"Ginevra Malfoy, Directoy of the Department of Mysteries, and family," She said identifying herself and the group.
"Very good ma'am," the guard said as they passed.
"Ronald Weasley, Senior Auror, and family," he said as he too exited the floo and displayed his identification.
The second guard looked at him and then the children that accompanied him, before waving them all through. Remus and Sirius entered the Ministry from a different floo, being careful not to draw attention to the fact they all arrived at the same time.
"Mrs. Malfoy," a voice addressed from the far end of the corridor. "I hardly expected to see you back so soon after, umm, you're not expected back for at least another week."
"Minister, there are some items of a personal nature I must retrieve from my office, and then I'm taking my daughter and the Potter children on holiday. It has been a traumatic month for us all," she replied.
"Yes, yes, I fully understand, take all the time you need," the Minister for Magic replied.
"Come, children this should not take long," she said and continued past the Minister.
"One more thing," he said as she passed, "Even though it is a Saturday, if you require a port-key to anywhere special, it will be arranged. Just pop into their office on six and any request will be approved on the spot."
"Thank you, we may well accept that offer," she replied and ushered the kids along. Within a few minutes they were in her office, just a few feet from the chamber. Ron, Sirius and Remus soon followed.
"Sirius, Remus, there's no reason we all have to do this, they are my best mates and I have to help," Ron said, holding a hand up to block them all from leaving.
"Bugger that, he's my godson and all I have left," Sirius said.
"And I can't let you two have all the glory," Remus offered.
"We're all going, to watch each other's backs," Sirius replied.
"No, it may be too dangerous, Ginny, talk some sense in these two," Ron argued.
"He's right," Ginny said.
"Then it's set, I'll go in and look for them and bring them back," Ron started.
"No. I meant Sirius was right, you can't go alone, you need each other," Ginny corrected.
"Then we best get it done before we have a change of heart, Sirius, since you have been through before, any suggestions?" Remus asked.
"Only that we best go through together and maintain contact, I do remember Harry mention when they separated they came thru at different times. The three of us went in together and came out on this side together," Sirius said. "We should simply end up on the other side of the Arch in what ever reality we're destined to go, just be on your guard."
"What if we are separated?" Remus asked.
"Good point, Harry said he and Hermione always sought out familiar points, Godric's Hollow or the Burrow and derived clues from there. I suggest we do the same," Sirius replied.
"Then we'd best get on with it," Ron insisted, his voice showed a touch of nervousness and directed his team from his sister's office down the hall.
They found these halls as empty as the other halls, with the exception of the second level where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement resides. Level nine remained quiet as a tomb, waiting for this band of adventurers to cross the hall to the Chamber of Death.
The Death Chamber remained to this day, unexplained to the general population of the Wizarding World. The Chamber was still considered a passageway to death itself, where death is studied. Only those present when Harry and Hermione returned sixteen years before knew differently, and the Aurors present were required to have those memories removed for security reasons.
They all entered the large circular room thru the oak doors. Ginny led them to the third door on the left, and tapped it with her wand. It gently swung open to reveal the large, rectangular room. Stone benches set upon each tier descending to a steep amphitheatre. The raised stone dais in the center of the pit of the chamber held the ancient, crumbling stone archway. A tattered black veil hung from the archway, fluttering as if in a light breeze.
Annie stood in total fascination, sporting a giddy grin. Jerry was the only to notice and held her closer, letting her feel his presence. The others remained back, unsure of the stories passed from generation to generation of the Veiled Arch.
"Do you hear that?" Annie asked softly to Jerry, "There's some one whispering in here."
"There's no one else in here," Jerry replied quietly.
"So you really intend to do this or are you two going to stand there?" Sirius said, breaking the silence.
"Then on three… two… one…" Ron counted before the three stepped into the veil together.
They watched the veil flap from the nonexistent breeze in silence and slowly stop to hang dead still. No sounds were heard in the room.
"There it is again, someone's whispering," Annie said to Jerry.
Ginny turned to the girl, "You heard whispering?" she asked in astonishment, but never added 'too'.
