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Author: Lady Whizbee Story: The Skullduggery of Muckle Delight Rating: Teens Status: WIP Reviews: 4 Words: 40,817
Time had come to a complete and utter stop. Wand…frozen in mid-spell. Harry stood, struggling for comprehension as he stared at the rows of damson jam on the shelf in front of him. Ginny—here, at Grimmauld Place— He forced himself to breathe, but the blood thumping in his ears made it difficult to hear. Straining to listen, he stepped around the still-preening cat and sidled closer to the larder door. “Here—let me take that for you,” Lupin said. “Thanks,” Ginny replied. “Be careful, though—they don’t want to stay put.” Harry frowned: what didn’t want to stay put? He pressed against the doorframe. If only he could see around corners—or had his Invisibility Cloak—or had declined the invitation to lunch in the first place. Tonks launched into a description of what had happened with the cooker while Harry’s mind raced. He wanted to see Ginny, but not this way—here—in front of people. What should he say? How should he act? Would she understand his coming to Grimmauld Place before first finding her at The Burrow? The odds were not in his favor. And even worse, he wasn’t even certain if he should be seeing Ginny at all now that he knew Dolohov might be on his trail. Riding on the high of tagging Lestrange, he had agreed to come home. But now…with all the new information…perhaps he had been too hasty. He pressed his forehead against the doorframe. She was right there, though…just on the other side of the door… And he was stuck in the larder. With a cat. He absently tapped his head against the doorframe. He didn’t want to be stuck in the larder. He wanted to see Ginny, consequences be damned. Deep down, though…deep down, underneath this need to see her…the desire for her continued safety stirred. Straightening, he listened to Tonks continue to ramble on about the cooker. Think. How should he handle this? The longer he waited to make an entrance, the more awkward it would be… “Harry?” Tonks’ beckon made him jump, hitting his head on a shelf. Stars sprung up in front of his eyes. “Harry! Come here—you’ll never guess who’s just arrived.” The ridiculousness of the situation instantly settled into a gnawing panic of what would happen once he stepped around the corner. Harry pressed his fingers into the tender lump growing on the top of his head and winced. You deserved that. Letting his hand fall to his side, he took a deep breath and stepped out, rounding the corner. The larder door swing closed behind him. Ginny stood in front of the fire with her back turned, facing Tonks. Clearly not expecting him to enter the room from behind her, Ginny jumped at his entrance, spinning so quickly to face him that her hair whipped in full motion. She gave a small gasp as her eyes widened and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. Harry attempted a smile. “Hi.” He was relieved that his voice sounded steady. “Harry! When did you—?” Ginny’s voice faltered, but her eyes didn’t. They were unusually bright. She took a step toward him. “Late last night.” He swallowed, then offered quickly, “I was going to—” A sudden ear-splitting crash and continuing clatter erupted from the larder. It sounded as if the small room had just imploded upon itself. They all jumped, turning to look in the direction of the ominous sound. Harry winced. He had completely forgotten about the cat. In his distraction, he had closed the door, unintentionally trapping it inside. “Er—there was a cat—” “Nebby!” Tonks and Lupin said in unison, rushing for the larder. Feeling incredibly awkward, Harry took a few following steps before realizing that his help really wasn’t necessary. Stopping, he dared a glance at Ginny and found that she had padded up right behind him. Even better, her expression wasn’t angry as he had feared, but instead eager. Maybe even happy? He turned to fully face her. “I’m sorry that I haven’t—I was going to—” He started again. “Remus invited me here for lunch, and then I was going to go to The Burrow afterwards to see—” “It’s okay, Harry.” Ginny cut him off, the corners of her mouth twitching. “I’m just glad that you’re finally here.” He was here, wasn’t he? Somewhere important—with Ginny. He felt a wave of relief and the tug of a true grin. How could he have possibly been worried? She was brilliant. No longer a dot on the Marauder’s Map, or a face pulled from memory, she stood in front of him warm and real, and all the tormented thoughts about whether to see her or not simply disappeared. She was here. He was here. And nothing could possibly make him turn around now. Another startling clang from the larder caused them to jump. Harry glanced sideways to make certain that Tonks and Lupin were still all right—which they were—and turned back to find Ginny pressing a hand over her mouth in an attempt to muffle her laughter. Harry couldn’t help but smile and fumbled for her free hand. Tugging her away from the larder, he led her towards the fireplace and out of earshot. “So, what are you doing here?” She looked at their entwined fingers before brushing her thumb over his. “Um, well, I was coming into London to meet Hermione, and Mum asked me to