From the Ashes

16 - Following Breadcrumbs

"Well, what did you expect her to do?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't know. I thought that maybe she would let me sort it out." Harry rummaged in his desk, searching for his invisibility cloak. "Gin, did you see where I put my cloak?"

"It was in the cupboard." Ginny gestured to a small cupboard built into the front hall closet. "Did you honestly think that she would agree to that? This is the same Hermione Granger we're speaking about, right?" Ginny cocked an eyebrow and began to braid her hair.

"Thanks, love," Harry said, rushing off to dig around in the cupboard. "Ahha!" He withdrew the shimmering cloak from the drawer and glanced back at Ginny. "What are you doing?" He had just noticed her pulling on her travelling cloak, her hair now tightly contained.

"Coming with you of course."

Harry gave Ginny a look of exasperation.

"Gin, this is official business. You know how the department feels about tag-a-longs. I can't have..."

Harry's eyes had just landed on the large clock over the fireplace mantle. Ron's name was still firmly placed at danger. Hermione's hand had spun to meet it just over an hour ago. He glanced back up at Ginny. Her features were set with determination. He sighed.

"Fine, have it your way. But if it gets too risky, promise me, you'll listen when I tell you to leave."

Ginny squeezed Harry's arm.

"Trust me, I can handle myself."

Ginny made her way out into the front hall, laced up her boots, and glanced back over her shoulder at Harry. "Shall we go?"

Harry bit back his worry, glanced back at the clock, and then at Ginny.

"Yes, let's go."

He took hold of Ginny's hand and spun on the spot.

Harry had no idea where to search for the others, but he did know that the one thing tying everything together was Malfoy Manor. It seemed as good a place to start as any other.

Ginny stumbled into Harry as they hit the gravel drive. She caught her balance and released his arm, dusting off her cloak.

"Do we have any leads?" She asked, pulling her wand from beneath her cloak.

"Not particularly. I just have their last know location. Ron disappeared here... and if I had to guess, Malfoy and Hermione would have headed here first. It's the only place I could think of them going..."

Harry was starting to feel a sense of déjà vu. He gazed up at the manor with loathing. He was looking forward to never seeing this place again. They didn't need to go far before they found the clue they needed or more accurately the roadmap. On the front door of the manor, there was a dagger pinned in the same manner as the one Harry had found with Ron. A note hung on the door. In a spindly scrawl were the words The Path Is Clear.

Harry and Ginny stood rooted to the spot in front of the note. Finally, Ginny reached out to remove the dagger from the door.

"Maybe there's mo—"

"Don't touch it!" Harry grabbed Ginny's arm, but it was too late. They felt the familiar tug at the napes of their necks, and then they were tumbling into a large tent. There was a gasp from somewhere to their right.

Harry scrambled to his feet. He helped Ginny up, glancing around the tent as he did so.

Ginny dropped the Portkey and stepped in front of Harry.

"Alright, we're here. What do you want?" Harry was always impressed with how brave she could sound. He could feel her arm shaking in his grip. Harry's eyes were starting to adjust to the dim lighting of the tent. His glasses had miraculously stayed on during their abrupt relocation. He could make out masked forms at the edges of the tent. Harry felt the dread beginning to creep up his spine. All of a sudden, his recurring nightmare about the graveyard and Cedric's death felt all too recent.

"Ginny, get behind me," he mumbled to her. She shook her head and held her ground but did not respond to him.

"You've gotten our attention. If it's Harry you want, you'll have to go through me." Ginny held her wand out in front of her. She saw the masked figures surrounding them but pretended not to have noticed them in an attempt to seem in control of the situation, which was as far from the truth as it could be.

Someone chuckled at the far end of the tent and stepped forward.

"You are brave. Foolish, but most certainly brave. I see you found my note. I told Draco here that you would. He's been ever so helpful. Haven't you Draco." The masked woman turned to Draco Malfoy. He stood in her shadow, his features smooth. His gaze kept flicking toward something on Harry's left. Harry turned slowly to see what he was looking at, trying to appear casual. In the far corner to the left were Ron and Hermione, pinned and silenced by two of the masked figures.

"Who are you?" Ginny asked, looking unimpressed.

"That's not your concern. Your friends and if I'm not mistaken, your brother, are your concern." She gestured at Ron and Hermione.

Ginny's shoulders tensed as she glanced toward Ron and Hermione. Harry saw her flinch, but only for a millisecond, and then she turned back to the masked woman, a resolute look upon her face.

"You don't scare me. I've faced worse. So have they. I don't know what you want, but I suspect it has something to do with power and pureblood supremacy. I do know that you won't get away with this."

The woman laughed, a cold hollow sound.

"I will," Her eyes met Harry's eyes behind her bone-white mask, then she pointed her wand directly at Ginny's chest. "Accio."

Harry reached out for Ginny but found himself frozen in place.

"I seem to have all the leverage here." The Raven grabbed Ginny by her chin, forcing her to look her in the eye. Ginny fought admirably, but to no avail. She was pinned, suspended inches from the floor, large ropes wrapped around her ankles and snaked up her body.

"Potter. You'll tell me what I want or your girlfriend will feel unimaginable pain."