A/N: This wasn't the plan, but we had a discussion over at the Ginny Lover's Discord about whether I could possibly post two chapters only a day apart. I've rarely been able to write this quickly but hey, these words just flowed. I can't say I've edited this much, so I apologize if there are typos or mistakes. Red_matter, this one's for you. :)
Ginny stood very still. She didn't recognize the man standing before her but from Harry's descriptions, knew it must be Dodge. Two of the others were the wizards who'd Apparated out of the garden with the Ministry witch a few weeks earlier. Avery and Parkinson, she was pretty sure. She ignored Dodge's outstretched hand.
"Where's Harry?" He had to be here; Dodge couldn't have gotten in otherwise. Before anyone answered, the third man - the one Ginny didn't know at all - spoke up.
"How'd she get in, Finny? I thought you said this place was secure, and that you're the only one who can enter without Potter." His tone was suspicious, and Ginny filed that fact away. The man in front of her didn't seem concerned.
"Miss Weasley is another exception, of course. I didn't think it necessary to tell you because I assumed . . . well never mind. It's not important." Dodge spread his arms in a gesture of welcome. "As you may have guessed, I'm Phineas Dodge, Miss Weasley. And as you know, I oversee the care and contents of the house here. It's lovely to see you; did Harry ask you to stop by and start cataloging the things here he wants to keep? I know he hasn't begun yet." His manner was so casual, Dodge may well have been asking what she wanted for dinner, and did she need to stop by the market first?
Ginny tried to match his posture, despite the thoughts screaming in her head . No one seemed ready to attack her and Harry wasn't here. She could hear his voice in her head, though. It was telling her to Apparate away immediately.
If he'd been there, she might have listened, trusting Harry the Auror even if she wanted to roll her eyes at Harry the overprotective boyfriend. But he wasn't here, and if she was able to find out anything that might help him, she was going to do it. She gave Dodge a commiserating smile.
"Harry needs a little push, you're right." She let her eyes wander around the room, relieved to see that nothing seemed to have been disturbed yet. "I mean, look at it all." She gestured to the high chair, the half-dead plant in the corner, the wildly out-of-date curtains. "He knows most of it's junk, so I figured I'd surprise him and start organizing it all so he can make quick decisions about what to throw away."
"It was a bald lie; Ginny would never dare touch a single thing in the house without Harry there. But something else she'd said seemed to agitate the men on the couch. One of them - she assumed Parkinson by his puglike face - leaned forward.
"Not all junk though, eh? Not with the Dark Lord having cast his power here." He waved his hand at Dodge. "Finny, show her what we found; maybe she can help us."
Ginny almost pointed out that this was the place Voldemort had nearly lost his power for good, but at the last second she bit her words back. One of the things she'd learned from Harry (yet another he probably wasn't supposed to tell her), was the importance of being agreeable when you were trying to get information. There was time for snark too, but this wasn't it. Ginny wondered if they'd believe her playing dumb. Worth a try, she supposed.
"Ooo, did you find Harry's toy broom? I can't believe it still works!" She took a step towards the side of the sofa, where she knew the broom was floating.
"We don't care about the fucking broom." Now the suspicious wizard was speaking again. "And there's nothing to show her, Felix." He looked towards the door. "I thought you agreed to wait for Belby to get here, since you apparently took it upon yourself to exclude me from your preparations."
"Belby's been detained," said Parkinson shortly. "And Avery and I find it rather curious that you're here yourself." He turned suddenly to look at Dodge. "Seems that you told us no one else was interested."
"I didn't say that . . . exactly." Now Dodge sounded a bit nervous, Ginny thought. "I told you that no one was positioned to be involved. At the time." That made the smallest wizard - Avery - snort.
"What'd you tell him to pull you in, Goyle? Did you name the witch who cursed the showers at the club so that her husband couldn't get it up whenever he tried to bed someone else? Cause if so, Dodge, you're slipping. Everyone knows it was Trinity Nott."
The suspicious wizard - who Ginny now knew was Benton Goyle - scoffed. "But did you know who the other women were? I did." He turned towards Dodge. "What are you playing here, Finn? I thought it was going to be only me and Atticus here."