deliver this basket of wool to Tonks, so I did.” Harry glanced over at the gigantic basket of wool that was sitting on the table and frowned. “Mum is teaching Tonks to knit,” Ginny offered, as if it was the quantity of wool that was causing him concern. “But Neville said that Hermione was with you at The Burrow.” Ginny fluttered her free hand. “Oh, she is. It’s just—well, you know the flat that we’re renting? Well, the landlord let us in today to do some decorating. You know, painting and cleaning and everything, and so Hermione’s there.” “By herself?” “Well, yes—seeing that I’m here.” Harry shifted his weight, trying to ignore the alarms going off in his head. A small frown formed between her eyes. “What is it?” “I just—erm…have any wards been set up there yet?” Ginny snorted with a half-laugh. “Please. Do you remember how many older brothers I have?” Her smile dampened when she realized that he wasn’t laughing. She squeezed his hand. “Bill went there first thing this morning.” Oh, right. Bill. That was good. He would certainly know what he was doing. Harry studied her hand in his…a niggling feeling was still gnawing in his stomach. He tried to ignore it. Bill was really good at this sort of thing…he would have done a thorough job of it…but still… He looked up at Ginny. She was studying him closely. All hints of her earlier laughter were now gone and the crease between her eyes was deeper than before. She knew him too well. He took a breath and tried to quell her concern with a genuine smile. “Good—I’m—I’m glad Bill took care of it. Neville said that you move in on Monday?” “Yes.” Ginny nodded, taking a half-step nearer to him. She was still watching him carefully. “And we’re planning to come to your flat tomorrow for dinner.” “Yeah, I know. I’m looking forward to that.” He grinned. “Hey—maybe you could give Neville and me a tour of your new place after dinner?” And I can test the wards on your flat—but he wasn’t going to say that out loud. “Sure, that sounds like fun. I don’t think Neville has seen it yet—” Ginny stopped and bit her lip. “Harry? What’s going on? Is there something that you need to tell me?” “No—no, there’s nothing. I was just worried about the security at your flat.” “That’s all?” “Yes.” Actually, there was loads that he wanted to tell her, but he wasn’t allowed to do so. And he needed her to believe that he wasn’t misleading her on that point or he would be in a heap of trouble. She studied him a moment longer before looking away with a nod. Panic ballooned in his chest. She didn’t believe him, but she wasn’t challenging him either. She always challenged him when she didn’t believe him. “Ginny, seriously, it’s okay.” She drew a deep breath and then looked back at him. Her eyes were clear. “No, no, it isn’t.” She paused, but only for a second. “It isn’t okay.” “Ginny—” “No more secrets.” Harry sucked in a startled breath while his stomach turned to lead. If only he could tell her everything now, this instant, he would. But he couldn’t. Grappling for words, Harry shifted uncomfortably, trying to form any sort of coherent sentence. Ginny turned away from him and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “I just…I just…want to be involved. With you…with this—” she made a helpless gesture at the four walls in a struggle to define her thoughts, “whatever it is—and I can’t—I won’t be left out. Not if we’re going to—” She broke off abruptly and glanced at the fire. Harry could see the firelight reflected in her eyes as she studied it, lost in thought. Gathering a breath, she looked back at him, her chin lifted in fierce determination. “I need to know that you trust me, and that you’re being honest with me. I need to know that we can go forward—together. Not just you, with me over here on the side. I need to be involved.” The browns of her eyes swirled almost black, but there was something so vulnerable in the edge of her voice and the way she set her lips that Harry felt his gut wrench. How could he do this? He felt incredibly daft for even imagining that he could partition his life into separate pieces. This plan of his wasn’t going to work. He could lose her and that simply couldn’t happen. He wouldn’t survive. She needed to know that. “Ginny, please—” He pulled her back towards him, wrapping his arms securely around her waist. She stiffened slightly and he fought to keep her gaze. “I do trust you. I’ve always trusted you. Please believe that. There’s just…I just…there’s a promise that I’ve made…and I’m not free to discuss it, any of it, with anybody until it’s done.” A significant pause lingered while Ginny considered what he had said, and although she still felt stiff in his arms, she didn’t fight to remove herself. Harry considered this a promising sign. He watched patiently as the muscles around her mouth tightened and relaxed in thought and the firelight radiated off her hair. