quiet until the last possible moment, especially as she's supposed to be marrying Draco Malfoy. She's married illegally and to Harry of all people. Nothing could make the Malfoys angrier."
Hermione blushed but persisted with her questions. "What about the contract? The marriage would not be accepted. Ginny could be imprisoned, lose her magic..."
Dumbledore tapped a long thin finger against his lips. "You think the marriage has been accepted magically?"
"Yes," said Kingsley. "There's no doubt of it."
Dumbledore gave a faint smile. "If the marriage has been accepted magically, then there is every possibility that it is a legal one."
Kingsley rubbed his forehead, hoping to massage away his looming headache. "That would be why Scrimgeour has the lawyers looking at it already." He bit off an expletive. "They are searching for the original document which is filed at the Ministry." He gave the headmaster an apologetic look. "The Minister is furious about this, Albus. He thinks you're being deliberately obstructive in his access to Harry – the one wizard who could renew people's faith in the Ministry – the chosen one."
"That's because I was," said Albus calmly. "It was unfair to put that sort of pressure upon Harry when he was a child and when he became of age, he didn't want to do it."
"Rufus is determined that when he shows up Harry's pressed straight into Ministry service whether he wants to or not." Kingsley caught the headmaster's eyes and held them. "This is the kind of thing that could give him the leverage to do so. He's not above using threats of imprisonment."
"We cannot allow that to happen." Dumbledore's eyes grew cold at the thought. "Harry has the right to a private life and he would be in far more danger at the Ministry. Voldemort has many supporters deep within the government."
"It has to be that blank piece of parchment," mumbled Hermione to herself. "It just has to."
Dumbledore turned his head sharply to stare at the witch. She'd mentioned a blank piece of parchment before. "Blank or faded?" he wondered aloud. "If the parchment Mary was examining was the Malfoy contract, then it has failed in some way and I have again failed Harry. He has never been good at trusting those in authority and will be less likely to trust us now than he ever was before."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "We told him there was nothing that could be done, didn't we?"
Dumbledore sighed. "We did. He obviously had some sort of prior agreement with Miss Weasley which meant that the Malfoy contract failed to 'take'. He should have told us about this beforehand. We will need to do some damage control on this."
Hermione stood up, her hands on her hips, unconsciously copying the irate stance her future mother-in-law favoured, her tears forgotten. They were ignoring Harry's rights and feelings and talking about him as if he were just a thing to do what they wanted him to. "Albus Dumbledore," she screeched, in a manner reminiscent of Minerva McGonagall. "Shouldn't you be glad that they're both safe and that Ginny's not fighting for her life in the depths of Malfoy Manor? Harry and Ginny have a right to a little privacy or are you now deciding who we should love? Damage control!"
"Harry can't protect her," said Dumbledore calmly. "They could both be fighting for their lives as we speak and we wouldn't know about it. Because of Voldemort's curse, his magic isn't strong enough!"
"How do you know?" argued back Hermione. "This is Harry we're talking about. He must have protected her for the past five years – that's if she let him," she added with a wry smile. "Ginny's no damsel in distress. She could be the one protecting him if she has her magic and he does not. Magic or not, no one has been able to find either of them." She scowled. "And don't tell me that we haven't scoured the land looking for them."
Kingsley allowed a smirk to cross his face. "True," he muttered. "The boy did manage to portkey Severus safely back to Hogwarts. That is not the action of a weak wizard."
"Harry always pulls through against the odds," said Hermione fervently. "He has to. Who else can do it?" She didn't mention the prophecy – she didn't have to.
"Mr. Potter may have just gone too far this time. The Malfoys will not accept it."
"They may have no choice," retorted Hermione.
Dumbledore rose gracefully to his feet, his expression grave. He knew what that curse did and Harry could have set any recovery back years by performing that one spell. "Come, we need to see Bill Weasley. Kingsley?"
"I'll come. I'm off duty." He looked enquiringly at the young woman standing beside the headmaster. "Hermione?"
Hermione quickly weighed her options. "I'll meet you at The Burrow," she decided. "My cloak's in the library and I need to contact Ron. I should have been home an hour ago and he'll be worried."
"Quickly, Hermione," said the headmaster. "I suspect that Hogwarts will soon receive a visit from Lucius Malfoy and the aurors under his control and we want to be away before then. Bill will surely be expecting us. It takes no stretch of the imagination to think that The Burrow would be next."
The witch hurried from the office, her expression troubled. She should have seen it. Bill had missed several meetings and had been increasingly distant with Dumbledore. It was possible that he'd known about Harry and Ginny for some time. But why hadn't he said anything? He hadn't even told his own mother. Molly would be overjoyed to find out that her daughter was safe. Kingsley and Dumbledore would speak to Bill while she would go home and tell Molly and Ron the good news.
As she tightened the cloak about her neck, a thought struck her Maybe Bill had told Molly after all. Hermione swallowed, her limbs shaky. Still, Harry and Ginny were safe and had somehow managed to circumvent the awful contract. She should have had more faith in Harry, she really should. If the marriage was legal then the Malfoys couldn't take Ginny away. With a flick of her wand, her otter Patronus disappeared off into the chilly night to tell Ron that she was on her way home. She had the feeling that the awful limbo they'd been living in for the past five years – waiting for V...Voldemort to resurrect himself once more - had suddenly vanished.
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'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men' - John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
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