"I'm playing nothing, except all of your mutual interests," said Dodge. He seemed to have recovered his composure. "We're all here for the same reason, and I think Felix was right to mention our . . . discovery to Miss Weasley. After all, she's closer to Mr. Potter than nearly anyone." He rounded suddenly on Ginny. "And you've been here before, haven't you? Upstairs?"
Ginny's stomach dropped. The truth was, she had not been upstairs yet, but she knew what was there. Harry had been quite clear about the fact that he returned the wands every time he left. Still she shrugged. "I've been here, yes, but not upstairs. I thought it was a lot more destroyed and there wasn't really anything to see."
"Not entirely. In fact, we've discovered something quite interesting. We're having a bit of . . . difficulty with it though. Maybe you can help?" Dodge gestured towards the stairs. "Gentlemen? Why don't we all show Miss Weasley what we've found?"
There was noise and muttering as the other three wizards got out of their seats, but not so much that Ginny didn't hear the spell Dodge muttered behind her. Most people wouldn't have noticed the way the walls shimmered gray for the barest moment and then settled back to their ordinary cream, but Ginny recognized the anti-Apparition spell immediately. Harry had taught it to her, in fact. Gray meant no one could leave, but anyone could enter. She suppressed a shiver, wondering if Dodge meant it to contain her or the men now crowding behind her on the stairs.
"Give me some space," she said crossly. She said a silent apology to Harry for not leaving when she had the chance, not that she would have as long as there was a chance to help figure things out. Now that she had no choice her goal was to figure out what the men wanted without actually giving it to them. And figure out a way to contact Harry. Dodge nudged her back.
"They're in the nursery." He pointed, as if she couldn't have figured out herself that the room with an enormous gaping hole was the place Harry had once slept. Still, she turned a confused glance.
"There? But it's practically destroyed. There can't be anything in there."
"Oh but there is." One of the other men - Goyle, she thought - shoved her less gently than Dodge had, and only her Chaser's reflexes and the fact that she was entirely on her guard prevented her from stumbling. "Get them."
"Get what?" Ginny looked anywhere besides the space under the crib. But Goyle grabbed her shoulder and twisted her face in that direction anyway. Behind her, someone hissed a warning.
"Ben, maybe not so rough."
"Not until she gives us what we need at least." A different voice - Parkinson - and another hiss.
"There." Goyle's mouth was too close to her ear. "See them? The wands."
Ginny did see them, under the crib. They were vibrating slightly, and when Goyle pushed her face closer, they rolled back and forth in a tight path.
"Hey, they're moving more, get them!" Someone behind her shouted, even though the wands seemed to have no inclination to move farther than several inches to the right and then left. Ginny pulled herself out of Goyle's grasp.
"Why don't you get them - what are they?" She tried to move farther away from the crib but another hand clasped her heavily on the shoulder.
"We tried that, don't you think?' Avery shoved his hand in front of her face and Ginny could see angry red lines across his palm, as if he'd been burned. "Damn things won't let us pick them up."
"But they'll probably work for you, won't they? Since you're shagging their owner." A hand rested on her bum for a moment. Someone else cleared their throat and after another moment it disappeared. "Zabini was right; she's hot for a blood traitor."
"Not yet," another voice growled.
Ginny took a deep breath. She could have hexed one, and maybe even two of them, but all four? She had to figure out a way to get Harry here.
"I still don't know what they are." She hoped she sounded confused. This time it was Dodge who answered.
"According to my records, they are the wands that once belonged to James and Lily Potter. My associates are particularly interested in them, given that they seem to be behaving . . . unusually."
"You said they what, imbibed power from the house?" Goyle had arranged himself closest to the crib and was glaring at Dodge, who stood nearer the door, next to Parkinson and Avery. They seemed to recognize their position at the same time and both men took a step forward.
"Don't give them to him," Avery warned Ginny. For the first time she noticed he was holding his wand. "We were here first."