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet but even. “Will it be done soon?” “It had better be.” And he meant it. After a lengthy pause, Ginny nodded, and then suddenly—miraculously—she relaxed, softening in his arms and Harry felt an immense wave of relief. She understood him again. This was what he needed—what he had missed—the feel of her, the smell of her, the knowledge that she understood him inside and out. Simply Ginny. His forehead fell against hers. Not relinquishing his hold, he spoke again before he lost his nerve. “I…Ginny…I really…” He wanted to say something meaningful, something definite, but nothing sounded right. And before he could wrap his mind around what he was trying to say, Ginny broke his hold, springing back from him as if scalded. He quickly realized why. Tonks and Lupin had just emerged from the larder, dusting off their sleeves and pocketing their wands. Ginny turned towards them, tucking her hair behind her ears. “So everything’s all right, then? In the larder?” Harry was impressed with how calmly she spoke, as his heart and mind were still reeling from the unexpected interruption. “I suppose.” Tonks shrugged. She seemed completely unaware of what she had walked in on. Depositing herself onto one of the kitchen chairs, she pulled a knee up under her chin. “Nebby is stalking a mouse—has been for days. He spends most of his time lurking in the larder waiting for it—or something else—to dash across the floor.” Harry looked from Ginny to Lupin and found Lupin studying him closely. Harry swallowed, averting his focus to Tonks instead, but not before he felt the betrayal of heat rise on his neck. He clenched his jaw; he was pathetic at deception. It would be incredibly lucky if Lupin hadn’t sensed Harry’s interest in Ginny to be anything other than elder-brotherly. Incredibly lucky. “So now that my wonderful lunch is ruined,” Tonks sighed, retrieving her wand and twirling it absently, “how do sandwiches sound?” Ginny started. “Oh! What time is it?” She frantically searched out a clock. Blanching, she shot an apologetic look toward Tonks, and then towards Harry. “I need to run—I’m late. Hermione’s going to throttle me.” Tonks popped out of her chair to hug her. “Thank you for bringing the wool.” Ginny smiled, returning her hug. “Mum said that you should come over if you have any questions once you get started.” “Tell her I will, and thank her for me.” “I will,” Ginny said. She swiftly hugged Lupin and then turned to face Harry; her eyes met his. They radiated a longing that Harry felt mirrored in himself, and it took every ounce of strength not to succumb to it. Harry stepped forward and quickly hugged her, letting go before Lupin or Tonks would suspect anything. “Tell Hermione hello.” She nodded. “She’s really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.” “Tell her I am, too.” Which was true, although, at this moment, he was more inclined to think that it was Ginny that he was the most interested to see. Turning back towards them as she stepped into the flames, Ginny waved, her gaze settling on Harry just before she disappeared in a flash of brilliant green. He thought he had seen a hint of that blazing look in her eyes, but then, it might have been the fire playing tricks. Harry turned to find Tonks looking at him with narrowed eyes. “What?” “Oh, nothing.” She smiled brightly. “Sandwich?” “That sounds wonderful.” It didn’t take long for them to set the table or lay out the food and before Harry knew it, they were all tucking into lunch. “So, Harry—” Tonks said, swallowing her first bite of sandwich. “Are you seeing anyone?” Harry choked on his butterbeer. Lupin suppressed a smile. “Dora, at least let him finish his first bite of food before you scare him off.” Tonks’ eyes sparkled as she watched Harry squirm. “What? It’s an innocent question. I can’t believe that you have been traveling the world for the last year and not had someone to enjoy it with. Now spill, who is it?” Harry was impressed and unnerved all at the same time. It was awkward that she knew nothing about his job. Even more awkward that she worked in the same department as he did at the Ministry of Magic and knew nothing about his job. And although his relationship with Ginny during his sixth year had been quite public knowledge, the status of their current relationship was completely unknown—even in some ways to him. It was all very uncomfortable. He shook his head, trying to avoid her question. “I haven’t been traveling with anyone, Tonks. I promise.” Her eyes narrowed perceptively. “Hmm...that seems rather boring, now, doesn’t it? Do you believe him, Remus?” Lupin glanced over at Harry and gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ve no reason not to believe him.” Fighting the rising tide of embarrassment swelling up in the pit of his stomach, Harry hastened to change the topic. “Erm…so, Tonks, Remus said that if I go to the induction ceremony in Geneva that you’ll be assigned to come with me, right?” “What?” Tonks blinked, swallowing a mouthful of sandwich. “Oh—yeah, right—you got the invitation, then?” Harry nodded, taking a bite of his own sandwich. “So, what do you want, Harry? Bubbly blonde…buxom brunette…stunning Swede…alluring Asian…leggy Latvian?” Harry blinked, not understanding what she was asking exactly. “I think ‘understated’ would be appropriate, Dora,” Lupin said, his voice muffled by a bite of food. “Understated? When have I ever been understated?” Tonks turned back to Harry. “Or perhaps…perhaps you’d prefer a ravishing red-head?” Tonks’ face transformed into a face identical to Ginny’s and Harry started. It finally