In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 78: Ginny 16
Harry, unsure why he woke so early Friday morning, but he did. He felt well rested despite the unusually early time on the clock. He felt the shaking, glanced over at Ron, before climbing off the bed. Harry reached for the door knob, a brief trepidation that Fred or George or Ginny was on the other side, about to scold him off. Through the door, down the steps, Harry stepped over Snuffles, and entered the kitchen.
Pewter Cauldron sitting in the sink, Harry realized his stomach actually growled. Harry opened the refrigerator, grabbed an egg from the hard–boiled tray, and spun it on the counter. A close of the door, Harry grabbed a spoon and began to peel the shell in the dim light. Salt and pepper, he ate the egg.
"Was wondering," said Richard as he entered the kitchen.
Dim light showed the brown hair.
"Bit…" Harry left the egg shell on the counter, turned.
Into the living room; ahead, blocking the front door, in blue and gray sweats, the light came on with Kristen's eyes on them, the radio attached to her belt with the microphone stretched up to the collar of her gray hoodie.
"I suppose you two are going out?" Kristen asked.
"We always do," Richard replied.
"Please let us by," Harry said.
"I need the exercise," Kristen said, "And since you're thick enough to ignore the risks, I'm coming."
"Mum!" Richard protested.
A glare.
"You're welcome to stay," Kristen said, "Though mother and son running together sounds fun. Come on."
Harry and Richard followed her out the door, into the cool morning air, clouds above in the darkness.
"Up front where I can see you," Kristen said, "Lead the way."
Harry and Richard ran in front.
"Bit curious," Kristen said, "What do you remember of your parents?"
"Why?" Harry asked, uncertain if he liked this topic.
"I can pull up facts," Kristen said, "Doesn't say anything about you."
"Not much," Harry said.
A turn at the road, they followed the footpath that ran parallel to it.
"You had an aunt and uncle," Kristen said.
"Dead," Harry said, "Can we talk about…"
Harry paused as heard it, near the stream.
"Help," came the plea.
"What?" Richard asked.
"Shh!" Harry said.
"Help," came the plea, again.
Right hand to the railing, Harry pushed and jumped, his feet splashed into the cold brook. In front of him, a large aquarium. Above, he spotted the pair of blue opaque eyes, the cream skin with reddish brown saddles, up in the joists of the bridge.
"Cold," the snake said.
"Here," Harry said, as he reached up with his left hand, "Lemme help."
Harry's right went up, the warming charm to the skin. It slithered down, the juvenile boa constrictor coiled itself around Harry's left arm. Harry's right went along the skin, the snake basked in it.
"I'm Harry," Harry said, "Harry Potter."
"Cuddles," the snake replied.
"Harry?" Kristen asked.
Harry turned to her, "I'll find out."
Harry returned to the snake.
"Somebody dropped this," Richard said, near the tank.
"Who?" Harry asked.
Kristen climbed back up the bank, keyed up her radio.
"Rex," Cuddles said.
"Sucks," Harry said, "Um…"
"Animal Control's coming," Kristen said.
"Rex owns you?" Harry asked.
"Marie," Cuddles replied.
Harry applied another warming charm onto Cuddles.
"Ta," Cuddles said.
"No problem," Harry said.
"Harry?" Kristen asked.
Harry turned his head toward her.
"This is Cuddles," Harry said, "Um… Marie is…"
Harry turned his head back toward Cuddles.
"Sorry," Harry said, "Boy or girl?"
"Boy," Cuddles said.
Harry glanced back at Kristen.
"Cuddles said his owner is Marie," Harry said, "But it was Rex who dumped him."
Harry realized his mistake a moment too late based on her perplexed stare back.
"You're pulling her leg better than Ant," Richard said.
Harry understood and appreciated the cover up.
"The snake told me," Harry said.
"Very funny," Kristen said, as a man in white came down the bank.
"Got a heated pad?" Harry asked the man, "I'll carry him up."
Harry stepped carefully, went up the bank, and the man joined up.
"Thanks," Cuddles said.
"Good luck," Harry replied.
Kristen watched as Cuddles moved over to the heated pad.
"Guess duty calls," Kristen said, "Keep your head on you."
"I always do," Harry replied.
