AN: I'm back after more than a month. My mother passed away and I had to deal with all her finances and everything that goes with that. With me being in college, I'm still not going to have a set posting schedule. Anyways, he's chapter 2 =)
The next morning found Ginny in her cubicle going over Susan's part of the paperwork.
Grumbling, she sat the report down. Why did they both have to fill out reports when they were partners? Both were identical. What information could they hope to attain?
Susan must have heard her cursing under her breath because soon her head poked over the wall dividing their cubicles with a smirk on her face.
"You're not a morning person, are you?"
"Oh, shut it," Ginny replied grumpily. "It's these stupid reports. I just don't see why we both have to fill one out when ours say exactly the same thing."
Susan shrugged. "Them's the rules," her friend said with a grin. "You seem stressed. You know what you need?"
"I swear to Merlin if you say I need to go get shagged one more time, I will tie you to a chair the next time you go out with someone, and I'll shag your date right in front of you. How about that?"
"Really?" Susan asked a little too excitedly. "I'd be okay with that. Would you at least untie me and let me join?"
Ginny groaned at her best friend. "What is wrong with you?"
Susan laughed. "What can I say, that sounded hot."
"I didn't know you swung that way, Susan," Ginny said with a grin.
"Oh, I normally don't," Susan said as she looked Ginny up and down playfully, "But there are a few people I would make exceptions for."
Ginny was torn between laughing and hitting her friend on the head with the paperweight from her desk.
"In all seriousness though," Susan said. "I know you get annoyed, but I hope you know I'm just messing with you."
"I know," Ginny said with a smile at her friend.
Ginny thought back to her first day after passing her Auror exam and getting her cubicle. Susan had just popped her head over and started talking to her like they had been friends forever. Ginny remembered her from Hogwarts but had never spoken to the girl before. They had become fast friends after that. Ginny didn't have many friends and even though she'd never admit it, she had been craving that closeness with someone.
Hermione was her friend, but they only talked or saw each other occasionally. Luna, who had been her best friend all through Hogwarts was now so busy going on expeditions they hardly saw each other, although Luna was sure to swing by when she was around. Demelza had died at the Battle of Hogwarts.
Those had been the only friends she had until she met Susan.
"Anyway," Susan said. "What do you think of this case?"
Ginny frowned as she thought back to the murder of Macnair. "I don't know. It just doesn't make any sense. I mean, sure I can think of a lot of people that would want some payback on the Death Eaters, myself included, but I think this goes beyond that." Susan nodded as Ginny continued. "This seemed a little too personal to be simple payback."
"I agree," Susan said. "The level of brutality displayed, the amount of planning that probably went into this; You know what I think?"
"What?" Ginny asked her partner.
"I don't think this is over," Susan said darkly.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"I mean," Susan said quietly. "I don't think our killer is finished yet. Call it a hunch, but I think he's just getting started."
"You do?"
"You don't?" Susan asked.
The more Ginny thought about it, the more she was convinced that her friend was right. The timing of it was just too convenient. The war was over and the last of the Death Eaters had either been sentenced or pardoned. The wizarding world was slowly getting back to normal. Even the death of Harry Potter, while still being remembered by his friends, was starting to become a distant memory to those who didn't know him personally. And then, out of nowhere, a Death Eater is murdered in his own home.
No, thinking about it more, she was sure her friend was correct.
Their killer was just getting started.
"Did you hear about Draco Malfoy?" Susan asked.
"No, what about him?" Ginny asked, not really caring for the answer. Sure, he was no real Death Eater, but she still disliked the little prick for how he had acted at Hogwarts.
"Took a leave of absence just yesterday," Susan replied. "Makes you wonder if he had some inside information about the killer and thought maybe he'd be next."
"That is... rather odd," Ginny said thoughtfully. "He wasn't a Death Eater though, I mean, not in the truest sense of the word. He didn't rape, torture, or kill anyone as far as I'm aware. If our killer is acting on some sense of warped justice, He wouldn't go after the ferret."
"No, but Malfoy did take the Dark Mark willingly," Susan added. "Maybe that's all that it takes for our killer."
"Maybe," Ginny said. "I guess we won't know for certain until another body shows up if we're even right about our killer or not. I agree with you, but we could both be wrong. Maybe Macnair just murdered our killer's family or raped his wife or something."
"Surprisingly dark outlook coming from you," her friend giggled.
"Yeah, well, we both went to Hogwarts when Snape was Headmaster and the Death Eaters were there," Ginny said. "Would you honestly put it past them to rape as well as torture and kill?"
"No, I would not," Susan said with a sigh. "Those Carrows were the worst."