"Bullshit," interrupted Goyle. "Like I told you, Belby and I've been interested in the Dark Lord's Horcruxes for months. "We knew the power was here; we just didn't have a way to get inside." He glared across the room. "He should be here."
Harry should be here, Ginny thought. She took a small step towards the crib. "I'll give them to Dodge," she said, hoping she sounded more calm than she felt. "But only if you take down the Anti-Apparition wards."
Dodge gave her a calculating look. "Very good, Miss Weasley. Give me the wands and then you can go."
Ginny knew it was a lie, but she had no choice. She nodded stiffly and reached down under the crib. The wands were moving faster but still not showing any inclination to leave their spot. She sensed their agitation. Moving quickly, she placed her palm flat against them both, hoping to stop their rolling and pick them up. A searing pain shot up her arm.
"Ow!" She pulled back. "They . . .they hurt me!"
"She's lying." Parkinson grabbed her hand and turned it over.
"Or not." Goyle looked at the angry blisters erupting across her fingers. "Looks like they don't like her either." He gave a nasty chuckle. "Maybe they know something you don't about how Potter feels about you, eh?"
Ginny closed her eyes and tried to ignore the burning in her hand. After a second the worst of the pain receded and she opened her eyes. "Harry's the only one who can touch them," she said. "But you're right; they contain power."
"From the Dark Lord?" asked Parkinson greedily. "Are they Horcruxes?"
Ginny swallowed hard. For Harry's sake, she hoped they weren't, and truly, it seemed too unlikely. Indeed, she couldn't shake the feeling that the wands had burned her for a reason unrelated to their own protection. She gave a small shrug. "Only Harry can figure that out."
Goyle's face was suddenly in hers again. "Well then, I think you'd better call him."
There was another argument among the men about whether and how Ginny should try to contact Harry. In the end, they agreed she should send him a personal message, and, in Parkinson's words, "Make it sound like she was waiting for a shag."
The Patronus waited patiently while she carefully spoke her message to Harry. Dodge stood especially close, obviously making sure that what she was saying was completely innocuous. He nodded when she was done.
"That will work nicely," he said, pleased. "Harry should be here before too long, and I daresay he'll be expecting a lovely evening with Miss Weasley here."
Ginny knew Harry would be there soon; she only hoped he knew exactly what to expect and arrived accordingly.
The meeting was almost over when Ginny's doe came cantering through the wall of the conference room where the Aurors were assembled. Harry frowned; she'd never interrupt him at work this way unless it was important. A moment later, the doe spoke with a giggling voice that made his hair stand on end.
Hi Harry, it's Ginny. I wanted to let you know that I have a surprise for you. I'm at your house - I mean - your parents' house, and I'd LOVE to show you something very special, so I hope you can stop by later. You're going to really enjoy it. I love you very much, and I know you love me . . . too. See you soon!
He was on his feet before the doe faded away. "She's in trouble." He wanted to run immediately to the Auror's secure Apparation point, but nearly two years of training forced him to stop and look towards his boss. It could hurt more than help to rush off without a plan.
"We never say 'I love you too,' we always say 'I love you more,'" he explained, hating to have one of his private moments with Ginny laid bare. Ron stood up too.
"And that voice," he shook his head. "She was trying really hard to sound, well, not like Ginny." He made a face. "She sounded like Lavender, actually."
"But not under the Imperius," said Harry quickly. He knew it was really Ginny, trying to tell him something.
"Do you think she's really at the house?" Gawain stood up too. "What do you want to do?"
Harry gave his boss a grateful look. It might have been unusual to give up his authority and let Harry take over, but the man was experienced enough to know it was the right strategy.
"I'm going to play dumb. Pretend I'm going to see my girlfriend and expecting a nice, romantic night."
"A romantic night at the house where your parents were killed," pointed out Ron. "Do you really think they expect you to buy that?" He obviously understood that Ginny wasn't alone.
"I do, yeah. At least, I think so." Harry spread out his hands. If they want something at the house, or from Ginny, they aren't likely to be thinking too critically about whether I'd actually want to shag my girlfriend there. Sorry, Ron."
