Going Abroad
Chapter 2
Going Abroad
Harry had been fighting a headache all day and this wasn't helping. He could hear Ginny and her mother screaming all the way from the back garden. He couldn't hear what the words were, but then again did he really want to?
"Arthur, I can go…"he started.
"Nonsense, Harry" replied the man at the head of the table. "This is your home as much as it is hers. Besides, you'll have to work it out eventually anyway."
Harry nodded and bent his head. He knew what Ginny was arguing with her mother about. It was his presence that upset her as it had been for the last few years. He'd tried desperately for the last two years to find out what was bothering her to no avail.
"Ginny! Talk to me, please?" he begged. "Tell me what I've done and I can fix it."
The flame haired young woman stared at him coldly. "You can't fix this, Potter. Don't bother to try." she spat with venom. Having said her piece, she fled from the room.
"Let her go. It's just Ginny. She'll be over it in a day or so." Ron explained.
"She's your sister," Harry replied. "I know how your mum worries. I need to fix this if I can."
"Do you want me to talk to her for you?" Ron asked. "Maybe I'll have better luck with her."
"As much as I'd like to pawn this off on you, mate, I can't. I don't want to drag you into the middle of whatever this is." said Harry.
"Maybe I can talk to her, you know, girl to girl. She hasn't any secrets from me," offered his other friend.
"You're welcome to try, Hermione, if you don't mind getting in the middle. I'd appreciate it."
Harry had tried everything he could think of over the years. He'd tried avoiding her, complimenting her, begging, yelling, you name it. He had enlisted the help of Hermione, Luna and even Neville. There was nothing that made the situation any better. There were very few times he visited the Burrow when he knew she'd be there. He avoided meeting her as much as he could. Other times, like today, she arrived when he was there and sparks flew. Today her mother was the target of Ginny's wrath. Harry hated coming between them, but there was nothing that could be done that he hadn't already tried. He hoped that during the excursion to the show, he'd be able to at any rate find out what the problem was. He had to at least try.
He made his excuses about needing to finish things at work and fled. It was going to be a long trip.
Harry met Ginny at the International Apparition Point. After a thorough screening process, it was time to depart. With a loud *crack* Ginny apparated followed by a soft *pop* as Harry trailed behind her.
They arrived at the wizarding community of Sniffen Court in Manhattan and went directly to their hotel rooms.
"Need any help?" Harry asked as he reached Ginny's door.
"I can get it," Ginny replied coldly.
This is going to be a long two weeks, Harry thought to himself as he walked across to his own room.
After unpacking Harry laid down on the large bed to relax. He had just closed his eyes, when a tawny owl dropped a note on his chest.
I'm going out in twenty minutes. Be ready.
GW
Harry rose with a groan and shuffled into the bathroom to splash water on his face. He grabbed his cloak and left the room. After knocking on Ginny's door for what seemed like half an hour, the door opened. Ginny looked at him with a scowl. He wasn't sure exactly why she was treating him so coldly, but then again, he didn't much care. He was to be her bodyguard and that was all.
One hour down, he told himself. 335 hours to go.
Ginny hadn't invited him in. She just closed the door in his face and opened it again with her cloak and rucksack in hand.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked resignedly.
"I am going to the Wedding Show," Ginny replied. "You can do whatever it is that you bodyguard type people do. Speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be to be watching from a distance, pretending to be invisible or something?"
"I can do that," Harry responded. "Another option is for me to go with you and make sure anyone who sees you, also sees that you are protected."
"Personally, Potter, I'd prefer anyone but you accompany me, but not all of us get everything we want, do we?" Ginny shot back.
"Yes, I'd have to agree with you there, Ginny," Harry countered. "Some us have a job to do and will do it how we see fit."
"I never asked you to come. I don't see what's in it for you…"
"What's in it for me?" Harry shouted back at her, and then took a deep breath before he continued. "A man I care very much about asked me, personally, to protect his daughter. What's in it for me is that man feels comforted by the fact I am with her. If you're on about me requesting this job, forget it. That couldn't be further from the truth."