"They weren't even the worst of his followers," Ginny said darkly. "They were mid-tier followers at best."
"I keep forgetting you've gone up against the Death Eaters more than once," her friend said.
Ginny looked down at the picture she had on her desk of Harry and herself and smiled. "Yeah, well, being in love with Harry Potter tended to have that effect. I would've followed that boy to the end of the earth. It just so turned out that there were usually Death Eaters waiting for him at every end."
Susan nodded agreeably before speaking up. "Enough about such topics. What are your plans for the weekend?"
Ginny laughed. "I'm basically a spinster, Sue. I'll probably just go home to my flat and go over the documents to the case. See if we missed anything, you know?"
"Oh, no, you don't," Susan grinned evilly. "You're going out with me and Hannah."
Ginny sighed. "I really don't want to go out to some club where you two are going to try to hook me up with anything that has a dick."
"That's not what I was thinking at all," Susan said in an affronted tone. "We were just gonna go to a pub and watch the Quidditch match and grab a bite to eat."
"How do you watch the match from a pub?" Ginny asked her friend.
Susan laughed. "You really need to get out more." Susan sat back down and scooted her chair into Ginny's field of view before continuing, saying, "They have these devices. It looks like a scrying orb. It's kind of like a Muggle television. You can watch the game on that."
"Never heard of them before," Ginny said.
"Well, duh!" Susan said. "They're rather new and you don't get out."
Ginny thought about it for a moment. It did sound rather fun. She hadn't been to a Quidditch match since the World Cup in her third year. If it was just her, Susan, and Hannah, maybe she could go out for once.
Her best friend obviously saw her come to the conclusion because she let out a whoop which Ginny quickly hushed her for.
"Don't get so excited, I'll go," Ginny said. "But if you try to set me up with some guy there, I will never go out with you again. Do you understand me?"
"Sure, sure, whatever," Susan said waving her off before looking at Ginny critically. "You might want to wear something appropriate though. I don't think your work clothes should be worn at a bar."
"Are you saying I don't know how to dress up?" Ginny asked with a glare.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Susan said with a laugh. "Don't take this personally, Gin, but I haven't seen you go out since Harry died."
"Yeah, well," Ginny grumbled in annoyance. "I'll show you."
Susan's face split into a wide grin and Ginny cursed her friend, realizing she had just been had.
That Friday saw Ginny standing in her room in a bath towel staring at the only two dresses she owned. She had been allowed to go home a little early from work. Now that the day had finally come, she was hesitant about going out at all. Maybe she should just cancel and do what she had originally planned.
No, she couldn't do that. Susan would never let her live it down.
With a sigh she picked up the black formal dress. It was modest and was bought for the sole purpose of wearing to events at the ministry. It was nice, but something Susan wouldn't be particularly impressed with.
She set the black dress back down, once again cursing her friend for goading her into this, before she picked up the red dress.
There was no other word for it. The dress was sinful. It was a form-fitting, knee-length dress that Harry had bought for her before he had died. It was the kind of dress that would have her mother calling her a scarlet woman for wearing.
She hadn't worn the dress since Harry had died, but maybe... yes. This would definitely get Susan off her back. Ginny only hoped it still fit.
Ginny dropped the towel and slowly, with trembling fingers, slid on the dress before zipping it up with her wand.
She stood in front of the mirror to inspect herself.
She had never been what one would consider beautiful. She was short, athletic, and not particularly curvy. There was charm there to be sure, but she would never be able to compete with the likes of the Patil twins or Daphne Greengrass. Standing in front of her mirror observing herself in the red dress though, she had filled out rather well since becoming an adult.
She still had that athletic build, but now her hips stuck out just a little bit more and her breasts had grown somewhat. They still weren't as big as Susan's or Hannah's, but they were a respectable size now.
She sat down and brushed through her hair, deciding to wear it down cause why not, before applying the minimal amount of makeup she was willing to wear. Susan had bought her a makeup kit, much to Ginny's protest, citing that every girl needed to get dolled up every once in a while.
Sighing, and with one last look in the mirror to check her appearance, she Disapparated with a pop.
She arrived in the alley right next to the pub. After smoothing her dress back down, which had ridden up, she made her way to the entrance and went inside.
The pub was decently full, and she could hear snippets of conversation from some of the occupants, but it wasn't too loud which meant the game hadn't started yet. A few blokes were laughing at the bar and about half the tables were currently full.
There was a giant ball situated behind the bar, presumably what the patrons would be watching the game on, as well as smaller crystal balls on each table.
She saw Susan waving at her from across the room with a huge grin, and trying to reign in her anxiety, made her way over to the table occupied by Susan and Hannah.