Richard gripped Harry's shoulder, and they ran.
"That's a new one," Richard said.
"Thanks for…" Harry started.
"Did…Cuddles really say that?" Richard asked.
"Yep," Harry said.
Ron woke late, turned and massaged at his throat, every breath brought soreness to him. He rolled back. Hermione was sitting cross–legged on the bed, her fingers kept the Practical Legilimens and Occlumency open and the pages moving.
"Careful with that," Ron said, judging how sore his throat was, "Dumbledore loaned it to Harry."
"Think you screamed most of the night—we silenced you," Hermione said, keeping her gaze downward on the book, "Likely didn't get any real rest."
Ron sat, legs up, toward her.
"That's Harry every night," Ron said, "Did he have any nightmares last night?"
"I didn't ask, nothing I could tell," Hermione said, "You clearly had them."
"Last one—Moldiwart," Ron said, "Talking to himself in the mirror. If it's the scar, he knows about the suicide attempts—expect things to get worse. Have to ask Harry."
Ron pushed down on the bed, moved to the other side of the book. Ron gestured, her legs stretched, and went beneath his.
"He went out running, again," Hermione said, "Kristen tagged along—they found some snake."
Ron snorted, caught her glare.
"He's got a bounty and he keeps a schedule!" Hermione said, "There's only so many ways to run out of here, Voldemort—"
"Suicide would solve his problem just as easily," Ron said, "It'd fulfill the prophecy!"
"That's—" Hermione started.
"Let Harry be Harry," Ron said, "We protect and support him, best we can."
"Gia's supporting him," Hermione said, "Taking a rather long bath together."
"Everybody should have a right to happiness in their lives," Ron said, "Harry's been given a rotten deal, so I'll defend his happiness as best as I can."
"You told off Lupin," Hermione snorted.
"Yeah, got mad at him," Ron said, "We can't protect Harry if he doesn't think his life's worth protecting. And this…" he pointed to the book "Is necessary for that."
"You were so secretive about studying it," Hermione said, "I'm at a disadvantage."
"You'll catch up," Ron promised.
Ron reached, held her shoulders, and her brown eyes drifted up. Ron gazed in.
"My first period!" Hermione snapped.
Hermione's eyes glared at Ron.
"Want Snape seeing that?" Ron asked.
Hermione kept up her glare.
"Unprepared?" Ron said, "I can get anything and everything I want."
"Weren't kidding about it being intimate," Hermione said.
"I had to keep Harry from discovering my research," Ron said, "He'd freak."
"True," Hermione said.
"Doesn't have to be Snape," Ron said, "Ask Dumbledore—"
Hermione shook her head.
"Moldiwart?" Ron asked.
Hermione snorted.
"I know it, so does Harry," Ron said, "We try to keep it friendly, so he knows my opinion to your tits."
Hermione snorted, again.
"I'll try to be gentle," Ron said, "I'll know you a bit better, and I'll let you learn me better. Friends? Friends to protect Harry?"
Hermione nodded.
"I know you like my todger," Ron said, "We'll start there."
Harry and Gia entered the bedroom.
"Aw good," Harry said, "Going to bang?"
"Studying," Ron said.
"Turns her on," Harry said.
Ron spotted Hermione's glare.
"Don't forget the date," Harry said. He grabbed his book–bag.
"Only on good behavior," Hermione said.
Harry snorted, left the bedroom. Gia brought her bag out, followed Harry. Ron turned his gaze back to Hermione's.
"Wand out," Ron said, "Let you try it on me."
Early that afternoon, Kristen leaned against the door frame of Dale Tate's cramped office.
"You got Cuddles sorted?" Kristen asked, her hands cradled the large travel mug in her hands.
"Bit of a domestic situation," Dale Tate said, "Turns out your boy had it right. Marie recently adopted the snake, and her boyfriend didn't like it, so he dumped the snake's tank where you found it."
"Harry spotted it," Kristen said, "Better than me."
"Sharp eyes?" Dale asked.
Kristen sipped at her mug, the bitter black coffee entered her lips.
"He handled it well," Kristen said.
Kristen remembered the hiss, wondered if he's handled snakes before.
"Just how did he know the name of that snake?" Kristen asked aloud.
