She said I don't know why you ever would lie to me
Like I'm a little untrusting
when I think that the truth is gonna hurt ya
And I don't know why you couldn't just stay
with me
You couldn't stand to be near me
When my face don't seem to
want to shine
Cuz its a little bit dirty, well
Don't just stand there, say nice things to me
I've been cheated, I've
been wronged, and you
You don't own me, I can't change
I won't
do anything at all
(Push- Matchbox 20)
Chapter 6
Ginny was drunk. She knew it, and everyone around her did too. They didn't care, since she was in the Hog's Head, but still….she was getting kind of loud.
"I…think I might need to stop!" She yelled to a man sitting right next to her.
"Do you feel better?" He asked quietly.
Ginny swayed a bit and stared at him suspiciously.
"Whhy…would I f-feel better?" she asked.
"Obviously you're drinking to forget something, or else you wouldn't be drinking so much." The man said quietly.
Ginny laughed a bit.
"You're smart," she said stupidly, "I don't feel better though, so I don't think I should stop!"
"What are you trying to forget, Ginevra?" the man asked.
Ginny downed a shot of Firewhiskey before speaking.
"Him."
"Who?" the man asked, sounding eager.
"I'm trying to forget his stupid…self…he left me, ya know that? For that sssslut."
"What's his name?" the man asked, handing Ginny another drink.
"Harry Potter…the fantastic Boy Who Lived. I l-loved him and he left me!" She said, her face darkening.
"Do you resent him?" the man asked quickly, turning to face her, "Do you want to make them regret what they did?"
Ginny paused a minute and the smiled slightly.
"I know you." She slurred stupidly, "You're---"
"Shhh…" The man said, covering her mouth. "I know who I am. I want you to help me…will you help me?"
Ginny looked at him confusedly and shook her head to clear it.
"I don't think I'm supposed to like you…." She said slowly.
The man tipped a drink down her throat.
"Will you help me?" He asked urgently.
Ginny nodded her eyes glassy.
"Good…now be a good girl, Ginevra, and come with me."
She followed him.
He took her to a dark alley and Apparated the two of them to a dark space.
"Where are we?" she asked, stumbling down stone steps.
"You don't need to know that."
"I want to go back to Hogwarts," she said, looking scared, "I'll be missed. I have classes in the morning."
The man took her by the arm and led her through a passageway to a dark room.
"You'll be back by morning….don't worry." He said softly, and guided her to a chair.
She sat down and he lit his wand illuminating their faces.
"Now, then, tell me, why do you hate Potter so much?"
"I told you," Ginny said, "He left me for Hermione, and because of them my family is ruined."
"Does that make you truly, really hate him, Ginevra?"
Ginny smiled a bit, feeling woozy.
"Ginevra, listen to me, do you want to get revenge? To make them hurt?"
"I want to make them see what they d-did." Ginny said slowly.
The man smiled.
"Will you let me help you do this? Will you help me, as well?"
"What am I helping you with?" Ginny asked innocently.
"I want Potter to hurt as well."
"Oh." Ginny said, "Well, I suppose I can help you."
"Good. Now, I'm going to do a little magic, to help us, see? Don't worry, it won't hurt."
Ginny eyed his wand warily for a minute then nodded.
"Good, Ginevra, good….now close your eyes, please."
Ginny did as he said, all the while feeling like she was doing something she would regret.
The man raised his wand.
"Imperio!" He whispered harshly.
o----------------------------------------------------o
Harry gasped as if someone had doused cold water on him. He was wide awake, clutching his scar.
He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, but opened his eyes again when he felt someone move next to him.
It was Hermione.
"Harry? Harry, are you okay?" She asked anxiously, sitting up in bed.
Harry nodded, still breathing as though he'd run a race.
"Yeah…yeah….I just…bad dream is all." He gasped.
"You're clutching your scar, Harry." Hermione said quietly.
Harry jumped a bit, and let go of his head.
"I…It hurt…that's all."
"It's probably just stress," Hermione said, "You're probably stressing about Ron, am I right?"
Harry nodded slowly, looking at Hermione with wide eyes as he remembered what he had done.
"I---Hermione…can I ask you something….weird?" He asked.
"Sure." Hermione said, looking at him worriedly.
"D'you…what did we do yesterday?"
"We went to Diagon Alley, Harry," Hermione said slowly, "And…and we…I can't remember too well….did we…we ate ice cream I think….Harry….Harry I can't remember anything else! Did we get drunk or something?"
Harry closed his eyes.
"No," He said, "No, we didn't get drunk `Mione. You had a bit of a…a headache, so you went to sleep…we did everything you said we did."
"Oh," Hermione looked unsettled, "Alright then. Erm…its six `o clock. I'm going to get up now, okay?"
"Yeah," Harry said, looking over at her, "Yeah, that's fine…I'll go and…I'll just start some breakfast then…you can have the shower first."