Annie nodded.
"So what now? Are the coming back?" Ben asked curiously.
"Only time will tell. Your parents were gone for nearly five months," she said absentmindedly before she stopped.
"Five months?" Ben asked.
Ginny turned to Ben and said, "They asked that you both not know any of this, but seeing as you're here and obviously have been told some details, the stories they told us of that adventure were astounding. They haven't told many others, just your uncle Ron, Albus Dumbledore, and me."
"Uncle Sirius said he had been there too," Annie added.
"Yes, although he was stranded there for more then twelve years," Ginny said.
"Mum, Lucia use to tell me stories of dad. She said he changed just before I was born, does this have anything to do with him leaving us?" Arty asked.
"And who is this 'Snape' Uncle Sirius mentioned?" Ben asked.
"Severus Snape, if you don't mind. My apologies for this intrusion but as I'm certain you are aware the security in the Ministry in still sub-standard," A tall man said as he stepped from the shadows and slipped a watch into his pocket.
"Snape?" Ginny exclaimed in disgust. Ben's eyes widened with the sudden recognition, and then grabbed his sister's arm and stumbled away. Arty watched Ben shaking in instant fear, and quickly went to them.
"That's him! That's the Severer, he's the one that did my arm," Ben screamed and fell backward over a stone seat, fortunately away from Severus Snape.
"Foolish boy, of course I was the one that left that warning," Snape replied.
Ginny had her wand out the instant she heard his name, "You bastard. You murdered my husband! Explain yourself, or I'll not leave much for the Aurors to deal with."
"Easy woman, I left a warning, and if I hadn't taken that intuitive, Lucius Malfoy would have killed the boy on the spot. He would have killed his son, if the boy had not interfered with our 'meeting'," Snape replied, holding his empty hands out in the open.
"Warning?" Arty asked.
"I altered the traditional Dark Mark to include a message for the 'Order' your former Minister had formed. Apparently they never received it, which explains my exposure to you now. I must warn you we have little time, as I believe I have been found out," Snape said.
"Liar, Draco said you poisoned him with Lucius standing there to help," Ginny screamed.
"I must claim a degree of responsibility for his death, it was most unfortunate," Snape replied.
"Unfortunate? Unfortunate? You cold hearted bastard," Ginny screamed. Her wand arm began to visibly shake, unable to control her temper.
"Yes, it was unfortunate Malfoy senior discovered my 'other' self and released him. I was, however, able to prevent my identity from being discovered," Snape replied. "May I explain before you do something we both may regret?"
"Thirty seconds…" she said.
"How gracious; I received this letter more than fifteen years ago," he started and carefully reached into his breast pocket to retrieve a worn letter and handed it carefully to Ginny. "It was addressed to me, with a provision to remain sealed until the First of May this year. I had nearly forgotten of its existence, until it surfaced on my desk on that day."
"Here, Annie, read it for me," Ginny said handing the letter to Annie, but keeping her wand pointed at Snape.
"My dear Severus Snape," Annie began nervously. "My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, currently the Minister For Magic of the reality the Potters originally departed from. By the time you are able to read this, I shall have left the mortal plane for a purpose of great necessity. My departure from life will have been assisted by you, or at least your counterpart from some other reality, but that is expected and of little concern.
"I understand you had been instrumental in assisting them in their quest during their visit to your reality in the past. The reason for this correspondence is to request your aide once again. I fear my warning to the Potters may not have been discovered in time to save them from the events that are unfolding.
"I have been aware for several months since they returned of attempts to recover certain artifacts necessary to resurrect the past. My personal efforts to deny access to these artifacts has been marginal, as I am not as capable at positive identification as others may be.
"If I am correct, and I am afraid I am, their first born child is in mortal danger, and I will be in a position to protect her until her fifteenth year. Past that I shall be too weak to remain effective. I have warned their daughter as best I could, but I must have your help in this matter. You must leave the peace of the world they began and do all in your power to prevent unnecessary deaths at the hands of those intent on returning the Wizarding World into darkness again.