"Suppose the snake told him," Dale Tate said.
"That's what he claimed," Kristen said, "He seemed very calm—I wouldn't have held it together."
Kristen sipped at her coffee, wondered about the boy whose mystery only deepened, yet somehow the compassion she witnessed has landed him on a hit list.
Short bit after noon, Ron left the shower, dried himself as he entered Gia's bedroom.
"Harry," Ron said as he put on his old suit, a bit tight until a charm loosened it up, "Mind lending Hermione your Portkey?"
"You've got one," Harry stated.
"We're heading into London," Ron said.
Harry opened his holster, pulled it out.
"She needs one too," Harry said, "Have to ask Dumbledore for another pin."
"Know what he'll say," Ron said.
"Or McGonagall," Harry said.
"Also…" Ron reached for the top drawer of the dresser.
Ron pulled it open, sorted through the box.
"Not all of them," Harry said.
Ron grabbed a black toffee.
"Best make it a good night," Harry said, "Ain't getting laid again for a week."
Hermione entered the bedroom, towel on her.
"Worth the risk," Ron said to Harry.
Ron ate the toffee.
"Worth what?" Hermione asked.
"Wait for you downstairs," Ron promised.
Ron and Harry left the bedroom, went down the steps.
"Any plans?" Harry asked.
Ron went to the fireplace, grabbed the pair of tickets.
"Torture," Harry said.
"And before you say anything about cost," Ron said, "I'm so in over my head this week, I'll suck up to Percy later."
"You're rich in the ways that matter," Harry said.
Hermione's dress flowed as she came down the stairs.
"Stay safe and don't get into too much trouble," Harry said.
Arm held out, Hermione held Ron's, and they left the house.
…
Harry apparated into Gia's bedroom Saturday morning after his run. He glanced at Gia, sitting on the bed with Hermione; Hermione leafed through Ron's journal. Harry turned to the desk, the pink envelopes caught his attention. He picked them up.
"Harry!" Hermione snapped.
Ron landed, near the owls, tossed The Salem Stake onto the desk.
"Lewd acts?" Harry asked as he read into the citations.
"That's not funny," Hermione said.
"Yes they are," Ron said.
Harry caught Hermione's glare at Ron. Harry turned through the citations.
"I see you took the train," Harry said.
"We've never…" Gia started.
"Jealous?" Ron asked.
Harry turned to the next one.
"Aw…that's right in front of…" Harry said, "I was only joking, but, did the Queen see you?"
"Ron wasn't interested in the throne room," Hermione said.
"Was too," Ron said, "Didn't seem wise."
Another citation.
"Ought to demand a refund," Harry said, "Clearly an all–you–can–eat buffet should include a free banger."
"We…" Hermione started.
"Told you," Ron said to Hermione.
Harry turned to the fourth pair of citations.
"Aw," Harry said, "Guess the opera didn't appreciate you two climaxing at their climax."
"Only way to enjoy an opera," Ron said.
"Trespassed for it," Hermione said.
"Must be a mistake," Harry said as he sorted back through the citations, "Did you take the train back?"
"We caught on," Ron said, "That thing I took, yeah, it ratted us out."
Harry snorted.
"You are!" Hermione said, "You're enjoying this!"
Harry turned around to her.
"You needed to let loose," Harry said, holding up the citations, "And you did."
"Nice ideas," Gia said.
"Law knows you're a couple," Harry said, "I'll…once Percy gets my vault sorted, I'll see to covering it. My treat."
Harry turned back around, reached for The Salem Stake.
"Think this'll get any easier?" Harry asked, "You subscribed?"
"Fred and George do," Ron said.
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The Salem Stake
Hoax Backfired
Editorial Note: We at The Salem Stake advise any and all readers from copying this hoax, it may prove fatal.
Three dead after six former members of the disgraced Unofficial Harry Potter Fan Club dressed up as a reenactment outside of Exeter, New Hampshire. What started as campfire fun and games quickly escalated when a nearby party felt threatened and intimidated; the three dressed up as Harry Potter were mistakenly killed. Aurors from the magical division to the FBI were dispatched, and wiped the memories of three muggle witnesses after interrogation. Authorities are considering this an unfortunate case of justified homicide.