As soon as she arrived at the table both Susan and Hannah wolf-whistled at her, making Ginny blush, partly out of anger and annoyance, partly out of embarrassment.
"I swear if I didn't swing that way before, I definitely do now," Susan said with a grin, causing Ginny to roll her eyes as she sat down in an empty seat. "You are hot!"
"Shut up!" Ginny replied to her best friend before turning to Hannah. "How have you been, Hannah?"
"Wha... Oh, I've been good. You're totally good, I mean, hey, yeah... I've been good."
Susan stuck her fist in her mouth to keep from laughing as Hannah started laughing, not even bothering to hide the fact.
"Can you two please stop taking the mickey out of me," Ginny said in a huff. "Susan, you're the one who goaded me into this and now you're trying to get me to leave early?"
I'm sorry!" Susan said between giggles before finally settling down. "It's true though, you look good. We're gonna have to fight blokes off with a stick."
"Let's hope not," Ginny replied. "I actually want to enjoy tonight and watch the game." She looked down at the orb on their table. "Is this what you were talking about?"
Yeah," Susan replied. "The big one is behind the bar, but they put little ones on each table for convenience. They even have them in the loo."
"Isn't this place great?" Hannah asked. "I don't think any other pub has these yet, so by the time the game starts, this place will be packed."
Ginny turned around, and sure enough, there wasn't much space left with more people coming in every minute. Most of the seats at the bar were taken and there were only a few more tables left empty.
"Well, the game doesn't start for another thirty minutes," Hannah said turning her back around to face them. "You know what that means."
Susan grinned in a conspiratorial manner before saying, "Shots!"
Ginny just groaned.
"OH, COME ON!" Ginny yelled. "That was clearly a foul. Cheating fucking scum!"
The match had been going on for well over an hour and the Holyhead Harpies were doing everything they could to stay in the game against the Falmouth Falcons despite the referee being completely biased.
Ginny slammed back another shot before growling. "I swear to Merlin."
Hannah just laughed, but Susan looked slightly concerned. "Maybe you should cut back on the alcohol a tad, eh Ginny?"
"Bugger that!" Ginny said. "I'll stop drinking when that referee pulls his head out of his arse!"
Hannah just laughed again, and Susan even smiled a bit. Maybe this was what her friend needed. No men to bed or shagging, just a night to let loose and enjoy a game.
Ginny was thankful that only two men had approached them asking to chat. She didn't know if she'd be able to keep her cool with a constant stream of men to their table on top of the obviously rigged game.
She watched as Valmai Morgan scored a goal and was about to cheer before a voice interrupted her, saying, "May I sit here for a moment?"
"Bugger off," Ginny exclaimed. "We're watching the game.
"Ginny!" Susan exclaimed.
"What?" Ginny asked as she looked up, and then immediately froze.
The man who had asked to take the empty seat at their table was none other than the Hit Wizard, Adams, whom she had met at Macnair's home a few days ago. What was he doing here?
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Ginny exclaimed. "I was just into the game and the referee is being a tosser, and I..."
Adams just laughed. "It is quite alright, Miss Weasley. I understand the emotional pull a game can have on a person."
"So, come to watch the game?" Susan asked
"Sadly no," Adams said as he looked at Ginny causing that same shiver to run down her spine. "I came to find you two. There's been an update on the case you two are working on."
"Oh?" Ginny asked, suddenly alert. "What happened?"
"A letter was dropped off at the Auror Department shortly after four today that contained this scribble."
Adams pulled a note out of his coat pocket and handed it to Ginny who began unrolling it as Susan scooted closer to read the contents.
This is just the beginning
E
"So, we were right," Ginny said to her friend. "This isn't over."
"I see you two came to the same conclusion as me and my partner," Adams said. "I don't know exactly where this guy plans on taking this, but Rockford thinks he's going to go after every remaining living Death Eater."
Ginny and Susan shared a dark look before Ginny muttered, "Definitely personal."
"That's not all," Adams announced as he placed his hand on the table. "The letter also contained something else, but I'm afraid it would cause a scene if I were to have brought it here with me in such a public place."
"What was it?" Hannah asked.
Adams shifted his gaze to Hannah before saying, "I'm not sure if we've met or not."
"That's Hannah Abbot," Susan said. "She's our friend and also works in the ministry. You can tell us in front of her."
Adams nodded. "The Dark Mark tattoo that had been cut out of his arm was also included."
Hannah gasped and Susan looked as if she would be sick. Ginny herself felt slightly queasy at the mental image.
"Rockford and I will be at the Macnair house on Monday. We're doing one last sweep of the house to make sure we didn't miss anything," Adams said as he stood up and looked at Susan and Ginny. "I need both of you to meet us there whenever your boss will allow it."