Ron quickly waved him away. "We'll discuss that later. Right now, let's get Ginny out of there."
Harry sent back his Patronus, telling Ginny he was really looking forward to seeing her, and that he hoped she'd be ready for him, and that he loved her too, a lot. And then Gawain called in backup, and everyone Apparated to designated spots in Godric's Hollow, walking, disillusioned, to the lane outside the house. Harry went in the first group, casting spells in front of him to detect alarms or wards that would reveal their presence as they approached the house. But there were none.
"Like I thought, they're greedy," he muttered to Gawain and Ron, who were with him. The garden and gate were in sight now. After a brief discussion, Harry turned on the spot.
Ginny was sitting on the sofa, apparently alone, when Harry appeared in front of her. The look on her face was a warning, and Harry had to force himself to play the part of doting boyfriend. At least it meant he could touch her.
"Hi gorgeous," he said in a falsely hearty voice, and despite everything, Ginny's lips quirked; in normal times she'd hex him for being so cliche. She stood up slowly, and Harry watched carefully for any sign she was injured. Before he could confirm anything, she was in his arms, shaking, but obviously trying to hide it. He tightened his arms around her hoping that to whoever was watching that it would look like he was merely eager to see his girlfriend.
Ginny melted against him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Anti-apparition wards," she breathed, so quietly it took him a moment to understand. He hid his nod in the shifting of his weight. He'd been able to get into the house but fully expected that whoever else was here would take care of preventing anyone else from arriving as soon as Harry appeared properly distracted. He took the opportunity to take Ginny's hands in his and kiss her deeply, all the while noticing out of the corner of his eye the way the walls shimmered blue. Now no one could Apparate in either direction.
"I missed you," he said. At least now he didn't have to act. "And I'm excited to see what you have planned."
To her credit but not his surprise, Ginny played her part well. She angled her body against his and tilted her head up. "I have plans for you," she said in a suggestive voice. Harry could hear the tremor beneath her words but doubted anyone else could.
"Oh yeah?" Normally, he'd have moved his hands to her bum by now. Instead, acutely aware of their hidden audience, he kept them at her waist. She nodded.
"But first I want to show you something." The giggling girl was back in her voice. She stepped out of his arms and grabbed his hand. "It's upstairs. I thought we could . . . start filling out that list that Dodge gave you. You've been putting it off too long now, Harry." Ginny gave him a pout. "What if there's something here you want to give me as a gift?"
For a moment, Harry thought they'd found his mother's elusive bed box, but Ginny was pulling him into the nursery instead, where Harry's gaze immediately fell upon the wands under the crib. They were rolling more frantically than he'd ever seen them. Ginny squeezed his hand in warning and he began looking at one of the pictures on the wall instead.
"Do you want to keep those?" she asked brightly. "They'd look nice in another nursery . . . someday." She gave him an embarrassed little smile and Harry's heart thumped at how hard she was trying. He nodded solemnly, wondering if anyone was with them on the second floor. It was obvious now that they'd seen the wands - and Harry suspected he knew who at least some of "they" were. But now that he was here, why hadn't they shown themselves? He squeezed Ginny's hand again, thinking hard.
"That's a good idea," he said slowly. "I have the list Phineas Dodge gave me here somewhere." He began rummaging through his pockets, pulling out various bits of parchment and business cards and a brightly colored advertisement for . . .
Harry sucked in his breath and forced himself to keep his expression neutral. "So much junk," he said carefully. He patted the pockets of his robes again. "I'm sure I put the list - here, will you hold all of this for me so I can look?" Before Ginny could respond, Harry pulled the sparkling ribbon on the edge of the VIP invite to the Nocturnal Creatures nightclub Arlo and Miles had given him months ago. It glowed brightly for a second and Harry shoved it into Ginny's hand. "Send Ron a Patronus; love you more," he managed before Ginny winked out of sight, to be transported to the middle of the Nocturnal Creatures dance floor. He let out a relieved breath and trusted Ginny would know what to do next.
He had the wands in his hand a moment later and was standing with his own wand out, facing the doorway when Dodge and three former Death Eaters burst into the room.