"I hope that faith alone will convince you this quest is necessary and I further pray you are willing to aide the Potters, all of them, in their quest.
"Yours from beyond the Veil, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Minister For Magic."
"That is impossible," Ginny said, "It's a forgery."
Annie shook her head, "It's the same as the one I received on my birthday, shame green writing, and the same parchment."
"If I may explain," Snape said, Ginny nodded and cautiously lowered her wand. "I received an owl near the end of April, 2009 with this letter. The envelope contained specific instructions not to be opened for fifteen years. In that time, I had observed unusual activity in my world and investigated the possibility the Potter's story was far more truthful then I originally gave credit. In my world, I was an advisor to Lord Malfoy, before his demise at your parent's hand. Lord Malfoy in turn was one of Lord Voldemort's lieutenants."
"Mum and dad killed him?" Ben asked, finally breaking his silence.
"Of course, you can't believe they are unable to kill, they have done is so efficiently in the past. But, that is not why I am here. I believe Dumbledore wanted me to assist in your endeavors. He seemed to have placed a substantial about of trust in my counterpart from this world. I have researched his background in my brief stay," Snape replied.
"You claimed there's another of you here, and he's the one that murdered Draco, how can we trust you are not him?" Ginny hissed.
"The fool used our ancestral family home to hide, and that is where Dumbledore was killed. There is a large chamber under the dwelling at Spinners End. There I discovered his obsession with the dark lord, and the images used to mark his followers. I planted that image on the boy's arm with a minor modification," Snape replied.
"The Phoenix," Ben said as he rubbed his arm.
"Yes, he has an original mark on his arm," Snape said.
"Like the one I saw on Uncle Draco's arm?" Annie asked.
"Yes, exactly the same. And as you can see," he said as he bared his left arm, "I have no suck mark."
Finally convinced, Ginny fully lowered her wand, "Then what to do from here?" she asked.
"Wait, and pull all the known pieces of this puzzle together. While I searched that cavern under my family's house, I believe that my counterpart and Malfoy are being guided in their endeavor, someone that obviously has knowledge we do not," he said. "I was fortunate at one point to overhear the conversation with this individual, but I managed to hear the name 'M…'"
A red flash blew past his chin, leaving a gash in his cheek. A blue bolt shot out from the doorway above them, disappearing behind Ginny. Her eyes widened and a trembling hand withdrew her wand again. She managed to turn as a yellow flash engulfed her left side. Arty reached to her mother's back, only to find a warm sticky ooze.
"Run!" Snape commanded, and snapped a pair of purple bolts to the door; another red flash sliced the veil from the arch.
"Where? There's no where to go?" Ben screamed.
"Come on," Jerry called and pushed Annie toward the arch. "We can follow dad and the others."
"Mummy?" Arty called as she watched Ginny fall to her knees and then face down. The stone floor now christened red with her mother's blood.
Jerry tightened his grip on Annie's arm and with his free hand pushed her into the arch. Ben grabbed Arty's arm and followed his sister and Jerry, and he glimpsed the tall man they met moments before fall to the floor as a purple beam passed through his chest.
Arty turned her head as she fell into the opening in time to watched her mother's eyes close. That image burned into her mind as she was pulled into the arch.
A final flash from the doorway was unseen as the remaining portion of the veil flapped in an unfelt breeze.
The darkness was deafening, the silence was blinding. The emptiness bore thru her mind and soul, emptying both.
Annie screamed, but no sound escaped her lips.
She reached out into the darkness, and felt nothing.
Nothing, but tightness around her wrist; it hurt, as if her hand was torn from her arm.
She continued to fall into the darkness, no one heard her screams.
There was nothing.
Now her life was simply an empty void.
"Annie, I'm here."
"Tom?" she asked.
"I'm here, we have much to do."
"Why did you make me hurt that Muggle?" she screamed.
"You are above them. They are nothing to us."
"You murdered my grandparents, why? What do you want with me?" she cried.