dawned on him what she was asking. Tonks was assigned to go to this event as his date. Lupin chortled as he looked at Harry. His smile was slightly too knowing. “The Potter boys have always liked red-heads.” “What? No, stop—!” Harry’s face burned. “Understated, Tonks, understated is good.” “But that’s so boring!” Tonks plunked her sandwich down. “Boring is probably best anyway.” Lupin squeezed Tonks’ hand, although his eyes still danced as he looked at Harry. “You don’t want to draw too much attention to yourself.” “Draw attention to myself? I’ll be with Harry Potter! How much more attention could I possibly have?” Tonks retorted. She turned back to Harry and looked at him pleadingly. “If I have to sit through another impossibly tedious ceremony I at least want to have a little bit of fun. What do you say, Harry? Stunning Swede?” “Oh, all right,” Harry replied, relieved that she hadn’t suggested replicating Ginny again, or that she had suggested anything else like, French floozy, or something. “That’s fine—but you can’t be taller than me.” “Now he’s full of requests!” Tonks rolled her eyes with a snort. “All right, Mr. Potter, I won’t be taller than you. Anything else?” “Erm…no.” Then he remembered that this was Tonks. “Yes! No pink hair or weird piercings or large tattoos of dragons or anything—just a regular girl.” “Boring,” Tonks moaned, returning to her sandwich. “Yes, boring,” Harry replied, emphatically, and then smiled. “I like the quiet life, you know.” Tonks pursed her lips. “Humph.” They quickly moved on to other topics and, to Harry’s ultimate relief, the subject of who he was dating or what his date should look like for the ceremony never came up again. They talked long after the food was depleted, and it was growing late by the time he finally stood to leave. Tonks pulled him into a tight embrace and made him promise to come over for dinner later that week to see Teddy. They left her cleaning up in the kitchen, while Lupin walked him to the door. Once out of Tonks’ earshot, Lupin said, “We don’t need to meet tomorrow unless I send you an owl.” Harry blinked. Meet tomorrow? Oh, right—he shook his head as if waking up from a deep sleep. Thoughts of Dolohov and Lestrange reentered the periphery of his brain. How was it possible that he had lived the last few hours without thinking of them once? Harry Conjured a hat as he walked through the front hall toward the entry of Grimmauld Place. “Do you have enough of the one-hour and twelve-hour Polyjuice on hand?” Lupin asked. Harry nodded, pulling the hat down over his ears. “For now, but I’ll need some more soon.” “I’ll have Skipworth prepare a bottle of each to have ready the next time you’re in the office.” Lupin cleared his raspy voice before continuing, “I’ll also start the procedures for strengthening the wards at The Burrow, your flat, and Hermione’s flat. Is there anywhere else that the team should go?” “The twins’ shop,” Harry replied, although he doubted that Wizarding Wheezes needed any additional help. The booby traps the twins had set up would be enough to deter any Death Eater. “Shell Cottage, too…” Harry rubbed his neck. Who else was there? Charlie was still in Romania, his aunt and uncle had refused his help on principle, Godric’s Hollow was still in ruins…Harry looked up. “The Lovegoods—although you’ll have to be careful—Mr. Lovegood might be leery of the Ministry’s interference.” Lupin gave him a small smile. “We’ll be…diplomatic.” Harry snorted at this. If anything, that would cause Luna’s father to be even more suspicious. “We’ll take care of it, Harry.” “Thanks, Remus.” Lupin unlocked all the latches and locks on the door and then paused, his hand still resting on the knob. He looked at Harry and his expression softened. “Be careful out there, eh?” Harry nodded, wishing that Lupin didn’t need to say such a thing. But there was nothing for it…there would always be danger until the last of the Death Eaters were in Azkaban and they both knew it. Harry Transfigured his glasses into sunglasses as he stepped out onto the top step. “Keep me posted on Dolohov.” “I’ll let you know as soon as we find anything.” Harry nodded before turning to jog down the stairs. He heard the door creak shut and the locks being latched as he crossed the street to the clump of trees where they had been sitting earlier. It was the perfect place from which to Disapparate. Now all he needed was to decide where to go. He wanted to find Ginny…but he had no idea where her new flat was. He twisted his wand in his hand and studied the ground. I could go to The Burrow... Harry closed his eyes against the thought. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would certainly know where Ginny was…but… Ron… His stomach turned. The Burrow would overwhelm him with memories…and Mrs. Weasley would cry…and attempt to pamper him with food and hugs and…he couldn’t. He just couldn’t handle that sort of attention from her, not when he knew that he was the reason for her youngest son’s death. Harry continued to methodically turn his wand in his hand. Maybe Neville knows where Ginny’s flat is… He took a step forward and with a decisive twist of his wrist, he went in search of Neville to find out.
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