"That's so considerate of you," Hermione said sarcastically and kissed him before leaving the room.
Harry stayed in bed for a moment until he heard water running before getting up.
He walked slowly into the kitchen.
Andrea was already awake and staring at the coffee pot.
"D'you want some coffee?" Harry asked, since the pot was empty.
Andrea turned to look at him.
"That'd be great," She said, and took the cup Harry conjured up for her, "I saw Hermione, by the way."
Harry jumped slightly.
"Yeah….she woke up a bit ago. I…it worked, Andy…she doesn't remember how horrible they were. She…all she remembers is going to Diagon Alley and she thinks we ate ice cream. She knows something's up though, Andy, she's suspicious, I think. I-I told her she had a headache and…but…"
"Harry, listen, you're rambling." Andy said, and sat down her coffee cup. "Hermione trusts you, but she's really smart, so you've got to…we've all got to be careful what we say around her. Can you do that?"
Harry nodded, surprised at how forceful Andy was being.
"I don't regret what I did, you know." Harry said.
Andrea smiled a small smile.
"No, I didn't think you would….not if it's for the best."
"It is for the best." Harry said.
"What's for the best?" Hermione asked, coming into the kitchen, dressed in her lime green work robes.
"That Harry doesn't make breakfast." Andy said, smiling, "He's not quite the world's best cook."
"I make pretty good pancakes," Hermione said smiling at Harry, "I'll cook."
"No cereal?" Harry joked.
Hermione kissed him before starting breakfast.
"No cereal." She said softly.
"Right well, this is awkward." Andy said, and Harry turned to look at her, but she was grinning.
"I'm not going to be around much today," Hermione said, turning back to her pancakes, "I got a call a few minutes ago, and it's my emergency day."
"Emergency day?" Andy repeated.
"Yeah, that's what St. Mungo's likes to call their `hey, you aren't working today and you should be' days."
Harry laughed.
"Well, I'm sorry you've got to work, love, but you won't be missing much. I'm going into the office today and I'm going to...see about something."
"Oh? Why so secretive, Mr. Potter? Got an extra girl on the side?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows as she served out the pancakes.
"Because it's a secret, my dear," Harry said, grinning, "You'll find out all about it if everything goes well, I promise."
"Okay, then, well, I'm sorry to run off like this, but I'll have my head put on a platter if I don't get to St. Mungo's right now."
"Bye, love, have a good day," Harry said as Hermione Apparated.
"God, I'd hate to see her this morning after what happened yesterday." Andrea said, looking at the spot where Hermione had vanished.
Harry sighed.
"I would too, believe me."
"So what are you doing today exactly?"
"I'm just doing a bit of researching...looking into Ron's case." Harry said evasively.
"I thought you weren't allowed on that assignment!"
"I can't sit and do nothing, Andrea." Harry finished his breakfast and stood up.
o---------------------------------------------------------------o
Harry stepped furtively out of the grate and walked swiftly to the Auror offices. He paused at the entrance to his captain's office and sighed.
"What are you doing here, Potter?" Captain Smith asked, without looking up.
"I was wondering if I might have a word with you." Harry said stepping inside.
Captain Smith looked up, clearly annoyed.
"Alright, Potter, but make it quick."
"I wanted to know if any headway has been made on Ron Weasley's case, sir." Harry said his voice polite but determined.
"I can't tell you that, Potter."
Harry sighed.
"Look, I know I've been kicked off the case and put on vacation time, but I still deserve to know if any leads have been discovered." Harry paused, "I'm not asking as an Auror, sir,I'm asking this as a friend of Ron's. His family deserves to know if anything has happened, and since it's my fault he's been captured, I feel obligated to tell them."
Captain Smith sighed.
"Potter…if a family member wants to know details of the investigation, they need to come in and see me. I don't like having valuable information relayed to them through another source…it's not that I don't trust you, Potter, but I'd be breaking about a dozen rules, so, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can tell you."
Harry's face fell.
"Sir, please…at least give me something…any little thing…" He said hesitantly.
Harry's captain sighed and glanced around.
"There has been….a….tip off…on a location. A team has been assembled and is currently checking it out. Now, get out of this office, out of this building. You're on vacation time until otherwise noted."
Harry nodded.
"Oh, and Potter?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Quit taking all the blame for this, would you? The investigation behind this clearly shows that it was not your fault, and continuing to act as such could cause you to lose more working hours. Are we understood?"
"Yes. Thank you, sir."
Harry left the office with smile.
o------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------o
A/N: I'm sure you're sick of hearing this, but I'm sorry!! I didn't like a certain portion of this story and rewriting it to take out that part was murder, but I hope you liked it! Review, please, they make me happy. I promise I'll do my very best to get the next chapter up soon! I cant figure out how to upload!
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