Author: Domino
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com
Summary: An
attack on Diagon Alley where Ginny goes missing
causes panic. H/G. AU. Set before HBP and DH.
A/N: I wrote
this story a long time ago, and decided to recently post it, hoping to get
inspiration to finish it. I love the idea of a catalyst in H/G relationship.
Hope you enjoy as well.
Chapter 1
“Its been
two hours already, and there’s no
sign of her,” Fred
said impatiently, pacing the
small area of
space they were
waiting in.
“We don’t
know that they
took her,” Ron told
him angrily, glaring at
Fred.
“I wish
Harry was here,” Hermione said
wishfully, “He would…”
“Grow up, Ron,” Fred interrupted, going back
to the earlier
conversation. “What
do you think
happened to her? You can't
apparate
out of here. She doesn’t even
know how. She didn’t
have a portkey. Or floo powder,” with
each word Fred
looked more haggard.
“Stop it. Stop it, both of
you,” George yelled. “We don’t
know what happened. Let’s just
wait for Charlie
and Bill to
call us.”
At that
moment, Hermione caught sight
of Charlie waving
madly at them. She
grabbed Ron’s arm
and took off
at a run, the
twins following.
Charlie, Bill,
Professor’s Lupin
and Dumbledore, and Mr
and Mrs Weasley
were standing around
a number of
people.
“That’s Madame
Malkin,”
Fred said, nervously pointing
out a rather
bedraggled woman, covered in
ash, her clothes torn, “Charlie said, “Ginny buying
robes when…” he trailed
off, unable to finish
the sentence.
Ron and
George both gripped
his arms tightly, in
support, in worry, Hermione holding
Ron’s hand tightly. The onlookers didn’t
look any better. Charlie looked
like hell, and Mrs
Weasley had tear
tracks on her
cheeks, her face pale
with anxiety. Arthur held
her hand while
her other lay
resting on a
large black dog, standing
protectively next to
her.
Hermione and
Ron both moved
towards the dog, and
Hermione burst into
tears, throwing her arms
around its neck.
“Madame Malkin was
just about to
tell us what
happened,” Professor
Dumbledore said gently, and
immediately Hermione quieted, leaned back
and looked expectantly
at the woman.
“I…it all happened
so fast…” she began.
“It’s alright, Madame,” Remus said, reassuringly, “Just start
from the beginning.”
“I was
hoping Ginny would
come in, such a
sweet girl. I heard
she was coming
to Diagon Alley
today with you,” she
gestured at Charlie.
“Wait…you knew she
was going to
be here today?” Arthur asked, almost insistently.
“Yes, Tom mentioned it, when
I was in
the Leaky Cauldron,” she replied. No
one said anything
to that, but it
was obvious that
they all thought
it was significant.
“Ginny always…” Madame Malkin trailed
off, smiling sadly at the window
of her shop, “She
would come and
look at the
dress robes, and…”
Molly began to cry, silent
tears falling. Arthur turned
his face, as he
couldn’t bear the
sight of his
wife’s tears.
“I made
this robe. It was
green and gold, perfect
for her. I thought
maybe I could
talk her into
fitting it on, and
then we could
work something out. When
she came in, she
was smiling…Charlie said
he would meet her in
15 minutes, and…” Madame Malkin stopped
talking. Everyone
waited.
“She looked
beautiful, she was twirling
and laughing, and then
she stopped and
looked sad. I knew
it was because
she couldn’t have
the robes. I wanted
to give them
to her, but I
know Ginny, she wouldn’t
have…she was too
proud,” Madame Malkin looked apologetically at
the Weasleys for
saying any of
this. Molly smiled at
her in thanks
for being good
to her daughter.
“When Ginny
was 8 years
old, she saved my
cat. She
wouldn’t take anything
as a reward. Said
that no one
should get a
reward for saving
something. That the saving
was the reward – that
was Ginny,” Madame
Malkin
said, looking slightly nostalgic. The others
looked a bit
surprised, none of them
had known about
Madame’s fondness for their
sister.
Then the
dress-maker snapped back, “I
made Ginny fit
on the shoes, and
was helping her
put her hair
up, when we heard
the first explosion. Ginny grabbed her
wand. She told me
to get grab
mine as well, and
then she made
Mrs Casey and
her two children
get in the back. We all
listened. I
don’t know why. She
just seemed really
scared, like she knew
something we didn’t, almost like
the explosions weren’t
that much of
a shock. She moved
to the door, and
I went after
her, when the windows
shattered and the
door blew back.
Ginny looked terrified. She knew what
was coming. She began
to back away
from the entrance, and
told me to
hide. Then they came.”
She looked at Professor
Dumbledore, “Like before. Everything got dark. The sun
went away and
there was smoke
everywhere. She stunned three
of them before
they even got
in the door, but
there was so
many. I…couldn’t …I
didn’t help,” Madame Malkin started
to cry. Molly leaned
over and hugged
her gently, in comfort.
“What happened next?” Arthur asked, his voice
tight, with tears he
wouldn’t shed.
“There were
about 7 or
8 of them. Death-eaters.
I was
crouching down behind
the counter so
I could only
see a little, but
I could hear
plenty. They
came for her. Specifically for
Ginny. And they wanted
to have a little
fun first.
Those…those,
they put
the Cruciatus curse
on her,” Madame Malkin wiped
her eyes furiously, her voice
now angry. Ron gripped
Hermione’s hand so
tightly she was
sure she would
have bruises.
“Ginny refused to
scream. One of them
told her it
was message. And Ginny
said to tell
Tom he could
go to hell. She said
that he would
never win. That Harry
and Dumbledore would
make sure of it.