"History is re-written by the victors, it is true I took their lives, but they attacked me without provocation. I merely defended myself. Their son, your father was the one that sought me out for his revenge."
"No, you've lied to me, leave me alone!" she screamed.
"Annie, stop," she heard. She felt a pair of familiar arms hold her tight.
"NO, go away!"
"Shhh… it's over, Annie, it's me, Jerry," she heard. She finally opened her eyes to see his concerned face. All she knew was she was kneeling on a cold stone floor.
"J-Jerry? Where are we?" she asked, her chest hitched as she spoke.
"Still in the Chamber, as best I can determine. But there's something wrong, Aunt Ginny and that fellow aren't here," Jerry said as he loosened his hold on her arm.
"That hurt, but I'm glad you didn't let go." She paused a moment and rubbed her wrist, his grip left red marks in her skin. "Jerry, he was there again, in my head. I hate him."
"That 'Tom' bloke came back?"
"Yes, but this time he frightened me. I-I don't know how he gets into my mind," she said, the fear now evident in her voice.
"I'm certain we'll figure that out soon," he said as he held her tenderly. "Come on, we need to figure out where we are, remember what Sirius said? With luck we'll find them at the Burrow," Jerry said and stood, helping her to her feet.
They quietly left the raised dais up the sloped aisle. The massive oak doors seemed to have been un-touched in decades. Jerry cautiously pushed one open a slight crack. He leaned forward, forcing him to let go of Annie's hand.
"It looks empty out there. No one's about," he said.
"Well it is the weekend and Aunt Ginny…" she stopped and froze. "Aunt Ginny… she…" Annie tried to say what neither wanted to hear.
"Shhh, we don't know. All we can do is hope and pray to Merlin she'll be fine," Jerry reassured.
She nodded and held her tears, knowing the only thing they could do was find her parents, Jerry's dad, or some friendly face. They found their way quickly, Jerry had spent many days with his father and aunt in the Ministry when he was younger; the Department of Mysteries was his favorite part of the building.
They soon came to the last landing in the stair case, and the voices on the other side of the door was evident the atrium was not empty.
"Annie, trust me, if we stay close to the wall and act as if we belong there, no one will question us. We should be able to make it to the door before any one stops us," he said and gave her a quick kiss. "Now, ready?"
"No, but we do need to go, promise not to leave me?" she asked.
"Promise. I love you, ok?" he said and they left through the doorway.
Once out the door, they walked through the hall, past the rows of fireplaces on the either side. Their trainers left little noise on the polished dark wood floor. Soon they were past the Fountain of Magical Brethren and more than half way out.
Just as they reached the golden gates and freedom, a hand reached out and held Annie's shoulder; she let a slight squeak of shock and surprise.
"Wait there, Miss Weasley, if you don't mind," a voice called out.
Her eyes grew larger as she and Jerry stopped and turned to see the security guard standing behind them.
"Pardon me?" she asked nervously.
"Next time you sneak a friend in to see your mum's statue on a Sunday, you'd best register him," the man said sternly.
She nodded and looked to his face and noticed a wink.
"Now be off and tell your mum to take care of that young babe," he said with a grin.
She nodded again, unable to utter a word and quickly left the Ministry. The sun hung just over the roofline.
"He said this is Sunday? But, it was just Saturday afternoon?" she questioned.
"Aye, and from the daylight, it must be before noon . The Leaky Cauldron is only a few minutes from here, we could use their Floo to get home," Jerry said as they walked down the block.
"Do you think we'll find the others there, at the Burrow?" she asked nervously.
"I hope so, I wish I knew what's happened, Sirius did say to find a familiar point, the Burrow has been there for centuries," Jerry said. His reassurances helped for the moment. They quickened their pace until they were on Charing Cross Road . The deserted appearance was normal to them, as they walked to the familiar door of a tiny, grubby-looking pub.
"Ready? Once inside we'll head directly for the Floo, before anyone can stop us," Jerry said as he opened the door.