"Blimey!" Harry sat back down on the bed.
"Before you do anything…" Gia put her arms around Harry.
"You're worried—" Harry started.
"Your record's against you," Ron said, "Need I curse you?"
"No," Harry grumbled.
"Hermione," Ron said, "What's the charm for the self–cleaning chamber pot?"
"I said I'm fine," Harry snapped.
"I'm being selfish," Ron said.
"Excuse us," Gia said to Ron.
Ron understood the hint, grabbed Hermione, and they left.
"You're…" Harry started.
Gia straddled Harry's legs, her knees against the bed, and her hands to his cheeks.
"Can't do anything about them," Gia said, "I can do something about you, remind you of life worth living."
"I get it," Harry snapped.
"Not yet," Gia said.
A push from her, Harry laid on the bed.
"I'll get Snuffles," Harry said as he ran out the bedroom, later that Saturday morning.
An owl dropped a letter into Ron's hands, a long letter. Hermione leaned in behind Ron, her arms around him, her hands down the front of his trousers.
"Percy," Ron said, opening it.
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Ron
Your picture made it into The Daily Telegraph! Do you know what Mum would say? You were spotted…
Ron set the letter to the side, on the desk.
"Read the rest of it later," Ron lied.
"Your Mum would—" Hermione started.
"I miss her dearly," Ron said, "Not over this."
Ron turned around, wondered if they had the time.
"Too bad Harry can't," Gia said.
Snuffles bounded into the bedroom, stood on top of the bed, with his paw out.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted.
A watch of the stairs out the doors, the black hair showed as Harry bolted into the bedroom.
"Hurry!" Harry shouted as he ran into the bedroom; he shut the door. "She wants to drive us!"
Ron tapped his wand to his Portkey. Gia and the others touched it, and they were pulled away.
"Bit dangerous," Ron said.
"You know the dangers," Harry said to Ron.
"What do you think we do?" Gia asked.
They landed in Lupin's living room.
"Greetings," Lupin said, "Ready?"
"I'll go first," Ron said, headed for the fireplace.
Ron dropped the Floo Powder.
"Fred and George Weasley!" Ron shouted. Green flame enveloped him as he spun.
Ron stepped out into the green living room, heard the fireplace light up behind him. Fred and George still putting up decorations. Edward curled up on top of a box WWW: Firework Specials. Lupin followed, along with Snuffles.
"Hello," Fred said.
"Splendid," Ron said, as he adopted the formal voice. "Party for the Minister, I assume." Ron tossed his hair, spun around, and picked several pieces of lint off the sleeve of his overshirt. "Mind you, I just had these robes cleaned. Hope I can make a perfect performance before I ask for a promotion to head rule stickler."
Fred and George laughed.
"Good—" Fred said.
"impression—" George said.
"of—"
"that—"
"git—"
"Percy."
"You would be?" Ron asked, keeping the pompousness.
"Have you heard from Percy lately?" Fred asked.
"He reads the muggle newspaper," Ron stated.
Harry snickered.
"What'd we miss?" George asked.
"Harry," Hermione muttered.
"Made the blotter?" Harry said, "Ron's date last night—"
"Stop or we discuss your public display from a couple weeks ago," Hermione warned.
"Weren't we discussing Percy?" Harry asked.
"Still sending cursed letters," George said, "Got Fred this morning."
Ron stepped over as Edward woke, picked him up and held.
"Can't help but notice," Fred said.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Are you…taking precautions?" Fred said, "That's where somebody like Edward comes from."
"What I do with Hermione—" Ron started.
"Made the muggle paper," Fred said, "How soon until I'm an Uncle?"
"Ask George?" Ron asked.
"Odds are—it'll be you," Fred said, "I mean, Charlie's out, Percy's … Percy. Bill's a tad slow."
"True," Ron said.
Edward squirmed, Ron soothed him.
The lights went out. A spotlight to the stairs, and a slow tune of the Weird Sisters. Two pairs of feet, in a Gryffindor Qudditch Uniform, and a black suit, Ginny and Colin, arms entangled, entered the living room.
"I present Miss. Ginerva Molly Weasley," said Colin.
Darkness, followed by noise, lights, colors, and flashes for a few minutes. Bill conjured up a table, Charlie levitated a cake out with sixteen candles frosted scarlet red with gold.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" came the chants.