They got mad. Really mad. You should
have seen her. She put
up shield after
shield. Every time
one fell down, she
put up another. She ducked
and dodged those
curses they sent
her.
Then, the Aurors started
arriving. Ginny knew they
would be there
any minute and
if she could
just hold out
till then, I could
see it in
her eyes. She looked
at one of
them, glared at him
and said, Lucius
– I’ll see you
in Azkaban, you see
if I don’t. he sent another
Cruciatius
at her.
That’s when she disappeared. Just blinked and
she was gone,”
“Gone. Gone where?” the frantic
cry came from Charlie.
“Did they
take her?” Professor
Dumbledore asked, a little
hesitantly, like he didn’t
want to know
the answer.
Madame Malkin
smiled, “No. They didn’t get
her, I don’t know
where she went, but
I do know
they were furious
at her for
disappearing like that. If
the Aurors didn’t
come through the
door at that
moment, making them portkey out
of there I
don’t know what
they would have
done.”
“Where did
Ginny get a portkey?” Arthur asked.
“More importantly where
did it take
her?” Molly questioned, wiping her
tears away.
“I
don’t think
she portkeyed out, Molly. She…there…well there
was some sparks
when she left, and
she said something
before, with her wand. A spell, I didn’t
recognise.”
“Do you
remember what it
was, what it sounded
like?” Remus asked, looking hopefully
at her.
“I…I’m sorry. I was too
far away. Something with
the words Emo…emoti…I
just can't remember,” Madame Malkin looked
quite distraught at the thought
of not remembering.
“That’s alright, you
have been a
great help,” Arthur told
her comfortingly, even if
he did look
disappointed.
“Emotisan Aparasan,” the shout
came from Percy. Everyone turned
to look at
him.
“I know
what she did,” he
said triumphantly. Confused faces, with
the exception of
Dumbledore’s stared back
at him.
“Typical. That’s our sister
for you. I would
have never even
remembered, but she…”
“Percy,” Ron yelled,
interrupting his happy
ramblings, “Where’s Ginny?”
Percy stopped, “I don’t know,”
he replied, looking a
little deflated.
“What, but you just
said…” Hermione started.
“Yes, I know
what spell she
used to get
out, but I don’t
know where she’s
gone. I don’t think
she knows.”
“Start talking. Fast,” Fred said, looking threateningly
at his brother.
“Ginny helped
me study for my Magical
Transport History Exam, and
when we were
studying Apparation,
there was a
section on the
Emoticon Aparasan Spell. It was
the beginning of
the Apparation theory. It hasn’t
been used in
centuries. You
can't predict your
destination. So…”
“Let me
get this straight. You
think Ginny used
a spell no
one has even
heard of, that hasn’t
been used in
who knows how
long to go
who knows where,” George said. He did
not look happy.
“Mr Weasley…I
don’t remember all
the details of
the Emotican Aparasan spell, but
am I correct
in assuming it
works on emotions,” Dumbledore asked
Percy.
“Yes, I think it
does. We didn’t go
into much detail
over it – we were
looking more at
contemporary transport.
Ginny liked the
spell though, she went
to get a
book about it.” Percy answered the
question, in his usual
pompous manner. She said something
about Apparation Wards
not affecting the
spell.”
“That means, Ginny could
go anywhere.”
“What’s the
side effects – can you
get splinched?”
Charlie asked wearily.
Percy thought
for a minute, trying to
recall the details
of the spell, “No, the spell
only works with
emotions, so if you
don’t have enough
magic in you, or
extreme emotions running
through at the
time, you don’t even
move. The only problem
with the spell, safety
wise is you
could end up
anywhere that your
emotions can predict, which isn’t
very helpful. There were
some fatalities, before apparation Ginny
said something about
how some people
landed at the
bottom of the ocean, and
mid-air, so…”
“Well then. Let’s go,” Ron
said, grabbing Hermione’s hand
and began walking
back to the
Leaky Cauldron.
“Go where?” Arthur said
“To
Hermione halted, forcing Ron
to stop, “Ron, I’m not
sure if telling
Harry is such a
good idea. I know
it seems that
they don’t really
talk much but
you know Harry – he’ll think its
all his fault. He always
does, but especially with
Ginny.”
“I think
Hermione’s right, Ron. Harry might take
this really hard. Let’s find
Ginny first, and then…maybe, we can
tell him.” Ron was
shaking his head
as Remus spoke.
“Not to
tell Harry,” Ron clarified, but was
interrupted by Charlie.
“Then what? You think
Harry can help
us find Ginny?”
“No, listen. Its simple. We’re going to
Mouths dropped open.
“How did
you reach that
conclusion, Mr Weasley?” Professor Dumbledore questioned. He didn’t
sound incredulous, merely curious.
“Ginny was
scared, right?” Ron
began, and waited for
confirmation.
They nodded their heads.
“When she’s
scared Ginny goes
to where she
feels safest,” Ron said, starting to
walk again.
“Wait. Wait, are you thinking
that Ginny wished herself to
Harry?” Molly
asked, looking at her
son in shock, “Because she
was scared.”
“You really
think that she
might be at
Ron looked
serious, “Ginny told me
once, that one of
the reasons she
liked Harry was
because he made
feel safe, where nothing could
hurt her. She may
not have consciously
wished herself to
Harry but, since the spell
is emotional, it isn’t
unreasonable that she
ends up there.”
“That actually
makes kind of a weird
sense,” Fred said slowly, considering what
Ron was suggesting.
“Its worth
a try,” George agreed.
“It certainly
is,” Professor Dumbledore added, his
eyes retrieving its
rather unique twinkle.
“Does this
mean we can
go now,” Ron asked, beginning to
move again, this time
Hermione keeping up
with his fast
pace.
“Wait, Ron,” Sirius spoke,
TBC.