The dark and shabby room remained abuzz with the many conversations between the patrons. Jerry and Annie's entrance appeared to have been totally unobserved. The fireplace across the room seemed protected with the formidable obstacles of the patrons; each could have stopped them with a single question.
"Come on, we have to go now," Jerry whispered.
"Weasley," a voice bellowed from the bar.
Jerry turned to face the man that called his name, a tall, thin man with a great deal of long grey hair and a beard wearing glasses left the sanctuary of the bar and walked quickly toward the couple.
"Sir?" he replied.
The man ignored Jerry and walked to face Annie, "It's Sunday, you know you have the day off, is there a problem at home?" he asked.
"Dumbledore, leave the girl be, she's here with her young man," an old woman called from the bar. Her pipe danced in her teeth as she spoke.
"D-Dumbledore?" She mumbled.
"Don't be daft, girl. You've never given ol' Aberforth such a cold greeting before," she said as his beard parted to reveal a wide grin. "Give us a hug, girl."
"Excuse me, sir, we were heading back home, she came with me to find my dad," Jerry intervened.
Aberforth gave Jerry an examining glance, "And who might your father be?"
Jerry thought quickly, and glanced around for a clue, "O'shay's the name, me dad's an Auror from Erie," he said quickly, "We have to return to her home, me mum's there waiting on us."
The elderly man looked at Jerry to determine the authenticity of the boy's claim, before he nodded, "Then be off, and Anna, I'll expect you tomorrow at your normal time?"
She nodded, without knowing what that normal time was. The couple felt every eye on them as they walked across the room to the fireplace.
"You first," Jerry said handing her the basin filled with the glittering powder.
She took a pinch of the powder and threw it into the flames. An emerald green wave of flame engulfed her when she said 'The Burrow'. Jerry quickly repeated the spell and vanished in the same manner.
Annie arrived first, and stepped forward to help prevent a collision when Jerry arrived. In the hall, she saw a very familiar sight, in an unfamiliar place.
"Mummy!" she screamed and ran to Hermione. "Mummy, I missed you. Where's dad? Ben's off lost, I couldn't stay with him, some one was there, and hurt Aunt Ginny," Annie blurted out as she hugged her mother.
A whoosh from the lounge announced another arrival, this one brought Hermione's wand out in defense of her home.
"Stop there," she commanded.
"Annie, tell your mum it's me," Jerry said.
Annie stopped and looked at her mother, "Mum?" the realization hit hard as she backed away, Hermione stared at her with equally wide eyes. Hermione's wand lowered but remained in her hand.
"No, you are not my daughter, who are you?" Hermione demanded.
"Aunt Hermione?" Jerry asked.
"Mum? It's me, Annie Potter, you and dad told Ben and me to stay here because you had to go somewhere," she said, her voice began showing signs of stress.
"Oh my God," Hermione muttered, "What's your father's name?" she asked.
"Harry?" Annie asked hesitantly.
Hermione nodded, and her cheeks instantly began to moisten from the fresh tears. "I knew your parents, they saved my life. They were here almost sixteen years ago. Please sit," she said and motioned them both to a table. Annie and Jerry pulled their chairs close as they sat down, opposite of Hermione.
"Anna, I mean Annie," Hermione began, leaning forward, "have they ever explained their past to you?"
Annie leaned forward curiously and shook her head, "No," she finally managed to say.
"Nothing of their life at Hogwarts, or later?" she questioned, surprised, with the same reply.
"Excuse me, I don't understand what's going on here," Jerry interrupted, looking between Annie and Hermione.
"Obviously, none of this is normal for either of you," Hermione began and looked at Annie. "I know you and who your family is, but I can't say I know who you are," she said now looking at Jerry curiously.
"Jerry Weasley, my dad's Senior Auror Ron Weasley, and my mum's Luna Weasley," he stated.
"Ron, dear Ron," she said softly, looking down momentarily. "Is he, are they happy?" she asked.
"Of course, why?" Jerry asked, puzzled.
"It's a long story, but all I can say is I'm certain your father is fine, wherever he is," Hermione said, not quite meeting Jerry's eyes.