"Sweet Sixteen," Colin said, "Make a wish."
"Gryffindor wins," Ginny said, "Which'd go better if the captain didn't keep skipping practices!"
"Bit of a disagreement with the Minister," Ron said, "Plan to be there for the game."
"Sober?" Fred asked.
"Maybe," Ron said.
Ron caught Hermione's glare.
"Let's not burn the house down," George said.
Ginny drew in deep breath, huffed in an exhale, and blew them out—almost. They did go out, but relit themselves again. Ginny pulled the pink candle out first, dunked it in the glass of water.
BOOM
Sparks flew from the water, flashes of light in the air, and they settled down; Ginny rubbed away the wax and revealed it to be—
"Wet starting fireworks!" Ginny said, "Interesting, can you ship me some unlit ones?"
"Opportunist," George said, "Fifteen to go."
One by one, Ginny repeated with each candle; one by one, a firework exploded, before all the candles were extinguished.
"Here," Ron said, "Let Edward at the cake."
Ron stepped forward, lowered Edward toward it.
"No!" Ginny said, pushed Edward back, "Presents first!"
"Boo!" Fred said.
"Torture!" George said.
A grin on Ginny's face, and she waited. Ron held Edward, as Ginny's hand went over the gifts.
"That one," Fred said as Ginny's hand passed over the toothpick box.
Ginny took the next one, size of a shoebox.
"From Charlie," Ginny said as she opened the ribbon.
It opened, a miniature dark green dragon with scales and a long glittering golden horn, of the Romanian Longhorn, it spit out a bit of fire. Colin's hand reached, held Ginny's.
"Good for lighting candles at night," George said.
Ginny moved onto the next present. Edward squirmed, Ron adjusted his hold, and the voice came to him.
"Ronald," Bill said, "Goblins seemed excited, formed a new pool, and even understood when I wagered you'd never be taken down. You know what I'm talking about."
"Yes," Ron said, his eyes turned to his oldest brother.
"Even if Mum and Dad were here," Bill said, "Can you understand my concern?"
"Yeah," Ron said, "One less birthday celebration."
"Unlike Fred and George," Bill said, "This ain't funny."
"Understand me," Ron said, "I'm not turning my back on Harry, even at the price of my life, and I'd like to think Mum's got my back on this."
"You've got problems," Bill said.
"Tell me something I don't know," Ron stated.
A glare, and Ron turned his attention back to Ginny and Colin, only two gifts remained. Colin handed her the one the size of the toothpick box.
"Wonder what Fred and George are up to," Ron whispered to Edward.
Ginny pulled on the small bow tie. That small box expanded in size, until it became a long and thin package loitering in the air.
"From both of us," Fred said.
Ginny opened it.
"A Firebolt!" Ginny exclaimed.
She pulled it out a bit, turned it, her name written into the handle.
"What's the jinx?" Ginny asked.
"No jinx," Fred said.
"Cream Slytherin," George said, "Need a decent broom for that."
"Guess business is healthy?" Ron asked.
"Can we have a recent photograph of you?" Fred asked.
"Variety to our effigy inventory," George said.
"Figured," Ron muttered.
Ron turned to watch Ginny, the last box being opened. Black velvet, a golden ring in the middle.
"Promise ring, though not real gold," Colin said, "I love you Ginny."
Ginny blushed, tried it on. A bit of awkwardness behind Colin's eyes as he turned to Ginny and they kissed.
"They want cake," Ginny said.
Colin turned back to the table. Ginny grabbed the knife on the table by the cake. As Ginny attempted to carve into the cake, the knife whimpered and jumped out of her grip.
"I'm not a slasher!" the knife pleaded, "No, I won't!"
Ron glanced at Harry, one of several not laughing.
"Get a regular knife," Ron said, stepping toward the table, "Otherwise the cake will go stale."
"You wouldn't!" George said.
"Edward needs his cake," Ron said.
"Muggle world we send cake home," Colin said.
"That's a rotten tradition," Fred said.
Lupin tapped a knife from the kitchen a third time, and handed it over. Ginny took it, and began to carve into the strawberry cake. Ron turned, handed Edward over to Gia on the sofa, Hermione next to her.