Ginny angrily marched ahead of him. He hurried to catch up. He found it amusing that she was expending so much energy to put distance between them and he easily matched her step for step.
Finally, they arrived at the show. After registering their wands at the desk, Harry followed closely behind Ginny as she moved from stall to stall. Harry had never seen so much lace and flowers in his life and was distinctly uncomfortable. Ginny seemed to take pleasure in his discomfort. He said not a word as he trailed her.
Later at dinner, Harry decided that if he was going to able to stay sane these next two weeks, he had to clear the air.
"Why do you hate me, Ginny? We were friends once. What happened?"
"Don't do this, Harry," she responded. "Let's just leave the status quo."
"It's no big deal," said Harry. "I was just wondering if I've done something…"
"That's just it! 'It's no big deal.' Is anything a big deal to you?" she charged back.
"What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"Percy was right about you all along. You are dangerous. I wish we had listened to Percy, and then maybe Bill would still be alive. I know Ron doesn't see it my way, but if we'd listened to Percy instead of some freak, Bill wouldn't have been killed!"
Harry felt his temper rising, though he said not a word. He was hurt more than he was angry, though he was very angry.
"I see," said Harry coldly.
"No" Ginny continued. "I don't think you do see. Allow me to spell it out for you. I don't like you, Harry Potter. You are an arrogant, shallow excuse for a wizard. A freak. You'll use anyone or anything to achieve your goals without regard for anyone. I know the truth about how Bill died. Don't pretend to me that he was a victim of You-know-who. Draco told me how it went …"
"MALFOY???" retorted a shocked Harry.
"Yes, Malfoy, you idiot," Ginny shot back. "He was there too, remember? He told me how you dived behind my brother to save your own neck…"
"And you believe that, do you?" mumbled Harry. "You actually believe that ferret."
"Yes," Ginny simply stated.
"Well, you weren't there. Malfoy couldn't possibly…" Harry broke off. It wasn't worth it. If she wanted to believe that scum over him then she was welcome to. Wasn't this just perfect. He, Harry, was a lying, cowardly freak (that term had always grated on him. The Dursley's called him by that name throughout his childhood) and Malfoy, the one with a Dark Mark on his arm, was the truthful one. He didn't have to explain himself and he wouldn't. What happened in the Final Battle was currently classified information. He could neither confirm nor deny what she said.
"I guess that's that then," stated Harry coldly. "Let's get out of here." He threw a handful of galleons on the table and followed Ginny out of the door.
The next few days were arguably the longest in Harry's memory. He was severely out of his element at the 'International Conference of Magical Nuptials'. He followed Ginny around as she pondered this flowery contrivance or fondled that lacy whatsit.
Less than 100 hours left, Harry told himself. You can do this. Soon you'll be home. Just a few more days…
Several hours later, as they were leaving the show, Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He closed the distance between himself and Ginny with ease.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" called a cold familiar voice. "Is it not the Assistant Minister's only daughter? Accompanied by the one and only Harry Potter? This must be my lucky day."
"What do you want, Dolohov?" retorted Harry curtly.
"Come quietly and no one gets hurt," replied Antonin Dolohov. "Yet…that is. There's a high bounty for her and even higher for you, Potter."
"Oh, yeah?" questioned Harry. "So how much are we worth in Death Eater gold?"
"Shall we say…" responded the Death Eater, "…more than you'll ever see in a lifetime."
"I'd hate to make it easy for you" Harry said as he crouched into a defensive position. "A man should have to work a bit for his galleons."
Harry whispered "Servo suus!" toward Ginny and a silvery shield engulfed her. A red light flew by his left ear. He ducked out of the way. He knew he should have chosen a more populated route back to the hotel. He glanced over at Ginny and saw that she looked frozen in place. Was it fear or did she get hit with an impediment jinx? Harry thought to himself. Harry sidled casually in front of Ginny and stood in dueling position.