"Wherever? And exactly where are we?" Annie inquired, looking around and noticing for the first time the many differences she had overlooked initially.
"This is the reality that would have existed had certain events occurred differently." Annie's eyes locked onto Hermione's face. "Your parents traveled here from the world you knew and in the course of their brief stay, saved a good number of lives." This last bit did not surprise Jerry at all, his dad having referred to Harry's "saving people thing" occasionally.
"Yes, as I understand the way it worked, my life was the same life your parents had, up to the time Voldemort attacked the school and I was nearly killed," Hermione explained, speaking slowly, knowing that they needed to understand what she was saying.
"Killed?" Annie asked, startled.
"Technically, yes, I had died," she paused, "In your world, your mother died in your father's arms while I was left alone at that moment. I, and she, have a special power that can draw life's essence from any living thing surrounding me. In your world, that was Harry, in mine, Ron and Ginny came to my side," she said and stared directly at Annie. Annie had tensed up, the revelations starting to overwhelm her; Jerry wrapped one arm around her protectively.
Jerry's brow tightened, and his lips pursed, as he looked back to Hermione.
Hermione started again, compassion showed on her face for the daughter of those who saved her, "In your world, and this is from what your mother had told me in the weeks she helped bring me back to rationality, your father's powers were great enough for them both to survive, but just survive. They were weak and vulnerable." Annie tried to interrupt, having relaxed somewhat from Jerry's comfort, but Hermione continued, "Here Harry was pulled from my side, and I called out to the closest souls I could, Ron and Ginny."
"My dad and Aunt Ginny?" Jerry said softly. "They didn't live, did they?"
Hermione reached for Jerry's hand, and he offered it. "No, I wasn't in control of that ability and they sacrificed all so I could live. When Harry was pulled from me, he snapped and was unable to control himself." Hermione stopped, gnawing on her bottom lip pensively, "I was the only one able to stop him, and to him I was dead."
Hermione paused and wiped her cheeks with her free hand, "My cousin and her future husband took me away to his home," she said.
"Eileen and Jake?" Annie asked.
Hermione nodded and finished quickly, "Yes, they took me to safety, and it took Harry awhile to find me. He never was able to forgive me for Ron and Ginny, and I spent ten years trying to repent that action. That is when your parents found me and saved my life."
"But I don't understand," Annie interjected, leaning forwards, putting her hands on Hermione's, "why did they need to sa-"
Hermione shook her head, "Let me finish. What they did in those weeks changed this world for the better, they ended Harry's tyranny."
"How?" Annie and Jerry asked together.
"They killed him," a voice in the hall replied.
Annie and Jerry turned to see the exact duplicate of Annie standing in the entrance. The young woman walked in and stood behind her mother, "My name is Anna, and my mother has told me the story time and time again. I never really believed it, but the fact the two of you are sitting here is proof of sorts."
"Anna? You're the one the guard and that man, Dumbledore, though I was," Annie said.
Hermione turned to her daughter, "Guard? Still visiting that statue?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Mother, that's not important. They are, if they are here now, there must be a reason, like when the others came," Anna said.
"Yes, I know. The question is why the two of you are here. What happened to force you into the veil?" Hermione asked.
"Dad, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black went to find Annie's parents. While we were there, someone named Snape showed up. He claimed Arty's grandfather was to blame for the things happening at home," Jerry said.
"Tell me every detail, maybe we can determine why you are here," Hermione said.
Author's note:
First, I must apologize for the extended delay in this chapter. I have been feverously working on this story, trying to maintain the level of my past work. I have (at present) six additional chapters being reviewed, with an anticipated (at lease) five remaining after that. Once those chapters are completed and I feel they are satisfactory, they will be released for your reading pleasure.
Next, I must now ask for your patience and ask your all to wait a little longer, I want these chapters to be as perfect as possible and to do this, I must complete them all to maintain the story line.
Do not give up hope for this story, as I have not abandoned it. I want the ending to be worthy of the story.
As for Ginny… her outcome is uncertain at this time…