"Sure," Susan said, "Are you leaving?"
"Yes," Adams replied back curtly. "I only came to give you two this information and to have you meet us on Monay."
"We don't mind if you stay," Susan said before adopting a smirk. "Right, Ginny?"
Ginny felt her face heat up as Adams turned to her with a questioning look.
"Wha... Oh, yeah," Ginny said somewhat lamely. "I mean, you can stay if you want."
Cursing her friend, Ginny looked down at the crystal ball to see the match still going on in full force with the Harpies down by twenty.
"I think I will," Adams said as he sat back down to the surprise of everyone at the table.
"You will?" Susan asked in surprise. "I mean, cool. Do you like Quidditch?"
"It's okay," Adams said. Ginny looked up to see him smiling slightly as if thinking of a fond memory, before he continued. "I really just like to fly. Don't get the chance to much anymore with work and whatnot."
"I hear that," Ginny said. "I love Quidditch but haven't even picked up my broom in a year."
What was wrong with her? She wasn't supposed to be actively engaging him in small talk. She came here to drink, talk with Susan and Hannah, and watch the game. That was it. She had already promised herself no blokes tonight would get any of her attention.
It was the alcohol. She was sure of it. She had forgotten by this point how much she had consumed, but she guessed it was a decent amount as she had taken a shot every time the referee had missed a foul on the Harpies.
"Our sweet Ginny here played for Gryffindor," Susan said. "Even won the Cup during her fifth year, wasn't it, Ginny?"
Ginny mumbled in affirmation as she continued to watch the game while trying to keep track of the conversation.
"She could've gone pro," Hannah spoke up. "She even got an offer from the Harpies to try out for the team.
"Really, that's quite impressive," Adams said. "Makes being an Auror seem kind of boring in comparison."
Ginny shrugged. "It's not all bad. Both jobs are respectable, I think."
"True," Adams said. "Nothing wrong with changing your career choices from when you were younger. What position did you play?"
"I was a Chaser," Ginny replied as Wilda Griffiths scored a goal to tie up the game. "When we won the Cup in school though, I had to play Seeker because our Seeker was serving detention for fighting with another student."
"So, you're a dual threat, then?" Adams said. "It's rare to find someone who can play more than one position effectively."
"Yeah, I guess," Ginny shrugged. "I prefer Chaser over Seeker though. The Seeker we had was loads better than me."
Ginny could see Hannah and Susan whispering about something and grinning but decided to ignore them. They were more than likely up to no good anyway. A stray thought struck Ginny. How had Adams known they were at the pub? It was strange that he had just shown up out of the blue, wasn't it?
Just when she was about to turn back to Adams to ask him how he had known they were at the pub in the first place, MacDonald, The Harpie's Seeker, went into a steep dive, closely followed by the Falmouth Falcons Seeker.
"She's seen it, she's seen it!" Ginny said excitedly as she grabbed Adams' hand.
Ginny watched in anticipation as MacDonald and the Falcon's Seeker flew neck in neck, racing towards the ground before MacDonald suddenly pulled out of the dive, a beaming smile on her face, and her fist high in the air as it held the Golden Snitch.
Groans could be heard from the Falcons fans as cheers went up from the Harpies fans throughout the bar. Ginny just reclined back in her chair as she closed her eyes.
"That's what they get for cheating," she said with a happy sigh.
"Er, yes, great match, quick question," Susan said.
Ginny opened her eyes and looked at her friend who was grinning like the Chesire cat. "What?"
"Are you gonna give Adams his hand back?"
Ginny looked down slowly to where her hand was grasping Adams' on the table, before slowly looking up at Adams in horror.
She jumped back immediately, as if burned, almost falling out of her seat, causing Susan to laugh uproariously and Adams to smile.
"I'm. I'm..." Ginny stuttered out as her face turned a shade of red she was sure rivaled her hair. "I'm so sorry."
Adams laughed, before saying, "It's fine. No harm done."
Ginny was mortified, to say the least. She put her hands in her lap and looked down at the table to hide her growing embarrassment from the others.
"I think it's time we head out," Susan said, breaking the awkward silence that had permeated the group. "Hannah looks on the verge of collapse." Ginny looked up, and sure enough, Hannah seemed to be halfway asleep already. "I'll take Hannah home. Adams, could you be a gentleman and make sure Ginny makes it home safely?"
"I don't need a kee..." Ginny started in angrily, but was interrupted by Adams saying, "Of course. I'll make sure she gets home."
"Great!" Susan exclaimed as she stood up and grabbed Hannah by the shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ginny!"