"Sending a message?" Hermione asked.
Harry leaned over the sofa back, and tickled Edward.
"Hi," Harry whispered to Edward.
Ron took a plate offered to him, a golden snitch in the frosting, and sliced into the fluffiness. Ron let the strawberry flavor go across his tongue. He continued and mingled for the rest of the celebration.
Later that afternoon, Ron leaned back against his hands and the wall in the dining room, between Gia and Hermione sitting. Kristen, across from them, poured out tea into cups; however the large travel mug was filled with coffee.
"Sure you don't want to sit?" Kristen asked Ron.
"I'm fine," Ron said.
"I have a habit of taking in strays," Kristen said, "Heck, I married one and had two kids with him. Richard inherited that, which led to taking you—" she pointed to Gia, "In."
"Thank you," Gia said.
"And the zoo that's followed," Kristen said, "Harry, you Ron, and you Hermione, a dog, a cat, and two owls. Missing anyone?"
Ron snorted, hadn't thought about it like that. Kristen sipped at her coffee, Gia nibbled at a biscuit.
"Know the wear and tear an extra four teenagers puts on the refrigerator?" Kristen asked.
Ron shrugged.
"Kurt mostly eats at the fire station," Kristen said, "So I notice it at the grocers."
"Thank you," Gia said.
"As a mother and a copper, I don't mind fostering four who lost theirs," Kristen said, "I do mind when I see hit contracts placed and I can't seemingly do anything to help."
"You told us about them," Ron said.
"Does it stick?" Kristen asked, "Does it make it so you take things seriously?"
"We are taking it seriously," Ron said.
"How?" Kristen said, "Should we consider witness protection?"
"No," Ron said, "This is fine."
"At least a dozen contracts each," Kristen said, "Means there's a common prize, a dozen willing to front advances, taking their cuts. Somebody out there wants you very much dead. I shouldn't have to explain my concern, do I?"
"We understand," Hermione said.
Gia sipped at her tea.
"While I doubt you know the exact party," Kristen said, "I suspect you'd have some good leads."
"We can't tell you," Ron said.
"See my issue?" Kristen said, "How do I help you?"
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
"It's forbidden," Hermione said.
"Yes," Gia said to Kristen, "They are dancing around something, to divulge is considered worse than murder, to even tell you the applicable law would divulge it, and they've got some harsh penalties."
"I'm asking questions and you're not answering them," Kristen said, "How the hell can I do my job?"
"Death Eaters are racist bullies," Hermione said.
"We've stood up to them before," Ron said.
"This EM?" Kristen asked.
Gia sipped at her tea.
"Not sure," Ron said.
"Wouldn't be surprised if they're the same people," Hermione said, "But it's a new group to us."
"They don't like us," Ron said.
"That part was clear," Kristen stated.
Hoot! Hoot!
Ron turned, went around the table, and made his way up into Gia's bedroom. A blue owl waited, a letter tied to the leg.
"An express owl?" Ron asked as he untied the letter from the owl's leg. That blue owl flew off.
"To you?" Harry asked.
"Talking about you downstairs," Ron said as he opened the letter, "Correction to Kristen—Weasleys are declaring war."
"What?" Harry asked as he stood behind Ron.
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Ron,
Sorry to have to write, but after Ginny returned to Hogwarts, after she tested out her Firebolt, we went to dinner. EM attacked us in the Great Hall, forced me to watch as they raped her. Got her to the Hospital Wing, the evidence was already washed away except the Herpes.
Can you believe Draco Malfoy helped stop it? Maybe being Prefect's gone to his head, wish it were contagious.
We'll both be at Fred's & George's until Monday morning, in case you or Harry want to stop by.
Colin Creevy
"Could cast a killing curse without hesitation," Ron said.
"They're not worth it," Harry said.
"Don't do anything rash," Ron said to Harry.
A mutual glare.
"Suspect we'll have to say it again," Harry said.
"Want to help talk to Kristen?" Ron said, "She's wanting to send us into witness protection."
"No," Harry stated.
"Come on," Ron said.
Harry and Ron left Gia's bedroom, went back down the stairs.
Date: Sun Aug 20 13:44:30 2023