He whispered, "When I give the word, run to the coffee shop around the corner and stay there. Use the fire and speak to Seth McGriffin. I went through training with him. Stay with him until I get there."
"NOW!" Harry shouted, as he threw a Binding Spell at Dolohov, and Ginny scurried around the corner.
"Incidere!" Dolohov responded. Harry leaped out of the way of the cutting curse, but he wasn't fast enough. He felt a burning along his chest and side where the curse hit him. After trading jinxes and curses with Dolohov for what felt like hours, he flung another Binding Charm at Dolohov that hit the Death Eater square in the chest. Dolohov struggled against the conjured magical ropes while Harry caught his breath.
"Alright, mate?" he heard from the corner. "I just got here. What can I do?'
It was Seth. Although Harry had Dolohov under control, he was glad to have the back up.
"Get him out of here." Harry said breathily. "Where's Ginny?"
"She's fine, Harry. She's back at her hotel locked in safe and sound. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," replied Harry.
Seth took Dolohov into custody and Harry apparated back to the hotel. Harry lay across his bed. He wasn't sure why he felt so drained. Dueling was his forte. Then he remembered the Cutting Hex he'd felt. He ran his hand under his black robes, drew it out. Seeing his hand covered in blood, he swore viciously.
He gathered his strength, changed and went across to check on Ginny.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
"Fine," she responded softly, her eyes downcast.
"Listen, I need to run out for a bit. Will you stay here until I get back?"
"Sure," she replied, tears silently slipping down her cheeks.
Harry noticed and gave her a slight smile. "We'll talk when I return."
"Fine" Ginny responded.
He walked over to her, laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "We're ok. We're safe."
Ginny nodded meekly.
Harry got back from the healer in a horrible mood. He couldn't wait to get home and get checked by the healers at St. Mungo's. Hopefully Hermione would be working. She'd whinge at him, but he knew she was discreet.
Ginny knocked on his door. He opened it slowly.
"I know I said we'd talk, but I'm not very good company right now," he told her plainly.
"What's wrong?" She inquired.
"Nothing," Harry replied. "Do you want to get some dinner? Maybe I'll be in a better mood after we eat"
"Let's just order room service," Ginny offered. "After this evening I'd rather stay in."
Harry picked up the menu and spoke his and Ginny's order to it and the food appeared on the table.
After they ate Ginny asked, "What was all that about earlier? Why did he want me?"
"Apparently," Harry began, "just before we left, rumors surfaced that you were targeted to be captured by a group of Death Eaters. I don't know the full details; I just know that it has something to do with your father and his position at the Ministry. I wish I could say it won't happen again, but I can't. That's why I'm here. That's why your father asked me to protect you."
"And you just agreed…"
Harry chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far. I know how you feel about me Ginny, regardless of what happened tonight. I came as a personal favor for your father. He had to bribe me with your mum's treacle tart."
"Am I wrong about you?" Ginny said softly. "Tell me what happened that night. Please."
"I can't" Harry said. "I won't talk about that night. Please don't push me on it. I can't and I don't only mean I'm unwilling to talk about it, although I am. I'm not allowed."
"Can you tell me if what Malfoy said is true?"
Harry looked at her and gave a sad, small laugh. "You'll have to figure that one out for yourself, I'm afraid."
"I never thanked you for protecting me tonight…" Ginny started.
"And I don't want you to," cut in Harry.
"Oh, Harry," Ginny whispered and flung herself at him.
Harry nearly screamed in pain and Ginny jumped away from him quickly.
"You're injured!" Ginny shrieked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why would I tell you? It's just a cut. I'll be fine," Harry replied. "It's not a big deal."
"Let me see," she demanded.
"No," he replied. "I said it is fine."
"Have you been to a Healer?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. "That's where I was earlier."
"What did they say?"
"It'll be good as new in a few days. That's all. I've got some days saved up."
"I'd like to go home, if that's okay with you," she stated.
"Best idea I've heard in days." he said with a grin.
Harry arranged to have Ginny's purchases transported home, as well as new documents for them to leave earlier than planned.