Susan started leading Hannah to the entrance when Ginny yelled back. "We don't have work till Monday!"
"I know!" Susan yelled back with a laugh before leading Hannah out of the pub.
That left just her and Adams.
Ginny gulped before she spoke up. "You know, you really don't have to see me home. I'm perfectly capable of making it there myself."
"I don't doubt that," Adams said. "You seem to be quite inebriated, though, and I would feel bad if something were to happen to you."
"Well, I'm not ready to go home yet," Ginny said in a last attempt to get him to ditch her.
"That's fine," Adams said. Either he was oblivious to her annoyed tone, or he was ignoring it. "It's a nice night out. Maybe a walk will help sober you up."
"Fine," Ginny growled. "Let's just get out of here."
Adams let her get up on her own, which she was thankful for. At least he wasn't trying too hard.
Once they were outside, Adams spoke up. "Where to?"
"I don't care," Ginny huffed and started walking, Adams following behind her at a respectable distance.
The first few minutes of their walk were spent in silence. Ginny didn't care. She preferred it that way. It gave her time to think of ways to get back at Susan for basically throwing her at Adams before ditching her. Maybe she should just shag him and make some off-hand comment about it to Susan and then not give her any of the details. That would teach her.
No, she couldn't do that. Even in her drunken state, she knew she would regret that in the morning. The only person she had ever slept with was Harry, after all. She didn't even know how to really initiate something like that anymore, not like she ever did in the first place.
Is that why she was the way she was? Was it really Harry who kept her from getting out there or was it just her own inexperience? She had had a few boyfriends in Hogwarts of course, and then there was Harry, but looking back, her romantic life had been rather barren.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Adams asked as he finally fell into step beside her while still leaving some distance between them.
"Shoot," Ginny replied. If she couldn't get rid of him, she might as well talk to him.
"Why does it seem like your friend is trying to set you up with me?"
Ginny laughed. "Oh, you noticed that too, huh, how she basically threw me at you?"
"Er, yeah," Adams said with a chuckle. Ginny had to admit that his laugh was rather cute. "I might be a bloke, but I'm not that dense. I saw your friends conspiring from across the table as you watched the game."
"Well, that's probably because she is trying to set me up with you," Ginny said with an exasperated sigh. "She's been trying to convince me to go out and have fun or let off some steam for the past six months."
"And that's not something you want to do, I take it?"
"Not really, no," Ginny replied. "Susan means well, and she's a really good friend, but I don't think she understands that I'm not ready for that yet."
"I'm sensing something happened?" Adams asked hesitantly. "A bad breakup, perhaps, If I may be so bold?"
"In a way, I guess, yeah," Ginny replied before going quiet again.
She debated on whether to tell him about her previous boyfriend passing away. He probably knew who Harry Potter was. Everyone did. Everyone had mourned when he died and wondered how he could've snapped like he did.
"My boyfriend died a little over a year ago," Ginny said heavily. She could omit the name. She didn't want to tell an almost complete stranger everything about herself.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Adams said quietly. It sounded like he meant it. "I'm guessing you're afraid to get close to someone again?"
"Yes, no... I don't know," Ginny replied. "The thing is, I've accepted that he's gone, and while I still miss him some days and will probably always love him, I've gotten over his death I guess you could say. I mean, it's not like I cry over him every night or anything... it's just..."
"Miss Weasley," Adams said in a gentle yet at the same time strong voice. "You can lie to me if you want if it helps you, but you don't have to."
"Wha... I'm not lying," Ginny retorted.
"Then why are you crying?"
Ginny quickly wiped her eyes in embarrassment and mumbled under her breath. She was stupid; so stupid.
"I'm sure you'll love again one day," Adams said causing her to look up at him again. Funny how she kept being drawn back to him with everything he said. "Whether it takes a year, or ten, I'm sure it will happen. Someone as nice as you deserves that, at least, Ginny."
The way her name fell from his lips, like honey, sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the night breeze. She looked into his eyes. Had they always been such a bright shade of blue? Somewhere, deep down, she knew she was done for. The growing heat in her body could attest to that. There was fire there, a fire she hadn't felt with anyone other than Harry Potter. The only decision she had to make now was whether to walk through it or not. Would she get burned? At this point and time, she hardly even cared.
There was something swimming around in the depths of his eyes. Was it sadness? Ginny couldn't tell. All she knew was that she was struck with the strongest urge to kiss the man in front of her.
She could feel herself moving closer to him, or was she moving backwards? She couldn't really tell. Adams said something but she couldn't make out what it was.
The last thing she remembered was Adams looking at her with a worried expression on his face before the darkness took her.
